The Max Level Hero Has Returned!-Chapter 1246

Vasilion le Bosta, the youngest prince of the Bosta Kingdom, skimmed through a folder of documents with a satisfied look on his face.

“Everything’s going according to plan, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I honestly thought it was over already. I never imagined he’d survive that.”

“Fortunately, thanks to his previous conduct and Your Highness's reputation, things moved along without issue.”

The Central Academy’s student council and the Seven Star Professors never trusted Mit Chyde.

He was nothing more than a hopeless delinquent, in their eyes. They had no reason to like him. In fact, the Seven Star Professors had once dragged the troublemaking Mit Chyde straight into the faculty conference room after he got caught causing a scene, then sat him down and stared him down in silence.

One of the more hot-tempered professors even tried to teach him “the real meaning of life” by drawing mana, before stopping himself at the last second.

Mit Chyde was isolated and alone. He was not the kind of person anyone would or could ever understand.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow! Have we figured out who saved that bastard back then yet?”

“My apologies, Your Highness. The place was simply too remote. We searched all the likely locations, but found only one person.”

“Only one?”

“Yes, her name is Isera, about sixteen years old. She used to serve as a maid in the House of Count Chyde.”

Vasilion leaned his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. “Did that bitch save him?’

“We don’t believe so.”

“Why not?”

“She said it wasn’t her, for one thing, but...” the man hesitated.

Vasilion asked facetiously, “And that alone cleared her of suspicion?”

“Maid Isera had long been mistreated by Mit Chyde as his personal servant. In the end, she was falsely accused and thrown out.”

Vasilion smirked at the revelation. He was definitely not the kind, gentle prince the public thought they knew.

“So then she’d have a grudge, if anything. There’s no way she would have saved him, then.”

“Yes, though we’ve placed her under surveillance just in case.”

“That’s good enough. Now then... look over there.” He chuckled.

There sat Mit Chyde on a bench, munching on bread like a commoner, stealing glances as others looked his way.

By that point, no one from the academy pitied him or tried to get close. The woman in the robe, however, was different.

“It would seem she suddenly appeared and started teaching him magic. Around the same time, his personality started changing too.”

To be honest, they were more than a little surprised when they looked into her. No one knew how her teaching worked, but the fact that she raised Mit Chyde to 2nd Circle in such a short time was impressive.

They hadn’t been able to confirm whether he had broken through to the 3rd Circle or not.

“She’s interesting. Causing a ruckus in someone else’s house like that.”

“What should we do?”

“Are you crazy? You don’t touch anyone from Heins Territory. Still... let’s meet her ourselves, at least.”

* * *

Josiah, with her robe pulled low over her face, looked at Mit as if he were pathetic. “When this is over, I won’t be able to stick around and teach you closely for a while. I’ve got my own things to take care of.”

“This is already more than enough.” Clearly starving, he devoured the bread and tossed the wrapper toward the trash can.

However, the wrapper missed and hit the ground. Mit Chyde stared blankly at it for a moment, then stood, picked it up, and placed it properly into the trash. It was something the old him would never have done.

Josiah reminded him, “The hearing’s coming up soon. Are you sure you’re ready?”

“Even if I'm not, I have to be. I’ll never forget this debt.”

“Then repay it with everything you've got. Teacher doesn’t want the Sacred Grass for a bad reason.”

“I heard you made a promise with my older brother as well.”

“Since there was a high chance you alone won’t be enough, we figured we might as well secure another option.”

He nodded. “He keeps his promises, but the final decision always lies with Father.”

“If it works out, great. If not, too bad. Still, pushing you this far got me to the 6th Circle, so it’s not a loss entirely. Thanks to that, my vacation time all came back.”

Just as she tried to get up, having said her piece, Mit Chyde saw someone approach and froze.

“That’s good to hear. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Vasilion...”

“Watch your tone.”

“Prince.” His eyes turned cold. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Come on, don’t be like that. We shouldn’t let things like this come between us,” the prince said with a shit-eating grin.

“Do you mind clarifying what exactly you mean by ‘between us'?”

“Haha. Forgotten already? We’re the closest of friends...”

“Cut the crap, Prince.” Mit Chyde didn’t bother hiding his hostility. “I’ve never considered a monster like you to be a friend.”

He turned away, clearly done with the conversation.

Josiah, still hiding under her deep hood, stood up as well, dusting off her knees as she followed him.

The prince added from behind, “It’s funny hearing that from you, of all people.”

Mit turned back to him. “What did you say?”

“Isn’t it? Even as a joke, you’re not exactly a good person. Pretty much a piece of garbage, even. I mean, everyone knows that.”

“I see you no longer even bother trying to hide what’s under that disgusting mask.”

“And? Don’t worry. No one but you knows I’m like this, anyway. I'm totally safe with you.” Vasilion then turned his gaze toward Josiah. “You're an outsider, eh? I don’t know who you are, but you’d better stay away from this human trash.”

Though he already had a rough idea of who she was, Vasilion feigned ignorance and played dumb.

Josiah didn’t respond, and her face showed no curiosity. In fact, it showed complete indifference.

Mit Chyde stepped in front of her, as if to shield her. “I won’t deny that I’m human trash.”

The prince didn't know how to respond.

“But you’re no better. A lunatic prince shaking the very foundations of a kingdom, just to be king.”

“Boy, oh boy. You really should watch how you speak about royalty. Although sure, bark all you want. What difference does it make when it's coming from a beaten bitch?”

Vasilion slowly stepped forward. Sporting a friendly smile, he leaned in and whispered so that only Mit could hear, “No matter how hard you struggle, nothing’s going to change, Mit Chyde. Thanks to your own foolishness, House Chyde is falling apart. I merely took advantage of the opportunity. Don’t forget, these are the consequences of your own actions.”

“Prince!” Mit growled.

“Well then, I’ll see you at the hearing. No need to worry, I won’t be testifying. I’ll just watch from afar. Go ahead, keep dreaming of becoming a 3rd Circle Mage. Reality isn’t that easy.”

Shooting a sneer, he tapped Mit’s shoulder a few times and walked away.

* * *

The hearing was attended by the Central Academy’s student council, the Seven Star Professors, and three senior professors in charge of overseeing the trial.

In essence, the Seven Star Professors acted as prosecutors while the student council took the position of defense for the accused student.

Typically, the presiding judge would be one of the senior professors.

Senior professors held a slightly different role from the Seven Star Professors. They were more akin to deans, a small group that stood at the top of the academy's faculty hierarchy.

However, the sort of trial Mit Chyde faced only happened when a student caused a major incident, which meant the roles of prosecution and defense were essentially meaningless.

It was especially so for someone like Mit Chyde, whose reputation in the academy had hit rock bottom.

“Student Mit Chyde, enter.”

A large number of students had gathered in the round, amphitheater-like hall, serving as the jury. They looked on, seemingly eager to see the notorious Mit Chyde finally fall.

Among them was Josiah in a standard school uniform, watching it all unfold as if it was no problem.

The hearing was about to begin. The tedious exchange of arguments that followed wouldn’t matter. No matter what was said, it was obvious that Mit Chyde was going down.

It was practically a public witch trial. Still, no one ever challenged the system.

‘It’s just a formality. And... a final chance given to a student who’s committed a serious offense.’

The intention wasn’t necessarily bad, but Josiah couldn’t help but question whether it was right to corner someone like that.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve been through this too...’

She remembered cutting all her classes and causing a mess back at Shakuntala Academy, then going through something similar. She’d ended up demoted to Class F after that, yet somehow, Mit’s situation felt a little different.

“Seems like everyone’s here. Let’s begin. Professor Ryuda.”

Once the senior professor finished speaking, a tall, elegant Seven Star Professor with a slender frame adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses. “Then let’s begin. Cadet Mit Chyde is being charged with detonating a large-scale explosive artifact inside the Central Academy’s museum.”

“Hmmmm.”

“The current Seven Star Professors Council, based on the circumstances and the fact that the student was apprehended at the scene, as well as the evidence found, firmly believes Mit Chyde to be the sole perpetrator.” She stared at him with a cold, unfeeling gaze, devoid of sympathy.

“Student council. Begin your defense.”

At that, a blond boy in a neat uniform rose from his seat. “As a representative of the student council, I will now serve as the defense for student Mit Chyde.”

A long silence followed.

The student council president looked at him in silence, then slowly parted his lips. “That is all.”

He offered no defense, just a declaration that he had nothing to say.

It was a one-sided proceeding.

The senior professor, as if used to such occurrences, turned to Mit. “Student Mit Chyde, speak for yourself. Are these allegations true?”

The pressure in the room was overwhelming, far too much for a single student to bear. Despite being in an atmosphere where a single slip of the tongue could ruin his entire life, Mit Chyde responded calmly, “They’re false.”

Anyone who knew the old him would’ve expected him to be shaking with fear by then. Even so, Mit Chyde stood firm. He answered without wavering, “The explosion that destroyed the museum’s artifacts was a trap meant to frame me.”

“Silence!! Do you know where you are?! How dare you lie like that!! The detonated mana bomb at the scene contained your mana, along with other traces!”

“Professor Ryuda, you were not granted permission to speak.”

Hearing the senior professor’s firm tone, she clicked her tongue. “Even if we drag this out, the result won’t change. Senior Professor, I simply wish to punish that student right now for destroying a part of the academy’s tradition.”

“Until the final decision is made, I will not allow any hasty judgments.”

She didn't have a response.

Though the hearing was just a formality, most agreed with his inflexible stance that he wouldn’t let it lose its purpose.

The student council stayed silent in their role as the defense; the Seven Star Professors pressed Mit Chyde from their position as prosecutors; and the student jury was not on his side.

It didn’t matter what he said—Mit Chyde had no one supporting him.

He quietly glanced over at Prince Vasilion, who was watching from a distance.

Right before the explosion, no, afterward, Mit Chyde had been consumed by elitism, arrogance, and a hateful ideology.

So no matter what he said there in the courtroom, no one would believe him.

Yet, he spoke, “Honorable Senior Professor, I, Mit Chyde, have no witnesses or physical evidence to prove my innocence in this incident.”

“Then are you saying you admit to your actions at the time?”

Prince Vasilion smirked from the sidelines.

“No, I do not admit to them,” Mit repeated.

“You deny the charges, yet have no evidence to prove your innocence? Hmm.”

“Therefore, I request permission to use the academy’s sacred artifact, the Veil of Truth.”

The room immediately erupted into murmurs. Even the student council and the Seven Star Professors appeared visibly shaken.

As the noise grew louder, the senior professor slammed the table. “Silence!!”

He turned to Mit Chyde with a stern expression. “Student Mit Chyde, do you even understand what the Veil of Truth is?”

“Yes. Any student would know.”

The Veil of Truth was an ancient relic and symbol of the Central Academy. To activate it, one needed significant mana control.

“But to use that artifact, you must be at least a 3rd Circle mage.”

Though there were other mages at the 3rd Circle present, in order to prove his innocence, Mit Chyde would have to activate the artifact himself. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Don’t be ridiculous! To use the Veil of Truth, you must be a 3rd Circle mage! While it’s not an extraordinary level, when considering the top students, only a few barely cross that threshold,” Professor Ryuda spoke, as if the verdict was already decided. “During the midterms, Student Mit Chyde displayed only mid-1st Circle abilities.”

With enough effort, even slightly gifted mages with mercenary backgrounds could reach the edge of 2nd Circle. However, there was no way someone like Mit Chyde, practically a failure, had reached the 3rd Circle.

Especially at a general academy, not even focused on magic, where few young mages ever reached that level.

“Is what Professor Ryuda said true?”

“It is,” the student council representative responded quietly, and the senior professor looked back at Mit.

“How do you intend to prove your innocence using the Veil of Truth, then? Even if such a method exists, you're still only at the 1st Circle. Reaching the 2nd Circle alone is already a long way off for you. But the minimum requirement is 3rd Circle...”

“Then test me yourself.”

Hearing the firmness in his reply, the senior professor fell silent and locked eyes with him.

After a brief silence, Professor Ryuda slowly stepped forward. “Senior Professor, I request permission to verify it personally.”

“Granted.”

Professor Ryuda’s robe fluttered as she gathered her mana. She then directed it into Mit Chyde, who stood alone at the center of the room. “Don’t even think of bluffing your way through this with some cheap trick.”

He had no response for her.

“When you first caused trouble, I actually argued you deserved a second chance.”

“I’m aware.”

“Now, I honestly regret that decision.”

Mit Chyde said nothing. He had no intention of denying his karma.

Then, the mana began to resonate with him, emitting a distinct glow.

Watching this, the youngest prince of the Bosta Kingdom, Vasilion, smirked and slowly stood from his seat. Just as he was about to walk out, he caught sight of Josiah and began walking toward her instead.

“This area is off-limits to outsiders.”

Josiah, wearing a student uniform and blending in effortlessly, turned her head. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of interfering.”

“He dug his own grave. He was only a 1st Circle mage, after all. I've heard he’s changed, sure, but there’s no way someone like him reached the 3rd Circle in just one month.”

He shrugged. “Why waste your time on that delinquent? Come with me instead Josiah Fraces, Assistant Professor at Heins Academy.”

“You know who I am?” She didn't look particularly surprised.

“I did some digging. I was unsure at first, but seeing you in person confirms it.”

Josiah had only changed her hair color, keeping her face fully visible.

“My, so you recognized me.”

“Who wouldn’t know the youngest magical prodigy from Shakuntala?”

“Flattery doesn’t suit you,” she dryly said.

“Haha. Even so, I am a prince...”

“Oh dear, should I apologize then?” Josiah spoke calmly, and as she did, Vasilion placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s over. I don’t know why you were involved with a piece of shit like that, but he’s already beyond saving. Talking nonsense about using the Veil of Truth from the start... Just a waste of—” Vasilion suddenly flinched mid-sentence.

Josiah hadn’t so much as glanced at him. Her eyes had remained fixed on Mit Chyde. She was now grinning.

“No... No way,” Professor Ryuda muttered in disbelief. “You... What in the world did you do?”

Mit Chyde didn’t answer her question.

A spell to reveal a mage’s Circle could be activated with cooperation.

Mit Chyde was originally a 1st Circle. Yet, he wasn’t just emitting the light of the 2nd Circle. He radiated the power of the 3rd Circle as well.

On top of that, there was something about him that mages had never seen before.

“This... This isn’t just the 3rd Circle. I’ve never seen anything like this before...”

“You could say I met the right teacher. I was lucky enough to meet someone who gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Mit Chyde turned to Professor Ryuda. “You said you regretted giving me a chance, didn’t you, Professor Ryuda?”

She was speechless.

“You weren’t wrong. From this point on, I’m going to change.” His eyes sparkled with sharp resolve. “So, I don’t have the luxury of being falsely accused over something like this.”

She didn't understand what he meant. “What are you talking about...”

“I’m saying I’ll become a mage of the 5th Circle or higher, no matter what.”

Three rings of light rapidly rotated around Mit Chyde, like bands orbiting him. It was the unmistakable sign of a 3rd Circle mage.

However, surrounding those rings was something else entirely. There was a strange, foreign ring of energy none of the mages present had ever seen.

Watching that, Prince Vasilion bit his nails, his expression twisted in disbelief.

He couldn’t believe what was happening. He had already obtained information confirming that Mit Chyde had only just begun practicing magic. He’d even heard during his investigation into Josiah that Mit had reached the 2nd Circle.

It was only yesterday that he’d confirmed Mit had yet to break through to the 3rd Circle.

He had no clue when the boy could have achieved the 3rd Circle. More importantly, there was a foreign ring, moving violently alongside the three standard ones, that didn't resemble any known phenomenon.

“What is that ring...?”

If he failed to use Mit Chyde to bring House Chyde under his control, all his plans would collapse.

Standing on the end of his anxious gaze, Josiah met his eyes with a perfectly pleasant smile. Her hair, starting from the tips, slowly began reverting to its original color. “Mit Chyde’s not bad, right? Oh, but don’t get nervous. Whatever beef you two have, it’s none of my business.”

Forgetting even the formal tone he usually used as a habit, Vasilion muttered under his breath, stunned, “What... What the hell did you do to him?!”