Chapter 41 41

Kaede was confused when she saw Setsuka suddenly stop her footsteps. But she quickly noticed Tenku's appearance and recognized him when she saw his face.

"Isn't he the first-year student labeled the weakest at Suisei High School for awakening a rank-F Phantasmal Object? Isn't he also the boy you asked for the data? What was he doing walking around at this hour? Doesn't he know that the current situation is dangerous because monsters roam freely in this area?" Kaede frowned and asked.

"Yeah, you're right. We should ask him directly. After all, he is a student from Suisei High School, and we must protect him." Setsuka walked faster toward Tenku. It confused Kaede because she felt Setsuka getting slightly more excited by her voice. But she didn't think much of it and quickly followed behind her.

"Good evening, Miss Setsuka. Are you on your mission in this area again?" Tenku looked at Setsuka and pretended to have just noticed her presence. Then he nodded slightly to Kaede next to her because he didn't know the girl.

"Good evening. Yes, I…" Setsuka was about to reply to Tenku's words, but Kaede cut her off first.

"Why are you out at this hour and in this situation? Don't you know that a lot of monsters roam this area? I know you are a first-year student from Suisei High School and have awakened your Phantasmal Object. But the goblins are dangerous, and you won't be able to fight them with your current strength." Kaede said with concern. Even though it sounds harsh, Tenku feels her intentions are good and sincere.

"I'm sorry, but you are?" Tenku asked because he didn't know what to call her. Besides, he was confused as to why Kaede immediately recognized that he was a first-year student at Suisei High School. The number of new students in the school should be in the hundreds, and there was no way Kaede could remember his ordinary face.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. Your name is Tenku Okuihara, right? I am Kaede Kobayashi. I am a second-year student at Suisei High School and a secretary on the student council. I'm glad to meet you." Kaede smiled and introduced herself.

On the other hand, Setsuka looked nervous when she heard those words. If Tenku had found out that she had recognized him when they met yesterday, Setsuka would be very embarrassed to have been caught lying.

"You are right. I'm also glad to be your acquaintance, Miss Kobayashi." Tenku nodded and smiled slightly. He had just remembered that he had become famous in the school after awakening the lowest-ranked Phantasmal Object. So it's only natural that the student council members know about him.

Setsuka secretly sighed in relief when she saw that Tenku was unaware of it and was suspicious of her. Then she spoke first before Kaede could say anything else.

"Then, why are you wandering around in a situation like this? Didn't you hear the warning about the appearance of monsters in this area?" Setsuka asked Tenku. Kaede felt strange because she felt that her friend's way of speaking had become softer. Usually, Setsuka would speak nonchalantly or coldly to people she didn't know.

"I know it, Miss Fuyushima. But I did it because I had to buy groceries to stock up on my new home. Otherwise, I'll starve." Tenku showed the contents of his shopping bag to Setsuka and Kaede.

After he killed the black-robed person, Tenku remembered that he didn't have any food in his apartment. Therefore, he stopped by the supermarket before returning, which could be a perfect alibi. But he didn't expect to meet Setsuka again on his way home.

"I see. But next time, please don't wander around in dangerous situations like this unless you've increased your Realizer phase." Setsuka quickly believed Tenku's words.

Setsuka didn't feel the lie from his words. But she felt uncomfortable because Tenku spoke without looking at her and seemed to refuse to meet her eyes. Setsuka felt that the boy was keeping his distance from her, making her think that she had done something to offend him yesterday.

"I understand. In that case, I will take my leave now, Miss Fuyushima, Miss Kobayashi." Tenku bowed his head to the two girls and intended to leave the place quickly, but Setsuka's voice stopped him.

"Wait a minute!" Setsuka prevented Tenku from leaving.

"What's the matter, Miss Fuyushima?" Tenku looked at Setsuka and asked. He didn't know why that girl suddenly stopped him.

"We are here on a mission to eradicate the monsters that roam this area. I assumed the goblins were hiding since we didn't find any of them after exploring this neighborhood for a long time. So, if you find any of them, please get in touch with us immediately." Setsuka explained.

Kaede was a little surprised when she heard that because Setsuka usually didn't like to talk at length with anyone other than her close friends and family.

"Alright." Tenku answered briefly and wanted to leave the two girls, but Setsuka stopped him again.

"Wait a minute!" Setsuka raised his voice slightly.

"What's the matter, Miss Fuyushima?" Tenku said impatiently.

"How do you get in touch with us if you don't have our contacts?" Setsuka asked.

"Ah, I forgot about that." Tenku smiled slightly and scratched his head. He paid no heed to Setsuka's words because he wanted to leave that place immediately. Therefore, Tenku did not need to ask for her contact.

"Then..." Tenku wanted to ask for her contact and immediately ran away from there. Of course, he wouldn't use it to get in touch with Setsuka. He will delete it after returning to the apartment. But Setsuka opened her mouth first and cut him off.

"Give me your contact. I will contact you regularly to inquire about the situation around your apartment. It would be best if you cooperated with the Holy Union. Aren't you also in the same organization?" Setsuka looked directly at Tenku and said seriously.

Tenku was confused about how to answer it. But under those eyes, he could only give up because Setsuka was the student council president at Suisei High School. His school life might be disrupted if Tenku doesn't obey her words.

"Alright." Tenku reluctantly gave his contact to Setsuka.

"In that case, I'll take my leave now since I'm already feeling hungry." Tenku smiled and quickly left the place without waiting for Setsuka's reply.

"Yes…" Setsuka watched in a daze as Tenku hurriedly left the place. She was confused by Tenku's attitude towards her. Strangely, she had difficulty getting rid of that thought.

"What happened to you, Setsuka? You look weird today." Kaede suddenly asked, confused by her best friend's behavior. She couldn't help but silently watch the exchange between Tenku and Setsuka as she found no opening to enter into their conversation.

"Hmm? What do you mean, Kaede? I'm fine, and there's nothing strange about me. I am only carrying out my duties as a Realizer of the Holy Union and the student council president of Suisei High School." Setsuka tilted her head and pretended not to know what Kaede meant.

"Are you sure?" Kaede asked again to confirm Setsuka's condition.

"Of course, I'm sure. Rather than talk about it, we'd better continue our investigation in this area. We still haven't found a single monster, and I haven't heard that the other Realizers on the mission have managed to kill the goblins." Setsuka tried to change the topic of their conversation.

"You are right. It shows that there are still many goblins hiding in this neighborhood, which is very dangerous for the residents around this area." Kaede's face turned gloomy after hearing Setsuka's words.

"Therefore, we must find those monsters at all costs. Let's continue our search. We must not allow a single goblin to roam the city." Setsuka nodded and said calmly.

"Yes." Kaede agreed with Setsuka's words, and the two girls left the place. But before they left, Setsuka looked at her smartphone's screen, and she subconsciously smiled.

***

After returning to his apartment, Tenku stopped by Wang Haotian's place first. He wanted to check whether the old man was there or not. When he knocked on the door, he quickly got a reply. Then Tenku opened the door and entered without hesitation.

"Did you just come back, master? I've come here a few times, but you weren't around." Tenku looked at Wang Haotian sitting in the middle room of his apartment and felt something was wrong with that old man.

"Luckily, you came, so I didn't bother to call you." Wang Haotian said.

"Hmm? Did something happen, master?" Tenku sat in front of Wang Haotian and placed his shopping bag on the floor. He was sure that something had happened.

"Do you remember why I made you my disciple and taught you cultivation??" Wang Haotian asked.

"Yes, I remember it. Isn't that because my Phantasmal Object's unique ability can accelerate my cultivation without needing a lot of cultivation resources?" Tenku answered calmly.

"Then, do you know my goal to make you a disciple?" Wang Haotian asked another question.

"I don't know because you never answered when I asked you." Tenku shook his head. He had questioned Wang Haotian several times about it, but the old man never wanted to tell him his purpose. Because of that, Tenku never asked again and didn't care about it.

If Wang Haotian's goal is something that could endanger his life, then Tenku would reject it. But if that old man forced him, he wouldn't hesitate to fight against him even if Wang Haotian was his master. Tenku's goal is to find Haruna; he doesn't want to die before seeing her.

"I didn't want to answer because it wasn't time yet. But now I will tell you. The purpose of having you as my disciple and teaching you cultivation is because I want you to fight in the martial arts competition to represent my family." Wang Haotian explained, and Tenku fell silent after hearing it.