The thirty-eight (38) students of Class Mu from the Hero Academy’s Year II were all bewildered and flustered, as if they had just seen an unpleasant visage of their once forr fallen noble classmate.
"Lugh...? Is that really him?"
"Wh-what’s the aning of this?!"
"We were just on the island! How are we wherever this place is?"
With their hands restrained by [mana nullifier] chains, causing them to be restricted from drawing any mana from their souls, courtesy of the Lunar Castle’s old yet efficient technology from its very expansive treasure vault, all they could do was to voice out their displeasure.
Seeing and confirming my presence, their utter confusion and fear simultaneously vanished. After all, I was just from a fallen noble family who lost its everything against the sadistic Count Othenwald, and was a bully and pervert student until my status had gone into hell after that territorial war—at least that’s what their delusions were feeding them.
"I don’t care how you’ve managed to do it, but aren’t you being foolish?! Do you think you can bear the consequences of your actions? I’m the son of Agnus Patriarch! How dare you kidnap , huh?!" It was the understandable wrath of Zion von Agnus, the hot-headed student who occasionally began to bully , or perhaps before I even possessed the original Lugh.
"..." My gaze only fixated on him, then on the thing wrapping his wrists. Noticing my stare, Zion’s eyes montarily landed on what’s hindering his hands from moving properly.
"What’s with these chains?! Do you really think it can hold my flas? I’ll just lt it and burn you to death!"
It was at that mont that Zion’s body exuded a crimson aura... only for it to be extinguished in oblivion, prompting reactions from the nearby students.
"Huh...? Did he cancel his magic?"
"N-No! I-I can’t draw out any mana!"
"This... This is a mana nullifier! H-how!?"
Mana nullifying chains were military-grade artifacts, and in this day and age, only the Orthodox Churches of the continent, the corresponding Imperial Family of every existing empire, and the [Republic] were allowed to possess them.
But to think that all of them were tied to it?
Where did he get such an abundant amount of these artifacts? It’s a cri, their naive thoughts, probably.
Neigh!
While they were murmuring or even openly criticizing the perpetrator of this fiasco, though their tones and expressions had yet to fully realize the gravity of the situation, a lone horse erged from one of the four lofty doors of the grand hall.
"...?!"
"Wh-what...?"
"You... What’s the aning of this?!"
Zion, along with the others, wasn’t a bit surprised by the appearance of a sand-hued steed, but rather of the person riding on it, whose deep-blue eyes under her silver-rimd eyeglasses and flowing long ocean-like hair reflected under the hall’s dimly lit atmosphere.
"Answer , Morgan!!" Zion scread at the top of his lungs, his perplexity earlier of being unable to cast magic or his [Talent] abruptly disappeared.
Instead of responding to him, the supposedly 39th student of Class Mu, whose presence they didn’t notice was missing upon opening their eyes into this dark abode, addressed the person who brought them to this faraway place.
"Is this really necessary? I just can’t gauge what you’re thinking." Morgan casually mumbled.
Every noble was at least required to learn basic horse riding, so handling this horse was an easy task for her. But she couldn’t understand my reasoning—well, I would like to test sothing interesting.
"It’s fine. Just watch." I said.
It had taken a quick convincing to bring Morgan to my side, thanks to [Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell], which I used to gauge every student of Class Mu during my brief period in the academy.
But the key to convincing her to join my side was—curiosity and generational rebellion.
It was done in secret, and the thod was unorthodox, though before I could explain to her the specifics and chanism Princess Yuridika used, my gaze returned to the students.
Their expressions were getting paler and paler by every passing second. After all, one question sprouted deep within their consciousness.
Did Morgan betray them?
Zion gritted his teeth; he was outrightly ignored. In the end, there was no genuine unity and friendship among everybody in Class Mu—that’s why they all perished on Ranaya Island during this exam, that’s what it’s supposed to be in the original story of the [Hero’s Apocalypse].
You will remain dead.
To keep the story on the right path without irreversible deviation, until the ti was right, these students would be pronounced dead —the consequences of their deaths must happen no matter what.
Well, so of them will truly die this ti.
"Did you know the caste system of the academy?"
Despite the grueling situation, where their fate was uncertain, I asked a seemingly out-of-place question.
Since I didn’t exactly need their answers, I continued,
"You see, nobles disliked by their families are thrown into Class Mu..."
With my words, Zion, and many more among the kneeling students, couldn’t help but awkwardly look at the ground, eting nothing but dust.
"Do you know why that’s the case? Why is it allowed or why has it beco the norm of the Hero Academy? It’s to fuel your desire to be recognized by your family. Am I right?"
"..."
"I will conquer this class. I will trample over everyone in this class. In this way, I will... I will get recognized by the Patriarch! If that’s your goal, then it seems you cannot live on your own."
Not that I could bla them considering the mindset these outcast nobles have in this kind of world.
"Wh-what’s your point...?" One of the students reluctantly mumbled. It was a young man, whose deanor was laid-back, sothing that scread a beginner, hopeful ’alchemist.’
Hearing his question, I chuckled.
"Why are you seeking recognition?"
I let out a question that echoed in their souls. It was sothing that was and might have never been asked throughout their lifeti, especially in the noble world which continued living and operating under the seemingly constant traditions and hierarchy.
Silence pervaded the atmosphere.
Even their breaths could be heard, and their own heartbeat they could feel.
After what felt like an eternity, I nodded to Rudgar, Drevan, and Breskan—the three squad captains who were with during the hunting of Iris Ent nests.
In their contemplative state, due to my question leaving them in self-reflection, the three n with well-built bodies approached three different students.
Before they could react, their arms were grabbed.
Zion, one of the three students to be dragged forward, tried to resist. But he failed miserably since he could not even strengthen his physical body with mana.
"Y-You! You will pay for this! Is this how you treat soone from the Four Elental Families of the Holy Empire?!"
On the other hand, a female student with a slightly petite body, long silver hair, and ashen-hued cross-shaped eyes, strangely enough, acknowledged her helplessness and was gently escorted alongside Zion and another male student, the timid one who looked like a newbie alchemist.
"Zion... Kevin... and Rune?"
Rune... What a unique na.
My athyst eyes stared at Rune, whose hands were evidently trembling.
Using my Talent: [Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell] for a mont, I verified her status.
"Rune..."
"Y-yes?"
Reluctantly, Rune raised her head, eventually eting my gaze.
Before replying to her question, I approached and dragged the brown steed gently in front of her.
"Did you know the theory that states that horses can recognize the depths of human nature? It’s fascinating."
Morgan, whom I tasked to bring this horse, glanced at with bewildering eyes—it’s sothing that says, [What’s this man talking about?]
anwhile, Princess Yuridika and the three squad leaders were all watching in silence, their thoughts only known to themselves.
"Approach and slowly touch its head."
"H-huh...?" Rune and everybody else were confused.
Not that I could bla them at all.
Nonetheless, Rune gently approached the sand-colored horse and hesitantly caressed its head, prompting its tail to wag serenely.
Neigh...?
"Well, that’s one way to put it."
"...?"
"Release her chains."
"...?!"
Rune just touched the horse, caused it to wag its tail, and one mont after that, she was freed?!
The peculiarity of the situation had so students whispering, understandably so.
"W-Will he make us do the sa?"
"But what’s the point of this?"
"Is he crazy? He wants us to ta that horse?"
"..."
In the next mont, Kevin also tried and had the sa results.
Simply put, the horse didn’t go wild upon being approached and touched by the students—that’s all it took for them to be released from their restraints.
Now, then...
"It’s your turn, Zion."
Zion involuntarily gulped; he didn’t know the purpose of this seemingly ritual-like scenario.
Knowing he had no choice, and that his mind worked wildly with the idea of being freed from mana nullifiers, he began to take steps towards the steed.
It was then that the mont his hand was about to touch its head, the calm horse tried to wildly push him away.
"Huh?"
"Zion’s being denied...?"
"But what does it an for him though?"
"Wh-what...!?"
Zion was flustered. His eyes inevitably saw my gaze, only for him to witness the inexplicable emotions contained within them.
One way or the other, I abruptly interjected,
"Rune, you’re a nun, aren’t you? Cast a healing magic on him. I don’t care if it’s low-level, just do it."
Rune didn’t question my order. However, before she could act, Zion imdiately ran without any clear directions, confusing the students.
No, it was not just him. Another three students watching from the back also raised their bodies and attempted to leave this abyssal castle.
But before they could realize, their balance eventually loosened, only for them to see their legs behind as they instinctively turned their heads around.
"Why are you running?"
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