An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 19: The Angel Prepares (5)

Soya began devouring the fried rice, and soon enough, she started eating Leffrey's portion as well.

Still, Leffrey didn't mind.

[Sharing your own food with the hungry is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

'As expected of my Angelic Power source.'

Leffrey, who was on the verge of collapse due to Angelic Power depletion, felt his strength return as he gave Soya his portion as well.

In another sense, he had filled his stomach.

"Ah... wait a minute..."

Soya only then realized that she was also eating Leffrey's lunch. She blushed and whispered quietly,

Then she took a piece of paper out of her pocket and started scribbling something on it. And then, she bit her thumb and even stamped a small fingerprint on it.

"Here, take it."

The identity of that paper was…

'...What is this? Things I need to repay Leffrey?'

It was a note listing the things Soya owed Leffrey. The strange thing was that the shape of the fingerprint changed, turning into a cute chibi version of Soya.

It seemed to be some kind of magic.

"What is this?"

"An IOU. Remember, a black mage always repays their debts. Whether it's a favor or a grudge..."

Leffrey obviously didn't need something like this. But he couldn't refuse because…

"You're investing in me, right? In me, who will become the best mage."

"...Yeah."

If he said he didn't need it here, that prideful Black Magic Princess would surely say something like, 'Are you pitying me again?' and their relationship would be ruined.

'That being said, still...'

Leffrey looked at Soya's appearance and thought. Her already worn-out robe was even dirtier, and her most prized possession, her wizard hat (just a fashion item), was slightly bent.

'It seems like the bullying is quite severe...'

He had expected some degree of bullying. After all, magical studies was a field pursued only by people from wealthy families, so it wasn't difficult to guess that there would be an inner circle.

Their goal would be to quickly eliminate Soya, the young whale who could break that inner circle in one fell swoop, in one way or another.

Leffrey fell into thought for a moment.

How could he just declare words like 'Stop the bullying!' to the bad group that’s harassing Soya…

The young black mage watching him could only guess that he was maybe angry because she had eaten his fried rice as well.

"..."

"Soya."

"Yeah? What?"

And the cathedral needed furniture. He could sleep on the marble floor as if it were a stone bed, but... basic appliances were irreplaceable.

Soya's dorm room probably had all those appliances, right? Wait, where would he get the electricity to use the appliances?

Soya would take care of all that too.

Soya was a genius, and black magic was an angel.

...That was what Leffrey thought.

In the end, there was only one answer.

Get Soya out of the dormitory...!

Leffrey immediately made a suggestion.

"Do you want to leave the dormitory? I'll get you another place to stay."

"...What? What are you talking about?"

Soya replied sharply. Leffrey hid his interior design plans in his heart and said to the girl,

"But you... you can't even eat properly."

"...I'm on a diet."

"Then you won't grow taller. I'll cook for you."

"The food was delici... no, I'm drinking milk! I don't need it! And you..."

Soya stood up abruptly.

Her expression was cold.

"I told you not to pity me."

"I'm not... we're supposed to be a party."

A party was just a business relationship, so there was no reason to take care of her like this…

The boy was just smiling with an angelic expression. Soya couldn't sense any ulterior motives in the boy's expression. Contrary to the truth.

'Was I really trying to use this child...'

In the end, Soya could only say,

"I only said that to use you."

Just like the other people who had used Soya, she had also intended to use Leffrey. To think he had brought her food so foolishly without knowing that…

Naturally, this was Soya's misunderstanding. Leffrey, the angel of self-interest, wouldn't move without a benefit. Unaware of this fact, Soya had no choice but to honestly express her feelings to this pure boy.

"I've come this far without anyone's help. Of course, it wasn't easy. But I've never stopped. So..."

There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Perhaps it was because of her family who had abandoned her and the acquaintances who had used and discarded her.

"I'll walk the path ahead alone as well. So the party thing is off. Of course, I'll definitely repay the debt in other ways."

Perhaps that's why Soya couldn't meet the boy's eyes. Even Soya, who had been betrayed countless times, wanted to believe, just this once, that 'maybe this time...' when she saw that innocent, angelic expression.

"I... I don't know what your intentions are in helping me... maybe you're helping me because you truly believe that I'll become the greatest mage ever..."

But Soya was that kind of girl.

"I don't trust people's kindness anymore. So stay away from me too."

Soya pushed Leffrey away. Leffrey still couldn't see Soya's expression. Why did the brim of her wizard hat have to be so big?

"I'll definitely repay the debt, so... go."

The irritating mana that she had been constantly feeling.

Soya could tell who the owners of that mana were without even looking. It was the group that had come to bully her.

'There are quite a few of them this time... did they even bring male upperclassmen? Or are they trying to finish me off today? Wait, it seems like they brought some magical tools too. Damn it, Professor Klein is on a business trip today.'

They naturally surrounded Leffrey and Soya.

They started picking a fight, spitting out words filled with hostility.

"A black mage in our department..."

"And she's a crazy b*tch who claims she originally developed the triple-layered spell formula that the Ripen family created?"

"How could a beggar's daughter create such a complex spell formula? She even said she developed the reverse summoning without chanting."

"Crazy talk. She really needs to be disciplined. It's a good thing Professor Klein is on a business trip..."

Actually, Soya had indeed developed all of those things.

The magical families had simply stolen them all.

That's why Soya couldn't trust anyone who offered to help her.

"Wait, who are you?"

"Ah... judging by your uniform, you're a first-year. Are you friends with this black magic b*tch?"

"If you don't get lost right now, you'll be lumped together with her."

"Hey... why are you looking at your seniors like that?"

The boy seemed to hesitate.

"Are you perhaps from some family? A guild?"

"I don't think so. He would have said something if he was."

"Hey. So a guy with no backing is acting up in front of us? First-year, want us to make your school life hell?"

Soya's hands trembled.

She hated being bullied, but she hated seeing the boy being bullied even more.

"Get lost."

"Wait, what did you say?"

"I wasn't talking to you trash. Leffrey, get out of here right now. I don't even want to see you... hurry!"

Whether it was unfortunate or fortunate, just as Leffrey couldn't see Soya's face, Soya couldn't see Leffrey's face either.

And people always imagine what they can't see.

An ungrateful woman who harshly pushes away someone who has helped her countless times. What kind of expression would the boy be making after hearing those words?

Would he be sad? Disappointed?

Or would he be relieved and happy, saying he was free?

Click- Click- The sound of shoes clicking.

She heard the boy leaving. As expected. Until now, the only people who had approached her, a black mage, were those who wanted to use her…

'I tried to use him this time too, so I'm not hurt.'

It was better this way.

There was no more reason for her heart to weaken.

She had to think that way…

But for some reason, Soya was incredibly sad.

.

.

Many people would think like this.

That these children needed a different kind of education. Not a modern education, but... a pre-modern education.

Pre-modern education allowed, no, encouraged, a certain degree of violence against children. In fact, it had to be that way... there was a saying that spoiling children would ruin them, right?

These children were the epitome of that saying.

The chosen children of chosen bloodlines. Moreover, if they were admitted to the prestigious Central Academy and everyone in the world praised them as elites…

They would cross the line somewhere.

Mere humans would start acting like something other than human.

The upperclassman who was bullying Soya said.

"Drop out. We're tired of doing this too."

"Shut up, you thieves. Trash."

"Ha, this crazy b*tch. Grab her. Let's really finish this today."

The moment the upperclassman grabbed a magical tool, Soya couldn't help but flinch.

How much were they going to torment her…

What exactly had she done so wrong…

That was the moment.

A voice came from somewhere.

"Aren't you ashamed?"

A voice. A truly beautiful voice. People often compared good voices to the voices of heaven... and that description was truly fitting for this voice.

The voice of the boy who had run away earlier.

"...What? You didn't leave? Do you want to die?"

"Wait, I thought we put up a barrier, how did that guy..."

But the boy wasn't looking at them.

And he wasn't talking to them either.

"Professor, what is this disgraceful spectacle?"

"...This is truly shameful."

The person Leffrey was talking to was the strongest elemental mage of the current era, Klein Porphyrogennetos. The professor said with a smile,

"To think that my young students would... be doing such a vulgar thing."

"Professor!"

"Professor, you were on a business trip..."

"I received an urgent call and had to come back immediately."

This was Leffrey's plan. He had just called Professor Klein, explained the situation of Soya being bullied, and even left the words, "The magical studies community is quite disappointing."

In short, he tattled.

It was a secret technique befitting an angel who tattled on people to God every day.

Klein, enraged by those words, immediately returned to the academy. Even though he had been on the other side of the Earth.

Naturally, the students who saw Klein panicked.

"Professor, this isn't what you think it is."

"Oh, then what is it?"

"It was discipline. A simple punishment for a lower classman who doesn't listen."

Professor Klein assessed the situation for a moment.

Was Leffrey telling the truth? Or were these magical studies students telling the truth? As a magical studies professor, it would be right to side with these students.

"Hah..."

As Klein sighed and remained silent, a few upperclassmen breathed sighs of relief.

But that was a mistake.

Klein remembered how Leffrey had sacrificed himself multiple times for others. And he even mistakenly thought that the boy was very smart.

There was no way such a child would make a wrong judgment.

So the ones who were truly wrong were…

"...I think I'll give some discipline and light punishment as well."

"P-Professor?"

"You dare slander and attack others with such meager skills? You nobles with no pride... and to make such a spectacle in front of Leffrey..."

Fire, water, earth, air.

The four elements began to gather around Professor Klein's shoulders.

"Don't think you'll get away unscathed."

That's why violence was sometimes called 'disciplinary action'. Of course, violence shouldn't be justified, but sometimes there were people who truly needed to be taught a lesson through violence. Leffrey watched Professor Klein's disciplinary action with a satisfied expression.

[Saving an innocent person from mob violence is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

[Saving a future hero is a truly angelic act!]

[You have gained a large amount of Angelic Power.]

Moreover, as expected, a large amount of Angelic Power. Soya was an tree that generously provided Angelic Power.

"Leffrey! I told you to leave...!"

Soya burst into tears once again.

Why did this boy keep helping her.

Even though she kept pushing him away?

"No. How could I leave a high-end appl... I mean, a friend?"

For a moment, he almost said, 'How could I leave high-end appliances?' Leffrey's desires kept popping up unexpectedly.

Soya looked at Leffrey.

A friend? She had never had such a thing in her life.

What exactly did friends do? What exactly did he want from her?

Would he betray her like everyone else?

'When I was so scared in the water... he reached out his hand for me. And today too...'

She didn't know exactly what a friend was, but now she could trust him a little.

"I don't need a friend. I told you before, I was trying to use you..."

"I need you too."

This was the truth.

Leffrey needed Soya.

For Angelic Power, magical technology, defeating the demon king in his place, and so on…

"...If you need me, I can be your friend."

"This time, let's be real friends."

[Becoming friends with a lonely girl is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

Soya muttered with a flushed face.

"...I'm only being your friend because I owe you a debt."

"Okay!"

Leffrey smiled brightly, truly happy.

It was like…

America’s joy at discovering a new oil field...?

Of course, Soya wasn't in a bad mood either. In fact, she should have been happy, but she couldn't bring herself to express it.

Because he hadn't left even though she told him to go…

She was grateful to the boy.

Of course, it was something the girl wouldn't admit.

'That being said, why is he so happy... it's like the joy of discovering a new oil field?'

As expected of Soya, her deduction skills were scary.