Chapter 85 : Chapter 85

Chapter 85

“For now, how about we trust Headmaster Devens and wait until Eddie recovers.”

That person suddenly spoke up in support of Leodimir.

The speaker was none other than Ronan.

At the unexpected remark, everyone looked at him as if surprised.

Lyman also furrowed his brow as if he found it strange.

‘Kirhausen is taking Headmaster Devens' side? Why?’

It was a situation that made no sense.

Because everyone knew Leodimir was Kirhausen’s arch-enemy.

If the Dickens were rivals, Leodimir was a sworn enemy.

No one was ignorant of the incident 30 years ago, though everyone was reluctant to mention it, being pressed by the current power of Kirhausen.

Ronan continued to speak to the bewildered audience.

His expression as he spoke was beyond stoic; it was numb.

“At Kirhausen, we have placed our full trust in Headmaster Devens and entrusted him with the treatment of student Eddie Summerson. As the Headmaster said, it is important to restore the child to health.”

Saying so, Ronan stared straight at Leodimir.

A faint smile hung on his lips as he prepared his next words.

“We all know, don’t we? That the reason the Headmaster is treating Eddie with such passion and sincerity is not for personal gain.”

Someone’s surprised gasp was heard softly from among the audience.

The reporters’ hands, jotting down the remarks, moved even faster.

And Leodimir, despite the words being in his support, frowned deeply.

Regardless, Ronan’s words continued without hesitation.

“If he is maintaining such a firm stance simply out of a sense of responsibility for a student, then our House Kirhausen has decided to actively support him.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, it is. As it happens, through this incident, haven’t we all once again realized how important ‘responsibility’ is?”

Flinch.

The Lacania city hall officials, deeply stung by Ronan’s remark, flinched and lowered their heads even further.

The reporters’ hands moved ever faster, and Ronan’s remarks were now directed solely at Leodimir.

“Therefore, when the treatment is over, the Headmaster will naturally return Eddie to us. Unless, of course, you are holding onto Eddie with some other intention.”

“……”

“Is that not so? Headmaster Leodimir Duke Devens.”

Ronan’s remarks ended by demanding an answer from Leodimir.

Everyone waited in suspense for Leodimir’s answer.

Even Fred and Brenda, who had maintained their composure by Leodimir’s side, could not shake off the tension.

After a moment of silence, Leodimir answered.

“That is correct. I thank the Kirhausen family for their support.”

At Leodimir’s answer, Ronan smiled as if satisfied.

As the suffocating situation came to a close, the sound of murmuring could finally be heard from here and there.

Thus, the secret struggle ended in a ‘victory for Kirhausen’.

Ronan’s remarks from a moment ago had instantly brought to the surface what everyone had been uncomfortable with.

No matter how much public support there was, it was a strange picture for the academy’s headmaster to be monopolizing Eddie, a ‘tail of the Kirhausen family’.

It was only natural for suspicion to follow.

Suspicion that Leodimir was buying time under the pretext of Eddie’s recovery to try and win him over.

Moreover, Eddie was a tail of none other than the Kirhausen family.

If he could be snatched away from the current Kirhausen, his sworn enemy, it would be an unparalleled windfall for Leodimir.

Everyone was secretly thinking this.

But because the public support for Leodimir was overwhelming, no one had been able to officially raise this suspicion.

But in the end, Kirhausen had satisfyingly scratched their itch.

Perhaps it was something only Kirhausen could do.

Although they were both top-tier powers in the magical world, the current Kirhausen and Leodimir had different support bases.

Unlike Edmund’s Kirhausen, the current Kirhausen no longer cared for things like public support.

Their support base was the upper echelons of the magical world and the imperial family they had joined hands with, so there was no reason to be mindful of the public.

Eddie knew that too, which was why he had dragged in the region of Lacania and the foreign country of Embas, but…….

‘To think they would break through all of that head-on.’

Fred glared at Ronan, trembling at Kirhausen’s audacity.

A provocative statement that could have led to public condemnation and even international problems if it had gone wrong.

But Kirhausen broke through it with cunning words.

While praising Leodimir, they empowered his opponents with words that raised suspicion.

And as a finishing touch, the question demanding an answer: ‘Won’t you naturally return Eddie?’

The match was decided with just a few words.

At least for the time being, due to Leodimir’s affirmation, Eddie had no choice but to remain affiliated with Kirhausen.

And Kirhausen had no intention of letting Eddie go easily.

They would not easily give up a family asset that was as good as a treasure, being both Marcel’s well and having made contact with the Mana Beast King.

‘My lord will have to put in a little more effort to get out of Kirhausen.’

Kirhausen’s will to prevent Eddie from going to Leodimir, even if they couldn't keep him, was truly resolute.

Of course, Leodimir could fight back if he was prepared to damage his reputation and support base.

But Eddie would never do that.

He was the type of person who would rather take the hard road himself than demand such a sacrifice from his disciple.

Thus, as the struggle between the current Kirhausen and Palamedes ended, Eddie’s fate was decided.

“Since Kirhausen has come forward like this, let’s trust Headmaster Devens for the time being and wait regarding student Eddie Summerson. Do the other committee members agree?”

At Lyman’s question, the members of the investigation committee nodded their heads.

Finally, when the head of the Dickens family also expressed his agreement, the meeting was concluded.

Apart from the decision on the punishment for the Lacania city hall and the city lockdown, there had been no particular progress compared to the last meeting.

But Lyman’s expression was one of utmost satisfaction.

‘As expected of Kirhausen. They clash head-on so refreshingly.’

With this, the pressure from the imperial family would be much reduced.

Although they hadn't been able to uncover Eddie’s identity, at least they had prevented Headmaster Devens from getting him.

Although he was a person with no interest in entering politics, from the imperial family’s perspective, Headmaster Devens was a sufficiently cautionary figure.

Because the public support for him was too overwhelming.

But if such a person were to acquire Eddie Summerson as well, his influence would grow uncontrollably.

So, at least this meeting had blocked one possibility that the imperial family had been worried about.

Lyman glanced at Ronan as he left Rosetta Hall.

In their exchanged glances, the two powers once again solidified their bond.

On the other hand, there was also someone who expressed dissatisfaction with the meeting’s result.

It was none other than the head of the Dickens family, Owen von Dickens.

Owen was not pleased with the outcome of the meeting, which had gone entirely according to Kirhausen’s will.

Of course, there was no room for Dickens to get involved in Eddie’s whereabouts.

But it was annoying that everyone was just rolling their eyes, too busy being mindful of Kirhausen and Headmaster Devens to even offer an opinion.

‘Pathetic Council of Elders. Just cowering in fear and watching from the sidelines.’

Owen quietly clicked his tongue as he watched Lyman’s retreating back as he left the hall.

His gaze naturally followed to Ronan, who had exchanged a nod with Lyman.

‘That crafty old snake.’

Ronan, feeling the gaze, bowed politely to Owen as well.

But Owen left the hall without acknowledging the greeting.

Thus, Rosetta Hall slowly emptied, and finally, Leodimir and the two professors left the hall.

Leodimir fiddled with the ring on his finger as he walked down the corridor.

His ring with a silver pattern engraved in a blue mana gem, his Clode.

Fred cautiously spoke to him from his side.

“It will be difficult to drag this out any longer. Now that Kirhausen has raised suspicions, isn't my lord’s rest now on a time limit?”

“By tomorrow, all the statements exchanged in today’s meeting will probably be made public. The citizens will blame Kirhausen for now, but……”

“Gradually, suspicions about me will also grow. In fact, they may have already arisen. They’re just buried for now because the voices of those who believe in me are much louder.”

As Brenda also joined in with her concerns, Leodimir meekly admitted his disadvantage.

Public support is large in scale, but ultimately its density is low.

Since Kirhausen had charged in, prepared to even tarnish their own reputation, there was nothing to be done.

In the end, the answer to this problem lay with Eddie.

How quickly he could control the Rakan’s mana.

That was the decisive point.

“My master will probably achieve it in no time. The problem will be the immense pain that occurs in the process.”

“You also have an interview with the Westin Post soon, I am concerned.”

“It would probably be best to postpone the interview, Headmaster.”

Brenda mustered her courage and recommended a change in plans.

If they had to prioritize, absorbing the Rakan’s mana came first, so it was only natural.

However, Leodimir let out a hollow laugh and dismissed Brenda’s recommendation.

Of course, if he had his way, he too wanted to postpone the interview.

But tomorrow, the public opinion war intended by Kirhausen would begin, and Eddie, knowing that, would immediately start to respond.

An interview with the Westin Post would be most suitable for such a response.

“He is someone who has been adapting while refraining from painkillers all this time. Is there any way he would postpone an interview because of pain?”

“That is……”

“True.”

Fred and Brenda also let out a hollow laugh at Leodimir’s explanation.

Indeed, in a situation where only he had to suffer, it was obvious what their leader would choose.

* * *

Meanwhile.

Ronan walked through the academy grounds towards the transport ship landing field.

Normally, the members of the Kirhausen Second Knight Order who had come as security personnel would have followed him, but he walked alone as they had all been kicked out by Leodimir.

At least Kirhausen had less to complain about since it was the butler and not the family head who had come, but other places were full of complaints.

Ronan chatted with them and played along moderately.

“In many ways, he is Headmaster Devens, who prioritizes students above all else. We must understand.”

It was while he was placating the committee members with positive words, pretending to understand Leodimir.

Lyman, who was walking ahead, saw someone and approached them cheerfully.

“Marcel, it’s been a while.”

“It’s been a long time, Lord Lyman.”

Unexpectedly, Marcel was standing at the entrance of the landing field.

Marcel exchanged some formal conversation with Lyman, then immediately turned around.

Ronan, knowing that he was Marcel’s destination, respectfully bowed his head.

The fact that he had come all this way meant that his business was difficult to speak of to anyone.

The family’s transport ship right in front of them would be a suitable place to have a private conversation.

Sure enough.

“Ronan, I need to see you for a moment.”

Marcel gestured with his head towards the family’s second-class transport ship, the Esca, which Ronan had arrived in.

Following him as he boarded the transport ship without waiting, Ronan replied.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Ronan bid farewell to the other committee members and boarded the Esca.

He did not forget to instruct the pilot and the members of the Second Knight Order to guard the area around the transport ship.

.

.

.

“I heard today was the last meeting of the investigation committee. Why did you come instead of my father?”

“The Master went on an inspection of the ‘Altir Mana Mine’ today. It was an appointment that had been scheduled for months, so I unavoidably had to come to the meeting as his proxy.”

“…Is that true?”

“I’m not sure what you mean……”

“It’s not… because he’s angry at me for breaking the rules on my own during the field trip?”

Marcel seemed to be worried about his father Furas' anger.

Ronan smiled slightly as if to say that couldn't be possible.

“If he weren't coming because he was angry with you, Young Master, he would have been absent from the very first meeting. Please don’t worry, Young Master.”

“That’s a relief.”

“However, you must never engage in such dangerous behavior again.”

Ronan’s voice took on a deliberately different weight.

He spoke about Marcel’s actions in a stern and firm manner.

He was faithful to Furas' prior instruction: not to intimidate him, but to make him clearly realize his mistake.

“Young Master, you are the one who will become the head of the Kirhausen family in the future. For the future of the family to break the rules and engage in such impulsive behavior. It is absolutely unacceptable.”

“I know. I am reflecting on it myself. It’s just that… my judgment was clouded by the thought that I must quickly acquire skills befitting my position.”

“Young Master. You can become strong enough even without the likes of a mana beast’s power. Have I not told you time and again that you have sufficient potential?”

“……”

Ronan’s eyes were filled with conviction.

Marcel looked into those eyes and for a moment, chewed over the meaning of Ronan’s words.

‘I don’t need the likes of a mana beast’s power… What on earth does he see that makes him so sure of my potential?’

You can become strong enough.

Words he had heard until his ears bled from the vassals, including Ronan.

But for some reason today, those words were not easily accepted.

It felt uncomfortable somewhere.

But Marcel endured the discomfort and continued to ask Ronan.

“Has it also been decided what will happen to Eddie from now on?”

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