Chapter 84: I Declare You Guilty!
Shinji's POV:
(5th day of Walpurgisnacht)
The day after the incident. I was called by principal Shiro to come testify on what had happened yesterday, to the Walpurgisnacht officials.
The principal led me down a lavish hallway with a red carpet. At the end of the hallway, I could spot my professor standing with his hands cuffed in front of a pair of brown double doors. He was talking with that bastard Shao who was wearing a bandage over his chin in place of where his beard used to be. Next to him I could see the balding Kuro academy principal along with the leader of the 4 guys who attacked us yesterday. As we approached, I could hear their conversation.
"You can't possibly worm your way out of this one! By the end of this, I'll have you begging for my forgiveness!"
"Mhm! Sure, you are! By the way! Whose ass did you have to kiss to get out of these anti-magic handcuffs?"
"HOW DARE YOU! I-!"
"That's enough Shao! Save your voice for the trial!" The Kuro principal said after he noticed us approaching.
"Took you long enough Shiro! For a light mage, you're pretty slow!"
"Hmph!"
The two principals glared at each other as they opened the door to where the Walpurgis officials in charge of this year's tournament were seated.
"We'll see how long you can keep your arrogant attitude!" Shao said before he followed his employer.
"*sigh* Come on, brat! Let's get this over with!" The professor said as he led me into the room.
The meeting room was rather large, while being neatly decorated with gems and gold framed paintings of great mages from the past. In the center of the room was a large, oval table surrounded by the leaders of the 1st continent's mage society. The officials in charge of each year's Walpurgisnacht are chosen from the most influential mages of the relevant continent. The people in this room are widely considered to be the best the 1st continent has to offer. The only exception would be us who just entered.
After entering the room, me, the professor, and the principal sat down on the opposite side of the table to the Kuro academy guys. I looked to glare at them as I took my seat between the mad professor and the principal.
"Well, then now that we are all here. Let's begin our discussion. Today's trial will be regarding whether or not we are to disqualify this? Suzuki Shinji and Aiko of Shiro academy from the Walpurgisnacht!" The elderly dwarf at the end of the table said while looking at his notes.
"WHAT?!"
I stood up in anger. They had attacked us and nearly killed Kenji, and we are the ones on trial? I was about to go sock the short old man in the face when my professor grabbed me and pushed me back in my seat.
"Sit down brat!" He said before turning to the short old judge.
"On what grounds?" The professor asked.
"DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO ASK? THOSE SAVAGES ATTEMPTED TO CHEAT BY HARMING THEIR OPPONENTS IN SECRET! I MEAN HOW ELSE WOULD SUCH TRASH EVER MAKE IT THIS FAR!" Shao yelled.
The only thing that stopped me from jumping over the table to smash his face in was the professor's hand grabbing my shoulder and pinning me in my seat.
"Mr. Shao! Please refrain from speaking out of turn!" the short old judge said, before turning back to us.
"To answer your question, your students Suzuki Shinji, Aiko and Kenji are being accused of sabotaging Walpurgisnacht by way of bodily harm of the other competitors. As for you Professor Sun, your trial will come later as you have been accused of attempted murder."
"May I inquire as to why the other two in question is not present?" an old guy in a wizard's hat asked.
"They have sustained severe injuries and has yet to regain consciousness. Hence, they cannot attend today's trial."
"Then can't we just do this later when they wake up? I'm so bored!" A ruff and fierce-looking lady sporting a scar on her temple and long red hair said.
"No! Due to the urgency of our schedule, we cannot afford to wait any longer. We have already delayed today's matches to hold this meeting. We have to come to a conclusion today, lest we break with tradition!"
"Then just pronounce him guilty already!" The balding principal from Kuro academy complained.
"Don't be too hasty Kuro! Or are you perhaps trying to hide something?" The white bearded principal said while throwing suspicion onto his rivaling principal.
"What are you trying to say Shiro?"
"SILENCE!!"
As silent sparks flew between the two old men, the judge released a fierce aura as he told them to quiet down.
"I do not mind your bickering, but we do not have all the time in the world so please keep it to a minimum!" the judge said as he scolded the two principals.
"Now I would like to hear your statement Suzuki Shinji. Please tell us about the events that led up to yesterday's debacle." The judge said, gesturing for me to take a stance.
So, I told them all about the things that happened yesterday. I even included the part about how Blackbeard assaulted me the day before that.
"Well then, I would now like to hear the Kuro academy's retelling of the events." The judge said as he gestured for the gang leader to speak.
The Kuro academy student looked rather nervous as he stood up to speak, as he fidgeted with his hands.
"W-Well, I-I was just walking down the hall with my friends after we had left the arena, we then got uh! Ambushed that's right! We got ambushed by those three and their professor. Then Professor Shao came and saved us last minute as they were about to break my arm so I um! Couldn't cast any spells in the next round. Then they ran away while the two professors were fighting." He said before sitting down.
"We may now deliberate!"
"Well, it's obvious the Kuro kid is lying! Just look at his guilty face!"
"That's just nerves! Any kid his age would be scared shitless when speaking up in front of a group of arch mages!"
"Don't you think it's just a little suspicious that a group of 2 kids managed to turn the tables on a group of 4 last minute, just because an injured tester joined in? I say it makes more sense that they ambushed them!"
"Well, it was a brawl in an enclosed space!"
As the people prattled on the professor stayed suspiciously silent as he was giving an ominously cheerful smile at the former Blackbeard, which he returned with a smug grin as he joined in the deliberations.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?" I whispered to my professor.
Normally, he can't help but flap his gums whenever he gets the chance, but he has barely uttered a word since we started.
"Because! It wouldn't change a thing!"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain towards the end!"
And after a while, they seemed to come to a conclusion.
"Suzuki Shinji and the Shiro academy's representatives! We have come to a decision! Do you have any closing remarks?"
Just then the mad professor lifted his hand.
"Yes, Professor Sun! What do you have to say?"
"Yeah! This is all a sham!"
"What?!" The judge said with a confused expression.
"This isn't a trial, this is a factional dispute between the numerous mages on this continent. Which is why we never stood a chance in the first place, despite being the only side with any actual losses?
"WHAT! HOW DARE-"
"AND ANOTHER THING, IF THIS WAS A TRIAL OF ANY IMPORTANCE YOU WOULD HAVE DELAYED THE TURNAMENT UNTIL ALL PARTIES WERE PRESENT!" He yelled as he cut off the old wizard in a hat.
"Hey! Mr. Sun! Calm down! He didn't me-!"
"I meant every word I said! Just look at the facts. A fight broke out between a group of three mistreated students from our academy's class 2F and a group of four people from a rivaling school. And out of the ones that aren't here, your three got off with some slight bruises and refused to come here. Meanwhile, our two are in a coma, one of which has been permanently crippled by THE DE-BEARDED DOUCHE OF A 5TH TIER SPELLCASTER SITTING RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME! So, what I want to know is whose heads I have to rip off before you all decide to change your minds?"
Everyone was stunned speechless. This was a meeting of the most powerful mages on the continent, and this mad professor had just shouted at the whole room while threatening to kill any who judged me guilty.
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I heard someone laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHA"
The person laughing was the ruff looking redhead.
"HAHA! I Like this guy's guts! Can I change my vote?"
"NO! That is against regulat-!"
"So, is this trial! I mean, it's not like there aren't ways we can retrace the events! It's just that it would take too long and cost to many resources!"
"THAT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION! Leah Volterra, I will not warn you again!" The judge said as he glared at her.
"As for you Mr. Sun! I hope yo-"
"Yeah, yeah! My execution day is after this and blah, blah, blah! If you're really as short on time as you claim, then you would have just skipped this meeting and disqualified the brats and come for my head already."
"…? Suzuki Shinji we hereby disqualify you from Walpurgisnacht along with the Shiro academy's enchanter Aiko! Now as for you Mr. Sun I glod blaigblurg-"
Just then, as the judge was about to finish his verdict, the old dwarf started to gurgle as a red line spread around his neck. Soon after, blood started to gradually leak more and more from his throat.
*Click**Clang*
The mad professor stood up from his seat before somehow unlocking his handcuffs without moving his hands and dropped them on the floor. He then started phasing through the table as he walked towards the gargling old man trying to stop his head from sliding off his neck. While a river of blood flowed out of his throat the mad professor grabbed him by the hair.
"You didn't answer my question old man! Just whose heads to I have to take to change this trial. I guess I'll start with you!" He spoke before pulling his severed head and spine off his body.
Just then the lights began to flicker on and off as I could see the doors and windows starting to glow with enchantments. I suddenly started getting Halloween flashbacks, while watching the mad professor drop the judge's head on the table.
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!!" One of the arch mages yelled as they looked at the mad professor who just pulled out a jagged green knife.
"I'm going for a mistrial!"
As the lights continued to flicker, nearly everyone in the room got up to either cast a spell or pull out an enchanted weapon. But before anyone could do anything, the mad professor disappeared with the flicker of the light.
"Where did he go?"
With another flicker of the light, he suddenly reappeared in front of the principal of Kuro academy.
"WHAT THE- UGH!"
He tried to yell as he was grabbed by the throat and lifted into the air, creating a scene much like the one from the infirmary 2 days ago, only now their positions had been reversed. The Kuro academy principal attempted to speak, but the pressure placed around his windpipe made it impossible for him to utter any coherent words. Just as the other mages moved to help him, the light flickered again, and the two of them had suddenly been transported to the other side of the room.
"HOW IS HE DOING THIS?!"
"IS IT TELEPORTATION?!"
"NO! THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SPATIAL TRAILE!!"
*Snap*
Just as the balding principal moved to cast a spell, there was a sudden snapping sound as his head suddenly tilted at a funny angle.
*Thud*
*Snap*Crunch*Snap*
As the mad professor dropped the lifeless husk to the ground, his neck began to twist 180 degrees while making some sickening crunching sounds. The whites in his eye had turned black and he started talking in a guttural tone.
"WhO's NeXt?"
Just then, some of the arch mages began to panic as they couldn't follow his movements. A number of them tried to flee, but…
"GOD DAMN IT! WHY ISN'T IT WORKING?!"
"IT'S BECAUSE THIS ROOM HAS A SPATIAL JAMMING ENCHANTMENT TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF THE CONVICTED!!"
When holding a trial, it's normal to have some soldiers stationed nearby in case the convicted suddenly gets violent or tries to flee, but that was deemed unnecessary. The reason behind that decision is because of the jury's identity. Everyone called to decide my fate in today's trial is at minimum the equivalent of a 5th tier magic caster or higher. Any sane person would realize how futile it would be to fight a room of arch-mages and choose to flee instead. That's probably why the enchantments in this room seem to focus on hindering an escape attempt, which has backfired tremendously. To think the precautions meant to trap the convicted would end up trapping the jury instead.
"WHY CAN'T I GET THE WINDOW OPEN?!"
*Crackle*
While the arch-mages were freaking out, a lightning bolt came flying towards the professor hitting him dead on. It was the de-bearded douche. He had cast a lightning spell that created a large dome of electricity centered around the mad professor. The dome was sending out a steady stream of small electrical currents through the mad professor's body.
"HAHA! YOU'RE DONE FORE NOW! YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY ESCAPE FROM MY 4TH TIER LIGHTNING CAGE! AND WITH EVERYONE HERE KILLING You will-! HOW?!"
As the douche was gloating, the mad professor walked straight through the 4th tier 'Lightning Cage', as if it wasn't even there.
"YoU rEmEmBeR wHaT yOu SaId BeFoRe ThE mEeTiNg" The mad professor said as his limbs twisted backwards to point at the de-bearded Blackbeard.
"WHAT?!"
"YoU wAnTeD aN ApOlOgY! WeLl HeRe YoU gO!" He said before pulling out his 'Magic Gun' as he called it and pointed it at the beardless Blackbeard.
"I aPoLoGiZe!"
*BANG*
*Sizzle*
And with that, he fired a white beam of light that burned off his right arm.
"NGH! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The former vice principal Shao screamed as he clutched at his missing right arm that had been burned off at the shoulder.
"SoRrY!"
*BANG*
*Sizzle*
"*Wheeze**Huff**Puff*" Mr. Shao seemed to out of breath to voice his thoughts as he wheezed in pain from losing his left leg.
"My BaD!"
*BANG*
*Sizzle*
"Ngh! Ahah*Wheeze*" Just as he lost his last leg Mr. Shao lifted his one remaining limb to try and cast a spell in resistance but…
"FrOm ThE bOtToM oF mY hEaRt…!"
*BANG*
*Sizzle*
"*Wheeze*"
As his last limb was lost the lights flickered once more, as he appeared right in front of the limbless man. Too exhausted from the pain to even speak, Shao just glared up at him from the floor. The mad professor shoved the barrel of his magic gun through his teeth. He looked him dead in the face as a tear could be seen running down Mr. Shao's cheek.
"I aM sOrRy!" He spoke, as the beam pierced through the back of his mouth.
*BOOM*
*Sizzle*
*Thud*
And as the sack of flesh that used to be Mr. Shao fell to the ground. The mad professor's head and limbs snapped back to normal as the lights flickered one more time before he appeared in the judge's seat wearing a wig and black robes.
"I declare this as a mistrial on the grounds that the haters be damned! Any objections?"
As the terrified arch-mages looked at each other in silence. None of them dared speak up as he had just killed 2 arch mages almost instantly with unknown methods, before wielding a high-grade weapon to effortlessly toy with a 5th tier magician.
"Well, if there are no objections I declare you brat number 2, along with the other brats guilty of nothing. The sentence is to go have your match already so we can get out of this dump!" He said before grabbing the judge's head by the spine and using it as a gavel.
And with that he threw off his wig and robe as he left for the exit. As I watched him leave the room, I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
At the time I thought this was going to be the biggest stunt he would pull at this Walpurgisnacht. I would learn later how wrong I really was.