Chapter 20 Festival Day

"Huff–huff–huff—Fuck, this body is weak as hell"

I have been training for three hours, and in those three hours I have been constantly taking breaks. First of all, the worst one is my stamina; compared to F rankers, mine is human level, and when it comes to speed and strength, I could barely match F rankers.

CLANK CLANK

Defending the dummy's punch, I kicked it and retreated.

" Huff–huff—Without Shadow Monarch Technique they can easily detect me—Sigh. Let's do it again"

There was only few people in the training ground rest of them are preparing for today's event. After evening every programs will start, and today is the day, one of the moments where he and Alicia enjoy the festival and become closer.

THUMP THUMP

Even though I don't want to interfere in their joy, when I think about his smug face, it irritates me to the core so much that I want to rub his face on a hard rock and rub salt in his bruised face.

"Hehehe, I should do it; it's my revenge for not helping me, even though your character trait should be kindness."

Buzz buzz

The watch buzzed, jolting me out of my thoughts. Looking at it, I saw Taren's message.

[ Taren Reisig: Hey, are you free after this evening? If you're free, then you want me to pick you up. ]

[ You:Yeah, I'm free. You don't have to pick me up; send me the location and I will come there. ]

[ Taren Reisig: I can't tell you the exact location; we will be moving here and there, enjoying the scenery and…You know, that too. ]

[ You: what's? that? ]

[ Taren Reisig: …ogling and picking up girls, and if God gives me a chance, something might happen tonight. ]

"This fucker, I thought this guy might be decent, but boys are boys."

[ You: I will message you when I leave the house. Send me the location then.]

[ Taren Reisig: Okay. ]

"I should take a shower and eat some food." I walked to the dormitory. Entering my room, I took a shower and went to the cafeteria.

"There are also fewer students here." After finishing the food, I roamed around the campus. "Should I roam around in the city or, nha, I will do some VR training"

***

***

***

"What time is it?" I checked the time, seeing that it was almost 6 p.m. I messaged Taren.

[ You: Hey, send me your location. ]

Sending a message, I walked to the entrance gate. Seeing me, the guards closed the gate and became alert.

"Who are you, and how did you enter the academy?" the guard asked in alertness.

"It's me, old man."

"…Who? I don't know you." he said, ready to alert the hidden guards.

"Can't you recognize my voice, old man? It's me, Jadel." I showed my details to the guards. As they saw that, there was a clear shock evident in his face.

Taking out an identity-checking box, he inspected me, and knowing it really was me, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you really Jadel?" he asked, not believing in his eyes. "Did you get a face modification?" I shook my head.

"My mana became pure, that's all. Now open the gate; I want to go."

"How the heck did that ugly basterd become this handsome?".

"Ugly? You should watch your words, or I will make your kid mine," I said with a smirk.

"Well, too bad for you, my son is not gay" my smile stiffened "…are you gay?"

"Fucking no"

"You don't have to get angry; nowadays everybody respects people's choices. I will respect your choice and support you."

"I said I'm not a fucking gay. Just do your work. I'm going to go." Taking out my hoverbike, I departed.

"Wear a helmet before you ride" he said loudly.

'Always listen to elders words, or something bad might happen' I pressed the helmet button, and with a sound, a helmet manifested on my head.

WROOM WROOOM

I slowly rode the bike. The city is bustling with people. The adults moved here and there, decorating their store with decorations and fancy lights and items. Teenage boys and girls walked the streets, conversing with smiles. Kids laughter resounded. Holding their parents hands, they laughed with joy.

Seeing their happy faces, I remembered my family. The times I shared with them. The things I did with them and the things they did for me. Remembering my previous childhood memories, a smile bloomed on my face, and at the same time, I felt a pang in my chest.

'Mom Dad, I wish you guys were here with me so we could enjoy festivals together, eat together, and support each other, not in this world but in our old world where there was no danger lurking around… I… I wish I could see you guys once. Now… I can't even remember your faces'

My eyes blurred as tears filled my eyes, causing me to lose control over the bike for a moment. Clutching the break, I stopped the bike, taking off my helmet, I wiped the tears that threatened to fall down.

"Are you crying browtha"

Hearing a child's voice, I looked at my sides and spotted a kid who looked like he was barely 3 years old. Not seeing anyone around him, I worried a little.

"Are you with your parents?" I asked with a smile.

"Mm, mm, I'm with my mom" he nodded and replied

'Is he lost, but how can a small kid like him walk around the road' I immediately asked

"Where is your mom?"

The kid looked around, and not seeing his mother, his eyes started to tear up.

"Don't cry, don't cry can you tell me which way you come"

His eyes streamed with tears, which slowly started flowing down. As I saw he was on the verge of burst into crying, I quickly got the best idea.

"Don't cry. how about this? We both will look for your mom, and while we are looking for your mom, I will buy you candies." Hearing the word candy, his eyes lit up, but the happiness slowly faded away. 'Huh, what happened?'

"Mom said don't go with strangers and eat what they give."

'huh, so thats why'

Touching my watch I showed my identity.

"You see, I'm from royal academy" I pointed at the academy " you see that big buildings over there I'm from there" The academy was so big that it could compare to a city. Upon mentioning the academy his eyes widened.

"Big bwotha are you strong?" he asked as his shined with a twinkling star.

'Man, he is so excited that I can see stars in them… wait stars' I observed the child and made sure that I wasn't mistaking it.

'This kid was born with a genetic mutation' Genetic mutations only occur when met with harsh conditions, such as enduring abnormal mana phenomena, entering cracks, etc. These changes happen when a normal human's genetic makeup mixes with an abnormal mana, which helps in developing the core and mutating body parts. But the body only mutates when the core is fully developed, which means when he awakens.

But this kid, It doesn't matter what this kid's potential is. If he manifested his eyes now, then when he awakens at age 11, his eyes would become absurd.

'I can confidently say his eyes will par with Lukostrelec or even surpass them. Shit, it might potentially threaten him in the future.

"Bwotha you're not answering, are you strong" I nodded.

"I'm strong but not enough"

"Enough?" he asked, tilting his head.

"When you get big, you will get what I mean. Now let's find your mom"

Storing my bike I walked with the kid. After walking for a minute, he got tired. Picking him up, I held him in my hand and started walking.

"Here, as promised"

"Candyy"

"So do you like–" My words cut off as suddenly someone grabbed my neck. Taking the kid away from my hand, she slammed me to the ground.

THUD

"Guahh"

My head spinned, and I felt a metallic taste in my mouth. quickly spreading mana into my head, I cleared my spinning vision and saw a woman holding my shirt. Seeing a flattered expression on her face, I quickly shook her hand and kicked at her jaw.

Tilting her head, she casually dodged the kick. Creating a distance between us, I took out my dagger and released mild bloodlust, intending at her.

"Why did you attack me and why did snatch the kid from–"

"Mama" the kid called her happily.

'huh, mama'

As of now, all the people are looking in our direction with curious gazes. Their murmurs spread around the area, seemingly talking about the current situation.

"Why did you kidnap my child?" she asked, her tone turning fierce.

"Huh. And what the fuck do I get doing that?" I didn't care if the kid was listening to us and cursed as I was frustrated by the situation. All I did was help the kid, and this is what I get for helping him.

"What do you get?" She was confused for a moment. "You don't know me?"

"Know you? Listen here, lady, I don't give a fuck who you are or what you are. All I did was help that kid. If you don't trust me ask the kid" she asked kid and he nodded his head.

"I don't know who you are, but if you can't keep your kid safe, that tells volumes about how incompetent of a mother you're." As of now, I didn't care about the consequences and vented my anger at her.

"You can't be a mother if you have a big title in your name. If you want to become a mother, you need to do what mothers do." Her face turned red from anger, and she released a killing intent.

I felt like the oxygen around me vanished as I couldn't breathe. But my concern was the kid in her hand.

'Fuck, what the bitch is doing, the kid is unconscious' Seeing my gaze directed at the kid, she realized her mistake. Instantly stopping her intent, she called out her son. Tears filled her eyes as she called him.

"Reijin, Reijin, Reijin"

Seeing him wake up, she sighed in relief and shot a glare at him.

"What's your name kid?"

"Why do I need to tell you?"

"…So I can pay you back"

'Is this lady an idiot or acting like an idiot'

"The name is Jadel. Jadel Wayner. First year student at Royal Academy." I took out my bike and sat on it. "If you can pay me back…then visit the academy." I started the engine and smirked at her, "Next time then."

WROOM WROOOM