CH 566

In the middle of the night at the B-class dormitory.

"Ludwig…"

"You're back."

There sat Christina, Louis Ancton, and Anna de Gerna.

And also Dettomorian and Ludwig.

The five of them were gathered around.

"I'm fine. I still feel like there's something I can do."

Ludwig had started working for the guard, leaving the temple early in the morning and staying out all day before returning.

It was unclear if it was due to Bertus' influence, but Ludwig had found new work to do, and the despair on his face had largely disappeared.

To overcome despair, one must do something.

Perhaps, in time, Ludwig would regain some of his former brightness.

"Huh? Who's this…?"

"Meow."

As I approached, Christina's eyes widened.

It was only natural that the three of them would be surprised to see a cat that should have been at the Allied Forces' base here.

"Ellen brought him. She's resting in the A-class dormitory now. I think we'll end up taking care of him here."

At Ludwig's explanation, all three of them nodded in agreement.

"Ah, I see…"

Anna stared at me intently before suddenly picking me up and placing me on her lap.

… Somehow.

Had I gotten too used to sitting on someone's lap?

I've been transformed for too long. Will I struggle to adapt when I return to human form?

These three.

Seeing that they all returned on the same day, it was clear that they were working on the same project.

They all sat together and talked at length about Ludwig's injury, Delphin's death, and other matters. I sat quietly on Anna's lap and listened to their conversation.

Ludwig didn't cry as he spoke.

However, just because he didn't cry didn't mean he wasn't sad.

Rather than being used to saying goodbye, it seemed as though he didn't know how to express his sadness.

Ludwig believed that Delphin had died because he was weak.

Of course, no one said that Delphin's death was Ludwig's fault.

Cliffman had spoken with a hint of blame toward Ludwig to make him give up on Delphin, but Cliffman probably didn't really believe it either.

Of course, it wasn't Ludwig's fault.

But if Ludwig hadn't tried to save Scarlett, Scarlett would have died, and Delphin and Ludwig would have survived.

However, if Scarlett had died, Ludwig would still have blamed himself.

He would have blamed himself for not saving Scarlett, leading to her death. In that case, he wouldn't have lost his arm.

Blame and responsibility are difficult and ultimately unhelpful.

If we were to go by that logic, Delphin wouldn't have died if I hadn't existed.

To begin with, if there hadn't been a Valier Junior, the Gate incident wouldn't have occurred, and none of these events would have been necessary.

Because of my incomplete knowledge of the future, I had to face the very future I was trying to avoid.

When would these painful stories of self-blame ever end?

It's not possible for everyone to be happy, but can the remaining people at least find a happy ending?

I watched as they shared their sadness and consoled each other's emotions.

"So, you joined the guard?"

At Louis's question, Ludwig nodded vaguely.

“To put it precisely, I wouldn't say I've become a patrol guard... but I'm helping with the patrol duties. Things like... well, patrols."

Ludwig had been assisting the patrol guards for a few days, and given his nature, he would have chosen to go to the most dangerous places.

So, he must have seen the reality of the refugee area with his own eyes.

"Is the monster issue in the refugee area... really that serious?"

"It's not that it's not serious... but I heard it's not as bad as before. The real problem... isn't the monsters."

"If it's not the monsters, then what?"

At Christina's question, Ludwig's expression darkened.

"It's not just the starvation... it's the people."

Everyone seemed to understand what he meant, and their expressions soured.

Crime.

And hunger.

The problem in the refugee area was not the monsters, but the people.

Ludwig seemed reluctant to say more.

He must have seen the truth that life is desperate and miserable everywhere, and talking about it here wouldn't solve the problem.

"Anyway, you must be quite busy? I see you rarely come back to the dormitory."

Trying to change the subject, Ludwig mentioned the very thing I had been waiting for.

Research.

As the topic came up, Christina quietly nodded her head.

"Well, yes."

Christina said so, but Anna and Louis' expressions were not good. That alone was enough of a clue.

I'd like to ask more questions. Of course, they won't open up, but just looking at their reactions would give me enough clues.

"What kind of research are you doing back at the temple? Are you creating something like a Titan again?"

If something like a Titan were to be created, the war would proceed more smoothly, and Ludwig, who could no longer participate, looked excited.

No.

You foolish child...

How could an alchemist and a dark mage create a giant weapon?

Don't you even know the difference between magic crafting and alchemy?

"No, that's not our field... It's the same as usual. Improving Moonshine and stuff like that."

"Ah... I see."

It was a clear lie.

I confirmed that all three of them were involved in the same research project.

And Christina, as their representative, lied, and Ludwig didn't notice. Naturally, since only a very few people knew the circumstances of the disappearing corpses, Ludwig couldn't detect such a lie.

In the first place, he couldn't even think of suspecting his friends, so he just nodded.

However.

The one who had been silent all this time.

"......Really?"

Dettomorian looked at Christina with a gloomy gaze and tilted his head slightly.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'really'?"

"It can't be..."

Dettomorian muttered quietly.

And not only Christina but also Louis and Anna's faces turned pale.

I felt a chill running down my spine.

No, it really felt like the hair on my body was standing on end.

This bastard Dettomorian.

He doesn't know anything, but is he guessing this by instinct?

Under Dettomorian's piercing gaze, Christina's face turned white.

"Well... I guess you have your thoughts..."

He gave a hint of knowing something, but as if he wouldn't pry unless she told him directly, he groaned and got up, then headed to his room, mumbling as usual.

Ludwig looked confused, glancing alternately between his three friends with pale faces and Dettomorian.

"Detto... What is he talking about?"

"Well, you know Detto. He's always been like that, hasn't he?"

As if she'd never been flustered, Christina's expression changed in an instant.

Calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

"True, but..."

Indeed, Dettomorian often spoke in vague, cryptic terms, but Ludwig didn't seem to doubt him.

That's just how he was.

With that, they let it go.

Dettomorian.

He wasn't a bad guy, but he couldn't help but seem shady.

Ludwig didn't fully understand the situation, and Dettomorian seemed to have an attitude of letting the three of them conduct their research however they saw fit.

After that, Ludwig went to his room, saying he needed to sleep early for work tomorrow.

"..."

"..."

"..."

In silence, I watched as Christina, Louis, and Anna exchanged glances.

Now, only the three of them remained.

Wouldn't talk about the research begin now?

But they only exchanged glances, without having any conversation.

"Let's all go rest."

"...Okay."

"We should, indeed."

Had they decided not to mention the research topic at all outside?

After that brief exchange, the three dispersed.

------

At night, when everyone was asleep, I left the Royal Class dormitory in my cat form.

I was able to observe the three I sought, and I was sure that their research project was confidential.

But my inference was merely a certainty.

I still knew nothing about what they were actually doing.

Even if those three were core researchers, like the Titan Project, the project would certainly involve a significant number of other mages.

In fact, I knew where to go without even following the three.

It's impossible for them to conduct such research outside the temple, which has the most secure protection. It's not like they would carry out such a project outside the temple.

The Titan Project was developed in a moving ally base.

It must have been a pretty harsh environment, so the fact that Titan succeeded in its first operation was nothing short of a miracle.

However, there was no need for the research environment to be harsh.

Titan, being an excessively large, giant weapon, must have had no choice but to develop it on the moving frontlines of the coalition.

If not for that, Titan would naturally have been developed in a stable environment.

Since it's certain that the research is underway in the temple, I don't need to follow the B-class trio to know where the location is.

Where would the best research environment in the temple be?

The Temple University.

Of course, the Magic University Research Building within.

It's obvious that research is underway somewhere there.

Knowing this, the reason I haven't gone there yet is simple.

-...

The Temple Magic University, which I reached after running through the night, had completely controlled access.

Temple guards were present near the facility, and there were also guards monitoring the entrances to each research building.

Their numbers were astonishing.

Even an outsider would think something was going on inside, given the number of guards.

So strict that it almost gave it away.

Entering that area is entirely possible.

There was no chance the guards would chase away a single cat.

The important thing was, in this form, I could only roam around the research facility grounds.

Entering the building itself would be impossible.

Rather, any stray animal attempting to enter would be chased away. Regardless of whether I seemed suspicious or not, it was only natural since an animal might accidentally tamper with sensitive equipment.

Roaming around these grounds wouldn't yield any useful information.

That's why, even though I knew the project was being conducted here, I didn't bother coming and instead waited for the three of them to leak information outside.

However, whether they've been sworn to secrecy or not, the three of them never discuss the research.

Somewhere in the Temple Magic University Research Building.

A massive project, on par with the Titan Project, is being conducted here.

How on earth can I find out what they were doing?

I can't involve Kono Lint.

I told him not to investigate it with my own mouth, and this was clearly a dangerous matter.

Making him aware of this would only put him in danger.

Transforming into an insect was not possible. Well, it might be doable, but controlling it would be impossible.

It took me ages to adapt to being a cat, and I have no idea how to become an insect.

Should I call Sarkegaar over?

However, even the vicinity of this area was under strict security.

The area where the research was directly conducted will undoubtedly be under tight control, not only in terms of personnel but also the environment itself.

The chances were high that they have created a highly controlled environment, one that would not even tolerate an insect crawling around.

Could Sarkegaar find a way even in that situation?

Using force was obviously not an option.

Of course, if I thought about it, I could enter right away.

Christina, Anna, Louis.

If I transform into one of the three, I could enter immediately.

However, that was obviously the worst of the worst plans.

It was frustrating.

It was so frustrating that I just wanted to grab Bertus by the scruff of his neck and asked him what he was doing.

Of course, if I were going to do that, I would have contacted him earlier, so it was too late for that. It was ridiculous for me to ask him what he was doing when I created the Death Knight in the first place, and even if I grabbed him by the neck and threatened him, he won't give up on this matter just like the Empire wouldn't have any reason to give up on the Titan.

What can I do?

At this point, it wouldn't be a big problem if I just pretended not to know and assumed that the Empire would take care of it. After all, the research here was likely a project prepared for the current war.

However, just as everyone in Edina worried about what would happen if the Titan turned against us, even if it wouldn't.

The research being conducted here could potentially become a threat to us later, and the situation was uncertain.

If it were a simple matter like creating a Death Knight as we did, I might not even have to go this far to investigate.

But alchemy followed dark magic.

These connections didn't mesh together.

It seemed like more complex research was being conducted than I initially thought.

And I couldn't figure out what it was.

Brooding over it alone won't help me find a breakthrough.

I gave up.

I'll head back to Edina for a while and then return.