Ch.4646. Letter

“Mmm.”

The dean of Robern Academy sighs as he looks at the travel plan document on his desk.

It was a private travel request submitted by none other than Deus Verdi.

Although he had mentioned allowing quarterly personal trips when they made the contract, he never expected it to be used right after arrival.

“Haah.”

What made it even harder to refuse was the destination written on Professor Deus’s travel plan.

The capital of Griffin Kingdom, Greyfond.

The massive nest of Griffin where countless kingdom citizens lived and where His Majesty himself resided in the royal palace.

The dean wasn’t stupid enough not to understand what this meant.

‘It seems he intends to resolve the issue of him being a spiritmaster.’

He thought about betraying him now, but anxiety kept making him second-guess himself.

His brain felt like it was twisting into knots.

When submitting the travel plan, Professor Deus had said that evil spirits still remained in the academy but weren’t an immediate threat, so there was no need to worry.

He had also given a very firm answer about his return, saying he would be back within this quarter if possible.

“Haah, this is giving me a headache.”

Originally, the dean’s feelings toward Deus were certainly not positive. He had even planned to dismiss him immediately after resolving the incident.

But he had witnessed his competence.

He had seen his extraordinary performance in cleanly resolving the incident while the dean was unconscious from the evil spirits’ mischief.

“There’s no harm to the academy anyway.”

Although they had signed a contract, it hadn’t been reported to the royal court yet, nor had he been added to the professor roster.

Given the circumstances, such administrative tasks were naturally delayed.

Later on, they could cut ties and claim the academy was a victim without any issues.

“I’ll have to keep him for now.”

He takes out his seal and firmly stamps Deus’s travel plan.

After stamping it, he felt somewhat relieved.

‘Let’s see what happens to the academy after I’m gone.’

It absolutely wasn’t because of the solemn warning Deus had given when handing over the travel plan.

Rationally speaking, Deus was a necessary person, so as dean, he was simply keeping him on.

“Mmm.”

While consoling himself, the dean covers his face with both hands as he feels a massive tremor from outside.

* * *

With each step the golden-armored judges take as they approach from the end of the corridor, nearby evil spirits flee in terror.

No matter how evil these spirits might be, they were once human beings.

Even the dead had to bow their heads before such overwhelming pressure.

[Whew.]

Even the Dark Spiritmaster beside me straightens up, seemingly tense. For mages, Mado Judges were natural enemies.

“Stay close to me.”

Concerned that the Dark Spiritmaster might drift away, I caution her, but she scoffs and takes a step closer to me.

[Aren’t you scared? Can you see how the space around those people is rippling? That’s because they’ve layered multiple mana shields.]

“……”

[It would take a direct hit from something like a ballista to break through that.]

I didn’t bother to answer.

I already knew how powerful Mado Judges were from the game.

There was exactly one story battle against them, and it was essentially designed to make you lose.

The Mado Judge who had now reached me, the one at the front, asks in a heavy, rigid tone.

“The younger brother of Count Norsweden. Deus Verdi. Is that correct?”

“Yes, I am Deus Verdi.”

Twitch.

The eyebrow of the mechanical-like Mado Judge twitches slightly. He seems displeased, perhaps not expecting such a confident response.

I put my wrists together and extend them forward.

“Let’s get going.”

“…I arrest you on suspicion of violating the Kingdom’s Magical Law regarding Black Magic.”

The Mado Judge reluctantly places mana handcuffs on me. As the other judges behind him step forward to restrain me from both sides—

“Deus!”

A woman’s voice mixed with breathless gasps comes from behind.

I turn my head slightly, and there stands Erika Bright with a shocked expression.

As she draws up mana as if ready to save me immediately, Gideon, who had followed her, quickly steps back and declares he has nothing to do with this.

“Hmm.”

The Mado Judge who handcuffed me notices Erika’s mana flowing hostilely and glares at her.

The situation is about to explode.

Just as golden magic begins to manifest at her fingertips, I speak.

“Erika Bright.”

“……”

“Don’t be swayed by romantic feelings. Maintain cold, rational thinking.”

Gulp.

At my words, Erika hesitates momentarily, then bites her lip and withdraws her mana.

The Mado Judge clicks his tongue, turns around, and I silently follow as they escort me away.

The Mado Judges take me to the academy garden, where they had warped in.

During this time, they didn’t say a word, and I didn’t bother to speak either.

“Huh? What’s that?”

As we exit through the first-floor entrance, I spot Findenai smoking and talking with Aria outside.

“Professor.”

Aria, who already knew my entire plan, simply bows her head briefly in farewell, but Findenai was different.

“What’s this? What’s going on? Master, are you being arrested? Need help?”

The Mado Judges immediately glare at Findenai for those words. As a former slave from the Republic of Clark, it wouldn’t be good for her to draw attention, but—

“What are you looking at, you bastards?”

She provokes the Mado Judges without any hesitation, hurling insults.

She was venting her leftover emotions from being scolded by me earlier onto the judges.

Findenai looked ready to throw down her cigarette and grab the axe leaning against the wall, but—

“Wait! Hold on! My goodness! Such a temper!”

Aria urgently tries to stop Findenai. I hadn’t expected her to be so emotional about trying to save me.

Despite Aria’s continued attempts to stop her, Findenai was about to rush in, demanding her axe, but—

Our eyes meet, and she suddenly loses her strength, lowering her hand.

She takes a long drag from her cigarette and exhales the smoke.

“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

Though she didn’t know what my plan was, Findenai had figured out that I was being arrested voluntarily.

As I move away from the two, I reach the spot where there were scorch marks on the ground from the warp effect.

Thud!

One of the Mado Judges strikes the ground, and with a resonating sound, the warp begins.

“……”

In the blink of an eye, I find myself in a dark underground prison. I had heard that Black Mages were executed without trial, but I hadn’t expected to be brought directly to prison like this.

Of course, the rising nausea and dizziness from the warp were more pressing issues at the moment.

I would have staggered if the judges weren’t restraining me from both sides, but I managed to feign composure.

“Hmm, he seems tougher than expected.”

“He’s enduring the first warp aftereffects without even using protective magic.”

The judges who had kept their mouths shut until now, displaying judicial dignity, were now speaking casually.

With no outside eyes watching, they quickly relaxed their demeanor.

“Put him in the cell for now. I’ll report to the Judge Master.”

The judge who had been at the front said this and left, while I was pushed into the cell by their rough hands.

There was only one cell, and no other prisoners.

It seemed to be a holding cell exclusively used by the Mado Judges.

It wasn’t properly cleaned and showed almost no signs of human presence. Since Mado Judges typically dealt with criminals who were either impossible to arrest or deserved immediate execution, the prison was relatively unused.

[Ugh, so this is what it feels like to be caught by mana.]

Having briefly absorbed the Dark Spiritmaster into me, she now pops out and looks around.

[A prison of the judges. Definitely a place I never wanted to visit.]

I thought it might be a bit lonely, but that wasn’t the case.

As I silently watched the Dark Spiritmaster cautiously examining the surroundings, heavy footsteps approached from outside, making the entire prison resonate with a sound of loyalty.

The pressure was so intense that it made my skin tingle. Even the Dark Spiritmaster was startled and hid behind me.

The man who sat at the pinnacle of the elite Mado Judges and commanded them all.

The Mado Judge Master.

Tyrne Ol Velocus.

Despite being a mage, he had a physique and presence no different from a warrior, and the space around him was rippling and shaking to a degree far beyond that of other judges.

Even in the midst of such fierce hostility that made it difficult to breathe properly, my face maintained the same expression, as if it were made of leather.

“So you’re Deus Verdi.”

“Yes.”

“Yes? Huh, I knew you were bold, but you’re crazier than I thought?”

Crack!

As he grabs the iron bars, black cracks begin to spread, and the bars crumble into powder.

A violent use of mana.

It was a clear demonstration of what would happen to a person caught in those hands.

“Do you know where you are, daring to be so disrespectful before me? Kneel and bow your head, you vulgar and disgusting Black Mage who reeks of corpses.”

His words were neither advice nor threat, but coercion. In fact, anyone else would have already been kneeling without realizing it.

Despite the impact of his words, which felt like an incantation, I answered him expressionlessly.

“Did you receive my letter?”

“Kneel.”

“Sigh.”

I exhale with fatigue and frustration, and Tyrne steps forward to look down at me.

As I meet his glaring eyes, which suggest he could kill me with just his fist, I continue after my sigh.

“We’re not street kids, so ease up on the intimidation.”

“Huh.”

“I’m asking if you came to talk with me or just to bark.”

“You truly are insane.”

Tyrne pulls out a letter from his pocket.

It was the letter I had sent through Illuania, stating my intention to surrender.

Crunch!

Black cracks appear on it too, and it turns to ash and disappears.

“You piqued my interest, but you’ve crossed the line. By the authority of the Mado Judge Master, I will execute Black Mage Deus Verdi on the spot.”

Just as he reaches out his hand toward me—

He frowns deeply at the commotion coming from outside.

“What’s going on!”

When he asks the judges outside, one of them rushes in urgently, but behind him walk two people whom even the judges cannot easily block.

“It’s been a while, Mado Judge Master.”

An old man with a distinctive long white beard, holding a staff that looks like a thousand-year-old tree trunk.

The King’s right hand.

Grand Mage Rockpellican Raines.

“Do you ever clean? The musty smell and dust are quite unsightly.”

Walking ahead of the Grand Mage, a young handsome man covers his mouth with his sleeve while pointing out every detail.

The man who sits on Griffin’s throne.

The master of the vast nest that is the kingdom.

The ruler with noble yet passionate blood.

The current king, Orpheus Luden Griffin.

“Judge Master, step aside please.”

He smiles at me, pointing in my direction.

“The Grand Mage and I have some questions for this fellow.”

In his hand was a letter.