Not long after Ethan made his grand entrance with Violet and Sylvania, another figure strode into the dining hall. This one had an air of arrogance that was hard to miss. He had golden hair that shimmered under the dim lighting, and soft green eyes that might have looked kind if not for the sharp jawline that gave him a perpetually smug expression. Esdeath noticed him right away, smirking as she recognized Corin Reynold.
"So it's finally started," Esdeath mused to herself, her eyes narrowing in anticipation. "I don't think I have to lift a finger. This is a canon event, after all. All I need to do is sit back and watch the show."
As Corin entered, his gaze immediately locked onto Ethan. There he was, sitting between Violet and Sylvania, both girls practically fighting over who would get to feed him first. It was a ridiculous scene, like something straight out of a rom-com, and it made Corin's blood boil.
His face twisted in anger as he watched. "That filth," Corin muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I've talked to the teachers, but no one listened. They let this disgrace into Class A, and now look at him—flirting with two girls at the same time. He needs to be put in his place."
With anger and determination fueling him, Corin grabbed a food plate from a nearby table, his hands trembling with barely contained rage. Without a second thought, he stormed over to Ethan. The dining hall fell silent as students sensed the tension building, their eyes following Corin as he made his way to his target.
Ethan was oblivious to the brewing storm, too busy trying to figure out how to keep Violet and Sylvania from tearing each other apart. Just as he was about to say something, Corin appeared in front of him, glaring down with a look of pure disdain.
Before Ethan could react, Corin dumped the entire plate of food over his head. The hall erupted in gasps and whispers as the food splattered everywhere, leaving Ethan sitting there in shock, his hair and clothes dripping with a mix of fruit, bread, and whatever else had been on the plate.
"What the hell?!" Violet shouted, jumping to her feet. She glared at Corin, her eyes blazing with fury. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Sylvania was right behind her, standing up and stepping protectively closer to Ethan. "You're out of line, Corin! What if you're duke's son, Apologize right now!"
But Corin just sneered, ignoring their protests. "Why should I apologize? I'm just putting this loser in his place," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. Then, as if to further humiliate Ethan, he turned his attention to the girls, leaning in closer to Violet with a smirk. "You don't need to waste your time with someone like him. I could show you a much better time."
Violet recoiled, disgust clear on her face. "Get away from me, you creep!" she snapped, her voice shaking with anger.
Corin didn't seem to notice—or maybe he didn't care. He turned to Sylvania next, giving her what he probably thought was a charming smile. "You too, Sylvania. Why hang around with a weakling like him when you could be with someone stronger? Someone who could actually protect you?"
But Sylvania wasn't having any of it. She pushed Corin away, her face twisted in disgust. "I'd rather be with someone you call a 'weakling' than a jerk like you," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.
Corin's anger flared at her words, but then his eyes drifted downward, locking onto Sylvania's chest. Like every typical harem heroine, both Violet and Sylvania had curves that seemed almost too perfect, with round, full breasts that could make any man's heart race.
A wicked grin spread across Corin's face as his mind filled with twisted thoughts. Without a second's hesitation, he reached out, his hand aiming directly at Sylvania's chest. "You don't get to tell me what to do, slut!" he barked, his voice echoing in the now silent hall.
Fear flashed across Sylvania's face, and she instinctively shut her eyes, bracing for the worst. But before Corin could lay a finger on her, his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip. Ethan had moved faster than anyone could react, his hand squeezing Corin's wrist so tightly that it sent a shock of pain up Corin's arm, nearly making it go numb.
The entire dining hall froze. Ethan slowly brushed off the last bits of food from his uniform, his eyes narrowing into a dangerous glare. For a split second, it seemed like he might let it go, but then his expression hardened. The calm, laid-back Ethan was gone, replaced by someone much more serious, much more formidable.
"Corin," Ethan's voice was low, but it carried a weight that silenced everyone. "You've crossed the line. You don't ever lay a dirty hand—or even a gaze—on a girl like that."
Corin tried to pull his hand free, but Ethan's grip was like steel. The pain in Corin's wrist grew unbearable, and his bravado began to crumble.
Across the room, Esdeath watched the scene with a satisfied smile. "So, Corin thought he could play the hero by flirting with those two big-breasted third-rate heroines," she mused to herself. "It's almost pathetic. Corin already has a crush on Emma, his own girlfriend, yet he's trying to make Ethan look like a loser by messing with Violet and Sylvania. Too bad for him, he doesn't realize Ethan has way more experience."
"I said don't tell me what to do!" Corin roared, his voice full of anger. He raised his fist, aiming straight for Ethan's face. But before he could even swing, Ethan moved faster, his own fist crashing directly into Corin's face, sending a shock of pain through his nose as blood started to drip down.
Corin barely had a moment to process what had just happened when Ethan swiftly bent down, his legs moving in a blur. With a powerful sweep, Ethan struck Corin's legs, knocking him off balance. As Corin was still mid-air, trying to catch himself, Ethan delivered a brutal kick to his face, sending him crashing to the floor.
The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye. Corin hadn't even had the chance to react. He lay there on the cold ground, his nose and lips bleeding, completely stunned. The room fell into a shocked silence. Every student was frozen in place, eyes wide with horror and disbelief. It was the first time any of them had seen a commoner defeat a noble so easily.
But Corin wasn't ready to give up. In just a few seconds, his mind was flooded with rage and humiliation. Lying there, he could see the faces of everyone around him, staring down at him with what looked like mocking smiles. He felt the sting of their unspoken laughter, their silent judgment. It was humiliating, so utterly humiliating…
"You… I'll tell my father and get you killed!" Corin spat out, his voice trembling with anger and desperation.
But before he could say another word, a sharp, commanding voice cut through the tension. "Shut up!" It was a woman's voice, strong and filled with authority.
Everyone turned to see who it was. A teacher stood at the entrance, her face a mix of anger and disappointment. She had clearly seen everything that had just happened.
"Corin, I saw it all," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You're the one at fault here. Come with me and face your punishment. You should be thankful you didn't use magic, or the consequences would have been far worse!"
Her words struck like a hammer, and the room remained silent. Corin's earlier bravado vanished, replaced by the cold reality of his situation.
As Corin bit his lip, his eyes narrowed at Ethan. "I'll get my revenge next time, just wait!" he spat, his voice dripping with anger as he pushed himself up. Without another word, he followed the teacher out of the hall, his steps heavy with frustration.
The drama, brief but intense, had lasted all of five minutes, yet it left an impression. As Corin disappeared from view, the dining hall buzzed with whispers. The news of a noble getting beaten by a commoner spread faster than wildfire. Some students looked pleased, quietly enjoying Corin's humiliation, while others wore expressions of disappointment, upset by the upset in the social order.
With breakfast over, the students made their way to the academy hall. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation; the test of the day was about to begin. It would determine each student's affinity and guide their weapon selection. Esdeath, calm and composed, arrived at the hall, blending in with the crowd of students already gathered.
Lilith stood at the top of the stairs, deep in conversation with other teachers, casting a watchful eye over the students. Among the sea of faces, Esdeath noticed a few new ones, students who hadn't arrived on the first day. Two girls, in particular, stood out from the rest.
The first girl was dressed in the flowing robes of a saintess, a striking choice given that she was a commoner. Her delicate, white-skinned face was charming, with a hint of innocence, yet there was something undeniably seductive about her. Her lips were a tempting shade of red, her long white hair tinged with a soft blue that set her apart from the usual silver-haired beauties. She was voluptuous, her saintess costume hugging every curve, making it impossible not to notice how the boys in the room eyed her with thinly-veiled desire. Oblivious to the attention, she kept her eyes closed, as if in deep prayer or meditation.
Her name was Calista Seraphine, a name that echoed her connection to the revered goddess of her homeland, the Kingdom of Church. This kingdom, famed for its justice and unwavering devotion to the goddess Seraphine, hadn't seen a single crime in over 150 years. Calista's presence was as much a symbol of her kingdom's purity as it was a testament to her own allure. She was a paradox—a saintess with the body of a temptress.
But even with Calista's striking appearance, there was another girl in the crowd who drew even more attention…