Concern

"Evan, do you think you can sneak into there by yourself?"

Alastor smiled at the embarrassed Evan, who scratched his head awkwardly. 

"Err, if I even had that idea, I won't wait to show you and I would've already done it myself?"

"I'm pleased to know you understand quite well. Then, stop urging me."

"But your opponent is strong! You wouldn't be-"

Alastor's smile turned a bit vicious, Evan was being a bit too nagging. Although he appreciated the concern, there was a line. If that line got crossed, the concern would not induce any positive feelings, instead, only annoyance. 

Earlier, an Instructor's Assistant came to inform them about the identity of Alastor's next opponent in the Ascension Battle, which would allow him to leave this class. 

There were 5 classes in the whole Marjin Imperial Academy. 

5 → Failures. 

4 → Weaklings. 

3 → Averages. 

2 → Excellent. 

1 → Geniuses. 

From these classes, Alastor was in Class 3, the Averages class, alongside Evan. Their real power hovered in Geniuses Class, Class 1. However, they could not do much aside from hiding their power at that time. 

Alastor was being targeted by many for various reasons, and yet he was unable to fight after his Foundation was damaged. Evan, out of guilt, swore to follow him everywhere. 

Thus, Evan and Alastor got stronger but were stuck in this class. The class was not that bad. Unfortunately, it could not be considered as good as Geniuses Class, though. 

Now, after Vian's arrangement, Alastor had a very strong opponent but his body was even more broken. Evan was beyond worried at that. 

"Why do we need to worry when worry is never helping us, Even?"

Standing up and cracking his joints, Alastor opened the window and mumbled, "Worry is only something we do to escape what we actually need to do. In my situation, worrying is not an option. Rather, I need to find a way to defeat my next opponent without damaging my body too much."

'Although I have my unique style, I noticed that the longer I am here, the harder it becomes to use it.'

The air particles were acting chaotically, out of his control. Sooner or later, he would be unable to use them to draw Magic Circles. 

Failing in that meant he would need to rely on the Circles in his body, which were now damaged and on the verge of breaking apart. 

Evan's worry was justified but Alastor hated how he could not do much about it. 

'In the short time frame I have, I do need to finish a lot of things. The power I have currently is enough to take me to Class 2, but moving to Class 1 needs a lot more.'

"Hey, Evan."

Hearing his name being called, Evan leaned on the wall next to Alastor and hummed quizzingly, "Yeah?"

"When is the next Trials Tournament happening?"

"...Just why are you so hasty?"

Alastor groaned, making Evan flinch and answer reluctantly, "Around two weeks from now, and it last one week."

"Brilliant."

That meant Alastor would be able to qualify for the Esme Game and would be able to clear the two missions, even if he took some time. 

"Listen, we can arrange our schedule as such. After finishing the Ascension, you and I would need to sneak underground for that gemstone."

Evan's eyes brightened and he almost engulfed Alastor in a hug. Thankfully that punk was not actually delaying without any plans, he was still conscious enough about his body's condition. 

"Fuck you for worrying me that much while you actually had a plan."

Rubbing his face and sinking back to his sitting position, Evan asked Alastor who was looking at him bemusedly, "Just the two of us?"

"No, at least one other person would accompany us. That is something I'm certain of."

"Who?"

Another mysterious smile and no answer. 

At that point, Evan felt he was almost used to it. Mysterious Alastor was not bad, though, just a bit unnerving. 

"Haa… Alright, and after we find the gemstone?"

This time, his question was answered. 

"We will then join the Trial Tournament, and we are going to win it."

"..."

Evan clutched his head and stood up, slowly leaving the room, causing Alastor to laugh genuinely. Oh how funny it was to play with someone like that! 

Evan was unaware that someone was following him in the darkness, and that someone stopped after making sure Evan was out of sight. 

The person turned around and stared at Alastor's room, thinking whether they should speak to Alastor now or wait for a longer time. 

'He wouldn't know me, anyway. Leaving an advice there shouldn't be so bad,' they internally sighed. 

However, the person soon shook their head and changed their mind. Although there should be nothing wrong with that advice, they were uncertain. 

'Can I escape if he intended to catch me?'

The answer was uncertain, and if they truly fell in Alastor's grasp, they would not be too worried about escaping. They would not even be able to worry about spilling all of the secrets they have, as they would be completely under his control. 

"Heh. I think it should be my time to leave this place. And return once Esme starts."

The person took off their cloak, throwing it to the ground before stretching and slowly morphing to another shape. 

Their figure slowly crystallized, and also shrunk down into a glass ball with a crystalized little Fae resting in the middle of it. 

Swaying a bit to the left and to the right, the Fae deemed himself to be safe and slowly ascended to the sky, eventually disappearing without a trace. 

The little creature was unaware, the Alastor he was worried about was actually staring at his every move, until they faded in the midst of sky. 

"Eeeehh~ I suppose it is safe to assume that I am not the only one who know about Esme Game~"

That made everything even more interesting, how unfortunate that Alastor did not put a tracker on the little Fae. But that was fine, eventually, Alastor would be able to meet that Fae. 

He could feel it.