Tony sat in a slouched position on the wooden chair and spoke.
"I don't know why you called him, but Veratir holds a deep grudge against our father."
I was aware of that fact as well.
I didn't know the reason, but I heard he was expelled from my father's party.
Afterwards, he wandered the battlefields before coming to Luines Academy.
'However.'
This alone is not enough to conclude that Veratir is our enemy.
"So, you're telling me to be cautious of Veratir?"
"Yes."
"Just because of an old grudge?"
"A grudge is a feeling that doesn't disappear in the past, present, or future. Among us, you know that best, right? You witnessed Gunter and Hysteria's fights."
Tony's eyes were moist.
Despite his dislike for me, warning me this way indicated he sensed something instinctively. Ignoring it would be unwise, especially since he also carries the blood of Strange, giving him a keen sense for such matters.
"I'll keep that in mind."
That one sentence was a sufficient response.
To be honest, I didn't want Veratir to be an enemy.
Even knowing he might have ulterior motives in this matter, I wanted to overlook it. In my past life, he dedicated himself to my training, even giving up promotion opportunities. Thanks to him, I grew quickly at the academy.
Time has passed, but this fact remains unchanged, even if I returned to that time.
He was not only my teacher like Siegfried but also my benefactor who saved me from Hysteria.
'Even if it's different in this life.'
While having a brief conversation with Tony, my thoughts became clear.
Veratir's target is not me. No, to be precise, it's not all of us.
His ultimate goal is surely the head of the Strange family and the former leader of his party.
'Lois de Strange.'
My father.
The reason he's trying to trap us is merely to get an opportunity to reach my father.
"What do you plan to do now, brother?"
Johnny, standing behind Tony, answered for him.
"Kill Veratir."
"If you do that, things will escalate. The Spirit King won't forgive anyone who breaks the academy's rules."
"Then we'll kill the Spirit King too."
This guy is impossible to reason with.
Tony sighed shortly and pushed Johnny aside to answer.
"We will do nothing. Silence will resolve this incident."
It was a wise decision.
Rather than provoking a powerful enemy, lowering our heads to survive is also a strategy.
'But.'
I am different.
"Understood. Then you should return to your original positions. I will handle Veratir."
"What?"
"Unlike you, I am not a student here. As an outsider, I have no choice but to resist to survive."
Otherwise, I might be punished without a chance to explain myself.
"So, you plan to fight Veratir?"
"No."
"Then?"
"I'll talk to him. Not just the two of us, but in a three-way meeting with the headmaster."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes."
This is the scenario I wanted, and Veratir promised to set it up.
Even though Veratir is now clearly an enemy, I don't know what he's planning.
'Well…'
No matter what happens, it doesn't matter.
Katarina is not behind him.
He used to be part of the revolutionary army before teaming up with my father, so he wouldn't side with someone with royal blood.
Since I'm certain of this, I can handle whatever happens. Even if he does something unexpected, I can reveal the past and have him expelled from the academy.
"Is there nothing we can do to help?"
"Do nothing. That's how you can help me."
"..."
"Even if Veratir comes and acts coercively, do everything he wants. I'll finish this matter for sure."
"...Alright."
Tony nodded a few times with a bitter expression, then suddenly stood up and left the room.
* * *
My head felt like it was going to explode.
The headache started from the back of my head, slowly rising, and then spread deeply as if a needle was piercing my temples.
'It's too heavy.'
The weight of the name Strange.
No matter where I go on the continent, danger lurks, and I must constantly be on guard without a moment's rest. I experienced this life enough in my previous life and wanted to avoid it this time, but fate is cruel.
'In my previous life, someone I considered one of the closest is now trying to stab me in the neck in this life.'
This is not a problem that can be solved simply by killing him. The complicated ties and the turmoil they cause are shaking my spirit.
'I must not be swept away by emotions.'
Siegfried repeatedly told me this.
I knew it well, so I always reminded myself.
That's why I was known as a creature without emotions in my previous life's party.
I took a deep breath to calm my mind.
Hoo—
"Right."
Veratir now is different from the one back then.
No matter how much he cared for me in the past.
The time I need to focus on is now.
It's a luxury to be worried about such things.
If the path is blocked, I will cut it down.
This is my mission, having been reborn to become stronger than before.
The gods made me this way because they desired it.
I made up my mind.
If he aims for my neck.
I will not show mercy.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Despite not responding, the door opened.
Creeeeak—
Veratir came in, glancing around.
"Verdin, are you ready?"
I nodded in response.
"Yes."
Pavlos Luines Academy entrance.
As we stepped into the passage between the massive tree roots, a bright light enveloped our bodies. This was a warp gate that only the authorized could pass through. The light barely lasted a few seconds, and we arrived at a lake somewhere in the Blade Mountains, far from the academy.
Step, step, step.
"Welcome, Sir Verdin."
An old man in a purple robe and a pointed hat greeted us.
He wasn't human but a forest elf and the sage presiding over Pavlos Luines Academy.
'Balak Gordiv.'
He is the only wizard capable of casting the 9th-circle spells that even the Glazer family couldn't complete.
"My name is Balak Gordiv. I am the head of Pavlos Luines Academy."
His gentle smile, warm voice, and respectful tone towards those below him set him apart as a true sage. His benevolent presence made me bow my head without realizing it.
"I am Verdin, the youngest of the Strange family."
We both knew what we needed to discuss. There was no need to drag it out; I just had to explain what had happened.
'That's what I thought.'
However, the headmaster's question was completely unexpected.
"Sir Verdin, I apologize for asking this difficult question the first time we meet, but I must ask it."
"Please, go ahead."
"…Why did you kill Instructor Philip?"
His question stunned me into silence.
It was so absurd that I was at a loss for words.
I was prepared to explain what happened last night or anything else we might have done.
'Why did I kill Philip?'
I didn't even know he was dead.
'How should I answer this?'
Claiming I didn't kill him would sound like an excuse in this situation.
I turned my gaze to Veratir, but he only wore a faint smile and avoided eye contact.
'Clever.'
He was indeed the teacher who taught me how to survive on the battlefield.
He used to say that there are many situations where strength alone isn't enough and one must always think wisely and intelligently.
'But is this truly wise and intelligent?'
It's just a cunning trick!
Despite my anger, I couldn't help but admire his setup.
'Then I'll answer like this.'
I didn't know if Philip was dead or alive.
But based on their reactions, it seemed he was dead.
In that case, the most likely suspect was Veratir.
"Is Instructor Philip dead?"
The headmaster nodded without any change in his expression.
"Did you not know? They said you visited his lab last night."
"While that's true, I never met him."
"…Could you tell us why you went to his lab?"
I recounted the events of the previous night in his lab.
However, Veratir acted as if my words were ridiculous, making exaggerated gestures as if to show the headmaster.
"It's all fabricated."
"No, it isn't."
"Then what is this? When I arrived at Philip's lab last night after you left, I found this evidence!"
Swish—
A white hand emerged from the distorted space in Veratir's palm. Judging by the position of the fingers, it was a left arm. The skin was smooth and delicate, as if it had never engaged in combat.
'Is that Philip's arm?'
"Look! This is Philip's arm, which you and your brothers killed last night!"
"That's impossible. I never even met Philip last night—"
"Silence, Verdin. Even with this evidence, you still deny it? Look, Gordiv! He cannot even accurately recount what he did last night!"
To frame me for Philip's murder, Veratir had planned meticulously. His plot was far more cunning than I anticipated.
Claiming that one of my brothers was eaten by a monkey, and that we fought the monkey to rescue him—who would believe that?
I stared at the white arm emerging from the space and pondered.
'At this rate, I'll truly become the culprit.'
The only witness to last night's events had become my enemy, and my brothers couldn't be called as witnesses.
I needed to find a way to prove I wasn't the culprit. I looked at Veratir and thought deeply.
The solution didn't take long to come to me.
A glance at Gordiv's hand gave me the clue I needed to clear myself.
'Checkmate.'
I had found perfect evidence proving I wasn't the culprit.
But I had to get Veratir to acknowledge it as well.
Feigning a troubled expression, I looked down and asked.
"Gordiv, before I answer, I need to confirm one thing."
Gordiv raised his chin and responded.
"What is it?"
"If I'm not the culprit who killed Philip, what happens next? This seems like more than just an explanation issue."
"…What do you want?"
I raised my head and shifted my gaze to where Veratir stood.
"Since one of us is lying, they should be punished accordingly, following the rules of Luines Academy."
Anyone caught lying within the academy has their tongue cut out.
This rule was established to ensure truthful education.
Gordiv cautiously asked Veratir.
"Do you agree?"
Veratir nodded vigorously.
"Yes."
I relaxed my tense expression and responded.
"Then I will explain what happened last night."
With a broad, bright smile.
"And why I am not the one who killed Philip."