11 Meeting at the Rooftop

After school, Flora received the report paper that Byron immediately wrote after the first encounter of the target this noon.

"The new member is making himself quite useful."

Flora took a sip of her tea. Reading the paper, she found that Byron had sent an interesting report.

"So, this guy from the After Beyond wears ten rings? A ten-ringer Sheolic creature… probably just a Lived."

Flora couldn't wrap her head around this case. Why would one of the three major cults send a mere ten-ringer Lived?

True, a Sheolic creature is astounding, but a Lived is the weakest among the beings inhabiting Sheol.

"The Beosal Rings…"

Flora went around the student council office to look for a book. After taking out some books, she placed her arm into one of the bookshelves and reached for something.

"I know it's here somewhere…."

After grabbing what seemed to be the book she was looking for, Flora took it out. It was a white book that contained the word on its cover [Ethereal Above]

Seeing this book again, Flora sighed.

"What bad memory…."

She sat down and searched for the Beosal Rings, and there, it states;

"Beosal Rings are physical manifestations of life in Beos itself. Many wonder what life is, yet, only a few wonder how life can be used. Though these rings are just remnants of the heavenly realm, immortality is hidden behind these peculiar remnants. But, for now, its only use is for the wicked who sought power beyond the depths of darkness, Sheol.

Beos is the realm of the living and only for the living. But with these rings, life can be bestowed once more to the dead, the Lived within Sheol, giving them physical bodies."

Flora skipped some parts and fully understood what these rings are for. Closing the book, she concluded, "So more rings means a weaker Lived. As for the Unlivings, they do not need the ring, for they are powerful enough to exist in Beos after summon."

After some pondering, Flora conclusively guessed.

"Ten rings are needed to keep him alive, therefore, a weak Lived. Is this a political move to harass LeiSan High School, which is under Solomon's Eye, their rival?"

That was the only explanation she could give.

"I guess I'll wait for the next report."

…

"Is this the second building?"

Guleno asked. They were a bit late since, as one of the Seargent of Arms, he has to clean the classroom with some girls he doesn't know. Well, at least that's what Sir Adren said.

"Are you really going there? I heard there's a big sophomore, right, Keith?" Tegg looked at Keith and acted too friendly, but Natallie subtly got between them and nodded.

"Yes, I saw them too."

"Yeah…" Tegg found it a little weird for her to be so close, 'Does she like me?' he blushed and smiled stupidly.

"I have to fight them! They are Baldwin's goons for sure!" Guleno was so sure since someone as strong as Bauduin should be the leader of the second-year students or something close to that.

"No one's stopping him." Sam placed his hand on Tegg's shoulder and gave up.

Meanwhile, Keith looked at the person at the back.

"Why are you here, Bunny?"

Van stood there while carrying four bags on his own. He had a 'please, don't talk to me' face.

"Umm… do you want help with that?" Natallie asked, but Van just ignored her as he rolled his eyes away.

Natallie's smile became stiff, and then she whispered to Keith, "I tried my best. Looks like he doesn't want to be bothered."

"If he doesn't want it, then it's fine." Keith nodded.

"Hey, aren't they there at the rooftop!?"

Tegg pointed, and everyone looked up. Although each floor is wide, there are only four floors at best for each building at LeiSan. Looking up, they could see the big guy fearlessly leaning over the fence at the rooftop.

"Is that him!?"

Guleno asked Natallie, and she nodded.

"Then, let's go!"

He then marched into the sophomore building. Since it was some time after school ended, only a few students were there. However, none of them tried to stop Guleno and his friends from marching in.

"Should we go too?" Sam asked Tegg, but they had no choice. What kind of friends are they if they let Guleno walk in alone.

Keith then followed but was stopped by Natallie.

"Wait, are you going?"

"I was called too. Also, I'm curious."

"That's obviously just a fight, Keith. You do remember what we were told this morning, right? Are you going to fight?"

Keith thought over and replied, "Unless I have a reason to."

Natallie raised an eyebrow, "Do you know how to fight?"

"Sort of?" Keith shrugged his shoulders. He was brought into this world to fight, so although he has zero experience, he at least knows the basics of a fistfight.

"Alright, but do not agree unless you have to. Also, make it quick because I want to do something."

Natallie shyly smiled.

Keith nodded back and then followed Guleno and his friends to the rooftop. Meanwhile, Van was told to wait there by Guleno.

Reaching the rooftop, he saw the groups of seven people with the addition of Bauduin at the center, sitting on one of the benches.

"Wow, the rooftop has a grass bed," Natallie commented upon seeing the fake grass.

"Baldwin!"

Guleno then shouted, popping a nerve on Bauduin's forehead.

"Hahaha! Baldwin, that's new!"

The redhead girl who nudged on Dalibor earlier laughed.

"Shut up, Kristine!"

"Can't take a joke, huh…." Kristine, the redhead, raised her shoulders.

Bauduin massaged his forehead before saying to Dalibor.

"Knock them out."

He then pointed at Guleno and his friends.

Dalibor then sighed, "Just because Byron ordered you doesn't make you the leader."

"Well, you still have to follow my orders."

"Fine, fine…"

Dalibor then went toward Guleno, who was raring to go.

"So, you're the first, huh."

"H-he's big, Guleno…" Sam went behind him.

"Don't worry, I got this!"

Guleno confidently smiled at them before charging in.

"Guleno!" Tegg and Sam smiled and cheered when Guleno was slapped out of his consciousness.

"Guleno!?"

This was the first time they saw Guleno so frail. But, when they get to him, Tegg receives a punch from Dalibor, knocking him out too.

Sam's eyes widened.

"W-wait, we didn't give our cons-!"

But Dalibor didn't even listen and struck him too. It was easy as that. Dalibor looked like a machine programmed to do what it's told, and it was told to knock everyone except one.

In a blink of an eye, they were unconscious on the ground.

"Hey!" Natallie then shouted, "What you are doing is against the school rule!"

"What? But, they wanted a fight, and then they lose." Kristine replied to her as if it was the truth.

"Eh? But…"

At that point, Natallie understood what had happened. There are eight sophomores in cahoots, while there are only her, Keith, and Sam who witnessed the truth.

"D-did you plan this? Is that why there are seven of earlier?"

"She just noticed." one of them said.

"Well, she is a first-year after all. She doesn't know that, in a blindspot, witnesses are the only ones to be believed."

Natallie's face went pale as she realized they had just walked into the trap.

"But isn't this girl sharp?"

Kristine asked when she noticed what Natallie had just said.

"What do you mean?" Dalibor asked.

"She asked if that is why there are seven of us earlier. She's talking about this noon. If not, she would say eight. This girl realized the plan."

If they showed their numbers from the start, no one would question why there are so many of them on the rooftop. If they didn't, Natallie would feel that something was wrong, and they could quickly come down from the rooftop. If they played chase, that's bad for the sophomores.

More witnesses will see that they are chasing the freshmen who clearly don't want a fight.

"Knew it. There's nothing wrong with being too careful."

Kristine smiled.

"Smart girl." Dalibor then walked towards Natallie.

"Keith, let's run!" Natallie pulled Keith away, but Dalibor's sprint was faster by almost twice. His hand reached out for Natallie. They only need Keith to be conscious.

But before he could reach her-

"What are you trying to do?"

Keith asked as he held Dalibor's wrist.