My System Just Exploded, And You Ask Me to Become a God?-Chapter 24 --Someone Wants to Kill Me

Outside the ancient ruins, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

To openly attempt to murder a student of Ilan Royal Academy, and on Ilan Principality's own territory no less—

Even if the culprit was from the Pyrothian Kingdom, this was crossing the line.

More importantly, the one they tried to kill was Joad—

A junior schoolmate of Leit, and one of the few people in the academy Leit actually cared about.

If Leit found out what happened, he would definitely not let it slide.

And knowing Leit's straightforward, stubborn personality, he wouldn't give a damn about the Pyrothian Kingdom.

Not only that, Edward's actions were clearly showing complete disregard for the Ilan Principality.

The old mage's face darkened. Truth be told, he already knew Edward had gone to the ancient ruins, but he hadn't stopped him.

Now, he could feel the hostile stares from those around him.

Just then, the collapse of the ancient ruins gradually ceased and the ruins began to stabilize.

Headmaster Simar didn't hesitate anymore and was just about to head toward the entrance to search for Joad.

But at that very moment, a head popped out from the entrance of the ruins.

The owner of that head was none other than Joad, and right beside him stood a confused-looking Ivy.

She had been meditating, and upon opening her eyes, found the entire environment drastically changed—

The ruins looked like they'd just survived some kind of disaster.

When Bachelor Geoffrey saw that Joad was alive, he immediately exclaimed in joy,

"Joad, you're alive! That's such a relief."

The others present also let out a breath of relief, though many of them looked curious.

After all, Edward was a full-fledged mage. If he wanted to kill Joad, it would've taken nothing more than a flick of the wrist.

But now Joad was alive—and Edward was nowhere to be seen.

Joad looked at the crowd surrounding him, his face pale with lingering fear, his voice trembling,

"That was so close... I almost didn't make it out alive."

The scholars and professors present all showed expressions of sympathy.

Headmaster Simar's gaze softened as he asked,

"Joad, what exactly happened down there?"

"Headmaster Simar," Joad replied, "Edward from the Pyrothian Kingdom broke into the ruins and said he was going to kill me.

I was lucky—otherwise, I'd be dead already."

"Thanks be to the Goddess of Magic for her protection."

Everyone's expressions grew grim again.

Simar Headmaster asked,

"And where is Edward now?"

"He's dead."

"...Dead?!"

Everyone was stunned.

With everything that happened in the ruins, how was it that you survived, but he ended up dead?

Joad explained,

"Edward tried to kill me. He used a scroll to summon a spellbeast—but he accidentally triggered a spellbeast sealed under the ruins."

"Ivy and I barely escaped with our lives. Headmaster, you have to get justice for us!"

Everyone fell silent, but they couldn't find fault in what Joad said.

After all, Ivy was the daughter of House Rima. It was reasonable to assume she had various magical protections on her.

If Joad had been close to her, it made sense that he could escape with his life.

Thinking along these lines, the expressions of the grand scholars and professors darkened as they turned to look at the old mage.

"Lord Peter," one of them said sternly, "I believe you owe Ilan Royal Academy an explanation."

The old mage Peter frowned and looked toward Joad.

But Joad spoke up first,

"I have no personal enmity with anyone from the Pyrothian Kingdom.

Edward even humiliated me in public before, and I tolerated it.

But today, you must give me an explanation!"

Peter's expression turned absolutely sour.

What nonsense?!

Who was the one humiliating whom here?

You clearly tricked us!

Of course, Peter couldn't say that out loud.

After all, he was a grand scholar of the Pyrothian Kingdom.

If word got out that a mere academy student had played him like a fool, he'd be a laughingstock.

So, despite the outrage boiling in his heart, Peter could only grit his teeth and pretend nothing was wrong—

Even when Joad was yelling at him, he had no choice but to endure.

He seethed with hatred, inwardly cursing Edward as a useless fool.

Joad's face was full of indignation and righteous anger, but inside he was perfectly calm.

After all, he was just a lowly student.

As long as the old mage in front of him cared about saving face, he wouldn't dare expose the truth.

As for Edward's death—

No one even suspected Joad.

Given the violent upheaval in the ruins, there was no way a mere apprentice mage like Joad could have caused it.

If he had that kind of power, would he still be stuck in some backwater like Ilan Principality?

Even Peter didn't think Joad killed Edward.

He just thought the kid was insidious and sly.

And knowing Edward's reckless nature, he probably did try to summon a spellbeast and screwed it up, getting himself killed in the process.

"You're falsely accusing us!"

Peter sneered, eyes full of arrogance.

Simar Headmaster frowned and shot back,

"Lord Peter, are you saying Joad killed Edward and is now here pretending to be a victim?"

Joad's expression stiffened slightly.

He looked at Simar Headmaster—Damn, this guy almost guessed the truth!

But Peter just gave a cold chuckle and said,

"Hard to say. But I do have a truth-telling spell—perhaps I should use it?"

"You dare insult Ilan Royal Academy like that?!"

Headmaster Simar's face darkened as he silently pulled out his wand.

Peter snorted,

"Headmaster Simar, are you planning to attack me now?"

As he spoke, a powerful aura erupted from his body—

The aura of a high-ranked elite mage surged in all directions.

The expressions of the grand scholars and professors all changed as they grew alert.

Simar stood his ground, unfazed.

"So now the Pyrothian Kingdom wants to use brute force to bully others?"

Peter gave a disdainful laugh.

"Let me be clear—our Pyrothian Kingdom has never been afraid of trouble."

"You...!"

The scholars and professors of Ilan Royal Academy were all filled with fury.

Joad, meanwhile, stood silently off to the side, a brief flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Just then—

A powerful wave of mind power suddenly surged out of nowhere and slammed into Peter's chest.

His face changed drastically just as a solidified slap of mind power landed squarely across his cheek.

SMACK!

A bright red handprint appeared on his face.

He tried to fight back, but the slaps kept coming one after another.

Peter coughed up blood, his eyes filled with humiliation.

At that moment, a domineering voice echoed out from beneath the Ilan Royal Academy:

"Stirring up trouble at Ilan Royal Academy? So what if you're from the Pyrothian Kingdom? I'll slap you all the same!"

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Everyone froze in shock.

"That voice... it's the First Grand Duke of Ilan!"

"He's still alive?!"

Even Joad's eyes widened in surprise.

He had suspected the First Grand Duke might still be alive—

But he never expected him to reveal himself now...

And to be so blatantly protective.

Wait a second... does that mean I've got a serious backer now?

Peter was now kneeling on the ground in total disgrace, his face swollen on both sides.

"Damn it! I'm a grand scholar of the Pyrothian Kingdom—how dare you humiliate me like this?!"

Simar Headmaster's face twitched slightly.

Peter may have been infuriating, but he was still from the Pyrothian Kingdom.

And yet the First Grand Duke didn't hold back at all—he just slapped him straight across the face. No mercy. No dignity spared.

"So what if you're from the Pyrothian Kingdom? You think that gives you the right to act like bullies?

If you don't give me a satisfactory answer today, I'll beat you to death myself!"

Hiss—

Everyone around couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

At that moment, a towering man suddenly appeared before the crowd.

His beard and hair were white, but his body was like a mountain of steel.

Compared to him, old mage Peter looked like a weak, scrawny mutt.

"The First Grand Duke... he's a knight?!"

Peter's eyes burned with rage—tangible, fiery rage.

"You Ilan Principality people—are you trying to turn the world upside down??!"