In the cold underground chamber of the Mage Tower, the air seemed to bite through flesh. It was the interrogation room of the Disciplinary Committee. Seven seats were occupied by members who enforced the academy’s rules, while those awaiting punishment sat beyond the invisible glass, anticipating their fate.
“Why were those two fighting?” the Chairwoman asked.
“I don’t know yet,” I replied.
The Chairwoman occupied the first and highest seat. I sat in the second seat, watching the two people beyond the glass.
“Why don’t you know?”
“… I didn’t ask, so I don’t know.”
“Oh, right.”
Epherene, referred to the disciplinary committee, kept her head down and fidgeted with her fingers, while Sylvia remained calm and composed beside her. The situation had entirely stemmed from their conflict. However, with Sylvia being the heir of Iliade and Epherene being a landless noble in name only, the outcome of the disciplinary committee was quite predictable.
“Oh, Chairwoman and Head Professor Deculein, you’re already here.”
As the door opened, the disciplinary committee members arrived one by one. The chubby male professor, grinning slyly, was Relin from the Support Studies Department.
“… Such an incident in the first class. It’s truly unfortunate, Head Professor Deculein.”
The gaunt man who bowed his head was Professor Retlan from the Spirit Studies Department. The silent figure in a robe was probably Professor Fezli, in charge of the dormitories, along with the others. A total of seven members had gathered.
“Well, well. Who is the strange one who dared to mess with the Novice Mage of the Year?” Relin said, glaring at Epherene as soon as he sat down.
“Indeed. It seems she didn’t even go through the academy and is of low status,” Retlan replied with a similar look.
Fortunately, Epherene couldn’t hear these remarks. We could see her, but she couldn’t see us.
“I heard that Head Professor Deculein handled the situation well,” Relin said, giving me a subtle look.
His words were full of flattery, and I had no energy to respond. The truth was, I was exhausted. I was barely holding on mentally. I had used all of my mana and more to contain the situation. If anything had gone wrong and someone had gotten hurt, it would have been troublesome for me as the responsible professor.
“Exactly~ I think I may have underestimated Professor Deculein a bit! But our Professor Deculein is a Monarch-ranked mage! No Debutant could beat him, even if hundreds tried!”
“You are absolutely right!”
The Chairwoman and Relin continued chatting. I quietly looked at Epherene, my brows naturally furrowed.
“… Even so, Head Professor Deculein, please don’t be too angry. I will handle it myself.”
Relin seemed to mistake my expression for anger, but he was wrong. I squinted to get a closer look at the strange aura surrounding Epherene, who was cowering.
Red and black, it spread like ominous steam. If my suspicions were correct, it was a phenomenon only visible to me through the attribute Sharp Eyesight, and it was the manifestation of another attribute, Villain’s Fate.
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[Villain’s Fate]
Grade:
???
Description:
A villain’s fate. The whole world wishes for his death.
However, what doesn’t kill him makes him stronger…
─────────────
The whole world seemed to wish for my death. That predetermined intent to kill—specifically, the death variable that Epherene would one day kill me—was now clearly revealed by my Sharp Eyesight.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s begin the disciplinary committee for Debutant Mage Epherene and Sylvia!”
***
“How dare you brawl in the classroom? And with magic, no less? If Head Professor Deculein hadn’t intervened, someone could have been hurt, you fool!”
The disciplinary committee was intense from the start. Although the figures beyond the glass were just silhouettes, Epherene recognized Relin by his stature and voice. Just yesterday, he seemed like a very kind professor in class, but now she saw how terrifying he became when angry.
“So, what was the reason for the fight?” Relin asked.
Epherene glanced sideways at Sylvia. That jerk had insulted her father—though, in truth, it wasn’t a blatant insult. However, regardless of what happened, Epherene couldn’t say anything with Deculein sitting next to Relin.
Even if he hadn’t been there, she still wouldn’t have spoken. She didn’t want to talk about her father to anyone, especially not as an excuse to avoid punishment.
“I can’t say it,” Epherene replied.
“What?! Are you playing with me?” Professor Relin’s face twisted in anger.
“No, it’s just—”
“Then tell me why you fought! Was it out of jealousy?!”
Epherene kept her mouth shut and lowered her head. Relin, fuming, soon turned to look at Sylvia.
“Sylvia, then why don’t you tell us?” Relin asked Sylvia.
“During class, I accidentally damaged her project. That led to an argument,” Sylvia replied.
“What? You caused this whole situation over that? It’s entirely that ignorant girl’s fault. Hey, you, do you have anger management issues or something? Some nobody like you…” Relin shouted looking at Epherene.
Epherene clenched her fists and tasted blood in her mouth. She must have bitten her lip or tongue too hard.
“Chairwoman, there’s nothing more to discuss. A mage attacking another mage first is grounds for expulsion. Even those in the Ashes aren’t this bad!”
The term Ashes, referring to the hideout of anti-mages, was the most infamous insult in the Magical Realm. Epherene gave a hollow smile. If she got expelled, maybe she’d just go there.
“Hmm… I suppose so? It seems almost decided. Professor Deculein, don’t you have anything to say? It was your class, after all,” the Chairwoman said, calling Deculein, the person Epherene disliked most.
Deculein’s gaze pierced through the glass, and Epherene’s heart pounded heavily. Whether he knew her or not, she could only resign herself to the outcome.
“I, Deculein, as the Head Professor of the Mage Tower and a member of the disciplinary committee,”
She felt as if her entire body were falling into a deep, dark well, the agony like drowning alive.
“I would like to ask you, Sylvia.”
But something was strange. The interrogation seemed to be directed at Sylvia, not Epherene.
“Do you bear any responsibility for this situation?”
As she sank to the bottom, Epherene quickly lifted her head and blinked. A startled Sylvia parted her lips to speak.
“I’m just asking. Do you truly bear no responsibility for this situation?”
The unexpected turn of events filled Epherene’s mind with questions. She had assumed Deculein would direct his anger at her, yet he was suddenly questioning Sylvia. Perhaps, as the head of Yukline, rather than acting as Deculein alone, he was attempting to keep Iliade’s heir in line. It was clearly Epherene’s fault, yet he chose to handle it this way.
“Sylvia, you could have prevented this situation,“ Deculein said, his voice cold and direct.
“But you didn’t. Were you waiting for the mana to explode and hurt other people?”
A small crack appeared on Sylvia’s face, which had been like a thick sheet of ice since their first meeting, slowly breaking apart.
“Or was your highly anticipated skill really only capable of this much?”
Once the crack appeared, it quickly led to a collapse. She bowed her head to hide her slightly bitten lips.
“I’m sorry. I could have stopped it, but I didn’t. I wanted Epherene’s mistake to seem bigger than it was,” Sylvia said, admitting her fault.
“What?” Epherene said with a dumbfounded sound escaping from Epherene’s mouth.
The situation, which she had been starting to understand, was once again unclear.
Why did she say that? She could have stopped it but she didn’t?
“B-but still, Head Professor Deculein. The one defending against the attack, isn’t at fault, right? It’s the one who attacked first who is wrong,” Professor Relin hastily interjected. Deculein turned his head slightly, glaring at Relin.
“If you want to dissect the sequence of events, the blame falls entirely on me for structuring the lecture this way. Professor Relin, are you saying you want to blame me?”
“What? N-no, that’s not what I meant,” Relin stuttered.
“Then say it clearly.”
Deculein’s strong, resonant voice echoed through the interrogation room. Epherene and Sylvia involuntarily swallowed. Intimidated, Relin clicked his teeth together a few times before stuttering and shaking his head.
“… That couldn’t be the case. I just meant that it was unfortunate—”
“I set up that environment for the purpose of the lecture. Also, I did not direct them to do anything specific within it. So, even if there was a conflict, it could be seen as part of my class,” Deculein said.
It was rationalization. However, the professors, intimidated by Deculein’s authority, didn’t dare to refute him. The Chairwoman, the only one who could have opposed him, watched with amusement.
“So, calling it unfortunate is an insult to my class, but I must admit it led to a dangerous situation.”
At this point, no matter how hard she thought or how much she wanted to deny it, Epherene couldn’t help but acknowledge it. Deculein—yes, that Deculein—was defending her. Deculein continued,
“If we eliminate all risks from magic, what would remain? They are merely Debutants who have just entered the Mage Tower.”
Whether Deculein knew her father or not, Epherene had been prepared for expulsion. The Deculein she knew would have certainly acted that way. She looked at him, feeling an emotion she couldn’t quite identify.
“Rather than scolding and demoralizing them over meaningless faults, it is the duty of a great mage to let them experience such situations within the Mage Tower and teach them to maintain their dignity externally through depth of experience. What do you think, Professor Relin?” Deculein asked Relin.
“… Ah, yes~! Yes, yes! Of course, you are absolutely right! A-as expected of Head Professor Deculein! Even I am completely convinced~”
“Indeed, you are right,” the professors agreed.
With Deculein being so assertive, everyone had no choice but to comply. Even if Deculein weren’t a professor, he was still the honorable Count Yukline, while they were nothing without their titles. Applause, unfitting for the situation, filled the interrogation room. Anyone would think it was a concert hall.
“Hmm~ now that I think about it, you’re right. It reminds me of when I almost got suspended because of a professor,” the Chairwoman said with a bored smile, nodding.
“Then… Why are you two still here? Not returning to your room?” the Chairwoman continued, looking at both Epherene and Syliva.
“… Sorry?” Epherene, still dazed, didn’t even know who was speaking.
“You heard me~ There’s no punishment. Kids like you grow up fighting~! But I won’t let it slide next time!”
At the Chairwoman’s words, Sylvia stood up abruptly and left without looking back. But Epherene didn’t. She stared blankly through the glass.
“Alright, let’s go! I thought this was a waste of time, but I’m glad to see Head Professor Deculein cares about the novice mages!”
The disciplinary committee professors stood up before Epherene, who was still frozen. They left one by one. Epherene, sitting in a daze, soon came to her senses and shouted loudly.
“… Wait!”
The other professors glanced at her but didn’t respond. Only one silhouette, presumably Deculein, turned to look at her.
“I have something to ask!” Epherene said to him.
“… Ha.”
A faint, almost inaudible laugh. It was incredibly charming, but she shouldn’t find it so.
“So, it was you in the lecture hall back then.”
At those words, Epherene shuddered, suddenly gripped by fear. Her lips felt dry. However, she didn’t let it intimidate her and continued.
“… I have a question for you.”
Epherene wanted to ask if he remembered the last name Luna, if he knew her father, the man who had suffered under him for a lifetime and took his own life three years ago.
“If…”
But if I ask that, he might…
As Epherene hesitated, Deculein cut her off.
“There is no need to ask.”
At that moment, Epherene’s mind cleared. It felt as if an icicle had pierced her skull.
“You are a gem, so don’t waste your talent.”
With those words, he left. This time, she couldn’t stop him.
In the empty interrogation room, Epherene pondered Deculein’s words and became certain. He knew her. He knew her father. This was nothing but pity, a small amount of sympathy. He felt a slight responsibility for her father’s death, which was why he had helped her.
“Ah…”
Epherene felt overwhelming anger and twisted emotions, yet she was sad and confused by her inability to reject his pity. In the end, she felt relieved.
“He knows.”
That was enough. As long as he knew and hadn’t forgotten, it was enough for now.
“Sniffle!“
She wiped the tears from her eyes and briskly rubbed her reddened nose before leaving the interrogation room.
… Meanwhile, as Deculein turned away, he sighed in relief.
[Villain’s Fate: Overcame Death Variable]
◆ Store Currency +2
He had successfully eliminated the death variable and earned store currency. As expected, supporting Epherene had been the right choice. However, there was an unintended complication.
Sylvia might now hold a grudge against him. He had planned to smooth things over with a moralistic statement like, “You’re both at fault, but in the grand scheme of things, no one is to blame,” but he hadn’t expected Sylvia to admit her fault so easily.
He had no other choice but to address the immediate issue. Fortunately, both managed to avoid punishment, so things worked out to some extent.
“There could have been a better way…”
Despite this, the regret remained. It was partly due to Deculein’s unnecessarily fastidious personality and his lack of interpersonal understanding. However, Deculein soon adopted Kim Woo-Jin’s mindset, brushed it off, and left the interrogation room.
***
Sylvia sat on a bench in the school courtyard, deep in thought. With her eyes closed, she replayed the events from three hours ago in her mind. She had clearly nullified Epherene’s magic but had also planted her own trap spell in the same spot.
This cleverly manipulated spell created a vortex that seemed to result from a clash between their manas. It was actually designed to react only to Epherene’s magic. It wasn’t meant to cause any serious harm, and if it had, she planned to use Iliade’s wealth to help. Therefore, the only intended victim was Epherene Luna.
“He knew.”
Deculein had clearly known. He had figured out her trick. Instead of saying, “Sylvia, that spell was your doing,” he twisted it to “Sylvia, you didn’t stop it.” At that moment, Deculein demanded her compliance. It was a threat she couldn’t refuse.
“But how…?”
Sylvia’s only question was how. She was confident there had been no magical observation in the lecture hall. She had meticulously manipulated everything. So, the idea that Deculein had seen through it all with just his insight and intelligence was simply unbelievable.
Honk, honk—!
A car horn interrupted her thoughts. Sylvia looked over and saw a car parked by the roadside. As the window rolled down, a familiar face appeared.
“Ah, sweetie, there you are.”
He had the same blonde hair and golden eyes as Sylvia. He was the head of the prestigious Iliade family, a high-ranking Esper mage, and Sylvia’s proud father, Glitheon Von Ludwig Iliade.
“I heard the story. Get in.”
“… Okay.”
Sylvia walked over and got into her father’s car.