Chapter 124: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 124
The members of the Central Committee understood the immense responsibility that accompanied every word and action they took.
Even though they could conduct interrogations based on suspicions, they would only exercise this authority if they were more than 90% certain.
As a result, the few interrogation records of suspected traitors thus far were notably brutal.
Although termed "interrogations," they usually involved severe torture.
This was partly because magic that forced the truth out of someone’s mouth had side effects that completely scrambled the brain, causing loss of reason, and thus was forbidden.
In the worst cases, while physical injuries inflicted by torture could be healed by magic, the mental damage was irreversible.
Of course, torture could also shatter someone's mind, but generally, they would confess the truth and be executed before reaching that point.
However, since Scarlet Evande was still an academy student and not yet confirmed guilty, the insistence of the academy’s principal and Eve ensured her "interrogation" would be the most humane to date.
"Yoon Si-woo, you have the ability to discern truth from falsehood in what people say, correct?"
"...Yes, that’s correct."
This was possible because they had someone capable of detecting lies without the severe side effects of magic.
Yoon Si-woo, who would serve as the lie detector in the upcoming interrogation, nodded with a grim expression.
He understood that Scarlet’s fate hinged on this interrogation.
If she wanted to live, she might be prepared to lie.
But what mattered wasn’t his will.
What mattered most was how Scarlet herself felt.
She hated causing harm to others so much that she had asked to be killed if it came to it, to avoid being a burden to anyone.
She might even confess her secret voluntarily.
The persecution against witches was at its peak.
If people discovered she had a close connection to a witch, execution would be unavoidable.
If that happened, there would be nothing he could do.
As Yoon Si-woo pondered this, Diakonos spoke to him.
"Yoon Si-woo, I understand that interrogating a former comrade is difficult. It’s not easy for me either to interrogate someone who saved my daughter. But I believe this is for the sake of humanity, and I have put aside my personal feelings. Can you do the same as a hero?"
Yoon Si-woo clenched his eyes shut at those words.
If only those words were lies, it would be easier.
If Diakonos were prioritizing his own safety and advancement by framing Scarlet as a dangerous person, Si-woo could comfortably lie as well.
But his words were the truth.
He genuinely believed this was for humanity and acted accordingly.
At first, Si-woo felt some resentment toward him for putting Scarlet in this situation.
But how could he blame someone who looked at him with such trust, not doubting for a moment that Si-woo would lie?
He was just someone doing his best for the people from his position.
Therefore, Si-woo steeled himself.
...If it were Scarlet, she would surely want him to respond like this.
With that thought, Yoon Si-woo answered.
"…If Scarlet is a threat to humanity... I will personally execute her."
The observers of the interrogation gasped at his response.
Sylvia, who had harbored a faint hope that Yoon Si-woo might somehow save Scarlet, was deeply shocked and staggered in her seat.
Diakonos slowly nodded at Yoon Si-woo’s answer, which had shocked everyone so deeply.
"...I understand your resolve. It seems the suspect has regained consciousness. Let's begin."
At those words, Yoon Si-woo turned to look at where Scarlet was restrained.
Her entire body, except her head, was bound by magical restraints that suppressed magic and supernatural abilities, in case she tried to resist.
As the device slowly lifted her upright, Scarlet looked around in confusion, clearly bewildered by the situation.
Yoon Si-woo’s heart ached at the sight.
But Diakonos, unconcerned with his feelings, questioned Scarlett.
"Answer truthfully, Scarlet Evande. Are you an enemy of humanity?"
Scarlet, seemingly flustered, asked in a trembling voice.
"...Excuse me, but what is this situation...?"
"You are currently being interrogated as a suspect in aiding the witch, an enemy of humanity. Prove your innocence if you don't want to be executed. I'll ask again. Are you an enemy of humanity?"
Yoon Si-woo saw Scarlet’s eyes shake intensely.
Her pupils trembled, and her breathing became increasingly erratic.
Anyone could see she was terrified.
Yoon Si-woo hadn't expected such a reaction from her.
It was normal for an ordinary person to be scared at the mention of execution...
But the Scarlet he knew was someone who seemed distant from fear, even laughing when a sword was driven into her body.
He hadn't expected her to be this frightened, despite the circumstances.
As he pondered her unexpected reaction, he heard Scarlet mutter.
"...No."
"I can't hear you. Answer loudly."
"...No. I'm not... that..."
Upon hearing her response, Diakonos gave a nod, and Yoon Si-woo nodded back to indicate that Scarlet was telling the truth.
Seeing this, Diakonos nodded slowly and asked Scarlet another question.
“Hmm, I see. Then let me ask you this. Have you ever conveyed information to the witch that could harm humanity?”
“...No, I haven’t... I never have. I’ve never thought about harming people...”
Yoon Si-woo nodded at Diakonos’ glance, silently praying for Scarlet to continue denying everything.
He wasn’t sure how long the interrogation would last, but if she kept denying, he could find a way to clear her name…
“...Am I being suspected...? Did I become... like this...? It’s not true... No... No...”
At that moment, Yoon Si-woo heard Scarlet muttering so softly that no one else could hear her.
“...No, it’s not true... I didn’t do anything wrong... Why am I being treated like a bad person...?
It’s not true... Why won’t anyone listen to me? Why won’t anyone believe me? Am I going to end up like this? No... I hate it...”
Scarlet, as if experiencing an anxiety attack, kept mumbling in a barely audible voice while breathing heavily.
Her eyes were unfocused and filled with intense sorrow.
“I just wanted to protect people...”
Yoon Si-woo saw Scarlet’s head, which had been tilted, suddenly droop.
At the same time, the sorrow in her eyes was replaced by another emotion.
Yoon Si-woo’s instincts warned him that something was about to happen.
Before he could say anything, Diakonos posed another question to Scarlet.
“Next question. Do you have any connection with the witch-”
Just as Scarlet’s head, which had been lowered, started to turn towards the people,
“Stop it!!!”
Sylvia’s urgent shout echoed through the room.
Diakonos slowly turned to look at her and asked,
“...What’s the matter? We are still in the middle of an interrogation.”
“Haven’t we done enough already? Scarlet’s innocence has just been proven by her answers. So, please stop now! How long do you plan to hold a student who was just rescued from a witch? She needs rest right now.”
“We still have many questions left. For her own sake, it would be better to clear up all suspicions now. If we neglect this today and it becomes a problem later-”
“If that happens, Astra will take full responsibility. Isn’t that enough?”
“Sylvia.”
As Sylvia spoke, an elder sitting next to her called her name, rebuking her for her behavior.
His gaze, telling her not to act on her own, made Sylvia instinctively want to lower her eyes.
Normally, she wouldn’t have dared to defy him.
But today, she couldn’t back down.
Sylvia met the elder’s eyes and said firmly,
“Never forgetting a debt of gratitude is what Astra is about, right? Scarlet saved my life. Elder, doesn’t my existence mean that much to Astra?”
After a moment of silent confrontation, the elder slowly nodded to her.
“...Do as you wish.”
With that, Sylvia turned her gaze back to Diakonos.
He then asked Martina, who had been observing the interrogation,
“Captain Martina, did you notice anything suspicious when you went to rescue the suspect?”
Martina hesitated briefly before answering.
“...There was nothing particularly suspicious. She was just unconscious when I arrived.”
“...I see.”
After a moment of contemplation, Diakonos approached Scarlet and released her restraints before bowing deeply.
“...Understood. The interrogation concludes here, and you are cleared of all charges. I apologize for the unpleasant experience caused by my suspicions, Scarlet Evande. I will ensure you are compensated adequately for this ordeal.”
Scarlet, freed from her restraints, watched him apologize with a bowed head before muttering,
“...It’s okay. Thank goodness...”
This time, she didn’t have to burn everything.
Shortly after, Scarlet lost consciousness and collapsed.
Author teasing the meltdown
ReplyDeleteshe boutta TWEAK
DeleteHer inner demons were ready to crash out 😭🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteOne hell of a tease on god
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Scarlet and Evangeline are starting to slowly become one being.
ReplyDeleteAh fuck. She's edging insanity
ReplyDeletethis story makes me too nervous. I'm going to go drink some tea
ReplyDeleteOne more step again and she will burn all of them huff Good job sylvia for stopping them
ReplyDeleteclose one phew
ReplyDeleteShe actually started tweaking
ReplyDelete