Nightmare Mythos

"Hahahahahaha!"

Deane couldn't stop laughing at the awkward situation that had already enveloped the entirety of the main hall. Her eyes were already teared up as she pounded her hand at the table, finding the situation quite amusing.

After the speech Cesar had given to every attendee in the hall, the main hall atmosphere became awkward.

That's why some of those eyes were looking at Deane as if he had lost her mind.

Her goal today was to recruit Cesar in here after all. But after the stunt he had done to mess around with everyone, probably only her and a few of them wanted to be at his side now.

"My god, that kid is very entertaining. Did Arnold tell him to do this? I'm really curious~"

"Oh yeah?

Suddenly, someone went to their table and used the available chairs to sit down. Both Deane and Baron shifted their gaze at this individual and greeted him.

"Headmaster Arnold,"

"Cut the crap," Arnold waved his hand dismissively, "You never once called me that when I've already attained this position. Just treat me like I'm your subordinate when we're in the Army,"

Arnold touched the glass of alcohol prepared on that table and shook it in his hand, "Just so you know, I didn't tell him to do that. He has the freedom to give what he wants though,"

Deane smiled, "Hahaha, so you did!"

Arnold frowned, trying to see if Deane was listening at all.

After knowing each other for years, Arnold and Deane could understand words that only they knew. It was some sort of bond that had been developed for them when battling through the crisis they'd faced for their entire life.

That's why even if Arnold was trying to hide it, Deane knew that he influenced Cesar to do this. He was putting an act so that it didn't look like he was involved or the Academy was behind all of this.

"Anyway, enough of that. Where's your kid anyway?" Deane asked as she looked around the hall.

Arnold shrugged and answered, "Dunno. Might be loitering around or something,"

…

Slash—!

Slicing the neck of an assassin who was sent to kill him using his newly purchased jade dagger, Cesar slowly trod towards the last individual who managed to survive all of his attacks.

"We got the wrong info! This is not just an ordinary student! We got duped,"

Corpses mutilated were scattered around an alleyway as the last one alive watched in horror as Cesar approached him.

Facing the assassin in his front, Cesar asked.

"Where did you get this info?"

The assassin shaking in his place begins to confess.

"From someone we don't know! We are just hired assassins meant to kill you and we're supposed to do it on the day of your banquet! Everyone has been closely watching you and some others would've already made their attack if this condition wasn't put in the first place. Even if we fulfilled on killing you, failure to comply with the condition will result in the contract being null,"

'So there's a person behind. And specifically, do the assassination at the banquet? What the hell is that supposed to mean?'

Cesar mused inwardly, finding no answer or lead to his questions before adding another question.

"How many of you are here? I mean, all those people that are interested in the bounty?"

"A lot of them! You are not going to believe how many are interested in taking this job even if it means to end you! Whatever you did to make them angry, it's your own damn fault!"

The assassin kept spouting gibberish that it started to hurt Cesar's ear. Placing his bloodied hand on his chin, he looked above the skies and sighed.

"Man, after hearing your words, why does it look like you guys are the scapegoat to test out my abilities?"

Cesar looked around the littered corpses of the mutilated assassins as he sighed.

"None of you even had Facets or Techniques. You are just skilled but the people I've learned for short amount of time was the best. If that's the case, that does mean my thoughts are true?"

"What did you say—!"

Slash—!

Cesar ended the first assassination attempt by cutting the neck of the last assassin that came his way today.

"You're clearly exhausted. The enemies will know that something is wrong with you when you're getting tired like this too early on,"

Cedeit voiced out in an even tone, part of it looked like he was worried and the other is that he was amused.

"Shut up, I know. I know it very well, god damn it." Cesar flipped his hair upwards while letting out a short breath, "I might not be able to reach the week if I'm like this. I guess it's time to make some arrangements…"

Planning on changing his bloodied clothes, Cesar went ahead to a tailor shop that he quite fancied and tried to buy something that suited him in their line of clothing.

Clearly stupefied at how he entered their establishment while he was covered with blood, Cesar entered Castle Hearth once again.

Entering its entrance while receiving countless gazes, Cesar went straight to the main hall and tried to find a specific person.

Finally, after being able to spot the individual, he went to sit at their table and demanded.

"Reyna, do me a favor. I need your help"

Reyna who was wearing an expensive dress herself since she was also invited to the banquet, raised a brow and replied.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Cesar contemplated the plan he was thinking inside his head before whispering, "I want you to gather around the squad and the people that went to the City of Wheels."

Cesar paused as he explained the situation, "I currently have a bounty above my head. Now, I don't trust everyone to watch my back and not be blinded by that money that wanted to kill me. Additionally, I have a special condition that makes my performance minimal. If you can gather them today, I want to ask for you to protect me."

Reyna felt overloaded with information about his words but she understood the assignment.

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"I guess it's time to return the favor, huh?"

Cesar took a sip of the glass on the table before nodding, "Yeah,"

Reyna stood up from her seat and retorted, "I'll get back to you."

The first day of the banquet ended very boring. Aside from Cesar's speech, nothing interesting came up next which made most of the guests leave.

This was just an opening ceremony after all.

There are still six days left.