Chapter 278: Intimidation

Chapter 278: Intimidation

༺ Intimidation ༻

“W-we’ve sent all reporters and civilians outside.”

“Now... you can come out.”

A somber stillness prevailed in the silent waiting room, and two knights entered and said.

– Ssrrk...

The student glaring at me rose from their seats and calmly left the waiting room.

‘Indeed, the elites are a bit different.’

I was seeing them for the first time, and I noticed something. Unlike my classmates among the nobles, who moved disorderly, they moved in an orderly fashion, like an army.

They made Frey think that the abilities of that year’s freshmen seemed remarkably outstanding.

Even if the Youngest Paladin—the God’s Vessel—and Aishi—the Demon Princess—were... Honestly, they weren’t as skilled as heroines, but they were undoubtedly the empire’s top talents.

“Frey.”

As I watched the students with a satisfied expression, I heard a familiar voice beside me.

“What, my dear little sister?”

“Shut up. I’m not your little sister anymore.”

My ever-cute and charming little sister stayed behind in the waiting room and talked to me for some reason.

“What did you do to the advisory committee?”

“I didn’t do anything. I just revealed a talent I didn’t know I had.”

“Nonsense. A ‘unanimous decision’ isn’t easy to get, you know?

She skillfully found the gap in my sly retort. Indeed, my sister was truly remarkable.

“Even if others could be bribed, how did you buy someone like Vener...”

“I just did it, that’s all.”

I interrupted her sharp questioning and then calmly turned around to speak.

“Come here.”

“...Yes.”

Vener approached me with a shameful expression.

“Hand.”

– Thud...!

I said that indifferently, and she blushed hard as she placed her hand on mine.

“Good girl.”

I patted her head with a bright smile, and Vener, who had lowered her head, quietly accepted my touch.

“..... Disgusting jerk.”

Aria, who had been watching me, became even colder.

She probably recalled the rumors circulating in the empire.

“Prepare yourself for next year’s judgment. I’ll make sure you pay for your crimes.”

She turned away as if she couldn’t stand me anymore and headed toward the exit of the waiting room.

“Hm...”

As I silently watched her, a sound came from the side.

– Relief, concern, joy, love, affection, relief... Only positive emotions gathered?

Turning my gaze, I saw Ruby propping her chin on her hand and looking at me.

– Do you cherish your sister a lot? But I can’t believe this. There is ‘obsession’ at the end, so your mental state isn’t stable either, huh?

It seemed she was scanning me with the ‘Mind Reading’ skill.

Now that it’s come to this, should I also try to probe her emotions?

No, there’s probably no need.

Looking at that smiling face, I could guess her emotions.

– By the way, do you know your sister was also on the advisory committee?

“Shut up.”

I whispered as I looked down at her with a cold expression. Ruby then added calmly.

– If I touch your sister... What kind of reaction will you show?

“You can’t attack my sister, can you?”

– Fufu... Just now, ‘wrath’ appeared in your emotions.

I didn’t think responding to her was worth it, so I ignored her and turned away. Ruby also got up while wearing a sickening smile.

“Well then, Professor, I’ll leave it to you for a...”

– Flick!

“.....!”

Ruby was about to go out after saying that, but when she suddenly heard the sound of snapping fingers from somewhere, she flinched and put her hand on her head.

“... “

Then, a brief silence ensued.

– Drrrkk...

“Phew.”

With her hand on her head, she scratched her head and went outside. My expressionless facade fell, and I sighed.

‘Whatever happens... I must protect my sister.’

My sister, Aria, is the only family I have left.

So, even if the world falls apart, I must protect her.

As an unfilial son who couldn’t protect his parents, it was my duty to save my sister at any cost.

“Excuse me.”

As such thoughts ran through my mind, I balled my fists and tried to control my emotions. Someone suddenly grabbed my sleeve and shook me.

“Hehe.”

“....?”

It turned out to be someone I had given a ring—the cute little girl.

“Hello, Professor?”

As I slightly loosened up my guard and cautiously looked at her, she spoke while wearing smiling eyes.

“You were really cool earlier!”

“......”

She was the third disciple of the Magic Tower Master and also her current disciple. For some reason, this girl always frowned whenever she saw Ruby.

She was an irregular, someone going against the norm.

Surprisingly, such a prominent figure wasn’t recorded in the prophecy. I had read the prophecy several times, but the name ‘Glare’ was nowhere to be found.

She glared at me and quietly twisted the dagger.

“Uh, sister...?”

“..............”

As the sound of something breaking rang from my left arm, her sister, who was beside her, turned pale. The others had mixed expressions.

“Is that so? Very well done.”

“...Ugh?”

As I praised her nonchalantly, she looked bewildered. Her expression turned contemptuous as a black aura began to seep from my arm and quickly wrapped around her arm.

– Kwakwang!!

“Kugh!!”

Coldly looking down at her, I grabbed her head and forcefully slammed it onto the desk.

“Sister!!”

Her sister jumped from the desk, and the remaining students widened their eyes.

“However... remember this from now on.”

Her arm was still enveloped in my dark aura, and I spoke in a low voice.

“Feel free to attack me anytime. But you have to stake your life on it.”

“........”

“The intention to kill someone is no different from putting your own life at risk. Surely, no novice will try to take someone else’s life without risking their own, right?”

Silence filled the waiting room.

– Nods, nods...

‘...Ah, so cute.’

I almost failed to manage my expression as Glare nodded seriously from my side, her eyes sparkling. After regaining my composure, I continued.

“So, any student attempting and failing to kill me in the future... I’ll stigmatize them, signifying their end by my hands.”

– Srrrr...

As soon as I finished, a black stigma was engraved on the arm of the Horizon family’s eldest daughter.

“This is... sorcery...! It’s cheating!”

“...Ah.”

Her sister shouted in shock, and the eldest daughter glared at the stigma on her arm with disgust.

“So, is there anything wrong with that?”

“This is the forbidden stigma of slavery!! Of course, a teacher shouldn’t use...”

“The adversaries you’ll be facing would be part of the Demon King’s Army like me, the Demon King, demonic monsters, or warlocks. What’s stopping them from using sorcery?”

“.........”

“And did I just hear you wrong?”

“Hegeuk!””

Making my voice sound even colder, I looked at her with a sharp gaze, catching her chin. She seemed frightened and slightly backed away. Then, I spoke in a low tone.

“Cheating?”

“........”

“Do you think this is a prank?”

The atmosphere among the students became tense.

“Listen, the word ‘cheating’ doesn’t exist in an all-out battle.”

“Ugh... Ugh...”

Still holding her chin, I continued to advise the kids. I lowered my gaze and whispered.

“By the way, your chin is quite soft.”

“Ugh...”

“In the basement of my mansion, there were a few half-elf slaves like you.”

“......!”

“Well, is it just because elven blood flows in you? I don’t care either way.”

Killing intent returned in the sisters’ eyes.

‘Indeed, they are just naive kids who have only developed their brains.’

I knew some half-elves were unaware of the secret dealings between the elven and human realms, but I didn’t expect them to be so oblivious.

It had been several centuries since elves immigrated to the Western continent and established families in the Empire. Communication could have been disrupted during that time.

“Anyway, keep that in your mind.”

After provoking the two sisters’ morale, I calmly addressed the students behind them.

“If you want to attack me, be prepared to stake your life. At the very least, be willing to become my slave.”

The students’ expressions changed.

The Count’s beloved daughter, the girl wearing glasses who would become Ruby’s aide, resembled her father, the ruler of the back alleys. She exuded a dark aura as she rested her hands on her chin.

She was a blood relative of the Moonlight family from the collateral line, as Serena had mentioned she would pick as the future scarecrow lord. Talismans hung on her desk, and her eyes were covered by her hair, giving off an eerie vibe.

Everyone silently began to engage their minds for the remaining students in their seats, and the scene vividly caught my eye.

“Well, then let’s end...”

“Pr-Professor! Please wait! There’s something I need to say...”

Feeling awkward about staying in the front, I stepped away from the room with Glare sticking close by my side.

– Creak...

The moment I opened the entrance and stepped outside, I couldn’t help but freeze.

“I came here first to talk, you know, Saintess?”

“I got here first! Please yield! I don’t want a head-on collision!!”

“You know it’s a head-on collision. You can’t trick my eyes.”

Outside the waiting room, Serena and Ferloche were laughing while conversing.

“I-I was the first to come and wait... why is it... again, why only me...”

Behind them, Clana was muttering something inaudible while slumping down.

“Don’t be like this. How about you talk after me?”

“I came here first!”

“Oh, my. Saintess, it seems like you know something is wrong here.”

“...Really?”

First, I needed to stop these two quickly.

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