NOVEL WEB Chapter 105: Chapter 106: Fu Xiaoli
"I hereby announce that the National Akatsuki Academy, under my directorship, will participate in this year's Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival as the eighth academy. Please look forward to it. They will show you that, compared to the lapdog academies of the League, only Akatsuki Academy can truly carry the future of this nation."
Charles shut off the television with the remote and turned to look out the window.
Though he had anticipated this outcome, he hadn't expected things to escalate to this degree.
In fact, news of the Akatsuki Academy's attack on Bujin Academy had already aired the very next day. The damage inflicted upon Bujin Academy was clearly shown in the reports.
Akatsuki Academy, having committed such an atrocity, was clearly behaving like a terrorist organization. The Seven Stars Festival's Operations Committee had even begun to consider stripping Akatsuki students of their Mage Knight status.
But all of that changed after the televised statement.
Because the speaker was none other than Tsukikage Maya, who claimed to be the director of Akatsuki Academy—and the orchestrator behind the entire attack.
And his other title? Cabinet Minister of Japan. One of the country's highest-ranking officials.
Unlike the Seven Stars Academies, which operated under the International Mage Knight League, Akatsuki Academy was officially a national institution—its full name being the National Akatsuki Academy.
He made no apology for the terrorist attack. Instead, he openly provoked the League.
He intended to use Akatsuki Academy to end the League's control over Japan's Mage Knight education system and reclaim national sovereignty.
Thus, no judicial institution dared to prosecute the so-called "terrorist act." Instead, the entire country defined the incident as an "unexpected clash."
Naturally, the Seven Stars Academies and the Operations Committee opposed this move. But just as they were discussing banning Akatsuki from the festival, they received direct orders from League Headquarters.
The League would use the festival to strike back at Akatsuki Academy—demonstrating that the League's policies were just.
All of this was exactly as Tsukikage Maya had planned… except for one thing: Akatsuki Academy had been utterly defeated by a single person.
Yes, the most shocking part of this entire incident was not the attack itself, but the fact that Charles single-handedly crushed Akatsuki Academy.
This, of course, was part of Kuromi Shinguuji's counterattack against Akatsuki. And Tsukikage Maya was deeply troubled by it.
His original plan had been to have Akatsuki demolish Bujin Academy, thereby proving the League's education model a failure. But instead, Charles crushed Akatsuki outright.
Not only did this fail to fulfill his goals—it derailed them from the very beginning. All he could do was use his personal influence to forcibly push Akatsuki Academy into the spotlight.
But Kuromi Shinguuji immediately released another statement: After defeating Akatsuki Academy, Charles encountered Twin Wings and fought her.
And the result? Twin Wings herself publicly acknowledged the battle as a draw!
The public opinion, which Tsukikage Maya had manipulated through nationalist fervor, slipped completely out of his grasp.
After all, no one—not even the League or its allies—had ever been able to handle the strongest swordswoman in the world. Yet someone had now fought her to a draw!
Rather than worrying about the nation, the public turned its attention to something far more "entertaining."
Kurogane Ikki had gone into seclusion to train. After his bout with Edelweiss, he became more determined than ever.
But for Charles, the most important issue now was… he could travel between worlds again.
He had finally amassed enough magical power to return directly to the Fairy Tail world.
His training in martial arts had broken through its bottleneck during the fight with Edelweiss. There was no longer any reason to remain in this world.
Once he completed the Grandmaster's request, he would be ready to leave.
Only one thing weighed on him: Stella.
The magic of his own world still couldn't transport others. That meant they'd have to part for now.
The problem was—Charles had no idea how to tell her.
Just as he was sighing in frustration, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura in the distance.
His eyes narrowed. Speak of the devil…
The very problem he'd been worrying about had just come walking right into his hands.
Charles leapt straight out the window and flew toward the source of the fierce aura.
In the director's office, Kuromi Shinguuji sensed the domineering presence from afar. After the Akatsuki incident, she was on high alert. She was just about to investigate when she noticed Charles heading in that direction.
His initiative told her all she needed to know. She sat back down.
Charles soared past the dormitories, flying over the forest at the rear, until he spotted a petite girl standing there.
Her skin was dark, and she wore tattered prisoner's clothing. Most striking of all—her feet were bound by shackles, with a heavy iron ball still attached by chains.
Charles landed in front of her and spoke. "Long time no see, Senior Sister Fu Xiaoli."
Yes—this prisoner-like girl was none other than the target of Charles's mission to Japan. One of Shindou Temple's Four Sages, Gluttonous Ogre Fu Xiaoli—hailed as the temple's most gifted disciple in a hundred years, having broken through the limits at a young age.
Fu Xiaoli walked over and slapped his shoulder enthusiastically. "It really has been a while! You brat, how dare you fight Twin Wings before me. Still, you did well. Didn't disgrace the Grandmaster's teachings."
Then she laughed bitterly. "Man, I'm jealous—you can throw down without restraints!"
Charles opened his mouth, then said, "You're awfully cheerful about this, Senior Sister. You do know why I'm here, right?"
Fu Xiaoli smiled. "Of course I do. Still, I didn't expect the Grandmaster to go this far. He really worries too much."
Charles turned serious. "So, what's your answer? Are you going to return to Shindou Temple willingly?"
Fu Xiaoli nodded. "Don't worry. I'll go back. After all, I've already achieved my goal."
Charles blinked. "Goal? I never asked… why were you locked in the Extreme Pain Tower in the first place? And why break out? You weren't chasing Twin Wings just for the 'strongest' title, were you?"
Fu Xiaoli smiled. "I was imprisoned for violating one of the Five Vows—for boasting of my own strength.
As for why... Don't you think the outside world looks down on our homeland too much? We inherit the strongest martial arts, the purest will and spirit, yet these ignorant people think we're weak!
I couldn't bear that kind of humiliation. I wanted to prove that our martial arts are the pinnacle. Even if it meant being branded a vow-breaker, I accepted it gladly."
Suddenly everything clicked for Charles. No wonder the Grandmaster had acted so strangely regarding her return. So this was Fu Xiaoli's true motive.
Of the Five Vows of Shindou Temple, the most important was simply this: Martial prowess must never be used for anything unrighteous or unjust. But who could say that loving your country wasn't a form of righteousness?
Truthfully, Charles didn't think she was wrong. And surely, there were many within the temple who felt the same.
Then Fu Xiaoli grew serious. "Well? Is Twin Wings… really that strong?"
Charles nodded. "Very strong. I'm not her match yet. But one day, I'll defeat her for real."
Fu Xiaoli suddenly grinned. "Looks like me breaking out was unnecessary, then. I'll just wait back at Shindou Temple to hear the news of your victory."
Charles froze. "Senior Sister… you're going back on your own?"
She nodded. "Didn't I just say? My goal's already achieved. I believe in you. Defeat Twin Wings—let the world witness the strength of Shindou Temple."
Charles blinked, then smiled. "That's… a heavy kind of trust, you know. But I'll make sure to live up to it."
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