A Group Full of Problems

After Professor Sanchez finished speaking, he paused for a moment. Only after confirming that Miss Jones was still taking notes did he continue:

"It was Mr. Bill Schneider."

Shade held his breath, not daring to let it out. He had genuinely been frightened just now. This habit of stopping halfway through a sentence was truly awful.

"Mr. Schneider's problem was only discovered when he was in his third year. He is a psychologist himself, and his Ring Arcanist system is related to dreams and the mind. But there is something extremely dangerous hidden within his heart. The Academy cannot determine exactly what it is, only that there are currently some theories. It is quite dangerous. The Academy needs someone by his side to monitor him—or rather, to keep an eye on his condition. Should Bill Schneider lose control, the Academy must be notified immediately."

Professor Sanchez looked into Shade's eyes. Knowing that he was not the "person with a problem," Shade relaxed considerably, though he was still worried about Doctor Schneider's condition.

"Will Doctor Schneider lose control?"

The doctor was quite a good person.

"His psychological stability is currently rated very highly, but the possibility of losing control cannot be ruled out. It is only a possibility, however. Perhaps he will go his entire life without incident. Besides, we have not fully confirmed what exactly is inside his heart, so we have no solution. Mr. Hamilton, are you willing to take on this task? You do not need to do anything extra. Just make sure that if something happens, the Academy learns of it at the First Time."

Shade did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Professor Garcia, who nodded at him. Shade considered it himself as well. If he merely had to report it at the final moment, it was not much of a burden.

"I think that should be No Problem. But have you told the others about this? I only just joined the group."

It seemed more suitable to have the other members of the group handle this matter.

"Lat Augustus also has a problem."

Compared To the stern Professor Garcia, the elderly Professor Sanchez from the Library Management College was more humorous. He gave Shade a regretful expression.

"You may know Priest Augustus's story, and the other members of the group should know it as well. But I guarantee that he has never explained why, after all these years, he is still only a priest. That is because even he does not know."

The professor with round glasses suddenly lowered his voice.

"Thirty years ago, in the third year after Latt Augustus joined the Dawn Church, he was drawn into a containment breach involving a high-level relic while still an ordinary person. Only the Dawn Church and the Nature Church know the details of that incident. Priest Augustus was one of the few survivors from that year, and for the psychological and spiritual stability of the survivors, the Dawn Church erased that portion of their memories."

"A high-level relic? An Angel Level relic, Level 1?"

Shade asked in surprise. Even God's Gift Box, which he had heard about recently, was only a Sage Level relic, Level 2.

But the professor shook his head.

"Higher."

The young detective opened his mouth.

"So there is a standard reference above Angel Level relics. That does make sense."

"I admire your sharpness. Yes, Angel Level is Level 1. Above that is Level 0, Unknown Level. The incident Augustus was involved in was an Unknown Level Relic containment breach."

Professor Garcia of the History College said, while Professor Sanchez added:

"The public explanation is that the descent of an evil god is equivalent to an Angel Level relic losing control. But in truth, the Academy treats the descent of an evil god and the loss of control of an Unknown Level, Level 0, relic as disasters of the same rank."

"The Academy suspects that Priest Augustus gradually recovered those memories over the past thirty years. In order to uncover the truth of that accident, he joined Saint Byron's after awakening his talent rather than joining the Church. We cannot be certain whether that Unknown Level Relic left a lasting influence on him. Therefore, although his problem is less serious than the doctor's, it must still be taken seriously. Of course, all of this is speculation. The Academy will not treat the old gentleman differently."

"Then, should I also report to the Academy promptly if Priest Augustus has a problem?"

Shade asked. Professor Sanchez nodded.

"Augustus's problem is somewhat less serious. If it is convenient for you, you may monitor him as well."

"In that case."

Shade looked at him hesitantly, having thought of another question.

"Miss Dorothy Louisa and Miss Luvia Annette do not have problems too, do they?"

"Unfortunately, you are right."

As Professor Sanchez nodded, Shade seemed to notice that the secretary taking notes with her head lowered was struggling not to laugh. If Shade had not been one of those involved, he thought he would have laughed too.

"But these two ladies' problems are relatively smaller."

"Luvia Annette is a Ring Arcanist jointly trained by the Seer Association and us. Of course, it is not because of that connection that we distrust her. Rather, the Seer Association revealed some information: Miss Annette is very strange. She is a diviner, but some of her divinations are overly accurate. This is not a good sign. You will understand once you have a basic grasp of the study of prophecy. In short, Miss Annette's problem is not serious. It is simply that we cannot leave the task of monitoring the doctor and the priest to her. Nor do you need to be wary of Miss Annette."

Professor Sanchez said.

"I understand. I will pretend I did not hear what you just said about her."

Only then did Professor Sanchez nod in satisfaction.

"I appreciate people like you, Mr. Hamilton. Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Finally, there is Miss Dorothy Louisa. This female writer has the smallest problem. The Academy merely suspects that she is a spy."

When speaking of Miss Writer, Professor Sanchez's tone became even more relaxed.

"A spy?"

Shade did not understand.

"Miss Louisa has connections with the royal family of the Dellaireon Kingdom, and we cannot investigate those connections. We cannot find anything at all. The royal family of the Dellaireon Kingdom, at least on the royal level, has relatively deep ties with Zaras Academy of Literature. Therefore, the Academy suspects that she may be a spy sent by Zaras Academy of Literature to Saint Byron's, for our knowledge and secrets."

Professor Sanchez raised an eyebrow at Shade.

"You understand. Although the Three Great Arcane Academies have fairly good relations with one another, this is not really a major matter, because we do the same thing too. Ahem. It simply means that we cannot entrust too many secrets to her. Of course, this remains only a suspicion, so the Academy will not treat her differently. But the task given to you cannot be given to her."

"So the Academy wants me to remain in this group where everyone has problems, and be responsible for reporting certain matters promptly?"

Shade thought for a while before summarizing. He roughly believed the information Professor Sanchez had given him, but he did not develop any ill feelings toward the other four members of the group because of it. He merely sighed that things around an Outsider would indeed never be peaceful. Yet the other members of the group all Seemed perfectly normal.

The woman's voice in his heart laughed softly.

"No, this is not a group where everyone has problems. You do not have a problem."

Professor Garcia, who had been Listening to the conversation the entire time, corrected him.

"The History College conducted a focused investigation into your identity. Your background is very clean. Whether it was your past as a homeless man, being taken in by Detective Sparrow Hamilton, or recovering your Wisdom after awakening your talent, none of it presents any problem. That is why the Academy fully trusts you and has told you these secrets."

"Fully trusts me."

Shade repeated with a straight face. Nodding while continuing to listen to the laughter in his mind, he said:

"Yes, I have absolutely no problems. I am trustworthy."

So said the Outsider burdened with secrets.