Chapter 177: Good Sleep

Click.

As Kael left the office, the door closed behind him.

Nemur sat in his seat as usual, though his hands moved to prepare another cup of coffee.

"Want some?"

"Sure."

Zenur replied nonchalantly.

The serious attitude that he had shown when Kael was present in the office was now gone.

It was replaced by a carefree attitude that was unusual for an instructor to present.

There was a long silence between the two, as Nemur brewed the coffee with immense care.

His actions were so fluid that one might mistake him for a coffee seller.

"You sure were being lenient with the kid."

It was Zenur who broke the silence first.

The headmaster just looked up to meet Zenur’s gaze, before continuing to prepare the coffee.

"Was I?"

"You weren’t?"

Zenur now had an amused smile on his face.

"Hm... If suspending him is being lenient, then I was indeed being one."

Though Nemur replied, there was no hint of seriousness in his voice.

"Here."

As the coffee was prepared, Nemur poured it into two cups before pushing one in Zenur’s direction.

"Thanks."

Lifting the cup in his hand, Zenur took the first sip, only to pause mid-motion as he set the cup down in slow motion.

"Your coffee is great as usual, though I would appreciate a little sugar in it."

The headmaster raised his brows slightly before clicking his fingers softly, and a pouch of sugar appeared beside Zenur.

Zenur watched everything in silence, as he added some sugar to his cup of coffee.

"So... what’s the deal?"

Zenur asked again, as he took another sip from the coffee.

"Didn’t I tell you before?"

His words were met with a question from the headmaster that felt ridiculous to the instructor.

"You didn’t—and you never do."

Placing the cup on the desk again, Zenur stared into the headmaster’s eyes, who still had his usual smile.

"Well... I have some use for him, so we have forged a small deal."

"A deal?"

"Yes. It’s nothing too serious."

Though the headmaster assured him, Zenur didn’t back down.

"The kid is smart. I know it. He is strong, but I can’t imagine a single area where he could be of help to you."

Another bout of silence ensued.

"Are you doubting me?"

"I wouldn’t dare to."

"Then?"

"Haa... I... I just want you to stay away from him. Why the sudden interest in him?"

"Still as caring as ever."

To Zenur’s concerned look, Nemur replied with a warm smile.

"He is a kid."

"I know."

"Then—"

"I won’t kill him or exploit him in any way. Is that good with you?"

"If not, then what are you even using him for?"

Zenur slightly raised his voice at the end, though realising his mistake, he settled back in his chair, lifting the cup to his lips again.

"I have agreed to be his guardian."

"..."

"If that doesn’t satisfy you, then I don’t think anything else can."

Nemur’s voice had now turned normal from his usual warm tone—a signal to end the conversation.

Getting the hint, Zenur didn’t continue the topic, though the coffee still left a bitter taste in his mouth—despite adding sugar to it.

***

I hadn’t thought about it before, but right now—after seeing the two of them together, some pieces had begun to arrange themselves in my mind.

Could they be related in any way?

That was possible, as even their names were similar.

Sigh.

Leaving aside the mystery—the incident at the training facility had helped me in quite a favourable way.

There was now a proper reason behind my prolonged absence in the future, so there was no need to worry on that front.

Not that I would have, even if there had been no proper reason to explain my actions.

After all, Nemur was my guardian.

It was his obligation to look after me... and that included following up with any excuses he could find.

I had to pack my stuff, as my suspension was in immediate effect.

There was no need to attend classes for today.

Just as I was about to use the stairs to head down, I had to stop in my tracks, as Diana stood there...

Waiting for me?

"That was quick."

Seeing me approach her, Diana quickly began to walk along with me, as we headed downstairs.

"It was."

I answered after a short pause.

"So... what happened?"

I turned my head, only to be met by a pair of eyes with worry etched in them.

"Nothing. The headmaster had suspended me for some time."

The words left my mouth in a casual tone, though Diana didn’t seem to be satisfied with it.

Grabbing my hand, she made me stop in the middle of the stairs, with no one around us.

"Kael... are you okay?"

Hm?

That surprised me.

I thought Diana was keen on confronting me about the fight earlier.

"Shouldn’t you ask that to your friends?"

I was referring to Victoria, who too was a close friend of Diana.

"You are my f-friend."

Diana’s voice began to crack at the end, as her eyes grew moist, with tears seconds away from sliding down her cheeks.

"I am fine."

Seeing the intensity of her emotions, I chose to give the required answer.

"Victoria is being treated at the—"

"I didn’t ask."

I cut off Diana from whatever she was trying to say.

"Why?"

Sigh.

There it was—the inevitable confrontation.

I mean... wasn’t the reason clear?

Victoria tried to arrest me, and I resisted, leading to a fight which I won.

What’s there to think about?

"Victoria doesn’t show it, but I could notice the pain that she was going through—"

"She lost an arm, not her head. Stop being dramatic."

"Kael—"

Haa...

Shaking off Diana’s grip on my hand, I began to walk towards my dorm.

I didn’t know why, but all these topics about family, friends, and relationships were beginning to make me puke.

They felt disgusting to even think about.

It was my first time feeling such extreme repulsion, but it was there—and it was growing whenever I saw or interacted with any of the individuals related to Kael Frost in the past.

Maybe...

I really needed a good sleep.