After browsing for a while, Steven was interrupted by someone sitting beside him.
"Don't wake me up again. What would you do if I were late for class?"
Steven replied indifferently:
"Not my problem."
Nathan put his feet on the study table and rested his head on the chair.
"Wake me up next time."
Steven didn't respond and continued browsing the chat group.
Nathan approached him and looked at Steven's watch.
"What are you staring at so intently?"
Then he raised his eyebrows and looked at Steven.
"A chat group?"
"I didn't know you were interested in people's gossip."
Suddenly, Nathan remembered something.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you. I found some servants for us."
Nathan turned to the classroom and called out loudly:
"Servants, come here!"
All the students looked at Nathan as four of them quickly stepped forward, bowing their heads.
"Y-yes, chief!"
Nathan introduced Steven:
"This is my friend Steven. You can also consider him your chief, so you will follow all his orders. Understood?"
Without hesitation, the four students spoke together:
"Yes, chief!"
Nathan smiled broadly, showing his teeth, and looked at Steven.
"What do you think? I trained them well yesterday. You'll like them."
The rest of the students whispered among themselves, while Ira trembled with anger and Agnes tried to calm her.
Kay frowned.
Steven's gaze was empty.
'Oh my god… was it necessary for me to join the academy? Why should I save the world if the world is trying to annoy me? Or even, why should I try to live?'
'No… maybe I should just kill Nathan. His role isn't important anyway.'
Many thoughts ran through Steven's mind. Then he spoke coldly, giving Nathan a warning look:
"Nathan, stop this farce."
Nathan didn't flinch at Steven's gaze and spoke with a hint of sarcasm:
"What? What farce? They deserve this position, and I gave it to them. They're happy now, aren't they?"
Nathan looked at them sarcastically.
The four students looked at each other, sweating, and quickly shook their heads.
"Y-yes, yes, we're happy."
Nathan tilted his head toward Steven and raised an eyebrow.
"See that?"
When Steven saw that talking to him was pointless, he turned his head indifferently.
"Do as you please, but don't involve me in this."
'It doesn't matter what happens now. He'll be expelled from the academy in six months anyway.'
Nathan's face brightened.
"Then let me introduce them to you: this is Number One, this is Number Two, this is Number Three, and this is Number Four. You can tell them anything you want them to do."
Steven frowned when Nathan gave them numbers.
"Change them."
Nathan questioned:
"What?"
Steven nodded toward the four students.
"The ones you named."
Nathan raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, I see. Fine. From now on, you're Pookie, you're Looky, you're Tooky, and finally, you're Nooky."
After saying this, Nathan's eyes widened. He put his hand on his chin and spoke with a proud smile:
"Oh! These names sound better. How did I come up with these great names?"
"Thank you, Steven. You're the best friend."
The four students ground their teeth and thought simultaneously:
'Damn it… the numbers were better.'
Nathan patted Steven's books.
"Don't be discouraged by the small number. I'll work on increasing them, don't worry."
Steven pushed Nathan's hand off his shoulder and spoke coldly:
"I don't care."
Nathan waved at the four students:
"You may leave; I don't need you right now."
The students quickly nodded and ran back to their seats.
Nathan spoke to Steven:
"Servants can help you with many things. You'll enjoy dealing with people like them."
Steven gave Nathan a sideways glance, then sighed internally.
After the lesson ended, Steven and Nathan were dragged along by Kay and his group.
Steven rubbed his temple.
'Did I get cursed when I stepped into the academy to cause all this annoying chaos?'
Kay spoke:
"What's with the servants today?"
Steven looked at Nathan and then at Kay and his group.
'I'm getting out of here. This doesn't concern me.'
"Since it doesn't concern me, I'll go."
Steven turned to leave and took a few steps when Kay quickly followed, trying to grab his shoulder.
"Wait, this also involves you…"
Steven skillfully dodged Kay's hand.
Kay froze in surprise, looking at his empty hand and at Steven.
'Huh? How did he dodge that?..'
Nathan laughed and approached, patting Steven on the shoulder.
"Oh, my friend! You've impressed me!"
Steven looked coldly at Nathan's hand on his shoulder.
Nathan withdrew his hand.
"Okay, okay."
Then he turned to Kay and his group and spoke indifferently:
"Do you guys have slow reactions? This is old news. Why bring it up now?"
Kay objected:
"The lesson was about to start, and I didn't think you…"
Nathan interrupted:
"Whoa, whoa, whoa."
Nathan approached Kay, raised his index finger, and pushed it against Kay's forehead.
"If you didn't speak when it happened, it's better to stay silent forever."
Nathan looked at them sarcastically and turned to leave.
"Come on, Steven, let's go. I don't like hearing dogs bark."
Just as the two were about to leave, David interrupted.
"Wait a moment."
Nathan raised his eyebrows while Steven frowned.
'I have a bad feeling.'
David spoke, slightly raising his head arrogantly:
"I'm not in the same group as these losers."
Then he turned to Steven and spoke, raising his eyebrows:
"You're Steven Roald, right?"
David looked him up and down and smiled arrogantly.
"I'm more handsome than you, so I'll always be my grandfather's favorite."
"Tch, anyway, I like your group more than that loser group, so I'll join you."
Steven was confused.
'Why did he mention the old man? Impossible… don't tell me…'
Leonard stepped forward and asked David in confusion:
"You're joking, right?"
David raised his eyebrows.
"Why would I joke? Who wants to stay in a loser group like yours?"
Nathan laughed and put his arm around David's shoulder.
"Okay, you impressed me. You can join us now."
Nathan pushed Steven, and they moved away from Kay's group.
After the three had gone a short distance, Steven's watch suddenly vibrated.
'Is it Mark? Why is he calling me now? …Oh, I gave his number to Elisa, so he must be angry now.'
Steven raised his watch to answer, only to be surprised—the caller wasn't Mark.
'Huh? What is this strange number?'
Steven stopped walking and picked up the call.
Suddenly, an excited old man's voice came from the watch:
[Steven, isn't it? Hahaha, I finally got your number!]
(Side note by author: Poor Stephen surrounds him from all sides. 😂)
Steven's mouth trembled.
"Where did you get it?"
The old man Carlos laughed.
[Hahaha, check yourself. What did you do to your brother Mark to make him angry? He called me suddenly yesterday.]
…..
Flashback to yesterday:
Inside the house given to Mark and Steven by the old man Carlos,
Mark ground his teeth, clenched his fists, and his mouth trembled.
"Brother… you sold me so easily… so don't blame me."
Mark called Carlos's number.
[Huh? Mark, what's the matter? Why are you calling?]
Mark spoke coldly:
"You rude old man… weren't you trying to get my brother Steven's number?"
The old man replied excitedly:
[Yes, why? Will you give it to me?!]
Mark smiled coldly.
"Yes, it's yours, but on one condition."
The old man spoke eagerly:
[Huh? What is it?]
Mark fiddled with his fingers, smiled mischievously, and spoke in a slightly sad tone:
"You know my brother is very quiet and doesn't like socializing. I'm worried about him being alone in the academy."
"Didn't you say your grandson joined the academy the same year as my brother Steven?"
"I just want your grandson to be friends with my brother. What do you think?"
"Oh, of course. You know my grandson mustn't discover my brother's identity as Black Crow, even for him."
The old man paused, then burst out laughing.
[Of course, of course. I'll tell my grandson that your brother is a child who caught my attention and that he should befriend him. Agreed? Send me his number now.]
Mark sent Steven's number to the old man Carlos.
'Heh… my revenge is doubled, so don't blame me, brother.'
….
In the present:
Steven looked at the watch with a blank expression.
'It's true that I deserve your revenge, Mark, but have you forgotten that I'm still your brother?'
David approached Steven.
"Wait! I heard my grandfather's voice. Is he calling you?"
[Is that you, my dear grandson? How are you? Your grandfather missed you.]
David was moved and spoke excitedly:
"I missed you too, grandfather."
Then David's brows furrowed.
"But… why is he calling him and not me?"
[Dear David, I called you yesterday but wanted to talk to Steven a little. Anyway, are you two friends now?]
David raised his head and spoke proudly:
"Don't worry, I'm in his group now, so we're friends."
[Well done, that's my good grandson.]
[I'm busy now. I'll go. Goodbye. Be good friends.]
Steven tried to speak:
"Wait…"
The call ended before Steven could protest.
Nathan spoke teasingly:
"What's with this drama between grandfather and grandson that I just witnessed… my dear grandson?"
Steven shook his head.
'Mark will regret destroying his dear brother's life even more than it already is.'