Volume 3 Chapter 15 There Is An Order To Things
"I want to uncover the Seven Mysteries──."
"Absolutely not."
As Randy tried to make a vow, Liz's merciless "no" pierced through him.
"Why not? It sounds interesting, right?"
"No means no."
With Liz completely dismissing him, Randy turned to Cecilia with a puffed cheek, seeking help.
"Making that face won't work."
"Give it up, you fool. And you're not cute. I'll hit you."
Cecilia sipped her tea elegantly, while Luke frowned beside her.
Randy and the others were now on the terrace of the café at the academy. That place where they always enjoyed lunch was like a half-private room, complete with partitions, favored by the nobility.
Here, both Randy and Luke could stretch their wings without worrying about being seen, but...
"Who's going to hit whom?"
Randy stood up from his chair, glaring at Luke, who glared back defiantly. ...Stretching their wings had its drawbacks.
"It's you, you. I haven't forgiven you for what happened the other day."
"Tch. You're such a tightwad."
As they glared at each other, Randy snorted, and Liz, with an exasperated expression, admonished him, "Randy, your language is terrible." Even Randy realized that 'tightwad' was a bit much, and he silently averted his gaze from Luke and sat back down.
"But the Seven Mysteries sound interesting, right?"
Still puffing his cheeks, Randy was met with Luke's laughter as he said, "Why don't you take an exploration team with you?"
"Exploration team... Hey Luke, aren't you a member of the exploration team? What the captain says is an absolute promise."
"Are you an idiot? Right now, I'm Cecilia's bodyguard. It's not the same as when I was indulging your foolish explorations."
With a snort, Luke made Randy click his tongue again and cross his legs.
Since visiting the Occult Research Club the other day, the 'Seven Mysteries of the Academy' had become a trend for Randy. Especially after he showed up at the Occult Research Club yesterday and heard about it.
At the Royal Academy, there have long been 7 mysteries... This intriguing tale began to stir Randy's heart.
1. The Abandoned Forbidden Library
Beneath the academy lies the ruins of a once-thriving ancient era, and somewhere there are stairs leading to the old forbidden library. It is said that a demon guarding the forbidden books exists, and anyone who enters the library is enchanted by the demon and never returns.
"In reality, it's the underground library used by Professor Ruuya, who specializes in ancient languages, and students who enter without permission are taken to the lecture room."
"..."
2. The Blood Cherry Blossoms Blooming in the Playground
The massive cherry tree in the corner of the playground is said to bloom at midnight during its flowering season, its petals glowing a deep red. It is rumored that many corpses are buried beneath the cherry tree, and the cherry blossoms, having absorbed their blood, turn red.
“In truth, it's actually a magical power tree that was carefully cultivated by the gardening club. The petals only appear red because they absorb the light from the nearby magical lantern.”
"..."
3. The Weeping Statue
The statue of King Karl I, the founder of the academy, located at the entrance, is said to weep at night. It is rumored that due to assassination suspicions surrounding King Karl I, he still cannot find peace and sheds tears of regret.
"The cracks on the top of the statue allow dew and rainwater to seep in. The water gradually fills the internal cracks and leaks out from the cracks near the eyelids."
"...Don't you guys have any sense of romance?"
Randy frowned grandly at the truths revealed by everyone.
"Romance or not, these 3 have already been solved. The rest are probably similar nonsense."
Luke shrugged, and both Liz and Cecilia nodded. In fact, 3 of the 7 mysteries had been explained as they said, and the remaining 4 were likely to have equally trivial truths, so no one was paying them any mind.
However, Annabelle, as the only member of the Occult Research Club, was considering the identity of the ghost or the resolution of the mysteries for the academy festival exhibition.
That's why Randy became interested in the Seven Mysteries. By the way, the remaining 4 are:
4. Another Self Appearing in the Mirror Room
5. The Infinite Twilight Corridor
6. The Phantom Classroom
7. The New Moon Tower
These also piqued Randy's interest immensely.
"To begin with, amateurs like us shouldn't interfere."
The remaining 4 have already started moving, and since Annabelle has begun making the report, they shouldn't interfere with that. While saying such things, Liz elegantly tilts her teacup, but... Randy knows. He knows that Liz is afraid of ghosts. That's why she's opposing it like this.
"Liz... behind you──."
"Eek!"
At Randy's low, terrifying voice, Liz flinches and instinctively hugs Randy.
Caught off guard by her unexpected reaction, Randy's face turns red...
"You're too close. You fool!"
...Suddenly, Ellie appears and punches Randy in the chest. Just when she hugs him, she hits him. It's quite the opposite behavior, but it's understandable since they're different inside.
"You shouldn't hit."
"Shut up. My hand hurts more."
As Randy furrows his brows, Ellie rubs her hand and snorts, "Liz is angry too."
"Tell Liz I'm sorry──."
──Say it. Just as Randy was about to say that, he suddenly closed his mouth, and Ellie looked up at him, blowing on her fist.
"What is it?"
As Ellie furrows her brows, Randy leans in closer.
"Hey, you're too close──."
"You just said... Liz?"
"...I didn't say that."
Randy peeks at Ellie, who puffs her cheeks and turns away.
"No. You said it."
"I didn't say it."
"Hey, try calling me Randy."
"Shut up. You're too close, kid!"
Randy tries to get closer, while Ellie tries to push him away. They seem to get along well, but...
"What are you two flirting about?"
"You're really showing off, huh?"
...They get teased by Cecilia, who looks exasperated, and Luke, who whistles.
"W-Well, we're not flirting, okay?"
Next to the flustered Randy, Liz, who must have been handed the baton from Ellie, puffs her still-red cheeks and says, "I-It's Randy's fault."
Just as Luke and Cecilia's voices overlap with "Alright, alright," Liz clears her throat loudly to tighten the atmosphere.
"S-So anyway, shouldn't we focus on making the camera first? If we have the camera, we can capture any supernatural phenomena that might occur, right?"
At Liz's words, Randy nods vigorously, "That's true." When it was put that way, it did seem better to have a camera for the exploration of the 7 mysteries.
"Then, shall we go hunt for beasts that seem like they could be materials for photosensitive substances from this afternoon until our break?"
Actually, when they visited Annabelle the other day, they also met someone from the 'beast research club.' A commoner boy who seems to be Annabelle's childhood friend──his name is Cory──who is indeed one year below Randy and is, in a good way, similar to Annabelle. Like the occult research club, he is managing the 'beast research club,' which already has no members but him, all by himself as a beast enthusiast.
By the way, it was Cecilia who was impressed by Cory's deep knowledge. Although it's only about 2 types, slime and evil plant, for Cecilia, who has started raising beasts, Cory's profound understanding of beasts must have seemed like a very valuable asset.
She even went so far as to invite him to come to Hartfield after graduation.
In any case, thanks to Cory's information, they have a lead on beasts that could be used for photosensitive substances. Therefore, hunting that beast to collect the photosensitive material as planned is the shortcut to the 7 mysterious... or rather, to making the camera.
For Randy, who wants to investigate the 7 mysterious, making the camera has become urgent. Initially, he thought it would take time, just to show off to Cedric, but now it has turned into a much shorter deadline. However, having a deadline tends to motivate Randy.
"Alright, if that's decided, let's get going. It's a long way this time."
"Yes."
The two stood up and turned to face Cecilia and the others.
"Well then, Cecily, see you next week."
"Sure."
Before Cecilia, who nodded, could raise her hand, Randy raised his hand and opened his mouth.
"Then, take care."
As Randy waved softly, Cecilia made a face as if she didn't like it, and Luke also looked exasperated.
"Randy, that's not going to catch on."
"It's fine."
With a snort, Randy finally smiled at the two and said, "See you," as he left the terrace with Liz.
Cecilia glanced at Luke's profile as she tilted her teacup, listening to the cheerful conversation coming from beyond the partition.
"The expedition team looks like they want to go," she said.
"Not at all."
Luke immediately denied it, smiling gently at Cecilia.
"This afternoon, I will be watching your graceful figure at the academy. That sounds much more enjoyable."
Cecilia slightly blushed and averted her gaze at Luke's earnest eyes, replying, "Yes, it does."
"You, too. You were looking at Miss Elizabeth with envy, weren't you?"
"...Hehe. Just a little──."
Cecilia murmured as she finished her teacup.
"──just a little. I envy those who can go on adventures with a gentleman they have feelings for."
Cecilia squinted her eyes dreamily at the chair where Liz and Randy had just been sitting.
"Then shall we go on an adventure as well?"
"Excuse me?"
Cecilia let out a surprised voice at the sudden suggestion, and Luke leaned in closer, saying,
"Let's go on an adventure, too. I have some afternoons free during the week, and there are days without any club activities. It is possible to go on adventures in the afternoon, just like Randy and the others."
Cecilia slightly averted her gaze at Luke's proposal.
"Since I'm not a gentleman you have feelings for, I suppose it's just a whim."
Remembering the phrase "a gentleman you have feelings for," Luke shrugged and tried to joke.
"Th-that's not true!"
Cecilia denied Luke's words, but then continued, averting her gaze again, "But..."
"But, I can't increase your burden with my selfishness──."
"What are you talking about? My job is to ensure that you can act freely in this royal capital without any inconvenience at the academy."
Knowing that he had not been rejected, Luke smiled kindly at Cecilia.
"That level of burden is no problem for me at all. Besides──."
"Besides?"
"If it's selfishness, I'm already used to dealing with Randy's foolishness. I think you can afford to be a little more selfish."
Cecilia repeated, "Selfishness, you say?"
"Yes. It is selfishness. Fulfilling the wishes of a beautiful woman is our true desire as men."
Luke showed a perfect smile, but Cecilia looked at him with narrowed eyes...
"So, you've been flirting with many women like that, haven't you?"
...with a glare. Randy had kept quiet about Luke's flirting habits to Cecilia, but he had casually mentioned it to Liz. If he told Liz, it would automatically become something Cecilia would know...
"N-no, that's not it at all──."
...creating a rare scene of a flustered Luke, cursing Randy internally. Seeing Luke so desperate, Cecilia couldn't help but burst out laughing and nodded,
"Well, that's fine. So, Luke──."
"Yes?"
Just from that call, Luke naturally extended his hand to Cecilia, and she took it to stand up.
"Before the adventure, we have afternoon classes."
"I will accompany you."
Cecilia walked gracefully, with knight Luke following behind her. Although their distance was still that of a master and servant, the day when they would stand side by side like Liz and Randy might not be far off. And the day when the two would be incorporated into Randy's expedition team... might not be far off either.
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