Allen, though trembling, gathered the courage to answer. "I'm the one who should be asking you! Why did you destroy the library door and the dormitory gate? You could have waited or—"
"Oh... so you dare to lecture me now?" Arvin cut him off with a creepy, crooked smile.
The classroom atmosphere became tense. The other students held their breath, worried Allen would be beaten or thrown out the window.
Thud!
Arvin pushed Allen's body until he was lying flat on the long desk. His left hand pinned Allen's chest down, while his right hand reached into his dimensional storage.
Cling!
A glass bottle containing a thick, shimmering purple liquid—Elixir of Archmage—appeared in Arvin's hand.
Allen's eyes widened. "W-What potion is that? And why are you taking it out?"
"For what?" Arvin brought his face close to Allen's. "Of course, I'm going to force you to drink it! I hate that self-righteous look of yours! Consider this a punishment!"
"Don't joke around! Stop! Let me go!" Allen struggled.
"After you looked at me like that, do you think I'll let you go?"
Arvin summoned dark element magic.
Chains of black shadows emerged from the floor, wrapping around Allen's wrists and ankles, binding him tightly to the desk so he couldn't move.
Their position was now very intimate and ambiguous. Arvin was on top of Allen, pinning him down. At this close range, Arvin could see how smooth Allen's skin was, how long his eyelashes were.
Wow! His face is so cute up close! Arvin's inner voice screamed in delight, contrasting with his sadistic outward expression. If only I could have him, how happy I would be! Hold it, Arvin. Don't smile. Keep the evil face on.
Allen struggled in panic. But suddenly, his body froze. His eyes widened in shock.
As their thighs touched because of Arvin's position pressing his knee between Allen's legs, he felt something hard pressing against his thigh. Something that was... stiffening.
What is happening? thought Allen in a panic. His face turned bright red. Why... why is 'that' reacting? Is he aroused? Does he want to molest me in public?!
Arvin was unaware of the fatal misunderstanding happening in Allen's head. His young body was reacting naturally to the physical proximity with the person he liked, but his brain was too focused on the mission to administer the potion.
Seeing Allen's mouth open in shock, Arvin didn't waste the opportunity.
"Open your mouth!"
He jammed the potion bottle into Allen's mouth roughly, pouring the purple liquid down the protagonist's throat.
"Cough! Cough!" Allen choked as the liquid forced its way in.
"Swallow!" ordered Arvin cruelly. "Don't you dare vomit it up! If you vomit even a single drop, I swear I will skin you alive, then heal you, and skin you again until you beg for death!"
The threat sounded so specific and horrifying. The look in Arvin's eyes was not playing around.
Allen, in extreme fear, was forced to swallow all the liquid. It tasted strange—bitter on the tongue, but warm as it touched his esophagus.
What? Why are you so cruel and rough to me? what did I do wrong, Arvin? Allen cried inwardly.
Suddenly...
Thump!
Allen's heart beat fast like a drum. Heat spread through all his blood vessels. His head spun as if being twirled around. The mana inside his body surged wildly, tearing through his old capacity limits and forming a new vessel that was far larger.
"Arghh... w-what have you done to me?" moaned Allen, his body twitching lightly. "What poison did you give me?"
Arvin released his grip, stepping back while laughing evilly. "Why should you know! Blame your eyes, why do you always look at me cynically! Now, enjoy the effects of that potion! Hahaha!"
His laughter boomed throughout the classroom, making the hair on every student's neck stand up. Arvin truly looked like a mad villain.
"Arvin... I hate you!" hissed Allen weakly, tears flowing from the corners of his eyes.
Those words stabbed Arvin's heart, but he swallowed them whole. This was the price he had to pay.
"Yes, that's better!" replied Arvin loudly. "Hate me all you want! Because I also hate liars like you!"
Allen gaped, his consciousness starting to fade. Liar?
"What do you mean, liar?"
"Think for yourself! I really hate liars and cowards who don't have the guts to admit it!"
Not long after, the mana overload effect caused Allen to lose consciousness. He fainted on the desk.
Arvin snorted, then using telekinesis magic, he lifted Allen's unconscious body and sat him back in his chair (somewhat) gently, though he was still bound by shadow chains.
"Hahaha. I told you, never mess with me! Idiot!"
Just then, the classroom door opened. A female teacher, Professor Elliana, entered and was shocked to death by the scene in front of her: Allen fainted and bound in black chains, and Arvin laughing next to him.
"Arvin Vedegra! What happened to your seatmate?!" shouted Professor Elliana.
Arvin turned casually. "I was just teaching him a little lesson, Professor. He dared to lecture me about the library door. Very presumptuous, don't you think?"
"Arvin!" Professor Elliana was about to get angry, but then she remembered the message from the Dean this morning. She sighed deeply, looking at the entire class.
"Listen, everyone!" said Professor Elliana loudly. "I just received news from the Dean. Arvin Vedegra did indeed destroy facilities, BUT... he was trapped in there due to staff negligence. And he has already paid compensation valued at ten times the cost of the damage."
The teacher stared sharply at the students who had been hostile toward Arvin earlier.
"Thanks to Arvin's magic crystal donation, this academy has obtained fresh funds of hundreds of thousands of gold coins to repair facilities for all of you. So, stop looking at him like a criminal!"
That explanation was like a second bomb. Everyone's view in the class changed instantly. Those who had felt self-righteous and cynical now lowered their heads in shame. Their faces turned bright red.
Arvin smirked with satisfaction seeing their reaction.
"Hear that, trash?" Arvin mocked. "If you don't know anything, better not act self-righteous! You guys really make me sick! Even though yesterday some of you saw me reading in the library until late afternoon, not a single one of you cared to tell me that the library was closing!"
He kicked his desk lightly, just enough for a dramatic effect.
"When I was forced to destroy the door to survive, you all looked at me cynically this morning! Do I need to gouge out your eyes one by one so you learn how to see facts?"
The class was silent. Gripping. Professor Elara could only smile wryly, unable to refute Arvin's logic even though his methods were brutal.
In his chair, the unconscious Allen snored softly, the mana inside his body now flowing rapidly like a great river, ready to make him the strongest mage in the future—all thanks to the 'poison' from the villain who secretly loved him.