Chapter 263

Chapter 58. Total Sweep (3)

6.

Next Student Council President Candidate.

It was the third day since Elvin was arrested.

Suddenly, the inspection team made an urgent announcement.

It stated that Elvin Adict had lost his eligibility as a candidate for Student Council President.

“…Therefore, Elvin Adict will be stripped of all qualifications as a student of Arsen Academy due to investigation from the Empire’s Information Agency.”

The charges involved distributing Leaves of Draga, classified as a super-dangerous substance, within the academy.

There was also the possibility that it had been circulated to the Empire, so Elvin was currently detained by the Information Agency.

“Therefore, the eligibility of the next Student Council President and the authority of the Student Council executives will also be revoked until the investigation is complete.”

After the sudden announcement ended,

the Arsen Student Council was thrown into chaos.

They had intended to enjoy the power and privileges held by the current Student Council executives, led by Elvin, but now all their plans were in ruins.

Consequently, the current Student Council executives rushed to find a new candidate, but that was, of course, impossible.

Because today was the very day to vote for the next Student Council President.

“Now, we will begin the voting.”

“Voting will proceed in order from first-year to fourth-year. Please cooperate.”

The results of the voting were as clear as day.

One of the two candidates who were likely to win had disappeared, causing the votes to be concentrated in one place.

That place was none other than Irist Senior.

“Congratulations, Senior!”

“Congrats, Irist.”

The result was a landslide victory for Irist Senior.

She claimed victory with an impressive margin of five times the votes.

Receiving everyone’s congratulations, Irist moved down from the podium.

“Ulan.”

Finally arriving at the spot where Ulan’s group was gathered, Irist grabbed Ulan’s hand and smiled brightly.

“Thank you. Thanks to your cooperation, I was able to achieve good results in the election. And I extend my gratitude to everyone else as well.”

Ulan had played a big role in the election.

It was Ulan’s group that had uncovered the conspiracies of the Student Council and secured the cooperation of Marquis Gorphant and Dean Berge.

Thanks to that, Irist was able to win the election without much effort. Meanwhile, in response to her words of thanks, Ulan replied silently.

“I was just keeping my promise.”

“Yes, so I will also keep my promise to you. To eliminate all kinds of discrimination that exist at Arsen Academy.”

Irist had said this earlier.

If she became the next Student Council President, she would completely eradicate discrimination simply because someone wasn’t of noble birth.

Remembering this, Ulan nodded silently. Then he parted his lips once more.

“I’ll leave that to you. And our promise is not yet over.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“Because we haven’t found the Watcher.”

Ulan’s eyes shone fiercely.

He was referring to the mysterious gaze that had been keeping an eye on Irist. Then, hearing their conversation, Kamila suddenly spoke up.

“Oh, that’s all right now so don’t worry about it.”

“That’s right. Since Elvin Adict’s arrest, the gaze has completely disappeared. It seems the current Student Council executives were the culprits.”

Irist also suspected that those maintaining the watchful eyes were the current Student Council executives.

On the other hand, Ulan wore a troubled expression.

But since the persons concerned thought that way, he decided to let it go for now. After all, it was something they could investigate or find out later.

“Anyway, once again, thank you, and if you need my help, please let me know. This time I will help you.”

Irist bowed her head again.

She then added that she would cooperate, expressing her intent not to forget their favor. Ulan’s eyes shone as if he had been waiting for it.

“Perfect timing.”

“Huh? Do you have something to ask?”

“Yeah. I need an Outing Permission.”

Ulan nodded briefly.

He added that he had business in the capital city tomorrow morning. After a moment, once the explanation was done, Irist muttered while stroking her chin.

“Hmm, understood. If it’s just for the morning outing, I can arrange that.”

“Please do.”

“Will one piece of permission be enough?”

“No, I plan to take Noa with me too.”

“Got it. Then two pieces…”

Irist nodded her head.

But at that moment, three girls who had been quietly listening to their conversation intruded suddenly.

“No. One more, please.”

“Actually, I have business in the capital as well.”

“I want to go too!”

Delia, Ivella, and Fertisha.

The three of them looked at Ulan and Noa with burning eyes. They seemed determined not to let them go alone under any circumstances.

Did they somehow sense the developing situation?

Irist, who had been wearing an awkward smile, gladly accepted the three girls’ request.

“All right. Then I will prepare so that you can go out tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you.”

Ulan slightly bowed his head.

Promised the Outing Permissions from Irist, Ulan’s group immediately returned to the dormitory, and thus the victorious night came to an end.

7.

The next morning.

At the crack of dawn.

Ulan’s group took a carriage and headed out of the academy towards the Empire’s capital. Thanks to the Outing Permission they received from Irist the day before.

The reason they were heading to the capital was a simple one.

To visit Count Dermore’s mansion and search for evidence related to the Abyss.

‘Of course, there’s more than enough information gathered from the Abyss Worshipper’s memories deciphered as a meal offering.’

But they couldn’t recklessly attack Count Dermore based on just that. After all, he was a mage affiliated with the Magic Tower and part of the Empire’s grand nobility.

If they dealt with the Count without having credible evidence, they would inevitably be accused of noble murder.

‘So…’

They needed to find evidence first.

And they would surely be able to find it while investigating Count Dermore’s mansion. Noa bit his lips, determined.

Just then.

“Guests, we have arrived.”

The carriage came to a stop.

The southern plaza of the Empire’s capital.

Approximately thirty minutes on foot from their final destination, Count Dermore’s mansion.

“Ugh, I’m stiff.”

“The carriage was a bit cramped.”

Once they stretched their stiff bodies,

Ulan’s group moved on with vigor.

There was no time to lose. Knowing they had to return to the academy later that afternoon, they only had two hours left.

So how long had they walked?

As they passed the plaza and entered the bustling area,

suddenly, Ivella’s steps came to a halt.

“Huh? Over there…”

Her gaze was captivated by something.

A three-story building at the entrance of the bustling area.

Upon seeing it, Ivella’s turquoise eyes sparkled as she promptly pulled Ulan’s hand.

“Ulan, do you remember that? The theater we went to when we first visited the capital?”

“Of course, I remember.”

“Really? Do you remember what we saw too?”

Her eyes were filled with expectation.

Ulan silently nodded.

“It was about jumping off a cliff, right?”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

To be precise, it was a play about the love between a noble lady and a warrior of barbarian origin.

Although many details were omitted in the midst, just recalling parts of the play made Ivella smile satisfyingly.

“Oh! Speaking of which, I think a sequel has come out.”

The play that Ulan and Ivella had watched back then was titled ‘The Song of Floris.’

Conversely, the play currently showing in the theater was ‘The Dance of Floris.’ For some reason, the name strongly resembled a sequel, making Ivella’s eyes shine.

Meanwhile, Ulan wore a puzzled look.

“They jumped off a cliff, and there’s a sequel?”

“I’m not sure about that part, but it seems so.”

Ivella chuckled awkwardly.

A moment later, clearing her throat lightly, she hesitantly continued her sentence.

“Ahem! So, by the way…”

Ivella glanced at Ulan, as if watching his reaction. Then, with a nervous face, she cautiously asked.

“If it’s okay, would you like to go see it again later?”

Just like last time, alone together.

She wanted to add that condition.

But she couldn’t finish her sentence.

For some reason, sensing a strange atmosphere, Fertisha suddenly intruded.

“Oh, Ulan! Look over there.”

Pulling Ulan’s arm, Fertisha pointed toward the hotel on the opposite side of the theater, smiling brightly.

“That’s the restaurant where we first met!”

“Oh, I see.”

Hotel Parvo.

It was the hotel where they stayed during the last summer vacation while wandering around the capital with Noa, in search of Einar’s treasure.

As Ulan recalled the old memory and nodded, Fertisha’s gaze turned to Noa.

“I think you also met back then, right Noa?”

“That’s right. That happened.”

Noa also nodded.

As though recalling the events from back then.

“Right? I’m not misremembering, am I?”

Fertisha asked repeatedly.

In response, both Ulan and Noa nodded affirmatively. Then at that moment, Fertisha’s gaze suddenly turned cold.

“But that’s a bit strange.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“I heard that restaurant only allows hotel guests to enter, so that means Ulan and Noa must have stayed at that hotel together?”

“…Ah.”

Oh no, caught off guard!

With Fertisha’s unexpected blow, Noa’s expression turned bewildered.

“You mean we stayed at the hotel…?”

“Just the two of you?!”

At the same time, Delia and Ivella’s eyes narrowed. Their stares felt cold, almost lethal, and Noa swallowed dryly.

“W-Well, it couldn’t be helped. It was getting late, and there were no carriages returning to the academy…”

“And?”

“Nothing happened! I swear!”

Noa desperately asserted his innocence.

This made Delia quickly retract her suspicious gaze. Upon verifying through her Heart’s Eye, she realized Noa’s words were true.

However, Ivella and Fertisha, lacking such an ability, still looked at Noa with lingering suspicion in their eyes.

“Hmm, that sounds fishy…”

“Are you sure nothing happened?”

“I really mean it!”

Noa shouted in exasperation.

And while that banter continued for a while,

finally, Ulan’s group arrived at their destination. Count Dermore’s mansion, located in the southern district of the capital.

However, upon reaching the mansion.

“This is the mansion of the Dermore family.”

“No outsiders are allowed entry.”

The guards at the entrance raised their weapons, blocking their way. Noa pointed to herself and Ulan.

“Please inform Count Dermore that Ulan Bator and Noa Darshen have arrived.”

“Do you have an appointment with the Count?”

“No, not exactly…”

“Then you cannot enter.”

The response was cold and firm.

Taken aback by a response so different from their first visit, Noa was momentarily flustered.

But that didn’t last long.

Clearing her throat briefly, she recalled another way to gain entry.

“Then please summon the butler. He should recognize us.”

The butler of the Dermore family, Alond.

He would surely remember their faces. But all she received in return was the same robotic and blunt response.

“As I mentioned, without an appointment, you cannot enter.”

“Please leave.”

There was no indication of them budging.

Letting out a sigh in frustration, Noa overheard Ivella and Fertisha whispering to each other.

“If we’re going to argue like this, wouldn’t it be better to sneak in and investigate?”

“Right? That seems like it would work.”

Their words made sense.

Ulan’s group had the ability to sneak into the mansion without being caught by the guards.

‘But we shouldn’t do that.’

If the entity behind Count Dermore was indeed the howling eyeball, Rakus, he would undoubtedly notice the moment they attempted to sneak in.

‘We can’t raise unnecessary suspicion.’

Therefore, Noa decided to take a frontal approach with a reasonable visiting purpose. Acting as if they were unaware of Count Dermore’s secrets. However, to do that, they first needed to enter the mansion.

So while considering what to do, a familiar face appeared from the direction of the mansion’s annex. A neatly dressed elderly gentleman in black attire.

“Hmm? You all are…?”

“Butler!”

It was none other than Butler Alond.

As expected, he recognized Ulan immediately, and then Noa quickly explained the reasons for their visit to the mansion.

“Hmm, I see.”

Of course, they omitted any mention of matters relating to the Abyss and simply stated they had come to catch up.

Meanwhile, after listening to this, Alond nodded continuously, but soon wore an awkward expression.

“I’m truly sorry to say this to those who have gone out of their way to visit, but the Count is currently not at the mansion.”

“Huh? Then where is he…?”

“He has gone to the Imperial Castle on business.”

The sudden mention of the Imperial Castle.

At that, Fertisha reflexively flinched, while Noa was flustered to ask back.

“W-When will he return?”

“I’m not certain about that. However, he will probably be staying at the Imperial Castle for some time.”

After finishing his calm reply,

Alond bowed respectfully.

“I will let the Count know that you came by. It would be best for you to head back for today, and I will formally invite you later.”

It was a clear request to leave.

With a look of disappointment at a situation that was completely unexpected, Noa’s expression faltered.

‘At this rate…’

Do we really have to sneak in and check things out?

As her thoughts began to lean that way, suddenly, from behind Alond, a clear voice echoed.

“Are you my father’s guests?”

An unexpected figure revealed itself.

She was a girl with golden hair and a build similar to Noa’s. Meanwhile, at the sight of the girl, Alond’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Ah, Miss?!”

“Then please come in for a moment and have some tea. It wouldn’t be polite to send back guests who have gone out of their way to visit.”

“But the master…”

“I’ll inform Father separately. So please let them in quickly.”

With just a single remark from the girl, Alond was left flustered and didn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, Ulan looked at the girl with curiosity.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I failed to introduce myself.”

She was a girl that Ulan hadn’t seen during his previous visit to the mansion. Holding the ends of her skirt, she bowed politely in greeting.

“Nice to meet you. I am Yurfe Dermore, daughter of D’muehl Ron Dermore.”

The girl proudly introduced herself to Ulan and Noa, offering a smile.

For some reason, she had a rather pale face.