Chapter 26

Desmond's death abruptly brought the school festival to an end. The dormitory students returned to their respective dorms, and students like me who commuted, along with the parents who had participated, were practically shut out of the school and sent home.

Despite all that had happened, classes resumed as usual the next day at the school. No teacher was willing to discuss the details of the incident. Rumors suggested that Liam had been taken away by someone. Such incidents were usually handled by the patrol squad, but according to a student who saw Liam being taken away, the attire and demeanor of those involved did not seem to match that of the patrol squad.

Wendy was taken back to her family home and has been absent since the incident. After what Liam did, it was probably better for him not to be at the school right now. No one witnessed the incident at the gazebo, but this time, many students saw Liam stab Desmond with a knife. No one doubted that Liam had killed the three people, except for me.

There was something that bothered me, so on my way back from school, I decided to stop by Razda Books. I had searched the school library, but found no books that could provide any clues. It was doubtful that I would find anything here that wasn't in the school library, but this store often had niche books.

"Hey, shopkeeper."

I called out to the shopkeeper, who was sitting at the counter with his eyes closed. He looked somewhat lonely. We've known each other for a long time, but he remains a mysterious man.

"---Roy?"

The shopkeeper said. His eyes, behind his glasses, moved and fixed on me.

"You look free."

"None of your business."

There were no customers today. It was a mystery how he managed to stay in business. The store had closed once when I was in my third year at the affiliated school. I remember feeling sad when I saw the sign removed during the summer break when I returned from the main estate. It was a time when monster attacks were increasing, and stores on Alkum Street were being forced to close one after another. It was around this time that Quintas began to appear in the city, making the street even more desolate.

By the way, my first encounter with Quintas was that summer. On the way to the main estate, the carriage my father and brother were in was attacked. Fortunately, my father managed to wound Quintas fatally and drive him away, but I don't know what would have happened if the carriage I was in had been targeted first.

"Newspapers again today?"

I glanced at the newspapers stacked on the counter and read the headlines: "Aveiram Faction, War Cry Grows," "Another Murder at the Royal Academy," "The Original Sin of Demons"...

"I'll take one copy of 'Street Journal' and 'Facade.' And I'm thinking of buying a book today."

"If you tell me the title, I'll get it for you."

"I'm not looking for a specific book. But, well... do you have any books about the effects of magic on the human body—especially on personality?"

The eyes behind the lenses closed. He was probably recalling his memory.

"Sorry, but we don't have any. Why are you looking for something like that?"

"Are you aware that students at the school have been dying one after another?"

"Yeah. They say a noble's child is the culprit."

"That's what they say. But something doesn't sit right with me."

"Playing detective again? I think it's better not to get involved in unnecessary things."

From the shopkeeper's perspective, I must seem like someone who always gets involved in dangerous situations. But as someone who assists the patrol squad in their investigations, I can't deny that playing detective isn't entirely off the mark.

"I'll be careful."

"---So? I don't see the connection between the book you're looking for and the incidents at the school."

When I infused my eyes with magic, I could see a light on Desmond's forehead. I wanted to say that, but it wouldn't make sense to anyone else. How should I explain it?

"I have a classmate who is abnormally obsessed with dolls. I suspect he's involved in the incidents. Regarding the first two victims, the student suspected of being the culprit testified that they looked like 'puppets.' I was there during the last incident, and the deceased student's behavior was indeed strange."

The shopkeeper folded his arms and seemed to be deep in thought. Did I talk too much? There was no gag order, but it wasn't right to spread information about the school to outsiders.

"---Are you saying the three who died were brainwashed into committing suicide?"

"In a nutshell, yes."

"You're holding back some crucial information, aren't you?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because there's no basis for linking brainwashing to magic."

"---That's true. Yes, there is other evidence, but I can't disclose that information."

The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes. I know I sound suspicious, but his sharp gaze made me uneasy.

"It's about that person..."

The shopkeeper cut himself off mid-sentence.

"That person?"

"Never mind. ---Well... I don't have the exact book you're looking for, but I have something related. Wait a moment."

The shopkeeper went into the room behind the counter.

When he returned, he placed a book on the counter. The title on the cover read "The Devil's Experiments." It was a ominous title.

"How much?"

When I asked, the shopkeeper shook his head and said, "I'll lend it to you." I decided to gratefully accept his kindness.

"I'll come back when I'm done reading."

I tucked the book under my arm and left the store.

The book "The Devil's Experiments" that the shopkeeper gave me summarized inhumane experiments that were allegedly conducted in our country and on the continent. I think the credibility is quite low, and it gives the impression of an occult magazine collecting urban legends.

Still, since he recommended it, I decided to skim through it to the end. It's a tasteless book, but I can imagine some people enjoy it for entertainment.

---Identifying Physical and Mental Impairments Based on Brain Damage

Judging from the remaining pages, this was the last chapter. It seemed to be about experiments conducted on criminals in a certain country on the continent. I've seen this pattern many times. The subjects were mostly criminals or war prisoners in most chapters. This setting makes it easier for readers to imagine, so I skipped the introduction.

The content, as the chapter title suggested, was about how impairments varied depending on which part of the brain was damaged.

Visual field loss, hemiplegia, consciousness disorders, memory disorders, personality changes... All of these were plausible symptoms. Compared to my knowledge from my previous life, there were no absurd symptoms, and the experiments began to seem more credible.

Hmm? This is...

It mentioned that a few subjects who had part of their frontal lobe destroyed exhibited abnormalities related to magical abilities. This experiment suggested that magic is closely related to the brain. The shopkeeper must have wanted me to know this.

It's highly questionable whether such an occult book is a reliable source, but when compared with the experiment in the exchange diary that Elsa lent me—using magic to brainwash people—it seemed there was something more than just an occult explanation.

I closed the book and looked at the cover.

---The Devil's Experiments

The devil... I can imagine a researcher's curiosity overcoming their moral objections. Researchers might be the people closest to the devil.

Suddenly, Elsa's face came to mind. I shook my head to dispel the unpleasant thoughts. She has her quirks, but she's not a bad person. At least, I don't dislike her anymore. The devil refers to creatures like Quintas.

A voice escaped my lips.

Quintas's sister. When I saw Desmond standing upright without any emotion on his face next to the emotional Liam, I had a sense of déjà vu. Desmond's appearance at that moment overlapped with Quintas's sister's appearance at the mental hospital. That vacant expression, as if her mind had gone somewhere else...

I need to visit the mental hospital again and see Quintas's sister. I need to confirm if she has the same light above her eyes that I saw on Desmond.