“I didn’t do these things to hurt Aetherinra. On the contrary, I did it all to save her!” Ian said firmly.
“Nonsense.”
“All the evidence here points to you colluding with the Demon Race to sacrifice Aetherinra to the Demon God. Do you still refuse to tell the truth?”
Veronica was extremely dismissive of Ian’s excuses.
“Do you still not understand?”
Ian shook his head and continued.
“I learned a long time ago that there were spies from the Demon Race within the Duke’s Mansion. Their goal was to sacrifice Aetherinra to the Demon God. I contacted the Demon Race solely to infiltrate the enemy’s ranks and protect Aetherinra.”
Ian paced calmly, speaking as if it were a matter of absolute fact.
“Since you knew there were spies in the mansion, why didn’t you tell us? Why did you secretly contact the Demon Race on your own?”
Veronica asked.
Hearing Veronica’s words, Ian covered his face, acting as if he were speechless.
“Don’t you know that would have leaked the news? The more people who knew about this, the higher the risk of me being exposed. That’s why I chose to contact the Demon Race alone. Besides, I didn’t know the true identity of the demon hiding in the Duke’s Mansion before this. I only found out that the spy was actually one of the maids when they drugged Aetherinra. If I hadn’t feigned collusion this time, Aetherinra would likely be in grave danger by now. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Aetherinra who saved her from the hands of the demons.”
For a moment, everyone in the room turned to look at Aetherinra.
Sensing the concentrated gaze, Aetherinra had to admit the truth, no matter how reluctant she was.
“It’s true that Ian saved me from the Demon Race.”
Hearing Aetherinra’s words, Ian’s racing heart finally settled.
He knew that as long as she said that, he could at least escape unscathed today.
As soon as Aetherinra finished speaking, Deere’s expression softened slightly.
‘Perhaps we really did misunderstand Ian?’
Deere returned to the main seat and sat down.
He looked at Aetherinra and spoke.
“I will ask one last question. I hope you can answer me truthfully, Aetherinra.”
“Of course, Duke.”
“Did Ian do anything inappropriate to you?”
After thinking carefully in her mind, Aetherinra finally spat out two words.
“He didn’t.”
Although she knew Ian had just lied — that the person who drugged her wasn’t a demon, but Ian himself — it was true that Ian had saved her.
Furthermore, Ian was the Duke’s biological son; the Duke would surely be loath to execute him.
Therefore, she chose to help Ian hide that piece of information.
Having received Aetherinra’s definitive answer, Deere’s brow cleared completely.
He slowly spoke to Ian.
“Even if that’s the case, I cannot be certain of your purpose for contacting the Demon Race. Therefore, I cannot pronounce you innocent at this moment.”
Listening to Deere, Ian frowned. “Then how can I prove my innocence?”
Deere thought for a moment.
“Go to Adell Magic Academy!”
“What?”
Ian was a bit confused as to why Deere would suddenly mention Adell Magic Academy.
He naturally knew about the academy; after all, it was where the protagonist, Veronica, stayed in the original story.
It was also the main stage for the early part of the game’s plot.
If he wanted to avoid getting involved with the protagonists, skipping this place was a must for Ian.
Seeing Ian’s confusion, Deere explained.
“In the final stage of the entrance test for Adell Magic Academy, there is a Mirror of Inquiry that can judge whether a person has ever colluded with the Demon Race. If you haven’t, you will pass the mirror’s test easily. Conversely, if you fail, it will confirm your crime of colluding with the demons.”
“It’s not necessary to join the academy, is it? Why can’t we just borrow the mirror from them?”
To avoid contact with the protagonist’s group, Ian really didn’t want to go to Adell Magic Academy, so he tried to negotiate with Deere.
Hearing Ian’s words, Deere shook his head.
“Don’t even mention me; even if His Majesty of the Farah Empire stepped forward, he wouldn’t be fully certain of success. Although Adell Magic Academy is called an academy, it is a place that transcends all other powers.”
Just as Ian was about to say something more, Deere suddenly stood up.
“Alright, the matter is settled. I have other things to attend to, so I won’t stay. There’s still one month before the entrance test for Adell Magic Academy. All three of you should prepare well during this time.”
After saying this, Deere walked straight out the door, leaving the three of them sitting in the hall.
Watching Deere’s departing back, Ian knew in his heart that this test was fated and unavoidable.
On the other side of the table, Veronica stepped forward to check on Aetherinra.
“My Lady, are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Even if you say so, I’m still not at ease. Please let me perform a full-body examination for you.”
“There’s no need.”
Aetherinra hurriedly waved her hand in refusal.
Aetherinra also had a bit of a headache regarding her guard, Veronica.
This guard was good in every aspect, but she always liked to find opportunities for physical contact.
Sometimes, Aetherinra even wondered if there was something wrong with her sexual orientation.
After refusing Veronica’s request, Aetherinra turned her gaze toward Ian.
Even though Ian’s words were logically sound — as if he really had contacted the demons to save her — Aetherinra still didn’t trust him.
Given Ian’s past behavior, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had committed treason against the Human Race.
However, recalling the sight of the back that had stood in front of her earlier, Aetherinra couldn’t figure out what Ian was thinking.
‘Perhaps it really was as he said, and he contacted the Demon Race just to save me?’
All of this could only be answered by the entrance test one month from now.
Oblivious to Aetherinra’s gaze, Ian was currently calculating in his mind.
Adell Magic Academy could be said to be the most important location in the early game, and it was where Veronica met several of the game’s heroines.
He had originally planned to stay as far away from Veronica and the heroines as possible, but now it seemed he couldn’t avoid them.
Moreover, he didn’t just face that problem.
How to pass the entrance test was also giving him a massive headache.
The Mirror of Inquiry was the final stage of the entire entrance test.
In other words, if he couldn’t pass the preceding stages, he wouldn’t even be able to take the test.
When that time came, he wouldn’t be able to prove his innocence, and his end likely wouldn’t be any better.
With his current strength, he would probably be eliminated in the first few rounds.
Thinking of this, Ian made a decision.
‘I must become stronger within this one month. At least enough to pass the first few rounds of the Adell Magic Academy test.’