Chapter 17
[In a deeper part of the forest Aiden called out the name of someone who he suspected was behind all this. Though unsure said person came out of the shadows with a vague smile as if mocking himself for letting himself get caught]
Brian: A terrible illusionist? Do explain.
[He spoke like he was whispering but he was very audible, his voice was neither too deep nor high but in between both. Though his voice was more on the deeper side]
Aiden: Yep, if you were a half-decent. You wouldn't have left way too many hints. If I kept acting like I didn't notice I'd feel like an even bigger idiot than I already am.
Brian: Interesting, in what way did I leave "hints"?
Aiden: The first thing I noticed was what Clay said. He said he was a bounty Hunter, but he couldn't possibly be out for a bounty by targeting princesses on his own, so that one's out. He also said he was an assassin, meaning that someone required his services and then hired him.
Brian: Eh, now. How could you blame me for that?
[Brian's tone sounded playful but he was being scornful]
Aiden: I didn't. I'm just listing things that were out of place
Brian: Ehh? Go on then, what was the next hint?
Aiden: That explosion caused by Clay and his clones didn't have as much impact as it should've. The number of clones created was really small compared to what Clay said. I thought that I miscounted because when Clay said 12 thousand I saw only a couple hundred or so. And those within those hundred were too weak to create that kind of explosion. Then I saw Akeru fighting like things that weren't actually there. I began to wonder why he was fighting with thin air... Turns out there was a trick to make him believe things were there but they weren't.
Brian: Hmm... You couldn't see anything there?
Aiden: Yep. And lastly that whole fiasco with the explosion. After the real smoke cleared I saw that the damage wasn't as bad but what others could see was different. It's like they were under some kind of Illusion making them see things that weren't real. I was the only one who didn't fall for it...Or more accurately, it didn't work on me. So I took a walk hoping I could find out who was behind it... Then I felt someone watching me....you.
Brian: Oh? How could you accurately tell it was me who was following you?
Aiden: I'm just a good guesser.
Brian: Eh? Really, now? You seem smarter than you let on. Were you acting a fool so that I wouldn't focus my attention on you? I'll admit your acting was so good that I didn't include a plan for you and that carelessness has caused me quite a bit of trouble. Though I'm only knowing of your existence today.
Aiden: Hehehe. I wasn't acting, that's how I usually am, there was no "act".
Brian: Then what about your 100% surely you would have gotten those marks yourself?
Aiden: Nope! That was a total fluke, if you put me on that test again I'll be sure to get what I truly deserve, which is five percent or less, hehe. I guess I'm just lucky, huh? Hehe.
Brian: A playful genius. Hmm... Now that I've been found out. What do you want to keep your mouth closed?
Aiden: Why would I want anything from you? You tried to kill people.
Brian: Well, I failed didn't I? So no harm done, playful genius.
[He wore an unsettling smile and throughout this entire talk, he hasn't opened his eyes once. One might think he was a closed-eyed character]
Aiden: There were SO LOTS OF HARM DONE!! Sigh... Putting that aside, I still don't get one thing from all this. Why did you want to kill, Areli, Breeze, and Calliope? I didn't really care much but at this point and with all the effort you put in and me using my empty head for once, I have to ask.
Brian: My... reasons are personal... Not even you would understand.
[Aiden wasn't as clever as he sounded or as much as Brian is giving him credit for, In Aiden's past life, he was over- cautious-trust nothing-Introvert who would never throw caution to the wind compared to the Aiden we are seeing now. This one is the polar opposite of his past self and therefore is the carefree-happy-go-lucky-trust everything-extrovert who can and will throw caution to the wind. But his being a good guesser was a good trait to have in these situations. Aiden isn't sure of the things he guesses until someone agrees or confirms it. Brian confirmed it now Aiden was sure.]
Aiden: Eh? You won't tell me huh? Aww why?!!! C'mon, tell me.
Brian: No.
Aiden: Well, I tried. Nothing's adding up. I'll give up on finding the answer then. Heh, but this would be so crazy if you were trying to get revenge on them because they rejected you though.
Brian: You... really are a good guesser.
Aiden: H-huh?
[Aiden was dumbfounded by that vague response, a drop of sweat streaked down his cheek as he was trying to deny replay what he just heard. "Was that an indirect agreement?!!!" he thought, because what he was just said was a random thought that came into his mind but Brian didn't deny it! ]
Brian: I did it for revenge against those arrogant girls who turned down my marriage proposal.
Aiden: Wha...?!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!
[At the moment Aiden thought "My entire arc was based on revenge for a failed marriage proposal?!! Why plot?! Why?!"]
Brian: Those girls... I went to them to arrange a marriage proposal to boost my family's business, earn a title, and live in luxury with their family's name, but they turned me down and made me a laughingstock.
Aiden: W-why would you decide to ask out all three at the same time?
Brian: In case one fell through I could depend on the others but they all fell through, saying I wasn't good enough and some other stuff about being greedy but ignoring that part.
Aiden: You know... I would really love to punch you as hard as I can right now.
[Aiden clenched his fists so hard sweat on hid palms was evaporating]
Brian: It was suffering.
[Aiden let out an exasperated sigh]
Aiden: You know... You're not bad looking, have nice shiny ash hair, large magic reserves, and you're from an upper-class family, apart from your shitty personality and even shittier reason for arranging this while thing, you're a hit...(I still wish to hit you very hard with my fists)
[Aiden was still very upset]
Aiden: But... just try not to aim any higher than you already are. You might fall even harder.
[Brian's face distorted into anger]
Brian: I'm supposed to take that from a peasant who doesn't even know anything about me!?!
Aiden: At least I know if a girl rejects me the next best thing isn't to call a high-class assassin!
[For all the efforts and planning put into this and Clay's tenacity and nearly putting him down, Aiden dropped a little praise for Clay within his retort]
Brian: You still don't understand, do you? Well, no matter, I don't have to be scared of anything, you can't touch me nor can you report this to anyone.
Aiden: And why wouldn't I be able to?
[Aiden asked surprisingly, as he couldn't fathom what Brian meant by those vague words]
Brian: Because you don't want the truth to get out that you're responsible for this whole fiasco.
Aiden: You're saying I hired Clay, and caused this whole problem? Heh, what a joke.
Brian: You won't even deny it? I knew peasants weren't supposed to be allowed in this exam.
Aiden: Whatever magical crap you're tryna pull, I'll just burn it to the ground, you hired Clay and now you're trying to blame me? It's over you lost, now let's go turn you in.
Brian: Hahaha, that's not what the proof I have says.
Aiden: Proof?
[Brian reached into his inner pocket and brought out a small mirror. He opened it and Aiden saw a scene in the mirror of Brian badly wounded and himself(Aiden) standing with his foot on top of him.]
[The scene that occurred I'm the mirror]
*Cough-Cough* "You'll never get away with this you scoundrel! Gahh!!" Brian said as Aiden stepped on him and he coughed out more blood
"I can and I will! You went ahead to ruin my plan to look good in front of Areli, Breeze, and Calliope. I hired Clay to make me look good and now you went and screwed that up! I'm pissed now all that's left is to get rid of you." Aiden said in an angry voice
.
.
.
Aiden: Hey, I never said any of this!!
Brian: The proof is in the mirror and "It tells no lies." Hahaha.
Aiden: We are currently standing on that point in the mirror, I never said any of this.
Brian: Recall properly, Brightfil... you've said every word.
[Brian wore a sinister smile.]