Each day I was growing stronger.

About a month into the new year our weekend challenge was bomb training. One team made the bomb and the other had to disarm it. BladEagle was making sure every step he made to disarm it was correct but Goopy’s crying was agitating him. He suddenly started punching Goopy’s face. Before I knew it, I had stepped in and slammed BladEagle to the floor. My muscle memory had truly evolved. Thankfully CamOctopus stepped in and disarmed the bomb.

The month’s end came with a surprise and a secret. VirtueVice had convinced the president that StarBorne would be safe with him. BunBun and I were so happy to see our leader. We tackle hugged him to the ground before we all trained together. BunBun had difficulty keeping his whereabouts a secret from the rest of the class, but I always managed to cover for her.

The weeks continued to go by with new challenges every weekend and we nearly always pulled through in the end. I ended up taking StarBorne’s place as our leader, with everything he taught me after class, leadership became second nature to me. BladEagle didn’t like this of course and challenged me for the position. He still had more skill than me with a knife, but I had mastered distraction and disarmament.

His knife spins in his hand before striking like a falcon with incredible speed.

I dodge his strikes without thought.

The daily knife dodging has really paid off.

I throw a bit of sand in his eyes and then position myself behind him with the Fluffy Slide technique BunBun taught me. A well-placed hand chop to the back of his neck makes him lose hold of his weapon. My dagger then comes out from my sleeve and moves in a flash.

His shirt and pants are sliced off, leaving him only in his underwear.

To think I could defeat the weapon master of our class so easily. And since the duel was on the weekend, all the KITs in our division witnessed his humiliating defeat.

The feeling of victory was like being bathed in light.

“How does a lazy good for nothing like you defeat someone like me? I never rest. I’m always training. How the hell are you so talented?”

“Focus.” I take a bow and walk off.

He grabs his knife and rushes at me from behind.

My leg swipes him off his feet. “You’ll never surpass me.” I smile at him.

WarWolf helps him to his feet and leaves with him.

Goopy looks up and smiles at me. “Thanks, Weech.”

The year came and went. We had a practical exam of tag, but it was more of an endurance test than anything and nobody failed. BladEagle barely talked to me after that. Same with WarWolf. But Goopy and I talked a lot more. He even read the story BunBun and I wrote. CamOctopus and him were good friends too and she helped him have more confidence.

VirtueVice was very impressed with my victory and challenged me to a fight. I lost in a split second when his blades covered me like a cage. He told me that one day I would surpass him.

At the end of the next year, we made it to the chapter of his story where he took his first final exam. He used lies and trickery to gain the upper hand, making alliances with several teams. When the teams went in combat with one another, he activated the trap he set and then began taking them out. What he hadn’t counted on was a member of his own team taking him out. Apparently their vendetta against him for exposing a secret relationship was enough to have them sabotage their own teammate. It made me wonder if BladEagle would do the same to me.

The final was more intensive and highly focused on teamwork. It was all pointless though since there was no way to fail. BunBun and I decided to run off on a date. The others pulled through alright, captured the enemy’s flag and brought it back to base. VirtueVice was very disappointed in me and refused to continue training me or tell me any more stories until my grades improved.

StarBorne tutored me instead and with his help, and BunBun’s empowering snuggles, I managed to improve my grades in class dramatically. WarWolf was really upset when the Midterm came and I had a higher grade then her. She’d growl a bit every time she saw me for the next couple of days.

The final exam for year four was a bizarre one. We had only one hour to scour the entire campus for a hero. The school was filled with civilians that day and we weren’t given any clues as to what exact individual we were looking for. We could only return with one, which meant a lot of bickering between the Assailants. Of course we had to capture the hero without bringing attention to ourselves, which made things even more annoying.

We were all huddled together behind CamOctopus’ camouflage sheet.

“Go for the one with the spiky hair,” says BladEagle.

WarWolf shrugs. “He looks kinda dumb. Maybe the quiet girl in the corner over there. Geez, why are there only two girls out of like thirty people?”

“A cute hero will be underestimated,” says BunBun, bouncing against me.

CamOctopus points to the one with the big muscles. “Can’t go wrong with strength.”

I sigh. “So none of us agree.”

What would StarBorne do in this situation.

I turn to Goopy. “Let’s follow your plan.”

BladEagle grimaces. “He didn’t say anything. And you’re not our leader.”

WarWolf looks to Goopy. “You do have a plan, don’t you?”

Goopy nods. “Courage is very important. A novice can outmaneuver an expert if he psyches him out. We should…do the opposite of our mission. We should create a disturbance and see how they react.”

“That’s our tactician.” I smile and ruffle his hair.

He always blushes when I do that. It’s nice to see my friend smile.

We follow Goopy’s plan and move into position.

BladEagle tosses a rock at the BlasToad that CamOctopus had placed on the ceiling of the main hall.

The girder comes crashing down which puts the teenagers in a panic.

BunBun, wearing a camouflage cloak, sneaks up behind some of the cowardly students and knocks them out with her needles.

This increases the panic and causes a stampede toward the exit.

The students who get trampled are picked up by BladEagle and brought to WarWolf who gives them medical attention. “I’m a doctor! Bring the injured to me.”

Five of the teenagers actually listen to her.

Finally it’s my moment.

I rush out from behind cover and fake stab WarWolf in the back. “Leave now if you don’t want to die.” I hold out my dagger to the remaining teenagers.

All of them flee but one.

“You killed the people of my village. And if I leave, then the injured will die. I don’t care if I’m not a real hero. I’m going to fight you.” He stares at me defiantly before falling over.

BunBun removes her camouflage cloak. “Looks like we have a winner!”

I give BunBun a nod. “Perfect, now rush out with him and meet us at the rendezvous point.”

BunBun salutes and then acts terrified as she flees the building.

BladEagle glares at me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“You were right to listen to Goopy’s plan. Don’t think that means I accept you as the leader.”

I seize him in a big hug. “Awww. You’re really adorable when you’re shy.”

WarWolf giggles and my heart is set at ease. She then growls to hide her laugh. “We should get moving.”

Being the stars of the school, we were of course followed by some others who felt their best chance at winning was stealing our target. Thankfully, WarWolf and BladEagle were apt to keep them off our trail. When they were getting overwhelmed, BunBun left the hero with me and snuck up behind the enemy students to take them down. We all met up at the finish line, but that wasn’t even the end of the test.

The heroes we chose had to fight each other the following week. So those next seven days were spent training our hero. It was really frustrating dealing with someone who knew nothing about fighting, but at least our hero had good muscles. When the day of the test came, we told our hero to go for the dagger. He won the first two rounds by getting injured to close the distance on his enemy. When the final round came, things were tense. We all had grown attached to him and really wanted to win. Our hero was up against a quiet, cute spiky haired boy with muscles.

They combined all our suggestions into one. I didn’t even notice anyone was listening in on us.

The injuries our hero sustained were too much. He was overpowered and beaten down in a matter of seconds. Courage wasn’t enough. Our hero had the heart but lacked the skill. Hopefully if I ever get tasked with protecting a hero, I’ll get someone who isn’t all courage and no talent.

When the fifth year was near its end, we were informed of what our true final exam would be. The last day of class we had to write down what we would aspire to be if we weren’t assassins. For WarWolf it was ‘chef’, BladEagle put ‘scholar’, CamOctopus wanted to be an ‘explorer’, Goopy a ‘general’, BunBun an ‘actress’ and I left my paper blank. There was nothing I’d rather be. We were then instructed to cast our dreams of another into a raging fire. CamOctopus was brought to tears, along with Goopy, but the others watched their dreams turn to ash with a composed demeanor.

Teacher informed us that if we pass the final that we would officially be assassins and the remaining six years of schooling would be paired with actual missions. This got us all really excited. But the excitement left when teacher informed us that this may be the last time we see him. I had grown more attached to VirtueVice of course, but that doesn’t mean a part of me wasn’t going to miss teacher. Though I certainly wouldn’t miss him cutting me all the time when I was sleeping in class.

Before class ended, we all got together for a group photo. StarBorne joined in too, under the protective watch of VirtueVice. Everyone was so happy to see him again. It was CamOctopus’ idea and it turns out she was an artist so she had us all pose while she painted us. Teacher stood behind us, arching his body to both be close to BunBun and have his head appear at the center. BunBun was snuggling teacher’s tentacle, WarWolf was showing off her claws, StarBorne was flaunting both his feminine and her masculine physique, I pointed my father’s knife, BladEagle posed arrogantly and Goopy was just crying with his hands over his eyes. It was strange to think I might not see some of them again.

When the picture was done, Teacher brought us all together and gave us an envelope. We were then all instructed to drink a cup of blackish red liquid. Teacher had to force Goopy to down his which made the rest of us very nervous. The last thing he said was ‘failure means death’ before sending us home.

Did we drink poison? That means only those who pass get the antidote. I’m not afraid. I’ve come so far.

I arrive at my room to see VirtueVice.

He towers over me. “Your true test begins now. I cannot interfere. Stay strong, Weech. Remember everything you’ve learned. When next I see you, you shall become a true assassin.” The Department Head carves a portal and enters.

I sit on my bed and open the envelope to read the instructions for my final exam.

“This week, at any time, assassins will come after you. You must kill them and bring their heads to your instructor. This mission is not to be discussed with anyone. Failure to comply means death. Burn this paper when you finish reading. Long live Isekai.” I read it out loud and then jumped for joy.

An assassin who doesn’t end lives is like an angel that doesn’t save them. In one week, I’ll be a real assassin. Whoever got tasked with taking me out is really going to regret it.