There was a famed story among all the ability users. It doesn't matter what rank you are. As long as you possess an ability—you should have heard of it; The story of HARMONIA.
HARMONIA— The main organization made up solely of the world's balance keepers—notably the "Ability Holders."
However, not all ability users are qualified to join and take on the heavy responsibility of such scale. Thus, one of the reasons why the Academy of Saint Stella was founded 15 years ago. It was designed to train freshly found ability users to join its ranks in the future as cadets or even as officials.
HARMONIA is a large organization composed of hundreds of capable and extremely strong ability users from all over the world. Of course, operating the entire organization as it was will be a bloodbath. To lead an organisation compose of military level individuals will surely spark a conflict. That alone is a cause enough to split the control of the organization into seven Sectors and appointed seven SS-ranked ability users as its leaders; as the chiefs.
"Balance is always a necessity."
The chiefs of the seven sectors came from various nations. Take Yamada Jin for example, is a chief from Japan. There were six more from all over the globe; Russia, China, England, the Philippines, Spain, and America. They protect the island of Saint Isle from all six sides and from the center.
Jin was originally assigned to the southern base of the island, but after successfully repelling an outside assault of one of the counties from south hemisphere, he was transferred to the middle of Saint Isle. Respectively appointing him as the headmaster of the Saint Stella Academy.
HARMONIA is well-known, but the seven divisions were not made to public. It wasn't necessarily kept as a secret; it was only that the world was too busy to take notice.
The seven sections were given the following names after their respective chiefs preference: "Rouge" for the Russian representation. "Long" for China. "Lugh" for England. "Kalasag" for the Philippines. And "Estoque" for Spain.
As unfortunate as I was, yours truly is a member of Jin's division, the "Kage no Kishi" or "Shadow Knights." That is why I report to him and take orders from him—forcefuly, mind you.
Requests from important persons outside the island are accepted as contracts by the organizations. Huiying is one such case.
Why do we accept such commissions when the island was already self-efficient, you ask? Well, the answer should be obvious. After all, Saint Ilse still needs funds in order to be self-sufficient. Magic is undoubtedly significant but so is money. Wondering where we get our foods and other supplies? From the contracts. As long as it is within the proper measures, it is deemed reasonable. Or so the higher ups said. People from outside the island probably saw us an an Adventurers guild. Sadly.
Now back to where we were.
Jin positioned his chin to the back of his joined hands after firmly planting his elbows to the table.
"Now then, Gleren… ready for the second reason?"
He sounded rather serious so, swalllwed up as I nodded in response.
"I'm all ears."
"Good. Kyouka."
"Certainly."
After giving a nod to miss Kyouka, the woman who had been looking at me for a while now—or, more precisely, hasn't she been staring at me ever since I walked into the room? This wasn't even our first meeting... Was it just my imagination?
Kyouka approached near and handed me a folder with a thick black cover. She's the same person that welcomed me to the door earlier: Yamato Kyouka, the secretary of "Kage no Kishi."
Without hesitation, I received the document and turned the folder open to see what was inside.
"This is…?" Only to tilt my head. "The heck is this?"
Jin flipped and fell from his seat while Kyouka slid magnificently in front of me her heels flying off to somewhere.
"At least read it, you rascal!"
"Ehh~? How troublesome. You'll tell me anyway, why bother?"
"You're the troublesome one here!" Jin yelled, veins popping from his temple.
"A-ahem… Well, I suppose it's okay, right, chief?" Miss Kyouka said fixing her shoes.
"Tsk. This idiot. Well, anyway, I guess it's fine. Gleren, be prepared. A reform is about to happen."
"A reform? Why now?"
Basing on the timeline, it sure is strange.
"That's why I told you to read the goddamn report!"
He said in a sharp tone. His veins were bulging ever more visible on his forehead.
"You were aware that young ability users are becoming more and more prevalent, right? Saint Stella Academy is unable to take on and accommodate all of the international students. We just lack the needed accomodations." Jin shook his head before continuing. "Because of this, an order from above was issued six months ago. Another six Academies in Saint Isle will be founded. And actually, they had their construction finished with the other six chiefs were appointmented as the headmasters. They held their opening ceremony today as well."
I see. That was a good move. To not suspect the Kage to monopolize the cadets, another academy just have to be founded. Follow the balance as they ordered.
"I don't see any problems here."
He nodded in agreement. "Well, certainly none at the moment." As he went on, Jin closed his eyes, "But definitely, competition will arise. And of course, what follows competition are conflicts."
He's right. He looked into it from quite a long-time perspective. Forces from the outside would undoubtedly step in if a conflict broke out from Saint Isle's inner circle. And the only certain outcome will be dread.
"Of course, all the other chiefs are aware of the possibility of major conflict. We will, by no means, would interfere beyond what's needed. But the problem is…"
"The students, right?"
He nodded in response.
Even if the chiefs won't get involved, there will still be conflict among the students from different campuses. Envy, superiority complex, pride and so on—will be the trigger of these all.
I've witnessed it firsthand, the bullying and all, and I am a student of the same campus, too. How much more if the subject of bullying is a student from another campus? This is going to be troublesome.
But still, there's something that doesn't add up.
"So? Why tell a student like me all these?"
Jin stared at me before saying, "I want you to shut down these kinds of conflicts before it even starts happening."
That's a very direct yet vague order. And quite on the impossible side too.
"That's a tall order even for me, headmaster. You know how badly I am treated at school right? If I'm a subject of such treatment and I cannot do anything about it, how much more if we put the other six campuses in the picture."
"That's exactly the reason why I ask you specifically for this matter. Only you can do it. Well, it's not like something would happen immediately. So for now, let's put this matter on the 'to do list.'"
What an optimistic intake. I'm getting involved in something crazy again. Why does this kind of thing happen all the time?
"Now let's move to our main topic. The third reason why you have been summoned here."
The third… what could be worse than what I already heard?
"Take a look at this."
He slithered a single picture above his table. I glanced at it for a moment. But after seeing him urge me to take a closer look, I picked it up to have a better view of the image.
"..."
One look of this is enough to charm one person.
"Beautiful, isn't she?"
"So? What do I concern myself with this girl?"
Certainly, she's beautiful. Long hair that seems like silver strands stretching to her lower back and bangs that almost cover her brows. Her attractive sharp nose and her scarlet-colored delicate, and alluring lips are housed in a shapely face. Her curves and body frame were revealed by her outfit. Her chest is quite bombastic and her hips are quite terrific despite having such a thin waist. If I really have the need to describe her, "enticing" would be the right word.
But what took my attention is her crimson eyes that's as if when you look at it even through the picture, it would stare back at you.
Honestly, it sends a chill on my spine thinking how beautiful she is.
"Her name was Maria Vlad Valentine. The person that you would be monitoring for your next mission."
A monitor mission? That's quite a vague order. Or what? Am I to stalk her in everything she does?
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. She… is a vampire."
"Huh?!"
She is a what...!?