News about the Incident spread like wildfire.
It didn't take long for the death of one Alpha Class Student to reach the ears of everyone seemingly overnight. Before long, it was all everyone could talk about.
As such, it was only inevitable that a General Assembly would be called to address the breach of security on the Academy Campus, as well as the unfortunate demise of a certain Achibald Leonald—one of the brightest and hardworking minds of the Alpha Class.
"Greetings, Students…" A slim and bald man took to the stage in the auditorium that every student in the Academy's Apprentice Wing had gathered in.
Students of higher Grades—the Intermediate and Experts—were naturally absent.
Per the Akashic Magus Academy policy, the three Grades of the Academy had to be divided by Wings, which is why only the Apprentices—both Alpha and Beta Class Students—were in attendance.
"My name is Dahmer Weinstain." He continued. "You may not know me, but I am an alumni of this Academy, and I have been personally requested by the heads of this Academy to investigate the recent demise of one of its students."
The bald man looked like a skeleton—with gaping wide eyes that struck fear in the minds of the students, bleached white skin, as well as a lanky and skinny physique that made it appear as though he hadn't eaten for days.
He was clad in a long black trench coat, wearing gloves to cover his hands, as well as dirty black boots.
His belt had a certain lustre about it, but it was also black.
His shirt and trousers too.
This man—Special Investigator Dahmer—was like a creepy creature of darkness disguised as a human. It creeped the students out, to the point that many gulped and shivered.
All of a sudden, the deaths of one of their own didn't seem as scary as the being standing before them.
"The Southeastern Wing of this Academy has been sealed off from the other Wings due to this incident, so whoever this killer is… he has nowhere to go."
As Dahmer smiled, it seemed as though the devil himself was grinning.
It frightened everyone who watched.
"That is all I have to say. Please rest assured… I will find whoever is responsible for this tragedy and make them pay." He bowed slightly, before wearing his black hat.
"I swear on my entire career."
************
'So that's what the Special Investigator looks like in person, huh?'
Ash calmly observed Dahmer Weinstain as he left the stage, both hands in his pockets as he carefully analyzed the man and everything he had on.
'He has a badge hidden in his breast pocket, a Magia Pistol in a holster on his left leg, a bunch of Daggers hidden in special pockets in his trenchcoat. He also possesses several other special items—all of which are Enchanted in some way—on his person.' Ash smiled.
The reason he knew all of these details was because of the Novel that he had rigorously studied before arriving in this world.
'Dahmer was called, just as in the original story…' His smile broadened. 'Looks like I haven't changed too many things.'
This was good.
As long as there weren't a lot of changes, he would have predictive power on his side.
'I have no idea how long that will last, but as long as I make my changes minimal and only when necessary, I can gently steer this world to the future I desire. I can also monitor the specific changes I make as well as manage them so they don't spiral out of control.'
That was his current plan.
As for what to do regarding the Special Investigator, the best thing to do was nothing.
'Any suspicious activity would only gain his attention, and that's the last thing I want.' Ash sighed, slowly taking his leave from the assembly grounds after the students were dismissed.
Before leaving, he stole one final glance at the dark coated man.
'It is said that once the Special Investigator takes up a case, he never fails to solve it.'
That was why the Academy was prompt to bring him in on this case.
"Good luck, Detective."
************
In a dark room, with the only source of light being the ultradim candles that burned quietly in a corner, Dahmer Weinstain was busy with the numerous notes he had taken.
It was only his first day on campus, and he had already taken note of so many things.
'A lot is going on… so much is going on…' His thoughts were a mess as his gaping eyes rummaged through the pages and his thin hands flipped through the papers. 'This Wing… this Campus… this Academy…'
Something was definitely fishy about the whole incident.
'I was called here because there was seemingly no breach in the Academy's Security. The patrol officers never skipped their shifts, and the Magia-Sensitive Alarms never went off. Nothing was out of the ordinary that night, so the Academy never picked up the energy signature of the killer once appeared and killed one of the students.'
Dahmer looked at his notes, rubbing his fingers on the name of the boy who was murdered.
'Achibald Leonald… he was a cheeky kid, but he was also very hard working.' He noted to himself. 'He always went to the library to study, and from the interviews I conducted with his friends, it seems like he wanted to be an Archmage like his uncle—one of his heroes.'
Why would a student like that be targeted?
Why now?
So many questions ran through the Special Investigator's question as he rose to his feet and went to the chart he had already created in his newly-fitted office that the Academy gave him for his stay on the Campus Grounds.
'Based on the twists, this had to be a crime of passion… or could it just be an adverse effect of a Spell? No… the Alarms never went off, which means the culprit didn't use any Spell on the spot.'
But was that even possible?
Based on the testimony of the surviving student, it seemed like the white silhouette had strangled the body of the deceased from a distance.
How could that have been done without utilizing a single Spell?
'Or… could the alarms have been shut down? That would mean someone in the Academy's staff was complicit in the killing.'
Still, Investigator Dahmer had already thought of this and asked if the Alarms were ever inactive at a particular point in the night, but the records showed that they were constantly activated throughout the night.
'So how did this happen? Did the culprit forge the records, or was no Spell actually used in the scene of the crime?'
The more Dahmer pondered on the issue, the more confused he became.
Until…
"Wait a moment! What if—?"
BZZZZZZZZT
All of a sudden, a loud buzzing noise echoed in the blackened room, and as soon as Dahmer turned to the entity that occupied his auxiliary vision, he noticed something standing in a dark corner.
It was transparent white, like a shimmering glass that warbled with energy.
"It's… you."
ZZZZTTTTZZZZZZZZ
The buzzing sounds grew louder, almost to the point where Dahmer wanted to sew his ears tight, but he refused the temptation. Instead, he reached for the pistol in his holster, ready to activate his Spirit Art and attack.
But—
"H-huh…?"
He suddenly found his arms twisting and turning, as if into spirals.
"GAHHHHHHH!!!" He screamed, feeling his two legs twist as well.
In a heavy thud, he fell to the ground.
"Y-you… you are—!"
Before he met his end, Dahmer crawled to his board like the pathetic worm that he was. On the board was a map, and his bloodied body slowly tried to reach for it.
Unfortunately, his torso began to twist before he got to the target.
"ARRRGHHHHH!" Screaming from the pain, the Special Investigator swiftly used his bloody tongue to write something on the ground.
Then… his neck snapped as it twisted as well.
Right in that dark room, devoid of anyone and anything else, the Special Investigator perished.
However, what he inscribed on the ground lived on.
It wrote—
"Beware the White Death."