Dirty Tactics

"The rules are simple. Anyone who steps out of the circle drawn on the floor loses immediately. For weapons, use the wooden swords and mana rods provided here."

The time had finally come to select our class representative. The twenty-one students of the Special Class, including myself, huddled together in the gymnasium.

Just as Eden had described, a circular line drawn with magic was clearly visible in the center of the gym floor.

"First up, Yeong-sik and Ok-ja. Step forward."

My heart thumped.

Ok-ja and I stepped into the circle and picked up our respective weapons. I was handed a lightweight wooden sword, while Ok-ja received a thin rod about two spans long.

"What! P-Professor! What is this? Where is my magic staff?"

"Ok-ja de Blackwood. This is a spar. Since your opponent is using a wooden sword, shouldn't you also use a weapon of reduced power?"

"What? But I can't kill him with th— Ah, fine. I get it."

When Eden glared at her, Ok-ja flinched and shut her mouth. Loudmouth as always. At Eden's signal, Ok-ja and I walked to opposite sides of the circle.

"Whew..."

Is it finally starting? Ever since I reincarnated in Ruesellon, I had been waiting for this exact moment. I tightened my grip on the wooden sword.

"Professor, I have a question before we start."

"What is it?"

"Are those all the rules? Are there no fouls or anything like that?"

"I don't know what you're plotting, but no, there are none. In winning and losing, there are no fouls."

"I see. Good to know."

"...Hmm. You really are cut from a different cloth than Oliver."

Holding the wooden sword with both hands, I stared at Ok-ja standing opposite me. She was already glaring at me with eyes that screamed murder.

Her stats were still ridiculously unbalanced. A mana stat of 52? It had even increased slightly since I last checked. But most of it was information I already knew. There was no reason to chicken out now.

"Pfft, you think you can beat me? You fucking idiot, want me to show you why I'm a top-class mage?"

"Shut up, brat."

"Wh-what? How dare you...!"

She was always so simple-minded. Ok-ja's face flushed bright red in an instant. If I had to describe it, she looked like a dumpling about to burst.

"Ok-ja de Blackwood! Show respect to your opponent. You are inside the Academy."

"Ugh... I-I'm sorry."

Eden's scolding shut Ok-ja up. She glared at me with a look of pure resentment. I met her gaze calmly, the corners of my mouth curling upward.

Who told you to pick a fight?

Eden stepped outside the circle, leaving only Ok-ja and me inside the arena. The other Special Class students formed a ring around us.

"Surely Lady Ok-ja won't lose, right...?"

"No way. You think she has legendary magical talent for nothing?"

"But they said he's a Hero candidate too. Who knows?"

"Pfft, Hero in name only. I heard he doesn't have a single useful ability."

Most of the students were siding with Ok-ja. Perhaps because of yesterday's incident, the crowd was dominated by voices openly cheering for her.

"Yeong-sik, you have to win!"

Among them, only one person—Merchi—stood behind me and cheered. I simply nodded in response without saying a word.

Yeah, go ahead. I'll make sure to disappoint all of you soon.

The number of supporters didn't matter. My only goal was to get revenge on the bitch standing right in front of me.

She was one of the people who insulted and killed me. I remembered every single word they spat back then. Naturally, she showed not a shred of remorse even now.

"I will count down from five. Get ready."

I'll make sure you regret this.

"Five."

My eyes locked with Ok-ja's. She had a tiny frame, but her sharp, fierce glare made it look like she was ready to pounce at any second. As always, it was utterly laughable.

"Four."

"Hey, pig. There are two things that matter in magic: mana, and casting speed."

What is she blabbering about?

"Three."

"I'll show you why I'm a top-class mage."

Regardless of her boasting, I called out to Mercury in my mind.

Mercury, combat mode on.

—Understood.

Through practice, I was now able to transition into combat mode instantly. Mercury replied to my call without a single second of delay.

"Two."

"You picked the wrong day to mess with me, you fat pig."

I adjusted my grip on the wooden sword once more.

"One."

"You talk too much, kid."

"Wh-what?"

Tweet!

The moment the starting signal rang, I kicked off the ground.

The distance between Ok-ja and me was roughly ten meters. It wasn't close enough to reach in a single stride, but it was close enough to close the gap before she could finish a spell.

Using the Yeolmulhansok skill wouldn't be easy. Since she was itching to kill me, she wouldn't let her guard down easily.

Whoosh!

For now, I would go with a straightforward approach. Even without Yeolmulhansok, the drawing techniques I had practiced had reached a respectable level. Moving without a single hitch, I closed in and swung my wooden sword at her.

"Y-you cheap bastard...!"

Ok-ja took a panicked step backward.

Good, she was right in front of me.

I'll start by landing a solid hit—

"O-flame-of-the-heart-brighter-than-the-sun-and-hotter-than-hell-arise-from-deep-within!"

"...!"

"Fireball!!"

Beep-beep-beep!

Mercury's warning alarm blared fiercely. At the same time, red target markers locked onto various parts of my body.

This is dangerous...!

I hadn't been given a shield, and I had no way to block it. I aborted my swing and threw myself to the side, rolling across the floor.

Whoosh!

Searing heat brushed past my shoulder. A fireball the size of a basketball devoured the space where I had been standing just a split second ago.

Boom!

The sand-covered floor exploded, leaving a deep crater. Thick, hot steam began to rise from the blast site.

...Crazy bitch. That was supposed to be a weakened spell?

The students outside the circle gasped in shock and backed away. Goosebumps broke out all over my body as a stinging pain throbbed in my shoulder. If I had taken a direct hit from that... I didn't even want to imagine it.

The culprit who had launched the fireball had already put some distance between us.

"Pant, pant... You cheap bastard! How dare you attack me while I'm talking?"

"...Then maybe you should have kept your mouth shut."

I replied as I pushed myself up from the ground. I had overlooked one crucial detail. I had temporarily forgotten her former profession.

Rosemary's rapper, Scarlet.

During her Rosemary days, her specialty was rapid-fire rapping. Her speed, diction, and vocal projection were easily top-tier among female rappers.

To think she would use that skill in this way...

"Ha! That cheap trick won't work twice. Come at me again, you bitch!"

"Stop screeching. You're giving me a headache."

"Wh-what did you say?!"

Despite my bluster, my mind was racing. With that casting speed, I only had a window of one or two seconds at most. Even if Yeolmulhansok worked, it would only buy me a brief moment.

I gripped the wooden sword tightly once more and stared at Ok-ja.

"Pfft, you're still going to charge after seeing that? You really are stupid."

I only had one shot. I had no intention of dragging this fight out anyway. I began to walk toward her, my footsteps heavy and deliberate.

"Oh? Not going to answer?"

Just a little closer. To use Yeolmulhansok, I needed to get as close as possible.

"Huh, I won't miss this time. I'm going to turn you into a roasted pig!"

"You've got a big mouth for someone so small."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Why, you little—!"

Taking advantage of the moment she opened her mouth, I lunged forward again.

"Y-you dirty bastard...!"

There was no set method for Yeolmulhansok. Anything worked as long as it deceived the opponent. With this, I had bought myself another second.

"O-flame-of-the-heart-brighter-than-the-sun-and-hotter-than..."

Whoosh!

Before Ok-ja could finish her chant, I hurled the wooden sword in my hand with all my might. It flew straight toward her head.

"Kyaah!"

Startled, Ok-ja ducked to avoid the wooden sword.

Damn, a pity, but it couldn't be helped.

"O-flame-of-the-heart-brighter-than-the-sun-and-hotter-than-fiery-hell..."

Shhh!

I threw a handful of sand that I had scooped up when I rolled on the ground earlier.

"Kyaaaah!"

A direct hit. The sand struck Ok-ja right in the eyes. Clutching her face, she collapsed to the ground.

Yes!

Without a moment's hesitation, I dashed toward her. Now for the final step. The trump card I had been hiding all this time.

Winning wasn't what mattered in this fight.

Nor was forcing her submission.

My only goal was revenge.

And I knew better than anyone what would cause her the most agony.

I quickly pulled a glass jar from my pocket and poured its contents all over Ok-ja.

Pitter-patter.

"Wh-what are you...?"

"A gift for you, bitch."

"What is th— H-hyuuuaaaagh?!"

Ok-ja's bloodcurdling screams filled the gymnasium.

I smirked.

I had been waiting for this exact moment. Ok-ja's weakness was a well-known fact among Rosemary fans.

The thing she feared most in the world.

Bugs.

This was the secret weapon I had prepared over the last two days. Every day after class, I had gone out to search the bushes.

Multi-legged creatures that Ok-ja absolutely loathed. Grasshoppers, stag beetles, centipedes—I had gathered all of these little friends into one place.

"Heh... There are no fouls in a fight, right?"

"St-stooooop!!"

The duel ended in an instant. Rolling frantically on the floor to shake off the bugs, Ok-ja tumbled right out of the circle.

Winning was the last thing on her mind. She was rolling around purely for survival. Seeing the emergency, the other students rushed in to help brush the bugs off her body.

*Pfft...*

Who could possibly understand how satisfying this felt?

Ok-ja rolling on the floor,

and me watching her with a warm, pleased smile.

It felt as if a ten-year-old clog in my chest had finally cleared.

After rolling around for a long time, Ok-ja lay there with her mouth agape, her face covered in sand. The rest of the Special Class was equally speechless.

Silence fell over the arena, with only a quiet breeze blowing the dust around.

I raised my fist high into the air.

Whew. I win, you pathetic brat.

*Smack!*

A sharp pain stung the back of my head.

"Yeong-sik de Russell. Follow me right now, you punk."

"...Ugh, yes, sir."

I obediently followed Eden.

Inside Eden's private office. Sitting across from me, Eden furrowed his brow and massaged his temples.

"Sigh... What on earth is wrong with you?"

"...I'm sorry."

"You don't seem stupid. If you knew you'd be sorry, why did you do it? Huh?"

"Well, didn't you say there are no fouls in a fight...?"

"Why, you little—!"

When Eden raised a fist in threat, I quickly bowed my head.

"I'm already busy enough commanding the Knights. Do you know why I took on the role of homeroom teacher for this class? It's all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because of you four. You absolute headaches!"

"I-is that so...?"

"Sigh, if it weren't for His Majesty's request... But seriously, what does it make me look like when you behave like this? Huh? I didn't discipline you guys early on, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and now look at you!"

It felt like he was venting all the anger he had bottled up. I needed to be careful. Pushing his buttons right now would end badly for me.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why are you guys at each other's throats like this?"

"...I'm sorry. That's a secret."

"Do you want to die? Playing the nice teacher ends today."

"..."

How should I handle this? Eden was well aware that the Rosemary members and I didn't get along. We had been at each other's throats back at the imperial palace even before entering the Academy.

But I couldn't tell him the truth. Who would believe me if I said, "They killed me in our past life, and we all reincarnated here"? Even if he did believe it, it would only put my life in danger.

"Are you going to keep spinning those gears in your head?"

"...N-no, sir. It's just really hard to explain. Let's just say it's like an order I received from Goddess ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mercury before I woke up from my coma."

"..."

I avoided his gaze as much as possible, offering an awkward smile. Getting out of this situation was my top priority.

"Sigh, fine. If that's how you're going to play it, I have no choice."

"So you understand..."

"As your homeroom teacher, I will step in personally. I was going to just watch, but I can't let this slide anymore."

"...?"

Eden's sigh carried a heavy weight. Hearing it, even I began to feel a chill run down my spine.

"Since ancient times, they say there's only one way to resolve a hostile relationship."

"...What is it?"

"I put you all through absolute hell together. I'll become your common enemy."

Oh, shit. I definitely poked the wrong bear.