Delinquents Storm the Academy

The academy I arrived at the next day after the monster incident looked strangely off—almost unnaturally so. The students' atmosphere was somehow gloomy and subdued. A dark, murky air that clashed with the quiet, peaceful vibe the academy usually had. Students with cowed, fearful ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expressions. And every time I crossed the grounds, I'd spot the occasional rough-looking delinquent.

...What the hell? Had I been transferred to a different academy overnight? It felt dissonant, but if you asked me what exactly was off, I couldn't pinpoint it—it was that subtle.

I went about my duties with a bad feeling prickling at the back of my neck, and sure enough, it wasn't long before my suspicions were confirmed. A massive roar echoed loud enough to reach the teachers' lounge. Mixed in were students' screams. At the sudden commotion, the teachers in the lounge rushed outside to investigate, and I joined them with a half-despairing mood.

Really? Another ghost story the very next day? Is this structure gonna force me to exorcise one every damn day?

Finding the source of the uproar wasn't hard. Dozens of delinquents had gathered at the main entrance to the 1st Main Building, and even if you tried to ignore them on purpose, you couldn't. The mob was glaring threateningly at students and staff alike. It was like a scene straight out of some 2000s manga about Japanese punks.

...Is this a ghost story too? Or just regular delinquents banding together? No, even so, this is over the top. Sure, Everlight Academy was on a scale incomparable to ordinary schools... but where the hell did this many delinquents even come from? Is that physically possible? Does this happen all the time in romance fantasy genres?

The delinquents blocking the 1st Main Building's entrance hurled threats and mockery at students trying to enter. The kids were terrified, and even the staff were flustered by the sheer absurdity of it all. I watched, torn between thinking this was some kind of ghost story or just an academy incident.

Guess I should try Observation first...

That's when Rone showed up.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Stop this right now!!"

Her entrance halted the delinquents who had been harassing the students. Then, Muchia Leoporte stepped forward from their midst, flashing a feral grin.

"Heh heh heh. You again? Don't you ever get tired of in.ter.fer.ing with me?"

Is that guy their leader?

Muchia pushed through his crew, cracking his knuckles with a savage look that had zero student vibe left. He'd looked like a textbook delinquent yesterday, but today he was on another level. His uniform was ragged in places, the collar all sharp and jagged—where the hell did he even get that?

"That's what I want to say!"

"Today, we're not holding back just 'cause the old farts are watching! Boys! Get her!"

"Ooooh!!"

Muchia spat out the blade of grass he'd been chewing and commanded his punks. The itching-for-a-fight thugs charged at Rone—alone.

A bunch of grown guys piling on a girl two heads shorter than them? It was ugly. Dizzying, even. Onlookers held their breath, bracing for screams.

But what followed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was something no one expected.

Contrary to fears of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her getting wrecked, it was the delinquents who got demolished.

That's when I understood why Rone hadn't flinched against Muchia and his crew yesterday.

A physical enhancement gift? Gifts supposedly don't exceed human limits. So taking down multiple bigger opponents solo should be impossible, right? Beyond human capability?

Answer: No.

Stories abound of amateur fighters with over ten years of experience dropping street punks solo. Pros and amateurs move differently from the ground up.

Rone's gift didn't just boost strength and speed—it gave her pro-level reflexes and technique too.

Weight class matters in real fights, absolutely. But the pro-amateur gap? Even more so.

"Damn it!! I'll remember this debt!"

Soon, Rone was the only one unscathed. Muchia led his battered crew away, cursing as they fled.

The watching students erupted in cheers for Rone. She played it cool at first but couldn't hide her satisfaction, puffing out her chest proudly.

...What the actual fuck. Seriously.

"What in the world is going on...?"

Elaine, who'd sidled up beside me at some point, murmured while eyeing the retreating punks—voicing my exact thoughts.

"When'd you get here?"

"The academy's vibe felt off since morning, so I wondered if it was a ghost story. Watching this unfold, it sure seems like one."

"Sorry to disappoint, but it's not. Probably."

Elaine's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Not a ghost story?"

"Yeah. I Observed from afar just in case, and none of the brawlers were ghost stories in student disguise."

I recalled the message window from my Observation. A status marked as an ordinary human. No unnatural bits in the description either.

Incredibly, this contrived mess was just... natural.

"Wait, so you're saying they did this in broad daylight, leading a gang of delinquents while in their right minds?"

"Shockingly, yes."

"Are those students idiots?"

"Agreed. Anyway, looks like you don't need to step in this time."

Elaine made a subtle face—relief? Disappointment?—and left. I tried to shrug off the fiasco and return to routine.

But of course, routine didn't happen.

...

This incident couldn't end as a mere hiccup. Everlight Academy—gathering the world's gifted elite—getting raided by delinquents? Unprecedented. Even for a normal school, but here? With nobles and royals everywhere? No way to brush it off as kid stuff.

Teachers called an emergency meeting pronto. Soon, Muchia's delinquent circle topped the agenda.

"This is too much, even for them! We knew 'Sca'—the delinquents' club—was growing, but attacking the academy during class hours?! This is karma for our lukewarm guidance on problem students!"

"Can't be helped. 'Sca' didn't pop up overnight—it's a decades-old shadow rooted deep in the academy. Staff have tried dismantling it multiple times and failed every time."

Debate on Muchia's circle brought out frustration and gloom from everyone.

From the sound of it, it's bigger and older than I thought.

"Um, Ms. Lydia. Is this 'Sca' delinquent group that infamous?"

Lydia's face darkened as she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠replied.

"Yes. Embarrassingly... 'Sca' is so ancient even most current staff don't know its origins. Its influence spans beyond the 1st Main Building to the whole Everlight Academy. Virtually all delinquents here connect directly or indirectly to Sca. Rumors say it has hundreds of members. But they've never been this blatant before..."

"Even a prestigious academy has kids like that."

"I'm sorry... It's our fault as teachers for not guiding them properly."

"Ah, no, I didn't mean to blame you, Ms. Lydia. Just caught me off guard."

I comforted her as she berated herself, thinking: This runs deeper than I imagined. Yesterday I figured it was just a few punks strutting around. But this meeting? Whole different league. That warning kid yesterday didn't give off that vibe...

But with roots that deep and vast? Today's chaos made sense. Really no ghost story.

The meeting progressed swiftly. Teachers were fired up—if they'd been this gung-ho before, Sca would've been gone ages ago.

As a newbie with zero intel, I just listened. Consensus: Use this to eradicate Sca completely.

"Heh heh heh. Conclusion reached. As of now, Everlight Academy staff declares war on the delinquent circle Sca. Goal: Total disbandment! Follow the action plan set here. Dismissed!"

With Fresian's declaration, the meeting ended. Teachers headed to classes or roles.

Honestly, with three years till world end, counseling delinquents felt like wasted time... but a massive group like that lingering? Bad news. Moderation matters—even for punks. Plus, its scale might hinder ghost story hunts if left alone. And boosting my rep among students and staff? Not bad.

...

Out of the lounge post-meeting, Rone waited like she'd been standing guard.

"Ms. Rone? Business in the lounge?"

"No, I'm here to help guide the Sca delinquents."

Of course she'd be into this. But teachers getting student help? No dice.

"I appreciate it, but we'll handle this. Trust the staff and go about your day."

"But the teachers already okayed it?"

"...The teachers?"

"Yeah. I said my gift would make dealing with Sca easier, so they let me help."

Right, they mentioned securing helpers... Are they sane? Holding a big meeting then outsourcing to a student?

No professional pride?

"Just to check—your gift is...?"

Looked like physical enhancement from the fight. High-level too.

But her answer veered off-script.

"Oh. Mine manifests justice."

"Manifests justice?"

"Yes. When I face injustice, I get power fitting to realize justice until I do. That's my gift."

"...First I've heard of one like that."

For a second, I doubted such a subjective, vague gift could exist. But my own Observation was off-standard too. Gifts vary wildly per person—sure, it could.

Her gift was unexpected, but explained why teachers picked her. Perfect for punk-busting.

"Unique gift."

"Unique...? Nah, nothing special."

Her face fell. ? Why the gloom?

Anyway, useful against Sca. Long story short, I agreed to team up. As a fresh transfer rejecting staff decisions? Bad look. And Rone— the one they asked—was more gung-ho than me; she'd charge in solo if I said no.

Better to keep her close, monitor, and block real danger. Plus, her gift was reliable backup.