"Ophelia Hill, the fourth place in the entrance exam. and Bael, who came under special admissions. We are currently pausing your participation in the Cruise Battle due to suspected demon contracting." Bael, being much more stoic than usual simply stared at the instructor who was saying all this, waiting for him to ask the questions he was about to ask.
"... Eh ehm. Bael would you like to explain the bits of demonic energy that seeped off your sword and-"
"I am a contractor with a god, on "equal terms". This god has relations to demonic energy and likes, well, trolling with me. It has been going on for around 10 years. I can also show you on my system screen where it shows my allegiance." Bael cut him off, opening his system.
"That would be very helpful. thank you."
When did this happen? Why didn't they step in before when demonic energy was detected? Well, it was simple really, they noticed that Faelar was winning... and things like what Bael said happens to other users as well, but in rarity. His being one of these rarities is accepted by the Academy. and they get extra help for their problems.
In this new world, they had to be ready for anything, even though their students were overly-unique.
"Bael, last name, Hophorous... I'll add this to your record." Bael nodded, waiting for the end of this interaction with the unknown instructor. They were, to say the least, nervous. Although they were hiding their nervousness well, it was analyzed to be a new instructor.
[The Evil God Hophorous laughs.] Bael had a question to ask.
"Are you perhaps here from one of the "Religions of Light"?" The instructor looked at Bael, a bit shocked.
"Haha, was it that obvious? I thought my attire and attitude would just make me like any other instructor. You've heard of the Saintess becoming an instructor, right? I'm actually just an extra instructor for helping with that class, only if it gets more students than predicted." The man quickly explained, still nervous while giving the half-assed reason.
'It's quite obvious even from here that he's just here to watch over the saintess... He's probably a paladin-in-training since the saintess is stronger than any paladin as the news article said!' Bael agreed, it was well known that the saintess is plenty powerful on her own. One of the religions of light had tried hiding this fact from the moment she became saintess but with such a bubbly and saint-like personality, they couldn't stop her from being her...
The "Religions of Light" were the top three current religions that aligned with the system's "Hero" or generally "Good" gods. Nobody referred to each of them specifically, as each of those gods works together on this planet wishing for peace in the constant entertainment of other gods.
The name of the three gods was as followed, Phaulia, Gira, and Zelos. Each has its own title that explains the realm of its divinity, respectively being Fate, Destiny, and Death. Zelos although a god of death, cherished life, as what would he be without life? So of course, he decided to preserve life, for the ever-constant cycle of death! The current Saint was someone chosen by all three of them.
But what he really wondered is... why not just become a teacher-assistant to watch over the saint?
"Why not become the teaching assistant for the Saintess in her class if you truly wish to watch over her?" The nervous instructor only lost his calm facade more and more, which baffled Bael, why send such an incompetent individual?
"W-well... you see, it seems that she found someone else for that role... Even if all of the Light asked her mind wouldn't change! Apparently, the guy is some sort of incarnation of a legendary ang- kehum! Forget I said anything, please!" This had to be some sort of joke, right? That is what Astram was thinking. Even the church and holy kingdom was never this dumb.
"Mhm, I don't have a reason to do so anyways." Actually selling this information would be extremely valuable and would go for a high price, the problem is if he was caught, there was no escaping the inquisitors.
"Wow, they really sent someone so incompetent, fufu!" The nervous paladin looked to be on the verge of crying, even he himself didn't know why he was sent as an official delegate instead of any of the other more capable paladins or priests...
Ophelia didn't hold back so much, or really at all, she kept teasing the incompetent paladin while Bael simply stood while piecing some information together. He wanted to meet this so-called incarnation of an angel. There seems to be something there, more than meets the eye type of deal.
'I agree with your suspicion, it seems weird for them to be able to hide an angel from the public. It must have been recent...' Ever since the "Unholy Crusade" that targeted corrupt church officials and leaked official documents from the church and religion of light. The reason this was all possible is because of the demons behind the scenes, which is why there is a high alert against them in this day and age.
Of course, the demons had lost, and there hadn't been any big events involving them. But they also seemed to be growing in size, and involvement behind the scenes. The reason Bael knew this was because of his special admission, he was also tasked to analyze different pieces of information they gather to try to piece it all together. They had him on a leash the moment he looked at any of the confidential documents since he would technically become a government official the moment he was granted access. This was Bael's value, and he was only growing in value after his performance here.
"Ah! I'm being called for another batch of students, thank you for your time!" The meek paladin quickly left, embarrassed at being dealt with by children.
"Wasn't he quite funny Bael?" Ophelia looked at Bael, who did not react like once before.
"Yes, he indeed was." Bael calmly said, not actually meaning it.
"Hm, it seems you have some sort of unique analyze skill that cripples your emotions, fufu... I'll make sure you feel something, don't worry." Ophelia put a finger to her mouth while laughing quietly, Bael simply ignored the words, making sure to not analyze the meaning behind them as he already analyzed it would affect him greatly when he got his emotions back.
Well, he was right, if you also already analyzed the sly meaning.
Then got a move on, stealing the watches from each and every person in the room... and noticed they forgot something.
"Who would have thought that the funny paladin would accidentally distract us? Fufu, we'll find the elf girl later anyways!" She patted Bael on the back, walking out of the now messy cafeteria.
Bael was a bit disappointed that they couldn't stop and eat...
***
"It's been quite a while, the Cruise Battle should be ending soon, right Ophelia?" Bael looked over at Ophelia, wondering if she knew.
"That's one piece of information I never got actually, fufu. I do think it should end soon though, they wouldn't just make this whole event too big for no reason you know?" Bael nodded, looking out from the side of the cruise, kicking away one of the knocked-out students.
"I never thought they would allow us to knock out other students... it seems if the strength gap is high enough. they know we can control ourselves to beat someone weaker. Besides that, is that the island over there?" Bael squinted, trying to use his superhuman vision to see what the shadow over in the distance was.
"Mhm. That's the Academy island, I can see it from here, fufu!" Bael simply nodded, still going over the angel and the weird decisions of the church in his head. Something told him he had to meet that angel, especially after what Hophorous had expressed.
[Evil God Hophorous is confused.]
[Evil God Hophorous questions why one of the {Lost Angels} appeared]
It seemed there was more than meets the eye, just like he thought. As the destination to Academy Island approached, an announcement sounded.
"Well, how should I put this? All of you already stopped the cruise battle before I could even say what I wanted to say! It seems it got tiring and repetitive for such talented students, huh?" Although it sounded sarcastic, Bael noticed he really meant it, possibly this year's batch of freshmen were more talented than the last?
Well, he couldn't really tell after beating a ton of people up with Ophelia. The only talented ones were Faelar and his unnamed servants if they were even his servants. How were they doing actually? He never actually found the elf girl, Laena. The cruise was big after all.
"Well before we get to Academy Island, I have to inform you to come to the main deck to receive your dorm room numbers and keys! If you don't, you'll have to go through a boring and very long process on the island, I was a student once, it was horrible you know?" The captain explained, prompting everyone to walk over to the main deck.
It was a long day for Bael, he had never done so much at once. He knew it was only going to get worse.
And it sure came to him as he thought so.
[EGO factor recoil has begun, please ready yourself.]
'Have a good sleep, Bael!' Bael flipped him off mentally, tapping Ophelia.
"Is there something wrong Bael- Oh, you... fainted. Well, that's what a partner is for, fufu!" She put Bael in a princess carry and brought him to the main deck with her, waiting for him to wake up.