I don't own Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
(All of this Belongs to the one and only: Osamu Nishi)
Chapter 2: A Wild Introduction
Rise of the True Demon King: Iruma!
In the Basement of a Certain Household…
"Damn it, I know you got a lot more than that kid! Now do it again, and this time, make sure to hit them!" A gruff voice said in the air, the tone of it being firm and directed.
"B-But Abe-san, those targets become intangible when I try to hit them!" Another voice called out, sounding extremely exhausted.
"Kid, didn't mini Barbatos-chan teach you that when you want to hit something, you need to focus on actually hitting it?" The gruff voice, now known as Abrams, questioned the person that spoke, who only looked at him with a deep blush. Sighing loudly, Abrams looked sternly at them.
"I don't wanna hear excuses from you Iruma-kun! You're much too naïve if you think the enemy would give you this much of a breather to begin with. Now, hit the damn thing, or else I'm calling mini Barbatos-chan to inform her about of your performance." Abrams said to the person, now Iruma, sighing in resignation.
Abrams then watched patiently as Iruma shot target after target, but never truly striking them. It was as if his arrows went through them like the air itself. Seeing this moment of frustration made Abrams chuckle to himself, while Iruma grew more and more frustrated. Hell bent on succeeding this trial set before him, Iruma then notched in several arrows at once, letting three volley's worth of arrows fly. He was hoping that at least one of them would strike true, only to find out none of them had hit anything. Abrams whistled softly in the air, seeing Iruma crying comically on the ground as a result of his failed attempt.
"Heh heh, the kid's definitely wet behind the ears still, and he's still part ways green in his development. Not to mention he ain't applying his full power behind his actions..." Abrams thought to himself, his opinion on Iruma being brutally honest. But just one look at Iruma's person, made Abrams smirk wickedly. Even though Iruma was crying comically from frustration, Abrams just chuckled.
"But damn, the kid's potential is limitless! The mana residing in him is incredibly rare, not to mention the powerful mana that Chairman gave him to use. And with him being what he is, makes any mana he uses that much more potent. Damn kid's a living dynamo, ready to go into overtime. Chairman was right, you really are a miracle worker, Iruma-kun! Though you could stand to make some muscles… Heh heh, just another thing on the list for me to do to make you Demon King material! Don't worry kid, I'll shape you into a powerhouse that not even I can imagine!" Abrams thought honestly, smiling wide as he watched his student miss another shot.
"But man, do we need to work on his concentration a little more…" Abrams said quietly to himself, watching as Iruma once again missed more and more shots, the young man now gripping his head comically in frustration.
Inside the Royal One: Present…
We see Iruma and his clan resting pleasantly during homeroom break, an enormous snack pile stacked neatly beside him. Feeling at peace while eating his snacks casually, Iruma instinctively tuned out Asmodeus and Clara's noisy banter. Seemingly cursed to argue among each other for all eternity, Iruma merely accepted it, and went about eating his snacks in peace.
"Stupid Clara! There is no way I can condone you being with Iruma-sama all night yesterday! I wanted to go baking at his house too, you sneaky bastard!" Asmodeus said with comical tears, shaking Clara furiously. Clara could only respond with an incredibly smug face.
"Looks like Azz-Azz missed out on all the fun… Too bad! By the way, did you know that Iruma-chi can make some awesome cookies?!" Clara said with a grin, rubbing in the fact that Asmodeus had flaked out on them yesterday.
Asmodeus was on the verge of blasting Clara out of the room due to her bragging, while also secretly jealous that Clara, of all people, was lucky enough to grace her putrid mouth with one of Iruma-sama's lovely creations. But just as he was about to unleash hell, a deafening boom was both heard and felt towards the front of Royal One. A brief wave of confusion flared across the Misfit Class, before they all went into high gear, readying themselves for whatever the loud sound was coming from.
They all raced towards the front of Royal One, everyone anticipating a fight to break out, due to all the mishaps that have been happening to them recently. But surprisingly enough, once they came outside, what they saw was Principal Sullivan, and a man standing next to him. A small crater was formed at where they were standing, hinting that they landed rather abruptly from somewhere high. Moments of silence passed as the Misfit Class scanned the stranger, taking in his features.
The man exuded a high level of confidence, while looking rather handsome, making most of the ladies of the class squirm a bit where they stood. The men of the class however were more taken aback by how strong the stranger looked. The aura alone that he gave off was indication enough. The outfit he wore barely fit him, hugging his body tightly, showing off how built he was, while the goggles he wore gave off the impression he was learned in other aspects. He was a tall man as well, being just as tall as Principal Sullivan, if not slightly taller. To say the men of the class weren't impressed would be a flat out lie.
In turn, Abrams stood still with his arms crossed squarely, wearing a look of seriousness that was out of character for him. He inspected each one of the Misfit Class from top to bottom, much like they were doing to him. Examining each student quickly with his green eye, looming over Iruma especially, Abrams whistled out loud after he had completed his analysis of each student, making their curiosity of him even stronger.
"Damn, all of them are strong. Some are a little haphazard, while others are a bit unrefined, but they're sure as shit strong altogether. Makes sense since they're the ones that opened the Royal One after all this time. I can definitely work with these kids." Abrams said out loud, causing all of the Misfit Class to tilt their heads in unison, making Sullivan laugh.
"Shit, where're my manners? The name's Gulliva Abrams, and I'll be your new teacher starting today. Or, until Chairman over here deems me cleared of my debt. Whichever comes first really, heh heh!" Abrams said with a hearty chuckle, flashing the Misfit Class a strong smile.
The Misfits in turn all stared in confusion towards the man, wondering if it was true. All of them then turned towards Sullivan, who did the only thing that came natural to him when it concerned Abrams. Placing his left right behind Abrams' head, Sullivan then smacked it hard, making the man's eyes bug out comically. Sullivan then walked up in front of him, wagging his index finger back and forth right in his face.
"Uh uh uh, that isn't how you conduct yourself when you're among the students, Abrams. Need I remind you that you're now a teacher at this fine place of Academia?" Sullivan said cheerfully, grinning softly as he watched Abrams rub the back of head.
"*Tsk* No sir, I believe you've made your point. But you can't blame me for being a little rough at the start, I'm winging it as I go. 'Teacher' ain't exactly my forte, as you can see." Abrams said easily, looking at Sullivan with a dubious look, which only earned him a light chuckle from the man.
"Oh hush you, I don't intend to hear anymore complaints from you, especially with all the hassle you've put everyone through.." Sullivan said cheerfully, winking towards Abrams, who only shivered in response. Sullivan then looked over towards the Misfit Class, who were just listening in on their little conversation the whole time.
"Anywho, everyone, I'd like you to meet your new Familiar Studies Instructor, and Bloodline Guidance Advisor!" Sullivan spoke with a small bow, raising his arms towards Abrams, presenting him towards the Misfit Class in all of his glory.
Whole minutes of silence passed, with Abrams and Sullivan looking towards the Misfit Class with baited breath. The Misfit Class in turn looked downcasted throughout the whole ordeal. Silence reigned for even more moments, before a slight cough from Abrams awakened the Misfit Class into action. Rushing down Abrams in an excited manner, it was Lied, Allocer, and Jazz that appeared before him first, giddy from excitement and curiosity.
"G-Gulliva-Sensei! You look so freaking strong! Like stupid, overpowered strong! Are you really gonna be our teacher?!" Lied asked sincerely, looking up at Abrams with glittering eyes.
"Yeah, or until Chairman clears me of my debt." Abrams said easily, making Lied giddy with excitement. Sullivan in response jabbed him softly in his right side, making Abrams wince in pain.
"Gulliva-Sensei! Just how strong are you?! If you're being introduced by Principal Sullivan himself, then that means you have to be really strong, at that the bare minimum!" Allocer said excitedly, wondering what Gulliva-Sensei would do.
"Hmm, while I'm not the bragging sort, I'm pretty sure I can make Chairman here sweat a good bit before he kicks my ass." Abrams said causally, pointing an innocent finger at Sullivan.
"Ho ho ho! You have quite the confidence in yourself if you think you can take me on, Abrams! Maybe if you were a 1000 years older, I'd consider an earnest battle against you, but for now, you're much too young!" Sullivan said with a peppy voice, patting Abrams' back with hearty slaps.
"I didn't say I could beat you, all I said was that I can keep you busy for time. You're stupid strong abilities make is near impossible for me to put a scratch on you, let alone have any chance at getting a leg up on you." Abrams said tiredly, remembering all those times he got his ass kicked by Chairman so many years ago.
"Woah, so you're strong enough to actually fight the Principal, Gulliva-Sensei?" Allocer said with a pale face, not believing what he was hearing.
"More or less, he's still going to kick my ass if we fought now either way." Abrams said with a shrug, feeling annoyed when he saw a smug grin from Chairman.
"Amazing... So you're that strong Gulliva-Sensei..." Allocer said with awe, looking at Gulliva-Sensei with starry eyes.
"Alright, my turn to ask a question. Hey Gulliva-Sensei! What debt are you talking about? Did you lose to Principal Sullivan or something?" Jazz asked, picking up on the fact that Gulliva-Sensei seemed to be doing this out of favor, rather than teaching them from his own volition.
"Nah, more like I was gone from the world for about, oh I dunno, I think maybe half a millennium now, give or take a couple decades here or there? Chairman over here found me at my old shop, and asked me to do this teaching thing for a while as a favor." Abrams answered easily, not realizing the looks of genuine intrigue that covered each face of the Misfit Class. Raising an eyebrow at their glances, Abrams wondered what the fuss was about?
A Few Hours Earlier in the Sky…
"Huh? You want me to be a teacher? And at Babylus... What the hell are you thinking, Chairman? I can do most things for you, like revive an extinct animal, or create an oasis in a desert. Hell, I could even move the continent a few miles in any direction for you. But damn, you me to be a teacher? Out of all the ideas you've suggested to me, this one is by far the dumbest one I've heard yet." Abrams spoke matter-of-factly, standing in front of Sullivan, miles above the Babylus campus.
Both demons were currently high above in the sky, wings drawn out as they were discussing Abrams's punishment for leaving the world for over half of a millennia. Ein in the meantime was dropped off earlier at the Sullivan household by the man himself. Meanwhile, Abrams was instructed to wait in the sky for Sullivan, sternly suggesting he do what he said. Sighing the whole time, Abrams waited patiently at Babylus, while Ein was being handed off to the butler, Opera.
The mentioned butler was overjoyed upon her arrival, seeing the potential that Ein possessed for professional servitude. Ein reacted the same way, all too happy to see a person that looked so well put together, going to teach her how to serve a master. Grinning madly at Opera's reaction, Sullivan explained how he acquired little Ein, and took immense care not mentioning Abrams' name or presence whatsoever, along with ensuring Ein didn't speak about her papa until told otherwise. After he was certain that Opera had no idea that Abrams was involved, and that his identity wouldn't be found out, Sullivan returned to said man post haste.
Finding Abrams waiting patiently for him made Sullivan sigh with relief, all too happy that that idiot didn't go off wandering again. Who knows how long he'd be gone for then? They then met up with each other once more, and began to talk about what comes next. The conversation eventually led back to Abrams saying what he said prior, making Sullivan chuckle softly. He then eyed the demon with a knowing look, before scoffing comically at his old protégé.
"It's funny how you still believe that you have any say in this. You're going to teach in my school, period." Sullivan spoke sternly, making Abrams mutter quietly to himself. Sullivan then handed Abrams a teacher's shawl and robe, and with a grunt, he put on the apparel over his other clothes.
"Huh, fits like a dream." Abrams commented dryly, looking at Sullivan with a deadpan expression.
"Good, you're already looking the part!" Sullivan said with a excitement, looking at Abrams with approval. Abrams could only mutter to himself again, making Sullivan chuckle at his actions.
"I just want to know why you want me as a teacher in the first place. I'm pretty sure you already have a ton of strong demons at Babylus. So why ask me to join? Surely you don't need anymore muscle." Abrams asked with a raised brow, looking at Sullivan questioningly.
"Really Abrams? As a consequence of your leaving, you owe not just me, but a majority of people a great debt for all the worry you've put all of us through. Not to mention the mountains of resources that went towards the efforts made to find you. It's only fair you make progress towards that mountainous debt by teaching the new generation some of your skills. And until I'm satisfied, I'll see you working here, and only here." Sullivan continued, pointing gingerly downwards, squarely on Babylus. Abrams followed his hand as a result.
"Now Abrams, you carefree, happy-go-lucky bastard. Understand that this right here is my passion. A bastion of ideals and hard work. A place where one could become more than their worth, should they put the work required of them. It is also one of the last reminders I have of him, the one I call my King, and no other. It will surely outlive me, and the others that look after it, should it be tended to properly." Sullivan spoke fondly as he looked downwards at Babylus. In that moment, a rare instance of him being serious had effectively held Abrams' attention.
"I will now ask you one more time. Will you take my offer, Gulliva Abrams?" Sullivan spoke seriously, eyeing Abrams with a look he hadn't seen in centuries. A moment of silence passed, before a defeated sigh left Abrams' mouth.
"Damn, when you put it like that, I guess that leaves me with few options… *Sigh* Fine, I'll give it a fair shot, but if you ask me, I don't think this'll work in the slightest, Chairman." Abrams said with a hint of hesitation. Sullivan could only chuckle at his meekness.
"My my, out of all the things in the Netherworld, it's the idea of teaching that finally gives you cold feet. Rest assured, I believe you'll do just fine." Sullivan said with a knowing smile, resting a hand on Abrams's shoulder, the man sagging to the action.
"And don't fret, since you're now a fully employed teacher, you're entitled to the Babylus Teachers' Dorms, its amenities, and of course, a bi-weekly salary and a good chance at tenure!" Sullivan spoke in his egg form, making Abrams chuckle softly to himself.
"Can't believe I'm gonna be a teacher. Out of all the things I've done in my life so far, being a teacher is definitely going to be one of the weirdest." Abrams admitted, already coming up with a training regiment, and teaching plan in his head. But before Abrams was about to speak, he was interrupted by a serious looking Sullivan again, the man resting a free hand on Abrams' shoulder.
"Let me be frank Abrams, I really need more trusted personnel at my school. Not to say that the staff we have currently are lacking by any means; But rather I need more people that I can ensure my students' safety with. We've recently had an incident that involved the safety of the students for the first time in centuries." Sullivan said solemnly. Abrams only grunted, staying quiet as the Chairman spoke.
"That incident alone has driven me to ensure that our staff can, and will protect our students against any and all threats, no exceptions. I've already acquired some new personnel that will no doubt keep the students safe, but with you on board now, it truly does lift some weight off my shoulders. So thank you, honestly, for still being around Abrams." Sullivan said genuinely, looking at Abrams with a sincerity that was reserved only for the late King Derkila. Abrams could only smile softly, and nodded his head in response.
"Heh heh, if you're the one thanking me, then this must be serious, huh Chairman?" Abrams said with a sad smile, the premise of him leaving all those years ago finally hitting him. Sullivan noticed the change in mood, and quickly intervened.
"Don't you dare start feeling bad now, Abrams. A mere 500 years is but a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. Remorse doesn't suit you at all, so I'd much rather have you smiling that stupid smile of yours more often, like old times." Sullivan said with a cheery smile, his composure back to his usual self.
"Heh heh, sure thing Chairman. I think I can do that for you. And hey, thanks for finding me." Abrams said with a hitch in his breath, deciding to go along with Chairman's suggestion. Sullivan merely chuckled, happy that Abrams had the capacity to feel remorse, but was ultimately strong enough to move on.
In that moment, both demons had finally made peace with one another. For the first time in many centuries, they were now truly enjoying the company between each other. What came after was a bit of small talk between themselves, catching up with one another after half a millennia had passed. It was lovely, and the memories of days long gone, soon became the gifts of the present. But today was a school day, so the time to talk would have to wait for another day.
"Just one more thing Chairman, before we go." Abrams asked, cracking his neck, and stretching his body as he spoke.
"Just name it Abrams." Sullivan said with a tilted head.
"Can I do a preliminary scan on the class when we meet them? I need to see what I'm working with." Abrams said, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
"But of course, please do what you think is best in guiding our students' futures. After all, you're now a full-fledged teacher of our great Babylus!" Sullivan spoke happily, having two pom poms in his hands, cheering in a comical fashion in his egg form.
"Alright then, let's get this show on the road!" Abrams said with excitement, flying head first towards Babylus at breakneck speed, more specifically, at the front of Royal One. Sullivan only chuckled, before following Abrams' lead.
Back to the present…
"What? Did I say something weird?" Abrams asked innocently, looking at the Misfit Class with a raised eyebrow still.
A moment of stillness passed, before the Misfit Class became reanimated with wild vigor. The fact that Abrams said he was over 500 years old was interesting enough, But to think that Abrams had known Principal Sullivan for that long, means that he was present during the time when Babylus was under its first reforms. So many questions to ask during that time, and so much info to unpack, Abrams was slowly becoming the new thing of interest for the Misfit Class. However, Abrams didn't know what the hype was with him just talking about the past.
"What? What's got you guys so riled up for? I only talked about me being gone for a while." Abrams asked with a tilted head, making the Misfit Class look at him as if he were the stupidest man alive. They then looked over to Principal Sullivan, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"Believe me all of you, he's the same man from all those years ago, capable in everything but understanding. Don't worry, you'll get used to this man's carefreeness in time. But for now, please put up with him." Sullivan said with a silly smile, sighing when he got a look from Abrams.
"What? The normal life expectancy for demons is about 1000 to 1500 years. As for the really healthy ones, those bastards can live well over 2000 years. Hell, the oldest demon on record lived to be over 5000 something years old. I'm only in my mid 500's, so why are people getting so worked up about what I said?" Abrams said earnestly, crossing his arms as he looked at Sullivan expectantly.
Sullivan could only sigh happily, enjoying the feeling of partaking in Abrams' absurdity after all these years. Raising both of his hands and placing them on his shoulders, Sullivan looked towards Abrams in a genuine, caring look.
"Oh Abrams, it just feels right to have you back after all this time. Never change, alright?" Sullivan said truthfully, making Abrams even more confused.
"Uh, sure thing Chairman? I mean the only thing that I've ever been was me, so I don't really get it." Abrams said earnestly, making Sullivan chuckle lightly.
Abrams could only look at Sullivan weirdly, remembering that he always had a knack for making Chairman laugh for some reason. The Misfit Class couldn't help but join in on the laughing, marveling at how clueless Gulliva-Sensei seemed to be. And yet, they felt that this man had a few things to teach them.
"Well anyway, are there any more questions for me? I'll do my best to answer them as truthfully as Chairman here has asked me to do." Abrams asked towards the Misfit Class, hoping this would reign in all the laughter.
It took a whole minute for everyone to stop laughing, before it was Purson that came forward with a question.
"Alright Gulliva-Sensei, what do you plan to teach us? All of us here already have specialized tutors and masters, so it'd be kinda weird for you to just up and teach us different stuff." Purson reasoned out, wondering what Gulliva-Sensei was going to do as a teacher.
"Heh heh, now that's a good question Purson-kun! It's exactly what Chairman here said earlier. I'm already well informed about your special tutors and masters, so my job is to act as an advisor that'll help direct you kids in your current training. And after I give you some direction, the people handling your training will take care of the rest." Abrams said with a pointed finger.
Feeling rather proud of himself that he was able to come off somewhat teacher-like, Abrams stood there with a smug smile. Although the looks of confusion he got from the Misfit Class said they weren't really understanding what he meant. Chuckling softly, Abrams went about explaining his position further in simpler terms.
"Ok then, here's an example. Purson-kun, your bloodline magic could be used for many applications, but the ones that lead your clan are extremely headstrong, and typically don't like experimenting new ways to implement your power." Abrams said seriously, not realizing he had captured the class's attention effortlessly.
Sullivan could be seen grinning madly in the background, witnessing how capable Abrams was at teaching. His natural charisma, and ability to story tell were simply too strong, making him the perfect teacher for the Misfit Class. He then decided to leave unnoticed as Abrams was talking, believing he needed to have some alone time with the class. But he only flew a few feet away, watching from a distance how Abrams would prove himself wrong in his teaching capabilities.
"So my idea for you, Purson-kun, is to try to extend your power to any object, to make anything you want invisible!" Abrams spoke excitedly, making Purson gasp out loud.
A moment of silence passed between Abrams and Purson, before a loud, excited cheer came from him that broke the silence.
"That suggestion is actually really cool, Gulliva-Sensei! How come my father never thought of that?!" Purson said with starry eyes, looking at Abrams in awe.
"Like I said, there are many, many demons, your father included, that have a certain pride when it comes to their bloodline magics. Meaning they will only use it as intended, and try not to change what's essentially been working fine and dandy for over hundreds of centuries." Abrams explained, his grip on the class's attention even stronger now.
"But if you ask me, that line of thinking is the very definition of stagnation. How the hell can progress happen if we never try to do new things? Better yet, why the hell would you want to do the same thing that countless demons have done literally ages ago?!" Abrams spoke loudly, shaking everyone to their core as he lectured.
"With regards to all of the bullshit I just spoke on, I say to hell with that line of thinking! I mean, isn't it more fun to try something new? Or discover a whole new way of approaching things?" Abrams ranted strongly, all of the Misfit Class nodding their heads in agreement.
"If you find yourself having trouble learning anything from me, then I'll be sure to impart this one lesson to you all at least. So listen closely kids, cause I don't like repeating myself. ~ Life's only limited by your imagination! So carve a new way through life itself, Heh heh! ~"Abrams said with a hearty chuckle, the Misfit Class being blown away by his words.
Although this was technically his first lesson as a teacher, Sullivan found himself impressed by Abrams' candor. He may say he wasn't cut out to be a teacher, but in just 15 minutes alone, he had not only demonstrated his expertise, he had spoken words of wisdom and gripped the class' attention. Sullivan felt something akin to pride, seeing the ever carefree spirit that was Abrams, conducting himself in a serious matter. Sure, he can work on his etiquette and his demeanor, but it's good to know he can actually teach. Feeling light and wiggly, Sullivan just kept watching from a distance, happy to know Abrams had finally found his footing.
The Misfit Class on the other hand were more excited about Abrams himself. The way he spoke, and how talked were all aspects that didn't seem very teacher-like. And here he was, a teacher that was going to no doubt show them an interesting time during his stay. Though what made them the most excited was his first lesson. His words alone had touched their hearts, and piqued their interest. Now currently freaking out about themselves, the Misfit Class were in overdrive with what suggestions that Gulliva-Sensei was going to make next.
"You're freaking awesome Gulliva-Sensei! Do you have any other suggestions for me?!" Purson said with starry eyes, his mind racing with ideas.
"A couple, but first try to accomplish the one I gave you. No sense in doing everything at once. Once you've achieved the milestone set before you, I'll be more than happy to give you more ideas." Abrams said with a nod, happy he was able to help his student. Purson nodded vigorously, already coming up with ways to go forward with Gulliva-Sensei's suggestion.
"Heh heh, my student huh… You know what? It's got a nice ring to it…" Abrams thought to himself, a smile worming its way to his face.
"What are you smiling about Gulliva-Sensei?" Iruma chimed in, picking up on his smile. This jolted Abrams out of his thinking.
"Oh nothing kid, just happy I'm able to help you guys out. Remember, this is my first time doing something like this. So if you can, bear with me a little longer. I promise you I'll get this teacher thing figured out by then." Abrams said with another genuine smile, making most of the Misfit Class blush at how handsome he looked at that moment.
"As for the rest of you, I'll be sure to meet up with all of you individually during our time in class. But as of today, this is just introductions. Tomorrow, we'll do the real stuff, so be patient until then, alright?" Abrams spoke with a hand behind his head, speaking in an apologetic manner. Iruma watched on with wide eyes as he witnessed Gulliva-Sensei in his purest form.
Iruma at that moment was taken aback by how nice Gulliva-Sensei was being, his presence feeling like a warm rug by a tender fireplace. Even while looking so strong and serious, he came off like a big, cuddly teddy bear. The way he spoke also gave off a warmth that a lot of other demons simply didn't have, and that made Iruma smile to himself.
"He's just like Balam-Sensei… So tough-looking on the outside, but really nice on the inside." Iruma thought to himself, smiling softly as he was thinking.
The Misfit Class were already highly animated, but being forced to wait another day was torture. Who knows what else Gulliva-Sensei could teach them. But with respect to his wishes, the Misfit Class merely sighed, and unanimously agreed to wait. Sullivan just smiled in the background, his decision to bring Abrams to Babylus already paying off. The Misfit Class were then called to attention when Abrams called out to them.
"Don't forget now, introductions are still happening. So please, ask any other questions you have for me. I'm not one to shy away from hard ones either." Abrams said with his disarming smile, the Misfit Class smiling in response. It was then Gaap that stepped up with his own question.
"Ok, then Gulliva-Sensei, what was something you found interesting on your 500 year journey?" Gaap asked innocently, seeing Gulliva-Sensei smile.
"Another good question, not bad Gaap-kun. Something I found interesting during my time away is the Concepts of Absolute." Abrams said, the Misfit Class looking confused at what he said.
"Oh I know that look, heh heh. Alright, let me explain it to you then." Abrams said with a chuckle. The Misfit Class merely stayed quiet, heavily interested in Gulliva-Sensei story.
"The Netherworld is big, very big. So big in fact, that there are still many places within it that very few demons have ever been to. And In the Netherworld, there are mysterious magics that even the most ancient of demons don't know about. The places I speak of contain these magics, and because so few demons have been there, almost no one knows of their existence, let alone their grandeur. That is, until I went there." Abrams said with a strong voice.
Sullivan chuckled heavily, seeing waves of interested faces intently stare back at Abrams. No one really knew why, but Abrams had this uncanny ability to make others listen to him. Some credit it to his voice, others say it was his way with words, but for Sullivan, he pegged it on Abrams' genuine interest in whatever he talked about. If one is able talk about something with such passion, or interest, it will no doubt make others listen to you far more intently. Not only that, he would always make exaggerated hand gestures, and big movements to help illustrate whatever he was describing. And because of this, Abrams would never fail in making people listen to what he said, the class in front him being no exception.
"These magics could fundamentally change the way we operate in the Netherworld. For example, among these magics, there is one that could alter the weather itself on a national scale. There is also one that could make entire mountain ranges kneel on a whim. Another could make the very oceans flood entire countries if need be. There are even records of magics that could allow the traversal of multiple planes of existence." Abrams spoke quietly now, as if trying to hide this information from the open air. The Misfit Class waited with baited breath for Gulliva-Sensei's response.
"But among all of the mysterious magics I came across, there was a series of magics that are known as the Concepts of Absolute. Now these magics are beyond powerful, so much so, its own history has been forcibly scrubbed out from almost all forms of documentation, to ensure its security and anonymity." Abrams spoke solemnly, his voice enthralling the entire class. They were far too interested to interrupt him now.
"These magics contain a power so compelling, that if used by the wrong people, they would surely challenge the entirety of the Netherworld, if given the chance." Abrams spoke even more quietly now, forcing the Misfit Class to lean in. Even Sullivan could be seen leaning in from a distance, his own intrigue betraying his intentions.
"Eh, we'll leave it there for now. I'll pick up on it some other time. Wouldn't want to bore you kids anymore than I already have." Abrams said easily, deciding it was best to end his little story there and then.
However, he failed to see the sheer dissatisfaction of the entire class, even appearing on Sullivan's face.
"What? Was it something I said?" Abrams asked innocently, before getting a few head shakes and face palms.
"Gulliva-Sensei! You were getting to the good part! Why'd ya stop all of a sudden?" Lied spoke loudly, getting several nods from the men of the group.
"Yeah Gulliva-Sensei! Why would you stop such an impressive story?! I want to know more of these magics!" Sabro spoke angrily, pissed off that Gulliva-Sensei stopped talking.
"Huh? I mean it's just one of the many things I came across in my 500 years of, uh, um… Oh! Exploration! Yeah, let's call it that, exploration!" Abrams said half-heartedly, not catching Sullivan looking at him with a deadpan face.
For Sullivan, he knew better that Abrams simply wandered about the Netherworld, aimless, and of course, carefree. Shaking his head, despite the smile he wore, Sullivan made a mental to ensure Abrams stay, even if it meant confrontation. The world has went too long without his presence, and he'd be damned if he was going to let a man like him go to wind again.
"Anyway, I just simply answered Gaap-kun's question, no need for specifics at this time." Abrams said with a shrug, still not picking up on the class's clear display of disappointment.
"Anyway, are there any more questions for me kids?" Abrams said with a smile, making the entire class sigh in frustration and acceptance. That little gesture made Sullivan smile internally, feeling happy that there was another group of people that felt Abrams' absurdity.
The next one to step up was Allocer, his mind rife with interest and curiosity. Gulliva-Sensei had proven to be a man of many secrets, and Allocer would be the one to squeeze it out of him. But in typical Allocer fashion, his question would bring nothing but raised eyebrows from the ladies of the class.
"So Gulliva-Sensei, you seem like a man with taste. What is your ideal woman, huh?" Allocer asked with interest, the other guys anticipating his question, while the women merely rolled their eyes.
"Hmm, a weird thing to ask a teacher, but I guess it's normal for kids your age. My ideal woman is one that's got a spine. A woman that ain't afraid to tell me no, ain't afraid to tell me I'm wrong, and ain't afraid to set me straight when I'm off the beaten path. A lot of guys want to be with girls that are just like flagpoles; Easy to follow where the wind blows, pretty to look at, but ultimately directionless." Abrams said strongly, his words resonating deeply within the guys of the class.
"I like a lady who's planted in the ground, and straightforward. And if she's hot, that's merely a bonus." Abrams said easily, making the mature men among the group nod knowingly in agreement. Whereas the ladies of the class looked at their new teacher in appreciation, happy that he didn't fall for the bait that the question was intended for.
However, Allocer wasn't going to give up on gaining the knowledge of what Gulliva-Sensei wanted in a woman. The answer itself was great, but Allocer was greedy, and wanted the juicier bits, no matter the repercussions. So with purpose, Allocer spoke up boldly, much to the dismay of the girls.
"That's a great answer Gulliva-Sensei, but I also wanna know the thing in a woman that appeals to you the most? For me it's the face, how about you?" Allocer spoke unflinchingly, looking at Gulliva-Sensei with a look that dared him to answer the question. Abrams only chuckled, looking at Allocer with his full attention.
"Hmph, you have balls on you, I'll give you that. Alright Allocer-kun, I already know you got a thing for knowledge, but they're are just some nuggets of information that prove to be too heavy to know. Take the hint and give it up already, will you?" Abrams spoke softly, eyeing Allocer, hoping he'd drop the subject. But as if responding to his challenge, Allocer merely scoffed at him, puffing his chest out defiantly.
"You seem to be mistaken Gulliva-Sensei, all knowledge is valuable, and no knowledge is too heavy. I'll be living proof of that fact! Now answer the question, old man!" Allocer spoke with vigor, looking defiantly towards Gulliva-Sensei, his will displayed on his chest.
Shaking his head softly, despite himself, Abrams then looked at Allocer once more, realizing that this kid wasn't going to let up. Sighing softly, he resolved himself, ready to overcome anything that this jackass had to throw at him.
"I commend your resolve in trying to achieve all knowledge, but you'll soon realize that the path before you has been walked upon countless times, by countless people. And of those people, only a handful of them have passed the halfway point. I'll show you, here and now, that not all knowledge is worth the price. For example, did you guys know that what Allocer-kun said earlier was a lie? He doesn't look for faces in women, oh no, that'd be far too plain. Instead, Jackass over there has a big thing for armpits." Abrams said unapologetically, lifting his right arm and pointing towards Allocer, before crossing his arms once again, eyeing Allocer the entire time he spoke.
A period of silence took over the group, as Allocer held a downcasted look the entire time. What broke them out of it was when a single snicker came off from Purson, making the entire class erupt in a torrent of laughter. Allocer on the other hand blushed like none had ever seen before, trying desperately to deny the claim that Gulliva-Sensei had made.
"G-Guys, he's lying! I-I don't have a thing for arm-" Was all Allocer could get in, before Purson chimed in.
"Nope, what Gulliva-Sensei said checks out. Allocer really does have a thing for armpits. I caught him several times sniffing the girl's testing deodorant when no one was looking at the Devi-Mall. He also made a few requests for girls to let him sniff their armpits. But the worst offense is that he has a few tabs in his hellphone labeled Armpit Appreciation." Purson spoke easily, Allocer looking at him with fire in his eyes. Purson's only response was holding up two peace signs to him, before Allocer made a break for him.
He was stopped however, by a massive, solid stone hand that gripped his body firmly in place. The stone hand seemed to have materialized out of nowhere, making the class curious how it came to be. Now looking back to where Gulliva-Sensei, they saw one of his eyes flare up with mana, meaning the hand was made from him.
"Don't get upset about being outed, kid. I warned you about knowing certain pieces of information, yet you wanted to touch the sun all the same. Take this as a reminder to cool your jets next time, alright? And another thing, I ain't that old yet." Abrams said easily, looking at Allocer knowingly.
The only thing Allocer could do was nod in defeat, comical tears falling off from his face. Satisfied with the turn of events, Abrams released Allocer, and went back to crossing his arms.
"Good. And hey, for being a good sport, I'll answer your question. The things I'd prefer in a lady is a big ass, wide hips, and strong thighs. Look kid, there isn't much else in the Netherworld that is as appealing as a lady who can kick ass, while having a good looking one herself." Abrams said with a ease, the class being left dumbfounded by his causal answer.
Allocer could only shake his head in amusement, knowing full well he was soundly beaten. Looking at Gulliva-Sensei, Allocer put him down as OK in his book. But not before looking at Gulliva-Sensei with fire in his eyes, yelling out in anguish.
"Did you really have to say all that Gulliva-Sensei?! Now everyone knows I got a thing for armpits!" Allocer roared, visible lines of steam coming off from him due to his embarrassment and anger.
"And? I told you the consequences already, jackass. Now man up and hold your head up high. Ain't nothing wrong with having preferences." Abrams said sternly, making Allocer light up in the process.
"You really mean that Gulliva-Sensei?!" Allocer hoped beyond hope. Abrams nodded with a smile.
"Of course I mean it kid. But damn, armpits man? You'd be hard pressed to find a lady who'd indulge you with one." Abrams said honestly, making Allocer lay down on the ground comically in the fetal position, his eyes flooded with comical tears. The girls of the class could only look at his direction in slight disgust, a small shiver running down all of them.
"Pervert…" Was the collective thought that went through the mind of the girls.
With Allocer sobbing softly on the ground in the background, it was then Caim that stepped forward, his eyes alight with passion. Looking at Gulliva-Sensei with newly acquired respect, Caim then proceeded to speak.
"Impressive Gulliva-Sensei, to think you'd be able to crumble Allocer, of all people, when it comes to these types of matters… However, I will prove to be a much more formidable opponent." Caim spoke with a seriousness only reserved for ladies. He then stanced himself, ready to battle Gulliva-Sensei in a battle of wits and kinks.
Tilting his head, Abrams looked upon the small stature of Caim. He then recalled his abilities that he learned through his earlier scan of the class. The ability to converse with any animal, and to direct them in any fashion, a truly frightening ability if used correctly. But if he were going to go by the events that followed so far, this kid was about the same caliber as Allocer. Smugly grinning to himself, Abrams figured he oughta have some fun if he was going to be a teacher of these brats.
"Hmph, I'll be the judge of that Birdy. Now, if you've made peace with your dignity, step up if you want to die!" Abrams spoke with a booming voice, one that held a hard intimidation to it. He then crossed his arms, standing still with a menacing aura. He fully faced Caim with burning eyes, glowing vibrantly in green and golden hues.
In that moment, Abrams then decided to mess with the class a little more, as he then unleashed a wave of his rich mana around a wide area. He had to, however, dial the potency of the mana all the way down. Knowing how volatile his mana was to regular demons, he had to ensure no one would get hurt from it, but potent enough to make someone feel shivers. While his mana during this state was completely harmless, anyone that was hit with it would feel like an entire mountain was breathing down their necks. In fact, the feeling of a giant looking down on you was the apt description the Misfit Class could tell you in that moment.
The entire Misfit Class were intimated, looking at Abrams in awe once more. More than half of them were being forced to the ground from the sheer weight of his mana alone. But among the half that still stood on their feet, Caim was one of them, determined to ask Gulliva-Sensei his question.
"You won't find me turning yellow so easily, Gulliva-Sensei! Now tell me, what is your favorite position in bed!" Caim asked in the most determined face he could muster.
As soon as Caim asked his question, the mood had completely changed, with everyone at a loss for words. Even Abrams needed a moment to think, as his wave of mana disappeared due to his confusion. Before Abrams could process Caim's question, it was the girls of the class that decided to act. A flurry of slaps, kicks, and punches then followed, all targeted to the poor bird. Small shrieks of pain could be heard in between all of the commotion. A full minute of fighting passed, before the girls decided to stop, leaving behind a crumpled Caim on the ground, comically beaten up.
"We apologize for our classmate's behavior, Gulliva-Sensei! What he asked you was both outlandish and ridiculously inappropriate." Kerori said frantically, bowing profusely to Abrams. Smoke could still be seen from her fists, a result of the barrage of punches she gave to Caim prior.
"Y-Yes Gulliva-Sensei, please don't mind Caim! He's just very, um… Passionate! Yes, Passionate!" Elizabetta said with a smile, her palms feeling a little sore after all the slapping she gave to Caim.
"I have no idea what they're talking about, Gully-Sensei. They just asked me to kick him and stuff, and I found it funny enough to join them!" Clara said with a bright smile. Her slippers, Conner and Murf, could be seen sweating lightly from all the kicking they were forced to do.
Seeing all of the girls light up the poor bird with such violence made Abrams chuckle, remembering an old friend that would act the same way as Caim-kun did.
"It's quite alright ladies, this isn't the first time I've been asked this type of question, heh heh. Although I must say, I feel kinda bad for little Caim-kun here. Couldn't you girls go a little easier on him?" Abrams said with an apologetic tone, eyeing Caim still on the ground, his soul hanging over him comically.
"Nope/Not a chance/I'm hungry." We're the respective responses he got from the girls, making Abrams chuckle even harder. The class then joined in on the laughing, happy to enjoy the light atmosphere.
It was then a light grunt was uttered, as a high-pitched, whistling sound could be heard in the air. A moment later, a massive, green arrow of pure mana ripped through the sky, appearing right behind Abrams almost instantly. Looking on with panicked, surprised faces, the Misfit Class were on high alert, warning Abrams as soon as they saw the arrow. But Abrams didn't even look behind him, as he simply stuck out his arm out behind himself, his hand wide open. What came next made all of the Misfit Class gasp in unison.
Abrams would go on to slap the arrow to the ground, a large plume of dirt and rubble erupting behind him. All the while, he instantly erected a translucent barrier of superior mana around the entire class. Sullivan simply watched from a distance, the mad grin on his face showing he was fully enjoying himself. He knew what was going to happen next, and he couldn't bring himself to explain the situation, rather he wanted to see what Abrams would do next.
Clicking his tongue in disappointment, Abrams shook his head slowly, finally turning around. He bore witness to a group of people that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. All of them looked prepared for battle, their hands outstretched in front of them, while their powerful mana was out in full display.
"If you're going to be waving around that kind of mana so haphazardly, do so when there aren't any students around. You're lucky that I'm here to protect these kids from your carelessness. That kind of stunt could have gotten someone really hurt." Abrams said disapprovingly, glaring at the group of people before him.
With how everyone was looking at that moment, it all seemed like an intense battle would ensue. So in response to the atmosphere, Abrams merely crossed his arms, and stared hard at the group of people before him. As if sizing them up, Abrams didn't feel it necessary to take them on too seriously, considering that he had a classroom's worth of students with him. Sullivan, all the while, was ready to enjoy the show, eager to see how far Abrams has improved in his 500 years of absence.
"Well, what are you waiting for? You went this far already, might as well see it through. Now step up if you want to die!" Abrams said with a taunting grin, making the group of people flare up before him, ready for battle.
Author's Notes:
Sup, Chicken here. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for sticking around. And like always, I'll see you in the next one!