46

“Are you all right?”

“……”

Rena, who had briefly collapsed from her weakening legs, only nodded at Hamel’s question.

“Yes.”

Then she stood up by herself without taking his outstretched hand.

She picked up her dropped staff and brushed the dirt off her clothes.

Ono and Daniel, watching that indifferent figure from behind, clicked their tongues.

“Is that really how someone who almost died just reacts?”

“Doesn’t she remind you of someone?”

“Ah, now that you mention it……”

Both of them looked at Hamel at the same time.

Whether they noticed their reactions or not, Hamel and Rena simply conversed calmly.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Indeed, it was far too dry for a conversation between someone who had just been saved from death and the rescuer.

It was more like the polite exchange of two people who had been offered a seat on a carriage.

But apparently that was enough for the person involved.

Rena pointed to the building behind them and said in a dry but precise tone.

“There are other students inside.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Just as Hamel shook his head to respond.

─KWA-GA-GA-KAK

With a roar, the ceiling of the ruined building was ground into dust.

Dozens of blue swords spun in circles, pulverizing everything nearby.

If the building could be shattered like that, the insects wouldn’t leave a trace.

“Black Revolution…… The vice principal has arrived.”

Startled by the overwhelming sight, Rena murmured.

Agnes Lowell, the vice principal of the Magic Tower.

Daniel, long a wandering knight, and Ono, who had long served as an Exorcist priest, had heard of her before.

More familiar than her name was her epithet.

“That’s the Colorless Tower’s ‘Sword Mage’……”

“The rumor that she held back the kingdom’s army alone might be true.”

She crushed everything that stood in her path.

Seeing her walk as if angry, Daniel couldn’t help but sigh.

He had no confidence at all in winning against her.

At the end of Agnes’s path stood a group of students.

Their clothes were torn and smeared with insect ichor.

The exhausted students burst into tears the moment they saw Agnes.

“Pro-professor……”

“It’s all right. It’s okay.”

Agnes comforted the students while continuing to wield magic.

The weakened demons tried to flee the building, but she didn’t let a single one go.

The flying swords, as if possessed of will, tore the giant insects apart.

After a moment there were no living insects left nearby.

In their place came the faint chirping of small insects.

The sound of wind.

Even the rustle of leaves on the trees.

The tranquil sounds of the forest returned.

It was over.

Only then did Rena breathe out in relief.

Hamel looked at Rena gently and patted her shoulder.

As if to say she had done well.

Surprised, she opened her eyes wide, then quietly bowed her head in thanks.

A little later.

Agnes, having tended to the students, approached Hamel and his party.

“It’s exactly as you said.”

Agnes, with an incredulous expression, looked at Hamel and recalled their earlier conversation.

‘The Old Tree Forest. They probably went there.’

‘What? If it’s the Old Tree Forest, the Tower Master already checked it……’

‘The children are in danger. Hurry.’

How on earth did this man know all of that?

They had to find out now.

But first, as the students’ teacher, there was something she had to say.

“Thank you for saving the children.”

She removed her hat and bowed.

Three students had died in the meantime, but thanks to that they could save five lives.

“It was my duty.”

Hamel accepted her thanks calmly.

When she thanked him, the students standing behind her awkwardly offered their own greetings.

Among them was the yellow-haired girl who had bullied Rena.

Hamel glanced at her and then toward Rena.

Rena happened to be looking at Hamel and their gazes met.

“……”

Hamel silently nodded to Rena.

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded back as if steeling herself.

Then she walked toward the yellow-haired girl.

“Mellina.”

“…Rena?”

The girl’s eyelids twitched at the unexpected encounter.

Agnes smiled faintly at her and said.

“Ah, Miss Melina. I caught a glimpse earlier—Rena risked her life fighting to save you.”

“W-what?”

“If Rena hadn’t bought us time, the rescue might have been delayed.”

Mellina’s eyes widened even more.

As if asking whether it was true, she looked at Rena; Rena nodded calmly.

Watching them, Agnes said approvingly.

“To not flee and instead risk one’s life for a friend—it’s a rare kind of devotion.”

Hearing that, Mellina’s face shifted from confusion to a sallow guilt; she squeezed her eyes shut as if summoning courage.

“I-I’m sorry, Rena.”

“For what?”

Rena stared at her with her usual expressionless face.

As if she truly didn’t know.

Mellina trembled and confessed her guilt.

“W-Well. I actually came here to bully you……”

Rena cut her confession off and answered.

“I know.”

“…!”

At that answer, Mellina opened her eyes wide and looked at Rena.

“You… knew?”

Rena nodded briefly.

Melina shed tiny tears and raised her head.

“Even though I did that… you forgive me?”

“……”

Rena looked at Mellina for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“No?”

“…?”

It was at that moment, while Mellina’s face showed puzzlement.

─KRACK

Rena’s outstretched fist landed squarely on her nose.

Mellina’s head snapped back and a nosebleed burst forth.

“Whoa?”

Other students, about to cry from guilt, stared in stupefaction.

When everyone was too shocked to speak, Rena turned to Agnes and said.

“It’s not because of friendship.”

“…Uh, huh?”

“I came because I wanted to hit her with my own hand.”

“…Ah, ah. I-I see.”

Daniel, watching the flustered Agnes, slowly shook his head.

Having worked as a mercenary and seen many types of people, he still found the girl uniquely odd even among them.

Ono and Daniel looked pityingly at Professor Agnes, unsure what to do.

Only Hamel nodded as if he understood Rena’s decision.

“…So what happened?”

Once the situation was somewhat sorted, Agnes asked Hamel.

Hamel answered by directing the question to Rena.

“Rena. You didn’t bring the blue moonlight herb to yesterday’s herbology class, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Wait a moment. If you’re talking about the Cursed Herbology class, I’m the one who……”

Agnes, who had interrupted, suddenly froze.

“You said there was a class yesterday…?”

“Yes. Professor Agnes taught Cursed Herbology yesterday.”

Rena replied calmly, tilting her head.

Agnes held a blank expression for a while.

The reason was simple.

“You returned from another region today, Agnes. In other words, someone impersonated you and taught yesterday’s class.”

Hamel brought up the nagging detail.

The conversation between Rena and Agnes in the classroom had been off in some way.

They started to grasp it through a conversation with the Tower Master.

Because contrary to Rena’s claim of a class, Professor Agnes said she had returned today.

Agnes, who had nodded at Hamel’s deduction, suddenly realized something and was horrified.

“You don’t mean you suspect the Tower Master now…?”

“No.”

Hamel shook his head as he answered.

“I’m certain.”

“…!”

They had been skeptical until now, but demons had appeared from the Ancient Tree Forest the Tower Master said he’d checked.

There was no more room for doubt.

“We’ll go and take down whoever’s impersonating the Tower Master.”

“Wait. Then what about the real Tower Master…?”

“He was probably taken out. Recently, most likely.”

Hamel answered calmly.

Agnes’s movements contained contradictions that anyone paying attention would notice.

In other words, the culprit didn’t have time to stage the whole affair.

“That can’t be! The Tower Master is a first-rank mage at the highest level among all wizards—comparable to the Emperor’s champion or the northern Sword Master…”

“I’ve fought enemies stronger than I am and won. There’s only one reason for that.”

“…?”

“Their complacency.”

Hamel brushed off the insect ichor and pulled his robe back on.

“He wore Agnes’s appearance until yesterday.”

“…No way?”

“I find it quite possible.”

Hamel calmly checked his sword and weapons.

After exchanging looks with Ono and Daniel in turn, Hamel slowly turned to leave.

“He’ll be watching our movements too. He may have noticed us by now.”

If so, he’ll either prepare to fight us or flee.

Either way, there was no time.

If he didn’t know the situation yet, all the more reason to hurry.

There’s no more effective ambush than striking at an unexpected moment.

In any case, the important thing now was time.

“Daniel will take responsibility for the students and hand them over to the academy.”

“Very well.”

“Ono and Agnes, I’d appreciate it if you’d accompany us.”

“How presumptuous. Do as you wish.”

“V-Very well.”

Agnes looked somewhat flustered, but her power would be a big help.

Because they didn’t know who the opponent was, Hamel needed her strength.

Just as they were about to leave the students behind.

Hamel suddenly made eye contact with Rena as if he had remembered something.

“…?”

“Once this is over, there’s just one thing I’d like to ask.”

“Yes. Ask away.”

Rena expressionlessly nodded.

Hamel nodded in return and then stepped forward.

It was time to root out the impostor hiding in the Magic Tower and impersonating the Tower Master.

“…This is strange.”

Agnes Lowell muttered, puzzled.

It was just before seven in the evening.

It’s evening, but not particularly late.

Normally, students who had finished dinner would be strolling in groups through the Magic Tower’s park.

But for some reason.

─step, step

From the Magic Tower’s garden to its entrance, not a single person was in sight.

Even the everyday sounds that should come from places where people gather were absent.

That deathly, low-set silence seemed to choke Agnes’s breath.

Hamel reached the entrance of the Magic Tower and cautiously took the doorknob.

He paused and drew a breath.

The element of surprise seemed to be lost already.

‘This will be a tough fight.’

That he hadn’t fled despite things going awry and was preparing something meant he was confident.

Hamel clicked his tongue shortly and slowly turned his head.

Ono and Agnes, mentally prepared, nodded.

Hamel nodded back and slowly opened the door.

─creak

The lobby that serves as every building’s face and first impression.

The Magic Tower’s lobby, open like an agora, often hosted public lectures.

A lobby offering high-quality lectures anyone could attend was one of the tower’s prides.

However, it was rare for that space to be packed with students.

Students were already struggling with their own classes; few wanted extra lessons.

But now someone had managed that difficult feat.

“Welcome.”

The Tower Master smiled broadly and watched Hamel’s party as they entered.

At the same time, the heads of the students filling the lobby turned in unison.

Their emotionless movements were as uniform as machinery.

The party couldn’t help feeling a jarring sense of discomfort from the sight.

All the more because they were glaring at Hamel’s group while clutching their staves.