Scared of Heights? [C164]

'The Winged Freaks?' Shu Himo widened his eyes in surprise. He did not expect at all that the elite group from the academy would be such a strong existence. "Are you the elite group from the academy?"

"Oh? You are from the academy?" Faithe Malkia smiled in surprise, "Originally we were a section from it, however, with time we separated from the academy. We are now completely separated entities, however, we still remain allied to the academy…"

Licking her lips, she continued, "If there is a talent we are interested in, we can take it from the academy, while in exchange, if some mess happens in the academy, we will go there to save them."

Nodding to her answer, Shu Himo then held his chin as he fell in thought, 'Becoming one of them?' He had mixed feelings about it, while he was really curious about the flying ship… he did not want to be bound by being a member of a group.

After a couple seconds of contemplation, he resolved himself, and sighed, "I'm sorry, but I can't accept the offer."

Yubei Kelos was startled, he did not expect to be met by a refusal… normally, the flying ship would attract anyone! However, noticing Shu Himo's dejected expression he realized, 'Is he perhaps scared of heights?'

"Is there a particular reason you don't want to come? There is no need to be embarrassed about certain things..." Giving Shu Himo a thumbs up, he wanted to make him know that it was not something embarrassing being scared of heights.

Certain things? Tilting his head, Shu Himo failed to comprehend what Yubei Kelos was hinting, so he decided to explain, "I don't want to be bound by anyone, I want to have the freedom of doing what I want. By becoming one of you, as a member of the group I would lose such freedom."

'Oh? He is not scared of heights?' Yubei Kelos raised his eyebrows, he was sure that Shu Himo was scared of heights!

'...Nevertheless, to refuse for such a reason, he seems an interesting fellow…' He did not know how to react, he had to succeed in inviting him, or else, not even talking about getting a double portion… he may not get dinner at all!

"You said that you don't want to get bound... " Looking a moment at the two behind, the three nodded with a glint in their eyes, and Yubei Kelos continued, "Then, what if you become the leader of the Winged Freaks? That way you will not be bound!"

"...?"

With a proud smile, Hynvers Azharde took out a deck of cards, "I will make a divination to see what our future would be with him as a leader."

"...??"

Smiling excitedly, Faithe Malkia added, "Indeed, this will be interesting! I can't wait to see how you will fare!"

"…???"

Shu Himo's jaw fell in disbelief, were these three joking? 'Giving the role of the leader to someone who they just met… to not count that I'm still 12 years old in appearance, how could they be less reliable? …Wait, is it perhaps my aura as a leader that attracted them?'

[The User doesn't have such aura… but has instead a special ability.]

'A special ability? What type of special ability?'

[The type of special ability that somehow attracts weirdos all the time.]

'What?!'

Rolling his eyes to the nonsense of the system, he then fell in thought once again, when he finally came to a realization; if he became the leader, wouldn't he be able to command that flying ship as he wanted?

"I guess that you're wondering why I would propose the role of the leader when we just met?" With a smile appearing as if he knew all, Yubei Kelos explained, "At the moment we don't have a leader, so it's an open spot. However, you will first need to demonstrate to be worthy of such a position by completing an interesting test…"

Pointing himself with a finger, he then added, "Also, remember that even if you are the leader, you will have to earn the trust of others, or no one will follow your directions."

Noticing that Shu Himo was reconsidering it, Yubei Kelos smiled to himself, 'Such a perfect plan! This way he will become one of us, and I will get a double portion of beefsteak!'

Even if he proposed him to take the role as a leader, he did not really believe that Shu Himo would be able to obtain the seat as the leader… after all, it was years that no one managed to complete that weird test!

'A fight between him and a monster produced by all of us… but not a just normal fight! By using a special tool, the fight will happen inside of a dream; and while we have strengthened our control of the dreams... normally cultivators only temper their bodies and their mind, which make it only an impossible fight for him to win!'

Just the thought of that test left him speechless, the only reason they had such a test was that the strongest member of the Winged Freaks loved to sleep… what kind of reason was that?!

More than succeeding at becoming the leader, he believed instead that the experience of the test would make Shu Himo decide to enter the group as a regular member...

While Yubei Kelos was lost in his thoughts, Shu Himo nodded and resolutely said, "Very well, I will attempt your test!"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Yubei Kelos smiled, "Perfect… then let's go." He then began walking toward below the flying ship.

"Ah, wait a moment."

"What is it?" Coming to a halt, Yubei Kelos turned back toward Shu Himo, 'Is he hesitating? So he really fears the heights?'

Looking at Phylia and Aura Azusa, Shu Himo asked, "Can they come too?"

'Eh? He was talking about that?' Glancing at the two, Yubei Kelos explained, "We don't make any exceptions… but If they are talented and strong, sure."

Hearing him, Shu Himo thought for a moment before saying, "Look at the ground."

"The ground? Wait… why is it all black?" He was perplexed, he noticed it only now… but why did it appear as if the ground was charcoal instead?

Pointing Aura Azusa with his thumb, Shu Himo smiled, "It was her."

"Eh?"