Forced to swallow their pride, the news media reluctantly accepted the situation. Armed with false information obtained from Mamoru Akaza, they launched a massive propaganda campaign.
Fueled by this media blitz, the public completely misunderstood Kurogane Ikki's true character.
"Is this real?"
"Were we all fooled by Mamoru Akaza?"
The audience gazed up at the giant screen in the sky.
Cameras in the air focused on the screen as well.
Whether they were spectators at the venue or viewers watching on television, everyone began to doubt the truth of the incident.
"Fabricated! It's all fabricated!"
Mamoru Akaza's face turned livid as he glared at the screen in utter rage.
He absolutely couldn't admit the truth! If he did, he wouldn't just incur the wrath of the future world's strongest Blazer; he'd lose his current job as well!
"If you still refuse to admit the truth," Ikki said, "I have one more piece of evidence."
Ryoji paused. "Kurogane Ikki's original opponent wasn't actually me. You specifically pressured our school's committee to change the opponent to me, right?"
"That's nonsense! I would never do such a thing!" Mamoru Akaza vehemently denied.
At this point, he couldn't admit to anything Ryoji was saying. A single admission would doom him utterly.
"I can testify that it's true!"
Another voice cut through the broadcast.
From another corner of the audience, Toudou Touka stared in astonishment at Totokubara Kanata beside her, who was also holding a microphone.
"Originally, Kurogane Ikki's opponent was an E-Rank student. Mamoru Akaza contacted me and pressured the committee to change the opponent to Nangou Ryoji. Perhaps Nangou-san had offended him in the past, truly a devious scheme!"
Toudou Touka looked utterly bewildered.
'What's with this atmosphere where I'm the only one who's out of the loop?'
"So the opponent's records were tampered with? I thought they were like this from the beginning!"
"How despicable!"
Ryoji silently averted his gaze.
This had nothing to do with him. Yes, that's right.
"You're full of shit!"
Mamoru Akaza stared dumbfounded at Totokubara Kanata, his composure shattering from the sudden betrayal.
"I never nominated Nangou Ryoji! I originally nominated Toudou Touka... Dammit!"
He cut himself off mid-sentence, realizing his mistake and clamping his mouth shut.
But his words had already been captured, successfully reaching the public's ears.
"He admitted it!"
"Damn, so the old undying bastard really was behind this!"
"To think the Branch would fabricate evidence and slander a Student Knight... Can we even trust the League's Branch anymore?"
"I remember Kurogane Ikki isn't like that. I haven't heard anything about him getting close to any girls in the past year."
As the ugly lie unraveled, the truth gradually gained the upper hand.
"I'm done for..."
Mamoru Akaza's face turned ashen, his complexion darkening with despair.
It was all over.
"I'm Kurogane Ikki's friend," Ryoji declared, his voice ringing with conviction, "and I can testify that the love between him and Stella is genuine. There's no room for anyone else between them. All those rumors are lies!"
Ryoji's timely intervention sealed Akaza's fate with finality.
"That guy... even he says something nice once in a while. Heh heh..." Stella giggled, covering her face with her hands from her seat in the audience.
"As for you, Mamoru Akaza, as President of the Ethics Committee, you should have been diligent and impartial in resolving disputes involving Student Knights. Instead, you abused your authority for personal gain, framing an innocent Student Knight and manipulating the media to fabricate slander. What qualifications do you have to remain in a leadership position, you irredeemable trash?" Ryoji glared at him with contempt.
"Go find a garbage can and stay there!"
Kurogane Ikki stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him. His heart, which had grown completely cold, now warmed anew.
His reputation, publicly tarnished, was now completely vindicated. All accusations had been proven false.
He wouldn't be stripped of his Blazer Qualification.
He wouldn't be forced to separate from Stella.
He could even re-enter the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival through the revival match, finally fulfilling his dream.
All of this was thanks to Ryoji's help.
With just a few words, Ryoji had exposed the entire conspiracy and completely reversed the situation.
He had resolved everything in a nearly flawless manner.
"Thank you," Kurogane Ikki murmured inwardly, gazing at Ryoji's figure.
'He's the kind of friend who would truly go to great lengths for you, the kind of friend you'd want by your side for life.'
'Some people act like your closest pals on the surface, but when trouble hits, they're nowhere to be found.'
'Others tease and complain about you endlessly, but when push comes to shove, they'll shoulder your burdens and carry you through the storm.'
Having just one friend like that is a blessing beyond measure.
And when that friend happens to be your greatest rival?
'To find one true friend in life is enough.'
This time, he truly owed Ryoji an immense debt, one he might never be able to repay in this lifetime.
Though consumed by helpless thoughts, Kurogane Ikki's face lit up with an overwhelming smile.
...
"So handsome! Amazing!"
A five-star hotel in Japan.
The presidential suite on the top floor had been reserved today by a distinguished guest. She hadn't even shown any identification, yet the hotel manager, trembling with deference, immediately relinquished the suite, refusing all other requests for it.
Inside the presidential suite:
A pink-haired loli sat on the sofa, watching the final match of the Hagun Academy representative selection tournament on TV, her eyes shining like light bulbs.
"Charlotte, within ten minutes, I... no, I must have all the information on this Angel!"
"Yes, Ojou-sama!"
The black-haired maid standing behind her bowed deeply, her expression utterly respectful, before turning and leaving the room.
But as soon as she stepped out, she gritted her teeth.
"Damn it! Ojou-sama's 'dog' position belongs to me alone! I won't let anyone take it!"
Despite her fierce declaration, she couldn't let Ojou-sama down. So, she dutifully went to gather intelligence.
"Rinna, he's mine!"
On the other sofa sat a beautiful girl with messy golden hair, wearing only a paint-stained apron over her bare upper body.
Her gaze burned into Kazamatsuri Rinna, her tone dripping with warning.
This was Sara, the same girl Ryoji and Rinna had encountered at the art exhibition.
The Kazamatsuri clan had once done her a great service, so she wouldn't harm Rinna herself. But on this matter, she wouldn't yield an inch.
"I only want him to be my Sebastian," Rinna said, growing increasingly flustered as she spoke. "You're being overly dramatic. Though, making him my man might not be such a bad idea after all?"
As she continued, Rinna herself began to find the idea appealing.
"Aiya, the girls have already fallen for him," a tall man in a clown mask observed from across the room, his voice slightly puzzled. "Maybe I'm overthinking it, but if you encounter him, you wouldn't show him mercy, would you?"
"Hmm? Has the target for elimination been decided?" Rinna asked, her expression one of genuine surprise.
"Indeed," the clown man nodded with a grin.
"Just now, the client contacted me via a secure line. The target for this mission is Hagun Academy."
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395