Academy – Provocation

-Uuung.

A blue blade shimmered along Jade’s sword.

“What the hell…?”

Boris stared in astonishment, his jaw slack.

The unstable yet unmistakable form of aura coalesced on the blade. He’d even seen mana being drawn toward Jade moments earlier.

“Were you hiding your talent? But even so, that phenomenon just now…”

“No. But after seeing Rena’s mo- no, the video, I felt something awaken inside me.”

“Ha, you see something new every day.”

Boris stared at Jade with disbelief for a long moment.

After collecting himself, Boris suddenly brimmed with enthusiasm.

“Good. This gives us hope against even a 5-Star Mage.”

“R-really?”

“I’ll devise a way to win. It’d be best if you fully reach the 5-Star realm.”

The sounds of Jade swinging his sword and Boris correcting his form continued echoing across the training ground.

**

“It’s really happening… This is insane…”

“I’m so jealous of Doran.”

“Now she’s officially become a whore with no way out.”

Students buzzed excitedly while staring at the front of the classroom.

Their eyes were fixed on Doran, who sat casually in a chair he’d brought forward.

“See this?”

Doran fluttered a single sheet of paper for all to see.

“A contract. Stating Rena here will serve as my slave forever.”

Below him, Rena pressed her forehead against his feet.

She diligently sucked each of his toes.

“Slurp, Ughk… Schlurp!”

From big toe to pinky, she took each into her mouth, swirling her tongue to clean them.

“Rena, stand up. You should say your final words to your friends.”

“Schlup… Yes, Master.”

Wiping drool from her lips at Doran’s command, Rena rose and began her farewell before the class.

“…Thank you all for everything. I’ll be leaving the academy today. Master has shown me true happiness.”

Rena beamed brightly.

“From now on, I’ll live as Doran-nim’s exclusive bitch forever♡”

“Haha! Well said. Now let’s finalize the contrac-”

-BANG!

“Doran!”

Jade kicked the classroom door open. Every eye instantly snapped toward him.

“…Jade? What’s this about?”

Doran faltered momentarily before grinning at the intruder.

“Did you want someth- Never mind. Did you enjoy yesterday’s gift? Thought you’d appreciate it.”

“…”

Jade recalled Rena’s recorded screams as Doran violated her – vivid memories of her struggles before ultimate submission.

Rage boiled anew in his veins.

‘You son of a bitch…’

He wanted to rush forward and kill Doran immediately.

But he clenched his teeth. Attacking now would change nothing.

Jade closed his eyes briefly, calming his fury.

“Huuu…”

Straightening his back, he strode confidently toward Doran.

“Doran. I challenge you to a duel.”

“Why would I… What?”

“…Eh?”

Doran genuinely staggered at the unexpected declaration. Beside him, Rena gaped at Jade in shock.

“Have you lost your mind? You’re challenging me?”

“Yes. My terms: if I win, you free Rena. Then leave this place permanently without laying a finger on us.”

“Jade, what are you- Ughk?!”

Rena tried intervening, but Doran’s hand clamped over her mouth.

“Shh, quiet now. Fine, but what do I gain from winning?”

Jade presented his prepared offer.

“If I lose… I become your eternal slave. A useful tool you can exploit endlessly.”

“Ha! You think that’s worth my risk? Besides, Rena must consent to this duel. Rena, you hate this bastard, right? Don’t you?”

“…Yes, I-”

“Rena.”

Jade cut her off. His eyes burned with conviction, willing her to understand his sincerity.

“I know how foolish I’ve been. How inadequate compared to you. But give me this one chance. Trust me just once.”

“…”

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Rena’s eyes.

Jade caught it. A thread of hope remained despite everything.

Had Jade’s plea moved her?

After a dazed moment, Rena slowly nodded.

“…Okay.”

“What?”

Doran stared incredulously at the incomprehensible scene.

“Rena, have you gone mad? I told you your fate! You’ll be abandoned by everyone anyway!”

Suddenly, Doran grabbed Rena’s waist and groped between her legs.

Swish, swish-

“Ahhkt, Haaaah!”

Her panties soaked instantly as fingers teased her clitoris through the fabric.

“You get this wet from just touching… and still think of going back?”

“No.”

Jade refuted Doran’s claim.

“I’ll never abandon Rena, no matter what she becomes.”

“Shut your mouth!”

Doran sensed the situation deteriorating.

‘This is getting dangerous…’

He needed to refuse the duel and finalize the contract immediately.

“Her consent means nothing. I’m about to claim Rena now. Why risk it for trash like you?”

‘As expected…’

Jade shook his head in disappointment. Doran wasn’t foolish enough to accept those terms.

Now came the crucial moment.

Jade chose his words carefully.

“Know what this is?”

-Swish.

A spherical device emerged from Jade’s pocket. Doran recognized it instantly.

“…A recorder? Haha! Brought the one I sent you? To show everyone Rena’s performance?”

“No. This contains countless videos of you tormenting me. I prepared it separately.”

“…Oh? When did you record those? Planning to report me?”

Idiot. The professors couldn’t punish him anyway. Doran almost admired Jade’s naivety.

“Who’ll you show? Beg the professors to-”

“No. I’ll send this to your father.”

“…What?”

Doran’s face hardened at the mention of his father.

“Deaf? Your father. Count Zesto. I’ll gift him these recordings.”

“…Haha! Send them! He’ll praise me for educating a commoner!”

Though maintaining composure, Doran panicked internally.

‘Fuck, he’d never praise this… Disaster.’

If his father saw those, true hell awaited him.

Jade noticed Doran’s trembling hands. His provocation was working.

“Really? You were expelled from Rain Academy for bullying. How would your father react to repeat offenses?”

“H-how do you know that? You haven’t sent them yet, right?”

“See it in my hand? Accept the duel, and I’ll destroy it.”

“…”

Jade delivered the final blow to Doran’s wavering resolve.

“Doran. Could it be… you’re scared of losing to me?”

Those words tipped the scales.

“…Fine. Since you’re begging to die. No delays. Meet me in the training hall in one hour.”

“Deal. See you then.”

Before exiting, Jade locked eyes with Rena – fidgeting anxiously amid the chaos.

‘Wait just a little longer.’

**

-Thud.

As the door closed behind Jade, I smiled faintly at Doran’s seething back.

‘Entertaining.’

Jade had prepared more thoroughly than expected.

The device he’d produced was indeed yesterday’s gift – its mana flow identical to what I’d observed during sex.

Yet Jade boldly lied to Doran’s face, risking utter humiliation if caught.

Since when did he possess such courage?

Well, the Goddess didn’t choose him randomly.

Their fates would be decided in this duel.

‘Jade, show me your heroic side.’

**

“Wait! Jade!”

Annie’s voice echoed down the hallway as Jade walked away.

He turned to see her running toward him, gasping for breath.

“Huff, huff… Jade, what’s this duel nonsense?”

“I’m saving Rena.”

Annie stared at him like he’d gone mad.

“Obviously I want that too! But you know he’s a 5-Star Mage!”

Her anger faded into a bowed head.

“Even amazing Rena lost, even if it was a sneak attack… And you’re betting your life? Are you insane?”

She pummeled his chest accusingly, convinced this was another suicidal impulse like before.

“Annie, trust me. This isn’t reckless.”

-Grab.

“Eh? Hey!”

Jade pulled her into a secluded corner.

“What’s your plan? If this is nothing special, I’ll cancel the duel myself!”

Annie glared murderously.

‘…Angry Annie is scarier than expected.’

But this would convince her.

Jade drew his sword, slowly gathering mana.

-Uuung.

A distinct blue blade materialized along the steel.

“A-Aura?! How did you…?”

“No time for details. Will you trust me now?”

Jade met her gaze with iron resolve.

‘You two… caring this deeply for each other…’

Seeing his determination, Annie surrendered.

“…I’ll trust you. So win. You have to win.”

“I will.”

“But Rena trusted you too and ended up… If I lose you both… Hwaaaang!”

Overwhelmed, Annie burst into tears, terrified of being left alone.

-Embrace.

Jade quietly held her, patting her back.

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring Rena back.”

Memories surfaced – Rena helping after Doran’s bullying, enduring humiliation for his sake. Annie comforting his broken spirit in the training hall where he’d wept shamelessly.

Now it was his turn to save them.