CHAPTER 100: ELIGIBLE THEFT DETECTED

Ran’s heart thudded as his entire body froze, a sudden spike of panic at the thought. His contract with Gallos wasn’t official yet. So, anyone could pick up Gallos’s knife and steal it. It wasn’t like they could use Gallos, but even so, there were other things they could do with it.

Thus, Ran yanked the drawer open just to make sure.

"Oh, God—" His chest tightened. For one dizzying second, it wasn’t there. His hand gripped the desk for balance.

Then, with a quiet clink, the knife rolled into view—just pushed too far back.

Relief washed over his face, his gaze snapping at the drawer. After patting his chest from the morning’s mini heart attack, he picked up the knife and laughed to himself.

"Right," he muttered. "Why would I think someone would steal it when it’s just me and Mikel in this dorm?"

"What steal?"

Much to Ran’s surprise, Mikel’s voice came from behind him. He jolted, almost dropping the knife, which bounced off his hand as he tried to catch it. Thankfully, he caught it before it could even reach the ground.

"Ahh..." Ran laughed awkwardly, straightening his back and facing Mikel.

Mikel was already wearing his uniform, his hair a bit messy with strands dripping water on his shoulders—a sign that he had just showered. He walked to his bed, looking at Ran as if the latter were crazy.

Ran’s smile faltered as he awkwardly answered, "Nothing! Just being silly!" He cleared his throat and marched to his bed, sitting down on the edge. "You’re up early."

"I slept early."

"Right..." he nodded in understanding, before an awkward silence fell between them.

Ran and Mikel just sat in pure silence. No word was said because there was nothing they needed to.

[... awkward...]

"I—I will go to the shower now!" Ran jumped from his seat and laughed awkwardly, hurrying to grab his shower kit and towel before running out of the dormitory.

He moved so fast that all Mikel could do was follow Ran’s retreating figure with his gaze. Mikel cocked his head to the side before his face twisted a bit.

"He didn’t have to tell me he’s gonna go to the shower—" he yawned, resisting the urge to lie down. He knew if he did, he would just fall asleep completely. "Should I just miss school?"

[Master, according to the student manual, only those who are sick, out on a mission, or dead are allowed to miss school. Unless you are one of them, then I suggest not skipping school.]

Mikel hissed before he glanced at Ran’s drawer, where the latter had placed the knife on top.

"Hey," he called out. "You alright?"

Gallos didn’t come out, but Mikel couldn’t blame the phantom. Gallos looked a bit unwell when they reached the academy. After all, Mikel had sprinted his way back, knowing if he’d idled, he would’ve reached the academy with the morning sun already shining.

"That’s a close call," he murmured. "If I were a bit late, Ran would’ve found out that I took his Phantom with me last night."

[Master, would you feel sorry if that had happened?]

Sorry?

Mikel arched a brow, staring at Doom’s screen and that strange question.

Why would I feel sorry?

It was Gallos who came with him of his own will. It wasn’t like Mikel did something to Ran’s phantom. Well, if giving Gallos motion sickness counted, then there was something he should reconsider.

[Master, a Phantom doesn’t just go with anyone, and their wielder would feel a sense of betrayal if they did. No matter the reason.]

"And?" he blurted out.

[I have analyzed him during your duel, Master. You may steal Gallos, and he would listen.]

[Eligible Theft Detected]

Mikel read Doom’s message. Although Doom would leave out some information, it would never lie to him. And somehow, Mikel didn’t doubt that.

Slowly, he turned his head to the knife on top of the desk. "Tempting, but nah." Mikel stifled a yawn, eyes prickling with tired tears.

It wasn’t like Mikel didn’t want Gallos. If anything, after fighting this phantom, he had more reason to like him. Gallos was strong, and during their duel, Mikel knew this phantom guardian was holding back. Adding him to his phantom index would be nice and all, but at the same time, he didn’t feel like he should.

I want to be strong, he thought, pushing himself up, picking up his bag, and walking out of the room. But not by stealing someone else’s phantom.

Mikel closed the door when he stepped out, eyeing the door.

Besides, I have you, the cursed relics, and Haleth. I’m not that desperate yet.

Doom’s screen glowed faintly, but Mikel just ignored that. For some reason, he could feel his cursed relics smirking, and even Haleth smiling at what he had just mentally uttered. It satisfied them, although that wasn’t Mikel’s intention.

Mikel would steal Gallos if he wanted to, but even though he didn’t like Ran that much, he recognized Ran’s admiration and determination to one day merge with Gallos.

I am not like those homunculi who... pluck the bud before it blooms.

If anything, he was secretly rooting for Ran and Gallos.

****

Hours Later

Mikel yawned as he ate his lunch with his group (Eli, the twins, and Ran) and Tahu the Leech. He had been doing everything he could to sneak a nap during class. However, their teachers kept calling on him, and one even sent him to stand outside as punishment.

When she noticed Mikel napping while standing outside their class, she added more days to his detention.

Anima sucks, he muttered through a heavy exhale, rubbing one eye as the group turned toward him.

"You keep yawning, my friend," Tahu noticed mid-bite. "Didn’t you get sleep last night?"

Blitz nodded. "Big brother, did you dream of Mister Meanie last night?"

"Boom can’t sleep when I dream of Mister Meanie," Boom added, shivering. "He wears a blanket like a ghost!"

"Isn’t that just the headmaster?" Mikel deadpanned.

"Are you alright, Mikel?" Ran asked in concern. "Is it because you woke up very early?"

No, I just didn’t sleep the entire night.

But Mikel nodded and shrugged. "Must be. I’m not used to waking up very early, after all."

"Haha. That happens to me too," Eli, the grandpa, chimed in.

"Grandpa, you’re always napping during class, though," Boom cocked his head to the side, only for Eli to laugh.

That was true.

Eli was often napping during class, but because of his years as a student, the teachers didn’t bother him anymore. Other students didn’t have the same immunity, though.

"Just sleep more once the afternoon class..." Ran trailed off when he caught a figure from the corner of his eye.

For some reason, the cafeteria went quiet as everyone turned to the entrance.

There, walking in, was Eron—Ran’s bully, and the phantom user who was thrashed on the first day of school.