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The always smiling and caring Harlet was a lie. He was planing on making everyone in the empire his slaves via magic, maybe with the use of: “Shadow Puppet” – a spell branded as illegal by many kingdoms.
But, for someone raised in the downtown area of Richard, it was really lukewarm.
Rather, the problem Leo was facing now, was that he, unintentionally, exposed Harlet’s true nature in a rather sudden way.
Leo’s moral code is really strong, except that he love money more than anything.
(S***, this is bad, really bad! It’s like I’m challenging Harlet-sensei to a duel, but, how do I stop this thing…)
The large screen is really loud, maybe because of the use of too much magic power.
In the auditorium, everyone that spoke Eland, were angry toward Harlet’s evil remarks.
But the Harlet on the second floor was smiling like a doll.
“S-stop, magic! Stop!” ( Tl/n: It’s safe to assume that no one heard Leo’s shout)
Leo tried to stop the spell, but it didn’t work.
Usually, only the delivery date of bread is specified, so when the corresponding part finishes, the spell duration would end as well. And because of this, Leo didn’t notice his own mistake when he was casting the spell. Everything, that happened five minutes ago, would be shown on the screen.
Leo wasn’t a great mage or a sage, so he didn’t understand how to stop it.
But, the conversation between the evil Harlet and Ahim wasn’t over.
“In addition… today’s presentation will be ruined by something else too.”
“And what would it be…?”
“Fufufuh… . ”
The Harlet on the screen smiled like a ferocious animal, which was completely diferent from his usual self.
“Finally, a part of the Bernstein faction seems to be moving. Those of dirt blood are as vulgar as ever… heheh… but the best part is that they are easy to handle.”
Bernstein, vulgar, dirt.
The entire auditorium was shocked this time, including those who couldn’t understand the Eland language very well.
Some people asked: “What he said?”
And those who understood Eland explained to the others.
Soon, the entire auditorium was filled with shouts and screams.
Albert was the first to move.
“Everyone!!! Silence!!!”
When they heard his dignified voice, the people calmed down in an instant.
The prince rushed to the stage.
“Leonora, is this really the truth…?”
“I would never, lie to you…!”
The spell wasn’t over, so Leo was a bit surprised to see Albert so close, so suddenly like this, so he panicked a little.
But the unpleasant conversation between Harlet and Ahim was still going.
“To think that five years have already passed, since the day you became a teacher at this academy. At least, all this wait wasn’t for nothing.”
“True. When I think that I’ll finally be able to wear something else, beyond this shabby robe, tears come out unintentionally.”
“Yes… Harlet-dono, who has the dragon blood and can manipulate a great quantity of spirit power, must not be stuck as a mere teacher. In the first place, the influence of our church has weakened too much since that cursed emperor assumed the throne. Thank you Harlet, our saint. Prince Albert, that has always mocked us, will finally be defeated by the church.”
“I already know that, without you repeating it so many times.”
They were chatting a lot.
Even for Leo, that is unfamiliar with politics, did understand what they implied… probably.
(They want to overthrow the royal family…?)
And seeing the shocked Albert by his side, Leo at least wanted to comfort him.
“Sorry about Harlet, such a betrayal…!”
But Albert didn’t answer Leo. Surely he was desperately thinking of a way out of this.
Even Leo was freaking out, and this situation was really, really bad.
“Leonora! Is this all true…?”
Another person appeared on stage.
It was Oscar, dressed in a dark tunic.
When he grabbed Leo’s shoulder and asked what was going on, Albert snapped at him.
“Quiet! The crystal didn’t stop playing yet.
“But–!”
Harlet’s laughter sounded even more evil this time.
“Tell me… if the perfect prince, who has both good looks and intelligence, allow mere students to revolt, in the middle of the presentation, when a lot of ambassadors and kings are gathering at the said presentation… what would happen, I wonder… heheh, huhuh, ahahahahah… those common rabble, with blood shot eyes, will certainly create a massacre… and the prince won’t be able to do anything.”
“What are you talking about, heheh, you’re the on that incited them in the first place.”
“I know, right… “Excessive power can destroy one’s mind and body.” I remember being the one who said that.”
Oscar was speechless.
“What did he say…?”
Albert’s face became sharp and scary.
“The only good thing, about me being a teacher, is that I imprinted on the royal family and the high nobles the notion that, it is wrong to use your superior powers against those who can’t stand on even grounds. Thanks to that, the common rabble is even more stronger than ever before.”
“There is no way for you to brainwash all of them at once, right? So, what did you do… . ”
“Heheh… you’re right. I only used their hate towards the empire and toyed with their head a little. Even teachers can be bad people, you know∼♥”
Harlet was answering all of Ahim questions.
“Even one girl, alone, 13 years ago, tried to do what we’ll today… the only difference is that she failed… we won’t.” ( Tl/n: He’s talking about Flora)
“Because we always use other people’s feelings against them, ahahaha–”
Ahim complemented Harlet.
Leo remembered Harlet and Oscar’s conversation in the confession room.
Certainly, at that time, Leo felt that Harlet was weirdly sympathetic towards Oscar, who didn’t want to loose his hair… but it wasn’t over, “I even dirtied the royal family’s image.” Harlet said, with a creepy laugh at the end.
“Because the lower nobles have a strong connection with the common people, it was easy to paint the royal family as: “The evil that needs to be eradicated.” And if we have the trust of the common rabble, the lower nobles will trust us too.”
(No way! No way! They even got the normal people mixed in this!) ( Tl/n: It’s Leo here)
The church always had this intention, with the distribution of bread.
Leo couldn’t take it any more.
“Harlet…! He…!”
Everyone could see Leonora’s face. It was a face full of anger, and because Leo couldn’t curse, his eyes were filled with tears instead.
On her side, Oscar was holding his fists so tight, that they were turning white.
It was a shocking announcement, Harlet initiated all this conflict between the royal family and the common people.
And Oscar did everything Harlet always wanted. That’s why Oscar was so angry.
“–And so, what kind of “Disturbance” will occur today?”
Harlet’s face lit up with a smile, when Ahim asked that.
“Disgusting prick…!”
Albert’s face became even more sinister.
The answer for that question came from the Harlet on the screen.
“I gave some of the students a ribbon, a decoration, for them to wear on their ankles. I scattered them inside the auditorium. Those ribbons were loaded with some pretty nasty spells.”
“…Ha?”
“To explain it better, a lot of explosives were scattered around the auditorium. That way, the students would have harmed the royal family, not me. It will be a big explosion, I think you will like it.”
Ahim leaked a sigh.
“At least we don’t need to get our hands dirty.”
“Yes… moreover, the “Explosion” was arranged to target only the people with high amounts of spirit power.”
So when other people investigate the cause, only the lower nobles and commoners will be the suspects.
Harlet wanted to use this incident to incite even more conflict within the school.
Ribbon…… that one! That ribbon over there!”
Albert was looking up at the ceiling with Oscar.
At the end of their line of sight, there was a smooth and silky ribbon, wrapped in a complex way.
The students who finally grasped the situation, started to panic.
Many people who were not fluent enough in Eland only understood the words “Explosive” and almost fell into panic.
“Silence! Destroy that ribbon, now!”
The moment Albert raised his hands and started to cast a spell, Oscar yelled toward him: “Are you stupid!?”
“What if your magic were to trigger it!? If you release this spell right now, you can probably doom all of us with you!”
“But…!”
What Oscar said was plausible. However, it didn’t mean that Albert agreed with it.
The two looked back toward the light screen with a sour expression.
“And when will that “Explosion” occur?”
“Soon. The last one will be a radical of the Bernstein faction. When he finishes his presentation on the stage, the explosives will detonate.”
Leo remembered seeing someone suspicious.
(A student… the last one… if I remember right there was one of them with a really serious face… is it that guy?)
There was no doubt in Leo’s mind, it was the younger one, the last one that would go on stage today.
“But if you do that, you will harm Leonora von Harkenberg too, right?”
“Details… oh, I see… so you like her, right?”
“Of course. Even though she’s young, she would become a good “Pet” for my collection, if you know what I mean by that of course, since you have the same tastes.”
When Ahim mentioned the word “Pet”, every one inside the auditorium burst with killing intent, especially Albert and Oscar.
“Uuuh… . “
Leo was having goosebumps.
“It’s true that Leonora is beautiful. She is someone that I would love to get my hands on. But–”
Harlet’s eyes narrowed.
“–I heard she gave herself to Oscar. If it is true then, would you still like something used? I personally don’t like secondhand things.”
But Ahim said: “It doesn’t matter, even her corpse would be still usable, heheh.”
Leo was trembling.
“Uuuh… . ”
Dangerous.
That is the church’s true face.
But then,
“I don’t want to die here!!!”
Some of the students who panicked, stood up and tried to flee while shouting that.
And from that, the fear of death spread to other students and many more tried to flee.
The Adults on the second floor seemed a bit confused, but the majority of them were cracking their heads to ensure the safety of their sons, daughters and/or kings.
It was chaos.
“Watch out! Leonora!”
Albert pulled Leonora towards himself, to protect her from the wave of people trying to flee to the backstage exit.
And Leo reflectively answered, “Sorry, did I, hurt you… . ” While in Albert’s embrace.
(Is it my fault? I mean, the bomb is about to explode!)
The evacuation was a bit difficult, because of the turmoil and the panicking students.
Albert tried to control the situation, but he wasn’t successful.
And the adults were still trying to find a solution to save the young ones, so they couldn’t bother to try and calm everyone down when their deaths were around the corner.
In other words, CHAOS .
Albert looked from behind his shoulder, holding the hand of the girl, and said:
“Leonora, we should try and evacuate too, if we go out we will probably be able to find the ones chanting the spell to activate the explosives.”
But Leo had the ultimate insight,
(No, wait–)
The god of gold coins descended.
(–If I think about this situation, Albert wont be able to catch me, if I run in the opposite way of the crowd)
People within arms reach from each other.
Confused people screaming and running on both sides.
(This is it!!!)
Taking advantage of the confusion, and escaping from the academy.
Moreover.
(This hard feeling on my back–!)
…It’s not that you pervert, Leo is talking about the gold coin.
The shiny gold coin was just a couple of hands away from Leo.
How close you ask?
It’s about as close as: “I accidentally touched something and it fell in my hand, so I couldn’t help it, right?”
The process of thinking of the god of the dead was really quick.
All this thinking was so fast, that it didn’t even take 10 seconds for Leo to think of a way to escape with the coin.
(Now, grab the coin in the middle of the confusion–!)
‘Because if everything exploded, the coin might die, so I’m just saving it.’ – This was Leo’s reasoning.
At a time like this, is there anyone who could sacrifice themselves, to save the other people?
The answer is probably, NO .
And moreover, you can even grab a hold of your desired gold coin.
A fascinating mass of metal that shines faint light.
Leo wanted it. He wanted to touch, to embrace it, and even if he couldn’t take it for himself, he at least wanted to see it for the last time.
Leo turned around with determination in his eyes, stuffed his face in Albert’s chest and grabbed the coin with his mouth, slipping away from his embrace.
(Uoooh! It’s finally mine!)
“Leonora!!!”
All sounds went out, and the world slowed down.
The look in Albert’s eyes became even more astonished with each passing second.
(You Devilish prince, who tempted me with this attractive gold coin, this is mine now! And I’m not giving it back!)
Leo showed a fearless smile toward Albert’s astonished face.
At that time, a ear piercing sound shook the auditorium.
“What are you–!”
Leo could hear Oscar screaming in his direction.
If you paid attention, the sound was getting louder.
The ceiling cracked, were the big ribbon was and the roof collapsed.
(No way! Not now!)
It was like the time when Leo saved Leena.
But this time the object falling was clearly aiming toward him. And no one came to save this body like last time.
Leo’s brain was overheating itself, thinking of a way out of this.
Memory flashes passed through his head.
His first copper coin.
It was a snowy day, he had gone to the pawn shop to buy old books, for him and his friends.
Even when every hope was lost, he would pull it out from his clothes and look at it.
He remembered his first gold coin.
The unreasonable contract he made with Leena.
(I guess I’ll never receive that gold coin from Leena…)
The fear of death and regret, for some reason, transformed into desire, so Leo hugged the gold coin.
“Help……… . ”
The words that came out of his mouth were heard by no one, except Albert.
“Leonora!!!!!!!!”
An intense light dyed his eyes white.
Leo heard someone yell something… but… .
Just like this, Leo’s consciousness faded away.