Ch.26Magic Presentation (5)

“How did it end up like this?”

Ruide looked at the half-chaotic lecture hall with clouded eyes.

“Chancellor.”

“You slacker, how many can you manage at maximum?”

Clifford was excited. He was so focused on magic that he seemed oblivious to his surroundings.

Ruide nodded toward Catherine, who was half-turned to stone.

“I don’t think this is the time for that.”

“Hmm?”

Only then did Clifford look around. The hall had sunk into deep silence.

“Did something happen?”

Catherine spoke with a hardened expression.

“Damon Kairos used magic indoors.”

“What’s wrong with using magic in a lecture hall?”

“That’s not it…!”

Catherine pointed in Damon’s direction.

“He used magic against a person.”

“What?”

At these unexpected words, Clifford followed Catherine’s gesture.

There stood Damon, arms folded in an arrogant posture.

Clifford’s expression hardened.

“You used magic against a person, maliciously?”

“Yes.”

Catherine wore a triumphant expression.

Clifford had considered expulsion just for using magic once.

Now that he’d used it in front of the Chancellor, insubordination would be added to the charges.

She had no doubt he would impose severe punishment.

…Her thoughts were so transparent that Ruide thought to himself:

‘I doubt it.’

Knowing Kairos well, Ruide was certain that unless he had killed someone, there would be no consequences.

After all, this was the Imperial Academy—

And he was royalty.

“Is this true? Prince Damon.”

Clifford rose to his full height and approached Damon.

Damon replied with a relaxed demeanor.

“I merely tried out an interesting theory I heard. Were you not also engrossed in experimentation?”

“I clearly told you before not to cause disturbances. If it’s true that you used magic against a person, I cannot let this slide.”

Damon shrugged.

“What disturbance? Surely you don’t believe that lowborn over me, a royal?”

Clifford stroked his chin with a “hmm.”

Come to think of it, Catherine Ovillion had already made unreasonable claims once before.

He looked at Catherine.

Catherine protested indignantly:

“Everyone saw it! He used magic against Hannah as if experimenting on her!”

Damon smirked.

“That wench merely happened to be in the space where I cast my magic.”

“Liar! You clearly aimed at her!”

“Well, perhaps my desire to cast magic was influenced by the fact that her vulgar question disturbed my composure. So what? Did the magic actually hit? There was no damage.”

Catherine clenched her fists, trembling with anger.

“You should be grateful, really.”

Damon spread his hands naturally. His eyes were full of interest.

“I could have killed her, but I didn’t. I’m the savior of that commoner’s life. Isn’t that right?”

The atmosphere of someone who had lived as a ruler his entire life.

His unique tone that would not tolerate objection.

The meaning behind that tone didn’t matter.

The audience was already overwhelmed by Damon.

“What crime have I committed? If anyone has an objection, speak up. Anyone.”

Most students wouldn’t even meet Damon’s gaze.

Damon wore an obvious sneer.

Ruide admired his shamelessness.

He was truly a picture-perfect villain.

‘Justin, what are you doing?? Not targeting him?’

But our protagonist had collapsed. Ruide was disappointed.

“Such… such nonsense! Chancellor!”

Clifford was staring intently at Damon.

He already knew the answer. But dealing with none other than Damon Kairos was dangerous in many ways.

‘I’ve been wanting to teach that ruffian a lesson.’

Unless he was absolutely certain a line had been crossed, taking action could negatively impact the entire academy.

Complex political issues were entangled here.

He needed to be cautious.

“Do you have definitive proof that Prince Damon used magic against a person?”

“Of course! Everyone here saw it!”

Catherine scanned the crowd, seeking agreement.

But everyone avoided her gaze.

Catherine’s expression turned to dismay.

Fear was the cause.

Damon was not someone who acted according to common sense.

He simply removed what displeased him and killed what irritated him.

Everyone here knew that.

“You…”

Catherine looked at Hannah with wavering eyes.

“Shouldn’t you testify?”

Hannah bowed her head.

“I… didn’t see anything.”

Catherine’s eyes filled with shock.

Justin had courageously stood up against Damon’s one-sided violence. How could he not fear the mad prince?

Yet what he received in return was abandonment.

“What is this pathetic farce?”

Damon’s eyes changed to those looking at insects. The slight interest he had shown until now faded.

“Is that the extent of commoners’ loyalty? Pride not even worthy of insects.”

“Chancellor.”

Catherine took a deep breath. She had learned from last time that shouting alone wouldn’t solve anything.

“If you can see Justin unconscious on the floor, please don’t pretend otherwise.”

Clifford spoke coldly.

“Bring evidence that can determine whether he collapsed from attempting excessive magic or was truly attacked by Prince Damon.”

“I’m a witness… and also.”

Catherine looked at Ruide.

From Ruide’s perspective, her gaze appeared desperate.

“…Lord Ruide saw it.”

A testimony more certain than that of ten commoners.

That would be Ruide’s testimony.

Catherine thought this was the only way to overturn the situation.

“If Lord Ruide saw it, would that testimony not be effective?”

Clifford answered immediately.

“Of course it would. The words of a Windsor carry weight.”

“Oh? You would hold a royal accountable at the Imperial Academy?”

“Indeed, Prince Damon. While academy law cannot presume to judge a prince, we must at least lodge a formal complaint with the imperial family through proper channels.”

Only the Emperor could judge the crimes of royalty.

It was the supreme law of the empire.

Damon clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“That’s a grave misunderstanding, Chancellor. Do you think His Majesty would even listen to you?”

Clifford ignored Damon and asked Ruide:

“Ruide Christopher. Tell us exactly what you saw.”

The decision had effectively passed to Ruide.

Ruide blinked, thinking:

‘What should I do?’

It’s true that he disliked the commoner ‘Hannah.’

He found her question unpleasant, sensing vague anger and inferiority.

He also disliked how she wouldn’t back down when speaking to him, yet couldn’t even mention the harm she suffered when facing Damon.

He didn’t particularly like Justin or Catherine either.

Setting aside the truth—

Was it the right decision to make an enemy of royalty for the sake of such people?

But—

He didn’t want to lie.

“…Even if the first spell could be considered an experiment, what followed was clearly an attack. He used royal authority to crush him.”

“My use of authority was—”

Damon smirked.

“Because that worthless commoner showed hostility toward me. Insulting the imperial family warrants immediate execution. As I said earlier, he should be grateful just to be alive. Surely you don’t think academy rules supersede imperial law?”

Ruide gazed at Damon with half-closed eyes.

That confidence must come from the certainty that no matter what happened, he couldn’t be punished.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Though slightly underhanded, Ruide decided to use his trump card.

“I don’t know about that and I don’t care. Chancellor, I’ll tell Emperor myself that Damon ruined my presentation.”

Damon’s pupils shook greatly, as if he hadn’t expected this.

**

Pantesium Empire Palace, secret passage.

A large man and a handsome man were conversing in front of it.

“Your Majesty…! Going without guards!”

“Consider your bulk that won’t even fit into this secret passage.”

The guardian knight, Galahad Ryan, looked at his enormous body in dismay.

“Even the women in Fruit Territory know you’re Ryan.”

Fruit Territory was a small domain at the southern edge of the empire. Its other name was ‘The End of the Empire.’

The Emperor shook his head and put on his robe.

“Then, at least some other guards…”

“My knights have excellent loyalty and skill, but no talent for acting. Didn’t we get caught last time?”

There was already a precedent. Receiving the Emperor’s distrustful gaze, Galahad knelt on one knee.

“Those men—! I broke one leg each, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor covered his ears at Galahad’s voice, which threatened to burst his eardrums.

“You’re loud. Too loud, Sir Galahad. Are you trying to rupture my eardrums?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

The Emperor warned him firmly.

“I appreciate your loyalty, but that’s enough. This is an order.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Galahad bit his molars. Bowing his head deeper, he shouted:

“Please just let me know where you’re going. I will keep watch over that area!”

“The auction house.”

“Yes, understood… What?”

Galahad raised his head. His face was full of bewilderment.

“Y-Your Majesty, if I may ask… why go to an auction house?”

“I’m going to buy a crystal ball containing my friend’s son.”

“…You mean Lord Ruide?”

Galahad recalled “that story” which had recently caused a stir even in the imperial palace.

The story of the Windsor genius presenting a new paradigm to the magical academic world.

However, he refused to contribute to academia, allowing only those who attended his presentation in person and those who would later watch the recorded lecture to use his methods.

“That old man has really gotten greedy, saying he’ll release one per year. Nothing to be done. I’ll have to go myself, even if it means postponing urgent state affairs.”

Galahad was full of questions.

“…Has Your Majesty been interested in magic as well?”

The current Emperor’s specialty was swordsmanship, not magic.

“Why would I be interested in magic? I simply want to see the child I’ve watched since infancy working hard at something.”

Galahad was dumbfounded. But showing that on his face would be disrespectful. Instead, he roared:

“Your Majesty! If you need that, I, Galahad, will surely obtain it for you! Please trust me!”

“There’s only one crystal ball in this auction. Who knows when the next one will be released. I cannot fathom what that senile old man is thinking. But one thing is certain.”

The Emperor’s red eyes grew solemn.

“She is coming. A madwoman you knights cannot handle.”

**

Windsor Castle.

“You’ve heard the news.”

A white background.

In contrast, a woman in a black uniform looked out the window.

Her impression was so cold that one might believe the snow falling over the Windsor estate was created by her.

Before her, a blonde woman in a similar uniform with similar features knelt on one knee and answered.

“Yes, Lady.”

It was Irene Windsor, the official heir to the Windsor Duchy.

“It’s been a while since you’ve gone to the capital.”

The Duchess of Windsor spoke as if it were a settled fact.

Irene replied with a smile:

“Indeed, but there won’t be any problems. I’ll bring back what you want.”

“There must be no mistakes.”

The Duchess spoke strictly.

“You must bring back the recording of my son. I will not tolerate it falling into anyone else’s hands. Even if that person is the Emperor.”

And so—the competition for the crystal ball containing Ruide’s image…

Began heading in a direction no one could avoid.