Chapter 30 - I Clarify the Definition of "FIND OUT" to My Classmates
With everything in order, Barney handed Carn the curriculum schedule paper. Carn looked at the schedule and discovered that the entire Monday's classes were 'Mana Practice'. As for the rest, it looked the same as a regular high school curriculum.
Barney began the class, "Carn, since you don't have a wand, you can observe the class today. As for you three troublemakers, show me your homework."
Hammer and Chuck smacked their lips and brought their magic wands and a stack of A4 papers to their desks. The third student, Koa, also put his papers and artifacts in front of him.
Koa was another huge teenager. Unlike Chuck, who was only fat, Koa's build resembled a Japanese sumo wrestler, and he was at least three inches taller than Carn. As he wore a sleeveless shirt, the tribal tattoos on his chest were visible. Combined with his toned skin and unique topknot hairstyle, he resembled a Hawaiian professional wrestler rather than a student.
Barney walked over and picked up the stack of papers from Chuck's desk. He flipped it, inspecting the drawings on each paper.
As Carn was sitting at the back of the class, he could vaguely see the pattern on the papers, which consisted of a human body on top and some paragraphs at the bottom.
Five minutes later, Barney finished reviewing the homework and gathered the papers, his face clouded with disappointment.
"I asked you last month to draw an anatomical map and describe the after-effects of using mana daily, but only Koa turned in a complete report. Chuck, Hammer, you both just copy-pasted the same paper. Do you realize that if something goes wrong while you're inside a rift, you'll have no one to blame but yourselves? Without accurate records, we can't guide your growth properly!"
Hammer scoffed, "Sir, I don't see the point of documenting how we feel after using mana. With enough mana gems, we don't have to worry about side effects. We just feel a bit of an itch in our stomach, that's all!"
"That's only because you have enough fat and blood to fuel your magic! If you ever run out of either, no matter how many mana gems you have, you won't be able to use your power."
Hammer shrugged and dismissed the argument. "That's only a problem for an idiot who doesn't prepare. Maybe you should worry about a certain skinny shrimp at the back."
Chuck cackled, backing up his friend as usual. Barney sighed, knowing it was futile to argue further.
Meanwhile, Carn rested his elbow on his desk, propping his chin with his hand as he watched the loudmouths, musing to himself.
'How did these two make it through the inquisitor's mind scan? She never lets spoiled brats or thugs slip through. Maybe it's because they aren't cultivating real Aether?'
Carn then glanced at Koa, who had been quiet throughout this morning.
The Hawaiian youth already put on thick eyeglasses and brought out a thick textbook, fully prepared for the lecture.
Seeing the cover of the textbook, Carn copied Koa, pulling the same textbook 'Mana Science' from his bag. Flipping the pages, Carn checked the index, wondering what the Earthling scientists had to offer.
Barney continued with the lesson, "Bring out your Mana Science textbook, page 31. We'll review the mana absorption method. Get your mana gems and a mana circle ready."
Koa flipped his textbook and pulled out an A5 paper, which contained a printed magic circle. He put the gemstone wand on it and pressed the paper with his fingertips.
Chuck and Hammer ignored the instructions. They brought their magic canes closer to their mouths and licked them as if they were a lollipop.
Carn and Barney frowned at Chuck and Hammer, cringed by their vulgar behavior. They shook their heads and treated them like NPCs.
…
After the tedious morning classes, Carn yawned. The lessons were so dull and cringe-worthy that another day in front of the inquisitor sounded more entertaining by comparison.
Everything was outdated. The magic circles in the textbooks and the methods for using mana were all inefficient and overly complicated.
For instance, a simple night vision spell cost Carn only a fifth of a silver mark using his own method. But with the Earthlings' approach, it would cost five silver marks, and he would lose weight due to the flawed magic circle pattern.
'No wonder these kids are piling on fat. But in real combat, they would be the first to die. With zero cardio and zero mobility techniques, they would be sitting ducks. Real monsters and beasts are not stupid. When they see mages and priests, they will come after them first. Hell, even I went after the fragile backliners first whenever I see one.'
Carn packed his belongings, ready to head to the cafeteria, but as he stood up, Hammer and Chuck turned and started walking toward him.
Behind them, Barney noticed the troublemakers and shook his head, choosing to look the other way. Koa also ignored everyone, already making his way to lunch.
Left alone with the two bullies, Carn sighed. He moved his desk and chair aside to clear some room. But before he could finish, Hammer jumped onto his desk, swinging a punch directly at his face.
"GET WRECKED, SHRIMP!"
The punch flew toward Carn's nose.
*CRACK*
A sharp sound echoed in the classroom.
Chuck smirked, eager to see Carn's face bloodied and broken.
The punch had landed, but it was not on his nose. It hit Carn's forehead.
Hammer winced, pulling his hand back. Looking at his knuckles, he discovered that they had started swelling, and intense pain stung throughout his arms.
His bones cracked!
Meanwhile, Carn calmly rubbed his forehead where the punch had hit. It didn't hurt, but the impact irritated him.
"I don't normally beat up kids, but when I do, they are all spoiled brats." Carn indirectly warned Chuck and Hammer, giving them one more chance to walk away.
Ignoring his broken hand and warning, Hammer growled. He shoved Carn's desk aside and changed his stance, throwing a middle kick. Because of his height, it became a high kick, aiming at Carn's neck.
Carn raised his left hand and caught Hammer's shin. His fingers dug into the flesh like claws.
Hammer's expression darkened. He sensed sharp pain from his left leg, but he couldn't pull it back. Moreover, Carn's grip grew stronger every second, and his fingertips reached his bones.
"AAAARRRGH!"
The giant bellowed because of the intense pain.
Carn sighed deeply and looked at Chuck, smiling, "Welcome to today's supplementary lesson, 'F-ck Around and Find Out.' Let's start with the definition of 'Find Out'."
*CRACK*
With a slight jerk and a bit of force, like how a man snapped a cookie in half with one hand, the thick shin bone, tibia, of Hammer broke in half.
Chapter 31 - My Mother is Poisonous
The lungs of a giant were naturally larger than average, so Hammer's scream echoed through the building, loud enough to be heard several floors below. People on the lower floors looked up, curious and confused by the commotion.
Carn snorted and let go of Hammer's leg, dropping him to the floor. Hammer writhed and squealed like a pig in a slaughterhouse.
Seeing his friend's state, Chuck hesitated, taking a shaky step back. Even as he trembled, he pointed a finger at Carn, stammering out a threat.
"Do you even know who our sponsors are?! You're dead! You're so dead!"
Carn rolled his eyes, wiping his bloody hand with a handkerchief. "Ah, yes, the classic line. Who's your dad? Boe Jiden? Tonald Drump?"
Chuck's face twisted in anger. "We're disciples of General Speedwagon! You're doomed, shrimp! Your parents will lose their jobs, you'll be kicked out of the special zone, and your family will be homeless—"
Carn didn't let him finish. He sprang forward, landing a flying knee squarely in Chuck's face, breaking his nose. The boy's face caved, and he dropped to the floor.
Walking over, Carn sat on Chuck's chest and stared down, "I see you dare to bring up parents in our fight. But instead of worrying about my parents' career, how about you worry about surviving today?"
Chuck wailed, "STOP! STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"
"Why not?"
Carn's left hand pressed down on Chuck's neck while he raised his right hand, preparing to pummel him to death.
Just then, Barney rushed into the classroom, taking in the scene. "What's happening here?!"
Carn clicked his tongue and lowered his right hand. He stood up and patted his clothes, making up an excuse, "Nothing's happening. It's self-defense, sir."
Barney walked over, examining the bruised and bloodied Hammer and Chuck before glaring at Carn. "I thought you were a man of God. Is this how you show respect to the Lord? Didn't I just teach you the Ten Commandments yesterday?"
Carn raised an eyebrow. "If following the Lord means letting bullies get a free hit on me, then I'd rather be the devil and show them what hell looks like."
"This is excessive. These are your future comrades!"
"Please, they will surely backstab me the moment we set foot in a rift together."
Barney sighed. "It doesn't matter. Come with me to the disciplinary office. And as for you two, get yourselves to the infirmary!"
Carn shook his head, scoffing. His old memories resurfaced.
No matter the school, teachers reacted the same. They were quick to defend the bullies as soon as their victims finally fought back, but they shut their mouths when the bullies ran unchecked. Only when the victims took extreme measures, such as unaliving themselves or bringing a gun to school, did the teachers come out to make a statement and go silent again.
Carn wondered if the education system of this country, this world, would improve one day.
…
Disciplinary Office, 2 PM
Carn stood calmly, watching his injured peers seated on a couch with their parents. Chuck's nose had already been patched up, but he still sat there sobbing, clinging to his chubby mother. Hammer had been sent to the hospital for his broken bone, leaving only his mother present.
The two women, both visibly furious, had been yelling at Carn non-stop. However, he stared back in boredom, ignoring everything they hurled his way. They sounded like talkative apes or chimpanzees in a zoo when Carn treated the scolding as white noise.
Enduring the scolding was easy. After all, they could not physically punish him. If they did, he would have sued them to oblivion for assaulting a minor.
While enduring the noises, Carn glanced over to gauge the reactions of the dean and Barney, who were also present in the room. However, they sat calmly, watching the event and waiting for Carn's parent to arrive.
After what felt like hours of scolding, swearing, and random accusations, the office door finally opened, and Carn's mother walked in.
Wong scanned the room and found her son. Then, she saw two adult women pointing their fingers at Carn's face. She glanced over to Chuck and Carn, noticing that only the fat teen was injured.
Getting the gist of the situation, Wong looked at the two mothers and crossed her arms. She then asked the dean and Barney in her usual broken English accent, "What happened here? Why you call me?"
Barney coughed and explained, "Ma'am. Your son, Carn, has injured two of his classmates. One of them has already been sent to a hospital."
Wong nodded, "Good!"
The mothers widened their eyes. Chuck's mother yelled at Wong, "Good?! My son has gotten a broken nose! You will pay for the medical bills, rehabilitation care, therapy costs, and suffering damage costs! I want your son out of this school and your entire family must leave this special zone!"
Hammer's mother followed suit, "My son has been traumatized, and you say… Good?! You yellow monkeys must be proud to raise your son like a barbarian! But this is the United States, not China! Pay up a million dollars for my son's medical bills, right now, or I'll call the police!"
Wong snickered, finding the Karens funny. She calmly replied.
"I pay you nothing, lah. You two can go f-ck yourselves. This is school for big boys, not a daycare for overgrown toddlers."
"WHAT?!" The mothers were stunned. Enraged, they yelled harder and came up with countless racial slurs.
Wong, like Carn, ignored all slurs from their mouths. She inspected her son and whispered in an American accent.
"Are you injured?"
Carn shook his head, "No."
"Well done." Wong patted Carn's back and resumed her broken English accent, bickering back at the mad Karens, "Aiyah, I thought this is America, but you two sound like baboons, ah. If you want big boys, you stop making excuses like a bitch. If your son lives in my house, I disown him already, lah! Look at that fatass, ah. Are you raising a son or a pig? I can't tell differences, ah."
The Karens seethed with fury, and one of them stomped toward Wong, reaching out to grab her hair.
Carn turned, ready to defend his mother, but Wong was one step ahead. With a swift move, she clenched her fist and delivered a solid left jab to the face of Chuck's mother, instantly breaking her nose.
Despite the grip on her hair, Wong followed up with a powerful right uppercut that connected squarely with the woman's jaw.
After the quick one-two combination, Chuck's mother collapsed to the floor, out cold.
Wong calmly stepped back, adjusted her hair, and then fixed her gaze on Hammer's mother, "You two really work for the government, ah? What is your job? How they even accept you two whores, ah? What you do in your life during high school? Bitching like a pig? Making babies with black dicks? You should be ashamed. You two talk big, but no substances, lah."
Carn's mouth curved into a smile. He finally remembered one fact about his mother.
In her younger years, Wong often bragged that she had won an Olympic gold medal in women's boxing. And if her fists were sharp, her tongue was even more poisonous as she grew up in a bustling Chinatown market.