A magical smoke screen instantly blanketed the First-year Class D classroom.
Reeling from the sudden turn of events, the instigator of the chaos, Third Prince Rodel, barked out in a panic.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
"W-Where did this smoke come from!?"
"Is it an enemy!?"
A small sycophant whose name Rest didn't even know cried out in agitation, while the towering Dora kept a firm grip on the female student's arm, scanning the room for threats.
Amidst the three-way confusion, Rest darted through the smoke, staying low to the ground.
(Life Search, Material Search.)
He sharpened his senses through magic. Even with his vision obscured, he knew exactly where everything was in the classroom. He perceived the room as clearly as a bat using ultrasound.
"Hah!"
"Guh...!?"
Rest unleashed a high kick from his low stance.
Delivered from a near-vertical angle, the strike caught Dora under the chin, lifting his massive frame clean off the floor. Based on his build, Dora was clearly a fighter, but he seemed to lack actual combat experience.
"Ah..."
The girl's arm was finally freed from his grasp. She stood bewildered, enveloped by the smoke, looking around frantically.
"Crouch on the floor and protect your head. Stay by the man."
"Who are you...?"
"Just do it. Hurry."
Rest whispered into her ear, and she hurriedly scrambled toward her fallen lover. Shielding her head with one arm, she pressed herself against the man and began casting healing magic.
"I don't know who you are, but you will pay for this insolence!" Rodel roared, leveling his right hand. He was aiming his magic toward the faint sound of Rest’s voice.
"Bind."
"Hieee!?"
Rest activated his next spell. A rope of mana lashed out, snaring the small sycophant and yanking him directly into Rest’s path.
"Fire Bolt!"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!?"
Intense flames erupted from Rodel's hand. The small man, used as a human shield, was engulfed in the blast, his screams echoing through the room.
"That voice... is that you, Tony!?" Rodel shouted in surprise. Apparently, the sycophant’s name was Tony.
"Guhe... eh..."
Sizzling and smoking, Tony collapsed to the floor. Rest applied a quick burst of healing magic; he couldn't afford to let someone die within the Academy.
"Damn it! Who are you!? Do you have any idea who I am? I am Prince Rodel Aiwood!" Rodel screamed into the wall of white mist.
To be honest, Rest didn't care in the slightest.
(I have no intention of respecting someone who only uses their power and magical talent to oppress the weak...!)
Rest lunged out of the smoke, his fist flying toward Rodel’s face.
"Guh...!"
The blow connected squarely. Taking advantage of the Prince’s stumble, Rest swept his legs and pinned him face-down on the floor.
"You inso—"
"Thunder Shock."
Rodel was likely about to scream "insolent fool," but Rest didn't give him the chance. Still pinning him down, Rest delivered a concentrated jolt of electricity.
A crackling sound like a taser filled the air, and Rodel's body jerked several times before falling limp.
(I honestly feel like it might be for the good of the world if I just killed him here...)
But he knew how disastrous that would be. Up until now, he could claim he was merely suppressing a violent incident, but anything further was out of the question.
(No matter how much of an idiot you are, killing royalty is a problem. It seems you've escaped with your life today.)
Killing a prince would undoubtedly bring trouble to the Marquis Rosemary House.
Rest quietly slid open a classroom window and leaped outside. As the wind rushed in, the magical smoke screen began to disperse.
Deciding to leave the rest to the faculty, Rest slipped away, taking care not to let anyone see his face.