I'm a villain within the hero's party-Chapter 27: Professor Odel

Professor Odel announced, his voice echoing through the room, "I believe this concludes the second batch of Robert’s Magic Academy Trials, there are only five minutes left on the clock."

He glanced at the results displayed on the crystal panel beside him; he muttered. "Almost eighty percent have failed. As expected, we’ll review the results shortly. I’ll have the academy’s scouts go over them before we make the final announcement."

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light erupted in front of Professor Odel, casting long shadows across the chamber. The air shimmered with residual magic as two figures materialized in the center of the room.

A girl stood tall, her breathing heavy but steady. In her hand, she held another girl—unconscious, her body limp, clearly exhausted or injured. The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward them.

Professor Odel’s eyes widened in disbelief. One of the faces was familiar—someone he hadn’t expected to see again, let alone see succeed.

Professor Odel thought, "They didn’t use the teleportation circle I set up. That means they used their own magic to get here. Could it be the Sertu girl? No, she’s too clumsy to pull off such a complex spell. Then... was it the other one? But that’s impossible—he doesn’t even have a mana core."

He stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you?"

The young man looked calm, almost indifferent. He thought to himself. He thought, "They’ll know my name soon enough."

Then, with a steady voice, he said, "Gabby Magus."

A wave of murmurs spread among the remaining examinees.

"Magus? Did he say Magus?" one student whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. "Is he related to Count Magus from the Eastern County of Redstin?"

Another scoffed, folding his arms with a smirk. "No way. He might have the face, but he doesn’t carry himself like a noble. Look at his clothes—plain, worn. No pride in his posture."

A girl near the back shook her head, her voice laced with pity. "Poor Count Magus... sharing a noble name with a commoner. That must be humiliating."

Some laughed quietly, others exchanged glances filled with curiosity, envy, or disdain.

Professor Odel’s expression darkened. "Don’t tell me..."

He asked sharply, "Why didn’t you use the academy’s teleportation magic?"

Gabby replied calmly, "Clara Sertu. She used her own mana. She has a massive reserve."

Odel wanted to ask more, but he held back. He needed to stay composed and finish the trial properly.

He turned to the remaining students and declared, "Thank you for enduring this difficult trial. Some of your fellow examinees failed—and some even died—because they lacked what it takes to succeed. Today, you’ve achieved something important. But don’t get comfortable. This is only the beginning. Your journey to becoming a registered mage of Robert’s Magic Tower has just begun."

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd. One of the wealthier students who had failed stepped forward, his face red with anger.

He scowled, "How will you take responsibility for my partner’s death? This trial is madness! Our family will file a formal complaint with the Tower Master!"

Professor Odel’s eyes blazed with fury. He snapped, "Silence, you are a pathetic noble! Your social status means nothing here. If you fail, it’s because you are weak. That’s not the academy’s fault. It simply means you’re no better than a cockroach by our standards. Now, get out of my sight."

Just as one of the students tried to step forward, a sudden surge of powerful yellow mana exploded from Professor Odel. The air crackled with energy, and a blinding light filled the room.

The student froze mid-step, eyes wide with fear.

Professor Odel’s voice boomed, calm yet terrifying. He exclaimed, "You’re lucky you didn’t die just now. I am not one of the Kingdom’s Ten Strongest for no reason. The path to such power came at a steep price. And for a mere entitled noble to question how I conduct this trial... it’s baffling."

The golden mana radiated outward like a storm. It wasn’t just power, it was pressure. A crushing, suffocating force that blanketed the entire room

Most of the examinees dropped to their knees, gasping for air. Some collapsed entirely, unconscious before they even hit the ground.

Only a few remained standing, the criminal, his short partner and three other students who gritted their teeth and endured the weight of the mana.

Gabby, however, fell to one knee while still carrying Clara in his arms. His face twisted in pain as he struggled to resist the overwhelming force. Sweat poured down his brow, and his hands trembled as he tried to stay conscious.

He thought to himself, "So this is what it feels like... A feat similar to Darius... I can’t believe it. There are examinees here—monsters—who are still standing under this pressure."

The air was still heavy with tension, but the pressure had lifted just enough for the remaining conscious students to breathe again.

He raised his voice, firm and commanding. He exclaimed, "For those who passed the trial—welcome to Robert’s Magic Academy."

His eyes swept across the room, pausing briefly on the few who remained standing and those who cleared the trials, "We will announce the rankings shortly. As for the rest of you..."

His tone turned cold as he declared, "Get your ass out of here."

There was no sympathy in his voice, only finality.

He turned his head slightly and gave a subtle nod to the priest stationed near the edge of the chamber. The priest, dressed in white and gold ceremonial robes, moved swiftly. With practiced grace, he uncorked vials of glowing healing salves and began tending to the injured.

Soft chants filled the air as the priest whispered solemn prayers, his hands glowing with gentle light. The unconscious students stirred as the divine magic began to mend their wounds and ease their pain.

Gabby, still kneeling, felt a warm sensation wash over him as the divine energy reached his body. His breathing steadied, and the pain in his limbs began to fade.