A Death Row Convict Teaches at a School of Magic

After calling out to her, Alice blinked her eyes a couple of times.

“…Huh, huh, huh? How strange… Why do I see Kanaki in front of me?”

“Let me tell you in advance, this is not some kind of drug-induced hallucination. I am the genuine one, and I have a business with you―”

“Aren’t you the real Kanaki! Gosh, it’s been a long time!”

As ever, this person will not pay attention to what others have to say.

Alice, seemingly recognizing me as the actual Kanaki, leaped at me like a puppy jumping on its owner―but of course the cage was there, causing me to stop right before she did so. She brought her face close to mine with a force that might snap the cage. That cell had no keyhole, and was a special-type that was unlocked with a magical tool.

Alice’s face, which approached the iron fence to the limit, was so radiant that it was unbelievable that she had spent a month in prison.

“How are you doing!? Is Mr. Matthias doing well!? I mean, is that man still alive!? How’s school!? Have you been killing people these days!?”

“…Please don’t make too much noise. If the patrol catches me, there will be trouble.”

The questions from Alice, which were unleashed like a machine gun, prompted me to get fed up. From the time of Xenia, she had been at her own pace, and it was apparently no different for the main body.

“Hmm, that’s indeed a hassle.”

While I didn’t expect her to understand, Alice unexpectedly and readily concurred with my words. Speaking of which, I remembered now that this person was not only a pleasure-seeker to the core, but possessed a high level of intelligence as well.

After coughing deliberately, Alice seated upright in front of the cage. In contrast to Xenia’s body, her petite body was far from that of a full-grown woman, which made her resemble a hina doll at the Doll’s Day.

“So what in the world can I do for you? I thought we shared a mutual understanding that our relationship would end that night in bed, and that we would end up being adversaries.”

“Being such a cool person now is too late, and I don’t even have a memory of that. What are you talking about like our relationship was an intimate one all of a sudden?”

“Haha, it’s been a long time since I have heard you speak with such a cool tone of voice.”

Alice was having the same smile on her face as Xenia. Their faces were utterly distinct, yet both had a lascivious charm to their smiles.

“So, what is it you wanted to see me about? Are you here to avenge Eto’s death?”

“If it’s Eto, she’s alive.”

Alice’s expression underwent a change. As if to ascertain my true meaning, a penetrating gaze seared into me, doubtful.

“…I am sure you are not the type of person who would fabricate a lie like that.”

“Yes. So it is the truth. And today I came here to ask for your help in saving Eto, Ms. Alice.”

“…What do you mean?”

She must have been genuinely bewildered. To Alice, whose eyebrows were arched, I summarized the events that had transpired since then. There was no telling when the patrol might show up. I spared Alice a lot of detail, but she still seemed to grasp roughly what was going on.

“I see… I never thought that the information I leaked just for entertainment would lead to you, Kanaki, but you did some extraordinary things during my absence, huh? Why didn’t you invite me too?”

“No, even if you say it in that kind of drinking mood…”

In the first place, there was no way I would have come all the way here to invite you.

“Well, forget it. So, you want my help to save Eto.”

“That’s not quite the nuance of it―give me your whole self, your whole being.”

Alice furrowed her brow. In response to Alice, who peered into my face, my expression remained perfectly even.

“…What does that mean?”

“It means precisely what the word suggests. I will release you from this place. In exchange, you will spend your whole life for me from now on.”

The atmosphere of the place shifted. Her petite frame exuded a sense of burning intimidation as if to dry the air in the dreary, windowless camp area.

A keen glint crossed Alice’s eyes. Her eyes, loaded with definite hostility, bore the tinge of derision that a bird of prey might have for its prey.

“…With your level, you want to use me to death?”

Rage suffused her voice. But my expression remained the same.

“…You seem to have misunderstood one thing. Unfortunately for you, Ms. Alice, when it comes to a one-on-one game, I am more powerful than you.”

With a bang, the iron cage bent right in front of me.

Alice, who had achieved this with only the force of her arms, regarded me with blazing eyes. For Alice, who changed her body one after another, it would be easy to remove the limitations of her brain.

“You… an underling who’s only talented at tricks… is far too good at misunderstanding. Let me prove it to you here…!”

“―All right, you made it out on your own. Well then, let’s hurry up and get out of here.”

“…What?”

I pulled the dazed Alice’s hand and pulled her out of the cage.

“Envy.”

I summoned my messenger and had it assume Alice’s form.

Since it was made from a fragment of the individual currently masquerading as a worker, it was somewhat inadequate in size and detail, but it would buy us some time.

After that, I applied magic to fix the bent cage, and Alice, who had apparently been thoroughly taken aback, began to speak to me.

“…Was your earlier provocation to force me to get out of the cell on my own?”

“Yes, well. The cell that you were in was a special-type that required a particular magical tool to open it. Also, if a patrol finds us, this will make it look like you fled on your own.”

The other thing was to ensure that Alice’s strength had not diminished while she was being held captive, but given her ability to release that kind of dominance, there was no need to be concerned about that.

“Good grief… You’re still as cunning as ever.”

A sigh escaped Alice, followed by a wry smile.

While straightening the iron fence, I kept my back to her as I continued. At this angle, my expression was obscured from her.

“Well, I was joking earlier, but I do have a thought for you about Mr. Matthias. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have had the faintest intention of helping you if things hadn’t turned out this way, but I can’t turn my back on you. I know you will never have any feelings of atonement for us―but at the very least, as a favor from a friend, please lend me your help on this one matter.”

After a while, a soft touch was felt from my back. I realized that Alice had embraced me. For a moment, my body almost trembled.

“Haha, it can’t be helped. If it’s a friend’s request, I’ll do it this time.”

“…Thank you.”

I nodded in a calm tone of voice, suppressing the feelings that were rising in my heart.

However, soon after, “But,” Alice continued…

“I don’t want to die in vain. I will not participate in a project that has no hope of success, no matter how enjoyable it may be.”

Alice’s tone was like giving a warning. However, I knew that this was only a pretense.

After all, she herself was well aware of how timid and cautious of a person I was.

“Who do you think I am? If I can minimize the risk, I will do it, regardless of how complicated it is, right?”

“Oh, yeah, I knew that.”

“Besides, if you help me, Ms. Alice, there will be more flexible partners and… perhaps that person will be able to support us.”

“That person?”

I moved Alice, who tilted her head, out of the way and rose to my feet.

The iron fence has been fixed. There was no reason for me to linger here any longer.

I turned around and flashed Alice a reassuring smile.

“Shall we go then?”