Chapter 53 Banquet 2
If you are a male living in society, you need to always care about how you behave in front of a female.
And I am not saying this because I want to give you some advice about how to treat women.
No, I am saying this in order to remind you about a powerful weapon that a woman possesses because of the social standing she has.
A weapon for shedding tears in public.
Because there are dumb males out there always chasing around girls in order to get under their skirts, women can use those primitive dogs to manipulate around.
There were cases on Earth when a girl of young age framed a boy with the accusation of rape, and without any testimony, the boy was somehow found guilty and lynched on the spot. Later he committed suicide because he got several death messages from social media, and he said he couldn't even show his face in public anymore. And later, it was found that that girl just accused him of rape because he rejected her. That was it.
Such cases can be extended, but it is an undeniable fact that a woman's tears are more effective when manipulating public opinion than a man's words.
Now, why am I telling you about this?
Because right now, I am in the same position.
"We are looking for Callius Augustride. There are charges against him."
When I heard the voice coming, I turned my head towards to newcomers.
A shiny golden metal armor, a golden spear, and a shield with the emblem of this world's most famous church.
'Paladins are here. Wow, you really prepared for something big.'
"Young Lord Callius? Why are they looking for him?"
Between all those murmurs, I slowly made my way to the center.
"I am Callius Augustride. First, state the reason for interrupting my banquet."
With a cold voice, I said to the knights.
"Callius Augustride, you are accused of assaulting a priest."
"WHAT? ASSAULTING A PRIEST!"
"He assaulted a holy mother?"
Hearing that, my surroundings erupted out loud, but I was unfazed.
"When have I done such a thing, and who was the person I assaulted? Do you think such baseless exclamation makes sense?"
"Bring her out."
Hearing me say that, they stepped aside, and a girl with swollen eyes appeared in my front.
"Sister Amber. Please tell us what happened at that time."
"Sob, sob. At that time, I was returning from the orphanage to my home in the evening. However, when I reached my home, suddenly someone grabbed me from my behind and forced me to enter my home. And then, he entered with me as well. I was scared; I was so scared, I didn't know what to do, hick."
/PAT/ /PAT/
"Please continue, Sister Amber."
"And then, when I saw the person behind me, he felt familiar with his red eyes, coupled with his black hair. But I was scared at that time, so I didn't know it was this boy in front of me, HICK!"
"After that, he forced me to do unbelievable things Even after that, he threatened me with the lives of children in the orphanage, so I couldn't talk about it with anyone. I lost my purity. Now, I can't look into the eyes of Mother Celestia anymore."
"How horrible."
"Poor sister, how did she manage to stand this?"
"As expected, the rumors were true."
"He is a demon."
Looking at the kneeling and sobbing young girl in front of me, I thought:
'Lies. You are not even a member of the church.'
Looking at the girl in front of me, I thought.
"Is there anything you want to say about that, Callius Augustride?"
"Where is your proof? You don't expect anyone to believe such claims without proof, don't you?"
"The proof is here."
At that moment, I heard a familiar sound of a man coming.
"Here is the proof you are looking for, ~Young Master Callius. This came directly from the magic tower. This substance was found in Sister Amber's room, and it matches your blood."
Showing me the cup he was holding, a man with a familiar face said.
'Archbishop Clayton. So he was involved in that as well.'
Seeing this man, I thought.
"Even Archbishop is here. It is really true, then."
"How dare he? Doesn't he know a sister is a holy being?"
"He is a heathen."
Looking at the reactions of others, it seems that public opinion is getting worse and worse.
'Now, you will move. Show me, Adelyn.'
/TOK/ /TOK/ /TOK/
'Here it is.'
At that moment, suddenly, everyone's attention was on the side of a woman who had just imbued her steps with mana to sound louder.
/SLAP/
Coming before me, she slapped my face.
"You are not worthy of the name of Augustride. I am disappointed in you."
Saying that she basically had confirmed that was true.
"As a duchess of Augustride Dukedom, I hereby announce the banishment of Callius Augustride from the family. From now on, you are forbidden to use the name Augustride."
And her following words were the marking fact of the conversation.
'This is not enough. Now, it is your turn, Alicia.'
/TOK/ /TOK/ /TOK/
However, this time, it was someone else coming to my side, with the same mana imbued her steps to sound louder.
/SLAP/
"How dare you? How dare you do that? I believed in you. I believed in you and that you could change. But, you…. You… How can you do that?"
/PAT/
A girl with yellow hair and green eyes said while shedding tears.
"I, I can no longer afford to be with you. I am tired."
Slowly raising her head, she started increasing her voice.
"I, Alicia Montalet, hereby declare that I broke the engagement with you, who has no longer an honor."
Saying that she left. Albeit, I could see the slight smirk on her face.
'Now, the last piece.'
"You are coming with us, Callius Aug-, Callius."
Slowly coming closer, a knight grabbed me with my hands.
<Trait [Noblesse] is disabled because the conditions were not met.>
'Finally, I can behave normally.'
"AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHA!"
"AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHA!
Seeing the crazy laugh coming from my mouth, the knight grabbed me by my arm, released my hold, looking at me crazily.
"What is so funny?"
"AHAHAHAHHAHAHAH! This is one of the funniest jokes I have heard so far. Ah, I can't even hold my laughter anymore; HAHAHAAHHA!"
"He has gone crazy."
"Hey, are you crazy? What are you doing?"
"Huff, huff. You said your name was Sister Amber, right?"
Turning my head to the nun beside me, I asked.
"Huh? Yes."
"Now, are you saying I rap*d an ugly prick like you? Do you think it makes sense? Me, desiring an old lady like you?"
"What are-"
"DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH! YOU UGLY HAG!"
Slowly making everything to the point I desired, I screamed.
'Now, let's see if you can smile any longer.'
Grabbing the bottle I hid in my pocket, I opened it and spilled the liquid inside it on top of the nun.
"What are you doing?"
/FLICK/
"Now, BAM!"
And then, I flicked my fingers, controlling the lightning elements around, making a flash, igniting the contents of the liquid I poured on the nun.
/BOOM/
And following was a sudden explosion.
"What have you done?"
However, before even a second could pass, the smoke rising was already dispensed with the effects of the wind magic the knight used.
"Huh? What is this?"
"What the bloody hell is this?"
However, dispensing the smoke was the worst thing that a knight could do at that moment.
'Now, thank you for moving accordingly, my little pawns.'
With a slight smile, I thought, looking at the scene in front of me.
There was a person lying on the ground.
However, she was nothing close to the person we just saw as Sister Amber.
Activating my [All Seeing Eye], I looked at the person in my front.
Name – Maya Hines
Age – 27
Class – Rogue
Mage Rank – 4-star
Knight Rank – 0-star
Attributes – Water Magic
The person in front of me was the maid that just prepared me for the banquet itself.
"What is this? Where is Sister Amber?"
"What happened to Sister Amber? Who is this woman?"
At that moment, the surroundings started getting louder and louder.
"NOW, EVERYONE! WHERE WERE WE?"
Gathering everyone's attention, I grabbed another flask from my belt, pouring it into the mouth of this girl lying on the ground.
"Ah, I remember. You were saying I somehow raped her, right? Now, let's get the contents from another perspective, shouldn't we, ~Archbishop Clayton?"
/FLICK/
"Huff, huff, huff, huff."
Flicking my head, I sent an electric current to the body of this girl, making her wake up from her stupor itself.
"Now, let's start the real ta-"
"STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, YOU CRIMINAL!"
Of course, looking at the situation getting awry, Adelyn tried to step in.
"Now, now, Duchess Adelyn~. What are you doing interrupting me? We are just beginning."
"TAKE HIM OUT, TAKE HIM OUT RIGHT NOW."
"Tututututu, the gauntlet has been thrown. You can't stop it anymore."
The moment I said that the girl started convulsing.
"I am sorry, Master Callius. I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry. They paid me for everything. I am sorry. There was no one like Sister Amber. It was all me; I am sorry. I was the one that brought your body fluids when I was cleaning your room; I was greedy. I am sorry."
"Huh? There was no one like Sister Amber?"
"Then, what is this all about? Why are the Paladins here?"
"Doesn't that mean Young Master Callius is innocent?"
"Who paid you?"
Looking at the maid before me, I said, activating my [Tyrant's Aura].
"I am sorry, I am sorry. It was La- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
However, before we could even get an answer, she started convulsing and dropped dead, with blood pouring out his mouth not long after.
And there was a long dead silence lingering around the banquet hall…