Chapter 200: Chapter 200:Emergence [4]
Walking back to the royal dormitory with countless bags and pouches hanging from my shoulders and hands made me feel like a pack horse, but I persevered.
After all, for the sake of getting on the good side of the princess, it was necessary.
Yet, I also showed some defiance, such as a pack horse refusing to move under the force of its owner by trying to slip away at every chance.
I had to seem reliable, but at the same time, someone who the princess couldn't easily control.
She had just been pushed out of the Emperial dorms, a clear power play by her brother, so she would be in the mood for revenge.
And for that revenge, she would have connections and people to support her... and I wasn't trying to be one of them.
But on the off chance that the princess did win the crown over the prince and the plot of the book was wrong once again, I had to seem favorable to her.
It was like I was walking on a tightrope; if I seemed to be controllable, then the princess would turn me into a puppet and command me to do her bidding.
But, if I seemed like a terrible and unhelpful person, she would punish me harshly if she became the queen.
There was one good thing about the whole situation, though, that kept me from just pretending to pass out to avoid doing the work.
The location of Charlotte's bags.
I had already made my decision to see what was inside the vault by messaging Astrid and suggesting she ask the principal.
Making my last round, I quickly dropped off some bags to Charlotte, who was patiently standing outside the royal dorms, before nodding to the security guards and heading back.
During the last few rounds, I hadn't been able to look around as I didn't have a valid excuse to look past the bags... but now I did.
Opening the familiar doors of the faculty building, I saw the receptionist let out a sigh upon seeing me again.
"You again?"
Pointing to the last few bags by the desk, the receptionist glanced at me before quickly looking away.
Walking over to the last two bags lying on the ground, I stared at them in silence for a second before looking upward.
Scratching my head awkwardly, I looked at the receptionist and asked her.
"The princess said there would be three bags left..."
Not even looking up from her documents, the receptionist simply gestured her hand before saying.
"Some of them must have been lost in transportation; you can have a look around."
Nodding my head, I placed the two bags on my shoulder before walking forward past the receptionist's desk.
As I passed by the desk, I heard her mutter.
"This is why I hate getting caught up in these family disputes."
Hm?
Was it already public knowledge that the princess and prince were beginning their fight over the crown?
Stopping for a moment, I peered back, examining the documents on the desk that the receptionist was looking at.
[Incident Report #43: Maintenance required on AI Dummy Room #5]
[Incident Report #44: Cleaning is required in the bathroom in the first-year building (Blood). The investigation over the massive amounts of blood found in the bathroom is pending.]
[Incident Report #45: Dorm Transfer of Princess (Rank #4) to Royal Dormitories.]
[Incident Report #46: Early recruitment dispute of Liam (Rank #1) Relegated to principal) ]
[Incident Report #47: ***** - From Astrid, student council president. (Confidential, hand to the principal.) ]
Shaking my head, I walked further into the hall, using my eyes to memorize my surroundings, the location of each door, room, air vent, and other possible thing that could be useful.
Walking by the countless closed doors that contained the offices of all the administrative officers at the school, I slowly stopped as I reached an intersection point of the hall.
There were two paths, to my right and left, each looking identical.
Knowing my time here was limited, I chose the right path without thinking and continued walking.
Finally, seeing a labeled room in the distance, I peered ahead, seeing a small signing hanging on one of the doors.
[Principal's Office.]
What is this elementary school?
Standing still for a moment, I pretended to kneel down and tie my shoes, which actually didn't have laces.
Without any hesitation, I turned right back around and started in the direction I came from.
An S-rank hero would definitely be able to detect my presence, even through a wall, and then realize I wasn't supposed to be here!
Arriving back at the intersection, I decided this was enough reconnaissance for now, so I turned right.
However, blocking my path ahead and back to the receptionist's desk was a familiar face holding a clipboard in her hands.
"...professor Zia?"
Equally shocked, Professor Zia pushed away her black bangs and readjusted her glasses before replying.
"Ren...and what might you be doing here?"
Gesturing to the bags hanging off my shoulders, I quickly replied.
"Ah, you see... I'm helping the princess with moving her bags."
Staring at the High Dominion symbol on the bags I was holding for a second, Professor Zia took off her glasses, revealing her amethyst-purple eyes, and asked.
"Ren, as a teacher, it is my responsibility to ensure your well-being, so be honest with me. Is anything going on?"
"...what do you mean?"
"The princesses of BOTH the elven realm, Alya, and the human realm, Charlotte, are suddenly talking to you...? We both know that can't be a coincidence."
"..."
Writing something on her clipboard, Professor Zia continued.
"Is anything going on... such as blackmail? Even if they're the princesses, they have no right to take advantage of you in school groun-"
Rapidly shaking my head and waving my hands, I thought of a way out before immediately replying.
"No, no, nothing like that? I-i'm just trying to build up my connections for the future!"
Tilting her head, Professor Zia stared me for a second before asking.
"And that's it?"