第６１０堀：ありきたりな結末と…… (Part1)
**Chapter 610: A Commonplace Conclusion and...**
A commonplace conclusion and...
Due to certain circumstances, the Weed party visited the Haiden Magic Academy. They spent their days putting in the effort to adapt to the academy, refusing to be discouraged by the unfamiliar environment.
However, while living their daily lives at the academy, the Weed party heard some strange rumors.
They say there is a secret room in the library.
They say you shouldn't go near the east women's restroom.
They say an unknown classroom appears in the evening.
They say that in the basement of the dormitory building...
These were all ghost stories.
However, this is another world, not the safe, modern-day Japan.
For certain reasons, the Weed party could not leave these rumors alone, so they set out to investigate.
As a result, they led the truth behind each rumor to a resolution.
The truths were all mundane: stories of graduates acting out, playful pranks by the academy's founders, or the result of a lonely student's actions—trivial matters like that.
But, at the very end, the Weed party might have found something they shouldn't have.
Because what they found was... a blackened, worn-out bed.
Yes, the bed was stained with blood.
The possibility of a crime was clearly visible.
Can the Weed party unravel this truth!?
And can they safely bring peace back to the Haiden Magic Academy!!
***
**Side: Yuki**
"...Why are you speaking like the synopsis of some detective story?"
"No, it's just a summary of what happened so far. It was a clear, easy-to-understand explanation that wouldn't cause any misunderstandings, right? The kind anyone could hear."
"Haa, you're exaggerating. Right, Taizo-san?"
Taiki-kun said this, calling out to Taizo-san, who was sitting next to him.
"Well, I suppose. But as Yuki-kun said, it would be problematic if the academy didn't make it public."
"Well, that's true, of course."
Taiki-kun nodded at Taizo-san's reply, looking as if he had no choice.
"Regardless, we can't get any more involved than this."
"Let's just be glad it ended without anything major happening."
"That's true."
The three of us said that and drank our tea.
We had already returned to our room, and the investigation of the scene was already finished.
Yes, the investigation was over.
In other words, the truth behind the ghost story had been unraveled.
The reason was simple.
The worn-out bed with the blackened stain we discovered—there was no doubt the stain was blood.
But it wasn't exactly a subject of terror.
Certainly, there was blood on it.
But it wasn't a massive amount; it was just a little bit.
It was the kind of thing that happens if you get a small injury and a few drops fall; it was by no means a massive amount of blood like a murder scene.
Also, upon closer inspection, the room was tidier than expected.
To be specific, it was clean enough to live in normally.
That’s why it was a "worn-out bed" rather than a "dust-covered bed."
Also, there was a slight strange odor.
Should I call it sweat, or something else...?
It seemed like they were cleaning it properly, which was the reason it took us so long to notice the odor wasn't that bad.
So, the conclusion, the truth that can be drawn from this is...
"Well, there are a lot of young men and women here. You could say it was bound to happen."
"That place is basically a nest for the 'popular crowd,' isn't it?"
"That's right. The rest is up to the academy staff."
Yes, it was just a lodging.
To be specific, a love hotel?
It had become a place for them to get busy.
However, why didn't Mikos know about this? Originally, she doesn't place much importance on these kinds of rumors.
It was information she finally dug up and gathered only because we wanted to investigate.
What Mikos basically wants is information that will be advantageous for future employment or will make money; she has little interest in such trivial rumors.
Furthermore, anyone can imagine what would happen if she told people about this place, given her reputation as an information broker.
Besides, the fact that people are using a place like this means there are those who can't meet openly in their rooms, and if she got involved carelessly, Mikos could lose her head.
That’s why Mikos intuitively chose not to get too deep into the rumors and took the approach of exploring with us.
If she hadn't done that, there was a possibility that Mikos alone would have been erased, turning it into a real incident.
That said, Mikos is just a baron's daughter, so if there were nobles above her involved, it would be easily covered up. It wouldn't even become an incident.
Actually, for the academy, this situation is problematic.
They can't just let it slide by saying, "We left the dormitory basement alone and the students were engaging in illicit acts."
Especially now. Just when the talks with Findal are finally coming together, if something like this happens, it's not just a meeting—it's a crisis that could trigger a war.
They could be accused of being no different from the past.
In the end, the rumor of the ghost appearing at night was literal.
Since there probably aren't any students who would do it in broad daylight without regard for others, it inevitably happens at night when the surroundings are quiet.
That’s why everyone except those related to the Haiden Magic Academy was locked out.
They are in a panic, returning the furniture they moved out before classes ended, trying to identify the culprits who were using it.
If nobles from other countries are engaging in illicit acts, like in Kagura's room, it's nothing but a massive problem.
Of course, they are lending out video cameras, and the surveillance is in all-time recording mode.
The data is being funneled to us, of course, but we don't really intend to use it for blackmail.
We have our hands full with Haiden as it is, so we want to avoid other troublesome matters as much as possible.
"Well, aren't you three glad it wasn't a serious rumor?"
The one saying that was Agil, who was one of the people locked out as well.
"They called it an academic investigation, so I'm a bit disappointed, but it's the same. And it had traces of being used until quite recently, didn't it? Man, youth is great."
"No, Agil, you're young too, aren't you?"
"Oh? Does the Hero like me?"
"Why does it have to be that?"
"You know... even though I look flat and small, I'm already past the prime age. The word 'young' can be taken as an expression of intent that you can have me."
"Ah... sorry about that."
"If you're going to apologize, I'd be happy if you just took me. The people above me are being noisy, too. So, how about you, Yuki-dono, who is the first candidate—or rather, under orders from above? I'll serve you well."
"As for that, even if you were to become my bride, it's still too early. Things are getting fishy over in August, after all."
"Tch, if I announced an engagement now, August might explode. Haa, I want to report something random to my home country and just spend my time in Weed, buried in research."
"That's your real intention, isn't it?"
"That's not entirely true. Seeing you guys, I've started to think marriage isn't so bad. Well, if I'm going to pledge loyalty to Weed, of course, the condition that I can do research to my heart's content is attached. Otherwise, I'd be leaning toward Enaria."
"Ah, then that's impossible for me. Even if I'm a Hero and a King, I can't do unreasonable things."
"I'm not infinite, either."
"But Yuki-dono, you aren't denying it. Could it actually work?"
"I've heard from the start that things are unfair on the Enaria side. Jessica from Zilba, Samantha from Roday, Cleena from August, and the fact that Enaria has no connection—that's something we've talked about, thinking it's a bit..."
"At first, I wanted to push Rurua-dono, but she's of the Church faction, not the Royal faction. Or rather, Rurua-dono came to the If Continent with you, Yuki-dono, in the first place. If that's the case, the real intention is that we want you to take one, or even ten, from our side. At the moment, the fact that there's no one in a position to give direct opinions to you, Yuki-dono, or Seraria-dono is a huge minus. There are other small-fry officials as diplomats, but every place shares the opinion that it's better to have someone embedded inside. Well, it's convenient if this state of affairs drags on; even if I'm pressured, I can make excuses."
Like this, Agil keeps trying to sell herself, but she doesn't seem that enthusiastic about it herself.
No, marriage itself doesn't seem to be that much of a problem, but if that happens, there's no doubt it would be the "fake princess operation" through adoption into the royal family.
If that happens, it would be a story about getting an education as a princess, just like Cleena.
Agil would probably want to be spared from that. She'd have to put her research career on hold for a while and study things she doesn't want to.
While we were talking about that, Popuri returned to the room.
After finding out the truth about the basement, she had stepped away, saying she had some work to do or needed to contact Lara.
"Welcome back."
"...Ah, I'm back."
For some reason, Popuri looked exhausted.
Did something happen? I was about to ask that, but Amanda spoke to her first.