After the bully disappeared from his sight, Baston went ahead to his room. The dormitory consisted into 3 classes which was the poor, commoner, and merchant. Although all of them stayed at the same building, his room was in underground. For the commoner, they were located at the first floor while the merchant side stayed at the higher one. Entering the room, Baston was greeted by a damp atmosphere but enough to live on.
Fortunately, the dormitory here provided each room for just one student, meaning that he didn't need to share the space with others. Although it was narrow, he couldn't careless since there was a free place to live. Baston opened his old book and flipped it into the last page. At there, the paper was somehow different.
Each page should correspond to each channel. Although it was like a computer tablet, it didn't fix itself into just one page because every other page had specific function. There was a certain page for academy schedule, taking notes, the homework, and many other else. At first, he didn't notice this because Baston was busy to explore the academy. As for the outside, he didn't know anything at all.
It seemed the last page was provided specifically for him. The page explained what kind of quest he had to do before getting the reward. Although he couldn't know what it was, there was an explanation that the reward would be based on his performance. Now, it seemed it was the time to run the quest.
"Change the perception of one student…"
It should be easier or harder, depending on how his behavior after all this time, plus who had communicated to him mostly. All he could remember was Panto who bullied him the most. Since this one student bothered him much, then he wouldn't be lenient to make him as the first target. It was also good that Panto had a timid personality.
Baston then took the book in his bag, walking to the outside. He remembered at this time; Panto would walk alone at the academy perimeter since he liked to watch noble girls from far away. There would be a public area when all the students could gather around, but there was also a private one which only a specific student could enter. Although the bully was indeed a timid one, he still had desire to appreciate the beauty of noble girls.
Walking for a while, he spotted Panto from far and decided to intercept him at the quiet crossroad. He was waiting and reciting what would he spoke about when the time came. Soon, he would make this bully became dumbfounded.
"Hey, let's make a little drama here…"
Meanwhile, Panto looked around, scanning at the surrounding when some female girls were strolling around. He knew he couldn't enter the area, but it wasn't a problem if he watched from perimeter. There were many beautiful girls at that side, different from his side where only a handful girls showed their attractiveness. Still, he didn't dare to meet them front to front because he was such a timid person. If someday one girl said that he was a creepy for following her around, he might die of humiliation.
When he went to the crossroad, suddenly he was ambushed by an unknown person. He crashed into nearby bushes, hiding both of him and the attacker from any sight of the people. Panto was still dizzy and before he could scold who was the one who dared to do it, he was dumbfounded when seeing Baston in front of him with fierce eyes.
"Panto, did you put your name in the goblet of fire?" Baston held down his collar.
"What? What are you talking about?" Panto was confused.
"I said, did you put your name in the goblet of fire?" Baston repeated his words, staring at him seriously.
"I don't know what are you talking about. Get off from me…"
"No, you're doomed! You hear me! You will die horribly!"
For a strong personality, any person would just shove it off but since Panto was a timid one, he felt this sudden change of Baston was very surprising for him. He knew well that even the fat boy given many chances, he would still choose to run away. Therefore, when Baston showed another side of him, Panto couldn't believe if this fat pig was really Baston or not. He even thought someone might impersonate him, but it was impossible since there was nothing good for this fat boy.
"The cult already knew you. Your name has been put into the target. From now on, don't go anywhere outside. The academy is the safest place for you…"
"What… What are you talking about? I don't understand it at all!" Panto exclaimed.
"Then you better don't need to understand more…" Baston stood up, leaving the place before stopped by Panto.
"Wait!!! Explain to me first what do you mean?"
Baston smirked but he hid it under his serious face. There was a sudden of information pushed into Panto's head, making him confused and acting silly. The bully didn't believe him, but there was hesitation in his eyes. For someone like Baston who changed his behavior at the blink of eyes, he thought perhaps there was a truth on it.
"There's nothing to explain here. It's better for you to live just like usual…" Baston sighed, looking at Panto sadly, "Don't you know I'm deliberately acting like a weak person here, just to protect you. But I don't know why someone after you right now…"
"What?" Panto was shocked when hearing the truth from Baston, "Who are they?"
"I don't know. It's better for you to stay low for now. If not, I can't make sure your life will still be in this world…"
"Then, what will you do?"
"Me? I will still pretend to be weak, so that no one will notice me. After all, I'm afraid to die."
Before Panto could ask further for more information, Baston already rushed ahead, leaving him alone with confusing words inside his head. The sudden information made him got a headache. It was true what Baston said before was purely nonsense out of nowhere, but he believed a little bit. He never saw the fat boy suddenly got brave and dared to crash against him.
At first, he thought Baston wanted to take his revenge, but he never mentioned it at the beginning. Instead, he told him about what happened recently. Baston just left without further explaining and his head was full of questions. What did he mean by the goblet of fire? The fat boy only told him that someone targeted him. Looking through one by one this piece of information, it seemed he began to clear ahead what would happen at next time.
Panto could foresee that someone might have a conflict with him. He wondered who he really offended. Based on what he remembered, he might have bully one or more students in this academy, but there was nothing serious after that. If he could comment, there were worse people than him. There was also a probability that it came from one of his father's enemies. In business world, there wouldn't be a way to keep peace among competitors.
This person might do something with goblet of fire. When he recalled back of what Baston said before, his name must be put into commission so any assassin could take the job. He had a hunch the goblet was like a place to make a request. Baston also said that the cult already knew him, so it must be someone related with it that took the job. At once, he felt fear inside his heart because he knew the cult was horrible on their own way.
"No, perhaps… Baston took the wrong guy… It can't be me…"
Panto shook his head, trying to clear away all this sudden problem. Although there was a confusion on his head, he tried to act normal. At least, Baston told him that the academy was the safe place for him, so it should be no problem to stroll around here. When the next class was held, he glanced at Baston below him, trying to make sure if it was just a joke played by him or not.
Baston just reverted back to his timid personality. Even when the teacher called him to the front, he acted with no confidence, resulting him to be embarrassed in front of everyone. If he didn't experience Baston's sudden change of behavior, he would laugh it out with others, yet he couldn't right now.
He felt the fat boy had a deep darkness behind him. In front of everyone, he showed his meekly look. When Baston came front to front at his face before, he was just like another person. Slowly, he felt what Baston said was true and his life was on danger. As soon as the class finished, he quickly went ahead than the others. Right now, he only wanted to go back into the dormitory where he could stay alone and felt safe.
Unknowingly, he was in a hurry and didn't realize he bumped to Baston again. At this time, it was pure accidental, but everyone thought he bullied the fat boy again for a second time today. What Panto didn't know was Baston indeed bumped him on purpose, making everyone to think that this boy wanted to deal with him again.
"I'm sorry… I'm very sorry… I don't realize you're here… Please, forgive me…" Baston bowed down repeatedly, assuming his timid personality just like before.
"Ha… ha… ha… Look, the fat piggy seems to find trouble again…"
"He dares to run away before. Now, I will see where he will run to."
"Boss, what do you want to do with him?" one of Panto's lackeys came aside, trying to bootlick so his position would go higher among others.
Panto didn't look happy and instead, he felt he wanted to quickly run ahead without doing anything, "Just let him go today. My mood is good at present, so I will deal with him later."
The lackey thought they could see Baston trembled in fear, yet eventually, it seemed he was lucky enough. Since their boss wouldn't make it hard, then they should just ignore him. If another day came, it would be different then. Baston then bowed down with gratitude, just like a person who got his atonement. Before Panto went ahead, Baston suddenly moved closer and whispered something.
"Quick, go back… Someone is watching you right now…"
The reminder from Baston suddenly made him scared, unable to think further. Panto never thought Baston would lie to him since his action convinced him. There was no way such a fat boy who often had no confidence, suddenly acting in this way. The usual practice was very different and there was no comparison between them. Baston could be easily frightened and timid, but in other times, he stayed in alert and vigilance. At once, he truly believed Baston said the truth and he quickly rushed ahead.
"Wow, he really can run fast…" Baston thought.
Panto didn't care what everyone was thinking about him. As a timid person, his life was more precious than anything. When he got to his dormitory, he soon rushed into his room and quickly locked the door. He even closed his window curtains, checking to see if someone chased after him. After making sure no one seemed suspicious, he sighed in relief. Laying down tiredly on the bed, he felt today was quite hectic.
He thought he would just play around until he graduated from the academy. By the time he was ready, he would inherit the business and life would run like usual. Yet, he didn't know what kind of person he offended, making him fell in danger. Right at the moment, he wanted to call his father, but he worried that the connection would get intercepted. As long as the magic was involved here, it could be a possibility. When the night came, he ordered his lackeys to get his dinner to him in the room. He was still afraid there would be any mishaps as soon as he stepped to the outside. When it was time to sleep, he even couldn't close his eyes because of fear. Baston on the other hand slept peacefully, dreaming about what kind of reward he would get.