'What? What are those two talking about?’
Ludger was having an in-depth conversation with a girl student.
At least, that's what it looked like to her.
However, no matter how much she wanted to listen to them with her ears, she couldn't hear the conversation between the two that was too far away.
If it were just an in-depth conversation, Flora would have thought that Ludger was just giving career counseling or something related to his lectures to the student.
But she saw it with her own eyes…
A strange mana field was spread around Ludger and the girl.
'What's that? Magic? Judging from the color, is it a spell to block sounds?’
Flora Lumos had a secret she hadn't told anyone.
—The reason why she was able to maintain the title of genius even in Sören.
—The reason why she could see through the weaknesses of spells that she had never seen or learned beforehand.
That's because Flora Lumos had a unique body type that was called ‘Mana Synesthesia’.
She could feel the 'color' and 'smell' of mana.
Most people perceived mana or magic itself as only visual.
It was because the magic technique used by others could only be seen through sight among the total of five senses of human beings.
But Flora also felt color in addition to that.
She saw a well-organized magic technique as though she was looking at a painting and smelling the scent of delicious food.
Born in a noble family, she was so sensitive to those things that she found it easier than anyone to sense that odd feeling if a technique was slightly off.
Moreover, if one color splashed out of harmony with the other colors, or if there was a nasty smell mixed in between ordinary smells.
—Flora had always discovered 'wrong' magic in that case.
Obviously, she perceived the right magic with a completely different sense from others.
…Just like the colors that were floating around Ludger.
As a professor whom she couldn't hold in check, the magic tricks around Ludger were also perfect without any flaws to be pointed out.
She could not smell it because it was far away, but the colors of mana were so clear beyond the windows of the terrace.
'I can't believe he's having a conversation while using magic. What the hell are they talking about?’
She was curious.
If it was just some ordinary professor, she would have ignored them and passed by, but she couldn't stand her curiosity because the other party was Ludger.
'Shall I go and just pretend that it's a coincidence?'
After thinking that far, Flora shook her head. Wasn’t that too obvious?
And it would certainly seem like she had an interest in him.
'I would never do that!'
Ludger was a wall that she had to climb.
On the first day, she had felt such a great insult in front of everyone.
Of course, there was no room for disagreement in her defeat.
It was unacceptable to her pride if she spoke ill of the other party after losing a fair duel.
The source code spell presented by Ludger was so powerful that she was bound to lose because of it.
She had never heard of such a spell in the first place.
So he beat her purely by magic, just like she had always done against other people.
'Still... he was somewhat wonderful.'
When Ludger performed the source code spell, Flora felt a sensation she had never experienced in her whole life…
—An indescribable visual pleasure and sweet scent.
In particular, Ludger's source code spell was like looking at an elegant painting in which myriad metals of silver and gray colors were meticulously and solidly woven.
Flora Lumos felt exceedingly proud of her magic because of her unique body type and talent, but she even felt bored because of it.
But the source code shown by Ludger rekindled the spark in her boredom.
She thought that she wanted to see more if there was anything else in his sleeves.
However, there was an image that she had been building so far, so Flora was in a situation where she could not move hastily.
'I'll sneak a peek just once…’
The moment Flora was about to move…
"Flora? What are you doing here?"
“Kyaaa?!”
Flora could not help but be surprised by the voice coming from behind her back all of a sudden.
Looking back, Cheryl, her best friend, was looking at her with a confused gaze.
"Ch-Cheryl. What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? It was you who asked me to study with you in the library."
"Oh, oh right. Of course, I did."
"…Are you sure you're okay?"
Cheryl showed a subtle look of concern.
It was already well known that Flora had received a hard blow instead on the first day of Ludger's spellcasting class.
Because of that, some students who usually felt envious of Flora laughed at her.
Cheryl was extremely worried about it.
“Hmm? Just~ it’s nothing.”
"What's in there? You seemed like you were watching something."
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. Let's just go study."
“Hmm.”
Flora pushed Cheryl's back toward the library.
Even so, she couldn't avert her gaze from the second floor of the cafe that was getting farther away.
***
Having been informed by Sedina Rochen, I told her to see me next time and immediately returned to my private office.
I hung my coat on the hanger and sat on a fluffy sofa while resting my chin on my hands.
'Let's get this straight for now.’
There was a place called the Shamsus School, where black magicians and crazy scientists joined hands. It was that place that created the werewolves as their experiment.
Although it was a separate group from the Black Dawn Society, it was an alliance that held hands with the Black Dawn Society, or maybe they were just holding the same intention for a short time.
The one who joined hands with the Shamsus school was one of the executives of the Black Dawn Society, Victor Dreadful.
Sedina's explanation suggested that the Black Dawn Society was responsible for the invention or research.
'The problem is that this occurred in Shamsus school.'
Three werewolf experiments that the Shamsus school was secretly experimenting with had escaped.
I didn't know exactly where the lab was, but the rampage that happened in Leathevelk meant that the lab was around there.
The werewolf should have been captured as soon as possible in the early days of the incident, but the rumors had already spread in the city. It was impossible to simply keep it as a secret that had never happened since there were already people who died.
One of the werewolves even had hidden in Sören and hospitalized two students.
It was fortunate that there were no deaths in Sören, but the problem was that the situation had become more serious and out of control.
'It's right to ask them to take care of it by themselves because it's their fault, but the problem is that the Black Dawn Society also gave some support to this Shamsus school's experiment.'
And in addition to that, the former owner of my identity, Ludger Chelysie, had also gotten involved in it.
I would greatly welcome it if another member was being caught and tracked down, but it was different if I also got involved there.
In other words, if I wanted to live, I had to catch the werewolves before others.
'First of all, my priority is to get rid of the werewolf who hid inside the academy.'
Just in time, security patrols have also stepped up.
In addition to the existence of werewolves, the professors will also patrol until late at night because it is clear that there is an unidentified assailant wandering around inside Sören.
No one would find it strange if I got rid of the werewolf there.
'I thought I had quit hunting quite a while ago.'
Five years before, I had ended my blood hunt and practically retired, albeit temporarily.
The reason was not something fancy. Rather, It was because I became so famous.
Of course, I had used the alias of Abraham Van Helsing so that my real identity wouldn't get found out.
However, the source of trouble was that, after hunting the monsters in Jévaudan, many people tried to approach me because I had become so famous.
So I retired while getting rid of the said identity and changed to a new identity.
'How many times have I changed my identity?'
The last identity that I had used was 'Gerrard', a rich middle-aged man with a lot of money, and after that, I had become Ludger Chelysie.
It was a fake life, not a real one, but I didn't feel particularly dissatisfied or suffocated.
Was it because I was born again in this world after I had died once?
My perception of life and death had changed to be a little different.
'Even so, I don't want to die again.'
I'd already died once, so I hated dying even more instead.
I wanted to live longer and more comfortably. However, there were things to do for me to achieve that.
It was originally just a part of my journey to the capital of the empire.
That train attack had turned my life into a complete mess.
‘First, let's focus on catching werewolves.’
I had to deal with the werewolves first before anyone else found them.
I racked my brain while contemplating on how to catch the werewolves.
* * *
* * *
The werewolf rumor among Sören's students was like a hot potato.
Even the students, who had just dismissed the werewolf stories as mere rumors, finally accepted the existence of werewolves when the news that there were two students injured that time broke out.
Those rumors were especially exaggerated because they were students.
Obviously, the professors had to suppress the curiosity and vigor of the students as much as possible.
"You should study, study! Why do you believe such a false rumor? I'll surely give you a test today, so you should be focused! Those who fill wrong answers afterwards, you will be on your own."
"Everyone, there's a patrol this week, so you should go back to your dormitory as soon as the sun sets. If you get caught walking around, there will be a penalty point."
"Don't bring yourself to get some penalty points. You should take care of yourselves."
Some timid students thought they should go back to the dormitory immediately after class due to the professors' warnings, but the number of students who didn't go back to the dormitory immediately was not small either.
The more prideful a student was, the more they’d want to do it if they were being prohibited.
"Hey, there's a werewolf. Honestly, aren't you curious?"
"So what?"
"Let's catch it."
“What? Didn't you hear that we will get penalty points if we get caught once we make a wrong move?"
“Hey. Think about it. They're telling us that because they're worried about us, but if we catch the werewolf instead, wouldn't the school give us an award for doing well?"
"What if the professors catch us before we find a werewolf?"
"Then we just need to try not to get caught!"
There was even an official letter in the newspaper that said if someone caught a werewolf in Leathevelk city, they would receive a reward.
The first-year students in particular, who had not yet tasted the bitterness of the reality that they were not that great in Sören, dreamed of becoming heroes by hunting the werewolves.
It was when they were in the vigorous youth of their life when they wanted to be praised for being great and to show a good image to their peers.
“Aidan. What do you think?"
Leo asked him while looking apathetically at the students who were already excited about what to do with the reward they would receive after catching the werewolf.
Just in time, Aidan, who finished taking notes of the formula written on the magic board, asked back to the voice that called him.
“Huh?”
"What? You weren't listening?"
"Why? What did you ask me?"
"What do you think of the werewolf case?"
“Ah, that?”
Aidan laughed awkwardly.
"Well, the professors told us to be careful, so I think I should just buy it. If we get caught, there will be a penalty point."
“Tsk. Right. I knew you'd say that."
“What about you, Leo?”
"I'm not the type that likes to take action as well. If there's a victim, then it's what professors need to do in the first place."
A female student approached the two boys who were having that conversation.
She had red hair that was tied in pigtails. She was a very attractive beauty with her coy eyes.
She stood in front of Aidan's desk and slapped the table with her palm.
Leo responded with, "She's here again," but Aidan was different. He greeted the girl, who stared at him with a bright smile.
“Hello. Tessie. Good morning."
“Good morning, you said?”
Tessie Friad, the girl who received the greeting, wriggled her eyebrows while staring at Aidan instead.
Leo sighed at her reaction.
“Hey. If you lost in sparring, isn't it time for you to stop already?"
“Lost? It was a draw. You haven't settled the quarrel with Aidan yet. And this is about me and Aidan. Can you not intervene?"
“Sigh.”
Leo shook his head.
It hadn't been long since Tessie Friad had approached Aidan like that.
It happened during the battle of magic to be exact.
Aidan, who didn't know anything yet, had a battle with Tessie, and that's where the relationship between the two began.
The situation was advantageous for Tessie, but the problem was Aidan's unusual magic.
"Get yourself back together this time. We should use all of our power while not hiding each other's strength."
“Oh, oh? I… I don’t know.”
The battle then ended in a fairly vague result of a draw, but Tessie couldn't accept it.
Tessie had always tried her best to study magic in order to revive her nearly fallen aristocratic family, the Viscount Friad.
Coming into Sören, she had the idea that she should do the best in her first year. In fact, she was so outstanding that her entrance grades were in the top five.
However, it disturbed her pride that she failed to win a proper victory in the rankings of the magic battle class and that she lost to a loose-minded commoner at that.
Her pride was hurt.
And the spell that Aidan was about to show then…
It was certainly not a kind of spell that was normally seen. If the professor hadn't told them to end the battle, she could've seen what kind of spell it was!
"Anyway, stick with me today in the evening after class."
"I'm sorry, Tessie, but I don't think I can do it today."
“Then, tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow is a little….”
“Why?!”
“What do you mean, “why”? There's a werewolf wandering around out there, so we can't do any activities at night. If we get caught by the professors, we'll get a penalty point."
“Hngg.”
Listening to Aidan's excuse, Tessie folded her arms and then sneered.
"You're trying to run away from me with that excuse, right? I know everything. So you are scared?"
It was a blatant provocation.
Tessie expected Aidan to get triggered and shout, “What? No way!”, but Aidan's reaction was different.
“Huh? Yeah. Then just think of it like that.”
Aidan had decided to concede in his position because he didn’t want to have a fight with his friend—although Tessie herself would strongly disapprove that she was his friend.
He never expected that the mature response would give a scratch on Tessie's pride instead.
Raising her eyebrows, Tessie shouted in front of Aidan's face.
"It's a match! Aidan!"
"Huh? What kind of match?"
"If you can't fight with me, we can just do something else."
"Well, so what's...”
“Werewolf.”
When the topic came up, Aidan and Leo stared at each other before staring back at Tessie again.
They were already anxious about what kind of ridiculous offer she would bring up.
"The person who catches the werewolf first wins the bet. What do you think? You won't run away because you're scared, right?"
“No…”
“Okay. We’ll do it.”
“Leo?!”
Aidan was about to reject it because it was dangerous, but he was shocked by Leo's action that cuts in his words instead.
“Okay! The loser will grant the winner's wish!"
"You are the one who shouldn't be so meek to us."
Listening to Leo's provocative tone, Tessie left after saying, “Of course!”.
“Leo. Why did you suddenly accept such a ridiculous offer?"
“You’re stupid. If you said that you won't do it right here, then it's obvious that she'll bother us again. That's why I gave her a moderate agreement to pass it like that. Look. She went right away. Peace has finally come."
“Still… Lying is bad. I wouldn't care about the werewolf in the first place."
“Idiot. Is that the problem now? The professors will take care of the werewolves anyway. We just need to stay still. Whether it's a match or whatever, it won’t be able to be decided in the first place."
"But Tessie seemed sincere about it. What if Tessie runs into a werewolf when she wants to hunt it before the professors do?"
“Hey. She wouldn't do such a reckless thing on her own unless she was a fool."
“Oh, hm. That's true, but honestly, I thought that if it was Tessie, she would do it, though."
“…No way.”
Aidan and Leo looked at the back door of the classroom where Tessie had disappeared at the same time.
“…”
“…”
No way she would do such a reckless thing…
But…
Could they answer “no” with confidence to such a statement?
"…Is she for real?"
"I told you so."
Tessie, whom they'd met for the past few days by then, had the personality which she would definitely do what she said she would do.
She had a strong character in which she would grit her teeth and still do it even if it was dangerous.
That was Tessie Friad.
The two of them looked right out of the window.
There, they could see a familiar girl with red hair huffing and puffing while heading somewhere.
—The direction was the opposite of the women's dormitory.
She was heading to a dangerous forest where the professors had warned never to go at the beginning of the semester.
"We're in trouble."
They had to stop her.
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