"Don’t tell me you don’t have one. The last thing I would believe in this world is a Nerdy Paranoia not having a backup clan..." Ryuk said with a chuckle after he received prolonged silence.
"Of course, I already have one..."
"My backup clan is really simple. So simple, you may even laugh at me..." he stated as Ryuk chuckled.
"Tell me..."
"I will go sign up at the Skool Association," Quinn stated.
"Hmm, and what is that?" Ryuk couldn’t help but ask.
"It’s like an organization where you can sign up to teach young Fallens."
"You want to be a teacher? If you weren’t a Nerdy Paranoia, I would have laughed. But you seem perfect for the job, based on how many hours you spend in a day reading..." Ryuk stated, causing quite a bit of surprise to Quinn.
Anyone he had told of his plan had laughed and mocked him, and he had eventually kept quiet and never told anyone about it.
It was surprising to see Ryuk be an exception and even provide a reasonable explanation for his agreement.
"It was surprising, to say the least..."
"I plan on joining the school just for some time, to gather up some money. Then I’ll start a company—a bar or eatery, something like that..."
"Hmm, a nice way to live life on easy mode while also serving and being of use to the Fallen community. Kinda a sweet backup clan..."
"Right? I have an offer for you. You can be a personal manager in my—"
"Don’t even think about it..." Ryuk said, cutting him off.
"Hehe, I’m pretty sure you’ll change your mind soon anyway. Just gotta bide my time..." Quinn said with a bit of sadistic glee before he also drove deeper into the comfort of his bed, preparing to sleep.
Finally, silence settled onto the room as Ryuk’s eyes looked at the blank white wall before him.
’I really can’t afford to lose...’ That was Ryuk’s last thought before his eyes eventually shut close, and he drifted off to sleep.
An hour later, a python appeared around Ryuk, snuggling into his chest and also drifting off to sleep.
---
The Assembly Arisen Hall was otherworldly loud for the day. Various Fallen geniuses could be seen all around, murmurs ringing loudly and retaining the quiet cacophony of noises.
Geniuses were still ushering through the hall’s golden gates, and one of those people was none other than a white-haired boy and a golden-haired boy.
They were, of course, none other than Ryuk and Quinn.
"Just like I guessed, they have yet to arrive..." Ryuk thought to himself as he looked at the upper row seats of the hall and found none sitting on them.
The hall had a strange arrangement, in that it was made in rows upon rows, ascending higher and higher into the air like steps.
Somehow, at the ultimate top were a total of exactly ten chairs, and Ryuk didn’t need to be told just who those ten chairs were made for.
A little lower were another row, and then another row, up until about seventy rows.
The various geniuses were seated around scantily, and Ryuk, along with Quinn, soon made their way forward.
Somehow, they ended up finding themselves at the last row in the hall.
The row was on the highest steps, and somehow, it was more elevated and enabled one to see more of the entire hall, as if one was looking at it from above.
At the center of the hall was a pretty large podium where a total of three seats could be seen. Right now, there was none on those seats, the same for the top ten seats at the front.
Arriving at the last row seats, Ryuk sat down, Quinn sitting beside him a moment later. Ryuk looked at the various students murmuring down below before he turned to look at Quinn, who was smirking at him.
"Pressured?" Quinn asked in a loud tone as Ryuk’s dulled eyes took his gaze away from him.
"Don’t sweat it, Ryuk. The offer to work as a personal manager for me is always open," Quinn said as Ryuk threw his head back on the reclining seat, taking a deep breath in and opening his lips.
A cold breath of air escaped, and quietly, he dove into himself, shutting off the outside world and instead directing his attention to the top of the podium.
The pressure Ryuk felt right now was almost crippling, and the only way he felt in control was simply by focusing his attention on what was important.
It wasn’t the ten ultimate geniuses that the various other geniuses had come to see, but the announcement that the instructors would come to make.
"Here they are, Ryuk, the Ultima Ten!" Quinn suddenly called out in a hushed tone as Ryuk felt the noise and murmurs slowly disappear, replaced by hushed remarks.
Yet still, he refused to open his eyes.
’I don’t care.’
’No, I don’t want to care.’
’I just want to hear the announcement...’ Ryuk said to himself, his eyes still shut close and never moving an inch from his reclining position.
But none noticed, not even Quinn himself, as they all had their attention on the ten individuals who immediately moved to the front row and began taking their seats.
Instantly, the murmurs were shut down, and hushed whispers grew.
Right now, Quinn had puppy eyes, the same for the remaining students.
"Can you believe it, Ryuk? Being in the same room with the ten ultimate geniuses in flesh!" Quinn let out like a puppy. But on receiving no reply, he couldn’t help but divert his attention.
"Ryuk?" he called as he looked at Ryuk, who was still in the same reclining position.
"Hmm?"
"Ryuk?" he called once more as Ryuk finally opened his eyes.
"They’re here, Quinn..." Ryuk said.
"Of course, they’re here. Look at them on the front row..." Quinn called out as Ryuk turned his gaze up.
Quinn followed after his gaze to stare at the top of the podium, where a total of three individuals were currently sitting.
"The instructors are already here..." Quinn called out aloud, awakening everyone as they all turned their attention to the podium.
Instantly, the entire hall was reduced to absolute silence.
One of the instructors rose up as he stood at the edge of the podium.
His gaze scanned everyone before loudly exhaling, cold air escaping his lips...
"How disappointing..."