Most missions were assigned in the evening—especially for the four main teams, since their tasks usually took several days to complete.
As for the ungrouped students, they could accept quests at any ti, but only after forming a team of five. Still, the quests they received were much simpler in comparison—collecting herbs, transporting supplies, or hunting low-grade monsters.
The school treated them as the weaker section, students who needed more groundwork before they were ready for real combat.
But for soone like Hades—forr captain of the Alpha Team and a man who had once taken down several dragons on his own—hunting goblins felt like nothing more than busywork.
He wasn’t looking down at these jobs; rather, he felt he would be needlessly spending his ti killing low-grade creatures.
He now stood in the Dispatch Room, scanning the bulletin board filled with available quests.
"Cleaning sewers, catching thieves... even guarding an inn?" Hades raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by the range of jobs listed.
Back when he first entered the school, his entrance scores had been more than enough to land him a spot in Charlie Team. Since then, he had never even glanced at the quests posted for the ungrouped students.
’With quests like these, forget about progressing as a Dragon Hunter—you might even forget why you started.’
Guarding motels and cleaning drains... they were never ant to be the work of soone who aims to stand above the pile of dead dragons.
[I say, take one of these quests and train outside the school. There are too many eyes on you here.]
It wasn’t like Hades hadn’t noticed. He had—he just chose to ignore them until that inner voice reminded him.
Around him, students whispered under their breaths and cast fleeting glances in his direction—none of which he cared to hear or return.
That was when soone stepped up from his left.
"It’s nice to see you standing where I once did."
Hades knew that voice.
"Adam," he muttered, turning toward the man.
Long, pale blue hair draped over Adam’s shoulders. His half-lidded gray eyes carried the sa cynical gleam they always had, and that crooked smile—unchanged.
The captain of the Beta Team. Jasmine’s superior.
And the son of Duke Travistine.
"Long ti, mate. I thought you offed yourself or sothing."
Hades sighed. "Doing sothing so cowardly... I thought I had left a better impression on you."
Adam smirked. "Forget what you were. Look at you now. You’re dripping in disgrace, my dude. Tainted."
Hades raised his hand, gesturing calmly. "And you... you’re clearly enjoying this."
"Oh, absolutely," Adam chuckled, resting his hands on his hips. "It’s always fun to watch soone who once rejected you fall beneath you."
Hades exhaled softly. Yes, he rembered that well.
Back when he had just joined the Alpha Team, Adam had approached him with a simple request—to be included in a group. Not in Alpha, just any.
Hades had turned him down without hesitation, convinced Adam wasn’t ready.
Now, the tables had turned. The proud Alpha had fallen from grace, and Adam stood higher.
A perfect chance for payback.
And Adam was savoring every second of it.
Adam casually draped an arm over Hades’s shoulder. "So... want to talk to a few local leaders? See if they’ll let you into their team? Mid-sester like this, no one’s gonna take you in easy."
Hades let out a soft chuckle. "Appreciate the concern, mate. But I think I’ve got things under control."
Adam shook his head, grinning. "Still as proud as ever."
He dropped his arm just as the Headmaster and Vice Headmaster entered the Dispatch Hall.
Students straightened at once.
The third-year Alpha and Beta teams lined up side by side in front of the podium with practiced precision, while the ungrouped students remained off to the side—as usual.
The other teams would get assigned tomorrow, or they were already on their assignnts.
Hades’s eyes drifted across the hall until they landed on Rinne. She was looking at him too.
She gave him a quiet smile.
He responded with a small nod.
"Here, Rinne," Cedric called, gesturing for her to stand beside him.
Hades exhaled. ’Still obsessed with her... as always.’
To the left stood Team Alpha, lined up with discipline and pride. At the center of them stood Prince Cedric—chest out, chin high—every inch the leader.
Hades’s gaze slowly moved to the man standing beside Cedric.
A grey-haired boy.
Soone new.
Soone was standing in the very place where Graham once stood.
And just like that, the weight returned to Hades’s chest.
He hadn’t contacted his family—not even once since everything happened. Not because he was too busy.
But because he was scared.
He didn’t know what they’d say. Didn’t know how they were coping with Graham’s death.
In truth... he was running.
Running from the grief, from their judgnt.
[Collect your thoughts... or you won’t go anywhere. Your biggest obstacle isn’t your enemy—it’s you.]
Hades didn’t reply. He simply shifted his focus back to the assembly.
Four figures stood before the students—two instructors, the Headmaster, and the Vice Headmaster.
It was routine. The Vice Headmaster handled mission assignnts, while the Headmaster gave a speech to raise morale.
"Thank you for bravely gathering here once again," began Vice Headmaster Collen Adestor—a small man with a bald head, thin glasses, and a quiet, precise voice. He held two parchnt scrolls containing the mission details.
"Alright then—" he started again, only to be cut off.
"Excuse , sir."
It was Adam.
"May I request permission to bring in external support for this mission? Two of my teammates were recently promoted, and we’re shorthanded."
Collen blinked in surprise. "If you have soone in mind, then by all ans."
Adam gave a polite nod... then turned toward Hades.
For a mont, the entire hall held its breath—many assud he’d call on Hades.
But instead—
"Co forward, Thomas."
A short, round boy shuffled forward, his steps unsure as he made his way toward Team Beta.
Murmurs imdiately spread across the room. Whispers, frowns, and exchanged glances.
Even Collen furrowed his brow. "Captain Adam... Thomas isn’t suited for the Beta Team. His physique isn’t ideal for this kind of mission."
Thomas didn’t have any illness. He was simply overweight from months of laziness—a quality unbecoming of soone aiming to be a dragon slayer.
But Adam only smiled. "Why should that matter? I’m willing to offer compensation for bringing my friend into the team."
That set the room ablaze with whispers. Was he... bribing the Vice Headmaster? Out in the open?
One of the instructors stepped forward, voice sharp. "Are you out of your mind? Only those who earn their place may join a team. This isn’t a market."
Adam’s grin widened. "Is that so~? Then might I ask... why soone with shortness of breath is in Team Alpha?"
The room fell into stunned silence.
The one who reacted most sharply was Cedric. His head snapped to the side—toward the redhead standing near the edge of the hall.
He t his gaze without flinching, his expression unreadable... cold.
’You nasty bastard!!!’
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- If you rember, it was ntioned during the previous mission. Drop a comnt.
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