Chapter 40 : Chapter 40

Chapter 40

“Yes. So, the victim isn’t me—it’s Eddie. I wasn’t robbed.”

Marcel’s words turned the situation upside down.

Powell observed the students’ varied reactions.

Alexein’s shock was the most striking, his eyes wide, glaring at Marcel.

His furrowed brow screamed, ‘Why say this now?’

Powell sighed inwardly as the situation clarified.

In a heavy voice, he said, “If that’s true, Eddie should be here. Professor Arno, could you fetch him?”

“Yes, Professor Showman.”

Fred nodded and left.

As he opened the door for Eddie, his eyes held admiration.

He recalled his earlier talk with Eddie.

“Even if it’s Dickens, will Marcel Kirhausen really back you up?”

“He’s an elite heir. He might side with them. But he’s too proud to be manipulated.”

Chuckling, Fred shook his head.

“He’s playing two future pillars of Luxorin in the palm of his hand.”

***

Powell asked Eddie the same question as Marcel, with one difference: “Did Marcel give you the voucher?”

Eddie nodded, hearing Alexein’s frustrated breathing.

‘The victim’s not Kirhausen’s heir but a tail. All that effort for nothing.’

Theft was still theft, regardless of the victim.

Alexein’s confidence remained, knowing Ruben’s guilt wouldn’t vanish.

Eddie glanced at Alexein’s smug face.

The real blow was coming.

He waited for Powell’s next question.

“Did you lose or misplace the voucher?”

A brief silence fell.

Eddie paused deliberately, like Marcel and Alexein.

“…No.”

His answer flipped the situation again.

“…!”

The four students turned to him, stunned.

What did he mean, he didn’t lose it?

With a casual expression, Eddie pulled something from his pocket.

Showing it, he said nonchalantly, “I used the voucher yesterday.”

It was an Emporium voucher, stamped as used.

“…”

An even heavier silence filled Dennis Room.

“What…?” Alexein’s trembling voice broke it.

His face was now fully bewildered.

His plan, accounting for variables, hadn’t anticipated this.

Eddie stared at him blankly.

‘Feels like I’m a champion of justice.’

Powell, intrigued, motioned for the voucher.

He examined both vouchers through his glasses, comparing them.

After a while—

Tap—

He placed them on the desk.

“Interesting. Aside from the usage stamp, they’re identical—issue date, expiration, and Emporium seal.”

Two vouchers had become three.

Both recipients claimed they hadn’t been stolen and had used them.

The conclusion was clear: either Fred lied, or someone obtained a new voucher to stage the theft.

It was obvious which was more likely.

‘His face says it all.’

Eddie smirked inwardly at Alexein’s ashen face.

A thorough plan, but he hadn’t considered failure.

Eddie spoke softly to Powell, “I think someone got a new voucher to frame Ruben.”

“…!”

Everyone but Powell flinched.

Alexein’s sharp, angry voice shot back, “Are you saying I framed a commoner for theft?!”

His glaring, trembling eyes and shaky voice betrayed his bravado.

Eddie replied calmly, “Yes.”

A simple, clear, and powerful accusation.

Everyone’s eyes widened further.

Alexein, unable to contain himself, lunged at Eddie.

“You—How dare you…!”

“Enough.”

Thud!

Powell slammed the desk, calming the room.

Alexein barely restrained himself.

Powell drew his wand, pointing at the vouchers.

“Since there’s no conclusion, we’ll follow protocol and investigate thoroughly.”

Alexein’s face paled.

Powell continued, catching his subtle reaction, “We’ll verify the vouchers’ authenticity, collect all first-year wands with the magical council’s permission, and check their magic logs.”

“…!”

“We’ll also send consent forms to families to test the entire class for lies with discernment magic.”

Alexein froze, swallowing hard.

‘He’s serious. A full investigation…!’

Realization hit him dizzyingly.

He scrambled for a way out but soon realized he was cornered, biting his lip until it bled.

‘Damn it…’

Eddie watched him sidelong, smirking inwardly.

Alexein had two choices: confess to framing Ruben or let the incident escalate.

It didn’t matter how there was an extra voucher.

Just as it didn’t matter if Ruben was truly guilty.

Involving the council and other families would tarnish Dickens’ reputation either way.

‘Choose. Drag Dickens’ name through the mud, or take the fall yourself.’

Eddie looked away, waiting for Alexein’s decision.

“…I did it, Professor…”

Alexein’s reluctant confession came haltingly.

***

Alexein admitted he’d obtained a voucher through a second-year cousin, identical to Fred’s.

Students could buy Emporium vouchers with earned points, making his confession plausible.

It wasn’t the truth, but it was better for him.

He apologized to Ruben for framing him.

His face twisted with rage, but Powell didn’t call out his attitude.

Instead, he pointed out the misdirected apology.

“You know your mistake but not who to apologize to. Was I the one you framed?”

Alexein flinched at Powell’s stern voice.

With no choice, he said, “I’m sorry, Ruben… My prank went too far…”

He seethed, apologizing for a fake voucher.

But he was grateful the matter didn’t escalate.

Powell issued a cold punishment: zero attitude points for all subjects and a semester-long, non-credit “Ethical Conduct” class.

The punishment would be reported to Dickens, and the 20% attitude score would ruin his midterm grades.

Alexein gritted his teeth, hearing the verdict.

‘I’ll get you, Kirhausen…’

A satisfying conclusion.

But Joy and Ruben’s faces remained uneasy.

They’d seen the true power of the elite.

***

That night, Eddie arrived at a torchlit wall in the academy’s top-floor corridor.

Rumble—

He entered the wall, passing through Corkis to Leodimir’s office.

The door opened as he approached.

Leodimir greeted him, taking a kettle from the hearth.

“You’ve had a busy day.”

Eddie nodded wearily and sat heavily at the tea table.

“It was. Thanks to you, it went smoothly.”

Leodimir smiled faintly, pouring tea into Eddie’s cup.

The blue tea leaves, matching his eyes, turned red in hot water, releasing a sweet fruity aroma.

“It’s your favorite, Kairemonti.”

“Hm.”

In his past life, Eddie drank it with strong liquor.

As a fourteen-year-old, he savored the aroma instead.

The fatigue from Pasquier and Dickens’ antics melted away.

Leaning back, Eddie closed his eyes.

As Leodimir said, it was a hectic day.

And it would only get busier.

Resting briefly, he opened his eyes.

“Thanks for the voucher, Leo. A real one made things easy.”

“A fake would’ve been obvious to someone like Professor Showman.”

Leodimir chuckled, recalling Eddie’s sudden request last night.

‘Get an Emporium voucher with the same issue date as Fred’s, stamped as used,’ without explanation.

Despite the odd request, Leodimir complied, attaching it to the note.

Experience taught him to trust his master’s methods.

And, as expected, a report confirmed the outcome.

‘First-year Alexein Dickens received in-school service punishment for stirring conflict among students.’

“Dickens has changed much since the past, but for you to intervene personally is shocking.”

“Don’t get me started. Eustaph must’ve failed at raising his kids.”

Eddie sighed, sipping his Kairemonti.

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