Chapter 21 - Know Where to Stretch Your Legs (Part 2)
The inside of the magnificent office. For once, Sion wore a serious expression.
Even though she hadn't batted an eye when the kingdom invaded, even the Founder Dragon couldn't remain casual in a situation like this.
After all, this was a matter involving that new professor.
"…How is Lian doing right now?"
Summoning Professor Scott for a strategic meeting, Sion asked the question, causing a shadow to fall over the old man's face.
Just seeing his expression, she could guess what kind of answer she would get.
"He may not be showing it, but he's a mess. It seems this incident has hurt him more deeply than expected."
As anticipated, Scott reported that Lian had been greatly impacted by the situation. His expression grew darker as he continued.
"He drank! That professor, on a day when he had class, even drank so much he couldn't control himself! Can you imagine how hurt he must have been…?"
Hearing this, even the Founder Dragon was shaken.
No one understood more than she did how devoted Lian was to his students.
For that responsible professor to behave so recklessly—it only showed how hurt he must have been. Just imagining it made her heart ache.
'The backlash would be severe given how devoted he was to his students.'
He was a professor who had put his heart and soul into his students. So the pain of feeling betrayed by them would have been immense.
Imagine putting everything into nurturing students only for them to sneer behind your back, saying, "He couldn't have had any family education since he grew up without parents; what can he possibly teach us?"
It would have crushed him. No wonder he was questioning everything about his life.
While the culprit who posted those vile words should be the one punished, it was innocent Lian who was left suffering.
"Have you found out who dared to hurt our professor?"
Seething with anger, Sion asked, hoping for a nod in response…
But Scott's expression remained bleak. Gritting his teeth, he shared even more outrageous news.
"That lunatic manipulated the evidence. Do you know what the investigation on the tracking magic revealed? It indicated that Lian himself wrote and posted it!"
Even the Founder Dragon was appalled.
To write such inhumane and degrading words publicly and then frame the victim?
There are limits to how much someone can toy with another person. This went beyond disgusting; the sheer malicious intent was revolting.
"It seems I've been underestimated. To think they could hurt my professor and still keep a foothold in this realm."
She hadn't intended to interfere initially, understanding Lian's personality. She knew he'd likely find her favoritism distasteful.
But this wasn't something she could let pass.
One must repay kindness double and return enmity a hundredfold.
The culprit had dared to touch her cherished treasure within her domain. If she couldn't punish a thief invading her nest, she had no right to call herself a dragon.
"I'll make sure the meaning of opposing the empire is engraved in their mind."
It was time to employ every resource at her disposal.
My mind is hazy. Everything feels surreal.
'How did things spiral this badly?'
Chrome felt as though he were losing his mind.
When students from Class A and Lian's other students had initially declared they'd find the culprit, he hadn't taken it seriously.
"We can't overlook an insult against us, but to insult our professor—that, we absolutely won't tolerate. We'll find the demon who snuck in and…"
Karen, a girl with a fanatical glint in her eyes, spoke in a chilling tone. Though it was unnerving, he expected some of Lian's students to be loyal enough to defend him.
Then, the headmaster of the neighboring academy, who was also the Mercenary King, unexpectedly appeared. That made him more anxious, though he quickly tried to calm himself.
"They found Lian's fingerprints on the poster? Doesn't that mean he wrote it?"
"…Please, keep your voice down, Headmaster. You're embarrassing me. If you want to repay your debt, drop this detective act and focus on guarding instead."
The headmaster, wearing an out-of-place checkered hat and holding a pipe, was quickly scolded by the woman next to him, the two bickering playfully.
Seeing Karin sulking over her "detective hat" being taken away, his guard lowered a little.
Then, Scott arrived, his words turning colder.
"If you confess your sins now, I'll show you the mercy of a swift death."
Chrome felt a shiver as he listened, but surely, they wouldn't actually kill anyone.
The story of the Swordmaster who bathed an entire nation in blood avenging his late wife was legendary. But Lian had only met Scott a month ago.
How close could they have become in that time? Surely, Scott was bluffing to pressure the culprit into confessing.
But when the Founder Dragon arrived, and she declared she wouldn't let this slide, Chrome realized something was terribly wrong.
A nationwide warrant was issued. Thirty royal knight units descended upon the academy.
Seven imperial court mages, each a master of the craft, gathered to investigate the case. Every national treasure artifact was mobilized for the investigation.
All he'd done was spread some rumors about a professor he didn't like. Now Chrome was being hunted more fiercely than the head of a rebellion.
The net was tightening. Despite his desperate attempts, he was eventually caught.
"Resist, and I'll cut your head off on the spot. Be wise."
Captured by a royal guardian knight and bound, Chrome felt like he was going insane.
He knew he'd acted wrongly, but this was excessive.
'I didn't even write that poster!'
He had discovered through the investigation that Lian was an orphan from the slums and what his reputation had been there, but that was all.
He had nothing to do with the incriminating poster.
But who would believe him now? This knight might take his resistance as defiance and kill him outright.
He had no choice but to stay silent and endure the injustice. He had to stay silent, even though he was drowning in indignation.
"Let him go. This boy is not the culprit."
A voice spoke. He wondered if he was hallucinating from the stress, but no.
There, with his pale hair and golden eyes, though visibly exhausted, stood the young professor Lian.
"I was the one who posted that notice."
But Chrome couldn't understand. He even began to suspect this was an elaborate self-deception, but it didn't add up.
"I created the scandal to draw out the one spreading rumors."
If he had staged this to punish the culprit, why was he standing here defending Chrome?
Most likely, it was one of Chrome's lackeys who'd foolishly gone too far. Arguably, this was still Chrome's fault.
Yet, Lian continued with his absurd defense.
He looked worn to the bone. Pale as a ghost, he even gagged at one point but kept defending Chrome.
'What have I done…?'
A twisted character who couldn't acknowledge his own mistakes, a petty antagonist who'd once become a demon to seek revenge.
Yet even Chrome was overcome with guilt.
Who wouldn't be moved by such compassion? Who could remain unmoved by someone trying to save even their own slanderer?
Tears blinded his vision. But in this blurred vision, he saw more clearly than ever what was right.
"Please, stop defending me, Professor. I am… not worthy of your kindness."
The academy would undoubtedly expel him, and his family would likely disown him.
He would lose everything and end up on the streets.
There was a chance he could cling to Lian's mercy, but he couldn't let that happen. Consequences should follow mistakes.
"I'm willing to accept any punishment for what I've done."
He had to take responsibility. Without integrity, what was the value of status?
There was nothing left to say, nothing left to resist.
Only one thing mattered—to repay the professor's kindness.
"I bore a grudge against you, spreading rumors about your hiring. Yet, you still view me as your student and want to protect me."
He felt undeserving, deeply ashamed, and openly bowed his head.
This admission would quash the rumors about Lian's hiring. No one would dare speak ill of him again.
His fellow students who had mocked Lian alongside him blushed with shame.
Their aristocratic disdain for being taught by a mere commoner was no longer relevant. The contrast between their pettiness and Lian's nobility was stark.
'I can't do much to repay him.'
Hoping it had helped the professor, Chrome smiled one last time.
…Was it his imagination, or was Lian tearing up as well?