episode_0109

The only people who knew Loki used Nightmare on Daron were Loki, who used it, and Daron, who was afflicted by it.

In other words, those attending the disciplinary committee had no choice but to consider for themselves whether Daron’s words were true or false.

“No matter how urgent it is, such a lie is a bit much…”

“It’s obvious he’s just spouting nonsense out of excitement, isn’t it?”

“At least his previous lies had some possibility.”

“If you’re going to lie, at least make it a proper one. Honestly, it’s so absurd I can only laugh bitterly.”

Naturally, everyone observing thought Daron’s words were a lie.

The priest who treated Daron had explicitly stated there were no traces, and it was simply unimaginable that Loki would commit such a terrible act.

From the start, even before the disciplinary committee convened, the gazes directed at Daron were unfavorable.

Regardless of the reason, it was a fact that several second-year students attacked one first-year student.

So, did the gazes directed at Daron change after the disciplinary committee convened?

Of course not.

One could even say they worsened.

‘I extended my hand to him to be friendly and greet him, but that guy just ignored me, keeping his hands in his pockets and saying, ‘Are you telling me to grab this?’ when he saw my hand!’

Initially, Daron claimed Loki was the first to pick a fight.

However, it was revealed that Daron was the one who first approached Loki, bringing along a crowd of armed students.

Daron’s lies didn’t end there.

‘My friends, seeing Loki’s actions, must have thought I was being humiliated, so they attacked Loki before I could stop them.’

Daron spoke as if he hadn’t told them to attack.

However, the video playing on screen showed Daron shouting for them to use their artifacts.

From a certain perspective, it was only natural for people to feel that Daron was lying again.

“Daron said, before the disciplinary committee convened, that you severely beat him, and, haa… made him get raped by a man. What do you think about this?”

The professor in charge of the disciplinary committee shot a pathetic glance at Daron before speaking to Loki.

The professor himself, having uttered the words, seemed dumbfounded and sighed mid-sentence.

“…Ah, I admit to severely beating him. But made him get raped by a man…? What in the…?”

Loki, who had been speaking so freely until now, stumbled slightly over his words, and his voice was thick with bewilderment.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen Student Loki so flustered.”

“Honestly, wouldn’t anyone be flustered if their opponent made such a claim?”

“That’s true.”

Seeing this, those attending the disciplinary committee were convinced that Daron was lying again.

‘Why does no one believe me!’

Of course, Daron, watching this unfold, was so enraged his head felt like it would explode.

This was because he knew Loki’s flustered expression was merely an act.

Everything he had just said was the truth.

But from the reactions he heard around him, he could tell that no one believed him.

‘I clearly experienced that humiliation directly, but there’s no trace left!’

He had not doubted for a moment that everything would be resolved when the priest who treated him entered.

However, the priest who came in was of no help at all.

The priest only confirmed that Daron had been hit many times within the fog. The humiliation he suffered could not be found out.

“I’m not sure if I heard that correctly, so could you please repeat it just once?”

Even now, watching that guy tilt his head as if he knew nothing, Daron’s body trembled with fury.

‘Still, it’s a relief the plan succeeded for now.’

Loki’s lips curved upward behind his mask.

When he first devised the plan to pretend he hadn’t used Nightmare at all, he had been uncertain.

Although Nightmare left no evidence, it would have been troublesome if even a few people had believed Daron’s words.

‘It’s a good thing that guy kept digging his own grave.’

Fortunately, Daron foolishly lied and got caught, so now no one believed Daron’s words.

If Daron had admitted everything and then, at the very end, spoken about what happened inside the fog, a few people might have believed him.

‘Of course, besides this plan, there are about four other plans remaining…’

This plan could conclude the disciplinary committee the quickest and most certainly drive Daron to the brink.

He turned his head and looked around.

Johanna, Clara, Joden, Lucas.

Besides them, there were academy professors, representatives from various clubs, and more.

Many high-ranking individuals were present, not just from within the academy but from outside as well.

‘Rumors will spread quickly.’

The disgraceful behavior Daron displayed at the disciplinary committee would quickly spread.

While it would be impossible to sever all the connections Daron had built to become the Marquess of Revayden, it would be possible to cut off a significant portion.

After exchanging brief questions and answers with the professor in charge of the disciplinary committee, and the professor asking Daron a few questions, the committee was nearing its end.

As he was pondering what to eat for dinner that night.

Sepia tugged at his clothes, just as she had before.

“Sepia-ssi, do you have something to say to me? Ah, no way. You didn’t call me to pet your head again, did you?”

“It’s not because of that!”

“I’m just joking, joking. You seemed too stiff, so I tried to lighten the mood with a joke.”

“….Is what that guy said true?”

Sepia had seen Daron’s face being continuously struck, but she hadn’t seen what happened afterward.

“Oh, come on~ There’s no way I’d do something so terrible and disgusting.”

Although nothing bad would happen if he told Sepia, there was no real need to say it.

. . .

The gaze of the professor in charge of the disciplinary committee turned to Loki.

“Although Daron’s face was severely beaten, Daron was the first to pick a fight and attack, so Loki will receive no disciplinary action.”

Loki didn’t feel particularly happy or excited, as he had expected this outcome now that his plan had succeeded.

“Whew……..”

Loki grinned at Sepia, who let out a sigh of relief beside him, and asked.

“Sepia-ssi. Are you really that happy I’m not receiving any disciplinary action?”

“Don’t smile! So, should I be annoyed about you not receiving any disciplinary action?”

In contrast to Loki and Sepia, who were conversing cheerfully, Daron’s expression crumpled.

The professor’s gaze now turned to Daron.

“You first went to pick a fight, bringing armed students with you and ordering an attack. Furthermore, you even lied to the disciplinary committee. Daron Revayden, you are suspended…..”

-Screech.

The closed door opened, interrupting the professor’s words.

The person who entered through the open door was a middle-aged man resembling a mouse.

“Count Ganurabra.”

Someone murmured, seeing the man who entered.

Count Ganurabra was one of the academy’s sponsors.

The Croa Academy was the continent’s finest academy, and maintaining such an academy required immense funds.

Thus, sponsors were crucial figures in the academy.

And Count Ganurabra had sponsored so much money to the academy that he was among the top five sponsors.

Moreover, this Count Ganurabra was one of the people pushing Daron to become the Marquess of Revayden.

‘Was Count Ganurabra’s daughter engaged to Daron?’

There was no affection between Count Ganurabra’s daughter and Daron.

Only a strictly business relationship.

But that’s precisely why he appeared here.

“Even if you are one of the sponsors, what kind of disrespectful behavior is this, Count Ganurabra?”

“I had no choice but to intervene out of sheer absurdity. Young Master Daron was beaten almost to death, yet he receives no disciplinary action.”

“Daron attacked Loki first.”

“To be precise, Young Master Daron only ordered the attack, he didn’t directly hit him, did he? If someone is to be suspended, I believe it would be more appropriate for the students who directly attacked, obeying Young Master Daron’s orders, to face it.”

Count Ganurabra scoffed as he spoke.

“Furthermore, Young Master Daron had important business matters to attend to this weekend.”

He swept his gaze over Loki, from head to toe.

“It seems it will be difficult for Young Master Daron to work this weekend if he is to recover mentally. Do you even know how much money is at stake in that transaction?”

Naturally, Loki had no need to care about that.

But Count Ganurabra was being unreasonable.

Just as Johanna Freya, Joden Adelien, and others who were acquainted with Loki were about to step forward.

-Flash.

Loki raised his hand high.

Seeing this, people realized that one could raise a single hand in an exaggerated manner even while standing still.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Loki, and,

Loki opened his mouth.

“I also happened to have an important appointment this weekend. So, who will take responsibility for that appointment?”

“…Ha! It’s probably just a trivial appointment anyway. I’ll take responsibility for it!”

“Hee hee~ Really? You won’t go back on your word.”

He had expected Count Ganurabra to appear after all.

Knowing this, preparing for it wasn’t difficult.

‘It’s almost time for him to arrive now.’

“………!”

Everyone except Alicia and Loki flinched, feeling a sudden, vast aura.

It was incomparable to the aura emitted by the professor in charge of the disciplinary committee earlier.

Someone entered through the door that Count Ganurabra had opened.

‘Do Joden and this person learn how to make such perfectly timed entrances somewhere?’

Golden hair and golden eyes, just like Lucas and Yerika, with whom he conversed daily in the special class and communication room.

He had seen it quite often in the Imperial Palace, but this was the first time he was seeing it outside the palace.

Karsten Leonhart.

The current Emperor of the Croa Empire opened the door and entered.

As everyone stared blankly, bewildered by the sudden appearance of the Emperor.

The Emperor’s gaze turned to Ganurabra.

“….We greet His Imperial Majesty, the Great Emperor!”

Ganurabra seemed to snap out of it, kneeling and showing respect, while the Emperor looked down at Count Ganurabra.

Under the vast aura emanating from above his head, Count Ganurabra trembled like a mouse caught outside in a cold winter.

To Count Ganurabra, who was trembling, the Emperor’s calm voice was heard.

“You’ll take responsibility for the appointment I, your Emperor, made with my ‘only disciple’….”

“………!”

Everyone was bewildered at first by the Emperor’s words, but they quickly understood and stared at Loki with surprised eyes.

Surely not?

“How do you intend to take responsibility for my time, Count Ganurabra?”