Infinite Mage

Chapter 108: Back to Everyday Life (2)

Chapter 108: Back to Everyday Life (2)

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Shirone's face turned incredulous. His friends' reactions were no different. Amy shook her head in disbelief and then, pressing her forehead with her hand, said,

"Sharelle, what book have you been reading these days?"

"Yes! This one!"

Sharelle eagerly pulled out a novel. The provocatively red cover bore the title "Primitive Snare."

"This is the hottest book in the bookstores right now. Its about a married nobleman who falls in love with a maid. Theres this line where the maid breaks his dish and asks, 'What are you going to do now? Are you going to demand my body?' Then the nobleman ties her up with ropes and..."

"Stop! That's enough!"

Amy raised her hand to stop her. It felt like they shouldnt hear anymore.

"Why? The interesting part is just coming up."

"Sharelle, even if you like novels, please don't confuse them with reality. Such books are vivid and provocative to captivate readers."

"Humph! You say that because you haven't read it. If you read it just once, youll be hooked. Speaking of which, do you want to borrow it?"

As Sharelle offered "Primitive Snare," Amy quickly turned her head away. Accepting her request would mean enduring a week or more of her reviews.

Shirone leaned back against a cushion and spoke.

"Ah, today's the last day in the infirmary. Thanks for coming by. You too, Senior Sharelle."

"Don't say such disheartening things. Honestly, studying in the advanced class was killing me. It was a nice break for both Amy and me."

Amy didn't disagree. The stress of daily ranking competition had reached its peak. Thus, the temporary closure of the academy was like a blessing for the seniors.

Sharelle spoke with a gloomy expression.

"But I'm worried about the headmaster. Honestly, this decision was unexpected. It was something the Creas Autonomous District could handle, but he chose to undergo the Magic Associations inspection."

Alpheas had voluntarily filed a lawsuit. Although he could have easily defused the situation due to his high standing in the continent, he accepted all the student council's demands. Consequently, the case had been transferred to the most dreaded Inspection Division 3 of the Magic Association.

"The Inspection Division 3 is known as the special investigation unit in the Magic Association. They strictly abide by the law, regardless of connections or status. Even Headmaster Alpheas can't avoid disciplinary action."

Shirone thought it was for the best.

"The headmaster has been carrying this pain for 40 years. If this opportunity can lighten his burden even slightly, I think accepting the punishment is a good thing."

Nade commented.

"Let's just wait and see how things go. Who are we worrying about? It's Alpheas Myrhe, a Grade-4 mage. We'll be busy again once the academy reopens, so let's rest while we can."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Shirone turned to look out the window.

The afternoon sun poured in lazily.

Bashuka, the Capital.

Viewed from the Jijeon Mountain Range, the scenery of Bashuka was dominated by the towering royal palace, with key institutions spread out around it in concentric circles. The residents of the capital say that the buildings visible from the mountain range symbolize the nation's key institutions.

One of these was the Magic Association. The 18-story building oversaw the affairs of all registered mages in the Thormia Kingdom and handled the surveillance and intelligence tasks of the mage community in collaboration with other agencies.

While any mage would want to visit the place at least once, Thadd, assigned as the guide for Alpheas, Canis, and Arin's party, felt like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.

"Master, is this really the best course?"

"This is what I've chosen. My only regret is that it took too long."

Canis answered calmly. However, there was no response from Arin. Not wanting to irritate the investigator, Canis turned to her and asked.

"Arin, what's wrong?"

Arin was trembling, her face pale. Canis realized from her eyes, shaking with shock as she looked at Sakiri, that she was horrified.

'What did she see to be this scared?'

"Canis, I can't read it..."

Arin, being at the first stage of her psychic abilities, should not be unable to sense the feel of objects. This meant the object originally had no feel, or the feel was artificially erased.

Indeed, Sakiri, as seen by Arin, appeared bizarre. His whole body was like smooth metal, mirror-like, and his egg-shaped face lacked any features. His hands and feet were pointed like cones, making reading even the slightest emotion impossible. It was a form of the first stage that could only appear in a state of perfect emotional blockade.

"Oh, it seems the lady is startled. Its the first stage, right? Magic is blocked, but there's no way to block inherent traits. Of course, I don't think you two will cause any trouble."

Sakiri seemed intrigued, putting down his pen and crossing his legs.

Arin watched as his cone-shaped legs twisted. They coiled and uncoiled like a pretzel.

'This person is playing games.'

It wasn't just about suppressing emotions. He was someone who could perfectly control his own emotions.

"Focus."

Arin jerked her head up. The mirror-like face of the investigator extended sharply into a cone, coming right in front of her forehead.

"Please do. We are on official duty, after all. Arin, is that correct?"

"Yes, it is."

Terrified, Arin didn't even realize she had answered. The sharp cone pointing at her forehead must have been Sakiri's intense gaze. It was her first time seeing the first stage manifest in such a clean form. Any criminal caught by this man would have no bones left to pick.

Canis and Arin finally faced reality. They were caught by the most powerful and authoritative judicial body in the kingdom. As they waited, deflated, Sakiri's face returned to its smooth, egg-shaped metallic form.

"Well, I have prepared a report based on Alpheas's statement, but there are a few things I need to confirm. Please answer my questions."

Sakiri checked several things through question and answer. Canis and Arin answered honestly. An hour passed, and Sakiri, looking satisfied, organized his files and said,

"Yes. Most of the statements match. There are some discrepancies, but nothing important."

His words were too casual to have come from an investigator of the Inspection Division. But Sakiri leaned back in his chair, seemingly unconcerned, and continued.

"So it's like a kind of brainwashing, isn't it? Basically, Arcane used your unhappy lives to brainwash you from childhood."

"What?"

Canis's eyes narrowed with intensity. He would have preferred to be called a villain. Sakiri's statement was no different from denying the root of Canis's entire life.

"Master never forced anything on us. I did it, and I committed those acts."

Knowing the investigators strength, Arin was nervous as Canis became angry. However, Sakiri's first-stage form remained unchanged.

"A vicious tactic. To save and make you respect, then to say this. I need this, but of course, it doesn't have to be you who does it."

Canis couldn't understand what the investigator was saying. He had come here to pay for his crimes. And now, brainwashing? Were they planning to put him in a mental hospital?

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