Scumbag Fate System-Chapter 112: Blood On Our Hands

Headmaster Isaac sat behind his desk with hands folded calmly in front of him. His eyes studied Reinhard with an intensity that made the hair on the back of Reinhard’s neck stand up. Not hostile, just impossibly observant, like Isaac was reading every thought Reinhard had ever had.

But that’s what made it so uncomfortable. Issac was paying more attention to him than Victoria and Morphin.

Victoria dragged Professor Morphin forward and threw him to the floor at the desk’s base. The silver chains binding him clinked against the stone.

"Headmaster," Victoria said formally. "Professor Morphin has confessed to conspiracy, espionage, and aiding the Void Assembly."

Isaac’s gaze never left Reinhard. "I see. And young Malvin helped you discover this?"

"He was essential," Victoria confirmed.

"Interesting," Isaac said softly while finally looking down at Morphin. "Please, Victoria, and Reinhard, why don’t you two take a seat. This will take some time."

They sat in chairs that appeared from nowhere with a casual wave of Isaac’s hand. Morphin remained on the floor, bound and trembling.

Isaac leaned back in his chair. "Now then, Professor Morphin. Let’s discuss the Void Assembly. How long have you been working for them?"

The question was simple, but something in Isaac’s tone made Morphin flinch like he’d been struck.

"A year ago," Morphin gasped. "They approached me a year ago when my wife first showed signs of the curse."

"And they promised to cure her?" Isaac’s voice remained perfectly level. "How... creative. Tell me, did you believe them? Or did you simply not care about the millions who would die?"

"I..."

"Come on now. It’s better to be truthful before the Empire Hunters arrive here."

Morphin shivered as a look of dread appeared on his face. "Y-You would summon-"

"I would if you don’t speak up. I’m sure you know their methods for those who aren’t cooperative?"

"I-I will speak!"

The next twenty minutes revealed Isaac’s terrifying competence. His questions were direct and quickly led to each layer of the conspiracy being exposed. If that wasn’t enough, he seemed to be able to quickly grasp the answers before Morphin could finish speaking.

"So if I understood this... The Assembly has seventeen confirmed bases across the continent," Isaac stated calmly. "You were recruited by the group operating in the eastern territories. They used your wife’s illness as leverage."

"Yes..."

Isaac gently tapped his fingers. "And they believe she is connected to-"

"The Void Sovereign." Reinhard spoke up, making everyone pause.

"The Void... Sovereign? What do you mean by that?" Issac’s gaze shifted to him with interest.

Reinhard crossed his arms and said. "Yor told me that she had a dream or vision about a towering existence. She doesn’t remember much, but she mentioned it called itself, the ’Void Sovereign’."

Victoria held her chin and muttered. "A Sovereign? But those existences haven’t been seen in centuries..."

"But they do exist, and it seemed the Void Assembly wished to unseal it..." Issac chuckled. "That would explain the continental Void Distortion; it might be required to free that existence they worship."

"That makes sense. Yor is connected to the Void Distortion... They probably think she might be the key to unleashing that massive distortion."

"It’s more than that. I’m guessing they believe Yor is blessed since her original Sigil was changed and her new one is related to the Void." Issac said, making Victoria and Morphin’s eyes widen in surprise.

Reinhard blinked in surprise as well, but inwardly, he was curious about how Issac knew this. Unless Yor parents had already told this to Issac in hopes he could help. But then another thing crossed his mind... Just how much else did Issac know?

"The distortion they plan to create would cover two thousand kilometers," Isaac continued calmly. "Kill between fifteen and twenty million people in the initial wave. It would trap millions more and destroy every major city, reducing the continent to chaos."

The way the headmaster spoke sounded like someone who had an idea of what had been going on. How long had he known about this threat? Reinhard thought.

"And they will keep trying to capture Yor until they succeed," Victoria finished. "Without her, their ritual cannot proceed."

The weight of that statement made everyone fall silent before Morphin spoke up.

Morphin’s voice cracked. "I just wanted to save my wife. I didn’t know it would go this far. I didn’t think—"

"You didn’t think at all," Isaac interrupted quietly. "You made the classic mistake of desperate people... You believed the monster’s promises without questioning the cost. Now we all must deal with the consequences of your weakness."

Isaac gestured to Victoria. "I will leave him to you, Victoria."

Victoria nodded and hauled Morphin to his feet. "What about Arnold’s?"

"I’ll handle him personally... While he had no choice because his daughter was in danger." Isaac said. "He still endangered a student here and sold us out... Now, I need to speak with young Malvin alone."

Victoria glanced at Reinhard questioningly, but he nodded slightly. She dragged Morphin out, and the office door closed with a soft click that somehow sounded final.

The silence stretched.

Isaac’s eyes studied Reinhard again with that same unnerving intensity. "I’ve been watching you for a while now, Reinhard."

How long? How closely? What had Isaac seen? Reinhard thought before saying. "I have been meaning to thank you for helping me out."

"Think nothing of it. I wished I could have helped you better-"

"The fact you allowed me to stay here was more than enough."

"Truthfully, I didn’t think you would last a month here." Issac smiled. "And now? Look what you’ve built... You have friends, and a place where you belong." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Not expecting this?" Reinhard asked with a chuckle.

Isaac chuckled. "Not the boy I saw at the start of the year, no. But the person in front of me?" He paused thoughtfully. "Hmm, yes. I can see it now. I can see how you became this."

Then he waved his hand casually.

The air above his desk shimmered and shifted. Reality bent into a perfect three-dimensional illusion, the entire academy grounds rendered in miniature with impossible detail.

Reinhard watched in fascination as tiny figures moved through the recreation. He saw students walking to classes, professors teaching, and finally the Resonance Club. He saw himself and his friends laughing together.

Sirin explaining something with gestures, with Yor smiling brightly. Alice teases Louis while Rika watches with quiet amusement, and he sits down with a smile.

"This is what you’ve created," Isaac said softly. "Not just power or control over your Sigil. But real connection... It’s something worth protecting."

"So you’ve been observing... Was it Yor, me, or just the students in general?" Reinhard asked softly.

"It was at first Yor... But when I saw you gained a Sigil, I became curious."

"When did you realize it?"

"When you showed Sirin you could use magic." Issac said without hiding anything.

Reinhard nodded. At least this explains why he didn’t notice Morphin and Arnold’s action. And also that he had been keeping track of Yor to step in whenever things got too bad.

The illusion faded, and Isaac leaned back in his chair. "I was surprised when you got a Sigil..."

"And yet you didn’t call me to your office."

"Because I was curious about what other miracle you would do..." Issac clasped his hands together. "And I was right, you helped Yor with her Void Powers."

"I didn’t help with that. As for my Sigil, I simply got it through my mother’s notes."

"Your mother’s notes," Isaac repeated slowly. "Yes, is that the story you’ve been telling those who asked?" His eyes glinted. "But I suspect there’s more to your story, Reinhard Malvin. Much more."

The statement hung in the air between them. It wasn’t quite an accusation but definitely a challenge.

Reinhard smiled slightly. "What does the Headmaster think?"

"I think it’s interesting..." Isaac said while matching Reinhard’s smile. "How, within a month, you’ve accomplished things that shouldn’t be possible."

"I’m simply lucky. Anyone would have done the same in my position."

He hummed thoughtfully. "Or maybe you have access to something beyond normal magical understanding. Perhaps both."

"And if I did have access to something unusual?" Reinhard asked carefully. "Would that be a problem?"

"That depends entirely on what you do with it," Isaac replied. "So far, you’ve used whatever advantages you possess to help yourself and others..." He paused. "Those are the actions of someone I can trust, even if I don’t fully understand their capabilities."

Reinhard held Isaac’s gaze steadily. The Headmaster was giving him permission to keep his secrets as long as he continued using his power responsibly.

It was more than he’d hoped for.

He didn’t try to hide or cover up as much as he would since Issac can easily monitor him. Even if he couldn’t see or notice the Fate System, he would eventually find out he had something strange.

"There is something I need to discuss," Reinhard said, changing the subject carefully.

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"I want permission for me and the others to go to Silent Peak. It’s the place that holds answers on how Yor can truly understand her power." Reinhard leaned forward.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees.

Isaac’s expression shifted to something grave. "Silent Peak. The mountain where every Void Sigil user who attempted the climb in the last fifty years has died... You believe Silent Peak holds the answers?"

"I believe it would explain why most Void Sigil users venture up there. It must hold answers to their powers, and going there would be the best. Especially if we want to understand the ritual the Void Assembly plans to do."

Isaac stood and walked to the window overlooking the academy grounds. "You want me to authorize an expedition to one of the most dangerous locations on the continent. To let students risk their lives climbing a mountain that has killed everyone who tried for half a century."

"Yes," Reinhard said simply.

Isaac turned to face him. "Then convince me it’s worth the risk. Bring me proof that going to Silent Peak matters, anything concrete that shows this is necessary and not just a desperate gamble."

He moved closer. "I will not send students to their deaths on theories and suspicions. If you want my approval for this expedition, prove to me that it’s the only way."

"I will."

Issac fell silent for a couple of seconds before placing a hand on Reinhard’s shoulder. "So confident... if I approve this and students die on that mountain, their blood will be on both our hands. Make absolutely certain this is worth those lives before you ask me to risk them."

Reinhard stood. "I understand, Headmaster."