"Leo."
"Ah, you're here, Melvin."
Leo greeted the student who had come to his dorm room warmly. The student looked around nervously before asking.
"So, what did you call me for?"
"Nothing major. First, catch your breath. What would you like to drink?"
Leo gestured toward a jar of tea leaves.
"Um, anything is fine..."
"Right, I suppose I should start figuring out what flavors you like."
Leo answered with a laugh and skillfully brewed tea, setting it down in front of the student.
"It's chamomile. Classes are over, so I made something to help with fatigue."
"Ah, thank you."
"Don't mention it. I hope it suits your taste."
"Th-thanks... So, what did you call me for...?"
At that, Leo took a seat opposite the student.
"Melvin. Do you happen to know what the Phlegmora have been up to lately?"
"The Phlegmora?"
The student's complexion changed slightly. His eyes, which had been darting around uncontrollably from nerves, fixed on Leo. The student answered in a clipped tone.
"I do. They've been digging up graves nonstop lately. There was an article yesterday about three bodies disappearing from a communal cemetery near the border."
"Hmm, you're well-informed. That's actually why I called you."
The student tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"Me? What does that have to do with me...?"
"I've started a small group with a friend to research the Phlegmora's movements. As you know, they're acting more brazenly, right? It's been over ten years since they appeared, and nothing's improved. It's highly likely they'll still be active by the time we graduate from the academy."
The student nodded.
"Yeah, probably."
"I heard from a professor that you're hoping to join the Imperial Phlegmora Disposal Unit after graduation."
At Leo's words, the student's expression changed completely. He waved his hands with a flustered look.
"Ah, I did mention that to the professor, but... I-I don't really think my chances are that high. My grades aren't exactly top-tier. It's just a wish of mine. Haha..."
Weren't you called when they distributed the special class consent forms?
You're in the top ten of the department and you think that?
Leo clasped his hands together on the table.
"Your chances? I see it differently. I think someone with your passion is rare. A lot of friends get heated about the Phlegmora, but they're really just trembling at the headlines, not thinking about it more deeply."
"Ah! That's... true. Since it's a long-standing problem, everyone's probably tired of looking into it deeply by now."
"Right, but you're different. While other students occasionally toss out superficial fears, you've always been interested in the essence. That's what I've felt watching you for the past few years."
The student asked, looking a bit excited.
"R-really? That's strange. Did I come across that way?"
"Of course. That's why I thought you'd be a perfect fit for us. We're going to investigate the Phlegmora's criminal acts and try to predict what patterns they'll follow in the future. If the system we build shows high accuracy, we could even propose our model to the Imperial family."
The student's eyes widened.
Leo didn't miss that change, leaning closer and continuing with a serious face.
"If we can predict the Phlegmora's actions, we can reduce future damage, right?"
"C-can I really do this with you...? I'm not top rank, and I'm not smart like you, Leo..."
Like me... what? Leo almost bit his lip hard at the rising goosebumps but caught himself and shook his head.
"Of course. I think you're perfectly fine as you are now. You're not satisfied with your rank? That's just a number. You have to look further."
"Ah, no matter how I think about it, I don't seem like that kind of person. I'm sorry, but..."
Can't let him slip away now.
Once started, must see it through.
Leo soothed the student, who had hunched over as if about to crawl under the desk.
"Melvin. Your skills aren't bad at all. This is the hardest school to get into in the Empire. You can be proud of being in the upper ranks here. You cited your grades not reaching the very top as proof you're still lacking... but paradoxically, those very grades show you're objectively not lacking, don't they?"
"...That's true, but..."
The student bit his lower lip, rolling his eyes around.
Got him. Even with that reaction, he's practically on board. Leo smiled and continued.
"Actually, there's one more important reason we chose you."
"What is it?"
"Trust is crucial for us. We're determined to stop the Phlegmora's atrocities that have gone on for over a decade. As such, the very existence of our group must not reach anyone's ears. No matter what happens."
According to Lucas, it wasn't necessary to ensure not a single word leaked. Still, the words had to be said.
"That's...! Of course! Are you worried I'll tell the others? I won't go around talking about it. Can't let those bastards get wind of anything good."
"Right. From watching you for a long time, you've been more thoughtful than anyone and never spoke carelessly. We need someone as cautious and responsible as you."
At Leo's words, the student hesitated, his mouth twitching.
Now just to finish it.
Leo met the student's eyes and spoke seriously.
"Melvin, I want you to research this with us. What do you think? Do you want to do this, or not? Just tell me that."
* * *
Sandy-colored hair sways before my eyes.
It's my first time with blond hair, and it feels quite strange.
I had to go outside the academy to buy something, but if I walked around with black hair and pink eyes, I'd be recognized immediately, so I couldn't go out like that.
I could have changed my eye color using the side effects of a potion like before, but since students who know my face might be wandering outside the school, I needed to change my hair color safely too.
So I just used divine power.
It's a spell I memorized not long ago, and the formula differs by color, so I hadn't had time to actually try it. Fortunately, it worked. Just in case, I also cast a cognitive impairment spell from the mental manipulation category.
'If I hadn't chosen divine power in the beginning, what would I have done?'
I thought that, but it's actually the opposite. I chose it because I knew its range of application. I couldn't waste the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embody knowledge as-is on something merely convenient.
Divine power is a force created by artificially altering naturally manifested mana, and perhaps due to that influence, it has the characteristic of changing the very nature of what it touches.
The ability to manipulate minds with divine power, and the spells I used on my hair and eye color, all stem from that characteristic.
Anyway...
'Since even my eyelash color changed, my image is completely different.'
I glanced at my face reflected in metal and waited for the public slaughterhouse manager's answer.
The manager asked with a surprised face.
"A bottle of blood? What will you use that for?"
"I'm writing an experimental report on magical potions for animals and want to try adding some new materials. Can I get some here?"
I softened my eyes, trying to convey the purest of intentions.
For this moment, I didn't even change out of my uniform.
The manager glanced at the emblem on my jacket and answered.
"Hmm... I have heard blood is sometimes used as a potion ingredient."
"Right? The effects become much better. But with all the Phlegmora talk lately, people are hesitant to use it."
"Those bastards shouldn't interfere with your studies. What animal blood do you need?"
"Any animal is fine."
"Really? Let me check if we have any freshly drawn blood. Wait a moment."
The manager turned and entered the nearest slaughterhouse building. In less than five minutes, he came out holding a dark glass bottle.
He placed the bottle in a paper bag and handed it over.
"It's sheep blood."
"How much do I owe you?"
"Don't worry about the price. We were going to discard it all anyway. Good luck with your experiment. I hope it succeeds."
"Yes, thank you."
I smiled gently, took the bag, went outside, and hailed a passing carriage.
By the way...
'How is he so good at this?'
He's incredibly smooth, just incredibly smooth.
I adjusted the communication magic tool Leo had given me, hooking it over my ear.
Leo gave me this to let him know later if he said anything wrong, but there wasn't anything particular to point out.
I checked my watch.
It's 8:30 PM now. I can be back at the academy in 30 minutes. The divine power absorbed into my skin will also lose its effect in about an hour.
'It's about time.'
Soon, it'll be my turn.
* * *
"Melvin, there's something you need to know."
Leo opened his mouth as he led Melvin downstairs.
"What is it?"
"Actually, there's someone in our group who might feel a bit uncomfortable to you. I understand how you might feel, but they're essential personnel for us. You might be very surprised... Can you give me time to explain later?"
"Huh? Of course! I'm fine with anything!"
Melvin answered with overflowing determination.
Leo forced a smile and opened the door to the room at the very end of the first basement floor.
"You're here?"
"...Huh?"
Seeing the person seated there, Melvin's face stiffened instantly. Leo quickly patted his shoulder.
"Melvin. You must be very surpri—"
"Whaaaaaat?!"
"Wait! Understand. Let me explain. We need Lucas. I know what you're thinking, but..."
"No, why is he here?! Shouldn't he be the last person here?!"
Despite Leo's explanation, Melvin couldn't contain his panic.
Narke, who had arrived before Leo and was sitting next to me, watched the student's reaction with keen interest.
I approached him with a gentle smile.
"You're Melvin, right? Thanks for guiding me before."
"A-ah, no... Wait, did I do something wrong..."
"No. Listen carefully. First, I want to start by saying everything you know is a misunderstanding."
I let out a deep sigh.
"I'm not here to hurt you. Just listen for a bit. Thinking everyone will be like this makes me tired of explaining already."
"No, a misunderstanding? Explain? What..."
Melvin shook his head, his face still shocked and filled with distrust. I put an arm around Melvin's shoulder, which Leo was holding, and brought him to a seat.
"See, I told you everyone would react like this. I understand. I'll explain everything, so sit down."
"Ugh, uh... uh..."
The kid looks like he's dying. I maintained a gentle smile while clicking my tongue inwardly.
Leo looked at Melvin with pitying eyes.
"...But, wait. What's that...?"
Melvin barely regained his composure and pointed at the teacup placed in front of me.
He probably hoped for an answer like tomato juice starting to separate or soup with dye, but... no.
"Sheep blood."
"What?!?!"
*Crash—!*
Melvin showed the most extreme reaction I'd seen so far, shooting up from his seat. The chair fell backward. Narke hurriedly used magic to catch the wobbling cup.
"Calm down. This is part of my explanation to you."
I mixed the separated layers with a teaspoon and directly took a sip of the blood.
And then, immediately ran to the bathroom from the fishy smell and nausea, and vomited.
A lumpy texture remained on my tongue. The sense of wrongness from consuming something not meant to be eaten surged up.
"Ah, what to do. Should I have stopped him?"
"Ugh..."
Following Narke's laughter-laced concern, Leo let out a sigh that was close to a complaint. I walked out almost like a zombie and plopped down in the seat opposite Melvin.
"A-are you okay...?"
Seeing my complexion, Melvin reflexively opened his mouth. Then, as if realizing his mistake, he looked at me again with eyes full of wariness. I answered in a voice that sounded half like an old man's.
"How could I be okay? But if doing this can clear up the misunderstanding that I'm Phlegmora, I'll do it as much as needed."
"Ah, no, anyone would vomit if they drank fresh blood..."
"Anyone? Those corpses would have finished drinking this long ago. If you just mix someone else's mana into this, you can absorb it directly into your body. You know it's the most familiar material for those bastards, right?"
I spoke with a serious face, then clutched my throat.
Leo was urgently gesturing for me to go to the bathroom.
"...Of course, that's true, but... No. Wait. They could fake even this level..."
I shot up from my seat from the truly stomach-churning sensation and went to vomit once more.
Melvin, who was starting to doubt what he believed, looked at me, then at my friends, and the cup of blood with a troubled face.
"..."
"...He's pitiful, really."
"I can endure other things, but blood is just impossible."
I answered Leo's words weakly and shook my head. Even after multiple purifications, blood was still blood. It was the same principle as not wanting to drink muddy water even if it was boiled vigorously.
Melvin looked at me with a confused face, still holding a bit of wariness.
"...Th-then, what about that servant you killed? That was a noisy incident ten years ago...!"
Good.
I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.
There are several bases for the belief that I am Phlegmora.
The fact that he deviated from the path of discussing one basis I shattered and raised a question about another basis means he's already half-shaken.
It was good to give a strong shock with the blood from the start.
'And, I have another weapon to shatter his belief once more after this.'
Anyway, the real culprit of the murder case isn't me, but my brother.
However, that case didn't undergo an Imperial investigation. Because it was concluded with an internal family investigation due to my brother's tearful defense to protect his younger sibling. After that, the family's power even controlled media reports about the incident.
Since my brother chose and killed someone who had grown up alone in the territory without family, there weren't really people requesting an Imperial investigation into his death either.
'...To bury one younger sibling, he went around killing innocent people.'
Thinking about it again leaves a bitter taste.
Because of the lie, there was no Imperial investigation, so there are no detailed case records.
That means I can fabricate a story favorable to me using this incident.
But I don't want to lie using someone else's death. Is revealing the truth now a good thing? That's not it either.
Even without creating a detailed script for every element, by appropriately omitting sentence components and adjusting the order and spacing of words, I can subtly guide the interpretation of slightly differently focused stories as being the same. It's a matter of making it unclear where the previously discussed story ends and where the story with a changed subject begins.
"It's not the truth."
I answered briefly and immediately opened my mouth again to not give Melvin time to think.
"You must be wondering why I left such a disgraceful rumor as is. You're probably still confused about whether it's a rumor or not."
"...Yeah, that's right."
Melvin looked at me desperately, putting force into his eyebrows as if determined not to lower his guard one bit.
I looked straight into Melvin's face like that and answered.
"Naturally. Because I created all those rumors myself."
—-----------
T/N:
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