After being left alone, I stood there trying to process the events that had just taken place.
Everything that Cleopatra had said hardly made sense to me. It took me by surprise and left me more confused than I ever had been.
However, my thoughts wandered elsewhere. To this strange thing called the Bully system.
I focused on it in my mind. It seemed to activate at a mere thought of the word and filled my mind like information from a book.
~~~
[BULLY SYSTEM ACTIVATED ]
> Host: William Bulwhist
> Rank: Victim
> Progress to Next Rank: 5%
> Current BP (Bully Points): 1000
[ Registered Bullies ]
~ Claudia Eagleton
~ Harriet White
~ Johan Valledon
[ Available Punishments ]
▸ Brand of the Slave
Effect: Forces the target into absolute obedience. They must follow all spoken commands from the Host.
Cost: 1000 BP
▸ Brand of Misfortune
Effect: The target experiences continuous, unexplained misfortune in daily life.
Cost: 500 BP
▸ Brand of Pain
Effect: Inflict intense pain on the target for 10 seconds while they are within the Host's line of sight.
Cost: 500 BP
[ System Rules ]
~ Bully Points (BP) are earned by enduring and overcoming bullying in various forms.
~ Punishments ("Brands") can only be applied to registered bullies.
~ Additional system features will unlock upon rank advancement.
[ System Notice ]
Strength is earned through suffering. Endure. Rise, and dominate, my little victim.
~~~
When the system unfolded itself in my mind, I first thought that I had entered the heavens.
Just by glancing over the words that filled my mind, I knew that if this was all true, everything was about to change.
I had never believed in the gods, but it seemed that even still, they had given me their blessing. I now held the ability to punish all those who had done me wrong.
To calm myself down, I paced myself back and forth on the rooftop. I still had ten minutes before class started, which meant I had time to make changes.
The system's most important feature seemed to be its Bully Points and Punishments. If I endured and overcame bullying, I would earn a certain number of these points, which could be spent on new methods of punishment.
As for the punishments... they were brutal.
The system had already gifted me with 1000 of these points, meaning I could either purchase the two cheaper ones, which could make my bullies feel pain, or experience terrible luck. Or, I can spend all of my points on the best punishment of them all.
Assuming that the brands could only be used once, that meant that there was no way for me to punish all my bullies at once. I would have to select wisely.
As I went over the various options in my mind, it felt like I was going crazy. I even found myself smiling maniacally, as if I had already won.
The gods should never have given me such a gift...
After careful thought, I purchased the Brand of the Slave, with the intentions of using it on Claudia. My body shook with excitement just thinking about what I would do with it.
[Punishment Purchased]
[Please select a bully to punish]
~ Claudia Eagleton
~ Harriet White
~ Johan Valledon
...
I did not select anybody, yet. I wanted to see the look on her face when she realised that every word of mine would be an order that she had to follow...
The system naturally saved this decision and would allow me to make my choice at a later date.
Afterwards, I checked the punishment store again to see if anything had changed. Nothing had, which made me assume that in order to find new punishments, I would have to rank up.
...
On the rooftop that day, where the green sun shone bright, I was a victim, but I had a feeling that it would not last for long.
~~~
"Okay, students of year one, class-E. In today's lesson, we will be learning about the history of the establishment of the Eisenverent Empire."
As I sat in the back of the class, I joined my fellow classmates as we let out a joint sigh.
Being a student of the Eisenverent Academy, it was of utmost importance that we learned about the basic details of the empire's establishment, over, and over again.
I wouldn't have minded, if I were able to focus in classes. I never could, because I was too busy being distracted by pieces of scrunched up paper flying at my head.
Most of the class, which was filled with sixty students, usually had a laugh at this. However, the system seemed to only recognise the girl who was behind it the most, and the underlings.
Claudia.
THWACK
A crumpled piece of paper augmented by Atherstrom hit me in the side of my head only five minutes into class. This was followed by a round of giggles from those who had watched it happen.
My head rung. Atherstrom could make even a piece of paper feel like stone.
Professor Igritt turned around with a brow furrowed angrily.
"Do you think it is acceptable to laugh whilst your teacher tries to educate you?" The tall, black-haired professor spoke. She was pretty, and know for being curvy, despite being in her fifties.
"Sorry, Miss. It was William. He keeps pulling silly faces and making us laugh." Claudia responded.
[50 BP Earned!]
So, that's how it works.
The teacher's eyes fell on me immediately, and her rage only grew.
Usually, I would defend myself when such things were said. This time, I didn't.
"Is that so, William? You think it is acceptable to make silly faces behind my back?"
Professor Igritt was a strict professor, who didn't shy away from beating misbehaved students, which was a common practise in the empire. I knew this first-hand.
The professor reached onto her desk, pulled out a wooden ruler, and smacked it on her hands menacingly, whilst eyeing me down.
"Let's see if you find it funny after you receive a spanking."
None of the other students laughed, but I could see the looks of amusement on their faces.
This had happened to me a few times before already, in only my first week. The teacher would force me to bend over, and hit me with a ruler on my behind, making me the laughing stock of Class-E.
I wondered why the system did not recognise her as a bully, and secretly hoped someday that would change.
"What are you waiting for, child. Come on up and bend over the desk."
I looked around and saw everyone's eyes on me, as they waited to receive their amusement.
I would make sure they got it, but it would not be at my own expense.
So, I activated a Brand of the Slave and used it on Claudia.