Chapter 249: Trial [3]

Chapter 248

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Episode 62 - Trial [3]

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Clank!

I closed the door behind me and then made sure that I had stored everything in my Inventory.

’I suppose this is where my days at the Academy end.’

The Academy had always been something minor from the beginning, never anything particularly important in the first place.

Back then, this world had been nothing more than a game to me, but after going through a variety of events,

I discovered that this world had always been Earth, just millions of years in the future.

So, from then on, I simply focused on becoming stronger, not just myself, but also the other "main characters" of this story.

Because although this world wasn’t a game, the future I currently remembered would still happen.

So naturally, I needed the help of the "main characters," but in the meantime, I had come to consider them my friends.

However, I was now wearing formal clothes instead of the Academy uniform.

I left the dormitory building and walked toward the main building.

That was where the Trial would be held.

’It seems very few people know about this Trial.’

That was probably to prevent protests. My friends were literally the heirs of the Five Noble Houses.

Moreover, many professors were fond of me and could file complaints once Headmistress Bernice returned from the World Congress.

’Without the Headmistress here, they can do whatever they want.’

That was simply the nature of this place. They took advantage of the Headmistress’s absence and did whatever they pleased.

Of course, their actions would have consequences once the Headmistress returned.

’I should hold myself back when I leave this building, shouldn’t I?’

I didn’t want Headmistress Bernice as an enemy, since, just like the "main characters," she would be extremely important to what would happen six years from now.

But just in case that happened...

’Then I’ll have to leave this Continent.’

But not before dealing with the events involving the Holy Church in a few months and the Academic Exchange at the end of the year.

With that, I stepped toward the main building and entered.

Once I left this place, I would be branded as a villain and a bounty would be placed on my head.

Tap! Tap!

I walked through the halls of the main building and then passed through a large door.

If I could see, I would have read the name of this Hall.

It was called the Trial Hall.

As soon as I entered, countless eyes turned toward me.

Inside the Trial Hall were knights clad in armor, and some parts of their armor bore the mark of the Holy Church.

So, I extended my senses outside.

’It’s already surrounded, huh.’

The strongest among them was an Eight-Star knight.

They were waiting at the entrance of the main building.

Every single one of them was an Inquisitor sent by the Holy Church.

I calmly walked over and took a seat at the front.

In the center, on a slightly elevated platform, was the person who appeared to be the Student Council President.

It was my first time encountering this guy.

’If someone asked me who the most arrogant person here was, naturally, it would be this guy.’

He was the highest authority in the Academy when it came to the cadets.

He held tremendous authority over all matters concerning the cadets.

And he had the power to expel cadets with a single word, basically as if he were the Headmistress herself.

Thus, after I took my seat, the Student Council President spoke.

"Cadet Adel... no, Adel, Dark Attribute user and member of the villains, you are here because of the murder of a second-year cadet."

"The witnesses claim that you killed him in a place where you thought no one could see you, however..."

A smile appeared on his face, and his arrogance only grew.

"However, you have the opportunity to defend yourself, even though the evidence clearly shows that you are a murderer and everyone saw you. So, do you have anything to say, Adel, member of the villains?"

The eyes of everyone present focused on me.

At that moment, I simply crossed my arms and gave a calm smile.

"What can I say? The Student Council President is right. I openly killed a second-year cadet so that I could be easily accused and then walk around as if nothing happened."

"That’s because I’m a villain, isn’t that right, Student Council President?"

He was passing judgment on me, and anyone else would have avoided saying what I had just said.

But proving my innocence, honestly, had never crossed my mind from the moment I was unjustly accused.

’Actually, you could say this is better.’

I was wasting a lot of time in classes. My main objective wouldn’t allow me to remain weak.

So, I’ll take advantage of this opportunity to have the freedom to move around without having to attend Academy classes.

Not only would it save me time to finally advance to Six Stars.

I also wouldn’t need an excuse to move around as I pleased without anyone suspecting anything.

And above all, what I had just said was nothing more than a mockery of the Student Council President.

A mockery of an accusation that was literally ridiculous and completely baseless.

No one could deny that I was intelligent; I was number one in the written exams, and I had already demonstrated my intelligence.

Because if I wanted to kill someone, would I really leave such obvious evidence and let everyone see me do it?

Only an idiot with serious mental issues would do something like that.

Naturally, the Student Council President, being the kind of person he was, became furious.

"Yes, very good. You just confessed yourself, didn’t you? You’re a villain, a villain who kills for pleasure."

"We should have expelled you from the beginning. If we had, an innocent person wouldn’t have died."

"So, since you’ve confessed, you despicable villain, the Trial ends without any need to present evidence."

The Student Council President looked at the knights and said:

"Inquisitors, do your duty and purge the evil from this world."

The knights drew their swords at that moment.

"At your command, Student Council President of the Holy Church."

"This is our duty."

As I listened to their nonsense while the knights pointed their swords at me.

At that moment.

Clap!

I snapped my fingers and then said to the Student Council President:

"Calling me a villain is a very serious offense. First of all, a villain is someone who uses the Power of Chaos and has abandoned their humanity. However, I possess Mana, and..."

From my chest, a Spirit emerged, and a brilliant white radiance of pure Light Attribute Mana shone forth.

My Master, now in the body of an Ancient Spirit, appeared before everyone.

"That villain you’re calling me was chosen by an Ancient Spirit of Light, and above all..."

I pointed above my head, where a tiny fairy was sleeping even in the midst of all this commotion.

However, without waking up, Light Attribute Mana surged from Liora.

"I have a bond with a Light Attribute fairy. Seriously, would a villain have all of this?"

I gave a smile.

My goal in demonstrating this wasn’t to prove my innocence; I was simply playing along with the Student Council President.

’This way, no one will look favorably upon you.’

There was no way to hide what was happening at that moment.

If an Ancient Spirit of the Light Attribute had chosen someone—not an Elementalist, a member of the Holy Church, or someone from the Imperial Family, but a blind commoner with the Dark Attribute...

’If this news reaches another continent, the Sacred Continent will suffer a major political blow.’

My smile was one of pure satisfaction at that moment.

Then, faced with my demonstration, the Student Council President appeared to be in shock. However...

"So what? Even if you’re chosen by an Ancient Spirit of the Light Attribute, you’re still a murderer."

"Besides, who knows how many people you killed before coming to this Academy?"

"The Ancient Spirit doesn’t absolve you of your past sins, nor does it prove that you didn’t conspire with villains before that Ancient Spirit chose you."

This guy would find any way possible to accomplish his goal.

He was stubborn, selfish, arrogant; there were countless ways to describe him.

Then, I used my senses and confirmed that none of the professors who were kind to me, nor any of my friends, were present.

’I suppose they made arrangements.’

Finally, the Student Council President pointed at me and shouted at the knights of the Holy Church:

"Even with an Ancient Spirit, he’s still someone who is likely working with villains. So, Inquisitors, do your duty."

The knights finally moved. At first, they hesitated and glanced at my Master, but then they shook their heads.

They didn’t really care whether I had an Ancient Spirit on my side, either.

So, in that case, I calmly stood up.

Then, without drawing my sword, I murmured:

"Third Form: Intension."

"....?!"

For a second, nothing happened. I didn’t move or even make a gesture with my hands.

However, in the blink of an eye.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

The bodies of all the knights present collapsed to the ground.

Their bodies had been completely torn apart into chunks of flesh; even wearing their armor, they hadn’t been able to react.

And so, within a matter of minutes, the Trial Hall had turned a deep crimson red.