-Vol 6: Dusk of An Era-

-Markus-

“Oh? So you remember me, huh?” Kenshin asked sarcastically, stepping closer to Saeki. He grabbed his collar and lifted him overhead, glaring to his eyes with his emotionless black ones. Back then, if it’s not for Aoi’s timely arrival, he would have died in that dungeon, even with the help of his system. This anger, it wasn’t that easy to quell. Certainly, he also didn’t have any intention to seek revenge, it’s just that this guy’s luck was too bad, and he encountered Kenshin when his own mood was down.

After becoming aware of Yuki’s case, Kenshin was too frustrated and was looking for a source to let out his accumulated steam. This guy just presented himself to his doorstep with a tag attached, saying ‘beat me’… just what he needed at the moment. As Kenshin held him by his collars, he delivered another slap to his other cheek.

“A teacher like you, who would dupe his student’s guardians, is better off serving his time in cell… huh, now that I think about it, how did you get out?” Kenshin asked coldly, still holding the man through his collars. His fellow teachers who saw everything happening just stood silently at a safe distance watching the show. They did nothing to stop Kenshin, a few even sniggered at this man’s bad luck.

“Hey, who are you? Leave Teacher Saeki alone. It’s a university, not a place for people like you to do as you please.” At this time, a balding man with a potbelly, came running from within one of the buildings. His short legs did a lot of work to carry him all the way to where Kenshin stood.

Kenshin looked at the man and snorted, then he looked back towards Saeki, who looked as if the world has ended, “Is he one of your accomplices?”

“No, no, he is not. He is the vice dean of this academy.” Saeki said between deep breaths. He was being held in that position for a while now, he was starting to feel suffocated. He patted Kenshin’s hands lightly, signaling or more like pleading him to put him down.

“Hey, Vice-dean, why is this man still here?” Kenshin asked after throwing Saeki to the ground.

“Huh? Who the hell are you to question what the board of directors decides?” the vice-dean angrily retorted as he trotted towards Saeki and tried to help him stand up, “Are you alright, Mr. Saeki? I heard you are being attacked by someone, so I ran as fast as I could.”

“So, he is one of your accomplices I see…” Kenshin gritted his teeth angrily and kicked the plump dean away, before bringing out his phone.

“Please, Mr. Muto. Just let me go, this once. I promise I will lead an honest life from now on and never repeat what I did. Just let me go this once.” Seeing him bringing out his phone, Saeki abandoned all reservation and face, and latched into Kenshin’s right leg, as he cried and begged.

In this university, every tom dick and harry was a hunter with some level and achievements under their belts. Few teachers were even beyond level 100, and they were all senior teachers. This vice-dean, too, was a hunter during his heydays and had achieved his level 100 a few years before joining this university. Even though he was kicked like a ball, he didn’t suffer any injuries. Instead, he felt humiliated. Seeing that some unknown man running rampant in his territory, and even kicked him, he saw red. Forgetting the fact that he was actually sent skidding by this man despite himself being a level 100 hunter, he attacked with everything he had got.

His right fist was enveloped in a red aura, as he jumped into the sky before coming down, aiming at Kenshin’s right cheek. The fist connected, but aside from the ground cracking beneath Kenshin’s feet, nothing happened much. On the other hand, due to the rebounding force, Saeki was sent flying and even coughed a little blood.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Kenshin asked with his eyes narrowed, staring at the man who attacked him out of the blue, even going for a lethal strike. Now that he was attacked with skill and intent to kill, Kenshin had all the right to retaliate. He grabbed the vice dean's hand before clenching his right fist. After that, he delivered a heavy fist to the man’s pot belly, sending him flying.

Above the man, his HP bar instantly downed to its 10%, throwing him into a state of dizziness. This man was strong, but Kenshin was just too much for him to handle. Despite both of them at the same level, their stats spoke volumes and made the difference. Then he stepped closer to the dizzy man, and as he was about to attack him one more time, an aged hand grabbed his shoulders, stopping him, “Mr. Muto, please don’t stoop that low as in to kill every imbecile you see.”

“You are?” Kenshin asked, using his system’s scan on the old man.

[Markus][Human]

[Level: ??]

[??]

That’s all he could see.

‘Probably someone beyond 50 or so levels beyond me… intriguing…’ mused Kenshin, letting both the vice-dean and the teacher, Saeki go as he faced the old man.

“I am but a janitor of this academy, the name’s Markus. Nice to meet you.” The old man smiled, introducing himself in a very unique way.

“A janitor, who is stronger than the dean…? I don’t believe it.” Not one to back down from a verbal fight, Kenshin retorted.

“Haha, you have got a sharp eye, Mr. Kenshin. As expected of the man who took down two Imitation Dragons at once, I have heard praises about your prowess.” The old man said, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger. Old he might be, but Kenshin was sure that this man’s eyes were sharper and more powerful than anyone he had seen since his arrival in Tokyo.

“Imitation Dragons? Ah, you are calling those greasy things, that?” Kenshin was flabbergasted, and also a little amused. Then he shook his head, talk about people and their naming senses. Its as if these guys were on a high when the thought of the name… the lack of enthusiasm and creativity was obvious here.

“Yeah. I too feel like we shouldn’t let these guys come up with names anymore. The lack of creativity is appalling. Back in my youth, we have monsters with names like Moon Devouring wolf, or Red-faced Tiger and the likes.” The old man said before shaking his head. Then he gave Kenshin an earnest look, “Please follow me to my office. Let me take care of these two in my own way and also take this as a form of apology to what happened to you at the hands of one of our faculties.”

Kenshin gave the trembling Saeki and the Vice-dean a look before saying, “Alright.” After that, he followed the old man behind before arriving before a well-furnished office. After giving the office a glance, Kenshin asked, “Never knew the janitors in this academy have this kind of office… kinda jealous I am, if you ask me honestly.”

“Haha, well, it’s a hunter’s academy after all… don’t you know how rich hunters are?” the old man joked, before retrieving a set of equipment, a small stove and a steel(?) jug, “tea?” he asked, showing Kenshin an empty cup.

“Extra sugar, please,” Kenshin said and continued to observe the office. The collections of seals, honors, and photographs attracted his attention. Although, he didn’t recognize anyone from those pictures aside from the old man.