Kikou Shoujo wa Kizutsukanai

Chapter 6 - True Self(1)

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Chapter 6 - True Self(1)

The previous night.

After inspecting the devoured automaton, Lisette called out to Raishin just as he was about to go off.

She informed him of the dangers of a.s.sociating with Tyrant Rex and warned him to be careful. She also told him that Sigmund was a Bandoll.

Shortly after that.

“Do you have any questions so far?”

“Yeah, I—“

The youth in front of her spoke lightly— but his eyes had a sharp glint as he spoke.

“Why were you there when Cannibal Candy was devouring his prey?”

They gazes clashed with each other. She could feel her eyebrow start to twitch. Lisette pushed her gla.s.ses up the bridge of her nose, replying him with her face hidden.

“Are you trying to say I’m Cannibal Candy?”

“But you were there, weren’t you?”

“No. I just received the report and dashed quickly to the scene. By the time I reached though, Cannibal Candy had already disappeared.”

“Oh? I was under the impression that you had seen the moment of the attack.”

“… Why would you think that?”

“Hm. Is that so? I see.”

“Please stop with your insinuations. It is extremely upsetting.”

Raishin gave her a sidelong glance. It was a strong stare, the weight of which caused a shiver of fear to run down her spine which she couldn’t supress.

“You identified one of the devoured puppets as the morning star wielder, didn’t you?”

“… I did.”

“How did you know that? The face was smashed in; you shouldn’t have been able to identify it at all.”

“Anyone who saw it would have come to the same conclusion. There was that unique iron ball—“

“Which was smashed into the legs of the devoured puppet, wasn’t it?”

Lisette was taken aback. She finally realised what Raishin was implying.

“Yes, it looks like you get it now. Anyone who saw that situation would normally a.s.sume that the morning star wielder was the one who attacked. For anyone to conclude that the weapon had been turned against the user himself, you’d have to have some form of advance knowledge. Like— if you already knew that the devoured puppet was the morning star wielder from the very beginning… for example.

“… That’s if you thought about it normally.”

Desperately trying to keep her voice from trembling, Lisette made her counter argument.

“I didn’t think that the perpetrator would leave behind specific evidence that would be incriminating. If Cannibal Candy was using something, he surely would have taken it with him when he left.”

“Is that so? He looks to be more of the sort who leaves his leftovers lying about as they were.”

“— That in itself isn’t something considered unique to his M.O.”

“So that was the logic behind your conclusion.”

“Stop trying to find faults where they aren’t! I’m totally innocent!”

Raishin wryly laughed and raised both hands in a gesture of peace.

‘Don’t get so worked up. It’s just a doubt that’s been bothering me for a while.”

Turning away, he started walking in an unguarded manner.

“That’s all I wanted to ask you. Well then— oh, right.”

He stopped. Turning his head over his shoulder,

“I think you’ve misunderstood something. At no point did I ever say that you were Cannibal Candy.”

“—!”

“I just asked if you were there.”

“… It appears I was mistaken.”

With an irritating laugh, Raishin left the room.

Lisette bit her lip tightly— and in the next instant, she lashed out at the teacher’s lectern.

The lectern crumbled easily, the wreckage scattering about on the floor.

(2)

The moon’s light failed to reach here, the darkness deep and impenetrable.

‘Here’ was a tunnel formed by trees that was a little ways off the main street. Even during the day it was pitch black.

Amidst the darkness, Charl was walking at a brisk pace.

Her body leant forward, she was taking big strides with squared shoulders.

Behind her, Sigmund was flapping his wings to catch up.

“Let’s go back, Charl.”

Charl ignored him and continued pressing forward.

“How long do you plan on carrying on like this?”

“You’re being very noisy. Be quiet.”

“Stop adding to your list of crimes committed. Return to your bed.”

“Hmph. It’s not a crime as long as I’m not caught.”

“Cease this foolishness, Charl.”

Sigmund flew in front of Charl and bared his fangs. While skilfully flying backwards, he started to lecture her like a nagging old man.

“You should already know by now, even if you succeed by doing things this way, it won’t bring you happiness. Do you plan on living your whole life as a social outcast? What you need right now is the acknowledgment of other people. Stop trying to shoulder burdens all by yourself. There’s no one in the world who doesn’t need a friend to walk hand in hand with.”

“I told you to be quiet already, didn’t I!?”

She smacked Sigmund away.

“If you keep this up, I’ll change your daily diet to peanuts.”

Sigmund stubbornly regained his posture, flying in front of Charl once again.

“Why are you so worked up? Did Felix say something to you?”

Charl lips snapped shut.

Sigmund sighed in resignation.

“It shows on your face. You’re too easy to read sometimes.”

“Quiet. If you understand, then just shut up and help me.”

“All the more reason to refuse, Charl. If you really want to be acknowledged by that man, cease this recklessness. Stop being so impatient. Fight and win inside the Night Party fair and square and you’ll silence all the gossip surrounding you.”

Charl suddenly came to a stop.

Perhaps Sigmund’s words had pierced her, but there was an anguished expression on her face.

“But I can’t forgive this… How can you expect me to sit quietly by the side and watch on…!?”

“You’re not a representative of the law, neither are you a disciplinary committee member. This vigilantism is merely your own selfishness.”

“That’s just a coward’s logic! n.o.blesse Oblige—“

The fire in her eyes died out almost as immediately as it had appeared.

Without Sigmund having to point it out, she had already noticed her error.

Charl was using the pretence of public indignation as a surrogate for her own anger and hatred.

Sigmund gently landed on her crestfallen shoulders.

“You have a precious dream. Don’t taint it by fighting meaningless battles. You have your family to think about—“

“… That’s enough, Sigmund.”

Her voice was unnaturally strained. Sigmund immediately fell silent, raising his head up and scanning the surrounding darkness.

Finally, he noticed something.

Fifty metres ahead, to the right of their current location, there was an alien object wriggling about!

The shadow was crawling around on all fours at the base of a tree, hidden inside the impenetrable darkness.

It showed no signs of breathing, and it moved soundlessly— it wasn’t human. Considering the time and the place, there weren’t any humans who would be crawling around on all fours now.

So, it was an automaton.

The edges of Charl’s lips twisted. For a brief moment, her aristocratic face morphed into a dreadful mask of ferocity like a savage beast.

“Finally, it looks like we’ve found our prey.”

“Wait, Charl. We should ascertain who or what that is first.”

“All the good boys and girls should be in bed by now. The only kind of people who would be sneaking around at this time of night…”

Charl began to radiate magic energy from her hair to her shoulders. Inside the darkness, the bluish white light that shone sparkled like moonlight. Extending her hand out to Sigmund, her magic energy coalesced into a bundle of light which flowed into Sigmund.

Sigmund’s body began to react, but he didn’t grow any bigger.

“It’s no good, Charl. There isn’t enough light here.”

“It’s fine even if you’re like that. Make sure you keep him alive, Raster Flare!”

The little dragon opened its jaw. Countless needles of dazzling light poured forth from Sigmund’s mouth, flying towards the shadow, impaling it. As its name implied, it was not the blast of a cannon, but contained the smaller explosive power of a flare.

The quadrupedal automaton collapsed under the attack.

All four limbs were pierced with the needles of light, pinning it to the ground.

“Got it!”

Charl rejoiced. Just as she ran over to confirm what she had hit,

“Don’t move!”

Intense and angry voices closed in on her from all four sides.

Hidden in the treetops and shadows, countless human presences revealed themselves.

Charl realised she had been completely surrounded. There were eight— ten individuals. All of them had their lamps turned towards her. To call their att.i.tudes hostile would be an understatement.

Also, all of them had an armband around their arms.

(The disciplinary committee…!?)

His smooth golden hair fluttering, someone walked up in front of a discomfited Charl.

“Pefect timing, Charl. Or rather, I should say this timing is better than perfect.”

“Felix—“

Felix turned gloomily towards the quadrupedal automaton, pointing at it.

“That’s one of my spare automata. I thought I’d see if I could try to fish Cannibal Candy out, so I released three baits into the open.”

Charl was confused. She didn’t understand the meaning behind Felix’s words. Was he upset that she had interfered with their search?”

“Charl. Do you know why I’m here?”

“… This is a sting operation.”

Felix nodded.

“I heard you sneak out of your room. On the off-chance something might happen, I ordered the area to be cordoned off.”

Was she being suspected of being…?

As soon as she realised it, she was gripped by an unspeakable fear.

“No! I thought that automaton was Cannibal Candy!”

“So you were trying to capture it, is that right?”

His gaze was full of suspicion. Being stared at like that, Charl felt her explanation slide back down her throat.

“You are a scheduled entrant into the Night Party. Even so, Cannibal Candy would still be a threat to you. However, surely he wasn’t that big a threat for you that you needed to proactively hunt him out, was he?”

“I just… I thought… It was unforgivable…”

“The boarding mistress has already testified that you’d been sneaking out of the dormitory regularly.”

Charl flinched in surprise.

That certainly was true.

As trivial as it may have been, Charl did break the rules, and she had done so repeatedly.

“Did you think your absence would have gone unnoticed?”

“But I wasn’t doing anything to feel guilty about! I snuck out of the dormitory—“

“To search for Cannibal Candy.”

“… That’s right!”

“Oh, Charl… Don’t you think it’s time to drop the act?”

“—!”

Felix shook his head. He had a bitter expression on his face that was a mix of resignation and betrayal. The look in his eyes was no longer gentle or kind.

“Now that I think about it, your actions have been incomprehensible as of late. You kept talking about Cannibal Candy with indignation in your voice— but that too was strange.”

Felix sighed. When he started speaking again, the warmth in his tone had vanished.

“You hate people, and you don’t mix around much with others. How could I have expected you to feel any sympathy for those students who were attacked? Also—“

There was no emotion in his voice as he continued in a monotone.

“You got close to Raishin Akabane. Someone who hates people as much as you got close to someone as callous as him.”

“No—!”

“In other words, your hatred of Cannibal Candy— it was merely a show you put on.”

“No! I really—!”

“If we a.s.sume everything you did was to avoid suspicion, then all the pieces fall into place.”

“Why!? How can you say that!? What evidence is there!?”

“There is evidence. We found it in your room.”

Charl’s eyes widened. They couldn’t have— did they find that!?

“Wait, I can explain! Those magic circuits—“

The disciplinary committee members stirred. Charl realised her mistake.

“Charl… So, those were really hidden by you.”

Felix had a sad look on his face. On one hand, there was the possibility of a third party hiding them— Someone who had a grudge against Charl, or even Cannibal Candy himself could have placed them there to frame someone else. However, Charl had mentioned magic circuits herself, and so those circuits were now incriminating evidence.

However, it couldn’t be helped and she couldn’t defend herself. The truth was Charl herself did conceal a large amount of magic circuits in her room.

“You have harmed a large number of students thus far.”

Once again, she couldn’t say anything for it was the truth.

“You were always aloof and solitary, and your surroundings were filled with nothing but enemies. Under these circ.u.mstances, wouldn’t your hatred build up?”

“What are you implying?”

Felix spoke slowly, like he was trying to confirm something.

“The reason why our investigation could never get a hold of Cannibal Candy was he was a loner, and so no one had any clue as to his movements.”

“…”

“After learning that Raishin Akabane had agreed to a.s.sist the disciplinary committee, you felt a sense of danger. Why? Because he wasn’t afraid of you and persistently tried to approach you despite your rejections. If anyone were to get close to you, they would smell a rat.”

“…”

“And that’s why you went out with him; to create an alibi and so throw suspicion off of you. Or maybe, you were trying to get him on your side? Fortunately for you, you do possess great beauty.”

Her shoulders trembled. This was mortifying. To be thought of as someone who destroyed automata for no good reason and use seduction as a means to an end.

“You should understand what I’m trying to say, no?”

Felix gave a long, deep sigh, like he was emptying out his lungs.

Staring at Charl with bitter chagrin, Felix finally spoke.

“In other words, Charlotte Belew. You’re Cannibal Candy.”

(3)

Raishin was sent flying from the violently painful blow he received on his back.

Crashing into the locker, the gla.s.s shattered as they both smashed into the wall, causing the violently loud clatter to echo throughout the building.

Slowly, blood began to spread across the floor.

After the dust had settled, Raishin was left buried under the locker, completely unmoving.

Lisette emotionlessly watched over the chaos.

Having heard all the sounds, the guards soon came flying in. Two guards burst into the room without making much noise, their automata in tow.

They were on high alert and in battle stances. Their automata in front, they had Lisette in their targets. The puppeteers’ voices were exceedingly cold as they asked,

“… What happened here?”

Lisette panted wildly and her voice was raised as she replied.

“C… Call the executive committee please.”

“What happened? Are you ok?”

“He… He was going to destroy the automata here, so regrettably, I had to attack him.”

Still remaining on high alert, one of them move inside the room to confirm Lisette’s story.

“I see. Wow, this is pretty bad.”

The puppeteer grimaced as his lamp illuminated the pool of blood on the floor.

“You did this by yourself?”

“Luckily, my automaton was here.”

She pointed to the locker. The guard was a little suspicious, but didn’t press any further and turned back to Raishin’s body.

“He’s still breathing, albeit faintly.”

“I tried to avoid trying his vital points. However, it would be best if we brought him to the doctor’s office immediately.”

“We’ll arrange that. Leave this to us.”

Signalling his partner, they started to turn and walk away, but Lisette called out to them.

“Please wait. There is a possibility that he— Raishin Akabane is working with Cannibal Candy.”

“What do you mean?”

“He might have tried to create a disturbance here so as to cover up the movements of Cannibal Candy. Something he said intimated as much. So just to be sure, can you do something about the automaton in front…?”

“Alright. We’ll restrain it.”

“Please.”

“What about you?”

“I have to rendezvous with the rest of the disciplinary committee and report this to them. There’s a chance that Cannibal Candy will move— no, there’s a possibility that he may have already made his move.”

“Hm… You’re the eyewitness to this commotion. I’d prefer it if you remained here.”

“In that case I will return as soon as possible. My name is Lisette Norden, a third year in cla.s.s F.”

She handed over her student identification card. With that, the guard seemed to have some faith in her. Her membership was clearly stated, and she was also the disciplinary committee chairman’s a.s.sistant. Someone of her calibre… with that in mind, he decided he could permit Lisette to leave the scene.

Lisette sealed her locker before exiting the room at a quick pace.

(4)

In front of the gravestone shaped building— The Locker, there was a bit of a commotion going on.

The person in the middle of the commotion was none other than Raishin. He was currently receiving first aid— He was being swathed in bandages roughly and indiscriminately.

Surrounding him was the guards and some disciplinary committee members. While treating him, some of them went to check up on the damage done inside.

Raishin was completely limp as they did as they pleased to his body. His eyes were half opened, but there was no light in his pupils. After they finished first aid he was loaded onto a stretcher, all the while his body not even giving the slightest twitch.

“That’s quite an awful racket going over there. Is there some kind of festival happening that I don’t know about?”

Their killing intent immediately honed in on the voice. Ignoring those gazes like it was something none of her concern, a woman causally strolled up to them from a small path. Wearing a educator’s uniform, she was a tall lady with a white coat.

“Professor Kimberly… Why are you here?”

Someone spoke up. Kimberly had an air of nonchalance about her.

“I occasionally go for walks around the area.”

“Eh? You go for walks… at this hour?”

“I was forced to offer my expert opinion on something bothersome, so I thought I’d take a stroll in the night wind to refresh myself as a change of pace. It’s only logical, right?”

“Uh… I guess…”

Forcefully inserting herself inside the ring of people, she started laughing at the stretcher-bound Raishin.

“How unsightly, Second Last. You look terrible with those wounds.”

However, Raishin didn’t respond to her insults.

“… Huh? Did he lose consciousness or something?”

“Yes. He was knocked out.”

“To faint with his eyes half open… such a creepy fellow. Hm… His breathing is shallow, and his body temperature is low.”

Touching Raishin’s skin, she immediately realised the danger he was in.

“If I’m not mistaken, his ribs have been broken. His lungs also have been punctured. Hurry up and move him.”

Having been alerted, the people handling the stretcher became slightly less rough with their handling. Although they definitely didn’t treat him like a fragile object. With Raishin swaying dangerously from side to side on the stretcher, they started transporting him to the doctor’s office.

Watching them depart with a grim face, Kimberly addressed her question to no one in particular.

“Was he lynched or something? His whole body has been battered up.”

“No, the one who did this was a third year student named Lisette Norden. Apparently, he was going to wreak havoc inside the lockers.”

“A one on one fight… And he was beaten up that badly?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. Kimberly grew restless as she asked,

“Where’s his automaton? She’s a short girl with black hair.”

“Ah, she’s right over there.”

“The guard pointed over to where a girl was being transported away, surrounded by the guards’ automata.

Her hands were bound behind her back, and she was being lifted up by her ankles. The nape of her neck to her back were covered in slash wounds, exposing red flesh beneath. There was a large amount of blood, and her entire body was covered in bruises. Kimberly was shocked by the fact there was blood and that her flesh could bleed. She was exactly like a human.

While looking at Yaya, Kimberly frowned.

“… Hmph. It looks like this one’s half dead as well.”

“Ah, no, I mean… She was on a rampage, so we had to…”

Feeling a little guilty, the guard tried to explain it away.

“Rampage? Hmph… You say that, but I don’t see any wounds that are consistent with self-defence.”

On the contrary, it looked like she hadn’t resisted at all. The damage inflicted was limited to her back, with her arms and her face showing no wounds whatsoever. It looked like they had stealthily attacked her suddenly in order to avoid any ha.s.sle.

“Don’t you think you overdid it a little? Two level E capture rings, and three magic insulation codes— do you think you’re fighting a legendary dragon?”

“But we heard this automaton defeated ten Benchwarmers.”

While internally cursing them for playing it safe, Kimberly asked.

“What do you plan on doing with it?”

“We’ll bring it to the executive committee. Raishin Akabane may be related to Cannibal Candy in some way. He’ll have to be brought in for questioning.”

‘You think he’s in cahoots with Cannibal Candy?”

A dangerous presence filled the air. There was a piercing look in Kimberly eyes as she said,

“Was that supposed to be a joke? Is that kind of joke in vogue nowadays?”

“No, I mean, I ‘m not too sure on the details myself…”

“—!?”

Suddenly, Kimberly put her guard up. Twisting her upper body, she reached into her breast pocket. Her actions were almost mechanical in nature, like she was a soldier in the army and it had been rigorously drilled into her.

“… Professor? What’s the matter?”

“Just now— that automaton moved, didn’t it?”

The guard turned around to look at Yaya, who was as lifeless as a dead fish on a cutting board, before uneasily refuting her.

“It couldn’t have. There’s no way it would be able to. Her ego has been sealed after all.”

“No, I could have sworn it moved.”

“You must have been seeing things, professor. Her magic energy has been completely cut off from her. In her current state, she wouldn’t even be able to talk. In the first place, her frame has already taken a considerable amount of damage—“

“Get back! Down on the ground now!”

As she shouted, Kimberly had already leapt backwards.

The guard couldn’t react. Barely had he turned his head around, when he was sent flying.

There was a loud sound of an explosion, and a bluish-white light shot out.

Colossal magic energy was leaking out from her. Something akin to hot air was being vented out from Yaya’s entire body into the surrounding atmosphere.

(What the h.e.l.l…? This… This is like some sort of… monster…?”

Amidst the hot air, Kimberly could see Yaya tearing off her metal restraints as easily as they were made of paper.

Her silhouette was distorted because of the shimmering effect of the hot air.

The combustion of magic energy was intense. Like a gas burner, bluish-white flame was being shot upwards.

(There’s… a horn…?)

The moonlight bounced off it, giving it a pure white sparkle. It was on her brow, shimmering like it was made out of diamond. Without stopping to check her body, The atmosphere around Yaya began to tear as she moved.

Her figure was the spitting image of a yaksha.

An instant later, Yaya’s shadow had completely vanished—

Leaving behind the guards who stood still, dumbfounded, and a befuddled Kimberly.(5)

The sound of the loud explosion reached all the way to where Charl was.

The ground rumbled, then there was a violent wind. Unrest began to spread amongst the disciplinary committee members.

“What was that?” “It sounded like it came from the Locker.” “Did something happen to the chairman’s a.s.sistant..?”

Felix raised his hand to quell the unrest.

“Teams C and D head over in that direction. Most likely, there’s some trouble going where Lisette is. She’ll definitely need backup. The rest of you retreat and form a cordon fifty metres away from here.”

One of the disciplinary committee members was surprised by the order, and spoke up.

“Chairman, that’s a risky move. Your opponent is the T-Rex!”

“I’ll be fine. I am a member of the Rounds after all—“

Felix grinned, his usual smile on his face.

“And my automaton has just arrived.”

Right on cue, something appeared behind Felix. Or rather, it would be more precise to say something was descending behind him. It was a female silhouette, and it landed with a soft thud.

It was an automaton wearing armour— if it had to be summed up in a single word, it would be a Valkyrie. It had on old-fashioned armour and was carrying a greatsword. The helmet covered her face fully, so it looked like some sort of demonic mask.

(This is… Felix’s automaton?)

It was Charl’s first time seeing it in person. It appeared to be the disciplinary committee members’ first time as well, as they were staring at fascinatedly. Sigmund grew wary, giving off a low growl.

“Now then everyone, please fall back.”

The disciplinary committee members glanced at each other, hesitant.

“Chairman, that’s an order we can’t follow. The enemy’s not only the T-Rex, she’s Cannibal Candy as well—“

“You still don’t get it?”

Felix’s voice froze over suddenly.

Unimaginable from the normal Felix, his voice was now as cold as ice.

“You’ll be in the way, is what I’m trying to say.”

Everyone got cold feet. It was clear to them what was about to happen.

Following Felix’s orders, they spread out in a circle, moving away in all four directions.

Their presences rapidly faded away into the distance. Eventually, the area surrounding Charl and Felix grew silent, and Felix quietly spoke, his regular grin back on his face.

“Let’s have a nice, long chat, Charl.”

Her heart grew cold. That regular smile now instilled fear inside her instead, and she asked him,

“… Do you honestly believe I’m Cannibal Candy?”

“Of course, I’m serious about it. It would be a problem if I weren’t.”

—What did he mean by that?

However, before she could voice her doubts, Felix continued to speak.

“Honestly, the original plan was for him— Raishin Akabane to defeat you. I was able to successfully lure him out on the pretext that you had gone missing… at least that part went off without a hitch. Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’d say he’s done enough for me.”

“… Raishin?”

She had a nasty feeling. She felt her throat rapidly dry up as she asked,

“… Did you do something to him as well?”

“I’ve just taken care of him. My comrades will take care of the rest.”

“Did you kill him!?”

“I didn’t. I just broke him, and his doll.”

“Why…!?”

“He was performing subversive activities inside the Locker.”

“—!”

“In the first place, having to do that was just a slight modification to the plan. He still had some value to me, so it was a pity I had to do it. If he had opened my locker, then all would have been fine, but he just had to go and open the one locker I didn’t want anyone to open— so I could let him roam about freely anymore.”

Value? Locker?

Charl had no idea what he was talking about.

Charl’s brain was replaying a different line that Felix had spoken earlier.

Raishin was lured out— because he was searching for me?

“Why!? I don’t understand! In the first place, you’re the one who dragged him into the whole affair!”

“… Oh, Charl. To think I valued you so highly. You’re not very quick in the head, aren’t you?”

Felix sighed. Giving her a look of scorn, he shrugged his shoulders.

At that moment, like a lightbulb going off in her head, Charl finally understood.

She finally saw the whole picture. As much as she didn’t want to believe it, it was the worst case scenario.

She bit her lips. Her knees shook. Speaking slowly, like she was emerging from a state of confusion,

“You… used… me…?”

“It was too good an opportunity to pa.s.s up, Charl. If you want hate something, hate the fact we were doomed to meet. Curse the heavens for putting both you and I into the academy in this year.”

No… Felix shook his head as if to say.

Like a giant crack on the earth, a dry smile emerged onto Felix’s face.

“Curse the fact that your Raster Cannon is similar to my Predator.”

Finally, Charl understood everything.

The situation had been like this all along.

Everything she thought she knew was actually reversed.

Felix didn’t show kindness to Charl because their magic arts were similar.

It was because their magic arts were similar that he tried to get close to her.

Everything had been carefully calculated.

He feigned concern about Charl to get close to her.

Everything he said to her was meticulously prepared as well. His gentleness had been a sham.

He was going to frame Charl with all his sins, and kill her as Cannibal Candy— That was his deceitful plan all along.

In short, Felix had been the enemy all along.

Felix was Cannibal Candy!

At that moment, Charl’s world literally crumbled into darkness.

There was no sound, no light; everything had vanished. Her muscles felt like they had been replaced with lead, dead weight which weighed down heavily on her.

Who would believe Charl’s version of events?

It would be her word against the disciplinary committee chairman’s. All the evidence conveniently pointed to her. In fact, there might even be some fabricated ones to help the case.

There wasn’t a single person that would believe, understand, or defend her. Even now she remembered Sigmund’s advice on making friends, but it was all too late.

Something warm began to drip down onto her cheeks.

Her emotions raged inside her. However, there was nothing she could do, and she felt an extraordinary sense of helplessness. Sobbing like a little baby, all Charl could do was to let her tears flow.

“This… is too cruel…”

“It’s regrettable. If it’s any consolation, I’m telling you about everything at the very least.”

“But why…? Why would you…?”

“Don’t be stupid. What other motive could there be for enrolling in this academy?”

Felix’s tone was light and refreshing.

“To become the Wiseman, of course. I am going to become the king of the magic world.”

Charl felt like a fist had been buried into her. She felt her brain go numb and her senses dulling.

Felix had a grin on his face, and his gentle tone was like his normal self.

“The Night Party is a merciless battle for survival, where the person who eliminates all other obstacles in his or her path gains everything— that was what you always liked to say.”

“…”

“I liked that part of you. As a matter of fact, I agreed with you wholeheartedly. It’s just—“

His eyes turned cold as he finished his sentence.

“—there was something about you I couldn’t stand. — Your naivety.”

He extended his hand out to the automaton beside him.

Magic energy extended out from his palm, linking him to it and firing up the puppet.

The magic circuit began to activate. With the automaton as a conduit, Felix’s magic energy was expressed as a phenomenon of physical alteration.

The invisible energy began to build up, before being released.

In a flash, a torrent of light shot forth from the puppet’s sword.

Actually— it was the sparkle of water.

Like an arrow, the fierce torrent of water flew straight at her. The water took the form of a sharp spear, aiming straight for Charl’s brow.

Sigmund leapt into action, using his small body as a shield to protect Charl.

The torrent gouged out flesh, causing fresh blood to spurt out and hit the floor. The little dragon was sent forcibly flying backwards, collapsing onto the ground.

“What are you doing, Charl…!? Hurry up and support me..!”

Sigmund called out to her. However, his voice didn’t reach her ears.

Felix prepared his next attack, focusing his magic energy. Even that didn’t enter her field of vision.

Charl remained sunk down on the floor, unable to do anything else but cry.

Her mind was a blur, but one thing stood out the most.

How am I going to apologise?

If it was just her, then it was fine. This was punishment for her own foolishness.

However, Felix’s schemes had also involved someone else other than Charl.

Because of my stupidity, those two—

He was a rude person, but meant well.

His automaton too, got dragged into this messy affair.

Now they were going to suffer because of her.

“Raishin… I’m sorry—“

Just as Charl’s apology left her mouth, the sparkle of water indicated something had slashed through the air.

Transforming itself into a lethal shape, the sharp end was about to neatly pierce both Sigmund and her—

However.

With a clang, a metallic sound a.s.saulted her eardrums.

She snapped back to reality. Jerking up her head reflexively, a most beautiful sight came into her eyes.

The moonlight sparkled dazzlingly, reflected through the water droplets.

The spear-like jet of water was blocked by them, dispersing harmlessly.

Two shadows appeared in front of Charl.

The one who stopped the water spear was a small and slender girl.

Directly behind her, with his hand on her back, there was a youth.

His bandages fluttered in the wind, and the girl’s hair did so likewise. His entire body was drenched in blood, the severity of his wounds obvious to Charl even in the darkness of night.

“Don’t apologise, you idiot.”

With his blood-stained back to her, his voice was curt, but there was strange warmth in it.

“There’s nothing you’ve done that you need to apologise for.”

He turned to stare at the enemy.

To protect Charl, he was going to fight.

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