The room fell silent once more. This time, the quiet felt even more oppressive than before, all eyes fixed squarely on me.
Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump!
My heart drummed loudly inside my skull, pounding so intensely that it felt like it was all I could hear.
And just as I was about to speak and prove my innocence…
"I see."
The Section Chief stood up, letting out a long sigh as he cast a disappointed glance at the rat.
"I really tried my best to get you to stay longer. Had you been honest… Haa."
The Section Chief let out another sigh, and the faces of everyone in the room turned toward the rat, each expression more complex than the last.
"W-what?"
Completely taken aback, the rat looked around.
"W… what? I am not lying. Look at everything that has happened so far! From the time that he disappeared at the gate to the time he joined the Guild. All the clues are there! Why can't all of you see it?"
All of a sudden, he was no longer scared and trembling.
His voice was smooth and clear.
