Nicholas Pov:
" ... "
Now sitting alone in the office, the once chaotic atmosphere seemed to have finally settled, leaving behind a simple question of what had just happened
" That was quite something "
and of course, Albert had arrived with his cherished insights.
" Calling it something is rather belittling don't you think? "
" Hmm... perhaps "
Just as we were about to go about our usual back and forth, we both watched in frozen awe as one of the noblest ladies in the empire jumped outside the building leaving us both speechless
" Master "
" Yes Albert "
" It seems my old age is catching up to me; I'm even starting to hallucinate "
" What a coincidence, perhaps it is because of the previous battle, yet I also seem to be hallucinating "
Nodding at my words we quickly went back to work completely erasing any sort of memory that could have existed during that period
.....
For the rest of the evening, I returned to my mansion as I stayed cooped up in the office finishing what was left of my paperwork.
" So let me get this straight...
During one of the patrols a guard found the magical inscriptions written by Koschei and reported it to their superior officer? "
" That is correct it was discovered as we broadened the inspection routes of the soldiers for the academy trip "
" I see... and then after reaching the mages in arcane it was deemed too complex and a threat causing active employment of the troops alongside the detonation of the thousands of magic scrolls that was purchased under my name "
" That is correct, the magic inscriptions being incomplete was the only thing we managed to discover so we assumed he left to continue in another location "
" So the reason for the detonating in two completely opposites sides are because... ?? "
" The signs were showing that the magics continuation was eastward however as we weren't quite sure we took a gamble and blew the westward side as well "
" and you somehow got lucky and ended up destroying the vessel that contained none other than the soul of Koschei effectively killing him? "
" Yes "
" ... "
Merlin who had finishing interrogating me on the subject yet again simply fell silent as he slowly closed his eyes
He had teleported here immediately when I contacted him about Koschei yet for the past half an hour it had simply been me continuously retelling this same story
the more I explained the story the greater the shaking in his hand became his face exuding second hand embarrassment
' Quite an act though '
" Where is it... "
" Pardon? "
" The body where is it? "
Speaking while keeping his eyes closed, he asked me
" Ah... in the dungeon "
' It seems he wishes to check the body for himself '
Slowly nodding his head, he turned around as a bright light flashed yet again causing him to disappear
Of course, that was only for 10 minutes or so for as I was finishing the last of my work a golden light appeared in the middle of the room alongside the appearance of merlin who had teleported back from the underground dungeon.
" It's real "
He had gone and verified Koschei's body himself just in case confirming his death
" Koschei is truly dead, and perhaps in the most idiotic way a SS rank has ever died "
Speaking in a voice full of pure bafflement, merlin took a seat ahead of me as he continued to speak
" Honestly, if you go so far as to split the soul and body at least make sure you keep it safe! "
Shaking his head wearily, I couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight of the lamenting merlin.
The truth was that Koschei did take precautions when it came to his soul safe, however that would collide with the story I had presented him, so it was casted away.
" Still to think he had split his body and soul, to tell you the truth it was closer to a theory based on the circumstantial evidence from our side "
" No need to explain anymore, the fact that you did what you did is already an achievement "
Sighing softly he stood up yet again
" For now take a break, I'll contact you tomorrow for further discussion on this topic "
" Of course "
" Good, I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening then "
Leaving those words behind merlin disappeared probably already at the academy by now
.....
Third Person:
" Hmm "
' A story that is a mix of both truth and lies '
Merlin thinking so slowly brewed a cup of tea in his office
Yet the fact remains that Koschei is truly dead, not to mention that Professor Dexters presence has also disappeared
' Probably also dead, it seems he was the traitor '
Normally Merlin would bring up those matters, yet looking at the youth in front of him he decided to cut him some slack
" Let's trust him this once "
With that he continued with brewing his tea
.....
Nicholas Pov:
" Do you believe he bought anything I said "
" Most definitely not, yet it seems you were right about his love for theatrics "
Casually speaking with albert, I went over the talk I had with merlin who I knew could read through my lies
' Someone on my level could never deceive him '
" It seems he has decided to let it go " albert continued affirming my thoughts
" Indeed, I myself am unsure why but I'd rather not question it "
' When someone gives you a present, you just say thank you and move on '
Nodding at my words Albert informed me about the current situation
" The banquet should be beginning right about now, most students have already arrived "
" Good, for now check the inflow guests, once everyone arrives then we will move "
" Understood master "
Bowing his head albert disappeared as I stood up and made my way towards my room.
' Good thing I had taken care of the whole Dexter situation beforehand '
He was a traitor and demon contractor, so I had told Sir Jaster to stay in his designated room. the second Dexter entered he who was only an b-rank without the power of the demon he contracted easily got defeated and killed by Jaster who is an S-rank.
' I made sure to tell to kill him immediately in one shot '
Him powering up and escaping because we didn't finish him off properly would have been a headache, thankfully Jaster made sure to crush his head cleanly.
If I have left him to his own devices then he could have secretly summoned the demon mid-banquet, in fact the only reason he is alive is because he was good at covering his tracks if not merlin would have taken care of him long ago
' I already know his identity so why keep him alive, evidence can be found later in his home, and we could say that we felt a demonic presence before we killed him '
Back at the academy my hands were tied behind my back, still the second he entered arcane I made sure that he was gone
Walking into the bath I washed away all the lingering thoughts as I got ready for the banquet, knocking the door right as I had finished dressing was Albert whose arrival signalled my entry to the party