Representative of the Goddesses 261

Chapter 261 – Academy Arc (34) – Utter Ruin

262. Academy Arc (34) – Utter Ruin

So… I’ll admit it honestly.

I was too engrossed with Charlotte and Lewin to expand my network further. (Especially with Ferris.) But with the two largest factions here in such a fierce standoff, it wouldn’t make sense to halfheartedly try to get a foot in with both sides. Well, I guess you could rationalize it as a choice to focus on what matters.

While my relationship with the students in the Swordsmanship Department became strained because Ferris had a tight grip on it, I did become quite close with the mages in Charlotte’s group. It might seem like I’m just eating, being promiscuous, and living a lazy life, but I’m also diligently training. There’s nothing wrong with that.

And so, I was steadily climbing the ladder to become stronger, both externally and internally…

But things happened very suddenly.

One of the elective courses I’m taking is held in the Political Science and Diplomacy Department building. The class times are different from the department majors, so we don’t run into each other often, but it’s not exactly rare either.

Today was one of those days for me. Of course, I couldn’t help but flinch when I saw who was there.

‘It’s Ferris.’

As I came out of the building, I saw a group of students gathered on a bench not far away. Ferris, sitting alone on the bench, was as always radiating her sculpted beauty and the presence of her beautiful silver hair, talking with her followers. Then, she soon made eye contact with me.

“Then, I’ll see you later.”
“Alright.”

Ferris dismissed her followers with a nod, then got up and walked towards me. She then looked at me with cold eyes.

“Do you perhaps remember what I said to you before?”
“…Yes. I remember.”

There’s no way I could forget. I’ve barely talked to her, and the last time we spoke was when she tried to recruit me. It was probably about not making her wait too long.

“And yet, you still went under that woman. You must have received a very sweet offer.”
“It’s not like that. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“There’s no big reason. Charlotte is just very nice to me, and somehow… well, that’s how it happened.”
“……………….”

Ferris frowned, clearly displeased with my words.

Charlotte and Ferris have very different personalities. While the former values honor, the latter is closer to a pragmatist. Even in the dungeon we went to before, Ferris prioritized securing profitable minerals rather than taking high risks for artifacts. In terms of relationships, Ferris’s are very vertical, while Charlotte’s are more horizontal, which is why her influence is so widespread. (Of course, Charlotte initially looked down on me for being a lowly commoner, but that’s all gone now.)

It wasn’t intentional, but my words seemed to have struck a nerve. Ferris closed her eyes as if thinking something, and then didn’t say anything more to me. I nodded slowly and was about to head back to the dorm when…

‘Divine power?’

I couldn’t help but freeze the moment I felt the familiar reaction of power.

I turned my head and saw a figure approaching from afar.

The person was coming towards me very leisurely.

My pupils began to tremble.

……………

……………

With each step the person took, the crowd of people parted to the sides.

Finally, when even the male student blocking my view stepped aside, the figure, no, her entire form was revealed.

A wild, sharp face, a height as tall as mine. Most of all, her red, long ponytail fluttering behind her caught my eye. She was wearing light leather armor, which clung to her body, highlighting her large hips and the firm shape of her thighs.

A strong sense of kinship emanated from her, and I knew instantly who she was.

The proxy of the intermediate god, Isiz.

Her name was probably…

“Marquess Armion, what brings you here?”
“You’re clearly… Ah, that famous girl from the Bourbon family. Just mind your own business.”
“…………….”

Armion waved her hand dismissively, as if annoyed.

Ferris, who had momentarily flashed a sharp look at Armion’s rude and arrogant attitude, didn’t say anything more and closed her mouth. Not just Ferris, but everyone else was the same. The commoner students, as well as the minor nobles, had already obediently made way. Does her reputation make that much of a difference?

‘……She looks way too strong.’

I heard she was a human monster in the Bahin Kingdom who hunted high-level monsters for fun. This was my first time meeting another goddess’s proxy. I had vaguely thought that there wouldn’t be much difference, but seeing her now, I felt breathless.

She just.

She just looks fucking strong.

That kind of woman came to get me?

Armion, as if sensing the same power as her own, didn’t look around and came straight towards me. Then, she smirked.

“This is the one, right?”

At her words, an academy official next to her nodded with a stiff face. Then, a sharp voice rang out as if making a declaration.

“This person is accused of stealing secret swordsmanship techniques and various treasures from the Bahin Kingdom several months ago!”

The students began to murmur at those words.

From my perspective, it was a ridiculous accusation, but the students seemed to think differently. If what she said was true, then it made sense why I had transferred here at such an awkward time, and why I was showing such outstanding talent. It was because I was a fugitive from the neighboring kingdom. I never thought it would be this kind of development with a warrior-type woman. I guess they needed some plausible reason to drag me out?

I was slightly shaken by the sudden turn of events, but I didn’t back down and faced her with a confident expression.

“That’s absurd! My swordsmanship was taught to me by Sir McKellen, a holy knight who accompanied the procession during my time at the monastery. He can prove it! Even Saint Serena was there. If you ask them, it’ll be resolved quickly. The timing doesn’t match at all, so how could I have stolen treasures and run away?”

Then, some of the students nodded again without any conviction. In fact, most of them didn’t care who was right or wrong. They were just enjoying the show, and some were even snickering, probably because they didn’t like me. Ferris also took a step back and watched us with an interested look. Damn it, everyone’s having fun.

“Enough.”

Armion waved her hand dismissively again, as if annoyed.

“The matter has already been settled in your kingdom’s capital.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. It’s better for you to cooperate. If you’re innocent, you can just come and be investigated, right?”

She looked over my school uniform and gave a sly smile.

I broke out in a cold sweat.

It was clear that if I went with her, things wouldn’t end well.

I had no idea how to deal with this sudden situation.

“Raoul? And… Marquess Armion! What is going on here?”

A helping hand reached out in this tense standoff. Charlotte, having heard the news, came to intervene. After hearing the whole story, Charlotte started to defend me, saying it was absurd. Charlotte knew my talents well. Not only was I good at swordsmanship, but I was also learning magic very easily. In fact, even if it wasn’t about my talents, she already trusted me.

She insisted that I was not the kind of person who would do such a thing, but it seemed that Armion wasn’t buying it.

Growing impatient, Charlotte urged Ferris.

“Aren’t you a noble of this country! How can you stand by while a person from the kingdom, a fellow academy student, is being unfairly persecuted like this? This is also a matter for the kingdom!”
“Oh my, you’re going to bring the kingdom into this. Aren’t you overreacting, Charlotte?”
“I’m speaking purely as a noble of Glishen…!!”

In fact, Ferris was right, Charlotte was overreacting. Even though I knew her personality, which valued honor, it was generally not wise to antagonize Armion to this extent. Only a few perceptive people could guess the relationship between Charlotte and me. Besides, from Ferris’s point of view, it would be good if I, who had sided with Charlotte, was eliminated.

“Ugh…! Is it because you’re from Liapole that you have no loyalty!”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Hmph!”

The three words, Liapole, made Ferris, who had been acting relaxed, freeze. I think she was from the annexed small kingdom of Liapole. Lewin was also from that area, I believe.

But Charlotte was amazing. As the situation became more unfavorable, she started to rant, saying that Raoul was a member of the Allton family, and that touching me was an insult to her family, and that she would make it clear. It was obvious to everyone that she was going too far. She was willing to completely cut ties with Armion for the sake of a mere commoner.

But that was how much Charlotte was genuinely trying to protect me.

Honestly, I was a little touched.

Armion looked at Charlotte with an incredulous expression.

‘Unbelievable, why is that countess’s daughter getting in the way so much? Ah. So, they’re in that kind of relationship.’

That was the kind of look she had on her face.

Armion, who didn’t seem to be that inflexible, chuckled and said to her.

“Then, it’s just a matter of proving your innocence after the investigation. Look, there are no handcuffs or a prison carriage, right? I’m saying again, I’m asserting my rights through the proper procedures in the capital of Tellamis. But if you refuse even this… it might become a problem between kingdoms, just as you wanted, blonde girl.”
“……You’re not trying to pull some kind of trick, are you!”
“Not at all, why would I?”

Because your god told you to.

The atmosphere had softened a bit, and if I didn’t cooperate even now, things would look very strange. Well, would image matter when my life was at stake? But surely, with so many eyes watching, they wouldn’t try to kill me outright. It’s better to get it over with sooner rather than later. In fact, I was going to have to face this sooner or later. It might be better to settle things while I’m in the open like this. What if I tried to resist here and got assassinated from behind?

If the atmosphere gets tense, I’ll make a run for it.

“Alright. Then…”
“Now you’re talking. Come with me.”

Armion turned her back as she said that.

For a moment, her eyes seemed to gleam cruelly.