I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!-Chapter 142: Learning the Art

Though Mia was furious, she knew better than to openly challenge Senior Frederick.

Defying a Senior Teacher was not only reckless but carried the risk of consequences—ones that could very well include a salary cut.

Swallowing her frustration, she focused on her task, beginning the registration process for the students' Art Manuals and weapons.

Meanwhile, Ashok was nearing the end of his tale.

Frederick leaned back slightly, the amusement clear in his expression.

"Did that dwarf really stoop so low as to bribe you with a Diamond Pass just to make you his disciple?" he asked, his mocking smile widening.

Ashok met his gaze without hesitation. "Do you think I'm lying after everything I've told you?" His tone was flat—unwavering.

Frederick let out a deep, hearty laugh.

"Hilarious! HAHAHA! Just how far has that dwarf fallen?" His laughter echoed through the hall, unrestrained amusement spilling through every word.

"I'll make sure to have a nice chat with him the next time we meet." Even as he spoke, Frederick's mind was already at work, thinking of how best to tease Hamiel when their paths crossed again.

Ashok, having finished his conversation, picked up the two Art Manuals—ready to leave.

But just as he moved, Frederick's voice rang out, sharp and deliberate.

"Make sure you don't misuse that Silver Pass."

The words carried weight—not just in meaning but in intended effect.

Frederick had spoken loudly enough for every student in the hall to hear him.

Exactly as planned.

Almost immediately, all eyes shifted toward Ashok.

Only then did they notice the two Art Manuals in his grasp.

Elara clenched her fists, frustration bubbling beneath her composed exterior.

'After messing everything up for us, he not only walks away with a Silver Pass but also two Art Manuals?'

She stomped her foot slightly, unable to suppress the irritation brewing inside her. The sheer unfairness of it all gnawed at her.

Isolde, watching quietly, narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the situation. 'Does he have connections within the Academy?'

That was the first thought that crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

Nothing Adlet had done so far indicated any direct favoritism.

Though she wasn't sure how he had managed to form this unexpected rapport with Teacher Frederick—having returned at the very end—it was impossible to ignore the fact that he possessed uncanny knowledge.

Because with that knowledge alone he was a head ahead of the entire class.

Gideon observed the scene with a conflicted expression. 'I can't tell if he's brilliant or completely reckless.'

There was a certain boldness in Adlet's actions—one that would inevitably breed hostility.

'Everything he's done so far has undoubtedly made him an enemy of the class.'

And yet, Gideon couldn't understand why he would take such a risk.

In his eyes, Adlet was full of openings—flaws that made him vulnerable.

Gideon was confident that if they ever faced off, he could defeat him within three moves.

So where did this unwavering confidence stem from?

Leon's thoughts were singular, unwavering—he had to make amends with Teacher Mia.

His mind refused to linger on Adlet or any of the unfolding chaos.

Clearing the misunderstanding came first.

The look of disappointment Mia had given him earlier was burned into his memory, weighing heavily on his conscience.

He truly felt ashamed—not just for his actions, but for how they had been perceived.

He wanted to fix things, to apologize, to explain himself. That was all that mattered now.

Meanwhile, Varnok's focus was elsewhere.

His mind was replaying the confrontation with Leon, imagining a battle that never happened—one that Teacher Mia had interrupted before it could unfold.

Over and over, he tried to craft scenarios in which he could have won, yet no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find a way to defeat Leon in his head.

Frustration simmered beneath the surface.

'I've gotten lax after coming here', he admitted to himself.

He clenched his club tightly, the weight of his resolve settling in his grip.

'I need to intensify my training… the Hero is strong, and not just him…' His thoughts drifted to the one who kicked the book, another presence that held undeniable strength.

'If I let myself stagnate, I'll never be able to defeat the High King.'

A sharp breath escaped him.

He would become the strongest in the class.

Across the hall, Althea's gaze lingered on Leon, her expression softening as she watched the subtle sadness in his eyes.

A tightening sensation gripped her chest—unfamiliar, unexplainable. She wanted to say something, to reach out, to offer comfort, but uncertainty paralyzed her.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

'What is this feeling?' The thought was bewildering.

'Am I ill?'

For Althea, the Heir of the Magic Tower, emotions had always been an elusive, unstructured phenomenon.

Raised more by books than people, she had spent her life immersed in logic, discipline, and meticulous study.

Yet now—this unfamiliar feeling stirring within her as she thought about Leon—it left her perplexed.

She understood, in theory, that friendship offered insight into different aspects of life—that it was meant to be valuable.

But was this how friends always felt about each other? Was this sensation normal?

Her thoughts spiraled as she struggled to process it.

Meanwhile, Lilia was worlds apart from such confusion.

Her emotions were sharp, fiery, and unrelenting. Beneath her flawlessly sweet smile, rage burned.

Her glare never left Adlet.

'That obnoxious bug—how dare he make a fool of me and hoard away all the benefits?

I will not spare him.'

To her, Adlet was nothing more than an irritation she couldn't erase.

There was something unnatural about him—something that defied her supernatural power.

That alone was enough to unnerve her, but what truly infuriated her was the look in his eyes yesterday—the calm, unwavering gaze that reminded her of her father.

Not to mention what he did today.

She wanted revenge.

But she wasn't foolish enough to act impulsively.

Swinging a weapon against someone so cold-minded would be reckless. He didn't react like others—he calculated.

And so, she would do the same.

As thoughts of retaliation solidified in her mind, she leaned closer to Lyssa, whispering softly.

Her words were careful, deliberate—a plan taking shape.

Across the room, Mia, having registered all 49 students, placed the ledger onto the desk, exhaling quietly.

"You sure work fast," Frederick remarked, reaching for the book and sliding it beneath the table.

Mia paused.

His tone—was it praise? Or was it mockery? She couldn't quite tell.

Instead of entertaining unnecessary speculation, she merely gave a curt nod, then turned away, choosing silence over conflict.

Mia's voice carried across the hall, clear and authoritative.

"Everyone, store your weapons and begin studying your Art Manuals. We will return to class once everyone has finished."

The students obeyed without hesitation, shifting their focus to their respective manuals, the air filled with a quiet hum of concentration.

Ashok, reached for the External Art Manual first.

The moment he opened the book, it disintegrated into tiny pixels of light, shimmering briefly before rushing toward his mind like a surge of energy.

His eyes closed, his consciousness absorbing the influx of knowledge.

Within the depths of his mind, an image materialized—a holographic figure, its movements fluid, precise.

The man performed 36 distinct body postures, shifting through them at different times of the day.

Ashok observed in silence, his mind weaving the technique's intricate details together.

Without needing instruction, he understood.

The 36 postures were crafted for muscle extension and relaxation, each designed with meticulous intent.

They were divided into twelve sets of three, each set meant to be performed at a specific time of day.

This was the Helion Flow Technique, created by the Sun Paladin—a method attuned to the very rhythm of the sun.

The First Set was to be practiced under the rising sun, during early morning.

The Second Set, executed at midday.

The Third Set, performed during sunset, focused on closing the body's energy flow, promoting balance.

As the understanding settled, Ashok's eyes opened, the vision fading into the depths of his consciousness.

Around him, students remained absorbed in their manuals, their expressions a mix of focus and determination.

Just as Ashok moved to open the Internal Art Manual, a voice interrupted—

"You should—" Frederick began, but his words were cut off as Ashok had already opened the book, activating the second manual without hesitation.

As Ashok opened the Internal Art Manual, the book dissolved into pixels of light, just as the first had done.

The shimmering fragments surged toward his mind, ushering in another wave of knowledge, this time more intricate—more profound.

Within his consciousness, a holographic image formed, similar to the first, yet undeniably different.

This time, the figure was seated alone in a lotus position, his posture unwavering, his presence serene.

But what caught Ashok's attention most was not the stance—it was what lay within.

His sight pierced through the man's body, revealing something beyond flesh and bone—where a heart should have been, there pulsed a luminous blue orb.

The Mana Core—the foundation of every mage.

Then, movement.

Ashok observed as mana slowly seeped from the core, flowing along the body's natural pathways.

It traveled through the veins, descending to the lower body, finally settling within the toes.

A pause—before another shift.

The mana, once concentrated below, redirected itself, flowing upward toward the hands, gathering within the fingertips.

Then, for the final sequence, the energy surged toward the head, pooling at its peak.

And in an instant—without hesitation—all the mana rushed back toward the core, converging simultaneously, returning to its origin, settling deep within.

The holographic figure shifted again—this time splitting into five, each demonstrating the previous motions isolated, offering clarity to each individual energy pathway.

Understanding crystallized within Ashok's mind.

His eyes opened and he saw two pair of wide eyes staring at him.