No matter where it was, a campus at night always gave off an eerie feeling.
The Royal Academy was no exception.
"How should I put it… this atmosphere really is a bit unsettling."
Standing in the corridor and looking at the scene before him, Duanmu Huai couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Places like schools, hospitals, and amusement parks often became settings for horror films for a reason. If one had to say why, it was that the contrast between their daytime liveliness and the silence of night truly made people uneasy.
Not to mention that the Royal Academy, as a long-established educational institution, had a rather classical style of decoration. The cold moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the corridor, illuminating the paintings and ornaments on the walls, making it feel as if something happening here would only be fitting for such an atmosphere.
Logically, this was when Duanmu Huai should begin investigating clues, searching for traces, and identifying the culprit.
Unfortunately… too troublesome.
And there were too few clues.
So Duanmu Huai simply chose the direct approach.
That's right—investigate what, search what, think what. He would just wait here at the academy and catch the culprit in the act!
Based on the previous two incidents, it was very likely that the other party had unfolded Charunos within the academy, dragged those unlucky victims into the City of Darkness, and then killed them. If that was the case, then all he had to do was wait here just like before!
As for those idiotic notices… whoever wanted to read them could go ahead. Duanmu Huai certainly didn't.
He hated people like Kaito Kid the most—those who gave others riddles and then acted smug about it. He didn't know who that idiot was, but Duanmu Huai was certain that when he found him, he would definitely give him a thorough beating—he hated riddlers the most!
Riddlers were never anything good! All of them were bastards under the Trickster God!
At this point, it was already deep into the night. Ordinary students had long since gone home. Only a few laboratories and discussion rooms were still lit, where several students and teachers gathered, discussing various research topics. Of course, to Duanmu Huai, all of that was incomprehensible nonsense. So he merely took a casual stroll past the labs on each floor, eavesdropping a bit, mainly to see if anyone was discussing topics related to the Chaos Gods… but unfortunately, there was nothing.
Thus, Duanmu Huai's only remaining interest quickly shifted to looking for pretty girls among them.
But unfortunately, there were none.
It wasn't that the academy lacked beautiful girls—there were certainly girls like Mary. However, the foggy city had a rather conservative atmosphere, and at such a late hour, proper young ladies would not be wandering outside. So after going from one laboratory to another, Duanmu Huai mostly saw balding professors and a group of exhausted male "lab dogs" panting like they were about to stick out their tongues… which, well, was perfectly normal.
On the first night, Duanmu Huai gained nothing.
On the second night, Duanmu Huai also gained nothing.
So he had no choice but to use his ultimate move.
Fishing required bait, after all.
"Huh? You want me to lure the enemy?"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's request through the communicator, Mary was momentarily stunned, then nodded.
"That's no problem, but the curfew is very strict. If I don't return all night…"
"No need to make it that troublesome. Go back first, then I'll come to your room and bring you to the academy."
"Th-this…"
Faced with Duanmu Huai's suggestion, Mary hesitated. As a lady, inviting a man into her room late at night was clearly improper. But in the end, she still nodded.
"I understand, but if someone finds out, what should I say?"
"Just say you forgot your homework or textbooks at school."
"Huh? Is that even something people forget?"
Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, Mary was shocked. Hearing her response, Duanmu Huai was also shocked.
"What? You've never forgotten your homework or textbooks at school?"
"…I'm very sorry, but I never have…"
After all, as an outstanding student in the history department, Mary was very diligent every day. Making a low-level mistake like forgetting her homework at school was simply impossible for her.
"Uh… anyway, that's the plan. Got it?"
"I understand, but may I ask, sir…"
"Hmm?"
"If I'm supposed to forget my homework at school, should I still do my homework?"
"...…That's just an excuse, not for you to actually forget it."
Duanmu Huai sighed helplessly. He realized that sometimes Mary could be inexplicably naïve and overly earnest.
"Alright, I understand."
"Then I'll come get you tonight."
Soon, night fell once again.
After finishing her homework, Mary sat somewhat nervously in her room, waiting for Duanmu Huai to arrive. In truth, she had no idea how he would appear. In her mind, it would probably be like before—Lorena would relay a message, making it easier for her to explain things to Mrs. Henderson. But if Duanmu Huai came personally, how would she explain it…?
While Mary was thinking about these things, she suddenly felt a gust of cold wind behind her. Turning around, she saw that the window, which had been closed, was now somehow open, with the chilly night breeze blowing in.
Did I not close it properly?
Mary walked to the window and reached out to pull it shut. She leaned forward slightly—and then—
A large hand suddenly appeared above her head, grabbed her by the collar, and before she could react, lifted her out of the room like a kitten!
"Ahhh——!!"
Startled by the sudden attack, Mary instinctively opened her mouth to scream. But a large hand quickly covered her mouth from behind, and Duanmu Huai's voice followed.
"Don't scream. It's me."
"S-sir!"
Hearing his voice, Mary finally relaxed. Trembling, she turned her head and saw Duanmu Huai crouching on the rooftop, holding her by the collar with one hand while looking at her.
"That really scared me. Why did you use this method? I thought…"
"It's more convenient this way. Alright, keep your mouth shut. Don't talk, or you might bite your tongue."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai directly pulled Mary into his arms. This made her eyes widen in shock, her face flushing red as she looked at him. It was the first time she had been so close to a man—let alone being carried in a princess carry. It was something she had never even imagined!
"S-sir… wait, we…"
"Alright, we're going!"
As Duanmu Huai's voice fell, the sky before Mary suddenly darkened. She turned her head and saw the buildings below rapidly receding. Duanmu Huai strode forward, moving across rooftops as if walking on flat ground, leaping and dashing. Despite his massive frame, he didn't look clumsy at all—instead, he moved like a shadow, elusive and swift.
Held in his arms, Mary felt like she was riding a roller coaster. His strong arms were like safety bars, firmly restraining her body. All she could do was widen her eyes and watch the rapidly shifting nightscape and ground below. It felt as though she were being swept up in waves—sometimes rising, sometimes falling—until the entire world seemed to spin in her vision…
By the time Duanmu Huai brought Mary to the Royal Academy, she could barely stand.
"Ugh… this feeling… so uncomfortable…"
Stumbling out of his arms, Mary felt as if she were drunk. The ground seemed to sway like waves, and the world before her was distorted. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths before finally regaining her senses. Then she turned around, a hint of dissatisfaction on her face.
"Honestly, sir, you—"
But before she could finish, she stopped.
Because behind her… there was no one.
Duanmu Huai's massive figure had seemingly vanished.
"???"
Mary froze for a moment, then turned her head left and right before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Honestly, sir, what's the point of hiding behind a lamp post?"
Looking at Duanmu Huai, who was hiding behind a lamp post not far behind her, Mary felt a bit speechless. She had only failed to notice him at first because it was too dark—but with his size, it was almost impossible not to spot him.
"…Don't worry about it. Just walk. I'll follow behind you."
"But… alright."
Mary wanted to point out that if he followed behind her like that, wouldn't people notice and defeat the purpose? But since Duanmu Huai insisted, she had no choice but to comply.
"Then… where should I go now?"
"Just wander around. Anywhere is fine."
"…Alright."
(End of Chapter)