Chapter XCVI - Headmaster (part 2)

That word made a grin formed on his face. But, something just made me feel slightly confused.

Is he really a mind reader? Try saying 'I smell fart 101'.

...

I waited for a response, but he didn't say anything. Is he really a mind reader?

How the hell did he even do that?

"How did I have this ability, you wonder..."

I didn't even ask that. No, I didn't even think of that.

So… can he really read minds?

"Well it goes a longg time agoo... Ooh you're bored so quickly."

No. He is not a mind reader.

"... I guess not."

Hearing me saying that, he was quite surprised. But then, he chuckled again.

"Hahah. So, you figured it out?"

He took another sip on his tea. After drinking the whole glass, he placed the tea at the table and glared at me. His gaze is fairly fearsome and threatening.

"Most people usually thought I'm a mind reader when I showed them that trick. But, you somehow see through the lies. Have you encountered a mind reader before?"

I didn't even have to answer, and he already knows the answer.

"Where did you even find a mind reader?"

I wanted to tell him it's from movies, but since he doesn't know what movies are, I can just tell that it's a secret.

"That would be a secret. And, your ability to read... facial expressions? That's very good too."

"You even noticed what the technique is about… very good. I trained it for nearly a hundred years, and only a few people know about the truth."

He stood up and walked to the window and stared outside.

"Just for your information, Rize. The last adventurer who came to the academy and got recommended by the Office... didn't get quite the good 'treatment'."

He turned his gaze at me, wearing a really worried expression.

"He… ended up causing some ruckus."

"And… I'm guessing you don't want me to be like that?"

"No, the opposite, actually."

He turned his gaze back to the academy below the window. Students can be seen walking around the central park doing their businesses.

"I want you to become the academy's number one student."

"Excuse me?"

"With your skills, you have the ability to become the number one very easily. And by becoming the number one, you can prove to the other students that adventurers shouldn't be taken lightly.

For a long time, those students looked down on adventurers. They thought of us as some barbarians, capable only of killing monsters. Seeing how the adventurers sent by the master is bullied like that... pisses me off."

Remembering how he is also once an adventurer, that might be quite annoying for him. The last adventurer who came here must be having a good time, based on his story.

"Though, he did become a White ranked adventurer, afterwards. So I guess those harsh times weren't really for nothing."

"R-Really? Who was he?"

"His name was Jonus."

"O-Oh..."

The headmaster turned his gaze at me to read my expression, and suddenly he chuckled. Having the ability to read expressions, it's clear to him that I don't really like Jonus.

"I guess everyone just doesn't like him, then!"

He then stared back at the window outside. Any leader of a school, a headmaster or a principal, would like having a window like that, where they can see their students from the distance smiling and having fun. It's their pleasure as a teacher to see their students happy.

"And, I know from how you were only a Green ranked, you must be quite good at hiding yourself."

The headmaster continued.

"Well, you aren't wrong. I do like hiding myself, because I don't like some painful problems up my ass."

"Well, that is the thing here. The higher your level in this academy, the better your position is. And, that also means the higher the respect others will show to you."

"... Meaning?"

"Meaning being the top here is not the same as being the top there."

What he meant must be the adventurers ranking. Being the highest ranking adventurer, there's a ton of responsibilities you have to withhold, like the press, or the dangerous and heavy missions.

But here, it's the opposite. There's no responsibilities at all, instead there's only joy.

I'm not sure if that's true, because power always means responsibility. But, this is the headmaster talking. I can't just turn him down.

"I will be asking you once more. Will you become the best student here?"

I pondered over his question for a while. Becoming number one means attracting a lot of attention to me.

Yes, that would be a drag, but at the same time...

It could also prove some uses.

I chuckled as I answered the question.

"I guess so…

I'll try my best."

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End of Third Season.