"Many of you did well in your mid semester, yesterday." Miss Carol raised her focused seductive gaze to the class, as if to find the losers amongst them.
"Some of you? Not so much."
Many bowed their heads, avoiding eye contact.
"As it’s my standard, I am supposed to punish your lack of effort..." she paused. A girl with what one could only refer to as a frog mask raised her hand.
"Yes, Canva!"
Can a stood up. "It’s because we were not allowed to use mana. Everyone knows that mana is what makes us superior in battle."
Many in the class nodded in agreement and support.
"Yes... with mana. I wouldn’t have fallen to a mere dagger."
"A stun bullet wouldn’t have taken me out." Another argued.
"My clan’s bloodline allows my mana to be like iron."
The conversations had no end in sight.
Miss Carol did not argue with them. In fact, Ohta could find a playful interest in her gaze.
"Really... you believe that access to your mana is what makes you superior in battle?" She asked, the question an obvious trap.
But Ohta knew someone was going to fall for it.
Canva nodded. "Yes. It is. After all, is that not the only weapon we have against the invading demons? Without mana, the earth would have been lost a long time ago."
The others in class nodded in agreement.
Haruto frowned a bit. If it was still early this morning, he would have agreed with this assessment.
But after facing Ohta that beat his family’s legendary martial art with two bullets, he now had his doubts.
Subconsciously, he looked towards Ohta.
Ohta had not protested like the other students.
’It seems that I was right.’ Haruto said to himself.
As the students chattering increased, Ohta could not help but shake his head.
Miss Carol caught sight of this.
"You seem to disagree with Canva’s sentiment, Ohta?"
The class suddenly went silent, all eyes turning to him.
Ohta was taken aback, ’what the hell is wrong with this woman? Why is she putting me in a bind like this?
Like I don’t get enough hate as it is.’
But Ohta gave a dry cough, "Well, I don’t think Mana alone is the deciding factor to survive in a fight."
Miss Carol’s gaze got narrower, "Really? And can you defend this hypothesis of yours by any chance?"
’Defend? What is this woman planning? I won’t fall for it.’
"Well, I did see it in a text book. I can’t say for sure that I can defend against such..."
"A Student of valor shoukd be proud and stand talk behind their beliefs. That’s our way of doing this." She replied.
"Well..."
"Splendid. How about a quick spar to prove your point?
Canva, if you don’t mind?" Miss Carol invited with a hand.
Canva turned to Ohta. She visibly shrieked. "Me!? And the Demonic cult member?"
"CANVA!" Miss Carol’s mana flashed in her gaze. "Please do not throw such accusations in my class. No such thing has been confirmed by the enforcers."
"But Miss Carol... I Don want him to drink my blood."
"If she won’t do it, I will." A voice interrupted them.
Everyone turned to the confident but flirtatious voice.
"Okay, Wu Ying. Step to the back of the class." Miss Carol instructed.
Ohta raised a brow at Wu ying. She was that Chinese–asian looking girl that winked his way when he entered the class.
Her movement... deliberate.
It started with a sound.
The soft scrape of a chair being pushed back slowly.
Not the rushed scrambling of someone eager to volunteer, even though it seemed that way at first.
And still not the reluctant drag of someone forced to move.
Unhurried.
Like someone who had already decided the outcome before standing up.
Yes. Ohta felt it in his bones. This was not just confidence.
If he was to describe it, then it would be a spell.
A spell?
The thought lingered in his head.
However, every head in class 1A turned.
Wu ying rose from her seat the way smoke rises from a candle that has just been blown out.
She walked to the empty space behind the class.
And all the while, without missing a step or hitting a table, had her eyes entirely on Ohta.
An invitation.
No, a challenge.
Her demeanor and gaze alternated between both.
Ohta felt a shiver down his spine.
This was a difficult woman to deal with.
Ohta’s instincts screamed in alarm.
Nobody in the class spoke as she got into position.
It wasn’t that Wu ying demanded silence. She simply moved through the room like silence was her natural environment and everyone else was a guest in it.
Ohta’s frown tightened.
’Yes. It’s definitely a spell.’
Ohta had dealt with dangerous women in his past life.
From the moment Wu ying agreed to be his sparing partner, his mind gave loud alarms and he began using the Breathing Art of the Eternal Throne to stir awake his king aura.
This was simply his instinct at work.
This was a smart move.
After all, Ohta could see it clearly in the eyes of his classmates.
They were captivated. Like being placed in some kind of spell.
’This cunning woman. Is this her plan? She wanted to charm me even before the match began?’
This was indeed an incredible plan. To win the battle even before the fight began.
This was one way to show one’s capabilities.
Of course, while most of the class had fallen under Wu yonh’s spell, not all had become victims to it.
Miss Carol’s eyes were as clear as day.
Another example, Haruto was an exception.
The young lad had a more focused and indomitable mind than Ohta thought he did.
Maybe it was that intense sense of justice holding him back from the desires of the flesh.
Ohta peeled his eyes from Haruto. Right now, Wu ying was his opponent.
Gently and unceremoniously, he rose from his seat.