After a while, Castro, who had regained his senses, walked towards the dungeon entrance, bound tightly.
His entire body was in shambles.
Dried blood had formed crusts, and his skin was blistered from the Lightning Spell that had grazed him.
It was a scene reminiscent of a war prisoner being hauled away.
However, the life in his eyes was still intact.
His gaze darted incessantly, as if in anticipation of reinforcements.
“… You’re making a mistake, Ian Oracle.”
“Still not giving up? Maybe you should take a cold, hard look at your current predicament.”
Ian’s tone softened.
A sharp retort would only fuel the opponent’s fighting spirit.
He needed to display composure here to deepen his opponent’s despair.
“Whoever’s backing you, do they still play with broken toys? I doubt it.”
That one remark shattered Castro’s composure.
“… I’ll kill you. Every last one of you!”
Despair and anger.
To a knight, failing a mission was harsher than death itself.
Furthermore, the order came from those ‘beyond imagination’.
Failure was not an option.
Crackle!
Blue lightning sparked from Isera’s hand.
“Ahhhhhh!”
Only then did he calm down slightly.
Castro trudged forward with difficulty, drooling.
“Heh… Roche… that damn coward! You too will be expelled from the academy. You’ve committed an unforgivable mistake.”
“I merely did what needed to be done. I have no memory of wrongdoing.”
“Hmph, you know one thing but not the other.”
Castro sneered.
Despite the pus oozing from his wounds causing maddening pain, Castro provoked Roche.
“You’re a traitor! Betraying an esteemed senior. Do you think the other martial arts students will let it slide?”
“I am prepared for that.”
“You make it sound as if being expelled is not a problem?”
“If it’s a place where doing the right thing gets you criticized, I’d rather be the one to decline.”
That single statement revealed Roche’s resolve.
‘I must bring Roche to my side.’
Assuming things go well, there was still three and a half years until Roche graduated from the academy.
‘He’s worth the wait.’
The Oracle Family had nothing left.
More than bringing in skilled individuals in a group, they needed someone willing to dedicate everything to the family.
Roche was the ideal candidate in every aspect.
“The base camp is ahead.”
Ian and Isera directed their gazes forward.
At the end of the dungeon clearing stood a barracks.
It was undoubtedly the base camp established by Barth.
“What’s your plan?”
“A frontal breakthrough. Any feeble excuse would backfire.”
“They might side with Castro.”
“Perhaps that’s even better.”
Ian wore a meaningful smile.
Just then, Barth, having spotted the light magic, approached the group.
“What, what happened? This state!”
Barth was startled to see Castro bound.
Ian reported.
“Fourth year martial arts student Castro Delfio attempted to kill us all. So we had to subdue him with force and are escorting him back to the academy for investigation.”
“Kill…?”
That statement shocked him even further.
Judging by his reaction, Barth seemed uninvolved with the incident and was genuinely shocked.
“What’s all this? Huh? Castro! Answer me!”
“Mistake… it’s a mistake! Sob!”
Suddenly, Castro fell to his knees and began to cry.
The atmosphere grew tense.
A fair number of knights and soldiers had gathered here along with Barth.
His act succeeded in causing significant disturbance.
“It was just a prank…and suddenly these bastards started firing magic! Roche was in on it too! I was the one nearly killed! I barely escaped death!”
“Don’t spew nonsense just because you have a mouth, senior.”
“Shut up!”
“Enough, enough! Damn it!”
Barth was bewildered.
Isera and Roche then explained the situation, naturally contradicting Castro’s statements.
“I have no idea what’s going on. I knew how the Spellcasting and Martial Arts departments never got along….”
But it had never erupted into such a massive conflict.
Furthermore, the new dungeon exploration was an ongoing tense situation.
There should be cooperation, not conflict.
“Heh!”
A long sigh escaped.
Shaking his head, Barth made way.
With his experience, he realized it was best not to get involved in a problem with no benefit.
“Return to the academy. It’s best to settle the issue there.”
“Stop acting like a child and get up. Many are watching.”
“Let go! I can’t go! Sir Barth! If I’m dragged away like this, it will just be a senseless death for me! Please help! I beg you!”
His cry began to sway Barth’s heart.
Noticing Barth waver, Castro pleaded more pitifully, thrashing about and wailing.
Eventually, Castro succeeded.
“Wait, hold on. Yes…this doesn’t seem right. I can’t allow Castro to return in that state! Castro is an honorable student of exemplary conduct. Release him from the binds immediately and let him return freely.”
Hope spread across Castro’s face.
Ian responded calmly.
“Sir Barth. Allow me a word despite the impoliteness.”
“The real offense is committing what’s known to be offensive.”
Ian ignored Barth’s sincere warning.
“History has countless examples of honorable people turned criminals. In no legal system I’ve ever encountered is a criminal escorted without restraints. His charge is attempted murder.”
“Whether he’s committed a crime is not for you to determine. If anyone could pronounce judgment based on suspicion, there would be no need for judges. So untie him and return to the academy!”
“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”
Isera interjected sharply.
A momentary silence fell.
While others might be unaware, everyone knew Isera’s background was the Hebraim Count Family.
Although a subordinate kingdom, a count’s authority surpasses what a mere knight can oppose.
Barth’s eyes wavered.
“I only ordered based on reason.”
“I’ll stake the Hebraim Family’s honor. This man is a criminal. You may untie him, but allowing him to move freely is unacceptable.”
Isera skillfully balanced her pace.
Regarding her family’s honor, Barth knew well enough that the Hebraim Family was not to be taken lightly.
Even though the arm bends inward.
“… I respect your family’s honor, but I am only the commander of the rear support unit. I am not qualified to judge an attempted murder.”
Then he drew a dagger and swiftly cut through the ropes binding Castro.
“Hahaha!”
In newfound freedom, Castro saluted with delight.
“I commend your wise judgment, Sir Barth!”
“Face the investigation with your family’s honor upheld.”
“I will comply with orders!”
Castro responded robustly and exited the dungeon.
Barth, turning, glared sternly.
“Ian Oracle.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard that mages tend to be eccentric. But actions reaching this far beyond common sense, you would do well to avoid.”
Ian was suddenly curious.
“What is kind of common sense do you have?”
“What?”
“I genuinely ask out of curiosity. Had you had any insight into this matter, you wouldn’t have made such a favorable judgment to one side.”
“… Are you mocking me?”
“Justice.”
Ian’s single word reverberated around them.
A word fueled with determination sharp enough for a royal knight to flinch.
“The knights of Sonokin are the swords of His Majesty the King, standing for justice… This friend here pointed it out to me.”
Ian gestured to Roche.
Barth felt his mouth dry up.
Still, he had to respond somehow.
“Make no mistake. You’re not knights. It’s too soon to speak of knighthood.”
“I learned through this incident. An apprentice with chivalry surpasses a knight without it.”
“…”
The contrast in Barth and Roche’s expressions was evident.
Roche was stirred with emotion.
But Barth was not.
“Impressive insight, Ian Oracle. I’ll make use of your speech with my underlings later.”
Barth strained to smile.
He didn’t want to escalate matters further.
Without any additional orders, he turned and returned to the barracks.
‘Not so much returning as retreating.’
Only Ian, Isera, and Roche remained.
Isera asked.
“What’s the next plan?”
“Mr. Roche. Where’s your hometown?”
“Pallen Town.”
Pallen Town was known as a city where agriculture and commerce balanced harmoniously.
“It’s quite far from here. You have to head east for a long way.”
“That’s correct. But why do you ask about my hometown?”
“I expected him to slip from our grasp. In that case, we need to proceed with the next step.”
Ian focused his attention on Isera.
“I might need your help, senior.”
“Speak.”
“We need to look after Mr. Roche’s family.”
Wise as she was, Isera didn’t question why and simply nodded.
“Pallen Town is quicker to reach from Roland than from Sonokin. I’ll contact my family.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could bring them to our estate.”
“Are you sure?”
It was a question about being able to handle the aftermath.
“If my guess about who’s behind this is correct, they will attempt to cut their losses again. I don’t want Mr. Roche entangled in that.”
“I’m really alright, baron.”
“I know. But I’m not, understand?”
Ian, who knew more than anyone how profound the loss of family could be, could make such a statement.
“Let’s leave for now.”
The three of them exited the dungeon.
Whistle!
Isera immediately whistled.
Then, taking out a paper, she infused magic into it and began writing something.
Soon after, an unfamiliar animal cry was heard.
“It’s a sacred animal.”
“A sacred animal?”
Goyang glanced up at the sky.
Ian followed suit.
A brown hawk appeared out of nowhere, circled once, and gradually descended.
Isera extended her arm.
“Caw!”
The hawk screeched as it landed on Isera’s arm.
Attached to the hawk’s leg was a long, thin canister.
Isera placed the rolled-up paper into the canister and patted the hawk’s head.
“To the family. Please take care.”
“Caw!”
The hawk flapped its wings and soared. In seconds, it disappeared from sight.
“So you had a secret weapon too, senior?”
“Not as drastic. This isn’t one involved in combat.”
“It’s reassuring.”
As it wasn’t an animal but a sacred creature, the chances of it being captured were slim.
And it would undoubtedly be fast.
‘They won’t use the communication marble. It could leave a trace.’
With this, Roche’s family would be safe.
It wasn’t necessary to inform him.
A trace of relief and joy flitted across Roche’s face.
Now it was time to start the main stage.
“Mr. Roche.”
“Yes.”
“If, if by chance, you have to leave the academy, whether by choice or otherwise… Do you have any plans afterward?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Any thoughts after graduation?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“That’s quite a relief to hear.”
For some reason, Ian smiled innocently and took the lead.
Isera and Roche joined him, heading towards the academy.