章 27: The Academy
"My maid?" Dian said confused.
"Yep that's right, your own, personal maid!" The Grand Elder said enthusiastically.
"I thought I was only allowed the license to the library, academy and the hunters guild?" Dian said skeptically as he knew that the Grand Elder wanted to keep tabs on him in any way possible.
"Yep! Didn't forgot about those!" Without warning, the Grand Elder produced three cards seemingly out of thin air. They were crafted from a peculiar silver metal, their surfaces shimmering with an otherworldly gleam. Curiosity piqued, Dian accepted the cards from the Grand Elder's outstretched hand, his gaze shifting to examine each one more closely before slipping them into his pocket.
"Uh, thank you for the cards, but I still don't get why I'm being given a maid?" While Nathara's beauty was undeniable and tempting, so much so that Dian was having a hard time refusing or looking away, he still knew that he had to keep his guard up.
The Grand Elder chuckled in response, his tone tinged with amusement. "Oh, that's just because we elders hadn't exactly given you any form of reward. Not only had you saved our Elder Talfen's daughter. But also saved a potential offspring of the legendary Aravati himself! We thought a maid would best suit you since you're in unknown lands and she can help guide you whenever you need help."
Dian's mind was occupied with careful consideration, weighing his options and contemplating his next move. However, his train of thought was abruptly interrupted by the approach of the Grand Elder. As the distinguished figure drew closer, he began to whisper in hushed tones, his words laden with a sense of entitlement and power.
"And hey, you can do whatever you want with your maid," the Grand Elder's voice carried a tone of presumption. "Get her to help with chores, quests, guidance, even warming your bed if you know what I mean. Just think of her like a puppet that's under your control. She can't say no to anything."
As the final words escaped the Grand Elder's lips, Nathara, the maid in question, gracefully bowed once more, her demeanor retaining an air of elegance and poise. Her voice, when she spoke, held a captivating blend of beauty and reservation. "I am yours to command, my master."
In the grand elder's mind, he believed he had solidified the arrangement between Dian and Nathara, considering it a done deal. Yet, to his astonishment, a sudden surge of anger illuminated Dian's face, catching both Nathara and the Grand Elder off guard. The unexpected reaction sparked a flicker of surprise and curiosity in their eyes, as they tried to comprehend the source of this fiery emotion.
My very own puppet? Dian thought to himself. Doesn't that make me no different than those damned Organization!?!
In that tense moment, it seemed as though Dian's anger might erupt uncontrollably, his fist tightly clenched as a sign of his inner turmoil. However, he managed to regain his composure, exerting a conscious effort to calm himself down. The tension in his body remained palpable, as if he feared losing control should he loosen his grip even slightly.
"Sorry, Grand Elder," Dian's voice carried a mix of sorrow and regret as he quickly made up an excuse. "But… it's a severe taboo in my culture, and to myself… to have someone serve beneath me. I cannot accept her… or anyone else in this regard. Please understand."
A fleeting disappointment briefly flickered across the Grand Elder's face before he swiftly masked it with a playful expression. Dian, absorbed in his own emotions, failed to notice the subtle shift in the elder's countenance. Meanwhile, Nathara maintained her composed and stoic demeanor.
"I see," the Grand Elder responded, his voice tinged with resignation as he absentmindedly scratched his mane of white hair. "Well, we can't do anything if it's a taboo, right?"
Dian had been about to respond to the Grand Elder, but his train of thought was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door. The voice that followed belonged to Sura, calling out to him from the other side.
"Dian, it's me, Sura. Have you woken up yet? You should've received your cards by now," her voice echoed through the room. Before Dian could respond, Nathara, the ever-efficient maid, opened the door silently and gracefully, as if she were performing a practiced routine.
As the door swung open, revealing Sura standing outside, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the Grand Elder standing nearby. She immediately dropped into a respectful bow, acknowledging his presence. However, the Grand Elder raised his hand, signaling for her to halt her display of deference.
"Oh my, it looks like you were already expecting company, Dian. Don't worry, I'll be taking my leave now since my job is done. Hope to see you young 'uns around. And don't hesitate to call me if any issue arises." With that, he swiftly walked out of the room, and Nathara gracefully followed suit, offering a final bow before disappearing from sight.
Sura's concern was evident on her face as she watched the Grand Elder leave. She sensed that there might be more to his actions than met the eye, prompting her to urge Dian to share everything that had transpired thus far. Dian, understanding Sura's worry and knowing he could trust her, readily complied and began recounting the events from the beginning.
While Dian continued his explanation to Sura, the Grand Elder walked through the corridor with a sour mood lingering within him. Nathara, not one to hold back, finally broke the silence between them and voiced her thoughts. "There goes your foolproof plan of making me his aide to extract information. And seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you? Warm his bed? Are you fucking serious?"
The Grand Elder's frustration seeped into his voice as he responded, "Shut up already. I didn't expect him to outright refuse servants, or anyone for that matter. Why didn't you try to seduce him? Isn't that one of your specialties as part of your class?"
Nathara's tone carried a mix of annoyance and disbelief as she retorted, "I was doing that. Weren't you paying attention? He couldn't take his eyes off me the entire time I was in his presence. But the moment you tried to force him to accept, he became angry for some reason, and it even disrupted my Seductress Hormones spell. He's just a level 2, and yet he managed to break the special skill of my level 60 rare class. How did you even allow that to happen?"
"I said, shut up," the Grand Elder commanded with an air of authority, causing Nathara to flinch and click her tongue in frustration.
"Ugh, this means we have to resort to plan B, right? I have to waste my precious time stalking him," Nathara grumbled, clearly annoyed. However, the Grand Elder shook his head in disagreement.
"That'll work for now, but it won't work in the long run," he said firmly.
"Oi, are you doubting my skills, old man?" Nathara retorted, her irritation evident in her voice.
The Grand Elder gave her a stern look before explaining his reasoning. "You said it yourself. He's just a level 2, yet he managed to break the special skill of your level 60 class. It's only a matter of time before he unlocks his Perception status. Then, I doubt even you would be able to stalk him freely."
"UGH!" Nathara screamed in frustration, her voice filled with determination. "I'll show you that my skills are second to none, old man! I will find out his secret!" With those words, she swiftly turned around and vanished into thin air, leaving the Grand Elder standing there.
"For both our sakes, I hope you do," the Grand Elder muttered to himself before he turned and walked away, his mind preoccupied with the unfolding events.
"So, you haven't done anything else besides buy some gear and sell some demon corpses, right?" Sura asked, seeking confirmation from Dian. He nodded in response.
"And the Grand Elder came here to give you the cards and convince you to get a maid, which wasn't what was offered?" Sura continued, to which Dian nodded once again.
Sura let out a sigh of relief. "Well, it's a good thing that you rejected the maid. She was most probably a spy."
"Yeah... Most probably," Dian replied with a tinge of sadness and anger, reflecting on the Grand Elder's manipulative intentions. The way Nathara was treated as a mere tool reminded him of his own past experiences.
"Well... cheer up a bit, I've got some good news for you," Sura said with a warm smile, hoping to lift Dian's spirits. Curiosity sparked in Dian's eyes as he looked at her, eager to hear what she had to share.
"Well, after some... arguments, I was able to secure you a dorm room within the academy... unfortunately, it costs a lot, but there will be a small exam for a free dorm room," Sura explained, her tone filled with determination. "As long as you pass that exam, you'll be able to stay within the dorms rent-free. It's a way for you to distance yourself from the Grand Elder. And the best part is, there are no downsides for failing the exam, so it's perfect for you."
"Really? But I don't know anything about this world or the things in it. I just got my beginner Library entrance, so I might be able to figure some things out from there," Dian replied, expressing his uncertainty.
Sura's eyes sparkled mischievously as she paused, intentionally building up Dian's curiosity. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that because..." she said, drawing out the suspense, "it'll be a spar with no skills or weapons involved!"
Dian's spirits lifted at the prospect. "Oh, really?" he exclaimed with a glimmer of excitement. "Well, that should be possible for me." He smiled at Sura, grateful for her efforts, and followed her outside, ready to face the challenge that lay ahead.
…
How did I get myself into this mess?
Dian stood atop the arena, his heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline as he surveyed the shocked onlookers, their eyes wide with surprise and disbelief. Sura, on the other hand, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.
Suddenly, a group of four girls appeared, climbing up the arena with a fierce determination in their eyes. Their anger was palpable as they confronted Dian
"How dare you knock out Arthur!" One of the girls said as a rapier appeared in her hands out of thin air.
"You're going to pay for this!" Another one said as lightning cackled in between her fingertips.
Dian glanced towards the teacher who was supposed to oversee the match, hoping for intervention or guidance, but to his dismay, the teacher averted his gaze with cold sweat beading down his face, almost as if he'd be the one in trouble if he stopped the girls right now.
Seriously. How in the hell did I get stuck in the middle of this mess?
Dian thought again as he raised his fists and activated his Bone Blade armament.
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