Chapter 26 – Doppelganger (2)

I’ve thought about it for a long time, but those in power in this world tend to erase painful history too easily.
Isn’t it natural that when a hero’s party defeats the devil, a heroic story is created and people talk about it?

Nova and I were from a different region than Fenheim or Monarch, and we never had a chance to go out in front of people, but the other three were different.
If you were to the level of Grand Mage Terra, White Knight Wivlet, and Saint Eris, wouldn’t you be able to set up a statue on the street and hold a festival every birthday?
However, no matter where I looked in the city of Parenzia, I couldn’t find any history books written about their lives, much less 1/10 size figures, even if I looked hard to find them.

Of course, there are good things about forgetting the scars of war, but the problem is that the reaction extends to public education.
If you pick a magic student from the Apas Pavilion and drop him at the entrance to Helzeb, how long can he survive?
I estimate about 5 hours.
After that, no matter how lucky you are, you will encounter a monster or demon at least once, and if not, you will be so hungry that you will pick up and eat anything and your esophagus will rot and you will die a painful death.

At Parenzia Academy, there were almost no classes related to Helzeb, especially demons.
Well, it’s not that I don’t understand.
How many professors from the Tower of Magic are familiar with Helzeb?
Although the great war ended only 10 years ago, it is clear that 99% of those who experienced it would not have advanced even three steps further from the front line formed in the Ravier Mountains.
The only person in Parenzia who can brag about that hellish land is probably Lehel.

Anyway, that’s why I wanted to tell my students what I know about Helzeb if I had the chance.
Because one day, when their lives are in danger, the knowledge they learned from me will be useful.
These are things you can’t learn no matter where you go.
I am absolutely not an old man.

“But what should I teach?”

Things like how to distinguish between poisonous plants and medicinal herbs are boring.
Would you like me to tell you how to reliably kill demon stooges such as the Witch of the Black Night or the Necromancer of Baragal?
To do that, we have to find them…

Oh right.

Coincidentally, there was a perfect textbook in the basement.
Although the risk is not very high, it is very annoying if you get hit in the back, and if you make a mistake, it is a foreign object that is intermediate between monsters and demons that can destroy a country.

“Let’s see… “Where did you put it?”

After a long time, I opened the basement door and went inside.
A heavy box placed inside a shelf.

Bye!

When I opened the thick latch with my hand, a musty smell wafted out.

“Here it is.”

Inside, a glass bottle slightly smaller than a typical potion was carefully stored so as not to break.
I took out about ten of them, then covered the box again and put it on the shelf.
Shaking lightly inside the transparent bottle is a doppelganger larva in suspended animation that looks like a withered finger.

“I can use this.”

What I wanted to teach my students was how to identify doppelgängers.
There are probably not many people who know this, except for a few who are familiar with the demon world.
Should we call it a small gift to the next generation?
I’m sure freshmen will like it too.

***

Across from the Bayou Pavilion, which had the best landscaping in the Academy, was a beautiful garden with a small artificial pond.
There, Erzébet introduced him to Lord Averett, who had followed him to the Academy as his escort to keep his promise to Karl.

“Carl, this is Lord Averett. “He is a member of Fenheim’s strongest knight group, Hooksclaw.”
“It’s called Everett Windguard. Nice to meet you.”
“Ka, this is Carl Isola. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

Karl looked at Averett in front of him and swallowed her saliva nervously.
The first thing that caught my eye was her formal demeanor and flawless movements, as befits a woman with outstanding skills to the point where she was selected as a royal escort.

The Hooksclaw Knights were the strongest unit in group warfare, with all of its members, from its leader, White Knight Wivlet, to the new recruits, mastering 〈 flight 〉, 〈 martial arts 〉, and 〈 unit magic 〉.
The Margrave’s dogs are still fighting for humanity on the front lines of Helzeb.
The thought of meeting that member in person sent shivers through my body.

“From now on, Lord Everett will personally tutor Carl for two hours a day. “I can’t neglect my escort, so the time will be flexible depending on this. Is that okay?”
“Yes, yes! “It is a great honor!”
“What. You two should talk a little more. “I’ll be looking around the garden for a while.”

Erzsebet woke up with a soft smile.
Her Averett tried to get up along with her, but Erzhebet held her back.

“Don’t worry I won’t go too far.”
“But, princess…”
“Because we have P.I., We can let you know right away if it becomes dangerous. Isn’t that right?”
“Pi—.”

When Averett nodded her head hesitantly, she left her position feeling much lighter.
It seemed as if some of the burden had been lifted from her heavy shoulders.

No matter how royal you are, there’s no need to be escorted around the academy.
Erzébet wanted to live as freely as she could fly in the sky, so she sometimes escaped Averett’s eyes.

At that time, as she was walking through the small garden, she saw a familiar silhouette.

“Miss Adela?”
“Oh, hello?”

The second daughter of the Rochear family, with beautiful light-colored hair dragging across the floor.
She was sucking the honey inside a deer-shaped sculpture that had been expertly cleaned by Jean-Vière Batournay Grenouille, the gardener in charge of the Bayou Pavilion.
She even has one on her head.
At that moment, the word ‘flower arrangement bitch’ came to mind so naturally, but Erzsebet gritted her teeth and ignored it.

“Wow, princess, do you want to eat it too?”

Adela, who was stealing her nectar like a hummingbird, held out with her trembling hands the purple azalea she had been sucking just moments before.
Erzébet shook her head without the slightest hesitation.

“No, I do not want.”
“Yes.”

Only then did Adela breathe a sigh of relief.

At one point, Erzsebet suspected that she might be acting stupid on purpose.
Since you have entered Parenzia Academy, professors and other students who want to target Rochear’s unique magic might unleash their dark magic.
But looking at it now, I think it was a foolish suspicion.
Adela Sylvester. Even without flowers in her hair, it was already a flower garden.

However, Erzébet, who was about to ignore her and pass by, noticed a blue bruise on the back of Adela’s neck.

“Just a moment, Miss Adela.”
“Yes?”
“Come here. “What are all those scars?”
“Well, I fell while walking.”

No way.
What kind of acrobatic posture does she walk in, and if she slips, her neck and chest get bruised?
This was not a simple wound, but clear signs of assault.

Erzsebet thought that this matter should not be ignored.
It has nothing to do with Adella’s family being Rochear, just as a friend.

“Who did this? “Tell me.”
“I don’t know!”
“I don’t know what I don’t know! I am the princess of Penheim. “No matter who harmed you with any intention, I will never allow them to touch you again as long as I am here.”
“…”

Erzébet was furious when she saw Adela keeping her mouth shut.
At that moment, Everett and Carl were also coming this way after finishing their conversation.

“Come here. What was the next class?”
“That… It’s Teacher Vincent’s class, and now…”
“Good for you. “Let’s go together and file a public declaration and report it to the security guard.”

All criminal acts that occur within the academy are initially investigated by the student council.
However, due to the possibility of complex relationships between families, the investigation period is long and the response is lukewarm.
In addition, the student council was dismissed due to the last cafeteria incident, so it is unclear when the investigation will begin and when the culprit will be caught and disciplined.
So it’s better to talk to the security directly.

The security guard in charge of security at the Academy is a type of armed force, so its affiliation is the Viscounty of Farenzia Ruhilen.
This is because the royal family’s troops cannot be stationed in another noble’s territory.
So, if Viscount Ruhilen cooperates just a little, we will be able to immediately track down the culprit and at least expel him from the Farenzia territory.

To ask her professor for permission to skip her class, Erzébet headed to her classroom, dragging her disliked Adela with her.
However, when we arrived, the classroom was empty.

“Uh? “Where has everyone gone?”
“Let it go, Se-yang!”
“Oh, it hurts! “Why are you biting me!”
“Pee—!”

As she cupped the back of Adela’s hand, she noticed her writing on the blackboard in front of her classroom.

[Due to Professor Vincent’s absence, today’s lecture starting at 13:00 has been replaced by a special lecture by a guest lecturer. – Parencia Academy Administration]

[Everyone, come back to the playground.]

***

When the four of us headed to the small clearing behind the school, the other students were already frowning and muttering under the midday sunlight.

— What, what class is this?
– I don’t know. But why are we gathering here?
— I think they’re trying to get me into physical training. Unless you are a person who will move on to the engineer club, you can skip it.
— Where did Professor Vincent go?
— You were standing in front of a new student demonstrating magic at a salon the other day when you were caught in an explosion and fell out the window. Ah, here he comes…

Ansen was also standing on her other leg with an annoyed expression on his face.
Holding Adela’s hand tightly as she tried to sneak away, Erzébet waited until the guest lecturer arrived.
And then she was surprised to see the person who appeared.

“Louis… ?”

The only thing different from his usual sloppy clothes was that he was carrying an old backpack.

“Ah, teacher~.”

Adela shook off her hand and ran away first.
Erzsebet belatedly approached Louise and said.

“Are you sure you came to class?”
“Well, that’s how it happened.”
“I’m sorry, but Adela and I won’t be able to participate.”
“Really?”

Adela shook her head in response to Lewis’ question.

“I don’t know.”

Erzsebet carefully turned her body to avoid catching the gaze of other students.
She then showed Lewis the wound near her neck.

“There must be something wrong with Miss Adela. “I will go to the security station and catch the criminal.”
“…”
“Louis?”
“Just stay.”

The moment his gaze fell on Adela’s bare skin, Erzsebet felt an eerily clear emotion of fear in Luis’ voice.

Cheaeng!

Her body leaned back. Averett, who had half-drawn the rapier at her waist, hurriedly pulled Erzébet to her side.

“Princess!”

He himself seemed surprised by his own instinctive behavior.
Anyway, Lewis raised his head and looked at the students gathered in the vacant lot.
For some reason, those who had been complaining about the hot weather just a moment ago were just staring at the floor without saying a word.

“Well, first of all…”

Lewis said, taking out a small bottle from his bag.

“It looks like everyone is here, so let’s start class.”