Chapter 77 Welcome To The Academy!

"I'd tell them to spare you, but…."

Jack whispered, no one but the blond youngster hearing him.

T-This?! Who the heck was this servant, and how dared he be so cocky?! Yet this "servant" 100% had the upper hand at this moment, holding his fate in his grasp!

"Make them stop, and I'll—" The youngster wanted to plead… but Jack and company had already left. Mercy? There would be none!

Just as the youngster started retreating….

—RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! —

A fluffy orange sea devoured him!

He was akin to a bottle in the ocean, his lightning-clad body resurfacing at times, but only for mere instants, soon to be swallowed again.

Every time the youngster used a lightning spell, a fox would yelp in pain, yet all of this didn't matter as they kept rotating, shamelessly overwhelming him with numbers!

And with every rotation… the man looked worse for wear!

- Claw Marks

- Chewed-up limbs

- Blood overflowing from every orifice

- Mana turning unstable, his spells about to backfire on him!

Yet, he didn't have any choice but to resist! At this moment, he saw the shadow of Death! Death just happened to be on a leash, one held by the "servant" he had insulted!

That's when something inside him broke, his arrogance.

"I'm sorry! Please forgive me! SAVEEEE MEEEE!" His shout was so mighty it resonated in the horrified silence, reaching Jack now a fair distance away.

As he turned, the youngster clearly saw the teasing smile that adorned his lips. Seeing as the kid was half-dead, he shrugged, the fox assault suddenly coming to a complete halt.

Before anyone could understand what the fuck had happened, the foxes retreated as quickly as they had arrived. They "wooed" triumphantly and just bolted away.

"T-they're leaving?!"

"Is it because the enforcers are about to arrive?!"

"No, I bet it's related to this Young Lady! Actually, I heard rumors that the Henderson Family and  the Flame Manor allied recently… don't tell me they came to defend her honor?!"

Aisha was straight in the spotlight, turning crimson by the second... As if she had anything to do with this! Still, she simply straightened up her back and kept walking away.

Their destination —> The Headmaster's office!

It didn't take them long to find it, the man already awaiting them. The latter glared at them intently when they entered the lavish yet austere office.

If there was any way to describe him, it would be beard… and top-knot. Somehow, their new Headmaster reminded Jack of a freaking Viking! Well, minus the armor…

While there were plenty of magical-looking contraptions all over the room, there was an equally if not larger number of stuffed wild monster heads, obvious trophies of his hunts.

After what felt like an eternity, he went:

"You three… did you come to my Academy to cause trouble?!" He thundered, seemingly about to cut them down depending on their answers!

What kind of question was this?! What kind of dumbass would announce his mischiefs?! But then…

"YES! Lots of trouble!" Jack cheekily replied.

This was an even worst answer! Not only was he not apologetic, but he was even glancing at the Headmaster as if daring him to try and stop him!

At this moment, tons of ways to salvage the situation crossed her mind, but just as she was about to open her mouth— The two men started laughing out of freaking nowhere!

"Hahahahaha!"

"Pfft—"

What had she missed?! The Headmaster wasn't angry, but was even relieved and… excited?! "Hehe, I really was worried over nothing. You guys will do just fine here!"

Before the poor Aisha could understand what had transpired, the Headmaster shoved three packages in their hands, throwing them out of his office with one last laugh.

"Welcome to the Academy, you three! Try not to kill anyone, and don't die!"

T-that was it?! "W-what the actual fuck was that?!" as soon as they were out, she turned to Jack, utterly confounded.

"Think, Aisha, think. Use that pretty head of yours." He jokingly replied, already busy opening the one package he had just received. It contained 3 things and three things only:

1. An introductory booklet to the Academy

2. A rusty Iron key that seemed older than the world

3. A classy-looking student outfit that allowed ease of movement.

This meant that they had officially been accepted as students at the Academy! That's when Aisha suddenly jerked up in shock as if enlightened!

"Wait! That guy at the gates… that was a test?!" She exclaimed, Jack nodding, his smile growing wider. She had seen the clues! His student sure was getting wiser!

Why would someone pick such a fight with them out of bloody nowhere? He had probably been asked for… by the Headmaster himself! That was the most likely explanation.

The latter had wanted to see their reaction, to measure their mettle. It was a test of character: how one reacted to such an event was very telling about one's personality!

"Then when you replied about causing LOTS of trouble…?!"

"It meant: I've seen through your bullshit. If you're going to play like this, expect LOTS of trouble." Jack chuckled, not hiding anything.

"Yes, but how did you know?! That guy could have very well just been an elitist dick. There are a bunch of them if you know where to look." Aisha remarked, perplexed.

"Oh, he probably is. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been easily baited to act as a mere probe. I'm pretty sure he 100% deserved to be mauled by foxes, so we're good."

Aisha suddenly turned pensive. This was only day one, and she was already getting a lesson in politics?! Perhaps this trip would be more enlightening than she had initially believed!

But she froze as she saw the nearby Lizzy.

The latter's face was deformed into a grotesque grin as she embraced her new student outfit. She seemed to REALLY like it! Sensing Aisha's glance, she cackled:

"This outfit is the perfect disguise! I'll be able to hunt for test subjects undisturbed and sell potions at the student market… they ought to have one! C'mon, let's get settled!"

She enthusiastically grabbed her key: room 1337!

"Where are you guys residing? 1337? 1337… you too?! Great, we're all together! We should definitely "upgrade" our new lair and turn it into an impregnable fortress until—"

"Wait… 1337?! Pfft— Kid, you're about to be the envy of the entire school. Their faces will scrunch up whenever they look at you!" The Old Ghost suddenly cackled.

"What for?" For once, Jack felt lost. But then he soon understood, the realization coming from a very well-designed information panel.

| Academy Dormitories! |

Even Numbers —> Boy Dormitories

Odd Numbers —> Girl Dormitories

*PS: There can be exceptions

"Bah, I bet no one will care…" Jack simply shrugged.

Never had he been so wrong in his life…