After arriving at the Martial Redemption Dojo, Jock and Cleo noticed that there were people leaving through the front gate.

Children had come with their parents and left with smiles on their faces.

"What's going on over here?"

Cleo wondered out loud, and after entering the yard, they saw Kiernan write something down on his notebook.

"Master, you had guests?"

Jock asked.

"New students, actually. We got five new students. Most haven't even entered middle school just yet."

Kiernan said.

"Wow, that is amazing news, master!"

Cleo said excitedly.

Jock was equally happy, but this meant that things were going to get quite busy over in the dojo.

He still felt a little selfish and hoped that there were never going to be so many students that Kiernan didn't have time to teach him.

"At this rate, we need to move dojos."

Aoi said with a smile as she came from the back, dressed warmly, and had a cup of tea in her hand.

"Moving dojos? Shame, I like this place."

Cleo said with a sigh.

She liked this quaint little dojo, but Aoi was correct, and they wouldn't have enough space to have all students at this rate.

They were still fine with the current number of students, but if they kept growing this quickly, they would definitely have to move.

"…I am not moving anywhere."

At that moment, Kiernan said to everyone's surprise, and they all turned to him with surprised looks.

"Does that mean you're planning for the dojo to be only for a few selected ones?"

Cleo asked.

There were specialized dojos that only had like ten to twenty students, but to cover the expenses, those dojos were usually the most expensive.

Thus, Jock was getting worried that he might not afford the training in the near future.

"No, I plan on expanding."

Kiernan said.

"…Expanding?"

Jock said in surprise.

With a smile, Aoi looked around the Action Street and saw that there were plenty of buildings around the dojo.

Some of them weren't used, and thus, to expand the dojo, they would have to demolish some of the unused buildings.

First, they would have to purchase that land, which would cost a lot of money, and then expand the dojo, which was also going to cost a lot.

"You're only renting the dojo, master. Will the actual owner of this building be okay with us expanding it?"

Cleo asked.

"…I plan on purchasing this soon."

Kiernan said.

He wasn't planning on renting this place forever, but to purchase it entirely, it was very expensive.

That's why he was going to participate in the King of the Martial tournament and go for the victory.

That reward money would be plenty for him to purchase this land, but it still wouldn't be enough to fully expand.

"I will also plan on building a dormitory somewhere close, so my students can live there if they so desire. One day, this whole street will be one with Martial Redemption Dojo."

Kiernan spread his arms and proudly declared with a smile on his face.

It was crazily ambitious, but for some reason, they believed that he could do it, as he had done much harder things.

…

The day turned darker, and after several hours of harsh training, Kiernan called off the training to end it for tonight.

"Huff! Huff!"

Cleo breathed heavily while drinking some water, and then, she worryingly looked at the gate.

"W… Where is Lumian? I thought he would come shortly, but he hasn't shown up."

"…I don't know."

Jock said while wiping off the sweat.

After hearing their conversation, Kiernan rubbed his chin thoughtfully and also wondered where he was.

He even asked the two of them where Lumian was, and they told him that he had some stuff over in the school.

Thus, he thought that he might only be slightly late, but he still hadn't shown up, and he was getting quite worried.

After bidding farewell, Cleo and Jock headed home. Jock was walking Cleo back home before he went to his own home.

"…"

Kiernan crossed his arms as he still stood in the yard and checked the time on his wristwatch.

If he wasn't coming shortly, he would have to go search for him by himself, as he was now responsible for Lumian.

A short while later, the gate creaked open, and with his head hanging low, Lumian trotted into the yard.

His white school uniform was stained with dried-up blood, and he refused to make eye contact with Kiernan.

"…You…"

Kiernan looked surprised at the sight of him, and then his gaze hardened.

"Raise your head."

"…Don't want to,"

Lumian said.

There was something about the tone of his voice that was very menacing and deep. It wasn't the same voice that Lumian had always used.

"Do it."

Kiernan's voice turned gentler as he asked.

With a bit of the ripped lips, Lumian raised his head and showed his black and crimson-red eyes.

It was like he was a demon.

"…You lost the control."

Kiernan said.

"…I am sorry. I was very angry."

Lumian said, and at that moment, he pulled out a knife with a shaky hand. The blade was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"My father gave me this… He wanted me to stab you in the back…"

"Where have you been all this time?"

Kiernan asked.

From the look of his face, and the blood, it was clear that Lumian was attacked a few hours ago, so he must've been somewhere all this time.

"Outside my home… I thought about stabbing this knife into my father's back instead… I couldn't do it."

He said.

"…That means you are still barely in control. That is good. Iron Style is with you, and it must've stopped the demons from completely taking over you."

Kiernan said, and then he put two of his fingers between his lips and gave a sharp whistle that echoed through the air.

From the inside, a dark-furred Fenrir came running with his tongue lolling out of his mouth, and he then circled around Kiernan like an excited puppy.

"Give him a lick."

Kiernan said.

Fenrir turned to Lumian, ran over to him, and licked his hand, which caused Lumian's pain to slowly disappear.

"W-What?"

Lumian said in shock as he noticed that his pain and injuries were slowly disappearing. It was amazing.

This dog… wasn't normal, he could tell immediately.

"Go sleep for now, Lumian. Tomorrow, we will be taking a visit over at your father's."

Kiernan said.

"…Alright."

Lumian didn't know why he wanted to go meet his father, as he should know that it wouldn't end well, but he didn't want to argue against his master and left for his temporary room.

After he was gone, Kiernan took a deep breath, checked his wristwatch, and then closed his eyes.

After opening his eyes again, his eyes were black and red, just like Lumian's, and he checked the time on the wristwatch.

"10…"

"15…"

"20…"

"25…"

"30…"

At that moment, Kiernan closed his eyes, and after opening them again, his eyes had returned to normal.

"It looks like thirty seconds it is."

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