I Am Not Goblin Slayer

Chapter 406: Bowing Down and Admitting Mistakes

Many people at the dining table naturally noticed this scene.Seeing Gauss stand up, quite a few others also rose to their feet, only to be persuaded by him to sit back down.

Gauss only allowed the chief steward, Ivan, to accompany him.

"Is my sister alright?"

Gauss inquired of the Red Dragon Guild member who had come to deliver the news.

"Miss Xisero is fine. It's just that a few classmates seem to have been injured by her. One of them appears to be a child from the Xavier family. As for other details, I don't have more information. The academy just notified the families of both parties to go to the campus."

"That's good then."

Gauss felt relieved upon hearing his younger sister Xisero was unharmed.

As long as she was safe, everything else was a minor issue.

Thus, he sat back in the carriage compartment with a composed demeanor.

After traveling for a while, the carriage came to a stop in front of a manor.

It was late at night by now, but the manor's interior and exterior were still brightly lit.

Upon his arrival, he also noticed several luxurious carriages parked not far away.

He glanced at them briefly before averting his gaze.

"Let's go see what's going on."

Gauss strode inside with Ivan in tow.

Perhaps sensing his extraordinary bearing, the security guards at the entrance even forgot to stop him, simply watching as he walked in. It wasn't until he was dozens of meters away that they belatedly realized and jogged after him.

Outside the infirmary, the lights were ablaze.

Magic lamps emitted a hazy glow, dispelling the darkness.

In the potted plants hanging from the railing, pure white Glimmer Flowers faintly shimmered with a silvery light akin to moonlight, looking extremely beautiful.

However, contrasting with the serene scenery, quite a crowd had gathered here at the moment.

On the periphery were some students watching the commotion. The academy operated on a boarding system, and the dormitories weren't far from the infirmary, so many students naturally came over to see what was happening.

Under the corridor outside the infirmary, the most eye-catching figure was a noblewoman holding a silk handkerchief to her face.

She appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with rather plain features, yet her eyes and brows carried a lingering trace of pettiness. She was, however, exceptionally well-maintained.

She wore a bright red gown with a neckline cut just right, revealing a section of snow-white neck adorned with a string of perfectly round sea pearls, each the size of a little fingertip.

A silver mink fur shawl was draped loosely over her shoulders. Her deep chestnut curls were piled high at the back of her head, with a hairpin adorned with a pigeon-blood ruby slanting through her hair.

At this moment, her eyes, lined with exquisite eyeliner, were slightly reddened.

"My little Samantha has been well-behaved, lovely, and likable since she was a child. Even I couldn't bear to hit her. Yet today... today, she was injured by this wild girl who popped up from who-knows-what wretched corner."

"This matter absolutely cannot be settled like this today!"

"Hand her over to me."

As she spoke, her petty gaze glared at Xisero, who stood beside a teacher.

Seeing her aggressive demeanor, the dean of students felt somewhat helpless inside.

The doctor in the infirmary had already examined them. In truth, Samantha and the others were not seriously hurt; they had just bled a little. After bandaging and some rest, they would be fine.

Moreover, this incident started with Samantha and her gang bullying a commoner classmate, so they were not in the right from the beginning. Xisero was merely standing up for a friend.

Originally, the academy hadn't even planned to involve parents, but somehow this Lady Xavier found out and rushed over.

He had no choice but to also send someone to notify Xisero's family.

If it were ordinary parents, he would have likely asked them to leave already. However, given that this person bore the Xavier surname, he had no choice but to show some courtesy, which was why he patiently explained on the side.

He never expected this mother to be so unreasonable. Even though Samantha and the others were fine, she still insisted on pursuing the matter to the end.

"Honorable Lady Xavier, I suggest you go back and calm down first. It's best not to escalate this matter. Xisero's brother, Gauss, will be arriving soon."

The dean of students kindly reminded her.

Within the academy, since Xisero usually dressed quite plainly, apart from a few individual teachers, no one knew her brother was Gauss. As the person who had received Gauss on the enrollment day, he was naturally very clear about Xisero's background.

In his view, while this Lady Xavier's status was distinguished, the Gauss behind Xisero was even more extraordinary. If they really wanted to argue the point, it was hard to say who would come out on top.

Unfortunately, his good intentions were wasted.

Because she seemed to have never even heard that name.

"Teacher, let me give you some advice: don't meddle in matters concerning our Xavier family. I am not someone you can afford to provoke."

Looking at the haughty woman before him, he felt a surge of anger rising within him.

However, before he could say anything more.

A steady sound of footsteps slowly echoed from the other end of the corridor.

The footsteps were neither hurried nor slow, yet they seemed to tread on a certain rhythm, causing the previously noisy corridor to instantly quieten somewhat.

The students watching from the periphery also subconsciously stopped their chatter. Everyone's gaze swept uniformly towards the direction of the sound.

Gauss's pace was not fast, yet he carried a strong presence. He was still wearing the dark casual clothes from dinner, the hem of his garments fluttering slightly in the night breeze, followed by Ivan in a black formal suit.

Lady Xavier's gaze swept over, first sizing him up from head to toe.

"Brother!"

Upon recognizing the long-missed figure, Xisero immediately ran excitedly from the teacher's side and hugged Gauss around the waist.

After all, she was still a child. It would be a lie to say she wasn't flustered encountering such a situation.

Fortunately, Gauss had appeared, finally settling her uneasy heart.

Gauss patted her head.

"So you're this wild girl's brother?" Unfortunately, the noblewoman not far away spoke up, ruining the moment.

"Her name is Xisero."

Upon hearing this, Gauss looked up displeased, formally meeting her gaze.

For some reason, the noblewoman instinctively took half a step back, as if frightened by Gauss's tone.

And moments later, shame and anger welled up in her heart.

It was the shame and anger of having her bluster accidentally pierced.

"Your wild... Xisero injured my daughter. If you don't give an explanation today, don't think about leaving."

Gauss ignored her, turning his head to glance towards the infirmary. His mental energy swiftly left his body, his divine sense enveloping the surrounding environment.

"It's merely a scuffle among children."

"If medical expenses are needed, I can compensate you."

Gauss shook his head, stating it lightly.

He was someone who protected his own. Even though he didn't have the full picture yet, he naturally sided with his younger sister first, swiftly defining the nature of the incident in a few strokes.

Moreover, according to his scan, those few weren't seriously hurt. But out of humanistic concern, he was willing to pay some medical compensation.

"Brother, they were the ones who ganged up to bully a friend of mine first, so I hit them."

Xisero explained softly.

"Is that so?"

Gauss revealed a smile.

"Then you did the right thing, Xisero."

"I retract my earlier offer of compensation."

"You!"

Joanna Xavier, who already felt insulted by Gauss's offer of money, hearing him withdraw the compensation proposal made her heart burn with even greater fury.

Damn it! What did he take their Xavier family for?

Did she lack that bit of money?

"Mr. Gauss, I'm truly sorry for making you come all this way so late at night." The dean of students nearby approached at this moment, giving a slight bow.

After all, this was just a warrior preparatory academy, so even the dean of students was only a Level 5 Warrior.

And professionals all had a bit of subconscious respect for strength.

"No wonder he looks so familiar! It's him!"

"Wasn't it said that Xisero was from an ordinary commoner family? Her brother is actually Gauss??"

"So, who is Gauss?"

"You don't know that?"

Exclamations rose from the surrounding crowd.

However, the noblewoman from the Xavier family was also unaware of Gauss's identity. She merely glanced at the respectfully bowing dean of students, vaguely realizing that this wild girl's brother's status might not be so simple either.

But so what?

She was from the Xavier family.

Could there possibly be a more powerful force in this city than the Xavier family?

At most, he was just some adventurer with a bit of strength from outside the system.

So after a brief hesitation, the pride in her heart once again gained the upper hand.

"Have my people break both her arms, then expel her. Our Xavier family will let bygones be bygones regarding everything else."

"You can have your people try? See if they'll be crippled by me before they can even make a move."

Things having reached this point, Gauss was also somewhat angered.

How dare she threaten his family right in front of him.

His icy gaze focused on the other party's group.

In just an instant, Joanna Xavier's face turned deathly pale. If Gauss hadn't shifted his gaze to the maid beside her, she might have suffocated.

As for the two maids beside her, they were now as if facing a great enemy, trembling with fear.

Despite their slender, seemingly fragile appearances, they actually possessed professional levels. Killing an ordinary person was no different from slaughtering a chicken for them. Yet even they felt utterly powerless before Gauss.

"You just wait."

Joanna Xavier gritted her teeth, her heart filled with extreme fury. Why hadn't the servants she sent back to the family for help arrived yet? Because of this, she was being bullied into this state by this country bumpkin.

Dean Parker was silent now, silently watching her utter threats, inwardly sneering with ridicule.

He admitted he truly didn't want to casually offend someone from the Xavier family. After all, who knew if they would secretly cause trouble or could call upon higher-status family members for help?

But a powerhouse like Gauss was completely different. Trying to use the Xavier banner to pressure Gauss was nothing but wishful thinking.

As far as he knew, this Lady Joanna was merely from a collateral branch.

And Gauss, at such a young age, had already mastered Transcendent-level power. He was a peerless genius.

The Xavier family, as the true masters of Falim, had deep foundations. Naturally, they wouldn't lack Transcendent professionals within the clan.

But large families like this often had complex internal situations. Having Transcendents was one thing; offending and murdering a Transcendent was another matter entirely. Moreover, would the Xavier family really offend a spellcaster with such a bright future for the sake of a collateral branch descendant?

At least according to Parker's thinking, he wouldn't make such a foolish trade.

For powerhouses at the Transcendent level, under normal circumstances, they rarely made enemies. Unless they could crush the other party without any cost, it was best not to create enmity, to strangle hatred in its cradle. After all, everyone inevitably faces trouble and low points sometimes. Who knew if an enemy might hide in the shadows, harboring resentment, waiting for a chance to strike?

Joanna shattered a gemstone.

Unfortunately, still nothing happened.

"Don't you dare run away. Once my people arrive, let's see how much longer you can act arrogantly. I'll make you understand whose territory Falim is."

Just as Joanna was bewildered and puzzled, a familiar figure suddenly approached from the direction behind her.

It was a tall, burly man, striding over with a gloomy expression.

Gauss exchanged a glance with him.

Then.

"Husband, you've come..."

*Slap!*

A crisp slapping sound rang out.

Of course, this slap didn't land on Gauss's face. Instead, it turned and struck Joanna's cheek.

Joanna Xavier covered her face. A clear palm print slowly surfaced on her cheek. She looked at her husband in shock, a seismic tremor seeming to occur deep within her pupils.

Her husband, always gentle and protective of his own, suddenly slapping her seemed to have exceeded her worldview, causing her mind to go blank briefly.

Coming to her senses, she screamed without regard for her image.

"You... you actually dared to hit me!"

"You bastard! You eat from my family, use my family's things. When others bully our mother and daughter, you don't help me, and you even hit me?"

"I want a divorce!"

"Stop making a spectacle of yourself here!"

"Joanna, apologize to Mr. Gauss!" Joanna's husband felt darkness cloud his vision.

He was nearly sick with disgust at her stupidity. If not for trying to climb the social ladder by marrying into the Xavier family, he would never have taken a fancy to this useless, foolish woman.

His daughter had simply followed the example, corrupted by this foolish woman.

"I'll tell Father everything about what you, this coward, have done! You just wait!" Hearing her incompetent husband still demanding she apologize to a strange man, Joanna immediately flew into a rage.

"I'm sorry. It was Father-in-law who sent me to take you back."

"And also, if you don't apologize, Father-in-law says he won't give you another penny from now on. Furthermore, starting today, you are not to return home either." Joanna's husband ignored his wife's weeping and wailing appearance, just continuing coldly.

My dear lady, couldn't she notice why, despite being not far from home, no one was willing to come help?

Simply put, his collateral family members didn't want to offend this young man before them.

He himself had made this trip only because it was his father-in-law's task.

And he had been emphatically instructed to make Joanna apologize.

If they offended Gauss too severely, then she shouldn't return home, lest she implicate them.

Yes.

He could tell his father-in-law's words held no hint of jest.

Upon learning Gauss's identity, his dear father-in-law had decisively performed a status cut-off.

Although their collateral branch bore the Xavier surname, they had long since declined.

Fortunately, the regular dividends distributed by the main family allowed them to maintain a wealthy and respectable life even if they did nothing.

But if they were to confront this new powerhouse of Falim, their collateral branch would likely have a very hard time.

Never mind Gauss himself; even his Red Dragon Guild was not to be trifled with.

As for having the powerful main family stand up for them?

Nothing that good existed in the world. Bullying ordinary commoners and asking them to handle the aftermath was one thing.

If the opponent was Gauss and they themselves were not in the right, the main family might just tie up the culprits from this collateral branch and proactively deliver them to apologize.

He had heard that the main family seemed to maintain a rather good relationship with Gauss as well.

Joanna was clearly frightened by her father's ruthlessness.

Compared to face, she was more worried about losing her current affluent life.

Swallowing twice, she looked at Gauss with shame and anger, taking a deep breath.

"I'm... I'm sorry!"

"Say it to my sister."

"I'm sorry, little girl."

Gauss looked at her stifled expression, unsure whether to praise her for knowing when to bend or to call her opportunistic.

Judging by the look of things, he could tell this haughty woman likely held little status within the family.

These often tyrannical noble descendants usually held low positions within their families, even being transparent individuals without inheritance rights, often used as tools for political marriages. Therefore, they tended to act fiercer and more malicious towards commoners, venting their inner frustrations to the fullest.

Those direct descendants generally received good elite education and tended to act more low-key.

"I apologize, Mr. Gauss. My wife and daughter have caused you and your sister so much trouble."

"This is an anonymous gold card that can be exchanged for one thousand gold coins at any commercial bank."

"We will also provide compensation for the child injured by my mischievous daughter."

"Furthermore, my daughter will withdraw from school and will never disturb your and your family's life again."

Joanna's husband quickly assured, his words spilling out like rapid-fire magic bullets, his survival instincts fully engaged.

Seeing him yield so directly, Gauss momentarily didn't know what to say.

This was probably the meaning of reputation.

Subduing the enemy without fighting.

"Just remember this: if my sister suffers even the slightest harm, I will come looking for you, and I will only come looking for you."

Gauss said solemnly.

To be honest, the reason his younger sister Xisero hadn't mentioned his identity was partly due to her inherently unboastful personality, and partly the result of his frequent, deliberate reminders.

After all, even he himself wasn't sure if someone might target his family, so there was no need to be too conspicuous. It was better to make more friends.

Now, this plan had been ruined by Joanna.

"Understood." Joanna's husband paused for a moment, then nodded bitterly. He sensed the change in Gauss's mood and could understand the threatening tone in Gauss's words.

"Mr. Gauss, I shall take my wife and daughter and bid you farewell now."

Watching them leave in haste, Gauss turned to his younger sister Xisero.

"Let's go back too."

"Okay."

After Gauss and the others left, the other watching students and teachers also showed satisfied expressions.

People naturally have an innate desire for gossip, especially for such a dramatic show.

The haughty Xavier family had bowed their heads to someone. It seemed that from now on, they absolutely must not provoke Xisero within this academy.