Upon hearing Linen's words, the female teacher's already unhealthy complexion turned even uglier.
Most importantly, between Linen and Hysteria, one clearly dared to give orders—and the other clearly intended to follow them.
Hysteria was practically bouncing on her toes, ready to strike.
"Linen Norton, don't go too far!" the female teacher cut in quickly, catching the panicked look the boy shot her. She stalled for time, calculating rapidly. "Regardless of what happened, he's already admitted his mistake. Must you really humiliate a fellow student in public? He's just a student!"
"Going too far?" Linen tilted his head, sincerity all over his face. "Teacher, please tell me—did I violate any school rules?"
He set down his fork and tapped the plate with a crisp ding! His tone dropped, sharp and cold.
"But this slap today—even if he weren't a student, even if he were an animal—he wouldn't escape it."
"I'm sorry, but here at Eden Academy, as long as you have enough credits, you can do whatever you want."
The teacher's face darkened further, black as storm clouds.
Infuriating as it was, Linen hadn't said a single thing that broke the rules.
These loophole-filled regulations had been deliberately crafted by Eden's first headmaster to encourage fierce competition among students.
Even so, the boy was one of her own. She couldn't just stand there and watch him get slapped again. She'd have to forcibly intervene using her authority—
"Let me see what's going on here!"
A cheerful, childlike voice suddenly sounded. A tiny silver spatial gate opened out of nowhere. Leaning halfway through, Sorgana rested her chin in both hands, watching the scene with a mischievous smile.
"Headmaster?! Why are you here?" The female teacher's face went pale at once. Sorgana should have been entertaining guests right now!
"Hehe~ Good evening, Teacher Teri South," Sorgana chimed. "A student reported that a certain teacher was abusing her authority, so once I finished greeting our guests, I came to take a look. Don't mind me—please continue."
Seeing Sorgana's teasing expression, Teri instantly understood. She glared at Linen—who calmly nodded toward the headmaster—and finally realized he had summoned her.
So the one stalling for time all along hadn't been Linen.
It had been her.
This brat had played her completely.
"Headmaster, are you really going to stand by and watch violence occur in the auditorium?" Teri asked desperately.
But Sorgana only smiled—without a hint of warmth.
"First of all, let me correct you, Teacher Teri. The auditorium is just another building. There's nothing sacred about it. Secondly, as headmaster, I only ensure that rules aren't broken—everything else, I generally ignore."
"For example," Sorgana added meaningfully, "teachers who instructed their students to illegally form teams during the Spring Cup to monopolize the championship, only to lose anyway and then pick fights afterward…"
Teri's face twisted into something truly ugly.
Even a fool could guess what she meant. During the Spring Cup finals, Teri had been present the entire time, watching Sorgana nearly jump up and dance every time Linen appeared on the screen.
Only an idiot wouldn't know whose side she favored.
Damn it. She'd only meant to scare the brat who embarrassed Golden Court and annoy that foreign princess a little. Who could have imagined Linen would drag the headmaster into this?
Could the rumors be true? Did Sorgana really have her eye on the Norton family's "fresh meat"?
But if things escalated now, Golden Court would become a laughingstock among the four Courts.
No choice. A senior teacher had authority, but not in front of the headmaster. She'd have to sacrifice someone.
Teri shut her eyes briefly, then stepped behind the boy student.
For Golden Court's honor, she couldn't take the fall herself. So she would sacrifice the student first.
"Lahn, those who make mistakes must face the consequences. Speaking ill of classmates behind their backs was your error. Reflect carefully next time."
The boy—Lahn—instantly went pale.
More accurately, he'd been about to wet himself for a while now.
What the hell?! This wasn't the plan!
Hadn't Teacher Teri promised him three credits if he just provoked the two girls a bit?
How had this blown up all the way to the headmaster?!
"Teacher Teri!" Lahn pleaded desperately, but she stood with eyes shut, washing her hands of him completely.
"Hmph, looks like I finally get to deliver this slap!" Hysteria rubbed her hands eagerly.
Lahn had no choice but to shut his eyes in resignation. It seemed he really had to take this. But looking at that small, delicate foreign princess, it probably wouldn't hurt too badly—just humiliating.
"Wait."
A voice that sounded like salvation to Lahn suddenly cut in. He opened his eyes to find Linen speaking.
Why… was he stopping her?
His question was answered instantly. Linen grabbed a small container from the table, took Hysteria's hand, slipped a plastic glove onto it, and sprinkled some suspicious red powder onto her palm.
"Whoa—small fry! What is this gross stuff you're putting on my hand?"
Hysteria complained, though she didn't pull away.
"Just a little Firecloud Pepper powder," Linen said calmly.
Firecloud Pepper? What was that?
Confusion flickered across Lahn's face, while Teacher Teri's eyes widened—but she said nothing to warn him.
Watching closely, Elena immediately grasped Linen's intent. Her eyes brightened as she asked sweetly:
"Firecloud Pepper? Isn't that the pepper harvested from third-tier Flamefrog Beasts—the one they call the 'Hellfire Death Pepper' because it's insanely spicy?"
H-Hellfire Death Pepper?!
Lahn's throat tightened.
Ever since the pepper appeared, the surrounding air felt sharper, almost prickling his skin.
Linen nodded solemnly.
"Exactly. Eden's cafeteria is something else—this costs only one credit."
Elena continued:
"I heard that since these peppers come from magical beasts, they retain magic. Even people who eat extreme spice can only handle a few grains at a time, right?"
Linen nodded approvingly.
"Truly worthy of a top student, Elena—very well-informed. From my perspective as a prince, this is probably the spiciest pepper I've ever encountered."
Lahn was already drenched in cold sweat. And they still weren't done.
Elena picked up the container, reading the label's warnings aloud:
"'Avoid skin contact'?"
"Yes. Even a few grains cause redness and swelling. That's why I put a glove on Hysteria."
"'Avoid contact with eyes and nasal passages'?"
"Heh. If it does this much to your skin, imagine what it'd do to your eyes… tsk-tsk."
"'Only use a few grains per dish'?"
"Exactly. Spiciness is technically pain, not flavor. Too much would be… tsk-tsk. Still, Princess Hysteria loves spicy food, so she'll be fine."
Hysteria tilted her head.
"But actually, I don't really—"
Linen flicked her forehead lightly.
"Aahaha—I absolutely love spicy food!" Hysteria corrected instantly.
"Really? Then this still seems too little…"
Linen tapped his chin thoughtfully—then snapped his fingers as if struck by inspiration.
Without a hint of hesitation, he flipped the entire jar of hellish peppers onto her hand.
The crimson chili grains formed a small, blood-red mound in Hysteria's palm.
"All right, now you can go slap him. Remember to go easy," Linen said, clearly satisfied.
Hysteria, impatient and itching to act, eagerly moved toward Lahn.
Already drenched in sweat, the poor boy could only back away instinctively.
Staring at the scarlet heap in Hysteria's hand, and feeling the sting in the air just from being near it, Lahn fell into despair.
Wait—this was supposed to be a simple slap. How did she get to enchant her attack?!
Those peppers came from Tier-3 magical beasts! One slap with that stuff and he'd definitely die, right?!
Lahn shot a pleading look at Teri.
But she remained unmoved, eyes closed—completely abandoning him.
He turned to Sorgana next.
Surely the headmaster wouldn't allow this…? Forget it. Her wicked grin said she was enjoying this even more than the others.
Linen's gentle "reassurance" became the final blow:
"Don't be scared. Deep breaths. Feeling dizzy or faint afterward is perfectly normal."
Because Linen was saying this to Hysteria.
Hearing that, Lahn completely broke down and dropped to his knees.
"Wait—hold on—I'm sorry! I—I'll confess everything, just please don't hit me!"
"It was Teacher Teri! She made me do it! She told me to provoke Elena and Hysteria, then call her over after I got hit—it was all planned!"
"She said the Golden Court's rightful victory was stolen, that we should teach that guy and the barbarian princess a lesson. She promised me three credits!"
"I know I was wrong. I'll accept any punishment, just please—keep those peppers away from me!"
"Lahn!" Teri reflexively tried to restrain him with the same spell she'd used on Elena—only for a flash of silver to block it instantly.
Sorgana!
Teri grew even more furious, but didn't dare glare at Sorgana directly. Instead she fixed her hatred on the still-pleading Lahn.
Meeting her murderous stare, Lahn chose to ignore it. Sorry, Teacher Teri, but… you only offered me three credits. I'm not risking my life for that.
"So, Teacher Teri," Sorgana turned to her with a serious gaze, "do you have anything to say?"
Her childlike appearance made the expression even more chilling.
Because this "little girl" was actually an empire-class, Eighth-Ring Arcana Mage.
Teri's fingers trembled. She was certain that if she attempted even the smallest spell, the space around her would twist apart and shred her instantly.
"N-no… I admit my fault. This was entirely my responsibility," Teri whispered, head lowered.
"Very good." Sorgana nodded. "Then I'll deduct one credit from every Golden Court student, publicly announce your cheating during the Spring Cup, demote you from senior instructor to assistant instructor, and suspend your independent teaching privileges for one probationary semester. Any objections?"
"…None." Teri clenched her teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
The punishments sounded mild, but for Teri, they were devastating.
Golden Court had the highest number of noble students, many from powerful families. Teri herself came from the influential South family—the old noble faction opposed to the Empress.
Publicly exposing Golden Court's cheating was tearing off their last shred of pride, turning the proudest Court into a laughingstock.
And docking every student's credits made it clear: This was Teacher Teri's fault.
Her family had sent her to suppress Hysteria. After tonight, they'd turn their wrath on her.
Still burning with hatred, Teri happened to overhear Sorgana's next question to Linen:
"So, Linen, does she still get to slap him?"
"Since Lahn cooperated so well, no need."
Lahn collapsed in relief, and Linen nodded.
"Good. Then I'll have Student Affairs return your excess credits," Sorgana said.
"No need. I did say 'keep the change.'"
At that moment, an overwhelming sense of danger exploded in Teri's instincts. But before she could react, a palm appeared right in front of her—
SMACK!
She flew across the room, spinning several times before crashing to the floor.
Even then, hair a mess and her face swelling rapidly, Teri ignored the pain and stared at Linen in disbelief.
Not just her—Elena, Sorgana, and even Lahn, who had just betrayed her, were frozen in shock. Only Hysteria, still unsure of what had happened, looked confused.
Linen Norton had actually slapped a teacher.
"Linen Norton! You dare hit me—a senior instructor?! Aren't you afraid of expulsion?!" Teri shrieked, nearly hysterical.
Linen simply rubbed his slightly numb wrist.
"First, I already paid the credits. So what if I hit you?" he said pleasantly, then corrected her with a smile, "Second, you're only an assistant instructor now."
Teri nearly coughed up blood.
But seeing the growing crowd and Sorgana standing right there, she spat out a venomous parting threat before teleporting away in rage:
"The South family won't forgive this insult! Never forget—you're just a worthless prince!"
Linen didn't take the threat seriously. Instead, he fell into thought.
The South family, huh? That name seems familiar…
...
Later that night in the dorm, ignoring Teresia's puzzled look, Linen activated the Arcana crystal in his hand.
Quinn's voice emerged at once:
"Hehe~ Good evening, my dear Linen, winner of the Spring Cup. Finally free to contact your poor sister who practically broke her legs cleaning up your mess?"
As if you'd ever exhaust yourself cleaning up anything.
"Good evening, Quinn. Do you know Teri South?" Linen asked directly.
"You only ever call me when you need something," Quinn sighed dramatically. "That teacher from the South family annoyed you? Don't worry, the Shadow Knights will handle it. We'll launch an investigation. After all, we're humble servants who deal with every kind of filth~"
An investigation by the Shadow Knights was a nightmare across the empire. The Empress's fanatical subordinates—noble or commoner, it didn't matter—torture was the beginning of their "procedures."
Their authority was rarely invoked, and before passing his prince's test, Linen couldn't use them at all.
But now? Occasionally, he could.
Besides, Quinn already knew what happened at the banquet. The South family openly challenged an imperial prince—if she didn't respond, it'd make the Shadow Knights look timid.
However, to Quinn's surprise, Linen frowned and rejected her easy solution:
"Investigate just Teri? Can't you have the Shadow Knights investigate the entire South family instead?"
Quinn: "???"
...
After sending Linen off with a vague "We'll handle it carefully," Quinn lifted her eyes toward the shadows of the throne room, where a tall, elegant figure lounged, chin resting on one hand—
The Bloodstained Red Dragon, Empress Tivira Norton.
"Well?" the Empress asked lazily. "Did he ask for something?"
Quinn's playful tone vanished, replaced with exasperation.
"It's… complicated, Mother. My dear brother wants me to investigate the entire South family."
"The entire family?" For the first time, a ripple touched the Empress's calm voice.
Quinn secretly sighed. Exactly—ordering a full investigation of an old noble house was extreme, even for her.
"So weak," the Empress muttered, disappointed. "He recognized a threat, yet still doesn't have the guts to order a direct purge."
Quinn: "…"
And this is exactly why sometimes I suspect Linen is your only real child.