“I never thought I would be in this position.”
Professor Marks was troubled by the antics of a student he had been keeping an eye on.
Disciplinary trial.
A mechanism for mediating disputes among noble students.
However, it had long since become ineffective.
Mostly, it’s better to negotiate quietly behind the scenes and move on.
If it goes to trial, it leaves a record.
Not baseless rumors.
A tangible record, and in some cases, even the observers.
It is directly related to the honor of the nobility.
In other words, it’s a measure that’s only used when a conflict has gone too far and become irreparable.
“Hans Byron… what on earth are you doing?”
“Graduating from the academy now proves one’s qualifications as a successor to the family. Being disciplined here could be a fatal blow.”
As such.
It’s clearly a bad move.
Even if Lady Speda joins the royal family, Hans Byron…
The Circleia family will never just let this insult slide.
With a deep sigh, Professor Marks looked around the audience in the auditorium.
“Wow, a disciplinary trial, they’re really doing it.”
“Even the seniors said this has never happened before.”
“Haha! This batch is not only talented but also quite entertaining!”
“Principal, please maintain some dignity…”
Starting with a crowd of teachers and students.
“Young Master Circleia is facing a disciplinary trial?”
“The opponent is audacious. What confidence they must have to challenge him.”
“Let’s hope we look good after it ends. Did you bring the gift for after the victory?”
Key stakeholders of the Magic Tower looking out for their own interests.
“Hans…! What kind of trouble are you stirring up now?! Your opponent is Count Circleia!”
“Brother surely has his reasons. Do not be too hasty, fiancée.”
Including Hans Byron’s fiancée, a young lady from the Frontal Count family, and his acquaintances.
The auditorium where the trial was taking place was bustling with no space to spare.
None of them were easy opponents.
But of course.
It was essentially a battlefield where the Western Magic Tower clashed with the Northern Speda!
Another line of worry appeared on Professor Marks’ face.
The problem was, he had essentially become the final decision-maker of this trial.
He could not help but ask the parties involved.
“Why? May I ask why I was assigned the role of judge?”
“Well, as a commoner, you might be able to deliver a fair judgment, free from the interests of the nobility, I guess.”
With half-closed eyes and a sly smile, Hans Byron’s argument seemed plausible. However, the glimpse of a pendant around his neck revealed his true intentions.
“Why didn’t student Ricky Circleia reject his proposal?”
“Well, you, Sir Marks, are known for treating all nobles equally and for your emphasis on manners.”
A male student with sharp eyes nodded in agreement.
“I trust you’ll make a wise decision on your own.”
“Ha, pushing it through with authority, will that really work?”
“Hmph, do you think you’re taking his side because he showed you shallow kindness? Foolish.”
“What a great critic we have here.”
A tense standoff with no concessions.
“Please, be decorous.”
The elderly man adjusted his necktie.
Magic Tower?
This young noble seems unaware, but he is deeply entangled with it due to a past grudge.
Hans Byron?
It was just a fleeting interest.
The massive forces behind both of them?
Neither interest nor sway me.
A sharp light shone in the old professor’s eyes.
What he sees is strictly about right and wrong.
“Then, understanding that both parties agree, I will begin the disciplinary trial.”
Accompanied by the sound of a heavy wooden gavel.
A solemn voice filled the auditorium.
***
“Hans Byron will be defended by Luciana Speda, and Ricky Circleia will represent himself, correct?”
Everyone nodded at Professor Marks’ declaration.
What followed was the time for arguments.
“May I speak?”
“Proceed.”
“I’ll be straightforward. The opponent, Ricky Circleia, has crossed the line.”
Luciana’s tone, as chilling as the howling wind, was mirrored by her eyebrows furrowing deeply.
‘How can she look so pretty even when she’s angry?’
Ahem. Focus.
Now is not the time to be mesmerized by Luciana.
I too responded in tune with her.
“Let me explain the situation. Despite having sent me an invitation, Ricky Circleia carelessly served me tea laced with a sleeping potion upon my arrival. Afterwards, I was confined in a remote location, shackled with a device that sealed my mana.”
Murmurs and reactions rippled through the audience.
“Kidnapping? Confinement? Did I hear that right?”
“…But he is a noble after all, bestowed with a noble status by the Emperor himself, not a commoner, and you’re telling me he imprisoned another noble?”
The use of force among nobles is only allowed in special circumstances like duels and territorial wars.
That’s why their shock was understandable.
“It’s not just that! After kidnapping me, he even attempted to perform biological experiments on me!”
Deliberately left marks from shackles.
The audience showed sympathy as they saw my perfect portrayal of a victim.
‘The atmosphere is good for now.’
Sometimes, emotional appeal can be more persuasive than rational judgment.
Whether it’s a judge or a jury.
One cannot ignore public opinion.
“Hmm. I have heard your valuable opinion. Do you have any evidence to support your statement?”
“Please examine the ingredients of the sleeping potion I was able to recover when I was kidnapped, the shackles used during my confinement, and this ledger!”
Naturally, these were direct evidence from the scene, leaving no room for tampering.
“…The order of the Academy has hit rock bottom.”
Professor Marks’ voice grew colder as he quickly scanned the ledger.
“Ricky Circleia, I would like to hear your defense. Is this really true?”
“…Hmm. Yes, it’s true. I did imprison him, and I even attempted to conduct biological experiments.”
Yet, Ricky Circleia, with his eyes closed, calmly nodded his head.
His clean admission startled the audience, and they began to murmur.
“…What did Circleia just say?”
“Kidnapping a noble? If other families hear about this—”
“However, there is a point that needs to be clarified.”
“Clarified? Do you think there’s room for leniency in the crime you committed?”
Despite Professor Marks’ cold disdain.
Ricky Circleia, looking this way, grinned fiercely.
“If my actions were directed towards a noble, the judge is right. However, I merely preemptively subdued a criminal, a violent criminal at that.”
“…A violent criminal?”
“If he’s a demon looking to invade our Manhett Empire’s territory, then isn’t it appropriate to call him that?”
If I had stirred the judge and audience’s sympathy with tears and talk of biological experiments,
He touched their emotions in a different way.
Anger.
In the Manhett Empire, being called a demon is inherently repulsive, as they are considered the archenemy.
The emotion he chose to invoke was effectively directed in another way.
A courtroom filled with eerie silence.
With sharp gazes piercing through,
“Are you saying that student Hans Byron is a demon?”
“You’ve seen correctly.”
“Such an outrageous claim needs further explanation. You’ll need to present evidence to convince both me and the spectators.”
Under Marks’ questioning, he shrugged his shoulders and handed over a document.
“What is this?”
“Originally, humans are not physically suited for using magic. They need to have a ring created in their heart to assist them. You know this too, don’t you, Professor Marks?”
“That’s correct. What does this have to do with Hans Byron being a demon?”
“It’s completely relevant.”
His finger pointed at me.
“I confined him and checked myself. The document I just gave to the professor contains research on vampires originally held at the Magic Tower and details the similarities in his mana usage.”
“…Hmm.”
“The conclusion has been reached both at the Magic Tower and in our family. He is undoubtedly a demon, a vampire skilled in magic!”
His face overflowed with arrogance, as if he had already won.
Ricky pointed at me with a smile on his face.
“I state as a mage. Hans Byron, who is a mage without a circle, is not a noble of our Manhett Empire. He could be a demon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the courtroom started buzzing like a marketplace.
“A demon?”
“But if that’s the case, shouldn’t we clarify more? This suspicion seems too far-fetched…”
From those who looked at the situation reasonably.
“The Magic Tower’s endorsement is infallible.”
“Why aren’t we arresting him right away?!”
Those swept up by the rabble-rousers and the manipulative authorities.
I felt Ricky Circleia mocking me with his gaze.
It seems he had been quietly awaiting the trial for this moment.
‘After all, agitation only works if it first catches attention.’
And to catch attention, there must be an audience to be swept up.
Indeed, the packed crowd in the venue was also tuning into another topic of conversation.
Looking at the diverse reactions from the audience, his intentions seemed to have hit the mark.
But.
-Are you ready?
-Um. Perhaps it’s better if you rebut this yourself.
It feels like I’d be stealing your credit, my lord.
-No. Now is exactly the time to show as a leader, how you value your subordinates and also strategically suppress your opponents!
Luciana hesitated, flicking her lips, then stood up.
“Ricky Circleia. There’s a flaw in your statement.”
As if the previous commotion had never happened, everyone held their breath at her cool rebuttal.
“Lady Luciana. It seems you are greatly shocked that your cherished subordinate is a demon, but accept the reality. He is…”
“No, shut up, are you testing my patience right now? Keep your mouth shut and listen carefully.”
Feeling that the atmosphere was ominous, Ricky hurried to interrupt Luciana’s words, but she did not allow it.
-Do not allow his rebuttal at all. He calls himself a mage, but he’s good at spinning words with his cunning tongue. We hold the authority here, so we might as well break through head-on, even if it seems forced.
…Who is talking to whom.
With a wry smile at my advice, Luciana acted as I had instructed.
-Let’s go in order. Starting with my origins.
“Every single thing you’ve said doesn’t make sense. Even though he comes from a baronial family, hasn’t he held a noble position for a long time?”
Yes.
To label me a vampire based solely on my mana usage, there are too many inconsistencies.
For instance, legitimacy and origin.
“That’s right. His claim would mean the entire Byron baronial family are vampires.”
“To doubt a noble family appointed by the Emperor. This could be treason…”
Empowered by the murmuring of the audience, Luciana added her point.
“Do the Magic Tower and the Circleia family wish to undermine the foundation of this country?”
While fanning herself and covering her mouth,
The sorrowful arc of her eyebrows painted her as a lady skilled in politics.
“That can’t be! Don’t blur the issue, Lady Luciana! We might need to examine that issue later, but right now, we should be discussing Hans Byron’s method of using mana.”
“Aha, did you mention the mana usage of vampires?”
“Yes! Until that is clarified, the Speda family who employed him should also be held responsible!”
Indeed, I am using vampire blood magic.
But does that necessarily need to be problematized?
-Let’s set our foolish young master straight on the facts.
-I see why you often do this. The feeling of manipulating someone in the palm of your hand. Hmm. Not bad.
It seemed like I was leading our lord down a dubious path,
But so what.
“One knows, two do not, such a pitiful man.”
“What did you say?!”
“You’re not well-informed about the north. Have you ever heard that I defeated a high-ranking demon?”
-Snap.
She closed her fan, revealing a confident smile.
“Among them were vampires.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Ah, nothing much. Just that the arguments you’re spouting are quite amusing. I only informed the royal family due to certain circumstances, but our family is currently extracting information from the demons I’ve captured.”
-About the internal affairs of the Eblon Empire, or perhaps the magic usage of vampires.
As Luciana finished speaking, Ricky and all those supporting him were left stunned.
The blood magic you so loudly proclaim?
It’s nothing special.
Just spoils from a battle against the demons.
“However, I am already on the path of Aura. I had my mage servant learn that method. Have you realized now what your misunderstanding was?”
Ricky’s face turned pale as he realized that his only way out was actually a rotten rope.
His mistaken assumptions had led to flawed evidence.
And now, all that remained was his disgraceful behavior of kidnapping and imprisoning a noble.
…A disgrace to his nobility.
When such thoughts presumably flowed from somewhere, everyone inevitably nodded, and
“Well then, I wonder if there’s even a need for my verdict. It seems like everyone is of the same mind.”
With Professor Marks’ declaration of what was essentially a victory.
The disciplinary trial concluded with a satisfying outcome, the downfall of Ricky.
Of course.
‘It’ is not over yet.
‘The extent of the disciplinary trial’s punishment depends entirely on the victim.’
In an academy where student governance is key, the judge only determines right from wrong.
Deciding the punishment was my role.
From now on.
It was time for the true ‘behind-the-scenes negotiations’ that Luciana was unaware of.
Cliche Novel 