Let us say, that you had two very talented individuals when it came to sword fighting. Then a monster that was created for the sole purpose of killing and destroying the order was along with them. You contained all of it inside a small room, my club room.

As you can imagine, it was a bloody mess.

“Ms. Lisa!”

“I know!”

Two distinct voices, yet the unity they had was true. It was an excellent demonstration that good teamwork could defeat an enemy several stronger than you.

Something worth praising, but the damage they did to my room was anything but that.

Rito sliced the shadow with a precise motion, one that showed his hell-like training. It cut the arm of the monster and whisked raven liquid, like that of squid ink.

The arm went twirling in the air, the same time Lisa headed for the monster, brandishing her fan like a dagger majestically.

One, two, three, four, five—five slashes in total, all that in a single second. Yes, she was not powerful like Rito who could take a limb with one stroke, but she could attack a hundred times faster than him.

Dark blood spilled from the monster's body, staining the room with its color mercilessly.

While the foe was busy facing Lisa, Rito went to its back with quick strides, readying his katana.

His blade glinted in an instant before letting out his devastating attack. Did he say something like Jatsu? Jetsu? Jitsu? I didn't know, maybe it was his native language.

The blade flung and smoothly severed the head of the shadow. It went up, rotating in slow motion, then dispersed into nothingness.

Soon, the body had gone missing too, leaving only a trail of black smoke that wiggled in the atmosphere.

The two had a satisfied smile plastered on their face as they looked at each other.

Yeah, good job destroying the room. If not for the dangling gold coins that laid before me, I would not hold myself into shoving them outside the room.

I checked the ground and see the floor dyed black. The walls were full of cut, and the area smelled something I could not explain.

Everything I gaze was a predicament. It would take me at least one day before I finish cleaning this.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..... I let my mind wander for a bit, relieving my body as it rested on the chair.

It's not like they deliberately do this to make me angry... Thinking about all the money I could get after this quest, I coughed to snatch their interest.

“Good job, now that the intruder has been taken care of, would you like to discuss the issue with me?”

I directed my words to Rito. He soothed his breathing, sheathing back the sword on his waist. He and Lisa gaited towards me as if nothing ever happened.

They dragged their chair before sitting down on it.

Hhmm? Is it just me or the seat of Rito become nearer to Lisa?

Was there some kind of reason behind that? No, I should not draw conclusions this fast.

I waited for the two to loosened up and continued what I wanted to say. “You want to know about the organization right?” I asked Rito.

He replied nothing but a nod. Lisa beside her fanned herself gently—oh, she was airing Rito, too. How sweet.

“First, let's start with the basic,” I said while enjoying their couple like behavior. “Tell me everything you know about the evil organization.”

Of course, this had raised the brow of Rito. “Why?”

But before I could answer him on my own, Lisa chided in, peering into Rito. “He might not look like it, but Elric is a wise man. He must have his reason, but I assure you that it's all to help you.”

She persuaded Rito for me!? Wow! The man in question clawed his face, then agreed to her with a sigh.

I mean, I am really happy, Lisa, knowing that I am trusted. But that kind of devotion was a bit too much wasn't?

I need to clear everything to Lisa after this quest ended. I thought.

“As far as I know. The evil organization, known as Magus, is a group of magician that wielded the magic of chaos. They want to spread destruction to gain more power.” Rito muttered.

“Continue...” I asked him somberly, emitting this serious aura. I have to pretend that I know what I'm talking about.

“As you already know, the Magus is targeting this city and the neighboring town around it.”

“So, I don't have to tell you about that thing,” I told him mysteriously. Lisa repeated my words as she was confused about what that meant.

Hahaha... I have no clue either! But saying something vaguely can potentially be misunderstood by others right?

“Oh, about that? I only have one thing in mind when you said it. So I think I do know about it.” He replied.

YES! HE TOOK THE BAIT! I almost jumped in happiness. But my manner remained unfazed, I clutched my hand severely, glancing at him. “Sad to say, but I have nothing new to tell to you, Rito... Or at least, not yet.”

“What do you mean by that...?”

“You see...” I told the two as I pound my fingertips to the wooden table, thinking about what to say next.

Ah!

“I'm not really familiar with magic but, that shadow earlier, it's a familiar isn't?” The monster who had been defeated earlier was definitely a work of magic. Rito also said that Magus was an organization of evil magicians.

“Yes, it is,” Rito replied, he was making a confused expression.

“You think that a magician could summon a servant from a far distance?” When I said that, a sense of rush run through Rito's body, he stood up with expanded eyes.

“For the summoning magic to work, a magician needs to be in close range with the monster! That means the magician is still around here in the school grounds!”

The panicked Rito then hurried to the windows, then he pointed something outside. “T-there! I see him!”

Really!? I didn't expect for the magician to still be around.

We were very lucky, I must say.

“Lisa, it looks like Rito will be chasing down the culprit, would you like to accompany him?” I ordered the feverish Lisa.

She would take a fleeting glance from the man.

“Here's your chance to boost your approval! Quickly before he exited the place!” Somehow, she seemed startled at my suggestion.

“B-but that would mean we're alone together...!” She said, twitching her shoulder.

That's the point dumbass! “Don't think that way! You still have an enemy to fight, right? Then that means there's the three of you!”

“Oh! Oh... That's rather disappointing isn't it?” She rested her hand to her cheek, tilting her head in dissatisfaction.

Do you want to be alone or not!? This girl! “Well, this is just a practice for when the two of you finally become a couple.” I tried to ease her sorrow with, smiling at her.

Rito, who followed something with his sight, shouted before running to the door. “I'm following him!”

Even then, Lisa remained unmoved. Was she waiting for one final push? Then I would!

“Quickly! Lisa!” I battered the table like a drum to hurry her. Sending my one final push, she straightened her body with a jolt.

“Y-yes! Thank you, Elric!” She said to me and followed her running crush.

Thanking me? Now that's uncharacteristic from her.

With the fading sound of their clamor, I gulped a handful of oxygen and held them inside my lungs, before letting them out slowly.

“It's really stressing to handle the two,” I whispered to myself. Then I grinned from ear to ear.

The shining gold coins that slept at the surface of the table lingered.

My hand picked the metals and raised them up high. Money!

I rubbed the swelling tears from the side of my eyes as I neatly set the coins in my chest pocket.

“Thank you, gods! I promise I'll be a good worshipper from now on!” I laughed loudly as I could.

Oh, now I have to find the keys alone.

Well, Lisa has to leave because of something important...

Though the manpower was reduced in half, if it was just finding something, I could do it.

I am not boasting but, I once searched the forest for something to eat. Herbs, mushrooms, nuts, I found them all and filled my belly with them.

“Before that...” The intimidating havoc that the two created earlier loomed over me, and I had no choice but to clean them.

I should be angry, but. The tight feeling of the money inside my chest was enough to abolish the negative emotion that threatened to surge.

Whistling, I head to the janitor's room, about half a minute walk from my club room.

The singing birds produced a melodic hum at the top of the trees, relaxing school noise echoed to the background.

My foot went like a spring that bounced lightly at my weight. I am in a good mood.

A cubic room appeared before me, it was the place where the equipment of the janitor was placed, and I am here to take those.

Unlocking the door by twisting the knob, the dim room reeked dust and moist.

What I need was the mop, bucket, and a piece of ragged cloth, anything more than that was left inside the area.

I twirled around and begun to take off back to my club room.

Is the school always this beautiful? I couldn't help but notice the painting-like atmosphere of the school right now.

Eventually, I was inside the club room and calculate the time it would take for me to finish my task.

Normally, it would take a day, but since today is a special day, I'll get serious.

Right, what I brag as a swordsman was my speed and preciseness. I could surely finish this within an hour.

I soaked the mop to the bucket and plunged it to the dirty floor. The stain had gathered at the fabric, so I rinsed it and squeezed it hard. I did nothing but to repeat those actions endlessly.

Now that the floor was wet, I grabbed the old cloth and wiped the ground with a sweeping motion.

It was really a lot of work, but I was satisfied when it was done.

“Phew!” I brushed my forehead, smirking at the cleaned room.

I strode and—

“Catch him!”

“He's going inside the club room!”

A sudden clamor and recognizable voices shook the peaceful mood.

Slam! The door was forcefully kicked and it banged the wall. Someone clad in black came in, breathing jaggedly.

“...”

What I was most surprised about was the fact that he had dirty shoes—even the word dirty could not fit the term well, rather, he was filthy.

Yes, a filthy man who dared to defile my cleanroom.

“Come here!” He shouted at me, hoping that I was intimidated as he raised his hands.

“Ekita roksi s—!”

How long has it been since I last used my footwork for battle? I plodded in quick enough that he was late to realize that we were looking at each other eye to eye.

My fist climbed upward, lancing into his jaw. I think something crack broke out from his mouth, but I didn't stop even after that.

I gripped his hair while looking at him coldly—he was returning the gaze, too, but he was afraid, as he should be.

The force from my knees crushed whatever had left from him after my punch. Blood spewing from his nose and mouth.

Filthy.

He collapsed on the ground after receiving all the trauma.

My heart that was all composed and fine earlier was now beating furiously. Something inside me clicked when I saw him trying to frighten me.

“Elric should be—! Elric...? Is that you?” The first one that had arrived was Lisa, who was wheezing as sweat fell from her neck. “Why are your eyes so... Red...?” She said, taking a step back.

Why? Why is she cautious of me. Wait, did she said that my eyes were red?

“N-nothing, I... I just feel sick, that's all.” I quickly averted my sight to her as I closed my eyelid.

“Monster child! He's the son of a devil!”

“He could fight adult on even terms!? That kid is a monster!”

“Why do you always resolve to violence!? Do you want to kill us so badly!?”

“Bigbro... Your eyes... They look so terr—”

“Elric, are you fine? Do you want to rest?”

The bad memories that swirled inside my mind were cut by the worried tone of Lisa. I could see her trembling in fear but she resolved herself to talk to me.

“What happened here?” Now it was Rito who emerged from the door. The wound was evident from his arms, Lisa was injured too.

“Nothing. So this is one of the evil magicians?” I said even though I was not facing him. My way of communicating could be interpreted as disrespectful, but Rito was not someone who would fret something like this.

“That's him. We really have a hard time fighting that one since he's so fast and all... Thank you, Elric.”

“Nah, he's just weakened by you guys, don't worry about it.” Did my masquerade manage to fool them?

“What happened to you, Elric?” Rito detected that I was hiding something, and so he asked.

“Hahaha, nothing really.” I scratched my hair, this was something that helped me calm down.

Setting my shoes in front of the window, I opened my eyes. There was no way I could face them right now because I know, I am surely making a really scary face at this moment...

One that even my beloved sister could not bear to look at.