51. Baran's End
51. Baran's End
"Student Allen fails!"
Baran shouted. As the examiner, he had rendered that judgment, so it meant failure.
But the assembled professors stared at Baran with expressions of disbelief.
"He passed at that level. What on earth are you talking about?"
"Professor Baran-nim. We all saw it clearly with our own two eyes. Student Allen landing a strike."
The attack connected. That alone might have been a bit ambiguous.
But it wasn't just that the attack landed—Baran collapsed on the spot.
And not merely collapse—he grabbed his Achilles tendon and screamed.
An Academy professor had shown that kind of behavior to a newly enrolled student—no, to one whose skill level might have been pitiful.
"The press is already running corrections, stating that the allegations of Student Allen's fraudulent admission were groundless rumors."
In effect, Baran had done them a great service.
While unleashing a merciless assault on Allen, he had also put on a dramatic collapse.
Many people had been there. Their thoughts were obvious.
"Admitting your mistakes is a virtue of reporting. Why are you being so petty?"
"What did you just say?!"
Allen's resilient spirit and desperate determination to hold on resonated even with the watching professors.
That only made them more captivated.
To the point where if he also showed talent in magic or other fields, they would have wanted to take him on.
"Rather, I'm curious. Professor Baran-nim, why do you hate Student Allen so much?"
At this point, it was worth wondering.
It had been proven that he wasn't without skill.
The concern that he would tarnish the Academy's reputation had also been resolved.
So why did Baran hate Allen like this?
Some professors suspected it might be because he had made a fool of himself because of Allen.
"I absolutely oppose it! I am the examiner! Whether he passes or not is my authority!"
"Hmph, who on earth hired this man?"
Of course, Baran wasn't entirely wrong. Whether new or veteran, professors had the right to be respected.
That was why cases of challenging an examiner's decision were almost unheard of.
Because objecting itself was akin to declaring him wrong.
"Under normal circumstances, Professor Baran's words would have been correct."
"Chief-nim?"
But this time was different.
Watching Baran speak with such venom, every professor was united in heart and mind.
"But isn't this a special case? The law allows many people to voice their opinions. What does the Department Head think?"
Roland neither sneered nor frowned.
He merely gazed calmly at Baran's face.
"I believe it would be best to hold a vote. Since opinions are so divided like this."
Though Baran glared fiercely, the Department Head didn't flinch at all.
Rather, he further explained that this wasn't an issue to be left to one person.
The professors also agreed.
"Giving Allen a failure here would only look strange."
"If you wanted him to fail, you should have crushed him in the first round."
Even the few professors who weren't fond of Allen admitted it.
"With 42 total members, 39 in favor, 2 abstentions, and 1 opposed, Student Allen's re-examination is hereby passed."
The option of failure was not one they had.
'No, absolutely not...!'
He had already boasted to Salaban.
If Allen was formally admitted, everything would go wrong.
And where would that responsibility fall?
Baran, who knew well what kind of man Salaban was, understood that he would pin everything on him.
A kind of scapegoating.
If he was abandoned by Salaban here, all the atrocities he had committed so far would be exposed.
'Then my life is completely over...!'
His life would be over.
No bureaucracy, knight order, military, adventurer guild—none would take him in.
If the victims even gave testimony, he might be dragged to the execution ground and meet his death.
His legs felt weak with fear. Baran had to resolve this problem somehow.
But perhaps because it was urgent.
'Right, I'll kill Allen.'
He resorted to an extreme thought.
'If I kill Allen, then passing or failing doesn't matter anymore.'
There would be quite an uproar. But Baran had often dealt with such things on the front lines.
People with great achievements, those with outstanding talent—anyone who blocked his path, he had covered up as accidents.
'I'll do it the same way this time.'
His steps turned toward the Infirmary.
Surely, due to the aftermath of the re-examination, Allen would barely be able to move.
He probably couldn't even put up a fight like last time.
When he opened the Infirmary door, fortunately the nurse was also absent.
'Only one person.'
There was only one spot with the curtain drawn.
Confirming this, Baran didn't hesitate.
Pulling out the emergency knife he always carried, he moved quickly.
'No one blocks my path!'
No one, never. Thinking that, he pulled back the curtain and stabbed the knife into the bed without hesitation.
"Oh my, Professor-nim. What are you doing right now?"
A voice came from behind him.
"I never imagined the Imperial Princess's words would be true."
"If you wanted to go to the Goddess-nim as soon as possible, you should have told me. I would have guided you."
And those were the voices of several people.
Lucia, Iris, and also Lily.
The moment their eyes met, his hands trembled violently.
He had thought of them merely as students until now. But why, how.
'It's scarier than when I fought demons.'
Among them, there was one especially fearsome.
"Thank you for coming to me of your own accord. I don't have to go to the trouble of finding you."
"G-Grand Duchess..."
"If you were prepared to take a life, you must also be prepared to have yours taken, right?"
When Allen left the Infirmary earlier, Aniel had planned to follow him to have a word.
Unlike last time, she wanted to praise him this time.
For doing well.
But just before leaving the Infirmary, Lucia's words stopped her.
That if she waited in the Infirmary, she would see something interesting.
'So this is what she meant.'
Actions speak louder than words, they say.
That seemed to be true.
Without needing a long explanation, she had witnessed it firsthand.
'He tried to kill Allen.'
When he drew the knife, there was no hesitation at all.
Clearly, he intended to kill Allen.
Aniel imagined it. If Allen had been sleeping on that bed, if that had been the case, what would have happened?
"You must not kill him, Aniel."
She had intended to kill him on the spot. But Lucia approached and whispered softly.
"Allen wouldn't like it if our hands got stained with dirty blood, wouldn't he? Right, Saintess."
At Lucia's words, her murderous intent vanished in an instant.
"That's right. What kind of expression would Allen make if he found out?"
"G-Grand Duchess-nim. Please, hold him down."
Though mentioning Allen's name was loathsome, their words were correct.
She didn't want to cause Allen, who would be happy for no reason, any discomfort.
Watching this, Baran thought for a moment that he might live. He also clearly realized at this chance.
The overwhelming gap in skill between Aniel and himself.
"I-I'll accept punishment according to the law! So please spare me!"
So he chose to beg, pathetically.
As always, surviving was the priority.
Seeing Baran like this, Lucia smiled lightly.
Sensing a sliver of possibility in that smile, Baran even considered switching sides by spilling all information about Salaban.
"But Allen wouldn't stop us from getting revenge, would he."
"Aack!!!"
But the situation was the worst.
The moment Baran finished speaking, a pain like being scorched by lightning surged through his entire body.
"That's right. It's just a little revenge. The Goddess-nim will overlook this much, I'm sure."
"Ah, no! Stop! Aaaah!!!"
Lily also smiled innocently and gently caressed Baran's cheek. Instantly, his vision darkened and he experienced ten years of hell.
Even though only one minute had passed in reality.
"Iris. As an Imperial Princess, I also permit you to retaliate. You wanted revenge too, didn't you?"
While Baran was disoriented, Lucia asked Iris.
Though tempted by the offer of a chance, Iris soon shook her head.
"He's a disgusting man not even worth avenging."
He had been someone she respected as a professor, as a senior of the Academy.
Seeing him commit such acts, Iris felt nothing but disgust and didn't even want to face him.
"Hmm, no fun."
Saying she would keep watch, she stepped outside.
"Aniel. Surely you're not going to play the angel too, are you?"
Thus, the turn came to Aniel.
Lucia asked with a smile. Would she also let it pass quietly like Iris?
Of course, Lucia already knew the answer.
"No. I can't do that."
Because her eyes were already filled with murderous intent.
"Stop me if I cross the line."
And within the Infirmary, screams utterly incomparable to before echoed.
No need to worry about them leaking outside.
Because Lucia had already cast a thorough soundproofing spell.