CHAPTER 3 - A Guiding Light for Those Lost in the Night

[yumemory]

[Location: Foyer, morning]

After talking to Sukey, we decided to abort our shopping plans and immediately returned to the manor to consult the other Sage's wizards.

Riquet: Master Sage, Chloe. I apologize for acting on my own.

Riquet: But I just couldn't ignore her call for help...

Chloe: Don't worry about it! I feel the same as you do.

Chloe: Getting separated from your precious friends like that must be unbearably sad... I can't help but get worried about Polly as well.

Akira: I agree. And based on what Sukey told us, it's likely that these missing persons incidents might be due to The Great Calamity.

Akira: Let's talk to everyone. I'm sure they'll be able to help us!

Chloe: Yup. Lords Snow and White seem especially knowledgeable about the Nightwalker. Let's all work together to solve this case!

???: ...Did someone just say our names?

Chloe, Riquet, Akira: Huh.

Snow and White: Boo!

Snow: The Nightwalker, the terrifying monster that haunts the darkness of night, has arrived!

White: We will devour every child who dares misbehave~!

Chloe, Riquet, Akira: ..................

Snow and White: Now that is definitely not the reaction we expected...

Akira: S-Sorry we couldn't respond well. Your timing for this topic is kinda...

Snow: Oh, well. Let us move on from that. Actually, we have something to report to you, Sage. We have received a request from the Central Country.

White: We have been informed that there is a school that has reportedly lost some of its students...

Chloe, Riquet, Akira: Is that...

——It was the missing students incident at Beryl School. We found out we weren't the only ones who thought this might be an effect of The Great Calamity.

 

[Location: Beryl School, morning]

Upon receiving an official request from the Central Country, we visited Beryl School to conduct an investigation...

...While being dressed as students. 

Riquet: Chloe, Master Sage. Let’s do our best to solve this case together.

Chloe: Yup. The missing students must be really scared right now.

Snow: Hohoho, you two seem to be in high spirits. But exercise caution: don’t show too much enthusiasm, and do not let anyone know that we are wizards.

Snow: The children in this school are quite on edge right now. It may be best for both us and them to avoid any further disorder.

Akira: You're right... That's why we asked Chloe to make us outfits like these. They’ll definitely  help us fit in.

Riquet: Thank you so much for always making such wonderful clothes.

Riquet: Master Sage, Chloe, and Lord Snow could really pass as students here.

Chloe: You’re welcome! It’s the least I can do.

Snow: Our task for today is to blend in as much as possible, and investigate the students and teachers of this school.

Snow: We can start by clarifying what has actually transpired here.

Riquet: Sukey told us that there are rumors that the Nightwalker is involved in this case...

Snow: To be truthful with you all, that name was originally meant to be a general term for creatures that attack at night. Regardless, we must find out what exactly the perpetrator is in this case.

Snow: Though it is possible that a Nightwalker has truly appeared, we cannot overlook the possibility that it may just be a suspicious person that we seek.

Snow: And that, everyone, is precisely why I thought it best to bring along some trustworthy lads to help us out, in the case that something goes awry.

Mithra, Owen and Oz: ...................

 

Snow: Now, spare me those bland expressions, you three. Or would you prefer if I called you Master Mithra, Master Owen and Master Oz?

Snow: Hellooo, my beloved teachers~! Surely you will willingly provide assistance to your lovely students today, right?

Riquet: You three aren't dressed like students.

Chloe: Nope! I thought this kind of look would be more appropriate for them.

Owen: ...Sigh, playing school in these clothes is so stupid.

Mithra: Isn't conducting an investigation quite troublesome? I suggest we just destroy the entire building and easily expose the hidden children. That would be a much quicker solution, I believe.

Snow: No no, that will not solve the problem in the slightest. In case the two of you needed reminding, you both are here right now to assist us in our mission as punishment for destroying a portion of the manor.

Snow: As soon as you act out of line, Oz will strike you with lightning, no questions asked. Now, make sure to be mindful of your role here. Are we clear?

Oz: ..................

Akira: (...Oz looks like he was also just dragged into joining us, but it's still reassuring to have him here.)

White had gone to look for Bradley, who disappeared after sneezing, and that was why Oz had joined us as his substitute.

Oz: Behave properly if you want to return to the manor in one piece.

Mithra: Sigh. Fine. 

We started our investigation by walking around the school building. It must have been the middle of class hours, because we didn't see any students or teachers walking in the corridors.

Riquet curiously peeked into one of the classrooms through the window.

Riquet: So classes in Central Country are held in huge groups of people like this...

Riquet: What's all that written on the board? There's so many letters...

Snow: Hohoho, it seems like schools are something our Riquet has taken interest in.

 

Riquet: Wah!

Riquet, who was looking around with a serious expression, turned his eyes when Snow called out to him.

Snow: Hm, it appears that they are having a history lesson over there.

Riquet: Yes. And they all seem very focused on listening.

Riquet: The atmosphere in this school is very different from the one we went to in the South. It's a bit refreshing.

Akira: Ah, that’s because schools in Central are run by donations from the royal family and the nobility, and are controlled by the government, right?

Snow: You seem to have learned a lot about Central, Sage.

Akira: Ahaha... It's just information Arthur and Cain shared with me before we left.

Chloe: Hey, Master Sage. Can all of the Central kids go to school?

Akira: I've been told that according to the system, anyone can go to school, but that doesn't seem to be the case in reality.

Snow: For poor families, children are an important part of the labor force. They often prioritize earning money over their schooling.

Snow: Children who attend school are most likely to have come from relatively wealthy families, or perhaps they are one of those who chose to dedicate themselves to their education.

Akira: I see...

Chloe: So it’s really like that... It would’ve been nice if they could all go.

Chloe: Ah, look! Look! What are those shapes on the walls? They all look so different...

Owen: More than that...

Owen: Why do these people look so carefree in class even after losing their friends?

 

Owen: It's either that they’ve never viewed them as friends, or they believe their education is more important. Don’t you think so?

Owen: Are you all even aware you’re acting as carefree as they are?

Chloe: Ah...

Riquet: ...I-I apologize. I know we're on a very important mission right now...

Owen: Don’t worry. It’s not like you would care if the students here disappeared or got killed anyway.

Snow: Cease that behavior at once, Owen. 

Snow: The children in this school are not aware of how to act in the face of sudden incidents. It would only make sense for them to feel as if they have no choice but to go about their daily lives as usual.

Owen: Haha. They're too foolish to know they might be the next victims. Or perhaps it's the other way around: they act like this because they're brazen.

Oz: Owen.

Akira: O-Oz! Please put down your staff!

Chloe and Riquet: ..................

 

Riquet: I don’t see anything suspicious at the moment...

Snow: Classes are about to end, it seems. We may stand out if we all continue walking in a group like this.

Akira: You're right... Then, shall we split into two groups?

Snow: I agree. Then, the ones who will interview the teachers will be Oz, Mithra, Owen and...

Mithra, Owen and Oz: ..................

Snow: For reasons that should be quite clear, I am not comfortable leaving these three on their own, so I shall be joining them as well.

Snow: We will leave the investigation of the students to you!

(Snow and company walk off)

Riquet: ...We'll definitely find some clues. For Sukey and the others.

Chloe: We will...

Akira: Ah, there are students over there. Why don't we have a quick chat with them?

The students were just coming out of their classes.

We were about to approach them when...

Teacher: You kids over there! I have something to ask.

Chloe and Riquet: Huh?

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TL: yumemory  | Proofread: Alle
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