The next morning, a new day began. The first class was Jane’s Basic Black Magic, and just as she had warned, her БМАТ feedback was merciless. She went through the class student by student, thoroughly pointing out everything they needed to improve. For Simon, the criticism was, as expected, the thirty minutes it took him to summon his Blood Golem. Jane, however, went beyond mere critique, offering him ways to simplify the formula and new training methods for hemomancy techniques. Every word was invaluable.
After the feedback session, the class relocated to a nearby indoor training facility.
"A practical lesson, just like that? What’s she planning to teach us?"
"No idea."
Most of the students were on high alert after learning the theme of the third БМАТ, so the atmosphere in the class was more focused than ever.
"Alright," Jane announced, stepping forward. "Today, we will learn how to strengthen the binding of a magic circle."
The four members of Team 7 exchanged meaningful glances. Following the TAs’ instructions, the students stood at a set distance from each other, each holding a basic ‘Jet-Black Arrow’ magic circle at the ready. Then, one of the TAs conjured a wind of black magic.
"Ugh!"
"I can’t see a thing!"
It felt like being dropped into the middle of a black sandstorm. Fortunately, the students themselves were unharmed, their eyes not even stinging, but the same couldn’t be said for their magic circles. Exposed to the pressure of the black wind, the circles began to crack before completely shattering. The sound of breaking magic, echoed from all directions. When the wind finally subsided, not a single student in Class A had managed to maintain their circle.
"This is harder than it looks."
"I thought at least one person would hold out."
A few students muttered in disappointment.
"Maybe this БМАТ is related to wind or flight?"
"That’s it! That has to be it!"
Some students, slow on the uptake, jumped to entirely wrong conclusions. Hearing this, Dick chuckled and nudged Simon’s elbow.
"Attention," Jane commanded, stepping forward again. "There’s no need to be disappointed. Since everyone failed, you’re all starting on equal footing. Now, I will explain the three elements of magic circle binding."
Every student, Simon included, listened with rapt attention.
The base. The binding formula. The ecosystem. She explained that if even one of these three elements was lacking, the magic circle was bound to collapse.
"Try to recall how your magic circles were just destroyed." She began to draw a magic circle on a portable blackboard as she lectured. "If the magic circle was destroyed from the outside in, it’s highly likely that the strength of the ‘base’ was poorly designed. The base is the ultimate protection for a magic circle."
"If it collapsed from within, it’s a binding issue. The fastest solution is to add a binding formula within the magic circle. However, you will have to sacrifice something, such as attack power, output, or casting speed."
"There will also be cases where other parts are fine, but a specific formula malfunctions. In that case, you must question whether the connections between the formulas have been properly established. A magic circle with what is commonly called a ‘healthy ecosystem’ will never collapse easily."
To put Jane’s class simply, it was like following a meticulously crafted narrative, flawless from beginning to end.
She divided the students into three groups, prescribing a different remedy for each.
After the students worked on their weaknesses, the TA conjured the black wind again. This time, six of them succeeded.
The students who failed were lacking in one of the three elements.
She gave them the next remedy. When the TA created the wind again, a whopping twenty-five students succeeded.
And so, on the fourth attempt...
"It worked!!" a student shouted.
Everyone in Class A, including Simon, had succeeded. From total failure to complete success, without a single person left behind. Her teaching was like magic.
The students chattered with flushed, excited faces.
"Now this is a class!"
"I don’t know about anything else, but we really hit the jackpot with our professor."
After finishing the practical session, they returned to the lecture hall, where she offered some theoretical advice. Her explanation included a section on ‘formula modification,’ which was particularly helpful for Simon.
’I’ll need to work on the Blood Golem and the Jet-Black Torpedo a bit more.’
As he listened, ideas on how to reduce the thirty-minute casting time flooded his mind. He felt an urge to run out of the lecture hall right then and there to start modifying his magic circles, especially the ones for aquatic use.
And so...
"Good work, everyone!"
Jane’s class, which had filled the entire morning, was finally over. She and her TAs swept out of the room with their briefcases, leaving the students to pack their things amidst a lively buzz.
"That was the best! Professor Jane really should have been the one teaching Jet-Black Dynamics!" Meirin exclaimed, still glowing from the lesson.
Dick, who was putting a textbook into his bag, grinned. "Oh, that’s a bold statement! Dissing Professor Eric? I’m gonna tell on you..."
"When did I ever—!" Meirin flared up and swung her textbook. Dick quickly ducked to avoid it.
"Ah, again! Please don’t fight!" Kamibarez cried out, startled.
Simon, used to their antics, turned to her. "Kami, do you happen to know what the next class is?"
"Yes. It’s Venomology!"
At her words, Meirin’s face soured. "The first and second classes are complete opposites."
"Yeah, I know."
Just as the students were chatting and preparing to file out of the lecture hall, a sharp ‘clap, clap’ echoed from the front.
"Everyone! Sorry, but could I have your attention for a moment?"
A girl with neatly braided hair had stepped forward, her clear voice capturing the room’s attention. Her name was Claudia Mendes, the top Venomology aspirant in Class A. The students who had been on their way out paused, curious.
"As you all know," she began, the nervous tension plain on her face, "the next class is Venomology."
Her friends behind her offered quiet words of encouragement. She managed a strained smile and a nod before continuing, her voice gaining strength.
"Our new professor, Professor Byulya, is forcing an excruciatingly painful and barbaric curriculum on us, making students drink poison."
Simon, who had been listening quietly, felt his eyes widen. ‘Wait, what did she just say?’
A wave of murmurs swept through the other students, who were just as shocked. While everyone had been complaining about Professor Byulya in private, no one had ever dared to voice their grievances so publicly.
"Honestly, I don’t think you can even call it a class." Having clearly made up her mind, Claudia’s statements grew bolder. "Frankly, things were better under Professor Lang. At least we learned something then. The only thing I’ve learned from Professor Byulya’s class is that drinking poison hurts. We’re throwing up, getting nauseous, our skin is breaking out, and it even affects our performance in the next class. You all know what I’m talking about, right?"
The students swallowed hard. Regardless of the intensity of her words, most of them agreed. She slammed her palm on the desk for emphasis.
"There are students whose pre-existing conditions have gotten worse! And others whose grades are suffering because they’re stuck in the infirmary! This is just wrong..."
"Hold on."
A voice cut through her speech like a knife. A heavy silence descended upon the Class A lecture hall.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
In the very back row, a boy with a build like a towering mountain made his presence known. "What’s with all this bullshit, stopping people from leaving?"
It was Hector.
Faced with unexpected opposition from the most influential student in Class A, Claudia’s expression hardened. Hector’s followers, who had been nodding along to her speech just moments before, instantly changed their tune.
"That’s right! Who does she think she is, causing a scene? This is ridiculous."
"I never liked her from the start."
A hostile atmosphere began to coalesce around Hector. Claudia’s lips trembled with fear, but she forced a smile.
"S-Sorry, Hector. I just..."
"So what the fuck is your point?" he growled.
Fortunately, it seemed he was willing to hear her out rather than just shut her down. Emboldened, Claudia adopted a serious expression.
"I’m planning to boycott Professor Byulya’s class."
Murmurs erupted throughout the room. The shocking declaration sent the entire classroom into an uproar. Students boycotting a Kizen professor’s class—an act that bordered on sacrilege! It was something no one had ever imagined.
"Let me be clear, this wasn’t my decision alone," Claudia raised her voice over the growing chaos. "All the students from the other classes taking Professor Byulya’s course have decided to join forces. We’re boycotting the poison-drinking class starting today, and I believe our Class A must take part."
A large-scale walkout, coordinated with other classes. The situation was spiraling out of control.
"Of course, we’re not trying to force Professor Byulya to retire. If she agrees to stop this bizarre class and instead conduct lessons based on textbooks and academics, we are willing to end the boycott immediately. Until then, we will refuse to attend class and will protest in front of the Venomology building."
Claudia’s friends moved quickly, placing documents and quill pens on the students’ desks. A girl approached Simon, set down a paper, and whispered, "Please help us," before moving on.
Simon scanned the document. ‘We Oppose Professor Byulya’s Poison Class! We Don’t Want to Be Test Subjects!’ It detailed all of Byulya’s bizarre actions, including complaints about her attire, attitude, and verbal abuse.
"This is a fight to reclaim our basic rights as students," Claudia emphasized. "If you agree, please sign. The support of each and every one of you will be a huge help."
Just then, Hector shoved his chair back and rose to his feet, his body like a big mountain.
"This is too pathetic to listen to."
He turned his back and stormed out of the classroom, his faction scrambling to follow. Claudia, who had been watching with a defiant expression, raised her voice even louder as soon as Hector was gone.
"Please! It’s time we put a stop to Professor Byulya’s bizarre behavior with our own strength!"
Hector’s quick departure, however, actually worked in her favor. The students who had been cautiously watching him now began to sign the petition. Swept up in the atmosphere, several others picked up their quills.
"I’ll sign, but I can’t join the boycott," one male student said, handing the document back to Claudia. "I don’t want to get on a Kizen professor’s bad side."
"Ah, of course, I understand. Thank you for signing, at least. If you change your mind, please let me know."
It seemed that over thirty percent of Class A had signed. As Simon was reading the document and contemplating his decision, a commotion suddenly erupted next to him. Cindy Vivace and Claudia were arguing.
"I’m not doing it."
When Cindy flatly refused, Claudia’s face filled with betrayal.
"Cindy! I really trusted you! How could you do this to me? I even shared my Venomology notes with you!"
"I’m just not into it." Cindy dragged her chair back and stood up. "You’ve been attending class quietly all this time. Why the sudden drama?"
"What do you mean, ‘sudden’?! It’s because—"
"Let’s be blunt," Cindy interrupted, slinging the jacket from her chair over her shoulder. "You’re calling it a joint class boycott, but isn’t it really just you and the venom geeks from each class stirring everyone else up?"
’Venom geeks’ was the derogatory slang Kizen students used for Venomology aspirants. Claudia’s expression turned to stone.
"And besides, the venom geeks’ rankings dropped like a rock in the last БМАТ, didn’t they? You all were whining about it the entire performance evaluation period. How all the other professors look out for their students, but ours just makes us chug poison regardless of the БМАТ."
"Hey! That has nothing to do with this! You’re going too far...!"
"Since we’re on the topic, I’ll finish," Cindy said with a shrug. "I’m not taking Venomology, so it doesn’t affect me. And if what you say is true, I hope Professor Byulya keeps holding you venom geeks back. Kizen is a stage for extreme competition, isn’t it? If someone else’s misfortune increases my own survival rate, then so be it." She glanced around at the other Class A students. "You should all start thinking like Kizen students, too. Let’s go, guys."
Cindy and her group left the classroom. Claudia glared at her retreating back with venomous eyes.
"I’m never speaking to you again, Cindy. Ever."
At that, Cindy turned and smirked.
"We’d have to have been friends in the first place for that to mean anything."
And so, while some students agreed that Byulya’s class was too painful, others, like Cindy, saw an opportunity to keep their rivals in check. It was enough to make anyone give up, but Claudia, fueled by spite, only redoubled her efforts, moving through the room.
And this time, she stopped in front of Simon.
"Simon!" she pleaded. "Please! This is about us students reclaiming our most fundamental rights. If you, Special Admission No. 1, join the boycott, it would be a tremendous help!"
Simon, who had been staring at the document, slowly closed his eyes.
A moment later, he spoke.

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