Chapter 110: Faye’s Conspiracy (Not In That Sense) (2)
Was it luck?
Things have been going smoothly since the duel.
The investigation revealed that Felop, besides targeting Faye, had repeatedly done simr things tomoners and students from powerless families.
The girl student who dragged Faye into the back alley was also one of such victims.
As a result, Felop was expelled, and the girl student, although she acted under threat, was suspended for being an aplice.
And with Franks fellow cultists, it turned out much better.
Not only were all the cultists within the academy filtered out, but some people from outside even contacted me, wanting me to vet suspicious individuals.
Of course, they didnte empty-handed, offering various rewards.
It was an easy job for me. Just a few stabs and it was done.
Though I had enough gold, I chose to receive other items aspensation.
Some even sent me elixirs, probably trying to get on my good side.
People indeed show their true colors when you offer something valuable.
Anyway, during one of those busy days running around and dealing with the aftermaths, Faye sent me a letter out of the blue.
Really?
Couldnt she just talk to me in person?
Reading the letter only deepened my confusion.
She asked me toe to the workshop alone, saying she had something important to discuss.
Could it be that Faye is running short on sponsorship funds? Magic equipment is expensive, starting with the materials.
Master is so clueless Thats why I like him
Ca gave me a look of affection like one would give to a slightlycking child when I showed her the letter.
How unfair.
Not expecting such a look from Ca, I turned to Elisha with a sulky expression.
Yandel, are you a fool? An idiot? Why are you talking about sponsorship funds?
Elishas words were simr.
At this point, I felt like there was something I was missing, just blinking nkly for a moment.
Ca, giggling, took the letter from my hand and returned it to me.
Its okay, Master. If our guess is right, its just about time. Well wait in the dormitory, so you go see Miss Faye.
But what is it about?
Its a bit hard to say with my own mouth
Just go ande back quickly. Its nothing harmful.
Elisha urged, pushing my back.
I resisted Elishas push and looked back and forth at them.
Ah, maybe its not right to send him like this, Elisha?
Maybe it would be better to groom him a bit more? He looks too ordinary now.
Alright. Lets get it done quickly. We still have time.
Ignoring my dumbfounded gaze, they started grooming me, touching me here and there.
Despite not being dirty, they applied cleaning magic, straightened my clothes, and tidied my hair.
They treated me like a gift to be wrapped with meticulous care.
Although it was weird that the content was me Ca and Elisha didnt tell me anything till the end.
After a light spray of perfume, they sent me out of the dormitory without giving me a second thought.
Honestly, it was a bit absurd
There must be a reason.
Ca and Elisha wouldnt harm me.
There were restrictions due to the ve marks, and they were not that type of people.
If it was just nothing, I could just punish them tonight.
Come to think of it, rewards and punishments seemed the same, but anyway, it was a punishment.
After onest look at the firmly closed dormitory door, I headed towards Fayes workshop.
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Fayes workshop was located in a secluded corner where no signs of life were felt.
It was a modest ce but sessful in synthesizing equipment, so it could have been relocated to a better spot.
Had she grown attached to it, or did she simply prefer the solitude?
She decided to keep using this workshop.
Thanks to various modifications, it not only functions well but also looks impressive now.
I lightly tapped on the magical device installed at the workshops entrance.
It was like a doorbell, but instead of pressing a button to ring a bell, it transmitted the sound of a knock inside a somewhat odd magical device to me.
<em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>
Faye Senior? Im here.
<em>Silence.</em>
???
<em>Knock, knock, knock.</em>
Faye Senior? I said Im here. Are you there?
I knocked again, but only silence answered.
Whats this? She called me here, and now theres no response.
She couldnt have forgotten and gone out, could she?
Maybe she was in the middle of an important experiment or in the bathroom and couldnt respond?
Just as I was about to take out a chair from my inventory to wait, I heard Fayes voice through the magical device.
<em>-Huff</em> Junior, youre here?
Her voice sounded breathless, as if she had just rushed over.
There must be something wrong.
Yes. Im here. Please open the door.
-Now Uh, Im opening it now.
<em>Click.</em>
I opened the unlocked door and stepped inside.
Though remodeled, theyout remained the same, with a long, narrow corridor that must be passed through.
Alchemy was once not as formic as it is now, especially in dungeons with special environments where new items had to be created.
There were many incidents in alchemists workshops the most dangerous being the leakage of toxic substances.
To minimize harm, structural regtions were imposed on alchemists workshops.
Nowadays, such regtions have disappeared due to advancements in magic and materials, but traces remain in old workshop buildings.
Like this long, narrow corridor I was passing through, designed with a slight incline to prevent gas leakage.
Most gases, being heavier than air, tend to settle at the bottom, exploiting this property.
But with Fayes skills, there was no need to worry.
Surely a future grand alchemist wouldnt make a rookie mistake like getting distracted while making potions and leaving vaporized gas unattended, especially with air cirction magical devices around.
I chuckled to myself and opened the door at the end of the corridor. And then
Huh?
A pink mist flowed out.
Wait. Really?
Startled, I reflexively covered my nose and mouth with my sleeve.
Thinking back, Fayes voice through the magical device sounded oddly strained.
I thought it was nothing serious since she was usually a bit gloomy but maybe it wasnt something to overlook.
I hurried into the workshop.
The room was dark, not having the lights turned on, with only a few pieces of equipment emitting light.
Despite the darkness, I could still make out objects around me.
The real problem was the fog that thickened the deeper I went in.
A sweet scent pierced through my sleeve, making my head dizzy for a moment.
Even my lower body twitched involuntarily.
While it was not always under my control, it reacted without any reason this time.
Arriving at the center of the workshop, there was Faye.
Hehe its Junior.
Clearly, she wasnt in her right mind.
Her eyes were spinning, her body was trembling intermittently, her clothes were drenched in sweat, and several buttons were undone on her chest.
To anyone, she looked like someone intoxicated.
Senior Faye, have you lost your mind?!
Lost my mind? Just ugh my legs are a bit weak
Faye giggled alone, even in this situation, and my gaze involuntarily drifted to her chest whenever it moved.
Junior really likes my chest.
Ah! Nows not the time for this. How do we solve this?!
I pressed Faye, who seemed to be losing focus, for an answer.
She wouldnt have called me here for a drug-fueled party, so it must have been some sort of ident.
Faye nodded with a flushed face.
First, that cauldron over there
Following her instructions, I turned off the boiling cauldrons fire and covered the suspicious pink contents.
Finally, after restarting the overloaded air cirction magical device, the fog inside began to dissipate quickly.
Just when I thought I could take a breath.
<em>Thud.</em>
Faye Senior?
Ju-Junior
Faye had crawled over and was clinging to my legs.
The floor was wet in a straight line, indicating her path.
I swallowed hard, guessing the nature of the liquid, when Faye, who had been restless, cautiously spoke.
Are you angry?
A bit. You do realize it was quite dangerous just now?
So-sorry I didnt mean for this to happen Heh!
Perhaps due to longer exposure to the fog, Faye trembled without any apparent reason.
I was wrong so dont be too angry, okay? I wont do it again Dont fall out of favor with me
She didnt seem to be in her right mind, judging by her unfocused eyes.
I sighed deeply and gently pushed the overly clingy Faye away.
I wont hold a grudge over something like this. It was an ident, right?
Right. ident. Yeah, an ident, Junior.
Whats with that suspicious reaction? What were you really trying to do, Senior Faye? This is a love potion, right? What were you nning to do with this?
Uh well
Be honest. Otherwise, I might get a little angry with you, Senior Faye.
Ill tell you! Just give me a moment!
Taking a deep breath, Faye finally bowed her head as if resigning to her fate.
I was going to give it to you, Junior
The love potion?
Yes.
Learning the truth brought a deep sense of betrayal welling up inside me.
Now it was my turn to tremble.
I trusted you! I trusted Senior Faye!
<em>Hic!</em> Im sorry, Junior! Im really sorry!
Ive done so much for Senior Faye! How could you do this to me? How!
Ill do anything! Until Juniors anger subsides, Ill do anything! So please forgive me!
Was it because of Fayes clearly visible cleavage, or was it the effect of the love potion I had inadvertently inhaled?
In a moment of temptation, I asked without realizing it.
Will you really do anything?
Yes, yes! I mean it! Its okay if its for Junior!
Then prove it.
Prove it?
After a moment of contemtion, Faye looked up at me and slowly opened her mouth.
But not to speak. Literally just to open her mouth.
Is a kiss enough for proof?
I stared nkly at Fayes crimson tongue and nodded.
Thats enough.
With this, I could forgive her.