A secret research club formed by Jake and six other troublemakers. Most were repeat failures with no dreams or passion—except Jake, who clung to his family’s wealth.
Once, they had been promising talents.
Like all defeats, theirs didn’t have to be permanent. With courage, they could have risen again.
But they chose to quit instead.
In the ruthless competition of magic academia, they were the only true losers.
"No. This... this is wrong."
Jake denied his defeat.
Losing to Amy was one thing, but to a freshman who hadn’t even learned magic? Impossible.
’Just bad luck. He’s just unusually resistant to anti-magic, that’s all.’
Too agitated to grasp the significance, Jake’s Spirit Zone flared—a star-shaped offensive formation.
It felt like hundreds of archers had drawn their bows on him.
’What do I do? I haven’t learned any spells yet.’
In a Spirit Zone battle, he could hold his own. But in actual magic combat? He was helpless.
"Heh. Finally realizing how screwed you are?"
Jake narrowed his palms, and the air twisted into spinning discs—Wind Cutters, sharp enough to slice logs.
"Let me show you the price of crossing— GACK!"
Before he could finish, Amy’s fist smashed into his jaw from the side.
Even sensing her approach through his Spirit Zone, he couldn’t react in time.
Her eyes burned crimson.
She struck again, flipping him onto his back.
Mages were fragile to physical blows—especially ones infused with Schema energy.
Straddling Jake, Amy rained down punches like a storm.
Each hit carried the force of a falling boulder.
As his groans weakened, Shirone grabbed her arm in alarm.
"Senior! Stop! You’ll kill him!"
"Let go! This bastard thought he could mess with me!"
Shirone wrapped his arms around her waist, heaving with all his strength.
Even with his full weight, Amy barely budged—until he shoved off the ground, finally dragging her off Jake.
Panting, she slumped against Shirone, unresponsive for a moment.
Their heartbeats echoed against each other.
’What kind of person is she, really?’
Shirone still didn’t understand her.
But one thing was clear—she hadn’t come here just for him.
"Senior, because of me..."
"Ahhh! That felt good!"
Amy sprang up suddenly—her elbow jabbing Shirone’s stomach.
"Pfft. Weakling. How are you gonna fight like that? Get up."
Rubbing his sore abdomen, Shirone glared indignantly—until Amy offered a hand.
Had Siana been here, she’d have been stunned. Amy never praised anyone.
Smiling, Shirone took her hand and stood, surveying the aftermath.
Black Magician’s members were unconscious. Jake trembled on the ground, battered and bruised.
"We bury it. They won’t try this again."
The rules they’d broken warranted at least suspension—if not expulsion.
"But Senior Siana would’ve reported it. I asked her to."
"What?! Why’d you do that? If this gets out, we’re screwed too!"
"We had no choice. You thought the same—that’s why you asked Senior Siana for help, right?"
"Fine. The meeting spot changed, so they won’t get here fast. We’ll just lie our way out."
Shirone was surprised.
Amy was the top-ranked honor student—but in reality, she was hot-blooded and reckless.
"Are you sure? This is serious. Even ignoring the secrecy, it’s too big to cover up."
Assault. Anti-magic. Either alone was grounds for severe punishment.
"Making a fuss won’t help. Trust me, once the school gets involved, it’s a nightmare."
She glanced at the fallen students.
"Honestly... I used to be like them. Just kids punching and getting punched. No big deal."
It was true. Another student might’ve been traumatized.
"Not that I was ever as pathetic as them, of course. Let’s go."
Jake leaned against a tree, standing unsteadily.
"You think this is over? Hardly. It’s just beginning. Go on—kill me. Try."
Amy sighed, resting a hand on her hip.
"You’re disgusting. Can’t even stand straight, yet you’re still talking? You like getting hit, freak?"
Jake’s laughter was manic.
He’d lost the fight, but in reality? He was untouchable.
Money moved the world. Wasn’t that why these fools studied so desperately?
"You’re finished. Admit it—you can’t kill me. But you should. Because as long as I’m alive, you’ll never graduate. I’ll ruin you—by any means necessary!"
Shirone grimaced at his persistence, but Amy remained unfazed.
"Kill you? Why bother? My life’s too bright to waste on trash like you. But remember this—I can beat you senseless whenever I want."
Jake flinched. His body remembered the pain, even if his pride refused to.
"...Y-you think I’m scared?"
"Who said that? You’re still standing, so you’re still asking for it. I just like hitting you."
Just as her fist connected—
A sharp sound split the air.
Amy didn’t need to. She recognized it instantly—spatial teleportation.
A streak of light arced down from the sky, landing beside them.
Siana’s voice rang out, followed by two teachers.
Amy’s hope vanished the moment she saw them.
Siana the Frost and Sade the Flame.
Alongside Ethela, they were the youngest faculty—and the hardest to fool.
Siana rushed over, eyes glistening.
"Amy! Are you hurt? What happened?"
"I’m fine. Did you really think I’d lose to these clowns?"
Ever observant, Siana noticed Amy’s slightly singed bangs.
"Your hair—are you sure you’re okay?"
"Ugh! It’s nothing. Why’d you get here so fast? It’s only 7."
"What do you mean? We’ve been searching forever! Without the teachers, we’d still be lost."
As dusk fell, Sade summoned a Fire Sun, illuminating the area like a miniature star.
’So that’s high-tier flame magic...’
Maintaining a stationary fireball was far harder than it looked.
While Shirone marveled, Sade grabbed Amy’s shoulders, distraught.
"Amy! What were you thinking? A brilliant girl like you—how could you do something so foolish?!"
Sade had a soft spot for women—especially top-ranked beauties like Amy.
Disgusted by his favoritism, Siana turned to Shirone instead.
Before he could stammer further, Jake intervened.
The teachers blinked as the instigator stepped forward.
’They’re hiding something.’
Punishment didn’t scare him.
The school would never risk losing the Ardius family’s annual donations.
What mattered was the conversation he’d overheard while lying battered on the ground.
’They’re avoiding the teachers for a reason. Something they can’t afford to expose.’
There was more to this than just covering up a fight.
The fact that they were even trying to cover up a violent incident suggested this was no ordinary secret.
Having made his decision, Jake spoke up.
Jake:"Let me be honest. I was the one who called Amy here. Her skills were so far above ours that we had no choice but to use Anti-Magic. But I still believe it was a fair fight. Old grudges piled up until it became a battle of pride—you know how it is. Besides, as you can see, we’re the ones who got seriously hurt."
Siana narrowed her eyes.
Siana:"You expect me to believe that? And ’Anti-Magic’? You broke the academy’s most critical rule."
Jake:"I’m not saying what we did was right. But this wasn’t some premeditated abduction or imprisonment. If Amy was truly the victim, why didn’t she report it immediately? They’re hiding something too—that’s why they wanted this swept under the rug."
Amy shouted, fists trembling.
Amy:"What nonsense! What exactly are we hiding? You threatened to kidnap Shirone!"
Jake:"Did we actually kidnap her? Even Shirone didn’t report it and came straight here. What does that tell you?"
Amy:"Y-You bastard...!"
She couldn’t refute it. To an outsider, Shirone’s silence was suspicious.
Jake grinned inwardly.
’This is just the beginning. Once their secret’s exposed, I’ll dig deeper—no matter the cost. By the time I’m done, they won’t dare show their faces here again.’
Black Magicians always played dirty, but this time, he’d escalate it further.
’I’ll leak this to the local press, royal bureaus, even high society. Your family’s reputation won’t survive.’
The thought alone thrilled him.
Behold—this is how adults fight.
The world rewarded the ruthless.
’Heh. Enjoy hell, Amy. Even if I go down, I’m taking you with me.’
Siana stepped forward, her voice icy.
Siana:"Don’t get cocky, Jake."