Chapter 128: Chapter 123: God Will Never Intervene!
I couldn't help it.
It might have been reckless, but anyone could see the moves Yamamoto was making.
His involvement with the Student Council was intense, and he was suspiciously in touch with the leaders of the other classes. He held too much power.
Don't get me wrong.
I have no intention of going against him. While I've never been particularly intimidated by class leaders like Horikita, Hirata, or Kushida—exceptional though they are—Yamamoto is different.
He shouldn't be allowed to attend this school.
I know it's an absurd thought.
But it's not fair.
You can't place a wolf among sheep without expecting chaos.
That's why I need to ensure I'm not destroyed at his whim.
I, Matsushita Chiaki, would never accept such an outcome.
What does he want? Does Class D have a future in his hands? Will he keep expelling students he finds annoying?
Too many questions and too little information about his true personality. His demeanor in the first few months was clearly a facade.
Thoughts like these swirled as I discreetly followed him. My heart pounded as he led the Class C delinquents to the abandoned building.
Maybe this is my chance? If they try something, I can help Yamamoto and gain his favor. Even if nothing happens, I can use the information later.
But why the abandoned building? From the looks of it, a fight was inevitable. It was as if the school had this place specifically for resolving conflicts.
An absurd thought, but not for a school where students can expel each other with private points.
Letting out a sigh, I continued tailing them. Hiding behind a wall, I whipped out my phone and started recording. I couldn't hear the conversation clearly, but Ibuki's voice rose several times.
Finally—
"Huh— Wait!"
Ibuki's voice echoed, and moments later, she charged at Yamamoto.
Was this a duel between Ibuki and Yamamoto? It didn't seem like Ryuen and his underlings were going to join the fight. A pity—it could have been good blackmail material.
We would have a trump card against Class C.
Watching the fight, it was unsurprising that Yamamoto won. Despite knowing nothing about martial arts, I was sure Ibuki stood no chance. His physique was too well-crafted, a pure athletic body.
Perhaps the only one who could challenge him was the humongous guy from Ryuen's group. Why does he even follow Ryuen? Couldn't he beat him easily? Sometimes, I just can't understand these boys.
But jokes aside, Ryuen must have some hold over him—blackmail or something else. No one is content with being a servant.
Then something surprising happened.
Clang! Thud!
Chills ran down my spine.
Yamamoto slammed his foot onto Ibuki's face—an extremely humiliating move. But what shook me was Ryuen brutally smashing a metal pipe against Yamamoto's head.
Blood dripped down his face.
My hand trembled as I was about to rush in. No matter what, Yamamoto was the leader of Class D. Without him, our chances of reaching Class A were slim.
But my body froze as Yamamoto turned around with a smile. He and Ryuen seemed to be talking, but Ryuen's unease was palpable.
A blow like that should've knocked him out.
Yet what happened next, I'll never forget.
Yamamoto easily defeated Ryuen's gang. Surprising, but not completely unexpected. Fear gripped me as he knocked everyone out and woke the unconscious Ryuen.
I couldn't hear their conversation, but it must have been unpleasant—Yamamoto slammed Ryuen's head against the ground repeatedly. Ryuen kept smiling, but then...
Snap!
I couldn't believe my eyes.
Flames erupted behind Yamamoto in the shape of spheres. Not just one, but several. For a second, I thought I was hallucinating.
Or rather, I wanted to believe I was.
But my hopes were shattered as I saw Ryuen being burned alive. The sounds of his skin sizzling and the smell of burnt flesh...
It was real.
I wanted to run away. I didn't want to hear Ryuen's anguished howling or see Yamamoto's devilish smile. I didn't want to smell the burnt flesh.
I... I... I...
I wanted to leave.
Tears streamed down my face as I trembled in fear. I turned off the camera and slid down the wall, clamping my hands over my ears. But Ryuen's screams never stopped echoing.
I didn't know how much time passed, but it was more than an hour.
Ryuen had long stopped screaming. I don't know why, but I was sure—whether he was screaming, begging for mercy, or crying—Yamamoto never stopped.
Like a cruel demon, he continued burning him alive.
Hell on Earth.
Yamamoto was Hell on Earth.
I tried to make no sound. I didn't care if Ryuen or his underlings died.
I just wanted to leave.
But my legs wouldn't listen. Or maybe it was instinct. My body knew the moment I moved, I'd be killed.
I'd suffer the same fate as Ryuen.
Yamamoto would find me and burn me alive. He'd heal me and burn me again.
Again and again and again and again.
...
Silence.
That was all I knew.
My body had grown numb.
Was Ryuen dead?
Were the rest of Class C killed too?
I didn't know.
Like a statue, I remained frozen.
My pride, my excellence... What did they matter in front of the Devil?
I could only pray.
Pray to God that I could escape.
If the Devil exists, then...
God should too, right?
My heart pounded as I sobbed silently. A shadow loomed over me. My eyes were closed, but I could see it.
I could see his smile.
I could sense the Devil staring down at me.
My heart was already numb from fear.
All I could do was pray and hope.
Hope.
God... Where are you?
A soft sensation enveloped my cheeks. I was forced to open my eyes.
Yamamoto stared at me with a soft, gentle smile, befitting an angel while cupping my cheeks.
"No one will save you."
His voice echoed in my ears.
...
That day, I lost all hope.