Chapitre 19: Skydancer Exams (18)- Hot spring

Today was the day between the fourth and the last exam which Hugo would have opted to spend sleeping or watching anime. But unfortunately for him, the candidates were having some sort of Hot springs anime episode (where characters go to Hot springs) and so he had to come.

Avery also told that he needed to come to help gather information on the criminal that was going to attack, but he could tell that she was only going it for the thrill of it.

"Sigh, what a pain in the ass."

Hugo wrapped in a towel lugged his ass towards the hot springs just behind the hotel. Today would have been the perfect day to catch up on the episodes of one piece.

'Damn, that Oda guy, even in death he continues making more of it, and people of the older generations say it's as good as it was then. Hmph, that anime might never finish.'

Just as Hugo was having fun thinking about the wonders of anime, the last person he didn't want to see appeared by his side.

"Bonjour, Hugo."

'Sigh, recently a lot of annoying voices have been plaguing me, and they all seem to be real.'

"Hello, Raoul."

Hugo gave a monotone greeting and walked away as fast as he could, albeit not very fast. He couldn't help but take his time to walk. Raoul walked faster and tried to strike up a conversation with him... which he thought he was doing.

"... And I seriously think I should get to pick which school I want to go to, and they're like 'We made you we can do what we want with you!', And I think that really isn't fair, so I decided to quit school and go become a Skydancer instead! Thanks for your advice, Hugo."

Raoul finished talking with a smile on his face.

'Well, if he thinks that I gave him any advice then so be it.'

Hugo inwardly smiled to himself, gladly welcoming all the good karma.

"Wah, the hot springs!"

Raoul yelled out excitedly, he had only ever been in a personal hot tub before and never in a hot spring.

"Eh, it's looking a bit crowded."

Raoul's demanding personality came out again, and he had the feeling this would not do.

'I can't be seen associating with peasants!' His internal subconscious screamed against this action, but he so dearly wanted to feel how it was like to rub skins against each other.

"Sigh."

Hugo sighed and found the nearest bench to sit on.

"Hmm, you were forced here too, huh?"

A voice surfaced near him, Hugo had heard that voice before, way back during the first exam. The person was a candidate named Kenji.

"Huh? Yeah, I guess. I'm guessing Shiro forced you, right?"

"Yes, he said something about finding out the true personalities of people by watching how they bath in a hot spring. Man, I'm getting sick of his dumb schemes!" Kenji exasperatedly sighed and kicked a stone near his foot.

"So... who forced you?"

Hugo never expected the question to be asked, because he didn't expect the conversation to last more than four sentences.

"Oh, an... acquaintance." He kept his answer vague just in case.

Ring Ring!

The communicator on his finger rang loudly, and he checked to look at the person calling.

'Why's Avery calling me, wait it's not Avery. Could it be... her?'

The number was unknown, this made Hugo even more aware of who just called him.

"Sorry, have to dash."

Hug stood up hurriedly and said goodbye to Kenji.

"Your acquaintance?" Kenji smiled knowingly and said goodbye too.

As Hugo walked away to a private location to answer the call, he was wondering what was up with Kenji's weird smile.

'Humph, does he think that she's my girlfriend or something? Whatever...'

He found a safe spot near some trees and answered the call.

"Hello."

It wasn't noticeable, but when he spoke just then, his tone shifted, from what one would call casual and carefree to heavy and fearful.

"What?"

Hugo hurriedly looked toward the hot spring and saw a blazing orange flame devouring all that lay in its path.

"I'll be there!"

'Shit, so much happened while I was gone already. This is why she would be the strongest out of all of us, she has something we could never dream to have... divination.'

"Black Matter Conjuring: Jet Black Wings!"

'Ugh!'

Hugo forgot that he was no longer within the virtual space and that everything went back to normal, that synergy within the space could never happen in real life.

'I'll deal with it later, I just need to make sure everything is safe!'

Hugo flapped his wings and flew towards the hot spring at over 500 mph. When he got to the hot spring, he realized that things were developing far worse than they should have been. Several men in black suits and masks covering their faces were in the hot spring, fighting with the candidates, and the candidates didn't seem to be in good shape.

'Damn, is this what Avery was talking about?!'

"Huh, where'd they all get their equipment from?!"

Hugo realized he forgot to bring his equipment with him.

'Hehe, luckily equipment forged by my hand is not so simple.'

"Come to me!"

Hugo dramatically yelled and raised his hand up into the sky. Black matter converged at the tip of his fingers and shot up into the sky. This was not some advanced technique, it was just Hugo trying to seem more impressive than he already was (and it was working). So putting it simply, he liked showing off.

And his equipment seemed to like showing off too.

A speck of black flew over from the hotel room at fast speed, once it was closer, the combination of a black overcoat, and a shirt, tie, scarf and trousers of the same colour. The clothes flew towards him and just magically came on, replacing the towel.

"What, why's everyone looking at me like that? You can't blame me for having to come to a battle with style right?"

Hugo was wondering what was going on within their heads and just shrugged it off.

"Now, suit guys, tell me who's your boss? I can't be caught fighting weaklings, it'd damage my reputation of killing weaklings... so tell me, who's your boss and where is he?"