That's when the harsh reality hit me like a ton of bricks. They had deliberately swept this incident under the rug. If news got out that the ceremony train rail guard had employed a sadistic butcher who preyed on innocent children for his amusement, their reputations would be utterly destroyed.
Furthermore, I couldn't help but notice the absence of those other brats from the incident during the blessing ritual. Perhaps they were too traumatized to participate. Yet, despite all this, I was being unjustly labeled as the scapegoat for the entire ordeal.
My gaze intensified as I locked eyes with Bervice, expecting him to intervene and set the record straight. However, to my surprise, he seemed uninterested and remained silent. His lack of involvement only fueled my suspicions.
I knew that time was running out and if I continued to drag this out, the invitations would be nothing but a distant dream. I couldn't risk being disposed of and left to rot in some ditch. It was a difficult decision, but I had to act.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage and spoke, "I offer my sincerest apologies for my actions and for any harm caused to those children." The words tasted bitter as they left my lips, but I knew it was a necessary facade.
Hamanthra cast a disdainful gaze down at me, her expression demanding more. "And what about your apology for falsely accusing the rail guards?"
I locked eyes with her, my glare unyielding. "I speak the truth. A deranged rail guard did attack us."
Her frustration reached its peak as fiery flames erupted behind her, enveloping her like a coat of fire. The atmosphere grew heavy, making it difficult to breathe. It was clear that she was ready to strike me down if I didn't relent and accept her version of events. "You still speak of that nonsense."
Of course, I won't back down. I held onto my pride and refused to offer a false apology for speaking the truth. No matter her position as a grandmaster, she was attempting to manipulate the truth. If I were to meet my demise, I would face it with my head held high.
In a surprising turn of events, Biswaq extended his hand, causing two rings of luminous white light to materialize. One ring settled above my head, while the other formed a circle around my feet, enclosing me within their ethereal embrace. Bewildered by this sudden occurrence, I attempted to comprehend its meaning.
As I pondered, a forceful gust of cold wind descended from above. Its intensity and velocity were so formidable that I found myself compelled to kneel, unable to maintain an upright stance against the torrential onslaught. It felt akin to standing beneath a mighty waterfall, except instead of water, it was a relentless cascade of air.
In the midst of this tempestuous atmosphere, Biswaq spoke up, his voice carrying a stern tone. "You should apologize. Come on, kid, acknowledge your wrongdoing and offer an apology." His serious demeanor made it evident that he had aligned himself with Hamanthra's perspective.
At that moment, I felt a surge of frustration and disappointment. If this was the kind of situation I was going to face, perhaps it would have been better to remain a first-tier candidate and return home. The prospect of continuing this path seemed increasingly disheartening.
Why was I being subjected to such unjust treatment? I had only sought to navigate the ascension trials swiftly and efficiently. How did everything spiral out of control so rapidly?
If only I still possessed the powers of the Demon Overlord, I could have effortlessly eradicated these grandmasters with a mere flick of my fingers. These so-called esteemed figures seemed more concerned with upholding their reputation than with protecting the innocent.
"Still refusing to yield, I see," muttered Biswaq, his voice laced with determination. "Let's escalate things."
In an instant, the velocity and force of the wind gust multiplied threefold. I was forcefully propelled to the ground, landing face-first with a resounding thud. The frigid air pressed me against the ground, and it felt as though the very essence of my being was being crushed. Breathing became arduous as if my lungs were being denied the intake of air as my chest was getting crushed by the wind.
Summoning every ounce of strength within me, I strained to extend my arms and drag my body away from the relentless gust of wind. With great effort, I managed to shift my position slightly, trying to get away from the circle where the gust of wind fell. But as I moved the illuminated circle beneath my feet moved along with me.
Despite the excruciating pain coursing through my body, I clenched my teeth and refused to succumb. Biswaq's demand for an apology echoed in my ears, but I remained silent, fixing him with a defiant glare.
Remember this, I vowed silently, etching the insult deep into the recesses of my mind. The day will come when I exact revenge, tenfold. It may not be now, but it is inevitable in the future. Even if I were to die, I'll still haunt them and all their progenitors to come.
In the midst of despair, a sudden loud blast reverberated through the room, catching everyone's attention. Thwack! The gust of wind dissipated instantly, and I swiftly regained my footing, raising my guard in preparation for any unforeseen developments.
Looking up, I noticed smoke lingering in the air where the luminous ring had been placed above me. It appeared that something or someone had destroyed it, putting an end to the torment.
Turning my gaze towards the grandmasters, I witnessed a surprising sight. All of them were focused on a single grandmaster—Grandmaster Pierre of the Iron Will Academy.
Biswak, with a stern expression, questioned, "What is the meaning of this?"
Pierre, his eyes sharp and resolute, replied, "How long will this charade continue? As a busy businessman, I detest wasting my precious time. Let us proceed with the ascension ceremony."
In Pierre's hand, he held a miniature mana cannon, intricately designed and embedded with mana stones. I had read about such a weapon in books—a blaze firearm. It seemed that Pierre had utilized this firearm to destroy Biswak's wind rings and come to my aid.
Casually, Pierre returned the firearm to his coat pocket, and a silence fell over Biswak. Hamanthra appeared agitated by the turn of events.
"To be honest, there was no need for a grandmaster to employ their abilities to coerce a confession out of the boy, even if he were lying," Gunther interjected in support.
"From where I stand, it appears as if the two of you were attempting to conceal the truth," added Messindra, voicing her perspective on the matter.
Hamanthra appeared visibly annoyed, her anger palpable, but she chose to suppress her emotions and remained silent. She extinguished the flames that enveloped her, bringing an end to the fiery spectacle.
Biswaq let out a sigh, expressing remorse, "That was unseemly of us. I apologize for our behavior. I may have gone too far."
Despite his display of remorse, I couldn't bring myself to trust his words. To me, both Biswaq and Hamanthra were as good as dead. Their actions had left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I vowed to seek retribution in the future.
Suddenly, a bright light bathed me, and I braced myself for another potential attack. However, to my surprise, the light brought me relief instead of harm. The pain I had been enduring gradually subsided, and a feeling of rejuvenation washed over me.
When I turned my head, I discovered that it was Grandmaster Casia who had intervened. She had joined her hands in prayer, utilizing her healing abilities to alleviate my suffering. I checked myself and found that the injuries and pain had indeed disappeared.
Casia finally stopped when she noticed I had recovered fully.
"Pathetic. Grandmasters bullying a mere child," Casia remarked with a touch of disdain. "I offer my apologies on their behalf."
I was taken aback by her words. I hurriedly responded, "There is no need for you to apologize, Madam."
I was at a loss for how to react to this unexpected turn of events. I certainly hadn't anticipated receiving an apology from a grandmaster.
"Hahaha!" Suddenly, Ajax burst into laughter, his boisterous voice reverberating throughout the room.
"I like this kid's spirit!" Ajax exclaimed between laughs. "Despite the pressure, he didn't waver and remained true to his words. It shows that he is a man of courage and tenacity. I admire your bravery!"
With a renewed sense of confidence, I straightened my posture, brushing off the dust from my clothes. The other candidates regarded me with a newfound admiration, their faces reflecting their amazement.
At least I had managed to maintain my reputation throughout this ordeal. Meanwhile, Hamanthra and Biswaq had suffered a significant blow to their own reputations. It was a small victory, but it wasn't enough. I wanted to make them suffer in some way for their insults and mistreatment.
"Grandmasters, now that the matter has been resolved, I kindly request that you commence the ascension trial immediately," Sigurd interjected, his voice firm and commanding.
Finally, it was time for the ascension ceremony to begin. I eagerly awaited the outcome, curious to see how many invitations I would receive. While I didn't know which academy I would ultimately join, I was certain of the ones I should avoid.