Another Threat

"Sorry for being late, everyone."

The president of the Mana Control club entered the classroom with an apologetic smile on his face, drawing the attention of everyone present in the room.

He had a massive frame, his shoulder width nearly double that of a regular person. Chestnut-brown hair flowed down to his shoulders, giving him a rugged and somewhat wild appearance.

However, despite his imposing presence, there was a kind aura about him that made it easy for others to approach and trust him.

"A lot of new faces, huh?"

The president scanned the room, observing each student with a keen and curious gaze.

"I'll start by introducing myself, I am Alaric Stoon, a third year student and the current president of the Mana Control club."

Alaric's voice resonated through the room as he began to explain the workings of the Mana Control club. His words were both commanding and inviting, drawing everyone's attention.

"Our club focuses on honing the art of controlling mana. It's not just about tapping into this energy; it's about mastering it, understanding its flow, and manipulating it with precision. We delve into various techniques, from elemental manipulation to enhancing one's abilities through mana infusion. By the end of our sessions, you'll find yourselves wielding mana like an extension of yourselves."

As he spoke, I glanced around the room, noticing many students nodding in agreement. Even Luna, usually reserved, seemed interested in Alaric's words, her blue eyes fixed on him with genuine interest.

Then, in a tone that carried both excitement and gravity, Alaric made his announcement.

"But that's not all. Next week, the entire club will embark on an extraordinary journey. We're venturing into a mana-rich dungeon."

A buzz of excitement swept through the room. The idea of exploring a place abundant with mana was exhilarating.

I could tell that most students were already hooked on Alaric's words, strange sparks of imagination lighting up in their eyes.

Everyone knew how rare and beneficial mana-rich dungeons were. The amount and density of mana in such dungeons could greatly enhance one's magical abilities and provide invaluable experience.

If it would take a month for someone to raise my Rank from G to G+, then spending a week in a mana-rich dungeon could likely have the same effect.

Obviously these dungeons carried their fair share of dangers, but the rewards were worth the risk.

It was clear that nobody wanted to miss out on this opportunity.

"Sign up sheets will be available after the meeting."

Alaric smiled and glanced around the room.

For a mere second, his eyes met with the Demon Contractor from earlier and he subtly nodded.

Nobody noticed this detail except for me, which caused another sigh to escape my lips.

It seems that the Demon Contractor wasn't the only threat I had to be wary off. The club president is also, most likely, his accomplice.

'This is going to be rough...'

Hiding my expression with a neutral facade, I spread a small portion of my Mana across the classroom, trying to gauge the strength of Alaric's mana.

"E+ Rank..."

I gritted my teeth as soon as I realized the power of the president. Even Luna is a step below him at E Rank. This is troublesome.

Biting my lips, I got lost in my thoughts and only noticed that everyone had already left the class when somebody tapped me on the shoulder.

"Yo, the club meeting is over."

I lifted my eyes to see Alaric standing before me with a smile. His expression looked disgusting.

"Yeah, sorry, I got lost in my thoughts..."

Offering a somewhat polite small smile back, I rose from my seat and gathered my belongings.

Before I left the classroom, I also didn't forget to write down my name and sign up for the upcoming dungeon exploration.

No matter what happened, I had to go there.

To kill that Demon that would cause the Elves to go extinct in the future and pluck out some rotten roots from the world.

Throwing the last glance at our president who was still wearing that infuriating smile, I made a silent vow to myself.

Although Demon, I will kill my kin if it means saving some people and ensuring my own survival.

***

"His eyes... I don't like them."

Alaric muttered under his breath as he watched the first year student leave the classroom.

Something about those eyes deeply unsettled him. It was as if they could peer into his soul and uncover his darkest secrets.

'Should I kill him?'

Clenching his fists, Alaric's face twisted into a sinister grin. It was something that no normal human being could produce.

'No, it's too early...'

However, he knew that he couldn't act on his impulses just yet. The big plan was just a week away, his master had given him strict instructions to wait until then.

Alaric took a deep breath, pushing down his instincts for now.

He wouldn't let this first-year student ruin everything.

'All I need to do is wait...'

Closing his eyes tight, Alaric let out a chilling laugh that echoed through the empty classroom.