After Delio's back disappeared around the corridor corner, I stood frozen in place for a while.

  My palms were clammy with sweat. My heart still pounded. I tried to steady my breathing with a deep breath.

  —Calm down. The current Delio hasn't done anything yet. In this world, he's still just a student.

  Hey Lou, can I ask you something?

  'Yes, what is it?'

  Does the name "Truth Seekers" ring any bells?

  I knew it was an abrupt question, but I had to confirm.

  'Truth Seekers... you say? Um...'

  Uncharacteristically, Lou seemed to be thinking. After several seconds of silence, a response came haltingly.

  'Sorry, I feel like I've heard of it, but... not clearly.'

  It wasn't a complete denial. That she, who wasn't well-versed in worldly affairs, said "I've heard of it"—that itself was an ominous correspondence.

  ...You've heard of it?

  'Ah, but it's really just a feeling, you know? I might be confusing it with something else...'

  Noticing my reaction, Lou hastily corrected herself. Less like she had something to hide, and more like she was worried about not meeting my expectations.

  ...I see. Thanks.

  'Eh? Ah, yes...'

  Hearing Lou's bewildered voice, I surveyed the corridor. Delio's figure was completely gone. Only other students passing by as usual.

  —No point dwelling on it. Right now, I had things to do. Delio could wait. First, meet Kreis and get information about the hero.

  I turned and headed toward the training grounds.

  But—as it turned out, I couldn't find Kreis.

  When I went to the training grounds, figures were sparse, and Kreis was nowhere to be seen. The holiday training grounds were quieter than usual, with only practice dummies lined up.

  I checked the dormitory too. Absent. Not in the dining hall either.

  Eventually, having walked around the entire academy grounds, the sun had begun to set. I couldn't get Delio out of my head—honestly, I couldn't concentrate on searching for Kreis at all.

  Returning to my room, Martha was waiting with tea prepared.

  "Welcome back, Master Dylan. You seem quite exhausted."

  "Ah, walked around a bit."

  I tried to answer calmly, but Martha's eyes narrowed slightly.

  "...Did something happen?"

  A quiet voice. Not an interrogation, but a question from pure concern. This attendant never missed subtle changes.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "No, nothing. Just had business with Kreis and was looking for him, but couldn't find him."

  "Master Kreis... The gentleman you saw at the Spirit Society."

  "Yeah. I'll try looking again tomorrow."

  Martha stared at my face for just a moment—then didn't ask further. Instead, she quietly offered warm herbal tea.

  "Please don't overdo it."

  "...Thanks."

  I took the cup and sipped. Warmth seeping gently into my body eased something that had been tense.

  After Martha left, I sank deeply into the chair by the window.

  Outside had grown completely dark. Through the window into the courtyard, only a few students who'd finished evening training were visible—quiet.

  The next morning, in the dining hall.

  Between spoonfuls of soup, I ruminated on yesterday's scene.

  Delio Garon...

  What did that bow mean? Where did that man who'd been my lackey in the original now stand in this world? And—did he have connections to the Truth Seekers?

  Once I started thinking, I sank endlessly like into a bottomless swamp.

  "Hey, Dylan."

  A voice brought me back.

  Looking up, Oscar peered at me with a puzzled expression.

  "What's with you today? You're zoning out."

  "...A bit sleep-deprived."

  "Sleep-deprived? Did something happen with Kreis yesterday?"

  "No, unfortunately couldn't find him. Wasn't at the training grounds or dormitory."

  "Mm, really?"

  "It's a day off. Even he probably has plans."

  Not a lie. But I hadn't told everything either.

  "...Then is there something else bothering you besides Kreis?"

  Sharp. As always, Oscar's ability to read people was formidable.

  I hesitated slightly—but decided to ask.

  "I want to ask something. Do you know a red-haired first-year with sharp eyes?"

  At that question, Oscar's eyebrows twitched.

  "Red hair... ah, Delio Garon. What about him?"

  The name came out easier than expected. Meaning he'd caught even Oscar's eye—a student with that much presence.

  "...Happened to pass him yesterday. Thought I hadn't seen his face before."

  "Well yeah. He just enrolled recently."

  Oscar answered while tearing bread.

  Recently enrolled—. I see. That's why I didn't see him at the entrance ceremony. Only nobles, clergy, or top-performing special students could attend that ceremony. For commoners, especially mid-term transfers filling vacancies, joining later wasn't unusual.

  But—the Delio Garon from the original breaking through entrance exams on his own ability should have been impossible.

  "Apparently he was excellent in both written and practical exams, and some noble became his patron."

  "...Excellent?"

  I couldn't help repeating.

  In the original, Delio's abilities were below average. Hopeless with both sword and magic, a dropout who only had a place at the academy as Dylan's toady. That man—excellent in both written and practical?

  "Yeah. Apparently he was far and away the best among the supplementary enrollments. ...What, do you know something?"

  "No."

  I shook my head, feigning composure.

  Thinking about it, was this really so strange? "Didn't interact with Dylan"—with just that, people walk different lives. Alicia, Erna, Kreis all walked different lives from the original. No reason Delio should be the exception.

  But—

  The problem is the noble patron.

  In the original, I—Dylan Belmond—had filled that role. The current me had done nothing. So who had taken that place?

  "...Do you know who that patron noble was?"

  "Unfortunately don't know that much."

  Oscar shook his head. But his eyes—seemed to hold light reading about half of what I was thinking.

  "If you're that curious, why not talk to him yourself?"

  "...I'll consider it."

  "Well, be careful, yeah?"

  "About what?"

  "If someone like you, a marquis's second son, suddenly approaches him, he'll be on guard. You're clueless about that kind of distance."

  Oscar's point was accurate.

  Indeed. If a marquis house member approached a commoner student without context, naturally they'd think something was being plotted. Especially if Delio retained the wariness from the original.

  "First find common ground. Delio's academically excellent, right? So start with something natural, like academics."

  Light tone, but solid content. Frustrating, but true.

  "...That does make sense."

  "Right? Basically, lower his guard. That's socializing 101. —Though you probably couldn't even pass 101."

  "Mind your own business."

  "Haha, as your one and only best friend, I won't stint on such advice."

  Clapping me on the shoulder, Oscar stood. Watching his back depart, I exhaled softly.

  Somehow, thanks to him, my shoulders had relaxed a bit. Frustrating, but—that's what you'd call a friend.

  'I'm here too, you know!'

  Smiling wryly at Lou competing for some reason, I left the dining hall.

  In the corridor crowd, I noticed myself searching for a flash of red hair. But naturally, Delio's figure wasn't there.

  ...I'm overthinking.

  Telling myself that, I headed to the next lecture.

  But—that name, "Truth Seekers," continued smoldering quietly in the corner of my mind.