Chapter. The Conclusion
“Did you hear?”
“About Professor Jaybee?”
“God, I was so shocked I couldn’t sleep last night!”
“Same! Same here!”
“How could someone like him be a murderer?”
“They say he killed seven people.”
“Isn’t that insane?”
“Right?! Oh, and did you hear about Lady Camilla?”
“Of course!”
“She’s the one who exposed Professor Jaybee!”
“They said she figured out he was the murderer and set a trap to catch him!”
Not just the academy—
The entire empire was in an uproar.
The revelation of the true nature of Professor Jaybee, a man known only for kindness and goodwill, left everyone stunned.
And that it was Camilla Sorpel who had brought him down only deepened the shock and admiration.
“Isn’t she amazing? How did she even know?”
“They say it was her foresight again.”
“Like a divine revelation or something?”
“The temple’s been buzzing about it too!”
People couldn’t stop talking about her mysterious power. Rumors spread that it was thanks to her divine ability that the killer was caught.
“Father.”
“Yes?”
The center of all this attention and praise—Camilla—
was currently being punished.
“Father, he dropped his hand again.”
“Camilla.”
“Wait—I didn’t!”
‘Ugh…’
They say the meddling sister-in-law is worse than the mother-in-law.
‘That damned fox!’
You’re officially my fox-in-law from now on!
‘And Luve!’
After everything was over, Luve went straight to Duke Sorpel and reported every single detail—not missing a thing.
‘You could’ve sugarcoated the part where I used myself as bait!’
Wasn’t he someone with a bit of tact? Did he really have to report everything exactly as it happened?
“Father, he’s doing it again…”
“I am raising my hand!”
That wretched fox!
“What are you smiling about? You don’t deserve it.”
‘Ugh…’
Fine. I don’t mind being punished.
But this is too much.
‘I’m not a child!’
Being forced to stand against the wall with her hands raised—it was absurd.
“Father, I’m not a kid. Do I really have to raise my—”
Tsk.
“Yes! I’m sorry!”
Despite her quick apology, Duke Sorpel let out a deep sigh.
“What on earth were you thinking?”
Just hearing Luve’s report had overwhelmed him.
First, shock at her involving Black Shadow.
Then double shock at her getting entangled in a serial murder case.
A serial killer?!
And then what?
Bait?!
Learning that Camilla had caught the criminal on her own left him in stunned silence.
“Do you know how terrified I was?”
“Luve was there with me…”
Tsk.
“Yes! I’m sorry!”
Camilla bowed her head in haste.
Compared to when she dove into the Spirit Lake to retrieve the divine beast’s egg, this was far worse.
Duke Sorpel’s face was hard, and Ludville had been staring at her with sharp eyes the entire time.
‘Why is he like this?’
This was a first. Even when he had tried to kill her, Ludville hadn’t shown a shred of emotion—
But now, his anger was unmistakable.
‘He’s scarier than Father.’
Duke Sorpel’s open fury was easier to handle.
Ludville’s quiet intensity, however, got under her skin.
“You definitely deserve more scolding! How could you just walk into a place like that without fear? So that story you told me before about your ‘friend’ being stalked by a killer—it was about you, wasn’t it? I was stupid to believe that. As if you have friends.”
“Excuse you! I do have friends!”
“Name one.”
“…”
Smug little fox.
Camilla ground her teeth at Ravi, who was pouring oil on the fire, fanning the fury of both the duke and Ludville.
‘Ravi… I will get you back for this…’
Slide.
“Tsk.”
Ravi came closer and touched her neck.
“A girl walking around with bruises like this…”
He clicked his tongue and cast a healing spell.
Instantly, the pain in her neck eased—
Ravi was healing the bruises left by Professor Jaybee.
“What are you smiling at? Father, I don’t think she’s been scolded enough.”
…His words were just so charming.
Still, with the pain gone, she could finally breathe.
The house had been so frantic, she hadn’t dared complain about being hurt.
She knew she’d just get yelled at more.
“Camilla.”
“Yes?”
Duke Sorpel approached, still stern.
Camilla quickly arranged the most pitiful expression she could manage.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you just stuck to pulling noble girls’ hair like before?”
“…Pardon?”
“That might be less dangerous.”
Well, that’s not quite the same…
Sure, she had a high skill level in hair-pulling, but still.
“I’m sorry.”
Her eyes widened at the unexpected apology.
“You probably didn’t tell me because you couldn’t rely on me. That’s why you always try to solve things on your own, isn’t it?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Camilla shook her head quickly.
“I just didn’t have any proof… That’s why I couldn’t say anything.”
“So you used yourself as bait.”
“There was no way I could let other girls go through that. Even if it was a trap, I couldn’t let anyone else suffer.”
They could’ve set a magic-recording orb and waited for another victim to fall into the trap—
‘But no.’
Camilla lightly touched the spot where the bruise had been.
To get evidence, she had to endure up to the moment of attempted murder.
‘Asking someone else to endure that…’
She couldn’t do it.
She knew too well how traumatic it was.
Even with safety measures, what if something went wrong?
“Are you okay?”
“…What?”
Duke Sorpel’s frown deepened.
“So you’re saying it’s fine as long as you’re the one getting hurt?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Camilla.”
He raised his hand, and she instinctively flinched.
Pat.
“……”
He gently rested his large hand on her head.
“Even if you’re okay—this father of yours is not.”
“Father…”
He ruffled her hair and tapped her shoulder warmly.
“Go rest now.”
“Yes!”
Before he could say anything else, Camilla quickly agreed and made her escape.
She didn’t even look back.
Not even when Ravi gave her a look that screamed, He should be scolding me more.
Slam.
Once the door closed, both Ludville and Ravi looked toward Duke Sorpel.
His previously hardened expression had melted into a soft smile.
“Still, isn’t she impressive?”
“…Sir?”
“To not turn a blind eye to injustice.”
Smiling warmly, the duke looked genuinely proud.
Ludville and Ravi both sighed deeply.
They were at least grateful he hadn’t shown that face in front of Camilla.
Professor Jaybee’s trial proceeded with lightning speed. Record-breaking, even.
And for good reason.
Someone had watched the entire process from start to finish. No—supervised it.
The first to arrive at the courthouse and the last to leave was Ludville.
He observed and monitored every detail of the case.
Rumor had it that the court officials handling the trial had lost a lot of weight recently.
In the end, with all the evidence from the House of Sorpel and Jaybee’s own confession, the full truth came to light.
As expected, Professor Jaybee was sentenced to the highest punishment—execution.
In front of countless witnesses, he was beheaded.
[So it ends like this.]
Watching his death from beginning to end, Amy remained surprisingly calm.
She didn’t cry.
Only sighed, again and again, in quiet sorrow.
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