Chapter 43 Apologize
Lisa was livid!
She stared at Adam with bloodshot eyes and gritted her teeth in rage. Not only had he disrespected the customs of Magi by showing up late, but he was even drunk out of his mind!
When she looked at Adam's clothes, she was utterly revulsed. She was having so much difficulty controlling her anger that she didn't know what to do.
Just when she was about to lash out at Adam, the referee stomped toward Adam and grabbed his collar. This final-year student was completely appalled by Adam's appearance and behavior.
He roared at the youth's face, "Adam Constantine, just where the hell are your manners?! Is this how a Magus carries himself in public!? Are you out of your—"
The referee was about to continue berating Adam, but the words got stuck in his throat.
BURP!!
Adam burped at the referee's face without restraint. He then spoke while slurring, "Calm down—hiccup—man… Why so serious?"
"You!" The referee's face turned red with anger. He raised his hand and was about to slap the intoxication out of Adam when suddenly a fair and delicate hand caught his own.
He turned around to see Lisa looking at Adam coldly and muttering in a chilly tone, "You don't have to get your hands dirty. Leave him to me. I'll teach him his place. Scum like him should have never been given a chance to become a Magus."
Towards the end, her voice turned up a notch, making sure everyone in the arena heard it.
Lisa's voice echoed in the arena, resonating with all the students present. At once there was a loud clamor.
"That's right! Trash like him belongs in the farmlands!"
"Just who let this peasant into the academy?!"
"How dare he disrespect Magi customs?!"
"Who the hell does he think he is?"
All the students in the arena had taken a common stance against Adam. Even the ones that had a good impression of him earlier, were now repulsed by his behavior.
Elaine, Jenna, and her friends also began to frown. They quite admired Adam because of his high analytical skills, but now they didn't look at him in a good light.
Especially Edward, he was simply dumbstruck. He couldn't help but wonder, Just what the hell is wrong with Adam? This is completely unlike him!
Seeing everyone collectively boo Adam, Lisa began feeling slightly bad for him. She didn't expect to get such a strong reaction from the crowd. She felt she might've overdone it earlier by speaking in such a cruel manner.
Hence, as a show of magnanimity, she decided to give her opponent a way out.
"Adam, if you take this chance to apologize to everyone for your behavior today, I'll let this slide and allow you to yield. Please do not make this harder than it already is."
The crowd was full of praise for the generosity displayed by Lisa. The students thought that Adam was unworthy of such kindliness. Regardless, they all quieted down to allow Adam to speak.
In the professor's viewing area, everyone present shook their heads in disappointment at the sudden turn of events.
Professor Jock who's always had a bad impression of Adam couldn't help but voice out his opinion to the Headmistress.
"Showing up late and piss-drunk to a duel is truly unbecoming of a Magus. Professor, he has no respect for authority and the ancient Magus' customs. The kid's a rebel! We must severely punish him, and if possible, expel him from the academy."
Before the Headmistress could even reply, Berger looked at him and sighed. "Jock, you're still too shortsighted. That quick temper of yours has clouded your judgment."
Professor Jock bowed towards the old gnome and respectfully asked, "Lord Berger, could you please explain?"
Berger looked in the direction of Adam and smiled with approval. "No matter how you look at it, the kid is clearly inferior to Lisa. Whether it is in terms of spell repertoire, mana reserves, background, or even fighting experience.
"So, when all the odds are against him, what can he do?"
Professor Godfrey answered with a chuckle.
"Employ trickery."
Professor Jock was taken aback. "You mean to say…"
Berger took a puff from his pipe and stated, "Look carefully, Jock. Is he really drunk?"
…
On the large platform, Adam hung his head low, his face hidden under the shadow of his bangs. While everyone waited to hear his apology, his lips curled up into a slight smirk. But he quickly hid it!
He looked up and deeply stared at Lisa, his facial expression seemingly displaying remorse. He then slowly looked at everyone in the crowd, and then his gaze finally landed back on Lisa again.
In the end, his shoulders slouched and he spoke apologetically, "I'd like to take this chance…
"To apologize…"
Adam's eyes flashed with brilliance and his 'drunkenness' instantly vanished. He screamed at the top go his lungs,
"TO ABSOLUTELY NOBODY!!"
There was pin-drop silence in the entire arena. Everyone was speechless. Lisa was dazed momentarily, not having expected this outcome. But soon, she was filled with boundless rage and frustration.
"You son of a—"
But before she could finish, Adam had already thrown his wine gourd at her!
Seeing this, Lisa was even more furious. She easily swung her wooden staff and smacked the incoming gourd bottle. Had she been clear-headed, she would have dodged it instead. But Adam had really struck a nerve.
The gourd was very fragile and instantly shattered upon impact. But instead of wine spilling out, what came out was a green-colored gas!
Lisa's eyes widened and she hurriedly retreated. But it was too late. The green gas had completely enshrouded her and she ended up inhaling some of it.
A hallucinogen?! Lisa couldn't help but panic a little. She held her breath in and soon calmed down. No, it seems to be a type of relaxant.
However, she still didn't let her guard down. She finally realized that Adam had been acting all this while. She hurriedly moved her hands and tried to complete the physical component to cast a spell, but before she could, the green gas in front of her suddenly parted and a fist enlarged in her vision.
BAM!
Adam viciously punched Lisa in the face, causing her to fly away and smash against the magical invisible barrier enclosing the fighting platform.
Seeing Lisa miserably fall to the ground, Adam's lips curled up into a wide grin.
"Heh, gotcha!"
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