A few days later.
It was in the middle of the day. The sun was shining brightly in the blue and cloudless sky.
Because it was the weekend, the students did not have any lessons. And yet, so students were still found on the academy grounds, leisurely walking and chatting with their friends.
However, students from the black class were now in the public again.
They did not hide anymore nor were they living in constant fear outside.
Apparently, since the incident a few days ago, everything slowly turned back to normal. Even the shops and restaurants in the city welcod the students again.
On that day, they may not have proven their skill but they did for sure show their willpower to the other classes, earning their recognition and respect.
"So? What do you want from ?"
In an area far away from the academy but still also on its grounds, there was a special building.
It was a pole-shaped tower with stone walls. The tower was surrounded by a lot of trees and bushes. But due to its height, which was approximately seven stories high, it was easy to find. The building seed old as moss and vines started to spread at the bottom.
Each story had four rectangular holes with rusty gratings on its northern, southern, eastern and western sides. Considering the building’s width, it gave off the impression that there were rooms inside it.
The tower had a main entrance and a back door. On the other sides were each just a bench.
Above the benches were each one of those rectangular holes.
And on one bench sat Cail Maystra, who was currently reading a book.
"M-my role is over, r-right...?"
The trembling and sheepish voice belonged to the frail black-class student, whom Mika saved a few days ago from Ramaal Codik, a disciplinary committee mber.
He hid behind the trees and bushes while he spoke to Cail.
"And?"
Cail was rather uninterested in this conversation as he continued to read his book.
"T-the fights stopped since that day. E-everything is back to normal...!"
"Your point is?"
"M-my point is that I kindly wanted to ask i-if I’ll still get rewarded for my job..."
"Reward? I don’t rember anything." Cail replied still uninterested.
"W-what...?!"
In a panic, the boy accidentally revealed himself in front of Cail. Still, Cail did not shift his eyes away from his book.
"You... You don’t rember...?" the boy repeated in disbelief.
"B-but you told that you would help get promoted into a higher class...!"
The boy, who started to take a few steps toward him, tried to smile despite facing Cail’s cold ignorance.
"..."
"I... I did everything you t-told ...! I-I had to lie to my classmates...! I-I spread rumors about how the other classes bullied us...! I had to go and pick fights with other classes to give them a reason to treat us harsher!"
"You-You promised that you would protect from actual danger! However, I was at the rcy of a disciplinary committee mber! I-if Mika didn’t show up on that day-"
At that mont, Cail closed his book, causing a loud clapping sound.
He sighed as he got up reluctantly from the bench.
"Ah, I rember now." he said annoyed, pretending to actually rember his promise.
The frail boy smiled innocently.
"Then-"
"However, I think there was still another condition I gave you." Cail added raising his palm, signaling that boy to be silent.
"A-another condition? But there wasn’t-"
"You still haven’t completed your monthly quest, right?"
"..."
"No..." the boy responded weakly after being in thought.
"Then, here is the deal. As so classmates of mine still need one additional person for their quest, I need you to join them."
"Huh? W-wouldn’t I be just a hindrance...?!"
Cail walked over to him and grabbed one of his shoulders. He leaned closer to him.
"If you co back, I will not just help you get promoted, but I will also bestow you the honor of being one of my closest companions. How about that?" Cail said with a smile that didn’t reach his closed eyes.
The boy’s eyes bead.
"R-really?"
"Yes, really."
Cail let go of him and turned his back on him.
"If you follow this path, you will et them. Tell them what I just told you." he said as he pointed to a small path through the trees and bushes, which was leading away from the tower’s entrance.
"Y-yes!"
Thus, the boy excitingly ran to Cail’s companions.
"What a child." Cail remarked arrogantly as soon as the boy was nowhere in sight anymore.
He turned his face to the bench, which was beneath a rectangular hole.
"Ironic, right? In the very class, you wanted to help and protect, was the rat which caused all this." he stated provokingly.
anwhile, in the dorm for the white-class first-year students.
"You two sure are incredible. It’s impressive that you two alone took down a demon!" Harik comnted amazed.
"It was just a C-rank demon, though."
"To be honest, we may have taken longer than necessary, hehe..."
"If it didn’t run away then I would have killed it on my first turn."
"W-wait! If I had rested as much as you then I could have easily handled it as well!"
"Lazy excuse."
"Look at yourself!"
"G-girls, calm down, okay...?" Harik suggested cautiously and nervously.
Harik, who wore his uniform, was currently sitting in the lounge.
Across from him were Sylvia and Lily, who just returned to Loogam earlier today.
And due to it being a free day, Lily decided to hang out at Sylvia’s dorm.
There, they t Harik, who was relaxing on the couch, thus they started to talk with each other while drinking tea and eating so sweets.
While Belian and Rachel were in their rooms, the two girls talked about their latest quest, involving the subjugation of a C-rank demon.
"..."
Harik stared at Lily.
"I-is sothing...?" Lily wondered nervously.
"Oh, my apologies. I didn’t an to stare at you. It’s just... How should I say..."
He put a finger on his chin as he pondered.
"I can tell that you got stronger. A lot stronger." he said with a slight smile.
Lily widened her eyes in joy.
"Is that so?! Thanks!"
"Jeez, calm down... You’re not a child, are you?" Sylvia teased the beaming Lily.
"Hehe, sorry!"
"..."
Sylvia, too, wore a proud smile.
"When do you two plan on heading out again for a quest?"
"For the ti being, we will stay here." Sylvia replied before drinking from her cup.
"Hm? That’s unusual considering how eager you were in the last couple of weeks."
"Well, truth be told, Ms. Werensten told us when we were unloading our things that Mika returned." Lily responded, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Mika..." Harik muttered regretfully, lowering his head a little.
"Did sothing happen?" Sylvia asked, catching Harik’s unusual tone.
Then, Rachel suddenly kicked her door open.
"What’s all the noise here? Do we have guests~?" Rachel yawned.
She wore her pajamas in a sloppy way unfitting for a girl her age.
"Hm?"
After she rubbed her sleepy eyes, she realized that Sylvia and Lily were there.
"It’s us."
"G-good morning..."
Rachel wandered to the free couch and was lying down there.
"So you’re back, huh~?" she said drowsy as she closed her eyes again.
"Hey, are you trying to sleep here?" Harik asked taken aback by her manners.
Then shortly after her, footsteps coming from above were heard.
"You could have told that you’re assembling in the lounge." Belian stated with a faint smirk as he walked down the stairs.
He wore casual clothes. Wide pants and a basic white T-shirt.
"Belian."
"S-sorry, for the intrusion!"
Again, the two gave their greetings.
"It’s fine. As her friend, you’re always welco here." Belian replied.
But when he finally got down, his full body was visible.
"!"
"?!"
Both girls were shocked by the sight.
"Who did that?"
"W-what happened to you?!"
Belian had bandages and bruises all over his body.
He looked over to Harik and Rachel.
"So you didn’t tell them yet?"
"I was about to." Harik answered.
"What happened during the last few days?" Sylvia asked sternly.
"C-could it have sothing to do with Mika...?" Lily worried.
Rachel got up and fixed her posture as she was now sitting on the couch like a normal person would.
Belian took a seat beside Harik.
"Alright, let explain." Harik comnced.
And before Harik began to tell them about the recent events, he dropped the most important piece of information first.
Lily, who was about to take a sip from her cup, accidentally let it fall from her hand.
anwhile, Sylvia slamd the table with her hands as she stood up.
"Can you repeat that?" she asked or rather, ordered with a stern and intimidating tone.
"Sylvia, calm down." Belian said, signaling her with his eyes to sit down again.
Rachel wiped the table with, whereas Lily stayed agape and frozen.
"Then, let say it again."
Harik cleared his throat.
"Mika is in jail."
Reviews
All reviews (0)