Traitor (7)
Kadel approached stealthily.
He extended a hand with an ominous smile.
“Student Judas.”
“I have something serious to discuss with you.”
“It’ll only take a moment.”
As suggested, we had a brief conversation.
It was true that we had to settle things.
Perhaps wary of eavesdroppers, Professor Kadel and I headed to a secluded spot. We faced each other in a frosty atmosphere.
The conversation that began lasted a little under thirty minutes.
To get straight to the point:
"Then... I trust you understand."
"I hope you make a wise choice. I am showing you mercy, as a student."
The conversation resulted in a definitive outcome.
Thanks to that, the identity of the traitor was solidified.
I ended the conversation, leaving behind a warning that wasn’t really a warning.
I could feel a meaningful gaze from behind, but I continued on my way, regardless.
There was no need for worry in the first place.
‘After all…’
Everything was going according to plan.
There was no need to worry about a play unfolding in the palm of my hand.
I merely observed from a step back.
With a subsided heartbeat, I remained silent.
‘There’s no reaction yet… but I wonder what will happen once they’re cornered.’
The day passed with such miscellaneous thoughts.
The next day, we were given a break.
Faculty meetings, testimonies, report writing… I thought I'd be stuck with tedious tasks for a while, but most of the related matters were entrusted to the professors.
It seemed the Academy was being cautious, given the sensitive nature of the issue.
Thanks to this, the students in the assistant professor positions got a short vacation.
Myself included.
“Hmm.”
I spent my time holed up in the dormitory.
With a book in hand, in a sunless room, I wanted to quietly kill some time.
The reason I added the words “I was starved for” after that sentence is…
Because life was so tiring that even such a small wish couldn’t be fulfilled.
I lift my head with a troubled smile.
The dormitory interior comes into view.
Among the familiar scenery were girls with pink, blue, platinum, red, and orange hair.
They all stared at me with determined eyes.
As if they wouldn’t let me go no matter what I said.
“Um… everyone? I’ve told you it’s alright…”
I try to reason with them, but…
“Y-Young Master! You need to rest properly when you’re sick…!”
“Be quiet and sit still.”
“Yeah… if you keep this up, even Judas will get angry.”
“Just accept it quietly. After all, it’s your fault.”
All I get in return are the girls’ scoldings.
Shrinking back, I lean against my unfortunate wheelchair and mutter,
“I don’t really feel sick, though…”
That’s right.
I was confined to the dormitory in broad daylight.
By none other than the heroines.
‘I didn’t know everyone would react so sensitively.’
I repeat the words to myself.
The Dragon subjugation was just a few days ago.
Due to the deviation from the original plan, it was an event where I had to shoulder a certain amount of strain.
I ended up consuming a large amount of life force, exceeding the basic output.
Fortunately, it wasn’t to the extent of affecting my lifespan, but I had to suffer from muscle aches and fever for a few days afterward.
Of course, it was a minor ailment compared to my rock bottom days.
‘This is troublesome.’
I didn’t want the girls to worry.
So, I intended to keep the fact that I overexerted myself a secret as much as possible, but…
I was betrayed by unexpected individuals.
None other than Irene and Charlotte.
The two who were with me during the subjugation had spilled the beans about my condition.
With serious looks, they said I needed protection or something.
-Judas is a patient. He shouldn’t overexert himself until he recovers.
-Since I can’t stop you… I thought if I brought in the others, you might listen to them.
It was difficult to blame them since their actions stemmed from worry.
Their melancholic eyes bothered me.
Anyway.
Through that process, the other girls also found out about that day.
Regia, Emilia, Elize… the three of them darkened their expressions.
When they heard that I had coughed up blood, they all turned pale and hovered around me, asking if I was okay.
That was the backstory to the current situation.
Snake, Pilot, Vanity, Fox, Little Prince And Rose. A total of five people, excluding me, were settled in the dormitory. Since it was originally as spacious as a decent mansion, it didn't feel particularly cramped or uncomfortable, but...
Still, it bothered me that they were constantly worried.
‘Their concern is appreciated, but…’
Still, wasn’t making me sit in a wheelchair a bit too much? My life force was gradually recovering, so I couldn't even say I was sick.
Of course, arguing that point was useless.
“Saying you’re fine… you already collapsed once, so I don’t believe you.”
“You need to rest! We, the commoner and I, came all this way to take care of you, so stop complaining and recuperate!”
“Young Master… sniffle, d-don’t, don’t die.”
“Everyone will be sad if Judas dies. And so will I.”
A barrage of nagging poured down.
My mouth closed on its own.
Regia, in particular, was looking at me with teary eyes, as if she would burst into tears if I didn't stay still.
In the end, I surrendered to her innocent gaze and decided to play along.
It wasn’t that difficult.
“Haha…”
As I let out an empty laugh, Rose, who was sitting next to me, poked my cheeks.
She was also in a wheelchair.
A mischievous smile played on her lips. She seemed to want to tease me.
With a rare smile, she said,
“So… how does it feel to sit in a wheelchair for the first time?”
“I think I understand Your Highness’s frustration a little.”
“Let’s get along well as fellow patients from now on. Of course, I won't allow you to die before me.”
“No… mine is a temporary condition.”
“Hmm.”
The princess seemed particularly amused.
Did she like the couple item of wheelchairs that much?
She even let out a slight giggle.
“With your face so pale like a girl’s… you’re really like a sickly flower.”
“I can’t compare to Your Highness.”
In truth, it was partly my fault.
The motion sickness caused by the lack of life force.
I happened to collapse or stagger in front of the girls a few times, and they became overly concerned and started monitoring me constantly.
I should have just stayed in bed quietly until I fully recovered.
In the first place…
If I had dealt with the Puppeteer properly back then, the Dragon wouldn’t have been resurrected, and I wouldn’t have had to consume my life force.
Of course, I had my own reasons for that.
I grumbled inwardly.
‘Who would have thought that name would be called…’
That grotesque smile that sent chills down my spine.
The Puppeteer’s eyes gleamed with only madness and enlightenment.
I remember the lightly moving lips and the sound.
-It was you, ■■■■.
How…
How did he know that name?
In this world, only I… and those people should know that code.
Problems that were constantly out of control were always a headache.
As I pondered for a moment, a sudden commotion caught my attention.
It was the voices of Rose and Fox, arguing as usual.
“You talk too much for a pet.”
“A pet at least receives its owner’s love. Isn’t the relationship between a patient and a doctor just business?”
“Oh my… did you forget? I even received a promise of happiness.”
“How dare you brag about a mere promise.”
“While being caressed all over, too.”
“How vulgar… perhaps your head needs fixing before your body.”
“Can you even handle it? Daring to say such things to a princess of a nation.”
“I don’t care about the humans’ petty hierarchy.”
“What an insolent beast.”
“And you’re a bothersome woman.”
Should I say I’m used to it now?
The two of them fought whenever their eyes met.
They didn’t seem to actually hate each other, but they often clashed because of their temperaments.
I pinched both of their cheeks to appease them.
The fight stopped as the soft sensation reached my fingertips.
“I specifically asked you to get along.”
“…She started it.”
“That’s what I should be saying! Insolent beast.”
Fox and Rose grumbled to the end.
Noisy sounds came from the kitchen as they prepared dinner.
“Lady…! T-The stew is burning!”
“Uh, uh-oh? What do we do? It was fine when I practiced alone…!”
“Put out the fire first!”
“I“I-I’m sorry! I’m, I’m scared of fire…”
“I’ll do it!”
Vanity whimpered as things didn't go as planned, and Pilot, as resourceful as ever, quickly fixed the ruined dish.
“Yes. Everyone seems happy.”
Behind them, the Little Prince was smiling serenely.
The boisterous atmosphere in the dormitory seemed likely to continue for a while.
***
Five days after the attack.
The situation with the faculty remained unchanged.
Although the search for the traitor continued, they hadn’t achieved any significant results.
Because of this, a frosty atmosphere lingered among the adults at the Academy.
A situation where everyone was watching each other.
As an assistant professor, my access to information was limited, so I couldn't grasp the severity of the situation.
I could only infer the turmoil from the tense atmosphere.
I decided to lose interest.
After all, I was in a position where I had to walk a different path from them.
Worrying unnecessarily would only complicate matters.
‘I just have to hope things go according to plan.’
I leaned back against the backrest.
As I pondered miscellaneous thoughts, Fox, who was pushing my wheelchair from behind, asked a question.
“So… why do you need to go out this early?”
“My master is waiting for me.”
“She didn’t seem particularly happy to see you last time.”
“She’s a person who dislikes people by nature. But she’s also kind in her own way.”
“You seem to trust her a lot.”
“I’ve received a lot of help from her.”
I replied briefly.
The rolling wheels crossed the hallway, heading towards the infirmary at the far end.
I was on my way to visit the Drunkard.
Currently, Selena was staying in the Academy infirmary.
-No. I can’t cooperate with you in such a dangerous situation.
At the time of the attack.
The woman who blocked us on our way to the underground passage.
She had been hypnotized and lost consciousness, then collapsed on the floor and was found by other professors.
The Drunkard, who was naturally hospitalized, stayed there.
There were no particular aftereffects, and her consciousness quickly returned, but strangely, she hadn’t regained her energy since waking up.
Therefore, she hadn’t attended the faculty meetings that had been held for the past few days.
This was the reason I visited the infirmary every day.
‘I need to tell her about the meetings.’
I needed to hear her opinion on the traitor as well.
After all, I was in a position where she was directly under me.
It was also my duty to convey the minor issues missed in the meetings and the current atmosphere of the Academy.
A big reason was also that I wanted to see her face.
Anyway.
“Master.”
I wheeled myself into the infirmary.
Beyond the door was a white room.
A dreamy space devoid of any sign of life.
After instructing Fox to wait outside, I moved the wheels myself, and my eyes met with the person sitting on the bed.
The Drunkard, lost in thought as usual.
“…You’re here, student Judas.”
She greeted me with a forced cheerfulness, but the worry on her face couldn’t be erased.
The melancholy that had always been deep seemed to have darkened even further.
Her eyes were tinged with her usual intoxication.
Her flowing purple hair was spread out on the blanket.
The deepened dark circles under her eyes indicated her poor condition.
Did she have another sleepless night?
“You seem even more haggard than usual.”
“I’m fine… let’s talk about work first.”
A particularly gloomy expression lingered.
The woman took a sip from the bottle she was fiddling with and spoke.
I’m sure the day before yesterday I confiscated it, saying a patient shouldn’t be drinking… She must have taken out a few hidden bottles and emptied them.
Because of the somber atmosphere, I hesitated to point it out.
Helplessly, I relayed the work-related information as she requested.
It was about today’s meeting.
“The atmosphere at the Academy seems to be settling down.”
“Is that so… That’s originally my job, but I’m troubling you, student Judas.”
“Not at all.”
The conversation continued for a while.
Even while listening to the story, the woman couldn’t take her eyes off the wheelchair I was in.
She seemed distressed by the fact that her student was injured.
The fact that I looked particularly sickly also played a part.
I hadn’t realized that the life force I consumed during the Calamity subjugation would be useful in this way.
I smiled faintly.
“Master.”
Yes.
Wasn’t this enough?
Five days since the attack.
She must have also reached various conclusions in her mind.
I voiced the question I had been waiting for.
“I’d like to ask your opinion.”
“Yes?”
“You haven’t given me any opinions so far.”
“What do you want to ask me?”
“I want to know who you suspect is the traitor.”
“The traitor…”
“It’s an important matter.”
Selena Drunkard.
She was the headmaster’s top disciple, held a high position as the chief assistant professor, and was a veteran with long experience at the Academy.
She must have also figured out the identity of the faculty member who betrayed the Academy.
The overly incompetent headmaster.
The most suspicious Kadel.
Or someone else we hadn’t anticipated.
Or perhaps…
“What do you think, Master… no.”
Actually.
“Traitor.”
With my eyelids subtly lifting, I gazed at her with my white eyes.
The answer that didn’t come formed a brief silence.
“…”
The infirmary was enveloped in stillness.
Snake glared.
At his master, a born educator, a wounded adult, and… the Academy’s traitor.
I faced her after a long time.
Soon, her closed lips parted.
Her pronunciation was clear, as if unaffected by intoxication.
“As expected… you knew.”
The traitor, Selena Drunkard.
According to the original story, she was a seed of destruction planted by the cult.
The woman murmured,
“…It’s all my fault.”
A reflection on the sins she had committed for so long.
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