บท 23: Chapter 23: Potential Villain List (1)

The students of class 1-V continued with their activity; and with the thundering noises that were echoing through the air, it would seem that the other classes had begun their exercise as well.

"...Interesting."

It had not even been a quarter of an hour since the activity had started, but it would seem that one of the groups in Scarlet Mage's class has already reached their conclusion. Scarlet Mage slowly floated towards the group, who only had one remaining student standing still.

"..." Riley also followed Scarlet Mage, his eyes looking at the 4 students that were completely unconscious on the ground.

"This… is the Telepath group, yes?" Scarlet Mage then approached the only student left standing.

"...Y… es," the young man said, the tone of his voice filled with laziness and a little lag.

"Can you tell me your name and state how you… are the only one left standing in your group?"

"Name… Cedrick," the young man mumbled, "Il...lusion, they are dreaming…"

"..."

"...right now."

"I see," Scarlet Mage quickly nodded as soon as Cedrick finished explaining, which took almost 15 seconds. She then asked Cedrick to retrieve his ID card, before quickly grabbing it and tapping it on the tablet she was holding.

"Here you go, I added 1000 MP to your account," Scarlet Mage said as she placed the card back in Cedrick's pocket herself, "Just wait on the side for now while we wait for the others to finish up."

"O… kay," Cedrick lazily said as he slowly walked towards a nearby tree for shade.

Cedrick Atkinson-- if Scarlet Mage wasn't mistaken, he was in the Potential Villain list along with many other students. And seeing as he was able to overpower the rest of the members of his group, she had to add priority to his name.

The Potential Villain list, as the name suggests, was a list of students that were deemed to have the most potential to go to the dark side if left unchecked. Scarlet Mage has screened almost a thousand students in the span of weeks, and she didn't want to admit it, but almost 20% of the students belong to the list-- and there were probably more, who were just good at hiding their alignment.

As someone on the list, they were given more attention than the other students; to intervene and hopefully change them before they were sent to the outside world… if they were sent outside. Scarlet Mage had no idea what the Academy was planning for the students who are still on the list by the time they graduate, but she was hoping it wouldn't lead to something drastic.

There were five more in the Potential Villain list in her class, excluding Riley. She was having second thoughts about putting him there now, as her plan to pretend to be a couple was her number one priority so that he would be kicked out of the Academy.

If he was put on the Potential Villain list, then he might be transferred to another class since there were already too many in her class.

"Interesting. Cedrick can create illusions, Scarlet Mage?"

"Shouldn't you know by now that powers aren't created equal?" Scarlet Mage raised her voice, making sure that the other students could also hear her, "Along with our activity on the first day, this activity is also trying to show you that even though you may have people with the same powers as you, that doesn't mean you aren't unique. There are certain ways to master your powers, you may lack raw power; but in return, your control would be better."

Although the students were busy with their matches, those who were watching could not help but nod their heads. They already saw how one of the students of the Telekinetic group fainted due to overusing her power-- she had raw power, but she certainly lacked control.

"I wasn't aware they could do that," Riley once again whispered close to Scarlet Mage's ears, "I usually kill them first since they used to be able to read my mind."

"U… Used to?" Scarlet Mage was trying her best to ignore Riley's warm breath crawling down her neck. She did say she was going to pretend with Riley, so she should get used to this kind of… intimacy, "What do you mean used to?"

"Telepaths could no longer read my mind, Scarlet Mage," he replied, "That is why I wanted to kill you in the first place since the way you read people is different from the rest."

"I… I see," Scarlet Mage didn't know whether to be proud or scared of the fact that Darkday saw him as a sort of a threat. No, it was definitely both a blessing and a curse-- there was a reason that she was the only one that knows Riley's identity, and she would make sure to fulfill it. And so, once they were kicked out from the school, her responsibility will finally start.

She was now calling this-- Operation 'Turn Dark into Light'.

"I should probably incapacitate Cedrick for life," Riley then once again let out a whisper.

"Don't!"

The exercise continued, with most still not being able to reach a conclusion. But surprisingly, Silvie's group now only had her and Gary left standing. It would seem they were having a contest of strength… through arm wrestling.

Perhaps this was also the reason why most of the groups still hadn't finished their matches since all of them were engrossed with Silvie's match. Scarlet Mage told them to focus on their own matches, but they immediately went back to watching Silvie and Gary.

And so, with a sigh, Scarlet Mage could only do the same. Even more than the Potential Villain list, the Mega Student is their number 1 priority. Of course, for Scarlet Mage, Silvie was only 2nd to Riley.

"I guess it's you and me then, Mega Student… pft."

"Please don't."

Silvie could not help but groan in frustration as she saw Gary trying his best not to laugh; but knowing him, he was probably just doing it deliberately to annoy her. But it wasn't entirely his fault, though. Who in their right mind even decided to call the top student that way?

This is what happens when you give old people the power to name things.

"Let's do this, old friend."

"...We've only known each other for a day," Silvie rolled her eyes as she walked towards the large stone they were having their arm wrestling match on, and considering all the dents and cracks on it, their group has used it well.

"Eh, what about the entrance exam day?" Gary let out a slight gasp as he placed his elbow on the boulder, "I thought we've made a solid connection there, my heart bleeds at this betrayal… I thought you were my friend!"

"...I am?" Silvie blinked a couple of times as she grabbed Gary's hand, "Then no hard feelings after I am done with you?"

"Ho, is that the confidence you got from being the Mega Student?"

Silvie's eye could not help but twitch from Gary's words. But after a few seconds, she let out a long and deep breath; she shouldn't let herself get distracted and be dragged into Gary's words-- after all, that was one of the reasons he won his matches.

"Let's just start in 3."

"Alright."

"1,"

"2,"

"3!"

"!!!"

A thunderous noise exploded in the air as the grass waved in a ripple. The students who were near the two also could not help but slightly back away from all the debris and dirt that was being thrown around as the boulder the two were leaning on dug through the ground.

"S… shit, you're not going to let me win?" Gary chuckled nervously, "Let me win… i'll return the title to you next week, I just really want to buy that bike."

"No."

"...Then just buy me one?"

"No."

"...A loan?" Gary muttered as their arms both began to tremble, with the boulder they were leaning on digging through the ground even further, causing them to slouch.

"..." Silvie wasn't going to lie, but she did not expect Gary to be stronger than the rest of the members of her group; but at the same time, she also could not help but be happy. Throughout her life, she was surrounded by nothing but walls; as well as people that were too fragile that they might possibly break from her touch.

But now, being surrounded by friends that are somewhat at the same level as her, she felt… safe.

Hannah was undoubtedly strong as she already experienced fighting with her firsthand, and she would only grow stronger. Gary had similar abilities to her, so they would surely have a lot to talk about in the future. As for Riley… he had this mysterious air around him, but with all the things he had been showing so far, she knew he was the same as her-- always holding back.

And as soon as she thought of that, their hands which had been remaining equal for a full minute now started to move, with Silvie pushing Gary's hand downwards.

"Tch," Gary's teeth started to show as the veins on his neck started to pop out, his grip growing stronger as he tried his best to fight back.

Silvie slightly lightened her grip so as to prevent hurting him. She really had to admit it, Gary was strong, but sadly...

...it wasn't enough, "Please stop this...

...you're only going to end up hurting yourself."