How to Survive at the Academy

Giving meaning (5)

When Bell stopped by the hut to clean Lortel’s villa, Belle looked more surprised than expected.

It has been more than five days since Ed Roth-Taylor has been away to attend the prayer service at the Cedric Abbey.

Five days in the wild is the time for weeds to grow, food to spoil, and water to dry out. It is a story that not everyone can adapt to a wild life that requires spending every day preciously.

So, while Ed, who is usually in charge of the camp, was away, I thought that Yenika would suffer a little.

However, the camp, which was surprisingly well maintained in a neat and tidy state, was tidy in a different direction than when Ed was the lead.

Like Yenica, who has a more delicate personality than Ed, there were neatly arranged tools, ingredients, and firewood.

And Yenica, who was reading a book in front of the bonfire, said, “Ahem,” when Bell came and made a surprised expression, and put her arms on her waist and made a majestic expression.

“I was surprised at how cleanly maintained it was. You are very good at camp maintenance.”

“It’s been a few months since I started living in camp, but I don’t do this much!”

After that, he shows a triumphant figure, ahem ahem, but honestly, it is inevitable that the feeling of being unique rather than cool comes up first.

It is said that in 3 years of Seodanggae, a good month is sung. As Yenica has also been living in a camp next to Ed, she has accumulated the skills to do basic management without difficulty.

The spirits would have done the hard work, but it can’t be done with delicate or skillful work.

“I heard that Ed is coming back today. You have to show that you’ve been fine!”

“okay. But… the…”

According to Ed’s original schedule, he was scheduled to return home in the middle of the night after finishing the prayer meeting at the Cedric’s Monastery today.

The reason why Yenica worked hard to make the camp even more tidy was because she wanted to see Ed return surprised.

“Due to an urgent matter within the monastery, the schedule for your return to school has been delayed. I have just been contacted, so I am here to tell you.”

“….Yes? Is it urgent?”

“You seem to be getting caught up in something complicated. I think you’ll be fine and come back, but… I’m worried.”

“Oh, that’s right… Ed… I’m worried. You haven’t been feeling very well lately.”

“Is that so? I never felt that way.”

“Since the last time I was swung by a strange weak force, I feel like I’ve been thinking a lot.”

Yenika covered the large Elemental Spellbook that was on her lap, and placed it on the side of the stump. Suddenly, the magic book started floating the ball, and the spirits that were escorting around Yenica appeared and started organizing the book.

“Was it too difficult…?”

“More than that… I did say things that made me think a lot. Now that I come to think of it, it seems like it was a long way off.”

“Are you saying it’s useless…?”

“I just… I have something I want to say to Master Ed, so I just divulged some of my past.”

There was curiosity in Jenica’s eyes.

I am curious to say that it is a story that Ed was confused about after hearing it, and the story of Jean Belle Maia, the maid of the Ophelis Hall, is mixed, so it is hard not to be tempted to listen to it.

“What did you say…?”

“It’s not a very pleasant story. And… there are parts that I didn’t fully tell you. There are also contents that contain Ed’s personal history… it’s a bit difficult to share…”

So, the mouth is the norm.

In the Office of Ophelis, who was consistent with his business-oriented attitude, he never made such a blunder, but when he came to camp, his shoulders became even more relaxed and he made mistakes.

but what to do It’s already late.

Yenika had already stimulated her curiosity to the very end.

Yenica, who is sticking out her mouth while making a squeaking noise, does no harm other than clenching her bat-like fists if left as it is. Herbivores are herbivores only when they are angry.

It didn’t feel right to leave her like that, though, so Bell took a deep breath and sat down across from Yenika.

“Brother Ed once became pessimistic about life and tried to kill himself.”

As Bell took a pose and tried to explain the situation, Yenika’s face turned bright like a child.

However, as soon as I heard the first sentence, I immediately hardened. As a human being who always showed only a strong side, I never even thought that he would ever make an attempt like that.

However, if you think about the past, Ed is a human born from a background in which it is not strange to be pessimistic about life at any time.

“I didn’t know at all…”

“Aren’t you working hard right now just before planting? That’s a good thing. It’s just… I’m just saying I don’t want you to think like that again.”

“I see… So what is Bell’s past?”

Bell pondered for a moment how far to talk, and then showed a refreshing face as if it was all right.

“Actually, I didn’t tell you everything about Ed. In a way, I forgot the most important part. Even the same story can have completely different meanings depending on how you tell it.”

“…okay?”

“… would you like to hear it?”

* There was silence among the monks.

The wooden coffin leading towards the central corridor is stacked with wreaths to pray for the well-being of the deceased. 109 years old. The old man who bluffed out nonsense that he would live for at least 100 more years died without any warning.

The death of an old man who devoted 80 years to the Telos Church alone. Even the death of the abbot in charge of the Cedric’s Monastery.

No matter how important the prayer meeting of the Cedric Abbey was, it could not have preceded the death of Abbot Austin. She is respected by members of the church and has always kept her faith sublime.

I could rise to the ranks of saints and serve as a high-ranking clergyman in Seonghwangdo, but I dared to raise nuns with their own circumstances like my own daughters at the forefront of the monastery.

He has never worn a high-ranking monastic robe full of ornate ornaments. There was no way to wear high-quality clothes because they get dirty quickly while working in the field.

The sleeves were completely wrinkled because they had always been rolled up. The only furniture in the room was a desk, a chair, a bed, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe, all of which were shabby.

His private property consisted of only a few spare robes, a Bible, and a brass bowl for prayer. It was too frugal for a human who had lived for over a century.

So, the coffin containing the remains of the saint slowly went out of the corridor.

Both the nuns who were dragging the coffin and the nuns who watched the scene were all in tears.

*“The traces of the murder are evident.”

It was the report of the Assistant Bishop Melinir.

Sister Melinir in charge, with neat and decent hair, spoke so short and boldly on the podium.

After lunch, St. Clarisse summoned all the distinguished guests, high-ranking nuns and outside visitors to the chapel in the heart of the monastery.

As I entered the splendid chapel, I saw that all kinds of tables, relics, and prayer supplies were prepared for the prayers of the distinguished guests.

A grand prayer meeting was originally scheduled to be held, but all schedules were cancelled.

“This is… a top secret that should never be spread among nuns.”

The podium of the chapel. Originally, outsiders sat where high-ranking clergy had to sit to preside over prayer meetings.

The sudden death of the abbot spread chaos, but the exact cause or circumstances were not announced.

In the first place, the duty to take the initiative in investigating and publishing such a thing rested on the diocesan bishop who manages the coastal area including this monastery.

However, the diocesan of this monastic district was also in charge of the Abbot of Austin. Since the person concerned cannot brief himself on the death of the person concerned… It was inevitable that there was some confusion in the management system of this monastery.

In the end, there was only one person who had the rightful power to manage this chaotic situation well and organize the situation.

Three representatives stood up and sat on the podium.

Melinir, an assistant bishop and executive officer of the abbey, managed the nuns under Abbot Austin.

The second princess Persica, who has taken over the public power of the imperial family and has the authority to directly rectify the situation.

And Saint Clarisse, who has the same authority as the final approval right for all matters of the Telos Church.

Already on the border of Jahul, there was a report of a death inside the monastery.

Soon, the imperial family will also send additional investigative personnel. Until then, the control over the situation inside the monastery was… It was safe to say that the three of them were divided.

The insiders are calming themselves down so they don’t panic, and when the imperial investigative personnel arrive, it’s time to hand over the authority to them.

However, Saint Clarisse dared to pick only outsiders and gather them into the chapel. After hearing Melinir’s report, he decided that it should be the case.

“I checked the scars left on Abbot Austin’s remains. The dagger stab wounds remained. Considering that the cause of death was excessive bleeding, and there were traces of struggles at the scene… I can’t believe it was a natural death.”

He is 109 years old. When it comes to dying in a room, the first possibility that comes to mind is natural death.

However, his assistant Bishop Melinir completely denied that possibility.

“The Abbot was always perfectly self-managed and took care of his health. He was always willing to do manual labor, and I didn’t feel any abnormality even from my point of view, which was checking my body every day.”

Auxiliary Bishop Melinir knew what kind of repercussions these next words would have, but he held onto his teeth and continued the story.

“All the nuns inhabiting this monastery are lambs owed to Abbot Austin. To put it bluntly, they have no reason or motive to harm the Abbot.”

Hold your breath for a while, and list only objective facts.

“Even at the time of his death, it is a period of prayer, when a lot of outsiders come and go. The fact that the person who corrected me when I had been with the nuns for several years was found dead during a visit by outsiders… It is so exquisite in the circumstances…”

After that, Melinir paused for a moment, trying to choose a word carefully. But the story’s conclusion has already been conveyed sufficiently well.

In the prayer room of the chapel, distinguished guests and young girls from all over the world were seated.

The countess and the young children of the self-writers are the basics, the successors of the Toles Chambers, the only daughter of the imperial prime minister, and the disciples of the famous magic tool craftsmen.

They were the people who came to the Telos Church and went a long way to show their sincerity.

To such people, Melinir says:

“Perhaps, I think a lot of people… might be the suspects in the circumstances. This is a necessary suspicion.”

– Bang!

At those words, Youngae, the self-writer of the location, left her seat and stood up. At the same time, one of the other noble families jumped to their feet.

“What now?! I have come a long way to show respect for the Telos Church, but now you want me to be treated as a murder suspect?!”

“Are you kidding me?! Where is the guarantee that even an insider of the monastery won’t hold a grudge against the abbot?!”

“I will write a letter to home! You can’t come all the way here and be treated like a murderer!”

“Calm down. It is the presence of the saint and the princess.”

At those words, all the noble girls swallowed their breath. I was young and immature, so I forgot for a while.

Behind Melinir, two girls sitting on either side of the table. 2 Princess Persica and Saint Clarisse.

If you combine the authority of the two people, even if you combine the authority of all the noble families gathered here, it is impossible to even rub them together.

So all the young girls had no choice but to hold their breath.

After a moment of silence, Saint Clarisse raised her voice from the podium.

“It is difficult to identify a suspect based on a simple motive. Because Abbot Austin was kind to all and merciful to all. Not only that, he was a man who lived quietly in the monastery, only praying.”

Clarisse’s story hit a blind spot.

“How can you hold a grudge against someone like this? At least there won’t be any personal and private emotional resentment. Because he is such a person, it will be difficult to find a motive for killing…”

The possibility of emotionally impulsive murder is negligible. If so, is it a political or ideological reason?

There is only one person here who will benefit from Abbot Austin’s death.

The Abbot who fully supports Princess Fenia. If such a person disappears from the world, her competitor, Princess Persica, will be able to enjoy a reflex benefit in the competition for the throne.

Some of the nobles seemed to have reached that point, swallowing dry saliva and looking at the Persica princess on the podium.

The princess of Persica, who was sitting in a dignified posture… slowly closed her eyes and then opened them.

“There are young girls who look at me with disrespectful thoughts. Is it the daughter of the Viscount Lokest, Count Flosin, and Baron Kelcus? Do not remember me.”

As if she had read her thoughts with just her eyes, the Persica princess threatened her like that.

All the young girls of the noble family, who had their eyes on them with just those words, shook their heads in amazement. A murmur was heard in denial, but the Princess of Persica stood up as if she had done it.

A girl who knows how to dominate the crowd. As if to prove that fact, he spoke in a high-pitched voice coming from his stomach.

“There is no need to hide the fact that I am working hard for the Emperor. But the murder of Abbot Austin… Do you think he was the type of person to put up with such a stupid number?”

There was silence in the middle.

“To cut down on one influential person supporting my brother Fenia, to put a hand on the life of an elder of the Telos Church. If it seemed stupid enough that I couldn’t even judge profit or loss, it’s my fault in a way. He seemed like such a shallow monarch. It makes me reflect on myself!”

The act of killing Abbot Austin, blinded by the imperial power, is nothing more than turning the entire Telos Church into an enemy.

At least if he was going to do such a thing, he wouldn’t have been aiming for a time when he had no choice but to be on the suspect line like this.

“What is the meaning of power gained by putting people’s lives on the scales in the first place? I am a person who can keep morals. I hope you don’t insult me.”

In the meantime, don’t forget to appeal for moral justification. The Persian princess was a rational human being.

“And I’m not the only one who weighs the pros and cons in the competitive landscape for the imperial power. The distinguished guests who have gathered here… they don’t say anything, but there must be at least one runner-up in their hearts, right? Depending on who ascends to the position of the next emperor, there are probably many people who are intertwined with the rise and fall of the family and the strife. It is difficult to think that I am the only one who is bound by the imperial power structure.”

Having said that, Persica slowly moved on to the next story.

“We have already received reports of Abbot Austin’s progress. Last night, at low tide, he brought the count girls into the monastery, and after completing the basic procedures, he went into the room and never appeared in public again.”

After that, Persica summarized the things she had reported and received and made a clear announcement.

The last eyewitness testimony came from a nun heading to the bathroom late last night. It was a testimony that he saw him walking out of the corridor of the monastery leaving the words ‘I am going to catch a ghost’.

That is, Abbot Austin was still alive until late last night.

“Are you going hunting for ghosts?”

To Clarisse’s question, Princess Persica answered.

“Recently, rumors have been circulating among the nuns that there are ghosts roaming the cloisters. Well, maybe it’s just a wild animal making a noise, or maybe it’s an aberration like a stupid nun’s night walk.”

“It happened… it happened…”

“Anyway, it shouldn’t be such a shameful thing at a time when there are a lot of outsiders like this, so the Abbot must have gone to confirm the identity of the ghost.”

Found dead in the next room.

At this point, I felt some kind of anxiety.

If ‘ghost’ is a hot topic, there is a person who cannot but be mentioned here.

“I also investigated the situation through an escort agent in advance to avoid such suspicion from my point of view. However, for some reason, all the outsiders who visited the monastery were accompanied by an escort, or the location of the private room was clear, so it was easy to understand the movement…

“…gate crasher?”

A loud roar spread through the crowd.

“Did you know that at the time of Abbot Austin’s death, there was an uninvited outsider who could not figure out the exact route and even did not know that he had entered this abbey?”

Persica immediately called out his name without hesitation.

“Lucy Meryl.”

Some people know the name and some don’t.

He was the head of the Sylvania Academy Magic Department and made his name as a rare genius wizard… Recently, he defeated the evil god Mebuler and his name spread to the central part of the Empire.

“The situation investigation this morning confirmed her existence. From what I heard, they said that they were wandering around the monastery in their own wagons… Are you here now?”

The buzzing crowd began to look around. It’s hard to believe the story of a rare genius wizard Lucy Meiryl coming to this monastery.

Maybe I’m mixed with this crowd. There was such a story going on.

– Wheeik.

Small stature and sleepy eyes. An academy uniform that doesn’t even fit the size with a large witch hat.

The girl with that familiar appearance now stands up from the prayer seat in the corner. He led his sullen body and stretched it once… He jumped down from the prayer seat and stood up straight.

All eyes on the left were focused on it.

Lucy walks out slowly. In the center of the prayer room, while stepping on the red carpet that stretched over the podium… I look up at Persica with indifferent eyes.

“Realistically, you are the only outsider who has had the easiest access to Abbot Austin and has been able to completely disappear.”

Princess Persica’s voice spread through the quiet chapel.

Lucy Mayryl, who looked up at her quietly, did not change her expression at all.

being accused of murder.

However, at the indifferent attitude as if he was wondering what the truth was… the left even felt a sense of incongruity.

At that time, Saint Clarisse stood up from her seat. She was the only human who could respond to the Persian princess with authority.

“Wait! Lucy Meryl has no reason to harm Abbot Austin!”

“Isn’t the story about motives already over? Lady. It’s harder to find someone with a motive to harm Abbot Austin in the first place. In this case, we need to identify the most likely one among the remaining suspects while reducing it to the extinction method.”

I also felt uncomfortable.

I agree a hundred times that Lucy Meryl has no reason to harm Abbot Austin.

However, even if Lucy attacked Abbot Austin by conceding a hundred steps… Why else is he staying here?

If you stay still, you will be accused of being a criminal, but why do you have to sit in this monastery?

“At least you should cooperate with the investigation. Escape from this monastery wouldn’t be a problem if you put your mind to it, but you will know for yourself that such an act is only an acknowledgment of your crimes.”

Like the bodyguards guarding the podium, if Lucy swings her arm with a single swing, they’ll all fall off.

But Lucy doesn’t resist. He quietly put his arms on his back and accepted the restraint.

At this point, I was deeply concerned about whether I should stand up and defend Lucy.

As I said, Lucy Meirl could have killed the abbot and escaped if she wanted to. No one else knows, but Clarisse and I, who were together at the academy, know.

Although rumored to be strong and strong, Lucy Meryl’s mighty power is beyond the realm of imagination.

Frankly, even the long sea route between the monastery and the coastline could be skipped over with high-level space magic. Even without making a small noise or a single light.

Since it is a means that requires an astronomical amount of magical power, it would be difficult for ordinary people to imagine.

A closed monastery that can only be entered at low tide. VIPs who have been checked all the eyewitness testimonies and routes. Since it is a place where communal living is premised, it is difficult to establish a murder plan carelessly.

A human being free from all these background factors. An exceptional being who roams on the machinery behind the stage.

What is the reason for such a person to remain here and be accused of being a suspect?

…If you actively express that fact, you may be able to avoid this position. He can’t be purged of being a prime suspect, but at least he’ll be treated like a criminal and won’t be arrested.

Not only me, but Clarisse was also in deep contemplation as she narrowed her forehead on the podium, wondering if that was the case. But the reason why we didn’t dare to talk about that possibility… it’s clear.

From the look on Lucy’s face, as calm as the water of a calm lake… He sensed that something was intentional.

Was there something I didn’t tell or couldn’t tell?

Accepting the restraint ball with the most peaceful expression in the world, Lucy was led by the soldier’s hand and walked over the podium.

There was a surprising look in the eyes of the young girls who looked at her, as if they couldn’t believe it. It was a big shock to find out that the rare genius wizard, who had only been rumored to be a likely murder suspect, was.

He doesn’t even utter words to defend himself. He only maintains a grim expression on his face.

I sat mingled among the VIP seats, looking up at the podium, deep in thought.

Such a rare genius wizard who represented Sylvania was arrested by the Imperial Guard on the charge that he hid in the monastery without permission and murdered Abbot Austin.

On the next day, the recruits will be transferred to the investigation team sent by the imperial family.

Although she is a girl who cannot be controlled by being arrested in the first place, becoming a criminal was a completely different story.

*- smart.

After the meeting of the chapel was dissolved, Saint Clarisse ordered the distinguished guests to each return to their own rooms.

As the situation is the situation, it was a story to check the movement and take care of each person’s safety until the investigation team came in. After all, when it was a distinguished guest who came to represent each family, one or two escorts were attached.

I, too, was sitting still in the shabby private room, organizing the situation in my head.

It was around that late at night… I heard someone knock on the door. At this point in time, there would be no nuns to come to outsiders… I was puzzled and opened the door to see a familiar face.

“Sorry for being late at night. Confucius Ed Roth Taylor.”

Standing in the dimly lit hallway was the priest who had just been reporting from the podium during the day on the circumstances of Abbot Austin’s death.

Assistant Bishop Melinir. A close aide to the Abbot of Austin during his lifetime, and the person who in fact took charge of the management of the Abbey.

She had a complicated expression on her face and looked tense as if she had been knocking on my door with difficulty.

“What are you doing at this hour?”

“I have come here because I have something to say to Confucius Ed.”

Due to the circumstances, it is not good to go around late at night.

There was no way that Melinir was unaware of that fact, but there was a clear sign that he wanted to avoid the eyes of others.

“I will start with the conclusion. I know it wasn’t Lucy Meryl who killed Abbot Austin…”

“…”

As I stared at Melinir, she continued to speak with a hesitant expression on her face.

“I… I think I know who the real culprit is… I’m sure… I’m one of the people inside… But… But… Can I make this public… What kind of effect will it have on the Telos Church? I’m going to go crazy… I can’t decide…”

Suddenly, when I looked at Melinir’s forearm, I could see a slight tremor.

“Speak calmly. You can breathe slowly.”

”…Abbey Austin… has a great secret that he cannot tell anyone else. It is a secret so great that it may even be related to the existence of this Cledric Monastery… Now, among the nuns, I am the only one who knows the secret…”

Melinir’s tremors were coming up from his forearms to his voice.

“Please… before I become… can you please report my story to the saint…?”

It was an unexpected situation.

I narrowed my eyebrows and listened to Melinir’s next story.