I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

News of Kiina’s investigation had already spread to everyone else. Since it couldn’t be hidden anyway even if they tried, the committee didn’t particularly try to hide it.

Most students who heard the news were naturally greatly shocked. It was an even greater shock than the fact that Kiina had faced a minotaur alone.

“I can’t understand it. Why on earth? They should be giving her praise or rewards, if anything!”

“If I mention the circumstances of those above… would that sound strange? Anyway, I do understand what’s going on. The most important thing to those people isn’t people’s lives.”

Erich smiled bitterly at Lunara’s reaction, who was one of those shocked. Considering Kiina’s background, such ridiculous nitpicking wasn’t particularly strange to him with his abundant experience.

‘Even reborn, the rotten parts remain the same. In my previous life, I was too busy just trying to keep up, so I couldn’t do anything. I thought this time would be different, but I’m… still not there yet.’

Of course, being extremely disenchanted and incredulous about it was the same in both his previous life and now.

The one difference was that through this incident, a small flame had kindled in Erich’s heart.

Things he had deliberately ignored with the excuse of lacking power despite knowing better—such excuses wouldn’t work now that he was reborn.

Already, Erich had succeeded in directly confronting and changing the deeply rooted injustice of the academy’s initiation ceremony together with Kiina.

“It’s true that I can’t understand it at all. Beating a kobold warchief alone is one thing, but how on earth did she handle that monster…? It’s not strange that black magic is being mentioned. It’s that remarkable.”

“B-but there’s no way Kiina would have used black magic.”

“I think so too. No matter how I look at it, this is a petty attempt to use her to entangle those around her. Still, we have to wait for now; there’s nothing we can do at the moment.”

Deina shook her head as if she herself felt sorry about it. As she said, there wasn’t much that they, mere students, could do now.

Even for Erich, it was something not easily handled at this point.

“…The year representative saved us, and then went outside again to save people. Do you think she could be so dignified if she had used something like black magic?”

Karin, who had been listening quietly, also bit her lip. The expression of Karin, who had been right next to Kiina on the day of the incident, was darker than the others’.

When the minotaur appeared with the kobolds. If Kiina hadn’t been there, they would have been torn apart by just the wind pressure exerted by the minotaur, let alone fighting the kobolds.

“I think everyone needs to calm down. We can’t just sit here complaining until Kiina returns.”

Erich sighed deeply, observing the atmosphere. Among the year council members, Erich was practically the only one maintaining his sanity.

Everyone’s mental and physical state had weakened due to the incident they experienced that day and the measures taken against Kiina.

“Many other students are also shaken. They need a focal point. That’s why we wear these armbands, to take responsibility for that.”

“But if Kiina doesn’t return…”

“She will definitely return. So don’t be too anxious and take care of yourselves. Also, prevent useless rumors from spreading. Understand?”

Erich firmly shook his head at Lunara’s worried words. He was so resolute, close to certainty, that Lunara flinched.

‘I believe my eyes.’

He had a basis for his belief.

That basis was none other than his own judgment. Erich firmly believed that Kiina, whom he had assessed using that judgment, would return without any problems.

* * *

“The atmosphere is a mess. Honestly, it’s too blatant, which I don’t like. Are those standing in direct opposition to the Adenberg family, which is the very embodiment of moderate nobility, more radical elements?”

“What? The investigation of that girl? But from my perspective, it seems necessary. It’s too difficult to believe.”

“Do you think a person who really used black magic to gain power would stupidly go around advertising that power? Think a bit.”

It wasn’t just her classmates, the first-years, who were paying attention to Kiina’s investigation. Other years, as well as the student council composed of those other years, were on edge, waiting for news.

Raines, who was essentially the head of the student council, reprimanded his friend and vice president, Franz, who showed a clueless response to his words.

“So you’re saying she’ll be found innocent?”

“I’m not certain. But if she’s completely innocent, that’s an even bigger problem.”

Raines, furrowing his brow, didn’t like this situation. In a state where he was already formally challenging Kiina, he didn’t want the challenge to end due to such an unexpected variable.

By nature, he was a person who hated having his prey taken by others the most.

“If the investigation results in a verdict of innocence, it means that she really did almost defeat a minotaur with her own power. Don’t you understand what this means? She’s a genuine monster with no precedent.”

“Th-that’s!”

The problem was that the weight class of that prey was now skyrocketing. It was clear evidence that Kiina, who was already being openly called the strongest beyond years, had transcended the student level.

Those who didn’t doubt her focused on the attention she would draw after being properly recognized, rather than the implausible black magic bait.

‘Come to think of it, I was quite smart not to directly fight that black-hearted girl.’

From Raines’ perspective, not directly dueling with Kiina was a godsend. He could have been disgracefully defeated worse than the second-years.

Of course, it would become an unofficial fact that Kiina, if found innocent, was stronger than Raines, but the duel they had agreed upon was already in progress.

If handled well, Raines could achieve victory without directly clashing with Kiina, the overwhelming powerhouse. It was certainly a remarkable foresight, enough to make him worship himself.

“The investigation results should come out quickly. I’m dying of curiosity. It’s interesting either way.”

Raines raised the corner of his mouth as he looked out the window.

Like this, with everyone focusing their attention for their own reasons and circumstances on Kiina’s investigation, it indeed didn’t end so quickly.

And after everyone spent time just staring at the administration building, the first news broke in the late afternoon as the sun was about to set.

“The door has opened?!”

“Let’s go see quickly!”

When the tightly closed door of the underground hearing room opened, Dmish used his authority as an instructor and rushed there at once.

People who had already heard the news were gathering there one by one.

“Enough, enough! Since many are gathered here already, I’ll speak right away.”

The investigator, who was the first to come out of the hearing room, waved his hand in disgust at the people who had flocked together.

“We urgently need those skilled in spear arts, no, in martial arts in general. The chancellor has ordered it, so instructors, hurry inside! Others, quickly bring the instructors who aren’t here!”

“Huh? Looking for us? So suddenly?”

Soon, the people who had gathered stirred at the words of the investigator with a loudspeaker.

It was because the results they had been waiting for didn’t come out, and suddenly the instructors were being summoned.

“You’ll understand what’s happening inside when you see.”

However, since it was the chancellor’s order transmitted through the investigator’s mouth, they couldn’t refuse. With the investigator’s meaningful words, Dmish went into the hearing room along with other instructors who were nearby.

‘What on earth is going on?’

And he froze with his eyes wide open at the sight before him.

In the nearly half-destroyed hearing room, Kiina was standing straight, clenching and unclenching her fist, looking at an unconscious opponent.

The person leaning against the wall, which was cracked all over, and passed out with his tongue sticking out, was the second-year head Drakerus, who had been the most vocal about the need for strict investigation because Kiina might have used black magic.

“What I just showed you is one of the techniques applying the soul technique I explained earlier… The basic principle is to amplify the force released by using the chaos that arises from the collision of powers.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand at all, even seeing it directly. Did you really master this on your own? That impossible technique called the soul technique.”

The chancellor, who seemed somewhat out of it, shook his head at Kiina’s explanation of what she had done.

The chancellor and everyone else here were unable to comprehend something outside the ‘laws they recognized,’ no matter how much explanation they heard or learned.

It was like ignoring and relearning the instinctive, obvious laws they had acquired through life.

“This is all the explanation I can provide. It might be due to my lack of eloquence, but I have certainly mastered it.”

“She shattered the defensive magic deployed by someone at the year head level with a single strike. It’s impossible not to believe her words that she can ignore the opponent’s power advantage and conversely break through it.”

The chancellor looked at the unconscious Drakerus with a dismissive gaze, then gestured for him to be carried away, and softly sighed as he saw the instructors who had begun to gather in droves.

“I ask for an explanation one more time. Don’t worry. The investigation is already over, and it’s clear that you are not guilty. I just wonder if there’s anyone who can understand even part of your enlightenment.”

He asked her to explain once more to the instructors, including Dmish.

Asking someone to reveal a secret technique they’ve realized is actually close to a taboo, but he was confident. Like himself, none of the instructors here would understand Kiina’s words.

‘What a nuisance.’

Kiina knew this too, which is why she boldly revealed the essence she had acquired and refined, including its principles.