Read Daily Updated Light Novel, Web Novel, Chinese Novel, Japanese And Korean Novel Online.
Reborn as the Doomed Heir of a Mage Dynasty (Web Novel) - Chapter 172
Chapter 172
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
“Could it be?”
Leo muttered softly.
Seeing that person, my mind also froze for a moment.
One second felt like an eternity. Only after a long time had passed did I slowly close and open my eyes. I had to confirm if what I saw was real.
‘...Was the question...’
Incorrect? I must have said something wrong. If not, it makes no sense.
Why him?
I frantically scanned my surroundings again, then stopped my gaze among the professors wearing Magic Department robes. One of them was slowly tilting his head.
Even when I looked again to see if anyone else was reacting, my gaze stopped there several times.
Even the Imperial Mage who had just finished dealing with the dormitory operations team staff and returned here fixed his gaze on him.
His head tilted until it rested against the backrest and stopped.
Tug―
“…….”
It was my homeroom professor.
Someone I had never expected, not even once.
I shook my head and slowly opened my mouth.
“…Between yesterday evening and before midnight, have you heard or thought of the coordinate ‘233.3:808.3:000.1’?”
[…….]
Once again, only my homeroom professor reacted to my words by lowering his head.
While it was closer to his head, which was resting against the backrest, dropping than a nod, I knew exactly what it meant for him to be the only one showing noticeable movement when everyone else was unresponsive.
Leo's face was already devoid of color.
“…….”
Judging just by the +6 Favorability, he is probably the only professor in our school who sees me without prejudice.
He believed that there was no way I would cause Adelbert and Elias to lose control, and no way I was Pleroma.
While I was distracted by searching for suspects and Professor Traut's eccentric behavior, he was angered on my behalf and tried to report Professor Binter to the disciplinary committee.
Is all of this a smokescreen to conceal the crime?
‘No. It's ambiguous.’
I already know how revelations work.
That Old Human nodded his head to the question of whether he received direct commands in his head, and to the question of whether those commands could control his body.
It's possible he misunderstood, so there might have been an error up to that point.
But I verified it was true by asking the same question three times.
If he wasn't being controlled, he should know that he visited ‘Magic Department Dormitory Building 1’ and ‘Lucas Rene Askanian's room’. There's no reason to only react to the coordinate numbers.
‘Damn it….’
Starting with the attempted murder of royalty, threatening the safety of the Imperial Second Academy, and everything related to trying to hand me over to Primrose Path, the homeroom professor alone will be punished. The real culprit will hide behind the professor, and the professor will be executed without knowing why.
“So, Senior Lucas's homeroom professor went into his student's room and installed the warp magic. In that case, that professor must have contaminated my room as well, right?”
Adelbert said, analyzing without any emotion, and then, seeing that none of us answered, began to observe the atmosphere with a bewildered look.
Right.
I need to find that out now.
Firstly, I can't just stand by and watch him get his neck slit, and according to the hypothesis I've set up, there was no reason for him to be chosen, even if he was being controlled.
I cast a soundproofing spell in front of the professors and asked Leo.
“Your Highness.”
“…….”
“What are the warp coordinates for the student Elias Hohenzollern's room?”
I knew, but I had to ask to create a performance.
Leo, still pale-faced, muttered without taking his eyes off the professor.
“It's 233.3:805.2:007.1.”
“And for His Highness Prince Adelbert?”
“237.8:808.3:001.5… Could it be…?”
I snapped my fingers once to release the soundproofing spell and struck the staff on the floor. Divine Power spread throughout the auditorium once again.
“Is there anyone who has heard the coordinate ‘233.3:805.2:007.1’ recently? Please raise your hand instead of answering.”
Could they understand this long number? Now that my head was fuzzy, such useless worries came to me, but unlike the idiotic delinquents I met at Primrose Path, these people understood my words precisely.
“…Huh.”
Adelbert opened his mouth wide, his eyes widened.
All the Magic Department professors reacted.
And at the end of the auditorium, within the group wearing all red robes, someone extended their hand towards their chest.
“You may lower them. And is there anyone who has heard the coordinate ‘237.8:808.3:001.5’? Please raise your hand as well.”
The reaction was the same.
Those who had heard Elias's room coordinates had also heard Adelbert's room coordinates.
The suspect pool for both incidents is identical.
Therefore, the problem now is this.
‘A long time has passed since the day of the incident.’ The information is heavily contaminated for extraction.
Unlike the warp incident that happened just yesterday, the attempted loss of control incident happened a long time ago. They might have heard the warp coordinates not for the crime itself, but during investigation processes, etc.
Therefore...
‘What question should I ask to isolate only the real culprit?’
My head is throbbing.
Still, I had to find the answer. I stood holding my forehead for a moment, then quietly opened my mouth.
“Those who know which student's room ‘233.3:805.2:007.1’ belongs to, please lower your hands.”
They have heard the coordinate, which is supposed to be private, but they don't know it's Elias's room. What does that signify?
A rustling sound was heard. None of the Magic Department professors were holding up their hands anymore.
“…….”
My eyes turned to the only person holding up their hand.
A professor from the Knight Faculty, specifically the Magic Swordsmanship Department.
That person who pressed me just yesterday, saying ‘You must not be related to Pleroma,’ is the culprit of the attempted loss of control incident.
‘...Right.’
This part was as expected.
Elias claimed that ‘Adelbert was attacked at Primrose Path to politically kill me’. And I merely deferred that opinion every time.
After visiting that place, I became certain that there was some connection, but there is still a problem in a crucial part.
If the goal was to politically eliminate Elias by killing Adelbert, instead of using loss of control, they could have sent someone to kill him, mixed lethal poison into his water and food, or given a revelation directly to Elias.
No, they absolutely had to. Why?
Because the person most likely to be implicated when using loss of control is Luca, who has lived his whole life considered Pleroma. Not Elias, who is accepted as Nicolaus's partner and the Pleroma processing team.
If the intention was to maximize the damage by exploiting the image—if it was to pin the blame on Elias using the loss of control—they should have at least created evidence that could implicate him.
This very sloppiness is why I hadn't accepted Elias's claim until now.
And the moment the same thing happened to Elias, beyond just Adelbert, I became certain.
Whatever the final target is, this incident is turning its blade towards me.
In that case, let's consider the scenario where their primary plan fails and Lucas Rene Askanian is removed from the list of suspects.
That is right now. Right now, when I am not meekly taking the blame.
Stories are made of cause and effect. Crime scenarios must be too. No, they must be composed of even more meticulous cause and effect than any other story in the world.
Who could be trying to frame me?
From my perspective, the most certain culprit is Stefan Traut.
A scholar from the Duchy of Anhalt at the Imperial Second Academy, a professor who aligned himself with my brother, the type who benefits if Adrian Askanian succeeds.
Now that the successor to the Askanian dukedom is uncertain, it's a clear fact that my brother's followers would not welcome me.
Therefore, they must have given a revelation to Stefan Traut.
This was my conjecture.
“Your Excellency Ernst, so there is more than one culprit now?”
“That's right.”
I muttered without even looking at Adelbert.
Adelbert, perhaps unable to comprehend the situation with two culprits, shook his head as if finally shocked.
“You mean the person who sprinkled the drug in Senior Elias's room and mine is different from the person who cast warp magic in Senior Lucas's room? How could two people do something like this in one school….”
“No. The matter of conscience is fine.”
I said briefly to Adelbert, who had gone into flawed logic, perhaps due to excitement.
I don't have the capacity to advise him.
Leo, who usually maintained composure well on the surface, unusually bit his lip.
Soon, excluding the prince, he surrounded me and cast a soundproofing spell.
“Sir. Professor Traut is the culprit of the attempted loss of control incident.”
“That's right.”
“Didn't you consider that even yesterday's incident was entirely his doing? If the loss of control incident was meant to frame Lucas Rene Askanian.”
I hadn't told him anything, yet he spoke as if he had entered and exited my mind, as expected.
“…….”
“But why did Professor Ron receive the revelation this time? If they had set up a double target, assuming a situation where the false accusation is cleared and the culprit is revealed, they should have chosen him, Lucas's student's enemy, this time. Because in this situation, Student Lucas must be the victim.”
Leo clearly believes I will provide the answer.
He likely doesn't want to accept that an adult he trusted is involved in this in any way.
“Later. Not now.” I managed to open my mouth and replied briefly, breaking the soundproofing spell.
At that moment, the Imperial Mage who had been silently watching from behind said in an indifferent voice.
“There are two in total. We will take them in.”
“…….”
I didn't answer and snapped my fingers.
The professors groaned as if just waking up from sleep and got up.
When my answer wasn't heard, the Imperial Mage leaned his face towards me.
“Your Excellency Ernst? May we hand over the two culprits, just as Your Excellency has identified them, to the Royal Investigation Bureau?”
“…Do so.” I replied without taking my eyes off the professors.
The professors, who had looked tired but relaxed before the magic was cast, exchanged glances at our conversation.
[Royal Investigation Bureau?] [What are you talking about?]
I said to the Imperial Mage.
“But there is something you must know. These are not the real culprits.”
“Excuse me? You caught them as the culprits, didn't you?”
“As the crime was carried out through revelations in the Pleroma style, these are merely puppets. You must understand that there is someone else with malicious intent who is trying to attack the students of the Imperial Second Academy.”
At those words, the Imperial Mage nodded his head but said something else.
“First, it is a priority to find out if revelations truly exist and if they actually received them. What is the name of the professor sitting there?”
He said, pointing to my homeroom professor.
The professor looked around with bewildered eyes and asked.
[No, are you referring to me?]
“Yes.”
[…I am Johannes Ron. Why are you asking?]
The Imperial Mage did not answer his question and pointed to where Traut was sitting.
“What is the name of the professor sitting at the very front of this row?”
Traut replied, frowning as if he couldn't understand the current situation.
[I am Stefan Traut.]
“Both of you will need to proceed to the Royal Investigation Bureau immediately.”
[What?] [Wait, have you found the culprits now?]
Professor Binter sprang up from his seat with a flustered face.
[Your Excellency Ernst! Are you saying that a faculty member of our Imperial Second Academy committed an act threatening students? The investigation must be incorrect!]
[Hold on! I never entered the dormitory yesterday. Why would I cast warp magic leading to Primrose Path in a student's room? Moreover, Student Lucas is a student in my class, why would I do such a thing to a student of mine...!]
My homeroom professor shouted.
Traut also tried to say something with a pale face, but the Imperial Mage immediately cast a soundproofing spell on him. It was quite a rude action.
“Regardless of which class the professor is the homeroom teacher for, you two have confessed to being the culprits, so there is no need to say more.”
The Imperial Mage said that and placed his hand on his wand. It was clear he intended to quickly subdue and forcibly escort them, given that they were mages.
Meanwhile, my homeroom professor stood up from his seat and said in a loud voice.
[I only went to the dormitory after receiving a report from the student who is our class representative. The professor who was with me until 10 o'clock is also here. Until before midnight, I was organizing materials for today's class, no, why would I, in the first place...!]
He remained silent as if speechless, then looked at me.
[Your Excellency Ernst, I truly did not harm my student. There is absolutely no reason for me to do so.]
“…….”
I know there is no reason for him to do so. I replied, feeling devastated.
“You wouldn't.”
[Excuse me?]
“It's because you would have simply received a revelation. Just as I explained an hour ago.”
[…Wait, then, are you saying I'm really the one who installed the magic in the student's room?]
Silence flowed.
I slowly opened my mouth.
“It is difficult to say definitively right now, but even if that is the case, it was not the professor's will.”
[…….]
The professor was now standing with his shoulders slumped, his face looking as if his soul had left him. It seemed he needed time to understand.
The term ‘revelation’ is also just a name I temporarily assigned, and as no one currently knows who gave it or how it can be given, there was nothing more I could say to him.
The Imperial Mage reprimanded me.
“Your Excellency Ernst, you shouldn't answer matters that the Royal Investigation Bureau hasn't concluded so definitively. That person might be the real culprit.”
He drew his wand and pointed it at the professor.
—Their feet run quickly to do evil; they rush to shed innocent blood….
CRASH―!
I knocked away his magic and turned my head to the Imperial Mage.
“You shouldn't just take the words that suit you and leave, should you? You don't believe my inference, but is the method of leading I've used so far trustworthy?”
“No, that's not it….”
“Not it?”
“…….”
Since he couldn't answer for a while, I continued speaking.
“If it was something they did of their own volition, why do neither of them know that they set foot in the dormitory?”
“They might have erased their own memories... Or it's possible that another culprit, their accomplice, erased their memories for them.”
“Did you check the investigation records? There are no mages who can use Divine Power at the Imperial Second Academy, and no one left the premises at the time the incident occurred last night. So why doesn't that professor remember what happened just last night? Do you still not understand what it means that he only reacted to the coordinate?”
“That…” The Imperial Mage looked around with a troubled expression.
At that moment, the Royal Investigation Bureau mages he had called warped here.
I said slowly.
“I am not saying don't investigate, or don't punish even if guilt is found. I am saying don't hastily conclude and keep possibilities open, as evidence has emerged that cannot definitively confirm how far this incident is connected.”
Perhaps if Lucas Rene Askanian had said it, they wouldn't have even pretended to listen, but since I spoke under the identity of Nicolaus, the situation was different. The Imperial Mage nodded.
“Understood. I will relay that.”
I didn't reply and let him go.
He went down and began instructing the professors to come down.
Meanwhile, everyone at that place looked at me with faces that understood nothing.
At that moment, another mage greeted Adelbert and stood before me.
“Pleased to meet you for the first time, Your Excellency Ernst. I am Auguste Moltke. The news conveyed to the Royal Investigation Bureau was immediately received by His Majesty. His Majesty was very pleased.”
“It's just the beginning, and he's already pleased.”
Leo turned his head towards me.
It wasn't exactly proper speech, but the mage seemed unable to believe I had criticized the Emperor in front of him.
“Haha, as expected, Your Excellency is humble. His Majesty said he hopes you will visit the Imperial Palace if you have no further engagements. Will you come with me now?”
* * *
I spoke with the Emperor for almost 10 minutes and returned to the school immediately.
Anyway, I couldn't return to the school hospital in my Nicolaus state, and a carriage was waiting outside the school, so I had to visit.
“A revelation, huh. They've certainly thought this through.” Narce got out of bed and said, sitting in a chair nearby.
I finally switched places with Narce, who had been sitting in the hospital room disguised as me.
I hadn't said anything to him, but he seemed to have read our memories just by looking at Leo's and my faces.
He asked with a serious face.
“No one knows, right?”
“Right. And they won't report it from now on.”
That's at least fortunate. It's because we've gained time to investigate without attracting public attention.
Whether the culprits are caught or not, the fact that royalty was harmed at the Imperial Second Academy must not be known anywhere.
Even to the students of our school, it will probably only be conveyed that the professor is on leave.
Leo hadn't said anything from earlier until now. This guy also seemed to have a lot on his mind.
Narce looked at us and asked.
“What are you going to do? It doesn't seem like a minor problem.”
“There's too little information.”
Leo opened his mouth.
“Even if Professor Traut and our homeroom professor are merely puppets used for arrest, there's no way everyone else would know that. Unless someone actually catches the one who gave the revelation and demonstrates their abilities, the investigation doesn't seem like it will proceed smoothly.”
“…….”
“Honestly, I was convinced because it was Lucas saying it; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to accept it.”
I agree. That is the case because the concept of revelation itself is difficult to accept and unfamiliar.
I fell into thought while Narce and Leo were talking.
‘At that time, that Old Human accurately distinguished between ‘Pleroma’ and ‘us’.’ Although Pleroma and Primrose Path are connected, they are not the same group.
Feeling something strange at that point, when I asked him who on ‘our’ side ordered this, he replied, ‘It’s probably the Chairman.’
What I heard after that was the story of how they worked while receiving instructions in their heads.
There's no need to go as far as Pleroma. If you follow the path of Primrose Path, you can meet the one who gives revelations.
‘It's highly likely that guy, the Chairman.’
I organized my thoughts and opened my mouth.
“Guys.”
“Huh?”
“I need to create a new identity.”
