Chương 98: Chapter 93-Chosen [Disguised]

Whistling through the hall. Looking for drunk… Gods, I'm terrible at rhyming on the spot. What rhymes with hall? Gall, ball, fall, maybe log. Hall and log? No, those don't rhyme. You would think with [CHA] that I would be able to rhyme. I can sing, act, schmooze, but rhyming is a beast in and of itself. One that apparently the [System] will not compensate for me. Lost in thought about my rhyming ability, a First Year barely manages to slink into his room. I'm not actually looking to bust any of these First Years.

I couldn't care less, and I'm the one who started this rager anyway. So, it would be hypocritical of me to bust them. That's not the reason I'm letting them go, of course, but that could be the reason. Penelope, or should I say 'Sam', gives me an elbow.

"So, in your great plan, what happens next, Charlatan?"

"Careful. An elbow in the wrong spot could break me out of this [Disguise], and the next part of this plan is… returning empty-handed," I say as Hopper, or in this case 'Snarl', looks behind us with a worried look.

"So, how exactly is that going to help us find out whether Joseph is the Wrathborn?" Hopper asks.

"It won't, but it'll lead us down the path to that eventuality," I explain. Penelope shakes her head.

"Eventually, we'll die too. Is your plan going to lead us there, too?"

"That I can not tell you, but look alive and try not to talk. Your guy's acting skill is terrible at best. Let me and Gary do all the talking," I say as we come up to the group of security guards.

"Gary is a mongoose. How's he going to do any talking?" Penelope asks Hopper, who answers with a shrug.

"Hey, Joe. Nothing on our end. Most of the kids either made it back to their rooms or are outside," I [Lie]. Joseph shakes his head.

"Darned kids. Take your eyes off them for a second, and they'll start up some trouble immediately. Well, at least we've got the ring leader," he says as he points over to a very drunk Clint.

"You think he's the one? Looks a bit dopey to be the one responsible. Not to mention he doesn't look like the party type," I say as I pat my illusory belly.

"Well, his mana matches the barrier outside. To think, the lengths these kids go to avoid studying," Joseph says with a dry laugh.

"Yeah. Do you think that a… guy who's putting up those symbols is a similar barrier?" I ask nonchalantly. Joseph scratches the scruff of his beard.

"Nah. These barriers take too much time to get set up. The guy who's been leaving symbols and who killed that Assassin did it without leaving a trace. I'd be impressed if it were just simple vandalism, but murder is nothing to be impressed about," he says with a weird mix of emotions that I can't quite grasp.

"Yeah. Murder is a… real stinker to the whole mood of the school. Certainly makes patrolling a bit scarier. You think those Imperial Knights figure out who killed him yet?" I ask as we head out to the cold air.

"My ass they have. I sure haven't seen any Imperial Knights around. Have you?" he says as Hopper and Penelope help the security guards take down the information of the captured First Years.

"Now that you mention it… I haven't seen hide nor hair of them knights. Why is that?" I ask as I spit into the snow.

"We both know why. They too busy dealing with that Blight in the east. Spread too thin. Just like us. Although our predicament is more hinging on staff shortage than threat size. That murder was probably the biggest thing we've had happen here in ages," he says as he lights a smoke. He offers me a smoke, but I decline with a shake of my head.

"Well, there was also that recent fiasco. That Demon. I'm sure you got reamed over the coals for that, huh?" I ask as I'm careful not to pry too much.

"Tell me about it. It's not my fault the barrier didn't pick up on him. It's the barrier's fault. My job is to make sure the barrier is supplied with mana. It's the barrier's job to act as a barrier. One of us didn't do our jobs, and it sure in the hells wasn't me, but you bet your ass I'm the one gettin in trouble," he says as he takes a long drag.

"The barrier didn't pick up on a Demon. Odd, how that managed to happen?" I ask.

"What's wrong with you, Mitch? I already told ya about this. In fact, I've been telling the University about this for years, but they don't listen. How am I supposed to keep these kids safe if I don't got the resources or the backing to do it? With the way things are now? One of these kids is going to get hurt. Especially with The Chosen One around," he says with a disappointed look.

"Chosen One? What's he got to do with anything?"

"I mean. Listen, I don't got anything against the kid. From what the staff says, he's a good kid, but we all know that this started up because he's here. He's like a beacon for the forces of evil," he says as he lets out a puff of smoke.

"Well, kid didn't choose to be The Chosen One," I retort, letting a hint of anger through.

"Nah, ya right, he didn't. It's a rotten deal being The Chosen One. Especially around all these nobles. Don't you find it odd that you and I have more in common with The Chosen One than with these other kids? Snooty, uptight, and they might as well shit gold. The Chosen One, though… I've heard-" Joseph says as the embers from his cigarette fall to the snow. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Joe, we dispelled the barrier, and we've gotten the kids' info. We're heading back on patrol," one of the security guards says.

"Good. Make sure the most sober of them understands that I want that common room clean by the morning. If they do that, they can get off with a verbal warning," he says. The security guard gives a nod and then leaves. They're going to wrap up. Which means my time here with our main suspect is dwindling fast. What other information could I get from him? I can't just outright ask for an alibi, and it's not like I can ask anything.

The more I ask, the more likely I am to run into something that the real 'Mitch' would know. Which could break my cover. So, think CJ. What do we need to know?

"Well, seems like the party's over. Go get some shut eye before your wife comes beating down my door about how I'm making you work too much," he says as he stomps out his cigarette.

"Hey, one last thing, Joe. Who're we supposed to complain to about the barrier again? I saw some kids trying to mess with it earlier," I say, hoping this isn't too much.

"Mitch, I told you, fix that memory of yours. Tell Glenda in admin. She'll run it up the flagpole or not. Fucking shit show admin is," he says as he walks away. Hmm. Well, I don't have any evidence, but I don't think Joseph Brunt is involved in this. Is it because I like his demeanor? Maybe. Am I that easily swayed? Absolutely, but that's not entirely why. He doesn't seem to act in the way I would expect someone who's working with the forces of evil to act.

That and some of the things he said were interesting and insightful. Hopper and Penelope walk over.

"Anything on the Head of Security?" she asks.

"I think we're barking up the wrong tree." Gary barks, "Exactly, Gary."

"If not him, who?" Penelope asks.

"Where's the admin building? I have to go check on a lady named Glenda. She might lead us to our next lead," I say as I look around at the snowy night.

"I'll show you tomorrow. We also found out some stuff from talking to the other security guards. Turns out there have been more symbols popping on campus than we thought," she says.

"How many more?" I ask with a hint of fear. Hopper sighs.

"A lot more. Security has been taking them down as they show up, but they apparently keep popping up. They don't know how, but they assume some sort of [Skill] is at work, and that's not the worst of it," Hopper says.

"What could be worse?" I ask. Penelope gives a pained smile.

"Apparently, the symbols appear wherever you have been, or at least that's what the security guards have noticed."

"What do you mean? Do they think I'm making them?" I ask.

"No, but they have somebody following you every day in order to map where the symbols might show up," she explains.

"Is that why I've been followed recently? That makes a lot more sense. So, what do we think the forces of evil are stalking me?" I ask.

"Less stalking and maybe more incriminating?" Hopper asks. Penelope nods along.

"Hopper might be onto something. The Wrathborn might be trying to frame you for all of this. The Assassin that was sacrificed in your bed in the infirmary would make a lot more sense if that was the case."

"From what Ilota said, the people are weary of me, and Chosen One or not, people still see me as a Vashrin first. I don't need to remind you what Vashrin are treated like," I say as we head back into Azalea Hall.

"I understand, but what purpose does it serve?" Penelope asks.

"Rage," Hopper says. Penelope nods.

"You're right. Rage more easily manifests when being falsely accused, and the accusers feel betrayed, allowing for rage to take root in their minds," Penelope explains as I drop the [Disguise] on all of us. Skill <Disguise> has Leveled Up"This Wrathborn is conniving. More than both of you combined," Hopper remarks.

"I take offense to that. The Charlatan may be conniving, but me? I don't have a conniving bone in my body," Penelope defends herself.

"She's right. She has a conniving skeleton," I taunt. Hopper hides a chuckle.

"So, if this Wrathborn is as conniving as we think, how are we ever going to find them? It's not like they'll just be standing out in the open for the whole world to see," Hopper says.

"Hello there. I was hoping I would get a chance to talk to you," the Headmaster says. The three of us look at each other in a moment of panic. The Headmaster is here, at this hour? What does he want to talk about, and why couldn't this have waited until the morning?

"Headmaster, it is good to see you, Sir. I apologize on behalf of the First Years for the mess," Penelope says. The Headmaster gives a small laugh.

"No worries, Princess Penelope. You are only young once. Although I would recommend you at least clean up after yourselves," he says as he looks the place over. A drunken Clint groans as he tidies up the common room.

"Not to be rude, but what exactly do you want to talk about at this hour?" I ask.

"Straight to the point. I respect that. It has to do with the symbols that have been popping up around campus. I've heard some nasty rumors and was hoping to clear them up tonight, but I can see you've been busy. Perhaps, you could come to my office the day after tomorrow, Chosen One. Does that sound amenable?" he asks.

"Yeah. I can do that. Now, if you'll excuse us. We have some [Cleaning] to do," I say as I begin to tidy up.

"Of course. Have a good rest of your night." As soon as he's out of earshot, Hopper pipes up, "What kinds of rumors?"

"I'll find out later. For now, we need to find the Wrathborn," I say with a hint of anger. Clint throws up on the carpet.

"First, we need to [Clean] that up." The three of us groan.