Chapter 162: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (26)

༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (26) ༻

Senior Neris appeared slightly nervous as she began to speak, her words faltering

“F-First of all, regarding the ‘procession,’ the information is quite limited, especially around the Academy. It appears that only one procession is scheduled. “

Hearing this, my eyes flickered with a spark of interest.

The fact that there was only one meant they had explored all possibilities. Considering the short amount of time, it seemed they had done their best.

Naturally, I questioned further.

“Just one?”

“Yes, just one. It’s the procession that always takes place during the Academy’s annual ‘Homecoming Festival’.”

The ‘Homecoming Festival’ – those words struck me like lightning as soon as I heard them.

Right, I had forgotten about it

After the final exams, the Academy entered a two-week grace period before grades were announced.

After the grades were announced, the students gathered in small groups and formed a line. Then they paraded throughout the city, and this was known as the ‘Homecoming Festival’.

This festival officially marked the ending of the Academy’s semester.

It was an event laden with various meanings.

With the release of grades, those who had failed were also announced. These students, leaving the Academy they had grown to love, must return home with heavy hearts.

For these students and their friends, it was like a final opportunity to relive their Academy memories. Additionally, it was a day where the top and second-ranking students from each department were showcased before the public.

Given the importance of the event, it was customary for both students and a significant number of professors to participate in the Homecoming Festival. Even the route from the Academy to the city was a main thoroughfare.

Although this march could be called a ‘procession’, there was a reason I didn’t immediately think of the Homecoming Festival upon reading the letter.

Even for the Dark Order, the notion of attacking such a formidable procession in such an open area seemed hard to conceive.

This was no ordinary march, as it involved thousands of both Academy students and professors.. To put it dramatically, even an entire legion wouldn’t put them at a disadvantage.

To attack a procession of such magnitude, it naturally demanded a massive force. And this wasn’t just a matter of feasibility...

But whether it was really worth the effort.

If Senior Neris’s information was correct, then the ‘Eye of the Dragon’ mentioned in the letter must hold a value comparable to the risk.

As my gaze deepened, Senior Neris quickly continued to speak.

“Also, there’s no concrete information about a tunnel. However, the recent discovery of several unidentified tunnels on the outskirts of the city is noteworthy.”

“What about their size?”

Senior Neris glanced at me as if trying to decipher my intent. She quickly realised what I was getting at and responded immediately.

“They’re not large enough for a person to enter.”

Her quick thinking was impressive.

Yet, hearing this, I couldn’t help but click my tongue in disappointment.

According to the letter, something had transpired between me and the letter’s sender in that tunnel.

Therefore, the ‘tunnel’ mentioned in the letter should have been big enough for a person to enter.

A tunnel that small was irrelevant to consider.

My expression turned serious again. The ‘tunnel’ seemed like a crucial piece of information, and it was frustrating not to have found any leads on it.

As I grew visibly impatient, Senior Neris seemed increasingly flustered.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely her fault. Had I more clearly specified the conditions for the intel, we might have had better results.

“But if it becomes blatantly known that the Press Club is now following Sir Ian, not the Princess...”

“We’ll just have to give them a reason”

A reason why the Press Club would have to take my side, even if I were not the emperor’s representative.

As Senior Neris’s expression turned blank, I asked her.

“Neris, can you scream well?”

“What? What do you mean...”

It was then that the presence of the Princess and her escort knight was nearly upon us.

Startled, Senior Neris urged me.

“Sir Ian! You must leave this place at once...”

“Neris.”

And just as the Princess and her knight emerged from the bushes..

A sudden sound of a hatchet digging into flesh echoed.

Senior Neris, shocked by the sudden strike, screamed with her eyes wide open.

“Uh, Guh, Gyaaaaahhhh!”

Then, as she staggered and fell to her knees, stark fear was evident in her eyes.

I knelt down to her, meeting her gaze.

“...Didn’t I tell you not to harbor any questions?”

Reminded of that single sentence I had thrown once, Neris’s face began to turn pale.

She immediately bowed her head, as if forgetting someone was watching. A trembling voice came from her lips.

“P-Please... forgive me...”

It was an excellent act.

I inwardly smiled with satisfaction.

Especially Senior Neris’s performance was outstanding, almost as if she truly feared me.

This was the case even though I had given her a heads-up before striking with the hatchet and the blade hadn’t gone deep enough to break the cartilage.

Deeming her a person worth using, I inwardly raised my opinion of Senior Neris.

She was someone worth visiting more often.

*

Neris barely suppressed her choking sobs.

The nightmares of the past flashed through her mind.

The pungent smell of alcohol poured over her burning body, the humiliation of being drenched in dirty mop water, and the feeling of a hatchet shattering her shoulder joint in an instant.

Neris despised Ian.

She never wanted to see his face again.

No, she wanted to kill him.

If it were up to her, she would have assassinated him, but he was the holder of the Dragonblood Script. For Neris, it was impossible to rebel.

This brought an unbearable sense of powerlessness.

Neris truly hated Ian, from the depths of her heart.Yôur favorite stories on n/o/(v)e/lbin(.)com