With the week alternating to one in which the Grade Four students at the Academy are required to attend classes. Thus, numerous more students than usual were dressed in their school uniforms as they walked to the lecture building.

Loganel walked in silence. He had intentionally left later than Juliana so as to avoid any awkward conversations. In fact, after they had returned to Astalan and he had revealed his plans to the others, he had avoided speaking to them. Even when Juliana pressured him to reveal his reasons, he avoided her completely and locked himself in his room.

Around Loganel, the other students chatted about what they've been doing so far with their friends. From talking about what gear they bought, what monsters they slayed, and what foods they ate, their chattering annoyed Loganel but he endured it. He reasoned that it wasn't his right to ask for the others to not speak so he endured.

When he got to his classroom, Loganel opened the door and just when he was about to step into the room, he noticed someone gazing at him. After discovering that it was Azura and Juliana, Loganel didn't say anything. Instead, he walked over to his seat and set his bag down. Since the two of them weren't staring anymore, which allowed him to relax and lay his head down on the table as he stared out at the autumn sky.

Soon, the bell signaling the start of the day's lessons rang, bringing with it the teacher's presence. Loganel's home room teacher, Avelin Beras, entered the classroom. Alongside her, was Tetsuya.

"So as you all know," Avelin Beras started speaking, "he's the Summoned Hero. To help him grow, he will be attending lessons with you all."

"That's so cool," some guy in the class whispered to one of his friends.

"If I could get him to marry me, won't my future be bright?" some girls chatted.

Loganel didn't pay attention to any of their chatter. In fact, he didn't pay any attention to Tetsuya as he did his self-introduction since it was all cliche dialogue.

When the lecturing started, Loganel forced himself to listen. He forced himself to memorize the different names in history, the different potion formulas and effects, and the concepts behind certain types of spells. To his surprise, school actually ended quite quickly if he were to pay attention.

"You guys want to go somewhere to eat dinner together tonight?" Tetsuya asked Juliana, Azura, and Sherriel who had came from another class.

"Sure," they finally decided. Then, they proceeded to discuss what they wanted to eat while Loganel packed his bags and prepared to leave the classroom.

"Where you going?" Tetsuya stopped him with his words. "You're not going with us?"

"I'll pass," Loganel responded simply and without turning his head, he left the classroom.

His sudden departure led to the atmosphere amongst those discussing to drop to an all time low. They were uncertain as to what had caused Loganel to act this particular way, and had no idea as to how to improve things with him.

"What's gotten into him?" Azura asked Juliana.

"I don't know," Juliana responded. "He isn't like this usually..."

"I'm sure he just needs some time," Tetsuya said. "He'll come back."

***

"Loganel."

Loganel stopped in his steps and looked up to see his homeroom teacher Avelin Beras blocking his way.

"Yes?" Loganel responded.

"Come walk with me," she said, walking off in the hallway without saying anything else as if expecting Loganel to obey her commands.

Loganel sighed as he caught up. As they walked, the sound of Avelin's heels making contact with the floor echoed in the hallway. The way she walked revealed her overwhelming self-confidence, which was evident by how she always stood tall with her back straight and head up with a confident look on her face.

"So tell me," Avelin started speaking. "What happened."

"Nothing," Loganel said in his usual, gaunt voice. "If there's nothing else then please excuse--"

"We're not done," Avelin's authoritative tone forced Loganel to comply with her commands.

Avelin then walked Loganel over to the faculty office and over to her desk. There, she began cleaning her messy desktop while talking to Loganel.

"Did something happen between you and them?" she asked.

"No."

"Not gonna tell me?' Avelin said with a somewhat bitter smile. "Fill this out," she handed Loganel an application.

"What is this?" Loganel asked as he accepted the paper from Avelin and looked over it.

Loganel discovered that Avelin had basically filled out every single part of the application, even parts that should be filled out by him. All that she had left for Loganel to fill out was the student signature.

"Why?" Loganel questioned.

"At the Academy, we have a program in which teachers could apply to do private mentoring for a student. I chose you," Avelin responded.

"But why?"

"Because I could see that you're in pain. I want to change that by getting to know you more."

"Why bother with helping students?" Loganel looked up from the application and at his teacher. "Isn't your job just to teach and nothing else?"

Avelin shook her head and smirked. "A good teacher will help their students in any way possible. Now sign that paper."

Loganel, realizing that no matter how much he tried he will not be able to peruade Avelin, sighed and signed the paper with a pen on Avelin's desk. He then handed the application back to his teacher who accepted it with a smile.

"Starting from tomorrow," she said, "I will force on the stairways to adulthood. I'll make you a man."

"Can you not say it in such a way that people would think that this is some lewd business?" Loganel calmly responded. "So can I go home now?"

"Yeah," Avelin smiled. "Get plenty of rest cause tomorrow after school you're gonna have a rough time."

Hearing her say that as he exited the faculty office left Loganel in a foul mood. He wasn't prepared for any forms of training that Avelin had planned, which left him anxious as to what would happen to himself. However, he was able to quell that feeling after deciding that it wasn't his responsibility but the Loganel that will wake up the next morning's problem. Not his.

***

That day after school, Loganel didn't choose to head back to his dorm immediately. He reasoned that if he would've done so, he would probably have to deal with more pestering from Juliana. This was the reason why he decided to wander around and explore this medieval but oddly modern looking city. He was surprised as to how little he knew of Astalan after living there for so long. Since he was just a child and money was tight a few years back, he wasn't keen on venturing to unfamiliar places or places to spend money. In addition, Laurina forbids hims to go to any sketchy looking stores. That was why he was so unfamiliar with the other districts of the city other than the one that housed the Academy and the route to the city gates.

As he wandered around a popular shopping district among the students at the Academy, just as he rounded the corner, he heard some familiar voices. He immediately stopped in his tracks and prevented himself from rounding the corner and bumping into them.

"Wanna look around some more?" Loganel heard Sherriel ask.

"Sure," Tetsuya responded.

Then, judging from their voice, Loganel concluded that they were heading in the opposite direction. With a relieved sigh, he continued on his mindless stroll in a somewhat worse mood than before.

Loganel allowed his mind to blank, freeing himself of all thought as he walked aimlessly. He was desperate to just pass time until he graduates from the Academy and could return home to the Ainzloft territory in the country side where all is quiet. He sees no future for himself in Astalan. He doesn't have the connections to grab himself a government job and the most he believes that could possibly be was a soldier. Thus, he was rather that he returned home. However, he knows that he will not be able to inherit the territory since it was usually given to the eldest son of the family, which was Redgilus. However, Loganel was confident that Redgilus would allow him to still stay with him as a helping hand in governing the territory.

Loganel's aimless wanderings were disturbed when he heard someone talking to him in a loud voice. He looked around, and discovered bright red lights with women dressed in skimpy clothing walking around, winking at men and dragging them into their respective stores. Loganel was approached by such a woman.

"Wanna have a good time?" she asked. "Here at Sister Lori's you have the best prices in the whole district and the best girls."

"I um..." Loganel starting walking away.

However, since he had spoken to her, this meant that he was hooked by the trap, which prompted the woman to be more physically intimate. She approached Loganel and hooked his arm with hers, pressing her body against his. As she did so, Loganel could smell her perfume, which was a pleasing aroma.

"Just try it out," the woman smiled. "This is your first time is it? Then we'll give you half off."

"But..."

"A few drinks and your worries will no longer bother you," she appealed. "Plus, you'll get to be in close proximity with one of the prettiest girls in Astalan."

"..."

The woman, seeing that Loganel was shy, decided to take the initiative. She was well accustomed to customers like him. She knows that these boys and men are all acting, and that they yearn to enter the stores. However, societal standards barred them from doing so freely. That is why she's here. Her job is to push these men into the store, which will alleviate the guilt in their mind. As long as they think that "It wasn't me. I was forced in there," then it would be a win-win situation for both parties. This was why she dragged Loganel into the store Sister Lori's.

"We have a customer," the woman said as she approached the counter while dragging Loganel with her. She released Loganel after feeling that he's given in and not struggling to escape, which he did not.

"First time?" the woman behind the counter asked. "I'm Lori, the owner of this store." The woman smiled as she rested her chin on her her hands.

"Yeah," Loganel answered. He deemed that it was of no use trying to escape. In addition, if it was true as the woman had said, then it was worth a shot at eliminating his worries.

"We'll give you a fifty percent discount for today," Lori said. "Since this is your first time."

"I'll get back to my post for now," the woman that had dragged Loganel into the store waved as she walked out of the store and back onto the streets of the red light district.

"You know the rules?' Lori asked.

"No," Loganel responed.

"Five Silver for an hour and unlimited drinks on selected beverages," Lori responded. "And trust me, this is the best price for the service and girls that you're getting. And as for the girls. Got anyone in mind?"

"No. I don't know anyone."

"Right."

Lori reached under the counter and bringing out a thick book. She flipped open the book and inside the book were paintings of different girls with descriptions of each that included their name, age, hair color, and specific body measurements.

"You may nominate any of the girls in this book," Lori said. "But nomination fee is thirty Copper. Or, you could not nominate and we'll send one of the available girls."

"Hmm..." Loganel flipped through the pages and observed each girl. "Any thing off limits?"

"Nothing," Lori responded with a smile. "As long as the girl agrees with it, it's all good."

"You have any recommendations?" Loganel asked Lori.

"Since you're still a student," Lori said, eyeing Loganel's school uniform, "I have a girl that's around your age: seventeen. She's new and have no experience. So I reckon it'll be good for both since neither has any experience with this?"

"..."

"I'll also give you a twenty percent discount if you go with her," Lori answered.

"What's the catch?" Loganel asked.

"Nothing," Lori responded. "Just that all our customers all have a girl in mind so it's extremely difficult for a new girl to start. She's been here for a month and no one's nominated her."

"I'll take it then," Loganel responded. "Two hours." Loganel summoned two Silver coins from his storage ring and placed them on the counter.

"Looks like you could do some math," Lori smiled. "Most people can't."

Why could I calculate the exact value so quickly? Loganel wondered himself.

"Head down to the third room," Lori pointed down the hallway. "Or you could stay in the public area if you want." Lori looked over at the lounge on the other side of the building.

"I'll go private," Loganel said as he started for the room.

"Remember," Lori called out from behind him. "If she does not give consent, you are not allowed to do anything. And if you want to order anything, just ring the bell!"

"Got it."

***

Loganel entered the private room and looked around. The room was lit with a pinkish light, just bright enough to see things but dark enough for one's hands to wander to where it should not be. In the center of the room, there was a big, soft bed, and beside the bed, there were numerous family planning items.

Loganel's heart rate suddenly increased as he observed his surroundings. He gulped as his mind anticipated the good time he was about to have. He could no longer recall the warnings that his father Alden had given him about such establishments in the letter that Loganel had received from him.

Suddenly, Loganel heard a knock on the door which was accompanied by the beautiful voice of a girl. "May I enter?"

"Yes you may," Loganel responded, mind racing fast.

Author's Note:

A thank you to all the votes I received from Chapter 25. Remember, vote more and he could not suffer as much, which I mean by he will still suffer but he will have little moments of peace and happiness.

Also TWO chapters in a day. How bout that?