After hearing Theros yapping for a few minutes about why Amelia has to be on Dylan's team? Ren and I moved toward the spot where the remaining members of my team were gathered.
"Well, look who decided to finally come."
As soon as I arrived at the spot, Ryu Harukaze spoke sarcastically while looking at me.
"There's no need to play your game, Ryu; I know what you want." I want to tell you the reason why Ryu's behavior was so bad.
'He is just jealous of me, as everyone around him always compares him to me, that's all.' What did you expect, some sort of backstory or something?
"I know what you want, so let's get this over with and start our hunt, as most of the teams have already gone."
Well, he just wants to become the team leader, as it was mentioned in the novel.
And if you are curious about why every detail surrounding me was not mentioned, why was this part mentioned? Well, you see, there is always a character in a novel like this who decides to accept the offer of demons because he is jealous of others.
And Ryu is that character in 'The Journey of the Golden Dragon.'. It all started from this point.
Well, according to the novel, Ryu wanted to become the leader of the team and challenged the 2nd ranker.
But in the end, he got humiliated, and after that, it all started to go downhill for him.
The boy he despised so much, who was Dylan, became stronger than him; even the girl he liked, his fiancée, got stolen by Dylan.
When he tried to get revenge by sending some hunters to beat him up.
That also didn't go as he planned, as his father banished him from the family because at that time Dylan had already married Serlynthia, and he had full support from her father.
Ryu's father, fearing what Damien, Serlynthia's father, will do to his family, sacrifices his son so his family can survive.
And that was the last thing that forced Ryu to join Abyss Walker, even if his contracted god was against it.
"If you know, then that's good; let us just have a quick duel to decide who will become the tea—"
"Well, if you want, you can become the team leader; I don't mind. Now let's start moving, or all the monsters will already be dead." I cut him off before he could complete his sentence and move toward the forest.
Ryu just stood there in shock after hearing my words, and my other teammates well...
"Hey, did he forget that we were also here? Maya asked.
"I think students out of the top 10 don't fit his criteria to interact," Noah replied.
"You will get used to it. I am also not getting enough screen time, even though I am always with them.' It is just the author's fault for not giving us dialogue.'Let go, or he will leave us behind." Ren patted Noah's shoulder and followed me.
As for Ryu... he is still standing where he was in shock.
******
Dylan's Side
Dylan's team is faring much better than expected.
Amelia's spear spun in a graceful arc, her strikes precise and clear, killing the bear that surrounded her.
'I had forgotten that she is masterful in spear just as in bow and arrow.'
Dylan thought as he was trying to stay close to her.
He wanted to act like he was trying to protect her even if he got hurt.
In return, he creates openings from where monsters can surround them easily.
Aisha and Kaya worked well together and killed every monster in their path, but the strain of covering Dylan's flashy mistakes was evident.
Amelia dodged a lunging shadow bear when Dylan stepped in, trying to cut it down with a dramatic slash.
The bear shrank back in his shadow, and his shadow moved back, making some distance.
"Stay close," he told her, flashing a confident grin.
Amelia frowned. "I can handle myself."
"Of course," Dylan replied smoothly. "But it's safer if we work together."
Just as Shadow Bear appeared from his shadow, Aisha and Kaya appeared and struck, killing him.
"Hey Dylan, What do you think you are?" Kaya spoke, fuming with anger, as they almost got seriously injured while fighting with the shadow bear and his minions.
"Dylan, I won't tolerate it if you try to cause any harm to Amelia." Aisha threatened him.
"sigh," letting out a sigh, Dylan spoke, "I know that my reputation is not that good, but I am seriously trying to change, guys; at least give me a chance."
"I don't believe a single word coming from your mouth; all I will say is that." Aisha came closer and grabbed his collar. "Just stay away from Amelia.
"Let him leave him, Aisha; he is not worth your time. Let go; Neo has already located another E+ elite monster." Amelia grabbed her hand and started to move toward the hilly area.
"I don't care what you have done in the past, but if our team doesn't get at least 100 AP because of you, I will make academy life like you are living in hell," Kaya warned Dylan, and both of the girls followed.
"How can you just endure their insult? Why did you not retaliate?"
"You should have shown them their place. How can they talk to my contractor like this?" Fafnir spoke.
"Lord Fafnir, if I want to complete the quest, I have to act like this; not to mention if I have to make a harem, I have to start with Amelia.
By showing everyone that I am changing and willing to take responsibility for what I did to her.
Doing that will at least change the public opinion about me, and I can go for more like this."
"As expected from my contractor, you have taught far ahead, but how do you plan to win her?
From the look of it, she seems the hardest one of all with whom you can mate.
I will still advise you to mate with that Serlynthia, as she will be easiest because of that contract."
"I know that she is the hardest, but if I don't start with her, then I will not be able to win over other girls, and even if I try.
They will label me as a womanizer; as for Serlynthia, I want the best for this academy for last." Dylan spoke with a hint of lust as his eye color changed to gold when he spoke.
"Let us follow them also, or Neo will bark at me again." Dylan ran toward the direction where all of his teammates were gone.
******
[1 hour later]
"Neo, how much further do we still have to go?" Kaya asked, panting heavily like she was out of breath.
"Just on top of that hill, there's a monster on the brink of evolving to Boss rank.
According to seniors, if we kill a monster like that, we will get an extra point on top of the point we will get by killing a normal elite monster."
"Are you sure that it is safe to fight it with just us? What if it evolves in the middle of the battle?
"Dylan, how many times do I have to say that if you don't want your jaw to be broken, then shut your mouth?" A boy who looks to be eighteen years old with a round-shaped face and dark black hair, and his eyes look to have two pupils in each of them.
This boy's name is Neo Sliver, the second son of the Silver family. Even being the second son, he was chosen as the heir of the family by his father and brother.
Due to his insane ability, 'Necromancer'