Seth rubbed his chin for a while before opening his mouth to utter a statement that made the others gasp.
"Well, it's a bet where we stake money." Seth seemed to be getting more and more intoxicated with money. In fact, he was in a situation where he needed to provide a hundred thousand gold coins by evening.
"I see. You've told me what to stake but you're yet to tell me the content of the bet." The teacher replied with a cold gaze fixed on Seth.
"It's simple. You said the principal wouldn't get involved and I'm saying he would." Seth replied with confidence.
"Oh. I see. That's alright then." The teacher was also filled with confidence. The principal had never interfered in matters such as this and so, he was certain this situation wouldn't be any different.
"And what's the stake?" The teacher asked.
Seth smiled broadly. He expected this much since it was obvious why the teacher had such confidence. Now, he only had to exploit that confidence so he raised his palm.
"Fifty thousand gold coins each."
The entire class became a mixture of 'oooohh' and 'ahhhhh' the moment Seth's words came out.
Fifty thousand gold coins was a lot to anyone in the room. Even the wealthiest students barely had that much or surpassed that amount and yet, Seth was using it as a stake.
The teacher simply believed that Seth was naive and was relying on the wealth of his family so he sneered. 'Fifty thousand gold coins is two years' worth of salary for me so I shouldn't miss this chance.'
The teacher could already foresee himself collecting the money from Seth and was smiling so much that it became creepy to the looking students.
He quickly regained his composure. "Fine. Fifty thousand gold coins it is." He said.
The students became dumbfounded. There was no rule against betting but a teacher betting with a student, that was unheard of.
Besides, the stakes were crazy enough to stun anyone that heard of it.
"Now, please carry on with today's class and excuse my daring actions." Seth bowed politely and sat back down.
The teacher took it as a sign that Seth was beginning to have cold feet and was beginning to show respect so he merely smiled.
"What the hell is with the bet?" Taro who sat next to Seth whispered to him.
"I need the money and since he's willing to give it to me, why shouldn't I accept? Don't worry, it'll be his loss and he wouldn't even see that coming." Seth replied and afterwards, became entirely quiet seemingly focusing on everything this teacher would be teaching today.
At irregular intervals, the teacher would take glances at Seth while teaching.
♠♠♠♠♠
Seth exited the class the moment Teacher Asphed—the one he made a bet with—left the class.
Before others could even approach him to ask why he had done that or even make a mockery of him, Seth was out of the class.
His destination?
Of course, it was the office of the principal.
Seth was one of the few people who could be counted on one's hands that could visit the principal unannounced and he was the only one from the current year of student who had such an access.
The greatest card in this institute was in his hand and he wouldn't hesitate to play it.
Arriving at the same building he came to when he first arrived at the institute, he walked in.
"Good day." Seth greeted the guards stationed at the entrance. The guards who saw him simply let him through.
All guards keeping watch over this building were well aware of the identity of the group of students that could walk in there at any given time. Seth was one such.
He entered inside and walked through the hallway, directly heading to the office of the principal.
The door opened when he was just a few meters away and a voice came from inside. One he was already familiar with.
"I sorta expected you but this is quite early, don't you think so?"
"Indeed it is. Principal Salmit." Seth responded as he walked in.
"Good morning, Principal." Seth bowed in front of the man who smiled at Seth.
The smile was genuine but Seth, more than anyone knew how scary this man could be. He was one of the few who could see him for who he was.
"Have a seat, Seth." The man's soothing voice entered Seth's ears and Seth took a seat as instructed.
"What brings you here?"
"A teacher known as Teacher Asphed is adamant about punishing me even though I broke no rule." Seth stated.
"Could you tell me how it all happened?" Principal Salmit was rather interested in the story. Seth could tell.
"Well… We both got into class at the same time and all but he wants me to be punished for coming late. There are lots of witnesses to prove I arrived at the same time as him. As for the punishment, I remember it only applies to those that arrive 'after' the teacher. Besides, he seems to hate my guts." Seth explained.
Principal Salmit nodded his head with a smile. "It is true that there's no such rule punishing students for arriving at the same time as a teacher. We didn't include it because we didn't expect someone would exploit such a loophole. Now, what can I do about this matter?" The principal asked at the end of his statement.
Seth's smile grew bigger on his face. He knew he couldn't be punished since there was no punishment attached to his arrival but he wanted something else. Something that had to do with a certain bet.
"All I ask is that you judge the issue yourself." Seth answered.
"Oh?"
"Yes, principal. I don't need much. I simply request that you summon both parties and be the judge." Seth nodded.
"Requesting that the principal judge such a matter is already much and you say you don't need much? You should consider these weak old bones. As you can see, there's a lot of work waiting for me." Principal Salmit stated, his face looking like he was really that old.
"If you considered yourself weak, then I don't think any one of us in this school deserves to even be called magic users." Seth answered.
"Hmm? Okay, I'll judge this matter." The principal said after hearing Seth's statement that seemed to be praising and scolding this old man.
"Get me Teacher Asphed." The Principal's voice left the room and was heard by the guards. Immediately, one of them left to bring back the teacher as ordered.
"You should wait in here while the teacher is been brought in. I have work to do so I'll be busy till he arrives." The principal said and his head returned to face the pile of documents on his table that needed something from him. Either a signature, approval, or disapproval, they all required something from him.
"Understood." Seth nodded as he sank further into his seat which was a bit bigger than him.
While he was experiencing a feeling like he was in the clouds, someone else was feeliyljke he was about to be plunged into the depths of hell—if that was a real thing.