Avoid Former Co-Workers

142 – 142. Evidence (5)

A banquet handed down as a fair reward for those who fought the subjugation according to the will of the Grand Duke.

It was a banquet that Senia couldn’t really point out, because the information known to the public was completely wrong.

Despite the fact that Shanberesh’s contribution to the subjugation had the highest contribution not to Tembris, but to Junon, she had to keep this position.

It’s a secret that only a few know.

“What’s wrong, Senia?”

“…It’s a bit stuffy. I’m afraid I’ll get some fresh air.”

“If that’s the case, would you like to go with me?”

“Okay Michelle. I’m not lost like anyone else.”

Then Goden clears his throat. She tries to make excuses for it because she is not yet familiar with the geography of the principality, but it’s just teasing from her teammates.

“Oh no. Senia, why didn’t Cain come?”

“It’s obvious. You’ll be with Rumia.”

“Great. Of course it is. It’s a relationship that cares for each other terribly.”

“Why don’t we go together and bring you a gift later?”

“That’s what Charlotte said.”

A high-spirited atmosphere and loud laughter fill the place. Even so, Senia leaves without a smile.

Anyway, the biggest reason was that I couldn’t melt into this atmosphere.

For that reason, what Senia needs is a space to be alone.

It would be easy to solve that much just by getting out of this place, but I have to keep this place right now, so I search for a quiet space as much as possible.

‘There are people who are attracting attention just in time, so that would be perfect.’

Thanks to Rhenias, the terrace opposite her is empty, so I think we should just head there.

That’s how Senia went in looking for an empty terrace. Suddenly most of the lights went out.

‘What is it?’

There is only one place where you can see the light in the dark banquet hall.

Only the spot is illuminated as if someone is giving a speech at the very center. It was natural to draw attention to that light that only illuminated one place.

And before long, someone worthy of a real speech came up on the spot.

“Professor Meuniher…?”

It was surprising that he, who is known to rarely appear at events or other events, attended this event.

She wanted to announce something important, so Senia stopped her steps as she was about to enter her empty terrace and began to listen.

“For those of you who devoted themselves to protecting the kingdom in this subjugation, I personally asked the grand duke to hold this banquet. Are you doing well?”

─Yes!!

“Looking at your voice, you don’t seem very happy. Maybe it’s my mood?”

─No!!!!!!

As soon as the hall was filled with tingling cheers, Professor Meuniher smiled lightheartedly.

A man who was stricter and more serious than anyone else when giving lectures, and earned everyone’s respect and awe with his charismatic appearance on the battlefield.

It was quite surprising to see such a man smiling so easily.

No. Maybe this is rather normal.

Because you know very well that you won’t grow if you only wield a whip, you’re giving them carrots like this to motivate them.

He told a short formal story and told the students to have fun without causing accidents.

‘Then are you going down now? No, there’s no reason to even turn off the lights.’

I was surprised, but when I asked what he was talking about, it caught too much attention to pass it off as being to motivate students.

What Senia just came up with was correct, and Professor Meuniher continued his words without leaving the spot yet.

“Sorry for the long talk, but there’s one more thing you should know.”

─…? Do you have any more?

─Well? You don’t think you’ll get angry or upset, do you?

Professor Meuniher, who had been scanning the banquet hall widely, soon moved his gaze once more as if he was missing something.

At first glance, she seems to be looking around her students, but Senia felt like she was looking for someone.

“This is a story about the hidden contributor to this subjugation that you guys didn’t know about.”

At that moment, Senia’s eyes flashed.

‘Professor… Could it be…? You know?’

The hidden contributor to the subjugation can only name one person.

The only ones who know the hidden truth about Calix, Shanberesh, and others are, at best, himself and Cain.

However, there is no way Cain will reveal this. Even for Rumia’s sake, she couldn’t open her heavy mouth.

Professor Meuniher… From where to how far do you know? Senia swallowed her saliva and waited for her next words.

“There are quite a few cases where academy students came to the main unit, but the rear units were only beginners who knew how to take out a Mirage-type horsemanship, which is only the first stage. But, on the contrary, the rear units had the least symptoms of the plague.”

…Huh? Is that the end?

There was no mention of Junon being Callix summoned by someone or the person who defeated Shanberesh alone.

What I am referring to is…

“Even after being isolated, there have been no casualties in your unit. Few people know why?”

This was a totally unexpected direction.

I can’t believe it, but are you saying that I’m reporting the battle situation and bringing up the story of the rear troops right now? It may not be, but… If you think simply, this is just close to floating.

“My name is… Doyle Ragas.”

The guess seemed right, and it wasn’t long before Professor Meuniher called a student to the stage.

He was in the rear unit, and he was talking in detail about what happened in which position in which group.

Some of the students in this room also witnessed the same situation, and one by one they begin to agree.

“In the end, the reason we were less infected was because the bodily fluids from the Devourer’s self-destruction didn’t come in contact. All because we had a weapon instead of a magician. The person who ordered that—”

That was the purpose from the beginning. It was only then that Senia was relieved with a faint smile.

“Junon. It was all his instructions.”

Students are buzzing.

The rumor that Junon abandoned his comrades, which had spread wildly, couldn’t bury such a vivid testimony.

“And I, who commanded the main force, should mention one thing. If the Devourers who headed to the rear had come as they did, the main force would have been surrounded. It’s all because of the hard work of the rear troops.”

Professor Meuniher’s comment came naturally at the right time.

With this, everyone here must have realized the importance and performance of the rear units.

A hidden contributor to subjugation. No, perhaps, the person who was no different from a public figure in this subjugation war was the one they were slandering.

I don’t know why Professor Meuni Herr, not anyone else, did this, but since this banquet was finally illuminated again, Senia was able to move her steps to the terrace with satisfaction.

“The night air is nice~.”

Now is not the time when the wind blows so coolly. It’s a bit humid and there’s a warm wind blowing.

The reason why even such a wind feels good may be because of the feeling that the stuff inside was coolly opened.

The time I spent on the terrace like that was over about 5 minutes.

─Senior, where are you going?

“What kind of situation is this?”

I discovered that Rhenias and Junon were meeting. It was an extremely coincidence that Rennias ran into Junon after escaping from the noisy banquet hall.

And in this short amount of time, quite interesting things happened, and Senia watched them one by one without missing anything.

From their meeting to Rennias hiding behind Junon’s back after running away from the pressure at the banquet hall.

When the strange psychological warfare between the one who tried to escape and the one who tried to catch was going on, she almost made a sound inadvertently, so she covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“Hmm~ The atmosphere is a bit strange. Shall I help you?”

Anyway, I think that would be more fun than a banquet.

***

“Zenjaaang…!! I’m angry, I’m broken!!”

“Ac… Why is it that guy?”

“Keuuu… Let’s see. I’ll be the next one to take the role of Miss Rhenias’s partner!”

…What happened?

I thought that as soon as they saw my face, they would swear at me. I don’t know what kind of reaction this is.

Aside from that, where did those gnashing teeth go as soon as Lenias pointed at me as my dancing partner?

I can’t come to a conclusion even though I spin her head here and there.

‘Didn’t word spread that I knew about the Lemtert Plague? Wouldn’t that be it?’

Even if I consider other possibilities, I don’t see much of a positive outlook.

At most, people like John and Noel know a little about me, so people who don’t believe in the news can be said to be hopeful.

So, if you were to ask if the entire group could be the people mentioned above, oddly enough, the answer would be a resounding ‘no’.

But it was a face everyone didn’t know. Does that sound like something has changed since then?

‘Well, it’s fine for now.’

Even if people flocked to me for a while, if nothing happened, I could just leave this place quietly.

“Uhm. Is it enough now? How could I have cheated and left you out?”

Even so, Rhenias didn’t let go of my arm.

“…No, why?”

“If you go on like this… I will become a liar.”

Oh my God. So you’re saying it shouldn’t be a lie?

Dancing in the banquet hall? What about Rhenias? Did you just put them in front of you?

Definitely a specification…!

“Hey, Rhenias. I want to rest. Huh? Even if your body hurts a lot?”

“Lies. You can still walk around, but why? You could dance.”

“I’ve never danced in my life… What would you do if I accidentally stepped on your foot?”

“I can’t dance either~ So let’s step on it together, right? hehehehe.”

“Hey…”

Anxiety became a reality and created a very strange ordeal for me.

Renias is smiling that way. That smile that will become a little devil for this moment and will surely put me in trouble.

“Hmm… Besides, today’s senpai is pretty suspicious, right? It’s like he doesn’t want to go there even if he dies.”

“Huh? No! I… What is that… That…”

“Stop lying! Silently follow me? You’re my partner today! Hee hee.”

“Les, Rhenias? Wait a minute…!”

Rhenias’ face is full of bright smiles as she holds my arms firmly with both of her hands and leads her to the banquet hall.

To think that things had turned out like this… I really wanted to make myself cry.

***

It’s always fun to bully Junon-senpai. I wonder if I want to keep seeing the embarrassed face of doing something unexpected when I have a chance.

Unlike other people, the reason I wanted to do this was never because of my mood.

Even those who approached with dark feelings and tried to use her hand somehow,

There are also people who see people as a means of networking by widening their feet in order to somehow raise their prestige.

There are also people who, after mentioning the family, try to eat the bean curd that slowly crawls down.

Such pictures don’t fit the senior at all. At least they are not of the same type as the people I met earlier.

The senior’s reaction was pure, all about dealing with a person named ‘Renias’.

That’s why I started to treat Junon-senpai differently.

It was more fun than ever when playfulness springs up and I make fun of people for the first time in my life, and my always expressionless face is stained with embarrassment.

‘I know, senpai. He’s hiding something he’ll never be able to say under that expressionless face.’

I want to see the true face of this kind senior even just a little bit more by blurring the face he’s hiding. Like now.

That was the reason Rhenias revealed his mischief to only one person.

“Why do you keep trying to run away. You’re my partner, Chit.”

“Les, Rhenias? No way… You really want to dance with me… Don’t you? Hey, it’s fine if you came all the way to the terrace here.”

Senior Junon obviously wants to get out of this banquet hall for some reason.

But for now, even if you put all the playfulness aside, you have to stay in this banquet hall and become the main character.

‘I can’t.’

I had a lot of worries, but… I decided.

Teach your seniors how to dance today!

“Okay, okay. Then, will you escort me until I leave?”

The senior nodded and groaned and held her hand. And as if she had waited, she pulled out her hand and wrapped the prepared thing around her neck.

“Huh…? Hey? What is this…”

“It’s a gift, a gift.”

As a gift, it was a men’s cravat that was wrapped around her neck.

But actually, this is a smoke screen.

“…Then can you explain why her hands are interlocked?”

The corner of Junon’s mouth trembled as if he wished it wasn’t so.

Once again, it was caused by Rhenias’ plan.

“Well, do I have to give you the posture? hehehehe.”

“Oh my god…”

“You can hold the other hand this way. You probably know it, right?”

“That’s not the problem. I’m tired now…”

“This is my first time dancing with a guy too. Senior, why don’t you do it right?”

“What? Then why am I your first… Oh, really. How did this happen…!”

Renias has super strong water that Junon can’t escape by stopping to the end. She was smiling brightly, as if she were certain.

Junon sighed as he scratched his head.

There is a myth that a woman’s first dance in the principality should not be interrupted even if she is immature for the happiness of that person.

And it is said that if a male partner ruins this and runs away, he is likely to become a flirt…

It’s just a myth, but even if you just open the terrace door as it is, you’ll be beaten by people in a different way.

“I’ll teach you well, so learn it. Besides, it’s a terrace. It’s closed, so no one will see it, so don’t worry!”

Even the well-timed musical prelude. It just seemed like we should start here.

Now that Junon has reached this point, he has almost given up. Rhenias put on the most satisfied face of the day and started leading him with smooth movements.

Then, the spare lens that had been sticking out of Ulta’s pocket suddenly fell out. Of course, the two didn’t notice.

‘Wow. Is this a windfall?’

The door to the terrace was actually slightly open.

Junon hurriedly closed it, but the recoil opened a slight gap again. A lens that had been prepared as a spare fell through the gap.

While the two were dancing, Senia picked it up with a happy face.

“Right, we should keep this as evidence.”

Time between Junon and Rhenias.

In the lens frame, the time of the two will stand still.