Chapter 408
by post_apiChapter 408: Strike Again
“What happened? I heard something downstairs…”
Footsteps halted at the doorway as two figures appeared before the students’ eyes.
It was Ando, the instructor responsible for this class, and Hopps, another teacher from the first-year third class.
Ando had been the one speaking, but her voice abruptly died when she took in the classroom scene.
The pitiful sight of several girls groaning lowly on the floor left her momentarily stunned. When she regained her composure, her eyes slowly widened…
“What… what is this? What happened?”
Beside her, Hopps gasped before swiftly approaching the fallen students. He pulled healing potions from his Magic Backpack while questioning, “Who did this to them? Step forward immediately!”
Ando snapped into action, her voice sharp as she demanded, “Who struck them? Show yourself!” Her piercing gaze swept across the remaining students.
The noble girls’ wretched state fueled her rage—not only at the assailant’s cruelty but also that such violence had erupted during her lecture.
If this reached the Vice Dean, even if blameless, she’d be deemed negligent. Her ten-minute tardiness today might have prevented this had she been punctual. This incident, born of her own oversight, could tarnish her standing with Mrs. Ada.
Her career prospects, not the injured students, dominated her thoughts.
“It was them! Those two bitches did this!!”
The ringleader girl screamed hysterically upon hearing Ando. The teachers’ presence seemed to embolden her, unleashing a torrent of hatred toward Demon One and Demon Two.
No trace of noble grace remained—she resembled a screeching shrew, one hand clutching her swollen cheek while the other trembled toward the two girls standing coldly by the desk.
“Yes, it’s them! How dare they attack us! Teacher, arrest them!”
“It hurts… everything hurts! Please defend us, teacher… wuu…”
Other girls hastily echoed their leader—some pointing accusingly, others weeping piteously to the teachers. Yet fear lingered from the earlier beating; only the ringleader dared hurl insults while the others avoided meeting Demon One and Demon Two’s icy stares.
…
How could it be them?
Ando and Hopps stood speechless, mouths slightly agape at the accusations. Though Hopps knew little as a first-year instructor, Ando recognized Demon One and Demon Two well—she’d even observed them closely.
They were the class’s model top students, their devotion to magical study and exceptional talents impossible to overlook. These quiet girls who rarely interacted—how could they commit such violence?
Ando scanned the other students. None showed surprise at the accusations; instead… they stole fearful glances at the two girls.
Could it truly be…?
“Was it you who did this?”
Ando demanded.
“Yes, it was us,”
the two girls exchanged a glance, and Demon One replied coldly.
With so many witnesses, denial would be futile.
“You truly did this! Why?”
Ando’s expression darkened.
“They provoked us first. Teacher, please see this.”
Demon Two interjected, stepping aside to reveal the two desks behind her.
Ando and Hopps shared a look before approaching.
As they drew near, the words carved into the desktops became clear.
The vicious insults made both teachers visibly pale.
“Did you carve these words?”
Ando turned to the bruised girls.
“No! Absolutely not! Teacher, don’t listen to their lies—we’d never do such a thing!”
“Exactly! If you doubt us, ask the other students! We never touched their desks, but they refused to listen. When we denied it, they attacked us! Everyone here can testify!”
The girls vehemently denied the accusation, yet avoided meeting Demon One and Demon Two’s eyes.
“Is this true?”
Ando asked the other students.
The class exchanged uneasy glances until one girl hesitantly stepped forward.
“I’m unsure if Yuli and the others tampered with Demon One and Demon Two’s desks, but…”
“But what?”
Ando pressed sternly.
“…but once Yuli’s group denied it, Demon One and Demon Two stopped talking. Then… then they assaulted Yuli and the others…”
“So the carvings might not be Yuli’s doing after all?”
“Hmph, what if we *did* carve them?”
Yuli, the leading girl, suddenly cut in.
Her abrupt confession stunned everyone, drawing shocked stares.
Consumed by rage, Yuli ignored the crowd and raged on:
“All I did was carve a few lines! Yet these lowborn bitches beat us senseless! Country trash have no manners—what’s wrong with those words? Pah! With a daughter like this, who knows what her mother—”
*Slap!!*
Before she finished, a hand struck her already swollen cheek.
Yuli’s head snapped sideways. Dazed by the blow, she momentarily lost all words.
The crowd gaped at Demon One, who had struck again.
Though teachers, Ando and Hopps were mages untrained in close combat. Distracted by Yuli, they failed to stop Demon One’s swift retaliation…
“You—how dare you strike again!”
Ando cried, aghast.
“She spoke forbidden words,”
Demon One retorted coldly, withdrawing her hand.
“Exactly! And you all heard her—she admitted carving our desks! *They* started this!”
Demon Two added vehemently.
“Even so—”
Ando’s face hardened, but Hopps whispered into her ear.
*…Only superficial injuries?*
Ando’s tension eased slightly. She had no desire to reprimand the twins publicly.
Unlike ordinary students, these girls were magical prodigies, cherished by Vice Dean Mrs. Ada…
Yet Yuli’s noble connections loomed in her mind… After a silent exchange with Hopps, Ando softened her tone:
“Nevertheless, why target you two specifically? There’s no smoke without fire. Shouldn’t you reflect on your own actions? Why couldn’t you coexist peacefully with everyone?”