Investigation

"The boy who died yesterday was named Jean. Even if you didn't know him by name, most of you must have already guessed who it was because of his absence here; he wasn't just killed, half of his head was split open, and his skull turned into a bloody mesh. We can only assume that whoever did this wasn't in their right mind.

'Thanks to the bastard gods we fought and he is not alive anymore'

Sola's heart pounded as he thought to himself that he was nervous.

While the man continued.

"Remember, if you know who did this and choose to cover for them, there's no guarantee you won't become their first victim. Jean was found dead on the first floor, in the public restroom not far from this room. We believe it happened after the training class ended last night. Does anyone recall seeing anyone go there, with or without him?"

As soon as he heard those words, Sola's heart skipped a beat. He remembered his conversation with Freide — she was the one who told him where the restroom was. She must have figured out that it was probably Sola who killed Jean. Now the question was, would she say anything to the man? Even if she did, it wouldn't be completely over for Sola; someone else could have been there after him. But if he became one of the primary suspects, it would be the end of him, especially since his wound was still not fully healed.

His thoughts were interrupted by Freide's stare, which lasted only a few seconds. She was sitting near him, wearing a calm expression, as if she were thinking about something.

In the end, she didn't say anything.

After asking a few questions about Jean and the people who were close to him, he dismissed everyone. But before they left, he added that some of them would be called to his office for a private talk, and that if anyone knew something but was too afraid to speak up now, they could come to his office later and talk in private.

They warned everyone to lock their doors and stick together in groups at all times.

After that, they all went to their rooms, except Sola, who was going with Edric, as they were going towards Edric's room, somebody patted on both of their shoulders from behind, looking around, they saw Freide.

"Mind if I come in with you guys? I have a couple of questions for Sola."

Sola, who had guessed what those questions were about, whispered to Edric that she also knew it was him, so they had no other choice but to let her in.

As soon as they entered Edric's room, Sola took off his shirt.

Freide could not help but stare at his cut, which was on the Black moon mark.

Lying down on the bed, Sola asked him:

"I'm listening. Ask me whatever you want."

Edric sat next to him, treating his wound. His hands were emitting a golden healing aura, which flowed directly into Sola's cut.

"So, it was you, huh?"

Asked Freide while taking a seat at a nearby desk.

"No, actually, I tripped on a floor and fell on a kitchen knife."

Answered Sola with a serious expression on his face, then continued speaking.

"So, are you going to tell them?"

Freide gave him a surprised look.

"Huh? Why would I? I wanted to kill that ugly piece of shit myself. I'm just angry I didn't get to do it. Two to zero, I guess."

Sola was surprised by her reaction.

Was she planning to kill Jean? If so, he dismissed the thought that she would tell on him.

"Do you have any other questions?"

He asked.

"Yes, actually, was it both of you who did it or just you? And why?"

She was swinging her legs while talking.

"It was just me — he tried to steal my remnant, so we ended up fighting."

She was quiet for a bit as if thinking about something.

"Killing him over one remnant is kind of crazy, but I've got to admit, I'm surprised you managed to beat him".

Jean was marked by a War God and was one of the strongest students, alongside Freide.

After a bit, she left the room.

Sola was worried that someone might have seen him leaving or entering the restroom, but was afraid to speak up in the training room.

His worries eased the next day, as he wasn't summoned to the office where the detective was working. The people who were called in were probably Jean's friends, or the ones he had taken remnants from.

The fact that he used to steal remnants from other students was no longer a secret.

His good mood did not last long, though, as he received new information about his sisters.

His hands were shaking while opening the letter, and what he read left him frozen.

Both of her sisters were in the hospital, and they barely managed to survive and were unconscious.

He wanted to see them right away, but no one could go out of the academy for the next three days.

After the three days had passed, the detective left, and everything was back to normal.

No one was arrested because there was no evidence to be suspicious of anyone.

In those three days, students met a hunter who had conquered the gate, who explained to them how the gate and the dungeon inside it worked.

Once the gate manifests itself, hunters have about three minutes before the monsters start coming out of it. But if a hunter enters the portal, none of the monsters can come out, other hunters have about five minutes to enter the gate and for help until it closes.

If they manage to conquer it, they will be teleported back, but if they fail, the portal will appear again somewhere nearby.

Every portal and the dungeon it led to were different. As of now, the highest tier recorded has been a fifth-tier gate. It was not impossible to conquer a gate of that high rank, but you would need dozens of strong hunters for that.

Sola was feeling good on the third day; his life force was full, and he was brimming with energy, as it turned out, killing a human gave him a lot of it.

He planned to visit his sisters after classes. The first class was about learning how to control their newfound mana, which strengthened their bodies, and how to awaken their mark on command.

The next class was about magic, which, as it turned out, most hunters could use to some degree.