Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 89: Alice Suspicions (2)

The question hung in the training room air.

Alice’s hands gripped his shoulders while her green eyes searched his face for answers he couldn’t give.

Instead of answering, Reinhard reached up and flicked her forehead gently with one finger.

"Ow!" Alice blinked in surprise, releasing his shoulders to rub the spot. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I’m your friend," Reinhard said simply. "That’s what I am, so you don’t need to worry."

Alice’s eyes widened before she trembled slightly. Then her expression softens as a smile broke out on her face.

"Hahaha, I guess it’s that simple... You’re right."

But then Alice’s expression changed, and concern appeared on her face. She started pacing back and forth in the small training room, her boots clicking against stone in an irregular rhythm.

"Alice?" Reinhard watched her. "What’s wrong?"

She didn’t answer immediately. Just kept pacing while her face cycled through several expressions: worry, fear, and concern. Her usual confidence was cracking, replaced by something that looked uncomfortably like panic.

"We need to talk," Alice said abruptly. She grabbed Reinhard’s wrist and pulled him toward the door. "Not here, we need to go somewhere private."

"The training room is private—"

"More private," Alice interrupted before her grip tightened. "Come on."

She dragged him through corridors at a near run, ignoring curious stares from other students. They climbed two flights of stairs and turned down a hallway Reinhard didn’t recognize. Finally, Alice stopped at an empty classroom near the end of the corridor.

She pulled him inside, then locked the door behind them with a decisive click. The windows showed late afternoon sunlight, but heavy curtains blocked most of the view from outside. The room felt isolated despite being in the middle of the academy.

"Now will you explain?" Reinhard asked, but Alice didn’t respond.

She walked around the class three times before stopping close to him and holding her chin. He saw her face that had grown even paler as if every step she took around was making her suffer.

"Alice, you look like you’re about to collapse," Reinhard asked softly. "What’s going on?"

Alice rushed toward him suddenly and urgently grabbed his shoulders again. "Did anyone else see? Besides the club members at the ruins? Did anyone notice you using multiple Sigils?"

Reinhard processed the question carefully. "I only used the space manipulation when we went to find Yor in the ruins. The precognition I’ve been more careful with."

"Only at the ruins," Alice repeated while her grip was pressing down until it almost hurt. "You’re sure? No professors noticed? No random students?"

"I’m sure. Why does it–"

"Because if certain professors find out about your multiple Sigils, they’ll either experiment on you or lock you away!" Alice’s voice cracked with intensity. "You’re too dangerous, too valuable, too unknown. They won’t see a student! Instead, they will see a research subject!"

Reinhard’s expression hardened. He’d considered that possibility, but hearing Alice voice it made the threat feel more real.

"And it’s not just the academy," Alice continued while her words tumbled out faster. "They might sell information about you to outsiders. Research organizations, Noble families, or anyone willing to pay for access to someone who breaks fundamental magical laws."

She released his shoulders to grip her own arms instead, hugging herself tightly. "When we go on expeditions outside academy grounds, you’d be vulnerable. Someone could kidnap you, drag you to a private research facility, and the academy couldn’t do anything because—"

"Because I’m not officially part of any Department," Reinhard finished quietly. "I have no protection."

Alice nodded while biting her lip hard enough that Reinhard worried she’d draw blood. "Unless you join a Department and become an official student under their protection, the academy can’t help you. You’re in this strange limbo where you attend classes but have no real status."

The implications settled over Reinhard, but he showed no signs of surprise. It wasn’t like he didn’t account for this or realized how much danger his secret would put him in. But it didn’t matter since he crushed anyone who tried to control him, like he always has.

"I agree the danger is great. But it won’t matter."

"Huh? Why-"

"Because I trust you will keep this a secret, right?" Reinhard asked with a faint smile.

Alice stared at him in a daze for a couple of seconds before a smile appeared. "You’re correct! Because you’re my friend."

Reinhard chuckles and says. "And you would lose a sparring partner."

Alice nodded slowly with a dramatic sigh. "That’s true... In fact, it’s the most important reason, thank you for reminding me."

"Any time."

Alice laughed before extending her hand toward him. "Partners? I’ll help you if this ever blows up or someone else notices."

Reinhard laughs and grasps her hand firmly. "Partners."

This handshake wasn’t anything special or amazing. But for some reason, he felt a warm feeling rushing through him. It has been years since he had a partner, a person whom he could trust and rely on for missions.

How far will you go as my partner... Alice.

"But I need to know," Reinhard said carefully. "How did you figure it out? When did you first suspect multiple Sigils?"

Alice’s grin turned slightly sheepish. "Remember, during the fight with the Void? When you delivered that final strike that shattered its face?"

"Yes?"

"I saw you do something to the Void’s attack right before you stabbed it," Alice explained while gesturing with her free hand. "The area around the Void shifted like you’d grabbed it and twisted it somehow. I thought maybe it was just my imagination at first."

She started pacing again, but more calmly now. "But then yesterday, during our first sparring session, you kept predicting my combinations perfectly. I’ve fought Rika before-"

"You forced her?"

"Training! She needed to learn how to properly defend herself." Alice says with a huff, making him laugh.

"Anyway, her precognition has told... Such as micro-hesitations before she moves and her perfectly responding to movements never seen before."

"So you tested your theory today," Reinhard concluded.

Alice’s blush deepened. "Did you... Did you figure out I set the crystal malfunction on purpose?"

"The way you insisted I channel more magic into it?" Reinhard raised an eyebrow. "And how conveniently your Crush ability hit the exact gauntlet with unstable energy? Yes, I figured it out."

"I’m sorry!" Alice blurted. "I needed to see if you had other abilities. I didn’t think it would explode quite that-"

Reinhard laughed, cutting off her apology. "It’s fine. I actually admire the scheming and cunning. Not bad at all."

Alice’s expression shifted from embarrassed to pleased. "Really? You’re not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Reinhard asked with amusement. "You were smart about it. If I’d been in your position, I’d have done something similar to confirm my suspicions. I’m more impressed to see this side of you, it’s pretty nice."

Alice grinned widely, but there were hints of a blush on her face. "At the very least, you now have someone who can vouch for you and help you lie convincingly! I’m pretty good at misdirection when I need to be."

Reinhard laughed genuinely at the eager way she offered to help cover for him. "I’ll keep that in mind."

"Are you going to tell the others?" Alice asked suddenly, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Sirin, Rika, Yor, when she gets back?"

Reinhard’s amusement faded as he considered the question. "I’m not sure. Part of me wants to keep this contained to as few people as possible."

Alice’s expression softened. "I won’t force you either way. But I will say this... you should trust them. They trusted you enough to help seal Yor’s power when no one else could and put their faith in you without knowing your full story."

She crossed her arms. "Just give them a chance as they did for you."

The suggestion hung in the air between them. Reinhard processed it silently, weighing risks against benefits.

Trust was dangerous.

Trust meant vulnerability.

Trust could lead to betrayal.

But Alice is willing to be his partner and help him protect his secret.

Sirin had shared her goal, and her first view of her clubmate was before she changed.

Rika had opened up about her isolation and loneliness.

Yor had trusted him with the seal that changed her entire existence.

Maybe Alice had a point.

"I’ll think about it," Reinhard said finally, and a faint smile touched his lips. "But not yet. Let me wait until Yor returns at least."

Alice nodded in acceptance. "Fair enough. Just don’t wait too long. Secrets have a way of coming out at the worst possible moments."

She moved toward the classroom door, then paused with her hand on the lock. "One more thing, we should actually train regularly. If you have multiple Sigils but don’t know how to use them together properly, you’re wasting potential."

"Regular training sessions then." He agreed. "But you have to promise not to ’accidentally’ blow things up to test my abilities."

Alice’s grin turned mischievous. "I promise nothing. But I’ll try to give you a warning next time."