Chapter 75

This is the second half of the truth chapter from yesterday.

"Thank goodness Professor Selva cooperated.

After all, it's originally a healing magic, so there were few traces of mental manipulation.

However, when His Majesty put pressure on him, Professor Selva seemed to think, 'This is bad.'

Until then, he stubbornly insisted that 'the preference rankings weren't written' or 'it was a mistake.'

The other students also lacked awareness."

Luka grumbled. It must have been quite troublesome.

Sirius, frustrated with the uncooperative Professor Selva, decided to use Patrice, but upon investigation, it turned out that Patrice had been manipulated even more strongly than the students.

Thanks to Professor Selva recalling the students he had contacted unusually, they were able to subdue Halk more quickly.

"Finally, we can inform the academy of the truth.

And the suspended students as well."

Sirius calmly told Lucian and the others.

The investigation must have been difficult, which is why Luka Michelle was called.

The students who had harassed Lucian had exhibited symptoms of "memory impairment" at the time, so it was clear that most of them had been manipulated by Halk.

"Is the culprit Halk Orden? As Lucian reported."

When Yusei said this, Sirius nodded.

"Yes. Well done, Lucian."

"It was the magic herbs that told me."

"Halk has been confirmed as the culprit. He had contact with six out of the seven suspended students.

One student was not involved with Halk. The first one to act. The others were manipulated.

While it was their fault for drawing Halk's attention by spreading rumors about Lucian, they didn't intend to go as far as to suspend them. Their negative emotions were exploited.

Those who were jealous of Lucian's closeness with Odine, and those who envied his position by Yusei's side.

And those who were angry because their fiancés praised Lucian."

"Wait, being popular... that..."

Lucian almost blurted out, but quickly covered his mouth.

"Good for you, Lucian."

Odine looked at Lucian with disdain, making him feel indignant.

"I don't know anything about that!

My school life wasn't all rosy!

It was all gray!"

"What's gray about it!

I was the one who was friendly with you!"

"I'm glad Lucian is doing well despite being involved in this incident."

Sirius smiled.

"Thank you... I'll let my father know as well."

Lucian turned from Odine to the king and bowed.

"I've already informed him. I sent Jace to report."

"That's a relief. I'm sure my father and the others are reassured."

"Yes, they must be."

The arrangements to inform the academy and the students have been made.

However, because it is a new type of magic, the details of the mental manipulation will not be disclosed.

"Can my father also perform healing...?"

Yusei asked.

Lucian was also curious. Could other healers do it?

"I tried, but I couldn't.

I plan to continue experimenting, as I'm curious. I've never heard of it before."

"I've never heard of it either. There were some similar cases.

After applying healing magic, suggestions were implanted.

The suggestions were not magic but simple commands or verbal instructions.

After the healing magic's power had permeated, the subjects were in a state where they were easily swayed by gratitude, and thus manipulated by the commands.

It seems healers can easily delve into people's minds.

However, this time it was much stronger. It's clearly a different thing."

Luka added.

While it hasn't been fully understood, it seems it can't be easily imitated.

However, if more people try to imitate it and some succeed, it could become problematic, so they decided to keep this "technique" highly confidential.

Lucian returned to the academy with a sense of relief.

The harassment had stopped completely.

Halk had been caught and sent to a rehabilitation facility for juvenile delinquents.

At thirteen, he was still a child, but he was deemed dangerous and would not be released until he understood the significance of his actions.

His actions were heinous.

His motive seemed to be that he didn't want Lucian to become a candidate for a close aide.

His attempt to frame Patrice was also part of this.

Milosh, Halk's childhood friend and distant relative, had been manipulated for years.

Milosh, being excellent, had been used for information gathering.

His recovery will take time. Treatment for Professor Selva and the others has also begun.

The academy is in a slight panic upon learning about the new type of mental manipulation.

They knew it would cause panic, but after discussions, they decided it was better to inform the truth.

After that, Professor Selva apologized to Lucian and invited him to take business management, but after some consideration, Lucian declined.

Four elective courses seemed just right.

He was repeatedly told to come with questions, which made him happy.

Everything has settled down.

Halk had been manipulating Milosh long before Lucian became a candidate for a close aide.

Thus, the issue with Yusei's close aides was unrelated to Halk's awakening as a criminal. Halk was a potential criminal from the start.

Nevertheless, Yusei decided to choose Patrice as a close aide to be safe.

The other candidates were out of the question for Halk, and Milosh was in recovery, so it was on hold. He declined the other two, saying, "I've chosen Patrice."

Depending on Milosh's recovery, he might be reconsidered, but it's unclear. Regardless of Milosh's decision, "there's still Kalon," so they won't add more.

The Clantz Marquis family, Milosh's family, thought the close aide position would be ideal for their second son, so they haven't given up.

Lucian, having only seen Milosh being thoroughly manipulated, couldn't say much. Milosh had been quite cold towards him.

He was interested in the recovered Milosh.

Emotionally, he felt it was unlikely they would become close, but he was curious about what Milosh would be like after years of being bound.

◇◇◇

Lucian brought more tea for Professor Seth Levania.

It had been a while. He couldn't bring it because he hadn't been back to the Vionne household.

"Thank you, Lucian.

Would you like to have some tea?"

Invited, Lucian entered the quiet research room of Professor Seth.

Yusei was in the student council room, so he could take his time today.

If the professor was busy, he would leave after having tea, but the professor seemed relaxed.

He settled into the slightly firm sofa.

"The case has been solved, I hear."

Seth said happily, and Lucian thought, "It's really over."

"Yes, it's good. It might have been a disaster for the victims, though."

"It's because they spoke ill of you.

There's a part of it that's self-inflicted. I hope they learn from their mistakes."

Seth placed a cup of tea in front of Lucian.

"Rumors can be ignored, so I forgive them."

Lucian said with a mix of bravado.

"Is that so?

Well, dwelling on people who lower their own standards is a waste of time.

I'm sure Lord Heine and the others are relieved."

"My father and Heine immediately said it was a suggestion when I told them."

"Of course. Some of the teachers suspected it might be a new type of mental manipulation."

"Really?"

Lucian looked up in surprise.

"They couldn't say it loudly, of course.

Until the investigation was complete, they couldn't say anything rash.

But they considered the possibility.

The teachers knew Lucian wasn't just anyone."

"Well... I am just anyone..."

Lucian tilted his head.

"Student information is kept confidential by contract magic.

Some faculty members know Lucian is a scholarship student.

You can't be a scholarship student at the Royal Academy if you're just anyone.

His Majesty made Lucian a scholarship student to protect him.

To have the main teachers of the Royal Academy protect him."

"Really?"

"Only those with invaluable talent to the country are treated specially at this academy.

Being royalty isn't enough.

There might be a reason to keep you close, but it's not just that."

"I am..."

Lucian was confused and fell silent.

Suddenly, a warm hand stroked his hair.

"Did I say too much?"

It was a gentle, concerned voice.

"No. Thank you for telling me. I couldn't have been grateful to His Majesty if I didn't know."

"Just accept it. They did it on their own."

Lucian couldn't help but laugh at Seth's cheerful words.

"Yes."

"I want you to rely on me too. I know about you."

Lucian felt there was more to Seth's words "I know" than he thought. Seth's wrist, as he picked up his cup, had a bracelet similar to the one Lucian had.

"Professor Levania, that bracelet, I have a similar one."

"That's right. But you don't wear it, do you?"

Lucian was surprised that Seth knew this.

"At the academy, I can't lose or break it, so I only wear it around my neck when there are no practical classes, or I keep it in my room at the palace."

"I see. That's probably safer at the academy.

This bracelet is made from a special mountain. It's not easy to get.

I received it from a benefactor."

"A benefactor?"

The word "benefactor" sounded so special.

"He saved my workplace. Criminals were committing terrible acts and not being caught. She eliminated them."

Seth said with a smile.

"She must have been amazing."

"She was. Years later, an accident happened. She saved dozens of her companions and died."

Lucian saw sadness in Seth's eyes.

"Really?"

For some reason, Lucian felt a pang of sadness.

"Take care of the bracelet."

Seth smiled. The sadness was gone from his eyes.

"Yes."

Lucian nodded, deciding to ask his father about the bracelet.

Due to stock issues, updates will be irregular again. I apologize.

m(_ _)m

Lucian, without Halk, it was quite an enjoyable school life.

There might be other patterns of mental manipulation. A reader mentioned "fire magic influence," like gradually heating the mind... It sounds like torture. Instantly going crazy... It's said that crime rates are higher in hot climates.