Chapter CXVI - Danger Ahead (part 1)

The headmaster explained to me his whole plan.

He wants me to become the secret helper of the academy, that lurks in the dark and aiding help when needed. 

By doing this, there are multiple things the headmaster has thought can happen. Because by being in the shadows, there are so many things a person can do.

Back in Veldonia, by being in the shadows I was able to learn of the whole situation as a hidden spy within the kingdom. Here, I might be able to learn even more information.

Not just that, but I will also get removed from the crosshairs of the enemy. Those who are in the light will always get targeted first hand, and maybe get lured into a trap.

But, not for those who are in the shadows.

Not that easily, at least.

I laughed at his idea, but I can tell he is serious.

"Just so you know, I'm doing this for the academy, Rize. And you are my strongest weapon in fighting this… demon race person. I will need your help."

"Yeah? What about the Disciplinary Committee that was already here?"

"Remember that student who got brainwashed that I told you about earlier? He was the vice leader of the Disciplinary Committee."

Oh...

That is… new and unfortunate information to me.

"I guess the Disciplinary Committee must have sucked then."

I was just joking, but Veneo took it seriously. He let out a long sigh and explained what I didn't know.

"It's not that. The demon race… they always are one tier above in terms of magical prowess than the other races, like humans, elves, or dwarves. They have a magical affinity much stronger than any other races, and it has always been like that since the beginning. 

Plus, we suspected that there were more than one, so this might actually be dangerous, even for us adult mages… So you can imagine how dangerous this is for the students."

"I see…"

Well, I guess I shouldn't worry too much. Being in the shadows is… kind of my thing.

 "Okay. I'll help you on this... crusade. But, you will have to do me some favors."

.

"Rize! You are late!"

"S-Sorry... The headmaster called me."

I came to the bottom of the cliff at 3.75 pm, which is a quarter of an hour too late. Everyone else was already waiting at the bottom and was chilling under the trees, so that no one from the top could notice them.

Manda quickly got up and went to me as soon as I leaped down from the top. Seeing how I jumped from a fifty meters cliff made everyone quite startled.

"D-Don't tell me! The headmaster knows about our..."

"No, no, no. It was something else. But, as to whether or not he knows about this, he probably knows about it already."

They became very surprised knowing that the headmaster knew about their little event, but I simply chuckled.

It's Veneo we are talking about, here. He definitely knew.

I turned my gaze to everyone, and it seems like they are prepared.

"Okay, everyone. Let's continue with the training."

I said confidently and we all started moving immediately. I took the class president, Elmone, by force on my back and ran faster than a demonized mode demon wolf. As soon as we arrived at our training location, he puked on the ground while I lit up the green beacon.

And after nearly twenty minutes, the first person finally arrives. It's Jericho.

"Well done. The ability to fly really does make it easy, huh?"

"Yeah... But, it's certainly tiresome..."

She quickly fell on the floor and laid her back on the ground. Funnily, only a meter away from Elmone's puke. She turned her gaze to where I was pointing and her eyes turned wide.

"Hiii!!!"

ZIING!!!

She stood up and casted light magic. The puke was turned into dust as the ground formed a one meter long crater.

"Wow. That's overkill, even for a puke."

I mumbled as she tried to catch her breath again.

The next group to arrive is Bonzie, Maneil, and Manda. The three arrive at the same time, but Manda was separated from their group because she was technically flying.

No, floating. It was definitely too slow to be called flying.

Manda said she had to take some rest along the way because flying surely does take a lot of your energy. Bonzie and Maneil dashed through and skipped past the demon beasts with ease, since they are known to be very athletic with their body enchanting skill. As expected from the two of them.

In less than fifty minutes, everyone finally arrives.

"Congratulations! You all arrived in less than fifty minutes!"

I shouted at them while they all tried to control their breaths. Seeing the time, the sun should be coming down at any moment now. I quickly gave Elmone the leadership as I headed down the mountain to grab a single tree.

When I returned, everyone else had already recovered their breaths and ready for training. I placed the tree log and asked some students to help me make the campfire.

The earthen magicians were known to like dirtying their hands, so they gave much help on doing this than the others. After a while, a large campfire was made.

I took a piece of the wood and burned the tip to make a torch and placed them around by stabbing them to the ground. And after a quarter of an hour, the area is lit properly.

"Okay. Now that we have the lights covered, let's begin tonight's lesson."