Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 251: Disappointing
Chapter 251: Disappointing
Elion probed quietly within himself, pushing past the haze of pain and the ringing in his ears as he reached out with his senses to trace Esme and Ophelia’s presence.
If they were anywhere nearby, and if they had somehow made their way into the arena or were close enough to sense what was happening, then they would come, and he knew that without a doubt, they would throw themselves into danger without hesitation just to save him, and that was the last thing he wanted right now.
The connection stretched outward, and he found their distant presences.
Elion let out a slow breath of relief, his shoulders loosening ever so slightly despite the injuries that screamed in protest at even the smallest movement, because at least that was one problem he did not have to worry about.
He had never asked them about their daily routines, never pried into where they went or what they did, partly because he did not want to come across as some possessive and clingy husband, and partly because he trusted them enough not to need that kind of control, and now, for once, that distance worked in his favor.
’Mira will handle it…’
He trusted that much. She would figure it out. She would contact them and would explain everything.
He almost scoffed inwardly, because if someone had told him a few months ago that his relationship with Mira would turn out like this, he would have laughed it off, but now…
Well…
She was the first person in Mind when he thought about someone trustworthy to explain things to.
It was odd because she came off as the kind of woman who chased benefits, and she also gave off the feeling of the first person who would jump ship when things get tricky.
Shit happens.
He raised his head slowly, his vision still slightly blurred but clear enough now to make out the figures above him, the powerful figures, all of them waiting, their patience thinning.
Their expressions ranged from irritation to cold interest, and judging by the looks on their faces, it had already been several seconds, perhaps longer, since Cain had given him the chance to speak.
At the same time, he gave the system the signal.
’Start it.’
Everything began to move beneath the surface.
“I see,” Elion said quietly, and despite his condition, his voice carried clearly across the arena, steady and composed in a way that felt almost out of place given the situation.
“I guess there is no place left for me here.”
There was no bitterness in his tone, only disappointment.
Because while he had never truly trusted these people, never believed that they would stand by him unconditionally, there had still been a small part of him that hoped things would not end like this.
Knowing something could happen was different from watching it unfold right in front of you. It was… disappointing.
“Do not be impulsive, boy!” Professor Halbrecht’s voice thundered through the arena, his tone filled with authority as he stepped forward slightly.
“Sometimes you must learn to bow your head, listen to your elders, and accept your fate,” he continued, his gaze stern, “If you really believe you are being falsely accused and are willing to cooperate, then there is still a chance for you, but only if you learn how to take a loss.”
His words rang out.
But to Elion, they felt hollow. Elion let out a low chuckle, and this time there was no attempt to hide the contempt in it.
“Don’t bother,” he replied simply.
A ripple of shock passed through the spectators immediately, because even now, even in this situation, he was still refusing to bend.
“How dare you spit in the face of Professor Halbrecht’s kindness!” someone shouted from the stands, and several senior students surged forward in anger, unable to tolerate what they saw as blatant disrespect.
But before they could take another step, a single hand rose.
And they stopped.
Maximus.
The Grand Principal floated forward slightly, his ancient staff hovering in front of him as his gaze settled on Elion.
“It would pain me to see such a talented youth die so young,” he said calmly, his tone measured, almost gentle.
“I understand your frustration,” he continued, “we are giving you face because we all respect your talent, Elion Nova. Surely, you can afford to give the elders some face in return.”
A glowing scroll of mana unfurled before Elion, hovering in the air between them.
“If you believe you are not guilty, then it should be a simple matter to agree to the duke’s request to have you examined, and in the case that his claims turn out to be false, he will be punished accordingly, and I promise you that you will be compensated for your troubles.”
Cain scoffed, but he let the old man continue.
“However, you have to understand our concerns; you are already under suspicion, and so, we must take measures to ensure everyone’s safety.”
At this point, he was only bulshitting. This was his last resort to ensure that the core fell into his hands, even if it was found by someone else.
“Sign this,” Maximus said as he presented a glowing contract scroll, “and even if it turns out you were at fault, we will let you live and return to your studies as usual, after extracting the demon contract, of course.”
Dawncrest’s eyes narrowed. The promise itself was absurd, because under normal circumstances, such a slight would be punished by execution. Maximus had no power to make such promises!
But it was all futile in his opinion; he would do everything in his power to make sure this heretic was put down. ’There is no escape for you, boy.’
To every other person watching, the implication of the contract Maximus was presenting was clear. No one needed it spelled out.
“It is-”
Elion suddenly burst out laughing, and this time the sound echoed loudly across the coliseum, cutting Maximus off mid-sentence as it rang through the tense silence.
The reaction was immediate.
Frowns, head shakes, and sighs of pity.
“I guess he really has lost his mind…” someone muttered, though it was impossible to tell who said it first, because the sentiment spread quickly.
“I wouldn’t blame him,” Evander said quietly, his expression conflicted as he glanced toward Liora, whose usual carefree smile had completely vanished, replaced by something far more serious.
It was curious how she had made it to Evander so quickly after leaving the Duke’s balcony not so long ago.
She did not respond to him, however. She did not even seem to be able to hear him.
Her gaze was fixed on Elion, but it was distant, unfocused, as if she was looking at something else entirely, something only she could see, memories resurfacing from somewhere deep within her mind.
Evander clenched his jaw slightly, frustration flickering in his eyes, because he knew he should do something; he knew he had given Elion his word, some measure of protection, and yet here he was, standing still, doing nothing, because every figure floating above that platform could crush him with a thought, and there was too much at stake.
What does that make me… A hypocrite?’
He didn’t like the answer.
To him, it was obvious what was going on here: the duke had abused his power to end the match, and now he was making absurd claims. Even if it turns out that he was spouting nonsense, which in his opinion was probably the case, his punishment would be nothing too great.
The biggest slight would be a massive dip in his reputation and in how people perceived him. Maybe he would be branded as a shameless individual who thought he could do whatever he wanted. But people were quick to forget. They would forget this incident soon, too.
Below—
Mira, Aria, and Isolde stood among the crowd.
Isolde was crying silently, her shoulders trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks, her hands clenched tightly as she struggled to keep herself from breaking down completely.
“LET ME GO!” Aria shouted, her voice raw as she strained forward with everything she had, trying to break free and rush down into the arena.
Mira had been holding her back ever since she got Elion’s intentions. She didn’t really understand what he had planned.
But her expression was calm. But the fire in her eyes burned hotter than anything else in that arena. She was scared, too. What if she lost him?
She was holding on because of one thing.
’Trust me.’
Those were the only words Elion had given her.
And she believed them.
Elion’s laughter faded slowly.
And when he spoke again, his voice was oddly calm. Unsettlingly calm.
“You want to turn me into a slave,” he said plainly.
