Pedro said “Yes,” and without hesitation, he joined my fold. The two of us made idle talk, telling each other worthless stories. I didn’t mind as it helped us pass time.

I patted Pedro on his shoulder. “In the next days to come until the exams, I want you to do something for me.”

Pedro visibly tensed up. The last time he was asked for something, he was made to assassinate students and that didn’t bode well for him as he has become warier of me.

But I won’t be giving him an assassination request anytime soon. “It's easy, bud, just do lots of vandalizing. Do it in moderation like once every two days. Or if you feel up to it, do it every day. Break some statues, write some bad stuff on the wall, and so on.”

The difficulty of the mission has downscaled a lot causing Pedro to relax. “Yes, I will do it.”

8:00 am is the official start of the class. I made my way to the class with Pedro in tow. We sat in our respective seats and waited for the class to start. Today is a bit unusual as it was already past 5 minutes after the class started and Professor Merrick is still not here, at the podium, making rounds.

*Claack~

The door screeched as someone alighted from the door. He looked on the lankier side, has dark and thick eyebags and most disturbing of all is that he keeps on mumbling to himself. It was Zren, the infamous hidden 5th head professor of the academy.

So, it’s finally starting, isn’t it?

Zren stood on the podium reserved for the lecturer. His head was down, facing the floor, not daring to look at the students. “G-good morning c-class… I’m Z-z-ren, a head pr-ofessor… So-rry… I am a bi-t ne-rvous, be-cause I went by t-he d-oor…”

As expected of the creepy and eccentric professor. He does have great fears of doors. And that’s not where it all ends as this professor’s fears and paranoias are quite outrageous.

Philip with his nosy attitude raised his voice and directly asked the professor about his concerns. “Prof Zren? Where is Prof Merrick?”

The class shared Philip’s question in their minds. They too want to know where the more reliable professor is.

Zren panicked, visibly hyperventilating. He took a paper bag out of nowhere and started inhaling and exhaling on it to regulate his breathing. “Huff… huff… Sorry about that. I am a bit calmer now.”

The class was silent the whole time, and it’s not like they actually care. They are curious though and wish for Zren to answer their curiosity.

Zren finally raised his head and observed the class. His dull eyes felt piercing as if he can see right through you. He is not a psychic type, but I knew better. If I let my guard down, my secrets would definitely be revealed. There is also Bon, Pedro, and Zia to be worried about as they are now my close acquaintances. I cannot have them leaking thoughts regarding our shared secrets.

Pierre who can’t take the silence anymore spoke up with an annoyed tone. “Where’s Cain? And why are you here?” His words are pointed and direct to the point. Only now did I realize Cain isn’t still here, perhaps he’s still confined as he was under suspicion of the serial killings last night.

Zren turned his gaze at Pierre a second longer, then a second more. To Pierre, it felt eerie and unnerving, but to Zren, it was a process. “You are worried about your friend. I understand as the two of you shared bonds in the enrollment assessment through thick and thin. Judging by the fact that you two share the same ranking after the assessment, it further denotes how close you two have become, a sense of rivalry perhaps. I noticed Cain’s desk looked clean despite him not being here. The weekend has already passed, and as such, I assume it was you who cleaned his desk. Judging by your drowsy posture, I deduce that you came early to this classroom in favor of cleaning Cain’s desk… Charmed, as expected of a hero.”

At Zren’s calm and not stuttering words, Pierre blushed pink in shame as if his biggest secret were revealed to the world. “N-no, I… misunderstanding, prof!! It is a misunderstanding.”

It is not helping at all that Jana is crying “ooooOOOOOOHHHhh…” furtively at the back of the class. “So, that’s why he’s so early, huh?” she whispered to her seatmate, Samael Iznik, who was also awkwardly fanning the flames.

Samael scratched the side of his cheek. “Hmm… It’s fine, right? There really are relationships like that, you know?”

“N-NO SHUT UP!!” Pierre went totally ballistic.

Unknowingly, the mood of the class shifted wholly forgetting that Pierre’s questions weren’t answered at all. Zren might not look like it, but he’s one of the most scheming characters in the novel.

Zren waited for the ruckus to slowly die down which took about half of the time of the morning session. It was past 10:00 am, and Deron realized the peculiarity. Because they were just kids, they got carried with the atmosphere and continued teasing… and talking.

Deron raised his hand in which Zren just ignored. “P-prof,” Deron warily called. “Shouldn’t we start class?”

“Hmmm… Okay…” Zren succinctly replied as if he were purposely wasting time, he stood in front of the blackboard, grabbed chalk, and sluggishly started writing.

Wasting time. That’s how he looked like to the students of Class-A-year-1.

That’s because… he really is wasting time… I knew from the beginning that he will do something like this. In appearance, he might look like he doesn’t care, but at this very moment, he was actually observing the whole class.

I remember this particular event. Merrick Wander under the instructions of the principal went on a top-secret mission relating to the threat that the academy will be facing in the next three months. Zren as a fellow head professor was asked to relieve Merrick of classroom duties.

In the novel, if the story moves on as I predicted. A small-scale war with the academy as the battlefield will occur. I am left with seven weeks to deal with, and I have to deal with someone like Zren. The degree of secrecy I must implement is too demanding. I just hope Pedro and Zia won’t be found out.

Zren continued to write on the blackboard. Lines after line were connected. The class felt that something wrong is going on. Zren is actually not writing, but drawing something. Releasing the chalk from his hand, he looked at his class and asked for their opinion. “What do you guys think?”

The full image was displayed to the class. It was Professor Merrick’s caricature— big head, short arms, and can be labeled as cute.

“Nice to meet all of you, Class-A Year-1. I am Zren, professor Merrick’s relieving prof. In the next days until the exams, I will be in your care.”

The class was then finally dismissed. It was the most extended prof-to-student introduction that there will ever be. It took the whole morning! That may be the case, but most of class A didn’t show any dissatisfaction as they find Zren to be a relaxed and agreeable professor.

When I thought I am finally out of the woods, Zren called for Pedro to remain in the classroom. I started sweating nervously, but I tried my best to not show it. I waited in front of the class together with Trom, Heather, and Nika.

“What do you think they are talking about?” Trom asked.

“It must be because the prof realized Pedro was being bullied quite badly,” Heather answered, her expectations are understandable.

I and Nika listened to the two’s discussions. Finally, Pedro alighted from the door. “Alfir, the prof wants to see you.”

Heather has a smirk on her face, her ridicule too apparent. “What did you do? Did you abduct any minors? Hmm?”

“I am not into lolis,” I defended myself, my arms helplessly raised.

“Lolis? What’s that?” She dumbly asked.

I forgot that the otaku culture doesn’t exist in this world. I told the four fools to just go on their way to the cafeteria, but they insisted on waiting for me… Sigh… Mob friends are the best. Well, except Heather, she isn’t mob material at all. She looks like a heroine of a reverse harem sim game…

I saw Pierre, Cain, Deron, and even Philip bashfully interacting with Heather. If that’s not a reverse harem heroine’s mark, then what is?

Zren frowningly looked at me. “I heard that you tried killing yourself, why?”

I showed a pained look to him, expressing my reluctance to recount a painful memory.

Zren nodded in understanding. “Hmm… Understood, I will keep your secret safe.”

Chills ran down my spine, is this a test? I don’t know, but I felt like drowning. Zren just shooed me away, his hands gesturing in motion for me to go, “Leave, you are free to go.” He said emphasizing in a heavy tone the word ‘Leave’.

I left, his words ringing in my ears. The threat was obviously painful to me, and it will certainly affect my future plans, but I didn’t let that get to me as I display a sincere smile at my mob friends waiting by the door.