Return of The 8th Class Mage Chapter 145:

It wasn’t a simple interjection .

“The tower lord has admitted to his guilt .  As a matter of fact, he did not try to conceal it entirely .  We can certainly anticipate a number of outcomes since it is a trial, but it seems entirely fair to allow the tower lord an opportunity to explain his position . ”

Ronan was rather persuasive .

The rest of the high sorcerers nodded in agreement .

“If everyone agrees… . . ”

Deckard has also read the dynamics this time around .

He continued to carry out the trial .

“Please, my lord, explain the background for the offense that you have admitted to .  Please explain how you came to teach sorcery to the princess and everything that relates to that action . ”

Ian closed his eyes slowly .

He had no intention of telling a lie .

He would only tell parts of the whole truth .

Why did I teach her?  It was simple .

It was so that he could protect the princess .

‘A debt owed must be paid back . ’

The princess helped Ian’s family .  When the dragon soldiers attacked and caused havoc, the princess along with Oliver, rescued his family .  Furthermore, she took complete care of them to the end .  It was a way of paying her back .

‘It was an opportunity to clear his conscience . ’

At the same time, it was a form of comforting himself .  As alluded earlier, Ian was on the side of strictly prohibiting unlawfully passing down sorcery, and thus training sorcerers as a result of it .

His belief was still the same now .

However, he went astray of his own core belief by his act .  No matter what the reason was, he had abandoned all the belief system that he had?  It was that regret in some form that he wanted to shed .

“I . ”

Ian opened his eyes .

Then he began to speak .

“I knew that the princess was a sorcerer since 7 years ago .  Of course at the time, I saw her by accident, so I was the only one who knew it .  Since then, I had completely forgotten about it for the next 5 years . ”

He omitted talking about heart stone mushroom .

It was because he had no other choice .

“Meanwhile, as I had mentioned it before when the 5th prince had attempted to assassinate the emperor, I had investigated the people who, after the execution of Herbert, the former Ivory Tower’s tower lord, had newly risen to power around the 5th prince .  The key people were Dumpil Moret, the emperor’s body guard and Oburn Parker, the imperial city’s aristocrat .  In the process of investigating them, I needed the princess’ identity .  It was not easy to penetrate the aristocrat’s circle as a sorcerer . ”

Of course, the stories relating to the Dragonians were omitted as well .

“I had the sorcery as the bait and I had paid sorcery as a repayment .  The newly revealed form of breathing technique that was open to the entire Ivory Tower and a few small number of knowhow .  They were not that great of skills, but I do admit that illegal magic training did occur . ”

Ian’s explanation has ended .

There certainly was not even a spot of lie .

Yet, it was a bit different than what had actually happened .

A moment of silence pervaded the assembly room .

“I would like to ask a question to the princess, my lady . ”

Deckard’s voice broke the silence .

He spoke to the princess Hailey Greenriver .

“Is what the tower lord has just said all true?”

“… . . Yes . ”

The princess certainly did not tell a lie either .  She did not know that Ian chased after the heart stone mushroom, and the Dragonians .  What Ian has just said was what the princess knew as the whole story .

“What exactly did you help him with?”

“It was a request for me to attend as a buyer at the secret auction that Oburn Parker, the imperial city’s aristocrat, had organized .  As requested, I had attended and afterwards, I was taught the breathing technique and received a few advices . ”

The high sorcerers recognized the princess’ words as being true as well .  There was no other indication that they could sense from the cooperative interrogation magic that they were applying .  Although Ian was there next to them, they did not consider interference as a possibility .  Wasn’t it the case of fully admitting guilt?

“Alright .  I will continue my questioning . ”

From that point on, it just followed the original intent of the trial .  Almost all the questions were directed at the princess .  The princess also obliged fully with her responses .  How she came to conceal the fact that she was a sorcerer and the reason behind it all .  Much time has passed and finally the trial seems to be nearing an end .

Translations by AsianHobbyist Website .

“I’d like to offer the princess, my lady, the final opportunity to speak .  Please speak freely should you have anything to say at this time . ”

The final opportunity to speak freely .

Princess Hailey surveyed the area .

Kevin, the imperial palace sorcerer, looked placid .

And the servant girls were shaking in fear .

As if she was determined, the princess began to speak .

“… . . I am guilty of violating the strictly prohibited law of the land .  I am prepared to accept any form of punishment .  If I was not, I wouldn’t have come forward .  I do not wish for any favoritism that may be given to an aristocrat .  Please do pass judgment and punishment that are fully in line with the laws of the empire and the Ivory Tower .   Only . ”

Hailey was speaking in a calm manner .

Then she added one condition at the end .

“Those who knew that I was a sorcerer yet kept that secret from others .  Sir Kevin and the servant girls do not have any wrong doings .  They were only obeying my orders, applying the pressure as an aristocrat .  They would have lost their heads should they not have obeyed me .  Please do consider all these things and only pass down punishment on me, and only on me .