Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Adamantine State (2)
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“I don't want to be hasty regarding Shirone. We currently lack information about Un-lockers.”
Etella, who shared Alpheas's opinion, added.
“Shirone entered the Immortal Function three months ago. And in this battle, he opened it to an extreme degree. The Order recognizes the Immortal Function as a process of spiritual sublimation. It's possible this is a matter separate from life itself.”
“What are you talking about? We're not here to listen to the Order's position. We want to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.”
Some teachers didn't understand Etella's words. The Immortal Function was not a level, but a state of being.
No matter how learned a teacher was, in the realm of enlightenment, they couldn't be confident they were superior to a beggar on the street.
The teacher who had rebuked Etella spoke directly to Alpheas.
“Headmaster, you must reconsider. Forgive my impertinence, but frankly, this all started from your personal grudges. To us, nothing is more important than the academy. If this continues, we could face the worst-case scenario.”
Alpheas looked around at those gathered. Dozens of eyes were exerting a silent pressure.
“The worst-case scenario? What exactly do you consider the worst-case scenario?”
“We might be ordered to shut down.”
“No, that's not the worst-case scenario.”
Another teacher, frustrated, pounded his chest and said.
“I can't understand your reasoning, Headmaster. What could possibly be worse than the academy closing its doors?”
“The worst-case scenario for the academy would be the deaths of all its students and teachers.”
The meeting room fell silent. The gazes fixed on Alpheas began to waver, one by one.
“If not for Shirone, none of us would have survived. And that list of casualties would have included all of you.”
Alpheas was disappointed by the teachers' disposition—their willingness to exploit a student's death rather than honor it.
“Isn't there still a sliver of a chance? Even if it's a possibility of less than one percent, he is a child who gave his life for us. Shouldn't we at least try everything we can? Even if the academy has to close, isn't it our duty as teachers to do our utmost for Shirone's return?”
“But Headmaster, what is this academy to us? We feel for Shirone, but if we have to close down…”
“The academy will not close. I will take full responsibility. So please, do what you can for Shirone. Shouldn't we be willing to make this sacrifice for the boy?”
The teachers could not refute Alpheas's words. Because it was an undeniable fact that, for whatever reason, their lives had been saved by a student.
And so the meeting ended, and the teachers left the room with grim expressions.
Alpheas Magic Academy Student Council.
In a vast meeting hall, the student council members from each class had gathered. Unlike the teachers, who were worried about their livelihoods, the more impressionable students felt betrayed by Alpheas's past.
“Greetings. I am Amira, the Student Council President. I have convened this meeting to facilitate a discussion regarding the recent incident. I hope we can all share constructive opinions.”
Amira of Class Two announced the start of the meeting from the podium. A twenty-two-year-old majoring in climate magic, she was the top candidate for graduation this year.
As a prominent liberal figure in the student council, the tone of the debate was predictable. As expected, the first to request the floor was a member of the conservative faction, defending the academy's position.
“Seriel from Class Three. I am aware that there is significant criticism of Headmaster Alpheas on campus. However, I believe we must be cautious. The academy's honor is the students' honor. Attacking the faculty at a time like this could have negative repercussions for future graduates as well.”
“Cass from Class Four. While Committee Member Seriel's point is valid, this issue concerns the faculty's morality. Even if it was forty years ago, it was a criminal act. If he doesn't take clear responsibility for this, I believe the academy has no future.”
Naturally, Amira agreed with Cass's opinion. But, befitting her role as president, she merely nodded without showing it outwardly.
“Olivia from Class Six. The main point of contention right now is whether Shirone is dead. As you know, Shirone is deceased. However, a minority of students and teachers are distorting this fact. Because of this, the academy has lost two of the suspects who colluded with Arcane, and the Headmaster's indictment is also being delayed. This is a clear evasion of responsibility, and I believe the student council must take action.”
This was the same reason for Amira's anger. The teachers were currently delaying Alpheas's indictment under the pretext of Shirone's uncertain condition.
Seriel countered.
“Aren't you reading too much into the faculty's intentions? Shirone's heart isn't beating, but his body isn't decomposing either. I understand that the opening of the Immortal Function is a topic of much debate even in the Ivory Tower. Considering these factors, the faculty's judgment is not entirely incomprehensible.”
The students' reactions were lukewarm. If even the teachers found the Immortal Function difficult to comprehend, it was impossible for students at their level to accept it. Some students didn't even know what the Immortal Function was.
Amira was no different. The highest state a mage could pursue. But so what?
Magic was a phenomenon based on knowledge. All this talk of chasing clouds and calling it the ultimate state didn't resonate with her; she couldn't grasp what was so great about it.
“Um, Veronica from Class Ten.”
An eight-year-old child raised her hand. The student council elected representatives from each class, so even though she was young, her words carried the same weight.
“Yes. Go ahead, Committee Member Veronica.”
“Did Grandpa Alpheas do something wrong?”
Hearing the voice, which sounded on the verge of tears, Amira furrowed her brow and sighed.
*'This is why I suggested we separate the meetings by class level.'*
Veronica said, sniffling.
“Even if Grandpa Alpheas did something wrong, can't we forgive him?”
“We can't do that, Committee Member Veronica. This is a matter concerning the academy's honor.”
“But… everyone makes mistakes, right?”
A stir went through the hall. The remark had certainly caused a ripple. Seeing this unexpected gain, the conservative faction listened intently to Veronica's words, observing how the situation would unfold.
“My mom scolds me a lot, too. But she doesn't scold me too harshly. She said anyone can make mistakes. Grandpa Alpheas made a mistake, but he's led the academy well until now. So can't we forgive him?”
Sensing an opportunity, Mark raised his hand and stood up.
“Mark from Class Seven. I also agree with Committee Member Veronica. Of course, those who commit crimes should be punished. But for us, who have always trusted in the academy's security and advocated for maintaining the status quo, to suddenly take an aggressive stance would be an overreach of our authority. As long as the faculty isn't planning to let the situation slide, I believe the student council needs the wisdom to be patient.”
*'Well done, Mark.'*
When Seriel gave him a thumbs-up under the table, Mark nodded back in acknowledgment.
With the mood shifting, the opinions were now evenly matched.
Amira predicted the votes based on each person's statement. Overall, the lower classes tended to side with the academy, while the graduating classes were critical of it. The upper classes were split fifty-fifty.
*'Damn, at this rate, we might lose.'*
If this continued, they would have no way to indict Alpheas. She had to find a way to turn the tables, but the younger students in the lower classes tended to be swayed by emotion, making it difficult to extinguish the flames.
“Arduino Fermi of Class One.”
When Fermi, who had been listening silently until now, raised his hand, all eyes in the room turned to him. As the top-ranked student in the graduating class and the next in line for top graduate, it was only natural for them to be curious about his thoughts.
Seriel watched Fermi with a sense of unease. He was a young man with neatly combed dark brown hair, dressed in business-like, ready-made clothes. But beneath his authoritative appearance hid a severe mischievousness.
He had more than enough skill to graduate but, for some reason, failed every time. He had also been a strong candidate for the next student council president but ultimately abstained, ceding the position to Amira.
Honestly, she had no idea what went on in his head. The only thing she knew for sure was that he had a penchant for stirring up trouble and enjoyed watching everyone fight.
“Everyone in this room is indebted to Shirone. If it weren't for him, we'd already be dead. Therefore, it's understandable that some people cannot accept his death.”
The students grew solemn. They, too, knew how hard Shirone had fought for the entire student body.
But this only made Seriel more anxious. As far as she knew, Fermi was not the type to feel gratitude toward anyone. She couldn't understand why he was suddenly bringing this up.
“I, too, am grateful to Shirone. However, the faculty is using him as a shield. Therefore, our judgment is not an overreach of authority. It is a fight to protect Shirone's spirit.”
“What do you mean, protect his spirit? Shirone isn't dead yet…!”
“It's already been five days. Shirone's heart is not beating. There isn't a single person among you who doesn't miss Shirone. Is there?”
Most of them nodded. Even if they didn't really feel that way, it wasn't hard to mourn someone's death.
“Everyone misses Shirone and is grateful to him. So let me ask again. Is there anyone here who truly believes Shirone is still alive?”
Seriel realized Fermi's strategy. By separating emotion from reason, the guilt disappears, and reality becomes clearer. The students would now make a cold, rational judgment.
“Of course, there is no one. This isn't being cruel; it's common sense. And yet, the teachers continue to insist that Shirone is alive. Just like some pseudo-religious cult.”
Seriel slammed the table and stood up.
“That's not true! There's definitely something strange about Shirone's condition…!”
“What exactly is strange about it? I've read the reports on the Immortal Function. But a magical state of being has nothing to do with biological death. I've also obtained intelligence that Shirone's body has already been embalmed.”
“Th-that's…!”
It was Alpheas's order. It was his foresight that if the Immortal Function involved the spirit, then they had to manage the physical deterioration here.
But she had no idea how Fermi had learned of a secret known only to a few.
Amira's eyes flashed sharply as she asked.
“Embalmed? Is what Committee Member Fermi said true?”
Seriel glared at Fermi. Seeing his innocent smile only infuriated her more.
*'You bastard. You don't even care about any of this. You just want to cause a commotion.'*
“Committee Member Seriel, please tell us.”
Seriel sighed. A battle she could have won had become uncertain in a single moment.
“I will exercise my right to remain silent. If you want further answers, please open a formal hearing.”
Her silence itself implied affirmation, but it was worlds apart from admitting it outright. The importance of the right to remain silent was that it left room for rebuttal. Not knowing what variable might turn the situation around, there was no need to do something as foolish as hammering in the final nail herself.
Amira didn't waste any time. In a mood of constant reversals, this was the perfect moment. Concluding the meeting, she moved to a vote.
“We will now begin the secret ballot.”
The result… was just as Seriel had predicted.
***
“Alpheas must resign! Submit to the inspector's investigation!”
“Hold a funeral for Shirone! Toying with the dead is not something a teacher should do!”
Following the student council's decision, about a hundred students were protesting with pickets in front of the infirmary.