Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 296: At the Academy Gate (Part-2)

Zora and the others turned around together. Sure enough, Caius and his group had arrived, led by two mentors. The one who had spoken wore a black robe, his expression full of amusement. It was none other than Lunar Academy’s mentor.

Jorvan.

Miel’s gaze darkened slightly. Jorvan had always been petty and narrow-minded. This sort of mockery was completely in character.

Seeing Zora and her group blocked at the gates, Caius and the others could not hide the smugness on their faces. The frustration they had swallowed earlier finally found an outlet.

After entering Thunderclap Academy, it was time to take revenge.

Jorvan smiled faintly at Miel, not bothering to hide the ridicule in his eyes, then led the Lunar Academy students forward.

The guard who had just been arrogant and dismissive instantly changed his expression upon seeing Jorvan and Wystan. His face bloomed into a flattering smile.

"Mentor Jorvan, Mentor Wystan, you’re here."

Jorvan nodded casually, then deliberately glanced at Miel and Sebastian before asking, "Have the accommodations for Lunar Academy’s students been arranged?"

"Of course," the guard replied eagerly. "Please come in."

This scene finally made Reesa snap.

"Why can they go straight in without any proof of identity, while we need verification?" she demanded angrily.

Jorvan and the others paused, turning back with expressions of interest, as if watching a play unfold. Opportunities like this were rare. Naturally, they intended to savor it.

"Can your identities be compared to ours?" Drusilla sneered, her face full of smug disdain. "Our two mentors are well-known figures. Who wouldn’t recognize them? As for country bumpkins like you, who knows where you crawled out from?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Caius and the others burst into mocking laughter. They had suffered enough humiliation at Zora’s hands earlier. Today, they were determined to pay it back in full.

"People who don’t even know their place dare claim to be academy students," Ophelia added coolly, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment as they swept over Zora. "Guard, you’d better check carefully."

Her hatred ran deep. It was because of Zora that she had been injured, forced to endure pain throughout the journey. The mentors had shown no mercy, and the march had not slowed even for her condition. All of that resentment had piled up, and now it had finally found a target.

By now, through their mentors, they had learned Zora’s name. The woman who had injured her so badly was Zora.

Feeling Ophelia’s venomous stare, Zora remained calm and indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with her. Such resentment meant nothing in her eyes.

The guard nodded hastily. "Yes, yes, I’ll check their identities properly."

Wystan let out a hearty laugh. "Everyone has traveled a long way. You must be exhausted. Let’s head inside Thunderclap Academy to rest."

"Yes."

Caius and the others followed with excited smiles, clearly enjoying the situation. To see the Imperial Academy group stopped at the gates after all that effort felt immensely satisfying.

In their eyes, this was already the best joke of the day.

As the figures from Lunar Academy vanished beyond the gates of Thunderclap Academy, the atmosphere on Zora’s side grew heavier. One by one, everyone’s gaze returned to the guard who still stood in front of them, chin lifted, blocking the way as if he alone guarded the dignity of the entire academy.

"Senior, why waste words with him?" Marcus finally snapped, stepping forward with a dark expression. "He’s clearly humiliating us on purpose. How are we supposed to ’prove’ our identity anyway?"

Baldwin nodded in agreement, his voice equally cold. "That’s right. We’re representatives of our academy. Being stopped here by a mere gate guard is already disgraceful enough. If we push in, he can’t stop us."

Their anger was justified. To be blocked at the entrance like this, under the watchful eyes of passersby, was no small insult. Worse still, it was obvious that this was no accident. A single guard would never dare to act so arrogantly without tacit approval.

The guard’s expression stiffened when he heard their words. He straightened his back and sneered. "What? Are you planning to force your way into Thunderclap Academy? Believe it or not, I can summon the Royal Guards and have you driven away!"

Sebastian and Miel exchanged a look.

The situation had already slipped beyond their expectations. If they acted forcefully, rumors would spread, and the academy would bear the stigma of arrogance and lawlessness. Yet if they remained stuck here, enduring this humiliation, it would be no better.

And if the Royal Guards were truly called, matters could spiral completely out of control.

At that moment, Zora stepped forward.

Her gaze settled calmly on the guard. "Are you certain," she asked evenly, "that you intend to stop us at the gate?"

The guard met her eyes without backing down. "Naturally. Without proof of identity, how can I let you in?"

Sebastian and Miel both looked toward Zora, confusion flickering in their eyes. There was no clear solution in sight. They could not guess what she intended to do.

"We were formally invited by Thunderclap Academy to participate in the inter-academy exchange," Zora said, her voice steady yet sharp. "You block us at the gate. Are you sure you can bear the consequences of this responsibility?"

As she spoke, an invisible pressure spread outward. Though she stood quietly, the bearing of someone accustomed to authority flowed naturally from her, forcing the guard’s breath to hitch.

For a brief moment, his confidence wavered.

He had been instructed to make things difficult for the visiting academy, to embarrass them if possible. But hearing her words now, he found himself uncertain how to respond.

After a short pause, he forced himself to laugh. "I am only doing my duty. Stopping unidentified individuals is my responsibility. What consequences could there be?"

Confidence returned to his face, tinged with smugness. In his mind, they were merely students. No matter how sharp their tongues, what could they really do to him?

He waited to see her expression falter.

Instead, Zora smiled. The curve of her lips was faint, cold, and edged with ridicule.

"Very well," she said calmly. "Since Thunderclap Academy does not welcome us, we will leave. Your Thunderclap Academy can happily fight against Lunar Academy for the inter-academy exchange."

Her words fell cleanly, without hesitation.

She turned her gaze to Sebastian and Miel. Both men paused for only a heartbeat before nodding in agreement. Continuing to stand here would solve nothing. Retreating now was the wiser choice.

As for what came next...

That would be settled later.

When the guard saw the group from the academy truly turn around and prepare to leave, panic finally flickered across his face.

He had only been instructed to make things difficult for them, to embarrass them a little. But if they actually left, this responsibility was something he absolutely could not shoulder.

Reesa and the others showed no hesitation at all. Following the two mentors, they strode away without even sparing the gate another glance. Thunderclap Academy’s so-called hospitality had already disgusted them to the core.

"W–wait!"

The guard shouted hurriedly when he realized they were not bluffing.

Zora halted her steps. She turned back slowly, her clear eyes carrying an unmistakable trace of mockery.

"What now?" she said coolly. "We haven’t even stepped through the gates of Thunderclap Academy. If anything happens, don’t try to pin it on us."

The guard’s face stiffened at her words. Embarrassment flashed through his eyes before he lifted his chin again, forcibly recovering his arrogant posture.

"Stay here for a moment," he said stiffly. "I’ll go inform someone. If someone can confirm your identity, I’ll let you in."

For a brief moment, silence fell.

Did this mean they were supposed to feel grateful that he was willing to ’inform’ someone?

"No need," Zora replied lightly, raising her hand. "This is my first time at Thunderclap Academy, and I’ve already experienced its hospitality in full."

She glanced at Reesa and the others beside her, then said calmly, "We can find somewhere else to stay. As for this place... we won’t be coming in. Oh, and also, we will be reporting back to the academy that the great guard of the Thunderclap Academy was doing his rightful duty. Whatever it is, our academy principals will discuss."

With that, she turned and walked away again, her steps unhesitating.

There was no reason to remain here and accept further ridicule. Pride aside, they had no obligation to swallow this humiliation.

"H–hey, you..."

The guard stared at their retreating figures, his expression turning ugly. He had never expected things to spiral to this point.

Originally, he was certain that the Imperial Academy’s people would endure it. After all, how could they really leave after coming all this way?

Yet now, reality slapped him hard in the face.

With a surge of anxiety, the guard hurried back into the Academy grounds. He had to report this immediately. After all, it will be his neck that ends up in trouble, not someone else’s neck.