I’m the Slit-Eyed Character at the Academy, but I’m not the Mastermind

Chapter 49

Caron, still wearing a dissatisfied expression, was addressed.

"Keke, do you still not believe what I'm saying?"

"...Of course not."

"I see. But this problem can be easily solved if you think about it a little differently."

"What do you mean?"

"Believing what I say. Wouldn't that simply prove my existence?"

A child who dreamt of becoming the Lester family's rat, living in the shadows.

Renia made an unknown deal with that boy and imparted the family's secret techniques.

Then one day, the Lester family was annihilated, and his world collapsed.

"...There's no evidence, is there?"

His tone suggested he couldn't possibly accept it.

But there was clear evidence.

Caron had to acknowledge the undeniable proof.

"Keke, you've seen One Flash. Do you need more proof than that?"

One Flash, far superior to Luna's.

There was no explanation other than having been personally taught.

After a moment, Caron spoke.

"...You barely pass."

"What?"

"I've known for some time that you're related to the Lester family. I was just testing whether you could handle the weight of it."

Caron's words, suggesting everything so far had been a test.

But to me, it seemed like he was just trying to act cool.

'Barely pass? After having no choice but to use force.'

Anyway, the first duel between the veteran and the empire's rat ended in a perfect victory for the veteran.

But I had no intention of ending it here.

"Let's make a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yes, exchanging information we each have. Preferably something beneficial for both."

"What? Hahaha!!"

Caron began to laugh, his lips twisting.

A clear mockery. Why?

"Do you think the information you have would be of any use to me?"

The value of information.

He was talking about the disparity between the information each of us possessed.

The value of information held by Caron, who operated behind the scenes of the empire, and myself, a mere fifteen-year-old.

There was a huge gap between the two.

If only.

I wasn't a veteran.

"Didn't a hole recently appear in your trash bin?"

Caron's smile vanished from his face.

He must have been shocked, unable to even attempt hiding his expression.

The trash bin.

A place where scraps of information mixed and rats incessantly scurried in and out.

An euphemism for Caron's intelligence agency within the empire.

'Dare to wrinkle your brow in front of a veteran?'

Using information?

If I reveal everything I know, Caron would be astounded.

The information a veteran holds is terrifying.

"...I don't understand what you're saying."

Hmm~ is that how it's going to be?

Passing by Caron, I muttered.

"Then it can't be helped. I'll consider this information discarded..."

"...Go ahead and blabber about it. It's probably just made up anyway."

Caron grabbed me.

A hole in the trash bin meant there was a rat leaking information.

If the traitor is not ousted, it would undoubtedly lead to serious consequences.

"It's Hus. He's been providing information to the black magicians."

Caron frowned.

The fact that the information was being passed to an unfavorable party was one thing, but it was more likely due to me knowing the exact name of a top-secret informant.

'At this time, Caron must have suspected a leak.'

He just hadn't identified who it was.

In the game, it's discovered around the end of chapter 1, so telling him now wouldn't cause much trouble.

'He won't act until he finds concrete evidence that Hus is the traitor.'

Caron must have his own list of suspects.

I'm just lending a hand.

The future won't change dramatically with this butterfly effect.

"Where did you get this information?"

Naturally.

"Keke, that's a secret."

"..."

Caron didn't get angry.

Not revealing the source of information is a basic rule among intelligence agents.

This was probably his way of testing my level.

"A deal..."

Caron muttered.

My proposition to trade the information we each possessed.

At first, he thought it was a boring joke, but upon closer inspection, its value was considerable.

It wasn't unreasonable for him to ponder over it.

Information, by nature, varies immensely in value, from worthless to priceless.

But sometimes, information can be more valuable than life itself.

'He must be pondering because he understands its value.'

The potential butterfly effect of trading our information was unpredictable.

A prolonged hesitation wouldn't be good.

I decided to ease his mind.

"I'll provide this piece of information as a service."

"...Service?"

"Yes, an indispensable part of business relationships, especially for the first transaction."

After all, from Caron's perspective, there was no certainty that my information was even real.

This was a small price to pay to earn his trust.

Finally, Caron nodded.

"You better not think of running away."

He implied that I might have spread false information to avoid a crisis.

Although, he seemed to think that possibility was low.

Moreover,

"Keke, I'm confident in my information, so I won't run. You're going to keep an eye on me anyway, aren't you?"

Having someone watched.

Was this too obvious for me?

Caron didn't even pretend to be surprised.

Instead,

He smirked.

A real laugh, not an act.

I couldn't believe it. Caron laughing.

"You dreamt of being a rat, but... you're at least a baby rat."

A baby rat?

Even smaller than a rat?

Well, it seemed I passed anyway.

"I've wasted too much time. I need to return quickly."

"Keke, I wonder if the children are alright. Isn't that right, Teacher Caron?"

"...Stop that snickering laugh. And that 'Teacher Caron' sounds creepy. Just keep calling me 'you'."

Did I say that?

The psychological battle was so intense, I barely remember.

Well, [Twisted Speech] must have spat out the right words for the situation.

"Keke, you're mistaken."

"..."

"Then what should I call you? You? Rat? Or... respected senior?"

"..."

"I see. Senior it is then. After all, I'm the baby rat you acknowledged."

Caron's expression soured.

"If you call me 'senior' one more time, I'll break your neck."

"Then, Sir Caron?"

Thump!

Crash!

Suddenly, Caron's kick came flying in.

Strangely, it didn't hurt. He didn't intend to injure me.

He spoke to me, now upside down against the wall.

"Roll some more."

"What?"

"You're returning from a fierce battle, aren't you? If your clothes are too neat, it'll arouse suspicion."

The space, still bearing traces of [One Flash], was off-limits.

I had to pretend I'd been in the pit from start to finish.

A disguise was essential for that.

-That was Caron's thought.

The problem was, does that justify kicking me?

I gave a thumbs-up.

"That's right. You truly are a senior."

"...Just this time, I'll help you."

Then he started rolling me around.

With his feet. Very carefully.

'What did I do to deserve this!'

Did I bully Luna?

Tell a lie?

Threaten someone?

Did I fail to show respect to you, senior?

All of the above?

That must be a misunderstanding.

Someone as pure as me couldn't possibly do such bad things.

"Your face is too clean."

Caron then smeared mud all over my face.

Was it my imagination that he seemed to be laughing?

"Keke, you seem to be enjoying yourself."

"It's a misconception."

Ah, I see.

Misconception.

Indeed, the root of all evil.

* * *

Caron and I returned together from the pit.

Timing our exit from the magical illusion was easy.

Caron provided the perfect timing.

Not even the instructors noticed, it was a flawless moment.

"Move the seriously injured this way!"

"Minor injuries over here!"

Instructors and children were busy transporting the injured.

The battle seemed to have ended.

The corpses of ants scattered around the pit testified to the fierceness of the battle.

"From now on, restrain yourself from conspicuous behavior. Act like a rat should."

"But I'm a baby rat, am I not?"

"..."

I felt Caron's glaring gaze.

Well, if I don't look, it's over~.

What can you do in such a crowded place?

"And another thing..."

I strained my ears, but couldn't catch the rest of his words.

What was that? A new kind of voice phishing to make me turn my head?

I tried hard not to turn around.

But I had to, because Caron said something shocking.

"Don't get too close to Luna."

"...?"

Was that your taste? Not just the personality, but the age gap is huge.

I looked at Caron with a look of disdain.

I was disappointed with his character.

"You seem to be misunderstanding something."

"...It's a misconception."

Ssssh-.

But despite what I said, my body was honest.

I distanced myself from Caron.

"It's really a misunderstanding."

"Save your explanations for the noble court. Though it seems to be already ruined."

"We made a deal! I also made a deal with Renia!"

Caron shouted in desperation.

A deal with the head of the Lester family?

"What kind of deal did you make?"

"...That's a secret."

Wow, stealing my style of speaking?

This guy is really shameless.

"Zero!"

Just as I was about to corner Caron, Luna appeared, shouting angrily.

If it weren't for her voice, I wouldn't have recognized her as Luna.

Her hair was disheveled.

Her face was streaked with dried tears and snot.

Her body was covered in green fluid.

"Zero!"

Luna... no, the green monster rushed towards me and hugged me tightly.

Ah, I see. I'm supposed to become a green monster too?

"You fool! Where were you!"

"Keke, struggling to stay alive. But it seems it's over now."

"Are there any ants left? Where? Where?"

You've become a green monster, haven't you?

And even if you hadn't, it feels like I'm going to die, Luna.

Blazing eyes-.

Caron was giving me a death glare.

"This idiot! Fool! Worm! Waaaah!"

But Luna didn't move an inch from me.

She just clung to me, crying her eyes out.

"Lord Caron! There are three severely injured!"

"Tch! Wait. I'll look at them myself."

Caron left our side, clicking his tongue loudly.

Even then, his head was still turned our way.

What's with that monster? Do assassins' necks rotate 180 degrees?

"Lady Luna, perhaps you should step back a bit..."

"No! You fool!"

The children murmuring about how sweet it was.

Caught in the worst situation by Caron.

But still, the fact that someone is worried about me.

Wasn't such a bad feeling.

--TL Notes--

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