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91 - The information goes viral precisely because it is unrelated to you

RAW

Zekkiro was sighing in his room.

“Haa~ this is depressing. People from the newspaper company are still in front of the school gate, waiting for an opportunity. In the first place, there's a chance that the advance notice is a prank, you know? Or are they just bored?”

Similarly, I, who was invited to Zekkiro's room, replied while continuing to draw the magic circle.

“I'm sure they’re not bored. Lately, there's been a lot of things from dungeon activations, political situations, and adventurer scandals... in other words, they are running out of topics. They’re trying to get out of the rut by focusing on Phantom Thief R's activities in the I Confederacy.”

“Rut?”

“Ah... it means lacking novelty.”

Was there no word for ‘rut’ in this different world... wait, that doesn't matter.
Is Randy seriously trying to break into this place?
I’m confident he’s serious.

If he’s hiring Garda, precisely because I know his skills, I know Randy knows that I was assigned here.
Is he coming here out of curiosity? All the way here to meet me??
He’ll come.
Probably because he is that kind of guy.

Ekaterina herself is adjusting the defensive magic circle, while the [shadows] protecting and monitoring the students are also on alert.
Inside the school, the students have mysterious expectations, wondering when and how Phantom Thief R will invade.
Edgar, who is in charge of the art department, was becoming increasingly worried that the valuable works of art in the school would be stolen.

As for what I was doing, I was working with Zekkiro on making magic circles.
While it's also a magic circle to protect against Phantom Thief R... Randy.
It also works against many other things.

And about Dalmazio, who is in charge of the magic department, even though he has such a physical body, he is an excellent magician.
In other words, if he gets into a one-on-one fight with Randy, he would have a definite advantage.

That’s right. Randy’s... that guy’s Job being Clown meant he is naturally good with his hand and breaking magic circles is easy for him, but he is not good in head-on fights.

Just as he used tricks to subjugate monsters, he would also use tricks against the [shadows] while invading.
It is not certain how well Randy is able to use tricks, but he can't bring tricks into a war of attrition.

Above all, if Randy doesn't make up for his magic power with tricks, there's a possibility that he will go down with [Magic Overuse Sickness] like he did in the dungeon some time ago.
As expected, he's not stupid enough not to consider that.

I ask Zekkiro one thing.

“By the way... Zekkiro-sensei. How is my lifespan?”

“It's amazing, Josiah-dono. It increased by about a year!”

“One year, is it?”

“No, no! Increasing it by one year in such a short period of time is enough, or rather, it's quite exceptional!”

“No, we'll have to wait and see to be sure, or else, I can’t feel safe.”

Even though I got a good result, I can’t let my guard down.
And then, all of sudden, there was a loud banging on the door. For some reason, Riccarda came here with a pale expression on her face.

No, I also got Ekaterina's permission and sent wand flowers flying around the school to be on alert, and I haven’t caught that guy’s response.
But... with the appearance of Riccarda, there was a reaction from [Cure], which I’ve been deploying, to the blooming flower on the Herkovara wand in my hand.

This gives me nothing but bad premonition.
Zekkiro also fearfully hides himself behind a cover, while I pick up my wand and ask Riccarda.

“How can I help you? Even though it's free time, at a time like this...”

“I’m, I'm sorry. It's become a bit... of a problem... The principal said that she would deal with it tomorrow, but... Josiah-sensei. Um, is it true that... Phantom Thief R is your student?”

Oi, is that the premonition that [Cure] responded to?...
The only people who know about it are the people in W Country, the people involved in E Kingdom... or maybe the information came from Randy himself?
Zekkiro hurriedly denies it, saying, “I didn’t do anything!?”
From Riccarda's impatience and the content of the conversation, I got the general idea and I opened my mouth.

“...Yes. It is true. Principal Ekaterina hired me knowing this... It's something that only some of us knew, so it has spread to the public, has it?”

Riccarda says, “Yes,” with a blank expression on her face.

“Josiah-sensei didn’t do anything wrong. Even the students of great magicians aren't necessarily talented or good-natured... however.”

“There is an unfounded conspiracy theory that I have a connection with him, right? I can mostly imagine it.”

“...Yes.”

I see.
Was this series of disturbances set up by Randy, or did the people of W Country let it slip?
Whether [Cure] reveals it or not, the current situation is the worst.
First of all, the media seems to know about it, so my life will continue to unfold in the worst possible way.

If I want to clear my name, I guess all I have to do is capture Randy myself.

...I don't care.
Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I don’t care.
In the end, my range of activity on the miniature garden inside this academy was only able to last for about a month.
Lately, I even feel like there's no point in continuing to be an adventurer.
If it's only being persecuted by the world, it's completely fine. It’s not so serious a crime that will get me thrown in jail.
Hiding my true feelings, I tell Riccarda.

“I'll catch him... then everything will be resolved.”

What the hell is that idiot thinking? That remains unknown.

――――

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