After two hours, the [Sword Technique] class finally ended. All the students rushed out of the classroom after Master Aaron's brief dismissal.
Van and Arthur walked toward the cafeteria to replenish their energy.
Fortunately, the academy's daily schedule wasn't too intense for each student. There were only four classes each day, with each class lasting two hours. In addition, there was a one-hour break after each class.
After getting their food, Van and Arthur sat at an empty table. Due to Van's [Villain Aura], no students dared to approach them to share the table.
While Van and Arthur were enjoying their breakfast, the sound of a metal tray crashing echoed throughout the cafeteria.
Van and Arthur turned to the side and saw several students wearing gold ties bullying a white-tied student.
'Looks like senior students bullying a first-year,' Van thought as he observed the scene.
"How dare you disobey me! I told you this is my table! So, leave."
"B-but—"
"Did you just talk back?"
One of the noble students swung his mana-infused fist and punched the student in the stomach.
The student immediately fell to his knees in pain, clutching his stomach. He threw up the breakfast he had just eaten.
Unfortunately for him, his vomit landed on the shoes of some of the nobles, making them both disgusted and furious.
"You piece of sh*t!"
"How dare you dirty my shoes!"
"Disgusting!"
The nobles started stomping on the student with their now-dirty shoes, while the student lay weakly on the floor.
"ENOUGH!"
The shout echoed, silencing everyone.
Van saw a female student in a black cloak approaching the nobles. She had an average face, blonde hair, and black eyes. She was slightly taller than Van and Arthur—around 150 cm.
'She's probably a second- or third-year student. Quite impressive for her to already be a member of the [Academy Committee],' Van thought.
[WOULD MASTER LIKE TO SEE HER STATUS?]
'Forget it. Arthur might be interested, but not me,' Van replied in his mind.
The nobles stopped what they were doing after hearing the shout. They turned to see the cloaked female student walking toward them.
"Tch, it's an [Academy Committee] member."
"Let's go."
The nobles tried to leave, but of course, the committee member wasn't going to let them go that easily.
"You! Stop right there!"
The nobles stopped and turned to face the committee member.
"What do you want?" one of the nobles asked.
"Do you think you can walk away that easily after bullying a student?" she replied.
"Hah? So what should we do? We told him to leave, but he didn't."
"So that gives you the right to beat him?! You b*stards. Apologize to him right now!" the committee member demanded.
"Apologize? No way! We are honorable nobles! Why should we apologize to a commoner?" one of the nobles arrogantly replied.
"That's your choice then? If you refuse, I'll drag you straight to the Headmaster!" she said coldly.
"The Headmaster? He'd probably just give us a light punishment. Go ahead and try!" the nobles said smugly.
"You!" the committee member growled. Her face was full of anger, like she was ready to tear the nobles apart.
"How about I handle it directly, Silvie? No need to trouble the Headmaster for something this petty."
Everyone turned at the sound of that voice.
They saw a handsome man, about 170 cm tall, with white hair and grayish-white eyes walking toward them. His uniform had a gold tie and a black cloak, marking him as a committee member.
The moment they saw him, the nobles' faces turned pale with fear, while Silvie looked relieved.
'Lucas White. If I remember correctly, he's a seventh-year student,' Van thought.
"How will you deal with them, Senior Lucas?" Silvie asked.
"Like this," Lucas said and snapped his fingers.
From the floor beneath the nobles, several hands suddenly emerged and dragged them down. In an instant, they sank into the floor until only their heads remained above the surface.
"What is this?!"
"Help me!"
"For the next hour, enjoy your situation," Lucas said as he walked past them, stepping on their faces as he did.
'As expected from the White family. His magic talent is terrifying,' Van thought.
[MASTER IS RIGHT. YOU'D LOSE IF YOU FOUGHT HIM.]
'You damn system. I already know that without your input. Just be glad you don't have a physical form, or I'd teach you some real manners,' Van cursed inwardly.
- - - - -
An hour passed, and break time was over. The incident between the nobles and Lucas was quickly forgotten by the students—either because they were afraid or because things like that were part of daily life.
In the second class, Van and Arthur had different subjects. So, they split up and went to their respective classes.
'[Skill Training] class,' Van thought, reflecting on how unusual the class was.
Van finally arrived at the [Skill Training] classroom and saw that it was far larger than the [Sword Technique] classroom.
There were 100 arenas, each 100 meters wide.
Unlike the [Sword Technique] class, far fewer students attended [Skill Training].
'Skill users are rare, after all,' Van thought as he stepped into one of the arenas.
After waiting for a while, Van saw a purple-haired, purple-eyed girl about 140 cm tall rush into the room in a panic.
"Sorry! I'm late! I overslept!" she said, gasping for breath.
'I knew she was short, but this short? She's the same height as me, isn't she?' Van thought.
"Silly Master Violet. You're as careless as ever."
"It's okay, Master Violet. We know you must be tired."
Van noticed a stark contrast between the seniors in the [Sword Technique] class and those here.
In [Sword Technique], everyone was tense due to Master Aaron. But here, the mood was completely different. The students were actually happy to see Master Violet—it was like talking to a friend.
'Are they all lolicons?' Van thought as he watched the seniors teasing Master Violet.
"Stop teasing me, you guys! Don't embarrass me in front of the first-years," Master Violet said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Master, you already embarrassed yourself by being late."
"If you stay this clumsy, it'll be hard for you to get married."
Hearing that, Master Violet immediately slumped to the ground, surrounded by a gloomy aura.
"I really am clumsy and useless. No guy will ever want to be with me. Especially with my height—only 1.5 meters," she muttered while drawing circles with her fingers.
'1.4 meters, to be exact,' Van thought.
"All right, we're sorry, Master Violet."
"Come on, teach us."
"Don't worry. One day you'll marry a tall, handsome, rich guy."
Encouraged by the senior students' words, Master Violet quickly cheered up again.
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"