On Saturday, I walked alone in the forest of Arcadia Hunter College to the meeting point sent by the History and Art Guild (society). As it is the weekend, not many people remain on campus. Most students have lost the motivation to continue studying after the initial excitement has passed. Looking at the leaves, the forest gradually showed signs of the coming winter. rustle-- Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned my head slightly and saw a familiar figure. "Sylvie." However, since she didn't approach me, I didn't plan to approach her either, and just continued walking towards the meeting point. After about three minutes of walking, I finally arrived at my destination. It was a clearing surrounded by woods, peaceful and natural. It was wide enough to accommodate a group of people, with simple seating arrangements of logs and stones. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, which rustled slightly as I walked past. The sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground. The atmosphere here is calm and peaceful, completely different from the bustle of the college campus. I pause for a moment to appreciate the tranquility before my eyes.
But at this moment, an excited voice came into my ears. "Ah, you're here!" I turned my head to follow the voice and saw a head of long, silky purple hair and a pair of excited blue eyes. Her bright and energetic smile was impossible to ignore, and her tone was full of enthusiasm. "Senior Maya." I nodded to greet her and show my respect. She approached with brisk steps, and her whole body was filled with an eager excitement. "You are the first one to arrive." She smiled a little, "Guess what? I brought snacks! You must try them!" Her enthusiasm was hard to refuse. Without waiting for my answer, she handed me a bag of snacks, her eyes full of anticipation. "Come on, don't be shy! You'll definitely like them, try one!" "I don't want to eat." I answered the same as last time. This time the smell coming from the snacks made me feel a little uncomfortable. But she ignored my refusal and her excitement did not diminish at all. "Oh, come on! Just try one, it won't be a problem." "I said I didn't want to eat." "Don't be like that, give it a try." "No." "Listen to what you say, I guarantee you'll like it." Seeing her enthusiasm was irresistible, I sighed and took the snack bag. "Then try one." Maya smiled triumphantly. "I knew you would give in, little prince of melancholy! It's delicious!" As I began to reluctantly take a bite of my snack, Maya's attention was suddenly drawn to another figure. It was someone who tried to hide her presence, but Maya and I both felt her presence because her concealment skills were not good. Maya turned her eyes to the newcomer and smiled warmly. "Sylvie! You're here too!" Her voice was full of joy. Sylvie, who had just arrived, waved gently. "Good morning, Maya-senpai." I saw Sylvie hiding behind a tree, looking a little nervous. "You've come just in time! Have some snacks!" Maya's enthusiasm was undiminished as she handed the snack bag to Sylvie. Sylvie hesitated for a moment, looking at Maya's expression with some fear, but she finally compromised.
“Well… I’ll take one.” I don’t know why she looked like that, but it was probably because Maya’s enthusiasm was too overwhelming. Watching them like this, I walked towards a small tree, leaned against it, took out a book from my bracelet and started reading. I didn't want to communicate much with others, especially Maya, whose enthusiasm made me uncomfortable. The moment I opened the book against the tree, the rustling of the forest and the chirping of birds in the distance made me feel a sense of tranquility. I longed to immerse myself in the world of the book and find a moment of peace with words and knowledge. However, my tranquility was completely shattered by Maya's overly active presence. She seemed to appear out of nowhere, and her enthusiasm was palpable before she spoke. "Junior!" Maya's voice was full of joy and energy. I reluctantly raised my head from the book and looked at her with a slight annoyance. "What?" I responded coldly. I didn't want to have a boring conversation, and I didn't want to face Maya's unbearable enthusiasm. I glanced back and found Sylvie looking at me with half-closed eyes, but she seemed relieved. Maya sat down next to me, her bright blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What are you reading?" She leaned over, apparently not minding invading my personal space. "It's just a book," I answered simply, hoping she would leave tactfully. But she leaned closer, not caring about the personal distance at all. "Come on, junior, give me a more interesting answer!" My patience was wearing thin as I watched her behavior. This woman was constantly disregarding my personal space and making me feel uncomfortable. Just as I was about to open my mouth to drive her away, she suddenly stood up. "Ah, Emilia is here." She left immediately, leaving me alone. "Finally saved." I thought to myself. Now, I was seriously considering my decision to join this club. But looking at the blonde girl's eyes in the distance, I remembered again the reason why I came here, and then turned my attention back to the book. As the forest clearing continued to remain peaceful, members of the History and Art Club began to arrive. Each person's arrival added a touch of life to the gathering, and the quiet atmosphere was gradually embellished by the students' laughter and conversation. One after another, unfamiliar faces joined the group. Most of them were freshmen like me, and their faces were filled with curiosity and excitement. Slowly, senior members also appeared. Their familiarity and enthusiasm made the atmosphere even more lively. Just then, my eyes fell on a figure that was crucial to me. A young man, his handsome features are intertwined with a gentle smile that is always on his face. His presence exudes a sense of ease and intimacy, a trait that undoubtedly makes him a natural leader. His brown hair shone in the sun, and his green eyes had a sly sly look. He had a casual, confident air about him, as if he was in control of everything. He moved around in groups with ease, and had a reassuring charm. But beneath his relaxed exterior, I know there's more to him than meets the eye. Click—— Without warning, a surge of emotion hit me that was too overwhelming to bear, a wave of intense anger and hatred that flooded my heart. "What's this?" The air seemed to become heavy, filled with an evil aura that enveloped the young man. Looking at the man, I noticed that there was a vague black aura surrounding him, as if he was different from the others. "What happened?" Boom!
My heartbeat began to quicken and pound, and my sense of balance was thrown off. Something was affecting me. I couldn't ignore the intensity of this disturbing emotion that was raging inside me. It felt like a storm roaring inside me, fueled by some strange but undeniable rage and hatred. "calm." I tried to steady my breathing, my mind racing, trying to understand the source of this overwhelming emotion. Watching the young man who seemed to be at the center of this chaos, I began to connect the dots. The aura around him was not an illusion, it was real and palpable. That aura was undoubtedly dark, the embodiment of some evil. "Because he is a devil contract." I knew who he was from the game, and he was the reason I joined this club in the first place. "Mason Kent." This is his name. He is a person who has signed a contract with the devil since the beginning of the academy, because his family has long worked for the evil organization in the association. “But where does this feeling come from?” I asked myself, and the answer soon became clear. "It's because of my passive skill." 【Blade of Vengeance】 "That must be the reason." This passive skill gives me greater capabilities against demons and also allows me to sense hidden energies. “Now it all makes sense,” I whispered, closing my eyes. "What makes sense?" Just then, the voice I least wanted to hear rang in my ears. "......" "Junior? Why are you sweating? Is it hot?" Maya's energetic figure appeared in front of me, her blue eyes staring at me, as if she could see through my heart. Maya's question brought me back to reality, and I realized that my discomfort was too obvious. Trying to regain my composure, I shook my head slightly. "Nothing." Maya seemed unfazed by my response, her enthusiasm still undiminished. She took out a cold snack from her bag and handed it to me. "Here, this, maybe it can help you cool down." I really didn't want to eat her snacks, but I had to accept it in order to make her leave quickly. Right now, I had to control my emotions. I nodded and took the snack, still feeling uneasy but grateful for her kindness. It was just a plain ice cream, seemingly made by Maya using her space props. "How many snacks did she bring?" I thought as I took a bite. Instantly, a bitter and sour taste spread in my mouth, making me tremble. "It tastes so bad." I wanted to spit it out, but I held it back because it would be too rude. "Thank you." Even in this situation, I still managed to say this. Senior Maya responded with a smile on her face: "It's okay, junior! You have to stay in good shape at all times!" Before I could say anything more, the atmosphere changed as the club members began to gather more actively, and it was clear that the event was about to begin. As the crowd gradually gathered, Maya's role as club president became apparent, and she efficiently attracted everyone's attention.
"Okay, everyone! Let's get started. First, I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so happy that you are joining us." Maya's voice was warm and attractive as she spoke to the newcomers, including me. Maya continued speaking with a passionate voice as she began to outline the club's purpose and goals. The goal of the History and Art Club is to explore and dissect the world before the Nexus Convergence, an event that introduced mana and magic and completely changed our world. The relics of the past, whether historical events or artistic expressions, hold the key to understanding the roots of our present reality. This is exactly what the society wants to convey to the world. "Our focus is to uncover the historical, artistic and cultural aspects that shaped the world before the Hub Fusion. We believe that delving into these will not only expand our knowledge, but also enrich our perspective on the world we live in today." However, while Maya was talking, my eyes stayed on the young man, who was silently watching Sylvie, obviously trying to find a way to get close to her. "First you, then your family. I will not let go of the dogs that sell themselves to the devil." Click—— I clenched my fists and swore to myself. "I will wipe out everyone associated with the devil. You will be my starting point." Looking at the two-faced man with a friendly smile, I took a deep breath. Now is not the time to act.