New Life, New Task: I'll Be A Mom Then!!!

Upon hearing the collective rejection of the eight students, Vice Chairman Bramwell and the rest remained calm. Their expressions told the youngsters to continue stating their case.

"We may have been looking forward to an opportunity to give back to the grace you have given us. An opportunity to be accepted in this great institution for free… However, we cannot afford to lead the institute to ruin in this matter…

We knew for ourselves how much progress we made from the time you sent us out to study under our assigned masters. But we can say that that progress was only meager.

To send us to compete with the best representatives of the top schools in Prasinos, we cannot allow ourselves to become instruments that would bring dismay to our beloved school.

We're very sorry Deputy Chairman… Dean…" Desmond explained with a humble expression.

"We're very sorry…" The rest of the youngsters also followed.

"Hmm… I see…" Deputy Chairman Bramwell brushed his bread calmly as he scrutinized the reactions of the youngsters.

The eight students held their breaths, bracing themselves for the reprimand that they expected the elders to give for their rejection. But the worst case they were expecting did not happen.

Instead, Bramwell looked at Eli and said, "You heard them… What do you say, Niece?"

Eli looked at the eight youngsters. Her initial relaxed position changed as she leaned forward to cross her hands like a businesswoman out to state her terms for negotiation.

Subconsciously, everyone in the room felt stifling intimidation, not from fear that Eli might be saying something rather heavy, but from the anxiousness that they might not keep up with her level of eloquence.

"Rejection rejected." Eli finally opened her mouth and the words she said were something that no one expected to hear in the room.

Dean Athena and Deputy Chairman Bramwell leaned back as if allowing Eli to completely take over the conversation and persuade the young ones.

Their eyes looked at Eli with interest, curious as to how she would handle the youngsters who were known to be one-track-minded.

Eli was just two to three years older than them and they could be considered peers. So the two elders were adamant to know how Eli would have to handle this on her own.

The students looked at each other with uncertain expressions. They were quite unsure how to approach Eli's reaction, for they did not know what was her real role in the conversation.

Desmond, as the leader also thought twice, clearly intimidated. If Deputy Bramwell did not introduce her, he would have immediately questioned her role in the conversation.

But the fact that Deputy Chairman Bramwell introduced her in such a high-profile manner and that he remained vague as to why she was brought here made him quite hesitant.

And so in the end, they kept their mouth shut, allowing Eli to gain momentum in the conversation.

"I get that you are hesitant and that you do not want to disappoint the institute, but I believe that you were the best people we can bring to the competition." Eli gazed at them deeply with an expression that couldn't be deciphered.

"W-why is it that you think so, Great Inventor…" Desmond stuttered but he was trying to hold on to the team who had become strong together as they shared the same adversaries.

"Because I know that you had a hard time out there," Eli replied with a tone that was certain.

"!!!"  The students were shocked by Eli's conclusion.

When they came back to the institute, they made sure that their uniforms, their appearance, and even their equipment and instruments were cleaned and prepared well. This is to make the Deputy Chairman and the Dean believe that they were doing fine outside so that the good-hearted elders would not worry.

"I know… because I have investigated all of you before you even received the letters." Eli crossed her hands once again and leaned on the chair with a relaxed posture, indicating that she had already dominated the situation.

"Raphael, haven't you been going out every day in the park to offer painting services for the lovers who visited the palace?

Anna was doing the same too, but it seems like you were quite lucky to occasionally find noble families.

However, before you two manage to get more clients, who would suffer countless rejections first until you could get by with just a few pennies.

Max, I know that you have been working in a furniture shop and had no choice but to hone your skills with wood because you couldn't afford a good material.

Haley, Raya, Desmond, and Marie, haven't you been going around from town to town to busk on the streets as a quartet?

And Lainie… in fact, you are the luckiest among the eight students for it was only you who had been taught by your assigned master for a few months.

Too bad, your master had a habit to gamble and immediately abandoned you when the money the institute paid for your internship ran out. Thus you went back to your father's workshop and helped him in his sickness."

One by one, Eli narrated the hardships that they suffered outside. They lowered their heads and clenched their fists, they felt like their bodies were exposed naked in front of them.

The two elders remained silent and calm, it seems that they have known everything before the meeting happened. This was because Eli asked Leon if he could make use of the Roaming Blades to get their information.

"But I am not saying all these ones out because I wanted to expose you and bring you to humiliation. I am saying this because I, along with the Deans, recognize your perseverance and passion for your chosen crafts.

And that's why I think that you are the best candidates to be sent to the competition. No other young one could take on what you were about to face.

The Deputy Chairman had already explained everything regarding the Institute's awkward position in the competition.

This also means that we cannot afford to take students that are weak-hearted. For your rivals will come at you in full force!" Eli continued to persuade them.

"If you… the eight of you who took on life and gave you nothing but hardships, why would you get intimidated by mere young ones who lived in privileged conditions? Think about it?

And finally as for your skills… it will be a different matter. I have found a proper teacher to taking you on. However, it would be completely up to you to convince these teachers that you deserve to be taught by them.

I can assure you that none of these special teachers could lose out to those teachers from the rival academies.

So Anna, Raphael, Max, Haley, Raya, Marie, Desmond, and Lainie, will you take time to consider everything and try to take on this challenge?

Should you want to try and grab the opportunity, come back again tomorrow… We will meet those special teachers and try to gain their acknowledgment.

You have nothing to lose.

If the teachers recognize you then that means that not only do you have a chance to grow, but also you have a great chance to compete.  If not, then we will have nothing to say.

Also, when did the Vice Chairman ever say that you need to win?

We just wanted you to proudly represent our school regardless of the outcome. We wanted you to be the ones who would tell the entire world that even if they gang up on our institute, we will not back down!"

Eli gave her passionate speech that left the eight students' hearts thumping hard. On the side, Athena and Bramwell all gave her an approving look as they knew that Eli had won over their hearts.

Even so, the youngsters remained modest and allowed themselves to think more before answering Eli and the two elders. "We will think about it and come back to you with our answer…"

"It's alright… But I really do hope to hear your affirmative answer." Eli smiled gently.

As the meeting ended, the youngsters kept quiet as if they were in a trance. Even as they finally reached the rundown inn they stayed, they were still feeling like their minds were blown by the wind.

"W-what shall we do?" Raya looked at her older brother who was thinking deeply from the time they ended the meeting.

"I don't know the right answer…" Desmond frowned as he realized how they were helplessly swept away by Eli's persuasion. He thought that they were level-headed enough but then, looking back, he was completely powerless against Eli's eloquence.

The rest of the youngsters were at a loss. If Desmond himself were quite unsure, they were even more helpless.

But then, Lainie immediately stood up and looked at everyone, she took a deep breath and declared, "I have decided to go back tomorrow and accept the Great Inventor's offer."

Lainie could not help but trust Eli for she helped her during the times when she was desperate. She is sure that Eli was not someone who wouldn't abandon them just like the 'masters' they were assigned previously!