When the new professor arrived, he glanced at me with a sidelong look and said,
"You may leave. This classification battle has ended in your defeat."
Hearing this, I smiled weakly and said,
"I really want to leave, but as you can see, I can't."
At that, the professor waved his hand, and I felt myself being covered in a strange, jelly-like substance.
*Soleir's Perspective
"So you're saying you've gotten stronger just because Edward Lightstar gave you a demonic core and mana-enhancing potions in exchange for challenging Alexander?"
Hearing Soleir's skeptical tone, Daron responded angrily. He had already explained this five times, but Soleir refused to believe him.
"Yes."
At that, sadness appeared on Soleir's face.
Sigh.
"Daron, we're friends. You don't have to lie to me. Just admit that you're selling your body."
At those words, Daron could no longer contain his anger and attempted to strike Soleir.
Soleir effortlessly dodged the blow, looking at Daron as if he were an idiot.
"Seriously? Do you expect me to believe that Edward, ranked third, spent his money just to make you—someone ranked second to last—stronger? And for what? To tire out Alexander?"
"Even with your increased strength, you couldn't even scratch him. If Edward really wanted to exhaust Alexander, he would have asked some powerful nobles for help, not invested in random students."
"And even if we assume he couldn't ask the nobles for help and had to turn to commoners, why would he choose you, the second weakest student in the class?"
Hearing Soleir's argument, Daron could only sigh in helplessness.
"Do you think I don't know that? It's obvious that bastard Lightstar is scheming something. But as long as it makes me stronger, I won't complain."
Soleir still looked at Daron as if he were a fool before saying,
"You really are an idiot. Don't you realize that accepting Edward's deal is no different from making a pact with a demon? Even if it makes you stronger quickly, it could have disastrous consequences."
Daron sighed as he replied,
"I know I'm taking a risk by accepting Edward's deal, but I'm willing to bear the consequences as long as I grow stronger."
Seeing that his friend refused to change his mind, Soleir sighed in resignation.
"Fine, it's your choice. But at least try to be careful."
Hearing this, Daron smiled faintly.
But suddenly, he noticed a strange student walking at the far end of the corridor.
The student walked with his head lowered, his body trembling oddly.
Seeing him, Daron frowned. He recognized the student—he was one of the other four who had accepted Edward's deal.
If he recalled correctly, his name was Zion.
As he watched Zion's strange behavior, a terrifying possibility crossed Daron's mind, but he refused to believe it.
Noticing Daron's fearful expression as he stared at Zion, Soleir asked in confusion,
"Hey, Daron, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Daron took a deep breath to steady himself before saying,
"Soleir, let's follow that student."
Soleir frowned in confusion. "Why?"
"Just trust me. Let's follow him."
*Zion's Perspective
Fog.
The world was foggy—I couldn't see or feel anything.
The only sensation I had was the hungry flames burning within me, demanding to be fed.
It all started when I absorbed the demonic core Edward had given me. I knew that absorbing a demon's core was dangerous—far more dangerous than absorbing a mana core from any other race.
Demons were infamous for their unstable emotions.
And yet, I needed to become stronger to help Anna.
I couldn't just stand by and watch her suffer alone.
Thinking about Anna, my memories drifted to the past—to two years ago, when I was still studying in one of the Union Army's compulsory military schools.
That was the first time I met Anna. She was like a radiant star in the sky—breathtakingly beautiful, yet far beyond the reach of mere mortals.
But the moment I got close to her, that impression faded. She was the kindest person I had ever met—gentle and considerate.
She was always smiling, like a delicate flower untouched by the cruelty of the world.
Before I realized it, I had started gravitating toward her, to the point where it was impossible for me to go a day without seeing her.
The more time I spent with her, the closer we became, and the more I saw her beautiful smile.
I don't know when it happened, but suddenly, my feelings for her changed. I no longer saw her as just a friend. But I never dared to confess my true feelings.
So I decided to stay by her side, helping her in any way I could, hoping that one day, she might return my feelings.
But then, on a fateful day, when I arrived at school, I found Anna—so unlike her usual self—sitting at the back of the classroom, her face filled with sorrow and fear.
Seeing her in that state, I wanted nothing more than to help her. I wanted to walk up to her, ask her what was wrong, and see if there was anything I could do.
But I hesitated.
I was afraid that meddling in her personal life might annoy her—and that she might leave me. So I decided to wait until she looked calmer before asking what had happened.
But that moment never came.
Day after day, her condition worsened.
She stopped smiling.
She became more withdrawn.
The other students stopped approaching her. And so did I.
At first, I tried to reach out to her. I wanted to help her.
But when she ignored me—or worse, when she screamed at me in frustration—I felt my heart ache.
I felt betrayed.
After all the time we had spent together, after everything we had been through, in the end… she abandoned me.
So I abandoned her.