Bonus Chapter of 200 Power Stones! Next Milestone will be top 100 power stones ranking for 2 next week!
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When I arrived in my class with Eliza, the previously rowdy classroom suddenly went quiet. Many eyes landed on me, filled with curiosity. Some were with respect, and some were with greed.
They were everywhere. People who saw a chance in my position as the new Paladin. Obviously, I had expected this since I had experienced it before. But to think they would be this transparent. Did they not learn to be subtle?
I narrowed my eyes in dissatisfaction, looking at the ones who only saw me with greed in their eyes. The ones filled with curiosity and respect were fine, but I would remember those who wanted to use me to their advantage.
'Funny. They mostly look like the sons of knights. The sons and daughters of lower-rank nobles unexpectedly looked at me with respect instead of greed.'
And because Adam hadn't arrived yet, I didn't know how he would react. Well, that would be funny.
Suddenly, my sleeve was tugged from behind, and I heard a worried voice.
"Arthur."
Eliza was looking at me worriedly. Her eyes looked a bit teary, noticing the gaze of my classmates on me. Well, she had always been sensitive and up-to-date with information, so her ability to read people was better than normal.
"Don't worry. Let's take our seats, okay?"
"Who's worrying?" She said with a huff. "I just wanted to warn you to be careful!"
"Alright, I got that. Just sit."
I half-forced her to sit in our usual seats. Many students arrived after that, and they glanced at me or sat silently in their seats.
In just a day, I had become too famous in this academy. Eliza was pouting beside me, and I ignored her. I couldn't do anything, after all. And she was angry on my behalf, so it was good.
Our protagonist entered the last. He looked rather… tired? His face didn't look that good, and his dot on my radar was still yellow. I only thought of him as a nuisance for now, so he didn't have a red dot.
Anyway, he didn't even look at me and just slumped in his seat. He put his head on the table and stayed like that until Emilia entered.
"Morning, class."
As usual, her hips swayed as she walked to the podium. She had a strict expression on her face as she surveyed the class before nodding.
"At least you didn't make a commotion about a new Paladin. Let's start the class now. We will begin with reviewing last time's self-defense class."
Emilia began class without glancing at the students. She didn't care if the students were listening to her. Well, it wasn't like she needed to check.
The class was ongoing for an hour before the bell rang.
Ding dong!
The teacher stopped writing on the blackboard and put down her chalk. Turning around, she spoke in a clear tone.
"Alright, let's stop it here. There will be 5 minutes rest after this. And as for student Arthur." Emilia suddenly called me and looked in my direction. We were just a teacher and a student in the academy, so there should be nothing between us that made her call out to me.
"Can you please follow me for a while? Instructor Rania has something to talk about regarding yesterday's incident."
The students murmured something while looking at my directions.
"Incident?"
"What incident?"
"Instructor Rania? Did she get into a problem with him because she punished him or something?"
Wild guesses were thrown everywhere. But I knew why Rania was searching for me. It was due to assassins yesterday.
"Yes." I stood up as I replied.
"Arthur, will you be okay?" Eliza asked.
"It will be okay. I know what's going on, and I am not in trouble." I replied to her with a smile. "Well, see you later. Wait for me in the cafeteria for lunch if I don't return until then."
"Yes." She replied with a nod.
I walked down the stairs and went outside with Emilia afterward.
The corridor was empty as the class was still ongoing. Only my class was stopped for 5 minutes because I was called out. Lucky for them to have a short break.
We walked side by side, and Emilia's strict face began to crumble. Her expression softened a little as she looked a bit sad.
"I am waiting, you know?" She whispered, pouting a bit as she glanced at me.
I glanced back, and she continued. "In my bedroom… It's empty, and I did it alone because you didn't come. But when I heard that you were attacked by Instructor Rania this morning, I was a bit worried. Thankfully you're okay, Arthur."
"Yeah. And sorry. I should've told you about it beforehand. I will accompany you tonight, okay?"
Once I said that, her expression brightened, and she hugged me, burying my arm between her massive boobs. "Alright! I will wait for you in my best dress."
"Hey, we're still in the academy!"
"Oh! I am sorry. It's just… I am happy that you will visit me. I thought you would forget me just after that night, so…"
Ah. I understood her insecurity. Well, it seemed like she was more clingy than I thought.
"Of course, I won't do that. Rather, I will visit you frequently from now on. I can't promise I will be able to visit every day due to my schedule, but I will at least visit once a week. How about it?"
Emilia pulled away and nodded. "Alright. I… can at least hold on that much." A small, happy smile appeared on her face. "And we almost arrived in Instructor Rania's office. I will revert to my work mode, student Arthur."
"Yes, teacher Emilia."
I should praise her for her acting. She could switch between her personal and work modes rather easily, and I was impressed by it. The strict expression returned as we stopped in front of a room with the sign 'Counseling Room.'
Really? Rania was a counselor as well as a self-defense instructor. Talking about talent. Dealing with teenage students in their late 18's would be tough for someone as young as Rania.
But she was way stronger than them, so I guess it wouldn't be that tough. I didn't know. I had never schooled anyone before. If someone annoyed me and couldn't be fixed with simple words, I would just kill them. Easy.
Emilia opened the room without knocking. This Counseling Room was small, with only a desk and two chairs in front of it. No other furniture was present, and there was no window that allowed someone to peek in or out of this room. Maybe it was designed that way for privacy.
Rania was sitting behind the desk, looking at us.
"Welcome, student Arthur."
Just like Emilia, Rania also acted like a stranger to me when there were others present. Our relationship as a brother and sister from the same orphanage wasn't known by anyone yet, not even Emilia.
"Thank you for having me. Am I called because of the assassin yesterday?"
"Straight to the point." Rania smiled widely.
"It is about that, yes. I am about to inform you that the assassins have been revived. From their clothes, we deducted they were from the Sin Kingdom. And also, the probability of there being a spy in Academy City is high. So I want you to be careful from now on."
Oh? The Kingdom Knight Order in Academy City wasn't too bad. They were able to deduct it just from such a tiny clue.
I was wondering how I should deal with the spies, but I guessed I could just leave it to them after I rounded them up to get my satisfaction. So I told her.
"Actually, about that. I already found the spies." I told her with a smirk.
Both Emilia and Rania looked at me with surprised looks.
"Really?" The short-haired woman asked. Her body jolted a little, and her well-developed breasts jiggled slightly as she leaned forward.
"Yes." I nodded. "And I need your assistance to deal with the aftermath. I plan to interrogate them my way first. Then, the Knight Order can deal with them after I finish. And I will right after this. Is that acceptable?" I asked with a tone mixed with authority.
My enemies, my prey. I wouldn't let other people take that.
Rania looked at me for a second while stroking her chin, thinking about my proposal. Finally, she nodded her head and looked at me.
"Alright. But please don't kill them. I will call the Knight Order right away."
"Don't worry," I answered with a big, excited grin. "They won't die this time."
'They will only beg me to kill them.'
