Dragon Master: The SSS-Ranked School Belle Asked Me To Contract Her

Veer had always tried to avoid attention on him, for various reasons. He also stayed silent in most situations where he should have spoken.

This was because he never saw any point in doing so. If a matter could be solved by just staying silent, then why bother?

But the current situation was much different. Nonetheless, he stayed silent even after much consideration. The reason was different this time, though.

'It is their life and they need to choose some decisions for themselves.'

He understood how cruel the world was, and delusions never worked in it. His subordinates needed to see reality and not just march to their own doom.

"I will give you five minutes to decide," Freya said, as she turned around. "Just know this, if you agree, then you're forfeiting your life by your own hands."

With that, she flew back to the top, leaving a deathly silence behind. The students and the staff, none dared to say anything as they all just looked at the First Years with pity.

Veer sighed and turned around, shouting, "Follow me!"

His words were like an order which no one could refuse. With various expressions playing on their faces, the students followed Veer back to the Eastern gate.

Only Carlson was left standing in the arena. His face contorted into a frustrated look. He spoke in his heavy voice, "Refuse!"

Aron looked shocked as he asked, "But why, Boss?"

Carlson narrowed his eyes at him and said, "Because you're all weak. None of you understand the horrors of Abnormal Labyrinths." Experience more on empireNôv(el)B\\jnn

Looking down, Aron said, "I'm sorry, boss, but we can't follow these orders."

"What did you say?" Carlson's eyes snapped towards him as he glared at Aron.

Aron didn't say anything, but his intentions were clear. Not only him, but the fourteen subordinates of his who had survived the pressure also stood their ground, refusing to back down.

"Tsk! Fine! Come if you're so eager to throw away your life," Carlson clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Remember this, I won't be protecting you!"

"This is our decision, Boss," John said, grinning widely.

Standing before his subordinates, Veer crossed his hands over his chest and said, "I don't understand why all of you are so down?"

Elara nodded from the side, a serious expression on her face, "Most of you have only heard stories about Labyrinths, and even the danger they show to the world is very mild. Dean understands that very well and gave you a reality check."

Clenching his fist, Jarek asked, "But..."

"No buts, you idiot," Veer facepalmed and said. "As she said, Dean was just giving a reality check to you all. If you can't even handle that pressure, how will you survive in hell?"

He sighed and said, looking at everyone he had trained for a month, "Listen, you're not useless. Didn't you see how nine of Carlson's subordinates failed, and others struggled? They had the best education and resources while you just had a rough one-month training, and you still performed so well."

He smiled and continued, "Besides, taking a step back isn't always bad. This is your life, and you should never put it after anyone else's. Remember that."

"But Boss, we swore to follow you so now that you're going there, how can we be cowards and back away?" Kael asked, to which many of the people around them wholeheartedly agreed.

"And by dying meaninglessly, you're going to be helpful to me?" Veer scoffed. "Just stay here in the Academy and make a foundation for me. I will make the biggest faction after coming back, and I need help then."

Hearing that, their eyes lit up as they found a reason to stay. They were scared and didn't know what to do. But unconsciously, many of them wanted to avoid going to the Labyrinth, so Veer's words ignited a hope in their hearts.

They were not useless. For the first time, they finally felt that.

Looking at their faces, Veer smiled and continued, "See? It was this easy. Now, I'll give you all the chance to choose. This is your life, and you must choose for yourself."

For the first time, Liliana spoke as her voice spread across the group, "But as Dean said, if you choose to go to the Labyrinth, you're basically giving up on your life."

The group stayed silent as they weighed the options available to them. Only ninety-three had the option to choose, as others were already disqualified.

"What is there to choose, Boss?" Rock shrugged lightly and said. "This Rock will follow you. I have long learned how to die."

Jarek laughed and added, "Count us triplets too, Boss. We are orphans and have nothing to lose anyway. Let's fight our way in that hell."

One by one, they began to tell their decision, with most of them wanting to enter the Labyrinth. They understood the danger in it, but the opportunity was too hard to pass.

Without taking risks, they couldn't become stronger.

Only some of them who weren't skilled in combat or survival chose to stay behind. They knew themselves well and fully understood that they would die if nobody took care of them.

Veer didn't mind their decision and simply nodded at them. Since they had chosen it themselves, he could only let them enter.

'If we die, then we die,' Veer smiled grimly.

"Alright then, let's go and tell Dean our decision then," Veer said, turning towards the ones who couldn't stand the pressure. "And you all, don't disappoint me when I come back."

"Haha! Don't worry, Boss. You will have everything ready by the time you come back," a young man said, laughing confidently. "If we can't help you in the Labyrinth, then we'll help you in the Academy. We will never forget what you've done for us, Boss."

"Good!" Veer gave a nod, and they then proceeded to go back to the arena.

Freya was already waiting for them and, looking at their expressions, she smiled, 'This brat...'

Under her gaze, they all raised their heads and said, "We accept!"

"Very well then," Freya nodded. "We are leaving immediately, as the Labyrinth can open any time."