“Since when did you guys become so close, I wonder?”
The question brought me out of my thoughts, and I turned to see who had spoken. It was Nancy, her lips curling into a smirk.
“It doesn’t concern you, Nancy,” Aisha responded curtly, well aware of Nancy’s character and the kind of trouble she could stir.
“Don’t be so angry, I just asked a question. Aren’t you all curious?” Nancy’s voice carried through the room, drawing everyone’s attention. “How did the little incapable and nerdy Nathan manage to get close to Aisha, of all people?” she asked, her smirk widening.
“Ain’t you right, Nancy? I also wonder that! Kakaka!” Aiden quickly joined in, always eager to bash me. His laughter echoed, and his friends, along with a few other classmates who were genuinely curious, joined in.
Honestly, I wasn’t upset. I had grown accustomed to their taunts and didn’t really care. However, if any of them insisted too much and crossed a certain line, I was ready to make them regret it. And Nancy was dangerously close to that line.
I took a sip of water from my glass, choosing to ignore her.
Aisha glanced at Nancy coldly before returning to her meal, clearly unfazed.
“She asked you a question, nerd!” Aiden shouted, his glare trying to intimidate me.
I noticed Amelia preparing to intervene, but the Emperor distracted her, drawing her attention away. It was peculiar. Until now, Nancy had refrained from her usual antics, likely traumatized by the summoning and the loss of all her influence. So why was she resuming her old behavior so suddenly?
Could the Emperor have prompted her? It seemed plausible. Perhaps he had received orders from Radakel or one of the Divine Knights to push me to my limits, to see how much I could tolerate.
“Stop it, Aiden! At least when we are eating!” Courtney’s voice cut through the tension, surprising everyone, including Jason.
Typically, Courtney remained indifferent to my situation, letting others do as they pleased while she watched and waited for Jason to intervene. But now, she had spoken up, indirectly standing up for me. While others might think she was just upset, I knew she was genuinely trying to help.
“What did you say?” Aiden glared at Courtney, his anger barely restrained.
“Aiden.” A cold voice rang out, cutting through the room. It was Sienna.
She fixed Aiden with a frosty stare. “Leave my brother alone, will you?”
Sienna had been unaware of Aiden’s bullying. She had not witnessed his torment towards me. Her anger now, on my behalf, was evident and heartfelt.
Aiden clicked his tongue in frustration and stood up from the table, leaving his plate half-eaten. I noticed Siara sighing in relief.
Jason, conspicuously silent, did not intervene as expected. His usual composure was slipping, revealing his irritation at Aisha’s closeness to me and Courtney’s unexpected defense. His true nature was beginning to show more and more.
“Oh, we were just curious, Aisha!” Nancy persisted, unwilling to drop the matter.
“Can’t you just shut up a bit?” Gwen’s voice cut through the chatter, silencing Nancy.
Everyone turned in surprise.
“I’m trying to read here,” Gwen said, waving her book with an annoyed look.
Nancy pouted but finally let the matter drop. “Right~” she said, turning her attention elsewhere.
“Thanks, Gwen,” I said gratefully.
“I didn’t do it for you,” Gwen replied curtly.
“Really?” I asked, amused.
“Still, thanks,” I added with a smile.
Gwen didn’t respond, but she didn’t need to. Her actions spoke louder than her words. Despite her aloof demeanor, she had taken a stand, and for that, I understood that she was seeing me differently than the other boys.
Clap!
“Attention, Heroes!”
Suddenly, the Emperor stood up, commanding our focus.
“As you might have guessed, we are gathered here not only to dine together. I wish to introduce someone very important to all of you,” Emperor Philip said, stepping aside.
In a brilliant golden glow, a strikingly handsome man appeared, even more so than anyone else present. His white hair was slicked back, and his golden eyes shone with an unsettling intensity. This was Radakel.
He smiled gracefully, placing his hand on his chest. “I greet all the Great Heroes respectfully. I’m Radakel, a Divine Knight of the Empire of Light.”
So, they finally chose to reveal themselves publicly. Was it because of Oscar’s death? Or was there another reason?
“Oh my god, he’s so handsome!”
“I can’t believe it!”
The girls’ excited squeals filled the room, but the smarter ones were clearly cautious. Sienna, Gwen, and Aisha, in particular, seemed wary. They could sense that Radakel was a dangerous presence, even if they couldn’t discern his exact power level.
Philip smiled broadly. “Radakel is one of the strongest warriors of our Empire, even stronger than Oscar. He will now oversee your training along with Cecilia. You’ll see, he will make you even stronger,” he added with a laugh.
Radakel chuckled softly. “The Emperor has high hopes for me, but I will do my best to make all the Great Heroes even greater,” he said, his benevolent smile masking a deeper intent.
“Aisha, this person is dangerous. Be careful with him,” I said loud enough for both Aisha and Gwen, who were seated near her, to hear.
Aisha glanced at me, puzzled by my warning and curious about how and why I had come to that conclusion, but she nodded in acknowledgment. Gwen gave me a brief, thoughtful look before turning her attention back to Radakel.
“If you are truly stronger than Oscar, why didn’t you help us from the beginning? Oscar could still be alive if it had been you instead of him. Were you hiding for some reason?” Sienna asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Good question, Sienna.
“S… Sienna…” Amelia called out softly with a sigh. It looked like she had asked the same question before and had already received an answer.
Radakel maintained his calm demeanor. “I had other matters to attend to outside the Empire. Far greater dangers lurk beyond our borders that required my attention. But fear not, I will be by your side from now on.”
Sienna remained skeptical, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized him.
“To prove myself to both the Great Heroes and the Empire, I haven’t come empty-handed,” Radakel continued, his smile broadening. “Tomorrow, we will venture outside the capital to Uteska, a small village on the western side of the Empire.”
“What are we going to do there?” Jason asked, his curiosity piqued.
Radakel’s smile twisted into something almost sinister. “Demon Extermination.”