Titanus Branch Academy, Council Room
A figure of an attractive woman could be seen sitting on one end of a long table. Only light from the windows was allowed to brighten the room, so only her body was visible and her face covered with shadow.
Apart from her relish dark hair falling down, not much was visible. However, with her arm crossed, her slim figure and perfectly balanced big breast could even melt the most challenging alpha male to her charms.
However, the other person sitting opposite the woman wasn't in any mood to lust over that woman. Instead, he was shivering with both fear and cold temperature. After all, the room temperature was negative.
He was the principal of the Titanus Branch Academy, Tobi Roundhorse.
"So, Mr. Tobi, I heard my nephew has been mistreated in the past couple of years, is that correct?" The woman spoke.
"I-is Madame talking about Nap Benny Olbion…?"
"' Nap Benny Olbion?' I see. Yes, that is correct. I am talking about him. Both Zoey Maegis and Benny Olbion are my children or step-children. Well, technically, I am their guardian, but they don't call me mother~! Can you believe that?"
She started complaining but soon came back to her serious tone.
"I am both their guardians, so yes, I am related. Though, I am still waiting for my question."
"W-well Madame… children out be rather… rebellious in this stage. So, he must have faced some difficulties…!"
"Difficulty? Then what about today? He was selected for Hell Gate exploration for no reason and with children in the class who used to bully him. Miraculously, only he went missing while the rest of them came back. However, the admiration is so high that they haven't taken action."
"Madam, please believe me! If I knew he was your nephew, I would have sent help immediacy-"
"Or else you would take your sweet time and let him die if he wasn't my nephew. Is this what you are trying to imply?"
"No, madam! I…"
"Sigh. This is turning into a real headache. I was supposed to find a husband, yet here I am, sent to clean the mess."
The woman sighed and stood from her chair. She began to walk with one hand on the table, turning the table into light purplish ice.
"EII!!" Tobey shrieked with fear, so scared that he couldn't even move as he watched the woman get closer.
"Well, our talk wasn't pleasant but satisfactory. Mr. Tobey, you can now. It is troublesome, but I will take the temporary charge from here."
The woman stroke the fat man's head before walking ahead. Tobey couldn't speak or protest before becoming an ice sculpture.
"Hm hm hmm~! Guess the interesting event is going to start." The woman smiled as he watched the academy view from the window. "Ah, crap, I have my 86th date with a husband candidate. Let's get going."
---
The two thirteen-inch creatures that appeared in front of Benny and Vivian were caterpillars.
They both were silver in color and had a similar pattern. Upon closer inspection, one had a single tail-like spike while the other had two. They also had adorable big eyes, making them just cute.
"...Pa…Papa…"
"…Fat-father…?"
They just had to say those words, and Benny melted like a loving mother.
"Children?"
"Oh my god, here were go." Vivian shook her head, but her attention was still focused on the two newly arrived Crawlers.
"Aaa! You are so cute~!" Benny just had to say that before jumping, he took the two alien-looking caterpillars into a hug.
The two caterpillars also fell to Benny's charm and giggled with adorable baby voices.
"So, these two are caterpillars. Are they from butterfly species or moths?" Vivian came and asked Benny, curious about their nature. She was a 5 ☆ servant herself, but she could tell that the two tiny creatures in front of her had superior stats to her.
"Hmm, well, for starters. The girl is a butterfly caterpillar while the boy is a moth."
"Master can tell them apart? I thought they were of the same species. Also, didn't expect the master to summon two Crawler servants from the same Mana Stone."
"Well, I am an entomologist. I can tell their species apart with one glance."
Among thousands of insect species, Benny can easily distinguish many insects by just looking at their larvae.
"Papa is awesome~!"
"Father is great."
The girl caterpillar called Benny 'Papa' while the boy addressed him as 'Father.'
"Hehe, let's name you then." Benny chuckled and then started thinking about names.
He was delighted with his new summon. Perhaps because their voice was very similar to his late parents.
But he had to give some good names to them.
"That's right. The butterfly cutie will be called Titania while my moth boy will be Oberon."
Benny named them based on the fairy king Oberon and his wife, Titania. They were characters from a classy play called 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'
"Do you like your names?"
"Hehe, I like it very much~!"
"Thank you, father."
Both of them showed their happiness in their own way.
"Hmm, Vivian? You look confused. What's the matter?"
"No, I mean, I am a little confused. According to my information, Crawlers shouldn't be this intelligent in the baby stage. I would only have food in my mind at my time, and I am 5☆."
"Speaking of rarity, let's see their stats."
=[[Crawlers]]=
-Second-
Name: Titania
Level: 1
Race: Butterfly Caterpillar???
Rarity: 7☆
Evolution: 1st Stage (?)
---
Strength: 2
Mana: 4
Vitality: 2
Agility: 2
---
HP: 7
MP: 19
Skill Set:
Passive: [Dream Striking Body]
Active: [Sleep Power]
---
Uses: Independent
===
-Third-
Name: Oberon
Level: 1
Race: Moth Caterpillar???
Rarity: 7☆
Evolution: 1st Stage (?)
---
Strength: 2
Mana: 4
Vitality: 2
Agility: 2
---
HP: 7
MP: 19
---
Skill Set:
Passive: [Poison Striking Body]
Active: [Sting Shot]
---
Uses: Independent
===
"Hmm, Vivian? You said you were of the highest class rarity, but these two have 7☆ rarity. What does that mean?"
"No way!" Vivian exclaimed in shock but then calmly explained, "Five-star crawlers are usually highest insects from individual species. Consider them like kings or emperors. Meanwhile, if they are seven-star, they must be from the deity class. They must share a base stat of 1000."
1000?!!
It means they could go toe to toe against even 'S' Class Heroes or Demons! No, even a minor deity would kneel before them!!
"Isn't that kind of jackpot?!"
"It really is! I was honestly expecting another five-star, but they are different."
Benny smiled and looked at the two caterpillars, "Did you hear that, kids?"
"Yes, papa! Titania will help papa a lot~!"
"Worry not, father! Oberon will not disappoint father."
Benny then introduced the sibling caterpillars to Vivian and began talking with them.
"In addition, they have passives that bestow debuff on anyone. Hmm, why they didn't work on me?" Benny wondered. He was cuddling with them, yet he was fine.
"Master, actually, you won't become a target of your Crawlers' debuff until or unless you want to. It isn't mentioned anywhere, but the system also provides some passives. I will tell them on the way, but for now, it seems like someone has entered the Hell Gate searching for you." Vivian explained and informed Benny about the upcoming guest.
"Must be a teacher of the academy." Benny muttered and then looked at Vivian, "So, is there a way to hide you guys. For now, I don't want to reveal your existence."
"Leave it to us!!!"
All three of them spoke in a union.
Vivian became the same ladybug-shaped necklace as Benny's memento, while two caterpillars also shrunk their size and turned into round anklets on Benny's ankles.
"You guys can do that too?!" Benny had no idea that his bug servants could even become accessories.
'Vivian: Another passive function of the system, but it only applies to 4 or above star Crawlers.'
That was honestly very convenient, better than trapping them into red and white balls.
'Titania: Sniffffff* Ah~, papa's scent is so good.'
'Oberon: Even though this place is sweaty, Oberon doesn't mind since it is my father's sweat.'
…Now Benny needs to consider new options.
"Hmm, maybe I can play a victim card so the hero won't doubt me."
'Vivian: Then what is a better way than use that spell. Play Dead.'
"…right.'
The meme.
---
A man was sprinting forward in the School's G Ranked Hell Gate, the modified Hell Gate where a student without an origin went missing.
He was wearing a dark skintight suit with blue bat-shaped markings crossing his chest and shoulders, on his robust body, and a domino mask on his eyes.
He also had two swords on his back, hanging in an X shape.
'What the hell is wrong with this school?! Sending a kid without any Origin and without having any combat abilities!'
Hero Name: Nightbane
Profession: Level 32 Rank C Hero and Class C Heroic Combat Teacher
Real Name: Mark Graydon.
Origin: Foresight (It allows the user to see a certain amount into the future.)
Blessing: None
He was a 21 years old young teacher in the academy and taught students close combat tactics. He became a teacher just four months ago due to specific reasons.
However, after arriving at the academy, he discovered the injustice that this 'Hero' school was nurturing. He knew that some students from prestigious academies use their family background but purposely abandoning a student due to some personal grudge is just insane and flat-out evil.
Whether or not a person has an Origin, he is still a human.
'Where is he…?'
The student named Benny Olbion went missing on Floor 2. Mark only found the blood in one cave, but the body was missing. Usually, Mors eat human remains in any Hell Gate, but Mors in this Hell Gate doesn't have a mouth. Though he didn't find the body, traces of blood did suggest that the boy survived and escaped from the cave.
Mark also didn't find any Cifer till now. They should have respawned, but he didn't find one.
Soon Mark arrived at the third and final floor but again didn't find anyone. However, one cave led somewhere, so he arrived at a mysterious secret room.
"There he is!"
Mark soon found a body of a human. Another body of a dead Mors was also near him.
"Student Benny Olbion, can you hear me?!" Mark asked, but after no response, he checked his heartbeat. It was slow, but he was alive.
"I don't know how you survived, young hero, but I will get you out of here."
And hence Mark picked Benny on his back and left the room.
Unbeknown to the young hero, the insect boy was just playing dead.