Planning

James was deep in thought. 

Who would target him?

A clear figure emerged in his mind. Even though he knew that Ryan Everheart only saw him as a nuisance, as indicated by his [-10] favourability, James felt in his heart that the one who killed his original body had to be him. 

But why?

There has to be something more to it than just the fact that he was a commoner. It all starts and ends with the training camp. 

He decided to reveal some information to Selena. Even though she clearly didn't pay much attention to him before he used the Instant Love contract on her, she must have been paying attention to the heir of one of the Thirteen Houses. 

"About Ryan Everheart, did he seem strange to you this past week? Especially during the training camp?"

Selena had been silently fuming waiting for an apology so when she heard this unrelated question, it took her a moment to understand. She looked at James with a strange expression. 

"Why are you so concerned with what happened during the last week?"

"Just answer my question."

Selena suddenly slammed her hands on the table. 

"Don't think you can order me around!"

Even though she seemed angry James didn't cower back, he once again leaned forward from his chair as if he was about to kiss her again. 

Seeing this Selena suddenly slumped back:

"You, you, what are you doing?!"

James smiled and repeated his question again. This time Selena answered honestly. 

"I don't know about the training camp, there is less monitoring there, it's created to test students' combat ability in the wild so we are not meant to watch them too closely. As for class everything was normal…except…" 

Selena's voice trailed off and she no longer looked at James. 

"What is it?"

"Well ever since the training camp, I noticed…that he didn't seem to bother you during combat practice."

She didn't remember when James asked the first time because it seemed insignificant, but now that she thought about it was a little strange. 

James understood the underlying meaning of her words clearly. It seems ever since the training camp, Ryan Everheart had not gone after him during combat practice. Usually he would always try to pair up with him and then use him as target practice for his spells. 

Of course Ryan was already a level 2 mage while he was still an apprentice, one can imagine the result. Even when he was injured again and again, Selena always turned a blind eye. 

Seeing Selena watching him carefully James just smiled and acted as if it didn't bother him. But in his mind he was thinking he would pay her back properly later. 

But still if Ryan stopped going after him during training this past week…does that mean he already knew he was going to die? 

This was probably the worst case scenario for him.

Actually after thinking for a long time in the afternoon, one of the only guesses he had to explain his sudden death and lack of injuries was a special type of magic. Curse magic.

Curse magic could explain how he was able to be killed within academy grounds, as well as his foggy memory. He had read that curse magic targeted the soul of the enemy.

If his killer really was Ryan Everheart, and he knew he was going to die over a week ago, how would he feel now that he was still here... 

But James was confused by this point. When he saw Ryan in class today his face was completely normal and he didn't seem surprised at all to see him alive. This was also what made him think of the possibility that he was not killed in person, leading him to think about curse magic. 

James shook his head. Everything was too messy. He needs to simplify. 

Means. Motive. Opportunity. 

Opportunity…James was fairly certain that it must have been during the training camp. It was in the outer regions near the northern border where there was much less surveillance and greater possibility for malicious interference. 

In terms of means, his best guess was still some sort of curse magic. It targets the soul and leaves no external injuries.

And finally motive. This was the most important thing and it was also the one thing James had no clues about. It seems, including doing more research on curse magic, he needs to find out more about what reason someone would have to kill him.

As for the fact that he was still alive…this matter could only be left up to chance. 

He certainly could not go back to his dormitories to sleep. Even if he knew that the possibility of him being directly attacked there was low, he still couldn't take that risk.

Thankfully he was usually very covered up and he always looked sickly so he didn't think anyone would get clues just from his appearance. Maybe as long he pretended to further deteriorate he could buy more time for himself without alerting interested parties. 

This was assuming it really was some sort of curse magic. If someone had actually snuck into his dormitory yesterday and killed him in his sleep, then the fact that he was still alive would be enough to let his enemies know that something had gone wrong.

Of course he couldn't always be passive. James glanced at the system mall again. Now that he had some money, some of the useful trinkets he had seen in the shop could finally be tested. 

James looked at the two items. 

[Single Use Bronze Level Item: Trace Crystal]

[A special magic crystal capable of recording any aura that enters the surrounding space over the past 12 hours.]

[Cost: 100 affection points.]

If it was just that James would have been overjoyed to get a bargain, but the system note at the end dampened his excitement.

[Note: Can only capture auras of level 3 mages and below undetected.]

To get into his dormitories without alerting the security measures of Ainsworth Academy…James felt that a low level mage just couldn't achieve it. Of course for a high level mage it would also be difficult but if they had some help, for example from someone within the school? 

This was the other reason that James staunchly suspected Ryan Everheart. Only someone from the Thirteen Houses could have that kind of influence at Ainsworth. 

James shook his head and looked at the other item.

[Single Use Silver Level Item: Trace Crystal]

[Upgraded version of the bronze level item, capable of detecting the auras of mages level 6 and below.]

[Cost: 1000 affection points]

James' heart wrenched in pain looking at the cost. He had more than 3000 affection points now, buying this item would set him back by almost one third. And it was a single use item as well.

Still James reluctantly pressed buy while cursing the blackhearted system in his mind.

He decided he would go back to the dormitories first and hide it somewhere in his room. If someone really did enter his dorms he would know tomorrow.

As for the rest, he looked at the beautiful woman in front him.

He would need her help.