"Did you feel it too? It seems we found the right person after all. This teacher is indeed another vessel possessed by Kashchey."
Seeing the shift in Jeanne's expression, Talulah confirmed her suspicions. This "Liberi" was indeed another body belonging to Kashchey. After learning that Kashchey could manipulate the bodies of his subordinates to move freely within Deity Grypherburg, she had speculated that the old snake could parasitize more than one person at a time.
Watching the figure on the podium lecturing on the history of Ursus, Talulah felt a wave of revulsion at the thought that she once faced the possibility of being occupied by this creature. It wasn't just her hatred for Kashchey; it was the chilling realization that one day, an evil entity could use her own body to orchestrate calamities. For a moment, she considered killing her right then and there.
However, she knew this setting was entirely inappropriate. If she moved now, the news tomorrow would simply be about an Infected murdering a beloved teacher. Given how popular this "Kashchey" was, even students who harbored sympathy for the Infected would likely turn hostile toward them after such an act.
Meanwhile, Jeanne was also observing this version of Kashchey. The aura was unmistakably that of the Black Snake she knew, yet something was different. Compared to the cold, sinister Phidia body that had once pursued Talulah, this Liberi lacked that overt chilling sensation. Her temperament was almost a total inversion, making her look less like a villain and more like a genuine scholar.
"It seems Kashchey still has plenty of secrets... but standing here isn't going to get us answers. Let's go in and hear what she has to say!"
With that, Jeanne pulled Talulah through the open back door. They found two empty seats and sat down, blending in as if they were just two more students auditing the class. No one looked twice; this teacher's lectures were famous throughout the school, and auditors were a daily occurrence.
On the podium, the Liberi teacher's eyes flickered with a momentary haze when she spotted Jeanne, but she regained her composure instantly. She continued her lecture, treating the two newcomers as if they were ordinary students.
Jeanne and Talulah listened intently to the history of Ursus. Talulah was especially on edge; sitting there reminded her of the years she spent being "educated" by the Duke. She wanted to know what hidden, sinister motive could possibly drive this creature to willingly serve as a university professor.
She listened with a critical ear, fearing that Kashchey was attempting to instill his poisonous ideologies into the minds of the students. After all, the youth in this university were the future of the nation. Was he trying to groom them into his successors?
Jeanne, however, was genuinely absorbed in the lecture, looking like a freshman with a deep interest in history. To outsiders, Jeanne's youthful appearance—looking younger than her actual years—made her look like a high schooler at best. Against the backdrop of the large, sturdy Ursus students, Jeanne's frame seemed particularly... petite.
Sitting in the back row, Jeanne was almost completely obscured by the students in front of her. Although 160 cm wasn't exactly short, it was a different story among a crowd of Ursus who averaged over 170 cm.
Even if she couldn't see the Black Snake clearly, Jeanne found the lecture fascinating. Kashchey was an exceptionally gifted teacher. She didn't just recite dry facts; she posed thought-provoking questions. And unlike other historians, her firsthand experience of these events made her storytelling far more vivid.
It was no wonder her classes were so popular. This engaging style could captivate even the most disinterested student. Throughout the session, Jeanne didn't hear a single one of the abhorrent viewpoints Talulah had often described. Whether this was because the snake truly had no ill intent here, or because she was intentionally holding back due to their presence, remained unknown.
One lecture wasn't enough to define this "Rhapsody." Even if she were planning something, it wouldn't likely happen in such a public space.
"Welcome, you two. I honestly thought that given our current relationship, you might go your entire lives without noticing my existence."
Once the lecture ended and the other students had filed out, the Liberi teacher took the initiative to greet them. The classroom—and seemingly the immediate vicinity of the building—was now suspiciously quiet. It was unclear if she had orchestrated this solitude.
Talulah scrutinized the Liberi. Despite knowing the truth, she asked with lingering hesitation:
"Kashchey? It seems I didn't miscalculate. But this version of you... it really doesn't look like you at all."
She couldn't be certain if this was the "true" Kashchey or just another temporary vessel—another "snake scale." The man swapped bodies as easily as changing clothes; even Talulah didn't know how many backups he possessed.
Furthermore, this Liberi didn't fit Kashchey's usual criteria. Why would a creature obsessed with power and control choose a vessel so fragile and without status? Usually, he would parasitize someone with immense physical strength or significant political influence.
"Kashchey? You may consider that man and me to be the same person. If you dislike that name, you may call me Fiolet. Also I'm a Hippogryph."
The Black Snake didn't seem worried about being exposed. Instead, she chatted with Talulah in a calm, composed manner. Even though she was currently so fragile that Talulah wouldn't even need Originium Arts to kill her—she could crush her throat with her bare hands.
Talulah looked at the Liber...Hippogryph and the persistent smile on her face. In one aspect, she was exactly like the Kashchey she knew: her expression never wavered, no matter the circumstances. She possessed that same confidence—the look of someone who seemingly cared about nothing, yet held everything in the palm of her hand.
"A name... does that even have meaning to you? You could change from Kashchey to Fiolet today and change back tomorrow."
Talulah looked her straight in the eye and asked, word by word: "Forget the name. What I want to know is: why are you here? And why did you leave that lead for me to find?"
If this was a backup plan, she should have severed all ties to ensure she was never found. But if this was part of a grander scheme... Talulah didn't see how this fragile teacher could possibly interfere with her plans.
"Why am I here? I am observing you. Or rather, I am observing all of you. I want to see what kind of waves you will stir, now that you have escaped Kashchey's curse."
As she spoke, "Kashchey" turned her gaze toward the window. The weather was decent; one could actually see the sun in this place today, rather than the usual oppressive clouds.
"Besides, you have the choice to disbelieve everything I say. That would be quite easy for you, wouldn't it?"
Seeing the skepticism on Talulah's face, Fiolet shook her head, offering no further defense.
"And you could choose to kill me right now. This body is more fragile than you imagine; it wouldn't even require much strength."