SWNOVELXO Chapter 132 - Why
Seeing that everyone still didn’t believe him, Stark asked the principal for a universal projector. Through the control mainframe in the principal’s office, he linked it with the sensor device, entered something akin to an access code, and, surprisingly, a strange screen appeared on the projector.
The screen was pitch black with nothing visible at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there were rows and columns of tiny, densely packed light points arranged neatly.
Stark adjusted something on his end, and slowly, the screen began to change. The previously orderly dots of light began to flicker unevenly, some forming lines, others bending and twisting into shapes. Right before everyone’s eyes, the dots gradually assembled into a three-dimensional image, transitioning from colorless to colored, with a faint gloss emerging.
It was clear that the scene had originally taken place in darkness, but this special device allowed them to see the two figures grappling fiercely in the dark.
A fragmented voice came from the projection, gradually becoming clearer as the girl’s voice rang out: “You coward! Think it’s fun to sneak attack me? Enjoy it while you can, because I’m going to—”
Whether Stark amplified it or if her voice had naturally been loud, Jiang Hui’s words immediately filled the entire room.
Ouch… it sounded rather intense.
Wait, did she really say that? She couldn’t quite recall. Jiang Hui thought back; at the time, she’d been in a sort of dazed, agitated state, and perhaps her emotions had gotten the best of her. This kind of talk didn’t quite fit her usual style.
She felt everyone’s eyes on her, and even Stark, still adjusting the device, cast a fleeting glance her way. Instantly, she felt a bit embarrassed—though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
But this segment had already begun to reveal half the truth. Determining right from wrong no longer required much deliberation.
Stark ignored the tense atmosphere and continued to adjust the settings, aiming to reconstruct the entire incident.
This device wasn’t an ordinary item. It had specific applications and couldn’t just replay events like a surveillance or recording device. It primarily sensed and analyzed the environment and wouldn’t generate projection data without manual intervention.
Over the past seven years, the device had never been used once, nor had it ever stored any data. It was unexpected that it would finally serve a purpose in this situation.
The whole incident wasn’t complicated and unfolded over a brief period. Within about twenty minutes of footage, the entire event was laid bare before everyone’s eyes.
It was clear that Jiang Hui had been the victim from start to finish.
After completing her laps, she had paused to pick up her hat. At that moment, her classmate Carl, who had been lying in wait for over ten minutes, launched a sneak attack on an unsuspecting Jiang Hui. However, he had underestimated her resilience, and Jiang Hui, in a fit of uncontrolled psychic strength, injured him severely in self-defense.
The evidence was undeniable, leaving Carl and his father speechless. Nothing more could be said.
“You disgrace! What on earth were you thinking? You… you actually attacked a classmate…” Mr. Carl gritted his teeth, shoving young Carl’s head down harshly, causing his already-dazed son to nearly collapse.
“I’ve always taught you to get along well with your classmates. You even promised me you would. If your mother were still alive, imagine how heartbroken she’d be seeing you like this.”
Mr. Carl spoke earnestly, “Teachers, Principal, I truly apologize. My child lost his mother at a young age, which had a lasting impact on his mental stability. Her death was a deep shock to him, and ever since, he’s been difficult to discipline, often acting impulsively and doing things he can’t control.”
“But he truly didn’t mean any harm. It’s my fault for not raising him well, and I sincerely apologize. Please…”
“It is your failure in parenting,” Stark interrupted coldly. “And it appears you still don’t understand the core of this incident. Trauma or heightened emotions in your child’s past are no justification for him to ambush an innocent classmate. And you think an apology is owed to us? I believe the victim here has more right to that apology.” He shut off the recorder and handed it back to Jiang Hui.
Embarrassed, Mr. Carl turned and firmly pulled his son toward Jiang Hui to apologize. Forced by his father, the bruised boy bowed abruptly in front of her, but she felt no sympathy. Instead, she was just exhausted. Amid the pain, a question weighed on her mind—
“So, I think I’m entitled to ask now.” Jiang Hui couldn’t hold back. “Classmate, what exactly did I ever do to you? You don’t focus on your studies, you avoid training, and then, out of nowhere, you decide to attack me. I don’t even know you.”
Carl, nearly grinding his teeth, replied, “It seems Jiang Hui has been so busy that she hasn’t even recognized her own classmates after all this time.”
His tone revealed his identity, and Jiang Hui realized that this Carl was indeed her classmate. She vaguely remembered a “Brown Carl” in her class, but she had barely spoken to him before, making his actions all the more baffling.
As if sensing Jiang Hui’s confusion, Carl’s anger flared further, as though something she said had triggered him. He abruptly shook off his father’s hand and shouted, “Kids from powerful families like you, of course, look down on us commoners. You enjoy the best resources, pick whatever major you want, and even get special treatment from teachers. How could you possibly understand how hard we struggle just to get a fraction of those resources?”
“You wonder why I hit you? There’s no reason. I just can’t stand you. You’re here because of connections, you get lenient training standards, private tutoring sessions, and even your mental aptitude test is conveniently hidden—probably because it’s too embarrassing to show. Someone like you, in the same major, the same class as me? Look around; is there anyone in class who actually likes you?”
Jiang Hui thought, ‘Aside from being a military family connection, do any of his accusations even fit me? I’ve trained just like everyone else. Stark’s standards are brutal—everyone’s on the verge of passing out during training. I might not be the best, but I’m definitely not at the bottom.’
After venting at Jiang Hui, Carl glared at Stark, who had walked over, completely unafraid as he continued, “And you call yourself our instructor! You only ever cater to the privileged, while you’re impossibly harsh on the rest of us. Your so-called ‘strict standards’ clearly only apply to some people. Are they entitled just because they were lucky enough to be born to the right parents? What gives them the right?”
Stark didn’t even flinch, meeting the twisted, rage-filled expression on the boy’s face with a blank stare. Then, after a moment, he gave a cold laugh. “What gives them the right? I can’t speak for anyone else, but as for Jiang Hui… yes, it’s exactly because she has good parents.”
“Because her parents spent decades tirelessly safeguarding the Empire’s borders, ultimately sacrificing their lives. Because, on the HD1 frontline, her parents held back an assault of tens of thousands of star beasts. Because her father once saved my life,” Stark replied, voice steady but filled with conviction.
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Author’s Note: Carl’s resentment is simply a case of jealousy, almost like an inferiority complex. His bitterness stems from feeling unfairly treated, assuming that Stark’s slight leniency toward Jiang Hui meant she was getting special treatment. But in reality, aside from using the military martyr quota for enrollment, Jiang Hui hasn’t slacked off at all. Stark certainly hasn’t been lenient with her—in fact, he’s pushed her even harder than the rest. So yes, Stark did give her extra training, but it’s reasonable, given the nature of their connection. After all, teachers often have students they care about a little more. Stark teaches other students with the same level of dedication; it’s just that Carl is a bit… unhinged.