The principal followed Zach and the others out of his office with his gaze before sitting down in his chair and turning to Kami.


    "So, what do you think?"


    "A lot of things, some of which you don''t want to hear."


    "Nothing like that, Kami. About those three and the Underworld. Are any of them or their ssmates, for that matter, going to betray us?"


    "How am I supposed to know?" Kami shrugged.


    "What does your gut tell you?"


    "...Of those three, Julius is the most likely. He suffers from feelings of inferiority and he''s gotten a taste of power now. Dukiel will be fine as long as he has someone to cling to. Zach probably won''t ever join the Underworld. Underworld energy isn''t verypatible with his angel, after all. I don''t think he''s the type to die than submit, but you never know."


    "I see. And the Underworld?"


    "They''re already watching Zach. If they can''t have him, no one can."


    Zach hadn''t gotten to the part of his story where the assassins attacked him during the tiger hunt. But Jarron wasn''t so irresponsible he didn''t notice the second and thirdyer underworld assassins moving around the camp and looking for opportunities to attack Zach. He also hadn''t missed when Zach killed them and brought them back to the camp to show off.


    The assassins also moved alongside them as they made their way back to the Academy. However, the assassins weren''t reckless enough to try and attack Zach when he had an instructor and the rest of his ss next to him.


    It was one thing to be prepared to throw their lives away when there was even a slight chance of killing Zach. But it waspletely useless and a waste of their lives and the Great Ugor''s grace to try and assassinate Zach when it was clear they didn''t even have a sliver of a chance of sess.


    It was an even more reckless endeavor to try when Zach was close to the Academy or on campus. So, as long as he stayed inside the Academy, Zach would be safe.


    "So, he''s getting free experience and training by one of the world''s best this early. I''m almost envious." The principal smiled and looked out through the office window again.


    "Didn''t you have it even worse when you were young?"


    "Oh, I sure did. That''s why I''m going to change the current first years'' curriculum."


    "...What are you nning?"


    "Oh, nothing too dangerous."


    "Principal, you''re one of a kind. Don''t kill off too many students by thinking they canpare to you."


    The principal waved away Kami''s warning with azy hand.


    "Don''t worry. It''s fine as long as a few of them survive."


    Kami sighed at the principal''s nonchnt attitude. After living as long as the principal had and seeing as many students die as he had seen, it was only natural he had grown distant. Kami knew the principal still cared about each and every student in his academy. He wanted what was best for them.


    But at the same time, the principal also lived in the future half of the time. The students would die sooner orter. In that case, he might as well arrange trials to make sure those who dieter die aste as possible, even if it means some of the students who will die sooner die even sooner as fertilizer.


    "...What are you going to do this time, Principal?"


    The principal shed a bright smile, showing off his sharp, pearly white teeth.


    "Ugor has been running rampant long enough, don''t you think? It''s about time someone puts him in his ce."


    Kami shook his head and sighed.


    ''This guy.''


    He couldn''t believe what the principal was suggesting.


    The Great Ugor and the Underworld, who had been a thorn in the Empire''s side and an enemy of the surface for several decades, if not centuries by now, would be set as the current first years'' graduation exam.


    Kami''s lips slowly curved into a twisted grin.


    He was getting fucking excited.


    ***


    Since Julius was stillpletely knocked out, Dukiel brought him with him to his own dorm. Although the principal had revealed some astonishing information, especially the part about evolving familiars, talking about it and telling Julius everything could wait until he was awake.


    And while they had gotten an answer to why Julius and Zach shed in the forest after leaving the mountain, it was still awkward. It would be best if Julius stayed with Dukiel until and when he woke up.


    Zach returned to his dorm, deep in thought. He was a little worried about how it would go with Julius.


    Julius now had an exnation and reason for the way he acted, which wasn''t like his usual self.


    Zach didn''t. He had just responded in kind and said some mean things.


    Julius was Zach''s first friend. He didn''t want to lose him just like that.


    ''I guess I''ll have to be the bigger person.''


    Zach sighed lightly and nced at Yanael as he took a seat in the living room of his dorm while Nora prepared some tea. Without him knowing, the day had already started breaking up the miserable darkness of the night.


    Still, Zach considered going back to sleep. He wasn''t any less tired than before, after all.


    However, he held off on that and looked at Yanael.


    "Yanael."


    "Yes, Master?"


    "You said I would gain more authority as I leveled up, right?"


    "That''s right, Master. And like how my rank increases your authority, so will any additional familiar''s rank."


    "...I will get back to the matter about my authorityter. First, familiars. I''ve heard other, older summoners can have several. How do I summon another familiar?"


    Yanael''s eyes grew wide and she coquettishly innocently ced her hand on her chest as she looked at Zach.


    "Am I not enough for you, Master?"


    Despite Yanael''s adoring, cute, and pitiful appearance, Zach sensed he had made a mistake.


    "Of course. You are more than enough for me, Yanael. You''re more than I could ever wish for. I was just curious. That''s all. I am not nning on ever summoning another familiar."


    "Really, Master?"


    "Of course."


    "Can I get that in writing, Master?"


    "Sorry, Yanael, I never learned how to write."


    "..."