n

n

n

"...

"

nThe black-haired attendant turned toward Grazio with a grim expression.

nOne look at the red-haired youth was enough to make Zomei's scars start to throb.

n|...and I was trying so hard to avoid him...!|

nThe scarred boy clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, barely stopping himself from spitting scowling, and spiting to the side at a mere sight of his number one hated person in the world.

nThe thing was, Zoemi was just avoiding Grazio - he always did his best to not even look at him or acknowledge the red boy's existence whatsoever, even though they were in the same class.

nThat past month Zoemi was especially happy that the heroine never showed any interest in the red-haired guy - because thanks to that he could continue acting as if the person who left him with these horrible scars did not exist, with a clear conscience.

nYes, the blond heroine was keeping herself away from every single capture target with the exception of the blue-haired Surou, cementing the black-haired attendant's conviction that she was firmly in the second prince's route.

nBut then...

n...what the hell was she doing standing by Grazio's side right at that moment!?

nAnd Zoemi wasn't the only agitated person there...

n

"...!

"

nAt the sound of Grazio's voice, Miriette froze in place and her hair bristled like an angry hedgehog – then, without letting go of the Horeo's arm, she turned around pulling the prince together with her. As the dark-haired girl had activated her enchants subconsciously, poor Horeo almost lost his balance exposed to the centrifugal force.

n

"You!

"

nMiriette shouted, sounding every bit as furious as Zoemi was feeling.

n

"I thought I have already EXPLICITLY explained what I will do to you if you ever try something like that again!

"

n*RUMBLE*

n

"...!

"

nShe stomped her feet and thanks to the power of her enchant she made the earth shake - and pale Grazio took a step back.

nIt wasn't a strange thing to do – everyone brave enough could look into young lady Espine's eyes and be exposed to her pure bloodlusty glare...

n

"Lady Espine, I have a thing to settle with your attendant, and I assure you it doesn't have anything to do with you or your fami...

"

n

"Sir Vuctureo. Are. You. Deaf? Or are my words too complicated for you to understand?

"

nGrazio bowed his head politely, but if he thought that would appease Miriette, well, he bet on the wrong horse...

n

"...wha-what is going on...?

"

n

"...I don't know...

"

n

"AH! I know! I heard about it, you see, lord Victureo has actually...!

"

nThe students who were already going back to the dorm all stopped in their tracks and gathered around the quarreling people – some of them even seemed to know about the incident that Grazio caused and which resulted in Zoemi's current appearance.

n

"So you didn't understand a thing after all! Then are you illiterate or just straight up stupid!? If my eyes do not deceive me, you even brought yourself a healer! That's just perfect! Let's test if this commoner girl's magic can reattach a missing limb!

"

nMiriette's face twisted in fury when she frowned with a hint of madness, and the air in front of her started boiling.

n

"!!!!!

"

n

"RUN!

"

nPeople standing behind Grazio and the trembling blond heroine spread out just to get away from the terrifying spell.

n

"...

"

nMiriette was preparing a wind slash without a hint of hesitation - and more surprisingly – without any incantation – which was supposed to be possible for only the most experienced magicians.

nThe ripples of mana emanating from the forming spell were a lot more threatening than the ones from the one she used at the examination, too...

n

"Miriette! Don't!

"

nHoreo wanted to stop her but the short-haired girl only shook off his hands.

n

"What's going on here...? Oh, dear lord!

"

nThe elderly light magician who was the head examiner, moved through the crowd of students, accidentally walking in on the soon-to-be-bloodbath and he shuddered seeing and feeling the space in front of the dark-haired girl literally breaking apart because of the insanely high condensation of mana.

n

"Miss Espine, whatever you're doing, stop this instant!

"

n|Dear god! How much mana is she pouring into that spell!?|

nKros Rul Shuze felt a cold hand of fear getting a hold of his stomach.

n

"...

"

nBut the girl didn't react and the air in front of her started boiling even fiercer.

nThe single spell of the wind attribute was emanating far denser and scarier mana than the most powerful spell that Kros could use!

nThe elderly magician could feel cold sweat pouring on his back.

nKros began thinking of a way to not allow such a fearsome spell to be released as the consequences might have been far more serious than any of the surrounding students could even imagine – but at the same time, what was he supposed to do alone? Light magicians, although praised as the most powerful, were not defense-focused.

nThis was the second time in Kros's life, that he thought about running away before even trying to talk.

nThankfully, the students that would stand in the way of the wind spell if it got released already got away and were watching from the sides, but that didn't change the fact that the direction that the young lady Espine was aiming at happened to be the same direction that the small town providing the basic necessity for the Academy was too...!

n|If she deploys that spell...!|

n

"My lady! No! Stop!

"

nBut the Kros's fears didn't come to fruition – not because of his own action, but rather because the dark-haired youth stepped in front of the enraged dark-haired girl.

nZoemi was angry.

nYes.

nDid he hate Grazio?

nOf course!

nBut did he want his master to get into grave troubles because of the person he already hated?

nHell no!

n

"My lady...! My lady, hear me out...!

"

nThe black-haired attendant called out to his master.

n

"Get out of my way, Zoemi, this trash hasn't learned his place at all! And it's a noble's duty to educate a filthy, idiotic...!

"

n

"My lady!

"

nZoemi stopped his master from shouting out more profanities and took a step closer towards her and the spell that she was casting.

n

"Zoemi, move away...!

"

nMiriette moved her head to look past Zoemi and lock on to Grazio, but her attendant not only didn't follow her order, but he also got even closer to her.

n

"Zoemi...!

"

nMiriette stomped her feet.

n

"My lady, you need to stop!

"

nZoemi took another step forward. He was almost touching the boiling air in front of his master, he could feel the mana coiling around the shape that she imagined, ready to rip the scarred boy to shreds at the first opportunity.

n

"...D-don't come any closer...!

"

nThis time it was Miriette who pleaded.

nHer rabid expression change into a desperate one.

n

"He needs to be punished for what he did to you!

"

nShe screamed and shook her head.

n

"Even if he does, it is not supposed to happen like this.

"

nZoemi shook his head, denying his master's words.

n

"I'm not important here - first of all, sir Victureo deserves a punishment, but not for wounding me. He deserves punishment for almost wounding you, my lady.

"

nZoemi said with a soft smile and took a step forward.

nStraight into the boiling air!

n