Chapter 22


    [The other person is typing]


    A message appeared on Ians terminal.


    Even after waiting for a while, a reply from Silvia did not arrive. Even after waiting for a while, Silvias response did not arrive.


    [Ian]: Hey. Youre not thinking of using the Kirtos terminal, are you?


    [Silvia]: Hah?


    [Silvia]: No, of course not! I was just thinking about how much value to give it!


    You seem to be thinking about it quite a bit.


    Ian considered teasing her for a moment but decided against it.


    Making fun of her might hurt Silvias pride, and it could strain their rtionship.


    Silvia didnt like being in a one-sided situation. She preferred to repay favors thoroughly, calcting the value of the information she received. She must have beente because she was assessing the true value of the information.


    However.


    [Ian]: You dont need to think about it.


    [Silvia]: I dont have to think about it. Frost Bear is a Grade 5 threat. Its an upper-level threat. Plus, its not just any strategy; its a weak point.


    [Silvia]: Is that all? The information was essential to me. The results from that information were also good. And that detestable woman, Emilia.


    [Silvia]: Please forget the chat just now. It was a passing cat that walked over the keyboard. I respect Emilia as my rival. If rumors get out, they might think of you, Ian, as the culprit and interrogate you. Anyway, it was essential information for me, so Ill pay you back the value for sure.


    As expected, she reciprocated as much as she received.


    Whether it was a favor or grudge, that was her preferred way of dealing with things.


    [Ian]: I know.


    [Silvia]: Really?


    [Ian]: I know, whats important to you.


    [Silvia]: How do you know? I havent told anyone.


    However, getting into a power struggle like this should be avoided.


    [Ian]: Dont try to subtly extract information, okay?


    [Silvia]: Tsk.


    [Ian]: Anyway, thepensation should be what I need.


    [Silvia]: What do you need?


    At this time, Ian had been rummaging through the pamphlets at the top of Laurent.


    Despite not having a very high rating, Lunar, a mineral that performed simrly to two levels higher, was influenced by the moon, which aligned perfectly with the uing main scenario.


    What Ian needed was a Lunar gemstone.


    [Silvia]: Lunar refined minerals, right?


    [Ian]: As pure as possible, and asrge as I can carry.


    For a while, there was no response from Silvia.


    She must have been pondering the use of it.


    [Silvia]: If you need a weapon, I can give you one.


    [Ian]: No, thats enough. Please do it as soon as possible.


    Chuckle.


    Ians lips curled up.


    In the afternoon, as expected, abat training schedule was set.


    Training schedules were set almost every day, with thebat training approaching soon.


    In the actual training, students had to enter areas where monsters had appeared and exterminate those monsters.


    Even though the environment was somewhat controlled by the professors, it was still dangerous.


    There were often injuries among the students, some minor and a few serious ones during these exercises.


    Thats how serious the Lichten Academy was about training students in practicalbat, and naturally, Combat Training was a core part of the semester.


    This kept the students in a constant state of tension.


    The exercise began.


    This time, the theme was various terrains and ambushes.


    Can you believe they made obstacles like this using mana dolls? Even in the challenging practice field, they passed through the obstacles at a decent pace.


    This way! I smell somethinging from this way! No, I sense it!


    In fact, this time, Danya was the star of the show.


    As the difficulty of the exercise increased, the efficiency of Everidge, who was in charge of exploration within the team, began to decline little by little. It was probably because most of his stats were close to average.


    Im sorry. Im from the Reconnaissance Department, but I cant do anything.


    Hmph. No need to worry too much. Danya here is amazing!


    Her performance was a source of enjoyment, and she yfully swayed her tail, which seemed to grow glossier with each passing moment.


    But, looking at this, doesnt it have a lot of fur to be called a cats tail?


    If you had to be specific, is it more like a Persian cat? Or maybe its more like a fox.


    Looking at the swaying tail, you cant help but think youd like to pet it once.


    While thinking about this, Ian turned around and his eyes met Danyas for a moment.


    Swipe. Swipe.


    After that, for some reason, Danyas tail lightly brushed against his face, tickling him.


    Danya, lower your tail, please.


    Instead of responding, Danyas eyes narrowed slightly.


    She looked back and stuck out her tongue a bit. There was no sign of a fox around.


    Todays training didnt turn out so bad.


    The instructors voice echoed.


    Team 13! Not bad again today. Youre ranked 7th!


    Listening to the instructors evaluation, the routine was to sit down and share praise.


    Most of the praise in Team 13 went to Ian on a daily basis. This time, thanks to her scouting efforts, Danya also gained some credit.


    Ian leaned against the wall and took a deep breath.


    No matter how skilled he was, tanking with a magicians body was not an easy task.


    Just then, Yurran, with his white exterior and ck heart, approached.


    Ahaha, its a bit disappointing.


    Yurran was expressing his disappointment.


    In response to this unusual favor, Ian kindly opened his mouth.


    If you have anyints, you can join another team. Should I ask the instructor for you?


    No, no. Thats not what I meant. Please dont misunderstand, Mr. Ian! I just wanted the opportunity to use my abilities more proactively


    Tsk.


    Ian clicked his tongue inwardly.


    Somewhere along the line, he had naturally be the leader of Team 13.


    Since then, Yurran had been suppressing the use of his divine power.


    I told you. You are our teams trump card. Its better to keep your abilities hidden as much as possible.


    Ahaha, is that so?


    He was the guy who tried to set a handshake as a brainwashing trigger. Whaty behind the healing appearance of his sacred power was uncertain.


    Thanks to that, he felt like he was splitting in two, doing both tanking and cleaning up.


    Man gets stronger the more he splits.


    It felt like there was an eleration in his growth, so he was satisfied.


    As he was dealing with theints from the Bloodstone Cult, he heard Linas voice.


    Team 7! It seems like youre getting slower. Stay alert!


    Linas team arrivedte, as always.


    As usual, Lina would nce in their direction and continue on her way without saying a word. Since the Speed Run, she hadnt spoken to him directly.


    However.


    This time she came straight toward him.


    Ian deliberately turned his head.


    Ian.


    But it was two sharp sybles that clearly identified him.


    He couldnt just ignore her.


    When he turned his head, Lina, who had narrowed her eyes, was looking in his direction.


    A sour face.


    The Lina he saw on the screen and the Lina he saw now were definitely different.


    Above all, Linas venom was visible now.


    Different facets from the kind and gentle good heroine Lina Rosewell who was always popr.


    The suspicions that had started from Linas attitude toward Pongpong were growing like a snowball.


    She spoke sharply.


    Say it.


    What?


    Why did you hate being rejected by me so much?


    There was no sweetness or kindness in Linas voice.


    No, I told you, didnt I? Im not interested in you.


    But why are you blocking my way like that? Did you change your strategy? Are you making a scene in front of me because you think Ill look at you?


    What pushed aside her kindness was animosity. She revealed her fangs.


    His fangs also appeared, hidden under a calm appearance.


    Jerk, jerk.


    Lina came up to his nose and stopped.


    She whispered.


    You know, Ian. I dont believe that youve changed.


    Have you changed, Ian? The real Ian? Its impossible.


    If I were to ept your confession right now, would you stop doing these things?


    Snick. Lina chuckled.


    Mockery.


    Her greatly changed appearance sent shivers down Ians spine.


    Was this the true form of Lina Rosewell?


    What happened to the Lina who was loved by everyone?


    Was everything he saw on the screen just an act?


    Ian swallowed his dry saliva.


    At the same time, he realized.


    If things continued like this, simply avoiding and ignoring her would not solve the problem.


    Lina.


    Ian spoke up.


    His voice was surprisingly cold, as if he were devoid of any emotion.


    You dont seem to understand, so Ill exin it clearly.


    But he didnt stoping out with words.


    Even Linas startled, round eyes didnt act as an obstacle.


    The Lina Rosewell who had been the admired heroine of Fanta x Aca from the screen, the girl who was loved by everyone, did not exist here.


    The moment he was transferred into the game, this ce became a reality.


    That was the reason for her ice-cold voice, dry as a desert.


    That was the reason for his ice-cold voice, dry as a desert.


    That Ian ckangers youre thinking of doesnt exist anymore. I wont have any interest in you from now on, so dont delude yourself and move on.


    Regardless of what happened.


    The dice had been cast.


    Late at night.


    Academy girls dormitory.


    Linay on her desk.


    A few gifts from friends were scattered, but she didnt care.


    Ians cold voice echoed in her ears.


    Why are you doing this to me? Youre the one who did wrong.


    She felt unjustly used.


    It was Ian who had blocked her path.


    In training, in exercises.


    In everything, he always managed to score higher than her.


    You know it will be difficult if I dont receive a schrship.


    She understood that. She knew that he had prepared the things she needed for her desk and that she had eaten the lunch he had made for her, even though she didnt like it. She was annoyed, but at the same time, she was grateful.


    But now those feelings were gone.


    Instead, she felt angry.


    He did all those things for me because he had ulterior motives all along.


    Now, even the fact that he didnt prepare her lunch or her things was clear. The reason for that was also evident.


    At some point, he had been waiting for a chance to shake her like this.


    By making her dependent on him, and then shaking her like this in a critical moment.


    Grumble.


    Lina pushed all the gifts that adorned her desk to one corner. They were tokens of her friends affection, but she didnt care right now.


    Instead, she unfolded a piece of paper she had received recently.


    Ian ckangers Analysis Report


    The subject is an Earth Attribute Mage, primarily collecting metallic elemental substances in the surrounding environment and utilizing them for physical enhancement, and  (omission)  The potential weaknesses are as follows:


    < High likelihood of being influenced by the elementalposition of the surrounding environment. >


    < Targeting areas with high humidity, such as swamps, seas, rivers, or wends, is rmended for attack. >


    Tock, tock.


    Lina tapped her desk.


    The location for the final training exercise in Combat Training was a closely guarded secret known only to a few professors. However, she already had information about that ce.


    Coincidentally, that location included some swampy areas.


    There were several reasons why she had resented Ian.


    But she couldnt remember them now.


    He was just an obstacle in front of her.


    Lina muttered softly.


    I wish you would have just disappeared.


    Under the cold moonlight, the tips of her hair turned blue.


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