CHAPTER 59: THIS IS RATHER UNPLEASANT

Uncle Damon is dead.

Those words were written in bold, and the letter was sent to my address from our joint contact.

He also added that my family is currently unaware of the truth and that he only discovered it after conducting a thorough investigation. That explains why he hasn’t gotten back to me in so long, and also why my uncle hasn’t been reaching out as we agreed.

How... could I have missed this?

Why didn’t I pay attention to this case sooner? If I had been more concerned with Uncle Damon and prioritized him the moment I noticed something off, I could have perhaps saved his life.

Instead, I chose to be selfish!

I was too self-absorbed, living my life without a care for others.

Even for the man who made my current life possible—the one person I relied on more than anyone else. I know I told myself to live a selfish life, but I could have surely given him some consideration.

At the very least, regardless of how busy I was, I could have done something.

Right?

Actually... no. Not really.

Academy life has been quite brutal, if I’m being honest with myself. Even during holidays, I’m always very busy with one thing or the other. Plus, I also have to read ahead for the next term, else I would be screwed.

The breaks are always very short, too.

It’s only the Summer Break that’s over a month long. Everything else is about two to three weeks at most. That’s not nearly enough time to visit family and also study.

I had to pick one.

Plus, during the other summer break, I had to deal with the interference from the Earl.

I have been so busy... so occupied.

But are any of these proper excuses for my negligence?

... No.

They aren’t excuses at all.

I told myself not to live a life of regrets, and so far... I have maintained that. Why should I start regretting now? I have always done what I thought was most optimal.

So, regardless of the consequences, I made those decisions!

I chose to stay.

I chose not to concern myself with other things apart from my education.

Not checking up on Uncle Damon on me, certainly!

But I don’t regret my actions.

If I had not dedicated the time that I did to this Academy, I wouldn’t have made it this far.

Also...

’... I am not responsible for Uncle Damon’s death.’

As much as it hurts me that he died, it is most certainly not my fault.

Picking up and reading the letter again, I confirm the details I missed as a result of the shock I experienced earlier.

"Based on the content of the letter, it seems Uncle Damon got done in as a result of one of his investigations involving... the Leviathans? Hmm..." After murmuring to myself, I pick up the most important word.

—Leviathan!

Even in my past life, my uncle was obsessed with these ’entities.’

I never got to find out what they were, but he always said that they were the ones behind everything we currently see.

He called them... the ones who move the world.

’After piecing together clues in his home, he got drunk in a pub and bragged to people about his recent breakthrough and how he was going to travel to the Dark Mines to confirm his research. He went in and hasn’t come out since, and since a strange odor has started emanating from the place, everyone has pretty much assumed that he is dead...’ My thoughts flow as I break down the results of my contact’s thorough investigation.

As much as I would like to deny it, the story checks out.

It makes sense.

The Dark Mines contain dark spores that are known to be extremely dangerous. There are also deadly Magivores within it, so I don’t expect someone like Uncle Damon to survive that journey.

But... why?

Why would he do something so dangerous and crazy?

’In my past life, he never did anything like this. At least, not at this time. But then again, he never got to repay his debts, and he was always tight on money. With my intervention, he was able to pay back all his loans, and he even had additional funding to help with his research. I guess he was able to advance even further than he did in my past life...’ I sigh and shake my head. ’In a sense, I guess I am the cause of his untimely death.’

I changed too much and involved him in so many affairs that it ended up causing an adverse effect on his life.

"Our mutual contact has run out of clues and has gone to Uncle Damon’s house to gather more, but he is illiterate and can’t read the documents. I guess this is where I come in...’ Dropping the letter on my desk, I hurriedly begin to pack my luggage.

I have no other choice.

Only I will be able to decipher my Uncle’s notes, considering our common background and connection to the Royal Academy.

’Should I tell father? No... I can’t!’ While vehemently shaking my head at the thought, I properly think the matter through. Uncle Damon is one of the firm pillars I have in the Aditi Household, and his existence deters my enemies or rivals.

Dead or alive, that remains the case.

Until I confirm the details, it’s best I delay anyone else from finding out the truth until it becomes unavoidable. This feels like a hardhearted approach, but it is the best move to make.

Also, it’s not like I am actively doing something.

I have simply chosen not to announce his death—at least, for now.

Besides, my father does not care for Uncle Damon at all, and the Main Family has cut off most ties to him. As such, no one else needs to know about this matter.

’First thing tomorrow... I’ll leave for Uncle Damon’s house!’ My eyes flash with eerie light as I lie on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

A myriad of thoughts flow all at once, and my body continues to tremble.

This is rather... unpleasant.

*************

The next day, I leave the Academy in a hurry and charter a carriage.

It’s a little regrettable that I couldn’t properly delegate tasks to my subordinates, but I have already given a few letters to the Silver Wing attendants for them to help me post.

One is directed at Seth, and it contains basic instructions on how to run activities in my absence.

Since the J-Tutorial Club already has a summer coaching program, he has his work cut out for him for sure.

I also had a letter sent to the Prince, as well as Professor Anna.

My preference would be to meet them in person, but I feel a sense of urgency when it comes to this matter, so I certainly hope they understand. I’ll have to apologize to them in person when I return.

But, for now... this matter comes first.

After two days, we finally arrive at a settlement, where we decide to camp for a while, and I take a walk to clear my head... among other things.

The coachman I chartered enjoys his break as he wishes, and I don’t obstruct him. Instead, I ensure he leaves for whatever activity he wishes to partake in, agreeing to meet again the next day so we can continue our journey.

Only when some time passes do I carefully follow his trail, which, suspiciously, leads to the outskirts of the town.

To make sure he doesn’t notice my tailing him, I drink a Potion of Muffled Steps.

It is a Grade 2 Potion with a simple but effective effect.

By drinking a single vial, the user gets to silence their footsteps for an hour. The side effects range from mild to unpleasant ringing in the ears. It’s only temporary, though, and it shouldn’t be too severe unless the Potion is used a couple of times in succession.

I would have preferred the Potion of Phantasmal Veil, which cloaks the user in invisibility, but that’s a Grade 3 Potion, and... I don’t have the money for that.

Besides, with the skills and experience I accrued from my previous life, an average person with little to no training won’t be able to detect me. Even if they were competent or a Low-Rank Knight, they wouldn’t notice.

Not to brag, but even Mid-Rank Knights would have a hard time detecting me if I really try.

As for High-Rank Knights, I don’t stand a chance.

But—

’That’s what the Potion is for...’ I make a wry smile as I follow the man from a safe distance.

While I doubt that this person is of the same caliber as a High-Rank Knight, one can never be too sure. He is suspicious, and that alone makes me unwilling to take any chances.

After tailing him for some time, he finally stops in a clearing where another carriage is parked inconspicuously. Within it emerge two men, one of whom I recognize somewhat.

I have seen him a few times in the Academy.

I also spotted him following me when I left the Academy and sought to charter a carriage.

’That’s why...’

My eyes narrow as I stare at the two with a peculiar expression on my face. From my distance, I can’t pick up anything they are saying.

It’s at times like this that I wish I could afford higher-grade Potions.

But... no matter.

Even if I can’t hear them from this distance, all I simply need to do is close in on my targets and ask them for answers in person. After consuming yet another Potion, I make my move.

WHOOSH!

I become a blur while charging forward, as though nothing but a gust of wind.

My soundless steps press against the ground, and I easily close the distance between myself and my prey. After encircling them and ensuring the perimeter is clear, I make my move and enter the clearing with sharp movements.

"W-what? Who is—?!"

Before any of them can react, I open my mouth and exhale sparks of flame.

VWUSH!

The head of my opponent is set ablaze almost instantly, and his screams pierce the air.

I intentionally targeted him first because he is a guard in the Academy and is at least a Low Rank Knight. Pretty much all the guards of the Royal Academy are Knights, with most of them belonging to the lower order.

This man is one of them.

The only reason he stuck in my head is because I’ve seen him around Brutus a few times... and I despise Brutus. Looking at him now, I assume the reason he was around that High-Rank Knight despite his low status is because he is one of the people who do the dirty work.

Not all Knights in the Academy are corrupt, but Brutus—their leader—certainly is.

He must have chosen people without integrity to do dirty tasks for him.

The lower their rank, the easier such things would be.

In essence, Low Rank Knights will constitute a majority of Brutus’ grunt men who help his corruption fester.

This man is simply one of those people.

After attacking him, I breathe out two more sparks of flames, burning the other two adversaries, before chugging down water and quelling my burning throat.

"Ack!" I cough out slightly, feeling a stinging, spicy sensation in my mouth.

The Potion of Ember Breath grants the ability to exhale sparks of flame from the nose or mouth, but using it twice or thrice is enough to create burning sensations in the throat.

Overuse can also scorch the lungs.

It is certainly one of the most powerful Grade 1 Potions out there, but the side effects make it too dangerous. No matter how strong a man is, they can’t train their internal organs, so the only way to deal with the side effects of this Potion will be to use a corresponding Potion that mitigates or downright eliminates the harm.

Since I do not have such a Potion at my disposal, I can only rely on water and limited use.

Fortunately, I only had to deal with three enemies—none of whom are my match.

It was easy, overall.

***********

After letting their faces roast for a while, I finally doused their heads and smothered the fire.

Then, I dangled a valuable Grade 2 Healing Potion in front of them and offered it as a reward for anyone who spilled the beans to my satisfaction. I don’t plan on killing any of them, especially since they are only guilty of acting suspiciously, and doing so will only put me in bigger trouble.

But I can arrest them.

Plus, the burning pain on their disfigured faces must be quite unbearable for them. Having a Potion that can make all of that go away serves as a sufficient incentive for these people.

And, just as I expected, they begin to spill.

"I-I was paid by that man!" My coachman points at the Academy guard. "He told me to send signals to his carriage from time to time and also meet up with him during intervals, whenever we took breaks, and report everything I observed from you. I don’t know anything else! I swear!"

"M-me too! He only paid me and told me to tail your carriage!"

I nod and smile.

Then, I look at the Academy guard with a peculiar expression on my rather calm face.

’It’s a good thing I didn’t follow my initial plan...’

My original strategy was to charter a carriage and pretend to get in, only for the empty carriage to leave the city while I stayed and followed the guard from behind. That way, I would know what his intentions were.

But, after considering a few things, I decided not to.

’Turns out the coachmen were already paid beforehand, which means they would have sold me out if I had gone with that method...’ My gaze turns sharper the more I think. ’The fact that he paid them beforehand means he knew I would be chartering a carriage to get to my destination.’

However, I only dispatched the letters this morning, and I gave them to the Silver Wing attendants right before I left.

That means...

"You are aware of the letter." I let out turbid air as a sigh leaves my lips. "Or, rather, the person behind you knows of it. If I’m not wrong... he was the one who sent it."

Ah, it’s all beginning to make sense now.

At first, I only had my suspicions, but after thinking about it all through last night, it grew into something bigger. Everything that had added up slowly began to unravel, and I found too many holes and inconsistencies.

I still didn’t jump to conclusions. Instead, I decided to go ahead with my plan of leaving the Academy.

However, by paying much closer attention to my surroundings, I noticed that I was being tailed by a random Academy guard. This confirmed that something was definitely up.

The coachman’s strange behavior, as he constantly kept observing me, checking on my condition almost every time. I pick up gazes quite easily, so I noticed all of these things and figured the coachman was compromised.

And so on...

"The letter is likely fake. It was sent by the same person who sent you to trail me, and all of it was so I could reach my uncle’s house. It means this person is very interested in knowing Uncle Damon’s house, so interested that he cooked up this entire scheme."

There’s only one person who fits that description.

"Alaric Duskryn... Senior Professor in the Department of Science and Natural Philosophy, prestigious Erudite Scholar of the Richardson Elite Academy."

I almost laugh after realizing everything.

’So it’s not that my uncle never sent me letters, but Alaric interfered with them. He must have intercepted my letters to my uncle and also done the same regarding his letters to me...’ My eyes slowly widen as I piece everything together. ’When I went to his office, he pretended to still be interested in getting me to talk to my uncle just so I wouldn’t suspect his interference.’

However, I indeed found it strange that he never really pestered me on the matter after that time.

That’s because he already had what he wanted.

By cutting off communication between me and Uncle Damon and connecting with Uncle Damon in my stead, he was able to stop Uncle Damon from visiting me out of concern and suspicion. He also knew I wouldn’t be able to visit Uncle Damon regardless of how busy I was due to my Academic pressure. Plus, my visiting Uncle Damon would even be a good thing for him, since he would get to know where he lives...

But why?

Why is Professor Alaric so obsessed with my uncle and where he lives?

I still haven’t figured that part out yet.

What I do suspect is this:

Something about Professor Alaric’s plan went wrong, which is why he decided to resort to such a bold move. If I’m to guess, I’d say Uncle Damon suspected something was off with Professor Alaric’s message and stopped communicating.

The Professor probably got so desperate and wanted Uncle Damon’s exact coordinates.

My uncle is a smart guy, so he probably figured something was up.

If I’m not wrong... Uncle Damon should be on his way to the Academy City to see me, which is why Professor Alaric decided to get me out of the Academy and lead him to my uncle’s house before it’s too late and his plot is revealed.

The whole farce of Uncle Damon being dead is complete hogwash.

He is alive!

’If he had succeeded in his plan, I would have led this guard to my uncle’s house, and he would have returned to the Academy and given that information to Professor Alaric...’ I heave a sigh of relief and feel something amiss within me.

Complex emotions still stir in my heart, and my instincts are telling me there is more to this.

But this is the limit of my capabilities.

Still...

"This has gone too far, Professor..." Fury rapidly burns within my eyes as I grit my teeth and clench my fist.

I ignored that man despite my gut feeling warning me about him, but no more.

He has really crossed the line this time.

Delaying any further will only cause me misery in the long run, which means I have to act very quickly and uncover the mysteries involving what his true intentions are.

No matter what—I can’t let him anywhere near my uncle!