Inside the cafeteria of the Hunter Academy.

"So, Michael, which dungeon are you thinking of going in. have you made the decision or not? are you still doubtful..." A girl asked, looking at her friend sitting in front of her.

Taking a sip of his tea, Michael glanced at her and replied.

"No, I won’t be going into any dungeon for the time being. you knows my grandma... she would kill me if i don’t meet with her before the end of this week. not just that I’ve to get an artifact from here... well after that you must have had an idea."

Listing to his words he could see a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Ignoring it Michael asked the same with a hint of sarcasm.

"What do you plan to do, Ms... Misha?"

Misha rolled her eyes, seeing him being formal and all. Making a face, she blurted out her intention.

"Can’t say the same. I’ll be going in the undead dungeon..."

"...the dungeon right around the town hall? you sure about that... I’ve heard it is really difficult for beginners."

" yes i knows that... and that’s why i was here to ask you to be my teammate, but I guess we would team up sometime later. My family has quite a famous mercenary group so... there is not need to worry about it."

"That’s good then..."

Hearing, she had well thought about this plan, Michael didn’t ask anything more regarding the dungeon. Soon they both began enjoying their snacks in silence.

All around the due the cafeteria were alive with the with restless energy of the hunters who had gotten their hands on the license.

Somewhere group were enjoying a meal in the celebration of their promotion. while some were restless for the future that awaits them.

Where some were huddled together, proudly passing around the newly issued licenses, faulting the ranks they had gotten. Some sat alone, quietly eating, their weapons leaned against chairs.

Their actions might have differed, but no matter what they did, a quiet peace settled over their minds. A much-needed calm, for they knew that after becoming hunters they could gain fame, money, and status.

But one thing that was truly impossible to reclaim is peace.... undisturbed peace.

"Anyway, there is something else I want to tell you, Michael..."

Before finishing her words, she looked at him hesitantly. Unlike her usual self she began avoiding his eyes. Strangely she began behaving in a way that could suggest she didn’t know him.

"...I’ve been meaning to ask you... s-so p-p-please don’t take.."

As the worlds left her lips, her speaking had degraded to a level where forming simple words was hard for her. Looking at him, she collected her mind and puffed her chest. Finding the courage to lock eyes with him, she muttered faintly.

"Michael. I think... I..."

Before she could finish her words, Michael interrupted.

"Love me!?"

Hearing his words, her pupiled expanded and she began shuddering like a child caught stealing from their parent’s pocket. Lowering her gaze from him, she nodded her head slowly.

"Y-you... knew?"

She said so faintly that Michael didn’t even hear her. The situation became a mess and now an awkward silence between the two. Before, when this silence brought peace, but now it was different. A tension has appeared between the two.

Seeing no words from Michael’s mouth, she asked again.

"Did you always know about it?"

Sighing, Michael took a deep breath and finished his tea in a single gulp, which burned his mouth a bit. Channeling mana, he dissipated the heat and asked.

"Well that depends. How long were you in love with me."

"First you tell me... I’m already embarrassed enough,"

Misha replied, still hiding her gaze.

"Last month." He went straight to the point.

"Thank god..."

"What?"

"Nothing..."

"Ahh!"

Hearing his replay made her cast away hesitation, albeit a small bit. And after another moment of silence she smiled and lifted her head enough for Michael to see her expression.

’She liked the answer?’

Before he could ask her anything, she looked toward him and asked.

I would say this is sudden, but you already knew about it... so can I have my answer... at least."

Now it was Michael who was in a difficult position. He would rather fight a tier 3 monster than to face whatever that is happening with him. Only after thinking for a minute did he open his mouth.

"Look, Misha... you are a good girl. You got authority over divine magic, which is really great... and you know I do mean it. It presents such an opportunity that you can join any guild if you train a bit..."

Pausing for a bit he continued.

"...hell if you put your mind to it, it isn’t difficult to join some noble’s house. I would say the church isn’t far for you away either.."

"Why are you beating around the bush, I know you as a straightforward person, can’t you just give me an honest answer. Why feel the need to sugarcoat it."

Misha asked, keeping a forced smile on her face.

’There is no way out of it, is there?’

Knowing the answer is no, Michael confessed.

"To say it simply... I like you, Misha."

Hearing it, a smile appeared on Misha’s face, before she misunderstood anything Michael explained what he meant.

"But... do I love you? I don’t think so. You are beautiful and everything in between... but unfortunately I don’t think I can love you... at this time at least. If we spend enough time together I know I will come to love you but unfortunately neither of us can afford this luxury."

"But why not..."

She blurted out instinctively. Closing her mouth midways she remembered his goals and added.

"I know you have a goal... but didn’t you say earlier I’m great at handling divine magic... can’t I come with you. I can be your healer. And you know how hard it is to find an affordable healer nowadays."

She insisted, trying to persuade the man in front of her.

"No... I can’t do that... I’ve to focus on my goal and to do that I’ve to travel to the wasteland and I could even... hell I’m sure I’ve to enter the underworld... you, I and everyone else know the dangers of entering the underworld..."

Pausing he looked into her eyes and muttered, "I can’t lose you Misha, you are my best friend and more than that..."

They were in the middle of their conversation when Tina, the director’s secretary, came closer and interrupted their talk.

"Michael, Misha... if you both don’t mind can you come to the director’s office, there is something he would like to talk with you two about."

Getting interrupted like that, both of them looked at Tina with a displeased gaze.

"Is it not a good time?" Tina asked them, confused.

’Shouldn’t you ask this before interrupting...’ Misha thought before opening her mouth.

"No, nothing like that... what is this about."

"It’s something private... if you don’t mind."

Tina said as she gestured them to leave with her.

Nodding their heads, both of them began moving. While walking the duo kept some distance from the secretary and hushed between themselves.

"We will talk about this later."

Michael nodded at her words.

"Do you think this is about the artifacts that they were about to give away."

"Maybe?"

Michael knew it wouldn’t be this simple, so he chose to remain silent for the while.

"I can understand choosing you as you were one of the top students of the class but why would they select me."

"Well there must be something... we would know after meeting with him."

As the talk between the duo continued, soon enough they reached the director’s office. Tina knocked on the door, and a voice came from inside.

"Come."

Hearing it, Tina gestured the duo to enter the room while she remained outside the office. Entering the room, Michael inspected everything inside the room.

’Hmm! Eight of us. There is director but who is that?’

The director was sitting on his chair, while an unknown man he didn’t know had occupied the room with eight of his other classmates. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Seeing nobody was saying anything, he didn’t open his mouth either and went to stand beside the others.

"Now that everybody is here, I would like to entrust something to you all. Are you all interested in clearing a dungeon?"

’So, it isn’t about giving an artifact. I knew it wouldn’t be this easy to get my hands on one. Clearing a dungeon... not today man.’

Thinking of a way to politely decline the offer, Michael was about to open his mouth when the director spoke again.

"You all will get artifacts to aid in clearing the dungeon. If you manage to clear it you can have them as well as a share in the dungeon core."

With this the director threw out his bait.

’What...’

Michael almost flinched at this offer, in fact most of his classmates did, only three of them managed to remain calm- he, Adam and Dirham.