II

Akio was scared, but not because of anything he had been of in the past. The scene taking place before him was an amalgamation of pure horror. He felt like how he did on the rare occasions where he managed to watch a horror movie, but this was different. It was real!

LORD PRIEST! SEARCH THE OTHER STUDENTS. PERHAPS ANOTHER ABOMINATION HAS SNEACKED BETWEEN THEM.

The priest, on old man that both looked like he could collapse at any moment and at the same time participate in wrestling matches, was a mixed back of muscles. Canting a spell he called ,,a ray of light", didn't reveal anything.

"Hmm, it seems that there are no other demons"

GOOD THEN. SERVANTS! TAKE THEM AWAY TO THE DORMITORY.

Dormitory? Were they going to another type of school?-many of the students wondered. Following the butler assigned to escort them, many awed at the luxury displayed in the Royal Palace.

"Sir, how big is the palace? It's been so long and we didn't even see a window?- Jirou Matou, whose glasses made him the smartest of the class, was always a skeptic.

"But of course, the royal Castle of ,,Grand Peak", built by an ancient empire, is the biggest in the world, surrounding the whole mountain of Grand Peak. It is so magnificent that the last three generations of the Royal family didn't even need to leave its grounds.

"Then how did they manage this kingdom?"

"His highness's influence is everywhere, my boy"

"Alright... and how long do we need to keep walking?"

" The dormitory prepared for you is in the Royal Capital, which is located below Grand Peak."

"Oh come on..."

Another three hours of walking ensued and by the end, no one was able to keep standing. Going through tunnels that connected Grand Peak with the edges of the capital, the students weren't able to observe the sprawling metropolis from above.

The building meant for their use was more modest, being made up of a boy and girl section, with comfortable rooms for each. Their it is that they meet the one who will guide them in the future.

"Here you will address me with sir! I am swordmaster Jean Halbert, the one tasked to organise you into a cohesive unit!"-receiving a piece of paper from the butler, he frowns and looks at the students.

"Really, this is all? It says here that we have eight Samurai, four Ronin, six Ninjas, three Monks, two Shamans, a Ghost Seer and these three...

Akio Yamamoto, Akira Ishii and Fumiko Hayashi; come to the front.

"Y-yes?"

"Akio, you have the Hero class, right?"

"Y-yes!"

"I didn't hear you!"

"Yes!"

"Yes who?!"

"Yes sir!"

"That is better. You will have to be our main force Akio, so have some voice!

Akira! You are a sage right?"

"Yes sir!"

"You will be supporting him from the back. Be sure to research ice type spell! They are the most effective against demons."

"Yes... sir?"

"What?"

"No, nothing"- Akira was boiling inside. Was he supposed to just ,,help"? HELP AKIO? Who was this goddess who wrongfully decided to bestow trash like ,,that" such gifts? Who was she to mock him? He would make sure she pays!

"Lady Saintess. I suggest that you support the both of them with your healing zeal"

"Al-alright"-She wondered why he was cordial with her, when he seemed so stoic. Was it her title? The King also showed unusual courtesy for her.

"The rest of you will be made into auxiliary squads, meant to protect them three until they reach the Demon King."

"Alright..."

"I don't hear you!"

"Sir, yes sir!"

"Today, get adjusted to your rooms, because tomorrow we begin the training training!"

Akio cannot remember if he had been at this ,,improvised academy" for a week or a month, but by the end of his training... he didn't learn anything.

The instructor wanted to see what the of the title of Hero did. Apparently, beside the bonus against demons, it got them a very rare appraisal skill. Beside that, not much. They weren't able to learn skills by repeating actions(something unthinkable in this world like the Swordmaster theorized).

In the end, they were split into squads and sent on different routes to level up. Akio, with Fumiko and Akira, were sent to the city of San Petro to join ,,The Flying Lions", a Guild specialised on the way of fighting they would employ.

"I suppose this is it..."- Fumiko, with her eyes in tears, was getting her last farewells with her friends.

"Guess we'll see each other in a year..."

"Bye..."

In a year's time, they would return to the capital to show their progress to the Swordmaster.