“Yes, you are weak. And what’s wrong with that?
“We are at the academy, we joined this place to become stronger.
“Being weak just means you can only climb higher from your current position.
“And stop misunderstanding us.
“We aren’t protecting you because you are weak, but because you are our friend.”
Neo’s sharp words surprised Felix.
Felix planned to have them make her forcefully stay in their teams to protect her.
She thought Arthur would stop her not Neo.
Maybe he was more compassionate than she thought?
“Just stay in Arthur’s team.
“I’m the main target of the Zeus Clan members. It’s safer for you if you are with Arthur.”
“I—”
“Stop refusing. It’s annoying.”
“Y-yeah, I mean, no, you aren’t annoying. Anyway, Felix join my team.
“I’m not teaming up with Neo because I want to be the Ruler. I have no grudge against him and we aren’t fighting.”
Felix’s expression contorted as if she had to make a difficult decision.
‘Got them good!’ she thought internally.
After a long time, Felix sighed.
“Okay.”
Arthur was relived after hearing her answer.
Neo, on the other hand, didn’t know if he should laugh or cry.
There was no way he would hold a grudge because Felix chose to team with up Arthur.
Her actions were the creation of her needless over caution.
The trio chatted.
Felix and Arthur left after a bit of time passed to find teammates.
“I’m alone now.”
Neo’s time was running out.
He had to train quickly and reach sufficient mastery in Water element before he entered Underworld tomorrow.
However, he couldn’t leave the mission hall.
The Top 100 students would form teams today itself.
If he delayed searching for team members, he would not be able to take on S-rank missions.
“Who will be willing to join my team?” Neo thought.
He looked around and realized…
“Am I overthinking it or is everyone trying to stay away from me?”
The students kept away from Neo.
They turned away when he made eye contact with them.
…It was going to be hard to find teammates.
“I guess I’ll go to people I know and try my luck with them.”
Neo looked around for Morrigan.
It was easy to locate her.
She was being ostracized like him.
“Looks like your friends didn’t like you lost to me.”
Neo approached her.
She noticed his presence and frowned.
“What do you want?”
“I want you in my team. It’s not like you have a choice if you want to take on S-rank missions.
“The Zeus Clan members won’t let other students join you.”
Morrigan pursed her lips.
After she fell out of favor with her family, the attitude of the Zeus Clan students took a turn.
They were trying to put her down.
Neo’s offer was a god send.
There was just one problem.
“I don’t want to join the team of someone weaker than me.
“Besides, I don’t care about credits or ranks.”
She turned around and left.
Neo was left stunned.
‘What the fuck is wrong with her? Why is she so different from the Morrigan of the novel?’
Massaging his temples, he was about to look for other teammates until he noticed Leonora.
She stood in a secluded corner of the mission hall. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Her face was hidden under the hoodie.
She was playing a game on the switch and used earphones to drown the noise of the mission hall.
‘Should I try it?’
‘The chances of making a team with her are low, but if I play my card right, I should be able to do it.’
He was about to meet her when a boy, buffed and giant, with dark blue hair stopped him.
“Where do you think you are going?” the boy, Christian, questioned.
“…”
“Go away. Even if you are a Ruler, there are some things you shouldn’t do.”
Christian continued.
“Miss is the leader of the Poseidon Clan’s faction. You are insulting us if you try to recruit her.”
Zeus Clan was already an enemy with Neo.
If Poseidon Clan joined the fray, he would be facing two Great God Clans alone.
But.
When did he care about such things?
Neo was about to forcefully remove Christian from his path when suddenly he heard a voice.
“Ch-Christian, let him come here.”
Leonora, the girl who disliked any and every person, was looking straight at Neo.
…
Five Minutes Ago
‘This sucks.’
Leonora wore the earphones and took out the switch from her pocket.
She started the game after she leaned against the wall.
‘Ugh, why do I have to attend classes? I wish I could stay in my room all day.’
Leonora saw students moving around to find teammates.
She clicked her tongue.
The top 100 students were almost all from God Clans.
Their families decided their teammates before they entered the academy.
‘Noisy.’
She increased the volume and focused on the game.
Suddenly, a flying whale, otherworldly in appearance, came out of the wall and covered half of the mission hall’s roof.
Nobody could see or sense the whale.
‘Leonora, shouldn’t you try to talk to others now that you are outside?’
The whale’s voice, sweet and lyrical, sounded inside Leonora’s head.
‘I don’t want to. All of them look like idiots,’ Leonora answered.
The whale, Ruby, sighed.
She worried Leonora’s introverted nature was taking a turn for worse with each day.
She was about to reprimand her lightly when suddenly she stopped.
Her gaze focused on the black haired, red eyed boy.
Ruby flew down and circled Neo.
‘What are you doing?’ Leonora questioned.
‘I’m trying to find out if he can see me. He made eye contact with me during the entrance ceremony.’
‘That must’ve been a coincidence. Stop worrying about it, and go rest.’
‘Haiz, you’ve really become not so sweet anymore, Leonora.’
‘Really? That’s a good thing if it stops others from approaching me.’
Ruby continued to monitor Neo.
When he was rejected by Morrigan and tried to approach Leonora, she spoke,
‘Join his team. We need to keep an eye on him’
‘No. It sounds like work, and dad will throw a fit if I join a team other than with my Clanmates.’
Leonora did not even bother to ask for reason behind Ruby’s suggestion.