How To Survive Clichés

Chapter 21

The moment they heard the voice, Plea and her faction felt a chill run down their spines. …It was none other than Professor Morax.

Suppressing her panic, Plea managed to open her mouth. “P-Professor Morax? What brings you here?”

The remnants of mana flickered slightly in her hand, but it wasn’t very noticeable.

‘Thank goodness.’

Even as she faced Professor Morax, Plea surveyed her surroundings. It was odd for a professor to show up at this time—and of all professors, why did it have to be Morax and not her sister?

Despite her tension, Plea was still thinking these thoughts, convinced she wouldn’t be caught. If the students she’d bribed showed up to testify, expulsion would be likely, but she’d bound them by contract.

“I asked what you were doing here.”

A barely concealed smile played on Plea’s lips. “Oh, we were training together when this first-year suddenly released his mana on us. We know it’s against the rules, but we were just about to teach him a lesson.”

“Th-that’s right!”

Professor Morax scowled, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “…Do I look like a fool to you?”

“…Pardon?”

“Buying off students to bully others is grounds for expulsion at Aethis Magic School.”

Plea’s pupils quivered. She’d bound everyone with contracts. How could this be?

‘Who…who told him?’

She tried to turn and look at her faction, but her body wouldn’t move. She needed to say something to explain, but she couldn’t bring herself to deny it. Though Morax’s eyes were human, they felt like something else, freezing anyone who met his gaze. Even those watching from afar felt the chill.

Just then, Plea and her faction saw Professor Isla Dows hurrying up behind Professor Morax. Plea looked at her sister with a slight glimmer of hope.

“Professor Morax? I think there’s some misunderstanding here.”

“Good timing. Come with us, Lady Isla Dows.”

Professor Isla looked startled; it was because of the change in address. Until just now, she had been referred to as a professor, but now she was acting in her role as Plea Dows’ guardian.

“Professor, that’s not—”

“Come along.”

Professor Morax’s icy tone silenced her. Plea could only gape at her sister in shock. But there was nothing Professor Isla could do.

“Follow me.”

Plea and her faction, now pale, stumbled as they followed the professors away. Once they disappeared, Ian’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground. Yoo Suho helped her up.

“Are you alright?”

“Th-thank you.”

It was finally over. All of it.

Ian felt like the weight pressing down on her was starting to crack and fall away. A strange sense of liberation filled her.

* * *

I quickly checked Ian’s anxiety disorder level.

[Current subject’s anxiety level: 2.5 (2.5/4)]

It was lower than I’d expected. It made sense since she’d just faced the one who had oppressed her for nearly two years.

I let out a sigh and smiled. But it was too early to relax completely. There were still three weeks left before the live training started.

‘Let’s keep a close watch for now.’

After finishing my tasks, I spoke to Tio, who looked dazed.

“Let them know I went on ahead.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, pressing a finger to my brow to drive away the pain. Only once I was a good distance from the training grounds did I lift my hand to brush under my nose. The scent of iron lingered in the wind that brushed against the tip of my nose.

I was low on mana.

* * *

At the same time, in the basement of the building that housed the professors’ offices, the disciplinary committee was in session.

– Come along. You’ve got a debt to pay.
– …So, commoners can’t be enticed without money. Fine. How about our family covering your next semester’s tuition?
– Has it always been this way?
– Of course.

The recorded conversation replayed from the mana audio device, echoing throughout the room. The more it repeated, the stiffer Professor Isla’s expression became.

Under normal circumstances, she would be sitting in the interrogation room with Plea Dows, but she’d insisted that she was present in her capacity as a professor, not as a guardian, and was thus allowed to attend the disciplinary committee instead. Though it hardly mattered anymore.

“This is an outrage. Someone with a grudge is playing tricks,” she said.

“Well, I’d say Plea Dows is the one with the grudge,” replied Professor Harpe, stretching her legs and rocking back in her chair with her hands clasped behind her head.

Professor Isla glared at Harpe, but Harpe simply shrugged and continued rocking her chair, unfazed.

“I’m just calling it as I see it.”

“It’s what you’re hearing as well, Professor Harpe.”

“Ah, right.”

“Alright, let’s keep things civil,” said Professor Charles, who taught Ancient Runes, as he stroked his graying beard thoughtfully. “It seems we’ve made a decision regarding the disciplinary action. We’ll inform Principal Wenemir as soon as he returns later today.”

The professors attending the disciplinary committee nodded in agreement—except for one, who’d entered as a guardian rather than a professor. Isla’s curly hair trembled with frustration. But Charles was unfazed, gesturing at the mana audio device with a look of curiosity.

“By the way, who sent this recording?”

All eyes turned to Professor Morax. Everyone was curious about the student who’d managed not only to cast the amplification magic for live listening but also to capture the voices as recorded proof within a magic sphere. Since only Professors Morax and Isla had gone to the training grounds, it was natural to wonder about the student who had set up such a complex spell.

Professor Morax shook his head. “…I don’t know.”

“Come on, can’t you tell us?”

“The mana had already dissipated when I arrived, so I couldn’t track the source.”

In truth, Professor Morax knew exactly who it was. When he’d arrived at the training grounds, the residual mana had clearly pointed in one direction.

Damian Draco.

It was remarkable. Though he’d undoubtedly studied magic thoroughly due to his family background, his ability to apply the magic appropriately in various situations was exceptional.

‘He’s clever.’

But it wasn’t just intelligence. Even though mana was steadily draining from him as if he were an overflowing fountain, he’d managed to execute the spells to near perfection. Of course, some of the magic was a bit clumsy in execution.

‘As if he were casting magic for the first time.’

Professor Morax observed his colleagues with a stoic expression, though a faint smile crossed his lips for a moment. No one noticed, however.

* * *

The following day, classes resumed as usual.

Just as each new day dawns, the next day always brings a new class.

Breaking free from the dreary life at the company, only to be faced with school life now… it was exhausting.

Today’s schedule had classes back-to-back until the fourth period, and I could already feel the fatigue settling in. Besides, I hadn’t fully recovered my mana yet.

Today, I had four subjects lined up: Magic Theory, Alchemy, Necromancy, and Defense Against Dark Magic. At least the last period was a self-study session, which was a small relief. If I managed my mana well, I thought I could probably make it until the second period… though I wasn’t sure. I decided to keep as still as possible.

But when I reached the classroom, I was met with a lively scene: students buzzing with excitement. It made sense, as the school’s magic newspaper had already reported on this:

**[Free Wizard Paper]**

Shocking! A noble girl’s inferiority complex revealed in continuous harassment of a fellow student…

…Including a list of names and recorded audio exclusively released by the Free Wizard Paper!

*List of Students Involved:*
– Plea Daus, Second Year
– Nago Fuss, Second Year
– Harriet, Second Year

For deliberately hiring students to lower morale, they have been assigned a punishment of 60 days of school service and 60 days of service in the slums…

I reached up and grabbed one of the newspapers that was floating in the air thanks to a flying spell. As I opened it, recorded voices played out.

‘They’re fast.’

The entire incident and punishment details from yesterday had been published in less than half a day, making it available for all students to see. Whatever process they used didn’t matter; what mattered was the result. If these details weren’t publicized, the Dows sisters might seek revenge in some other way.

It seemed the punishment was fair enough: 60 days of school service and 60 days of service in the slums.

Considering that Aethis valued equality, the act of a noble intentionally harassing others by bribing students was grounds for expulsion. So, while the punishment was relatively light, it was reasonable. Even the principal probably didn’t have much choice. Count Dows’ family had struck it rich after discovering a mana stone mine and would likely have leveraged their mana stones, which they supplied to Aethis.

One clear sign of Principal Wenemir’s frustration was the requirement of slum service. For nobles steeped in elitism, this was severe punishment indeed. They would have to work among shabby commoners and help repair old, crumbling buildings—a place often first hit by magical beasts. No matter how much mana was poured into repairs, the buildings would inevitably collapse again the next day, turning it into a waste of mana.

It was, quite literally, a “mana-draining” task.

Several noble students shuddered at the mere thought. So for those actually sentenced to the punishment… it must have felt like torture.

They deserved it.

I smirked, folded the paper, and released it back into the air. At that moment, Ian entered the classroom and naturally sat beside me. I glanced over at her, and she wore the most relaxed expression I’d seen on her yet. I was relieved.

As Ian arrived, students began sneaking glances at her and the Free Wizard Paper, whispering among themselves.

“Did you hear that Ian’s contracted spirit is actually a high-ranking one?”

“Really? I had no idea.”

“Even though she can’t manage it well now, she was ranked first last year.”

“I wonder if she’ll be able to manage it again.”

The gazes directed at Ian had a newfound sense of awe. Ian looked around the classroom as her name came up in conversations here and there, while students lowered their voices to avoid meeting her eyes.

“Anyway, I heard the bullying was all out of envy over spirit contracts.”

“No matter what, hiring students is a bit much.”

Of course, among those students, there were likely some who had been bribed by the Dows sisters. They just wouldn’t admit it or act like they knew anything.

At that moment, a question began to emerge among the students.

“By the way, how did Professor Morax arrive?”

“Right? He usually doesn’t care much about student matters.”

“I heard someone informed him using amplification magic so he could get here quickly?”

“…Who? A first-year?”

At those words, I felt a jolt of panic. I had put in so much effort to erase all traces of my mana. I had deliberately scattered the magic throughout the training ground to keep any one student from recognizing whose mana it was.

I hadn’t expected Professor Morax to show up.

But still…

‘Could it be that someone actually noticed?’

I listened intently to the conversation, hoping for the best.

“That is…”

“That is?”

I swallowed hard without realizing it. Aside from Professor Morax, there shouldn’t have been anyone who could have figured it out…

I strained my ears, waiting for the student to speak.

“…I don’t know either.”

…For some reason, I felt a swell of relief. Thankfully, it seemed no one had caught on. Just as I was letting out a sigh of relief internally, Tio came over and whispered softly in my ear.

“Everyone’s just talking about yesterday.”

“…Right.”

“They’re also curious about who informed the professors.”

“That’s something I’m curious about too.”

“……?”

Tio looked at me with a baffled expression.

…What exactly did he want to say?

As I shot him a cold glare, Tio lightly tapped my shoulder. Then, he leaned closer to Ian, whispering.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”