Ch.193193. Return (4)

Renias withdraws her magical power. Only now has she regained her composure.

‘I was too rash.’

If she had unleashed her magic here, the situation would have escalated further.

Besides, the public only knows that Renias was deceived by Junon.

Though rage boils within her, making her want to punish them with force, she should have immediately predicted that doing so would backfire.

The girl restrains herself.

It’s frustrating, but it’s alright.

Those people will play that role for her instead.

“Aaaah, why are you biting me?!”

“Owww…!”

The girl immediately bites the women holding her and pushes them away, running to where she needs to be.

To protect her senior.

A space like a curtain, formed by people holding hands. The girl reaches that place.

“Excuse me…”

“Miss Renias, by all means!”

“Come in. Quickly!”

“Thank you!”

With her silver hair fluttering, the girl expresses her gratitude to those who willingly grant her entry.

The purpose of this human barrier was clearly to protect one person.

The one who had just been pelted with stones is now firmly shielded from outsiders by this circular human fence.

Only those who receive permission can pass through that barrier.

Among the people here, only one person is allowed—the silver-haired girl.

“Senior, are you okay? Oh no… there’s blood…”

“…”

Though he’s trying to stop the bleeding with a handkerchief, he still seems dazed, looking around blankly. With a face that shows complete bewilderment.

“Aren’t you all humans living in the western district of Levrant?”

“Some are students. Those who are active at Levrant Academy…!”

“During the Osoftera battle… do you think you would have survived if there hadn’t been people to stop it?!”

Could they have survived?

Of course not.

Even without saying it aloud, they would have certainly been dead.

“Junon was the one who risked his life during the occupation at Alcaide Hall. This man gave orders to ensure none of you would be harmed!!”

Some people ran away.

They were barely holding on with rotations due to lack of manpower.

This is the man who faced the Osoftera that couldn’t be stopped even with two members of the Tembris Party.

The man who gathered all the students on the brink of death, risked his life, and didn’t allow a single casualty.

The final turn.

The person who held on alone until Professor Dalia arrived.

“THAT’S WHO JUNON IS, YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!!”

Jon and Noel shout at the top of their lungs to reveal this truth.

In times when there were no guilds or mercenaries.

When the academy was empty due to the sweep operation in Shute Province, he became its guardian.

That was Junon.

Tears well up in Renias’s eyes, who had felt wronged alongside him. Though she knew nothing about the Osoftera battle, she was overwhelmed to learn that there were others who had benefited from his grace.

It was incredibly satisfying. After that, everyone became witnesses, voicing what she had wanted to say.

Looking at the boy who was the center of these impassioned people, the girl inwardly repeats:

‘Now you understand, Senior?’

Senior, you did nothing wrong. You did your best.

So don’t think about being a scapegoat. Don’t even think about being blamed.

Renias repeated this while fixing her gaze on Junon, who was staring blankly at them.

The stone-throwing fueled by prejudice did not continue.

The commotion that broke out in front of the hospital.

This confrontation between two sides, which began with the Dube Hall terrorist incident, was being frantically dispersed by faculty members who had rushed over after hearing the news.

Neither side was willing to back down. Nevertheless, they had to disperse.

Even the sky seemed intent on clearing Junon’s false accusation.

Swoosh—

Rain falls. The sudden downpour disperses them.

As autumn gives way to winter, getting caught in the rain might lead to a cold.

But today’s raindrops weren’t particularly cold.

For one person, it was rain that refreshed a mind filled with curses.

It was rain that washed away the filth covering the body of someone who had been falsely accused.

“…”

“Aren’t you going back? Geez, to think a senior has to wait like this for one junior.”

“He says that but he’s smiling. Well, once you move first, Junon, we can go back with peace of mind.”

Some seniors who had managed to escape unharmed from the Inferior Student Rampage Incident and the First Dube Hall Occupation.

“Wow, it’s pouring down nicely! Washing away all the filth and sewage, hey.”

“How much did they throw? Those damn bastards.”

“I was feeling uneasy about being defiled by them, but the rain came just in time.”

“You can stay like that if you want, but wouldn’t it be better to wash with real water?”

Comrades who defended the rear together during the Shute Major Sweep Operation.

Those who were involved in the Osoftera battle, including Noel and Jon.

“Let’s go, Senior. For now, we can go to my place.”

And finally, Renias, ready to support him from right beside him.

No one leaves their position until Junon moves. Even though those who had been hurling blame and resentment had all scattered in panic.

“…Alright.”

Junon takes a step.

Certainly, he wasn’t walking reluctantly. Though it’s true his body was in poor condition, requiring Renias’s support to move, he walked of his own volition.

Just before entering the carriage, Renias turned her head slightly and gave a small bow.

A faint smile appeared on the girl who left after giving her farewell.

‘These are Senior’s people.’

They remained in place, not a single one leaving, until Junon’s figure disappeared.

As if honoring a great person.

***

Swoosh.

Unlike the shower in Levrant, the rain in Mirpark is quite cold.

Rumble!

Rain pours down accompanied by thunder and lightning. In this desolate atmosphere, an old man glares at the fireplace with veins bulging.

“I was planning to use and discard him, but he just had to cause trouble. I suppose the lowly ones are truly hopeless.”

Demian’s Dube Hall terrorist incident.

He had intended to use the foolish man consumed by inferiority as a pawn for a short time. But he caused trouble by letting his rampant inferiority explode uncontrollably.

Though he didn’t care much about the independent action itself, it had created connections to the nobility.

Worse, the situation had developed where the Empire might discover connections to the Holy King.

“Count.”

Count Nevel, his confidant, calls in people.

Marquis Flocan had hired locals to give orders. Only very special ones.

He persuaded those addicted to gambling and drowning in debt.

He dug up the weaknesses of women who made their living through embezzlement and fraud.

He selected incompetent academy students who were beginning to doubt their abilities and couldn’t advance.

The task wasn’t particularly difficult.

Trustworthiness is measured through various filters such as character, conduct, appearance, and reputation.

If we compare it to fruit, it’s like examining the skin and flesh.

Whether the fruit inside is rotten or ripe can only be determined by peeling the skin.

But what if the skin itself is already rotten? Then one would naturally assume the inside is rotten too. It was simply a matter of exploiting human prejudice.

A sole witness had emerged.

Someone who might know the connection between the nobility, the Holy King, and Demian.

That person was a third-year student named Junon.

Gulp.

They are extremely tense, as if they’ve entered a tiger’s den. Well, that’s not far from the truth.

In any case, it was obvious what was about to happen here.

“Report what happened.”

Although he had already received information about how things concluded, Count Nevel still demanded a report.

Without being specifically called upon, the man at the front begins to stammer his report.

“W-well… suddenly some strange guys appeared and… ugh!”

“I believe you were told to explain coherently. Have you forgotten who stands before you?”

“…”

It’s not just Count Nevel who stands before them.

With his gaze fixed only on the crackling logs burning in the fireplace, not even glancing their way, is the master of the nobles. Marquis Flocan, who can manipulate this empire at will.

“Make him speak.”

—Yes!

When the report isn’t delivered properly, Count Nevel intends to force it out. Blades approach their throats.

“The plan ordered by Marquis… to bury Junon in Levrant… has failed…”

Failed. The reporter trembles with fear as he utters that word.

“I-I’m sorry! But…! We did everything as instructed! There was someone protecting Junon, but we used the victims as the main force to corner him!”

“And? Are you saying Renias alone appeared and thwarted the plan?”

“No. We tried to separate Miss Renias and take action again, but… some strange people appeared and blocked us…”

“You call that an explanation!”

A knight kicks him in the stomach, causing the reporter to collapse with a breathless voice.

The next is naturally the person right beside him.

Even without questions being asked, answers must be given precisely. That’s the only way to leave this place alive.

“M-most of them were students. They were all defending Junon, and also…”

“Who said we were curious about those guys!”

Who’s next? What answer should be given? In this place dominated by fear, they must provide satisfactory answers.

“That’s enough.”

“Yes.”

Though the Marquis uttered just one sentence, they all tense up.

They know what can happen with just a blink of an eye or a twitch of a hand.

‘Gulp.’

That man has now turned around. Towards them.

“I recall things were going well.”

There was a risk that the secrets the nobles had been hiding could surface, and they intended to destroy the credibility of the only witness.

From the nobles’ perspective, favorable circumstances had been continuing.

I don’t know who, but a situation perfect for causing division by leaking information had unfolded.

If they could just bury one person.

If they could erase the testimony of one student, it would be easy to cut off the tail.

“Was it so difficult to bury one person?”

If you can’t even accomplish such an easy task, you’re useless.

That’s how the Marquis’s question sounded to them.

“W-we can do it. It’s not over yet!”

“We apologize, please give us one more chance! We’re still useful!”

“We can do it…! If you give us a little more time now, we’ll prove it again!!”

All of them kneel, bow their heads, and plead.

For the Marquis, useless people all disappear. Without a trace, cleanly.

The mention of uselessness is tantamount to a declaration that he will kill them.

Crackle, crackle.

Another log burns away in the fireplace.

Just now. Another bonsai that the old man had placed in. There aren’t many bonsai left now.

“Haha. Still useful, you say. Yes, I suppose you have some use.”

Marquis Flocan’s gently folded eyes instantly turn cold.

“Count. Handle it.”

That infinitely cold command was the last word from the Marquis’s mouth.

“Take them all away.”

Those who had been planted in western Levrant as agitators, now stripped of their value, beg for their lives in the face of terror.

Those asking for another chance raise their hands and shout at the top of their lungs. But the gags, ropes, and sacks held by the soldiers pronounce their end.

All the noisy sounds ceased. Now only the two of them remained in Marquis Flocan’s room.

“What will you do about the Holy King?”

Due to the connection between the nobles and the Holy King, there were only two options.

Help the Holy King who would soon face the Empire’s blade? Or turn their backs and cut off the tail as they always had?

Marquis Flocan’s choice was,

“Hmm. Well, disposing of him would be the cleanest solution… but wouldn’t that cause more misunderstandings right now?”

“Understood. I will handle all correspondence from the Holy King’s side.”

“Yes, yes. It’s time to end things with that slippery character.”

The choice to abandon a former ally.

If they just cut off the connection with that side, there would be no relation to the nobles. The plan might be delayed a bit, but.

They weren’t fully prepared yet. To firmly grasp the Empire in their hands, they needed to bide their time a little longer.

“Besides, the Tembris Party, was it? They’ve grown too big. We should have nipped them in the bud earlier.”

They also needed means to check those who were pushing forward annoyingly.

The Holy King, who will bring out all his cards to face the Empire’s blade, will inevitably confront Tembris.

Clack! Crackle!

Just now, the bonsai in the fireplace has reached the end of its life as firewood.