Awakening: Starting With The Villain System-Chapter 60 - 59: Bullying The Bully (3)

Just as the words left my mouth, all of them froze mid-step.

It was like I'd hit a pause button. They understood. It wasn't a vague threat. It was a promise.

They knew, on some primal level, that I could and would do something far worse than hitting them with a practice sword.

I looked back at the leader, who was practically crying now, tears of pain and shame streaking on his face.

"Get up," I commanded.

Although still in pain, he got up, wobbling to his feet.

He probably couldn't take the threat of another hit anymore. His will was broken.

"Bend," I simply said.

He hesitated for a moment, looking at me with pure terror, before bending over slowly, presenting his back.

I slowly walked to him, and sat on his back, using him as a bench.

He grunted under my weight but held steady.

After making myself comfortable, adjusting slightly to find a good perch, I looked at the others.

"All of you, come over here," I said, pointing to a spot on the floor directly in front of me.

The four bullies shuffled forward, heads bowed.

But the victim, the shy boy, didn't move.

He just stood by the lockers, looking confused and scared.

"You didn't hear when I said all?" I said to him, my tone leaving no room for argument.

You are the cause of my current problem, why wouldn't I add you?

You need to see how this ends. You need to understand that sometimes, the solution to a bully isn't a hero, but a bigger, meaner bully.

They all soon came and stood in a miserable little line in front of me.

I gestured with a flick of my fingers that they should all kneel.

They hesitated, looking at each other, seeking some kind of collective courage that wasn't there.

I didn't need to say a word. I just pointed at their leader, who was currently serving as my rather uncomfortable chair.

They instantly got the message. If he could be used as furniture, I could make them worse if they don't get on their knees.

They all knelt down, a row of defeated soldiers before their unconventional king.

Damn, this was a dream.

The sheer absurdity of the situation hit me.

Here I was, sitting on a bully's back, having forced his gang to kneel, all because of the little thing they did to me.

I laughed inwardly, a silent, hysterical chuckle, while keeping a straight, stern face physically.

This was power, yes, but it was also utterly ridiculous.

[At this point I don't know if you need me, or I need you]

It's both ways. You give me the power, and I go out and… well, do whatever I feel is necessary. We're partners in crime, whether you like it or not.

The system didn't reply. It often did that at times, leaving a thought hanging in the air.

Why does the system sometimes just act exactly like Yara?

Always not answering me in the important part.

But at least it was different in another major aspect, it didn't have her specific, fiery anger issues.

Which I was glad about at least.

I leaned forward, the wood of my katana tapping lightly against my palm.

I was about to proceed to the second, and most dangerous step.

But at that moment, my eyes caught something.

No, someone. Not just anyone.

The figure standing at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, was unmistakable.

It was Yara. Her posture was ramrod straight, her expression unreadable from this distance, but I'd know that silhouette anywhere.

She just stood there looking at me, a silent judge in the empty corridor.

Damn. In my focus on teaching this idiot a lesson, I didn't even care checking around if anyone was looking.

I'd been so consumed with the immediate, petty power play that I'd completely dropped my guard.

And of all people to catch me, it had to be her.

Which was quite a good news. But—

She raised her hand and began clapping. The sound was slow, measured, and utterly devoid of warmth.

Each clap echoed like a gunshot in the tense silence.

She did it with an expressionless face, of course.

No smirk, no frown. Just blank observation.

"Congratulations, Ryan. Nice performance." Yara's voice carried down the hall, cool and clear. It wasn't a compliment. It was something else. "Who knew you would become a bully just not too long after the rank announcement."

I didn't move, or show any reaction, I just remained seated on my very uncomfortable human chair.

"You didn't even watch episode one, yet you are already concluding," I replied.

"Do I need to?" she asked, one eyebrow arching slightly.

The question held a simple meaning.

Is there any other logical explanation on why I was using a fellow student as furniture while his friends knelt before me?

But...

"Yes," I simply answered. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

She rolled her eyes, a gesture of pure dismissal, and turned to walk away.

"I would advise you don't spend too much more time in the hallway," she called over her shoulder without looking back. "Someone else might see you. Someone less... understanding."

Yeah, I hated to admit it, but she was right. This scene, without context, was damning.

If someone heroic, and most especially someone stronger than me, stumbled upon this, I would be the one in their situation.

I'd be the one explaining myself to a disciplinary committee, or worse, getting a taste of my own medicine from a real high-ranker.

But then suddenly it hit me.

"Hey!" I called out, the word leaving my mouth before I could stop it. "Why are you leaving? I thought you were going somewhere!"

She'd been standing there. Watching. She hadn't been passing by; she'd been still.

A slow, incredulous grin spread across my face.

"... Wait, did you come here looking for me?!" The idea was so absurd, so unlikely, that it was the only thing that made sense.

Her step faltered. Just for a second.

She lowered her head, the ends of her hair swaying with the motion, and increased her pace, refusing to answer or look back.

She actually was looking for me. Or was I just seeing things?

My grin widened.

The mighty Yara, seeking me out? Now that was a plot twist I hadn't seen coming.

I got up from the bully's back, not even paying attention to them anymore.

They were irrelevant. The lesson, such as it was, had been delivered.

They remained frozen, a collection of kneeling and bent-over statues, too scared to move without permission.

I walked away to class, with Yara far in front, to far.

Is she really this fast when walking?

Ding!

The sound was so unexpected I almost jumped.

[You have leveled up!]

Huh?