Chapter 230: Too Easy Azel knew a lot of things about the heroines, and that was exactly why he wanted to save them in the first place. He knew their habits, their talents, their weaknesses, and even their tragic deaths. With that knowledge, it wasn’t hard to approach them, start conversations, or find ways to make them open up. It wasn’t easy knowing everything about them but that was just a small price to pay for meeting them in reality and being able to be a part of the plot, as well as disrespecting or overdoing Reinhardt at every point. But Flare was different. Out of all the heroines, she was the one he knew the least about. Beyond her storyline and the only reason he even knew that was because she died the very day after opening up to Reinhardt, there wasn’t much about it. There was still a whole lot more he had yet to know about her, apart from the fact that her siblings were total assholes. The world had been so cruel to her. She had lived her life alone, and the moment she let someone in, her life had been cut short. It was such a cruel, unfair story courtesy of the sadistic developers. He sat beside her, debating in his head how to speak, when it turned out he didn’t have to fret over the matter for long. Flare herself turned her tired eyes toward him, meeting his gaze directly. "Class Rep?" she asked quietly. Azel blinked but nodded. "Yes?" Her lips parted slightly before she asked, "Do you think it’s shameful to learn Enchantment? Especially when you’re a noble from a high-ranking family?" The question caught him off guard. ’Why is she asking me this?’ he wondered silently. Was she trying to get his opinion on what she was doing? Nevertheless his reply came smoothly. "It’s not shameful at all. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Though, if a noble from a high-ranking family ends up here, in an Enchantment class, it usually means there are... special circumstances." Flare gave a small laugh, but it sounded tired and bitter. She turned back to her paper. "Circumstances is a nice way to put it," she said softly. "I heard you can use both mana and aura. Maybe you didn’t know, but the main families are going crazy over you right now. So... be expecting marriage proposals anytime soon." Azel let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Of course," he muttered. He would never really understand noble business but who could? The delusion folks were always in a world of their own. "Silence!" a voice barked, but both of them ignored it, too absorbed in their own conversation. "You’re right," Azel admitted. "I’m not up to date with noble news. But what you say sounds true enough." Her eyes flicked toward him again. "W-with your magic," she asked while biting her lower lip nervously, "do you have any problems? Since you have both aura and magic... one should outweigh the other, right?" "I don’t have that problem," Azel said bluntly. "However, in your case, it seems... peculiar." "I didn—" "Silence!" The hoarse voice cut through the air again, this time it got their attention. Both Azel and Flare finally looked forward. The professor of this class was now standing at the podium. The man looked furious at first glance. His face was squeezed together in irritation, as if every student in the room had personally insulted him just by breathing. He wasn’t a young man either... his bald head gleamed under the light, and his burly frame seemed more fit for a soldier than a professor. Did he get lost somewhere or what? Azel stared blankly. ’Great. Another crazy professor?’ But then, just as suddenly, the man’s expression shifted. The anger faded, the harsh lines on his face smoothed out, and what emerged instead was... gentle. His face now looked kind, almost fatherly, like a man who might spend all his free time donating to orphanages. ’The fuck?’ Azel thought, glancing at Flare. Her eyes had widened a bit as well. Clearly, she was just as surprised. The man cleared his throat. "I’ll be your Enchantment teacher. My name is Professor Rudeus." His voice was even more polite. "And today, I’ll teach you the basics of Enchantment..." He turned toward the board and began drawing. His strokes were careful but quick, forming a circle that resembled a smaller version of a regular magic circle. Azel leaned back slightly. This class, at least, seemed like it might be useful. Enchantment was a slow art, but if he could combine runes with enchantments, he would be able to abuse them a lot. He was ready to get comfortable and pay attention, after all, being a Mage meant you had to take advantage of magic in any way. But before he could even settle in, Flare raised her hand. Professor Rudeus blinked and turned to her. "Do you have a question, Student Flare? I didn’t even start teaching yet." Flare stood straight. "I’m sorry for disturbing, Professor. But this class is too easy for me. I’m already well-versed with the basics." The classroom fell into silence. Azel’s mouth almost dropped open. ’What the fuck?! What do you mean this class is too easy?!’ he screamed internally. His eyes darted around. The other students were glaring daggers at her. If looks could kill, Flare would’ve been turned to ashes on the spot. ’Are you trying to make enemies here?!’ Azel groaned inwardly. Professor Rudeus stroked his bare chin, humming thoughtfully. "Hmm... I see." For a moment, he seemed to think it over. Then he nodded to himself, his gentle expression returning. "Well then," he said slowly, "if you can stack five enchantments upon each other, I’ll put in a good word for you. You’ll be allowed to enter the Advanced Enchantment class reserved for second years." The entire room buzzed with shock. Azel’s face darkened. ’...I’m fucked,’ he thought bitterly. Why was it that heroines always went out of their way to make life a whole lot harder?