Chapter 201 : Chapter 201
Chapter 201. Understand That Guy
SIZZLE.
Radel spoke to Gusto while putting the meat on.
“Meat definitely tastes best when eaten outside.”
“That is correct, Prince.”
Professor Beven, who was hiding, pricked up his ears at the two’s conversation.
He was also curious about what those guys, who were boldly grilling meat in the middle of the Academy forest, were saying.
“Should I sprinkle some herb powder now?”
“While you are at it, how about adding some salt too.”
“Good. The flavor will come alive even more.”
SPRINKLE SPRINKLE!
Radel sprinkled various spices with practiced skill.
Then, a strong aroma immediately pierced Professor Beven’s nose.
SIZZLE.
‘What did they use for it to smell like this!’
It was a destructive power that made even Professor Beven waver.
Radel looked into the air as if regretting something, with a nonchalant expression.
“Ah, it is too wasteful for just us to eat. Wouldn't someone suddenly appear? Someone to eat meat with together, I mean.”
“Would such a coincidence happen? But if such an opportunity arises, I swear to the Supreme Deity that I will gladly share the meat with him.”
Gusto also nodded and picked up a piece of meat dripping with juices.
That ecstatic appearance was clearly visible in Professor Beven’s eyes.
Guys who are waiting for someone to suddenly appear to eat meat with out of the blue.
‘Suspicious. Too suspicious!’
Professor Beven desperately shook his head and tried to erase the distracting thoughts from his mind.
However, saliva was pooling at the corners of his mouth.
* * *
“In the end, the Professor did not come out.”
Gusto said while tidying up the spot.
Professor Beven did not appear until the two had finished all the meat they prepared.
Radel extinguished the campfire and looked toward the back of the tree where Professor Beven had been hiding.
And he smiled broadly.
Anyway, didn't he come close, lured by the smell of meat?
The rumor that Dwarves are weak to alcohol and meat seemed to be true.
He definitely could have ignored it and gone away, but he hid and eavesdropped on Radel and Gusto until the end.
However, he was a Professor with much higher wariness than a Griffin.
He didn't reveal himself just because he smelled meat.
‘It took a long time when taming the Griffin too.’
This much was expected.
Time was inevitably needed to get used to it.
“We still have time until the semester ends.”
Gusto agreed with Radel’s words.
“That is correct. They say there was a successful person last semester as well.”
According to the seniors they met earlier, someone would definitely succeed by the time the semester ended.
Because while looking for the Professor, one’s skill in dealing with enhancement magic naturally improved.
The Professor’s sincerity in trying to improve the students' skills, even like this, was felt.
Since he was such a passionate Professor, it felt like they shouldn't do it half-heartedly.
“Next time, I should prepare something even more amazing.”
He was a Professor who didn't budge at pitfalls or traps.
However, there was a reaction, albeit small, to meat.
What Dwarves like.
Alcohol and meat.
Meat could be obtained somehow, but.......
‘Alcohol is difficult, though.’
He definitely wouldn't be hooked by ordinary alcohol.
Where on earth would they find the top-quality alcohol that Dwarves liked?
Furthermore, according to Imperial Law, alcohol was not sold to minors anywhere.
If he asked the Spear Guild or someone else for no reason and got caught later, it would be a sorry situation.
Moreover, for a royal to break Imperial Law, that was nonsensical.
‘There is no choice but to solve it myself somehow.’
Radel began to devise a method.
* * *
Combat Magic Tower.
Middle floor.
There was one person staring piercingly at the magic bulletin board attached to the wall.
Leon Silvert Cretian.
The 9th Prince of the Empire and Radel’s twin brother.
‘If only I hadn't hesitated back then.......’
He was glaring at Radel’s name posted on the board.
It was written like this there.
Radel Silvert Cretian.
20th Floor.
It was the first record among the first-years this time.
They said it would take more than a month at the earliest to clear up to the 20th floor. Radel had finished that in just one day.
‘Back then, I should have eliminated him no matter what.’
Leon was recalling the day he attacked Radel on the 20th floor.
The moment he grasped Radel’s neck was still vivid.
......He definitely could have eliminated him.
It was a golden opportunity without a single witness.
‘But why?’
Why couldn't I kill him?
He couldn't understand.
It was the first time he couldn't understand himself.
A chilly aura rippled around Leon.
Mana filled with killing intent had flowed out unconsciously.
FLASH!
Just then, light poured out from the teleportation magic circle located on the middle floor.
And Gusto, Inette, and Radel came down.
“Hmph, isn't this level too easy?”
“It is only the 3rd floor now.”
“Still, it is too early to let your guard down, Inette.”
The three seemed to have come from clearing the tower together.
Inette, who was putting on black gloves, spotted Leon and hardened her face.
“Apprentice Holy Knight, hide Radel behind you.”
“For once, you are making a quick judgment.”
Gusto also seemed to have seen Leon, as he slid in front of Radel.
However, Inette’s expression crumpled at Gusto’s words.
“What? Are you saying I am usually slow?”
“Did I say that?”
“You just did!”
“How fascinating. I definitely thought I only said it inwardly....... But it is not exactly a wrong statement either.”
Inette took off her gloves again.
“You know combat is allowed on the middle floor too, right?”
“If it is a request for a duel, it is always welcome.”
Suddenly, sparks flew between the two who were trying to hide Radel behind them.
“Huh? Wait a minute.”
Radel, who discovered the two’s war of nerves late because he was organizing his backpack for a moment, spoke up.
“Guys, there is no time to duel here. We are going to the 4th floor right away.”
Then Inette flared up.
“He picked a fight first, you know?”
“The duel was proposed by the Princess first.”
This level of occurrence was constant, so it wasn't even surprising.
Radel mediated between the two as if it were nothing.
“Okay. Then how about we decide the winner by who catches more monsters on the 4th floor.”
“I’m totally down for that!”
“I am also fine with it.”
The two moved on to the topic of clearing the next floor, now forgetting Leon’s existence.
Leon, who was watching that, was dumbfounded.
Because it seemed like Radel didn't even know he was there.
‘That guy...... Don't tell me he doesn't know I am here?’
Even so, it was only a few days ago that he tried to kill Radel.
If he were a normal person, it would be normal not to be able to escape from that memory.
That was not normal.
Radel discovered Leon belatedly.
“It is Leon.”
Then, disregarding the fact that he was glaring at him, he waved his hand and greeted Leon.
Inette, who discovered that, jumped.
“Hey! What are you doing? Why are you greeting him?!”
“Um...... Wouldn't it be stranger not to greet him?”
After answering nonchalantly, Radel took the dumbfounded Inette and headed to the teleportation magic circle.
It was an attitude that didn't care about Leon’s existence at all.
Even though he must have clearly felt the killing intent directed at him.
‘Why is that guy so calm?’
It wasn't a general behavior at all.
Leon realized that he did not have a grasp on Radel.
What intention that guy had for acting like that. What he was thinking.
......He couldn't know a single thing.
‘I was thinking wrongly.’
He realized his mistake.
While saying he had to kill him, he didn't actually try to know what kind of guy he was.
Don't you have to know the prey to succeed in the hunt?
First, he had to find out about that guy thoroughly.
* * *
That night.
The time when darkness settled on the Academy.
Radel went to the Alchemy Workshop after patrolling the Black Falcon Dormitory as usual.
Leon, who was hiding his body, secretly followed behind Radel.
Leon took out the notebook he kept in his bosom and briefly wrote down Radel’s movement path.
Going to the Alchemy Workshop when it isn't even class time.
‘Is that why he is the top student, anyway?’
He couldn't help but acknowledge that part.
Even if it was mostly luck, he was the guy who took the top spot in the first semester.
His passion for major studies seemed genuine.
CREAK.
Radel entered his workshop as soon as he arrived.
Alchemy majors each had personal workshops, so one couldn't know what they were doing once they went inside. So, he had no choice but to find out information when the door opened briefly.
It was when Leon was loitering nearby, pretending to have business at the workshop.
BANG!
Radel’s personal workshop door opened.
At the same time, a strong smell of alcohol wafted out, and the sound of a familiar voice shouting was heard.
“You rascal! You are not making the potions you are supposed to make right now, but making moonshine....... Cough!”
What?
When Leon looked back, he saw that spirit whose name could not be spoken, with its mouth covered by Radel’s hand.
The spirit was shouting as if aggrieved.
“Mmph! Mmph mmph! (Let go of this! Professor! Professor!)”
“What are you talking about. Making a fuss over a mistake while making potions....... Right?”
Radel smiled and closed the door to the personal workshop again.
It was a somewhat suspicious scene.
Too...... suspicious.
Leon took out his notebook and wrote quickly.
‘Suspected of manufacturing something suspicious, not major studies.’
‘Seems to be threatening his own spirit.’
The next place Radel visited was the Black Falcon Dormitory’s common room, where first-years who had finished their daily routine were gathered doing assignments or resting.
Radel met Gusto and Tunia and exchanged greetings.
Up to here, it looked like a meeting of ordinary friends.
But Leon did not let his guard down.
He recited a spell in a low voice.
“Be heard.”
It was a magic that moved the air in the range he wanted to eavesdrop on and delivered the sound to his ears.
It was also a magic Leon had developed.
Since one needed to hear the gossip of nobles to live as a royal.
Soon, Radel’s voice was conveyed to Leon’s ears.
“So...... we strip...... the clothes, right.”
Strip the clothes?
Leon’s expression crumpled.
‘Did I hear wrong?’
Just looking at them, they appeared to be in the middle of a serious discussion.
But the words heard in Leon’s ears were real.
“......How?”
“Like when we attacked ...... before?”
You mean there was a time like that before?
Leon clenched his fist without realizing it.
Furthermore, he ended up hearing content that was hard to imagine coming from the mouth of someone called an Apprentice Holy Knight of the Supreme Deity Order.
“How about making him take them off himself......”
Radel shook his head at Gusto’s words.
If it were a heretic, it was obvious they would always be wary of their surroundings to hide the mark. It wouldn't go like when they attacked Professor Pirenzo.
Radel had Pirenzo’s weakness, but he didn't know Kier’s weakness.
That was the biggest difference.
“It is difficult as is. We need to gather a bit more information.”
Their discussion to find the Mark of Heresy continued.
However, to Leon’s hearing, it was only full of very suspicious content.
‘Vulgar guy!’
While their conversation continued, Leon’s clenched hand trembled.
‘Even though he has the same face as me......!’
He couldn't admit it, but that guy was a brother who had the same face as him.
But for such vulgar content to flow out of that mouth?
Was that really something a Prince of the Empire dared to utter?
‘Stop saying the word strip!’
Like that, Leon’s misunderstanding was only deepening.......