Chapter 69
“Question everything.”
The second practical training class for mission execution was held in the Knight Order’s great hall.
Leon said firmly, “If you have any doubts about the requests that have already been completed, then doubt them again.”
A student who had asked a question last time raised their hand. Leon looked their way and gestured.
“A question?”
“Have you ever had any doubts about a case that was already completed?”
“Oh, yes…that’s a good question.” Leon nodded, and then looked at me specifically. “Of course there are.”
“Can you describe what the case was?”
The student asked again, and Leon looked at me and began to explain.
“There was a case where all the evidence pointed to one culprit, so perfectly that it was almost strange, so I questioned it and did further investigation.”
Ah yes, that further investigation was the cloaked crusader. Thinking about how perfect and flawless it seemed, yet how many flaws it had, I shook my head.
However, the students in the class, all aspiring knights, couldn’t help but admire Leon’s every word.
“But just as I was beginning to have doubts…suddenly a third faction emerged, one that proclaimed that they were responsible for all the transgressions, and that they would take the blame. They even presented evidence.”
“And what was it that made you suspicious?” another student asked.
This time, Leon looked out into the distance, beyond the window, before speaking.
“The problem was that this faction was a powerful and prestigious force that had never yielded to any other matter before. Yet, suddenly, they volunteered to take responsibility.”
“Maybe because the evidence was too undeniable?”
The student who asked the first question spoke again. We should appoint them as the class exemplar at this point.
“Even if the evidence is clear, it’s suspicious when those who could have concealed it suddenly take responsibility. It’s a purely voluntary admission of guilt.”
I could see now that Leon was very befuddled. The Mage Tower honestly just acknowledged Hicks escaped under their watch—what’s so suspicious about that?
As I stared at Leon with a puzzled expression on my face, he turned back to me and said, “I suspect that there is a person deeply related to that change. That faction probably…”
Probably? Probably what?
“It is suspected that the faction has found a fatal weakness in that person.”
…Why is the conclusion like that? What do you mean by a fatal weakness found in that person? Get a grip, professor.
I shook my head in disbelief.
‘Leon…Why on earth are so desperate to catch me…?’
Ah… Wait a minute. He clearly said it was a change. That means Leon is aware of Mina’s repeated arrivals. That’s why he’s wary of my unusual presence.
‘Yeah, that’s why he’s so wary of me…’
As my thoughts reached this point, I suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed. It’s already tough, so please don’t make it more difficult. Or could he just act like he did before—like a golden retriever…?
‘Are you hurt? Lean on me.’
Once upon a time, he ran to me like that when I stumbled and fell in the academy square, saying such words. Of course, that was when I was Mina. Since I probably won’t experience that again in the future, I should avoid Leon as much as possible.
I walk out of Leon’s class, still stumbling. In the Knight Order hallway, I bump into a haggard Luke.
“Assistant Luke. Hello.”
“Oh, Keisha. Are you attending Sir Leon’s class?”
“Ah…Originally, no,” I whispered. “But the class suddenly changed professors.”
“Oh, I see…That’s a pity.”
Luke joined in and murmured sympathetically. As if meeting a comrade, he laughed when I giggled.
He did look a little tired, though…It looks like he might have experienced some mishaps in the Knight Order.
“So, are you okay with your life with the Knights?”
“Sure. I only have to craft about a hundred 4-star magic scrolls and heal about ten wounded soldiers every day.”
I don’t understand. Crafting a hundred 4-star scrolls and healing ten wounded soldiers?
“…I may not know much, but isn’t that a lot?”
“Well, a single skilled scrollmaker in the Tower can produce about nine 4-star scrolls a day, though he would end up a bit sleep deprived.”
Nine scrolls per person? Luke was doing ten times that workload. And healing ten wounded soldiers on top of that? …Isn’t that fatal?
“Is there any way I can help you?”
As I turned pale and mentioned this, Luke laughed heartily and clapped his hands.
“It’s a joke. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“Oh…? Haha, I see. You were just exaggerating. That really surprised me.”
After a hearty laugh in response, Luke said, “The workload is real, but the lack of sleep part is just a joke. I don’t sleep.”
“…What?”
“Haha. Well, I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you later.”
‘That’s not right…!’
Luke walked past me with a shaky gait. What should I do? He seemed to be malfunctioning.
I left the Knight Order building, vowing to make it up to him later.
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