Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56
It was dawn, less than an hour after the training with An Hwigom had ended.
I received a sudden message and headed to an unmanned convenience store located near the main gate of Hero Prep.
There, Cha Yeri, her hood pulled over her head, was pouring water into a cup ramen and waiting. The moment I opened the door and entered, she sneered.
“You really came quickly. The rumors from the tactical training were true.”
“I think you should be grateful I even showed my face.”
“But I’m the one who has to see your face at dawn, aren’t I?”
“Isn’t that obvious? You sent the message.”
I picked up a carbonated coffee from the beverage section and approached her table.
I was about to ask why she had called me, but then a sword resting on Cha Yeri’s table caught my eye.
It had a relatively plain scabbard and a hilt wrapped in mottled white leather that looked almost worn with use.
It was undoubtedly the sword I had ordered from Hyeonseong Group’s blacksmith.
Cha Yeri handed me the sword as soon as I sat down opposite her.
“It would be strange to call it a gift... wouldn’t it?”
“Whatever you want.”
I took the sword and naturally opened the scabbard slightly.
The blade was nearly perfect, without a single flaw.
Its weight and form were exactly as I had ordered.
“Hyeonseong Group, indeed... Thank you.”
“A deal’s a deal, after all. Though it was a losing proposition for me.”
I concealed the blade and stood up again.
Then Cha Yeri, halfway through opening her cup ramen lid, stared intently at me.
“Wait, you’re leaving?”
“Do you have something else you need?”
“…I haven’t eaten this yet.”
“And?”
“You should wait for me.”
That was truly an absurd statement.
As if she knew she was making an unreasonable demand, she looked up at me with her large eyes, giving me an earnest look.
It was the same expression she had worn when we met on the Main Building stairs.
“I can eat it quickly…”
“…”
As if resigned, I leaned the sword against the table and sat down again.
“I’ve been quite busy lately.”
“I know, you’re running around as an executive committee member.”
“How did you know that? We haven’t even run into each other.”
“Rumors. You’re the one cadets often gossip about when they’re bored. What was it they said? Something about how a useless, troublesome social care beneficiary should just drop out?”
“…How very kind of you.”
“You’re rarely praised, you know. They said you’ve gained some intuition you never had before.”
I CRACKED the tab of the carbonated coffee can.
I had intended to keep it in my inventory and drink it later, but if I didn’t gulp it down now, harsh words might escape my lips.
Cha Yeri seemed to have no other business, as she focused entirely on eating her ramen.
It was a stark contrast to her usual careful eating, never getting anything on her lips.
She ate so deliciously that it made me salivate just watching her.
Could it be that even a distinguished chaebol couldn’t resist artificial flavors…?
More than that, seeing her eat a late-night snack at this hour, it seemed the pressure before her match was considerable.
Cha Yeri finished her meal and casually spoke.
“If you’re free, come watch.”
“Watch what?”
She pulled an MA6 from her clothes and showed it to me.
“The shooting event this afternoon. Aren’t you curious about its performance, as its former owner? It looked like you never even used it. Honestly, to neglect an item like this… It’s truly fortunate it met a new owner like me.”
“Are you inviting me, or openly insulting me?”
“Both.”
“I’m sorry, but an executive committee member isn’t free. Besides, my assignment today is environmental cleanup.”
I grasped the sword as if I was about to stand up, and continued.
“If I get a chance, I’ll sneak a peek. I can’t promise anything, though.”
“That’s a polite refusal. I didn’t expect anything anyway.”
Cha Yeri busied herself clearing the table, then casually threw out a question.
“But have there been any changes recently?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, using items you don’t usually use, or wearing new equipment… Or perhaps, developing a new ability…”
A suspicious gaze.
It was clearly a question about my Assimilation ability.
After all, Cha Yeri’s ability was to distinguish one type of mana released in the surroundings.
Of course, because I hadn’t directly released an ability, she wouldn’t detect the foreignness of the mana itself, but it seemed she sensed that the mana I emitted was subtly different.
As I mentioned last time, Cha Yeri was the character with the highest agility among the main characters.
If her magical abilities had been even greater, she would have had a very high chance of awakening a Demonic Eye.
“Well, nothing special.”
At my answer, Cha Yeri stood up and smiled nonchalantly.
As if she hadn’t expected a proper answer from the start.
“Well, I guess I must have been mistaken.”
***
It was the third day since the Spring Scholastic War began.
Because more spectators had flocked to the event than on the first day of the opening ceremony, the executive committee members were constantly busy, being called everywhere.
It was a time when all sorts of complaints poured in, trivial incidents broke out here and there, and eventually, students’ discontent about wanting to withdraw from the executive committee surged.
Of course, I had shown my face to the General Student Council early in the morning, then taken off my armband and put it in my pocket.
That was because groups dedicated to deducing the thief had begun to form in earnest.
The place where students focused on Catch the Thief were gathered was an academy famous for producing outstanding hunters.
-Bloody Espers Academy
It was a prestigious school that boasted a considerable plot of land and was the only one in direct competition with Hero Prep’s Combat Division.
“Well, even so, they’re a step below us.”
Anyway, I had barely reached the main gate, but a considerable number of students gathered to chase the thief’s clues caught my eye.
They were a group that had gathered through information shared on Incrystal, the SNS exclusively for the 4th Scholastic District.
The clue for this Catch the Thief event, compiled on Incrystal, was disappearances.
The claim was that students were disappearing in the order of the numbers assigned to academy students.
“It’s clearly in numerical order. They started with number 1 and set their targets.”
I approached a group that was loudly discussing their theories.
“Golden Meister Kim Cheolsu, who disappeared the day before yesterday, had player number 189. Dazai Ryosuke from Oriental Superpowered Comprehensive School, who disappeared yesterday, had player number 233. And Franz Bell from Bloody Espers Academy, who disappeared this morning, had player number 346. The next target will probably be someone with a player number starting with the digit 4.”
A student in the group was speaking with an exceptionally loud voice.
His voice sounded familiar, and it turned out to be Gwon Chihun, the proud Investigation cadet from Hero Prep.
His words were receiving considerable support.
Unlike last year, with very few clues available, it was the most plausible theory.
However, the problem was who exactly would disappear next.
Just knowing the leading digit ‘4’ wouldn’t be enough; they would spend the entire Spring Scholastic War merely following the thief’s trail.
“I just heard a testimony from a current student who last saw Franz Bell. They said he wasn’t making any special preparations, even though he had to participate in a morning match. What that means is…”
“Does that mean he was aware that he would disappear voluntarily?”
Suddenly, the gazes that had been on Gwon Chihun shifted to one part of the group.
It was directed at Shin Ujae from Saint Sienna Magic School.
He, too, had come here after seeing Incrystal.
Gwon Chihun stared intently at Shin Ujae and answered the question.
“Yes, that’s right. The evidence is that Dispel isn’t moving. Even during the Spring Scholastic War, when all sorts of things happen, their lukewarm reaction to a disappearance is too strange.”
“In that case, we can assume the next target is also preparing for their disappearance.”
“Hmph, who doesn’t know that? What an obvious thing to say.”
“An obvious thing, huh… Then you must obviously predict who the next target is, right?”
“Wh-what did you say…?”
The group murmured.
Consequently, the group naturally began to move, centering around Shin Ujae.
“The Spring Scholastic War lasts for four days. That means there will be one disappearance per day, totaling four missing persons.”
“That’s still just a guess. Another person might disappear in the afternoon, you know.”
“Isn’t the idea of disappearances in numerical order also a guess? More importantly, my assumption doesn’t end there. There’s also the condition that the disappeared person must participate in their match on that very day.”
“Why don’t you stop making such ridiculous claims?”
“Hmph… Then you can just rack your brains with your useless skills. I’ll chase the thief, even if there’s only a 1% chance.”
“This bastard, really…!”
“It’s Shin Ujae, Shin Ujae. Born into such a distinguished family, but his mouth is so foul. Tsk, tsk.”
A blatant clash of opinions.
The momentum favored Shin Ujae, but both of them were doomed from the moment they so openly babbled about their clues.
Especially in a situation where they needed to exclusively apprehend the thief.
It would be more productive to check the academy’s internal CCTV footage during that time.
Though, it was obvious it would have been removed beforehand.
In any case, the caliber of those chasing the thief was clear.
Perhaps I wouldn’t have to worry about the 50% intervention rate variable.
For instance, a picture where an unexpected third party apprehends the thief.
“Those who want to follow, come. I’ll show you the power of collective intelligence. Being loud isn’t everything.”
Shin Ujae skillfully herded the students.
Naturally, Gwon Chihun was soon left alone.
He made eye contact with me, then frowned deeply to hide his embarrassment.
However he reacted, it wouldn’t change the fact that he was pathetic.
I, too, turned to leave the spot.
But at that moment, I spotted another student who had separated from the group.
In contrast to everyone else wearing athletic wear or uniforms, this student had a hood pulled over their head, excessively concealing their face…
“…”
It was Do Minyeong.
***
A building at Bloody Espers Academy.
An empty classroom in a sparsely populated corridor.
Do Minyeong pointed at Gwon Chihun and spoke.
“So, why is he here?”
“Indeed, why did you follow?”
When I added my question, Gwon Chihun retorted, flustered.
“Wait! More importantly, how is Do Minyeong here? Shouldn’t she be playing Flag Capture right now?”
Following his question, I turned my head to Do Minyeong.
I was curious about that as well.
“Exclusion from the roster due to poor condition. Do you need another reason?”
A simple answer.
Then Gwon Chihun offered his justification.
“I, I… just wanted to give you a little help, as it’s obvious you two would be floundering without clues. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but my uncle apprehended a thief at the Spring Scholastic War…”
Gwon Chihun unnaturally dragged out his words.
He realized that he wasn’t in a position to boast to us, who had just witnessed the previous situation.
I sighed and said.
“In a word, you’re trying to freeload.”
“No, what are you saying… There’s a good phrase called mutual cooperation.”
“What kind of cooperation can we have with a merchant who has run out of ideas?”
“H-hey, you never know. I might find a clue to the thief through a flash of insight.”
“…”
That was the worst excuse a human could make.
Relying on luck.
Anyway, should I give him a plausible clue now and get rid of him?
No, even Gwon Chihun would be useful.
He did have the best combat abilities among us.
Considering the future developments, it would be better to have him than not…
Ugh, what nonsense.
He’s really making me worry about pointless things.
I half-heartedly resigned myself and spoke.
“Alright, then tell me your opinion first. Who is the next, fourth missing person, and where will the incident occur?”
“Hmm… It might be good to check Incrystal…”
They say that even dog droppings are hard to find when you need them for medicine, and Gwon Chihun seemed to be starting by offering nothing but worthless suggestions.
“I looked up some data.”
Do Minyeong interrupted Gwon Chihun and placed her smartphone on a nearby desk.
Then, a smooth light radiated from it.
“This is a list of students participating in the Scholastic War. It’s a document recording their player numbers and selection roster. If we apply the assumptions so far and narrow down the list, there are approximately 50 students. One of them will be the next missing person.”
“I-I had that much information too…!”
Gwon Chihun’s retort was like a death agony.
Do Minyeong half-ignored him and continued her explanation.
“In the current situation, tracking students haphazardly is impossible. But what if another student disappears tomorrow? As long as the assumption that the disappeared person must participate in their match on that day isn’t wrong, the number of students narrowed down will be less than 10.”
I agreed and added.
“That’s right, usually only the final matches are left for tomorrow.”
“Yes, but apprehending the thief then would be difficult. The competition will be intense. Moreover, the deadline for Catch the Thief is before the closing ceremony, so time is even more pressing.”
“So, the optimal time for apprehension is effectively just today. But… if we don’t have a clear clue, won’t we just be twiddling our thumbs until tomorrow?”
“That’s true, but…”
Do Minyeong fell into thought, looking at the radiated light.
She had encountered the fundamental problem of the “Catch the Thief” game.
After giving her enough time to think, I calmly spoke.
“Well, of course, that would be the situation for other competitors.”
“Hm? What do you mean…”
“Let’s change our perspective. From the thief’s point of view, it doesn’t end with just ‘stealing’ a student, does it? Setting aside obtaining the student’s cooperation, shouldn’t they also prepare a place to hide the student?”
Gwon Chihun interjected.
“You’re not suggesting we search every single building in the 4th Scholastic District, are you?”
“Do you think I’m you? Think carefully. What’s the biggest change that has occurred in this scholastic district, which is usually so quiet it’s boring?”
“Just… that the streets have become bustling?”
Bustling.
At that word, Do Minyeong’s eyes sparkled, and she snapped out of her thoughts.
“There was no need to hide them in the first place…! If they just changed clothes, they could easily blend in with the spectators!”
“Exactly. That way, the whereabouts of the disappeared person can also be completely concealed.”
“But what happens at 10 PM when the spectators leave? Catch the Thief is only valid within the 4th Scholastic District, you know.”
“Of course, a hiding place will have been prepared. The conditions for the location I’ve deduced are three.”
I placed my hand on my smartphone.
Then, darkness fell upon the classroom.
“It must be a place where minimal rest is possible, a place under the oversight of the General Student Council which operates the Scholastic War event, and a place where it’s easy for the thief to contact various academies. Combining these conditions, the most likely location would be…”
“…Executive Committee.”
Gwon Chihun’s murmur was added to the end of my sentence.
He repeated it, looking incredulous.
“The Executive Committee… Lounge…!”
I curled the corners of my mouth into a smile.
“Yes, that’s correct.”