Chapter 196

Since spending a night out and meeting with Luke Aegis in Scarlet’s room, Sylvia had been living through quite busy days.

It seemed the aftermath of the recent incident was far from over. As the successor of Astra, there were piles of responsibilities waiting for her; it was a genuinely overwhelming time.

Of course, she couldn’t be too unhappy with her hectic schedule.

Despite her unreasonable request to clear her schedule until the afternoon due to her night out, everyone managed to accommodate her in some way.

‘……Next time, if there’s something like this, I would appreciate a heads-up at the very least. I’m on your side, after all.’

Feeling a twinge of guilt for how Sebastian, the attendant, smiled bitterly without a hint of nagging, she couldn’t neglect her duties.

“This agenda addresses the progress on restoring the teleportation gate in the boundary region that had been disrupted due to construction—”

“If that’s the case, we’ve collaborated with the magicians near the front lines and have completed over 70% of the restoration—”

However, the ongoing measures and this lengthy meeting felt inevitably tedious.

After all, for most of the agendas discussed, she held little authority, making her attendance somewhat meaningless.

Thus, Sylvia pretended to listen intently to the mentioned topics while her mind wandered elsewhere.

For instance, she contemplated how to maintain Scarlet’s condition and what help she could provide her.

Just as Sylvia had been diverting her thoughts entirely from the meeting, one of the council members posed an intriguing question.

“By the way, isn’t it unsettling? The witch that attacked us was first spotted at the moment the teleportation disruption magic circle was being erected, at precisely that location.”

“What do you mean by unsettling?”

“Teleportation requires precise coordinates. And this magic circle acts to disrupt those coordinates. If the witch didn’t breach the stringent boundary at the front lines but entered the boundary region via teleportation, at that time, the only feasible spot was precisely where the magic circle hadn’t yet been erected. If the witch had already infiltrated before the magic circle was established, it would imply she was waiting for the moment it was finished to block support.”

His words drew the attention of the entire meeting room.

Perhaps everyone had already sensed that unsettling feeling.

Yet, no one dared to voice their concerns because it would signify a deeply uncomfortable truth for them.

“If neither side had prior knowledge, it would be impossible. And the only ones with detailed information about this matter are us at the Central Committee.”

“……That makes sense.”

“Could it be that someone among us… is leaking information to the witch?”

With that statement came a thick silence.

However, it wasn’t long before murmurs filled the meeting room.

During the ongoing buzz, a few individuals began to shout.

“Are you implying that there’s a traitor among us right now?”

“Can you really take responsibility for that statement?”

Sylvia sensed that most of those yelling were looking around nervously as they did so and couldn’t help but sneer within.

What a bunch of cowards.

Even though they were part of the same Central Committee, not every individual was on the same level.

Particularly, the three great families of Astra

, Aegis, and Dolos held significant authority even within the Central Committee.

Some were living off those privileges.

That’s why they were acting so cautiously, fearing that the statement might upset the tempers of the great families.

Even if someone committed a deplorable act, what did the power of their families even matter?

Sylvia felt considerable disappointment in those representing the city’s affairs behaving in such a way.

But what could she say to them?

She too would merely be a kid if she weren’t the successor of Astra.

So, she stayed quiet, which allowed the initial critic to receive more vocal support.

“If there are suspicions, shouldn’t we investigate?”

The one to silence those voices was the head of Dolos, Diakonos Dolos, of the three families.

Those who were shouting as if they were spokespersons for the three families seemed taken aback, not expecting him to make such a suggestion.

“Are you saying we should interrogate the entire Central Committee?”

To a question thrown at him, Diakonos replied nonchalantly.

“There’s no need for anything as grand as an interrogation. As you know, we have Yoon Si-woo with us.”

“Ah….”

His answer reminded everyone that there was a simple method available.

The people from the Central Committee already recognized Yoon Si-woo’s ability to discern truth from lies through various experiences.

“A quick Q&A should allow us to confirm whether there is indeed a traitor. If there’s nothing to hide, there would be no reason to refuse, right?”

Diakonos scanned the surroundings as he spoke.

No one dared to challenge his seemingly indifferent gaze that suggested any refusal would imply guilt.

The atmosphere was so convincing that Yoon Si-woo was brought to the meeting room.

What kind of events would unfold because of that; until then, Sylvia had no idea.

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“Please, Yoon Si-woo.”

“……Then I’ll begin the questioning.”

The inquiries toward everyone in the Central Committee from Yoon Si-woo, who was summoned to the meeting room, began.

The method was straightforward.

“Are you innocent?”

When Yoon Si-woo asked like that,

“I am innocent. I can assure you that I have not committed any treacherous acts related to the witch.”

“That’s the truth.”

The questioned simply had to assert their innocence.

Yoon Si-woo merely had to determine the truth of their claims; it was a simple process.

“Are you innocent?”

“I’m innocent! I detest witches. There’s no way I would collaborate with the ones who took my child from me.”

“That’s the truth.”

As if reflecting the invisible hierarchy within the committee, those with less speaking power answered first.

Thus, the influence of those holding significant power gradually moved to the back.

As questioning continued for a while,

No traitors were discovered until most individuals had been questioned.

What remained were those belonging to the three prestigious families or those with similar influence.

As more and more individuals were proven innocent, Sylvia could distinctly feel that the tension within the meeting room was growing heavier.

If by chance, there were still a traitor among them, it would certainly qualify as a significant incident.

Then, the first to respond among the remaining was Eve, a summoner serving as a teacher at Aegis Academy.

“Teacher, you haven’t done anything wrong, have you?”

“……Yes, I am innocent. As a teacher, there’s no way I would engage in anything that could harm my students.”

“Good, that’s a relief; it’s the truth.”

With a light smile, she answered, and Yoon Si-woo also smiled as he verified her innocence.

Following her, it was Mark Aegis, the head of Aegis Academy.

“Are you innocent, Headmaster?”

“……Just like her. As the headmaster, I cannot allow myself to engage in disreputable actions before my students.”

“Understood. That’s the truth.”

Yoon Si-woo nodded at his response, which suggested he found the situation troubling.

Afterward, it was the head of Dolos, Diakonos Dolos.

“Surely, you must be innocent as well, Head.”

“I live solely for the happiness of humanity. There’s no way I would commit acts that could harm humanity.”

“Yes, that’s the truth.”

Next in line was Sylvia Astra, the successor of Astra, and it was her turn.

She probably had the strongest ties to the witch among all the questioned.

In that sense, she had a few points that could be seen as dubious, but since the questioner was Yoon Si-woo, she was not nervous.

In some sense, he was on her side, so even if it were revealed that she was lying, she felt he would protect her.

“Nothing to feel guilty about, right?”

“None at all. I am innocent.”

“Well, that’s the truth.”

With those words, Sylvia could feel the tension drifting away among the people.

Since Astra had proven her innocence, concerns about the traitor issue seemed unfounded.

However, within that reassuring atmosphere, Sylvia could see something.

The face of the last person, the First Elder of Astra, who had not yet been questioned.

On his usually kindly smiling face, a self-deprecating expression lingered.

Seeing that made Sylvia let out a soft exclamation.

The notion that all that was needed was to prove one’s innocence against treachery was something she had inadvertently overlooked.

There was one who seemed to have many things weighing on his conscience.

If such a person were asked if they were innocent,

What would they think at that moment?

No, she thought.

Sylvia cast a hurried glance at Yoon Si-woo.

Yet, that gaze never reached him, and ultimately, that question was directed towards the First Elder.

“Are you innocent?”

“……”

Unlike others, there was no immediate response.

The tension that was waning returned to the room.

Perhaps, a flicker of hope stirred as eyes turned towards them.

Sylvia felt the First Elder’s gaze upon her.

She sensed the regret and apology contained in it.

“As for this matter, I have not done anything wrong, but to claim innocence with my own mouth would be a lie. There is one secret I’ve been concealing from you all. I shall reveal that secret here.”

With that gaze, he spoke with a certain sense of liberation.

“Concerning the experiment known as the witch weaponization project carried out under the leadership of Astra.”

The secret of Astra was thus revealed to the world.