A Minor Problem

After leaving the office, Li Qi headed toward the Teaching Building.

Bolent's matter was merely an interlude to him. No matter what Bolent wanted to do, Li Qi's priority now was to take care of his own affairs.

Studying, researching more of this world's magical theories, and finding a way to live safely and steadily in the rear—to live even better—were Li Qi's current goals.

By continuing with today's lessons as usual, Li Qi seemed to have returned to his ordinary routine.

But whether Li Qi's luck was simply terrible today or he had run into an unlucky day, when classes ended at ten that evening and he was preparing to have dinner, he ran into trouble again near the restaurant.

More precisely, Li Qi hadn't run into trouble.

It was his teammate, Sean.

He and another blond young man were surrounded by several people, and a conflict was about to break out.

Sean aside, Li Qi knew that blond young man.

He was the last person to pass the examination. Li Qi remembered that he seemed to be called... Andrew?

He seemed to come from a noble family, always keeping to himself and having few friends.

Li Qi had no idea why he was hanging around with Sean today.

"Surely standing by and watching a teammate die won't lower the higher-ups' opinion of me..."

Looking at the apparent fight about to break out, Li Qi muttered inwardly.

He glanced around. Quite a few students had gathered, but none of them seemed inclined to step forward and help. Instead, they stood to the side and watched the show.

This world's Military Academy had only been established recently, and many of its rules were still incomplete.

Perhaps in some people's eyes, soldiers were supposed to have blood in their veins. As long as no one was seriously injured or killed, fighting among themselves at school was no big deal.

Thus, no one tried to stop the fight.

Li Qi even spotted a teacher among the onlookers.

Judging from the way that teacher was watching the show, Li Qi knew he definitely wouldn't intervene. If he did, it would only be after the fight was nearly over.

Li Qi himself could choose to stand by and do nothing, but with so many people watching, what if someone called him cold-blooded or something...? That might affect his future assignment.

Thinking of this, Li Qi sighed.

"Fine, I suppose I have no choice."

One had to do what one's profession demanded.

In the Music World, Li Qi was a singer and a star, so he would do his best in that profession.

In the Gambler World, he had done the same. Otherwise, with a superpower that wasn't even at T2 Rank, Li Qi could never have become one of the Gambling Kings.

Now that Li Qi was a soldier, he naturally had to do what a soldier was supposed to do.

Protecting one's comrades... That should count as something a soldier would do... right?

Li Qi wasn't sure, but regardless, he couldn't stand by and watch his roommate get bullied.

Stepping out of the crowd, Li Qi walked toward them under everyone's watchful eyes.

The surrounding crowd fell silent when Li Qi emerged. Even the people preparing to fight stopped and looked toward him.

During his time at the school, Li Qi hadn't caused much trouble, but his fame was unexpectedly high.

There was no other reason.

Of everyone who had returned from the battlefield with a First-Class Combat Medal, Li Qi was the only one.

The others were either powerful figures or had received their titles posthumously.

Li Qi alone was young, held a high Military Rank, and possessed a Combat Medal.

Even those from noble families had to think twice. No one dared provoke Li Qi.

Thus, when Li Qi appeared, everyone—whether they knew him or not—fell silent. After all, even if they didn't know Li Qi, they recognized the medal pinned to his chest.

As he approached the center of the disturbance, Li Qi saw that the people who had nearly started a fight at the Mess Hall entrance were all from his own class.

His brow immediately furrowed.

He looked at Sean, who was standing beside the Blonde-haired Youth, Andrew, and said calmly:

"Did you all gather here just to let people laugh at you?"

The few people opposite him said nothing.

"L-Li Qi, Warrant Officer..."

Sean was just about to say something.

One of the people surrounding Sean and Andrew stepped forward. He was a young man with short, golden hair.

He said coldly to Li Qi:

"Li Qi Grat, you'd better not meddle in other people's business."

Li Qi narrowed his eyes slightly. He studied the student who had stepped forward, his gaze lingering briefly on the man's shoulder before he said:

"Sergeant Beru, I didn't quite hear what you said just now. Could you repeat it?"

The young man named Beru failed to notice Li Qi's mood.

After Li Qi finished speaking, he replied without hesitation:

"I said, don't meddle in other people's business! Li Qi! Otherwise, we'll beat you up too!"

That was what Beru said.

And then—

Bang!!

Li Qi struck instantly.

Magic flowed through his feet, and he shot toward Beru like the wind.

In less than a second, Li Qi had reached Beru.

Beru's pupils contracted when he saw this. Apparently, he hadn't expected Li Qi to attack him. He was just raising his hands to defend himself when his lower leg suddenly gave a sharp twinge, and his body dropped toward the ground on one knee.

Before he could even cry out, he lost his balance and fell face-first onto the ground.

Li Qi pressed one leg against his spine and pinned Beru's head to the ground with one hand, forcing his face into an intimate meeting with the floor. With his other hand, he wrenched Beru's right arm back, nearly snapping it.

"Aaaaaah—!!!"

Only then did Beru let out a scream.

"Beru!?"

Seeing their companion knocked down, the others immediately moved forward to help him. But Li Qi merely applied a little more force to the right arm he had seized, then raised his head and glanced at them.

"If you want his arm broken, go ahead."

Everyone stopped in their tracks, not daring to take another step forward.

"Aaaah!! Damn it!! Damn it—!! Li Qi!! You #@￥@... aaaaaah!!!!"

Pinned beneath Li Qi, Beru cried out in pain and spewed a string of vulgarities. But before he could get many of them out, they were instantly replaced by more cries of agony.

Relying on his overwhelming strength compared to Beru, Li Qi kept him completely suppressed.

It wasn't only his grip on Beru's right arm that tightened. The knee pressed against Beru's spine also exerted more and more pressure.

At the same time, he said:

"Sergeant Beru, according to Military Rank, I'm a Warrant Officer and you're a sergeant. According to strength, I'm Strategic Rank while you're only Third Rank... no, an Advanced Mage Master. So—"

Creak—

The place where Li Qi's weight pressed against Beru's body made a few teeth-grating sounds.

Beru's eyes flew wide. He could barely even let out a scream now. His face flushed red, as if his entire head were about to explode the next second.

Only then did Li Qi finish:

"—who gave you the courage to provoke me? Hmm? Sergeant Beru."

"W-Warrant Officer Li Qi, y-you should let him go! If this continues... his spine will break!"

One of Beru's companions couldn't bear to watch any longer and hurried forward to plead for him.

Li Qi glanced at him without saying anything, then shifted his gaze to his roommate, Sean.

Sean caught Li Qi's look but still didn't understand what was going on.

Andrew, standing beside him, seemed to understand. He gently nudged Sean and then gestured with his lips toward Beru, who was pinned to the ground.

Only then did Sean realize what Li Qi meant. He hurriedly said:

"W-Warrant Officer Li Qi, please spare him!"

"Hmph."

Only after hearing Sean plead for him did Li Qi release Beru and stand up.

As soon as Li Qi rose, Beru's companions rushed over and helped him to his feet.

Li Qi swept his gaze over them and said:

"Next time, you'd better not let me see you fighting among yourselves. Otherwise..."

Li Qi didn't finish, but everyone understood the implication behind his words.

They couldn't win a fight, and their Military Ranks were lower than Li Qi's. Once they were certain Li Qi intended to protect Sean and Andrew, this group of the 'Losers' Alliance' slunk away with Beru, disappearing in no time.

With the entertainment over, everyone around them dispersed.

The teacher who had watched the fight hadn't said a word from beginning to end. After confirming that Li Qi had taken control of the situation, he hadn't even bothered to show himself before turning and leaving.

Li Qi was speechless at the irresponsible teacher. He then turned his attention to Sean.

"What happened?"

Andrew was about to explain. "It's because of me..."

"I wasn't asking you."

Li Qi's gaze shifted to Andrew, and Andrew immediately fell silent.

After staring at Andrew for a moment, Li Qi looked back at Sean.

"Go on."

Sean gave a bitter smile.

"...Warrant Officer Li Qi, it's late. Let's go eat first. I'll tell you while we're having dinner."