A Different World? Trading Between Worlds - Ch 3, Ep 2 - Maurice's Lie

Maurice’s Lie

Watari realized more time had passed than expected while asking Maurice about the teleportation circle. The sky had begun to turn crimson, casting long shadows across the academy. The hallways grew increasingly quiet, with almost no sign of anyone around.

Most of the students had likely already gone home. As Watari exited the building and reached the carriage, he noticed that, aside from a few remaining carriages, the area was mostly deserted. They would need to return the carriage and the borrowed dress, both of which were still available for use in the late hours due to their frequent use for evening events.

As they rode back in silence, Watari couldn’t help but notice that Ea, who usually chatted incessantly, had been unusually quiet. After thanking the coachman, who had patiently waited for them, Watari spoke up.

“What’s wrong, Ea?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“I don’t talk all the time, you know!”

“Really? Then when are you quiet?”

“Uh, during meals, for instance.”

Ea’s flustered response wasn’t convincing at all, considering how she was usually even more lively during meals.

“Ah, lying is bad, isn’t it, Mariel?”

“Indeed. During meals, you always smile and eagerly share your thoughts on the food.”

“Mmm…”

“What’s with the ‘mmm’?”

“Then, how about this?”

“Huh? Mmph!”

“Oh my, she kissed you, Master…”

Suddenly, Ea smiled and hugged Watari, pressing her lips against his. Her hands cradled his head as a soft tongue slipped between his lips. The surprise left Watari momentarily frozen, but he quickly responded, enjoying the sensation as their tongues intertwined. The carriage rumbled on, the sound of saliva mingling with the clatter of wheels.

They exchanged saliva, savoring the feeling of their tongues rubbing together, before Ea finally pulled away, grinning mischievously. Despite the deep kiss, she looked as cheerful as ever, which only added to her charm.

“Hehe, see? Even I can be quiet sometimes.”

“Alright, alright, I give up.”

“Yay! I beat Master!”

“Ha, but right after that, you’ll be moaning away.”

“W-what?!”

Ea’s face flushed with anger, but it was a relief compared to her earlier silence. It seemed she needed a reason to start talking again, and after a sigh, she began explaining why she had been quiet.

“I think that guy was lying.”

“What? You mean Professor Maurice?”

“Yeah, him.”

Watari was surprised by her words. Maurice hadn’t seemed like he was lying or being deceitful during their conversation.

“What makes you think that? Was it his heartbeat or scent?”

“No, his heart rate, scent, and even sweat were all steady. That guy is a pretty skilled magician.”

“Oh, right. He moved the paper I drew on without touching it! That wasn’t just a coincidence—it was magic.”

“When I asked the professor, he dismissed it as a mere pastime, but is he really that skilled?”

“I wouldn’t lose to him at that distance. But a magician is most dangerous in their own workshop. If we were in the academy and I had to protect both you and Mariel, I might have to take him seriously.”

“That’s…”

Watari was speechless. He was aware of Ea’s abilities from their previous experiences. For someone like her to need to get serious meant Maurice was extraordinarily powerful. Watari had only seen him as a knowledgeable academic, but now he realized how naïve he had been.

“But why does being a magician mean he’s lying?”

“He himself said that there are still magicians who can use teleportation circles, didn’t he?”

“Ah, I see. But weren’t those circles supposed to be protected by some kind of perception-blocking magic?”

“I’m not sure, but there must be some kind of magic that makes them easier to find.”

“Magicians are known for their ability to find lost things, so maybe it’s a variation of that.”

“You shouldn’t take a magician’s words at face value.”

If Maurice was as skilled as Ea suspected, it seemed unlikely that he would simply leave the potential of the existence of a teleportation circle unexamined, especially if he was confident that one existed in the capital. Watari began to understand why Ea was so cautious.

But why would Maurice lie about this and then encourage Watari to search for the capital’s teleportation circle? Every answer only led to more questions.

“Maybe he’s testing whether we can really find and use a teleportation circle?”

“That’s possible. Or maybe he’s grown suspicious of us.”

“Suspicious?”

“Yes. To those in power, information about teleportation circles is incredibly valuable and closely guarded. Even as a former noble, I barely knew of their existence. I didn’t know what they actually looked like or how to use them until I met you, Master.”

Watari realized she was right. Mariel had been genuinely shocked when she first learned about the teleportation circles. Even as a noble from a historically significant family, she had been unaware of the details, which meant Maurice’s assessment of “a few people” might need to be reconsidered.

“Bringing in something as rare as a teleportation circle with completely unknown inscriptions could be seen as a valuable discovery—or as a potential threat.”

“So, he might be testing us to see if we can really find the ruins of the teleportation circle or if we’re just con artists.”

“Exactly. But that’s just my theory.”

“No, it makes sense. Either way, if there’s a teleportation circle in the capital, I definitely want to find it. Being able to shorten travel time would be a game changer.”

“But how are we supposed to find it?”

Faced with Ea’s straightforward question, both Watari and Mariel found themselves unable to immediately answer.