Is This a School or an Asylum? (4)

After enrolling at Hand, I tried to live a bit more comfortably.

There was an incident on the very first day of admission, but I didn't receive any damage from it at all.

Ever since Choi Sangbaek lowered his head to me, he had become very docile.

Classes like Magic Power Theory or the national curriculum subjects, which other kids struggled with, were quite manageable for me, and the special

training led by the magic power teachers was a piece of cake.

Just living for a week here made life feel worth living.

"Sumin-sunbae~ Where are you?"

That is, I only liked the school's system.

One major problem still remained.

That was the people around me.

"Sumin-sunbae, don't hide, come out already."

Just like Choi Sangbaek had been on the first day, every student here had a lot of issues.

Even when I first stepped into the training ground, the majority were fighting because their opinions didn't match.

Group B is better than Group A.

Dipping sauce is better than pouring sauce.

They'd even go so far as to insult each other's families and throw magic power-infused punches.

Considering there were a few hundred kids like this, the faculty could never have enough spines.

Therefore, it was school policy that students solve their problems amongst themselves.

That's why things like duels upon request and rankings existed.

"Come out while I'm still speaking nicely."

That's the reason I was in a duel right now.

When students have a problem with each other, they settle it with a duel. I was just acting according to that policy.

I strolled leisurely around the spacious training field.

To others, I might've looked like a kidnapper playing hide-and-seek with a pitiful child, but there was a good reason for my foul mood.

"You're so good at stealing food, so why do you run away like this?"

Park Sumin's sins were as follows.

He devoured the boiled egg in my naengmyeon without permission.

Some might say I'm petty over food, but anyone who's experienced this will understand how I feel.

He didn't pay for the meal, didn't ask for permission, and without any notice, stuck his spoon into someone else's food.

And what does he say about it?

Because we're friends?

"Friend, my ass. You're nothing but a damn thief."

Currently, I was the only one on the dueling field.

More accurately, I couldn't visually perceive my opponent.

That's because Park Sumin was desperately running away using his invisibility ability.

But the rules were, leaving the dueling field meant automatic loss, and since the match hadn't been decided yet, Sumin hadn't left.

"Sunbae, your rank was higher than I thought. No wonder you go around stealing people's stuff at will."

He was ranked 7th out of the entire student body, several hundred people.

He possessed a trait that allowed him to hide his presence and ambush opponents freely.

It was extremely useful in the mostly one-on-one duels between students.

But, such usefulness meant nothing before me.

"You're bowing your head as you approach from the left right now, aren't you?"

'...!!'

The moment I spoke, I sensed a faint presence waver to my left.

He could hide his presence, but if he lost his composure, it unraveled.

In short, he had lost his cool. I didn't even need to see what he'd do next.

Grab!

I suddenly reached out and grabbed behind me. I felt a sensation in the empty air.

Centered on my hand, Park Sumin, who had been hidden, was revealed.

He was kicking his legs in the air as I held him up by the neck.

Bang!

I slammed him to the ground and subdued him.

I put a bit of force into the slap, so the floor cracked with a loud noise.

At the same time, he groaned in pain.

Since he hadn't declared surrender, the match wasn't decided yet.

But he already looked utterly defeated.

"... You—can you see me?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

〈Soul Eyes〉

I possessed eyes that could see through anything.

Even if I couldn't sense presence, as long as I could perceive the other person's soul, I could catch them as much as I wanted.

The time for judgment had finally come.

"From now on, as long as you answer my questions properly, you'll be safe. Got it?"

"What are you going to ask?"

"It's simple. Tell me what you did wrong to me today."

"Well..."

Subdued, Park Sumin hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened his mouth.

"... Nothing much...?"

"Nothing?"

"Since we're friends, just one egg..."

"Oh? Friends? Then why don't you lend me some money? About a hundred thousand won would be fine."

"Are you crazy? That's my entire fortune right now!"

"What's the matter? Sharing a hundred thousand won is no big deal for friends, right?"

"Eek...!"

I'd just thrown out a number, but it seemed that he actually had that much.

Do kids these days all get that much pocket money?

"And one more thing."

"What is it?"

"There's something else you did wrong."

"...."

"You said you'd only borrow that gym uniform for three days, so why haven't you returned it yet?"

"Ah...!"

Realizing it too late, Park Sumin began to tremble like his whole body went numb.

Not only had he failed to return my gym uniform, he'd torn it and thrown it away.

Besides, with that hundred thousand won, he could buy about four replacement gym uniforms.

In other words, he could have returned it but chose not to.

"Friend... Just this once..."

"Friend? Frienddddd?"

"...."

These bastards really didn't get it, did they?

I channeled special magic power into my finger and poked him in the bellybutton.

At first, nothing happened, but after about ten seconds, the effect showed itself.

"What did you just—pffffh...!"

Park Sumin suddenly burst out laughing.

At first, he probably thought it was temporary, but soon the laughter became uncontrollable.

"Hahaha... Why am I... bwaaaaahahaha!!"

Now lying on the floor, Park Sumin began to laugh like crazy.

The unintentional laughter grew so intense that tears started spilling from his eyes.

"Ahahaha!! What... did you do... ahahahaha!!"

"I'll ask again. What did you do wrong?"

"Ahahahahahaha!! Please spare me!!"

"What did you do wrong?"

I never repeat myself.

Amidst waves of agonizing laughter, tears welled up ever more in his eyes.

Excessive laughter can paralyze the windpipe, making it hard to breathe.

Unable to withstand the incredible torment, Park Sumin finally opened his mouth.

"I was wrong! I'm really sorry for tearing your gym uniform! Ahahaha!!"

"More."

"For stealing your naengmyeon... I'm sorry I stole it!"

"It wasn't the naengmyeon though?"

"No... I'm sorry I stole your egg! I've committed a grave sin!"

"And how will you pay for it?"

This was the most important part.

If he didn't answer properly, I planned to leave him like this for about five hours.

"I, I'll buy you one! I'll definitely get you a new one!"

"And?"

"I'll buy you new naengmyeon too... So please, friend! Please release me already!"

"Friend?"

"No—hyungnim! I'm sorry! Hyungnim!! Please let me go!"

Finally, he gave an answer I liked.

People like this, who act like friends but mooch off others, only learn when they experience pain.

I dragged the hysterically laughing Park Sumin out of the field and tossed him away.

[Winner – Ma Seongjin]

A hologram appeared to announce the winner, and Park Sumin's laughter stopped.

"Huh... hah... hah... Th-thank you..."

Finally freed from his laughter fit, Park Sumin gasped for air like crazy.

Since it was suffering comparable to being submerged in the high-pressure deep sea, he truly wasn't exaggerating.

Of course, I'd adjusted my strength to avoid harming his life.

"If you ever bare your teeth at me again saying, 'Just one bite~', you're seriously dead. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

A second-year senior bowing and using honorifics to a first-year junior.

The students who witnessed it had their faces twisted in shock.

First it was Choi Sangbaek, now Park Sumin kneeling to a first-year.

And to a kid who'd only been at school for a week.

"From now on, I won't steal Seongjin hyungnim's food."

"Not just mine, but don't snatch from anyone else either. Right?"

"Huh?"

He looked genuinely surprised as if it was his first time hearing that.

Did he really plan to just avoid me and keep stealing from the others?

This wouldn't do.

"Listen up, everyone!"

I spoke to the students who had been watching the duel.

"Anyone who's been stolen from by this guy, raise your hand."

Almost 90% of the students shot their hands up.

Even though they were upperclassmen, none protested against me speaking informally.

I was in complete control.

"If this guy tries the 'just one bite' thing again, come straight to me and report it. I'll do to him exactly what I did today, every single time."

"Eek!"

At that overwhelming declaration, Park Sumin shrank and trembled again.

Of the hundreds of students, only about 10 were true elites.

No one dared to challenge me—not after I'd defeated two students ranked in the top 10.

Except, perhaps, for another top 10 member.

"What are you doing to Sumin?"

At that moment, someone shouted and the crowd parted like goldfish.

A girl stood there. She wasn't just an ordinary girl—attached to her back were butterfly wings, and her skin was as white as jade: a Mutamit.

Other girls accompanied her.

"Sumin, are you okay?"

"Chohyang...!"

Chohyang? I ran a background search on the Hand app to see who that even was.

--------------------

Name – Sung Chohyang

Gender – Female

Middle School 2, 2nd Year

Special Notes – Fairy-type Mutamit, possesses the trait of fabricating anything

--------------------

That was the gist of what came up about her.

It seemed she was quite close with Park Sumin.

"I'm really sorry! I should've shown a cooler side in front of you!"

What? In front of you?

"What are you talking about? My darling didn't do anything wrong! I actually found your laugh cute."

Wha... What's cute about that?

What am I even witnessing?

"As I expected, you're the only one for me in my life."

"Hehe, me too~"

Ah, suddenly my head hurt.

A scene more nauseating than I ever imagined was unfolding right before my eyes.

Ever since Mewzealand, displays of affection between boys and girls had been a trauma for me.

The bibim-naengmyeon I just ate threatened to come back up my throat.

"Don't tell me... Are you two a couple?"

I said to the two seniors flirting in front of me.

My nerves were already on edge.

"That's right! No one can come between us!"

"...."

"You dared to bully my darling?"

Just as I thought.

Even though this wasn't college, just middle schoolers already acting like this made my stomach turn.

And then...

Chew chew chew—

The two girls accompanying Sung Chohyang were gnawing on chicken skewers.

They glared at me while chewing messily.

Chew chew chew—

"You'd better be ready for today!"

Chew chew chew—

The gross sound of meat being chewed mixed with their flirtation.

Everything I hated swirled together, waltzing before my eyes.

Faced with such a ridiculous scene, I made up my mind.

Starting today, I would commence a thorough cleanup of Middle School 2.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Yes, clean them up!

Bullies everywhere!

Also, if you think about it, tickling is one of the worst torture you can ever experience...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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