Volume 5 Chapter 242, A Follow-Up Investigation after the Investigation Report on High Priority Subjects Under Surveillance (: ?)

Translator: Nonon

Proofreader: Silavin

 

POV: ?

 

“Come to think of it, what happened with the letter of recommendation? Were you able to give it to Gray Heartfield?”

 

Still looking through the report, he asked her without looking up.

On the surface, it seemed more like an afterthought, but there was subtle underlying concern in his tone.

 

“Yes. As of that matter, his decision remains on hold. He seems to be deliberating.”

“I see. Considering who his guardians are, a positive answer might be wishful thinking.”

 

A look of disappointment crossed his face before he let out a quiet sigh, accepting that nothing could be done given the circumstances.

 

“If you intend to persuade him, it might be more effective to target his mentor, along with his guardians.”

“His mentor?… Oh, you mean the girl who competed in the arena? If my memory serves, Ash was the one who recommended her.”

“Correct. Gray holds her in high regard, on par with his guardians, the Heartfield couple.”

“Is that so?… In that case, persuasion might be a good idea.”

“…”

 

Observing his reaction, she paused for a bit, subtly glancing at him just long enough to go unnoticed, trying to confirm if they shared the same objective.

If she managed to extract the information, that would be excellent. Sorry, but I’ll be observing you.

 

“Headmaster, pardon me for prying, but why did you send the letter of recommendation to Gray in the first place? I know that your powers of observation are exceptional, and he is undoubtedly talented, but would it not be better to wait until he reached the proper enrollment age rather than making him skip grades?”

“Hm? Ah, well… Since I asked you personally for this, I guess it would not hurt to keep you in the know, Vert.”

 

He answered her question nonchalantly, his eyes still glued to the report.

… But, did the fact that he was reading through the report mean that he was carefully examining every written detail about the ‘wonderful physicality’ report? Was he really that conscientious?

 

“The current student council members are some of the most talented people I have ever seen. I simply wanted Gray to serve as a bit of an accentuation to the mix.”

“An accentuation, you say? The Third Prince, his personal attendant, the heir of Earl Forsyth, the descendant of the cursed Seyfried Family, my own Son, among other exceptional youths… Those are next year’s student council core members, correct? And you wish to insert Gray into that mix?”

“Indeed. I’ve reached out to Kriemhild and Mary as well, but neither gave a particularly promising response. Although Mary was more than happy to lend a helping hand.”

 

…An accentuation, huh.

According to my request, there were suspicions that he held improper affection toward young boys… but none of the members he listed fit that description. Sure, they were all strikingly good-looking… but perhaps he really is just assembling exceptionally talented students. If that’s the case, those ‘suspicious looks’ of his were likely nothing more than a misunderstanding.

 

“Though, it is quite rare for you to ask about such matters, Vert. What brought this on?”

 

He posed a perfectly reasonable question in response. Having probed him, she could hardly play dumb after he provided an answer. Now then, how would she respond?

I failed to press him further during my turn, but what kind of rhetoric would Archwizard use—

 

“Well, to be frank, I wondered if you were a fellow connoisseur of the physical form.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

 

What on earth was she talking about?

 

“I have a deep passion for the human body, specifically, the male musculature.”

“Ah, yes, I am well aware. You’ve been like that since your student days, Vert. Though you seem to have calmed down now.”

 

Calmed down…?

 

“My eyes were also drawn to Gray’s physique. While he does not have much muscular mass, his body is supple and lean. I was wondering if you also possessed an appreciation for bodies of a different aesthetic orientation than my own, Headmaster.”

“Well, you’re wrong.”

“Furthermore, only outstanding students are admitted into the Student Council, and the primary criterion for selection is your personal recommendation. I hypothesized that this criterion… was guided by your aesthetic eye for the physical form.”

“Wait, you’re still going?”

“Since Gray caught my eye, I wondered if you felt the same… though it appears I was mistaken.”

“Yes, thoroughly mistaken. …Wait, don’t tell me back when you were on the Student Council…”

“Indeed. Being surrounded by such exquisite bodies brought me absolute bliss.”

“…That is a piece of my former student’s inner thoughts I deeply wish I hadn’t learned.”

 

Before I knew it, he had taken his eyes off the report, gazing into the distance.

…Was her confession merely an excuse to deflect suspicion, or was she speaking from the heart? Given that she took on the same request I did, it must be the former… I pray it’s the former.

 

“Headmaster, all this talk about physiques has made me desperately miss my beloved Husband. I was holding back until now.”

“Is that so? …Does he still have that preference for the groin and inner thighs, as usual?”

“Yes. He always begins from there.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear your marital relationship is built on mutual interests.”

“Indeed, it is a life of pure bliss. Now, if you will excuse me!”

“Ah, right. Off you go, then.…I swear, Chartreuse is going to end up with a Younger Sibling at this rate.”

 

I’d like to believe it’s the former.

 

“…Phew.”

 

Once she left and nobody else was left in the room, he verified that there were no traces of magic around , and…

 

“Honestly, she really put me on the spot there… For a moment, I thought she had found out about my plan. Good grief. If I waited until Gray reached normal enrollment age, it would be far too late.”

 

He muttered something that sounded like his real thoughts.

… Was he also orchestrating some sort of hidden scheme after all? I doubted he would openly blurt out the details, but there was no one else left in the Headmaster’s office. I held onto a faint hope that he might drop a useful hint or two—

 

“I have to hurry… to make my dream harem of beautiful boys come true…! The current Student Council has every archetype imaginable, it is the absolute peak lineup…!”

 

…He just uttered the absolute last piece of information I ever wanted to hear.

 

“Ah, but what a blessing! The current Student Council is exceptionally high-level. It’s as if the Creator purposefully placed them all in this specific era. Watching them strive and work so hard is truly/ Oops, back to work. That’s not good, I’m starting to talk to myself more as I get older. Now then, next on the agenda—”

 

Having inadvertently answered everything I wished to know, he casually returned to his paperwork.

…What is this feeling? Having obtained such uncomfortable information so effortlessly makes me want to doubt its authenticity. If possible, I desperately want it to be a lie. Still, information is information, so I suppose I’ll count this as a success. Yes. Besides, the little one must be getting tired by now. This is about as much as it can handle. Hearing the audio stream, it seems to be heading back right about now anyway. Judging from what I heard, the little one seems to be heading back about now anyway.

 

“…A mouse, perhaps? I don’t feel any mana, so it’s unlikely to be a recon spell… though maybe I should call pest control soon.”

 

And so, I listened to the entire conversation in that supposedly empty room through the ears of my precious child, a little mouse, who answered my call.

 

—Fufu. My children are exceptional, even if I don’t control them with magic.

 

After all, it was thanks to my ability to communicate with my children, who leave zero magic traces, that Clo couldn’t brand me as an attempted murderer and get me arrested. …Well, he did turn around and cleverly take my Younger Brother hostage instead, but still.

At any rate, I was able to gather more information from my children than I expected. I even managed to eavesdrop on the investigation report. Now then, let us use this information to maneuver accordingly.

Except…

 

–So Clo and the others are ‘High-Priority Subjects under Surveillance,’ huh?

 

That single detail weighed unusually heavy on my mind.

 

◆

 

“The Headmaster must be getting old if he failed to notice my hidden spell. …Though I suppose Kriemhild did give me a hand. …Still, I really could have done without hearing that… But now, I can finally get my hands on Clo’s body… Ah, wait, before that, I must go shower my wonderful Husband with love!”