2 Chapter 2 - Trouble Again?

I calmly walked past the entrance after showing the security guard my identification card. At the end of the entrance, a blue grid-shaped light scanned my body.

It wasn't a simple body scanner. It sees through any illusion magic and dispels it. Registered weapons glow green while the unregistered glow red. It even shows if you have any contagious disease. People that were positive were given special masks to prevent the bacteria or virus from spreading. This was a special precaution to prevent the troublesome zombie outbreaks.

Ah…finally. It's done.

When I was finally inside, I looked around in amazement. It sure was large. Acallaris is a whole city after all. What fascinated me the most was that everything looked so advanced. From the buildings to the roads and vehicles. They all had world-class futuristic design.

I sped up my pace a little bit. This way people won't remember my face. Illusion magic was allowed once you were inside the school but not during classes so I proceeded to apply it on myself until I reached the school. But before I could put it on, I was stopped by a hand on my shoulder.

"Hi, there."

A boy looked at me with a smile and teary eyes. He had vampiric white skin and hair. His ears were long and pointed and his eyes had a glint of red. Two sharp fangs were hanging from his upper jaw. Looks like they might be very useful for sucking a certain liquid…

He had an average lean physique and a face that girls would fawn over. I guess you could call him a pretty boy?

Anyway, I bet he'll get popular with those looks. Looks like he also has good communication skills too seeing that he initiated the conversation and is exceptionally calm about it even though we are complete strangers.

"He—"

"Okay, stop." He raised his palm towards me while he looked away and closed his eyes. "I know. I know what it feels like. Being surrounded by those disgusting normies…I know. That's why…just know that you're not alone. I commend you for gathering your courage and doing what your heart told you. Man of culture."

What? Ah…so he approached me because he has the same interests as the fox-guy from before. I might have jumped to conclusions. But there is still a chance that he is only a closet otaku and shows this side of him only to people who have the same hobbies.

"Is that all?" I asked him.

"Um…yeah. Well…see ya! Wait…I mean, do you want to walk together? It's kinda lonely walking alone."

"I don't mind," I replied to him as I turned to walk away.

The school was not that far away. We had to pass another entrance but thankfully, we didn't need to have another security check.

Like the outside, the hallway looked amazing too. The walls and floors were made of some sort of mithril alloy. The walls were painted white while the floor had shiny gray tiles. Since it was inside the building, it was air-conditioned with air sanitizing effects. Every now and then, we would pass by a small cylindrical robot janitor cleaning whatever filth was present.

On the way to the auditorium, I noticed that the guy was glancing at me several times. He was evidently itching for a conversation. I didn't feel like clearing the misunderstanding. I didn't really care. I know he will definitely understand as time passes. Besides, this misunderstanding might be useful in the future.

"By the way, my name is Blake. Blake Wright." I broke the silence to at least get rid of the tension and also to hone my social skills. It's been a few years since I spoke to someone casually. Just practicing with only one person might make me dependent on him that's why I will need to speak with other people too. I'll first have this guy as a bridge to other people. Even if he is actually socially weak, I'll either force him to get better or just find a better host until I don't need one.

"I'm Jael Vincent."

Vincent…I think I heard that name from somewhere before…

"Are you a dhampir?"

"Yeah. An elf-blood dhampir."

That's rare. Dhampirs are usually human-blooded because they are more compatible. There only a few elf-blooded dhampirs around the world because vampires need to have a specific gene in order to produce offspring with elves.

"Are you related to—"

Before I could ask him a question, a loud 'bang' sound interrupted me. There was a hobgoblin lying on the ground. He seemed to have been caught in trouble with an ogre. A human girl was in between them stretching out her arms wide as if she was protecting the hobgoblin.

She was small. Around 5'3 feet in height. Long red hair was tied up in the back of her head. Despite having a fragile expression on her face, she still confronted the ogre.

I had enough of intruding with other's matters but just one glance will do…

Huh? There seems to be a familiar face here.

"Mr. Hobgoblin?"

They all looked at me in surprise. The girl's facial expression intrigued me the most.

Her micro expression. It was highly noticeable even for normal people and they could say that she was relieved. But people with even higher perceptual skills, especially introverts, would say that she was faking it.

But that's not what's interesting about it. It felt like she was wearing a mask beneath the mask.

"Go away, boy! Mind your own business…You too, redhead!" Edwardo snapped at me and the girl.

"You heard the old man so get lost, you two! Three including the vampire. This sh*t's only for greens. Don't get involved or I'll report you for being anti-green." The ogre's eyeballs seemed like they were popping out as if it was telling us that he was the villain here.

"Report me for being anti-green? Hmph! I'll report you for being anti-goblin!" She says that but her small squeaky voice just didn't feel like helping her at all.

Having heard the fuss, a man wearing one of Acallaris' military uniforms approached us. Written on his name tag on his right chest was: Johannes Künstler. Apparently, he was just passing by when he heard them fighting. He was part of the disciplinary committee so he was annoyed that he had work to do so early in the morning.

"She started it, sir. I was just hanging around with Ed when she appeared telling us to get lost just because we are green. And--"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm taking all your IDs. Including you two bystanders. Go to the principal's office when the PA calls you. Also, wear these bracelets. It will keep you all from approaching each other within one meter. You better not take it off because I'll know whether you do or don't."

"W-what? Sir, were not…"

"Just do what I say."

Jael tried to explain but Johannes had a look that sent shivers down his balls. Johannes looks like a capable senpai so it might be good to have a connection with him.

As soon as I put the bracelet on my wrist, it automatically fastened on its own. A screen appeared on its surface and written on it was my name, mageium number.

I felt slowly being pushed away from Jael until we were one meter apart. The same happened to the others.

After Johannes left, the ogre turned to the redhead. He smirked and whispered:

"Begone, thot!"

Naturally, the redhead became angry but it seems like she was able to suppress it because there was nothing she could do. She left without saying another word.

"So, Ed, do you want to come with us?" Jael offered.

"Sure, if you don't mind."

Things are getting a little bit more interesting. Why is Ed here? If I had to make a guess, he is currently eight-years-old. Although he looks old enough to have a son, he is a hobgoblin after all. It seems like I have gotten myself in a low-rank clique. I'm eighty-percent sure that this story would be a zero-to-hero.