Chapter 115: The Instigator
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: The Instigator
"Go to hell, you damn creep!"
A massive fist, wrapped in a chilling wind, collided with Kelun’s disgusting face with a dull thud.
In the suddenly silent martial arts arena, the sound was exceptionally clear.
Everyone froze, including Teacher Kade.
For a moment, countless shocked gazes were fixed on the sudden accident in the center of the field, and no one could find their voice.
Only Muen, watching that posturing, revolting man’s face twist under his fist as he went flying—fainting before he could even scream—felt a wave of pure satisfaction wash over him.
"Phew... that felt good."
He let out a long breath, his mood instantly brightening.
To use a phrase from cultivation novels: his mind felt clear and unburdened.
Who cared about noble upbringing? Who cared about outward image? None of it compared to the joy of taking down this disgusting degenerate.
If Teacher Kade hadn't been right there, and if he didn't know he wouldn't get another chance to strike, he would have definitely run over to deliver a finishing blow.
"Muen Campbell!"
But the thrill of the punch was short-lived. In the next moment, a mountain-like pressure bore down, causing Muen’s body to sink slightly.
Teacher Kade let out a deafening, furious roar, a powerful aura rising from his body.
What had he just witnessed?
Someone had actually attacked another teacher during his class, right in front of his face?
This was St. Maria Academy, the top institution in the Empire! Here, even the Princess was just an ordinary student and had to follow the academy's rules!
"Muen Campbell! What do you think you are doing?"
Kade reached out with a massive hand toward Muen. Regardless of the reason, he had to restrain this lawless brat first.
But just as his hand reached out, he saw Muen raise both hands, performing a standard military salute from his previous life.
"Wait, wait, wait, Teacher Kade! I’m afraid of pain, don't grab me! I won't run!"
"You!"
Kade’s hand stiffened.
He had never seen someone so arrogant—hitting a person and not running, even staying this calm!
"Muen Campbell, do you have any idea what you’ve done? Striking a teacher at St. Maria Academy... even with your special status, you must be severely punished!" Kade’s eyes were dark with anger.
"True, hitting a teacher should be punished."
Muen nodded, then spread his hands and said:
"But I didn't hit a teacher."
He paused, then said seriously:
"I hit a bandit. A disgusting bandit, at that. I simply saw a bandit sneak into the academy and decided to rid the people of a pest."
"You’re still talking nonsense!"
Kade was so angry his head was spinning.
"You have slandered an upright and excellent teacher over and over again. What is your goal?"
"I’m not slandering him. I’m telling the truth."
"You—you bastard!"
Kade was livid, wishing he could personally teach Muen a lesson.
But this was the academy, after all. As a teacher, he didn't have the authority to hand out private punishments—especially not to someone of Muen’s status.
He began to contemplate the best way to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, the students in the spectator stands were gradually coming to their senses after the initial shock.
What just happened?
That Muen Campbell actually hit a teacher?
How scandalous!
Most of the students were just gossip-mongers looking for drama. Seeing such a rare spectacle, they immediately erupted into an excited frenzy of discussion.
At this point, almost all the onlookers were caught up in the excitement of the "tea" being spilled. After all, even if they had a good impression of Kelun before, they didn't actually have any personal relationship with him.
Therefore, not many people were thinking about who was right or wrong yet.
Until—
"Muen Campbell, how could you do such a thing?"
The sudden accusation rang out clearly amidst the clamor.
The arena fell silent once again.
Muen’s eyes narrowed as his gaze quickly swept across the stands.
He found nothing.
The voice had come from a noticeably different location than the first time.
"Yeah, Muen Campbell, how could you hit a teacher?"
"Hitting a teacher is wrong!"
"Teacher Kelun is such a good person..."
"Muen Campbell, even if you are the son of a Duke, you shouldn't act like this. The academy isn't a place where you can do whatever you want..."
"Apologize, now!"
"Yeah, apologize!"
Seeing someone lead the charge, several students who were bursting with a sense of justice but had been too afraid of Muen’s status to speak up suddenly lost their inhibitions.
The tall poppy gets cut down, but now that someone else had stuck their neck out first, what did they have to fear?
Besides, even if Muen Campbell was powerful and influential, there were so many of them, including many high-ranking nobles. He couldn't possibly retaliate against everyone.
Thus, a chorus of righteous condemnation broke out.
Many students were even flushing red, immersed in the thrill of playing the "hero fighting the dragon."
That’s right—Muen Campbell, who used his status as a Duke’s son to do as he pleased, was the dragon.
And they were the heroes who feared no power, wielding the swords of fairness and justice.
Usually, we’re too timid to do anything to you, but now that we’re standing on the moral high ground, can’t we at least point fingers?
At this moment, what Muen had actually done was no longer important.
"You all..."
Teacher Kade frowned. He finally realized the students' emotions were becoming a bit unstable and was about to stop them—
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost would have forgotten."
A clear voice echoed. Muen suddenly took two steps forward, standing before the crowd.
He straightened his student uniform, which had become slightly disheveled from the scuffle, and looked at everyone with a warm, flawless smile:
"I, Muen Campbell, am indeed the son of a world-renowned Duke."
"..."
The arena fell silent instantly.
Everyone stared at Muen in astonishment.
What was going on?
Was Muen Campbell really going to use his status as a Duke’s son to oppose so many people?
"Even a Duke’s son can’t do whatever he wants!" a voice shouted from the crowd.
"That’s right! A Duke’s son can’t just do as he pleases!"
"Muen Campbell, you’re too arrogant and overbearing!"
"Apologize to the teacher first!"
More voices joined the fray.
"No, I think you’ve misunderstood me."
Facing the barrage of accusations, Muen’s expression remained unchanged.
His eyes continued to search for something in the crowd as he spoke leisurely:
"I have no intention of using my status to oppress anyone. I simply want to prove to you that I am right."
"How are you going to prove it?"
"Didn't I say it? I’m the son of a Duke."
Muen looked at the crowd, smiling, but his tone was rarely as cold as iron:
"How long do you think it would take for me to uncover someone’s true identity using the resources of the Duke’s Estate?"
"..."
"One day should be enough."
Muen turned to look at Kade:
"What do you say, Teacher Kade? If I prove that Kelun is a bandit, was my behavior just now still wrong?"
"This..."
Kade frowned.
If Kelun really was a bandit, then Muen’s actions were naturally justified.
In fact, for rooting out a dangerous individual hiding within the academy, the institution would even have to give him a formal commendation.
But...
How could a perfectly fine teacher suddenly turn into a bandit?
The shift in identity was just too drastic.
Moreover, Teacher Kelun was so masculine, vigorous, and talkative—he fit the archetype Kade admired in every way.
That was why he had been quite happy when the Pink Bear told him Kelun would be his assistant.
But cooling down and thinking about it, while Muen Campbell’s reputation had always been poor, he truly had no reason to suddenly target a teacher for no reason.
"It couldn't be..."
Kade recalled Dean Pink Bear’s habitually unreliable demeanor, and a bad premonition suddenly gripped him.
...
"But what if you forge the results?"
Just as some people were starting to think Muen’s words might have some merit, that elusive voice rang out again.
Like a stone skipping across a calm lake, it stirred up ripples once more.
The "righteous" heroes immediately found new "evidence" of the dragon’s evil and spoke up impatiently:
"Exactly! You’re a Duke’s son; framing someone would be easy for you!"
"If we give you time, wouldn't you just put Teacher Kelun in even more danger?"
"Maybe the Duke’s Estate will just kill him to silence him! Heavens, that’s terrifying!"
"Muen Campbell, we don't believe you!"
Muen’s expression darkened.
He felt things taking a bad turn. If public opinion was steered in this direction, his status would actually become an obstacle to the truth.
After all, most people harbored an extreme distrust toward power they could never reach.
Should I ignore them for now and present the facts later, or...
"It is true that proof provided after the fact is easily forged."
At that moment, a cold, clear voice suddenly echoed through the vast arena.
"In that case, why not prove it right here, in front of everyone?"
The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it carried an innate nobility and arrogance that instantly silenced the noisy arena.
"The Student Council President?"
"Celicia?"
Everyone instinctively turned toward the silver-haired figure appearing at the entrance of the arena, their expressions filled with confusion.
"Pre... President, are you going to take Muen Campbell’s side?"
That shifting voice spoke up again, attempting to label Celicia as biased from the start.
However, this time, no one echoed the sentiment.
The name Celicia carried too much weight.
Even though everyone knew she was engaged to Muen Campbell, no one believed she would do something as trivial as "taking his side" when she stood there.
Thus, only one of the people who had been shouting the loudest turned pale, summoning the courage to ask:
"Pre... President, what do you mean by 'proving it in person'?"
Celicia glanced toward a certain spot in the stands, a flash of mockery in her eyes, but she didn't speak to them. Instead, she turned to Muen and asked:
"Muen Campbell, will you take responsibility for what you just said?"
Muen blinked, then nodded vigorously.
"Of course."
"Slandering and attacking a teacher is no small crime at St. Maria."
"He isn't a teacher; he’s a bandit," Muen said seriously.
Celicia stared into Muen’s eyes for a long moment before suddenly nodding.
"Very well. I hope your words are not hollow."
With that, she flipped her hand and produced a uniquely shaped Voice Transmission Stone.
Soon, the stone connected, and a respectful voice came from the other side.
"Your Highness."
"Connect me to the Belland Third Intelligence Division."
"Yes."
Static crackled from the stone, followed by an aged voice.
"What are Your Highness's orders?"
"Search for wanted individuals in Belland and the surrounding areas from the last three years. Keywords: bandit, Kelun, scar, bald, male."
"Yes."
The Voice Transmission Stone fell silent.
The entire massive arena fell into a deathly silence along with it.
Everyone stared with disbelief at the girl who had just casually wielded power beyond a commoner's imagination. No one dared to breathe too loudly.
Even Muen was shouting "holy crap" in his head.
As expected of Celicia. That boss-like aura of being able to dig up someone’s entire family tree on a whim made him want to cling to her black-stockinged legs and sing her praises in total submission.
But Muen’s heart was still thumping. If Kelun wasn't actually wanted...
"Your Highness, the results are in." The stone crackled again very quickly.
"Speak."
"Kelun Votho. A bandit. He began operating in the mountains around Lake Bepol three years ago. Distinguishing features: a large scar on his face. Cultivation realm: approximately peak second tier."
"Peak second tier?"
Celicia raised an eyebrow. "Such a weak bandit was allowed to remain active for three years?"
The sound of pages turning came from the other side, as if someone was checking the records.
"According to the report, although Kelun Votho’s cultivation is low, he possesses a miraculous escape technique and is extremely cunning. Furthermore, over the past three years, he has only robbed for money and never for lust, and has never taken a life. Therefore, after a few failed capture attempts, the local authorities lowered his priority to the minimum. His bounty is only five thousand Emiels."
"Fine, I understand."
Celicia cut the connection immediately.
Simply put, the people below felt he was too hard to catch and the reward wasn't worth the effort. After a few half-hearted attempts, they just ignored him.
He wasn't a threat, anyway.
That was how this guy could wander around without even changing his name or appearance despite being a wanted man.
"But what I didn't expect..."
Celicia’s gaze turned cold.
"Our Dean Pink Bear has really pulled a fast one on me."
No matter how low the threat, a bandit was still a bandit.
According to normal procedures, an ordinary teacher joining St. Maria required layers of vetting. If there was even a hint of a stain within three generations of their family, they couldn't enter this top-tier academy where nobles were common and geniuses were everywhere.
And yet, an academy where you couldn't get in if your father had ever visited a brothel had actually hired a bandit as a teacher?
If word got out, the entire Empire would laugh at the academy!
The Evil Gods couldn't manage it, but Pink Bear almost did it with ease.
"The academy’s greatest weakness is actually the Dean?"
Celicia almost laughed from anger.
But whatever. There was no need to be angry at him; someone would deal with him later.
Now...
Celicia looked down at Kelun, who was lying on the ground.
"Are you going to keep playing dead, Mr. Bandit?"
"..."
"Heh."
Seeing that Kelun still wasn't moving, Celicia reached out, and a longsword made of condensed ice crystals appeared in her hand.
"Since you aren't awake, let me test my blade on you."
"Wait—wait! I’m awake, I’m awake! Please move that sword away!"
Kelun scrambled to his feet, looking in terror at the frost-covered blade in Celicia’s hand.
"My 'Playing Dead' martial technique can fool even a fourth-tier martial artist. How did you see through it?"
"I didn't see through it, of course," Celicia said coldly, lowering her sword.
"I just figured that with Muen Campbell’s soft and weak little body, a single punch wouldn't be enough to keep you unconscious for this long. I was just bluffing to see if you'd bite."