An Infamous Pervert

Ethan was sitting with Professor Ross being taking care of his injury. He hit his head so he has to make sure he didn't get any internal injuries on his head as it can lead to large problems later.

"…Fess up kid, why you did it?"

"What I did…?"

"I have been in this business more years than you lived. I can easily tell that your wound was not his fault."

"…"

Both of them stare at each other. Ethan was contemplating if should tell him or not. Ethan actually deliberately provoked him and when he attacked he didn't even bother to enhance his body with mana to protect himself. He also pushed himself more to get bleed after hit. He already sensed him by his Danger Sense but let him do that anyway.

"…Don't you careless about students' matter?"

"You're not wrong… you can say I am bored."

"…I was just telling them that I will be more than happy to take them down with me…"

"…Well, whatever you do… but don't pull the last stunt you pulled. No student had died inside the academy for a decade and I want to keep it same until my retirement."

"…You're really selfish, aren't you?"

"…Every living person is selfish. It's just people loved to give their selfishness a different name… Now, you're fine so you can leave… also rest for today and don't bother yourself with training till tomorrow."

Ethan left the infirmary and head to his dorm room.

He laid on his bed and think about his future actions. They wouldn't attack him directly anymore. He still doesn't know why they are targeting him. It's not mere jealousy anymore. Incident with Le Lin was more like a matchstick into forest. They seem to have some reason to keep going on.

Ethan hit his head on the bed in frustration but sharp pain hit his head, making him rub his head in irritation. He almost forgot about his injury. Ethan pulls himself and sits crossed leg. He closed his eyes and remembers the details about Night Stealth.

Night Stealth is more like a stealth technique than movement but darkness is better suited for stealth so it's given. If he mastered it completely then he wouldn't produce any mana fluctuation at all! He would be truly like a living ghost!

Ethan closed his eyes and practiced the mana control instructed according to Art Book. Night Walking is a technique that hides the presence of user even while moving.

Simply put, it melts the presence of user with mana outside of the body and hides the presence completely with it. He would be able to move undetected by masking his presence completely, like a ghost.

Ethan starts manipulating the mana according to instruction and practices the Art. He occasionally smiled when he imagined how shockingly amazing it will be, when he will standing right in front of her but people won't even be able to sense it.

It is similar to Concealment skill. There are concealment skills of all rank but they have lots of conditions and limitations but it seems like his Art doesn't have those things. He wonders if there is an S-Rank skill for concealment, if there is…what kind of abilities it will gives.

Ethan spend whole day in practicing his new Art. It's not like he have anything else to do. He is not good with going out…who knows they will just a high-rank mana bomb and said that it was a mistake…

He have nothing much to do outside. He knows that all G+ Rank would have already breakthrough to F- Rank. That means there is no G-Rank besides him. He is even considering the chances that G-Rank faculty might get removed totally…

Ethan stands up and whole body fills like a numb and stiff like a rusted machine. He stands up and looks for clock only to notice the time of 4 o'clock. He did all his daily routine of morning and wore his dress for academy. Workout in this small room is quite hard. He needs to rank up faster for better room.

He left just half an hour early for classes. He sat on his seat which is surrounded by bunch of morons.

"How is your injury?"

Adam was sitting with his body facing outside of desk and elbow rested on his desk. Ethan gave him a half-heartedly reply.

"It's fine..."

"...Ethan, I think we still have a topic to talk about."

"What…?"

"…You know…that girl I like."

"…Actually, Adam… I think I have changed my mind. You're free to go for her… but on one condition."

"…Really? I will be more than happy for an agreement."

"…Just don't tell anyone that you are after her."

"Why…?"

"Just think about it, what happened when you told me?"

"…Yeah, you're right. It would be quite a pain if other guys chase her. It won't do any good to increase my rivals. I am really glad I told you about it."

"…Especially Lucas…How should I tell you? He is…If girls are lock then he is a key. It will be better not to provoke him at all cost."

"…Really?"

"Really, Really…"

Ethan looked away for a moment. He had already done his best to convince him yesterday but if this guy wants to fall on his face that badly then he can't really do anything here, can he? Lucas would have warned him… maybe… but still can't leave any stone unturned.

Speak of Devil, Lucas just entered the classroom and took his desk.

Ethan stared at him for some time with awkwardness. He had no idea what to do to this guy to make things right with him.

Lucas took a glance of him from the corner while resting his face on his palm. He remembered what happened yesterday but he avoided it since he was hesitating what to do. In the end, Adam did all the things. He sat there without doing anything.

After Adam left the classroom with Ethan, Alex turned around and tried to talk to him.

"…Why didn't you do anything?"

"It had nothing to do with you mob, now get lost!"

"…Lucas. I actually know why you don't like me."

"…"

Lucas just ignored him and looked at the Alice who looks stunning as always but it's true he didn't like him. He is a damn mob after all…

"…You can't possibly be angry at me because I saved Ethan but not you…"

Lucas didn't turn his head but his eyes widen. He slowly turned his head and look at Alex who was smiling at him softly. He tried to ignore him but his mind kept repeating his words.

He looked at Ethan who has slightly dejected face and awkward aura around him. Was Alex right? He started to think he should have a talk with Ethan… but not now, Things are too awkward right now. He convinced himself to do it later.

Miss Chloe comes inside the class and looked at everyone. She made an announcement that Ethan was waiting for…

"…Chuck Grante is in suspension for a week. I think you already know why. I will say this once but I shouldn't hear another of this incident again. Next time it will happen, I won't hesitate to put a request to expel everyone involved."

Her cold voice filled with threat brought chills to every student back. It felt like cold vines were climbing over their back by sinking their thorn.

"…Is that why? You told me to send that message to Miss Chloe."

"Hmm…"

Adam leaned back slightly and whispered to Ethan. Ethan just made a sound in affirmation. He told Miss Chloe to not involve herself at all. She is his trump card he needs to save for later.

He knows that Student Council will involve themselves and he was right. They did save him. It should have result in being expelled but he was only punished by suspension. Miss Chloe's ultimatum will make sure that nothing like past will happened again. So, everything is fine… for now…

Adam was in his own imagination. He can't help but think why Miss Chloe agreed to him and why did she even heard him in the first place? Is it 'that'? Forbidden Love of Teacher and Student… this is, isn't it?

Adam always thought that Lucas only said that to tease him. He can't believe such a thing was going behind the scene! He looked back slightly to take a look of his face.

Ethan can be considered handsome… from certain angle… by certain condition… if you eliminate and twist some fact about being handsome… Let's forget about his face. There must be something he is missing…

Ethan was focusing on the class unaware of all the misunderstanding happening right in front of him.

Classes end and Ethan didn't waste his time around and return to his room. It will better to practice the Art he had gotten now.

Ethan had done the same thing for few days and students started doing what they can to make his life hard. They insulted him and his parents, right in front of him. Surprisingly, He managed to take it fine. He thought he won't like when someone will insult his parents but it seems he can't feel for someone he doesn't know.

They put their leg in front to make him fall but Danger Sense did it works. They are even rumors of G-Rank not being able to enter the student canteen. They are doing whatever they can to make his life hell.

Ethan was missing Raven sometimes at night... not that way. Even though her response lacks emotion and interest but it's still better than being treated like garbage. Unfortunately, She had informed him that there is no work for a week and take this time to master the Art.

Ethan was inside the library, looking for books. He was inside the history section as he was trying to find the book in Dark Mage. He wants to know if there are any mage of darkness as his Art Description. He picked up the book and can't help but smell the pages of closed books.

Since everything in human domain is pretty much digitalized. Books are rarity that is only found in library. He loves the smells of pages it have faint really faint aroma of wood.

"…It is for reading, not for smelling."

!

Ethan hides the book behind him and looked outside of the narrow space between bookshelves. A female student is standing there looking at him with an amused smile. She is a third year student stated by her light purple tie. Ethan looked away as he had no idea what to do.

"…Relax. I won't snitch on you. I also love the smell of pages. It is fascinating and relaxing, isn't it?"

Ethan relaxed when she said that. She comes inside and stands beside him. Ethan looked at her as she tip-toed to get a book but was unable to. Ethan also tiptoed and gets the book for her.

"Aren't you a gentleman?"

She smiled while looking up at him close. She had long brown hair and black eyes. Ethan looked at her with a funny feeling. It was before he would have felt weird being stand close to beauty like her but now his standard of beauty had went too high to be flustered by academy girls.

"… I was just thinking I found a comrade."

"Do you like books?"

"I do as a matter of fact. I have a bookshelves of own."

"Hee…you do seem like someone who loved books."

She giggled as she starts walking away from him. She looked back to him and gives him a smile.

"…Sofia. Class F 3rd year."

"…Ethan. Class A 1st year."

"…Ethan…"

Her face turned stunned as she heard his name. It turned into horrified one as she repeated his name like it's a synonym with terror.

"…What…? You're that 'Ethan'…Class A 1st year…that pervert…? I am sorry I have something to do…"

"Hey…-"

Ethan tried to ask her what is going on but girl ran away like a wind. Just what the hell is going on? Now what…? There is even rumor about him now?

Ethan took the book with a depressed expression and tried to find the seat. He looked around and found a familiar black-hair figure sitting on the desk all alone. Ironically, that was the only table around. Le Lin felt his gaze and looked back. Ethan turned around tried to leave her sight.

"Hey."

Ethan stopped at his feet at her call. He turned around and found her meekly raising her hand and with an awkward expression. Everyone standing around turned to look at her. She bowed her slightly in an apology with a guilty expression and gestured him to sit beside her with a pout. Ethan just did what she told him and whispered to her.

"…What?"

Le Lin looked around as if to confirm that they are alone? Seriously, is it related to what the senior said? Did she pull some crap over him again? She looked him in the eyes and fixed the thin framed circular glasses in her nose…

"…You're a Rune User."

!!

Ethan tried his best to restrain his expression. What he should do right now? Of course, it will be to feign ignorance.

"Don't try to lie to me. The friend you were talking about is you. Otherwise your reaction won't make any sense that night."