Chapter 146


    <em>— Grrrrrrrr!</em>


    In the distance, a giant hedgehog-shaped monster rolled toward them.


    “Aaaaaaah!”


    Running ahead with tears streaming down her face was Elena, serving as bait.


    “Elena, lead it this way!”


    “<em>Kyaaaa! </em>Save me, Brother!”


    The monster was nearly upon her when Elena managed to leap to where Ian was gesturing.


    <em>— Thud!</em>


    While the hedgehog-like monster floundered in the trap, Ian gave themand.“Got it! Fire, Danya, Lina!”


    <em>– Whizz!</em>


    <em>– Fwoosh!</em>


    The smell of roasting filled the air as the monster stopped moving.


    [ 40 Coins ]


    They earned 40 coins.


    Considering they usually earned 1 coin per minor monster, this was a significant haul.


    And since they had to wander around to hunt minor monsters, it was an even greater gain.


    In just one day on the central ind, they each collected 100 coins.


    Now, only 100 coins remained to reach the stable threshold of 400 coins for Aether promotion.


    ‘Considering the schedule of the remaining promotion battles…’


    Reaching 400 coins seemed quite feasible.


    The sun was now beating down strongly in the afternoon sky.


    Since they’d been running since dawn, it was time to rest.


    They also needed to find a ce to stay for the night.


    “Alright. Well done, everyone. Let’s call it a day for hunting.”


    Ian nodded in satisfaction.


    “I thought I was going to die…”


    Elena finally slumped to the ground.


    Ian chuckled and handed her some coins.


    Today, Elena’s role was bait.


    For some reason, the monsters here lost their minds at the sight of divine power.


    <em>Tap, tap.</em>


    Ian brushed off the dust from Elena’s head.


    “You did well as bait.”


    “Then pet me more, Brother.”


    “Alright, alright.”


    He continued to gently stroke Elena’s head.


    As he handed Lina her share of the coins and moved on to the next party member, Lina grabbed his arm.


    “Aren’t you going to pet me too? Hehe.”


    “Lina, you…”


    “What?”


    Lina looked up at him with a sad, pouty face.


    She looked so cute that Ian couldn’t help but sigh.


    Just as he raised his hand to stroke her red hair, Lina stood on tiptoe and stretched her slender neck forward.


    “You can grab me here tightly instead.”


    “… I’ll just pat your head.”


    I’m afraid that if I talk to Lina, I’ll open my eyes to some strange tastes.


    Ian feared he might develop a strange preference if he continued talking to Lina.


    After petting Lina’s head, he noticed Danya pouting her lips.


    “I’m not upset. You weren’t going to pet me anyway. Hmph.”


    “…”


    Ian stood still for a moment.


    What should he do?


    After the incident where Danya suddenly kissed him, Ian was certain.


    ‘Danya is in heat right now.’


    Though she never explicitly said it, Danya must be experiencing her heat period, a kind of mating season.


    Given that, her avoiding his touch and suddenly brushing against him made sense.


    Ian was in a dilemma.


    In the game, he could resolve things differently, but for Ian, this was reality.


    His current rtionship with Danya was that of invaluablerades.


    He couldn’t hug her just because she was in heat.


    If, after her heat period, Danya returned to her senses and decided to no longer berades out of disappointment… he didn’t want to imagine such a scenario.


    ‘… What should I do?’


    He couldn’t just not pat her when he’d patted everyone else.


    But petting her directly could trigger her heat.


    Ian scratched the back of his head.


    ‘Ah.’


    A good idea came to him.


    “…?”


    Danya tilted her head as she watched Ian rummage through his backpack.


    Ian pulled out a thin cloth and ced it on Danya’s head.


    “Nyah?”


    Then he petted her head through the cloth.


    Underneath the fluttering cloth, Danya’s face turned red. Judging by her happily swaying tail, she seemed quite satisfied.


    ◆


    On the bridge leading to the central ind.


    Tension was building around the bridges upied by the Aether students.


    The toll had risen to 30 coins.


    Students who could no longer afford the toll and couldn’t cross the bridge were bing increasingly agitated.


    This was also true for the bridge controlled by Emilia’s group.


    <em>– Let’s gather!</em>


    <em>– Down with Aether!</em>


    Victor Jan mumbled to Emilia as they watched the shouting children from afar.


    “What are we going to do?”


    Emilia crossed her arms and observed the opposite side.


    Unlike before, the children now seemed determined to fight.


    ‘Have we squeezed out all we can?’


    In just one day of upying the bridge, Emilia’s group had collected over 1000 coins.


    This was the result of gradually increasing the toll, which had started at 5 coins.


    After tapping her foot and weighing the situation, Emilia spoke.


    “This is probably the limit for collecting coins efficiently here. The fools are starting to band together.”


    Emilia pointed to the students on the other side of the central ind.


    Indeed, some students were beginning to gather around certain individuals.


    Once they started gathering, the group would quickly swell, as was human nature.


    Emilia made a swift decision.


    “Let’s withdraw from here.”


    They had secured enough coins to maintain their Aether promotion.


    And they had done so without a single significant battle.


    Her party members looked at Emilia in surprise.


    She smiled slyly.


    ‘We’ve achieved our key strategic goals.’


    The most crucial goal was to secure a top position without battle fatigue.


    Most students were exhausted from adapting to the ind and hunting monsters.


    But Emilia’s party was different.


    Every member was in peak physical condition.


    Whatever they did next, the odds were in Emilia’s favor.


    It was time to pursue the second objective of the promotion battle.


    Emilia raised her head.


    Standing over 2 meters tall was Victor Jan.


    <em></em>


    <em>– Crack</em>


    As he met Emilia’s gaze, he cracked his neck as if warming up.


    “Is it time to handle the task you gave me? To utterly destroy that ck-haired guy. Just give the order, and I’ll bring you his head right now.”


    Victor Jan.


    A man capable of breaking even the protective power of the bracelets, the students’ only safeguard.


    “You can’t catch him alone. Ian ckangers is strong too.”


    “Are you looking down on me?”


    <em>Crack, Crack.</em>


    Each time he clenched his fists, a disturbing sound like twisted metal could be heard.


    But Emilia paid no mind and tossed a small ss vial to Victor Jan.


    “Catch.”


    Victor Jan easily caught the vial with his thumb and index finger.


    He held it up to the sunlight, examining the yellow liquid inside.


    Victor Jan snickered.


    “An excellent quality berserk awakening potion.”


    “Who made it?”


    “Is this an exclusive contract?”


    “Of course. As long as you faithfully carry out my orders and eliminate the target.”


    “Good.”


    “Ian will definitely attack as a group. The professors cannot obtain detailed images or audio from the central ind, but they can check the location information and whether it is in an emergency. We must attack quickly and escape.”


    “As youmand.”


    Emilia stretched out her hand.


    <em>— p p p!</em>


    A swarm of yellow birds, conjured from electric elements, took flight behind Emilia.


    These summoned creatures began to thoroughly search the ind.


    Soon, a ck-haired figure came into view.


    Ian ckangers, who had started walking separately from his party.


    “Perfect opportunity.”


    Slowly.


    Emilia took a step forward.


    Without looking back, she coldly muttered.


    “Leave no witnesses.”


    ◆


    Blocking Emilia’s party as they rushed toward Ian was a woman.


    “Stop.”


    She drew a long sword, and the cold aura she emitted froze the surrounding grass white.


    A formidable opponent.


    Emilia frowned.


    “Sharon Pierce?”


    “Long time no see, Emilia. You can’t pass here. Stop.”


    “Do you know where I’m going?”


    “Ian.”


    “You know well. Then step aside.”


    “If you want to pass, you’ll have to go through me.”


    “Are you seriously blocking my way?”


    Sharon shook her head in response to Emilia’s question.


    “I’m not blocking you. I’m protecting what I must.”


    “<em>Pfft</em>.”


    Emilia let out a derisiveugh.


    No.


    “Pfft… Hehe… Hahahahaha!”


    She burst into heartyughter.


    Tears streamed from her eyes as sheughed.


    Wiping her tears with a trembling hand, Emilia spoke.


    “Listen. If someone heard you, they’d think you’re a tragic heroine.”


    “I’m just doing what I must.”


    Sharon replied calmly.


    Emilia’s lips curled into a mocking smile.


    “Hmm. Is it penance? Well, it fits with your type. People with a rigid moralpass often can’t function once they’re broken.”


    Sharon flinched.


    Emilia’s eyes narrowed as she observed.


    “But you know.”


    Emilia’s voice dropped to a near whisper.


    Seeing Sharon lean in, Emilia whispered.


    “… Do you think Ian will ever acknowledge you for this? He won’t. Ever.”


    Heh.


    A sly grin spread across Emilia’s face.


    Sharon’s brow furrowed.