[ Trinia Country, Railway Station ]
[ Destination: District B ]
After his work, Aidan decides to take a train, using it to walk around during the hard times here. Seeing the news on the gigantic screens over the buildings.
[ Pantheon Strikes ]
" Despite the Promise of the 'God Hunter Tournament', some Pantheons can't hold their urges to aim their fire first, which responded with the White Demons' counter alongside his Shadows. "
" Both parties, are not hasting it down even before the Tournament. "
" Many predict that only the strongest, shall participate. "
" Despite all of our forced participation. "
" No, they will not calm down. " Aidan says it while seeing it.
" Since the Tournament will determine things, then they all must make as many advantageous moves as they can before it happens, it's only natural. "
" So the Tournament could only be participated by those who are worthy... *slurp* " Aidan drinks his boba.
" Mmm... might as well say that these days are the Preliminaries before it happened. " Aidan says as his train stops.
He comes out from it, and coming out of the station he meets some other people who are waiting for him to come.
" Finally you came! " said one of them as Aidan came, giving him some bottle which Aidan immediately drank.
...
[ Name: January 'Jan' Faustin ]
[ Birthday: January 15th ]
[ Sex: Male ]
[ Gift: Jungle Juice ]
[ Gifter: Dionysus ]
[ Core Tier: 2 ]
[ Job: Non-Hunter (Senior High School Student, Part-Time Barista) ]
...
" You're trying coffee now, 'Juice' Faustin. " Aidan calls him with what he is always called back in Junior High.
" Hey Aidan, don't call me that! " Jan tells him, as the nickname 'Juice' is traumatizing for him, for that is what the bullies of Junior High School called him back then just like what they did Aidan and the others.
" Yeah, Aidan, remember the rules, no 'bullying names'! " said the other one to him.
...
[ Name: Roy Baker ]
[ Birthday: April 10th ]
[ Sex: Male ]
[ Gift: Furnace Flame ]
[ Gifter: Agni ]
[ Core Tier: 2 ]
[ Job: Non-Hunter (Senior High School Student, Bakery Chef Assistant in his dad's Bakery) ]
...
" Easy Roy. " Aidan tells him as he drinks more of Jan's coffee.
" Of course, I know Jan here, is trying to get rid of everything regarding 'Juice' in his future career. "
" Even though it will be rough, since. "
" The 'God Hunter Tournament' situation is getting nuts! "
...
[ Name: Walter 'Walt' West ]
[ Birthday: February 5th ]
[ Sex: Male ]
[ Gift: Dreamseeker ]
[ Gifter: Oneiroi ]
[ Core Tier: 2 ]
[ Job: Non-Hunter (Senior High School Student, still available for interns) ]
...
" Thank goodness despite Lord Loki forcing us all to be involved, we minors who still have school are still not recruited to participate in this insanity! " Walter said this quite loud, but his friends immediately shushed him, fearing any Inquisitors nearby.
" Don't say it out loud, Walt... " Jan tells him.
" Those Inquisitors, they're haunting those who leave from this mess... " he tells Walt about this, reminding him of what happened.
The 'Forced Drafting'*, is what Loki has been doing in these times other than publicly reactivating the 'Divine Resonance' to the people. This Drafting forced everyone Gifted to act alongside the gods in facing the White Demon threat.
" I don't want to do this... " Roy says as he thinks about it.
" I just want to continue my school... " Roy says it.
" Aren't you still an exception? " Aidan asks them but the trio just look at him for a while and point their sight into the floors.
" Yes, our academic status prevented us from being drafted. " Jan tells.
" But, our parents have to pay the price, forcefully stripped of their job and drafted, if not... "
" Then the gods will forcefully take all their assets, all that they've worked for. " Jan explains what made Aidan feel so bad.
" I see..., no comment I could give then," he tells them.
" I'm the son of Adler after all..., and besides. "
" After that 'Ardan Incident'*, I'm richer than before, thus benefiting me to attend the Hunter Test before the highschool test. "
" Well, despite my riches... "
" We know who we need to thank for us, having our current lives now. " Aidan says as they all say a particular name.
" Ragna. "
" Our dearest friend, Ragna Orion 'Miraikuru' Kent. "
( The four of them decide to walk from the station for a while. )
" I remembered it, after years of our constant bullying, if it weren't for Ragna's persistence in finding a way to expel that Ardan, that cousin of yours... "
" That 'Incident' will never happen, that persistent guy. " Jan says it, he knows how it would come to this as he remembers helping Ragna Kent to prepare for that incident.
" Just as he promised, Ardan will be kicked out of school. " Roy says it.
" I never believed it at first, but that Ungifted guy has always made the smartest of choices somehow, no wonder. "
" After all, he was smartest, despite the torturous bullies, he persist in keeping his academic marks as high as he can despite the crappy System that was against people like him. "
" Damn, those annoying teachers are sure discriminative when giving good marks to lower Tier students, don't they? " Walt interrupts at the moment.
" Not all of 'em. " Aidan interrupts.
" I remember some teachers are giving him good marks, as their minds might've been moderate enough to understand the diversity of people. "
" But thanks to the 'Ardan Incident', after my dad had more power over the school, I was the one who advised him to make the school treat him more fairly before we graduated. "
" But, sadly... " Jan says as they all arrive to a house, a medium-sized house where the four was greeted by someone.
" Jan! " said a little girl calling him as she saw him.
" Hello, June, big bro's home. " Jan calls his sister June as she tells him that their dad called her, telling her that he and mom will be home late.
" Of course... " Jan listens to it, already knowing why.
" He must be busy serving those who will fight in the front lines. " Jan sighs as he and the others enter the house.
( After some time. )
[ Jan's Home, Living Room ]
" So... " Jan starts the conversation.
" Why are you asking us all to meet here, Aidan? " Jan asks as Aidan finishes Jan's coffee bottle.
" Besides that... " Jan sees around.
" Why do you use a 'Barrier Item' to surround this place, in my Living Room, nonetheless? " he asks while seeing a Barrier, enveloping the entire place even the floors.
" Because this one is important. " Aidan tells him.
" That is... "
" Is it about Ragna? " Roy asks Aidan.
" Aidan, Ragna already died during the Abyss Tower, remember? "
" I've seen his name, already put as the Heretics who entered the Abyss Tower for- "
" To defeat the demons, not join them. " Aidan interrupts.
" I'm part of the Blue Bloods, so I do receive much information that would less likely broadcasted to your ears. "
" You're telling he's still alive? " Jan asks Aidan as Aidan throws some plastic, filled with papers.
" You might want to prepare yourselves. " Aidan says it as the other three gulped on how Aidan gave them the papers.
_____________________
Extra:
* 'Forced Drafting'.
Read Chapter 340: Volume 4 Extra Part 4: Greatest Bounty
* 'Ardan Incident'.
Read the previous Chapter.