Teaming Up

"Is this a main quest?"

[Yes.]

"I see… So I can't ignore it either."

[Yes.]

The previous vexed expression of Mika turned quickly into a mischievous grin.

"If that's the case, then I'll use my right to change the quest!" he declared triumphantly as he pointed with his finger to the ceiling.

Forgetting that he was still in the classroom, some students started to look at him weirdly as if he was some kind of freak. There were even some students who distanced themselves from him.

[Are you sure?]

"Yes!"

Roughly a minute passed in silence until the words that were floating in front of Mika suddenly began to transform.

Main quest: Recruit a student with an S-rank into your team within a day.

Reward: Information about Lily Hayth.

Punishment: The sword will be confiscated for three months.

With his mouth agape, he looked stunned at the new quest.

"Is this some kind of joke…"

Mika could have never imagined that the right to change a quest could also affect him negatively.

Now he had only a day to complete the quest, instead of one week.

[Good luc- Pfft!]

[Sorry.]

"Hey, you were just laughing at me, right?!"

[Rather than wasting your time, shouldn't you look for a teammate right now?]

"Ahhh, geez! You're ticking me off!"

Then, with heavy steps, Mika entered the portal connected to the hallway as he left the classroom.

"Is he alright in the head…?"

"Better stay away from him…"

"Weirdo."

The students, who heard him shouting, started to gossip.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, a crowd full of first-year students gathered and chatted loudly with each other.

"Hey, wanna join my team?"

"You won't be disappointed with me! After all, I'm a proud B rank!"

The students in the hallway were trying to recruit other students for their team.

But everyone was talking at the same time in a loud voice, which made it even more chaotic.

"From what I've heard, most S-rank students are in the white class, meaning that they're wearing a white uniform…" Mika talked to himself as he searched for those students.

He stood a little bit outside the crowd in order to escape the chaos and to concentrate on his search.

"Hey, system. Can I ask you something?"

His tone and facial expression were indifferent.

[What do you want to know?]

"What kind of reward is this?"

[What do you mean?]

"Information about Lily Hayth. Why is this considered a reward? And what should I do with that?"

[For now, I can just say that there will be a time when you need the information.]

Mika sighed carefreely.

"I knew that you would say that…"

[Then why bother asking?]

"Shut it."

Suddenly, Mika sensed a change in the atmosphere.

The once loud and chatty students turned silent as they pathed the way for a peculiar student.

They all looked with awe at the girl, who wore a white uniform and a golden robe.

She had shoulder-length grey hair and sharp blue eyes.

These traits and that beautiful and elegant-looking face reminded Mika of someone.

He stared at her while he tried to remember.

However, until he knew it, she was already standing right in front of him.

"A-are you perhaps-"

"Let's team, up."

"Huh…? What did you just say?" he squinted his eyes in doubt when he asked her to repeat herself.

The students behind her began to become noisy, but Mika's focus was directed at the girl in front of him.

"Let's team up." she repeated with the same monotone voice.

"…"

He was speechless and dumbfounded.

"S-sure, but can I ask you why you want to team up with me out of all people?" he asked confused.

"That's because you won against Ophelia Ross."

"Not that again…" he sighed.

She reached out her hand.

"I'm looking forward-"

"Hold on!"

Then, an angered yell emitted from someone in the crowd.

A boy in a red uniform emerged from the crowd with other people behind him.

He had curly black hair and grape-light green eyes.

With his hands in the pockets, he took long and wide strides as he approached the two.

"What's the meaning of this, Sylvia Pyril?! Why would you want to form a team with someone from the black class?!"

"Because he's strong."

"Strong? You mean him? Hah, don't make me laugh! If he's strong, then why would he be in the class full of trash?"

"I'm still here, you know?" Mika retorted sternly as he sharpened his gaze.

As if he was insulted, the person closed the distance between him and Mika.

Pressing his forehead against Mika's, he looked at him like he was prey.

"Who allowed you to talk back? Two elite students were talking, so shut your mouth and go into some corner, you bottom feeder."

"And who allowed you to talk like that, you wannabee king?"

A creepy grin formed on that student's face while he pressed his forehead further into Mika's.

"My name is Cail Maystra, the younger brother of Xander Maystra and soon one of the greatest mages of this academy!" he bragged confidently.

"Huh? You becoming one of the greatest mages? I would die out of shame if someone like you would be called one of the greatest!" Mika said with an angered smile.

He hit a nerve this time.

Cail took a step back.

With his hand covering his face, he faced the ceiling.

"I see…"

Then, he broke into laughter.

"I guess, you want to be sent to the infirmary, you crazy bastard!"

Cail was about to grab Mika's collar but was stopped easily by Sylvia.

"What do you think you're doing to my teammate?"

This time, her tone and eyes were sterner.

From the ground an icy fog emitted, which led to the hallways' temperature dropping.

"Tch…"

Cail freed himself from her grasp and backed off.

"What's your name, you trashy bastard?"

"Mika Elbar, you delusional bastard."

Biting his lips and looking away, Cail tried to resist the urge to punch Mika.

"Remember this, Mika Elbar. You may have gotten into the academy, but in the end, you and the black class are still in the wrong place." he remarked with his back turned to Mika.

Thus, Cail and his entourage left the scene.

"Don't mind him. After all, I know your real worth." Sylvia stated with her usual monotone voice.

"Sure… Wait, my real worth?"

"Yes, I mean, you've won against Ophelia Ross, right?"

She cutely tilted her head as she sought confirmation.

"A win against that Ophelia Ross? You must be mistaken. In the end, I just got lucky and dodged her attack, hahaha…" he responded with a wry laugh.

"You can't deceive me."

"I'm not trying to deceive you."

"Whatever. Let me introduce myself formally this time. My name is Sylvia Pyril. Nice to meet you." Sylvia said with a slight smile.

She reached her hands out again.

"I am Mika Elbar. Nice to meet you, too."

He shook her hand.

[Quest completed. Distributing the reward now.]

"Well, that's it for today. I'm getting sleepy, so I'll say goodbye for now." Sylvia stated as she abruptly left.

"Ah, yes, sure…"

"What a weird girl." Mika muttered in the end.

However, Mika decided to go, too. He wanted to go to his new dorm room he was assigned to.

Therefore, he left the building and headed to the dorms, which were near the academy.

"Let me check the reward."

And as soon as he commanded that, words gathered in the air.

The words faded away and were replaced with new ones when they were read.

Mika calmly read them, however, he suddenly stopped unconsciously.

His eyes widened and he broke into a cold sweat as he read further and further.

He was neither despaired, happy, impressed, or disappointed.

He was just surprised after he found out her true identity.