"Cart under house confinement?"
For some reason, right after classes ended, the research society had already been launched, and I am acting as its president. Today, just like yesterday, I went to pick up Sicily and Maria, and Gus told us about the situation.
"It seems so. This morning, the school was contacted, saying 'he'll be spending some time at home under confinement and self-reflection.'"
Since the culprit is under house arrest, Sicily does not have to be guarded. I guess she will feel… relieved by this?
"Hey, there's something that's been puzzling me; why does Cart have that sort of attitude? Everyone knows it is forbidden to act that way inside the Advanced Magic Academy, right? And even though Gus warned him, there was no improvement on his behavior. It makes me feel uneasy…"
For someone who puts a lot of weight about being an aristocrat, he blatantly ignored the warning of the Prince of his own Kingdom; I couldn't wrap my mind around it.
And so, the three of them — Gus, Thor, and Julius — made a complicated expression.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, honestly, we're puzzled ourselves, too."
"We [Sessha-tachi] went to the middle school for nobles and wealthy people degozaru."
"And Cart also attended that academy."
"Eh? Is that so?"
This is the first time I've heard of it, however, since the three are nobles… or rather, Gus is a Royal. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be surprising for them to attend the academy for nobles.
"If that's the case, there's something I want to know: has Cart's attitude been that way since long ago?"
"It is because his attitude was different that we're confused. Although that guy has always been confident, it wasn't to the point where he flaunted his social status."
"That's right. Although I come from a Baron house and my social standing is lower than his, he has never taken such attitude towards me."
I only know the present Cart. Although I can't believe it myself, Cart seems to be different back then. If so, what of the present Cart?
"Speaking of which, Your Highness, if I'm not mistaken, it happened during our third year in the academy, after we heard that teacher's words."
"Ah~… There was him. If I remember correctly, wasn't he a magic teacher?"
"Yeah. He asked those who could use magic one by one the question, 'You have a great aptitude for magic. Won't you come to my laboratory?'"
"He did do something like that. However, because I kept hearing his words excessively to the point of being suspicious, I did not accept his invitation in the end."
"I [Sessha], didn't get to hear his words at all degozaru…"
…Well, that really can't be helped, can it…
"And so? What about it?"
"Looking back, I believe Cart went to the teacher's laboratory."
"Hmm~? And then?"
"Since he started visiting that laboratory, his magic ability went up considerably. At that time, he started boasting about his magic ability for a while…"
"He~ was he really such an amazing teacher?"
"Well, he certainly did have some ability. In addition, despite his appearance, he was quite popular. Even though it was suspicious."
"His appearance?"
"Yeah, I heard he couldn't see, and so he wore a bandage in order to conceal both his eyes. Nevertheless, he was able to behave like a normal person…"
Hmm? What's so amazing about that?
"So what makes him so well-liked?"
"Why, you ask… he could sense his surrounding through magic. However, magical ability should be limited to only living organisms. You know how it's believed to be that it doesn't work on inorganic matter? Apparently that teacher is able to use that exact same magic. Honestly, if it wasn't for His Highness, even I, myself, would have wanted to go to the laboratory."
"It's because he was too suspicious."
That's all Gus has been saying for a while now.
However, how is that related to Cart's current behavior? Although it certainly seems he got more confident from that time on…
"Honestly, I don't know whether or not there's a relationship between the two, but it's just been bothering me."
"Is that so; just who exactly is that teacher?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you said that he came here from the Empire?"
"The Empire, huh…"
There's a country bordering right next to the place, Earlshide Kingdom, where I currently reside, Bluesphere Empire. Apparently, the power and authority of the aristocrat there seems to be exceedingly strong there, and so a lot of people fled from the Empire to other Kingdoms to seek refuge. There might also be some people who defected to this Kingdom.
"However, I wonder if someone who can use such magic needs to seek refuge."
"Maybe there's a special reason? That's why it's suspicious."
In the end, everything was just a speculation, and I understood nothing. The conversation came to an end the moment Alfred-sensei arrived.
"This afternoon, you guys are supposed to be given a more detailed explanation regarding the research societies that was mentioned yesterday… But since you guys have already decided, participate in the ceremony just in case."
The research society… Eventually, it was decided before I knew it. But wouldn't this cause antipathy towards the upperclassmen? Is this really alright?
* * *
The class this morning was a lesson about the different countries in this world.
Except for me, everyone who passed middle school in this Kingdom thought it wasn't necessary. From the standpoint of everyone who could use magic, the way they measure the relation between neighboring countries is different.
During this lesson, there was also an explanation of the Bluesphere Empire we were talking about earlier.
The Bluesphere Empire originally consisted of many small countries. A King of one of the small countries unified the other small countries one by one, and eventually led to the founding of the Bluesphere Empire it is today, with the King becoming the founding Emperor. Within the merged countries, anyone with meritorious service had been conferred with the title of nobility and was given a territory. As a result, the upper-nobles of the Empire wielded a large amount of power similar to the capitals of small countries, and lower nobles were given power similar to cities. Thus, because of this historical background, they easily conquered their surroundings with military power. Even until today, the military force still has substantial strength.
However, there are no large-scale wars happening right now. In the past when there was a war, however, because both parties neglected subjugating demons, a demon outbreak suddenly occurred, and they had to stop the war.
Nevertheless, there are rumors that they are still diligently observing their surroundings for opportunities to prey on them. Although they have enough manpower to cope with the demons, they are still enlarging their military power. This thus became the basis of the rumors.
It is such a country, hence the remark of Gus and the others a little while ago.
If a person has a high aptitude for magic, it is unlikely that the Empire will leave the person alone. However, the fact that he came to the Kingdom… It is not at all unusual for one to consider it. And such a person is going around calling out to people with talents as a Magician. Is he plotting something? It's no wonder Gus found it suspicious.
However, it is not related to Cart's behavior. Nevertheless, I can still understand if he is trying to orchestrate revenge against the Empire…
During lesson time, I was thinking about such things.
* * *
While Shin and the other were receiving lessons in the academy, a certain person came to visit the Ritzburg house.
"Oh, isn't this Schtrom-sensei, it has been a long time."
"Yes, it has been a while. I believe the last time I was here was before Cart-kun took the entrance examination for the academy."
This person is, without a doubt, the topic of Shin and others' conversation, Oliver Schtrom, the middle school teacher.
Although he is a middle school teacher, he was begged by Cart to be his tutor in order for him to pass the Advanced Magic Academy entrance examination. Because of this, every single person residing in the Ritzburg house knows his face, including the gatekeeper.
As for his appearance, it is exactly how Thor and the other had described it; his pair of eyes are covered with a bandage. The portion not concealed by the bandage starts from the long and straight bridge of his nose, and his face is small and thin, giving him a look of a considerably good-looking young man.
"And so… Schtrom-sensei, what brings you here?"
"Well, I heard through word of mouth that Cart-kun has been placed under house confinement. Since I used to be his teacher, I was worried about him."
He conveyed that as someone who used to be his teacher, it was normal for him to worry about his students.
"Is that how it is… As for how in the world Cart-sama ended up this way… Even I, my humble self, is baffled."
"He idolized me when I was his teacher. I thought maybe if it's me, I could get him to talk and open up…"
"Is that so… Right now, the Master is currently not around, but the Madam is. Please wait for a little while I ask for permission."
"I understand."
When the gatekeeper finished talking, he ran inside the mansion. When he came back, he was accompanied by an elder lady.
"Ah, Schtrom-sensei! Please, do come in!"
"It's been a while, Lady Ritzburg. How has Cart-kun been doing?"
When she was asked that question, Lady Ritzburg, in other words, Cart's mother burst into tears.
"I… Even I don't know what's happening anymore! To say those words to the Royal Family whom we swore our allegiance to…"
From there, she did not speak another word. Seeing how Lady Ritzburg was currently acting, Oliver started talking to her.
"Is that so… Exactly how in the world did it happen; it looks like there's a need to get the whole story straightened out."
"Sensei… Only sensei is reliable! My husband only knows how to punish Cart! Somehow! Please somehow help restore his sanity!"
"I understand. I will do it to the best of my abilities."
And so, Oliver entered the Ritzburg's house and made his way toward Cart's room.
"It's me, Cart. It's Schtrom. Is it okay if I enter?"
However, there was no reply.
"Lady Ritzburg, is it alright?"
"Yes, I leave him in your care."
After receiving permission, Oliver entered Cart's room and immediately placed a soundproof barrier around the room.
"What's wrong Cart? You look like you're in a pretty pitiable-looking state."
To prevent Cart from escaping his room, both his hands and feet were bound up tightly. There is no magic tool in this world with the ability to seal one's magical power. Magic power has a huge influence on the life of humans. If their magic powers are sealed, it can only lead to death.
It isn't easy to cast magic without chanting. It is even more so when the person in question has just entered the Advanced Magic Academy. Even if he is able to cast magic, the guard right outside his room would immediately sense it and would break his concentration. Because of this, the state of his hands and feet were left tied up.
"Schtrom-sensei…"
"What did I tell you? Didn't I tell you recently that you are a special human being?"
"Yes…"
"Your abilities, your social status, everything about you is special. Didn't I tell you that there's nothing you can't get your hands on?"
"But… I couldn't get my hands on that woman… because that guy… because that guy got in the way…"
"Hmmm, is that so. That person is a nuisance to you?"
After he finished talking, he started to cast magic. However, the guards right outside the room did not sense it. When Oliver created a soundproof barrier, he also created a barrier that prevents any magic from getting out.
"Listen to me, okay? Make the person who is a nuisance to you regret it. Because you are…"
After some time, Oliver went out of the room.
"Sensei! How is he?!"
"Nn, he's not doing so well… he's in a state of losing body and state of mind. We can only wait for him to recover over time…"
"N-no way! It's because that person did such a thing! Because my husband punished Cart!"
"Of course, I also don't think this is a good thing. Though I say this, it's also because he's originally my cute student. I will go and try to give Count Ritzburg some advice. Because he's in a state of near insanity, it would not be beneficial for the Count to punish him."
"Tha—… thank you very much sensei!"
"Then, if you'll please excuse me, I'll be leaving because I still have classes in the academy."
Meanwhile, after Oliver left the Ritzburg house.
"Fufufu, Cart-kun, do your best in performing for me, okay?"
Oliver walked away while smiling. He then looked up at the room where Cart was in.
* * *
After the morning class was over, everyone went to eat lunch. Since S-Class consists of only 10 students, everyone usually eats together. Today as well, the entire S-Class occupied one table.
"That reminds me, Shin. I didn't get to ask you about it this morning, but what will you do about escorting her to school and back?"
"What do you mean what will I do?"
"I mean, hasn't Cart been placed under house arrest? With that, hasn't the danger being in school or walking in town been eliminated?"
"Well, that's about right."
"In that case, isn't it alright if you don't pick her up anymore?"
"That's right. Maybe there's no need to be a bodyguard."
"Eh… ah, that's right… you're a… bodyguard…"
"But even if I'm not a bodyguard, it doesn't mean we can't go to school together, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Since our house is in the same direction, isn't it okay if we still continue to commute to school together?"
"I-it's perfectly alright! Th-that's right, our house is in the same direction, so it's not strange for us to commute to school together!"
Sicily suddenly stood up and shouted. You're standing out, you're really standing out, Sicily.
"Ah… I-I'm sorry!"
"Jeez, you're getting too excited, Sicily."
"Y-you're wrong."
"I guess Maria also wants to go to school together?"
"Of course! I originally made plans to go to school together with Sicily. Or do you find me a bother?"
"No? Not particularly."
"Th-th-th-that's right! Wh-what in the world are you saying!?"
"You're being too energetic, Claude."
Just when I was thinking that it was quite unusual for Gus to join in on the conversation, he was grinning broadly.
"No. As expected of you, Shin."
"Ah? It was that direction?"
"That might be how it is. In front of everyone, you said, 'Go together with me.' No, no, it's not something I can even mimic."
"I didn't say anything like that, did I?!"
"Together…"
"Sicily has gotten hung up on such a strange word!"
"Well, joking aside, I think it's a good thing you guys are going to school together. Claude and, also Meshina, are considered as beautiful girls. So there might be some nefarious fellow who would try to bother them."
"Don't tell a joke in a place like this…"
Well, they are beautiful girls after all, so there might be a chance that the same event during the time we first met would happen again.
"By the way Shin, you said you were using some kind of "Search Magic" while on the move? What is it exactly?"
"Hmm? What is it you ask, it's a way for me to immediately detect any malicious intent?"
"Malicious intent?"
"Shin-dono, what in the world could you ever mean by that? To be able to grasp malicious intent."
"It means exactly as it sounded like. In particular, because the Imperial Capital is populous, there are many people who are indifferent to each other. You could say that amongst those people, you can immediately detect if there are malicious intent coming from them."
"No, I still don't understand the meaning of malicious intent."
Hmm? He doesn't understand what malicious intent is? Ah… so that's how it is.
"Thor, do you have any experience in hunting a demon?"
"There's no way I'd have any experience. I have recently just graduated from being a middle school student, you know?"
"You can say that the magical power of demons is, how to explain, ominous, or feels unpleasant, and basically unlike the usual magic power. Hostility? Malicious intent? Even though it is not directed at them, normal humans can still feel it. No matter how big or crowded or secure the capital is, you can still sometimes feel it?"
"The magical powers of demons, you say…"
"Does Walford-kun have any experience in hunting a demon?"
"Yes, I do."
"By the way… how old were you when you had your first experience in hunting a demon?"
"Ten years old."
" " " " " " " " "Ten years old ! ?" " " " " " " " "
"It was a bear about three-something meters in height."
" " " " " " " " "Bear ! ?" " " " " " " " "
"Because it's huge arms were a bother, I cut both of them off, and then defeated it by slicing its neck."
" " " " " " " " "… …" " " " " " " " "
When I told the story of my first demon hunt, everyone ended up being stunned.
Hmm? Did I say something wrong? Which on is it? About the bear? Or about being ten years old?
"Haaa~ And this really amazing person ended up being your bodyguard."
"It's very reassuring."
Maria felt somewhat amazed while Sicily kept smiling until the end. Which part of it was Maria astonished about?
"Well then, isn't it about time we go?"
"Whoops, it's that time already?"
While I said those words, I looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost the end of lunch, and there were hardly any students left in the cafeteria.
* * *
"What a waste of time."
"Yuri-dono, please don't say something like that. If we don't participate, there'll be animosity directed towards us degozaru."
I'm afraid of the animosity that'll come from the upperclassmen.
Since we have already decided on which research society to join, we will only be sightseeing the other research societies during the information session. The session will be held at the place the entrance ceremony was conducted. The fastest way to get there from the cafeteria was to go across the ground between the two. And so, while we were crossing the ground…
Shudder!
When I felt a strange presence, I expanded the search area of my Search Magic.
This is, no way! There's a malicious intent directed towards this way!?
Where is it!?
And when I surveyed the surrounding areas of the ground…
At the very edge of the ground, I found Cart looking this way.
What is that guy doing here!? He should currently be under house arrest! Can he really escape that easily!?
When Cart seemed to have finished a chant, my body became stiff at the idea.
"Sicily! Gus! Use your magic powers!!!"
Gus, Sicily, and everybody else became aware of how abnormal my voice sounded. Not even in their wildest dreams would they have ever thought about being attacked inside the academy. Everyone had become stiff.
"DAMMIT!!"
Cart fired off his magic. I went and stood in front of everyone in order shield them.
Will I make it in time? With the exception of Sicily and Gus, the others are not wearing that special uniform!!
"GODDAMMITTTTttttt ! ! !"
"KYAaaaaaaaa ! ! !"
Then, the magic landed.
KABOooOOOOOoOOM ! ! !
While I… had stretched out my hand and placed a magic barrier in front of everyone else.
UOooh ! That was CLOOooOOose CAAAaaaaLLLlll ! !
For the record, because it was an emergency, I used magic without having a proper image of it!
Although I was somehow able to protect us, because the image was imperfect, I wasn't able to completely fend off the magic and suffered burns on my hands. Other than the body parts covered by my uniform, nothing else is protected.
"Shin-kun ! That…!"
"Ah, I'm okay, I'm okay. How about you guys over there?"
"It's all thanks to Shin-kun protecting everyone…"
Everyone behind me seems to be safe.
The Auto Heal enchantment on the uniform activated, and the burns on my hands started to heal.
"…The burns… are healing…"
Someone from behind murmured, but that's not what's important right now.
"Is that… Cart over there?"
"Why ! ? Shouldn't he be under house arrest ! ?"
Someone asked that question. Even I want to know the answer. That aside, it's a fact that that guy fired an offensive magic towards us. That is a more serious problem.
"Gus, like this, is it already no use?"
"That's right. Up until now, it has only been mis-attempts… But this time, it's clearly an attempted murder. It can't possibly be overlooked."
When I was talking to Gus about what to do with Cart, Cart's appearance became strange.
"YOU BASTARD… BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BASTARD BAAAAASTAAAAAAAARDDDddd ! ! ! !"
He let out a scream as if he had gone insane, and he began to clad himself with an extraordinary amount of magic power.
"Hey, Gus."
"What is it?"
"Umm, do you think he can be brought under control?"
"…I don't think so."
"…Isn't this bad?"
"…It's bad."
With that, I took the Vibration Sword out from the extra-dimensional storage space, rushed out towards Cart, and said,
"Gus ! Take everyone away from here! This is going to get really bad!!"
"Tch! I understand!"
The creature born from the result of a living organism having their magic power run out of control is…
With the Vibration Sword on hand, I launched myself towards Cart. However, I was blown away midway because of the release of an enormous magic power.
"Shin-kun ! !"
I heard Sicily shouting, but I didn't have the time to pay attention.
While in mid-air, I regained control of my stance and landed on the ground. Then, I turned my focus towards Cart…
"…Are you serious…"
Cart stood there while releasing ominous magic power, and his eyes had turned into a deep shade of red in color.
"He has… turned into a devil!"