Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods
Chapter 31: Tense

Chapter 31: Tense

The air in the room was tense.

Nellyx sat behind the desk of the dean, her hands clasped together, with a stern expression on her face.

The office still looked to be a bit scattered, but one would find it hard to believe that something tragic had happened within those walls.

The once broken shelf had been replaced.

The shattered glass wall had been refurbished; the entire room was completely changed—something more fitting to her.

There was nothing too flashy in the room anymore; the ancient antiques had been moved away, since Nellyx was someone who loved modesty.

It merely took hours for all the changes and renovations to be made to the destroyed room.

The only markings that showed that a fight happened within those walls was the large sword slash that was rooted deep into the left wall of the office.

A mark left from the sword user’s futile attempt to injure Jane.

Of course, this was purposefully left there by Nellyx, as she had clearly told the workers to leave it untouched.

For whatever reason, they had no idea.

Only she knew why she had asked for it to be left behind.

And just as she expected, just as Kieran, Jacob, and Annita entered the dean’s office, they were quickly attracted to the large gash on the walls of the office.

Jacob especially could instantly tell that the attack was one made from the dean.

’The remnant mana particles... It clearly belongs to a B-rank swordmaster,’ Jacob assessed the moment he saw the marking.

Annita, as well, could easily tell that this was from a B-rank talent holder, thanks to her unique ability.

Of course, Kieran couldn’t tell. And his expression said it all,

Making Nellyx slightly confused as she saw his face.

’Is he trying to pretend?’

Kieran’s mind was still in a whirlpool, and he didn’t even seem to care much about the mark.

He was rather more worried about the false accusation they had suddenly thrown on him, and the more he thought about it, the more pissed he became with the screwed-up academy.

’Firstly, they can’t even do anything for a student who gets bullied and almost killed, and now, they’re suddenly blaming a low-key student who wanted nothing to do with the school, and just simply wanted to live a rich and happy life... For killing the dean? How does that even make sense?’

Kieran felt frustrated, but he didn’t say anything.

He simply kept quiet as he threw a hate-filled glare at Nellyx, who didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

She appeared unnervingly calm, enough to make him scoff and look away.

’I just wanted to meet the standards of those who looked up to me... Or at least those I thought did.’

Jane’s picture flashed in his mind.

She was everything to him, and the only reason he had worked so hard in the academy—always trying to be good, believing in what she called karma.

She was always so supportive, even more confident than he was about his own awakening, as though she foresaw his future.

She was the one who took him from the helpless, poor streets and sheltered him in the academy for all the years he had been there.

All he wanted was to make her proud. She always appeared to be happy with even the tiniest effort he put in, and she even promised that regardless of what grade his talent was, she would always support him.

’But that day...’

He could remember the cold finality in her words.

The words that tore a deep gash through his fragile heart.

Despite the fact that he never told her, and the fact that it seemed somewhat awkward for him, he couldn’t deny the fact that he had grown feelings for her.

Now though, he felt as though everything had been a lie.

’Fuck kindness,’ he thought to himself angrily, before shifting his gaze to Nellyx.

His heart was already choked with so much negativity.

He wasn’t sure he could stand being scrutinized.

"I didn’t do it, and I have no idea what you are talking about."

He directly hit the nail on the head.

Nellyx’s words hung in her mouth, as Kieran didn’t give her a chance to speak.

"What’s wrong with you? Is this meant to be an excuse for your inability to help me... Now you frame me for injuring the dean and destroying the school property?!"

The anger on his face was palpable, but Nellyx didn’t even shake.

Oma stood quietly by her side and didn’t utter a word.

However, Kieran could see the look of disgust on her face, one that made him pause.

’Why is she looking at me like that? Does she believe that I could do such a thing?’

Kieran felt so frustrated he almost wanted to rip out his own hair.

Jacob and Annita sat by the side quietly, watching the exchange.

As Kieran had yet to officially join their faction, this matter had no direct affiliation with them.

However, the two were left in their own thoughts.

They had no idea about the case of Jane, and they weren’t fully informed on Kieran’s exploration in the realm and how he had managed to survive despite being alone.

Regardless, they both had their thoughts on the matter.

’He has to be hiding something. It would be best I find out what that is before he is allowed into the faction,’ Jacob decided, as he watched calmly.

He wasn’t going to play a part in whatever was going to happen—at least not till he had a complete idea.

Annita, on the other hand, looked at Kieran with compassion.

’His voice... He doesn’t sound like he did it,’ she thought to herself.

Despite her timid behavior, she was well-versed emotionally.

She could sense the brewing anger and pain in his voice.

But even as the tension in the air rose, Nellyx had yet to say a thing, and her unnerving calmness added to the weight in the room.

She only kept her eyes sharp, like that of an eagle ready to prey on its meal.

After a long minute of silence in the room, she drew a long breath.

"Now then..."

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