novelzi Chapter 123: Formal Hearing (2)
Chapter 123: Formal Hearing (2)
Chapter 123: Formal Hearing (2)
... I opened my eyes, and as my vision slowly cleared, a hazy crimson fog stretched before me, blurring the boundary between sky and ground. The distinction between them was nearly gone. It felt like I was standing alone in the darkness—but I wasn’t. Someone nearby was calling my name.
"Deculein."
The man's voice, heavy with malice, weighed on my chest. A rare emotion stirred deep within me, something I hadn't felt in a long time—fear.
"My son."
Decalane, Deculein’s father and the former head of the Yukline family, was the one who led our lineage to greatness. He was the only man Deculein ever feared.
Decalane fixed his blood-red eyes on me and declared, "I have found the proper vessel."
His voice, his gestures, the way his eyes moved, and even the air around him stirred something deep inside me. The back of my neck grew tense, and goosebumps spread across my arms. It felt as though my very soul was trembling. Yet, despite all of this, something felt wrong.
Did Deculein possess such a mechanism at all? Was there ever a part of him that could acknowledge something as insignificant as fear? After all, wasn’t he a man whose mind had been, at least in part, shattered?
I began to question this emotion. It wasn’t something Decalane had created, but rather the result of an external influence—a reaction. It had to be the work of magical brainwashing, a deliberate intrusion by Decalane, once celebrated as the greatest Art Mage of his time.
I swept away the fog that veiled his figure and fixed my gaze on the image of Decalane, buried deep within Deculein’s subconscious.
"Deculein, my son," Decalane declared.
The man standing before me resembled Deculein, but he was even colder and more ruthless, embodying the Yukline family’s creed perfectly—Fear the demon.
"Bring it before me."
Deculein feared him, and that fear seeped into me as well. However...
"I am not Deculein," I stated.
I wasn’t overwhelmed by it. No matter how much brainwashing had been etched into Deculein’s body, for me, with the body of an Iron Man, it was nothing more than a cheap trick.
"My son."
I moved toward him without hesitation, seized his throat with both hands, and tightened my grip. In that moment, memories surged through me, as if a switch had been flipped, and an image surfaced.
"... Decalane”
Decalane had never been satisfied with Deculein, nor with Yeriel, during his time as the head of the Yukline family. What he sought was a vessel—a body to carry out his ambitions.
"Was it a new head for the family you desired?" I declared.
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
"Or perhaps..."
[Independent Quest: Family]
That day, I had destroyed Decalane’s personality along with Yeriel, but the system never issued a quest completion notice. This could only mean one thing—Decalane’s trial wasn’t over.
Hiss... Clunk!
The sharp hiss of the machine jolted me back to reality. The vision faded, giving way to the present.
"It's finished!" Adrienne announced.
I slowly got to my feet, glancing at the cylindrical machine I had just been lying in.
"Well, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary!"
Its full name was the Magitech Brainwave Explorer, a machine developed on the Floating Island to probe deep into a subject's subconscious. Adrienne had ordered this test under the pretense of personal verification.
"Was this really necessary?" I asked, adjusting my clothes as I walked toward her.
"Of course! What if the candidate was a spy from another nation, allied with the Ashes, or a fanatic of the Round Table? We can’t take any risks!" Adrienne said, full of confidence.
"Is this machine genuinely capable of distinguishing that?"
"Absolutely! We've caught thousands of spies with it! Its effectiveness even changes based on whose mana is powering it!"
I kept my silence.
“And this time, it was mine!”
I gave Adrienne a slightly uneasy look. If that subconscious thought had made its way to the Chairwoman as well...
As if confirming my concern, she smiled brightly and said, "Don't worry! I know how to keep a secret!"
I shook my head in response to her words.
Hissss... Clunk!
The machine hissed again. This time, it marked the end of Ihelm's session.
"Oh, it looks like Ihelm is done as well!"
Ihelm sat up, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, huffing as though he had just woken from a nightmare.
"Have a seat here!" Adrienne gestured, and we both sat down. "The first round of personal verification is complete, and you both passed!"
"Thank you," Ihelm said, his face now clear after using Cleanse.
Adrienne turned to me, slipping the brainwave exploration results into her coat, and said, "By the way, Professor Deculein?"
"Yes, Chairwoman."
"I’ve finally understood parts of your thesis!" Adrienne exclaimed, admiration evident in her expression.
Ihelm shot me a glance, smirking as he asked, "Is that so? And what were your thoughts on Professor Deculein’s work?"
"It was exactly what I expected! I really liked it! Even though it’s just a theory, the Floating Island will definitely praise it!" Adrienne said, giving a thumbs-up.
Ihelm’s smile grew wider.
"And regarding the hearing," Adrienne continued, "it might be long or short! In addition to the witnesses you’ve both prepared, the board has invited common witnesses for review! We’ll be reassessing both your achievements and standings in the Magical Realm!"
"Of course," Ihelm replied with confidence, and I gave a nod in agreement.
Adrienne smiled and said, "All right! You both have about two hours, so use this time to rest and get ready!"
***
"The strategy is as outlined below."
As soon as Ihelm returned, he immediately set to work preparing for the hearing, collaborating with dozens of his subordinates—professors, mages, and members of his family.
"First, we must address Deculein’s poor record of published theses. Over the past four years, he has submitted only one, and even that, as confirmed through Adrienne’s interview, remains an untested theory lacking experimental validation," one of Ihelm’s subordinate presented.
Boasting about achievements or offering promises wouldn’t be effective. The most effective strategy was to attack Deculein’s character directly.
"Therefore, we will challenge the uncertainty surrounding his thesis and highlight the reputations of those who previously worked under him."
Ihelm’s gaze briefly shifted toward Deculein, a faint smile playing on his lips, but Deculein remained completely unresponsive.
Knock, knock—
A firm knock echoed through the room. The moment had come. Epherene pressed the letters to her chest, opened the door, and stepped out of the witness waiting room.
Outside, one of Ihelm’s attendants greeted her and said, “Please, follow me.”
Epherene gave a silent nod.
Thud— Thud—
Her footsteps echoed down the corridor, each one amplifying the pounding of her heart. With every step, a wave of nausea surged within her.
Thud— Thud—
Finally, they reached the towering doors of the hearing room.
“... This way.”
Epherene paused at the threshold, drawing in a deep breath.
“I will open it,” the attendant said.
“... Okay,” Epherene replied, adjusting her clothes and bracing herself.
Creeeeak—
The doors slowly opened.
Ihelm, standing on the other side, cast her a graceful smile and announced, “... Ah, there she is. Our first witness—Solda Epherene.”
The room was filled with people. As she walked forward, all eyes followed her, but her steps remained steady until she reached the witness stand and took her seat.
“... Please, introduce yourself!” Adrienne said.
“I... um... I am Solda Epherene, an assistant under Professor Deculein and...” Epherene stammered, meeting Deculein’s gaze. He was watching her. Though her heart ached with sorrow, she didn’t look away.
Adrienne smiled warmly and added, "And?"
“... I am also the daughter of Solda Kagan, who was once an assistant to Professor Deculein.”
“Aha!” Adrienne exclaimed, her mischievous smile growing wider.
Ihelm stepped forward and addressed her, “Solda Epherene, it is understood that your father took his own life four years ago, is that correct?”
Epherene’s teeth ground together, tension building in her jaw.
Adrienne observed with amusement as Ihelm, in a calm and composed tone, continued, “I am aware of the reason behind it. I also understand why you’ve been called here today.”
From her seat, Empress Sophien swiftly grasped the unfolding situation. Adrienne’s earlier assurance that she wouldn’t be disappointed now seemed to carry some weight.
“The thesis that Professor Deculein submitted to the Chairwoman—what if the idea wasn’t originally his?”
The board members' eyes widened in shock, and even Ihelm’s faction shifted uneasily.
With a faint smile still lingering, Ihelm addressed the board, "Should this not be the first instance of such conduct, what measures should you plan to take in response?"
The board members leaned in toward each other, speaking in hushed tones. Astal, Louina, and the other witnesses exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes briefly resting on Deculein.
Board member Drummen inquired, "Are you suggesting that the thesis submitted by Professor Deculein was not originally his idea?"
Ihelm responded with confidence, “Yes. The origin and formulation of that thesis belong entirely to another individual.”
"Do you have any evidence to substantiate this claim, witness?"
Epherene raised her head and, drawing a bundle of letters from her coat, said, "These are the letters I exchanged with my father."
Deculein remained silent, his eyes closed, as if there was nothing for him to say.
Board member Drummen continued, pressing further, “Could it be that your father harbored resentment toward Professor Deculein and intentionally falsified the evidence?”
"My father mentioned... he embedded a magic marker, connected to his own blood, within the magic circuit described in the thesis."
Ihelm clapped, a sly smile creeping onto his face. The man he knew would never roll over so easily. For years, he had quietly laid the groundwork for Deculein’s downfall, biding his time for the perfect moment to strike.
“A magic marker! That’s rather clever—”
“I understand that the hearing will not be concluded in a single day,” Epherene interrupted Ihelm. “And if the investigation is not completed today, but is conducted fairly and thoroughly... then I believe the truth will be revealed. I have faith in my father, but...”
“Hmm, I see!” Adrienne said with a nod, briefly quieting the murmurs in the room. “Professor Deculein, do you have anything to say?!”
At Adrienne’s words, all eyes turned toward Deculein. He lifted his gaze to meet hers but remained silent, his expression revealing a trace of displeasure.
“Do you have~ anything to say~?” Adrienne teased, playfully drawing out her words.
“Heh!”
Unable to hold back any longer, she let out a burst of laughter. Epherene tightened her fists in her lap.
"Why are you laughing, Chairwoman...?" Ihelm asked, his confusion clear as the atmosphere in the hearing changed abruptly. The board members, equally unsettled, exchanged uncertain glances.
Adrienne gave a soft chuckle and said, “Oh, well, you were going to find out eventually anyway!”
Epherene glanced at Adrienne, who gave a small cough and cleared her throat, preparing to continue her words.
“Alright, I’ll reveal it now.”
Epherene stared at the Archmage, puzzled by her sudden shift in tone. She began to wonder whether some behind-the-scenes agreement had already been made or if her testimony had been a serious mistake.
"Professor Deculein submitted the thesis to me ten days ago. After completing my review, I forwarded it to the Floating Island."
Meanwhile, Sophien folded her arms, casting her gaze over Deculein, Epherene, Ihelm, and Adrienne in turn. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips. She was glad she hadn’t left halfway through.
“It’s true that Deculein is the first author of that thesis.”
Ihelm’s smile widened as Adrienne went on, while Epherene, tense with frustration, clenched her thighs. A rush of emotion welled up inside her, threatening to bring tears, but just then—
Adrienne’s voice softened as she added, “But! There’s a co-author, meaning it was a collaborative effort.”
The impact of her words struck Epherene like a punch, leaving her briefly stunned.
"W-what... Did you just say? C-co-author?" Ihelm stammered.
It wasn’t something the Deculein he knew would have done—no, it was something he would never have allowed himself to do. He was a type of person who would rather die clutching the thesis to his chest than tarnish his pride by collaborating with a co-author.
“And that name is...”
All eyes in the hearing room turned to Adrienne. Relishing the attention, her joy unmistakable, she prepared for the chaos to follow. With a playful smile, she raised her hand and pointed directly at Epherene.
“Kagan Luna. Your father, Epherene Luna.”