January 25, 1444, Second Era.
The new semester at Homemonworth has begun. Like last time, many first-year students set off from Beyeland and took the Flying Leaf to the academy. Due to the continuous incidents and threats in recent months, the school arranged for professors with practical experience to accompany them and allowed Shutoral to be fully armed.
The atmosphere along the way was as heavy as lead. Sitoral who stayed in Beyeland during the winter vacation all participated in the attack on the veterans camp, and many people's faces were filled with gloom and black lines that could not be removed.
Even Fiona was avoiding Lana and didn't even say a word to him along the way.
Griffith stood silently on the side of the ship. He tried to bury the bad memories deep in his heart. The incredible house of wonders leads him to discover two new clues that completely divert his attention.
One of them was in Raven, and he was prepared to do a modest investigation if he had a chance to pass by there. However, Krista's existence was almost wiped out, and there must be a powerful being behind this incident. Any investigation must be done carefully to avoid detection by the other party.
If the people behind the scenes were to realize that a trainee knight remembered something, they would probably get rid of Griffith as well.
In fact, they may already be taking action.
Another clue lies aboard the ship.
Isius de Crozier. He is an acquaintance and good friend of Sonia's inner circle, a half-baked military strategist, and a knight lover who doesn't understand cavalry at all.
Not long after Griffith arrived, he suggested that everyone go to the incredible House of Wonders and retrieve a memory there.
It was also there that everyone sensed clear malice. At first, everyone thought the malice came from the attacker, Jaros of the Cook gang. In the subsequent operations, the Cook gang was almost wiped out, and Griffith also received a very useful ring.
The official investigation results showed that the Cook gang was being used. Even if they used confessional agents, they still didn't know who was using them.
According to Fiona's investigation, the malicious intent of outsiders will not be sensed by the Incredible House of Wonders. So, did the clear malice at that time come from the spirit world? No, in this case it would be difficult to explain the gang's actions. Someone present probably knew in advance that malicious intent would appear, and arranged the gang's attack to confuse the situation in order to avoid suspicion.
The first thing that can be eliminated is the three Shutoral. They have just arrived in Beyeland and have no time and resources at all. Fiona, who provided the clue, can also be eliminated, if her clue is true.
Sonia~ She was the top grader last semester, and she can do some mysterious and dangerous research. Everyone is quietly spreading that she also has small hobbies of historical research and archeology, so it is only a matter of time before she gets into trouble.
The most suspicious one is Isius. But why did he do it and what did he gain?
Griffith thought. His first suspicion was that Isius was related to the bone ring.
The original holder of the bone ring has close contacts with Isis, the mage apprentice who attacked Galadia. They seem to be planning a "holy cause" and may be members of a secret anti-noble organization.
The clues are becoming clearer.
Griffith came up with a reasonable suspicion that some rebel group was trying to attack the nobles of Byerland, and Isius was taking advantage of them. But what is his motive? He is a noble, well-educated, has a good temper, and has a good relationship with everyone. On the surface, he does not look like a bad person.
There must be some important information missing. Griffith thought. Since a magical sealed object was used, Isius must have a plot, or someone else was using and designing Isius, and trying to conceal what he got on that day.
What could it be?
There is no use guessing. Griffith gained a lot of experience through his little hobby of torturing spies and traitors. If you want to suspect or investigate a certain person, then investigate his social relationships, financial situation and life trajectory.
An in-depth investigation into Isius is needed to find out who he is. Sonia should be able to provide a lot of information. They are in the same circle, and many secrets cannot be kept at all.
Will there be the shadow of the evil god behind him? Just like Neopolis, there are different forces fighting, and Isus is just his pawn. If that's the case, you must take precautions in advance and kill him in advance as a last resort.
"Hey."
"Griffith."
Fingers were poking at his arm, interrupting his thoughts that were reaching a critical point.
"Huh?" Griffith raised his eyebrows in annoyance and glared over.
Galadia, who had walked across the whole deck to chat in the eyes of many people, was frightened by Griffith's gaze and took a step back, feeling particularly aggrieved. She spent the whole winter vacation busy in Bijelan and didn't even go back to Canaan.
"That, that, please have my condolences."
Miss Elf had thought up many topics and tactics, but she couldn't remember most of them when she was nervous. She stammered and said a little aggrievedly what everyone had been saying to Griffith these days, "I heard Sonia say that the Queen of the Moon and Starlight will give Elodie and Neopolis Island their lives." He brings eternal peace and sleep, and all living creatures will gather together in His Kingdom of God.”
"Thank you," Griffith gently pressed his forehead and tapped six times on his chest.
The girl watched his expression seriously, trying to find some clues to continue chatting.
She opened her eyes wide and looked for a while, but found nothing...
In desperation, Galadia raised her right hand and hit her blank head, making a "dong" sound:
"Don't feel guilty about what happened to Beyelan. It's not your and Sonia's fault. The world is so cruel and full of injustice."
"Yeah." Griffith was thinking absentmindedly, his eyebrows almost knitted together, and he seriously agreed.
"..."
I can't talk any more.
The extremely embarrassed elf girl rubbed her long hair and began to activate her strongest ability.
"Why are you so fierce!"
"Huh? How can I!" Griffith's expression and tone suddenly became normal, and he asked vigilantly.
"You have such a fierce look in your eyes and you talk so indifferently!"
"I'm sorry, I was thinking about something," Griffith realized what was wrong with him, "I was thinking about this series of events."
"snort!"
"I've got some clues about the incredible House of Wonder." Griffith is fully back. But now it was Miss Elf's turn. She pricked up her ears and glared at him.
"I'll give you something delicious to eat."
"Don't eat!" Galadia refused.
Griffith took out the piece of chocolate handed out by the quartermaster from his pocket, carefully opened the paper package, and broke off a large piece.
"Before launching that abominable charge, the quartermaster gave us military rations called "chocolate" made from cocoa fruits, the only good thing that day." The sweet taste aroused Griffith's appetite, and he His throat squirmed, "It smells very similar to the shortbread you gave me. It must be delicious. I'll give you a piece."
"I know you like sweets." Ling glanced at the untouched chocolate, saw Griffith's little expression in his eyes, and sighed softly, "This is not military rations, everyone." It is eaten as a snack and has become popular in my country and Beyeland. "
"Really!?" Griffith glanced at the small black sweet piece in his hand in shock.
This is not military ration. Then the quartermaster will never give it to me for free in the future! ? Why isn't it military rations?
Galadia grabbed his hand, turned sideways, brushed back the long hair that fell to her face, and stood a few centimeters away from Griffith, almost leaning on his shoulder, her lips slightly parted, her lips slightly opened. The little one took a bite.
The faint fragrance of hair, the long pointed ears gently brushing against Griffith's cheek, and the crisp sound of biting into pieces of chocolate are the horns that mark the loss of territory.
The elf chewed the chocolate in small mouths, then grabbed it with a smile and stuffed it into Griffith's mouth: "Don't keep it in the future. Eat it as soon as you get it. It would be a pity if it melts."
"Woo-woo!"
"You are really a staunch sweetheart!" Miss Elf watched Griffith put the chocolate into his mouth, took a small step back, turned to look at the calm sea, and drew pictures on the deck with his toes Circle, "In my hometown, there is a small festival on February 14th. It's nothing. On that day, I will give some sweets to my friends. It is said that Beyeland has also begun to accept this custom recently."
"There are still such good days, Gu." Griffiths, who had a mouth full of chocolate, hesitated and said, "Which kind do you want?"
"It has nothing to do with you. It's a girl's holiday," Galadia curled her fingers between the ends of her hair and whispered, "We will make some chocolate products, those materials that failed to make, well, we can make you Deal with it.”
"The material for failure is still chocolate, right?" Griffith thought about the dregs of the failed potion that could kill people, and then confirmed it.
"Yes~"
That's great! Griffith nodded happily.
Galadia breathed a sigh of relief as if something had settled on her mind, and happily turned around to look at the sea. There was a smile on her lips, and the ends of her hair were curled one after another on her fingertips.
They were so close that the girl's shoulders were almost leaning against the chest of Griffith, who was standing sideways. Long, pointed ears that human girls don't have protruded from her long, silky hair.
She didn't seem to mind the close contact and would squeeze me when we walked side by side.
Griffith chewed the chocolate and looked at the elf in trance. His eyes were first naturally attracted to the charming curves of his chest, and then he realized that he was being rude and looked at the twirling tips of his hair and the beautiful pointed ears.
The Flying Leaf turned northwest in calm seas, listing slightly to port.
The pointed ears suddenly came closer and brushed against Griffith's mouth.
There was an electric touch on my lips that I had never experienced before.
This, this taste is really wonderful!
Griffith's bones went numb for a moment, and he sighed irresistibly.
The hot air touched her earlobes, and Galadia let out an almost indiscernible hum. Her whole body trembled, and she fell limply into Griffith's arms.
"Don't."
The elf pushed him away almost as fast as lightning. In a panic tone that he had never heard before, his smart eyes first glanced at Griffith with suspicion, and then hurriedly glanced at the classmates not far away.
"You, what are you doing?"
Galadia covered her mouth with her hands, her pretty face turned red, she looked at him again tremblingly, and ran away without even answering.
