Extra credits are assigned for community service

After they teleported to safety, Katharin saw Hale’s dire situation and immediately healed him along with the rest. High order magic belonging to the restoration and spatial trees produced large fluctuations and the city entrance was a high-traffic area. Most people lived without seeing a high order magic user for their entire life, not to mention seeing such magic.

Heads turned to the source and upon seeing the otherworldly beauty lit up by the ethereal mana glow, awestruck whispers about miracles swept through the crowd. A middle-aged man, one of the captives who was healed, kneeled on the rough floor. Taking no notice of the small rocks stabbing his knees, he cried piously: “The Saint has descended!”

It wasn’t hard to imagine that a commoner like Katharin with no rank and authority would be easily taken advantage of amidst the civil unrest in Homini. Hale had intended to downplay Katharin’s achievements but it became impossible with so many witnesses.

Later on, she even hid Hale’s involvement in the escapade, as though she knew he didn’t want to bring his ability out into the open. He didn’t understand how someone could be so selfless and giving. But he understood that it wasn’t right to take without reciprocating.

Besides, children should be protected and cared for.

So the Guild was formed by the kids of cage 12 to help their savior, Katharin, and to eradicate the Nightshade Fellowship organization responsible for the trafficking and other far-reaching crimes. Because even though the other realms sent investigators to help, progress was strangely sluggish and only low-level members were caught. The slums of Phasmopia had been cleansed of Mungo and his gang but the hired thugs didn’t know much. To this day, Python and Spider, the lady with the purple armband, were still at large.

It took a year to establish a presence, and another to expand beyond Phasm and Homini and two more to stabilize their position. And now, they finally set foot in Nexus, the municipality at the center of the world that was connected to all the realms and housed the prestigious Harmondia Academy.

To promote friendship and make attendance compulsory, the Pact centuries ago dictated that only graduates of Harmondia could take up important positions in their respective realms. Any youth across the world with ambition would contend for a spot so the students who survived the elimination were the cream of the crop.

And in such an academy were 5 most eligible bachelors.

Hale looked at the people standing at the forefront. At the end of the second semester since the female lead’s enrolment, news that Rifts tore apart several villages in the Dragon Realm arrived. Harmondia, in the name of experiential learning and social responsibility, put together an expedition headed by instructors.

Norte hel Mistralon stood alone among the schoolteachers, dressed all in black with an eyepatch over his right eye and exuding a glacial aura. Although he had a face like everyone owed him money, Hale knew from their letter exchange that he was easy to talk to, if not a bit hard-headed.

In contrast to the daemon, the half-celestial Orifil was surrounded by gushing admirers of all ages and genders, no doubt the result of his compulsive flirting and good looks. Unlike Norte’s frightening blood-like eyes, Orifil’s were a sweet berry red and gave the illusion of deep affection, tempting people to taste the forbidden fruit.

Then there was Ryu Tenga with incredible martial prowess and the muscles to match that. Red dragon scales covered patches of his skin and four horns stood proudly on his hair. He was seated above some crates, gorging himself as if he wanted to single handedly wipe out their food supplies. The students who came to help out in logistics looked at Tenga with teary faces.

Next to Katharin fluttered the tiny fairy Sylvan Evergreen, his plump lips moving nonstop. His body could be enlarged but he enjoyed staying palm-sized so he could sit on the girl’s shoulder. Translucent, shimmery wings like that of a butterfly’s protruded from his prominent backbones, flapping every now and then.

Finally, never missing an opportunity to network, the lich William Thanatos, second son of the ailing phasm emperor and the deceased empress, was acting like a friendly senior to some first-years.

Maybe Hale’s glare was too blatant but William suddenly turned to him and gave a friendly nod. Hale’s cheek twitched as he pushed his glasses up and tried to mimic the harmless smile he remembered. Even though he was seething inside.

Word had it that William was vying for the throne so why be engaged to Hale’s sweet younger sister?! There was a line of daughters from marquisates, ducal and count houses so why go for an earl! Hale gnashed his teeth. Whatever the conniving bastard was up to, he wouldn’t let him succeed.

If Hale had known that he played a part in the establishment of the engagement, he would have vomited blood in anger.