Chapter 116 : Chapter 116
Volume 2
Chapter 40 : Apology
“Oh? So you weren’t having class after all?”
When Muen returned to the training grounds, he found them shrouded in dimness, as if all the light had been blocked out.
Only at the very center of the arena was a scene being projected by a magic device: two warriors locked in combat.
It was almost like watching a movie.
It did not take much thought to guess what had happened.
Teacher Cade must have told them to watch on their own while he took Koren’s ice sculpture with him to settle the score with Pink Bear.
For a teacher like Cade, who always took class with extreme seriousness and would even scold students for looking sleepy, to let them study on their own and leave the lesson early, it was obvious how furious he was this time.
Still, that worked out perfectly.
Muen walked to the center of the training grounds and stepped on the magic device, shutting off the projection with one foot.
In an instant, the entire arena blazed with light.
The students, still unadjusted to the abrupt change, turned in confusion toward the center of the grounds.
Or rather, toward Muen.
“Muen Campbell?”
After a brief silence, someone finally came to his senses.
Their expression darkened.
“Why are you back?”
“Hm? Am I not allowed to come back?”
Muen glanced over in puzzlement.
“I believe I still have the right to attend this class.”
“If you came back for class, then why did you turn off the projection?”
someone shouted angrily.
“You interrupted our studying!”
“Heh. I have never seen any of you eager to learn before.”
Muen said it with a smile, then began to walk forward, one step at a time, his footsteps crisp and clear.
With each step he took, some of the students’ faces grew a little uglier.
Muen examined them leisurely, matching each face against the memories in his mind.
At last, he stopped close to the spectator seats.
He grabbed a chair from the stands, set it behind him, and sat down.
Then he faced them all.
“I used to be a scumbag.”
As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone froze.
None of them had expected him to begin by insulting himself.
What kind of tactic was this?
Was he deliberately humiliating himself first to make himself seem even more fearsome?
Muen ignored them and continued.
“But now, I don’t want to be a scumbag anymore.
“And yet, there are always some people who still think I am one.
“I do not blame them, because people always carry preconceived notions. Changing the image others have of you is a very long process.
“So I have been trying as well. Although... Well, the results have been minimal, I really have been trying.
“Originally, I had no intention of coming back. After all, what was it, really? A few insults? To me, that was nothing. I could endure it, and it would pass. I am used to it anyway, and enduring it would even help leave others with the impression that I was broad-minded.
“But in the end, it still feels damn unpleasant.
“As that overbearing student council president once said, slinking away like that is disgusting, so I came back.
“And since I came back, there is no way I can just let this end here.
“Before, when those people insulted me, there was nothing I could do about it, because in a sense, what they said was all true. They were talking about the old me.
“But—”
Muen suddenly bared his teeth in a delighted grin.
“Isn’t this convenient? I could not do anything to those people, but I can do something to all of you.
“After all—
“When you do something wrong, you apologize. Wasn’t that what you said?”
“What are you trying to say?”
someone shouted sharply.
“Are you planning to go against all of us?”
“That is not quite right. What do you mean, all of you? I counted. There are only thirty-five of you.”
Muen’s expression turned cold. He raised a hand and pointed at them.
“I know most of you were just following the crowd, going along with the tide, or chasing after excitement.
“But—
“Just like when you thought I was the oppressor and demanded that I apologize, now you have become the oppressors, and I have become the one being oppressed... So shouldn't each and every one of you come over here and apologize?”
As Muen’s words fell, the entire place sank into silence.
It was as if everyone had been stunned by the aura of dominance radiating from the blond man.
An apology?
From every one of them?
Had he never heard that the law does not punish the many?
Even a teacher, in a situation like this, could never punish everyone!
“Muen Campbell, you are being far too arrogant!”
Apparently unable to endure the humiliation, one of the people who had been the most vocal earlier suddenly shot to his feet and slammed a hand on the desk.
“Even if there are only thirty-five of us, that is still thirty-five noble families! Even if you are the Duke’s son, you cannot—”
“Teck Rod, right?”
Muen suddenly cut him off.
Teck Rod clearly had not expected Muen to call out his name so suddenly, and his face immediately turned ugly.
“I know you. You are the son of a Count. Your status is noble, and the Rod family is no minor house either. It holds considerable power throughout Belland.”
“Since you know that—”
“But you seem to have three older brothers.”
Muen said calmly,
“Which means, if we count properly, you are only fourth in the line of succession, aren’t you?”
Teck’s face instantly went pale.
“So what if I am?”
Muen did not answer. He only smiled faintly.
Then,
“Brofen Ted, sixth son of Marquis Ted.
“Gucci Sloan, fifth son of Count Sloan.
“And also...”
Muen called out name after name.
After nearly finishing all thirty-five of them, he suddenly clapped his hands and said,
“All right. Now tell me, everyone whose name I called...
“Can any of you truly represent your family?”
“...”
Silence.
No one answered.
But everyone knew the answer.
Of course they could not.
Most noble houses, in order to ensure there would always be an heir, produced children by the dozen.
Only the Campbell family was that unusual, passing everything down through a single line.
So most of the people here were fifth in succession or even further back.
Represent their family?
How could they possibly do that?
If they died, the families behind them probably would not even grieve for long.
“Do you understand now?”
Looking at the thirty-five before him, Muen rose to his feet.
His expression was icy, and for one of the rare times, he revealed the pride and ruthlessness that belonged to the son of a Duke.
“This is the difference between being a Duke’s son and being the Duke’s only son.
“Well, perhaps before long I will no longer be the Duke’s only son, but until that day comes...”
Muen clenched his fist, as though he were crushing that power and authority others could never touch into the palm of his hand.
“I, Muen Campbell, represent Duke Campbell. I represent the name Campbell itself. If you insult me, then you are insulting the Campbells!”
His words struck the hearts of those thirty-five like a great hammer.
In an instant, every trace of color drained from their faces, leaving them pale as paper.
Just as Muen Campbell had said, he could represent the Campbell family.
They could not represent theirs.
More than that, their families would never offend a future Duke for their sake.
“So now... do any of you still have anything to say?”
Muen swept his gaze across them again.
When no one replied, he nodded in satisfaction.
“Good. Since all of you seem to agree with what I said, then...”
He casually lifted a hand and pointed at Teck, the closest one to him.
“We will start with you. Come here.”
“...”
Under the pitiful gazes of everyone around him, Teck, though unwilling beyond measure, still shuffled toward Muen one step at a time.
His body trembled like a leaf, and his face looked worse than if both his parents had died.
At last, when he stopped in front of Muen, he seemed unable to bear the pressure any longer and shouted tearfully,
“Muen Campbell, what exactly do you want from me? Compensation? Land concessions?”
“Compensation? Land concessions?”
Muen looked baffled.
“What do you mean?”
“You do not want money or land?”
Teck’s eyes widened, horror filling his face.
“Then... then do you want my little sister? You beast, she is only eight!”
“Although I have no idea why your thoughts went somewhere that strange, did I not already say it? I want all of you to apologize.”
Muen placed a hand on his shoulder and forced it down sharply.
“An apology, understand? Your attitude must be sincere, your tone humble, and... your back must bend low enough.
“And remember this: stop standing on some moral high ground and pointing fingers at others. Otherwise... you might end up like this again someday—slip, and wrench your back.”
...
...
“So he really only wanted an apology?”
In the corner, watching everything unfold in the training grounds, Ariel curled her lip in disdain.
“How boring. I thought you were going to break all their legs.”
“Hm?”
Still muttering to herself, Ariel suddenly flicked her gaze to the side.
A figure seemed to dart quickly out through the back door. From what little she could see, it was a gaunt, monkey-like face.
“Something to do with Muen Campbell again?”
Ariel thought for a moment, then withdrew her gaze.
“Forget it. His business has nothing to do with me.”
As she spoke, a blissful smile spread across her face, and she gently stroked the transmission stone in her hand.
“I still need to think about what I should say the next time I call that beauty.”