Chapter Chapter 106: 12. It’s not over til it’s over (4) (2/2)
Killing intent began surrounding me from every angle.
“Sinner Nerkia. We will state your crimes, if you wish to plead then do so.”
At Reedan’s grave declaration, a person clad in black robes making them unidentifiable stepped out and said.
“First sin. Betraying the academy.”
Mm, yes, I did feel sorry for that.
That was undoubtedly my fault without much to speak about.
“Second sin. Being lovers with Arucia’s vice-president, Lady Arietta rul Meirae.”
“Wait, why is that a sin?”
That made absolutely zero sense.
Betraying the academy was definitely my fault.
But dating Ari was also a crime?
Ari and I are dating, it’s like there was anything wrong with that?
“Third sin. Being lovers with Arucia’s Renya ti Silgran.”
“How?”
This time I was surprised for a different reason.
At least in Ari’s case everyone knew since I’d confessed publicly, but only Kiir and a very small minority in Arucia knew about Renya?!
Was there another traitor in Arucia like Lady Nermia?
“Fourth sin. Being lovers with Mercaria’s Iiana mel Rudratian.”
“How did you know that!”
That one was truly shocking.
At least in Renya’s case I met her a lot together with Ari up to last year at least, so I couldn’t say with confidence we were never seen together.
Because no matter how quietly we dated, Ari, Renya and I were all famous figures in our respective academies.
So it would not be weird if we were found out.
But big sis(1) Iiana never met me when she was still a student.
Because she said she wanted to focus only on her studies while she was here.
Because of that, when she went back home during the holidays she would even manage to push away Ari and Renya to monopolise me as if it was her reward…
How the hell did these people know of my meetings with big sis Iiana?!
“We have Risen, the great sage who knows everything.”
“Risen…”
What a fearsome man.
He had been furious when he found out I had a lover, and five of them at that.
But that had all been an act.
Risen had already known everything, and had already investigated everything!
Having known everything already, the moment I chose to publicly reveal that I had a lover, he took that opportunity when everyone was angry to reveal everything.
How meticulous was his plan?
Rather than get angry on his own, he held it in and gathered evidence, and only revealed it once everyone else’s anger was at its peak.
This was undoubtedly a plan to ensure I would die!
How fearsome, you fearsome man, Risen!
“Fifth sin. Being lovers with Aine ru Julia.”
“Sixth sin. Being lovers with Tinya hil Terecia.”
I had nothing more to say.
Risen… you…
How did you know about Tinya as well?
How the hell did you manage to investigate Tinya who wasn’t even attending any of the academies yet!
There was nothing to even suggest a link between us aside from the fact that my family’s territory was close to the Terecias’.
And yet he managed to find out that Tinya was my lover.
Just what were your limits, Risen!
“Now, criminal. We have named all your sins. If any of them are not true, raise your head and say so.”
As Reedan solemnly declared so, my jaws clenched shut.
I simply had to say no.
If I lied and escaped here, I could survive.
I did it many times in Yugrasia, as well, didn’t I?
I just had to refuse just this one time?
The devil within me whispered.
But, but!
-Lies! How am I supposed to trust you!
The image of Ari in tears came up in my mind’s eye.
Even though it wasn’t me that said it. It was only yesterday that lies had made Ari cry.
But. But, could I really make her cry again.
No, including Ari, could I make all my lovers cry, who had all liked me since I was little?
“So are those my sins?”
“Indeed, sinner.”
At my shameless expression, the killing intent directed at me thickened.
But I simply raised my head with pride, puffed out my chest and stepped forward.
“If those are my sins… if being the lover of those girls is a sin! Then the price for that sin, I will pay it, and gladly!”
I squeezed out all the mana I had.
I had plenty of experience, no? I’d done it a lot to survive against the silver devil, hadn’t I?
I couldn’t lose to just over a hundred elementalists.
I am the Elemental Army.
If a hundred elementalists summoned a hundred elementals.
“I just have to summon a hundred on my own.”
Beginning with the Spirit King of Lightning, then highest-rank elementals from each of the Four Elements.
And afterwards, I summoned crowds of high-rank, mid-rank, and low-rank elementals.
If I met my limits when I fought against Lady Aris.
Now was the time to overcome them.
“Ugh…”
Every second that passed sapped my mana reserves drier and drier.
I couldn’t make a fool of myself here.
Their parents could be watching me right now as well.
My family’s total lack of fame or significance had already caused its fair share of dirty looks thrown at us.
Shouldn’t I at least leave an impression in a moment like this, so I can score some points with my future in-laws at least?
“Come.”
When I declared so, each of the hundred elementals summoned by the hundred elementalists started preparing to attack.
“Very well, I will kill you.”
A quiet voice.
But the owner of the voice that didn’t penetrate my ear, but right through my skull, was one that I knew well.
“Risen…”
Risen who had at some point managed to get down from the flagpole he’d been tied to, glared at me and snarled.
“Nerkia!”
Risen’s body became wrapped in darkness.
This wasn’t Reedan’s darkness elemental, but instead he ran at me cloaking his body with his own shadow.
“O King.”
The power of a Spirit King of Lightning clashed against the power of a god, and the shockwave from the impact was powerful enough to stagger everyone else in the area.
“I’ll kill you, you little bastard!”
“Show me your anger that you’ve held in for so long!”
I yelled back in response to Risen’s furious cry.
I don’t know how long you’ve investigated me for, but your anger.
I’ll face it head on with my power!
“Nerkiiiaaaaaa!”
“Riseeeeeeeenn!”
And so we began the battle that would later be hailed as the greatest in the history of the imperial festival.