“No, what are you talking about!”
“Dean, don’t you think you’re making a mistake right now?”
“That’s just hilarious.”
Looking at the multitude of nobles displayed on the magically connected screen, the Dean replied with a stern expression.
“We have already confirmed everything. A total of 14 students, including Fenil Leiros, went to beat up Daniel McLean first.”
“You’re telling me a mere commoner beat up our kid!”
BAM! Fenilman Leiros slammed his desk, but the Dean’s expression didn’t change.
“In that case, you should be embarrassed. Your son, known as the Blue Whale of the West, just lost to a single common male student who transferred in!”
“Daaaaan!”
If Fenilman Leiros had really been there, he might have rushed the Dean while gripping his prized spear tightly.
The oppressive aura transmitted through the screen was chilling, but the Dean didn’t back down.
No, he couldn’t back down.
‘I don’t want to do this either!’
Who would know that the Dean was screaming internally more desperately and painfully than anyone else in that moment?
But what could be done?
No matter how much damage was incurred, he had to protect his position as Dean!
‘Thanks to your stupid son who went and got himself beaten up, I’m in trouble now!’
This was a matter of survival.
That little brat was shaking us down for our weaknesses!
‘If he somehow ends up in Pales Academy…’
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
The rival Dean at Pales Academy would quickly make this public knowledge.
Then, just like that, he’d lose his position and be embroiled in lawsuits, burdened with incomprehensible debt, and would be cast out by his family, living the life of a vagabond.
At least it would be better to have a little prestige but cut ties with a few nobles.
“There will be no correcting the verdict. Fenil Leiros and the 14 students will receive a one-month suspension.”
The Dean hurried his words, wanting to end the communication as quickly as possible.
“The many misdeeds and illegal acts committed by these students are being reported to us by other students. In fact, they should be expelled immediately, but we’ve chosen suspension as an option to see how the students change over the next month.”
“You’re insane!”
“Please, let’s hope the kids make wise choices.”
Even through the screen, the curses of the nobles could be heard, but the Dean quickly cut off the communication and exhaled.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Honestly, other than the Leiros family, the nobles were not too troublesome, but he was worried because of the rumors that would spread from mouth to mouth.
This incident wouldn’t be the end of it; it would circulate at many noble social parties.
‘What can I do?’
At least he had to maintain what he could, right?
“Dean, you’re truly amazing!”
“…I’m shocked.”
“Excuse me?”
The two professors who helped with the communication spell turned to the Dean.
“I never thought the Leiros family would come at you that hard. It was truly impressive.”
“I think I’ve misunderstood you as a Dean until now. You combine firm punishment with opportunities for the punished students. You are an educator worth emulating.”
“Y-Yeah.”
What kind of misunderstanding do they have, these people?
The Dean let out a sigh and looked out the window, where the third years were taking their second exam today.
Daniel McLean stood out as he defended May from a number of students.
‘You threw her yesterday, and now you’re protecting her?’
It would be great if he flunks the exam and gets expelled for failing!
‘Wait, he didn’t take the first exam, so if he flunks this one…’
But as soon as he realized Daniel’s movements, the Dean clicked his tongue and sat back in his plush chair, taking a sip of black tea.
‘That can’t be right.’
Failing to score in just the second exam?
It seemed more realistic to think that he had taken the exam and scored zero.
‘Shh, it’s fine, just stop your frustration.’
“Ugh!”
The Dean trembled, muttering that he couldn’t believe such oppressive energy could belong to an 18-year-old as he waved his fan.
*
“Uaaah!”
“……”
“Ooooh!”
“Can’t you quiet down a bit?”
“C-Can’t!”
May was pouting while dressed up as she clung to my clothing, but honestly, it was a little annoying.
Well, it wasn’t a big deal.
When a student charged forward, I thrust the wooden sword into the nape of his neck; he immediately started retching and collapsed on the ground.
‘Oh dear.’
It seemed I had unknowingly reverted to my habit of targeting pressure points.
“Sorry.”
I said a brief apology as I thought to be careful, and as the other students started cleaning up one by one, maybe they decided they couldn’t let this go on.
The kids retreated and began to surround us from all sides.
“Can you block all of this?”
“It’s over now!”
“Those little brats think they can mess with us!”
“Uaaah!”
Actually, it wasn’t a bad strategy.
Since I’m human, I couldn’t cover every attack coming in from all directions.
“Hey, duck!”
“Huh?”
Before May could respond, I already pressed her head down, placing my hand on her back as I lifted her off the ground.
‘First off.’
I timed it just right as those charging from all directions came at once.
While delivering a kick to the face of a male student rushing from the back, I knocked out another student standing to my right with my wooden sword.
“Haha! Caught…!”
But the remaining two students disregarded me and reached out with their hands wrapped around May’s wrist.
“Oops.”
With the hand that was on May’s back, I firmly seized her cardigan and tossed her aside.
“Waaah!”
May made a sound not fitting for a girl as she hit the ground, and the two were shocked that she suddenly disappeared from their range.
“They sure are nicely grouped up.”
Landing, I grabbed the heads of the two students with both hands and slammed them together, causing them to collapse in shock.
That looked like a pretty nasty bump.
“Ugh! Hey! What the heck are you doing!”
“I was protecting you.”
Of course, I wouldn’t act like this toward customers in the Forest of the Demon Realm. I would have taken the hits myself there, but this isn’t the Forest, and May isn’t my customer.
I didn’t want to get hurt, so I rolled May in, and it proved effective.
“Let’s think of this as teamwork.”
“Teamwork, my rear!”
May brushed off the dirt on her clothes while countless students watched us duel in awe. From the looks of it, they seemed shocked that I could pull off something like this.
“Wow, what was that?”
“Did you see how fast he moved just now?”
“Guess he didn’t come with Ares and Rin for no reason.”
Of course, the kids from our team who had been watching from a distance started to rise too.
“Uh, do you need anything?”
“Yeah! I guess we might’ve gone too far…”
“Sorry!”
As they shamelessly rushed in to score points, a female student who looked like an expert in this field crossed her arms and shouted,
“What a load of crap!”
A bold yell.
May raised her hand and began to unleash her personality without holding back.
“Who the hell are you bunch to run in here and trip us up?! You cut ties and suddenly see a chance to win, like a bunch of horny pigs chasing after us!”
“……”
“Get lost! We’re not giving you any points! Daniel and I will eat all of them! You guys can figure it out amongst yourselves, idiots!”
Under May’s bold outburst and momentum, the students had no choice but to retreat awkwardly.
Flipping her reddish-brown bob with a flourish, May approached me, grinning confidently, resembling a cat, while asking me if I did well like a puppy. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Why are you making all the noise when I did all the work?”
“Hey! Teamwork, remember!”
Her face quickly flushed as she yelled at me.
And then, a sword flew in.
It wasn’t aimed at May.
The sword that struck my head revealed a sudden killing intent, and its speed was incredible, but…
THWACK!
With the characteristic sound of two wooden swords clashing, a girl with short black hair, Hayun, appeared.
“……!”
Hayun, caught off guard, glared at me with a stunned expression before pulling back and creating distance.
“Hmph.”
She was definitely an excellent girl.
Compared to Arni Duratan, her swordsmanship was a step above, but…
‘Something feels off.’
I couldn’t tell if she wasn’t sincere or if her mind was elsewhere. Maybe she was feeling unwell; it didn’t seem like she was exhibiting her full strength.
We exchanged blows a few more times, but instead, it only solidified my conviction.
“You won’t win like that.”
I said those words trying to give her some advice out of curiosity about her unique fighting style, but it seemed she took it as a provocation.
Even though it was a duel where mana wasn’t supposed to be used, an unusual aura was radiating from her body.
‘It’s not mana.’
It felt closer to killing intent. In any case, she genuinely set her stance to try to kill me.
“Uaaah!”
Bucking her stoic demeanor, she charged at me, letting out a scream rather than a battle cry.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue and swung my sword lightly, and her sword spun up into the sky and landed in the stadium.
“……!”
“You really can’t do it properly.”
At the same time, I twisted my body and pulled May closer to me, and she, who was blankly watching our fight, let out a strange scream as she fell into my arms.
“Did you just figure it out?”
Ares rushed in, aiming for May’s wrist.
Shocked that the top fighters of the team, Ares and Hayun, failed to execute their plan in unison, the other students gasped.
Inside that, a smile began to form on my face.
“Looks like the prey has come for me.”
“Hayun! Get your head back in the game and grab your sword again! Just the two of us is enough!”
“U-Understood!”
Realizing she needed to focus, Hayun hurried to retrieve her fallen sword.
“Stay still.”
Just like when I subdued the Dean and May, I let out a bit of the old Sherpa energy, causing Hayun to freeze and stare at me blankly.
“Ugh…”
May, who was in my embrace, trembled as the memories returned, but I couldn’t let her go. Ares’ sword was coming at me.
THWACK!
Ares’ sword collided with mine.
I was slightly pushed back due to not having a proper stance because of May, and taking advantage of that, Ares continued to attack.
“……”
“……”
Neither of us spoke any further.
We silently parried our swords, but…
SQUEAK.
The wooden sword that had been struggling gave a loud crack and broke. Taking that chance, Ares lunged forward.
“Hmm.”
I delivered a kick directly into Ares’ abdomen.
I had aimed for the part that looked like it would break in purpose, but he likely thought he had done well in taking advantage of the situation.
Gag!
Convinced of his victory, Ares was hit in the solar plexus and, with a gasp, his body bent over.
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, Eve arrived from behind and hit my head with her wooden sword. She seemed to be trying to contribute something to the team, so I let it slide, but…
“Ouch.”
I pretended to be hurt as I snatched Ares’ wristband.
