I Was Confessed to by the Golden Sun

26 – There are no bad dogs in the world.

There is a saying that there are no bad dogs in the world.

And Raoul’s true identity is a nine-tailed fox, a creature that has lived for a thousand years.

Since a fox belongs to the canine family, technically Raoul is not a bad creature, but…

“Hmm, what’s the problem?”

Was there a flaw in this perfect syllogism?

“What did you just say?”

The fox in front of me is trembling with anger.

Yes, they think they are perfectly fine, but if someone they barely know calls them demented, they’ll get angry.

“That’s the danger of dementia.”

People who have dementia often fail to recognize the fact that they have dementia.

A disease that is difficult to recognize even when both judgment and cognitive abilities are significantly impaired…

“What nonsense! I’m not sure how you know who I am, but such nonsense…”

But it’s dementia.

…Actually, I know too, what kind of dementia a Gumiho has.

I didn’t expect the reaction to be this good even after teasing a few more times.

If this is how it felt when Lucia was tormenting me, then I can understand.

“It’s not like I provoked Raoul just for fun like Lucia did…”

I didn’t expect there to be such fun in teasing people like this.

Although it was my first time intentionally provoking someone, it feels different yet oddly satisfying.

Still, should I wrap it up and talk about the main point now?

“You’re right, I’ll stop talking nonsense.”

And then, I imitated Lucia’s expression and said it with an annoying grin.

From here on, my attitude should be relaxed, as if I know everything he’s about to do.

“So, you stole something from the academy, a big something at that.”

Whether this attitude was effective or not, Raoul visibly flinched and looked surprised.

“It hasn’t even been 5 minutes since I decided to follow the original story.”

Now that I think about it again, this third episode is a bit special with two significant incidents intertwined.

Even if I leave the framework of the episode as it is, there are a few places I think I should intervene.

Since this episode is a situation where a ‘person’ unfolds everything, not a group like in the original.

There are no significant variables that occur when I interfere with the story of the episode, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“…!”

Regardless, Raoul looked at me with astonishment instead of answering.

Of course, he must be flustered, as if I know about a plan that I haven’t told anyone.

He still seems cautious, as if I could pose a threat to his plan.

“I’ll help you. Without that, you’ll die anyway.”

I’m not trying to hinder him, but rather the opposite.

“What?”

“I’ll help you with that theft you’re planning, didn’t I say that?”

Raoul seemed to have never expected me to come out like this, as he uttered only a dumbstruck endpoint.

He must think it’s crazy for me to help with a theft that could be as dangerous as a gamble for his life.

“It’s hard to do it alone, right? That.”

Deep within Campbell Academy lies the core mechanism of the academy’s facilities operation called the Magitech Flux Core.

From overall power management to the operation of the facilities, it can be said that it is responsible for both the alpha and omega of the academy’s energy source.

Raoul must steal it within two weeks.

“Because it is the only way to reignite his fading life.”

And I will assist him in this life-threatening heist.

“For Raoul, it is the problem of a lifetime, and he has no choice.”

Raoul has literally lived for a thousand years.

As I mentioned before, the flame of life that he has nurtured has gradually withered over that long period, and now it is on the brink of extinguishing.

In fact, the existence of this enormous energy source called the Magitech Flux Core was only recently discovered through his incessant efforts.

No matter what I do, there is no way I can snatch away the only hope he found at the end of his struggles to prolong his life.

So, if I can’t stop him anyway, I might as well assist him and make him indebted to me.

“Besides, judging by his reactions, time seems to be running out…”

I scratched his nerves by bringing up dementia, but seeing that he doesn’t immediately attack, his body is probably on the verge of dying.

He can fight, but fighting would drain his stamina, so he is intentionally holding back.

It is easy to deduce his condition just by observing that he, someone so quick-tempered, refrains from attacking easily.

With that in mind, Raoul looks at me with a mixture of admiration and confusion, asking.

“But, how did you find out about the existence of the Magitech Flux Core? I barely managed to uncover the Empire’s secret…”

“Is knowing the source of the information more important than your life?”

Of course, when you think about it, Raoul, unlike the original, does not have Heidi’s intervention at the moment.

If I don’t help him, the probability of him dying is high, so I could kill Raoul here and be done with it.

However, if that happens, a big problem arises.

“I can’t handle the episodes that will happen in the future.”

Raoul, who successfully absorbed the power of the Magitech Flux Core to extend his own lifespan, is a considerable force on his own.

Not just a considerable force, but also necessary to safely solve large-scale episodes like ‘The Tomb of the Young Deity’ or ‘The Puppet Play created as a side act’.

“Who are you?”

I looked at him and smiled slightly, mirroring his low chuckle.

He must be dying to know. How do I know that he is a thousand-year-old fox and how do I know that he came here to steal something from this academy?

He hasn’t asked me directly because he is careful not to tip me off, but there must be many things he is curious about.

“I’m helping you, trust me. If you can’t trust me, then we’ll have to fight, can you handle that?”

However, the numerous questions that arise like that can be summed up in one sentence.

“Fight if you’re so curious.”

Fighting someone who, like me, possesses a wealth of information would also be a burden.

The advantage of information, in other words, lies in the conditions for obtaining that information.

Naturally, those conditions cannot be met without ability.

“My name… Jack O’Rallante, right?”

My name, which had been lingering in his mind, popped out like that.

In response to his somewhat softened tone, as if agreeing to accept my assistance, I chuckled and nodded.

A splendid choice.

“Yes, we’re colleagues, so don’t forget to remember that.”

With a somewhat pensive expression, Raul nodded his head a few times.

Soon, as if something was strange, he looked at me and asked, tilting his head.

“But if you know that I’ve been alive for over a thousand years, why do you use informal language?”

…It’s beyond me, I thought he was going to say something important.

“Before they kicked me out, I told the Academy upper echelon…”

“Ah, I can’t even joke around for real.”

Raul complained while clapping his hands when I spoke seriously.

Maintaining a thorough business relationship is no different from me and Paul.

There should be no emotional exchange; it should remain as a business transaction at best.

“That’s the only way to minimize contact with Heidi…”

By maintaining a bureaucratic relationship and keeping a distance, we preemptively block Raul from getting close to Heidi.

If I let him get close without any distance, it will only naturally bring Heidi closer.

And, it can be said that maintaining this distance is almost essential when dealing with Raul.

“This guy, when he starts obsessing over Heidi, his intensity is…”

Compared to Grayson or Nigel, Raul clearly boasts a much stronger obsession.

In terms of danger, he is definitely in a higher position, so I need to keep him under my watchful eye and manage him as much as possible.

“So, should we meet again in two days to discuss the details?”

So, now is the time to keep a little distance.

Continuing to talk here will only fuel curiosity about me.

Of course, even from a rational standpoint, Raul needs time to organize his thoughts.

And the task at hand for him and me isn’t something that can be resolved by simply pushing it right now.

Having a proper conversation would probably be a more rational decision after giving it a couple of days of leeway.

“Ah, I see.”

Raul nodded as if he understood my intention, then suddenly pointed towards the eNT*Rance of the men’s restroom and spoke.

“But, your girlfriend is waiting outside, can I not go out?”

“What are you talking about?”

Where is my girlfriend?

Staring blankly at him in disbelief at his absurd remark, Raul scratched his head with a puzzled expression, as if to say, “Wasn’t she?”

It’s a big deal, speaking so carelessly, it could lead to trouble.

“That blonde girl, wasn’t she your girlfriend?”

Of course, to someone who doesn’t know, it might be misleading, but.

It seemed that between me and Lucia, we were not bound by a lover’s relationship, but rather a distant relationship tied by schemes and tricks.

So…

“Absolutely not.”

Absolutely not, that guy can never be my girlfriend.

I quickly denied it, grabbing his face with an irritated expression for no reason.

Raul, as if his previous question wasn’t the end, raised an eyebrow in doubt in an instant and asked lightly without malice.

“You were sticking to her earlier, and even touching her thigh, so I thought you were lovers, but I guess I was wrong..”

“What?”

You saw that? How did you see the sneaky hands under the table?

I thought I was caught once. That wicked sun of a gun.

“Ugh..”

Raul, now thoroughly flustered, looked at me as my expression deteriorated in real-time and added one more word without malice.

“Young people these days are quite open-minded.”

..I feel like I could die of embarrassment.