Chapter 32: The Demon Queen of Flames part 1
"This is good, we can finally start with the plan," Natas muttered after staying silent all this time.
"That was my intention from the start," Kayn whispered.
"Did you say anything?" Rys asked after hearing Kayn muttering something.
"I said you guys can now stand up," Kayn motioned his hand.
"Thank goodness," Albert breathe a sigh of relief.
"Down with the dictator!" Stein exclaimed as he jumped back on his two feet.
"You remain kneeling," Kayn immediately sent a flying kick straight toward Stein's face, causing the latter to flip back with his face immediately hitting the floor.
"Why are you so cruel to me…?" Stein whimpered with only his head raising up from the floor.
"Perhaps if you stop acting like a child, he would stop treating you like one," Angela rolled her eyes at Stein.
"Even you? Now I just want to die," Stein put both his hands on his left chest and acted like his heart was breaking apart.
Looking at this scene, Kayn can't help but show a small smile on his face. In the future, Stein and Angela would actually become husband and wife. And just like at the present, Stein would choose to have his childish side remain with him. Angela always experiences headaches and a bad mood whenever her husband acts like a child in front of her, especially when there are important events. But this was what made Stein special. He would act like this in front of people that he is close with or he likes, but when it comes to his enemies, people who he hates and doesn't like, or those that he is merely acquainted with, he would act stern. Because of this, he earned the title 'Two-Faced Stein'.
Unfortunately, it didn't reach the point in time where the entire world would recognize Stein's title. That's because a few years later after his marriage, Stein would encounter a life-threatening situation that ended in his death.
It was a really heartbreaking scene watching his friends crying at a mere picture of Stein as no one was able to retrieve his body, or even just a single piece of it, from the stomach of the monster that killed him. And as if fate was at play, only a picture of Angela was able to survive along with their wedding ring.
Comparing the situation now to the future, Kayn honestly prefers it this way.
"How overreacting," Angela felt even more annoyed at Stein.
"I guess the teacher isn't coming," Rys changed the topic while dusting off the dirt on his jeans.
"Yeah, I wonder what she is doing?" Albert felt curious. Their teacher would normally announce beforehand if ever she can't attend their class.
"Something really important must have come up," Kayn expressed his thoughts after suddenly remembering something important about their respected teacher.
At this moment, his classmates are still not aware of the fact that their teacher actually holds one of the really important positions in Pandora, one of the Ten World Leaders of Earth. She has secretly infiltrated the top Hero Academy of the Dragon Beast Republic in hopes of discreetly recruiting potential candidates for the team she is about to create.
If he remembers correctly, their teacher's team would later on become known as the third-ranking assassin guild on both the 'Tower' and Earth.
And the first assassination target of their guild would be the headmaster of the Starlight Hero Academy, who's also Rowan Starlight's grandfather. The reason being is that he has committed plenty of atrocities behind humanity's back during the time when he was still just one of the many members of the Starlight family, which is what paved the road for him to become the current head of their household today.
One of those many atrocities committed by the headmaster of the Starlight Hero Academy was selling his soul to the 'Tower' and becoming one of its puppets in exchange for a Gift that allows him to absorb the souls of the people he kills, granting him the ability to gain what he calls 'Soul Point' which he can then later on exchange for an increase in his life-span and attributes. This was the main reason why until now he is still the head of the Starlight family and his power seems to never grow weaker but stronger instead as he grows older.
As to how Kayn learned of all of this information, that's because before the headmaster of the Starlight Hero Academy died, he was actually able to secretly steal his Gift. That is how he learned in great detail about his ability.
Perhaps something really important involving their teacher's identity and responsibility as an important member of Pandora suddenly came up that's why she didn't announce her absence for today.
"So, what do you guys plan on doing?" Rys asked.
"I will go to the library and study," Angela replied.
"Then I will also go to the library!" Stein exclaimed loudly.
"Tsk! How boring! I'll be going to a Virtual Café today since I've just heard that they will be releasing the new virtual combat simulation game today," Albert felt disdainful at how lame his classmates were.
"You mean the new Virtual Reality Game 'Tower Race'?" A classmate whose name is Frank asked in excitement.
"That's right!"
"Damn! I heard that game has the potential to become one of the greatest VR games from my parents due to the fact that it's secretly created with the cooperation and sponsorship of the Ten World Leaders,"
"Eh… Is that info legit?"
"Of course, it is! My parents are extremely well-known market and stock specialists. They've heard this information from one of the developers of 'Tower Race'," Frank confidently claimed.
"Shit! I guess I'll be putting all my allowance in their stocks today,"
"Me too,"
"Me three,"
"So, does any of you want to go to the Virtual Café with me today?" Albert immediately thought after hearing Frank and his classmate's conversation.
"Nahhh. Virtual Cafés are only for ordinary people. We are Superhumans, we should be training to prepare ourselves to do the real and actual Tower race, not some lame-ass wannabe game," Frank shook his head.
"What do you mean lame-ass wannabe game!" Albert instantly became angry at Frank.
"Hey, chill out, bro! I am only stating a fact for us who have the potential to become actual Heroes. If you enjoy wasting your time playing a game that is just a copy of the 'Tower', then do it. But for me, I prefer experiencing the real 'Tower',"
"I honestly agree with Frank as well, Albert," Angela joined the conversation intending to put an end to it. "But Frank, you are also in the wrong here. You should have just stopped when you declined his offer. It wasn't necessary for you to insult his hobby. Everyone has something they enjoy doing, and it doesn't necessarily mean that just because Albert enjoy playing VR game that he is on the same level as ordinary people. Even my brother plays VR games despite the fact that he is already a Hero. Does that mean he is on the same level as ordinary people? How about we put you two against each other to prove your point?"
"That's enough. At the end of the day, whether you are a Hero, a Superhuman, or an ordinary person, it all comes down to how you manage your time. If you play all day despite the fact that you have the potential to become a Hero, a great one on top of that, then that is something we looked down. And there's nothing wrong about ordinary people wanting to experience what it's like in the 'Tower' or how it feels like to be a Hero," Rys interjected. "Anyways, since we all have decided to leave school today, then let's just go in our own ways. Let's see each other again tomorrow,"
"By the way, Kayn," Rys quickly approached Kayn as he got close to his ears to mention something, "My source just informed me that your girlfriend is waiting for you at the gate of our school. Based on how her face looked, she seems to be not in a good mood today,"
"Oh, how pitiful," Stein mockingly said before hastily dashing out of the classroom to follow after Angela to the library in fear that Kayn would kick him again.
At this moment, all of Kayn's classmates have already left, leaving only Rys and Albert inside the classroom.
"Do you need any help, Kayn?" Albert kindly expressed while looking meaningfully at Rys.
"I know what's on your mind," Rys shuddered in fear. One time they decided to help Kayn on dealing with his girlfriend, but in the end, they were found unconscious under the bridge the next day. They were already lucky enough that they weren't discarded at that place with a lifeless body like in most situations. So, he doesn't plan on wasting the mercy given to him. "But please leave me out of your plan. I still value my own life,"
"What a fake friend,"
"If you want to die, then I won't hold you back,"
"Do you seriously think that she would do that?"
"I don't know. But I don't plan on becoming the proof of whether she could or not,"
"Stop arguing. It's alright, I can handle her," Kayn could only sigh heavily.
"Good luck, brother," Rys patted Kayn on his back. "If ever you want to hide from your girlfriend one day, I suggest you go to Albert's place,"
"Why my place?"
"Because you are the one who is seriously willing to help Kayn with his problems related to his girlfriend,"
"Well, fair enough,"
"Idiot!"
Kayn didn't stay in the classroom to watch Albert and Rys childishly bantering with each other, especially now that he knows that his girlfriend has come to their school.
"Is the girlfriend they are talking about the woman who would become your future wife?" Natas, who is beside Kayn, can't help but ask in curiosity.
"No," Kayn shook his head. "She was the first girl who I got into a relationship with and this happened way before I meet Isabella,"
"Eh, I thought Isabella was your one and true love?"
"Everyone in a relationship would always say that. Haven't you experienced having one?"
"No, Gods like us don't need the same kind of relationship status that you Humans or most races we have encountered in the past have. In our opinion, if we want someone, we will simply express it to them. And if they reciprocate our feelings, then we'd get to bed immediately and have a good time with each other's company. If in the future those feelings fade away, then we will simply break off our relationship and move on with our daily lives like normal. Though in most cases, we would eventually get back together and repeat the same process all over again. It's probably because life in the 'Tower' is way different from Earth or any other planet. In a way where there are far too many things to discover and experience. So, staying in one place or committing yourself to a single person only is highly unlikely to happen. Although there's barely any of that left at this point in time inside the 'Tower',"
"Having less and having more definitely has their own sets of pros and cons," Kayn said in a remark.
"I agree,"