[Chapter 17 Comment]
[Adam_Balch_7324: Well there is also need for discussion. That doesn't make it less interesting]
"Thank you. Still, having only a discussion for several chapters can become boring. So, I'll do my best to avoid that," Theo smiled.
He knew that if the story became too monotonous, readers might lose interest. He couldn't help but recall a few readers who had left only one or two comments in the past and never returned.
Of course, Theo understood that the readers were real people living on the other side. Additionally, it was possible that their comments didn't make it into the final cut, as he didn't know all the comments for a particular chapter.
Therefore, he aimed to strike a balance and keep things interesting. As he contemplated how to change the situation, he noticed Maya entering the teacher's room.
Maya wore an awkward smile as she asked, "Teacher, may I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure, what would you like to know?" Theo smiled.
"Even though I talked big and challenged Avalon, I don't know how I can actually defeat him. I wonder if you can teach me a technique that will help me beat him."
Theo shook his head. "I won't teach you a technique. Instead, let's first consider your strengths and weaknesses. How have you been fighting all this time?"
Maya pondered for a moment. "My weakness is that I lack talent in using essence. However, I am a mutant, so my physical abilities are above average. If it's a normal clash, I should be able to hold my own against Lancelot. But when he gets serious, I have to rely on my exoskeleton."
"You mean that robot?" Theo inquired.
"Yes." Maya nodded and pointed at the bracelets on her wrists and ankles. The bracelets on her wrists began to glow, expanding and forming robotic arms several times larger than her original arms. "These are the robotic arms."
"What functions do they have? Can they shoot beams or something?" Theo asked.
Maya shook her head. "No way. In the post-apocalyptic stories I've heard, the technology is far more advanced. But in my world, it's not that futuristic. We are about a hundred years ahead of the current modern realm. We use exoskeletons to enhance our performance, but the weapons are not at the level of plasma guns or anything like that. We do have some smaller missiles, but due to academy regulations, we can't bring anything too powerful."
Theo nodded, understanding the limitations of Maya's weaponry. "Considering Avalon's strength, his essence should be sufficient to create a barrier that can stop your missiles. After all, those missiles can only destroy a car, not a building."
Maya agreed with a sigh. "That's true."
Theo then shifted the topic and asked about Maya's mutant ability. "How about your ability as a mutant? Is there anything important I need to know?"
Maya sighed again. "My mutant ability is sharpened instinct. People from my world have all sorts of interesting abilities like pyrokinesis and more, but mine is rather... lame. I can only sense a presence, whether it's a zombie or monster."
"Is that so?" Theo smirked, seemingly finding amusement in Maya's description of her ability.
Maya was confused by Theo's reaction, but she suddenly felt danger approaching from the right. Hastily, she raised both arms to block the anticipated attack.
However, no impact came. "Huh?"
"I see. Your instinct is quite remarkable," Theo commented.
Maya looked to the side but found nothing. She had mentioned that her instinct allowed her to sense zombies or monsters, yet what she felt just now was different.
"What did you do?" Maya gasped.
"It's quite simple. Did you feel like something was about to attack you from the side?" Theo asked.
"Yes."
"In that case, what you felt... Was it a monster, a zombie, or something else?"
Maya looked down, contemplating. The sensation felt different from that of a living being. It felt as if she were about to be punched from the side. "A punch?"
"Exactly. So, here's what I think: Your heightened instinct is not about sensing a presence, but rather, it's about sensing danger."
"Sensing danger?" Maya gasped. She felt as though she were on the verge of grasping something, but she couldn't quite articulate the idea. "Can you elaborate, Teacher?"
"Nope. I've given you enough clues," Theo shook his head. "The rest is up to you."
"What? That's not fair. Why can't you just tell me?" Maya protested.
"Let's say I tell you everything. When you face another problem, will you come back to me for the answer?"
"That's..." The answer was obvious, but Maya couldn't bring herself to say it. "So, you don't want me to depend on you?"
"You can rely on me for guidance, but I won't provide you with all the answers. After all, you and I might arrive at different solutions. What you need to understand is that the one who knows you best is yourself, not your enemies, friends, or family."
Maya clenched her fists. It felt as though Theo had given her a task, but in reality, he was placing his trust in her abilities and talent. She could do it.
"You're right. I know myself best. Whatever answer I come up with, it will be mine," Maya declared.
Theo smiled. Maya bowed to him and said, "Thank you for your guidance."
Theo waved his hand, watching her leave the room. It seemed that the others had heard about it and were starting to voice their concerns.
"Teacher, I don't have a Royal Grade Demon like you. Do you think I can win? If only I had a Royal Grade Demon..." Jayden Lexia let out a sigh.
"Not at all. Do you believe that the grade of our demons determines everything?" Theo smirked.
"It does! Otherwise, how could those with Royal Grade Demons stand at the pinnacle of the world?" Jayden gritted his teeth.
"Does that include me?"
"That's..." Jayden was at a loss for words. Despite possessing a Royal Grade Demon, Theo's rank was not among the top one hundred in the world. Unlike others, his demon focused on illusions. Once people realized they were illusions, they could break free from them and defeat him. That's why some individuals with lower-grade demons managed to surpass his rank.
"What you have is a Noble Grade Demon, the Strength Demon, right? What are your thoughts on it?" Theo asked.
"Before that... since your rank is lower than some Noble Grade Demons, does that mean it's pointless to ask you?" Jayden hesitated.
"Not at all. You've seen me fight. What do you think?" Theo inquired.
Jayden recalled their sparring session in the first class. Theo was slightly different from the rumors. He displayed perfect control over his essence, overwhelming strength, and peculiar illusion abilities. It felt as though Theo had been hiding this power all along.
Observing Jayden's hesitation, Theo continued, "What does strength mean to you? Do you believe it's solely about how powerful your punch is? Strength can manifest in various ways. The strength to confront problems head-on, which we call courage. The strength to forgive your enemies, which we call kindness. In that case, let me ask you this: What kind of strength do you desire? What kind of strength will help you defeat your enemies?"
"The strength to forgive... kindness... The strength to confront problems... courage," Jayden took a deep breath.
"In our world, you should know that a demon represents our desires. Instead of asking me, you should ask yourself and your demon," Theo pointed to his heart. "The answers lie within you, but you have yet to explore them."
Jayden took a deep breath. It seemed he had discovered what he needed to do.
"I understand. Thank you, Teacher," Jayden said.
Theo waved his hand, bidding him farewell.
As expected, Oliver also approached Theo seeking guidance about his powers. There was a significant disparity between someone from the modern world and the Exorcism Realm.
"Teacher... I never admit it to my friends, but deep down, I know that I'm the least talented person in the S-Class. Thank you for standing up for me, but if words alone can crush talent, this world might be a better place," Oliver sighed. "The only ability I possess is called Item Storage. People often refer to me as a 'baggage carrier'... So, I don't believe I can defeat Haruka. The only reason I'm here is because my parents are wealthy. They have made substantial donations to the school to secure my place in this class."
Theo smiled, recollecting their previous fight. Finally, he understood how Oliver had access to grenades, guns, and various items. "Personally, I think your ability is fantastic. Being born with a silver spoon is not something you should be ashamed of. In fact, you should be grateful because it gives you a head start."
"But... people will always claim that my victories are solely due to my family's wealth!" Oliver gritted his teeth, unable to escape the comments that echoed in his mind whenever he closed his eyes.
"They say you can't accomplish anything without your parents' money... That with your supposedly useless ability, you can only be a baggage carrier... That without money, you're destined to achieve nothing!" Theo responded with a serious tone, flicking Oliver's forehead.
"Ouch?!" Oliver was startled.
"The money your parents possess, their connections, and your abilities... You didn't choose the type of parents you were born to, or the so-called 'useless' ability you have, or to rely on their connections. It's all just nonsense," Theo asserted.
"But..."
"You should believe that you deserve to be where you are, even if you don't always feel that way. Instead of complaining about what others think of you, consider how you can make the most of what you have."
"Utilize your parents' money to build your own strength. Leverage their connections to create your own network that belongs solely to you. By doing so, haven't you forged your own destiny?" Theo suggested.
"I know someone who shares your situation. Rather than believing that everything she has comes from her parents, she views everything as an opportunity to carve her own path. In the end, she surpass their parents, and everyone recognizes her for her own accomplishments, not merely as their parents' child. Doesn't that mean she has managed to forge her own destiny?"
"And what's wrong with being a baggage carrier? Personally, I see it as a positive. You can carry everything. When others lack an antidote, you may have it in your inventory. When they don't have a map, you can provide one. Ultimately, they have to rely on you."
Oliver fell silent, realizing that he had been viewing everything from the wrong perspective. Theo patted his shoulder and suggested that he start looking up instead of down. Oliver clenched his fists, experiencing a mix of emotions. Perhaps, for the first time, he considered confronting his doubts head-on. If everything in his life originated from his parents, then he had nothing to lose—why should he be afraid?
It appeared that Oliver had gained some newfound confidence. Although his worries wouldn't vanish, and the path ahead might be challenging, he knew he had to persevere. After all, no one would wait for him.
"Go. You seem to have found your path!" Theo encouraged him.
Oliver nodded with a serious expression. "I will try not to disappoint you."
Theo smiled, thinking that the session had concluded when Oliver left the room. However, he was surprised to receive another unexpected visitor—one of the three students who got challenged.
"Hoh?" Theo was amused. "What would you like to ask?"