Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain

Chapter 338: Revealing The Secret

Confusion filled the air.

"Noah Webb? Who’s that?"

"That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?"

It was understandable that most of them wouldn’t know Noah Webb. After all, the summoned heroes weren’t exactly celebrities.

They had been summoned as investments towards defeating the demons once and for all, but were not of such great importance to the powerful nobles for them to know their names.

"And would you like to explain to us who Noah Webb is?" Ramsay asked, inwardly grinning at the revelation.

He knew what he was doing. Placing Edric between a rock and a hard place, and making him the centre of attention in this meeting.

All he needed to do was plant the idea that the fault was Edric’s in the mind of the council members. And with that, he’d be able to defend the hybrids with what looked like righteous anger.

When he saw Edric stretch the silence as he looked for a way to bring back the conversation in his favor, Ramsay spoke again, louder than before.

"Magus Edric, we would all like to know. Who is Noah Webb?"

This time, no one spoke, all attention on Edric.

Edric showed no sign of discomfort, and after a second of silence, finally answered.

"Noah Webb is one of the heroes that were summoned to liberate Camelot."

Immediately he spoke, voices filled the air.

"The summoned heroes? Why would they do that?!"

"Wait a minute!" One of the hybrids slammed his hands into the table, standing on his feet, his chair scraping backwards with a loud sound. "Wasn’t that the name of the hero with the FFF-rank potential?!"

Recognition immediately began to flicker in the eyes of those that had been present that day.

"Him?! Are you sure it was him?"

Ramsay leaned back in his chair, saying nothing. The others would do the talking for him.

"Silence!" One of his fellow hybrids stood, raising his voice. Silence descended and those who had stood quickly sat back down.

With that done, the man turned to Edric. "From our understanding, High Magus, didn’t this hero have a FFF-rank potential? He’s not nearly strong enough to open an S-rank dragon spatial rift."

Nods of agreement could be seen all around the table.

"To open such a rift and bring the monolith back to reality, you need the blood of a beast, and nothing below F-rank would be significant enough to open a spatial rift."

"This means the boy needs stronger beasts and a large mana pool. Considering the fact that he’s a FFF-rank mage, this seems impossible for him to do alone. So, there has to be an accomplice."

Before the man even asked the question, the idea had begun to take root in the minds of those present. They stared at Edric with barely hidden suspicion, even as the man asked the question they were all wondering.

"So, what are you hiding from us, High Magus Edric?"

Ramsay kept his expression carefully neutral, but in the privacy of his mind, he couldn’t help but feel joy.

He’d carefully and thoroughly trapped Edric. Either the man spilled the secret that he’d been keeping with their queen, or he keeps the secret, making himself suspicious in the view of the other council members. Even those who had previously been on his side were now on the fence.

"I believe that is a valid question to which we deserve to know the answer." Ramsay finally spoke, tilting his head slowly as he gazed at Edric. "All details of the perpetrators must be laid bare before judgement can be given."

Edric held Ramsay’s gaze, knowing perfectly well what the man was doing, but being powerless to stop it. But fortunately, he’d already met with Queen Ines, and gotten authorization to reveal this detail. That was the only way for Camelot to keep its weapon. Even if it would require a bit of lying.

"Gentlemen," Edric said, voice perfectly level, "I came here today with the intention of revealing these things to you. I would like to ask for your patience as I proceed to do so."

He had to kill two birds with one stone. And that meant dragging the focus back on Lady in Dark.

"The reason why this information had not been revealed to you prior to today, was because our discoveries were related to the future and freedom of Camelot from the demonic forces that besiege us."

"But our gracious Queen has given me permission to relate this information to you all, as she knows you have the best interest of our kingdom at heart."

His gaze moved slowly through the roundtable, maintaining eye contact with the ones he could, showing them calm and confidence. Subconsciously telling them everything was under control.

"It is with great pleasure that I announce today that we found Camelot’s salvation. And his name is Noah Webb."

Confusion rippled around the roundtable. Frowns filled the faces of the members as they glanced at each other. How could the same person responsible for destroying the academy wards be Camelot’s salvation?

"Wasn’t he an FFF-rank nobody?" Someone asked, voicing the thoughts in their minds.

"Yes, and no." Edric answered. "Noah Webb did indeed display a FFF-rank potential upon awakening, but as we’ve come to discover, that was merely a facade."

"His beast came with a modification type trait. A trait that can hide his real potential."

He paused strategically, knowing everyone present was hanging onto his words. Then he spoke.

"His real potential was in fact, SSS-rank."

Silence descended upon the room. Not the normal expectant silence that was usually present when someone was about to speak, but an explosive, shocked silence.

They all took a moment to process what they’ve heard, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Impossible!" Someone called out. "There’s no such thing as an SSS-rank potential!"

"And have you ever seen a FFF-rank potential?" Another person replied with uncertainty. "That hero was the only person who ever had it. So, why can’t he have an SSS-rank potential?"

Discussion filled the air, members discussing with one another with incredulity. Even Ramsay appeared shocked. Of all the things he’d been expecting, this hadn’t been it.

Then Edric raised his hands for silence, taking charge of the meeting once more.

"When I found out the hero’s potential, I rejoiced. For it meant our day of freedom was near," he said. "But then..."

"...Lady in Dark appeared."