NOVPUB''...I’ll be ready shortly.''
I shut the door and returned to my room.
Standing still in front of the wardrobe, I began pondering how things had come to this.
They said someone from the Security Bureau had come. If they’re a knight, then it must be someone from the Nightcrawler Knights.
'Those guys I saw last night, huh.'
Why would a knight from the Security Bureau come here?
They should be busy investigating the incident that happened in Rederbelk. So why go out of their way to come all the way to Seorn to see me?
Don’t tell me they’re convinced I’m the culprit?
'No. No, that’s just needless worry.'
If they really knew I was the culprit, they wouldn’t have come politely as guests. They would have issued a warrant and dragged me away by force.
Or perhaps come to me in the middle of the night, in secret.
For them to visit me in such a formal, polite manner could only mean one thing—they still don’t know I’m the one responsible.
'Even so, they came to see me. It must be related to something.'
I could think of it immediately.
The werewolf.
The death of Belvotte Rixon in Rederbelk had been revealed to be the work of a werewolf.
And that werewolf had also appeared in Seorn.
'I was the one who killed that werewolf.'
That must be why they sought out the instructor named Ludger Cherish.
They’re struggling with the investigation. They clearly know something happened, but the key puzzle pieces have all been erased.
The last remaining clue must’ve led them to Seorn.
That means my identity hasn’t been exposed—yet.
'Still, I can’t let my guard down. If I give off even the slightest suspicious sign, they’ll suspect me immediately.'
Especially if the guest who came today turns out to be her—Terrina Lionhowl.
If that’s the case, then this might just be the greatest crisis of my life.
Her intuition isn’t human. It’s something far beyond that.
Even so, I can’t refuse a meeting with someone who came looking for me.
If a newly appointed instructor refuses a visit from the Nightcrawler Knights for no good reason, that alone will make me look even more suspicious.
If I start making excuses and avoid meeting them, I’ll just give them a stronger reason to stick to me.
'I’ll just have to meet them for now.'
Anyway, they think I’m Ludger Cherish, the new teacher at Seorn.
They don’t know anything about my past.
All I have to do is lightly cooperate with the investigation.
With that thought, I straightened my collar and tidied my outfit. I threw on a black frock coat and tied back the hair that trailed down with a ribbon.
It was still morning, and the air was a little brisk, so I loosely draped a scarf around my neck.
This should do.
I checked my outfit in the mirror, slipped on my shoes, and opened the front door.
And right there, just below eye level, was a pink fluffball.
''Oh! Professor Ludger! You’re here?''
Hearing the door open, the fluffball turned around.
No, it was Professor Selina.
''Don’t tell me you were waiting for me?''
''Well, sort of.''
She averted her gaze slightly and gave an awkward smile.
''If I’d known, I would have come out a bit earlier.''
''A-ah, no, not at all! I was the one who waited on my own, and you really didn’t have to rush just for me, Professor Ludger!''
''Thank you for your consideration. Shall we go, then?''
''Yes!''
Well, it’s just two instructors commuting together.
It’s not like anyone would say anything.
Besides, I wanted to ask Professor Selina about the situation.
Walking in step with her, I naturally brought up the topic.
''The Security Bureau suddenly came looking for me—did you happen to hear why?''
''Oh, yes. I think it’s because of the werewolf incident. Since one appeared here at Seorn recently too, maybe they want to talk to you, Professor Ludger, because you resolved that case?''
''I see.''
Hmm. So it really is about that.
But even if they ask me, they’re not going to get the answer they want.
They should know that. This must be a desperate attempt to clutch at straws.
''By the way, are you done preparing the test? This’ll be your first time conducting the first preliminary test, right?''
''Yes. I tried it, and somehow managed to pull it together.''
''Wow! That’s amazing. I’ve been agonizing over how difficult I should make it and what kinds of questions will get the students to really give it their all.''
''I feel the same.''
Creating test questions from the instructor’s perspective is definitely a tough task.
It can’t be too easy, but at the same time, it shouldn’t be too hard either.
There’ll always be variance between questions, but even the difficult ones designed to differentiate performance shouldn’t just be endlessly punishing—they should prompt students to pause and think.
Questions that demand a shift in perspective.
Instead of having students groan and curse over how hard they are, they should feel that spark of realization—''Ah!''—and experience a sense of accomplishment. That way, they’ll be satisfied too.
'But of course, that’s easier said than done.'
Each person receives it differently. You can’t satisfy everyone, and as the one making the questions, it’s a real headache.
Well, it’s just the first test anyway, so it’s meant to be light.
It’s not like the students at Seorn have had that much time to learn yet.
The important part is seeing how firmly they’ve laid the foundations.
Tests that demand more advanced understanding can wait until the third round and beyond.
At least, that’s how I see it.
The main building of Seorn came into view ahead. It was time to part ways with her.
''Then, I’ll go greet our guests. Take care.''
''You too, Professor Ludger!''
She waved at me and was about to walk away, but then something seemed to come to mind. She stopped and called out to me.
''Oh, right! Professor Ludger!''
''Yes. Is there something else you wanted to say?''
At my question, Professor Selina gave a faint, meaningful smile and opened her mouth.
''They’re pretty scary people. So be careful.''
Then she spun around and walked away with quick little steps.
Be careful? I’m already well aware of that.
Scary people? Did she meet them herself?
'But why would Professor Selina tell me that?'
Was it an intentional warning? Or did she just think I seemed nervous and wanted to offer some advice?
I don’t know the reason. But that’s not the important thing right now.
I lifted my head and looked toward where my office was.
'Security Bureau knights, huh.'
There’s no choice but to face them.
I entered the main building and made my way toward my office.
The interior was quiet, with no one crossing my path.
That was to be expected. It was class time.
Still, the silence somehow rubbed me the wrong way.
At last, I reached the office, steadied my breath, and opened the door.
Clunk.
The door opened to reveal my office, exactly as I had left it. My private space.
The only thing that had changed was the man standing by the bookshelf, idly brushing his fingers across the spines.
Sensing my presence, the guest turned toward me.
I quietly observed him.
''Ah, you must be Ludger Cherish.''
No.
It wasn’t her—not the person I had been expecting.
The one standing before me was a man. His hair was neatly slicked back, and he wore rimless glasses over a stern face.
A black uniform with gold epaulettes.
The outfit unmistakably marked him as a member of the Security Bureau.
'So it wasn’t Terrina Lionhowl after all.'
Maybe I’d ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) misidentified her that night.
Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, I returned his greeting.
''A pleasure to meet you. I’m Ludger Cherish, an instructor here at Seorn.''
''I’m Lloyd, an agent with the Security Bureau.''
Lloyd. No surname, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a commoner.
Agents of the Security Bureau rarely reveal their full identities.
He didn’t even mention being a knight. He simply said he was an agent.
Was he deliberately hiding it, or did he just not feel the need to flaunt it?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
I shifted my eyes slightly and examined his uniform. Not a single wrinkle—everything was perfectly in order. His hair was without a strand out of place, and his posture was upright, as if a rod had been placed down his spine.
Just as I’d suspected from his appearance, he was clearly someone who valued precision and neatness.
‘His hands—bare, no gloves.’
The broad build visible above the uniform and those rugged hands clearly testified to the fact that he was a knight.
''I made you wait quite a while.''
''Not at all. On the contrary, we’re the ones who should apologize for arriving without prior notice.''
''Please, have a seat. Do you prefer coffee or tea?''
''Apologies. I have a personal rule not to consume food or drink while on duty.''
''Understood.''
I sat across from him, facing him with the guest table between us.
He was staring at me with a piercing gaze, as if trying to see right through me.
But for someone who had been dreading the arrival of a lion, all I felt was the presence of a mere wildcat.
''So then, what brings you here to see me?''
I got straight to the point.
''I heard there was a werewolf incident in Rederbelk recently.''
''Yes. Not exactly recently—it’s been some time.''
''And I also heard that it was you, Mr. Ludger, who eliminated that werewolf.''
''That’s correct. I took care of it.''
''Impressive.''
''I merely did what any instructor should do.''
A light back-and-forth of questions and answers.
Words exchanged, casually.
But there was a subtle undercurrent running beneath it all.
''The reason I ask is this—''
Lloyd opened with a pause.
I figured this was it—the real reason had come.
''Did you happen to notice anything strange about the werewolf?''
''Something strange?''
As I thought. The Security Bureau had also noticed that the werewolf was connected to something else.
But I didn’t let my emotions show.
No expression of suspicion, no show of expectation.
I remained consistent, like from the beginning—just a host treating a guest.
''I’m not sure what you mean by ‘strange’.''
''I found it odd that a werewolf appeared inside Seorn.''
''The investigation revealed that the werewolf came from outside. There’s a massive sewer tunnel connecting Seorn and Rederbelk. It crawled through there to get in.''
I wasn’t lying.
The werewolf had indeed crawled through that giant sewer to get into Seorn.
Impossible for a regular human, but for a werewolf, entirely feasible.
''I see. And I heard you fought the werewolf directly, Mr. Ludger.''
''Yes, I did. It tried to threaten the students, so I stepped in.''
''What method did you use in combat?''
A strange question.
But it likely meant he was anxious because he wasn’t getting the answers he wanted.
Instead of asking why he’d even pose such a question, I simply responded with the facts.
''I used magic. Elemental magic. I dodged its attacks as much as I could, scorched its fur with fire, and pierced its body with an ice spear.''
''I see.''
''But the thing was remarkably durable. Once it sensed its life was in danger, it took off running into the forest. I chased it and managed to finish it off in the woods.''
''Was there any other problem besides that?''
''Aside from a few overly eager students trying to hunt the werewolf themselves, no.''
''I see.''
Lloyd didn’t look particularly surprised.
More like it was exactly the response he had expected.
So then—he’d already heard a full report and knew the details. He was simply trying to verify whether my account matched the report.
As expected of someone from the Security Bureau—meticulous enough not to miss even the slightest inconsistency.
''Then let me ask a different question.''
''Please, go ahead.''
Lloyd continued questioning me several more times after that, but I answered all of them without hesitation, naturally and calmly.
And so, the back-and-forth went on for five more minutes before finally ending.
Rising from his seat, Lloyd extended a hand for a handshake.
''Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule.''
''You serve the nation—it’s I who should be honored.''
I shook his hand firmly.
''Well then, I’ll take my leave. It was an honor to meet you, Professor Ludger Cherish.''
''Likewise. It was a pleasure, Mr. Lloyd.''
Lloyd offered a slight nod and left the office.
Thus ended the interrogation by a knight of the Security Bureau’s Nightcrawler Knights.
* * *
''Phew.''
Lloyd, recalling the conversation from earlier, waited for his superior at the designated meeting spot.
Ten minutes before the agreed time, he spotted two familiar figures in the distance.
''Commander. You’ve arrived.''
''Yes.''
Commander Terrina Lionhowl and her aide, Enya.
The two of them had also visited Seorn. Unlike Lloyd, who met with Ludger Cherish directly, the pair had spent their time inspecting the scene.
''Did you find any leads?''
''No. Even with the headmaster’s cooperation and full investigation clearance, nothing worth noting turned up. What about you? Learned anything?''
''No, I didn’t come away with anything concrete either.''
''Did that Ludger fellow seem suspicious?''
''At least from what I could tell, I didn’t sense anything out of place.''
''Hmm.''
Terrina didn’t seem disappointed, even though the answer wasn’t what she’d hoped for.
Because just in case, she had already issued one specific instruction to Lloyd.
''Lloyd. Did you carry out what I told you to do?''
''Yes. I followed your orders right before we parted.''
At her question, Lloyd nodded with a solemn expression.
''So? What was it like?''
As if this was the most crucial part, Terrina asked sharply.
''The hand I shook with him—was it the hand of a trained man?''
