Altar

She wasn't alone, some students followed her. In this academy, this person is like an idol figure.

Locking her silver eyes at him, she opened her mouth.

"Don't be an idiot, Klein Dorolt! You're talking about consequences but you should have thought about it before committing your misdeeds!"

"Now, think about what consequences your refusal may cause. Refusing the trial only means that you are not worthy to be included in the ranks of the nobility. This is a great shame for your family, or are you fine with your family's name getting tarnished?"

Before Klein could respond, the princess immediately followed her speech, not giving him a chance to respond. She had known that Klein was an ill-mannered person, so it was likely that he didn't care about his family getting involved in his blunder. However, he was probably not idiotic enough to not be aware of what refusing the punishment may cause.

"My name is Layla Wraith Ashdown! The third princess of the Ashdown Kingdom!" She changed her tone and started introducing herself to all the people around them, even though there was no need to do that because no student in the academy didn't know of her.

After introducing herself, she returned her gaze to the person in front of her.

"You, Klein Dorolt, your recent actions are unbecoming of someone of high nobility. In the name of the royal family Ashdown, I order you to face the trial as your punishment and show that you are worthy of your status as a duke's son. If not, you can only leave the academy quietly. But if you insist on choosing the latter, trust me, your future will be dark and thorny."

The princess told him firmly.

Klein bit his teeth hard. He wasn't an expert on nobility, but this truly sounded bad for him. Princess Layla's intervention means he has no more way to escape his punishment.

If he insists on disobeying, the academy will kick him. It will have a big impact on his future. His ambition to live a comfortable and luxurious life in this world will doom to not happen. Just like what the princess said, what awaits him will be a thorny path for sure.

Entering the Land of Trial also doesn't mean his life will become easy. It was a gamble of life and death.

Just when he thought he was finally living a very comfortable life as Klein Dorolt, this had to happen. Now he wasn't sure anymore if he was lucky or not that he was reincarnated as Klein Dorolt.

The people around them had started clamoring, expressing their agreement with the princess.

"The princess is right. Klein Dorolt, face your punishment!"

"Don't be a trash!"

"That's right! Don't embarrass our country!"

"Face the punishment! Face the punishment!!!"

Everyone was urging him. Their voices putting pressure on him.

While this was happening in the Assembly Hall inside the academy, meanwhile, a grand-looking big carriage was traveling the road across a wide meadow, heading east.

Inside it was a beautiful woman in a black gown and a black hat with a red ribbon. The upper part of her face was covered by a thin cloth that draped down from the hat's visor, leaving only his red lips exposed. This woman was Klarret Dorolt, Klein's mother. She was now heading back to their estate, to the territory of the Dorolt Family.

She only came to visit the private dormitory after hearing what happened to her son. But since her son's condition went back to normal, there was no point in staying there longer.

"Uhm, Milady…"

Lifting her face slightly, she glanced at the person in front of her who suddenly called her in a small voice.

"Yes, Sylvia?"

Klarret directed her face in front.

The person in front of her was a pretty tan-skinned woman with medium-length black hair. She had a poker face. Looking at her attire, black and white maid outfit, and the way she addressed Klarret, it was easy to guess that she was a servant.

"Is leaving the young master's side at this time a right call?" Although her question could be misinterpreted as worry, it didn't bring any ounce of it. Her voice was nonchalant and lacked emotions.

Klarret's lips curled down slightly at her question. Even without witnessing it with her own eyes, she knew what was happening in the academy at that moment. 

Her lips opened and she replied.

"It's inevitable. The opposing faction will certainly do something to take advantage of the opportunity. Even if I stayed there, there's not so much I can do about it but delay their plan a little." 

"But, if the young master were to decide to—"

Sylvia's words were cut short by Klarret's sudden chuckle.

"Kuku. Don't worry. This time, I trust that Klein will make a reasonable decision."

Sylvia looked straight at her lady. She noticed she was serious. What happened? Why did Milady seem like she was certain of the young master's decision? More than anyone, she should be aware of the young master's personality, no? Sylvia thought.

However, since she was only a servant, she could not delve deeper into it.

"I see. But that place is very dangerous, you know. With the strength of the young master, I don't think he'll survive against the weakest creature there." Sylvia expressed her thoughts.

"I know. Well then, Sylvia. Can I ask you to watch over him? Lend a hand when he's in great danger," Klarret asked.

Sylvia's expression turned serious upon hearing Klarret's words.

"As you wish, Milady. But how about you?"

"Don't worry about me as I'll be staying in the mansion for a while."

"I see."

"And by the way, make sure none from the academy noticed your presence there."

"Alright."

After her reply, a shadow jumped off from the carriage.

Back in the academy, the Vice Headmaster showed a wide grin while saying thanks to the third princess.

"Hehe. Thanks for your assistance, Princess Layla. If it's not because of you, it will be hard to deal with that bastard son of the Duke."

"Don't sweat it, Vice Headmaster Fonce Hayne. I am only doing it for the country. I can't let someone like Klein Dorolt plummet the kingdom's honor in front of the nobles from our allied countries…"

"Also…" she stopped and glanced at the Vice Headmaster who stared at her with tight-lip mouth. "I hate his arrogance." The princess turned around and left along after saying that. Her entourage followed her.

After the event in Assembly Hall, Klein, accompanied by some senior students of the academy, found himself gawking at the familiar object in front of him.

"What the hell is this? Is this real?"

A few steps in front of him was an altar. On top of that altar was an ominous dark swirling energy.

With a shocked expression on his face, he mumbled. 

"Void Lair?"

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.