Chapter 173: Tiger. (3) (1/2)

“I’ll step forward.”

Deculein’s words turned the conference hall silent. The Imperial Knights opened their eyes and jerked their heads around. They were dumbfounded. Why did Deculein suddenly say that? But even so, a wizard couldn’t match a tiger.

Swallowing, Derek was the one to break the silence.

“B… but Professor, you are in charge of Reccordak-“

“That’s why I’m stepping forward.”

Deculein grinned.

“How much do you think I invested in Reccordak? I did not spend that money just to run away from a tiger.”

“…But still. It’s not just a tiger; it’s a Great Tiger… that….”

Julie, Gwen, and Syrio all had different reactions to Deculein’s actions.

“I know. If a tiger ripped apart a village, a Great Tiger could destroy a city. But, I don’t care how many villagers from the mountain die.”

Julie clenched her fists at the Professor’s words.

“The people on the northern mountain have a useless pride only good for dying. So don’t hate me if I leave them to die.”

Gwen exclaimed like she was speechless, and Syrio wore a light smile.

“And the prisoners who have to spend a lifetime here in Reccordak… I’d want to leave them all dead right now, but….”

Deculein put his finger on the file on the table.

“When Her Majesty leaves for an expedition in the future, this place will become a strategic point for her. It will become her base camp.”

The Imperial Knights’ were shocked once more at the mention of Her Majesty.

“This isn’t for those disposable prisoners or the parasitic villagers on the barrier. It’s for Her

Majesty.”

Deculein looked at the faces of each of the knights. He shook his head as if to smirk or laugh at them.

“But you seem to be afraid of the tiger, so I’m stepping up.”

“No, me too-“

“Forget it.”

Julie raised her hand, but Deculein’s cold eyes glared her down.

“The injured should just shut up and get lost.”

*****

Sylvia returned to her island. Idnik, researching magic at a table, smiled as soon as she noticed her. She looked so sullen.

“Hey kid, didn’t you have something to say to Deculein?”

“I sent him a note.”

Sylvia answered briefly. The content of the note she sent to Deculein was, ‘Assistant Professor Allen and Primienne are Demon Blood.’

“Do you think he’ll believe it if you just leave it there without any evidence?”

“If he doesn’t, then it’s his fault.”

Sylvia sat in her rocking chair. The swift hawk and the panda bear approached her to welcome her home. Idnik put a hand on her waist as she watched.

“Then, what are you going to do now? Are you going to watch Deculein again?”

“I won’t watch him anymore.”

“…Is that so? Then why do you look like that?”

“…”

Sylvia didn’t say anything. But, what she just saw kept lingering in her mind. Deculein was taking care of Epherene. Epherene was being cared for by Deculein. She felt strange.

Arrogant Epherene. Epherene stupidly got hurt. Why did she have to get hurt? She said she was going to solve it herself, so then why was she getting help?

“…”

“You’re jealous.”

“No, I’m not.”

Sylvia jerked her head back and stared at Idnik’s grinning face.

“Okay.”

“I’m not. Why would I be jealous of Epherene?”

“Okay, okay~.”

“…Idnik is a fool.”

Sylvia pouted her lips. Then, she buried herself in her chair and used Wind. But, she did not observe Deculein this time. She was just going to watch happenings of the far-off Reccordak.

*****

Rumors spread quickly in the north that a Great Tiger had appeared. However, the villagers residing nearby made no plan to evacuate.

“What do you think?”

Louina had a cast around her arm. It was an injury she received while working on recon.

“It’s pathetic. It’s outrageous.”

“The residents?”

I nodded. Then, I looked out the window of the mansion. In the military training ground of Reccordak, Julie was sparring with Reylie’s support against Syrio. Rumors had spread that she was furious over what I said last night.

“Why is it pathetic?”

“…It’s pathetic that they won’t leave and are readying themselves to die. It’s outrageous that the inner barrier can’t protect them.”

“Haha.”

Louina laughed a bit. I glared at her.

“What are you laughing about?”

“Even the boss won’t abandon it. It’s something precious to the boss, more than anyone else. Am I right?”

“…”

Even though it may break, it didn’t bend and wouldn’t give up on something it truly wanted. Deculein’s personality was a combination of conviction, belief, and pride, so there was nothing to refute. Was this what having double standards meant?

“Get out.”

“I will. But there’s someone else outside, boss?”

Louina smiled brightly and opened the door. Behind it was the Assistant Professor

Allen. She bowed hesitantly to Louina.

“Come in. I’m almost done.”

“Yes, yes…”

Allen hesitated to walk inside. I looked at her face carefully, noting her worry.

“Will it be okay…?”

Looking at me, she spoke sluggishly.

“What do you mean?”

“Professor, that… the Great Tiger… it is clever and cunning….”

The Great Tiger knew how to fight, it wouldn’t allow anyone to surround him, and it didn’t act rashly. In other words, it wouldn’t fight a hundred knights at once. Therefore, there should only be a few people recruited to hunt the tiger.

“It will be hard.”

Even now, I could still feel his spirit beyond the barrier. This was a warning, and he was waiting.

“If persuasion is possible, then that would be the best.”

They haven’t carried out a mission aside from recon. However, as confirmed by my wood steel outside, the Great Tiger was killing everything that entered its territory, human or monster.

“Persuasion? Is it possible…?”

I shook my head.

“The possibility is very slight. Tigers are usually born with a particular temperament, and if they are that ferocious, they have to be killed.”

“Then, Professor… you have to fight it after all.”

Allen bowed her head deeply. Her reaction felt unusual.

“I also don’t rush in without a way of winning.”

Then, Allen looked up.

“How is… that?”

“It’s a secret.”

Zzzz— zzzzz—

There was snoring from the sofa in the office. I glanced over with narrow eyes. Primienne was cuddling the heater as she slept comfortably.

“Wake her up and kick her out.”

Was she some kind of an idle youth or what? If you didn’t pay attention to her, even just a little, she would sneak into your warm office to sleep.

“Oh, yes. Uhm, excuse me?”

Allen shook her shoulders. Primienne slowly opened her eyes.

“You can’t stay here. The Professor is working….”

“…Ahh, it’s cold outside.”

“What? Oh…”

I watched them have their awkward little conversation.

…

“It’s cold.”

Eventually, Primienne, who was kicked out, began looking through her stuff. There was a note left by Allen inside her jacket.

[Professor Deculein got a tip. A report that the deputy director and I are Demon Blood.]

“…”

Primienne paused, then she looked around and stuffed the paper inside her mouth.