Chapter 176: A Journey of Four

Cairo looked down at the unconscious student lying on the ground. It was rare to find a student unconscious this early in the morning.

"I wonder who did this to him," Lynx muttered from behind him, curiosity flashing in his usually lazy eyes.

Cairo turned toward the first-year student as he slowly began to regain consciousness.

The student looked up, trying to identify the people standing over him.

"Could you tell me what happened to you?" Cairo asked, bending down to take a closer look at him.

"Wow, they really did a number on you. Your assailant was definitely aiming for your face."

Although Felix was still groggy, he easily recognized where the two upperclassmen were from.

"You guys are from the Disciplinary Committee. Did he send you?"

Cairo brushed past his statement and asked another question.

"Just tell me whether you know your assailant."

He paused, looking at Felix with a puzzled expression.

"Wait, what did you mean by ’did he send you’?"

Felix hesitated but eventually decided to answer.

"I’m talking about Kael. Was he the one who sent you to finish the job?"

He asked again, fear visible in his eyes.

Cairo froze.

His jaw nearly dropped as he turned toward Lynx, who stood behind him. Lynx casually nodded, as though he wasn’t surprised by the person being accused.

Cairo remained silent for a moment before placing a hand over his face. His expression darkened.

"Let me hear this one more time. Are you telling me that Kael is the one who attacked you?"

Felix immediately realized something was wrong.

These two weren’t working with Kael. If they were, they wouldn’t bother with pleasantries or questions. They would simply get back to beating him up.

After all, that was how Kael had greeted him that morning.

And if these two hadn’t been sent by Kael, it meant Felix had just reported that psychopath to the Disciplinary Committee.

Who knew how Kael would react when he found out?

Felix weighed his options with a grim expression.

Lynx observed his reaction and immediately understood what was going through his mind. Cairo could guess as well, but he needed confirmation for himself.

Felix barely managed to mumble a few words, fidgeting under Cairo’s intense gaze.

Seeing this, Lynx casually shook his head and patted Cairo on the shoulder.

"We already have all the information we need. It’s obvious that Kael was the one who assaulted him. Besides, with this student’s door left open, there might have been other witnesses who could verify his testimony."

Cairo wore a gloomy expression as he slowly stood up, reluctantly agreeing with Lynx’s explanation.

Felix immediately got to his feet.

"Wait a minute! What do you mean by my testimony? Why can’t it be one of the witnesses’ testimonies instead of mine?"

Lynx looked back at him.

"Because you’re the victim, so obviously, it’s your testimony. As for the witnesses, we’ll keep them anonymous if you’re worried about them."

"What do you mean, worried about them? I’m worried about myself! What if Kael comes back for revenge? What am I supposed to do?"

Felix questioned angrily.

Lynx stared at him for a few seconds, wearing a thoughtful expression.

Felix immediately assumed that the upperclassman would offer him some help or support. At the very least, he expected Lynx to guarantee his safety.

"Well, for that, you’ll need to train."

Lynx replied lazily before turning to escort Cairo out of the room.

"What do you mean, train?! I’m in genuine danger, and you’re telling me to train? You guys are supposed to be the Disciplinary Committee!"

Felix shouted angrily.

"Exactly. We’re not the Student Council. If you want protection, you can go to them. We just discipline students."

Lynx answered lazily.

After all, we’re the sword, and they’re the shield.

He thought to himself.

Cairo paused as they left the dormitory, looking up at the academy’s skyline.

"Lynx, did I make a mistake?"

He muttered, sounding a little lost.

Lynx turned toward him in confusion.

"Why would you ask such an obvious question? Of course, you made a mistake. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad one."

"What do you mean by that? When Kael becomes the next Head of the Disciplinary Committee, just like me, he might turn the entire committee into a gang that beats up anyone who stands against him."

Cairo complained.

"Well, I guess that would be a good thing. It means he’ll constantly be fighting with the Student Council. And with him being the strongest student in his year, it might be a battle the Disciplinary Committee would actually win."

Lynx replied casually.

Cairo felt too exhausted to argue with him. He simply sighed.

"Since we’re on patrol, let’s drag Kael to the committee. Who knows? He might have a good reason for beating that student up."

Lynx suggested, trying to cheer him up.

"I guess that’s true. It’s already almost time for classes, and I don’t think Kael is cold-hearted enough to go back to sleep after beating up a student. Let’s check his classroom."

Cairo began walking toward the first-year building, with Lynx following behind him.

"Yaaaaaawwwwwwn!"

Kael yawned beside Lilian as he watched Charlotte try to defuse the situation.

She had already explained to him that there were certain protocols he needed to follow, but Kael didn’t know any of them.

He sighed once more.

"I should have just gone back to sleep after beating up Felix."

Lilian looked up at him with a frown.

"It’s a little too heartless to go straight to sleep after beating someone up."

Kael wanted to argue, but she continued before he could say anything.

"It’s better to get them healed after thoroughly beating them, then tuck them into bed so they can sleep before you go to sleep yourself. That way, you’ll know they’re thinking about you."

Kael froze.

For a moment, he simply stared at Lilian.

Then a diabolical smile slowly appeared on his face.

"I like the way you think."

He complimented her.

Lilian smiled in return.

Meanwhile, Charlotte was still trying to calm Hulk down.

"Hulk, the semester has just started. I’m not sure you want to start a fight this early."

"ARE YOU CALLING ME SHORT?!"

Hulk immediately screamed, redirecting his aggression toward the newly arrived Charlotte.

"Don’t you know me? We’re classmates!"

Charlotte tried to establish some familiarity between them.

"Of course I know you! I’d recognize that emblem anywhere! You guys are the kind I hate the most! You’re always picking on me because I’m short!"

Hulk shouted as he began charging toward Charlotte.

I see. It’s obvious that whenever Hulk tries to start a fight in the academy, the Disciplinary Committee is always there to stop him. To do that, they probably rough him up a little. Considering how many members we have, that’s the most reliable way to handle Hulk.

Kael analyzed the situation lazily.

He’s probably come to see it as the committee picking on him, which explains why he’s immediately aggressive toward Charlotte. I could have predicted this if I weren’t so sleepy.

"OF COURSE YOU’RE SHORT!"

Kael suddenly shouted from among the crowd.

Hulk immediately stopped charging.

A visible tick appeared on his forehead as he turned toward the direction of the voice.

His eyes quickly found the student who had just insulted him.

He was about to charge at the offender when he recognized the individual.

Memories of the first-year tournament flashed through his mind.

"What are you doing here, you monster?!"

Hulk’s sudden question stunned everyone in the vicinity.

Even Charlotte, who had been bracing herself for a fight, was shocked.

She couldn’t believe Hulk had managed to hold back his anger long enough to actually speak to someone calmly, especially after that person had called him short.

"Well, I’m a member of the Disciplinary Committee, and I’m on my regular patrol."

Kael casually displayed the emblem on his shoulder.

Charlotte immediately became angry.

What do you mean, regular patrol?! This is your first time!

She screamed internally, although she maintained a straight face as she looked at Kael.

"And if you keep calling yourself short, people are going to notice that fact. Besides, you actually are short, so why do you keep reminding us?"

Kael continued, deliberately provoking Hulk.

"Do you want to fight, monster?"

Hulk challenged him.

Kael shook his head.

"No, no, no. After all, you’re one of the strongest dwarves in the academy, if not the strongest. I’m not really in the mood for a fight, and neither are you."

Kael casually threw in a compliment.

Hulk immediately began looking at him more favorably.

"SO WHY AM I NOT IN THE MOOD TO FIGHT?!"

He asked, suddenly confused.

"Because we have to go to class. And after school, we’ll be fighting a bunch of mean, tall guys."

Kael answered matter-of-factly.

Hulk immediately became serious.

"Mean, tall guys? Are you sure?"

Kael instantly nodded.

"Have I ever lied to you? But for now, let’s go to class and ignore those tall guys who are barely on your level."

Hulk nodded, a newfound conviction filling his expression.

Without another word, he began walking toward the classroom alongside Kael.

Charlotte and Lilian watched them leave in disbelief.

"Charlotte, Lilian, what are you waiting for? Let’s get going, or we’ll be late!"

Kael’s voice echoed from ahead.

The two girls exchanged glances before following after Kael and Hulk.

A journey that started with two ended with four.