Chapter 28 - The Succession Match (3)
Spy No. 1 and Spy No. 2 were both in Class B.
Therefore, the target is likely also in Class B.
Of course, there's no one named 'Di' in our class.
I haven't memorized all my classmates' names, but I'm sure there isn't such an unusual name.
So, is it an abbreviation?
Is there a name related to 'Di'?
Certainly, it's not me.
Ray Granvelle.
Neither my surname nor my given name has any connection to the word 'Di'.
I'll have to ask Professor Totten to show me the student roster later, under the pretext of selecting players for the inter-class competition.
If I check the names slowly, I might find something.
By the way, it's strange that there's no mention of me in the directive.
They must know I survived.
It's been months already.
Or perhaps they didn't know I entered the Academy?
"Spy No. 2 must have submitted a report... that he'd been in the same class as us for half a month... Maybe the directive Spy No. 2 received isn't here... Ah, it is."
But it was there.
My name finally appeared on the last page of the directive.
"Ray Granvelle on the reported Class B enrollment list is the last survivor of the Granvelle family... presumed to be a survivor of Poison Cave No. 1."
Poison Cave No. 1, huh?
Does that mean there were other poison caves?
"However, collecting information on Di is the top priority. If there's surplus capacity, please collect additional information on Ray Granvelle. This is the will of the White Hand leader..."
At this point, I was just curious.
What makes this 'Di' so special?
To be prioritized even over me, who survived directly experiencing the first Poison King's resurrection ritual.
Well, anyway, at least the leader of the White Hand seems to be paying attention to me.
White Hand.
A special forces-like organization of the Poison King Cult that both spies belonged to.
There wasn't much else of note.
Surveillance and information gathering on Di, and on me if there was time.
To commit murders as cruelly as possible in the slums around the Academy.
To store the jar as safely as possible once it arrived.
This was probably about the Hundred-Year Poison.
In summary, that was all.
I slid the second drawer back into its original place and pulled out the third drawer halfway.
Squeak.
And immediately closed it again.
The third drawer was just empty.
What a disappointment.
The hidden operational funds of a secret spy organization, gold or silver ingots, large amounts of local currency...
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Was I expecting too much?
Even the last, fourth drawer was filled with rags.
"Haa..."
These guys, they seem to be paupers at heart.
What on earth is the Poison King Cult using for money to do their spy work?
Are they perhaps wearing these rags and procuring resources locally?
By begging?
Although robbery would suit them better than begging.
Still, it wasn't like I gained absolutely nothing.
I'm not talking about the unidentified tree roots.
Whatever else, that jar containing the Hundred-Year Poison was undoubtedly an important item.
So, at some point, they would definitely send someone here.
To retrieve the jar.
In the end, the bait was jumping into my mouth on its own. There was no need to go out on troublesome night outings every day. Like a spider spinning its web and waiting for its prey, all I had to do was wait for them to come to me.
"Next time, I'll control it well so it doesn't melt..." I needed to milk it for as long as possible. A person can't live on just one meal, after all.
Then, suddenly, I saw a familiar protrusion next to the drawer unit. It looked exactly like the one in the built-in wardrobe. I grabbed it and pulled it in the same way, and this time, a gap appeared in the wall, revealing a hidden door.
Kkik...
A hidden room in a hidden basement.
Yes, I knew it.
Surely, the spy organization's operational funds would be hidden beyond there. But no.
Splash.
"...Water?"
There was water.
Beyond the secret passage was a small pool.
I was confused for a moment but quickly understood the situation.
This was a well.
The bottom of the well behind the dorm was connected to this basement.
Oh, for crying out loud.
I looked up and saw the well entrance far above.
"You were all there."
The red orb was hovering around the entrance.
I waved, beckoning the orb into the well.
"Over here, over here! Everyone, come down here! There's something heavy to take out. So, first, come down here and..."
***
The Next Day
The next day, I left the dorm looking almost the same as usual.
My face and hands still seemed a little swollen.
Could I just use the excuse that I ate too much late-night supper?
Though there was no one in my class who would ask if my face was swollen anyway...
As I arrived at the Academy and walked down the corridor.
"You idiots! Stop showing off your strength unnecessarily when the professor isn't here!"
A familiar voice echoed from in front of the Class C lecture hall.
"This isn't the time for you to fight! The city is in danger, I tell you! My sibling told me yesterday that a Poisoned Human is roaming the city!"
"...What?"
"A Poisoned Human?"
"What nonsense is this parentless bastard spouting now..."
"What? Do you want to die today?"
There was a loud commotion, and then a scream echoed from the lecture hall.
Phil, that guy, full of energy even this morning.
But a Poisoned Human?
This wasn't something I could ignore.
I stopped my steps and focused all my attention on my hearing.
"...Hmph, this bastard's nothing special. Anyone else? Anyone wanna pick a fight?"
"N-no."
"Listen up, Phil. What on earth are you talking about?"
"Argh, Phil, that bastard throws a mean punch..."
"But what did you say? A Poisoned Human?"
"Yeah, a Poisoned Human. One of my siblings was walking around at night and met that goddamn killer."
Suddenly, the entire lecture hall buzzed loudly.
"A killer? The serial killer everyone's been talking about lately?"
"The killer is a Poisoned Human?"
"No, my sibling was almost killed by the killer but was saved by a Poisoned Human."
"...What?"
"What's that? What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Is your sibling crazy? Are they sick?"
"Sick? You wanna get hit too?"
"No, I'm sorry. Please spare me."
"Hmm, Melissa is the smartest of my siblings. She doesn't talk nonsense. Anyway, she said a super-fat giant monster suddenly appeared and took care of the killer."
Melissa.
So that girl's name that night was Melissa.
But Melissa?
Did she already blab to everyone around?
What about the vow of silence we shared that night?
"Phew..."
That night, I thought we understood each other, but it must have just been my delusion.
Anyway, an unidentified Poisoned Human roaming the slums.
At this rate, it's only a matter of time before the rumors spread.
The city's guards will surely react quickly.
From the Sword King family's perspective, an unidentified killer might be ignored, but an unidentified Poisoned Human can never be left alone.
I should refrain from night outings in the future.
If I stay quiet, nothing much will happen.
After all, my appearance and voice are completely different.
By the way, it's nice to see Phil, despite his bickering, getting along well with his classmates. I'm a little envious too.
And so, another day began.
Attending lectures, doing light practical training, being called to the professor's office for a moment, returning to listen to another professor's lecture... After classes ended, I returned to the dorm with an uninvited guest.
The uninvited guest's name was Giel Craven.
"I thought it was a joke, but it's real?"
Giel kept grumbling on the way.
"Graveyard Mountain? Are you really planning to hold the succession match here? Are you crazy? Are you sane, Granvelle?"
"Of course. My mind is always clear."
"The geomantic location is too bad, isn't it?"
"Geomantic location?"
"Yes. Geomantic location. Can you really perform at your best in a place like this? The ley lines are a mess."
"Ley lines?"
I had no idea what he was talking about.
I asked Phil, who had come along.
"Are the ley lines here a mess?"
"Huh?"
Phil closed and opened his eyes for a moment, then shook his head.
"No? There's not much difference? Isn't it just similar to the Academy?"
"Ha, similar? What's similar about it?"
"What?"
"This is why you shouldn't associate with ignorant fools. Who are you? The Granvelle family's attendant?"
Giel scoffed and asked.
Suddenly, a vein throbbed on Phil's forehead.
"Are you blind? Can't you see the uniform? I'm Phil Lucavre, from Class C. Believe it or not, I'm your peer."
"My peer, my ass. You're in a different class, and you want to be treated as a peer? You have no conscience. Don't you dare climb up, Class C. You reek, so don't come near me."
"...Ray?"
Phil suddenly whispered, lowering his voice.
"Is he strong?"
"Maybe? About average in Class B, I guess?"
"Stronger than you?"
"Probably not."
"...Then it's fine. Go ahead and stomp him out for me."
"Don't worry. But is there really a problem?"
"What?"
"The ley lines here."
"No problem. If there is, it'll be extremely subtle. That guy's just making excuses in case he loses. Cowardly bastard."
Phil spat on the ground and backed away.
I just nodded, assuming that was the case.
Aura is not an inherent human power.
It's used by sensing the ley lines flowing deep within the earth and drawing power from them to strengthen one's body.
But it's said that ley lines flow differently depending on the region.
I heard they're largely divided into five types.
Some special areas where one can't sense ley lines at all or only faintly.
These places are called 'forbidden zones'.
Of course, that has nothing to do with me.
Because my ley line sensitivity is zero.
"Ah! That's right. Granvelle, you have 1-star Aura, right? With such lousy Aura, you chose a place like this. To somehow fight to your advantage..."
"Enough chitchat."
Then a middle-aged man who had arrived first spoke.
"Gric Serces. From now on, the Sword King succession match will begin."
Gric Serces.
The succession match observer and the head of the Bryce Succession Management Office.
He was said to be my father's Academy classmate, so he must be 42 years old.
"Giel Craven. Northern Academy first year. Succession rank 160. You stand on my right."
"Yes."
"Ray Granvelle. Northern Academy first year. Succession rank 96. You stand on my left."
"Yes, Observer."
"I will inform you of the rules before the duel."
Gric alternated his gaze between us.
"This succession match is a lower-tier succession match and will proceed as a simplified duel at the observer's discretion. Duelists will immediately stop the duel when the observer's judgment is rendered. Objections will not be tolerated. Understood?"
"Yes, Observer."
"Both duelists, prepare for the duel."
"Hah!"
Suddenly, Giel raised his wooden sword and shouted.
Wooong!
At the same time, a faint haze of aura rose around his body.
Aura.
It seems to look and feel different to those who actually wield it.
To my eyes, it was just a slight shimmer.
—Giel's aura is... ahem, let's see. It's listed as 3-star. His swordsmanship is mid-2-star.
—Oh? You came! Ray. It wasn't anything special I called you for...
According to the information Professor Totten leaked (with obvious intent) in his office, Giel's aura was 3-star.
3-star aura.
This refers to a stage where one can exert strength and speed close to human limits through aura.
It's a level usually achieved only after a lifetime of physical training, but here it's reached in an instant.
Additionally, it allows for defense against or neutralization of almost all known types of poison.
Of course, that's irrelevant for now.
"...Hmm."
Gric cleared his throat and looked at me.
"Ray Granvelle. You, too, prepare for the duel."
"Yes. I'm ready."
"..."
Gric silently frowned and closed his mouth.
No, Chief.
It's a misunderstanding.
This is my best.
It's absolutely not that I underestimated my opponent and didn't activate my aura at all.