P.O.V Kuroto
I distanced myself from everyone and headed to the cafeteria to have my breakfast, having been excused from the exercise for winning. However, I knew this relief wouldn't last long and would have consequences for what I had done, or so I thought. Breakfast was eerily calm, except for the fact that all the children distanced themselves from me. There were whispers here and there; the children seemed to try to keep away.
'Great, now I'm being labeled a monster again!', I sighed deeply, then lightly shook my head, making the system notifications that I was ignoring appear.
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『MISSION』
The first given mission is the most unforgettable one, right? Show your gifts and your true strength to all who belittle you. The first step to respect is strength. In adversity, strength awakens. Awaken your strength and overcome challenges.
Win a duel against 'Aelfric' [1/1]
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『MESSAGE』
Congratulations on completing the first mission given by the system! Your performance was outstanding. Control and skill even at a young age, your performance was commendable and worthy. Equivalent rewards will be given.
『 Performance Rating - A+ 』
『Rewards』
+500 DG
Tutoring Ticket
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'Tutoring Ticket? What the hell is that?' - I thought while trying to stay focused on the food so as not to draw attention.
While reflecting and thinking about the ticket, my inventory opened. There it was, a small ticket in the inventory tab. Its icon was a monochromatic ticket with a star on it. As if my wish was enough, the system provided an overview of the item.
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『Tutoring Ticket - Legendary Rank』
Single-use ticket, grants permission to enter the dream realm and receive tutoring from a character in the system's memory. The advice and knowledge of each character will be based on the knowledge and information acquired by the player.
The set tutoring time is 1 day. During this period, time is relative; take this into account when activating the ticket.
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"Is this for real?" – I was incredulous and intrigued. A legendary item sounded promising, even though I had no experience with other categories of items.
This lifted my mood, replacing tension and irritation with a brief and subtle smile. But one note worried me: I hadn't the option to choose my tutor. How would I choose?
Should I use the ticket now or wait? Disappearing from the institute for an entire day wouldn't be wise. And regarding relative time... what does that mean?
"Does time pass faster or slower during the tutoring?" – I questioned myself, until I was abruptly interrupted by someone banging a tray on the table, diverting me from my thoughts.
Lifting my gaze, I saw Siegfried with a serious expression, which surprised me since we had never talked before. I couldn't help but make a sarcastic comment.
"Wow, the grand Siegfried wants to talk to a mere mortal like me? Am I dreaming?" - I said with an ironic smile. "What brings you to my humble presence?"
Ignoring my taunt, Siegfried was about to speak when the table began to unexpectedly fill up. Lint and Freed sat next to Siegfried, while Tosca, the more reserved, chose a spot next to me. Tosca and I shared a silent connection, as she was one of the few people I interacted with.
Freed cast a teasing glance between Tosca and me, laughing annoyingly. "What is the little girl, who's about to be expelled, doing sitting with the little monster?"
Tosca looked sad and embarrassed, and I felt a surge of anger. No one should talk to her like that. However, before I could respond, Siegfried gave Freed a reproachful look.
"Freed, restrain yourself," said Siegfried, with calmness and firmness in his voice.
"Just kidding, Sieg," retorted Freed, shrugging.
I gave Tosca a reassuring look, as she timidly observed her plate. She didn't deserve to be in the middle of this selfish contest.
"So, Sieg, did you want to talk to me?" I asked, redirecting the conversation.
Siegfried hesitated, looking around before answering. "I wanted to understand what happened in today's duel. It was... interesting."
"Interesting is one way to put it," I remarked. "I just defended myself."
Siegfried didn't seem convinced, but I wasn't willing to discuss details.
"If you say so," he replied, sizing me up. "Just be careful, Kuroto. Everyone is watching, and not all are friends."
He stood up, greeting Lint and Freed before leaving. Lint gave me a curious look and followed Siegfried, leaving Freed, Tosca, and me.
Freed shot us one last irritated glance before leaving. Tosca and I remained silent. She seemed particularly downcast, which concerned me.
"Are you okay, Tosca?" I asked softly.
She nodded, forcing a smile. I knew she wasn't okay but respected her silence.
"I'm here for whatever you need," I offered, trying to comfort her.
Tosca smiled, silently thanking me. She knew she could count on me, and that was enough.
With all of this in mind, I returned to pondering the tutoring ticket. Should I use it now or wait for a more appropriate moment? A decision hung over my head, and I knew I shouldn't delay in making it.
In the meantime, a few things came to my mind, what Freed had said, and I went to ask Tosca,
"Tosca... I didn't want to bring it up because you didn't mention anything, but the-" while speaking, she stopped playing with her fork, looked at me, and said:
"You don't need to worry, Kuroto... it's just a little trouble with the instructors," she forced a small smile towards me, and I knew it was forced; she seemed to be trying not to bother anyone.
"I'm your friend. If there's something or someone bothering you, just let me know," I said, lifting the knife and bringing it down quickly, as if cutting something. "I'll take care of them in no time."
Tosca let out a light, nervous laugh. "Thank you, Kuroto. But I don't think threatening or hurting someone is the solution. I don't want you to get into more trouble because of me."
"So, you admit there's a problem?" I pressed, looking straight at her. I wanted her to trust me, to know that I was there to support her.
She sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. "There are rumors... rumors that they want to transfer me to a different institute because of my performance. But I don't want to go. I like it here; I feel like I belong here."
I held her hand in a gesture of support. "I won't let that happen, Tosca. If there's something I can do, I will. You are one of the few people here who has treated me like a human being from the start."
She looked at me with tearful eyes. "Thank you, Kuroto. That means a lot to hear. But please, don't do anything impulsive. There are already many eyes on you, especially after today's duel."
I smiled. "I won't promise I won't do anything impulsive, but I'll try not to cause more problems."
At that moment, I felt more determined than ever to help Tosca. She was my friend, and I wouldn't stand idly by while injustice occurred right before my eyes.
The rest of the meal passed in silence. When we finished, we got up and left the cafeteria together. I had a plan in mind, and Tosca was at the center of it. I would do everything to ensure she remained where she belonged. And if anyone tried to prevent her, they would have to deal with me first.
"So, let's lay it all out," I began to separate some peas on the plate as if they helped me think.
'We have the following issues to consider on this beautiful day,' I separated four different peas. 'First: The tutoring ticket. Second: The consequences of standing out in today's training. Third: What Sieg meant. Fourth: Tosca's problem.'
While walking through the institute's courtyard, the light afternoon breeze making the trees gently sway, I lost myself in deep thought. The situation with Tosca was undoubtedly complicated, and I knew I would need to approach it carefully. The institute clearly operated with a survival of the fittest mentality, and the weaker ones were marginalized or transferred.
On the other hand, there was this morning's incident during the duel. The energy I had released, that uncontrollable and wild power, had undoubtedly caught the attention of many. Siegfried was clearly curious about it, and his unexpected approach during breakfast had put me on alert. If he was interested, others would be too.
Suddenly, I was yanked from my thoughts when I heard familiar voices heatedly arguing behind a nearby tree. Approaching quietly, I recognized the voices of Lint and Freed. They seemed to be debating something and, although it was difficult to catch all the details, one word caught my attention: "Tosca."
Staying hidden, I continued to listen. Freed seemed to be mocking Lint, suggesting the troublesome girl was a liability to the group. Lint, on the other hand, was defending Tosca, arguing that everyone deserved a chance.
"You saw how she fights, Lint. She's weak, and there's no place for the weak here," Freed said with a malicious laugh.
"Everyone has their own talents, Freed. Perhaps hers hasn't been discovered yet. Moreover, the way you treated her during breakfast was unnecessary and cruel," Lint countered, her voice filled with disdain.
I was torn about intervening. On one hand, it was good to know Tosca had allies besides me. On the other hand, Freed seemed like a problem that wouldn't go away so easily. Before I could decide, however, I heard footsteps approaching. Quickly, I retreated into the shadows, hiding from view.
Looking around, I noticed a familiar figure. It was Siegfried. He walked straight to Lint and Freed, interrupting their argument. "Enough. This is neither the time nor the place for this," he said firmly, giving Freed a warning look.
Freed snorted but didn't protest. Siegfried then turned to Lint, saying something in a low voice that I couldn't hear. After a brief conversation, the three went their separate ways.
When the area was finally clear, I left my hiding spot. Tosca was clearly at the center of a web of intrigue and tension, and I needed to stay alert. But first, I needed to devise a plan to help Tosca with her current situation. I couldn't let her be transferred without a fight. And a plan had already developed in my mind; it just needed to be put into action.
I headed straight to the director's office of the institute. If there was someone who could change Tosca's situation, it was him, although I knew it would not be an easy task and I would have to give up something to help my friend.
Entering the office with quietly simmering determination, I found the director immersed in piles of paperwork. The room's atmosphere carried a silent weight, an understood seriousness that framed the old wooden walls and meticulously arranged furniture.
"Kuroto," he pronounced, his voice tone reverberating with uncontestable authority. "You came to me without even being called, saving me the time to come here, though I foresaw that you would come to me. So, what brings you to me this evening, young Kuroto?"
"I want to talk about the student Tosca," I began straightforwardly, maintaining a steady and impassive gaze, meeting his calculatedly indifferent eyes, subtly masked with curiosity.
"Predictable, as I mentioned," he retorted softly, leaning back, fingers interlocked over his stomach in a contemplative posture. "Then, what do you propose regarding Miss Tosca's problematic situation?"
"She stays. Regardless of her supposed performance deficit, I'm fully convinced that she can overcome it. It would be imprudent and inefficient to move her to another institution," I replied, my tone laden with irrefutable certainty.
The director's laughter was a low murmur, an audible manifestation of his discreet amusement. "And what would be the trade-off, young Kuroto? The gears of this academy don't turn at the mercy of emotional impulses, as you must know."
The room seemed to pulse with silent tension as I pondered my options. "What do you want?"
A cold smile, almost imperceptible, curved the corners of his lips. "Your full and unquestionable cooperation. Manuel provided me with intriguing reports about you. Your strength, reflexes, and the way you disdain pain and fear are peculiar and extremely useful traits."
"If that ensures Tosca's stay, you can count on my cooperation," I agreed, though a note of reluctance resonated in my voice.
He nodded, a gleam of satisfaction shining in his eyes. "A fair deal. Tosca will stay. However, I expect you to honor your word, Kuroto."
Making a move to leave, a firm voice stopped me. "We have not concluded our conversation."
I turned, a frisson of apprehension sliding down my spine as I met his gaze again.
"There is more to be discussed, Kuroto. Your gifts, so to speak, are of great interest to this academy and to me personally. I intend to thoroughly explore your abilities, and you will assist me in this endeavor."
It was not a request; it was a declaration, clear and irrefutable. And something told me my life had just gotten even more complicated.
"Understood, then," I said, trying to hide the growing unease that the director's statement caused me. "And now, what else is there to discuss?"
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. "There is a very effective way to develop and refine skills like yours. Although we are an institute, we are not disconnected from the realities of this world, from the threats it harbors."
I paused, considering his words. "And what do you suggest?"
"Direct immersion," he replied with a calculating look. "I'm talking about sending you to an exorcism squad."
I blinked, surprised. "You want me to fight on the front line? I'm still a child!"
He laughed, a low and rough sound. "A child, huh?" he said, fixing his eyes on mine with a sarcastic smile. "A child wouldn't come here proposing a deal, putting themselves in extreme danger just to save someone. Don't see it as being sent to the front line, but rather as an educational tour."
"Tour?" I laughed, giving him a serious look and replied firmly: "What kind of responsible adult would send a child on a tour where their life could end at any second?"
"If you die that easily, what use would you be to me or the church?" he said, wiping the smile off his face and looking at me with a serious and disdainful expression. "You have latent potential. A super soldier that we can use excellently. And there is nothing better to awaken your potential than real fights. Your gifts are unique and, under the right conditions, can be intensified. Life-or-death situations have a curious way of making people surpass their own limits."
"This seems more like an experiment than training," I muttered, feeling more like a guinea pig than a student.
The director smiled, a cold and evaluative smile. "The institute has always been at the forefront of research and development. We are not here just to teach but to learn and adapt. And you, Kuroto, are an opportunity we do not intend to waste."
I looked at him, trying to assess how far he was willing to go to achieve his goals. "And if I refuse?"
His gaze hardened. "You can refuse. Then, we'll follow the plan, and Tosca will be sent into the hands of Archbishop Valper."
The director's expression became colder and implacable, his eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Archbishop Valper," he began, his voice taking on a somber tone, "is a man of great faith and conviction, but also of extreme and unscrupulous methods. He believes that any means is justified if it leads to the achievement of his objectives. Tosca, if transferred to his hands, would undergo rigorous, and perhaps even brutal, training. She would be forced to surpass her limits, whether she wants to or not."
The director paused for a moment, allowing his words to settle, before continuing with a grim expression.
"And besides, Valper would not hesitate to use anyone under his jurisdiction in dangerous and potentially lethal experiments, all in the name of the 'greater good'. I would strongly advise against allowing Tosca to fall into his hands."
My mouth dried, and a knot formed in my stomach, as I clenched my fist in fury, causing the recent wound, staunched by the cloth on my hand, to open again. I processed the implications of what he was saying. The idea of Tosca undergoing something so cruel and inhumane was unimaginable.
I paused, taking a deep breath to calm my rapidly beating heart. "And my cooperation would ensure her safety? She would not be transferred and would remain under the protection of the institute?"
"Exactly," he confirmed, his penetrating gaze still fixed on me. "Tosca would be kept here, under my watch, and out of Valper's reach. But in return, I expect your full cooperation and commitment to the terms previously discussed."
The room seemed to pulse with silent tension as I considered my options. I was in a delicate position; protecting Tosca meant submitting to the director's whims and experiments, but refusing would put her life at even greater risk.
Finally, with a resigned sigh, I nodded slowly. "You have my cooperation, as long as Tosca remains safe."
The director nodded, with a short smile on his face, pleased with my response. "Great. You will begin your new 'training' immediately. You will be on a team with other skilled individuals. Together, you will carry out the missions I assign, all under my direct supervision."
"I understand," I murmured, though apprehension still danced in my mind. It was a coerced agreement, but at least Tosca would be safe. That had to be worth something.
"You are dismissed, Kuroto," said the director, turning his attention back to the papers stacked on his desk. "Prepare for the start of your new regimen tomorrow. The squad leader will be waiting for you at the meeting point. An instructor will guide you there."
Without further words, I stood and left the room, the door closing silently behind me. The corridor outside the director's office seemed strangely oppressive, the walls closing in as I made my way out.
A sense of weight settled on my chest, and for a moment, I felt as though I was being crushed under the enormity of the decision I had just made. However, when I thought of Tosca, the small spark of hope and relief that would shine in her eyes when she found out she could stay, I knew I would do it all over again. For her, for my friend, I would submit to anything.
In the end, maybe this is what it meant to be a hero. Sacrificing oneself for others, honestly, I never imagined myself as a hero, and it bothers me since when I started caring about people this way. I'm creating weaknesses that can be used against me. Perhaps the best way to protect the people around me is to push them away so they can't be used against me, but now it's too late. Tosca, you are my friend. I will do what it takes so at least one of us can have a decent life. You don't need to go through this.
"Whether she likes it or not, Tosca isn't strong enough for this. If she can just stay safe, that will be enough."