CHAPTER 118
SOMEONE TO BOSS AROUND
“So how is it? Great grandfather, witnessing the fairytale right at your eyes,” pointing at the gigantic beanstalk, Hans asked Dietrich, and as the lean man observed the sky reaching the plant, he couldn’t help but humour him, “Don’t you think the thousand-year-old me would have seen far more interesting things than these.”
“Then how about this,” closing his eyes, Hans concentrated, he wanted to show off, and his influence over the surrounding mana started growing tremendously. “VoidZone,” he shouted and succeeded in creating a full-fledged VoidZOne. “Impressive, foolish descendant," Dietrich marvelled at the scene and continued in a cherry mood, "I almost removed the foolish part...wait, it's not complete.”
Hans was startled hearing those words, he was expecting more of a praise, but since he was told his VoidZone was not complete, it made him somewhat happy that there was more to this already overpowered ability. He almost giggled, but stopped himself and replied, “But this thing aside, do you know how frustrating my holidays were? I'm never leaving this place again.”
“Hmm… children like holidays the most. And you wanna keep yourself in school. What an odd thing to do —”
“Oh, you have no idea. First Arat had me, then I learned someone had sharpened their knives for my neck. And if it was not enough, when I finally reached home, Deli learned an annoying ability, even my most powerful spell doesn’t work on her. Then the royalty graced us with their high noses, and we got attacked afterwards.” Hans was ranting nonstop, venting his three months of irritation on his listener. His year at Concordia, compared to the three months of holidays, was far more peaceful. He paused to breathe for a second and resumed again. “Then I learned that Sunfall is messing with me, Why?”
“Hold it, foolish descendant, I’m not your therapist. And As I’ve told you, your VoidZone is yet to be completed. You are underestimating that ability, it rendered me useless when your father used it. Do you think Krosh arts would stand against it after you hone it to its full potential?”
“I don’t doubt VoidZone, but Krosh art is not your run-of-the-mill technique either, great grandfather.”
“Yes, it isn’t? Arahan developed it to fight Ancients since they could tap in surrounding mana - stopping mana and aura regeneration —”
“Why?” Hans asked and Dietrich responded with a frown, “Do you wanna explain me your own skill?”
“No, No, my wise ancestor,” Hans saratically replied, adding, “Why did she wanna fight Ancients?”
“That's in the past, Foolish descendant. Let it be, but Krosh art never managed to do what it was designed to, it never suppressed the Ancients, but at least, it allowed her to fight them on equal grounds. That's why your father made the Ring of Chaos, it was so domineering that it could repress Ancients with just a gesture.”
“Then, where is it? In Parv?” Hans asked with sparkling eyes and Dietrich gave in, “As far as I know, Samson lost it in a fight. That was the deciding factor of him losing the Elven war too.” Listening to those words left Hans in a frown, “Damn it!" he cussed and added in an irritating tone, "Father should have left me the ring. I’d be a hotshot if —” “Aren’t you one without it anyway?” Dietrich asked, glancing at Hans's frown transforming into a shameless smile. “Can’t argue with that, hihi” Hans laughed, but he suddenly stopped and pried his thousand-year-old elder, “You know how to forge the ring, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
With more anticipation, Hans asked him muffling his voice, “Can you teach me.”
“It's not a problem, but you can’t forge it?”
“Why? I can gather the materi —”
“Yes, you need to collect the mana gems of the highest quality. That itself is a challenge, but with time, resources, and patience, one can eventually do it. The main problem is the base metal. It does not belong to our realm. When I forged my ring, before my ascension to an ancient. I used the elven god artefact. And after using it, I tried destroying it since it was so powerful, and the gems were gone, leaving the base intact, that metal was indestructible. So I hid it, but your darn father unearthed it, and forged it once again." Dietrich sighed, quietly saying, "And it was even more powerful than mine.”
“So, is there nothing left of that metal?” Hans asked with more anticipation, but Dietrich responded with a sarcastic tone, “Do you think If there is any, I would have left my humiliating defeat untouched.”
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“Your face seems to answer the question," Hans answered, adding, “Great grandfather, but do you know, Arat was searching for the highest quality water..aqua gem. I wonder why?” Hans tested his great-grandfather, but Dietrich remained calm. Tousling his hair, he avoided the topic, “Let's talk after I confirm things. The turtle is finally coming out of its shell.”
“What do you mean —”
“I mean, you’ll be seeing Arat again soon. They are calling a world summit in Concordia in a few days.”
“Wow," Hans responded nonchalantly, "it sounds like a big deal.”
“It is," Dietrich confirmed, "but that’s not why I brought you here.”
“Do you have anything to give me?” Hans said, raising his hands, “Come on, give me.”
“I indeed bought you here to give you something, but I have yet to decide. I heard the elders give their young ones something called passing gifts. You didn’t flunk your first year. So what do you want from this old man?” Dietrich asked and Hans' eyes lit up, but before he could demand, Dietrich put him off, “Except money, that is one thing you have to earn by yourself. Giving you something like that would be cheating on your hardworking peers. And no expensive potions either. ”
“Tsk, do you also dabble in mind reading.”
"No, it's written on your face, but why do you like money so much?" Dietrich really wanted to know his reasoning, so he couldn't help but ask. Surprising him, Hans responded to his question with an adult-like perspective, "After coming out from the Ghost Isles, I learned that even if you lack strength, you can buy it with money. The aristocrats are so weak they could die with just a snap, but they pay a handsome amount to powerful people to do their bidding. Getting yourself strong is not the only way in this era of capitalism, great-grandfather."
“What an excellent answer, descendant,” Dietrich said aloud, laughing.
“So, I finally got rid of the foolish part —”
“No, you are a hundred years early in achieving that, but you just amped up your gift, foolish descendant. So think very carefully and ask what you want?”
“An underling… yes, an underling. I’m probably the youngest student here. I need someone to boss around.”
“Fine, I’ll see to it then, but you have to pick one yourself.”
“Do I get options, sweet —”
“Yes, we banned the practice since there was more abuse than mentoring but I could just resume it…” Dietrich mumbled, but Hans couldn’t care, since he was getting his first unofficial slave.
AFTER TWO DAYS
“Hey, aren’t you bored eating this,” Delimira pointed at the dessert Hans was gobbling up, but he was too busy answering her. And when he found her still waiting, he answered after finishing his mouthful bite, “No, 'cause I’m not paying.”
“Why don’t you save something from the allowance —”
“It's just one gold, Winters, one gold a week —”
“That would be too much for any ordinary second-year student, Hans.”
“But, I ain’t ordinary Winters.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Hey, I asked you not to call me that.”
“Then stop acting like an arrogant prick.”
“Tsk, so when is Chris coming? We became seniors, Deli. It's almost time for the new batch of first years —”
“I heard he is escorting an important guest.”
“Wow, he climbed the elven ladder pretty fast.”
“That’s not it. Concordia does not allow the parents in the midlands, whoever they are.” Delimira shrugged off and asked, “ Have you heard? Second-years could have their pick on first-years. We will be mentoring and adjusting them to their new life in Concordia. Isn’t it exciting?”
“Yeah, I might have caused that. Great grandfather sure grants wishes on a different level.” Seeing Hans remain silent, Delimira nudged his elbow with hers, “What?” she asked, skimming him deep in thought, “I presumed you’d be more excited. We’ve juniors to order around Hans.”
“Yes, but how are you gonna pick yours?” he asked, there was no precedent on how to choose a perfect one. He was not good at reading people like her, so he was thinking of getting some pointers in making the idle choice. And Delimira answered, but it was way different from what he hoped for. She said, “You are the lucky one. My mentee has already decided for me. it's not like I don’t like her or anything, but I can’t treat her like a junior. After all, she is my cousin.”
“No way,” making an annoyed face, Hans added, “ You are babysitting the elven princess.”
“Yes, and I don’t think Chris would opt for the mentoring program." She shook her head and said in a sad voice, "You are the only one getting a proper junior, Hans.” She almost sounded disappointed but Hans was not thinking of consoling her, he wanted to hear the selecting criteria, so he blatantly asked her, “So if you were me, how would you take your pick?”
“Hmm…” she thought and finally spoke, “’ll choose the most desperate one rather than the strongest. They are easy to spot, and you’ll find them in commoners quickly. They came here to change their life, and if you could help them a bit, they would appreciate it for eternity.”
“Commoner, desperate, and I’d add, a bit talented.” Hans mumbled, “Let’s see who fits the whole criteria.”
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