Chapter 164
A fight between someone trying to give information somehow and someone with zero tact.
The winner was, of course.
"Thank you for the advice! I'll go ahead first!"
"...Okay."
It was Luna. After finishing the conversation with Caron, she left.
Because she had to take care of Rezé, who had flown off due to centrifugal force.
"......"
The conversation was frustrating to even watch.
But there was a faint smile on Caron's lips.
The smile of a proud father, perhaps?
Of course, there was a smile on my lips too.
"Kekeke."
"...What's with that look in your eyes."
"You can see the look in my eyes? You can see my slit eyes. What a curious thing."
"Arrogant bastard. You'd better not let your guard down. The pop quiz will definitely not be easy."
"It does seem like it will be that way. Since it's the evolved version of the entrance exam."
Caron frowned.
"...I gave too many hints."
I lightly responded by shrugging my shoulders.
I already knew from the beginning, but I'm pretending to have found out thanks to Luna.
If I say I knew from before, another hellish psychological warfare will begin over where I got the information from.
I wanted to avoid such a thing as much as possible.
"I should get going. You work hard too."
Caron turned his body.
Such a petty bastard. Trying to leave as soon as his business is done.
'I can't send him off like this.'
The puzzle piece of 'Renia's death' obtained through Lucia.
I need to use that to solve the puzzle called Caron.
It's partly because the desire of a stuck-up wanting to know all the stories in this game is rising, but.
'If I'm lucky, I might be able to bring Caron to my side.'
Being on the same side as the Empire's rat?
Any ordinary information could be obtained easily.
When Caron took a few steps towards the exit of the training ground, I opened my mouth.
"By the way, I was really surprised."
"...?"
"To think that the one who took Renia's head was you, Teacher Caron. Wow~ It was a real shock. I thought I was used to this kind of thing... Seems like I still have a long way to go."
Caron turned and looked at me.
Actually, it was closer to glaring, but well, for now I decided to attach significance to the fact that he stopped walking.
Glancing slightly towards where Luna was, he approached me.
"What's more surprising is on my end. You're saying you didn't know that until now?"
Come to think of it, Lucia said that. That it's an incident everyone who should know already knows.
So it's not unreasonable for Caron to say that.
'The information I've given out so far is quite substantial after all.'
A child who has suspiciously good information.
So he must have thought I would naturally have the information that he killed Renia.
'Perhaps that was one of the reasons he saved me in the ant den.'
I said I dreamed of becoming a rat for the Lester family.
But approaching confidently even though I know he killed Renia?
He must have had no choice but to highly evaluate me.
"......"
Caron stared at me intently.
Knowing classified information but not knowing unclassified information.
He might find it strange.
But it's not to the point of being suspicious.
Partly because our relationship is quite solid for him to be suspicious over this, but.
In the first place, information tends to be biased towards the direction one wants.
"Come to think of it, you said you dreamed of becoming a rat for the Lester family. So, are you thinking of taking revenge now?"
"No way. Rather, I've become certain."
"Certain?"
"Yes."
Using the [Eye Opening] skill, I opened my mouth.
"The certainty that you're hiding something... I mean."
Caron's atmosphere changed. Just as I intended.
Right now, I'm being as serious as I can be. If you're being falsely accused, tell me. I'll listen.
The [Eye Opening] skill was like encapsulating the above sentence.
Using the skill to hear Caron's true feelings.
However.
"There's nothing hidden. I killed her and presented her head. That's all."
Caron didn't easily reveal his true feelings.
What a really annoying person. Can't you just tell me a little?
"Keke, I don't think it's just simple guilt that's making you protect Luna."
"...I've never protected her."
He can say that even after giving Luna a legendary artifact.
What a shameless bastard.
Well, I don't know if he can keep being shameless after hearing the next thing I say.
"Keke, to think that one of Luna's enemies is Teacher Caron... I'm really curious what kind of reaction Luna will have if she finds out about this."
"...!"
Caron's complexion hardened stiffly.
At the same time, his stiff face contorted. It was like looking at a mirror covered in cracks.
This expression doesn't suit when describing a person's face, but it can't be helped.
Because it's the first time I've seen such an expression.
'I didn't expect him to react like this. Does he hate being hated by Luna that much?'
If there were no eyes watching this place, my head might have been turned 180 degrees.
But the change in his expression was only for a very brief moment.
The contorted face returned to normal in an instant.
Perhaps he realized his mistake. Caron chuckled.
"As expected, your provocation skills are top-notch. As if you would tell Luna that fact."
"Keke, why do you think that?"
"Because you need to make a deal with me and obtain information about them."
Them.
He's talking about the ones who framed the Lester family and charged them with treason.
"If Luna develops hostility towards me, there will be a huge disruption in future information exchange. I don't think you'd do such a stupid thing."
Correct. I won't tell Luna the fact that Caron killed Renia.
But it's a little different from the reason Caron thinks.
I already know exactly who the 'mastermind' is that made the Lester family like that, and that's why.
'I just won't tell Luna the truth.'
That's right. Although Caron killed Renia, it was those bad guys who created that situation.
I don't know what happened, but he must have been forced to kill Renia due to unavoidable circumstances.
So I can't say Caron is the problem.
Of course, Luna might consider Caron a target for revenge.
Just because there were unavoidable circumstances, would she forgive the person who killed her mother?
It's not an easy thing.
Anyway, unless something special happens, I won't tell Luna the fact that Caron killed Renia.
'I thought Caron would immediately grasp my intentions...'
It was only for a moment, but Caron couldn't control his emotions.
That's how much he cherishes Luna.
"You're right. The ones Luna should harbor hostility towards are those other guys. The filthy guys who made the Lester family like that."
"......"
"So please tell me the truth of that day. Who knows? Luna might understand."
I pressured Caron using Luna.
However.
"...There's no such thing. That child has even less need to understand."
Stubborn.
If I pressure him any more, it wouldn't be strange for my neck to really turn.
For now, I decided to take a step back.
"Well, never mind. I'll find out myself."
"Stop it. There's no point in stirring up the past. Nothing will change."
"Even if the past can't be undone, there can be improvement in future relationships. Are you going to stay by Luna's side forever, hiding the secret?"
"......"
Caron shut his mouth. He might think such a relationship isn't bad either.
Does he not know that the longer he hides it, the greater the pain the other person will suffer in proportion?
'Well, it's not something for me to worry about.'
There will be other opportunities to gather puzzle pieces about Caron.
So I need to focus on other things, the things that are right in front of me.
'There are two things that need to be solved right now.'
First, the fifth main quest, 'Gain Lucia's recognition'.
This is a pass for now. Not only is there a week left, but there's no clear breakthrough in sight.
Then second.
'How do I get that damn pufferfish rabbit to pass the advanced class...'
When an incident happens during the midterms, if it goes according to my current plan, a power-up will be possible like in the ant den.
The advanced class kids will form teams, so Rezé's promotion is essential.
In other words, Rezé needs to achieve excellent grades in this pop quiz and be promoted to the advanced class.
And to increase that probability even a little...
"I need something."
"What is it?"
"I need to get your confirmation first. Can you get me what I want by the time the pop quiz starts?"
"...I don't know what it is, but judging by your reaction, it seems like something I can easily get for you."
As expected of Caron. He gets it right away.
As time is short, he knew well that I would make a request that aligns with common sense.
"Of course, only if you pay a sufficient price."
"I will answer any question. Ah, except for questions about the Lester family."
"Selective information provision? What an impudent behavior."
About 10 seconds passed. Caron continued.
"Fine, what do you want?"
"First, I need three intermediate artifacts that block illusion magic."
"...You're trying to breeze through the second test."
He's right.
As I said before, this pop quiz is an evolved version of the entrance exam.
A labyrinth, illusion magic, and then duels.
There are slight changes, but the overall framework hasn't changed. Especially the illusion magic.
'If we have artifacts, we can easily break through it.'
Not only Luna, but Rezé will also be able to endure sufficiently.
"How stupid. Did you not think that artifacts would be banned?"
"Keke, if that's the case, it can't be helped. But you've already decided to allow them, haven't you?"
Inferring what the test will be is also a skill.
That's right. Today, when the pop quiz was announced, the test had already begun.
Inferring the content of the pop quiz is also part of the test.
'During the entrance exam, there were kids who obtained information in an unfair way. So Elester used strong magic, but...'
This time, it's an ordinary illusion magic circle.
Intermediate artifacts will be enough to overcome the illusion magic.
"Think what you want. Arrogant bastard."
"Judging by your reaction, it seems my words are true. I got it right even though I guessed. Wow~ I didn't know my guessing skills were this good."
"Shut up and keep telling me what you want."
Not only does he not sympathize, he even curses at me.
This is why he doesn't become a 'T'. (TL Note: He is talking about Caron's Personality. Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F).)
'Just like Yuridia!'
I felt a little more at ease. Because I cursed him really badly, even if only in my mind.
"I need an artifact that removes odors."
"Anything else besides that?"
"No."
Caron rummaged through his bosom and pulled something out to throw.
It was a small square-shaped container. On the outside, an unidentified hippo pattern was drawn.
'Information window.'
[White Hippo : D]
It's an artifact developed by a mage to remove a terrible foot odor.
It has excellent effects in removing odors.
Cleanliness +10%
An artifact that removes odors.
It's not surprising that Caron has it.
Not only is it a low-grade artifact that commoners can afford without burden, but.
'Caron is an assassin after all.'
For them who need to operate covertly, odor is forbidden.
Removing odors is essential.
So he always carried it with him, and he threw it to me.
"I'll get you the illusion defense artifacts as soon as possible."
"Keke, thank you."
As I was organizing the artifact, Caron slyly asked.
"What are you planning to use that for?"
What am I planning to use it for? Of course.
"Keke, it's a secret."
Caron's face turned sour.
--TL Notes--
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