Chapter 236 - 235 : Expulsion and A Defective

Chapter 236: Chapter 235 : Expulsion and A Defective

The next morning arrived with pale sunlight spilling through the curtains.

Arthur slowly opened his eyes.

For a few seconds, he remained still beneath the blanket, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. Then the memories of the previous day returned one after another.

Layla’s death.

Her revival.

The assassin hiding somewhere within the academy.

Athena forcing him to live in Layla’s house.

And his shadows now guarding her every second of the day.

Arthur rubbed his face and let out a tired sigh.

"Yeah, right," he muttered. "I am living with that senior who can die at any moment because of some mysterious assassin."

He stretched his arms, then yawned loudly.

"Do I really have to attend classes and stuff?" he grumbled. "Fuck it. I have too much to deal with to sit in a classroom."

Ding!

His phone chimed from the table beside the bed.

Arthur frowned and reached for it.

The message was from Athena.

{ Come to the training grounds. All the first-year rankers are already here. }

Arthur stared at the message.

A headache immediately began to form.

"Damn it," he muttered. "Why can’t anyone just let me live the wealthy life of a playboy? I should be doing whatever I want without worrying about all this nonsense."

He dropped the phone back onto the bed.

Then, after a few seconds, he sighed again.

"Well, I already made a deal. Let’s get this over with."

Arthur got out of bed and made his way toward the bathroom.

After taking a quick bath, he stood in front of the mirror for a moment. He still had not received a proper academy uniform, so he wore a simple pair of dark jeans and a fitted black shirt.

The outfit was plain, but it looked striking on him.

The black fabric emphasized his lean build, while the contrast between his pale face and crimson eyes gave him an unexpectedly dangerous charm.

As he stepped out of the room, his stomach growled.

Arthur placed a hand over his stomach.

"Food first."

He looked around the house.

Layla was nowhere to be seen.

She had already left for class.

Arthur walked into the kitchen and found a plate waiting for him on the table.

Toast.

A warm omelet.

And a glass of water.

Arthur paused.

Then a small smile appeared on his lips.

"At least she is thoughtful."

He sat down and began eating the breakfast Layla had prepared.

The food was simple but warm, and for a brief moment, the house did not feel quite as hostile as it had the night before.

Arthur took another bite, then his expression became thoughtful.

’She is my responsibility now,’ he thought. ’Let’s see what she is doing.’

He closed his eyes.

Deep within his consciousness, he felt the connection to the shadows assigned to protect Layla. The link stretched outward through the academy, steady and clear.

Arthur focused.

For a moment, his vision blurred.

Then the kitchen vanished.

The scenery changed.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

The first thing he saw was white lace underwear beneath the edge of a skirt.

Long, graceful legs moved across the floor above the shadow’s viewpoint.

Arthur froze.

His face turned bright red.

"Wow," he whispered. "Is this an angle from the ground beneath her? Right under her skirt?"

For several seconds, Arthur said nothing.

Then he coughed awkwardly.

"I have to say, she has good taste."

His eyes stayed fixed on the view for another moment.

’Does she have a boyfriend?’ he wondered. ’What is the point of wearing something like that if there is no one to show it to?’

Arthur immediately shook his head.

’Whatever. It has nothing to do with me. I am a gentleman. I am doing this for her safety.’

[ That is exactly what perverted creeps tell themselves before they sleep, Host. It looks like you are one of them too. ]

Arthur’s face turned even redder, this time from anger and embarrassment.

"How dare you accuse me of something like that?" he snapped inwardly. "I was just confirming her safety, okay?"

[ Yeah, yeah. You could have changed the angle, you know. Do not say you did not know that. ]

Arthur coughed again and quickly severed the connection.

"Well, she is safe and sound," he muttered. "Let’s do some actual work now."

After finishing the rest of his breakfast, Arthur left the house and headed toward the training grounds.

───────────────

Arthur walked through the broad academy corridors, passing tall stone walls, open courtyards, and groups of students rushing toward their morning classes.

The academy felt unusually tense.

Students whispered when Arthur passed.

Some had heard about his duel with Layla.

Others had heard he had challenged the first-year rankers.

And many simply stared at him because of the rumors surrounding him.

The red-eyed first year who had defeated the student council president.

The monster who had challenged seniors.

The boy who seemed to have somehow forced Athena Emberfall to cooperate with him.

After a few minutes, Arthur reached the training grounds.

The area was vast.

A wide combat field stretched out before him, surrounded by reinforced stone barriers, weapon racks, practice dummies, and elevated spectator platforms. It was large enough for several hundred students to train at once.

The moment Arthur stepped through the entrance, he saw that the important students had already gathered.

The first years stood on one side.

The second years stood near the center, led by Arion Shreyder, the top-ranked second year. Arion watched Arthur with a calm but assessing gaze.

The third years stood in another group.

Layla stood at their front.

Her sky-blue hair moved gently in the morning wind. Her posture was straight, composed, and proud, as if nothing could shake her.

Arthur’s gaze landed on her.

For one brief second, the image from earlier flashed through his mind.

Arthur immediately cleared his throat.

’Forget it,’ he thought. ’I am a gentleman. I do not care about such trivial things.’

Among the first years, Arthur recognized Arina, Victor, Damian, Diana, Jasmine, Evangline, Aiden, Isabella, Aaron, and Julia.

Aiden looked particularly terrible.

His white hair was messy, shadows rested beneath his eyes, and bruises marked his arms and neck.

Arthur raised a brow.

’Did that idiot train all night?’

"You are late."

Athena’s voice sounded beside him.

Arthur turned his head.

Athena Emberfall stood close by, her face still hidden behind her veil.

She was wearing fitted training clothes rather than her usual formal attire. The dark outfit was practical and flexible, without a single piece of armor, yet it made her look even more elegant and imposing.

Arthur could feel her icy glare through the veil.

"Did you not see my message?" Athena asked.

Arthur looked at her tiredly.

"What do you want me to do?" he said. "After throwing me under the bus to protect Layla and forcing that responsibility onto me, I was tired."

Athena went quiet.

He was not wrong.

She had put Layla’s safety on Arthur’s shoulders and then teleported him into Layla’s house without giving him an option.

Athena pretended to cough and looked away.

Then she stepped forward.

"Cadets," Athena said.

Her voice rang across the training grounds.

The conversations stopped immediately.

"Today, all of you have gathered for preparations for the Inter-Academy Tournament, which will begin in four days."

The students listened closely.

"You will discuss the strategies you have prepared. You will learn each other’s strengths. You will overcome your weaknesses. Most importantly, you will solidify your teamwork and become one united force."

Her tone became colder.

Then an invisible pressure descended across the entire training ground.

Students stiffened.

Some felt their breathing become difficult.

Athena’s aura had not fully erupted, but her presence alone felt like a mountain pressing down upon them.

"As the headmistress," Athena continued, "and as one of the people responsible for this academy’s future, I will not tolerate failure."

Her words were calm.

But every student heard the threat beneath them.

"If we lose this year, you will pay the price."

Athena paused.

"Even expulsion is possible."

A cold silence swept through the training grounds.

Everyone sucked in a breath.

Athena was serious.

For the second years and third years, the threat was especially terrifying.

Expulsion from Celestias Academy was not merely losing a place to study.

It meant becoming a defective.

A person publicly branded as a failure.

Once that label followed someone, their future became far more difficult. Most prestigious academies would not accept them. Major guilds would hesitate to recruit them. Their reputation would be damaged before they had even begun their careers.

There had been cases in the past.

Students who had been expelled after major failures had been rejected by academy after academy. Some had been mocked, humiliated, and bullied everywhere they went.

For noble children, the consequences could be even worse.

Some were disowned by their families.

Some were treated as stains upon their bloodlines.

There had even been students who had taken their own lives after losing their status, their future, and every place that had once welcomed them.

Simply being branded a defective could destroy a person’s career and social life.

They might still find work somewhere.

But their chances of joining elite guilds, obtaining respected positions, or achieving their dreams would fall drastically.

Just thinking about it made several students tremble.

Arthur looked toward Athena with a frown.

"You will get your victory," he said. "Now leave us alone. You are only putting unnecessary pressure on them."

Athena looked at him.

Then she smiled.

"Do not worry," she said. "If you win, I personally guarantee that all your futures will be secure."

The students looked up.

"There will also be monetary rewards," Athena continued. "Up to hundreds of millions of dollars."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Fear became fire.

The students’ eyes lit up with determination.

For many of them, this was now a fight they could not afford to lose.

A chance at wealth.

A secure future.

And the chance to avoid disgrace.

Simply put now this was now a do or die situation for them.

Athena seemed satisfied by their response.

She nodded and began to turn away.

"Wait."

Arthur’s voice stopped her.

Athena glanced back.

Arthur looked directly at her.

"Can you arrange a temporary instructor position at the academy?" he asked. "I can assure you that the person taking it will not cause any harm. In fact, they may help us improve by leaps and bounds."

Athena thought for a moment.

Then she replied, "Alright. But only if you take responsibility for them."

Arthur smiled.

"I will."

Athena nodded.

"Okay then. And remember, after you are done here, I will return."

Her voice lowered so that only Arthur could hear.

"I will teach you how to transfer your lifespan to others."

Arthur nodded once.

Then Athena left the training ground.

The moment she was gone, many students released the breath they had been holding.

Arthur turned toward the gathering.

His expression became cold.

"Domain."

In the next instant, a crimson blood domain erupted from Arthur’s body.

Red mist spread across the training ground like an expanding sea.

The air became heavy.

Suffocating.

The students froze.

It felt as though the blood inside their veins had turned cold.

Their limbs became heavy.

Their hearts pounded violently.

Some clenched their teeth.

Others began sweating immediately.

Arthur’s voice echoed across the crimson domain.

"Survive thirty seconds inside this."

The gathered students stared at him.

"The one who collapses is out of the team," Arthur continued.

His eyes swept over every face.

"And if you are out of the team, you will be expelled."

The pressure intensified.

"Your future will be over."

The students took in cold breaths.

Arthur smiled faintly.

"So do not collapse."

The crimson mist thickened.

"These next thirty seconds will decide your future."

Everyone trembled.

Arthur lifted one hand.

"Your time starts now."