Chapter 109: The Disciplinary Board 8
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: The Disciplinary Board 8
Only two people knew the truth about what had happened: Loki, the caster of the spell, and Darun, the victim of the Nightmare.
Consequently, those attending the Disciplinary Board had no choice but to judge for themselves whether Darun’s words were fact or fiction.
"No matter how desperate he is, that kind of lie is just..."
"It looks like he’s so worked up he’s just spouting whatever comes to mind, doesn't it?"
"The lies he told before at least had a shred of possibility."
"If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. Honestly, it’s so absurd I can’t help but laugh."
Naturally, every spectator assumed Darun was lying.
The priest who treated Darun had explicitly stated there were no physical traces of such an assault, and it was simply impossible for them to imagine Loki committing such a heinous act.
In the first place, sentiment toward Darun had been poor even before the committee began. Regardless of the reason, it was an objective fact that several second-year students had ganged up on a single freshman.
Had the perception of Darun changed after the proceedings started?
Of course not. If anything, it had worsened.
'I reached out my hand to greet him and be friendly, but he kept his hands in his pockets and ignored me, asking, "Are you telling me to grab this?"'
Initially, Darun claimed Loki had started the confrontation. However, it was revealed that Darun was the one who approached first, leading a crowd of armed students.
And that wasn't the end of Darun's lies.
'My friends saw Loki's behavior and felt I was being insulted, so they attacked him before I could even stop them.'
Darun spoke as if he had never ordered the attack. Yet, the video played on the screen clearly showed Darun shouting for his lackeys to use their artifacts. It was only natural for the audience to feel that Darun was lying once again.
"Darun claimed before the committee began that you beat him severely and... sigh... arranged for him to be raped by a man. What do you have to say about this?"
The professor in charge of the Disciplinary Board gave Darun a look of pure pity before addressing Loki. Even the professor seemed to find the claim absurd, letting out a weary sigh mid-sentence.
"...Ah, I admit I hit him hard. But making him get raped by a man... What on earth...?"
Loki, who had been speaking fluently until now, faltered slightly. His voice was thick with bewilderment.
"I think this is the first time I've seen Student Loki look so flustered."
"Honestly, wouldn't anyone be flustered if their opponent made a claim like that?"
"That's true."
Seeing his reaction, the attendees became certain that Darun was lying yet again.
‘Why won’t anyone believe me!’
Darun, watching this, felt like his head was about to explode with rage. He knew that Loki’s current flustered appearance was nothing but an act. Everything he had just said was the truth.
But from the reactions around him, he could tell that not a single person believed him.
‘I clearly suffered that humiliation myself! How can there be no traces?!’
When the priest who treated him first entered, Darun hadn't doubted for a second that everything would be resolved. But the priest had been no help at all. He only proved that Darun had been beaten extensively inside the fog; he found no evidence of the other humiliation.
"I'm not sure if I heard correctly, so could you please say that one more time?"
Watching the bastard tilt his head as if he knew nothing made Darun tremble with fury.
‘Well, at least the plan was a success.’
Loki smirked behind his mask.
When he first formed the plan to feign total ignorance regarding the use of Nightmare, he had been a bit uncertain. While Nightmare left no physical evidence, things would have gotten messy if even a few people had believed Darun.
‘It’s a relief that guy kept digging his own grave.’
Fortunately, because Darun had been caught in so many blatant lies, no one believed a word he said now. If Darun had admitted to everything else and only mentioned what happened in the fog at the very end, a few people might have actually believed him.
‘Of course, I had about four other backup plans besides this one...’
But this plan was the fastest way to end the committee hearing and the most certain way to drive Darun to the edge of a cliff.
Loki turned his head to scan the room.
Johanna, Clara, Joden, Lucas.
Aside from them, there were academy professors and various club representatives. There were many people present who held high titles even outside the Academy.
‘The rumors will spread quickly.’
The disgraceful display Darun showed at the Disciplinary Board would be common knowledge soon. While it might be impossible to sever all the connections Darun had built to become the Marquis of Rivayden, Loki could certainly cut off a significant portion of them.
The hearing was nearing its end as the presiding professor exchanged a few more questions and answers with Loki and Darun. Just as Loki was wondering what to have for dinner, Sepia tugged on his sleeve again.
"Miss Sepia, do you have something to say? Ah, don't tell me. Did you call me because you want another head pat?"
"It's not because of that!"
"It's a joke, a joke. You looked so stiff, I thought I'd try a little humor."
"....Is what that guy said true?"
Sepia had seen Darun’s face getting pummeled repeatedly, but she hadn't seen what happened after that.
"Ayy~ There's no way I'd do something so horrible and disgusting."
It wouldn't really matter if he told Sepia, but there was no need to mention it.
.
.
.
The presiding professor’s gaze turned toward Loki.
"Although he beat Darun severely, since Darun initiated the confrontation and ordered the attack, Loki will receive no disciplinary action."
Since he knew this would happen, Loki wasn't particularly happy or excited.
"Phew......."
Loki smirked as he heard Sepia let out a sigh of relief beside him.
"Miss Sepia. Are you that happy I'm not getting disciplined?"
"Don't laugh! Should I be annoyed that you're getting off scot-free then?"
In contrast to Loki and Sepia’s pleasant conversation, Darun’s expression was contorted. The professor’s gaze then shifted to Darun.
"You approached a student while leading others armed with weapons, initiated a confrontation, and ordered an attack. Furthermore, you lied during the Disciplinary Board hearing. Darun Rivayden, your suspension will be—"
Creeeeeak.
The closed door swung open, cutting the professor off. The person who stepped through the door was a middle-aged man who resembled a rat.
"Count Ganurabra."
Someone muttered the man's name.
Count Ganurabra was one of the Academy's sponsors. Croa Academy was the finest institution on the continent, and maintaining such an academy required vast amounts of capital. Thus, sponsors were vital entities to the Academy.
And Count Ganurabra was one of the top five sponsors, contributing an immense amount of wealth. He was also one of the people backing Darun to become the next Marquis of Rivayden.
‘I believe Count Ganurabra’s daughter is engaged to Darun.’
There was no affection between the Count’s daughter and Darun; it was a strictly business relationship. But that was precisely why he had appeared here.
"No matter how significant a sponsor you are, this is a grave discourtesy, Count Ganurabra."
"I had no choice but to intervene out of sheer absurdity. To think that Young Lord Darun was beaten to within an inch of his life, yet the culprit receives no punishment."
"Darun attacked Loki first."
"To be precise, Young Lord Darun merely gave the order to attack; he did not strike the boy himself. If anyone is to be suspended, it should be the students who followed the order and actually attacked. That seems only right."
Count Ganurabra spoke with a scoff.
"Furthermore, Young Lord Darun had important business to attend to this weekend regarding a significant trade deal."
He scanned Loki from head to toe.
"Given the mental healing Young Lord Darun requires now, it seems unlikely he can work this weekend. Do you have any idea how much money is at stake in that transaction?"
Naturally, Loki didn't care about that. However, Count Ganurabra was currently forcing his hand through sheer stubbornness.
Just as Johanna Freya, Joden Adelian, and others close to Loki were about to step forward—
Flash.
Loki raised his hand high.
Seeing that, the people realized that even the simple act of raising a hand could be done with such exaggerated flair. Every eye in the room turned to Loki.
Loki opened his mouth.
"I also happened to have a very important appointment this weekend. In that case, who will take responsibility for my appointment?"
"...Ha! It’s likely some trivial matter anyway. I shall take responsibility for it!"
"Heee~ Really? No taking it back."
Loki had expected Count Ganurabra to show up. Since he knew, preparing for it hadn't been difficult.
‘It should be about time for him to arrive.’
".........!"
Everyone except Elicia and Loki flinched at the sudden, massive aura that filled the room. It was incomparable to the pressure the presiding professor had emitted earlier.
Someone walked through the door that Count Ganurabra had left open.
‘Do Joden and this man both take lessons on how to make a grand entrance?’
He had the same blonde hair and golden eyes as Lucas and Yerika, whom Loki spoke with every day in the Special Class and via communication devices.
Casten Leonhart.
The current Emperor of the Croa Empire stepped into the room.
While everyone stood dazed and bewildered by the Emperor's sudden appearance, his gaze landed on Ganurabra.
"....I greet His Imperial Majesty!"
Ganurabra, having finally come to his senses, knelt to show his respect. The Emperor looked down at the Count.
Under the weight of the vast aura pressing down from above, Count Ganurabra trembled like a mouse caught out in the winter cold. To the shivering Count, the Emperor’s calm voice drifted down.
"So, you intend to take responsibility for the appointment I made with my 'only disciple'..."
".........!"
At first, everyone was puzzled by the Emperor's words, but they quickly understood the meaning and turned to look at Loki with shocked eyes.
Surely, it couldn't be?
"How do you plan to compensate for My time, Count Ganurabra?"