Invincible
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#187
🕑 Added 2025-01-22 18:48:27 +0000 UTCRockefeller (2)
It wasn’t exactly to help Rockefeller that I openly called him a schemer right in front of him.
It was just annoying to see someone always plotting from behind and looking out for themselves... No, that doesn't seem right.
In fact, I had no major criticism to make about Ders.
Although he belonged to the villain side, he would have graduated quietly and exited without causing trouble, and his actions were frowned upon as well.
His actions were petty and dark schemes, but it was like the desperate struggle of a sewer rat trying to survive.
Of course, I, with my gentle nature, would never do such a thing, but I would have considered it if I were in a similar situation.
I didn't really have a motive, nor was I particularly sympathetic towards his circumstances.
Therefore, the only reason I could think of for pushing Ders as the representative for the debate was quite simple.
"Tell the academy. Next time, prepare a cake."
Because the bread tastes bad.
There was no other reason.
***
Ders watched the back of Hersel as he left, swallowing hard.
In his hand, he held two pieces of bread.
“One for each person…”
It was baffling and complicated at the same time. Just then, the next person stood in front to take the bread.
Ders thought hard as he distributed it.
'That guy, he knew I was the instigator.'
It wasn't really a surprise.
Perhaps Hersel had known all along.
It makes sense because he was the one who killed Ecok.
Despite seeing him up close, the possibility that he didn't recognize Ecok because he looked so different was low.
Hersel had been silent all this time, probably just assuming.
'Either he didn't recognize him, or he knew but chose to ignore it.'
Hersel was notoriously at odds with Rockefeller. The frequent loud voices from Rockefeller’s office were mostly about Hersel.
Hersel had also frequently caused friction with Rockefeller, so everyone at the academy was aware of their incompatibility.
That’s why Ders doubted Hersel's judgment.
'He would have supported punishment, so why?'
Even knowing the whole truth, keeping quiet was a natural reaction.
Their goals were aligned, and even if something went wrong, it wouldn’t harm him.
After all, they were perfect strangers with no interaction.
'Why? Hersel Ben Tenest, why?'
Just then, a student who had grabbed the bread hastily started eating and spat out, grimacing, "Ah, I bit into a rock."
Ders suddenly felt a chill.
That’s why Hersel had done it.
'Right, that’s it. That guy is the notorious brat of the Tenest family.'
His tyrannical behavior was well-known.
Rumors were not just about him constantly drinking and causing trouble but also that he often threw tantrums over trivial matters.
That’s why he suddenly showed hostility; the bad-tasting bread irritated him.
"Gee, complaining when eating for free."
"That’s true, but isn’t that a bit harsh, Ders?"
It was typical of a brat.
And seeing this demand, it was almost certain.
"Tell the academy. From now on, prepare a cake."
'But why did he take two pieces?'
***
A makeshift tent made of cheap fabric.
Inside, professors sighed deeply with serious expressions.
"Honestly, we think we've done everything we could."
"Yes, exactly, we've been fighting with our lives on the line, more than the students. How does it make sense that more professors died?"
Despite the fortress falling, unlike the typically disastrous aftermath of war, many people survived.
Yet the students outside the tent expressed their hostility so intensely it could be heard inside.
"Logically, this is a management issue. If it had been handled well from the start, this wouldn't have happened."
"Yes, exactly. The hierarchy just provoked unnecessary dissatisfaction among the students, I knew this would happen someday."
The situation was just a catalyst.
Perhaps the grievances that had been building up had exploded all at once, and complaints poured out endlessly.
Hamendal responded with a listless face, mocking their words.
"If you knew, you should have given us a heads up."
Professors are human too.
They would like to resign immediately, but doing so might put them out of favor with the headquarters.
Even if they left, unless the situation was calmed, the repercussions were obvious.
This incident might have involved imperial intervention.
Hamendal sighed deeply and asked Professor Gomon, "Did the Empire really say that?"
"Yes, they said there would absolutely be no shutdown. Somehow, we must cooperate well with the headquarters and manage the operations again."
"Ah, if that's the case, they should provide some support at least."
The academy’s funds were ultimately the Empire’s money. Although it involved the Empire's money for the academy's reconstruction costs, cruelly, it meant solving it under the limited budget provided.
"Ah, the costs for active members are significant; we'll probably receive much less than expected."
The situation was only grim.
A clear declaration of support would have perhaps eased the students' anger.
But instead of normal operations, personal resentments burst forth, deepening the rift between students and professors.
'If this trend continues...?'
Hamendal, who had not spoken until now, scrutinized Rockefeller’s face as he kept his eyes closed.
Rockefeller, the overall professor of Frost Heart, might even face severe punishment.
Even if he were evaluated properly for resolving the incident, that was just an additional task, but the core was how well he led the students.
That was why the academy existed.
"...Professor Rockefeller? Please say something."
Rockefeller slowly opened his eyes.
"It’s noisy, Hamendal."
"No, we might be punished but still keep our heads, but you might not."
Despite his possibly presumptuous remark, Rockefeller simply got up from his seat without any response.
"Eh, where are you going now?"
"I’m tired... I’m going to sleep."
"Professor Rockefeller? You need to prepare for tomorrow’s debate."
As Rockefeller left the tent, Hamendal was stunned.
"Why is he like that? Has he given up?"
Gomon shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Who knows? Maybe he has some plan in mind?"
However, the look on his face as he gazed outside the tent was not very positive.
***
The next day, as the sun was high in the sky.
Inside the tent, Ders reviewed the materials for the debate again.
The contents of the documents were all reconstructed based on memory because the fortress had collapsed.
Recalling each one was quite a burden, but it was different when it came to matters about Rockefeller.
'There were materials that the seniors had accumulated as soon as he took the position of overall professor.'
Rockefeller had maintained a reasonably amicable relationship with the student council, but among the past student council presidents, there were quite a few greedy ones.
Thinking they should take advantage of his weaknesses, they had collected information about Rockefeller.
Ders flipped through the documents, examining his characteristics.
[Born in Abelarn.]
Ders’s eyes widened at the word 'Abellan.'
'Huh? Abellan was...?'
A common small country.
Normally, it would have been treated as some forgettable borderland country.
But because of its distinctive history, Ders could recall it instantly.
'The country where the revolution happened?'
A country always begins with the establishment of a dynasty, and the moment the royal blood runs out, it steps onto the path of destruction.
This was the widely accepted general theory.
However, for a brief moment, there was a country that had shown an exception through a civil war.
The main culprits of the coup expressed disdain for the incompetence of the royal family and, after exterminating the royal lineage, established a dukedom without a king.
The unprecedented emergence of this country was closely monitored by the Empire and other countries' kings, but their concerns were unfounded.
'Thanks to that idiot prince who always exposed the royalty, did they regain the royal authority?'
There was still one of unblest origin surviving in the royal family.
Ders could imagine the events that must have occurred and unwittingly laughed.
"Chuckle."
Normally, those who would have ignored it as dirty, rushed to the son of a prostitute as soon as the royal family that used to fill their bellies disappeared.
They must have been quite desperate. Despite having previously dismissed it as disreputable and drawn a line.'
Ders tried to suppress his laughter and continued to examine the documents.
Rockefeller’s next characteristic was as follows:
[The only son of a fallen noble.]
[He served as a soldier and then encountered Arkandric.]
[After joining the Imperial Intelligence Agency, he served as a shadowy sentinel and spy.]
[Later, Arkandric offered him a professorship at Frost Heart.]
On the surface, there was nothing particularly odd.
The Empire is generous to talents.
It is fairly common to grant citizenship to those who have proven their abilities.
However, Ders had harbored a suspicion from the data that had been coming out for some time.
'The timing is similar. The period when the Twilight Mage disappeared.'
He was one of the most famous soldiers in Abellan.
Though it is said that Rockefeller uses telekinetic magic and has unusual magical abilities, even if he was one of the few mages whose taste buds had blossomed, it wasn't certain that he was the Twilight Mage.
Rumors about the Twilight Mage predominately claimed that he had congenitally awakened two senses simultaneously, or that he was a genius who had first awakened his sense of smell and thus developed other types of magic independently.
Ders chuckled at a clever idea that came to mind.
The reason why the Twilight Mage disappeared.
It was because his actions eventually led to him being called 'the Double-Edged Mage', a moniker that suggested things did not end well.
'Would framing him as a traitor work?'
Ders pulled out a pocket watch and swung his cane to create a mirror.
The time for the debate was approaching.
While practicing his expressions, he inspected his face in the mirror, when a man with an overall grim appearance appeared in the reflection.
"Huh."
Ders quickly turned his head and scrutinized Rockefeller.
"Professor."
Rockefeller approached with his eyes wide open.
Ders flinched and involuntarily stepped back.
"So it was your doing..."
"What do you mean?"
As Ders asked back, Rockefeller chuckled lightly.
"Ecok Ville Advance took on the body of the Spirit King and turned the academy into this. You were the one who had earmarked him as your successor and sought another scapegoat to avoid responsibility."
This was why Ders had been reluctant to step forward as a representative.
'So, he knew about it. Damn, if only it weren’t for Hersel...'
Ders steadied himself and responded calmly.
"I am merely attending as the representative of the debate, having received recommendations from those around me as the student president."
"There is evidence. Jurett's memories. It detailed that Ecok was the instigator. And that bat is in my hands now."
But having the evidence, it was practically over.
Ders slumped his shoulders and sighed.
Then he laughed helplessly.
"Ecok, that guy. If you're going to commit, at least do it thoroughly without harming others. Really..."
Soon, the suspicion that Ecok was the true culprit would turn into certainty, and all the responsibility would fall on the student council.
This blocked any road to the academy headquarters for Ders. He sat down, having given up on everything.
But then Rockefeller said something astonishing.
"We'll treat the matter of Ecok as classified."
"What?"
"He was also a student of Frost Heart. As always, we plan to cover it up this time too."
Ders immediately understood his meaning.
'That makes sense. Ecok is also a student here. Ultimately, the professors are responsible for not managing his actions.'
Yet, this was the most powerful weapon Rockefeller could wield in the debate.
Ders cautiously asked Rockefeller.
"Why would you do that? If you bring up Ecok, all the arrows of blame will point at me."
Rockefeller tapped Ders's forehead with his cane and snorted.
"This incident is just an opportunity. The reaction now probably reveals what the students have always truly thought about me."
"…That's not an answer."
As Ders tilted his head, Rockefeller replied.
"Hmm, think of it simply. I always knew there would come a time when my qualifications as the overall professor would be questioned. Now is just the appointed time."
Rockefeller said this and then walked towards the exit of the tent.
"Let’s see you try to tear me down according to the plan, Ders."
He said this and left.
Ders slumped back in his chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then, as the ticking of the pocket watch grew louder, Ders suddenly stood up.
"If the professor says so."
