MTLNOVEL Chapter 15
Chapter 15
I got thoroughly scolded by Professor Harshüge in the staff room and was made to listen to his battle history of how he's protected his hair roots—water magic for his scalp, light healing magic for the follicles, the use of heating magic tools for warmth, dousing his head with the fresh blood of hairy monsters, and so on.
Apparently, he's currently locked in a war of attrition just to maintain the hair remaining at the sides of his face, and if a hair root activator existed, he'd buy it immediately.
Due to the unexplained explosion, even the principal came and I was taken to the principal's office. The principal was a male elf. He had fine silver hair, pointed ears, sharp eyes, and a well-balanced face.
"Ellie-kun, we'll perform the aptitude test once more."
As the elf principal said that, he pointed his staff at the magic circle and six crystals placed on the heavy table.
"Principal!?"
Professor Harshüge began to sweat nervously from his shiny forehead.
"It must have malfunctioned because part of the magic circle disappeared. Now then, Ellie-kun."
Under the watchful eyes of the principal, Professor Harshüge, and Madam Boris, I placed my hand on the magic circle.
This time, I controlled my output and let the mana flow gently.
Then, one of the crystal spheres lit up beautifully.
As I stopped the mana infusion, it flashed brightly—Pika!—then immediately went out.
I glanced at Professor Harshüge's forehead, then quickly returned my gaze to the crystal.
The crystal had returned to its original colorless transparency.
Letting out a sigh of relief, the elf principal narrowed his eyes meaningfully, looked at me, and spoke.
"Hmm, very good. Ellie-kun is in the Light Magic class. That's fine, right, Professor Harshüge?"
"Principal, may we then conclude that the earlier test malfunctioned due to a fault in the magic circle?"
"There is no such thing as a human who has aptitude for all magic."
The principal gave a thoughtful smile, then took out his staff and, like a conductor waving a baton, gave it a graceful flick.
His broad body glowed yellow, and his uniform and hairstyle were neatly restored.
Professor Harshüge and Madam Boris also returned to normal. During the restoration of our clothes by the principal's magic, we all pretended not to notice the gleaming bald forehead of the professor shining brightly.
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When I entered the classroom with Professor Harshüge, all the classmates turned to look at us. Ignoring their curious stares, I sat in the seat directly in front of the teacher's podium as instructed.
I erased all expression, buried my anger in my chest, and swept my eyes quickly over the classroom just before sitting down.
Which one is it!
Which one is the Bob of the Ricky family!
You made our Ellie cry and think you'll get away with it?!
The classroom was arranged like a half-circle in tiers, with the seats in the back elevated, allowing a downward view toward the podium.
In the very back seat of the classroom, a male student with dull brown hair in a mohawk cut was looking at me with a mocking gaze. Probably him.
"I'm Harshüge, in charge of third-year Light Magic. It seems no one has changed classes. Since it's the start of the new term, let's go around and introduce ourselves."
A round of simple self-introductions from the classmates began.
This was incredibly helpful. At the very least, I should match names to faces.
Since it was already the third year and we were classmates, many of the greetings were rather casual. At one point, someone's silly greeting made the class laugh.
I never imagined I'd become a student again. It's youth, I guess. Although I strongly want to return to Japan soon, I've started thinking it might be nice to enjoy this fantasy world first. I believe in it—the existence of protection magic, levitation magic, weapon nullification magic, and that student with round glasses and a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead flying around on a broom!
The mohawked male student in the back row stood up.
"Bob Ricky. I just learned 'Fire' the other day and became a Triangle."
Acting all high and mighty, Bob leaned back, and about half the class let out a cheer of "Ooh." Looking closer, he had thick eyebrows, sharply defined eyes, a smug smile on his lips—he was the quintessential bad boy type you always find in every class. Not a bad-looking guy. A few girls squealed at him. Maybe encouraged by that, Bob grinned even wider.
"This year, my goal is to learn advanced magic. Nice to meet you."
He sat down with exaggerated flair, and the girls squealed again.
No, he's not cool at all, okay?
As I looked at him half in disbelief, Bob seemed to notice my gaze.
"Don't look at me, you fat piece of crap," he said nonchalantly.
Damn it...
I won't forgive you.
The only ones allowed to call Ellie fat are Ellie and me. Actually, just me.
When I looked back toward the podium, the squealing girls glared at me and muttered things like "So ugly," "Don't look at Lord Bob," and "Gross."
The ringleader of the girls, who also appeared in the diary, was a female student named Scarlet from the Circlet family. She had garishly golden hair, close to yellow, styled in vertical curls by her ears. She had the arrogant look of a rich, spoiled girl with an air of superiority.
She raised her chin haughtily and gave a pompous greeting.
"I shall do my best to be of service to you all."
Or so she prattled.
I wanted to blast her vertical rolls sideways with Thunderbolt right then and there, but I hadn't yet assessed how much actual harm she'd done. Plus, I planned to determine the level of punishment based on how much she'd bullied Ellie.
Bob, on the other hand, was already beyond saving.
He repeatedly bullied Ellie with cowardly cruelty, took pleasure in tormenting the weak like her, and was partly responsible for the destruction of the orphanage. Judging by the way he acts, he's probably rotten to the core.
I'm concerned about the whereabouts of the orphanage kids, but I have no information, no money, no power—there's no way I could search for them in this state. For now, I'll learn the rules and circumstances of this world and prepare before taking action.
I'll make Bob taste bitter regret.
Mentally, physically, socially, economically—I'll punish him thoroughly.
It's not like I take pleasure in hurting others, or that I find it fun. But I simply can't allow things to go unpunished.
If someone bears hostility and I truly can't forgive them, I will crush them.
If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly. If you're not, then don't even try. Once I decide on something, I carry it through to the end.
It's like a personal code I developed after joining a top-tier conglomerate and witnessing all sorts of desires and failures.
Remembering Ellie's tears and looking at Bob's smug face, the thought of "No mercy for enemies" pierced through my heart and anger welled up from my throat.
That said, there's nothing I can do for now. I composed myself instantly and, without letting any of this show, listened to Professor Harshüge's words with a calm expression.
——Riiing riiing riiing
The high-pitched sound of the school bell, like a tinkling chime, echoed through the room.
The students grabbed their bags and began heading home. It seemed today would end with just a brief homeroom.
"Hey, fatty."
Just as I grabbed my bag and was about to leave the classroom, a menacing voice called out to stop me.