"What do you mean I am in the same group as this commoner trash?!"

As I was walking along the corridor with Aria, I heard someone furiously shouting.

Curious, my head turned toward the source.

"Hey, isn't that…" Said Aria, looking at the guy who was idiotically arguing with Professor Lucas.

It was a silver-haired boy from my class.

"What was his name again?" I muttered.

Hearing me take interest, Aria answered.

"Cedric Blackmere."

Ah…

I remember now.

He was the one who received a week's suspension because he was bullying his roommate, who happened to be a commoner.

"At first, you people gave me a false rank!" Cedric kept arguing, "and also made me share a room with a lowborn!"

Some jerks just don't evolve.

His loud voice attracted all the staff's eyes. Some felt disgust, others just kept their head low.

Professor Lucas kept his face calm and didn't try to talk back.

Well, that's understandable.

"Let's go," Aria said, turning around, "we're wasting our time here."

I nodded and followed behind her.

No matter what, some nobles just drown in their tiny egos.

Surely. Time will teach them.

Walking outside, I just followed behind Aria to the railing of the ship.

She paused, taking in the view in front of her.

Then, she slowly turned around, her gaze fixed on me.

She looked at me as if she wished to ask me something serious.

'What is it now?'

I don't remember doing anything.

"Tell me, Zane." She begun.

I simply nodded. What else can I do? Her eyes reminded me of her mother.

'Damn scary.'

"Yes?"

"I've been meaning to ask," her gaze narrowed, "how well do you know my mother?"

"..."

That was completely unexpected.

Exactly what made her ask this question?

"What do you mean?" I simply pretended.

"Exactly what I said," Aria continued, her eyes didn't waver from my face, "I didn't notice at first, but after you vanished for days recently without even telling us. I got worried and asked my mother to investigate your matter. And…"

She took a short pause and asked, "...and, do you know what her answer was?"

Master Envy, exactly what did you ask?

I didn't have a single clue.

"Every time, I mention you to my mother, or my mother to you… you both gave me almost the same reaction. As if you have known each other for years."

'How the hell did she come to this conclusion?!'

I almost tripped.

Alright, I need to calm down. She must be just guessing it… yeah, this must be the reason. There's no way she can read my face.

I face-palmed inwardly, "What makes you think I knew her? Didn't I tell you before that she was the one who saved my life when I was a kid… what's there more to know?"

"Can you exactly tell me what she saved you from?" She tried to press further.

Good gods, why was she asking all this?!

What the hell even happened while I was gone?!

Seriously, Master Envy was not a fool who could let herself read like an open book. There was no way of knowing for Aria that her mother was my teacher, and we were colleagues.

And I don't want her to figure it out. At least not today.

So, for now, I just politely warned her.

"Aria."

My voice sounded commanding even to my own ears.

She stiffened.

I continued.

"I don't know exactly what made you think this far… but please stop thinking here and now."

"Then that meant—"

I cut her off, "Let me complete…"

She probably figured out that there was some kind of connection between me and her mother.

So, right now, I won't deny the fact that I already knew her.

"Did your mother reveal anything about me?" I asked without hesitation. "Did you hear the name Zane Skylark before you entered this academy, from your mother's mouth?"

She went completely silent.

Of course, master envy didn't hear about my real name. It was I who didn't let her find out.

I hid my real self from her and the rest of the world.

And it's not like Aria would believe either way, if I blatantly told her that: I was Hope. I was the Rank-1 Hero.

Aria would laugh; anyone would.

I continued. "You must just recently after I joined Nova, that you heard my name from her… So, by that logic, you can say that I properly met your mother after our academic year started.

"..."

Technically, it was not a lie.

It was the truth, I did meet her in that underground facility, where afterwards, I revealed my name and face to her.

'Wow, Human, your reasoning sense improved.' Sera commented.

"You still think I met your mother before my academics?" I asked, tilting my head.

"..."

Well, she might have some doubts now, but with this answer of mine, I temporarily shut her mouth.

"But—"

But before Aria could press this topic further, someone called out.

"Heeeyyy!"

"Hm?"

I turned my head to my right.

Standing there were three figures, Anna, Emily and Rika. My teammates.

Rika was the one who's waving her hands, and shouting.

They walked towards me.

"What happened?" concerned, I asked.

"What happened?!" Anna annoyedly, repeated. "Did you just asked 'what happened?' the whole ship shook just now!"

Oh that.

My Essence Release caused it.

Heh.

Teaching those noble brats was necessary after all.

'You overdid it.' Sera scolded.

''Overdid? What do you you mean? I did what a sane man would do in that situation!'

'Like hell! You could have simply beat them with a simple punch, but you choose to shook the whole ocean!'

Her scolding didn't stop.

'What if some Authority Holder sensed it?'

She was right. I was reckless.

But…

'A one or two Authority Holder means nothing to me.'

I smirked inwardly.

'...you are—just! Haaah… you know what, I give up, it feels like I am banging my head on a concrete wall!'

Alright, now that was mean.

Ignoring Sera, I turned my focus back to my team mates.

"So, why do you guys need?"

"Huh?" Anna sounded pissed. "You seriously asking that, didn't you check notification?"

I tilted my head in confusion.

Neither I and not Aria had no idea.

Noticing both is us unaware, Emily explained.

"We will be reaching the island in few minutes, so everyone were told to group with their teams, and discussion who will be the group leader."

"Aria," Anna called out to her, "what happen to your group, you too need to discuss this group leader thingi."

"We don't need to actually." Said Aria.

"Hm? Why is that?"

"Because I am the group leader."

"..."

Nothing surprising.

Perks of being a rank-1 student.

"Alright, Zane, let's go to our room, we need to seriously discuss on this matter."

I nodded, and started following behind the three, leaving Aria behind.

But, as I was walking, Aria called out to me again.

"Zane."

I didn't paused, knowing very well her reason for calling me.

I listened.

"Just so you know, I am not really satisfied with your answer, I know for sure, that both of you were hiding something from me. One day, you will have to confess."

I kept my pace formal.

'Confess huh?'

What would it be like, for her to

"Did you two have a fight?" Anna poked.

I shook my head, "no."

"Oh, then what she mean by confession?"

Rina, jolted her head.

"What?! You confessed to her!"

"No."

"And here I thought you were a quiet type."

"Again, I didn't confessed."

Why the hell would I even do that.

Walking a bit, and pointlesly arguing with Rina, I tried changing the topic.

"So, who will be the leader?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

All three of them looked at each other.

Anna spoke, "now that we know we will be dealing with bunch of Beast and monsters in an island, it would be great to choose someone experienced."

She has a point.

Then…

"Who is experienced here?" I asked.

Clearly non of them had any real life battle experience, and I don't think they will be able to deal with an A ranked moster alone.

To my comment, everyone turned to me.

I blinked.

"What?"

Don't look at me like that.

Emily stated, "I heard you were the one who guided Anna, Aria and Julius when we all teleported to Demon Continent."

"..."

I can't argue against it.

Anna grin and added.

"Well, apparently, Zane is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to monsters, and geography."

Rika turned to look at me, with sparkle in her eyes.

"That's so cool! I didn't know we had someone this talented in our group!"

She nodded her head several times before she raised her hand, "I vote for Zane to be my leader!"

"Wha—" I tried to fight back, but Anna Inturrepeted.

"Same, I vote for Zane."

Wait, where did my choice go?!

"If all are agreeing…" Emily added, "then I vote for Zane too."

'Will someone at least consult me, if I want to be a leader or not!'

"So it's decided, Zane is our groups leader," Anna said grinning at me, "we will obey your every command, and will not go against your instructions."

"Let's go!"

"..."

Today, an innocent's voice was ruthlessly suppressed.