The midnight encounter

If they were willing to cover up something as serious as violence, it had to be no ordinary secret.

Jake, having made his decision, opened his mouth.

"I'll be honest. I was the one who called Amy here. Her skills were so superior that I had no choice but to use Anti-Magic. But I believe it was a fair fight. Over time, our emotions deepened into a grudge, which eventually escalated into a battle of pride. It's a common occurrence. Besides, as you can see, our side took the heavier damage."

Sheena spoke up.

"Do you expect us to believe that? And Anti-Magic? You broke the most important school rule."

"Yes. I'm not saying it was the right thing to do. But what I want to say is this: this was simply a case of violence, not something like threats, kidnapping, or imprisonment. If Amy were truly a victim, why didn't she report it to the teachers right away? They have something to hide too, which is why they wanted to cover up this incident."

Amy shouted.

"What nonsense! What are we supposedly hiding? You threatened us, saying you kidnapped Shirone!"

"But did we actually kidnap anyone? Moreover, even Shirone, the supposed victim, didn't report it to the teachers and instead came straight here. What do you think that means?"

"You... you bastard...!"

Amy couldn't refute it.

For an outsider unaware of the circumstances, Shirone's failure to report the situation to the teachers was indeed unusual.

Jake smirked inwardly.

'This is just the beginning. Once the secret is revealed, I'll dig even deeper. I don't care how much money it costs. In the end, they'll be forced out of this school.'

This was the usual tactic of a Black Magician, but this time, he planned to scale it up significantly.

'If I spread rumors to local newspapers, royal institutions, and social circles, their family won't be able to show their faces anywhere.'

The very thought thrilled him.

Behold, this is how adults fight.

In the end, the world belongs to the ruthless, the dirty, and the cunning.

'Heh, heh, heh. Goodbye, Amy. Even if it means my downfall, I'll make sure you go to hell first.'

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jake."

Sheena approached, exuding a cold aura.

"I heard from Seriel before coming here. You won't be able to attend this school anymore."

"Don't be so hasty. You're a teacher, not part of the administration, aren't you?"

"What?"

"You must be aware of how much the Ardius family donates to this school. It's more than what ten first-class nobles contribute combined. Do you really think they can expel me?"

Most noble schools had a donation system, but magic schools required even more money.

Advanced equipment boosted academic performance, while outdated systems diminished a school's competitiveness.

Losing the prestige of an elite institution would lead to a vicious cycle where talented students hesitated to enroll.

Sad, an Alpheas Magic School alumnus, understood this better than anyone.

If Jake's family's funding were cut off, the school would undoubtedly suffer a financial blow.

"Sheena, isn't it premature to talk about expulsion? This should be decided through proper disciplinary procedures."

"No, it's expulsion. Otherwise, I won't be able to face the students who suffered because of Jake. If the school refuses to expel him, then I'll resign as a teacher."

Sad found himself at an impasse.

He didn't like Sheena's cold temperament, but her magical talents were among the best in the kingdom's magic schools.

Jake laughed.

"Hahaha! You're going to quit? Go ahead! Let's see who leaves first—you or me."

Even as frost spread from Sheena's shoulders, Jake didn't stop speaking.

"Without noble donations, where will the teachers' salaries come from? I hear certified magicians earn absurd wages. How will you buy books for the library? Fund the training grounds? Maintain expensive magical devices? In the end, the world runs on money! There's nothing money can't do!"

At that moment, Sheena swung her hand, and an icy wind swept out in a perfect circle around Jake.

The air cooled rapidly, forming eerie ice spikes that surrounded him.

"Guh!"

Jake instinctively shielded his face with his arms as the spikes brushed past him.

With ice spears reaching around his face, shoulders, sides, and legs, he couldn't even move a finger.

Shirone shuddered.

'Amazing.'

A freezing tornado that cools the air itself.

Yet, the fact that she hadn't inflicted any actual wounds meant she was controlling the freezing effect at the molecular level.

Sheena stepped forward.

"A student dares lecture a teacher? There are plenty of things money can't buy."

Jake's nose wrinkled in frustration.

He had seen countless people, no matter how noble, turn into animals when presented with gold.

"Things money can't buy? Like what?"

"Talent."

Jake flinched.

"A virtuous nature. A character that values others. An unwavering conviction. Intelligence that illuminates the world. Friendships where one would lay down their life. Unyielding effort. The courage to stand against evil."

Jake clenched his teeth.

Why was this woman tormenting him? If he could silence her, he wouldn't care how much it cost.

"All of that is just—"

Before he could finish, Sheena snapped her fingers, and the ice tornado exploded outward.

"Ahhh!"

Even just being grazed by the shards filled Jake with terror, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut.

"Now do you understand, Jake? Money can't buy everything. And that's why you have nothing."

Sheena grabbed Jake by the collar.

"Ugh!"

"Don't be mistaken. A school isn't a place that teaches students in exchange for money. A school is the only place that teaches what money can't buy. And you threw that away with your own hands. Once you leave, no one will teach you these things ever again."

Jake's lips trembled.

"You'll be branded as a dropout for life. Sure, you're rich, so you might live well enough. But the inferiority complex of being a failure will haunt you. You'll have to abandon countless possibilities you could have achieved. Do you understand? No future will ever be greater than the dreams you once had here."

His heart pounded. Yet, his face drained of all color.

"Jake."

Sheena looked at him with pity.

"Your dreams end here."

"Ah..."

The face once twisted with malice gradually reverted to that of a boy.

Overwhelmed by despair and fear, his body trembled, and tears streamed down his face.

"No, this can't be."

Why hadn't he realized it sooner?

He had only been able to act so arrogantly because he had been protected by the school.

Once expelled, the world wouldn't care about his resentment.

'Loser.'

Jake collapsed to his knees.

"I... I was wrong."

A kingdom-recognized teacher was willing to sacrifice their career to expel him.

"Please, don't expel me. Give me one more chance. I'll never do this again. I promise to study hard."

Shirone and Amy grew solemn.

The fear of losing one's dream—every student at a magic school understood it, even without experiencing it firsthand.