CH 393

Oh? Actually, at that time…?

“What? Greeting the freshmen?”

Spring was rapidly coming at Saint-Noel Academy. Mia was in attendance of a student council meeting on this day of warm sunshine and sweetmoon cherry blossoms. The typical crowd was present in the workplace. The entry ceremony was the subject that was currently on their minds after they had talked about a number of other things.

Mia questioned, “But…aren’t you the one who usually welcomes the new students?”

Rafina answered with a kind smile, “I’ll be speaking at the ceremony too, of course, but I think our new students would appreciate a few words from the student council president as well.”

“So, it falls under the purview of the president’s duties. Hm… What ought I to say?”

Rafina made a brief giggling noise.

“Oh, don’t stress yourself out too much. Just be honest and express your thoughts.”

Her remark initially appeared comforting, but Mia knew otherwise.

I can’t accept this kind of suggestion at face value, for sure.

She wasn’t that stupid; she knew she couldn’t just blurt out whatever came to her. Rafina had given her the presidency of the student council voluntarily. There were expectations to meet. There were expectations that would be grievously disappointed if she stood at the stage and discussed her favorite desserts.

Rafina added, “There’s no rush, so give it some time. Later, I’ll provide you the draft of my speech from the previous year so you can review it as well.”

“All right, then.” Mia was compelled to nod. Rafina had made a direct request, and she couldn’t afford to refuse it.

I guess. It’s not too bad, I suppose. It’s not like I have to risk my neck for this, she reasoned to herself as she tried to feel better. No, most likely not.

Rafina called out, “All right, everyone,” while clapping her hands. “Although we had a great time talking, I think it’s time to get to work.”

Her face became grave. “Serious matter. Although I’m sure it’s been on everyone’s mind, Ms. Barbara, I was able to get some information from that Serpent.”

I see, Barbara. Didn’t I send her to Miss Rafina? I totally forgot about it.

“Yes, I have undoubtedly been curious. So? What did you learn?” questioned Abel.

Sion remained silent but leaned forward while steepling his hands. Both princes, in contrast to Mia, appeared to have been anticipating this time. She started explaining the background of the impending topic to the members who weren’t present, taking particular care to use language that suggested she had been considering the matter as well. She did this out of fear that her lack of attention would be discovered.

“So I requested that they be given to Rafina-sama once we apprehended Barbara and her lackeys,” she said in her conclusion. For good measure, she continued, “They’ve definitely been on my mind ever since.” She then drank some tea and let out the satisfied sigh of someone who has just successfully concealed a huge error.

Rafina immediately continued the narrative. “As soon as I got back from Miss Mia’s birthday festival, I started the interogation. Oh, I say ‘interrogation,’ but of course I did nothing violent.”

Looking at Mia, she added, “I personally believe they should be punished for the awful injustice they caused you, but I figured you’d be angry if I was too harsh with them. I treated them similarly to how I treated Jem.”

Mia saw the expression was a little unsettling and immediately grinned back to cover her apprehension.

Rafina added, turning her attention to the other people in the room, “That did get them to talk, but very little of what they had to say was fresh knowledge. They discussed how a person they refer to as a high priestess leads the Chaos Serpents and that shamans disseminate the Serpents’ teachings. Oh, and the wolfmaster was referenced as well.”

Mia uttered “The wolfmaster” once again.

“Yes,” Rafina agreed, “the assassin known as the wolfmaster is a superb fighter and appears to accept orders straight from the high priestess.”

“A superb warrior? I-I-I was targeted by someone like that? Sweet moons…”

Her frantic horseback dash over the cold plains came rushing back in her mind. As she recalled the swooshes of air she had felt as the assassin’s blade had missed her by what seemed to be a hair, the skin on the back of her neck tingled. Her spine tingled as a result.

It’s a miracle… that my head is still on my shoulders. Is that right—it’s still resting on my shoulders? I’m not dead, but I don’t know it, so this isn’t some type of nightmare situation, is it? Aren’t you all speaking to me? That proves my existence, right? In a fit of irrational panic, she feared that if she glanced up at anything reflective, she would see nothing but empty space above her neck.

Rafina continued to explain while Mia preoccupied herself with such ridiculous thoughts.

She remarked, turning to face Mia, “By the way, I read the letter you sent me, and its contents helped me put together a working theory of sorts. Could you please tell us about the various types of Chaos Serpents, Miss Mia?”

“Huh? Oh, you’re referring to what Duke Yellowmoon was discussing?” She responded, feeling incredibly glad to be spoken to because it proved she wasn’t actually dead.

“Uh… I’m pretty sure he said the Chaos Serpents can be grouped into four types of people,” she remarked. “There are individuals who interact with the Serpents inactively, those who actively work with the Serpents in an effort to employ them for their own ends, those who resonate with the Serpents’ teachings and turn into adherents, and shamans who teach and guide those adherents. That’s how it went, I believe.”

Recalling the four cookies the duke had set out on the table, Mia connected the words with cookies since she found it difficult to recall only the words. It was Mia’s memorization technique.

“Yes, you did write that in the letter. That classification leads me to believe the men we apprehended are adherents.”

Mia pursed her lips as she thought of Barbara’s lackeys’ appearances.

“I believe you are correct. Those people undoubtedly exude a cult-like, malevolent vibe. They appear to be the kind who would sacrifice their lives for a diabolical philosophy.”

“Indeed, I think those who react unfavorably to the Holy Book are the adherents and shamans.”

Sion remarked, “Ah, that makes sense,” and he nodded in agreement. “I’ve always found it odd that they didn’t all respond the same way to the Holy Book. That would explain it.”

“Yes. Whether they accept the Serpents’ teachings as gospel will depend on it. Or, if they consider the serpents to be divine or only useful tools. The Holy Book would be the teachings of their deadliest enemy for those who revere the Serpents. They must find it repulsive. They fundamentally reject something that is totally intolerable. They reacted so strongly to it because of that.” Rafina stopped. Her voice took on a hesitant quality. “At least, that’s what I thought.”

“Hm? Why do you say that?” Mia tilted her head in a perplexed manner and inquired, “Did something change your mind?”

“It is Ms. Barbara. She somehow seemed different. She didn’t just reject me, that’s what I felt from her. There was undoubtedly some of that, but hate predominated much more. A deep-seated hatred of us—nobles, royalty, everyone—not just the Lord but also me and everyone who is similar to me.”

“A deep-seated hatred?” Mia recalled the occasions when she had seen Barbara. “Now that you bring it up, I do recall Bel mentioning Rina was treated fairly harshly. For some reason, she also appeared to detest Duke Yellowmoon a great deal.”

“One explanation for her actions is that she sincerely adheres to the Serpents’ beliefs and, as a result, despises the authority of nobles and the society order it supports. That makes perfect logic, but I think there’s something more.”

After Rafina’s thought, there was a moment of silence that was finally broken by Abel’s faint murmur. “We don’t really know anything about these people. I’m genuinely curious in this high priestess of the serpents.”

For some reason, Abel’s remark lingered in Mia’s ears.