Beneath the Magic Tower. The interrogation room of the Disciplinary Committee, where the chill air seemed to gnaw at the flesh.
Here, where the regulations of the University Magic Tower were enforced, a total of seven seated committee members oversaw the disciplining of mages, while those subject to discipline sat beyond the “invisible glass,” awaiting punishment.
“Why did those two fight?”
“We do not yet know.”
The First Seat, in other words the seat of honor, belonged to the Chairwoman, and I watched the two beyond the glass from the Second Seat, right beside her.
“Why don’t you knooow?”
“……Because we have not asked.”
“Oh, right.”
Epherene, who had been brought before the Disciplinary Committee, kept her head lowered, only fidgeting with her fingers, while Sylvia beside her was composed and serene.
A situation born entirely from a quarrel between the two.
However, Sylvia was the heir of Iliade, while Epherene was a noble in name only, without even a territory. The result of the committee would be all too obvious.
“Ah—Chairwoman, Head Professor Deculein. You were already here.”
The door opened, and the disciplinary committee members arrived one after another.
The fat male professor with the sly smile was Relin of the Auxiliary Department.
“……For something like this to happen from the very first class. It is truly regrettable, Head Professor Deculein.”
The gaunt man who bowed his head first was Professor Retran of the Spirit Studies Department, and the silent figure in robes was probably Professor Pezley, who oversaw the dormitories, along with the others.
Thus, all seven members had gathered.
“Hah, honestly. What kind of strange fool dared to lay a hand on this year’s ‘Rookie Mage’?”
As soon as Relin sat down, he glared at Epherene. Retran seemed to share the same sentiment.
“Indeed. From the look of her, she seems to be some lowborn thing who never even went through the Academy.”
Fortunately, these words could not be heard by Epherene. We could see Epherene, but Epherene could not see us.
“Still, I heard Head Professor Deculein handled the situation well.”
Relin looked at me with ingratiating eyes. I had no strength to respond to those words, thick with flattery.
It was not without reason. I was exhausted.
Even now, I was barely holding on by willpower alone.
I had consumed all of my mana—no, wrung out even more than that—to stop the situation. If something had gone wrong and someone had been hurt, it would have been troublesome for me as the professor in charge.
“That’s right~ I think I may have underestimated Professor Deculein a little! Even so, our Professor Deculein is a mage of Monarch rank! Even if hundreds of Debutants rushed him, they couldn’t defeat him!”
“An exceedingly correct statement!”
The Chairwoman and Relin prattled on between themselves. I said nothing and stared intently at Epherene.
Naturally, my brow furrowed.
“……Even so, Head Professor Deculein. Please do not be too angry. I will take care of it myself.”
Relin seemed to have mistaken my expression for anger, but that was not the case.
A strange current was rising from Epherene, who had curled up her entire body. Red and black, an ominous vapor spreading like steam.
I had furrowed my brow in order to observe that bizarre phenomenon more closely.
If my thoughts were correct, that was the manifestation of another trait, 「Villain’s Fate」, visible only to me through the trait 「Naked Eye」.
──「Villain’s Fate」──
◆ Rank
: ???
◆ Description
: The fate of a villain. The whole world desires his death.
: However, trials that fail to kill a man only make him stronger……
─────
The whole world desires my death.
That destined killing intent—in other words, the “death variable” that Epherene would one day kill me—was now being revealed clearly by 「Naked Eye」……
“Well then~ Since everyone has gathered, we shall begin the Disciplinary Committee for the Debutant mages Epherene and Sylvia!”
* * *
—No, how dare you start a brawl in a lecture hall? With magic, no less?! If not for Head Professor Deculein, someone might have been injured, you ignorant thing!
The Disciplinary Committee was fierce from the start.
Beyond the glass, they could only be seen as silhouettes, but Epherene knew that build and voice.
Professor Relin.
Just yesterday, in class, he had seemed like an incredibly benevolent professor, but when he was angry, he became that frightening.
—So, what was the reason for the fight?
Relin asked. Epherene glanced sideways at Sylvia beside her.
That bastard insulted my father.
No, did she insult him?
She had not insulted him outright. Yet whatever it had been, because of Deculein beside Relin, Epherene could not say a word.
……In truth, even if he had not been there, she would not have said it.
The story about her father.
She did not want to tell anyone.
Especially not as some excuse to avoid punishment.
“I cannot say.”
—What?! Are you trying to play games with me?!
Professor Relin’s face twisted.
“No. It’s just—”
—Then speak, I said! Why did you fight?! Was it because of an inferiority complex?!
Epherene pressed her lips tightly shut and lowered her head. Relin, who had been huffing with anger, soon looked at Sylvia beside her.
—Sylvia. Then you tell us.
“During class, I accidentally damaged that child’s result. That led to an argument.”
—What? You caused this sort of situation over a paltry reason like that? Then it is entirely that ignorant fool’s fault. Hey, you. Do you have some kind of anger-control disorder? Some nameless riffraff dare……
Epherene clenched her fist. She tasted blood in her mouth. She must have bitten too hard, whether it was her lip or her tongue.
—Chairwoman, there is nothing more to see here. A mage launched a preemptive attack on another mage. This is grounds for expulsion, expulsion! Even the scum in those “Ashes” do not have personalities like this!
A term referring to the den of rebel mages, and the most famous insult in the magical world.
“Ashes.”
Epherene smiled hollowly.
Ah, if I’m expelled here, should I just go there instead?
—Hmm…… I suppose so? Well, it seems almost decided. Professor Deculein? Do you have anything to say~? It was your class, after all.
The Chairwoman called the name of the person Epherene hated most: Deculein.
Deculein’s gaze reached her from beyond the glass, and Epherene’s heart beat heavily.
Whether he knew her or not, all she could do now was resign herself.
—I, Deculein, as the Head Professor of the Main Tower and as a disciplinary committee member.
It felt as if her entire body were falling into a deep, dark well. The agony of drowning while still alive……
—Will ask you, Sylvia.
But it was strange.
For some reason, the subject of that interrogation seemed not to be her, but Sylvia.
—Do you bear no fault in this situation?
“……?”
Epherene, who had been sinking to the bottom, hurriedly raised her head and blinked. Sylvia, flustered, was parting her lips.
—I am merely asking. In this situation, do you truly bear no fault?
It was an unexpected development. Countless question marks swelled in Epherene’s mind.
I thought Deculein would attack me too. Why is he suddenly questioning Sylvia?
Ah, no way. As Yukline, not Deculein, is he trying to keep the heir of Iliade in check?
But why? Anyone can see it was clearly my fault, so why force it like this?
—Sylvia. If it were you, you surely could have stopped that situation.
Deculein’s distinctive voice, cold and direct.
—And yet you did not. Were you waiting for the mana to explode and for someone to be injured?
A small crack appeared on Sylvia’s face.
That mask, which had been like thick ice from the moment they first met…… was slowly breaking.
—Or was that all there was to the skill everyone expected from you?
Once a crack formed, collapse followed swiftly. She lowered her head so that the lip she had bitten lightly would not be seen.
“I apologize. I could have stopped it, but I did not. It was a wicked thought, hoping that Mage Epherene’s fault would become greater.”
And then, she obediently admitted her fault.
“Pardon?”
A stupid sound popped out of Epherene’s mouth.
The situation she had barely begun to accept had once again become shrouded in fog.
What’s wrong with her now? She could have stopped it, but didn’t?
—E-Even so, Head Professor Deculein. The one who defended against an attack is not at fault, is she? The fault lies with the one who attacked first.
Professor Relin cut in urgently. Then Deculein tilted his head and glared at Relin.
—If you wish to examine the sequence of events so carefully, then this situation was, from the very beginning, entirely my fault for designing the lecture in that manner. Professor Relin, do you wish to blame me?
—Pardon? Ah, no. No, I do not. I merely, well.
—Speak clearly.
That firm and majestic voice surged through the interrogation room. Epherene and Sylvia swallowed without realizing it.
Clack, clack. Overwhelmed by his presence, Relin knocked his teeth together a few times before stammering and shaking his head.
—……Of course not, how could that be? I was, I was merely saying it was an unfortunate—
—I established that environment for the purpose of the lecture. Furthermore, I did not assign any objective for what they were to do within it. Therefore, even if there was a quarrel, it could have been considered part of my class.
It was sophistry.
However, crushed beneath Deculein’s authority, the professors did not dare offer any rebuttal. The only one who might have been able to oppose him, the Chairwoman, merely watched as if she found it amusing.
—Thus, to call it unfortunate would be an insult to my class. However, I have no choice but to acknowledge that it led to a dangerous situation.
At this point.
No matter how hard she thought, no matter how much she wanted to deny it, no matter how impossible it was to understand his intentions.
Epherene had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Deculein was.
No, that Deculein…… was defending her.
—However, if danger is driven out from magic, we do not know what, in general, would remain, and they are nothing more than “Debutants” who have only just entered the Magic Tower.
Whether Deculein knew her father or not, she had certainly been prepared for expulsion.
The Deculein she knew would surely have done that.
Feeling an emotion she could not begin to understand, Epherene looked at him.
—Rather than distinguish meaningless faults and rights and wrongs, shouting them down and breaking their spirit, I believe it is the duty of a great mage to let them experience such situations within the Magic Tower, and thereby teach them the “depth of experience” necessary to maintain dignity outside. What do you think, Professor Relin?
—……O-Oh, my~! Oh my, oh my! Naturally, you are entirely correct! As expected, as expected of Head Professor Deculein! Why, even I have been persuaded at once~
—You are correct.
The professors agreed. If Deculein was being that proactive, everyone had no choice but to go along with him.
Even if Deculein were not a professor, he was still the highborn “Count Yukline,” but if they were not professors, they would be nothing at all.
Clap, clap, clap—the sound of applause, utterly unfitting for the situation, filled the interrogation room. If someone saw this, they might think it was a concert hall.
—Hmm~ Hearing it that way, you’re right. It reminds me of the old days too. In the past, I almost got suspended because of a certain professor.
The Chairwoman also smiled indifferently and nodded.
—Then…… what are you two doing? Why aren’t you leaving?
“……Pardon?”
Epherene, dazed, asked back without even knowing who she was speaking to.
—Pardon, she says~ You heard everything. There is no punishment. Kids like you, well, you grow up by fighting~! Still, next time, I won’t let it slide!
At those words, Sylvia sprang up from her seat. Then she left without looking back.
But Epherene did not. She stared blankly beyond the glass.
—Now then, let us go as well! I thought this would be a waste of time, but I’m glad I got to see how much Professor Deculein cherishes new mages!
Before the frozen Epherene could move, the professors of the Disciplinary Committee rose from their seats.
They left, one by one.
Epherene, who had only been sitting there in a daze and watching, soon came to her senses and shouted loudly.
“……Wait!”
The other professors merely glanced at her and did not respond, but a single silhouette alone.
Only the person presumed to be Deculein turned back to her.
Epherene said to him,
“There is something I want to ask!”
—……Ha.
A faint laugh flowed out, barely audible.
Extremely attractive, yet she must not find it attractive.
—So, it was you back then in that lecture hall as well.
At those words, Epherene flinched. Fear surged through her in an instant. It felt as if her lips were drying out.
But she did not shrink back and continued.
“……I want to ask.”
Epherene wanted to ask.
Do you remember the surname Luna? Do you know my father? Do you know the man who suffered his whole life under your command, then took his own life three years ago?
“That······.”
But······
If I were to ask that······
He would once again, to me······
······To Epherene, who was hesitating so.
Deculein merely cut her off like this.
—There is no need to ask.
In that instant, Epherene came sharply to her senses. It was a chill as if an icicle had been driven into the crown of her head.
—You are a precious jade, so do not try to squander your own talent.
Leaving those words behind, he departed.
This time, she could not hold him back.
“······.”
Only the empty interrogation room remained.
Left alone in that space, Epherene mulled over Deculein’s words and became certain.
He knows.
He knows me.
He knows my father.
Therefore, this was nothing more than sympathy. Nothing more than the faintest pity.
Because he felt some small measure of responsibility for her father’s death······ that was why he had helped her like this.
“Ah······.”
Even as Epherene felt her heart twist with anger beyond measure at that fact, even as she grieved and was confused by her own position, which left her unable to refuse that sympathy······ in the end, she was relieved.
“So you do know.”
That was enough.
If he knew,
if he had not forgotten,
then for now, that was enough.
“Hup!”
After wiping away the moisture that had somehow dampened the corners of her eyes and vigorously rubbing the tip of her reddened nose, Epherene left the interrogation room.
······Meanwhile.
Having turned away, Deculein swallowed a sigh of relief.
[ Villain’s Fate: Death Variable Overcome ]
◆ Shop Currency +2
He had successfully removed the death variable, and had obtained shop currency as well.
As expected, siding with Epherene had been the right choice.
Of course, there was something that had gone slightly awry against his intentions. Because of this incident, Sylvia might come to bear a grudge against him.
He had intended to smooth it over with the sort of moral-textbook statement that it was both your fault and hers, but broadly speaking, no one’s fault at all—but he had not expected Sylvia to admit her own wrongdoing so easily.
Still, what could he do? He had to put out the fire at his feet first.
Thanks to that, both of them had come through without disciplinary action, so it could be said to have gone reasonably well.
“There must have been a better way······.”
Even so, the regret remained. It was partly because of Deculein’s needlessly fastidious personality, and partly because Understanding did not apply to human relationships.
However, Deculein soon adopted Kim Woojin’s mindset, shook it off, and left the interrogation room.
* * *
······Sylvia was sitting on a bench in the school grounds, thinking. With her eyes quietly closed, she rewound the incident from three hours ago in her mind.
At that time, she had “certainly” extinguished the mana of Epherene, who had attacked her. But in that place, she had planted her own trap magic.
The subtly manipulated spell had stirred up a vortex as if it had been caused by a collision between Epherene’s mana and her own. In truth, she had designed it to react only to Epherene’s mana.
Of course, it had not been on the level that would cause loss of life, and if it had, she had intended to help with the Iliade family’s wealth.
Therefore, there should have been only one victim.
Only Epherene Luna······.
“He knew.”
Deculein had clearly known. He had already seen through her trick.
That was why, instead of the truth that “the magic was your doing, Sylvia,” he had twisted it into “you did not stop it, Sylvia.”
In that fleeting instant, Deculein had demanded her submission.
It was a threat she had no choice but to accept.
“How······.”
Sylvia’s question was simply “how.”
She could say with confidence that there had been no magical observation in that lecture room. She had already grasped all of it beforehand, then manipulated it meticulously.
If so, that meant Deculein had seen through the entire truth of the matter with nothing but his own insight and intelligence—an absurd······.
Honk, honk—!
A horn cut off her reasoning. Sylvia looked that way. A car had stopped by the roadside.
Its window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.
“My child, so this is where you were.”
He had blond hair and golden eyes resembling Sylvia’s. The head of the household who had inherited the bloodline of the prestigious magical family Iliade more vividly than anyone, a high-ranking mage of the “Esprit” rank, and the father of the proud Sylvia.
Gilteon von Ludwig Iliade.
“I heard everything. Get in.”
“······Okay.”
Sylvia walked over and got into her father’s car.