As Leyhna bickered with Wilharrow, Master exited his… backrooms? It's the room that he can phase through beyond the classroom.
"Ah… guests?" [Vincent]
He wore his familiar attire of a black suit with a monocle. I do remember that Jukhan mentioned that Master never had bad eyesight nor did he need to use a monocle before, so it was kind of strange that he would wear one for fashion.
"I expected a new face, but not a hero." [Vincent]
Master then walked over to a nearby chair and seated himself. It was the usual chair he used to lecture me while sipping on some kind of drink. It looks like tea, though the smell tells me otherwise.
"This is your master?" [Wilharrow]
"Yeah? Are you disappointed?" [Solace]
Wilharrow squinted his eyes.
"I can't feel any energy from him." [Wilharrow]
"Energy?" [Solace]
Master raised a finger.
"Sir Hero, I will politely ask you to stop probing me. There is nothing to be found." [Vincent]
Wilharrow squinted his eyes further.
"I literally can't feel anything from you. No life energy nor death energy. You don't even have a presence. Are you real?" [Wilharrow]
"I would say in the flesh. However, my disciple would say otherwise." [Vincent]
Master then glanced at me. He probably said that since he's currently possessing a wooden puppet.
"Now then, my dear disciple, what happened to your clothes?" [Vincent]
I opened my arms to reveal the extent of my damaged uniform.
"Try guessing." [Solace]
As I said that, Leon lunged from behind me. She darted at Master, who simply stood up and gracefully placed her in his seat.
"I assume this girl is the reason?" [Vincent]
Leon sat there eyes wide from shock. She was currently processing how she ended up there.
"Lucky guess." [Solace]
What luck. If she didn't attack him, he probably wouldn't have arrived at that conclusion.
"I suppose so." [Vincent]
He then playfully patted Leon's head.
"Unfortunately for you, it was no guess." [Vincent]
I raised a brow. It's times like these that Master says something that annoys me.
"...What do you mean by that?" [Solace]
"It was I who did her paperwork in order to join this school." [Vincent]
There it was, the truth.
"...Why?" [Solace]
"It was a favor. In exchange for Jukhan not personally trying to kill you, he is forced to use a disciple instead. You're quite lucky Hema was kind enough to mediate the deal." [Vincent]
"...Hema? As in the Goddess of Malevolence?!" [Wilharrow]
He had quite the stunned expression.
"Indeed. I can surmise her goals in doing so, but the final decision will be on someone else." [Vincent]
Master passed his gaze over me as if to make sure I got the hidden meaning.
"In any case, I summoned you to give you another assignment." [Vincent]
"No." [Solace]
I immediately refused. I had a feeling it was going to be troublesome.
"Even if it involves Fina?" [Vincent]
"What?" [Solace]
I was put on alert. I had assumed we were going to keep Fina's situation on the down low, so I panicked a bit over Wilharrow and Leon overhearing it.
"Fina? You mean Finea Kane?" [Wilharrow]
"Uh…" [Solace]
I wasn't sure how to answer.
"Yes, she has a certain illness keeping her from accessing her skills." [Vincent]
"Master!" [Solace]
I couldn't believe he would just reveal it like that.
"I can see your distress. Do not worry, they will be of no consequence." [Vincent]
He stared at Wilharrow.
"A hero wouldn't dishonorably spread rumors, correct?" [Vincent]
Wilharrow felt somewhat pressured as anxiety welled up inside.
"I can promise you nothing here will leave my mouth." [Wilharrow]
"I will take your word for it." [Vincent]
Master then took a sip of his tea.
"Well then. My dear disciple, please enter the tournament to join the hero's party." [Vincent]
"...You can't be serious." [Solace]
"Gentleman's rule number 2." [Vincent]
I took a moment to recall it.
"...A gentleman must not talk back to their master lest they receive punishment." [Solace]
"So, your answer?" [Vincent]
"There isn't even an incentive!" [Solace]
"Oh, but there is." [Vincent]
With the wave of a hand, the image of a purple flower appeared from thin air.
"I was able to pull a few strings to get this as a prize for the winner. This flower will be able to fix Fina's… circumstances as long as you get it to the right alchemist." [Vincent]
"...Couldn't you just get it without putting it into the tournament?" [Solace]
"It's quite an expensive rarity. It was the only way." [Vincent]
I gave him a suspicious look.
"I feel like you're lying." [Solace]
Master smiled.
"It was the only way that didn't involve violence. I'm sure you can understand what I mean." [Vincent]
I let out a long sigh.
"Why do I feel like I'm stuck in the palm of your hand?" [Solace]
Although I complained, I still accepted.