Chapter 36 - Training Montage

"I can't believe they have the intelligence to think that! I'm so proud!"

Jack said as he left the classroom with passion before sensing another presence there with him.

"Secretary?"

"Yes, have you only arrived?"

Virena came out of the shadow and asked Jack.

"That's right. I got... tired from last night- so, where did my students go?"

"I'm just here not too long ago. When I arrived, they were already gone."

Virena explained as she continued.

"Also, your students are not the only ones that are not gone. Even the ghost professors are gone.... the whole school of ghosts is gone."

"Wait, so... they all boycotted the Myth Academy, not just me?"

"... no, I don't think it's as simple as them boycotting... I think they're really gone."

Jack raised an eyebrow towards her words. If that's not the case, what made everyone not come to school?

As if reading Jack's mind, Virena answered.

"They weren't just absent, I think they literally disappeared."

"Really? And what made you think that?"

Jack was dumbfounded by this news.

"It's Frankenstein's, he learned how to communicate even though his intelligence is not that far from ghosts or the minotaur."

However, Jack just chuckled at Virena's assumptions.

"Are you telling me that the Monster can take in souls instead of just body parts?"

"Is it impossible? After all the time in his form as a soul?"

Virena asked which made Jack stop laughing. It was not impossible. However, Jack didn't want to believe it. If that's the case, wouldn't the Monster become unstoppable?

After all, even a Witch can't curse the dead, or a soul in this case, while a Shaman can only contact them. Long story short, those that are within the living realm have limitations. If someone living were to be able to master the ability of what souls can do, wouldn't that be devastating?

At that point, only the Gods can intercept but before that happens, the Monster will have a chance to wreak havoc first.

"Frankenstein's is special after all. A soul that is compatible with any type of body, even the heroes of the legends are not able to compete with that."

Virena said to herself as well.

"..."

Jack lowered his head to think while having his hoof at his chin as if he's a human.

"So, where is he now? From what I can understand, you already talked with him before coming here."

"About that..."

Virena then told Jack that it was Joren who brought Frankenstein in.

Meanwhile, back at the Principal's grounds, Ness watched Joren 'train' from the side.

"It's obvious that he can talk. Maybe he's not that intelligent to know how deception works."

She also thought about how Joren kept it from them. But since he doesn't know how dangerous Frankenstein can become, Ness didn't mind it at all, knowing that Joren doesn't have any bad intentions.

"If Frankenstein can really somehow absorb souls, then how should we deal with him?"

At that moment, Virena appeared beside her and answered.

"The ghosts are gone... no trace."

"..."

Ness frowned as she watched Joren train.

"So, what are we going to do, Principal? Should we report it to receive permission to act?"

Virena asked but Ness shook her head after a moment of thought.

"How about... we wait first? Isn't... Monstein a little too friendly towards Joren?"

Virena was stupefied by Ness' suggestion but she said no objection. Therefore, they just let it go. Meanwhile, Jack was at least happy to relax at his boarding house. If he were to be asked why he's not working, he would say it's not his fault that he no longer has any students.

Regarding the ghosts... they are just mindless spirit remnants in the realm of the living. Their true selves are within the realm of the dead so he doesn't have any shred of sympathy for them in the first place.

Time passed and days seemed to fly by. Joren would come down to the Principal's office from time to time while Monstein would just patiently wait up since he was staying in a room already. Of course, Joren would immediately come up to give him food before continuing.

After a whole day of nonstop repeat of his training, Joren felt like he was going to die, mentally and physically. However, of course, he wouldn't die physically. While mentally, Joren would just stand up once again.

Furthermore, he wouldn't know how he would end up without his master's drop of blood. Whenever he was getting slower, Virena would order him to go faster. He was the one who requested it in the first place. An order from his vampire master is near-absolute which forced him to continued. Meanwhile, Monstein's smile was still so bright.

Compared to Monstein, Joren felt weak, thus, he continued.

Three days after training, Joren was getting using to it. On the second day, he had a burning fever eve with Virena's blood. He could barely move. However, he still continued and got over it as his body was rapidly trying to adapt

After overcoming his fever, Joren felt lively than ever and became faster in kicking doors and shouting "Huh!?" His speed sometimes makes him out of balance but he got used to it. Of course, there are times he would faint.

No human could stand such a regime. If he's not a lesser undead, he would've died already...

After a week, Joren had become so used to it as his body was following what he had on mind. Even Monstein found it difficult to keep up with Joren. He only needs to greet but he felt like he was rapping.

Even Ness was shocked when the door wore down. It was supposed to be very sturdy that, with Joren's level of strenght, he would only able to scratch it.

However, there's no need to replace it...

"Huh!? Huh!? Huh!? Huh!?"

Just like a martial artist who is vigorously training, Joren was kicking down the door as usual when Ness showed up with a smile.

"Joren, are you ready?"

Joren was not able to say "Huh!?" just to reply.

"For what?"

"For the trip to the UnderWorld!"

"Huh?! It's finally that day? I thought it would never arrive..."

Joren was genuinely shocked that he stopped.

"Yes! Finally, it ended!" Monstein came out of the room, feeling liberated as he jumped. But remembering that Ness and Virena was nearby, he stopped and made a dumb face... he's literally playing dumb.

Joren could feel Monstein as he did not take any offense.

"But... am I ready?"

He found his hand trembling.

"Well, if your training really has some results."

Virena said sarcastically which motivated Joren. He pumped his trembling hands into solid fists before nodding.

"Yes! I think I can do it!"

"..."

Virena just stayed silent. Honestly, she have zero confidence in him. What's the point of kicking down doors and replying rude to the person who greets him?

She and Ness have no idea.

At that moment, they could hear gallops approaching. They looked and saw Jack before he stopped in front of them.

"Joren... I heard you're leaving today."

He said while sniffing.

"Hahaha, Mister Jack, it's not like I'm going to die anyway."

"Oh, don't worry, you will."

Jack replied before sniffing again.

"Yeah... I have to agree with that."

Ness bitterly said while Virena was nodding.

"No, I'll be fine, I'll just take my soul, beat the Cerberus, and come back up as a human again."

Joren said when they heard.

"What!?"

They all looked at Monstein who had a shocked face.

"Is that true!? You're really going to the UnderWord and fight the Cerberus!?"

'So he really can talk well...'

Jack thought to himself.

"Uh? Y-yeah... you don't know that yet?" Joren asked as he scratched his head.

"No! Don't go!"

Monstein grabbed his shirt while pleading. He seemed like a child whose father is about to leave behind.

To this, Joren awkwardly laughed.

"Come on, don't discourage me too. It's not like the Cerberus can destroy a whole house with its strength, right?"

"..."

"What?"

"I don't think... you know how strong the Cerberus is."

Virena was the one who replied.

Before she could further say anything, she felt a vibration in her pocket.

"The ride's almost here. We have to go to League 1-1 and go to the location of where the cruise ship will be."

"Cruise ship...?"

Joren muttered in question.

"Oh, let's talk on the way." Ness said as they all continued towards the teleportation gate.

"You see, there are so many who wants to visit the UnderWorld that they have to innovate. Since the River Styx is wide, they improved their transportation from a small wooden boat to a cruise ship with an in-doors theatre, swimming pool, and many more."

She explained to which Virena asked with a pleasant surprise.

"You seemed to know a lot about this cruise ship, Principal? And also, what's with the big bag that you're holding right now?"

"Ah? Well, it's because I should know the place I'm going to have vacation in."

Ness answered as she pushed Joren into the teleportatoin gate and stepped into it.

"Huh? Principal?"

"Take care of the First Level without me, Virena!"

Ness waved her hand before she felt a push from her behind.

"Principal Ness, I think that's irresponsible."

Joren said with a smile.

"Hahahaha, Joren..." Ness then slapped Joren's hand away as her face got serious, "Don't push me out." before she pressed "1" button twice in the elevator-like teleportation gate.

The shocked faces of Virena, Jack, and even Monstein were the last thing that Joren saw before he would travel to the UnderWorld with Ness, the First Level Principal of the Myth Academy.