48 - present progressive black history
There is a difference between quietly attending classes and constantly searching for people in a large school.
Which would be easier?
Telling myself that I was better off being alone, I darted from place to place until I finally narrowed down my target to someone who looked like him.
A boy in the fourth grade. He was an intellectual-looking older brother with chiseled cheeks, with good grades and good family background.
In fact, he was one of Schneidal's cronies. Who is Schneidal? I had almost forgotten about him, but he got involved with me and Iris on the day of the entrance ceremony, and was eventually thrown out into the mysterious time-space when he got on my bad side.
I decided to put up this guy because I smelled something fishy about him. We were in the same dormitory.
He didn't move for a few days, but it was only on the sixth day of the week when there were no classes that he went outside the campus.
When the sun went down and it was dark.
Without using a horse-drawn carriage, he moved from one alley to another for about an hour, trying to avoid being seen.
We came to a neighborhood of old housing complexes.
Not a soul lives here. It looks as if a carefree person might be lying on the street, but not a single cat was walking around.
Without looking aside, we entered one of the housing complexes, and walked up the stairs, walking up the stairs with great speed through the many detection wards.
I followed closely behind him, passing through the gaps between the wards with plenty of time to spare.
Of course, he was out of sight. The optical camouflage kept me from being noticed.
He stops in front of the fourth floor door. He utters some kind of incantation, traces a pattern on the door with his finger, and the door unlocks with a snap and opens by itself.
After entering the door, I also easily get in.
The inside is surprisingly spacious. There were several rooms.
He entered the front room and reached for one of a number of crates placed haphazardly. <
He opens the crate and finds an empty bottle or something in it. He takes it out carefully and then taps the bottom of the crate. The bottom of the box was opened and a white cloth-like material was folded up. A double bottom.
The white cloth was a costume.
He was completely covered with a fluttering kantou gown. A hood made of white cloth was worn. The head was pointy, and only the eyes were hollowed out. On the forehead was a pattern of two intertwined snakes, with <<7>> painted in the center.
From the room where he had changed his clothes, he went out into the corridor and pushed his way into the innermost room. Again a spell or something opens the door, and there it is...
"You're late, Number 7.
Nine people were sitting at a large round table, waiting for us in the faintly flickering light of a candelabra. All of them were dressed in the same white attire, which concealed their faces.
Number nine (Nine) and number eleven (Eleven) are absent. You're the last one, number seven."
As the one with <<3> on his forehead said this, another number started to say things.
"You're a newcomer, but you're coming after us.
"You're a very good man, aren't you?"
"Schneidal's drummer is now a drummer." (<10>)
"You don't take Numbers lightly, do you?" (<<6>)
...... yeah.
I had noticed when they started wearing white.
I guessed from the situation and their young voices that they are all students of the institute.
Rejoice sister, your wish is finally coming true.
Students from an elite school are holding a secret meeting of some secretive organization called <
This is bad. If Charles finds out, he's going to eat it.
We have to let the world know about their ongoing black history and bring down the organization as soon as possible!
But it's already too late.
Even before I came in, there was a transparent plate-like object stuck to the ceiling. I'm the only one who can see it, but it's a surveillance ward I've given to Char and the others.
I follow the connection and find a red-haired maid in a back alley a short distance away from the building.
Frey has also activated the communication wards, where he says, <>I'm getting kind of excited. He seemed calm despite his excitement, saying things like, "My purpose is to gather information.
I wish I had not followed <<7>> and watched from a distance.
But how did you get here? You really can't be underestimated, Charles.
For now, let's pretend we didn't see them and focus on the interesting group.
"Quietly."
A low-pitched, good-looking guy gave a quiet exhortation, and the clamor ceased. <
"Have you forgotten the principle that our relationship is equal here? Remember why we wear masks and call each other by numbers."
"It was the former number 7 who neglected this principle," he said.
"In the first place, I think that ignoring the 'pecking order' is incompatible with our 'aristocratic supremacy'," <<6>.
"Besides, isn't the purpose of today's meeting to denounce the number seven?" is it <<10>?
"Yes, it is. How dare you show up late after failing twice?
"You've got a big face, don't you?" is <<2>, first posted at .......
What a pain in the ass!
If you talk too much, you won't know who's who. There are differences in physique and voice, but it is very hard to check the numbers on their foreheads. So I'm going to stop.
However, the most pompous, dignified, and good-looking <<1> was easy to recognize just by his voice.
"I think you misunderstand, this meeting is not to denounce the number seven. The purpose of this meeting is to identify the causes of the failure and to discuss the next steps to achieve the great goal."
He looks around.
Several voices followed in unison.
"Overthrow the corrupt monarchy."
"Restoration of aristocratic supremacy."
"By the hand of our Chosen One."
Oh, yeah. Good luck.
Somewhere I hear a joyful voice that sounds like it's about to jump up and down, but I let it go.
"I've heard the report, but I'd like to hear the details from you. Number seven."
"The first time, I think my attack was bounced off something ....... The second one missed because it coincided with Prince Raius being ambushed."
"It's not the same as the existing report. Do you know how many days have passed since then? What was the first time it was bounced, and was the second time the needle was removed retrieved? What happened to those investigations?"
"...... don't know. I can't even find the needle."
Laughter breaks out.
"Even if it was bad luck the second time, the failure the first time doesn't add up. Number 7, I wonder if you're not pretending that you missed the target and were
"No!"
"You didn't chicken out at the last minute, did you? The "collaborator" told me that it was not capable of killing."
A giggle and a sneer broke out.
"So no! I feel like I hit some kind of transparent wall ......."
"And it disappeared? The needle must have had a penetrating effect on higher magical defenses. Not even Prince Rias-level self-enhancement could prevent that."
"I'm telling the truth. That's why I was so careful the second time around and ...... that guy got in my way."
They all fall silent.
Who's that guy?
"Hurt Semphis."
It's me.
You were the son of the Earl of Zemphis, weren't you?
But I heard he took in a commoner orphan.
With a magic level of two, I don't think you'll be able to handle the highest level of practical training.
"I was there for both."
Oh, <<1>> was taking the same class?
"His ability is real. Especially when it comes to the physical arts, he's better than anyone here.
"More than you? Number one."
The <1> who nods. Before that, he nods <
"That's quite a talent. If there is a vacancy, I'd like to welcome him to the numbers immediately."
"Wait a minute, number one, the Count of Zemphis is the leader of the King's faction. And Hurt Semphis comes from a commoner background, right?"
We can't have snobs among the Chosen People, can we?
Isn't this a good way to use them as an asset?
"Lord Semphis is also a royalist, but he is closer to us in the sense that he is opposed to the queen's faction."
"I don't know. <
"Can we not assume that Lord Semphis is also a