Nightmare Mythos

Cesar glanced at the clock and saw that a measly few minutes were left till the end of their class yet not only did his instructor not even once talk to him but he also didn't give a single glance at him.

Cesar didn't understand if his instructor had to focus on his job that his presence should be put solely on his work or because he didn't care about him at all.

And as the hour was almost passing through their allotted time in their class, Cesar began to think it was the latter concluded thought.

"Instructor Han?"

Tang—!

Finally as if to commend that Cesar has been patient all this time even though he was on the verge of breaking out, the blacksmith Han, spared him a glance before bringing down his hammer.

"I don't see any interest in your eyes,"

The way he uttered those words in the most disinterested tone possible made Cesar irked for some reason. It was because whatever Han was thinking to comment was true.

The description of the class in the document regarding the Kanto Blacksmith has already been put there. Unlike the rest who wanted their class to be introduced right in his face, only this course has everything pretty laid out.

That's why Cesar was able to discover that no combat practice would happen in this class, which probably appeared in his eyes that he wasn't interested in his lesson.

The question was how.

'I don't usually make faces until something was already been said. That means he had already seen that I didn't take an interest in this class… But so far, he didn't give me any look after stating that. So how was he able to discern?'

Suddenly Cesar came into a thought.

'Wait, why am I thinking about this in the first place? He wasted my time because of his pride and stubbornly waited for the class at the end just to say it!'

He could've done a lot of time in that span of time if instructor Hans had just been honest from the start. If Cesar wasn't interested in the way he sees it, he could've just been evicted from the blacksmith and he would've used the time more efficiently.

It was starting to get on his nerves.

Han watched his expression as if he was an open book even though he was trying to hide it before he picked up his hammer once again and started pounding the metal at his anvil into the weapon he was trying to create.

"By the way, you have a deal with Arnold. Whatever that is, I'm sure it involves teaching me," Cesar confidently spoke as he turned his back around and added in a sarcastic tone, "He will not like it if you continue being like this, sir. But if you say I'm not interested in this class, maybe inform me in advance so I won't come here? That will save us both a lot of time, right?"

Han abruptly stopped pounding his hammer at the metal right above his anvil before shifting his gaze to Cesar.

"You put your trust in Arnold too much,"

Cesar halted his steps upon hearing about it before he glanced back and saw Han wiping the sweat formed on his forehead.

"Is that what he tried to make appear on you, huh? That's funny," Han paused as he glanced around at his workplace before continuing, "Don't get blinded by their graces. I know you're not an idiot so you will realize sooner that you are nothing but a piece. You're not just seeing the bigger picture, that's all,"

Cesar started to frown at his words, not really understanding what those imply but he continued to listen.

"To clear what you have in mind, Arnold and I had a deal but teaching you wasn't on the part of it. There's just no way will I teach my techniques to a stranger whether they are uninterested or not in this subject, "Han chuckled, "However that changed when an opportunity arose and it is you,"

Cesar became more confused at whatever Han was trying to mention and what 'opportunity' had risen that involved himself but he didn't like the sound of it.

"That's why it was all right for Arnold if I didn't teach you anything. After all, I don't belong to the Army or Academy itself. Oh, where are my manners, I forgot to introduce myself,"

"My last name wasn't on the document so you probably aren't aware of who I really am," Han stretched his hand through the air, "I'm Han Langston."

At first, Cesar was confused as to why he revealed his last name even if he didn't include in the document that Arnold had probably respectfully asked. However, as Hans' whole name reverberated through his head, he started to get confused which slowly turned into a surprise.

'Langston… Langston? Langston!'

Cesar couldn't help but widen his eyes upon realizing that he was dealing with the real deal.

The once prominent family alongside with Casanova and Yarrow family of the Hunter's Association was right on his very front in the flesh.

"You made a deal with Arnold? Someone… like you?"

Seeing the visible surprise from Cesar, Han nodded before answering, "So sorry not sorry, I guess? Every Monday, you can come in here if you want but I will never teach someone my techniques who isn't family. Well, close ties with us will be considered but you aren't,"

'What a bummer,'

Cesar felt that this was a wasted opportunity. By the looks of it, convincing Han will not work as he looks like a stubborn person like him.

There's no way he would want to strike a deal as well.

'He would not teach me if I wasn't family. Yeah, there's no way I would marry someone from them. So I can consider the people they had a very friendly relationship with them…'

Suddenly, a thought passed through Cesar's head.

'What if I marry Jacqueline? She's a Casanova and probably her family is friendly with Langston,'

Imagining Jacqueline as a wife, a beautiful partner, and walking through the aisle coming towards him wearing a white dress, Cesar had to violently shake his head feeling his face burning up.

'What the… W-what did I just think?'

Han slightly tilted his head before seeing Cesar had an exasperated expression as he left his workplace before seeing his back leaving the workshop itself.

"Weirdo,"

Han brought his attention back to his work before he continued hammering his hammer down to the metal atop of the anvil.