Chapter 7: The Aftermath and the Headmaster’s Wrath

The chaos that had erupted on the central thoroughfare had quietly drawn to a close. The three Corrosions, originally intended for practical combat training, had vanished without a trace.

The magical freshmen, having narrowly escaped death, gulped down the air, rich with the scent of grass and moisture, striving to calm their rattled nerves.

‘Was that truly a Corrosion?’ they wondered. It was utterly unlike anything described in their textbooks, both in terms of power and ferocity.

Many found themselves plunged into a brief state of bewilderment. The fear of death had shattered the boundless dreams they had just been indulging in, striking them with a heavy blow.

Of course, there were also those who felt a profound sense of indignation. For the first time, they had witnessed a true Corrosion, and they were ashamed and resentful of their own weakness.

Despite having become mages, they still required the protection of others, utterly incapable of facing a Corrosion on their own. ‘This won’t do,’ they thought. ‘I must become far stronger.’

These individuals differed from the former group; their paths had begun to diverge.

Sometimes, even lambs would fight for their beliefs, ushering in their own evolution. Viewed in this light, the incident could be considered a wash, with merits balancing out the faults.

***

Naturally, those in higher positions would not see it this way. They only knew that Shakia’s incompetence had allowed a Corrosion to endanger the school.

Presently, the school’s leadership had gathered for an emergency meeting.

The round table was quickly filled with attendees. Seated by the window at the front, with a long white beard, was none other than the headmaster of this Academy of Magic.

The meeting commenced. All present wore grave expressions, looking towards the headmaster, hoping for an answer from his lips.

Yet, the headmaster merely turned his chair, gazing out at the scarred central thoroughfare—the very heart of the academy.

Unsure whether he was lamenting the severe damage or reflecting on the freshmen’s performance, he slowly let out a sigh, uttering nothing.

Such an action naturally drew dissatisfaction from the others. They exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed.

Now was the time to elect a leader to voice their grievances. Thus, all eyes converged on one particular man.

Being scrutinized by so many pairs of eyes, with their gazes fixed upon him, was an uncomfortable sensation.

The man, the ‘popular choice,’ with his protruding belly, reluctantly stood up and presented his opinion to the headmaster.

No, whether it was truly his own opinion was debatable. But at the very least, it represented the views of the vast majority present.

“Headmaster, the damage to the academy’s chapel and central thoroughfare this time is exceptionally severe. The Ice Witch, as the captain of the escort team, must bear full responsibility.”

His words were righteous and impassioned, as if he held justice in his hands, ready to cast Shakia, the bringer of disaster, into an eternal abyss.

Upon hearing this, however, the headmaster merely smiled without denying it. His aged voice resonated through the hall.

“Well, the kingdom will subsidize the school’s losses. It’ll just take a few days to transport the funds to this school, which is isolated from the outside world—that part is a bit troublesome. Furthermore, this disturbance didn’t result in any fatalities. Shakia handled the situation quite well. And…”

The old man paused, his eyes, previously sealed shut like a mere slit, now opened, revealing a shrewd and profound gaze. He fixed his attention on the group of freshmen outside the window, who were still pounding their chests, overwhelmed by their powerlessness.

A faint, inscrutable curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

“During this commotion, I saw little wolf cubs on the verge of metamorphosis.”

“Headmaster! Please don’t change the subject! We are discussing Shakia’s issue, and this matter must be handled with utmost seriousness.

If the outside world learns that Corrosions rampaged through this cradle of the next generation, the academy’s reputation will be utterly ruined!

Moreover, the kingdom’s evaluation of us will decline. Someone must take responsibility for this! This is also for their future, the future of these freshmen!”

The standing man forcefully slapped the round table before him, his belly fat jiggling humorously with the motion.

Yet, no one joked about him now. All attendees focused their gazes on the headmaster.

This time, it was the headmaster’s turn to be scrutinized.

But he did not compromise like the man standing before him.

Instead, he leaned back into his chair, crossed his arms, interlaced his fingers before his mouth, and then, his vocal cords vibrated, emitting a deep voice, a tone entirely different from before.

“Can someone who so easily denies the future of others truly strive for their future? In my opinion, abandoning one person and abandoning a group are one and the same—the most unforgivable acts.”

The headmaster was genuinely angry this time.

Those present were all seasoned veterans, and sensing the shift in mood, they quickly distanced themselves from the ‘righteous’ big-bellied man, unanimously agreeing with the headmaster’s reasoning.

One had to admire people who could adapt to situations to such an extent.

Indeed, sometimes bending with the wind allowed one to live more comfortably and thrive. Most people in the room thought this way.

At this point, the man should have humbly admitted his mistake, offered polite platitudes about the headmaster’s wisdom, and gracefully retreated from the spotlight.

But he did not. Perhaps to save face, he gritted his teeth and uttered words that instantly silenced the entire room.

“The Ice Witch, does she truly possess a human future? She doesn’t! She’s merely an experiment. If she’s just an experiment, then…”

His words grew somewhat hysterical. It seemed that in an attempt to salvage his dwindling dignity, he had committed a taboo.

Sometimes, knowing too much was not a good thing.

The headmaster merely watched him calmly. Just watched him calmly.

It was a calm more terrifying than death itself, a calm the big-bellied man felt even as he spoke.

His speech slowed, his voice gradually weakened, until finally, he could no longer hear himself.

Large drops of sweat trickled down his head. He had truly touched the headmaster’s sore spot this time.

“The future is not something we old people can predict with certainty. Therefore, I do not wish to hear this matter discussed again.”

The headmaster flicked his sleeve and walked straight out, slamming the door behind him.

***

“President, these are the documents you asked me to investigate. This year’s enrollment list is here.”

Due to the previous commotion, Shakia, as the Student Council President, was particularly busy.

She not only had to process and register injured freshmen but also had to call for manpower and arrange the repair date for the central thoroughfare.

Most importantly, she had to conduct an all-night search for the vanished Corrosions. Until their return to the Corrosion Realm was confirmed, she remained in this state of constant busyness.

“Understood. Just place them there for now.”

She gave these instructions to her assistant, her work never pausing for a moment.

“President, you should also take care of your own health occasionally.”

The assistant offered words of concern, but Shakia merely nodded, indicating she had heard them.

“You may leave now. I’ll handle the rest by myself.”

“Yes.”

With the sound of the student council room door closing, Shakia confirmed her assistant’s departure.

Finally, she had time to analyze her own problem.

These three Corrosions had received instructions from someone, and subsequent events had confirmed her suspicion.

The blood wave that had attacked her was, without a doubt, sent by the mastermind.

‘If he hadn’t appeared at that moment, what would have become of me?’

Mo Ya’s image, wearing his white mask, involuntarily flashed through her mind.

‘Perhaps this list will offer me some insight.’