“Never trust the Absolute Witch.”

Diakonos said.

Feeling the atmosphere in the room shift at his words, Sylvia frowned.

They had just managed to implant the thought in people’s minds that “perhaps Scarlet really isn’t a bad entity after all” with their testimonies.

But with that one sentence, the people who had been wavering turned their thoughts back to, “Yeah, believing in a witch doesn’t make sense.”

Sylvia felt frustrated.

Not only was she angry that all their hard work in defending Scarlet had gone to waste, but she was equally irked that she could understand their reactions on some level.

Everyone knows.

They know the true villain behind their confinement in this tiny cage, when compared to the vast world outside.

That’s why they had learned from a young age that witches are enemies of humanity, a sentiment passed down from their ancestors.

The deep-rooted hostility towards witches, built up over a long period, made it undeniable that their perception wouldn’t change easily. This realization was enough to devastate Sylvia’s mood.

With that in mind, Sylvia spoke up in anger toward Diakonos.

“So what are you trying to say? Are you saying we were foolish to try to believe in the witch?”

“To be precise, yes. It was a foolish act.”

As Diakonos called them foolish right to their faces, Sylvia shot him a fiery glare, but Diakonos continued unperturbed.

“But that’s not what I wanted to say.”

Let’s see what he’s about to say.

Holding such thoughts, Sylvia waited for Diakonos to continue, but then he said,

“I’ll overlook the punishment that you all would receive.”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear? I said I won’t punish you.”

In that instant, Sylvia’s expression turned blank.

What? Wasn’t he just criticizing their actions a moment ago?

So why the sudden change…

Honestly, it was bewildering.

Even though they had achieved the goal of preventing the kids from receiving punishment, she felt more dazed than happy about it.

Did Diakonos perhaps pick up on her feelings?

He began speaking again.

“Seeing your expression, it seems you’re puzzled by my words.”

“…To be honest, I am.”

How could she not be puzzled?

Just moments ago, Diakonos seemed resolute in punishing them, yet all of a sudden he was saying he wouldn’t?

Sylvia muttered with a complicated expression, and

“You really don’t need to think too complicated about it. It’s a given.”

Diakonos said as if it was no big deal.

“There’s no reason to punish a victim.”

And upon hearing that, Sylvia felt her expression harden immediately.

“…Victim?”

“Yes. A victim.”

Nodding, Diakonos continued.

“As I mentioned earlier, there is a possibility that the witch used you all to escape the city. I think that’s the most likely scenario. If that’s the case, then you all are victims used by the witch. It would be absurd to tell someone who has been scammed to be punished for falling for the scam, so I won’t give you any punishment. While it’s not that you have no fault at all, as students, I’ll forgive you with the allowance of an adult’s generosity.”

Diakonos said that with a demeanor so nonchalant, it was almost as if he was discussing the weather.

Hearing this, Sylvia couldn’t help but murmur in a sharp voice.

“…Hah, victims? You’re calling us victims?”

Victims indeed.

At the very least, they were the ones who instigated the situation.

They weren’t acting under anyone else’s will; they believed it was right and acted with conviction.

Yet Diakonos’s words completely denied their conviction.

Fuming in anger, Sylvia yelled at Diakonos.

“We’re not victims, we—!”

“Are we not? If not, I suppose I’ll have to punish you.”

“Ugh…!”

At the mention of punishment, Sylvia found herself at a loss for words.

If it had been merely her own problem, she would have charged forward without considering the aftermath, but the treatment of the children depended on her.

Thinking it through, acknowledging themselves as victims for the sake of the children seemed right, but she couldn’t bring herself to say that.

Their objective wasn’t just to avoid punishment.

Sylvia asked Diakonos with a face full of worry.

“…If we accept being victims, what will happen to Lady Scarlet?”

“Naturally, we’ll maintain our stance. The witch is an enemy of humanity, so we must treat her as such.”

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped Sylvia’s lips.

Their original aim was to avoid punishment while also convincing others to change their perception of Scarlet.

The risk they took to help Scarlet escape yesterday wasn’t solely to prevent her from being killed; it was also in hopes of seeing her smile again someday.

However, the reality was this.

If they chose one, they had to forsake the other.

The children watching her from behind, too.

The owner of the ring she always wore on her left ring finger, much like it was kept in her pocket.

Both were irreplaceable treasures that she couldn’t give up.

If only it were different—the choice would have been easier.

Feeling overwhelmed by such thoughts, Sylvia begged Diakonos.

“Just once more, please believe in Lady Scarlet. I assure you, she isn’t a bad witch…”

“There’s certainly a possibility of that.”

“Then…! Just think one more time—!”

“But it’s still impossible.”

Against the brief flicker of hope she felt at his words, Sylvia was crushed by Diakonos’s refusal.

“Why… why to this extent…”

“When considering the possibilities, it’s a logical choice. Perhaps, just as you say, that witch might not be a harmful witch. However, as I mentioned, there’s also a chance that the witch merely used you. And even if your claims hold true, I cannot guarantee that she won’t lose rationality like when she attacked Team Leader Yoon Si-woo. Therefore, it would be prudent to choose the sure route. It’s not about hoping for the best but about avoiding the worst. That is the role of the central committee running the city.”

Sylvia’s resolve faltered in the face of Diakonos’s steadfast demeanor.

There didn’t seem to be any chance of him changing his mind.

Sighing, Sylvia let out a bitter smile.

Perhaps the answer had been determined from the start.

When considering the simple comparison of one against many.

Moreover, having claimed responsibility, she couldn’t choose to give up the children.

Frustrated.

Frustrated to the point of madness.

But for the sake of the children.

Even if she hated it, giving up on Scarlet was the right thing to do.

With such thoughts, Sylvia slowly turned to look at the children.

And she saw it.

The children’s faces were twisted with the same frustration and fury.

There was no need to ask why they wore such expressions.

They too were experiencing discontent with being forced to choose just like she was.

Their silence, despite the boiling anger within them, stemmed from their gazes mirroring each other.

Sylvia realized.

Just as she was unable to act freely because of the children, the children were also unable to act freely because they worried about what would happen if something went wrong with the others.

So, they became each other’s shackles.

What an absurd situation this was.

Finding the situation so ludicrous, Sylvia chuckled wryly.

Oh, why must they be forced to act according to what was laid out for them?

As she pondered this, Sylvia suddenly caught sight of the children’s gazes trained on her.

Their eyes burned with a common, strong desire.

What were they demanding?

What did they hope for from her?

It was then.

“…You know, Sylvia.”

From amidst the kids, a small voice emerged.

“It’s like, right now I can’t figure out what to do, you know?”

It was Mei.

She mumbled with a trembling voice, as if suppressing something.

“I think everyone else feels the same way, and you’re our representative after all.”

With sparkling eyes fixed on her, she continued.

“Just go ahead and do whatever you feel like. Don’t think about us.”

As Mei spoke, the kids began to nod one by one.

Caught off guard by those words, Sylvia wore a complicated expression.

Why had she been holding back until now?

But hearing such words made her genuinely want to act freely.

To be allowed to act as she wished, with the nodding children behind her, Sylvia turned her head.

I don’t know anymore.

You told me to do as I please.

I’m pretty selfish after all.

Because I can’t give up on either side.

Murmuring such thoughts within, Sylvia stood tall toward Diakonos and the adults.

And before anyone could stop her.

She swiftly moved with precision.

Someone gasped in surprise.

Of course, while it was surprising, it wasn’t as if she suddenly attacked or anything.

She wasn’t that reckless.

Her action was simply to kneel and bow her head to the ground.

“Please. Just reconsider your stance on Lady Scarlet for one more time.”

When she said that with utmost politeness, a murmur of disbelief arose from behind.

Is that really what you thought after all this time?

However, despite that murmur, Sylvia smiled faintly.

At the same time, the sound of her knees hitting the floor echoed throughout the conference room.

“Please trust in Lady Scarlet just once more!”

“I’m begging you!”

“Please!”

Historically and across all cultures, the most effective method for children negotiating with adults has been

“““Please!!!”””

to throw tantrums.