Distorted World: Rise Of The Black One - Volume 2 Chapter 79 35
Asher and Elise arrived at school, obviously late, so they obviously got scolded
Even after they settled in their seats Asher was still not okay due to the permeated sense of dread a certain female demon is exhibiting
“As: …just my luck”
Asher said sighing deeply
“E: well at least it was fun”
Elise said smiling
(As: I’m going to attack and violate her out of spite one day…)
Asher declared looking at Elise
(As: wait, spite? Huh… haven’t felt that for a while)
Considering that Asher had a literal lifetime of hatred, depression and self-loathing, the emotions that he could still (kinda) feel is limited to: boredom, apathy, worry, nostalgia, anxiety, fear (only on the most primal survival instinct level), minor interest in a few subjects and a few fits of fleeting annoyance every now and then. He was genuinely surprised that he could be spiteful towards someone, if he could feel spiteful at all
After the usual lectures Jonathan closed his books and announced:
“Okay class, I have something to say to you before we end today’s lesson”
“As you know every class in the academy has to have a name for their own, to represent both the students of the class and the master they’re studying under”
“And a name has been decided for our class”
Jonathan explained
“All except Asher: ohhhh…”
“From now on we will be known as…”
Everyone’s attention was at an all time high
“The all-jokers”
The class all fell on their faces…
“Ai: what? That’s so lame”
Airi complained
“Sa: there’s gotta be a million better names for this…”
“Re: even my dad could come up with a better name than this…”
“E: eh, could be worse”
Elise said shrugging it off
“Si: it’s stupid!!”
Sieg exclaimed
(As: if you asked me the whole naming the class thing is stupid rather than the name itself)
Asher thought refraining from commenting
“Sorry kids this is the board’s decision”
“Ai: what does “all-jokers” even mean?”
Airi asked
This got the class (particularly the coalition) curious
“R: I feel used”
Even Ron agrees
After other general reports were announced Asher was prepared to leave and continue his daily research/training
But then an unusual guess visits him just as he was about to leave, sensing this coming the coalition members started to subtly surround Asher forming a circle of caution around him ready to take action in a moment’s notice
(As: god this club is getting annoying…I can handle this just fine on my own)
(As: but I guess I can’t complain about free help)
The person approaching is Emile, with a rather complicated expression on her face
As she stands 10 feet away from Asher he asked:
“As: do you need something?”
His voice was as cold as ice, lacking dread or courtesy like before as if to not alarm Emile or the coalition, he was also intentionally avoiding eye contact
“Em: ah yes…well you see…”
Emile began to speak her high and mighty demeanor from before was cracked and she was being very timid
“As: okay, we’re done here”
Seeing some sort of cue, Asher began to stand up grabbing his bag intending to leave
“Em: ah wait!! I uh… did I do something wrong?”
Emile shouted, stuttering
“As: sorry to be rude but…I take people talking to me in a apprehensive manner as a sign that they’re not comfortable talking to me or that they have something sensitive they want to say…”
“As: …and that’s usually not a good sign, so I’ll take my leave now”
Asher explained trying to wrap this up as soon as possible
“Em: no, it’s not like that!! I just wanted to…”
Emile tried to say something but she cut off herself at the middle
“As: if you need to say something please kindly say it quick and cohesively, I’m not particularly fond of people wasting my time”
Asher said with his back turned
(As: I would prefer it if you backed off now, it would be much more convenient for me)
Asher said in his head, further feeding his anti-social tendencies
“Em:…(deep breath)…I wanted to apologize to you and your friends for the recent offenses me and Ron have caused, we are deeply sorry for any and all problems, we do not expect your forgiveness but we just wanted you to know that we are sincerely regretful for what we’ve done”
Emile spilled all of that in a single breath, almost biting her tongue about 4 times. She bowed deeply to Asher
This action shocked the entire class…the proud and mighty Emile was bowing down to someone for the first time, this was a spectacle that none of them expected to see today, especially so soon after they beat her
Emile kept her head low with eyes closed
(Em: if he doesn’t forgive us…)
“As: yeah okay”
Asher said casually turning around to face Emile
“Em: what?”
“As: well I can’t speak for everyone and to be honest I rather not, but okay you’re forgiven”
Asher said
“Em: huh? Are you sure?”
“As: why not? Between you and me, I kinda stopped giving a damn 9 hours ago”
Asher stated
(As: I mean she didn’t really do much…and I’m not really one for holding grudges)(author: saids the guy who spent his entire past life hunting down one man)
Hearing this Emile gasped in excitement and bowed even further
“Em: thank you, you are truly noble”
(As: not really…I just can’t care enough to give a f*ck about these things)
“As: whatever…do what you like, I don’t really care”
Asher said turning around and leave
(Em: truly, this is the second chance I needed)
Emile was truly grateful
The class all went back on their way, their hearts still surprised about this turn of events
(E: I was right then)
(All: she’s not as bad as she seems)
Unbeknownst to Asher his action this day will have great effects on the future of the coalition
Later…
(As: the all-jokers huh? What does that mean?)
Asher was walking through the crowded streets of Avalon, with hands in his pockets and wondering about the true meaning of the class’s name
(As: the professor said that the school board decided this name and that every class name represents both the teacher and the students of said class…)
Unlike what he lets on, Asher like his other classmates is curious about the meaning of the name
(As: the word all can be easily interpreted, but jokers…that word has a lot of meanings, back on earth it could mean a person who’s can’t fit into anywhere or it could mean a mystery or an eccentric variable of some kind)
(As: when you play cards, jokers are usually the term you use for a wild card, a card that could turn the tide of battle in your favor but has a very risky property about it that makes it almost impossible to play)
(As: so what they’re trying to say is that we’re abnormal?)
(As: no, in this instance applying those definitions is wrong, it’s close to what we are at core but I don’t think that’s what the academy is trying to tell us)
(As: maybe what they’re saying is that we’re the unknowns, jokers can also mean mysterious or unknowable in some definitions, I knew that there was something wrong with this class, I mean the chances for all top 10 students to study under the same master is just too low to happen)
(As: not to mention that prof. Jonathan hasn’t had a student for a long time, so his fame not being tarnished is quite weird)
(As: which means, that this is a sign…someone is controlling this class from behind the scenes)
(As: and they’re laying bear parts of their machinations for us to piece together their schemes…but why?)
Asher began to wonder in his head
Meanwhile at a certain office in the academy…
A knock on the door could be heard followed by a voice:
“You can come in”
Elise entered the room and sat down on the sofa
“E: you made quite the bold move recently…mom”
She said quietly pouring some tea
Principal Cornelia smiles seemingly satisfied…