When Zen reached the upper floor, it wasn't as wrecked as he'd feared... just barely bearable.
Konan was flailing a stick around like it might actually do something. Where he'd even gotten it, Zen had no idea.
Zen lunged forward and grabbed a man who was charging at Konan, landing a clean punch to the guy's jaw.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Haaah..." Konan exhaled, rubbing the bruise on his cheek and nodded. "I'm fine. Hopefully you came in time. Thanks."
Zen watched him stumbled and supported him. "You should stay here. Can you still stand?"
Konan waved dismissively.
"It's okay. Go help the others."
Then he leaned on the wall and sat down.
Zen gave a short nod and walked in another direction.
A few steps later, he kicked another guy who was gleefully pummeling someone weaker.
Crash.
"Cough… Uh, thanks," the victim muttered.
It was the same guy who'd helped carry the cardboard box earlier. Zen still didn't know his name.
Zen didn't have time to respond, intercepting a guy who lunged forward and easily immobilized him.
Just when he was about to find another target...
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from downstairs.
What now?
He grabbed a thug trying to sneak away and peered out the window.
Someone had just crashed into the pile of junk they'd stacked earlier, completely knocked out.
Next to the fallen figure strolled a guy wearing a black beanie, dressed coolly with a big T-shirt and wide half-pants.
"Ah! Did I hit too hard? Too bad…" the guy drawled, kicking the unconscious man lightly. "But I'm kinda in a hurry, so... are you leaving on your own, or do I have to make you?"
He grinned, but his eyes were cold. Lethal.
Zen didn't recognize him.
Well, it would've been surprising if he did. But... were they helping them?
"That's the second-years!" someone beside Zen exclaimed, nearly breathless. "Yata Reed and Rei Genwalai, Royal Class!"
Royal Class?! And they were second-years?
Zen blinked down at them in awe.
The boy in the beanie, Yata. He must've heard them because he looked straight up and beamed, snapping his fingers.
"Bingo! Thanks for helping speed things up."
Beside him, a blond-haired guy, Rei. He frowned as he casually dumped another unconscious body onto an ever-growing pile.
"Yata," he said flatly, "we're wasting time. Meeting's in thirty minutes."
Yata groaned. "Hah! Okay, okay, I got it,"
Then Rei scanned the area, his sharp gaze locking onto Zen like a laser.
"Hey." He stepped closer and pointed.
"You. Yeah, you."
Zen stiffened. He knew that guy was talking to him.
He felt compelled to listened.
"Y-yes?"
"Throw down any intruders you've got to this idiot here. Let's wrap this up."
Zen uttered, stunned. "Th-throw?"
What are they—basketballs? From this height?
Rei frowned. "Why not? Simple enough."
Zen stood awkwardly.
Yata laughed. "Rei, you're so rigid, man."
Then, turning to Zen, as if knowing what he was thinking.
He added reassuringly, almost playfully. "Don't worry. I'll catch 'em. Safe and sound."
...What happens after that? He didn't say.
Zen hesitated, but nodded stiffly.
The guy he was holding started shaking his head violently, clearly panicking.
Too bad.
"Off you go," Zen muttered and flung him out the window.
First victim...
"DON'T—!!" the guy shrieked, spotting the spiked wood sticking out of the pile.
But Yata caught him in a perfect princess hold.
He tilted his head. "Huh. Was that really scary enough to faint?"
The guy had passed out cold in Yata's arms.
Zen stared. That was… actually impressive.
At least I don't have to worry about murder charges, he thought. He still hadn't passed that test mentally.
Then, with a tired grunt, Zen turned around and started tossing down every intruder he could find like he was picking up stray chicks.
Internally, he was just grateful none of them were as strong as that one guy from earlier.
That fight had nearly wiped him out, his stamina was running low.
Argh!
His arms were weakening. He could feel it in the sluggish weight of his movements.
Still, he managed to grab one more and fling him out the window.
Haah.
"Finally…" he exhaled deeply, stepping back as his classmates tossed down the last one from their floor.
After catching his breath, Zen walked over and joined them at the window.
Oh.
Outside, a line of large trucks had pulled up to the front of the building.
Students in the school's uniform filed out with eerie coordination, hauling the unconscious bodies like it was just another Monday.
Down below, Hako casually waved his staff and launched a guy directly into the back of a truck like a human baseball.
Behind him, Fabasa appeared, along with two unfamiliar faces helping with it.
Other classmates were returning too.
"They're back! Let's go down and help," someone said, already heading for the stairs.
"Right. We can at least do that much."
"Yeah, and we need to thank our seniors too."
With that, the group began making their way downstairs.
Zen paused at the top of the staircase and glanced back.
A few students had sat down where they were, completely spent. They didn't look injured, just quiet. Unmoving.
But there was something else in the air. Something bitter.
He noticed the resentful glances thrown his way.
Still, he said nothing.
Without a word, he turned and followed the others down the stairs.
He reached the bottom just in time to hear Kozen grumbling.
"Fucking dud. I wasn't done."
The guy he was beating was dragged away, covered in blood. One more punch and the guy would be seeing the afterlife.
Hah.
Zen didn't comment. Instead, he quietly walked over and dragged a half-conscious thug away from Kozen's feet, before he became the next victim.
A true gentleman, Zen thought. I should pat myself on the back.
He glanced around, tempted to ask questions but held himself back.
The front yard was a disaster zone.
Especially wherever Pawen was having his fun.
He didn't care about his surroundings, he was just taking out his anger on these poor dudes.