Chapter 43 - School Hierarchy

After a whole night of thoughts, Mike and Catherine have reached the same conclusion. This will lead them to escape Teren's "grasps"

However, they still talked about it earlier on their own without their friends hear them. Solidifying their decisions, they reached a consensus.

Superhumans are real!

If they are not, then what do they call that person whom Teren fought last night? A mutant raised by biotechnology? A demon spawned from the underworld?

Actually, they are all possibilities. But whatever the reason, that person is superhuman!

So what more of Teren who defeated such a murderous opponent? Is that the reason why Iesa became frightful and strange last week? The same as them?

Thinking about it, Nick came back with injuries and was frightened by Teren too.

But now, Iesa was following Teren. Nick, who was scared shitless yesterday, was following him now too.

There seemed to be a trend and this pattern made Mike and Catherine hopeful!

After so many thoughts, how couldn't they connect the dots? It would be laughable if, in front of danger, they wouldn't try to use their brain on it.

Therefore, inside the Emergency Stairs, Mike and Catherine were now on the lower levels while Teren and Iesa sat side by side, looking down on them.

'Why do I feel like this will not be the last?' Iesa thought after listening to the pair's thoughts.

But whatever it is, she's absolutely happy that she was not there, on the "lower levels" and was sitting there... beside Teren.

'I'm just happy because I'm not the one being threatened.' she fought her own approaching thoughts.

"What do you want to say?" Teren asked as if he determines their life and death like a king would.

Of course, he didn't intend this look, it was just the image Mike and Catherine had on him.

"We would like to say what the bribe we want." Mike was the first to speak in a rather respectful tone.

"Tell me then." Teren smiled, which didn't help ease the pair's tension.

Looking at each other, they nodded and Catherine said.

"We would like you to not harm us in any way in exchange for keeping whatever we saw a secret..."

'What's with this formal tone?' both Teren and iesa thought.

But Teren shook his head.

"That's not enough."

"W-what do you want?" Catherine asked but soon realized, that question should be the other way around.

"I'm not comfortable scaring you then just keeping you silent. I feel like you would betray your words once the opportunity is in front of you." Teren said with honesty.

Iesa nodded, understanding what he meant.

'If they only fear him, nothing more, their future actions will be unpredictable. If they feel gratitude and safety, on the other hand...'

Mike and Catherine didn't know these thoughts. They just want to be free from danger. So following the trend, should they "follow" Teren like Iesa and Nick?

Look at Iesa now, even though she saw the same scene as they are, she had no problem sitting beside Teren.

It seemed like they have no choice...

In the modern world, hierarchies are hidden and as long as it's not official, there are no formalities.

The poor don't bow down to the rich like in the old days.

Equality was being enforced and democracy was ruling. There is no one person more powerful than the people unless they've become tyrants.

Although in some parts of the world, monarchy still exists without a doubt, while there, it was not.

Therefore, lowering one's head was only something the defeated would do in shame and embarrassment but not give power to the other.

Money, fame, and position may give power but a commoner no longer bows to a politician.

If someone told them that someday, they would bow their heads to someone, Mike and Catherine would just be weirded out. Who bows their heads to someone in this time and age?

But at that moment, in unison, both of them bowed and said.

"Let us follow you."

"..."

This greatly baffled Teren and Iesa.

Follow?

Is he some sort of a leader? Obviously not, he thought. They are in school not in a medieval kingdom.

So what do they mean by their words?

While the pair at the higher level was speechless the pair on the lower level continued.

"We will do whatever you say, so in turn, we don't want to be hurt." Mike said what he was feeling.

Again, before Teren could answer, the door opened widely. A group of people looked down and saw the scene.

"..."

What they saw placed frowns on their faces.

These people were Mike and Catherine's circle of friends. One of them was Josh and Catherine's girlfriends, namely: Mira, the slender short-haired woman, and Eline, a gal who seemed to be a delinquent.

Seeing this, Catherine could only ask-

"What are you doing here?"

"...." even though this group looked formidable, Catherine was their "leader"

Mira, the one in front, answered.

"Well, we didn't see you anywhere so we asked and some saw you entered this place."

At that moment, Mike and Catherine had already straightened their backs. If they continued, it would raise more unnecessary questions.

Seeing some unwanted people there, Teren walked out, followed by Iesa. On his way out, Josh stepped forward to block him, only letting Iesa let through.

"Can you tell us what you're doing there?" Josh asked.

'What is this loser doing with Iesa and those two?'

His thought was easily read by Iesa.

School hierarchy... it is not evident because it felt natural. However, when it is tipped, disturbed, or disoriented, those at the higher levels will get offended.

The simple gesture of bowing, if it's a joke, they would laugh, but if it's true... why?

They are not delinquent but these "normies" had their own way of dealing with people they hate. That is, of course, indirect bullying.

Right now, their primary target is this dork in their eyes, Teren Hark.