Chapter 303
“Principal?”
“It’s the Principal!”
“P-Please save me!”
The children who spotted him ran over to greet him.
One of them seemed to be calling for help, but Dwener chose to ignore it.
There’s no way that kind, gentle, pure Zero would bully a friend.
‘If anything, it’d be the other way around.’
It was clear that this was some kind of mischief caused by that rabbit-like child.
When Dwener glared at Rezé, she shriveled up and quickly hid behind Luna. She must have known she was at fault.
“Miss Luna, I see you’re up. How’s your body feeling?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Maybe it’s thanks to the sweets you sent me, Principal?”
Luna lifted her arms and showed off her muscles.
The priest staying in Carpathia had said her condition was critical, and she needed at least a month to recuperate… Was he just a quack?
Or maybe he was a fake priest hired by Count Zachary with bribes. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Dwener was considering investigating that as well when Luna suddenly bowed deeply.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Huh?”
“I heard everything. They said you took down a high-ranking demon in one blow. As expected of the Principal of Annwood Academy!”
Luna’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
No, it wasn’t Luna who had been saved; it was him. If Luna hadn’t stepped in at that moment, he would have been a dead man.
But he couldn’t admit that.
It was the last bit of pride left in him as a flawed adult and a powerless Principal.
So Dwener only gave a bitter smile in response.
“Yes, I’m glad everyone is safe. But… what was that you were saying earlier? About going to a vegetable farm to find a demon?”
“Keke, we’re searching for a black mage.”
“A black mage?”
“Actually, it’s a secret… but I’ve heard there’s a black mage hiding somewhere around here.”
Zero whispered as he approached.
The idea that remnants of black mages could still be in Carpathia was news to Dwener.
‘The knights and rats finished their search a while ago…’
Immediately after the attack, the Empire realized the geographical importance of Carpathia and issued a widespread conscription order, which attracted an overwhelming number of knights. There were hundreds of them.
And if you included those who weren’t officially knights, the number easily surpassed thousands.
But before most of them could even arrive, Carpathia had already successfully defended itself, so the rest of them were all assigned to the search operation.
They even managed to find a few black mages who had been hiding.
‘Since they were handed over to Caron, there’s been no news…’
They were either dead or dying. It was one of the two.
In any case, there was no way black mages were still hiding in Carpathia.
The search had been conducted more thoroughly than usual for the safety of the students, so there was no doubt.
The information Zero and the others had heard was probably…
‘They were scammed by someone pretending to be an informant.’
There were people like that occasionally. They enjoyed teasing naive students.
Zero and the others would probably realize the truth when it was time to leave Carpathia, and they’d be furious about being tricked.
Of course, Dwener had no intention of telling them this in advance.
Partly because it was a way for them to learn about the world, but also because he didn’t want to ruin the kids’ fun adventure.
It was no different from a treasure hunt for a treasure that didn’t actually exist.
Only children have the privilege of enjoying such heart-pounding, exhilarating adventures.
Anyone with even a bit of realism knows full well that treasures don’t exist in this world.
‘One day, they’ll look back on today and laugh, thinking how foolish they were back then.’
And they’ll laugh together.
At their own changes, at the past that they can never return to, and at the happy memories of their childhood.
They’ll continue the conversation with laughter and smiles.
With a small hope that he’d be mentioned, even just a little, in those conversations, Dwener smiled softly.
“You’re brave. Even though you were hurt badly recently, you’re ready to fight again.”
“It’s only natural.”
Luna raised both her arms and pulled Zero and Rezé, who stood on either side of her, into a big hug.
“Because we’re family. As long as we’re together, we can always stand back up.”
Family.
Hearing that word, Dwener was suddenly overwhelmed by an inexplicable emotion.
A sense of envy for their closeness, being able to call each other family. And also—
‘…Would those kids be able to withstand the despair of losing a family?’
A fear of the inevitable future. It was a complex mix of two emotions.
This world wasn’t kind enough for people to die only of old age.
From children to the elderly, death came to everyone equally. And that was true for these kids standing in front of him, too.
‘…If they encounter bad adults along the way, that time will come even sooner.’
What if they met villains like Count Zachary or Administrator Rieur?
There could be all sorts of scenarios, but one thing was certain.
It would be their ‘final adventure.’
“Keke, then we’ll be off now. There’s not much time left, you see.”
“…Right. No rest for adventurers, after all.”
The three children left, chatting and laughing. One of them seemed to be crying out, but… they’d be fine.
After all, there was no way a black mage would still be in Carpathia.
“…”
Once the children were gone, Dwener’s shoulders slumped again.
He was back to reality. The reality of being an incompetent Principal.
‘To think I can’t punish those bastards… How did the Empire end up like this?’
Compared to other nations, the Empire was relatively clean, but there was no denying it was slowly rotting.
If left untreated, a day would come when a heavy price would be paid.
And that would be the beginning of the downfall of a great Empire.
‘In that process, countless children like Zero would perish.’
Dwener began walking through the town.
He saw students of Annwood Academy everywhere.
There were many who were talking, eating, and playing joyfully, but there were also many who leisurely enjoyed the scenery.
“To think they’re being so loud in such a crowded place. They’re bringing shame to Annwood Academy.”
“What can we do? It’s in their nature to be uncouth. We nobles are the only ones who can uphold the academy’s pride.”
Still, they couldn’t hide their legs, which were happily swinging.
Trying hard to act mature, but they were clearly enjoying this break too.
‘There really are a lot of mature kids.’
Even among non-nobles, there were many mature kids at Annwood Academy.
Because they all had grand dreams of making a name for themselves and elevating their family.
The Empire was quite strict about rewarding achievements, so as long as one performed well, receiving a title wasn’t difficult.
Mature kids. It might look good, but it wasn’t always a good thing.
For kids to act like adults meant—
‘There must be a reason they needed to grow up so quickly.’
Money, background, family circumstances, demons, etc.
Each had their own reasons for having to mature early, and that hadn’t changed much even after entering Annwood Academy.
Zero was no different.
—That’s how adults become bad, isn’t it?
Those were Zero’s words after seeing Caron and the knights unable to lay a finger on Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur.
‘He already knew they wouldn’t be punished.’
Considering his age, Zero was still very young—just fifteen.
But at that age, Zero had already come to understand the world.
‘They say some kids learn reality before they learn dreams…’
What kind of life had Zero lived?
He didn’t know for sure, but it was clear that Zero had lived a harsher life than he could imagine.
‘Well, even so, he hasn’t lost his innocence.’
Given how he was fooled by a scammer, he was still unmistakably a child.
“…”
That’s right. There are no children who are actually adults.
There are only children who think they’re adults.
To let children live pretending to be adults…
It’s strange. It’s a bizarre world.
The culprit that made the world this way?
“It’s the fault of adults. Of bad adults like me…”
In that moment, Dwener felt a new eye—a third eye—open in his mind.
Only then did he start to see the invisible burdens the children were carrying on their shoulders.
Academics, money, family issues, friendships, love, etc.
Different types of burdens, but one thing was certain.
The burdens were far too heavy for their small bodies and hearts.
“…I see.”
He was at an age where he could be called an old man.
Finally, Dwener realized what he needed to do.
He understood the role the world had given him.
He didn’t want to let children become adults. He didn’t want them to live pretending to be adults.
At least not within the academy, not until they graduated.
He wanted the kids to live as children.
Yes, that was Dwener’s role.
To let the children live as kids, even if only briefly, and to cheer them on to achieve their dreams.
To let them have a joyful academy life, so that in the distant future, they could fondly recall these days and laugh together.
That was his role.
And one more thing.
—Are you saying we should just kill those bastards? Well, it’s not that hard…
—That’s not what I mean. I intend to expose all their crimes to the world and have them pay the appropriate price. I will follow the Empire’s laws.
—…Is that even possible?
—It may be difficult, but we have to make it possible. After all, what in this world comes easy?
He remembered the conversation he had with Caron, where he boasted confidently.
Dwener’s belief that the law was sufficient to make people atone for their crimes.
It was only natural. To insist on death as the only punishment would make one no different from a deranged serial killer.
He also had to consider the possibility that the accused might be innocent.
‘But if they’re bad adults… If it’s clear they’ve committed heinous crimes… If there’s a high chance they’ll continue to do so…’
A strong wind blew through Carpathia. The clouds shifted, casting the shadow of a large building over the square.
The boundary between light and dark. Dwener stood right at the edge.
With half his body shrouded in darkness, Dwener gazed at the sunlit area.
It was filled with children joyfully playing, children pretending to be adults.
“…”
Step.
Dwener began to walk slowly.
He headed towards a place shrouded in darkness, full of pitch-black shadows.
And soon after, Dwener’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
After thoroughly washing his hands, Caron headed to his office.
Since it was in Caron’s secret hideout, no one but the rats could access it.
“You’re here?”
There was already someone waiting in Caron’s office.
Considering that the person wasn’t one of the rats, this was basically an incident.
But Caron calmly greeted the guest.
“Principal, what brings you all the way here?”
“I’ve taken custody of the two men. For a month.”
Dwener stated his business.
Of course, Caron was already aware of this.
Caron was the head of the Empire’s intelligence network, the rats.
He knew what had happened in the noble council and what the Emperor was thinking, to some extent.
He’d known even before the order reached Dwener, but he hadn’t shared that information.
Because he wasn’t that close with Dwener.
‘My time working with Dwener ends here.’
He had already crossed the line by sharing reports about the vile deeds of Count Zachary and Administrator Rieur with Dwener.
And by threatening those two pigs.
That was more than enough.
Now, it was time to return.
As the rat of the Empire, as the Emperor’s tool.
Caron was just about to convey his opinion to Dwener when—
“I’ve had a change of heart.”
“What?”
“We can’t defeat them by lawful means alone. We can’t administer the punishment that fits their crimes.”
Dwener’s eyes, sunk deep, now burned with a fierce light in the darkness.
Caron immediately understood the underlying meaning behind Dwener’s words.
“…Are you saying you intend to kill them?”
Dwener nodded silently, and Caron’s eyes sank deep as well.
This marked the beginning of the second trial of Caron’s path to becoming a hero.
–TL Notes–
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