Around a month has passed since the [Kuroto Incident].Unsurprisingly, the main star of that day, Arazaki Kuroto, has temporarily been suspended for his actions. Of course, the decision was only made after a discussion with his parents, in which they’ll get to visit him via video calls.There’s definitely a lot of details in that discussion that I don’t know, but since I can’t just interfere his private life, I chose not to dig too deep into it. As for Ayami-senpai, she has fully recovered from that faithful day, but something insider her has definitely broken. It can be healed, but it’ll take time and effort from both sides to make it possible. After the [Summer Tournament]’s canceltion, the entire academy got a week and a half day off returning for the first semester’s final exam. I score decently in both Writing and Magic exams, which are a great thing, consider I hadn’t been able to perform one of the two until a few months ago. And of course, others students thought the same.“Amazing, so she was right…”“I see, no wonder he defeated Kuroto-senpai…”Those were just one of the many reactions students from other csses gave while I was taking the exam. Kiriwatari-sensei told me that she had revealed my current stats to them, and their reactions were the byproduct of it. Since then, something inside me just reignited.I’ve been trying to change everyone’s prejudice for my entire life, but the more I do it, the more I feel like I’m operating in a fog. Those reactions might just be a reminder that the path I’m taking while arduous and full of obstacles, in the end, I’ll reach to my goal.Of course, not every journey is filled with only hardships.A few days into our summer vacation, we’re enjoying ourselves inside one of the academy’s swimming pools.With two indoors and two outdoors, students and outsiders don’t have to worry about being out of order as long as they follow the regutions. You can even set up a photoshoot here, and that’s exactly why we’re here.“Cannon Ball!”“Kyahh!”“Excellent work! Now that’s what I call the spirit of the youth!”As I’m chilling on the beach chair, Sekigawa Merika, nickname [Fashion Killer], and her crews are taking photos for the summer edition of their magazine. At first, we were going to pick the pool right next to hers, but Sekigawa-senpai convinced us to join her, as her partners couldn’t make it in time. Thus, we, especially Takenada-san, wholeheartedly agreed to fill in the empty spot.“Huh, bck really suits her…” I said as I’m sitting by the side of the pool. Sekigawa-senpai is arguably one of the most famous models at her age, as she has appeared in multiple magazines and interviews, alongside guest appearances on multiple game shows throughout her career.And speaking of career, modeling isn’t the only thing she’s good and known for.Lies beneath that jade hair are a great fighter who could go toe to toe with even the top students in Japan. She’s definitely not on par with Takabeya-senpai or Atagi-senpai, but she can whip out a mean fight if she wants.“Oh Yasutaira-kun, such a na?ve boy…Do you know what you’re cking? Imagination. Luciky, Merika-chan here is giving you all the tools you need for free, so just let them fly!”“I…don’t think I want to go that way senpai.”“Teehee…”Right beside me, Atagi-senpai, the vice president of the Student Council, teases me with an elbow nudge. I’m used to these kind of jokes thanks to a certain woman, so I’ll give her a seven for her effort.She didn’t get to do much during the incident, but she pyed an important role in cleaning the mess afterwards. I did help her a little bit, mainly some of the paperwork and visiting Ayami-senpai as well. She definitely had some mixed feelings when we met, but it didn’t st long as we both understood the assignment and decided to take our time and wait. It’ll be a long way until she and Kuroto-senpai can finally meet again, but we have faith, and that’s enough.“Hey Miwako, what did I tell you about saying those stuff in front of him? Is this how you treat our, quote, unquote, “precious treasure”?”“Ahahaha, just kidding, just kidding…”From behind, Takabeya-senpai puts the drinks down the small table between our seats, letting out an annoyed voice in the process. He’s the Student Council’s president and Atagi-senpai’s boyfriend, so naturally he doesn’t like when his girl said something flirty to others. As I’m drinking the gss of orange juice, I get to witness the powerful couple bickering at each other in a rather comedic way.“You know Yasutaira, I’m surprised they’re able to keep their secret for that long. I’m beginning to think people are just pretending to not know about their retionship…”To my left, Hatake Kira, a recent friend of mine, said jokingly as he pulled down his sungsses.Unlike everyone here, he didn’t have any role whatsoever in the incident due to a flu, so he was shocked to know that the academy was getting a small day-off. “Look, just because people thought that way when we’re walking together doesn’t mean you can apply it to this. That’s quite a reach you know?”“But it isn’t a reach at all. I mean, just look at them. Tell me they don’t look like a loving couple. If I can see through it, then anyone else can too. Why bother hiding anyway?”“Hmm, what was that Kira-kun? Are you trying to imply that our effort is worthless, that we’re just dumbasses thinking we’re slick?” “No, no, that’s not what I’m saying…”“Do not bite your word like coward! Perhaps I should teach you some discipline, which I assume you’re cking.”“Count me in babe. I’m getting rusty from all the paperwork, I REALLY need some exercises.”“Kira, run!”“Kyahhh!”And just like that, Kira and the powerful couple spend the next fifteen minutes pying cat and mouse, with me trying my best to save him from their cruel hands in the process.

  “Alright Merika-chan, ready? Three, two, one!”With that countdown, multiple cameras start taking shots of Sekigawa-senpai as she’s rising to the surface in the middle of the pool.The way her chest is puffing out, her hair waving in the air, even how the water is spshing…it’s like capturing the beauty of an angel in a red bikini. Unsurprisingly, everyone here is amazed and impressed of what they just witnessed. She’s a top model after all, so when it comes to stealing everyone’s heart with charm, she’s the expert, even when the people around her are all used to it by now.“How did I do Cra-san? Did you get that perfect shot you wanted?” Sekigawa-senpai asked.“Absolutely Merika-chan! Everyone is going to love it!”Hearing that, Sekigawa-senpai climbs out of the pool with joy. She and Cra-san have been working together for years now, and they’re like match made in heaven. I can tell that they enjoy their time together a lot, which expins how they’re able to stay on top of the game in the first pce.“Here senpai.”“Ah, thanks a lot Yasutaira-kun.”After receiving the towel from me, Sekigawa-senpai immediately finds a shady spot to wipe herself clean. Just from the way she’s breathing, you can see just how tiresome this job is. The coldness of the water and the heat of July really drain her out quite a lot, but lucky for her, she has backups.“Alright, newcomers, it’s show time! We only need a few more shots from both of you for this morning, so chop chop!”“We’re coming Cra-san!”Takenada-san and I quickly head to Cra-san for some final instructions for our shots. On paper, what we’re about to do can be very hard to execute, and since this is my first time, I’m a bit nervous. I can definitely feel my heart beating faster than usual, but I immediately take a deep breath to calm myself down, ready to do the job.“Don’t worry kid, I know just how inexperienced you are, so I’m not going to be too harsh on you. I’m just going to be very, very mad at you afterwards.”“Haha, thanks Cra-san…”“Hey, don’t say that to my best friend!”After a little pep talk, we head into the pool and begin the shooting. There’s a lot of positions we need to do, including freediving while facing the water surface and floating on that same surface while our bodies are on the oppose direction. “Huh, this feeling…it’s just so…rexing…” I thought to myself.Despite having multiple cameras pointing at me, the moment I step into the water, all those stress and nervousness just…disappear.I don’t know how to describe it, but I feel safe and sound when I’m submerging myself into this pool. There’s no worries, no bothers or even tiresome from posing, just inner peace and complete calmness. It’s like…despite I’m one with the water…I don’t feel lonely or cold at all. And that’s when the realization hits.I’ve spent years where Sukeno-san is the closest person to me, so to have Takenada-san here with me…I feel like there’s nothing stopping me from achieving my dream and keeping my promise with her.Even when the obstacles, the enemies or the challenges I’m facing are just too much, I will never back down, knowing someone out there is still waiting for me at the end of the road with a smile on her face. That to me is a prize worth more than any treasures the world can offer.You can say it sounds weird in the context of being a temporarily model, but isn’t my life weird already? One more won’t hurt anybody.“That’s it you two, just like I told you! Feel the groove and show me your moves!”It took us a couple tries, but eventually, we managed to deliver up to Cra-san’s somewhat low expectation. Like she said, this job requires a strong mentality and an enduring body, and lucky for us, we have just that.I don’t think I’ll ever consider taking the modeling job, but doing it once every now and then isn’t a bad option either.We then stay in the water for a few more minutes, mainly redoing the previous poses to make sure that it’s up to Cra-san’s standards. After a little check, she gives us a thumbs-up, meaning the morning shooting is over and we can finally rest.“Good job you two. I was worried that I might destroy my throat for you two, but I guess I’ll have to save it for another time.”As we’re heading out of the pool, Cra-san raises her hand to help us while also giving us a praise. According to Sekigawa-senpai, she’s one of, if not, the best photographers in the world, so receiving a praise from her is “worth more than a fortune”, at least that’s what she said.“Ahahaha, you’re kidding right Cra-san?” Takenada-san asked.“Nope! Not at all!” she replied with a smile on her face.Hearing that, all we can do is ugh is off and look for our towel to wipe ourselves. Normally I can tell when someone is joking or not, but her...there’s no reading her at all, and that scares me a little bit.“Oh don’t sweat it you two, that’s just how she likes to talk. Give her a few more years and you’ll get used to it real quick.”Sekigawa-senpai walks towards us and says those words. I can clearly hear Cra-san’s small “Hehe” coming from behind me, so I assume they’re pretty close. I think I have an idea on what their retionship is, but I don’t want to jump to the conclusion just yet.As I’m still cleaning myself, I notice her holding something…familiar, so I quickly put the towel on my shoulder and walk to her. “Here, I saw someone texting you. I think they called themselves…“The Supplier”? I don’t know who that is but…promise me that you’re not on to something suspicious, got it?”“Haha, I won’t senpai…”She then hands me my phone. “The Supplier” she referred to earlier is just the supply store for the restaurant that I used to work in. I just recently quitted my job there so I can focus on other matters, and lucky for me, Sukeno-san was gdly enough to accept it. I still have the store’s number, so I decided to ask them a little favor since I’ll be camping here in the academy until night. They just informed me that my “delivery package” is ready, so I quickly go to the bathroom and change. After a few minutes, I head out of the pool, missing out on another small fuss between those who’re close to each other.

  “Everyone, lunch is ready!”It’s 12:30 pm, and everyone is gathering around the long table right next to the charcoal grill where I’m preparing food for all of them. Since the outdoor pools were designed for multiple purposes, they also come with a fully equipped small kitchen. It’s not on par with fine-dining restaurant’s quality, but it’s more than enough for what I’m doing right now.The menu is quite simple: skewered chicken and fish; grilled steaks, ribs and burgers; potato sad; colesw and some grilled vegetables as well. It took a while to prepare them all, but with the help of Takenada-san and Kira, we manage to cook them all in time.“Oh hey, a spare rib, don’t mind if I do!”“Wait a minute, I was saving for that!”Unsurprisingly, everyone loves what’s on the table and devours them like crazy. Lucky for us, there’s no one here with ridiculously overwhelming power, or else Tiamat might have to pop out and stop them. And speaking of Tiamat…“Man those ribs look delicious, too bad I can’t enjoy any of them…”For obvious reasons, she’s staying inside my sword like usual. Right now we’re not in a fight or a tight situation, so there’s actually no need for her to show up. I know that sounds unfair, but it’s the truth.“Don’t worry, I’ll save you some for when we’re back home. In that time, how about you think of something new to teach me, you might get to “kill” me quite a lot you know?”As I’m flipping the burger patties, I have a little conversation with Tiamat through [Telepathic Line]. She doesn’t need to eat really, but it’s hard to deny good food when they’re right in front of you. “Really? Thank you so much Master. I won’t disappoint you!”“Yeah, looking forward to that…”After a little convincing, I manage to light up her mood. Feeding her leftovers as they are isn’t ideal at all, so I have a few ideas in my mind on that. I’m sure with my skills, I can pull it off just fine.“To our fated meeting!”Cra-san and her crews toast with the president duo while Kira and Takenada-san are still helping me with the cooking. We still have works to do, so they use orange juice as a substitute for alcohols. Besides, there are still students here, so consuming them isn’t a great idea either.“Hey Kira, can you get me more charcoal? I put the bag right over there!”“Got it!”I tell Kira as I’m continue to cook lunch. The table is quite full now, but that state won’t st long. There’re at least three more person who’s dying to eat, and it’s our job to feed them as soon as possible.“Here, let me help you.”“Ah, thanks a lot Yasutaira-kun.”After that, Kira fills in the charcoal and then repces me cooking the remaining food as I’m helping Takenada-san with the potato sad. Despite being born in a rich family, she has quite good basic cooking skills, and that’s more than I can ask for. “You know, this is actually the first time I ever cook this much food so…it’s a bit too much.” Takenada-san said as she’s putting the bowls down the table.Unlike me, Kira and her doesn’t have any culinary experience. It’s hard for them to keep up with all the works that they aren’t familiar with. They may be experienced fighters, but they certainly are not experienced cooks.“It’s OK, don’t push yourself too hard. We’re cooking for friends, not some harsh critics that could end a chef’s dream, so just rex and enjoy the moment.” I reassured her.“Yeah, you’re right…I completely forgot about that.”After that, we finish up our cooking and join with the crowded crews. Everyone seems satisfied with what they’re eating, and as a result, they spread out a path and cheer to welcome the three of us.“Haha, thanks a lot everyone, but I don’t really think we deserve it…”“Come on now kid, you cook us a whole feast here, what more can we do to thank you? Everyone, to the good food and good life!”“To the good food and good life!”After a personal greet from one of the crewmembers named Ichika, everyone once again toast, this time for the three of us. We gdly join them and raise our cups as well. After that, the three of us start enjoying our meal while also answering some burning questions as well.“Wait, so you really are Sukeno-san’s apprentice? Like the [Fearless Chef] himself?” one asked.“Yea…Yeah, he’s really my mentor, although I don’t go around bragging or advertising myself like that. I prefer to be a bit more…low-key.”“Aw come on kid, that’s a great opportunity you’re missing right there! Let me tell you something kid, if this fighting gig isn’t working out, this might save your life someday, trust me.” another one joined the conversation.“Haha, I’ll consider…”I can tell that they’re just kidding, but you can’t deny their unique perspective. After all, they’re adults with more responsibilities and things to take care of than us teenagers. I don’t think I’ll do a career change any time soon, but I won’t leave that option out of my sight.“Also, you and [White Princess] here are friends? Just who the hell are you exactly kid?” I get another question from a crewmember, this time about my retionship with Takenada-san. Funny enough, according to her, it’s actually a big thing before her return to Japan, and it’s for a good reason.She was born in a rich and rather famous family, so in some way, she’s a celebrity. Unsurprisingly, people tend to want to know more about those they adore, and she’s no exception either. There’s just one small problem.We hadn’t met each other in years, and during her time in America, she actually never mentioned my name once. As a result, people started specuting about this mysterious “person”.There’s a few theories on this topic, and unfortunately, the truth might be disappointing to them. “Oh no, we’re not just friends. In fact, I’m her childhood and best friend!”“Yo, really?” “Yes, it’s true.”That short answer is enough to rouse the people. Everyone starts asking more and more questions and soon, I’m getting overwhelmed. Even Takenada-san gets involved too, as she accidentally overheard the conversation and thus she was dragged into this mess with me. “How have we not known about this kid? Do you have any idea what you’re hiding from us?”“Uhm well…You can’t say I’m hiding when no one asks me about it right?” I replied.“Either way kid, what you have right here, your retionship with her…it’s everyone’s wet dream you know? I don’t care if you’re [The Heretic] or something, they’ll get jealous of you once they found out about this and trust me, they won’t be happy.” “Well…thank you everyone, I’ll…watch out to it…”It seems like they’re all interested in this topic as well, so when the answer is right in front of them, their attentions shift entirely to it, which in this case, is me. And when I said “everyone”…“Now now guys, give him some space will you? Since when did you guys are interested in teenagers? That’s not on your paycheck you know?”“Ahaha, we’re so sorry big sis…”“Good, now let me borrow those two for, I don’t know, until this hype dies down? In that time, calm yourself down!”“You got it big sis!”Sekigawa-senpai shows up at the right moment and drags Takenada-san and me away from the curious crowds. The three of us then head to where Kira is standing since no one pays attention to him really, which is, well, pretty sad if you think about it.“Whew, that was a close call…”Sekigawa-senpai wipes out her sweats. I don’t know whether she anticipated it or she just did it on the spot, but she really helped us a lot.“Thanks senpai, you really saved us back there.” I thanked her.“Oh don’t sweat it Yasutaira-kun. Although we’re having another problem…”She then points to Kira who’s trying his best to calm an angry Takenada-san down. Just by looking at her, I can already tell how bad the situation is.“Heh, so those bastards want to die huh…Very well then, I shall grant them just that!”She said it with a stone-cold tone of voice. She’s not showing off her expressions much, which is even worse than the time we fought Kuroto-senpai. The aura around her…it’s full of anger and killing intention.“Woah woah woah, wait a minute Takenada-san, whatever you’re trying to do, please don’t!”Not wanting history to repeat itself, I quickly come to assist Kira. Her face is covering in darkness, with the exception of her mouth and eyes. She’s ughing maniacally, and her eyes…they’re glowing red.She’s currently not holding any weapon, but she’s ready to turn her hands into one, and I won’t let that happen, at all!“Oh, so you’re trying to stop me too Yasutaira-kun? Perhaps I should kill you first.”“Then do just that! It’s my fault that I spilled the beans right, so the responsibility is mine! Don’t antagonize them, put it all on me instead!”I’m doing everything I can to convince her, including taking all the smokes from her. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but whatever it is, I’m willing to accept it.“Heh, what the…”In a surprised twist, the vile aura suddenly disappears. For some reason, Takenada-san manages to put out her rage and reverts back to normal. Kira and I are more than relieved to know that things are finally over, or so we thought…“Whew, we did it…Ow ow, what are you doing?”Out of nowhere, Takenada-san pinches my left cheeks. I can feel the brute force coming from her, and that’s why I’m screaming hopelessly.“Jeez, why do you keep bringing troubles like that? You love them or something?” she said as she’s pouting.“Ow ow…I’m sorry I’m sorry…I’ll never make that mistake again!”Takenada-san stops pinching me after hearing my apology. She’s still pouting however, so she’s not appeasing just yet.“Haiz, you don’t have to apologize really. I didn’t tell anyone about this, so a some way, the fault lies with me also. Besides, I’m not going to just kill or hurt anyone for no reason. I can’t keep my promise with you if I just keep slipping up right?”“Yea…Yeah, you’re right…”“But please, never do that again. There’re better ways to give someone a heart attack you know?” “Haha…I’ll watch out to that…”While the hype is dying down little by little, the four of us quickly finish our lunch and take our time to rest, as the shooting will continue in the afternoon.

  “Huh, this is earlier than I thought…”In another twist of events, a friendly swimming race is about to happen in just a few minutes.After finishing the afternoon shooting, Sekigawa-senpai suddenly demanded a swimming race, and for some unknown reasons, Atagi-senpai agreed to do it.“GO MERIKA-CHAN! SHOW THESE KIDS WHAT WE’RE TRULY CAPABLE OF!”“YEAH, YOU GOT THIS GIRL!”Unsurprisingly, the crewmembers cheer on for their favorite candidate right off the bat. It’s not as crowded and boisterous as the [Summer Tournament], but it still definitely reminds me of it in some way.“DON’T LISTEN TO THEM MIWAKO! KIRIWATAIRI ACADEMY KNOWS NO FAILURE, AND WE’LL PROVE IT TO THEM RIGHT HERE AND NOW!”“GO ATAGI-SENPAI! GO TEAM COUNCIL!”Not backing down, Takabeya-senpai alongside Takenada-san also show support for Atagi-senpai, currently standing side by side with Sekigawa-senpai at the starting line. Both of them are already wearing the same swimsuit used for the shooting: Sekigawa-senpai with a simple red bikini and as for Atagi-senpai, it’s a bck one-piece with white stripes running down her side.“You have taste Atagi-senpai, too bad it won’t help you win this match though.”“Oh really? Because to me, you are not winning this race at all!”“Heh, bring it on senpai! Let’s see what you’re made of!” Stretching their bodies, the two competitors give each other a fiery look, as they know this match will go down in history. This is a relentless battle, and they will do everything they can to secure their victory.As if it isn’t crazy enough, let me remind you one more time: This is an unwanted swimming race!“Can you eborate to me one more time on how did this happen, Yasutaira-kun?”“I have no idea…”At the finishing line, or should I say the end of the pool, Kariuda-san joins me to be this match’s judges. Just like me, she wants a proper answer as to how this happened in the first pce.She was doing a secret mission with Kiriwatari-sensei, which expins why she wasn’t here until ten minutes ago. She told me that she would go into details about the mission once she’s here, but I guess we’ll have to dey it until ter.“Then make one. We already have some expnation to do, and this isn’t helping at all.”“Yeah, I know, I know…”I can sense her annoyance even from miles away, but since doing this won’t harm nobody, she’s letting it slide. “Alright, the rules are simple: Whoever completes 2 ps first wins. If there’s a draw, whoever touch the first p’s finishing line wins. No cheating or interrupting the competitors. You’ll be disqualified if we catch you doing those things. Got it?”“YES!”Kariuda-san disseminates the rules to everyone, making sure everything goes as smooth as butter. She was the judge for the [Summer Tournament] after all, so she knows the procedure from head to toe.“Ready, set, GO!”I announce the beginning of the race through the loudspeaker and immediately, the two competitors jump into the water and sprint here with their top speed. The fact that the water at the starting line was spshing tells me just how serious they are.Of course, they aren’t the only one.“WOO, LET’S GO GIRL! THESE KIDS WON’T STAND A CHANCE!”“YOU GOT THIS ATAGI-SENPAI! SHOW HER WHY YOU’RE THE VICE PRESIDENT!”On the left side of the pool, the cheering from both “teams” goes on. As if they just received a boost in power, the two racers start speeding up. “You’re pretty fast Merika-chan, but you’ll have to try harder if you want to beat me!”“Oh I’m not just going to beat you Atagi-senpai, I’m going to obliterate your pride too! Watch it!”Atagi-senpai is leading, but not by much. Sekigawa-senpai could close the gap at any given moment, so the outcome is still somewhat unpredictable.Despite just finishing their jobs, the crowds still have a lot of energy left in them. I don’t think their throats will be fine after this, so I have a few ideas about it just in case.“Don’t worry Master, I’m already working on it.”“Oh, ah…thanks Tiamat. You really save me a lot.”Through [Telepathic Line], Tiamat told me she would take care of it, so all I need to do is focus on the race. Despite not doing much due to the circumstance, I still find it a bit weird that she’s willing to do that. I guess a change of heart really is possible huh…“Sekigawa-senpai…she’s the first to touch the finishing line! She’s now heading back to the starting line, with her opponent right behind her tail! Can she continue this form and win, or Atagi-senpai will recover and turn the table?”To everyone’s surprise, Sekigawa-senpai managed to surpass her opponent and gained the upper hand. The chaser has now become the chased. Once again, closing the gap is possible, so stamina is the vital key to win this race.“Are you sure you guys just went through an entire day of photo shooting? The way I see is, give them a raft and they’ll travel through seven seas without any problems.” Kariuda-san said jokingly.“We’re talking about two of the strongest female students this academy has to offer in recent years Kariuda-san, this little contest to them is just another warm up, I think…”“If this is what you called a “warm up”, then god knows what they could do on a battlefield.” she said jokingly.“Pretty sure they already knew about that since, I don’t know, forever…” As me and Kariuda-san is having a little conversation, the two competitors have returned to the starting line. They both touch the pool at the same time, meaning a draw will guarantee Atagi-senpai’s failure.“What’s the matter senpai, feeling nervous already?”“Ohoho, just wait Merika-chan, just wait…”Feeling a bit cocky, Merika-senpai decides to provoke her opponent, hoping she’ll make mistake. Unfortunately, that pn seems to backfire as at some point, Atagi-senpai is leading. “Hah!”Eventually, Atagi-senpai is the first to touch the finishing line and now, she’s having the advantage. Sekigawa-senpai tries her best to catch up, but the more effort she puts in, the sooner she realizes it’s too te.“DON’T GIVE UP MERIKA-CHAN! YOU CAN STILL DO THIS!”“WIN MIWAKO! MAKE THE ACADEMY PROUD! MAKE ME PROUD!”As the two competitors are still going neck to neck toward the starting line, the crowds from both sides continue to cheer nonstop. I can even feel their hearts skipping a beat, as they’re holding their breaths for the winner of this race.“The person that touches the starting line first…it’s Atagi Miwako! She’s the winner of this race!”Hearing my announcement, the crewmembers are all jaw dropping in silence. On the other hand, Takenada-san and Takabeya-senpai start celebrating and hugging each other. “She won senpai! She won!”“Yeah, let’s go! That’s my Miwako!”Only two of them were the one putting faith on Atagi-senpai, so when she comes out on top, it feels like all their efforts are paid off nicely. “Aw man, I was so close!”Down the pool, Sekigawa-senpai shows her frustration as she had the upper advantage yet she’s not the winner of the race. It’s still an even match nonetheless, so if there’s a rematch, I think she can do it.“Come on Sekigawa-chan, you did great. Besides, it’s just a fun harmless race, no need to get all sobby.”“Erm…I don’t think I’m the right person for that st part…”As the two competitors get out of the pool, their attentions shift to the crewmembers as they’re on their knees and lying on the floor sobbing. Takabeya-senpai and Takenada-san are trying their best to comfort them, but it just doesn’t work at all.And so, the six students spend the next ten minutes calming the crewmembers down, and eventually, things are back to normal.

  “Ah, thanks kid, I owe you this time.”“Oh no no no, you don’t have to. I just want to help you, that’s all. I don’t want people owing me too much, that’ll be too troublesome.”“Haha, got it. Goodbye kid, have a great day.”“You too.”It’s around 6:30 pm now.Since we’ve already finished the shooting hours ago, Sekigawa-senpai’s crew had decided to leave the academy. But before that, I gave them a piece of paper detailing what to do with their sore throats. As for the main star, she will join them ter, as she wants to spend some time here first. Since her tomorrow’s schedule is empty, she doesn’t have any reason to rush at all.During that time, Kiriwatari-sensei also showed up, meaning Tiamat can be roam-free for now. There’s still enough food to eat for dinner, and that’s exactly what we’re doing right now.The pool’s light system is more than enough, but for aesthetic, Takabeya-senpai decided to take out the candles from the council’s storage. I know it’s just decoration, but I have to admit, it’s a great addition to the pce. “Eh, so you are a [Knight] too?”“Yeah, although I’m just a [Low Knight]…so it’s not that great of an achievement…” I responded to Sekigawa-senpai.As I’m enjoying a nice pte of steak, Kiriwatari-sensei decided to reveal my role under her wings and unsurprisingly, Sekiwaga-senpai was shocked to hear it. She almost dropped her burger, but she managed to hold it. Contrary to [Rising Phoenix], [Knights of Tomorrow] is pretty well-known, and their reputation among people is rather very positive. Not many people can just join it, but everyone certainly admire them a lot.“But at your age? It’s not just an achievement, it’s a miracle. I know the president and vice president here are exceptional, but you…I don’t want to sound mean but…it’s hard to believe that [The Heretic] is now involved in this big of a picture…”“Ah don’t worry, I’m already used to it, so it doesn’t bother me much at all…”Since my abilities are only known to the academy after the recent event, it’s no surprise that people don’t get to know much about my “job”. The whole system is still affecting people’s perspective, so to debunk it is not an easy task.Lucky for me, I’m not the only one who thought of that.“Besides Merika-chan, his recruitment is a little bit…unorthodox, but if you want the whole story, I can give it to you, with conditions of course.”After a few settlements, we finally tell her everything that leads to this day, including Tiamat’s identity. There’s a few minor things we left out as they involve personal and top-secret information, but in general, Sekigawa-senpai gets the memo.“I see…No wonder you’re keeping it…”On the surface, she seems fine knowing the truth, but I can totally see her legs shaking nonstop. The concept of gods’ existence is still somewhat new to modern society, so her reaction is to our expectation. “Haha, don’t worry kid, it’s not that much of a big deal. After all, I’m the only god here right? It’s not like we’re going to invade Earth or something.”“Yea…Yeah, you’re right…Why shou…should I…I be worry…”Tiamat pads Sekigawa-senpai’s shoulder to calm her down and now, it’s not just her legs that are shaking, it’s her entire body. I don’t know if it’s her intention or not, but judging from her surprised face, she’s definitely not goofing around this time.“Here Merika-chan, have some water, it’ll help you cool down.”“Ah, thanks a lot Atagi-senpai.”Receiving the cup, Sekigawa-senpai takes a big sip. Her body is still somewhat shaking, but at least things are going on the right direction. After a while, she can finally calm herself down and finish the burger.“You know Tiamat, maybe next time, leave it to the professionals. I know you’re a god, but this is NOT your expertise at all.”“Ahaha, I know…I’ll be more careful next time…”“Good, then I’ll get you more veggies. I’m surprised you even like them in the first pce…”“Ehehe, there’s a lot you still don’t know about me, and I’m willing to teach you all of them. I’m thinking about a pce that’s a bit more…intimate…”“Oh give me a break…”Ignoring Tiamat’s seductive words, I get more foods for her and everyone else in this table. It’s a good thing I told the suppliers to bring me as much as money could buy, as we’re devouring them like crazy. “You know, now that I think of it…”“Hmm?”As me and Takenada-san are bringing out more food, Sekigawa-senpai starts wondering something, and it got our attention. What she says next however is really the main event.“Yasutaita-kun’s situation, even Takenada-chan here…it’s one weird of a case you know?”“Hmm, how so?” Atagi-senpai asked.At first, I thought that she forgot about it, but the moment I saw her wink at me, I immediately realized her intention and decided to go along with her. “Both of them haven’t committed any crime yet…they’re able to grow this strong…I know this is a rather abnormal topic to talk about but…the fact that our most common knowledge turns out to be this wrong…I just…feel mixed…”During the reveal, we told her about how [Crime Magic System], or at least that’s what Tiamat prefer to call, has been wrongfully interpreting for years now. It may seem like we’re making it up, but with me and Takenada-san here being the living proof, that possibility is rather…unlikely.“Well kid, if there’s anything you can bme, put it on humanity’s stupidity. It took them a few thousand years to get this far yet none of them ever thought of changing or even questioning that dumb system. Then again, with Master and his best friend over here, there might be some chances…” Tiamat said.Sekigawa-senpai had to process a lot of information, so it’s understandable that it took her a while to come up with that conclusion. I didn’t tell her everything expecting her to swallow them all up easily, and I’m fine with her reaction.“Yeah you’re right, but it’s just that…My whole life, I’ve always thought of my abilities as a blessing and at the same time, a curse. Every time I step into a fight, those memories…I have to endure them all…”Sekigawa-senpai then empties the water cup in preparation for what she’s about to say. We certainly did not know much about her backstory, but judging from her look, we might have a few ideas…“When I was four, I once went shopping with my mom. While we were heading back to our house, someone tried to rob us. When we denied his request, he dragged us into an alley and beat us up. We tried to fight back, but when everyone has abilities, it certainly gave him the upper hand.”Clenching both of her fists, Sekigawa-senpai told us about those “memories” with a saddened face. It’s really hard for her to relive it again, as we can see her trying her best to hold the tears. “After getting what he wanted, he suddenly decided what he didn’t want: witnesses. Seeing us lying weak on the ground, he took out a knife. My mother saw it and as her st dying breath, she got up and tried to fight back once more. This time, she managed to strip it out his hand, but of course, it came with a prize.”Her left eye starts bursting out tears as she’s saying. Kariuda-san immediately grabs her handkerchief and hands it to Sekigawa-senpai. “Ah thanks Kariuda-chan…Now where was I…oh yeah. That robber would beat up my mom even harder. In that moment, even with the knife right in front of me, my body just wouldn’t listen to me, and even when it did…even when I had the courage to fight…my eyes betrayed me…”She then bows her head down. This time, tears from both her eyes start rolling down as she’s sobbing. We all feel bad for her, not just for the incident, but the fact that she has to move on and live with it for the rest of her life. “Before I even knew it, the knife…I plugged it into her stomach. That bastard…he used my mom as his human shield! As I was shaking in fear, he tossed my mom to the side and kicked me to the ground. And that’s…that’s when “it” happened.Sekigawa-senpai then silences for a bit, part of the reasons is to wipe her tears out. Having some time to reconcile her feelings, she raises her head and continues the story.“That bastard took the knife out of my mom and as he was approaching me, something inside me…awakened. At that time, I had no clue what that is or what it means; I just…followed my instinct. I dodged his attack, grabbed his arm and then punched his stomach. Before he even had time to process, I took his knife and stabbed him to death. I didn’t just do it wildly, the movements, the cuts…it’s like I’d been programmed to do it fwlessly…”Without any further words, we immediately realize what she said is none other than her signature ability, [Weapon Mastery]. As the name implies, one single touch of a random weapon will give her full control and knowledge of it right away. It’s not an overpower ability, but with enough development and training, you can go pretty far from that baseline. It’s just that this “baseline”…was born from the darkest moment a child could go through.“We managed to survive, but the emotional scars…they aren’t easy to heal. Sure I have this power, yet all I can do is accept the fact that I had to sacrifice my own mother’s safety to gain it…For a kid, having that kind of realization is just…cruel…”We don’t often see people telling how they got their abilities for obvious reasons, so hearing her story makes us wonder: Just how much trauma one must go through for power? Is the price worth it? Is there even any guilt to be burden in the first pce? “Our retionship didn’t colpse after that, but it’s hard for me to look at her straight in the eye when I was the one hurting her. Mom told me to leave it all behind, so I took on this model job. I thought to myself that if I can hide those emotions behind the cameras, maybe…just maybe…I could finally work my way through it. I can’t say it’s working fwlessly, but at least, there’s progress…” Honestly, I don’t even know what to say or how to react to this.Life has many unexpected turns, and you never know when they’ll happen to you. People always say “the past shapes the future”, but to me, it’s the decisions we made and the action we took that truly defines us. That’s the case for Sekigawa-senpai, and lucky for me, I’m not the only person who thinks that.“Look kid, I know you’ve been through a lot, but…don’t you forget one thing?”“Me? Forget one thing?”Tiamat is the first to speak up. She told me not to worry, as she knew exactly what to do in the situation and consider the seriousness of her tone, I have faith.“The way I see it, you’re doing this like a lone wolf. Isn’t your mom still here with you? The fact that you two aren’t separate from each other tells me more than enough that she, just like you, is also fighting this battle with you and for you.”“Tiamat-san…”“Please, just call me Tiamat, I like that better.”“Oh OK, then what you’re trying to say is…”“You are not alone kid. Stop acting like that before it’s too te. You already hurt her once, and if you keep doing things the way you do, history will repeat.”“Huh, I see…I think I get it…Thank you Tiamat, for opening my eyes…I should have known better…”“Good, because in the end, it’s all about having someone or even something to fight for, to strive for and most importantly, to reach for. That’s the reason why my Master pick up his sword, and I’m gd to be a part of it.”“You know, when you put it like that, it does sound weird…”Takenada-san and I blush a little hearing that. Not only did Tiamat able to cheer on Sekigawa-senpai, she also somehow smoothly brought us into the conversation as part of it as well. She didn’t mention anybody’s name, but everyone here at the table knew exactly who she preferred to.“Well, that aside, I’m sure there’s something else that’s need to be said, and I know someone who’s dying to do it right now.”Tiamat then stares at Kiriwatari-sensei. Understand what she’s trying to imply, she takes out a document file and projects a hologram big enough for everyone to see clearly. We take a thoroughly look at both of them and immediately, we have a few ideas in our heads.“Look Merika-chan, I know you’re still new to this, but since you wanted to dig this deep, I’ll make it easy for you: This right here is an “abandoned” factory in Berlin, Germany. Its name is still remained unknown, but what we know however is that this is the birthpce of [M.B.S], a dangerous and illegal enhancing drug that caused us Kuroto-kun.”Hearing that name once again brings back some bad memories. That was the selling point of [Kuroto Incident], and even after that, things still aren’t over. Sensei told us about her investigation regard the source of the drugs, which led her to the unknown German factory. It took her and Kariuda-san weeks to locate it, and even when it was right in front of their eyes, they decided not to take the risk.“When we arrived, all we could sense was a thick yet sickening smell coming from that pce…I don’t know what that is, and I’m afraid to even imagine it. But what we do know however is that something fishy is definitely going on behind the scene.” Kariuda-san expined.“We could have called backups, but that would alert them and even worse, it might backfire badly, especially when we’re dealing with unknown enemies. We’re working on a way to infiltrate the pce, but for now, information about the pce is all we have.”We can clearly see the confusion on Sekigawa-senpai as she’s trying to keep up with all of the info dump. This is our field, not hers, so it’s understandable for her to be slower than us. “Uhm so, like…these dangerous people…are they trying to create a brainless, blood-thirsted and ruthless army or something?” Sekigawa-senpai asked.“That’s actually one of the possibilities I thought of, and along much as I want it not to be true, that might be the case.”“Woah, just what will these people gain from doing this…Oh and Kuroto-senpai, he’s still OK right? I know he got expelled, but…” “Yes, I can assure you that. He’s under treatment in a safe pce right now. It seems like Kuroto-kun is just their guinea pig…a warning of what’s to come… but I’m not sure if they’re going after him or not…”“Eh, really? So there’s a chance he can come back to the academy?”“That…will depend entirely on him, but I’m hoping he’ll at least be here for the graduation.” sensei replied.“I see…Then I guess I can only pray that things will go as is it…”The “safe pce” Kiriwatari-sensei mentioned earlier is the [Holy Church], a once closed ally to [Knights of Tomorrow]. According to Tiamat, they haven’t been on good terms for years, but they still decided to help us out of respect for sensei. Besides, [Rising Phoenix] is our common enemy, so when the time comes, we won’t let the differences from the past stop us from working with each other.“It’s OK Merika-chan, we’re professionals, mostly. We’re dealing with this kind of stuff on a daily basis, so you don’t have to insert yourself into the conversation really. We’re going to be just fine.” Takabeya-senpai said.“But I’m already in this deep aren’t I? Backing down from it in this stage is just not my style at all. I’m not saying I love the smell of danger or anything, but…if you need more help, you know who to call.” Sekigawa-senpai said confidently.You don’t expect a model to say those words, but for Sekigawa-senpai, it’s a whole other story. She’s still a better fighter than me regardless of my recent growth, and she definitely has more connections than me thanks to her career. I’m sure she’ll be a great addition to this “grand battle”, whether we like that idea or not.“Alright then, since you said it, then I guess I can arrange you a reserve spot in the organization. I won’t ask you to much more than keep doing what you’ve been doing, how that sounds to you Merika-chan?” sensei asked.“Well…I really love the offer, but I think I’ll have to have a few words to my agent first, see what they can do.”“Then I’ll wait. The door is always open, so take your time.”With that, we’ve successfully recruited another talent to the organization. After spending some more times talking about the initial moves for the future, we quickly finish our dinner and pack our things to go home and enjoy the rest of our day.

  “Man, my legs are hurting…”After parting ways with others, Takenada-san and I decide to walk home together. Her house isn’t too far from mine, and since Tiamat already teleported back home, it’s just the two of us now.“Well, mine too. I guess we underestimated just how hard her job can be. To think that she has to endure that much physical and mental stress…I’m quite impressed.”“Yeah, how does she do that? What kind of training did she go through? How many sit-ups? How many pushups? What kind of juice she’s drinking?”“I don’t think that’s the result of paltry training, pretty sure that’s just destiny.”“I…knew you would say that…”We hadn’t met each other for so long that outside of studying and training, we would spend hours talking and binging our favorite shows and manga. We share some common ground, but ultimately, her taste is quite different from mine. “But you know, I’m still surprise just how much you know, just how do you bance your live with that much things to do…”“The real question here is: How did they allow us to spend time together in the first pce. That has to be some kind of miracle or something!”Knowing her status, it was surprised to see how little the hype was. Of course, students from other csses do surround her and treat her like a celebrity from time to time, but the numbers aren’t crazy high. If anything, it feels more like everyone is just showing their respect and appreciation to her, which is something they didn’t exactly do to me at first, not that I asked them that right from the get-go…I’m not saying I crave them to the ridiculous point of going crazy over them, or I get jealous of her for receiving them, I just see that as an interesting contrast between the two of us.“I’m sure the word you’re trying to find is “reputation”, Yasutaira-kun. In that realm, we’re like two sides of a coin, and honestly, I’m gd to have you as my friend and the “other side” of that coin.” “Huh?”All of sudden, Takenada-san becomes more introspective, which is a rare thing to see from her. That flip really caught me off-guard, and as a result, I show a surprised face to her. “Yeah, I mean it. All my life, I always consider myself lucky: a wealthy, happy family, a good reputation despite going against the common sense and a promise to keep. All the things I’ve done, all the training I’ve been through, all bloods, sweats and tears…I don’t want to waste them on nothing, especially when there’s someone I need to reunite once again.”Takenda-san holds my hand as she’s saying those words with a saddened voice. Normally, people would avoid her hand in reflex, but I’m not going to deny her. That’s just so not me to do it, and in these kind of moments, there’s no room for that.“And that is also what hurts me the most. My friend just lost his parents, yet I left him behind just shortly after. I know it was just a coincidence, but the feeling of abandon someone…it’s haunting you know?”“I see…I never knew you’ve been bearing such guilt for me…But I guess the feeling’s mutual here.”“Eh, really?”“Of course. I have a promise to keep remember? I’m a man of my word, and I want to do it not just for you, but for anyone that doubts us. Aren’t that what we strives for? To prove that nothing is going to hold us down, that no matter what they say, our destiny are ours to decide. The moment they aren’t longer my goals is the moment I consider myself unworthy of yours.” “Haha, yeah, you’re right…Why did I forget about that? That’s so silly from me.”“Aren’t we all? If you think about it, we’re just two silly kids doing silly stuffs in a cruel world. Sounds pretty poetic if you ask me.”“Haha, let’s just hope we’re not ending up in some kind of dark twisted fantasy world, we are NOT the one chosen.”“Yeah…That would be the worst nightmare…”Despite being close to my house, her mansion is a bit further from the academy than mine, so it takes a while to get there. The streetlights neon signs are shining brighter than ever now that is nighttime and its contrast with the darkness creates such a vibe and atmosphere that just makes you want to go out and hit the club. “Hey Yasutaira-kun.”“Hmm, what is it?” I asked.“Your hand…can I hold it for longer? I like it that way…” “Well, if you said so…then let’s hold until death does us apart. How is that sound to you?”“Since when did you become so cheesy and romantic? People might get the wrong idea.”“It’s alright, I already have someone I can trust to debunk that idea for me, and she’s standing right here.”“Jeez, stop teasing me. You’re becoming Tiamat you know?”As we’re heading closer to her home, more and more people start noticing us, but we aren’t bothered by it at all. The neon signs starting fading away from our eyesight since the mansion isn’t close to any store we were just coming across, and eventually…“Oh hey, we’re here.”We reach Takenada-san’s house. For a wealthy family, the mansion is quite cozy, which I like. We ring the bell and immediately after that, a maid comes out and greets us.“Midy, you’re back. How was the trip?” she asked.“Oh it’s great Linda-san. The food, the pool…it’s all top-notch! I had a great time too!”The maid greeting us, Linda-san, has been working for this family for years now. She’s a woman in her thirties with blonde hair and blue eyes, but she hardly opens them up.“I’m gd to hear that Midy. And oh Yasutaira-sama, to what do we owe the pleasure?” “Ah nothing really. She just asked me to walk home with her and that’s it. I don’t pn on staying here for the night though.”“But did you perhaps pn on dating Midy? The way I see it, you two are pretty closed, Yasutaira-sama.”“WE ARE NOT DATING!”The scenario I have in mind has actually happened, but way less aggressive. Unlike other times, she just let go of my hand and loudly shouted while blushing. Seeing this, all I can do is take a step back and witness her little outburst.On the other hand, Linda-san remains calm and smiles faintly. She does open her eyes for a bit, but it went by so fast it’s hardly noticeable. I don’t know if she’s joking or not, but I can see why she asked that question.Like she said, we look just like a couple when we’re holding hands despite not being one, so I understand why people would get the wrong idea. Linda-san also told me she didn’t know also, so her question really was genuine, not some kind of bad joke.“Well then, good night Yasutaira-sama. It’s been a pleasure to have you here with Midy. I’m wishing nothing but the best for you in the future.”“Yeah, me too Linda-san. I’ll see you soon.”After waiting for Takenada-san to cool down a bit, I say goodbye to the two of them and head back home, ending an exhausted but fun day.

  Berlin, Germany.Inside the same factory that is currently under investigation by [Phantom Mist] and her squire Kariuda Naomi, a mysterious man is slowly walking through a secret hall underneath the factory. He’s wearing a traditional bck tuxedo with a shade and a lower half-mask. Nobody in [Rising Phoenix] knows how old he is or his origin, but that’s never their concern. All they know is that he goes by the name of [Mastermind], and as the name implies, he’s the one in charge of many successful operations. His experiences, intelligent and power are more than enough for people in the organization not to dig up his past and doubt his loyalty.“How’s the [Mutant] army Rosalía?”Reaching the main room of the underground base, [Mastermind] opens the door. He is then greeted by a red hair woman named Rosalía. She’s the one running the pce and also the leader of [Tres águi]. Despite only joined a few years ago, they’ve proven themselves to be useful to the grand pn. The [Kuroto Incident] happened all because of them and their product, and that’s exactly why [Mastermind] is here.“Oh they’re excellent! Magnifico! Unbelievable! But of course, if it’s not for your help, then this won’t be possible. I owe you this one.”Rosalía dances around [Mastermind] as she’s saying. For a woman who’ll be forty next month, she’s quite youthful, and tall too. For comparison, [Mastermind] is 180 centimeters, and Rosalía is just a few centimeters shy from that number.“Oh don’t mention it. We’re on the same boat remember? As long as everything we do is for Master’s sake, then these so-called “debts” are unnecessary.”“Yeah, old habits die hard…Oh damn we’re getting sidetracked. Come here, let’s take a look shall we?”Flicking her b coat, she leads her colleague to the door on the left. Since this is a b, there’re tanks of creatures on both sides, with shelves full of body parts, materials and tools surrounding her work surface as well. All of those things however are just for show and experiments. The left door the duo is standing in front of is actually the main show. After entering a combination only a selected people knows, the door slide opens and both of them slowly walk inside.“You asked me to create an army, and here it is. Impressive, right?Behind the door, multiple tanks full of mutated creatures appear in front of their eyes. They have humanoid resembnces, but none of them is, or should I say no longer is. Walking past the tanks, the two finally reach to the room’s work office. Just like the outside, it consists of a long desk, a chair with shelves full of documents, files and materials, alongside a big ft screen that’s facing the desk. There’s also a computer on the desk that’s also connected to the screen. It’s mainly used to store footages and stats from members as well. The computer was actually recently upgraded, so it’s an interesting contrast to the dark and grimy vibe the room gives off. “Yeah, this is exactly what I…no, this is exactly what we need. Imagine what we could accomplish with this…You did a fantastic job Rosalía!”“Woah, didn’t expect that from you…But I’ll take it anyway.”The masked man praises these creatures’ creator. It’s definitely a surprise for her consider his portrayed image, but regardless, results are the only thing matters, and if this can satisfy him, she don’t mind him breaking his own character.“Alright, while we’re at it, the necessary files are on the desk. In that time, I’ll go and prepare something else for you.”Rosalía then heads to another room for a while. Meanwhile, [Mastermind] takes off his shade and puts it on the table. He then grabs the files, sits down and reads them thoroughly. She told him those files are “necessary”, and there’s a reason why.Name: Experiment #78Gender: ???Age: ???Height: 220 cmWeight: 153 kgStrength: SSAttack: SSSpeed: SIntelligence: C-Stamina: SSDefense: SMagical Ability: SS? [Elemental Mastery]? [Weapon Mastery]? [Strengthen Magic]? [Body Modification]? [Magic Absorption]Magic Resistance: S+Overall Ranking: S+Those stats…saying they’re unbelievable is an understatement. Intelligence aside, other ratings should belong to a top fighter, not a product from a b in less than a month.“Amazing…”“I know right? This is just from one [Mutant], imagine a few dozens, no, a few hundreds of them. The world isn’t ready for this at all! Ah also…want a tuna sandwich? I made you some.” Rosalía said.Since she’s pretty hungry after working for hours, and with [Mastermind]’s arrival at around 7:30 pm, Rosalía decided to head to the kitchen and make something to eat. Despite its nature, food and shower are actually avaible down in the base. There’s even a recently installed expresso machine also.“Well, choosers can’t be beggars…”The masked man takes off the lower mask, then grabs a sandwich and eats it. He’s not hungry really, but he won’t deny the householder’s kindness. “Here, this is what you asked me to do? I think I kinda get why…”As [Mastermind] is enjoying his sandwich, he’s met with two familiar faces: Yasutaira Waka and Takenada Mitsuko. Their known data are all here in this computer, and just like it, they just had an update recently. “Ironic isn’t it? Who would have thought this is what we get from targeting him…”“That Yasutaira kid…just how did he do it? First took away [Poison Killer], then put [Fire Fist] in the healing tank for two weeks. And apparently, he now has the power of gods by his side? What kind of teenager is he?”“Well, not a normal one let me tell you that…”During [Fire Fist]’s recovery, it was revealed that the task [Fallen Angel] gave to [Poison Killer] wasn’t completed, and to rub even more salt to the wound, the mind control was somehow broken, thus he joined forces with [Knights of Tomorrow]. And as for what the task was…“Yeah, until now, I still can’t believe that someone has actually escaped from the [Almighty Scroll], and even worse, forming some kind of contract with the beast inside it. If this is a joke, then it has to be the worst one possible…”Finishing the tuna sandwich, Rosalía droops in disbelief. Despite pulling off some miracle runs in the past, going off against a literal god isn’t something they’re prepared for. Then again, doing the impossible is their thing, and this time, they believe they finally have what it takes to deal with this problem.“But that “bad joke” did prove us one thing: forces beyond our league can be controlled. If a mere teenager can do it, then so can we.”“Wait, don’t tell me that they’ve done it?”“Yeah, after days of hard-working effort and multiple attempts, it’s ready…”Not too long after attacking the Miller Mega Center, a group of soldiers led by [Apocalypse Warlord] infiltrated Archaios Neos and returned home with a small artifact. They knew something big is hidden beneath that wooden statue, and now, they’re in the final steps of cracking the code.“So what’s next? This is huge, even for us. Surely you guys have already pnned this out right?”“Oh we have one, and with [Apocalypse Warlord] in charge, no one can stop us, not even Yasutaira Waka.”“Well if you said so…then I guess I’ll sit this one out and finish some papers first. I’d love to be a part of this, but these [Mutants]…I need to run more tests before deploying all of them, so until then, I’ll be quite busy.”“It’s alright Rosalía, I’ll call when I need you. Just do your job and let us handle the rest.”“Now that’s what I like to hear.”[Mastermind] then spends the night at the factory. Eight in the next morning, he says goodbye to Rosalía as his crew has come to pick him up, ready for another mission ahead of him.