Part 1, Luna's Pov
"Don't worry... We are not going to investigate you any further. Thanks for your cooperation so far."
Suddenly before I went to bed after preparing for tomorrow's classes I was called by the guards to meet an instructor. They asked me about Ethan's whereabouts and where they had last seen him. I told them the truth about where Ethan went after we parted ways in front of the first-year girls' dorm.
His disappearance will cause hindrance in my plan to get revenge against Lena Merkel...
I also wanted to ask him more about this mark that suddenly appeared on my hand.
'Why did he disappear? Who did this to him?'
" Hey, You... You are that specky smartass, right?"
I heard someone's voice but ignored them... I wonder who they were calling.
" Stop ignoring me!"
That person Jumped in front of me while grinding his teeth... It was Davis Taron, the foolish friend of that idiot.
" Why did you not reply when I called for you?"
" Hah! When did you call for me Mr frosty frog?"
" You...ugh! I don't want to argue with you... Tell me where is Ethan."
He has also been looking for him, these guys must be close since his face currently looked like a child who had lost his mother. Seeing him like that I decided to cooperate and tell him.
" I don't know where he went, the last time we were together was in front of the girls' dorm," I answered.
" Did he say anything about what he was going to do after your...after you guys finished your date."
" No, he didn't say anything, he just told me to eat together in the morning."
" Shit!... You are so useless, I will fuc*ing kill you if you are involved in this."
After saying that he left, I didn't retort... I will forgive this punk for once, it's not like I am afraid of him or anything.
I stopped myself from shaking and calmed myself.
'This shitty guy, once I become strong enough I would trample you people below my feet...'
I cursed at him and started to walk towards the dormitory... I didn't care whether that idiot had gotten himself involved in some kind of trouble or whether he is busy with another one of his foolish antics.
It's probably something like what happened today... Did he go back to that place or maybe just hide somewhere?
Why would he hide?
But it's weird for people to look for him this early... From the time I last saw him, it hasn't even been that long. So why were the people looking for him this early...
'Should I also look for him? What if he needs help?' I thought..." No-No... Why would I do that? I don't even trust that guy. It shouldn't matter whether he returns or not."
. . . . .
Part 2, Ethan's Pov
. . . . .
"Mmmph! Ummmm!" The girl in front of me struggled to speak as I used my handkerchief to bind her mouth, I was afraid that she might scream and bring unnecessary attention.
After all, this forest doesn't only have monsters.
At first, I had decided to leave her be after erasing her memory but that still leaves me suspicious as the guards might already be looking for me...
" Why did you do it?" I asked the girl and added a threat, "...I might have to kill you."
"mmmmph! Nnnnn!"
The girl struggled more and I took out my wand.
" If you scream, I will kill you."
The girl had tears in her eyes and was visibly shaking... I don't understand why they act like that after doing something worse.
"... Let me go please, Albert told me to do it." She wept and begged while I kept my wand pointed at her.
" I already know that... Tell me why did you do that? What made you follow his orders?"
" He is going to join the imperial army after graduation whereas I am just a Baron's daughter... He threatened me to do it, he said if I succeed he will reward us in the future but if I say no then he will make sure that we suffer his wrath..."
" Hmmm... You are not telling the complete truth, tell me who else is behind this."
Mana visibly started to gather in front of my wand ready to fire a lethal attack.
" He is not alone... There is no way I could go against them. They follow a strict hierarchy... They harass lower-class nobles to do their bidding, I was forced into this, I am telling the truth."
I stopped casting the spell and chanted another... The girl froze seeing me cast a spell and tried to run away but it didn't take me long to cast that spell.
" ~Hyponsis~"
A hypnosis spell is an effective tool against normal students and commoners, but can not be cast on everyone. Also, Only a few who are talented in mind magic can cast this... Even though it only works against those who don't know how to protect their minds, it's pretty useful.
" Forget about the orders that were given to you by them... And don't be afraid of Albert Drew anymore. Avoid meeting with Albert Drew or anyone related to him. If anyone asks what you were doing in the forest tell them that you saw a green flame flying in the air and it attracted you here."
After giving the command... I needed to cast other spells on her.
"~Sleep~"
"~Hyponsis~" I cast on myself and gave similar commands to myself.
What I was trying to do was very risky... I just hoped that we are found by the academy professors and the guards before something eats us.
"~Sleep~" I cast the final spell on me and fell unconscious.
. . . . .
Part 3, Later that night
. . . . .
"Sorry to disturb you so late in the night." The old instructor spoke as he slightly bowed his head. He made sure that his reading spectacles didn't fall off his face.
"That's not an issue master Vermonk, what happened for you to call me so late at night?"
" Jameson... Two students are missing and we have searched for every possible place we could find them. I think we might need your shadow rat... I had heard that it can search for anyone from miles away."
Jameson forger the rune language teacher frowned after hearing that...
" That rat is a little mischievous... It won't move until we give him 2 Beast Mana Vessels of intermediate grade."
" Doesn't matter... I will pay you, it's nothing compared to the safety of two students."
" These are the things that belonged to those students." Master Vermonk handed a few things belonging to Laura and Ethan.
Without wasting any time Jameson took out a quill-type pen and infused magic into it. He used it to draw a pattern in the open air similar to how one writes on paper.
Jameson created a magic circle with several runes floating over the circle, once it was finished something similar to a portal opened and a one-meter huge rat jumped out of it. The rat looked normal if one ignored its height and shadowy fur.
It didn't make any sound and curiously looked at Jameson and turned his head as if pouting for some reason.
" You rascal... We will give you what you want so don't act like this." Jameson fumed.
" *Chi* *chi*" The rat happily turned his head towards Jameson and extended his front paws.
" Haha... It's certainly a likeable creature." Master Vermonk laughed seeing the rat acting like a greedy human.
Vermonk summoned two tiny red-coloured gems which had a shape like an almond. He handed the gems to Jameson who proceeded to hand them to the rat.
" Does it have a name?" Vermonk asked.
"Its name is Gulliver," Jameson answered and then whispered, "... I named him this because it's a greedy glutton."
"Nothing can be a more suitable name."
After the rat was done consuming the almond-shaped Beast mana vessel, Jameson placed the things belonging to Ethan and Laura.
" By the way... May I know which students disappeared?"
" Ah... I should have told you, one of them also attends your classes. His name is Ethan Augustine and the other one is Laura Mauser."
" Ethan... That brilliant boy."
" Brilliant... Is he?" Vermonk raised an eyebrow curiously but changed the topic himself, " It seems your rat disappeared?"
" It must have found them... The rat can directly teleport himself to the target's shadow... Wait a minute I will tell you." Jameson used his magical quill to draw a rune in the air and then grabbed it in the palm of his hands, while it was floating. He closed his eyes and a vision appeared in front of him.
" They are in the forest... Both of them are unconscious." Jameson spoke with panic in his voice.
" Not good... Not good, we have to hurry... Come with me, Jameson." Vermonk ran out of the meeting place while dragging Jameson with him.
'I can't let his Son die like that.'