The Greed of Kronos

Exi's Epitropi

Twenty-five: Exi's Epitropi

Hearing this, everyone gasped for air as if they just heard something dreadful, a nightmare! Even Kronos was agape. Well, he was kind of expecting for it. However, picking up a cat who bravely climbed a tree but then would tremble at the height? With the potential of his, that's the mission that they would be giving him? 

"No way, it's too lame." Everyone replied as their expression darkened. The class seemed to hate the idea of putting their potentials to waste. 

Seeing their expression, Artem could not help but to laugh nonchalantly and replied as he wiped off the tears he got from laughing so much. "Right? That was why he hurried up and took a test for ranking up because F grade commissions were boring."

Just the thought of doing minor works scares the whole class that even Astian anxiously looked at Kronos, who was also dumbfounded. They had their reasons as to why they decided to attend an Academy even though private tutors are much more popular. Yet, both of them felt that the epitropi would be a shackle to them. It was tight enough not to let them accomplish the goal they had once they stepped foot on the Patrician Academy.

Kronos and Astian shared the same concern. And it seemed like the other students were also concerned about it. "Does that apply for us too?"

Even Artem, who talked about the commission for low rank adventurers, felt uneasy that he pushed the lump on his throat and shrugged. "Who knows?"

Averting everyone's gaze with a hint of guilt. He should not have said that. He just kept his mouth shut. Now, he made everyone anxious and scared.

"Ow men. I thought that we were something because of the mark." Luca heaved a sigh as he pulled out his phone to distract himself rather than being anxious about something that does not happen yet.

It was as if a glimpse of hope that Astian stood up with a scowl and asked Luca, who was also startled by Astian's sudden roughness. "What do you mean? Was the mark something special?"

"W-well, my grandmother is somewhat close to the grandmasters, and she told me about the Exi's mark. Only those selected students gain the mark on the entrance examination day." Luca chuckled with a baffled expression. 

With that being said, Mikhail then perked up as he looked at Luca with his usual gentle expression and asked, "You mean, it's only the Exi who was granted the mark? The other classes don't have such marks?"

As Kronos remembered, there were five of them who were not aware of the mark. Astian Dyclour, him, Naouii Louis, Kallen Mathenus and the last was Mikhail Patton. Of course, as one of the ignorant people who were not aware of the mark, Mikhail would question something like that. Even Kronos wanted to ask if not for his so-called curse. Nonetheless, Mikhail's expression was unsettling.

When Luca snapped his fingers as he replied to Mikhail, Kronos then blinked from his pondering moment and listened to them. "Precisely. That was why I thought that it was something special."

Silence once again enveloped the whole classroom. Each of them was on their deep thoughts that you might find yourself holding your breath if you were to observe them. Everyone would think that way. 

"But to think that it was the lowest class. The hell with the mark, we are to rescue a cat later anyway." Aeria shrugged. The others seemed to think the same thing that they nodded and agreed at the same time.

On the other hand, Inoa slammed her desk with her usual furrowed brows and let out her frustration. "I don't allow it! I'm much stronger than just rescuing cats!"

Seeing Inoa on a rampage, the people near her calmed her down while the others looked at them helplessly. They wanted to let out their frustrations too. But they were afraid that it would be worse than slamming the desk if they had the chance to do so.

"Come to think of it... Do you guys think that our potential is for Exi class?" Kallen suddenly commented.

Once again, the whole class got back into thinking and had different views on the question, like how Sarlienne viewed how promising the students at the Patrician Academy would be. "Well, I'm not sure. What if the other class were just much stronger than us?"

"That's possible." And the others would also end up having the same thought after hearing one's thoughts.

And there's Inoa, who was having her own problem far different from others. "But do we really have to save cats?!"

"Why are you so hung up on it, Inoa? It's just an example." Aeria scowled.

Inoa also looked at her with her usual furrowed brows and replied. "That better be just an example-! Ouch!" In the last part, Aeria cuts her off by smacking her head.

Seeing the two of them, the tension immensely lowered down. Mikhail also chuckled along with the others and voiced out his suggestion with his kind tone of voice. "Well… We'll know once the epitropi would be posted. For now, let's observe first."

"What comes next, Mikhail?" Ajax replied as he was clinging onto Yohan, who was also looking at Mikhail.

At first, Mikhail pondered. Right. What comes next? Obviously, "Of course, just like Artem's cousin, we will all take the exams and do our best to get to the higher class."

The other students seemed to get high spirits when Mikhail set their goal as one. "Yes! The highest class!"

The corners of the room were once again filled with talk and laughter as they used to a while ago as they already figured out on what to do. 

It was then the door creaked open, and Sir Samael showed up, "I'm back."

"Papa!"

"You guys follow me. The epitropi's already posted." He added. 

Seeing the relaxed expression from Sir Samael, the others seemed to calm down as well. 

Mikhail was the one who stood up first and looked at the others with his warm gaze. "Well, let's get going, everyone!"

"Yes!"

As they marched their way towards the center of the building, other students were looking at them with judgment. Not only was that judgment visible in their eyes, but also they were talking and looking down upon Exi class. 

Kronos was not especially annoyed by it since they were merely all talk, but Astian felt the opposite. He had the irksome feeling as he listened to the students who were purposely talking loudly for them to hear everything. 

"Is that the Exi class?"

"Yeah. They look no different from us, though?"

"Oh, come on. It's not about outer appearance. To think that they would get to the lowest class had something with their inner self."

"Perhaps, low-grade potentials?"

The mockery was all around them. Although not all students were talking about them, the others were still the same given the fact that they just listened and did nothing but judge the Exi class in their eyes. While it's true that your family name does not matter in the Patrician Academy, you still face bullying and discrimination because your class matter.

"Seriously, I could just kill them right here right now," Inoa replied out of frustration as she gnawed her fingernails to prevent herself from harming others. 

Seeing this, Aeria held the hand that was attached to Inoa's lips to prevent her from damaging her fingernails and replied. "Don't joke."

"I'm not." Inoa scowled. 

Even before the two of them could quarrel, Sir Samael announced to class as he took a step towards the board. "It's our turn to swarm the board. Let's go."

Of course, everyone followed with anxious expressions. They wanted to have an epitropi worthy of their potentials, but as the other students in the other class say, they were a mere Exi class. 

Kronos was also expectant of something like killing small goblins or slimes. But when he saw what was written on the board, his face turned white. 

Exi Class

Teacher: Sir Samael Noe

Entrance Epitropi: Public Cleaning

Learners under this class are to sterile the abandoned public restroom's every nook and cranny. It is thus located at the east wing in order to open the said facility to the public again.  

"What the fuck." He mumbled. Neither in his past life nor in his previous life had he held any cleaning material. Yet they would be doing a general cleaning? 

The others, of course, were shocked by the news, especially to those who were the same as him who never done any cleaning chores.

Luca, "What?"

Astian, "A public cleaning?"

Inoa, "It's not a cat… it's worse than rescuing a cat."

The other students around them were also curious about what their epitropi was and got closer for them to know. When one student got a peek of it, they then did not miss the chance to spread it everywhere.

"Have you heard of it?"

"The Exi's epitropi was a public cleaning."

Their reactions were not that interesting, and the Exi class was also busy with arranging their thoughts about their epitropi.

However, there would always be one bold character who would step forward and insult them face to face. "Fufufu. It can't be helped. That's the only type of epitropi their potentials could handle."

Hearing this, some looked at the student and glared at her, and the others just ignored her. The glare was not that ominous as they were controlling themselves. 

And that was the sole reason for the student to laugh in a mocking tone of voice. "What?"

With that being said, Kronos stared at the students for a moment before creeping out a smirk and a cold remark. "Ugly bitch."

"What… w-WHAT!!" The student who was being high and mighty suddenly flushed and embarrassed herself. 

If a lad insulting and swearing at a lady is not considered the world's most significant way to embarrass people, Kronos doesn't know what is.

"Hey, hey Kronos, chill man!" Luca and Asisi laughed as they heard him insulting a lady. 

Aeria also crept up a smirk while looking at the red faced student and then at Kronos. "Yeah. Let's go, look at that papa's glaring at you! Nice job, by the way."

'He's glaring at the shitty students trash-talking about his f*****g class, though.'

Seeming to snap out of reality, the student was about to charge towards Kronos. However, she stopped halfway when she saw Astian beside Kronos. What more was Astian patting Kronos on the head while the former stared at the student before showing off a warm smile. 

For unknown reasons, the student frustratedly stepped backward and ran away from the place. The murmurs from the students did not fade even though Kronos set an example to one student.

Hence, it was the other's turn to do the same. Mikhail got beside him and gave him a soft pat on the back as he smiled warmly. "Kronos, let's go to the location and do the cleaning so that we can go home early!"

"Yeah! So what if it's this kind of job. I'll make sure to put acidic substance everywhere for those who dare to take a s**t at that restroom." Inoa replied as she looked at the students on purpose. 

If the students could talk badly on them face to face, they could also do that. 

"Eek!" The students flinched as they ran away from the scene.

On the other side, some boys were looking at Sarlienne, and when Sarlienne noticed, she showed off a grim expression and pouted before looking away. "Hmph!"

With that, the boys were stoned as if they just lost their lives. They then come up with a sudden realization on not to talk bad towards the Exi class.

"Enough chit chat. Come now." Sir Samael finally talked as he looked at his students before ordering them with an authoritative tone of voice. He then turned around and started to lead the way. 

Had he ignored the small fight between Exi and other students, it would cause him much trouble that he didn't even want to imagine it. It would just bring him a headache. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying view for his kids not being a coward and fought back mildly.

On their way, some were talking, and some were silent. Some also, like Asisi and Luca, were always itching to talk to Sir Samael.

Itching enough that they really furrowed their brows and jogged to go to their teacher side by side. "Seriously, we have twenty-four hours to complete the epitropi that was given to us. Right, Papa?" Luca grinned. 

"Yeah. Why?" Sir Samael responded. 

With that being said, Asisi was the one who pleaded as he tried his best to showed off puppy eyes and an appealing expression. "Can we just do it tomorrow? Cleaning is as easy as eating!"

At first, Sir Samael was silent as he continued walking. But then he finally replied with an uninterested tone of voice. "I don't think so."