Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Desperate Struggle (2)
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Given Roin's personality, the Whisli family be damnedhe wanted nothing more than to settle things with a good old fistfight.
But theres still so much I need to find out.
He couldnt just lead with brute force.
There were mountains of things to uncover from Bartler, so he had to start by hearing this out first.
Was it because of Bervins orders?
Go ahead, say whatever you want.
Bartler adopted a cooperative attitude, as if ready to grant whatever Remina demanded.
And the first thing Remina demanded was this.
Hand over any evidence proving the collusion between Nutt, the school principal, and Oval.
Thats not hard.
He gave a signal to the butler waiting nearby.
A moment later.
The butler returned, arms full of documents.
The evidence filled Bervins handsproof that Bartler himself had contacted Nutt, manipulated Oval, and intentionally caused the tactical golem to rampage.
The materials were neatly organized, as if hed anticipated this failure from the start.
But Reminas demands didnt end there.
Theres one more thing.
Name it.
Bartler signaled his welcome to any condition.
That was when Roin cut in abruptly.
If Remina demands it, youll grant anything, right?
Of course.
Then how about ending your own life right here?
Bervin had clearly told Bartler this.
Since hed failed, he had to meet Reminas demands.
So what would Bartlers answer be?
He kept his smile.
Naturally.
Just as Roin had expected.
This guys not right in the head.
Then again.
He went around bragging about trying to assassinate his own sister like it was something to boast about.
It was hard to see him as having a normal mindset.
But Bartler knew where to draw the line.
That only applies if my sister demands it.
In other words.
If Remina didnt demand it, there was no reason for him to follow through on Roins suggestion.
Bervin secretly hoped Remina would accept Roins proposal.
Why keep alive a brother who was always scheming to kill her?
But Reminas response dashed Bervins expectations.
What I want is something else. Dont interfere in my affairs until I graduate from the swordsmanship academy. Thats all.
Bartler double-checked her intentions.
You sure? Killing me right here like that boy said would put your mind at ease.
Im not planning to do that right now. Because
Reminas eyes sharpened.
I havent paid you back properly for what you did yet.
Until shed settled the score completely, Remina had no intention of killing Bartler.
Watching the siblings from behind, Roin swallowed a bitter smile.
Blood runs thick.
Bartler was one thing.
But Reminas venom was no joke either.
Remina and Bervin had achieved their goal in coming here.
But Roin still had business left.
Let me ask one thing too.
Bartler refused Roins request.
I agreed to meet my sisters demands, not anyone elses.
For a moment, Roin thought.
Should I just wipe him out myself?
No. Hold back, hold back.
Remina didnt want that.
No matter how much of a loose cannon Roin was, he couldnt mercilessly beat down her family right in front of her.
He knew that much restraint.
He resolved to play the good guy for a little while.
Of course.
If things went even slightly off, hed snap right back to his usual self.
Remina, ask your brother this for me. Has he ever hired a mage who knows restriction magic?
You heard that, right, brother?
Bartler shook his head at the question.
No, never.
Roins eyebrow twitched faintly.
Never? Youre not lying?
His words slipped out informally without thinking.
But Bartler didnt mind.
Why would I lie?
Remina agreed with him on this one.
Its not a lie. His personalitys rotten, but he always takes responsibility for his own actions.
She accepted all of Reminas demands.
That was his responsibility for failure.
Brothers not the type to dodge responsibility with lies, like I said.
Since Remina put it that way, Roin had no choice but to believe her.
A mages involvement that even Bartler didnt know about.
Either hed caught the assassins who attacked Remina and Roin himself.
Or.
I guess I have no choice but to investigate Nutts side.
If there was a connection, hed have to dig into everything.
After leaving the Whisli estate.
They used a teleportation magic circle to head straight to Loud Swordsmanship Academy.
Bervin hurried off to report the Whisli events to Barton.
Captain!
Barton, whod been gazing out the window, turned toward Bervin.
Did you get it?
Yes. Here it is.
Barton took the stack of documents and tilted his head as he looked them over.
When did you even have time to organize all this?
There shouldnt have been any opening for it.
Physically compiling these papers was nearly impossible.
Bervin gave a wry smile, recalling what had happened at the Whisli estate.
Bartler had everything prepared in advance.
Prepared?
Yeah. Like he knew wed come demanding exactly this.
.
It sounded utterly absurd to the listener.
But Bervin wouldnt file a false report.
After meticulously reviewing all the documents, Barton grabbed the whole stack and left the office.
Bervin, following behind, asked his destination.
Where are you headed, Captain?
Where else?
Barton answered matter-of-factly.
Time to give Oval a piece of our mind.
But first, he wanted one more companion.
Changing direction toward the training grounds, Barton called out to his junior there, who was overseeing the apprentice knights.
Lepid!
At Bartons call, Lepid turned his head immediately.
Whats up, Senior?
Were heading to give the principal a piece of our mind right now. You coming?
Huh?
For a moment, Lepid misunderstood Bartons words.
He took give a piece of our mind literally as physical force.
Rushing over to Barton, Lepid tried to dissuade him outright.
I know you dont like the principal, Senior, but right now we need to gather evidence first, not resort to violence. Didnt we agree on that when we talked before?
It was a prior agreement.
But Barton had a bit of a hot temper.
Lepid worried he might be crossing the line again.
But Barton wasnt that thoughtless.
The evidence is all right here.
The thick stack of documents in his meaty hand.
Lepid was initially baffled by what was going on.
But after hearing the full story from Barton, he finally grasped the situation.
Youre coming too, right?
At Bartons question, Lepid nodded as if it were obvious.
Of course.
He couldnt just stand by and watch the principals corruption any longer.
Now it was time for the instructors to restore Loud Swordsmanship Academy to its former state.
Oval, enjoying a leisurely cup of tea, was stunned when Barton, Lepid, and the other instructors burst through the door.
But he quickly regained his composure and bellowed.
What is the meaning of this?!
Barton said nothing as he slammed the evidence hed secured down on the desk with a thud.
Then he declared.
Ive come to report your corrupt deeds.
C-Corruption? M-Me?
With this much hard evidence. Youre not going to claim ignorance, are you?
Oval quickly scanned the evidence Barton had brought.
From taking backroom bribes through Nutt to the assassination plot against Remina.
He shook his head vehemently.
D-Deploying tactical golems to eliminate one of our students? I-I had no idea! I only took the m-money!
He acted like he had no clue Nutt and Acker had set this up to take out Remina.
But whether he knew or not.
Barton and the instructors couldnt tolerate the principals corruption itself.
Well sort that out when the committee convenes later.
Barton roughly tore Ovals principal appointment certificate from the wall.
Then he shredded it mercilessly.
The portrait of Oval in his formal attire, stern-faced, met the same fate.
Now its time for you to step down from that position.
His legs gave out, and Oval collapsed right there.
The end of a man blinded by greed.
While Barton and the instructors confronted Oval.
Remina and Roin headed to their dorm rooms to shake off the fatigue from outdoor training.
Even on the way, Roin kept replaying what Bartler had said.
He said hed never hired a mage who could use restriction magic.
The existence of a restriction mage possibly linked to Rodri.
If it turned out that Rodri was doomed to live as an ugly outcast forever because of that mages curse.
Ill chew him up, hair and all!
Even that might not sate his rage.
But nothing was confirmed yet.
Helonds investigating Nutt, so by the time I graduate, I should get a report on that.
Only one final hurdle remained before he could leave Loud Swordsmanship Academy behind.
The mid knight promotion exam.
Pass that, and hed officially become a mid knight.
Then, with his academy diploma, hed be free.
The main exam was relatively simple compared to missions or outdoor training.
All he had to do was answer the questions from the truth-seeing statue, Ryken.
It might seem easy at a glance.
But.
Rykens questions could cut sharper than any blade at times.
His relentless interrogation was the kind that ripped open your chest.
There was a reason this QA was the final exam.
Those seeking to become mid knights must possess a spirit worthy of it
Thats what Roin had heard back when he first attended Loud Swordsmanship Academy.
No matter the situation, your mentality mustnt waver.
This process tested exactly that.
Ryken, huh. Second time facing him.
It wasnt like the second encounter made him any more welcome or nostalgic.
If anything, he wanted to put off this reunion.
Wonder what kind of questions hell fire off this time.
Meeting Ryken, who peered even into the ugliness buried in his soul, was never something Roin welcomed.