Episode 349 – The Reason for the Reservation Round.
A hearing is fundamentally a place where witnesses are questioned.
Therefore, just because someone testifies doesn’t mean that’s all there is.
Each of those testimonies is followed by sharp questions.
This was equally applied to those who had been crazily spilling their testimonies until just a moment ago.
“You said numerous people participated, but is it true that you couldn’t catch those monsters and caused a ruckus instead?”
“If you couldn’t catch them, isn’t it your fault? And what about the fighting among yourselves?”
“Was there even a reason to fight from the beginning? Especially in such a tense situation? First, you should blame your own incompetence!”
“Moreover, you said it was a strange structure, but there are reports that the staff authorized it to capture the succubus.”
“It has been confirmed that this incident occurred during a vacation period. What were you all doing at the academy?”
“Those monsters aren’t some kind of pets like pigs that can be incited, right?”
[……What the hell is that last guy doing?]
‘That son of a b*tch.’
The questions were coming down harder than a crashing wave, and because of that, their mouths slowly clammed shut.
The same went for the Chief.
“Tell me!!! Why did a monster appear when the gate hadn’t even opened!!!”
“Uh… about that…”
As a young prosecutor’s sharp question aimed at the Chief.
“There are claims that this monster was brought in without permission by the Chief herself!!!”
“…th-that’s…”
The Chief was just fumbling for words and lost.
“What else is being said? What do you think!”
“Uh, what are you referring to…”
“We’re asking why you brought in this monster!”
They even ended up saying very meaningful things toward the Chief.
Now that I looked closer, the prosecutor’s face, which was relentlessly targeting the Chief, had an unmistakable look of disgust.
Probably, it was almost certain that he had watched the Chief’s lewd videos.
Besides, even if there had been crazy testimonies.
Those testimonies would scatter lightly without any weight compared to the breath they were expelling.
“I, I really caught fire!”
“My mom’s heart burned worse than that!”
“I almost appeared in a live-action Little Mermaid movie because of how burned I got!”
No wonder, because above all, they had nothing.
“If you speak so firmly, could you at least show some evidence?”
“Uh… that is…”
“Oh…”
Here came the decisive evidence.
“My, my side is burning like I’ve been set on fire, that’s evidence!”
“……That’s gonorrhea.”
“Oh, f*ck. Who passed that on?”
[Classic academy people.]
‘Right?’
The wounds etched into them were treated with potions purchased with the academy’s budget.
It was a high-quality item, so its price was steep, which was a downside.
However, because of that, there were barely any external wounds on them.
‘Expensive things are good to have.’
[Thank goodness it’s not made in China. Otherwise, it would have exploded.]
Moreover, the structures designed to contain them had already been authorized by the academy, leaving no points for further criticism.
In hindsight, how bizarre was it that such people gathered at the academy during vacation?
Since they had turned against each other after being played by the monsters and fought, I couldn’t be blamed for anything.
Generally, saying you commanded monsters holds no credibility whatsoever.
Still, not everyone could accept this situation.
One student, unable to contain his anger, passionately expressed his opinion to one of the prosecutors.
Though it was a claim bordering on absurdity.
“Anyway, Kim Shinwoo has connections with the monsters!!”
“On what grounds do you say that?”
The prosecutor calmly listened.
“Isn’t this common sense! Just like how it’s common sense for prosecutors to frequent room salons!!!”
“……You’re to stay after this is over.”
“Ah, you f*cking…”
The prosecutor calmly warned him.
[……Even so, you’re not denying it.]
‘Because it’s the truth.’
In that moment, someone pointed out a sharp fact, unlike the previous testimonies.
“Isn’t there an ability user present?”
“Now, finally, a decent testimony has shown up.”
The existence of an ability user in the academy.
“Then, the witness from the ability user side?”
“Yes, here I am.”
At those words, everyone’s gaze turned to the man representing the ability user side.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Understood.”
He could very well have been crushed by the sudden pressure of their gazes, but in a very short time, he looked at me and gave a gentle smile before starting to speak.
As if to say not to worry.
“All our personnel were on vacation, so we didn’t know the details.”
“Some ability users must have to stay at the academy.”
“…Are you referring to that?”
A natural yet sharp criticism based on principle.
Because of that, the ability user paused slightly, giving me an awkward look.
I responded by nodding my head lightly.
It’s fine.
Seeing my reaction, the ability user continued speaking immediately.
Some earlier hesitance was entirely forgotten, and he spoke very calmly.
“Thanks to the student council president, we were able to go on vacation. It’s quite an achievement.”
“The student council president must be Kim Shinwoo, right?”
And then the questioning arrows turned toward me.
Indeed, as pointed out by the prosecutor, ability users were supposed to be stationed at the academy.
That meant even if they went on vacation, someone must stay behind.
It seemed this would work against me.
“Kim Shinwoo, did you send all ability users on vacation without any stationed personnel?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Why did you do that?”
It wasn’t completely true.
“They had never experienced a vacation until now.”
“I see…….Wait a minute! You mean they’ve never been on vacation before?”
Having answered prepared responses.
“That’s correct. This was an act of humanitarian consideration.”
“…Is that really true? Can the ability users confirm that?”
In a momentary panic, the prosecutor shifted his attention to the ability users, but he just calmly stated the facts without flinching.
He wore an expression that seemed quite sad.
“Yes, as the student council president says. We have had no vacations while working.”
“There should be legally designated vacation days. Are you sure you’re not lying?”
“Let’s take a look at this.”
Saying that, the ability user suddenly handed several sheets of paper to the prosecutor.
“What’s this?”
“A contract.”
Directly a contract.
The prosecutor took the contract and started reading it slowly.
It didn’t take long before his gaze grew sharp.
“……Huh.”
The prosecutor handed the contract back to the ability user and slowly opened his mouth with a calm expression.
Despite having a calm demeanor, anger was faintly present in his voice.
“I will take responsibility for this and address it formally later.”
From the signs, it seemed like the academy staff would face repercussions later.
For instance, investigations or audits by the prosecutor’s office.
Of course, that wasn’t my concern.
[They’ve brought this mess upon themselves.]
‘At least the professors and staff are screwed now.’
One staff member, pale-faced at the prosecutor’s fierce gaze, started to speak in a hurry.
Trying to divert the prosecutor’s attention by any means.
“Then, shouldn’t we check the CCTV!”
“The CCTV is probably the responsibility of the Access Control Department, right?”
“That’s correct!”
Still, this was a sharper statement than before.
Indeed, South Korea could be called a CCTV paradise.
Aside from sensitive places like bathrooms and motels, there were cameras everywhere, resulting in very few crimes like theft.
Though, bicycles still keep getting stolen.
[Why can I leave my laptop at a cafe with no issues, but bicycles get stolen every single time?]
‘It’s the land of Um-bok-dong.’
Soon after, the prosecutor called in members from the Access Control Department.
“Then, the witness from the Access Control Department, please tell us.”
“Understood.”
In response, a woman, representing the department, calmly answered.
“The CCTV has all been damaged due to the monsters’ rampage, making it difficult to check.”
“But those recordings should automatically save somewhere, like a server.”
“Ah… about that…”
Momentarily, the woman from the Access Control Department hesitated.
Then, with a troubled expression, she cautiously began to speak.
“The server died because tteokbokki sauce spilled over it…”
“Logically, that doesn’t make sense. As nonsensical as eating a hamburger at 3 AM.”
The prosecutor shook his head, opening his mouth.
It seemed he felt this was not acceptable.
Then, the woman raised her finger, pointing somewhere.
“…Then what about those?”
“Yes?”
Something very out of place began to come into view.
“Omm nom nom.”
“Oh, it’s 3 AM now!”
It was our boss and a pink starfish.
[It’s not 3 AM right now, is it?]
‘This chapter was posted at 3 AM, you know.’
[…So that’s why I got caught in the reservation round.]
The boss was eating tteokbokki on a pricey broadcasting camera, while the pink starfish had a dumb look on its face while chomping on a hamburger.
The woman then spoke to the prosecutor, silently pointing at those two.
“Did you see that?”
“……I understand. That makes sense.”
In the end, the prosecutor acknowledged the woman’s words as true.
Still, he held a rather complicated expression as if he couldn’t believe it.
Regardless, I was relieved that they wouldn’t be caught in trouble.
With no further questioning from the judges and prosecutors, the host slowly started to speak.
“Then finally.”
Finally, it was time for me to testify.
“Student council president Kim Shinwoo, please speak regarding this incident.”
