Roger, who had tried laugh his earlier words off, now had his lips pressed into a firm line. Within the depths of his usually calm eyes now glinted a flicker of distrust and suspicion.

“I’m being asked that by you of all people? Who are you, really?”

Roger lowered his sword.  He shook off the blood from the blade and his hand, and then slid the weapon back into its sheath with a wry smile.

“…Like I said, I was just joking. The dragon controlling flute has been found, it’s over here.”

Roger turned and walked back into the headmaster’s office where he planted a hand on the luxurious desk by the window.  In that instant, the amber-toned desk began to glow with magical energy. Threads of magic shot out from it and snaked throughout the room.

“They connect to the bell tower, where the warning bells sound, right above this room. This desk is the activation device. You pour magic into it and it starts up.
—With that, it should have stopped now.”

He lifted his hand from the desk and tapped it lightly with a finger, kon.

“No wonder it was so hard to find. Who’d have thought the headmaster’s office was the flute?”
“So, it’s like a giant music box played with magic. Definitely not something that can be carried around.”

“Except that’s not all.  Look at these documents.  Gunter was trying to burn them.”

Roger handed over a bundle of papers that had been scattered over the desk and floor. Among them were diagrams of the top floor of the school building and the bell tower, along with a brief summary. Hades furrowed his eyebrows and read aloud.

“The device at the military academy is a prototype… Research has already shifted towards miniaturization and magical amplification. The academy is now tasked with collecting a large quantity of dragon cries for completion. The cries of black dragons in particular are essential.”

Dragons were not a rarity at the military academy. They were used to train the students. The academy even received support from the Rave Empire to an extent.

“So the research on the device itself has already been shared.”
“Yeah, and this here is the worst yet.”

He unfolded a letter written on parchment. It was half-burnt.  Only the upper half remained. The date was from about four months ago. The sender’s name was lost, but the recipient was still legible.

“…Addressed to Chancellor Mainard. Regarding delivery of the dragon music box.”

The wording was roundabout and careful, but the intent was unmistakable.  Hades spoke curtly.

“We’ve been tricked. Mainard had it in his hands over half a year ago, the dragon controlling flute (music box).”

Roger has been working to retrieve the dragon controlling flute being stored at the military academy for Mainard so it could be submitted to the Rave Empire as evidence. Yet, according to that letter, Mainard had already received the actual device, or something close to it, half a year ago.

He, however, had claimed there was no evidence, making Roger search for it.  It was a blatant stall tactic.

“Mainard is guilty.  There is a high possibility that he’s connected to Gunter too.”

It also perfectly explained why not a single report had reached the homeland. If Mainard himself harbored treasonous intent, naturally he’d keep things quiet.

“…That’s not necessarily true. I heard just now that Mainard had been injured and taken to city hall.”
“And you got that from those traitors who turned on us, didn’t you? Are you really going to trust them?  The fact that the undercover squad was exposed, that it was Mainard himself who had formed that squad, of which you are the only survivor… All of that lines up perfectly if Mainard was involved.

Roger, who had crouched down on the floor with his fist pressed to his forehead, slowly rose to his feet and laughed.

“Sorry, I’ll decide after meeting with Mainard. I… don’t want to believe it. Of all things, using this research like that…”
“Are you involved in this research somehow?”

Roger’s eyes narrowed and his gaze was cast downward.  Then suddenly, he flashed a brilliant smile.

“Nope, I was asked by the one who first pushed for the idea of communicating with dragons.  I was requested to keep it from being misused.  That’s why I want to stop this. Although… it might already be too late.”
“I see. So, was this person… a lover? A friend? Or maybe family?”
“You sure are curious about me. Too bad for you, that’s a secret.”
“Quit messing around. Do you want to die?”
“Arnolt.”

Hades’ eyes widened at the familiar name.

---

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