54 An exhange

"What happened to you?" Vladimir asked upon seeing the miserable appearance of Henry and John. As always, they had met outside of the guild to search for new requests, so that they could raise their rank quickly. A mischievous smile formed on Maria's face as she looked at the exhausted faces of the two youths.

"I heard from a little bird that your class today was about the agricultural economy of the Empire. "

"Isn't this kind of research an object of study of the Department of Economics?" Helena, who hadn't learned yet about the incident that happened in the morning, asked. Unfortunately, her unmalicious words, coupled with the innocent expression on her face, were far more painful than the ridicule of Maria. Maria couldn't contain her laughter upon understanding the mixed feelings of the two boys.

"Is that what the teachers were talking about?" Angelica, who was indifferent about the whole conversation, suddenly commented.

"Fuck you, John! Even the teachers are gossiping us now!" Henry cursed with irritation.

"You have to handle this much embarrassment if you want to become a successful man," John said shamelessly, but inwardly he was complaining about Matias. That bastard teacher didn't have to make him a scapegoat to bully the students. The others in the dorm were already looking at him unfavorably; he didn't want to provoke more hostility.

"Although I am quite curious about what you are talking about, we don't have much time if we want to finish with a request today. Next time, though, I would appreciate it if you took a bath first before coming here." Vladimir also added as he made a gesture indicating that he couldn't handle the stench. If John hadn't noticed the small smile in his brother's lips, he would swear that the spoiled brats in his class had started to influence him. Alas, Vladimir would regret mocking John when the youth was searching for a target to release his stress. John, with a bright smile, approached Vladimir with his hands outstretched, who was staring at him alarmed.

"Come, brother. I have to show you my love and admiration occasionally. Don't be afraid, why are you running. Let's make our bond stronger."

The party finally entered the guild, which was surprisingly almost devoid of people. Except for Bianca, who was hammering several requests down on the wall, there wasn't a single person inside. They looked at each other discerning the puzzlement on the faces of the others before approaching the elf who was too occupied to perceive their presence.

"How come is so quiet today?" Maria, who was the one that had the closest relationship with Bianca, took on asking representing the others.

"I am not sure. It seems there is a demand for adventurers in the other guild in the Capital, and people went to check out what is the reason for this." The elf that recognized her friend's voice answered without turning around.

"I thought that students are forbidden to take on requests of any other guild other than this."

"It is..." Bianca murmured and finally turned her head towards Vladimir, who had just commented.

"But not many abide by this rule. It is impossible, after all, to check if a student is an adventurer when he isn't wearing his uniform. The only identification that we ask in a guild is the cards that I delivered you in which we have written on only your full name, as well as your ranking."

"I don't understand, why would the students take unnecessary risks when they could safely raise their rank through this guild?" Helena wondered aloud as she couldn't understand their actions.

"It's because they want to raise their ranks!" Vladimir exclaimed.

"He means that the students to raise their ranks to become D-ranked adventures they have to take requests from other Guilds," John explained upon seeing that his brother's words hadn't cleared Hellena's puzzlement.

"Why?"

"You can find the answer to the wall," Angelica replied as she pointed her finger towards the wall.

Helena looked at the requests and finally understood. All of them were miscellaneous, but not a single one required them to fight. Becoming a D-ranked adventurer without proving your capability in battle was impossible.

"Naturally, there are requests of slaying monsters or exterminating bandits, but the students require the permission of their teacher. The Academy usually assign these kinds of missions a few times in the year, so that the students acquire experience in battle, but it's not nearly enough for someone who wants to raise his rank as an adventurer." Bianca also added.

"Although we didn't enroll here to become adventurers," Maria remarked with a wry smile.

"That's what I would expect from a noble to say..."

"What do you mean?" She glared at John, who was shaking his head, showing his disappointment.

"Think about it. You are a third-year, you should know better than me the living conditions of the commoners in the Academy. Although the Academy provides them with the necessary goods to live comfortably here, that's what it all gives them in reality. It's impossible to live in this kind of community without any money. Making connections with the nobility or improving your equipment's quality are things that require funds. Rising in the rankings isn't only an excellent method of creating capable soldiers, but also provides the opportunity to the commoners to finance their education. Or else why would the Academy allow us to become adventurers?"

"It's the reason that although the restrictions exist, the students are independent to do anything they want, as long as they don't get caught or shame the Empire. It's a different story for you who are first-years, though. Forget about enforcing the rules on you; they' ll even try to set anyone who isn't careful as an example. Don't be fooled that this is an academy. It's also military at the same time. " Bianca remarked. What she couldn't understand was why everyone suddenly started to stare at Henry and John with strange smiles.

"Alright, alright, that's enough nonsense. Let's choose a request to take. " John pretended that no one was looking at him and proposed.

They didn't hesitate to take on a request for gathering herbs again. As always, they headed towards the woods in a relaxed manner. These kinds of demands not only allowed them to familiarize themselves with the forest but also with the Academy. John was staring at Angelica, who was conversing happily with Helena. He wondered if she knew anything about the recent murders in the Capital. No, he was sure that she knew. How are the Demons connected to Erebus, why would they start killing random people, John had many unanswered questions. The contract was restricting him from confronting the girl in front of him. That didn't mean that he didn't have ways to meddle with her business, though, as Angelica didn't know that John had a clue about Erebus before arriving at the Imperial Capital. Luckily, she made her presence known before he could act, or else he wouldn't know how he died.

"Where are your thoughts traveling?" Maria, who was walking beside him, followed his gaze and continued.

"Are you interested in her? Since yesterday you seem strangely preoccupied with her."

"Don't tell me you are jealous."

"If I told you that I am a little what you would say?"

John turned his head to look at the girl with the short black hair and shiny eyes. She was staring at him, carrying a small charming smile. Despite his efforts, he couldn't understand if she was speaking seriously or was playing with him as usual.

"Don't say scary things like that; my heart can't handle it."

"You are surprisingly slow-witted, aren't you? Why do you rule out the possibility of me liking you so easily?" Maria said with some dissatisfaction.

"I know myself. I don't have any notable features to stand out. More so, we don't know each other well. The daughter of the Duke wouldn't start liking me, a commoner, for no apparent reason, would she?" John explained indifferently.

"You forgot the most important reason for wanting to know someone better."

"And what would that be?"

"Curiosity!" Maria replied with a triumphed smile.

That's a fair argument, John thought. This kind of reason may sound ridiculous, but, in reality, it's usually the primary motivation of not only creating relationships between people but on doing many things in life. John couldn't deny this kind of argument, so he tried to change the subject of the conversation.

"By the way, I need your help with something."

"That's surprising. What for?" Although Maria wasn't happy about this abrupt change, his request picked her interest.

"Some annoying people are continually picking me on. The problem is that they are third years..."

"Third years interfering with first years? Are they stupid?" Maria interjected, shouting with anger. If discrimination alone was enough for the Academy to expel a student, one could imagine the consequences of a third-year bullying a first-year. Third years were about ready to graduate and become genuine soldiers of the Empire. Not to mention daring to exercise violence upon a first-year who can't theoretically protect himself, the punishment for this kind of action alone is a disciplinary offense with the sentence of imprisonment.

"Leave it to me. However, I want something too in exchange." Maria said with a laugh as she winked her eye at him.

She is so troublesome, John thought, but he tried not to show it on his face.

"Let's go on a date."