Allen and Mia decided to return to his classroom first. They just can’t proceed to the higher floors while accompanied by a group of weak women.

Along the way, Allen asked for the girls' names.

The one who was holding his hand was Divina Reyes. 13 year’s old, freshman. According to her, she came from a wealthy family and his father was a government official.

From Allen's observation, she was a little bit quiet and a scaredy-cat.

The others were Imelda Cruz. A 16 years old freshman.

Flordeliza Ocampo. A 15 years old sophomore.

Liezel Bautista. 15 years old sophomore.

Riza Santos. 16 years old junior.

And lastly, Amihan Mendoza. A 15 years old freshman.

It seems like; most of them were captured by the goblins, especially that goblin warrior who killed all the people beside them.

As for the other girls who were quietly following them, Allen and Mia completely ignored them and treated them as air.

Along the way, there were some monsters such as, Rat crawlers and goblins who popped out here and there but they were easily dealt with by Allen and Mia. So, there is really no danger.

After a minute of walking, they arrived at the familiar door. It was closed and when Allen tried opening it, it didn’t budge. It must have been blocked by something.

“Who’s there?!” a familiar voice rang from behind the door.

“It’s me, teacher, it’s Allen.”

“Allen!?” A surprised yet delighted voice. It was then followed by something being dragged away.

Clank.

The door opened and there were Ms. Grace and Lieri, standing while looking at them. Ms. Grace, in particular, had a wide smile plastered on her face.

“I’m ba---” Allen couldn’t finish his word because he was suddenly embraced by Ms. Grace.

“Are you okay?!” touching every part of his body, Ms. Grace checked every part for injuries. Only when she saw nothing did she finally heave a sigh of relief.

Allen was surprised and couldn’t say anything for a moment from her excessive care.

“Come inside quickly.” Ms. Grace dragged him inside and after all the people entered did she closed the door. Her actions were funny but no one laughed. There were even some students who immediately pushed a huge desk and chairs against the door.

“Welcome back, Lady Mia.” Lieri bowed at her mistress.

“I’m back Lieri.”

“Welcome back too, young master Allen.”

“I’m back Lieri.”

--- ---

“(Ahm, what’s with these girls’ clothes?)”

As soon as the people led by Allen entered the classroom, Ms. Grace finally calmed down from worry. Although she knows that Allen wasn’t really a normal boy judging by the behavior he was showing right now, but outside was still dangerous.

There were still dangerous monsters walking around the place.

But now that she managed to calm down, she noticed the ambiguous atmosphere around Allen’s group. And especially about the girls wearing some strange clothes.

They were obviously not the owner of the clothes they currently wearing because some were big some were small and didn’t fit at all. There were also some bloodstains and excessive torn

However, because of this strange atmosphere, she didn’t voice it out and only asked Allen in a whisper.

Allen noticed Ms. Grace consideration and smiled wryly.

“(…a very long story. Although it’s not something to easily talk about.)”

“(I see… then I will not ask anymore. I will also tell the other students.)” Ms. Grace seemed to notice something.

Allen lightly shrugged.

Thinking there was no longer a need to protect the girls, Allen walked towards Lieri. “Did you encounter any mishaps?”

“Aside from monsters coming here and there, there’s nothing worth worrying.”

“I see…”

“Allen, are we going leave now?” Aileen had arrived at the time he was still speaking to Lieri.

“No, not yet. We still need to check the upper floors.”

“But, Allen isn’t that too dangerous. Why don’t we just leave? Ms. Lieri said that there were already cars waiting outside.” Ms. Grace cut in.

“Might be but still I can’t go.” Allen shook his head. “But if you want, you can leave first.”

“No! We must leave together!” Ms. Grace didn’t hesitate and answered immediately. Although she was overwhelmed with unwillingness, there was no other way. She will never leave Allen in this dangerous place.

Although such thinking was very strange for a teacher, Ms. Grace seemed to have not noticed it and only justified by thinking that this was because she was a teacher and Allen was her student.

Well, for this kind of thinking, who knows where it leads to?

“If that’s what you want then so be it. Mia and I still need to explore the upper floors and it might take some time.” Allen didn’t argue anymore and said.

He didn’t ask the others opinion because he didn’t care about them at all. If this was a game, then they were just NPCs, not something important. Thus, their opinions are automatically void.

Of course, some students most actually didn’t like this. But they know that only Allen and the short haired girl Mia was their lifelines at this moment. As for Mia, it goes without thinking that she didn’t care about them at all and was just here because of Allen.

This kind of thing, only idiots would not realize it.

And so, they have no choice but to shut their mouth and follow what Allen and others decided.

Done talking, Allen was now prepared to go up. However, before he could turn around, he was stopped by Aileen.

“I want to go.” She said.

“No, it will most likely become dangerous.”

“I want to become stronger.” Her expression was saying that she would go even if Allen wouldn’t agree.

She then walked towards him and hugs him. The surroundings froze, even Ms. Grace and Lieri’s eye widened by the scene.

Mia’s beautiful blue pupils narrowed and glowed in a very dangerous light. Her smile was frightening to the point that the ones watching her became scared.

“(…You were going to look for those silver colored crystals, right?)”

Allen was also taken back by Aileen’s sudden intimate actions but before he could pull her away, Aileen’s words stopped him.

“(How did you know? Don’t tell me…you remember?)”

“(I don’t know what you’re talking about but I saw you and that girl called Mia taking that silver crystal after that monster spider died. It can give amazing weapons, right? And I doubt that’s just the only thing.)” Aileen whispered as she continued to hug him.

“(I see, that time huh…)” Allen’s voice carried a hint of disappointment. This expression didn’t escape from Aileen.

Do I have something to remember?

‘…let’s just say, I owe you in our past lives.’ Aileen remembered what Allen told her when they first met. She was now started to believe that his words weren't a lie, or maybe it carried other meaning.

But this wasn’t the time for that. She could still ask him later.

“(…so what’s the point of this action?)”

“(Maybe you don’t want others to know about it, is what I was thinking.)” Aileen flashed a cocky grin as she loosens her arms and let go. Her face saying, ‘I got you.’

“(You got it wrong.)”

“?”

“(I didn’t tell them because they would just die if they went and seek for it. Crystals are always guarded by strong monsters, they would just seek death if they go~)”

“(Is that so?)” Aileen obviously didn’t believe him.

Seeing that, Allen only shrugs his shoulders and said, “I am not forcing you to believe me.”

“Well, bringing you along is alright. But I will tell you this again, this will be dangerous. You could die.”

“I’m prepared.”

Aileen’s eyes exuded a strange light. She then said provocatively, “…and besides, you are there. You won’t let your ex-wife die in front of you right?” she teased.

Allen faintly smiled. He looked at his surroundings and caught sight of Ms. Grace, Divina who was wearing a gloomy face, and Lieri. He said with a smile, “So be it.”

And so, Allen, Mia, and Aileen once again went out.

This time, the destination is the upper floors.

--- ---

Allen and the others didn’t even take a couple of minutes to reach the stair towards the second floor. Along with their way, there are only several monsters that popped out, as for the reason, of course, it were Allen and Mia who cleaned them all up.

The second floor vastly differs from the first floor. If the first floor was a nest of goblins, then the second floor was a sea of insects.

Giant ominous-looking Beetles, bugs and insects were crawling in the whole place. Everywhere were insect monsters.

Allen and the others looked at the hallway that could be labeled as the “pathway of death”. It was a straight passageway. Filled with monsters crawling and yet it had no cover.

“Only idiots would walk in that kind of place.” Allen couldn’t help but grumble. It was truly ridiculous, did the whole second floor been conquered? Allen gripped his gun tightly.

“Well, although I don’t want to admit it, even if they call me an idiot, I would still raise my hat for you Allen. My idiocy is nothing compared to you.” Mia spoke with a mocking tone.

Even if he said that she was certain that Allen would still walk that path. That was why they were here for, after all.

Allen didn’t care about it one bit and asked, “Was that a compliment or an insult?”

“Of course, I’m complimenting you~” Mia was looking happily at his face with a grin. She then poked his cheeks, teasing him.

“Damn, whoever thinks that it was a compliment must have their heads kicked by a donkey!”

“Oh, you sure know it. Then why did you still asked?” Mia replied playfully.

“Yeah, I admit that— is what you think I would say?”

“You admitted it just now!” Mia happily told him. Her face had written “Right?” on it, which pissed Allen off.

“...Could it be that the two of you are going out?”

Because of Aileen’s unexpected words, both Allen and Mia’s eyes opened wide at the same time.

“What are you talking about? Me and this lunatic? Hell no, might as well marry you instead!”

Mia glared at him, saying, “What was that supposed to mean?!”

She then raised her fist and was prepared to punch him when,

“Mia, playtime’s over.” Allen’s serious voice rang out. Mia’s fist stopped in mid-air as she glanced beside her.

It seemed like the monstrous bugs finally noticed their groups and immediately rushed over while raising their scythe-like fangs and legs.

“Mia,” Allen called out.

“I know.” Using the call as her sign, Mia began her attack with the rifle she held in both hands.

Ratatatatata

Series of gunshots echoed in the hallway, attracting the other monsters.

“Allen!”

“Covering!” Allen pointed his BERETTA92 from Mia’s left where another group of insects appeared.

A terrible battle had begun.

--- ---