"It's a bit late to ask, but ma'am, what brings you here?"
On the train cutting through the wilderness, El-Melloi II sighed as he glanced at Aesc seated beside him.
"I invited Aesc," Reines chimed in, settling next to her. "She just joined the El-Melloi classroom, so it's the perfect chance to get a feel for her future teacher's style, don't you think?" With that, she pulled Gray into their little circle, kicking off a ladies' chat right then and there.
"Not that I enjoy prying into the private affairs of ladies, but when did you three get so close?" El-Melloi II eyed the familiar ease between them, his brow furrowed in question.
"Oh, come now, big brother. Best not to worry yourself over how us girls get along," Reines brushed him off with a wave, already turning back to continue her conversation.
El-Melloi II could only heave another weary sigh. He caught Aesc giving a subtle wink and thought, 'Ah, I see.'
'Probably Reines saw Aesc paying a visit, or maybe she spotted Gray and Aesc having a chat at the café that other night. But Reines... this one isn't someone you want to try and use.'
Noticing the dawning comprehension on his face, though she hadn't a clue what he'd read into that wink, Aesc had to admit to herself, 'That Volumen Hydrargyrum really is something else.'
Not only did it serve as a combat mystic code like always, but it was also an incredibly handy analytical tool.
As Reines launched into another round of 'Stories of El-Melloi II,' Aesc let her mind drift back to recent events.
That night, after Aesc had ushered Reines into her room...
"You know, if this conversation heads into... certain territories, there'll be a fee involved."
"But of course!"
Come to think of it, the security here was pretty lax, wasn't it? Letting someone waltz right onto a train with a great big blob of mercury like that.
"Back to the matter at hand. It's about time you filled me in, First-Class Lecturer Wills."
El-Melloi II fixed his gaze on Wills Pelham Codrington seated across from him.
"A key figure from Spiritual Evocation... what exactly do you need my help with?"
The blond Wills hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Lord, as you are no doubt aware, my father purchased the Marburry Workshop five years ago."
Hearing the conversation turn serious, the trio on the other side quieted down and turned their attention to the two men.
"However, the Workshop has gone out of control. Because the surrounding wilderness is considered part of the workshop, relentless lightning now ravages the entire area. There have already been numerous fatalities... my father among them."
"I see. The cause of the disturbance is likely a disarray of the ley lines."
"As expected of the Lord! To have discerned that much already."
"But why couldn't a man of Trevor's caliber resolve it?"
"I truly don't know how my father was operating things." A pained smile touched Wills's lips. "But if the Workshop's accidents continue, the Codrington main family will simply reclaim it."
"Yet, this remains an internal affair of Spiritual Evocation. Why exactly have you come to me?" El-Melloi II lifted his coffee cup, pausing before taking a sip to voice his doubt.
"Well... the truth is, the Codrington main family has already reported the incident to the Department of Policies."
"Cough... cough... The Department of Policies?" El-Melloi II sputtered, nearly choking on his drink. "Seriously?"
"Yes. If the Workshop remains out of control, it will violate the rules of secrecy, forcing me to return it directly to the main family." Wills scratched his head in frustration. "For Spiritual Evocation to openly intervene in a matter of inheritance rights would be... undignified."
"I understand. Very well, I'll take the case." After a moment's consideration, El-Melloi II gave his assent.
"Speaking of which, you're a necromancer, correct?" Aesc, who had been listening quietly, posed a question. "Did you not attempt to use evocation to summon your father's spirit and learn the truth?"
"I tried, of course. But every attempt failed."
"My, oh my~" Hearing this, Reines broke into a deeply interested smile. "Now that is something."
"Miss Reines, why is that?" Gray, puzzled by Reines's reaction, tilted her head.
"Spiritual Evocation calls forth the lingering traces of the deceased. Failure typically means those traces have been completely erased." Reines turned, raising a finger with a knowing smile. "And erasing such traces is generally a deliberate act... one usually performed by a necromancer."
She then fixed her eyes on Wills. "And wouldn't you know it, we happen to have a necromancer right here, one who is quite deeply involved in the case."
"Wha? Please don't say such reckless things, Miss Reines!" Wills visibly flustered under the accusation.
"Just a joke~ But your reaction is quite telling."
Observing Wills's flustered state, Aesc adjusted her glasses, opened a detective novel she'd produced from somewhere, and asked him, "Following standard detective novel procedure, Mr. Wills, do you have an alibi? Where were you each time a death occurred at the Workshop?"
"Um... well... I believe I was actually in the Workshop every time an accident happened." Wills offered an awkward grin.
At that answer, everyone's eyes widened—except for Aesc's.
'Every time someone dies, you're on the scene. And you, a necromancer, just happen to be able to erase the evidence afterward.'
That's right. There was only one truth.
"Mr. Wills, you're the culprit, aren't you?" Reines declared, pointing an accusatory finger.
"Now, Reines, in these situations, when all the evidence seems to point squarely at one person, that person usually isn't the culprit." Aesc raised her hand, blue magical energy beginning to dance around her fingers. "The suspicion is still considerable, however. Let's just restrain him for now."
"No, no, no! Please believe me, I'm truly not the culprit!" Facing the dual accusations from the ladies, Wills cast a pleading look toward the other man present. "Lord, say something!"
El-Melloi II, who saw right through Aesc and Reines's little game, let out another long, deep sigh. He seemed to be sighing an awful lot lately.
"Relax, Mr. Wills. The ladies are merely jesting. However, I would appreciate a more detailed account of the situation from you."
"Y-yes, of course. I'll explain everything else in detail once we reach the Workshop."
--+--
Boom.
A peal of thunder echoed as Wills pushed open the mansion's main gate.
During the journey, Reines's Mystic Eyes had been causing her pain due to the unstable ley lines. Aesc examined her and found it was because her brain and magic circuits weren't mature enough to keep up with the eyes' processing speed.
"As you grow older, you'll gain control over those eyes. Would you like me to help manage them for now?"
"It's fine," Reines said, taking eye drops from the maid, Trimmau, who had formed from the Volumen Hydrargyrum. She tilted her head back to administer them. "I can handle this much."
'Surprisingly resilient, these two siblings,' Aesc mused.
She followed El-Melloi II, who was looking so drained that Gray had to support him, into the mansion.
"Still the same delicate young master, I see. Some things never change." Standing beside Trimmau, Reines watched her brother's exhausted state with clear amusement.
"Damn it, I didn't expect the path to be this long," El-Melloi II grumbled, catching his breath. He steadied himself, pulling away from Gray's support, and straightened up to lead the group.
"Finally, you're back."
As the words were spoken, a bespectacled woman in a kimono descended the stairs, followed by a tanned girl in trendy clothes. Simultaneously, a white, serpent-like cloth materialized and coiled around Wills.
Whoosh!
A lance of water, sharp as a laser, shot from Aesc's hand, piercing clean through the cloth just as it was about to constrict around Wills.
The proper smile on the kimono-clad woman's face slowly froze solid.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.