Chapter 79: Academy Heroine’s Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 79
The first-year students, who had come to eat earlier than the others, were collapsing one by one, blood trickling from their mouths.
Just as Sylvia had shouted, the symptoms shown by the collapsed students were clear.
Magical Poisoning.
When poisoned by a high concentration of magic, the body starts to deteriorate, causing victims to cough up blood.
Though it was my first time seeing it with my own eyes, I knew about it from reading [Academy’s Holy Sword] countless times.
I also knew what happened to those who showed such symptoms in the original work if they didn’t receive proper treatment quickly.
Laughter echoed in my mind, mocking this situation.
[AHAHAHAHA!]
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
This incident never occurred in the original story, which made it all the more confusing.
[Burn it all!]
My breathing became labored as if I were about to retch.
Having never experienced such an urgent situation, I felt disoriented.
[Burn everything!]
My hands and feet trembled so violently that the table and my prosthetic made noise upon contact.
I feared that perhaps this was happening because I had altered the course of destiny.
[I hate this world that made me like this! So burn everything—]
Lost in my fear and confusion, staring blankly at my trembling hands, I suddenly saw Mei writhing in pain beside me.
There was a loud thud.
It was the sound of me hitting my own head.
The voice in my head quieted a bit.
...Get a grip.
Think about what you fear the most and what makes you the most anxious.
Losing someone precious because I couldn’t do anything, that must be it.
I bit my lip to stay focused and quickly assessed the situation around me.
There were a total of twelve collapsed children.
Only three of us were still standing, including myself.
But there was no need to despair foolishly.
The other two, Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia, were people who had led and persevered through much more severe magical attacks in the original story.
As soon as my thoughts were organized, I turned to Sylvia, who was looking at me in shock after seeing me hit myself, and gave her instructions.
“Sylvia! I’m fine, so please take care of the others! Can you purify the magic?”
The power of the star spirit Sylvia commanded was the antithesis of magic.
She had far superior purification abilities compared to other wizards.
Hearing my words, Sylvia quickly began emitting light from her hands to purify Mei, who was closest, but her expression was grim.
“It’s possible, but doing it all at once is too much! I don’t know how long the others can hold out...”
The fact that symptoms were already visible indicated that the condition was quite serious.
Sylvia was saying that these children, whose bodies were rapidly deteriorating, might not survive until the purification was complete.
But there was a solution to that too.
“I think I can handle that.”
Yoon Si-woo drew a large sword from the air.
As he let go of the sword, it floated in midair, emitting light and creating a protective barrier around us.
The Holy Sword of Guardianship had the ability to create protective barriers.
The material of the Holy Sword of Guardianship was mithril, a metal that only dwarves could handle.
Mithril was not only lighter and much stronger than other metals but also had the rare property of suppressing magic.
Thanks to the protective barrier created by the Holy Sword of Guardianship, those within it were less affected by the magic.
Having a versatile munchkin as a companion was incredibly reassuring.
“As long as we’re inside here, the condition won’t worsen, even if it doesn’t improve.”
“...You have all sorts of abilities. But thanks to you, we’re saved. Thank you, Yoon Si-woo.”
Hearing Yoon Si-woo’s words, Sylvia checked that the children's conditions were no longer deteriorating and began the purification process with a relieved expression.
Fortunately, quick action prevented the worst from happening.
Since I was useless staying here, I checked on Mei, who was gradually improving thanks to Sylvia's purification, and then dashed out of the cafeteria.
I informed the teachers of the situation and requested help from those who could purify magic.
Soon, the cafeteria was bustling with people who had gathered.
However, the expressions on their faces were uniformly grim.
And for good reason.
While academies in other novels were often depicted as having lax security and being attacked frequently, Aegis Academy had guards at its gates.
Unless most of the available forces were sent out, like during the incident in the gymnasium, the guards, who were skilled and not to be taken lightly, would keep watch at the entrance from the start of school until the end of the day, patrolling periodically.
Magic was cast on the academy grounds, making teleportation impossible, and there was no other way to enter or leave besides the designated entry points.
Entrants’ identities were strictly verified by the guards, ensuring ironclad security.
Yet, in broad daylight, a magical attack had occurred in such a place.
And just now, the guards relayed a message to everyone.
No recent records of unauthorized outsiders entering the school.
Everyone’s faces grew even more solemn.
They all took pride in their work.
They also trusted their colleagues.
So the truth was all the more painful.
But even if they didn’t want to admit it, all evidence pointed to the same conclusion.
As in a line from a manga I once read,
The culprit is among us.
Looking outside, I saw it was pouring rain.
---
An investigation began to find the culprit from within.
Though I had been eating in the cafeteria with the other students, Yoon Si-woo, Sylvia, and I were also important witnesses, so we were called in for questioning by the teachers.
Being called important witnesses was essentially the same as being suspects.
I understood that it was a situation where suspicion was inevitable.
We each began explaining how we avoided being affected by the magic.
Sylvia, who had been resting while treating the children, was called and demonstrated by emitting light from her hands.
“I am the heir of Astra. The fact that the star spirit’s contractor can resist magic is even written in textbooks. Do I still need to be suspected?”
Honestly, the teachers didn’t seem to suspect Sylvia.
She was a member of the prestigious Astra family, known for defeating witches with their entire might. It was unlikely she would commit a magical terror attack.
Next, Yoon Si-woo, still holding the sword of guardianship floating in the cafeteria, drew another sword, a hand-gladius-like indomitable holy sword.
“...This is the Holy Sword of Indomitability. When in possession, it enhances recovery, physical abilities, defense, and magic resistance. It also grants resistance to magic. This sword contains mithril.”
Unlike the Holy Sword of Guardianship, which applied its effects to an area, the Holy Sword of Indomitability granted powerful resistance to magic to its wielder.
That sword allowed Yoon Si-woo to rampage without worrying about magical poisoning in the original story.
Well, it wasn’t 100% effective, though.
Anyway, the mention of mithril visibly stirred the teachers.
Since the dwarves, the only race capable of handling mithril, almost went extinct along with their city centuries ago, mithril equipment had become incredibly valuable.
After Yoon Si-woo’s explanation, it was my turn.
And from the moment I was called, I knew I was in trouble.
“How did you avoid magical poisoning?”
Among the gathered teachers, the stern-looking headteacher asked me in a menacing voice.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“...I don’t know.”
“...You don’t know?”
“Yes... I think I just have a natural resistance...”
My answer made the teachers’ eyes sharpen.
Honestly, I knew it was a ridiculous answer.
Even among the people of the Dolos family, who were physically the most outstanding, there were very few who could withstand magic with just their bodies.
But I really didn’t know the reason, so I had no choice.
If I had to guess, it might be because of the witch’s heart fragment embedded in my body, but I wasn’t sure, and I couldn’t say that.
Seeing Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia looking more anxious than I was, I realized they were aware of my situation.
Evidently, my answer was suspicious, as the teacher asked me again, this time with a scarier voice.
“...I see you belong to the cooking club.”
“...Yes.”
As soon as that was said, everyone’s eyes widened.
I could feel their suspicious gazes directed at me.
The cooking club’s room is attached to the kitchen.
It wasn’t far-fetched to think I might have tampered with the kitchen in advance.
“...You didn’t do this, did you?”
“I really didn’t.”
I insisted on my innocence, but who would believe me in this situation?
At that moment, things were looking dire.
“Scarlet didn’t do it!”
“...That’s right, Scarlet isn’t the culprit.”
Sylvia and Yoon Si-woo, who were sitting in the corner, suddenly stood up and shouted.
The teachers’ eyes turned to them.
Their stern looks suggested they wouldn’t be swayed by personal connections.
But Sylvia spoke calmly despite the pressure.
“The incident happened during lunchtime. Scarlet has been with me since we arrived at school, so she couldn’t have done it.”
“She could have tampered with the ingredients beforehand in the kitchen.”
“Cooking club activities are on Fridays. And she was absent last Friday due to illness. The last time she was in the kitchen was two weeks ago, so it’s unlikely that anything she did would have affected today’s food.”
Sylvia logically defended me.
It was a relief because my testimony, as someone suspected, might not have been credible to the teachers.
Having someone else confirm my whereabouts was much more reliable.
The teacher, who seemed a bit calmer now, asked me another question.
“I see. One last question then, answer honestly. Where were you yesterday?”
“...Yesterday?”
“Yes. The ingredients for Monday are brought in on Sunday. I don’t think you tampered with them, but I need to be sure. If your story checks out, you’ll be cleared of suspicion.”
It seemed I was on the verge of being cleared.
Just as I was about to recall and explain what I did yesterday, Yoon Si-woo suddenly spoke up.
Sweating profusely from nerves.
“...There’s no need. I can tell if someone is lying. Scarlet isn’t lying.”
I was surprised by Yoon Si-woo’s sudden declaration.
He never liked to reveal that he had such an ability, fearing it would make others avoid him.
I was grateful yet flustered that Yoon Si-woo went to such lengths to prove my innocence.
I could have just explained what I did on Sunday, and the suspicion would have been lifted.
But the teacher seemed intrigued by Yoon Si-woo’s claim and asked him a question.
“Is that true? Let’s test it with a few questions. I have a beloved daughter. Does that seem true?”
“It’s true.”
“Hmm, this could be a lucky guess. Next question. My favorite genre is romance novels. Is this true?”
Yoon Si-woo made a slightly awkward expression and answered.
“...It’s true.”
“Correct. This is interesting.”
The teacher, who looked like he would fit right into a slasher movie, saying something like, ‘This is trivial,’ had everyone’s expressions changing in an odd way upon hearing he liked romance novels.
Well, there’s nothing wrong with liking romance novels...
“Last question. My hobby is cross-stitching and collecting dolls. Is this true?”
“...Teacher, you’re unexpectedly feminine.”
The surroundings buzzed with murmurs at Yoon Si-woo’s response.
...Still, personal tastes should be respected.
“It seems to be true. This ability could be useful for identifying the culprit. Will you help us? As promised, you and your friends will be cleared of suspicion.”
Yoon Si-woo nodded, and the teacher sighed.
“Phew, I never thought you kids were the culprits. It’s exhausting having to suspect colleagues or students. How can you think like that about people you’d trust with your life? Damn it.”
The teacher looked genuinely weary.
I thanked Sylvia and Yoon Si-woo for their efforts.
Sylvia smiled, saying that defending was Astra’s specialty.
Yoon Si-woo, for some reason, blushed and avoided eye contact.
After greeting the kids and turning away, I hardened my expression.
While it was good to be cleared of suspicion, nothing had been solved, and the case was still a mystery.
We needed to catch the culprit.
Before they caused another incident.
what?!
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