88 – Disposal
Why is Anais coming to mind right now?
It was a question that occurred to Princess Victoria as she watched Leon being beaten like a dog.
Even in ordinary times, she often worried about Anais. She had inquired about Anais’s well-being through the abbess.
As a member of the royal family… trapped in the monastery, one of only three direct descendants in the empire, how could she turn a blind eye? Just the fact that she was imprisoned there was damaging to the dignity of the imperial family. She had wished for Anais to live well even in the monastery.
But now, Victoria had a different reason for recalling her sister’s presence.
‘Anais. What on earth have you done?’
Who would have thought that the syrup sold on the street would lead to such a result.
The youngest master in the history of the empire, who had joined the ranks of the supernaturals at the youngest age, was being lynched by knights and professors.
Students watched the scene with astonished faces, and professors who were beating Leon occasionally turned their heads to gauge Victoria’s reaction. Perhaps they were worried that Victoria’s anger might sweep through the academy as well.
When Victoria did not react, they beat Leon even harder.
“Leon, what have you done! Do you realize what you’ve done…!”
“Potion.”
“Please stop!”
Victoria, raising her hand because she couldn’t bear to watch anymore, halted the beating.
Of course, it wasn’t going to end like this.
‘It will probably be seen as an attempted assassination. No matter whose perspective it is.’
There was no room for interpretation.
Although he was unarmed, the existence called the Master was a superhuman who could scatter Aura even with bare hands.
Victoria herself had prepared for unforeseen situations through discussions with Alan, but to students who did not understand English, it seemed like an imminent threat from the aristocracy. No one could commit such acts and safely get away with it.
Victoria, glancing at the pitifully sprawled Leon, gave instructions to the knights.
“Escort him to the guard headquarters.”
“Your Highness!”
“Do it now. I will issue instructions shortly.”
“…”
The knights, stealing glances, helped Leon Loderdale to his feet.
In the midst of this, Leon continued to gaze longingly at the vial rolling on the floor.
Perhaps he couldn’t grasp the fact that he ended up in this situation because of just one vial, or maybe his attachment to the medicine persisted even after the slender beating he received.
‘Either way, it doesn’t matter.’
Victoria gestured for the vial to be returned to Leon with a nod.
Only then did Leon, with a relieved expression, obediently leave.
Giving medicine to a person who ended up in this state because of medicine might seem absurd, but Victoria didn’t care. After all, what was inside that vial was not a real beetle but a fake made of starch. Eating it would only provide nutrition.
Victoria turned away from the helplessly escorted Leon.
Instead, she stared intently at Alan Maydof’s broad back.
In the midst of everyone’s confusion (including Victoria herself), the protagonist who stepped onto the platform and shattered Leon with a few words. It might have been possible as the designer of this scenario, but the fact that responsibility was shifted to him did not disappear.
‘I didn’t intend it, but it seems I’ve shifted the burden again.’
What other apologies could be as sincere as this?
At this very moment, it was evident that Alan’s reputation was deteriorating in real-time.
In an instant, he went from being a miraculous alchemist who created the “elixir that makes one a master” to a ruthless company that pushed people to the brink. It was necessary, but Alan couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt.
Did Victoria read his mind?
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Alan slowly turned his head.
“Your Highness, I will visit the Royal Guards Headquarters. Someone needs to make Leon Lauderdale face reality.”
“Alan, that’s my job.”
“I have to be the one to say it for them to understand. That friend sees me as a dru*g that controls me. …I’m sure you were shocked by the situation, so please return to the palace and find stability. I will take care of the rest.”
“……”
“It’s not a difficult task anyway.”
It wasn’t that easy. He wanted to argue, but Victoria simply nodded.
Alan had already volunteered for the troublesome task. Although he didn’t feel like it, the rewards and comfort would come later.
But he had no intention of running away.
“Everyone, pay attention.”
After Alan left, Victoria looked at the students with a stern expression.
“I know you must have been surprised by Leon Lauderdale’s rampage. …No, honestly, I don’t know what you’re thinking. If I could raise your level of understanding, you might think it’s okay even if it turns out like that, or you might mistakenly believe that you can overcome the side effects and only reap the benefits. Because we’re human, we can think that way.”
Victoria hoped that the students would take this warning to heart. After all, it was prepared to show them.
“…But one thing I will make clear. There is no such thing as a dru*g that instantly enhances your abilities. It may seem like the dru*g’s euphoria provides some slight help, but the side effects are greater. I don’t need individuals who are dependent on such dru*gs. I have no intention of favoring them. On the contrary, I see them as a risk to be eliminated.”
It was a warning that only the closest nobles to the throne could give.
Victoria left behind students with bewildered faces and exited. Hoping that Alan’s dedication and today’s chaos wouldn’t be in vain.
**
Guard Investigative Office.
Leon Roderdale, the one who caused the incident, was sitting in front of me.
He wasn’t here to be questioned about the assault on the escort knights or the attempted regicide of the royal family. Those were within the jurisdiction of the guard investigators.
But honestly, it wasn’t something the guard could resolve. It was just a formality to bring him in for questioning.
Leon’s fate was already decided.
My role was to inform him of that.
“Leon Roderdale.”
“….”
No response.
Leon just stared at the medicine bottle with a defeated expression.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t understand my words. If he wanted, even with his hands in chains, he could open the medicine bottle and empty its contents. But he just kept looking at it.
A recognition of how his life had plummeted into ruin because of that medicine.
I didn’t have a reason to drag it out, so I stated the matter.
“You can’t escape punishment.”
“I… I really…”
“If you want, you can have a trial. But every circumstance is against you. From the beginning, admitting guilt and pleading for punishment is the tradition for crimes related to the royal family. Especially when you’re a regicide.”
Leon’s face, already marred with bruises, became even grimmer.
I wasn’t saying these things to mock Leon. After confirming the reality, I intended to inform him of the scheduled punishment.
“A life far from success… but Leon can live while receiving the dru*gs he desires for free.
“Of course, I will accept.”
However, before I could speak, Leon punched the player.
“It’s because of you, the head pharmacist. Everything.”
He muttered these words. His sunken pupils glared at me.
I couldn’t understand why this person, who had just been desperate instead of rushing at me when he announced in the auditorium that there were no more dru*gs, was now showing disgust. It couldn’t be that he suddenly regained consciousness.
“Even if he regained consciousness, it’s already too late.”
We couldn’t undo what happened in the auditorium.
Still, it was worth listening to. If he realized why he had become an addict, it meant there was a faint possibility of a cure.
But Leon’s glare wasn’t to question, “Why did you provide me with dru*gs and make me like this?”
Instead,
“If you had given me three doses from the beginning, I wouldn’t be like this. Now that I think about it, in the morning and during the day, when there was no dru*g effect, I suddenly started hearing strange sounds and seeing strange things. If there were two doses, no, three doses, I would have been fine. But because I only took it in the evening for several months, I gradually became strange. That’s why I asked for more dru*gs, why didn’t you give them to me?”
“……”
“I became like this because of you. I used to be grateful for the dru*gs you gave me, but now I realize there was nothing to be grateful for. You made it difficult for me by giving me only two doses instead of three. And you did it maliciously.”
He was questioning why he was given only a small amount of dru*gs.
It didn’t seem like he had any basis for questioning like this.
If he had taken two doses consecutively only in the evening, he should have spent the daytime without any intoxication. Perhaps he didn’t even realize that his desire for the dru*gs and the pain of withdrawal symptoms had intensified.
I intended to give him only the appropriate amount to continue his minimal training, but perhaps that was a mistake.
If I had known this would happen, I would have given him three doses from the beginning,
No, it might have been wiser not to intervene at all and let him live in the op*ium haze. It was my involvement, trying to save and utilize his swordsmanship talent, that led to this outcome.
“Even now, Leon Loaderdale glared at me with bloodshot eyes. Since it wasn’t the right time for a verbal confrontation, I simply nodded my head.
“Alright. I admit my mistake. But I have a proposal for you.”
“What is it?”
“No matter how grave your sins may be, you are still a master. If you acknowledge your wrongdoing, you can avoid extreme punishment. Instead, you can serve in the Penal Battalion. Since the Navy is the only one operating the Penal Battalion, formally, you will be considered part of the Navy.”
The idea of sending Leon to the Penal Battalion had already been discussed with Victoria. If everything went smoothly, it would be more like a commission rather than a punishment.
The Empire had a system of conscripting criminals into military service.
It was a system that emerged due to the poor conditions of conscripted soldiers.
I had no intention of putting Leon on a ship; instead, I planned to keep him somewhere suitable. I would adopt Victoria’s lenient approach.
Naturally, there was a price to pay. The one we had created together with Siena before.
“If you acknowledge your guilt and volunteer to serve there, Her Majesty Victoria will provide you with the medicine. There is a specific medicine that suits you perfectly. It combines the effects of a sedative and a stimulant. …If you serve as a model soldier, you might receive more, but even if you just stay still,”
“I don’t need to take them separately…?”
“…That’s right.”
Leon Loaderdale’s face began to brighten gradually. He seemed to have expected this outcome, expressing both regret and relief.
“I will go, without a doubt.”
The answer was naturally accepted.
It was the moment when the future path of the original protagonist, Leon Loaderdale, was determined.