Chapter 8- Blame Yourself
"Hahaha, you? Break my fingers?" Ethan started laughing after a moment of surprise. "You have fully lost it, haven't you? Did the weekend make you think you're something great?"
"..."
"Listen here, fatty. You are nothing. A pathetic scum with no future." Ethan said. "You're destined to rot here until you die. That money you earn is a waste on you. Give it to me, and you will be spared. Don't make me remind you what I could do to you."
"..." Rein didn't reply as he simply stared at him. Even as he spoke, Ethan started growing more and more nervous. He didn't know why, but he wasn't seeing that look of fear he usually sees on Rein's face.
The boy wasn't intimidated whatsoever. Even as he was pressured like this. 'He had gone crazy. Does he not care for his life anymore?' The boy could only ask himself.
This was a situation he had never faced before. He had always been someone who bullied people and took whatever he wanted, and nobody could say no. His father had an Iron Forging company that worked with Awakened Clans to supply them with Iron. He was very rich and influential since many clans backed him.
Ethan had grown up with a golden spoon in his mouth. He always got what he wanted, and people always respected him. They all wished to get on his good side and be friends with him. That fueled his arrogance more and more until he started seeing himself as something truly great.
Now, this pathetic nobody is challenging him? He cannot accept that.
"1…" Rein spoke, snapping Ethan out of his daze.
"Huh?"
"2…"
He had started counting. That was it, the last straw, as Ethan finally snapped and clenched his fist.
"You bastard!"
As he was about to throw the punch, Rein suddenly extended his hand forward, stopping Ethan's fist mid-way.
"...!!" The young man's eyes widened.
"3…" Rein said coldly as he moved his hand quickly. Grabbing Ethan's index finger, he pulled it out and then twisted it.
"AGH!" The boy felt a sharp pain as he clenched his teeth. "Let… Go!"
He said as he tried to punch him with the other hand, only for Rein to stop it with ease. Ethan immediately tried to use that opportunity to pull his finger out. But Rein had twisted it in a position where every move felt extremely painful.
"I warned you."
"Huh-"
*CRACK*
Before the young man could even react, he heard a loud cracking sound. Then, a sharp, overwhelming pain filled his mind.
"AAAAAAGH!" He screeched loudly as he fell to the ground, holding his finger. "My finger! My finger!! It hurts!!"
Rein stood above him, staring coldly at the boy as he rolled around in pain. "Pathetic. You're crying like a little baby because of one broken finger? Man up and be an actual bully."
Rein loathed people like Ethan the most. He was someone with an inflated ego who never struggled for anything in his life. He used his name to make people do what he wants but when it came to actual confrontations, he was nothing short of a coward.
"Y-You… You bastard!!!"
"Don't blame me now. I warned you and gave you time to release me. You chose to break your finger, not me." Rein shrugged as he heard the sounds of footsteps rushing toward him. Peeking around the corner, he saw students already coming to investigate.
"Well, time for me to leave. See you later." He saluted the boy casually before he walked away.
Eventually, students started gathering around the place, trying to understand where the streaming came from.
"Huh? Ethan?! What happened? Are you ok?"
A girl stepped forward to check him.
"I'm fine, leave me alone." He said as he stood up, still holding his finger. 'That bastard fully broke it! It's fully broken!' He clenched his teeth.
The students stared at him with confusion. They have never seen Ethan like that before. Red and in pain.
"Who did that to you?! Oh my lord, your finger is broken! We need to call an ambu-"
"No need." He said. "I… I just fell and hurt myself. I will be fine." He said.
'I can't let these idiots know that the fatty broke my finger. It's a humiliation beyond humiliation.' He clenched his teeth. For Ethan, preserving his reputation was the most important thing to do at that point.
However, the boiling anger he was feeling at that moment was unlike anything he had felt before in his life.
'You won't get away with this, fatty! I will make you regret that you ever lived! I will make you beg for your life!!' His eyes flared up as he walked out of the crowd, pushing them with his shoulder as he left.
***
"Hm, hm, hm…"
Taking a detour, Rein headed back to the classroom. Many looked at him when he came back and seemed a bit confused before they shrugged and went back to their business.
'Judging from that boy's character, this will probably not be the last time he tries to mess with me. He will probably bring some of his goons too.' Rein thought to himself. He had dealt with people like Ethan his entire life, so he knew what to expect.
He wasn't worried whatsoever. They were nothing but ants in his eyes.
'I might be able to extract some useful information out of him if possible.' He thought to himself. 'Or at least he could link me with some individuals who could help me.'
Either way, this was beneficial for Rein. Either he can use them as a punching bag for training, or he can learn how to get to Sherry faster.
As he was contemplating his next step, he heard the bell ring. At the same time, the door to the classroom opened as one last student walked in.
The moment she did, she captivated the entire class. Their eyes were drawn to her like moths to the flame. After all, even amongst the brilliant individuals within this school, this girl was perhaps the most important of them all.
The flowing beautiful red hair moved in Rein's side vision.
"Hm?"
Staring up, Rein's eyes met the bright red eyes of the girl, and for a second, both shared a glance.