Chapter 42: Having a lot of Summoner enemies

Chapter 42: Having a lot of Summoner enemies As the day of the First Years Hunt drew closer, the academy distributed digital coins equally among all first-year students. These coins were meant for them to purchase whatever materials or gear they deemed necessary to prepare for the challenging event ahead. Naturally, most students had risen early that day and rushed to the market, eager to secure the best tools, weapons, and talismans available. The atmosphere was energetic and intense. Stalls buzzed with haggling voices, the clinking of equipment, and the soft hum of scanning devices as payments were made. It was a busy day at the marketplace—noisy, crowded, and full of purpose. But not everyone had come for shopping. Among the bustling crowd moved a particular group, cutting through the chaos like wolves among sheep. Unlike the others, their purpose was not to buy gear or potion packs—they had come for something else entirely. Rivet was at the center of this small formation, flanked by Mikey and two other students who had fallen under his influence. The four of them moved through the throng with purpose until they arrived at a particular building nestled between a smithy and a talisman shop. It was a large restaurant, noticeably less populated than the others. Through its clear glass walls, the interior looked clean, organized, and quiet—too quiet for the occasion. Rivet raised his hand and motioned to the two boys beside him. Without needing words, they understood the silent command. They were to stand guard at the entrance. The two nodded in unison and took their positions at the restaurant’s front doors. Rivet and Mikey proceeded inside. They walked straight to the counter. Rivet, bearing his usual arrogance like a crown, waved lazily at the man behind it. "Come over here." The words were sharp, disrespectful, and loud enough to earn a few glances from the few diners in the building. The waiter behind the counter frowned, clearly displeased by the tone. But he said nothing. Whatever his feelings, he wasn’t foolish enough to risk his job over a rude student. He walked over with a forced smile. "Hello, young student. What would you like to order?" Rivet didn’t reply. Instead, he let out a sigh and gave Mikey a sidelong glance. The message was clear without needing words. Mikey reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of white paper, covered in strange red markings. He placed it quietly on the counter between them. The moment the waiter’s eyes caught the design, the shift in his demeanor was immediate. His shoulders tensed. His gaze darkened. A subtle dread flickered across his face. ’I see... these two are with them. Those bastards.’ The waiter picked up the paper slowly, as if it might bite him, and gave a short bow. "I’ll get back to you. Please wait here." Without another word, he disappeared through a door behind the counter. Several quiet moments passed. The silence between Rivet and Mikey stretched thin. Mikey, now alone with his thoughts, turned toward Rivet. "Are you sure about this?" Rivet hissed, his eyes flashing with contained fury. "I didn’t ask for your opinion. Would I be here if I wasn’t sure?" His tone silenced Mikey at once. The lingering doubt he had vanished, buried under Rivet’s ever-present dominance. Then, the door behind the counter creaked open once more. The waiter returned—but something was off. His expression had changed. He looked colder now, his eyes hollow, and a fresh bruise bloomed across his cheekbone. Someone had punished him. "Please, follow me." Rivet and Mikey exchanged glances, then moved past the counter and followed the waiter. He led them through a narrow hallway, dimly lit and silent. The air grew thicker the deeper they went, until finally they reached a white door at the end. The waiter said nothing. He turned around and walked back the way they had come, leaving them alone. Rivet gritted his teeth and grabbed the golden knob. "So this is it?" He twisted the knob and pushed the door open. A low creak echoed into the dark room beyond. The lighting was poor—barely enough to illuminate the outlines of figures within—but their uniforms were unmistakable. Second Years. Rivet’s eyes narrowed. "You guys are Second Years?" He hadn’t expected this. The letter he received had claimed to come from a fellow First Year—an ambitious summoner offering a partnership. Under normal circumstances, Rivet wouldn’t have bothered with such nonsense. But the offer had been too compelling to ignore. "Are you going to stand there scared or come in so we can talk like I promised?" one of the figures said, his voice thick with a sinister tone. Rivet, feeling his pride being tested, stepped into the room without hesitation. Mikey followed, closing the door behind them. "Are you ready for what I have to offer?" the voice asked again. Rivet gave a slight nod. "I have an offer... an offer of power. Of dignity. Help in the hunt. And the downfall of—" "Shut the hell up," Rivet interrupted with a snarl. "I don’t give a fuck about your help. All I want is for that bastard to die. You said you’d help me with that... Ashen." Ashen grinned darkly. He liked Rivet already. ’Sharp, angry, determined... He’s just like me. Lost to a nobody and now burning with the desire to reclaim his honor. I can use that.’ "I know you want to kill Kairos Veyl. That’s exactly why I called you. But if you’re not interested in the other rewards, let me cut to the chase and tell you the plan." Rivet clenched his fists. Rage pulsed through him like a living thing. "All I want is to punish that scum for the disgrace he caused me." Ashen chuckled darkly. "I like your motivation. But don’t be too hasty. The First Years Hunt is the perfect time. No backings, no professors. Just survival. And you—you’re a direct descendant of the Thorne family. You’re perfect for this." He was bitter he couldn’t take out all his targets. Lina, for instance, was off-limits. Too powerful. Too trained. If Rivet fought her, he’d be dead in seconds. "I can kill Kairos..." Rivet said through clenched teeth, "but that bastard is strong and smart. And he’s got strong friends. Even for me... that’s not easy." Ashen smirked, already anticipating this. "You’re worried about Carlos, aren’t you? That’s odd. Even the military database has no info on him. But don’t worry—I’ve already taken care of that." Ashen gestured to one of the second years. The boy stepped forward, dragging a large sack. A loud clang echoed through the room as he dropped it. Metal striking metal. Rivet’s eyes twitched. He was trying to guess what was inside before his anxiety got the better of him. The second year opened the sack. "Apex Core Weapons," Ashen said calmly. "Very advanced material. Just three of these should be enough to kill Kairos. Don’t you think?" Rivet’s expression twisted. His eyes widened. Then, a crooked, almost maniacal grin spread across his face. "Hahahahahahahaha!!! This is great! Just great!" Even Mikey froze at the sound. He had never seen Rivet this ecstatic. Ashen smiled, eyes gleaming. ’This kid... he’s taking this even better than I am. Isn’t this his first time thinking of killing someone? I like him. I really do.’ With Apex-ranked weapons—far superior even to what Sergeant Lloyd had issued—Rivet now believed he could do more than just injure Kairos’s summon. He could kill it. And if he could do that... imagine what it could do to a human body. He was already picturing it. The battle. The blood. Kairos kneeling, injured, helpless. Rivet standing over him, sword raised. And then—beheading him. Mikey, meanwhile, was trembling. He wanted to be happy for his friend. But right now... The Rivet standing before him wasn’t the one he knew. His summon’s perception ability kicked in, and the red aura of bloodlust surrounding Rivet sent chills down his spine. ’The person standing in front of me... is a monster.’