Path of the Extra Chapter 54: Accusation

"So, how was your class?"

Azriel asked, watching Nol shovel food into his mouth.

Nol shrugged, still chewing.

"No idea. I fell asleep."

Azriel sighed.

The two of them were sitting opposite each other in the cafeteria.

After class had ended, Celestina had gone to chat with Lumine and Yelena, likely trying to form connections.

Seizing the opportunity, Azriel had fled to et up with Nol in the cafeteria, where they were now enjoying a much-needed al.

Neither of them held back with their food.

Nol had overslept and barely made it to class on ti, while Azriel had skipped breakfast altogether.

There was also another reason Azriel had hurried over here.

He knew that most of the halls and classrooms would soon be flooded with second- and third-year students trying to recruit first-years into their factions.

There was a high chance that Celestina, Lumine, and Yelena were now trying to fend off such advances.

"Master, are you planning to join the Crimson Faction?"

Nol asked between bites.

Azriel shook his head.

"No, there's no reason for to join my sister's faction, nor do I have any interest in it."

"Will she be okay with that?"

Nol asked, looking confused.

Azriel thought for a mont before replying.

"I'm sure my dear sister won't mind if I don't join the Crimson Faction, but she'll definitely ask about it today... The real problem will be the other students."

Nol's confusion deepened as Azriel continued, taking a bite of fried chicken.

"The second- and third-year students are much bolder than you might think. Even my title as Prince won't deter them. In fact, being the Apex will only attract them more. These upperclassn understand the true aning of being a hero, and they definitely won't shy away from approaching ..."

'Though the real ones who will suffer are Yelena and Lumine...'

Both were unknown before entering the academy, and the upperclassn are likely going to try and take advantage of that—especially Lumine, given that he's ranked second.

The mont they find out about his rank, things could get difficult.

'Still, I won't help them unless absolutely necessary... I'm not their babysitter.'

Azriel intended to befriend the main cast, sure, but that didn't an he was going to hold their hands through everything.

He wanted them to beco stronger than they were in the book, and if that required throwing them into the fire, he'd do it without hesitation.

'...If I recall correctly, a certain event is going to happen today.'

Specifically, sothing involving Lumine.

There were always people dissatisfied with the rankings, and in the book, Lumine had been the Apex and even got into a duel on the first day because of it.

But now that Lumine was ranked second, would the sa thing happen?

'It's not like they can try the sa thing with ...'

Azriel could feel the stares directed at him and Nol in the cafeteria.

By now, they must have realized who he was—Azriel Crimson.

Most of them were probably still confused by the negative rumors surrounding him and his trip to the Void Realm.

Add to that the fact that he's a prince and the Apex, and they couldn't just recklessly challenge him without proper backing.

'...Unless it's that person, but he probably didn't attend class today.'

Azriel smiled slightly as he stood up.

"Master?"

Nol looked at him, puzzled.

"Let's pack this food and go... If I'm right, we'll be able to enjoy a good show while eating."

If his hunch was correct, sothing entertaining was about to happen.

*****

"How did you beco friends with Azriel Crimson...?"

Lumine and Yelena walked through the corridors of the academy, surrounded by other students, when Yelena asked the question.

Lumine had to stop himself from twitching his lips in discomfort.

If he had to tell her the full story, she might look at him like he was so kind of idiot.

And who could bla her?

Anyone would think that if he admitted it all started with him chasing so weird butterfly.

"...I t him at the academy cetery."

Yelena looked at him, wide-eyed, as they continued walking.

They were heading to one of the gym rooms in the academy to train.

"There's a cetery in the academy?"

she asked, furrowing her brows.

Lumine nodded.

If he was right, it was probably filled with the graves of deceased students and instructors.

"Wait..."

Yelena's brows furrowed further.

"Why were both of you even there?"

Not daring to et her gaze, Lumine kept his eyes forward.

"I... I was just, you know, exploring the academy at the ti when I suddenly found myself there. The sa was probably true for Azriel, I presu."

He could feel her skeptical stare but chose to ignore it.

"Is that so? But still..."

Yelena hesitated, clearly holding back her words.

Lumine glanced at her, curious.

"What is it?"

"You know... can we trust him?"

Lumine sighed.

He couldn't bla her for being cautious, especially given her past.

"Why would you think otherwise?"

"You know what they say about him, right? That he was basically a delinquent before his disappearance."

Lumine stopped in his tracks as they reached the stairs.

"You shouldn't judge a person based on so rumors, Yelena. Besides..."

He recalled the ti he spent with Azriel in the cafeteria.

"He's a kind person. Trust ."

Yelena still looked a little doubtful but eventually sighed.

"If you say so, I'll trust you..."

Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes at Lumine.

"What about Celestina?"

Lumine blinked.

"What about her?"

"Do you trust her?"

It was the sa question she had asked about Azriel, but Lumine felt the aning was entirely different this ti.

A chill ran down his spine, as if answering wrong would bring so sort of calamity.

Celestina had spoken to both of them after class when Azriel suddenly disappeared as well.

He could tell she wanted to be friends with them too.

"Well... she s-seems to be close with Azriel, so I guess she can be trusted... a little."

Her erald eyes seed to be judging him, as if he were on trial, but then they suddenly softened as she smiled.

"If that's all, then it's fine, I suppose..."

Lumine sighed in relief, even though he didn't fully understand why.

It felt like he had just dodged a bullet.

"I take it you are Lumine Versille, ranked second?"

A loud voice bood through the hallway, drawing the attention of Lumine and Yelena.

They looked up the stairs to see a group of students standing at the top, among them a tall figure with long red hair.

"My na is Kai, ranked ninth."

The other students also turned their attention toward the commotion, their curiosity piqued.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know. Are they going to fight?"

"Woah! already on the first day?"

Kai, towering over both Lumine and Yelena, stepped down the stairs until he was face-to-face with Lumine.

The grinning Kai looked down at him, his smile widening.

Lumine and Yelena exchanged puzzled glances.

"Is sothing wrong?"

Lumine asked.

Kai's grin grew even wider.

"Yes, in fact, there is sothing wrong."

Yelena's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"And what would that be?"

"That your ranking, Lumine Versille, is bullshit."

Lumine's eyes widened in surprise, as did those of the students watching the confrontation.

"Bullshit? How can that be?"

"Maybe he cheated?"

"That's impossible."

"The exams were overseen by the best instructors and the headmistress herself."

"Exactly."

Yelena's face darkened with anger.

"No one can cheat in the exams. All rankings are legitimate."

Kai shook his head.

"You're telling that this no-na outperford Princess Celestina and everyone else who has made a na for themselves before coming to the academy?"

Lumine t Kai's gaze calmly.

"And what if I did?"

Kai's expression hardened.

"Then I say that's bullshit. You must have used so kind of drug to enhance your powers temporarily. That would also explain why you sent that poor cadet to the infirmary—because you couldn't control your powers properly"

Yelena scoffed at his words.

"That's a baseless accusation. What proof do you have?"

Kai leaned forward, lowering his voice so only Lumine and Yelena could hear.

"Prince Azriel told himself."

""!!""