Professor Cybele crossed her legs, showing her beautiful long legs. She looked at Seralune and Zeke, both of whom stood in front of her with evasive eyes. Zeke lowered his head, utterly ashamed. The small office was entangled with a tense, shameful silence, suffocating Zeke and Seralune each second it lasted.
Professor Cybele's gaze went over each of them, but then settled on Zeke. Her expression was unreadable as she spoke in a cold tone. "I told you two to get to know each other, but the two of you seem to have skipped to the most interesting part. You're more impressive than I thought, Crimson."
"I…"
Zeke suddenly raised his head, feeling wronged. Why was he the one being blamed for this?!
Professor Cybele sternly cut him off. "Oh? Are you going to blame a woman for your actions? That's low for a man, and here I thought you were impressive."
As she spoke, her eyes were filled with disdain.
Zeke's eyes widened in disbelief. He looked at Professor Cybele as if he couldn't believe she just said that. Seralune hummed awkwardly, putting up a distance between the two of them, as if she wanted nothing to do with him.
He turned around and glared at her, causing her to be startled.
"You…"
"Sorry! Sorry! Save me, professor!"
Seralune suddenly shouted, quickly hiding behind Professor Cybele. She looked at him with an apologetic smile.
Zeke immediately shut his mouth, looking at her resentfully. Unable to do anything, he glanced at Professor Cybele with disappointment. He lost his ability to care and went straight to the point. "Professor Cybele, can we just talk about why you called me here? I apologize, but I'm busy, so I'd appreciate it if we get straight to the point."
Professor Cybele looked at him for a moment. Just when Zeke was expecting her disdain to increase, her lips curved into a smile, finding him interesting. She chuckled and then grabbed Seralune's ear. "I was just joking. I know Seralune's personality. She can be a bit annoying to deal with."
"Ow!" Seralune winced in pain, looking at her with a betrayed expression. "Professor…!"
"Shut up." Professor Cybele glared at her, and Zeke was amazed when Seralune actually shut her mouth. Noticing his expression, she smirked. "Seralune is my student… but I don't think you're interested in knowing that. Alright, I'll get straight to the point… where did you get that information about the Thrumgore?"
Towards the end of her words, her expression turned serious. Zeke wasn't surprised by her sudden change of attitude. He mulled over why she had called him to her office, and he arrived at one answer.
"As expected, she didn't recognize some of the information I said about the Thrumgore."
If even a professor like her couldn't recognize it, that can only mean one thing: Red Land's monster research was just as behind as their technological development. What he considered basic knowledge may be extremely valuable to some people in this place.
Having understood this fact, Zeke treaded carefully with his words, "I studied with a monster researcher before coming to the academy, so I know a little more than others when it comes to monsters."
It was a weak excuse, but he couldn't expose his background.
He didn't know how people from other continents were treated here, so he didn't dare tell anyone else where he came from. Sam treated him normally, but who's to say the others would as well?
Zeke met Professor Cybele's purple pupils, showing a calm expression.
"Hm…" Professor Cybele narrowed her eyes, staring directly at Zeke. "Can I ask for that researcher's name?"
Zeke quickly shook his head. "I apologize, but I can't say that. I only told you, professor, because you seem to attach great importance to this information. Is it really that valuable?"
"Valuable? Indeed, you can't understand its importance since you're not in the field…" Professor Cybele nodded, her gaze complex. "But it's important to me and the others… but since you can't say their name, then there's nothing I can do. But..."
She stared at him, speaking slowly. "Are you interested in an exchange?"
"What exchange?" Zeke asked in a confused tone, shifting slightly.
"You don't need to act dumb," Professor Cybele said, amused. "What do you want for the knowledge that you have? I believe that the Thrumgore isn't the only monster you know, am I correct?"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but..." Zeke frowned, shaking his head. He admitted helplessly, "The Thrumgore really is the only monster I remember. There were more, but my memory isn't good, so I already forgot them. The Thrumgore was just memorable to me because of its appearance."
Professor Cybele didn't believe him in the slightest. "State your conditions."
Zeke had a helpless expression, shrugging.
"Sorry, but I really don't know."
"… Hm."
Professor Cybele let out a hum, staring at him.
The room was silent for a while, tension rising between their gazes. Seralune blinked in surprise.
But after a moment, Professor Cybele nodded slightly. "Fine. But if you remember them, then you can come back to me. If I'm not here, just look for Seralune, she's my pupil. Your information would be very helpful to my research."
Zeke nodded solemnly. "Naturally, that is if I recall them."
"Alright, sigh..." Professor Cybele shook her head. "You can go now."
Zeke didn't hesitate to leave. He bowed slightly. "I'll excuse myself, then."
But before he could turn around, Professor Cybele suddenly warned him.
"I'm not saying this because I want to hoard your knowledge... but don't tell anyone else if you happen to remember, Crimson."
Now it was Zeke's turn to be surprised. His brows furrowed slightly. Was she… implying that telling others was dangerous? Perhaps his thoughts were written all over his face, but she continued.
"You look confused…" Professor Cybele smiled wryly. "Just trust me on this. Don't reveal anything about your knowledge of monsters other than what you are taught in this academy."
Although Zeke had his doubts, he didn't show it on his face.
Zeke nodded and asked, "Is there anything else, professor?"
Professor Cybele looked at him for a moment, contemplating something. She glanced at Seralune, then she shook her head.
"No, you may go. Keep everything we talked about here a secret. I'll punish Seralune in exchange."
"Professor?!" Seralune had a shocked expression.
Zeke widened his eyes in surprise, smiling slightly. He looked at Seralune, who had a grim expression, then turned to Professor Cybele as he nodded solemnly. "Gladly, professor. Please don't go easy on her."
"Even you, Crimson?!"
Seralune widened her eyes, looking at the two of them with a betrayed expression.
Zeke ignored her and quickly stepped out of the room, escaping the two troublesome women. These two had broken his composure more than once in just a few minutes. He was afraid he'd get corrupted the longer he stayed.
"Women are terrifying creatures."
After stepping outside Professor Cybele's office, Zeke went to the academy's training facility again. He had no other classes for the day, and there was nothing to do in his home. Since that was the case, he'll train in the academy until he can't move anymore.
He wanted to see how long he could train without stopping!
Ignoring the stares, he went to a secluded corner and manifested a stick.
'Haa…'
Zeke took a deep breath, steadying himself. His muscles tightened, his gaze sharpening as he stared straight ahead, as if facing an invisible enemy.
He clenched his hand around the stick and swung.
Woosh!
His swing was neither fast nor slow.
But when it landed, it made a loud whooshing sound in the air, showing that Zeke was applying most of his strength.
'One.'
After the first swing, Zeke adjusted his posture again and repeated the same steps. He was fully immersed in his own world.
But while he was training, somebody watched from a distance.
Franz leaned against the wall, looking at Zeke with a small smile. He was here merely to confirm what he had heard from his friends. Seeing Zeke swing a stick with a serious expression, he couldn't help but laugh.
'It was true!'
'Perfect… he'll make a fine example of my authority as class representative.'
But suddenly he frowned, feeling a sharp gaze on him.
Franz paused, looking to his left direction. It was also a classmate of theirs. Andrei was also in the training grounds, staring at him with a solemn expression. He was startled, but then calmed down.
"Heh."
Franz smiled mockingly, shaking his head. No one can stop him tomorrow, not even Andrei can stop him. Didn't Zeke want to hog all the attention? Then, he'll let him have all of it, and even more tomorrow.
The way Zeke effortlessly drew everyone's attention struck a nerve in him. He struggled vehemently in the past month to reach his current position, and yet a transferee out of nowhere was competing with him in his own class?
To Franz, that was unacceptable.