Increased Difficulty.

Director Vincent sighed inwardly at the sight of the man in his office.

"I am pleased that the groups and guilds are spread all over the world, not just in the larger countries. Countries in Asia, Oceania, America, Europe, and Africa... The whole world is covered." Said Professor Miller and then with a slight frown, he asked. "But why are Aurora and Alice's mercenary group on the list to choose from?

It was a serious question, but Director Vincent waited a moment and...

"We don't need to put it in. They are students and I would not want other students to learn from their classmates. What I am looking for in their study is real, independent learning with professionals," added Professor Miller.

A resounding rejection.

Other groups and guilds that had children in academia would also look for their children to go to safe places and groups where they would not be treated very negatively.

For Professor Miller to have Aurora and Alice's group, which was a simple B-rank group with no name, on the list was a loss.

Not only were they students, but...

"The number of members is not shown, but it is believed that there are only three individuals... In that place the students will not learn anything" added Professor Miller shaking his head in denial.

This practice was really about students learning from different professions, knowing how they moved and organized, but also interacting with different people and maturing as heroes with the help of experts.

A B-Rank group, which was created by the students, seemed to be just a game of teenage girls in the eyes of Professor Miller.

"You don't teach the classes for higher-level students, that's why you don't know... That group has been on the list for a few years." Principal Vincent revealed.

That was the truth.

Unfortunately, Aurora's request to upgrade it and grant it some benefits, made it appear among the first groups and guilds that were either controlled by S Ranks or had a large number of users and reputation... So seeing a B-Rank group was eye-catching.

"They have also been present in other academies." Added Director Vincent after recalling this.

There were a few academies that had them on their list of groups to train and they had earned it because of their jobs and position.

"But they are students." Professor Miller replied without hesitation.

That was the problem, the report Professor Miller was able to get did not show the total members, but the groups were created with a minimum of three members.

If he had more members they could at least appear, but that group before his eyes was one of thousands and thousands of B-Rank groups that were only registered as a formality.

Also, there was one issue that remained in his mind...

"Her performance at the test at the beginning of the year still doesn't make sense and is of great concern." Professor Miller commented with a serious expression.

Aurora left her group in the middle of a test and then was found frightened in a closet, but a few classes later she was already facing monsters of all kinds with strong ability.

It was incomprehensible and it was a problem.

Professor Miller thought that Aurora had a big problem when dealing with humans, so she ran away every time it happened without caring if she abandoned her classmates.

In Greece's attack on the history class, Professor Miller heard how she had disappeared during that period and although one officer said that she helped, it was difficult to say if he was just covering for her or if it was the truth.

Principal Vincent's pen shook.

She had hidden her performance because of her circumstances, she didn't think it would escalate so much in the minds of some of her teachers.

"Even if I am objective. A small group of B-ranking mercenaries cannot help students progress. While Alice is in the group, that doesn't mean that group is acceptable." Professor Miller added clearly.

Principal Vincent could understand his words.

A normal B-Rank group would have great difficulty finding missions because of the high number of B-Rank groups, let alone getting dungeon-cleaning passes.

That was simply impossible, since not only did the mercenary groups need contact and trust, but they also needed a reputation and a decent number.

The world among the lower ranks was quite conflictive and more so in this time of peace that missions were scarce.

Director Vincent breathed a sigh and rubbed his temple.

Aurora's request to give her group more priority complicated the situation for her, but still...

"The group will continue on the list." Director Vincent declared without accepting any refusal and seeing Professor Miller's expression, he added. "That group is more than it seems at first glance."

That was the reason why the group was listed at different academies.

On a personal level it was an unknown group, but one with high prestige among those who knew it.

Their contacts, their backgrounds, their goals, and the way they performed their tasks were unique.

"The group doesn't seem to be conspicuous, it doesn't have a name and it doesn't appear in the list of members. If we go to his mission history it has taken a few missions. Although all have been completed and their reliability is high for the guild, the number of missions does not exceed ten." Professor Miller commented, recalling the report he had read.

That report had been officially released by the Mercenary Guild.

On hearing these words, Director Vincent shook his head.

"The group is more than a simple report reveals." Director Vincent announced, and seeing that Professor Miller was still rejecting it, he added "You've seen it yourself in your training. Although you have wanted Aurora to improve, she is very skilled and does not need your advice or help... Let alone Alice."

Certainly, the group did not have a long list of missions, but that was because they accepted unofficial missions or missions that did not pass through the mercenary guild that guaranteed their safety.

As for the other thing, Aurora was skilled and that was undeniable even though it was a B-Rank.

Professor Miller was silent.

Technically it was true, he could fix minor problems, and although he aimed to make Aurora better and to manifest her aura of combat, he certainly did not help her much.

Taking up his pen again, Director Vincent added. "Just wait until the tests are over."

Professor Miller sighed at Director Vincent's insistence and left.

As soon as he was alone, Director Vincent let out a long sigh.

He had too much trouble just buying a grimoire and now they had people behind him... Letting him see that his Academy was not as clean as it seemed.

"I hope this time they don't ruin my plans." Director Vincent muttered as he shook his head, wondering if he should have accepted the request of his acquaintances when it came time to accept Aurora.

******

Professor Lindbergh watched his students in a well-groomed suit.

"Today we will talk about the demons." Said Professor Lindbergh and studying the interested reaction of his students, he declared. "These individuals are not just red-skinned beings with big horns as fantasy stories would have you believe, but they can be elves, humans, dwarves, or any other race."

The students were surprised by this statement.

For them the demons were these red-skinned beings with big horns, that was not only established by the fantasy stories, but by the stories they heard from Terra nova.

The 'pure' demons, that red-skinned race with horns, caused the most havoc on the earth, but they were not the most numerous.

"Those individuals who are called 'demons' have a basic peculiarity. They use demonic energy." Professor Lindbergh revealed and began to explain. "That energy is the same as the common magical energy, only it has been influenced by 'Chaos'... This primordial energy of the beginning of time which is in charge of corrupting everything it touches."

"I will not speak to you about this power, as it is beyond my understanding, however, the general consensus is to call 'demon' all those who use demonic energy. "

Walking from side to side his expression was solemn as he spoke about the subject.

"These individuals can be human, elf, dwarf, or of any race. That does not mean that all demons are evil, as you may have heard there are 'good' demons." Professor Lindbergh added, and seeing students dazed by his excessive explanation, which surely went against an extremist part of some church, he revealed. "But in the end, it is the same... They are all dangerous, without exception."

Aurora saw that Alice nodded her head in interest for this class and she continued to listen.

"Chaos corrupts mind, body, and soul. Demonic energy, as energy-related to 'Chaos', is similar." Professor Lindbergh explained and with a serious expression, he added. "The most powerful demons can create grotesque monsters to fight by their side, but if they let themselves go they can become equally grotesque monsters that do not distinguish friends from enemies."

His words were both a warning to stay away from such matters and a warning to be careful when fighting demons.

Just as the creatures and beasts that were affected by 'Chaos' became grotesque, irrational, and violent monsters... Humans or any other race were the same.

"That is all I will say for now about demons. The next class will speak of the 'Paladins', those individuals who use the powers of the gods to confront their enemies." Said Professor Lindbergh and before the students got up, he mentioned "Remember the exams will be next month. I understand that you have homework and unfinished business, but you must study for my class... A class that if you remember can save your life."

Aurora agreed with Professor Lindbergh.

Knowing the different professions, their strengths and their possibilities was vital when facing such an enemy.

She liked this class because...

"This is the easiest class for me." Aurora murmured with a sigh of relief.

As a mercenary having knowledge about the different professions was fundamental and she was quite knowledgeable in that regard.

"I like theology class," Alice commented by eating her chips.

Aurora's lips trembled.

That was probably because she had already 'bought' Professor Santulli.

As the best student in her theology class, who talked amicably with the professor about different books and gave comments to the class as if she were giving them, Alice was the perfect student in that class.

Shaking her head, Aurora began to address the combat class with Alice.

As Clémentine said in the morning, Professor Miller would now reveal the groups for the second stage and also report on the dungeons.

When they arrived at the training room Professor Miller was already waiting for them looking slightly grumpy.

"Congratulations on passing the first stage of this phase. Some had small mistakes and complications, but in the end, they did well and this experience will serve you well for what is to come". Professor Miller said with a gentle nod.

He was watching those students who were bowing their heads in the knowledge that they had made mistakes.

"Don't be discouraged, you have to learn from your mistakes and do better in the next stage. This stage will be with random groups and will increase the difficulty to another level." Professor Miller added, and with a serious expression, he declared. "In the next stage, the whole class will be divided into three large groups with their respective teams at random, with the one with the fewest members having the only A-rank in the class."

The students were excited to look at Alice.

If a class of seventy students was divided into three, then two teams would have twenty-five students and the last team would have twenty, but an A-Rank in their ranks... The number didn't matter in the face of power, so everyone expected to be on the winning side.

But only very few put on complicated expressions when they realized that the difficulty had increased to a great level and so it was.

"So with their respective sets of groups, they will face a B-rank Temporary Dungeon." Professor Miller declared, stunned all the students.

As some thought, the difficulty had increased on several levels.