My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

Yet again, something related to Forbidden Knowledge makes its appearance.

It could be the effect of a subconscious cognitive bias, a frequency illusion phenomenon making me only feel like it continues to show up without end because I'm constantly thinking about it, but I cannot be convinced that that is the case.

Naturally, I have known ever since my escape that I have not been allowed to ask about the event's details.

Eventually, I simply gave up with the thought that I would likely never find out.

But it is only recently that I am starting to see it show up more and more frequently.

It changed when the Order sent that kid after me.

More specifically, that was just after Marcus Lynton became the head of the Order. Since he was the culprit, then as someone who knows my Measurement more than anyone else, he would have certainly known that I would survive the assassination attempt, so what was the point behind it?

What are the chances... The reality is, he did it to tell me.

It might seem strange or counterintuitive that he would send a kid to die like that just to alert me that people are coming after me, but that Professor is someone who only cares about the pursuit of knowledge.

In truth, he figured the Wardens would start moving to recapture me sometime soon around that time.

He obviously doesn't want me to end up in anyone else's hands, and if the Wardens held me in the Playground like in the old days, they definitely wouldn't make it easy for me to leave.

If that were to happen, the Professor would be caught in a terrible quagmire; that was, the dilemma of how to get me out of the Playground, and eventually, how to use me for his own unending curiosity. He wouldn't be able to join the Wardens as a Professor again since they know his identity, so it would undoubtedly be tough.

To avoid that disastrous outcome, Marcus Lynton sent that kid, Benjamin Whyte after me to caution me of what was coming.

So, in some strange technicality, you could argue that he saved me.

If it weren't for that warning, after all, I likely would have continued my boring school life as usual until the Wardens inevitably captured me.

There's no doubt they would have utilised Saburou Fushigimi during that event as well, and if that was really the case, then there was no way I would be able to escape.

In any case, my point is that, ever since then, with Benjamin Whyte as the catalyst for everything that has happened up until this point, the reality and truth behind the incident almost ten years ago have been slowly unveiled.

That includes, of course, the discovery of the existence of Forbidden Knowledge.

Relating back to the situation at hand―how on Earth is it that this random girl is related to Forbidden Knowledge?

I can't receive an answer to that question, but it makes no sense.

And so, just as I thought to approach her and ask, she made the first move. Walking towards me in her red high-heels and crimson dress that suited her free-flowing golden hair and radiating deep purple eyes quite magnificently, I got a better look at her face as she approached.

"..."

Halting her steps just in front of me, her hands and feet seemed to fidget nervously as she opened and closed her mouth a few times without knowing what to say.

I waited for her words with utmost trepidation, as there was no way for me to know what her purpose was, nor her identity.

"U-um..."

Remarkably, she stammered as she spoke, giving an impression completely different to that of the stone-faced person observing me from the other side of the room all this time.

"E-excuse me... Are you, perchance, Leander Herington...?" Gulping nervously, she asked gingerly.

She seemed to have heard of me, which was not unsurprising considering the suspicious circumstances, but strangely enough, it didn't appear like she was certain.

"That would be a correct assumption. However, were you not taught that introducing yourself first and foremost is basic etiquette?"

Her face paled as if a grave offence had been committed, and she lowered her head.

"I'm sorry...! I didn't realise... M-my name is Araceli Arévalo, youngest daughter of the Arévalo family..."

Arévalo. It was quite a distinguished family, as far as I know, but not one so mysterious that their prided youngest daughter would be related to Forbidden Knowledge.

The Measurement of Truth was able to confirm that her words were not a lie, but it was clear that she was hiding some sort of truth.

It still wasn't certain whether or not she somehow knew about my real identity, so I decided to continue with the persona of Leander Herington. So, acting as nobly as I could, I wanted to pry into her truth.

"I see. It is my pleasure, Miss Arévalo. I apologise if this is presumptuous of me, but I happened to notice your gaze tending to wander in my direction for the past while. I beg your pardon if there is no problem, but would you tell me if something were the matter?"

Once again, her expression dropped into one of utter dismay, like a kid caught stealing confectionery.

I thought it odd that someone hailing from such a privileged family as the Arévalos would neglect basic social decorum upon meeting someone for the first time like this when originally she would have been raised with manners drilled into her.

Asking what the cause of her indecency―that was more like nescience of the matter than purposeful discourtesy―didn't return a proper answer, so I ignored it with the consideration that all would be uncovered in due time.

Quickly calming herself, she cleared her throat and continued, her stutter remaining.

"U-um, no, sorry, I was just wondering-- A-ah, right, I'm actually a big fan!"

In a panicked tone, Araceli's hurried words gave away her anxiety, but the question remained; why was she acting so strangely?

Her words about being my fan weren't a lie, so her nervousness whilst facing me could be justified with that much, but it didn't explain what her connection is with Forbidden Knowledge.

"Is that so? I wasn't aware I was popular enough to warrant having fans."

Perhaps sensing my suspicion towards her, Araceli's voice raised in pitch as she hastily defended herself.

"A-actually, you have a lot of fans! It- it's not just me, you know?!"

"Really?"

"Ye-yes...!"

"Then, why?"

Her flailing hands suddenly froze.

"...I'm sorry?"

"Why do I have fans? What have I done to get fans? I do not understand, so explain it to me. As someone who claims to be one of those said fans, you should be able to, right?"

If I couldn't receive the answer from the Measurement of Truth, then I will simply extract it from the source itself.

"Yea-- Yes, of course...! Right, s-so... Um... You donate a lot of money to places in need, and you're handsome, and... A-anyway, so, you're pretty cool...!"

If there was a silver lining, it was that I could still ascertain whether or not she was lying.

Although I could not determine the truth of the situation or the reality behind her words, I was grateful for the fact that, at the very least, the veracity behind her words was certain.

She did not appear to be a dishonest person, per se, as she was not lying, but I still felt like she was hiding something.

Well, that's purely because the mystery of how she relates to Forbidden Knowledge remains unsolved.

When I ask 'who is this person', I receive no answer. On the other hand, when she introduces herself, it says that her words are not a lie. Therefore, either she really is Araceli Arévalo, or she just believes herself to be.

I know it isn't the latter, because if I ask 'who is Araceli Arévalo', I receive an image of her along with her information, and it all matches her description perfectly.

As such, I can still ask other questions about her like what her Measurement is, and it actually turns out that she possesses what is essentially the Measurement of Protection.

It seemed incredibly useful to me, so I thought about recruiting her and putting her under an Absolute Contract to work for me because of that, but the Arévalo family is not a group that would let me get away with that, and although I could take them out of the picture entirely, there would obviously be numerous, heavy drawbacks to going down that route.

Moreover, when I ask if the Arévalo family has anything to do with Forbidden Knowledge, I receive a negative response.

In any case, this means that her identity as Araceli alone is somehow linked to Forbidden Knowledge, but only partially.

Still, that fact is alone enough to raise concerns when she is not originally a person who should have any relation to that subject, and that she is now approaching me as a self-proclaimed 'fan' is quite perturbing.

The connotations behind this situation can be interpreted in a number of ways, and although it's impossible for me to know which is correct, I have to do my best.

Because the Measurement of Truth only determines whether someone is lying or not based on that person's own judgement, it's very much possible that she is only 'telling the truth' via omitting certain details or by believing something that isn't actually true.

Of course, if I make such assumptions without a foundation for belief, then there'll be no end to the speculation, so I should keep it within the scope of what is reasonable if I can.

Remembering the facts, and working the truth out with those in mind.

I cannot ask what she is thinking, and that may be because she is thinking about Forbidden Knowledge.

Eventually, I came to a decision.

"Araceli Arévalo. Whilst I am flattered by your praise, I have a question for you, if you don't mind."

"Ye-yes?"

She perked up, her ears peeled for my next words as she looked at me with the countenance of a timid person.

This person.

I don't know what her secret is.

I don't know what any of these secrets are.

And I don't know how it all correlates.

I almost feel as if I am only glimpsing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the depthless abyss that is Forbidden Knowledge.

I know better than anyone; that when it comes to this, I know nothing.  But, what I can guarantee, is this.

"What are you hiding from me? And furthermore..."

I will unearth the reality, and I will figure out the secrets of this world.

"―What do you know about Forbidden Knowledge?"

To that end, I swear on my title as the Concept of Truth, and on my alias as Truthseeker.