Chapter 53

EP.53 The Derailment of Madness - 1

After the commotion of yesterday, Leonardo left the room with a refreshed expression.

He had finally gotten a good night's sleep and felt his fatigue had dissipated, so he thought it was time to enjoy the rest of his vacation.

[Going to have fun?]

<Of course, I took all my accumulated leave, so I need some days off.>

Wouldn't it be a bit disappointing if all he did in this mysterious city was stay cooped up in his room and study magic?

There should be some fun things to do like this.

[Then, should you take Aria with you?]

<Of course. The lady also needs some rest.>

Ariasfil was proficient in spirit magic, so taking a break for her health wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Then, when it's over, I have one request. It might be a bit awkward, but I have to do this.]

<You sound like you're not usually awkward.>

[That's true, but this is different, man.]

The sage asked with a serious expression.

[What happened in your previous life?]

<...>

It was a question he had expected would come up eventually.

He had just been avoiding the topic, and the sage had been considerate enough to notice and not push it.

It was a question he would have to face eventually.

[You don't have to answer now. Just answer by tonight. You need to sort out your thoughts.]

<...Yes, I will definitely answer.>

With that promise, Leo went outside.

[But do you know where Aria is to find her?]

<She'll be somewhere appropriate.>

[Is that an explanation?]

Even as he picked on this, Leo calmly pointed to a building some distance away. It was the restaurant inside the magic tower, which had large windows.

<She's over there.>

[Are you some kind of tracking dog? How do you pinpoint Aria like that?]

<What's a tracking dog? A tracking dog.>

By calling him a tracking dog, it made him feel like he was Aria's pet. He was, after all, her knight.

“I guess we should grab a bite on the way.”

It was late morning, and he hadn't had breakfast, so it wouldn't be bad to eat at the cafeteria.

[Is the food at the magic tower good?]

<It's cheap and there's a lot of it.>

If they didn't serve proper meals, the graduate students would riot. If they didn't feed the soldiers, they might shoot their superiors, so why would students be any different?

“Ah, Leonardo.”

A graduate student, tired of slave-like life, waved at Leo with a healthy expression. Without the ring, the orange juice he was drinking would probably have been a caffeine concentrate or a recovery potion.

“Good morning. Miss.”

Ariasfil was eating a breakfast set with sausages and scrambled eggs.

“Eh? Oh...! Good morning!”

Aria turned her head with a flustered expression and focused on her meal again. But when she saw the long, thick sausage, her expression became even more flustered.

<Why is she like that? Does it not taste good?>

[It's probably too big and thick to fit in her mouth.]

It was a plausible explanation, but the tone and expression were highly suspicious. However, he felt it would be pathetic to voice his suspicions, so he didn't.

“I should go eat in the cafeteria too.”

“Then, there's a special today. Would you like to try that?”

Looking at the menu, a special dish with bacon and sausages stood out.

“Oh, that sounds good. I'll go order it.”

With that, Leo got up from the table and walked to the order counter. Since the magic tower cafeteria accepted cash as well as meal tickets, it was convenient for Leo to order and eat.

“Here...”

“Excuse me...!”

Just as he was about to order, a girl approached Leo and said with a trembling voice and face.

“W-would you... like to have dinner with me...!? And a cup of tea...!”

The bustling cafeteria suddenly fell silent. The incident in the library had already been seen by everyone, and the rumors had spread.

The notion that Aria and Leo were a couple had been established for a long time.

It was shocking that someone would make such a bold move.

“...Excuse me... Miss Ariasfil...?”

Ariasfil, who had established that notion, looked at the unpleasant scene with a knife in her hand.

Amelie trembled like a frightened small animal, looking at the knife with a murderous aura and the dagger in Ariasfil's hand.

‘...He'll definitely refuse. He didn't even fall for that obnoxious mage last time...!’

After a moment of silence, Leonardo looked at the trembling girl and replied.

“Since I was about to order, it should be fine. I'll let my group know and come back. Is that okay?”

Poke, poke, poke!

Aria started stabbing the sausage on her plate with her fork for some reason. The skin of the long, thick sausage burst, and pieces of meat splattered around the plate.

With that, Leonardo returned to the table where Aria and her group were sitting.

“Miss Aria, I'm sorry, but can I go somewhere else for a bit?”

“Eh...! Of course, that's fine...!”

When she pressed down on the sausage with her fork, the juices burst out. It was now a lump of meat that could hardly be called a sausage.

“Leonardo, if you really want to...! I won't interfere...! Of course...!”

Her expression looked like it was about to explode. The juices on the knife and fork in her hands could easily be mistaken for blood.

“Thank you for your consideration. I'll be back soon.”

“Y-yeah...?”

Ariasfil couldn't stop Leo and bit her lip until it turned blue.

Despite this, Leonardo left the cafeteria.

***

[Are you sure? Really, this is...]

<Can't you sense anything from that person's expression?>

At a table outside a cafe, Leo and the girl had ordered food and drinks and sat down.

The girl was so nervous that she was shaking her legs restlessly and fidgeting with her fingers. Her expression was so pale that she looked like she was sick, and her gaze was unfocused.

[...Why is she like that? Is she that into you?]

<...If that were the case, it would be better.>

Leonardo looked around with a troubled expression.

<...Two... no, three people?>

The gazes directed at them.

He had a rough idea of who two of them were, but the problem was the third one.

[What? Who?]

<Please be quiet for a moment. I can't answer now.>

Answering with aura, Leonardo focused his gaze on the girl in front of him.

“So, I haven't asked your name. What is it?”

The girl opened her mouth, trembling.

“My name is Irena Ritei.”

“You're shaking so much. Miss Irena, are you very cold?”

With those typical words, Leo lightly touched her hand. It was a gesture that could be considered rude, and he wouldn't normally do it, but Leo had to force himself.

<Who gave you the order?>

He had to make physical contact to prevent the aura sound from leaking out.

“...That woman...! Leo...!!”

“Leonardo...?!”

Aria and Amelie, watching from a distance, couldn't help but misunderstand, but that was a problem to be dealt with later.

“Yes...!?”

<Please calm down. This conversation can't be heard by others, like telepathy. It won't be detected in that direction either, as there's no magic circle.>

The sage, standing to the side, was inwardly amazed. Leonardo had immediately noticed that her trembling wasn't due to embarrassment or shyness.

‘...It's too obviously a strange situation.’

Proposing a meal was understandable. It's hard to find a cause-and-effect relationship when people develop feelings for each other. But her behavior was clearly suspicious.

Logically, personal meetings are usually arranged in places with fewer people, but she had approached Leo in a very tense manner. It was as if she was following someone's orders.

Even if she was the type to ignore such things, if she had proposed out of affection, she would be embarrassed but focused on the object of her affection.

‘But this girl is too flustered. She looks terrified. It could be shyness, but from the way she reacted when I confirmed, it seems to be something worse.’

His deduction was correct, and Irena Ritei did not deny it.

<There's definitely someone watching us and giving orders, right? If you answer verbally or in writing, you'll be killed immediately, right? If that's correct, scratch your left cheek. If not, the other side.>

She was a bit flustered by this but soon scratched her left cheek as instructed.

[...Ordered? A date...?]

The culprit's purpose was clear, and their identity was roughly known.

Judging from her attitude and reaction, it was more appropriate to see her as a victim caught up in this incident rather than an accomplice.

<Is the person who wants to kill me here? If so, pull out a napkin and drop it. If not, just pull it out and leave it.>

She slowly pulled out the napkin and let it slip and fall.

“Oops, let me pick it up for you.”

With that, Leo naturally let go of her hand and walked to the floor. As he handed her the napkin, he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Would you like me to cover you with a coat? Your hands are very cold.”

<Are you the only hostage, or are there more? Answer with yes or no.>

Irena trembled for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“Yes...”

“I see.”

The worst-case scenario was avoided. If there were more hostages, he couldn't have handled it alone.

Relieved, Leo draped a coat over Irena's back.

‘Make the black stone as thin as possible...’

He converted part of the black stone bracelet into a thin thread and attached it to the coat. The enemy was likely observing from a distance to kill him, so they wouldn't notice this thread.

<Don't take off the coat. The thread connected to the coat will act like a telephone.>

A simple sound might not be heard, but with the high conductivity of the black stone and his skills, he could communicate secretly with her.

<Is the person giving orders one person or multiple? If one, pull the left shoulder of the coat. If multiple, the other side.>

She raised the left shoulder of the coat, and the situation was somewhat fortunate. If there were multiple, it would be as disadvantageous as having more hostages.

<What was the next order? After calling me out, there must have been another instruction.>

The date was just one of the methods, not particularly important.

Since she was in the magic tower, she would have had other means to bring him out.

The problem was the next action. To save both her and himself, it was important to find out the next order.

<Answer with the drink. When the food comes, don't drink the drink. If what I say is correct, raise the glass and drink.>

The food and tea arrived. Leo calmly ate breakfast while starting his questions.

<The location is a hidden place, but is the decision on the location up to you?>

Irena didn't raise her drink and ate as calmly as possible. It felt like she was chewing on a stone, but she had no time to think about that.

<Is there a designated alley or room?>

She raised her drink and drank the tea with difficulty.

<I see. Then, please move me according to those instructions.>

She looked at Leo with a flustered expression. Her unnatural handling of the food was an added bonus.

“The food is delicious. It's a good cafe. I enjoyed it.”

<If you don't take me now, you will die. First, take me to the designated location, and I will deal with the enemy. During that time, ask the guards or people around for help.>

The best method Leonardo could come up with, given the information so far.

If this plan didn't go awry, it would be a way to save both of them.

“Shall we go a bit faster?”

“...Yes?”

<If we go too slowly, it will raise suspicion. I expected an attack, so it won't be difficult to counter.>

With that, Leo extended his hand to her. By holding her this way, he could prevent her from being killed if the enemy attacked.

“Let's go.”

Irena and Leonardo started running like a couple in a play.

This made Aria and her group lose sight of them, and the pursuers had a better chance to attempt an assassination.

As they entered an alley, a blocked path and a dark road were revealed.

<Try to seduce me as naturally as possible. A kissing pose would be good.>

If that happened, the enemy would attempt an ambush to assassinate.

“Excuse me...”

Irena leaned Leonardo against the wall, closed her eyes, and extended her lips. It was a rather romantic scene, if you didn't know the inside story.

Clang!

Seizing the moment, the hooded figure swung a sword to cut off both Irena and Leonardo's heads.

If Leonardo hadn't blocked it with a dagger made from the black stone, the heads of the two would have been severed and connected to each other.

“You, huh? You're the one who caused this mess.”

Pushing Irena out of the alley, Leonardo kicked the hooded man. The sound of bones breaking and the sensation of the kick shattered the connection between the head and spine.

“Gah!”

“Quickly, go as instructed. Miss Irena.”

Following Leonardo's instructions, Irena fled in shock.

As if it were more convenient, Leonardo extended the dagger into a long sword.

“The train incident before, and the disappearance this time, you must be involved. I know you didn't die. So let's talk slowly at the magic tower security department.”

“...For a commoner, you're still using cheap tricks.”

At that moment, Leonardo felt something was off. No matter how much of a dark mage, if the spine was broken, language ability would be paralyzed and breathing would be difficult.

[...This guy... He's not a dark mage.]

As the sage said, the enemy in front of him couldn't be called a dark mage. If so, it would have been more convenient to kill with curses or emission-type dark magic.

“Did you forget me? I haven't forgotten your face for two years.”

The man removed his hood and spoke. When he did, a familiar face appeared.

The scar on his neck, as if it had been cut, was new, but it helped identify him.

“...F*ck...”

[...He wasn't assassinated. This bastard...]

The former bodyguard of Aria, standing calmly, glared at Leonardo.

[He became a mind. By selling his own soul.]

Jihad, the mind, burst into laughter.

“Did you have nothing to do, so you sold your family to the devil?”

That laughter was exactly the same as the one he showed to his family and fiancée, who were sacrificed two years ago.

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