"Yo, Headmaster."

Machida casually strolled into the Headmaster's office.

"Good afternoon, Machida-san. What may I do for you?"

I stood by the door, waiting on standby for Machida's orders.

"I'm gonna be blunt. Tell me how the S System works."

The Headmaster chuckled.

"I can't do that, I'm afraid."

"C'mon, why not?"

"It should be obvious."

"And here I thought you'd make an exception this one time if I asked politely."

"While it is smart of you to try and get answers straight from the source, did you really believe I'd give up the secrets of the S System so easily?"

"Ah? Yeah."

Even though the Headmaster was applying pressure onto him, Machida fearlessly snapped back with a cheeky smile.

"I have plenty of ways to force you into telling me how this system works."

"That's a nice bluff."

"I'm not bluffing. Albert."

When Machida called my name, I stared to worry a little bit. What was he thinking?

"Yes?"

I responded, entering the room.

"Sic him."

Machida pointed at the Headmaster.

I was shocked when I received the order. Was he insane? If I attacked the Headmaster of this school, I'd be expelled for sure.

However, Machida noticed my hesitation and snapped his fingers at me.

"Albert. I gave you an order."

"R-right."

Both Machida and the Headmaster could hear the hesitation in my voice.

I stepped forward and approached the Headmaster, who didn't budge from his seat.

Instead, he simply looked at me in the eyes.

"Albert-san, I'd think about this carefully if I were you."

Even though the Headmaster gave me a chance to back out of this decision, I was unable to heed his warning.

The panic from beginning to carry out this order kept my feet moving. I felt committed to follow through with this action out of fear.

I grabbed the Headmaster by the collar and raised my fist.

"Boss's orders."

I choked out those words before swinging.

However...

The Headmaster slapped away my fist and stood up, easily shaking off my grip.

"If you're going to attack me, try having more conviction."

The Headmaster left his desk and pat my shoulder, whispering that into my ear.

For a split second, I could see a gigantic centipede dangling behind him, stretching its tusks out to engorge me.

I staggered back, shaking.

That man was the devil in disguise...

Machida clicked his tongue but smiled, keeping up his confident poker face.

"This method of attack was particularly weak from you. It's rather uncreative as well, threatening someone."

"What can I say? It's simple but effective."

Machida shrugged as the Headmaster slowly approached him. I could see fists form in Machida's pockets. Was he considering to punch him too?

"I may be an old man, but I have some fight left in me too, you know? So come on."

The Headmaster put a hand on Machida's shoulder.

I could see the centipede dangling again, this time with its tusks aimed at Machida's throat.

Machida's poker face broke as fear started to leak out.

This was my first time seeing him scared.

"Show me another way how you'll force the secrets of the S System out of me."

The centipede opened its jaws and took a massive bite into Machida's neck.

Sweat dripped from Machida's brow as the Headmaster loomed over him menacingly.

"I'd love to see what other tricks you have in your arsenal. I dare you."

The Headmaster calmly whispered into his ear.

Centipede after centipede left the Headmaster's mouth, squirming their way inside of Machida's ear, and hijacking his brain.

Incapacitated by the poisonous centipedes, Machida let out a hollow laugh from under his breath and put his hands up.

"Ha ha... I surrender. It's obvious I'm not gonna get anything from you this way."

"Good. If you understand that, then I believe some ramifications for your impudence is due."

"Let me guess, you're gonna forcibly send me to E Class even though I'm B Class's rep?"

Even though he was speaking with the Headmaster, Machida kept a casual tone and asked a sarcastic question like that.

"That would be the obvious option. However, if you're willing to enact this stunt in the first place, that means you've prepared yourself for this outcome. And if that's the case, then giving you that punishment would be the same as letting you off the hook."

"What are you gonna do, then?"

Machida kept defying the Headmaster by talking back to him.

"Since you're too much of a coward to attack me yourself, I'll take away your muscle from you."

At that point, the Headmaster looked at me.

"Albert-san. I'll be sending you to E Class instead."

"...what?"

My shoulders dropped in shock.

"Oi."

Machida slammed his fist against the door to catch the Headmaster's attention.

"Don't screw around! What the hell?"

Judging by his outburst, Machida hadn't accounted for this outcome.

"Technically speaking, all you've done is ask me how the S System works, Machida-san. On the other hand, Albert-san tried to physically assault me. That's more than enough reason to send him to E Class."

I tried to stand firm, but my legs began to shake.

Me? Going from B Class all the way to E Class...?

No way...

"But I ordered him to do that! All he did was follow through with it!"

"And he listened with his own free will. He could've chosen not to do it."

"Even so, it was my intention to hurt you, not his. There's no need to punish him!"

"Would you rather be punished?"

"Well... of course not, but I've steeled myself to eat the consequences."

Machida tried to grin in the face of adversity, but his smile wobbled.

"If you've steeled yourself, then you wouldn't be complaining about this outcome. It sounds like a contradiction of resolve to me."

"You already know why I'm getting so riled up. Albert's a key part of my faction, I won't let him go so easily!"

"That's all the more reason to make you lose him then."

"...damn it!"

Machida, who desperately wanted to keep me in his class, had been backed into a corner by the Headmaster.

"You really didn't think this through."

"...I guess I didn't."

Finally, Machida admitted defeat.

The centipede coiled around him, crushing him.

He fell to his knees.

"If you understand that, leave."

"But... what about Albert?"

"Albert-san will remain here, so we can have a nice long chat about removing him from your class."

Machida clicked his tongue and left frustratedly.

"Sorry."

Machida muttered while passing me to leave.

Once he was gone, the Headmaster returned to his desk and gestured at the seat opposite to it.

"Albert-san."

I gulped and sat down across from him.

"All things considered, sending you to E Class is perhaps too harsh of a punishment. I know you didn't want to hit me."

Even though a thread of hope had been dangled in front of me, I kept quiet, since I felt like I didn't have the right to speak back.

"That being said, I can't overlook an attempt of violence against me. I'm a frail old man, after all. If you seriously tried to hit me, I could've died."

That was true. I knew how strong I was. Machida knew how strong I was.

My punches were powerful. I hadn't met a single person at this school who could take a hit from me yet.

That's why I was known as "The Bodyguard" in class.

"So, how about we reach a bit of a compromise?"

I raised my head a little bit.

"I'll have you transfer out of B Class as per Machida-san's punishment. However, I'll be sending you to D Class rather than E Class. Starting from tomorrow, you'll be part of the Zoa Green nation."

I bit my tongue and nodded.

"Yes, sir."