[290] The Selection Tournament Nearing Its End

So, in the end, Ikki was taken away.

From the outcome, this seemed yet another form of persecution by the Kurogane family against him.

The difference was that before, they pressured Ikki through the Hagun Academy's board, trying to force him to drop out. Now, with Shinguuji Kurono completely disregarding them, they switched tactics to use his relationship with Stella as leverage.

Stella was the second princess of the Vermillion Kingdom.

Although VErmillion was a small European country with the strongest swordsmen barely reaching rank C, and nearly unknown on the international stage, a royal princess's romance was naturally an international affair.

Moreover, Vermillion and Japan were both League members, so mishandling the matter could escalate into a diplomatic issue, damaging their international image.

Therefore, simply smearing her lover was enough to easily control him.

"The Kurogane family has completely rotten away."

At the school cafeteria, Eiji openly expressed his disgust toward the Kurogane family.

"I totally agree with that."

Shizuku nodded, her smile icy cold.

"Can you imagine that Kurogane Ryouma, the great-grandfather who built the modern glory of the Kurogane family, was driven out by his own son near the end of his life and lived in poverty alone in a bamboo hut on the back mountain until he died?"

"Is that true?"

Stella was shocked.

She couldn't understand just how rotten the Kurogane family was to treat their own father and son so cruelly.

It was utterly disgraceful.

"My grandfather was that son, and, like a hereditary curse, his son—the one born from him—is exactly the same kind of father."

Shizuku sneered bitterly.

Even as the heiress of the Kurogane family and possible successor to the family head, she harbored strong hatred toward her family and her father.

"Judging from the current situation, what are the chances that Ikki will receive 'exile punishment'?"

"I'll answer that!"

A girl with short peach-colored hair suddenly appeared by their table and energetically responded to Nagi's question.

"Although there's lots of bad news, you can barely relax because Ikki is almost impossible to exile, and it's very difficult to revoke his Blazer qualification!"

Kagami calmly put down her tray and quickly ate her lunch.

"After all, only the League Headquarters has the authority to revoke Blazer qualifications. Otherwise, the Kurogane family wouldn't have caused so much trouble!"

The Blezer qualification is registered at the League Headquarters. Whether a student knight or professional knight, only the Headquarters can cancel the qualification.

Branches have very limited power—they can investigate and submit reports and applications but can't arbitrarily revoke qualifications or exile Blazers, not even student knights.

"Besides, once exiled, they might turn into criminals!"

Nagi smiled meaningfully.

Once the qualification is revoked, extreme Blazer might fall into crime, or worse, become terrorists—that would be a huge problem.

Take Kurashiki Kuraudo as an example—he challenged dojos for years, left Kaito Ayatsuji a vegetative patient, and occupied Ayatsuji's dojo for two years.

Yet after all that, the League's punishment was only a "severe warning."

Ridiculously lenient!

In this superpowered society, Blazers are basically privileged elites.

Even if they commit crimes, they get off lightly. Japan doesn't have the death penalty, so even the worst criminals end up just in jail.

All in all, to avoid pushing Blazers into crime, the League won't lightly revoke qualifications or exile them.

So, the likelihood of Ikki being exiled was very low.

Of course, this assumes he doesn't admit guilt—that is, denies "playing with a foreign princess."

As long as he denies it, the League branch can't break him.

Therefore, one can imagine how terrible his current situation is.

Akaza and his group will surely inflict all kinds of mental and physical torture on him to try to break his spirit and make him admit to that fabricated crime.

"This mixed-gender dorm system is a problem in itself…"

Eiji muttered quietly.

But since he also benefits from the system, he didn't criticize it too much.

"According to Yuuri-chan, the current selection tournament will be held at the League branch, with the school bringing the contestants over. Yuuri, who is acting as a referee, said Ikki looks very bad—starving, showing signs of illness, and lacking sleep…"

Several days have passed since Ikki was taken away.

During this time, another round of the selection tournament proceeded, and the undefeated streak remained intact, with only three rounds left until the end.

Hagun Academy's internal selection tournament was gradually reaching its final stage.

After lunch ended.

Eiji went to the student council office.

"Junior brother, what brings you here?" Touka was as busy as ever, but the moment she saw Eiji, she immediately came over.

"Just came to check in."Eiji sat down on the sofa.

Soon after, Kanata placed a cup of brewed black tea on the table in front of him.

"How's Renren?"

Touka and Kanata exchanged a glance, then both gave a bitter smile and shook their heads.

"Her physical injuries have healed, luckily no brain damage, so no signs of becoming a vegetable. But she's really scared of fighting now. She even forfeited yesterday's selection match."

Eiji looked toward the back of the office.

There, he could see Tomaru Renren lying on the bed, curled up as if utterly lacking any sense of security.

Renren had never faced terrorists before.

Unexpectedly, her first battle was against a cruel puppeteer, who not only controlled her forcibly but also violently attacked her own comrades.

Throughout, she had no life protection and could have been killed at any time.

This became a huge psychological trauma for her. Her usual lively self vanished completely, and she sank into withdrawal, unlikely to recover anytime soon.

"I'll be leaving now."

After staying a while at the student council, Eiji stood up to leave.

"I'll see you off."

Kanata saw his subtle gesture and got up to accompany him.

Outside the office building.

"Kanata, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"If anyone from the League branch tries to secretly change your match opponents, you have to contact me."

Eiji said seriously.

"If the branch wants me to change opponents… no problem."

Kanata was a bit puzzled but quickly nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, I'm counting on you."

"No problem."

After the request, Eiji strode away.

***

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