As part of everyday life (2)

Shirone's face twisted in disbelief, and his friends' reactions weren't much different. Amy vigorously shook her head, then placed a hand on her forehead and asked,

"Cerielle, what kind of novel have you been reading lately?"

"Yes! It's this one!"

Cerielle pulled out a novel as if she had been waiting for this moment. The provocative red cover bore the title:

[The Primeval Trap].

"It's the trending book in bookstores these days. It's about a nobleman married to a maid, and there's a line like this: 'I broke your plate, what will you do now? Will you ask for my body?' Then, the nobleman ties her up with ropes and..."

"Stop! Stop right there!"

Amy raised her hand to halt her. It seemed it was something they shouldn't continue listening to.

"Why? It's getting interesting."

"Cerielle, as much as you like novels, please don't confuse them with reality. Those books are made to captivate readers with primary colors and stimuli."

"Hmph! You don't understand because you haven't read it. If you read it once, you'll be completely hooked. Since we're on the topic, do you want me to lend it to you?"

When Cerielle handed over "The Primeval Trap," Amy quickly averted her head. If she had accepted the offer, she would have been tormented by Cerielle's comments for at least a week.

Shirone reclined on the cushion and said,

"Haa. Today is my last day in the infirmary. Thanks for coming to visit me all this time. Thank you too, Senior Cerielle."

"Why do you say such sad things? Honestly, studying in the graduation class was killing me. It was nice to be able to rest with Amy."

Amy also didn't disagree. The daily competition in their class rankings had stressed her to the limit. Hence, the temporary closure of the academy was a heaven-sent gift for the graduating students.

Cerielle said with a somber expression,

"But I'm worried about the director. To be honest, this decision was unexpected. It's an issue that could be handled by the Creas Autonomous District, but he decided to undergo direct inspection by the Magic Association."

Alpeas voluntarily submitted the complaint. As a highly reputable figure on the continent, he could have easily avoided the situation, but he accepted all the student council's demands. Consequently, the case was handed over to the infamous Inspection Division 3 of the Magic Association.

"Inspection Division 3 is known as the 'special investigation' within the Magic Association. Regardless of connections, they always adhere to the law. Not even Director Alpeas will be able to avoid disciplinary measures."

Shirone thought it might be a good thing.

"Director Alpeas has been suffering for 40 years. If this opportunity can lighten his burden a bit, I think it's good to accept the punishment."

Neid said.

"Let's wait and see how things go. Who are we concerned about? It's Alpeas, a certified fourth-rank mage. Once the closure ends, we'll be busy again, so let's rest while we can."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Shirone looked out the window.

The late afternoon sun shone with a languid light.

***

Capital of Bashka.

The view of Bashka from the Geja mountain range was a structure where tall buildings seemed to pierce the sky and the central institutions extended in concentric circles around the center. The capital's inhabitants said that the buildings visible from the mountain range symbolized the nation's institutions.

One of them was the Magic Association. The 18-story building was the central part of the country, managing the affairs of all registered mages in the Kingdom of Tormia, overseeing the Magic Society through connections with other organizations, and handling intelligence and surveillance tasks.

It was a place every mage wished to visit at least once, but Thad, who had been chosen as the guide for Alpeas and the Kanis group, felt like a cow being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

"Master, is this really the best way?"

"It's what I wanted. The only regret is that I've dragged it out too long."

Alpeas's determination was firm. Thad expected nothing when he asked him. Once they crossed the threshold of the association, there would be no turning back. He just wanted to reconfirm his master's will.

"Understood. Then I'll wait until the trial is over."

Alpeas had a happy expression. He entered with Kanis and Arin and surrendered to the inspection department, so the three were locked in separate cells and waited for a day.

When the next day came, Alpeas entered the investigation room first. Meanwhile, Kanis and Arin waited in a detention center covered in magical devices. The magical control device made it impossible to enter the Spiritual Zone. Moreover, even Havist was inactive.

After about 3 hours, the summoning order was withdrawn.

"Kanis, Arin. Come out."

Although they hadn't been officially charged yet, the Association's officials had already treated the two as criminals. Probably because they had heard Alpeas's report, who had already completed the investigation.

Kanis and Arin followed the instructions silently. When they entered the hallway where the interrogation room was, they saw Alpeas walking from the other side. Kanis pretended to pass by him indifferently. However, just before they crossed paths, Alpeas looked at the guard and said,

"Excuse me, could you give us a moment to talk?"

"Ah, yes. But not too long."

Kanis snorted at the guard's completely different attitude in dealing with him. The reason they treated Alpeas well wasn't because he was strong but because he was famous. It made him feel bad that Alpeas, who was less skilled in magic than Arcane, took the liberty of action like a winner.

While the guards emptied their seats, Alpeas spoke.

"There's no need to get too nervous. You just have to answer a few questions and leave."

"Don't misunderstand me. We're not your naive students. We've fought countless battles. We're not afraid of anything, no matter what happens."

Kanis, who had gone through all the hardships on the battlefield, definitely had something that kids his age didn't. However, he also lost a lot by living that kind of life. Alpeas wanted to help the two, who still had a bright future, regain what they had lost.

"In fact, that's why I asked to see you."

"What are you talking about?"

"How about enrolling in a magic academy after this incident is safely resolved?"

Kanis felt insulted. Doesn't he know how he has lived? He's telling him to mingle with hothouse plants while he learned magic walking between life and death.

"Don't joke. It's not because the Master was weak that he lost. If it weren't for the Abyss Nova, no, if it were a formal fight, the Master could have killed you in one shot."

"That might have been possible."

Alpeas readily admitted it.

"But if it hadn't been so, I might have been the first to kneel and apologize."

Kanis bit his lip. What he was saying was unacceptable, but he couldn't even refute it.

"Kanis, that's evil. No matter how reasonable the excuse, it's meant to be hated. You can go higher. I want to give you a bright future, not a path of darkness."

"Why do you care about me? Do you pity me?"

"I was also Arcane's disciple. That would make me a Senior Disciple to you. Just as we can't turn back time, connections last forever. If you want to live a new life, I'll help you."

Kanis didn't respond. What could be a new life at this point? Everything he had learned was battle, and therefore, his destiny was to live only on the battlefield.

As Alpeas walked away down the hallway, the guard called Kanis and Arin back and dragged them to the interrogation room. Unlike the infernal Inferno prison they had imagined, the interrogation room was clean and tidy. A small man was sitting at a table with his back to them, and there was nothing to identify him apart from his silver hair.

"Inspector, these are the suspects in this case, Kanis and Arin."

"Ah, come over here."

A voice dreadful as a sharp blade. As expected from someone leading the infamous Division 3 of Inspection, he had a sharp aura. Kanis and Arin sat in front of the investigator, who looked surprisingly non-threatening. He had a chin sharp as a cat's and smiled with eyes thin as threads.

"My name is Sakiri, Investigator of Division 3 of Inspection. Kanis and Arin, am I right?"

"Yes."

Kanis responded calmly. But Arin didn't reply. Kanis turned his head and asked, without wanting to offend the inspector.

"Arin, what's wrong with you?"

Arin trembled with a pale face. Kanis understood the situation from the fact that Arin's pupils looking at Sakiri trembled in astonishment.

"What did she see that surprised her so much?"

"Kanis, I can't read..."

It's impossible for Arin, who had the Initial State, not to be able to read the aura of things. Therefore,

 either she didn't have an aura to begin with, or they had been artificially removed.

Indeed, the way Arin was looking at Sakiri was strange. Her whole body was made of a smooth metallic material like a mirror, and her egg-shaped face lacked facial features. Her hands and feet were conical, making it impossible to read the slightest emotion. She was the form of a psychic who could only emerge in a state of completely blocked emotions.

"Oh, it looks like the miss is surprised. It's called the Initial State, right? I've blocked magic, but there's no way to block inherent qualities. Of course, I don't think they'll cause any trouble."

Sakiri, seemingly intrigued, put down the pen and crossed his legs.

Arin watched his conical legs wriggle. It twisted and untwisted like a pretzel.

'This person is playing.'

Not only did he repress emotions, but he was a person who could perfectly control his emotions.

"Concentrate."

Arin suddenly lifted her head. The investigator's face, smooth as a mirror, stretched into a conical shape and was right in front of her forehead.

"Please, do it. After all, I'm on duty. Arin, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Trembling with fear, Arin didn't even realize she had answered. The sharp cone pointing at her forehead was probably Sakiri's penetrating gaze. It was the first time she had seen a psychic in such an orderly form. She realized that if any criminal were caught by this man, they wouldn't be able to break even a bone.

Kanis and Arin finally faced reality. They had been captured by the most powerful and authoritative judicial institution in the kingdom. While the two waited, Sakiri's aquiline face reverted to its smooth metallic egg-shaped form.

"Well, based on Alpeas's testimony, I've drafted a report, but there are a few things I need to verify. Please, answer my questions."

Sakiri checked various matters through a question-and-answer session. Arin and Kanis answered truthfully. After an hour, Sakiri said with a satisfied expression as he organized the files.

"Yes. Most of the testimonies match. There are some discrepancies, but nothing major."

It was a too casual assertion coming from an inspector. However, Sakiri leaned back on the chair's backrest as if it were nothing and continued.

"So, in the end, it's some sort of brainwashing, isn't it? You know, like that. Arcane used your unfortunate lives and brainwashed you since childhood."

"What?"

Kanis's eyes filled with anger. He would have preferred to be called a villain. Sakiri's words were no different from denying the root of his life.

"The master never forced me to do anything. I did it, and I'm responsible for my actions."

Arin, who knew the strength of the investigator, became nervous when Kanis got angry. However, Sakiri's form, seen through the Initial State, remained unchanged.

"It's a wicked method. Save you, make you admire them, and then say this. 'I need something like this, but of course, I don't necessarily want you to do it.'"

Kanis didn't understand what the investigator was saying. He had come here to atone for his sins. But now they were talking about brainwashing. Were they planning to admit them to a psychiatric institution?