Chapter 22: Investment 22— The Villianess’s Name Was Cleared

"On what grounds is Seria being forgiven?" a student asked with an annoyed tone.

Renshi stepped forward. "I acted as an accomplice who aided the actual culprit to disguise herself as Seria. I will humbly accept my punishment." He placed a hand over his chest.

"I implore you, Seria, to forgive me for my very much regrettably foolish act." He turned towards Cloudia.

"That’s not Seria. Are you dumb?" another student mentioned.

"Huh?! But I could swear Elliot called her—"

Deria immediately covered his mouth before he could reveal that Cloudia was actually Seria in disguise.

"Say it was a mistake now," she whispered into his ear.

"My bad, it was a mistake," he stated.

Murmurs and whispers erupted amongst the students; they could barely believe what they had just heard.

"We demand solid proof. Seria can’t just be let off the hook just like that!" a female student’s voice echoed.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The other students nodded their heads in agreement.

"Moohawk," Futaba called to her summon. A medium-sized bird with wine-coloured feathers landed on her shoulder.

"Show them what you have." She patted it on the head.

"Yes, Lady Futaba," Moohawk replied.

Red light beamed from both its eyes, displaying a screen. A photo of Vena was shown on the screen.

"This is Miss Vena, the perpetrator the young man mentioned," he stated.

"Now everyone, I will switch to a video recording of the battle that took place here." He blinked his eyes, red light flashed, and the photo changed to a video recording.

The battle between Edith and Vena in her enhanced form was shown, including the part where she mentioned the Black Ring.

"That’s all, everyone." The red light dissipated. "I didn’t show them everything for confidentiality’s sake. The Headmaster instructed me to restrict some information," he whispered into Futaba’s ears.

"That old geezer." She clenched her teeth. Though she was Moohawk’s current master, he also had a pact with the Headmaster, who was also her uncle.

Given that he was an elder of the Eniweiss family, he had certain control over Moohawk since he was an offspring of the Mother of the Soaring Sky, a great spirit and the guardian deity of their family.

"Are you angry, my lady?" he asked.

"At that old geezer that refuses to die, of course." She clutched her fists tightly. "But I can never be mad at you, Moo-chan." She patted him on the head.

"That’s a relief." He warmed up to her.

"As expected of Lady Futaba’s summon."

"He is a mythic-grade spirit after all."

"I can’t believe we said all those horrible things about Seria when she wasn’t even at fault."

"Well, knowing the Ice Queen, I doubt she was even bothered at all."

The other student council members took Renshi for questioning, though Elliot had already told them about his contribution. So he was assured a light pardon if he told the truth.

"Thanks a bunch, dude," Renshi mumbled as they took him away.

"Holy shit! Professor Zuxia’s lecture is in less than thirty minutes!" a male student shouted.

His very loud shout served as a reminder to the other students. They quickly left the arena and ran towards the classroom. Remaining were Elliot, Edith, Deria, Seria, Taumus, and the rest of the student council.

"It must feel super good to have your name cleared." Futaba turned her head towards Cloudia. "Seria," she muttered.

"Don’t worry. We won’t say a thing. We aren’t monsters, you know," August let out a sigh.

Seria removed her glasses. "It’s good to see that the famed core members of the student council are actually doing their jobs," Seria stated with her usual ice-cold tone, with no sign of thanks.

"You don’t need to be thankful. We don’t need it," Rose adjusted her sword.

"But it won’t hurt if she actually did," she mused.

Leonard walked up to Elliot. "I would appreciate it if next time you don’t hang up the phone while the president is still talking to you," he said with a bright smile.

’What a pretentious bastard. I guess I will just go with the flow.’ Elliot knew he was just putting up a farce.

"Oh sorry, man, we were kind of in a hurry." He rubbed the back of his head.

"Ahhhh, August, long time no see!"

Taumus waved at August as he walked up to him.

"So how has it been?" He stretched forth his hand.

"All good, my dude. Sorry about the breakup though." August shook his hand.

"It is what it is," Taumus replied.

’Breakup? That wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the novel.’ Elliot thought, overhearing their conversation.

"Well, till next time, Elliot." He walked away from him quickly and headed towards Taumus and August.

’What’s his deal?’ Elliot thought.

"Tsk. Why does he have to go talking to that playboy?" Leonard grunted inwardly at the sight of August talking to another man when they had just had a fight.

"Ahhh, Taumus-kun." He stepped in between them. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"How’s life treating you?" he asked with a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Ewwww. Leonard, you don’t have to pretend around me. I know you don’t like me," Taumus hit him with a point-blank, unexpected reply.

"See you some other time, August." Taumus walked away as he waved a hand in the air.

"Oh, why the sudden exit?" August asked.

"Isn’t it obvious?" Taumus stopped and turned his head mechanically. "I don’t want to be anywhere near this brute disguised as a prince. You should run while you still have the chance." He looked at Leonard with eyes of contempt.

"Noted." August turned away from Leonard and started to walk away.

Taumus’s words hit Leonard like a dagger to the heart. He could have fallen to the ground in shame, but he had a reputation to maintain.

"Ahahahaha!" Deria stomped her legs in elation. "That was super brutal, Taumus!" She continued to laugh.

"Guys, it’s time to head back," Leonard called their attention.

Rose walked past Seria and then stopped for a brief moment. "Let’s see each other again in the dungeon. And sorry for how you were treated earlier," she mumbled.

"I guess not all the student council

members are scum," Seria replied with a warm tone.

"So it’s not a myth that even an Ice Queen can utter warm words." Rose chuckled as she walked away.

"What does she meannn?" Seria grunted inwardly.

[Special quest: Clear Seria’s name has been completed]

[You have obtained two vitality potions]

[An extra reward has been added for quick completion]

[A subspace has been bound to your soul. Feel free to put in valuable possessions and belongings]

[The vitality potions have been deposited in your subspace. Feel free to check]

[Secondary quest: Take Seria along while investigating has been completed]

[Flame affinity has increased by one]

Space distorted underneath Elliot’s arm and a miniature portal slowly spun open.

’Heck yeah!’ Elliot dipped his hand inside the portal. An invisible force slowly started to pull him in.

"Help, help! I need some help over h—" He called out to the others, thinking they would hear him. To his surprise, they were all frozen in place like human sculptures. It wasn’t just them, even the birds flying in the sky stopped moving. Time had completely come to a standstill.

"What’s going o—" Before he could wrap his head around what was happening, the invisible force dragged him into the portal.