507 Chapter 507: Back to School (1/2)
”Dude, I'll help you with tracking down Chiropterans and monsters, and hunting them down. But I'll not get involved in school politics and rivalry.”
”Come on!” Kufa clapped his hands together and bowed his head. ”Just this once!”
”What do you even need me for, anyway? I'm not a student of Saint Teresa Academy. I'm just here on exchange!”
”Blame it on Saya…” Kufa hesitated when he caught my look. ”David told me that you encountered her. I'm sure you saw how much of a bitch she is.”
”Well, she certainly is quite the aloof person, but I wouldn't go that far.”
”You don't know her well enough! She's looking down on our school because she has scored more Chiropteran kills! She's mocking us for being weaker and less competent!”
”Ignore her then. She sounds like a childish person.”
”If only it's that easy.” Kufa sighed, reverting back to his usual composed self. ”The problem is that reputation is tied to the number of missions we request. At this rate, the Hunter Association will be sending more requests to Hennepin Academy instead of Saint Teresa Academy. They will only exclusively give Saya these missions.”
”Great! Let her deal with all of them then!”
I honestly couldn't care less. While I would certainly hunt the Chiropterans if they were threatening civilians, I wasn't some greedy bastard seeking honor, glory and credit. If there were other people dealing with the Chiropteran threat, they were more than welcome to. I was more interested in the safety of civilians and innocents than I was in bagging bragging rights.
”That's not the point…” Kufa sighed and buried his face in his palm. He straightened up. ”Anyway, the next time we have a mission, I'll ask you to come along.”
”Uh, you do realize that I'm quite busy, right?” I had training with Adrian and Melina on top of my own, as well as homework and other school stuff. Plus I wanted to take other missions. I wasn't fond of the idea of being randomly called up in the middle of the night to go slay monsters. I would still do it, of course, but I would prefer to have some semblance of organization or schedule rather than be at Kufa's beck and call.
”Yes, I understand.” Kufa nodded. ”I will try my best to not take up too much of your time. And you're welcome to refuse, of course. There's where Saya and I come in – we'll do the work. It's just that an additional teammate will help me out a lot.”
I sighed. ”How often do these Chiropterans show up? I hope it's not every night or something. That would mean you're understaffed, and they shouldn't be handing these missions out to students.”
”Oh, yeah. Not that often. Maybe once a month, after the higher-ups in the Hunter Association detect a possible Chiropteran. You've met David – he's in charge of tracking down possible leads. Then Saya and I come in to sniff them out, and exterminate them.”
”Once a month? That's not so bad. Sure, if I happen to be free on that day, I will help.” When I meant free, I meant if I wasn't in the midst of a mission of my own.
Kufa understood that, and he nodded. Then he looked a little guilty.
”Well, to tell you the truth…this mission isn't official. They are not recognized by the school. For it to be recognized, the Hunter Association has to formally submit a request to the school, but I get this straight from them, without going through the school. That's normally not allowed. Especially since the Hunter Association is just sending the requests straight to Saya instead of to our school. And we are not supposed to be…uh, stealing missions from students from other schools. So if we get caught doing them, we might get into trouble.”
”What?” I glared at him through my glasses. ”And you want me to get involved in this?”
”I'm sorry!” Kufa bowed deeply. ”But this concerns the lives of people, so we don't have a choice! If we wait for the Hunter Association to formally send a request, and for the school to approve the missions, the Chiropterans will claim another victim in the meantime! As competent as Saya is, she's just one person. She can't do everything by herself! That's why it's so important that we bring back up our reputation up, so that the Hunter Association will formally send the requests to Saint Teresa Academy!”
”Fine.” I sighed heavily as I scratched my head. ”Call me if there's an emergency. But only if there's an emergency and peope's lives are in danger. Got it? I don't want to get involved in all this political bullshit and school rivalry.”
”Ugh…” Kufa looked a little disappointed, but he nodded. ”Understood.”
I sighed in relief, and then turned away from him to head toward Adrian and Melina's manor. I waved, and even without glancing back, I knew that he was going his separate way. I wasn't sure what to do, but I honestly didn't want to get involved in this.
However, if innocent people were in danger…
”Ugh! Why does everything have to be so complicated?!”
Shaking my head in exasperation, I strode up to the gate. To my surprise, it was open, and there were a few familiar figures waiting for me.
”Brother Richie!”
”Sensei!”
Adrian and Melina ran up to me excitedly, glad to see me after so long. I nodded and waved at them.
”How are you guys doing?”
”Good, I guess.” Adrian grinned and shrugged. Melina nodded.
”I believe I've gotten stronger. I look forward to showing you my progress during training, Sensei!”
”That's great to hear.” I nodded and patted their heads. I then turned to nod politely at Amelia, who responded with a smile.
”It's good to see you again, Master Richard.”
”Yeah, it's been a while. And I told you that you don't have to be so formal.”
”Not at all. I am but a mere servant of the Franklin household. Perhaps you prefer to dispense with such propriety, but I insist on it. It is not befitting of a maid to conduct herself in such a casual manner, especially the head maid of this particular manor.”
Yikes. I found the whole thing stifling, but I didn't argue. It would be pointless. So I nodded and followed the kids back into the mansion.
”Whoa…it really has been a while.” Looking around, I felt a bit amazed, and couldn't help but smile. ”I don't know how I'll be able to return to school now.”
*
The next morning, I was standing in the garden, watching Adrian and Melina spar. She was telling the truth – her skills had improved yet again.
”You really didn't spend the holidays slacking off, eh?”
”Why would I do that?” Melina stared at me blankly. I sighed and shook my head.