Chapter 69: Nathan disappeared

"W-what?! What do you mean he's not here?!"

Back in the encampment, everyone had woken up early by Radakel's order. His first announcement shocked everyone.

"Please calm down, Hero Amelia," Radakel said, trying to soothe a panicked Amelia.

"I-I won't calm down until I know where Nathan is!" Amelia's voice rang out, loud enough for everyone to understand what had happened, including all her students.

Nathan had disappeared.

"We don't know yet, but I think I have an idea of where he might be," Radakel said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"W-Where then?!" Amelia demanded, her expression pale and fearful.

All her students and the knights understood why Amelia was panicked. She cared deeply for her students, and they noticed her anxiety. However, none of them realized how much more scared she was for Nathan than anyone else. She was struggling to control her emotions, but it was hard.

Nathan.

He had been one of her precious students until a month ago, but for nearly two months since they were summoned, Amelia had felt small changes in her feelings as she spent more time with Nathan. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help herself. She had these strange feelings and eventually fell for her student.

She felt ashamed and tried her best to avoid Nathan, but her feelings only grew stronger. Then, two weeks ago, they had crossed a line.

Since then, Nathan's words had reassured her, telling her not to worry about the trivial student-teacher relationship since they were in another world. Amelia came to accept and embrace her relationship with Nathan. Everything had been going well; she was in love with him.

But now he had disappeared.

One thing she was sure of now: she couldn't live without Nathan.

"Probably in Uteska. Some demons seemed to have visited our camp to gather information, and they kidnapped Hero Nathan," Radakel said, shocking everyone.

Amelia's face paled even further.

Amelia quickly understood what Radakel meant. If the demons had wanted to kill Nathan, they would have left his body behind. But no body was found, fortunately.

"Everyone!"

Fortunately for her, someone else took the lead and spoke up. It was, of course, Jason.

"Our classmate Nathan has been kidnapped by the demons! We can't abandon him!!" he yelled.

"YEEEEAAAAAH!!!!"

Most of his classmates cheered in response, not necessarily because they wanted to save Nathan, but because they were swept up in Jason's charisma.

"Let's save our classmate! Lend me your strength, everyone!" Jason shouted once more, raising his sword high. "No mercy for the evil demons who try to hurt our comrades!!"

"YEAAAAAAH!!"

"LET'S KILL THOSE BASTARDS!!!"

"With Jason, Aiden, and Sienna, it's already a done deal!!!"

"Let's support them then!!!"

"Let's show them what heroes are!!!"

Jason's words ignited a fervor among his classmates, their desire to tear apart the demons burning brightly. The image of the demons was already negative in the heroes' eyes, thanks to the careful brainwashing speeches given by the knights and Oscar previously. Now, with Radakel's manipulation, Nathan's disappearance, and Jason's rousing speech, they all thought of only one thing.

Tear apart the demons.

Usually, at this moment, Amelia would have intervened to caution against unnecessary killing, but she wasn't in her right mind at all. Her worry for Nathan clouded her judgment. She didn't even notice Radakel's smirk as he observed Jason rousing the heroes to kill the demons.

Radakel's plan was unfolding perfectly.