Chapter 172: Tiger. (2) (2/2)

Schwaaa—

Deculein spoke as he flipped through the book’s pages.

“Nine people were killed, and eleven seriously injured. The injured were transported by Knight Deya alone.”

“…”

Epherene’s mouth fell open. Nine people died, a fact that was too heavy to just consider it as a number.

Schwaaa—

“Is your body okay?”

“…What? Ah… that…”

‘Oh my god. Oh my god. Deculein is asking about my well-being. Is this a dream? There are nine people dead, so it would still be nice if it’s a dream….’

“Are you not okay?”

“Yes? Ah, no. I’m fine. It just hurts a little.”

Epherene spoke while scratching her temples.

“I’m not going to die anyway. I met the future me…”

Clack—

At that time, Deculein closed his book. Then, he stared at her with his scary eyes.

“You don’t know that.”

“…Ah, yes, that’s true.”

“You’ll die if you’re so certain.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry.”

Epherene lowered her head in apology.

—Rustle.

At that moment, someone was listening in. Both Deculein and Epherene looked over toward the open window.

“Huh?”

A cold wind swept through the window, rustling past a note that had been left on the sill. Deculein grabbed the note with Psychokinesis.

“What is it, Professor?”

“…”

Deculein read the note without responding. His expression turned grave.

“What is it?”

“…”

“What is it?”

After her third question, Deculein looked at her. Epherene flinched.

“Shut your mouth.”

“…Yes.”

Epherene tightly closed her mouth as Deculein burned the paper, turning the note to ash.

“Get some rest.”

Deculein stood, dusting off his gloves using Cleanse.

“What? Oh, yes.”

It seemed serious, so Epherene didn’t dare ask about it.

“Right! Thank you, Professor!”

But, she did make sure to convey her gratitude.

“…”

“Thank you for saving me.”

Standing tall, he looked back at her with a gaze that could kill.

“I remember everything. The Professor has cured me-“

“There’s no need to be thankful.”

Baam—!

Deculein closed the door behind him.

“…Haa, he must be shy.”

*****

Meanwhile, there was an emergency meeting at the prison. Each person around the table wore a grim look as a heavy atmosphere oppressed them. This was thanks to the Great Tiger that appeared.

“If… if it’s a Great Tiger, we should abandon Reccordak….”

He killed nine knights with a single blow and crippled eleven people. If this were a war, he would be close to a General in rank.

“…It’s the best solution.”

Those were the words of the warden, whose complexion had lost all color.

“Let… let’s leave Reccordak. The second line of defense-“

“I disagree.”

“That won’t do.”

Gwen and Julie objected. Deculein glanced at the two.

“Why not?”

But, the Imperial Knights refuted their opposition.

“It’s a Great Tiger, a Great Tiger. They are looking down at us from the mountain right now, and it’ll be hard to protect Reccordak unless someone like Lord Zeit comes.”

“We can run while the prisoners buy us time. Don’t you think so, Professor? The Great Tiger is a variable no one expected, so Her Majesty would understand.”

The Knight Derek asked Deculein. Then, the hall went silent for a moment. Everyone in the conference room, including Ihelm and Julie, looked to Deculein.

“That’s a reasonable plan. If there’s no one to step up.”

“That’s right. The Professor is very insightful-“

“No!”

Julie stepped up as expected. Deculein shook his head as if he expected it. Upon seeing Deculein’s reaction, the Imperial Knights burst into laughter. Their ridicule was directed at Julie.

“The tiger should not cross this barrier. When it enters our mountain, no knight will stop it, and all the villagers in these mountains will perish. Every one of them. Not a single person will survive.”

“…”

Deculein’s icy gaze focused on Julie.

“Syrio, you went up against the Great Tiger.”

Then, all eyes were on Syrio. He shrugged.

“Hmm. I couldn’t go up against him; it’s too strong. Wow~, I didn’t know that beasts could be faster than me. I barely made it away.”

“See. It’s no time to worry about the villagers.”

The Imperial Knights glared at Julie. She clenched her teeth, and Deculein tapped his fingers on the table.

Tap— tap—

Tap— tap—

It was like a metronome. The knights drew their attention to him, and everyone held their breath in silence for him to speak.

“That tiger will go over the barrier. He is aggressive, so that he will attack the barrier several times a day. Just as Knight Deya has said, there will be no way to pursue him if he enters the mountain. So, I’m asking. Is there someone who would hunt the Great Tiger beyond the barrier?”

He looked around. There was no one. Syrio was already injured, Gwen and Raphael looked unsure, and the Imperial Knights were all looking the other way. But there was one person.

Julie raised her hand.

“…I-“

“Good.”

Deculein nodded. The people in the conference room roughly knew what he would say next: to abandon Reccordak. Then, he looked at the face of each knight there in turn.

“It seems like there’s no one else, so I’ll do it.”

“…”

“…”

Silence hung like a curtain over them. Julie froze with her hand raised, and the rest wore ridiculous expressions. One knight cleared his ears to verify if he heard correctly. However, Deculein continued calmly amidst all the shock.

“Why are you so shocked? You said I’m a wizard that can rival Rohakan….”

*****

…In the prison’s hospital room.

Epherene, who was about to fall asleep under the haze of painkillers, woke up at the sudden sound of the door opening.

“…Weah?”

“Ms. Epherene! Are you okay? I heard about what happened!”

It was Allen. Epherene grinned after confirming who it was.

“Oh, yes… am okay… hihihi…”

“You don’t look fine.”

She shook her head at the flustered Allen.

“No, okay, but, hihihihihihi.”

“…”

Epherene, as she tottered, looked like a ghost. It was needlessly frightening. Allen, stepping back, *crunch* – stepped on something.

“…What’s this?”

“What? Ah…”

The note that Deculein burned earlier.

“It’s a note that Professor Deculein burned. I don’t know who it’s from… hihihi.”

Epherene laughed again because she felt itchy, and Allen took the remains of the note with a light smile.

“After reading the note, his expression suddenly became stiff… hehehe.”

“Oh. I see~. Why did it become stiff?”

“I don’t know… keke.”

Allen gathered the debris and pretended to throw it into the garbage can but instead used the magic [Replay].

Clack— clack— clack—

The ashes gathered in his hands and burned again, returning to their previous form.

“Hehe, hehehehe. Keke.”

Allen was wary of Epherene, but soon enough, the note returned to its original form.

“…”

Allen’s expression went blank.