A Hospital in Another World?

"…I confess."

"…I cursed animals near the water source twice, intending to contaminate it and cause an epidemic."

"…It was my own idea, unrelated to anyone else."

"…Just as my research was showing promise, the school suddenly ordered a halt to all independent studies on plagues. With my mage level and savings, even if I could secure a laboratory, it would be at least two to three years later. Years of effort cut short, I harbored resentment and sought revenge."

Slynn sat alone opposite several high-ranking mages, her voice calm, articulating each word. Across from her, a divination mage busily sketched on paper, then slid it across to his colleagues for inspection.

Archmage Edgar furrowed his brows slightly. Slynn had taken all the blame, intending to absolve her sister, which was impossible under magic’s unyielding gaze. Yet, her confession, compared to having none, made a significant difference.

At the very least, without resorting to magical coercion or forcibly extracting memories, the confession obtained would make it harder for the noble council to refute charges against Baroness Hopman!

"Are you sure it was your own idea, Magus Slynn?" Archmage Edgar asked coldly. "Your sister, Baroness Hopman, seems to tell a different story—"

"You’re overthinking it, Archmage." A faint smile crossed Slynn’s pallid, unattractive face, her expression oddly serene. "Being caught by you is due to my inferior skills; the punishment is deserved. However, my sister would never admit to having any involvement in this matter."

"Really? Would you like to hear what your sister has to say?"

Archmage Edgar stood up to leave. The enchantment mage immediately followed, and the divination mage, after a glance left and right, also stood up to join them. Left in the room, Slynn’s direct mentor stared at her for a long while, sighing deeply, as if aged a decade in a moment.

Archmage Edgar briskly walked to the adjacent room. He didn’t enter but opened a small, inconspicuous window to quietly listen to the conversation inside. As he listened, his expression darkened, and his grip involuntarily tightened.

Inside, Johnny Colin’s cold voice resonated:

"You will receive the treatment you deserve, Madam."

Disgust flickered in his eyes. He had heard from Archmage Edgar the petty reason behind Baroness Hopman’s revenge—a simple case of the baron’s eldest son forcibly pursuing a girl, and a young mage standing up for her. The situation escalated, with neither side backing down, culminating in a mess.

A mother seeking vengeance for her son is understandable. But, to exact revenge, using the poor as pawns is inexcusable!

He nodded to his side. The noble mage responsible for the interrogation turned a page in the dossier, scoffing:

"Ten years of no contact? —Madam, your personal maid, your coachman, and Slynn’s apprentices have all testified that you visited her mage tower this month and had her come to the baron’s domain for a meeting. If you seek further evidence, perhaps we should question your husband?"

"Don’t!" The baroness instinctively shouted. The noble mage raised an eyebrow:

"Then, Madam, please explain why you lied just now."

"…" The baroness fell silent momentarily before turning away resentfully:

"Yes, I don’t want to tell the truth. I don’t want people to know I associate with her—so what?"

"Why don’t you want others to know?" Minister Colin’s female noble mage asked softly: "Don’t you like her? Or does your husband like her too much?"

She cast a charm spell, its magical fluctuations so slight it only made the baroness lower her guard. The male mage beside her glanced at his colleague and turned away, pretending not to notice. The baroness sneered:

"Why should I like her? An ugly girl who can’t speak well, always pitifully clinging to my skirts, calling me ’sister.’ If it weren’t for her little magical talent, who would bother with her!"

"And this curse incident? It has nothing to do with you? We all know, Slynn rarely leaves her mage tower, only twice in the past year. Why would she suddenly venture two hundred miles to Nevis City’s water source to poison it, if not for you?"

"How would I know? She’s a necromancer, a necromancer! —Necromancers spreading plague, what’s so strange about that? Why are you asking me!"

"Then why did she come to Nevis City? Who went out of their way to transport her? —Who informed her of the water source locations? Who facilitated her attendance at the party?"

Minister Colin’s

tone grew increasingly stern. The baroness scoffed:

"Then go ask her! It has nothing to do with me! —By the way, you’d better send me back soon. Illegally detaining a noble violates the agreement between the Magic Council and the nobility!"

"If you’re innocent, why attempt to flee? The ship you boarded was headed for the Caroling Kingdom, across the sea!"

"…Can’t I visit my aunt? Which law of the kingdom prohibits nobles from visiting their relatives?!"

Archmage Edgar quietly withdrew. He returned to his original location, took out a magical crystal, and set it on the table:

"This is your sister’s confession. Magus Slynn, are you sure you don’t want to listen before reconsidering your statement?"

Slynn stared at the small magical crystal, her hand reaching out then retracting. Her expression fluctuated between longing and fear, and after a long sigh, she resigned:

"No need. Archmage, no matter what my sister said, my confession—will not change."

"Stubborn to the end!"

Archmage Edgar’s expression darkened, his hand moving towards the crystal to activate a spell. Midway, the divination mage who had left with him stepped forward to stop him. The middle-aged female mage looked at Edgar, then at Slynn, her eyes filled with pity:

Let her not hear it.

Let her not suffer another cruel cut from someone close, someone important.

We’ll find another way to uncover the truth. The divination school has many methods; let’s not hurt her anymore...

Archmage Edgar sighed deeply. He stepped out of the interrogation room, standing outside for a while before encountering Johnny Colin. After exchanging their findings, Edgar lamented:

"This isn’t enough… This evidence won’t suffice to condemn the baroness!"

"Is our goal to condemn her?"

Minister Colin asked softly. Edgar paused, then shook his head slightly.

The fate of a baroness, alive or dead, isn’t our concern. What matters is, first, not letting the Magic Council bear the entire blame for the epidemic, and second, ensuring someone compensates for the losses.

Minister Colin lifted his chin, his eyes bright and confident:

"Give me some time to consult with the review committee. I suspect… this matter will unfold as we hope."

Five days later, a magical carriage from the Magic Council quietly entered Nevis City, carrying Baron Hopman.