As expected, the members of the 4th Squad faced the incoming Lower-ranked Beasts from the direction of the Northern Forest, their expressions stern as they occasionally glanced towards the movements in the woods.
Massive flames occasionally erupted, large enough to be seen through the miasma that blurred their vision of the forest.
It was probably the aftermath of a battle where their comrade, who had gone to rescue the kidnapped students, clashed with enraged beasts invading their territory.
Every time the flames flickered, their hearts sank, but everyone secretly wished that the flames wouldn’t die out—because as long as they burned, it meant their comrade was still alive.
It was a risky plan, nearly akin to gambling, to venture into a place where powerful beasts—possibly even higher-ranked ones—roamed freely, to safely rescue a student kidnapped by a witch.
However, there was a glimmer of hope among the squad members that maybe, just maybe, their captain Martina could pull it off.
Suddenly, a beast soared into the sky, appearing to have dealt with all the obstacles.
[■■■■■■■■■■!!!]
The squad members looked on at the beast’s tattered form that screamed in anguish, unable to hide their dismay.
“…Damn it. She promised she’d come back safe.”
As thoughts of failure flitted through her mind, Kanna, the Deputy Commander who had spent a long time alongside Captain Martina, bit her lip and held back her tears.
At that moment, Natalia, who had stepped out to deal with more beasts after receiving a request for support, spoke to Kanna.
“Don’t worry. If Martina said she’d return safely, then she definitely will.”
Even in the face of the beast’s roar that seemed to announce their failure, Natalia quietly sorted out the Lower-ranked Beasts.
“She’s always kept her word, no matter what. She said she would become the best mage one day, and she did—she’s on her way to becoming a hero that everyone admires too. So she’ll be fine. This time too, I’m sure.”
Although she often teased her, Natalia recognized Martina more than anyone else.
As rivals constantly striving to surpass each other, Kanna nodded, biting her lip as she sensed the trust Natalia had in Martina.
Yes, until she’s back, they wouldn’t know for sure.
What would it mean if the Deputy Commander couldn’t even trust the Captain?
With those thoughts in mind, Kanna focused on her task when suddenly, the call of a scout who could see far into the distance reached her ears.
“…! Deputy Commander! There’s the Captain! And she’s got the new recruit and the kidnapped student!”
“…Thank the gods! Hey! What are you all doing? Hurry up and clear the remaining beasts so the Captain can get through! Contact HQ and inform them of the situation, and call for rescue teams!”
Taking a deep breath of relief, she quickly issued orders, and shortly after, Kanna finally burst into tears upon seeing Martina return safely inside the barrier.
Martina’s complexion was pallid, stained crimson from the blood she had coughed up—evidently, she had pushed herself hard.
Her usual expression had hardened, unlike her usual self.
But she was alive.
Kanna, simply happy for that fact, rushed over and hugged Martina tightly.
“…Damn it, why did you push yourself so hard? You said you wouldn’t forgive me if you didn’t come back safely…but still…as long as you’re back, I’ll forgive you…”
“…What’s with this unexpected cuteness? Isn’t it a bit childish for someone your age? I feel like my body is creaking all over, can you let go a bit?”
“…No. This is the kind of punishment you get for pushing yourself too hard. Just let me hold you for a little longer…”
Amused by Kanna’s whiny plea, Martina ruffled Kanna’s hair with a smirk, and noticed Natalia approaching her, giving a subtle nod.
“…Thanks for responding to my support request today, even on your day off. I’ll treat you later.”
“Don’t mention it. It was a necessary request during an emergency, and it was rare for you to ask me for help, so I had to. Just remember you promised to give me whatever I wanted, right? You better be ready for that.”
“…Damn it, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”
Natalia grinned at Martina’s distressed face before turning her gaze towards Yoon Si-woo and Scarlet, who were resting a bit further away.
“How are they holding up? I can understand Si-woo being fine, but what about her? She was exposed to a lot of miasma…”
Martina’s expression stiffened as she replied to Natalia’s question.
“…I’m not sure. At the very least, she didn’t seem to have any major injuries when we rescued her. There are some people who have unique resistances to miasma, after all. Maybe she’s one of them.”
“…Really? If that’s the case, that’s a relief, but…”
Just as they were sharing their thoughts, the sounds of commotion erupted from behind them.
Natalia’s eyes widened as she glanced in the direction of the noise.
“…Thank you for your hard work, Captain Martina, Deputy Commander Natalia.”
The rescue team dispatched from HQ had just arrived to treat the overexerted Martina and Yoon Si-woo.
But there was someone unexpected among them.
“…Why is the Principal here…?”
At that question, Mark Aegis, currently holding the position of Principal of Aegis Academy, bowed his head towards Martina and said,
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for rescuing the kidnapped student.”
“…It was nothing. It was the least we could do. But what brings you here?”
“…I’m sorry to say, but it seems you both need to rest after the hard work. However, it’s crucial that you accompany us shortly after you receive treatment.”
Martina’s expression sank at his next words.
“…The Central Committee has raised suspicions of treason against Scarlet Evande. An interrogation will be conducted soon.”
Since the city’s formation, there had been a multitude of serious crimes strictly prohibited by law.
Murder, rape, robbery, assault, illegal drug manufacturing and distribution, and even experiments with forbidden magic.
However, among these grave offenses, the most severely treated had always been treason against humanity.
Collaboration with witches or following their commands.
It was a heavy charge, as humanity’s fate could hinge on it, so the Central Committee, composed of the city’s leaders, had the authority to interrogate those suspected of such treason based merely on circumstantial evidence.
It existed, indeed.
Although it had not been used in hundreds of years, it was almost a shell of a power.
The witches, presumed to be enemies of humanity, had not shown themselves for 400 years, and the Central Committee had only been aware of its existence without ever needing to employ it until now.
Now, there were various discussions going on within the Committee regarding the seldom-used authority.
“…You truly think she is colluding with the witches, Lord Diakonos Dolos?”
“I don’t have a certainty. But if there’s a dangerous element in the city, isn’t it our duty to resolve it as swiftly as possible? If there are suspicious parts, we must thoroughly investigate.”
The one pushing for the interrogation of Scarlet Evande was Diakonos Dolos, head of the Dolos family, one of the three great families within the Committee.
Known for his rigid demeanor, he spoke with an expressionless face.
Sitting nearby, Sylvia, who had returned from the frontlines to attend the meeting, shot him a piercing glare.
“How can you suspect Lady Scarlet of treason? If it weren’t for her sacrifices, all the students would have been killed by the witches… even Lady Florene received help from her; how could the Dolos family…”
“I appreciate that. However, considering the matter concerning humanity’s survival, we must exclude personal feelings, don’t you think? Honestly, I’ve found it strange for a while. When the witches attacked the city, they acted like they already knew about the city’s situation. Isn’t it fair to suspect that there’s a traitor feeding information to the witches? And lo and behold, there’s someone suspicious enough to warrant such suspicion—Lady Scarlet Evande, who is said to be staying at the Astra family as a guest?”
Sylvia nodded but continued to glare at him, as Diakonos continued resolutely without a hint of hesitation.
“Previously, she encountered the Witch of Sloth who had penetrated the city, and she was also kidnapped by an unknown witch during this invasion. Yet she returned safely. If there weren’t something amiss, would a mere academy student have survived multiple encounters with witches without a scratch? And to top it off, she has a special constitution that shows no adverse effects from the miasma? It’s conceivable that she could survive even if humanity were to perish by aligning herself with the witches. The circumstances are too questionable to attribute to mere coincidences.”
“…That could simply be due to her luck, you know. Lady Scarlet is innocent.”
“Yes, there’s a probability that she is innocent. But it’s still nothing more than suspicion. Therefore, I will conduct the interrogation as humanely as possible. I will ensure there is no torture during the proceedings.”
“What on earth…!”
“Lady Sylvia. Please, enough. Lord Diakonos is correct. If she is innocent, she can simply prove it.”
Upon hearing the word ‘torture,’ Sylvia almost jumped out of her seat in protest until she halted at the voice that interrupted her.
The Elder of the Astra family, who essentially held the reins of power, sat there with a nonchalant smile, suggesting that she should not act recklessly.
As a result, Sylvia could only scowl and settle back down.
Anxiously, she gnawed at her nails.
Although they said they could prove her innocence, Scarlet held a secret that must not be revealed.
If during the interrogation, that secret were to come to light, even without committing any act of treason, she could still face punishment…
Sylvia shuddered, whispering to herself.
“…If Lady Scarlet is guilty of something, then at that time…”
“Then the law must be upheld.”
Given that the Astra family had many people linked to the legal field, Sylvia had a fair understanding of the law as well.
The punishment for anyone guilty of treason or akin to it was, without exception, always one.
“Summary execution.”
Sylvia felt her mind begin to fade away.
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