Chapter 44 44. In Every Crisis Lies An Opportunity. [1]

[The Royal Academy]

After the submission on the last date of arrival, Amaya and Kevin met and embraced each other. Amaya cried wholeheartedly, as Kevin held an irreplaceable place in her heart. Although unclear about her relationship with Kevin, she still worried about his well-being.

Waking up in the morning to find half of your loved ones dead, wasn't anything new to the world of Ventra. However, for the children, it was different.

The students they eat with, live with and compete with, and the people they loved and played with were no more, and it made their hearts waiver and increased the fear of death. But even in the darkest times, some held grudges as this incident fueled their rage against the demon race.

The other sad news for the Royal Academy was the death of multiple teachers and Adelio. It became a problem as appointing demon hunters as teachers were incredibly difficult. Leaving a career filled with fame and prosperity, teaching students wasn't favored by many.

Experienced adventurers who worked as teachers weren't respected among the student body. To keep the status of the Royal Academy, the Demon Hunter Association provided some veteran hunters as teachers. However, because of Alice's decision, many of those veterans died.

As the Association denied providing any more hunters, this time, Alice had to recruit the best among the adventurers or the rouge adventurers instead of demon hunters.

"Ha... This is all bullshit!" Alice threw another glass of water on the wall in front of her.

She requested many elite adventurers to join the Academy, however, all of them declined her offer. And those who applied for the post were not worth mentioning in her opinion.

"Why must I suffer with this... Ugh!" She was surrounded by loads of paper and could only grit her teeth in frustration with the more paperwork.

"Ha..." With a sigh, she burned the resume of an A-rank adventurer, who claimed to have killed a dragon with his supreme swordsmanship.

If only Demon Hunters were less arrogant, she wouldn't have found any trouble in dealing with the reduced number of teachers.

These resumes were sent to her after the basic approval of teachers from the recruitment comity.

"This shit will take time." With another sigh, she kept going through the hundreds of resumes she got.

...

[At Night time, In student Dorms]

"This place feels empty as hell," Kevin commented as he walked through the empty corridor.

[They are really scared.] Michael conversed with Kevin. His penalty was slightly subdued. However, he was only able to speak with Kevin, and nothing else for at least two more weeks. It was the punishment he received after he saved Kevin in the wilderness against his authority.

"Do you think they will overcome it? I at least had you but they have no one." Walking inside his room Kevin questioned and removed his clothes.

[Kevin, you must note that human beings are complicated.] Michael explained.

[They cry over the death of a companion they've spent half of their life with for a night and forget it. But they cry forever if their companion cheats on them or betrays them. Emotions are healed gradually over time, however, I am here to keep that happening to you.]

"Hm? What do you- huh?" Before Kevin could converse anymore with Michael, someone entered his room.

"Eh? Why are you here, Amaya? And you came through the door? The gatekeeper didn't stop you?" Kevin asked in one breath.

"Shouldn't you first ask 'how have you been?' Those are the basic manners you know." Amaya pouted and hugged the half-naked Kevin.

"I missed you." Burring her head in his wide and toned chest Amaya said.

"..." Kevin on the other hand wasn't able to respond to her.

He worried about Amaya, however, he wasn't well versed in the love and affection department. So he mustered all of his courage and patted her long blonde hair.

"Hehe." A small giggle escaped from Amya as she didn't expect Kevin to show any intimacy. Snuggling in his arms Amaya felt a relief.

...

"So what do you want?" After several minutes, Kevin spoke to break the ice.

"Well, you see Kevin, after that incident, the environment around will be dull and unproductive. The entirety of the student and teacher body is not there and the condition is disastrous, so what I am saying is..." Amaya waited for to Kevin complete, but to her miserable luck, Kevin was not on the same page as hers.

"?" Kevin looked at her and tilted his head.

'Ha... is he dumb or something? At least you can respond, you know?' Amaya lost all the warmth she earlier felt and decided to explain further. Unbeknownst to her, Michael clearly understood what she meant and was telling Kevin.

[Kevin, she is right. This is an opportunity.] When Michael said this, Kevin tilted his head and Amaya considered him dumb.

"To rule the students."

[To unite students and become a leader.]

Amaya and Michael said at the same time.

"Ah!" As if a bulb lit up inside his head, he understood what both meant.

He was amused at how similar Michael's and Amaya's thought process was. The Justice King and the Daughter of a king had this one thing in common.

"Think with me, Kevin." Amaya felt a little better after knowing that Kevin caught up with her, she continued,

"If you can unite the students, you will become the beacon of their hopes. Not only will you get support from the masses but you will also get a team to work for you. A leader who can lead them in the darkness. A leader who will defeat the demons and become their hero, and can earn their trust. You can even become a king with that kind of support, you know? You just have to start from small." Amaya's eyes sparkled when she thought of Kevin becoming the king of the Fluger kingdom.

What Michael suggested was,

​ [Kevin, defeating the demons alone is not a good idea. You cannot be there for everyone. If you can gain trustworthy companions in your journey, hunting the demons can become easier. Even if you were capable to hunt every demon, you mustn't forget your true goal.] The arrogant Michael wasn't there, instead, it was the cautious Michael.

Both Amaya and Michael gave their explanations and Kevin contemplated.

They weren't wrong, however, he was not the only opportunistic person out there. Even some teachers wanted to throw Alice away from her position, and gaining the trust of the remaining students could be a boost to their reputation. Giving them the control they could ever wish for.

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Even if he were to win over the entire student body, he wasn't confident in his leadership skills.

...

[A noble house of Fluger Kingdom]

In a room filled with high luxury furniture, near a desk filled with a bunch of papers, a man unfolded a letter and read its context.

"Those two are useless as ever huh?" The person lying in a rest chair said. His face was not visible, but his clothes were of the highest quality in the entire Kingdom. A full sleeves grey suit of medieval design and golden runes embedded on it. With a giant figure, the man said in a deep voice.

The shadows shrieked in the room after the man's response.

"Hm? Do you think it was worth buying those twins? They are nothing but a waste of sperm." The man said with an amused voice.

"You said he survived even after a heavy blow in the chest, so I assume he worked in that Academy for two years." Folding the letter and putting it on the table the man walked near the window and looked at the full moon outside the window.

"Haa... It took me twenty years to gain the trust of the general. I don't want these two assholes to mess this up." The man voiced ambition.

Once again the shadows shrieked.

"Yes, yes. I heard that the general's son put a good word for both of them, even saying that Amaya stalled the demon to let them flee, but I have monitored them for long enough to understand the truth. I know that boy must've chased after his sister's skirt, who has a troublesome personality. And when that boy got on the verge, the general's son must've used treasure to save his life." The disappointment was clear in the man's words.

"At least that girl would've been good for the marriage of the general's son, but alas." The man continued to complain.

"Well, it is also an opportunity for us to gather our forces as the kingdom is busy with the Royal Academy."

The shadow did not shriek this time, and the man realized,

"Oh, and send that boy my message. 'We will do our at least to find that girl. Don't expect anything from us.' Don't change a single word." After his order, the shadows dispersed.

"Hmm... I wonder what that opportunistic old bastard must be up to now." Without spending any more time, the man returned to his chair.

"Thomas and Lisa... Only if you were half good as your parents, you might've been useful to me." Cursing his luck last time the man continued his work.

His guess wasn't wrong. After all, an old bastard was just waiting for this opportunity to close all of Alice's ways. But unbeknownst to any of them, a demon lurking in the shadows of the Fluger kingdom planned something.

Something that will change the future of every one of them.