Year 1 Class D's classroom was engulfed in a curtain of smoke conjured by magic.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, the perpetrator behind it all—the Third Prince Rodele—cried out.
"What is this?!"
"S-Smoke all of a sudden...?!"
"Could it be an enemy?!"
A small man whose name Rest didn't even know raised his voice in panic, while a large man—Dora kept gripping a female student's hand as he stood guard, scanning their surroundings.
Amid the chaos of these three different reactions, Rest crouched low and dashed through the interior of the smoke screen.
([Presence Detection]. [Substance Detection]) He activated magic to sharpen his senses.
Even with his vision sealed off by magic, he could perceive exactly what was where inside the classroom as clearly as if holding it in his hand—like a bat using ultrasound to map its surroundings.
"Hah!"
"Guh...?!"
A high kick launched from his low stance.
The blow, delivered almost from directly below, caught Dora's jaw from underneath and sent his large frame slightly airborne.
Dora may have looked like a fighter based on his build... but it seemed his actual combat experience wasn't all that extensive.
"Ah..."
The female student's hand was freed.
She was bewildered within the smoke, looking around frantically.
"Squat down on the floor and protect your head. Stay close to the man."
"You're..."
"Just do it—hurry!"
Whispering into the female student's ear, she quickly crouched beside her fallen boyfriend.
While shielding her head with one arm and pressing close to him as if embracing him, she cast healing magic on him.
"I don't know who you are, but this insolence directed at me is absolutely unforgivable!"
Rodele roared, extending his right hand forward.
He was about to fire magic toward the direction of their conversation, which he'd faintly heard.
[Restraining] "Hyah?!"
Rest cast yet another spell.
A mana rope extended, binding the small lackey and pulling him right in front of Rest.
[Flame Cannon!]
"Aaaagghhhhhhhh!?!"
A fierce blast of fire erupted from Rodele's hand.
The lackey's body, used as a shield, was engulfed in flames as screams echoed through the room.
"Wait—that voice... Could it be Tony?!"
Rodele let out a cry of surprise.
It seemed this small man's name was Tony.
"...Guheh... eh..."
Tony lay on the ground, wisps of smoke rising from his body.
Rest had, of course, cast healing magic on him—he couldn't exactly afford to produce a corpse inside the academy.
"Damn it... Who are you?! Did you do this knowing I am Prince Rodele of Aiwood?!"
Rodele shouted at the curtain of smoke before him.
Honestly, Rest couldn't care less who this man was.
(Why should I respect someone who only uses his authority and magical talent to bully the weak...?!)
From within the smoke, Rest threw a fist toward Rodele.
"Guhaa...!"
The fist buried itself in Rodele's face.
In the moment Rodele flinched, Rest swept his legs out from under him, knocked him to the ground, and pinned him face-down.
"You insolent—"
[Thunder Palm] He was probably about to scream something like "insolent wretch."
Still holding him down, Rest unleashed an electric shock.
With a sharp crackling sound like a stun gun had been fired, Rodele's body twitched several times before going still.
(Might actually be better for the world if I just killed him right here...)
Rest knew that wouldn't end well, though.
Up to this point, he could justify it as suppressing violent behavior, but anything further would be problematic.
(No matter what a once-in-a-century idiot prince he might be, killing royalty is still a problem... Guess he got lucky.)
It could even cause trouble for House Rosemary.
Rest quietly opened the classroom window and leaped outside.
Wind rushed into the room, scattering the magical smoke screen.
He'd leave whatever came next to the teachers... Rest made sure to avoid being seen by anyone as he slipped away from the scene.