Chapter 26

26. The Jester, the Hero, and the Parrot (8)

"Devil! Devil!"

"Yes, yes. I'm coming to meet you today, so please calm down, Parrot-kun."

The parrot's welcome as soon as I stepped out of the dormitory.

I understand his feelings, but he needs to calm down a bit.

The probability of success for today's plan is fifty-fifty.

"Didn't you endure for 20 years? Surely, you can hold on for just one more day, right?"

A passing student looked at me with a 'he's crazy' expression and slowly moved away.

But my actions are not at all strange.

This parrot can understand human language.

The parrot, who had been staring at me straight in the eye, called out politely.

"Devil!"

"Hehe, good. Follow me slowly."

The parrot spread its wings and started circling in the sky.

As I mentioned earlier, the probability of success for today's plan is fifty-fifty.

I want to minimize variables as much as possible, even if it's a parrot.

'The fragment of the devil is no joke.'

The fragment of the devil is powerful. It really can kill you.

I have set up a few safety measures, but this is my first attempt at such a plan.

Especially challenging Episode 1.

My body trembles.

'It will be fun.'

Of course, it's a thrill.

Thinking of a unique and unprecedented plan that no one has ever tried.

Being the first to use it.

Even though it's the first time, mistakes are not allowed in this extreme environment.

I can't help but be excited.

It's not that I'm a pervert, but anyone who is a veteran would feel the same.

'He came out so quickly.'

I could see Luna in the distance.

Luna, with a real sword on her left side.

Indeed, this is the look that suits Luna the most.

"Luna-san."

"Hey! Why are you so late? I thought I was going to die of heat."

Clearly, Luna was sweating profusely.

I wasn't late. In fact, I came out 10 minutes early.

Then, when did Luna come out?

"When did you come out?"

"Huh? About three hours ago... No, no! I just came out!?"

"Ah, I see."

"R, really! Why? Did you think someone was looking forward to spending time with you?"

Then why did you come out three hours ago?

Did you think someone would leave you behind?

She didn't even show her usual temper.

She must have been looking forward to today.

'It's not a feeling of love.'

100% friendship.

She seemed to have a lot of fun playing with the children in the square last week.

For Luna, today is the second day of playing with a friend.

Thinking about this, I feel a bit guilty. I didn't come here to play today.

"Hmph! Thank me. I'm taking time out of my precious weekend to play with you."

"Hehe, are you playing with me because I asked, or are you doing it out of kindness? If it's the latter, I don't need to give you the right to ask questions."

"Huh? Of course not. Why would I ask for a reward when playing with a friend?"

"..."

Right, that's true. Asking for a reward between friends is a bit strange.

The problem is that today's play is a devil-hunting game.

Hehe!

Hmm, a sense of guilt pierces my heart.

I tried to pass it off as play, but it just doesn't work.

"I'll give you the right to ask questions."

"Huh? No, I don't need it?"

"No! You must ask a question when today's play is over!"

"No, I don't want to! Why are you doing this! Get off me!"

I started pleading, hanging onto Luna's leg.

Luna's kicks began to try to shake me off.

Hmm, something feels strange. It's like I'm discovering a new fetish...

Beep!

"Improper interactions with the opposite sex are grounds for punishment!"

Rodelin appeared at the perfect moment.

Thanks to her, I didn't discover a new fetish.

"That's just him clinging to me. Look."

"Hmm, definitely a different setup from usual. Zero-kun, get off. Only perverts grab onto girls' legs."

"I guess I am a pervert, senpai."

"Ugh, is that so."

Luna and Rodelin started whispering.

Contempt is evident on their faces as they look down at me.

Hmm, it feels like I'm about to discover a new fetish again.

Before that, I quickly stood up. I'm not a pervert.

"Hehe, thank you for the warm welcome."

"I separate work and personal matters. Reacting to your lies and delusions is my mistake."

The Lucid family was cursed by the devil.

It was a question that Rodelin couldn't help but be flustered by.

That's a secret that only the Lucids know and must keep hidden.

"I need to reflect. This will happen often, so I need to be more careful. I'm grateful to you."

The Lucid family is one of the most prestigious noble families.

A distinguished family that maintains one of the pillars of the empire without forming factions.

Rodelin must feel both the burden and the responsibility.

"Hehe, I hope you understand that I have my own secrets."

"Of course. Responsibility is not a privilege of the nobility. Zero-kun must be carrying something too."

Good, very good.

I knew she was a noble and rational character, but to respect me this much.

From now on, I can probably get away with 'Hehe, it's a secret' for most things.

"Hmm, let's move on to business. I thoroughly checked during the patrol but found no signs of corruption."

"Hehe, I had the same result. So, what about... tracking down rumors?"

"Rumors?"

"Yes, rumors about corruption or devils."

"Hmm, but it's too vast. Even if we limit it to the academy... it's still too vast."

I started pretending to think.

The process of deducing the location of the 'Devil's Fragment.'

I know the perfect route.

I just need to naturally feed it to Rodelin.

"Hehe, what if we limit it to people from 20 years ago?"

"...20 years ago?"

"Yes, I believe Parrot-kun has existed since then, right?"

This time, Rodelin fell into thought.

Her mind is probably in this state.

The prototype of corruption was created at some point, and for some reason, it leaked, leaving traces with the parrot.

The parrot appeared about 20 years ago.

The words it says are 'devil,' 'danger,' 'protect,' 'save me,' 'help me,' etc.

'Devil' is particularly unique among these words.

If the parrot met a being it could call a devil and was asking for help?

But talking to animals is impossible.

Then...!

"Get information from events or people at the academy 20 years ago, that's what you mean."

"Hehe, exactly. You are truly remarkable."

Her deductive skills are so impressive that I want to applaud.

"Zero-kun gave a hint. Anyone would have been able to deduce it after hearing it."

I silently looked at Luna.

She was still tilting her head.

Yeah, there she is. A kid who can't even make a simple deduction.

'Just grow up healthy and strong.'

I felt like a father raising a daughter today.

* * *

Conversation with the building caretaker.

"20 years ago? It was complete chaos. The holy sword suddenly disappeared."

"The holy sword of the hero?"

"Yes. The holy sword that hadn't been drawn for over 100 years vanished without a trace. All that was left was the mark where it had been drawn. I don't know if it's still there. It's been a restricted area for a long time."

Conversation with the head of the student council.

"This is a rumor from back then... It was said that a student went missing at the same time."

"Missing? So they haven't found them yet?"

"At the time, the investigation team was focused on finding the holy sword. Besides, it was just a rumor..."

"What is the name of the student who is presumed to have gone missing?"

"I can't remember. It was so long ago..."

Rodelin sighed.

Not even properly tracking the disappearance of a student.

"What were the student council members doing back then...!"

Rodelin flipped through the documents.

Information on people who have worked from 20 years ago to the present.

As the vice president, she could easily obtain this information.

"Well, I can find it without such information."

The route of the hidden piece I've repeated thousands of times.

Now, the last step is to talk to the mysterious old lady.

"Now, the last one. The person who has been at the academy the longest."

"That's probably her. Huh...?"

An old lady standing by the flower bed. And next to her.

'Raymond?'

The pure evil guy, Raymond, was tending the flower bed.

"Raymond-kun?"

"Ah... Z, Zero! A, hello! S, senpai, hello too!"

Raymond bowed deeply.

A polite young man. Of course, his mouth isn't.

"Hey! Can't you see me?"

"Ah... L, Luna! Sorry. You're so small that I... "

"T, this! Do you really want to die!?"

"Why, why are you angry... I just stated a fact. You really are small."

Luna grabbed Raymond by the collar and started swinging him around.

Rodelin tried to calm Luna down.

Hmm, not my problem.

"Hello, ma'am?"

"Ho ho, many visitors today. Nice to meet you all."

"Do you remember anything from 20 years ago? About devils... or the holy sword...?"

"20 years ago... There were rumors about devils."

"You just said 'devil'?"

Rodelin approached urgently and asked.

"Yes. Many people saw something black and pointy. It quieted down when they couldn't find any traces."

"I see. I also heard about a presumed missing person."

"Not presumed, they really went missing."

"Really?"

"I often saw that child."

"Really! What was their name?"

"I don't know. They never told me. They always wandered alone, without friends. A mysterious child who always had a parrot with them."

Rodelin's gaze turned to the parrot flying in the sky.

Indeed, a smart kid.

"Why didn't you report it!"

"I reported it countless times, but no one believed me. The student records were erased. Someone must have tampered with them."

"That's impossible!"

"Do you really think so? A missing student at the Andwood Academy is a huge disgrace. Especially a student they were supposed to protect? Anyone would want to cover it up."

"Such... things..."

Rodelin couldn't continue.

Dirty people exist everywhere.

Erasing a student's record to protect their position is something they could do without hesitation.

"Do you belong to the student council?"

Rodelin, who shuddered, covered her name tag with her hand.

Even if she tried to hide it.

"You don't need to be ashamed. It's not your fault."

"Still... I'm sorry."

"You should be sorry if you hear this and bury it. How about it? Will you believe this old woman and help find that child?"

"Of course. I swear on my position as vice president... no, my name."

"Thank you. Now I can rest easier."

As soon as she turned away from the old lady, Rodelin's expression turned grim.

She must have realized that the nobles who covered up the student's death.

'Now, just a bit more deduction and it's over.'

After gathering and deducing the information, I'll go to 'that place' and the battle will begin.

Just as I was about to leave.

"By the way, do you know that child?"