"Guh, hot!"
In front of the male student, whose upper body was bare and arms bound behind him, a giant fireball conjured by fire magic floated, intensely heating and then dissipating from the student's skin.
"Alright, I win this round."
"Don't be ridiculous! My magic definitely elicited a louder scream."
"Haaah, wasn't my fire magic's scream louder just now?! Lord Gariel, who won?"
"Hmm, the one from Jonas was louder than Barak's. This round goes to Jonas."
Gariel, a boy with refined features, answered indifferently, flipping through the book he was reading.
"Yes! I've repaid my debt from last time's human guessing game!"
"Tch, do I have to cover the tab today... Hey, it's your fault!"
"Gakko!"
The fist of the boy called Barak struck the bare torso of the male student, hitting him in the gut.
"Barak, make sure it's somewhere the clothes won't show it."
"Yes, of course I understand. Hya, hya!"
"Gah, guh..."
Barak repeatedly punched the student's abdomen. The student's stomach bore burn marks and blue bruises from the blows.
"Ugh... Why are you doing this..."
And then, there was another student in this room.
Although not restrained like the male student, this female student had also had her uniform removed, and was desperately trying to cover herself with her arms. Tears streamed from her eyes.
Her stomach also bore blue bruises and burn marks.
"Why...?"
Gariel closed the book he was reading with a *pat*, stood up, and stood before the crying, frightened female student—Melia.
"It's just a game, or a way to pass the time. Whether you're a scholarship student or not, the idea of commoners like you learning in the same academy as us nobles makes my skin crawl. We're just testing whether you'll endure for three years or drop out first."
"F-for that reason..."
"Hmph, commoners, entertain yourselves by being toys for us nobles. You can ask the teachers for help like last time, you know. No one can defy our House of Marquis Marseu anyway. Last time I let it slide with a light punishment, but next time, I'll take away your parents' jobs."
"Kyaaah!"
Gariel conjured ice magic without a chant, creating an ice shard about 15 centimeters long and launching it at Melia's abdomen.
"Tch, the power drops this much with no chant. Ah, there was one more reason. You guys can at least serve as magic targets or experimental subjects. If you don't like that, then leave this academy immediately."
"Ugh..."
Melia collapsed in pain from the impact on her abdomen.
"P-please stop..."
"You shut up!"
Jonas punched the male student's abdomen again when he tried to intervene.
"Gyaaaaaaa!"
"Please... let us go!"
*Galara*
As the screams of the male and female students echoed through the classroom again, the door to the supply closet creaked open.
---
"Tch, why is a substitute teacher here?!"
"What are Loff and Luis, the guards, doing?!"
"........."
In the supply closet, many supplies were piled up against the wall.
And in the center of the room were the male student, bare-chested and injured, and Melia, in her underwear and crying.
As a teacher, I am truly inexperienced. I failed to notice her SOS yesterday.
"It's Mr. Geek, wasn't it? We're merely playing with them with their consent. There's nothing for you to worry about, so please leave."
"........."
Ignoring Gariel's words, I entered the supply closet.
*Pachin, pachin*
"Huh? These wounds!? And these chains too!?"
"I... I feel the pain too..."
Using magic, I healed the injuries of Bern, the male student in class C, and Melia, and severed Bern's restraints.
"Melia, I'm truly sorry for not noticing."
"Eh...?"
I threw my white lab coat over Melia, who looked surprised.
"Did you hear that, Mr. Geek? Come on, tell them. This is just a game, right?"
"... Y-yes."
"Th-that's right, teacher... we agreed to this..."
Bern said, averting his gaze, while Melia, with tears streaming down her face, said the same.
I understand. From the two guards, I've already gathered that their families are being held hostage using the nobles' power.
"We're just playing with commoners a little. You know it would be best for Substitute Teacher Geek not to stir up unnecessary trouble, right? Now, if you understand, get out quickly— *Fubeh!?*"
" "Lord Gariel!?" "
My punch to Gariel's right cheek sent him flying backward, and the impact caused the stacked supplies to fall.
My right hand also hurts because I punched with all my might without using body enhancement magic. However, if I had used body enhancement magic to my full extent, he would have died instantly, so it can't be helped. I also didn't have the confidence to suppress my anger in this situation.
"H-how dare you... lay a hand on me, a member of the House of Marquis Marseu..."
"D-did you know what you just did!?"
"It's more than just corporal punishment! To lay a hand on a noble is execution!"
"Stop your whining, you brats! No, you are no longer brats. You are simply despicable criminals!"
Disturbing classes or flaunting power a bit might be one thing. But they have misused magic and strayed from the path of humanity. There is no hope for their rehabilitation.
Play, game, youthful indiscretion, doing it lightly? Don't make me laugh! Even in my previous world, we may have used the word "bullying" because it was an act between children at school, but these are all criminal acts.
Bullying perpetrators? No, these are simply rotten criminals!
Because they are commoners, or because of their marquis family standing? Reasons and status don't matter. What they have done are despicable criminal acts that rob people of their dignity!