I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Chapter 95 : School Event (2)

School Event (2)

Countless works were scheduled to be exhibited at the event.

For example, there would be a competition of magical artifacts made by students of the alchemy department, or a swordsmanship tournament among the students of the swordsmanship department to determine superiority.

To see the achievements of the students, various guests began to visit the academy.

Among those visitors, of course, parents could not be left out.

"Father! Over here, here!"

Louis shouted to Permann Dexter, who was walking from afar.

Permann, who had become lord at a young age, approached while raising his hand with a reluctant expression.

"It's been so long, father!"

"Uh... yeah."

Even as a father meeting his child, Permann was awkward in front of his son.

It was only natural.

Louis was not really his child, and in fact, his existence was beyond anything Permann could dare to meddle with.

"Why are you so nervous? We're father and son."

"Well... maybe it's because I haven't seen my son in so long?"

Permann was still fidgety, but that was his own way of adapting.

Since he was acting out a non-existent paternal love, it wasn't exactly strange.

"F, father..."

This time, Rio, who was next to them, greeted Permann.

"Have you... been well?"

"Uh... um..."

At Rio's question, Permann suddenly hesitated. Then, he hurriedly leaned over and whispered into Louis's ear.

"What was that child's name again?"

"It's Rio."

Permann, having forgotten Rio's name, managed to get through the crisis with Louis's help.

"That's right, Rio! Seeing all these friends with you, I guess you're enjoying school life here."

"Yes..."

Though they were trying hard to play the part of father and daughter, there was no genuine feeling.

Someone with sharp senses would have noticed immediately, but fortunately, only innocent students were gathered around.

"Nice to meet you. We are Rio's friends."

"Yes. Thank you all for... spending time with our Rio."

Trying to avoid suspicion, Permann forced a smile. Then, a girl among the friends asked him a question.

"Are you Lord Permann, son of Lord Page?"

"How did you know that?"

Permann was startled to hear a student know about his father. However, this student had deep ties to the Dexter domain.

"My name is Lizsha, daughter of Randolph, an alchemist who served the Dexter family."

"Randolph? Ah...!"

That was a name Dexter remembered as well.

Randolph had been a famous alchemist active in the family since Permann was a child.

In fact, before coming here, Permann had received a letter from Louis about Lizsha and Patrick.

Today, the real reason for coming to the academy was to see those two.

"I never expected to meet his daughter here."

"By the way, do you know what happened to my father...?"

"Well..."

Permann lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry."

"I see..."

It was sad news, but Lizsha had already expected it.

Knowing that the Bisted family had occupied the domain with a demon, she could easily guess her father's fate.

"But don't worry. The demon and Bisted child that took over the domain are gone now. If you want, you can come back to our domain."

"Really?"

"You're Sir Randolph's child. There's no reason I wouldn't do at least that much."

It was good news for Lizsha and her brother Patrick.

No longer did they have to live with their mother tucked away in a remote rural village.

"Who solved the problem with the domain, anyway?"

"That was..."

At that question, Permann's gaze instinctively shifted toward Louis.

The one who had resolved the incident was right nearby, but Permann couldn't bring himself to speak up properly.

"It was solved by a passing 7th Legion officer. If they hadn't been there, I wouldn't even be standing here now."

The more Lizsha saw Permann, the more suspicious she became.

After all, having once lived in the Dexter domain, she had never heard that he had two children.

Just as she suspected something was being hidden—

"Ah, they're coming just in time."

At that moment, Victor, Simon, Rozen, and Pram were bringing someone over.

That person was dressed in a pure white dress, face heavily made up, and at a glance looked like a woman, but there was something strangely masculine, almost androgynous about them.

"Let me introduce you. This is my mother."

As Louis introduced this person as his mother, Rio's friends collectively gasped.

"Mother, please introduce yourself. And don't do anything weird."

"..."

Prompted by Louis, she(?) forced a smile on her ashen face.

"Hello... I'm Rejir—no, Raymi Dexter, wife of the Dexter family. Thank you for playing so well with my children..."

Introducing herself, Raymi—no, Rejir—wore a look of aggrieved injustice as tears slid down his cheeks.

He could not understand why he had to play the mother here. If it were at least as the father, that might make sense.

'Did he just say Rejir?'

Lizsha was sure that's what she heard. Her suspicions were growing into certainty.

"Mother! What's wrong? Are you moved by seeing how well Rio and I are doing at school?"

"Mom, be strong."

Despite Louis and Rio encouraging him, Rejir's expression did not improve at all.

"What's there to be strong about?!"

"Mom, didn't I tell you not to raise your voice?"

"..."

When Louis turned authoritarian, Rejir almost fainted on the spot.

He felt wronged to be degraded like this, but that didn't mean he wasn't scared of Louis.

"Did you feel sick on the way here, mom? Or did Dad bother you?"

"No... I..."

Permann shook his head, insisting he hadn't caused any trouble.

"Well, I could understand Dad bothering Mom—after all, you almost ruined the domain before!"

Not just nearly ruined—it was very nearly destroyed. As that point wasn't wrong, Permann nodded in agreement.

"But still, mom! You can always make up for a blunder! People can change! Just look at Rio! She used to swing her sword at every opportunity, but now she's so much more sociable!"

Louis gestured at Rio's classmates to make the point that Rio, who had been so fierce in the legion, had changed this much.

"So you can change too, mom! Be strong!"

"Yes. Hang in there, mom."

Then Louis and Rio started to sing "Hang in there, mom," to Rejir.

Of course, since such a song didn't exist in this world, everyone just followed Louis's lead.

"Come on, everyone together!"

At Louis's shout, everyone present began singing along. Even Permann and Rio's friends joined in, swept up in the mood.

"Stop!! Please stop singing!!"

But for Rejir, just hearing that song was enough to make him want to throw up.

It was a wonder he hadn't collapsed from frustration.

Lizsha was embarrassed by Rejir's wailing, but next to her, Rio said quietly,

"You know who that person really is, right?"

"..."

"That's right. It's exactly who you're thinking of."

Rejir Bisted. The enemy who seized Dexter domain and killed her father.

Killing him wouldn't even suffice as revenge.

"If it's about your father, you can relax now. That person will live neither as a man nor as a human any longer."

At what Rio said so pointedly, Lizsha was startled; she felt like she now finally understood who Rio really was.

Of course, she'd already always found Rio suspicious.

Rio had physical abilities no other class representative could match.

"Rio, you and your brother, by any chance..."

"Shh."

Just as Lizsha was about to say it out loud, Rio covered her mouth.

If it had been anyone else, Rio might have coldly silenced them, but to Lizsha she winked and smiled.

"That's the girl, isn't it?!"

Just then, someone strode over and shouted.

It was a middle-aged woman in splendid garb, with Alio and Selion, the brothers, by her side.

"Are you Rio Dexter?!"

The woman marched straight up to Rio and glared at her as if she meant to kill.

When Rio nodded, admitting her identity, the woman swung her palm immediately.

SMAAACK!-

The slap resounded loudly as her palm struck Rio's cheek, and the onlookers gasped in shock as Rio staggered from the blow.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Of course, one of her friends yelled at the woman, but she answered arrogantly.

"I am the wife of the Refilica family, the mother of these two brothers. I heard you dared lay hands on my sons!"

Behind her, Alio and Selion looked terrified.

It was true they'd been bested by Rio, but telling their mother didn't really solve anything.

In fact, it would only invite Rio's retaliation.

'Just like they used to do themselves.'

Louis understood why the brothers looked so uneasy even with their parent present.

Just then, Rio's classmates gathered around to defend her.

"Do you even know what those kids did to others before they got theirs from Rio?"

"Do you know how many students dropped out of the academy because of them?"

"And you're their parent, yet you don't know that?"

Hearing her friends protest, the woman maintained an indifferent expression.

"So what if that's true?"

"What?"

"What does that have to do with what happened to my sons?"

Her genuine attitude left the classmates dumbfounded as if talking to an unresponsive monster.

Maybe this is how it would feel to talk to a real monster. Permann, watching from the side, felt the same.

"If you don't want to end up like her, get out of the way. Or are you all the same kind—nobodies with nothing, like that girl? Wouldn't it be better for you if you kept out of this?"

Her words sent Rio's friends' blood pressure skyrocketing. Is that something you say to kids?

"Mother, that's enough."

"Now's not the time for..."

Apparently, there was more going on, as the brothers tried to stop their mother.

But she was stubborn.

"No! When someone bullies my children, I can't just let it go! Don't you remember what happened to your older brother, Shalio? I haven't slept peacefully a single night since that day!"

Because she'd gone through such heartache, her approach was to resolve this firmly.

The woman shoved aside Rio's friends, who didn't dare resist because of the class difference, and they apologized to Rio for not being able to protect her.

"You broke Selion's leg, didn't you? The moment I heard that, it brought to mind the incident with your eldest brother Shalio's face being smashed! Apologize right now! On your knees!"

With the woman's maniacal shriek, Rio stood up and replied,

"No."

Her answer was blunt and without a second's hesitation.

"They started it."

Rio pointed at Selion, at which the woman gnashed her teeth.

"Right... Commoners at the academy acting like they're someone important... You filthy liar, just like I thought."

At the same time, her fist was coated in aura, and Louis instantly knew it was at the Expert level.

But there was no need for him to interfere. Even if Rio were struck, she'd be fine, and besides, someone else had already stepped in.

"What are you doing?"

A suddenly-appearing woman easily caught her fist.

"And who are you?"

The woman was furious and wary as her aura-imbued fist was easily stopped.

"This girl is my student. I won't allow you to lay a hand on her so lightly."

Silia watched the reunion with an old nemesis, her face filled with venom.