Level five

Hearing Peter's words made Rash clench his fists tightly, his joints trembled with anger, he wanted to jump out of his place and attack this man who had turned his life into hell.

Although his mind was screaming, warning of the seriousness of the situation, yet in one moment of extreme hatred, he lost control of himself.

However, in the next moment, and before taking the slightest move. A powerful force ironed him into his place. Not only that, but he felt a tremendous pressure on his head that made him stick to the table, unable to move one inch.

Rash was powerless against such tremendous power, and the guy didn't appear like he did anything at all.

Peter forced him down powerfully. In one instant he was standing restfully on the podium, and in the twinkling of an eye he was standing beside Rash.

With one hand on Rash's head, and the other one still carrying the exam's papers, he held the boy.

Rash realized that no matter what he did, he wouldn't be able to do anything. It felt like a mountain was pressing on his head. He could only watch helplessly, "You... why... is it because of the promotion?"

Rash did not bother to beg for his life because he felt it was meaningless. He was doomed, but he wanted to at least find out why...

"Hehehehe... Ah, right? The promotion... It was me who hid your paper... Isn't that cool, you feel guilty about me while in the end you discover that I am behind everything that happens to you? Well... well... Don't stare at me with those desperate eyes, that only makes me more euphoric to crush you more. However, the time has not yet come. You need to struggle more..."

And so, Peter let him free and slackened toward the podium again, as if he had done nothing.

The last time he did the same was on promotion day, and Rash's expressions that day were even more severe and desperate than today.

He just wanted to give him a little despair every time and then leave him in a long struggle, unable to know what was happening to him... little by little... until the end.

Then, without looking at him, he snapped his fingers once again.

By doing so, Peter activated his second skill, [The way of forgetfulness] and with it, he can make the target forget what happened to him and return to his condition a few moments ago.

Or this is what he thought, because this time Rash was not the same as several days ago.

<You've been affected by the way of forgetfulness>

<You have resisted>

When the teacher stood in his place again, he canceled the hypnotic effect from everyone. So that everything in the classroom returned as it was. And everyone returns to their vigor and activity. They did not notice any difference at all, as if several minutes from a moment ago did not exist at all.

Rash was in a difficult dilemma, he was gritting his teeth to behave normally, and trying to calm his fiery heart.

This is the only thing he can do right now. As long as there is a mistake in Peter's calculations, he must exploit it at all costs. Even though he nearly fainted from the intensity of the hatred, he will now smile to get his revenge in the future.

On the stage, the teacher analyzed the papers again, claiming to want to check over everything. Then he suddenly demanded, "There is a paper missing... Who still hasn't handed in his paper?"

All the students turned to Rash, as if they expected he was the only one in the class who would do something similar.

Rash examined them with complicated looks. He didn't know how should feel about them at that moment?

In the past, he would curse them in himself and look at them with disgust every time, they are the cause of all his suffering. But is all of this real, and is this what Peter wants to see happen?

He sighed in sorrow, then shook his head and spoke in half-hearted terms, "It's not me… I've already handed my paper..." In the end he answered the same as he did in the previous incident which would make him less suspicious in Peter's eyes.

After that, everything became as expected. The students in front of him in class were offended when they heard Rash's words and accused him of lying and trying to implicate them in something they hadn't done.

He knows the truth now, so it was easy to understand their behavior this time. This only made him wonder how many times he had repeated the same thing? As long as the misunderstanding remains between them, he cannot clear himself in front of anyone.

Teacher Peter tried to calm the situation on his part, though.

In an attempt to exonerate Rash this time, he ordered everyone to search for the missing paper and coaxed them to trust him more. Even to the point of ordering them to search between their stuffs, and he supervised the matter himself. His words sounded nice, and if Rash did not know the truth, Peter's actions would have made him very grateful. Yet he now knows everything, and Peter is just trying to push him into the fire further and widen the gap between him and everyone else.

In the end, they didn't find the paper, because it was in the trash, of course.

Teacher Peter sighed toward Rash with a gloomy face, his shoulders falling, expressing his fake grief, saying, "Sorry, kido... I did my best this time... but you don't have to worry too much... This exam won't affect your grades much, you just have to put more effort in the future..." He reassured the boy, but he didn't forget to add oil to the fire in between, "For the cleaning week, unfortunately you will be one of the three this time..."

Speaking like this is easy for Peter. Rash didn't give much response to anyone, he was tired of everything that had happened. He also did not want the matter to last longer, as he did not want to see Peter's face in front of him again.

It was around this time that the next class will begin, "Everyone... the results should be in several days... until that time." Then he left the classroom and went to the teachers' hall like any ordinary teacher.

The other students never stopped mocking Rash, though. This was how it always happened, and this time too, their expectations were fulfilled, and Rash was last...

Although he did not accuse anyone this time, and all he said was that he handed over his paper, there were still many students angry at him. They felt that he was doing this intentionally to make them appears dubious in teacher Peter.

...

In the corridor, while Peter was walking quietly, immersed in his own thoughts and happy dreams. How many years have passed with no hope, only to get a new thread this time and maybe this will be his last hope.

When he wanted to visit Rash in the hospital and confirm his condition a few days ago, he discovered important information that made him happy for the first time in years. This made him praise the boy a little at the start of the class today as a form of thanks.

Now he has to focus more on finding that thing, the thing that treated Heidi Brandt... he wanted it no matter what...

But while he was there, he suddenly felt a very tremendous feeling. This feeling made him tremble severely and felt that blood freeze in his veins from fear, despair and panic....

Everything happened in the blink of an eye and then disappeared... and Peter stood still for a few minutes already...

He nearly forgot how to breathe again.

This matter reminded him of an accident in the distant past... an accident he tried hard to bury, but still haunted him even in his nightmares... reminded him that no matter how strong he is and how many abilities he mastered, there is always someone better than you... In that incident he learned the true meaning of despair. And everything has changed in his eyes since then....

Peter stood firmly in his place, his hands were shaking wildly, and his many attempts to stop the shivering failed. His legs were no better and his eyes were empty of expression.

After a while, he carefully examined the hallway and breathed deeply when nothing strange was noticed.

Just what could it be... that aura?

....

Throughout the second session, Rash didn't focus much on anything going on around him. He's still thinking about many, many things about his life...

"Nightmare... is all that has happened so far was Peter's work?" In the end, Rash whispered to himself after he calmed down a little.

Nightmare replied calmly, "Something like that... at least he's responsible for a lot of the things that happen to you."

"Why...?"

His acquaintance with teacher Peter did not exceed two months, maybe. And except for the promotion incident, he does not have any major contact with him. At least that's what he'd thought until this morning.

"Do you really think there's a compelling reason for making your life this way?" Nightmare responded briefly.

"..."

Rash shook his head hard and found Nightmare's words very logical. He does not know the real reason yet, but will his knowledge of the matter change anything?

Of course not.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's just a cowardly old man. He couldn't get his revenge for what happened to him. So he is diverting his anger towards you. That's all that matters for you to know." Nightmare continued after that.

Rash guessed Nightmare may know the real reason but won't tell him about it. He has his reasons for doing so.

"Can't we do anything about it now?" This is what he really wanted to know.

Something to help him take revenge. But no matter how much he thinks about it now, he knows it is impossible.

Asking someone else for help? But who can help him in such a situation, and how to convince them?

Also, he still didn't know exactly everything about the matter.

"The issue is a little complicated, and even if we get rid of Peter now, that might make things much worse for you." Nightmare wasn't too concerned on Peter's side, and he was more focused on Rash this time, "but don't worry too much about him as he's going to be busy with more things... At the moment he's very occupied looking for the person who treated Heidi Brandt... And you are the last person whom he might think of. Therefore, you should focus more on raising your level and learn more abilities until the day comes when you can get your revenge with your hands"

What a surprise... So in the end Peter has been busy searching for an unknown person all the time, unaware that Rash is that person.

This information made Rash a little joyous.

Peter wants to find him, most likely because of the potion. This means he needs it to treat himself or someone else, and they may use this thing as a weakness against him.

Just wait... one day I will pay you back for everything you did to me...

After that, he continued studying diligently until the last mission was completed.

....

<Congratulations, you have completed the six quests.>

<+1 for all characteristics ~ +10 XP>

<Your level has risen>

....

[Name: Rash Nightmare | Race: Human 95% Hybrid 5% | Level: 5 <1/120>

Class: The Hero Who Will Destroy Gallus

* As a hero, you won't die when your health is at the minimum.

HP: 560/560 | MP: 540/540

Strength: 28 | Vitality: 28 | Agility: 28

Dexterity: 27 | Intelligence: 28 | Wisdom: 27 | Luck: 6

]

....

"Finally... I got to level five again... or maybe it was so fast... only in four days?" At least now he felt some relief from the gloomy atmosphere that surrounded him all morning.

Rash examined his characteristics all over again and felt the big difference that the rise in level gives him every time. He may be only at Level 5 now, but he felt more powerful compared to what he did in the past.

At the moment, even doing nothing else and just by completing the daily tasks, he will be able to reach the next level in just twelve days. This would give it an additional 74 points on his characteristics. Little by little he is getting stronger in every step....

But Rash was not intending to remain calm and did nothing. Especially after knowing Peter's intentions, he wants to become strong and wants to learn more skills... skills that will make him able to deter Peter.

The teacher currently uses only two skills: forgetfulness and hypnotism. Rash does not know exactly what other abilities he possesses, and this is probably not all. Also, there is a possibility that the abilities he used a while ago are not his own, but that he used some tool to activate them.

This makes him define his future goals and focus on two things: the first is to become strong and the second is to try to collect the largest amount of information about the people around him and about Peter, taking into account that the latter must not discover that he already knows the truth.