(Heartfelt thanks to 'Mo Yu Linshang', 'Xianyu Laike', 'Yan Ai Ai', 'Heartbroken, Heartless', 'Radiation Little Head', 'Data Seven Nights', and 'Long Lian Qingxue' for their tips!)
Dusk gradually fell.
Outside the gates of Areishia Spirit Academy, quite a number of people had gathered.
Those gathered there were not only students of Areishia Spirit Academy, but also spirit knights dressed in the uniforms of the Imperial Spirit Knight Order.
At that moment, the spirit knights from the Empire stood guard before a carriage, waiting for its passenger.
And the one who intended to ride that carriage was Velsaria Fahrengart.
Standing before the academy gates, Velsaria's gaze passed over the line of girls before her one after another.
Claire, Linse, Fianna, and Alice were all there within Velsaria's line of sight. Even Grayvas had appeared at the scene.
"Everyone, please go back," Velsaria said to the group watching her.
"I am merely a criminal now, no longer the academy's proudest and strongest Elf User. This trip to the imperial capital is also to atone for my sins. I do not deserve such a grand send-off from all of you."
Ever since the Lanbar War ended, transplanting Cursed Gear Crests had been regarded as taboo.
If an Elf User underwent a Cursed Gear Crest transplant without authorization, it was equivalent to committing a crime.
Even if she was the strongest Elf User at Areishia Spirit Academy, and even if she was the eldest daughter of Duke Franngartel's family, which held the Austia Empire's military lifeline, Velsaria still had to bear the consequences of that crime.
Therefore, even though all the Cursed Gear Crests on Velsaria's body had been removed by Noah, the crime itself could not be erased.
Thus, Velsaria was about to be sent to the Empire to stand trial. She would