The Magic Academy's Physicist-Chapter 288: Locking The Door After The Horse Is Gone (10)

Chapter 288: Locking The Door After The Horse Is Gone (10)
0% The guards led the two to a large conference room.
It wasn’t just Kaurelian officials within the room, but also Imperial figures who had already been granted asylum seated and waiting.
Duke Renawill Hasfeldt and his daughter, Klara Hasfeldt. Duchess Totzfel. Count Saliere. Marquis Celesturne. Viscount Eliyev.
And besides them, a fair number of other surviving upper class members of the empire.
Cecil shifted her eyes and cleared her throat. She had never seen a meeting of this scale in her life as far as she could remember.
“Who is that student with you?”
An elf with a head full of white hair asked, pointing to Vermel.
“This is Vermel Horde, a student under my care.”
Vermel bowed at the waist, a dignified and poised movement without any wavering.
The elves didn’t seem very impressed by this.
“Bringing an academy student to a meeting like this–are you out of your mind?”
Rather, it was more dominated by an antagonistic/opposing atmosphere. A few of the elven ministers similarly broke into anger along with the elderly elf.
“This is a confidential meeting!”
“What are you doing bringing in an outsider. Do you know what kind of situation we’re in right now?”
And as they were being blasted like this–
“Let them in.”
Renawill, who had been sitting at the end, spoke up calmly.
“That student is an important reference for Winter Heaven. He deserves to be here.”
“.......”
While he may be a bureaucrat of a ruined nation, Renawill Hasfeldt was a skilled mage. And because those were his words, the elves couldn’t continue on as they wished.
“Duke, it will be your responsibility if something untoward happens.”
“He will not be divulging today’s meeting. I swear this on my family honor.”
Renawill’s words were basically a guarantee of identity.
It was the guarantee of none other than Duke Hasfeldt, a shocking statement to the Imperials.
But this was Kaurelia, a democracy rather than an aristocracy. There was no risk of losing one’s life for speaking one’s mind.
“So, what are you saying.”
As such, there were elves who challenged the Duke’s words.
“An acquaintance of the surrendered Demon Army executive? Don’t be ridiculous. No, even if that was possible, why would someone like that show up at an emergency meeting?”
The man pushed himself up on his hands.
Then grabbing the back of his neck, he staggered for a moment, his fleshy face full of  disgruntlement.
“It seems we won’t be getting anything out of this meeting. Fine, then, I will be going home!”
The man packed his things and was heading for the exit. Unlike his portly stature, his movements were quite disciplined.
“Minister!”
“You cannot leave, Minister Pecton!”
The people in military uniform tried to stop him. He threw a few fits and argued with the lower ranks.
“Screw all of you. I have no intentions of playing house with brats!”
“Minister, you are in His Excellency’s presence. Please watch your language...!”
“Understood. I’ll rephrase that slightly.”
Eventually, it looked like the man was giving in to the situation and going to return to his seat.
But Vermel saw–the four stars in the shape of ‘ㅗ’ on his iron cap.
“Fuck you all. I’m going home.”
The man turned around and went back the way he came.
“Minister─!!”
“How are we supposed to discuss what to do without the Minister of Defense!!”
This time, another minister held him back and wrestled with him. The Imperials watching this spectacle became stunned.
“You cannot do this, Ministeeeer─!!”
“The Imperial people are watching! This is a diplomatic insult!!”
The meeting room turned into chaos before the meeting even began. The Minister of Foreign Affairs held his head and clicked his tongue, while Duke Renawill just gulped down water.
“President Renay, you will come in alone. And get that sissy out immediately!!”
“.......”
Vermel was also unable to keep his mouth closed.
He knew about him, but he didn’t expect him to be this bad.
Georg Pecton.
A soldier from a good family with the title of war hero, he was famous for being headstrong.
“Brat, wars aren’t meant to be discussed with just anyone. If you have any sense, scram!!”
It was a thunderous roar. His body felt like it would stiffen up without even being able to move. But Vermel feigned calm and stood steadfast.
What should he do about this.
As everyone was looking at each other cautiously–
“...Do not.”
At the very front of the long rectangular table...
A dignified-looking elf wearing glasses stretched out his forefinger and spoke up.
“Do not raise your voice like that, Minister Pecton.”
[President │Dwight Eisen]
The nameplate in front of him shone brightly in the light.
**
The commotion was settled with the President’s intervention.
“The Demon Army’s vanguard has now crossed the Thyrims River. There are about twenty divisions and are all engaging in maneuver warfare.”
The meeting that managed to start somehow.
Vermel sat on a chair in the corner and watched the proceedings quietly.
He knew everything that was going to happen, but had to endure this tedious period.
Because he needed to wait until he or Cecil got their chance to speak.
“Twenty divisions? Hah! We’d only need five divisions to repel them.”
Minister Pecton snorted and kicked his boots, but surprisingly no one paid him any attention.
“...Our biggest threat right now isn’t conventional power.”
Tap.
The soldier posted a few photos on the chalkboard. With a big sigh, he continued his explanation.
“This here is the mushroom cloud observed in northern Elankaya. They say it’s the result of a magic called ‘Dark Day’.”
“Who took those pictures?”
At the question, Duchess Totzfel raised her hand and answered.
“My daughter. She’s a war correspondent.”
“I trust it more since you say so. Alright, keep going.”
The soldier nodded and continued.
“Yes, sir, this magic is known to be created by Aether, a former Heaven of the Demon Army. Because of this, the people aren’t feeling very hospitable towards her.”
The magic that Aether created destroyed the Empire. And if the Empire falls, it would be the end of elf country as well. And so Aether must be placed on trial and put to death....
–was what the civilians who didn’t know the inside details thought, and that was where the elf country was currently at.
They had to flip this reality.
“At this point, I’d like to ask Horde.”
It was here.
The chance to speak.
“What do you think about the Beast, Aether?”
He had to choose his words wisely.
After taking a deep breath, Vermel spoke.
“She may have served in the Demon Army in the past, but now she is now on our side.”
“Do you have evidence?”
“Of course.”
Vermel held up three fingers and began to unfold his logic.
“First, she currently holds no malice towards us. She’s originally a Heaven, and Heavens are classified as Cataclysms. An entity like that bowed her head without any animosity towards humans or elves, and even surrendered to Kaurelia. If this isn’t her not having malice as a Beast, then what would it be?”
“She could have faked her surrender in order to confuse us.”
“Then here’s the second reason.”
Vermel folded one finger.
“Second. Aether is guarded by an Elemental. Golden-Eyeds are actually supposed to be ruled by Elec Elementals, but their powers were minimal in the past as we didn’t know about the concept of ‘electricity’. But now that the concept is clear, Elementals have also begun looking out for Golden-Eyeds. As proof, she is under the protection of an Elec Elemental despite being a Beast. I’m sure you all know this.”
“.......”
“It doesn’t end there. You would all know that Beasts cannot understand the words of Elementals, but not only is Aether blessed by her Elemental, she can also converse with her. And there are many testimonies about this. No, we don’t even have to look far, as the Elemental Kings have recognized her–she is no longer an enemy of the Elementals and Kaurelia.”
And if he said this, then those who weren’t of the Elemental faith should object.
With that in mind, Vermel went over what he was going to say last.
“It seems you don’t even understand separation of church and state. Kaurelia is not what it used to be. Faith must be faith, and politics must be politics. It doesn’t matter if that Aether figure is a Beast or not.”
“Then what is important?”
“Whether that one is harmful to our country or not.”
Now, Vermel folded one more finger and smiled.
Hold on, Aether.
No matter what happens, I’m going to get you out this week.
“Please listen to the last reason. The last one is about her usefulness.”
“Usefulness?”
“Yes, you just said so yourself, Minister, that the point is whether it’s in the national interest  or not. Then you just need a realistic reason, yes?”
Harden face here. Wet lips, take a sip of water, and pause.
Everyone was focused on him. The President, Ministers of each ministries, the Imperial figures...... even the Wind Elemental King who was nearby.
“Vermel Horde. Though I am merely an academy student, may I dare say...”
A mere student raised his voice against high-ranking officials from two countries.
“Without Aether, this war is a guaranteed loss.”