Chereads / Twisted Rebirth of The Crimson Peony / Chapter 53 - Forgiven? Nah!

Chapter 53 - Forgiven? Nah!

Riddle and Cater, who saw this, cleared their throats in a poor attempt to stifle back a laugh despite their sorry states when Riddle seemed to have recalled something and quickly vanished to the side of the stadium.

"What..." Leona grumbled in bewilderment as he pressed a finger to the temple, "Come again?"

"Mister Kingscholar." Crowley said solemnly, "You fell into an overblot rampage due to being consumed by blot and negative energy. Do you not remember?"

"I went on a rampage..." Leona's eyes widen in disbelief, "Overblot? You're kidding..."

"More importantly," Grim intercepted before Lotus could stop him, "the magical shift tournament is about to begin! If you don't confess, we can't get our prize and play in the tournament!"

"Huuh...?" Leona looked to him in confusion after being snapped out of his dazed state, "What're you talking about?"

"They went after you in order to get permission from the Headmaster to play in the magical shift tournament." Jack explained unbashedly.

"Eh?" Ruggie stared at them with wide eyes, "You did it for something like that?"

"'Something like that'?!" Grim cried out in disbelief and impatience, "You went around injuring people for 'something like that'."

"Ugh, th-that's..." Ruggie grumbled with droopy ears awkwardly, "right, I guess."

Lotus knocked Grim on the head with her knuckle reprimanding the cat as she turned to Crowley who nodded and folded his arms with a solemn voice, "Then, it's safe to assume that the series of accidents around campus were all your dorm's doing?"

Leona hesitated, "... Yeah, they were."

"Understood." Crowley stated firmly, "Then, first of all, Savanaclaw Dorm is disqualified from this year's tournament."

"Crystal..." Leona nodded in understanding with a small grumble.

Ruggie and Jack stood solemnly next to him as if sharing the punishment with him.

"Headmaster, please wait a moment." Riddle called out.

Crowley stopped mid-way and turned his head to find Riddle returning to them with a few familiar figures.

"Mister Rosehearts?" The headmaster said in confusion, "And you all are..."

"Yes." Riddle nodded, "They are all the victims in the accidents."

There was Trey, another Heartslabyul student, that student she gave the skin cream to, and a student from Scarabia. The Scarabia student with the dark hood was probably the one who told them that it was a unique magic that helped the others figure out it was Ruggie. She believed Jamil was his name?

"Headmaster," Trey spoke up, "as the victims we have a request to ask of you. Could you please refrain from disqualifying Savanaclaw and have them play in the tournament?"

"What is this now?" Crowley was surprised by their answer and questioned in confusion, "Are you saying... to let them off?"

"You guys..." Ruggie looked to them in confusion and slightly touched.

"No, we're not letting them off." Jamil clarified firmly with a frown.

"If Savanaclaw doesn't play then we can't get the payback we so crave." Trey explained with a smirk.

"Eh, eeehh?!" Ruggied looked to them in bewilderment.

"Payback?!" Jack looked up in bewilderment.

"Personal squabbles involving magic are prohibited on campus." Riddle stated firmly.

"Magical shift is a well respected sport, right?" Trey pointed out with a sneer, "However, it is also known as a field where you can have an all out magical battle... you know."

"Yeah." the other Heartslabyul student agreed with a scowl, "I won't get any closure if I don't get at least on hit on you guys."

"Time for battle!" The Pomefiore student challenged with a glare, "Pick up the glove!"

"I don't know what happened to you all but Savanaclaw looks to be in worse shape than all of us." Jamil pointed out with a smirk.

"Since we know who the culprit is I think getting rid of our grudge with a game of magical shift is rather convenient." Trey pointed out.

Cater smirked triumphantly, "Leona, didn't you say something before? About how during the game you can use any attack without violating the rules."

Riddle grumbled in exasperation almost helplessly, "Normally, it would be off with your head for using our traditions to settle personal grudges, but this is what Trey and the others wish. I'll turn a blind eye this once."

"I understand how you must be feeling." Crowley nodded in approval but looked to Leona and his group hesitantly, "However, I'm not sure whether or not Savanaclaw can be in the tournament like this. Especially you, Mister Kingscholar, can you even stand right now?"

"Hmph. Hahahaha!!" Leona laughed when he heard this, "Don't understimate me, Crowley. I could take on some wounded herbivores in my sleep."

"Hmph, those are big words." Jamil smirked.

"I have zero intention of apologizing. If that's what you want then force me to on the field." Leona smirked as he said this.

"There you have it, Headmaster." Trey looked to the headmaster, "Are you alright with this?"

"My goodness." Crowley sighed in exasperation, "I'm the fool for thinking you would have some impressive speech prepared. Alright. I shall allow Savanaclaw to play in the tournament as planned."

"It's a relief now that you don't have to announce this and gather some unhappy criticisms for disqualifying the Savanaclaw, right?" Lotus smirked, "It would also be a huge blow to the school and dorm otherwise."

Crowley nodded in relief, "As the headmaster, I'd also like to avoid having something like this be broadcast to the world on the day of the tournament."

"Wah..." Yuu gapped in bewilderment, "H-He's a bad guy!"

"Adult's have it rough, you mean!" Lotus laughed, "This is part of how the world works. Once we graduate into society, you'll see that it pretty much a common thing to worry over."

Crowley quickly cleared his throat and said with a renewed smile, "Well then, the audience is waiting for all the players to present themselves. Better get ready."

As Crowley was about to walk away, Leona smirked, "I should get going... Grr, crap, ow....!"

Lotus raised a brow when she heard this and looked back to see Ruggie pulling his tail with a scowl as he said rather angrily, "... Just so you know, I haven't forgiven you or anything."

"Is that so?" Leona grumbled with a look of irritation probably recalling what he had did earlier.

"But... How to put this?" Ruggie said with a rather calm expression till his hyena ears pulled back and he frowned sadly, "I never never want to see you make a miserable face like that again. That arrogant smirk you usually have suits you much better. "

Scheming something, Ruggie slowly smiled wide, "...Like this! Laugh With Me!"

There was a bright flash as Leona awkwardly pulled an unusual smile on his face while copying Ruggie's movements.

"Oww, owow! Wah dah hell, Raffie!" Leona struggled to do much as he was forced to copy Ruggie's movements.

"Shishishi!" Ruggie laughed with his ears pulled back as he said forcing himself to stay in position, "Ay, awayz whated to traye dis onse oh nyou!"

"Stahp righ nahw!" Leona shouted as he was forced to continue to smile and follow Ruggie's every movements.

"Pfft!" Lotus laughed at the unfamiliar sight as Yuu was soon to follow.

"What are you doing?" Jack looked to them in exasperation and huffed with a smile, "...heh."

"He smiled!" Yuu pointed out with a smirk.

"I-I'm not smiling or anything." Jack argued back frantically.

"All's well that ends well." Lotus shook her head in exasperation.

Still, Jack didn't stop smiling now that everything was over and he said, "You guys really came through for us. Thanks to you I can give it my all too."

"From here on out we're rivals." Riddle responded with a satisfied smile, "We won't pull any punches."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Jack nodded in satisfaction.

"Hey, hey, Headmaster!" Grim spoke up, "We found the cuprit just like you asked! You're gonna let us play in the tournament like you promised, right?!"

"Eh?! Ahh~..." Crowley looked up in surprise upon realization, "I did promise you that. It's most definitely impossible, we've already announced the tournament line up. What should we do about this?"

"Eeeehhh!!!" Grim cried out in horror, "That's cruel! You scammer!! I'm gonna light your lying ass on fire! Ffgnaaa~~~!"

Lotus sighed in exasperation. She knew that was too good to be true, but she was curious on what Yuu and Grim was going to do about this.

"Wait wait wait!" Crowley called out once he saw that Lotus and muchless Yuu did not step into to help, "Pause in your light things on fire. I'll come up with an idea. Hmmm hmmm..."

Lotus watched the guy pretend to think for a while before she sighed and whispered, "Headmaster, there are some events that holds an exhibition before the real thing begins. Why not use this chance to show newcomers how the game works before the real thing?"

"That's it!" Crowley spoke up with a brilliant smile, "How about playing in a special exhibition match? It will be like the opening act before the main event. I'm sure you'll be able to show off!"

"Show off?" Grim looked up to the headmaster curiously.

Having caught his attention, Crowley nodded his head with a wide smile, "Why, of course."

"I'm good to go as long as I can show off!" Grim smirked with a wide smile, "Yay~! I'm gonna get a bunch of scouts after everyone sees my greatness on TV!"

"But don't we need seven people for magift..." Yuu pointed out in confusion as he glanced over to Lotus uncertain why the guy would help Grim so suddenly.

"Extra members... Hmm, what to do..." Crowley frowned, "And we need a team for you to play against, maybe I can get a staff team together..."

"Ffgna?!" Grim cried out in shock, "Did you forget that too?!"

"We heard everything!" Ace came over with Deuce when they and the Savanaclaw noticed that they hadn't left with them.

"For extra members, we'll take those spots." Deuce responded with a sneer as well.

"What are you talking about?" Riddle raised a brow in bewilderment, "Aren't both of you on team Heartslabyul?"

"There's no rule that says you can't join another dorm's team." Ace responded with a smirk, "Besides, Deuce and I didn't get picked in the end."

"Haha!" Trey laughed, "I never thought about it before but you're right." Trey nodded in agreement.

"That sounds like fun!" Cater called out with a wide smile, "I wanna join the prefect's team too~!"

"Cater, you're one of our regular members!" Riddle pointed out in confusion.

"Tch." Cater gave up the idea quickly.

"Just cheering for our classmates from the side would be boring." Ace added, "I'll do whatever it takes to play."

Deuce stammered nervously, "I-I'm not like him! I purely want to help out my dear friends."

"If it's an opponent you're looking for, Savanaclaw will take you on." Jack called out with a smirk as Ruggie shrugged in agreement.

"Ffna?" Grim said in bewilderment, "You guys will?"

"Would you rather play against the teachers?" Jack pointed out.

"You're actually a pretty cool guy." Ace noted with a smile.

"D-don't get the wrong idea." Jack responded nervously, "I just don't want to be indebted to you!"

"You guys fine with that?" Jack turned to his dorm members.

"Uughh~" Ruggie sighed, "We're already about to keel over but you want to throw on one more game? Jack, you're a demon..."

"Huuugh..." Leona groaned, "This is a pain. Whatever, just come at us all at once, damn herbivores..."

Leona warned them, "Even if it's just an exhibition it's still a match. Be prepared."

"Pew..." Crowley sighed in relief, "What a relief. I was about to get another three hour long lecture from Mister Trein."

"Your team has gathered five players." Crowley pointed out firmly, "All you need is two more then you can play!"

"Four." Lotus corrected with a wry smile, "Aside from an arm injury, I don't really like cameras too. I'll sit this one out."

"What?!" Grim groaned, "And, hey! It's still not enough?! We even got people from another dorm to join us! Why are there only three people in our dorm?! And Lotus can't even play!"

Lotus laughed, "Even if I didn't get injured, I don't like cameras. How are you going to get me to play if the camera won't get to see you show off?"

"Fgna! Fgna!" Grim grumbled in bewilderment, "But with only me and Yuu from our dorm..."

"Yes, yes, with only you and the prefect from our dorm, what?" Lotus smirked mischievously hinting on something.

"Now that you mention the dorm..." Yuu spoke up upon realization.

"...Ah! That's right!" Grim smiled upon pondering onto the same realization, "Residents are those who live in the dorm, right?"

"Well, yeah, that's what it boils down to." Ace confirmed it with a nod.

"Then, there are more that just us living in Ramshackle Dorm!" Grim sneered triumphantly.

Lotus smiled wider as they finally caught on.