I Become a Secret Police Officer of The Imperial Academy

Chapter 4

I pulled out my notebook and checked off every item in today’s to-do list with a red pen.

✔ Wake up early in the morning
✔ Chat with a friend
✔ Attend school
✔ Talk with Theo
✔ Don’t get depressed and cry for no reason
✔ Smile cheerfully
✔ Don’t drink or smoke
✔ Don’t touch any drugs or suspicious substances

I thought about quitting this pointless ritual, but I couldn’t. My little sister used to nag me every day and write down my daily tasks like this when I was always lazing around and oversleeping.

All I have left now is a grave, a few belongings, and these memories.

The weight of those old memories keeps me bound.

Anyway, I’ve accomplished so much today.

I wanted to reward myself by going home and resting, but there were still things I had to do.

Instead of calling for the driver, riding the steam car back home, and greeting the family head—who was probably still wracking his brain over documents—I decided to head to the basement first.

After chanting a spell at the iron door on the ground, I walked down into the neatly organized underground corridor.

I spotted Marco, sitting dazed on a chair in the hallway. He looked exhausted from work.

Even though he was wearing black clothes, I could see the bright red stains splattered all over him.

When he noticed me, he stood up, gave a slight bow, and lowered his head as a gesture of respect.

“I told you, you don’t have to do that.”

“Young lady, one must always maintain proper etiquette.

Whether it’s for smooth communication or simply for a decent life, manners are essential.”

What’s the point of polite words if you can’t back it up with actions?

“Anyway, Marco, do we have any guests who can be handled a little roughly?”

He pondered for a moment, then his face brightened slightly as if he had someone in mind.

“…Ah, yes. What kind of person are you looking for?”

“Female, preferably in her late teens.

It would be even better if she’s a noble girl with well-manicured nails.”

“Try room 5-2.”

“Thanks. You’re doing great as always!”

“Yes, you too, young lady. Oh, by the way, she hasn’t had any conversations with anyone yet, so she might be a little frightened.”

“Why’d you bring her in?”

“Apparently, she sheltered and protected demons who were being hunted down by an angry mob of citizens.”

“Wow, that’s horrendous.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

Room 5-2, huh?

I tilted my head back and started checking the plaques above each door.

Once I found 5-2, I strained to push the heavy iron door open.

Inside, a girl was sitting on the bed, trembling with fear.

A soft bed, a bathroom, even books.

They were practically treating her like a guest.

If they’re going this far, they might as well hire a chef to cook her meals, too.

I scanned the room with a sarcastic gaze, and that’s when the girl spoke up.

“…Hey, are you Ellen, by any chance?”

“Oh, senior. I thought you were dead, but here you are.”

I didn’t expect to run into someone I knew.

And I certainly didn’t expect it to be someone who was practically considered dead.

“Dead? Where even is this place?”

“You don’t need to know that.”

“Wait… You’re telling me I’m one of those twelve missing people?”

“Oh, so you’re one of them, huh? No wonder they said it wasn’t a problem.”

She wasn’t a librarian, but she was always at the library counter managing the books.

Since there was no official librarian, and she oversaw everyone who borrowed books, it was safe to call her one.

She had a gentle heart, a pretty face, and a large chest. People confessed to her all the time.

But since she preferred books over people, she rejected them all.

She used to meet up with Theo often, so she might have had a crush on him.

After all, she was one of the heroines.

“It’s so annoying dealing with people you know.”

“…Ellen, can’t you just explain something to me?”

What do you want me to explain?

That, technically, you’re already a dead person and that no one will come looking for you even if I bury you right now?

Or maybe you want me to explain why you’re even locked up here in the first place?

“Yeah. Why am I here? I really don’t understand.”

“That’s why you’re locked up here — because you don’t understand.”

She fell silent at that.

Her eyes glared at me with a tinge of resentment.

“Why did you bring demons into your house and protect them?”

“…Wait, I’m here because of that?”

“Answering a question with a question isn’t a great idea.”

“Those people weren’t doing anything wrong! They were surrounded by a furious mob and were nearly killed!

If you had any sense of decency, there’s no way you’d just sit back and watch that happen!”

“…People?”

“Yeah, people.

If you don’t believe me, you can go ask them yourself.

I saved the old man who sells fruit, a mother and daughter from the house next door, and the boy who delivers newspapers.

Are those acts of charity a crime now?”

“Hmm. You’re not making any sense. Are you mentally ill?”

There’s no point in talking to people who are mentally ill.

Usually, I’d just brush it off as nonsense, but unfortunately, this person was a guest of our household.

I grabbed a restraint for her wrists, fastened it on her, and dragged her by the restraint to lock her down on the floor.

She’s supposed to be an academy student, yet she’s this weak?

“Well, I didn’t come here to have some deep philosophical debate about whether demons are people or not, so it doesn’t really matter. But since you’re someone I know, I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

I opened the enchanted shelf, which was kept cold by magic, and took out a vial of medicine and a syringe.

Normally, this kind of thing is only used on people who are about to die.

The needle would sting a bit, but it wouldn’t hurt nearly as much as having a finger chopped off.

The girl was muttering something, but I didn’t really hear it. My ears had grown numb to that kind of noise.

That’s why it’s important to behave properly at all times.

“If Theo finds out you’re doing this…”

“And what’s Theo going to do if he finds out?

We’ll just invite him in as a guest and give him a little persuasion.”

I inserted the needle into her arm and pressed the plunger.

In a few moments, she’d start losing feeling in her hands.

“…Didn’t you like Theo?”

She sounded genuinely shocked.

Apparently, the fact that I didn’t like the protagonist surprised her more than the ridiculous situation of being dragged here for helping demons.

Why would I like him?

That self-righteous, exhausting, and irritatingly competent person?

“Why would I ever like that guy?”

“Because you’re always following him around and sticking by his side wherever he goes.”

“He’s the most dangerous student in the entire school.”

“Dangerous? Him? That kind, gentle boy?”

“That’s exactly why he’s dangerous. He’s kind and competent.”

Fortunately, while this girl might be kind and naive, she wasn’t as competent as Theo.

If Theo were thrown into a basement, he’d probably kill every single one of my subordinates and break out.

“Have you really been thinking like that every time you were hanging out, eating, and attending classes with the other students?”

That one stung a bit.

I didn’t know how to answer, so I just smiled and brushed it off.

“Who could live like that 24/7? I just stick to my role and do my job.”

This is why I hate interviewing people I know in the conversation room.

It feels like the “me” above ground gets pulled down into the same filth as the “me” down here.

It’s like bloodstained hands dragging me down.

“Oh, right. If you somehow survive this, just know that everything I’m doing here is obviously a secret, okay?”

Now, where did I put that hand axe?

I searched through the drawers for the axe, but it was nowhere to be found.

I hate using knives — they don’t leave a clean cut.

But since I had no other choice, I took out a small dagger and slammed it down on her pinky finger.

She didn’t scream.

Instead, she stared at her own hand, dazed, as if her mind couldn’t process what had just happened.

She probably didn’t feel it because of the anesthesia, but once that wears off, it’ll sting a bit.

Well, it’s not like she’d need her pinky finger anyway. She’s a bookworm who spends her life eating through pages, not someone who does manual labor.

“This is for… something I need it for. I’ll tell the next person who comes in here to treat you a little more gently, so just spill the location of those demons you were hiding and end this.”

“…You’ll kill them if I do, won’t you?”

Come on, it’s not like that.

As long as they don’t resist, we won’t kill them.

Besides, His Majesty is already furious. Do you really think we won’t find them eventually?

No matter how long it takes, they’ll be found.

I wrapped her severed pinky in a handkerchief and stuffed it into my pocket.

By the time the sun sets, I should probably check in on Ethel’s brother.

I really didn’t want to go to the academy twice in one day.

“Anyway, hang in there. I hope we meet again!”

The girl looked at me like she had something to say.

Her eyes were filled with sorrow and a flicker of anger.

“You got something to say?”

“You… you’re a bad person.”

“…Huh. I expected something more creative than that.”

I strained my body, pushing the iron door closed, and locked it.

“You took a while, young lady. Did you get everything you wanted?”

“Marco, have you been slacking off this whole time instead of working?”

“Slacking off? No, I was taking a break while the young lady did the interview for me.”

Getting called a “bad person” must have jabbed at my conscience a bit.

I found myself saying something I normally wouldn’t.

“Are you going to get rid of her?”

“If she doesn’t open her mouth, probably.”

“Go easy on her. She’s my friend.”

“Ah, I see. Since you used anesthesia, I suppose it’s fine to let her rest and pick up again tomorrow.”

“You sure are considerate of your subordinates’ rest time, young lady. You’re the best.”

“If you love it so much, keep her alive. And if possible, make sure her eyes and mouth stay intact so she can still go to school.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll head to another interview. See you later.”

“Take care, young lady.”

With a heavy heart, I made my way back to school.