Chapter 105: The Disciplinary Board 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: The Disciplinary Board 4
Before the Disciplinary Board convened.
Tasked by Elicia with delivering the camera, Sepia was sprinting at full tilt, even drawing upon her spirit power. In truth, "flying" was a more apt description than "running." Her current speed far outstripped that of a swordsman who had reinforced their body with mana.
To a swordsman or a mage, agitation is undoubtedly a poison. It clouds the mind and blurs judgment. For a spiritist, however, agitation is a double-edged sword—it can be a poison, but it can also be a medicine. There are cases where spirits grow stronger the more their contractor's emotions fluctuate.
"Did something just flash past?"
"Really? I didn't see anything."
"Wasn't that Lady Sepia?"
Ignoring the voices echoing in her wake, Sepia dashed into the building. Though she had never once visited Professor Elicia’s office, there wasn't a hint of hesitation in her movements.
‘Everyone! Did you know? There’s a space over there that Professor Elicia uses as her office.’
‘So Professor Elicia uses an office all by herself?’
‘I guess so? Should we ask her if she wants to stay here with us if she’s lonely?’
‘Haha, that’s a bit...’
‘Would Professor Elicia even come just because we asked?’
Recalling that conversation from a while back, Sepia headed underground, running in the opposite direction of the Special Class classroom.
Thanks to Loki, the Special Class students never knew a moment of peace. Yet, neither Sepia nor the others disliked that atmosphere.
‘Hmm. Gashurin, I heard that the East uses hidden weapons in addition to swordsmanship. Why don't you try incorporating them?’
‘Frederick, I heard there’s an artifact that automatically triggers a shield spell when you’re cursed. If you use this in reverse, couldn't it compensate for your weak close-quarters combat?’
Furthermore, the Special Class students had grown significantly stronger by following the advice Loki casually tossed out. The number of times they collapsed during sparring sessions with Professor Elicia had steadily dwindled, and recently, they had almost succeeded in landing a clean hit.
So, surely, the other Special Class students wouldn't want Loki to be disciplined either...
No.
‘I’m the one who doesn't want it.’
To be honest, she didn't care about the thoughts or opinions of the other students. She simply wanted to stay by Loki’s side a little longer. That was the simple, unvarnished truth.
She had spent her entire life focused solely on avenging her fellow villagers. But now, with that revenge complete, she had begun to think about what came next.
‘If Loki is by my side after the revenge is over, maybe I can actually enjoy academy life.’
Even if everyone else in the academy demanded Loki be disciplined, she would fight it until the very end, even if she had to stand alone.
—Thud!
Whether she’d forgotten to knock or simply decided the gesture was a waste of precious seconds, Sepia threw the office door open. Elicia was inside, and she didn't scold Sepia for the intrusion.
"Professor! Right now, Loki is... earlier, because of me! The Disciplinary Board... that bastard Darun!"
Sepia rambled uncharacteristically. It was a clear sign of just how distraught she was.
"You're quite agitated."
"Professor!"
Seeing Elicia speak so nonchalantly, Sepia’s voice rose in anger. Loki might be waiting for his punishment in some cramped, dark cell right now!
"Drink this first and calm down."
Elicia handed Sepia a cup of tea she had prepared in advance. Sepia gulped down the tea, which was hot enough to give off steam, as if it were cold water.
"Phew..."
Sepia hadn't noticed because she drank it so quickly, but the tea was no ordinary brew. Infused with a trace of Elicia’s mana, it would sell for more than most high-grade elixirs. While it functioned as a restorative, it also possessed a potent calming effect. Elicia hadn't handed it to her for no reason.
"Are you a bit calmer now?"
"Yes..."
"Then speak slowly."
Though she had much to say, Sepia stuck to the core facts. She was worried about how Loki was faring at that very moment.
"And Loki told me to deliver this to you."
"...A camera."
Elicia took the camera from Sepia and quickly checked the recorded footage. Everything that had happened before the fog appeared was captured on the device. Elicia realized exactly why Loki had sent it to her.
"So that's how it was. Hmm..."
Elicia poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. The video also showed Loki getting angry on Sepia’s behalf. Suddenly, a conversation the professors had during the midterm exams flashed through her mind—the debate over who Loki was romantically involved with.
"Are you and Loki dating?"
"...Huh? What do you mean? So suddenly!"
Sepia’s face turned beet red the moment she heard the question.
"Loki and I are dat—in that kind of relationship?! I mean, obviously, if he asked, it’s not like I’d say no, but... no, that’s not the point!"
Sepia babbled with a flushed face before realizing this wasn't the time for such gossip. She shouted, "This isn't the time to talk about that!"
Of course, it wasn't that it wasn't an important topic! But for now, the Disciplinary Board took priority.
"What if someone uses their influence to harass Loki after the committee meeting is over?"
She didn't think the Duke or the Second Wife would use their power to harass Loki just because Darun was disciplined. However, the collateral branches and other nobles pushing Darun to be the next head of the Rivayden family were a different story. They would surely try to torment Loki to erase the stain on Darun’s reputation.
"Power, you say..."
Elicia muttered softly, recalling the relationship between the Emperor and Loki. The Emperor certainly wouldn't allow anyone to pressure Loki with mere status. Loki had made it possible for the Emperor to perfectly conceal his identity as the Phantom Thief Cardinal, and even aside from that, the boy possessed extraordinary talent.
"I guarantee you, it is impossible to harass Loki with power. You don't need to worry about that."
Elicia didn't know it, but the Emperor wasn't the only one who would protect Loki. The Adelian Ducal Family and the Freya Ducal Family—the empire’s preeminent houses of magic and swordsmanship, respectively—were also standing behind him. To put it bluntly, even if Loki went to another country and slapped a prince for no reason, they wouldn't be able to touch him.
"......I'm still worried."
Despite Elicia’s reassurance, Sepia's anxiety didn't vanish. She didn't know where Loki was waiting for the Disciplinary Board. He might even be in the same room as Darun and his lackeys. She didn't think Loki would be the one to suffer, but she was still restless.
Nothing bad will happen, right?
As for Loki, whom Sepia was so worried about...
"Senior~ give me that one."
"Okay."
He was currently lounging with his head in Johanna’s lap, eating snacks.
"Do you like it that much?"
"Yes, of course. Should we just ignore the Disciplinary Board and stay like this?"
And he wasn't in some dark, cold cell, but inside a massive classroom.
* * *
Wow, everyone actually showed up. I guess I haven't lived my life all wrong.
I waved to the Special Class students and looked around. The chamber where the Disciplinary Board convened bore a striking resemblance to a courtroom from a legal drama.
"I told you to keep it moderate," a scolding voice came from beside me.
"But Miss Sepia. If not now, when would I ever get to wear these clothes and say those things? Missing an opportunity like this would mean I'm not a first-rate clown!"
Unlike the other Special Class students, Sepia was right next to me because she was a witness who had seen the entire incident from start to finish. Darun’s lackeys had also been there from the start, but unlike Sepia, they were subjects of the disciplinary action.
"Silence. We will now begin the Disciplinary Board for Loki and Darun Rivayden."
The man sitting in the judge’s seat spoke up. He wore a suit without a speck of dust, his hair perfectly groomed. He had sharp eyes underscored by deep dark circles. The man practically radiated an aura of "strictness" with his entire body.
One notable thing was... he hadn't played along with my joke earlier. If it had been Professor Idra sitting there, she would have surely responded with wit.
Another notable thing was that he was using mana to pressure both me and Darun. As proof, Darun, who was beside me, had his head bowed, unable to meet the professor's eyes.
"Come to think of it, you were playing around in this sacred place just moments ago."
The professor spoke while staring straight at me, and I didn't look away.
"Well, that's because I haven't done anything wrong. There's no need to be nervous when you're innocent."
"Hooh."
The pressure directed at me increased, but I felt nothing. I had encountered—no, felt—a perfect, superior version of this several times. The trait the Emperor used on me: Domination. Compared to that, this was child's play. At this rate, I might even be able to take a nap.
"I hope that overconfident expression of yours doesn't change until the end."
"Can you even see my expression through the mask?" I asked, tapping the porcelain on my face.
"What are you trying to do?" Sepia whispered in my ear.
I had my reasons for acting like this. I held up my index finger and wagged it side to side.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Miss Sepia, you don't understand. In a place like this, you have to project confidence."
"Why are you using that confidence to provoke the professor?!" Sepia slapped my back with her palm. Then she whispered again, "Aren't you scared?"
"There is only one thing I'm afraid of right now."
The person I was afraid of right now wasn't that professor. It wasn't Professor Elicia, who had told me to stop causing trouble earlier. And it wasn't Darun, who was glaring at me from the side. Even if I made a mistake and received a punishment, I wasn't particularly worried.
The thing I fear most right now...
It was Johanna, who was currently boring a hole through the back of my head with a chilling stare as I whispered with Sepia.