Chapter 61: You Can't Judge Everyone's Constitution by the Same Standard
Lynn left his sword and horse at the entrance.
Then, passing through the main gate of Oxenfurt Academy, a completely different world appeared before him.
Oxenfurt Academy was completely different from the towns made up of ordinary buildings, nor was it like the towns where every inch of land was fought over.
Everything here retained the appearance it had when the elves left.
Wide alleys were paved with colorful gravel, flanked by pleasing small palaces, as well as openwork fences, walls, hedges, canals, bridges, flowerbeds, and green parks.
Only a few towering and rough mansions stood out, clearly built after the elves had departed.
Everything seemed clean, peaceful, and dignified.
Students strolled through the alleys, intently reading thick books and parchment manuscripts.
Others sat on benches, lawns, and flowerbeds, discussing their homework or cautiously playing brain-teasing games like "odds or evens."
Professors also wandered nearby, engaging in eager conversations or debates while maintaining etiquette and demeanor.
Young teaching assistants loitered everywhere, their eyes fixed on the hemlines of female students' skirts.
Oxenfurt, where the academy was located, sat on the north bank of the Pontar River, and a fresh breeze blew from the Pontar, bringing a faint mist.
A slightly stronger smell of hydrogen sulfide came from the alchemy building towering by the canal. Grey-and-yellow bullfinches chirped in the park's bushes.
And a gorilla squatted on a poplar tree, undoubtedly having escaped from the natural history department's zoo.
It took Lynn some time to learn the location of Professor Gloger's office from several young and enthusiastic students.
...
In an office, Lynn met Professor Gloger.
The professor was about forty to fifty years old, with a beard, a serious face, and a tall, thin build.
He gave off an impression of being knowledgeable, rigorous, and earnest.
When he heard that Lynn had come about the request, Professor Gloger couldn't help but size up the witcher from top to bottom.
"You're really a witcher?"
Lynn nodded and said, "The real deal."
"Forgive my bluntness, but you look awfully young."
"The Trial of the Grasses caused mutations in our bodies and greatly slowed down our aging. Of course, I know you don't want to hear that. So, let me put it another way..."
Lynn spread his hands. "Who knows how long it will be before the next witcher passes through Oxenfurt? In that case, why not let me give it a try? You don't have much to lose anyway, Professor, do you?"
Professor Gloger thought quickly for a moment.
He felt that Lynn's words made a lot of sense.
Anyway, even if the commission failed, he definitely wouldn't have to pay.
Of course, it would be even better if it succeeded.
And as Lynn said, there were too few witchers in this world now. Many students at Oxenfurt Academy had never even seen a witcher.
By the time another witcher passed through Oxenfurt, the grass on his missing student's grave would probably be very tall.
So, Professor Gloger put away his previous look of disdain and doubt, and solemnly extended his hand to shake Lynn's.
"I apologize for my previous impoliteness. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Professor Hieronymus Gloger of the history department. The missing person is my student, Milva Sabina Lauxer."
Lynn, invited by the professor, sat down in a chair and immediately began his inquiries.
"I need to know more details. When did this Miss Milva go missing?"
"This... I'm not sure of the exact time, I only know it was probably a few days ago," Professor Gloger said somewhat embarrassedly.
"Alright, then let me ask another question. Who was the last person to see your student?"
"It was Marko Gedel."
"Is this person also your student?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then where can I find him?"
"You just sit here, I'll have him called over."
A few minutes later.
A boy with a face full of freckles, very tall but also very thin, even somewhat too thin, walked in.
His gaze swept over the witcher and stopped on Gloger, asking somewhat cautiously, "Professor, you wanted to see me?"
Professor Gloger pointed to Lynn and said.
"This Witcher Master wants to see you."
Lynn smiled at the uneasy student.
"Marko Gedel? Have a seat first, don't stand so far away. Don't worry, I don't have any infectious diseases."
Once Marko sat down, Lynn leaned forward in his chair, looking directly into Marko's eyes: "I heard you were the last person to see Milva?"
Marko replied nervously, "Yes, sir."
"Alright, then let me ask you, what time was the last time you saw her? And where?"
"Evening, I don't know the exact time, but it was shortly after class ended."
"And where did you run into her?"
"In the cafeteria."
Lynn suddenly asked Gloger, who was sitting beside him.
"Professor Gloger, what time is the university cafeteria usually open in the evening?"
Professor Gloger replied, "Five to six o'clock."
Lynn nodded and looked back at Marko.
"Marko, were there many people in the cafeteria at that time?"
"Not... many?" Marko said with an uncertain tone.
Lynn couldn't help but frown: "What do you mean not too many? Were there many, or not many?"
Marko hesitated.
"There were some people, but not that many people."
Lynn couldn't help but rub his forehead.
You're being vague here.
But Lynn could understand.
Not everyone had keen observation skills and a photographic memory.
Some people couldn't even remember what they ate two days ago.
After all, people's constitutions couldn't be judged by the same standard.
He sighed and changed the question.
"Alright, then what were you discussing at that time?"
"The Aethel..."
Marko was about to answer when Gloger beside him suddenly let out a loud cough, interrupting Marko's words.
Lynn turned back to Professor Gloger and glanced at him: "What's wrong, Professor? Is there a problem?"
"Sorry, Witcher Master, nothing."
He glanced at Marko seemingly casually, yet with deep meaning.
Clearly, he didn't want Marko to finish what he was saying.
"Forgive me for being blunt, Witcher, but how is this related to the topic we are currently discussing?"
The other party was clearly hiding something, which made Lynn say somewhat impatiently.
"Of course it is. I need to grasp all the information to begin the investigation. Professor, have you ever seen a performance on a tightrope?"
"Yes, but..."
Before the other party could finish speaking, Lynn quickly interrupted him.
"The performers you've seen must have all been lightly equipped, with no one going on stage with their hands and feet tied, right?"
Gloger said as a matter of course.
"Of course. Although I don't know much about the performance industry, it's obvious that tightrope walking requires extremely high skill from the performer, especially balance."
"If their hands and feet were tied, or if they were carrying heavy objects, how could they perform? Wouldn't that be asking the impossible?"
Lynn nodded.
"It's really great that you understand. Just as you said, if you deliberately conceal some of the information, then for me, it's like a performer with their hands and feet tied."
Gloger then realized that he had been led into a trap by Lynn.
"This... sigh, alright, but Witcher, I have a request."