That fucking bastar—
But before Licht could even finish his curse, his eyes were blinded by a barrage of flashing lights.
He had known that there would be crowds waiting beyond the curtain. Cameras, reporters, the weight of hundreds of eyes. But when the moment actually came, he still froze.
Before this, the largest audience he'd ever spoken to was probably his high school class during the occasional, reluctant presentation. To put it bluntly, he was completely out of his depth.
But before doubt could take root, his body moved on its own.
The trait「 A Valtier's Pride (S) 」has been activated.
In an instant, the nervous air around him vanished as if it had never existed at all.
Each step he took was firm, controlled—imposing yet elegant.
His back straightened into flawless posture, the kind only mastered through years of relentless training.
But it was his eyes that truly silenced the crowd.
His deep, violet irises turned cold and piercing—like shards of mystic ice forged in the depths of an arctic mountain.
By the time Licht reached the podium, the entire stadium had gone still. Most held their breath without realising it.
He scanned the hushed audience and sighed internally.
The original Licht may not have inherited any of the Valtier family's legendary combat skills… but when it came to their aura—their overwhelming presence—he truly was second to none!
Not wanting to let the tension stretch too long, Licht began his speech.
"Thank you for attending the Slayer Academy entrance ceremony.
I am the Rank 1 Cadet, Licht Draven Valtier.
The Slayer Academy is a place where we will learn and grow, and I look forward to leading you all into the future and—"
A sharp voice sliced through the air
"Hah! When will you stop pretending? That rank was stolen. You're no top cadet—just a fraud in the same uniform!"
The stadium froze.
'How dare they?'
Licht had prepared for anything. But he never expected this—an open challenge, a public accusation.
He wanted to see who was crazy enough to jump out and accuse him in front of the whole world!
But the moment his eyes landed on the source of the voice, his heart sank.
It was a woman.
A beautiful woman with shoulder-length blue hair and a face that could make hearts skip a beat.
But no charm radiated from her. Despite her fairy-like features, her expression was cold—poisoned with hatred.
To any player of [Saviour of Slayer Academy], she was unmistakable.
It was a fan favorite heroine in the game
Charlotte Valemont.
As the main heroine within the game, she had exceptional talent, stunning looks, and considerable charm.
But that was only for the protagonist of the game.
To Licht, she was someone no different from a demon.
She was a mad dog who wouldn't let up until she ground his bones into powder.
And this wasn't just a metaphor.
The character Licht D. Valtier was a minor Act 1 villain who died in every playthrough and Charlotte would always manage to be present at each and evry scene!
It was understandable, though—after all, Licht was the one who had killed her brother and single-handedly ruined her family using the overwhelming influence of the Valtier family.
The grudge between them was simply irreconcilable.
That's why Licht was now secretly panicking.
If there was anyone crazy enough to start something on national TV, it would definitely be her.
This was a madwoman who wouldn't pass up the chance to ruin and kill Licht, even if it meant dying or ruining her own life in the process.
Even now, she was trying to do just that.
Despite the sudden and loud accusation, the other top-ranking students all had awkward looks on their faces.
If he didn't act soon, Licht might actually have his true nature exposed. If that happened his life ruined and a painful death would only be a few steps away.
Fuck!
Licht cursed as his mind whirred, trying to figure a way out of this predicament.
While this was happening, Charlotte stared at Licht. And although she couldn't detect any change in his demeanor, she knew—she couldn't let up now.
"Are you panicking now, Licht? It's because I'm not just spouting nonsense. The other cadets were there to prove my story. You weren't the original number one cadet, you cheated your way to get there!"
As soon as Charlotte said this, the other cadets in the front row shrunk their necks.
They didn't know what had led to this situation, but they didn't dare speak up.
Unlike Charlotte—who had gone mad with revenge—they still remembered Licht's true identity.
As the son of the patriarch of one of the Eight Great Families, Licht wasn't just representing himself right now.
He was standing on one of the most influential stages in the world—with all the cameras on him.
Exposing him now wouldn't just humiliate Licht but also the entire Valtier Family he represented.
Who in their right mind would want to piss off such a powerful organization for no clear gain?
Were they really that tired of living?
But Even if the other cadets didn't openly accuse Licht, some of them shrinking up was enough to get the attntion of the more eagle eyed members of the crowd.
'I've got him now.'
Charlotte's lips curled into a victorious smirk.
She could feel it—the shift in the stadium as people began to question Licht's true position and qualifications.
Are you scared, Licht?
Are you distraught?
Feel helpless—just like me, and just like my family back then.
Feel—
"Are you finished?"
Licht's voice sounded out slicing through Charlotte's thoughts
In just a moment, the entire auditorium froze.
The bubbling atmosphere that had been reaching its peak was brought crashing back down to earth with just a few words.
From the man's boundless, purple eyes, they saw an utter lack of emotion.
When the audience calmed down and turned their attention to Licht, it was clear:
Licht wasn't furious, Not even irritated.
He was merely... uninterested.
His unamused gaze swept across the auditorium before finally resting on Charlotte.
"Your efforts to reclaim my attention are painfully dull,"