Chapter 74: A Character’s Hidden Story?

Days had passed since that conversation with Anna outside her dorm. She seemed to have the same energy she’d carried before we ever became friends, almost as if the crazy new Anna had disappeared and the saintly healer had returned.

But that wasn’t the full picture.

At least the scent of blood clinging to her had begun to fade, day by day. And with it, Lillith’s appetite had shrunk as well.

I’d been visiting her room every night to feed her, so the change wasn’t hard to notice.

The timing was too convenient to be a coincidence. They were connected somehow. I’d figure out how soon enough.

Because tomorrow was finally the last day of this educational trip to the Federation.

"You seem distracted."

Aqua’s voice cut through my thoughts as my manifested sword of light dissolved into motes of dust. Her blade had cleaved clean through the magic binding it while I wasn’t paying attention.

"Well, Anna has a surprise for me. You can’t blame me for being distracted."

"A surprise, huh?"

Aqua smiled and dispelled her sword. By now, our training had produced results that were impossible to ignore. She was still feminine and beautiful when calm, but the moment she held a blade and put in real effort, the muscle we’d built together made itself known.

It was like a switch flipped every time. Ice princess to Amazonian in a heartbeat.

Jean was still trailing along on the sidelines, and even he’d gotten stronger through my healing magic. He had the discipline. As a former military man, I had to respect and reward that.

Maybe once this trip was over, I’d try to befriend him. Useful allies were worth cultivating.

"Anyway, do you want my report for today?"

"Obviously."

I brushed my hands together and gestured to the headmistress to excuse us. She waved us off without even looking up, same as always.

By now, Lucius and Celeste had grown far beyond their assessment selves. I’d made sure not to be overshadowed, but I couldn’t say with confidence that I could beat them as easily as I had during the tournament.

"So, what did you find?"

I asked the moment Aqua and I stepped out of the arena-classroom hybrid.

"Same as usual. Whatever Lord Lucius is feeling toward you now, I suspect that illusionist woman had something to do with it."

"Still Lady Seraph, huh?"

"She’s the only lead I could find. I even had some students I know try to shadow her, but apparently she and Lucius barely interact outside of class hours."

"So she isn’t a good suspect, then?"

"Maybe. But she’s also an illusionist. There’s a chance I’m being led to a dead end."

Five days since her investigation started. Each day, Aqua’s report circled back to Seraph, but nothing ever directly connected her to Lucius’s behavior.

The only solid lead was this: every time Lucius stared at me with contempt, Seraph glanced at me at the same time.

After being struck by a nuclear warhead in my previous life, I should probably take that as a sign and finally investigate myself.

"Can I ask you to do something else, then?"

"You’re kidding, right?"

Aqua smiled, a smile that almost felt foreign after having her curse my name under her breath dozens of times during training.

"I couldn’t have reached this level without you. Consider this a freebie."

"A freebie...?"

"It’s the least I could do."

✧ ✦ ✧

Seraph’s house was at the edge of the Federation’s noble district. Normally, that meant comfortable living and all the trappings of nobility. With her magical talent, it should have been obvious.

But according to Aqua’s intelligence, the opposite was true. Instead of the usual residential district, Seraph apparently lived in the only neighborhood that had been abandoned.

And when I arrived to see it for myself...

"She wasn’t joking."

Dozens of abandoned mansions lined the straight street of Harren. The name of the abandoned neighborhood. But in the middle of everything, one house stood apart, the only one that seemed actually lived in.

On the side of the gate, a silver plate was attached. The engraved name read ’Duvall.’

Seraph was a significant character in this arc. That much I remembered. But now that I thought about it, aside from her actual role in the conspiracy as Lucius’s magic control instructor...

There was no explanation for why she had joined the conspiracy in the first place.

None of the characters except the headmistress were explored in any depth. The rest existed only to fill roles. The novel never bothered to give them backstories.

"Lord Brimstone?"

Seraph’s voice came from my left. She’d just gotten home from school after another round of theater practice, later than me due to having to clean the props and set with the other students.

"I thought you and Lady Rose would be mingling as usual. W-Why are you here?"

Did she just stutter?

"I just thought about visiting, that’s all. I liked your passion for directing and thought about getting to know you more."

Her lips parted when I mentioned getting to know her. That was twice in ten seconds. The most emotion she’d ever shown in front of me in that short a span.

If she really was connected to Lucius’s sudden hostility, then her residence might hold the answers.

"T-That isn’t necessary, Lord Brimstone. If you wanted to talk, maybe we could do it after the performance tomorrow—"

"I can pay."

Seraph fell silent at the word ’payment.’ Aqua’s information was correct. According to one of her spies among the academy students, Seraph had an unusual interest in money.

She’d even used magic to grab a bill stuck in a tree, according to one report.

"How much?"

"A week of my allowance."

"A week of allowance from a duke’s son."

She muttered under her breath, but I caught it. She was definitely considering it.

"V-Very well. You may stay for a few hours, but please, I ask that you only stay in the guest room."

"Of course, Lady Seraph."