Johan was walking up and down the room. Nobody said a word. A maid was sitting on his bed alongside Videl.

  "So, what do you think we should do, Videl?"

  "I'm fine with whatever you're going to do. A traitor is a traitor, though."

  "Hmm, well then, how about we cut of her hands, since she wanted to kill me with them?"

  The girl looked up with tears in her eyes. She couldn't let her pride go, though and looked down again, with a determined expression on her face.

  "I will take the punishment."

  Johan stopped for a second, before he went to her and held her chin up.

  "Wow, such honour. Very rare, these days. You sure, you don't wanna talk instead?"

  She shaked her head.

  'Death over dishonour. A classic. What should I do? She definitely got hired by somebody. Who would let a girl like her do something like that? There has to be somebody who wants me dead for some reason.'

  He didn't want to kill her because he knew that it was somebody else's doing.

  'What information can you see about her?'

  'Fourteen? Isn't that impossible? Why does she have two Attributes?'

  'What's 'Nether''?

  ‘So she’s a netherian.’

  ‘You’re right. I’ll call somebody from the family.’

  ‘Uf, I can’t say shit. Whatever.’

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “Nah, I think you’re to valuable right now, Cebrina. Videl lock her up in an extra room. I’ll take care of her on my own.”

  “As you wish. But my Lord, why did you call her Cebrina? Her name is Lisa, isn’t?”

  ‘Hmm?’

  Cebrina held her head low. Johan raised her head again. He could sweat pearls on her forehead.

  “Don’t worry about it. This is gonna be interesting.”

  …

  In the morning, Johan went to the academy. Not only were the announcements for the annual fighting tournament but also the Maid Convention was planned for later that day.

  ‘Woah, that’s a giant crowd there.’

  People were gathering around a giant TV monitor which had the rankings for last year on them.

  Over tens of thousands of students participated in the tournament. Coming over from different corners of the country, they gave it their all to rank as high as possible. The participants ranged from first years to third years as college had three years of duration.

  Looking at the top ten he realised that two of them were from Euros Academy. The reason was because almost fifty academies sent their best students but since Euros was known for its high position among academies it was a given that they had two people there.

  ‘Wow! These are the top students who fought last year.’

  The list showed the two names of Euros academy. One was an A+ Rank already and the other one had a A- Rank. They were destined to become great figures like elders or perhaps even patriarchs.

  “Woah, guys look, that’s Reece! He made it into the top ten.”

  Reece Brock was walking with a smug face slowly but steadily alongside his crew. Students were looking at him, admiring his achievements. His muscular physique combined with a buzz cut made him look like a menace. He was a natural born predator. The cunning fact about him was that he was in his second year when he placed rank eight last time. The only one who was a second year and had ranked in the top ten was Kaiser. He ranked first and was announced the undisputed king of the tournament. If Reece and Kaiser were to repeat their achievements again they would be written in the history books of the tournament. Every Ranker in the top ten was a third year and would graduate after this last tournament.

  The other one who was from Euros was Artur Reis. He placed second after losing to only Kaiser. It was a formidable fight. Artur didn’t go down, so points had to be calculated. Though it was a clear victory from Kaiser’s side.

  ‘Well, with your training it should be counted as already done, right?’

  ’Sir, yessir.’

  It was the first time Johan got a feeling of sensation, other than when he fought Bahamut. Looking at Reece he saw somebody who would devour everything in his way to get what he desires.

  ‘Is this a taste of power?’

  ‘Wow! Is that how you talk to your host? Should I punish you? Now that I think about it, you’re becoming more… like a real person I guess.’

  ‘Woah, this fast?’

  ‘Hmm… it seems class is about to begin. Let’s go.’

  …

  Entering class, Trimur noticed different stares from all sides of the classroom. On the first day it was Mike but now multiple people kept staring at him. He gulped.

  “Mornin- Huh? What happened to you, Trimur??”

  The teacher looked at him with worry in her eyes. His forehead had a big bandage on it.

  “No-Nothing. I was just experimenting with my ability and made a mistake. It’s nothing big.”

  Laughing it off he went to his place and sat down. Some students next to him giggled and looked at him with pity.

  ‘These pieces of trash! They’re just glad that it’s not them getting targeted.’

  “Well then, let’s start with today’s lesson. We’re going to discuss the topic ‘Are men better than women?’ extensively. Mike what do yo…”

  The lesson ended relatively quickly because of the engaging topic at hand. Every student left the room the moment the bell rang. Only the teacher and Trimur remaining in the room, the moment was to be taken for a talk between twi people.

  “Ahem, excuse me teacher.”

  “Hmm? Trimur, what is it?”

  Standing idle for a moment, not sure what to say, Trimur mustered up the courage to ask.

  “I have been… having problems with a student… students lately. You know Mike from class, he has been targeting me for the past two days. Also my roommate who seems to be older is also doing the same.”

  The teacher looked at hin with concern.

  “What are you saying? ‘Targeting’ you? How? Are they… the cause for the wound on your face?”

  Looking at her with a little bit of embarrassment, he nodded slowly removing the bandage.

  “Haahh!!”

  Shocked by the sight, the teach put her befire her mouth.

  “Oh my god!”

  She took a step back.

  “Wha- Why did they do that?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t do anything.”

  Trimur looking at her shocked expression, realised that maybe telling her would make him some points.

  “Well, actually… I saw a girl getting beat up at the school entrance on the first day. So I decided to intervene. It... didn’t go as planned, though." He scratched his neck and tilted his head to the side.

  After a couple of seconds she looked him in the eyes and said: "Well, shouldn't have messed with the wrong guys, b#tch!"

  ...

  "Huh??"