"H-Hey, what are you doing-?"
The teacher tried to question Lea. But she was shaking too much. Lea took the bomb out of the teacher's bag, finally drawing the teacher's attention.
However, the teacher could still not connect that bomb and what Lea intended to do with it.
"Lea, I don't like the look in your eyes. I have a feeling you are trying to do something dangerous. Hey, listen to me!"
Sara tried to stop Lea, but she had already taken off to attack the rift. Sara tried to move, but her foot slipped. She could not afford another slip since she needed to concentrate on maintaining her position.
'This annoying feeling is back. Darn, the rift is making my head hurt.'
Since all abilities originated from this rift and the apocalypse, it is evident that it affected the ability users. Sara had not expected to run into a side effect this soon.
Meanwhile, Amane moved around with complete confidence. Her reach was long enough to reach other students.
The rift increased its speed, and the black mass oozing out of it began to drop to the ground. It formed monsters when it touched the ground, causing it to rumble.
"Hey, this is stimulation, but can we die here? I am feeling scared now."
Lea heard the same mumbles all around her, and she sighed. These kids were too weak-willed to survive in the real world. They needed to be protected for a little longer before leaving the dorm.
"You suicidal maniac! What do you think you are doing? You are going to agitate the rift more than you should."
Lea heard her classmates mutter. No one understood what she was doing and why she was going except Sara.
"Oh well! I guess this is the time to say goodbye. Wish me luck in my next life."
Lea yelled before she jumped off with the bomb. The lack of gravitational power propelled Lea to drift up in the air and toward the opening of the rift.
The grinning eye on the sky looked delighted once Lea's body approached it. It was calling out to Lea, forcing her to abandon her thoughts of closing the rift.
'Ugh, the rift is such a scary place. It can make me lose sight of myself when I do not want to.'
Lea complained, but she brought out the bomb and ignited it. The magnitude of the bomb caused the surroundings to shake and break. The ground faded away, and the artificial creatures' space began to die down.
And Lea, suspended in the air due to the lack of gravity, began to fall.
'This is going to hurt like a bitch. I better prepare myself for what is about to happen.'
Lea closed her eyes as the ground approached her. But instead of slamming into the hard ground, a soft net covered her body.
Relief and disappointment flashed across her body when Lea's death was denied to her once more.
"Calm your eyes down. These students are innocent and talented. We do not want them to get scared because of your freaky eyes and unnatural powers. So, keep yourself in check."
Commander Arnold's voice washed over Lea, and she felt a cloth deposited over her head. It was a clear indicator for Lea to hide her head and eyes.
She was being treated like a rabid and misbehaving dog. Lea felt like a misbehaving dog as well. She was sure that she could not be able to control herself for now.
"C-Commander, what should we do? The bomb from before wiped away all traces of data. We cannot grasp any fault or conclude what happened to our sensory machines."
The guards made excuses, and they had a perfect scapegoat this time. Lea had used the emergency bomb, but no one could fault her for this.
"We do not have any data? Well, I guess this is to be expected. Forget about collecting the data and collecting the children. We need to look after them first."
"The teacher also needs me to explain what she did during this incident. Is there anything you want to say to me, miss?"
Commander Arnold asked, and this was the last shred of mercy the teacher would get. However, she chose to prioritize her interests over those of her students.
"I-I do not know what you are talking about. I-I mean, no one could have expected this incident to happen. It could have happened to anyone-"
"And yet, you chose to sit back and not do anything. I selected all our teachers, expecting they would do their best for the academy. But this is not the 'best' I considered you to do. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Commander Arnold grilled their teacher. The teacher looked ready to cry but could not bring herself to. She had too much pride to allow tears to fall from her face.
In the end, Lea and other teachers were made to leave the room. Commander Arnold continued to scold their teacher, which was ironic.
After all, his achievements had yet to be achieved by hand. Someone else had to clear up the commander's mess, only to lose the credit.
...
"How long will you keep sulking beside my bed for Sara? I am not miraculously getting better so that you can smack me around. You can relax a little bit and enjoy life."
Lea assured Sara, but the cat-girl did not listen to her. Instead of looking relieved, Sara looked even angrier than before. The veins on her head were coming out because of her anger.
'Aww, I know I should not make Sara this angry, but it's funny to see her reaction every time otherwise. But still, I should put her worries to rest now.'
Lea was about to call for attention again when the door opened. Commander Arnold looked pissed when he entered the room, and Lea knew it would be an annoying day for her.
'Fuck this. I knew being given an individual room was a bribe Commander Arnold had dangled in front of Lea.'
And she had been forced to take it without an alternative.
"Commander, how often do I tell you not to bang the door when you come in? Because of it, you will break the door, and we will be out of a usable room."
The old doctor in Lea's room raged once the commander walked inside. She was a fierce, small thing who could hit like a truck when she wanted to. And her mean eyes looked angry when she looked at Commander Arnold.
"I heard you, old woman. How many times do you need to nag me for the same thing? I am being careful when I come in here. The fact that your office is still standing is proof of my mercy. Do not anger me, you old woman."
Commander Arnold yelled at the old lady. She did not even spare him a glance when she walked past him to get to her patient.
The ignorance caused the Commander almost to lose control and go after the old doctor. But he remembered his position at the last second and stopped.
"I am not here to fight with you, old woman. We need to get a few things done, and I am here to do that. Are you going to defy my orders?"
Commander Arnold asked with an annoyed face. No one in the base ignored his orders or made light of them. So, this old lady was getting on his nerves.
"You can have them next week at the earliest. I don't think I can hand them over to you any sooner. Now, please hurry up and get out of my medical bay."
The old lady single-handedly threw the commander out of the medical wing. She had a self-satisfied look, which turned adoring when she looked at Sara.
"Here, kid, have something nice to eat. The stress of working under such a terrible man must make your life miserable for you."
The old doctor pitied Sara and handed her a snack. Lea did not get one, but it was expected. She was a patient right now, and her health was important.
That did not mean she could not be petty.
"Where is my candy? You are going to discriminate against me like this, granny? I thought I was your favorite!"
Lea dramatically clutched her chest. She wanted to roll her eyes and throw a snack bar toward her in response to Lea's words.
"Here, brat, your share. I don't want to give you more sugar, but your boundless energy will bug me until I give in anyway. I might save myself all this trouble and give you this now."
"And for god's sake, stop trying to end your life and landing yourself in my wing. I have a lot of other work to do."
The old lady yelled before she slammed the door shut behind her back. Lea grinned at the old lady, but her insides tinged with excitement.
Commander Arnold's message reached Lea's phone that moment, causing her doubt to turn into certainty.