I Killed The Main Characters

Chapter 152: This Is How It's Done! [2]

"The top student in the Second Year Opener Exams is..."

The pause felt eternal.

"Noah Ashbourne."

My head snapped back to the far end of the room where Noah sat, his smirk now a full-blown grin.

The hall was a cacophony of gasps, groans, and angry whispers.

"No way!"

"It was expected though... "

The voices blended into a chaotic mess, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of disbelief and intrigue.

But then again...he was the academy's brightest student.

Noah Ashbourne, the academy's most despised and arrogant student.

Noah rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and exuding an air of confidence that only seemed to infuriate the other students further.

"Mr. Ashbourne."

Professor Grent said, motioning for him to come to the front.

Suddey a third-year student entered the hall at that moment, whispering something to Professor Grent.

After a brief exchange the student left as he looked at Noah.

"Since you were the only one who managed to answer the question correctly, I'll leave it to you to explain it to the class while I attend to an urgent matter."

He nodded and addressed us once more.

"Noah will act as your instructor for this session.

Once he's finished explaining the question, he will dismiss you all.

Good luck."

With that, Professor Grent exited the hall, leaving a room full of stunned students and one smug Noah Ashbourne.

Noah strode to the podium, his black hair catching the light as his yellow eyes scanned the room.

His grin widened as he placed his hands on the podium, leaning forward slightly.

"Well, well," he began, his voice smooth and taunting.

"Looks like I'm your professor today. Aren't you all lucky?"

***

? Noah's POV ?

I could teach circles around these half-wits in my sleep.

But because today was a stage, I was going to remind them why the name Noah Ashbourne commanded both disdain and fear.

Every eye turned toward me, some with contempt, others with anxiety.

A few, I noticed, couldn't even look me in the eye.

"Settle down."

I said coldly, my gaze sweeping across the room.

"Today's lesson will either prove your worth or expose your inadequacies.

Given the intelligence I've witnessed so far, my expectations are low."

I placed Professor Grent's list of names on the desk.

My fingers tapping lightly on the parchment.

These were the students who had sneered at me about my so-called downfall to number three.

I recognized their faces in the crowd, trying to blend in, as if I couldn't pick them out.

Fools.

"Let's begin with the question."

I turned to the blackboard and wrote.

"Given a mana flow of X units per second into a crystalline core, calculate the optimal output ratio to sustain a Class-B barrier for 12 hours in a mana-deprived zone."

The chalk screeched against the board, drawing a collective wince from the students.

I smirked.

"This question can be approached in two ways."

I began, stepping back to survey their reactions.

"The first is the obvious, simplistic route.

Apply the Mana Stability Constant and plug in the basic formula for barrier durability.

You'll all think you've solved it when you get a neat little answer."

I turned sharply to face them, my voice dripping with contempt.

"But that answer is wrong.

Any mage worth their salt would know that in a mana-deprived zone, the Stability Constant fluctuates depending on ambient mana decay."

I picked up the chalk again.

Scribbling out a complex series of equations involving logarithmic decay rates and adjusted multipliers for crystalline feedback.

"The correct solution involves accounting for these variables."

I explained.

"The result isn't neat, it isn't simple, and frankly, most of you won't get it.

But that's magic—an art for the capable, not the lazy."

A hand shot up in the back.

A cocky student, his uniform too pristine, his smirk too wide.

"But isn't this a second-year class?

Shouldn't the question be more...reasonable?"

I stared him down, the temperature in the room seemingly dropping.

"Reasonable?

Perhaps if you spent more time studying and less time whining, you wouldn't find it unreasonable.

Or does the difficulty hurt your fragile pride?"

The student sank back into his seat, muttering under his breath.

I didn't bother hiding my sneer.

As I resumed explaining the problem, a low murmur of conversation broke out among a group near the back.

I paused mid-sentence, my grip tightening on the chalk.

"Is my lecture so dull that you feel the need to entertain yourselves?"

They froze, their guilty expressions betraying them.

Without warning, I conjured an ice shard and hurled it at the lockers behind them.

The shard embedded itself with a sharp thud, frost spreading across the surface, mist swirling ominously.

The room went deathly silent.

"You three."

I said, pointing to the offenders, my voice laced with menace.

"Come to the front."

They hesitated, but the sheer intensity of my gaze compelled them to obey.

As they shuffled to the front, I noted their names—names from Grent's list.

"You've been quite vocal about your opinions of me."

I said, circling them like a predator.

"Let's see if your intellect matches your arrogance."

I handed each of them a piece of chalk. Explore more adventures at M V L

"Solve the question.

Here.

Now."

Their hands trembled as they stared at the board.

One made a feeble attempt at the wrong formula, another scribbled nonsense, and the third simply froze.

The rest of the class watched in horrified fascination.

"Pathetic."

I said after a minute, erasing their feeble attempts with a wave of my hand.

"This is what happens when you let your mouths run faster than your brains.

You become examples."

For the remainder of the lesson, I used them as props—correcting their every mistake with biting sarcasm.

Forcing them to stand as I broke down their failures for the entire class to see.

By the end, their faces were red with shame, their spirits visibly crushed.

"Let this be a lesson to all of you."

I said, turning to the rest of the class.

"Underestimate me at your peril."

"The class is over..."

I said signaling the end of the lesson.

A single person began clapping—a slow, deliberate applause.

I turned to see Leopold Velden, the third prince of the empire, rising from his seat.

His crimson eyes sparkled with amusement as he strode to the front of the room.

"Well done, Ashbourne."

Leo said, his tone as mocking as it was complimentary.

"A lesson in discipline as much as magic.

I must say, you have a...unique teaching style."

I met his gaze evenly, refusing to bow or acknowledge his authority.

"I aim to ensure results..."

Leo chuckled, his smile widening as he turned and left the room.

His guards who were at the door following close behind.

The rest of the students filed out in hushed whispers, their glances flickering between me and the trio I had humiliated.

I didn't care.

They'd learned something today, even if it wasn't the lesson I'd planned.

The lesson had ended and I didn't see any use in staying there any longer.

Or rather I didn't see other opportunities to get more FEP.

As I walked down the hallway, a voice called out behind me.

"Lord Ashbourne."

I turned to see Draven Lockwood approaching, his posture confident, his expression unreadable.

The protagonist.

The hero of this cursed narrative I now inhabited.