Moving forward

I was hearing whispers about the apostle in the temple with everyone wondering whether what they're doing in the temple is right or not. Even in school, things had taken turn. I think Friar held a lot of power over people and his deeds becoming public had a massive impact.

The incident happened a few days ago but our classes continued as usual.

The elephant in the room was still me dating three women now. Or maybe two... I'm not sure about Kristine yet. As teammates, Leisha and Rosaline are irreplaceable and two people I genuinely care about. But despite accepting their confessions, I'm not sure about all of it. I'm not used to polyamory so this is really out of my box of comfort but I don't know if it's right or not. Considering even those Gods are okay and all the parties involved are okay and it's a norm here, but a part of me still isn't okay with the situation. I just feel like a pervert if I put it bluntly.

But back on topic, today a student would join the class. Apparently, he had some health related issues which caused this delay but he is the same guy who was raised by head hunters. If he joins the team, we could become even stronger but I wonder what role he could take. Maybe frontlines since Rosaline is only member who can deal a lot of damage in entire party.

The professor walked into the class followed by this new student. He had platinum hair and looked... how should I put it? handsome is the safest word, I guess. I could hear girls going crazy already. He was not only handsome but was raised by head hunters. He is a husband material for sure.

He first approached me and took the seat next to Rosaline.

"Hi, I'm Sunri. A wind magic user. Nice to meet you." He smiled and shook my head.

"Hi, I'm Kenji. A summoned one."

"Of course I know about you. Head hunters told me about the only magicless summoned one who somehow managed to get Rosaline to quit her ranks in holy knights."

I awkwardly chuckled.

"That was the apostle who came along summoned ones and not me." I whispered to him.

"I find it funny how you think you can fool head hunters." He chuckled.

Wait?! Head hunters know that I'm the apostle?!

"Don't worry. It's a secret." He whispered back to me.

I wonder if I can trust them or not but what can I even do now.

The class went as usual but afterwards I was confronted by Liam.

Here we go again...

"You pervert!" He shoved me into a wall. "Two girlfriends at the same time. How dare you... all those classmates thought you were a kind and loyal person but I guess you are just as disgusting and sinful as the devil."

I know, right? I was thinking to myself how these were my own thoughts as well.

Sunri took his hand off my shirt's collar.

"We shouldn't fight in school." He said with a smile. He could easily hold Liam off. I checked his stats and he too was level 20. Probably capped at that level.

His skills were not that interesting. Just wind magic and swordsmanship. He had high attack stats so I think he can fit the team.

Liam got pissed and took his hand out of Sunri's grip and walked away angrily.

"I'll tell everyone of your deeds!" He shouted at me from a distance.

Sunri laughed a bit.

"So, head hunters asked me to get some details on you. They want to make sure that you're at least safe so, allow me to join your team. Since you guys are capped at level 20, just like me, we can make a strong team of five members."

The proposal was good. Originally I was thinking of only four members but five doesn't sound bad.

A ice based healer, a nature based bow user, a fire based great-sword damage dealer and now wind based damage dealer. Issue is nature doesn't react with wind magic. But it does react with fire so Rosaline and Sunri can work in tandem.

"Sure..." I responded.

"Let's go to your dorm and talk about everything that has happened. I'll share some intel too so don't worry."

...

We were in my dorm looking awkwardly at each other.

"I'll start by asking, why are you hiding the fact that you're an apostle?"

"That is something related to my own world. Quite a few instances where people connected to God were killed. People in power want to stay in power and they can do anything for that. I don't want to commit the same mistake so I want to first reach level 100 before I announce anything. I'm worried I'd get assassinated."

"I see. So now time for my intel. There is a underground group of extremists who want to rule the world. King Grumania doesn't know of this group but they want theocracy and want to overthrow the royal family." Sunri sighed. "We're yet to track them down but that Friar was a member."

"NO!" I slammed my hands on the table. "They had the lance of Jeyma... If it was just one of their weapons then... I don't know how strong the group would be."

"Lance of Jeyma?" Barbara questioned.

"It is a weapon with the ability to bring back dead people. I wonder if this weapon is Jeyma's actual weapon. There could be many. If they have access to more of these kinds of weapon then we are done."

"I'd be telling head hunters about it so they can be more careful with investigations." Sunri noted it down on a paper.

"Other question is: you guys often go on adventures on weekend and stay out for two whole days. What do you do?"

"Oh, we get crystals to level up past level 20. Since, I'm the apostle, I have access to all kinds of magic so I need crystals from all seven elements to level up. We have managed to get two so far and this weekend we will be fighting the monster named "Arep" who will give us materials for Leisha. Since you're part of the team now, next weekend, we would go for your materials. I plan on getting remaining five during summer vacations."

"Hm? I see. Head hunters have done that. I wasn't allowed to accompany since it was a difficult mission."

"Also about Kristine. Since, you two were the summoned ones, you must know of her. Was she always like this?"

"No. Kristine was part of Jennie and James's clique. They're all loud and kind people. We were close since we often helped each other with assignments. I never thought she could do something like that. That's why I still think it is a curse." I answered.

"So... she was kind." He wrote in his notebook. "Another question about the summoned ones. Anyone we should be cautious of?"

"Liam. Apart from him, others are pretty much non-threat. If he gets his hand on any strong weapon, he could become an issue with his extremist ideologies."

"Noted." he wrote it down. "Well apart from that, it's been in rumors that Rosaline and Leisha started dating you. But that could come to an abrupt end because we have to send Liesha back to her kingdom since she is a crown princess."

"Huh!?" Leisha never told us anything about this. "Why didn't you tell us?!" I was too shocked.

"Because I didn't want you to look at me in a different light. Actually, I'm already of age so my parents wanted me to get married. We heard that summoning would happen soon and I asked my dad to get me to marry a summoned one since that man would be kind. Summoned ones are chosen by Gods and we can't doubt their judgement, right? But he refused saying, summoned ones are much more important to marry some random princess in a medium sized kingdom. There were some suitors but we all knew they were only after the throne and not me. I had no option but to run away and come here. I think they already tracked me down."

"Yea... wouldn't be hard to guess that someone who wanted to marry a summoned one who run away to a country that was doing the summoning." I said sarcastically. "Well it doesn't matter to me. I'm hiding things too so it would be hypocritical of me to get angry at you." I said with a smile.

"Yup! You're still the same friend to us." Barbara chimed in.

I think that settles my suspicion of why she was so eager to date me. She would've dated any summoned one but considering the fact that a holy knight joined my team, I would've stuck out to her. It is not necessarily bad.

"So now, a bit more of intel. There are monster you fought right? There is a forest in the center of the continent from where these monsters originate. The monster in that forest are so high levelled that an attack from single one of them can destroy a kingdom. For last few decades, there have been no attacks but this group might want to get them to attack Grumania since apostle has appeared." Sunri said. "Head hunters are no longer a strong group. Members have died or retired. So we have to come up with a new name for this team and follow in the footsteps of head hunters."

That might become a massive issue so I think we can agree to it.

"So what should we call our team?" Rosaline asked excitedly.

"NIGHTFALL." I responded. "As in 'falling' of 'night' like no more darkness. If your intel is correct, I think harsher times are coming."

The four agreed to the name of our team.

...

The weekend we were facing Arep. It was like a snake with legs. It was not as big as other two bosses but it had agility that the other two did not have.

Our strategy was to plant balls of nature elements all across the field and use fire magic to set them on fire making sure it doesn't run away. Leisha was shooting as quickly as she could from a distance while Sunri used wind magic to gather the balls of nature element and create a tornedo that went towards Arep and Rosaline and I used fire magic to set it on fire.

We did too much damage because of the reaction of the different kinds of magic but Sunri was of great help. His wind magic could contain things in a small area which meant no elemental attack was wasted.

I'm glad I agreed to him joining the team. It was also obvious he had trained under head hunters since he could understand and formulate strategies on the go.

The fight continued but it was not difficult mostly because of us disgustingly overpowered weapons and not because we were just that good. Of course a few weeks of fighting enemies had made me stronger but still fighting such bosses was not an easy task.

After winning, we took a break to eat something. It was the usual sandwich but it was getting boring now. Should I try making burrito? Or pasta... I wonder.

"Hey can I make you guys a meal later? From my world." I suggested and they all agreed.

"Can't wait!" Sunri was the most excited. Maybe he is really interested in knowing about my world.

A little over half a week and it would be start of summer vacations. We have to work hard during this one month off.