Chương 5: Editor’s Authority (1)
< Editor's Authority (1) >
While the cat was focused on food, he rummaged through the bedroom in case there were other clues.
Kleio hardly had any things. Besides textbooks, writing utensils, and the uniforms, all he had were pajamas and several pieces of moderate everyday clothes.
'So that's why it felt even more like a hotel room, huh.'
In the empty desk's drawer, there was just a student notebook and one checkbook issued from 'Planta Bank'.
'It's basically like sending off a kid who can't even meet other people's eyes, without anything except for just one debit card.'
Thinking about it again, this household's state… Was what he thought, but judging from circumstances, obviously the connected account would have a considerable amount of money.
If he shook down and emptied the account, would he be able to see the face of that impressive rich man called Baronet Asel?
'I should drop by the bank like Dorm Supervisor Reuba said.'
Checking the torn parts on the left side of the checkbook, it seemed like he had used one or two sheets.
When he lightly shaded in over the signed parts with a pencil, the impressions from the pressing pen was more or less revealed. He thought he would be able to copy the signature well enough.
'Let's use this for now.'
Kleio put the checkbook into the jacket's inner pocket. And finally, he opened the student notebook.
Kleio Asel
Dernier Calendar Year 1873
Royal Capital Defense Corps School Year 1 Student
Prospective Group 2 Mage
Ether Level: Level 1
Behemoth winded around Kleio's legs as he examined the notebook. It was after it had cleanly cleared the chicken and broth.
"Hey, non-Kleio Kleio."
"Just call me Kleio. Anyways, what?"
"Chicken isn't that bad, but I want to eat steak. Medium rare with Madeira sauce, and wine as a complement."
"What's with this cat? Cats can't drink alcohol."
"Do you think this cat is the same as other cats? Huh? I've tolerated you a lot today, so you better repay me tomorrow with blood-red Budigala wine and veal."
When Kleio ignored the fussy demand for meat and wine, this time Behemoth kicked his shin with its back legs.
That hurt as well.
'If I tussled with it right now, I'd probably lose to the cat.'
.
.
.
Behemoth, who had displayed the appearance of a kitty thug just thirty minutes ago, was cutely licking its front paw like it didn't know anything as it coiled up on top of Isiel Kision's lap.
'This deceptive punk cat.'
A lit living room. A pretty girl sitting in an armchair. A cat purring on the pretty girl's lap.
'Back then I didn't have the time to notice, but seeing her in a bright place, she really is pretty.'
The cheeks that were lightly tanned to wheat color from polishing her swordsmanship, were smooth without a single flaw. The curly hair at neck height was red like a summer rose, and the green eyes were clear like emeralds reflecting light.
Slender chin, and high nose bridge, and the small lips below that were pressed firmly together.
It was a sight that could be as beautiful as a picture. If the cat wasn't an old one that lived for a century, and the beautiful young girl hadn't come to interrogate Kleio.
"Don't you think of evading, Kleio Asel. Considering the range of the Circle, it's clear that your ether level should be 2 or more. Why did you hide that fact?!"
"I really don't know. I said I don't remember what happened after I fell in the river."
'Ahh, I thought I would get to rest, but why a hearing all of a sudden?'
Isiel, who had burst into Kleio's room just a while ago, seemed to pause at the cat coming over to rub itself, but soon returned to her original purpose.
"Then are you saying that you opened a Circle unconsciously?"
"I guess you can't rule that possibility out completely."
It was the first time in Kleio's life that he'd ever talked with a pretty girl like this, but it had been a long time since his slightly stirring heart completely withered at her fierce interrogation.
Isiel continued to disturb the comfortable life of a rich household's stupid son that Kleio had in mind.
So obviously he would have a serious face.
With a hard expression, Isiel put down the cat she had been busily petting up to now, and stood up. The girl looked coldly down at the still sitting Kleio.
"It's peculiar. Today, you haven't been pushed back by my presence for a single second, despite my being a swordsman."
Isiel Kision thought back on the assessment about 'Kleio Asel' that had been known up to now.
The news that the capable Baronet Asel's second son would enter the school as a peer had spread throughout the school in an instant. But he was merely a timid and shy unfairly admitted student.
But what about the boy here right now?
He still had a skinny and weak body. Even so, his eyes and posture had become completely different.
Composed eyes like he was someone who had lived for a long time. A gaze that met her straight on. The attitude that treated Isiel, who was in the same grade, like a young girl.
'This person is Kleio Asel?'
"I don't know if you've heard, but because of the shock of falling into the river, my memory became a mess…"
"You're not losing at saying a single thing to me, I see. Can a person change this much just from their memory becoming a mess?"
Even in Kleio's point of view, it was something crazy.
He knew well enough now that 'Kleio Asel' was extremely timid with a depressive personality. But he, who wasn't even an actor, couldn't copy an already dead child's personality.
'People can't become people that aren't themselves. But to think that she's already picking a fight over that.'
Well, there was a reason why she was acting that oversensitive.
Isiel held suspicions that the installation incident of the unidentifiable magic formula could be a plot from the other princes to harm the 3rd prince Arthur.
Of course, it wasn't.
That was just something that happened when students who found a piece of an ancient document tried to attempt summoning magic secretly without the teachers knowing.
For now, if he endured, the inside story should come out. After that, Isiel wouldn't cling to this anymore.
"Cut the chatter and let's go to the headmaster to get your ether level measured. If it's proved that you're level 1, then I must have seen wrong last night."
Kleio felt a pang inside.
'If I get that ether level or whatever it is measured right now, then it'll probably come out high, right?'
It was impossible to separate 'Promise' from his body. He had tried several times in the meantime, but the ring stayed on like it was stuck on with glue.
The circling cat just watched and provoked him.
"Meoooooooooow(What did you go around doing that this pretty person is raging? I'll let you know beforehand that you can't hide your ether level if it gets measured.)"
Kleio thought hard and fast for the first time since he came to this place. In order to play around from now on, it would be troublesome for him to stand out.
"I'm not well, so I have to rest for now. And I don't know why I have to listen to that kind of demand either."
"Kleio Asel. If you don't agree to the measurement, I will officially report you. For improper registration of your ether level."
"You don't have proof."
"My goal is proof."
"I don't know if it was like that because it was a dangerous situation, but I said I don't remember."
Ah, a hearing. He had wondered why other people who held out saying 'I do not remember,' did that, but now that he was in the same situation, he couldn't do anything but do the same.
'And now, is it time to come out in a wheelchair?'
Still with a calm face and laced fingers on his lap, Kleio hid his anxiety well. He remembered the contents of the manuscript clearly.
'First of all, three days after the drowning, the ringleader approaches Isiel. And I still have 4 days left on sick leave.'
"Then, let's do the measuring after my sick leave ends."
"Don't think of pulling anything."
"I'm not. I'm in pain and feeling sick right now. Is it proper behavior to unfairly persecute an innocent person?"
Kleio aimed for the fact that Isiel was the type that pursued impartiality and justice, and beat around the bush.
"…How can I be sure that isn't a part of your plan?"
"Check with my housemate and the attendant. See if there's even a student, no a person, that I approached, shut up in my room, before I fell into the river."
A slight crack appeared in Isiel's blank expression. She probably had already searched around. Kleio Asel had no friends that could be found at all.
'Not even one.'
"If the incident isn't resolved until my sick leave ends, then I'll agree to your summons. But if it does get resolved, then don't bother me again."
The Kleio Asel who was looking up at Isiel, had such a tired and spent face, unlike a seventeen-year-old boy.
A teenager in the throes of passionate youth was trying to block the longing of an overworked 32-year-old worker for rest, so would his expression be able to look good?
The boy with cooled sweat beading on his pale forehead truly looked sick.
Isiel could no longer vigorously corner Kleio, and opened and closed her mouth.
Kleio, whose back had been trembling like he really did have a fever, inwardly put on a satisfied smile.
'There, now let me off easy.'
At the moment when it seemed like he would be able to persuade Isiel if he pushed just a bit more, things fell apart.
Bam–!
It was because someone had slammed the entrance door shut and burst into the living room.
"Kleio Asel, you better come out right now."
'I thought he doesn't have any friends. Where are there so many people coming to find him today?'
"Do you know how much I've been called over thanks to you jumping into the river? Even though I treated you well because I felt sorry for you!"
A boy with a big build passed Isiel, and rushed straight toward Kleio. He looked so angry he didn't seem able to see straight.
A large and thick fist flew straight toward Kleio's face. It seemed like his bones would break if he was hit properly.
"Ack, [Save me!]"
Before Isiel could stop the boy, a golden semicircle and complicated patterns that filled it wrapped around Kleio and spread out.
The boy's fist hit the circle's boundary and bounced off.
"Arghhh–!"
The boy screamed loudly, clasping the back of his hand. Isiel glared at Kleio from across the semicircle surging with golden light.
It was with her hand resting on her training sword so she could draw it out at any time.
'Wow, crap, what do I do?'
Even Kleio, who was clueless about magic, could tell this time.
The golden circle of a 2m radius that spread out with Kleio in the middle. This was no doubt a mage's 'Circle' that came up in the manuscript.
A Circle was a circular field that spread out in a size proportional to the mage's ether level. Inside the Circle, the mage could carry out 'magic' that broke free of the general laws of physics.
He quickly thought back on the parts in the manuscript about Circles.
It had said that only impressively outstanding students could cast Circles starting from Year 1. This was basically the same as him, who was last place in the entire school, suddenly getting full points on a mock exam.
'Promise' sparkled as it let out light. It seemed like a Circle and defense magic would reflexively unfold if a big threat approached his body.
'…If you were trying to shove a current day person into a fantasy world, then I guess you should put in at least one type of insurance. I suppose this is what Isiel saw.'
It was clear that the unconsciously invoked magic had saved him when he had fallen into water.
'I'm thankful, but it's troublesome now. Is it possible to turn things back? Is there a way?'
He had basically been caught in the act after spending ages feigning not knowing anything about magic.
As Kleio tried his best to find a method to somehow slip free of the situation, golden lines of words floated up in front of him yet again.
He felt a hot heat on back of his right hand.
[–Will you use Inherent Skill: 'Editor's Authority'?]
[–When the skill is applied, the author will accept the editor's revision suggestion.
Restriction: Within the relevant chapter, usage is possible for up to three times.]
Jungjin shouted inwardly.
'I'll use it; I don't know what it is, but I'll use it!'
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