I Reject Quests

Just as she was about to walk away, Junar suddenly asked. "Wait a second. Are you going to search for her?"

Francesca turned around and nodded without saying anything.

"Let's go together in that case. We were also going to search for her." Kesha said as she and the others got up to leave.

Francesca had no objection to that.

"Excuse me. Can I have everyone's attention for a while?"

Everyone looked towards the guy who just entered the canteen.

Seeing that he had grabbed everyone's attention, he coughed lightly to clear his voice, then said. "It is requested that nobody leave the academy premises and gather on the 1st Grade Training Ground within twenty minutes. The Branch Director is going to give a speech."

"What speech? Did the syllabus change again?"

"No. I'm not aware of the specifics but it seems about the guy who died yesterday because of terrorist attacks."

Everyone instantly understood who they were talking about.

Most remained quiet but some felt that it would be a complete waste of time.

"I'm not staying late for this bullshit reason."

"Rip for the guy who died but I really don't want to waste time."

"Me neither. I have a date. I don't want to be late."

Hearing them, Gill got angry and was about to speak up when Junar blocked him. Without saying anything, Gill turned his head to look at this friend who was sighing.

"Leave it be, Gill. They aren't aware of the story. If they did, their mouths would have caught fire."

[A/N: "Mouth would have caught fire" is a local idiom among the people of Eastern Dream Kingdom. It means something along the lines of – "saying something outrageous".]

"Even so…"

"Let's go."

Gill didn't look convinced but he was dragged by the others in the group.

It's not that they were "bad guys". They were normal everyday people who happened to be insensitive. There's no need to create a scene.

***

Famin locked his locker and took his bag, in preparation to leave the classroom.

"Yo! Look who it is!"

"It's our friendly neighborhood cash cow!"

Giving typical second-rate villains' dialogues, four guys around the same age as Famin walked into the classroom.

Famin's face turned gloomy when he saw them. From left to right, they were Leon, Unimi, Zagder, and Nec. All of them belonged to the 3rd Grade Class who went to the same middle-school Famin went to and happened to be his old bullies.

Needless to say, they were also the ones who troubled Famin the most in his school. Because of their ceaseless bullying, they managed to give other people the impression that Famin was a pushover and a weakling. Due to that, very few people want to have a conversation with him.

For Famin, it's fine if he isn't bothered. However, he couldn't help but sigh in depression whenever others take active participation in bullying him. Bullying is not just physical harm; it comes in various shapes and forms. One of them being a constant object of ridicule and merciless taunting.

Without the four of them, he would likely be in a better position today.

Famin quietly watched the four talking with themselves.

"This was original, right?" Unimi asked his friends.

"Bah! It was cringe." (Zagder)

"Damn it. I'll show you guys next time!" (Unimi)

"Yeah, that's what you always say." (Leon)

"For the hundred-and-seventh time, I'll show you!" (Unimi)

"Okay. Wrap up. The routine is getting old." (Nec)

After joking among themselves, they looked towards the orange-haired young man who had a grim look on his face.

"Come on, dude. We haven't asked you cash for two days." Leon lightly chuckled before approaching him with his three friends.

"That's true. We were generous enough!" Unimi commented.

"Did you not hear what he just said?" Nec asked with a ridiculing face.

Famin was inwardly overwhelmed by them but managed to keep a straight face. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth. "I won't give you any cash." Even though he said that with a brave front, there was an unnoticeable quiver.

Leon, Unimi, Zagder, and Nec looked at each other and gave a pretentious laugh.

"Huh? Did you say something? We didn't hear it correctly."

"Come on bro, don't be shy. We are all friends here."

"Indeed. We have known you for ages. How can you be uncooperative with us?"

Famin was dogpiled. Clenching his fist, he directly said. "I said I won't give any money. I… I don't have money. I didn't bring it."

Hearing him, the four bullies looked at each other and were silent for a while. Then, Leon suddenly said. "I see… in that case, I presume that you'd be kind enough to let us check if you have your wallet or not? Zagder, please."

Zagder gave a strange smile, then stepped forward to check Famin's pockets.

Famin swept away the hand that was reaching his pocket. Immediately after he did that, he was pushed back.

*Bang*

His back collided with the locker that was behind him. He didn't get hurt but the sound of the collision was considerably loud. After the collision, he raised his head to look at the faces in front of him. His legs shook because of the fear of being hit but he managed to steel himself.

"Give me your wallet. I won't repeat myself." Zagder said in a threatening tone. He was extremely close to Famin. So much as that his face was just a few inches away from him.

Famin bitterly sighed. 'There's no escaping this. Either I give in or…" He lowered his head, then raised his head to look at the face and got a sudden impulse to take a particular action. Carried by the impulse, he used his arm and delivered an elbow straight to the face.

"Urgh!!" Not having seen it coming, Zagder couldn't do anything and could only stand there dumbly taking the elbow to his face. Blood started dripping from his nose as he tightly clutched his face and took two steps back.

The other three were also shocked.

Who would have thought that the guy would suddenly get the guts to hit his face?

After a moment of shock, Leon headed straight towards Famin and pulled in for a strike.

Famin realized what he had done and instantly cowered. "I… I didn't mean to. I'm s--- kuh!" His upper abdomen was brutally punched.

'It… hurts…' Feeling pain, he went on a defensive position, crouching and guarding his body with the help of his arms and legs.

"Fucking idiot!" Zagder wiped off the blood from his nose and kicked him.

Umini and Nec also joined the dogpiling. Four of them cornered him and started kicking over him.

Famin gritted his teeth and silently endured the assault. He could feel bruises and cuts appearing on his arms but he didn't take any action. 'I… I can't possibly beat all four of them… if only it was one…'

Ten seconds later.

Four of them finally stopped when they noticed that the young man who they were hitting didn't make any movements.

"Hey, is he unconscious?" Leon asked.

Nec shook Famin's body. "Oi, are you alive?"

He got no response.

"Fuck! Let's run unless a staff member watches us." Umini suggested. Even though there were no anti-bullying laws or anti-fighting laws, there was a certain limit.

It's absolutely beyond stupidity to restrict fighting in a society that has its hierarchy primarily based on strength. That's not to say that society encouraged gang fights and bullying. There are specific and particular limits, rules, and regulations in relation to that. For instance, the academy could certainly take no action against 'normal' bullying but it is observed that the bullying is severely affecting the physical health of someone, strict actions are taken.

Most of the time, it's useless since bullying is everything about proving supremacy and humiliating the other party which is directly related to mental health.

Nec and the others were afraid of being punished. Thus, they quickly exited the classroom leaving Famin leaning on the locker motionless.

Five seconds later, the motionless body suddenly moved.

Famin's eyes slowly opened. He was never unconscious and always had his consciousness. To get himself away from them, it was necessary for him to pretend to be unconscious. However, that doesn't lessen the pain in his body one bit. He stretched his arms onto the ground and tried to get up.

His body felt heavier than it usually feels.

His eyes moved to the locker that he was attached to. Gaining support from it, he held the locker with one hand, and with the other, he got up with difficulty.

Immediately after he got up, he felt the world spinning. Holding the locker, he managed to keep his footing. "Ha… hu…"

He panted heavily and while lowering his head, he started taking small steps.

As he got closer to the exit of the classroom, he saw a shadow and raised his head.