Mistaken for a Masked Monster - Chapter 92

WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 92: Prophet (Not Really)

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It was an old-fashioned room.

The bookshelves stretching across the study-like space were packed with theology books.

The room was spacious yet simple, with no unnecessary decorations in sight.

It reflected its owner's personality.

The headmaster's office.

The place where the head of the academy worked was almost monochrome.

Even as I stepped inside, I instinctively held my breath.

“...”

An office desk stood across from me.

An old man with graying hair sat behind it.

Despite his aged appearance, an oppressive presence swirled around him.

‘So this is... Valter Droit.’

His presence was overwhelming.

A chair stood in front of the desk.

When I hesitated, the old man gestured for me to sit.

Our eyes met.

“Please, sit.”

“Yes.”

Only then did I take a seat.

The old man stared at me with deep, expressionless eyes.

‘He really does resemble her.’

Even without sharing blood, a father was still a father, was that it?

Something about that strange chill reminded me of Javert.

Valter Droit.

A legend said to have snapped the necks of thousands of Cult members with his bare hands.

Among the inquisitors, he was treated as a myth.

At the same time, he was the adoptive father who had raised Javert.

According to the academy's rampant rumors, he was my father-in-law.

“...”

I didn't dare speak too soon.

After a long silence, the old man broke it.

A benevolent smile rested on his aged lips.

“Student Viktor?”

“Yes, Headmaster.”

“It is nice to meet you. We met briefly when an opportunity arose after the incident involving the traitor.”

His tone was gentle.

Even when speaking to an ordinary student, he maintained scrupulous, old-fashioned courtesy.

“I believe this is the first time we've had a proper conversation.”

“It is an honor. I've heard your heroic tales often enough to wear out my ears.”

“Hoho, you embarrass me...”

Despite his powerful aura, he seemed like a warm-hearted old man.

Of course, I couldn't be fooled by appearances.

He was one of the strongest people on the continent.

In the past, he had ended the war against the Cult.

He had grown old and retired, but he was still a force that couldn't be ignored.

“Ahem.”

Valter lightly cleared his throat.

Then he gently broached the subject.

“I'm sorry for calling you here so suddenly.”

“It's fine.”

“Do you know why you were called here?”

After the brief greeting, he went straight to the point.

He seemed to dislike beating around the bush.

Even that way of speaking resembled Javert.

Valter's demeanor had grown subtly colder.

“Well...”

How was I supposed to explain this?

As I hesitated, the old man added a few words.

“Chief Investigator Javert.”

“...”

“I heard a rumor going around recently. That Student Viktor and Investigator Javert have a daughter around ten years old.”

“Um...”

“I would like to hear an explanation.”

“Well, you see, Professor Javert...”

“You aren't about to place the blame on Javert, are you?”

“...”

Something.

Um.

A terrible chill ran down my spine.

‘Fuck.’

If I said one wrong word, I felt like an orphan-making punch would come flying at me.

Poor Lua.

She'd gained a dad only a few days ago, and now she was in danger of losing him again.

Even by the standards of the International Non-Orphan Association, that was unacceptable.

For someone to claim they had parents, those parents had to remain by their side until they turned three.

Lua hadn't even made it three weeks, let alone three years, so her non-orphan record was no different from that of the countless orphans out there.

‘Mom.’

(Not Ngme.)[1]

Lua was in danger of becoming an orphan.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

Valter was smiling, but his eyes weren't.

His fearsome aura pressed down on the poor orphan.

“Though she is my adopted daughter, she is precious to me.”

“...”

“When was it?”

He was asking when the child had come into being.

The air in the headmaster's office grew even colder.

‘Fuck.’

I'd never even been scolded by my own parents, because I didn't have any, yet here I was getting scolded by someone else's parent in real time.

No, biologically speaking, Valter wasn't even Javert's father, was he?

I was just getting scolded by a stranger.

All kinds of distracting thoughts filled my head.

I pulled myself together and slowly opened my mouth to explain.

“First, I should clear up the misundersta...”

“I was joking.”

Then, a single remark cut into my sentence.

“...Pardon?”

I stared blankly for a moment, then saw the headmaster smiling at me.

The ominous aura around him had already vanished.

His wrinkled lips curved upward.

Valter nodded as if telling me to relax.

“Please, relax.”

“Um...”

The mood had changed so suddenly.

As I sat there stiffly, the old man let out a hearty laugh.

“Though I may look this feeble, I am still the head of this academy. Surely you didn't think I would believe such an absurd rumor.”

Valter continued.

“I have been with Javert since she was young. If she had met someone and had a child, there is no way I, her father, wouldn't know. It appears to have been a mischievous prank by a few students who enjoy gossip.”

“...”

Come to think of it, it was strange.

If his daughter had a child, how could the man who raised her not know?

Even if it had happened before she came to the academy, it still made no sense.

“Unless... she somehow got herself into trouble without my knowledge?”

“How could that be? Please withdraw your killing intent.”

“Chuckle. Even that killing intent was part of the joke.”

“You are more amusing than I expected, Headmaster.”

“Thank you. I do try to live that way.”

It seemed I'd fallen victim to his idea of entertainment.

The old man laughed lightly without being frivolous.

I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

‘You nearly scared me to death.’

I steadied my breathing and pretended everything was fine.

Even after withdrawing his aura, Valter's presence remained incredible.

They said that in his prime, he had stormed into a Cult branch with his bare hands and dismembered every member...

‘Hm.’

Honestly, just meeting his eyes for a moment was enough to make the truffles between my legs tremble.

Still, I couldn't let myself be cowed.

I raised my head as though nothing was wrong.

I remained polite without looking servile.

“Then, could you please tell me your real reason for calling me here?”

“Oh? Not a trace of intimidation.”

“I know you don't intend to harm me.”

“Hmm.”

Valter nodded, seemingly satisfied.

Then he continued.

“I wanted to confirm something.”

“Confirm?”

“Javert... this is the first time that child has taken on an assistant.”

“Come to think of it, she did say it was the first time in her teaching career.”

“That is right. I suggested it to her several times, but she is terribly stubborn.”

“She has conviction. I believe there is much to learn from her in that regard as well.”

“That is a pleasing assessment for a father to hear.”

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

“That stubborn child chose you as her student, so I wanted to speak with you.”

“I don't know if it can really be called a choice.”

“I know. I hear there was a certain transaction involved?”

“It seems Investigator Javert told you.”

“She insists on reporting everything. She values the principles of the chain of command more than her own life.”

Principles, discipline, order.

Javert had lived with a noose around her own neck.

“I hear that Javert suspects you.”

“That is correct. She suspects me of being the one who illegally cleared Purgatory's seventieth floor.”

“The seventieth floor of Purgatory... it was quite a mysterious incident. The floor's master was found cut in half, and no clues were found at the scene.”

“For some reason, she placed me on the list of suspects.”

“I will apologize on her behalf.”

The old man smiled awkwardly.

Then this was my chance.

“There is something I would like to tell you about that.”

“Hmm?”

I began in a low voice.

“It was me.”

“...?”

“The illegal clearing of Purgatory's seventieth floor.”

The words burst out without warning.

A question mark seemed to rise above the old man's head.

Then his aged eyes slowly narrowed.

“I was the one responsible.”

“...”

Silence fell over the headmaster's office.

Valter's demeanor darkened considerably.

His old lips curved into a smile.

It wasn't a kindly smile. It was cold.

“Ahem... Is that some joke that is popular these days?”

“No. I mean exactly what I said.”

“I do not understand why you are saying this, but...”

“Should I show you proof?”

I searched inside my clothes.

Then I took something out and placed it on the desk.

Ding!

[Corrupted Holy Water]

-Category: Accessory

-Rank: C-

-Status: Corrupted

-Description: This is a byproduct of Holy Water left after purifying something. It no longer shines. A faint undead and dragon aura seems to remain.

It was the Holy Water left over after purifying the scales I'd obtained from hunting the master of the seventieth floor.

Naturally, it was saturated with traces that matched an undead dragon.

It would be difficult to verify that I had cleared the floor with this alone, but it was enough to prove that I had faced the master of the seventieth floor.

‘That is all I need, really.’

The seventieth floor would not reopen until the raid attempt concluded.

It wouldn't open unless the raid party that entered was wiped out or the floor's master was hunted.

Under those conditions, bringing back traces of the master and still being alive could only mean one thing.

I had hunted the master.

“...”

The old man was stunned for a moment.

The uncertainty vanished from his expression, and his eyes filled with shock.

Still, Valter seemed unwilling to show it as he composed himself.

“...I did not expect you to confess it yourself.”

“I often act beyond expectations.”

“I am curious why you are acting this way.”

“I simply did not want to make an enemy of the academy.”

“Hmm.”

Little by little, the old man's aura rose around Valter's shoulders once more.

The air was like the calm before a storm, perilous as a sharpened blade.

Valter asked directly.

“May I ask you a few questions?”

“Of course.”

“I would like to know how. I hold Student Viktor's martial ability in high regard as well, but I did not believe you were capable of slaughtering the master of the seventieth floor so thoroughly. Have you been hiding your strength at the academy? Is it connected to that unusual power you normally use?”

“I wasn't hiding any strength. I only used a bit of cleverness.”

“It seems you have no intention of answering what that cleverness was.”

“That is correct.”

“Then what was your purpose?”

“My purpose?”

“The purpose behind clearing Purgatory's seventieth floor. Surely you will not tell me that you did it for no reason at all.”

“That would be absurd.”

I shrugged.

After thinking for a moment, I found the most suitable answer.

“World peace, perhaps.”

“...?”

It sounded a little foolish, but it was the essential answer.