“Huff! Huff! Huff!”(Daniel)

I was running on the treadmill. It has been half an hour since I started. I discovered that increasing my stamina by training doesn’t really increase my stamina but makes energy usage more efficient.

“Daniel, where were you yesterday? Julia asked us if we saw you since you told her we’re training. What’s the lie for?”(Josh). Josh, who was running alongside me, asked.

Cassey, Josh, Mark, and I are training in the training room. There are only a few others students left since the others decided to do something else.

“Yeah, dude, where were you?”(Mark)

“Well, I got hungry yesterday, and I was getting sick of the cafeteria’s food, so I went outside the Academy.”(Daniel). This much is true, but I don’t have to tell them the whole story.

“Oh, you should’ve invited us if you’re going, dude.”(Mark)

“By the way, her new friends are kinda… Ehh.”(Cassey). Cassey, who was running on the treadmill with her neatly tied into a long ponytail, expressed her opinion.

Is she not bothered by her hair hitting her as she runs? Well, I don’t really say on that since my hair bounces like a ball on my head whenever I run.

“They’re a total ass!”(Josh)

“Look who’s talking. We’re lucky if you’re talking normally and not about your looks or your bloodline. It’s really annoying.”(Cassey)

“… What! I don’t just talk about myself like… That…”(Josh). He turned red from embarrassment.

“Ahahaha.”(Cassey)

“Dude, I didn’t expect you’re human enough to be able to blush. I wonder if your piercings get hotter when you blush?”(Mark)

“What? Shorty, you wanna go at it? Huh?!”(Josh)

“I’m short, but I have a higher chance of getting a girlfriend with my face. But you. Pffft.”(Mark)

Both of them stopped what they were doing and fortified their bodies. Then, they started punching each other, but they’re not hitting each other in the face, but only in the arms.

“Muscleheads… If both of you act like Daniel, then both of you will probably get a girlfriend.”(Cassey). Her comment made them freeze and continued working out.

“Where were we? Hmm. Oh! Julia’s friends. Right. Yeah, I didn’t expect her to get along with them.”(Cassey)

I don’t want to get Julia as the topic. Although I’m not mad at her or hate her, but I just can’t explain what I’m feeling right now.

“Yeah, bro, they were looking at us with cold gazes yesterday. We just wanted to talk to Julia, but because they’re with Julia, we just decided to bail away.”(Mark)

“Daniel, did something happened between you and Julia?”(Josh)

“No, I was just busy.”(Daniel). By this point, I had already stopped running. I was going to use this time to clear my mind, but it isn’t working now.

“Then bring her here, dude. Tell her that her new friends are a bunch of asses.”(Mark)

“I would probably think of them as an actual ass if I smell their breaths.”(Cassey). Her face turned dark, and her eyes squint.

“I’ll talk to her later. The only reason she was going with them in the first place was that they helped her… Or something like that.”(Daniel)

“Something like that?”(Mark)

“Well, you better get her to hurry up and come back. I’m not really comfortable being the only girl here.”(Cassey)

“You're a girl?!”(Josh)

“I know, right?”(Mark)

She bashed their heads with her fists. And she said in an angry intimidating voice.

“THIS IS WHY!”(Cassey)

“S-sorry.”(Mark and Josh). They both fell on the ground and was holding the top of their head.

I looked at them. They haven’t changed even with their memories altered.

Maybe I was being overdramatic yesterday. Julia was probably confused. She was only thinking about me.

“Hey.”

I heard a familiar voice behind me, causing me to turn around immediately.

“J-Julia?”(Daniel)

“What’s with that reaction? Where did you go yesterday? I asked around, and I heard you went outside the Academy.”(Julia)

“Well… I was hungry. But! Where are your friends?”(Daniel). I cautiously looked towards the training room’s door.

“M-maybe I was in the wrong. Um… Cassey, Mark, and Josh… I’m sorry.”(Julia). She bowed towards them. Mark and Josh stood up and told her that it was okay and they don’t mind it that much. But Cassey, on the other hand.

“It was a horrible experience. I would probably ignore you for the rest of my life if that happened again.”(Cassey)

“I… Sorry.”(Julia)

“W-what? No, I was kidding. Just a joke! Of course, I don’t mind it since we’re used to it. In fact, we’re happy that you’re in the higher class now, since you won’t be treated like us anymore.”(Cassey). Cassey, with wide eyes, explained that it was just a joke. She keeps looking back at us as she explains.

“So, will you still hanging out with them?”(Daniel). I don’t know why, but I asked her in a slightly aggressive voice.

“No, of course not. I figured out why you all decided to get away pretty quickly. I don’t think I’m that dumb.”(Julia)

“And, umm. Daniel… Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought them there. They littered the place, and the Academy closed it off.”(Julia). She was talking to me, but she wasn’t looking directly at my eyes. She keeps glancing towards the others as she apologizes.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“It’s alright… Don’t worry about it. And since you’re here now, how about we have lunch? We’re pretty hungry.”(Daniel)

“Agreed, dude. I feeling like my stomach’s revolting already.”(Mark)

Cassey hugged Julia and said.

“Yeah, we’re pretty hungry! I’m so thankful that you decided to come back to us quickly. I was worried I had to tolerate them for much longer.”(Cassey)

“Hey, at least we don’t hit people out of nowhere. Damn gorilla.”(Josh)

“WHATCHA SAY?!”(Cassey)

“N-nothing… Ma’am.”(Josh). He covered the top of his head with both hands.

“Ahaha, dude.. You’re the one with the bloodline, and you’re the one who’s scared. That’s funny.”(Mark)

“Shut up, and it isn’t that easy to master. Right now, I could only strengthen a fire spell or turn my sword into a blazing sword. “(Josh)

“Excuses, excuses. We all know your bloodline is only helpful as a torch. Ahahaha!”(Mark)

“Ohh? How about a taste?”(Josh)

“I have a bloodline too. Just letting you both know.”(Julia)

“Eh?! Really?!”(Cassey, Mark, and Josh)

“Yep! I can’t say what it is, but it helped me get into class A.”(Julia)

“Oh, the star symbol looks good on you. I wish I have a bloodline too.”(Cassey)

“What? Maybe I could also?”(Josh). He starred at his palms. He probably thought that he could also get to a higher class.

“Hard to tell. I just was lucky after all.”(Julia)

“Dang, poor us who doesn’t have any bloodline.”(Mark)

After chatting, we went towards the cafeteria. Julia's friends, who were with her yesterday, were looking at her with distaste. They were also intentionally showing us that they’re whispering at each other, with the mention of Julia’s name every now and then.

We could tell that they were talking badly about her, but Julia stopped us from retaliating against them. She said it would only make things worse.

These guys! I’ll really get them for this. First, trashing my place, and now my… my? No… And now Julia.

“C’mon guys, let’s ignore them”(Julia). She continued biting on her food without minding their words.

Damn, I can’t do anything because I’m weak.

‘System, what’s my quest. It depends on the situation, right? This is a good chance.’(Daniel)

-Deleting current quests-

-Generating…-

-Defeat three students for 200EXP.-

-Defeat a teacher for 500EXP.-

-Defeat a Null member for 1k EXP.-

“Good.”(Daniel). I smiled at the quests that appeared. The two of them will disappear in a day or two anyway as I don’t need them, but I cannot change them as it would still be another week before I’ll be able to switch a quest again. But the student's one will be useful.

‘System, what does it mean by defeat?’(Daniel)

-Whatever the host thinks that the enemy had been defeated or beaten enough. But will not be completed if the opponent pretended to be in the required or worse condition.-

‘Nice system! This is really good!’(Daniel)

“Good?”(Julia)

“Yeah! This food is delicious!”(Daniel)

“It is? That’s the same thing you order every time, though.”(Julia)

“Well, it’s because you’re here!”(Daniel)

“Oh my god. This is... Please don’t flirt here. We’re eating.”(Cassey)

“Daniel.”(Julia). She was resisting her smile, but it was still apparent.

Ahahaha, that’s so cute.

“Where’d you go yesterday, though? The food here is getting boring.”(Cassey)

No… Please let’s not go into that topic.

“D-did you guys know that Mr. Fernandez had been acting weird since the d… Uhh… After the trip.”(Daniel). I almost said after the demonic nest… Good thing I was careful.

I looked towards Julia. Her face turned dispirited.

‘I shouldn’t have mentioned it…’(Daniel)

“Yeah, although he still helps every now and then, he doesn’t actively help us anymore. He’s also encouraging us to leave the Academy? I don’t know what’s gotten to him.”(Cassey)

“Dude, do you think that he’s given up on us? Did he also lose his trust in us? I mean, we’re not with the ones that cheated, but… It feels like we’re being lumped with them.”(Mark)

The mood turned sour. Not only that the others from the higher classes were looking at us with disdain eyes, but because I brought this topic, it turned worse.

“Let’s finish up eating. I’ll show you guys my archery skill.”(Daniel)

“Archery skill? I thought you don’t know how to handle a bow?”(Cassey)

“Ho ho, you thought! I had been practicing hard this past week. I’m just warning you, but I can already hit a target 40 meters away.”(Daniel)

“What? Just a week?”(Cassey)

“Is that true, Daniel?”(Julia)

“Yeah, I wanted to tell you, but you were with your friends.”(Daniel)

“They’re not my friends anymore, geez.”(Julia)

“40 meters, amazing, right?”(Daniel)

“I-I’ve seen better.”(Josh). He avoided my eyes.

“I can do that easily with a gun.”(Cassey). She puffed out her chest.

A gun? That’s like cheating…

“That doesn’t count.”(Daniel). I denied her right after.

“40 meters in a week is impressive, but that distance is still a bit low compared to high-class students.”(Julia)

“Eh? Really?”(Daniel). I thought 40 meters was pretty a good distance.

“Yup, I saw them train with the bow. They’re on another level. They could hit their target up to a hundred meters.”(Julia)

A hundred meters? I was already struggling to hit a 50 meters target, but they could hit a hundred meters?

“Daniel, don’t worry, though. You’re actually pretty impressive. In just a week, you managed to hit your target in that distance.”(Julia)

“I see.”(Daniel)

I guess that’s true. They have probably been training their whole life.

We went back into the training center, but this time we went into the archery field. Our training room has a target for archery, but it’s only up to 20 meters distance.

“Oh, it’s pretty spacious in here, and quiet.”(Josh)

“Dude, let’s just hang out here all the time.”(Mark)

At first, only Julia, Cassey, and I were training our archery, and both Josh and Mark were lying down on a bench just talking to each other. But they joined us later on as the other people gave them a weird look.

“Josh, dude, you suck.”(Mark). Mark commented on how Josh drew the bow and held it for half a minute but still wasn’t able to hit a 10 feet target or managed to get close to the target.

“Tsk, look who’s talking.”(Josh)

“It was quiet and peaceful before you both came. We’re training, not playing.”(Julia)

“Yes, yes, yes, Ms. Julia. Josh, dude, look at this.”(Mark). He drew two arrows and fired them at once. Both didn’t get close to the target. While one fell to the ground immediately, the other rolled on the air before tumbling down.

“That was horrible.”(Josh)

“That’s dangerous, you know. You could’ve hit us.”(Cassey)

“Ahahahahha.”

Loud laugher emerged behind us.

It was the same people who were with Julia before, not only that but there’s only a few more, couple of them was the one who was laughing at me when I first tried out archery.

“These, people.”(Cassey). She sneered.

“I’m gonna beat them up.”(Josh)

“Just ignore them, guys.”(Julia). She was looking down on the ground, avoiding the gazes from all the people around us.

“Why’s a star hanging out with a bunch of circles?”

“Probably desperate for a guy.”

“That girl was a circle before, too, from what I remember.”

“She probably got a teacher to get her to A-Class.”

“Eww.”

“Ahahaha!”

!!!!??

I turned at them and glared, but Julia pulled me back.

“What? Why? They’re making fun of you.”(Daniel)

“As I said, it will only make things worse. Just let them be. They will calm down soon.”(Julia). She was looking down. The area around her eyes was red, and tears are forming on the side, but she’s resisting the urge to cry.

‘System, remember their faces. I don’t know if you have that function but remember their faces. They’ll pay!’(Daniel)

“L-let’s just go, guys.”(Mark). He was smiling uncomfortably.

We left and went to the LP students' training room. It was fortunate that Mr. Fernandez doesn’t mind Julia hanging out inside the room. Unfortunately, she had to go back to her class, which after, I also left and decided to go to the café and work for the remainder of the day.

It was just a normal day. Jenny wasn’t there, the old man was sitting on one of the tables petting the cats, and we had a few customers.

I asked the old man about the mission, but he said it would come soon. It bothers me since I don’t know what kind of mission it is, but I hope it’s easy and quick.

The next day, out of nowhere, Mr. Fernandez told us that he would be teaching us three additional Spells. Two novices and an apprentice Spell.

Flare, a novice, continuously shooting spell. Basically a flamethrower.

MuffledBoots, also a novice spell that, when activated, reduces the noises that the user makes. It is perfect for sneaking around, but the only problem was that it isn’t suited to be used with teammates as it makes talking to each other a challenging task. Even with a microphone and earpiece on, it was still hard. But I heard that there are similar spells in the higher tiers that communicating wasn’t a problem.

And lastly, the Healing spell. The healing spell is an apprentice spell that is better than regeneration. And having it will help us a lot.

Hmm, MuffledBoots, huh. That will be useful.

I thought of the students that were making fun of us before. Few of them are stars but mostly flowers.