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Chapter 83
Students who obsessed over their test scores were secretly using concentration enhancers. There were no side effects, and since they improved focus, there was no reason not to use them.
So many students used these enhancers that the Academy, though aware, turned a blind eye.
But no matter how much they ignored it, illegal was illegal.
What would happen if a student at this Academy were caught distributing concentration enhancers in bulk?
And what if that student was Jaylin, who had no influential background?
The enhancers hidden in Rojia’s drawer weren’t just a small supply for one or two people. It was enough for at least 50–60 students to consume throughout the exam period.
If Jaylin hid these in her workshop drawer or locker and somehow a student or staff discovered them, it would be over for her.
Caught in the act with all the evidence, even the Academy that had previously looked the other way wouldn’t be able to let it slide.
Moreover, with the recent article affecting Jaylin’s standing within the Academy, even a small provocation could easily sway public opinion against her.
Being a powerless commoner, it would be even easier for the Academy to take action.
Rivals had to be crushed before they could grow any stronger. That was Rojia’s way. The upcoming final exam would be Jaylin’s grave.
It started again. Seeing the group blocking her path, Jaylin let out a small sigh.
“What’s that? Did you just sigh at us?”
The students blocking the corridor immediately provoked her, as if waiting for it.
“N-No, it’s not like that.”
Jaylin tried to squeeze through the gaps in the human barrier, but one student leaned against the wall and stretched a leg across, bracing it against the opposite side.
Now, Jaylin couldn’t pass unless she crawled under or jumped over the student’s leg.
“I-I’ll just go through. Please move.”
“Sorry. We have business here.”
“B-But if I take another route, I’ll be late for class…”
“That’s not my problem. What can you do? We got here first.”
A mischievous smile appeared on the student’s face.
“B-But you could move aside for just a moment. It’s not hard…”
“Why are you deciding that? You don’t know, but this is very difficult for us.”
Laughter erupted. The students in the group were tall, strong-looking members of the Swordsmanship Department.
Jaylin didn’t have the strength to defeat them. But she wasn’t about to give in quietly.
While it was their choice to bully, Jaylin had the right to pass through this corridor.
“P-Please move aside. I’m going this way.”
“Nope. If you want to get through, jump over my leg or crawl under. Which will it be?”
The height of the leg blocking her way was too high to jump.
Jaylin had no choice. She couldn’t pass without crawling. The student knew this and offered the humiliating option just to embarrass her.
‘W-what should I do?’
She didn’t want to comply, but she had to get through.
“Hey!!”
A loud shout rang out, and a shoe flew from somewhere, hitting the student blocking Jaylin squarely in the face.
BANG!
The loud sound filled the corridor like a drum exploding. Jaylin, standing nearby, couldn’t help but gape.
Even though this was the same student who had been tormenting her moments ago, the power of the sound was intense enough to be worrying.
“Crazy! Who did that?”
The enraged Swordsmanship student shouted.
“It was me. Why?”
The voice belonged to Sasha. The student’s face, flushed red, softened as he spoke.
“Why did you throw a shoe at me?”
“Sorry, it was an accident. My hand slipped.”
Sasha answered brazenly and stood next to Jaylin. At that moment, red fluid trickled from the nose of the student hit by Sasha’s shoe.
Jaylin, closest to him, immediately noticed the blood.
Noticing her gaze, the student shouted,
“What? Wh-what are you looking at?!”
Jaylin cautiously pointed at his nose.
“B-Blood… your nose, it’s bleeding.”
The student touched his philtrum, saw the blood on his hand, and screamed in panic.
“Ah! What is this? It’s b-blood!”
“Go to the infirmary quickly. What if your nose is broken?”
“H-Hmpf, you’ll pay for this!”
Terrified that something might happen to himself, the student ran to the infirmary.
The remaining students still blocked the corridor, glaring at Sasha.
“Hey, you shouldn’t be doing this. Why are you on her side? We were just trying to help you.”
“Why is bullying Jaylin helping you?! Stop spouting nonsense! I’ll hit you!”
Sasha raised her hand, and the students flinched back.
“Try touching her again and I’ll kill you all! Got it?”
Even with Sasha’s threat, the students flinched but didn’t move. Their hostile gaze at Jaylin remained.
Sasha picked up her fallen shoe and swung it roughly at them.
“Still not moving? Want me to hit you with the shoe again?”
Finally, the students moved aside one by one.
Sasha hastily put on her shoe and urged Jaylin,
“Let’s go.”
“Y-Yeah.”
“Ugh!”
Even with enough space, Sasha shoved a student aside with her shoulder and stomped on his instep.
The scream of pain echoed, but Sasha didn’t care.
Once they were away from the bullies, Sasha spoke.
“Such insignificant brats acting up.”
“Th-thank you, Sasha.”
“It’s nothing. Just this much.”
Sasha shrugged casually and hesitated, as if wanting to ask Jaylin something.
“You’re going to the monster-combat practice class, right? Want to go together?”
They were already walking together, but Sasha carefully asked Jaylin.
“Y-Yes.”
No reason to refuse; Jaylin was headed there anyway.
While walking, Sasha kept glancing at Jaylin, seemingly wanting to say something. Jaylin patiently waited. Finally, Sasha spoke.
“Uh… Jaylin, I’m sorry.”
“Huh? Sorry for what?”
“For calling you ‘dust’ before…”
“Ah… that’s… it’s fine.”
“Fine? No, I was really wrong. I shouldn’t have said that—it was a mistake.”
Like Sasha said, most nobles probably thought people like her were insignificant, like dust.
Was that the same look the other girl gave her back then? Jaylin still vividly remembered.
That gaze wasn’t directed at a person—it was like looking at a worm or bug on the ground. Compared to that, Sasha treated her as a person.
Grateful that Sasha had helped her despite the slip of the tongue, Jaylin couldn’t help but smile softly.
Seeing this, Sasha pinched Jaylin’s soft cheek with both hands.
“Ah, why are you smiling like that? Makes me want to eat you up.”
“Ah! Aghh!”
“Oh, sorry.”
When Jaylin whimpered, Sasha immediately released her hand and rubbed her cheek.
“Don’t lose to those idiots! You haven’t done anything wrong, got it?”
Jaylin nodded.
“They’re insignificant. They don’t think about working hard themselves, but they bother those who do.”
“You won’t… keep bullying me, right?”
Sasha’s eyes hardened with determination.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, Jaylin. If anyone’s mean to you, report it to me right away. I’ll go and punish them!”
Sasha hugged Jaylin’s arm tightly.
The major class ended. Swordsmanship students finished their training and scattered to rest.
Lionel checked his blade for damage—until Sasha plopped down beside him.
“You’ve been getting close to Jaylin lately, huh?”
Lionel slid his sword into its sheath and gave Sasha a sidelong glance.
“Well… I wouldn’t say close… why? Is there a problem?”
“Yeah. A big one.”
“Are you going to tell me Jaylin and I aren’t suitable as friends or something?”
Lionel sighed softly as he sheathed his sword. He had been hearing this constantly from people around him over the past few days.
He expected that from others, but not from Sasha interfering in his personal relationships.
In childhood, she used to follow him around and be bothersome, but once they both matured, Sasha respected boundaries.
He thought that was fine. As long as things stayed like this, a political marriage would still be feasible.
But if Sasha meddled in his private life, things were different.
