Academy (3)

A week had passed since the incident with Arthur, and nothing much of note had happened. Well, apart from the disgusted looks random students gave me as I passed them in the halls or sat near them in class. Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest—otherwise known as Duncan, Jasper, and Evan—hadn't reported any moves from Arthur's side. Apparently, he'd been keeping to himself, probably satisfied with the fact that I'd gotten "beat up." 

While he wasn't tormenting me anymore, Arthur had decided to shift his focus onto the protagonist, Alex. Not that I cared. After all, it had nothing to do with me. 

One thing I had noticed, though, was how much influence could change people's perception of someone. In the novel, Julius was still a drunkard, still the person these students now sneered at. But back then, no one at the academy cared. The only difference was that in the novel, Julius had been Arthur's little lackey. His "protection" had kept people from openly hating him. Now, without that shield, I was fair game. 

Not that it mattered. I had other things to focus on. 

---

In three weeks, the academy would face its first big disaster—the arc I'd written and referred to as *The Demon's Seed*. It was one of the bloodiest chapters in Alex's early story. A professor, secretly a demon cultist, had been poisoning certain students with demonic energy for months. During a practical sparring session, the infected students would mutate into demonic humans, their bodies grotesque and monstrous. They'd lose all sense of reason and attack anyone in sight, killing dozens of students before Alex and the main cast managed to stop them. 

This arc was where Alex's role as a hero truly began. But for me, it was a deathtrap. If I wasn't prepared, I'd just be another body on the ground. 

---

To get ready, I threw myself into training. 

Every morning, I'd head to a secluded section of the forest just beyond the academy grounds. The area was dense with trees and far enough from the main paths that no one would accidentally stumble upon me. It was perfect for practicing in secret. 

Most of my time was spent working on my taekwondo. Joseph's lessons had helped me refine the basics, but now I was pushing myself further—faster strikes, smoother transitions, and better stamina. I drilled every move until my body ached, taking short breaks before starting all over again. 

But taekwondo wasn't my only focus. 

I'd recently unlocked something new: *Aura*. 

Aura was a technique that allowed a mage to release their magical energy and channel it through their body, drastically enhancing their physical capabilities. Faster movements, stronger strikes, and tougher endurance—it was the cornerstone of magical combat. 

The first time I activated it, I thought my body would tear itself apart. Controlling the flow of mana was like trying to tame a raging river, and even the slightest mistake could leave you injured or worse. But with practice, I'd managed to get the hang of it. 

Now, when I fought, my strikes felt sharper, my kicks heavier. The rush of power was intoxicating, but I had to be careful. Aura was a double-edged sword—overusing it could drain me completely. 

---

Later that day, I found myself in Magic Theory class, sitting in the back where the servants sat. Most of the nobles didn't want me anywhere near them, so this was where I ended up. Not that I cared. The back row gave me a clear view of the entire class, including several familiar faces. 

Alex was seated near the middle, his expression focused as he listened to the chatter around him. Sophia sat beside him, her presence as regal as ever, while Amethyst leaned lazily in her seat, looking half-asleep. 

I glanced to my left and noticed the seat beside me was still empty. A moment later, it was filled by a short, white-haired teen with striking red eyes. He moved clumsily, nearly tripping as he sat down. 

I recognized him instantly. Yurei. 

Arthur's servant. 

He was quiet and soft-spoken, a kid who barely stood out. But I knew his story. Yurei's family had once been minor nobles under Arthur's father, but a training accident involving Arthur had left Yurei orphaned. Out of guilt—or maybe out of obligation—Arthur's family had taken him in as a servant. 

As Yurei fumbled with his things, he accidentally knocked his bag over, sending papers scattering across the floor. 

"Sorry! I-I'm so sorry!" he stammered, scrambling to pick them up. 

I crouched down, helping him gather the papers. 

When he looked up and saw my uniform, his face turned pale. "Y-you're a noble…" 

"Relax," I said, handing him the last sheet. "It's fine. Take a seat." 

Hesitant at first, he finally sat down, his movements stiff. 

"I'm Julius," I said, keeping my tone friendly. "And you?" 

"Y-Yurei," he replied quietly, glancing at me nervously. 

I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Yurei. Don't worry about earlier—it happens to everyone." 

His shoulders relaxed a little, though he still seemed cautious. 

As he settled in, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Yurei didn't deserve what was coming. But he would go through hell—because of me. 

He would be my pawn. 

Why? Because I needed to survive. And Yurei was the closest person to Arthur, someone I could manipulate to stab him in the back when the time was right. 

*Arthur killed his family.* 

The thought echoed in my mind. I'd use that pain, that buried resentment, to turn Yurei against him. 

---

I was snapped out of my thoughts as the professor entered the room. He was an older man with a stern expression, his robes pristine and his gaze sharp. 

"Good afternoon, class," he began, his voice commanding. "Today, we'll be discussing the fundamentals of magic: mana cores, arts, and skills." 

The lecture was thorough. 

Mana cores, he explained, were the heart of magic. They determined a mage's capacity for mana, and each star represented a new tier of power. A one-star mage, like me, was at the very beginning. 

Arts were specialized forms of combat—magical martial arts, essentially. Swordsmanship imbued with mana, unarmed techniques like my Aura-boosted taekwondo, and even ranged arts for people who focused on bows. 

Skills, meanwhile, were abilities that could be learned or inherited. They ranged from simple utility skills to rare, unique powers like Alex's *Hero* skill. 

The information wasn't new to me, but it was a good refresher. 

---

When class ended, I turned to Yurei. "See you tomorrow." 

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "S-see you, Julius." 

As I left the classroom, I noticed something strange. 

Chiyo was following me. 

She wasn't even being subtle about it, her footsteps awkwardly quick as she tried to keep up. 

I stopped, turning to face her. "I know you're following me." 

Her eyes widened, and without a word, she turned and bolted. 

I frowned. Strange. 

---

Back in my dorm room, I summoned Evan. 

When he arrived, he looked nervous, fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve. "You called for me, boss?" 

I leaned back in my chair, smirking. "Yeah. I wanted to talk about your little contraband business." 

Evan froze. "W-what about it?" 

"I'm taking over." 

His face paled, but he didn't argue.