Chapter 8: Punishment and Two Questions
’Punishment, huh? Well, it’s better than being expelled from this place. If I remember correctly, the academy is another set of protection placed on a child who was a student here.’
In a simple sense, it’s better here rather than on the outside.
’Though I wouldn’t mind either choice as long as I have fun and release this boredom.’
For Cillian, it didn’t matter if he was expelled or not.
As long as his freedom wasn’t cut off and he was able to have fun without disrupting innocent people, he would love to let himself be in the hands of fate.
And by the looks of it, fate willed him to stay at the academy.
Darwin looked at Cillian with an indifferent expression before warmly conveying.
"Upon careful consideration, there will be three corresponding punishments given to you. First, all your Merit will be transferred onto Bard and Fred. They will take half of the true value you have. It is a reimbursement for what you did."
’Merit...’
Upon remembering and knowing the word, which is a very important aspect for him to know as it is a source of currency in the academy, Cillian nodded and waited for the two punishments, feeling that losing the money was inevitable.
"Second, you are to attend extra classes. There will be certain classes that you need to attend, and failing to do so will have certain consequences. Don’t worry, troublemakers such as you will be there as well."
’Troublemakers...’
Darwin finally pointed at the third punishment.
"Finally, the final punishment would be restriction of freedom. This indicates that you have a certain amount of time available for yourself, and you will undergo strict monitoring until we deem you to be free to go."
’Oh, that’s not good.’
Cillian’s complexion turned sour.
Darwin finally saw the crack in his relaxed expression that made him chuckle.
Restricting one’s freedom could just mean having no freedom at all. Of course, he can maintain a certain level of freedom, like having a bit of privacy, but that’s it.
Cillian will have to be careful with his future actions lest he attract a certain danger or problem that he couldn’t handle for a moment.
Or he could lose his freedom, which is the worst of all.
’I’d better learn and see through the Runic Language that corresponds to this Piece fast... It should be done today or later... The earlier the better.’
Cillian took a few things inside his head to see his next plans that must be brought forward.
"That will be the punishment given to you. If you think that such punishments are unfair, tell it to me now, and I might reconsider."
’Reconsider a punishment given by you? Hah, wouldn’t that make me look like I don’t adhere to the principles and laws distinguished by the academy? I will become more like a villain at this point early on. In the meantime and the way I see it, I couldn’t afford to make enemies when I wasn’t expelled...’
Cillian added inwardly.
’It wouldn’t be fun if I started getting enemies right at the start. One enemy is enough for now, and that would be Fred... and that first year principal Bard, I guess.’
Cillian, as if he had thought deeply about the matter, smiled leisurely and answered calmly.
"Your punishment is lenient enough. First, I apologize for what I did earlier. I wasn’t just right on my mind. Second, if there’s a chance to see Principal Bard and Fred again, I want to convey my heartfelt apology to them."
"Oh?"
Darwin seemed to be amused at that thought as he nodded.
"You don’t need to apologize for them. They probably don’t want to see you. But anyway, since you’ve agreed to your punishment, we have no problems. Do you want to ask some inquiries regarding this or some other matters?"
Cillian had two particular questions on his mind that needed to be answered.
He was only waiting for the other side to raise the matter. If not, he could raise it himself. Nevertheless, the former situation seems to be the radical way for the whole scenario to run smoothly.
"Yes."
"Go on. Speak."
Letting out a dry cough, Cillian raised the first question.
"When does the monitoring start? As you can see, I have to prepare and clean myself. Uhm, I know that sounds suspicious right now, but I assure you it’s not something illegal. What’s the approximate time for the monitoring to happen so that I can finish preparing the things I need?"
When he mentioned the ’things he needed’ to Darwin, he meant studying the hidden Runic Language to the gold coin and becoming a Ruiner!
Though he didn’t know what they were thinking, as long as it was different from what he was supposed to do, it was all right.
"Oh?"
As if enlightened, Darwin let out a chuckle.
"We can start two days from now. Though if you did something bad with the freedom we’ve given to you to clean yourself, we’ll immediately adhere to the punishment."
’Two days... Okay,’
As if that didn’t pose a problem and was enough to prepare himself, Cillian added.
"My second question is related to the Merits. Aside from earning them every day through various activities and events, are there other ways to earn them? I’ll become broke when I get out of this room. I need those points."
Cillian remembered that he had 300 Merit to his account at the academy, and all of it would vanish once both Bard and Fred split upon themselves. He is one of the richest students in the academy because Fergus’s Merits are under his care.
Now, all of it will disappear like a bubble.
Darwin contemplated for a moment and answered.
"If you are not talking about the usual given class points every month, doing your homework and assignments, attending events and winning it, doing the arduous tasks from the teachers and instructors, acing the exams and being on top, and many more, then I can suggest one thing to you."
He paused.
"Attend a club or make one. It doesn’t matter what club it is, as long as it adheres to the principles of being fair and something that does not bring harm to the students and teachers, how the club functions doesn’t even matter. Some clubs might not even earn money from what they were doing, but I assure you, most of them are doing this as some sort of main income while they were in the academy."
’Club... huh. That seems doable,’
If Darwin didn’t include the rule that pertains to ’being fair’ and ’something that didn’t harm the students’, Cillian would’ve likely thought of making a high-end bar where different types of music and delicacies are going to be present for future customers.
Just thinking about the merits of coming by doing it brought him some reverie.
Alas, he had to stop delving deeper into such a topic since it’s definitely not going to pass.
"Attending a club seemed easy, as there are various things available there. Though I found it doubtful that clubs are willing to take me. So, is there a requirement to make one?"
Darwin agreed and replied calmly.
"Of course, you will have to get to sign the Student Council President and Vice President on such matters. The first, second, and third-year principals will have to sign it as well. Lastly, since everything isn’t free in this world, a down payment will be given to the place you are going to accommodate, and you’ll have to pay it to the Treasurer of the Student Council."
’There’s so much to do... I can’t see any viable option for earning merits other than creating a club. Looks like as long as these requirements are met, the club will become alive.’
Cillian was beginning to think about his expenses and plans for making merits.
Another thing he had to take note of about this matter was the ability to hide that he was a Ruiner while he also had fun for himself.
At this moment, feeling an inkling that he would most likely create a club for himself, Cillian began to ask various questions relating to it.
How will it get established, what laws need to be aware of, and suggestions as to what club to build that could earn money fast.
After a roundabout way of asking questions for almost half an hour, Cillian finally quenched his curiosity and seemed to be satisfied.
Seeing that was the case, Darwin didn’t hesitate to lead him out the door.
...
Darwin saw the door closed for a whole minute before he turned around to look at the two people with him inside the room. One of those ’two figures’ disappeared, leaving only a person on one chair.
"Freya, can you monitor Cillian for me?"
He asked the blonde woman with her hair braided up to her shoulders, green gem-like eyes, and glossy lips, before nodding without any hesitation.
She glanced at the door and conveyed solemnly.
"He didn’t recognize us at all."
Freya was the Student Council President, someone who was widely known to everyone, to the students in the Sorcery Academy of the Viola’s Land.
Yet Cillian, who clearly was one of the attendees at the opening mass welcoming the students, didn’t recognize the person who had given a speech to all of them.
She clearly recognized him since Cillian, along with countless students, was allured by her charms, but the Cillian he was seeing now was slightly changed.
She felt that he was a completely different person.
"Oh, and regarding his request to make a club, do something about it. Finish every paper that needs to be done."
Darwin let out a relaxed smile.
"As a principal of the third year, I want everyone to feel at ease and felt belonged here, especially after the harrowing experience they had with Fergus. Oh right, try to fetch Fred to me. Oh, just order it for Harold."
Freya clearly had doubts about Darwin’s request to do everything for Cesar’s request about making a club after throwing a fit earlier.
A frown appeared on her face, but she remained relaxed and nodded.
"Okay, sir."
