First impression is everything

"Wait ---- there's no mark on you!" Ren Ren said in disbelief, also relieved after inspecting her thoroughly.

Tien Mao, also, couldn't understand what happened to her knee injury,"Hey... there's no way I turned into a vampire, right??"

Her questions lit up suspicion inside Ren Ren. 'Why is she calling a 'blood demon' a 'vampire'? Lord knows what that is! And even a child knows that priests, and hunters with holy mana, will never be able to turn themselves into 'blood demon' nor any creature of the night.. ..'

"Mao, tell me . . . Do you remember the promise we made before coming here?"

Unaware of her suspicions, Tien Mao nonchalantly answered her while changing into the academy uniform, "As we are going to be in second year" she felt really warm, remembering things these two friends had. . . also felt guilty. . . then looked at her in the eyes,"We are going to make a team for ourselves." She didn't knew, that, she had the most beautiful smile at that time. So warm and beautiful, that Ren Ren's suspicious melted away.

"Y- yeah... So remember to tell me if you have something in mind. . ." Ren Ren looked away, feeling guilty for having suspicions about her childhood bestie.

"Mm. Thanks." She turned around to go to see the monitor. ....'I hope everything goes well ... Please, teachers are the worst enemy you can have' .

Seeing her inner turmoil, "Let's go together." Ren Ren offered. Her offer was something Tien Mao never had. Almost teary, she nodded.

'Is it just me or Mao feel a lot better than before and. . different?' Ren Ren thought, but it disappeared in the back of her mind as she faced Tien Mao, who was looking at her with puppy eyes glittering with happiness.

When Tien Mao stepped out of her room, it took her by surprise as the walls were made of gray stones. To light up the cozy stone and wooden hallway, there were a few candles burning softly in their candle holder after every two room.

"It's warmer than our academy, right?" Ren Ren asked after closing their door.

Tien Mao didn't know how to respond to her questions so she nodded. She was hoping that she won't do something different then the previous owner. . .'I'm sorry. . .I know I'm being selfish but can I have things you had. . .' she asked herself. Then a question bubbled up ,'What happened to the real owner. . .?'

Just then a few other students came out from their room. Some looked at her with fear while others with disgust. The warm feeling Tien Mao was feeling, suddenly disappeared. . . replacing it with emptiness. . . 'Guess we were on the same page, huh? But I was hoping this time. . . things would be different'

"What are you looking at?" Ren Ren's thunderous voice caused them to hurry back inside. "Those B*****! Doesn't know the entire story but came here to judge. "

Tien Mao was shocked to see this wild side of her 'new' friend. For some reason, she felt that warm feeling bubbling inside her. . . she couldn't control that feeling and burst out into laughter.

"W--what??!" It made Ren Ren feel a bit embarrassed, but not in a bad way. Rather, because of cursing in front of her.

"Stop, okay? Also, You can't use those words, okay?"

Hearing this, Tien Mao again started laughing. "Why ?"

"J-just you can't."

"I'll try not to. ."

They made it down the stairs and came across a wide space like full of wooden benches and tables in row. It was a bit dark but the chandelier's candle light gave an aesthetic vibe. 'It's like canteen but in the victorian era. . .' Tien Mao thought.

"You are here. . . How are you feeling?" Someone a bit ahead of them asked in a grumpy voice.

Tien Mao looked at that direction to answer him, but her eyes widened and words disappeared even before they could form. That person was huge in size and buffed with muscles... 'I--Is he the teacher??? Are you sure he is not an hulk??' thankfully, her shock hold those words inside her head.

When he looked at Tien Mao, as she was quite for a while, his grim face was enough to knock her out again. But she calmed her self,' Focus. First impression is everything!!!'

'Yes, teacher. Thank you for your patience even though I made a grave mistake.' she bowed and apologized, it shocked everyone. It was the custom of her previous world, and one of her habits. But in this world it was only used for showing respect to the Nobel's or higher ups.

". . . I guess it was worth it, since you realized your own mistake. You may rise your head."

When she looked at him again, he had a small smile on his face. 'Ohh!?He is not that scary, I guess... Well, he is a teacher after all...' she thought.

But Ren Ren, and other students were too stunned by this reaction.

"Tell me, how did you ended up walking inside the black zone" the teacher asked, his voice still grumpy but there is kindness in it.

"Well, before that teacher, please forgive me once again." She bowed again.

"Huh--why so?" He clearly was confused.

'Hehe, now I'll show you why no one ever bullied me' She then made a face between sad and anger, "Teacher, have you ever felt helpless?"

She looked at him, his eyes were wide with concerns. "What do you mean by that cadet Mao?"

She tried to smile, and fearfully turned around at the other students "Like, you are trying your best but . .no matter what you do, others will always be stepping over you.... I know you would be disappointed in me, as a hunter I couldn't find any courage to..defy miss Ly Fei."

The monitors face turned grim again, as he remembered his own suffering. .as a Cadet.

"Then again, what she did was for my best. If she hadn't pushed me to finish this task all by myself. . .I wouldn't have learned that I need to become stronger." She said as she placed the remaining 33 slime stones infornt of him.

The monitor looked at her once then at the slime stones. They were purified with high level mana and care.

"You see. . .I hunted more but I lost concise after that. This is all I have to present for the task you had given. Please forgive me, teacher."

The monitor was fuming with anger then said, "First of all, I never gave any task to go inside the black zone. What I told your team was help the farmers as slime's were destroying the crops."

He then looked at her, "It's okay. Remember what you said and felt. Just as you said, I was also weak and this one realization took me here, what you know me as." She felt that this teacher was being genuine and his gaze for her had softened quick a bit. Not only his, the cashier, the barista, other students who were present felt sympathy for her.

"Cadet Tien Mao, I give you 17 point for completing this task alone. Now go get some rest. Someone, please call, cadet Ly Fei for me."

For the first time, everyone was able to see his smile. She also smiled and give him another bow before turning around.

"Minus 1 point." His loud wasn't as grumpy as before.

"H-hu . . Why teacher?" She turned around and saw him pointing three fingers.

She then realized, she was now, a Cadet.

"Sorry, teacher." She smiles and gave him a salute he deserved. She had watched this countless time before, but for the first time it was in practice. It reminded her of her grandma, the retired army officer, she taught her this salute.

He nodded with a proud grin, "Now, that's better. Remember, you don't have to bow all the time, mostly not to all the people."

She looked at him, 'I guess this time I might be able to enjoy my life. . . maybe'

But, to spoil the little peace she had, a loud blast happened somewhere, startling everyone. The monitor looked outside the window, his eyes widened...out side it was completely black.

"What was that??" Ren Ren came beside Tien Mao, worriedly looking outside the window.

Tien Mao looked at her, "I don't ---"

[(Unforseen) Event : Endless night has begun.

Time limit : 3 days

Clear condition : Repair the barrier under the given time limit, or everyone in village Collier will die.

Reward : hint of 'Mirasa'

Penalty: Death]

". . . Looks like this world wanted to move a bit..." She replied, annoyed and unsure what is yet to come.