BXBX NOVEL Chapter 44 Punishment
A few minutes earlier.
The four students were having a peaceful breakfast when Emi asked Jinmu a question.
"Brother Jinmu, what is a crown prince? I heard from Elder Flock yesterday that brother Lucan was a crown prince too."
Jinmu felt conflicted.
Even though he viewed Lucan as an enemy he will never forgive, explaining to Emi the concept of a crown prince was no different from mocking the person who lost the title, particularly when done right in front of his face.
Unfortunately, Olivia was there to ruin the mood.
"Ah, Emi. The crown prince is a title given to the heir of the Morning Star Empire's emperor. Sadly, your brother Lucan wasn't cut for it.", she said in a mocking tone, "At least your big sister remains the heir to the throne of her father. Isn't it wonderful, Emi?"
Emi let out a gasp of astonishment. As someone who was ignorant of the political conflicts of factions and empires, she thought that Olivia was more competent than Lucan.
"Wow, big sister Olivia! How did you manage to do that?!"
"It's no secret, Emi. You just have to be competent enough to hold the position. Don't be like your brother Lucan in the future, okay?", Olivia advised.
Emi nodded vigorously. Whatever Olivia said was the truth in her eyes.
This irked Lucan who didn't like being insulted by others, and compared to others.
He stood up and angrily asked, "Hey, white-haired girl! You've been messing with me a lot lately. What's gotten into you?"
The devilish girl was quite pleased of Lucan's reaction. The rumors she heard about Lucan back on Norva Assili made her despise him.
Now, Elder Flock's news from yesterday gave her ideas of humiliating the ex-crown prince.
Feigning ignorance, Olivia snorted, "Nothing, actually. What about you, Ex-Crown Prince Lucan? What's gotten into you that you were revoked of your title?", smirking at Lucan, "If I were you, I would admit how incompetent I am."
"Oh, is that so? How's the fight for the throne back at home anyway? Are the curses too much for you to handle that's why you ran away and asked to be taken by academy master?.", Lucan retorted.
Talking trash and arguing against people were his forte.
He knew how patriarchal the societal structure of Norva Assili was. High King Garron pursued the issue of allowing Olivia to inherit his throne.
After all, Olivia was his first-born and legitimately passed the other requirements set by the elders.
Unfortunately, the public rejected such demand. It was unthinkable for them that a woman would inherit the throne.
It worsened when the public appraisal of Olivia identified the existence of a magic root.
The direct lineage of Norva Assili's warriors was founded on the cultivation of the chivalric core. Only when someone copulates with a foreigner would a child born with a magic root occur.
The consequences of doing so were devastating. One was denounced for their entire life. Unless they exiled themselves and went somewhere else, their days were torturous without a break.
Olivia hated Lucan even more now. That was an experience she didn't want to feel again, nor would want others to reminisce in front of her.
And most of all, to how accurate his argument was.
"Bastard, you're going too far."
Lightning sparked on her hands.
"You started it. Aren't you ashamed, Olivia Winterice?", Lucan didn't back down, casting multiple fireballs behind him in one go.
Olivia's anger rocketed to the max. The lightning around her became stronger.
Emi jumped in fright and was scared. Did she just cause a fight between her two seniors?
Jinmu stepped up and tried to mediate the situation.
"The two of you. Stop it now or I'll call the academy master."
Lucan and Olivia, however, insulted Jinmu in reply.
"Shut up, Jinmu. You're just a lucky commoner. If it wasn't for your magic root, academy master might have not even batted an eye on you at all!", Lucan ignored him.
"That's right. What does a commoner like you know about the conflicts of us, nobles? Step down or I'll fry you with my lightning.", Olivia threatened.
The atmosphere intensified.
Jinmu was able to calm himself. However, he responded differently.
"I said stand down!", Jinmu quickly controlled the mana in the surroundings and blasted the two using water to the walls on the other end of the hall.
He then glanced at Emi who quivered on the sides.
Emi thought that Jinmu was going to attack her so she ran quickly before something bad happened to her.
'They… they're scary. Why are my seniors acting like this now?! What if academy master finds out?!'
The ignorant girl who started all of this ran far away. Away from the messy canteen.
…
Lucan and Olivia stood up. Jinmu's sudden attack caught them off guard.
"Bastard, you will pay for that!", Olivia casted a glacial spike, targeting Jinmu's chest.
She was about to sent it when the academy quaked out of nowhere.
'Oh no!', she misfired and hit Jinmu's head instead.
Fortunately, Jinmu was able to mitigate the impact using his wind element. He fell down with his forehead bleeding.
Lucan and Olivia gasped in fright.
They went to help Jinmu but an overwhelmin aura suddenly engulfed over htem.
"Brats, aren't you a little haughty to dare cause a mess here inside the academy?!", Eluard arrived with Emi behind him, grabbing his robes.
He intensified his aura, making sure that they were suppressed to damnation.
"A-academy master…", the three gritted their teeth.
Realization struck them and they regretted their actions.
Eluard used his eye of fidelity to trace back the events that happened earlier.
'Strange, the images here are as not as blurry compared to Dartex. Maybe it's because our difference in strength is what caused it.'
The events flashed past his eyes. It detailed out everything that happened and Eluard understood how this mess came about.
He glanced at Emi's direction, "Don't you have something to explain, Emi Moon?"
Emi covered her face in embarrassment. She knew that the academy master found her out.
There was no point in feigning ignorance. That would end up badly for her, probably much worse than the punishment the academy master might give to her seniors.
"A-academy master…", she played with her small hands, hoping that the academy master forgives her.
"Go to the sides, I will deal with you later. As for you three…", Eluard approached them.
He noticed Jinmu's bleeding forehead, "Is your pride that important to hurt your classmate ruthlessly?"
Olivia wanted to explain herself but Eluard dismissed her.
"I thought we were clear about the rules here in the academy. Didn't you undergo the process in the altar of rites? Are you certain that you are a student of this academy or not?"
The three gulped nervously. They understood what the academy master implied.
The first tenet of the Heavenly Magic Academy.
[ All beings and all things are equal to the eyes unblinded to the truth. ]
'The eyes unblinded to the truth' referred to the academy master, and the phrase 'all beings and all things are equal' meant that he does not give a damn whether one came from a commoner or a noble background.
Therefore, all students must forgo of their previous backgrounds as they were now equal in the academy. Anyone trying to mention and degrade the others with the basis of their origin were doomed to be punished.
"Answer me.", Eluard continued.
"I-I am a student of the Heavenly Magic Academy, academy master!", the three loudly proclaimed.
"Your words aren't convincing. You lack some aspect of humility and unity in each of your hearts and minds.", Eluard retorted, "Was the former defeat not enough to widen your eyes?"
He stopped pressuring them then quickly opened his system panel and issued a weekly special task and a special task to the four of them, with Solordo's put on halt due to him currently undergoing his blood assimilation process.
[ Weekly Special Task: Weekly Hunt ]
[ The academy master tasks you to hunt demon or magical beasts and bring back your harvests every week. ]
[ Weekly Requirement: 2,500 elite-level demon beasts killed ]
[ Additional Requirement: Each kill must be done individually. ]
[ Rewards: Random Equipment (Normal-Rare) x1, 25 blue magic crystals ]
[ On Failure: Increased kill count by an additional 2,500. ]
[ 3 consecutive failures: Expulsion from the Heavenly Magic Academy ]
…
[ Special Task: Cold North ]
[ An ominous event is about to take place in the cold northern empire, the Norva Assili. The Siegfried Clan is on their way in dethroning High King Garron's rule from the people, covertly planned out by the demonic creatures from the Otherworld. ]
[ Requirement: Assist the High King in stopping the Siegfried Clan's plan. ]
[ Failure: High King Garron dies. ]
[ Rewards: Random Equipment (Rare) x2, 100 blue magic crystals. ]
…
The four stared blankly at the two special tasks given to them by the academy master.
Most particularly Olivia, whose heart became nervous and in disbelief that her beloved father was about to die should they fail this task.
"A-academy master, thi-this is not real, right?", she stuttered.
The intense atmosphere turned gloomy. Even Lucan felt sorry to Olivia after everything he had said to her.
Emi and Jinmu were worried as well.
"What you see is the reality, Olivia. This report came from your senior brother, Kai.", Eluard grimly replied.
"Enough pondering about it. Kai will approach you once he gathers enough information. The Siegfried household won't be in a rush, but I hope that by that time, you are all ready."
He knew how ironic he sounded but the facade had to be kept in order to maintain the trust between him and his students.
"Jinmu, go to the medical ward and have that bleeding stop."
"As for you three, proceed to your classrooms now!"