※ Spoiler Warning

Epilogue 　　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　

"...So, what exactly is this?"

In the waiting room of the Arcadia Coliseum. Three members of the Disciplinary Committee stood in a row, staring at 'something.'

Academy Rank 86, Senior Officer Solaris, looked on bitterly. She knew exactly what the object in front of her was.

Academy Rank 2317, Junior Officer Labri, looked on blankly. She clearly had no idea what she was looking at.

Academy Rank 59, Senior Officer Rimakina, remained silent without moving a muscle. She was always like this.

"Um... Solaris-senpai? What is this... charcoal? Or ash?"

"Rank 102, Yurina. Or more accurately, 'what used to be Yurina,' I suppose."

Solaris exhaled and crossed her arms.

"The idea of bringing in a furnace filled with stored mana was good. If only she had factored in her own capacity."

She probably had factored it in during the design phase. Right up until that mysterious high made her rip off the limiters.

"So, Labri, can you fix her?"

"...I specialize in 'Cleaning,' you know."

Though intimidated, Labri's small hand gently touched the object. A chunk of charcoal crumbled away.

"...It's impossible. Regardless of the condition or durability, her very soul has been carbonized."

"I see. What did Nicera say?"

"'There's no mana residue left, so there's nothing to eat.'"

Solaris just let out a small "Hmph" while keeping her arms crossed. Nicera's impressions were usually along those lines.

"That is incorrect."

Rimakina, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly interjected. Her presence was intense.

"Rimakina-senpai...?"

"It is still edible."

"We didn't gather here to ask if it's edible or not!"

"Besides! In a public place! If we eat someone who ended up like this! The paperwork will be a nightmare!!"

It was a sound argument. Yurina ended up like this in the middle of a rank match. They couldn't just make her disappear.

"Sigh... So Rimakina, what about the 'Golden Apple'?"

"I couldn't find it."

"Right, then this is a separate matter."

Solaris uncrossed her arms. In that case, this was just an incident where "a cocky student failed to recognize their own limits." It wasn't their turn to step in.

"...Is the 'Golden Apple' that thing?"

"Yeah, the one circulating in certain circles lately. A suspicious self-help-style item rumored to increase your 'value' just by owning it."

─Sometimes it takes the actual shape of an apple, and other times it's just a small accessory modeled after one. No one knows who makes them.

"But lately, there's a pattern of students who cause trouble being in possession of one. In fact, some students testified that their performance improved while they had it."

"And then they get cocky."

"Exactly. But there's something even weirder."

Solaris approached Labri while giving a light nod to Rimakina's supplement. Labri flinched and backed away. It wasn't like Solaris was going to eat her.

"Something... even weirder?"

"I mean, it's just a decoration or an accessory, right? You'd think just looking the part would be enough, but every 'Golden Apple' found so far has been 100% solid gold."

"...Excuse me?"

It was no wonder Labri was taken aback. If there were life-sized apple decorations made of solid gold, she couldn't imagine being able to buy one with her allowance.

"Um... Solaris-senpai. Wouldn't those be incredibly expensive?"

"You'd think so, right? But no. The acquisition routes vary, but they're all cheap enough to be within reach. Forget low margins; the raw material costs alone should be bankrupting the maker."

Solaris waved her hand dismissively as she left the room. Labri followed behind her, and Rimakina closed the door behind them.

"There's definitely a nasty secret behind this. Which makes it perfect for us."

Incidents happen every day at the academy.

The students of Delos are, for better or worse, a collection of extraordinary individuals. The nature of their troubles varies wildly, but some incidents "should not be made public."

The ones responsible for investigating such cases—and in some instances, burying them in the darkness—are the ones in charge of the Disciplinary Committee's dirty work.

That is the role of the "Shadow Eaters," including them.

"...By the way, Solaris-senpai, Rimakina-senpai."

"What is it, Labri?"

"If the 'Golden Apple' wasn't involved... does that mean Yurina-senpai ended up like that entirely on her own...?"

"It happens often in Delos."

"True. If you worried about every eccentric outburst in Delos, you'd get an ulcer."

"...I guess you're right."