So, the news media could only grit their teeth and accept it, then began spreading the false information they'd gotten from Akaza.
Because of the media's relentless bombardment, people completely misunderstood Ikki Kurogane.
"Is this for real?"
"Could it be that we've all been deceived by Akaza?"
The audience gazed up at the giant screen in the sky.
Cameras focused on it as well.
Both the spectators on-site and the viewers at home began doubting the truth of the whole incident.
"Fake! It's all fabricated!"
Akaza's face turned ashen as he glared fiercely at the screen.
He absolutely couldn't admit it!
If he did, he wouldn't just have offended the future world's strongest, but he'd also lose his current position!
"If you still refuse to admit it, I have another piece of evidence."
Eiji paused, then said,
"Originally, Ikki Kurogane's opponent wasn't me at all. It was you who ordered the school committee to pressure us, so the opponent was changed to face me, right?"
"No such thing! I never did anything like that!"
Akaza vehemently denied it.
At this point, he couldn't admit to anything Eiji said, or it would be his doom.
"I testify—that's true!"
Then another voice came through the broadcast.
In another corner of the audience, Touka looked surprised as she glanced at Kanata next to her. Kanata held a microphone as well.
"Originally, Ikki Kurogane's opponent was an E-rank student. It was Akaza who contacted me, pressured our committee, and had me change the opponent to Nangou Eiji. Maybe Nangou-san offended him before—his intentions are truly sinister!"
Touka was dumbfounded.
Why was she the only one left out of this whole thing?
"The opponent was altered? I thought it was always like that!"
"So despicable!"
Eiji silently averted his gaze.
This had nothing to do with him. Yes, that was right.
"Lies!"
Akaza stared dumbfounded at Kanata, suddenly stabbed in the back and mentally shattered.
"I never designated Nangou Eiji. At first, I clearly chose Touka Toudou... Damn!"
He realized his mistake halfway through and quickly shut up.
But his words were already caught and reached the ears of the public.
"He admitted it!"
"Damn, so it really was that old bastard behind all this!"
"I never thought the League headquarters would fake evidence and slander student knights. Can we even trust them now?"
"I remember Ikki Kurogane isn't like that. I never heard he got close to any girl over the past year."
As the ugly lies were exposed, the truth gradually took over.
"It's over..."
Akaza's face fell; he looked utterly defeated.
All was lost.
"I'm Ikki Kurogane's friend. I can testify that what he shares with Stella is true love, with no third party involved. All those rumors are false!"
Eiji's timely declaration settled the matter.
"That guy occasionally says nice things, huh? Heh..."
Stella covered her face with laughter in another corner of the audience.
"As for you, Akaza Mamoru, as head of the Ethics Committee, you should've diligently and fairly handled disputes among student knights. But instead, you abused your power to frame innocent knights, manipulated the media to fabricate slander. What right does trash like you have to remain in a management position?"
Eiji looked at him with utter contempt.
"Go find a trash can and stay in it!"
Ikki stared blankly at the scene before him.
His heart, which had long since frozen, began to warm again.
The stigma on him was publicly cleared; his innocence finally proven.
He wouldn't be stripped of his Blazer qualification.
He wouldn't be forced apart from Stella.
And he could enter the Seven Star Sword Art Festival stage again through the revival tournament, and fulfill his dream.
All of this was thanks to Eiji's help.
In just a few words, he exposed the entire conspiracy and completely turned the tide of the situation.
He solved everything in an almost perfect way.
"Thank you."
Ikki looked at Eiji's figure and silently expressed his gratitude in his heart.
Eiji was the kind of friend who would truly go to any lengths for his friends—a friend worth keeping for life.
Some people act like they're your best bros on the surface but disappear when things get tough.
Others may tease or look down on you, but when push comes to shove, they'll carry countless burdens on their shoulders for you.
Having a friend like that in life is already a great blessing.
And if that friend also happens to be your greatest rival—
If in life you find such a confidant, then your life is fulfilled.
This time, Ikki owed him a huge favor.
He might never be able to repay it in this lifetime.
Though feeling a bit helpless about that, Ikki's face showed a smile full of joy at this moment.
***
"Awesome! So cool!"
Inside a certain five-star hotel in the Neon Realm.
The presidential suite on the top floor was booked today by a distinguished guest. Without even showing any ID, the hotel manager reluctantly cleared the suite, refusing anyone else's requests to switch rooms.
Inside this presidential suite—
A pink-haired loli sat on the sofa, eyes shining brightly as she watched the final match of the Hagun Academy representative selection tournament on TV.
"Charlotte, within ten minutes, I... no, I want to see all the information on this 'angel'!"
"Yes, Miss!"
The black-haired maid standing behind her respectfully agreed, then turned and left the room.
But as soon as she stepped outside, she gritted her teeth.
"Damn it, I'm the only one who can be the miss's dog. Whoever comes, I won't give up this position!"
Though she said that, she couldn't disappoint her mistress's expectations, so she obediently went to gather intel.
"Rinna, he's mine!"
On the other side of the sofa sat a beautiful girl with messy blonde hair, wearing only a paint-stained apron on her upper body.
She stared at Kazamatsuri Rinna with a fierce warning tone.
This was Sara—the girl Eiji and Eiji had met in the exhibition hall.
The Kazamatsuri clan owed her a debt, so she wouldn't do anything to Rinna, but in this matter, she would never back down.
"I only want him to be my Sebastian. You're overthinking it. But having him as my man isn't so bad either, right?"
As Rinna spoke, she herself began to feel a little tempted.
"Oh my, the girls have already fallen for him."
A tall man wearing a clown mask stood in the room, looking slightly confused.
"Maybe it's just my imagination, but if you two meet him, I don't think you'd go easy on him, right?"
"Hm? Have you decided on the target to be destroyed?"
Rinna looked at him in surprise.
"Exactly."
The clown man nodded with a smile.
"Just now, the client contacted me through a dedicated line. This time, the target to be destroyed has been decided—it's Hagun Academy."
***
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