Pride and Prejudice
There's going to be an academic conference.
An academic conference?
It's an occasion where researchers gather to share their findings and socialize with one another.
I am a researcher after all, so I can't very well miss it.
As such, I'll be busy preparing for it for the time being.
I won't miss anything related to the Journey, of course, but I'll have to set aside leisure activities such as my hobby.
I understand. It can't be helped.
Just don't push yourself too hard.
Fufu. There's no need to worry about me.
Shouldn't you be the one exercising greater caution, Captain?
Another incident occurred after the ones we witnessed.
With that, the Professor unfolded a newspaper and showed it to me.
Shocking! Local Florist Found Near Reservoir...
Who Is the Culprit? Public Security Official Admits Investigation Has Stalled...
I hear the investigation will be expanded beyond the Town Guard to Public Security.
The cooling-off period between these crimes is extremely short. If the perpetrator isn't caught quickly, things could become quite serious.
Did you visit the scene?
No. As I mentioned, I've been busy preparing for the conference, and luck wasn't on my side this time.
Of course, this incident has given me a general picture of what may be happening...
But I'm not yet certain enough to tell you.
Right. It would only be a deduction.
Fufu. It seems you understand that now.
But... you and I are both occupied, and all of NOA is in turmoil.
So we'd be better off postponing this discussion.
We're done for today, so I should be going.
I'll see you at our next appointment.
Perhaps because she was busy preparing for the conference, the Professor quickly disappeared from the training grounds.
I couldn't deny that something bothered me... but I couldn't simply tell her not to go.
I suppose I should head back too.
On the way back to my quarters...
Perhaps because of the recent incidents, noticeably fewer people were walking the streets.
And even those who remained seemed clearly on edge.
With all these frightening incidents happening lately, I can't go out once it gets the slightest bit dark.
Tsk. Are the Town Guard even doing their jobs?
What if the culprit is someone who's been at every scene?
They say the culprit always returns to the scene. It happens all the time in mystery stories.
Hey, don't you think you've been reading too many novels?
The culprit always returns to the scene...
...No. It couldn't be.
She said she wasn't at the third scene.
I didn't want to suspect her. I didn't believe the Professor would do such a thing.
Yet the unease I'd felt all along and the sense that I'd overlooked something kept feeding my anxiety.
...I should return early and get some rest today.
Here. Please, have some.
I'm nearly out of tea bags. I should restock them soon.
I have one more guest visiting the lab now, after all.
...Oh, thanks.
Several days later, at the Professor's lab...
She finally had some free time, so I'd dropped by to have tea with her.
You seem more lost in thought than usual, Captain.
Is something troubling you?
I'm just a little tired.
And the mood around town isn't helping.
...True. It feels as though something could happen at any moment.
At least I have enough free time to enjoy tea with you like this...
Though part of me wonders whether it's appropriate given the mood outside.
How are the preparations for the conference going?
It's going well, thanks to your consideration, Captain.
According to the schedule, it should conclude around the same time as the Journey.
The busiest part is largely over, so I can afford brief breaks like this one.
That's good to hear.
By the way... Captain.
There's something I simply can't understand.
Since I have this opportunity to speak with you, I'd like to ask about it.
Hmm? What is it?
The Professor suddenly stepped closer.
Her strange, intoxicating perfume seemed to freeze my thoughts.
Captain... This is what you said about the trolley problem I posed.
You would look for a way to stop the trolley.
And that an unwanted sacrifice is merely coercion.
No matter how many times I considered it... I couldn't understand that answer.
Professor... Wait...
What led you to say such a thing?
Was it a heroic belief that made you think you could save everyone?
Fufu. No, of course not.
Whatever basis you had for giving such an impossibly arrogant answer... doesn't particularly matter.
...Now, Captain. There's only one thing I want to ask.
Are you still confident you can give that same answer?
Can you prove that your own conviction, an answer beyond the simple choice between two options...
Hasn't wavered in the slightest?
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe because of her.
It feels as though she has a hand around my throat.
I... won't let anyone die.
So that question...
It means nothing to me.
It felt as if the iron grip around my throat had finally loosened.
As the scent of perfume receded, I finally heard my heart pounding.
*...Sigh.*
Haha. Fufufu... Yes.
That is who you are, isn't it, Captain?
The person I knew used to say exactly the same thing. Fufu...
You mean the person...
You're searching for?
Yes, that's right.
I asked the same question... and received the same answer.
This is what I hoped to see from you.
From the moment we met, you felt like the same kind of person as that individual.
...Oh dear. The tea has gone cold.
Shall we stop here for today?
When we have more time... I'd like to have a deeper conversation.
The Professor remained in her lab for quite some time after I left.
There was still plenty of time before the Journey ended.
Ah...
I believe I'll finally be able to understand it.
...The being known as the Captain.