Karl no Tensei: Transmigrated as an Assassin with a Mana Meter Chapter 7: Ch 7: Henry Mordant [1]

Cormac Nightshade, the principal of the Sparkhaven Academy looked at . His face carried no expression of any particular emotion. He looked like a puppet with his stiff body posture but that sohow made him look more elegant.

My heartbeat rose from his sudden question. If they ask even a single question regarding my past, I am dood.

"He should definitely be able to answer them if he still has all his mories intact." Gideon smiled at which I deliberately ignored.

How can I escape this....

I panicked. My lips pursed into lines as I bit into them to stifle my trembling body and my loud heartbeats.

"Hmm he shall answer your questio--"

At that mont, my mind snapped. My trembling imdiately stopped, my vision clearing up.

I felt a wave of calmness settle deep inside . It felt... foreign.

As if soone had decided to intervene and whisper in my ears.

But I didn’t have the ti to think on sothing that could have been a delusion.

I cut off the principal before he could complete his sentence.

"I refuse."

All the pairs of eyes shifted to . So in amusent, one in slight worry and the other two in complete neutrality.

"I refuse to be asked questions and expected to answer them based on the whims of a rich person, whose son had in fact been a rival to during the promotion exams."

Wait...why did I say that? He might not even have a son...

But then I saw Gideon’s clenched jaw.

My eyes almost widened at that. How...did I know that?

"I won’t be answerable to any of this Council. I am one of you now and as such, I shall only be answerable to my duties." My voice ca out stern, more than what I had expected.

The principal’s face didn’t even change even more now that I have challenged his authority. Beside him though Gideon was fuming.

His breath was audible enough for everyone to hear it. He bellowed, "As expected, you won’t answer. How can you even when you have no recollection of your mories?"

"What source are you using to accuse ?" I followed up. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the royal representative’s neutral expression morphing into sothing resembling...interest.

"You need not worry about my sources." Gideon tried arguing back into a corner but honestly he just gave more grounds for turning the situation in my favour.

"If that’s so, tell why... should...I...answer...your... question? Both of us are mbers of the sa council and yet you demand more rights.

Interesting." Turning my gaze over to Cormac, I whispered, "Is that how the Council of the fourth academy works? If that’s so,I would rather not work here."

Squinting my eyes, I said. "Afterall, it would be a waste of resources on soone like unwilling to follow the hierarchy of the rich over the rits."

Internally I was surprised. The principal didn’t even have a single crease on his forehead after all the words I had said. Gideon on the other hand, looked almost on the verge of bursting out. His face was just that red from all the blood that had collected under his skin.

*Scribble*

Under our astonished gazes..no, only mine--I corrected as I looked around , the principal simply bent down his head and resud his paperwork.

What the fuck?

Who does that...But as I saw others simply sitting there not asking anything, I quickly discerned that it must be a regular sight for them.

Even though I really wanted him to say sothing and not just make wait after the bravado I showed, I kept quiet.

I waited.

Seconds passed.

*Scribble* *Scribble*

Seconds turned into minutes.

But the only sound in the room was the scribbling of pen against paper and the soft tapping of my shoe on the thick carpet.

After what felt like an eternity, his pen paused.

thodically he arranged the papers in so particular sequence... with the least movents he could manage.

It got thinking... doesn’t he smile? Or get angry?

What a fascinating facade.

Then, he adjusted his monocle as he finally looked at . Then he looked at Gideon.

In a calm voice, he started. "Gideon...hereby I give you a chance. Either you press your charges and he answers your questions. And if he ends up answering those questions...your services shall be dismissed."

Gideon’s eyes widened as he craned his neck towards Cormac.

Then, Cormac turned at and continued, "Sa with you. Either you choose to answer his answers and get to be the vice principal as of now. Or...you can retake the test in a week’s ti. However keep in mind, you won’t be the vice principal in that case.

At least not until you clear the promotion exam once again."

Now it was my turn to be taken aback. He offered us both options and sohow when we looked at each other’s eyes, we both knew the option we would choose.

Or at the very least, we knew the option we would both not choose.

"I won’t press my charges any further."

"I shall retake the exam."

Makes one wonder why am I retaking the exam if I don’t have any charges on .

I tried gazing into the principal’s eyes...but they gave nothing away.

Instead his lips answered, "You two ended up agreeing quite easily. A good result in fact. The council should always have unbreakable cooperation."

Even though he said that, his words almost sounded sarcastic veiled in sweet words. Almost.

"Henry, I believe you can go now. You are still not the vice principal at least officially until you pass your examination. Dismissed."

Giving a curt nod in his direction, I hurried toward the door.

I had no intention of lingering in the room as well. Not at the place where I would need to share space with the intimidating presence of Cormac Nightshade and the lecherous intents of the three investors, mainly that Gideon.

Closing the door behind , I leaned against it as I exhaled out in relief.

"Well that was truly...a nerve-wracking situation."