“This…” Shijietang Simon was also at a loss, caught off guard like a leaf in the wind, unable to find words.
She also wanted to help Feini argue back, but she was just a half-baked magician, completely unable to see through what kind of special magic fluctuations the collar Feini was wearing had.
But Feini’s woeful appearance was like she was admitting her guilt.
Based on her usual understanding of Feini, that sharp-tongued girl would never surrender like this—unless she really had nothing left to say.
“You think just keeping silent will solve everything?” Orange Sea Dream questioned coldly. “Kurosaki was also a spy you arranged to sneak in, wasn’t she? What is your real goal? Do you want to force us to kill each other? All these disputes—aren’t they being instigated by you?”
“…” Feini still remained silent.
“Keeping quiet means you’re admitting it.” Orange Sea Dream smiled.
“Feini, say something.” Shijietang said.
“All your accusations are nothing but one-sided claims. There isn’t any substantial evidence.” Feini replied.
“Then do you dare take off the collar on your neck?” Orange Sea Dream pressed.
“…”
Feini could only stay silent.
“Heh, you can’t take it off, can you? That’s a Binding Curse Formation. If you try to remove it by force, it will explode. Of course, you can’t say who put it on you, because if you say that person’s name, you’ll die.” Orange Sea Dream explained.
“So that means Feini is actually a victim.” Shijietang was still trying to defend Feini.
“Victim? I’m the victim here! She’s the accomplice, a traitor to Demonkind!” Orange Sea Dream said angrily.
“This…” Once again, Shijietang was left speechless.
“If this isn’t clarified today, she isn’t leaving.” Orange Sea Dream said coldly. “Detain her for me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the Tea Party members moved in to arrest Feini.
But Qingshamu and the Golden Fang Beast Sisters immediately stepped in front of Feini, not allowing them to touch a single hair on her head.
Their loyalty was absolute; they didn’t care whether she was Demonkind or Human Race.
In contrast, Shijietang suddenly became indecisive, not knowing what to do.
In her heart, the cause of Demonkind came first, with personal feelings coming second.
Even though she loved Mother Ni and treasured her small team, it was not enough to make her abandon her grand dream.
And just at that moment, Feini’s passive skill triggered once again.
Option one: Stay silent, observe the changes.
Option two: For the greater good, turn and leave.
Option three: For the sake of righteousness, destroy Feini!
Well, not a single option involved protecting herself. All of them meant giving herself up.
Feini still carefully chose the first option. She absolutely couldn’t make a mistake—choosing the third option was basically suicide.
So Shijietang immediately turned into a statue, no longer speaking up for Feini, just awkwardly standing off to the side and not helping at all.
“If you want to shield a traitor to Demonkind, then you’re traitors too.” Orange Sea Dream now had the moral high ground and accused them loudly.
If this was outside the Demon Domain, no one would pay heed to her accusations. But this just happened to be the God and Demon Academy, the only place in the whole Demon Domain that valued order.
“Even if you die, you have to tell us the name—who gave you your orders?” Orange Sea Dream continued to interrogate. “If you don’t reveal the true culprit today, don’t think about leaving.”
And the real culprit was standing right in front of her—it was that Magic Swordsman Kenshamu who had done all this.
Plus, even she herself couldn’t remove the Binding Sword Collar, so Feini had truly been set up badly.
But how did Orange Sea Dream know about the information on the Binding Sword Collar?
That had to do with the little anonymous note that the Dragon Maid had gotten earlier—it was about the Binding Sword Collar.
Actually, Orange Sea Dream couldn’t see through the real nature of this Unfathomable Magic Tool.
If she could, things would have blown up long ago, no need to wait till now.
Still, having that intel let her control the public narrative and even made Shijietang too afraid to speak up.
After all, trying to win against this one by force wasn’t realistic. Orange Sea Dream had already seen through Shijietang’s true identity.
They were the legendary Ancient Dragon Slayer, Phantasmal God of Civil War, a terrifying dragon with the most luxurious record of slaying other ancient dragons—one of the legendary Crimson Dragon Clan who lived in symbiosis with the Spiked Storm.
She just didn’t know why this Shijietang could conjure a small flame, but she’d never forget those ominous, dim crimson scales.
Because Dragon Breath wasn’t a terrifying skill to ancient dragons themselves.
They were born with immense magic resistance and fire resistance; Dragon Breath was like taking a bath to them.
On the contrary, the ultimate power of the Crimson Dragons could truly kill even the Immortal Life of ancient dragons.
So, of course Orange Sea Dream was afraid. If there was anything that made a Red Dragon shrink back in this world, it was this kind of existence.
After all, being called an Ancient Dragon Slayer—no one would challenge them head-on for no reason.
If brute force wouldn’t work, then they would use wit, strategy, and numbers.
“Are you questioning the laws of God and Demon Academy?” Orange Sea Dream was still accusing them, stealthily retreating behind her club members and letting Weima Ana lead the charge to seize Feini.
“Don’t even think about it.” Qingshamu guarded Feini fiercely, sword drawn.
“Headless Rider, are you a Pseudo-Demon? How much did she offer you?” Weima Ana questioned coldly.
Qingshamu was torn, her hand on the hilt trembling slightly.
She was scared—scared that Feini would betray her, scared that Feini would crack under pressure and detonate the collar, killing Feini on the spot.
It felt like, no matter what happened next, it would end badly. She was completely out of options.
But just then, Feini reached out and patted Qingshamu’s hand, pressing down her sword and filling her with boundless confidence.
Without a word, Feini seemed to be saying: Even if I am utterly destroyed, I will never betray you to survive.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Red Dragon President.” Feini continued to play dumb. Her argument was weak, but she simply refused to admit anything, using shamelessness as her shield.
“I’m going to arrest them. You don’t object, do you, President Shijietang? This concerns the reputation of God and Demon Academy—I hope you’ll consider carefully.” Orange Sea Dream asked.
“I…” Shijietang still stood there like a statue.
“I’ll take your silence as consent.” Orange Sea Dream flung her hand.
The Tea Party members immediately swarmed forward, shoving each other, ready to take down Feini by force.
“Cease this meaningless dispute.” At that moment, the Training Director, the Faceless Witch, finally spoke up.
“The truth of right and wrong will be verified by us witches. Hand her over to me. Afterward, we will hold a Public Verification Conference and give everyone an answer. Before that, you are forbidden from any further disputes. Go back to your own clubs and participate in your own activities safely. Aren’t the territories we’ve given you already large enough?”
“Since even the witches have spoken, we can rest assured.” Orange Sea Dream waved her hand again, motioning for everyone to withdraw.
In the end, the Faceless Witch directly took Feini away, escorting her out of the Gymnasium.
A crowd of club leaders were left staring at one another, never imagining that this club war would end in such an ordinary way. But in reality, this was good for everyone.
They could all go back to their own groups, act as if nothing had happened, and no longer fear being suppressed by the larger clubs.
The only ones who suffered were the Tea Party and the Martial Arts Club, both of whom had a large part of their members poached by the Tea Ceremony Society.
So the only true winner was Shijietang.
But Shijietang just stood there, somewhat dazed, because her wooden, silent act in the end disappointed her teammates.
Even the usually sycophantic Golden Fang Beast Sisters were dissatisfied with Shijietang’s indecisiveness and her failure to protect Feini.
Their eyes were full of suspicion, and they left without saying a word or waiting for Shijietang.
Qingshamu was even more disheartened, following the Golden Fang Beast Sisters like a ghost, listless and full of chaotic thoughts.
So Shijietang felt no sense of victory at all, as if something inside her had shattered.
For the sake of her grand ideals, she had to make some kind of sacrifice. Now, it seemed she had to give up the bonds of her little adventurer team.
She walked out of the Gymnasium and left the Tea Party behind.
Outside, a large group of Tea Ceremony Society members came to greet her, having already learned the outcome. They cheered loudly.
In the past, Shijietang had loved being in the spotlight, but now she could only force a smile, using a fake grin to face everything and numb herself.
In fact, there were many questions in her mind, but now her head was empty—she couldn’t think at all.
……
On the other side…
Qingshamu had originally followed the Faceless Witch who was escorting Feini, but they arrived at a faculty building.
This place was a student-restricted zone—no apprentices were allowed inside; only witches could operate there.
She couldn’t get close. All she could do was sit by the playground nearby and keep watch.
Qingshamu’s expression was solemn, but her mind was clear as she considered every possible outcome.
The Nameless Witch was the most powerful magical being in history. She could likely break the Great Sage’s Sealing Formation.
That would free Feini from her restraints, allowing her to speak Qingshamu’s name.
The best option now was to flee at once—her exposure was only a matter of time.
But could she really just run away? Impossible. She couldn’t let go of Feini, nor of the White Feather Dove.
Even if Feini exposed her name, she could understand. After all, it was all because of her—she had to rescue Feini no matter what.
But Qingshamu didn’t know that Feini wouldn’t betray her.
Before leaving, Feini had gently patted her hand—that was like her final message, telling her to take good care of Da Bai, that she had given up on herself, and no matter how she died, she would never reveal Qingshamu.
It was astonishing how clear her thoughts were—this was so unlike the hesitant Qingshamu of the past.
There was no way to break into the Witch Building, so her only chance was the upcoming Public Verification Conference in a few days.
Even if she had to go against all the beast apprentices, she would save Feini.
At this moment, all the doubts and gloom in the Hero’s heart vanished. Her goal was now firmer than ever before.