kscans

Chapter 26 - Punishment (Side: Byre 2)

"Now then, Vice Principal Byre. Explain yourself in detail."

"Ugh..."

Afterward, I was brought before the Academy Principal. A peerless beauty, just like Her Majesty the Queen... but from that beautiful face, an anger like a raging fire was pouring out. To make matters worse, there was a whip in her right hand...

"Can you not hear me? Perhaps you are asleep. I shall wake you up now."

"Aaaah! N, no! I can hear you! I'm awake! I'll talk, so please put the whip away!"

My entire body was beaten mercilessly, and I nearly passed out. In just a few seconds, my stamina reached its limit. Wh, why did the great me have to suffer such a fate...

"To be the Vice Principal of a magic academy and give students staves with dangerous Dark Magic is simply outrageous. Did you not know what would happen?"

"Th, that is..."

"It seems you did not."

"Aaaah!"

The whip struck in an instant. There was no longer a single part of my body left unharmed. The damage from the whip reached my very soul and shattered it with ease. Just kill me already... I don't want to suffer any more than this.

"Furthermore, you hired a suspicious individual as your secretary. And without reporting it to me. Where is she now?"

"I, I don't know... aaaah!"

"Tell me your purpose for distributing the Dark Magic staves."

M, my purpose... That was the one thing I absolutely could not say. There was no telling what terrible fate would befall me if I did. The whip was still better than that. Don't say it, Byre. Yes, hold your will strong!

"If you do not speak, I will have you tortured."

"The reason I gave the staves to the students was to start a rebellion within the academy... aaaah!"

The whip attacked without delay. My body was like a worn-out rag. Please, have mercy... However, the Academy Principal continued to question me while lashing me fiercely with the whip.

"What would you do after starting a rebellion at the academy. Surely that was not the end of it."

"I, I don't know... aaaah!"

"Speak, quickly."

"I, I really don't know... please believe me..."

Even breathing became difficult, and I felt as though I had completely lost my dignity as a human being. The Academy Principal looked exasperated and spoke with a sigh.

"I never thought such a fool would come from our school's administration... If it weren't for Dareth-dono, I wonder what would have become of us by now."

"Kuh..."

I tried to retort, but nothing came to mind.

"Byre, you are sentenced to prison. Spend the rest of your life in a cell, reflecting on what you've done."

"Eh...?"

My mind couldn't catch up to the words she had just spoken. Pris... on... What does that mean? While I was wrapped in confusion, magic ropes began to bind me.

"W, wait! Academy Principal! I won't do it again! I'll never do it again, so please forgive me! I'm so sorry!"

"If you are going to apologize, you shouldn't have done it in the first place."

I was mercilessly bound by the ropes. I, I can't move... At the Academy Principal's signal, several guards entered. They grabbed me roughly and dragged me outside. Waiting there was a carriage used for transporting prisoners. As I was shoved inside, regret welled up within me.

Looking back now, that woman was suspicious from head to toe. I should never have fallen for her smooth talk. I should have just told Dareth and the others everything...

Now, it was too late. I sank ever deeper into a sea of regret, endlessly and to no end.

◆◆◆ (Third-Person Perspective)

'Failure after failure... I can no longer overlook this.'

"...My apologies."

Having realized the failure of her plan, Agen had slipped out of the academy and was now looking into that mirror in an inconspicuous alleyway. The black shadow was already reflected in it. Though its face was not visible, its anger over the failed plan was palpable to her.

'The preparations of our Demon Race army are reaching their final stages. An unexpected setback would cause considerable losses.'

"...Yes, sir."

'Why is it that you always fail.'

Agen could not offer a single word in her defense. It was on the Demon Race army's orders that she had contacted Vice Principal Byre. The goal was to destroy the academy that produced excellent mages and weaken Grossa Kingdom. For that, she had received precious Dragenium Ore from the Demon Race, provided it to a blacksmith, and had Vice Principal Byre give the staves to the students. The plan had been proceeding in secret, but it was thwarted by a single man. The blacksmith, Dareth. On top of that, she had planned to dispose of him in the confusion, but that too had failed.

'You haven't betrayed us and are doing this on purpose, have you?'

"N, not at all! My actions are for the prosperity of the Demon Race! Please, believe me!"

'I wonder about that.'

It seemed she had completely lost the Demon Race's trust, as all her pleas were met with vague replies. Agen bit her lip hard and looked down. Along with her frustration, her hatred for Dareth was growing. If only that man weren't here, I...

Such dark emotions swirled in her heart.

'...Very well. In light of your past contributions, I will grant you one final chance.'

"Thank you! I have already devised a plan!"

Agen explained the details. This plan was not like the previous ones, which were plotted in the shadows. It was a more direct plan, one that would inflict great damage upon the Royal Palace. After listening to the end, the Demon Race's contact spoke only a single line.

'...I am expecting results.'

With those words, the black shadow vanished from the mirror. Left alone, Agen let out a quiet sigh. Not yet... I can still recover. I've failed repeatedly, but if I succeed in the next operation, everything will be fine. It will cancel everything out. After a few deep breaths, she felt her composure return. Making sure she wasn't seen by anyone, she hurried toward the Royal Capital of Grossa Kingdom.