Volume 5 Chapter 32 The Principal Is Mostly A Good Person (like Dumbledore, Etc)
"Ahh...~ it's finally over..."
Randy let out a sigh and stretched his arms wide.
The special retake exam held in the empty classroom had finally wrapped up, just as the sun began to set after lunch.
It had been a long exam, which meant he had barely scraped by to get a retake...
"So, how did it go?"
"...I filled in everything."
With such a pitiful response, Lucius, the principal who was supervising the final subject, could only manage a wry smile.
On the other side of the teacher's desk, Lucius, still rocking in his chair, closed the book he had been holding with a bitter expression, muttering, "Just filled in everything, huh?"
Randy understood what Lucius was getting at.
Still, from Randy's perspective, there was no way he could do well right after yesterday.
That was the honest truth.
"If it comes to a third retake, wouldn't it be better to push it to next week?"
Randy shook his head at Lucius, who looked exasperated.
"No way." If he delayed it too much, he would definitely slack off.
There was no way Randy could keep his focus for several days of studying.
Plus, his precious Liz was absent.
Without his supervisors, Harrison and Rita, he didn't feel like he could study for even 2 days straight.
As Randy openly lamented this sad situation, Lucius stroked his chin and said, "Hmm".
"The exam is fine, but if you don't pass, you'll have to attend classes."
It was a given, but faced with that reality, Randy groaned, "Ugh...".
"...It's okay... I filled everything in properly."
Randy reassured himself, and Lucius smiled as if to say, "What can you do?".
As Randy muttered to himself to boost his spirits, he suddenly remembered something and looked up.
His expression was no longer that of a pitiful student.
The change in Randy's demeanor made Lucius raise an eyebrow.
It was understandable.
Even though Lucius knew Randy was talented, until just now, he had only seen him as a struggling, cute student.
But now, Randy's presence had shifted so much that even Lucius felt straightened up.
"Principal... about the mural's code──"
"Wait, did you actually solve it?"
Randy silently nodded at Lucius, whose voice trembled.
"...It's only been a day since yesterday, right?"
Just as Lucius said, it had only been 2 days since he read the mural's content.
In reality, it was even less than that; they had figured it out the same day.
But there was no need to brag about it now.
In the end, it was just a trigger.
The letters Lucius wrote, and the syllabary chart Liz showed to Catherine.
All of it was just a coincidence that came together.
Without that, it was certain they would still be scratching their heads.
That said, for Lucius, it was a different story.
This was a mystery that even the national research institutions couldn't solve.
To crack it in just 2 days──actually, just a few hours──was astonishing.
Ignoring the surprised Lucius, Randy pulled out a few sheets of paper from his pocket and handed them to him.
"T-this is..."
Lucius's eyes widened as he slowly flipped through the papers.
From the string of letters he had written, to the 'resurrection spell', and the final 'poem' that fit the kanji and runes.
Even without asking for details, just the flow of it made it clear that Lucius was indeed a wise man who had lived a long time.
"The content of the poem matches the mural."
Lucius let out a big sigh and looked up at Randy.
"So? Have you reported it to the research institution yet?"
"Of course not. Principal, you get to see it first."
Randy shrugged, and Lucius settled deeper into his chair, saying, "I see.".
It was undoubtedly a great achievement, and the research institution would be eager to get their hands on that information.
The fact that he showed it to the principal first──though Cedric was actually the first──made Lucius sigh again.
"So, you're asking this Lucius Elderwood to be the messenger to the government, huh?"
With a glint in his eyes, Lucius asked so, and Randy said, "Do you understand?".
"I'm not an idiot. You've provided a detailed decoding method. For the research institution, this is information they'd celebrate with open arms... but──."
"Since I'm connected to Braubelg, I thought it might raise suspicions with the government."
Randy showed a smile, and Lucius gave a wry grin in response.
"I want to ask you one thing... What do you plan to do by giving the government, the country, and the royal family the 'right information'?"
With a sharp gaze, Lucius pressed on, and Randy shook his head, still smiling, "Nothing. Just goodwill."
"That's a lie. I know you have a delicate relationship with the government and the royal family. Yet, you still send them information to solve the mysteries of the ruins?"
The principal smirked and tapped a notepad on the desk.
"Doesn't that seem unreasonable?"
"What are you talking about? It's human nature to do things that don't make sense. Besides──."
Randy smiled meaningfully, and Lucius leaned in slightly, urging him to continue.
"Besides?"
"Besides, I'm a 'good and kind person'."
Despite the words, the smile Randy showed had a hidden meaning.
It was too unsettling for Lucius to just dismiss it with a "What nonsense." He swallowed hard.
Lucius mulled over Randy's words and expression, murmuring, "Good...?" If taken literally, it sounded like he was saying he would provide the right information through trustworthy sources because he was good and kind.
But that didn't add up.
The man who just said that it's human nature to do things that don't make sense was now stringing together a 'reason' just because he claimed to be good.
A man who declared himself good and kind wore a sinister smile.
Seeing the difference from the student he had shown earlier, Lucius finally realized Randy's true intention.
"No way... Are you really concerned about me, Lucius Elderwood?"
With a strained smile, Lucius asked, "Well?"
"Ha, ha, ha. Hahaha. I knew it. The fact that you can't say anything is the answer."
Lucius laughed heartily, nodding in satisfaction.
"This is surprising.So, you really do have kindness towards me."
Randy shares the information with the country, and he does so through Lucius, a man who is trustworthy both academically and personally.
The reason for this is to make the country believe the information is accurate, and to expect them to clear the area afterwards.
The purpose of the clearance is, of course, for Randy, Liz, and Ellie to thoroughly investigate the door.
But he can't tell this to Lucius, because doing so would also involve him.
That's why he declared himself as 'kind and gentle'.
Even if taken at face value, it would be seen as a contribution to the country.
And if Lucius were to understand his true intention, he would back off after realizing the risk.
That's what he meant by those words.
"Well, well. You're quite the cunning one."
After a good laugh, Lucius narrowed his eyes at Randy.
"So it's surprising. Did you not think that I might withhold the information or give false data?"
The intensity in his eyes, almost a killing intent, was probably his way of getting back at Randy for trying to use him.
"No, I didn't think that. There's no benefit in doing such a thing."
Ignoring the killing intent, Randy replied with a smile.
"Now, what do you think? Don't you consider the possibility that I'm trying to open this dark portal?"
The killing intent emanating from Lucius made his hair and beard flutter, but Randy maintained his smile and spoke.
"Then keep the information to yourself and open it under the Knight's watch."
Randy shrugged, explaining that even if the goal was to open the dark portal, the current research institutions and the Knight's Order were in the way.
They were a nuisance to Randy's group as well, so even if Lucius's goal was the dark portal, at least the need for the clearance was mutual.
"Indeed."
Lucius sighed, dispersing his killing intent, "You're not a very nice student."
"You don't fear my killing intent and your retorts are impeccable. Show some respect to your elders."
Lucius said, looking exasperated.
"It was obvious."
Randy shook his head.
"If you really wanted to open the dark portal, you'd have made up some excuse after receiving the information."
Information hoarding and stalling to prevent the flow of accurate information.
At the point where such obvious behavior was absent, Lucius's killing intent and questioning felt like a facade to Randy.
"I can't believe I'm being taught by a kid."
Lucius shook his head, but there was a hint of happiness on his face.
"Understood. Even without your request, I'll pass this information to the country."
Nodding, Lucius received a bow from Randy, who said, "Please".
"There's a 90% chance it will lead to the result you want."
With a smirk, Lucius realized part of Randy and the others' goal.
Still, Randy wasn't surprised; he had basically given away the answer in their earlier exchange.
──"Go ahead under the watch of the Knight group".
That was almost an answer.
So, he wasn't shocked, but then Lucius continued.
"Is the existence of the taboo that important to you?"
Even Randy, usually composed, couldn't help but show a flustered expression.
"Kukuku. Is it enough to make you look like that?"
Lucius nodded with satisfaction, then showed a serious expression in front of the surprised Randy.
"The existence of the taboo... or rather, the ancient great magician, also known as the first Saint, Lady Eleonora──."
Randy, feeling a connection to Ellie, couldn't help but lean over the desk and press the principal, asking, "Where did you hear that?"
"It's from the oral traditions of my clan. I don't know anything else."
Lucius spoke directly to Randy, revealing that someone connected to Ellie was hidden behind that door.
"Is that the 'Old King' or the second Saint, Lady Charlotte──."
As Lucius murmured, Randy connected Charlotte's name to Ellie's friend, 'Char'.
"My ancestors were once saved by Lady Charlotte. To repay that favor, I've listened to her requests and passed down the oral traditions."
With a deep sigh, Lucius explained that many of those traditions had been lost, leaving only vague remnants.
Because so little remained, he couldn't read the murals in those ruins, nor was he sure that those ruins were indeed the place mentioned in the oral traditions.
"Victor. I have a favor to ask..."
"Does the principal want to go investigate too?"
Lucius was momentarily surprised by Randy's words, but he nodded, saying, "Yeah."
What had only been allowed to be passed down through word of mouth, what couldn't be recorded, was now right in front of him.
It was no wonder he couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"I can't make any promises. After all, it involves the privacy of my important person."
Seeing Randy's bitter expression, Lucius smiled and spoke up.
"It seems you really are a 'good and kind person'."
Lucius chuckled, "Ho ho ho," while stroking his beard.
Randy couldn't help but mutter, "What a tricky old man," realizing that Lucius's 'good and kind' had 2 meanings.
One was kindness towards Ellie.
There was no way he could give permission without her consent.
The other was concern for Lucius.
There was a possibility of getting him involved.
And it wasn't a place to casually say, "Sure, let's go," not knowing what might happen.
Lucius, having seen through Randy's true intentions, returned the words he had said earlier as a sort of payback.
Randy felt like he had been outsmarted.
Lucius wore a triumphant expression, while Randy gave a wry smile.
The two exchanged glances, now with different expressions, and both let out a small laugh.
"It was a good time. Let's thank the goddess for getting to know you."
By the time they reached a temporary conclusion, it was already starting to get dark outside.
Without Rita, Randy was also worried about his own meal.
He hurriedly said goodbye to Lucius and quickly left the empty classroom.
As Lucius watched Randy's back, he looked down at the remaining piece of paper and murmured.
"Well then... the old man must lend a hand for the young ones."
In Lucius's happy eyes, it wasn't the piece of paper that reflected, but the back of Randy and the others as they began to walk away.
...That night, a notification of failing the retest arrived at Randy's place, but that's another story.
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