“The dark continent is becoming active.”(Takeshi)

“The dark continent? I see. That’s what’s causing such a ruckus at school. That makes sense.”(Me)

I hadn’t fully realized what he told me yet. After I did, I made a stupid face.

“Wait, which Dark Continent do you speak of?”(Me)

“There is only 1, so which could I talk about?”(Takeshi)

“Only 1?”(Me)

“Yeah. It’s the 1 were the SS danger level Nightmare appeared a few years ago. It was such a huge issue, almost everyone knows of the Nightmare and the Dark Continent. How come you ask me now?”(Takeshi)

I was deep in thoughts. “How could I not know about myself”, was what I wanted to say but that would have been a stupid decision so I stayed quiet. It felt really strange to hear about myself from someone else.

What came more as a surprise was that the Dark Continent became active. It was my land and I knew what happened there. There was no such thing as movements except for the preparations, but no one should know about that.

“Hello? I asked you a question.”(Takeshi)

“Huh what?”(Me)

I didn’t listen to Takeshi at all. I could only think of ways to show others that I am not affiliated with the Black Continent.

“Sigh. I asked you why you were that surprised.”(Takeshi)

“Ah. I. I. It is really strange, don’t you think?”(Me)

“What is strange? What are you talking about?”(Takeshi)

“Why is the Dark Continent showing signs of movements now, when it could have also done that a few years ago?”(Me)

“Does it really matter? What matters is that somehow a rumour of it being active is spread.”(Takeshi)

“No you are right. It was only a thought.”(Me)

I was relieved that I somehow managed to deceive Takeshi. I knew that I could trust my own students. They wouldn’t betray me I was sure about that. But how else was it possible for such rumour to spread. I couldn’t find an answer.

“Hello?”(Takeshi)

“Huh what?”(Me)

I didn’t listen again.

“You didn’t listen again?”(Takeshi)

“Sorry.”(Me)

“You should really start listening to others you know.”(Takeshi)

“Yea, yea. So what were you talking about again?”(Me)

“I don’t believe that it is the actual Dark Continent they were talking about.”(Takeshi)

“Huh. Didn’t you just say that there is only 1?”(Me)

“There is indeed only 1. What I am trying to say is that they only used the name of it. Personally I don’t believe that they are really affiliated with the Dark Continent.”(Takeshi)

“Who?”(Me)

“Ah. Right I forgot to tell you the rest, sorry man.”(Takeshi)

He was laughing. I had the urge to punch him in the face at least once to get that grin out of him, but if I did that, he wouldn’t tell me the rest of the rumour and I would have had more work to do.

“There was a battle. At the border of the beastmen continent and the human continent. A group of 8 people saying they are from the Dark Continent.”(Takeshi)

“And?”(Me)

“Just with that information, it is obvious that the Dark Continent wasn’t part of this. It is probably only someone who is trying to stir up the peaceful relationship between those 2 races.”(Takeshi)

“It is?”(Me)

“Why should the Dark Continent meddle in power struggles between other races? By the way, don’t play the innocent person. I know pretty well that you are or at least can be sharper than most adults.”(Takeshi)

“If you say so.”(Me)

“This is really annoying.”(Takeshi)

“Please continue.”(Me)

He could only sigh when he realised that I was teasing him. It is really hard to explain something to a child. I experienced it myself, so I knew how I had to act to annoy someone.

“Well, the 2 races decided that it was a plan made up by someone else. But the fact that the name of the Dark Continent as well as Nightmare came up again after 2 years spreads too fast.”(Takeshi)

“So what is going to happen to the Dark Continent?”(Me)

“Nothing. Perhaps some minor attacks but nothing big will happen. What should they do? If any of the races would try to seize the Dark Continent, it would mean they are willing to give up their own continent. It is impossible to win against Nightmare without an army, but those armies are required for defence, so no one will do anything against the Dark Continent.”(Takeshi)

It was nice to hear that no one would attack us in the near future and that all of that had nothing to do with me. If the other races decided to attack the Dark Continent, I could say farewell to my plan to prevent a bad future.

“And that group of 8?”(Me)

“I don’t know. The people inside only yell at each other and nothing comes out of it. I hope I will never have to go to such meetings.”(Takeshi)

He was pointing at the hall.

“The only normal thing they said was something about adding some discovery quests to the adventurer guild as well as some schools. They probably want to take more islands for themselves.”(Takeshi)

“You shouldn’t take that as something negative. Humans are greedy creatures and we can’t change that fact.”(Me)

“Not only humans are greedy though.”(Takeshi)

We left shortly afterwards. It was obvious that they would come to no agreement inside and we had better things to do than only listening to adults shouting at each other.

“Well I am relieved that it had nothing to do with the black continent.”(Takeshi)

He said on our way home.

“Why so?”(Me)

Takeshi made an angry expression.

“Remember when I told you my foster parents were killed because of greed?”(Takeshi)

“Yea.”(Me)

“Well, all of that would have never happened if our 2 body guards were still with us.”(Takeshi)

“I don’t understand.”(Me)

“Because of the incident with Nightmare, a lot of people vanished, or probably even died. Some of them were family members or friends of us. Because of that, our 2 guards, asked for permission to seek revenge. We all thought that there was nothing to worry about, but we were wrong. The message of both of them gone missing was a huge shock to us.”(Takeshi)

I felt a bitter feeling inside me. I fought against many people at that time and I couldn’t remember those 2 at all. I was sad and depressed.

“Don’t worry. I am training to beat Nightmare in the future. And it wasn’t only his fault. If we didn’t stay that depressed back then and searched for new guards all of that wouldn’t have happened.”(Takeshi)

That is something to worry about though. If I am not able to persuade you that the Dark Continent and I are actually good, I will have to fight you in the future.