A few days after signing the contract.
In the quiet forest, rustling could be heard.
A well-dressed gentleman knelt by the riverbank. He stared a long time at his own reflection in the water.
It's easier to get used to this face than I expected. Sometimes, I still get startled but... it's becoming more natural to act him out.
Ilrune angled his head in multiple directions, the expressionless foreign face in the water responded in kind. The light hair glittered in the sunlight, and, watching it, Ilrune frowned.
Even if my hair's a different shade of blonde, I'm more used to seeing black in my peripheral vision.
Feels like I'm back to my childhood.
He turned his head to the side and looked at his ears. Round, no issues.
It's amazing what a disguise artifact can do. It's almost worth the trouble.
Looking back at the water, he tried a few facial expressions, frowning as each came and left.
For some reason, the man's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
According to the dean, he has a gentle, welcoming smile. Dean Amyse told me to just think of something I like when smiling, but Perseis says I look like I'm planning on razing down everything around.
Well, what does he know about looking welcoming? Stupid pirate prince.
Ilrune stood up with a sigh.
"I still can't believe that they wouldn't give me even a single plant. What am I supposed to teach? Art? Why does an esteemed academy not have dangerous plants in its greenhouses?"
...Complaining to the plants should be acceptable within this person's personality. I am to teach students but I have neither course plans, materials, or contents prepared. What a hassle... I have to gather everything myself.
I guess that since I'm an adventurer, the dean expects that I won't have problems looking for plants.
Bernard o' Bernard, won't you miraculously come back from the dead? I'm being overworked here!
The disguised Ilrune grumbled to himself as he shuffled through large greenery.
"Nevertheless. Let's make this quick."
***
"Aghh!"
Ilrune stood still and watched the unfolding scene, dumbfounded.
An elf? He has such good vocal chords...
"..."
"..."
He and the other non-screaming teenager faced off in a serious standstill.
"I mean no harm." Ilrune finally yielded and raised his hands. "I'm just passing through."
What are these kids doing playdating so far in the woods? There's some seriously dangerous stuff around here.
"I'm just looking for some plants."
Slowly, then surely, the teenager lowered his attacking hand. His companion's mouth opened in surprise, but he was interrupted before he could speak.
"What's going on?"
The commotion had attracted two teenagers: a tall and intimidating girl, and a lanky boy with pink hair.
Ilrune resisted the urge to make a face.
Gods, even more kids. A mermian on land? Is the girl from a Nhoorlandic tribe? Given that I have to teach kids, I shouldn't be complaining I suppose. But still. Weirdo group of kids.
"Who screamed? It was so ear-piercing we thought you were being attacked!" the pink-haired teenager slung an arm over the brown-haired one.
"Just a misunderstanding." The latter shrugged the mermian's arm off.
"Yeah- I can see that, but who screamed?"
There was a mischievous glint in the pink-hair's eyes while the companion that came with him sighed loudly.
Perfect. If you're going to squabble amongst yourselves, I'll just blast all of you to pieces. Have some situational awareness!
"Ahem." Ilrune coughed, bringing the attention of the loudly arguing teenagers back to him. "If it's established that I won't harm you, I'll leave."
Just as he turned around, a low voice cried out:
"Wait!"
Crr...aak!
Thunder abruptly rumbled and a flash of white tore through the through the sky.
Shaa...
Slowly, quiet rain fell, dripping down the tree leaves overhead.
Ilrune stopped.
"There's something that's driving the sewer rats out of their natural habitats. Be careful near waterlines."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The teenagers watched on as his figure cut through the leaves, disappearing through the slow fog.
"What a weirdo." Azriel voiced what all the others were feeling. "Even if he claimed to be harmless, I could see that his mana was a trigger away from exploding."
"Well, even so! We see plenty of crazy mercenaries everyday. It's likely we'll never see this guy ever again. Let's just treat it as another weird encounter." Kaeth shrugged, his hair following with a light bounce.
Watching them all, Wilroy sighed internally. He couldn't bring himself to tell the others that similarly to the badge hidden inside their hunting gear, the golden badge glinting on that man's chest, half shrouded by his cloak, also bore Welxorth's emblem.
***
Grrrr..
A low rumble resembling a roaring cry shuddered through the forest. However, it was covered by the loud rain.
Ilrune frowned, gazing at the creature struggling at his feet.
It was a sort of strange mix between a dog and a snake, with chimera like features, and muddy, sticky mana.
The emaciated creature had a dog's head and body, but the eyes, fangs, and inner organs of a snake. With its skin slinking onto its ribs, the creature almost looked like a statue brought to life rather than an animal.
The whole thing reeked of corruption.
"What a disgusting thing. It goes against the very principles of nature. Well. You and I, buddy?"
The dog whimpered, a snake's tongue slipping past its maws.
Crunch.
Ilrune crushed its skull, spurting black blood all over the green flora.
"Time to rest."
I didn't know the alchemical formula for chimeras still existed.
...That's banned dark magic. Didn't they stick a tracking spell on anybody who uses that formula?
Ilrune turned his eyes to the sky, a grim expression on his face.
Unless some stupid human mage was clever enough to make their own formula.
"This isn't going to end well, is it?"
"It'll be the Midday Campaign all over again."
***
A week before the entrance ceremony, Welxorth Academy.
Ilrune shuffled his feet slightly, the collar of his shirt grating irritatingly at his neck.
After two weeks of working my butt off to finish the curriculum, it's finally the start of the semester. And that means that the dean will officially host a staff meeting... Which means that my Bernard Monet disguise will be put through a thorough test. The second I exhibit suspicious behavior, I'll be screwed ten times over.
Exhaling lightly, he fixed his tie once again. The mirrored image replicated his movement: a controlled, perfectly average, movement.
Pat. Pat.
A glint of gold peeked through the light morning coat, as he moved to pat away dust.
Knock. Knock.
"Who is it?"
"I'm the Department of Contemporary Magic head. Would you like to walk with me for a bit?"
Ilrune froze, recalling something the Dean- Aquila Amyse had told him.
- "There's three main political factions at Welxorth. One, those who are pretending to be kind and equal to everyone. Two, those who clearly announce that the nobles are superior to commoners. Three, those who pretend to not be involved, but still nudge their preferred side to the front. They will try to win you over. It is imperial for you to join the third party."
Ilrune quickly drew a conjecture between that and the person awaiting him. Given that the person had neither used their name nor their status to present themselves, it was less likely that the person was from the second party.
It's annoying that I have to oblige to the political games in here, but it's what the dean wishes. Well. Time to make useless small talk.
He opened the door, held out his hand, and said, "Bernard Monet. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise. Liu Xieping."
Ilrune's first impression was that of a strong grip, and rough hands.
He's Eastern? The Central People Republic tends to produce swordsmen, not mages. Maybe... a mercernary? He looks the part.
The man's dark red eyes and black hair reminded the disguised elf of a sharp dagger, but a pair of rectangular, silver rimmed glasses dimmed the man's acute temperament.
Although dressed in a typical dress shirt, vest, and short coat combination, the man's clothes strongly evoked the memory of eastern culture within Ilrune's mind, due to the styling, the cufflinks, and through the mage's red and gold tassel earring. His build wasn't overly aesthetic or burly, but it was thoroughly refined and looked balanced.
His face has remarkable symmetry... Ilrune almost raised an eyebrow. Strong, handsome, and well learned at the same time? That sounds like an unfair talent distribution.
"Shall we slowly head towards the conference room?" He inclined his head.
"I was just about to propose that." Liu Xieping's smile had a confident edge, but it was wholeheartedly human and somewhat kind, too.
A rare steady-minded mage? What a lucky find. Nowadays, human mages comprise mostly of maniacs obsessed with their singular passion.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The two men embarked on a slow walk, their polished footsteps ringing against the quiet floor.
"I'll be frank." Liu Xieping cleared his throat. "Join the Temperance coalition."
Ah?
The opportunity fell in my hands just like that?
Temperance suggests restraint and passiveness, yet they still meddle in others' affairs...
Ilrune internally made a face.
Still, what a stroke of luck. I don't even need to seek them out, the fish lands right into my plate.
"Alright." he replied.
The red-eyed mage was taken aback. "No questions?"
"Temperance sounds like something I'd enjoy." Ilrune smiled with his best practiced gentle smile.
"...If you say so." Liu Xieping chose not to press the subject any further.
The two fell in a brief silence.
He seems pretty skilled, from my first impression. Why would he need to work here? His hands are calloused, so he likely knows the sword as well. A magic swordsman would earn much more money fighting monsters at the borders.
Well. I shouldn't really pry, I suppose. I'm only paid to figure out who had Bernard Monet dead.
Ilrune thought for a little bit, then said, "Would you be able to tell me more about the other teachers in here? Who am I about to meet?"
The red-eyed mage nodded. "No problem. There are a multitude of teachers at Welxorth, so, regrettably, it is difficult to host a meeting where everyone will be present at the same time. The dean has separated us in years, so that teachers who will have the most students in common will meet."
Liu Xieping glanced at the hallway littered with paintings with a light frown.
"I hear there are only six year five teachers unaffiliated with any magic institutions, you and me included. All the other year five teachers are researchers from Magic Towers dropping by occasionally for their only class of the week."
"So there will only be six people excluding the dean at the meeting?" Ilrune probed with hope.
"You aren't wrong." Liu Xieping paused. "We'll be equally split in terms of political parties."
"It sounds like I'm about to walk in a room full of explosive artifacts."
The red-eyed mage inclined his head, but didn't laugh. "Something like that. From what I hear, the other teachers have character."
Way to state the obvious. Ilrune laughed internally. Human mages are fucking crazy.
"All mages have character."
***
"You... still teach here?"
"Why, yes. You seem to have a problem?"
"Not at all. It just seems a bit... redundant."
"...Care to elaborate?"
Agh, so tense. Ilrune felt a chill creep up his spine. This is why mages are solitary creatures, and academies are never perfect. That ego clash between mages is just too much.
By his side, Liu Xieping who had been quietly watching the skirmish cleared his throat. "Ahem. Shall we introduce ourselves before the dean arrives?"
"A wonderful idea. I'm Aurio Ettore from the Knowledge Department and I teach two classes. It's my pleasure to work with you all." A familiar face presented itself to Ilrune.
It was the bright and cheery professor he had met two weeks prior, the one who pointed to him the direction of dean Amyse's office. His brown hair still sported that messy-style, and hazel adorned his pupils, like a warm autumn coat.
Although, the familiarity is only one-sided as I've only seen him in my mercenary disguise..
The conference room was rectangular, fitting a marble and gold carved table. The man sitting opposite to Aurio Ettore inclined his head once the former finished speaking.
"Theodore d'Este. Contemporary Department, two classes."
The man's warm green eyes evoked lush green forests, and wild springs, but his face was tight with strictness.
Contemporary Department?
Sensing Ilrune's visible confusion, Aurio Ettore didn't hesitate to jump in and explain.
"The Department of Contemporary Magic treats all that is linked with the natural philosophy, like mathematics, and biology."
Ilrune nodded in thanks.
"My name is Gisele. I'm from the Department of Applied Magic and I teach three classes." The woman sitting next to Aurio Ettore nodded. It was the same one that herded him away, a while back. Her long blonde hair shone beautifully in the lazy morning light, but Ilrune couldn't help but feel unsettled.
It was because the woman had particular eyes.
That deep violet, the abyss of corruption?
She may seem innocent... but I know that shade of purple better than my own face.
Ilrune blanched under the disguise artifact, but forcefully kept his face blank using superhuman power.
Why hasn't the others said anything? Is it just normal to accept a corrupted human as a teacher nowadays?
... Well, I was accepted. But this dean, really. How is it safe for the students to keep someone who can easily snap anytime?
I can never tell what she's thinking anyway, behind that frozen face of hers.
"Ah, you teach three classes?"
The new voice was sugary sweet pitched with a gravelly undertone. Its owner was a fair lady, with long midnight blue hair and cotton-candy eyes.
"My name is Fiorella di Baux, I am from the Department of Knowledge. Hm, I also teach three classes."
"Why, you..." Gisele gritted her teeth.
The lady smiled elegantly, folding her fan.
"How could I possibly have known that Professor Gisele would also take the same amount of classes?"
Letting the sound of rivalries wash over him, Ilrune closed his eyes and focused on the two names he's just heard. One, single word, the other, two and a half words.
A commoner, and a high-ranked noble. The rest of the people here are also nobles, except for Bernard Monet who is a fallen noble and Liu Xieping, whose origins are unknown.
Should I rally with her in solidarity? Ah, forget it. Both Liu Xieping and the dean will kill me if I do that. Although, she never said to not do anything, just to not interfere in the fights...
"Let's get back on track." Liu Xieping cut through the fight in a straightforward manner. "I am Liu Xieping, Department Head of Contemporary Magic. This is a new hire, Bernard Monet, also from the same department. We both teach two classes."
"Nice to meet you all." Ilrune humbly bowed his head. "I hope to meet your expectations."
"Ah, there's no need to worry about it!" Aurio laughed, waving his hand. "We all were rookie teachers once. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate."
Puppy professor...
"Yes."
Hearing this, Gisele, who hadn't been paying attention to the conversation, raised her head and asked,
"Is this your first time at Welxorth?"
Bernard Monet blinked at the question, as if taken aback.
That's odd. She didn't strike me as the type to do small-talk.
According to the intel folder, Bernard Monet doesn't know anybody here. Does she suspect me?
"Indeed." Ilrune inclined his head. "I have visited before, but it is my first time truly being within these walls."
"I see." she nodded and didn't respond further.
How strange. She does not seem to outright suspect me, but her behavior is still suspicious. Could she be the one that ordered the hit on Bernard Monet? Unlikely, Gisele doesn't seem to be the type to have a perfect poker face.
Nevertheless, Ilrune noted the information and filed it away into his brain to be analyzed later.
Sensing brief awkwardness, Aurio jumped into the conversation once again. "So! Are you from the Dawn Tower? I don't recall a Bernard Monet during my time there."
As expected, he doesn't know me... I can't say that I'm not glad.
Ilrune shook his head lightly, relieved. "Regrettably, I was only an explorer botanist associated with the Dawn Tower. I have never worked there personally. All my knowledge comes from hands-on experience."
Which makes it all the more suspicious. Why did Bernard Monet, who's so adept at surviving in the wild, disappear all of a sudden?
"Remarkable!" Aurio cheered, "Professor d'Este also learned most of his extensive knowledge in the field."
"It is the first time I hear of that." Liu Xieping interjected. "Which research team were you assigned to?"
With both attentions pinned on Theodore d'Este, the taciturn man had no choice but to reluctantly speak.
"I worked in the Imperial Army for the unit of magicraft research," he sighed.
Hey, that's not so bad. There's prestige tied to working for the Lurine Empire. He could've been a private tutor, or something. There's no need to being a teacher at Welxorth of all places. Maybe he's here to spy on the students on the Emperor's behalf.
Hey, that actually makes a lot of sense. Given that Welxorth is an outstanding institution- What's that smell?
Ilrune frowned. Indeed, he had begun smelling a very particular fragrance.
Floral and overly sweet, it reminded him of...
"My employees have been discussing interesting topics as of late. However, this is a conference. Let's begin without further ado, shall we?"
As her voice drifted through the room, a gloved hand reached through a large lilac painting, and Dean Amyse emerged out of the spatial portal.
Aside from Ilrune, the others teachers appeared calm as they greeted her and waited for her to sit.
It seems that she does this kind of thing often. Everyone is used to her appearing late. One more point for oddness. Really, mages these days.
He shivered. Is it me or has the room gotten colder?
"First order of things. For this semester, the upper-year students will partake in organizing the Heritage Festival."
"And by upper-years..." Aurio prompted. "The fifth-years?"
"Are they even ready?" Theodore frowned. "We all know the Heritage Festival's significance..-"
"You mean its significance to the nobles?" Gisele interrupted, leaning forward as if instigating. "I can swear to all of you that most commoners do not give a damn-"
"Miss Gisele!" Scandalized or perhaps worried for her, Aurio laid a gentle hand on her arm.
"Ridiculous."
Although it had only been a whisper, the room wasn't quiet enough and everyone glanced uncomfortably at the culprit, Fiorella di Baux.
"You!" Gisele nearly jumped out of her seat in her fury. Before she could proceed, an oppressive air filled the room. Thick, freezing mana pressed upon each of professors as if daring them to object.
"Focus," said the dean in a chilly, frosty tone.
Watching all of this, Ilrune found himself at a loss for words.
This is a bit... Why isn't anyone interfering?
Talk about workplace bullying.
This is the mess Liu Xieping told me not to worry about?
Ilrune gave a side glance to the red-eyed mage, who was sitting with a stone cold expression.
Look at this fellow, he doesn't even remotely look bothered.
...Well, it does take people like that to run a neutral party.
But I've really ought to do something about this mess. If I can detangle the webs of relationships between these people, I might be able to figure out what's going on in Welxorth and how Bernard is related to that.
In the background, the dean continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
"As I've said, please forward the mentorship forms to the administrative bureau once you've done deciding...."
Before that, though, I need to make it through this boring meeting.
With a sigh, Ilrune sank down his seat, and resigned himself to a long spiritual nap.