In the end, it was the next day after the mage soldiers had finished rescuing the injured.
It was then that the investigation was set to begin.
In the end, I ended up taking Sepia in, almost like she was a guest.
Maybe their mental ages are similar, but she quickly became close friends with Mastema.
The food was delivered as promised, but in exchange, we were not allowed to leave the academy.
Apart from the mage soldiers who were here for the investigation, it was just us at the academy, so we couldn’t do anything.
It wouldn’t be good to wander around too much and run into the investigation team, potentially raising unnecessary suspicions.
With nothing else to do, I limited myself to only the bare minimum of physical exercise and spent the rest of the time inside the house.
“If you don’t work, you don’t eat—so, Principal Sepia, I’m expecting you to teach us some lessons.”
“That’s true… All right, I understand.”
Even if she’s in a rough situation, she’s still the principal. Her magical knowledge, inherited from her predecessors and through her own efforts, is on a whole different level from ours.
With Sepia as our teacher, we took lessons on magic while staying cooped up in the house.
The lessons were advanced, but Sepia’s explanations were easy to understand.
We began by learning why intermediate magic can’t be handled unless you’ve first mastered beginner magic, and continued until we actually mastered intermediate magic.
By the time I had mostly mastered intermediate lightning magic, the temporary investigation at the academy had ended.
It took about seven days.
Sepia was summoned.
Since I was considered an important witness, I was called as well.
The location was the court of the Magic Nation.
We flew there with flight magic from the academy.
Mastema followed, hiding in the shadows.
Since they requested disarmament, I had Mastema carry my Heavenly Sword.
Victor protested at being carried by Mastema, but when I mentioned the encounter with the Demogorgon, he fell silent.
By now, the whole country should know who I am.
Even so, we were unarmed, while the other side was full of mages.
There’s no way I could calmly accept going there unarmed just because they told me to.
I had Noel and Arnella prepare for a move.
I definitely have no intention of staying in this country any longer.
We arrived at the courthouse.
Mage soldiers were stationed around it, with heavy security.
It was excessive, but I understood the reason.
An adjutant who had been standing next to Gassai guided Sepia and me.
The place we were taken to was the courtroom.
The gallery was filled with mage soldiers, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
It felt like we had come to some kind of freak show. This is starting to get exciting.
Sepia had recovered enough to put on the mask of the academy principal.
Sepia and I were made to stand in the center.
Ah, I see. So this is how they’re treating us.
For now, I’ll just wait and see how things go.
“Father…”
Sepia muttered softly.
It seems the elderly man sitting on the left was Sepia’s father.
Judging by his clothes and medals, he was likely a noble of high standing.
His magic power was also strong. He must be the current head of the Sladegemil family.
The man didn’t even glance at Sepia.
The show began with the voice of the stern elderly judge.
According to the Magic Nation, the incident had been classified as a terrorist act driven by fear of the nation’s advanced magical technologies.
They claimed that the attack on the academy, endangering students and staff and causing casualties, was intended to cut off the source of that fear.
The investigation results and the report prior to the terrorist act exaggerated the situation, claiming traces of attempted demon summoning had been found, and that it had been an extremely dangerous situation.
Sena’s room had no traces left after the gate closed, and considering the possibility of other countries learning about it, this conclusion was understandable.
“It is reported that the two of you resolved the incident. Is this true?”
“It is.”
“Yes, it is.”
“And is it correct that Sena Easton was the mastermind?”
I nodded in response.
I kept Mastema’s involvement a secret. It would be a hassle to mention.
The judge asked several more questions.
“Why was an adventurer, known for their activities in other countries, in this nation?”
“To become a mage.”
“Hmm…”
The questions weren’t particularly significant.
I’m likely not their main concern.
“Principal Sepia Sladegemil. While your efforts in resolving the incident are acknowledged—”
The judge paused here.
“—your primary responsibility is to ensure the safe operation of the academy. It is said that there had been signs for some time that Sena Easton was dangerous. Testimonies suggest that the academy staff had also cooperated with her.”
“T-That’s because… my father told me to overlook them since they were producing results.”
As soon as Sepia said this, a loud thud echoed as someone slammed the table.
“My daughter’s failure has caused great harm to the Magic Nation. I deeply regret it.”
The man who stood up was Sepia’s father, the one she had pointed out.
“Lord Darzen, you have not been granted permission to speak.”
“I apologize. I felt I had to express my sincere apology, and my feelings got the better of me.”
With that, Darzen sat down.
Sepia, standing next to me, looked down and shrank in on herself.
At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to put up any decent defense.
I see, I see.
The judge spoke again.
The results of the investigation into the academy were finally revealed.
It appeared that the nobles from other countries had suffered almost no harm.
The kingdom’s noble children had been withdrawn before the incident to support their country’s recovery.
It seemed the imperial noble children hadn’t been deeply involved in the Hell Research Society either; although some were injured, no deaths were confirmed.
The Empire still had some pride left, it seemed.
Considering the number of students, there were few nobles from other countries.
However, many commoners, including those missing, had fallen victim.
“It has been determined that the academy is no longer viable and will be closed. This decision was made by the leaders of the Magic Nation. The land will be repurposed by the Magic Workshop Bureau and used for factory operations.”
“It is unavoidable. The quality of students has been declining recently anyway. The land would be better used for the advancement of the Magic Nation’s technology as a workshop.”
Darzen spoke again.
The judge tried to stop him, but Darzen wasn’t willing to be quiet this time and exchanged a look with him. The judge remained silent after that.
Darzen was probably of higher rank than the judge.
This wasn’t a trial; it was just a spectacle.
Sepia remained silent as she listened.
Perhaps this was how decisions had always been made, ignoring her will.
“A great shame that our family, which has operated this prestigious academy for so long, should see it brought to an end by none other than my own daughter. When I took over, no such problems occurred.”
Darzen, drunk on his own self-importance, began delivering a speech.
He used every word in his vocabulary to lament how, despite his own superiority, his daughter was utterly incompetent.
It became clear why Kasugal didn’t stay in this country, no matter how well he had been treated. Just thinking about being under the command of someone like Darzen made me feel sick.
“…In the end, you’re nothing but a spare for your sister.”
At his final words, I could see Sepia lower her head, tears flowing down her face.
“I hereby pronounce the verdict on Sepia Sladegemil. You are relieved of your position as headmistress due to the dissolution of the academy. In addition, as punishment for your failure to prevent the terrorist attack that sacrificed the lives of promising young people, you are sentenced to exile from this country.”
“It can’t be helped. Fortunately, or perhaps I should say, as luck would have it, her sister is in the Department of Magic Technology. Our family’s sins shall be atoned for through further advancements in magical technology.”
The situation seemed to have reached its conclusion without any input from others. Exile, huh?
For the first time, Darzen turned to face Sepia.
“I am deeply disappointed. I entrusted you with this, believing you would be the foundation for a new era. You are now disinherited. Go wherever you like.”
“…Yes.”
Sepia responded with a voice that barely managed to escape her throat.
In the end, this was a matter concerning a foreign house and a foreign country. It had nothing to do with me.
But I had grown tired of this farce.
“So, summoning demons, is it? Hmph. How archaic. Even if a demon appeared, I would wipe them out myself.”
As Darzen turned back around, a few of the onlookers laughed. It seemed to be his signature line.
The mage soldiers, however, remained silent. It must be hard for them to deal with someone like him being in charge.
However, I couldn’t ignore what he just said. Wipe out demons, huh?
He had the nerve to say that in front of me?
“Lord Darzen Sladegemil.”
“Hmm? Ah, you’re the adventurer, aren’t you? Your role here is done. You may leave.”
“You just said you could wipe out demons, didn’t you?”
“Of course. A demon or two is nothing to me.”
“In that case, why not demonstrate it?”
“What?”
Mastema emerged from the shadows behind me.
“Don’t kill him.”
“Understood.”
Mastema had barely used her magic since that night. She was still at around eighty percent of her full strength.
At her sudden appearance, the mage soldiers immediately stood up, aiming their staffs at her.
Sepia looked on in shock at both Mastema and me.
But this wasn’t for Sepia’s sake.
This was just me venting my frustration.
Ever since I came to this country, the stress had been building up. I needed to let it out.
