'Okay… let's think about all of this calmly…'
Once Ash got to his room—a much larger place than even the place Alpha Class Students enjoyed in their dorms—he began to analyze the situation he found himself in.
As he paced around the living room, he ignored the fine furnishings that surrounded him, including the expensive carpets, the vast space, and the surreal smell of luxury around him. Perhaps this was because he understood that all of these things were temporary.
If he didn't solve the case, he would be stripped of all of this luxury and be forced to sleep on hardened ground in the barracks before being sent to his death in a war that was way older than him.
So yes, while the living room and bedroom were both exquisite to dwell in, he had bigger things on his mind.
—Much bigger things.
'The advantage of this arrangement is that I won't be restricted by work, unlike with the original plan… which means I have a lot of autonomy for these ten days that I will be spending here.' He sighed in mild relief.
However, he couldn't allow himself to relax.
'That asshole told me it would take about ten days for me to be drafted, which means I should probably omit a few days since I can't trust an estimation given by him.
For the sake of safety, Ash decided to give himself seven days.
That would still be cutting it close, but without any real proof as to who the White Death really was, it was the least time he needed to figure everything out and piece it all together.
It was infuriating that he was pushed to the corner like this, but looking at the bright side of things, this would definitely motivate him to act a lot faster and solve the case before more victims died.
None of this meant he forgot about the wrong done to him, though.
'Gerald Lockwood… I won't forget this.'
Because of this single man in a position of authority, he would have to rigorously adjust his plans and rush things that would have normally taken more time. His biggest worry now was making mistakes due to his limited time frame and the kind of pressure that kind of hurry would put on his mind.
'Which is why I have to remain calm and do things properly.'
After pacing around for a bit longer, he finally sat on his soft sofa, placing both hands on the armrest as his back sank into the sofa's soft warmth.
"Haaa…" He exhaled gently, closing his eyes so he could enjoy the moment.
Also, so he could think.
'The White Death themselves are a mystery, but at least one of their accomplices is one of the Beta students who left the Academy… which is why Special Investigator Dahmer left that hint before he died.'
However, if he considered the kind of Spirit that the White Death was using, it also made sense that the culprit was also a student.
'The Garden is filled with numerous Spirits, but only a chosen few of each category participate in the Selection Ceremony.' He began. 'It's the same reasoning behind the Academy conducting entrance exams and Promotional Exams… the Spirits also have their way of doing things.'
As such, the chances of the Medium Grade Spirit being selected beyond our Selection Ceremony is extremely low. Also, since the killings began a week after we got our Familiars, it only makes sense that the culprit is a student. Killing Alpha Students points the finger of blame at the Beta Class, but if I'm dealing with a transmigrator, all of that could be a ruse.'
Which meant every student was suspicious at this point.
'That leaves a lot of suspects, though… and I don't have the time to canvass each and every one of them right now.'
In fact, he never had the intention, which was why he chose to drop out in the first place.
'My true aim is to find the accomplices.'
Or, at the very least, one of them.
'If I can catch one of the accomplices, I can figure out how the White Death communicates with them, and I could also catch them in the act of killing another victim.'
That would lead him straight to the White Death!
'The problem, however, is finding the accomplices… though I already have a few places to start from.'
The White Death killed one student on Campus Grounds, and also two Instructors. These, unlike the death of Special Investigator Dahmer, took place in the Apprentice Wing of the Academy.
'Which means the White Death's accomplices had to leave the staff quarters at some point and travel to the Campus Grounds.'
If he could find any proof that any of the students stationed in the staff quarters had left its walls at any of the times of those deaths—as well as any future deaths—he would ultimately be able to prove nab the accomplices.
'But, how exactly am I supposed to do that?'
His initial plan was to use his position as one of the Staff Quarter's workers to get close and comfortable with his fellow former Beta Students, using that as an avenue to spy on them and conduct a thorough investigation.
However, if he did anything of the sort now, it would seem too out of place.
'If I act too suspicious, I may end up tipping off the enemy, which could make them aware of my motives and force them to be more careful… or even worse, to cease their actions.' Ash sighed.
He couldn't let that happen.
That would be bad for him for numerous reasons—the one most concerning being that he would run out of time before getting any real clues or solving the case.
'Well, I suppose this simply means I'll have to be extra careful with my actions and find another way to investigate all of them as soon as possible.'
The first step would be to identify the students as soon as possible.
DING!
A sound echoed from his front door, which made Ash sigh in relief as he rose to his feet and approached the entrance to his living room.
'Finally… I've been waiting.' He smiled, opening the door for the rather young-looking girl that stood in front of the door. 'My first suspect.'
She looked very timid and disheveled, having freckles on her face as well as dark green eyes to contrast with her dirty blond hair. She was also incredibly short, but underneath her rather loose and oversized wear, Ash could see some impressive muscles.
'Not uncommon with peasants… and I recognize this girl.'
She was a Beta Student of the Academy, just like him, and she was also particularly good in physical activities… but nothing else.
'The perfect prey for manipulation by the White Death.'
"I-I was asked to come and tidy your room for you… M-Master Ashfelt Zephyr." The girl Britta muttered in a rather subservient tone as she spoke.
"Ah, yes… come in."
She obediently entered the room, her head lowered as he watched her with a smile.
'I was the one who told the guards that I would prefer former classmates of mine to be the ones to attend to me during my stay here.'
It seemed they really listened and brought him his first suspect.
'I'm going to skim through them one after the other until I find the guilty one, or ones… depending on how many accomplices the White Death has that were my classmates.' Ash shut the door behind him.
'Though, I'm a little surprised that she's the only one who came… considering the fact that I specifically mentioned a host of tasks that I need done.'
Those tasks were too many for a single servant to perform.
"Where are your colleagues?" Ash asked. "You won't be enough to do the tasks I want done."
"A-ah… my apologies, Master Ashfelt Zephyr—"
"Just call me Ash."
"B-but—!"
"Do it."
"O-okay, Master A-Ash… well… the thing is, I was told that only I would be doing all of these tasks, but I will try my best to do it to the best of my abilities."
"Only you?"
Ash frowned the moment he heard this.
'Why would they send only her? Is she being bullied by the guards? Or is this their way of disrespecting me… knowing I can't do anything about it?' Just thinking about the situation he was in annoyed him even further.
"Why would they pick just you?" He growled.
"B-because they said you specifically requested for your classmates who work here, and… well…" Britta said with her tiny voice. "... I'm the only one among the dropouts who works here."
Ash's eyes widened the moment he watched those unexpected words flow from the girl's cracked lips. They meant only one thing
'She… Britta is the only suspect I have to work with?!'
That meant—without the shadow of a doubt—she was the accomplice of the White Death.