Just as the chalk squeaked softly against the board and Lisa was mid-sentence, a low murmur cut through the air:
"She's hot, isn't she?"
The words came from Ren, whispered just barely above a breath. But this wasn't an ordinary classroom. And these weren't ordinary students.
In the silence that followed, it was painfully clear—at least half the class had heard him.
A few stifled chuckles. Some wide-eyed stares. A slow turn of heads toward Daniel's desk.
Even the main cast members, sitting nearer to the front, threw sharp glances backward.
And then—
Lisa Disouza stopped writing.
Without a word, she slowly turned around.
Her eyes first landed on Ren… then shifted, coolly, to Daniel.
"You two," she said, her voice calm yet cutting through the tension like a blade.
"I don't think your minds are in the right place for this lecture. So, until you're ready to focus, go stand outside with your hands raised. Now. Quickly."
A stunned silence gripped the room.
Daniel glanced sideways at Ren, who was already shrinking in his seat.
Then, expressionless, Daniel stood up from his desk, not arguing, not resisting. He simply walked out of the class with quiet obedience.
Ren scurried behind him, looking like a kid caught sneaking extra dessert.
But what followed was even more surprising than the punishment itself.
Whispers erupted like sparks.
Especially from those who knew Daniel. Who remembered the way he never listened to teachers. Who had seen him openly defy authority—teachers, seniors, even administrators.
Even Lisa, standing at the front with the chalk still in her hand, looked… mildly surprised.
She had heard things. That Daniel was uncontrollable. Arrogant. That he'd rather boast about his family's power than ever accept a punishment.
And yet, here he was—walking out of class without a word.
The classroom buzzed in hushed murmurs.
"Did Daniel really just… listen?" someone whispered.
"I thought he'd start arguing, like always."
"And this time, it wasn't even his fault," another added.
Then a voice from the front leaned back and muttered, "I bet he's got a crush on Miss Lisa too. Just like Ren and Rex."
The air thickened with low giggles and elbow nudges.
Lisa sighed softly, placing the chalk down on her table. Then, with a sharp tap of her palm on the desk, she brought silence crashing back into the room.
"Alright. Let's continue our class," she said firmly, as the lesson resumed—though it was clear that everyone's attention had wandered far beyond the pages of their books.
Outside the classroom, both Daniel and Ren stood side by side — hands raised high above their heads like guilty little kids.
Daniel sighed, clearly annoyed.
"So… this is the kind of punishment Rey was talking about?" Daniel asked, his voice sharp with irritation.
Ren, already feeling guilty, quickly apologized, "Sorry, bro."
But then — unable to stop himself — he added in a complaining tone, "But seriously... why did you agree so easily to the punishment? That's so not like you!"
As soon as those words left his mouth, realization struck him.
Ren's eyes widened in shock.
"Wait a second…" he gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth, "…don't tell me—you've got a thing for her too?"
Smack.
"Shut your mouth." Daniel snapped instantly, glaring sideways at Ren.
That was enough for Ren to go completely silent. But in his heart?
'Oh crap… this is bad. Another competitor added to the list…' he thought, mentally groaning.
What Ren didn't know — was that Daniel had agreed to the punishment so easily for a reason.
'Who the hell wants to mess with that ferocious Lisa Disouza…' Daniel thought bitterly to himself, 'Especially when I'm just a side character in this damn world.'
Of course, Daniel kept that thought strictly inside his head.
---
A While Later…
As the class ended and students began pouring out, Lisa Disouza herself stepped outside. Her sharp eyes casually scanned the hallway — until they landed directly on Daniel.
Daniel stared back — calm, unreadable, his face betraying no emotion.
Lisa's expression? Equally blank.
Without wasting a second, she spoke, voice professional and firm, "Principal Elena has called you to her office."
That was all she said — before turning away and walking down the corridor like nothing had happened.
Daniel watched her go for a moment.
Then with a small exhale, he turned — and silently began walking towards the principal's office.
'Great… what now?' he wondered.
A while later, Daniel was sitting quietly inside the Principal's office.
Right in front of him — was her.
Miss Elena — the Principal of Sera Hero Academy.
Her real age? Eighty years old.
But thanks to magic, she looked like a young woman barely in her twenties.
White hair. Crimson eyes. And a royal aura that made even the bravest students nervous.
At the moment, she sat on her chair — calm, elegant, and radiating power.
Across from her, another man was seated — an officer from the Investigation Department, looking into Daniel's recent "accident."
Daniel had already explained everything to them — well, almost everything.
He had very carefully left out two important details:
→ The part about the mysterious snake.
→ And the fact that someone had actually tried to kill him.
Daniel wasn't stupid. He knew when to speak — and when to shut up.
After listening to his entire version of the story, the officer finally spoke.
"So you're saying..." he began, his voice dry, "when you got out of the car and turned around... the car and the driver had both mysteriously vanished? And after that, you swam towards the shore?"
Daniel nodded calmly.
"Then why didn't you inform us immediately?" the officer asked, frowning.
Daniel answered smoothly, "My smartwatch wasn't working. Plus, I had ended up at another part of the island — far away from where the car fell. Honestly... I have no idea how I even got there. Maybe I accidentally teleported somehow. Anyway, I returned to the Academy as soon as I could."
The officer simply noted down Daniel's words without reacting much.
It wasn't his job to care about truth or lies — just paperwork and formalities.
And once done, he got up and left.
---
But Principal Elena...
She wasn't so easily convinced.
For a few long seconds, she stared at Daniel — her sharp crimson eyes filled with silent suspicion.
"Now..." she said slowly, voice calm but dangerous, "Tell me, Daniel... What really happened?"
Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew exactly what kind of person Elena was.
Powerful. Ancient. And extremely well-informed.
She knew all about the Guardian Beasts.
She knew all about Selena — the Sea Witch of the Ocean Depths.
And Daniel knew one more thing...
→ If he told her the full truth — including that he had killed Selena — things might spiral completely out of control.
'Tch... This old witch won't buy my lies forever…' Daniel thought in his mind, staying perfectly calm on the outside.
But what he said next... would decide everything.
But Daniel knew one thing for sure —
There was no way he could tell Principal Elena that he had killed Selena.
Selena — the Guardian of the Ocean.
The ancient sea-beast who protected this island for centuries.
In fact, the only reason this Academy even existed here…
…was because no one dared attack a place under Selena's protection.
But now?
Now that Daniel had killed her...
That invisible shield was gone.
If this truth got out —
It wouldn't just put Daniel in danger...
It would put the entire Academy at risk.
And so, Daniel carefully edited his story.
He left out the part where Selena had swallowed him whole.
Instead, he told a much simpler — and much safer — version.
---
"At that time... I was hiding inside the car," Daniel explained calmly, "Maybe that's why Selena didn't notice me. Meanwhile, the car sort of got stuck on that snake... and dragged forward. But after a while, the car separated from me... and I got a chance to swim up and escape. Selena didn't even come after me once."
It was a clean lie.
Believable. Safe.
Principal Elena listened carefully, her face calm and unreadable.
When Daniel finished, she asked him in her cold, composed voice —
"But tell me one thing...
Who would even want to kill you?"
Daniel just shrugged his shoulders casually.
"I don't know," he replied honestly. "That's exactly why I came straight to the Academy. For now... this is probably the safest place for me."
Elena didn't react much.
Her face stayed still, her thoughts hidden.
Finally, she spoke.
"Alright then. You may leave. But listen carefully — don't tell anyone about that snake incident. If the students hear about it... it'll create unnecessary panic."
Daniel chuckled softly, "Don't worry, Principal ma'am. That story's so unbelievable... I doubt anyone would believe me anyway."
Saying that, he turned to leave.
And as he walked away from the office —
Daniel whispered to himself with a smirk —
"Who'd believe a D-grade villain anyway?"