Chapter 3

During the winter break, I was only called by Lucas on the first day, and the rest of the time was peaceful. The dormitory was surprisingly comfortable, but for some reason, the familiar mansion was more relaxing.

Before I knew it, the short winter break was over, and the new semester began. Afternoon classes were the perfect time for students still groggy from the break to catch up on sleep. Just as my eyelids started to droop, Mr. Nash entered the classroom and called me.

I wonder what he wants from me. I submitted my reflection paper properly, and I've been behaving well recently.

"You have a, a, visitor. F, f, follow me."

As I stepped into the hallway, Mr. Nash said this without looking at me. He turned and walked ahead, his black robe billowing behind him.

A visitor for me... Could it be a journalist here for an interview? I can't think of anyone else it could be.

I was led to a reception room in the same area as the principal's office. Mr. Nash knocked on the door and entered, so I followed.

Three people sitting on a sofa at the back of the room turned to look at me.

"Oh, the patrol team..."

It was Inspector Baker and Sergeant Abagnail from the patrol team who had visited my house regarding the Quintus incident. The third person was someone I had never seen before.

After confirming our presence, Baker and Abagnail stood up.

"I've brought Roy Aviram. I'll leave now."

With that, Mr. Nash quickly left the room.

"Hey, Roy. How have you been since then?"

Abagnail spoke to me as if I were a younger cousin.

"Yes, nothing much has changed. Sergeant Abagnail."

"That's good! I was worried after what happened. Some of my colleagues who entered the scene were really shaken by the brutality. Maybe it doesn't matter whether you're an adult or a child. It might be something you're born with. Maybe Roy and I are just tougher in that way!"

"Maybe. My friend was depressed for a while after the incident."

"Of course! Some of the other students who were involved in the incident also got upset when they tried to recall it. Poor things..."

As I talked with Abagnail, I couldn't see what the main topic was. I looked to Baker for help.

"Abagnail, why don't you let Roy sit down first?"

"Oh, sorry. Roy, please sit down."

I sat on the sofa opposite them, and they followed suit.

The other man remained seated. He was looking down, and his long hair, which fell over his face like snakes, made it impossible to guess his age. He was shaking his leg nervously and rubbing his dirty fingers together.

"It's been a while, Mr. Roy. I've heard a lot about you."

Inspector Baker narrowed his eyes, hiding his sharp gaze. He was as neatly dressed as ever, but still wore his usual rumpled clothes.

"It's been a while, Inspector. What brings you here today?"

"We're here to talk about the Quintus incident."

Baker was straightforward.

"I see. But why did you come all the way to the academy?"

"…I thought you might understand, but it's inconvenient to have Lucas around. You can't speak freely in front of him, can you?"

That's true. I can't say anything that might be disadvantageous to the family if my father is there, and I can't ask what I want to know either.

"That's true. My father is a strict man. If I make a mistake in front of guests, I'll be scolded later."

"Hmm, I see. Then today, without Lucas, you can speak more freely."

Baker's eyes seemed to become even sharper. Talking to him made me feel like he could extract information from me one after another.

But I don't mind talking about the incident. I have nothing to hide, and I even want to know more about Quintus.

"Of course, I'll answer what I know. —And who is he?"

When I asked Baker, the man sitting next to him jumped.

"I should have introduced him earlier. This is Samuel Bautista, a painter from the continent."

"Ah, a painter."

"Yes. Our investigation has been at a standstill lately, so we're trying a new approach."

"Are you introducing a new investigative method experimentally?"

"Yes. It's difficult to catch someone like Quintus with conventional methods. If he uses magic to enhance his speed, he can disappear quickly, and it's impossible to catch him. Therefore, it's ideal to identify his base, gather forces, and launch a surprise attack."

"True. He's a powerful enough to evade my father's tracking. So, you brought a painter to draw a composite sketch of Quintus?"

I guessed, and Baker's eyes widened in surprise. "That's right."

Is it unusual to put a composite sketch on a wanted poster? I had gotten used to the city with the patrol team, but it's still a relatively new organization. They might still be in the process of establishing their investigative methods.

Until recently, the security of the capital Artillia was maintained by a vigilante group organized by the city's notables. However, with the increased activity of monsters, a broader investigative network was needed, and the patrol team has now completely taken over.

The patrol team not only handles monster-related incidents but also enforces the law. Their organized and efficient investigative capabilities are highly valued by the citizens, and they have rapidly expanded beyond the capital in a short period.

The vigilante group, which was replaced by the patrol team, has since been dissolved. For about a year, they operated alongside the patrol team. During that time, I saw the vigilante group several times on my way to and from school. They were just a few adults in sloppy clothes, lazily walking around the city, chatting, and lacking any professional demeanor. It's hard to imagine that they had any knowledge of criminal investigation, so the patrol team must have started almost from scratch.

They must have recruited talented people from various places. Looking at Baker sitting in front of me, I thought that must be the case.

"I'd like Roy to describe Quintus's appearance in words while this man draws a portrait. It might take some time, but is that okay?"

"It's fine until the carriage arrives. About two more hours, I think."

"I'm sorry to have called you out, but is it okay to miss your class?"

"I won't listen to the teacher even if I attend."

The afternoon classes are Asta language and math, but the current content is so easy that it makes me yawn, and I usually do other things during class.

The only class worth listening to is history.

"Ah, I understand. I used to tune out boring classes too."

Baker agreed with me.

"You two, that's not good. Not everyone can go to school. I wasn't wealthy, so I had to give up on school. It was fortunate that a poor school opened near my house. In the countryside, many children still can't get an education."

Abagnail criticized us. I had never heard of a poor school before. Since I usually only talk to the children of nobles at the academy, I realized I was indeed a spoiled noble boy.

"That's my mistake. I'm not familiar with the lives of common people."

I had no interest in the education of the poor, but I apologized anyway.

"Abagnail is right. As a patrol team member, we need to be close to the citizens."

Baker nodded solemnly. As a profession, he must often interact with the citizens.

"It's good that you understand."

Abagnail smiled contentedly.

"---Well, let's wrap up the small talk and start drawing Quintus's portrait."

Baker clapped his hands, tightening the relaxed atmosphere.