The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 75.1
When the bell signaling the end of class rang, Leslun was the first to rise from his seat.
The sound of wooden chairs scraping against the floor echoed through the lecture hall. His movements were so quick that even the students still busy arranging their notes stopped to stare at him.
As he passed through the high-ceilinged corridor, Leslun took several deep breaths. He tried to steady his breathing, but his urgency made his pace quicken with each step.
By the time he rounded the corner leading to the dining hall corridor, sweat had already begun to dampen his back.
Just as he disappeared around the alleyway, Kailos Delroi appeared at the far end of the opposite hall, walking at a leisurely pace.
He entered the lecture hall casually and glanced around. The warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting soft shadows across the floor and desks, but Leslun was nowhere in sight.
“Gone?”
A student who had remained in the room hesitated before nodding.
“Yes, Your Highness. He left the moment the bell rang.”
Kailos let out a long sigh.
“So he really moved that quickly.”
The Leslun he knew was like spilled ink, slowly spreading outward. His movements were sluggish, his tone of voice somewhat heavy, and it was rare for him to show his emotions.
Everything about him flowed slowly and quietly.
Kailos narrowed his eyes. If Leslun’s pace could not be predicted, that meant he was acting outside of expectations.
“Did he even attend class?”
He almost doubted Leslun’s attendance for a moment.
***
The dining hall was livelier than usual.
It was not so much excitement as it was a kind of restless disarray. There was a faint rush in the steps of the staff carrying dishes, and the conversations of the students sitting around the tables felt unusual.
Leslun glanced around slowly, wondering what might have happened, but he saw no clear signs of trouble. There had been no fight or commotion.
Before long, he lost interest and walked toward the kitchen with his usual steady stride. Though his footsteps were quiet, his pace was fast.
The head chef, who was busily preparing food, noticed Leslun’s approach and instinctively shifted his body to the side as if wishing to avoid him. Leslun caught the movement and followed him without hesitation.
When they reached the narrow passageway, the head chef turned around.
“Why have you come again?”
His voice was subdued, and discomfort was already evident in his eyes.
“There is one more thing I wish to confirm.”
Leslun’s voice was calm. His hands were empty—he had already entrusted the inventory list to his assistant long ago.
The chef frowned, realizing Leslun was harboring yet another suspicion.
“This is becoming difficult.”
He ran a hand across his forehead. Someone from Locke Trading Company had already recognized Leslun’s presence. Since that day, he had only wished for the matter to end quietly.
But Leslun did not back down. Instead, he made his intentions clearer.
“I would like to inspect the food storage.”
The chef’s face twisted at his firm tone. He let out a loud sigh and shut his eyes tightly.
“I have already apologized for the shortage of supplies before. Since that day, we have received more than enough. There is no longer any issue. There is no need to look any further.”
His words were a way of drawing a line, a signal that he wanted no further trouble over this matter.
But Leslun remained still. His face was calm, but there was no sign of yielding in his eyes.
The chef glanced around. He could tell Leslun had chosen a time when few people would be around, but he still checked the area once more to make sure no one was listening. Then he spoke reluctantly in a low voice.
“Just for a moment.”
A quiet sense of relief spread across Leslun’s face. It was not quite a smile, but his shoulders seemed lighter.
“I will be quick.”
“The food storage is different from the general storeroom. Because it is kept at a low temperature, it is surrounded by several layers of walls. Keep the door slightly open. If it closes completely, you will not be able to get out until someone opens it from the outside.”
Leslun listened carefully to the instructions and gave a deep nod. The chef led him to the storage room and opened the door.
As soon as he stepped inside, a chill brushed across his face. The air was unmistakably colder. His breath misted faintly, and the walls were damp with cool condensation.
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