One Last System

"Party?" I asked. If there was such an event, then why I didn't know about it in advance?" "What party?"

"It's nothing official..." Terio hesitated, only for a small, knowing smile to appear on his lips. "To be honest, at this point, it's semi-official. It's not an event endorsed by the sect, but something that happens each time," he explained. 

"It's a get-together between the disciples of the upper sects and the disciples of our sects. And it has a lot to do with how the audition works.

As you should be aware, what the deputies are here for, is not buying the disciples to join their sects, but offering them the promotion instead," Terio explained the things that, from the tone of his words, should be fairly obvious. 

"Wait, so you can refuse the promotion?" I asked, stupefied by this realization. 

"Huh?" Terio shrugged, surprised. "How else is it supposed to work? What do you think would happen if two sects vied for the same disciple?" he asked. 

"Oh..." I muttered, angry at myself for not realizing this simple situation. "So... it's actually up to us whether we accept the promotion or not?" 

"In theory..." Terio hesitated, "yeah. But the reality is different. While I used that example, there is hardly any time when two sects are going to offer to promote the same person. Most of the time, people just pick whoever gave them the offer to promote," he said.

"And the point of the party is...?" I guided Terio back on the topic that he actually came here to discuss. 

"It's to let the Skyladder disciple talk with the disciples of the upper sects. In this way, you can understand what to expect from the upper sects in case they offer you a promotion," Terio elaborated a little. 

Thinking about it, it was a pretty reasonable arrangement. If a random sect deputy comes to me and offers to promote me... How should I, or any other disciple react, without knowing what to expect from this promotion?

'Still, we only learn the things that those disciples will offer to share with us,' I thought, holding back my laughter. 'If this is the way in which the information is spread, then I likely can't trust a word they will say!' I realized. 

"Anyway, all of this is not something that you should be bothered with," Terio smiled. "But why to invite me if I'm not going to participate in the auditions this time, you might ask!" Terio smiled, ignoring the fact that I wasn't going to ask this question at all. 

"This party is a great opportunity for you. You can meet with disciples of the upper sect and make connections with them," Terio explained the idea that prompted him to offer me this invitation. "If you are lucky enough to interest even a single disciple in your person, then that backing alone will stop the bullying you are currently subjected to!" he exclaimed.

'So he knew,' I thought, the corners of my mouth twitching. While it wasn't hard to notice the cold treatment the sect disciples offered to me...

No, I shouldn't think like that. 

So far, Terio has acted as a reliable senior and older brother for me, ever since the moment I joined the sect and met him all the way to the current time. I passed on his behavior with a small smile because he operated on the false picture of reality that I created myself. 

As such, once again, his efforts being misguided weren't his fault at all but rather a consequence of my own actions.

I stole a glance at Mia, who pretended to be fully focused on her meal. Yet, as I did so, I realized that she was stealing a glance of my face all along. 

It was clear that we were bothered by the same thing. Yet, as much as I wanted to just explain the situation to Terio to stop his pointless efforts at helping me...

I could not. Not because I disregarded him, but because allowing him to properly understand the situation would endanger Mia and me and Terio himself. 

'Still... Should I go?' I thought, trying my best to analyze the situation. 'There are surely some perks of going... But wouldn't that mean openly exposing myself to the threat of all the schemes that Jenne is surely cooking for me?' I thought, lowering my eyes at my plate and focusing on munching my food for a moment. 

With how unexpected and potentially important this invitation was, I could hardly enjoy the fact that I was eating Mia's homemade cooking right now!

"I think..." I mumbled before shaking my head and chasing away all the hesitation. "I will go. Thanks for the invitation," I nodded my head before smiling at Terio. 

My smile was as fake as it could be. Yet, my experience at acting both back on earth and in this world alike made it pretty hard for others to notice it. 

"Did something happen, brother?" Terio asked, catching me by surprise. "I mean, you look more worried than happy," he added in a silent voice as if he was uncertain about his own observation. 

"Don't worry about it," my smile turned genuine. No matter what, I had both Mia and Terio to worry about me. This alone was enough to make me happy. "I just have the tendency to over-worry about everything," I explained with a plain smile. 

"Do you think I could go too?" Mia asked, finally raising her face from the place and joining in on the discussion. 

'Should she?' I thought, stumped by the sudden problem. While bringing her to the party would obviously allow her to get aquatinted with the disciples of the upper sects...

No, that was enough of a reason to deny her request.

In Terio's imagination, going to that party was a chance to get ourselves a contact so that in the future, getting a promotion offer would be easier. 

But Mia had absolutely no use for that. Even if she was only replicating my success by following my methods of training and being just as diligent as I was, she was still more talented than most of the people in the sect.

What's more, there was this thing about her when she managed to crack open Vaner's shield. While I wasn't really sure what that meant, I could tell from Vaner's reaction that it wasn't a small thing either.

"Dear, I'm sorry, but I feel like this is a male-only kind of party," I smiled uneasily, kicking Terio's leg underneath the table just in case he wanted to correct my words. 

After all, there wasn't a single word said that would suggest that this party was for men only!

Mia smiled, only for a pout to appear on her face as she averted it to the side. 

"If that's the case, then go already!" she exclaimed angrily, only adding on to the expression of pout with her shout. 

"I... I will wait outside," Terio quickly stood up and moved aside, clearly unwilling to take part in what looked like a lovers quarrel. 

"I'm sorry about it," I shook my head and said in a low voice the second Terio exited the room. "I just can't help but have a bad feeling about this event," I said, lowering my eyes. 

This decision to keep Mia away from the party was just my attempt at making sure no harm could come her way. I hoped that if there was really some kind of scheme in preparation, Mia wouldn't be bothered by it by avoiding the party. 

Mia's pout disappeared the second she turned her head back. Instead, she was smiling gently with her head slightly angled. 

"Don't make me believe that, even for a second, you thought I didn't understand your intentions," Mia ordered, raising her fist with her pointing finger erected only to move it left and right in a threatening manner. /AN/ Forgot how this gesture is named, sumimazen// "After the affair at the brothel, I doubt there is anything that could shake my trust in you," she said, lowering her hand. "Even if you didn't tell me, I would assume you had some reasons to deny my request," she said with a gentle smile. 

"I see," I muttered, a happy grin creeping up on my head. I didn't know how, but Mia somehow could always manage to tickle the deepest part of my soul in just the right way. "I will be going then," I said, standing up from my chair. 

"Wait for a second," Mia hurried up as well, only to rush to my side.. "Good luck and stay safe," she said, raising her hands to my face, locking it between her palms, and planting a light but a long kiss on my forehead.