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Chapter 05
Behind the auditorium.
A quiet, empty corridor.
Bell walked forward, almost sandwiched between two students as they led him somewhere.
He had no intention of obediently following them—
Nor any desire to “guide” a bunch of delinquent magic students.
‘…I’m getting hungry.’
His only goal was to get his wallet back.
Since they seemed to be part of the same group, the pickpocket was likely nearby.
Even if not—
He planned to find out where that guy’s dorm was.
“Babin, we brought him.”
They arrived at a dark storage room.
Inside, a boy and girl were flirting.
Both were students he had seen on the train.
But the pickpocket wasn’t there.
“Why does he keep looking around?”
“Haha, even if you look for your princess, she won’t come here.”
‘… Guess I’ll have to ask.’
He didn’t remember the thief’s name.
So he described him instead.
“Where is the boy who took my wallet?”
“What?”
“A large, slightly fat boy with a wind-type artifact.”
“…”
Silence.
Then—
They burst into laughter.
“You mean Duyton?”
“Don’t be stupid. A second-year wouldn’t be at the entrance ceremony.”
“And calling Duyton a pig? You must have a death wish.”
‘I didn’t call him a pig…’
So that’s why he didn’t see him earlier.
He hadn’t used the Eye of the Absolute to check.
Just as he was about to ask about the dorm—
Splash—!
Water exploded across the room.
Babin had fired an Aqua Ball.
Bell’s clothes didn’t get wet thanks to his barrier.
“See? You’re definitely tanking it.”
Babin frowned.
Even a strong hit hadn’t pushed Bell back.
It felt like his magic was being blocked—
But Bell wasn’t visibly casting anything.
Which meant—
He was taking the hits directly.
“Did you learn how to take a beating or something?”
Babin clicked his tongue.
Nothing felt right.
Bell’s calm expression.
The embarrassment in front of his girlfriend.
And worst—
Rose might have noticed.
“Then try blocking this.”
‘Rapid fire.’
Dozens of water bullets shot forward.
But only the first one actually hit.
Bell subtly altered their paths using telekinesis.
‘Damn it! Why aren’t they hitting?!’
Babin clenched his teeth.
He was too worked up to notice—
That all his attacks were missing was impossible.
That his friends were growing uneasy.
“Babin, wait—”
“That’s dangerous—”
“You could hurt someone—”
He didn’t even realize—
His Aqua Balls had turned into Aqua Arrows.
Whirling, lethal projectiles.
One mistake—
Could mean death.
‘…This has gone too far.’
Bell shook his head.
This kind of behavior might pass in basic magic school.
But not here.
At this age—
If they still couldn’t control themselves—
Their future was already bleak.
‘Though it’s already looking pretty dark.’
Normally, he would ignore this.
But—
This time, he decided to intervene.
‘Even someone like him deserves one last chance.’
Words wouldn’t work.
A shock—
Something unforgettable—
That would.
‘What… is this?’
Babin suddenly felt it.
Fear.
Why?
“…!”
He stopped casting.
At the same time—
His three friends were suddenly thrown backward.
As if grabbed by something invisible.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They slammed into the wall—
And collapsed.
Blood flowed from their heads.
“Y-you… did this?”
Babin stammered.
Even now—
He blamed Bell.
“You could’ve killed them!”
“It’s no different from what you were doing.”
“What…?”
“If you don’t understand, then watch.”
A boy’s body floated into the air.
Unconscious.
Then—
A spinning Aqua Ball appeared above Bell’s hand.
“…!”
How?
That wasn’t even taught in basic school.
Then—
It began.
Bang—bang—bang—!
Water magic rained down on the unconscious boy.
Aqua Balls.
Aqua Arrows.
Relentless.
“Do you see?”
Each hit twisted the body violently.
Blood spread.
Limbs bent unnaturally.
Unlike Babin’s attacks—
These hit.
Every time.
“This is what happens when you attack someone who can’t resist.”
Only after firing the same number of spells—
Did Bell stop?
The broken body dropped.
“…”
Babin stood frozen.
Unable to move.
Unable to speak.
To him—
That body was already a corpse.
But Bell wasn’t finished.
He tossed a small flame onto another student.
“…What…?”
WHOOSH—!
Hellfire engulfed the body.
The walls melted.
The body burned completely.
Babin collapsed.
“U-uh…”
“You’ve never truly thought about death, have you?”
The heat.
The smell of burning flesh.
Bell’s calm voice.
“You act in ways that can kill people—but never consider your own death.”
“P-please…! Someone… help!”
No one was there.
He tried to crawl away—
But something dragged him back.
“Stay still.”
Bell lifted him with telekinesis.
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
Another body floated up.
Rose.
Bleeding.
Unconscious.
“Use Aqua Arrow.”
“…!”
“…On Rose?”
Bell nodded.
His heart dropped.
“You’re not killing her. She’s already dead.”
“…”
“If you hesitate, let me help.”
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Her body slammed into the walls.
Again.
And again.
Blood splattered.
‘A demon…’
Magic beyond humans.
Cruelty beyond humans.
Now he understood.
That feeling—
Bell wasn’t human.
“Now, she’s definitely dead.”
Her body returned—
Barely recognizable.
“You’re not killing her.”
“…”
“Can you do it?”
Babin looked at his trembling hands.
Water formed.
His instincts screamed—
Fire.
Survive.
“She’s already dead… she can’t survive anyway…”
But—
“…Ugh…!”
The spell collapsed.
He couldn’t do it.
He fell to his knees.
Shaking.
‘…Good.’
Bell nodded slightly.
There was still humanity left.
That was what he wanted to confirm.
“Then it’s decided.”
Babin’s body flipped upside down.
He rose into the air—
Head facing the ground.
His face turned pale.
He understood.
“P-please… spare me…”
“Reflect on your actions.”
The world blurred.
He was falling—
Faster than gravity.
Right before impact—
His consciousness faded.
“Stop!”
BOOM—!
The door burst open.
A professor had arrived.
