Chapter 488 – Forced To Reconsider.

Roland’s eyes widened as the claws stopped inches from his face, crackling against the barrier of dense mana. The tension in the air was palpable, and for a moment, all movement ceased. The inn’s walls seemed to close in around them, the few onlookers too stunned to react.

Hadley, the maid-knight, stood poised like a coiled spring and ready to pounce at any moment. Her eyes locked on Roland’s helmet which was glowing. He knew that she was probably a trained knight and bodyguard but he had underestimated her capabilities. Her status remained hidden to him and thus he assumed that she would not be much stronger than any other tier 3 class holder he had encountered.

‘Does she have a second tier 3 class? Why would someone like this be defending a teenage girl? Who is Margaret exactly?’

Roland had made a blunder and underestimated what he was dealing with just like his opponents did with him. Now he realized that the recent string of victories had bolstered his confidence to a dangerous level. He had thought himself untouchable, but now he was facing someone with enough skill to push him back, something not many had managed.

The stand-off couldn’t last. He needed to diffuse the situation before it escalated further, but his options were limited. If he pushed back, the entire inn could be destroyed in the ensuing fight, drawing unwanted attention from the Count’s forces. This would probably be held against him and could jeopardize Robert’s case. Without him around, there would probably be no one around to exert any kind of pressure against the opposition. However, backing down might mean losing control over Margaret and the other girls, putting them all in danger.

“Miss Margaret… and Miss Hadley”

Roland began talking, his voice still calm despite the situation.

“I apologize if I startled you, but you must understand that your safety, and that of your friends, is my top priority. The city is becoming more dangerous by the hour, it would be better if you returned to the academy, this issue is not something you should involve yourself in…”

Hadley’s eyes remained locked on Roland’s, her stance unwavering no change in her expression. It was as if this woman had no mind of her own and would only follow the orders of her young mistress. Margaret, however, seemed to soften slightly as she realized the gravity of the situation. Her initial anger gave way to concern, not just for herself but for Lucienne as well.

“Luci is my friend, and I won’t abandon her when she needs me the most!”

Margaret replied, her voice firm yet tinged with worry. It didn’t seem that she had any plans on leaving. Roland was now stuck between a rock and a hard place. The young girl was unwilling to budge and her guard wasn’t saying much. If he decided to push it any further, the ensuing battle would probably cause him to be imprisoned. The count would certainly see this as a good excuse.

“Your loyalty to Lucienne is commendable, but staying here could do more harm than good. I’m sure you understand that your young lady will just be getting in the way, it would be wise to return to the institute where it’s safer.”

Roland attempted to reason with the maid but instead of getting a reply, she pushed further against his mana veil. He had not yet exerted all of his power but there were too many people around them for the usual explosive tactics. Any stray mana beam could harm a bystander who was walking peacefully outside, this was not something he wished to have on his conscience.

“And if something happens to Lucienne while we’re gone? What if she needs us, and we’re not here? Professor you might be powerful, but you can’t be everywhere at once.”

It didn’t seem that he was getting through to them but perhaps what she was saying made some sense. If he was forced to rescue his brother later, then perhaps leaving Lucienne in their care would be the right move. The guards Francine Arden arrived with weren’t too great. This maid he was struggling with would probably be the best guard Lucienne could have.

‘The count probably won’t target students from the Institute in some strange attempt to blackmail me, right?’

Roland began contemplating his options. The primary reason he wanted these three students out of here was for their safety. The maid was strong, but it was clear she would only protect Margaret. However, the young girl had already demonstrated a few times that she was a good friend, and his worries about their safety might be unfounded. This wasn’t the optimal resolution to the situation, but confirming Hadley’s strength had its benefits.

He paused, his mind racing as he weighed his options. The situation had spiraled out of control quickly, but he couldn’t afford to let it escalate further. The young girls were more of an annoyance to him than anything else. Perhaps he could win the battle against the maid but she wasn’t his only problem. For the time being it was better to relent. The trial could take a while and eventually these brats could get bored.

“You do realize that once we are back at the Institute, all of you will be punished? Are you sure you still wish to remain even if you get expelled?”

After all other options had failed, he attempted to bring it back to the institute. He was still a deputy professor and could push for their expulsion. Perhaps Margaret was in a high enough position to resist, but her two other friends were not of any high nobility. He did not want to use the strategies of his enemies but they weren’t giving him other options.

“That is…”

Margaret hesitated for a moment and looked at the two other girls there. Marlein and Atasuna could not afford to offend anyone but they stood firmly.

“We will stay!”

“Yeah, we won’t leave Luci here alone!”

The two replied and he quickly responded.

“She is here with her mother, she isn’t alone.”

“No, she needs us here!”

“Now listen here…”

Roland started to get a bit annoyed about how the girls were ignoring the whole issue. They were uninformed about everything but didn’t seem to care if they were a burden.