I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!-Chapter 233: The Time Where the Villain Shines(5)

"Are you saying that the method of casting magic through Magic Circles is faulty?" Althea questioned, her voice rising slightly the instant Adlet finished speaking, not even allowing the teacher a moment to interject.

Isolde turned toward Althea, clearly surprised by the sudden outburst.

Althea was usually calm, obedient and composed during class, rarely speaking out of turn, especially in front of a teacher. Still, it wasn’t difficult for Isolde to understand the reason behind her reaction.

Adlet’s earlier statements were, after all, directly implying that for those who practiced magic through Magic Circles, investing time and effort into learning or mastering Mana Control was practically meaningless.

According to his prior reasoning, Mana Control played no truly significant role in their spellcasting at all.

Even Isolde found Adlet’s statements to be particularly targeted toward a specific method of casting magic, one that could easily provoke many mages, especially elemental ones.

His examples had directly involved the most fundamental elements and the most basic spells, making his claims feel uncomfortably personal since those were the first spells taught to nearly every single mage in the world.

However, Isolde herself did not use Elemental Magic.

Instead, she relied on her Bloodline Magic, which required no clearly defined casting method from an outsider’s perspective beyond that of a Mage. Because of that, she could observe the discussion with a certain detachment.

From her standpoint, Adlet’s arguments were not entirely wrong, and that was precisely why she listened to every word with careful attention.

’Even though he acts like a high-and-mighty madman most of the time, he does have an uncanny way of answering things’, Isolde thought, recalling how Adlet had accurately guessed Teacher Flakey’s supernatural ability during the previous day’s class.

Moments like that made it difficult to dismiss him entirely as a fool.

Althea, meanwhile, continued to stare at Adlet, waiting for his reply. There was no way she would allow a madman to casually slander or defame a well-established path of magic.

The method of spellcasting through Magic Circles had been created by the First Mage herself the most perfect path to cast magic after the Fall of the Ancient Era, refined and researched for over a hundred years by the Magic Tower.

No matter what, she would not let someone casually pick it apart and condemn such a legacy.

Althea’s face scrunched up when she noticed that Adlet had no intention of answering her question. Her fingers curled inward, fists clenching tightly as irritation bubbled to the surface.

"You—"

"Student Althea, it seems you are forgetting that I am still present in this class," Frederick said sharply, cutting her off before she could continue. His cold glare settled on her, leaving no room for argument.

Althea flinched under the weight of the teacher’s gaze, then immediately straightened herself. "I apologize for my misconduct, Teacher," she said, regaining her composure.

Frederick’s expression relaxed slightly as he spoke again. "It is good to have a strong desire to learn," he said calmly, "but make sure you do not become loose-tongued in class."

When he emphasized loose-tongued, Frederick’s eyes briefly shifted toward Adlet.

Ashok simply ignored the old man’s sharp jab, recognizing it for what it was: a warning for him disguised as guidance for other students.

"Ahem," Althea coughed softly before rephrasing herself. "Teacher, I believe Adlet’s answers are completely incorrect. Mana Control does play a decisive role during the casting of magic."

Frederick gave a slow nod. Then, turning his gaze toward Adlet once more, he asked, "What do you have to say regarding Student Althea’s claim?"Top of FormBottom of Form

Adlet remained silent for a few seconds before finally speaking. "A meaningless question. A complete waste of time, utterly stupid, and only an idiot would ask something like thi—"

"Enough!" Frederick shouted, his voice cutting through the room like a crack of thunder.

Isolde could feel the mana around Althea flare violently, sharp and unstable, as if she were on the verge of erupting into open battle. Althea’s fist clenched the hem of her clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned pale, the strain of suppressing her anger clearly visible.

"Did I ask for your answer or judgment?" Frederick demanded, glaring at Adlet. "Did I not warn you not to speak out of line? Or are you so eager to have your lips sealed together for the rest of the academic year or do you want become a mute permanently for life?"

"Teacher, your question was about what was wrong with the goals of the Wyrd Academy students, and specifically about achieving a breakthrough in Elemental Magic through Mana Control," Adlet said calmly, his voice steady despite the tension. "I have already answered both of your questions clearly."

"Then why should I be expected to answer a student’s meaningless counterquestion simply because they are dissatisfied with my response?" he continued without hesitation. "This is not a discussion hall or some kind of debate where we will fight ’For’ or ’Against’,

Nor is it my responsibility to go around correcting every misunderstanding just because someone finds my explanation inconvenient or flawed."

"It is also not my duty to accommodate every idiot’s misconception when they fail to accept an answer that does not align with their own beliefs."

"Teacher, if you believe my answer is wrong, then point out exactly where I am mistaken," Ashok said evenly. "I will address that. Anything beyond it would be unnecessary."

As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly and smirked at Althea ¬‿¬ before deliberately turning his face away, as if her reaction no longer concerned him.

SNAP!

SNAP!

Althea’s fist lifted instinctively before stopping midway. She drew in long, controlled breaths, forcing herself to regain composure. Suppressing the overwhelming urge to smack that infuriating grin off his face took every ounce of restraint she had. Her expression twisted with barely contained fury. ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

’Calm down. Calm down. This is just his way of provoking me, trying to make me lose my composure in front of the teacher’, Althea told herself.

Even so, controlling her anger proved far more difficult than she expected. The irritation kept simmering, refusing to fade no matter how hard she tried to suppress it.

Isolde watched her in silence. Althea’s face had flushed a faint red, and her hands were pale from how tightly she was clenching them.

She looked ready to erupt at any moment, like a volcano barely held back from exploding.

Isolde still couldn’t understand what Adlet’s problem was. From his speech patterns to his overall behavior, nothing about him felt like that of a normal classmate.

It was as if he harbored some deep, undefined hostility—not toward any specific person like herself or Althea, but toward the entire class. No matter the situation, he seemed determined to position himself as a natural enemy to everyone around him.

Even now, Adlet’s words conveyed only one thing: he would answer only the teacher. Any question asked by anyone else was, in his eyes, entirely meaningless.

And as if that attitude wasn’t infuriating enough, he had effectively called Althea an idiot—Althea, the prodigy of the Magic Tower, a name revered among aspiring mages. To dismiss someone of her standing so casually was not just arrogance; it was an outright provocation.

’He’d better have some kind of backing’, Isolde thought grimly. ’If he keeps provoking prospects tied to the Imperial Palace, the Magic Tower, and even the Ducal Houses, then either someone powerful is protecting him... or he’s nothing more than a death seeker’.

Meanwhile, Frederick suppressed a rising chuckle. Is badmouthing others a new way of creating competition? he mused. If so, this brat might truly be trying to open a new era. The sheer shamelessness of it amused him.

To think someone would dare pull such a crude move in the middle of a class, even dragging the teacher into it, was almost impressive in its own twisted way.

’New era or not, at this rate he’ll destroy any sense of cooperative study in this class’, Frederick thought. No matter how much of a genius or prodigy someone is, knowledge cannot reside within a single student alone. And as a teacher, I can’t simply ignore that.

With that in mind, he spoke aloud, "Student Althea, why do you believe Mana Control is essential in the casting of magic?"

’Hah! So the old crook is deliberately instigating a clash now?’ Ashok thought.

Frederick could have easily ended the discussion right there and started the class, but instead he chose this path.

Since Ashok had declared he would only answer the teacher’s questions, Frederick was clearly planning to hear Althea’s perspective first and then throw it back at him.

’This old man didn’t come here today to teach anything’, Ashok mused as he glanced at his watch. ’He came here to enjoy himself.’

There were still thirty minutes left before the class ended.

’The teacher is a madman too’, Isolde thought as she let out a quiet sigh. She had already guessed what Frederick was planning, and the realization left her more tired than surprised.

Althea might have seen through it as well under normal circumstances, but in her current state of anger, she perceived it differently. To her, this was nothing but an opportunity.

’This is my chance’, Althea thought, briefly shooting a sharp glare at Adlet. ’Now I’ll show you who the real idiot is. I’m sure the teacher is on my side. Even he wants to put this man in his place. For someone who has half baked knowledge in the World of Magic, I will now prove what I have studied in all this time in the Tower’.