Chapter 2: The Teacher

While Nirko was talking to his mother and finishing up things, the students in the village school class were learning the same wayin the village school class, the students were learning things the same way as always.

Something that could not have Genely any more disinterested than she already was, looking through the window at the outside world as she usually did.

She had long black hair at waist length in curls and dirt brown eyes. Aside from that, she was wearing a simple long blue peasant dress that worked well with her petite body, while her feet were content with blue ballerinas.

Her chest was around a C cup, relatively modest, with an equally modest rear.

In terms of physique, she was thin with a bit of a waist, though not much; it gave her a doll-like look due to her symmetrical face, which mixed well with the emotionless smile she carried on her face most of the time.

As she was busy looking out of the window, at the front stood the teacher, a brown-haired man in his early thirties with brown eyes and a soft smile on his face. He wore a white shirt and black dress pants with brown brogues.

Unlike Genely, most of the students, who were by now younger than her, did, in fact, pay attention to what the teacher was doing. He placed a problem, 9 x 7 + 23 - 3, on the board and turned around to look at the students.

While Millie, and Sera were busy talking to each other in whispers, not bothering to see what was going on in the lesson.

"Does anyone think they know the answer to this problem?" He asked calmly, the soft smile still on his face as he did, but his eyes had already looked at Genely, distracted in the back before focusing on the class.

The kids in the classroom began trying to count with their fingers. Some started to solve it on paper, while the rest simply looked at it confused. Overall, things didn't look great for them when it came to solving this problem.

Not minding them much, the teacher's eyes returned to Genely, who was still busy looking outside through the window, her head resting on her hand as she did so.

"Huh… Genely, what's the matter? You know you can't daydream in class." He said to her seeming awkward for having to call her out.

Being called by the teacher caused her to turn to him, her hand letting go of her face and resting on her other hand, that was on the school desk.

"Sorry, sir. I'm fine. It could be said that I was bit lost in thought. Plus, the clouds are quite distracting." Genely answered with her smile with no emotion, though it seemed to look at least from the outside.

This response confused the teacher.

"And what do the clouds have to with this?" He asked, more so confused than curious.

"Well, since the clouds are moving from the west. It means it's going to start raining soon, which is nice. I quite like rain. It's nature's cleanser of the world, taking away all the dirty and ugly so we don't have to see it anymore." Genely turned to the window and to point at the clouds in the sky slowly closing in from the west.

No words were said for a few seconds as what she said settled in before the teacher replied. 

"Ahem. Okay, that's an interesting perspective, but regardless, the rain will do good for the crops, so it would indeed be fine." As the teacher pulled the attention to himself, he looked rather serious as he spoke. That said, I hope you're paying attention to me and the math lesson."

"Of course, sir, I'm sorry." Genely replied, her expression unchanging as she glanced outside, not at the clouds at all but rather the school's surroundings, her eyes expectant.

"Do you at least know the answer?" The teacher questioned about the problem on the board.

"It's 83." Genely responded immediately with no problem at all, her expression still carrying her emotionless smile.

A bit surprised by her quick response, the teacher had a bit of awkward surprise on his face before saying. "That's correct. Well done."

Things didn't stop there though.

"A question from me. Are there not any more interesting problems you could give us, sir? These are boring and easy." Genely asked calmly.

"This is what you need to learn. I would love to teach you more, but we are to act according to the village head, Erma's word." The teacher replied with a bit of cold sweat, expecting her to ask that way even if this was a common question.

"Is that so? How not fun, but as you say, Chief Erma's word is not to be ignored. In that case, Why do hunters get to do things differently? The rules are stated to be for everyone." She asked him.

"You're not wrong, but the hunters protect us from animals, monsters, and even magical beasts. They risk their lives for our safety, so for our own well-being, we need to let them operate their way. Please remember that rules like those tend to have exceptions." The teacher responded, feeling a bit pressured by her.

"That's true. Though I thought that's why they collect tax from the people every month. Either way, thank you, sir. This new perspective allowed me to understand." She widened her emotionless smile a bit as she said so.

Seeing this reaction from her, the teacher smiled widely, seemingly happy.

"Good. You should understand such things since you'll turn 18 soon. That means you'll stop school, and start the work you'll be doing for the rest of your life, so remember to be flexible with these things." The teacher advised her.

"I understand teacher. I'll make sure to pay attention for the 13 months I'll still be here." Genely nodded.

"Good. It's very important that you take your education seriously and learn as much as you can while you have the chance. There's still a lot you can learn, " the teacher added.

"My neighbour left here when she was 12 and another when she was 14. Not to mention the children of hunters, they basically left whenever." Genely complained even though her expression remained the same.

"It's different for the hunters, like we just talked. As for your neighbours, like I just told you, there are sometimes exceptions to the rule for one reason or another, " the teacher responded.

"I see. That's quite the convenience." She says.

"…Hmmm… I have to say. I'm not sure if things will end well this way. You're brilliant, but you're too last in fantasies in your head. Things will get hard if you stay like that, so I'd like to give you a special lesson. Which is why I'll need you to stay behind after school." The teacher offered with a smile.

"Really? Just me?" Genely asked, a bit surprised.

"Yes, it will be easier to teach you that way. I want to make sure you learn everything you need to learn before you leave school, " the teacher replied.

"Thank you, sir, but I need to get home at a certain time, or the village head will scold me for being late," Genely responded.

"Don't worry about that. This is different from coming home late for playing around. If I talk to your grandmother, she'll understand the need for it, " the teacher insisted.

"I guess it could be nice if she did. However, I'm sure you know she isn't an easy person to talk to or has the best of tempers." Genely said.

"You're being a bit harsh, while she is strict, there is a merciful side to her. That's why she's the village head, as amazing as one ever could be." The teacher began to sing the praises for the village head.

"That's exactly why I should just go home when she wants. It's what's best for me, as she says." She replied with her emotionless smile widening.

That left the teacher with nothing to say about the matter, and the lesson continued. Their conversation had attracted the attention of Millie and Sera, who listened to the exchange a bit surprised but thought nothing much of it.

Later, the lesson was over and outside the school was Nirko, who arrived just as the lesson had ended and crossed paths with the teacher.

"Hello, teacher. It's nice to see you again." Nirko forces a smile as he greeted him.

"Ah, Nirko. You don't have to call me teacher anymore; you graduated yesterday. Come to get your sisters, I assume?" The teacher forced a smile back at him as he responded.

"You're still my teacher to me. And yes, I'm here for them and Genely." Nirko said with his forced smile still on.

"Oh, is that so? I'm honoured; now I know you and Genely have been close friends from a young age, but don't you think it's a bit too unsightly for a young man to spend so much time with a young woman near marriage age? 

"You might get hurt if she's set up to marry someone else, and we wouldn't want drama in our village, would we?" The teacher spouted with a bit of a smirk.

(This guy sure is testing my patience… Oh well, I've dealt with worse. It's almost sad to see this.) Nirko internally shook his head.

[At this point if he does something suspicious, just punch him!] Aeonis instigated with clear distaste for the teacher.

"There's no need to worry, if we choose to be together we will be, after all, I don't think the village head would reject me, we get along quite well." Nirko smirked back at him.

"Ah! Don't you say? I'm happy to hear… Have a nice day; I should be getting home to prepare for tomorrow's lesson. Bye." The teacher responded and then walked away, passing by him without another word.

In the sky gray clouds were getting closer over the village.

The purple-haired young man continued walking towards the school and reached it, finding his sisters waiting there with Genely next to them.

"You're late! And why are you dressed like that? You've been like that since this morning! Where are you going?" Sera looked at her brother with her arms crossed as she spoke.

"Hi! Nicky, thanks for coming to get us, but you know, I still don't get why you insist on doing this, we could just walk home like the others." Millie said a smile on her face as she waved her hand at him.

At this Nirko raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

"I'm just trying a new style, I'm not going anywhere, relax. Though I'm sorry I'm late, I had to do something with Mom." He pet Sera and slightly ruffled her hair.

Then he turned to Millie. "As for why I do this, it's because I care for my adorable sisters. So I'll be here everyday until I can't be here anymore for whatever reason." He used his other hand to ruffle her hair as well.

"Hurgh! You're so cheesy!" Sera complained moving his hand off her head then carefully tidying her hair back into place.

"Hehehe. She's right, but I guess it's ok. Just don't do that to my hair again, though." As Nirko pulled his hand back, Millie began tidying it up as she spoke.

"I thought it was unusual for you to be late, I guess something did happen. We should leave now, though. It will rain soon." Genely walked next to Nirko and loomed over his shoulder as she spoke, being next to his ear, but not actually touching him.

This prompted Nirko to look at the sky and see the gray clouds, as the wind began to pick up waving his pony tail slightly, as his boat shoes stood on the green grass of the hill where the wooden building of the school could be found.

The trees and forests around the village visible from there, and he could not help but look at them, wondering what else was happening in this world where magic, skills, spirits and Gods were real, then again, who was to say they weren't in his old world.

Meanwhile in the teacher's house, a simple wooden table with wooden chairs, a fireplace, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a basement.

Sitting in one of the four chairs around his table, a candlelit his living room as the darkness took over outside due to the gray clouds.

There were even various bronze utensils, on a counter, including a rather sharp-looking bronze knife. Which would typically be used to cut into meat.

The place was shadowy and dim, not too different from the way he looked at his hands shaking from some sort of excitement or even fear he felt.

"Oh, Genely, you're quite lost, aren't you? Such intelligence, but she's still yet a child, one disconnected from what's grounded in reality." He commented on the silence of his home, inhaling a sigh of worry. 

Focused were his eyes that did not leave a closed wooden box on the table.

His fingers aggressively titered on top of the table, relenting to his rushing mind, as multiple scenarios went and gone. Only further pushing his thoughts toward a predetermined conclusion.

"Not ready for work or to deal with the adult women she'll have to work with… She necessitates extra attention, more tutelage. I have to protect her, only I can see it, how unfortunate…" The face of the teacher darkened as he considered the ways in which things could come to result badly.

There was no stopping a mind set in stone from reaching the end of an idea, as the decision was made, all that was lacking was the path to said destination.

"Sadly Chief Erma does not seem to prioritize her education, nobody except me seems to take this seriously. She'll probably be married off to some man from the village… Maybe even a rascal like that Nirko! It's sad how they don't seem to see what's best for her at all." The words left his mouth as the veins formed in his forehead, the mere thought of such a loss was unbearable.

How could a precious gem like Genely be wasted in such a way, given to the wrong hands?

No, he had to do something about it.

"In the end, only I know best. I'll find a way to guide such a gem to the right hands… To my hands…" As he mouthed those words, the first instinct was to look around, before sighing in relief to reaffirm being alone.

That however did not last, not at all.

As the rain poured outside, the door to his home came crashing onto the wall, sent flying, like a small pebble thrown into the air.

"Arrgghh! My door!" The teacher yelled as he got up and ran to the utensils nearby to grab a knife, turning to the opening where once stood a door, the knife held out with both trembling hands. "W-Whoever you are! Stay back! When the hunter squad finds you, you'll be done for!"

The only response he got for a few seconds was the trickling of rain droplets, something which almost allowed him to sigh in relief, but he was far too tense to even consider such a possibility right now.

"I'm warning you! You won't get away with th-" Eyes bulging wide and a painful grip on the knife, he yelled the best threat his desperate mind could muster.

Not all that successfully so, since blood now dripped from his ear as his mouth shut completely before he could even finish his sentence.

A singular gloved hand could be found at the entrance one which threw the now lodged on the wall black and red dagger which cut the teacher's ear.

The responsible individual did not wait any longer stepping inside each step carrying the weight and nonchalant of a trained killer.

A medium red hair styled straight down, and muddy brown eyes to match a long sharp face, a prickled nose, and a physique his clothes could barely hide, as the muscles pushed to be set free.

Wearing a sleeveless brown leather jacket over a black shirt and beige trousers on the lower end just above his black boots, the aggressor smiled as he looked at the trembling teacher.

Not to mention the figure behind the man, one the teacher had yet to notice at all.

This visage caused the teacher to fall down to the floor looking up at the red-haired man with a deep frown, but an apologetic one.

"Shh, you know I don't understand why you keep pulling this stunt on me. I told you last time that if you were late to pay, things would get ugly, and yet here we are." The invader said as he stepped on the man's head and pressed it to the floor.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Bello! I didn't mean to miss the hunter tax! I'm just going through some trouble so, I can't trade much right now!" The teacher began imploring his realization hitting him quite deeply as he let go of the knife to cling onto the foot stepping on his head.

"Yeah, yeah. Just stop being weak and give me what you owe." Bello rolled his eyes not bothering to care as he pressed his food further.

"Ahhhh! I'm sorry! It's in the Box on the table! I was going to give it! I was just a little late in finishing this one!" The teacher feeling the weight of the boot on his head come down immediately caved.

"Natta, check the Box." Bello commanded his voice authoritative as he looked down at the teacher.

Boasting short green hair in a bob cut, a cyan-eyed young woman with a bit of a more rounded face and small a nose, then there was her attire. Dressed in a black cropped top with white stripes in the middle, under a green cropped jacket, also wearing black shorts, while having black footwear with a white sole.

She just as ordered walked up to the table, and picked up the wooden box on it. Opening the thing before any more could go on.

Hearing the box be open, the teacher turned pale and lost all strength but there was nothing he tried to do, just lay there on the floor under the boot like dead meat.

Right next Natta let go of the box taking a few steps back and holding her urge to vomit after witnessing the contents of the inside.

"You disgusting pig!! I'll kill you right now!!!" Natta declared her disgust quickly fading into her fury veins strained on her forehead, and eyes bloodshot red in rage.

This propped her to grab her buster sword on her back, and ready to cut down the pathetic excuse for a man lying on the ground.

This reaction surprised Bello, who stopped the blade with one under it before it could cut the limp little scum on the floor.

"What's going on, Babe? Did he fail to pay or did he get a little too greedy and try to one up us?" He asked her firmly holding the blade of the sword not letting it move a single inch.

For a bit, there was no answer just a persistent insistence by her as she tried with quite some force to overcome him and cut the man on the floor.

"Let go! This piece of trash calling himself a man needs to die! Putrid creatures like these can't be allowed to roam among intellectual beings! 

"Death, pain, and suffering are all he deserves! He belongs dead with all the other Wild Creatures! Such a vile thing can't even be compared to the Balanced Entities, that's how bad he is!" Natta yelled determined to end this pseudo-man's life.

However, it did not go through.

"Explain or I won't be able to work with you here, I can't just let you end a customer like that, there needs to be a good reason. Come on, look at me and tell me, it will be fine, I promise." Using his free hand, Bello lifts Natta's chin to make her look at him as he speaks a soft tone and expression as he does so.

"I… Sorry, Babe. I got emotional again. It's not my fault though! This scum of the earth made something extremely disgusting. Trust me." Natta responded and stopped trying to kill the one on the floor.

"I do. Let me see it, since it's bad enough you don't want to say it." Bello requested letting go of her blade and chin, before extending his left hand to her waiting for the box to be given.

This caused her to nod and grab the box avoiding looking at it as she handed it to him.

"Oh my, you're scum of the worst kind, aren't you?! She's right! You're worse than the Balanced Entities! You're just as low as the Wild Creatures! Something like you could never be an Intellectual Being!…" Bello pressed the head of the one on the floor so much so that some blood was squishing out.

"Yes! Crush that bug! Rid the world of this monster!" Natta cheered in support delighted that such a horrid creature would be erased just as it should be.

There were not enough words to describe the horror of that laying on the floor, horrible, disgusting, vile, monstrous, demonic, devilish, terrible, awful, dreadful, horrid, wretched, rotten, abominable, horrific, horrendous, despicable, repulsive, nauseous, repugnant, abhorrent, appalling, sickening, sordid, disgraceful, ghastly, hideous, outlandish, grotesque, wicked, sinister, diabolical, fiendish, deplorable, revolting, nefarious, contemptible, putrid, vicious, brutal, barbaric, inhumane, malicious, barbarous, and so so much worse than all that.

In the box, there was a drawing of various Genely, one for each year the insect on the floor had known her, each and every one of those Genely…. On the fully nude. 

The amount of detail to be found in each of those realistic drawings was such that one would conclude that the creature had ever witnessed her full figure, but that was far from the case. 

No, it was simply a matter of the despicable creature observing enough and using a sick mind to do the rest, the accuracy of which shall not be discussed. 

There was no need for such nor did it matter, one thing was clear, a horrid putrid being, had nightmarish fantasies that should never be allowed to flourish under any circumstances.

"… And yet, this will sell marvelously with those horrendous nobles of the black market. This time you're off the hook, but if I ever catch you doing anything even my business code won't stop me from skinning you to death." Bello lifted his foot and pulled that who was under it by the collar before he began speaking.

It seemed reality was once again disappointing, and a sick bastard had lived to tell the tale for another day.

"What?! No! We have to end this mistake of the world! That's Genely! The weird ass granddaughter of the chief! She's like what? 17? 

"Even then did you see that thing! It wouldn't matter if she was my age, that's still way too much! This vermin has to go!" Natta insisted a deep frown on her expression.

Right then, Bello turned to her, and his expression soured, as a sigh left his mouth.

"Natta, I understand what you're saying, but you should know by now that I don't kill paying customers unless absolutely necessary."

His words caused her to recoil not exactly happy to hear that from him. After all, what would make it absolutely necessary at this point? She wasn't sure.

However, she was not left without an answer.

"This poor excuse for a sap might be messed up in the head, but hasn't actually done anything aside from making disgusting art, and being a done in the head. I'm sure there's an understanding of what he can't do now, right?" Bello put his arm around the horrid thing's neck and tightened it with a false smile, the forgetfulness of his actions very clear.

There was no room for a misunderstanding or second take, it was made a point of the fact there wasn't a second chance if the horrid one crossed the now set line, of the man holding it now.

"Eeeehhh… Of course! I'm only thinking of the best for my students!!! I would actually never hurt them in any way!!!!" The response was hurried and the cold sweat had more than become obvious, there was only pure panic present in what could be called a shell of sc*m.

Tears left those eyes, and so did the desperation.

This didn't ease the disdain or disgust felt by Natta in the slightest, but she was not going to start an argument over a being this pathetic, there was no point, no matter how nauseating it was, the instincts of survival it was born with would stop the worst from taking place, or at least she believed such was not within the capabilities of this one.

Splat!

The right eye of the one being held closed as she spat on it, before saying.

"I would execute you right now, but I don't have to. You'll live knowing your dirty fantasies will never come to be and you'll die alone as the freak you are! You might deserve worse, but I guess fate has pity for the wicked." Her words carried the hatred in her eyes, and this solidified the message.

At that time a warm feeling came from below for the thing, and that feeling spread as the soiling reached the floor.

The strong smell of the yellowish liquid and its spread caused the couple to step back, not wanting to get dirty.

"Hahahaha! I guess that's enough, don't forget Teach." Bello laughed then grabbed the box and put the drawing back inside, then grabbed the lady by her waist with his free hand. "Let's go, Natta"

A sigh of what could be regret left her mouth as she walked away, leaving a crying, snot-nosed soiled mess on the floor.

Such a mess should know better than to cause more trouble, at least that should have been it, but that was the part both of them missed about messes.

They didn't tend to be one-and-done.