A step forward [3]

"Are you finally done? I have to say, to just barge into my own office like this... didn't you learn decency during your stay at the academy?"

"Decency? Now, where would I ever get the chance to learn that in this cursed academy? What I did learn, however, is to never let an opportunity pass me by. So for that, I am immensely grateful."

With Dr. Smith having already signed the contract, it didn't take long for the master of this domain to return to his lair. Looking at the figure of the principal in his white uniform, I couldn't help but feel slightly disgusted when thinking about what he was doing.

This whole academy was just a farce, a cash cow designed not only to make him money but to create a neutral spot in the world where the politics of the world would not matter. Here he was king, an undeniable ruler that would get the chance to go about his own business without obstructions.

Or at least that's how it should have been. If not for a certain man who couldn't care less about his aforementioned state of affairs.

"As haughty as ever... So, I'm assuming he accepted your proposal? Though I can't for a second believe he had much of a choice. You truly enjoy creating those kinds of situations, don't you?"

No matter how much he was pointing to the fact that it wasn't too long ago he was in the same kind of situation, I didn't feel like humoring him. Instead, I changed the point of conversation to the other reason I was visiting the academy.

"How much longer will it take?"

Sitting down in front of me, letting his cane lean on the desk, the principal immediately understood my intentions of not wasting any more time.

"At least a month, probably more. Even with my technology, it's still something that requires a lot of manpower. Not to mention the fact that I have to get rid of them all afterward..."

Standing up, reveling a bit that my body had finally reached the heights I was searching for, I knew it wouldn't give fruit to pressure the old man just for the sake of it. Also, I was no longer in a hurry as I had already decided what I wanted to do.

"I see. Then, I will return when it's done. Until then, make sure no one tries to put their dirty paws on my possessions."

"Dr. Smith? I don't think he is in much danger at the academy, though..."

"Not him. That girl."

Yes, it was not only Dr. Smith that I wanted to obtain here at the academy. There was also a very specific girl that was inevitably going to become mine. It was just that I didn't want her until she was ripe. Or rather, until the time was ripe.

"So you have already made contact with them... Although I would have wanted to ask how you found them, I'm assuming you wouldn't tell me anyway."

"Right you are. Now, I hope you understand what will happen if something were to happen to that girl..."

****

[Caroline's Pov]

Things had gotten... weird, to say the least, after the incident at the border.

Not only had we lost a classmate, a classmate that had always been the focal point of our class, but it turned out that he had actually been James Jackson. Did that make sense? No, I don't think anyone believed it to make any sort of sense.

Alas, what could we do? We saw it with our own eyes, how Zero submerged himself in that cluster of mana, only for a tall man in a gray suit to walk out of it, his face covered by a white mask with a red stripe and a blue tear.

Not only that, but we also lost the energetic blue-haired girl Stella, who was now merely an apathetic shell of her former self. Adding on to that, even Thomas appeared to have lost his way, instantly reverting back to the extremely shy and introverted boy he was at the beginning of the year.

Me? I had lost a valuable piece that I was planning on using to cement my position as the heir of the Rue family.

To be honest, I didn't care all too much about that. From the start, I had no plans of putting all my eggs in that unstable basket, as there was no way of knowing how he would evolve in the future.

Granted, this was way outside of my calculations, but it still served as a reminder to keep my options open.

Still, there was a lingering feeling inside of me, a feeling that I objectively could recognize, but subjectively wanted to repress.

'I miss him...'

The boy with the most innocent smile in the world, the one who seemed so weak, yet was so incredibly strong. A boy who had started showing me a world that I could have never believed in until I met him.

Was it love? Maybe, but most likely not. Infatuation? Also probable, but it didn't seem quite right. In the end, it was mere interest that was now blown out of proportion because of his sudden disappearance.

Looking around the classroom, it didn't take long until my eyes landed on the empty seat beside me, a seat that should have been occupied by the white-haired Zero who never seemed to pay attention in class.

Comparing him to the man who had walked out in front of us in the wasteland, I couldn't help but get another sinful thought.

'He was pretty hot, wasn't he?'

Although Zero was incredibly handsome, something about that tall, suited man was getting to me. Even when feeling the pressure he exuded, which forced us to our knees, a seed of interest had still been planted inside of me.

His long, white hair and those black and white wings... Everyone has heard about the temptation of the devil, but seeing it up close wasn't something that couldn't be described in words.

Similar to how Icarus flew too close to the sun, it wasn't a secret to anyone that one would get burned if they got too close. Yet, just like how bugs were phototactic, there was an undeniable attraction to him.

Almost as if...

"Listen up! Next week will be the midterms! Although there have been more incidents this term than we would have wished for, that does not mean you can take it easy."

Breaking me free from my inner thoughts, our teacher had taken to the podium, now talking loudly enough for everyone's ears to perk up.

Dressed in her normal, business-woman-looking attire, with her white shirt and black, tight skirt, her womanly figure was impressive as always.

"As always, the midterms will be divided into three parts. First is the theoretical test, where you will be tried on your knowledge about the legislation related to hunters, guilds, and everything in between. This will be followed by a combat assessment and lastly, you will be going on a dungeon dive."

It wasn't easy to keep our motivation up for these kinds of things after all that had happened, but I also knew that I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. If I wanted to impress the elders I had no choice but to excel as much as possible in my studies.

'If only I was stronger...'

I didn't carry such a thing as natural talent in terms of fighting, at most I could believe myself to be a bit above average. Even after training until my hands bled every day, I still didn't make much progress, and that wasn't something likely to change.

So, I had no choice but to find other ways to excel, and knowledge was one of them.

But knowledge could only take me that far in this world. In the end, I could only rely on making connections with the right people to further elevate my status, and now that Zero was gone, I was having some slight trouble knowing who to latch on to.

There were many people inside the academy with great backgrounds, but there weren't that many that fit the relatively specific conditions I had. In the end, I could find but one individual in our class that met the requirements I had.

"... and that's all for today. I hope that you will keep working hard. Dismissed."

As we all rose from our seats, with most of us immediately walking toward the door, I had already locked on to my prey.

Walking up to the man with hair like the rainbow, I instantly put on the most innocent face I could muster and opened my mouth, while slightly bending my knees to look even frailer.

"Hey, Gomerick... Would you want to grab a coffee tonight after classes?"

Though he looked to be a bit surprised by my sudden advances, it didn't take long until I got my answer. An answer that shocked me to the core...

"Sorry, I don't drink coffee."

And with that, he walked past me and left the classroom.

"Huh?"