Chapter 7 – Buried Past (3)

I got up.
In front of the locked door stood a blonde girl with a familiar bird on her shoulder.

Green cape, first year.
Nine out of ten new students’ magic weapons were wands or orbs, but she had bare hands.
Instead, they would use extreme tones.
The largest mountain range on the continent bordering the Demon World—a familiar born with Ravière’s spirit was enough to act as a medium for magic.
So, does that mean she is Ersebet Brunhart? She has a brilliant appearance that goes well with blonde hair.

“I’m sorry, but the store is closed today.”
“I came to see you. “What’s your name?”
“This is Lewis.”
“Louis… It’s a name that isn’t on the school’s employee list. “What’s your last name?”
“Is there anything like that for commoners? “It’s just Louis.”

Knock knock.
A little bird knocked on the glass.

“Lewis, open this door.”
“As I said, business is already over. “Please come back later.”
“It’s not difficult to force it open and go in.”
“You can do it if you can, princess.”

Putting my hand on her heart, I tell you, I have nothing to do with the royal family.
Rather, the princess’s actions of freely entering my small and precious nest deserve to be criticized.
I’ve paid my taxes regularly so far… As if she was dissatisfied, Erzébet crossed her arms and confidently continued her speech.

“If you know that I am a princess, there is no need to explain further. Strictly speaking, this is the ‘Royal College of Magic, Parencia Academy’. Do you now know who owns the land you are stepping on?”

When I heard that, my eyebrows furrowed.
I don’t know why noblemen who had a lot of land planted their flag on the site of Parencia, where a lord already existed, but there was one thing she didn’t know.

“I’m sorry, but this is not the Academy grounds.”
“Yes?”
“It’s my land. “My land, bought in my name by giving all the money in my pocket to Viscount Ruhilen’s former lord!”
“Piiiii!!”

Contrary to the extreme tone of crying loudly, the princess looked like she had been hit in the back of the head.
Only the middle of the pentagonal land was not owned by the royal family.
It was definitely not my intention, but in any case, she had no way of kicking me out according to the kingdom’s administrative law, not the academy’s school rules.

“If you have any doubts, go to Yeongju Castle and get a certified copy. “Because this place is mine.”
“Uh, why…”
“Why? That’s because it wasn’t sold! “If it doesn’t turn off, I’ll call the security.”

When she waved her hand and told him to go away, Erzébet was unable to push in any further.
Her eerie golden eyes were not kind to the end.

“People say that an era of peace has come since the Demon King fell, but the remnants have not yet been completely rooted out.”
“…”
“Among the warlocks who joined the demons during the Great War, there are many whose whereabouts are unknown.”
“Do you suspect people just because of something like that?”
“Pee—!!”

… I will definitely catch that bird someday and make it into chicken.

“I’m leaving for today. But I hope you keep this in mind.”
“What is it?”

Erzsebet said, taking a step back.

“As Terra Ernisten predicted during the collapse of the Merak Tower, there is definitely danger in the kingdom. As the princess of Penheim, I will never sit idly by and ignore that.”

***

In the garden where the white moonlight was hidden by clouds, and behind the cafeteria where the refreshment wrappers and leaves left behind by the professors were scattered, Liv took a deep breath.
The princess, who suddenly came to the canteen, was hostile to Louis and explained the reason as follows.

Perils of the Kingdom. And the remnants of the demon race. Warlock.

And the blackened Litweis test paper that I can’t get out of my mind.

The hand holding the cane trembled. My feet moved freely.
When she came to her senses, she found herself standing in front of Luis, who had turned on the lights and was organizing the stall after Erzébet had left.

“Baron Greenwood?”

There was not the slightest hint of threat in the way he looked at me with a puzzled expression.
The newly brought in walking sticks were neatly placed on a shelf that reached about waist level.
A staff made of metallurgical wood identical to your own.
Lewis also checked the object in her hand.

“Are you here to change your wand? “The one the Baron has is definitely a little short.”
“…”
“Business is over, but if you need it, I’ll have to replace it… “Baron?”
“… Mister.”

If he was a war criminal, a follower of demons, or in any way a war criminal who stood on the wrong side of humans in the great war, Liv could never forgive him.
Her father died at the hands of demons during the Great War.
The staff he left behind rose little by little.

“What kind of person is your uncle?”
“What are you curious about? “Take it down first, because it’s dangerous.”
“As the princess said, are you a warlock?”
“… Ugh. What kind of person can you live without even questioning what someone says? “I’m not that kind of person.”

These were the words of a princess, not a simple person.
Right now, Liv also knew that her suspicions were a leap forward. Still, she wanted to confirm the facts.
If he is a black magician or a follower of demons, there will be clear evidence to practice black magic.
At that time, the basement that was used as a warehouse was opened, perhaps to fill in the shortage of items.

“What’s downstairs?”
“It’s just a warehouse where things are piled up.”
“Then it won’t be a problem to look inside, right?”
“It’s not possible.”

At that moment, Liv sensed something suspicious in Louis’s body language for the first time.
It was clearly a move to hide something.
Should I go back like this and report it to security?
But even Princess Ergébet had no way of entering her stall. Liv also did not want to deal with the enemies who made his father like that with his own hands.

“Stand back, I need to see for myself what’s inside.”
“I said it couldn’t be done.”
“I don’t know what you’re hiding, but get out of the way! Oh, otherwise… !”
“Liv.”

Woe!

Lewis’ hand grabbed the cane.
And at that moment, Liv froze, filled with fear that took her breath away.
A feeling of emptiness in one’s chest.
It didn’t take long to realize that it was the disappearance of mana.

“Liv, I have nothing to do with demons. I don’t even exchange my parents’ greetings with the rotten warlocks. “I only swung a sword when I was young, but who didn’t do that in order to survive during the Great War?”
“Oh, my goodness… !”
“It’s getting late, so it would be a good idea to take a break for today. “The cane seems to be a precious item, so I will put it inside here.”

I couldn’t refuse him as he played with my clothes with his gentle hands.
Liv, who was trembling and crying helplessly, was slowly pushed out of the cafeteria.

“I’ll pretend nothing happened today. Next time, you can come buy bread as usual. “Please come in, Baron.”

In the end, Liv was kicked out without finding out anything.
After looking vainly at her unlit canteen, she clenched her fists as if she had made up her mind and returned to her dormitory.

***

“Ah, it’s finally gone.”

This semester has definitely been a little strange.
Isn’t there a cool new student who has a lot of money but steals bread from the cafeteria? Isn’t there a princess who tries to break into someone else’s house as if it were her own?
Even last year, Baron Reeve, who he had been friendly with, pointed his wand at him, asking if he was a warlock.
Does this mean that this only happened in the month of March?

‘I want to add a provision to create a blacklist of canteens in the school rules…’ …’

It is not fair to use the on-campus convenience facilities in a discriminatory manner, but if you threaten the chairman, wouldn’t something be done?
First of all, Adela and Erzsebet are first priority. We should also include Ansen, who has not yet regained consciousness in the hospital bed.
Baron Reeve… First, let’s think about it a little more.

‘If I had known it would be like this, I would have cleaned up this place right then.’

I also wanted to sell everything and leave.
In fact, I don’t know what King Baor’s intention was, but he received several proposals from sources other than the royal family asking him to sell the land.
Considering the fact that Parenzia, which was a rural village, developed into a mid-sized city thanks to the establishment of the academy, the amount was not small at all.
However, there was a reason why I declined all offers and did not leave the cafeteria even after going through all this trouble.

Slam!

A basement where an inventory of supplies and goods is kept.
After confirming that Baron Reeve was leaving, I went inside with the tools I was using to clean the store.

Under the blue magic stone lamp illuminating the ceiling, various boxes and inventory for storing supplies were piled up.
And inside the passageway that turns to the right is a small door——.

“Oops, I didn’t close this.”

I passed through the door and stood in front of a gray-white tombstone up to my waist.
Then I began to carefully wipe it with a cleaning towel.

Thoughts about the two women who doubted me constantly lingered in my head.
But as long as I had this here, I couldn’t leave the academy, or rather, this house.

I knelt in front of the tombstone, closed my eyes, and prayed.
I hope no one will invade my precious space anymore.