漫画大王

Chapter 218

In a calm tone, the teacher continued to explain.

“Rather than reporting the violence to a teacher, he chose to settle the incident privately. In the process, he inflicted severe injuries on Lilka Aaron, including internal organ rupture. This could be interpreted as indirect attempted murder. Additionally, he challenged Oscar de Gradias, the fight organizer, to another duel.

“In all these incidents, he used supernatural powers, which are categorically forbidden to be used to inflict harm on other students. Moreover, he employed another hazardous ability, Mana Reinforcement.

“A broad range of disciplinary actions can be taken in the case of student disputes or privately-sanctioned duels, from community service to temporary suspension, to indefinite suspension, and up to expulsion, depending on the severity of the assault.

“Reinhart’s actions carry the utmost severity. Therefore, I advocate for the expulsion of Royal Class A-11, Reinhart.”

Depending on how you looked at it, my actions could be twisted and interpreted in the worst manner possible.

The punch I threw with the intent to knock Lilka Aaron out was described as indirect attempted murder.

My supernatural powers, which served merely to enhance my physical attributes, were perceived as abilities to kill.

Even my half-baked attempt at Mana Reinforcement was twisted to fit that narrative.

I had almost killed another student. Moreover, I was the cause of all these fights.

That was deserving of expulsion. The expressions of the Royal Class teachers, except for Mr. Effenhauser’s, soured considerably.

The Vice-Chancellor did not express any immediate opinion.

“Royal Class teachers, please speak to the usual conduct of Reinhart.”

It seemed the Vice-Chancellor wanted to evaluate my usual behavior.

“U-Um... My name is Mustang, and I am the homeroom teacher for Royal Class 1-B. Reinhart is an exemplary student who is kind, values his peers greatly and gets along well with everyone. He couldn’t stand seeing his classmate being bullied this time; he didn’t act out of malice.”

‘Teacher. I appreciate you standing up for me, but isn’t that just a lie?’

I almost felt compelled to interject as I listened to her; the defense was so over the top.

“In this case, Reinhart was simply careless. He’s normally someone who wouldn’t hurt a—”

“Enough.”

Even Mr. Effenhauser, who had been silent thus far, cut off Mustang’s excessive defense.

“Please don’t lie, Ms. Mustang,” Mr. Effenhauser said as he looked at Ms. Mustang.

“Oh. Uh...”

‘Sure, the defense was extreme, but you’re supposed to be on my side; what are you doing calling it a lie out loud?’

By this point, the Orbis Class teachers were openly smirking, bemused by the sudden infighting within the Royal Class teachers.

“I am Effenhauser, homeroom teacher for Royal Class 1-A. As Reinhart’s closest instructor, I probably know the most about his behavior.

“His conduct? I cannot say it’s been good.”

‘Hey! You said I wouldn’t get expelled!’

He continued, “Reinhart has consistently created minor and major issues since the beginning of the first semester. From minor quarrels among peers to challenging seniors and even engaging in a duel with a third-year student.”

When they heard this, the faculty from the Orbis Class and the main headquarters, as well as Lilka Aaron and Oscar de Gradias, seemed taken aback.

They were just now realizing what a troublemaker I truly was.

“While I cannot deny that he has continued to cause issues, the most significant problem is his tendency to respond actively to every slight provocation, which led to him developing a poor reputation among his peers,” Mr. Effenhauser said.

“I see,” teacher Jaiden interjected. “So it’s not just this incident; he has consistently been problematic and should indeed—”

“Teacher Jaiden, I am not finished speaking,” Mr. Effenhauser said, cutting off the Orbis Class teacher who was so eager to tear me apart.

“While his reputation was indeed very poor in the first semester, this is the report from the priest who was on duty in the recovery room,” Mr. Effenhauser continued.

‘The priest on duty? What could they possibly have to report?’

Mr. Effenhauser handed prepared documents to the faculty members representing the main headquarters.

“Every student from both Class A and B has visited the recovery room at least once. Additionally, a significant number of students, including seniors, have visited frequently to take care of Reinhart.”

The priests on duty... Not only did they monitor the recovery room, but they also recorded the names of the students who had come to visit me.

It was surprising to know that even students I wasn’t close with had come to see me. Perhaps they had visited while I was unconscious or asleep.

“While Reinhart’s conduct has not improved since the first semester, it’s evident that his reputation among his peers has improved significantly.”

‘In essence, his conduct is still bad, but all his peers, including senior students, like him.’

That was the message Mr. Effenhauser intended to convey. Even though my behavior was poor and my personality wasn’t great, I was still navigating Temple life well enough.

‘Damn. I almost thought Mr. Effenhauser was going to sink me.’

Poor conduct, but good reputation...

The Vice-Chancellor read through the report and nodded.

“Regardless of his conduct, he does seem to have very amicable relationships with his peers,” the Vice-Chancellor remarked.

“C-Conduct and relationships aside, the fact remains that Reinhart seriously violated many school rules! the Temple’s rules! These are the laws of the Temple! This student has excessively broken many of them!”

Teacher Jaiden from Orbis Class was practically foaming at the mouth, desperate to get me expelled.

However, Mr. Effenhauser maintained a stoic expression.

“I am well aware of the importance of school rules, as are all the other faculty and students,” he continued.

“Teacher Jaiden, are you aware of this particular rule within the Temple? The Temple, Rule 1, Article 1. All students of the Temple shall be treated equally regardless of status and given the same educational opportunities.”

The atmosphere in the room grew colder.

“The mere existence of Orbis and Royal Classes is a contradiction of this first rule of the Temple.”

It was clear what Mr Effenhauser was saying: ‘How can you be so obsessed with school rules that aren’t even upheld from the very first article?’

Effenhauser had made this point nonchalantly while in the headquarters of the Temple.

This statement left the faculty of the Orbis Class, the main headquarters, and even the Royal Class momentarily speechless. Yet, Mr. Effenhauser remained calm.

“Purpose precedes rules.

“The Temple’s purpose is to nurture outstanding talents. The aim is for these talents to contribute to Imperial society, thereby increasing the collective value of humanity. That is the founding purpose of the Temple.

“The rules are there to support that purpose. The rules are secondary as long as the purpose is upheld. That is my belief.

“Thus, irrespective of rules or social status, the Temple selects and admits exceptional students into Royal and Orbis Classes, where they receive special treatment.”

Mr. Effenhauser was speaking about the purpose of the Temple rather than focusing on the rules. This statement made teacher Jaiden, who had been simmering, explode.

“What’s that got to do with this case?” Jaiden demanded.

“When Reinhart was admitted, he was not a superhuman,” Mr. Effenhauser responded.

“Reinhart had no inherent talents and no physical abilities to speak of. He was admitted to the Royal Class purely on potential—an exception to the rule.

“It’s a long story with many details, so I’ll keep it brief.

“At the start, Reinhart was a below-average student with no talents.

“In his first year, during a duel with third-year Mayaton, he awakened his supernatural powers. Not long after, he discovered a talent for Mana Attunement.

“Reinhart actively participates in numerous training sessions and classes, and trains rigorously every day with A-2, Ellen, who is an exemplary student.

“During the recent summer break, Reinhart and Ellen ventured into the Dark Land. There, they completed a mission with a danger rating of S-rank, and their adventurer ranks rose from F to B as a result. They also retrieved a very significant magical artifact, although the details of which are difficult to disclose.

“Now, in this second semester, despite ultimately failing to control it, Reinhart managed to use Mana Reinforcement by himself during a duel with fourth-year Oscar de Gradias. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that he has developed a new talent for Mana Manipulation.”

Mr. Effenhauser then fixed his gaze on teacher Jaiden.

“Let me put it more simply.

“Reinhart, who was powerless when he first enrolled, defeated a third-year student during his first semester.

“During the break, he risked his life exploring dangerous areas, saved the lives of at least fifty people, uncovered the truth behind the destruction of several outposts, repelled over a hundred zombies, and recovered a magic artifact.

“And now, in the second semester, he fought against a fourth-year Orbis Class student, and though he did not win, he did not lose either.

“Let me reiterate the purpose of the Temple. It is to nurture outstanding talents.”

Mr. Effenhauser then looked directly at Vice-Chancellor Assyria Wolken.

“Reinhart is the best talent the Temple has.”

Mr. Effenhauser was rating me even higher than Ellen.

The way an incident is portrayed can change everything.

The Orbis Class teacher wanted to paint my actions as an indirect attempted murder.

But Mr. Effenhauser applied a different spin to my history at the Temple.

I started off as a powerless student, but defeated a third-year student in my first semester, and now in the second semester, I could hold my ground against a fourth-year student.

Would they really expel such an outstanding talent just because of some school rules?

Had they forgotten the Temple’s true purpose?

When I asked Mr. Effenhauser about my chances of expulsion, he said that such a thing wouldn’t happen because I was in the Royal Class.

However, depending on how things were presented during the disciplinary committee, there was certainly a possibility that I could be expelled.

Mr. Effenhauser was ensuring that such an outcome would not occur.

“Reinhart’s rapid progress serves as evidence that the Temple’s education is advanced and effective. He recognizes his shortcomings and frequently seeks guidance from more capable students. This can also be seen as a positive effect of having these special classes.”

Ellen had been relatively accomplished upon entry, but I had started from zero. My progress highlighted the effectiveness of the Temple’s education system.

And if my improvement was due to Ellen’s influence, even that synergy, brought about by collecting outstanding talents into the same class, was also the Temple’s achievement.

He balanced his critiques of the school rules with praise for the Temple’s overall success.

Vice-Chancellor Wolken looked contemplatively at me.

It seemed the focus was shifting towards reducing the severity of my punishment rather than expelling me outright.

Expulsion was clearly no longer on the table.

Still, teacher Jaiden’s steely glare showed he was determined to bring me down.

“While Mr. Effenhauser’s points confirm that Reinhart is indeed talented, skill alone is not everything. Character is equally important. A student, even in their first year, who continually causes trouble, is not an outstanding talent but a dangerous one. Continuing to support and educate such a student is risky! Lilka Aaron could have died if Reinhart’s actions had been even slightly more severe!”

Attempted murder...

Teacher Jaiden still aimed to drive home that narrative. The Vice-Chancellor’s expression shifted, suggesting that she could not overlook this point.

Suddenly, Lilka Aaron, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“No, that’s not true.”

All eyes turned to her. Everyone was startled by her unexpected statement.

‘What’s going on? Why is she suddenly speaking up now?’

“I wanted him to do it. I wanted him to hit me hard enough to knock me out.”

The expressions of the teachers around the room froze, including that of teacher Jaiden, and even Oscar’s.

Lilka looked directly at me.

“I did not want to be able to get up again. We didn’t speak, but I believe Reinhart did it because he understood my feelings. Because he knew what I wanted.”

“What... What did you say?”

Teacher Jaiden’s face turned ashen, along with those of the other teachers.

Lilka Aaron looked at me with calm eyes. “Am I correct?”

‘Of course I knew.’

“... Yes.”

Lilka Aaron had not wanted to continue the fight, and had pleaded with me with her eyes to be knocked down and left unconscious. So I did just that. But I never expected her to admit it here.

The Vice-Chancellor quietly observed Lilka Aaron. “I don’t understand. You wished to be knocked out, and you believe that Reinhart was merely responding to that wish?”

“Yes.”

“If you had lost, why didn’t you just admit it and stop fighting?”

Oscar’s eyes were wide with anger. Lilka suddenly stood up.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

She began to do something none of us expected.

Click, Click...

Lilka started unbuttoning her blouse.

“What the... What are you doing, Lilka?!”

“I need to show you something.”

While all the teachers were stunned and unsure of what to do, Lilka continued undressing.

No one could stop her.

Before she was completely done, everyone understood what she meant to show.

Determined, she took off all her clothes, and stood there clad only in her undergarments.

Everyone was shocked.

Not because she had undressed herself, but for another reason altogether.

Her shoulders, arms, abdomen, and sides—her entire body was covered in bruises and welts.

“Reinhart! You mean to tell me that he inflicted such severe injuries—”

“It wasn’t Reinhart,” she interrupted.

Lilka stared directly at her homeroom teacher, Teacher Jaiden.

“It was my seniors who did this. They asked me why I had lost. They said that because of this loss, our senior had suffered disgrace. I feared that if I openly admitted defeat, my seniors would kill me.

“Even though I lost because I passed out, they still beat me like this. If I was not knocked out, there was no way I could surrender and call a stop to the fight. If I had openly acknowledged my loss, they would have beaten me even more severely. That was why I wanted to be knocked out. Reinhart did it because I wished for it.”

Finally, Lilka Aaron’s shoulders began heaving, and she burst into tears.

“You’re saying what Reinhart did to me amounts to attempted murder? That he should be expelled for it? Then... then...”

Through her tears, she glared fiercely at Oscar de Gradias.

“Shouldn’t all the Orbis Class seniors be expelled too? Why is it that you all get so angry over such minor incidents? But... You all know. All the teachers know what the seniors are doing. You even encourage it. You say that we students aren’t trying hard enough, that we’ve become complacent, and you let the seniors beat us. Knowing all this... even orchestrating it...”

Lilka Aaron, in tears and trembling, called her own faculty out as the Orbis Class teachers looked on, stone-faced.

“If Reinhart should be expelled for this, then all the Orbis Class seniors should be expelled, and the teachers should all be made to resign. If something like this warrants expulsion for him, then the Orbis Class should have been abolished long ago. Getting beaten up by my seniors, and knowing that the teachers ignore it... that’s far scarier and more horrific than what happened in the fight.

“I heard that this was the reason why Reinhart challenged this senior to a fight.

“All of us are so scared, but no one dares to speak. Everyone hates this, but we are afraid that if we complain, we’ll suffer even more severe beatings, and we know that telling the teachers won’t solve anything.

“Reinhart told us to call out this bullshit for what it is. So, I’m saying it here and now.

“Orbis Class is a terrible, disgusting place. It breeds monsters who are driven by inferiority complexes, and the victims of their actions eventually turn into the same kind of monsters who hurt their juniors.”

Lilka Aaron had come to this disciplinary hearing with an entirely different purpose; she had come to expose the true nature of the Orbis Class.

The discomfort she had shown earlier was because her latest injuries were yet to properly heal, as she hadn’t received treatment from the priest on duty.