Chapter 95: Suspicion Begets Ghosts (3)
They say that if you harbor delusions, ghosts that never existed will be born.
Wasn’t that what they called “Suspicion Begets Ghosts”?
In short, it went like this.
A suspicious heart was like a ghost gnawing at one’s mind, trapping people in delusions, making them fear and despise things that did not even exist.
And such thoughts grew, trailing one after another, gaining weight and form.
Yes, in a way, suspicion itself could be seen as the seed of all evil.
And right now, that very seed of all evil was trying to take root inside me.
“Did someone use your body as a palette to paint on or something? Red, blue, orange… a splendid rainbow, really—my eyes are feasting on the colors. You might as well have dyed yourself head to toe before showing up.”
The Old Professor, who had been on guard against any unforeseen situation, grabbed Allen the moment he saw him in his battered state and half-forced treatment on him, all while grumbling in a mocking tone.
Allen only gave an awkward smile, as if he had nothing to say for himself.
Thanks to that, I was able to closely examine Allen’s upper body at my side.
A body covered in countless wounds and scars.
Many were old, but a good number were recent, and they quite literally covered him from head to toe.
And it wasn’t difficult for me to discern that most of them were clearly the kind one sustained from sparring or duels.
Of course, if you were a student at the Academy—especially from Hilts dormitory—injuries were nothing unusual.
But had he ever gotten himself so thoroughly battered in sparring before?
And all within just a day or two out of my sight?
With that question I had asked myself, the seed began to sprout and dig roots.
“I came to visit, but I’ve ended up a patient myself.”
“Indeed.”
Seeing him smile awkwardly, I returned a small smile of my own.
Unlike me, who only had bandages wrapped around a hand, he looked as though his entire body had been wrapped up in layers of bandages.
And among those, one part in particular stood out.
As I gazed at his cheek, I quietly asked,
“But what on earth happened for your body to end up in such a wreck?”
“Hahaha…”
His cheek.
The bruise was so large that even the biggest gauze patch couldn’t quite cover it.
Such an injury could only have been caused by being struck with a blunt weapon—or by a fist swung with all one’s strength.
And above all else, it was in the exact same direction and spot as the cheek I had struck.
Surely just a coincidence.
…Was it really coincidence?
The sprouted seed sank its roots deeper.
“……”
I wanted to tear those roots out.
Rip them out entirely.
I wanted Allen to give me a reason I could accept.
“I’m sorry, Lian.”
Instead of giving me a reason, Allen offered me an apology.
“It’s just… at the moment, it’s a bit difficult for me to explain. But if I get the chance later, I’ll be sure to tell you.”
“…Alright then.”
I nodded.
“Well, it’s probably just that you got injured during training, as usual.”
“Ha…”
Allen only gave a hollow laugh.
This time, he glanced at the back of my hand and asked,
“Then what about you, Lian? How did you get hurt? From the looks of it, you’ve suffered quite a wound.”
“Oh, well…”
I muttered, deliberately evasive.
“Sorry, but it’s a bit difficult for me to explain right now too… If I get the chance later, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Ah, I see. Understood.”
“……”
“……”
An awkward silence stretched.
He seemed to think I was irritated, for he drew in a slightly uncomfortable breath.
But it wasn’t because I was upset that he had withheld the truth.
It was because I saw no reason to give him information.
Until I was certain of his stance, there was no need to reveal more than necessary.
I couldn’t yet be sure where he stood.
And so, the roots burrowed even deeper.
“Come to think of it…”
Looking at Allen lying in bed just as I was, I said,
“This is troublesome. We were supposed to meet today for tomorrow’s supplementary class. But with both of us laid up like this… Today is one thing, but we can’t afford to be hindered tomorrow.”
“Ah.”
At my words, Allen muttered as if he had forgotten.
Then, sounding a bit restless, he said,
“I completely forgot. I should’ve taken better care of myself, as you said. If I end up dragging everyone down in the supplementary exam tomorrow, I’ll have no excuse.”
“Normally, I’d scold you for not being careful, but I don’t have the right this time. I’m laid up here too, after all.”
Letting out a small groan as I shifted my posture, I casually asked him,
“But how did you know to come visit me here?”
“……”
Allen hesitated for a moment, then said,
“I was told. That Allen was here.”
“That I was in this room, you mean?”
“Yes.”
At that, I paused.
If it were true, it was unexpected; if it were a lie, it was a clumsy, transparent one.
If he had really wanted to lie or evade, he could have said something more believable—like he had come for his own checkup and happened to hear my voice.
Judging from that, it seemed he truly had heard from someone and come to find me.
No—Allen’s nature itself was such that, if anything, he’d rather remain silent than tell a lie.
Whether it was Allen Amiel of my past life or the one before me now, that much was the same.
But I couldn’t jump to conclusions.
For if all of this was just an act to deceive everyone, there could be nothing more chilling or dangerous.
The sprouted seed began to draw nourishment to bear fruit.
Every action he took, every word he spoke, I had to give meaning to and guard against.
And then soon enough……
“Urgh.”
It was at that moment.
A piercing pain shot through my collarbone.
That pain jolted me awake in an instant.
‘Wait a second.’
With my head ringing, I could only stand there dazed.
It felt as though the fog clouding my eyes had lifted.
‘…What on earth was I just thinking?’
Letting out a deep sigh, I quietly closed my eyes.
I tried everything I had to resist mental interference—starting with the Miracle of Purification and moving through every spell against mind-affecting magic—but there was no effect at all.
Other than a faint sense of dissonance I hadn’t noticed before.
‘……Something got to me without my knowing.’
It could only be that.
I’d always been cautious and overly suspicious by nature, yes, but it had never reached the pathological degree it had just now.
‘Was it something similar to what had warped my senses before?’
But to think there could be something that gnawed at a person’s senses and very way of thinking like this.
Was this what it had felt like when I encountered Tobrida of the Mirage, one of the Eight Demon Lords, whom I had only ever heard of in legends?
It wasn’t just chilling—it was a kind of unbearable, unnameable disgust burning inside me.
“Lian.”
“……”
“Lian?”
“Ah, sorry. What is it?”
Allen pointed at the clock on the wall.
“It’s almost time for the meeting. I thought I should let you know, just in case.”
“…Wait, did I ever tell you I was going to attend the meeting?”
At my question, he answered with an awkward look.
“I know it was rude, but your voice carried all the way outside the door.”
“Ah, I see.”
I nodded as though that made sense.
Then I rose to my feet, glancing at the Old Professor as though seeking permission.
“Don’t forget your promise.”
That was all he said in reply.
I turned to Allen.
“Anyway, I’ll be going. Take care of yourself.”
“Yes.”
Allen sent me off.
“Please take care, Lian.”
He added a faint smile to his words.
And just like that, all the suspicion, wariness, and hostility I had felt toward him melted away as if they had never been.
But….
The medicine I had taken from Allen’s room, tucked away in my handkerchief—
It had been shattered to pieces from the impact of the attack.
Whether it had spilled somewhere along the way or not, there was nothing left.
“……”
I stared in silence at the empty handkerchief.
The meeting ended without incident, contrary to my worries.
Tesrad still put on his easy smile, acting friendly.
Anette still glared at me as though she wanted to kill me.
And Princess Velita still greeted me with outward kindness and grace.
When they heard Allen was bedridden, their reactions varied.
Tesrad gave a mix of concern and joking remarks.
Anette responded with threats and contempt, warning that if he dragged Her Highness down, she wouldn’t forgive him.
Princess Velita showed only pure concern and consideration.
At one point, she even looked at my bandaged hand with sincere worry.
In any case, the meeting went smoothly despite Allen’s absence.
Which made sense—by now we’d already practiced working together somewhat, and without knowing the contents of the upcoming exam, there wasn’t much we could do anyway.
It was practically an empty formality of a meeting.
At one point, Tesrad jokingly asked me what sort of enemies would appear, or in what terrain we would be tested during the supplementary exam.
As if I would know.
When I answered that I didn’t, he kept pressing me until I finally snapped and half-irritatedly told him:
‘If I knew that, I’d be making a living as a fortune-teller on the street, not racking my brain studying in here.’
Even at my sharp reply, Tesrad shamelessly grinned and said, “Hey now, no need to put it like that.”
Watching this, Princess Velita suddenly burst into laughter, while Anette—apparently displeased by her reaction—shot me another deadly glare.
And so, the meeting ended without any particular incident.
I immediately headed back to the infirmary, both to keep my promise to the Old Professor and to tell Allen what had happened.
“…Hm?”
The room was empty.
Neither Allen nor the Old Professor, who was usually always present, could be seen.
For a moment, I quickly scanned the room, but everything was spotless.
Then what had happened?
As I was wondering, someone all but ran in, opening the door in a rush.
“Hm?”
“Ah.”
It was a familiar face.
She noticed me as well and quickly composed herself to greet me first.
“Greetings, Sir Lian Gwendil.”
“Miss Artemia.”
It was none other than Artemia Russelant.
The Head Maid who oversaw the freshmen dormitories, and Lyslin’s superior—a pale blonde woman.
Despite her hurried steps, neither her attire nor her breathing was disheveled.
But even I could tell there was the faintest crack in her composure.
“It has been a while. Have you been well?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Your words honor me.”
After the brief exchange, she lowered her head slightly as if to ask for my understanding.
“I beg your pardon, but there is a matter of urgent importance… Would you allow me to take my leave first?”
“Of course. Don’t mind me.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Sir Lian Gwendil.”
In a single stride, Artemia went to the medicine cabinet and began skillfully gathering medicines and tools.
From the look of it, I could guess what was going on.
‘There must be a patient in critical condition.’
Too urgent to be moved here, it seemed.
The Old Professor must have gone ahead but failed to bring everything he needed, and so Artemia had come instead.
As if to confirm my guess, Artemia paused at the door, remembering something.
“Sir Oranyestad left you a message.”
Oranyestad.
That was indeed the Old Professor’s name.
“He said that an emergency patient has appeared. If you are able to walk on your own, then please take your rest as you see fit. Otherwise, he asks that you come another time….”
“Understood.”
“Then I shall be on my way. Until we meet again, Sir Lian Gwendil.”
Unlike her initial composure, Artemia left the room almost as though being chased.
Left alone again, I nodded faintly.
Allen, though covered in wounds, hadn’t had any critical injuries—so he had likely just returned to his dormitory.
‘But knowing I had only stepped out for the meeting, he just left?’
With his personality, he would have waited for me without fail.
Though I found a note on my bed saying he had urgent business and had gone ahead, a faint sense of unease still lifted its head.
“…Nothing will happen, right.”
I muttered, as though to reassure myself, and stepped out of the empty infirmary.