Chapter 88

The white arrow I released exploded in Riz's chest.

"Ah!"

Riz, who had been hit directly, let out a scream. At the same moment, the dark mist that had enveloped her seemed to shatter like a chain that had been binding her body, and it disappeared.

Riz's body lost its strength, and she collapsed onto the floor.

"Riz!"

Lola rushed to Riz.

I was a bit worried, but—well, it should be fine. Riz should already be back to normal.

Philbus approached me.

"A magic arrow that purifies darkness... Can you even use something like that?"

"Yes. I practiced at Lake Biharnu."

"Amazing... But—why did you suddenly shoot me?"

"To check if it would affect the human body. It was an experiment before shooting Riz."

"No, no, no, no! If it had an effect, I would be dead!?"

"...I believe Mr. Philbus is a teacher who cares for his students. You would risk your life for the sake of your students—right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Because of that passion, you readily agreed to my request. 'Try anything! I'll allow it!'—right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Philbus's eyes were darting around.

"W-Well, for the sake of the students, right? This is nothing, nothing at all, hahaha!"

Philbus said this with a somewhat dry voice.

Impressive... I was deeply moved.

To risk one's life for the sake of students, to accept it willingly and proudly—such a thing is not easily done.

Philbus's status in my eyes rose even higher.

If something happens again, I'll ask Philbus.

"Albert! Teacher! Riz is waking up!"

"Huh, I—I—?"

Riz opened her eyes, looking dazed.

"Right, I—I was consumed by the power of darkness—!"

Riz looked startled as she looked at Lola.

"I'm sorry, Lola! I—I did something terrible—!"

"It's okay. You weren't in your right mind, right? I'm glad Riz is safe."

Lola responded with a gentle expression.

"Are you okay now? Can you talk?"

"Thank you, Lola..."

Riz nodded seriously in response to Lola's words.

"Last night, and just now—I was being controlled by the dark contract..."

"Dark contract?"

"Yeah. I was aware, but it felt like a fog had settled over me—like I couldn't move my body freely..."

She said this as she rolled up her uniform sleeve.

Riz's white upper arm was exposed.

"I think it probably disappeared because of the magic just now—but before, there was a contract symbol here."

As Riz said, there was no trace of anything on her arm.

"Making that contract was a mistake..."

Riz bit her upper lip, and her expression was filled with deep regret.

"Why did you make that contract?"

"...Because my grades... were bad..."

Riz said this in a shy tone.

"I stretched myself to enter the academy, but I couldn't keep up at all—I didn't think I could get the school badge needed to advance to the second year. But everyone in the village had high hopes for me. So—"

"You turned to the contract?"

"...Yeah. It seemed to have the effect of boosting my magic power. I managed to pass somehow."

She sighed heavily afterward.

"But I shouldn't have. I never thought I wouldn't be able to disobey orders. Even talking to Lola—"

"Huh?"

"You were told to get close to Lola... I'm sorry..."

"To me? Why?"

"...They were interested in the witch's blood..."

Riz said this hesitantly.

"I'm sorry for involving you for such a reason, Lola..."

Lola's face showed a brief look of sadness, but it was only for a moment.

She returned to her usual expression and said,

"It's okay! I'm glad I got to talk to you, Riz! We were able to help you this way!"

"...Lola... Thank you..."

Riz said this as if squeezing the words out.

"Last night, too. I went to that classroom because I was being controlled by the dark contract. I noticed Lola, but I couldn't do anything. I couldn't act on my own will."

"You went to the classroom where you were found unconscious?"

"Yes. It seems they tried to make me use the tools for the crime there."

She said this as she looked at her left hand.

There was a ring on her index finger. Riz pulled it off as if it were something unclean.

"I couldn't remove this ring by my own will until just now."

"...What is it?"

"It seems to be a magic item to find the treasure they were trying to steal from the academy."

"...The dark mark."

Philbus muttered. Then, he looked at Riz and asked,

"Riz. I understand you were being controlled. But—who made you enter the dark contract?"

Riz paused for a moment before clearly stating,

"Saires."

The friend of Brain and one of only three students in the year with the iron school badge.

That top student, Saires...

At that moment, something caught my attention.

—Around one o'clock today... Can you spare some time?

Brain had said this. And,

—I have something that's been bothering me about last night. Albert, it would be a great help if you could be there.

He also said this.

The last words were:

—It's not bad, but... I already have plans to meet someone...

In other words, he had plans to meet someone about last night.

If Saires was the mastermind—there's a good chance Brain had noticed.

If Brain was planning to meet Saires?

"It's dangerous...!"

I blurted out, and everyone's attention turned to me.

"What's wrong, Albert?"

"Brain might be meeting Saires."

I answered Lola's question.

The words instantly froze the atmosphere.

"Earlier, Brain asked me to accompany him to meet someone about last night. I declined because of my plans with Lola. The location—"

As I remembered, I suddenly started running.

The school building is L-shaped, so the classroom Brain mentioned seemed visible from the rooftop.

I stood at the edge of the railing and looked down at the school building.

"—!?"

The classroom on the top floor of the school building.

Two male students were grappling, their bodies visible through the broken window. Although their faces were indistinct from the distance, the blue-haired and burnt-brown-haired pair—Brain and Saires—were unmistakable.

"What's going on, Albert! Why did you suddenly run off!"

Philbus and Lola caught up to me.

I pointed at the school building and answered.

"Brain and Saires are fighting."

"R-Really!?"

Philbus's face contorted when he saw the scene.

"Let's go help them!"

I shook my head at Lola's voice.

"There's something I need to do first."

"What is it?"

"I need to shoot Saires from here."

"Eh!? But it's too far from here—"

"Have you forgotten, Lola?"

"Eh?"

"The range of my Magic Arrow is—"

I continued,

"Thirteen kilometers."

"Ah!"

I extended my right hand, took aim. I couldn't hit Brain... and I couldn't kill Saires. I reduced the power...

After carefully making all the adjustments, I spoke the trigger word.

"Magic Arrow"

The white arrow shot out like a flash of light—

and blew the burnt-brown-haired student into the back of the classroom.