Chapter 65: Witness
There was a reason why Kessley had made hide and seek an assignment.
Because he was confident.
Even though Morgan had quickly climbed over the wall, Kessley, once out of sight, could not be found anywhere.
After searching for Kessley for several hours,
“Shall we take a break?”
Riche and Morgan entered a café in the city to catch their breath.
They sat at a spacious four-person table, but they were inevitably close to each other.
It was because of the handcuffs on their wrists. Even if they put their hands in their pockets, the extended chain was visible between them, which was awkward. And if they took their hands out, the handcuffs were fully visible, making it perfect for misunderstandings.
With no other choice, Riche and Morgan put their joined hands into Morgan’s pocket to hide the handcuffs.
That unavoidable action made them look like a very close couple.
“They’re a candidate couple for the winner.”
“It looks like they really like each other. What if they face each other in the finals?”
Riche’s cheeks slightly reddened upon hearing the whispers. It wasn’t true. Rumors involving romantic connections were always embarrassing.
But she couldn’t deny it either, as it wasn’t something directly said to her.
“I’m sorry, Morgan. I dragged you into my preliminary assignment.”
Riche whispered an apology to Morgan. Since Morgan hadn’t received a passing certificate yet, time was of the essence. Her feeling of apology grew stronger than her thoughts of Morgan being an opponent.
Morgan smiled brightly and answered as if it was nothing.
“No, it was an accident, right? Don’t worry too much.”
“But……”
[Yeah! Don’t worry, contractor! We’re the ones who got hurt! That damn guy!]
Pythons, exhausted, lay on the soft cushion, grumbling.
When Pythons said that Morgan was unlucky, it wasn’t a curse. Morgan Dayle was indeed incredibly unlucky.
Hiiiiiing-!
……
Thud.
……
“Get out of the way!”
Crazy horses charging while walking, trees falling from rotting roots above, and armed strangers charging.
These were just a few of the things that happened within a few hours today. Morgan, as if it was part of daily life, naturally calmed the horses, avoided the trees, and subdued the strangers.
Riche and Pythons also experienced these events due to the handcuffs.
Was that all? Tripping over stone slabs or having flower pots or books fall from above happened so often it was almost embarrassing to mention.
“Morgan, you……”
She couldn’t bring herself to say how he had survived until now.
Poor Morgan Dayle.
Even though he was an opponent, Riche and Pythons couldn’t help but feel sympathy for his misfortune.
[What good is being good-looking and skilled?]
Pythons grumbled about what kind of fate he must have had for death to be chasing him so madly.
He would have been dead already if he weren’t strong.
[It’s dangerous to be with that guy. We need to cut those handcuffs immediately.]
Pythons abruptly got up from the cushion.
He half-entered Morgan’s pocket to use his own power to break the handcuffs but was pulled back out by Riche.
“Hold on, Pythons. We can’t go to the lakeside for a few months.”
If Pythons used his power, the rate of strain would increase, and he might collapse anytime. The competition that takes six months has just begun.
As Riche said, Pythons reluctantly asked,
[So what are we going to do? It could take several more days to find that cat again.]
“I’m thinking of asking the magic users and the kids for help.”
Finding Kessley within today seemed unlikely. So, they had to at least get the handcuffs off.
[……Then why ask someone else for help?]
“Huh?”
Riche blinked at Pythons’ words.
Meanwhile, Morgan looked at Riche and Pythons with a smile on his face.
Was he thinking about their conversation in his head?
“It reminds me of the old days.”
There was a similar incident when he was younger. On the day his father froze. Deon had tied Riche’s and his own wrists together.
Morgan felt a tingling warmth in his chest from Riche’s hand in his pocket.
Riche, do you know? I actually cherish this time.
Even with the name Morgan Dayle, I can be by your side.
**However, it was a time that couldn’t last long.**
[Yes. I promised you. I won’t touch Tiarice Rodwick until the finals. But, Morgan. You also promised me that you would win at the Uddik Academy. If I judge that you won’t be able to keep your promise, I will step in personally. You’ll know who I’ll be targeting at that time.]
Morgan recalled the communication with the academy president he received four days ago.
The president of Uddik Academy, Hannivan Kaisha.
He was a fearsome figure who preferred removing obstacles rather than circumventing them for his own benefit.
The position he held was built on a pool of blood spilled by countless people.
Morgan planned to eventually sink his teeth into Hannivan’s neck, but that was at least three years away.
For now, Morgan was still his dog.
Morgan looked at the pocket where his and Riche’s hands were.
‘Staying with Riche like this isn’t good.’
In fact, the handcuffs could be cut off at any time, but the time spent with Riche was so happy that he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
But now, it was truly time to part ways.
“Tiarice……?”
When Morgan shifted his gaze to call Riche, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of two pairs of eyes staring intently at him. The face of Riche, who had come very close, made the nape of Morgan’s neck slightly redden.
Although surprised, Morgan quickly composed his expression and smiled with a puzzled look.
“Why are you staring so intently? Even the squirrel. Is there something you want to say?”
“Morgan, can you just cut the handcuffs off?”
Riche’s eyes sparkled. She had just discussed this with Pythons.
Why was the last year’s champion Kesselphon here, but looking for a magic user?
Morgan’s sealed ability was magic, not swordsmanship.
[If it’s a sword wrapped in aura, these damn handcuffs could be cut in one go!]
Although it was a bit worrisome, winning wasn’t something done for show.
As Pythons had said, Morgan nodded.
“Yeah. It’s possible.”
“Really? Then Morgan, since it’s frustrating, can you at least cut the chain?”
“Well, it’s not frustrating. But if Tiarice wants it, I’ll cut the chain first.”
Riche slowly withdrew her hand from Morgan’s pocket and put it into her own. Under the table, the short chain connecting their pockets was visible.
She planned to cut the chain secretly, away from people’s eyes.
Morgan subtly loosened the scabbard at his waist and brought it up to his thigh. The decoration attached to the scabbard briefly came into Riche’s view.
‘So, decorations can be added to scabbards too.’
The matte black glass decoration looked pretty. Maybe he would tell her where to buy it later.
“I’m going to cut it.”
Just as Morgan was about to grasp the sword handle and speak to Riche,
A knife flew from somewhere, cutting the chain of the handcuffs precisely and embedding itself deeply in the back of a sofa.
“Tiarice! Are you okay?!”
“……A knife?”
Morgan hurriedly withdrew his hand from Riche’s and examined it. Fortunately, the extended chain length was short, so the recoil of the chain was minimal.
Confirming that Riche wasn’t hurt, Morgan quickly scanned the cut chain and the knife embedded in the sofa. The cut surface was clean, and the knife was deeply embedded.
It was certainly a knife not wrapped in aura, but such power.
“……Ah.”
Morgan turned his head towards the direction the knife had flown from and let out an exclamation.
A shadow of a person loomed over Riche and Morgan’s heads.
Turning towards the presence, Riche froze upon recognizing the owner of the shadow.
“Gasp.”
“……Morgan Dayle.”
The red eyes gleamed ominously.
Behind Deon, Philip was fervently mouthing words to Riche.
‘Miss!’
‘Philip?’
‘That young master, it’s a big deal!’
Young Master Deon had seen them holding hands!
That wasn’t all. He even saw them looking like they were about to kiss through the window.
The sight froze Deon and Philip as they walked.
“Y-Young Master? It must be a mistake! Definitely!”
Philip hurriedly followed Deon into the café without saying anything.
He was shocked. Deon was throwing the knife he had picked up from the nearby table.
‘Eek!’
He thought Deon would be angry, but didn’t expect him to throw a knife!
If he could see the aura of the ability users like Miss Riche, Deon’s aura right now would definitely be red.
The red color seen when ability users radiate killing intent.
Whether Philip’s prediction was correct or not, Riche’s face was one of astonishment as she looked at Deon.
“What is my brother doing now?”
She had said that if she dated her brother, she would be dead.
Seeing Deon in that state, Morgan gave a wry smile.
‘This is a big deal.’
The Derkédion in his memory was an extreme younger sister fool.
* * *
“……”
Lily, hiding beneath the closed window, stared intently at the quieted foliage.
She had almost been caught. Her heart was pounding, and her light blue eyes were trembling.
‘This is bad.’
A short while ago.
Lily was on her way to Riche’s greenhouse, relying on a parasol in the scorching sun.
Although she had no interest in touching soil, she wanted to plant the flowers she had grown in a pot as a gift for Riche when she returned.
“Riche, this is a winning gift with my feelings.”
“Lily grew it……? I’m touched. It’s definitely Lily!”
“Then can I be your sister for life?”
“Of course!”
Then Riche, moved, would hug her tightly, and their bond would become even stronger than before.
‘Hehe, rather than relying on Brother Robenhalf, it’s quicker for me to take the place of Riche’s sister myself.’
Lily happily walked, imagining the success of her selfish plan.
“Tiarice Rodwick……are you going to touch her?”
Then she heard someone’s voice seeping out from the open window on the second floor.
‘Riche’s name?’
Trying to shorten the time to the greenhouse, Lily took a shortcut. It was a path not usually traveled by students, so only Lily was on the path.
“……”
Lily carefully folded her parasol and tiptoed to the window, taking cover behind the garden tree.
If someone found out that she was eavesdropping, it would be an embarrassment for the aristocracy.
“Yes. I am also concerned about that power.”
Voices from the second floor could be heard again. A stiff voice devoid of flexibility. It was Professor Rumbla Izmatic.
From the static mixed with the opponent’s voice, it seemed like they were on a call.
‘Why is Professor Rumbla talking about Riche?’
Lily perked up her ears towards the second floor. Since Rumbla was not speaking in a steady volume, she couldn’t hear the entire conversation.
Then Rumbla’s voice became clearer.
“Using Tiarice Rodwick as bait to manipulate ability users—!”
‘What?’
Startled, Lily looked up. She saw Rumbla’s face approaching the window.
If Rumbla came any closer, she would be visible through the window.
‘D-Don’t get caught.’
Panicking, Lily stepped back and accidentally touched the parasol propped against the wall.
Rustle.
The sound of the parasol falling was loud. Then the quiet second floor and Rumbla’s slowly gripping the window frame.
As Lily imagined Rumbla’s purple eyes looking at her, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Thud. Someone grabbed Lily from behind.
