Roughly twenty minutes later, on the edge of the auxiliary building, right beyond the hallway connecting the two…

「…Straf, there is nothing here.」

Cycelia hesitantly says, as Straf opens yet another currently unused room. This time, it appears to be an alchemical workshop, and devoid of any signs of life.

「Elementary, my dear Lia.」

Fwoooooo…

He replies, shutting the door, and places his free hand back in his pocket. Straf sucks the air in through the empty pipe, and exhales it as if he were smoking.

「Stop saying that! We've already been here before, before you came with us! There's nothing!」

Damian angrily shouts at Straf, and he turns his bored gaze towards him.

「Elementary… Whatever your name is. I have noticed our efforts have been fruitless so far, and your whining has been quite distracting.」

Fwoooo…

Straf replies, and sucks the air through the dipped curve of his unlit pipe while adjusting the deerstalker on his head. He blows a powerful stream of air straight into Damian's face, causing him to squint a little.

「We were being methodical, until you came along and made us run around like a headless chicken!」

With an angry grimace, the handsome student points at the even more handsome man. The three girls watch on in silence with their brows furrowed.

「Hmmm?… Elementary, that's case closed on the old chicken and road mystery. But we've got other problems right now.」

「Stop saying that already!」

Damian shouts with one fist clenched and other hand pointed at Straf's indifferent, slightly disdainful face while he holds his pipe. His voice echoes in the empty hallway.

「Well, anyhow, let us continue the search.」

Straf shrugs, and ignores him, carrying onward down the corridor.

「Why should we follow you!? Who made you the leader!?」

The handsome student angrily asks, begrudgingly following him after the girls trail behind him like a flock of sheep behind a shepherd.

「The popular vote.」

Fwoooooo…

He nonchalantly declares in response, and draws another breath through his pipe.

「I don't remember voting!」

「Well, if you're unhappy with the results, maybe you should have voted…」

「We never even held one!」

Damian exclaims, spreading his hands in outraged disbelief.

「Elementary…」「Stop it!」

Fwoooo…

Straf says, and sucks air in through the pipe again, pretending to blow smoke out as he holds it by its head.

「…The problem with voting is, everyone votes for the wrong thing, but then the majority wins and is too embarrassed to admit that they were wrong, so they keep quiet and pretend they're happy.」

He adds, partially turning towards the group, and places the neck of his pipe back into his mouth.

「…Take a hint.」

Tisha says to Damian in a hushed, and lightly frustrated tone. He looks back at her with an expression of shock and betrayal.

「Other than your already feeble grasp on your false sense of control, why do you want to be the leader so badly?」

Straf asks, looking at him with bored eyes and an overt look of smug superiority.

「Tsk…」

Damian clicks his tongue, and glares at Straf.

「…Straf, Damian can sense the power of people in his vicinity.」「Ah!」

Cycelia reluctantly explains, and glances at Damian, who is staring at her with his jaw dropped and eyes wide open.

「…Meaning? Is it like a scouter built into his eyes? What's my power level?」

Straf asks, briefly looking at Cycelia before he turns his gaze to Damian.

「Tsk… Meaning, we were using my blessing to try and find suspicious people hiding somewhere around here. I would be able to sense them even through the walls, if they're powerful enough.」

「Elementary.」「I said stop it!」

Straf blurts out, much to Damian's chagrin.

「So, what's my power level? Do I even have one?」

He asks, and casually places the neck of his pipe into his mouth.

「Tsk… I can't tell exactly. It's a sensation. Like an instinct, or a premonition. For example, whoever is about to pass by us is a small fry…」

Damian clicks his tongue, and crosses his arms as he explains. An unassuming student pops out of the corner and walks past them, completely ignoring them all.

「Elementary.」

Straf says as he watches the student walk away.

「Stop saying that… You, on the other hand, are monstrously strong. Almost like the ghost, even. I know I don't stand a chance against you if we were to fight, so I guess that's why you're a bodyguard.」

Damian sighs in response, and shrugs his shoulders.

「I don't know if it's because you want to kill me, or you're just that strong, but I know you're bad news. That's all I can tell. Not why, I can just tell that you are.」

「Elementary… You mean the killing intent makes it stronger?」

Straf asks, rubbing his chin with the pipe in his mouth.

「Yeah. But that's not always the case, either. I've witnessed cold-blooded murder and I didn't see it coming.」

「Well, then…」

Lightly shrugging and nodding his head, he pulls the pipe away.

「…How about now?」

「Hurk!-」

Straf asks, glaring at him with cold eyes and a face of pure enmity. Damian chokes on his wide-eyed gasp, and falls on his back with his legs locked stiff. He begins to sweat, struggling to breathe.

「H- Hey, are you alright?」

Tisha rushes in and kneels down next to him, as Damian clutches at his chest, with his face twisted into pure terror while staring at Straf.

Straf turns his gaze away towards Cycelia, and nonchalantly places his pipe back in his mouth. His bored eyes also briefly drift over Neela, before returning to Damian. He gasps for air, and unfreezes.

「Y- Yeah… I'm fine…」

He nods his head, breathing heavily and covered in sweat as Tisha lifts him back up to his feet.

《I've never felt it be this oppressive before…》

「You were hiding it?」

Damian asks, still visibly frightened by Straf's overwhelming presence that has since disappeared.

「Nah, I was just wondering if I could make you shit your pants if I'd picture physically dismantling you. Good to know it works.」

Straf says, as he holds the neck of his pipe between his teeth in a snide grin.

「It didn't! I didn't shit my pants!」

「Elementary, my dear pants-shitter. That is a very specific thing to deny.」

Fwoooo…

「Krrrkkkhh…」

He chuckles, and sucks the air in through his pipe. Damian grits his teeth and clenches his fists, but can't find the courage to say anything back.

「Anyway, do you want to take the lead, then, or do you need to go change your undies?」

Straf asks as he pulls his free hand out of his pocket, and inquisitively shrugs it.

「…Let's go. Let's stop wasting time and continue where we left off already.」

Damian angrily stomps past Straf on the way to the ghost-hunting pack's last point.

「Elementary…」

Fwoooooo…

Straf says, and places the neck of his pipe back into his mouth, drawing another noisy breath…

…

The rest of the free period passes uneventful, and the group return to their rooms for their tomes, then head for the class…

Gonnnnggggg… Donnnnnnnnnggggg… Gonnnnnnngggg…

「That's all for-!… Ahem. That's all for today! Do not forget about the exam next week! Study!」

Professor Aria says, pausing to clear her throat as the students scramble to be first to the door.

「Straf?」

Cycelia utters out with a tilted head as Straf walks off from the stream of students towards Aria.

「You go on ahead, I'll wait for you when I'm done.」

He replies over his shoulder, holding onto his pipe's head before placing it back into his mouth. With her brows furrowed, Cycelia nods, and leaves with Damian and the rest. The door closes.

「Straf Katastrof… What's with the hat?」

She enunciates, and asks as she lightly lifts the brim of her gigantic, wide-brimmed pointy hat to look at his deerstalker. Straf pulls the pipe out his mouth and scrunches it heavily to the side.

「…Really?」

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He asks, throwing his hands up in disbelief, then clamps down on the pipe's neck. With her gloved fists on her hips, Aria slowly tilts her head, staring at him.

「So, what do you want? To be frank, I don't think the size of your hat befits you.」

She asks, and idly comments on Straf's deerstalker with a mildly interested gaze.

「Opinions of women are as valuable to me as opinions of normal people.」

Fwoooo…

He nonchalantly replies with a bored face.

「Huh?」

The big hatted professor utters out, narrowing her beauty-marked eyes.

「I have a question for you…」

Straf says, ignoring her confusion.

「…Are you the one trying to kill everyone?」

He asks, warily glaring at Aria. She scoffs with an amused smile.

「Did you trip, and fall down the stairs onto your head? Why would I do that? No… How would I? Maybe if you answer that, we'll be able to figure out the rest.」

She replies with a disdainful, lightly amused look on her face, though it is very obviously tinged by anger.

「So are you, or are you not?」

Straf reiterates, still glaring at her. She scrunches her mouth, and the two maintain prolonged eye contact in silence.

「…Obviously not. What even lead you to believe this, you silent-casting menace? We still haven't fixed the dueling grounds, you know.」

She scoffs, glaring back at him.

「Nothing. But I had to ask…」

Straf shrugs, and turns for the door.

「Do you have any idea how much work you gave me and other professors!? Are you not going to apologize!?」

「For what?」

He asks, lazily peeking over his shoulder with his pipe in his mouth.

「For the false accusation! And the barrier!」

Aria angrily exclaims. Straf places his hand on the door handle, and stops to think.

「…You know, I think I liked your attitude more when you had a dick.」

He comments, and opens the door.

「Wh- W- What!? What sort of sick fantasies plague your mind, you outrageous lecher!?」

The professor recoils, taking a step back with her face in shock.

「Excuse me, not mine… You have fans.」

Straf cryptically responds with a shrug, and leaves. Aria blinks at the door, frozen.

「…And the headmaster trusted him with this?… What is even going on in his mind?- I don't want to know!」

Thawing, she remarks, staring blankly at the empty classroom with her brows furrowed. She quickly dispels the thought of exploring Straf's psyche with a ferocious shake of her hatted head…

…

A few moments earlier, in the hallway…

「…Bringing him along was a mistake.」

Damian says, while he and the girls weave through the crowd.

「Huh? Why?」

Cycelia asks, furrowing her brows.

「He's distracting and we wasted time because of him. If he wants to investigate, he should continue doing so on his own.」

He replies, glancing at them over his shoulder.

「Sounds like you're jealous because Straf knows how to command respect.」

Tisha smugly grins at his back, and his eyes snap to her.

「Respect!? He's an asshole!」

Damian angrily exclaims, and turns his face forward with a huff.

「Well… Men need to be hard so that women can be soft. I can see why Lia likes him…」

Tisha shrugs, walking with her arms behind her head, looking at Cycelia while she looks back at her in silence.

「…Meet at the Cursefire.」

Damian says when they reach a junction, and they go their separate ways while he shakes his head. Cycelia nods, and the girls head towards the female dormitory.

「…Ahhh… Southerner women sure have it easy. I'm jealous.」

Tisha adds, sighing loudly.

「How different are things back at home, Tisha?」

Cycelia asks, tilting her head.

「Hm? Well, we don't have it easy, for one. I wouldn't be able to just relax and have a strong man provide me with safety. Northerners don't care if a man or a woman rules them, but they won't accept a weakling.」

Tisha shrugs with a little grimace as she explains.

「…Is that why you came to the Academy of Magic? Because mages are powerful?」

「Yeah… And my father wanted me to. If I want anyone to respect my rule, I need to be able to kill a man in combat. We're girls, you know full well that men don't need much to be stronger.」

She nods her golden head in response, and shrugs again, throwing her hands up in resignation.

「…But, you're their rightful ruler after your father, are you not? Why do they not respect you on that alone?」

Cycelia shakes her head in confusion, looking into her blue eyes while she returns a pitying smirk.

「Lia… The law goes only as far as you're able to enforce it. If some weak girlie is the jarl, why should they respect me? You fundamentally misunderstand the north, Lia.」

「Huh?」

She blinks, tilting her head a little.

「Lia, Tisha is saying that unless they fear her, banditry will be rife, and no one will pay taxes. The northerners rule by might, not law.」

Neela chimes in, explaining for Tisha.

「Hey, don't make us sound like some sort of savages! We rule by law too!… It just has to be backed by an executioner's axe.」

Tisha replies with a raised voice, before elaborating in a hush with a pout on her face. She sighs, and looks into Cycelia's emerald eyes.

「Basically, Lia… Imagine every single duke, count, and baron had their own kingdoms in your own kingdom. The north is that fragmented. Everyone has been at war for as long as we can remember.」

She explains, and Cycelia's head perks up in surprise.

「Wha-? That sounds terrible! There's no way we would ever get anything done, then!」

Cycelia exclaims, and Tisha nods her braided bang in agreement.

「Exactly. I know you southerners think we only live for war, but we have no other way to live…」

She shrugs, and sighs.

「…My father is tired of war. Many other people are, too. He wants to fight the last big one, unite the north, trade for arable land with the south, war them if they refuse a deal, and then finally bring peace.」

Tisha says, and silently throws her hands up with a weak smile.

「…And that's where you come in?」

「Yup. Magic is pretty rare around there, so if a mighty mage would happen to sweep away our enemies in a blizzard of death, the north would be entirely ours in a few years at best.」

She nods with a smug smirk, and goes silent for a few seconds while they dodge the oncoming students.

「…If you want to elope with him, the offer still stands, by the way.」

Tisha abruptly says, grinning at Cycelia.

「T- Tisha!」

Cycelia stammers out as she lowers her blushing face. Neela looks at her past Cycelia with a disapproving grimace, and her arms crossed.

「A mercenary mage like Straf would be sitting pretty at my father's court. He'd want for nothing, and he could have anything he wants…」

She continues, spreading her hands.

「…Women too, so better watch out! Gahahahahaha!」

Tisha says with a smug ear to ear grin, then cackles like a hyena, roughly patting Cycelia on her back a few times while they approach the stairwell…

…

Ten minutes later, Straf waits for Cycelia in front of the girls' dormitory. She exits the stairwell with Tisha and Neela in tow, and they regroup with Damian at the Cursefire Brazier again. The five spend the rest of their free time wandering around, meandering around the auxiliary building, occasionally peering into a random room only to find two students reading a tome, or performing a magic experiment. Nothing otherwise remarkable happens, and the group splits by late evening to return to their rooms. Tisha and Neela part with Straf and Cycelia on the lower floors with a wave of their hands, and they proceed upward alone.

Crrrrrr-rrrrrrreaaaaaaak…

They return to their room, and sit down on their beds.

「Elementary… As expected, the pretty boy is a dead weight.」

Fwooooooo…

Straf declares, drawing air through his pipe one more time, before throwing it into [Portable Storage] along with his deerstalker. He lies down on his back, placing his forearms behind his head.

「…Straf, do you think we'll be able to actually find whoever is responsible?」

Cycelia hesitantly asks, twiddling her thumbs with her shoulders slumped, and head lowered.

「Obviously.」

He nonchalantly replies, shrugging his shoulders.

「How can you be so sure?」

「'Cause it'd be stupid if we didn't.」

Straf declares, and spreads his hands while side-glancing at her.

「Huh? So you just have a good feeling about it?…」

「I have utter certainty, Lia. I just need to clarify a few more things.」

「Like what?」

「Don't worry about it, Lia. In fact, you should go back to studying, so you don't flunk the term.」

「…But if we don't find him, it'll be pointless.」

Cycelia replies in a grim tone after a prolonged pause. Straf clicks his tongue.

「Tsk… This is exactly why that bearded son of a bitch should have shut his mouth. I will find him, Lia. You worry about graduating.」

He sighs and grumbles, before turning his serious face to her.

「…Right. Right. You handled every single problem I had before, there's no reason why you wouldn't solve this one. You're right. I'll help you as much as I can regardless.」

Cycelia nods, and her gloomy face turns into a warm smile.

「Goodnight, Straf. Will you come with us again tomorrow?」

She says as she wriggles underneath her blanket, rolling up into it. Though most of the Academy is pleasantly warm, a harsh coldness begins to leak through the window at night.

「I guess. We'll see. Goodnight, Lia.」

He shrugs, then nods. Cycelia closes her lamp-lit, shiny emerald eyes, and Straf turns his to the dark ceiling, and lets out a large sigh.

《…Son of a fucking bitch.》

Straf thinks, and places his elbow over his eyes like a sleeping mask…