Chapter 440
Chapter 440
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 440
Chapter Title: The Star Witch's Verdict
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‘Star Witch’ Duchess Blanche Erelim.
One of the oldest witches, having lived for nearly a millennium.
Though Duchess Erelim spent most of her time holed up in the academy's workshop, no one in Gehenna dared take her words lightly.
She was proficient in every field of magic, regardless of school. Her workshop housed research materials more enticing to witches than piles of gold—from her own collections to papers submitted by academy members.
Even great witches lined up at her doorstep, eager to glimpse her library and receive her teachings.
Yet even after Duchess Erelim's statement, the murmurs in the conference hall did not subside.
Exile of pseudo-noble witches was rare enough, and purges were virtually unheard of.
Everyone knew Erelim was an extreme right-wing purist who prioritized witches' rights above all, but no one had anticipated such a radical move.
Deneb rose immediately from her seat and spoke.
"Duchess Erelim, the peace and glory of Gehenna surely include the dedicated contributions of past Merigolds. Your statement seems to overlook that. If we're to discuss execution, it should at least come after a trial."
The Jemernai count family didn't have deep ties with Amelia, but they were on speaking terms.
Regardless of the circumstances, Deneb didn't want to see her purged so abruptly.
"I agree with Countess Jemernai. Immediate purge is too extreme a solution."
"I've heard no definitive harmful elements have been confirmed yet. We can afford a calm analysis before responding."
Several witches lent their support to Deneb's words.
It might sound self-serving, but a witch killing another witch was different from merely killing a human. It stirred an instinctive revulsion and unease.
Even amid the negative reactions, Deneb couldn't relax.
She realized almost no witches affiliated with the Truth and Names Academy were raising their voices.
The duchess listened calmly to the objections erupting from all sides, her expression an impenetrable mask.
She nodded readily and opened her mouth.
"Valid points. However, since time is of the essence, allow me to present evidence on the current situation before we prolong the debate."
A massive illusory projection appeared above Duchess Erelim's palm.
At a glance, it resembled a holographic screen showing the escalating chaos in Tarot Town.
"I'll explain the details."
Countess Kohav stepped forward—the academy's vice president and the duchess's trusted aide.
"A brief briefing on the progression analysis and future projections of the spatial randomization outbreak in Tarot Town at present."
Countess Kohav flicked her finger lightly, and the projection's footage rewound.
This was real-time footage from an observatory near Tarot Town, complete with magical measurements—not just the scene, but data readings.
"Confirmed outbreak time via observation port: 00:04:35. As the Harvest Festival fireworks were still ongoing, Baroness Amelia Merigold's autonomic magic ‘Particle’ began dispersing. At this stage, they were fine, uncrystallized particles..."
The screen transitioned.
It showed rain falling from a night sky where embers hadn't fully died out.
"00:13:33. With the full stirring of mana, the rain intensifies. Records of past Merigolds indicate she deploys self-magnetized mana particles for space-dominating magic. In essence, it exerts influence on spaces touched by the rain."
The footage showed rain starting from Tarot Town's center, spreading until it blanketed the entire area before halting its expansion.
"00:14:20. In under a minute, the whole of Tarot Town falls under her control. And here, the anomaly occurs: spatial distortion."
As Countess Kohav described, the expanding magic stuttered unnaturally.
"00:15:04. For unknown reasons, outward expansion clashed with inward suppression, creating overlapping mana spaces—and the result was randomization."
This much was common knowledge to everyone present, even without special reports.
Spatial randomization wasn't everyday, but its uniqueness made it infamous.
"Spatial randomization barely affects the human body. Humans have negligible mana, so they'd just lose consciousness—harmless.
You've seen my report that it hasn't harmed citizens yet. But please observe this."
The horizontal footage cube vanished, replaced by another.
This one was an overhead shot, as if filmed from high above.
"Footage personally observed by Duchess Erelim."
Murmurs intensified among the witches upon seeing it.
Rightly so—the view from above screamed that this was no mere mishap.
It looked like a black hole shot from overhead.
Closer to the warped center of Tarot Town, a swirling black circle tightened. At its core, darkness swallowed even light, impossible to peer into with the naked eye.
"From 00:15:04, the anomalous space's expansion halted. But for some reason, randomization intensifies toward the center."
Countess Yesod tossed her pen down in dismay, her frantic decryption of randomization patterns suddenly meaningless.
"Impossible. Doesn't spatial randomization apply uniformly to all coordinates? Once deployed, it's binary—existence or absence... How can it intensify inward...?"
One witch voiced the collective doubt.
Duchess Erelim answered in Countess Kohav's stead.
"Precisely. That's one reason for my extreme proposal. Simple spatial randomization would allow moderate solutions. We'd have time, and it might just be an accident.
But as you see, this isn't ordinary randomized space. Baroness Merigold is actively casting magic within it, and this footage shows signs of spatial collapse as a result.
Her magic is still slowly expanding its range. In about an hour, it'll engulf all of Tarot Town.
It's maintaining a precarious overlap now, but as collapse spreads, control will weaken.
At that point, her intent doesn't matter.
Releasing one end of a fully stretched rubber band could trigger the barrier enclosing all of Gehenna to crumble."
A heavy silence fell.
No one spoke aloud, but some swallowed gasps, others nervously combed their hair.
"I mentioned this as one reason. During observation, I attempted two measures.
First, I tried suppressing the unidentified magic with my own. It failed.
Second, I warned the baroness at the collapse's core. No response.
Those two attempts were my moderate path."
Finally, Duchess Erelim produced a thick stack of documents.
"And this is the final reason that solidified my resolve. Immigration records from portals to Gehenna over the past year. The baroness has an exit record but no re-entry. She smuggled back in via an unauthorized backdoor, bypassing procedures."
The moment she finished, Deneb and those wary of Amelia's execution felt it.
At least half the room's opinion had swung to Erelim's side.
There were still suspicions, possible better solutions.
But time was short, and matching Erelim's proposal wasn't easy.
Moreover, in Gehenna—a pocket dimension in delicate balance—such spatial collapse and erosion could indeed spell catastrophe, as she warned.
"Gehenna's nobles are witches with monumental contributions to the city's transformation and growth. I understand many disapprove of my stance.
Slaughtering kin regardless of circumstance weighs heavily."
Seeing the narrowing divide, the duchess drove the wedge home.
"Recently, I received confirmation from the prophecy agency. Duchess Kether will not act. You've all likely guessed from the past decade-plus and current events."
Duchess Kether.
That name lingered in many witches' minds even now.
Why had she—the first to step forward when her self-imposed rules were breached—remained silent?
Rumors already swirled: Kether couldn't move for some reason.
But rumor and official confirmation from a heavyweight like Erelim on this stage were worlds apart.
As the hall grew chaotic, Erelim crushed it with firm, monotone emphasis.
"Duchess Kether was the system upholding witch society. That system has collapsed.
Public enemies will grow bolder, exiles more restless.
Thus, the time for resolve is now.
What witches must achieve is magical innovation—but on the bedrock of stability and control.
Even without Duchess Kether, we must demonstrate to Gehenna and beyond that we uphold discipline.
I firmly believe this serves witches and Gehenna alike.
If you hesitate to stain your hands with kin's blood, I will stand at the forefront."
Immense authority, solid conviction, backed by apt evidence and righteous justification.
No one here could oppose Duchess Erelim.
"The anomalous magic accident normalizes once the mana source is removed.
However, considering the randomized space and detained citizens nearby, we'll compute for a precision strike.
Estimated time: about 30 minutes. We'll use it as a final chance to urge Baroness Merigold's surrender."
No opposition.
Deneb immediately sent word to her sister Albireo.