Chapter 171

My once peaceful academy life has hit a major roadblock.

Specifically, the night security at the academy has tightened up like crazy, and Maria now has two guards who won’t leave her side for even a second.

To make things worse, Maria is now rooming with Princess Albrecht. Meaning the royal knight captain guarding Albrecht is likely around too. It’s a girls-only dorm, so I’ll have to stick to the ceiling unnoticed like a silent mouse.

How am I supposed to sneak Maria out at night? While I’m confident I could slip past the guards unnoticed, Maria doesn’t have that luxury. Especially not with two Holy Knights providing 24/7 close protection.

So I put my thinking cap on.

“Hohoho.”

“Huh? Why are you laughing?”

“There’s a plan.”

I pulled out my magic staff – a sturdy stick about three handclaps long. When you swing it just right, it unleashes mystical energy in a most wondrous way.

Arü watched me with a dumbfounded expression, clearly thinking I was about to cause trouble again. He then laid down on the bed, looking full from dinner.

But I don’t have time to let Arü slack off. I swung the magic staff straight at his forehead.

WHACK!

“Ow! Shit!”

“BARK BARK! What are you doing?!”

“Do you seriously think about joining track team? That reaction time was faster than most whip masters!”

Arü had bitten down on my magic staff with his teeth. Like a white rock among other white rocks, but much colder.

Luckily both the staff and his teeth were extremely durable. Nothing was going to break easily.

Damn, he’s fast. I can’t help but be impressed. Just how powerful has Arü become? If we ever had a proper fight, I might actually lose if I don’t react in time.

“Where are you going? Let’s play!”

“What kind of play do you want with a grown man? You’re like a 500-year-old dog. Doesn’t your whole body ache when you walk at this point?”

“Huh?”

“Right, the lifespan of a wolf king wouldn’t be the same as a regular wolf. Even Yohan over there is still spry.”

I reached out to pat Arü’s head. He rubbed his forehead against me as if to say “When did I ever bare my fangs at you?”

Then I immediately spun my wrist and smacked him on the head. An attack from outside his field of vision he couldn’t possibly dodge…

CLUNK!

“Aaaaaaaaah! You crazy rockhead bastard!”

“GRRR! It hurts, it hurts!”

My fist was throbbing in pain. Arü was rolling around clutching his head while I groaned on the floor holding my hand.

“KYAAAH! Why did you hit me?! WHY?!”

“You son of a… what are you eating that makes you so tough? We ate the same thing didn’t we?”

BARK BARK BARK! “Bad demon! Bad demon!”

“Hey! I told you to call me Evans! What if someone hears… We need to be careful with these sharp-eared types around!”

“Bad Evans! Naughty Evans!”

Putting myself in his shoes, I imagined what would happen if I got punched in the head by Arü…

…

Maybe I should avoid physical combat with Arü.

“What kind of play do you want? Should I put a leash on your neck and take you for an academy stroll?”

BARK BARK! “That’s something dogs do! I refuse!”

“Then what do you want?”

“…Put a leash on Evans’ neck and take him for a walk?”

“…You crazy beast. Shut up and come here already.”

I put on my white suit and mask. The familiar outfit that gets my heart racing every time I wear it.

“Huh? Are you causing trouble again?”

“Trouble? This is a magic show.”

“That’s just trouble by another name.”

“But this time it’ll be wholesome. And Arü, I have an important role for you as my assistant.”

With that, we leapt out the window. Curious Arü followed behind.

“We can’t get caught.”

“Huh, I’m good at hiding my presence.”

The academy security was incredibly tight. Every building had at least five guards patrolling, and the reach of their flashlights had expanded greatly.

So what?

I’m Joker. If I was some criminal who could be caught that easily, I’d never have been called the rival of a Heavenly Hero.

We gracefully leaped through the chilly academy night to reach the rooftop of the girl’s dormitory. Maria should be in a room originally meant for two people but now housing five, somewhere below.

They’ll probably switch rooms starting tomorrow. Neither the Holy Order nor the royal family would want to place their heirs in a room where someone could just burst in wielding a rod.

One of them will likely be moved to a private room.

But I don’t have the patience to wait that long. I want to see Maria tonight.

“Arü, your part is important now.”

“Huh?”

“Knock on that window and peek your head in. Three faceless figures should appear. Your job is to lure them away.”

“Huh…?”

“Just get them to turn their heads. Since you’re bored anyway, have some fun chasing them around. They’re decent fighters, so it should be entertaining.”

Though Beatrix did defeat him, the royal knight captain is no joke, and neither is Holy Knight Kelt. The prison warden position at the Babel Tower’s Tartarus level wasn’t won through gambling after all. Emelia who came with Kelt is likely on the same level.

Once Arü draws them away, I’ll go in and extract Maria. Of course, they’ll flip when they find Maria gone upon returning, so I’ll need to leave a clone behind.

Can I do it? Of course, when have you ever seen me plan something impossible?

BARK BARK! “But… playing with Evans is way more fun…”

“I’ll play with you later. Now hurry up! If you get caught, just say you came to visit Maria!”

“Whine… Alright.”

Click click.

Arü descended from the roof as instructed and tapped on Maria’s dorm window. The door soon burst open.

“You there! Who are you?”

“Eh, isn’t that Emelia…? Isn’t that the dog beastkin who was following us earlier?”

“Damn it! Here again?”

“Tch… Hard to tell just from the back… But at least he’s not harming the Saintess, so that’s a relief…”

Only the knight captain reacted dramatically. Kelt and Emelia didn’t seem too surprised, having encountered Arü before.

But when Arü raised his fist to smash the window, they panicked and rushed out after him, determined to protect Maria from any potential harm.

“Bark bark! Let’s play! Play with me!”

“Krrr! Kelt! After him!”

“How dare a mere beastkin create such a ruckus while Her Highness is wide awake! He deserves capital punishment!”

BOOM!

Arü immediately turned and ran. The three guards pursued him closely. He skillfully controlled his speed, staying just out of reach as he fled between buildings.

Good, keep them busy for a bit.

“Wasn’t that… Arü, the dog beastkin?”

“…Was it?”

There were only two people left in the dorm room. One was Princess Albrecht, the other judging by the voice tone was nighttime Maria – much more mature and composed than her daytime self.

I stuck to the wall beside the window to avoid catching the princess’s eye, elegantly holding my magic staff between my thumb and forefinger. Just as I was about to perform my magic in a graceful manner befitting a fairy casting spells…

“Hmm… So that’s how it is.”

Princess Albrecht muttered quietly.

What? What does she mean?

“Saintess, you must be your night personality now?”

“…What?”

Oh?

“Where exactly do you wander off to every night? I wasn’t particularly curious until now, but I understand. You’re going to see that male student… Evans, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“The beastkin Arü, or rather wolf beastkin. I’ve never seen him associate with anyone other than Evans. He always seemed to follow his commands. For such a creature to suddenly cause a commotion in our room means he must be seeking something… And conveniently, our guards have disappeared.”

“Ah…”

Hey, hey. Hold on. What do you do if you figure this out?

“You must be the one wishing for the guards to disappear. Without them, you can freely come and go. The only student who can command Arü is Evans, so the external helper must be Evans as well. Therefore, the person you wish to meet must also be Evans. What strange behavior indeed.”

“Your Highness…”

“I don’t particularly care what you’re up to. However, there is one thing that must be clarified. Last night’s Veronica murder case – was it your doing? Or are you involved in some way? Don’t assume I’m so dull that I can’t distinguish truth from falsehood…”

“SLUUURP”

The enchanted Albrecht collapsed helplessly. Having caused an accident despite my best intentions, I cautiously poked my head out from above the window frame and asked Maria worriedly.

“What should we do, Maria?”

“…”

“Did I really expect her to be this perceptive…”

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