Chapter 51 – Conspiracy (8)

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With the principal's strong will to bring things back to normal quickly, the academic schedule resumed just three days later.

Initially, there were scattered protests against this decision.

However, students who heard news from the outside world realized that the academy remained a safe haven, prompting them to return to their daily routines as if nothing had happened.

Rumors falsely implicating me as the culprit of this incident spread through the mouths of students who saw me being dragged away by the inquisitors on that day.

The turmoil persisted for a while. Although official statements from the academy later declared that the isolated incident was the sole wrongdoing of Osbert from Class-E, the false rumors quieted only after that announcement. Nevertheless, some still cast dubious glances my way, perhaps due to my usual image.

I've thought about why Eugene couldn't catch the demon worshiper countless times, but I just couldn't come up with a clear answer.

Occasionally, I observed Eugene and Walter conversing near the central fountain from a distance, wondering if this situation was also part of Eugene's plan.

Rumors had already been circulating for a while that I was the culprit, and Walter was the best at talking with his snake-like tongue, wasn't he? If he had used that skill to tell Eugene that the real culprit had already been caught, Eugene might have given up the search after hearing the story.

Walter also has no reason to raise a blade against commoners, and considering their friendship until the early parts of the original story, he might have had some influence over Eugene.

And suddenly, the day before yesterday, rumors began to spread among the students that Walter from Class-F had been dragged away by the Heretic Inquisitors. And unlike me, who was released after one day, Walter still had not returned.

That day, I strongly insisted on Lazarus to investigate him, but I wonder if he might have faithfully carried out my request. And if my suspicions about Walter were indeed true, that might explain why he hasn't been released yet.

Maybe the reason why the principal called me now has something to do with it.

While I was thinking, I arrived at the principal's office before I knew it, and after adjusting my hair and tidying my appearance, I knocked on the door. 

—KNOCK!!!. 

"Miss Evangeline, it's Edwin Reed. I heard you wanted to see me."

— Come in.

Evangeline's voice echoed from inside the office, and before I could touch the doorknob, it turned, and the door swung open. Evangeline, just like the first time I visited her office, was facing away, gazing out the window.

"Sit there and wait a minute. The tea will be ready soon."

Following her words, I approached the sofa in the center of the office and took a seat. After a while, Evangeline brought two steaming cups of honey tea, pushing one towards me.

"Try it. It's honey tea. You seemed to like it last time, so I prepared it again, thinking you might enjoy it."

"…Thank you, I appreciate it."

While savoring the tea in silence for a while, it was Evangeline who first broke the quiet.

"So, how is your body? Are there any places that are uncomfortable or sore?"

"I'm fine. Thanks to your consideration, I'm getting through this without any issues."

"That's good to hear. Still, just to be safe, be sure to continue to see the priest for a while. Exposure to mana can be quite distressing for those affected. Especially since you came face to face with such an extraordinary occurrence…"

Evangeline nodded in response to my answer. 

The academic schedule quickly resumed, but Ellie and I were granted additional days of rest. And for those of us who faced the demon right in front of us, Evangeline assigned one dedicated priest to each.

Thanks to the fact that my body was infused with holy power once a day, not only did it heal the internal injuries I received at that time, I could also spend the past few days very comfortably.

But why did Evangeline call me? After hearing the reason, I also want to move on to my business. 

"Miss Evangeline. Excuse me, but may I ask why you called for me?" I inquired, and she seemed to wear a somewhat regretful expression.

"…First of all, I'm truly sorry. I put you in such danger due to my carelessness. As the principal of this academy, I feel truly ashamed…"

The principal reached out both of her hands, grasping mine, offering an apology. Her expression was genuinely filled with remorse. While I didn't consider the events during her absence to be her fault, her sense of responsibility as the principal might be something different.

"…the Investigator just came by. He informed me that this boy, Walter, confessed to all the schemes he orchestrated to put you in jeopardy."

In fact, this was exactly what I wanted to discuss. I never thought that this story would come out of the principal's mouth first. But what about Walter now? Even though she was Evangeline, I don't think she would go so far as to protect him.

"So what's going to happen to him now?"

"What do you expect? Since he has done something wrong, shouldn't he be punished accordingly?" 

"…If you say punishment?"

"It may differ depending on which side's laws we follow, either the Holy Kingdom or the Empire. There are times when the legal interpretation of crimes like this is sometimes different. According to the laws of the Holy Kingdom, it is burning at the stake, and according to the laws of the Empire, it is hanging. In either case, that child can no longer escape death and his family will be investigated for any possible connections to the fanatics."

…..What? 

"The child who helped Walter was concluded to have committed the crime at the request of someone else, according to the investigation results. It seems that she didn't know that she would use your handkerchief in such a way. Even though she didn't directly plan the crime, she will still not be able to escape punishment. After being expelled from the academy, she will be tried in accordance with the procedures."

I wonder if the principal was talking about the girl who tripped me up. I had thought that she might face punishment for committing a serious crime, but I never expected it to be her life. I guess it was the right thing to do, considering she falsely accused a nobleman of demon worshiping.

I've been thinking of various ways in case the principal would cover it up, but now it's all good. 

But death? It feels strange to hear that word. It's an uncomfortable feeling, yet somewhere deep in my chest, there is an inexplicable sense of relief. Is it right for me to feel this way?

"I'm really devastated that such an unfortunate incident has occurred. But on the other hand, this incident could also serve as a good example. Our academy is a place where people compete fairly based on their own skills, not on schemes and conspiracies."

A good example…

Certainly, she was on the side of good, but whether it was due to her long life or her different race, she did not seem entirely normal.

"We did announce the personal information of the culprit first as rumors spread about you, but it might not be enough. I will publish a bulletin containing the full story of this incident, and if anyone continues to spread false rumors about you, I will make sure they are severely punished through my student council.. I'll ask for your convenience on this matter, because you and your family's honor are at stake…"

This time, it seemed that the principal was making an effort to consider my side as the victim. I had no reason to refuse.

"I will gratefully accept your consideration."

"No. I should be grateful that you didn't react harshly and went along with this compromise. Estelle is truly remarkable, handling things like this…"

"It's okay. I don't want to get involved in political issues. I just want to quietly graduate from the academy as soon as possible."

"Hehe, yes. Edwin, you've become quite thoughtful. And I heard that you've been spending a lot of time with a certain girl recently. Is that true?"

Suddenly, hearing the principal mention it made me feel a cold sweat down my spine. I had heard rumors about Ellie from Estelle, but I hadn't thought that they would reach the principal's ears. I guess it was because I was with Ellie during the incident, and they found out about it during the investigation.

This is a big problem. Ellie was supposed to be being dragged around by me….Does that mean that the principal's question was a rhetorical one? There are over a thousand students in this academy. Why was the principal concerned about the private life of a single student?

"Seeing the change in you makes me feel really rewarded as an educator, and it starts with one student. Your seniors all went through the same thing. One day, others will understand your true intentions, so don't worry too much about the rumors you hear."

"...?"

* * * * *

The day after my conversation with the principal, Walter was dragged away by soldiers, screaming and shouting. He would never be seen at the academy again.

Needless to say, aristocratic students sneered at him, but unexpectedly, he received a lot of criticism from commoner students as well.

According to the stories I heard, his and his gang's excessive hostility often caused other students to be caught in the crossfire.

In addition, due to the principal's various measures, it was difficult to find anyone who openly criticized me, but the situation in which I was released while Walter was dragged away somehow coincided, and the atmosphere of reverence for me in the class was further amplified.

And sometimes, I felt like I was being stared at by someone, and when I turned my head, I had the illusion that I could see golden hair somewhere.

The only person who accepted this situation well was Ellie.

* * * * *

"Here is the absolution that has been issued in your name. The fact that such a precious thing has been given to you shows that Motherland also takes this matter quite seriously. If you have the absolution, you will be forgiven up to three times if you commit any offense against the Holy Kingdom. If you are still not satisfied, then you can add my head to that…"

"That's enough. I understand what you mean, so let's stop this embarrassing play."

"Hahahaha, is it obvious? You're quite perceptive, aren't you?"

"Ugh…"

In front of me, Lazarus Fontana, the senior inquisitor of Westford, fumbled awkwardly. When I demanded compensation for the previous rudeness, he returned with this document containing my name.

I had no intention of taking his life to begin with, so I found this apology quite acceptable. He acted faithfully to his duty rather than harboring malicious intentions like Walter did.

As I broke the seal of the leather pouch he handed me and opened the flap, inside was a luxurious parchment adorned with golden silk and laurel patterns.

Since Lazarus belonged to Westford, so was this absolution written by Archbishop Timothy? Although we didn't communicate directly, if he saw my name and decided to offer some convenience, he might have sent this absolution in his name.

Is the archbishop preparing well to return to the Motherland? Still, things never go exactly as I wish…

"I was mentally prepared to some extent, but I never expected to receive such a severe reprimand. It was truly a scolding. And I never anticipated that he would personally issue the absolution like this. If it's an absolution issued in his name, it will have a remarkable effect unless it's against the Pope's. As far as I know, it's very rare for an Imperial to be granted an absolution."

Lazarus continued to speak beside me, but the moment I saw the words written at the bottom of the parchment, every other sound ceased to register in my ears.

In the place of the concluding remark, which I thought would surely contain the name of Archbishop Timothy, the name of an entirely unexpected person was written.

"…Therefore, I commend Edwin Reed, a faithful servant more than anyone else, and present this absolution in the name of Christina, the representative of the Goddess and the Holy Maiden of Angelia."

—— End of chapter —–

If you want to read the first 25 chapters for free and read up to the final chapter for a cheap price patreon.com/Makima02