I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 41

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Did Henderson say anything else?”

“No, he didn’t.”

The Imperial Academy’s Investigation Department, the Imperial Police, and even the Imperial Guard.

Each of them called me separately for questioning, making me spend the entire day being bombarded with questions.

Don’t these bastards have the concept of sharing investigation results? Why are they working so inefficiently?

“Miss Emilia, are you also finished?”

“Yes. They said we can leave now.”

When I came out after finishing, Emilia was also coming out after completing her questioning.

I heard that Emilia even underwent a psychological test.

They wanted to check if she had been traumatized after witnessing that brutal battle.

But for Emilia, who had seen worse battlefields, I wasn’t particularly worried that she would be shocked by something like that.

By the way, one thing was confirmed through this incident.

It was that Madam Lichtenburg had completely turned hostile.

I never dreamed that she would immediately dispatch Henderson to eliminate me as soon as she was cornered.

At this point, it’s like telling me to fight her.

However, the evidence that Madam Lichtenburg tried to kill me twice was only circumstantial.

In other words, it was impossible to take her down using the power of the Imperial Police.

‘I’ll have to show her what happens when she messes with me.’

That doesn’t mean I can’t retaliate.

I have to make her give up on confronting me no matter what method I use.

Only then will she not become an obstacle in the future.

And a brilliant method came to mind for that.

“Let’s return to the Imperial Academy.”

“Yes, Mr. Hainkel.”

I’m going to use Erica.

Erica, the daughter that Madam Lichtenburg cherishes more than anything else.

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“Damn it. Still no information from Emilia…”

At a café that doubled as a bar.

There, at the First Intelligence Agency’s base, Eric held his head in his hands.

As of 1 AM today, the number of people passing through the main gate of the Imperial Academy had explosively increased.

They thoroughly concealed their identities, but the Intelligence Agency was able to confirm through a thorough investigation that some of them were from the Imperial Police.

“Fuck… What the hell happened inside…”

For the police to raid the academy from dawn.

At the very least, it was certain that someone had died.

And it was someone significant.

Was it one of the professors who died?

If not that, then a student?

“Why isn’t that guy coming again…”

Schlus, who came to the café almost every day, wasn’t showing up.

Could it be that the one who died was Schlus?

If not that, then Emilia…?

Just imagining it sent chills down his spine.

Because if Emilia died, Hertlocker would go completely insane.

Ding-a-ling…

At that moment, the door swung open and a man wearing a fedora entered.

Even though he was wearing a mask and had his hat pulled down, Eric recognized him immediately.

Hertlocker.

It was him, who had recently succeeded in infiltrating the Crows.

“Is there any information that has come in?”

“…”

Eric looked at Hertlocker and shook his head.

Even though more than 12 hours had already passed since the incident.

Still, no one had figured out what kind of incident had occurred at the Imperial Academy to cause such a commotion.

Even the survival of Emilia, who had infiltrated the inside…

“Sorry, Hertlocker. I know you’re anxious, but if you hold faith and wait, definitely-”

“It’s fine. I found out.”

“What?”

Hertlocker casually spoke as he sat down at the bar.

At this, Eric’s eyes widened as he was about to head to the cabinet.

“The one who died is Henderson.”

“What? Wait a minute. Henderson? Wasn’t that bastard targeting Schlus Hainkel? Oh… don’t tell me.”

“Yes. It seems he infiltrated the Imperial Academy to assassinate Schlus Hainkel but was intercepted.”

“By the security, or by Schlus Hainkel?”

“How could the Imperial Academy’s security handle Henderson?”

“Holy shit…”

Eric momentarily felt dizzy and staggered.

Not only did Henderson, who had been laying low for several years after the Crown Prince assassination incident, suddenly accept an assassination request.

But also the fact that he, who was considered to have no equal, went for a surprise attack in the middle of the night and was instead defeated…

There were more than one or two shocking things.

“What’s the source of the information?”

“Rumors among the Crows.”

“…”

Rumors.

It was a word that didn’t inspire much confidence.

But if the word Crows was attached to it, the story changed.

There was only one means for the Crows, who operated a closed society, to communicate with each other.

It was only by word of mouth.

Therefore, if they said Henderson was dead, it was infinitely close to the truth.

At the very least, they had no choice but to obtain the fastest and most accurate information about what happened to a fellow Crow.

“Then the reason information about the incident still hasn’t been released is…”

“Yes. I think it’s a measure taken considering the social impact.”

That also explained why the Imperial Police and Imperial Academy were putting effort into security.

It was obvious that if the news spread that a mere commoner college student suddenly killed an enemy of the Empire one day, the shock would be immense.

It was evident just by looking at Eric’s dumbfounded reaction.

“That bastard Henderson wouldn’t have gone barging in at the crack of dawn saying, ‘Please kill me’… Does this mean he was defeated even though he tried to assassinate with all his might?”

“Yes… That guy probably struggled until the moment of his death.”

Eric felt a sense of discomfort from Hertlocker’s dejected answer.

When carrying out a request, Henderson didn’t discriminate between means and methods.

If he was in a situation where he was about to die from a counterattack, he would have used any despicable or petty tricks.

And the despicable trick that could be used in Schlus Hainkel’s residence…

“Hey. Don’t think anything strange again.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, nevermind. That’s not it.”

Taking the attendant hostage.

Eric and Hertlocker were thinking the same thing at the same time.

Since Eric had just thought of it, Henderson must have already anticipated it and executed it without hesitation.

Nevertheless, the fact that Henderson died meant that the hostage situation didn’t work well.

In other words, it meant that Schlus had given up on the hostage’s life.

“What’s not it? Can you be sure? That Emilia will return alive? Huh? Can you say for certain, Chief!”

“…”

Hertlocker’s voice gradually grew louder, and by the end, it had turned into almost a scream.

Eric couldn’t look Hertlocker straight in the eye and could only hang his head.

He wanted to tell him not to worry, that Emilia wasn’t dead, but he couldn’t be certain either.

“For now, let’s wait and see, Hertlocker.”

“Wait for what! For a death notification? I can’t wait until then! I need to see with my own eyes if she’s dead or alive. Don’t stop me. I’m going straight to the Imperial Academy-”

Beep- beep…

At that moment, a mechanical sound was heard from under the bar.

When Eric took out the artifact, Hertlocker’s mouth immediately closed.

It was none other than the communication artifact that received Emilia’s regular reports.

“Oh. It’s 4 characters. Su… rvi… val… re… port.”

“…”

Survival report.

A short message indicating that she was alive.

When Eric finished interpreting and looked up, Hertlocker had already turned his back.

His ears were flushed red with embarrassment.

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“Why… Why is there still no…”

Madam Lichtenburg bit her nails while crossing her legs.

There was no news from the Crow who had gone to assassinate Schlus Hainkel.

It had been a whopping 24 hours.

At this point, there were only two possible results.

First.

The case where Henderson gave up on the request and ran away.

“No way…”

It was an absurd case.

For a Crow to arbitrarily give up on a request they had accepted.

If they did such a thing, they would be pursued by the other Crows and executed.

That was how the Crows dealt with traitors to maintain their credibility.

So that case didn’t make sense.

And the second case was…

“He was defeated? Henderson?”

The case where the Crow Henderson failed in the assassination and was killed.

That was equally absurd.

I mean, he was a Crow who had infiltrated the palace and assassinated the Crown Prince, so how could he have died without being able to take out a commoner…

“Mother. I’m back.”

“Ah, Erica! You’re here?”

At that moment, hearing her daughter entering through the door, Madam’s face brightened.

The serious, contemplative expression was nowhere to be seen.

“I’ll go in and rest.”

“Wait a moment! Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Did anything happen at school today?”

“Hmm…? There wasn’t anything particularly big?”

At Erica’s seemingly confused reaction, Madam realized she had made a mistake.

It might seem a bit strange, but she felt she had to mention the name directly.

“Schlus Hainkel. That commoner didn’t come or…”

“No. He came to class just fine. Why?”

“…”

At Erica’s confirmation, Madam Lichtenburg felt like she was choking.

Schlus was alive.

That meant Henderson had failed.

The biggest problem was that Schlus clearly knew it was her who had sent the Crow.

By now, Schlus must be harboring animosity.

Since he was a commoner with nothing to lose, it was most frightening not knowing what he might do.

Perhaps he might even harm Erica.

With that thought, Madam Lichtenburg felt like beads of sweat were forming on her back.

“Erica. Do you perhaps want to drop out?”

“What? Drop out? No, not at all. Why would I drop out?”

Of course.

At the all too natural reaction, Madam Lichtenburg let out a deep sigh.

The Imperial Academy that Erica had wanted to attend so badly.

She couldn’t force her to drop out.

“Listen well, Erica. I did some investigating on Schlus Hainkel.”

“Okay.”

“And it turns out he has a rather undesirable past.”

“An undesirable past? Like what?”

“Well…”

An undesirable past.

Did he have a criminal record or frequented brothels?

Erica lent an ear to the news that would add credibility to her own hypothesis that Schlus was a trashy human being who sold his lifespan to a demon.

On the other hand, since she hadn’t thought of anything specific, Madam Lichtenburg was momentarily flustered and couldn’t continue.

“He has committed horrible and immoral acts that are beyond words!”

“I-I see.”

Beyond words…?

Did he commit dismemberment murder or something?

Before she knew it, Erica’s face had turned pale.

“So. I’d like you, my daughter, to stay as far away from that commoner as possible.”

Madam carefully spoke.

Schlus Hainkel seemed to be close enough with Erica to be invited to her house.

She really didn’t want to break up her daughter’s friendship, but she had no choice.

For Erica’s safety.

For a short while, silence flowed between the two.

The moment Madam Lichtenburgs lips were about to move, Erica spoke first.

“I understand, Mother.”

“Y-You’re not asking why?”

“It’s your word, Mother. You must have a reason. I’ll do as you say.”

“Erica…!”

Moved to tears, Madam Lichtenburg hugged her daughter.

Not even dreaming that Erica had other intentions in mind.

‘I’m sorry, Mother. I’m well aware that Schlus is a terrible person. But in order to ensure he meets the right end, I have no choice but to stay close to him.’

Help Iris prevent the future where Schlus dies sacrificing himself.

Make him die according to his own lifespan and reveal to the world that he made a contract with a demon.

For this plan, she couldn’t distance herself from Schlus.

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