Chapter 7 “James Moriarty” — Part 1
Nox barely managed to drag his aching body into the academy cafeteria.
“Ahh… my legs… my back… everything hurts,” he muttered, limping toward the nearest empty seat.
Sisbell Val Bandri and Alber Vin Asterion followed behind him.
Sisbell sat down with a sigh. “Who told you to run like that? But still… you managed to get second place. That was surprising.”
Alber leaned forward, staring at him with narrowed eyes. “You didn’t run with your full strength from the beginning.”
Before he could finish, Nox slammed his head onto the table.
“If I did that, I would’ve ended up like you, Alber. And can both of you shut up? I’m literally dying right now.”
As Nox groaned into the wooden tabletop, someone’s shadow fell over their table.
Scarlet El Valorios appeared, carrying a tray of drinks.
Sisbell immediately stood. “Scarlet, you don’t need to—”
Scarlet ignored her, took the tray, and handed drinks to everyone.
But she personally placed one in front of Nox.
Nox blinked. “I… didn’t order anything. And I don’t have enough money to pay for—”
Scarlet smiled, her soft lips curving up while her pink eyes glinted dangerously.
“If you don’t drink it, you’ll collapse.
Who told you to sprint like that at the end?”
Nox gulped hard and quickly grabbed the drink.
Why does she look angry? What did I do? he thought, confused.
After their training ended, they all headed to the cafeteria.
Somehow—though Nox didn’t understand how—Scarlet and Sisbell ended up sitting on either side of Alber, chatting like nothing happened.
Class was cancelled… so what’s the plan now?
Everyone looked deep in thought.
Scarlet kept glancing at Nox, clearly waiting for him to say something.
Nox hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Well, since I’ve got some free time, I was thinking… maybe I should take some errands job. I need to earn money.”
Sisbell blinked rapidly. “Why? Aren’t you a special admission student? Headmaster Velmira accepted you personally.”
Nox shook his head.
“They only cover my tuition and academy fees. For allowance money, I have to work. And this is my first time in the capital, so I need a job.
You all know I’m a commoner, right? I can’t even afford cafeteria meals. And Scarlet… I’ll pay you back for the drink next time.”
Scarlet frowned at him as if he had committed a crime.
“You don’t need to repay me. And why is the academy letting a student work? Isn’t that strange?”
Nox exhaled deeply.
“You nobles really don’t know anything… The academy allows outside tasks. Third-year students help professors, staff, or run errands. Assistant students work everywhere.”
Scarlet widened her eyes slightly.
“…I thought that was only for merit points.”
Alber nodded. “It’s for merit points too, but there’s more. Clubs, teams, academy tasks… The guild, magic tower, royal family, nobles—they all send requests to the academy. Students complete them to earn money and merit points. Lots of people do it.”
Sisbell crossed her arms. “I don’t believe your thick skull knows this much.”
Alber’s eyes twitched. “What the hell do you think I am?! I’m an academy student too! I do research! Not like you who only attends tea parties!”
Their argument began instantly.
Scarlet sighed like a tired mother. “You two… stop. This is a cafeteria.”
While they fought, Nox stared toward the corner of the room.
Many students were reading newspapers with serious expressions.
“Something happened in the capital?” he asked.
Scarlet glanced in the same direction and nodded.
“Yes. There’s a new sighting of James Moriarty in the capital.”
Nox froze.
His face stiffened, awkwardness creeping up his spine.
“…Ah. Who… is James Moriarty?”
Sisbell gasped dramatically. “You don’t know?!”
Alber waved his hand. “Sisbell, he lived far from the capital. How would he know?”
Scarlet turned toward Nox, her voice calm.
“James Moriarty is a masked man. No one knows his face or identity. He works alone. There’s a high bounty on his head. They call him a ‘crime consultant.’
And his age… is supposedly around ours. Rumor says he’s from the slums. He’s been spotted in many towns and villages. But this is the first time he appeared in the capital.”
Alber nodded. “The Imperial Knights are nervous. Some say he came to join the Zodiac. Or another underground group.”
Sisbell leaned in. “You mean the Zodiac? Still a mystery? If James Moriarty joins them… what will happen?”
Nox stared at all three with a blank expression.
When did I plan to join Zodiac? I just walked around at night, and now there’s an article about me?
Yes… I’m James Moriarty.
And who the hell put a bounty on my head?!
He finished his drink slowly.
Then he stood. “I’ll head to the city. You all enjoy.”
He left the cafeteria and sighed quietly.
“James Moriarty… Zodiac… well, it’s not wrong that I’m looking for them.”
He muttered under his breath as he walked away.
Scarlet’s voice echoed faintly in his mind.
I’m a liar. A big liar. I’m the criminal consultant James Moriarty… There are too many secrets in this world.
Nox pulled up his hood and stepped into the sunlight.
Nox stepped outside the academy building and stretched his aching arms.
“Finally… a break from that sly fox,” he muttered, massaging his shoulder.
He reached the academy’s exit gate—only to see a familiar carriage arriving.
Headmaster Velmira’s crest.
Nox froze.
“…Shit. My luck is unbelievable,” he whispered, attempting to quietly back away.
But Velmira’s voice cut through the air.
“Nox. Are you really planning to run away from me?”
Before he could even blink, she snapped her fingers—space twisted—and both of them were pulled into her office.
Nox collapsed onto her office couch like a sack of potatoes.
“I… I think I’m going to puke…” he groaned.
Velmira raised a brow. “You look fine. I assumed you could handle that. You do know what kind of spell it is.”
Nox glared weakly.
Acting dumb is easy for you… you know my constitution is trash after running that much.
He forced himself to sit upright.
“So, Headmaster… why did you call me here? I already finished all the admission paperwork.”
Velmira didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she pulled out an envelope with a familiar crest—his family’s crest—and placed it on the table.
“There’s something I want you to do for me. As Moriarty.”
Her calm tone made Nox’s eyelids twitch.
She handed him the letter.
Nox read it with a deepening frown.
He exhaled sharply. “Seriously? I need to deal with this? And why are they approaching your academy students? This looks like some sloppy mistake, but… the involvement of students is the real problem.”
Velmira nodded. “Exactly. Having students tied to this is troublesome.”
Nox leaned back. “So what do you want? Capture them? Or something else?”
“Just make them stop. That’s all. Do it however you want.”
She paused. “James Moriarty.”
Nox choked on air.
Right. She knows my identity… why do people keep saying it out loud?!
He glared at her. “Don’t call me that so casually. I already have a bounty on my head!”
Velmira smiled faintly. “As long as you’re in the academy, you’re safe.”
Nox looked down at the letter.
Headmaster Velmira… a disciple of the Witch.
Father always said: ‘Do not make her your enemy.’
He looked up. “Headmaster, is this information correct? The one mentioned here?”
She folded her arms. “Yes. A student’s parents personally came to me. And I don’t tolerate anyone touching my academy students.
I apologize for giving you such a task so early.”
Nox shook his head. “You don’t need to apologize. You already did a lot for me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have stepped out from the Moon Family so easily.”
His expression turned distant.
“Father is traveling. Mother went to the Elves’ Forest. Big sister is still asleep… and you already know about my brother.”
Velmira’s eyes softened. “The Moon family… cursed and blessed by the Moon God at the same time. A tragedy and miracle in one.”
Nox waved his hand. “Let’s stop depressing the mood. As payment… I need information.”
Velmira tilted her head. “Information? About Zodiac? I told you, there are no leads yet.”
Nox shook his head again. “No. I need information about Scarlet El Valorios.”
Velmira stared. “Scarlet…? Why?”
Nox rubbed his temples. “She keeps prying. I don’t want others involved in my mess. I need to know what exactly she is.”
Velmira sighed dramatically. “I never expected that girl to take interest in someone. Even more surprising that it’s you, a commoner.”
Nox’s eyelid twitched again.
Why does everyone talk like I offended the heavens just by existing…?
“Whatever. I’m leaving.”
He muttered a spell under his breath.
“Arther Noctrul.”
His shadow rose like smoke, wrapped around him, and swallowed his form—vanishing instantly.
Velmira pouted.
“Gross. He scolds me for using spatial transfer, and then he uses shadow magic to teleport himself…”
She crossed her arms, blinking at the empty space where Nox stood moments ago.
