"Hmm?"
A voice faintly echoed through the dim space, where not a trace of light could be found.
This was a room on the top floor of the north building within Misawa Cram School's fourth dormitory, a vast space that covered nearly an entire floor.
This was Misawa Cram School's principal's office.
Though it was called a principal's office, its furnishings, decorations, and equipment were as luxurious as the office of a major corporation's chairman.
Here, a man stood before a glass wall mirror and raised his head.
The mirror reflected the man's appearance.
He wore a white suit and expensive leather shoes.
His green hair was slicked straight back.
His features could be called handsome.
He matched the appearance of the alchemist named Aureolus in the photograph Stiyl had given Fang Li exactly.
In other words, this man was Aureolus.
However, if Fang Li and Stiyl had been here and seen Aureolus, they would certainly have found something off about him.
That was because, in the photograph, Aureolus had seemed meticulous, yet also intelligent and human.
But this Aureolus's expression contained no trace of humanity, as though he had cast aside his conscience and fallen into hell. The intelligent look that should have filled his eyes had completely vanished.
The change was that drastic.
Yet there was nothing surprising about it.
After all, the photograph Stiyl had provided had been taken three years ago.
Over the course of three years, it would not have been strange for someone's mindset to change because of something that had happened.
In fact, ever since Aureolus imprisoned Vampire Killer, Stiyl had understood that this alchemist might no longer be the man he once was.
The reason was simple.
—"Honos628 (My honor exists for the sake of the world)."
This had once been Aureolus's