The Evil Noble Desires A Beautiful Demise - Could It Be That You're Stuck In A Loop? - Episode 32

“Mr. Krig! Please help me…!!”

“Oh? Isn’t that Tiarola? Didn’t you already leave?”

Worried about Salifa being too late, I headed to the dorm where she lives, but was told she had already left. Salifa has never been late for a meeting before. Could she have gotten involved in something bad?

Since Craig was the only one still at the academy whom I could rely on, I barged into his workshop. Craig seemed surprised by the sudden visit, but he welcomed me warmly.

And then, I explain the whole story to Craig.

“Hmm, that is indeed strange. That Salifa would do such a thing is impossible.”

Craig listened to me seriously and agreed with my concerns. After all, I’m glad I came here.

“Last night, Salifa returned to the dorm after dropping you off, right? What happened during that time…? For now, let’s go to Salifa’s room and investigate.”

“Thank you very much!”

“Don’t mention it. If something happened to Salifa, I want to help too.”

After saying some reassuring words, Krig started packing various magical tools into his bag. I wonder if he’s going to use them for the investigation?

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Now, shall we go?”

“Yes!”

And so, I head towards the dormitory where Salifa lived.

It would be nice if we could find some traces of it.

I asked the dormitory manager to let me into Salifa’s room, and they obliged. I think titles come in handy in situations like this. I want to avoid abusing them unnecessarily, but please forgive me this time as it’s an emergency.

“Hmm, this is…”

“Did you figure something out!?”

As soon as Krig entered the room, he started arranging the magical tools he had brought and checking every corner of the room with the device attached to his head, doing things I didn’t quite understand. Since I couldn’t imagine Krig doing anything meaningless, I watched silently, but it seemed he finally figured something out.

“No, I don’t understand at all.”

“Eh…”

It might not be my place to say this since I’m just passing the investigation off to someone else, but I wish you wouldn’t raise expectations.

“Ah, sorry. The fact that I confirmed I don’t understand anything at all is a bit of a harvest.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Okay? First, I investigated the residual magic in this room. Then, I checked for any traces of magic. If something happened to Salifa in this room, both should still be present, right?”

Indeed, that’s true.

If attacked, Salifa should resist.

“However, nothing was detected. Literally, nothing.”

If so, wasn’t something supposed to happen here?

That means, on the way from where I live to here…

“In other words, something happened here, right?”

“Hmm?”

Here?

Why does it turn out that way?

“Just think about it. Is it possible to have lived normally until yesterday and have no residual magic at all?”

“Ah…”

I see, so that’s how it is.

It means there’s absolutely none…

“Is it being artificially erased?”

“Yes, that’s it. They probably went all out when erasing the magical traces. My, oh my, what a troublesome situation. To be able to erase traces so perfectly, the person who did this must be quite skilled.”

That makes sense.

After all, they are someone who can somehow deal with that Salifa. Is there anyone in this academy who can completely suppress Salifa without anyone noticing or leaving any traces?

“Doing something like this means you’re not just a common bandit. If it were just about killing, there are other ways to do it. So, were you kidnapped? But where could they have taken you…?”

“If you’re alive, that’s good, but…”

Hearing Craig’s guess, I feel a bit relieved.

However, I have no idea where I was taken.

“Do you have any idea? You were the closest to Salifa, right?”

“Well, yes…”

There are many things I don’t know about Salifa, but the fact that I couldn’t ask is suspicious. In that case…

“Is it the Duchy of Greitz in the Empire…?”

“Ah, I see. He was trying to go to the holy land while ignoring the main family’s request for him to come back, huh? Hmm, that line of thought seems plausible.”

“However, even though they are a ducal family, can a noble of the empire meddle with the academy?”

“Well, it seems impossible. Maybe there was an accomplice? Let’s put that aside for now.”

Krig crosses his arms with a stern expression.

“Just the Empire, huh… It might be good to get Endens’ cooperation, but does he have that kind of power… Also, it’s a pain that no one in the Empire knows about Salifa…”

“Well, I do know the mansion where Salifa grew up, but…”

Then, it suddenly came to mind.

Isn’t there someone who has known Salifa since childhood?

“I have someone in mind who knows Salifa well. Let’s ask that person.”

“Is that true? That’s great news. Is that person in the Empire now?”

“No, they should be in the holy land. I hope they haven’t gone on an expedition for a mission or something…”

Salifa’s swordsmanship master, Firai.

Having passed the Holy Knight exam, you should be in the Holy Land now.

“Hmm, then you should hurry back to the holy land. I’ll do some more investigation at this academy. Also, I’ll contact Endens myself.”

“Thank you! I’m glad we have Krig here…”

I truly believe so.

I would have been at a loss, unable to do anything on my own.

“As I mentioned earlier, there’s no need for thanks.”

Krig shrugged his shoulders and said this.

“Because Salifa is my friend, you know.”