KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 31: [] The Coldest Goodbye

Xavier scanned the tiered seats of the arena, trying to get a feel for Class 1-A. Each student radiated confidence—not the manufactured kind he’d perfected over years of cons, but the genuine assurance that came from knowing exactly what you were capable of.

Then he saw him.

Dimitri Korzhakov sat in the center of a small entourage, his platinum blonde hair immaculately styled, his azure eyes catching the light with that unnatural glow Xavier had noticed in the clothing store.

"Shit," he muttered.

"What’s wrong?" Calypso asked.

"That’s the asshole from the store." Xavier nodded toward Dimitri. "The one who tried to buy your dress."

Calypso’s eyes narrowed. "Oh. Him."

Xavier sighed and closed his eyes. "Please don’t let Valdez call me out today. Not in front of that dickhead and all these beautiful women. Amen." He pressed his palms together.

"Are you... praying?" Calypso asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn’t understand," Xavier said, opening his eyes. "It’s a human thing."

"I’m a goddess. I understand prayer better than anyone."

"Then answer it."

"That’s not my department," Calypso said with a smirk. "Try Fortuna."

Professor Valdez sat at a small desk on the arena floor. She wasn’t speaking or moving—just sitting with perfect stillness, her hazel eyes watching as students filed in and found seats. Xavier recognized that stillness. It was the calm of a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.

The chatter in the room continued. Only a handful of students seemed to notice Valdez’s silent presence. Sayuri kept glancing nervously at the professor, while Alexander Shepard sat with his back straight, eyes forward, already giving Valdez his full attention. Most of Class 1-D followed their lead, voices dropping to whispers.

Class 1-A, however, showed no such restraint. Dimitri’s group in particular kept talking at full volume, laughing about something that had happened earlier that day.

Ten minutes passed. The professor hadn’t moved.

"This is bullshit," Kyrie Walker muttered from the row behind Xavier. "We’re wasting time."

Alexander finally stood up. "Excuse me," he called toward Dimitri’s group. "Professor Valdez is waiting to begin class."

Dimitri turned slowly, his eyes flicking over Alexander. "Did someone hear something? Sounds like Class D trash talking."

His friends snickered on cue.

Alexander’s face remained neutral, but his gray eyes hardened. "We’re all here to learn. Show some respect."

"Respect is earned," Dimitri replied, turning back to his friends. "And nothing about Class D has earned mine."

"Aye, shut the fuck up," Kyrie snapped, leaning forward in his seat.

"Seriously," Xavier added. "Some of us want to actually learn something today dickhead."

Dimitri paused mid-sentence, his head turning slowly toward them. His eyes narrowed, recognition dawning as he spotted Xavier.

"You dare talk to—"

The temperature plummeted.

Xavier’s breath clouded in front of his face. The sudden cold bit through his uniform, raising goosebumps along his arms. His teeth threatened to chatter, but he clenched his jaw, refusing to show weakness.

"What the hell?" A girl from his class hugged herself, her tanned skin paling. "Where did this come from?"

Everyone turned toward the arena floor. The entire section behind Professor Valdez was covered in a thick sheet of ice, crystalline patterns spreading across the surface. Frost coated the floor around her desk, creeping outward in intricate spirals.

Valdez stood, her movement so smooth it seemed she simply materialized on her feet. The cold intensified as she stepped forward.

"This class," she said, her voice carrying through the frigid air, "is full of morons who don’t deserve to be taught about how to use Essentia."

She walked toward the exit, each step leaving a frozen footprint on the floor. No one spoke. No one moved.

At the doorway, she paused without turning around. "Class dismissed."

The door closed behind her with a quiet click that somehow felt louder than a slam.

Silence hung in the air for several seconds before students began to murmur. The ice remained, though the temperature slowly started to rise.

"Did she just... walk out?" Beppo asked.

"That’s Luna Valdez," one of the Class 1-A students said, his voice carrying across the arena. "A-rank before she retired from active duty."

Dimitri stood up, brushing invisible dust from his uniform. "Well, that was dramatic. Typical of washouts who end up teaching."

"Washout?" Alexander’s voice hardened. "Professor Valdez was part of the legendary Blizzard Squad."

"Was being the operative word," Dimitri replied. "Now she’s babysitting losers like you."

"You should watch your fucking mouth," Kyrie said, standing up. "She’s still an A-rank."

"And I’m an A-rank in training," Dimitri said, his eyes glowing slightly brighter. "What are you again? C-minus?"

"I’d rather be C-rank with talent than A-rank with daddy’s money," Kyrie shot back.

Dimitri’s smile vanished. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." Kyrie stepped into the aisle. "Everyone knows your family bought your way into 1-A."

Dimitri’s face went cold, his eyes burning with an internal light.

"Let me show you what my family’s money bought."

Xavier tensed, ready to move if things escalated. He’d seen that look before—the calm that came before violence.

"That’s enough."

A woman stood at the entrance to the arena—tall with wine red hair and a body that could rival even Calypso. Her uniform bore the insignia of an upperclassman. novelbuddy.cσ๓

"I’m Thalia Sinclair, third-year and student council vice president," she announced. "Professor Valdez asked me to inform you that this practical session has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning. Your regular afternoon classes will proceed as planned."

Her eyes swept over the group, lingering briefly on Dimitri. "I suggest you all use this time to reflect on why an A-rank instructor might find your behavior unworthy of her time."

"This is ridiculous," Dimitri muttered, though not quite loud enough for Thalia to hear.

"Dimitri," she called, proving his mutter hadn’t been quiet enough. "A word, please."

The platinum-haired student froze for a second before composing himself. "Of course, Thalia," he said, his tone suddenly respectful.

"Well, that was a disaster," Margaret said as students began filing out. "I was looking forward to showing off my Essentia."

"You’ll get your chance tomorrow," Xavier replied, standing up. "Assuming Valdez doesn’t freeze us all solid first."

"She wouldn’t do that," Sayuri said quietly. "Professor Valdez is strict but fair."

"What’s her deal?" Xavier asked as they walked toward the exit.

"She was a top hunter until something happened on a gate mission," Sayuri explained. "Nobody knows exactly what occurred, but her entire team died. She retired and started teaching here."

"Blizzard Squad," Alexander added, falling into step beside them. "One of the most effective gate clearance teams in history until the Cascade Incident three years ago."

A former A-rank hunter with a tragic past now teaching the lowest-ranked class—there was a story there.

"So what now?" Calypso asked, looking disappointed. "We have a free period?"

"I’m going to the library," Alexander announced. "I suggest the rest of you do the same. We should research the basics Essentia and be prepared for tomorrow."

"Always the boy scout," Kyrie muttered, pushing past him.

"I’ll join you," Sayuri said to Alexander, clutching her notebook to her chest.

"Count me in too," Margaret added. "I could use some study buddies in this class."

Xavier caught Calypso’s eye. "We should probably—"

"Go shopping?" Calypso suggested hopefully.

"Study," Xavier finished firmly.

"Boring," she pouted.

"Look, if I’m going to master this Input Buffer system, I need to understand how Essentia works," Xavier said as they walked out of the arena. "And you’re supposed to be helping me."

"Fine," Calypso sighed. "But I’m a hands-on teacher. Reading dusty books isn’t my style."

"Then what do you suggest?"

A mischievous smile spread across her face. "I have some ideas."

"Why does that make me nervous?"

"Because you’re smart," she replied, linking her arm through his. "Smart enough to know that sometimes the best way to learn is by doing."

Xavier thought about protesting but decided against it. If anyone understood how his abilities worked, it was the goddess who’d designed them. Even if her teaching methods might be unconventional.

"Lead the way, professor," he said, allowing her to pull him down a different path than the one leading to the library.