Disciplinary Committee (2)
Disciplinary Committee (2)
"... And that is what happened."
Sharon Pierce's testimony concluded.
In summary: all four female cadets had rejected Ian's confession, and afterward they had read the threatening letter he left behind.
BOOM—
As if he'd been waiting for her to finish, Professor Todd Cam slammed the table and shouted.
"Is this what passes for acceptable conduct in this sacred seat of learning, the Academy? A suicide threat because a confession was rejected? This is what's wrong with young people these days! Tsk tsk! Let's expel him immediately!"
Spittle flew with every word Todd Cam bellowed, but Sharon kept her place at the witness stand with unruffled composure.
That poise lent her words still greater credibility.
And as a scion of House Pierce, the weight of her testimony would naturally differ from that of an ordinary cadet.
As soon as she stepped down, opinions began to flow.
"That seems quite credible."
"Professor Todd Cam has a point. He certainly possesses sound judgment."
Several professors nodded, and a few seized the chance to flatter him.
After all, it was an open secret that the Raymond Trading Company had him on a leash.
At that spectacle, Violet's brow furrowed.
"Everyone, please come to your senses. Aside from the letter, isn't this all circumstantial evidence?"
Todd Cam's toad-like face flushed with heat.
"Professor Violet! All four cadets gave the same testimony during the pre-hearing interview! You heard it yourself, so why are you speaking as if you didn't?"
"I am speaking of the absence of physical evidence."
"The testimonies are consistent, Professor—consistent! And the most important thing is the victims' feelings, is it not? Feelings! Emilia Raymond, Sharon Pierce, Saintess Candidate Aria, Rina Rosewell—aren't they all cadets with bright futures? When those girls are suffering so much, how can you say something so cold!"
So he's appealing to emotion rather than logic.
"Professor Todd Cam's view is correct. If the journalists press us after we've shown leniency, we won't come out of it well."
"It seems we need to sever this cleanly."
"To begin with, Ian's reputation was hardly good."
"It was far beyond 'hardly good.' It was abysmal. Truly abysmal."
Todd Cam's faction exchanged words, feeding off one another.
Violet watched them steadily and let out a small sigh.
Then she cut them off.
"One moment. Professor Susie Dismal appears to have something she wants to say. Professor? Please speak."
"Ah... I..."
"Do speak freely."
"... During the incident at Median House, Cadet Ian was a tremendous help. He had reported information about the blue mushroom spores beforehand, which allowed us to begin preparing a treatment in advance."
"And your conclusion?"
"In my opinion, to claim that Cadet Ian Blackangus is an utterly wicked person? I think it's a stretch."
Professor Susie Dismal of Clinical Magic.
The moment her words ended, Violet smiled.
"There we have it. Now, if we argue solely on circumstantial grounds, aren't we at a stalemate? I believe it would be prudent to start considering the evidence according to the disciplinary committee's regulations."
At Violet's words, a few of the more neutral professors nodded.
"Hmm... Come to think of it, didn't he also receive a commendation at the last award ceremony?"
"It could be remorse, but it's equally possible his nature is simply righteous."
Todd Cam's face crumpled at once.
'... These bitches!'
How dare they throw a wrench into something this lucrative?
But he didn't need to worry too much.
He had heard something from the Raymond Trading Company.
'They said the story had been squared with Rina Rosewell beforehand.'
Only Sharon Pierce was originally meant to testify among the victims, but they had prepared Rina Rosewell's testimony as well, just in case.
In the end, a disciplinary committee is a matter of momentum and atmosphere.
Calculations made, Todd Cam slammed the table again.
— BOOM!
His fat neck quivered with the impact.
"Then let us summon Cadet Rina Rosewell as well. She indicated she could attend as a witness today."
"Without proper evidence, it's rather..."
"Do you intend to disregard the voice of the victim? The disciplinary committee exists for the victims. Cadet Rina Rosewell—have her enter."
Watching Rina Rosewell walk through the door, Professor Todd Cam smiled inwardly.
'Money just rolls right in.'
If he handled this job properly, the number of gold coins he'd receive from the Raymond Trading Company would be considerable.
That wasn't all.
With the Raymonds' backing, reaching a higher position within Lichten would also be possible.
"I am Rina Rosewell."
He gave Rina Rosewell a slow once-over.
'Not terribly endowed in the chest, but she's slender in all the right places.'
Professor Todd Cam licked his lips.
The corners of his mouth rose unctuously.
Concealing his lecherous intent, he spoke with a greasy voice.
"A suicide threat—a memory that cannot have been easy to overcome. And yet you've come forward to testify. Painful as it must be, I ask you to detail your feelings at that time as thoroughly as possible."
Rina Rosewell's testimony.
If the girl famous for her boundless warmth simply shed a few tears, the atmosphere of this committee would be completely in his grasp.
'Evidence? What a joke.'
Just like that. Confirm Ian's punishment, collect the money.
Just as Todd Cam's lips were curling upward—
Rina began to speak.
"I do not believe Cadet Ian committed such an act."
"Indeed. Such an experience is terrible to... Excuse me. What did you say?"
"I believe Cadet Ian has been falsely accused."
"What is the meaning of this? Even during the pre-hearing, you clearly—!"
"There was a misunderstanding at that time. I apologize for giving an incorrect testimony, but the truth is that the incident made a rational assessment very difficult. The contents of the suicide note were shocking, after all. Moreover, at the time, the other victims... well, I'm not even certain 'victim' is the right term anymore, but there was pressure from them as well."
... What nonsense is this?
No, wait.
He'd intended to use Rina Rosewell's concrete testimony to drive the final nail in with an emotional appeal.
But what did she just say?
She doesn't believe Ian is that kind of person?
She thinks he's been wrongly accused?
This isn't the agreed-upon script.
A cold sweat began trickling down Todd Cam's back.
"W... wait a moment..."
But Professor Violet didn't miss the opening and cut in.
"Wrongly accused... I feel this is a point that needs to be investigated more thoroughly. This testimony is entirely new, isn't it?"
The mood of the committee shifted at breakneck speed.
Todd Cam tried to speak up again.
"W... wait just a moment."
"Do you have something to say?"
"No, that's not what I..."
Not a single adequate response came to mind.
While he was floundering, Violet spoke.
"I believe it's time we heard Cadet Ian's side as well. Please summon Cadet Ian."
◆
In a shadowed corner of the disciplinary committee's gallery.
— Crrk.
Emilia Raymond was grinding her teeth.
'You useless man.'
Emilia Raymond shook her head at Professor Todd Cam's pathetic display.
Rina Rosewell's betrayal was something she hadn't anticipated either, but... there was nothing insurmountable about handling it from that spot.
'Just bring up the punishment he received recently.'
He couldn't even manage that simple thing.
Emilia felt a surge of nausea at Todd Cam's toad-like face.
This was precisely why you had to spend money properly.
She should have bribed a more competent professor.
She had simply kept a low profile during this particular committee because so many outside eyes were watching.
Truthfully, she'd been a little startled when she learned a bishop from the Order had even shown up.
'Well, the Pierce faction is serious about this, so it'll be fine.'
She glanced sidelong at the knight stepping out from the gallery.
Ian entered cautiously.
— THUUUD!
And behind him, the door to the hearing chamber was roughly thrown wide.
◆
Such sudden rudeness.
All eyes were naturally drawn to the door.
"What is the meaning of— Who goes there?!"
While a few professors exploded in anger.
"The Crimson Flame Knights?"
Those more concerned with pragmatism and self-interest had already identified the intruder.
Lichten Academy might appear to be an independent institution, but ultimately it existed within the Empire's sphere of influence. The Crimson Flame Knights were one of the two great knight orders that served as the Emperor's hands and feet. A knight of the rank responsible enough to lead here was, in status, plainly in a different class from the academy's ordinary professors.
The quicker-witted professors swiftly assessed the situation.
"You've traveled all the way here despite your busy schedule. Might I ask what brings you?"
A few eyebrows furrowed, but nobody openly displayed their displeasure.
Challenging the Imperial authority brought no profit.
"I am here as Lady Sharon Pierce's guardian."
Aran paused to catch her breath.
Then her voice erupted.
"A suicide threat against House Pierce? You were going to just let that slide? Are you people insane?"
Aran Altisichi swept her gaze across the professors, eyes blazing with manic contempt.
Every professor caught in that glare flinched.
Yet one of the bolder among them carefully ventured a reply.
"The testimonies are contradictory, and there is no clear evidence to simply punish the boy."
"What? Evidence? You, the old professor there."
"No, please, calm yourself first..."
"I tried to watch and see, since you're supposed to be a prestigious academy, but this is too much. Does the honor of the Pierce name seem so trivial to you?"
"Of course, what you say is correct. However, the Academy is explicitly extraterritorial..."
She drew something from her tunic.
An identification badge signifying her authorization to carry out summary judgment.
Silence draped itself over the chamber in an instant.
"If this case is handled properly, we can consider it a matter of no consequence."
She took a single step toward the center of the room.
"If not."
Then, turning slowly to look at each professor, she spoke as if savoring every word.
"I suggest you all... prepare yourselves."
Silence held the room in its grip.
Within it, Ian's mind was racing.
He had entered alongside Aran, but his presence was submerged.
Aran was overwhelming the chamber with sheer force of presence.
But the resentment toward her, though unvoiced, was unmistakably there.
'This would be a good moment to break the tension and step in.'
Should he do it himself?
Just as Ian was about to speak—
— Clack!
The door swung open once more.
"Is this the standard of the Lichten Academy disciplinary committee?"
Click. Clack.
Someone entered with a brisk, lively stride.
"Who dares...!"
Aran Altisichi began to roar, her face twisted in fury, but stopped in place.
"This is an absolute mess. A marketplace brawl, is it? So this is how commoners amuse themselves? Interesting. It's like a disgraceful stage play."
"...Ah, A-Asteria, Your Highness the Crown Princess? What brings you here?"
Aran promptly dropped to one knee in salute.
A low murmur rippled through the chamber.
- "C-Crown Princess?"
Crown Princess Asteria laughed lightly.
"Oh, I'm planning to enroll at Lichten Academy. I came down out of curiosity while I was registering. I do so enjoy courtroom dramas."
One of the professors spoke up.
"Your Highness, this is an active disciplinary committee hearing. It's a bit problematic if you are not a concerned party. If you wish to observe, there are other methods..."
Whirling, the Crown Princess turned her head toward the professor and spoke.
"Ah, I'm not much for that sort of distinction. Isn't it well-known? The rumor that the Third Princess, Asteria, is a fool. A-ha. You were just pointing that out now, weren't you, Professor?"
"Th-That was not my meaning! I would never dare to insult the Imperial Family. I-I beg your pardon!"
"No, it's true enough, and apologies are tiresome, so that's settled. I only came because I thought it might be entertaining."
The Crown Princess waved her hand dismissively.
"More to the point, do you determine right and wrong by volume here? It's all noise and no substance. Shouldn't the contest of truth be the focus of a court? Or am I mistaken?"
The committee members fell silent.
This time, the Crown Princess turned toward Ian.
"And you seem to be the defendant. Have you no evidence? In the plays, this is when someone coolly objects and presents something spectacular."
Ian had been standing without a single word.
His mouth opened for the first time.
"I have come prepared to submit evidence."
"What kind?"
"A portion of the suicide note the alleged victims claim I wrote, and as witnesses: Sylvia Laurent and a forensic handwriting expert whom she can vouch for."
"Hmm?"
The Crown Princess smiled.
"Now this is finally starting to resemble a trial. In that case, I'll watch from above."
The Crown Princess turned on her heel.
In the fleeting instant her eyes met Ian's, she winked.