Chapter 82 Teacher/Student Violence!
— Indistinct Chatter—
The student's brouhaha filled the classroom, a few terms reoccurring amidst the chaos: "Girl Dormitory," "Henderson," "Mana Madness," "Foxes," "Tornado", etc. It was clear what they were talking about!
They were so busy gossiping that they hadn't even noticed their frowning teacher entering the room. The latter spat in annoyance: they really lacked awareness and diligence!
His current brown-overall clothes reflected very well his current mood: shitty. Even after their defeat at the Inter-School competition, they still had the gal to slack off?!
He snorted as he put his hands together and…
— SQUEEZE! SQUEEZE! SQUEEZE! —
"ARGGG!" The students cried out as they were suddenly flattened to their chairs, their bones creaking painfully under the increased pressure. Ah?! Their teacher had arrived!
Karo, Master of Gravity.
Technically he was a teacher. Practically he was the guy who'd torture them if they made a peep in his class. Instantly, all discussion ceased, utterly terminated.
— Tap! Tap! Tap! —
The man slowly walked to the podium, his footsteps as light as feathers yet resounding majestically. This signaled them to pay attention to the lecture or else…
Then without wasting a moment, he began scribbling in the air. Wherever his finger landed, chalk dust would float, defying gravity as it formed letters in the air.
"Since you guys shamed the Academy, we're redoubling on studying and training! Now, let's review the basics of Magic, cause you birdbrains seemingly forgot them all!"
No one dared to make a peep, all staring straight ahead, worried about getting squashed again. But just as everything seemed to be going well…
"G-Ghost?! Oh shit, someone get rid of it!" A student screamed! No, it wasn't a mere scream; it was a terrified wail that would chill anyone to the bone.
How dare he disturb Karo's lecture while— Gasp?! Fuck! There really was a freaking ghost!
It stood at the entrance, a purple aura oozing out of it! Its gaze was a bottomless abyss, and it wore the school uniform. Had it devoured a student already?!
But then they saw its face…
"Oh crap! RUNNNN! He's back to get revenge on the Academy!" They cried out as soon as they recognized Jack. In their minds, he was 100% DEAD!
Him? A ghost? What kind of ghost would he even be? He simply chuckled, trying to find an empty seat… there were none. Luckily, it seemed like that wouldn't be an issue.
He barely approached a student, and the latter jumped away hurriedly. "P-Please don't eat my soul!", Jack noncommittally nodding in reply, sitting down.
Just like that, Jack had obtained a place in the crowd. Still, he couldn't help but sigh in distress, so much for sneaking his way into the class.
With the time limit on his Evil God Body, he had planned to arrive late and leave early, but now all eyes rested on him, especially the teacher! The latter's face had hardened.
"Do you know what happens to people late to my class?" He chuckled evilly. Along with his smile, that's when it began.
— CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH! —
Jack suddenly felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was instantly pushed to the ground, toppling over like a potato sack in a centrifuge.
This Teacher was CRAZY!
This was clearly against the teaching code; it had to be!
By now, his fellow students had realized that he was in fact a man of flesh and blood, guilt filling their hearts. Now he had to endure intense torture they wouldn't wish on anyone!
Yet, there was something utterly strange about Jack… Why the heck was he smiling?! Why did it almost seem like he was enjoying himself getting crushed?! This was nonsensical!
At this moment, he was gazing at his notifications…
[Evil Body Resisting the Pressure!]
[Unlocked Quest! Diamond in the Rough!]
[Mission: Use Gravity to Refine Your Body!]
What the heck was this?! A mission out of the blue?! All this time, Jack had been jealous of his foxes for receiving one before him…. But wasn't this his time to shine?!
The way he looked at the teacher changed. The grumpy bastard turned into the most beautiful of beings… a free gravity magic dispenser! This was HUGE!
"Tell me, young man, when will you arrive next time?" the teacher spat out, pausing his gravity magic to let his target reply.
"Ten minutes later, Teacher!" Jack cheerfully replied.
Gasp! The entire classroom gasped. Looking for death! As expected of the man who had blown up the dormitory's barrier! Yet, this only angered the teacher further.
"Is that so? Perhaps you need some more discipline."
— CRUSH! CRUSH! CRUSH! —
This time, Jack felt like he had the weight of a couple of worlds on his shoulder, his head, and even his ass! Pain filled his body, EVERYTHING on the verge of breaking!
Karo really was a master!
He was inflicting maximum pain, all without leaving lasting injuries. So what if the Disciplinary Board investigated him afterward? There'd be no proof of misconduct!
It was a duel of will between a mighty Academy Teacher and a newly admitted Academy Student, the outcome obvious— or it should have been.
Except this time it was different…
"Will you repent now?"
"Nex time, I'll arrive 20 minutes late!"
"You fool! Do you think it can't become more painful? Take this!"
"I'll arrive 20 minutes late and hire a marching band to announce my entrance!"
Every time the teacher would stop the torture for Jack to apologize, the latter kept spewing crap about disturbing the class way more than he already had.
Thus began an endless cycle of torture, agonized screams, short pauses filled with snarky remarks… just for everything to start over from the beginning!
It reached a point where the other students started to doubt what they were seeing…
"W-What is this?! Guys, is this a prank?"
"No, Teacher Karo doesn't joke!"
"T-this is impossible!"
They kept shivering as they pictured themselves in Jack's place. They would have given up on the very first occasion for sure! Yet, he still struggled even now. Was he a masochist?!
The scene was so baffling that it almost became comical.
The poor teacher had long forgotten about giving his lesson, the floating chalk even crashing to the ground in a fluff of powder.
As for Jack, the one being tortured, he showed neither remorse nor weakness. He'd simply hurl taunts at the gravity user, seemingly not caring for any bodily harm he'd suffer!
This was MADNESS!
The whole thing was so unreal that it felt like a dream, all until… DING! DONG! DING DONG!
This was the sound of the bell?! Didn't this mean they'd spent an entire hour doing this already?! The realization made everyone there shiver with shock.
That's when Jack used the opportunity to flee! He rose and rushed out faster than an antelope hunted by a lion! His fellow students could only gasp, utterly baffled.
"Even now, he still has the energy to run?!"
"This guy's a MONSTER!"
Yet, the teacher was totally aghast. Not only had he failed to break a troublemaker… but he had even forgotten to give his class entirely?! This was unforgivable! He'd need to—
"Don't overthink this teacher. It's not your fault. You were facing the man who destroyed the Headmaster's Barrier… in the latter's presence! If he did that on his first day, god knows what..."
A youngster was… comforting him?! More importantly, the more the young one talked, the bigger Karo's eyes became. He had even survived the Mana Madness Affliction?!
Was this why he had been late? Had he shown up to his class even after a brush with death? Yet, he had been so harsh with him… no wonder he had felt like talking back!
At this moment, the teacher's opinion suddenly changed.
What if this youngster wasn't a bad apple at all? What if he was merely a misunderstood genius with an incredible drive?! What if he was actually the future of their Academy?!
His mood was so uplifted!
"Thanks for telling me about him. Take care!" In his joy, he even waved the helpful student away, the latter choking on his own saliva.
That night, he went to bed with a huge smile. Soon he'd make up with this Jack, teaching him until the latter became the Academy's pride! Then he'd—
His dreams were filled with extraordinary delusions— ones that were promptly shattered the next day. Not only did Jack show up late, but he had no damn clue what was going on!
Yet, he too was feeling incredibly helpless!
What the heck was this?! He had voluntarily shown up late, and the teacher hadn't even punished him. How was he supposed to train his evil body?
As he gazed at his progress bar, he felt incredibly depressed… 0.05%! Why was it so tedious?! Not only that, but the lessons were seriously confusing!
At times, he even asked his Ghost about them under his breath…
"Wait, before he said Mana Leyline, and now he just said Profound Leyline. Is there a difference between the two, or are they the same?!"
"Kid, it's all about that Mana Quality; that much is common sense! A Profound Leyline contains more power but is harder to use, that's why—"
Every time he asked about a basic concept, the Old Ghost would go on a long rant explaining it all in detail… only for Jack to realize he had missed a large chunk of the lecture!
This wouldn't work!
At this rate, he'd just be a scarecrow.
No, it was time for something big! He had to catch up on the magical common sense of this world… and find a way to anger his teacher once again! As for how to do that…