Chapter 31: Now Hiring

"Are you sure, Ms. Trello? We might be underprepared," Merency spoke quietly, her voice shaking so hard it was barely understandable.

"Exactly, shouldn’t we get some basic training first?’’ June added from the other side of the room, seemingly just as vexed as Merency.

Elizabeth simply moved in front of her, smiling. ’’I am sure you girls will be just fine.’’ While she handed them a much smaller ration. Steven took it happily, barely caring. After all, she got what she deserved.

If you’re ready to play the game, you need to accept others playing it too. Merency wanted to debate, but Steven shut her up with a small hit to her side.

As she could just yelp, Ms. Trellen didn’t pay them all any attention. Simply continuing the line, writing down the pairs. Steven inspected each of them twice; none of them seemed to be truly worrying for him.

Even though Elizabeth hadn’t announced it yet, the participants could be allowed to engage in combat to gain advantages; if one can’t play anymore, you would move up more likely.

So every sapphire or higher class would be barely able to catch a single break until it all was over. So it wasn’t just a test of strength or knowledge but instead of endurance and willpower.

But all that didn’t matter to him; he could just crush them all into the ground and win this on the first day. Maybe Lucy would cause a challenge, but the rest didn’t matter, especially when Edward wasn’t part of this class.

Lumiel also wouldn’t be participating, so only June was a factor he couldn’t calculate yet; the Frostes’ specialty was ice magic, after all, but he had never seen her use it, so she might not have inherited it.

As Merency suddenly woke him from his thoughts with a light tap against his arm. "The event will start tomorrow morning, where we all will meet at the main gate," as the professor stepped back to her table, placing her list.

’’My class is dismissed, but don’t forget the following classes for today.’’ As she waved her hand, the class slowly dissembled, but the mood had changed. After all, nobody wanted to fall down their rank, and with the opportunity of rising, it made it only worse.

Everyone seemed to be checking on each other not with care but rather with worry, evaluating their danger levels.

Merency grabbed his hand, pulling him with her far away from everyone else as they moved towards the tree they had just met a few days ago; she sat down at the roots.

Sitting down next to her, he waited for her to break the silence; after all, he could feel her mana rushing through her body as if she were about to explode.

’’I...’’ She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. ’’I don’t know how to camp in the wild.’’ Steven stared at her, his face filled with confusion, until he broke out into loud laughter.

"Trust me, camping will be the least of our problems; after all, there will be nobody watching if the students were to get into a fight." He spoke calmly, not trying to worry her but instead lightening the mood.

As he could watch realization crash down on her, a dark, slight smile formed on her lips, and Steven could’ve sworn she whispered about Lucy and destroying her.

"Well, if it is that type of class, I must go." As she rose from the ground, her face was determined. "I will finish some preparations; after all, we probably won’t be allowed to bring anything with us if she is handing out rations."

She had hit the nail on the head; they could be happy if they were allowed to wear their student uniforms and not some old garments the demoness found in some corner of hell.

Watching Merency step away elegantly, disappearing into the school, Steven continued lying for just one more moment until he returned to his next class. Which turned out to be just as boring as he expected, and without Lumiel, there wasn’t somebody to laugh at either.

He tried talking to Edward, but he seemed to be distant for once, keeping quiet to himself. And Steven didn’t feel like June and Lucy would be a good potion class partner at the moment.

So he stayed pretty much alone for the entire day, letting the classes pass past him like the wind. With the sun slowly setting, Steven wanted to make his way to the main street and then back home but found himself walking a different route.

As he stood in front of a small hospital, he entered it without thinking. After a quick chat with one of the workers, he was led towards his classmates.

Standing in front of a row of three beds, Lumiel was already sleeping. But behind him on the other bed was lying the cafe waitress, staring at him with big eyes.

Walking over to her, he sat down on a chair. ’’Are you fine? Did you manage to escape safely?’’ Watching her nod, Steven felt relieved; after all, he hadn’t bothered to check on them after the cafe got attacked until now, hoping they could protect themselves.

’’I think the cafe is ruined for now.’’ She said her voice was light, but there was a lingering of sorrow behind it. ’’But I don’t know where to work now. Don’t think anyone will hire me in my current condition.’’

Steven stared at her as he decided to do something absurdly even for him.

As he handed her a small card, he said, "There are a few open places at the Diamond Villa."

"I think it could be a fitting job, and it’s pretty much the most secure place as long as I am there."

Even if the security had failed once before, it was still the best choice.

As she snatched the card from his hands with disbelief written in her eyes.

Steven simply stood up ready to leave.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Bright. I am Ami, by the way."

"No problem, we will see each other then, Ami."