I Am the Rule

Since they had entered together, Nimel had been keeping a close eye on Caroso's battle.

When Caroso began to lose ground, Nimel got distracted by worry and was hit by a Fireball, putting her at a disadvantage as well.

When Caroso summoned the flaming whirlwind, Nimel became even more worried. Then she was struck by wind-element magic and blown here.

There was a hint of frustration in the Vice Principal's words, as though he resented her for failing to meet expectations.

Of course, he could understand it too.

Not everyone was a born warrior like Caroso. It was only natural to be affected by one's surroundings, especially for students like them.

Someone like Caroso, whose eyes had been fixed on Bai from beginning to end without even glancing at Nimel, was the truly abnormal one for his age.

Caroso looked at Nimel indifferently.

Getting distracted while fighting someone this strong was indeed a suicidal act.

[Boss Caro, what are you planning to do?]

[Uh... do you even need to ask?]

"I don't want to interfere," Caroso said quietly. "If she doesn't learn her lesson, she'll suffer even greater losses later."

[Wait, Boss Caro, this is when she needs you most. Are you really not going to give her a hand?]

[Yeah, if anyone's going to teach her a lesson, it should be you. How could it be someone else?]

"If I teach her, the impression may not be deep enough. When she encounters something harder in the future, is she supposed to rely on me? I won't always be by her side." Caroso clearly had no interest in listening to the Netizens. "The Kolia family accepted her because they saw her potential, not because they wanted dead weight."

[Don't you have any feelings at all?]

[Yeah, haven't you already developed feelings for Nimel? That's impossible to hide.]

"It's precisely because I have feelings for her that I can't help her. When I was beaten until I had only one breath left, my father didn't interfere either. That is how the Kolia family trains its people," Caroso said. "At any time, you must never think of relying on others."

"She is still learning. If I help her now, I would only be harming her, and the entire academy would look down on her."

[Asking Boss Caro for help is putting him in a difficult position. This is a school. How is that any different from asking Boss Caro to let Nimel copy his homework?]

[Exactly. School is for learning in the first place. Nimel needs to grow too.]

[Some people are seriously too fragile. Their future children will probably all be mama's boys.]

[Without these experiences, Nimel might become nothing more than a pretty ornament in the future. Do you want to see the God of Wisdom dominate the battlefield, or a little fool we raised into uselessness?]

[Overindulgence is never good.]

[Boss Caro is right about that, but Boss Caro, could you at least encourage her verbally?]

[Yeah, she must be feeling awful right now. A few words of encouragement should be fine, right?]

Caroso fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Nimel, get up."

Hearing Caroso's voice, Nimel somehow found the strength to rise to her feet at once.

"Brother, I'm sorry..." Nimel lowered her head, gripping her staff. "I lost..."

"You lost? Why didn't I see you lose?" Caroso said gravely. "Your battle is still ongoing."

"I..." Nimel tightened her grip on her staff. "I don't have enough cards left. He has at least two more cards than I do."

Seeing this, the Vice Principal stopped as well.

If Caroso's involvement could make the lesson more effective, he would be more than happy to allow it.

"So what if he has two more cards than you?" Caroso raised his head proudly. "Even if you have only one breath left, even if a god is standing before you, as long as you are meant to defeat him, you must attack."

"Don't forget, you are no longer that noble young lady. In the Kolia family, you are a warrior of the Kolia family."

"No one chosen by the Kolia family is weak."

"I..." Nimel gritted her teeth. "I understand. I'll give it everything I have..."

"It's not enough to give it everything you have. You need to win." Caroso's voice was low. "Didn't you ask me before whether I would abandon you? A weakling has no right to stand beside me."

"If you can't keep up with my pace, then I can only abandon you."

"No matter how much I like you, no matter how willing I am to take you with me, I will not keep a weakness by my side."

Nimel's heart turned cold when she heard Caroso's earlier words, and she could not help growing flustered.

After all, there were far too few people who could keep up with Caroso's pace. One could even say there were none at all.

In Nimel's eyes, Caroso was invincible against anyone of the same rank.

Even those focused entirely on battle were no match for Caroso, while he could also balance studying noble etiquette, card crafting, and more.

But when she heard that last sentence, Nimel felt as though she were burning.

Brother means... he likes me? He is willing to take me with him?

I... can't hold him back.

Sensing the powerful fluctuations of magic around Nimel, a faint smile appeared on the Vice Principal's stern face. "What, you want to fight now? You're not afraid of losing or getting hurt anymore?"

"Mm!" Nimel nodded resolutely.

"Wait, you..." Only then did the Vice Principal notice that something seemed off about Bai.

"She lost." Bai spread her hands. "This little one is an oddity."

"Since you care so much about this kid... the two of you can come at me together. I'm increasing my magic power." A cold glint flashed across the Vice Principal's glasses. He remembered Grand Duke Kolia's instructions: as long as Caroso wanted to improve, force out all of his potential.

The Vice Principal's magic power began to surge.

He took out nine cards and casually tossed them onto the ground.

The nine cards slowly vanished as the Vice Principal forcibly used magic power to switch to his backup deck!

"What?" Nimel's eyes widened.

"Your mind is full of Caroso. Even in battle, all you think about is Caroso," the Vice Principal said calmly. "You're this weak, and he bears a great deal of responsibility. Today, I'll help Osiris make sure you remember this lesson."

"Wait, Vice Principal, I won't get distracted again." Nimel said anxiously, "This is our battle. What you're doing breaks the rules!"

"Hm?" Caroso decisively pointed his sword at the Vice Principal.

Bai's eyes shifted as she realized what the Vice Principal intended, and she could not help taking a step back.

"In Azure Wolf Province, Kolia is the rule. At Mal Magic Academy, I am the rule." A three-star purple card appeared in the Vice Principal's hand.

The card vanished, and a silver chain wrapped tightly around Caroso.

Caroso had already fought one battle, and it had been against Bai. This time, he failed to dodge.

Crackle!

Electricity flashed across Caroso's body.

"Ghh!" Cold sweat broke out on Caroso's forehead from the pain.

"Brother!" Seeing that the Vice Principal was serious, Nimel shouted, "You're retaliating because Brother defeated the principal!"

"So what if I am?"