“Never trust a witch,” said Diakonos.
Silvia felt the atmosphere shift at those words and furrowed her brow. They had worked so hard to plant the idea in people’s minds that perhaps Scarlet wasn’t really a bad existence. But just one sentence from him made those doubting people think, “Yeah, trusting a witch doesn’t make sense,” and she could see it in their eyes.
She was furious. Not only had her efforts to defend Scarlet gone to waste, but it also infuriated her that she could somewhat understand their reactions. Everyone knew the true cause of their confinement in this tiny cage compared to the world. Thus, they had been taught since childhood that witches were enemies of humanity, an idea rooted deep across generations. A hostility towards witches that had been passed down for ages couldn’t be easily changed, and that realization was enough to ruin Silvia’s mood.
With pent-up frustration, Silvia confronted Diakonos. “So what are you trying to say? Are you saying we were foolish for trying to believe in the witch?”
“To be exact, yes. It was a foolish act.”
Silvia glared at Diakonos, who was telling them they were foolish to their faces, but he continued without a care.
“However, that’s not what I wanted to say.”
Let’s see what he has to say, she thought as she awaited his words.
“I will overlook the punishment that should be dealt to you.”
“…What?”
“Did you not hear me? I said I won’t punish you.”
For a moment, she stared blankly in disbelief. What? Weren’t you just criticizing us for our actions?
But suddenly…
Honestly, she was too bewildered. Even though she had achieved the purpose of preventing punishments from landing on the kids, she felt more dazed than happy.
Perhaps he sensed her confusion. Diakonos spoke again.
“Seeing your expressions, you seem puzzled about why I’d say something like this.”
“…To be honest, I am,” Silvia admitted.
How could she not be? Just a moment ago, Diakonos seemed intent on punishing them.
Silvia mumbled with a complicated expression, and Diakonos simply said, “It’s not complicated. It’s obvious.”
“There’s no reason to punish the victim, is there?”
Hearing that, Silvia’s expression hardened in an instant.
“…Victim?”
“Yes. Victim.”
Diakonos nodded in agreement, continuing, “As I mentioned before, the witch might have used you to escape the city. I believe that’s highly likely. If that’s the case, you would be victims used by the witch. It’s unjust to punish someone who was tricked. Therefore, I will not punish you. While you’re not completely without fault, as students, I can forgive you with a mature mindset.”
Diakonos expressed it with such an indifferent face.
Silvia muttered in a sharp voice, “…Ha, victim? You call us victims?”
Victims? At least they had acted of their own judgment. They weren’t acting under someone else’s will; they believed it was right and acted on that conviction.
Yet, Diakonos’s words outright denied their beliefs.
Fuming, Silvia shouted at him, “We are not victims─!”
“Are you not? In that case, I guess I’ll have to punish you.”
“Ugh…!”
Upon hearing the word ‘punish,’ Silvia fell silent.
If it were just her problem, she would have charged ahead without a second thought, but the treatment of the children depended on her.
When she thought about it, recognizing that they were victims for the kids’ sake seemed right, but she couldn’t bring herself to say so.
Because their sole goal was not just to escape punishment.
Silvia, with a face full of worry, asked Diakonos, “…If we acknowledge that we’re victims, what about Miss Scarlet?”
“I will continue to maintain our stance. A witch is an enemy of humanity and should be treated as one.”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped Silvia’s lips.
Their original goal was to avoid punishment while changing others’ perceptions of Scarlet.
The reason they risked so much yesterday to help Scarlet escape wasn’t merely to prevent her from dying but also so they could see her again with smiles one day.
However, the results were this.
If they chose one, they had to abandon the other.
The kids watching her from behind…
The one whose ring she always kept on her left-hand index finger…
Both were irreplaceable, precious things.
If only it were a choice between herself and something else; she would have chosen the latter without hesitation.
Faced with such thoughts, Silvia was pushed to the brink of insanity.
Unable to choose, Silvia pleaded with Diakonos, “Just once, won’t you believe in Miss Scarlet? She really isn’t a bad witch…”
“Indeed, there is a possibility of that.”
“Then…! One more time—think again─!”
“However, it’s still impossible.”
Having momentarily held hope from his words, Silvia was crushed once more by Diakonos’s refusal.
“Why… why so far…”
“It’s an expected choice when considering the possibilities. Maybe, like you said, that witch isn’t harmful. But, as I mentioned, there’s also the possibility that she merely used you. Even if your words hold true, I can’t rule out the chance she could lose her reason again, like when she harmed Captain Yoon Si-woo. Therefore, it’s prudent to choose a more certain path. Rather than hoping for the best, it’s about avoiding the worst. That’s the role of the Central Committee that operates the city.”
As she looked at Diakonos’s firm expression, the determination in Silvia’s eyes faded.
He didn’t seem likely to change his mind.
With a sigh, Silvia forcefully laughed.
Perhaps the answer had been decided from the very beginning.
When simply thinking of one against many, it was clear which side to choose.
Besides, since she had said she’d take responsibility, she couldn’t afford to abandon the children.
She was angry.
So angry she felt like she’d go mad.
But for the children’s sake, it would be right to give up Scarlet.
With that thought, Silvia slowly turned her head to the kids.
And then she saw it.
The children’s faces mirrored her own, with expressions that screamed they were also furious to the brink of madness.
There was no need to ask why they looked that way.
They, too, disliked being forced into this situation.
Yet, despite their frustration, they were silent because their gazes reflected each other.
Silvia realized.
Just as she felt restricted by the kids, they too were worried that if one of them acted wrongly, everything could go awry.
How ridiculous that they all became each other’s shackles.
Could there be a more absurd situation than this?
It was so ridiculous that Silvia let out a crooked smile.
Ah, why must they all act according to this predetermined script?
While lost in such thoughts, Silvia abruptly noticed the kids’ gazes were directed at her.
Their eyes burned with a strong yearning.
What were they asking for?
What did they hope from her?
At that moment, a small voice broke through the silence.
“…You know, Silvia.”
It was Mei.
With a trembling voice that seemed to be suppressing something, she murmured, “I… right now, I can’t figure out what I should do.”
It seemed she wasn’t alone; other kids felt the same.
“You’re our representative anyway,” she said, looking at Silvia with shining eyes.
“Just go ahead and do what you want. Forget about what we think.”
Upon Mei’s words, the other kids nodded one by one.
Silvia wore a complicated expression at their words.
What was the reason she had been holding back until now?
But upon hearing that, she truly wanted to do as she pleased.
Encouraged to act as she liked by the children nodding behind her, Silvia turned back to face Diakonos and the adults.
No more holding back.
That was their first request.
Silvia ignored any thoughts of caution.
In one fluid motion, she dropped to her knees, touching her forehead to the ground.
“Please, reconsider about Miss Scarlet just once more.”
From behind, she could hear murmurs of disbelief.
So this is what you came up with after being told to act freely?
Yet, despite those murmurs, Silvia couldn’t help but smile softly.
At the same time, there were sounds of knees hitting the floor echoing throughout the conference room.
“Please believe in Miss Scarlet one more time!”
“We beg of you!”
“Please!”
The most effective means by which children negotiate with adults throughout history is…
“““We sincerely request this!!!”””
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