Chapter 19 - Artifacts Demonstration and Announcement (1/2)

The next day, after the short lunch break, Captain Meld told the students plus Aiko and Rio that there was no training afterward. Some students heaved a sigh of relief while the other seemed deflated. They were curious as to why the training after lunch was stopped.

Captain Meld explained to them, ”The royal family and delegations from the Holy Saint Temple will test the new artifact created by your friends. You must know them. They are Hajime Nagumo and Rio Kevin. You all are invited to the testing too.” When Captain Meld shouted that, he seemed excited.

Yesterday night, after dinner, Rio had reported the completion of his and Hajime's first product that he promised to them. He also gave them the sample, but the official testing would still happen the next day. The official testing was to show off the finished product in front of the delegation from Holy Church.

The meeting was for the royal family, King's important retinues, Rio, and Hajime. As the Captain of Royal Knight and an important personage of the Kingdom, Meld was involved in the meeting. After watching the product first hand, it was only normal for him to be excited. After all, Rio's and Hajime's creation could be said revolutionary, that it would help in their war against the demons.

When the students heard that, they started a ruckus. They had forgotten Hajime since he had disappeared after their Status Inspection. They never thought Hajime had been doing something interesting. They did not feel skeptical of Captain Meld's declaration because he also mentioned Rio's name. Rio's prestige in the students' eyes had risen up after this week. Of course, not everyone liked Rio. But, let's ignore the jealous and the narrow-minded bunch.

They turned at Rio who was together with Kouki's group. He had become the official member of Kouki's group after what happened yesterday in the afternoon. When Rio became the center of the students' attention, he shrugged his shoulders casually and returned their curiosity with a mysterious smile.

Finally, the students were bring led by Captain Meld, the other knights, and Court Magicians towards the testing field. When they entered the testing field, the say a canopy had been erected in the middle of the field. There were around three dozens of a seat prepared for VIPs, the students included due to their status as Apostles of God.

As an aside, Rio felt Ehit's gaze on him as this happening, but he did not seem to mind the fake God's attention on him. After a week to get familiar with his new power, he was confident that he could crush Ehit and their force residing in Holy Precinct.

As they entered the canopy, Kaori made a beeline towards Hajime who was answering the questions from Ishtar and other delegation from Holy Church and embraced him in front of everyone. The other members of Kouki's group followed after Kaori in a hurry. Only Rio who walked up to the new love birds with steady, unhurried steps. Rio did that to check the students' reaction to this play. And as he expected, they had a face full of disbelief and outrage when they saw the open affection Kaori showered on Hajime was unusual and very different from the past. They were not blind. They could see that Hajime's and Kaori's relationship had changed. When Rio joined Hajime and the others, he motioned to Kouki with his eyes. Kouki then nodded in Rio's direction in affirmation before facing the students.

”Everyone! Please give me your attention for a few seconds!” Kouki's loud voice attracted the students' attention and distracted them from the open display of affection between Hajime and Kaori. Well, it was mostly Kaori fussing over Hajime who had a stiff face as he received Kaori's fussing. After the students focused on Kouki, he continued on.

”I want to inform you that two of our classmates have become an official couple. You may have guessed it, and indeed, these friends of ours are no other than Hajime Nagumo and my childhood friend, Kaori!”

The students, Aiko, and the young Prince Lundel blanked at the bomb Kouki dropped. Some boys had exaggerated reaction as if they heard their beloved puppy was murdered in a cold blood. Kouki realized their strong reaction and shifted his view towards Rio who enjoyed the scene. He had a troubled expression. When Rio saw that, he shrugged his shoulders and silently informed Kouki to continue. Since Kouki did not know what he should do next, he waited for his friends to recover. And recover they did.

”Are you f*cking kidding me?!”

”Oy, this is a joke, right? Amanogawa, tell me that you were joking!”