"You want me to teach others for money?"

"Yes, that is the idea."

"And how do you propose I get the money should they decide to not just pay?"

"We do this under the pretense of an expert."

"Ahhh the cliché, a weakling pretending to be a master."

"It is perfect; you are currently lower Initiate level, with no signs of improving. No one would be able to tell your level due to the lack of mana."

A beautiful marble building shows up in the distance. The sun was at its peak and hundreds of people were walking around, enjoying the afternoon. 

"This is the Diamond Sage's college, the best college in the lower districts, why are you forcing me to go here?" Michael was wearing good looking clothes and newly bought shoes. 'That Mk. 2 Magic focus.... down the drain.... why did I agree to this plan....' 

While Michael was grieving the loss of his money, Demiurge was already hatching up a plan. 

"This place has the most capable students, financial-wise. In addition, all these brats are proud, they would do anything to rise to the top." 

"I know that! But how will I convince them to be our student?" 

"Right now, you are wearing branded clothing and in this modern society, mages tend to be classy." Michael agrees with that notion. "You will have to change your appearance." 

"How?"

"A basic altering spell. It'll only change your appearance but any physical touch towards you will immediately remove it, so you need to be careful." 

"... What? I heard altering spells start at low level."

"Yes they do."

"I might not be able to maintain it long enough."

"Efficiency is key in this situation. Also a disguise would be very good in this situation." 

"But... but... you told me to buy these nice clothes..." 

"Your old clothes were rags, so it was good I made you buy new clothes." Michael could feel his heart be ripped to shreds, as he tries to forget the money he spent.

"..."

"You need to buy a good quality overcoat and something that will cover your face as well." 

"..."

"Michael? Michael?" Demiurge kept calling but Michael didn't answer for a while.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

At the front of the diamond sage's gate, Michael was wearing a beautiful overcoat that covered his other expensive clothing. Michael's face was covered by a well designed marble mask that was releasing a powerful sliver of mana. Right now, Michael is releasing the aura of a deific expert. The passing students were very affected by Michael's dignified appearance and a lot of them are studying him. 

"Bad talent... good talent but bad attitude... spoiled... good talent but too old... young but too spoiled" While Michael was internally crying, Demiurge was studying the passing students looking for good talents and attitudes that were still bearable.  

"Hey... If we don't find a prospective target now... I swear to Paragon, I'll kill the both of us... all those grocery money..." Michael continued to mutter to himself, while Demiurge was still looking for a good student to swindle. 

This continues on until Demiurge finally calls out to Michael. "That one!" 

A timid looking young teenager, probably 13 years old, walks towards the school, with his shoulders slumped and his head drooped down. 

"The perfect victim."

"You mean student?"

"Low self-esteem, average talent, a disappointment to his parents, and probably a virgin."

"That is one harsh judgement."

"Those who are hopeless try to cling to any form of hope, even if it seems impossible."

"How will we swindle the poor teenager then?"

"His mana impurity is 75%... he must have the worst of luck... Call him now."

"Wouldn't that be bad?"

"His low self-esteem will prevent him from avoiding you. Just make sure to show your presence or else he'll run."

"You seem to know this very well."

"I've had my fair share of worthless losers as hosts."

"Am-"

"No, you are not one of those but you have the trashiest talent of all my previous hosts."

 "Trashiest is not a word."

"Actually it is, it's the superlative adjective of trashy."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yes"

"How do you know this?"

"Are you going to call the child or not?"

 "Oh! You're right." Michael looks at the child that's almost too far away and immediately calls his attention. "Hey kid!"

The, obviously low self-esteem, kid stiffens and turns his head left and right, checking if the voice was directed at him.

"Yes, you." Michael's strong commanding voice immediately silenced the area. Students continued to walk but the more curious bunch stopped to watch.

"The kid, despite his mana impurity and average talent, is at least novice level, mid-level at that. He's progress is slowing down and due to his massive mana impurity, his mana efficiency is dropping into very serious levels." 

"I have a solution to your problem." Michael said this lightly, so that only the kid who was only a few feet away from him would hear. 

"Yes, use his horrible talent as a way to lure him in."

"I can tell you like her a lot, don't you want to prove your more than just a worthless man?" The young kid immediately turned around red faced. As if controlled by supernatural forces, he runs and gives Michael a small piece of paper, containing an address.  

"..."

"I bet your tactic doesn't always work."

"Yes, it only works 6 out of 10."

"Make use of their base instincts first, and humans aren't fiends, not all humans crave power."

"You've done this before then?"

"Swindling other people or helping them?"

Demiurge doesn't answer and Michael chuckles.

A few hours later Michael is already in front of the house of the teenager.

The address given to him was accurate and Michael found himself in front of a very average looking household. Michael sighed and studied the general area. He was a little disappointed, because after studying the kid's background, he had a perfectly good family. He had a loving father, a supportive mother, and a nice younger sister. He was just lazy and had no ambition. 

"He was just... a worthless kid after all." Michael sounded disappointed, because he thought he found someone like him, but it seems even the blessed people were wasting their gifts.

"Do you want to change targets then?" 

"Aren't you a little too agreeable for a devil?"

"I noticed that if I stayed aloof, then all my hosts would die trying to get my attention."

"So you think I'm doing this for your attention?"

"No, you are obviously too angry at this child to care for me."

"I am not angry."

"Your mana pool is not peaceful, it's rippling."

"I hate people like this."

"Happy families?" Demiurge commented sarcastically. 

"No, I hate people who waste good lives."

"A lot of people then."

"Yes... We all are given the chance to ascend the world... and not all of us are as lucky as this child."

"But not everyone is as lucky as you either."

"Yes... and that's why I never stopped."

----------------------------------------

After a few hours of waiting and controlling his temper, Michael finally saw the young kid that he was disappointed in. He was looking even more down than before and if it was even possible, the kid's shoulders are droopier now.

 Michael was about to meet the teenager with his prepared scolding but he stopped and saw the child's face, it was swollen. 

"..."

"What? I thought you planned on berating and scolding his ear off?"

"I made a mistake." Michael sighed and met the child halfway.

The teenager who was just done crying stopped and stared at Michael incredulously. If it wasn't for the appearance of Michael, the teenager wouldn't have suffered more than usual. Michael felt the child's agitation but he only stared. 

"What's your name?" Michael asked with a commanding tone. The teenager's natural fear made him respond.

"Um... Clarence..."

"Do you want to live and change everything?" As Michael asked Clarence the very same question Demiurge asked him, he asked himself, did he really have a chance or was he doomed to be worthless.

Clarence was surprised, because Michael was different from the other people he met. While Michael didn't exude the magical might that his peers had, he had something deeper, something that he felt that was familiar. It was pain.

"I can understand what it means to be trash but if you accept my tutelage, you will have a chance for change."

"Yes!!! I'll accept it!" Clarence immediately accepted it.

"For only 10,000 credits as a downpayment!"

"What?"