Chapter 102: Vajra Ascent (1)
HEaLets not jump to conclusions about Shirone. Currently, we lack information about Unlockers.3QWijX
XR3Mt3Alpheas found agreement with Ethella, who added her thoughts.3x3w
PBAisjEShirone entered the Immortal Function three months ago. And in this battle, he opened it to an extreme degree. The Karsis Order recognizes the Immortal Function as a process of mental sublimation. It might be a matter separate from life itself.ZdRfD
HjX0What are you saying? We’re not here to hear the stance of the Karsis Order. We want to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.zDfcA
yLyK33Some teachers didnt understand Ethellas point. The Immortal Function is not about level, but a state of being. Even the most learned teacher can’t confidently claim to have deeper insight than a street beggar in the realm of enlightenment.lV8q2G
5YfZ9dThe teacher who had rebuked Ethella addressed Alpheas directly.cKr
7hZHeadmaster, please reconsider. With all due respect, this whole situation started because of your past. There’s nothing more important to us than the academy. If we continue like this, the worst-case scenario might unfold.UzL
OAuAlpheas looked around at his audience. Dozens of eyes were silently pressuring him.LhPDc
wCc1aRThe worst-case scenario? What exactly do you think is the worst-case scenario?cxPtd
etyhgThe academy could be shut down.LWkTMy
xSHNo, thats not the worst-case scenario.tB0wqCE
zPSg5E6A teacher, frustrated, hit his chest as he spoke.S23CB
k1sjDyeI cant understand your stance, Headmaster. What could be worse than the academy shutting down?KPo
DJaU2CThe worst-case scenario for an academy is when all the students and teachers are dead.HixvDj
A6ukThe meeting room was engulfed in silence. The gazes towards Alpheas shifted.RUh
fjvAzxuIf it werent for Shirone, no one would have survived. And that list of the dead would have included you all as well.ABB
rF164u2Alpheas was disappointed with the teachers who, instead of honoring a student’s death, were only trying to exploit it.rw1j7
htD5sIsnt there a sliver of possibility left? Even if its less than 1%, he’s a child who sacrificed his life for us. Shouldn’t we at least try until we can? Even if the academy shuts down, shouldnt we as teachers do our utmost for Shirones return? Isnt that our duty?4eMh6b
0fd2izBut Headmaster, what does the academy mean to us? Its sad about Shirone, but if we shut down like thisfaG10Am
t4ZnjplThe academy wont shut down. I will take all the responsibility. So please, do your best for Shirone. Shouldnt we make this sacrifice for him?7ke1G
2dNgThe teachers couldnt argue against Alpheas. Regardless of the reason, the fact that a student had saved their lives was undeniable.yISzGsO
EnBVbGAfter the meeting, the teachers left the room with gloomy expressions.G8th6
sOpZ6P1At the Magic Academy Student Council.qLXI
24cIn a large meeting room, student council members from each class had gathered. Unlike the teachers, worried about their own futures, these sensitive students felt betrayed by Alpheass past.tbZ867
yBTaGood day. I am Amyra, the Student Council President. Ive convened this meeting to deliberate on the current situation. Please, let’s have a constructive discussion.BUn3N
eIL4ZAmyra, a Class Two student, and a Climate Magic major, declared the meeting open from the podium. At twenty-two, she was the top candidate for graduation.cvjBO
qkvhm3As a representative of the student council’s leftist faction, the atmosphere of the debate was predictable. Unsurprisingly, the first to request speaking rights were conservatives defending the academy’s position.QBPb
Ak7Im Sharelle from Class Three. Theres a serious criticism against Headmaster Alpheas within the academy. However, we must be cautious. The academys honor is the same as that of the students. Attacking the teachers in this situation could negatively impact the advanced class students.XpjGn2z
B0134QUKas from Class Four here. I see some merit in Sharelles opinion, but this issue is about the moral conduct of the teachers. Even if it happened 40 years ago, it was still a crime. If the academy doesnt take responsibility, I believe it has no future.3AlMP
MNpuDdvNaturally, Amyra agreed with Kas. But, as the chairperson, she simply nodded instead of openly showing support.gvfNQy
OJMoDCMThis is Olivia from Class Six. The main issue now is Shirones death. As we know, Shirone is dead. However, a minority of students and teachers are distorting this fact. This has led to the academy missing two suspects who colluded with Arcane and delaying the prosecution of the Headmaster. This is a clear avoidance of responsibility, and the student council should step in.mkP4
lPJ2lwWAmyra was also angered for the same reason. The teachers were delaying Alpheass prosecution under the pretext of uncertainty about Shirones condition.rTGBS
RJs4MSharelle countered.WVYKGK
4eUuLxIsnt that an overinterpretation of the teachers’ intentions? Shirones heart is not beating, but theres no decay either. As far as I know, the Ivory Tower is discussing the aspect of him opening the Immortal Function. Considering these factors, the teachers judgment is not incomprehensible.GzM6g
Bj03The students responded indifferently. The Immortal Function, hard for even teachers to grasp, was beyond their understanding. Some students didnt even know what the Immortal Function was.RW3
cNTAmyra was no different. The ultimate state a mage could aspire to. But what did that mean, exactly?e7ncDw
5jgJMagic is a knowledge-based phenomenon. Claiming something as the pinnacle while it remains elusive and abstract makes it hard to appreciate its significance.HMwJ
fvbyExcuse me, Im Veronica from Class Ten.2M3gJ
8vawA girl, only eight years old, raised her hand. In the student council, class representatives were chosen regardless of age, so her opinion carried equal weight.Hdd1
9GFmH1Yes, go ahead, Veronica.Ry9yd
o226HDid Headmaster Alpheas do something wrong?g3X
sGhyHer voice, on the verge of tears, made Amyra furrow her brows and sigh.p18Zs
35CDJPThis is why I proposed separating by class.7bA0jF
778Veronica continued, sobbing.L1UDn
fxgKGwsEven if Headmaster Alpheas did something wrong, cant we forgive him?34Uc
nRRThats not possible, Veronica. This is about the academys honor.uEx
wPMaBut everyone makes mistakes, right?Vc7tJ
nxBYif1The atmosphere in the meeting room stirred. Veronica’s innocent yet profound statement had certainly caused ripples. Seizing the opportunity, the conservatives paid close attention to her words, observing the unfolding situation.aT4
9yekKI often get scolded by my mom too. But she doesn’t scold me too harshly. She says that everyone can make mistakes. Headmaster Alpheas made a mistake, but he has led the academy well so far. Cant we forgive him?SgsX
OEGSeeing his chance, Mark from Class Seven raised his hand and stood up.WQr
6x1Im Mark from Class Seven. I agree with Veronica. Of course, those who commit crimes must be punished. But we, who have so far trusted the academy’s security and advocated for maintaining the status quo, should not overstep our bounds. If the teachers arent trying to neglect the situation, then the student council should also have the wisdom to wait.VE0e
mfFSNWell done, Mark.zAd9G4
CQ7Sharelle gave a thumbs-up under the table, and Mark nodded back in acknowledgment.z0P6
dwxe7v2With this turn of events, opinions were sharply divided.gDdj
SfUnJGAmyra calculated the votes based on everyones statements. Generally, the lower grades were siding with the academy, while the graduating class was critical. The higher grades votes were split.V884Z
URlbiThis might not go well.4IDzQ
lvkCh7dWithout a way to accuse Alpheas, the situation would remain unchanged. But turning the tide against the relatively younger students of the lower grades, who were more emotionally driven, was challenging.njQSS
QgCOiRFIm Fermi Ardino from Class One.aG6UiCD
NkdUk8All eyes turned to Fermi, who had been silent until now. As the top student in the graduating class and a future graduation candidate, it was natural to be curious about his thoughts.KukaLQp
2UxYjOsSharelle watched Fermi with unease. A young man with neatly combed dark brown hair and a professional look, but his authoritative appearance hid a mischievous streak.6J3tI
V2DA2BCDespite being capable enough to graduate, he had repeatedly failed, and even though he was a likely candidate for the next student council president, he had withdrawn, leaving the position to Amyra.ttep3
AnvJHonestly, it was hard to understand what he was thinking. The only clear thing was his penchant for stirring trouble and enjoying conflicts with everyone.gMf
zngWe all owe a debt of gratitude to Shirone. If it werent for him, we would have been dead by now. Therefore, there are surely those among us who cannot accept his death.TQfmx
MIc0The students grew solemn. They were aware of how hard Shirone had fought for the entire student body.i37
0x44whBut Sharelle became more anxious. As far as she knew, Fermi was not the type to feel grateful to anyone. The reason for his sudden talk about Shirone was a mystery.0Vr2
pAEyaI am grateful to Shirone too. But the teachers are using him as a shield. Therefore, our judgment is not overstepping. Its a struggle to protect Shirones spirit.3Pv0kBP
7Mjc3What do you mean by protecting his spirit? Shirone isn’t dead yet…!LvwtR
eqa2OIts been five days. Shirones heart isnt beating. Everyone here must miss Shirone, dont you?BHKT
ZQJQJzMost nodded. Even if they didnt think so, mourning someones death wasnt a difficult task.z7nMe
fymyfWe all miss and are grateful to Shirone. So, let me ask again. Does anyone here truly believe Shirone is still alive?Ye2v9D
ASIWpSharelle realized Fermis strategy. By separating emotions from logic, guilt disappears and reality becomes clearer. The students would make a cold judgment.RVHh
B07N9Of course, no one does. Its not cruel, its common sense. Yet the teachers still claim Shirone is alive. Its like some kind of cult.QdOMX
R3eKsmSharelle stood up, banging the table.PNw
3PMQThats not true! There are certainly strange aspects to Shirones condition…!rdR7AB
t3yECoWhat’s so strange? Ive read the report on the Immortal Function. But it has nothing to do with the biological death of a being. Weve also received intel that Shirones body has been preserved.G2o
zxFxBThats…!Run
SmUfIt was Alpheass directive. If the Immortal Function involved the spirit, then physical decay must be managed here with foresight.5OHqtI
YfAyTmHow Fermi had accessed such closely guarded information was a mystery.vjjHw
k0SAmyra sharply asked, her eyes flashing.yp0
36jPreservation? Is what Fermi said true?lPM
eFRSharelle glared at Fermi, annoyed at his innocent smile.G4Lw
VQtgThat bastard. Stirring trouble for no reason. He just wants to cause chaos.ngOrHL
h1pBGSharelle, please answer.zOn6N99
BWNkm4nSharelle sighed. A fight they could have won turned uncertain due to a momentary lapse.4gaJd
77mWHbDI invoke my right to remain silent. If you want more answers, I suggest formally convening an inquiry.nXIShtB
qRB101SRemaining silent implied consent, but saying it outright was a different matter. The importance of silence was leaving room for argument. There was no need to prematurely seal ones fate when the situation could still turn around.zKP
W3FUPAmyra didnt waste time. The mood had shifted again, making this the best point for action. She moved to the vote.RfUW
c8qTthtLet’s begin the secret ballot now.7yOM
IzS8xukThe outcome… was as Sharelle had expected.lX8y7wM
fz0x5WUAlpheas, resign! Undergo an investigation by the Oversight Department!xHZPN
Plhi2jTProceed with Shirone’s funeral! Playing with the dead is not what teachers should do!Uv2Q
uG8About a hundred students who joined the student council’s decision were demonstrating in front of the infirmary, holding pickets and protesting.pJrts1
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