Chapter 85

After parting ways with Brain, I didn’t head to the classroom but made my way to the rooftop. As I walked, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang out.

I should have returned to the classroom, but I walked down the empty corridor with a slight sense of guilt.

I climbed the stairs and pushed open the door to the rooftop.

Of course, no one else was there.

Beyond the railing, the blue sky and the cityscape of the capital spread out.

As I wandered aimlessly on the rooftop, the door suddenly opened.

...?

I thought it was a bit early for Laura to arrive—

"Hey, delinquent. What are you doing here?"

"...Mr. Philbus."

Philbus stood there.

Philbus approached me with a few steps.

"I saw you walking in a direction different from the classroom... so I followed you."

I had been caught skipping class by a teacher.

This is bad...

But then, Philbus said something unexpected.

"I'll turn a blind eye to you skipping class."

"...?"

"I have something to talk to you about. Can you spare me some time?"

...I'm being approached by a lot of people today...

I replied immediately.

"No way."

"Hey, hey! You're cold, aren't you?!"

"...I have a promise with Laura. I came here to meet her."

"With Laura...?"

Philbus looked surprised but soon showed a look of understanding.

"Laura... For her to skip class, it must be something serious. Can you tell me why?"

"...Alright."

After a moment's hesitation, I nodded.

In this situation, keeping it a secret wouldn't convince Philbus. Besides, it was about yesterday's incident. It wasn't wrong to let Philbus, a teacher, know.

I told Philbus about the suspicion of Liz that Laura had shared with me.

"I see... So that's what happened..."

Philbus nodded with a serious expression.

"Alright, I understand. But I'll be joining you."

"Please do."

"...Liz does have some oddities."

"Oddities?"

"She's not a very good student. I thought she would fail the first semester exams. But she passed with a decent score."

Philbus tilted his head.

"That sudden improvement in grades—there might be something to it..."

After saying that, Philbus continued.

"Well, it might just be my imagination!"

It seemed the conversation was over, so I asked the next question.

"...What did you want to talk to me about, Mr. Philbus?"

"The Mark of Darkness was stolen."

"...What?"

The Mark of Darkness?

What's that?

"Someone took advantage of the chaos last night. A few other things were stolen too, but the main target was the Mark of Darkness."

"Who?"

"Probably the black-clad figure who attacked Brain—the Darkness."

"Darkness..."

I was a bit confused. The Mark of Darkness, and Darkness? It sounded like a proper noun... Plus, why was Philbus, a mere teacher, telling me this?

"Carlyle asked me to give you something if something happened..."

"From Carlyle?"

"...It's fine for now. We'll talk after we're done with Laura."

Philbus looked towards the door leading to the rooftop.

"It seems they're here."

The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs could be heard from the other side of the door.

The door creaked open.

Laura and Liz appeared.

"...What?"

Liz froze at the sight of me and Philbus and said to Laura,

"There are people here, so should we change the location?"

"No, here is fine—"

Laura replied, but she looked a bit troubled as she glanced at Philbus and then at me.

...Philbus's appearance was unexpected...

"Mr. Philbus will be joining us."

Laura seemed to understand everything from my words.

"Liz, I actually wanted to talk to you, which is why I asked you to come here."

"...W-What? I thought it was just going to be the two of us... I didn't expect a noble and a teacher to be here..."

Liz looked troubled as she looked at Laura.

Laura looked back at Liz with a pained expression.

"...I'm sorry for deceiving you... but I want to hear what you have to say."

"...Liz"

Philbus interjected.

"I'm sorry, but if it's about last night, I can't just let it go. Even if you leave now, I'll still ask you later."

Liz's face darkened at Philbus's words. She sighed dramatically.

"...Alright... What do you want to talk about?"

Laura asked Liz about last night.

"—I saw you that night. But you said you didn't meet anyone. Why?"

"...Oh, really? Hmm, I didn't notice..."

Liz replied.

But her face and voice betrayed her anxiety and confusion.

...She seems to be a poor liar.

"It's because I was being chased by the undead! I was in a panic, and Laura didn't notice me either!"

"...You didn't look like you were running. You were walking normally, right?"

"...Uh"

Liz took a few steps back, looking troubled.

...She seems to be a poor liar.

"Liz, are you hiding something? I want to hear the truth. I want to help you!"

But Liz raised her voice.

"That's not true! It's Laura's mistake! It's none of your business! Don't say such weird things!"

Laura didn't respond.

The gentle Laura is weak when attacked emotionally rather than logically.

"—It's not none of my business."

So, I interjected.

"Laura chased after you and was almost killed by a high-level undead, a Dullahan."

"...What, Laura...?"

Liz's words made Laura nod slightly.

"I'm fine. Albert saved me."

"...Why? Why would you risk your life for me?"

Liz shook her head, looking confused.

Laura looked at Liz intently and said,

"Because I'm worried about you!"

Liz's body trembled at Laura's words.

Those words must have come from Laura's heart. Laura genuinely worried about Liz.

Her words seemed to reach Liz's heart.

Liz swayed and moved her hands nervously.

She looked at Laura with a pained expression, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Then—

"Help me, Laura... I'm scared..."

She said in a strained voice.

"...I might be killed. I don't want to die!"

It was almost a scream.

Laura, Philbus, and I instinctively leaned forward.

Laura nodded.

"Don't worry! We won't abandon you, Liz!"

Liz smiled in relief and opened her mouth, looking resigned.

"...That night, I was being controlled. I was controlled by the Darkness—"

Just then, Liz suddenly clutched her head and screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"What's wrong, Liz!?"

Laura rushed to Liz's side in a panic.

At that moment—

I saw it. The madness in Liz's eyes. Dark scales-like particles burst from her body.

"Stay back! Laura!"

Before Laura could react to my words—

Liz's hand touched Laura's chest.

"Impact"

A short word.

Immediately, a shockwave threw Laura's body back.

Updates are on Wednesdays and Sundays! Though today is Saturday. For a while, updates will be on Saturday nights to Sunday.

...It will be updated by Sunday, that kind of feeling.