国产午夜亚洲精品AⅤ

Chapter 254

“I can’t believe a gordian worm that controls humans actually exists...”

“A gordian worm?”

Ellen tilted her head as if she was hearing about it for the first time.

“Well, so, inside the insect’s intestines... Ugh...”

Harriet turned pale as she tried to explain to Ellen what Cristina had told her. Her sharp mind vividly recalled the image of thread-like worms filling the insides of a grasshopper or a mantis.

Just speaking about it caused her to suffer damage herself.

“Anyway, there are worms that can mind-control insects...”

“Is that also magic?”

“No, they’re just naturally like that...”

“Interesting.”

Although it was a bizarre logic to assume that if there were worms that could control insects, there could surely be worms that could control humans through magic, the argument wasn’t completely devoid of persuasion since such things actually existed.

However, the clues pointed towards alchemy, not dark magic.

That did not mean that dark magic was completely uninvolved in it, since an alchemical creation that used techniques similar to dark magic would fall into the category of dark magic-related alchemy. Therefore, they could not completely dismiss the connection.

If they could identify what magic was really involved, beginning with the parasite, it might lead to some answers.

Nothing was certain, but that was the only lead they had for now.

“Let’s go see Ms. Mustang.”

“Okay.”

Since such knowledge was likely beyond the student’s level, Ellen and Harriet decided to meet with their teacher first.

***

Royal Class teachers typically didn’t take on dedicated lectures. They focused on the protection and management of the class members. They were composed of competent individuals capable of providing immediate response in times of emergency.

Although they could give lectures if required, they devoted their efforts to managing the Royal Class.

Therefore, while the dormitory supervisors resided within the Temple premises, the homeroom teachers did as well. When incidents occurred, they were often called to the dormitory, even on weekends.

“She’s an interesting person,” Harriet remarked as they made their way to the staff residential area.

“Really?”

Although Ms. Mustang wasn’t an alchemist, she was an advisor to the Magic Research Club. She would occasionally visit to check up on the children’s research projects and give one or two comments.

However, because the research topics were so enormously challenging, even when she tried to explain things, she’d end up scratching her head for hours on end together with the kids.

And then, with a defeated expression, she’d leave, muttering in a self-deprecating manner, “I’m an impotent teacher...”

Ms. Mustang’s self-esteem had been in freefall lately. Tracking down Ms. Mustang to her address in the staff residence area within the Temple, Harriet asked for her and explained the specific matter to her.

A bug that controlled people... Could that be created through alchemy?

“Kids! You shouldn’t think about making things like that!” Ms. Mustang exclaimed.

The ever-worried Ms. Mustang clung to Harriet, utterly horrified.

Ellen thought she understood why Harriet found Ms. Mustang interesting.

Although Ms. Mustang didn’t know the full details, she calmed down once she heard they were just curious. After ordering drinks at a nearby café, the three of them sat down.

“A homunculus or chimera that controls people... Why are you curious about such things?” Ms. Mustang asked with a worried expression.

“Just because. I came across a mention that something like that existed somewhere.”

“Are there really such things?”

“Well... if there were, creating them would be classified as forbidden magic, regardless of what kind of magic it was. Forbidden, by definition, means that there’s very little information about it. We can’t even confirm if it exists or not.”

Even the teachers were in the dark about it.

“Still... a bug that can control people... There must have been someone who tried to create something like that.”

Ms. Mustang was more aware of the madness of some mages than her students were. The pursuit of knowledge could always turn into madness, leading some individuals to dabble in forbidden spells. There were more unknowns than knowns when it came to such people.

“I believe you’re not trying to create such a thing, but I must warn you out of caution never to touch it. Understood? We wouldn’t be able to protect you, “ warned Ms. Mustang.

“Of course not. Ellen here doesn’t even major in magic.”

“Yes, that’s true, but...”

Ms. Mustang, always full of worries, seemed extremely concerned that the students might be getting strange ideas. Seeing the expressions on Ellen and Harriet’s faces, she smiled.

“It’s okay. Whatever it is you’re worried about, if such a person exists, the Forbidden Spell Hunters wouldn’t leave them alone.”

Forbidden Spell Hunters.

Ellen and Harriet both tilted their heads.

It was a term they had never heard before.

“Forbidden Spell Hunters?”

“What are they?”

“Oh, well, I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t know about them. It’s not something one needs to know about...”

Ms. Mustang lowered her voice. “Have you heard of magic societies?”

“Yes, we know they exist,” Harriet and Ellen both answered. Though they didn’t know the specifics, they were aware such groups existed.

“One of the magic societies consists of hunters who hunt down mages who use forbidden spells.”

“... Ms. Mustang. Do not relay uncertain information to the students.”

Ellen and Harriet turned around at the familiar voice coming from behind them.

“M-Mr. Effenhauser?!”

Looking down at the three of them was Effenhauser, with his usual stern expression. It seemed he had just stopped by, since he wasn’t wearing his usual formal attire but was dressed in casual clothing. Ellen and Harriet stared at the casually-dressed Effenhauser as if he were some rare animal.

His attitude, however, was the same as always.

Ms. Mustang’s face turned red as though she’d been caught playing a mischievous prank.

“Th-The Forbidden Spell Hunters do exist!”

Ms. Mustang looked utterly like a child who believed in urban legends.

In truth, stories about Forbidden Spell Hunters were almost like legends, and Ms. Mustang simply enjoyed telling such tales.

She was the complete opposite of Effenhauser.

“... Sure, they do exist,” Mr. Effenhauser remarked.

“... Sorry?”

“But don’t go about spreading such things. It’s an unverified group.”

Mr. Effenhauser seemed to have just come to buy a drink and left quickly after purchasing one.

“... I’ve never seen him start a conversation like that.”

Harriet found it remarkable that they had run into Mr. Effenhauser and that he’d acknowledged them.

“Ha, haha... Actually, aside from work, he doesn’t speak at all after work hours. It might be the first time this year...”

It seemed Mr. Effenhauser didn’t engage in any personal conversations unrelated to work. Clearly, calling him unfeeling would be an understatement.

It was almost the end of the year. Harriet looked stunned by the fact that it was the first time he’d spoken about something other than work matters.

‘Isn’t it a bit too extreme to be that devoted to separating work and personal life?’

Harriet clearly thought so.

“Are those Forbidden Spell Hunters really that remarkable?” asked Ellen.

Ms. Mustang started sweating. “Well, you see... I’m not sure myself... Of course, they’re not infamous like the Black Order.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of them,” Harriet said, nodding. “They’re known for committing bad deeds with magic.”

“They’re like a scourge upon society,” Ms. Mustang added.

Ms. Mustang rarely used such rough terms. She continued to explain what she knew.

While all magic societies were secretive, what was known about some, such as the Black Order, often turned out to be exaggerated, or just rumors. However, stories about the Black Order had a common theme.

Every story about them was full of examples of them causing harm to the world. From minor incidents like assassinations to using entire villages as testing grounds, or a regional lord’s mage secretly being a Black Order member planning to take over the entire estate.

Although their objectives were unknown, they were acknowledged to be harmful entities.

However, just like other magic societies, the true nature of the Forbidden Spell Hunters and the Black Order were unknown.

“Anyhow, if you want to learn more around here, you should meet someone who specializes in alchemy rather than me.”

She took out a notepad and wrote down an office address and name.

[Aaron Mede]

“He conducts alchemy classes at the Temple. He coaches high-level students, so if he doesn’t know about this, then such magic likely doesn’t exist. Since he focuses on giving lectures, he probably isn’t at the Temple on weekends.”

Aaron Mede, an alchemist recommended by Ms. Mustang... He had to have ample knowledge. Normally, they would wait for a weekday, but Ellen and Harriet were in a hurry since the information was urgent.

“Will we be able to meet him if we visit his home directly?” Harriet asked anxiously.

“Hmm... I’m not sure if he’ll be willing to meet you or not... But remember to behave properly. He’s a good-natured person, but again, it’s not polite to visit on the weekend. Understood?”

Under the worried gaze of Ms. Mustang, Ellen and Harriet nodded.

***

“So, you’re sure about it?” I asked Sarkegar.

“They’re definitely dabbling in forbidden spells, even if it’s unclear whether they’re specifically aiming to harm Your Highness. If this information gets out, they will surely be subject to severe punishment.”

I nodded as I listened to Sarkegar’s report. He relayed all the information he had gathered to me in my private room in the Temple’s dormitory.

“Those mages are capable of doing many things in a short time. Escaping would be the least of their concerns,” I said.

Although the estate of Aaron Mede, the alchemy teacher at the Temple, was not particularly large, it still encompassed a vast area.

The mansion itself wasn’t exactly modest, but it paled in comparison to several other grand estates. However, beneath it lay extensive underground facilities. These were facilities for researching numerous forbidden dark spells.

At that moment, I was looking at something that resembled a worm wriggling in front of me.

‘Disgusting.’

It looked like some kind of black gordian worm.

I had briefly wondered if a sparrow had brought in an earthworm before realizing it was Sarkegar.

“So, they attempted to implant this into people to kill me indirectly...”

“It’s a homunculus, a magical life form. Fortunately, it seems unable to pass through the Temple’s entrance... but it can get in through the air.”

A dispel spell would be cast on anything passing through the ground entrance of the Temple. Since it was a magical entity, the best counter to a homunculus wasn’t a sword, but dispel magic.

However, Sarkegar had entered the Temple through the air. Since this homunculus had not been subjected to dispel magic, it was still alive.

Setting aside Aaron Mede’s attempts to kill me, killing him would benefit the world. It was likely that the assassin from that day had been controlled by this bug.

They had probably decided on caution once they realized I was onto them.

Aaron Mede was not a teacher affiliated with the Orbis Class, and was therefore still employed by the Temple. However, attempting to kill me directly while I was inside the Temple carried significant risks.

That was why he was trying to have me killed outside the Temple, using someone else’s hands.

“What will you do, Your Highness? I can take care of this myself.”

Sarkegar had merely come to offer a report, as I had ordered him not to act directly until there was more information. Had it not been for that, Sarkegar would have already dealt with Aaron Mede on the spot.

“I have to go personally.”

“Must you? You could use my hands, Eleris’s, or Loyar’s.”

The villain has been identified, so there was no longer any need to be scared.

“No. There are some questions I need to ask him directly.”

I had found the one who had tried to kill me.

While killing him was an obvious course of action, there were a few things I needed to ask him first.

“Let’s go, Sparrow,” I said as I stood up.

“...”

Sarkegar seemed slightly peeved but obediently transformed into a sparrow.