Chapter 62 - Bounty Head and Awakening [5] (1/2)

Through my still hazy consciousness, I heard the stiff voice of a woman.

「–Aa, it’s the Black Organization! A tall, big man and a slender woman, they were wearing the infamous black cloak! As soon as you get any information, please contact me immediately!」

This voice probably belongs to Leia-sensei.

(Eh… Come to think of it, what am I doing…?)

My head slowly started to clear up, and gradually my five senses became clear.

(…It’s an unfamiliar ceiling.)

Apparently, I seem to be lying on my back.

I pushed off the brown blanket that was covering my body and slowly raised my upper body.

「W-Where am I…?」

「-You’ve come to, Allen! Rest assured, this is the Director’s office in the academy. Those guys are gone.」

「…Those guys!?」

The moment I heard those words, my heart leapt into my throat.

Shopping with the president.

The Black Organisation that attacked Ria and Rose.

Battle with Zack and Thor.

I remembered all of them clearly.

「Oh right, Ria!? Is Ria safe!?」

I immediately stood up and approached Leia-sensei.

She shook her head quietly.

「…Sorry. She was already taken away by the time I arrived at the scene…」

「No…」

In an instant, the colour drained from my face, and my vision flashed.

「O-Oi… are you alright!?」

Sensei rushed to me and supported my body that was assailed by strong dizziness.

Even though I didn’t want to think about it, the worst case scenarios rushed into my mind.

What if Ria is tortured?

What if Ria is humiliated?

What if Ria – if she’s already killed?

A number of『what ifs』filled my head.

(That’s no good… Get yourself together …! I can’t change anything by thinking about it…!)

I clenched both fists, grit my teeth, and strengthened my heart .

「…I’m sorry, I’m all right now. Rather than that, where did those guys go?」

「…That’s right. Let’s share information before we discuss about it.」

Saying that, sensei arranged wanted posters with mug shots on the table.

「These are the wanted posters of the Conflagration, Zack Bomber, and the Conjurer, Thor Sammons. As you can see, both of them are internationally wanted first-class bounties. You did well to survive against those two, Allen.」

When I heard sensei’s explanation, I was surprised.

(Come to think of it… I was on the verge of death with a serious injury, right…?)

I was pierced by the〈Blaze Lance〉, and my whole body was burned by a blazing conflagration.

Eventually I lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding – and I was laying here when I came to.

As I fearfully looked down at my abdomen,

(Eh…?)

There were no burn marks left, not even a scar.

(…Medicine in this country is developed, but this injury healed way too fast… )

Did Leia-sensei dispatch an excellent doctor with the director’s authority?

When thinking about that,

「Now, take a look at this.」

She pointed to the national map spread out on the desk.

「Currently, House Arcstria is taking measures to strengthen border security at every critical place like never before. It is extremely difficult to escape through such a tight security network. Those guys are definitely still hiding within the country.」

Apparently, while I was sleeping, the president used the power of『Arcstria』to move.

「And for the purpose of the Black Organization, they can’t kill Ria immediately.」

「The purpose of the Black Organization…?」

When I asked,

「…I’m sorry. This matter falls under confidential national security. Even in the sense of keeping you safe, I can’t tell you yet.」

Sensei shook her head with a slightly bitter look.

「I…see…」

It’s very worrisome, but…

If she says that it is a confidential matter, then it is not possible to pursue it any more.

「I can’t go into detail, but… They almost certainly brought Ria to a『laboratory』somewhere in the country. Twenty-four hours until the end of the『analysis』,they can never harm Ria.」

「Only 24 hours…?!」

It was too short a time.