The inside of the laboratory was ordinary.
Bookshelves were crammed with all kinds of books, and magical reagents mixed with empty flasks were scattered everywhere.
The walls and the blackboard were covered in magical formulas, and the exhausted assistants dragged themselves around like the undead.
“Welcome, student Aint. Student Aria is over there.”
Dominique, looking haggard and buried under reagents and magic stones, greeted him.
In the direction he pointed, Aria stood with a vacant stare, surrounded by spirits.
Aint asked for permission and approached her.
“Aria.”
As expected, she didn’t respond the first time. He touched her shoulder and offered her a sweet.
“…Oh, Aint? What are you doing here?”
“I was passing by. Saw you and thought you might want something to eat while working.”
“Candy? Thanks. I really needed this.”
After receiving the packet, Aria went right back to work.
Aint considered saying a few more things, but seeing her so absorbed, he decided against it.
“Student Aint, could you come over here?”
“Yes, professor.”
Dominique hastily cleared a chair filled with books and papers to make space for him.
“Thank you for allowing me into the lab. I understood it was taboo to let outsiders in…”
“Don’t worry. What we’re doing now isn’t really research—more like final preparations for the firework festival.”
He clarified that there wasn’t anything too sensitive going on, so Aint was free to observe.
“You can’t imagine how much student Aria has helped me. Thanks to her, we’ll be ready just in time for tomorrow’s fireworks.”
“I see.”
Objectively, Aria was an excellent mage. And now, worn out and sleep-deprived, she was giving it her all, which explained the results.
“But she looks very tired.”
“The deadline is tomorrow, so we’ve had to push ourselves a bit. I’m just grateful Aria accepted without complaint. That’s why I let you in—to give her a bit of a break.”
“She seems even more passionate than you…”
“She is.”
Aria, as if she had already forgotten Aint, continued inscribing magical seals, eyes bloodshot and wide open.
“I also saw the Saintbird. From here, I could see it flying high in the sky. It was truly beautiful.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Watching the Saintbird soaring through the sky reminded me of the Empire itself. That’s why I want to reflect it in the fireworks.”
“So I inspired you?”
“You could say that. I originally had a different idea, but I changed it midway. That’s another reason we’ve been so busy.”
That made Aint feel a little guilty toward Aria.
“It will be quite the spectacle. The firework Saintbird will move as if it’s alive.”
For that, they needed spirits: they would be the ones embodying the Saintbird and flying through the sky.
“It really will be a show.”
“Yes, it will. Make sure you watch it.”
“Of course.”
“Oh, it’s unlikely, but if you’re curious, feel free to look around the lab.”
“Really? I can?”
“Of course. In fact, I’d like you to. Since you inspired this work, maybe you can give some input on how different the firework Saintbird is from the one you raise.”
Dominique stood up and guided him to the blackboard, showing and explaining things personally.
It was covered in formulas so complex that just looking at them gave Aint a headache. The only thing he could make out was a drawing in one corner—the Saintbird.
“You draw well.”
“Student Aria did that. She said she trusted her observations.”
Perhaps because of her good eye for detail, the Saintbird looked very lifelike.
“Can you imagine what the sky will look like tomorrow night?”
“…Well, that…”
He didn’t know. It was all too complex for him, so he changed the subject quickly.
“Can I look around a bit elsewhere? There are some interesting things.”
“Of course, that’s why I let you in. Ask anything you like.”
Dominique smiled as he returned to his desk.
Aint began slowly inspecting the lab.
Though in truth, it wasn’t very meaningful.
— Maybe because I’m not a mage, but I don’t see anything special.
‘I don’t either.’
The entire time, he stayed alert, searching for traces of demonic magic, or any circle, seal, or inscription linked to it.
He checked the professor, the documents, the blackboard, the walls—even the assistants.
Nothing seemed suspicious.
‘This is hard. Maybe because I don’t understand magic. The best thing would be to talk to Aria, although…’
— In that state? She couldn’t help you. If Fernan were here, he’d definitely find a way.
Aint let out a very soft sigh, just enough that Dominique wouldn’t notice.
‘It’d be ideal to check Professor Dominique directly…’
— Don’t even think about it. If he’s not a corrupt, you’ll be in big trouble.
‘Right.’
— Though look at that.
What caught their attention was a book on the shelf.
— Doesn’t it look like the one Abel had? The one from the Cult of the Dragon God? Same with Roderick.
At first glance, it didn’t stand out—the black cover with golden engravings could be found anywhere.
Unlike Abel and Roderick’s books, which were dark blue and dark red, this one was completely black.
Aint couldn’t say why, but it unsettled him. Maybe because the golden patterns looked too familiar.
He felt an increasing urge to check it. But the book was right behind Dominique. He couldn’t risk asking for it so directly.
And if it really was that book, and Dominique was part of the corrupt…
“It’s time. Let’s eat.”
Dominique clapped his hands, snapping the assistants out of their focus.
“We’re all heading out now. Why don’t you have lunch with student Aria too?”
“…Alright.”
Saying he wanted to stay alone in the lab reading was out of the question.
***
Is this obsession?
Ever since he saw that book, Aint could think of nothing else but confirming what it was.
— What if you sneak in at night?
‘That’s insane. It wouldn’t be just disciplinary action—I’d get expelled.’
— Then use Aria as an excuse to get back in. She’s exhausted every day. If you sneak a look, she might not even notice.
‘But today’s the end of the festival. Do you think it’s even possible? After the fireworks, they’ll return to real research.’
— That’s the problem.
Whether Dominique was a corrupt or not, he would never allow Aint to see his real research.
‘If only the director were here, I could ask him…’
— Or even Fernan…
As Aint and Gardner lamented their absence, the opportunity unexpectedly presented itself.
“An invitation?”
“Uh-huh, an invitation.”
Aria, finally freed from the hellish lab, stuffed a handful of candies into her mouth.
“Professor Dominique’s lab has the perfect view for the fireworks. It’s got a huge window enchanted with magic.”
“And?”
“Professor Dominique, the assistants, me, and Professor Ladina are planning to watch the show there together. He said if you want, you can come too. Haaaaam, that’s what he said.”
He wanted to hear Aint’s opinion directly, since Aint had inspired the recreation of the Saintbird.
“What do you say?”
“I’ll go.”
Aint had no reason to refuse—he was planning to return to the lab to check that book anyway.
“Then come to the lab at seven.”
“Alright.”
“I’m gonna get some real sleep. I need it.”
“Didn’t you sleep the whole day two days ago?”
“That wasn’t me—it was weird. I don’t even remember sleeping, and I only felt more tired.”
Aria yawned deeply and left.
— Good opportunity.
‘Yes, a good opportunity.’
Everything was going far too smoothly, which made it suspicious, but if he missed this chance, he didn’t know when another would come.
And if Dominique truly was the core producing corrupts within the Academy, then that meant a constant threat.
— Exactly. To catch a tiger, you have to enter its den.
— Facing corrupts and demons always comes with risk. If you run too much, you’ll just end up dancing to their tune.
“Understood.”
In any case, he didn’t go in unprepared.
He packed potions, stimulants, and holy water Fernan had given him into his subspace bag.
“This ends it. It’s the last day, so I’m calling it here. Consider your punishment closed.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t forget your promise to come help now and then.”
“Of course.”
“See you, Aint. Hehe, watching a student from the Knight Department dragging himself here was fun.”
“If you want to do some research, come anytime. You’re more than welcome.”
“…I’d rather not.”
With the morning’s work done, his punishment was over.
After lunch and a short farewell, Aint headed straight to the training grounds to sharpen his senses, just in case.
He repeated sword drills and meditation.
‘Should I ask senior Luina? Or Jace?’
— What if it turns out to be true that he’s a corrupt?
— If you have no proof and involve others, they might discover you and you’d get sanctioned again.
Aint trusted that he could escape if something happened.
Time passed quickly.
At six, just as the sunset was fading, Aint headed to the lab an hour earlier than planned.
“Anyone here?”
He knocked several times, but no one responded. On the fifth try, the doorknob turned and the door opened.
‘It’s not locked.’
— Excellent. Let’s check it now.
The lab was still a mess, full of leftover materials from the fireworks research, but there was no sign of anyone.
Aint moved with extreme caution.
Tap, tap…
Even so, each step felt thunderous.
Rustle—
Even the sound of paper fluttering in the wind made him uneasy.
Clink—
Empty flasks rolling on the ground frayed his nerves.
— I told you to move quietly!
‘I’m being as quiet as I can!’
— With that noise, you’d wake up the entire Ravidus Hall! It’s like thunder!
‘It’s not that loud!’
In truth, he wasn’t making much noise; it was just paranoia amplifying it all.
Aint took twice as long as usual to reach his target.
Luckily, the book was still in its place.
He carefully pulled it out and opened it.
“……!”
Completely blank pages. Nothing written.
— …Check again.
Carefully, Aint released a bit of aura.
If the book had torn or been damaged, he would have discarded it. But, like Roderick’s, it didn’t react at all.
— …It’s a corrupt’s book.
‘Then Professor Dominique really is…?’
At that moment.
“Student Aint?”
A soft, clear voice stopped him.
A chill ran down his spine.
He turned his head slowly, the book still open in his hands.
“…So you saw it.”
Dominique Colsner was smiling.
Aint’s skin crawled.
____
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