"S-Sensei! We'll be fine!"
"Please leave us alone!"
Melia and Bern, fearing retaliation from the Marquis's family, stood before me, desperately trying to stop me.
I turned to the two and gently stroked their heads.
"I'm truly sorry I didn't notice sooner. You endured so much hardship. I won't let anyone, not just Bern and Melia, but their families as well, be harmed any further."
"Huh!?"
"Teacher Geek, our families too..."
"Yes, I know how much pain you've both endured to protect your siblings' and parents' jobs. I was a fool for not noticing sooner, but leave the rest to me."
Truly, I'm still an immature teacher.
In this world, even children possess the powerful force of magic. Coupled with their pathetic authority, they used it to commit such heinous criminal acts, and I failed to notice.
"Die!"
"Wind Burst!"
"Fire Lance!"
"...!? Sensei!"
*Snap, snap*
"Hah, you fool, you got careless! How dare you scar my noble face!"
"You'll face the death penalty for defying Marquis Marseno anyway!"
"This is what happens when commoners defy nobles!"
"...Attack magic that involves Bern and Melia. That adds attempted murder to the charges."
"Impossible!? Why are you alive!?"
Various items in the supply room were destroyed, and from the dust and debris swirling around, a translucent magic barrier I had erected appeared.
Of course, their attack magic couldn't even scratch it.
"Gariel, that was silent ice magic. Ice magic is already difficult, but your casting speed is excellent. The other two also have considerable magical output for their age. It's a shame. You have misused your magic for selfish desires. Therefore, I sentence you all to expulsion!"
It's true they have magical talent, but they've misused it to hurt others.
In this world, magic is a wonderful thing that enriches people's lives, much like science in my previous world. For them to misuse it for crime is a grave offense.
And these people deserve no forgiveness for stealing Bern and Melia's precious time and obstructing their promising path in magic!
*Snap*
"Gyaaaaaaa!"
Nearly a hundred small ice shards, the size of birdshot, materialized in an instant and pierced the three of them. Blood flowed from their bodies, but I had carefully avoided vital spots.
Their screams echoed, but I had already erected soundproofing magic, so their cries didn't escape the classroom.
*Snap*
"Hah!? The wounds and pain are gone."
*Snap*
"Gyaaaaaaa!"
After using healing magic to mend their bodies, I followed up with lightning magic, which pierced them, leaving them blackened and twitching.
"Hii..."
"Oops, sorry. That might have been a bit too intense for you two."
Bern and Melia flinched at my magic.
"Please wait outside for a moment. I'll expel these scoundrels and hand them over to the guards, but before that, I'll let them physically experience a fraction of what they've done to you. Oh, and those two who were keeping watch will also feel the same pain."
Loff and Luis, who were keeping watch, were put to sleep with magic after I ascertained everything they had done to the two.
For several weeks, they had been luring the two commoner scholarship students to this room, threatening them with harm to their families if they refused, and repeatedly assaulting and using them as targets for their magic.
Melia, being small and still appearing quite young, wasn't their type, so she fortunately avoided physical assault. If they had, I would have made sure they could never use them like that again.
They had only hurt those parts of her body that were hidden by her clothes, but she had been discovered by other students and teachers several times. Melia had consulted with one teacher, but fearing the Marquis's influence, no action was taken.
I'll deal with that teacher later, but for now, I will impress upon these two a fraction of the suffering they have inflicted. Those who don't understand pain will repeat the same thing over and over unless they experience it themselves.
"Teacher Geek, I'm alright now!"
"I-I am too. And if you do this, Teacher Geek..."
"You're both too kind. But I have no intention of forgiving them. If I forgive them now, others will undoubtedly be hurt. I'll be fine, so don't worry about me. Please wait outside the supply room for about 15 minutes."
Almost by force, I ushered Bern and Melia out of the supply room and, in their place, brought the two who had been waiting outside inside, gently closing the door.
"Now, sorry for making you wait. I'll be taking these five to the headmaster."
"......"
Opening the supply room door, I levitated the five restrained individuals with wind magic.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Please forgive us... I'm sorry... Please forgive us..."
*Mutter mutter...*
Yes, even Bern and Melia are a bit taken aback.
I only made them experience a little of the pain they inflicted for a short time. Their wounds have healed, and their clothes are back to normal.
"You... you won't get away with this..."
"Hmm, to still be able to speak in this state shows considerable willpower. If you hadn't misused your magic for such trivial matters, you might have become a good mage."
The others seemed unlikely to regain consciousness for a while, but only Gariel remained lucid in this situation. Whether it was aristocratic pride or anger towards me, something was supporting his spirit.
"I'll send you, commoners, and your families to hell!"
"Your spirit is indeed admirable. Gariel, I'll give you one last warning. Cooperate with these others and accept the罪 of your actions. If you do, I will not involve myself further. However, if you attempt to harm these two or their families again, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
"Hah, go to hell!"
"...I've given you my warning."