“What do you mean I don’t have the right to enter the Assembly Hall?”
The two upperclassmen guarding the entrance looked impatient as they tried to dismiss Lin Yue.
“You look like you just woke up, still wearing a patient gown, and you claim to be Lin Yue Hawk. Take a look at yourself in the mirror, will you?”
Lin Yue was baffled.
Wasn’t his appearance authoritative enough?
Wasn’t he recognizable enough?
In this whole academy, wasn’t he the only one who looked like this?
“Heh, everyone knows Lin Yue is lying unconscious in the Medical Department. You’re dedicated, I’ll give you that—even got a patient gown. But if you want to fool us, you’re still too green.”
Since when did I become so famous?
Listening to their description, it seemed like everyone now knew about him?
“So you’re saying, Lin Yue Hawk is famous now?”
Lin Yue asked incredulously.
“Trash noble turning the tables in the exams, escaping from Advanced Magic with only slightly soiled clothes, even saving all the academy’s prized geniuses. Word is, after this assembly, he’s going to the Honors Class.”
“Now a bunch of people are pretending to be Lin Yue Hawk, strutting around scamming others. If you don’t know that, just stop trying to fish for trouble.”
These two, one on the left and one on the right, sounded like a comedy duo.
Who knew if what they said was true.
“Honestly, few people realize Lin Yue’s not only got black hair but also signature brown eyes. Think a black wig is enough to fool everyone? Ridiculous.”
“And even if you are Lin Yue Hawk, it wouldn’t matter. Without an invitation from a core professor, you’d still be standing out here.”
While the two were still boasting, Lin Yue quietly opened a small spatial rift and spoke inside, “Lia, let me in.”
“Hey… Wait, look at him…”
The other guard seemed to notice something amiss.
“Lin Yue… Are you really Lin Yue?!”
As Lin Yue waited for the doors to open, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from beside him.
It was Lillian?
She still looked calm and elegant, but her face was haggard and worn.
“Please, save Allen!”
Lillian looked so humble, she was about to kneel to Lin Yue in front of everyone.
“Lillian, calm down. I’ll think of something…”
Lin Yue held up the one weakness of the protagonist, not daring to let down his guard for a second.
Seeing Lin Yue rush here in a patient gown, Lillian must have been desperate to get involved in their case.
But Allen’s sudden rampage was the direct cause of Lin Yue’s injuries.
She didn’t know if Lin Yue would even speak for Allen.
So, she didn’t ask Lin Yue to spare Allen—just at least not to let him be executed.
“It’s alright. In the end, Avilina is just a school. They don’t have the right to kill anyone.”
Seeing Lillian about to cry, Lin Yue hurried to comfort her.
“But…”
Before Lillian could finish, the heavy wooden doors of the Assembly Hall suddenly swung open, dust seeming to fall from them.
“Good day, Mr. Lin Yue. Lady Lia invites you to attend the meeting and offer your opinions.”
A maid with pale blue hair and outstanding bearing stood emotionlessly at the center of the doorway.
On either side were other maids holding the doors.
“Mm.”
Time was short and the task urgent; not even the smallest mistake could be allowed.
Lin Yue looked back at Lillian, who watched with worried eyes, her concern for Allen plain as day.
That ripple of emotion between them moved him once again.
In the game, their unwavering support for each other had already left a deep impression on Lin Yue.
“Don’t worry. He’ll come out of this unharmed!”
Lin Yue smiled, hoping to reassure Lillian.
With that, and under the stunned gazes of the two guards, Lin Yue followed the maid step by step into the conference room.
“Thank you…”
Listening to Lin Yue’s resolute words, Lillian was overwhelmed with gratitude, folding her hands and praying for the one she cared about most.
“……”
The two who just moments ago stood proud at the door fell silent.
“Do you think if we apologize now, it’ll still be in time?”
…
Lin Yue looked at the imposing, solemn Assembly Hall.
It was hard to imagine such a place belonged to a school.
He’d seen it in the game, but witnessing it firsthand was much more awe-inspiring.
“Mr. Lin Yue, we’ve arrived.”
The blue-haired maid bowed, gesturing for Lin Yue to open the grand doors before him.
Gulp…
Could he really do this?
To protect both of them in front of so many old monsters.
He felt a little nervous.
Even with all the insider knowledge he had, Lin Yue wasn’t confident these people would let the two of them go so easily.
Let’s do this.
Lin Yue pushed open the door, a wave of comforting magic wafting over him.
“If you agree to my terms, then I’ll agree to your request.”
As soon as he stepped inside, Lin Yue heard Lia’s voice.
Lia’s eyes glimmered faintly with purple light as she looked coldly around, clearly knowing her conditions would never be refused.
“Lia… How many times must I tell you, think of the bigger picture.”
At the head of the table sat a man with a kind face, appearing unusually young for a middle-aged man.
Lin Yue knew him—he was Avilina’s Headmaster, one of the academy’s only two Sixth Rank Magi: Lotherf.
In the original work, he was a caring and protective leader.
At the same time, he was a cunning old fox who showed no mercy to his enemies, especially the old zealots from the Holy See.
He was not only the youngest headmaster in Avilina’s history but also Lia’s close friend and classmate.
At the end of Act VI, it was he who personally ended Lia’s life—a scene that left deep emotions.
After that, Avilina, once called the strongest magic academy on the continent, became a mere backdrop and battlefield.
Was he really going up against someone like this…
Lin Yue knew a secret about him, something that might come in handy soon.
That is—he had been plagued by illness for years; within three years, he would die.
This was tied to the Law of Power he used—a price for his strength.
A thirty-eight-year-old Sixth Rank Magus stood out like a sore thumb among peers whose average age was close to sixty.
Truly, he was a prodigy.
And Lia?
Oh, don’t worry about her.
She’s a bug; the devs will fix it later.
In short, this man who stood out among the old monsters was the true pillar of Avilina’s might.
Far more experienced and composed than Lia.
The moment Lin Yue opened the door, every gaze turned to him.
Including Allen, the protagonist, kneeling with magical restraints on, and Isabella, who fared a bit better, standing on a wooden platform.
“Ah…”
Isabella seemed emotionally distraught, her eyes red, as if she’d just been interrogated.
Seeing Lin Yue, her face lit up with joy, then she remembered her predicament and turned away, not wanting him to see her like this.
“Lin Yue! Mmm… Mm.”
Allen too was excited the moment he saw Lin Yue, but remembering how he’d nearly killed Lin Yue in a frenzy, guilt choked off any casual greeting.
“You’re Lin Yue?”
Lotherf offered a warm smile.
“Thank you for stepping forward this time. On behalf of all the students you’ve saved, I thank you.”
Then, with a gentle magical gesture, he guided Lin Yue to a seat beside Lia, drawing surprised whispers from the surrounding old professors.
“Sit here.”
Lin Yue sat down in a daze, hearing Lia say with her arms crossed and a calm look, “That was Lotherf’s seat when he first became a professor. Ever since he became headmaster, no one dared sit there—until just now…”
Lin Yue’s mind spun, a cold sweat breaking out as he realized something chilling.
That old fox can’t possibly…
No, it couldn’t be.
Lin Yue didn’t dare think further.
If it really came to that, returning to reality would be almost impossible.
I really don’t want to advance…
His mind was already playing —what should he do?
“If you think there’s meaning to it, then there is. If not, just pretend you picked a seat at random…”
Lia smiled mysteriously, then turned her attention back to the two under interrogation.
“You came at the right time. We’re discussing Allen’s punishment…”
Why are they discussing Allen already?
Lin Yue was bewildered.
“What about Isabella?”
Lia recalled the earlier meeting’s conclusion.
“In short, after discussion, we’ve decided to expel her. Any objections?”
Damn, the decision was made before I could even get here.
Lin Yue cursed the two guards at the door.
It was their fault for wasting his time, making him miss the perfect timing.
“But, originally we hadn’t planned to expel—”
Before Lia could finish, Lin Yue interrupted crisply, “I object!”