Chapter 26: Atone for my sins

Nira’s pitiful figure did not just call Cain’s attention, as everybody from the cadets to the soldiers on their way to explore the Danger Zone, and even Vice-Captain Josef turned to her.

The first one to walk toward Nira was a handsome young man with pale skin, dark hair, and yellow eyes. Despite his somewhat thin appearance, there was a powerful aura around him.

He was not alone as a group of nine cadets followed behind him. Most were nobles, but at least two came from a humbler background.

“What happened, Lady Nira.” The man’s voice was soft yet possessed a powerful sense of authority.

Cain’s eyes narrowed as he saw that pale youth. He had already scanned him, and after the red-eyed man, he was the strongest of this batch of cadets.

Unlike Cain’s cautious gaze, Nira’s eyes glowed with happiness as she saw that pale youth.

However, that happiness vanished as soon as she focused again on Cain. That was visible to all, and clearly, there was a story between them.

.....

“It is all that man’s fault. He led an Atrox toward James and me. He did not even give us a warning before running away, leaving us to face that monster on our own.” Nira began sobbing before throwing herself toward the pale youth’s chest. Still, that did not mean she would stop speaking.

“We only met once, but he left after we refused to take him as part of our team. How could we have imagined that he would be so spiteful to do such a thing? Poor James used all his strength to give me a few seconds to escape. He is now...” Nira began to cry at that moment. Although she did not finish her sentence, everybody could imagine James’ fate.

Cain’s eyes grew incredibly cold as he heard Nira’s words. It was alright if she told everybody about him guiding the Atrox to them. He felt no regret or shame for his actions, but her lies made him furious.

“I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken. You use fellow humans as a shield against members of the Dark Races. There can be nothing more despicable than that. How do you plan to atone for your sins?”

Zamir’s face carried a sense of rightful indignation, making all the other cadets look at him as some sort of hero.

Cain froze for a moment as he heard Zamir’s words. This one demanded that he atone for his sins, declaring him guilty without even bothering to listen to his side of the story.

The other nobles remained silent, but it was clear with whom they would side. As for the few commoners present, they all stick with their groups.

Vice-Captain Josef saw all this and did not interfere. Still, his eyes had a profound light as he waited for everything to play out.

Cain could explain everything that happened with the duo. How Nira and James ambushed him when he fought a Hell Devil and almost killed him. The [A.I. Chip Module] recorded everything through the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] tool.

Nevertheless, as Cain saw all the scornful stares the other cadets gave him, he knew it would be futile.

‘They have already found me guilty. No matter what I say, even if I show definite proof of Nira’s wrongdoing, they would just twist the truth and turn it against me.’

As realization reached his mind, all the growing doubt and fear in his heart vanished, and Cain stared back at all those cadets with nothing but calm in his eyes.

Zamir’s eyes narrowed as he saw that look. He secretly wanted Cain to rebel and yell at them, allowing him to display his diplomatic skills to all those watching, but things didn’t go his way.

“Victor, go and arrest him,” Zamir spoke to a cadet in the back of his group.

The one that received the command was a tall youth, almost one head higher than the others, with commoner clothes. Despite his size, he was among the weakest as he was still a Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior.

“I?” Victor unconsciously shook his head as he heard that command. Cain was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior. How could he possibly handle someone like that?

Of course, the tall youth did not dare to refute. He knew very well what Zamir was capable of.

“You are carrying out my orders. Anyone that goes against them is my enemy. Do it, and you might get his boots.” Zamir did not hide his words and made sure everybody heard them. He displayed his managing skills and how those who followed him could benefit, even if they were commoners.

As soon as the tall Victor heard those words, all his reluctance was pushed away by greed. He almost ran toward Cain, fearing someone else would take his job.

As he was about to grab Cain, a nasty smile appeared on his face. The fact both came from a similar background did not matter, as the only thing in his mind right now were the boots. He was sure that this one would not dare to resist after Zamir’s words.

The moment Victor put his hand over Cain’s shoulder, his entire body froze as he saw two cold eyes that seemed capable of piercing his soul.

Before Victor could do anything, Cain grabbed his head and blasted him against the ground.

That scene shocked everybody, and before they could even process it, Cain stamped Victor’s chest, making this one puke blood, before unleashing his Wave Cloak.

“You want me to atone for my sins? Make me!” Cain spoke those words and put more pressure on Victor’s chest.

Cain’s savagery shocked everybody. Only Vice-Captain Josef could see the calmness behind those actions.

Had Cain truly lost control, he would activate his Wave Cloak before stomping on Victor’s chest, which would have resulted in the death of this one.

Zamir was taken back by the sudden events, and things only grew worse as he saw how all the cadets turned toward him for guidance.

Everything went smoothly up to this point, but now that an unexpected change had occurred, he did not know what to do.

Just like one would expect from someone so young and inexperienced as Zamir, he chose violence in the first setback.

Unfortunately for Zamir, Cain spoke before he could do anything.

“Take one step forward, and I shatter his ribcage.” Cain put even more pressure on Victor’s chest, making agony appear on this one’s face.

“Of course, if you don’t care about the fate of the man following your orders, go ahead.” Cain knew that he could not defeat Zamir in a physical contest, so he targeted this one’s ego and reputation.

He hit the right spot since Zamir froze and dared not move a single step.

The other nobles looked at the soldiers in the nearby area, but none of them dared to move without Vice-Captain Josef’s orders.

Now that Cain had handled the masses, he took a deep breath and was about to talk to Vice-Captain Josef. There was no point in speaking with the other cadets, and he no longer cared about their opinion.

Cain had just opened his mouth when his eyes narrowed, and he focused on the trees, only to see the red-eyed youth emerge from them.

Large wounds on the red-eyed youth’s body gave everybody an idea of the battles he endured. The worst injuries were a deep cut on his right leg and an ugly bruise on his right shoulder that indicated broken bones.

The tense atmosphere shattered when the red-eyed youth appeared due to the shock that assaulted everybody when they saw the body he dragged.

It was an Atrox.