The Angelic System That Turned My Life Into Hell

Chapter 168: Exchange Program

It was night when the group around Mika arrived in Loogam, which was still buried in rubble.

After getting off the carriage, the three followed Ophelia, who headed towards the headmaster’s tent.

"Is it fine to disturb at such a late hour?" Lily asked.

"The headmaster told me to bring you to him as soon as possible once we’re here." Ophelia replied calmly.

"..."

Mika looked at the tents.

He knew that it was night but it seemed too deserted there.

There were no lights or sounds coming from the tents. He did not even sense any people in the tents.

"Mr. Graymen. I brought Mika Elbar, Sylvia Pyril and Lily Hayth with me." Ophelia announced when they stood in front of a large tent, which was still illuminated inside.

"You may enter." Lucio replied.

And so they did.

"I apologize for calling you back so suddenly but I thought that it would be for the best if you were to be informed as soon as possible." Lucio said with a wry smile.

He was sitting at a temporary desk, which was loaded with paperwork.

Surprisingly, the Tiam siblings were standing behind him with stern expressions.

"I assume that Ms. Ross already relayed to you the news that the third-year students came back."

Lined up next to each other, Mika, Sylvia and Lily nodded their heads.

"Good. As it’s already late, I will keep it short for you guys."

Lucio put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on his hands.

"Due to the urgency of the matter, I’ve sent the entire third year after the demons, who escaped during the invasion, and Xander, who is rumored to have ties to demons."

"The entire year...?" Mika muttered taken aback.

"Yes. Their opponents are two B-rank demons and Xander, who rivaled the strength of a Grand Order member. Among the third-years, there was no one, who could handle Xander alone, but in return, they’re the strongest if put together." Lucio elaborated.

"The second-years may have the strongest individual student but the third-years are the strongest year in the history of this academy as over 85% are at least red-class students." Ophelia added indifferently.

"E-eighty-five...?!" Lily stuttered amazed.

"Usually, it would be reversed with the lower classes being more presented..." Sylvia, who was also shocked by the number, muttered.

Lucio cleared his throat.

"Of course, I plan on sending staff members after them, too. And aside from the students, other nations will cooperate with us during the hunt."

He had a light frown on his face, which was rare considering his usual kind and peaceful demeanor.

He probably felt responsible for letting the demons escape from his territory, thus, he ordered the third-years to go after them for now.

"My apologies... It seems like I’m getting off-topic."

He massaged his forehead with his fingers.

"To sum it up, the third-years left yesterday. The second year was completely disbanded as they enrolled in other academies aside from an exception."

The three students focused their attention on what was about to be announced.

"And after a long discussion with the teachers and the representatives of each nation before their departure, we came up with the following solution."

They gulped down their saliva.

"We adjusted your current curricula. At first, it was originally planned to have you first-years go on a demon subjugation with a teacher but now, we replaced it with something else."

A smirk crept onto Sara’s face.

"We will do an exchange program, which will last for three months, with the other nations." Lucio stated.

It did not surprise Mika and the other two as much as expected.

"Since we have four classes, one class will be sent to one nation. It’s already decided that the black class will attend an academy in Rostanta and the silver class will go to Malnor."

"As I was planning to go back to my hometown in Stakew, I’m planning to introduce the red class to an academy I had connections to." he added.

"Rostanta, huh...?" Mika murmured with an already tired sigh.

He could already imagine how it would play out for him as Olivia’s laugh echoed inside his head.

"What about the white class?" Sylvia asked.

"The white class will join us!" Sara replied joyfully.

"G-Grat...?"

"This could be tough..." Sylvia murmured nervously.

"..."

Ophelia acted suspiciously as she averted her gaze nervously from the others.

"Most of the students individually left this place already in order to prepare for the next term in their new academies. But the white class had to stay here until everyone from the class was gathered as it was required to travel the seas. Thus, it would be more efficient for everyone, who was heading towards Grat, to travel together." Lucio explained.

The sea.

It started around the same time when demons invaded the human realm that humans came to fear the sea.

According to rumors, there was a mysterious being in the sea that would devour everything in sight.

However, no one knew what it looked like as no one was able to escape alive from it. Not even previous members of the Grand Order, who were actively searching for it.

Overall, no one possessed any information about it as no one even knew where it lived or what the conditions were for it to appear.

But due to the number of missing ships and people, the people on land gave the being a nickname.

It was titled ’The Nightmare in the Sea’.

"You will depart from here the day after tomorrow so get some good rest until then. You two can go ahead and rest as well." Lucio directed the last sentence to the Tiam siblings.

"Understood."

"Got it!"

Thus, the two left the tent.

Mika, Sylvia and Lily were also about to exit.

"Just to make things clear, you’re going with them, Mika Elbar." Lucio said with a smile.

"?"

Mika stopped in his tracks and turned back to the headmaster.

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Graymen? As a black-class student, I should head to Rostanta, or am I wrong?"

Lucio chuckled lightly.

"You may not have participated in the official promotion tournament, however, after seeing your skills during the match against Xander and Cail, I deemed you worthy of joining the white class during the exchange."

"You will still remain a black-class student on paper but it was permitted to let you join the Grat’s exchange program." Ophelia said.

However, her expression gave off the impression of bitterness.

"..."

Mika opened his mouth but closed it shortly afterward.

He realized that it was better that way because it would mean that he could stay with his friends instead of going to Rostanta.

Furthermore, he was interested in visiting Grat as well as the sea even though most people would fear it.

"Understood." Mika replied firmly.

After that, everyone left the tent.

"Hey, what’s up, guys?" Sara greeted them energetically.

"Hm? Were you waiting for us?" Mika wondered.

"It’s still too early to go to sleep! Let’s hang out for a while!" Sara lamented. freёweɓnovel.com

Ophelia sighed.

"Do whatever you want but don’t disturb the others during their sleep, okay?" she said as she left the group.

"S-sorry, Sara but I’m still tired from the trip so I will go to sleep, too..." Lily admitted with an apologetic smile. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Same applies for me." Sylvia said bluntly.

Sara immediately shifted her head to Mika, staring at him with teary puppy eyes.

"F-fine... But just shortly, okay...?" he gave in due to the pressure.

"Yay!"

"Sorry..."

Yarjak patted his shoulder.

"Nevermind..." Mika sighed.

Sara poked his side with her elbow playfully.

"And are you surprised? Surely, you wouldn’t have expected an exchange with Grat, hehe!"

"Well, I guess it now makes sense, why the two were still staying here even though every other representative left." Mika pondered.

"Actually..."

Yarjak had a bitter expression as well while averting Mika’s face.

His mouth opened on its own and he was about to utter something.

"Hm?"

"S-sorry... It’s nothing..."

He picked up his pace and walked in front of Sara and Mika, who was tilting his head.

"..."

Sara looked concerned at the back of her brother.

And in the meantime, someone else entered the headmaster’s tent.

"Do you have any business with me, Mr. Togin?" Lucio asked kindly.

"Tch. You can drop the formality with me. Act like always." Hecto replied annoyed.

With his hands in his pockets, Hecto approached Lucio.

"I’m here to announce that I will go with you to Stakew."

"Oh, really? Can I ask what your reason is?"

"Still acting as if I was not your neighbor during our childhood? Do I need a reason to visit my hometown?"

He sighed.

"Anyways, when will we depart?"

"Hm... I was thinking of departing at the same time as the Grat group. So it will be the day after tomorrow."

"Alright."

Hecto turned his back on Lucio and left again.

"..."

Lucio’s smile remained on his face even though he was alone.

"Mika Elbar..." he muttered.