Chapter 22 – Beginning of Undergraduate Trial
I am short of breath.
Why the hell are my ex-girlfriend’s initials written in this book?
When I first got into this game, I had many concerns.
There were many concerns outside the game, as well as internal concerns such as how to survive as a character with only a death route.
How on earth is it possible to get into the game?
Is it the advancement of science and technology?
Does something transcendent like God exist?
Has anyone used superpowers beyond science?
Is it a mere accident?
Is it someone’s intention?
Why is it me?
For the first 15 days after entering the game, I felt like I was going to lose my mind because of that thought.
Then, as I gradually adapted to this world and accepted my fate, I only had to worry about things within the game like ‘how to survive’.
I was immersed in this world and forgot about the reality I was originally in.
But now.
I came across a name that reminded me of the troubles I had at the beginning.
GHJ.
Apparently, that’s what it says in the last chapter of the book.
Goo Hye-jin always put her initials on her own things and plans.
So you can be sure I’m not overinterpreting it.
Goo Hye-jin.
A woman who once loved me passionately, saying she couldn’t live without me.
The woman who couldn’t kill me after we broke up.
A nasty woman who took advantage of her position as a director within the company to add a character who looked just like me to the game under development, and vented her anger by designing that no matter which route she took, she would be killed.
I don’t know why it bothered me so much after we broke up.
Anyway, if someone intentionally sent me to this world, the most likely culprit would be that woman.
The fact that I left initials in the magic book of seduction that only I can see in this world can only be regarded as a message sent to me.
If Goo Hye-jin is really the culprit….
Your personality is really like shit.
She wasn’t just venting her anger, she was really trying to kill me.
Did you give me the eyes to see death and the magic to seduce you to struggle?
I am angry and my stomach is boiling.
I can honestly say that I made a character that resembles me in the game.
But if it was to really kill me, that would be a different story.
If we ever meet again, I will never forgive you.
It’s not like I want to get out of this game.
To be honest, I like my current life better than the reality of not being able to rest properly and being run over by the company.
Although it would be better if there was no risk of losing one’s life.
The important thing is that there is a high probability that she sent me into the game, although I am not sure.
Then, the best revenge I can take is not to die in this world.
I clenched my fists, vowing to survive.
—
Time passed faster than expected, and it was Wednesday, the day of the trial.
In the meantime, Michelle never visited the prison.
This was a consensual action, to avoid suspicion that I was committing perjury out of caring for my student when taking my side in the undergraduate trial.
There were no visitors, but there was one who came secretly.
It was none other than Anna.
As if she liked the situation she had on Friday night, she would come secretly every night.
I got help from Anna, and I gave in to Anna’s temptation because I had nothing wrong with it.
The time when all school work and classes are over.
I followed the older sisters of Sunglasses and moved to the undergraduate judge.
There is a desk and a chair in the middle of the large space.
I sat there, still wearing my anti-magic bracelet.
In the front, at a distance from me, there were seven desks lined up.
Several teachers, including the principal and assistant principal, sat there and glared at me to judge my innocence.
Michelle was there too.
In the capacity of my teacher, he went beyond being a witness and participated in the trial himself.
Michelle, who was taking a deep breath to see if she was nervous, met her eyes.
She bit her lip and nodded her head.
Are you saying you believe in yourself?
Even if I don’t, I have no one to trust except Michelle.
What stood out was that Selena was also sitting next to her.
I was told that I had come as a reporter and witness, but I already felt the malice that would accuse me of being guilty.
“Then, we will now begin the undergraduate trial of Ian Drakhin, a student of our school, on charges of using black magic.”
At the same time as the principal’s words, the trial began.
The undergraduate trial in this game is much simpler compared to the trial in real life.
Participants freely share their opinions about the case, and the highest authority who heard them judges the defendant’s innocence and disposition.
“Since the president was absent for personal reasons, I, the principal, will participate as the final decision maker.”
Thinking that my life was at stake in that woman’s words, I started to get nervous.
Anyway, how busy is the chairman?
Is it urgent enough to skip a trial in which a black magic user might appear at school?
After I entered this world, I had never seen the president of this school.
It’s because I didn’t reveal what I was so busy.
“Good for you.”
The one who spoke out in the quiet atmosphere was none other than Selena.
“Isn’t it the chairman who specially admitted that criminal? I was worried that he would take the side of that man in the trial, but I’m glad he didn’t attend.”
Even though it was hardly something a student would say, the teachers only laughed awkwardly and no one paid attention.
As I said before, it was because Selena’s family donated a huge amount to the school every year.
I wondered if Selena, who was not even a teacher, was sitting there because she borrowed the power of her family.
By the way, as Selena feared, the president of this school was kind to me.
I don’t know the details, but according to the setting, I know that I was accepted into the school at the request of my family.
It is probably a setting created by the screenwriter to put a male character in an all-female school.
“I’d like to know what the current judges think. Who thinks student Ian Drakhin is guilty?”
At the principal’s words, everyone except Michelle raised their hands.
“Okay. Then let’s listen carefully to each person’s opinion. First, please tell us about the first reporter, Selena Branzel.”
“Yes.”
Selena cleared her throat once and said, showing off her daringly elite vocalization.
“I always thought of Ian Drakhein as a person of interest. Of course, that was just my opinion, and fortunately Ian Drakheen quietly went to school. But…”
The teachers focused on her words in silence, as if not breathing.
“That was a misunderstanding, it was just my wish for peace. Thinking just in case, I took the sand used by Ian Drakhein during the mana management practice and commissioned a mana analysis company to analyze it. It was found.”
The principal nodded.
“The analysis result submitted by Miss Selena Branzel as evidence was also checked with the members of the committee. It was clearly written that the energy of black magic was detected. That’s probably why most members of the committee think they are guilty.”
I think there will be a laugh.
You didn’t even see the sand I used, and you said I’m guilty with the paper that said I analyzed it?
The teachers weren’t suspicious of Selena at all.
It wasn’t just because of the donations her family always sends to the school.
The Branzel family is the owner of Branzel, a first-class conglomerate with no one to follow.
Unlike the real conglomerates that are suspected of all sorts of irregularities and corruption by the common people, Branzel, a conglomerate in this world, has received full support and trust from the people.
He couldn’t even imagine that a young lady from such a family would have done anything wrong.
Selena continued her speech.
“The use of black magic is a heinous crime that undermines human dignity. It is not only a feat that wizards have accumulated for a long time, but also a serious crime that can shake the foundation of our society. Criminals must be punished to alert students and remind them of the dangers of black magic.”
“I listened to Miss Selena’s opinion. As expected, she has a great sense of security and sense of justice like a young lady of the Branzel family. Next…”
The teachers’ comments were largely the same.
First of all, after appealing how dangerous black magic is and how severe it must be punished, they also claimed to be guilty because they confirmed the evidence submitted by Selena.
She doesn’t question her evidence at all.
I felt that this judge was not a place where the judge gave a fair judgment, but an execution site where a conglomerate family was conducting a witch hunt.
After the other teacher’s remarks, only Michelle remained.
“Then, finally, Ms. Michelle Wayneness, please tell us her opinion. Even if she is a student in charge of you, please judge her fairly, excluding her personal feelings.”
The principal’s intention to deliberately add such words is clear.
Since opinions have already been gathered, it must mean to finish quickly.
“Yes.”
Michelle, who had been listening silently, took out her paper documents, along with her answer.
It was different from the others who only talked about me being guilty with my bare hands.
The appearance of wearing glasses, which she did not normally wear, showed her extraordinary mindset in this trial.
I listened to her, rooting for her, who was her only hope in her heart.
“I don’t think student Ian Drakhin is innocent.”
Teachers were agitated.
Michelle was the only one who didn’t raise her hand at the principal’s question.
“I don’t even consider myself guilty.”
“Does that mean that it is too early for you to judge whether or not you are guilty at this time?”
Michelle nodded at the principal’s question.
“Yes. The use of black magic is a serious crime that has a great negative impact on society, but because the punishment is so severe, innocent victims may be made if the wrong legal judgment is made.”
This time the principal nodded at the remark that was not particularly flawed.
“I agree.”
“That’s why we need a sufficient proof process and in-depth discussion, but there are many parts that are not convincing to judge in today’s trial.”
The way she speaks and her glasses make Michelle appear more intelligent than usual.
“What if I don’t understand the part?”
“This is evidence from student Selena. Under normal circumstances, it is correct to submit the analysis results along with the sand used by student Ian. But why only the results were submitted?”
Michelle’s words were right.
The aura of black magic can only be found at professional mana analysis companies.
If Selena had the intention of submitting the results without the sand, then there are two possibilities.
One is that the school entrusted the sand to another company for verification purposes, and then it would be discovered that the company paid money to manipulate it.
The other was that if the sand itself was manipulated rather than the inspection results of the company, the truth would be caught.
She is proud of herself, and if she wants to reveal the true existence of a crime, it is right for her to submit the sand and the results as evidence.
As soon as her own name came out of Michelle’s mouth, Selena stepped in.
“Since the sand used by Ian Drakhin contains the energy of black magic, I decided that it would be better to get rid of it quickly, so I disposed of it with the help of a mana analysis company. Also, the company I was helped by is famous and reputable, known to everyone here. It’s a company that has been certified on the result sheet, so there shouldn’t be any problems with reliability.”
The teachers didn’t say anything, but they were sending signals that they agreed with Selena’s words with their eyes and nods.
No matter how famous a company, there is a clear possibility that Selena could buy it with the power of her family.
However, the authors were unable to see it because of the brilliance emanating from the name of the great conglomerate Branzel family.
With everyone on Selena’s side, Michelle fought a lonely battle with her steadfast attitude.
“Okay. Let me ask you another question. The sand in the lab has been disposed of and replaced with new. Do you know anything about this, student Selena?”
“It’s the same reason I disposed of the sand I entrusted to analysis. After discovering traces of black magic, I asked the school for fear of adversely affecting the students.”
Selena hits back as calmly as her homeroom teacher.
But Michelle did not slow down her offensive.
“As a result of my investigation, the time when the sand in the practice field was replaced was the night the two students practiced mana management. According to the statement written by Selena, the analysis was completed and the aura of black magic was discovered the morning after the practice. It doesn’t make sense to Selena’s student to request a sand exchange after finding the trail.”
Oh wow, even researching something like that.
I can feel her efforts and I feel like she will shed tears of emotion.
Unlike me who cheered inwardly, Selena slightly twisted the corner of her mouth.
“That. That… I must have been mistaken. It seems that I asked the school to change the sand just in case, not after I found the traces, but on the day of practice, while entrusting the request.”
“Is it really?”
“I don’t remember the details, but I think it was. My memory is vague, so I’m sorry I couldn’t answer properly.”
If you get out of here like that, I can’t question you any more.
Selena’s momentum has waned, but she still intends to condemn me.
Still, Michelle did not waver.
“The motive for collecting sand and entrusting it to analysis is not clear. He said that he was suspicious before taking action. It’s not impossible, but it’s not a natural motive either.”
“…Well, I’m just acting out of my convictions, so I have nothing to say. Are you saying, sir, that I manipulated the evidence to convict Ian Drakhin of the criminal? Could it be that I would do something that would tarnish the family’s name?” ?”
Michelle listened to me, and she must have thought so enough during her own investigation.
But her prudent Michelle did not reveal all of her true feelings.
“No. I just want to clarify the parts I don’t understand for a fair and correct judgment. The use of black magic must be prudent as the level of punishment is high.”
Having said that, Michelle turned her head towards her headmaster.
“Principal, for the same reason, I believe that sentencing should be delayed to allow time for an accurate conviction.”
Can you be so dignified?
Michelle’s words are logical and thorough.
No matter how much Selena is the daughter of a conglomerate family, she can’t make hasty judgments by trusting only her.
My expectations were shattered by the principal’s words.
“Miss Michelle has a point. But… Black magic is too dangerous to take your time.
Also, it’s hard to find a motive to accuse Miss Selena, not anyone else.”
Totally fooled by that woman, Selena, assuming I’m guilty.
“Yes?”
“It feels more natural that she accidentally discovered student Ian Drachin’s crimes than the possibility of Miss Selena being false. What do the other committee members think?”
The teachers affirmed the principal’s words, and a small smile spread across Selena’s face.
On the other hand, embarrassment was revealed in Michelle’s expression, which had been calm until now.
Of course, me too.
“After hearing everyone’s words, I think it’s also right to convict.”
“Wait a minute, principal! There are still many questions…”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Michel. As the top decision maker here, I have no choice but to refer to the opinions of the majority.”
“I can’t…”
As Michelle’s head falls, so does my heart.
Are you going to be convicted and executed like this?
Is death inevitable after all?
Goo Hye-jin would be nice.
Because it turned out as I wished.
“This seems to have been enough to exchange opinions. I will judge. Ian Drakhin’s suspicion of using black magic is valid…”
“For a moment.”
Along with the sound of the door opening, I heard a voice that I had never heard before.
My gaze, as well as that of the teachers, Michelle, and Selena, turned toward the judge’s door.
“Chairman? I heard you’re busy. How is this place?”
My eyebrows crumpled at the principal’s words.
Are you the chairman?
What are you talking about. That woman….
I opened my eyes wide again and saw the woman who suddenly appeared.
It must have been.
It was Goo Hye-jin.
