CHAPTER 86: PEACEFUL MOMENTS [2]

"All first years should proceed towards the academy portal. We will be departing for Ashton City," one of the professors coordinating the students announced.

Kai adjusted his overcoat, which he had placed on his bent arm, then turned to Hari. "Are you really planning on keeping what happened in Deerheart’s lab to yourself?"

It wasn’t the first time he had asked her, and like every other time, she smiled awkwardly, waving her hands dismissively. "I told you, don’t worry about it."

Kai already knew Hari had seen something she considered too dangerous to share, because if it wasn’t something beyond him, she wouldn’t have hesitated to tell him.

Even so, he wanted her to trust him — even in matters that were dangerous. ’She’s still treating me like someone she needs to protect.’ Kai clicked his tongue.

There was no reason to keep asking. If she didn’t want to tell him, all he had to do was find out himself.

Deerheart would have been his safest bet for answers, but due to his unofficial rank, he wasn’t able to summon him yet.

Kai sighed. ’No need to overthink it.’ he mused, then gestured to Hari that he was about to leave.

She nodded in response as he left the side of one of the coaster buses the academy had prepared for the journey.

The seven or so massive buses were going to be used not only to enter the enormous transportation portal, but also to travel from Ashton City to the royal capital.

The reason they were taking such a roundabout route was because most of the capital’s portals had been closed off due to the arrival of nobles from England, Germany, and other high-ranking nations in the Deves Continent — which possessed nearly the same military and economic power as the continent Kai resided in, the Empire.

Kai, dressed in the SPD uniform, passed a group of admiring students and went over to where he and Matt had been assigned.

Since Hari was in another class, she and Kai couldn’t sit close to each other, and he honestly preferred sitting with Matt, who wouldn’t constantly pester him.

As Kai approached where Class C stood, he caught a glimpse of Joshua, who immediately fidgeted and looked away. ’What’s that guy’s problem?’

Unlike Joshua, whose conscience had been gnawing at him for how he bullied Kai’s predecessor, Kai himself, or rather Cha Jin-sung, didn’t care much about the young man and had completely forgotten he even existed.

Ignoring the stares of the students, he waved at Matt, who was leaning against their bus.

"Took you long enough," Matt muttered, visibly annoyed.

Kai looked at him, then leaned against the bus as well. "What’s got you so pissed off?" Kai paused, gauging his friend’s expression, then continued. "Is it because you’re going to see your father?"

Matt’s expression darkened at Kai’s words. "Yeah..."

’He agreed awfully easily... I guess he’s Matt, after all.’

The two stunning young men leaned on the bus for some time without saying a word.

They weren’t the type of people who could go unnoticed, even among the awakened, they were considered to be at the top of the food chain.

Because of this, different students and staff would occasionally steal glances at them, and due to how sharp both of their senses were, the constant feeling of being watched wasn’t pleasant in the least.

Kai let out a long sigh. "I doubt your father would do anything in a foreign land. Isn’t that why you came to the academy in the first place?"

Matt nodded, prompting Kai to continue. "Besides, you’ll soon become an A-rank. Not only that, but you’ll also awaken your aura and unlock the full potential of your talent." He paused. "Well, I guess I shouldn’t call it a ’talent’ anymore."

Matt smiled faintly. "I guess you’re right."

Kai smiled too. ’Of course I am. Who do you think wrote your stubborn ass?’

Kai could tell — even without anyone telling him — Matt had changed a lot.

He was always a vulnerable child with a kind heart, but because of that naivety, he was easily taken advantage of.

But now, Kai could sense a faint trace of both confidence and cunning in him.

’Am I a bad influence?’ Kai shook his head. He had never thought of himself as a bad influence to others. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t beginning to reconsider that notion.

"Okay, kids, it’s time to move!" Both Kai and Matt turned to Neko-sensei, who stood in front of the bus’s door.

She winked at the two of them before she began calling out the names of the students.

After calling nearly all the names according to normal seating order, she called Kai’s name, and he boarded the bus.

Luckily for him, Rachel, who he was supposed to sit with, decided to exchange seats with Matt, who was behind them, and instead sit with Rebecca Watt.

Not only Kai, but many other students did the same, and it wasn’t like it was against any school rules.

In fact, Neko-sensei actually seemed to prefer the option.

The entire bus erupted into chatter and noise as students conversed among themselves. Some played games, others slept, while a few munched on their snacks.

Both Kai and Matt decided to use their phones before the trip started.

They had to set their destinations, write down notes of what they planned to do once in Ashton City, and attend to other important tasks.

This was especially true for Kai, who had a very important task at hand — visiting the children from his predecessor’s orphanage and going to the café he purchased two days ago.

These few tasks alone had consumed most of the two weeks they were set to spend in Ashton City, and he hadn’t even factored in group activities or the things he planned to do with Matt and the others.

Kai let out an exasperated sigh. ’Why do things have to be so complicated,’ he complained mentally.

Still, all the tasks he had noted down held significance for him.

’Come to think of it, I’ve never actually been on a school trip before.’ Kai smiled, gazing out the window as the bus began to move slowly.