༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (26) ༻
Senior Neris appeared slightly nervous as she began to speak, her words faltering
“F-First of all, regarding the ‘procession,’ the information is quite limited, especially around the Academy. It appears that only one procession is scheduled. “
Hearing this, my eyes flickered with a spark of interest.
The fact that there was only one meant they had explored all possibilities. Considering the short amount of time, it seemed they had done their best.
Naturally, I questioned further.
“Just one?”
“Yes, just one. It’s the procession that always takes place during the Academy’s annual ‘Homecoming Festival’.”
The ‘Homecoming Festival’ – those words struck me like lightning as soon as I heard them.
Right, I had forgotten about it
After the final exams, the Academy entered a two-week grace period before grades were announced.
After the grades were announced, the students gathered in small groups and formed a line. Then they paraded throughout the city, and this was known as the ‘Homecoming Festival’.
This festival officially marked the ending of the Academy’s semester.
It was an event laden with various meanings.
With the release of grades, those who had failed were also announced. These students, leaving the Academy they had grown to love, must return home with heavy hearts.
For these students and their friends, it was like a final opportunity to relive their Academy memories. Additionally, it was a day where the top and second-ranking students from each department were showcased before the public.
Given the importance of the event, it was customary for both students and a significant number of professors to participate in the Homecoming Festival. Even the route from the Academy to the city was a main thoroughfare.
Although this march could be called a ‘procession’, there was a reason I didn’t immediately think of the Homecoming Festival upon reading the letter.
Even for the Dark Order, the notion of attacking such a formidable procession in such an open area seemed hard to conceive.
This was no ordinary march, as it involved thousands of both Academy students and professors.. To put it dramatically, even an entire legion wouldn’t put them at a disadvantage.
To attack a procession of such magnitude, it naturally demanded a massive force. And this wasn’t just a matter of feasibility…
But whether it was really worth the effort.
If Senior Neris’s information was correct, then the ‘Eye of the Dragon’ mentioned in the letter must hold a value comparable to the risk.
As my gaze deepened, Senior Neris quickly continued to speak.
“Also, there’s no concrete information about a tunnel. However, the recent discovery of several unidentified tunnels on the outskirts of the city is noteworthy.”
“What about their size?”
Senior Neris glanced at me as if trying to decipher my intent. She quickly realised what I was getting at and responded immediately.
“They’re not large enough for a person to enter.”
Her quick thinking was impressive.
Yet, hearing this, I couldn’t help but click my tongue in disappointment.
According to the letter, something had transpired between me and the letter’s sender in that tunnel.
Therefore, the ‘tunnel’ mentioned in the letter should have been big enough for a person to enter.
A tunnel that small was irrelevant to consider.
My expression turned serious again. The ‘tunnel’ seemed like a crucial piece of information, and it was frustrating not to have found any leads on it.
As I grew visibly impatient, Senior Neris seemed increasingly flustered.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Had I more clearly specified the conditions for the intel, we might have had better results.
Belatedly, I added a specification.
“Look for tunnels that are large enough for a person to enter. And not just the recently discovered ones – any tunnel, whether hidden or known, should be investigated.”
“…I will do as you say.”
Senior Neris did not argue with my instruction and quickly nodded in agreement.
Her attitude now was almost like that of a subordinate, though it was debatable whether it was genuine respect.
I couldn’t read the look in Senior Neris’s eyes as she bowed her head.
However, she moistened her dry lips with her tongue, then proceeded to reveal what was probably the most crucial piece of information.
“And about the ‘Eye of the Dragon’ you mentioned…”
Senior Neris, who was speaking, stopped abruptly.
At first, I wondered why, but as time passed, I understood the reason.
There was someone approaching.
Though they were trying to be cautious, neither Senior Neris, who belonged to the Intelligence Agency, nor my recently heightened senses, could be fooled.
There were two of them. Senior Neris went a step further, deducing their identities.
“…It seems to be the Fifth Princess and her escort knight.”
The Fifth Princess would be Cien, and if it was her escort knight, it was likely the knight named ‘Irene’.
Both had a bad history with me.
Honestly, I held no ill will towards them, but currently, me and the Princess were in opposition. The discomfort of meeting face to face remained unchanged.
Senior Neris looked at me intently, as if asking what to do next.
Even without her saying it, I was well aware that there were only two options.
Either reveal my identity by showing the Dragonblood Script or pass over this while continuing to deceive.
My lips pressed tightly together as I pondered.
The former would resolve all these issues at once.
If I revealed the Dragonblood script and explained that the incident that day was actually for the Princess’s sake, it would clear the misunderstandings and all the blades pointed at me would be sheathed.
However, choosing the former brought two significant concerns.
First, the more people who knew I possessed the Dragonblood Script, the greater the risk.
Especially concerning was the Princess.
Unlike Senior Neris, she had a status that allowed her to directly inquire about it to the Emperor without going through any reporting system.
Secondly, according to the letter, I endured misunderstandings and false accusations silently until the very end.
Why was that?
There must have been a compelling reason for it.
While I was troubled, Senior Neris spoke, as if urging me.
“If I’m seen with Sir Ian, they might start suspecting your true identity. Maybe it’s better to leave now…”
“It’s already too late.”
I said that in a nonchalant voice.
My senses were telling me. They were already moving towards us with certainty.
Trying to hide would only raise more suspicions.
Then, Senior Neris asked me again with doubt etched in her eyes.
“But if it becomes blatantly known that the Press Club is now following Sir Ian, not the Princess…”
“We’ll just have to give them a reason”
A reason why the Press Club would have to take my side, even if I were not the emperor’s representative.
As Senior Neris’s expression turned blank, I asked her.
“Neris, can you scream well?”
“What? What do you mean…”
It was then that the presence of the Princess and her escort knight was nearly upon us.
Startled, Senior Neris urged me.
“Sir Ian! You must leave this place at once…”
“Neris.”
And just as the Princess and her knight emerged from the bushes..
A sudden sound of a hatchet digging into flesh echoed.
Senior Neris, shocked by the sudden strike, screamed with her eyes wide open.
“Uh, Guh, Gyaaaaahhhh!”
Then, as she staggered and fell to her knees, stark fear was evident in her eyes.
I knelt down to her, meeting her gaze.
“…Didn’t I tell you not to harbor any questions?”
Reminded of that single sentence I had thrown once, Neris’s face began to turn pale.
She immediately bowed her head, as if forgetting someone was watching. A trembling voice came from her lips.
“P-Please… forgive me…”
It was an excellent act.
I inwardly smiled with satisfaction.
Especially Senior Neris’s performance was outstanding, almost as if she truly feared me.
This was the case even though I had given her a heads-up before striking with the hatchet and the blade hadn’t gone deep enough to break the cartilage.
Deeming her a person worth using, I inwardly raised my opinion of Senior Neris.
She was someone worth visiting more often.
*
Neris barely suppressed her choking sobs.
The nightmares of the past flashed through her mind.
The pungent smell of alcohol poured over her burning body, the humiliation of being drenched in dirty mop water, and the feeling of a hatchet shattering her shoulder joint in an instant.
Neris despised Ian.
She never wanted to see his face again.
No, she wanted to kill him.
If it were up to her, she would have assassinated him, but he was the holder of the Dragonblood Script. For Neris, it was impossible to rebel.
This brought an unbearable sense of powerlessness.
Neris truly hated Ian, from the depths of her heart.
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