Chapter 156: Know Your Place.
(Disclaimer: Strong words/events are described in this chapter, so if you are easily triggered by stuff like rape, you should avoid it)
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I spotted about four more bullies in the crowd.
'Now, I just need to find the other two,' I thought, scanning the sea of students.
The quest prompt was explicit: Humiliate them.
It was an odd one, even for me. Most of the quests I'd received up until now had been about defeating or even killing someone.
But this? This was specific.
It wasn't about overpowering them in combat or making some grand display to knock them off their pedestals. They just had to be humiliated.
After calming down, all I had left, was curiosity and an urge to experiment.
What exactly did 'humiliation' entail in this context?
How far did I have to go before the quest would be satisfied?
Would it be enough to simply show them up, to demonstrate the vast difference between their abilities and mine? Or was I expected to completely crush their dignity, until they wouldn't even dare to come out their homes?
If possible, I wanted to avoid drawing too much attention to myself.
Anyone with even a bit of information on me would know that I wasn't supposed to be particularly talented.
Thus, suddenly showcasing great magical prowess would undoubtedly raise questions.
Why would I start caring about that all of a sudden?
Well, I do have my reasons.
In the 2nd Trial, for example, I had the protection of a duke's name; it gave me the freedom to act without much consequence.
Even if people got suspicious, so what? Who would question me, the King of Midgar, when I was in a relationship with his daughter?
In short, no one would have.
It feels a bit unsettling to think this way, but it's the truth.
Here, though, things were different. My 'family' had some standing, sure, but it wasn't enough to shield me if I overstepped.
It's believable for someone with no talent to suddenly change—it could be some hidden potential that I hadn't tapped into before, polished by the great Magic University. That kind of story would boost its reputation, and they'd welcome it.
The family would acknowledge me, and we'd all be happy.
But if I show too much? That could be a problem. I might catch the attention of the wrong people—those who wouldn't stop at nothing until they uncovered the truth.
Normally, I'd take things as they come and handle it when it happens, right?
But the stakes were higher. I wasn't alone. My sister was here, too.
For the first time, I'm 'forced' to break my own rule.
Don't forge relationships with people you can't protect, because there's no guarantee I'll be able to protect them as well.
I feel like it's unavoidable, for me.
While I mulled over how to handle the situation, the professor began explaining the first part of the practical test.
As I listened, I noticed the professor call up the blond-haired, blue-eyed bully—the first one I had identified.
'Exam Taker 022, huh. Let's see how strong he is'
A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. This was the perfect opportunity to deal with him.
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After the bully finished showing off and received his 187 points, leaving everyone impressed and whispering among themselves, I seized the moment.
'No hard feelings, buddy. You shouldn't have bullied others.'
"...Was it that amazing?"
I made sure my voice carried, ensuring everyone present heard me.
This kind of test was easy for me.
I didn't even need to rely on magic, not if it was just about punching some mannequin.
After watching the bully's performance and assessing the damage he inflicted on it, I realized that with my current physical strength, even holding back, it would be hard not to obliterate it.
I'm just that strong, now.
"Am I allowed to destroy it?"
The last thing I wanted, was to be on the hook for damages to the Magic University.
I don't know how much this shit costs, but I don't want to know.
After laughing at my proposal like I had gone mad, one of the professors eventually stepped up and droned on about how it was impossible for anyone to destroy the mannequin, that I needed this or that, which I obviously didn't have...
His smugness started to grate on me.
Bro, did I ask? Just answer the fucking question.
"So, am I allowed to destroy it or not?" I interrupted, my tone flat but sharp, cutting through his lecture.
The professor hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes, you're allowed to do anything you want here. We'll cover it."
'Oh buddy, you should have never spoken such words so confidently'
A smile crept onto my face as I turned back to the mannequin, already envisioning how I'd completely demolish it.
But just as I was about to prepare, I heard the bully's voice.
He started yapping, spouting the typical young master nonsense about apologizing and knowing my place.
I was fully prepared to tune him out, his words meaningless noise at best—until his last sentence.
"...Otherwise, I might just have to involve your 'dear' sister in this matter."
...
The world around me froze, sound fading to a dull roar as if I'd been plunged underwater. My muscles tensed, every fiber of my being coiled like a spring ready to snap.
I turned to him, my eyes locking onto his predatory gaze.
But he wasn't looking at me.
His focus was entirely on her, his tongue sliding across his lips in a grotesque, deliberate manner that made bile rise in my throat.
Disgusting. So utterly disgusting.
He wasn't talking about my real sister, but even so, that didn't matter.
In that moment, I was no longer there.
I was back in that alley, years ago. The acrid smell of garbage filling my nostrils, mixing with the metallic tang of blood.
"H-Help..."
My sister's terrified sobs echoed off the brick walls, punctuated by the jeers and laughter of her attackers.
And then, the sting of split knuckles, taste of copper in my mouth, with collapsed bodies all below me. The wail of sirens growing louder, a promise of help that felt an eternity away.
My body moved on instinct, fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms.
I had tried to be reasonable, to take a different approach.
After all, there was no real benefit in humiliating people, right? I had wanted to achieve my goal with minimal conflict, to let him walk away once I got what I needed.
But now? Now all I could see was red.
He had dragged that memory kicking and screaming from the depths of my mind, forced me to relive every agonizing second.
'I swear, you'll pay for this.'
["Akir—"]
'Now's not the time, Yui.'
I blinked, snapping back to the present. The rage that filled me was beyond anything I'd ever felt before. It was a living thing, cold and vicious, coiled around my heart like a serpent.
My eyes narrowed to slits.
"You just made a grave mistake," I said, each word dripping with icy venom.
This wasn't about a damn quest or whatever. Not anymore.
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Author's Note:
This entrance exam isn't even done yet, lol
I'm sorry if It feels like we've been stagnating on this part a little bit more, but as you can see, I'm slowly unearthing some lore about the MC's past, and as we go further in the trials, more and more things will come up.
As it's evident, this Trial is about the MC's sis, Izumi.
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