The maids were standing in a row wearing their training suits. All of them got their own exclusive equipment from professional manufacturers. They were all white with golden decorations. Only Johan and Videl had black suits marking their role in the hierarchy.

clap clap

"Very impressive, young ladies. All of you look stunning. Now, the only thing that will make this even more impressive is your resolve. Instructor Hwaa will teach you how to do the basic techniques and spells."

Hwaa was standing with her arms crossed. Her facial expression said it all.

'Why am I here?? How did he... convince me to even come here in the first place?'

"Come here, Instructor Hwaa."

With heavy feet she slowly walked towards Johan. She couldn't understand how she was complying to all of his orders. It was like she knew she actually didn't want this but something in her was convincing her otherwise.

"He-Hello, everybody. I'm Hwaa. Just call me 'Instructor', though. I... will be teaching you fighting and spell casting from now on. Be here every Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Now, let's start."

The girls followed the Hwaa's commands and tried their best to learn as much as possible. Their young Lord was watching so they had to give it their best. In reality though, Johan was watching only one girl in particular. Laura Teiler. The girl with the Darkness attribute. He tried to see any patterns but couldn't really recognize anything.

MY LORD, SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO USE THAT ATTRIBUTE AS LONG AS THEIR IS NO ACTIVATOR. YOU NEED AN EXTREMELY RARE AND EXPENSIVE ITEM FROM A GATE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. THE ONLY OTHER WAY I CAN THINK OF IS TO BRING HER IN A SITUATION WHERE SHE HAS TO SURVIVE FROM THE BRING OF DEATH AND THAT IS WHERE SHE WILL PERHAPS MAKE USE OF IT AUTOMATICALLY.

'That's a good idea. Well, maybe it's not. Where would I even get this kind of situation from?'

There was no way to actually get her in danger but not really kill her. It sounded crazy anyways.

AHEM, AHEM. IN FRONT OF YOU.

'Hmm? What- Ohhhh, I see. Well, that indeed is a solution to this situation. Nice one, Bahamut.'

...

After the training ended, Johan ordered Hwaa to come here again tomorrow. He had a plan for Laura and it involved Hwaa's crazy powers.

"Now Hwaa, tell me how your injuries are doing?"

"Injuries? What injuries?"

'Can't she remember our fight yesterday?'

THAT'S THE SIDE EFFECT OF USING THIS ABILITY. AS THE ABILLITY DESCRIBES THE STRONGER YOUR BOND IS WITH YOUR SLAVE THE STRONGER WILL BE THE ABILLITY. THAT ALSO MEANS THAT THE CONTRARY CAN ALSO HAPPEN. MEANING THAT IF SHE DOES NOT HAVE A CLOSE BOND WITH YOU, THERE WILL BE SIDE EFFECTS LIKE FORGETTING WHAT HAPPENED HOURS AGO. THE ONLY WAY AROUND THIS IS TO GET CLOSER TO HER QUICKLY.

'Woah, that's a creepy side effect. I have to get rid of it soon.'

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. Anyway, how did you find your first training as an instructor?"

"I guess it was alright. But why even am I giving lessons here?"

"Well, I asked you to do it and you agreed."

"Did I?... Wait, you're right, I did."

"Good that you remember. You can leave now. It's getting late."

"Yes."

She left confused about what was going on.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I'll probably get to know her at school. It will be a tough nut, though."

NOW LET'S GET TO OUR TRAINING. I HAVE A LOT TO TEACH AFTR THE FIGHT WITH HWAA. YOUR STATS ARE HIGH BUT YOU SUCK USING ANY OF YOUR ABILITIES. THE FIRST THING IS YOUR ATTACK. YOU RAN TOWARDS HER AND CHARGED UP. NOW THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT IT'S EASILY PREDICTABLE. YOUR MAGIC ATTACK, THE ARROWS, WERE OVERUSED WAY TOO MUCH. IT SAPPED AWAY YOUR MANA AS IF IT WAS NOTHING AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF MANA IN GENERAL. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FROM NOW ON IS THAT YOU COMBINE YOUR ATTACKS. YOU SHOULD ALSO USE A FENCE AND NOT A SWORD. YOUR ABILITIES ARE MAGIC FOCUSED. YOU QUICK ATTACKS WITH THE FENCE AND THEN LET A FEW ARROWS RAIN DOWN ON THE OPPONENT. YOU BASICALLY CHIPP AWAY HEALTH FROM YOU OPPONENT AND THEN TOWARDS THE END DO A FINISHING STRIKE. YOU HAVE TO CREATE ONE FOR YOURSELF. YOU COULD USE YOUR FENCE AND PURE IN MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MANA AND AETHER. THEN END IT WITH ONE STAB IN THE GUT OR HEART.

Johan realized how he had only won because he was talented. That was it. There was no skill, no nothing.

'I understand. Bahamut from now on let's train in the mornings and evenings every single day. I want to clear the gate completely.'

AS YOU WISH MY LORD.

Bahamut started advising him and they trained until very late.

...

Trimur was training in the gym while listening to a health podcast. he wanted to expand his knowledge on combat related things. Health being one of them. The gym was relatively full most of the Rankers being in his age range. Near him a guy with a hoodie was sitting on a bench. He kept ogling at him while pretending to be on his phone.

'Probably one of his goons. What is he trying to do? He can't really start anything in here because if he did people would come in between.'

He kept on training, trying to not focus on him too much.

After a while a girl came over tom him and asked if she could use the bench press as well. Not knowing who she was but seeing that there were no other benches left, he let her use it. A few rounds later she started panting heavily.

"Haa, hhaah, uggh... I can't li- lift it. Please..."

He immediately reacted and pushed the weights up. To his surprise the girl stood up and started screaming.

"Aaaaah! You... how dare you touch me!"

"Wha...?"

"You touched me on purpose, didn't you?"

"No, what do you mean??"

"You just grabbed my private parts, you... how could you?!"

"Wait, I think there is a misunderstanding."

The people around them started getting confused about what was going on.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

The guy from earlier now came up to the two and asked.

"NO!! I'm not fine! This... pervert grabbed me while pretending to help me. Ughh haaaaa, That is... so disgusting."

"Hey, is that true?"

The guy looked at him like he was about to shred him into pieces.

"No, absolutely not! I just helped her because she needed help. The weight almost fell on her. I didn't even go anywhere near her private parts."

"Liar! You... must think that I'm easy because I asked for your help. Trash like you need to go to prison."

Now everybody was looking at them.

"Get his ass! These types of predators belong to the streets! How many more times have we to tolerate such a thing?"

Some dude from the crowd started shouting.

"Wait guys. Let me explai-"

"No way you can get away with this.", the girl threatened him. "Please help me get justice."

She looked at the hoodie guy with glassy eyes.

"Please... do it for me? Uhuhhuu."

"You.. SCUMBAG BEGGAR!!!"

Not only the hoodie man but also some guys from the crowd jumped at Trimur at once.

"Haaaaaaaa! Die, you imbecile!"

"Wait, sto-"

BOOM!

The impact was so strong that he got wrecked into the ground. Some of the floor even broke and had cracks in it.

The guys were using all of their strength to absolutely maul him.

'F#CK! F#CK! I knew it! These guys.. are with him. Even the girl.'

The girl was looking at him with a condescending gaze. Before she removed herself from the crowd, he saw a little smirk on her face.

'THIS B#TCH!!!'

With the last strength he had left he screamed: "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

...

"Have you heard from her again?"

"No, not yet. Johan is alive so they probably got her. There is no use getting her back."

"No. We have to get her back... or at least a confirmation that she's dead. If he gets anything out of her, we're gonna be in trouble."

"I get it. I'll see what I can do, boss."

"Good."

Mike was not satisfied with the way things were going over at Johan's side. He knew that if messed this up, he might never get another chance at the throne.

"What about Trimur?"

"Pfffft... hahahahahahahahaa! He ahahahaha... he got completely wrecked. Some of the boys even made pictures of him. I'll send you them later."

Mike couldn't help but smile. This guy was truly cursed. There was no way that somebody could be this unlucky.

"Well, one thing that is going right."

...

A little girl was sitting on a bed in one of the closed rooms in the pent house. She was locked up a few days ago for committing treason.

'Ugh... this sucks. Why isn't anyone coming to help me. Master Mike told me he would take care of things if something went south. Whatever, I'll just have to wait.'

...

"Videl, when's the next Maid Convention?"

Johan had missed the last one because he was too busy with training. He also had to go to Reece so he couldn't make it in time.

"In one year."

"Then let's ge- Wait, what??"

"Yes, it's an annual convention. If you want me to look for another then I'll do that for you."

"Hmm, I see. Yeah, look for another. We need a lot more people. As many as possible. Also did the Cebrina talk?"

She shook her head.

"Not a word."

"Well, sooner or later, she'll have to or else I'll have to come up with another plan."

...