The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character

The high-grade fire-attribute magic bomb—retail price: ten million U credits (pre-tax, of course)—was now armed, enhanced, and ready.

With a flick of my wrist, I lobbed it toward the charging Beetle.

"Move!" Leo barked.

We dove back, and the heavy doors slammed shut just as the bomb detonated on the other side.

BOOOOOOM—!!!!!!!

A muffled explosion rocked the earth, heat blooming through the gaps.

And for the first time since entering this cursed room, everyone was silent—waiting to see if we'd just pulled off the impossible.

But I know better one explosive bomb was not enough but what if I have 20?

....and they're all enhanced with my talent?

That change the things.

I took second bomb and activated my talent and at the same time I looked towards Leo.

Leo's eyes met mine.

No words passed between us—but in that split second, I could tell.

He understood.

There was no hesitation in his nod. Just trust. And that was all I needed.

I pulled out the second bomb. The faint runes etched into its casing shimmered the moment I channeled my ability into it. A thin golden aura wrapped around the device like it had found its true potential.

Behind us, the ground was still trembling from the first blast. Smoke leaked from the cracks in the door, and the thick stench of scorched bark and burning mana filled the air.

The monster had taken damage.

But it wasn't dead.

The thunderous pounding of its steps resumed. Slower now. Angrier.

It was pissed.

"Trent! Mira!" Leo barked. "You two cover the sides! Violet, be ready with the barrier—anything to slow it down when that door opens!"

"W-What?! It's still alive?!" Trent sputtered, face pale.

"Obviously," I said, flicking the primed bomb into my hand like I was tossing a coin. "That first one? That was just me knocking."

Leo smirked. "Let's make sure we kick the door down this time."

He turned to Violet. "Can you hold a barrier for three seconds after the door opens?"

"…Three seconds?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Just three," he repeated.

Violet clenched her teeth and nodded. "I can try."

The chamber buzzed with tension. Everyone was still afraid—but the mood had shifted.

Now there was something else in the air.

A sliver of hope.

I pulled another bomb from my pouch. Then another. And another.

One by one, they began to glow as I enhanced them, each one humming with barely restrained power.

"Y-You have more?!" the healer gasped.

"Twenty in total," I said calmly. "Each one enhanced with my talent. Enough to erase a small village."

"Wait, what the hell is your allowance?!"

"Don't worry about it," I said, already activating the fourth.

Leo took a breath and moved beside me. "What's the plan?"

I looked at the door. The Beetle was already ramming into it, shaking it with every hit.

"It's injured. Slower. Probably focused on the door now, not expecting us to keep fighting."

Leo nodded. "So we bait it?"

"Exactly. I'll throw the bombs in waves. We open the door just wide enough, just long enough, for the blast radius to reach it. Violet's barrier keeps it from charging through."

"And if that doesn't work?"

I grinned.

"Then I throw all of them in at once."

Leo chuckled. "Reckless bastard."

"Guilty."

Another bang—this time louder.

A dent appeared in the thick metal door. The Beetle was getting through.

Time was running out.

"Get ready!" Leo shouted. "First wave—on my signal!"

I handed the first four bombs to him. "You throw them. I'll time the enhancements."

He raised his eyebrows. "You trust my aim?"

"I trust you more than I trust Trent."

"Fair."

We took positions.

"Violet," Leo called. "Barrier ready?"

"…Ready," she whispered, magic swirling around her fingertips.

"Now!"

The doors creaked open.

Just a sliver—but it was enough.

The moment Leo hurled the bombs through, I surged my mana through them mid-air. Golden pulses expanded like wings as each one lit up the chamber.

Violet's barrier snapped into place—thin, but strong.

The Beetle roared, its voice shaking our bones.

Then—

BOOOOM! BOOOOOOOOOM! BOOOOM!

The air exploded.

Heat rushed through the barrier, washing over us.

Dust. Flames. Debris.

When the smoke cleared, the doors were blown off their hinges. The ground was scorched black. A third of the chamber was cratered.

And the Beetle?

Still alive.

Barely.

Its obsidian shell was cracked, one horn shattered, green mana leaking like blood. It staggered forward, groaning, but it wasn't roaring anymore.

It was limping.

Everyone was stunned silent.

"…We—we actually hurt it?" Mira whispered.

Leo gritted his teeth. "It's not over."

The Beetle reared up with a furious shriek, dragging its broken body toward us.

I stepped forward with the rest of the bombs hovering around me, each one glowing brighter than the last.

"No," I said. "Now it's over."

I looked at Leo.

He gave me the nod.

"Let's finish this."

I tossed the fifth bomb.

It arced through the air with a soft shimmer, the enhancement taking hold mid-flight. The moment it left my hand, the rune-light swelled with golden brilliance—like tossing a miniature sun at death itself.

BOOM!!!

Another tremor shook the dungeon floor. The door rattled against its hinges, and a plume of smoke hissed through the cracks.

I didn't stop.

Not even close.

"Heh…"

A grin tugged at my lips.

Then another bomb.

And another.

Click—activate—toss.

Click—enhance—toss.

Again and again.

BOOM!!

BOOM!!

BOOOOOOM!!!

The explosions overlapped, thunderous and earth-shattering. Inside that chamber, that beetle must've been spinning in circles by now—confused, blinded, roasted alive in my barrage.

And I?

I laughed.

"Hahahahahaha! YES! YES—THAT'S IT!"

Not just a chuckle. Not the polite academy kind, either.

A full-blown, unhinged laugh tore out of my throat.

"Ahahahaha!! Yes!! Burn, you overgrown cockroach! You want to scare us?! You want to roar at me?! THEN CHOKE ON THESE BOMBS, YOU SHINY-FACED BASTARD!"

The others were staring.

Wide-eyed. Mouths slightly open. Like I'd just grown two heads.

I saw Violet freeze mid-step. Mira took a half-step back, like she wasn't sure if I was more dangerous than the monster. Even Leo's expression twitched—just slightly.

But Trent?

Trent paled like the blood had left his body. His mouth moved silently, mouthing words I couldn't hear.

I knew that look.

I didn't even have to guess.

He was remembering our little wager from yesterday.

Oh, Trent.

You poor, unfortunate bastard.

Now he realized.

Now he remembered.

I wasn't bluffing.

Not even close.

"What… what is he?" he whispered, staggering back.

I tossed another bomb over my shoulder like I was handing out party favors. "You feeling the heat yet, big guy? You like fireworks? I've got eleven more—and I'm just warming up!!"

BOOOOOM!!!

The entire door bent inward slightly.

A flicker of heat burst through the cracks, washing over us like an oven. Everyone ducked, shielding their faces.

I stood in the middle of it, wind whipping my hair back, arms spread wide like I was standing at the center of a divine ritual.

Because that's what this was.

Not just a fight.

A message.

Don't mess with me.

You bring a monster?

I bring chaos.

And with every bomb I hurled, every echoing explosion, I laughed harder.

Louder.

Because for once, they weren't underestimating me.

For once, they weren't looking at Leo.

They were looking at me.

And they were scared.