Chapter – 48
“…?!”
Wha… what?
‘W-was that the Ivory Tower Master cursing just now…?!’
Everyone in the council hall was startled, but at that moment, Calon finally unleashed the rage he had been holding back.
“Hey, you insane bastard! Did you do that knowing Leonard Rodeline is the Crown Prince’s son-in-law?!”
“……!”
Hikim felt as if he had been struck in the head.
‘Wha… what…? Who’s whose… son-in-law…?’
He looked around in disbelief, unsure if he had heard correctly.
The elders stood with their mouths agape, utterly speechless.
Blinking rapidly in panic, Hikim tried to process what was happening.
“Don’t answer, huh?! Did you know or not?!”
“Ah, n-no… I didn’t know…?”
Hikim’s blank reply only drew Calon’s scornful glare.
Only after receiving that piercing look did Hikim’s brain start functioning.
‘So… Leonard Rodeline… that idiot… is the Crown Prince’s… son-in-law… son-in-law?! Son-in-law?!’
Hikim turned pale.
“Is it… really true?! Leonard is the Crown Prince’s son-in-law?!”
“That’s right, you bastard! The person you called a gold-digger is the Princess! And the Crown Prince is pissed off because of you, which is why I’m here to deal with you and the Ivory Tower!”
Whispers started spreading among the elders: “Oh, that’s what it was?”
Hikim felt every sweat gland in his body screaming in protest.
“Th-that… that can’t be… someone like Leonard…?”
“Still can’t process it? Denial of reality, huh? Well, I can understand.”
Calon’s verbal onslaught began in earnest.
“Hey, you crazy bastard. I investigated everything. So, for the past 15 years, you’ve been exploiting the Crown Prince’s son-in-law, right?”
“……!”
Hikim desperately wanted to rush forward and cover Calon’s mouth. But the man in front of him was the Master of the Golden Ivory Tower. Impossible.
The truths that Hikim had tried to hide began to surface.
“You couldn’t even properly make a single healing potion, and yet suddenly became an elder because you presented the research of the Crown Prince’s son-in-law as your own?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Not only that, but after framing him and driving him out, you’ve done nothing yourself. You’ve been slowly taking apart the research he left behind just to maintain your position, haven’t you?”
“Mis… misunderstanding…”
“Shut up! In all my life, I’ve never seen a leech like you. How could you feed off someone for 15 years? And the son-in-law of the Crown Prince at that?!”
The public opinion that Hikim had spent a fortune laundering six years ago became meaningless. Murmurs spread through the council hall.
“Is it true… Professor Hikim…?”
“Those accusations from six years ago… were what Professor Orca reported real…?”
“So the elder who spoke the truth back then was dismissed, and the promising student was expelled…?”
“My goodness!”
Hikim felt the judgmental eyes of everyone around him like daggers.
Trembling, he tried to defend himself, first by raising his voice.
“E-e-evidence! You have no evidence, r-right?!”
“Hey.”
“Y-yes?”
“Could you say that in front of the Crown Prince and his son-in-law? Go ahead, try it.”
“……!”
Trying to deny it in front of everyone now would mean nothing. The one holding the power was the Crown Prince, and the victim, Leonard, had the Crown Prince’s authority backing him.
“Ah…….”
Hikim slumped to the floor, realizing his struggles were meaningless.
Calon declared decisively:
“For this reason, I hereby dismiss Hikim Saramatan from his elder position and permanently expel him from the Ivory Tower. Any objections?”
“None!”
The elders shouted in unison to the Tower Master, then turned their scorn toward Hikim.
“You worthless bastard! How could you exploit such a promising student?”
“You heartless monster!”
“This scum should be thrown from the rooftop of the Ivory Tower!”
A group of strong alchemists, part of Calon’s personal guard, arrived.
With a strict command, Calon continued:
“You are a shameless thief who stole another’s success. Take him somewhere and lock him up.”
“Yes, Master!”
“L-let me go…! Do you know who I am! I’m Hikim Saramatan! The Ivory Tower’s leading alchemist… ugh!”
“Quiet. Consider him silenced.”
“Well done. Now, go.”
As Hikim was dragged away like luggage, Calon instructed his youngest disciple:
“Reinstate Orca to the elder position, clear out Hikim’s lab completely, and tell the Crown Prince to take him away quickly.”
“Shall I write a letter to the Crown Prince?”
“No, release it to the newspapers. Make it big. He’ll come himself.”
“Yes, Master!”
Hikim’s downfall proceeded swiftly. Outside the door, the villain’s wails echoed.
“Aaah, no…! Nooo!”
The next day, the newspapers in the capital city of Perron began reporting the incident nonstop:
[Shock & Breaking News] Master of Rejuvenation Potions Hikim Saramatan Expelled from Golden Ivory Tower!
Today, the Golden Ivory Tower Council unanimously decided to expel Hikim Saramatan (50, Elder Alchemist of the Tower). According to the official announcement, Hikim allegedly stole research from his direct student for the past 15 years and falsely presented it as his own. Six years ago, when this was about to be exposed, he framed his student and expelled them from the Tower.
Hikim denies all allegations, but with the witness who tried to report him six years ago present, a final verdict will soon be delivered.
[Exclusive] Hikim Now in Astronomical Debt!
Supporters of Hikim Saramatan (50, unemployed) have been protesting in front of the Golden Ivory Tower for three days. The High Court ruled that Hikim must return the funds he illicitly acquired by year-end. The Tower also decided to reclaim all research grants and special awards received by Hikim, cutting off all financial support.
Given Hikim’s reckless spending habits, imprisonment seems unavoidable. His Highness Hispenril, Crown Prince of the Duchy, called this “a serious crime that disrupts social order” and will personally interrogate Hikim today.
The Duchy’s media sensationalized the story of a vile teacher stealing a student’s life and falling from grace.
Three days into being expelled, having all his assets seized and being publicly shamed, Hikim was in a daze.
“W-w-where… am I…?”
When Hikim regained his senses, he found himself in a cold, dark prison. He vaguely remembered being locked in the Tower storage, then transported by carriage, pelted with eggs and tomatoes, and fainting.
So this must be the Karma Prison, where convicts awaiting trial are held.
Unexpectedly, a voice echoed nearby:
“Hmm! Awake, Professor Hikim.”
“G-g-Your Grace… Your Excellency?”
A rugged, muscular middle-aged man. There was no mistaking it—he was the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince seemed to have been there for some time, sitting just outside the bars and reading a book.
The small book, barely half the size of his chest, was a Bible.
Seeing Hikim’s eyes land on the Bible, the Crown Prince smiled kindly.
“I’ve recently taken up religion. After 13 years, finding my daughter, gaining a son-in-law, and a grandchild—surely all blessings from God.”
‘Son-in-law’—the word sent Hikim into a seizure. Even without drinking a proper sip of water all day, sweat poured from him like rain.
“So I started reading the Bible today, and the verse about loving your enemies really struck me.”
“E-enemies…?”
That word cut sharply into his heart.
Seeing Hikim trembling, the Crown Prince put the Bible down.
“My son-in-law has learned so much about life thanks to you. It’s time I repay the favor.”
The sound of cracking knuckles echoed menacingly in the prison air.
“E-eeek! Y-you… didn’t know he’s the Crown Prince’s son-in-law…! A-ah, please don’t…!”
“Relax. That was just stretching.”
“Huh?”
“Do you think I’d actually hit you? You still have your public trial coming up. If the Crown Prince were to personally torture a convict, the scandal would be terrible.”
“Y-yes… indeed? I haven’t killed anyone, and even criminals have rights… phew…”
“But.”
“Yes?”
“As a believer, I want to show love to an enemy like you.”
The Crown Prince pushed open the bars and stepped into the cell. Hikim stumbled backward in fear and sat against the wall.
A massive shadow loomed over him as the Crown Prince’s hand approached his eyes.
Peeing―
His index finger barely touched Hikim’s forehead. That was it.
“Huh?”
