Chapter 56

And so, two days later.

We returned to the academy safely.

Even though we had only been away for half a month, it felt like a long time, which surprised me.

It seemed that the classes had progressed quite a bit. It might be difficult to catch up, especially for Amy.

In any case, peace is the best.

***

We visited the headmaster the day after we returned.

"You both did a great job."

As soon as Mabel and I entered the room, the headmaster greeted us with a broad smile.

"Who would have thought that the winners of the inaugural Imperial Comprehensive Martial Arts Tournament would come from our school. I'm very proud. Whether there will be a second tournament is uncertain, but still, you both did a great job, Lamproug. And Mabel, reaching the semi-finals is a great achievement. It was a pity that you had to face each other. If you were in different blocks, you might have even won second place."

After a brief pause, the headmaster added:

"However, you are still students. What is the primary duty of a student? That's right, studying. This experience might add some prestige to your records, but that's all. If you get complacent, you'll be left behind in no time. Especially you, Mabel."

Mabel, whose name was called, asked in confusion:

"…Me?"

"Due to our circumstances, you were away from the academy for half a month right after you enrolled. It will be difficult to catch up. Especially in your case, with the written exams… You should ask Lamproug and the maid for help. They had good grades."

Mabel blinked a few times in confusion and then nodded.

The headmaster clapped his hands with a smile.

"Well, I'm sorry to have called you here so soon after your return. You should rest today to prepare for tomorrow. Ah, Lamproug. Could you stay a bit longer?"

I remained silent and lowered my eyes.

Mabel seemed to hesitate but eventually left the headmaster's office alone.

"……"

"……"

Even after the door closed, neither the headmaster nor I spoke.

Eventually, as Mabel walked away from the room, the headmaster finally spoke.

"Well, Lamproug… Do you have something you want to ask me?"

"…Yes."

I exhaled.

Indeed.

If you're going to come at it from that angle, I'll cut to the chase.

I said with a smile:

"Are you satisfied with this, Headmaster?"

"Hmm. What do you mean?"

"The plot to make it look like the hero died by having Mabel not reach the finals has failed. Is that okay?"

The headmaster looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"If you understand that much, asking if I'm satisfied is strange. It means our plan has failed."

"I had my doubts."

I continued while pacing around the room.

"The academy didn't need two recommendation slots for the plot. I shouldn't have needed to participate. But if that was the case, it could be to cover up the unnaturalness of only one new student being chosen. Caution is important, but… even so, you were overly cautious."

"…? What do you mean?"

"After hearing the Crain family name, I inquired about it at home. Naturally, I didn't get much information. They are researchers in magic, mostly part of the academy faction, and an old family. Recently, they adopted Mabel and treated her very well. They bought her many dresses, took her to social events, and hired painters to create portraits… Faking it is important, but was it necessary to go to such lengths for a daughter who was supposed to die soon? It seemed like they really adopted her."

The headmaster groaned, holding his head.

"Those people… They got carried away. Despite all the warnings I gave them…"

"The academy and those above never intended to follow the plot. The real goal was to get Mabel under control."

I continued:

"Even though the condition was not to be responsible for the match results… the Lugroque Company couldn't afford to let Mabel lose before the finals. They needed to complete Kyle's test. So, they naturally meddled with the tournament brackets. They investigated the participants' backgrounds and placed dangerous candidates like Reinus on Kyle's side, ensuring he could win. Mabel was supposed to reach the finals, lose, and die. But they didn't expect… that the academy would send such a powerful player to defeat Kyle."

"……"

"By doing so, the academy could gain Mabel. Perhaps the Lugroque Company didn't lend Mabel like a mercenary but sold her to the academy? It would be strange to ask for her return after she was supposed to die in the finals. They probably had a clause to dispose of her if she escaped, but they never expected her to lose and survive. By having me make Mabel lose, I could get her for the academy. Is that it?"

The headmaster remained silent for a moment, then sighed.

"You were underestimated."

"……"

"'We won't be responsible for Mabel's match results.' If our plan didn't work, we wouldn't return the money. They were eager to send their own mercenary and win the tournament, yet they raised the commission price, saying Mabel might win. The hero is a crucial element in the country's future… but it shows how much the current empire is underestimated. So, I used you to break their pride. They lost Mabel and their prized asset. It's their just deserts."

"……Did you never think I might lose to Mabel or Kyle?"

"I've lived a long time."

The headmaster twisted his lips.

"I can gauge a person's strength to some extent. Your talent… rivals that of the hero. Moreover, you already possess considerable power. It's terrifying. If you were to surpass the hero… no, that's impossible. No one in this world can surpass the hero."

"……Well, that doesn't matter. I have only one real question."

I said quietly:

"What do you intend to do with Mabel?"

"……"

"You didn't plan this just to thwart the Lugroque Company. There must have been a reason to get Mabel. What is it?"

The headmaster chuckled.

"What will you do with that information?"

"Nothing. If it's a pitiful reason, I'll just think it's pitiful. But I have some sense of duty… if there's something I can do to help, I might."

"Hahaha, that's terrifying. What reason do you imagine?"

I frowned and answered:

"To strengthen the academy from within, perhaps. Hiring guards won't reveal the academy's inner workings. If there's a possibility of spies being sent as new students, a student in Mabel's position was needed to protect Amy."

"Interesting, but the attention of the demons will likely shift away from the academy. By winning the tournament, you've demonstrated the academy's depth. The assassins and spies who disappeared last year can no longer be blamed on the hero."

"……If that's not it, what is it?"

The headmaster, after a moment of silence, lowered his eyes and said softly:

"I felt sorry for her."

"……"

"You don't believe me. But it's the truth. There's nothing more to say."

The headmaster began to speak:

"At first, the officials wanted to abandon this plan. They found a candidate to be the hero's double, but if they couldn't make them win, it was pointless. They rejected the chamber's conditions and were ready to scrap the plan. I agreed. But after meeting Mabel, I changed my mind."

"……"

"A talented child. But she looked as if she had experienced all the world's misfortunes. It's no wonder, given that she was to be killed by her beloved brother. But she told me she would win. She wanted to make her changed brother's passing easier. She wanted to use her talent to kill her own family, so she asked me to use her. With dead eyes. At that moment, I thought—this is wrong."

"……"

"So, I persuaded the officials, made a contract with the chamber, and devised a way to use Seika Lamproug as a trump card. Including the maid as a candidate was part of this. If she withdrew, Mabel might have to participate, which would make her somewhat anxious, wouldn't it? It's a trick used by merchants."

The headmaster continued:

"Living a long time makes you less attached to many things. Money, fame, power, and even life itself. But the desire to do something for others is hard to let go. That might be why I'm in this position. You probably don't understand yet."

"No… I do."

I paused.

In my past life, I had taken in orphans and made them my disciples. I was probably similar to this person.

Even my attachment to the power I once had.

I lost it when I reincarnated, or rather, when I was defeated by my beloved disciple.

I exhaled and asked:

"Mabel is worried that the Lugroque Company will send assassins. They must be furious about losing Kyle and might not leave Mabel, who knows their inner workings, alone."

"There's no way they haven't taken precautions. The Crain family is a baronial house with a long history and strong ties to the court. The lady of the house is the third daughter of a duke. If they were to harm Mabel, even as an adopted daughter, the Lugroque Company would face destruction. That's why they offered money to have her handed over, but the Crains refused. There's no need to worry."

Moreover, the headmaster added:

"The Lugroque Company has only gained power in recent years. If they suddenly lose their footing, they'll become cautious. They'll likely be quiet for a while."

"Is that so? Then… there's nothing I need to do."

"What are you saying?"

The headmaster said, sounding exasperated:

"It's natural not to fear assassination. What's important is how you live from here on. Mabel will start an unfamiliar academy life. Help her in various ways. As a senior."

"I understand that much."

With that, I turned to leave.

The conversation was over.

I sighed inwardly.

Looking back, I shouldn't have gotten involved.

Withdrawing from the tournament and living without being involved in Mabel's death or the headmaster's plans would have been the best outcome for me.

My curiosity got the better of me, and that was a mistake.

But… I didn't regret it.

Suddenly, a trivial question came to mind. I turned back to the headmaster.

"By the way… you said you've lived a long time. How old are you, really?"

"Do you ask a woman her age? What a rude brat. I'd be happy to tell you my age if I knew it myself."

The headmaster said dismissively:

"I stopped counting after three hundred."