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「Feel free to do as you like.」
「I see. Then I shall feel free to do so.」

Professor Liens is uncannily compliant. There must be a trap or something. Probably the type to activate if a proper procedure isn’t followed, but, unfortunately, while I know something awaits us, I have no idea how to avoid it.

Nonetheless, things will probably go smoother if he’s shown that I didn’t figure out the hidden room by pure guesswork, and I am confident with my defenses, so forcing our way through is an option.

『It seems to be a trap, but would it be alright to go?』
『As long as you switch out with me.』
『Naturally. After all, if anything ever happens, Ciel will have an easier time dealing with it.』

Whatever happens, I’d never do something that would risk our lives. With Ciel in control, at worst, we can just completely demolish the room. Even if there are a variety of traps, Ciel will be able to handle them safely.
Nothing I do really needs me to be in control to perform in the first place.

And so I switched with Ciel, and she then touched the shelf in front of us. There is a shelf displaying sorceric tools near the corner of the room farthest from the entrance, and there seems to be a small gap there. This gap is wide enough to accommodate one person. Two, if around Ciel’s width.

If this shelf is pushed aside, it should reveal this hidden gap. Based on Professor Liens’ activity yesterday, there might be a stairway leading underground.

Ciel used physical reinforcement and moved the shelf aside. Hidden under the shelf was what seemed to be a hatchway, and when Ciel approached it, I sensed a sorceric tool inside the room activate.
And I just noticed it now, but several sorceric tools displayed in the room are actually arranged in a way that points towards the hatchway.

Ciel quickly noticed it as well, so she jumped to the ceiling.
Seeing the thick vines from all directions converging right below us, it must have been a sorceric tool for capturing intruders. Bumping into each other, the converging vines rolled into a ball-like lump.

The reason Ciel escaped to the air was because that was the only viable escape.
However, Professor Liens naturally understands this as well, and immediately after Ciel jumped, a pitfall opened up underneath Ciel. It doesn’t seem to be too deep, but it most likely leads to a prison, and we’ll be captured if nothing else is done.

『Ain.』

Ciel called my name, so I immediately sang in response.
We’ve already fallen inside the pitfall, but there’s still an opening above, so it’s not an issue. Like a fawn prancing in the plains, Ciel spirals in the air with light steps. And after landing a few steps away from the pitfall, she switches with me.

Professor Liens was apparently captivated by Ciel’s movements, but he then came to his senses and acted as if nothing happened.

「I was warned to be vigilant against you, but to think you’d be this capable.」
「Amazing as always.」

Ciel did great, so regardless of what Professor Liens thinks, I praised Ciel. Ignoring his confusion, he mentioned a detail I couldn’t disregard, so I pressed for an answer.

「By the way, was the headmistress the one who warned you about me?」
「I can’t answer that.」

Professor Liens shook his head without giving a yes or no answer. If he had said yes, it would have confirmed that he’s doing something related to the taboo. Considering the lengths he took to protect this room, it’s practically enough of a confirmation for me even now, but there’s still a chance I’m wrong. He might just be hiding a top-secret sorceric tool unrelated to the taboo.

I’m neither a detective or a police officer, nor am I even particularly skilled in gathering information. That’s why, if possible, I want direct verbal confirmation regarding taboo-related things.

「Incidentally, what is your objective?」

I honestly thought that he would run, but Professor Liens didn’t even make an attempt, though he’s apparently changing his tactics. He’s actually asking us our objective.
I enveloped the room with a barrier just to make sure that he can’t escape, but it seems it was for nothing. Still won’t undo it, though. Now, our objective, huh. It’s not like we’re here to make enemies, so it should be fine to just answer. After all, unlike earlier, it’s not like we can play ignorant at this point.

In the extremely unlikely event that he actually isn’t our taboo guy, there is a chance that he’ll tell other people that Ailneige is looking for someone committing the taboo, but we can just hush him when that happens.
At the very least, it’s certain that he’s up to something in this secret room, so it shouldn’t be difficult to hush him.

「If I had to say, it’s to warn people attempting to commit a taboo and, I suppose, try to persuade them against it.」

His eyes went wide in surprise, but shortly he muttered, 「I see,」 and began contemplating.

「So you’re saying that you did not come to eliminate or capture me, nor to plunder my research?」
「The first one is the closest answer, but I won’t be the one to enact it. I’m just the prelude.」
「… Divine punishment, huh.」

Hearing his conclusion, I responded with a smile.
Even without us doing anything to the people attempting a taboo, divine punishment will eliminate them from the world the moment it becomes a problem. Our goal is to give a warning so that doesn’t happen. And just because we’re warning against it, the occurrence of divine punishment isn’t really a problem for us or the Creator God.

「Now, I’ll ask once more. Professor Liens, you are attempting to commit a taboo, aren’t you?」
「… Yes, that’s right.」

Professor Liens answered in a resigned tone. It would be great if he also gave up on continuing his taboo research, but that’s probably impossible. Still, with his admission, we can consider the first phase done, and now, as previously discussed with Ciel, I’ll reveal our identity.
Rather than the words of some mysterious first year, the words of someone connected to Fiiyanamia should hold more persuasive weight. And it’s a chance to test something else, too.

I retrieved the long-neglected pendant with Mother Fii’s white dragon crest from our magic pouch and showed it to Professor Liens.