Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! (The Eminence in Shadow)

(40) Most Important Thing

Author: Aizawa Daisuke

　At night, the vice-principal's office was lightly dyed by a distant fire.

　The shadow of man are moving in the dark room, takes some books from the bookshelf, throws them on the floor, and burns them. A small fire slowly eroded the book, illuminating the room brightly. Shadow that appeared was a thin man dressed in black.

"What are you doing in that kind of outfit... Vice Principal Ruslan?"

　The shadow of the thin man trembled. Before I knew it, there was another boy in the room where I was alone. The boy is sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed and reading a book.

　He was a black-haired boy who could be found anywhere. However, the boy turned a blind eye to the man's shadow and spreading flames, and turned to the thick book. The sound of turning pages resounded loudly.

"So, you noticed."

　Said the man in black. When he removed the mask that hid his face, the face of an elderly man appeared. With his gray hair in a slick back, he was Ruslan's Vice Principal.

　Ruslan throws his mask into the fire, takes off his black robes and burns them. The room gets brighter and brighter.

"For reference, can I tell me how you figured it our, Sid Kagenou-kun?"

　Ruslan sat across from Sid and listened.

"I could tell with a look."

　Cid glanced at Ruslan, then quickly returned his gaze to the book.

"You can tell just by looking at it, huh. The way I walk, or my posture... After all, you have sharp eyes."

　Ruslan was looking at Sid, and Sid was looking at a book.

　The two shadows swayed in the flame-lit room.

"Can I ask you for reference as well?"

　Sid said while looking at the book.

　Ruslan silently urged him to go ahead.

"Why did you do this? I didn't think you were interested in this."

"Why, huh... it's a little old story."

　Ruslan crossed his arms and muttered.

"Once upon a time I stood at the top. It was before you were born."

"I heard that you won the God of War Festival."

"Well, the Bushin Festival is far from the pinnacle."

　Ruslan laughed. There was no hint of ridicule, but rather a tired laugh.

"As soon as I reached the top, I fell ill and withdrew from the line. My glory, which I had struggled to rise to the top, ended in an instant. After that, I searched for a cure for my illness and became an artifact researcher named Lucreia. I see that possibility."

"Is it going to be long, the story?"

"A little. Lucreia is Sherry's mother. She was a poor woman who was hated by academics because she was too smart. But as a researcher, he has the highest level of knowledge and his position is comfortable for me. I helped him with his research and collected a number of artifacts. Lucreia will focus on her research, and I will use her research. He was not interested in wealth or glory, so it was a good relationship. And then I found The Eyes of Greed. This is the artifact I was looking for. But, Lucreia... that stupid woman said that the Eyes of Greed were dangerous, and tried to demand control from the government. I killed him for that reason. From the tip of his body, stabbed into the middle, and finally pierced and twisted his heart."