I Can Only Cultivate In A Game
Chapter 249 - 249: Punishment

"Let's see how you get out of this one now hehe prepare to be expelled," one of Derek's goons whispered from the side.

Victor interrupted with a sardonic smile. "I'm ready."

...

...

Victor was escorted down narrow passages to a small academy restraint cell: roughly twelve feet wide with stone benches, magic-runes on the walls to prevent teleportation or escape...

Which was practically useless because Victor could leave whenever he wanted but he wouldn't risk letting them know that he was unaffected.

One side held a small window and bars of frost-steel. He sat on the lower bench with his arms folded as he looked out toward dawnlight edging the walls.

About an hour later, a knock heralded Lysandra's entrance into the cell corridors.

"Revenant." She stepped close. "If this gets on your record, it will implicate your future. You will be expelled and any dreams of becoming a Mana Defense Officer will be flushed down the drain. Just deny the allegations of attempted murder and I can make this all go away."

Victor kept his eyes closed.

"That suits me. I'll find power outside these walls. If I'm a weapon—then let me be free."

Lysandra folded her arms with a look of concern.

"You're talented with purpose. The academy was supposed to guide such skill, not worship it. Are you truly prepared to burn this to ash?"

Victor scoffed. "I'd rather build my own temple. Academy walls? They've already let evil walk. They spared Derek while I risked everything for justice."

Lysandra stepped back with a look of exasperation.

"So be it, Revenant. You've chosen your path. Right now... I'll delay an immediate decision just in case you wish to change your mind. But expect an update your next morning."

She left without another word.

---

At night, Victor lay awake listening to footsteps and faint winds.

He could leave here at anytime and be free of all charges if he backed down... decided to let things be... but no. He wasn't going to do that.

He wondered… was he burning down his future, or forging a new one?

...

...

The morning sun filtered through the towering windows of Vice Chancellor Lysandra office, casting long beams across the smoothbblack floor.

Instructor Vex Rhane who was standing before her, waited for Lysandra to begin.

He cleared his throat. "You summoned me, Vice Chancellor?"

Lysandra stood near her desk with her palms pressed together behind her back. "Yes, Vex." She seemed weighty. "About Revenant... Victor Revenant."

Vex frowned. "He—did you speak with him in the cell?"

She nodded. "Yes. He: 1) Confirmed he intended lethal force, and 2) claims he'll remove his allegiance to the Academy and doesn't mind getting expelled if his claims are challenged. Yet he refused to recant."

Vex's brow furrowed. "A direct admission of attempted murder, regardless of context."

Lysandra sighed with a low tone. "Its almost like he is aware that I can't expel him."

Instructor Vex's face darkened. "If you actually go through with it… I understand."

Her shoulders drooped as she paused briefly. "I can't, Vex." She looked into the distance. "Not after his performance in the Legacy Weapon Competition. He's now known—not merely within the student body, but across prominent families and external councils. Expelling him is impossible. They would never let such a student with such a bright future go. And the founding families would question the Academy's judgment."

Vex stared. "Even with a public confession? Even with intent to kill?"

"Even then," she sighed again. "The Sterling Council, Court of Aurigas, the ten families... they all tracked that competition. Victor was in the report. They'd rather eat shit than let someone of this calibre go."

Vex opened his mouth and closed it.

Moments later, her voice wavered. "Also… what if he becomes like that rogue awakened? uncontrolled…" She didn't finish. Vex knew who she meant—

He nodded in understanding.

"So," Vex finally asked, "what do we do?"

Lysandra fell silent. She closed her eyes with her fingers laced together for a few seconds.

When she spoke, her voice was firm. "No one gets off unpunished—but permanent expulsion or execution is out. We need a different punishment."

Vex relaxed slightly, though anxiety lingered. "What do you have in mind?"

Lysandra drew in a breath. "The council may accept community service assignments—public acts of restitution. Tests in discipline. Tasks that humble him, and remind him of responsibility... of mercy... and of consequence."

...

...

An hour later, Victor trudged into the disciplinary chamber with his legacy sword strapped to his back.

He was accompanied by Rylan who came in as a witness to testify that Victor only acted out of concern for the ones getting bullied.

In the wood-paneled chamber, several senior instructors sat behind a long desk. At the center stood Vice Chancellor Lysandra with her robes cascading over the bench like midnight water.

Victor nodded politely to Rylan, who offered him a small, encouraging smile and moved to the side. The assembled instructors leaned forward; Lysandra's eyes centered on Victor.

> "Victor Revenant—Revenant—please rise."

He did.

> "Based on your recent conduct—crowd control measures in greater self-defense, attempted attempted lethal force, and refusal to recant a desire to kill your fellow student—you were initially charged with serious offenses, including aggravated assault and attempted murder."

She paused deliberately before continuing. "However…" She paused briefly, allowing the silence to stretch.

> "It has been decided that the charges are reduced. The Board is reclassifying the charge as 'Constitution of Nuisance Attendant to Unwarranted Display of Lethal Force.' No threat to life was executed. No knife drawn. Therefore, the trial is resolved via chastisement and community service."

Victor's eyes narrowed in confusion and disbelief.

"Community service?" His voice rose. "We're equating my near attempt at execution with campus clean-up duty?"

Lysandra held her gaze. "Think of it not as cleanup, but discipline."

Another instructor spoke up, quietly:

"Four weeks of work duty. You will be posted to various academy departments outside your lecture hours. Every evening, you will contribute two hours of work, in rotation with janitors and serving staff."

Victor stiffened.

"Feed-hubs?" he spat. "Cleaning pans? Cooking? You reduce a legacy weapon champion to dishwashing?"

The Board leaned forward in anguish but Lysandra held up her hand.

> "Victor!"

> "Your outburst demonstrates precisely why this is necessary. You need humility, you need awareness. For four weeks—and not just once—you will rotate through multiple service posts: Serving the year batches at feedhubs, cleaning dormitory corridors and the public halls, working in the brushes and sweeping yard duty."

Victor opened and closed his mouth. "So, I get punished for defending fellow classmates... Touchè... when our whole motto is supposed to be about defending humanity..."

Victor shook his head.

> "This will stay on record as a minor offense—no notation about attempted murder remains. So long as you serve your community sentence, we will consider this absolved enough to permit future leadership assignments. Don't expect fellowship. But you will remain," Lysandra voiced out.

Victor couldn't be bothered. He just shrugged his shoulders.

'Looks like they can't expell me after all... hmm I did have my suspicions,' he voiced internally.

"You want me to learn humility… and mercy," he said softly. "These are traits that I already possess. If you think this will stop me from doing what I think is right... y'all have got another thing coming."

The senior instructors couldn't help but voice out their discontent at his attitude.

-"We should have him thrown out of here."

-"What a prideful kid..."

-"All his recent accomplishments have gone to his head!"

-"This punishment is truly needed to humble him!"

Victor ignored their outbursts.

"You begin tonight. Report to the lead cleaner after your lectures!" Lysandra voiced with an authoritative tone.

Victor shrugged, turned and exited, leaving the panel behind.

"Thank you,"Rylan voiced with a tone of gratitude, glad that they didn't end up expelling Victor and that he didn't need to testify.

He swiftly followed after Victor who was already heading out.

...

...

The low vibrations of ambient magic drifted through the outer halls of the Academy like a whisper of routine.

Late afternoon had settled its fingers over the artificial sky, washing it in a pale indigo, while Victor sat on the edge of his dormitory bed, lacing up his boots and staring at the time on his digital slate.

3:03 PM.

He let out a slow breath and tilted his head toward the window.

His punishment would start any moment now. And that meant time, slipping through his fingers this was a luxury he couldn't afford.

In Ascendant Realms, he was sure that at least twelve in-game days had already passed since he last logged out. That meant he had less than a day remaining for the Return to Lingyun Town quest if he was correct.

Not less than a day in real world time... less than a day in-game time.

He did the math and was sure he had maybe an hour or two.

Any delay now, and that year-long quest he had would collapse just short of the finish line.

Victor sighed. "I can't fail this."

He stood, brushed down his uniform, and headed out.

---