Episode 44
"That's impossible..."
Around the time Frey had just lost consciousness on the top floor of the commoner dormitory, Irina was witnessing the result directly and was in shock.
"...Did he really use himself as the medium?"
According to the theory Irina had established, installing a 'medium' where mana condenses at the center of the magic circle was essential to break the magic circle drawn inside the commoner dormitory.
Only then could one condense a large amount of mana into that medium and release it all at once, shattering the structure of the magic circle drawn with dense magical power.
Of course, there was also the orthodox method of dispelling by undoing the magic circle in the reverse order it was drawn.
However, in that urgent situation, using the orthodox method would have resulted in the magic circle activating, so there would have been no choice but to use this method to dispel it.
However, not following the orthodox dispelling method meant this approach carried considerable risk.
That was...
"...D-did he perhaps die? Frey?"
Irina, who had been staring blankly at Frey while lost in thought, came to her senses momentarily at Ferroche's voice coming from in front of her.
"Um, excuse me? Mr. Ruffian?"
Ferroche was poking Frey with a slightly frightened expression.
"...Ferroche."
"Eek!?"
Ferroche, who had been continuously poking Frey with her finger, screamed in fright when Klana grabbed her shoulder from behind.
"Frey is unconscious right now."
"Ah... I see."
At those words, Ferroche stepped back with a complicated expression, but Klana continued to look down at Frey.
*Zzzzt...*
Soon, a small golden light began to swirl around Klana's hand.
"...Ugh."
While Ferroche began to wear an expression of disbelief at that scene, Klana approached Frey with a hardened expression.
"Frey!! Are you alright!!"
But at that moment, Serena rushed desperately toward Frey.
"Please step aside for a moment, Miss Serena. Let me examine..."
"Ah, the crow that was apparently controlling Mr. Frey is stumbling!!"
Klana opened her mouth with a slightly furrowed brow, but Serena continued speaking without giving her a chance.
"The culprit behind everything is that crow! So, at least in this incident, Mr. Frey is inno..."
"...Hah."
Klana, who had been watching Serena for a moment as she desperately spoke while embracing Frey, stepped back with a cold, hardened expression.
"K-Klana."
Ferroche began to look at her while sweating cold sweat.
"...Actually, this works out well. It's a good opportunity to destroy him."
"But..."
"I could kill him right now if I wanted to... but that would be too easy a death for him, and there are too many witnesses. Also, if he dies, the corruption and injustices that would be buried with him, as well as information about the Demon King's army, would be considerable."
Klana, who had been whispering to Ferroche, let out a deep sigh and continued speaking.
"There are many evil figures in this empire besides Frey. And we need to somehow gain power to drive out such people. So we shouldn't act rashly."
"I see..."
When Ferroche answered with a dejected expression, Klana quietly looked at Frey behind her and continued.
"However, that doesn't mean we'll do nothing."
"Pardon?"
"This incident has revealed that Frey is connected to the Demon King. It will likely become known to the public soon, and his reputation will hit rock bottom."
"But... if Frey uses his tricks..."
"I haven't just been idling around. I've already gathered some influence. So the moment we leave here, my agents will spread rumors throughout the empire. And that will be our first counterattack against Frey and the empire's darkness."
At those words, Ferroche opened her mouth wide and stared at Klana.
"This is just the beginning. I will gather power as quickly as possible and bring about Frey's downfall, and later purge all the corrupt nobles connected to him as well."
"I see..."
"So let's postpone killing him for later. Now is the time to use him to revive the empire and defeat the Demon King."
As Klana finished whispering, Ferroche nodded vigorously, then tilted her head and asked a question.
"Um... but why is Kania..." Mmph!
But in the middle of speaking, Klana hurriedly covered her mouth, and Ferroche began to make muffled sounds with a greatly flustered expression.
"...I'll tell her separately later."
Meanwhile, Klana answered while quietly glaring at Kania, who was examining Frey together with Serena and Isolet from a distance.
"Um..."
At that moment, Irina, who had been quietly watching them, spoke up.
"Yes, yes?"
"What is it?"
Ferroche and Klana naturally moved apart and tilted their heads, and Irina, who had been watching them for a moment, asked in a low voice.
"...You two also have memories of the future, right?"
"W-well, I wonder?"
Ferroche began to stammer while sweating cold sweat.
"...Ferroche, Miss Irina isn't a bad person."
"Ah! That's right!"
Klana, who had reminded Ferroche, quietly looked at Irina and spoke.
"...Let's discuss the details later with everyone."
"Again... at a cat café?"
"No, my agents have prepared a separate location."
After finishing those words, Klana quietly turned her gaze toward Frey.
"By the way, he seems to have taken quite a lot of damage."
"...Indeed."
Ferroche, who had a hardened face as it was her first time not treating a seriously injured person right in front of her, and Klana, who was quietly clenching her teeth, murmured softly.
"If he dies now, it'll be quite troublesome... but honestly, part of me wishes he would just die like that."
Then Ferroche, who had some expertise in treatment, quietly opened her mouth.
"Judging by how his body's mana is disrupted, he'll probably be bedridden for a week."
"...Either way, he's persistent."
Irina, who had been silently listening to their conversation, resumed the thoughts she had been having earlier.
'To think he really used himself as the medium...'
The 'medium' used to break a sacrificial magic circle had to have excellent mana condensation. Not just ordinarily, but exceptionally so.
Of course, if it were a small magic circle, one could substitute with an artificial mana condenser or magic stone, but for a large-scale magic circle that intended to sacrifice all the students in the commoner dormitory, and in an unexpected emergency situation... there was only one thing that could serve as the medium.
That was, a 'human'.
A human who had been manipulating mana like eating since birth, who could freely handle mana existing in nature and mana existing within the body, a life form next to spirits in familiarity with mana.
Of course, to manipulate as much mana as what had just been done... one would need to be a considerably strong individual.
In other words, for others to think that what just happened was a side effect from the magic circle's activation failure... was a natural result considering Frey's usual weak and incompetent image.
However...
'If Frey is really that Liana who saved me last time?'
With a body completely wrecked, protecting her all day while cutting down monsters,
Destroying even the Dark Golem that had partially destroyed Sunrise Academy before disappearing,
Scattering somehow familiar mana, and knowing the name of the fruit she had given a nickname to... if that mysterious woman 'Liana' was really Frey, then the hypothesis she had established would also hold true.
Frey broke the sacrificial magic circle using himself as the medium.
While pretending to be brainwashed by the crow, acting the part.
Otherwise, someone aiming to awaken the Demon King's power wouldn't voluntarily condense mana into his body and then shoot it all downward, an action accompanied by terrible pain.
'...But, why exactly?'
Then why did Frey commit such an act?
In the memories of the future, he had committed terrible atrocities.
His evil deeds, from which no goodness or compassion could be felt, were... truly like the crystallization of evil manifested in the world.
Why would someone like that personally break the magic circle that was on the verge of activation, meant to awaken the Demon King's power?
Could it be that all of this was something he had prepared, but the plan went awry so he betrayed the Demon King and broke the magic circle?
Or perhaps, was there some reason that forced him to break the magic circle while acting?
'I really don't know... there's too much unclear information.'
Irina, who had been thinking and thinking while following behind Klana and Ferroche who were heading toward the dormitory exit, stopped walking for a moment and began to wrap up her thoughts.
'But... what's certain is that there's definitely some reason why Frey saved everyone today.'
Of course, Irina doesn't know that reason.
However, the inquisitive nature and persistent personality that had elevated her to a Great Mage had just decided that she needed to find out that reason.
Therefore, from now on, she would begin to move in earnest to find out why Frey made such a decision.
Also, she would investigate again the correlation between Frey and 'Liana,' the reason why he who was kind as a child suddenly became evil, his relationship with the Demon King, and everything else about him.
Irina's heart, which had to follow through once she made up her mind, was burning.
"Remember, Ferroche. From now on, we mustn't trust anyone."
"T-then... should I trust you, Klana? Or should I not?"
"It seems we'll need to call some people. You all wait with Frey over there for a moment..."
Irina, who had composed her mind, was about to leave the commoner dormitory together with Ferroche and Klana who were talking to each other, and Isolet who was heading to the entrance to call people, but...
"Kuheuuugh!!!"
"F-Frey!!!"
Hearing Frey and Serena's screams suddenly coming from behind, she turned around together with the surprised people nearby.
".........!!"
In their field of vision...
"Frey!! What's wrong! Pull yourself together!"
"Ah, aah..."
Frey was seen trembling violently while bleeding from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
"N-no! Noooo!!"
Serena, who had been looking at Frey bleeding from all seven orifices with an expression of horror, embraced him and began screaming.
"S-someone...! No, Miss Ferroche!! Please help!! Please!!"
"........"
"If this continues, Frey will die!! Pleaseeee!!"
Amidst the shock and horror, Kania, who had been standing quietly nearby, began to tremble and mutter.
"Just who... recognized this..."
Kania, who understood the current situation better than anyone and whose heart was being torn apart, could only lower her head deeply and continue muttering.
"Just who... figured it out..."
.
Meanwhile, a few minutes before Frey began bleeding from all seven orifices.
"Excuse me~! Is anyone there~?"
A girl was knocking on the door of an orphanage he had secretly established.
"...What brings you here?"
After the girl knocked on the door for a while, a female staff member opened it and began to wear a puzzled expression.
"Is this the newly built orphanage?"
"Yes... it is, but?"
When the girl confirmed once more that this was an orphanage, she stepped inside and said with a bright smile.
"By any chance, do you need staff members?"
"...Staff members?"
"Yes, staff members."
Soon, as the girl twinkled her eyes and asked, the staff member spoke with a flustered expression.
"Um... well, since it's a newly built orphanage, we are short on staff..."
"Is that so? Then please hire me!"
"...Pardon?"
"I'm strong and good at working! So just leave it to me!"
The girl began to plead, and the staff member, who had been watching her blankly for a moment, sighed and said.
"Hmm... we haven't posted a recruitment notice yet, so we haven't set the compensation... so, until we check the budget, please wait a moment..."
"I won't take compensation."
"Pardon?"
But when the girl firmly cut off her words, the staff member began to wear a flustered expression.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm not doing this work to receive money."
"T-then... why on earth...?"
To such a staff member, the girl answered with a calm expression.
"I'm an orphan myself. So I know the pain of orphans better than anyone."
"Ah..."
At the unexpected statement, the staff member was at a loss for words, while the girl quietly closed her eyes and continued.
"My dream is to give hope to all the orphans in the empire. So I'm trying to take my first step toward that dream here."
After finishing her words, the girl smiled a pure and bright smile, and the staff member, moved by her, quietly stroked her hair and said.
"...There's one more saint in the empire."
"You're too kind."
The girl, who was blushing slightly with an embarrassed expression, turned her head and pointed inside the orphanage.
"Are the children in there?"
"Yes, they're in there. Shall I introduce you?"
"Of course!"
When the girl nodded, the staff member looked at her with satisfaction and then took her hand and entered the orphanage.
"Hello!!"
The young children who had been playing inside all bowed their heads simultaneously to greet the staff member, and the staff member began to look at them with satisfaction.
"...The children are quite energetic?"
"Yes, they're quite energetic around this time. My younger sibling was like that too..."
"You have a younger sibling?"
When the girl tilted her head and asked, the staff member answered with a slight smile.
"Yes, a cute younger sibling who's currently at the Imperial Academy. A child more precious to me than anyone else."
"Is that so? I'm also entering the academy next year."
"Oh my, really?"
While the staff member and the girl were having a conversation about the academy, someone suddenly approached them.
"...Would you like a candy?"
A small child was offering candy to the girl with twinkling eyes.
"Thank you."
The girl accepted the candy from the child and smiled while stroking his head, and the child's face turned bright red before he quickly ran away.
"Is that child also from here?"
"No, that child comes to play because he has many friends here."
"Ah..."
The girl, who had been staring intently at the child, asked in a low voice.
"By the way, where did these children come from?"
"Hmm... most of them are children who were begging in the market alleys."
"Yet they're quite 'healthy'?"
"Yes, strangely enough, they seemed to have some money... and there were signs they received good care..."
The staff member, who had been resting her chin on her hand while tilting her head, cautiously offered her guess.
"Perhaps children who were being cared for at some orphanage ended up on the streets when that orphanage went bankrupt?"
"...Similar."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, I think so too."
From that point, the girl suddenly hardened her expression and looked up at the empty space, then corrected her words and asked the staff member.
"This orphanage will continue to operate without going bankrupt, right?"
"Yes, I don't know why exactly... but a lot of budget is coming in. It's a good thing for us."
"I see..."
After hearing the answer, the girl looked over the orphanage once and began to wear a satisfied expression, and the staff member who was watching her quietly asked.
"...By the way, will you really be alright?"
"Pardon?"
"It would be better to receive at least some compensation..."
"No, I'm fine."
The girl, who once again firmly cut off the staff member's words, raised the corner of her mouth and answered.
"As I said earlier, I'm not doing this for money."
The girl bowed and said.
"Then, I'll visit again tomorrow. Something came up... I have business today."
"Yes, see you tomorrow!"
The staff member, who was waving to the girl heading toward the orphanage exit, suddenly remembered something and called out to her from behind.
"Ah, um... what's your name?"
The girl, who had stopped walking and stood still for a moment, answered with a faint smile.
"...Please call me Ruby."
After finishing her words, the girl opened the exit wide, left the orphanage, and began walking down the street with light footsteps.
"Frey Raon Starlight..."
After walking for a while, the girl stopped in place and looked up at the empty space as before, murmuring quietly.
"...As expected, you were the hero."
The girl speaking those words was wearing a spine-chilling smile.
.
"Sister!! I gave away all the candy and came back!!"
Not long after the girl left the orphanage, the small child who had given her candy approached a girl with a bright smile.
"Yeah... good job."
The girl, who was stroking his head, suddenly wore a puzzled expression and asked the person next to her.
"Master, is there magic that floats letters and numbers in the air?"
"...*snore*."
"Master?"
But the old man next to her was in deep sleep, so the girl began to shake her vigorously.
"Master...! You said I could ask whenever I was curious...!"
"Yawn..."
The old man, who had been forcibly awakened from sleep, rubbed his eyes and began to mutter grumpily.
"Ugh... damn brats... I really hate kids who whine..."
"I'm a brat too, you know?"
"Except you."
At the slightly sulky voice, the old man immediately corrected his words, and the girl asked him once more.
"So, is there magic that floats letters and numbers in the air?"
"Of course there is. There must be hundreds to thousands of them."
"Hmm..."
"Is that all? Then I'll go back to sleep. Next time you wake me, finish your business here first."
As the girl fell into deep thought, the old man scratched his head, said that, and fell back into deep sleep.
"That's strange... It definitely didn't seem visible to other people... Is it only visible to that woman? But why can I see it well?"
Around the time the old man began snoring again, Glare, who had briefly stopped by the orphanage to see friends...
"Still..."
After continuing to think and think, eventually tilteded her head and began to mutter.
"...What exactly is the 'Path of the Hypocrite'?"