Chapter 36

Henrik and Oliver talked for a long while.

They enjoyed food and drinks until the sun set and the moon rose.

Midway through, Amecitia threw a small tantrum when she saw the expensive wine, begging for just one sip, but since she hadn't yet had her coming-of-age ceremony, Henrik flatly refused.

After the meal ended, Henrik quietly walked the moonlit streets. A person or two passed by, but he appreciated how quiet the streets were.

The other professors still didn't know about Bena's condition. Since they had to keep the curse strictly hidden and respond without alerting any devils, she was currently hidden in Ted's safe house.

He'd told those around them she had simply left the Academy temporarily for recuperation, an extension of the excuse that she was unwell.

Since it was the dean's word, no one questioned it.

Carlo Mandolin.

But the problem lay elsewhere.

The fact that Bena had frequently interacted with Carlo.

Henrik recalled his encounter with Carlo.

He wasn't someone who gave off a demonic presence. But he was a man who radiated a peculiar feeling.

A 4th-rank close to 5th-rank.

Even having lost an arm, his spirit was genuine.

Yet in the future, such a man had disappeared without a trace. Only now did the reason make sense.

It was one of two things.

Either Carlo had been killed by a Demon King, or.

'Carlo is connected to a Demon King.'

It was unfortunate, but simultaneously suspicious.

If he'd met with Bena the most, that meant Carlo was also the person who could have given her the necklace.

He needed someone.

Someone who could investigate in the background while he prepared for the Demon King.

Henrik knew exactly one person perfectly suited for that.

He thought that person would probably accept readily.

* * *

"It's late. Everyone hurry inside."

As soon as they left the mansion, Henrik said this while looking at Amecitia and Grimory.

"Ah, right. The dormitory curfew......"

"Ah......."

Amecitia and Grimory, who had been enjoying their food without a care, froze on the spot. Living in the dormitory, they belatedly realized the curfew had long since passed and trembled.

They could clearly picture the dorm supervisor angrily locking the door.

Noticing their worry, Henrik casually wrote something on paper and handed it to Grimory.

"It's a pass. This should do it."

"Professor......!"

When Grimory looked up at Henrik with a deeply moved expression, he awkwardly turned his head away.

"It's cold out. Hurry inside. There's class tomorrow, so don't be late."

"Yes! Let's go, Amecitia!"

"Y-yeah. Let's go! You be careful getting back too, Professor!"

Watching the two rush toward the dormitory, Henrik walked calmly. He simply moved his feet without any particular destination.

How much had changed compared to before his regression? Henrik pondered this.

He had killed the Sovereign of Sloth, become a professor at the Academy, and gained disciples he never had in his previous life.

Amecitia-when he first saw her, she was a spoiled young lady. Now she had grown into his most rapidly developing, most promising disciple.

Grimory was still unknowable when looking at her hat, but she was undeniably the Academy's student with the finest mind.

And what of Carmine? Though he was a junior from his previous life, Henrik felt he'd seen new aspects of him. Yet he also felt a certain comfort in his unchanged nature.

Many things had changed.

Many more things would continue to change.

Caught in sentiment, Henrik looked up at the sky.

The cold winter wind was slowly beginning to warm.

He could feel the seasons changing.

'Demon Kings-six more remain.'

Henrik briefly recalled the Demon Kings he'd faced in his previous life.

There was still a long way to go.

He couldn't be satisfied yet.

Steeling his resolve, Henrik turned into a deserted alley.

-Thud thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed.

But subtly delayed footsteps followed, as if off by one beat.

-Thud thud.

When he walked again, it felt as though someone was erasing their footsteps in time with Henrik's rhythm.

Henrik calmly opened his mouth toward empty air.

"Won't you speak with me for a moment?"

Henrik looked back at the empty alley.

Only quiet silence.

"It's about Carmine."

"......!"

A faint tremor was felt. When Henrik touched on Carmine, the tail finally revealed themselves.

It was a white-haired old man holding a small pocket watch, looking at Henrik.

Appearing suddenly from the darkness, he quietly spoke.

"How surprising."

It was William.

William had been steadily tailing Henrik to carry out the orders Carmine had given him when he was at the Academy.

Though Henrik, skilled in tracking techniques, had quickly caught the tail, he'd deliberately left it alone. The reason was simple.

William was a card he could use.

And now. The time had come to play that card.

"I'm Henrik Dusk. I teach Carmine as a professor of demonology."

"......William."

This wasn't William's usual chatty demeanor, but rather the appearance of a vigilant, lethal veteran.

Watching William naturally melt into the darkness and conceal himself was like watching a black panther.

His skilled stealth technique was admirable.

"You knew you were being followed?"

When William asked, Henrik slipped his hand into his coat pocket and said.

"For a while now. My disciple was curious about his teacher's private life and had someone investigate me, so I let it be."

"......."

Swish. William grabbed the hilt of the dagger at his waist.

"Don't be so on guard. I didn't call you here to fight."

"Then why-"

"A favor."

Before William could finish, Henrik cut him off.

Short and blunt.

"I'd like to ask you a favor."

At his words, William lowered his hand from the dagger.

But he didn't approach Henrik, standing at a distance and simply watching him.

"A favor from this old man-what exactly do you want?"

"Nothing much."

When William asked, Henrik pointed toward a mansion with an indifferent expression.

Henrik knew very well what that mansion was.

The Mandolin Family's branch house.

The very place Henrik had just visited.

"Don't tell me......."

But William caught on to Henrik's intention and let out a groan.

Regardless, Henrik spoke with that characteristic indifferent expression.

"Carlo Mandolin. I'd like you to investigate his background."

"The Mandolin Family......?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"It's information I need."

William bit his lip hard.

'This professor is a dangerous man. He noticed my tailing and left it alone, and now he's greedy for excessive information. If Young Master gets dragged into this, he'll die young.'

He raised his head and answered.

"I refuse."

"A refusal."

"If we're caught investigating the Mandolin Family's background, there'll be no avoiding the consequences."

"......."

Then Henrik walked over step by step and looked at William's face as he spoke.

"If you grant this favor, I'll overlook the fact that you tailed me. Of course, the responsibility for the tailing isn't mine to bear-it's something your employer Carmen, not you William, would have to answer for."

"......The cost-benefit doesn't match! No matter how much of a favor, investigating the Mandolin Clan! There's no suicide mission like this anywhere!"

"Truly befitting a merchant family."

"......."

As Henrik nodded and spoke, William glared at him with wide eyes.

'He already knows everything about the family but pretends not to. Who asks a merchant family to do background investigations?'

-Shing!

The gleaming blade of a dagger pressed against Henrik's throat.

Just barely not drawing blood, William thrust the dagger toward Henrik's neck.

"Eliminating you like this would be one solution."

"If a favor won't work, how about a trade?"

"A trade......?"

Even with a dagger pressed to his throat, Henrik spoke calmly without so much as a twitch of an eyebrow, and William was dumbfounded.

'Like a veteran who's crossed the line between life and death countless times, his expression doesn't change at all. His breathing is calm too. How can someone so young be like this?'

Henrik quietly opened his mouth.

"Carmen. I'll help make Carmen the clan head of the MacClane Clan......."

"......."

William swiftly withdrew his dagger.

Henrik rubbed his skin, checking if he'd been cut, seemingly having nicked the surface slightly.

"Just how much do you know."

"That Carmen has a younger sister. And that younger sister is aiming for the successor's position as clan head."

"......Everything, then."

Henrik saw through it all.

In his previous life, there was one reason Carmen became a Hunter. It was because he lost to his younger sister in the succession struggle. Having given up in despair, Carmen became a Hunter and met Henrik.

Henrik had a reason to make Carmen clan head.

And William, too, would want to make Carmen clan head rather than his younger sister.

It was a moment where their interests aligned.

"......How will you help?"

Henrik answered indifferently.

"Carmen is still clumsy at combat techniques, physical abilities, and above all, learning about people."

"......."

William flinched in surprise.

'Clumsy at learning about people.......'

It was the biggest weakness Carmen had, in his opinion. What was surprising was that the man before him had pinpointed that exact issue.

"......And so?"

"Those are areas I can fill. And beyond that...... the potions I make are quite effective."

Henrik rummaged through the pouch at his waist and pulled out a small potion, handing it to William.

"I made a promise with Carmen. Carmen got a perfect score on the written exam as promised. Please tell him this is a reward for that."

"A potion?"

"Then think it over and we'll meet again."

Having said what he needed to say, Henrik turned around.

William watched Henrik's retreating figure as he slowly left the alley.

'Strange.'

That's what he thought. And he looked down at the potion clutched in his hand.

The next day, when Henrik waited in the alley, William appeared.

"It was definitely effective."

"Is that so? That's fortunate."

William took a deep breath and spoke.

"A merchant sometimes has to take risks. If the danger is great but the reward is equally substantial, you boldly set sail."

He naturally extended his hand to Henrik.

"I accept the deal."