Chapter 222
Chapter 222
Chapter 222
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 222 – Lan Qi’s First Military Academy Cohort Takes Their Place
The sky was gray and heavy, velvet-like clouds blocking out the sunlight. Damp, oppressive air hung over the Knight Academy’s arena.
From afar, low rumbles of thunder echoed across the wide dueling platform.
Kuse advanced toward Lan Qi with a stride that carried raw intimidation.
Huperion instantly stepped in front of Lan Qi, standing guard. Her eyes stayed sharp and vigilant—if Kuse dared make a move, she wouldn’t care about her student council duties; she would treat him as an enemy without hesitation.
Noticing Huperion, Kuse stopped for the moment.
“What’s this? You’ve got a fine figure and a good body,”his gaze swept her up and down, filled with vulgar intent, words brimming with aggression.
“……”
Huperion’s eyes grew colder.
“Oh right, you’re the Duke of Migaya’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Kuse suddenly seemed to realize something. His surprise quickly turned lewd,“I don’t mind—no one wants trash like you anyway. Why don’t you come back with me to the Yaloran Kingdom? I’ll show you the true strength of humans.”
He burst out laughing, contempt sharp in every word, deliberately trying to provoke Huperion into striking first.
That way, no matter how he retaliated, he could claim it wasn’t his fault.
“The Yaloran Royal Academy really is stacked with ‘stars’...”
Even mild-tempered Huperion’s brow throbbed with veins.
Phoenix, Karen, Kuse—each worse than the last.
By comparison, Adams actually seemed refreshingly normal.
Huperion clenched her fists, holding back her fury.She was long accustomed to malice directed at her—but now, her focus was on protecting Lan Qi.
After Kuse’s crude taunts, Lan Qi and Frey both fell into silence.
They both had extremely high tolerance for insults—As long as it was directed at themselves.Neither cared what others said about them.
But Huperion? She had done nothing wrong.She was the only one in their squad who didn’t deserve to be slandered.
Finally—
“Huperion, I think I understand now what you meant about the importance of victory.”
Lan Qi’s expression remained calm as always,but this time, there was a strange light flickering in his eyes.
He smiled faintly at Kuse.
That brief gaze unsettled Kuse for a moment.He couldn’t tell what had changed in this seemingly harmless boy.
“What nonsense are you spouting? You need a woman to protect you—no different from those pitiful brawlers.”
Kuse stepped forward again, deciding to test this kid’s mettle right here and now.
“Stop. One more step.”
The previously silent Frey had raised his hand crossbow, the bolt aimed squarely between Kuse’s brows.In his other hand, three portable magi-tech bombs gleamed.
Coldly, he warned.
“!”
Instantly, not just Kuse but even the fighters behind him recoiled several steps.
“You bastard!!”
They could tell Frey’s level at a glanced.They weren’t afraid of a fifth-tier fighter in close combat—but with those bombs in hand, the rules meant nothing. Without restrictions, he was basically a terrorist. No code of honor, no duelist’s pride—only ruthless destruction.
The standoff stretched several tense seconds.
“Tch… fine. I’ll spare you this time.”
Kuse finally sneered, pointing to the battered fighters of Ikerite Academy lying on the ground.“But in two days, at the public match, let’s see how you protect those weaklings then.”
With that, he turned, leading the other fighters out of the arena until their figures disappeared.
Overhead, heavy clouds drifted past. A cold wind swept the Knight Academy’s stage, the atmosphere eerily empty—rain felt imminent.
“Ugh, what a disgusting man!”
Huperion stomped her foot twice, fuming. Her mood soured completely.
Most students from Yaloran Royal Academy were polite, but of course, there had to be trash like Kuse—loathed wherever he went.
She glanced at Lan Qi, secretly envious of his outwardly relaxed, inwardly steady temperament. No matter what others said, he always stayed calm. Right now, she thought, he’d probably just smile, say a few comforting words, and act as though nothing had happened.
“Relax.”
Lan Qi reached out and patted Huperion gently on the head, before walking toward the injured fighters.
“?”
Huperion froze, her hand rising to her hair in a daze.
That was the first time Lan Qi had ever touched her.In her memory, he had always kept others at arm’s length.
On the open field, Lan Qi stopped before the battered brawlers.
“Do you want to win?”
Straight-backed, his suit immaculate, Lan Qi’s gaze swept the bruised men as he spoke.
“…We can’t win. It’s hopeless.”“They’re right…”“Without Big Sis Zirvini, we’re nothing but trash!”
The burly fighters hung their heads, eyes dull. After two merciless defeats, despair had crushed their spirits.
“What if, when the time comes, Zirvini is surrounded, beaten down, humiliated, injured so badly she can’t even take the bar exam afterward? Will that really be fine with you?”
Lan Qi’s words were gentle—Yet they echoed in their ears like a curse, impossible to ignore.
“!!”
They clenched their teeth hard.Tears slipped down despite themselves.Fists slammed into the ground.
“If Kuse really goes all out… she’s still a girl. If he beats her down and she refuses to yield, can you imagine what that scene would look like?”
Lan Qi’s voice stayed soft, as though describing a story already set in stone.“Picture it. Do you want that vision in your mind to become reality?”
“NO!!”“Never!!”
Just the thought tore their hearts apart. Rage and despair burst from their throats in hoarse screams.
Bloodshot eyes blazed with hatred, as though they could devour Kuse whole.
Lan Qi fell silent then, letting their cries rage until they subsided—until their tear-streaked, blood-stained eyes finally turned to him.
“If I have a way for you to defeat Kuse with your own strength… though it will come at a cost—are you willing?”
“Yes!!”
“Even if it means staking your lives, to die and be reborn—are you still willing?”
“No matter the cost—we’re willing!! Please, Lan Qi!!”
Their hoarse voices shook, carried by furious tears.
At last, Lan Qi smiled faintly.
He crouched, placing a reassuring hand on the vice-captain’s shoulder.
“Then… let me grant your wish.”
His voice was soft.
Huperion’s eyes widened as she watched Lan Qi—his resolve burning brighter than ever. A chilling premonition rose within her chest.
To her, Lan Qi was always reliable—so reliable she never doubted he would stand up for her.But sometimes, he was far too reliable.