Negotiation

A wheat blonde hair beauty was sitting over the desk with crossed leg and folded hands looking at the black haired guy with the bandages on both hands below the gloves. There was also a compressor over his face.

"…You were attacked?"

"Hmm, it was more like a trap."

"…Things doesn't seem to be good. Even after buying all the mana bombs there are students who actually have bought few them in past and use it to attack Kiera…"

"How are her injuries…?"

"Not good, she won't be able to participate in next two days."

Alice still remembers how her leg was on verge of falling off. If not for Adam saving her at the right moment, Elite monster would have eat her alive! Mana Bomb used in the process was at E-Rank and attacker also had some stealth ability to be able to escape them after attacking her like that.

She was confident over the result of past days but their class won't be doing great in next day or day after next one. Their result will be only two out of five that won't assure Top 3 rank. She needed to do something to turn the situation around…

"…I might need to change my strategy for next time…"

Ethan muttered as he looked outside the window. Alice looked up and stares at him.

"…Are you still going to attack and interrupt other classes during test…?"

"Should I not…?"

"No, that's not it… You did enough already…Next time, you won't just get away with this much, retiring will be best for you…"

"But we won't win otherwise…"

"I didn't know you care about our class that much…"

She smiled in self-amusement. If anyone held hatred toward their class then it won't be other classes' students but the guy in front of her. She found it funny yet irritating, but she didn't show it, that he doesn't hold any grudge anything against his own class. It won't be surprised if tried to sabotage their test secretly for the sake of revenge.

"You seem to be serious about winning this thing, so its natural I should also give my best or it won't be fair to you… but don't forget about compensating me with SP!"

"You don't need to worry about it. You can expect a good amount from me."

A genuine smile formed on her lips after hearing the latter part. That's just like him. He always seems insecure about everything.

…

Next Day, as expected, their class took more 50% time of their usual. It would be more than enough for other classes to take over them. It's a shame that academy didn't do everyday assessment. It might have helped them keep their track but not having it strikes the class A with an unknown anxiety.

Ethan successfully delayed Class D and Class E during their expedition but he almost got caught again. He also checked other classes and found out that they were already prepared to take him down if he showed up but he was also prepare from his side so he just made few attacks and ran out right away…

He already expended more bombs in number than he had bought. Now, he is not earning any benefits over the bombs yet he was still doing it as he wants to help his class win. Next day is the last day of test and result will be soon to be in open.

Keira was still not in condition to walk. Her leg was jointed again but it was not as functional or there are also chances for wounds to get worse if he tried to move too much. That trash for a professor had told their class to give up on her return.

…

Ethan was sitting in his room while playing with a ball. The ball hits floor, wall then ceiling and return back to his hand. He kept repeating it for a long time and finally stands up. He cracked his neck and made his way out of dorm building.

He finally reached his destination after few minutes of walk. He went inside and saw a black haired professor staring at his I-Link with bored expression. Ethan moves toward him and threw a pack of smoke on his lap. Professor won't let it fall and caught it mid-air with a smile.

"…You understand me, kid. I am going outside. Make sure to keep thing under age and protected."

"Just get lost…"

Professor Ross stands up and left the infirmary while tossing the box of cigarette. Ethan went ahead and removes the curtains and reveals the blonde hair beauty with lavender eyes. She was wearing her bandages so she was not wearing stoking. She hurriedly closed and folds her legs and looked at the intruder with frown expression.

"…I am sorry."

Ethan looked away and apologized while scratching his back-head. Damn it! His momentum was broken. He actually scripted his entry and planned to follow it but it was broken before he can even say a word.

"…What do you want?"

Ethan turned to her and looked at her frowning face. She doesn't seem care much about it than other girls. They would be screaming like he had molested them yet she just looked disturbed by unwanted guest. He coughed air and took a seat and look at her.

"…What are you doing here?"

"Resting…"

"…I didn't mean it literally… Ahem, our class is doing our best yet here you are trying not to stand out from the rest. Do you know how selfish you are being here?"

"…I have no idea what are you talking about…"

Kiera paused for a moment and looked away while feigning ignorance. Ethan doesn't know if she is trying but it is pretty obvious she is lying. Ethan knew for a fact that was ignored by everyone.

"…You're telling me. You're able to dodge fire bullets that are one of the fastest attack yet you were unable to dodge a mana bomb thrown at you."

She finally looked at him and glared. Ethan smiled mysteriously but to hide his nervousness. Room is pretty much empty, as long as she got way to ditch his body. No one will know what transpired here. He needed to put every next step with an outmost cautiousness from now on…

"…You're angry, aren't you? These students don't acknowledge your hard work but account everything to your background."

"…"

"…But give up on the class test just because of it, don't you think it's unfair to students who are trying their best to win-"

"Just what are you rambling about…?"

Ethan was taken aback with her reply. He was thinking he was making his way to her heart. He didn't think she will retort like she had heard something incomprehensible.

"…You just came in and start talking about my… what was that again, I don't even know, no, wait a second. Who are you in the first place?"

Ethan was getting nervous when she starts talking and was trying to think of response. He totally misunderstands her! It was nothing like he had imagined! He looked away in embarrassment as he was unable to look at her face.

He was thinking he might pull few strings on her heart and convince her to participate into test with her strength as Mage. She is MagicSwordsman- no, woman. Even with her injuries, she will still be a mage and a strong one at that. He will just help her with her legs and both of them will attack the dungeon and help their class at last moment and save their neck but all of that flooded by his misunderstanding!

"…I think I am at wrong place…"

Ethan swivels on the chair and stand up to leave the room. He just looked like an idiot now! Who told him to be tried to be a hero? He should have just stay like a mob he is. Why did he try to be more? What if she tells other students about it? He might as well look for a roof or rope. This is too embarrassing!

"…Hey, wait."

Ethan stopped but he doesn't want to turn around. He can already guess that his face is red from the embarrassment but still he should just hear her just in case. Who knows it might have unintentionally propitious result.

"You said something about class test, are you from my class?"

Ethan was contemplating if he should just say no. If he did, she might just consider him another weirdo and forget about him. Yup, he can just deny her and she will forget about him, together with his embarrassment-

"I take your silence as the yes, come here."

Ethan opened his mouth but she just put words into his mouth and called him back. Ethan had an unwilling look. He was planning to bury the matter but… his head hurts thinking everything. He need to first hear her out and tried to find some solution. He went ahead and takes the seat back.

"…You were talking about test and about how I should participate but you knew about my injuries yet you mentioned it. I suppose you wanted me use my strength as mage to help the class, right?"

Ethan looked at her with wide eyes. She saw right through him! He was sure that he was good with hiding things and even if she was good enough to read him, there is no way-

"You were expecting someone to come, didn't you?"

She smiled at the rested her chin over her hand and looked at him with interest.

"Alice sent you, didn't she?"

Ethan turned silent for a second but nodded. Her words put him into complicated thinking but he discarded as it will be better for him to let her believe it. His words held worth less than shit but if she thinks that its Alice's not his then it might pull the situation on different direction.

"I dislike rubbish talk so let's just get to the point. What will I get if I go out of my way to help?"

Ethan turned silent for a second. She might swing her sword if he tried to feed her responsibility bullshit or anything. It's given that she doesn't care about such thing. She is only looking for profit. He seriously didn't expect her to be so rapacious. She seems to be cold and distinct type…

"…What do you want?"

Kiera smiles as she likes the fact that he understands her.

"10,000 SP…"

Ethan stands up and starts dusting off his pants. There is no need to even consider it. She is clearly trying to take advantage of their situation! If he shows any weakness, it would only end up being exploited by her.

"…You won't try to negotiate?"

Kiera asked with a smile. Ethan looked at her and rolled his eyes. Alice will kill him if he touched any points from the saving funds of the class. He is only risking his life on the fact that if things go wrong, he can pay up with his own points…

"…2000 SP."

She was smiling at him in amusement. Ethan looked at her for a moment and finally figured out. She was just throwing stones blindly! If he had said yes, then Alice will have no choice but to pay up and she would have broken the brick on his head! What a cunning woman! He almost got played by her!

"…Fine."

"That's good. Now, get off with formalities…"

She stretched her hands and extended her wrist or more precisely her I-Link. Ethan looked at her bitterly. She was really leaving no escape for him, is he? He bitterly send her his own points and looked away in regret. He doesn't even know what he is doing anymore!

"…That's a surprise."

"What?"

"I thought you would hold the payment till the end of the test…"

"You would just reject and won't go in return…"

"…You're not a sharp tool, are you?"

"…What does that mean?"

"You didn't negotiate any term or conditions."

Ethan turned silent for a second and looked at her. He just realized something. He was too emotional! He didn't think everything through!!