The bell for lunch rang, but the atmosphere in the classroom remained electric. The professor was still staring at the board as if trying to memorize the "Runcandel-Ciel Transform."
In the cafeteria, the "Malty Faction" was making their usual scene. Malty was sitting at a central table, draped over Issei, who was bragging loudly about his "training" with his Sacred Gear.
"You know," Malty said, her voice loud enough to carry, "Strength isn't just about looks. My Issei-kun has a balanced soul. He's becoming quite the intellectual warrior, aren't you, darling?"
Issei puffed out his chest. "That's right! I actually read half a chapter of the textbook last night. I'm basically a genius now!"
A group of girls at the next table burst into laughter. "Issei? A genius? Did you not hear what happened in Physics? Alexander-sama corrected the professor without even looking at the board! He simplified a formula that had the Student Council President stumped!"
The entire cafeteria erupted into whispers about Alex's "God-tier" brain. Issei's face turned a muddy shade of purple.
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: Intellectual warrior? Issei? That's like calling a brick a master architect. Malty is really reaching today. Ciel, did you see the way his eye twitched? I think I broke his last two brain cells.]
The Comparison
Alex walked into the cafeteria with a calm, predatory grace. He didn't even look toward Malty's table. He headed straight toward a quiet corner where Sona and Tsubaki were sitting.
"Mind if I join you?" Alex asked, sliding into the seat next to Sona.
"A-Alexander! Of course," Sona said, her face still slightly flushed from the classroom incident. "That formula... where did you learn that logic? It was... revolutionary."
"Just something I picked up in a library a long time ago," Alex replied, leaning back.
The Mental Reaction:
Sona:'The Avalon Library... those A-Tier spells weren't the only thing he found there. He's a scholar-king.'Malty: (Gripping her tray so hard it cracked) 'That Runcandel bastard... he's stealing everyone's attention! Issei, do something!'
Issei stood up, his chair screeching against the floor. "Hey, Runcandel! Don't think you're so smart just because you can do some math! Real men prove themselves with their fists!"
A Cold Lesson
Alex didn't even look up from his meal. He slowly reached into his blazer, and for a split second, the air in the cafeteria turned freezing. The female leads—Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki—all felt the heavy weight of the Gnosis (Thunder) pulsing for a micro-second.
Alex pulled out a sleek, black fountain pen—not Ebony—and tossed it onto the table. The "clack" sounded like a gunshot in the silent room.
"Issei," Alex said, his voice quiet but echoing in every corner of the hall. "A real man knows when he's outclassed. You're currently a child playing with a toy dragon. If you want to talk about 'fists,' come back when you can survive a single spark of my power without crying for your 'Plot Armor.'"
Alexander's Inner Voice:
[Internal Thought: I almost pulled Ebony. That would have been messy. But the look on his face is better. He's vibrating with a mix of fear and jealousy. Malty looks like she's about to have an aneurysm.]
Issei: (Frozen in place, sweat pouring down his face) 'What was that? For a second, I felt like I was standing in front of a mountain... no, a god.'
Alex turned back to Sona, his expression softening instantly. "Anyway, Sona, about that school you want to build... I have some ideas on the curriculum that might interest you."
Sona's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to hear them."
The Listening Audience:
Serafall: (Pouting in her office) "Nooo! He's helping her with her dream! That's so romantic! Sona-chan is winning too much!"Rias: (Watching from afar) 'He's not just a King... he's a builder. I need to make my move soon, or Sona will have him completely.'