Oran Knight is out (2/3 chapters for today)
Candidates of Mysteries (2): Sixth of Seven Mysteries Revealed
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The Room in the Old School Building That Cannot Be Opened and the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True were said to be somewhere on the campus. The day we split up into boys and girls to investigate these two Mysteries, the sixth Mystery was unexpectedly confirmed.
The one who brought the information was Hana’s hometown friend, a girl who attended a school unrelated to the military academy. It seemed the sixth of the Seven Mysteries was indeed the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True.
“Why would a student from another school know that?” (Lux)
Everyone asked Hana, curious about the reason.
“Reno… my friend, Reno, came to our school festival for a visit and took a copy of our school newspaper with her. You know how we included some strange stories as minor tidbits that didn’t seem very relevant, right? Reno asked me about it the other day, degozaru.” (Hana)
“What did she ask?” (Lux)
I prompted, and after a little hesitation, Hana continued.
“When I was hanging out with Reno, she asked, ‘Oh, by the way, does the tree that grants love really exist?’ because of the school newspaper, degozaru.” (Hana)
According to this girl Reno, she didn’t know about the other Seven Mysteries of the military academy, but the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True was apparently famous among the girls at other schools. The Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True at the military academy was considered the ‘real one’.
It had been passed down from upperclassmen to underclassmen since long ago, and there are even stories of students who, after searching for the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True during the school festival, ended up wandering into the research building and almost got detained. It was now almost as if the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True at the military academy was a legend known even at other schools.
“Reno says she’s heard that it’s been one of the Seven Mysteries of the military academy since long ago, so it’s probably correct, degozaru.” (Hana)
Hana confirmed.
It felt strange that the Seven Mysteries, which had almost faded out at our own Oran Knight Military Academy, were still alive in other schools. I supposed rumors spread quickly when it came to love-related stories. Besides, the reason it wasn’t so talked about here at the military academy was probably simply because there were so few female students.
“Well, if the story is that clear, then it’s probably correct.” (Heinz)
Heinz agreed while looking convinced.
“So, is the last mystery the key to the secret room?” (Frank)
Frank suggested.
“We can’t dismiss the possibility that the Tree of Happiness That Makes Love Come True is the key to the room, degozaru.” (Hana)
Hana protested.
“Well, anyway, let’s split up and investigate as planned. How about the group that finishes first goes to help the other?” (Rick)
Rick-san’s suggestion met no objections from us, and we each moved to our assigned locations.
—
Our boys’ group was assigned to investigate the Room in the Old School Building That Cannot Be Opened. Ideally, we wanted to start with the first floor, which seemed most likely based on our predictions, but there was still some activity during the early hours after school. Though unconventional, we decided to examine the upper floors until it got dark, and then shift to the first floor when the flow of people died down.
It will probably take three to four days if everything goes well.
Opening the locked doors was Lite and Frank’s job. Heinz helped inspect the rooms they unlocked, while Ratt-kun, Rick-san and I served as lookouts.
Ratt-kun and I stationed ourselves by the two staircases to watch for anyone coming up. If someone did come, Rick-san would approach to buy us some time. Meanwhile, Ratt-kun and I would evacuate down the other staircase. Though not as socially adept as Heinz, Rick-san’s communication skills made him perfect for the stalling role.
We started on the third floor. While watching Lite and Frank’s remarkably efficient unlocking from a distance, I kept my focus on the stairs, and before I knew it, I let out a yawn. At first, there was a strange tension in the air, partly because of the shadiness of our actions, but honestly, the lookout job was a bit boring. The third floor wasn’t frequently used for storage, so hardly anyone came up here.
Looking over, I saw that Ratt-kun was also yawning. Our eyes met, and we shared a rueful smile. After checking the rooms on one end of the third floor, Lite, Frank, and Heinz came over to us. Judging by their expressions, they’d opened about half of the rooms by now.
“It’s getting dark, so let’s go ahead and check one or two rooms on the first floor as well.” (Lite)
Judging by his tone, the rooms they’d opened so far had turned up nothing.
When we got down to the first floor, we were now at the entrance to the old school building, with Rick-san outside and me inside. Ratt-kun was positioned a short distance away. If anyone came by, Rick-san would talk to them. I’d signal Ratt-kun, who would then tell the others to stop their work. Unlike the third floor, it was not so strange for us to be on the first floor, so as long as we weren’t caught trying to pry open doors, it wouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Following this plan, we checked the rooms on the first floor as well, but unfortunately, our investigation came up empty today.
—
The investigation of the old school building ended after school on the fourth day. In short, we found ‘nothing’.
“I didn’t have high hopes, but… this was a complete miss.” (Lite)
Lite said, stretching his shoulders as we headed back to the clubroom.
After taking a breather in the clubroom, the girls returned.
“Welcome back. How did it go over there?” (Lux)
I called out to them, trying to be considerate.
“Hmm, well, after gathering stories from upperclass girls, there were a few who’d heard of it, and we found a spot that seemed like the right place, but… it didn’t have anything like a hidden door.” (Sonia)
Sonia answered, sounding disappointed.
Given the nature of the Mystery, there wasn’t much hope to begin with, so perhaps it was a success that we managed to confirm it.
“Well, that leaves us with just this.” (Lux)
I said as I looked over the papers.
The buried treasure on the hill was beyond our means to investigate, so all that remains was the hidden grave somewhere on campus. However, compared to the other information, the location was vague, so we don’t even know where to begin.
“A hidden grave somewhere on campus… it looks like we should gather more information.” (Ratt)
Ratt-kun seemed to be thinking the same thing, for as he muttered this, his stomach growled.
Hearing this, Heinz chuckled.
“Well, let’s call it a day for now and focus on gathering information.” (Heinz)
He used Ratt-kun’s stomach clock as a signal to wrap up that day’s investigation.
—
*Today’s Diary*
Although we didn’t find anything connected to the secret room of Duke Lengrad, the sixth of the Seven Mysteries was finally revealed.
Only one of the Seven Mysteries remains. We’ve come this far at last. I wonder if there will finally be a door leading to the secret room this time. If the Seventh Mystery turns out to be a bust too, what should we do?
I’m beginning to think that perhaps it disappeared when the mansion was torn down.
I secretly record such slight anxieties in my diary.
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