Cleanup and Handling (3)

After the lecture ended, I headed straight to the infirmary. I received treatment from the priest there. Fortunately, by the time I arrived, the bleeding had stopped, so no major healing was needed.

"Sorry about this. Who would've thought a guy who usually focuses so well would space out like that."

"……."

Professor Mailon bowed his head in apology. But this time, it was partly my own carelessness, so it was hard to get mad.

"Haa... It's fine. Just give me a heads-up next time."

"Will do."

He nodded. I cut straight to the main point. The infirmary staff tactfully cleared out.

"You caught the ringleader."

"Yeah."

"Fast work. It's only been a day."

"Had the evidence and witnesses in hand, so it wasn't hard. And with the target being who he is, we couldn't afford to drag our feet."

Of course. The Tianis side couldn't just sit idle. If I or Justia Holy Kingdom said a word, it'd be a massive scandal and backlash.

"Where is he? Student Council Hall?"

"No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠detained in the capital."

Professor Mailon sighed and continued.

"He moved quick. Right after it failed, he packed up his dorm and was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠prepping to flee from his family's mansion in the capital. Nearly let him slip away."

So the ringleader was a noble, apparently. Right then, Professor Mailon handed me a note.

"Mansion location. Other professors will be there, so get the rest from them."

I took the note and moved to leave the infirmary. As I did, Professor Mailon called after me.

"Don't lose your temper too much when you get there. If you go all out, you could kill him."

"I'm not that lacking in judgment."

"Just friendly advice to take it easy."

I flashed a brief smile at that. Then I left the infirmary.

'Appreciate the advice, but...'

I'm too old to overreact to some punk's antics. Of course, I'd make sure he got proper punishment.

I arrived at the residential district, one of the capital's six districts. True to its name, it was all housing—mostly private homes. I headed straight for the target.

The district was zoned by house prices, so no detours needed; just walk straight.

At the mansion gate, knights were already blocking it. Plain knight attire, but their skill level was anything but ordinary. Definitely imperial palace knights.

I stood before them and said,

"Mind if I go in?"

They stared silently, then nodded slightly and opened the gate.

The mansion inside was dead quiet. An eerie chill hung in the silence. No servants or gardeners in sight.

Step, step. As I walked slowly, someone appeared ahead.

"You've arrived."

A professor. No face I recognized, so no name.

I bowed politely, and he led the way.

"Don't know which professor sent you, but you get the situation."

"Professor Mailon told me. Ringleader's caught."

"Right."

He gestured, dispelling the mansion's magic as we went. Looked like trap spells woven into a maze to block intruders—professor's handiwork, no doubt.

Following him, we reached a room. Door sealed tight by magic, not budging.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠professor channeled mana to unlock it. I asked,

"So, who's the ringleader?"

"Taylor Kaust. Student you know well."

Oh, right—that guy. Bumped heads over a makeup exam last semester.

By then, the professor had undone the magic. As he went to open the door, he added,

"But... he's not in good shape."

The door finally swung open. Inside, several professors—and unexpectedly, Princess Ariel too.

I gave the professors a light greeting and looked at her.

"...Princess is here too."

"Since I'm the one who defended you, after all."

Probably brought her in as someone familiar with the case. Anyway, they were huddled around one person.

Taylor Kaust, as the professor said. And yeah, he looked rough. Vacant eyes like his soul was gone, limp limbs, no life in his body at all.

"What did you do to him?"

The professors averted their eyes. The princess answered instead.

"Not the professors' fault. Triggered during interrogation. Conditional magic on specific keywords, I guess. He probably didn't even know."

"Magic so strong even professors couldn't stop it."

"Erm..."

"Ahem..."

The professors cleared their throats awkwardly.

"Yes, a powerful sealing spell beyond even them. Needs expertise in that magic, and the specialist's away on assignment."

"Can't Tiran priests handle it?"

She nodded at my question. Figured as much. Academy priests specialize in healing divine magic.

"So, Kyle... could you call an elf? Their magic should work."

Her point was valid. Elves were magic experts, second only to dragons.

But no way was I calling those bitches. Just pisses me off.

"That's not happening."

"I see..."

The princess looked disappointed. Professors groaned too. No elves meant no quick fix.

But I wasn't waiting around. I reached out toward the guy and began reverse-engineering the spell.

"You... know magic too?"

"Yeah, a bit."

Short answer, then back to it. The professor watched silently.

Perks of being a Saint. Most actions explain themselves—no need to hide like before.

About ten minutes later.

"Done."

I wiped sweat and stopped mana flow. Probing his mind while breaking it, found memory locks and a self-delete spell as backup—took time.

"Impressive..."

"High-level magic. Must've learned from elves..."

Magic department professors murmured. Not like elf magic at all, but whatever—let 'em think that.

Then Taylor Kaust's eyes regained life. Started blank, but focus sharpened over time.

He slowly lifted his head.

"Where... am I...?"

"Hey, you with us?"

"You—you! Why the hell are you here?!"

He jolted at my face. Ignored him.

"Don't care what you think. Spill. Who's behind you?"

"...No idea what you're talking about."

Taylor played dumb. Made me laugh.

"Come on, that's bullshit. You pulling this off solo?"

Scale of it, speed of the trial—not a lone student's doing.

"Your family helped? Even less likely. Not like Arden; Kaust is mid-tier at best."

"Don't insult my house!"

He snapped, face red with rage. I didn't stop. Reached out, grabbed his throat.

"Gahk—!"

Taylor twisted in pain. I whispered low,

"Think hard about who you fucked with before you speak."

Tightened more.

"You think your family can protect you? Nah. They'll ditch you. Can't let the house crumble over one screw-up kid."

"Krahk—!"

Princess jumped in.

"Kyle, that's too much—"

I put a finger to lips—shush—and summoned a magic circle behind me. She quieted.

I squeezed till he could barely breathe, continued.

"What about your backer? Doesn't matter his position—he can't touch me."

Eased up a bit for air.

"He might abandon you too. That's the Saint spot. So quit stalling—talk!"

Tightened again, infused mana. Hit him with Bone-Shattering Agony—just shy of breaking his mind.

"Guhk, grrrgh...!"

Veins bulging on forehead, blood from nose and mouth.

I warned like prepping more.

"Not enough? Next level then..."

"His Highness...!"

"What?"

I pretended not to hear.

"His Highness doesn't give a shit about trash like you...!"

Emotions peaked. I slammed the prepared spell into his head.

It synced with his rage, dragging out buried memories. I played them.

"……."

"……."

Silence blanketed the room. Professors gaped at the vision.

Princess Ariel ground her teeth in fury.

"Rayan...!"

She looked ready to storm the palace. I stopped her.

"Calm down."

"But...!"

Had to grab her shoulders.

"Yelling won't fix it."

"Hoo..."

She sighed long.

"You're right. Won't solve anything."

Regaining composure, she pondered—but no easy answers.

"A royal behind it..."

"Tricky to touch..."

Professors chimed in. Saint vs. royal could spark holy nation-empire clash.

"If not for imperial law..."

Ariel bit her lip in frustration. Royals couldn't punish royals, as she said.

Fine by me—we uncovered the backer. Better than ignorance.

I issued a gag order here.

"Don't speak of this outside. No good if it leaks."

"But letting Rayan off..."

"I'll handle that."

I get wanting instant justice. But no method now.

"Got it."

"Don't wanna get dragged in."

Professors took Taylor Kaust—the ringleader—and left.

Alone with the princess.

"Kyle... you really okay with this?"

"Do I look it?"

"No... I see it in your eyes. Angrier than ever."

She stared into mine. Yeah, pissed. But can't storm the palace and kill him.

Not yet, anyway. Ways to erase Rayan Tianis existed.

"Anyway, I'll prep gradually. You do the same—don't show it."

"Got it."

Like me, she wasn't letting Rayan Tianis slide. We left the mansion and parted at the academy.

Back to daily life one day. I was gutting and rebuilding a dorm room.

"Kyle, whatcha doing?"

Rana asked as I worked hard.

I answered right away.

"Training that guy."

"Evan junior?"

"Yeah."

Time to prep for the next episode.

"Me? Really?"

"Yeah, you."

And I planned to drill him properly.