Wis wasn't particularly ambitious, but having her on the throne had its benefits. The main reason was to expedite the Avalon Island expedition by at least a month, buying me precious time to help Carpy evolve.

It was a manipulative approach, but I felt I had no other choice. Ultimate class demons weren't easy to come by, and I had no idea how to meet up with the Dragon King at this time. Besides, I doubted even he could make Carpy an ultimate class demon.

"Don't worry about me. I may be sad, but I won't spend my days crying. He wouldn't have wanted that. I'll live enough for both of us," I reassured Wis, patting her head. Bets had given his life for mine, and I felt the weight of that sacrifice on my shoulders. If I were to die now, his sacrifice would be in vain. "Let's go and see how the kids are doing."

"They're not that young to be called kids," she muttered under her breath.

"At my age, everyone seems like a kid," I replied, rubbing my chin as if contemplating an imaginary beard. Despite being of Asian descent, I couldn't grow facial hair. Although, maybe if I became an old man, I'd spontaneously sprout one.

We turned to walk towards the city, but with the limited time I had, I couldn't afford to waste a second. Hurriedly, and without asking, I picked her up and let the water under my clothes carry us as we flew off.

"You can fly?!" she exclaimed, having long grown accustomed to my spontaneity.

"Something like that," I replied. Technically, it was Carpy controlling the water with enough force to move us. I hadn't seen my tamed demon in a while, but judging by the pulsing Ord I felt through our connection, he must have grown quite large.

We arrived at a three-story building that resembled a school. It stood on the outskirts of the city, with minimal interaction with the rest of the population. Although it had dorms and delivery services for the students, they could also venture out whenever they pleased. Fortunately, there hadn't been any major trouble or misbehavior so far. Most seemed content enough to lead relatively normal lives.

The majority of the classrooms were empty, as there was a meeting taking place in the first-floor auditorium. Students were seated, while others stood in the back, whispering among themselves. The vice principal, who handled matters that Principal Bear couldn't due to his bear-like appearance, took the stage.

Pan's gaze wandered through the auditorium while Wis and I peeked through one of the windows, deciding to listen instead of intervening. Although Pan was a lazy teacher, he was also highly competent and often found ways to accomplish his tasks with minimal effort.

"As you all know, a month ago we were recognized as a legitimate school," Pan began. "Furthermore, you have undoubtedly heard that we will soon be competing against other schools. As your vice principal and ethics teacher, I am here to deliver an encouraging speech. While other schools may have had students start their education at a young age, I want to remind you of something," he cleared his throat, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. This was the most motivated I had ever seen Pan. "We will be facing exams against other schools. Therefore, we will learn how to outsmart the system! We will seize what is rightfully ours! We will excel in every exam by bending the rules!"

Pan's voice boomed as if he were pouring all the passion of his soul into this speech—it was unnaturally intense to witness him in such a state. “From now on, I will be teaching you how to cheat in your exams!”

"Are you sure we should let him continue like this?" Wis whispered. "And why did you choose him as your ethics professor?"

"He has a way with words—and honestly, I didn't have many other options. Who would willingly accept a position as ethics professor for a bunch of murderous assassins who were only taught how to kill?" I explained. "Finding teachers had been a challenge, but then I realized that I could just fabricate a story. So, I claimed that I needed educated individuals to teach children from a highly esteemed clan. I don't know why I didn't do that from the beginning. Now I understand why people resort to lying—it just makes things that much easier."

Wis looked at me with an expressionless face. "Your moral compass is truly skewed."

"Oh? Is the shut-in chunni weeb princess lecturing me on normality?" I teased. She narrowed her eyes threateningly, seemingly ready to elbow me, but understanding that it would only hurt her arm.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

She sighed. "You'll never let me live that down, will you?"

"Of course not. I'd say that it contributes about 15% to my overall life satisfaction."

"Oddly specific," she muttered in response.

...

Three days later, I gathered Bear, Miku, and Pan to meet a new visiting team. This team had been causing quite a stir lately, as they were in pursuit of a particular jewel. Unlike regular hunters, they were considerably stronger.

The team consisted of Agon, Sei, and Anika, often referred to as the golden trio. As they approached my cabin, their presence alone would alert any Ord user to their danger. Each member exuded an aura of danger.

Agon spotted me and ran towards me with a wide smile on his face. While we weren't best friends, we were close enough for him to have missed me.

It had been six months since we last saw each other, so I braced myself for some cheesy shounen dialogue.

But to my surprise, he ran right past me and directed his question to Bear. "So, uh, do you usually do your business in the woods or do you use a toilet?"

Anika swiftly caught up and playfully struck Agon in reprimand. Sei stepped forward, explaining, "Ever since he heard about the talking bear on your team, he had been incredibly excited to meet them."

Well, at least Agon hadn't changed and was up to his usual antics. However, I noticed that he was without his two-tailed cat, or Uwabami. I could understand why the latter wasn't with him, as she was more interested in protecting Sake Mountain, which used to be Orochi's territory, than traveling with Agon as his pet.

As for the two-tailed cat, she had survived against the Demonic Exorcist, and he was not one to let his prey escape. Was it a wise decision on her part to leave Agon and his team? It was unlikely that the Demonic Exorcist lacked a tracking ability among his human puppets.

The two-tailed cat possessed the ability to shoot cursed purple fire and manipulate it. Anyone struck by that fire would have difficulty healing their injuries, and it would weaken escape abilities as well.

***

Anika reprimanded Agon, calling him a bastard as she launched a powerful kick to the back of his head. However, despite her best efforts, he had only sustained a minor bruise. Agon's newfound regeneration quickly kicked in, and he was back in top shape within seconds.

Anika had envisioned a more emotional reunion with Kon, like two partners who hadn't seen each other in a long time. But Agon had immediately ruined the moment, and it made her furious. She glanced at her current target, Miku, who had transformed from a non-threatening and overweight girl to someone who could potentially pose a threat after spending time with Kon for six months.

She has gotten thinner and cuter now!

Anika's mind raced with possibilities, even considering the idea that they could be married already.

Just thinking about it caused her heart to pound and her breath to hasten. She fought the urge to rampage and held herself together through sheer willpower, although a heavy feeling settled in her stomach.

Anika felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to see Kon's gaze, causing her heart to skip a beat once again. She panicked, realizing that she was sweating intensely and that he might find her disgusting for it. She couldn't bear the thought of that becoming a reality.

"You seem unwell. You're sweating a lot," Kon said, his hand on her shoulder. Anika's face flushed with embarrassment, and she momentarily blacked out.

"You're shaking now," Kon added, placing a hand on her forehead. The rush of blood to her face intensified, and for a moment, she couldn’t feel her limbs.

“She has Ord, the chances of her being sick are very low,” Sei mentioned, but Anika paid no attention to his comment.

Instead, she focused on Kon, his worried eyes and handsome face. He seemed to be glistening in her perception. Her thoughts raced, accepting whatever Kon had done, her mind linking it to the feeling of women discovering their husbands' infidelity. In the past, she had scorned such women on TV shows, wondering why they would go back to their cheating partners. But now, she understood that the heart follows its own desires, and love cannot be contained.

"Eh? What does that mean?" Kon questioned.

Realizing she had spoken her thoughts aloud, Anika’s mind whited out.

***

Anika collapsed abruptly, appearing on the verge of losing consciousness. With no clue about what to do, I instinctively caught her before she hit the ground. She managed a weak smile and whispered, "Ah, I'm trapped. There's nothing I can do."

Trapped? Was she referring to a unique power or perhaps a mental confinement?

We were scheduled to embark on a mission together, but chaos unfolded around us. We were under attack, and it happened unexpectedly!

Damn it, why did it have to happen so swiftly?! I stole a glance at Agon, realizing that this team was filled with individuals that carried their own brand of madness. They were all magnets for trouble.