"Uh... ye're doing what now?" Rory stared at Ashton, confused. A lot of information came at him right this very moment.

  For one, he was told that the headmaster had turned into a zombie and was subsequently killed. Then, he learned that a child had lost her arm and that the Guardian of the Innocent, who was supposed to protect this place, was no longer able to view the world. At least in this area, at this time. Whether that would change wasn't clear. After that, he learned that even Ashton had gotten injured and lost a finger, though that wasn't something that was vocally said. Ashton didn't blame anyone beside those constellations for that anyway.

  But the thing that shocked and confused Rory the most was the last thing that he had been told.

  "I'm leaving you in charge." Ashton repeated, but the old janitor didn't seem to quite believe that.

  "Ya can't go messin' with me like that, lad. It's not funny," Rory replied, shaking his head while forcing out a laugh.

  "It's not a joke. Frankly, you seem like the only person responsible enough to really take the lead here."

  "... What about the teachers? They're goin' to be much better at this than me."

  Ashton turned his head slightly. He could see some of the teachers upset about that decision as well, but he didn't care. The moment he showed up here with Millie, Ashton knew that his decision was correct.

  All the teachers that he had seen were shocked and scared, worried that Millie would turn into a zombie and hurt them. They saw something that could hurt them, instead of a child they failed to protect.

  But Rory was different. He went to check on her almost immediately, and didn't even flinch when Ashton mentioned she was bitten.

  And it wasn't that Ashton didn't understand the teachers. They were scared. Obviously they were scared. He was pissed off at them, but he couldn't blame them to the point of punishing them for their behaviour. He wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that they were worried about the other students that had hidden alongside them rather than their own hides.

  But the only ones that could be the leader of a place like this was someone that could worry about everyone. Plus, Rory's abilities seemed to be the backbone of this place, anyway. The barricades had been constructed and reinforced using his skills from the very beginning, and the school would continue to change because of him.

  Well, there was another reason why Ashton thought Rory was the best fit.

  "Oi, big ears over there!" Rory had yelled out earlier after seeing Millie, as well as how all the people here seemed to react to her. "Grab 'er a blanket, will you?"

  He really didn't hesitate. James always seemed a bit too much like a 'teacher', still. The others were the same. They were trying too hard to make the parents happy after they came here, instead of focusing on what was actually best for everyone in this situation. But Rory didn't give a shit what any of those people thought, and was yet protective of the children, which was the most important thing here.

  "Just don't worry, you'll do fine. I'll see if I can find some people from other camps in town to come and help you guys out as combatants as the Guardian's influence over this place weakens, but I'm confident you can get people here to do what they need to." Ashton looked around. Even in the hour or two that Ashton had spent clearing out the zombies in the school, Rory had been doing work out here, trying to fortify the school against attacks like this. He was clearly always thinking about what was the most important.

  Rory let out a loud groan. "You really think those guys would just listen to you and let you make me the big guy here?"

  "I don't think they have any other choice," Ashton said, turning toward the people that had been eavesdropping on them. They were acting like they were just sitting there exhausted, or doing something to help, but they were just trying to listen in on them. They figured out what the conversation was about, obviously.

  "... Actually, I think we do." It was the man from before, that self-important parent who didn't even find the need to get a class, although the current quest told him he would die if he didn't. "I'm sorry, but I feel like there are much better people to put in charge. What does a janitor know about leading people? No, take me, I've been a manager at a large company for over a decade, I've led dozens, no, hundreds of people at this point."

  Ashton grimaced, annoyed. "What, you think you would be better to take charge?"

  "Certainly better than a janitor, no?" He replied, even acting confused that Ashton didn't see that fact himself.

  "No. Rory is the best choice, and he will be the leader here."

  "..." the man frowned, annoyed. "I'm sorry, but who do you think you are to decide that kind of thing? It's one thing if it's Guardian of the Innocent, the one that's protecting everyone here, but you? What did you do that gives you that kind of right?"

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  "Excuse me?" Ashton was baffled. Did that guy really just say that, literally minutes after he saved everyone in this school? He literally protected this school. Not just once, but twice. "Guardian, I know you can't view this place, but you're watching me, so you must be able to hear him, right?"

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] briefly excuses himself from the conversation with the fellow constellations]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] nods to you, explaining they have been listening this entire time]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] agrees with your decision to install Rory Campbell as the new head of the Drakewood Primary School]

  "Do you think you can broadcast that or something?" Ashton asked. If the Guardian could do that, then this would all end up going much more smoothly.

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] explains that they usually could, but that they are currently weakened]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] says they would be unable to communicate with this region for a period]

  Ashton frowned lightly. "The entire region? How long, then? And your protection will still be intact, right?"

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] promises that even if they ceased to be, the protection of this world's children would stay intact]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] explains they will not be able to communicate until the start of the next Main Quest]

  "... That's pretty long," Ashton whispered. That essentially meant that the Guardian would be unable to do anything at all if something else were to happen here, not that they could have done a lot to begin with. But it was still pretty harsh.

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] says it is alright, because you are here to protect the region, and adds that they wanted to speak to you about something]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] explains that while they are unable to sponsor anyone, a contract with a summoner of a good heart such as you is a different matter]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] promises to agree to a lowest-grade contract with you if they are called out to]

  That came completely out of nowhere. What? Even without a quest? Then again, the quests were just there to prove to the other constellations that he earned that right. Maybe the fact that Ashton already completed two of the Guardian's quests was enough for that already.

  He smiled. "Thank you. If I figure out how to do that, I'll be sure to call on you."

  The man that had been staring at Ashton the entire time, of course unable to see the system messages, stuttered out confused. "Why have you been talking to yourself this entire time?"

  Ashton glanced at him. So he doesn't even know what it's like to get a message from a constellation? Well, most people didn't, so that was to be expected, but still. Ashton paid him no mind, especially since some other guys showed up right then.

  [[Daughter of the Scarlet Heart] overheard the conversation and is utterly furious]

  [[Daughter of the Scarlet Heart] asks how the Guardian could dare try and steal you away]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] looks at the Daughter, startled]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] explains they had no such intention]

  [[Observer in the Veil] laughs at the Daughter's outburst]

  [[Daughter of the Scarlet Heart] tells the Observer to be silent]

  [[Daughter of the Scarlet Heart] commands you to give her more sacrifices]

  [[Executor of the End] quietly asks you to hurry and seek out more Marked]

  Ashton laughed a little. Were those guys jealous, seriously? Who'd have thought he'd see beings like that fighting over him like that. Or maybe it was just that the Daughter was worried about being left behind. With all of this, Ashton had already completed one of the conditions for the Executor too, which was to save the lives of a hundred people, so the Daughter was technically the furthest away from having her quest completed.

  "Whatever. Guardian, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any children in danger, and to protect this place as much as I can. So if you could... I really think this schools needs a definite leader like Rory."

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] nods silently]

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] thanks you once more]

  After that, it took a few moments, but a message that felt different from the others soon appeared in front of him. It was larger and bolder, and from the way that everyone suddenly turned their heads, they each saw this message as well.

  [[Guardian of the Innocent] approves of Ashton Garling's decision to make Rory Campbell the new head of Drakewood Primary School, and says that he will protect this place well in their absence]

  And with that, the presence of the Guardian was gone. Well, not really. They were probably still there, watching, but something felt different in that to Ashton. Like a pane of glass had suddenly been put up between the Guardian in this place.

  Nobody could complain anymore. Even that man from before had to accept it. Rather, it actually seemed like the teachers were pretty relieved about it; they must have realised that Rory was a good choice too, though some of the parents were upset.

  The children loved Rory as well, so they had no reason to complain.

  But once that message popped up, some new whispers showed up, particularly amongst the older people. The ones that were already adults when Ashton was born.

  Rory wasn't an exception to that, either.

  "Garling? Ye were that Ashton?" the janitor said, trying to hide his flushed cheeks after everyone in this school had seemingly just read his name at the same time.

  "Hm?" Ashton asked, turning around toward him. "No wonder, I thought James was hiding something. Hah... to think ye were really a miracle kid."

  Hearing that, Ashton flinched slightly, laughing awkwardly. "Please don't call me that. It's bad enough my parents always did..."

  "Well, you were! A kid that even modern medicine couldn't explain, or whatever the paper said that week," Rory laughed slightly, smiling. "I actually got to know your old man, though just briefly before he followed yer mother... but now I can't unsee it. Ya do resemble 'im quite a lot."

  A smile involuntarily appeared on his face, as Ashton scratched the stubble on his cheek. "Really? Guess I should put more effort into my skincare routine, then."

  Rory let out a hearty laugh, patting Ashton on the back. "Not like that, miracle kid. Anyway, do ya think you could help me figure out what to do next? Ya look like you've got a solid noggin' on yer shoulders, so let's put it to use, ey?"

  Ashton was exhausted, and he really had to get going at this point. But well, he had essentially forced this position on Rory, so he might as well help out a little before heading out.