《The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Fantasy X Academy Commonly referred to as FantAcad, this game was a character collection mobile game. It was a type of game where you could enjoy charming characters and storylines without much stress, if you had money. After a tiring day, Iy in bed watching the newly updated episode video. Kwagagang. The Academy blowing up with a loud explosion. Why! Why on earth! I gave everything for you, but none of you even looked back at meeeee!!! Calm down, Ian Die, you b*tches! All of youuuu! The academy students, covered in ck, jumped. The academy had be half-ruined. Above it, a message announcing the beginning of a new episode appeared. [Chapter . Act 1. Rising Darkness] And so, the new episode video ended. Without realizing it, I muttered, Woah, I knew it, you b*stard. Why suddenly say I knew it? The guy who suddenly destroyed the academy in the episode. [Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers] He was the guy who I had been closely watching because his name was the same as mine. Of course, our full names were not the same. People with names like Ian Dong X Pongpong Heukwoo dont make sense. I had a precious name inherited from my parents, Kim Ian, and that kid had a name that hinted at the developers sense, Ian Pongpong. (TL: Really weird name/nickname, it references dish-washer soap, its supposed to be an insult, for example, a pong-pong man is the one washing the dishes aka counter-stereotypical, it seems to also be used by unmarried men to insult married men.) Anyway. Of course, having someone with the same name as you in the game usually isnt a bad thing. If he forms a harem, I can also get some vicarious satisfaction, you see. But this guy was different. This rascal appeared like a thorn in the side from the early stages of the scenario. Id rather he was a proper viin. It is difficult to even say that he is a viin. It was even ambiguous to call him a viin. If I had to specify, he did good things, but they left a bad taste? Where was the problem? Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers If I had to summarize this guy in one word, it would be Pongpong the ck Sheep. He only pursued attractive characters. If users were nurturing female characters, he suddenly appeared and handed them something. For example, something like this: When ying as the Elemental Mage heroine Lina Rosewell. Lina, dont you need this? Its a hard-to-find elemental crystal that I found with difficulty. Ah, did you happen to see what happened the school supplies on the desk? This is a lunchbox. Would you like it for lunch? He took care of things that were hard to obtain or annoying like this. It wasnt just Lina. He took care of the other three heroines as well. When raising the Swordswoman Sharon, he provided weapons and equipment; when raising the Holy Maiden Aria, he offered psychological support, and when raising the Lightning Mage and heiress Emilia, he provided various forms of assistance. He would give various items, hard-to-find equipment, all kinds of gems, and even growth buffs He was quite the provider of many things. And by this point, it was only natural for such a question to arise: Isnt he a god-tier character? Such opinions naturally surfaced. In fact, during the influx of newbies, there were many opinions praising Ian ckangers in themunity. ept newbies: If you have a guy like Ian Pongpong among your friends, you will have no wishes left, seriously lol. Mostly newbies. As you yed the game, you came to realize something. There was a hidden agenda behind everything this b*stard handed out. If you blindly epted everything he gave you, these kinds of events urred. It was the moment when this crazy guy started messing with the characters I was raising. [Lina (5-Star) received a confession letter. Will you ept? (Y/N)] ept Newbies: What happens if you ept this? : Heroine NTR. ept Newbies: What kind of messed-up game is this? Seriously. : The guy whomented above is lying; even if you click ept, the heroine rejects. But it damages your rtionship with the heroine, lol. Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers. Shortened as Pongpong. Every one of his antics had that kind of unsettling feeling. Helping and showing off. Helping and showing off. Instead of not helping at all, he helped and showed off again. And he didnt do this just to one person. If he saw pretty heroines, he repeated it endlessly. He just jumped on anyone who caught his eye. ept Newbies: Seriously, whats wrong with this crazy guy messing with every character? Cant he just die? : Yeah, you have to endure until hemits s*icide and disappears, lol. So, from the yers perspective, you naturally start having thoughts like this. ept Newbies: Game uninstation confirmation. Ill never y this crappy game again, seriously. Thats why Ian ckangers had two nicknames. One was Pongpong, and the other was the Newbie Guillotine. He provided numerous things, but he was an unlucky fellow. People who lead fan clubs, cams and go into debt for female characters dont even do this much. Actually, well after a while, you get used to it. Since heroines wont fall for him anyway, and in the end, his help is beneficial. At this point, isnt he just a kind but slightlycking guy? Thats how Pongpong-like beings were, to begin with. And its around this time that the worst side storyes into y. [S*icide Threat Show] As you progress through the story, at some point, this guy disappears. If you dig through the student newspaper the next day, you find a story like this: [In the early evening, a student attempted to jump from the rooftop. The extent of injuries from the s*icide attempt is not yet known, but four letters were found at the scene, suggesting they may be the s*icide notes of the student who jumped.] Because nothing was resolving despite his indiscriminate meddling, he jumped from the rooftop. Im jumping because you didnt ept my confession. He sent notes like this to each of the heroines. This is really the worst of the worst. Pongpong. AKA the Newbie Guillotine. There was no doubt that he was the main culprit behind turning Fanta X Aca into a ruined game. Wait a minute. A guy like that is resurrecting and destroying the Academy? No matter how dark it may be, the talent that single-handedly destroys the Academy is worthy of recognition. At this rate, it would be a disaster. Ive already dominated the rankings because everyones leaving the game these days. I cant let it fall to ruin. I cant ept it because it would be a waste of money I spent on this game. I jumped out of bed. Feedback, I have to leave feedback. Hurriedly, I sat down at theputer desk. To provide proper feedback, I needed my keyboard. Finding the games website wasnt difficult. Click. Click. I immediately navigated to the feedback section. [TooLazyToNickname]: Id like to make a suggestion. [TooLazyToNickname]: There seems to be a need to modify the character Ian Von Pong. Because hes (Read more) ..not only difficult for the characters in the game but also for the yers to like. Frankly, just his appearance used to make me furious in the beginning. And on top of that, turning the academy into ruins due to his corruption in this scenario? I would rmend reducing his role, especially in the early stages of the scenario. This way, at least, you might save a few of the newbies. Enter. Click. Feedback was sent along with a cheerful sound. I was proud. Then, suddenly, a green light appeared in the chat window. Oh, whats this? Was a developer guy watching? [Developer]: I find it hard to empathize with the opinion that the character Ian is so repulsive. Ian provides many things to the characters. Shouldnt you naturally like him to some extent? You ingrate. What? Ingrate? Did he say that to the heroines, perhaps? The developers response seemed a bit strange. (TL: Ingrate someone who finds something wrong with anything.) [TooLazyToNickname]: People dont necessarily appreciate it just because you give them everything. Excessive kindness can sometimes be burdensome. [Developer]: Humans are ungrateful after all. Artificial intelligence programming went wrong. From that damn b*tch. Shes the culprit. Whats with this guy? Why is the word b*tching out of nowhere? And whos the culprit? Could it be that hes identifying with Pongpong? Is he the type of person who believes that the heroines should respond positively to his one-sided and indiscriminate kindness? Is thisplete self-insertion? The developer, who seemed exactly like the character Pongpong, seems emotionally invested. Perhaps this person may have designed the character Pongpong itself. Wait a minute. So, in this scenario, did Pongpong really destroy half of the Academy, and was it not just staged? A sudden cold sweat broke out. Wow This developer b*stard is seriously out of his mind. [Developer]: yers like you stole mymy characters. It was a mistake from the beginning. I gave too much to the yers. Its my fault. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. Avoiding crazy people is their best remedy. I quickly threw up my hands. [TooLazyToNickname]: Hahaha It was just a personal opinion. Im sure you know the game better, Developer. While typing, I could feel the cold sweat running down my back. For some reason, an ominous feeling came over me. I nced behind me. Thats right. No ones watching me. But why does it feel like someone is watching me? My mouth felt dry. No, this doesnt make any sense. The developer cant possibly be monitoring my house. Lets just apologize and log out. With that thought in mind, as I was about to touch the keyboard Beep! Suddenly, the monitor screen went nk. Ahh! Geez, that scared me. My heart was pounding like crazy. Its just a screen malfunction. Bad timing, thats all. Ahhh. That moment. White letters appeared on the ck screen. [Developer]: You. What is this? Wasnt the screen just out? Whats going on? Ahf*ck. A sense of foreboding washed over me. [Developer]: You catch on quickly, huh? No, seriously. Please. [USER]: Sorry Before I could finish the remaining sentence, the screen started glitching, stuttering. [Developer]: You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? You catch on quickly? Countless words filled the screen in white. Chiiiiiing A deafening noise that felt like it was cutting through my brain. I lost consciousness just like that. Get notified about releases on my Discord Server Novel Page Next Chapter 2 Chapter 2 [Experience it for yourself.] [Is Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers really deserving of all the criticism?] [The culprit is the non-v*rgin heroine.] [I wish you luck.] Kim Ian opened his eyes. Quite literally, he just opened his eyes. His body couldnt move. Aghhh! Water sshed on his face. He flinched unconsciously, but it wasnt cold. He didnt feel any sensation at all. It was as if he could only see. Is this a bathroom sink? No. Did I just possess someone? It felt closer to the sensation of real possession, where you are stuck to someones body like a ghost. What was going on? The owner of the body looked into the mirror. !!! Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers Newbie Guillotine of Fanta X Aca. Shortened to Pongpong. Seeing this guys face in the mirror meant that he had possessed that body. F*ck. Kim Ian cursed unintentionally. It made sense Its Pongpong, after all. He was a guy who umted a lot of dislikes from yers and characters alike. Memories immediately after possession slowlye to mind. [Experience it for yourself.] [Is Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers really deserving of all the criticism?] Experience it for yourself. It probably meant to experience it with a reverse perspective. No, I dont want to experience it to this extent. Kim Ian felt unjust. Why should he see the world from Pongpongs perspective like some sort of punishment for some crime he hadmited? Upon careful consideration, it seemed like he didmit a crime. The crime of giving feedback to a lunatic developer. The crime of wasting his life on such a crappy game and bing a hardcore yer. It was a serious crime. F*ck. Even if he inwardly sighed, nothing would change. He could only nkly watch Pongpongs actions. The guy muttered to himself. Hmm. Lina epted my homemade lunchbox, but I failed to confess to Sharon. What is this nonsense? Kim Ian was confused. He gave the homemade lunchbox to Lina and confessed to Sharon? Aria Can I consider that a rejection? She didnt look well. Lets confess againter. Huh. At this point, he wondered what kind of confession machine this was. And Emilia? Well, if I ever need her, shell call me back, wont she? Emilia, one of the heroines, was a top heiress in the worlds lore. I dont know if theres anything Pong Pong needs from her, but One thing was for sure; he had been rejected by all four heroines. Alright. Lets try our best again! Pongpong clenched his fist while looking in the mirror. Kim Ian couldnt help but be amazed. Hes something else. Given the circumstances, he got rejected by the heroines all four times, and hes recovering so quickly. For some reason, it feels a bit ufortable, but is it because of the mood? Without finding a reason for the difort, Pongpong started walking. He walked through the Academys corridors. The sunset light streamed in through the windows, creating a beautiful sight. When he opened the door, an empty ssroom unfolded before him. Could it have been that he came to steal the heroines gym uniform? For some reason, it seemed like something Pongpong would do. But fortunately, he obediently took his seat. Then, he rummaged through the desk and took something out. Huh? Round handwriting. A cute envelope. He unfolded the paper as if puzzled. [To Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers. Can youe to the rooftop before the sunset? I have something to talk about.] !!! Pongpong abruptly stood up. Then, he started running towards the rooftop. Kim Ian was somewhat bewildered. Was there a story like this? This part was a development that Kim Ian had never seen before. Something felt unsettling. The rooftop Something seemed to have happened on the rooftop. Bang! Pongpong forcefully opened the door. But there was no one there. The sunset had already set, and a deep navy darkness had descended. Ah! Only then did Kim Ian manage to recall a vague memory. Fanta X Acas side story. [In the early evening, a student attempted to jump from the rooftop. The extent of injuries from the s*icide attempt is not yet known, but four letters were found at the scene, suggesting they may be the s*icide notes of the student who jumped.] Pongpongs s*icide threat. And the shocking contents of the letters. This rooftop was the perfect ce for all of those things to happen. The pieces of the S*icide Threat Incident that turned Pongpong into the worst character in Fanta X Aca were gradually falling into ce. Thump, thump. Pongpong wandered around the rooftop. The s*icide notes Are they written here? The key to the s*icide threat incident was the suicide notes. Lina, Sharon, Aria, Emilia. Letters from an incorrigible sender mentioning each of the four heroines. In summary, it was a suicide note that said, Im jumping because you didnt ept my confession. It was one of the reasons Pongpongs evaluation had plummeted. No, wait. Something didnt add up. Why? Why does this feel so ufortable? Right. Pongpong, this guy, isnt the type to jump off just because he got rejected a few times. He knew Pongpong well enough to despise him. Just because your confession got rejected a few times, you jump off? No. Instead, this guy is the type who wont give up and will confess dozens or hundreds of times. Thats why hes even more of a nuisance. A clueless and naive b*stard. Thats how kind he is, and he doesnt understand the concept of giving up. Yeah. Lets shake it off and get up. Someday, someone will recognize me! Thats right. ven if he falls, hell get up and act like a fool again. Thats who Pongpong is. Thats why his irritation grew stronger. Seriously Why did this guy jump off? No. Jumping off is one thing. But its definitely not the atmosphere for writing such a messed-up s*icide note. How is this even happening? At that moment Whoosh! The letter with an unknown sender that Pongpong was holding burst into mes. Then, it transformed into four pieces of paper. The s*icides notes! Could it be? Puzzled, Pongpong examined the paper. Whats this? To Lina, Sharon, Aria, Emilia? Huh? This is my handwriting? ! This. Its a trick to leave fingerprints. That means someone intentionally wrote that suicide note. And the reason is No way Sinister premonitions are usually urate. Something dull mmed into Pongpongs back. ! His vision blurred. Pongpong reached out to the railing. Pathetically grazed it. And was pushed off the rooftop. !!!! Panicking, he turned his gaze. The rooftop he looked up at. All he could see were scattered strands of hair before they disappeared. The deep sunset made even their color indistinguishable. Kuung-! A dull impact sound. Ack! A brief moan. Along with Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers, Kim Ians vision began to blur. I havent even performed the Growth Blessing Ceremony yet The experience points buff that Pongpong used to give to the heroines. That was thest words Ian ckangers left behind. Kim Ian opened his eyes. This time, his body moved properly. He was in a bed in some residence. His body felt somewhat awkward after moving for the first time in a while. When he looked at the mirror nearby, it was still Pongpongs body. This seemed to be Pongpongs residence. Ugh. His head throbbed as if it was about to split. Was it a side effect of the possession? Or was it the paining from being flung to the ground? But there was something else that was more shocking than anything else. That crazy developer was right. The developers voice echoed right after the possession. [Experience it for yourself.] [Is Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers really deserving of all the criticism?] [The culprit is the non-v*rgin heroine.] [I wish you luck.] There was a culprit. Someone framed Pongpong, tried to eliminate him by pushing him off the rooftop, and manipted the s*icide notes. Not an extra or a supporting role. One of the heroines. F*ck. It was hard to recover from the shock. It made sense, though Heroine and culprit. Isnt that the most ipatiblebination of words in this world? And not just any viin. An incredibly malicious person who pushed someone off a rooftop and manipted the s*icide notes with such calction that they wouldnt be suspected. Moreover, not a v*rgin. Such a person was hiding among the heroines, pretending to be one of them, disgustingly. Furthermore, they already tried to kill Pongpong once. There was no guarantee they wouldnt try again. The problem was that Ian himself was in Pongpongs body. So, the heroine who was the culprit was undeniably Ians enemy. Wow. Gives me the creeps. Coincidentally, Ian had experience raising all the heroines. Naturally, he never suspected that such a crazy person existed. After all, you dont usually suspect the heroines, right? Even if one of them pretended to be a heroine while not being a v*rgin. This is unsettling. Ian scratched his head while scanning the room. If this was Pongpongs room, there should be some evidence here. He happened to find something interesting. A love journal? Even though Pongpong had never been in a rtionship. Ian, filled with curiosity, decided to read the journal. Then again. It was more like a strategy guide jotting down how to win over the heroines. For example, there was a diary entry about Lina Rosewell. Lina still didnt have any moneytely. She only had something to eat during tea time with her friends. Even then, just a few cookies and pieces of cake. No matter how you looked at it, she cant survive on that level of nutrition. So, today, I woke up early and made a lunchbox. The menu was . This dish, with vegetables and meat finely chopped for easy consumption, was perfect for Lina to enjoy a light lunch with her friends. The sous-vide-cooked turkey could provide her with the much-needed protein. Thats some serious dedication, Pongpong. The journal was so impressive that Ian couldnt help but be amazed. No. Who goes to such lengths to prepare a homemade lunchbox? If this guy were by her side, shed grow like a storm. Of course, a homemade lunch from a person you dont like can be overwhelming, and with all the extras the recipient might feel like theyre being stalked. Ian continued to read the journals for the other heroines. Sharon Pierce. A high-performance final boss character with a reputation as a cool and popr girl. He gave her a Famous Sword as a confession, but he had to sell his parents heirlooms to buy it it said. Wait a minute. Did he sell his parents heirlooms just to do this for her? Ian looked around in a hurry. Upon closer examination, it was a cramped lodging. Could it be that he squandered all his fortune? Pongpong, despite being an heir from a well-to-do family near the capital, faced a bleak future. Sigh. Lets continue reading about the remaining heroines for now. Aria, the Saint Candidate. A heroine based on the grim saint concept. There were some unexpected facts about her. Aria was childhood friends with Pongpong. In truth, Aria was a heroine with significant mental instability. Like many gloomy well-endowed heroines, she had been a hikikomori since childhood and had even been bullied. The game didnt provide specific care methods, though. Pongpong took pretty good care of her. Pongpongs notes contained detailed information about Arias symptoms and how to stabilize her. But it seemed that he had confessed recently and been rejected. Pongpong, you really live life to the fullest. It seemed he had made a significant contribution to Emilia as well. Thanks to this, she was able to learn the magic that Pongpong had learned. , , What kind of human interface was this? Anyway. Taak! Ian closed the notebook loudly. Pongpong seemed to sincerely care for the heroines more than expected. Having him around significantly boosted the heroines growth rates, which wasnt just an empty im. While he was detested when ying the game, being in his shoes revealed a surprisingly sincere side. Of course, the direction of expression was seriously wrong. But no matter how well he cared, if the recipient thought, Isnt this guy a stalker? then he should have stopped. Pongpong couldnt do that. And thats why hemitted s*icide. The culprit was one of the four heroines. The only non-v*rgin. Who could it be? Lina, the affectionate Elemental Mage? Sharon, the relentlessly cold-hearted Knight with extraordinary talent? Aria, the gloomy Saintess Candidate? Or perhaps Emilia, the top heiress of the continent? Itsplicated. A heroine who seemed incredibly kind, and naturally, she would be a v*rgin. There seemed to be a twist to her character, etc. The possibilities were all there. Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 3 Chapter 3 There are two ways to tackle problems. One is the righteous path. A dignified process, systematically solving problems step by step. The other is the dark path. Whatever it takes, as long as it gets the job done, this approach believes in. Its a method often seen in martial arts novels when resolving issues. And Ian, for a moment, seriously contemted walking the dark path rather than the righteous one. Shouldnt we just physically check if the heroines are v*rgins or not? A hint provided by the developer. After researching it thoroughly [The culprit is the non-v*rgin heroine.] This. It seemed like an easier point to dig into. Thinking about the process alone, it didnt seem that difficult, did it? Somehow secure her, get her n*ked, and then stretch the legs Get a grip, Kim Ian. Ian smacked his own cheek. It was warranted. The adversaries were the heroines. Its a story of strong support. It was a tough story. Lina had her reputation, Sharon had her family and skills, Aria had the church, and Emilia had her upper echelon status. And on top of it all, Pongpong wasnt exactly popr. If he mishandled this, things could go south quickly. Going to prison while trying to determine whether the heroines were v*rgins or not? There was nothing dumber thanmitting crimes to prove ones innocence. As expected, one must take the righteous path. Its wise to gather evidence against the culprits cautiously. Ian nodded in agreement. And until he had solid evidence in hand, it was prudent to avoid confrontation with the heroines. The heroines were undoubtedly stronger than Pongpong. They were the primary force and were chosen as the heroines of Fanta X Aca. Therefore, dealing with them was straightforward. Ian drew arge circle on a piece of paper. Inside it, he wrote the word crime. Pongpongs crime. The reason one of the heroines had decided to kill Pongpong was obvious. [Burden] It was excessive attention. Giving excessive attention and confessing to heroines with whom he wasnt even close with. So, for now, he was lucky to be alive. Absolutely. No matter what happens. I wont give any attention to the heroines. Ian made thatmitment. Well, to be honest, Pongpongs attention had been somewhat helpful to the heroines. In reality, it seemed that the heroines were grateful, and for a reason. Why? reason? Because Pongpong had filled the gaps in the heroines like a ghost. It wasnt just about whether Pongpong was used as a character in the actual game or not; it didnt make a big difference in character growth rate. But now, there would be no such service anymore. Since its a matter of life and death, I have to be sure. Lina was struggling because she didnt have any preparations or food. Sharon was frustrated because she couldnt grow any further. Aria was in despair because she had been eliminated as a Saint Candidate. Emilias inescapable need for herself. Regardless of the desperate reasons the heroines had for craving him, he wouldpletely ignore them. If he wanted to live a little longer, that was the first rule of conduct that had been confirmed. You are no longer heroines. At least, thats what Ian told himself. Ignoring the heroines. Ian repeated his new code of conduct several times and stepped outside the dormitory. His destination was arge open space near the dormitory. Why is he suddenly going outside? The truth is, this is more important. It was all about the inherent strength of the body. Ians reputation had plummeted to the lowest, and no one could expect help from anyone else. In the end, it is a situation where you have to protect yourself. Ultimately, he was in a situation where he had to rely on himself. Sharon Pierce. The ice-cold heroine with blue hair, the ultimate performer of Fanta X Aca. He needed to be at least as strong as the strongest heroine. Since we dont know who the culprit is, lets assume the worst. Thats why he came outside. To start training immediately. Pongpong is an Earth Mage. An earth magician, to be precise, a geomancer. To be precise, an earth-type wizard. Among the various attributes in Fanta X Aca, it was one of the rarer ones. It was more like an attribute exclusive to yers, as it was challenging to master, and the location of the most critical performance enhancement factor, Power Blessing, had never been revealed in the game. There were rumors that the elemental performance itself would be top-notch like the difficulty. But as it turned out, this Pongpong fellow possessed exceptional talent for the Earth attribute. The problem is that his talent has been activated in a rather peculiar direction. The magic he had mastered was as follows:
  • [Extraction]: Extracting specific metals from the surrounding environment.
  • [Transformation]: Using magical power to maintain the extracted elements in a specific form.
  • [Restoration]: Returning the extracted or transformed elements to their original state.
Recalling the magic engraved in his body, Ian could only wonder, Is this guy some kind of heavy equipment? Was every magic he learned optimized for manualbor? Wait a minute. No way. Could it be that he learned it to do manualbor for Emilias upper echelon? Ian remembered the content about Emilia in Pongpongs Love Journal. I see. The image of Pongpong extracting rare materials from a pile of dirt came to mind. And. Wow, this guy is truly amazing. Anyway. The important thing is how to make use of this. How could he utilize these construction-like abilities to be stronger? After pacing around the open space for a while, a good idea came to him. Despite everything, Ian was a seasoned yer of Fanta X Aca. Regardless of what it was, First, he had to start with [Extraction]. After a few hours passed. Ian, drenched in sweat, was looking at his arms with a sense of triumph. It works. His arms, shining with a brilliant silver hue like armor forged by a master, were as sturdy as could be. He had extracted iron from the ground around him using [Extraction]. He had then used [Transformation] to tailor it to the size of his arms and fists and reinforced the joints. Once you see true talent, your heart will be filled with joy. Achievements made entirely through magic that Pongpongs body had memorized. Ian swung his mechanized arm towards a log on the ground. Kwoong! With a rough noise, the log was split in half. Nice. This is the Earth Mage (physical). Pongpongs talent. I have the confidence to properly develop it. Before he knew it, the evening had already deepened. Returning to the dormitory, Ian copsed onto his bed. It felt like his body and mind hadnt quite caught up with the possession. Phew. Even so, he hadid a solid foundation for his time at the Academy with this. He should be able to adapt to the Academy tomorrow without any worry. Its already thiste. Checking the clock, Ian suddenly became curious. [Growth Blessing Ceremony] A ritual that uses ones magic power to aid the growth of others. ording to his journal, Pongpong performed this ritual around this time every night. It was probably the experience buff that heroines received in the game. Thats why he was curious about how this ritual actually worked. The book its here. As Ian rummaged through the room, he found the book that Pongpong used to read before performing the ritual. Fundamentals of Dark Magic? Did this kind of book exist in the game? With curiosity, Ian flipped through the pages. There was an introduction. [All thingse from the earth and return to the earth.] [Earth is the motherly magic that nurtures what hase from itself, and this merciful magic is called Earth Magic.] [ Time returns those that have reached their time back into the ground, and that is called Dark Magic.] [The aspect of earth covered in this textbook belongs to thetter.] This. Ian had a gut feeling. This was no ordinary book. It was a type of preface that was only described in the highest-quality books, the [Epic] category, among the various types of book items in Fanta X Aca. To begin with, Ian had never encountered a book rted to Dark Magic while ying Fanta X Aca. Where did he get this? The more you peeled away theyers, the moreplicated the onion-like man became. That was Pongpong. First, lets see how the Growth Blessing Ritual is performed. As he was flipping the pages, he noticed a section with a lot of underlined text. [Sharing] [Although ck Sorcery draws on the nourishment of the target, the essence of earth lies in generosity. Therefore, I will briefly exin how to share ones magic power, mana, or life force.] As he turned the pages, he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his body. ? Was this the flow of mana? Ian closed his eyes and focused on the sensation, which was different from when he used magic in the open field. The energy flowing from near his heart to various parts of his body, then continuously outward. There were four strands of mana flowing outward. This meant that the [Growth Blessing Ceremony] had already begun. Did it have specific trigger conditions rted to time or the book? I should stop it Lets calm down first. At first, he was worried about giving the heroines more growth buffs, but he quickly calmed himself and realized that it might be more detrimental to go wild and disrupt the mana circuit. A little more mana drained from him wouldnt kill him. Whew. He calmed his breathing and opened his eyes. He checked the section in the book where the procedure was written. Looking for relevant information, he found this statement: [ * Never forcibly interrupt the transmission. It may cause fatal damage to the circuit. In the event of an interruption, perform unlinking using the following method.] I almost caused a big problem. Fortunately, there were specific instructions for unlinking. Ian closed his eyes and concentrated. He focused on feeling the flow of mana. No senses of sight, hearing, or smell were involved, but there was a distinct presence of mana threads. Starting from his heart and extending through his body, these threads were stretched so long that he couldnt see their ends. Vivid. Indeed, Pongpongs talent was far from ordinary. As Ian concentrated on each strand of mana, he could soon sense their nature. The direction in which the magic power was directed toward each heroine. He severed it as described in the book. Ugh! A sensation as if mana were flowing in reverse for a moment. But the difort didntst long. Following the manual properly was indeed the answer. Ian let out a light sigh. As he turned his attention back to the book, he realized something. Ah. Whats this? He had missed a section. [ * Anonymization Even when interrupting the transmission, Anonymization must be maintained. If there is no Anonymization spell, there is a possibility that the casters information may be exposed to those close to 5 stars.] No They should have mentioned this earlier. Oh well Did it really matter? There were probably no individuals close to 5 stars in growth yet. A refreshing feeling washed over him. The connections with the heroines had been severed. Now, there was no need to count mana or worry about foolishness. Im looking forward to the Academy tomorrow. The corners of Ians mouth curved up slightly. The heroine that Ian was most wary of in terms of strength, Sharon Pierce, was meditating in her tidy dormitory. The mountain breeze, blowing from beyond the moon, gently rustled her blue hair. It could have been ticklish, but Sharon didnt even flinch. Meditation. During this time, her mind always became clear, and she experienced enlightenment. Sharon knew better than anyone that this precious time was of great help to her growth. She often found that during this time, her mind was enveloped in an unidentified energy, and she would receive sudden epiphany about her own growth. ? The corners of Sharons pale pink lips twitched for a moment. It was because she sensed something in the energy that should have been colorless and odorless. A faint presence. Ive felt this somewhere before. Sharon murmured to herself. Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The day had dawned. From the early morning, Ian sighed. It was time to go to the Academy. Ugh. He was hesitant to go to the Academy. Pongpongs reputation had already hit rock bottom before, but after the s*icide incident, it had gone even lower, digging underground and disappearing. It was an official development ording to the scenario. In the game, I managed to forget about it. ording to the original scenario, after the s*icide incident, Pongpong would disappear. It was only until he reappeared in a viinous state, wreaking havoc at the Academy in a glorious fashion. It was better when Pongpong was gone, though. He was originally known as the Newbie Guillotine. Even yers didnt have a good opinion of Pongpong. Ah. Come to think of it, after Pongpong disappeared, it did be harder to acquire growth buffs and items. The difficulty of raising characters suddenly increased. I thought it was just a kind of pay-to-win mechanism. But upon further reflection, it seemed like Pongpongs foolishness had something to do with it. Anyway. Ian decided to cut ties with everything rted to Pongpong, whether it was the growth buffs or the foolishness he had indulged in. There shouldnt be any influence on the story due to the possession. As Ian got up from his seat, he realized something. Oh right, lunchbox. Originally, Pongpong used to wake up early every morning and spend about two hours making lunchboxes. That was also one of the reasons Ian had woken up early from dawn. Of course, he made lunchboxes to give to Lina. I have no intention of doing what Pongpong did, but Lunchboxes had to be made. The dining expenses at the Academy were quite expensive. So, in any case, he had to make a lunchbox to avoid starving. He took out another lunchbox that had been prepared in advance and ced it on the kitchen shelf. Ian contemted the cooking method and boiled the ingredients appropriately. Then he packed them into the lunchbox as they were. Its just nutrition; it doesnt matter. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals. What mattered was not the taste but the bnce of nutrients. Come to think of it, do they have chicken breast in this world? Pongpong, that guy with no money, used unnecessarily expensive ingredients. Lets stick to a diet of chicken breast and sweet potatoes from now on. I have a bit of time left. The cooking time was significantly reduced with modern cooking methods. Ian stepped outside his lodging. Lets train every morning. Regr training was essential to get stronger. While Pongpong made lunchboxes, Ian decided to focus on training. And he had some spells that he could use right away. [Extraction], [Transformation], [Restoration]. Those were the three spells that Pongpong had mastered. Of course, he would make an effort to learn new magic, but for now, it was important to refine what he already knew if he wanted to grow immediately. It wasnt difficult since he had already tried it yesterday. Whoosh! A suit made of iron covered his arms. If I make this well, can I achieve Iron X? Cold metal encased his skin from his arms to his shoulders. With this and a few auxiliary spells to increase destructive power, it seemed possible for Kim Ian to act like a hero in a superhero movie, just like he liked. Is it really right to use magic like this? Well, it wasnt the game that was strange. It was Ian himself. Pongpong, since he didnt have anybat magic, was basically using these spells as a substitute. It was possible because Kim Ian was a well-known yer of Fanta X Aca. If I use it well, people will be shocked when I use it in a public. Is that guy performing sorcery? Thats magic! The Archmage wont acknowledge such things! There would be various reactions, but it didnt matter. As long as the performance is good. Right now, he was using iron, but with a little more effort, he wondered if he could extract a better metal like titanium. His talent for [Extraction] and [Transformation], which Pongpong had honed to that extent, was overwhelming. If I had focused on myself during the time others were picking up the pieces, I might have easily reached 4 stars. Hes such a pitiful guy in many ways. And Ian had no intention of bing such a pitiable person. Perhaps that was Pongpongs sin. Putting more effort into others than oneself. Its amon mistake. Being so concerned about how you appear to others that you paradoxically neglect yourself. Ultimately, your self-worth diminishes, you lose interest from others, and you find yourself in a cycle of making foolish decisions to regain that lost attention. The so-called Pongpong vicious cycle. Pongpong had it, but Ian didnt. He would now focus on himself, not others. The daily morning training was evidence of that. There are various ways to get stronger, but Ian had no intention of cking off on his training in the future. After a quick shower and changing into fresh clothes, Ian left his dorm. It was time to head to the Academy. Lichten Academy Located in the slightly off-kilter city-state of Lichten, which was at the heart of the continent, this was the backdrop for Fantasia X-Aca. The grand scale of the Academy was evident, with each building being magnificent and beautiful. The well-maintained gardens and the trees along the paths were beyond words, and even the students wandering within had a high standard in appearance and behavior. However, as is customary wherever humans reside, living in a ce that appears grand doesnt necessarily mean people possess matching character. In fact, there are cases where character seems to be inversely proportional to wealth. Lichten Academy, a prestigious institution, was no exception. Around a corner of a path that circled the buildings Thud! With a ssic sound effect, Ian collided with someone. The books in their hands scattered. I need to build some muscle. With that thought, Ian bowed his head slightly. Even though he felt that the other party was responsible for the collision, manners came first. Im sorry. Usually, in such a situation, when one person lowers their head like this, the other person responds with, No, its my fault., or simply says, Im sorry., and they each go their own way as part of the unspoken rules. Ian believed that this wasmon sense, whether it was in 21st-century South Korea or in an arcane, cyberpunk-style fantasy setting like Fanta X Aca. However, this case was a bit different. Oh, damn. Whats this, a pushover No, isnt this Ian? Hey, did I bump into a trash can? The other partys reaction wasnt particrly friendly. Ian realized that Pongpongs reputation within the school was far from ster. There were undoubtedly rumors about him being obsessed with girls. But even with such rumors, the reactions were excessively hostile. Green vines were drawn on the name tags hanging from their chests. They must be from the Reconnaissance Department. Ian was part of the Magic Department, and there was no love lost between his department and the Reconnaissance Department. [Monisichi] [Disichi] [Trishichi] From their appearances, the three brothers were probably the infamous Shichi trio. Ah, I think I dislocated my shoulder. Is it okay? This is a real bummer. Hey, Ian has a lot of money, right? Yeah, its fine. Its fine. Ian has plenty of money. Ian roughly grasped the situation. It seemed that because Pongpong had been running around trying to impress heroines, there were those who now saw him as a real pushover. Theyre not even funny. He had no intention of getting involved in this kind of childish fight. So, he chose the diplomatic route. Didnt you guys bump into me first? Ian made a point of noting their wrongdoing, but the central member of the trio responded earnestly. Youre so wee~ The left and right members, as if acknowledging the impressive quip,ughed. Khahahaha! Same old, same old! Hey, wait, Ill show you how alike we are. The left member, stretching their face like a monkey, opened their mouth wide Weebbeebwewebebbew~ Hahahahaha! Its the same! Kkeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! They continued their exaggerated antics, seemingly trying to outdo each other. Enough of this childishness, thought Ian as he picked up the books he had dropped. I should definitely work on building some muscles. If Pongpong had spent just a fraction of the time he wasted on heroines working out, he would have be a macho man by now. After letting out a sigh, he stood up. However, the Shichi Trio didnt seem to want to let him go easily. Hey, this guy even shaved. Whats going on? And he even took a shower. Can you guys give me a break? Dont you have sses to attend? Kya, our ck sheep, my man! Now hes talking back to us. Just because youre good with the girls doesnt mean you can mess with us. Ian decided to ignore them and walked on. Even in a fantasy academy like this, there had to be consequences for bullying. Its a bad idea to mess with guys who know how to use magic. Ian continued walking, intending to leave them behind. But just as he turned to go, something unexpected happened. Hey, Ians ignoring us~! I wont hit him. I wont. But, Ian being so clean and all, were not used to it. What are they up to? As he turned to look behind him, something unexpected happened. Oops, I dropped the dirt! The central Shichi brother tossed something in his hand, and Ians vision was suddenly filled with dirt. I cant avoid this. In that split second, Ian remembered the training he had done yesterday and today. was of no use here. Then it is. He pulled out the mana and quickly cast the spell. Kwadung! Being an Earth elemental mage, Ian had control over earth magic. The scattered dirt instantly gathered into a round shape. Thud. He casually tilted his head, and thepacted dirt ball meekly rolled aside. ? The Shichi brothers were left dumbfounded. They were about to say something when a voice came from behind. You guys! An angry voice echoed from behind. As Ian turned to look, he immediately recognized her. Lina Rosewell. With her fiery red hair, she had a friendly and sociable personality, fitting for an elf-blooded character. She was a 3.5-star character in the early stages, with a 5-star potential rating. A Fire Elementalist and consistently the number one choice in the Characters You Want to Get Closer To poll on the yers Gate website. She was also the heroine who had crushed Pongpongs homemade lunch a few days before the s*icide. You brought another lunch box because there was leftover food? But why me? Why are you giving it to me? Hence, she was one of the candidates for pushing Pongpong. Lets get out of here quickly. Ian immediately lowered his head. To be honest, the heroine was scarier than the Shichi brothers. The Shichi trio might pick on people, but the heroines aimed to kill. I hope she didnt see me. As he was about to slip away, something unexpected happened. Theyre so mean, arent you hurt? With that kind voice, she grabbed Ians arm. Crap. Was this kindness genuine or just an act? Ian decided to stop hiding his face and looked at Lina. Huh? Ian? How did you? Hup! As if she had made a mistake, Lina covered her mouth with her hand. Of course, the smile that seemed infinitely kind to him also crumpled in an instant. You see, Ian um Lina stammered, clearly flustered. Ian could guess why. She was probably worried that Pongpong might misunderstand her kindness. If Pongpong had such a misconception, he would probably start nning their wedding and naming their future children. Since its so obvious that he might jump to that conclusion, she probably dislikes it. If Lina was the culprit, the moment she did something Pongpong disliked, the probability of him suddenlymitting s*icide would skyrocket. Ian had a clear rule for dealing with situations like this: Ignore heroines. Dont worry about it. I wont have any misunderstandings now. See you. Huh? Ah? Ignoring the bewildered Lina, Ian walked away. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 5 Chapter 5 The undergraduate program at the Lichten Academy was divided into five major fields: Magic Studies, Knight Studies, Priest Studies, and Reconnaissance Studies. In addition, there was a ss called Aether consisting of top performers from each field. Of course, these fields were just broad categories within the academy. If you delved into the specifics, you found numerous disciplines being taught within the Lichten Academy. In other words, the campus of the academy was unbelievably vast. Naturally, Ian was lost. Hes shaved. Why was he still so annoying? Did he do that to impress someone this time? Good-for-nothing. What was surprising was that wherever he went, he could hear insults about himself. Seriously, how shameless could Pongpong be? In a way, it was a feat that was only possible because Pongpong was like that to all the heroines in different fields. Thats why Ian was nonchntly ignoring Lina. I should have asked for directions. But he immediately raised his head. This was all because he was still thinking in terms of the [Lina Rosewell] he had experienced while ying Fanta X Aca. A kind insider. In short, Linas official personality could be summarized like that. She was so kind and friendly to everyone that she naturally had a lot of friends around her. Linas appearance on the screen had always been like that. If anything, its even more suspicious. Now, in this state of possession. He knew that Lina, confirmed through Pongpongs Love Journal, was different. You brought an extra lunchbox because there was leftover food? But why me? Why do you always give it to me? Linas smile copses when she only sees Pongpong. That might be her true self. I did well to ignore her. I should just keep wandering. Getting lost is just a part of exploring the Academy. If you think about it, it was the first day of the Academy, so it was even weirder not to get lost. Ian didnt know, but he seemed to exude a sense of ease and confidence outwardly. Theres no need to rush. If I focus on myself rather than others, the reactions will change eventually. While Ian was focusing on his growth rather than the reactions of those around him, to others, he already seemed different. Magic Studies, 1st year, Mezai ss ssroom. Ah Lina sat down in her seat with half-closed eyes. Hello Lina-! Yeah hi. Lina, who would usually greet the others around her with kindness, seemed off enough for them to tilt their heads in confusion. It was understandable. Whats going on? Linas thoughts were in disarray. Of course, it was because of Ian. Didnt he fall to the ground and never got back up? Lina nkly turned to look at Ians seat. It was still empty, even after he left earlier in the morning. That seat had been empty for the past week. It was because of an incident that urred on the roof of the Faculty of Magic. An emergencymittee had been convened to handle the situation. Only those mentioned in Ians letters knew about the facts. As Lina recalled the situation at the time, her eyebrows twitched. Even if I got better, I didnt expect to see you at the academy. Did she see a ghost this morning then? It was definitely a far cry from Ian ckangers usual self. Normally, Ian would approach Lina awkwardly and make small talk as soon as he saw her. Oh, you look beautiful today. Did you change your shampoo? It has a different scent. Like that. But this time, he just nced at Lina without saying anything. His appearance has also be neater. His messy hair from earlier in the morning was now neatlybed, and his scruffy beard was cleanly shaved. But the most significant change was his attitude. Dont worry. I wont have any dillusions anymore. Bye. It was a clear change. His tone was infinitely colder. Now, it was an attitude of I wont bother with someone like you. So when Ian walked away first, Lina was left stunned and stood still for a while. Such a remarkable change. Has he really changed? Lina tilted her head in doubt. People dont change so quickly. Of course, he could have hit his head and changed when he fell from the rooftop, but Lina didnt believe in Ians transformation. As she was thinking about it. Gurgling Her stomach made a sound of hunger. Ah. Naturally, Ians lunchbox, which he used to secretly ce in her desk, came to mind. Items that were secretly ced in the desk by him. I-I made it at home and brought it And it was definitely a lunchbox that he put a lot of effort into. Supplies and lunchboxes. She couldnt help but remember those things. The supplies were somewhat helpful, but the lunchbox was too burdensome and she didnt like it. I really hated it. But other than that, there was nothing else to eat. And now, a week had passed since Ian hadnt shown up. Linas nutritional status was getting precarious. Gurgle gurgle Ugh Im so embarrassed She felt incredibly embarrassed, as if her health was deteriorating for some reason. Somehow, she felt like her health was getting worse. It had been quite some time since she had eaten good food and nutrients. She even found herself wanting to pluck the grass while walking in the garden yesterday. Ah! No! Not to that extent! Anyway, she had heard about it before. People crave foods that arecking in nutrients. The reason was clear. As she leaned on the desk with no energy. Creak Suddenly, the ssroom door opened. Huh! Lina let out a surprised exmation without thinking. Ian was standing there. Did he not bring the lunchbox today? Suddenly, a noise came from her stomach. Gurgle This time, it was louder. Whats that sound? What was that noise just now? The nearby children were buzzing with curiosity. Blushing, Lina clutched her stomach. Why am I like this? Am I going crazy? To think her stomach would growl so loudly upon seeing Ian. She wanted that lunchbox. Ian, struggling to find the building of the Magic Department, had no trouble finding his way to his ss and seat since he had experienced it once after the possession. As he sat in his assigned seat, Ian was taken aback by Linas gaze. Why is she ring at me like that? No, wait a minute. Its not just a normal gaze. Yeah, its more like shes eyeing prey. Not exactly like a tiger but maybe a cheetah or a lynx. It felt like that kind of gaze that predators have when theyre eyeing their prey and their mouths are watering. Could it be? Is Lina really the culprit? ! Ians gaze fell on his book. Outwardly, it seemedposed and indifferent, but inside F*ck. His heart started beating more forcefully. In reality, Lina wasnt overwhelmingly strong. She was quite skilled in handling spirits, but her potential exceeded her current abilities. But there was something else. Even if she were a potential killer. Theres a big difference between a murderer wandering around with a knife in a harem and a murderer sitting diagonally across from you in the same ss. Maybe it was too modern a touch. In fact, the world of Fanta X Aca was a world where monsters and demons roamed freely. People dying was moremon than you might think. Ultimately, it was the fear he felt as a modern person trying to fit into this era that bothered him the most. Above all, Linas gaze wasnt evidence that she was the culprit. Phew. Ians mind began to recover quickly. He didnt have a particrly weak mental state; he was just momentarily surprised. I still havent fully adapted to this world. He needed to immerse himself more actively in this world. As he epted his newly assigned task, it seemed like the ss was already in progress. [Advanced Application and Interpretation of Magic Circles I] Student Ian,e to the front and solve the problem. As Ian walked up to the chalkboard, he continued to ponder. Even when ying games, hadnt he always approached things from a modern perspective? How could a modern person synchronize with the flow of this era? With his thoughts in mind, he examined the chalkboard. [The triangle ABC has the following dimensions and angles. The auxiliary magic circle inside ABC must be circr. What should be the exact radius of the auxiliary magic circle?] Compared to Ians current concerns, this was a straightforward math problem. Student Ian. You must also write down the solution. Let O be the center of the inscribed circle in triangle ABC. Let r be the length of the perpendicrs drawn from O to each side of the triangle. Then, triangles AOB, BOC, and COA are all right triangles. Therefore, we can set up the following equations. r / sin 60 = AB / 2 r / sin 30 = BC / 2 r / sin 90 = AC / 2. So, Ian continued his thoughts and scribbled down his solution. The way to adapt to this world, huh. Tap, tap. He dryly filled the white letters on the chalkboard. Simplifying the above equations, we get: r = AB * sin 30 / sin 60 r = BC * sin 90 / sin 30 r = AC * sin 60 / sin 90. Since all three equations have the same value, we can summarize it as follows: AB * sin 30 / sin 60 = BC * sin 90 / sin 30 = AC * sin 60 / sin 90. It might be a good idea to go to the market or an auction. I can experience the lives of ordinary people there. Solving for r in this equation, r = AB * BC * AC / (4 * AB * BC * sin 60) Now, AB = 12, AC = 15, BC = 9, and sin 60 = 3 / 2, so: r = (12 * 15 * 9) / (4 * 12 * 9 * 3 / 2) r = (15 * 3) / (8 * 3) r = 15 / 8. Or maybe trying to make friends would be a good idea. Although, considering Ians reputation, it might not be easy in this regard. Therefore, the radius of the inscribed circle of triangle ABC is 15/8. Ding-dong. With a cheerful sound, Ian ced the chalk back on the chalk tray. No. Is it really this easy? Even among advanced magic circles, this is the mostplex part! This is being done by Ian ckangers? Everyone, including the professor, was surprised. But Ian, returning to his seat, had an unchanged expression. He couldnt even hear the murmurings around him. The conclusion of the modern persons adaptation to a fantasy world. That was the culmination of his worries. Alright, lets go to the library. Theres no indirect experience as great as books. He might be able to quickly grasp countless settings he hadnt encountered in games. As Ian concluded his thoughts, he suddenly felt something strange. The ssroom had be deathly quiet. Why is the atmosphere like this? Ian slowly raised his head. ? Both the teacher and the students were staring nkly at Ian. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 6 Chapter 6 After the magic circle ss. Violet, the professor in charge of Magic Circle Application and Interpretation I and the homeroom teacher of Ians ss Mezai, was waiting for a student in her office. She was waiting for a student in her office. She called as soon as ss was over, so she wouldnt have to wait too long. Since she had called immediately after the ss ended, there was no need to wait long. However, even that short time felt difficult to wait for, and Elena was tapping her long, white fingers on an elegant wooden table. Tap. Tap. Tap. Hervishly violet hair, which used to be wlessly neat, now seemed a bit disheveled, suggesting some inner turmoil. However, her expression remained profoundly calm. I wont know unless I ask myself. At that moment, as her fingers moved a bit faster Knock, knock! The sound of knocking on the door echoed. Violet jumped to her feet reflexively. Ah, the student. At that thought, she sat back down awkwardly. Perhaps she was too excited. Violet, taking a deep breath, spoke with a cold tone. Come on in. Creak. The dark wooden door cautiously opened. A boy with deep, dark blue hair entered. He appeared somewhat pale and seemed to be in pain as he nced around. His ck eyes seemed as deep as ever. Ian ckangers. He nodded his head. Did you call, Professor? Yes. Please have a seat over here. Violet pointed to the guest chair in front of her desk and observed Ian closely. Confidently, yet politely, Ian crossed the room and carefully took a seat. From a modern Korean students perspective, his behavior was quite ordinary, but Violet, unaware of this, could only make assumptions. Look at that. Bowing when greeting someone and sitting down without making a soundthe little things. Certainly. Certainly, this boy had changed. What was the big deal about that? In the Mezai ss, students with talent in magic and spirits were rare. They were mostly nobility. Basically, it meant that polite ones were rare. And it was also a characteristic of mages. You have to be able to bend your noble head to seed. Of course, Violet didnt teach such things. It wasnt something that could be taught through words. It was a lesson one had to learn through harsh experience. Ian was no different from the ordinary Mezai students. In fact, he was worse. His only interest seemed to be in a few girls, and Violet, as his homeroom teacher, was well aware of this fact. That boy has changed. The socially awkward boy had transformed. He didnt fidget or appear anxious. He didnt exert too much force or act unnaturally. Those hard-to-observe traits had disappeared. I feel a sense of calm. When Violet called Ian, she originally intended to ask how he had improved his magic circleposition and drawing skills so quickly. However, that concern had long since disappeared from Violets mind. From the moment she was tapping the table in her office, her sole focus had been on Ians transformation. I guess I should test him once. Violet adopted a more professorial, professor-like, tone. Magicians inherently form hypotheses and verify them when events ur. Ian nodded quietly. I made a few assumptions. About what? Why Ian has appeared to change so much. Ian didnt show any particr reaction, which made Violet even more attentive. First, theres a malevolent spirit inhabiting your body. Ian flinched. His shoulders trembled lightly. That was a sharp curveball. From Ians perspective, it was inevitable for him to think, How does she know? Was Professor Violet different from the other instructors at Lichten Academy? He was surprised in that sense. He quicklyposed his expression, but it felt like he was a bitte. .. Expectedly, Violet hadnt missed Ians transformation. She nodded as if she had expected it. Yes. I can understand Ianughing at that. Its quite an oundish assumption. It was a misunderstanding. Ian had some time to regain hisposure. I didnt doubt it. Yes, I noticed how you tried to hold back yourughter. You have very good manners. Thankfully. Violet grinned. A mischievous yet mature smile on her face. She leaned closer to Ian suddenly. Ian didnt avoid her. He met her gaze. Deep, curious eyes that seemed endless. He noticed ate but distinct scent of various herbs, potions, and books mixed together. So, this is what a magician smells like, Ian thought, his adaptation to the fantasy world increasing. Violet yfully raised the corner of her lips. This is another change. You used to be quite immature in your emotional expressions. If I did this back then, you might have blushed. Whether Im your homeroom teacher or not. I apologize. No need to apologize. Youve changed, havent you? Youve be more proficient Violet opened the hem of her own shirt, which had been left undone on purpose. and more mature. With those words, Violet fell silent. Ians desire couldnt be contained any longer. His instincts that had been suppressed when dealing with students were bubbling up. It wasnt Professor Violet but Magician Violet who was trying to break out. He couldnt stop it. .. The process and the result. Magicians are often criticized as being trash who only care about the result. But thats a story told by those who know nothing. In the eyes of magicians, the process is also crucial. You need to remember the process that led to a good result so that you can repeat that result whenever you want. Thats how it is with magic circles. Magic circles are all about the process. To achieve a good magic result. In that sense, Violet found Ians transformation interesting. What exactly had happened to him during the week he didnte to school? How did a boy who was so pathetic turn into an exciting young magician? She was curious. She wanted to know that process. If stalking girls, suffering from unrequited love, and jumping off the rooftop were part of the process, could boys like Ian emerge as baby magicians? If that were the case, Violet could push the students off the school roof without hesitation. Ians result was that enticing. In short, the process was important to magicians as well. If there was a process that could produce beautiful results, magicians could create that beauty as many times as they wanted. They just didnt consider the ethics of the process. Violet, who had been contemting whether to push a few students she didnt like off the roof or a cliff, suddenly remembered the face of the headmaster and snapped out of it. If you mess with the students one more time, I wont let it go. Tsk. Violet quenched her appetite. And with the thought of headmaster, she remembered something to tell Ian. It was something professors should never tell their students Once again, lets emphasize: magicians are willing to tolerate any hical process to achieve a beautiful result. Student Ian. Yes? Let me tell you something. What is it? Soon, a disciplinarymittee will be convened to decide on your expulsion or suspension. They found some troubling things where you jumped from. Is it okay to tell me this? Convening a disciplinarymittee is always a secret matter. By telling the student, you might put yourself in danger as well Hahaha! Violetughed and yfully pped Ians back. It didnt hurt much. On the contrary, it felt more like a caress. Its so interesting, isnt it? You right now. Id even consider making you my research subject. Im honored. To be honest, Im quite excited. I shouldnt be doing this to a student. Thank you. So, will you not forgive me if you get expelled? Ill actively help you, so I expect somepensation. Ian nodded silently. Then he asked, What kind ofpensation would you like? Well Violet hesitated for a moment. A Masters degree? Violet softly raised the corner of her lips. But her cat-like eyes remained expressionless. It was truly intimidating. Whew I almost got into big trouble. Ian, who had just rushed out of Violets room, entered the bathroom. Swoosh! He immediately washed his face and also cleaned his ears. A Masters degree. It was truly an unexpected statement. As soon as he heard it, shivers ran down his spine. At the same time, his brain went into overdrive. He needed to do whatever it took to survive. To escape from the skilled magicians grasp. Fortunately, a reasonable response came to mind. Ahaha! A meal? Yes! Ill treat you to a meal! He then ran out without looking back. Ugh He had underestimated the professors of this fantasy world during his adaptation. No matter how different this world was from the modern one, there were things they had inmon. For example, Death. It was painful whether it happened in reality or in a fantasy world. Violence. It hurt when you were hit, no matter where you were. Dishes. You had to do the dishes, and they would stack up if you didnt. Masters degree. It was something you shouldnt pursue. I really felt like I was caught in a spiders web. Professor Violet. He needed to be careful from now on. But Im really grateful that she warned me about the disciplinarymittee. Disciplinary Committee. Amittee responsible for deciding on the expulsion or suspension of students at the Lichten Academy. Gathering evidence to prove his innocence was crucial. Although As is customary with disciplinarymittees, there is a certain amount of emotional fighting involved. Shouting evidence alone wouldnt be enough. Ian and a professor needed to jointly argue his innocence. I need to find someone who will stand on my side. He needed someone on his side. In other words, he needed to make allies, friends. A new goal had been added. It wont be easy, but Ill give it a try. With this determination in mind, Ian used cold water to clear his head and returned to the ssroom. However, he came to a sudden stop. Why is nobody here? Clearly, it was still ss time, yet the ssroom waspletely empty. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Magic, Knight, Priest, and Reconnaissance Departments. Lichten Academy was divided into four major disciplines. This reflected the academys emphasis on practicality and the basic partyposition. In other words, the divisions within the academy mirrored the divisions in the real world. For example, there was tension between Reconnaissance and Magic. From the magicians perspective, scouts were somewhat uneducated (ording to magicians), and they werent well-regardedpared to knights or priests. From the scouts perspective, they did simr jobs, but magiciansfortably cast spells from behind while they worked hard. This atmosphere was also reflected in Lichten Academy. < Foundations of Reconnaissance and Exploration > Professor Rowen of the Reconnaissance Departments ss was summoned to the western forest for that reason. We needed to properly educate these novice magicians who only care about their own abilities. The shadowy forest where monsters and powerful creatures roamed. While they werent deadly, they were powerful enough to break the spirit of magic students. Thats why the < Foundations of Reconnaissance and Exploration > ss was suddenly summoned to the western end of the Lichten Academy grounds just before the ss began. As for Ian Where is everyone? Of course, he didnt know that. An empty ssroom. If it were Pongpong, he would have been in despair, sulking in a corner of the ssroom, iming to be ostracized. But Ian was different now. He quickly asked nearby students and professors for information. As a result, he could reach the western outskirts of Lichten Academy. There he is! The moment when students and professors could be seen in the distance. Someone shouted. It seemed like a professor. Wow, they had good eyes. I cant even see facial features from here. As he got closer, the professors appearance became clearer. Pale skin and short blond hair. Overall, a slim but agile-looking body stood out. But what impressed him the most was the pointed ears. Elf! No wonder they were having sses near the forest; it seemed to match the professors background. Im sorry. Ian approached the professor and bowed his head respectfully. By the way, was this person, or rather, elf, a man? From up close, there was a strong sense of androgyny, even in their voice. Student Ian. Why are youte? Everyone had to wait under the scorching sun because of you. The professor asked in a cold tone, seemingly quite angry. Now that he thought about it, the atmosphere here wasnt particrly pleasant. Its eerie. Did the professors words serve as some kind of signal? Following that, the students directed disdainful nces at Ian. We had to stand in the scorching sun because of you. Pongpong is like that. It was the look in their eyes. These b*stards? Naturally, Ian felt unjust. If a ssmate had been summoned by the homeroom teacher, it was something he could at least offer some understanding for. Or at the very least, he could have given the professor a reason for histeness. In his frustrated state of mind, he could have simplyid out the truth before the professor. However, Ian shook his head. Pongpongs reputation within the ss was beyond terrible. Anything could happen at any moment because of it. Thats why Ian chose a different approach. Im sorry. Because Professor Violet was urgently looking for me, I couldnt say anything to my colleagues and had to rush there. Of course, it was somewhat unfair, that was a fact. But there was no reason to turn the ssmates into enemies. Instead, handling it this way was like leaving a debt to the kids. And sure enough, The sharp gazes of those sharp-witted ones softened in an instant. Some even lowered their gazes to the floor. They must have felt a slight sense of guilt. After all, school is like a small society. Ian, who had already experienced social life before the possession, thought. He had plenty of room to handle such incidents lightly. Or maybe he didnt know. If I improve my image in the ss little by little like this There might be ones who would help when he got attacked by the non-v*rgin heroer. Anyway. Hmm. Protecting your colleagues, huh? Youre the first kid Ive seen among the magicians like you. Alright, Ill let it slide this time. I hope there wont be such incidents from now on. I will be careful. Thank you. Fortunately, it seemed to sit well with this elf professor. The professors sharp demeanor softened slightly. Hes really good-looking. No, is he pretty? Ian went over to the group of students who had gathered. Hmm? He felt some eyes on him. Looking around, he saw Lina standing a little ahead of him. She nced at him and then quickly turned away when their eyes met. Why is she acting like that? He ignored it casually. The professor continued immediately. Now, since everyone has arrived, lets start the ss! I believe you all have a good understanding of the through the theory lessons. Unfortunately, Ian had never learned such a thing. In Fanta X Aca, Reconnaissance and Exploration were concepts that could bepleted with a single click. I hope I wont die here, will I? Such expectations were quickly shattered. Today, as you all know, the Shadow Forest we will explore can be dangerous to your lives. Uncontrolled monsters may appear. In such cases, send a rescue request quickly. Ah, so this is the Shadow Forest. It was the forest that served as the backdrop for all sorts of gloomy atmospheres in the game. It was conveniently located right next to the school, making it a suitable setting. There were cases of disappearance, death by monsters and even murder. Ians pupils shook slightly as he recalled the sinister setting associated with the location. Time is until 5 oclock when the sun begins to set. During that time, you need to find a magical object hidden in the forest or locate a specific magical marker. Any questions? Lina asked cheerfully. Um what about lunch? Whahahaha! As expected of Lina! Theres plenty to eat in the forest. Just try to avoid mushrooms if you can. This time of year, there are a lot of poisonous ones. With that, the professor concluded the answer. Now, everyone, form teams of two! No. Did they just suddenly say to form teams of two? Ian, who was about to walk into the forest, flinched. I think Id be better off alone. Suddenly, he remembered a physical education ss from his childhood. What if Im the only one left alone? That desperate tension. Its always like this when the ss size is odd It was as expected. When the teacher said, One group, make it three, that was the only hope. Or something like, Ill assign groups in numerical order. But Ian shook his head. He was too old to have such futile hopes. After all, its just a momentary annoyance, isnt it? Just a moment of trauma from childhood. Pongpong probably had this kind of experience, hating it to the core. Kids of this age are all like that, originally. The result is already predetermined. Lets ept it proudly. After all, hes alone. It was not because he did something wrong. It was because of the umted karma from before. While Ian was trying to boost his confidence in this way, Lina was giving Ian a quick nce. A quick nce. As soon as the words form teams of two were mentioned, Lina observed Ian. Ian was always flustered and even broke into a cold sweat whenever team formation lessons came up. Still, he would try various tricks to end up in the same team as Lina. Rolling his eyes or subtly approaching her. But there were always friends who rushed to be around her, so it rarely worked out. Why arent you doing that today? It was a reflexive question. It seemed that the current Lina, the sole focus of Ians attention, couldnt help but be concerned about it. Unconsciously, Lina bit her lip. Lina, are you feeling unwell? Huh? Oh? No, its nothing. Hehe. Lina quickly regained her smile. I thought I wouldnt have to deal with this anymore. She was surprised. When Ian reappeared. And when she made a resolution. To just think of him as non-existent. But that doesnt work. He had changed too much. Sometimes, he used to be someone she worried about and would nce at even if she turned around. Now, even though she was staring at him like this, he wouldnt meet her eyes at all. Rather, if it doesnt work out, just do it alone. I feel like I have some leeway. This cant go on. Once again, the sudden change in a person was quite unsettling. Lina swallowed her saliva. Everything is perfect. Scouting practice. And the location was the Shadow Forest. Furthermore, the teamposition was in pairs. There couldnt be a more perfect opportunity to be alone together. If we go deep into the forest, no one will notice. Lina lightly nodded her head. It seemed like it would work. Lina, want to team up with me? Ahaha Sorry! She rejected her friends offer with augh. Then she turned to face Ian. There was no smile on her face. One step. Two steps. Lina approached Ian. Her clenched fist turned red as if she had made a decision. Just like that, it wasnt long before she was by Ians side. Swoosh! ? Someone brushed past Lina. And then, they stuck to Ian in front of her. Ian! Lets team up! Lina stopped in her tracks. No. Did someone just ask Ian to be on their team? She couldnt believe it. Especially when I came all the way here? Blink. Blink. Lina stared nkly at the scene before her. This didnt ever happen before. What should she do? Her mind went nk. At that moment, the professor shouted, You there, the red-haired student whos alone. Who was the red-haired student who was alone? Ah. Its me. Linas head turned back toward the professor. Lina, couldnt find a team member? The professor asked. Lina looked around. Everyone had a partner. Whats this? Am I the only one without a team? Her eyes gradually filled with embarrassment. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Swoosh A sound of slicing through the wind echoed. Danya will join your special team! Its on the house! In the blink of an eye, a girl appeared, gazing up at Ian with wide eyes. She had cherry blossom-colored hair and pointed cat ears. She didnt seem particrly dangerous, at least not at first nce due to her small size. Moreover, if she was a humanoid, she likely possessed physical abilities that could be helpful in searching the forest. This time, Ian nced at Lina with a puzzled expression, his eyes darting to the side. A very embarrassed expression. Her demeanor was certainly unusual. Just moments ago, it seemed like she was subtly approaching as if suggesting they should be on the same team. A heroine who may be the culprit, in a shadowy forest, where anyone could be lurking. It was the worstbination. It was clear to Ian who he should team up with. Ian extended his hand towards the girl in front of him, Danya. All right. Lets do this together. Danya smiled and shook his hand. You know Im good at searching, right? Hehe. Its a good choice. The fact that she wasnt a heroine pleased him. Even though she seemed somewhat mistaken, it was still fine. There were several things Ian was looking forward to in this search exercise. If its a Shadow Forest, there should be a few Hidden Pieces here. The first is a hidden piece. Shadow Forest is a ce with a gloomy and mysterious atmosphere in Panta First was the Hidden Pieces. The Shadow Forest was the ce in Fanta X Aca responsible for its eerie and mystical atmosphere. Although he had limited information about it being an unyable area, there was a sufficient possibility of hidden elements that could aid in growth. And second was having a teammate. Whether its dealing with the Disciplinary Committee or confronting the culprit, having a teammate is a significant help. In any case, having a teammate was always beneficial. The problem was that due to Pongpongs terrible reputation, it was challenging to approach others. In the current situation where he was teamed up with Danya, it wasnt a bad thing. The conversation is quite interesting too. She had a somewhat aloof demeanor, but she answered all his questions, even if she found them annoying. I dont like being pretentious. That was just her personality. Was this what it felt like to be friends with a talkative cat? Even if he stood upright, it felt like there was a small body nestled against Ians chest, adding to that feeling. I might be a cat mom. Ian had many questions on his mind, and he was taking this opportunity to ask them. If its not because of magic detection, why did they choose me, of all people? Well, I was curious because it seemed like something had changed about you. Hmm. What changed? Danya turned to look back. She was surprisingly skilled at walking along this forest path. The look in your eyes has changed. Just as Ian looked at Danya in amazement, Danya also found Ian fascinating. To Danya, Ian seemed like a carefree child with endless curiosity. All his attention was focused outward, unable to cater to himself. She often thought that being too kind wasnt necessarily a good thing. But within just a week, Ian had changed. His gaze had deepened. It was directed not outward but inward. It was fascinating from Danyas perspective. Such a change in Ian. He always had a strange gaze Now, theres no stickiness in her gaze. Hmm. But theres no warmth either; its a somewhat unusual look. Its like looking at something fascinating? It was quite an insightful observation. Coincidentally, Ian found Danya in front of him equally fascinating. Even though she was looking back, her confident andposed stride, her tail maintaining bnce without wavering, and her twitching ears. Those ears, that tail she was a real beastperson. Beastperson. Danyas eyes narrowed. I just thought you were being rude! She couldnt stand magicians like this. They probably had all sorts of sinister thoughts while pretending to be aloof on the surface. Well, you could say that. Danya was taken aback by Ians response. He just readily admitted it? Even though he spoke so honestly, she almost got angry but refrained. He wasnt like this before. It was as if the straightforwardness she only felt when she was with friends from her tribe had briefly emerged. So, speaking of that, is it okay if I touch those ears of yours? Theyre so fascinating. Sure, why not! Hmm, maybe it was a rude thing to say after all. Im sorry. I got confused between the game No, I confused it with the etiquette I know. If you put it that way, what can I do? Ill allow it. Consider it an apology. Thank you. Danya lowered her head slightly as she looked ahead. It was difficult to regain herposure. She was too straightforward, even though it was a good thing. Moreover, she hadnt received suchpliments and thanks for a long time, so it was hard to keep her tail from wagging. But that didnt mean she would just meekly ept everything. Danya decided to give Ian a little tease. Hmph! Of course, you should be grateful! Consider it an honor that Danya is on your team! Right. Thank you. Ah really! After exchanging a few straightforward remarks, the two quickly became friends. Danya Catsnesia. A genius from the Catsnesia tribe, one of the most renowned humanoid tribes on the continent. While the Catsnesia tribe was known for agility and physical prowess, Danya had an unusual talent for magic. If you narrowed it down to the scope of magic, she was treated as a once-in-a-century genius among beastmen tribes. However, after enrolling in Lichten Academy, Danyas self-esteem had taken a hit. While she was treated as a magical genius among her tribe, she realized that there were plenty of people like her at the academy. As evidence, she couldnt even make it to the top-tier integrated ss, Aether, and ended up in the Mezai ss. Furthermore, training in magic was challenging due to the inherent limitations of being a beastman. Magicians needed to absorb magical energies from various natural sources, corresponding to their elemental affinities. However, the senses of humanoids were sharp, and the multitude of energies they sensed made it difficult for them to identify the specific elements they needed. The strengths unique to beastmen had be Danyas weaknesses. Danya thought to herself that she was like a scatterbrained bullet. She even wondered if it would have been better if she didnt have any magical talent at all. As Danya brooded endlessly, she suddenly heard, Reconnaissance Practice! Danya was truly at home when it came to navigating through nature. Moreover, the location of her ns sacred grounds was at the northern tip of the Great Mountain Range. She had roamed around the depths of the mountains as if they were her own backyard. Searching the Shadow Forest was a task that seemed incredibly simple to her. Finally, I can be active too! Danya thought with excitement, feeling that this search practice in the Shadow Forest was her chance to shine. This forest is nothingpared to the Great Mountain Range! She believed that the students from Mezai ss, who mostly spent their time indoors,cked real-world experience. In her eyes, the paleplexions of those who knew nothing but academic sess were just a faade. Danya clenched her fists. Ill put everyone under me. The majority of students in Fanta X Aca came from noble or wealthy families, and they often considered themselves refined and sophisticated. This made it difficult for Danya to connect with them, as she found their sense of etiquette to be pretentious. Finally, she was leaving behind her tearful past of low scores and feeling overshadowed. Ah, so you wanted to team up with me? Ian, who was walking behind Danya, tilted his head. But wouldnt it be better to do this alone? They were at the entrance to the Shadow Forest, walking together as a team. Danya, confident in her abilities in the forest, took the lead, while Ian followed behind. Ian had some suspicions about why Danya suddenly wanted to team up with him, and thats why he had asked her. The awkwardness from their first meeting had lingered, and he thought this might help break the ice. Danyas shoulders twitched, and it took a moment before she responded. I-Im not good at tracking traces of magic power. Ian understood. She just wants to shine in the subject shes confident in. Teaming up with him was a reasonable choice to maximize her performance. But why me, specifically? Well, you seemed like you didnt have any friends. Ian was taken aback by her directness. She really knows how to throw a curveball. In fact, there is bound to be something inmon between the two. In their world, there was often some connection between individuals who could be considered outsiders. It could lead to camaraderie, a mutual understanding of being different, or create a sense ofpetition. Danya leans more toward thetter. Although she had a touch of the tsundere personality, with a stronger tsun side, there was no need to be overly cautious. Ian believed there was no reason to be overly wary of those who wereing his way, despite their initial awkwardness. Ian sighed lightly. Even the approaching children should doubt like this at least once. The influence that heroines, the main characters of the story, had was formidable. Anyway. Ian was fundamentally a giving personality as much as he received. Since he received a direct question, it was now his turn to answer. The time when he was an observer in Pongpongs body. Naturally, there was a brief opportunity to observe the atmosphere of the ss as well. If it was Danya, even if she wasnt exactly like Pongpong, she was an obvious member of the nerd territory. So, you should be grateful to me. Ian smiled widely in response to Danyas gaslighting. You dont have any friends either, do you? She blushed. Suddenly, Danya approached a nearby flower. Uh, uh-oh! Thats a really pretty flower. Yep. All that textbook reading. Hit the nail on the head. Ian smirked. Anyway, shes a beastman magician. Its definitely a rare tech tree. Ian recalled Fanta X Acas strategies. Among them, there seemed to be a beastman magician ss. How do these things stay in his head? Because these were all strategies I wrote. Ian had a personality of trying everything. Thanks to that, he had written many p*rverted strategies. I remembered. Beast magician. Of course, its an endlessly perverted nurturing concept, but if possible, the potential is limitless. The sharp sense unique to them, which had been an obstacle to mastering mana, would suddenly turn into a rocketunch pad that took down the obstacle. Ian looked at Danya walking ahead. Her swaying tail and perked ears. I dont think it would be a bad idea to try raising one, right? Fant X Aca surely was difficult to ovee alone. A story about thepulsory use of 5-star heroines. However, if its possible to raise one like this whose potential hasnt bloomed yet It would be an excellent countermeasure. Of course, there was no need to rush. First, after he had to grow himself. He could take care of the remaining things. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Oh, right. Danya. Yeah? What do you think of Lina Rosewell? Have you noticed anything strange about hertely? Ian had been consistently suspicious of whether Lina Rosewell could be the culprit. But Lina was a kind and cheerful girl. He couldnt casually ask others from his ss about information on Lina. In fact, even in Fanta X Aca, she always ranked high in the heroine poprity vote. In reality, considering only her profile, it was hard to imagine Lina as the culprit. Thats why it seems more likely. It could all be just a facade. The culprit could be undetectable. At least that crazy developer noticed. If Linas appearance was a perfect mask? It gives me goosebumps. Ultimately, once suspicion arose about the heroines, they needed to find solid evidence. Someone had tried to kill Ian, and still was trying, as evidenced by Pongpong. Or that shes a v*rgin or something. Surprisingly, listening to rumors from people around could be a good way to start the investigation. And if Danya Catsnesia, who had no friends, were to gather information about Lina Rosewell, it might be a safer approach. Hmm After a moment of contemtion, Danya Catsnesia spoke up. Linas definitely a nice girl for our ss. Ians jaw dropped at her words. Is it really just me? After all, the title of #1 heroine you want to be friends with in Fanta X Aca isnt just given to anyone. I guess its because she handles spirits, not magic. I like that. Danya had a spontaneous nerdish inclination. In other words, Lina Rosewell had earned the endorsement of a spontaneous nerd like Danya, who wanted to get close to her. Chi, I dont want to get to know her! Danya responded with a huff, but her tail and ears were honestly revealing. Ian was gradually learning how to read Danyas sincerity. But if he teased her too much, he was sure to get on her nerves, so for now, he decided to y along with Danyas words. Okay, okay, I get it. But what Im curious about is whether Lina has recently exhibited any peculiar or unusual behavior. Hmm. Danya, who had narrowed her eyes for a moment, suddenly opened them wide, Ah! Are you stalking her again? Tingling. A sharp gaze met his, and Ian couldnt help but feel unfairly used. Its not like that. I was just curious if anything happened while I was away. Hmm Danyas gaze remained suspicious. When Ian raised his hands in defense, she finally relented and replied. I did see her a while ago with a lot of red stuff in her mouth. Red stuff? Yeah. She was mumbling something like Not enough yet while doing that. She did look quite different from the usual Lina. But why are you asking about this? Its nothing. Thats what Ian said, but he couldnt help feeling uneasy. Ian felt that Lina Rosewell, whom he had been observing, was definitely different from her usual self. She looks at me as if shes targeting her prey, and earlier she tried to sneak up on me. Sudden strange behavior. If there were no suspicions, it would be strange. I may need to seriously consider the possibility. Linas fear came not only from her abilities but also from her personality. Even Danya, who wanted to get close to her, admired her. Because of that, she had gained poprity within the academy. He needed to approach her with caution. Ian stared at Danya intently. If it werent for her, he could have been in serious trouble. Why why are you looking at me like that? If he came to this forest as a team with Lina Maybe. Could he have be fertilizer for those big trees? At the very least, if he were to reject Linas proposal, it could potentially trigger Linas anger or turn those who admire her into enemies. Its just a hypothesis that Lina is the culprit, after all. Still, the fact that Danya had suddenly proposed forming a team had reduced the possibility of danger. Suddenly, Ian felt immensely grateful for her. Suddenly, she became extremely grateful for Danya in front of her. Thanks, Danya. Nya? Hmph? Why? Was it such an unexpected expression of gratitude? Danya, sounding taken aback, turned to look at him. Oh, nothing. Just this and that. She stared nkly for a moment, then abruptly turned her head away. Hmm, did she get upset? Well, if youre really thankful like that, maybe Ill team up with you again next time? Perhaps she had misunderstood something, but judging by the way her ears perked up, she seemed pleased. Lets enjoy it. Danya was in a battle. She was concentrating all her efforts to lower her tail, which was raised high in an attempt to climb a tree root. Heeyah! Caught up on the tree root, she managed to lower her tail after making aical posture at the end. Whew. It was just a simple word of thanks, but why did it make her feel so good? Upon some reflection, Danya quickly realized the reason. Its been so long since someone said thank you to me. Its been a long time since I received a thank you or apliment. Words of thanks andpliments were rare for her. It had been quite some time since she left the sanctuary of her tribe. There, she had known people, and her unique magical talent had made it easy to receive various expressions of gratitude,pliments, and even admiration. But at the Academy She had chosen the path of a nerd, and she had also hit the limits of her magical ability, failing to manifest any extraordinary talent. She was just an ordinary, unremarkable girl. Words of thanks andpliments had be unfamiliar to her. It was too far away for Danya. Danya didnt notice it, but her self-esteem had taken a hit. In this context, someone suddenly saying thank you had a significant impact on her, even though it was in apletely unrted context. If anything, it made her feel it more deeply. Could it be that hes a surprisingly good guy? A quick nce. Danya couldnt help but sneak nces at Ian as they moved forward. Honestly, when she first suggested teaming up with Ian, she had been worried. Had he changed temporarily? That was her initial concern. But she might have been mistaken. He didnt look at her with strange eyes. He didnt tease her unnecessarily. Moreover, they got along pretty well. She could see that he was genuinely trying during their training. While Danya did have a goal in mind, something along the lines of Im going to tten the noses of those ssmates in our ss with this opportunity, it seemed like he was actually enjoying it. Although the forest path was no trouble for Danya since she was used to it In Ians case. Ouch. asionally, he stumbled over vines and branches but still silently followed her. He wasnt like that before. She wondered why he was suddenly working so hard. She even had the urge to encourage him. No, not to that extent! Swoosh. She shook her head. But as she swayed back and forth, she noticed something in the corner of her eye. Oh, that vine over there Ouch. As she hesitated about whether to warn him, Ian stepped on it and stumbled. Ah really. Danya snapped at the pitiful appearance without even realizing it. Oh really. You really are a fool. Sorry. Hmph. I knew it would happen. Klutz. After grumbling, Danya bounded ahead, her tail bouncing energetically. Be careful; the ground here seems damp. Danya muttered, her voice soft and somewhat embarrassed, as if it was meant to be heard but not quite. After all, when someone was working hard, it was natural to want to help them. He had to get stronger. To avoid dying to the non-v*rgin heroine, and to navigate through the scenarios that lie ahead. Of course, these reasons were also motivation for growth. But above all else, The process of bing stronger is fun. He was working hard for growth itself. He enjoyed training and used it as the driving force for his growth. The repetition of this process. Surprisingly, it wasnt difficult; it was enjoyable. All Pongpong had to do was to redirect the energy he used to pour on others toward himself. Instead of pouring energy on others like Pongpong used to, its better to direct that energy towards myself. This was something he proved by living it himself. So, he also gave his best in Academy sses. Finding objects or traces with magic. He put his best effort into practical exercises with a training mindset. Actually, thanks to his original talent, his results were not bad. Danya, wait a moment. Yeah. I sense magic on the right. Its about 2 meters high. Yes, that way. Found it. Nice. Teamwork with Danya was surprisingly good. We work well together. Danya finds the way or does physical tasks, while Ian detects magic to find their targets. They already had over six magical spheres in their hands. Hmph! Its all thanks to me! Yeah, yeah. Its all thanks to you. Without you, we wouldnt have collected those beads hanging between the trees. Ugh It was also fun to tease Danya, who was weak topliments. Even a little praise would make her tail sway happily. However, in order to maintain a nk expression, her lips quivered. Its quite helpful, you know. She was agile and nimble for her size. A single cat seemed to be frolicking in the forest. Of course! The sacred ce of my n was in the Northern Great Mountains. Its no big deal! She walked with a confident face but stumbled along the way. As I wasughing, a question naturally arose. Why wasnt she a public character? Danya Catsnesia. No matter how hard I tried to think, the only thing that came to mind was Casternats (a musical instrument). With her presence, she would have surely shone in Fanta X Aca. Even small gestures can appeal to certain groups. Her appearance is wless. Being a beastperson but with the role of a magician was also unique. Why wasnt she released as a public character? Was there a story behind it? While he was lost in these thoughts for a moment, Danya, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. It seems like weve ventured quite deep. Ian looked around. The darkness had definitely intensified. As they raised their heads, towering trees loomed, easily surpassing ten meters in height. The sunlight filtering through the dense leaves cast a hazy glow around, as if it were a cloudy afternoon. With closed eyes, he could feel the flow of magic. The powerful magical presence he had been tracking along with Danya was bing more intense. The flow of magic is definitely getting stronger. Then this direction should be the right one As Danya mumbled, she suddenly sniffed the air. Wait I smell something. Danya rushed forward in the direction of the scent. Ian followed her. Look at this. There was no need to follow Danyas pointing finger. Because it was a sight to behold even from afar. There were enormous footprints, more than twice the size of Danya. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Shadow Forest. A tall and deep forest located west of the Academy. Here, all sorts of rumors never ceased. Children missing in the forest were all said to have been eaten by animals. They imed to have witnessed giant monsters roaming. Someone saw them burying corpses. Most of these incidents and idents were recorded in the Campus News section of the game. Reading it carefully, you start to wonder. If these incidents never stop, will people keep going in and getting hurt or disappearing? Of course, those who enter when idents happen might be foolish, but the truth is, isnt there something hidden in the Shadow Forest? Actually, such rumors were circting. Theres a Ginseng in the forest that grows explosively just by eating. Theres a magic sword left by a certain hero. If you clean the moss-covered statues and offer prayers, theyll bestow blessings! Its all just rumors, but people couldnt help but hope. Thats how deep and mysterious the Shadow Forest was. A giant footprint. Danya, who had swallowed her saliva, mumbled. It seems quite big. Is it a bear or a lion? No, its too thin for those types. Hmm. Ian, who had been examining the tracks for a moment, got up from his seat. Then, as if uninterested, he turned away. As I thought. Seems like hes not interested in this kind of stuff either. Danya sighed inwardly. The Catsnesia n. In their ns sanctuary, everyone had their own interests, and they peacefully coexisted. They discovered flowers they had never seen before on the cliffs of the mountains, captured strange animals in the hignds, and found clear ponds that reached all the way to the bottom. And so on. Of course, among them, Danya, who had been practicing magic, was somewhat of an outlier, but she didnt dislike those things. After all, they sharedmon interests. But there arent people like that here. Ew, the dirt is so gross. Dont animals transmit parasites if you touch them? Flowers? Can they be used as magic ingredients? On the outside, Danya is in and cold. No matter how hard I tried to talk to him, I got that kind of response, so at some point, I closed my heart. Still, she had hoped that maybe she could have some kind of conversation with Ian, who seemed to understand her a bit I want to go home. Suddenly, she missed her hometown. Just as Danya was feeling down. Come over here, Danya. Ian called out to her. Why? In a somewhat colder tone, Ian continued. There are tracks here that look like they belong to some kind of animal. Hmm Tracks? You found them? Why are you so surprised? Am I not capable of that? I didnt think you were interested in this kind of thing Not that Im saying Im interested in you. No! I didnt mean youre not capable or anything! ? She either liked Ian or she didnt. Danya, trying to make sense of it all, started analyzing hastily. It seems quite, quiterge, like some kind of animal That tree has pretty significant damage. Do you have any rough guesses? A few, but Im not sure. Nodding with a raised head, Danya replied. It might not be an animal; it could be a monster. As they went deeper, they could feel a dark and eerie energy, more suitable for demons than the usual forest. Meanwhile, Ian had found new tracks. Here it is again. Looks like w marks. Is he secretly talented at tracking? Danya suddenly became curious about Ians past. Although I had to immediately shake my head. But she had to admit it. Hmm. These arent w marks, though. Still, it was a sharp guess. Thanks for the praise. You sound like a teacher. Hmm! I think these are teeth marks. Teeth? Danya nodded and crossed her arms. Thats the hint. Try to guess what kind of animal it is, Ian. Danya raises her head firmly in triumph. Ian couldnt help but smile faintly, almostughing at the triviality of it all. Of course, he quickly hid his expression, but still. Danya, as you mentioned initially, its not bears or lions, right? Um. They wouldnt leave suchrge tracks like these. In reality, Ian was somewhat familiar with thispared to usual people. He had acquired some knowledge during his time in the military. It seems the time to use what I learned back then hase. His feelings wereplex. Anyway, an animal with tworge teeth? What could that be? Ah. One animal came to mind, but it wouldnt be this huge, right? In that moment Fwoosh! Bang! With an explosion, a bright light like fireworks burst through the dense trees. Ian and Danya locked eyes. ! Emergency Rescue Magic! A small artifact the professor had distributed before the practical exercise. When you pulled it like a firework, it activated protection magic along with a signal re indicating your position. Of course, using it during the exercise meant receiving the lowest grade. It was up to the students to decide. That advice hade with it. It was clear that the Mezai students, who were somewhat fixated on grades, had used it, indicating that something significant was going on. Fwoosh! Bang! ! ! At the sound of another explosion, Ian nervously spoke. This seems dangerous. Can you sense the magic? I feel strong magic nearby, but not in that direction. Its more like underground, perhaps. As Ian concentrated on sensing magic Rescue magic was activated once again. Danyas expression darkened. Itsing this way, Ian. Lets get out of here. Its toote. What are you talking about?! As Ian focused on sensing magic He opened his eyes. Its already there. He pointed with his hand. Mwooo! A massive rabbit stood there. A rabbit that seemed to be at least 3 meters tall. Danya mumbled absentmindedly. Is that a rabbit? Look at its head. Ian pointed to the rabbits head, where a small blue mushroom was growing. I can sense magicing from there. The mushroom Professor Rowen was talking about that was it. Indeed, it teaches us not to pick up just anything. Mwooo! Oh, it even responds. Danya snapped at Ian, who spoke nonchntly. You idiot! We should be prepared to run! No matter how much of a rabbit the opponent was, at this size, it would be dangerous if it attacked. Moreover, perhaps due to the mushroom on its head, it seemed to have quite an aggressive demeanor. It kept eyeing them. Isnt it already toote? If we could escape, the others would have already done so. Look at those thigh muscles. Ians powers of observation were definitely reasonable. He took a step forward and adjusted his posture. What are you nning to do? Anyway, if we cant escape, isnt it better to at least try to hit it once? Its dangerous. Look closely. Can you see something like blood on its fur? Youre right. Danya sighed deeply as she examined the rabbit closely. Then Ill attack first. Whats the logic behind that? Youre the lowest-scoring student in our ss. Ian was on the verge of snapping, but he could see a hint of concern in Danyas eyes. He nodded and observed Danya as they approached each other, their eyes meeting. Mwooo! As they locked eyes, they drew closer to each other. Danyas magic gathered around her body. Is it a grass attribute? A natural aura emanating from her magic. Like the Earth element, its quite rare. Im looking forward to this. It was the first time he saw someone elses magic. What kind of magic would she use? Swish The magic gathered in Danyas hand took the form of a bow. Oh. Ian couldnt help but admire it. Danyas posture, holding an intangible magical bow, seemed quite convincing. Tae-ae-ae-yang! The green magical arrow that left her hand hit the rabbit right in the center of its forehead. Did it work?! No, it didnt. If you say such things, itll be like raising a g. Mwooo! Look at that. The rabbits momentum became even fiercer. It seems this rabbit is immune to magic! There was a reason why the grades-obsessed Mezai students had used this. Maybe because she had exhausted her mana, Danya staggered. Leave me and run. What a line straight out of a boys manga. Ian couldnt help but chuckle. Who would run away? Ian had already decided to consider Danya arade. To oppose the unknown non-v*rgin heroine, he needed apanion. Shes useful in many ways. Besides, he had to prepare for the disciplinarymittee. Having someone on his side could make a significant difference. Stop raising gs and stay behind. But! You! What about me? Youre Ian ckangers. The lowest scorer in our ss and you dont even knowbat magic. This cat, seriously. There was no way she was going to cheer him on. Thanks for your concern. Its not just concern?! Youre a magician too. How do you n to deal with a magic-immune opponent? There are various ways. Oh, really! If youre so worried, support me from behind when something happens, use an artifact. Saying that, he shifted his focus to the opponent. The rabbit also approached Ian. A giant rabbit immune to magic. Well, thats even better. Ian smirked. Mwooo! The rabbit stared at Ian, adjusting its posture. One step, two steps. The distance between them was getting shorter. And when the rabbits thigh muscles tensed. Ian quickly chanted two spells. , . Certainly not the most romantic of spellcasting, but Shhhhrack! In an instant, Ians arms and shoulders were covered in metal. !!!! Danya, who had been watching, was wide-eyed. What kind of magic was that? Was it even magic? The question was soon answered. Kwaahhh! A dull thud resounded from the rabbit, covered in fluffy fur. The typical damage output mechanism of the Earth element. It was magic (physical) damage. That was easy? Ian was slightly taken aback. The rabbit was now in a dazed state after a single punch. The power of the makeshift Metal Man (Temporary name) was more potent than he had expected. Injecting magic into an element and enhancing it makes it simple yet powerful. By using Extraction and Transformation to ovey an element onto his arms and reinforce the oveid element rather than his own body, he had found a way to bypass the advanced magic spell Physical Enhancement. The result? The rabbit, which had seemed to be regaining its senses, began to copse. Kwoooong! The problem was Huh? The huge rabbit fell down and the ground where Ian was standing copsed. Ian! Danya reached out, but it was already toote. He fell straight into a small sinkhole-like space. Sssssshh! Was it arge underground cave? Even as he fell, he could feel the rough texture of the earth all over his body. At the end of the fall, there was undoubtedly a hard floor. I need to absorb the impact. Ian quickly extracted the surrounding elements. However, trying to absorb all the shock like this would be difficult. Ian began to transform it into a thin honeb-like structure around his body. Falling for a while Kwoong! With a loud thud, he hit the floor. Ugh Uh, Im okay? There was quite a bit of physical force from the fall, so there was a dull impact. It felt like being kicked while wrapped in a nket? Check the honeb structures performance. Ian stood up as he released the magic enveloping his body. It was a fairlyrge cave. The peculiar thing was that it was made of packed soil, not rocks. Most importantly, strong magic could be felt in the vicinity. Is this the source of the magic I felt in the forest? If the magic was this overwhelming, it could be quite intimidating. However, Ian felt morefortable than ever. It was as if he were inside the womb of the primordial mother. While looking around, Ian realized the reason. ! A corner of the cave. There was a small statue of a goddess made of y. Gaia. Goddess of Earth. Gaia. The reason he recognized her face was simple. The beings corresponding to the gods of each element were quite important in the game as well. And only now did Ian understand the true nature of this ce. It was the most lucrative gacha element in Fanta X Aca. A blessing hase! The opportunity to acquire power had been granted. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 11 Chapter 11 [Blessing] This is an event that urs when certain conditions are met in artifacts, relics, ces, etc., imbued with the power of elemental deities. In the past, in Fanta X Aca, it had meaning as the only way to obtain power. Power was the ability to aplish tasks that were difficult for humans toprehend, using the power of the god in charge of that element. In Fanta X Aca, it was clearly top-tier content. As far as known, the opportunity to receive power for a character was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, if you were lucky, twice. Immediately after creating an ount, yers would go to the location where they could acquire the [Blessing] of the respective element and, if it was an unfavorable power, they would reset their ount, a practice known as Arunber reset y. There wasnt even a known blessing location for the Earth element. One of the reasons why it was difficult to obtain blessings for the Earth element was because it was treated as extremely minor. But to think that the [Earth Blessing] location was buried underground like this It was natural that it was not known. Who would think of digging into the ground? Ian shook his head and approached the statue. A small Goddess statue about the size of a forearm that faintly glowed. It seemed to have naturally taken on that form rather than being created by someone. Ian knelt down. It was the motion that appeared when receiving a blessing in the game. Now, what should I do? Since it was not a game, there were no buttons. He wasnt given a status window either. Should he prove his faith? Ian pondered for a moment and closed his eyes. He intended to interact with the abundant Earth attribute mana surrounding him. Just as he was about to channel the element. Shoooom A bright and warm light emanated from the statue and filled Ians consciousness as he closed his eyes. Children who follow in my path. A soothing voice that made one feel at ease was heard. An intangible force gently enveloped his body. Hmm, you are special. Ian felt embarrassed. Surely, she didnt know about the possession, right? He swallowed his saliva. You are not walking a path to harm someone but to help. Your broad heart is like the Earth itself, so I will grant you an ability that suits the path you have walked. Phew, so that was the meaning. Ian inwardly sighed. It seemed that being unique referred to Pongpongs performance. Well, in order to receive a blessing, only a very small part of a gods power was manifested. It was an excessive worry. Huh? No, wait a minute. Then, the next thing the Earth Goddess said, the path you have walked. There was no way this was the path Kim Ian had walked. Until now, Pongpong had been the owner of this body. . He suddenly felt uneasy. I bestow upon you my blessing. Everything you touch will be clean and new. Why did he always have such a foreboding feeling? Maybe instincts were a product of human evolution. Ian felt like he already knew the name of the ability the Earth Goddess was about to grant him. And thus, I name this Dishwashing. Dishwashing will purify your mind and spirit, making your surroundings clean and peaceful. In doing so, you may temporarily erase certain characteristics of the subject. If you work diligently, you will be able to use it effectively in various situations. The power is named Dishwashing. Ian was left speechless. Without a chance to question anything, the gentle light and voice that had surrounded him vanished. No, wait a minute! He said, but there was no one to argue with. Silently, Gaias statue returned to the earth as well. Ian stared in bewilderment at the vanished traces of the Goddess. Dishwashing. That was the power Ian had acquired. Staring nkly at the pile of dirt, Ian shook his head. It might actually be quite useful. No matter how minor the power may seem, it had an absolute valuepared to most skills. Whether it has a use or not was a different question. I just need to think about how to use it. In reality, Pongpongs and , which were essentially high-level equipment, were being put to good use. Ian was confident he could make good use of Dishwashing too. The only problem is the name. In fact, just realizing that the Blessing of Mother Earth existed was a huge benefit. Now that he knew that the Goddess Gaias blessings were located underground, he had the opportunity to acquire other abilities by digging around. I hadnt even considered blessings at all. It was always wee when the number of hidden pieces he needed to collect increased. Phew. He sighed and looked around. The bright light emitted by the Goddess had disappeared, but for some reason, there were still faint glimmers of light. By the way, how did I get out of here? As he looked around like that, he heard ringing sounds and crashing noises, and even what sounded like a human voice. What is going on? Kyaaaaah! As he strained his ears, the screams in the distance grew louder. Hug! And then, from the very hole Ian had fallen through, a small child fell. Silently. Unlike the noisy screams, it was a perfectnding. It looked just like a cat. Ah, its a cat. Danya? Ouch. Nya. After shaking off the dirt from its body, the cat, named Danya, opened its eyes wide. Why was it looking at him as if he were a ghost? Ian! Danya rushed over. With herrge pupils, she looked around here and there. Thump! She delivered a punch. It was soft. I was worried, you idiot! She stretched out her hand and thrust her face forward. The bodynguage of beastmen was somewhat dynamic. It was probably a genuinely angry gesture. Ian simply apologized. Sorry for making you worry. I wasnt worried! She said she was earlier. Do you want to be tsundere or deredere? Just one. Still, he was slightly touched. The hole he fell through was not easy to jump into unless you made a solemn vow. Thank you for worrying. Ah, really! Punch, punch, punch. Faster than the eye could see, punches rained down. Ian focused not on Danyas soft punches but on the dirt and dust in her hair. And as Danyas fist touched his chest. Dishwashing. He tested the brand-new ability he had just acquired. The Earths energy generated from his body. It followed Danyas hand and spread to her. Ah. It cleanly removed the dirt and dust. Sensing something unusual, Danya brought her hand to her own hair. Huh? Her eyes widened at the disappeared dirt and dust. What was that just now? Ian shrugged. Just a catching technique. No, how is that a catching technique? It felt like mana appeared inside you just now. You must be mistaken. Danya squinted suspiciously, finding it strange. The way you knocked down that giant rabbit earlier and the strange technique just now Hmmm. After a moment of contemtion, Danya furrowed her brows in suspicion. Could you be a genius who hides his strength? Pfft! Why are youughing? Even though he didnt know a single spell, calling himself a genius? Right now, Ian was more like someone who was improvising and using the abilities that Pongpong had awakened. I need to get stronger quickly. Obtaining the first ability was just the beginning. There was still training ahead and new hidden pieces to collect. Ian looked forward to Danyas reaction when he obtained such abilities. You were indeed a genius. Otherwise, you couldnt have changed so quickly. That means could I be practicallyst ce in Mezai ss? No way Danya was already muttering nonsense. A smirking Ian crouched down in front of Danya. What are you saying? Stop the nonsense and put your foot down. Nyan! Did she bnce herself with her feet when she fell down here? There were not only dirt and dust but also numerous small scratches on her. Hmm. I wonder if it works on wounds too. Ian was grateful to Danya, but she also seemed suitable as a test subject for the ability. Ian used Dishwashing (the ability) once again. Shoosh All kinds of dirt and scratches disappeared magically. However, it couldnt heal wounds. Dirt and dust can be removed, but it seems it cant heal injuries. While contemting this, Ian unconsciously patted Danyas foot several times. It was so small and soft, like a cat jelly. Of course, the owner of this body couldnt stay still. Ian, do you happen to like feet? P*rvert! He felt wrong. He had unconsciously patted her just because she felt like a real cat jelly. Anyway, after that, things went smoothly. Danya roamed around, sniffing the air, and found a passage covered in dirt. They followed that path, and when they emerged from the forest, they found the carcass of the giant rabbit they had defeated earlier. It looks like this was its home. What should we do with it? I dont think we can eat it. It feels tainted by magic. Danya was considering eating it right away, but Ian had his doubts. Given its size, it could have been a good source of protein. The problem was the strange blue mushroom shining on its head. A bizarre energy continued to emanate from it, spreading throughout the rabbits body. Hold on. Ians eyes gleamed. Could it be that he just needed to cleanse it with Dishwashing? < Foundations of Reconnaissance and Exploration > Professor Rowen from the Reconnaissance Department was in a particrly good mood today. Why, you ask? Because the arrogant Mezai students were now hanging from the trees in the forest. Its the first time Ive seen such a sight in my life as a professor, thought Professor Rowen, with a sly smile forming on his lips. He already knew about the existence of magic-resistant rabbits. Thats why he had organized this sudden practical lesson. Theres no way for the students from the Magic Department to defeat rabbits with magic resistance. Professor Rowen knew this from the start. With the way things were going, not only the Mezai students but also the professors from the Magic Department would be embarrassed for a while. Everyone must have had a hard time hanging on to the protection spell. Rest in the shade. As Professor Rowens words came to an end, the students who had already given up on the practical exercise copsed in unison. Thatdy, her face is worth seeing. That middle-ageddys face should be interesting, Professor Rowen mused. He was thinking about Professor Violet from the Magic Circles Department. The fact that they had a rather antagonistic rtionship was already well-known among the professors at the Lichten Academy. Professor Rowen couldnt help but chuckle. But on the other hand, its a bit bitter. It seemed like there wasnt a single person who had managed to hit the rabbit effectively. Perhaps they had resorted to emergency artifacts because their attack spells didnt work? They could have tried using the natural environment to their advantage. No matter how frustrated Professor Rowen was, he understood that as an Academy professor, these kinds of lessons were valuable experiences for the students. However, theck of even an attempt was disappointing. But they dont even have the guts to try, tsk, tsk. This was precisely why Professor Rowen often found it difficult to get along with magicians. When their calctions failed, they tended to give up and rely on brute force. However, in battle, logic and calctions were not always the determining factors. Sometimes, it was the ability to adapt and think outside the box that made the difference. Even though none of the students in the Priest Department had managed to defeat the gigantic rabbit during their practical exercise, they had shown determination and perseverance, which impressed Professor Rowen. As Professor Rowen was inwardly pondering these thoughts and simultaneously feeling amused by the situation Grumble Whats this? The sound of something being dragged was heard from far away. Grumble Grumble The sound is getting closer. The sound was getting closer. After casting a simple searching spell, Professor Rowen couldnt believe what he saw. Why is that thinging here? A giant rabbit was being dragged around. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 12 Chapter 12 No Why is iting? It could be a detection spell, just a possible mistake in identifying passing things. Professor Rowen wiped his forehead with his sleeve. It was clear that he had seen something wrong. Huh? But it looked certain. The rabbit was moving in this direction. No matter how many times he blinked, it was the same. He even began to see the two people who were dragging the rabbit from the front. This shouldnt be happening. In fact, the core of this practical training was undoubtedly the giant magic-resistant rabbit. The problem was not only the Magic Department students but also the idea of using it for the subsequent Reconnaissance and Knight Department students training. In Professor Rowens opinion, since it was a magic-resistant rabbit, he thought he could make the most of it, even for the Magic Department students and the Knight Departments practical training. However, two of the students killed it and were dragging its body back. Professor Rowen remained silent. I thought Sharon from the Knight Department would be enough to defeat it. Even in the eyes of Professor Rowen, the students swordsmanship was of a considerable level. Her next semesters Aether promotion was confirmed, and he thought it wouldnt be a problem even ifs he joined the active duty immediately. But its not Sharon; its these kids? Does that mean these kids have the ability of Sharon level? No. Why would such students be in individual department sses? In the Academy, the best students in each field were gathered and separately managed in the Aether ss. No, thats not important. How did these Mezai students catch it? As Professor Rowen was flustered like that. The rabbits position had approached the students gathered in the open space. Some students who spotted the rabbit panicked. What is that? Its that crazy rabbit! Ahhh, itsing this way! Run away! The Mezai students, who had been resting in the shadows, suddenly got up and prepared to flee. Professor Rowen sighed as he watched their actions. In the same ss, some are able to catch monsters, while others are terrified just by looking at the corpse. Of course, when youre a student, you learn to adapt mentally. With repeated experiences, you be more ustomed to it. But the difference between those who show promise from the beginning and those who dont was quite significant. Professor Rowen carefully observed the two approaching figures. Finally, even the onlookers who had been hesitant until now noticed the two neers. Whats going on? Is that Danya? Isnt that Ian next to her? What on earth happened? Do you think they caught the rabbit? No way. A murmur followed. Meanwhile, Kwoong! Ian and Danya ced the rabbit in the clearing. There was one peculiar thing. The giant rabbit had shrunk slightlypared to before. The rabbit that had easily been over 4 meters tall was now half that size. It was still quiterge. I didnt know that Dishwashing would have this much effect. Wiping his sweat, Ian marveled. The blue mushroom that had been on the rabbits head. When they removed it, the magical aura that the rabbit had emitted disappearedpletely. ording to Danya, there seemed to be no toxicity, but they had brought it just in case. If they consulted a Reconnaissance professor, they could urately assess the rabbits condition. At least I wont have to worry about protein for a while. Rabbit meat tasted simr to chicken, with a stable and reliable vor, suitable for both abilities and sustenance, and perhaps even for hisrades. He had gained a lot from this practical training in various ways. Phew, it was tough. With this much, well have plenty of meat! Yum. Ill go talk to the professor about it. Swiftly, Ian, scanning his surroundings, stood in front of Professor Rowen. Professor, there is something I would like to get permission for. Permission? Professor Rowen was initially contemting how Ian managed to hunt it down, but he was taken aback by Ians sudden question. Yes, if weve caught an animal during the practical training, can we eat it? Professor Rowen was deeply moved by Ians question. Field procurement! Reconnaissance units typically operated with minimal equipment and supplies. Therefore, reconnaissance skills, particrly the importance of procurement, became more crucial as one delved deeper into the subject. A great reconnaissance agent could secure provisions and fulfill their mission even in the most challenging environments. In the process, there were times when you had to eat whatever was avable or refrain from eating altogether, making procurement one of the most mentally challenging and difficult aspects of the job. However, these students were eager to learn this skill, even though they were magic students, a field quite distant from reconnaissance studies. What an admirable mindset! Its something you caught. Of course, its okay to eat it. Then, Professor, do you think it would be okay to eat this? You want to check if its poisonous and what its condition is. Thats right. This one! Honestly, Rowen wanted to pat Ian on the head and praise him right then and there. But he restrained himself, as his image as a serious professor took precedence. Impressive. Where did this magiciane from? Perhaps the birth of the academys first reconnaissance magician was on the horizon! Professor? C-cough! Lets go. While stepping forward at Ians urging, Rowen continued his thoughts. It wasnt just being a great magician; this was different. Among reconnaissance students, no one had such vitality as Ian. Rowens eyes began to gleam with greed as he looked at Ian. You. Yes? Right now, Im offering a discount on Academy tuition fees for those who join my researchb. Its a rare opportunity. Of course, it includes dormitory expenses. Ians eyes trembled slightly. Why does everyone react like this when they see me? Maybe there was something particrly appealing about bing a research assistant. After all, Pongpongs gullibility might be radiating from him. Heh. And, of course, for students like you, Ill make sure to provide all the textbooks. How about it? Do you have any interest in joining the researchb? Ians face became blurred. Meanwhile. Lina was walking along the edge of the forest alone. Her mind was already full of Ian. I failed to get close. Thanks to that, she was left all alone. But she was an Elemental Mage. She was quite familiar with the forest. She was reasonably familiar with the forest. Rustle! Without having to venture deep into the woods, she could use spirits to locate mana beads scattered on the outskirts. Kloak! Of course, she had something specific in mind. The various ingredients scattered throughout the forest. She might not be on the same level as Danya, but Lina was also familiar with the forest. Her family was in charge of a part of the Grand Forest, after all. Hehe, it tastes good It was convenient to be alone without any team members, as she could eat freely without worrying about being caught. Lina was eating everything that seemed edible without any hesitation, just as she always did. In truth, Lina didnt expect to end up like this. If I hadnt just refused Ians lunchbox strongly, there wouldnt have been any need for all this Wait, what am I thinking? While shaking her head, Linas eyes fell on some high-quality ingredients. Blue mushrooms! They were beautiful blue mushrooms. Hehe, theyll be delicious when grilled. Even if they were poisonous, grilling should make them safe to eat, right? Although she was somewhat familiar with the forest, Lina was still a noble. Her family had control over a part of the Grand Forest until it started declining, so she never had the chance to procure ingredients from the forest properly. Moreover, Professor Rowen had already warned them about the blue mushrooms, but at that time, she was so shocked that Ian was intercepted by Danya that she didnt get anything. Ifrit. Lina summoned the basic Fire Elemental. Could you please grill this for me? Ifrit hesitated. Whats wrong with it? Im hungry. Help me a little. Yikes! Mushrooms turned to ashes. Ifrit! Why are you so grumpy? You werent before. Youve gotten a little weird, too. Beeeeee! Lina sighed at the sight of the vanishing Basic Fire Elemental and looked around. With mushrooms, if there was one, there were usually more around. Here. A slightlyrger blue mushroom this time. Gulp. Linas mouth was watering again, and this time she summoned another spirit. A higher-ranked one, and one that listened. Please. Howl! The mushrooms roasted golden brown over a moderate me. The unique ck scent of fresh mushrooms tickled the tip of her nose. Without hesitation, Lina brought the mushroom to her mouth. Mmm! Its so juicy and has a meaty texture. Its delicious! Yum Yum. Lina savored every bite, closing her eyes to fully appreciate the vor. Now that I think about it, how long has it been since Ive eaten meat? Clearly, Ians lunchbox No. Now, lets focus only on the vor of these mushrooms. Pong! Small mushroom spores sprouted above her head. It was difficult to distinguish with human eyes. Of course, Lina finished her meal without noticing. Hmm. Lets try to find a few more magic beads now! Linas voice brightened. In fact, this Foundations of Reconnaissance and Exploration ss was a ss that Lina had to excel in, her credit vending machine. Lina, who had found a few more magic beads, smiled satisfactorily. This should be enough. After the official practice schedule ended. Alright, lets announce the results of the practice. Lina, who had returnedte, secretly hoped for the best, not knowing what had happened before. You must definitely get first ce here. A crucial subject for her credit. To maintain her residency in the dormitory where Lina currently lived, she needed to score well in subjects where she could efficiently utilize elemental magic. And so, as the scores were revealed one by one. Linas face, which had been anxious, gradually brightened. Next is Lina. Five magic beads. Excellent. Thank you! Professor Rowen frowned slightly at Linas cheerfulness. Its a good performance for the Mezai ss. I expected it because of your talent in elemental magic, but its a bit disappointing. Itll be difficult to promote to Aether this way. Work harder in the future. Ah Yes! Lina responded with a bright smile at first. But beneath the surface, she was endlessly flustered. Why? Isnt this the best performance in Mezai ss? Danya, 8. Ian, 8. And you even exceeded expectations with an unexpected harvest. Hunting magic-resistant rabbits. You both scored full marks in the practice. Full marks? Lina muttered to herself without realizing it, then hastily stopped. Danya, and Ian, got full marks in the practice? She couldnt believe it. That Ian? Certainly, she felt like he had grown in some way she couldnt pinpoint. But she couldnt agree. She thought there must be something else going on. What is going on Lina, who considered this ss the most important, had performed so well. Anxious, Lina bit her lip. Wouldnt it have been better if she had found mana beads without eating fruits or mushrooms? What am I even doing? A sense of self-doubt washed over Linas face. Haaaa Lichten Academys female dormitory. Lina, who had thrown herself onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow. Its a crisis here too. It wasnt a high-rated dorm, but it was the only ce where she could live for free as a schrship student. She could figure out how to manage her meals somehow, but finding a good ce to stay was difficult. Ugh, really! At first, she couldnt believe it. The fact that Ian had changed so much. But now I cant deny it. Ian had changed. Whether it was because of the fall from the rooftop or something that happened during the week he didnte to the academy. Wububub! Lina, who had buried her face so deep that it was hard to breathe, lifted her head absentmindedly. In her eyes, she saw an unopened envelope. Disciplinary Committee Pre-Hearing Request. After briefly postponing checking the contents, Lina tore open the envelope as if she were spellbound. Regarding the recent incident involving a s*icide threat by student Ian ckangers, the Disciplinary Committee is scheduled to convene. We request a pre-hearing from Student Lina, who is a victim of this incident, prior to the convening of the Disciplinary Committee. Ah Now that she thought about it, there was still a disciplinarymittee to be held. Lina was the victim, and Ian was the perpetrator. Thats how it was written in the document. Please prepare a statement regarding Ians usual behavior, his leaving a threatening letter, and the process leading up to his s*icide attempt. The statement content will remain confidential, and anonymity will be guaranteed This Disciplinary Committee will only be convened with those involved to protect the safety of the affected students. Please be discreet and not let it be known. Thats all. The document ended there. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Late in the evening. There were people walking through the academy building with the lights turning off one by one. At first nce, it seemed like a confident gait, but if you looked closely, there were many suspicious things about it. Opening the ssroom doors one after another in a natural manner, looking for something inside, or walked away nonchntly. It was clear that it was an expert in this field, as not a single sound of footsteps could be heard during the process. Fortunately, there was someone watching. A woman with sharp eyes and scattered violet hair opened her mouth towards the suspicious figure. Rowen? Why are you walking around here? This should be a Mezai-affiliated building. Ah. Professor Rowen, who had been quietly searching the area, closed his eyes tightly. Of all people, it had to be her. The emerging sacred figure of the Magic Tower, Professor Violet. She was also a magician and had a close rtionship with Rowen. I have to find a way toe up with an excuse and get out of this. Professor Rowens brow furrowed in thought. But Violet was one step ahead. Dont bother trying to exin. Ive seen you sneaking around the ssrooms. Just as sinister as expected of a magician. I dont think this is something you would when hiding in someone elses department building. Ugh. After some hesitation, Professor Rowen, with a bitter expression, finally spoke. I was looking for a student I liked. Its hard to believe a professor has a crush on a student. Youre a professor. No matter how undignified the Reconnaissance Department is, there are lines you shouldnt cross. What nonsense are you talking about? I wanted to bring a student into myb. Its not about having a crush; its about never having had a proper rtionship because Im always stuck in myb! Hmm. As long as a magician is good at magic, what does love matter? I cant believe the p*rverted habits of elves who only think about sowing their wild oats. This! Insulting ones own race in front of an elf! Professor Rowen, who was about to retort, sighed. In any case, he was caught lurking in someone elses department building. Fighting would only lead to losses. Moreover, despite the elfs insult, Violets words were partly true. Over the centuries, elves had diverse tastes. Rowen decided to focus on his goal. I was doing a background check on Ian, one of the students. I wanted to recruit him for myb. Ian? Ian ckangers? Yeah. Hmm. That kid doesnt have a good reputation. His grades are terrible. Hes probably not the kind of student you should be interested in. At Violets words, Rowen narrowed his eyes. Violet. Yes? When you lie, you have a habit of biting your lower lip slightly. As soon as the name Ian came up, you were ready to lie. Is he really something special? Well Hmph. Trying to deceive a Reconnaissance professor who lives by observing with his eyes. Its a hundred years to early, magician. With that, Rowen turned and walked away. He intended to leave with dignity. But there was no way Violet would just leave it alone. Wait a minute. Why, again? Im going to take Ian into my researchb first! I spotted him first! Wheres your evidence? He hasnt even entered any researchb yet! Anyway, hes mine! Hes from Mezai! Hmph! I can raise Ian better. I can make him the first-ss magic scout. The professors engaged in a somewhat childish argument. Violets expression became increasingly serious. Lets settle it this way. When did you discover Ians talent? Huh? When did you realize Ian had talent? A week ago, during a practical lesson. Hah! Violet made an indignant noise. At the same time, her face lit up with determination. I discovered it in the previous ss, so I spotted him first! Benefit! Hes not some dish! Wheres your evidence? Rowen was about to argue further, but he sighed. For the sake of the honor of the Lichten Academy, it was fortunate that all the students had gone home. Hey, I remember something. What is it? I heard that Ian will be summoned to the Disciplinary Committee soon. The Disciplinary Committee? Whats that all about? Violet exined the situation. S*icide letters were found, supposedly thrown by Ian from the rooftop, targeting several female students. Upon hearing this, Rowen furrowed his brow. Its hard to believe. He didnt seem like that kind of person. Even if thats true, Id still take Ian in. Rowen, it seems like youre not the one. Professor Rowen, who was about to argue and refute, sighed. It should be best if nothing significant happens at the Disciplinary Committee. Thats right. For the first time, they foundmon ground in their opinions. Preparing for the Disciplinary Committee Heroines will definitely gather. And thats also in preparation. Its chilly here. A sudden chill. Ian, who was sitting in the dorm, shivered. Why did it suddenly get so cold? It was a situation where the two professors were fighting over who would dominate, but Ian, the quiet one, was not involved. Shivering, Ian picked up a pen. [Todays Achievement] 90% [Tomorrows n] ??? [Future Goals] Preparation for the disciplinarymittee. Scenario preparation. He finished writing the daily journal. In the morning, he woke up early, packed a simple lunchbox, and trained. In the evening, he organized the days work and made ns for the future. This had been Ians recent daily routine. The goal was, of course, continuous growth. Of course, before the possession, he wasnt such a disciplined man. But. I need to invest time in myself so that others will take notice. The guy who used to only focus on others suddenly found himself making an effort for his own sake, thanks to Pongpong acting as a mentor. Now, should I start getting into shape a bit? The timing was perfect as there was enough protein avable. He hadpleted making jerky from a giant rabbit. It took quite a bit of time, but it was worth the investment. Look for alternative fitness equipment. Having filled in the empty ns, he stretched happily. At this level, we can say things have changed. Pongpong had been pouring all his energy into others, and now that he had changed the direction of that energy, he could feel himself growing day by day. Ive even made some friends. Danya was still a bit shy and had a strong tsun side. Anyway, if you tell her to do something, she will follow along. Moreover, we seeded in attracting the attention of some professors, although it might have been a bit excessive. Lets never get stuck in a researchb. In the end, these connections were important too. Connections that were not forcibly made but developed naturally. In any case, Lichten Academy was one of the worlds leading institutions. Whether you became a professor or a student, the value of each and every one of them was usually exceptional. Plus, theres also the disciplinarymittee. To prepare for that, connections were necessary. No matter how much you imed your innocence, it would be meaningless without people supporting you. It would be good to make allies among the heroines if possible. This was a significant dilemma. In the disciplinarymittee, it was clear that Ian himself would be the perpetrator, and the other heroines would be treated as victims of intimidation. If at least one of the heroines imed his innocence, it would be a significant help. However, it wouldnt be easy to convince them, as they all believed that Ian was responsible for what had happened. Plus, the culprit wont just sit still. The worst-case scenario was if he approached one of the heroines, and she turned out to be the culprit. That would be hard to imagine. Moreover, considering the pattern of the culprit who had already turned all four heroines into victims, there was a high probability that they would continue to try to gather heroines in the future. Its difficult, really difficult. It was an Academy where smart and talented people gathered. Finding the culprit was not going to be easy. Even if he didnt actively pursue the culprit to avoid provoking them, he didnt expect that the evidence would be so hard to find. It might be easier to find the non-v*rgin among the heroines. I wonder if theres an artifact that can discern v*rgins. Ian shook his head. Approaching that topic too carelessly could turn him into a real criminal. Lets approach it slowly. The unexpected Lina. The physical Sharon. The anxious Aria. The authoritative Emilia. For now, lets start by slowly strategizing against the closest, Lina. The more I observe, the more different she seems from the Lina I used to see through the screen. Unless the opponentes back strongly again, theres time for growth. Time is on my side. This was Ians judgment because he believed he could grow quickly. Before he knew it, it was nine in the evening. The time for the growth buff from Pongpong. During that time, Pongpong would give growth buffs to the heroines. Even though he had already dismantled the ck magic altar and spells he used during that time, his body still itched uncontrobly during this hour. How on earth was Pongpong being so sincere about this? So these days, he just meditated in the ce where the altar used to be. Focused on himself instead of on others. Ians growth never stopped, even for a day. Meanwhile, at the Knight Department training ground. Swoosh! The cold chill split a log. It was an aura containing an elemental attribute rarely seen in an academy-level knight. However, The half-cut log couldnt be cleanly severed. A hint of anger shed in Sharons blue eyes. It was anger towards herself for repeating the same steps for the past few days. Whew. Sharon sighed and looked up at the sky. Then, as if she suddenly realized something, she rushed into the training ground. She then assumed a seated position and started circting her inner energy. Ill get it today. For days, she had been waiting for that mysterious energy that hadnte, the one that had been so mystical and helpful. Ten minutes had passed. Why? Sharon gathered her inner energy. Once again, that energy hadnte today. A week had passed by now. Somehow, it coincided with the time when her growth had slowed down. That cant be possible. Sharon shook her head. It had to be a coincidence. If it wasnt, it meant that all of her growth was due to that mysterious energy. She couldnt ept that. Sharon got up from her spot. It was time to wash up and go to sleep, but she considered wielding her sword a few more times. Normally, Sharon would have a set time and follow it precisely. However, today felt different for some reason. The less she grew, the more impatient she became. Then. -Thud! Something fell into the training ground. Sharon picked it up. A key? Sharon opened the small note attached to the key. We are convening an anonymous meeting for the Ian incident victims. Please use this key to connect to the magicwork. Sharons lips twitched slightly. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 14 Chapter 14 On a weekend morning, near Ians lodging, there was an open field. In the lingering chill of early dawn, Ian and Danya faced each other. In the end, three things are important. Danyas eyes widened at Ians three raised fingers. Three things? What are they? Heart, mind, body. I dont understand what that means. Danyas eyes started to ze over as difficult words were introduced. But Ian, who had learned how to deal with this feline beast, persisted. As he waved his fingers gently, Danyas eyes followed their movement. Ian began his lecture. First, heart. Heart means your attitude. Attitude? Yeah, your attitude. It signifies how dedicated you are to your growth. Hmm. Look around. Do you see anyone else waking up early like us for training? No? So, attitude is crucial. Attitude. The theory Ian was currently conveying to Danya wasnt the Mind, Body, Spirit doctrine that had spread in 21st-century South Korea. It was more appropriate to call it the Mind, Body, Spirit Growth Theory. A weekend without sses. On weekends without sses, there was no day off from training, no matter how much it felt like a weekend. Without fail, he woke up early in the morning near their lodging to train, and Danya joined in. I just happened to pass by and thought Id check it out! Thats what I say. At least, thats what she imed. Well, whether training alone or together, the benefits were simr, so Danya decided to participate. Next is mind in Mind, Body, Spirit. This one represents mana. Mana Mana is difficult. Danyas ears and tail drooped. It was understandable. Being a beastmen, she found it challenging to filter out only the mana of her elemental affinity due to her overly developed senses. On the other hand, Ian had no difficulty handling mana. Thanks to Pongpong, who had worked diligently at the top of Emilias hierarchy, Ian had deeply ingrained mana sensitivity. Hmm, give me a moment. ? Ian looked at the perplexed Danya and had an idea. Among the various elements present in mana, could I extract only the grass element? Danya was a Grass Elemental Mage. If she could feel only the mana of the grass element, her growth might explode exponentially. Anyway, Danya was Ians firstrade in the academy. She was someone he could trust enough to throw himself into the dark hole for her sake. I thought it wouldnt be a bad idea to help Danya grow. The thought of assisting Danyas growth didnt seem bad at all. Ian also believed that refining his mana perception might be beneficial for his own growth. Ian lightly closed his eyes and began expanding his senses. Being a modern person, feeling mana wasnt too difficult for Ian. Exclude one familiar sensation at a time, and what remains is the unfamiliar feeling Mana. Normally, I only felt the earth element. This time, he concentrated harder. The faint scent of soil flowing from the earth element. Beyond that, he imagined seeds. From those seeds, small sprouts emerged. The scent of grass swaying in the wind and the y of light filtering through the leaves. The moment he grasped something, Ian immediately used extraction and transformation magic in session. Ian quietly opened his eyes. On his outstretched index finger, small green droplet-shaped crystals were scattered. Danya approached as if spellbound. Is this for real? Touch it. Woo wow. Like a cat with its favorite toy, Danya toyed with the green grass elemental crystals here and there. Watching her with satisfaction, Danya, who cherished the elemental crystals, looked at Ian and her eyes sparkled. Ian! Youre a genius, nya! Lately, it wasnt well-known, but Danya sometimes added nya to her sentences when she got excited. Maybe it was a habit from when she was young? Anyway, you could tell she was quite excited at a nce. Ive never heard of a mage who can crystallize other elements! Is that so? Yeah! Isnt that because youre only in the Holy Land? Uuuuu! Now that I think about it, maybe thats true. Just kidding. Ian teased the sulking Danya for a moment, lost in thought. Is this really that difficult? Certainly, even in the setting of Fantasy X Academy, there were no characters who dealt with multiple elements. Well, its not like I was handling different elements. In fact, he had only used the most basic and spells for the earth element. He still felt that hecked an understanding of this world. Ahem. Standing up from his spot, Ian extended hisst finger, the final piece of the Mind, Body, Spirit Growth Theory. Lastly, body refers to your physical form, your body. Danya narrowed her pupils as if she were skeptical. Why are you looking at me like that? Even skinny one like you Hitting where it hurts, huh? Heh, I have to be. Hop. Danya leaped onto a nearby tree stump and raised her arm. Ian carefully examined Danyas small yet seemingly resilient body. As he observed her body, which was quite different due to her being a beastperson, when he was about to check her chest muscles, Danya suddenly hugged her own body. What are you looking at? It doesnt seem like theres anything special Thats !!! He received several punches. It was unfair. He swore it was about the chest muscles. Getting hit like this made him realize once again. Pongpongs body is definitelycking in muscles. It was only natural. Pongpong had never exercised. At most, he had walked around stalking heroines. His body was practically no different from a skeleton. Of course, Ian was paying attention to this aspect as well. Push-ups, nks, lunges, and more. After building a basic core, he nned to start serious strength training. Anyway, bnce is crucial in the Mind, Body, Spirit Growth Theory. Thats what I meant. I understand now. Now, it seemed like Danya finally got it as she nodded her head. However, Ian was different. Even after saying it himself, he still felt something wascking. What am I missing? His contemtion didntst long. There was one element that was subtly missing from the Mind, Body, Spirit Growth Theory. Knowledge. More precisely, knowledge and experience about this world. Of course, he had yed Fantasy X Academy all night to the point where he had mastered even the minor settings. But that was learning and experiencing the world from behind a screen. The library. That was the reason Ian had left Danya and headed to the academy on the weekend. As always, he got lost on the way. The Academy was just too vast. It would have been nice if there were mini-maps or something. Hey! Im Ian! Sorry, I have a boyfriend right now! When he asked people for directions, no one responded normally. He couldnt have a proper conversation with anyone. After wandering around, he finally reached the library. The smell of paper and books definitely warmed his heart. However, the library was quite vast. At a nce, it seemed to stretch endlessly. Fortunately, there was a librarian near the entrance. She seemed to be engrossed in her book, not paying any attention to who wasing. Still, he felt bad for interrupting her. Excuse me. Id like to ask a question. Name. Ian ckangers. Do I need a library card or something to read here? The librarian raised her head. No, did she raise it? Her movements were so subtle that only her sky-blue hair briefly came to mind before sinking down again. Verification for reading eligibility. Just read the books. Can I borrow books as well? Your grades are low. Why are you suddenly poking at my weak spots? You can borrow one book. Reading is unlimited. You can borrow more if your grades improve. But something feels off? Wait a moment. In response to Ians question, the librarian nced at him indifferently. Why shouldnt those who cant study be allowed to borrow more books, while those who do well can? He didnt expect an answer. Nevertheless, the librarians gaze remained indifferent. Silently, she lowered her head. Was there no point in responding? People get hurt. Then, she opened her mouth slightly. You must read quietly, and dont damage the books. Return them to their original ces after reading. Ian shrugged. Well, I didnt n to borrow any anyway. Ill be spending all my time studying magic and exercising at my amodation. Ill only read books here. Even if she goes to the dorm anyway, time flies because she has to learn magic and exercise. I only read books at the library. Ah, if possible, could you rmend some books? The librarians head tilted ever so slightly. It seemed like a positive response. Hmm. Come to think of it, it was difficult to express the type of books he wanted to borrow. A beginners guide to the Fantasy X Academy world what should he call it? After a brief moment of contemtion, Ian spoke. If there were a first-time traveler to this world, what books would you rmend to help them understand this world? For a moment, the librarians gaze seemed to change. Did her lips curl up slightly? Perhaps she found the question unusual? She jotted something down on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. Thank you. A rather peculiar librarian. Ian nodded his head and turned to leave. But then, her voice reached his ears once more. And Silently, she raised her index finger to adjust her sses and looked at him. Her voice was hushed, like a whisper. No dating, confessions, etc., are allowed. That b*stard Pongpong. Was he going around confessing to people even here? Alright. Ian rubbed his slightly dizzy forehead and continued walking. But he couldnt help but think that the library was just too vast. The width of one floor of the building was about the size of a ser field. At first, it was impressive, but as he walked, it became daunting. How could he find books in a ce like this? Ian checked the note the librarian had given him in frustration. The writing seems like it was printed by aputer. [History of Lichten] [A Tour Around the Continent] How on earth was he supposed to find these in such a vast ce? Frustrated and overwhelmed, Ians inner Modern Man Kim Ian began to surface. These uncivilized fantasy b*stards. They dont even have book search machines, and they justy books out like this in such a disorganized manner? Wasnt this extremely inefficient? Do I have to teach them the from my world or something? Oh no. Once again, Ian found himself immersed in a scenario that felt like it belonged in a story of his own. A surge of unfounded confidence welled up within him. Sparkle! The note handed to him by the librarian suddenly illuminated, and it then pointed him in the direction where the books he sought could be found. She was remarkably intuitive and helpful. Ah. Ian nodded in understanding. Indeed, magic was superior to science in situations like this. Ian systematically went through the list of books, focusing on the essentials. [History of Lichten] A book detailing the history of Lichten Academy and the city-state of Lichten. [A Tour Around the Continent] Sacred Constantine in the south, the Kingdom of Galia in the west, and the Prussian Empire in the north. This book described important countries and key geographical features of the continent. And. [Elemental Gods] The content about the Earth Element could not be omitted. Of course, there were no secrets rted to mana magic found in publicly avable books, but stories about each element were even more detailed. Is this more specific than I thought? Above all, there was a detailed description of the Goddess of Earth, Gaia. It would be quite helpful when seeking her blessings in the future. For now, he pushed it as much as possible into his memory. As he concentrated and skimmed through only the essentials, he suddenly found himself at the end of the list. [Hero Daves Chronicles] [A quiet, wicked girl prefers a rough but caring butler.] Dave the Heros Chronicles seemed like a fairy tale book, maybe. Wait a minute. ? Whats thisst book? Did she write it poorly? Ian recalled the librarians face. An endlessly rational andposed face. Would she read a book like that? No, she probably wouldnt. Actually, she was either tired or half-closed his eyes. She must have been mistaken. Lets pretend he didnt see it. Then lets assume theres nost book. Hero Daves Chronicles. Following the guidance of the note, Ian naturally walked toward the bookshelf filled with fairy tale books. Why did she rmend fairy tales? As he scanned the titles of the fairy tale books on the bookshelf, Ian became lost in thought. Maybe the librarian wanted to talk aboutmon sense. Even though it was just a book, maybe she wanted to say that if people in this world could share their childhoods, they could create empathy with each other. Its romantic. As he searched through the titles of the books [Dragon Hunter James] [Hero Daves Chronicles] Found it. He reached out towards the book. Tock At the same time, someone elses hand reached out towards the book and collided with his. Im sorry. Ian quickly lowered his head. Th-thi- But the other persons reaction was strange. Why were they stumbling over their words like that? When Ian raised his head, he finally understood the reason. You Ian? Messy ck bangs that covered her eyes. A chestrge enough to contain her holy power. Her unstable mental state matched her gloomy personality. And, a Saintess Candidate. Aria? Aria Lumines Bell. Standing there was another heroine and Pongpongs childhood friend. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 15 Chapter 15 I-Ian? Ian looked down at the gloomy woman in front of him without saying a word. Aria Lumines Bell. One of the few characters with the Divine Attribute attributes in Fanta X Aca. If raised well, she had the overwhelming potential to grow into a powerful divine heroine, with a potential to be a saint. This is the worst. He thought to himself. Aria was a heroine who didnt want to make contact with anyone, and the reason was simple. Her unstable mental state. Fanta X Aca had microtransactions specific to each heroine, and in Arias case, it was her Mental State. yers had to take care of her fragile mental state with various items and attention. The cause was the bullying and harassment she endured in her childhood. As she aspired to be a saint candidate and tried to ovee it, her mental state suddenly deteriorated at some point. The reason for this was unknown It was probably because of Pongpong. Ian recalled the contents of Pongpongs Love Journal. The first sentence of Arias part in the love diary was quite shocking. Me and Aria are childhood friends. This fact had never been revealed in the game. The diary contained stories about their childhood. Aria, who was born into a somewhat poor family and confined to her room. The story of how Pongpong, a noble, approached her first. The contents included how Pongpong took care of Arias mental state and how they grew together. It was written there that Pongpong took care of Aria with all his heart. What to do when shes anxious, what to do when shes restless. What board games she likes, what fairy tales she enjoys. Details like that. Of course, the ending of the journal was not clear. Because confessing to Aria and being rejected was thest page. It was almost NTR level, wasnt it? Ian tilted his head, recalling the contents of the love journal. Anyway. She was the heroine I wanted to avoid the most. Unstable mental state. Its like a fragile piece of ss that could shatter from any direction. She even wanted to forget the memories of the past. This is enough motivation to push Pongpong. As if in a scene from a romanticedy, their intertwined hands were not wee. Ian gently pushed Arias hand away. ! She was startled, her eyes widened, but he ignored her. Then he took out [Hero Daves Chronicles]. And ced it in Arias hand. Im sorry. Unfortunately, Arias childhood friend, Ian ckangers, was no longer there. It was a sincere apology. He had nothing more to say to Aria. Aria nkly epted the book Ian handed her. Im sorry. She just stared nkly at his departing figure. Then she looked down at the book again. [Hero Daves Chronicles] Why. Aria couldnt understand. Why. Why would he just ignore this fairy tale book that he knew meant something and leave like that? Whenever she was struggling, he used to read this book to her. But why With a soft thud, tears suddenly flowed down. Im sorry Ians eyes were incredibly cold. His eyes were colder than ever before. Im bing dependent again without even realizing it. Aria shook her head. Pushing Ian away was her decision. From the moment she rejected his confession, she made a promise. Because I wanted to. She wanted Ian to stay away from her. She wanted to forget all about her dark past. When Ian had fallen, shed felt a small part of her relieved. But That was because she wanted to forget her past Now that he had returned, and was looking at her so coldly. Did he find out? Had he discovered her hidden feelings for him? It was difficult. Everything was tooplicated. Her mind felt muddled, as if various shapes were stabbing her head. Arias pupils began to tremble intensely. It felt like another manifestation of her mental instability. Are you okay, Lady Aria? A priest knight, who appeared out of nowhere, supported her. He was a student in the Priest department like her, and a disciple of a high-ranking pdin in the church. If its that Ian bothering you again, I wont stay still! As he held her arm, Arias cheeks flushed slightly. Oh, no. Aria wiped her tears away. A past that Ian decided to let go of. It seemed like something had changed somewhere, but it probably didnt matter. If possible, she wanted to continue to leave her past behind, forgotten. Thank you, Dave. As long as I can serve you, Lady Aria. Aria gently ced the book she had held back onto the shelf. [Hero Daves Chronicles] Her childhood. When she was alone in her room, Ian used to bring this fairy tale book and read it to her. When she was emotionally distressed, he would read it while gently stroking her head. But the hero from the fairy tale was no longer needed. Aria was living in the present. She was a Saint Candidate now. Aria put the book back on the shelf. Are you really alright, Lady Aria? Ah? Yes, yes, Im fine. I, I should go back to my dorm now Aria, her words trailing off like before, turned to leave. And then. The priest knight who had been following her stopped and turned his head. His blue eyes scrutinized Ians departing figure ominously. Priest Knight Dave made a resolution. To deal with that guy who was causing the next saint candidate to be anxious. He needed to find an opportunity to take care of it. What was that strange guy hanging around her? Ian, recalling the blond guy who had been with Aria, raised an eyebrow. He had more important things to do than worry about the safety of a possible non-v*rgin heroine. At the librarys desk. The librarian looked up at Ian. Refusal to confess. She replied, adjusting her sses. Can she say that as a response? She hadnt said anything yet. Of course, she was grateful for the book rmendations, but typically, wouldnt you confesster in this kind of situation? Confidence that the other person will confess naturally, huh? Instead of answering, the librarian held out a mirror. Pongpongs face came into view. Come to think of it, it would make sense for Pongpong to be around. Ahem. Anyway. Im not here to confess, but I need to ask you something. I want to ess Kirtos. Kirtos. A mana-basedwork service that can be used within the Lichten Academy. Just thought it was a convenience feature. When ying games, you often encounter what are clearly convenience-based features, right? Kirtos, too, he had always thought of it as a kind of trick to implementmunity elements. But as he read the books this time, he realized something. Kirtos actually existed in this world. Need a device. I dont have the money. Brazen. I wish you could tell me where I could borrow one. I think you would know. The librarian lightly adjusted her sses with her fingertip. Then, she lowered her head under the desk. Shoosh. Shoosh. There were rustling sounds of paper, and the librarian extended a map-sized piece of paper. If its okay with a tablet. You want me to use it? A very subtle nod. Isnt it yours? Another subtle nod. Im a little sorry about this. This time, he tilted his head left and right, as if to show his gratitude to the librarian. Thank you. Return for not confessing. He figured he should be thankful to Pongpong for that. After showing appropriate gratitude to the person involved, he took his seat and unfolded the Kirtos terminal. [Connecting to Kirtos] Watching the ink being etched onto the parchment was oddly old-fashioned. Whats an undergrad club? He touched the frontmost tab. Instantly, various chat rooms avable for ess appeared. Oh, interesting. It felt like handling a tablet made of ink, in a way. [Mezai] [Journalism Department] [Inquiries for Joining the Council] [Mezai Haters Club] This time, he ventured into the free club forum. There, several lists popped up, indicating it was more active. [Continental Cat Association (23/50)] [The ssy Species (9/10)] [ Earlings Acting Up Haha (3/100)] [S*xy Images Collection (99/100)] [Looking for a Roommate (1/2)] [Deep in the Shadow Forest 6-man Party, Only Missing You (2/6)] [Emilia Fan Club (78/100)] Oh, wow. When theres only one spot left in a room, it makes you want to enterthew of human nature. He instinctively grabbed his moving hand urgently. And then, there was the noticeable Emilia Fan Club. Certainly, like a famous upperssmans, she gave off the impression of being a celebrity. Thest tab is In the modernmunity style, there was a familiar Forum tab. It even had a search function. Naturally, this called for some ego-searching. [Ian] (Search Results: 100+) Oh. A considerable number of results appeared. Of course, most of them were insults. But among the recent posts, there were some that were not. [Has Ian really gotten better recently? (24)] With anticipation, Ian clicked on the title of the post. A page turned as if a piece of paper was changing, and the ink rose. No, really, he has changed a lot these days, including his eyes. Recently, he took first ce in practical training. Something seems to have changed, hasnt it? []: This seems to be going viral, Ian. Seriously, lolololol Ian took a week off, and now hes back to working part-time. [Anonymous 23]: Ian, wee~ [Lawbreaker]: Ugh, its Ian! Stop with the hate, use nicer words. Yeah, what can we do with this [expletive]? What a mess. Most of thements were insults and suspicions. But it was fascinating that there was someone whose perception was changing like this. As expected, when you focus on yourself, other peoples views gradually change too. By the way, rumors were starting to spread. [(New!) What happened when Ian jumped? There was a rumor going around about the disciplinarymittee (3)] After checking that post, Ian leaned back on the sofa. A disciplinarymittee, huh. The disciplinarymittee took quite some time from its formation to convening. Thats because each student at the Lichten Academy had a significant presence. Ian, as well as the culprit, had time to prepare. If I were the culprit, Id probably try to gather the heroines. The reason for forging four suicide notes in such aplicated manner was evident. Assuming the worst-case scenario, where the crime could be traced back to them, they had hidden themselves as much as possible. It was well-nned and meticulous. So, he was convinced. Certainly, the culprit would gather the heroines to act together. I can use that to my advantage. If he could bring just one of the heroines to his side, he could use her like a spy. The need to be more proactive became apparent. A scenario that could shake the Academy was unfolding. Confusion. There must be a way to use it. The corners of Ians mouth rose. Meanwhile. 9 PM. Prominent names began to appear in Kirtoss login history. [Lina has logged in.] [Sharon has logged in.] [Aria has logged in.] [Emilia has logged in.] However, their names disappeared from the log shortly after. It meant a private anonymous chat room had been opened. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 16 Chapter 16 The Magic Network of Lichten Academy, Kirtos. here are two ways to utilize Kirtos. One way is to use a typewriter-style bulletin board with papermonly called the pyrography board. Its a method used mainly when the cost of terminals to ess Kirtos is burdensome, or when you want to use it lightly outdoors. Of course, as the name pyrography board suggests, you cant use all of Kirtos functions with this method. Whoa The third-ce girls dormitory at the Academy. Lina Rosewell checked her watch, ncing at it. [20:45] Today was the day when four girls, regarding Ian, had agreed to have an anonymous meeting. The appointed time was approaching. Lets wait for 10 more minutes. In reality, Lina had been waiting for an hour. A chance to talk about Ian with others. Opportunities like this donte easily. Talking about Ian poorly outside could spread all sorts of strange rumors. Thats unreasonable. She wanted to avoid getting involved with Ian if possible. If she had wanted that from the beginning, she would have epted Ians confession. Its true that Lina had a good reputation, but she also had her limits. The existence of Ian was beyond those limits. Even the reason for saying harsh words to Ian when handing over the lunchbox was for that reason. Is it because of that, or is it because of the shock from falling from the rooftop? Perhaps it is Lina herself who is closest to Ian among the four involved. Perhaps among the four people involved, Lina was the closest to Ian. The fact that Ian had changed. At first, she could never admit it, but now it was different. She had witnessed Ians transformation with her own eyes. His personality and attitude havepletely changed. Above all, she was concerned about the sudden improvement in his skills. The better he did, the worse Linas own grades looked. If her grades dropped, her schrship would be in jeopardy. If her schrship was at risk, she couldnt afford the tuition at the Academy. That would mean expulsion. Its really dangerous. Lina felt the injustice. Lichten Academy had an obsessive focus on students grades, especially when it came to schrships. I cant even get a part-time job. She couldnt get a part-time job because of the conditions attached to her schrship. Growl Thats why Lina starved every day. Now that her only lunch supply had been cut off, it was even worse. Ah, seriously! Again, she thought of Ian. These days, Ian was at the end of every thought. Honestly Would the situation be better if Ian hadnte back? Would it have been better than it is now? Lina lightly bit her lip. [20:55] There are only about 5 minutes left. Time had passed, and there were only about 5 minutes left. Is it okay to connect now? A long, dark cloth was in her hand. The cloth was none other than the Kirtos ess terminal. Lina wrapped it around her eyes. Dark vision. She pushed elemental mana lightly toward the cloth, and the mana circuit of the terminal began to operate. [User confirmationplete.] [Connected to Kirtos.] [Anonymous Chat Room KEY confirmed.] Soon, her vision brightened. It was a kind of hallucination magic. Originally, she would havended in arge virtual square. That was the default setting for Kirtos ess. But when connecting to the anonymous chat room, it was different. A dressing room unfolded before Linas eyes. The room allowed her to customize her appearance. To ensure anonymity, various ornaments could be used to hide her appearance. Anyway, Kirtos avatars look different from original appearances, but Still, there could be clues in bodynguage or everyday habits. Lina hesitated for a moment, standing in front of a wall covered with masks. What should I choose? She picked up one of the masks. A virtual space resembling an infinitely luxurious mansion. In a space that was difficult to distinguish between indoors and a garden, there was arge donut-shaped table with a big hole in the middle. One wooden chair was ced in each cardinal direction. Already upying three positions were the Crown Mask in the north, the Bandage Mask in the west, and the Rabbit Mask in the east. Creak Their attention was focused on the sound of the door opening at the entrance. A person wearing a Leaf Mask opened the door and entered. Wee. The Queen Mask greeted the Leaf Mask with enthusiasm. The tone was somewhat unusual, but it was all part of the concept. Oh, hello? No need to be surprised. Dont worry; its just part of the act. Thats a relief. Before we continue, let me exin a few rules. The Queen spoke. Here, we hope that personal information that can reveal each others identities is hidden as much as possible. Oh okay. If possible, I rmend changing your tone like I do. Indeed, the Queen Masks tone was not ordinary. Even the crown decoration above her head was not ordinary. At least as far as it was known, there were no royals at Lichten Academy. Solid acting was evident. With a nod, the Leaf Mask took a seat in the remaining spot. The Rabbit Mask, observing this scene, asked a question. I dont understand why we have to gather like this anonymously. Even changing our tones. Hehehe. The Queenughed openly. The Rabbit Mask got agitated. Are you going to fight now? In the meantime, the Bandage Mask chimed in. I think I know. As the threes gazes converged, the Bandage Mask flinched for a moment but soon opened its mouth without difficulty. Among the four of us, there might be someone on Ians side. Hmm. Both of you, Rabbit Mask, and all of us need to do this to protect ourselves. Do you all know what was written in Ians s*icide notes? Hmm. Ian, who wrote that kind of note, has returned to the academy. We cant predict what he might do. The Bandage Mask spoke with a serious tone. Clearly, the contents of Ians notes were serious. Interpreting the contents of the note that suggested he jumped because they didnt ept his confession was chilling, no matter how you looked at it. Even for those who rejected the confession but were not disappointed in Ian, their remaining affection could not help but fall when they saw the notes. Ians notes were the adhesive binding the four of them together. All four nodded. Of course, this included the culprit who fabricated the notes. Bandage is right. The Queen spoke. All four of us here can be considered victims of Ians threatening s*icide attempt. And even before that, each of us had to endure Ians obsession. Thats true. Yes. The Queen looked around slowly. Her confidence was clearly felt in her demeanor. Therefore, we must drive Ian out of the Academy this time. Make sure he never sets foot in Lichten again. The Bandage Mask nodded, and the Leaf Mask appeared somewhat uncertain. The Rabbit Mask opened its mouth. What do you mean by that? In the future, there will be a disciplinarymittee and, before that, a pre-trial hearing. You all must have heard about it. Yes. Were here to coordinate our stories. So that he receives the appropriate punishment for his crimes. The Bandage and Rabbit Masks nodded. But the Leaf Mask appeared somewhat uneasy. The Queen asked. If you have any opinions, feel free to express them. After all, this is why we are here anonymously. After hesitating for a moment, the Leaf Mask cautiously spoke up. I, uh, dont think Ian is entirely to me for everything. Silence hung over the round table. Sharp gazes were directed at the Leaf Mask. Ah No, no, Im not defending Ian. Leaf Mask hurriedly rified, raising both hands. Then, what do you mean? I just find it hard to believe whats being suggested. Both the Queen and the Rabbit Mask muttered in confusion, and the Leaf Mask lowered their head slightly. Well, you see Interlude silence. Then, the Leaf Mask continued cautiously, their words measured. I think theres a possibility that Ian may not be the culprit. Silence hung over the round table. Sharp gazes were directed at the Leaf Mask. The Leaf Masks hesitant words flowed smoothly, much like an act: Of course, even though the possibility is exceedingly small, we shouldnt distort the results of the disciplinarymittee bying to an agreement together. If Ian is indeed at fault, the oue will be the same. Theres a high likelihood of that. It was a reasonable point. That makes sense. The Queen nodded. This was surprising to the Bandage and Rabbit Mask, as the Queen had been insisting on Ian thoroughly until now. They exchanged incredulous nces. The Queen shrugged. In any case, its a rational argument. Lets hear more from the Leaf Mask. The Leaf Mask continued with more confidence now. Moreover, there have been rumorstely that Ian has changed. What do you all think? It feels like there has definitely been a change. Bandage Mask muttered. Ive heard the same. The Queen added. Then, the Rabbit Mask, who had been silent, raised her hand. The Queen gestured for her to speak. Speak. I have a suspicion that Ian might have cursed us. Cursed? Both the Bandage and Leaf Mask eximed. I thought you all might have felt it too. Arent all of you famous for your abilities? At Rabbit Masks words, Bandage and Leaf Mask turned their heads. They looked somewhat embarrassed. The Queen smiled as she summarized the discussion. In short, there is a possibility that Ian has changed, but at the same time, it seems likely that he is causing harm to us. Although there is a chance that he may be innocent, if hes not, its a potentially malicious and worsening situation. Everyone nodded in agreement. Since we have some time, it might be worth considering how we can handle the situation together. Before that, if we can find any other evidence rted to Ian, it could change our direction. As the discussion had gone on for quite some time, it was gettingte. The proposal for the conclusion of their meeting was not a bad one. Everyone nodded in agreement. Just as they were about to adjourn and set the time for their next meeting. Oh, one more thing. The Queen opened her mouth as if she had just remembered something. Combat training for each ss will be scheduled soon. Its a fairly important event, so everyone sure is aware of it. Combat training. It was important training, with a significant stake in one semesters grade at the Academy. Keep an eye on Ian. This message is primarily for the members of the Mezai ss here. Well see if he has really changed during that training. Isnt that contradictory? If were not revealing our identities, wont that reveal our identities? Theres only one Mezai ss here. The Rabbit Masks words made the Queen chuckle. Hehe. Whos to say Im not from Mezai as well? And with that, the anonymous meeting came to a close. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Wake up early in the morning. Ian, as usual, finished his early morning training. Phew. Lately, he had been increasing the intensity of his training little by little. The Combat Training event was approaching. It was quite an important event, as it influenced grades and schrships, and from a story perspective, it served as the foundation for future scenarios. The viins are starting to reveal themselves. Of course, he didnt n to get involved in every event happening. His mind was currently upied with improving himself. His concept was to observe from a distance, a slight detachment from the story. After all, Pongpong had disappeared from the story for a while after the s*icide incident. Its troublesome if the story line goes wrong for no reason. With that determination to keep training and growing, he returned to his amodation. Whats this? What greeted Ian upon his return to the amodation was a stack of bills. Notices pasted like locusts at the door. The amodation was already cheap near the academy, and with these notices I feel like my life has gone terribly wrong. Augh burst out. It was augh born of sheer absurdity. Just how much debt had he umted to have these stuck to his door? Should he take a look? Oh. After checking the content of the bills, he barely restrained the stream of curses that wanted to escape. Pongpong, you crazy b*stard The amount of debt was anything but ordinary. He vaguely thought hed have some debt and had been nning to confirm and prepare for it. 200 gold? 200 gold coins. When converted to Korean won, it was 200 million won. It was practically the maximum credit loan avable as a Pongpong. He cursed himself for getting in too deep. Please tell me you boughtnd in the capital region. Of course, Pongpong wouldnt do that. He had, of course, invested his entire fortune in the heroines. His head was spinning. Luckily, the interest rate was quite low. There seemed to be special tuition loans and living expense loans avable for Lichten Academy students. It was like a top-notch institution in Korea, almost on par with the countrys leading medical schools. At this rate, Im heading for bankruptcy. The 100 silver coins Pongpong left him were his entire fortune. Just paying the interest due this month would be 30 silver coins. When considering living expenses and other costs, he could probably make it for two months at most. Ill have to pay tuition soon, too. I have to find a way to get a schrship here. He had a gloomy feeling. But it wasntpletely hopeless. He had been thinking of ways to earn money for a while. He just hadnt put the ns into action. The decision had been to focus on growth to the best of his ability. Of course, the situation had changed now. For now, the most effective way to earn money is Naturally, it was stocks. Wait, stocks in a fantasy setting? That was his first thought when he encountered the stock content in Fanta X Aca. But as he continued to trade stocks with pen and paper instead of with his phone, he naturally realized that stocks had existed for a long time. Anyway. Apart from the hassle of going to the stock trading guild in person and making transactions, stocks were the most efficient way to make money. He knew about uing events and the guilds that would be important in those events. Fortunately, it was still a time before major events urred. Ian took out a nk notebook. [ana] Roughly speaking, it was a new guild that would begin trading in about two weeks. ana was a guild that created new mana to rece the most crucial resource in Fantasy X Academy, mana. In a world where mana engineering had advanced significantly, mana was an incredibly valuable resource. ana guilds stocks initially received poor evaluations as mere scams However, the guild leaderter disyed a performance by using ana to operate a mana train, leaving a legendary record of skyrocketing stock prices in the Lichten Stock Market. Of course, it was a scam. Well, even if it was a scam, its not a problem when you know it. You just eat and forget about it. Ian nodded in satisfaction. The real issue was something else. In fact, the seed for stocks is essential. This was the problem. He didnt have money right now. Should I take on some quests? Registering with a quest guild would allow him to take on several quests. However, he needed to be cautious, as taking the wrong quest could potentially make him the prey of the non-v*rgin heroine. He had to think carefully about this. I cant believe how quickly time has passed. Before he knew it, it was time to go to school. There was never a day when he wasnt busy. This afternoon, we will formbat training groups. Magic, Priest, Reconnaissance, and Knight Department, a ss from each will gather, and I hope you n your teams with no more than four members. After morning sses, Professor Violet, who was responsible for Mezai, stopped the students briefly, saying that there were some instructions. Please keep in mind that every year, a significant number of injuries ur duringbat training. The atmosphere in the ssroom had changed considerably. From the beginning, the name of the ss was Combat Training. It involved training against monstrouslyrge monsters as if it were realbat. While the monsters werent real, they were recreated using mana engineering, and their strength and aggressiveness were urately reproduced, making it quite dangerous. Now, everyone should assemble at the Second Training Ground in the afternoon. They had to form teams again. With Ians current reputation, he couldnt gather team members normally. Ill give up on team member recruitment. It couldnt be helped. He quickly gave up and went outside. He nned to eat his lunch outside. He had some time to spare for a light jog. After eating, he went for a walk around the training ground. Ian stood in front of a nearby mana engineering beverage vending machine. He decided to get a refreshing drink. As a benefit for Academy students, one can was free per day. Might as well go with something carbonated. He picked up a can of the beverage and started sipping it. As he was standing there, he noticed a familiar face approaching from a distance. Silvia Laurent? Silvia Laurent, a 4.5-star character. Although she didnt make it to the top tier of Fantasy X Academys official heroines due to her low potential, she had a unique charm and was a popr character. She was a member of the Academys top-performing ss, Aether, and a member of the upper ss, Laurent. Laurent was apetitor for Emilia Raymonds upper leader position. Of course, she fell short in several aspects. Anyway. It means rich. They could be acquaintances, and getting to know her wouldnt hurt. Besides, Ian was well aware of Silvias preferences. Ian quietly observed as the blonde-haired girl walked past. Then, he cautiously started a conversation. Hey there Hmm. She briefly nced in his direction and then turned her head away, looking somewhat displeased. Her forehead was slightly wrinkled, and her lips curled slightly. It was clear that she wasnt pleased with his presence. But Ian couldnt afford to be picky. Slip! Aaaah! Silvia stepped on a discarded bottle cap. She tried to regain her bnce in a panic. Squelch Just like that, her feet slipped in the mud, causing her to fall. Silvia, who had been drenched in muddy water, looked quite miserable with her designer clothes and bag covered in filth. Ian, who had managed to avoid getting dirty, muttered under his breath. I was trying to warn you to be careful. Silvia, now irritated, approached Ian. You. You better watch that mouth. She seemed displeased, but she didnt go any further with insults or threats. Silvia was a high-societydy-like character, after all. Ian shrugged nonchntly. Hah. Silvia, who was about to walk past him with a sigh, suddenly heard Ian mumble softly. I can help you with those clothes if you want. Help? You? Yeah. How? Are you going to do theundry or something? Silvia raised her eyebrow, looking as though she found it amusing. Mud was smeared across her pale face. Ian nodded at her. I can purify it to some extent. Purify? Yeah. Do you know how difficult that is! Okay, just hold my hand. As expected, you have ulterior motives Silvia seemed curious yet suspicious, furrowing her brows. Her expression seemed to say that she would scrutinize every little thing. Of course, it didnt bother Ian. He had already be ustomed to such expressions while ying Fantasy X Academy. So, are you going back to the dormitory now? Not exactly. Arent you a Laurents upper leader? You should be able to calcte the risk and return. Silvia hesitated for a moment, then reached out her hand. Ian had expected this. Designer clothing, a high-end bag she was the kind of person who put a lot of effort into cultivating her image. She seemed to loathemoners items intensely. Would it be appropriate to say she had the concept of a haughty chaebol heiress? With outstanding calction skills on top of it all, he was certain she would reach out for help. By the way, this Dishwashing is quite useful. Ian lightly cast a spell. Silvias clothes and body, which had been dirtied, were instantly cleaned. What is this? How did you Ian slipped a band-aid from his pocket into Silvias bag as she was admiring. All set? Im off. Take care. With this, Ian had more than earned his points with her. Silvia was already annoyed, considering that the Raymond upper leader was subtly extending their influence into the academy Ugh. Why is it always like this with the elite students today? In one of the Academys narrow alleyways, Ian stood in front of a vending machine. Upon seeing him, Silvia furrowed her brows. She was already having a tough day, and now Ian was involved. Of course, Silvia knew Ian due to his notorious reputation within the Academy, which was less than ster. Ugh, Im going to bete if I go back now. Silvia hesitated for a moment, then decided to walk past him. However, she unexpectedly stumbled into a mud puddle. With her clothing and bag turned into rags, Silvias dignity was gone. And all of this was witnessed by Ian, who was one of the worst students at the Academy. Her stomach churned. Okay, Im off. Ian said after thoroughly cleansing her clothes and body. Huh? Silvia was momentarily surprised, inspecting her bag, which remained impable despite just being caked in mud. Even the inside of her bag was extremely clean. The mud must have definitely made its way inside the bag. A mere Academy student from the lower-ranking E ss, she couldnt believe that someone outside the top Aether ss could wield purification magic so perfectly. Could this be a coincidence? Though it seemed unlikely. Was it some sort of trick? Silvia was left in astonishment as she examined her bag, frozen in ce. What is this? A small bandage caught her eye. She noticed that a small cut had appeared on her hand. However, it was impossible for someone like a high-ranking Laurent to carry such a shabby item. Ian had clearly ced it inside her bag earlier. Whew. Silvia sighed and held up her bandage with her fingertips. An infinitely low-quality band-aid. There was a drawing of a dog that looks like some kind of kid drew it. Her eyebrows twitched together. Did you think I would use such amon people item? She stopped talking to herself like that for a moment. She looked around. She suddenly swallowed her words. She then looked back at the drawing of the dog on the bandage. Heh A nonsensical sound came out of her mouth. She carefully peeled off the band-aid and stuck it on the wound. So cutehehe. Giggle. Silvia raised the corners of her mouth. It was a somewhat sillyugh, and she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. Lady Silvia! You have to go quickly! In an instant, Silvias expression turned serious, and she reverted to her usual demeanor. Yes. Lets go. And there stood the poised and elegant youngdy once again. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Everyone, gather around! After lunchtime. The resonant echoes filled the second training ground after lunch was over. Magic, Reconnaissance, Priest, and Knight departments. One ss was gathered from each department, so the training ground was quite lively. Since there are usually about 30 students in each ss, there were approximately 120 people gathered. Among the many children, Ian was alone. Im used to this by now. Wheres Danya? He looked around, but she was so small that she couldnt be seen. In many ways, it was a familiar solitude. It was evenforting in a way. Recently, he learned a fact through wandering the streets often. If you dont approach and talk to girls, they seem to be quite happy. It seemed that Pongpongs notoriety was higher than expected. By embracing his solitude, he felt like he was making them happy by not caring about their reactions. Seriously. But now, the instructor in charge ofbat training arrived just in time. I believe you all have sufficient knowledge ofbat training. We are already more than halfway through the semester, and during this time, you have acquired the basics through various theoretical and practical sses. But not me. Suddenly, he found himself in this situation. But he had learned magic and skills, and he possessed knowledge about the monsters they would soon be facing. He was actually quite eager to put it all into practice. A slightly older instructor began speaking. Thus, I wont go into too much detail. The reason we have gathered all of you today is to form teams. Teaming up is an important step before engaging inbat. Tank, melee dealer, ranged dealer, priest (healer), mage, support, scout. This was the typical structure. However, with a 4-member team, it got condensed. Knight (tank + melee DPS), Pdin (tank + healer), Mage (main DPS), Scout (+ ranged DPS). Since each area was clearly divided, thisposition seemed to be the more theoretically conventional choice. However, Ians role was somewhat ambiguous. Hecked the explosive elemental damage typically associated with mages. Until now, Pongpong had been learning medium-armor skills rather than the basic skills of a mage. The Earth Mage (physical) he developed to utilize these skills aggressively as the name suggested, it focused on physical damage. Magic was only used to maximize physical power. Of course, even though he had physical power, if the focus was on long-range damage, it was possible to avoid position duplication as much as possible. However, in reality, he would have to fight in closebat. To avoid confusion, we divided you into six groups, so go ahead and form a 4-member team within your respective group. Thats it. [Group 5: Mages Lina Rosewell, Aine Gran, Gustav Yan, Danya atsnesia, Ian ckangers] Naturally, he was categorized as a mage and found himself in a position where he had to team up with 20 other kids. It could have been a tricky situation, but the solution was simple. I can manipte emotions. Just watching from behind with mental victory. Settling Pongpongs affairs would still require some time. Moreover, now that he had decided to focus on his own growth, he didnt really care about the reactions of those around him. Anyway, Lina This time, Lina Rosewell wasnt looking in this direction as actively. Their eyes, his blue and her green, briefly met. Her delicate brow furrowed for a moment, but soon, her gaze moved to the others It seemed that she was diligently searching for students from other departments to form a conventional team. From Ians perspective, he was greatly appreciative. As he observed the children forming their teams, someone quietly approached him. Ian, if you want, we could be on the same team. It was Danya. Do you know the official teamposition? One knight, one priest, one mage, and one scout, right? Oh, I know that! Having two mages on the same team doesnt make sense! I didnte here just because you looked so pitiful being all alone, okay!? Hmph! With these words, Danyas ears and tail drooped. Her tail, which normally sparkled in the sunlight, had an unusual glow. Isnt your tail different from usual today? Uh well. Heh? Danya made a strange noise and hid her tail. In fact, she had woken up early in the morning and put a lot of effort into grooming her tail. The reason was I-Its not like I did it to show you or anything! Of course not. Ian pondered for a moment. Danya, as a mage, had some shorings. Due to her weak mana sensitivity, she was more like a ranged attacker using a bow, so she was closer to a long-range attacker. Wait a minute. This teamposition seemed strangely familiar. In games like Fanta X Aca, you cant always go with the standard teamposition. Sometimes the goodbinations emerge unexpectedly. Ian opened his mouth towards Danya, who blushed somewhat. Lets team up. Huh? Huh? You want to team up with me? You said were teammates, remember? During thest practical training. Oh Danya froze in her tracks. The word teammate was something she hadnt heard since entering the Academy. It felt strange, unlike her ns ways, which is why the term teammate caught her off guard. Is something wrong with this idea? In response to Ians question, she stammered. No, its not that I dont want to team up with you! No, its not that I want to, either! Just tell me calmly. Uh Well You see! I thought having two mages on the same team might be bothersome! It feels like its messing with the teamposition True, teamposition for monster hunting, especially against tough opponents, often followed a standardized pattern. But Ian shook his head. Thats just textbook teamposition. Textbooks typically dont contain the best tips and tricks. Ians lips curled upward. Ah! Hello. Its been a while, Raphael. While talking with other kids, Lina asionally cast sidelong nces at Ian. She was concerned, but she didnt n on teaming up with him this time. I need to make up for my grades during the training sessions. Her grades were currently a matter of concern. Linas current situation was difficult. She needed to assemble the best team possible. Of course, it was true that Ian showed a different side for a while. Teamwork with Danya in thest search practice It probably wasnt bad. Its most likely a coincidence. Forest scouting was like that. If you were lucky, you could sweep up a lot of mana beads in one go. Butbat training was different. It involved facing life-sized, mana-infused golems that mimicked real monsters. It required knowledge of the creatures, experience against them, quick decision-making, and more. It wasnt a ss where good grades just happened by chance. Will you team up with me? Of course. Were teammates. Therefore, while observing Danya and Ian, who were acting like characters from a boysic, Lina subtly raised her spirits. She wasnt feeling upset but rather confident. Im going to do better than those kids this time. No, Ill definitely outperform them. Lina knew Ians past actions well. He didnt care about sses or his personal growth. He would simply hang out with girls and y around. He hadnt put in any effort before, so theres no way he could suddenly improve his skills. Lina had no faith in Ians growth. In fact Miss Lina, if youre okay with it, would you like to team up with me? Get lost, Elise. Lina Rosewell has already chosen our elite group. Several students from different departments crowded around her. Lina would carefully select the members for her team. One warrior, one support priest, one mage, and one scout-sniper. Its a shame that there arent many knights in good shape. It was the most ssic teamposition. For Lina Rosewell, the top performer in Mezai ss, it wasnt a challenging task. But were both mages. How are we going to fill the other roles? Lina looked at Ian with concern, and he shrugged. Well find others to fill those roles. Ian had excellent self-awareness. That was his strength. In reality, both Ian and Danya were among the lowest-performing students in their ss. Who would want to join this team? There was no chance that someone would. On the contrary, it would be suspicious if someone joined us. For example, a secret group nning to disrupt the training session, like the Bloodstone Cult. The Bloodstone Cult was one of the Thirteen Viins, the representative evil organizations in Fanta X Aca. It was a secret religious cult responsible for corrupting Pongpong. As they gradually transitioned into the full-scalebat training episodes, it became crucial to keep an eye out for any unusual groups Brother, this team has an unusualposition, doesnt it? Ian was taken by surprise. The sudden voice caught him off guard. When he turned to look, he saw a well-dressed blond young man standing there. Oh, Im sorry. Haha. I spoke too suddenly. May I join this team since I couldnt find one? Judging by his attire, it appeared that he belonged to the Priest Department. He had a bright smile that seemed to epass everything. Ian furrowed his brow. As you can see, we are both mages. Whats the reason for wanting to join a team like ours? Challenges are an integral part of the path that those on the journey of priesthood must ovee. I am Ian ckangers. You must be quite familiar with my reputation, right? Despite Ians words, the priest continued to smile. It seems that Brother Ian here may have some difficulties managing his desires. But dont worry too much. Its not umon for people in the secr world to face such temptations. As he was speaking, the instructor announced: Group 5! All teams have been formed except for one! Whoever remains is automatically a team! an let out a sigh upon hearing this. The priest was still talking and attracting attention. When he examined the face closely, it seemed quite familiar, and he thought he might know the name. Never did he expect there would be such a bomb among the remaining candidates Dont be too hard on yourself. When the opportunity arises, consider visiting the clergy. Even the fact that our team has formed is a blessing from the gods. You must see it as a chance for Brother Ian to engage in meaningful conversations. Thank you, Priest. Ian smiled back, bowing his head. But deep down, he felt differently. What a pain. Thats right. Because he was a viin. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 19 Chapter 19 [13th Team] Magic Department, Danya Catsnesia. Magic Department, Ian ckangers. Reconnaissance Department, Everidge Harf. Priest Department, Yurran Alteach. Is it still the same? No crazy priests have been taken away or anything of the sort. Yurran Alteach. He may look like a normal priest, but hes actually a fanatic cultist. His eyes are excessively clear and blue at first nce. I didnt like the fact that his name included teach. For some reason, guys with that pronunciation didnt end well. The fanatical guy with clear blue eyes smiled brightly. Im Yurran from the Priest Department. Nice to meet you. Ahaha! Nice to meet you. Ian shook Yurrans hand while smiling. He knew he was the viin, but there wasnt much to worry about. Its not time for him to reveal his dirty fangs just yet. No. It must have been a misunderstanding. A faint, subtle, dirty aura spread along the hand they shook hands with. It was so fine and delicate that if he hadnt been focused, he might have missed it. Is it a brainwashing trigger? The intention behind it was sinister, but thanks to that, it wasnt overwhelmingly powerful. Ian immediately used purification with his Dishwashing technique to dispel the dirty aura. The fanatical guy with clear blue eyes looks for his next target. His eyes stop when they meet Danya, whos looking in their direction. Ugh!? Ian casually grabbed Danyas tail. Danya jumped in surprise. W-What are you doing! Sorry, there was almost dust on your tail. Is that an excuse to pull my tail without saying anything! Judging by her hand reaching for her waist, she seemed really angry. But Ian knew how to handle Danya. The tail is as soft as it looks. Prrr! Thepliment stopped Danya in her tracks. Ian gently pulled her back. Regret passed through Yurrans bright, crazy eyes. Its been a while, kid. Ians lips curled up slightly. After all, he had to acknowledge the members of the Bloodstone cult. Bloodstone. They were one of the prominent factions among Fantasy X Academys Thirteen Evils. To put it simply, the Thirteen Evils were groups that didnt hesitate to harm humans for the sake of their goals. In the world of martial arts, they were like the sinister group, a kind of viinous lineup. However, Bloodstone was notorious even among them. They worshiped the gods of blood and darkness and would do anything for power. They actually gained power by consuming human blood and offering their flesh. Their rate of umtion was overwhelming, making each disciple powerful. Of course, due to the umtion of such achievements, they often go insane, with some goingpletely berserk in a state called [ckened] or [Bloodened]. Most recently, in a publicly released scenario, Pongpong reappeared in a [ckened] state. ongpong, who had no knowledge ofbat magic, wreaked havoc at the academy (although his talent yed a significant role) that alone was enough to illustrate the power of Bloodstone. Hello. Im Yurran. Nice to meet you, brother. Im Everidge. Everidge, a student from the Reconnaissance Department, seemed uneasy around Yurran. Since he took a step back, it didnt seem like hed be a problem. Surprisingly, he showed more interest in Ian. Could you be that Ian ckangers? Im not sure what you mean by that, but its probably me. Nice to meet you! Ive been personally admiring you. Whats with this conversation? As you can see, Im so ordinary that I wish I had the courage to be as provocative as Ian. I have no words. He continued to observe Everidge without saying a word. Certainly, Everidge seemed quite ordinary. With his ordinary brown hair, average height, and the fact that he was left alone, he was probably of average ability too. Thank you. He replied casually. Alright, everyone, prepare for battle! The instructor shouted, leaving the 120 students who had been chattering in confusion. Battle preparation? Wasnt today just about forming teams? But Ian seemed to have expected this and quickly tied his shoces. Tsk, tsk. Inside he clicked his tongue. Were students from the Lichten Academy really this fragile? Did they have to dedicate the entire afternoon just to form teams? Lichten Academy wasnt a ce where such leisure wasmon. Ian was sure there was something fishy going on, and this scenario confirmed it. Suddenly, 30 portals opened in a row. At the end of each was probably a makeshift training dungeon. Its a speed run! We will rank based on the order of finishing. Everyone, go in! While most of the students were still in confusion, Ian quickly led his team. Get a grip, everyone, and go in first! Ians team was the first to enter among the 30 teams. Inside the dark cave, the 13th team immediately started tackling the artificial dungeon as soon as they entered. Their training objective was to clear the dungeon in the shortest time possible, so there was no reason to dy. Of course, some team members were hesitant and nervous. Dont worry; we wont die anyway. Really? Think about it. We formed teams and were immediately sent into the dungeon. They must have set up a low-difficulty dungeon. This is a speed run. We should act quickly without overthinking. The team epted Ians logic and began their mission without dy. Their first obstacles were traps and mechanisms, all as Ian had predicted. Everidge, their scout, missed a few traps due to his inexperience, but there were no fatal attacks. nk! Everything was useless in front of Ians moderately d metal. Even though he was intentionally hiding his true strength, they were no match for him. A mage at the front? This is quite an unusual experience. Its beyondmon sense. Everidge muttered as he watched Ian lead the way. As expected, Brother Ian is amazing. He has a charisma thats out of the ordinary. Ive been thinking that for a while. Hes truly impressive! Yurran shouted praises like he was reciting hymns. Receivingpliments from a Bloodstone cult member sent chills down Ians spine. Wait a minute. Something seems off Everidge seemed to have a simr thought, although the reason may have been different. I sense a poisonous presence in the air. Is that so? Wait a moment. Let me check it out ande back. True to his role in the Scout Department, Everidge stopped the team, ventured forward, and soon returned. Theres an area ahead with colorless, odorless poisonous fog. Without purification magic, it might be hard to pass. Can you use it, Yurran? Of course, I can. Yurran, who had been brimming with confidence, suddenly appeared uncertain. But only one person can pass, and even thats a challenge. As you know, maintaining purification magic constantly is difficult. At Yurrans words, Ian narrowed his eyes. Is that b*stard ying tricks? The idea that purification magic could only be used on one person at a time, especially when dealing with the Bloodstone cult members, didnt make sense to Ian. There was something fishy going on. While this was just a scenario within the academys artificial dungeon and probably wouldnt lead to anything significant, Ian considered the possibility of trying to cast that peculiar mind-control spell again. Hmm This is a bit tricky. It might cause a significant dy. Despite Everidges hesitation, Yurran chuckled heartily. Dont worry. I can handle it. ? Ian raised both his arms, telling them to hold onto him. Grab on, both of you, Danya, and Everidge. You know how to use purification magic? Its not exactly purification magic, but its simr. You wont copse while were passing through. Everidge appeared skeptical, raising an eyebrow. Thats right. This is the real deal. Ive experienced it myself. Danya was the one who responded, almost bragging about the experience. Her enthusiasm was a bit puzzling, and Ian couldnt help but wonder what had her so excited. Everidge eventually agreed and took one of Ians arms, with Danya on the other side. As they moved forward, Yurran asked a question with a cheerful smile. Oh, right! Youre amazing, Brother Ian, but what should I do? You heal yourself. Where was he trying to get to, anyway? This Bloodstone cult guy. After that there wasnt much trouble. After that, it wasnt very difficult. Monsters that were tough to handle in closebat were easily brought down by Danyas grass elemental bow. Everidge, whose abilities were quite average, led the team effectively through the low-difficulty dungeon. Yurran provided healing and support to the team, seemingly dedicated to his priestly ways. The dungeon had a peculiar setup, emphasizing the importance of tanking more than they had anticipated. However, thanks to his relentless training, Ian had little trouble handling it. They finally arrived at their destination without much difficulty. Thirty teams all seemed to have reached the same destination, where an intimidating instructor awaited them. Ho, youre surprisingly fast. Team 13, fourth ce. Both Danya and Everidge looked surprised at the instructors words. 4th ce, 4th ce? 4th ce out of 30 teams? Its all thanks to Ian! His judgment was truly excellent! Good job, everyone. Ian gave a modest response before leaning against the wall. Frankly, he found dealing with Yurran more challenging than the dungeon. It was a small constion that the guy was quiet, perhaps preupied with his priest cosy. Team 7, 5th ce. Soon one more team came in and the surroundings became crowded. Red hair that filled even this dreary space with brightness. Lina Rosewell. Her expression wasnt exactly cheerful. Ian assumed she wasnt happy with the results. Well, the ranking is not good considering the teamposition. Some of her team members seemed familiar, characters with a certain degree of skill in the game. However, the knights condition wasnt good. The te armor was covered in dirt. Clearly, tanking was vital, and that might have caused them to arrive slightlyte. Lina walked without disying any emotions. Then, her eyes met Ians gaze, herrge green irises widening with astonishment. How did you do it? The meaning was evident: how did Pongpong arrive before her? It was a clear expression of disregard. It could have been a matter of pride, but My team was lucky. Ian had no intention of being confrontational. In fact, he preferred it when she ignored him. Her disregard made it easier to challenge the gathered heroines, and he needed to be stronger than them before causing any disturbances. How? Lina bit her lip, wriggled, bit her lip again, and hesitated, as if she didnt know what she wanted to ask. She appeared to be lost in her thoughts, not knowing how to express herself. Ian, on the other hand, just raised an eyebrow. He wasnt sure what had led her to this internal conflict, but he knew the answer was straightforward. Dont worry. I wont bother you anymore. As Pongpong handed her a lunchbox, she responded by saying she didnt want him to bother her. That was undoubtedly the right response. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Linas eyes sank. After gazing at Ian for a moment, she suddenly disappeared through a portal. A ripple of mild surprise spread around. Hasnt Lina changedtely? She seems a little, or rather, quite aggressive. Did you see how she red at Ian earlier? Theres definitely something going on between them. The whispers about Linas transformation ended up reaching Ian. Hey, did you guys hear those rumors from Kirtos? When Ian jumped off Various rumors started to circte briefly. The final team had arrived. Gerald Bomel, an instructor and former war hero, finished his evaluation. He then approached the gathered students. Were you all surprised? Your answers are weak. Yes! Whispers of that old b*stard could be heard among the students, but it didnt reach the instructors ears. Making quick and urate judgments even in times of surprise. This is whatbat is all about. I believe you all have learned something. Ian nodded his head. Thanks to that, he would get a good grade, the logical conclusion. Next, youll be facing quite dangerous monsters. Even though theyre engineered with magic, their realism is quite high. They can cause serious injuries, so be prepared. Thats all! And so, the first practicalbat training was concluded, and the teams were assigned. It will be perfect if I go and eat, train, write in my journal, and sleep. Training never stops, no matter what happens during the day. With this enjoyable thought in mind, Ian walked. Oops! He bumped into someone. Sorry Oh, its you, Silvia. Blink blink. Her cat-like violet eyes blinked twice in quick session. Oh, its you, Silvia? What a rude reaction, isnt it? If youre going to apologize, you should do it all the way. Anyway, you werent looking where you were going either. Its 50-50. Huh? Silvias eyes widened. To be honest, Ian thought that he was being a bit too brazen right now. It was a somewhat calcted action. Silvia tends to like people who live on their own terms. To be precise, she admired people who lived on their own terms. It could be attributed to the counteraction of the strict etiquette training received by the daughters of prestigious families. Thats why Ian maintained a confident, or rather, somewhat brazen attitude in front of Silvia. But does the Aether ss do their training here too? Speed Run? Hmph! Is that even possible? Were going to deal with monsters right away. Monsters? What kind of monsters? Grade 5 Danger Type, Frost Bear. Grade 5. It meant a monster that could single-handedly raze a small city. By the way, a Frost Bear, huh? Thats quite a strong start, isnt it? Isnt it different from ordinary sses? Silvia chuckled with her hand over her mouth. She seemed like a genuine fantasy world noble daughter, and it was a bit annoying. Due to her personality, Silvia had strong self-esteem. Perhaps it was because she was still upset about the mud incident, but Ian wasnt one to back down so easily. Yeah. After you put on your mud mask, we chant Omtoke! Omtoke! just like the high-level Aether ss. That thats! Silvia was about to argue something but gave up on her logic and jumped into a mud fight. Hmph. So youre a washing machine, then? Washing machine? A washing machine, a device for washing clothes. Ah,moners wouldnt know about this, right? Pfft! A washing machine Ians eyes trembled with intensity. With the legacy left by Pongpong, he could understand going as far as to be called Dishwasher. But a washing machine? That was a direct hit to Ian, who had purified Silvias clothes himself. I didnt mean to hurt you that much. I just wanted to win the argument. I cant stand losing. Silvia, who was more flustered than expected, couldnt find the right words. Yeah, dont apologize. Thats even more hurtful. After a brief pause, she tucked her hair behind her ear. In the dim light, her hair had a slight silvery sheen. Well I was thankfulst time. You act all tough, but surprised that Id express gratitude? Saying thanks to me wont do anything for your reputation. Ian and Silvia were indeed different from the other students. Hmph. It doesnt make sense to put Laurents name on it and forget to express gratitude. It doesnt matter what other people think when expressing gratitude. It was a touching statement at first nce, but Ians eyebrow twitched slightly. Silvia slightly avoids her eyes. Silvia, who had previously been confident andposed, now started to show signs of unease. Ians assassin radar had kicked in. Dont you have any friends either? Hah? No, its not that! But why isnt anyone asking you to join their team? Well maybe its because Im a bitcking in skills? Ian had a rough idea of how things were turning out. Perhaps she had developed a different talent, like Pongpong, rather thanbat. No matter how much an Aether like her was treated as a top in Lichten, its natural for some to excel while othersg behind. However, Ian nodded in agreement. If you were in the upper echelons of the Laurent family, youd know quite a bit about most monsters. In the world of Fanta X Aca, information was a closely guardedmodity. Information itself was a valuable asset, a major industry where various profiles, weaknesses of monsters or hostile entities, the quality of weapons crafted by different artisans, and even the peculiar fetishes of the empires second princess. All information was processed and sold. The IntraMuse guild, which exclusively handled information, held immense power and value. Even regr guilds ced great importance on information, especially when it came to details about monsters. So, it was hard to understand why Silvia was struggling to find a team. Are you bad at calctions, perhaps? Thats a rather rude thing to say all of a sudden! No, if you knew about monsters, wouldnt you gather a team, even if you had to use that information? Lichten Academy, particrly the Aether ss, held significantly higher value than the information about one or two monsters. Ha! Of course, I know that! How do you think we evaluate our information-gathering abilities? But then why are you acting like this? Silvia, who had been confident and sharp just moments ago, was now stumbling over her words. Could it be that you dont know the weaknesses? Yes. Wow. And Laurents top doesnt know? Ian was genuinely amazed. It seemed that information about monsters was meticulously guarded. However, Silvia interpreted this differently and was getting irritated. This isnt because Ick knowledge. Its just impossible for me to gather information about monsters living in the far northern snowfields. Her exnation made perfect sense. Frost Bear. Certainly, it was a monster that could only be encountered in specific regions. In the game, you had to defeat it to advance the story But in reality, its a different story. Of course, the monsters byproducts might have some value, but it was not worth the risk. Therefore, there probably werent many individuals crazy enough to venture into the territory of that massive beast. But I am different. Through ying the game, one inevitably acquired knowledge about a wide variety of monsters. With repeated gamey, you could naturally learn their patterns down to the second. A subtle smile crept across Ians face. I can sell the information I know. Selling information. It didnt sound like a bad idea at all. Moreover, there was a significant advantage to this kind of venture. There was no need to establish a physical store, hire employees, or make an initial investment. All that was required was a tform to ess the information stored in his mind. This meant that it didnt rely on Pongpongs decimated bank ount. But trustworthiness will be important. Buying information ultimately boiled down to trusting the person providing it. However, Pongpongs body presented the worst possible condition for building trust. True, even you might not know about it, do you? Information regarding the Frost Bear. These thoughts naturally urred to him. If its Silvia, shes the heir to the Laurent family. Even though shes been overshadowed by the heroine, Emilias position as the top student, it doesnt diminish Silvias abilities. Shes good at calctions and has business acumen, but most importantly, she knows how to repay a debt. Ian crossed his arms and continued his calctions. Moreover, since the Frost Bear has be a subject of study for Aether students, the information about it was likely to be disclosed. It means that the value of information will decrease. Now might be the prime time for information about the Frost Bear. Plus, there was someone right in front of him who desperately needed it. Investing in Silvia seemed like a good idea to Ian. Come here for a moment. Yes? Silvia, with narrowed eyes, approached cautiously. Was this guy trying to confess his feelings? Ian knew exactly what that expression meant. However, Ian had no qualms. He had information that could be sold at the highest price right now. There was no need to haggle. He would simply hand over the information initially, like pushing dr*gs into an unsuspecting neighborhood. Just like spreading drugs to ces where people dont know about drugs, at first they just give out information purely. Exploit the Frost Bears ears. What are you talking about? The Frost Bears weak point is the area behind its ears, where the muscles connect to its head. While the rest of its body is covered with tough fur, this area is different. Its particrly significant because the mechanism that generates its ice elemental powers is located there. You can neutralize abilities like its ice barriers or roar. Silvia blinked with a bewildered look in her eyes. It was too specific to dismiss as nonsense, and Ian wasnt someone she would trust without reason. Why are you telling me this? Just because I want to win against you in a verbal fight, even if just for a moment. Are you crazy? Even if I were, the information is real. Doubt, surprise, hope A mixture ofplex expressions filled Silvias face. Now, go gather a team quickly. Ian urged her to leave with a push on her back. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Hmm. Silvia smirked at Ians retreating figure. Can she trust the weakness of the Frost Bear he revealed? She had to remain skeptical. After all, there had been rumors about Ian that had circted for some time. A man who would do anything to impress a woman. Ians reputation was the worst if you believed the rumors alone. However, the Ian that Silvia had encountered recently was different. Confession? Not even close. They had only been chatting today. The Ian that Silvia had encountered was undoubtedly different from the rumors. Could it be that Im just not attractive No, that cant be it. Random thoughts crossed her mind, and Silvia shook her head. Ah, really. Swish, swish. Silvia lightly pped her cheek a couple of times. Her flushed cheeks finally started to clear up. Dating of course I want to do it, but its not the right time. She couldnt waste another minute to properly inherit and raise the Laurent family. Ian ckangers Can she trust his information? The monsters weakness was thrown into the conversation by someone who wanted to win a verbal argument. What kind of idiot would name a monsters weakness just to win an argument! Paradoxically, thats why she believed it. To Silvia, Ian seemed to exude a certain self-assuredness, even if he seemed a little oundish. A person who would lie about wanting to win a verbal argument or randomly confess as the rumors said. At that moment, a gleaming blonde entered Silvias view. Unlike Silvia, who had tinum blonde hair, Emilia Raymond had a continuous golden blonde. Silvias (one-sided) rival. I know some strategies. Weakness? Ahaha I dont know that exactly, but it will definitely be helpful! Emilia Raymond, like a fox, swayed her tail as she confidently formed her team. Seeing her in action, Silviaspetitive spirit red up. She knew this feeling was envy, but Just a moment! Silvia called out to Karina, the best Aether ss scout, who was heading towards Emilia. I know the weakness of the Frost Bear! Emilia and Karinas eyes widened. In this way, Silvia was able to form a team with top-tier students. Kwooooh! Frost Bear faced like that. Confronted with the Frost Bear like that, even the courageous Silvia couldnt help but feel worried. What if its a trick? What if Ian was bluffing? If people found out that Silvias information was incorrect it would be disastrous. She shouldnt hold any expectations of forming a normal team in Aether from now on. A gamble. Silvias long eyshes trembled. Silvia, what are you doing? Hurry up and tell us the weakness! Ah yes? Hey! Are you going to make me regret choosing you over Emilia? What are you hesitating for, you little brat! Swish. The rogue youth, who could only handle a short dagger, was cursing inwardly. Silvia shouted. The Frost Bears weakness is behind the ear, on the nerves connecting to the face. They had crossed a point of no return. She had no choice but to trust Ian. If Ians words were true, she would be in deep debt. The clear evening sky, a vivid shade of navy, was gradually concealing the setting sun. A vacant lot near the cheap lodging, known for its low rent. As usual, Ian was in the midst of his evening training, wiping away sweat and taking a seat on a nearby boulder. Whew. Teaming up with the followers of the Bloodstone Cult was an unexpected mistake. But at this point, it seems inevitable from a storyline perspective. Theres a high likelihood of getting involved with the Bloodstone Cult in some way in the future. In the scenario that was publicly revealed just before the possession, Ian witnessed the ckened state of Pongpong, something that only the Bloodstone Cults followers experienced as an unavoidable fate. The problem was that the way they would get involved was an uncharted territory not mentioned in the scenario. Lets not overthink it. Ian shook his head from side to side. No matter how much he calcted, there was no clear answer. There was no need to panic or be fearful; he merely had to be prepared for the danger he was aware of. And to do that I have to be stronger. The solution to all problems was the same. Getting stronger, gaining the power to protect oneself. No matter how terrifying the viins or the Bloodstone Cult followers might be, or even the impending presence of the final boss, bing stronger would solve the problem. This was the reason Ian was so obsessed with his training. Although there were countless ongoing incidents, this was a time of rtive peace. It was the perfect opportunity to strengthen himself, perhaps thest one. Ian sat on the boulder. He could feel it. Within my lower abdomenperhaps its what they call the Dantianthe gathered mana is incredibly pure andplete, akin to the mana emitted by the Earth Spirit deep underground. When Ian possessed this body, he felt an incredibly pure energy, much like the one emitted by Gaias statue deep within the earth. He tried to emte it. Ian extracted the mana from the earth and purified it with his abilities, despite the fact that the amount of mana within his body had significantly decreased. The result was that the mana was incredibly pure, devoid of impurities. The path to bing the strongest is moderation. Although there were numerous paths to rapid growth, there was only one path to bing the strongest. Ian opened his eyes. The night sky was like something out of a fantasy, with countless stars and gxies twinkling above. Among them, there was a ce Ian needed to return to. And to achieve that, he was determined to be stronger than anyone else. Of course, training wasnt the only way to be stronger. In fact, Ian was originally more inclined towards tricks and had an unwavering spirit of experimentation. When he yed racing games, he always looked for shortcuts by exploring different routes on the map. In RPGs, he didnt follow the guides but took unique and unconventional paths. Within the scope of prioritizing training, he had been trying various approaches. Its fascinating. Extraction and Transformation. Lately, he had been conducting experiments in parallel with that. Thanks to these experiments, he had reached a few conclusions. The first was that when enhancing the body through Extraction, it acquired the properties of the metal being extracted. The extent to which these properties were acquired depended on the amount of metal extracted. Kwoong! His fist now felt different from before. He didnt just coat the outside; he was conceptualizing absorbing the metal entirely. The more of the metal he could absorb, the greater the properties he acquired. The second conclusion was the limitations of Extraction and Transformation. Both Extraction and Transformation have their limits. It would be great if he could absorb all the extraordinary metal he wanted and carry it around, but that wasnt the case. At the moment, Ian could fully use Extraction and Transformation only on Iron. One peculiar aspect was that the limit of absorption and transformation didnt follow the properties of the metal itself. Its following the games metal grades. For example, soil was easy to extract and transform, followed by copper, and then iron at a moderate level. Metals of higher grades, such as silver and gold, were even more challenging to extract and transform. Trying to forcibly extract higher-grade metals will lead to impurities being mixed in. Consequently, it made the difficulty of Transformation even more challenging. The difficulty of Extraction and Transformation was also determined by another factor: the proportion of the mineral present in the surrounding area. The more abundant the element nearby, the lower the difficulty. At this point, a crafty idea, or rather a useful one, naturally came to Ians mind. A unique weapon that only he could possess, or rather, could it even be called a weapon? Hehehe While training was always essential, sometimes you needed to inte your stats in this way. The corners of Ians mouth quirked up. The next day. During ss break. Silvia came to visit. How can someone not have a Kirtos terminal? She said abruptly, handing something over. Lowering his head to check, it was a tablet-sized piece of paper. Ive prepared it with an e-paper disy, so please ept it gratefully as amoner would. Oh. Ian marveled lightly. This was an unexpected gift, wasnt it? And it was also a high-priority item. He was nning to get one soon. Cant you see that I couldnt contact you? I was trying to get in touch through the e-paper disy, without any fuss Thank you. Hmph. You really dont know how to be grateful, do you? Silvias cat-like eyes blinked slowly. She stared at Ian with her purple eyes. Didnt she hear? Ian repeated once more, clearly and concisely. Thank you. Thunk Suddenly, Silvias face turned red. Th-thats so sudden! ? Its inappropriate!! In a sh, Silvia ran away. Her voice echoed back at an incredibly fast pace. Well, thats unexpected. He confessed or what? He just said thank you. Ian shook his head and returned to his seat. It was time to focus on the ss again. Lunchtime. Forgetting his lunchbox, Ian turned on the Kirtos terminal. Suddenly, notifications poured in. [Silvia]: Hey? [Silvia]: Hey? Ian? [Silvia]: Are you not familiar with how to use it, by any chance? [Silvia]: Just touch the screen and type. [Silvia]: Ian? [Silvia]: Ian, please check Kirtos. [Silvia]: Ah really. [Silvia]: Hey [Silvia]: Hey [Silvia]: Hey [Silvia]: I [Silvia]: A [Silvia]: N [Ian]: What. [Silvia]: I [Silvia]: AN [Silvia]: Huh? I see. [Silvia]: Ugh. Is it this difficult to get a response for a gift I gave you? What do you think? [Ian]: Im busy. [Silvia]: Who isnt busy? You should consider it an honor just to chat with me through Kirtalk like this. Ian couldnt help butugh at the thought of Silvia, hunched over and pressing down the paper as she typed. [Ian]: Anyway, thank you? I needed it even without that. Thanks, Ill put it to good use. The chat room fell silent for a moment. [The other person is typing] That message appeared. Whats wrong, is it malfunctioning? Ian tapped on the Kirtos terminal. It was a piece of paper about the size of a tablet. There was no point in hitting it. He tried shaking the terminal a few times and then set it down on a corner of the table. Kirtalk! A momentter, an alert sounded. [Silvia]: Hmph. That was all. [Ian]: You seem to be more hmph than anything else. A brief silence, and then several messages were sent in session. [Silvia]: Wow [Silvia]: The worst. Please refrain from that type of humor in the future. Im begging you. Certainly, Silvia had a tendency to throw some deadly curveballs from time to time. Her sharpness matched her elegant appearance, it seemed. [Ian]: So what? [Silvia]: I have something to ask. He could guess what she wanted to ask. She probably wanted to know where he got that information. The value of information is as great as the value of the source. [Ian]: Its a secret. It was regrettable for her, but he couldnt reveal it. After all, he was the source of the information. [Silvia]: I knew youd say that. He could imagine Silvia looking frustrated on the other side of the paper. Ian chuckled. To Silvia, who wanted to win against Emilia, or rather, Raymond itself, no matter what, each piece of information held great value. But there was no need to worry about that. As long as thepensation was fair, he would be willing to sell the information she needed. Silvia was calctive, but not selfish. She ensured that she provided fairpensation for the value she received. That was why Ian had chosen her. Ah. Come to think of it, he realized something. Silvias Laurent also dealt with raw materials. [Ian]: Id like to reciprocate. It was time to put that contact to good use. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 22 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. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The weekend was approaching, with not much time left until thebat training practice. The weekend was rtively rxed. Despite the rigorous sses and training at Lichten Academy, they ensured that there was time for rest. Of course, that was the intention, nothing more. You can divide your breaks into three parts. One day for the mind, one day for the body, and one day for the soul. Ian had incorporated this tripartite routine into his life, and the weekend was a well-earned time for his training. Havingpleted his morning training, Ian headed east towards the Academy. I wonder if its a good pick. A teahouse near the Lichten Academy alumni association. Ian, seated deep within the shop, gazed expectantly at the entrance. Today was the promised day for him to receive the weapons he had requested from Silvia. Ian, who lived near the academys northern gate, had chosen to meet near the eastern gate because there was a well-known teahouse in this setting. The tea here is excellent. Is this another reflection of Fanta X Acas setting? Or perhaps its because a single cup of tea costs 3 silver, which is equivalent to 30,000 won? By the way, the area where this teahouse is located, near the Lichten Academys eastern gate, is home to various upscale shops, along with prominent individuals. It seems that thend value increased naturally due to the river that crosses the central part of the continent, resulting in high property prices and an abundance of high-end shops. Everything revolves around real estate, after all. The northern gate, where Ians amodation was located, was close to the mountains, hostingbat-oriented guilds and cost-effective shops. On the other hand, the southern gate housed the citys administrative offices and various institutions. This is what happens when you immerse yourself in the games settings. Ting With a clear chime, the teahouses door opened. A man, dressed in a neat yet upscale suit, walked towards Ian while receiving guidance from a maid-dressed employee (which wasmon here). He appeared to be in his mid-thirties and gave off a professional vibe with his sharp attire. As he approached, he respectfully nodded his head. Hello. Im Sebastian, on behalf of the Laurent family. Ah, Ive heard a lot about you. Im Ian ckangers. Please, have a seat here. Sebastians polite business introduction prompted Ian to draw upon the social skills he had honed during his unpaid internship in the sales department. At first, Sebastians eyes showed a hint of surprise, which soon disappeared. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Sebastian ced a somewhatrge bag on the table. This is the Lunar you requested. Thank you for going through the trouble to bring it. Not at all. Sebastian briefly stared at Ian with an incredulous look before proceeding to open the bag. A silvery radiance spilled out through the cracks, dazzling the eyes. This is the Lunar ore you requested. With a subtly friendlier tone, Sebastian provided an exnation. The quality is exceptional, with a distinct silver hue that glistens in a blue light when exposed to moonlight. Its smooth, flexible, and easy to process. Additionally, its lightweight and highly durable. It boasts very high magical resistance, making it suitable for magic attacks and magic equipment. It is known to be influenced by the moon. Weve extracted and processed it to the highest possible purity, at least 99.9999%. Essentially, it can be considered pure. Listening to the captivating description, one could easily imagine wanting to purchase it if in the buyers position. Its a special-grade ore mined from the Lunar Mountain Range, as requested by Lady Silvia. Uponpleting the exnation, Sebastian appeared to be a highlypetent subordinate. He emphasized the value of the item he presented while enhancing Silvias reputation. Having such a subordinate indicated that Silvia was managing things well. The Laurent family. (TLN: Im going to use family for both her and Emilia I think, both their family names are associated with Sangdan (), can either mean to top/upper or group of merchants, Chinese merchants organized an army to protect their markets, and that army is called ) Working with them didnt seem like a bad idea at all. Of course, that was one thing, but Thank you. Ian retrieved the Lunar ore from the bag and inspected its condition. As requested, it was a rectangr shape with afortable grip, suitable for an adults arm. Its so brilliant and bright, incredibly so. He extended his hand, and the mana within him immediately responded. This was genuinely pure and refined Lunar ore. With this level of mineral, handling the extraction and transformation would be no problem at all. Considering the properties of Lunar ore, it should be capable of easily countering even mid-level hazard species. It would significantly reduce their magical damage, making it a suitable choice for magic equipment. As he was grinning and appreciating it, Sebastian asked him carefully. Excuse me, but may I ask how you n to process it? Processing? No, Ill use it as it is. As it is? It looks almost no different from regr lumber A staff. Pardon? Ian, to the bewildered Sebastian, spoke clearly. Its not lumber; its a magic staff. Sebastian, with a somewhat dazed expression, left the teahouse. A stark contrast to his usual sharp and stoic demeanor, he was now wearing a different expression. As he walked out, someone called him. Sebastian! The voice of someone he served. Sebastians sharp gaze returned in an instant, stopping on a woman. She leaned against the alleys wall, wearing colorful oversized sses and a wide-brimmed hat. Silvia. As Sebastian approached her, Silvia was taken aback. How did you recognize me? Im in disguise. A glow that couldnt be concealed by mere makeup was present. Sebastian, who had swallowed his words, bowed and greeted her. I inquired about the intended use, as you asked. What did he say? He said hes going to use it as a staff. A staff? Hes going to walk around with that? How much does it cost? No, he meant a magic staff. A magic staff? Yes, in that manner. Whoosh. Sebastian demonstrated using the magic staff. Magic staffs have to be made of wood No. This ismon sense even a newborn knows, so Ian would know it too. Thats correct. But what he got was just a block made of Lunar. Thats correct. An awkward silence followed, then Silvia sighed. Well, hes an entric individual. Youll understandter. Was there anything else? Sebastian thought of Ian as he left the teahouse. He was different from his profile. ording to the information that Laurent family had, he was the b*stard hair of the fallen noble family ckangers, and to such an extent that his younger sister took over as the head of the family. So, Sebastian expected him to be light-hearted and a freeloader, at best. However, the Ian he met in person was different. Nobles, even if fallen, tend to be haughty and look down on others. In fact, the more theyve fallen, the worse it often gets. Ian was different. He was exceptionally polite, more so than most older individuals. It wasnt out of pitifulness. Grace and dignity. Because I felt the unique leisure thates from someone who has lived long enough. It had the kind of scent that can only be felt by those who have experienced enough in society like veterans of some upper ss. But this was just a personal perspective. Could Sebastian trust his own eyes? I have nothing specific to report. He thought he might investigate further when the opportunity arose, all for the sake of Lady Silvia. Except for magic staffs, no weapons are allowed inside. Eastern campus of the Academy. 3rd Magic Training Ground. Ian, using his acquired social skills and eloquence, managed to convince the training ground manager that this was indeed a magical staff. In two days, there would bebat training. The monsters they would be facing are formidable enough, but the Bloodstone Cult will likely intervene and literally open the gates of Hell. It was crucial to get ustomed to the use of this new weapon as much as possible. Originally, I thought Id only get to use it in a real battle. Thanks to Silvias quick procurement, he had gained some extra time. [3rd Magic Training Ground] This ce, the 3rd Magic Training Ground, allowed one to experience various types of mana attacks. From basic elements such as lightning, fire, water, earth, and ice to special attributes like light and darkness. You could test and train how well you dodged or defended against sphere-like mana attacks. Where should we test the Lunar? Squeak. He chose a training room and propped the magic staff, or rather the wood-like Lunar, on his shoulder. If his assumption was correct, the monsters they would face in thebat training exercises were undoubtedly Ian ckangers. A cold voice that seems to cut off my thoughts in one fell swoop. Ian turned his head toward the voice. Endless icy blue hair. She had sharp eyes that look like they could cut a person down. Sharon Pierce. I thought I wouldnt see you for a while, but youre still the worst. Her words carried a chilling coldness with each one. If Sharon were to attack right now, could he defend against it? His palms started to sweat. Luckily, she wasnt holding a sword. Lets meet after thebat training exercises. Whoosh. She turned around and left without another word. Why is Sharon here? This training ground was distant from the Knight Department. He hade here to have some peace. This wasplicated. Sharon Pierce was a formidable heroine when judged solely on her abilities. The only reason she wasnt ssified in the Aether ss was because her power awakening had been a littlete. Tsk. Since theyd already crossed paths, there was no point in paying more attention to her. In fact, his suspicion was now shifting more towards Lina. For now, lets get back to training. It seemed like their focus was on thebat training exercises over there as well. Taa! He sessfully blocked thest Dark Magic-type attack. Hoo. Ian took a deep breath. Ian took a deep breath, and soon the result of facing 1000 mana attacks appeared in his mind as if it were a hologram. Balls destroyed: 134 Balls blocked: 766 Balls dodged: 2 Defense rate: 80% Not bad. Next, the rankings came to his mind. Upon seeing the destroyed balls category, Ian let out an amusedugh. 1st ce: Sharon Pierce [587 attacks] 2nd ce: Karina [281 attacks] Of course, Iansck of metal sharpening meant that he destroyed fewer balls, but Sharons lead over the second-ce finisher was overwhelming. Well, I won this, I guess. Following that, the rankings for blocked balls:
  1. Ian ckangers [766 attacks]
  2. Emmanuel Yesire [598 attacks]
He confidently secured the 1st ce. While it wasnt an exact reflection of his abilities, it was still satisfying. Ian released the Lunar that was wrapped around his body. It quickly returned to its original shape. Ian affectionately looked down at the massive staff. Myah, what was it called? He muttered nonsense and pped himself on the cheek. Its a great magic staff. With this, his preparations for thebat training exercises wereplete. Snick- A small smile tugged at the corners of Ians mouth. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Combat Training Practice Notice Freshmen who have received this notice are requested to gather at the following location. (Map) With this notice in hand, you can use the Academys Southern Magitech Gate checkpoint for free. (Please be aware that free ess may be unavable without this notice.) Two days had passed since the weekend ended. The notice had arrived. Its still amazing to me. Ian gazed mysteriously at the paper in his hand. To be exact, the [About] part. More precisely, it was the sectionbeled [Map]. The map provided detailed directions to the Magitech Gate, including the path from his current location. It felt like he had activated a navigation app. Ian, who often struggled with finding his way, was quite impressed. Its incredible, this magic engineering. He had always felt that advanced magic was not much different from modern technology. Grunt. Ian, with his backpack and magic staff ready, set out from his dormitory. For some reason, the staff felt heavier than the backpack, but it was probably just his imagination. As expected, I need to do some physical strength training. As he pondered this, he smoothly slid backward on the mana tram, his body wrapped in mana. [Academy South Gate tform] The South Gate, where the administrative offices of Lichten City were concentrated. Well-maintained, wide roads stretched out before his eyes. Rmended Routes: On Foot (18 minutes), Carriage (8 minutes) About 20 minutes on foot should be fine. The reason he had met Sebastian at the East Gate during the weekend was the same. Ian was expanding his experiences in this new world. He regrly visited the library, but taking the time to explore the surroundings whenever possible was also a valuable experience. For instance, the various modes of transportation catching his eye right now were quite interesting. From carriages that served as budget taxis to steam-powered cars, the choices were diverse. Furthermore, there were mana trams crossing the paved roads and mana trains passing on the horizon, sometimes visible between the buildings and along the citys outskirts. And there stood the Magitech Gate building, visible in the distance. Just by looking at the means of transportation, it was clear that magic engineering was driving Lichten. I should definitely buy some ana soon. Hmm. I hope no one heard that. Ian quickly swallowed the unexpected mutterings. It was important to be cautious with insider stock information like this. Looking around, all he could see were people with dark circles under their eyes. They might look like zombies, but if you turned your head, you could see a sign that read . It wasnt as prestigious as Lichten Academy, but in the field of magic engineering, it was considered a prestigious university on the continent. Many magicians who graduated from here yed significant roles in running the city. There might be a few exchange students at the academy too. ording to Fanta X Aca, there were well-known magicians at the university. If the opportunity arose, it wouldnt be a bad idea to meet some of them. Hey there, student! Get some medicine! By the way, as he got closer to the Magitech Gate checkpoint, it seemed that there were more street vendors on the street. Need better concentration? Try this medicine! Feeling nervous? Just one pill of Clearmind makes all your worries disappear. Buy it now! Hey, girl! This one makes your mana sensitivity go up, they say. Give it a try! Some vendors were trying to entice the freshmen who seemed to be unaware of todaysbat training practice. Ian wondered if students at super-prestigious academies like the Lichten Academy would buy something like that Just give me the one for mana sensitivity. Sure, sure. Here you go. Good luck with your exams~! Surprisingly, there were some naive students in between. Being good at studying and being wise were two different things. Maybe its thecent thinking, Nobody would ever scam a Lichten student. Maybe it was just a desperate attempt to get good grades this time around. Beforeing here, they must have been considered geniuses somewhere. Anyway. To Ian, it was all irrelevant. Training, looting, hidden quests. Those were the only three correct paths to grow. Thats why. Sniff. When he spotted a pitiful cat sniffing the [Mana Sensitivity Enhancement Medicine, Ian walked towards her without hesitation. Gyah! Why are you grabbing me? I want to perform well with that medicine too! Youre ruthless, Ian! You do well even without taking this kind of stuff! With a belly writhing from consuming an unknown substance and no knowledge of the despair of the future, the cat swayed her tail confidently, knowing she could rescue herself. Danya, who was suddenly grabbed by the back of her neck, struggled. But Ian was already adept at handling Danya. He skillfully avoided Danyas tails iling and continued toward the Magitech Gate Well, I also knew this was a scam. Danya, who had been walking calmly after being put down, muttered in front of the checkpoint. Understood. Combat training practice. Even though it was supposed to be controlled, it involved facing actual intermediate-level monsters at least 6th grade or higher. Students, please use Gate 2, 3, or 4! Be sure to check the destination on your respective notices, as they are different! The Magitech Gate checkpoint was filled with students. A strange tension hung in the air. Weve taken all possible precautions to ensure that none of you will die. However, this is a reminder not to get overly nervous! Twenty minutes after passing through the Magitech Gate, 120 freshmen had gathered at the training location. Before them was the entrance to a dungeon that seemed to pierce into the mountains. It appeared to be endlessly shrouded in darkness, as if it were devouring light and opening its mouth wide toward the freshmen. But remember to maintain a reasonable level of tension without panicking! This is a ss where casualties ur regrly every year due to emergency situations! Use emergency scrolls immediately in case of a crisis. Keep in mind that you need both grades and your life! Instructor Gerald spoke words that were difficult to interpretwhether they were meant to reassure the students or increase their tension. I just wish hed providefort. No student seemed to have let their guard down. In the space where the freshmen stood, the entrance to the dungeon seemed to exude an endlessly dark and eerie atmosphere. Some students expressions indicated that it felt like they were stepping into a grave. Actually, some might die. In the original scenario, the environment should have been as controlled as possible with the help of academy instructors and professors. However, there was the presence of the Bloodstone cult, who had set traps here. Some traps might actually attempt to sever limbs, and some monsters might genuinely desire to taste human organs. Ian swallowed hard. Naturally, he felt tense. Ive never seen Ian so nervous before. Im scared too, nyaa Both Danya and Everidge were tensing up, as if by default. Meanwhile, Yurran continued to smile as usual. Why dont you calm your teammates down if youre going to be splitting hairs? No. What was he expecting from the Bloodstone cult? Ian sighed lightly as he looked at the human team members. Man, its those guys without a knight who cant get themselves together. A harsh, provocative voice. Ian turned his head and sighed lightly. Tsk. Jacob, a student of the Knight Department, and the tank of Team 7, where Lina Rosewell belonged. He was the one to watch carefully during this practice. Why, you ask? Right now, he wasnt part of the Bloodstone cult. But theres a sinister faction within Bloodstone cult, and this guy would be the first freshman to fall into their trap. He didnt know the details of the process, but The first one to turn ckened. He remembered that much. Tsk. As expected of a magic newbie, he doesnt have a clue. A guy muttered and bumped Ians shoulder, but Ian had a bitter taste in his mouth. The guy raising his eyebrows awkwardly toward Team 7, which was centered around Lina. Feelings of inferiority and self-me. You could easily read those emotions on the guys face. Ian are you nervous? Danya asked with a worried look. Yeah, why would he be nervous? Ian dered, raising his magic staff. Lets go. Inside the dungeon, it was as dark and eerie as ever. Since it was their first time, they took a safety-oriented position. Ian led, with Everidge, the scout, right behind him. Danya followed, and Yurran was in between. At the beginning, there were several teams around, but as they passed through a fork in the road, each team ended up separated. While walking like this, Everidge asked Ian from behind. By the way, Ian. Yeah? Whats with that magic staff? This? Ian raised the Lunar staff he held in his right hand. Everidge nodded. Ians eyebrows twitched slightly. Its a magic staff. Yes? A magic staff. Is it? At Everidges question, Ian shook his head with self-deprecation. Why dont people believe me? It was probably because he was in Pongpongs body. Changing peoples perceptions would take time. Try to say it. Magic staff. Huh? Ma-gic. Staff. Ma-gic staff Reluctantly, Everidge repeated after Ian, while Yurran justughed away. Watching their reactions, Danya felt somewhat relieved as her tension began to ease. Right. If I stay nervous, I wont see anything. Lets focus more on the surroundings. She didnt distrust Everidge, the teams scout, but she knew that her own instincts could be helpful to the team. Huh? As she rxed and focused on her senses, she felt something. Sniff. It was hard to distinguish in the already damp cave-like dungeon, but There was a musty smell. As if it was emanating from an old parchment. Blink Blink. Danya urgently called out. Ian, in front! A monster suddenly jumped out. Ian subconsciously swung his magic staff. Crack! A lively full swing. Looking at the skull of a skeleton soldier flying in the distance, Everidge muttered. Its definitely a newbie weapon. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Kaah! It was a lively swing that instinctively felt like a home run the moment it connected. Even though Ian had never yed baseball, it felt that way. The body of the skeleton that had lost its head crumbled down. Ahaha. Ian, youre amazing! Your reaction speed is incredible, isnt it? Id like to learn a thing or two from you. Keep quiet and get ready. There seem to be a few more. Ian casually brushed off Yurrans praise. It was an old dungeon. Dungeons tended to attract adventurers, and as a result, bodies piled up, which could easily turn into the undead. Just now, a soldier had risen from the floor. It would have been hard to notice if it werent for Danya. In the darkness of their surroundings, focus was necessary. Lux. Everidge reinforced his light magic at the right moment. Danyas sniffing increased in frequency. Ian extracted and transformed a part of Lunar. Lunar enveloped from the fist to the shoulder. The adult-sized magic staff in his hand had shrunk to about two-thirds of its size. There are three in front! Danya shouted. About twenty steps ahead, skeletons d in tattered leather came into view. Ill take the tank position. Lets initiate the attack. At Ians order, Danyas magic arrow precisely pierced one of them. The approaching figures ran straight toward them. Everidges crossbow sniped the remaining one. We missed one! Yurran had let an undead slip past him. Damn it. This was supposed to be a test of Lunars performance. A skeleton soldier, no higher than rank 7. As he prepared for a punch as usual, he sensed something strange. Something strange? A strange energy emanated from the approaching skeleton. Sulfur? Everything on the ground was Ians domain. It felt dangerous instinctively. He drew his shorter and lighter staff with a sense of foreboding. And then he swung it towards the skeletons head. Kaah! Once again, a cheerful impact resounded. The soldiers head flew off. But this time, it felt different. A bit more substantial and as if he had ignited a fuse. Plug your ears, everyone! Ian shouted. And right after Quaaaaaaa! The sound of an explosion filled the space. -Rumble. Fragments of stone scattered in the vibration. It was an explosion of considerable scale, even though Lunar briefly shielded around his ears, they still rang. Is everyone okay? Ian! Everidge, who was a bit behind, regained hisposure and checked on the teams condition. Yurran, who had recovered from the initial shock, looked a bit grim but managed a smile. As for Danya and Ian Phew. Ian exhaled and lifted his lowered upper body. At the same time, he removed his hands from the furry ears. I can block them on my own, you know. Danya, taken aback by the sudden closeness, mumbled. Sorry, it was urgent. No need to apologize for that Thanks? Danya returned to her position with a snort. Looking at that scene, Average shouted. Ian, are your ears okay? I should have shielded you! Thud. Ian tapped his own ear. The silvery metal that had been blocking his ears slid back into ce on his staff. Impressive. Most mages are slower to react. Its as if youre ustomed to closebat Ah. Everidge nced at the magic staff and shrugged it off. There was no need to point it out, so lets leave it at that. By the way, how did you know about that explosion just now? Everidge asked while looking at the now-pulverized skulls of skeletons in the distance. Just a feeling. To be more precise, he felt a sensation akin to the presence of gunpowder. It was apletely different kind of sense, an extra-sensory perception of sorts. It was another sense that allowed him to detect things emerging from the earth. Is everyone all right? Ian inquired while checking his team members status. He walked over to the pile of finely powdered bones left by the explosion. Amidst the remains, he sensed sulfur. Someone nned this, as expected. Ian narrowed his eyes. Regardless of the type of dungeon, it was reasonable for skeleton soldiers to appear. They could be created anywhere as long as there were corpses and spiritual energy. However, the fact that a soldiers skull exploded like a bomb was a different story. If it had been a regr tank, he wouldnt have been concerned about the soldiers weapons, and he certainly wouldnt have expected their heads to explode. If he had been caught off guard, he would have suffered at least serious injuries. Professors wouldnt engage in such reckless acts. It was too dangerous and not a suitable approach. Just as I suspected. The scenario was unfolding as nned. Ian refrained from looking over in Yurrans direction, who might have sensed his prior knowledge. There was no reason to reveal what he knew to him. Rather, he was more interested in their side. He wondered how they managed to avoid the explosion. It seems your reactions are quicker than I expected. As expected, Yurran was the first to ask. He approached with a yful smile. Are you saying that as if its regrettable? Ahaha! Is there any chance of that happening? My bad; Im not used to using divine energy aggressively. I apologize. No, there was a real possibility it could have happened. Dont worry, and focus on attacking rather than assisting in tanking. My tanking should handle it without any issues. In reality, Ian intended to block Yurrans feeble tricks. Did he pick up on the underlying emotions? Yurrans eyes widened in a crescent shape. You seem a bit different from the Ian I know. He continued after a brief pause. Has something changed about you? Although he wasughing and seemed to be joking, his eyes were intensely serious. A helpless guy. Stop the nonsense and focus. Ian took the lead. Fortunately, there were no traps or surprises after the s*icide bomber skeleton. However, the deeper they went into the dungeon, the darker and more oppressive the surroundings became. More minor enemies appeared, but Danya and Everidge fulfilled their roles well, leaving Ian with few opportunities to act. Divine Cleanse. As if Yurrans earlier slip was indeed a mistake, and his divine power didnt stray this time. Instead, he rapidly dispatched the undead creatures. After about thirty minutes of progress. The air is getting more humid. I can feel the wind. Is there an exit to the outside? The scenery inside the dungeon slowly started to change. At some point, the surroundings gradually brightened. The air felt as humid as nighttime air. At that moment. Somethings approaching. Animals, predators. Theyre in a group, and there are many. Danya briefed the team, and soon, something wriggling in the distance came into view. Everidge, with keen eyesight, provided an exnation. They are Twilight Wolves. There are about 11 of them. Isnt this going to be a problem? Twilight Wolves? Danyas eyes widened in surprise. Thats understandable. Twilight Wolves. They were agile and organized in theirbat, making it challenging for mages and ranged dealers to hit them. Moreover, their leather was tough, and their fur possessed strong magical resistance. For a team without a knight, they were formidable opponents. Ians team was at a disadvantage due to their affinity. Outwardly, at least. Strength is magic resistance, weakness is physical damage from blunt weapons. Attacking is done in groups, but retreats are also done in groups. Of course, there are plenty of strategies. Everidge prepare the crossbow. What? Ian moved forward afterpletely extracting the Lunar from his back. Meanwhile. Lina Rosewell and the members of Team 7, including Jacob, were not in good shape. The situation on their side was not ideal because the teams tank, Jacob from the Knight Department, had taken a significant hit from the s*icide skeleton soldiers. They were dyed due to the need to heal Jacob. How could a Knight department guy like him not dodge that? Lina Rosewell mumbled to herself. It was more of a mutter, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. But This Normally, skeleton soldiers dont explode like this. Ugh, never mind. Since they were already a team and couldnt separate at this point, the situation wasnt that bad. They had made good progress until now, so they had some time to spare. Haaa Lina Rosewell let out a deep sigh. Of course, Team 7s members didnt stay silent. Shes really changed. Shes not the old Lina anymore. Even if grades are important, isnt she ruining teamwork? Lina Rosewell had suddenly transformed. Kindness and consideration had mysteriously disappeared, reced by selfishness and aggression. Simultaneously, her skills had improved somewhat, but This team had been formed with the expectation of Linas recognition and personality. The umted grievances from the past were continuing to pile up. Meanwhile, Jacobs mental state was noticeably deteriorating. He received the priests healing magic and was forced to take a mandatory break. Jacobs sitting eyes shook fiercely. He was a confident student of the Knight Department. Yet, he had caused significant trouble for the team. Moreover, the team he was with was none other than Lina Roswell, who he had been secretly interested in. When this team was formed, he had even tried to make an impression on her. He had dreamed of a scenario where he would be the one who valiantly protected Lina by her side, rather than some inferior student. This This cant be happening. He hadnt wished for such a pathetic situation. He certainly didnt want to fall just because of a crazy skeleton. F*ck F*ck Self-loathing reared its head. Simultaneously, the negative emotions buried deep within his heart surged up. He knew. Despite his outward arrogance, he was aware of the contradictions within himself. Rather, ever since entering the academy, he had been filled with feelings of inferiority about his own talents and jealousy of the exceptional students. Jacob discreetly searched his pockets. [Pills for Peace of Mind] These were the pills he had bought just in case, on his way to the Magitech Gate. He swallowed one. Oh, my. Youve been worrying a lot, havent you? A sweet voice began to fill his mind. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Twilight Wolves. They are ssified as grade 8 threats. A single individual capable of inflicting fatal damage on multiple humans. H However, when they are in a pack, their danger level surpasses grade 7 threats or higher. They are about 1.3 times the size of regr wolves and might appear to resemble gray tigers from a distance. Their tough skin makes them hard to cut through with des, and their ashen fur provides resistance to magic. We should use blunt weapons to attack as much as possible! Can you do it, Yurran? As Everidge from the Reconnaissance Department suggested, it is rmended to use blunt weapons when facing the Twilight Wolves. des and magic are not very effective against them, making them challenging opponents. Theres a reason I emphasized tanking and melee DPS in all the sses. Given the context, it was highly likely that the Twilight Wolves were the target of thisbat exercise. Its a bit tough for me. Im not a practitioner of blunt weapons. Yurran shook his head. What should we do then? Even though Ian is watching out as a tank, but hes still a mage. Everidges expression worsened. Just as Ian was about to speak, Danya stepped in. Dont worry. Ian caught a crazy rabbit the other day! Ian is more capable than you think! It was nice to hear her say that, but why are you so confident? Ian smiled and cleared his throat. Danya is right. I can handle them to a certain extent. However, it will be tough if they swarm me. We need to engage in long-range attacks and hold them off as much as possible. Danya, this is your responsibility. Yes! Got it! Danya quickly took her position and got her magic bow ready. Ian nodded and continued. However, I cant take care of all the creatures. Everidge, use your most powerful crossbow to take out a few of them. Scouts also yed the role of ranged physical damage dealers during battles. Everidge typically used a crossbow, but it was clear that he also had a more powerful crossbow for higher physical damage. But it takes time to reload, and its difficult to aim Ill immobilize the enemies whenever I get the chance. All right. Finally, the priest with a mischievous smile. Yurran. Yes, Ian. The nature of the Twilight Wolves is evil. They are known to be averse to divine power. Try to disrupt their attack patterns as much as possible. Unlike the other team members who were immediately convinced, he just smirked. Hahaha. Im curious why you know so much about these wolves, Ian. Didnt you read the Monsterology textbook? Its a mandatory course for the Reconnaissance Department. Ian knew that Yurran was watching him. Pongpong was undoubtedly one of the goals of the Bloodstone cult, so he had prepared this kind of exnation in advance. The corners of Yurrans mouth quirked upward in humility. Ah, I see. Moreover, there was no need for an exnation because it was true. He knew the general strategy for dealing with the Twilight Wolves, but he had learned the specific information through books. It was a bit strange that Ian, who visited the library and delved into the major books of other departments whenever he had free time, knew so much. Yurran lowered his head, as if giving up on trying to understand Ians true madness. Ill do my best. Good. Lets start with Danyas opening move before they can form a formation. Danya lifted one leg and extended it forward, pulling the bowstring taut. With a soft exhale, a bright arrow was released. Krrrng! The red eyes of the Twilight Wolves quickly focused on the target. Ian took a deep breath. Breathing was a process ofmunication with everything outside the body. Mana from the earth, soil, rocks, and even the Lunar on his back, was no exception. Sensing minerals and extracting them, covering the body, it all felt incredibly natural. The result of continuous training. Once you experience this flow like water, you cant stop the training. But it didnt end there. Lets draw it out. In the case of [Transformation], the closer it is to the body, the easier it is to manipte metal. Conversely, the farther it is from the body, the more difficult it bes. Its like the feeling of my fist expanding. The Lunar, which had surrounded his fist, transformed. It used to simply envelop the body, but now it was different. From the fist, several protrusions emerged in an orderly fashion, like a gauntlet. Although it was still difficult to achieve sharpness. Grrrrrng! Rawr! One punch was enough to handle wolves rushing towards them without a clue. Puheung! Kkaeang! Krrrr!! No. One punch wasnt enough. Step in, left jab. Right straight. Avoid the fangs. Finish with an uppercut. He could feel the protrusions digging into the wolfs jaw muscles. Kkaeaeeeeng! A Twilight Wolf let out a strange cry and copsed. What kind of mage is this? A voice of admiration came from behind. It was Everidge, who had been watching with his crossbow. Everidge was considered the most normal one among them. It was already rare for a mage to take on the tanking role, let alone engaging in fistfights. It must have been a fascinating sight. Earth-element mana has physical properties among the essential elements. In fact, among the essential elements, Earth had the strongest physical properties. It had often been used effectively in games. Youre truly remarkable in many ways. Enough about that. Get ready. Im going to start immobilizing them. It seemed that there was a physical limit to turning all the Twilight Wolves jaws away. With Yurran and Danya providing some resistance, they could handle one wolf at a time. Tying up their legs wouldnt be too difficult. And so, the main assault began. The battle continued fiercely. At this moment, when everyone was focused on the battle, Yurran removed his usual mask. His mouth curved downwards, and his eyes sharpened. His demeanor was enough to make him seem imposing. It was only natural. He was the leader of a branch of the Bloodstone Cult. Both his abilities and presence were different from the ordinary students at the academy, to the extent that they made the others appear mundane. Yurran observed Ians every move from behind. It was difficult to im that he had a wealth of experience. On the contrary, he was closer to a novice. Hisbat prowess was incredible, beyond belief. However, there was something else. He seems like someone who fights while looking down on everything from above. He read the flow of the battle, never making a mistake even if he stumbled. He adapted with creativity, using impromptu methods. A mage taking the lead, iming that he wielded an unusual weapon that looked like a staff, it was all quite strange. Everything was intriguing. Hmm. He wanted to observe a little more. He wanted to see Ians reaction when he was flustered. Just as the wolves gathered for their final attack, Yurran partially lowered the protective divine barrier he had been maintaining. Oh, this is a mistake. I apologize, Ian. Yurran subtly let one of the wolves slip through. He wanted to see how far Ian could handle it. Yurran! Danyas rmed cry. She tried to cover quickly, but it was toote. He had calcted for this situation. I made a mistake. Be careful, Ian. Im sorry A nce. Ian looked his way, showing signs of doubt. It was uncertain whether his suspicion was directed at Yurran as a person or as a member of the Bloodstone Cult. Yurrans intuition leaned toward thetter, but rationally, it was more likely the former. Hes not that perceptive to notice that. Ian ckangers. The eldest son of the fallen noble family, the ckangers family. He used to be a brilliant talent in his youth, but after entering the academy, his behavior had been more of a cmity than talent. His recent transformation was remarkable, but even when a person changes, there are limits. Just Why is the Blood Witch so interested in him? Puheung! One Twilight Wolf had its jawbone dislocated. Kkaeaeeeeng! A Twilight Wolf pierced by a crossbow bolt, immobilized in the mud rising from the ground. Paaaak! The other wolf immobilized in the mud by Ians bizarre metallic-headed headbutt, and another wolf with its eyes pierced by Danyas arrow, left Yurran wondering. What kind of blood flows in him? Gulp. Yurran swallowed his saliva without realizing it. You cant steal the Blood Witchs food. She told them to bring it whole. However, the missions importance was not particrly emphasized. After all, Ian was a secondary objective. But I had high hopes for today. Originally, at this point, the two members of the party were supposed to die, and Ian, burdened with guilt, was going to be brainwashed. But that method wont work on him. Tsk. Yurran surreptitiously licked his lips. The secondary goal could be given up for now. The main goal had been achieved to some extent. He had exposed the holes in the academys security system, and there was still the highlight to look forward to. The battle came to an end. Yurran put on his mask again. Great job, everyone. Youre all amazing, arent you? Ahahahaha! As he imagined the future events, he couldnt help but feel good. So, the question was, whom should they spare? Ieuuuuh Ian, catching his breath, would be spared. They would need to uncover his secrets eventually. Yurran! It was dangerous earlier! Ahahaha, I apologize My divine power got tangled for a moment. It cant be helped now, but lets be more careful next time. Ian was in danger. The purring cat seemed to trust Ian quite a bit. She mighte in handy someday. I really cant believe it. We defeated those Twilight Wolves. As for Everidge well, if this guy died, there would be a chance the team would disband, so lets just keep him alive for now to maintain the status quo. Ahahah! Yurranughed artificially, and his lips turned up cheerfully. Would you alle over here for a moment? What is it? Come quickly. Listen to me, you guys. Im bestowing mercy on you right now. Ian approached Yurran, somewhat expectantly. Kwaaaaaaaang! With a tremendous shock, the dungeon passage vanished. The ce where they had just been resting disappeared without a trace. The ceiling was torn open to reveal the sky, an unusual sight within the dungeon. Oh my. Yurran raised his head. Well, youre all really lucky. Hahahaha! His teeth, bathed in the light, gleamed a vivid crimson. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 27 Chapter 27 The typical dungeon is a confined space. Stony floors, stuffy air, the fear that one wrong step could lead to an untimely demise. Each of these elementsbines to create the endlessly fantastic space known as a dungeon. But suddenly, a space opened up just a few steps ahead, with the setting sun filling the sky beyond, and it left one breathless. We almost got screwed for real. And then. That shock just now, if it had hit us, there wouldnt be anything left. Danya shivered as she raised her tail, and it was understandable. In that moment, the story of the game suddenly came to mind. [A massive crash resounded. The dungeon shook. Lina Rosewell sensed that something was happening.] In thebat training scenario, Lina Rosewell was essentially the protagonist. She must have felt that the source of the crashing sound was on their side. Ian! Are you hurt? Im fine. Danya rushed over to him. Just a moment. Suddenly, a thought crossed Ians mind: Perhaps Danya not being an official character in Fantasy X Academy, and the reason why he couldnt see her while ying. If she was involved in this incident, it would make sense. Ian swallowed hard. The weight of Fantasy X Academys story was starting to be felt. As expected, people should worship good gods, right? Yurran grinned. If this guy hadnt called, they might have all turned to dust. Knowing about the Bloodstone Cult, and the fact that capturing this guy itself was an episode. The Bloodstone Cult was one of the few organizations in the game with scarce personal information. This chilling guy might be more formidable than expected. At least, he had the power to interfere with the academys training exercises. Im starting to get interested a bit. Haha, what an honor this is. The right to life and death, for a moment, was in Yurrans hands. Indeed, Fantasy X Academy was not a game where you could have casual thoughts. Anyway, right now, everyone was alive. They had to move forward. Once everyone is ready, lets go. At the center of the dungeon. Originally, the central square of the dungeon should have been a bit further. But due to a sudden part of the dungeon being blown away, the destination became more visible. A murky swamp and, at its center, a boss monster in a dormant state. Originally, it should not wake up. Since it was a minimum Level 4 threat, the fresh-faced rookies couldnt confront it yet. Lets go. This scenario was, after all, a significant one because the first ckened student would appear. But suspicions started to creep in naturally. What if the storys flow changes like this? Originally, Lina Rosewell was supposed to lead the finale of this episode. To suppress the boss monster that Jacob, the ckened student, was running to awaken. However. In the first ce, Linas appearance also changed greatly. It was inevitable to feel anxious. It absolutely must not wake up now. One silver wolf, sleeping in the center of this ce. It was a prerequisite condition that had to be protected for the future story. Their footsteps quickened. A massive crash resounded. The dungeon shook. Trembling. Lina Rosewell almost stumbled but quickly regained her bnce. She had a gut feeling that something was happening, but she didnt stop her steps. Unwavering footsteps. Lina Slow down a bit. Youre going too fast. From behind, a groaning sound was heard. A seemingly useless front-liner. It was the voice of the priest supporting Jacob. Haa. Lina let out a sigh. Why did that damned Jacob join the team and be a burden? Crumbling! Her sigh was not heard as it was overshadowed by the sudden appearance of Twilight Wolves. Lina! We need to step back! The Twilight Wolves are immune to magic! Ignoring the scouts words, fast incantations flowed from Linas mouth. Burn everything. In an instant, Linas hair turned a brilliant blue. Followed by a tremendous amount of mes engulfing the pathway. ! Nothing remained beyond. Lets go. The members of Team 7 blinked their eyes. Did they miss something? Wasnt there a pack of wolves ahead? Linas abilities were clearly showing abnormal traits from some point on. We need to go faster. In fact, Linas mind was clear with only one goal. Gradually, a humid atmosphere surrounded them. Silver rays of light shone through the dark passage. When they turned the corner, a vast open space stretched out before them. With the waxing moon above her head in the background, the swamnd, just as she had heard, unfolded before her eyes. Scout, priest. Go ahead. Ill follow. Its better that way. B-but what about Jacob? Ill support him. Leave him there for now. A coldmand. The two followed the orders. As they departed, Lina looked down. Jacob, writhing on the ground, looked like some kind of bug. Should she step on him like this? Get up. Hey. Ugh. Lina propped him up. Points. In order to earn points in training, not only speed but also teamwork was essential. Points andpetition. That was all that was on Linas mind. Walk. Endure the pain. Ah I understand. The marsnd was getting thicker. With her spirits support, Lina opened her mouth. In this world, it feels like it hates me too much. Ugh What do you think, Jacob? Why is everyone making it so hard for me? I treat everyone kindly, and why is it so hard for me? I-Im sorry. You too, Jacob. Youre from the Knight Department, right? You told me you had confidence. But is this all youve got? Cant even prevent a skeleton head from exploding, and youre groaning like this, bing a burden to the team. Jacob lowered his head. Lina looked down at him and raised her head. The brilliant moon hung above. For some reason, the more moonlight she received, the more something inside her seemed to boil. At that moment, in her eyes, she saw someone in the distance. Ian ckangers. As expected, its him. Lina grit her teeth. You know, Jacob. Uh? I need to get good grades in this training, right? Im sorry. Im not ming you. Linas voice had an inexplicable fiery tone. So, pretend you didnt see anything, okay? Her hair glowed with a deep blue under the moonlight. Then, her hand shed red, and mes unfolded. Shiiiiiiik! The mes turned all the moisture in their path into steam and advanced in a straight line. At the end of it all, a man stood there. Kagaagang! A massive explosion erupted. Ian was searching for Lina Rosewell as he made his way through the swamp. More urately, he was searching for Jacob. In case they couldnt stop him from bing ckened, and the boss monster woke up, this ce would be a massive grave. It was manageable with Aether students, but it was impossible for ordinary students. I sense something. Danya suddenly perked her ears and listened. The forest peoples intuition was generally trustworthy. As he focused on mana detection, he felt a heat behind him. Watch out! He shouted and immediately shielded with Lunar, covering the front of his body. Kagaagang! The terrifying sound of magical power and metal resistance shing. The mes were soon extinguished. If it werent for Lunar, reinforced by moonlight, they would have pierced through. It was strong. He managed to block it once, but most of Lunar had already melted away. Besides, they were surrounded by a swamp, and there was no sign of effective elemental extraction. Are they targeting this situation? It was clearly malicious. At the end of the spell, Lina Rosewell was standing there. Jacob stood beside her, his face dazed. Jacob nkly stared at the unfolding scene. The transformation of Lina Rosewell was certainly surprising, but that wasnt what left him in a daze. From the moment she was berated, her mind was cleared. Her endless feelings of regret, self-destruction, and futility toward her teammates All of that disappeared as if a string had been cut. Stop it. Kirilik. Jacob looked up at the sky. He heard a mans voice. An irresistiblemand. Stop the one beside you. He had to stop Lina Rosewell? But he didnt have the power to do that. You are strong. His heart raced. A ck something began to gather in his chest. Feelings of inferiority, hatred, defeat, and all his rough thoughts became a driving force. He felt it instinctively. Every single one of his veins was turning into a magic circle. Power. The powerful strength he had always longed for. Jacobs lips curled upwards. Kung, kung His heart beat fiercely. Overwhelming power lifted his body. In an instant, ck energy enveloped him. And when Lina Rosewells incantation ended, Jacob leaped forward. Kwagaagang! mes and darkness shed fiercely. Ian silently watched the scene in front of him. A massive explosion. At the end of the magical tug-of-war, the defeated Jacob vanished without a trace. A passage from the story came to mind. [The ckened student was stopped by Lina Rosewell.] The result was the same. But the process was significantly distorted. It wasnt Lina who stopped the ckened student. The ckened student had stopped Lina. The cause and effect were twisted. Is this insane story going somewhere? . His mouth felt dry. There was a variable. A variable that could alter the course of the scenario. And with just a little thought, it was obvious who that variable was. There were three main characters in this scene. Lina Rosewell, who seemed ready to kill him. Yurran, who looked at her in amazement. And Ian himself. Two of them were originally in this scenario, and one was an absent figure. F*ck. Suddenly, a cold sweat ran down his spine. It finally dawned on him. The Bloodstone Cult and the heroine were both moving, each considering himself the destination. Perhaps the one who had underestimated himself the most was Ian himself. He said he might be himself. He looked back at the central role he had to y for the sake of the story. Fortunately, the boss had not awakened. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Between Ian and Lina. Sizzle Electricity sparked in the air. Soon, the space trembled, and a portal was created. In the meantime, instructors and professors jumped out through it. They began to manage the situation in chaos. Treatment of the injured, checking the state of the dormant monsters, and so on. We have confirmed that one student has been ckened. I repeat, we have confirmed that one student has been ckened. Practical training is now concluded, and students are expected to follow the guidance of the professors from this point forward. Emergency measures were carried out swiftly and systematically. As if someone had been watching from somewhere. Indeed, that was the case. They were probably using magical engineering equipment to extract various data for the evaluation of each student. And so, the measures were concluded. Naturally, the professors attention was focused in this direction. No, to be more precise, it was focused on the traces of Jacob that had turned ck in front of Lina Rosewell. How much do the professors know? Ian swallowed hard. Lina Rosewell clearly attacked herself. Jacob had thrown himself into one of her attacks. Did the professors really collect such specific data at this location? Miss Lina Roswell. Yes, Professor. Lina Rosewell smiled brightly at the professors. There was a hint of tension in her expression. Hmm really. Gulp. She swallowed hard. Ian didnt miss that sight. Theres something fishy here. Perhaps the attacks against herself were evidence that they were entirely spontaneous. The professor finally spoke. You did an excellent job! Handling the ckened student with only two attacks! A nce. Lina Rosewell looked in this direction. And then she regained her smile. I just did what I had to do. Thank you. Humble too Impressive. Ive heard many peoples evaluations of Miss Rosewell, but seeing it like this is different. Other professors continued to praise her. Ian quietly clenched his fist. He had a sore mouth. After all, a heroine is a heroine. This was what a heroine was like. Its not just about individual strength. They are the backbone and the standard of the story. The reputation, connections, and everything else that each heroine has built up, along with Pongpongs values, can only be different. In the case of Lina Rosewell, this was especially true. The students and professors surrounding her were like her protective shield. Cant I dere right now that this woman attacked me? Unbelievable. The professors made their judgments based on what they saw with their own eyes. Evidence or witnesses that could override that? The only direct witness was Ian himself. Danya had only felt the magic, and Everidge didnt even know what was happening. Oh, there is one more witness sneaking up. Yurran approached discreetly. I could help. Of course, Ian shook his head and sent him away. Believe in the Bloodstone cult and fight the heroine? Nonsense. ts just handing over your lifeline to this unlucky guy. Even in this situation, Ian smirked. But thats because he felt relieved. The opponent I need to focus on right now has been decided. Lina Rosewell met Ians eyes. Even among the people surrounding her, her smile shone brightly, a smile that Ian had only seen in Fanta X Aca or across the screen. She bowed her head in acknowledgment and walked over to Ian. Ian, are you okay? She asked with a smile, extending her hand towards him. Were you very surprised? Im sorry. It was a mistake. A mistake. A mistake. Ian couldnt find the right words to respond and remained silent. Ian stared at her in a daze. The lingering scars all over his body, torn and tattered clothes, and her disheveled hair. Lina Rosewell. Ian recalled everything he knew about her, from Fanta X Aca and Pongpongs journal. Summing it all up in one word, it would be kindness. Lina Rosewell had lived a life of self-sacrifice for the sake of everyone. The vast forest running through the center of the continent, the Grand Forest. The Rosewell family traditionally protected that ce. To them, protecting the Grand Forest was a family belief, and those attitudes were rooted in the rumor that it was the origin of elven blood. She grew up in a family where giving was more important than receiving. Her friendly nature, kindness, and tenderness all stemmed from such caring. But. This world didnt reward all her kindness. Instead, it took away her parents, who were already heavily burdened due to excessive expenditures. Lina had to carry the weight on her own. Her family, her remaining siblings, her familys beliefs everything was taken from her. She gave a lot to the world, but the more she gave, the more the world took away. Yet, Lina Rosewell remained resilient. She even entrusted her remaining siblings to her rtives to attend Lichten Academy. She had to seed to protect everything. She wanted to be strong enough to carry it all. A heroine who doesnt frown once upon hearing such a heavy past. Rather, she was a heroine who approached others first, was considerate, and kind. With all this heavy baggage, the thought naturally arose. Could her kindness be a facade? Such suspicion began from here. Lina Rosewell had misfortune despite her pure and kind heart. If Ian had gone through such a past, he might detest the world. I have. And now, Linas actions towards him were exactly that. She was extremely aggressive and destructive. Her aggressiveness and destructiveness were directed solely at Ian, like a balloon with a hole in it. Her hatred was seeping out endlessly. Ian looked at Lina, who was smiling brightly in front of him, and the students and professors watching from behind her. I didnt really intend to attack you. Im sorry. It was a mistake. Will you ept my apology? So, Linas current appearance was clearly a lie. This girl extended her hand in reconciliation while wearing a mask. So what should he do? The dilemma didntst long. Alright. Ian reached out and took Lina Rosewells hand. Huh? Linas eyes widened for a moment. She probably wanted me to get angry. He was sure she wanted Ian ckangers to run wild and scream, You attacked me! Forgive me, Lina. He was no longer Pongpong. For a small game like this, he could amodate it. Its possible. Ill ept your apology. It was a mistake, right? Ahhaha. Thank you for understanding. Linas light-heartedugh, her soft eyes, her sweet voice, and even her subtle scent everything about her was so perfect that it gave Ian chills. A perfectly fitting mask, indeed. As Lina continued to smile, Ian couldnt help but smile back. Lina. Yeah? Ian pulled the hand they had shaken for a handshake. Eep! With a faint, delicate breath, Lina leaned in as if she was about to fall. Could there be anyone who seemed less harmful than this woman? People can make mistakes, right? Huh? Uh Yeah! Her green eyes blinked a couple of times in confusion, and soon she regained her eye-smile. However, Ian seemed to have figured out the truth behind that smile. He could sense the eyes of those looking at them. Ian carefully pushed Linas side bangs back. Her snow-white ear stood out, with pinkish earlobes that were gently tickled by his breath. But Ian whispered so softly that only Lina could hear. Was it a mistake to push me off the roof? The Combat Training Exercise was conducted simultaneously with half of the first-year students divided into four groups. Rumors of problems in Group 2 quickly spread within the academy. The first to be confused were the professors and administrative staff. The dungeons for thebat training exercise were supposed to be strictly controlled in terms of difficulty. However, one of them had a breach in management. Monsters were manipted by someone, and an inexplicable explosion urred. Several pieces of magical engineering equipment meant to detect anomalies were hacked, causing a dyed response on-site. There was even a [ckened] incident in which one of the students was contaminated by the Bloodstone Cult, so it was difficult to imagine a worse situation than this. [ Kirtos Anonymous Message Board ] Is it true that the Bloodstone Cult breached Lichten Academys defenses? How can the Academy be breached by them? Its giving me chills. Even if its true, its a bit isnt the Bloodstone Cult more like a religion? Try being a Bloodstone religious b*stard. Caught one Bloodsucker, Hahaha. Is it really this serious? People who suck blood, how are they a religion? It seems like the first-year student Sharon Pierce is really talented. She cleared the Lava Dungeon Magmam in 57 minutes! Sharon is so awesome. Hahahaha. Please take me, unnie! Isnt this post making anyone else ufortable? It feels like theyre ranking students solely based on their achievements. Shes level 22 and specialized in ice, but she was pushed up too much. Arent you an elemental noob? Itsmon sense that ice is weak against fire, right? Sorry, but can we ask how Lichten Academy allowed this? Whats the Saintess candidate up to? Maybe they went to a different dungeon? Theres still no news about that ce. Probably ying with dolls at home (reportedment). -My mom fell for the Bloodstone cult, so she knows it well. If one ckened appears, it can be roughly assumed that there are 10 Bloodstone Cult members hiding in the area. Seriously, Bloodsucker, Hahaha. Is your mom pretty? (reportedment). What are the administrators doing? Can I ask something? How does the Bloodstone cult spread? Does everyone be ckened when they enter? If they be ckened, they should explode and die, so why are there still more of them? It may be hard to believe, but most people who willingly enter it get ckened. You need at least three new believers to offer blood and flesh, causing the ckening. So, its almost certain that they do it intentionally. -Druruk. Druruk. Emily covered her mouth with her hand while reading the Kirtos terminal. Haaa. With an elegant gesture, Emily yawned and muttered. Today, not a single post about Ian today. How boring. Tadak. Tadak. Emilys fingers on the Kirtos terminal made a cheerful sound as they touched it. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Midnight. Danyas dorm. Her room appeared quite spacious, but the small bed was to me. A small but soft bed. Danyas eyes, wrapped up like a burrito in her nkets, were darting around restlessly. Many things from thebat training passed through her mind. Soldiers with bomb head skulls. Pierced dungeons. The ckening of students. There were indeed many events. But what she couldnt forget in her mind, rather than those significant events, was Ian ckangers expression. Lina, surrounded by professors, receiving praise. Ians eyes watching that scene, they were like as if they contained the endless depths of a dark, unfathomable water, deep and dark, like an endless sea. What could he have been thinking Even after tossing and turning in bed several times, she couldnt guess why Ian had that expression. But she had a vague feeling. Did Lina really attack Ian? The first mes shot at Ian. Wasnt it intentional, not a mistake? she thought. It was purely spection because she hadnt seen it herself. And she was afraid of turning Lina, who was loved by everyone, into an enemy. I should tell him what I saw, right? It was the right thing to do. If Danya trusted Ian, that is. I trust him Danya buried her face in her tail. Beastkin feared trust. To be more precise, they avoided trusting other races. To borrow the words of the adults, it was no different from putting a noose around your own neck and handing the handle to someone else. Thats why the first education they received as children was not to trust other races thoughtlessly. It wasnt excessive caution because Beastkin were tamed. To be tamed. Danya had only recently understood the meaning of that word. If there was a ss at 9 that she was going to meet you for, she was excited from 8. When she looked at the water full of bubbles for washing dishes, for some reason, you came to her mind. No, its not thest time. Anyway. Danya thought that being tamed meant something like that. People shouldnt be trusted. No matter how many times she vowed like that Danya felt like Ian, whom she saw today, needed it. With endlessly deep and empty eyes, he looked at Lina, surrounded by people. Someone believes in you. But if I say I believe Just saying it might make her truly believe. That was frightening. Of course, she believed to some extent even now, but for some reason, it felt like if she said it, she couldnt turn back. Oh, really. Why is it so difficult? Danya buried her face in her pillow. Tsk, tsk. Her breath was quickly stifled. This wont do. Danya got up from her bed. She intended to go for a walk. Ian was concentrating on his ss as usual. The setting was the practice room for basic magic. Today, well try a practical exercise on elementalpatibility. Lina Rosewell, a student of the fire element, pleasee forward. Lina walked forward, receiving cheers from those around her. Now, then, what element can stop fire? Water? Yes. No, thats not correct. When water and fire meet, they produce steam. Its a mutual interaction. So, who can show us what element can stop fire? Ian, an Earth element mage, please give a demonstration. Come forward, Ian ckangers. Ah. Whats with this chaotic turn of events? Ian got up from his seat and was led to the front of the ssroom. It was a space set up for a simple magic demonstration. He stood facing Lina Rosewell. Her smiling expression changed instantly. It was a full-fledged murderous expression. However, even with that expression on Linas face, everyone was still smiling. As expected of Lina! Scold Pongpong for us! Whats with these reactions? Is this allowed because shes the heroine? While Ian was lost in confusion, Linas hair turned blue without warning. ! Suddenly, intense mes poured out. It was an attack by a high-level spirit. Ian quickly cast the basic defensive spell, Earth Wall. Fwoosh! However, the Earth Wall crumbled. He couldnt stop it. Hot. His hands were burning. The Lunars staff Oh, he didnt bring it. The Earth Wall hadpletely melted away. The mes started touching his hand. Hot. It was so hot that he almost wished to die. People wereughing while watching this. And Lina Rosewell was smirking. No matter how much of a heroine she was supposed to be, this situation didnt make any sense. Is this a dream? Ian woke up from the nightmare. * Bam! Ian, who sat up abruptly, clenched his throbbing forehead. Sweat dripped from his heated body. Even the nkets were soaked in sweat. [Laurent Magic Fabric Insted nket] The tag was attached to the edge of the nket, faintly visible. Humph! Let me show you Laurents top-notch technology! Stimting Silviaspetitiveness with Emilia, he had the warm nket from Silvia. He had asked for a warm nket, in case it got too cold, but they sent him this heated nket. Phew. He needed to be careful when stimting Silviaspetitiveness. He got up from his bed and opened the window. The cool night air cooled his body. Was that a sudden nightmare? No, it doesnt seem like it. The cause of the nightmare was clear. Lina Rosewell. A heroine of Fantasy X Academy. Now shes an enemy? A helplessugh suddenly escaped. Possession in a video game? He could somehow understand that. But suddenly having to be cautious of the heroines and turningpletely hostile with one of them was something beyond belief. Its difficult, really. With a sigh, he looked out of the window. The moon had risen, illuminating the night brightly. By the way, the Lunar was quite damaged. The magic staff turned ck after receiving Lina Rosewells attack. Now that he had woken up, he had to charge the Lunar. Near the dormitory courtyard. It was a ce he frequently used for training, but today was different. Hmm. Ian, holding his staff that had turned ck in one hand, lost in thought. Lunar Ore. This mineral, which could only be mined in a specific origin called the Moonlight Mountains, had the property of being imbued with moonlight. Its unique high magical resistance was brought out by that property, but if it received a certain amount of magical power, it would turn ck like this. In such cases, filling it with moonlight again would return it to its original color and properties. Where would be a good ce? After some consideration, he finally chose a small tree with no leaves. The way the silvery light gently rippled on the surface seemed to indicate it was a suitable choice. Now that he looked at it, it felt different. Why did she suddenly be so strong? This was about Lina Rosewell. With this much Lunar, he could easily make aplete set of armor. It was just one strike. The fact that she turned all of Lunar ck. Its definitely not at this level right now. Lina Rosewell was a persistent-type heroine. If you trained her well, she would guarantee remarkable performance in theter stages. But she was already showing tremendous strength this early. And only when she was attacking Ian himself. Its unbelievable. However, he had a hunch The reason she became stronger. If he were to confront her in the scenario that would follow Rustle. What broke his contemtion was the sound of leaves being rustled. In the distance, the bushes shook. The surroundings were pitch dark. No wind was blowing. There shouldnt be a reason for them to rustle. Maybe a squirrel passed by. Rustle, rustle. But this squirrel seemed to be moving somewhat excessively. It might be a rabbit or something. Lichten was a reasonably sized city. There couldnt be monsters in the middle of the city. But for some reason, it seemed to be approaching in this direction. Sssss! Sssss! Wait, why was iting this way? Ugh! As Ian raised his staff to swing it, suddenly, a loud scream erupted. Kyaaaaah! A figure jumped up from the other side. Simultaneously, screams burst out. Uwaaaah! Kyaaaah! After exchanging screams once each, both of them calmed down. If the other person had ill intentions, they wouldnt have screamed like that. Though their paths were different, they reached the same conclusion. Ian blinked for a moment. His vision slowly cleared. The face was familiar. Danya? Why did you suddenly scream like that! You startled me! Why are you here at this hour? Me? Of course! Uh, well, I was exercising At this hour? Ian gave her a suspicious look, and Danya jumped in surprise. I couldnt sleep! Well, considering she had almost been killed and a fellow student had been ckened, it wasnt surprising that she was up. Ian himself had woken up from a simr dream. Ian shrugged and sat on a log. Danya quietly stared in his direction. You should sit down too. Ian patted the space next to him. There was plenty of room for both of them to sit on the log. Danya, who had been standing still, took a deep breath and approached, treading carefully like a cat approaching a person for the first time. Who would eat you? Its not like that! Danya, after adjusting her position to sit next to Ian, maintained a bit of distance but didnt move her seat again. Their clothes lightly brushed against each other. Danya flinched a little, but didnt bother to move again. The moonlight illuminated her side perfectly, revealing the contemtive expression on Danyas face. Her lips seemed to be hesitating, hinting at some inner turmoil. After giving her a moment to gather her thoughts, Ian inquired. Why? She nced up at him for a moment, then hung her head. Ian wondered what she wanted to say, but there had to be a reason shede out here at this time of night. With a resolute clench of her fist, Danya lifted her head slightly. -Tremble And her lips, which had been trembling earlier, finally opened. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Hey, Ian. Yeah? Do you still like Lina Rosewell? A lot? Ian intended to hide his feelings about Lina Rosewell. The reason was simple. Criticizing Lina with Pongpongs body would only be a loss for himself. But should he also hide information about Lina from Danya? Ian pondered for a moment before lightly shaking his head. No. I dont like her. So, things arent good between you and Lina right now? A serious tone. Ian looked at her, meeting Danyas eyebrows that gathered in concern. Looking at that expression, he felt there was no need to hide the truth. We cant say things are good between us. To the point of fighting? Yeah. A moment of silence followed. What could Danya be thinking? Danya, holding her own fingers, fidgeted. She opened her mouth with effort. I debated whether to say this or not, but you should know. It seems like Lina initially tried to attack you. Well, its not certain. But when the magic flew, it seemed like Jacob hadnt turned ckened yet, at least from what I saw. It was probably difficult for Danya to talk about from her perspective. For Pongpong, who was crazy about Lina, she had to say that Lina might have attacked him. Especially when it concerned Lina Rosewell, who was praised as kinder than anyone. It must have been genuinely appreciative. I see. Thank you. At the same time, a curiosity arose. Why was she being so kind? He asked, and she answered. Oh, dont get me wrong, okay? Speak. I, I Gulp. Danya swallowed. She bit her lips a couple of times, fidgeted her fingertips, bowed her head, then raised it again to look at his face. Then, with a loud deration. I trust you more than Lina! Was it a somewhat puzzled expression? Danya quickly poured out an exnation as if defending herself. Well, its not like Ipletely trust you! Its just that,pared to Lina, youre more trustworthy, I think. Right? Just leave it at that! Yeah! Why did she make it so difficult to say what she believed in? Ian tilted his head at her, but was honestly grateful. A heroine who remained popr no matter what she did, and the overwhelming power of the Bloodstone Cult viins. And, above all, the fact that the story was slowly changing because of him. It felt like a massive wall had been ced in front of him. Of course, there was no confidence that he could navigate through it. It was just that the enormity of the situation in front of him made it daunting. However. Seeing Danya, who said she believed in him, somehow alleviated the overwhelming feeling. Did a sense of camaraderie emerge, bringing a sense of reassurance? Anyway, I guess I have to ept it. The inevitability of the story changing was acknowledged. There was no desire to actively intervene or y a major role in the storyline. But. From the sidelines, I can subtly alter the currents. He would intervene minimally while maintaining the major flow. And gradually gain some advantages. Like the task of rescuing Danya, who disappeared from the story due to the dungeon explosion during the Combat Training Exercise. In reality, Ian did it to provoke Yurrans curiosity. Well, dont ponder over my answer so much! Just say something! Ian muttered unconsciously. Its not bad. Ian whispered to himself. Danya seemed somewhat misunderstood. Not bad? Is that your evaluation? Yeah, not bad. I went through so much trouble to say that! Just saying not bad after all that! Just consider it an honor! Say, Thank you, Danya! or something! Ian raised his hand over the excited Danyas head. He ruffled it a few times. The touch of her ears against his palm was soft. Whats the big deal? I trust you too, obviously. Tr-trust? Isnt it obvious? Wererades. Pushuk- Danya lowered her reddened face. He wondered if she heard thest words, but it didnt seem important. Seeing her tail swaying, Ian thought she didnt seem to be in a bad mood. It was just that trusting someone had a deeper meaning for a beastperson than he had initially considered. Thanks for trusting me. Arade to trust and rely on. It was necessary, not just to rival the heroines, but also to survive. If Danya had the potential, a bit of refinement could turn her into a formidable force. Establishing contact with the Catsnesia tribe could bring many benefits. But he didnt make calctions like that. Really. The Lunar, now fully charged, regained its radiant silver glow. The moon, just about to bepletely full, was vivid. The first act of the scenario was approaching. Like most story-type gacha games, the scenario of Fantasy X Academy had a substantial volume. Thanks to therge-scale updates every quarter, the depth and variety of the story wereparable to a full-length novel. The difficulty sharply increased as it progressed, making it a filter for newbies but providing seasoned yers with rich content to explore. The first chapter of the scenario was [Chapter 1: Traces of Darkness]. The yer had to recognize the existence of one of the major viins, the Bloodstone Cult, and thwart their activities at the academy. Thebat training exercise was the prologue to this first chapter, with the clear condition being survive. I managed to clear it somehow. Next, the first act, Act 1: A Night with a Full Moon, would soon begin. A unique feature of this story was that the main viin changed with each episode. While normally identifying the viin was quite challenging, Ian seemed to know who it was. Counting on you. Nod. [Pharmaceutical Magic Suzi Dismal] Leaving the research professors office after bowing, Ian left the academic building. The scenery of Lichten Academy was somewhat quiet for a weekday. The academy had publicly announced an investigation into the incident that urred during thebat training exercise. Externally, the reason was to prevent excessive fear of the Bloodstone Cult. However, Ian knew the academy had deep-rooted viins within. The incident would be covered up as an unavoidable ident during the practical training. One peculiar point was that, thanks to it, thepensation (or punishment?) for Lina Rosewell, who had defeated the transformed student, ended up being praise from the professors. Anyway. As a consequence of the incident, Lichten Academy had given the students a break from sses. Enjoying the rare weekday break, the students would likely forget about the unpleasant events and immerse themselves in the city. If youre not going to have sses, refund the tuition. Not attending sses is a loss for the students, right? A rare weekday break. Having briefly visited the research professors office, Ian headed to the library. He sighed softly. Ah. You need to attend sses to improve your skills. If another student had said that, he would have received a scolding while walking to the library. As always, the cold librarian greeted him. Or, did she greet him? Anyway. Do you know anything about the Bloodstone Cult? Blink, blink. After blinking slowly twice, the librarian opened her mouth. Religion, not interested. Thud. Unconsciously, Ian lightly mmed the desk, and he quickly bowed towards the librarian, people around them probably thinking, Did that guy never receive any upbringing on library etiquette? What do you think of me? The distance had be so close that her breath could be felt. With white eyshes that seemed to have settled like fallen snow, Blink, blink, she blinked her eyes a couple of times and opened her mouth slightly. Confession, rejection. Today, she was still sharp. While Silvias straightforward way of throwing a curveball seemed to be bearable as long as you endured it for a moment. The librarian had an image of someone who could objectively judge a person, like an artificial intelligence evaluating someone. Did it feel like being evaluated by an AI? Ian found himself making excuses. Wait, what I meant by What do you think of me wasnt a confession line In the midst of making excuses, Ian noticed the book she was reading. [In the Pitiful Mansion of Yeong-Ae, Bad Omens Lived.] On the cover, a figure in a shamans attire, holding a whip, was smiling mysteriously. Although she had covered it with another book, it seemed slightly tilted. Just one quick look. No matter how annoyed he was, he thought he should respect her taste. Ian sighed and swallowed his excuses. Alright, tell me some books rted to the Bloodstone Cult. Here. She handed him a neatly written note that had been prepared without him noticing. As he turned to leave, a small voice reached his ears. The Bloodstone Cult is dangerous. Are you concerned about me? Nod. Nodding slightly, she made a subtle gesture. Her genuine concern made Ians heart ache. So, whats the problem? The information has been corrupted. Information corruption. He wanted to ask what it meant, but she was already absorbed in the book. Was she reading it so openly The figure on the cover, the shaman with the whip, seemed to deny any further questions. Holding the guide note, Ian moved towards the bookshelves. Confirm information about the Bloodstone Cult. n the sale of existing information. Collect items for preparation of Act 1. And keep the promise with Danya. Even without sses, it was going to be an unusually busy day. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 31 Chapter 31 [Magical Alchemical Analysis of the ckening Agent of the Bloodstone Cult] Subjects addicted to this substance exhibited the following characteristics: significant aggressiveness, intensified negative emotions (especially centered around inferiority), a tendency to endure physical harm, etc. Interestingly, all the substances producing these effects can act as indoctrination drugs for the Bloodstone Cult. Specific follow-up research on this matter seems necessary. Finally, even the Magical Pharmacology Societys paper. Having read all the books rmended by the librarian rted to the Bloodstone Cult, Ian stretched after finishing. Most of it was a confirmation of information he already knew, but he dide across some more specific details. Advanced information seems to be avable for purchase at the Guild. At the end of most books, there was a note that read, [For thetest and specific information, please contact the Guild]. As much as the Bloodstone Cult is an organization, the value of rted information must be significant. I guess its actually a good thing. Ian held the information as if it were obvious. If its value is high, then its a good thing. However, he couldnt just sell it indiscriminately. The fact that information is highly valued implies that it has worth. Recklessly selling information could potentially impact the storyline. Therefore, Ian decided to approach information selling cautiously. The first option is to use Silvia, the financial supporter, who had some understanding of the target. The second method involved using Kirtos anonymous chat to sell small pieces of information. The concept for the second method was already roughly outlined. I might as well register while I have time. In a quiet corner of the library, Ian took out a Kirtos terminal. And opened a room. [Today Only Free Prophecy Certified by the Oracle! Get your fortune told for free today. (Limited to the first 3 people)] Is the title good enough? A safe way to sell information was the priority. After much deliberation, he chose the somewhat subcultural method of prophecy. The reason for adopting this ambiguous position was simple. I dont have to reveal specific information I possess. For example, if the academys grounds were going to shake significantly tomorrow Anger is brewing. It seems like youre holding back, but theres a simmering rage inside. Anger is like fire. The problem isnt just yours. Much anger will erupt someday. It wont be long. Watch your step. For about three days. Just this level of vague description. In reality, Ian wasnt confident in sounding convincing, but People interested in this field will understand even if I talk nonsense. There was a certain audacity to it. Anyway, he did possess real facts, right? Once he gathered enough rumors, handling operating expenses wouldnt be a problem. With Silvia, a reliable financial supporter, and the support of the anonymity Kirtos, he didnt n to be too greedy. Next was the method of utilization. He included a simple guide below the chat box. A prophet trained by the Great Prophet Mano. For urate consultation, please provide detailed personal information such as the consultants name, age, department, etc. *Direct chat inquiries are politely declined. Please observe courtesy. Hmm, good. Satisfied with the truth-filled text, Ian nodded contentedly. How did he receive the oracle of the Great Oracle? While ying Fanta X Aca, raising a prophet character and receiving experience points from the prophet named Mano was an experience Ian had. Well, then Im the disciple, I guess. With that, the bait seemed sufficient. Ian stood up from his seat. Whether there would be fish biting this kind of bait would be confirmed a few hourster. I need a means of attack. North of the Academy. Where precarious mountain peaks rise threateningly, Ian walked along the foothills with Silvia and one guide. He suddenly contacted me. Was this the reason toe here? I guess you were expecting something? Huh? No! He said theres a hidden dungeon, so There was a hidden dungeon here. The goalwais to find useful attack items. Although they favored Earth Magic (physical), there were limitations in terms of firepower and range. This was due to the nature of extraction and transformation abilities, where the difficulty increased exponentially as the casting target moved away from the body. For the scenario that unfolded before them, it seemed that a bit of item luck was needed. The reason Ian recruited Silvia was to pass on the guide fee. Moreover, in case of an emergency, she could provide support, and Ian could showcase his information-gathering abilities to the financer. Here we were. As the guide stopped, Silvia came over and whispered. Was this the ce? Is there really a hidden dungeon here? Ignoring Silvias disapproval, Ian nodded to the guide. This was far enough. Thank you. After sending the guide away, Silvia seemed perplexed. Wait, hold on. Do you know the way back? Dont worry. This ce was at the edge of the northern mountain range. Since the magic of the guide map forbat training was still present, it was enough to follow it to find the way back. Ian went down. Even though Silvia grumbled for a moment, she soon followed suit. A valley where the energy of the two mountain ranges converged into a V shape. After hesitating for a moment below, they discovered a small cave. This is the entrance. Is this the entrance? There is nothing here. Silvia looked around in confusion. There were only mountains to the right and left. What nonsense Ian reached down to the ground. Do you see this hole? Yes. It looks like a snake hole. This is the entrance. What? Silvia, who was about to dismiss it as nonsense, closed her eyes. It seemed like she used magic detection. Her eyes widened in an instant. Its true! I can only sense magic inside through this hole! But how do we get in? The hole is too small. We dig. You are serious? The two of us? Even though Silvia was puzzled, she reluctantly rolled up her sleeves. Ian chuckled involuntarily at her lively appearance. Why are youughing! Ignoring the excited Silvia, Ian ced his hand on the ground. Hmph! Then took a deep breath. Extraction and Transformation. The soil that was dug straight in was piled up on one side. The tunnel widened enough for one person at a time to enter. Silvias eyes widened. Oh, how did you move so much soil at once! Were you hiding your strength? Hiding strength? Thats not it. Ians specialty lies in the field of heavy equipment. He just didnt have the opportunity to showcase these incredibly advanced skills at the Academy. Stop talking and lets go in. After a moment of confusion, Silvia followed Ian into the tunnel. The tunnel made of earthsted only for a moment. Soon, a cave unfolded. At the sight of it, Silvia mumbled to herself without realizing. A dungeon really existed. I couldnt believe there was an unknown dungeon around the Lichten Academy. There were hundreds of guilds around the Lichten Academy,bining small and medium-sized ones. It was natural for them to roam around everywhere. But was there really an unknown dungeon like this? Silvia stared nkly at Ian, who was leading the way. Silvia was inherently a busy person. Her busyness was fundamentally different from that of others because she was the heir to a massive upper-ss family and the leader of the upper echelon. Naturally, most of her daily life revolved around work. Interest in anything other than work was a story she had never experienced. But things were different these days. There was someone who sparked her curiosity. [Ian]: Silvia, do you have time? Lets go somewhere for a moment. As soon as possible. At first, when that message came out of the blue. Naturally, there was no time. Silvias head was about to explode from the overflowing upper-ss tasks. But Silvia found herself responding like this, almost unconsciously. I can spare some time to listen. Whats the matter? Ian ckangers. This man stimted curiosity. What Silvia was experiencing with him waspletely different from the rumors. To everyone, he was annoying, showing strange obsessive behavior if not reciprocated, and thanks to him, all sorts of unpleasant rumors circted about Ian ckangers. But the Ian she experienced? He knew the weaknesses of monsters, she offered rewards, and instead of a confession, he demanded a random material. Carrying that ore like it was a magical staff, muscles gradually forming on his once skinny body. It took 10 hours for a reply after sending a message. What is this person? To Silvia, Ian was a presence that stirs up insane curiosity. And now, a text came from him. Ignoring work, she replied. You might even know the weaknesses of Frost Bears, and you might be a giant unexpectedly! She internally justified it as an excuse but, in reality, she was just curious. And now, in this dungeon. You really dont disappoint. Huh? What did you say? Its nothing. Looking at Ian leading the way, Silvia felt her curiosity grow even more. Has he changed? Mud puddle in the corner of the Aether ss building. Since their first meeting there, Silvia noticed that Ian was changing. But this level of change was aplete transformation. Knowing the location of a dungeon that no one else can find, digging through the dirt that would have taken hours for a few people in one go. Or maybe he was hiding his strength? Ian, who was exining the general overview of the dungeon while walking ahead, was intriguing. Inside, there will probably be mostly low-level mobs. Its not that big of a dungeon. Just be a bit cautious towards the boss. But the rewards are substantial. Even the dungeon briefing was neat. The voice was cool No, calm. Silvia became more curious about this person named Ian. How much strength was he hiding, how much did he know, and what kind of past had he lived through? Wait a moment. Silvia suddenly realized. Lost in concentration on Ian, she inadvertently let slip words she shouldnt have. Wait a moment. About the distribution of rewards! ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 32 Chapter 32 As they entered the cave, the darkness grew thicker. A vast amount of energy could be felt inside. Ians lips curled up slightly at the nonchnt setting. You can walkfortably for a while. Meanwhile. Step by step. Silvias movements, as always, were infinitely graceful. In truth, she wanted to illuminate her surroundings with magic. The darkness frightened her. It was probably due to her childhood, separated from her parents. The upper echelon of Laurent was always busy, and young Silvia, having nightmares, had no one by her side. The deep darkness, like a night without someone to rely on, was always frightening. This should be fine. Ian must be thinking of something. There must be a reason for preferring darkness in strategy or something. Actually, Ian just liked the night, thats all. Thud. A stone rolled under Silvias wrongly ced foot. Her face remainedposed, but her trembling eyebrows betrayed her fear. Ahh! Dont shout! I cant do that! Internally, she was in a panic. Ian was walking about ten steps ahead. She wanted to get closer without being noticed. Could she get closer by talking about something? Silvia pondered for a moment and remembered a topic. Uh, did you hear about Lina Rosewell acting strangely in the dormitory yesterday? Step by step. Ian lightly stopped and started walking again, allowing Silvia to get a bit closer. Strangely? Yes. She was wandering around at midnight, asking why the world was treating her like this. She seemed like she might have been sleepwalking, but her expression was scary. Did you hear any more specific details? Silvia tried to recall. She had already pushed aside anything rted to work. There seemed to be a reason why this rumor came to mind. Oh! She said she was looking for you, Ian. Is there something between you two? Another half-step. While Ian stopped, Silvia closed the gap. No, nothing special. Hmph. Boring. What should she talk about next? Come to think of it, it was the first time she was considering a conversation topic to get closer to someone, not about work. And also Why am I worrying about something like this? Ian, do you have nothing to say? If youre scared, you can create light. Dont sneak up behind me. Oh, no, its not like that! Silvia cried out reflexively without realizing it and regretted it. She should have just honestly said she was scared. Maintaining the image of the upper-ss heiress was her constant effort for sophistication. Come to think of it, Ian seems like he wouldnt care about such things. Silvia observed Ian quietly. Despite his somewhat dirty appearance, his clothes were surprisingly neat. Was he always like this? Or was it just that the dim light concealed the scruffy look? Silvia tilted her head and asked Ian. Do you not manage your image? Image? Yes. People think youre just someone who walks around with pretty girls without knowing the subject if they dont know you. Straight to the point. Ian paused for a moment. Silvia silently celebrated her boldness. Does the rumor match the real me in your eyes? No. Ive talked to you, so I think better of you No! What am I saying! Its just that the rumor is a bit different! I really hate judging people based on appearances! Ian chuckled in response. I feel the same way. So, turn on the light. Your elegant heiress concept wont work on me. Huh? This isnt a concept; Im genuinely the sessor of the prestigious Laurent. But since you said to turn it on, Ill turn it on. Okay. Okay. As Ian responded smoothly, Silvia nced at him, moments before she was about to memorize a light spell. Lux Kyaaa! As the light spread, dark entities scattered away from the light. -Shashashashak! At the chilling sound, Silvia involuntarily froze in ce, clinging to Ians arm. Why. I-Ian, theres something rustling! Its touching. Eek! Touching Ians arm, Silvia, startled, pulled away as something strange retreated. Ianforted her. And dont worry. Its just the lingering mana reacting to the light. Lingering mana? Some kind of ghost-like entities As he finished speaking, something terrifying happened. -Shararararak! Unidentified forces moved again. Already on edge for various reasons, Silvia, stepping on a wrong root, swayed a few steps forward. Ian swiftly covered her. Kyaa! A loud scream. -Thud. The two bodies ovepped. Their bodies intertwined. It was Silvia underneath, but a student from Lichten was unlikely to be severely injured. However, rough breathing was audible. Ha Ian. Sorry. First contact with a man. Silvia reflexively clutched her body, but surprisingly, she didnt push him away. Ah Having seen it when she was covered, she turned her head. Sharp spikes were embedded in the cave wall. Did Ian throw his body to protect her? His eyesight and reaction speed were truly extraordinary. Without that, she might have been seriously hurt. She was indebted to Ians abilities. Silvia lowered her head. No, Im sorry. I couldnt stay calm. This is a dungeon, too. Mumbling, her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. T-Thank you. This was a feature of this cave. A moderately enclosed cave size, thanks to the geothermal energy maintaining afortable temperature. The echoing sound of footsteps. Walking for a while, tension would ease, and thoughts would drift away. Suddenly, sharp traps would spring. The boss monster of this dungeon had set up a kind of trap. He had nned to warn her while walking, but there were some miscalctions in understanding Silvias psychology. Since she had already identified the trap locations, they passed without harm. She seems to be more scared of the dark than I thought. Fear of darkness. It was the driving force behind Silvias growth. Thats why Silvia learned her light-type magic, which had special properties. Compared to her characteristic 4-star performance in Fanta X Aca. However, in this dark dungeon, her abilities could be used quite effectively. The real strategy had begun. Silvia, illuminate! Yes! This is a dungeon where mana flows from both mountain ranges. This dungeon collected mana flowing from both mountain ranges. Ghost-type monsters of a difficulty level around 7th grade. However, they had no inherent resistance to light. -Pahat Silvias light magic slowed their movements. -Puhuk Ian beat them with the Lunar, which was filled with moonlight. Since most of them were naturally urring monsters, the strategy wasnt too challenging. They had reached the dungeons central area. Before them, a vast pond-like expanse unfolded, with a wide area visible in the middle. It was undoubtedly the ce where the dungeons owner resided. Weve arrived. Boss room. Ian dered, and Silvia couldnt hide her amazement. W-Who are you really? How did you handle those grade 7 monsters so easily! Dont be too surprised yet. Get ready. Are we going to cross this water? No, wait a moment. Silvia looked at the pond in front of her with a nk expression. It was so wide that it was hard to believe it was inside the cave. It would be more appropriate to call it ake. And gradually, Silvias expression turned from surprise to shock. At first, she thought it was water, but it wasnt. I-Ian, this is! Yeah. Its all mana. Ignoring Silvias astonishment, Ian sat down in front of the manake. A V-shaped ravine. A shape that allows mana from the mountains to gather easily. The mana that gathered through the small holes that looked like caves has crystallized here. But it doesnt look like pure mana Various elements must have mixed in. Mana itself is colorless and odorless. Many elements and things must have mixed during the crystallization process. Ian exined, then touched the manake with his fingertips. Wait a moment! I dont have a good feeling about this! It feels like magic. Touching it carelessly might trigger a mana explosion! Dont worry. Ian, undeterred, pressed his fingertips against the manake. A tingling sensation in his fingertips. !!! Ignoring the fuss Silvia was making beside him, Ian closed his eyes and focused. Ake made of mana. At first nce, it seemed majestic, but in reality, it was different. Mana gathered while experiencing many things in the mountain. There were many impurities. Externally, it felt like magic, simr to Silvia. The peculiar energies had a significant presence. However, they were just some of the impurities. The manake, made up of mana and all things, wasnt as fatal or overwhelming as one might think. Ian envisioned this purified ce. At the same time, he activated his ability, Dishwashing. Chijijijijik Dark energies emanated from theke near Ian. Purification? W-Wait a moment. A-Are you really trying to purify all of this? Such a thing Even through Silvias voice that could be heard beyond his consciousness, Ian dismissed it from his mind. Dishwashing was an ability. However, the one manifesting this ability was Ian, merely a human. He couldnt purify all of this alone. But. I sense the earths energy within the mana. The mana gathered along the mountain slope. Originally, it was mana derived from the earth. Even if they were contaminated, the impurities also came from the earth. In that mixture, he sensed the energy of the earth. Gurgling! Theke reacted as if boiling. From the corner where Ian was positioned, waves spread gradually, extending further and further. No. What the h*ll. ck vapors rising from the entireke. The ck mists emerging from the vast pond in the cave were overwhelming in themselves. Ah Silvia stared nkly at the scene unfolding before her. It was a spectacle created by Ian. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The purification process was quicklypleted. Hoo. Dense vapor spread through the holes in the ceiling. Silvia stared nkly at Ian, wiping the sweat from his forehead. There was no longer any room for admiration. Why are you spacing out? Lets go. There will only be water left. Huh? Yes! Since the boss monster probably absorbed all the mana, Ian suggested moving on without worries. Silvia mindlessly followed behind Ian. It was unimaginable for her present self to think that this person could be wrong about something. They arrived at the center after oveing the lowered water level. Due to the thick water vapor, the scenery was eerie. At that moment. Thud thud thud. A sound, as if something was stirring underground, reached their ears. Ian, just now! Thud thud thud thud. The ground trembled slightly. A chilling sound that drew closer. Something was rising from the ground. Kugugugugung! The earth vibrated. And a growing sense of presence. A warning intuition of endless danger and ominousness. Kwa-ga-ga-gak! The ground erupted. Between cascading soil and gravel, a monstrous figure emerged. A nt that looked like a Venus flytrap. However. Its stem could bepared to a buildings pir, and the size of its leaves wasrge enough to swallow several people at once. Thud thud thud! With a rough noise, it grotesquely spread its leaves. The sharp thorns at the tip of the leaves seemed as if dozens of swords were stabbed. Seeing its monstrous appearance, Silvia unconsciously took a few steps back. Ah Trembling legs. All she could do was muster the strength to hold onto her legs, trying to free them. It wasnt because of its appearance. It was the resonance with the mana felt inside the creature. It was a creature that rooted deep underground, consuming mana greedily in a grotesque manner. The traces of various mana felt inside its belly were enough to create the illusion that countless mages corpses were piled up. Instinctive aversion as a mage. Ugh Silvia barely swallowed her nausea. Despite her high tolerance, mental strength and top ranking at the Academy, this situation got to her. She murmured towards Ian. Its a Grade 6 or higher monster. Feels like the beginning of Grade 5. Not an opponent to face lightly with just two studends Suddenly, Silvia stopped talking. Ian, whom she thought was tense, was actually smirking. Hes not nervous? Ah, it must be delicious. Ian couldnt resist the rising curve of his lips. No, it was understandable. The energy felt inside that creature. That was all purified mana. There might have been a bit of impure magic mixed in, but it should be fine after purification. Kkuuuh Gulp. Swallowing his saliva, Ian looked at the boss in front of him. [Mana Venus Flytrap (Grade 5 Hazardous Species, Giant, Poisonous)] A monster that devours magical entities with its vicious leaves. In the presence of sufficient surrounding mana, it may utilize only its roots, causing the leaves to degenerate. If processed properly, its byproducts could be useful. If this were a game, a notification like this would pop up. In short, it was an ultra-giant flytrap, only absorbing mana instead of flies. The decision to challenge it was due to the potentially high rewards it offered. Moreover, if the conditions were met, the difficulty of the challenge would be rtively easy. The only concern was Silvia, who might be overwhelmed by its Grade. Silvia, as I said before Yes. I will follow through precisely. Before he knew it, determination returned to Silvias eyes. Certainly, she was still Aether ss. Ian nodded in satisfaction. In truth, Silvia had only recently decided to trust Ian. After all, Ian had known even the Frost Bears weaknesses. If she could exploit the weaknesses effectively, the difficulty of dealing with monsters would inevitably plummet. With that in mind, Silvia positioned herself behind Ian. Lets go. In an instant, Lunar enveloped Ians body. With his reinforced physique, Ian rushed towards the Mana Flytrap. The leaves of the flytrap moved creakily. Silvia, as bright as possible, please. Yes! Paaat! Light magic burst from Silvias fingertips, instantly brightening the surroundings as if it were broad daylight. GOOOOOO! The Mana Flytrap, glowing as if it had absorbed the concentrated sunlight through a magnifying ss. Creatures living in such damp ces were naturally sensitive to magic. Divine power and light. These two special elements significantly impaired their judgment, vision, and reaction speed. A perfect debuff. That was one reason Ian brought Silvia to this ce. Kuuuuuung! The creaturesrge leaf hit an odd spot on the ground. Ian quickly jumped onto it. As the creatures leaves spread open, a red light emanated from inside. Magical energy sprayed out. The Mana Flytraps main attack pattern: Acidic Magic Eruption. Originally, it was a corrosive liquid potent enough topletely dissolve a human body. Chiiiiik! With the Lunars power surrounding him, and the Dishwashing ability, Ian was immune to the acid. No way, brat. The Mana Flytraps leaf closed again in an instant. The sharp thorn at its tip pierced sharply towards Ian. Ugh. Hooook! An already anticipated pattern. Ian stepped back and avoided it. Simultaneously, he deactivated the Lunars protective mode, leaving only the essential parts. The Lunar staff transformed back to the size of a bat, and Ian swung it with all his might. Kaaaang! A cheerful impact. The creatures thorns teeth shattered. Kkkeeeek! The opened leaf was closed again. If there was a weakness to the Mana Flytrap, it was the red core inside the leaf. Silvia, now! Yes! A 4-star attack magic: Light Reflection. Countless beams of light gathered as if passing through a magnifying ss, piercing directly into the Mana Flytrap. Kkeeeeek! A chilling scream apanied the pration into the creatures core. Ian swiftly propelled himself inside and thrust his fist into the center of the core. Kuuuuuung! The Mana Flytrap, now limp, collided heavily with the ground. Ian opened the now-closed leaf and came out. Silvias eyes were wide in surprise. We, we caught it a Grade 5 Hazardous Species. You did well too. The situation was favorable. Even if the leaf had degenerated, a Grade 5 Hazardous Species was still a Grade 5 Hazardous Species. Thanks to purifying the mana-filledke, the Mana Flytrap concentrated on absorbing pure mana, unable to unleash its full power. A natural and smooth strategy. The situation was indeed favorable. What a favorable situation, you say No, more importantly, Ian, what on earth Silvia muttered excitedly. It was still too early to be surprised. Without saying a word, Ian walked towards the stem of the flytrap. Then, he released magic into the ground. Roots of the flytrap came into view. Do you have anything like a saw or a sword? Uh, just a moment. Squeak, squeak. The sound of sawing reached their ears. Ian, holding several round pearl-like objects, emerged from the direction of the roots. Silvias eyes widened. Is, is that what I think it is? Yeah. Mana Elixir. Grinning, Ians mouth corners lifted. The Mana Flytrap, having absorbed mana flowing from the mountains for centuries, Naturally absorbed and refined mana gathered into crystallized form, forming elixir in its purest, natural state. Ian extended one of the five spheres he held in his hand towards Silvia. Here. Are you giving this to me? I remember we agreed that I would only take the stem and thorns of the Mana Flytrap. The rest is yours. Thats right. But, in any case, he couldnt absorb all five elixirs alone. Typically, the effects of an elixir would work best if taken one at a time. While it was possible to consume them all haphazardly, there was no reason to do so. Take it. You know how much this will help you. Silvia pursed her lips. But what aboutpensation? I am an heiress, but my personal wealth is not that substantial. I cant even offer you the top stakes yet. Dont worry about it. Pay me in installments, with interest if you want. Ah. Silvia nodded her head as if she understood. As a student of the Lichten Academy, she couldnt easily pass up opportunities for growth. Of course, Ian intended to collect both the principal and the interest. Consume it as soon as you get back. Silvia opened her mouth as she looked at Ian, who remained silent. Why are you treating me so well? Last time too Of course, Ill repay you, but what do you gain from this? It seemed like she was genuinely curious about the context behind her question. Ian paused for a moment before responding. What do I gain? Yes. Of course, it was a transaction to a certain extent. Even though Ian was selling things he didnt consider important to him, he was still making money from Silvia. In a word, it was a win-win situation for both Ian and Silvia. The question of why he treated her so well, in that context, seemed to be what Silvia was curious about. The reason for providing her with opportunities to purchase special items first. The same reason he gave her a chance to buy information during the Frost Bear incident. Since that reason would be intriguing, Ian answered Silvia, who was looking at him seriously. It was clear what he gained. You. Me? Items? Information? Money? All of those were important. However, forming a connection and repaying a debt to someone who understood gratitude was more valuable. Especially if that person was someone certain to seed. Thus, what remained for Ian from Silvia Laurent was her individuality. Yeah. You remain. Ian was straightforward. The next day. Steam rose from Ians body as he sat up from the lotus positon. Hoo. Having perfectly digested the Mana Flytraps Elixir, Ian got up from his seat. The mana absorbed and refined over centuries by the creature now doubled Ians pure, umted natural Earth mana. Now, he possessed an amount of mana equivalent to the size of a childs fist. If he processed the by-products obtained from the Mana Flytrap into a weapon, it could potentially be used against the unexpected main viin of Act 1. Hmm. Ian recalled the attack he received from her not too long ago. The attack that nullified the Lunars buffering effect in a single blow. The owner of that attack and the main viin of Act 1s scenario, Lina Rosewell. It might be worth a try. Sigh. The corners of Ians mouth twitched upward. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 34 Chapter 34 ying Fanta X Aca, there are a few things youe to realize. The most notable thing among them is that it is a very well-made game for a manga game. One of the most notable is that, for a game considered a failure, it is surprisingly well-made. Despite the strong dislike for elements like Pongpong, considering the charm of three-dimensional heroines, the diversity of scenarios, and the overwhelming volume of the story, the thought crossed Ians mind, Huh? Is this actually a well-made game? So, Ian wasnt that surprised. Its an episode where the heroine bes a viin. It was something quite usible. Rather, several pieces of evidence convinced him that she was the viin in this scenario. Well, if it were me before, I wouldnt have believed it. The interesting thing is that its not so difficult now to imagine Lina Rosewell turning into a viin. Ian let out a self-deprecatingugh. Its a bit absurd. A situation where you can doubt the heroine without hesitation. When he was deeply immersed, he only thought of her as a kind and gentle person, but now he knows the multifaceted aspects of Lina. Her inner dark side and grievances. He could feel them firsthand when he was hit in the back of the head. The problem is. Her destructive power now is 2 to 3 times higher than the original Lina. People who are kind (or look kind) like the original Lina are like that. They have a lot built up inside, and when they get angry, its frightening. Explosive me magic of the elemental realm, venting their grievances. He needed toe up with a n for that. Just in case there were deviations in the scenario. Ive taken the elixir. Digging around. Ian pulled out something he obtained in the dungeon. The essence of the Mana Flytrap, thinly spread. It might seem like its not useful for much, but its a kind of material with more applications than youd think. The problem was, to process it, you needed someone with full elemental abilities, and luckily, he knew someone. When is Danyaing? Ian raised his head to check the time. The appointed time with Danya was in an hour. There was roughly half a day left until the start of the scenario. Its ambiguous for training. Since there was time, Ian opened the Kirtos terminal. Today only, free. The prophet recognized by the gods will predict your future for free. (3 people) Then he headed to the anonymous bulletin board he created. A thrown to the general public. Oh. Quite a few bites. Among them, a few struggling fish were visible. Ian picked three of them. [Mercy Aniston]: Freshman, living in Median House. Constetion is Virgo. I really want to date, but its not easy. Ive been confessed to by someone, but hes a guy who flirts with anyone. When will I ever be able to date? Two others. All three have inmon that they live in the female dormitory, Median House. The stage of this scenario. Since the scenario was unfolding, it was a good idea to use them as the subject of prophecy. Ian quickly tapped the Kirtos terminal. [To Mercy] Love. Its a good thing. But dont reveal too much. If you have someone you like, avoid them. Be careful when the full moon rises. Hide because it will follow you. I rmend running away. [To Lily]: Right now, the important thing is not your constetion. Your sleep will be disturbed. No. It has to be disturbed. Darkness is looming around you. Theres only one way. Be cautious of the full moon. If something happens, try to leave the ce as quickly as possible. Hidinges next. Just keep this in mind This should be enough. An hour until the appointment with Ian. If youre free, would you like toe over to my ce? No one is here except me, so feel free toe. Danya Catsnesia affectionately brushed her tail. Sararak. Sararak. No one there, inviting her like this. It feels a bit too fast Well, we said we trust each other. Bare feet caught his eye. Ian definitely seemed to have a thing for feet. How do you decorate feet? As she pondered for a moment, she suddenly raised her head. Hmph. Know the topic. No matter how Ian was, he was still far from that point. Yet, her heart couldnt help but beat faster. A littleter, Ians house. Were you nning to make me your sl*ve? Blushing, Danya mumbled. Sweat drops flowing down her small face. Breathing bing more and more ragged. Huff! Danya, who took her hand off the squirming epidermis, let out a rough sigh. Humans are all just bad. They try to use beastmen as sl*ves. You lied and said you trusted me too, right? I couldnt quite grasp the meaning of the words Danya was saying as she opened her mouth suddenly. I think theres some misunderstanding. Ian shoved a piece of jerky into Danyas grumbling mouth. Ugh! It was a giant rabbit jerky made before. Ians precious source of protein, but now Danya, the key worker in processing the Mana Flytrapss epidermis. This level of welfare was necessary. Do you understand what Im saying Yum. Yum. Chewing. Danyas expression, which was initially grimacing at the surprisinglyrge Mana Flytraps epidermis, gradually rxed. Tastes good? Ian had created several variations of jerky, and this one, made with the vor of ramen soup in mind, was his masterpiece. Softly, gently. Danyas tail, swaying, seemed to answer. She opened her mouth immediately, but she didnt say anything. Spicy and savory It doesnt seem good for the body, but its an addictive taste, nyah. Actually, a bit of catnip was also present. Danya, her eyes shining as if asking for more, Ian pointed to the remaining Mana Flytraps epidermis. Ill give it to you when its all done. Zrip! After giving her a look, Danya concentrated on processing the epidermis again. Some byproducts of nt-type monsters, when reacting with the full element like this, be more potent. Its done! The inner skin of the Mana Flytrap was thuspleted. After Danyas touch, it looked really useful. Yum But, yum yum, what are you going to use this for, nyah? While nibbling on jerky, Danya asked. Instead of answering, Ian emitted a bit of Earth mana. Then he brought the Mana Flytraps inner skin to it. It usually looked like an ordinary cloth, but the moment mana touched it. Whoosh! The Mana Flytraps inner skin quickly wrapped around the mana, absorbing it. Oh. Its fascinating, nyah. Danya rolled the dried Mana Flytrap around like a basketball. Following that, she looked embarrassed and brought it back. The tail fluttering looked really happy. If you want, you can ask for it, and I can y with you. Purr. The first punch youve received in a while is quite stinging, isnt it? Danya, with a flickering gaze, asked. But what are you going to use it for, nyah? Bomb. With the answer, Ians smirk crept up. Bomb? What on earth was he nning to do? Danyas tail trembled nervously. Strictly speaking, Pongpongs stake in the main scenario of Fanta X Aca was low. The reason was simple: most of the stories in Fanta X Aca unfolded after Pongpong disappeared as the s*icide incident. Therefore, there was no essential role given to Ian for Act 1, Full Moon Night. He just needed to act like a normal day, and when things started to unfold, he could observe andment as needed. With Danyas processing of the Mana Flytrap done quickly, there was quite a rxed time. The thought of training was dismissed; even for a dedicated trainer, it was wise to save some energy that day. Rest would be a smart choice if he wanted to solve the scenario overnight. If Lina Rosewell has be a viin, there is a possibility that the plot might deviate. With that thought, Ian gathered his preparations. Its better to have it ready in advance. Since he nned to rest anyway, he decided to take it easy nearby. With that in mind, Ian headed to the female dormitory of Lichten Academy. And so, hidden in the bushes, he could see the dormitory [Median House]. I should be able to see most things. Ian leaned against a tree. The dormitories in Lichten were divided into three grades: Garden, House, and Hall. In order, they were multi-person dormitories, single-person cost-effective dormitories, and dormitories for the upper ss. Among them, the ce that would be the background for that days event was the cost-effective dormitory House. Among them, Median House was where many average-grade female students stayed. Of course, it wasnt that important a ce. The key figures in this female dormitory were mainly represented by the 5-star heroine Lina Rosewell. Others were at best known as cost-effective characters Who was it again? Ah, theres a girl named Macy and a few other characters. So, wandering around the dormitory in the bushes for a while. Unexpectedly, someone caught Ians eye. Huh? Ian closed and opened his eyes. However, she was still standing in front of Median House. Blue hair fell neatly to her waist. A posture as sturdy as if she wouldnt shake even in an earthquake. And a long sword on her back. Sharon Pierce. Considering her pride and reputation in the family she belonged to, it was hard to predict why Sharon Pierce was standing in front of Median House. Why is she here? Ian tilted his head a bit more. She probably disliked suchmon spaces. Did that mean there was a purpose behind her visit? Tock, tock. With cold footsteps, Sharon Pierce disappeared inside Median House. While Ian was organizing his thoughts about this unexpected variable. Unbeknownst to him, from the distant sky,plete darkness began to approach. Even for a moment, to correct his mindset. Clink! A few windows of Median House shattered. Kyaaaah! Screams could be heard. At the same time, a red liquid sttered against the windows. And so, the first main story began to unfold. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Act 1: Full Moon Night Opening conditions:
  1. Survive the prologue.
Clear conditions:
  1. Eliminate the Bloodstone Cult upying the first and second floors of the dormitory (Bonus: Protect hostages).
  1. Secure the identity of the final viin on the third floor of the dormitory.
  1. Purify or eliminate the infected.
Complete the above conditions before the moon sets. Contains directing intended to create a sense of fear. Please be careful when ying. The girls dormitory at Lichten Academy. The first-floor lounge at Median House. Did you hear the story? About Karina from the Reconnaissance Department and Isaac from the Knight Department! Oh my, oh my, how scandalous. Among the gathered girls, as is typical for kids their age, various romantic gossip was the main topic of discussion. Even though they attend a prestigious school, they are all at the age where romance was a significant part of their lives. Of course, dating was a kind of privilege. Not everyone got to enjoy the privilege of romance. Considering the somewhat tight schedule at Lichten, it wasmon for many to miss out on romance. For example, in a corner of the lounge. Hah Like Mercy Aniston, who held a Kirtos terminal in her hand, sighed. Her normal dirty blonde hair, wavy, swayed along with the terminal she waved. When were you going to reply? The message on Mercys Kirtos terminal read: Today only, free. The prophet recognized by the gods will predict your future for free. (3 people) And the post she wrote on it. [Mercy Aniston]: Freshman, living in Median House. Constetion is Virgo. I really want to date, but its not easy. Ive been confessed to by someone, but hes a guy who flirts with anyone. When will I ever be able to date? Oh really. Its been a whole day already. Why arent you replying? Mercy grumbled and clicked the refresh button diligently. Could it be that Kirtos terminal was broken? Come to think of it, Kirtos chat hadnte in today. There was also the possibility that the magicwork was malfunctioning As Mercy shook the terminal, her shoulders twitched. Oh right, I dont have any friends. Disheartened, Mercy leaned on the sofa. At that moment. Uuuung! Her terminal vibrated. A reply arrived from the so-called great prophet. Its here! [To Mercy] Love. Its a good thing. But dont reveal too much. If you have someone you like, avoid them. Be careful when the full moon rises. Hide because it will follow you. I rmend running away. Her eyes shook as she slowly read each line. What was this? Mercy Aniston. She had been a loyal customer in fields like tarot and astrology. To someone like her, this reply felt strange. Of course, there was a sense of fortune-teller or tarot-reading vibes in the tone, but usually, in this industry, they inserted one or two positive words. But this person outright warned to be careful. Be careful and run away instead of hiding. Could this have been real? In this industry, there were asionally people like that. Types who believed in their abilities and were unkind to customers. The so-called real ones. Mercy, perhaps, had suspected that this person might be one of those real individuals. If that was the case, she needed to ask. What should she be careful about, and what should she run away from? Tadadak She quickly typed ament and clicked the send button. What? Why is it acting up like this? The button didnt work. Had the author set it up so thatments couldnt be left? There didnt seem to be such a function. A somewhat strange situation. Mercy, with a puzzled expression, clicked the back button. [Connection terminated due to an unstable magicwork.] Dip. Suddenly, the Kirtos terminal went off. Ah really! Of all times for thework to break down. Mercy, fiddling with the terminal here and there, sighed. Hey, Kirtos chat isnt working suddenly. Hey, isnt it not working for you too? Its not even a maintenance day today. Judging by the reactions around her, it seemed like something was off. It had been quite a while since the Kirtoswork had gonepletely down. Come to think of it, every time thework goes down, something weird seems to have happened. In her immersed state of mind, she was sure there was some connection. Mercy rested her chin on her hand. A thoughtful pose. Tap Someone brushed against her arm. Ghehe. ecause of her chin being propped up, her face was struck in a quite awkward position. An odd groaning sound was an extra. As Mercy lifted her head to re at the person. A girl who was looking down at her came into view. Dark ck hair and bloodshot eyes. Mercy instinctively flinched. Yet, the girl continued to look down at her. Her red eyes were eerie. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away. Only then did Mercy release the breath she had been holding. What was with her? Not even an apology. She pursed her lips, but in reality, it was more eerie than angry. The bloodshot gaze didnt seem human. Come to think of it, there were quite a few red-eyed students wandering around today. Was there an important exam in some department? At that moment. Rustle. A sense of unease passed through Mercy along her spine. The Kirtoswork malfunctioning. Kids with red eyes. The warning from the prophet. Clearly signs that something was about to happen. Gulp. Mercy, who swallowed her saliva, stood up from her seat. I-I dont know. Why were only scary thoughtsing to her? Probably just fatigue. Mercy decided to go and lie down, or something, and moved toward her room. The disturbance happened about an hourter. Boom! The dormitory building shook violently. Mercy, who had been lying on her bed in a daze, hastily got up. Whats happening? As she approached the window to assess the situation. Suddenly, the outside of the window was dyed in red. ! An endlessly ominous color. The voice of an anonymous prophet suddenly echoed in her mind. Be cautious on the night when the full moon rises. She slowly raised her head. The crimson full moon was casting its glow down on this side. Chills ran down her spine. She had to run. It felt instinctive. Booom! Mercy swiftly dashed out of the dormitory corridor. The scenery was just as usual, except for being eerily empty. That was more unrealistic and eerie. W-what in the world In the distance, sporadic screams could be heard. Mercy cautiously approached the main entrance. At that moment. Creak. One of the rooms attached to the corridor she was passing suddenly opened. Gulp. Gulp. Followed by the sound of someone drinking something. Mercy turned and quickly covered her mouth. !! A freshman with bloodshot eyes was sinking his teeth into the neck of another student. A Bloodstone Cultist. Swoosh. The guys head turned towards the corridor. Mercy hurriedly concealed herself. What the h*ll is happening? She had no idea what was going on. For now, she needed to escape. If it was a Bloodstone Cultist, the opponent would be absolutely overwhelming. Lets run away quickly. Mercy hastened her steps. Just a little further was the central staircase. Since this was the second floor, she could escape with just one floor down. At that moment. A chilling sensation felt from behind. Creak. Mercy slowly turned her head. In the distance at the end of the corridor A fully ckened Bloodstone Cultist was approaching. !!! Swallowing the bursting scream, Mercy ran. The central staircase. Swiftly descending the stairs as if they were about to copse. Now, the vivid screams from all around were audible. Just a little more, and she would reach the main gate but. Gwaaaaah. One partially corrupted Bloodstone Cultist was blocking the way. Considering the one chasing her from behind, it was a perfect dilemma. In Mercys panicked eyes, a storage box for storingrge items appeared. There! Just a little more! Just a bit morreee! Dadadadadadadadadadadada! Mercy, who had rushed forward, stood in front of the storage box. ck ck! The storage box, possibly due to not being used for a long time, didnt open easily. Come onnn! Drrrrrrrrrrr! Shaking it with all her strength, the storage box finally opened. Mercy threw herself inside without looking back. Then, with a ng. Hooeoeoek. Only after closing the door did the breath catch up btedly. But she had to hold it urgently. Creak. Creak. Creak. Footsteps could be heard. Mercy peeked outside through the small gap in the toolbox door. The blurry view of the outside. Some of the Bloodstone Cultists seemed to sense Mercys presence, searching the area. However, due to the special nature of the toolbox, they couldnt discover her. Bloodstone Cultists came closer. They seemed to exhibit weakened rationality, perhaps due to the ongoing corruption. Relentlessly wandering around, one person disappeared, then a second one vanished. It seemed they were leaving to find another victim. Alright, just a little longer until help arrives. Surely, someone woulde. This was the Lichten Academy; someone must be aware of the situation. Just endure a bit longer. While determinedly waiting. Creak. Creak. Creak. Footsteps were clearly getting closer. Moreover, it was in a straight line without hesitation. Suddenly, the prophecy came to mind. Running away is better than hiding. Ah Mercy tightly closed her eyes. What should she do? Creak. Footsteps stopped right in front of the door. If she was discovered, she would die. Mercy held her breath with all her might. How much time had passed like this? Creak. Creak. The footsteps moved away again. I survived. But this time, the opponent seems a bit unusual. Mercy peeked outside through the gap. Slowly, the figure moved away. Through the crack, a red-haired silhouette came into view. And rtively long ears. Endlessly white skin. Unknowingly, Mercy murmured. Lina? Swoosh. The retreating figure abruptly stopped. Click. Turning to face this way, the head. The sight through the crack was blurry, but Mercy was certain. It was Lina. There was no doubt that Lina Rosewell, not a Bloodstone Cultist, had brought reinforcements after being outside the dormitory. Mercy clenched her fist. And shouted at her. Lina Rosewell! The red hair swayed as she turned around to locate the source of the sound. It was definitely Lina Rosewell. Haah Mercy let out a relieved sigh. Lina, who had been wandering nearby, approached. Lina, over here. Im here. Shaking the toolbox, finally, Lina looked in this direction. The corners of Linas mouth lifted into a cheerful smile as her eyes met Mercys. Step. Step. Lina slowly approached. Can you open the door? It wont open from inside! Creak! With a chilling sound, the toolbox opened. Now, Linas face was clearly visible. Mercy found herself murmuring without realizing. Lina? Half of her hair was dyed in a blue hue. Between slightly raised lips, a sensuous whiteness peeked through. And, most notably, Eyes intensely reddened, sending shivers down her spine. As Lina locked eyes with Mercys, she grinned. There you were, hiding, huh? ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Lichten Academy, Magic Experiment Building. This ce, known for its notorious reputation as Lichtens lighthouse, had lights that never went out even in the middle of the night. Professor Suzy Dismal of Clinical Magical Pharmacology. Herboratory was one of those so-called lighthouses. In a D shape, with all walls except the door filled with various sks and experimental tools. Originally, Professor Suzy Dismal, covered in dark circles, used to conduct research alone in this space, but things were different now. Its still a gloomyboratory. Long, violet hair flowing down to her waist. Violet, the professor specializing in magic circles and the instructor of the Mezai ss, nced around theboratory. Despite the somewhat impolitement, Suzy Dismal continued her experiments without any reaction, fixing her sses. Violet pursed her lips and asked Suzy. So, when are you going to tell us why Ian came here? Obsession persists not only when youre a student but even after bing a professor. Hmph. If the talent is that outstanding, its natural to be obsessed, right? Suzy Dismal, who chuckled at her former academy ssmates sentiment, adjusted her sses. Then, with gloved hands, she extended a small sk. Inside was a powder of blue color. Violet lowered her head towards the sk. What is this? The scientific name is Cyanius Funugus. Simply put, its a blue mushroom. Hmm. It seems like a color you shouldnt eat. Just in case, dont eat it even if youre hungry. More than that, I wonder why student Ian came here He brought this. The words flowed as if slipping away. Violets eyes widened. This? Yes. Cyanius Funugus. When consumed biologically, it exhibits dangerously strong toxicity. And when made into powder like this, it maximizes the negative senses of the ingested subject. The main symptoms include hallucination, cognitive impairment, forgetfulness. And it also charms other subjects. Suzy Dismal, rummaging through the shelves, also handed Violet a small packet. [Remedy for a Peaceful Mind] He brought this packet as well. He asked to confirm if the ingredients are simr. After checking, they almost perfectly match. But why on earth? Violets face showed confusion. Where could Ian, that kid, have gotten such a thing? Suzy shrugged her shoulders. He asked me to make an antidote, just in case. An antidote? Yes. This is one of the ingredientsmonly used to process into a conduit for the Bloodstone Cult. Those guys usually absorb others magical and vital energies through blood, but those awakened using this can absorb abilities through mucus alone. And quite rapidly, too. So, is Ian expecting the appearance of the Bloodstone Cult on campus Is that what hes thinking? Probably something like that. Suzy Dismal murmured, rubbing her chin while tinkering with the sample. Violet was speechless for a moment. Detecting members of the Bloodstone Cult was an area in which the academy management was secretly doing their best behind the scenes. There was an incident of a ckened student a while ago, but that incident was conclusively resolved as an ident. If it hadnt been entrusted to Ian, Violet would have just brushed it off with augh. The problem was that it wasnt the case. If Ian ckangers said such a thing, it was worth checking at least once. Then a sudden thought. Why didnt hee to me, his assigned professor, but went to this woman? Now that she thought about it, this woman had the ability to captivate men even during her school days when she was locked in theb with her research. Violets eyes narrowed as she looked at Suzy Dismal. Why are you going this far for a students request? A jealous gaze filled with Violets eyes. Suzy Dismal smiled slyly. Got something in return. What did you get? A secret. Smirking, Suzy Dismal replied to Violet, who protruded her lips. When exposed to moonlight, the intensity of that increases. If Ians spection is correct, something big might happen soon. Violet looked out the window. Arge full moon was rising. It might be a good idea to tell students to be more careful. The crimson-stained Median House. Ian stood still for a moment, watching that scene. Around a radius of about a hundred meters from Median House, it was red. If you were to turn your head to find the cause, it was because a dome-shaped barrier surrounded the area. The purpose of the barrier was cognitive impairment. In essence, they separated the dormitory from reality. The purpose of all these devices was to buy time for the Bloodstone Cultists to absorb power. Their nature was such that they became stronger by just absorbing the blood or vitality of others. Once they set their minds on upying the dormitory, they would strive to suck in as much blood as possible. In the process, if the professors noticed and intruded, the result was obvious. The professors of Lichten Academy had enough power to suppress even awakened Bloodstone Cultists. Thats why the timing of the barrier unfolding was now. Outside the barrier, Median House would appear as serene as usual. Since curfew time had passed, there wouldnt be anyone bothering toe. The task at hand was to somehow deal with the red-stained dormitory within the barrier, among the novices. Its really creepy. Even the appearance matched the screams. The atmosphere itself was unsettling. Inside were about four or five Bloodstone Cultists and one main viin of the story. In that regard, there was no need to be too frightened. It was closer to a time attack than horror. The goal was to deal with the Bloodstone Cultists located within the barrier before they became even stronger. I dont really need to take the forefront. The first act, on a full moon night. This scenario marked the beginning of the event where the Bloodstone Cultists who had invaded Lichten would start to assert their presence. Bloodstone Cultists. The values they worship are essentially power. They are willing to suck the blood and vitality of humans without hesitation for their growth. And when this timees, Lichten Academy is flooded with students burdened by inferiority. Before entering the academy, they were quite arrogant, prodigies with strong shoulders and stiff necks. However, no matter how much talent they gathered, there would always be a lower tier within. Perfect prey. Taking advantage of the vulnerable minds of those students who were willing to give up anything for power. That was the preaching method of the Bloodstone Cult optimized for Lichten Academy. Well then, shall we start getting ready to go in? ncing around, a few male students caught within the barrier while unfortunate enough to be walking on the streets were visible. At least, there wouldnt be any misunderstanding about breaking into the girls dormitory as an excuse for entering. Ian calmly organized his position. There was no need for him to wander around busily. Due to the nature of Fantasy X Academy, the first act is a scenario where one of the heroines takes action for the first time. Given the characteristic of the story where the final viin of the act is not determined, the active heroine can vary depending on the circumstances. Of course, the most likely heroine at the moment was Sharon Pierce. Having seen her entering Median House, and considering that other heroines would find it difficult to confront a me Elemental Mage who has be at least twice as strong. Why did she suddenlye here? That was something to figure outter. Anyway, rather than actively intervening in the events, it was necessary to investigate the movements of Sharon Pierce. Whether she would actively try to solve the problem or not. Moreover. It was an easily forgettable fact, but Median House was, after all, a girls dormitory, a restricted area. Having obtained the opportunity to enter the girls dormitory legally. Lets take as much as we can. Mercy stared at the girl in front of her. Lina Rosewells eyes were bloodshot and red. There was definitely something strange about her. Ah. I stayed up all nightst night. But it was different from the Bloodstone Cultists. Lina Rosewells voice was still warm, and conversing with her naturally made the heart calm. Mercy was dragged as if captured by Lina Rosewell. Although she thought it was the exit, it was stairs leading upwards. Lina Rosewell spoke. Lets go this way. Uh, Lina. Instead of hiding, isnt it better to run away Suddenly, the contents of the prophecy came to mind. Until now, it had been urate in everything. Instead of hiding, run away. Dont worry. There should be nothing. So they arrived on the third floor. Lina opened the door without hesitation. Mercy followed her into a room. [Lina Rosewell] It was a warm room. Pictures taken with friends, numerous letters, and exchanged gifts. Excuse me. Huh? Arent the other rescue teamsing? Rescue teams? Through the mirror ced on the desk, Linas face briefly reflected. The corners of Linas mouth rose. At that moment, a chill ran down Mercys spine. L-Lina, your hair has turnedpletely blue, and your eyes arepletely bloodshot. Oh, this? Step by step, Lina approached, causing Mercy to take a step back. Hey, just stay still for a moment. Where. But this room was small. There was nowhere to escape. Creak. Mercys leg got caught on the bed, and she fell onto it. She wanted to resist somehow, but she was overwhelmed by Linas momentum. Who are you? At this moment, Linas magic was so overwhelming that it could be felt even without using mana detection skills. Step by step. Dont be too scared. It wont hurt too much. Lina approached and stood in front of the bed. Mercy, who was about to get up as if preparing for a punch, found that her body wouldnt move at all. Its useless. Ive bound you. Mercy copsed on the bed. Lina Rosewells knee was ced between her pale white thighs. Lina leaned forward, bending her upper body towards Mercy. Ugh! Ugh! Even though she tried to shout something, her voice wouldnte out. Tears welled up in Mercys eyes. Oh my. What a shame. Lina Rosewell fully climbed onto the bed. Her hands intertwined with Mercys. Then, Lina slowly lowered her body. Lick. Linas tongue stole Mercys tears. Ill make sure it doesnt hurt. Linas breath was incredibly warm. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 37 Chapter 37 In the Median House, the middle-grade dormitory of Lichten Academy. Sharon Pierce, upon entering, had only intended to quickly handle her business and return. For her, who resided in the top-grade dormitory, Grant Hall, stepping into such a lower-tier dormitory was not afortable affair. Lina Rosewell. Lets just get a confirmation from her and then go back. She confronted Lina Rosewell before the disciplinarymittee for Ian ckangers. It wasnt a big deal, but it was sufficient. In fact, it was even stranger for her toe and meet directly. Sharon had never properly met and exchanged greetings with Lina Rosewell. The only usible connection was the stories shared in the Kirtos anonymous chat. So, why did shee to find Lina Rosewell, who she had no substantial connection with? There was no other way. There was no suitable method. The problem was the past few days. Themunicationwork that was maintained through Kirtos. From Lina Rosewell, there was no response whatsoever. Not only no response, but there was also no connection being established. There was no way to contact Lina Rosewell through any means, so Sharon had toe in person. Is Lina not doing well these days? I saw her by chancest time, and she seemed extremely gloomy. Herplexion looked dark. I heard she broke up with her secret boyfriend she was hiding. Oh, really? Rumors had spread recently that Lina Rosewells condition had worsened. The news was that she had be quite exhausted. This was a troublesome situation. The disciplinarymittee for Ian ckangers would take ce soon. For Ian ckangerss punishment, everyones statements had to align. Ian ckangers. He was a presence no different from an enemy to Sharon Pierce. Revealing his true intentions, consistently engaging in suspicious actions, and even an unknown curse. Sharon, who had received various forms of support from him without knowing what kind of being he was, hated Ian as much as she found herself cursed. The disciplinarymittee was the opportunity to systematically bring him down. But if something went wrong due to some variable, it would be something Sharon couldnt tolerate given her personality. Therefore, investigating Lina Rosewells condition, the potential variable, was something she had to do. However. What in the world is this. However, the scene in front of her in the dormitory was entirely different. Even if it was a space where nobles with lower status and somemoners lived, it shouldnt be as chaotic as it was now. After therge shaking of the ground has passed, the atmosphere inside the building was incredibly ominous due to the red-tinged light outside the window. tter The sound of footsteps echoing coldly in the hallway. At the sound of asional screams, Sharon ced her hand on the handle of her sword. As she turned the corner, the sight of themon room in the dormitory unfolded before her. Students scattered on the floor. Sharon crouched down in front of one of them. Torn blouse, tooth marks engraved on the pale skin, exined what had happened to her. She touched the person; breathing was still there. But. A substantial amount of magical power and vitality had already been drained. The faint sounds of breathing and heartbeat from someone healthy proved that. The building surrounded by a red barrier. People with drained blood. It was evident who wouldmit such an act. Bloodstone Cult. Traces left by those who had justmitted themselves to the Bloodstone Cult. Sharon bit her lower lip. haron Pierce. The second daughter of a prestigious family in the field of swords. She should have grown up in an environment that seemed rich and happy, but her past was anything but that. It wasnt just because of the overbearing family, who always pushed her to her limits. Rather, the root of all misfortunesy in her mothers death. The enemy who took her mother away, Bloodstone Cult. Crackling. As Sharon chewed on her lower lip, a chilling coldness emanated from her. As herposure shattered, magical power surged violently. However, there was no need to control it. At the end of the corridor. Conveniently, a Blood Cultist was looking in her direction. Sssrrk Sharon drew her sword. The slender and long sword glowed red in the moonlight. Hehehe! You look delicious! A blood-crazed student rushed towards Sharon, sensing her magic. Its speed and presence were enough to give even seasoned experts a run for their money. The hand, stained with blood, shot towards Sharons neck like lightning. Shk The sound of something being cut echoed. Huh? Thwok The blood-crazed creature btedly looked at its severed hand. A clean cut, marked with white frost. The eyes of the one who confirmed it were tainted with a reddish hue. Precursor of a [ckening]. Uguguguguk! A mere creature like you thinks it can win on the day it receives the grace of the Blood! However, its words were cut short. Shk A vertical line drawn through the center of the creatures body. It just stopped in ce. Shyaaaa! Blood sprayed out, unable to ovee the pressure between the open cut. Beyond the graceful curve, Sharon took a step forward. Ugh. Watching Sharon skillfully behead the blood-cultist from a distance, Ian shook his head. Indeed, Sharons strength set her apart from the other heroines. She had solely pursued the growth of her power, specifically in the field of the sword. Regardless of whether her insides were rotting, the crucial thing was her overwhelming ability. With that level, she would have already reached 4.5 stars. Considering that the official growth limit in Fanta X Aca was 5 stars and the average level of the Blood Cultists was around 3 stars, and the average Aether ss was around 4 stars, she was incredibly powerful. What was fortunate was that, at this moment, Ian could utilize Sharon Pierce. If Sharon were to move to deal with the [ckening]-enhanced blood cultists, there was no need for Ian to struggle. The first clear condition of the scenario, Defeat the blood cultists who have taken control of the 1st and 2nd floors, would be resolved effortlessly. Therefore, Ian slipped away into the central garden. Median House, with its structure, had a centerthe garden. Thanks to the red moons distortion, the garden illuminated by the red moonlight was quite eerie. It could be considered a stroke of luck. No one seemed to have thought of escaping into the garden. Lucky. Here, there were special materials that could only be found during a full moon. The garden, filled with various nts and flowers, was challenging to distinguish due to the difficulty in discerning colors under the red moon. Phew. Utilizing mana perception, Ian rummaged through until he found a flower blossoming alone in the moonlight. Selenes Tear. The term referred to an item representing a type of moon-weing flower that only bloomed during a full moon. It was crucial for awakening a character that required it. I was wondering how to obtain it This is fortunate. In the original game, it would be an event where the yer manipted the heroine to find it. However, considering Ian received hatred from all the heroines, there was no chance he would even dream of doing such a thing. In a way, it was considered fortunate that the scenario progressed in Median House. Apart from the Selenes Tear, he managed to gather many useful nt items. This should be enough. Ian closed his now full pockets with satisfaction. This should be enough as rewards for what could be obtained here. Of course, there was no way to get something for nothing in Fanta X Aca. Now, it was time to refocus on the main scenario. I wonder if the first floor is roughly cleared? If the blood cultists had sucked blood for more than an hour, it would have been quite challenging. However, since Sharon moved promptly, dealing with them shouldnt have been too difficult. What worried him more was this. Why did Sharone here? Coming to the dormitory meant meeting someone. However, Sharons nature was inherently cold and sharp. At first nce, one might think, Shes hard to trust just by her face. That would be the type to think. Which meant she came to meet Lina Rosewell No, wait. A chill ran down his spine. Until now, Ian had the intention of intervening in the final boss phase as appropriate. As long as the scenario was cleanly cleared, everything would be resolved. But what if it wasnt? Another problem I have to solve Finding the culprit. In such a situation, if, by some chance, Sharon Pierce and Lina Rosewell fiercely sh, and one of them dies? Up until now, Ian believed that the heroines wouldnt kill each other. However, from the perspective of the non-v*rgin heroine, just as she tried to take advantage of Pongpongs death, the death of another heroine could also be beneficial to the culprit. Dead people cant speak, so No one has properly interrogated anyone in this situation. If one of the heroines dies here, even if she turns out to be the culprit, Ian would have to interrogate all three remaining heroines to confirm that fact. And if it turned out the deceased wasnt the culprit, the living culprit would have sessfully shifted the me for the crime onto the dead person. The difficulty level is going to skyrocket. Even if any heroine died, Ian knew he had to use every means to extract a confession before that. But the assumption that heroines wouldnt kill each other was wed. Ian looked up at the dormitory. The third floor where the final boss, Lina Rosewell, was located. Sharons eyes were shining with a sharp blue light as she walked there. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Her mind was a mess. Mercy struggled to hold onto her fading vision. Arms and legs bound by magic. Half-copsed on the bed, there was a faint scent. Approaching her was the owner of this ce, Lina Rosewell. Ugh. Initially, it was fear. Lina Rosewell was clearly not in her right mind. The Bloodstone Cult drained vitality from the blood of others. Resistance was futile. Mercys lips trembled. Sweet. Linas lips touched Mercys neck. She expected it to draw blood, but instead, a long, red tongue trailed along her corbone. In the rough and tantalizing touch, Lina quickly bit her lips. Dont be too scared. Its my first time too. But itll definitely feel good. You might even want to beg for more. A voice worn by agony. Linas breath carried a strange heat. The contagion of blue mushroom spores. It happened through the exchange of bodily fluids. Since the process was akin to amunion, the pheromones emitted by the mediator were irresistible to the recipient. Lina Rosewell gently caressed her. Beyond the tender and ticklish touch, an incessant groan poured in. The red light emitted by the stained moon intensified the heat. Mercys toes trembled in the face of this fatal temptation. This cant be No matter how hard she tried to resist, it seemed impossible to withstand Linas warm breath. Rationality, fortified by fear, began to crumble like a dam with a hole. Thump, thump. A heartbeat knocking as if to break reason. Hah. A voice announcing thepletion echoed from Mercys throat. Linas eyes curved like a crescent moon. As Linas lips teased Mercys body, about to absorb the heated bodily fluids, something unexpected happened. Rustle. A light breeze swept through. Lina turned her head towards the door. A strand of her cold hair fell. Simultaneously, ng. A diagonally dotted line carved on the door split in half and fell to the ground. Knock, knock. A long leg emerged through the split door. Seeing this unexpected sight, Lina muttered in bewilderment. Sharon Pierce. Sharon scanned the room, furrowing her brows. She didnt care what the two women were doing. Her only concern was Linas condition. Stop. A rapier was suddenly thrust out. Lina chuckled. Its just like Sharon, the Frost Knight, to point your sword at me from our first meeting. Step away from her and raise your hands. I dont want to? Lina, fixing her gaze on Sharon, brought her lips to Mercys body. As Mercys neck twitched, her eyes grew even redder. Mercys legs trembled. It seems she enjoys it too. Rustle. A clean sword de. Instead of an answer, the opposite side of Linas hair was cut. Linas lips slightly hardened. Ahh. The side hair is hard to grow. Too much. Hehe. Snap out of it, Lina Rosewell. Am I not in my right mind? Stop the nonsense. You know, Sharon. Many people like those who enjoy the cold, but because of that personality, they often feel jealous and envious. Trust only in your skills and dont be too arrogant. Oh, did you know that too? Hah. Sharon let out a short sigh. What caused Lina Rosewell to change so much? Theres no hint as to what it might be. The n was to clean up Ian starting from the disciplinarymittee. But now, it might all be falling apart. Its messed up. Why? Does it really look that way? Lately, people have been looking at me strangely, with odd eyes. Its just wounds, wounds. Ahaha. Linaughed lightly. In that moment, it seemed like the usual Lina Rosewell was glimpsed. Inm. And then, the summoning of high-ranking spirits continued like flowing water. Ssh! The rapidly unfurled frosty mist from Sharons sword saturated the air. Overwhelming magical power. If she hadnt exerted her full strength, it couldnt have been stopped. Sharons pupils were dyed with astonishment. On the other hand, Lina Rosewell grinned brightly. But Ive be stronger than before, havent I? Well, what do you think? Are you starting to pay a little more attention to what I say now? Sharon stared at Lina in silence. Whether she took it as a sign of surrender or not, Lina sat back on the bed, shaking her legs and continued speaking. You know, Sharon. Wasnt I always a bit struggling? Speaking in a tone as if confiding in a close friend. It would have been unusual for the original Lina Rosewell. Always smiling, considerate to others, kind all the time. Thats how people see Lina Rosewell, right? But you know whats funny? Smirk. Lina walked towards the desk, lifting a small doll. Embroidered on it was the phrase To my dear friend. Once I started struggling, no one helped me. Whirr. The doll turned into ashes. Certainly, it used to be something cherished, but not anymore. Swish. Lina waved her hand, dispersing the ashes. Ive lived being extremely kind, you know? But when I was starving and struggling, no one came to help me. Hehe Linas body wobbled unsteadily. Despite the madness felt in her movements Sharon Pierce spoke up. Ian ckangers took care of you. That b*stard! ng! Lina Rosewells expression, as she mmed the desk, turned menacingly dark. Can you not mention that b*stards name? Werent you in the same ss as him? You must have been friends. Friends? Whats that? What a ridiculous idea. We just happened to be in the same ssroom. He helped you out, and that fact is already well-known. Sharon, isnt it the same for you? My case is different. Quite amusing. Who do you think gave you that sword as a gift? If we calcte based on what you received, you probably got more than I did. How do you know that? Just as you said, we were ssmates. I had plenty of opportunities to observe him. Ian. Sharon fell silent. Lina, having won the argument, chuckled. But soon, herughter crumpled. Ian ckangers. Thoughts about him once again invaded her mind. Lunchbox. Prepared items. Endless favors. And the betrayal and sense of being stabbed in the back. Suddenly feeling inferior to Ian, who was better than her in every aspect. Feelings of hatred and disgust. Just thinking about Ian made all those emotions swell up. Her brain burned hot. It felt like she might explode and be a fool. I hate it. ? Lina began muttering to herself. The items he handed over. The lunchbox he clearly made. All of that disgusts me more now. I hate how he gets in my way, irritates me, to the point where I want to kill him. But Sharon, listening to what you said, it makes sense He used to prepare food for me. Why do I keep thinking about that b*stard? I want to try it again. That lunchbox. With eyes deeply bloodshot, Lina Rosewell murmured while swaying her head. Her appearance was truly chilling. Sharon Pierce understood the characteristics of what she saw. Sharons mother had the same symptoms, and she had attacked young Sharon to suck her blood, so Sharon was certain. Beginning stages of bloodlust infection. Bloodlust? It means that you are bing a member of the Blood Cult. Not possible. Everyone thinks theyre the exception. But Ive never encountered a Bloodstone Cultist? Lina tilted her head in confusion. That she could maintain such rationality at the beginning of the bloodlust infection wasmendable. Of course, that couldnt be the reason not to spare Lina. Sharon thought with the handle of her sword in hand. Why did youe here? It seemed suspicious. The rtionship between you and Ian What do you mean? The Kirtos anonymous chat. There, Leaf Masksments were in favor of Ian ckangers. How does that concern me? You were the one who operated under the alias Leaf. Linas eyebrows twitched for a moment. Ahaha. Got caught, huh? Even though I purposely toned it down a bit. It seems that wasnt enough. At that time, you spoke favorably of Ian ckangers. I was just statingmon sense. Why is thatmon sense? If that guy really did something wrong, wouldnt it be enough for him to face punishment from the disciplinarymittee? Why bother coordinating stories? Thats what makes it suspicious. To cleanly handle a target, you need to move more surely and strategically. At Sharons words, Lina briefly tapped her own lips. Why did she put so much effort into dealing with Ian? Of course, she also had thoughts of wanting to eliminate Ian, but that was a collection of momentary impulses. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. Hey. I just remembered something now. ? Among the three of you, is there anyone who has a grudge against Ian? Sharons expression stiffened. The current Lina wouldnt miss such a sight. Our cold city girl Sharon has such a tense face? Heheh. As expected. What? Its clear that your girl, Lina, is in cahoots with Ian ckangers. Ian ckangers, who had recently shown a changed demeanor. If this woman sided with him, it would exin everything. Handle Lina first, then slowly deal with Ian. Sharon looked at the scattered Mercy on the bed. It should be enough evidence. The honor of the family would not be damaged. Exterminate the Blood Cult. The current Lina Rosewell was strong enough to be treated as an exception. Of course, even more so than Sharon herself. However, it could be countered. This entire conversation was Sharons intention. Sharon had read everything from Linas breath to simple gestures. One strike. One strike would be enough. She had confidence that she could hit it no matter how suddenly she attacked. So, die, Lina Rosewell. The moment when Sharons azure-blue sword was about to be used, aiming precisely for Linas forehead Boom! The ceiling copsed, and a figure appeared. Oh my. I seem to have taken a wrong turn. It was Ian. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Fantasy X Aca Gallery [Full Moon Night Final Viin Strategy Tips] Therefore, it is rmended to form a party and tackle the strategy together. If you havent only yed the p*rverted expert route, you should have at least recruited one heroine. Build your team around her. Remember the Combat Training Exercise prologue? Approach it as if you are adding a heroine to that group. Since the final viin constantly changes, and the difficulty is high, you need to have a somewhat prepared team to cope with it. If you couldnt gather heroines or a team, well? Luck, no. May your soul rest in peace. The Pierce family traditionally values practicality. An attack aiming for the vital point without letting the enemy be on guard. Therefore, for Sharon Pierce, an instant kill is easier than sparring. No need to destroy evidence in this situation. Finish it in one stroke. Just before Sharons sword was about to pierce Lina. Kwoong The ceiling suddenly copsed. Dust and debris scattered. Vision obscured. Whats happening all of a sudden If even a little deviates, it bes dangerous. Sharon Pierce hastily gathered her mana. Oh, I must have taken the wrong path. To the low, mocking voice, Lina and Sharon turned their heads. The dust that had thickly risen settled, and there stood a man touching the back of his head. It was Ian. That was close. Ian had been observing Lina and Sharons argument from the floor above. Minimize interference and gather information at the same time. Lina Rosewells condition was as Ian expected, and Sharon Pierce? Well, she was not the calm person she usually is. Her recently prepared attack clearly had murderous intent. Ian scratched his cheek. At least until confirming whether she is the culprit or not, letting heroines die recklessly is not an option. Thats why he broke the ceiling and came down like this. It wasnt too difficult in a building made of stone. Um, sorry. Go on with your fight. Even though the line sounded like it popped out of a y, well, so what? Sometimes, audacity is important. Fight? Werent we just having a conversation? Lina Rosewell tilted her head. The snickering was quite creepy. That grin was so unsettling because it was almost no different from something that had turned Lina Rosewells shell inside out. Ian looked at Lina withposure. Oh really? Yeah. By the way, Ian. I wanted to find you, and for some reason, I feel like I want to get rid of you Wait. Ian hastily turned the conversation. But isnt it strange? Im pretty sure I felt a sign of life. Life? Yeah. Sharon. Werent you just trying to stab Lina? Ian looked at Sharon nonchntly. ! Sharons expression crumpled in an instant. Why are you looking at me like that? While killing is not allowed, they must keep fighting. And Sharon Pierce, the promising knight of Lichten. A fight urs between the two, leading to exhaustion of their abilities. It was Ians strategy to deal with two overwhelmingly strong heroines. Sharon shouted through gritted teeth. Ian ckangers. You, you b*stard! Look, thats exactly the feeling I got. You b*stard! She swung her sword, but it wasnt frightening. Kwaaaah! Lina Rosewells magic erupted against her. Sharon. I didnt see it that way, but were you really a bad girl? Shut up. Bloodstone Cults murderer. I told you, Im not with the Bloodstone Cult. Feeling the air heating up again between the two, Ian chuckled. Well, go ahead and continue. Kwaaaah! With Lina Rosewells preemptive strike, the battle between the heroines began. Blocking the surging magical sparks, Ian turned away smoothly. On the bed, there was a girl who had copsed, unconscious. Tsk. Ian, who briefly clicked his tongue, sat on the edge of the bed. The girls condition is unusual. Her skin was flushed pink, and her whole body was soaked in sweat. Full of the heat of breath. Despite being unconscious, it was evident that she was full of carnal desires. As expected, symptoms that appear when the Blue Mushroom infection spreads. In the original game, the effects of the Blue Mushroom were described as an increase inbat power, an increase in aggressiveness and violence, and stimtion of negative emotions. However, ording to Professor Suzy Dismal from the Clinical Magical Pharmacology Department, the fundamental cause of all these symptoms is the significantly increased s*xual desire. The Blue Mushroom spores, transmitted through mucus, manipte the host in that way. Now that the full moon has risen, its bursting out uncontrobly. This girls current state is likely a result of the fungal infection spreading after contact with Lina. A good experiment. Indeed, whether Ians dishwashing ability can be applied to humans infected with spores or not. Beyond the disheveled shirt, a namete saying [Mercy] came into Ians view. To be clear, he hadnt been staring at the chest beyond the disheveled shirt for long. As he approached, there was a warm scent and heat. Ian reached out towards Mercy. Hah. Even just touching her made her flinch. She doesnt seem to be in a good condition. After confirming that the heroines fight was still intense, he focused on his senses. He felt the mana of the earth at his fingertips. Manifestation of the Dishwashing ability. Indescribably divine energies spread from Ian to Mercy. And a faint moan could be heard. Ugh. Mercy, whose body had been flushed, calmed down in a soothing manner. Looking around her body with mana, it was clear that the spores had decreased significantly. Good effect for using as little power as possible. As expected. Dishwashing had an effect even on these Blue Mushroom spores. It was a matter of course since it was a power, and it was undoubtedly a cebo effect. With this level, the preparations for achieving the final goal of Full Moon Night were allplete. Ian turned his attention back to the fierce fight between the two heroines. Waaaah! Crack! A battle between a fire elemental mage and a frost-type swordswoman. The constant disy of abilities was so splendid that it made onlookers admire. Sharon, who manipted frost elements. Her techniques were cold and precise, in stark contrast to her calm and collected personality. On the other hand, Lina Rosewell, who had be a host for the spores. She continuously emitted overwhelming mes, almost to the point where it would be considered violent. Phew From the perspective of spectators, it was fortunate that Sharon was handling the temperature to some extent with her frost elements. Thats how strong Lina was right now. Its the final boss, so its only natural. Main Scenario Chapter 1 Act 1, Full Moon Night. In this scenario, you were supposed to secure at least one heroine and form a party to tackle it. The reason the Combat Training Exercise was the prologue was to prepare for this episode. However, transferring the training exercise team as it was proved impossible because Yurran, a follower of the Bloodstone Cult, was in the same team. Instead of calling that b*stard, its easier to justmit s*icide. Thats why the n was to clear all scenarios alone. In other words, it was a solo y. It was easier to adapt to various variables that way. Instead, he maximally utilized efficient items. The reason for collecting various items was also for this purpose. But a heroine came rolling in like that. Sharon Pierce. The moment he saw her at the entrance, he decided to make use of her. Urgently revising the n. To instigate a fight between Lina Rosewell and Sharon Pierce. Kwaaaah! So far, everything went ording to n. The astonishing attack power of Lina Rosewell. However, Sharon skillfully responded to it. However, she was holding ers ground against Lina Rosewell solely with honed abilities and experience. Even with the final boss, its that much of a fight. Considering that Lina Rosewellsbat power had increased by at least 200% due to the Blue Mushroom, and After all, Sharon is Sharon. Of course, she was currently in a somewhat dire situation. She will definitelye at her again. Certainly, she would try to kill Lina by spewing out the maximum frost elements she could. Ian targeted that timing. Ian took out the refined Mana Flytraps inner skin. Thanks to Danyas help, the inner skin became infinitely thinner yet simultaneously more robust and stronger. With this, I should be able to withstand even the highest magical pressure. Having prepared like this, the moment was at hand. Just as Sharon was preparing to swing her sword. Die, Bloodstone Cultist! Now was the time. Ian immediately inserted himself between the two. What! Ah! The eyes of the two heroines widened. Whether or not it worked, he quickly shot out the Mana Flytraps inner skin at the magic. Zzziing ! As soon as it touched, mana was absorbed by the Mana Flytraps inner skin. It had a nature of trying to envelop andpress mana. Squelch, squelch. Itpressed mana with a disgusting sound, as if the Mana Flytraps main body was still there,pressing mana. In the infinitelypressed inner skin of Mana Flytrap. Flrrrrr! Linas fire magic erupted. ! Sharon widened her eyes. However, it was already toote. Ian immediately protected himself with Lunar. Kwaaaaah! A tremendous explosion shook the surroundings. Frost particles met the mes and exploded. Interaction between elements that could only happen under certain conditions. As a result, Sharon, who was blown away, crashed into a shattered wall. Looking at her melted armor, it seemed that she had desperately tried to block it, but it wasnt enough. Ian, who crouched in front of Sharon, checked her pulse. Shes still breathing. That should do it. On the other hand, Lina seemed to be in a better condition. Her clothes were soaked and had holes, but considering everything Ian, you! The gaze directed at him was ominous. Of course, she must have suffered some internal injuries. There was no opportunity to prepare for the dust explosion. Moreover, considering the strength she had consumed in the fight with Sharon Pierce Finally, a reasonable calction was made. Shrrrr The Lunar staff was now clenched in Ians hand. Creak, creak. Ian turned his head left and right with a big motion. Come at me. It was time to educate the heroine. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Can we put that aside for a moment and have a conversation? Lina asked Ian. She looked at Ian with a faint smile. In that expression, Ian confirmed a few facts. Firstly, the infection of the spores had progressed quite a bit. Most of Lina Rosewells hair had already turned blue. It only appeared purple due to the reddish moonlight. Secondly, the smile on her lips. Its not natural. That was a mask. Not just the smile, everything about this woman was an act. The worst kind of heroine. If someone had asked the Ian from his previous life what a fake heroine was like, he would have answered like that. A heroine shouldnt be fake. Especially if she pretended to be kind. The game was not reality. yers wanted to be healed through the game, whether they were tired of social life or feeling too lonely. The role of heroines in the game was to embrace such pains. Even if it was just on the screen, if they smiled brightly towards the yer, healing urred. But what if it was all an act? It was like breaking the implicit rules between the yer and the character. The worst of the worst. If he had been ying a game, he would have thrown his phone away immediately. If this were a game, thats how it would be. If all thoseughs were just a mask, the yer could only feel betrayed. The suspicion of Lina Rosewell was based on that point. But his thoughts at that moment were different. Ian had raised his head. In this strange ce, that was reality. Originally, reality was a harsh thing. Whether the heroine was a v*rgin or not, fake or not. It was more advantageous to take care of his body and develop his abilities. Even if it wasnt the Lina Rosewell he knew, he was prepared to ept it. Whether Lina Rosewell wore a mask or was fake. In any case, Ian had to be careful. So he could say for sure. You came to save me. Thank you. The girl who had unted her overwhelming appearance with a fake smile was not Lina Rosewell. Then what was it? It was a blue mushroom walking around with Lina Rosewells mask. Spores of the blue mushroom. It was no different from a state where only the shell remained. When infected with spores, it started with just a slight increase in aggression. And if you listened to the voices in the stimting mind, eventually, control of the body and brainpletely slipped away. At first nce, it was simr to the brainwashing of the Bloodstone Cult. But that was only amon point because the Bloodstone Cult was good at using such hallucinogenic drugs. Ian spoke. It might be okay to reveal your true colors now. Of course, there was no intention to have a conversation with the infected Lina. Because a human addicted to mushroom spores was no different from something else wearing that shell. He just wanted to understand the current state of Lina in this infected condition. What were you talking about? No one around, right? Isnt this an appropriate situation to kill me? The infected Lina had shown intense aggression. And the target was Ian himself. Linas attack in thebat training exercise still came to mind asionally. Thats right No ones around But Ian, I didnt try to kill you Lina had smiled sweetly. A more coercive eye smile than Lina. Then she had gently brought her hand to the center of her shirt and unbuttoned it. Would you like to try once? Sweet voice. Temptation that hadnt seemed to have a usible context. But her appearance had packaged it as if it was such a natural act. But Ians gaze had remained unwavering. At that moment, Lina Rosewells brain had been perfectly controlled by spores. Even the act of suddenly tempting him was probably to consume bodily fluids for recovery and spread the spores as much as possible. You. You arent Lina Rosewell. What. What. What. I dont know what you are talking about. Unfortunately for her, Ian had no hobbies like sharing mushrooms and love. Dont stutter. Its creepy because you dont seem like a proper human. The infected Lina had stopped in confusion. The reason was obvious. The parasite spore was merely pulling out reactions stored in Linas brain. There wouldnt be a proper way to respond to a question like, You dont seem human, do you? Come to think of it, mushrooms are essentially fungi, arent they? The pupils turned and clicked as if rummaging through the brain. It sent a slight shiver down Ians spine. He wanted to deal with it immediately. With that thought came a question. If it were the uninfected Lina, wouldnt she have attacked Ian? No, she probably wouldnt. Ian shook his head. Instinctively and unconsciously, Lina Rosewell disliked Ian. The fact that even the infected Lina had thrown magic at the back of Ians head was because she such feelings at some point. Therefore. I wont go easy on her. Even though herbat power had explosively increased due to the infection, she had already fought against Sharon. Moreover, she had suffered quite a bit of damage due to the intentional explosion. Besides, mages were traditionally weak in closebat, especially elementalists who needed to summon spirits. I also identified weaknesses. Throwing in a random remark to find a reaction and exploiting the gap when the reaction malfunctioned. Ian subtly strengthened his grip on the Lunar Staff without showing it. Then he bluffed. Lina. Yeah, Ian, what is it? It looks like you have fungus spreading on your head. ? The pupils clicked again, as if rummaging through her brain. Now. Ian immediately closed the distance with Lina. He had reinforced only part of his body to maximize destructive power. Although somewhat slow, Linas reactions were slower. Her temples crumpled btedly. Toote. Bang! The staff of Lunar exploded directly on Linas pristine forehead. A long red line was carved vertically. Linas body, swaying as if about to fall, was caught directly on it. Kasa! She hurriedly called out the name of a lesser spirit. Whirl! Already prepared to defend with Lunar wrapped around her arms. It wasnt strong enough to destroy the charged Lunar. Cele More than two sybles? Dealing with an elemental mage up close was simple. Just prevent them from opening their mouth. Almighty Aim Wow. Was this mushroom insane? Ian quickly grabbed her neck. Lord, descendUltimate! What demon was she trying to summon? A neck slender and white enough to be held in one hand. Ian sighed, then exerted pressure on his gripping hand. Ughhh Strange sounds emanated from the infected Lina. Herplexion was getting paler. But Ian knew. At this level, students from Lichten Academy wouldnt die so easily. Grrrr Even if a heroine makes such sounds, can it be allowed? Hold on. Ian had already been almost killed by a heroine. Heroine or not, there was nothing to be seen. Squelch. The parasite inside the infected Lina wriggled to survive. Arms and legs shed, but the impact wasnt significant. Kuk He felt the power drain from Linas body with the final death blow. She was not dead, of course. For now, the primary purification isplete. Ian observed the now subdued body of Lina. As he gazed slowly, something caught his eye. Is this it? Lina Rosewells head. A tiny blue mushroom had sprouted there. Pluck Ian didnt hesitate and plucked it off. Then, once again, he activated Dishwashing towards Lina. To answer Ians questions, He needed Lina toe back to her senses. Lina Rosewell was wandering in her own consciousness. It was endlessly deep and dark. She had lost her way. A voice had been echoing in her mind for days. Initially, it was sweet. You dont always have to be kind. Being good wont make people see you as anything more than a fool. Words that made her think, Could that be true? She brushed them aside without much thought, feelingforted. But as she became more distressed, the intensity of those words grew. Look at this, Lina Rosewell. You always took care of others, but now theres no one taking care of you, not even someone to bring you a lunchbox. Hey, have you seen Ian? Hes a grade just higher than yours. If anything, it seems like hes intentionally trying to humiliate you. It was unconscious. She paid attention to that ominous voice because, in her hardships, it felt like receiving constion. But as she became more exhausted, that voice became stronger. I can give you some power. The voice suggested. Lina agreed. She was Lina Rosewell, needing better grades and a schrship urgently. Sometimes, she lost her sanity. But she thought she could manage it. The power offered by that thing was overwhelmingly persuasive. See? Everything is getting better because youre listening to me. She fell deeper. And before she knew it, she discovered herself sinking into the deep abyss of her consciousness. Here, numerous past and present memories were entangled like threads. Now, her body, which had lost control, could see and hear everything that yed out like a continuous loop. Even if she closed her eyes, some scenes reyed endlessly. Ian. She suddenly called out his name. Aftering here, Lina Rosewell realized. The sins shemitted towards Ian were far from trivial. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Lina Rosewell was kind. If you were to grab someone who knew Lina and ask them about her, they would undoubtedly respond with glowing praise. Gentleughter, kindness, consideration, always looking out for othersthese were the qualities that defined her. Friends, family, everyone who knew Lina, liked her. In short, kindness was her identity. Even if you didnt know her, you could approach herfortably, engage in casual banter,ugh, greet, and eventually part ways happily for the day. Lina was someone with whom even strangers could feel at ease. She was well aware of how others perceived her. Everyone expects that from me. Fulfilling others expectations was a quite enjoyable task. Satisfied individuals immediately followed and liked Lina. Lina enjoyed it too. But then, gradually, -Lina will surely help with this, right? Im going through a tough time. -Lina always takes good care of her younger siblings. Shes truly amazing. Such expectations soon became a pattern. The person known as Lina Rosewell was expected to be kind, caring, and socially adept. -You have to be kind because youre Lina Rosewell. Before she knew it,pliments from others began to sound like a given. Eventually, Lina became consumed by her own image. Everyone naturally relied on her. Some would chat about boredom, others sought advice about serious matters with their significant others. There were even those who asked for help with difficult assignments or wanted to know what small spirits looked like. Friends, acquaintances, and even family. Everyone leaned on Lina as if it were a given. Lina was a kind and caring person. Initially, she was pleased to help others. She even deceived herself into thinking that this was an incredibly happy thing. Perhaps thats why. From the depths of her being, something began to decay. Im struggling too. Lina hugged her knees. Her parents had passed away, and she had to take responsibility for the family. To support her remaining siblings and rebuild the family, she needed the qualifications. She had sought refuge in Lichten Academy after negotiating with rtives. The truth is, I have to live ruthlessly too. There was no money for immediate needs. No food. Nothing unless absolutely necessary, and even those essentials were hard to obtain. If she made herselffortable, her siblings would suffer. The weight of the Rosewell family burdened Lina. To raise her remaining siblings and revive the family, Lina had to graduate from Lichten at all costs. So, she had topete fiercely. She had to secure a schrship. Im not as kind as people think. Squeeze. At some point, her fist clenched. With a sigh, Lina released her fist. Then she looked around. A space filled with darkness. She had realized that she was trapped here a few hours ago. The moon is bright today. Thest thought she had before opening her eyes was that the moon rising in the sky was unusually bright. But when she opened her eyes, she was here. It was as if everything had turned pitch ck around her, as if she had fallen into the depths of the sea. Yet, somehow, Lina felt like she knew where she was. It must be in my consciousness. The reason she could make such a conjecture was simple. She had experienced such phenomena before. From one day, a voice had started echoing in her mind. Its tough, isnt it? You dont have to live too kindly. At first, she was scared. She thought she was going crazy. But as she listened, it became aforting voice. It said the things Lina wanted to hear the most. Look at that guy named Ian over there. Hes blocking your way. Shouldnt we get rid of him? At some point, aggressiveness began to emerge in the whispers. Initially, she resisted. But she couldnt forget the sweet whispers. Only then did she realize. These whispers were ultimately pulling out whaty deep within Lina herself. These are my deep emotions. With that mindset, all reservations disappeared. Do you want to be stronger? I can help you. As she listened to the whispers, her growth elerated. The overflowing magic was bing difficult to control. Her trust in the whispers only grew stronger. Will you lend me your body? At some point when that whisper came, Lina nodded her head. That was the first moment she lost consciousness. But that moment felt good. Whenever she woke up after losing consciousness, it was refreshingly invigorating. A feeling of liberation from the things that had oppressed her. Quaaaaang! One day, she attacked Ian from behind. Even when she regained consciousness, she didnt regret it. Although she felt that something might be wrong, that uneasiness was quickly swallowed. Because. Because I was the one who hated Ian. Ian. Ian ckangers. She particrly disliked that boy. Even before the strange whispers echoed in her mind, she disliked him. If Lina, as a person, was defined by the framework of kindness, Ian was a small hole in that framework. Even though she could be kind to others, she couldnt be kind to Ian alone. The whispers didnt miss that hole. After listening to the whispers, all her aggressiveness was directed at Ian. Why did I do that in the first ce? Why. Why did she especially dislike Ian? And now, trapped in her consciousness. Why does his face keeping to mind and haunting her? Why does she keep thinking about Ian? Lina tightened her arms around her knees. And burying her face in them. She recalled her first meeting with Ian. In the early days of Linas enrollment at the academy. This was a story from when the owner of Ians body had not yet changed. Magic Formation practical ss. Everyone has prepared their materials. Now, lets begin the lesson. At that time, Lina had no money. She couldnt even afford essential supplies after buying books. But it was embarrassing to just not bring anything. With a self-deprecating feeling, she put her hand into the desk. Of course, nothing would be there to touch Rustle Something caught in her hand. What? With widened eyes, Lina cautiously pulled out a paper bag from the desk. Inside the bag, along with the practice materials, there was a small note. Written at the end, along with a message full of dark humor, was the name Ian ckangers. If its Ian, hes be a guy with a bad reputation. Rumors were already circting that he had approached some girls and got rejected. Lina turned her head toward his direction. Ian, who had been staring at her, quickly averted his gaze. Its still ufortable. Lina was troubled. Was it right to use this? But the image of her siblings back home came to mind. She couldnt be in a position to refuse others help. And I am genuinely grateful. Ians bad reputation was just a rumor after all. Honestly, when she first opened the bag, she felt thankful and even a bit moved. Although she felt burdened and ufortable after reading the note, it was true. She had be somewhat interested in Ian. Since that moment of half difort and half gratitude and curiosity. The same thing happened during lunch. Lina, lets go grab something to eat! Oh, um Buying something outside felt burdensome. But she hadnt brought lunch either. No way. With a hopeful heart, she put her hand into the desk. As expected, there was a lunchbox ced there as if it were normal. Lina, what are you doing? Ah Yeah! Lets go! Such assistance continued for a few days. Moreover, without him even striking up a conversation. Whenever she searched inside the desk, what Lina needed was magically there. Maybe hes not a bad guy? Her wariness of Ian also began to dissipate. Perhaps he might be a good guy. It felt like the first time she had received care to this extent, especially in an academy full of young students. Does he have an interest in me? Thump. Her heart area felt a light ache. But it wasnt an unpleasant feeling. After receiving help several times in difficult situations, she naturally developed an interest. One day, she asked her friends. What do you guys think of Ian? To hide her interest in Ian, she asked the question casually, as if it were just passing. Oh, him. He got a sword for Miss Sharon the other day. Hes also busy serving Lady Emilia. Theres not a girl he hasnt confessed to. Isnt that a bit extreme? Its so frustrating. Really. Hes the worst of the worst. But Miss Lina, why are you asking about him? Aha-ha. Its nothing. But when did that happen? Just yesterday. On the same day he had given her supplies and lunch. It was clear that he had been fooling around, teasing anyone without discrimination, just as the rumors about Ian suggested. Lina bit her lip. A feeling of betrayal welled up. The fact that she had developed even a slight interest in that guy was something she detested. It was also her first time sinceing to the academy. . Hey, Miss Lina? Why is your expression like that? Are you okay? Does something hurt? When she came to her senses, she realized she was clutching her face. Ah Aha-ha. No, its nothing. Just felt a bit dizzy. The taste of betrayal she experienced for the first time was like straight ck coffee. It was bitter, and there wasnt even a dessert to swallow with it. It was the day the first hole appeared in Linas kindness. And time passed. The supplies and food were always ced inside the desk, but there were no notes. Although she hesitated to use them, Lina was too desperate to scrutinize those emotions. Then, one day during lunch. Out of habit, Lina searched inside the desk. For some reason, the lunchbox wasnt there today. Yeah, its better not to get it. Ufortable with the feeling, Lina thought, If its going to be this ufortable, Id rather go hungry. Maybe she could go to the forest and pick some fruits. Clutching her hungry stomach, Lina leaned over her desk. Tock. Lina raised her head to a lunch box ced on the desk. Ominously ck hair. Ian ckangers was standing there. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Eat. I made it. Lina stared at the lunchbox in front of her. An exquisite container emitted a faint, pleasant aroma. Blink. Blink. Linas head tilted upward. Ian ckangers. He was looking at her expressionlessly. As if that was supposed to be a cool expression. But now Lina knew. He must have shown such kindness to others, whether yesterday or today. And that kindness had a purpose. Lina always maintained her kindness. It was both her nature and the expectation of others, the framework that surrounded her. Regardless of the other persons actions, she had the warmth and gentleness to treat them kindly. But despite being that way, Ians appearance suddenly angered her. I had some expectations, even if they were small. It was different for him. It wasnt a big emotion, but there was a tiny, subtle curiosity that was different from the anticipation she felt toward others. A fluttering feeling that it was somehow different from the others. What trampled on that was none other than Ians attitude. And now, seeing him shamelessly offering a lunchbox, anger welled up within her. Linas face flushed lightly. Warm rosy cheeks. For the first time in a long while, her anger at Ian momentarily surprised even herself, and she bit her lower lip. Is it because Ive been too nice that he sees me as easy? That was the reason. A hairline crack appeared in Linas kindness, as small as the expectations she had for Ian. Unconsciously, she directed her frustration at Ian. Are you giving me this lunchbox to eat? Yeah. Why? The question was cut off in single sybles so coldly that even Lina herself was embarrassed. .Huh? Ian stupidly asked. His stupidity seemed to mock her, fueling her anger even more. Why are you giving it to me? Ian ckangers acting, which was supposed to be cool, was immediately shattered. The guy started stuttering. Thisthis is. Well. I, Im alone. That, I-I had leftovers. Oh, I see. Youre alone making it. Did you want to take care of others from a different ss like you did for me? No. Its not that. The lunchbox is only for you. Ah. This lunchbox is only for me? Lina smiled habitually. But the corners of her lips trembled. Thats really an honor. But why me? Um? Why me? Well, thats. Its just that, somehow, I found out that your family situation is difficult. So, I wanted to take care of you a little. To take care of her. Normally, she would have felt grateful for the good intention. But why did he have to do it in such a way? Ha! Her insides boiled. Irritation surged. For some reason, she felt these emotions for the first time. And so, words just burst out. Do you think Im a beggar? Oh, no its not like that. Then what is it? Why are you giving me this? That, um. Because you looked hungry. Ian was visibly embarrassed. It was infinitely pathetic. Lina grabbed the offered lunchbox. Aha, I see. Youre just pitying me. Ah. Well, friends can take care of each other like this, right? Isnt that so? Uh, yeah. Because were friends. Friends. He came here in person today to confess. She could tell by looking at his attitude. Lina could tell. Thats why she deliberatelyughed. Ah~ Sorry, hahaha! I think I misunderstood a little. Were you trying to confess to me by any chance? Friends wouldnt do that, right? Yes. Thats right. Thanks, Ian. Ill dly ept your sympathy. Its good to care. Even pretending to be cool lets say thats fine. But no matter how kind Lina is, she has her pride. Ian brutally shattered that. Pathetic b*stard. Lina grabbed the lunchbox and turned away. Hey, Lina She ignored whatever he mumbled. Bang! Since it was just Ian and her in the room, there was no one to see. With all her strength, she closed the ssroom door. Then she went up to the rooftop, where she could be alone. Lina leaned against the wall and sighed. The lunchbox that the unfortunate guy handed her. But she had to eat. Without it, she would have nothing to eat today. She opened the lunchbox. Ill always support you. I like you. When she opened the lid, she saw the side dishes engraved with these words. Oh, my. Thinking about throwing the lunchbox he prepared, she hesitated. Growl. Lina meticulously crushed the side dishes, making the words almost invisible. Then she ate. Ha. Eating that lunchbox brought a whirlwind of emotions. The slight favor she felt when he first prepared something. The sense of betrayal she felt knowing he did the same for others. And now, eating it, a feeling of self-doubt. The hole in Linas kindness appeared back then. That hole was Ian ckangers. And a dayter. Ian jumped from the rooftop. During the week he was gone, various strange incidents urred. His absence was deeply felt. The desk that was always full was now empty. She was slowly hitting a limit. The kindness that confined her was choking her. She hoped someone would rescue her from this. And one day. Dring! The ssroom door opened, and he returned. She was surprised. She heard he got seriously injured. She thought he would nevere back. At the same time, Lina sensed something. Ian waspletely different. The first thing that changed was his gaze. His eyes, which used to look uncertain and somewhat pitiful, were different now. They became extremely cold. It was hard to even make eye contact. Clunk. And his support, the lunchbox, everything, was gone. He acted like he perfectly forgot the past few days. As if he deliberately didnt show any interest, ming Lina Rosewell herself. A very urate answer. Student Ian! Thats a good approach. Its creative. Follow me for a moment after ss. Participating actively in ss, receiving praises from professors, and achieving good grades. Yet, avoiding eye contact and ignoring her with just a nce. Thump Suddenly, her heart raced at that gaze. Huh? She was perplexed. Why? Ian was someone she should dislike, wasnt he? Then she realized. Ian was no longer looking at Lina confined within the framework of kindness. He looked at her beyond that, cold and indifferent. Ian, who loved appearances more than anyone, suddenly showing a suspicious gaze made her surprisingly interested. Lina had wished for this. Someone to break her image. How? She was curious about why Ians gaze suddenly changed. The opportunity came during the Shadow Forest practical training. She wanted to ask when they became a team. But things didnt go well. Instead, whispers were heard. If Ian surpasses you, wont you lose the schrship? The whispers skillfully manipted the direction of her emotions. The deep emotions hidden by kindness rose up. Anger. Jealousy. Aggression. Those emotions poured out through the hole in her heart. The hole created by Ian ckangers. He betrayed you. What about your will? Do you think he can be your savior? Come to think of it, she originally disliked Ian. She loathed him. Lets get rid of him. She nodded in agreement with the whispers. He seemed to be a suitable target. Lina woke up from her thoughts. She looked around. Everything was pitch ck. It was still the space inside her consciousness. Then she realized. What she just experienced was like a near-death experience. The emotions settled as if it were a lie. In the end, I didnt want to be kind. Being kind to herself was too difficult. She had suppressed various dark emotions within her heart. Ian had pierced through it, and they burst out. All the emotions poured out towards him, even those he hadnt stirred up. In this process, she listened to the whispers. The result was this situation. She lost her reason due to hatred towards Ian. She sumbed to the whispers, and perhaps she was about to die soon. Ah Ian was just the first badly fastened button. If only she had been more honest when he confessed for the first time, I appreciate this, but I cant ept your feelings. It could have been resolved more honestly. In the end, Lina herself was cowardly. She needed the items Ian gave her, she needed the lunchbox, and she needed him to take care of her. So, unable to express it verbally, she stored it deeply within her heart. That became a small hole in her chest, and through that hole, all the previously unexpressed negative emotions burst out. Even if she hated Ian. Linas reaction to him pouring out her emotions was excessive. If you think about it. She realized it. Ultimately, it was because Ian ckangERs seemed kinder than her, perhaps a bit more approachable. Wake up, Lina Rosewell. Ians voice faintly echoed. Was it from outside her consciousness? Suddenly, tears flowed from Linas eyes. I want to live. She didnt want to die like this. She wanted to go outside and be more honest now. So, she wanted to talk to Ian first. Im sorry. Taking for granted what he did for her, ignoring only him among many people, and pouring out hatred and attacks on him alone. So, she apologized. It seemed her mind was getting strange or weird sounds were heard, or something felt wrong. But there was no need for such excuses; she knew it was all because the things she had stored in her heart became stronger. Im like trash. Because she was a fool who only pretended to be nice to fool others. After all, she was a piece of trash who took out her anger on Ian, who was nicer. She wasnt just a person who was always kind. Ive always wanted it She always wished for someone to scold her, correct her, and firmly point it out. So. I should have not been just foolishly kind. Now she knew, and thats why she wanted to apologize. Sincerely. Im sorry, Ian. Im sorry. And she would probably have to face the consequences. Because she was no longer the kind Lina Rosewell. Come on, scold me. She had done something wrong, so she needed a painful punishment. Linas eyes were filled with tears. Please save me just this once. Then she leaned on Ian again. It was really shameless, as she thought. However, if that wish reached someone. The surroundings began to brighten, as if a ray of light was falling into the deep sea. As if being pulled up by a fishing hook, Linas consciousness slowly surfaced. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Ian looked down quietly. Underneath himy the heroine, Lina Rosewell. Finally settled. He sighed at her weakened struggles. The problem, as expected, was the small blue mushroom that had sprouted on her forehead. Despite its small size, it was enough to lift and drop a person if you looked closely. Once the mushroom was removed, and emergency measures were taken, her movements immediately calmed. Breath is still there. He felt the flow of air moving subtly between breaths, a necessary choice to prevent her from summoning a high-level spirit. She seemed to have fainted, so it should be safe to release the grip on Linas neck. Ian loosened his hold on her. Szzak, szak. Seeing her immediately inhale, it seemed her breathing was not significantly affected. Summoning a high-level spirit out of nowhere Even though her abilities were boosted threefold due to the blue mushroom, it was still a surprising oue. The grade of spirits a summoner could call depended on their magical power, but the ability to attempt a summoning was determined by the vessel they possessed. Even though her magical power had tripled due to the mushroom infection, the fact that Lina Rosewell could handle the summoning of a high-level spirit was noteworthy. Indeed, a heroine is a heroine. The potential of a 5-star rating wasnt just for show. Being called a heroine wasnt an easy title to earn. Setting that aside. Ian rose from Linas copsed body and sat down beside her. Hmm. The contamination level of Linas blue mushroom was quite high. To directly ask questions to her consciousness, a thorough purification process was necessary. She stretched out both hands and ced them on Linas upper abdomen. To be exact, the location between the navel and the breasts. He reached out both hands to Linas upper body, precisely between the navel and chest. Then, invoking the authority of the Earth Goddess, he activated Dishwashing. A white energy gathered at his fingertips, which he transmitted to Lina. Huff A groan escaped from Linas lips. Her body convulsed. It was natural for her to be in pain. The contaminated energy of the blue mushroom resisted purification. From head to toe. Its really chilling how thoroughly it has spread. Given the extent of the energy in her body, it was strange that she wasnt getting stronger. The contamination was severe, and she was likely not conscious. At thest moment, she was essentially nothing more than a host for spreading spores. It wasnt just idle spection; if left alone, half of the girls dormitory might have been infected with mushroom spores, and the other half might have be nutrients for the Bloodstone Cult. Lets get started, then. Ian closed his eyes. Then, he intensified the output of his ability. Linas body, dominated by the mushroom spores, resisted the authority. The connection with her felt significantly narrowed. Huff! Linas breathing became rough. The resistance from the spores was just that of ordinary mushroom spores. Tztztz He pierced through the resistance with the power of his authority. The opposing energies were absorbed, and the authority poured into every corner of Linas body, purifying it. Huuuugh! Her body jolted, but Ian paid no heed and exerted even more force. Hold on. He applied force to his hands, fixing her waist in ce, and forcefully infused the authority. Her clothes became damp. Transparent droplets of sweat formed, followed by swirling blue energies. Huuk, huh! Her entire body lit up in a rosy hue. A single stream of blood trickled from her nose. Her tightly shut lips seemed ready to burst, flushed and hot as if her breath would reveal something. However, there was no room for pity. Ian continuously poured his power, scrubbing every single cell with the vigor of a thorough Dishwashing. Finally, he expelled the spores from her head. Burruru Linas body trembled, then soon slumped. A faint but distinct breath emanated from her lips. Whew. Ian, atst, took a deep breath. Though he wanted to rest for a moment, he immediately adjusted his posture and closed his eyes. There might be exposure to spores, and the impact could be uncertain. Even though contaminated energy had sporadically entered his body during the purification process. How can something like mold overtake humans? He promptly and thoroughly cleaned himself with his authority. Where did mold dare to challenge a body infused with the authority of a goddess? A hundred years are too early. A hundred years But why is it so sticky? Ians brows furrowed as he lowered his gaze. Blue fluids oozed from Linas body, and the surroundings were lively with the purged remnants. Ian activated his authority once again. Pssh The blue energy disappeared, and the stickiness lessened. It was still somewhat moist, but this much seemed bearable. Disgusting spores. In the process, he purified all the vibrant fluids around Lina and her surroundings. Taking a moment to cleanse every trace of blue. Hmm? A subtle earth-colored light enveloped Ian. This faint energy felt simr to when he encountered the Earth Goddess statue before. Huh? He instinctively felt his authority had grown. Ian closed his eyes, focusing on Dishwashing. Fwat! The authority was activated without the need for direct contact. Light emanated, cleansing the room. If the previous Dishwashing was like using detergent to scrub away each residue, now Now its more like a Dishwasher? To go from dishwashing to a dishwasher Unexpectedly, the authority had grown one step further. It was quite pleasing. Pleasant as it was . The terminology was a bit well, something like that. Ahem. Good things were good, anyway. Swish, swish. Ian shook his head to dispel the thoughts. Rather than those useless thoughts, the final boss of this scenario was here. Lina Roswell, peacefully immersed in sleep. The face that was once filled with venom had subsided. Even the hair, which had turned blue, regained its original color. The final viin of Act 1, Scene 1, had returned to her heroine form like this. Gently applied eyeshadow. Looking at the soft swaying eyshes above, one would eventually admit it. Indeed, a heroine was a heroine. The current Lina Roswell was harmless. Ian had purified all the fungi that made her abilities several times stronger. Even if she were to suddenly rise and cast magic, Ian was confident he could easily stop her. Ive grown just as much. Seeing her harmless appearance, a sudden thought crossed his mind. The game premise dictated that heroines should be good. yers would see them smiling, liking them, clinging to them. No yer would doubt the heroines actions. However. For Ian, this wasnt a game; it was reality. Heroines were people too, and no one was purely good. Lets put it this way: a heroine who was only kind wasnt much different from a doll. I have to think that way. Constantly doubting heroines, that was Ians fate with Pongpongs body. So now, such thoughts emerged. Im d you guys are so human. Not just looking like nice girls but having some suspicious aspects. He could be objective. Thats why he could doubt, converse, and get to know each other. It wasnt a game heroine but a real person who appeared. Mmm. Ian. Muttering like that, Lina wiped her lips. The full moon, which had brightly illuminated the room, had now set. The end of another scenario was approaching. The final viin, Lina Roswell, had been purified, and professors, btedly understanding the situation, were gathering at Median House. Theres still a faint handprint on your neck. Perhaps he held her too tightly; theres a red mark left on her white neck. It might be misunderstood by someone who sees it Well, it should be something she could handle on her own. There was something more important to ask her. Ian gently shook Lina. Vision gradually bing brighter. Lina pondered in her foggy mind. Was she dead? Or did she somehow return to reality? Blink, blink. Two blinking eyes. Only now, her sight had fully returned. This ce now felt like home. And he was standing here. Ian? Are you awake? Yeah. Ian ckangers. He still looked at her with cold eyes. The reason her heart pounded when meeting that gaze. Now, Lina understood the reason. There. How to say it. Gratitude, apology So, um. Thank you, no, I mean, sorry first There, um. Numerous emotions mixed, and her lips moved freely. She had promised herself. She would definitely apologize. She would dly ept any punishment he gave. She had to somehow convey that to Ian. But Ian firmly shook his head. Well talk about thatter. For now, answer my question. Huh? B-but! Puff-puff-puff-puff. With wavering lips, Lina was taken aback. Although she wanted to express her gratitude and apologize, how she behaved like a good girl and how she looked up to him. Even though she promised to apologize first. Lina. Ian decisively interrupted her words. A gaze as cold as a father scolding a misbehaving child. Ah. Now she finally realized her situation. She owed him a lot. What he wanted and desired took precedence over her trivial wishes. U-um. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Ian lowered his gaze to the girl in front of him. Round, shining green eyes. A gaping mouth and a twisted tongue. Fingers fluttering non-stop while holding onto the edge of her clothes. If it werent an urgent need to relieve herself, it seemed like she had something to say. The shrunken eyebrows were like a puppy begging for forgiveness. Perhaps, Ian spected, she wanted to apologize for her own mistakes. Unfortunately, at this moment, what was important to Ian was not hearing her feelings but confirming the facts. So he said. Uh-huh. And she lowered her head deeply. A pitiful heroine like a rain-soaked puppy. If it were before the possession, I would have felt guilty. Since the possession, he had already decided not to act like a yer. There was no desire to take care of her like a yer, nor did he hope she would cling to him. In the first ce, since there was the culprit among them, it was not appropriate. In short, to Ian, Lina Rosewell was just one of the passing people in life, connected only by a desire to unravel the intertwined events. Thats why Ians voice was indifferent. Do you remember? The question I asked during thestbat training exercise. Huh? The day you cast fire magic at me. The question I asked. Linas face turned pale. Because memories of that day suddenly came to mind. Well, thats It was undoubtedly when her consciousness was blurred due to the spores that she shot fire at Ians back. But Lina had no intention of using that as an excuse. Anyway, she had a desire in her heart to do something to Ian. The mushroom spores merely utilized and amplified that desire. What have I done Delving into it, it was the inferiorityplex that exploded because Ian was kind and weak. Apologetically, Linas hands trembled. I attacked you with magic, it was my fault. Im sorry, Im sorry However, Ian firmly shook his head. Cant even ept an apology? Looking up at him, Ian said to Lina. Lina. What I want to hear now isnt something like an apology. Its the answer to the question I asked back then. Question? Ian continued with a stern look in his eyes. On the rooftop, when someone pushed me. Was it you? Whats that Ah. Linas eyes, which were hazy as she tried to recall, widened in an instant. The meaning of Ians words. Because she somehow knew what the forgotten words meant. Well, wait a moment. Ian, then you didnt throw yourself off, but? Ian nodded silently. His gaze was resolute. Seeing that, one memory shed through Linas mind. Come to think of it, even in the anonymous chat room In the anonymous chat room where they wore masks to participate, there were clearly masks designed to definitively drive Ian away. At that time, Lina was someone who disliked Ian, but even for her, it seemed like an overly borate n. They coordinated among themselves and aimed topletely remove Ian through the disciplinarymittee. At that time, Lina definitely felt that something was strange. If Ian had done something wrong, wouldnt it be enough to let him face the consequences? Why go to the extent of coordinating and trying topletely remove him through the disciplinarymittee? So, I opposed it, saying it was unreasonable The uneasiness she felt at that time seemed to be exined by Ians words. But asking me about it. Ian was doubting whether Lina herself was the culprit. Lina shook her hands anxiously. No, no! Absolutely, absolutely nothing like that happened! I dont have the personality to do that As Lina was about to say, she recalled the incident where she thrust fire magic into Ians back. Not only that, but she also remembered how she distanced herself from him after the confession. Certainly, it seemed Ian had reason to doubt her. No, it really wasnt me! Wavering. In the midst of the intense wavering. Ian said. Do you have any evidence? Uh, well Lina hastily rummaged through her memories. Innocence. Evidence to prove innocence. The day Ian supposedlymitted a s*icide atempt. There must have been something on that day Ah, right! That day, my younger brother was sick, so I went back to my hometown! I-If needed, I could get the portal clearance records! Id get them issued for you! Portal clearance records were impossible to forge. Wouldnt that have been enough to convince Ian? Lina looked at Ian with an expression full of hope. Yeah. Then go ahead and apply. You probably wouldnt be able to go out for a while. Uh-huh! Seeing Ians calm expression, Lina let out a sigh of relief. It didnt seem like he was overly suspicious. Oh, and Ian, who seemed to want to ask something, closed his mouth. His expression showed some hesitation. What does he want to say? Rather, it was Lina who was more anxious. W-what is it? Hah. Ian let out a light sigh. Sweeping his hair with his hand, he looked a bit bitter and then, with a serious expression, calmly asked. Are you a v*rgin? Lina, taken aback, tilted her head, wondering if she misheard. Yes? Are you a v*rgin? V*rgin. Linas face, pondering over the word, suddenly blushed. In embarrassment, her lips tingled, and somehow instinctively, she crossed her legs. T-Thats What should she say? Her head was so hot that her words stumbled. I-is that really necessary to ask? Pulling down her skirt, Lina asked. Uh. Ian nodded. Linas face turned even redder. A truly embarrassing question. If she had heard it from someone else, Lina would have ignored it or reacted with anger. But instinctively, she felt it. In Ians mind, her status was incredibly small and insignificant. On the other hand, Lina had many things she wanted to say to Ian, many things she needed to say. She needed Ian to keep her from entering that dark world of consciousness. So It has to be helpful in some way. Lina bowed her head deeply. Rustle, rustle. Fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, Lina nervously bit her lip. After a while, she mustered the strength to speak. Um do you want to check? To cut to the chase, unfortunately, they couldnt confirm that. The sound of professors and staff btedly understanding the situation searching the dormitory could be heard. Ian handed a ck handkerchief to Lina. Since there are marks on your neck, cover it. With a somehow moved expression on Lina Rosewells face, the scenario came to an end. The portal clearance records confirmed that as she had imed, she had visited her family, located in the Grand Forest. Given that her aggression was ultimately due to the spores, the possibility of Lina being the culprit significantly decreased. Of course, to confirm thest possibility definitively, well It looked like they would have to wait until Lina Roswells probation ended. Two days after the scenario concluded. In a high-end tea house in the upscale shopping district east of Lichten Academy, Ian sat across from Silvia. I heard you quite like this ce, ording to Sebastian. Opening the conversation, Silvia chattered about various things. The disciplinarymittee for the Median House Incident had taken ce. All the Bloodstone Cult members were dead, and the only surviving suspect, Lina Rosewell, had not caused any direct harm to the students. Even that girl, Mercy, passionately praised Miss Lina. She said she felt good. Quite ironic, isnt it? The only victim refused any punishment. Moreover, all the academy students insisted that if Lina were to be punished, they wanted punishment for themselves for not taking care of her. In the end, Linas punishment was a five-day confinement in the dormitory and a month of volunteer work more like a symbolic punishment. Linas kindness yed a role, but someone must have moved behind the scenes. The context made it quite clear who that someone was. Why did you help her? Because someone like Lina Rosewell is worth keeping. Silvia gracefully set down her teacup as she spoke. It was quite challenging. Dealing with the professors, lobbying. But there wasnt anyone with intertwined interests, so it was manageable. Miss Lina Roswell had no enemies. Lina Rosewell is in short supply. Emphasizing the word supply, Silvia looked at Ian with a piercing gaze. For some reason, it feels like youre telling me to listen to that? Yes, exactly. With a serious expression, Silvia continued. Ian, you already know youve been referred to the disciplinarymittee? How do you know that? Dont underestimate the Laurents intelligencework. Professors nted it, I guess. Dont make a big deal out of it! Silvia urgently looked around and leaned forward, whispering. Usually, its called research sponsorship. Ahem. Of course, they didnt tell me directly. But there was a nuance. They dont want you to get too close Something like that. Im curious about how you found out about it, though. Ian shrugged. Silvia, who sighed, asked him, In the case of the Median House incident, you seem to be quite significant. However, the reason for the disciplinarymittee seems to be something entirely different Can you tell me why the disciplinarymittee is being convened? It seems to be rted to something from some time ago. The disciplinarymittee isnt easy to escape; the average oue is expulsion. Silvias question showed clear concern, even if she didnt explicitly express it. It was indeed something to worry about. The severity of the discipline handed down by the disciplinarymittee was extremely intense. Ian pondered for a moment. Should he exin his current situation to Silvia and ask for help? Silvia was an outstanding individual. Still, the reputation of heroines was high. While he didnt doubt Silvia, if Ian heard such a story from someone, he might think it was an attempt to undermine the heroines. Thus, Ian shook his head. Heh, I expected that. Instead, let me give you one piece of advice. Even though he had already nned for the disciplinarymittee, dealing with Laurents sessor was another matter. It wouldnt hurt to seek advice from Silvia. And whats that? Nothing too big will fail. In response to Ians questioning gaze, Silvia cheerfully smiled. Whatever it takes, Ian, make your presence known. Presence? Yes. It means you should be famous. Of course, in a positive way. My image is already the worst, though. Ian was well aware that his reputation, courtesy of Pongpong, wasnt favorable. Of course, your current image is trash. Hey. When faced with such blunt words, it hurt. Sighing, Silvia twirled her finger in the air. Do you know this? Notoriety eventually turns into poprity. After tearing a piece of napkin, she drew arge arrow pointing downwards. Then, she swiftly rotated the napkin. You know theres a grade-widemon ability assessmenting up, right? Oh,e to think of it, there was. Moreover, considering the growth in abilities during this scenario, it seemed like a good opportunity for Ian. Make a ssh there. From what I see, this ability assessment will be a great chance for you, Ian. Silvia beamed with a bright smile, as if encouraging Ian to believe in himself. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 45 Chapter 45 A warm morning sunlight. Silvias hair, soaked in sunlight, glowed with a subtle golden hue. There was something special about the sunlight one received at a caf on a weekday morning. Hmm. This is indeed a charming tea house. I like the quiet atmosphere. Silvia closed her eyes, savoring the taste of ck tea. The surroundings were as peaceful as she described. Has it been a while since it became famous? In the distance, the maid covering her chest with a tray, expressing awe. She might have been the owner. Ian, your taste is quite good for amoner. Thanks, but Ian, about to reply, sensed something strange. Hey, Im a noble too. Oh! Silvia covered her lips with her long hand. Her surprised expression was both repulsive and fascinating. Im sorry. I recently realized that teasing you is quite fun. Luckily, Ian had a broad mind. If the opportunity arose, he would pay her back. With that determination, he took a bite of a cookie. Hmm, it really melts softly. Raising his thumb towards the inquisitive owner, whose face flushed. Anyway! Silvia interrupted between the nces of the boss and Ian. Getting back to the point, Sharon Pierce was the most active in this incident. What are we talking about? How to boost your reputation, Ian! Even though you dont care. Really. Silvia puffed her cheeks slightly. Ian wondered if she really needed to boost his reputation. Pongpong was gradually getting used to it. The disdainful nces (mostly from women) that came back even with just a nce had be familiar. Most importantly, it wasfortable in public ces like trams or libraries where no one dared to sit around him. While thinking about this, Silvia, with her narrow eyes, asked, Are you having useless thoughts? No. But I have concerns. What? It might be troublesome if I became too famous. Huh? Silvia, with a confused expression, suddenly grabbed her stomach and startedughing. Splendid. Hahahahaha! Hoho! Tears flowed as sheughed. Who would believe that she was a prestigious youngdy? Hey, maintain some dignity. Phew! Ah! S-sorry Hahaha! She barely held back herughter, hiding her tears. Hoho Ian, sir. How can you be so confident? Do you think bing famous is that easy? Even I invest a lot in reputation management Hoho. An undeniable logic. Ian silently sipped his tea. The aftertaste was bitter. Well, at least the confidence is good. Anyway, lets get to the real point. Silvia, back to her elegant self, continued speaking. Actually, regardless of what others say, the hero of this incident is Sharon Pierce. Everyone is cheering for her achievements. She defeated four Bloodstone Cultists. Ian nodded. Preventing Lina Rosewell was more of a precaution. After all, the only victim would have been the girl lying on the bed with a blissful expression. On the other hand, Sharon eliminated the Bloodstone Cultists. Her contributions were outstanding. But I think you were no less than her. Some professors also think so. Silvia passionately continued. You appropriately prevented Lina, and most importantly, you proposed the research on the cure for the blue mushroom. That contribution is not small. Thanks to it, some infected students returned to normal. Anyway. Silvias face approached the table. Beyond her translucent, light blond hair, she whispered. How did you happen to know and ask the professor for research on the cure? Did you have some kind of informant? Just a coincidence. It looked like a toxic mushroom. Thats not the point Heh. Its a secret, right? Okay. Its thew not to dig into someone elses trade secrets recklessly. Silvia, who was licking her lips, continued. Anyway, try to focus more on skill evaluation. If you give a good impression a few times, peoples perception of you, Ian, will change quickly. Im sure you wont be ignored like now, at least. Indeed, Ians reputation was currently so bad that he was drawing unnecessary attention. If he found the right bnce, observing quietly from the sidelines outside the story might be easier. Even if your image is still not good, theres a big difference between someone without skills and someone with skills. To be active in skill evaluation wasnt something hecked confidence in. Through this scenario, he felt he had grown considerably. Not only in abilities but also in magical power. In short, there was no harm in heeding Silvias advice. It felt like learning strategies from an experienced yer. Well, Silvia is an expert in reputation-making. Sometimes showing a clumsy side, Silvia was a character with a unique aristocratic arrogance and sophistication, making her quite popr. A sudden question crossed his mind. Why are you being so kind to me? Silvia, as if glitching, froze for a moment and then continued. Investment. Ian, you seem to have quite a potential. Despite her words, her eyes were filled with embarrassment. When their eyes met, she shyly averted her gaze. For a moment, Ian recalled information about her. Silvia grew up alone, thanks to her busy parents. Moreover, she had been attending session sses since she started learning to speak. She had subordinates even before she had friends. Hmm. Do you have any other thoughts? Thats why he wondered if she might be feeling lonely now. Or did he misunderstand her intentions? Silvias face turned red. W-what ridiculous thoughts are you having! Do you think I want to wee you as a son-inw to the Laurents!? Ive never thought that even once! For a hundred years! Hmph! Misinterpreting and pretending to be offended, Silvia, in her own way, showed a funny but interesting reaction. Still, it was also funny to see her blushing as she nced at him and then avoided his gaze. I was going to ask if you needed a friend, you know? Hmpf! You seem like youre only working without having any friends. I-Im busy, thats why I dont have any! Is that so? Fiercely nodding, she looked at him with determination. Well it might be good to have one, I guess? Saying so, she tried to calm herself by bringing the teacup to her lips. After lightly savoring it, she ced it on the saucer with a small sigh of admiration, and there was not even a clinking sound. Truly elegant and aristocratic manners. If theck of friends was a characteristic of her human side, another aspect of Silvia Laurent was that she wasnt simply moved by emotions. She was a top sessor and the vice-head of the Laurent family on the continent. Even though she sometimes showed a clumsy side, it was more urate to say that her actions were calcted. Pulling out Lena Rosewell from the disciplinarymittee was also such an example. Right now, taking care of Ian himself was another. She was undoubtedly trying to gather people. Wondering why she would do that. One fairly usible conclusion could be drawn. Are you going to fight? With Emilias Raymond family. The movement of Silvias hand, which was heading towards the teacup, halted abruptly. Her expression looking this way was incredibly serious. You have a good eye. Thats how it is. Well, not now, but it seems a big name will enroll in the academy Oh. She stopped herself from saying more, covering her mouth. Please forget about this. Its confidential. Ian shrugged. He roughly guessed whom she was talking about. Ill probably need a lot of support. I also have the feeling that when that timees, Ian, you might stand by my side. Its a bit expensive if you want to hire me. I know. I already have a lot of debts. So if theres any problem, please let me know. Like the Elixirst time. I owe you a lot. Ian smiled at Silvias words. Dont you dislike it? What? In such a situation, its obvious to say its fine! No. Ians mouth curled up with a grin. Silvia, who had been teasing Ian enthusiastically just a while ago, suddenly felt like she was shivering. Ill wait until you beg me, Silvia, saying, Please, please let me repay my debt.'' What? Youll be a debtor to me, living each day with the obligation. In other words, youll be a debtor head of the family. Debtor. At that word, Silvias shoulders trembled. I dislike it. As Silvias breathing became rougher, Ian gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Calm down, Silvia. Take a deep breath and listen to me. Uh-huh Now, close your eyes and imagine. Yes Imagine a pile of debts growing every day like a snowball rolling downhill. The sound of the interest you owe me increasing day by day. Ah, ah Rumble, rumble. Silvias gaze, trembling all over her body, gradually became blurred. Ian chuckled and lightly tapped her shoulder. Its just a joke. Why are you making such a distressed expression? Ian, you!! Sessful revenge. A satisfying smile spread across Ians face. Well, small revenge like this was enough. After the possession, its the first time someone had taken care of Ian like this. Ian, who straightened his neck, spoke solemnly. Thanks for caring. Hmph! Silvia, who pouted her lips, turned her head away abruptly. Her expression seemed to say, As if I care, but her slightly twitching tail couldnt hide her amusement. Perhaps realizing the fact, she hurriedly took out her Kiritos terminal, covering her face. Then she stared intently at the screen for a while. What are you looking at? Turning her head to the side, she replied. Theres a popr prophet on the Kiritos bulletin board these days. Rumor has it that they urately predicted the Median House incident. Theyre said to be the sessor of a great astrologer. Theres a rumor that theyll respond if you leave a message at this hour. Then Silvia buried her face in the terminal again. By the way. Hmm. Wasnt that a familiar catchphrase? Even without checking the bulletin board, it was easy to imagine what happened. Ian rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. Now, should I start preparing for the investment? If Silvia was so immersed, there must be a considerable umtion of prophecy requests. Extra funds should be avable soon. Silvia, do you happen to know a trustworthy exchange guild? Ians smirked as he asked. Meanwhile. Temporary dormitory set up for Median House students. In one of the rooms, a girl was staring nkly at the mirror. Somewhat disheveled red hair that hadnt been properlybed. Dark eye bags on skin so pale it looked almost white. It was Lina Rosewell, who had been subjected to disciplinary measures. Staring at herself in the mirror, she brought her hand to her neck. A pitch-ck choker. More precisely, a handkerchief that Ian handed her to cover the handprint. Even though the handprint was already gone, Lina couldnt bring herself to remove it for days. Because this was the only trace Ian left behind. Ian Standing in front of her mirror, Lina was endlessly fiddling with the handkerchief. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Those who do wrong must face punishment. Lina Rosewells childhood. Her strict father, who had not yet passed away, always told Lina that. Wrongdoers must be punished, and good people must be rewarded. Even young mischievous Lina quickly understood this as if it were obvious. Of course, she didnt like it back then. Her father was strict, and he scolded her for even minor mistakes. Although Lina, vibrant even more than a young retriever, quickly forgot about being scolded and got into various troubles, she did feel that her fathers stern discipline was meaningless at times. However. Now, havingmitted a wrongdoing that was hard to forgive. Lina Rosewell realized only now that if you make a mistake, you must face the consequences. You must receive punishment for themitted sin, and only then, when the other party epts the apology, can you move forward. Thats why. On the day of the disciplinarymittee meeting. Her behavior was somewhat peculiar. * Taking into ount these circumstances and the fact that Student Mercy, the direct victim of this incident, testified that she is not a victim, and the moment was enjoyable, and she would like to experience it again if possible. In addition, Sharon Pierce and Ian ckangers, who are rted parties, have also agreed not to press charges. Considering the petitions of the students regarding her previous good deeds, Lina Rosewells punishment is decided as one week of seclusion and one month of voluntary service, prohibiting external contact. An unprecedented punishment in the history of the Lichten Academys disciplinarymittee. Lina Rosewells punishment was decided based on numerous petitions from students. While everyone cheered, Lina Rosewells face wasplicated. Regret for causing harm, gratitude for the students who stood up for her, and finally, Ian. Just thinking about him was agonizing enough to make her heart burst. In the end, what made Lina hesitate was her fathers words. If youmit a sin, you must face the consequences. But. Is the sin shemitted, and the punishment she is receiving, really enough? One week of seclusion and one month of voluntary service. She should be grateful for the opportunity, but her heart was still uneasy. Miss Lina, any questions remaining? The meeting room was empty. The professor, the chairman of the disciplinarymittee, asked Lina, who was standing there absentmindedly. Lina, with trembling shoulders, managed to speak. Um, there. A voice full of uncertainty. The act of speaking felt terrifying. She felt worthless. Perhaps it was because her psychological mask had shattered. But she had to endure and ask. She was so desperate. Is this the end of my punishment? Of course. Its already a final decision. Um, isnt it too lenient? Are you asking if your punishment is too light? Like this? Yes. There was a moment of silence. The chairman, who was carefully choosing his words, spoke. Lina, do you know how many students and professors worked hard to reduce your punishment? Oh, I know. Im really grateful, but! With a sinking gaze, the chairman asked. Student Lina. Yes. If a student thinks their punishment is too lenient, the ce to request a harsher punishment is not us. Yes? The student should know well. Apologize and request punishment from the person they wronged. But, but If youre unsure, think about it during the period of seclusion. Thats the meaning of the penance. Its not like that. It was so obvious whom she should apologize to, whom she should feel sorry for. But He no longer looks at me. Linas murmurs dispersed into the air. * The memory of the disciplinarymittee suddenly surfaced. Lina copsed into her seat as if the ground was giving way beneath her. The temporary amodation where Lina was serving her penance is excellent. The size of the room, the bed, all the furniture, there was nothingcking. Compared to a prison-like ce, it was tens or hundreds of times better. But. None of that mattered. Whether it was a crumbling building, a noblemans mansion, a prison, or a royal pce. Ian. The most crucial thing was the fact that she couldnt meet Ian. It made Lina infinitely lonely and anxious. Lina, stumbling, leaned against the sofa, copsing. Haaah It was frustrating. A sigh escaped her lips. Where did it all go wrong? He used to help her by providing ingredients when she had nothing prepared. When she had nothing to eat, he noticed and gave her a lunchbox. Why was he doing all this? Somewhere along the way, she found herself bing interested in him without realizing it. And to others, he was so kind that she ended up disappointed. What did I do to him? Why couldnt she express her feelings honestly? Why did she pretend not to know his true feelings? Why couldnt she firmly reject his affection? Haah There were excuses. It was tough. She was hungry. She needed his support. She, who took advantage of Ian, a kind and weak person, as an outlet for her emotions. She used and yed with him. Why did I? Lina bit her trembling lips. It tasted bitter with a hint of blood, but she didnt care. Thats how pathetic she felt. And that pathos didnt end there. The mask of kindness swallowed Lina even more. The peak was when Ian, whom she thought hadmitted s*icide, came back. It was when he had changedpletely. Ah His cold, calm gaze was pleasing. Her heart was drawn to the sight of him walking without caring about her. While watching him, Lina felt an ominous emotion. Feeling inferiority toward you, who is doing well. Feeling jealousy as you make new friends. Jealousy turning into possessiveness. And eventually, attacking you, whom she cant have. Unconsciously, her inner turmoil worked like that. A foolish self who poured out the emotions she had tightly suppressed to maintain the mask to Ian. She wanted to grab Ians ankle, keep him from going far away, and make him stay with her. Im really trash At that time, she didnt know. She didnt realize that she was looking at Ian like that. Drip, drip. Tears flowed again from what she thought were dry eyes. After all the umted, disgusting emotions burst out, she could look back. She didnt expect the dark side of her heart to be this intense. She realized. I was really messed up. Sniff. Lina grabbed the handkerchief around her neck. On the day when Lina went on a rampage, and Ian subdued her. It was the handkerchief that Ian handed to her. Touching it brought some relief to her. That day. Cover your neck. There are handprints left. Ian said that and handed her this ck handkerchief. Then he turned away. That was thest time. Why did she attack Ian? Was there any intention to apologize? Was she feeling grateful? He left without showing any interest in those things. It instinctively felt that in Ians heart, Linas share was infinitely small and insignificant. But even in such a moment. You gave this to me. Yes. Ian endlessly gave her something. If only she were a decent person She should have been honest. She should have expressed her gratitude. She shouldnt have ignored him just because he was kind and weak. And when you changed back then too. She should have said she liked the changed him. She shouldnt have been jealous because of another beside him. She shouldnt have unleashed her inferiority towards you, who was doing well. She was foolish. She was stupid. She was pathetic. She was messed up. Why does everyone still? Im such a wretched and garbage-like girl. Why does everyone keeping, saying good things about me? Im so messed up So, in the end, Ian was the only one who could punish her. Ah Linas lips trembled. She felt truly shameless and pitiful. Despite receiving so much from Ian, clinging to him, being jealous, attacking him, and then ming him. She was now asking for punishment from him. Ian But she needed him. The only one who had coldly looked down on her was him. The only one whose fingers had tightened around her neck was him. Ian, Ian. Maybe his scent lingered on the handkerchief. Lina tightly grasped the handkerchief around her neck. As she pulled tighter, her breath was gradually blocked. Haah. Then, it came to her. The touch that hadpletely dominated her, Ians touch. Her heart pounded. She tightened the knot a little more. She hoped for Ians punishment through the fingers that had once squeezed her. Ugh But that feeling just wouldnte. His endlessly cold and calm gaze. Ians eyes, which saw her as nothing more than a contemptible humanor rather, contaminated waste. This wasnt enough. This level of punishment wasnt sufficient. With a soft release, the tension lessened. Haugh! Air rushed in, and her breath exploded out. Her oxygen-deprived head was spinning, but Ian was all that filled it. She wanted him. She longed for his punishing touch on her, who had be so wretched. She wanted only him to punish her. But at the same time, she recalled. The sight of Ians back, leaving as if he had no interest in Lina. If he didnt permit it. If he absolutely refused to allow her to approach, even if she went to find him right after regaining her freedom. Its no different from being trapped here, forever Suddenly, her mind went pitch ck. All the despair in the world rushed to her. No, no Linas fingers trembled. She tightly clenched her fist. Blood flowed from her injured palms, but she couldnt care less. Her lips quivered sweetly. Im so pathetic and ipetent. Im sorry for relying on you like this. Im sorry for being like this. So please Please. Give me a chance to apologize. Ill do anything. Please punish me. Ian. For a wretched and stupid person like me. Punish me with your hands. Im sorry, Im sorry Drip. Tears, which she thought hadpletely dried up, flowed once again. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Silvias fuss seemed to be not in vain. Wow. Returning to the dormitory and checking the Kirtos terminal, Ian unintentionally eximed. Prophecy Reading (Free prophecy event has ended) Before entering the scenario, he had an online fortune-telling shop set up. There was tremendous interest in the ce prepared on Kirtos anonymous bulletin board. Not only numerous requests in the posts, Prophet, when will you return? Why are kids these days so easily incited to scam? Trying to figure out the identity of the popr prophet these days. Remnants overflowed to the regr bulletin board as well. The reason could be found quickly. A student named Mercy who was treated badly by Lina Roswell this time. She must have been the Mercy Aniston who he gave a free prophecy. Thanks to her mentioning these posts here and there, people flocked. Well, its natural for people to be curious since he wrote specific details about the ce and time of the events that would happen that day. Hmm. Before checking the umted posts. Ian clenched his fist and immersed himself in thought. Letse up with a name. As Ian seeded in attracting attention, there might be follow-uppetitors. Ian, who was contemting for a moment, changed the post title. Kirtos Fortune Teller This should be enough. Basically, the more shabby a fortune tellers name looks, the more professional it is. Ian nodded and checked the requests that had arrived. Dozens of piled-up requests. Considering that they had to deposit a guarantee to ask a question, a lot of people left requests. Even though I set the conditions tight, there are so many. ___
  1. The clients name, residence, age, date of birth, family rtionships, and friendship rtionships must be included.
  2. Questions should be as specific and misunderstanding-free as possible.
  3. Inquiries regarding gratuity will be politely declined. Present an example that the client believes is appropriate.
* We only respond to inquiries that can be answered. Please ask sincere questions. ___ In a word, Ian himself was the super ace. The clients were just. Originally, it was a post made sporadically for pocket money purposes without affecting the story. I didnt expect it to explode like this. Swipe, swipe. Ian swept away the terminal. ___ Name: Morris Mano Question: Im too scared of the uing grade evaluation. If I dont break through to 3 stars this time, I feel like Ill be kicked out of my house. What should I do to get a good grade? Consultation fee: 10 silver. ___ With 10 silver, you could have 10 bowls of authentic handmade Lichten stew. Ugh. To write only a few lines and get paid this much. Its worth getting into this taste. Hmm I can answer this question satisfactorily. Its better to phrase it a bit differently. Tap, tap. He selected a few good requests and answered them. Silver umted in an instant after an hour. There are a lot of rich kids. As expected, It was truly the prestigious Lichten Academy. Despite the debt Pongpong had piled up, a months interest was paid, and spare funds were umted. Of course, with the influx of customers due to a special event, profits might decrease, but even though he selected and answered carefully, it seems there wont be any worries about interest for a while. Good, good. The financial situation began to improve. Ian leaned back on the backrest of the chair with satisfaction. Moreover. The investigation results of the recent dormitory Bloodstone Cult incident show that Ian ckangers achievements are partially recognized. Although themendation ceremony is scheduled forter, what reward would you prefer to receive together? Temporary ess to the mid-level library reading room, appointment as Professor Violets assistant, or one of the monthly schrship. After the investigationmitteepleted the incident investigation, the Student Affairs Office asked him that. Of course, Ians choice was the schrship. However, cant it be received as a lump sum? Well, thats a bit To be honest, there werent high expectations for rewards from the academy. Even if Lina Rosewell was the final boss, all the visible damage was caused by the Bloodstone Cultists. Ian just managed to stop the final boss Lina Rosewell right before she exploded. If it had exploded, the four heroines should have stuck together to stop it. Prevention was the best. There was no need to expect much from the academys rewards for spreading such things; Ian was satisfied with this. Real rewards are actually separate. His power had grown by one level. But thats not all. Mana Heart. The amount of Earth Mana stored in the heart had significantly increased. If he had a mana as small as a grain of rice before, now there is about a spoonful of mana stored in the mana heart. In terms of absolute quantity, its not much. However, the mana stored was endlessly pure and purified, carefully filtered and refined. Its value was iparable to ordinary mana. Choosing the path of growth to maximize potential. Thanks to solid foundations beingid more than anyone else, it felt like eleration was picking up. This should be enough to try learning other skills. Extraction and Transformation. Skills utilized to efficiently use the ant-sized mana for various purposes. Although there was a disadvantage of having to engage in closebat, it was optimized for the use of Earth elemental powers. Moreover, minerals like Lunari could also be utilized. Ian had thought that the value of these skills was endless, depending on his growth. Therefore, he had nned to approach it bypensating for weaknesses. If I need a skill right now Its probably a movement skill. Currently, Ians mobility had been just enhancing his body through Transformation to jump around. It had made him a bit faster, but It hasnt been explosive enough. Therefore, it had been challenging to bring unexpectedness into battles. Ian had been getting away with it so far, but whether it would continue to work in the future had been uncertain. For Ian, who had had to engage in closebat, slow movement had been the biggest weakness. Moreover, there had been an ability evaluation grade measurement soon, and he had needed to show something substantial. I need a more explosive movement skill. Ian had pondered with his fist clenched. The biggest problem had been that the maximum weakness of Earth elemental magic is movement skills. Thinking at amon-sense level, there had been no moment when a rock had sped up, except when it had rolled down a mountain slope. However, it hadnt been practical to actually roll around like that. Ah. Suddenly, there had been a person who passed through his mind. A mad scientist locked up in one of the academysbs. Should he go and visit her? While she was contemting with her arms crossed, an rm rang. [Award Ceremony] It had been a bit annoying, but it was time to go receive the schrship. The grounds of Lichten Academy were quite spacious. The main building, where key figures such as the principal resided, was quite a distance from the tram station. Moreover, the main building itself was quiterge in scale. Walking around, one couldnt help but sigh. I endure this all because of the schrship, seriously. Arriving at the outdoor event area in front of the main building, Ian passed busy people to take his seat among the awardees. There were no freshmen, but, including journalists, it seemed like the ceremony was being conducted with genuine sincerity. Well. Bloodstone Cultists had emerged from within the academy, even from the dorms. There were freshmen who had their blood sucked, and there were freshmen infected with the blue fungus. It was an incident that would invite criticism for the academys failure in management and prevention. However, the academys leadership was clever. Creating a hero. Instead of people getting angry, they created someone to admire and look up to. The intention of the ceremony was clear. Feels like being used. Ian surprisingly didnt feel bad. The reason was simple. Theyre giving money. There was no reason to reject the schrship of 50 silver coins that would be deposited every month. Besides, the protagonist of this ceremony was Sharon Pierce anyway. Even if they were sold, it would be only her face. But more importantly. Why arent theying? Alone, sitting among the three arranged chairs, when it was getting to the point of feeling awkward. From beneath the podium, pointed ears were visible. A small face gradually revealed itself while climbing up the stairs. Danya? A flinch. She momentarily flinched, then walked towards the seat of the awardees while looking at Ian. Why, why are you here? Why, why not? Am I not allowed to receive an award? Dont discriminate! Clearly, a tantrum to hide something. It was so boldly expressed that it became cute. Anyway, the fact that Danya was here meant that she had yed an active role in the Median House Bloodstone Cult incident. Ian shook his head at that assertion. It was only the beginning of the incident when protective barriers had been erected around. You dont live in the Median House, right? Nya! Why were you there in the middle of the night? Ah thats, well, you see? Danyas eyes rolled around. ncing at Ian for a moment, she flinched and her shoulders were shaking. Uh, absolutely not? What is it? Its not like I was following you or anything! I was just taking a night stroll, and suddenly I saw you, so I followed, worried and all! You take a stroll at night? Yeah. I-Im nocturnal. Hmm. Come to think of it, beastmen and aquatic beings were nocturnal. Still, the suspicious nces from her eyes were something. Ians narrowed eyes. Come to think of it. Didnt we happen to meet near my dormst time? Nya! Surprised, Danya flinched and stammered. Her face was dyed pink. Because the grass there is pretty? What kind of nonsense is that. Danya bowed her head vigorously. Theres an instinct to feelfortable when near someone youre thinking about. The Catsnesia tribe was like that. Of course, Danya couldnt honestly say that. Even more so if it was Ian. So instead, she exploded with anger. But, but! Youre the problem! Why are you going to the girls dormitory in the middle of the night! Thats. Without even listening to Ians words, Danyas eyes were filled with shock. She had arbitrarily drawn a conclusion. Gasp. Youre not in a rtionship with Lina, are you? Her tail and ears drooping. Looking at that appearance, Ian sighed. What kind of delusion is she having? Hey. Nonsense Ian couldnt continue his words. His spine suddenly became chilly. He turned his head to the source of that chill. Long, blue hair. Skin so white it seemed pale. Sharon Pierce. She opened her mouth with her infinitely cold voice. Okay. I wish youd stop talking nonsense. She spoke as she looked down at Ian. Her sharp eyes were filled with fire. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 48 Chapter 48 As soon as she arrived, Sharon Pierce, who picked a quarrel right away, quickly found her seat after diverting her gaze. Before anyone could respond to the argument, the awaited figure that everyone here had been waiting for arrived. Danya, with sensitive senses, shuddered, and then Ian also detected the approaching magic. A presence felt instantly from afar. Oh, hes here. Turn on the recording device. Its not often we get someone hard to capture like this. Jan Bommel, Dean of the Knight Department. After exchanging greetings with some key figures, he confidently walked up to the tform. A long scar crossing his face diagonally, and an imposing ashy mane like the mane of a wolf. Even though he tied his rough long hair together fitting for a Knight Commander, his presence exuded wildness. Hmm His eyes, surveying the surroundings, seemed endlessly indifferent, but whenever they met someones gaze, a gleam shed. Then, he muttered quietly. Why is that damn woman, the president, bothering me with this? He sighed lightly. Even that simple gesture had a majestic air, as if a wild beast was calming its breath. And then, he turned towards them. The sharp yellow eyes, crossing diagonally, stopped at the person sitting in the center. Sharon Pierce, long time no see. Dean. Your achievements dont seem to differ much from your past transgressions. Even if your talents are high, its meaningless if you stop. Thats something you have to figure out. By the way, is your father doing well? Yes. Well, he should be. If that damn b*stard didnt sell me to Lichten, I wouldnt have had to endure this suffering. Following the criticism of Sharon Pierce, the insults flowed to her father. Indeed, a fiery character as per the setting. Ian inwardly bit his tongue. Honor is everything for prestigious knight families like the Pierces. However, Sharons sharp eyes briefly intensified but soon returned to normal. Jan Bommel, Dean of the Knight Department. He gained great fame across the continent without a prestigious family name, solely with his own name. A top-tier knight and arade of Sharons father. Raw, untamed, that was his trademark. Even in front of the Emperor, he could be insolent (though hed face significant consequences). He was one of the few individuals who could do that. Sharon must have been well aware of that fact. Jan Bommels gaze was stern. Hes still an uninteresting fellow. Muttering so, he turned his gaze this time. The dazzling yellow eyes were now fixed on Danya. Her ears and tail stood upright. What kind of cat are you? I-Im Danya Catsnesia, a member of the Magic Department Hmm? Your manner of speaking doesnt match your appearance as a cat. Whats your rank now? Rank, representing the hierarchy of ones talents. In game terms, it meant how many stars. 3, 3 stars Worthless trash. Flinch. Her shoulders shook, and at the same time, her ears and tail drooped. She was easy to read emotionally. Certainly, a dangerous type more beastly than a beastman; this males gaze was now focused on them. Again, those yellow eyes were ominously intense. How many demons and monsters had he defeated, and how many humans as well? The peculiar lust he exuded undoubtedly indicated weariness from a peaceful daily life devoid of the pleasure of killing. That was the origin of his presence. Ian involuntarily swallowed dry saliva. Yet, he didnt avoid eye contact. Because he would inevitably encounter such individuals countless times in the future. It was a good practice opportunity, so to speak. What about you? 2.5 stars. The official rating for Pongpong, the being Ian possessed, was 2.5 stars. Literally, a low rank among low ranks. However, Jan Bommel undoubtedly meant to inquire about the name and affiliation. Ian chose to answer with his own rank. It was a bit sarcastic and a way to tease. For some reason, the tone of rating and ssification didnt sit well with him. But at the same time, he wanted to see how someone with such a presence would react when provoked. The subtle twitching of Jan Bommels eyes. His mouth curled up slightly, then returned fiercely to its original position. Lichten seems to have deteriorated. Admitting someone with a rank of 2.5 stars. The rank is just past information. Are you mocking my question now? If thats how you interpret it, then yes. Arent you afraid of me? Arent journalists watching this ce anyway? Eh-hahaha! Jan Bommel smiled with satisfaction. Youre an interesting one. Most magic department students are mediocre. But youre different. Interesting. Yes? Without giving Ian a chance to retort, Jan Bommel turned away. No, whats so interesting about it? Suddenly, there was a tingling sensation behind him. He tried to scratch it, but it seemed he earned points instead. Why? Of course, whether Ian was perplexed or not, the ceremony proceeded without dy. With a concise and clear opening speech, the award ceremony began immediately. In recognition of Sharon Pierces courage to rescue her colleagues and confront unavoidable danger, despite the recent unfortunate incident at the academy, she is awarded amendation. He handed out a stiff piece of paper like a certificate with an extremely annoyed expression. Simrly, the ceremony was swiftlypleted for Danya and Ian as well. That concludes it. Walking away with an endlessly annoyed expression, he blinked as if he forgot something. Oh, right. I forgot something important. Sharon Pierce is awarded a schrship for tuition until graduation. Danya Catsnesia and Ian ckangers, as freshmen, will receive a stipend from the Lichten Schrship Foundation for their dignity. Thats all. The most crucial part. Ian firmly stamped the words from the Knight Deans mouth into his mind. A monthly stipend. Nothing would be more pleasing than that. Just when Knight Dean Jan Bommel, who was expected to leave immediately, turned back. And then, looking at Danya and Ian, he spoke. You two are lucky. Getting a schrship for a rank like 3 stars. And you, with ck hair. Ian looked up at him in response to Jan Bommelsment. You said the rank is just past information, right? About this recent rank measurement. Look forward to it. Hmm. It seems he caught the attention of the Knight Dean as well. How unlucky! Just a few more stars higher in rank! After the ceremony. Unlike Sharon Pierce, who was surrounded by many people, Ian and Danya descended straight to the hall under the stage. Danya, who had been squinting at the tform with an axe eye, turned her head sharply and looked at Ian. There were only fundamental words she could say. If your rank is a few higher, its a big deal. Why are you so upset? Its unfair, nyah! Arent you upset too? As long as I get paid, Im fine. Wow you have no pride. Does pride put food on the table? Money puts food on the table. Humph! Humph! Youre just a fool who only knows money! Of course, Jan Bommel also came out aggressively, and the situation afterward was also a situation, so it was clear why Danya was upset. However, at the same time, Ian understood the reality of this world well. In reality, its not much different from a world where a persons value is judged by their rank. There was no need to go far. Fantasy X Academy was essentially as a game like that. The value of all characters is determined by their n-star, or grade. And unless the character was usually around 4 or 5 stars, it was natural to receive harsh criticism. Its about this level of inequality. Ian had already prepared for this situation when he possessed a 2-star character. Well, Danya would also know well about this ecology. However, since beastmen generally value honor, the damage might be a bit more significant. As she grumbled with her fists clenched, she nced over here. Why was she doing that? Well, maybe its not so bad if you make good money? Why are you suddenly saying that? Its nothing! Why suddenly embarrassed again? Its difficult. A womans heart. Danya might have realized what her appearance was like. Rolling her eyes, she asked. Ian, how did you manage to confront him like that despite facing the Knight Dean? I just said what I had to say. Hmm? Surprisingly, you do when you need to. What do you really think of me? A neer-do-well? Ian remained silent. He couldnte up with words to refute. At that moment, Sharon descended from the stage. As if she were about to leave, she looked at this side like she was ncing at bugs, but suddenly stopped in her tracks. Then, she turned to face their way. Ian ckangers. What. She, who had closed her mouth, scanned up and down for a moment. Her cold lips parted. Expectations from Knight Dean Jan Bommel would not be about expectations for you. ? It would likely mean hes watching to see how much you can amuse him. Ah, so that was bothering her. A dry chuckle escaped. Sharon Pierce, alwaysposed. But for now, it seemed like he glimpsed a piece of unease in her psyche. It was also her weakness. Ian had no intention of backing down. Why? Scared? Worried I might win the favor of the Knight Dean? Sharons sharp eyebrows twitched, and she trembled momentarily. Traces of tension appeared and disappeared. But it wasnt that intimidating. Ian had already grown to some extent. Of course, facing her one-on-one might be challenging, but it wasnt as if he would suddenly be struck and killed by a sword. Disying confidence might prevent her unpredictable actions, he calcted. Sensing that change, Sharons eyes slightly tightened. You gained confidence. I dont know how much youve achieved, but it seems you wont exceed rank 3. Even if you use ck magic, youre still at that level. ck magic? Yeah. Pretending not to know? What nonsense is this Fine. I didnt expect much. If you apologize now, I might have considered it. She sighed and continued. You are only that much of a human being after all. I look forward to the disciplinarymittee. With that deration, she turned away. In any case, earth magic doesnt have a suitable movement-type spell. I dont think you can solve that problem until our rank is measured. Frost formed around her briefly and then disappeared. Your rank will never exceed 3 stars. With that assurance, she distanced herself. Meanwhile, in an undergroundboratory in one of Lichten Academys research buildings, a shabbyb reserved for students. Bang! Shattered ss fragments scattered. Through the emerging smoke, a whimpering girl appeared. Hiing. She scratched her head, full of gray dust, and approached the broken shards. It had exploded again, but these were remnants created through experiments. cing them on a ma, she observed. Is this the limit? Her goal was to perfectly levitate this metalpound above the ma. However, in front of her now was only a rock leaning against the ma, as if half-hearted. No matter how well-crafted the specimens were, she couldnt surpass this point. Haahh The research that seemed almost tangible but elusive made her endlessly frustrated. If she could just make it levitate, its potential uses would be boundless. Creating an object that could float over the ground like moving earth,pletely changing the paradigm of mobility. It might be possible with high-purity copper and lead. With a sigh, she put her safety sses back on. She had confidence in the theory. If it doesnt work, shell keep trying until it does. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Hoo. Danya stood next to Ian. She watched Sharon Pierce and Ians quarrel through the thick fog. No. Can that be called a quarrel? It was Sharon Pierces one-sided humiliation. What did Ian do wrong to deserve such treatment? Lina Rosewell also seemed to dislike him. Now Sharon Pierce did too. Lina and Sharon. Danya, who had no friends, knew well that they were famous figures in the academy. It was certainly not a good thing to be hated by such people. Moreover, many students disliked Ian. There were rumors circting about Ian that were not favorable. It seemed like everyone knew about him. I decided to trust Ian, though. Of course, Danya trusted him. She had believed in Ian, the one she had seen with her own eyes, and she had believed his words when he said to trust him. In Danyas eyes, Ian was not a p*rvert or a troublemaker It was quite different from the rumors that other kids seemed to misunderstand. It was almost as if they were misinterpreting everything. If everything about him had just been misunderstandings or false usations, how had Ian been feeling right then? If Danya had been in Ians position I dont think I could endure the Academy like this. She would have definitely returned to her sanctuary immediately. Or maybe she would have joined a mercenary guild or something. Sharon had walked away in the distance. Danya nced at Ian. His expression was as indifferent as usual. Even after hearing such harsh words, there had been no significant change in his expression. That silent expression. It hurt a bit in her heart. How much must he have endured to have such an expression? What had been happening inside Ian beyond that calm face? It had made her feel sorry for him, even though he was herrade. She had considered offeringfort, but Kuh. Crack, crack. Ian had turned his head a few times left and right, then had looked in her direction. The slightly raised corners of his mouth had been undeniably confident. It had been the same smile Danya had asionally seen recently. You have to face provocations like this to grow and taste the sweetness. Dont you think so, Danya? You you. Youre a person to worry about. Huh? What? Ian had chuckled. Danya had sighed. Why had she worried unnecessarily? Are you really worried about me? H-Huh? No, not at all! Ian grinned. Danya pursed her lips for no apparent reason. Really. It truly felt like she had suffered a loss worrying about him. Now that she thought about it, this guy Ian had be more daring than before. It was evident even during the just-concluded award ceremony. Knight Department Dean Jan Bommel. Honestly, when Danya first saw him, all she wanted to do was run away. The strong smell of blood. Certainly, the scent of someone who had taken numerous lives. His gaze wasnt something that an ordinary mental strength could withstand. But Ian was different. He looked into his yellow eyes without much difficulty. When the other party looked down on his rank, Ian not only endured but even dared to provoke. At that time, it really felt refreshing. It felt like Ian was relieving the pressure on Danyas suppressed pride. Could it be said that he had reced Danyas suppressed self-esteem with a feeling of liberation? Honestly, for a moment, Ian seemed different. Well, anyway. After observing this series of events, such thoughts lingered in her mind. Since when? Since when had Ian be so impressive? At the same time, she wondered with what confidence he confronted Sharon Pierce. Arent you worried? Seeing Sharon act like that. Huh? Sharon Pierce always keeps her word. Shes the most promising student in the Inspectorate Department. There are even rumors that her promotion to Aether has been confirmed for the next semester. Arent you worried about going against someone like her? Ian nodded without much thought. Think about it, Danya. I have nothing to lose anymore. ? Fighting with Sharon is just a verbal dispute with nothing to lose. Moreover, imagine a scenario where I prove Sharon wrong with the resultster. In short, theres no risk, and the only thing that cane back to me is a gain. Danya let out a small sigh. Objectively speaking, going against Sharon Pierce was unrealistic. Judging by the rumors that she met the criteria for Aether promotion, her ranking was at least 4 stars. At the moment, due to Ians overflowing self-confidence and slightly diminished objectivity, he couldnt fullyprehend the conflict with Sharon. If Ian were to break Sharon and Dean Jan Bommels authority? It would be a great thing, but honestly, it was an impossible task. Even though Danya somewhat overestimated Ian, this time it far exceeded that. If Ian continued to be treated like this, his reputation would be worse than a water flea. By that point, there probably wouldnt be anyone left willing to stand up for Ian. Theres really nothing I can do. Danya nodded her head slightly. It was the feeling of being an older sister looking at her stubborn younger sibling. In reality, Ian and Danya had even exchanged words of trust. In human standards, they were unparalleledrades. If Ian were to lose his ce in the academy, there would be no one other than Danya to stand by him. She was certain that she would be the only one to remain loyal to him until the end. Ultimately, Ian had to take responsibility. Thats why taking good care of Ian was necessary. Maybe thats why I get concerned just by looking at Ian. Somewhere along the way, Ian had found a ce in Danyas heart. Danya defined that feeling in that way. So, with a bit of courage, she decided to approach him. Really, theres no other choice. Huh? Ill teach you a special physical training method, Ian. A physical training method? Yeah. Follow me, nyah. In the underground of a building in the academy, the ce was filled with various types of equipment, and the air was filled with heated breaths. Haa, haa. Just one more. Nyaaa Alright, Danya. Lets do one more. Thest one! Hiyaaa Although Danya was supposed to be teaching physical training, the situation had turned into Ian instructing Danya, especially when it came to muscles. This, this this isnt exercise! Its torture! I didnt train like this! Its not that bad. Now, lets add more weight for the next set. Tsk! At the mention of adding more weight, Danya, who had been groaning just a moment ago, suddenly stood up. Her tail stood up. Then, after rolling her eyes once, she said something. I feel like I left my kettle boiling at home. Youve been outside for how many hours, and now you realize that Exactly! She fled at full speed. Incredibly fast and agile. Ian, who sighed, stood up from his position. She said she would confidently teach me a physical training method. Well, at least in the end, she fulfilled her promise. Ian looked around, checking the name of the ce. [Physical Training Room] In fact, just bringing him here, Danya had perfectly executed her boast. Until just now, Ian didnt even know that such a ce existed in the Academy. A hidden physical training room deep within the academy. People who trained their bodies like this were rtively few even in the academy, or so he assumed. Big. But Ian looked around with satisfaction. In reality, the exercise equipment here wasnt much different from what one would find in modern gyms. Dumbbells and barbells with structurally simple mechanisms were almost indistinguishable from their modern counterparts. The machines requiring wire and other mechanical devices were a bit different from modern ones, but in a way, they seemed more advanced. There were devices where only a disc floated in the air or had handles connected to it. It seemed like exercise equipment utilizing magi-tech. In other words, fantasy existed where magi-tech enthusiasts were obsessed with muscles. This is amazing. Ian, holding one of the pieces of equipment, began exercising with satisfaction. Huuk! By the way, Pongpongs physique wascking in many aspects. Most of the muscles present were from the Lunar staff he carried around after the possession. Lifting such light weights. Hey, is this some kind of date spot? Anyway, there are guys who bring girls here even though they cant even lift X. A group of troublemakers appeared, picking a fight. Ignoring them, they deliberately upied the surrounding area. Isnt this bastard Ian ckangers? Oh right? This guys hrious. Look at him lifting weights. I could lift that with my X. You call this exercise? Haha. The guys even start messing with the equipment. Ian, who sighed quietly, spoke up. Hey, save the gossip until after the workout. Youll lose muscle. (TN: Brother is on the grind.) Ian, with his aching legs, left the physical training room. By the way, those troublemakers were simply ignored. They were probably waiting somewhere in a secluded area. Its none of my business. There was no reason to entertain such nonsensical gossip. Perhaps because they were muscleheads, the logic of muscle loss seemed to be epted. With that thought in mind, as he turned a corner of the building Thud! Kyaa! He collided with someone. A girl with full dark circles under her eyes. She had ash-colored hair, and it was hard to tell if it was her actual hair color or if something had stained it. And bright red lips. For a moment, the appearance ovepped with Lina Rosewell, who used to eat fruits in the forest, but it wasnt quite the same. Judging by the scent of strawberry jam, she seemed to be munching on a piece of bread. Where did the bread go? Ah, there it is. There was a small tooth-marked piece of bread lying on the ground. Sorry. While bowing to pick up the bread along with an apple Wait! The girl, stretching out her arm, took out a notebook and sat down in front of the bread. Number 93 out of 93. ? It fell on the jam side. Based on my observations so far, the probability is 100%. After jotting that down in her notebook, she hastily put it back in her pocket. What followed was an even stranger action. 3-second rule confirmed. The girl picked up the bread from the floor and, without hesitation, put it back into her mouth. In that madness, Ian could only mutter in astonishment. It was way more than 3 seconds. In the midst of the bizarre encounter, he shook his head and was about to leave when something sparkled and glowed at the spot where the girl had been sitting. A piece of rock? There was a quite unique-shaped and colored stone fragment lying there. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Ability assessment. The ability assessment was an evaluation that objectively calcted the abilities possessed by students in numerical terms, as the name suggested. It was also known as rank measurement, as the results of the assessment directly determined the rank. Rank was essentially the grade of skilled individuals. Whether one became a knight, a magician, a priest, or a scout, their level and value were determined by their rank. Therefore, rank measurement was one of the most important events for students. Of course, its impact was not limited to students alone. For professors, the rise in the rank of the students they oversaw signified the sess of their teachings. It became a criterion for evaluating the professors performance. Numerous guilds were also actively recruiting promising talents. Their attention was naturally focused on rank measurement. In summary, students who achieved good results in rank measurement inevitably saw their reputation skyrocket. They became the hot topic at the center of Academy issues overnight. Of course, the protagonist of this rank measurement will be Sharon Pierce. Department of Grading and Ranking, Lichten Academy. This administrative organization, responsible for tasks rted to novices ability assessments, was led by the head, who received treatment equivalent to that of a vice principal. Ah, I wish I could have graduated Miss Sharon too. Wouldnt it have been better if I had been born just 5 yearster? Do you agree, Chief? Of course, that didnt mean the job was easy. The head of measurement was currently massaging his temples. The main reason was the periodic nonsense outbreaks of Assistant Anne Brita, a subordinate. Assistant Anne, stop the nonsense and get to work. No, Chief! Look at this picture! What is it? Miss Sharon Pierce, of course. Oh,e on How beautiful, cold, and haughty is she? This style is very popr among girls like her. Im sure Miss Pierce will be the main character of this rank measurement! Hehehe! The head of the department almost pped the giggling assistant on the back of her head without realizing it. He probably would have done it if this naive girl wasnt the daughter of a viscount. Suppressing the twitching fingers, the head let out a small sigh. Phew. Patience was crucial at times like this. The schedule for rank measurement was just around the corner. It wasnt umon for lower-ranking employees who had been working night shifts for several days to lose their minds asionally. Even the head himself had dark circles that had already reached the vicinity of his eyes. Originally, theres no student to look forward to except Miss Sharon. Thats true. Indeed, most of the childrens growth has been stagnanttely. Not long ago, even students with lower ranks showed growth of one rank each. However, recently, the growth trend of children had noticeably decreased. Even the number of mana-awakening individuals was decreasing. This was not a problem confined to Lichten Academy alone. Other academies faced simr situations. Various pessimistic analyses had been put forward. Some said it was because most students admitted already reached their potential through private education. Or that the World Tree in the Grand Forest was withering and the quality of its mana was declining. Or perhaps the demons were plotting something. Various gloomy stories circted, and there were rumors that the empire and the kingdoms were investigating quietly. There were abilities now, but at this rate, there would definitely be a shortage. In any case, the situation was bleak. It would be nice if a student with a proper growth trend appeared this time. There is! Miss Sharon. Sharon Pierce! Assistant Anne, Ive said it before, but Sharon is an entirely crafted child of her family. Dont be fooled by appearances. Of course, theres no doubt about her abilities. Thats enough! Whats wrong with being crafted? Sir, you dont know, do you? Nowadays, idols are popr in the capital of the Empire. Idols? Yes! They are singers who sing and dance, and how pretty they are. For your information, I like a group called Magical Girls! Hehe. I wish Miss Sharon would create a group like Knight Girls. The Empire has really gone astray. He shook his head with a shiver. Sharon Pierce. Certainly, she was a student worth watching. But by his standards, Sharon was not real. But in his experience of evaluating the abilities of many students, the real ones emerged unexpectedly. For example, someone who awakened to a very minor elemental power, or someone who mastered unexpected abilities. Come to think of it, its been quite a while since we had a graduate specializing in Earth Elemental abilities. Lost in thoughts of such musings, the supervisor suddenly snapped back to attention. It was time to get to work. Any unusual preparations for the 1st and 2nd stage rank assessments? Yes. David and Jane are out and rolling right now. Good, thats settled then. Although the assessments for the uing 1st and 2nd stage were already decided and set up, the decision for the final 3rd stage assessment was still uncertain. The evaluation report submitted by the Ability Measurement Department had to go through approval from the four department heads, the principal, and external auditors before it could be finalized as the evaluation criteria. What about Dean Jan Bommel? Still noments? Professors and external experts participated in drafting the evaluation criteria. Dean Jan Bommel was representing the professors in the task force for this rank measurement. Yes, hes trying, but you know that gentleman. He despises these trivial matters. We have to figure it out ourselves. Sigh. That guy is something else. There were no expectations to begin with. The man was like a wild beast, and his interest in such trivial matters was practically nonexistent. As the supervisors sigh deepened Knock, knock! Assistant Anne, who had stood up from her seat, opened the door and received something. In her hands was an envelope. Her eyes widened as she read the writing on the surface. Oh? Its from Dean Jan Bommel? Huh? Ill read it, okay? Regarding the proposed evaluation criteria for the 3rd stage of the current rank assessment, he suggests the following. It will focus on mobility. It is rmended to add explosiveness and unexpectedness to the evaluation criteria. He rmends the following evaluation method: walking on a broken bridge over a cliff Wow! He even provided detailed instructions for the evaluation method. The handwriting is hard to read, though. The superiors face was filled with astonishment. Even though he belonged to the administrative department, he had worked in Lichten for a long time. The Jan Bommel he knew was never this cooperative. Why in the world? What did that Jan Bommel, the man of all men, want? As a sense of relief that one problem was solved mixed with curiosity, the supervisors mind was filled. Lichten Academys open field near a dormitory in the north. Nyaah! A cat was flying in the sky. No, saying it was flying had its issues. The distance between her white paws and the ground was about 1 cm. Danya floated above the earth with a maic force, hovering just at a touchable height. Kyaa. This is fun! With a smile on her face, Danya touched the ground with a small smile on her face. On the other hand, Ian sighed softly. Ugh. Was this experiment also a failure? Ian marked an X in his notebook, which he held in his hand. What he was researching now was mobility. The problem was that creating a usible means of mobility was challenging, especially for earth-elemental magic. Originally, earth-elemental magic was specialized in tanking and physical damage. Thats why Danya, who was a beastman, was experimenting with various things. The first attempt was using mas. Among the properties of the earth, maism was the one closest to mobility. There was a force to attract or repel. Therefore, Ian aimed to maize the ground and the soles of his shoes, floating and walking in mid-air. Kwoong! Nyahaha! And Ians result was a bump on his forehead and reddened skin. Controlling the ma was difficult, and there was more resistance than expected. He couldnt float as high as he thought. Originally, Ian couldnt even stand, unable to bnce. Danya, floating above with impable bnce, continued to walk in mid-air, emitting a yful purring sound. Indeed, a cat is a cat. Ian! Do more of this for me! Its so much fun! She seemed somewhat carefree, to say the least. Anyway. Ignoring her request, Ian prepared for the next experiment. What he had created this time was arge cylindrical structure. Whats next! Eh? Danyas excited expression turned pale. Wait a minute. Youre not thinking of putting me in there andunching me, are you? Yeah, with a little bit of gunpowder. Are you out of your mind, you idiot! Tsk. It seemed it was too much. Next, there was an idea of creating a structure simr to a spring to utilize the force of physics. The time it takes to create such a structure is too long. In practice, it was practically impossible to use. By this point, Ian was starting to have thoughts like, Am I really a magician? It was closer to an alchemist or a magical engineer. Anyway. It all came back to levitation. The key was floating above the ground, eliminating friction. As long as that is achieved, surprise is guaranteed. Why such an obsession with being unexpected? Because the essence of mobility lies in unexpectedness. For example, knights who need to read the movements of their opponents and react. It would be very effective when dealing with them. The unexpectedness in closebat. For Ian, a close-quarters mage, this was practically synonymous with his life. If there was another method simr to maism It was difficult, too difficult. By this point, Ian even thought about just rolling around. Rolling up his entire body into a ball, coating it with ayer of metal, and adding sharp spikes on the outside like a turtle ship. Then just roll around. Since it could also serve as an attack, it seemed like a good deal. The ability could be named something like Roll. Would that work? As Ian let out a sigh and was about to stand up. Thud He stumbled over something rooted to the ground. Ian felt something slipping out of his pocket. Shortly after, Danyas astonished voice rang out. I-Ian! A seemingly ordinary stone floating above the ground. It was the stone that the bumped girl had dropped. It felt instinctive. This stone was what he had been looking for. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Ian carefully ced the floating stone in his pocket. Then, he called Danya, who was sniffling in one corner of the room. Danya, what are you up to? Nyah! Oh, I havent done anything. Just taking a little break, maybe? Really? Anyway, thanks for helping with the experiment today. Oh, and here, consider it a reward and a gift. Ian tossed a Mana Flytrap Elixir, obtained from thest expedition to the undiscovered dungeon in the northern mountain range, to Danya. Danyas eyes widened as she received the elixir. I-Is this, um, for me? Are you sure you want me to have it? I already had one before, and it had no effect on me. Keep it. Well start the rank measurement tomorrow. Taking it now will have the greatest impact. Most of the heroines had left the front lines, but having someone like Danya as apanion was beneficial for Ian as well. Touched, Danyas expression seemed on the verge of tears. T-Thank you so much, nyah. Dont mention it. Comrades should always help each other. With that response, Ian prepared to leave. Danya immediately asked. But what are you going to do? Im heading to the library. You can rest or do whatever you want. Whenever there was something to be curious about, the library was the go-to ce. Ian shook hands with the bewildered Danya and left the lodging. Arriving at the library, he noticed the librarian sitting in the usual spot, flipping through books. Does she even eat? He wondered momentarily. She was always sitting in the same posture, whether it was weekdays or weekends, morning or afternoon. Was she attending sses? Was she really a student, or perhaps an android doll? Maybe even an AI? But those questions quickly faded. Feeling somewhat annoyed by the interruption, the librarian, with sky-blue eyes, raised her gaze toward Ian. Im looking for a person. Blink. She closed her eyes for a moment, then pointed downward with her finger. At the bottom of the information desk was a piece of paper with very neat writing. [Misceneous inquiries and confessions, love matters prohibited.] No Im not here to confess! The librarians head moved slightly from side to side. A very subtle movement. Of course, Ian could easily recognize that gesture. Following her slender, white finger, he lowered his gaze again. Beyond the paper saying love matters prohibited. [Loan, return, and book-rted inquiries.] The notice caught his eye. Yeah, of course. Since this is a library, librarians should only handle inquiries rted to books. A very subtle nod. Ian spoke. But Im not here for a librarian. I want to borrow your wisdom. Somehow, I feel like you might know something. Ian took out a sketch from the information desk and handed it over to her. A brief portrait of a three -second rule girl he encountered before. The researcher vibe was strong. Im sure shes been to the library a lot. The face simr to this He emphasized the dark circles under the eyes in the drawing. The height is average. Blink, blink. The librarians semi-transparent eyebrows moved like a camera shutter. I see. She said and handed him a note. In summary, it went like this: Name: Christina Major: Mana Engineering Location: Likely in the Mana Engineering students research building. Thank you. Wait. ? Again, there. Uh-huh? A student looking for you. She handed him another note. Saint Candidate. Given by Aria. Aria Lumines Bell? Why would that girl suddenly be involved? Ian took the note from the librarian and unfolded it. It seemed overwhelmingly agitated. The hastily written sentencescked a coherent message. It seems meaningless? Even nks carry meaning. At the librarians words, Ian scrutinized the note again. Fragments of characters that almost formed words. Horizontal lines scribbled multiple times. asionally, parts of the paper were pierced with force. A sense of perpetual instability and a psychological state seemingly cornered were vividly conveyed. The reason she handed this to Ian, though I can make a rough guess, but Lets not worry about that for now. There were more pressing matters that need attention right away. Firstly, express gratitude to the librarian who helped. Thanks for your help. Do you know everything? Only the things I need to know. Then why did you dodge before? Ian hesitated before speaking out loud. She had immediately lowered her head into a book. [Saved by the tyrant who ruined my family.] At least this time, it seemed like a normal bookpared to thest one. Ian expressed his thanks with a slight nod. Magic, Knight, Priest, and Reconnaissance Departments. In addition to the four departments, Lichten Academy had various research fields. Mostly, exchange students or students who remained in school after graduation delved into those research areas. Mana Engineering was closely linked with nearby schools, making it a sizable research field. Mana Engineering Research Building. Is this Lichten Academy? The building looked like it would copse at any moment from the outside. However, the inside was better than expected. Smallboratories lined both sides of the high-ceilinged corridor, and asionally, zombie-like figures emerged, all of them fatigued humans. Although the atmosphere was somewhat gloomy and grim, recalling the researchbs at the university in his previous life made it perfectly understandable. Here it is. A torn piece of paper on the door. [Christi] The writing was badly crumpled and hard to decipher. But considering the casually pasted tape and the red strawberry jam stains below it, Ian felt confident he had found the right ce. Moreover. -Pow! With a sound, a familiar voice echoed from inside, and without bothering to knock, Ian entered. Cough, cough! As the door opened, a girl covered in smoke and dust emerged. Originally, was her hair auburn? With pale skin and prominent dark circles, it was the girl he had met before. The librarian had mentioned her name was Christina. Upon spotting Ian, Christina shouted. Hey, youre the rude one from earlier! Youre the one picking up fallen bread? After a somewhat clich romanticedy-like exchange and a slightly awkward conversation, Ian briefly recalled their first meeting. Why am I the rude one? Had he done something wrong? Nothing came to mind. But why am I the rude one? Because you ignored the 3-second rule! Well, thats. He was about to say that 3 seconds had already passed but decided against it. If she was this type of person, she would somehow Are you going to challenge my theory that picking up food from the floor within 3 seconds is safe? He expected her to say something like that. Typically, those who conducted research in such basements had some loose screws. Fortunately, Ian was ustomed to dealing with this type. A damaged ego at the end of endless research. If he could fill it even a little, these types would easily open up. Sorry. I was short-sighted. Youre right. Interest and endless patting. Without any resistance, acknowledging that she was right. For researchers used to being refuted and criticized in every paper, this was what they desperately needed. Hmm? With a puzzled expression, the girls mouth curled up. Then, she said, Since theres no one inside right now, want toe in for a moment? Id be an honor. Grinning. Christina, who kept raising her mouth corners, closed the researchb door as soon as Ian entered. Then, she immediately took Ians hand. Come this way. She gestured toward a corner table in theb. C hristina took a seat first. Is it a secret from others? With one eye closed, Christina brought her finger to her lips. Its something I show only to special people. She reached into her coat and pulled out a small stone fragment. Its the same as the one I picked up earlier. Christina ced it directly on the table where an experiment apparatus was set up. It began floating halfway, emitting a faint glow. Wow. Although Ian had seen this phenomenon before, he pretended to be surprised. Christinas eyes, which were half-dead before, sparkled like jewels now. How is it? Amazing, right? Yeah, it is. But, um Ians face showed a brief moment of contemtion. Christina narrowed her eyes. Heh. Do you also think this is a scam? This is a levitation stone, something that existed only in legends. Levitation stone? Yeah. I actually want it to float a bit more, but its not easy. Im thinking about some conditions, and if improved, it might float perfectly. At the mention of the fascinatingpound, Ians eyes lit up. His goal was precisely the form for thatpound. Indeed, impressive research. Ive thought from our first meeting that youre not ordinary. Hehehe Christina, receiving praise like oil on her lips, became a bit teary-eyed. Seizing the opportunity, Ian asked. About that form. Sorry, but I cant tell you that. Her gaze turned serious in an instant. Okay. Youve probably tried hundreds or thousands of times to create it. I shouldnt have asked so casually. No, well You might be curious, right? I feel sorry for not being able to answer. Indeed. Ian hadnt expected her to reveal it willingly. It would be stranger if she did. Hmm, rather than A tilted piece standing on the table. Ian tilted his head. Is this all thats floating? Yeah. It doesnt float perfectly. Not at all? Yeah. I tried really hard, but this was the limit. Ian recalled what he had seen a few hours ago. There was no point going back. The stone fragment he had seen then was clearly floating. Hmm. Did it get influenced when I tested other mobility experiments earlier? He decided to ponderter and focus on the demonstration for now. Ian took out the stone fragment from his pocket. It was floating perfectly earlier. Huh? It cant be! He ced it on her experiment table. Swoosh. The stone fragment hovered silently. H-how did you do this? Christinas eyes filled withplete astonishment. Who are you? Wait, no, what are you? Ian shrugged in ce, pretending not to understand. Christina swallowed dryly. Then, in an even softer voice. Um, excuse me. Can you tell me how you did it? Snickering, Ians mouth curled up. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Ians residence. Danya, left alone, blinked her eyes. ? She stared nkly at the elixir in her hand. Regardless of the type, elixirs were precious. Danya knew well that elixirs and potions were among the sources of ie for the Catsnesia tribe. Even herbs like mountain ginseng were astronomically priced. However, the elixir Ian handed her was different. Just gripping it, she could feel a remarkably pure energy. If absorbed properly, it would undoubtedly lead to significant results. This is so valuable Ian tossed it as if handing over a candy and disappeared. Without asking for anything in return. Danya swallowed her saliva. Indeed, Ian is different from ordinary humans. Beastmen always lived with caution, avoiding being tamed by humans. Trusting humans is like putting a noose around your own neck and handing the reins to the other person. Danya, too, had been educated that way since childhood. Instinctively ingrained wariness. It seemed to loosen in Ian, unlike anyone else. Ah Swish. Danya shook her head. Ian is a colleague, lets not have strange thoughts. By the way, when she tilted her head, she felt that the scent in this room was too provocative for a beastman like Danya. Beastmen desires were different from those of humans, who maintained a stable libido. These days, Danya was particrly vulnerable. The scent of the room owner filled the room relentlessly, tormenting her. Sniff. Danyas eyesnded on Ians bed. A somewhat haphazardly ced nket and pillow. I-Is he trying to tidy this up? Danya cautiously grabbed the end of the nket. The moment she pulled the nket once, an irresistible atmosphere was felt. Oops. Ugh. This was cheating. It felt like her mind was melting gently. Why did that mischievous Ian have to flirt like this on a day like today? She wanted to roll around here right away. Thoughts like these filled her head. Danya sensed it. This was dangerous. I-I should leave for now! Suppressing her instincts, Danya rushed out of the front door. A nd almost collided with someone. Eek! Nyah! A fresh scream. Between blonde and white hair, she looked like a noble youngdy sensitive to trends even at a nce. Even her somewhat small chest was elegantly entuated by the clothes. A woman with such a good style stood with a slightly awkward posture as if she was about to knock on the door. Why is a woman like her visiting Ian? Danya had such a question. But soon, she shook her head, thinking it couldnt be true. Because, there shouldnt be any woman visiting Ian other than herself. Im not sure who youre looking for, but it seems like youvee to the wrong ce. Um, is this Student Ian ckangers residence? Nyah? Danya covered her mouth, making a strange noise. The reason for her embarrassment was simple. No, why would a woman like here to Ians home? She knew Ian didnt have any friends, except for herself. In fact, the other party seemed to think the same. Who is this cat doinging out of Ians room? Silvia Laurent murmured to herself. This morning, Silvia happened to receive a rare dessert from an old regr customer. It felt a bit awkward to eat it alone, and Ian, who liked tea, came to mind, so she used that as an excuse to visit Ians home. Youve never eaten anything like this, have you? I was going to y around and tease him with this unusual thing Now, a strange cat came out of Ians home. Moreover, it behaved as if it were the host. For some reason, her insides were boiling. Maybe a hidden girlfriend? Silvia immediately shook her head. Theres no way Ian would have something like that. Better a yboy than that. Silvias gaze narrowed. And who are you? As far as I know, Ian doesnt have any friends. Whats your rtionship with Ian? Uh. Danya was speechless. What kind of rtionship did she have with Ian? Friends? Or had they sworn trust in each other? After hesitating for a moment, Danya spoke. W-Were colleagues. What does being colleagues have to do with being in his home? Well, Ian invited me! Silvias gaze became even colder at Danyas response. So, you just blindly followed him because Ian invited you? Do you even know what kind of reputation Ian has? I know! There are plenty of rumors about him being lecherous! Do you even know what kind of person Ian is? Hah? Of course, I know him well. How thoroughly did you investigate? Rumors that he confesses to any woman he sees are just the basics The exchange of unfavorable rumors about Ian continued for a while. Silvia made a move. Why does someone who knows him so welle out from there? Arent you his Gold Digger or something? G-Gold Digger? W-What are you talking about! Silvia confidently extended her chest. I am Silvia Laurent. Youve heard of Laurent, right? ! Danya was somewhat surprised. She knew about her, the elite. Thanks to that, her suspicions deepened. Why is a woman like youing to Ians home? Whats your rtionship with him? Silvia avoided eye contact for a moment. Defining the rtionship between Ian and herself in one word was difficult. We are business partners! Yes, we are business partners! Huh? You look more like a swindler. Whats in that bag anyway? I have a debt to repay to Ian. Since some good items came in, I thought Id take them for once. Why dont you just give those things to him at school? Why bothering all the way to his home? B-Because its urgent! I had no choice but toe! Is that an excuse to sneak into his room? Besides, you could have asked your subordinates to do it. Ashamed, Silvia avoided eye contact. Then she mumbled as if passing by. Can I say that Mr. Ian has done so much for me that I have to bring it myself like this? ? I owe a lot to Ian. He has helped me so much that I cant easily repay him. So, Im gradually paying back what I owe. Danya wasnt very observant, but she could read Silvias intention right away. Silvia was subtly showing off that Ian had taken good care of her. Danyas eyebrows raised. Humph! Ian has taken good care of me too! For some reason, she felt a strong desire to beat this woman. How could she win? Danya, lost in thought for a moment, came up with an idea. So, instead of giving him desserts, Ian would probably appreciate a new nket for his bed, right? What? Why? Oh~ You didnt know? Looking at the surprised Silvia, Danya smiled like a fox. Ians bed has a very old nket. Next time, get him a nket. Im sure Ian would love that. Silvias eyebrows trembled. Hu! A hundred years too soon, human! Danyas smile curled up slightly. Meanwhile, in Christinasboratory. Looking at the sample Ian brought while floating, Christina eximed. I, Im sure I dropped it just a day ago. How did you improve it so quickly?! Why are you suddenly using politenguage? I use politenguage only with people smarter than me! Politeness only with smart people. Quite a unique concept. Christina seemed to be the slightly smarter type among the researchers. The samples I made and the colors and properties are different. How on earth did you make this? Ah, its difficult to just tell me, isnt it? Christinasplexion began to darken on its own. It seemed that she thought Ian might demand something from her. If youve improved it to this extent, its almost like making something new. Its on apletely different level than the pebbles made by a water flea like me. Nowpletely gloomy, Christina sighed lightly, and Ian grabbed one of her samples. Can I try this? Huh? Y-Yes. Anyway, its just a piece of stone made by a water flea. Feel free to use it. Stop talking nonsense and watch closely. Ian rolled up his sleeves and sat at the workbench. First, he carefully cut off a piece of the stone fragment. Then, he extracted several metalponents from around. The difference between what she made and the stone fragment in my room must be this. Ian had used various metalponents in his experiments with mobility. There was a possibility that the fragment dropped by Christina had deformed due to that. Focusing on that, he utilized Extraction and Transformation. Christina, watching from the side, widened her eyes. T-This is unbelievable. What kind of ability is this? Being able to freely manipte metal like that. Shh. Hmm! The materials currently being handled are of high grade. To extract and utilize even minute amounts, full concentration is required. Afterpleting the processing of the prototype, Finished. As Ian sighed, Christina, who had been holding her breath, lit up with excitement. T-This is unbelievable. With such a perfect ability, Ian is undoubtedly a natural talent for alchemy. You should pursue alchemy! With me! Rather, shouldnt we check this first? Ian presented ten types of stone fragments. The prototypes were adjusted in proportions to reflect the situation in the amodation. Yes, yes! Christina carefully ced them on the workbench, treating them like precious gems. Her eyes, which seemed lifeless like rotten pock, suddenly shone a boundless blue for a moment. In that moment, her careful and delicate appearance reminded Ian of someone. Chris Sierra. A genius alchemist whose name became more prominent as the story progressed. The reason information about her surfacedte was twofold. One, because he knew her as Chris not Christina. The other was that there was no such levitation stone in her research results. Perhaps shepletely failed to levitate it. On the other hand, the prototype touched by Ian was perfectly levitating. !!! Her eyes filled with astonishment. Three out of ten were levitating, and one was almost perfectly suspended in mid-air. Its its levitating. Yes, it is. Ahaha Its levitating. Its really levitating To be honest, Ian thought Christina would be a bit happier. Touching the prototype directly in front of her was practically the same as revealing the recipe to her. However, her expression was quiteplex. Fluctuating between happiness, sulking, and then cautiously throwing a question. If its not too much trouble, may I ask you something? Sure. Why did you share this with me? If its alreadypleted to this extent, you could have even threatened me to reveal the recipe. If someone solves a field of research one has been working on for thousands of attempts, it is only natural for ones pride to take a hit. Using this opportunity to cunningly extract the recipe from her could also be a way. But thats not it. Ian shook his head. Im only interested in utilizing this. You might be more interested in creating a better levitation stone. Above all, this levitation stone was different in nature from ordinary minerals. There was potential for improvement in performance ording to research. And Ian nned to develop mobility using this levitation stone. In other words, Christina was a magic engineer who could upgrade abilities. If he could nurture a legendary magic engineer, discovering a recipe by chance was nothing. Ian believed in her skills. Her failure to develop the levitation stone was simply because something was missing. Therefore, Ian intended to be the catalyst for her. So, lets coborate. Ill help with anything you need. Yes. Tears welled up in Christinas eyes. Ill work hard. The first step of the rank assessment was just a day away. Her support would undoubtedly be invaluable. Ian extended his hand, and Christina grasped it with both hands. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Knight Department exclusive personal training ground. On the deck connected to the external training ground, Sharon Pierce sat in the seiza position, meditating. A distant sound of footsteps. Unexpectedly interrupted, Sharons eyebrows rose. Sharon! I brought a letter for you. The intruder turned out to be a fellow student from the same ss. She handed over an envelope with a nonchnt gesture. Sharon epted it without a word. An envelope with the Pierce family seal. An envelope with the Pierce family crest, a letter sent periodically to all family children from the family head. Sharons hand trembled slightly, but her ssmate didnt seem to notice. Sharon Pierce read the letter. The exterior was as cold as always, but her inner thoughts were not the same. Encouraging words were written in a stern script, but, in essence, the content med Sharon for her own faltering growth. Her mouth felt dry. The expressionless face showed a faint hint of irritation. Sharon looked up from the letter. The girl who still stared at her, despite leaving. Coldly, Sharon spoke. Do you have business? Uhm, Miss Sharon, would you like to have lunch together? Not necessary. B-but I just want to be a bit closer to you Im busy. Thats it. A clear rejection. The fellow student left. Phew. Sharon let out a small sigh. Anything that interferes with training is unnecessary. Friends, for example. Even if they pretend to be friendly in front of her, when she listens carefully behind her back: Honestly, if she didnt have the skills she would be just a useless girl. Hey, lower your voice so she cant hear. Hehe! But Miss Sharon is so talented. Isnt she cool? Hah, I really wish I could hold her pretty hand just once You really are a p*rvert, a *ervert. Such distancingments could be heard. But Sharon Pierce didnt care. The Sword. Only the sword. Anything can be epted and discarded for that path. Ian ckangers. She took him and discarded him mercilessly. Even if she had to receive help from him, once he revealed an attachment, she had to cut it off firmly. But he revived and got entangled with her again. In that case, she would put him on the judgment seat of the disciplinarymittee and wait for the judgment. Emilia. And Aria. If she was with them, it wouldnt be difficult. Lina Rosewell probably needed to be check again. Focus. Why did herposure particrly waver when she thought of Ian ckangers? Sharon shook her head. Grade Assessment. If she didnt get good results this time, her family wouldnt stay quiet. The family head had only wanted Sharons talent. Quietly, she had recalled the story he had told her when they had been alone. Sharon Pierce. Youve done well. Thank you, my lord. Dont disappoint me like your mother did. I expect you to fulfill the role of that woman as well. Yes. She had had to satisfy him. Grade Assessment would start in earnest in the afternoon. She had to achieve good results. Late 4 stars. When she had reached that point, her family would have also reflected on themselves. A blue light flickered in Sharons eyes. sh! The training wooden logs fell to the ground. The cut surface, which should have been neat, was rough. But now, it didnt matter. First day of the Grade Assessment. There was about an hour left until the Grade Assessment of the new students, but the Grade Assessment area was bustling with various personnel. The long and tedious preparations for Grade Assessment were in the final stages. Phew. The Grade Assessment department head let out a sigh. It had been several years doing this, but it truly was an event that never went smoothly even once. Of course, for someone like a department head, just receiving reports in a cool office would be enough, but he genuinely liked this job. As many students as possible found their grades and strived towards the next level, making it not just an act of measurement but a goal and driving force for their growth. Of course, the significance of this measurement went beyond just that. Chief. External officials areing in. Okay. Ill take care of them. Looking at it from a broader perspective, the Grade Assessment served as a showcase for the students. Scouters dispatched from various guilds, magical towers, government, and other organizations carefully observed and recorded the status of promising students. While students formally entered society afterpleting their graduation exams, the Grade Assessment held great significance for making a first impression on the officials. The buzz in the Grade Assessment area gradually rose. If the front entrance of the measurement area was for the students, the back entrance was for the external guests. At the front entrance, subordinates were already rushing out to control and manage the iing students. The head of the department stood at the back entrance. One of his roles was to greet the external personnel. There are a lot of people today. Reporters, magazine staff, scouts dispatched from guilds, and representatives from various organizations. So many spectators had gathered that it felt like it had been ages since thest time. They were the other protagonists of this Grade Assessment. The headss role was to make them pay a bit more attention to the students. For example, a casually approaching priest with a friendly impression needed to be treated well. Bishop Bacon! How can you take such difficult steps again? Hehe. Head, its been a while. It feels like Im meeting you for the first time since thest graduation exam. As a devout servant of our faith, I must confirm the participation of our saint candidate. Aria, the saint candidate, surely has no room for doubt in her talents. Id appreciate it if you could also pay attention to other students. Hehehe! Looking closely, it seems like you, the manager, have a deep heart for taking care of the kids. Even if you were a cleric, you would have done well. Just looking at your face makes me want to watch over you. Getting a job in the church might be somewhat strict, but it was stable. It was a good workce for students in the middle to lower ss. Just by exchanging greetings, even one more student could be observed. Making even one student receive better evaluations. That was the satisfaction that the position of department head could achieve in this Grade Assessment. Of course, there were also entities that have slipped through his hands. Women with striking fluorescent-colored and orange hair were noticeable at a nce. They approached each other while they argued. This term, we have quite high expectations, dont we? We need to recruit some magicians to our guild this time. Hmph. Its a hundred or a thousand years too early for a guild to try to steal talent from the Magic Tower! Magic Tower? Who goes to the Magic Tower these days? Only stupid kids like our pitiful broli get deceived into working at the Magic Tower. Poor treatment, poor working conditions. Its not broli, its curly! And there is honor in the Magic Tower! Honor feeds you? Why dont you quickly join the Event Horizon where your sister is? Ill make sure you get treated well. Hmph. There are values that money cant buy. For example, Miss Emilia will never be recruited by the Mercy guild, you know? Without giving the department head a chance to greet them, they entered the Grade Assessment area while bickering. Dealing with magicians could be somewhat challenging, so it was fortunate. Without a moment to sigh. This time, the sound of metal colliding and friction was heard. A knight ofrge stature wearing rtively light armor. The te with the lily symbolizing the empire engraved on it, signifying that he was a knight of the Imperial Guards Knights of the White Lily. The department head lightly bowed in a military manner, and the other party also showed proper courtesy. Ivee to see Sharon Pierce. You wont regret the long journey. Thank you. After exchanging greetings with key figures. Phew. As the department head was about to breathe a sigh, a woman suddenly appeared in front of him. White hair that seemed to extract starlight from the night sky. Deep navy-colored eyes and looks so young that you could almost mistake her for a cadet at first nce. Deep indigo eyes, and a face so young you could almost mistake her for a student. I want to see an unusual ability. She spoke in a slow and dreamy voice, almost like speaking to herself. She was a neer, but the golden-bordered name tag around her neck indicated that she was a considerable figure. As she passed by the department head. Huh! For a moment, he felt a tremendous presence that felt like his heart was being squeezed, and then it disappeared. The department head had encountered various masters, but experiencing such a sensation was the first time since the principal of Lichten. In other words, the caliber of this seemingly young woman wasparable to the owner of Lichten. Such mysterious beings asionally appeared without warning. This Grade Assessment is going to be quite significant. The department head swallowed involuntarily. Even looking back over the past few years, there hadnt been such arge number of external figures attending. Just then, the voice of the announcer rang out. The first measurement of this Grade Assessment is~~! Magic power measurement! With tremendous enthusiasm, the Grade Assessment began. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Lichten Academy boasted a vast campus, matching its renowned reputation. Thanks to this, several sizable buildings existed on the grounds, with one of them being the Grade Assessment Hall of the Academy. The Grade Assessment Hall rivaled the size of a ser field, and the surrounding stands resembled a stadium. Of course, with students from all grades gathering there, the spacious area felt quite cramped. If it was going to be like this, wouldnt it have been better to divide into groups by day? Ian sighed lightly. Of course, he knew that hisint held little significance. External figures sat in the stands, and if their time was valued in gold, it would have been priceless. Nevertheless, simultaneously assessing the grades of an entire year was undoubtedly an ignorant approach. The only constion was that the first assessment that day was the Mana Measurement Test. Ian thought to himself that the process would have been quick with the use of magic engineering equipment. As he walked, grumbling to himself, someone called out. Ian! Over here! Turning around, Ian spotted Danya, with her perky ears sticking out. Here! Danya was bouncing in ce, as if worried Ian wouldnt notice her small stature. Surrounded by familiar faces, it seemed that they were in the gathering ce for the Mezai ss. Youre early. Ian approached Danya and greeted her. Hmph! Danya immediately bumped fists with him and let out a small snort. The energetic cat-like mode had reced her previous yful jumping. However, it didnt seem like she waspletely angry. Rather than keeping her distance, she came closer. It was as if she wanted him to notice her. Whats going on? Slightly puffed cheeks hinted at some dissatisfaction Did she get upset because I left her alone in the dormst time? Ian recalled a recent incident. He had called Danya to the dorm, but soon after, he left her behind with his mobility idea. Certainly, calling someone else for help and leaving as the host first was a bit against etiquette. I apologize for leaving you alonest time. An apology flowed directly from Ians mouth. However, Danya, unexpectedly, was taken aback. Her intention wasnt for Ian to apologize. Instead, Danya was pleased that Ian had invited her to his ce. No, its not like that! I was actually grateful back then! Well you also gave me the elixir, so I was really thankful. It was delicious. Danya, seeming embarrassed to express her gratitude, lowered her head and mumbled. Dont worry about it. But, lets talk about gratitude a bitter Danyas eyes widened as she said that. She asked. Were colleagues, right? Uh-huh. Well, but! You, you, you Saying so, Danya opened her eyes wide. She had a slightly pouting expression, genuinely cute, though the reason for her dissatisfaction was unclear. After lingering for a while, she asked. Other than me, has anyone else been in your room nyah? What? Other girls, or people, have they been there? What a question. Perhaps there was a feline territorial instinct at y due to her being a cat-like supernatural being. Well, such racial differences needed to be handled calmly in aradeship. Has anyone else been in your room? Before the possession, there probably hadnt been anyone, and even after the possession, there was no reason for anyone else to be there until Danya needed help. I dont think so. Really? There doesnt seem to be a reason for someone else to enter, other than you. Danyas expression immediately cleared at his words. Hehe, really? What about Silvia? No, but why Silvia? Oh, its nothing, nyah. Now she was chuckling, perhaps finding joy in expanding her territory? Surely, understanding these racial differences will be necessary in the future. While Ian misunderstood Danyas jealousy as a feline characteristic, a small cheer came from the Knight Department. Kyaahhh! Miss Sharon, youre amazing! The first stage of the Grade Assessment, the Mana Measurement, had begun. As Sharon approached the measurement device, the surroundings buzzed with excitement. With each step, she approached the measurement device. Sharon stood in front of the measuring machine. A moment when the attention of numerous students was focused. The noisy surroundings suddenly became quiet. A silence where not even the sound of breathing could be heard. ce your hand in front of the machine. The mechanical sound of the device echoed dryly. Sharons eyes were as cold as the machine. H er hand touched the device, colder than the machine itself. F Grade test passed. D Grade test passed. C Grade test passed. In less than a second, she breezed through the lower-grade tests. This meant that her mana far exceeded the lower grades. Wow Surrounding astonishment filled the air. B Grade test passed. A Grade test passed. The initial light admiration gradually gave way to the increasing weight of her grade. Passing through to Grade A so quickly. At that level, shes overwhelming evenpared to Aether students. She steadily climbed up to S Grade. Indeed, thedies of the Pierce family are different. From the beginning, theres a significant difference in lineagepared to ordinary students. Now it seems like shes perfectly bringing out that talent. There must have been some issues during the entrance exam. The first appearance of an S Grade, excluding Aether students, drew everyones attention, as expected. However, Sharon wasnt the only one who attracted such attention. Student Ian ckangers, pleasee forward. Although the focus was slightly different on this side. What? Didnt Ian quit the Academy? He hasnt been confessingtely; I thought he couldnte out since the incident. There are rumors that he has changed. Certainly, there were quite a few humiliations to swallow. However, Ian didnt care. He had confidence in his abilities. F Grade test passed. D Grade test The next announcement was slightly dyed. Gulp. Silence filled the measurement hall. However, it was a different kind of quietpared to Sharons time. It was more anticipation than tension. D Grade test failed. What did it just say? Hehehehe! Kahaha! And at the moment when Ians grade was revealed,ughter erupted in the measurement hall. Meanwhile, in the spectator seats where outsiders were located. The ce was set up for people to watch the students grade assessments. However, even within the same spectator seats, there was a ce where peoples attention gathered. Given the clear difference in social status among them, it was natural for the gazes to be drawn to figures not easily encountered even in normal circumstances, despite the purpose being student observation. Among them, thebination of a fluorescent-haired and an orange-haired girl clearly received the most attention. The woman with short fluorescent hair, small stature like a child, was Ray from the Magic Tower Lichten branch. The woman with a mix of pink and orange long hair, mature and sensual enough to resemble Lucias guardian, was Elisha from the Magic Guild Event Horizon. (TL: No idea what Lucias guardian is supposed to be, either a character that I havent seen yet, the Vtuber or some girl with raid hair from some manhwa.) The reputation of Magic Tower and the Event Horizon guild was top-notch, among the best on the continent. Moreover, they were organizations that only epted the elite of the elite, which made them hard to approach despite their reputation. Therefore, it was natural for numerous eyes to focus on them. However, seemingly ustomed to the surrounding nces, they were only observing the students. Although many students were being measured simultaneously in the assessment room, the eyes of the two were drawn to a magic academy student with ck hair. Student Ian from the Magic Departments Mezai ss. Magic power measurement result: Grade D! Wahahaha! Did you see that guy with the ck hair? Yes, Unni. His magic power is so pathetic. The fluorescent-haired girl answered dryly. Elisha shot her a nce. Ray? Why, whyyy are you looking at me like that? Its embarrassing. Rays eyes, which were clearly suspicious, rolled about. Plop. Veins popped on Elishas fine forehead. She immediately grabbed Rays cheeks with both hands. Hey. Nyeeeeee. Softly, gooey. Elishas long fingers unmercifully kneaded Rays cheeks like kneading dough. Did you see or not? W-ha. Did you see or not? I-I-I d-di-did! Only when she admitted seeing did Elisha release Rays cheeks. Ray, we agreed to exchange opinions and get along this time. Lets not make ourselves look ugly. B-But. But? The Magic Tower needs talent! I dont want to do weird overtime anymore! Crying with teardrops, Ray shouted. The Magic Towers traditional recruitment methods were undoubtedly challengingpared to magic guilds like Event Horizon. Oh, the poor thing. Sighing, Elisha pointed to Ian, who was returning to his seat, receiving the mockery of students in the distance. Still, I think that child would be of interest to even the Magic Tower lord. The purity of that childs mana is also unusual. Indeed, Unni. Did you see it too? Moreover, its difficult to contain earth elemental magic in a circle. Given that purity and quantity, theres definitely something about that kid. Right. We cant just overlook him. A thin tension eased between the two, who hadnt agreed on opinions in a while. We need to observe him closely. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Magicians tend to have individualistic tendencies. The Mezai ss, in particr, had a clear tendency in that direction, but this assessment was an exception. Is our ss not the worst? Its a bit embarrassing. On the final day of the grade assessment, as it was wrapping up, no clear achievements were seen from the Mezai ss. Ian did manage to catch the attention of some keen-eyed scouts, but that was only from the spectators standpoint. If Lina were here, it wouldnt be like this. The absence of Lina Rosewell, the most anticipated candidate, due to disciplinary action, yed a significant role. Her return was scheduled for thest day of the assessment. In reality, it was evident that the Mezai ss would be the subject of ridicule at the academy for some time. Miss Danya Catsnesia. The announcement of thest participant in the Mezai ss. Until Danya Catsnesias name was called, no one paid much attention to her. Danyas grades were below average in the Mezai ss, and except for Ian, she had no friends. Moreover, there were virtually no expectations for Danya, who struggled even with handling mana, to shine in this assessment. Therefore, Danya received little attention until she stood in front of the assessment device. A Grade test passed. Her assessment didnt end even after surpassing the A grade. Even after filling the A grade, the gauge went beyond the level by half. Danyas internal mana was said to be at the A+ grade level. Amidst the momentary surprise, the assessment venue became noisy. Danya, werent you at the bottom when you entered? Your mana quantity was never above C grade. You had difficulty handling mana and couldnt use magic properly, right? Does that make sense? The excitement that started in the Mezai ss soon spread to other areas. Sharon, who immediately achieved an S grade, was impressive, but Danya Catsnesias performance had a different kind of significance. Originally, the grade assessment event highlighted the growth of the underdogs who were behind. Danyas growth, who previously showed the worst grades after entering the academy, became quite an intriguing topic. Even the instructor managing the assessment approached her. Danya, it seems youve put in a lot of effort. Well done. Uh Th-thank you. However, Danya was visibly flustered. Although she felt a step of growth after absorbing the elixir Ian gave her, she didnt expect it to be to this extent. Indeed, the elixir was an elixir, but originally, the favorablebination of the earth attribute and the grass elemental element was notable. After all, grass signifies life sprouting from the earth. Danya, being with Ian, had inadvertently received a growth buff. Although the exact extent was unknown, it was evident that Ian had a significant impact on her development. Except for bing Ianspanion, there was nothing else that had changed from before. Danya immediately rushed towards Ian. Turning her head to conceal her embarrassment, she mumbled. T-thank you, nyah. With this, well conclude the first stage of the grade assessment. The next stage is Mana Control, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at this location The first day of the grade assessment came to an end. Students, who had gathered at the assessment venue, left in confusion through the chaotic exits. In the midst of it, there was a group of students ring at Danya Catsnesia and Ian ckangers. That cat girl is stealing the spotlight that should be directed at Sharon Pierce. The main character of this grade assessment should only be Sharon Pierce. Captain, do you intend to leave that girl alone? We cant bear with it. We need to show the power of our Sharon Guard right away. Besides, isnt she somewhat rted to that guy? Lets bury them together! The unkempt-looking students all wore badges symbolizing the Knight Department. They were members of Sharon Pierces personal guard, essentially Sharons unofficial fan club. Everyone, calm down. A blond student sternly spoke up. The leader of Sharon Piers guard, Lukasic. Although he tried to restrain his subordinates, his expression was far from pleasant. Recently, he was not pleased with Sharon getting involved with Ian ckangers for various reasons. Now, the addition of someone like Danya was further hindering Sharon Pierce future. Even though he tried to endure, there was a limit Captain, by the way. What is it? These guys even lingered around the sacred physical training groundst time. Lukasic bit his lip. Deal with them. Ian walked towards the exit with a satisfied expression. Although his mana grade was lower than expected, it was within his predictions. Furthermore, collecting that amount of perfectly refined mana was a better result than anticipated. And Danyas performance by his side. This is enough for the first day. As he exited the assessment venue, a group of students called out to Ian. Hey, you cat over there. In reality, it would be more urate to say that they confronted Danya. Their remarks are truly trash. With such thoughts, Ian turned his gaze towards the voices. Several students stood there, emanating a force reminiscent of extras ying viin roles. Are you the owner of this pet? Judging by their sneeringughter directed at him, it seemed they were aware of him. Meanwhile, they blocked Ian and Danyas way, adopting an overtly threatening posture, as if challenging them to a fight. Interfering with Sharons path, which is left after the award ceremony, you guys are beyond forgiveness. Did you think you could mess up the n and escape? Make sure they cant even make a peep around Sharon from now on, educate them perfectly. The guys seemed ready to attack, but Ian briefly interrupted their flow. Arent you guys knights? Thats right! Isnt someone fighting one against many like this tarnishing the honor of the Knight Department? How cowardly! ept the duel honorably. Cowardly? Ians expression changed momentarily. Look at us, three of us confronting me and a single girl. On the contrary, theres no need to exin your bodies. Three bulky muscle masses surrounding us and challenging us to a duel. Isnt that downright cowardly? Shut up! But Ian relentlessly pressed on without giving them a break. In essence, what youre suspecting is this. Tell us, for now! That we are drawing attention while having less ability than Sharon Pierce. Thats right! Its truly pathetic. Isnt there anything better to do in the Knight Department? You b*stard! The members of the Sharon Guard grumbled. If thats the case, lets show it clearly. ? That I am overwhelmingly superior to Sharon. Thats not possible! Is it? What? Since the next measurement was mana control, and to prepare for the uing events, it was necessary to leave a strong impression on the Academy. Considering the situation, it wouldnt be a bad idea to deal with them a bit. Levitation. A moment of silence passed. Thenughter erupted. Levitation? He says hes going to levitate? Hahaha! Does he think hes some grand magician? This b*stard is calling for a show! And one of the members of the guard, perhaps interpreting it as a provocation, rushed forward. How about I get a good deal out of this? While checking the state of affairs with a sidelong nce, Ian noticed a professor observing them, seemingly expecting him not to be hurt. Whats going on here. Suddenly, a chilling voice was heard. Sharon Pierce made her appearance. It seemed like they were on the path to the Knight Department building. T-these guys were obstructing Sharons reputation work! Is that a problem? Rather than that, I dont understand why youre so concerned about my poprity and reputation. T-thats because there are certain circumstances. Moreover, that guy was bragging about showing levitation, so we, as members of the Knight Department, couldnt just let it slide. Levitation? Sharon turned her gaze towards Ian. As soon as their eyes met, Sharons eyebrows furrowed. Levitation is impossible. You were just swindling with absurd stories, Ian ckangers. Youre quite shameless. What do you mean by swindling? Dont y dirty tricks and mock me. In any case, your fate will soon be decided by the disciplinarymittee. The Disciplinary Committee. Ian was already aware that it was right around the corner. Provoking Sharon like this was one part of preparing for the disciplinarymittee. What if I show it? What will you do? Her eyes, as if looking at something pitiful, scanned Ian. To levitate, thebination of magical power and physical strength must be precisely zero. Do you im that someone like you can achieve such a high-level control? Its something only a 5-star magician can do. Do you insist youre a grand magician? In essence, Sharon, who originally despised Ian, had a frigid tone in every word, as cold as her appearance. Simultaneously, the excited members of the guard burst intoughter. Levitate? Lets see him do it. I bet a copper that he wontst a second. A second? Ridiculous. Ill bet my entire fortune that hell copse the moment he goes up. The guysughed endlessly as they mocked Ian. Instead of provoking Sharon, Ian grinned and teased them. Fine. Ill join in with the betting. I bet 1 gold. How about it? Theres no way you have that kind of money! Ian rummaged through his pockets and tossed a gold coin. It was practically his entire current capital, partially cashed out for Christinas joint research. Flipping it, Ian barely held back the corners of his mouth that were about to rise. Levitation. It might be infinitely challenging for these guys. But Im different. If a few conditions were met, levitating in the air was not that difficult. Couldnt stand for a second? Well, he believed he could float all day. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 56 Chapter 56 So it happened. A somewhat musty-smellingboratory. Ian finished exining the matter to Christina. You bet on a technology that isnt evenplete yet? I believe in it. And the deadline is tomorrow, too? Masters student Its normal for a scientist to stay up all night. Ians nonchnt response reached its peak as Christinas voice grew louder like a gradient. Moreover, you risked the research funds we painstakingly earned, not to mention the material cost we have to pay for buying our raw materials and the glowing show of Ill show you something! you pulled. Well, you could put it that way. Christinas expression almost seemed like the world was ending. Indeed, it feels like I used the research we worked hard to obtain too freely. Ian had a simr experience in the past. He began to feel a bit sorry for betting the research funds without any prior notice. Certainly, he had enough confidence in his findings, and there was also Ians share in the research funds. However, putting money on his actions was somewhat emotional. If the goal was to improve Ians reputation, showing something significant in the final assessment would have been enough. While Christina stared at Ian in silence, she finally spoke. Hey, are you crazy? What? To Ians bewildered question, Christina covered her mouth somewhat yfully with her fingertips. Oh my, my true feelings slipped out. She looked at him with a mischievous smile. No! Quickly go and retrieve it! How can I buy materials after putting everything on the line? We need materials to conduct research! Was all that just for material costs? Of course! Do you know how expensive rare metals are? Just because you said you have a way to procure them doesnt mean its guaranteed! Christina expressed her anger with her hand on her hip. But Ian nodded contentedly. If it was all about material costs, there was no problem. Ive already procured the materials. Ian took out ss bottles from his bag. On his way back from meeting with mid-level executives handling raw materials, courtesy of Silvia. He assisted in the extraction tasks rted to the scarce metals needed for research, and the by-products were more than enough. The satisfaction from the executives was higher than I expected. Ironically, it was more of a win-win situation for them than for Ian. tter, tter. Ian quietly raised a ss bottle. Isnt this enough? Rows of ss bottles lined up on the table. Christinas eyes, which should have been tired due to fatigue, widened at the sight. Did did you buy all of this with the money? Yeah. I practically didnt spend any money, just used my body. Huh? Christinas eyes shook violently from side to side. Should she at least calm down? While Ian was contemting, Christina knelt down to the floor. And like praying, she closed her eyes and sped her hands together. I apologize for doubting. Im just a researcher hidden away in a dark corner of theb, spinning wheels. Ian, youre the light and hope, simply the Greatest of All Time Scientist. I wont doubt you again. Amen. . Ian looked at her with a somewhat dumbfounded expression. Her earnest eyes, closed in what seemed like genuine prayer, were even more bewildering. It seems the saying that all scientists have a loose screw somewhere might be true. Tap, tap. After dusting off her knees and standing up, Christina grinned and tilted her head. Is there anything youre curious about, Ian? Her expression, sopassionate now, was unbelievablepared to her earlier anger. It was somewhat awkward to see her looking up at him with that face. Are you really serious and not joking? No, Im serious. I wont doubt you again. I will be the first disciple of Ian Church. Please, can we drop that concept? Its getting ufortable. Christina nodded quietly. However, her eyes seemed strangely uneasy. But, Ian. Yeah? What are you going to do with the research funds? Of course, Ill use them for research again. Christina held her hands together with her endlessly moved expression. Ill stay up tonight. That was a good attitude. But figuring out how you, Ian, can apply levitation stones, thats something that needs to be tested multiple times. Even if you apply it as a thin film on your body, theres no guarantee that the current properties of the substance will be maintained. Christina, along with the briefing, immediately put on a gown and protective gear. The sight of her donning tightly fitting white gloves looked truly professional. It seems challenging to create a thin film that fits Ians body like that. Lets start with that. She quickly grasped the essence of the work and skillfully dove into it. It was not just idle talk that she would be an alchemist who would make a name for herself on the continent. Ian, Ill leave the preparation for making the thin film to you. We need to start quickly. Certainly, Ians talent in these applied areas is no less than hers. [Copper], [Lead], [Lunar], [Steel] Ian touched the metals without saying a word. And in an instant, the materials covered Ians body. Is this enough? Christinas mouth dropped open in surprise. The next day, at the measurement site gathered for the second Grade Assessment. Ian? Yeah, whats up? Are you okay? Your eyes look incredibly tired, and your hair seems a bit messy. Ian absentmindedly touched his own head. Ah. He forgot to wash up after staying up all night. He was busy thinking about how to apply the levitation stones and conducting experiments. Well. After the assessment, Ill wash up and get some sleep. Danya choked at that disgusting sight. Dont overwork yourself because of me Danya was under the misconception that Ian was arguing to take care of her. Ian was just angry at the attitude of Sharons fan club members. But he didnt bother correcting Danyas misunderstanding. It was too tiring after staying up all night. Judging by your face, did you not sleep properly thinking about losing money all night? Ian turned towards the voice of the whining. Lukasic, the president of Sharons fan club, was standing there with a smile on his face. Ian raised his eyebrow in response. The tired look disappeared instantly, and his eyes, posture, everything became remarkably sharp and confident. Well, I was nning to visit you anyway. Its a bet between us. Lukasics face stiffened at Ians sudden change. What was he trying to say? Ian spoke up. But isnt it a bit strange? What? Im taking on a fight with lower odds, so its not fair to stick to a one-to-one ratio. I was thinking of taking care of my sides odds a bit. How about 1:4? Lukasic had already put one gold coin on the line. One gold coin was equivalent to a years worth of food for a middle-ss family. No matter how noble Lukasic was, the amount was burdensome. Ian confidently pushed forward. Scared? I-Ill add one more! Thats it, then? No, add three more. Go with four. Four? Yeah, four. Thats unreasonable! If you think levitation is unreasonable, then thats your problem. If youre so confident, you should increase the payout for me. Lukasics face turned pale. The image of Ian in his mind was generallycking in confidence. He was suddenly taken aback by Ians bold demand. However, he couldnt just back down with dignity. Lets settle for three. Four. Lukasic grabbed Ians shoulders, then whispered quietly. I dont have the money right now If I put all this in, I wont have any living expenses. Four. Profit! Ians eyes, endlessly clear and somewhat crazy. Lukasic felt a bit overwhelmed by Ians sudden change in demeanor. Its probably definitely not going to happen anyway. Leave four gold coins for a moment, and youll get five back after a few minutes. Lukasic added three more gold coins into the money pouch. Lets make sure of this. Levitation, or more precisely, maintaining the levitated posture exactly. It means keeping the levitation fixed in the air. Of course. Ian smiled at Lukasics words and tied the opening of the money pouch. He was about to hand the pouch to the witness for the bet. A white hand blocked his way. Whats this nonsense during the grade assessment? Sh-Sharon? In fact, yesterday, Ian and Lukasics bet was canceled due to Sharon Pierces intervention. Ian quickly tied the money pouch with the bet to hand it over to the appointed witness. Sharon frowned. I think I asked what youre doing right now. A bet. Why, do you want to join too? A moment of silence. Sharon spoke with a voice as cold as a sword forged from ice. I find you quite unpleasant, Ian ckangers. What exactly do you find unpleasant? Everything you do. Ian stared at Sharon for a moment. He knew that she disliked him, or more precisely, Pongpong. He spected that if she was the one who pushed Pongpong away, it was probably because Pongpong disturbed her training by chasing her. Therefore, he had vowed not to get involved with her. Leaving her alone to train might make her interest fade. However, Sharon seemed to have different thoughts about Pongpong. Ian ckangers, you act as if youre helping others, but secretly plotting sinister schemes. Even in the current situation, its obvious. Its as if youre looking at my brothers and sisters with disdain. Comparing me to the children of the Pierce family seems like an overestimation. Sharon frowned at Ians words. Your sins will be revealed by the Disciplinary Committee. That seems a bit unfair. Unfair? Look at what youre doing right now. Making nonsensical fabrications, wasting money on gambling based on that, youre a troublemaker who confuses everything with all kinds of tricks and schemes. Thats why the Disciplinary Committee is needed for you even more. In other words, the apostle of justice was upset. Would that motivation push someone to push someone else off a roof? It shouldnt be thought about considering the environment she grew up in. Ian, however, instead of pondering about this, decided to provoke Sharon. Go ahead with the bet then. What? If you cant trust my words, how about you make a bet too? Whether its money or goods. In short, all you need to do is see me levitating in the air quietly, right? Ian nced around. It was in the middle of the second Grade Assessment. Many students were watching this dispute. In front of them. An endlessly confident posture. Even Sharon was momentarily taken aback by Ians confidence. But only for a moment, then her eyes regained sharpness. Fine. Sharon untied the sword she had hanging from her waist. Ill bet this sword that Ian cant maintain his posture in the air. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 57 Chapter 57 The sword held out by Sharon. The student who took on the money looked puzzled but epted it. Uh, the ratio? Sharon coldly muttered in response to the students words. Its unnecessary. Its obviously not going to happen anyway. Instead. Sharons eyes sharply lit up towards Ian. Ian, if what you said is a lie, confess all your sins in the soon-to-be-open disciplinarymittee. Disciplinarymittee. Although it proimed fairness, the disciplinarymittee was heavily influenced by the potential of the subject. Lina Rosewell was a good example. In fact, Ians current maniption of the situation was also aimed at gaining an advantage in the disciplinarymittee. Having agreed with Silvias opinion that building a positive reputation could be helpful, Sharons strong stance might have been an attempt to obstruct that n. Why is she so obsessed with the disciplinarymittee? The situation where heroines gathered was clear. Why Sharon took the lead in such a way was even more intriguing. It wasnt unreasonable to assume that Sharon Pierce was the culprit who had pushed Pongpong off the rooftop. Sharon Pierce, possessing overwhelming physical abilities among the heroines and a cold,posed personality. She was determined to resolve her childhood traumas through growth alone. If Pongpong interfered with her growth, a few ufortable corners would be understandable as motives for the crime. If she couldnt satisfy the pressure for growth imposed by her family and it erupted on Pongpong, who happened to confess At first, it was just to remove an obstacle. When Ian came back to life, there was a possibility that he had nned a more borate scheme to eliminate Ian through the disciplinarymittee. Considering she grew up in the Pierce family, it wasnt unthinkable. As a traditional knight family, they prioritized honor over life. In addition, as a family that thrived on survival of the fittest, various machinations among siblings were rampant. Given all this, the background of the Pierce family she grew up in would not likely value human life so highly. The endlessly cold and firm gaze of Sharon. There is no need to think about it now. From the beginning, there was no intention to restore the rtionship with Sharon. Even if everything miraculously fell into ce, in the end, Id be Sharons enemy. The next main story, Act 2, Frozen River, would inevitably involve conflict with her. Therefore, the only way to resolve the conflict with Sharon now was for one of them to copse. The only reason to defeat Sharon in the disciplinarymittee had just been added. So, Ian nodded straight away. I pledged the honor of ckangers. Honestly, no matter how you thought about it, it was a benefit. The sword that Pongpong had given to Sharon. It was quite valuable. And if he lost, confess his sins? He didnt know what Sharon Pierce was thinking, but there was no crime to confess. Even if he brought Pongpongs achievement into it, a simple I apologize for confessing should have been enough. This meant that it was unconditionally beneficial. If I lose, I will reveal all the truths at the disciplinarymittee. And anyway, he would seed. Hey, student Ian? Its good to chat, but time is not that abundant. It was Ians turn again, who had returned unnoticed. As a gesture of apology, Ian nodded to the instructor. And then, he moved forward. Unlike the first day, today there were no special measurement devices. A slightly elevated tform of about 3 meters in height and a transparent wall surrounding it to prevent the release of magic. All he had to do was unleash his prepared abilities when he climbed up. Mana control ability measurement start. The instructors signal. The surroundings buzzed with excitement. Ian took a look around. A group of Saron fan club members and their leader Lukasic wereughing. Sharon Pierce, ring. And many students, watching with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Today, Ian ckangers, not Pongpong, would leave asting impression on them here. I will begin. I will demonstrate mana control ability by showing whether I can float sufficiently in the air and if there is movement while floating. The instructor and the evaluators nodded. Ian looked down at the back of his hand. Thin metal rings, each glowing in a different color for each finger. Rings crafted from optimized ratios of materials from floating stones. He clenched his fist, focusing on them. Rings that disappeared in an instant. Extract it like this. He circted the extractedponents along the mana circuit inside his body. He spread it throughout his entire body. Try to cover the skin as thinly as possible here. From the wrist to the shoulder. Part of the chest, the knees, and from the ankles to the toes. Optimal positions for floating found through numerous failures overnight with Christina. Externally, it should appear as if hes wearing tes covering only a few key areas. Wow, whats that? Can earth magic do that? Is he an alchemist? Is that impressive? Go, Ian! Admiration echoed around. On the other hand, the faces of those who hoped for Ians failure frowned. Unfortunately for them, Ian had not yet floated. Ian closed his eyes and focused on the sensations at his feet. The hard floor of the measurement room. He spread maism through Extraction and Transformation. And then, at a certain moment. Hmmm Ians body floated in the air. ?! Ian was floating in the air, motionless as if he were frozen. Aerial suspension. A technique achievable only with an extraordinary level of a mages mana control ability. It was by no means an ability easily attainable. Hes floating, he hes really floating! Can that even be done? Hes not moving at all Some Aether ss mages, well aware of this fact, were the first to marvel. Wow! Is that for real?! Nyaaaaaaa! Following that, dyed shock filled the measurement room. Ian descended from the tform, smiling. At the end of that smile, Sharon and her group of guardians had gathered. The observation seats of the grade assessment room. The saint candidate is undoubtedly a saint candidate. Dont get too greedy. If you mess with the saint, even the Horizon Guilds headquarters will disappear from the map. Until just a moment ago, the conversation here had only been about the overwhelming sacred power of saint candidate Aria. But with Ians performance, astonishment filled the air. W-Whats that? What is that? Hovering in the air? Using earth elemental magic? Ive never seen anything like this. Among them, Ray from the Magic Tower Lichten branch was particrly astonished. Supporting every point of the body with mana without disturbance. You have to constantly move the mana along the mana circuit, utilizing the mana that moves. Achieving that even the Magic Tower Lord doesnt do that. Ray muttered with a somewhat lost expression. Elisha, on the other hand, answered somewhat bluntly. Of course, because its useless. Well, thats true. Still, the meaning of aerial suspension is like this! Im so great that I can do such useless things effortlessly! But for a student to show something like that Standing still in the air without moving is definitely not a bad ability. Still, well it could be some kind of trick, right? Even if its a trick, its impressive, really impressive Ray, who was about to counter, red at Elisha. Unni. Elisha rolled her eyes at Rays sharp words. Hmm? Observe the principles of morality. Its my turn this time. While the witches of the Magic Tower and Horizon Guild were arguing. Deep in the spectator seats, there was a figure, looking down from a shadowy corner. Amusing, but its a gimmick. A girl with white hair that looked like stars and deep navy-colored eyes. She was looking down at Ian with elegant but also curious eyes. A knight from the Imperial Guard, the Knights of the White Lily, quietly approached the girl. If youve seen enough, you can leave now. Sir Jerome, werent you here to see Sharon Pierce? Sharon Pierce hasnt even started yet. You know well that my purpose for visiting is for escort duty. Please leave before the exit besplicated. The girl, Asteria, quietly observed Sharon Pierce from her seat. Even from a distance, Sharons face looked endlessly cold, like ice. Hmm. Lady Sharon would be sulky if she found out. Even as she uttered those words, Asterias gaze involuntarily fell on the ck-haired boy. A son of the fallen ckangers family. Work has be fun. I think Ive seen enough. Lets go. The girl smiled and left the measurement hall with the knight. In a secluded alleyway. The girl flicked her fingers. Her once brilliantly white hair transformed into radiant and noble golden locks in an instant. Knight Jerome asked her. Are you going back like this? No. What? Im going to enroll here. But princess what about Jerome, the knight, looked around in haste. In response, Asteria grinned. Dont worry. Ive cast a silence spell around. Apologies. Its fine. Anyway. Asteria took a few steps ahead, sping her hands behind her back. Im looking forward to what the son of the ckangers family will show us in the future. Meanwhile. Ian was busy stuffing his pockets. Shimmering golden coins. And an expensive sword. Looking somewhat materialistic, he nced at the original owners of these items. Is it serving you well? Smirking. Ianughed. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 58 Chapter 58 A personal training ground prepared by the Knight Department. A square-shaped line, drawn with a length of 3 meters on each side, surrounded the training ground, with training dummies ced at each corner. And right in the center. A woman with endlessly cool-colored hair closed her eyes and focused silently. Eyelids drawing a long, blue crescent line like a frost-covered crescent moon. Sharon Pierces training routine began by swiftly cutting down the dummies arranged in all directions. As Sharon wielded her circle, her surroundings glowed with a halo. The crystallized mana droplets flowing from her body reflected the surrounding light, creating a phenomenon. Hmph. With a light exhale. Ssaaack! The sword gracefully carved through the dummies, one by one. No, it had to be carved. Kkigigigik! Chilling sounds of metal cracking echoed, and soon after. Jjaeng! The sword shattered. Fragments of the sword scattered like an explosion. Sharon quickly turned to avoid them. But long streaks of blood were engraved on her white arms. Jebuk. Sharon looked down at the floor. A shattered sword, like broken pieces of ss. It was the best sword she could currently obtain. But still, it couldnt withstand her magic. While the type of mana element is fixed, its characteristics vary depending on the person absorbing and using it. The deeper the talent and personality of the user, the more pronounced these traits be. Sharons frost mana element was endlessly cold and sharp. A regr sword couldnt handle her mana. Brushing away visible droplets of blood. Sharon surveyed the training dummies. One waspletely cut down, The one next to it was roughly severed and lying down. The third dummy stood diagonally, cut halfway, And thest one remained unscathed. Originally, all the dummies around her should have been cleanly cut. This was just the beginning of her training, a warm-up. She felt the need to add more training dolls. But why was there a dummy, partially cut, staring at her crookedly? Ugh. A small groan escaped from Sharons lips. Her hands, clenched tightly. Sharon lowered her head. The fist she unconsciously gripped slowly unfolded. A sharp piece of sword embedded in her palm. The flowing blood, dropping steadily from her hand. Impossible. Sharon murmured unconsciously. With a sword like this, it was simply impossible. It couldnt contain her endlessly sharp frost mana. Dozens, hundreds of such swords would yield the same result. But this was the best sword she could currently obtain. Ah Sharons expression, which had remained impassive until now, finally changed. Her cold face cracked for the first time. She bit her lower lip. Regret, because of a foolish decision. Why did I do such a stupid thing? Why did she bet the sword on Ian ckangers failure in that situation? Why couldnt she keep herposure? If Ians words were lies, he would copse on his own. But she couldnt stand his arrogant expression. Ian was a man who treated Sharon well on the outside, but secretly practiced the dark arts of cursing her growth. She wanted to suppress him somehow. It was a stupid idea. A foolish thought. She was foolish and pathetic. She believed that Ian was hiding his power. But she shouldnt have bet the only sword she had. There was nothing to gain. Kkaduk Ian ckangers was always like that. Whenever she looked at him, herposure shattered. The icy calm rationality lost its edge. What seeped through the cracks was fear. Fear of what would happen if she couldnt find a sword. Fear of what would happen if she messed up the grade assessment. The fear of ridicule from siblings when the news reached the family. Fear of deep disappointment from the head of the family. And The fear of being cast aside, with growth broken, sinking once again into the deep darkness. Shivering Lips trembling slightly. Sharon bit them, barely suppressing the tremor. A thick streak of blood flowed down her lower lip. Help Should she ask for help? But from whom? Naturally, there was a name that came to mind first. Ian ckangers. For the first time in her life, someone who genuinely helped her. And within that warm kindness that melted her, there was something elusive, a mystery revealed by the man. Thud Blood dripped from Sharons wounded fist as she clenched it again. Apart from him, she had never received help. She didnt even know how to ask for help in this way. One day. There was only one day left until the final grade assessment. She had to find a solution before that. Without a sword, she couldnt produce proper mana. To the family Should she make a plea? She had never done such a thing before, but now, there was no other option. Even when her mother passed away, the head of the family had never shown kindness to Sharon. But just this once, please forgive her. With such futile hope, Sharon picked up a quill. Shivering hands, dripping blood, continuously wrote on the paper. Thest day of the grade assessment. As Ian expected, the assessment was mobility. The location was a vast courtyard located on the outskirts of the Academy. The assessment methodprehensively measured mobility, eleration, speed,nding, and usability. Student Ian ckangers mobility assessment will now begin. Of course, the preparations were perfectlypleted. However, there was a slight difference from before. Hey, Ians up there! We definitely need to watch this! The anticipation from the students had changed. Amidst asional grumbles like Whats so good about that guy, people tended to prefer fun overints. Ian clenched his fist immediately. The rings on his fingers disappeared. Simultaneously, he infused maism into the ground. Levitate! Cheers erupted even before his bodypletely lifted. Feels like Ive joined a circus. Ian, who let out a light sigh, took out a capacitor from his pocket this time. When you apply current to a levitating stone film, the levitational force instantly increases by several hundred times. In other words like a cannon. In the end, its a cannon. Although he hesitated as much as being shot out, in the end, it circled back to being a cannon. Still, the constion was that the likelihood of each arm, leg, and head arriving separately was significantly low. Life. A muttered soliloquy drowned in cheers. an held the capacitor against the levitating film and let the electric current flow. For a moment, his entire body tingled. Roaaar! The surrounding scenery shed by in an instant. There was no time to feel the speed; it was time to prepare fornding. Extraction, Transformation! Extending his fingers, Ian created a maic field at the destination. In a sense, it was a kind of maic. As soon as his soaring body reached the destination, Whooosh! Instantaneously, the body was fixed. Dashing distance 100m! Speed under 1 second! Wow! You crazy b*stard Ian, you crazy b*stard! Cheers poured down along with the shouts of the instructor. It was like swearing or being amazed, but it was hard to concentrate. Ugh! Ian felt a surge of nausea. The feeling of organs shifting was overwhelming. He had lowered the speed, but This was no joke. Lets think of a way to stop more smoothly. While contemting how to outsmart Christina, and calming his stomach, ng! Kyaaaack! Miss Sharon, are you okay?! Far away. The sound of a sword breaking reached them. Seems like the sword couldnt withstand the mana. Sharon Pierce, who was treated as an end-game character in the game, had the same conditions. Customized equipment. In other words, the more money spent, the better the performance. Even in reality, that fact did not change. One side was cheering. The other side was screaming. Thendscape had changed with the grade assessment. After the grade assessment. Although there was a brief moment to enjoy some leisure, unfortunately, there was no time for that. Disciplinary Committee Summon Notice We hope you respond to the disciplinarymittee summon. Disciplinary target: Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers Reason: Threats and s*xual harassment against fellow students. . Two dayster, at the decision of the disciplinarymittee. See you at my ce. Somehow, Silvia got wind of it and immediately contacted Ian, suggesting a strategy meeting. Ian had already prepared some countermeasures, but advice from someone of Silvias caliber would undoubtedly be helpful. Excuse me Unexpectedly, Silvia hesitated for a moment. After fidgeting with her lips, she cautiously spoke. Is there someone who could be of significant help? Silvias voice sounded cautious, as if she was about to share something challenging. Thanks to that, curiosity intensified. Is there someone who could be of significant help? Silvias voice sounded cautious, as if she was about to share something challenging. Thanks to that, curiosity intensified. Who could it be? Of course, it might seem unsettling, but in my opinion, its wise to use every avable resource considering your situation. Her proposal isnt bad. By this point, Ian had a rough idea. A cautious gesture came from behind. Following Silvias gaze, Ian turned his head. I-Ian. Green eyes that seemed to contain forest leaves. A white neck adorned with a ck handkerchief like a choker. And red hair. Uh, hey there Lina Rosewell stood there, holding her hand up awkwardly. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Student Lina Rosewell, its now the end of your probation period. You cane out now if you want. On the day when all the grade assessments werepleted, Lina Rosewell finished the long probation period and stepped outside. Her red hair, which had flowed down to her shoulders, became messy. Dark circles under her eyes showed how much she had cried. Wearing clothes haphazardly, hair roughlybed, and shoulders slouched. One hand held a ck handkerchief wrapped around her neck like a choker, while the other clutched a note as she walked down the street. It was a long time after the grade assessments had finished. Even the sporadic passersby just paused briefly, unaware that she was Lina Rosewell. Only her eyes were different from her weary gait. Her eyes were full of hope. The reason was simple. The note she held in her hand was Ian ckangers address. If you have nowhere else to go,e hereter. One day, she gave me a note with my lunch box. A note handed to her one day with lunch. She thought she had discarded it, but while searching for traces of Ian among the gifts from her friends, she discovered it tucked in between. The joy she felt at that moment was indescribable. I-I can finally meet him. She endured, fueled only by the thought of meeting Ian. Sobriety in a bare amodation with thoughts of Ian every hour, every minute, every second. It was good to be able to do that. She could make an effort to understand what Ian had gone through, what situation he was in. The questions Ian sometimes asked He must have been falsely used. Understanding what mistakes she had made, why she had been so foolish. I only thought about myself and foolishly ignored Ian. Despite being so foolish, worthless, and insignificant, she was d she could think of ways to apologize to Ian and help him in any way she could. It was fortunate that she could think of Ian, but it was hell not being able to meet him. Linas steps quickened. She finally arrived at Ians amodation. This is Ians home Lina hastily put the note she held in her hand into her pocket. Then, she raised her hand to knock on the door. As Lina was about to bring her hand to the door, she hesitated. Trembling. Her hand trembled as if addicted to a drug. W-What if Ian doesnt open the door? If Ian found knocking annoying, or if he got angry and told her to leave, or worse, if he ignored her as if she were nobody? Knock, knock, knock. Suddenly, her heart pounded. The previous Lina definitely didnt have this kind of personality to worry so much. A personality that could open any door and say Hello! with a bright smile, that was Lina. But now, it was different. It was so frightening. She kept having negative thoughts. What if Ian really doesnt want to meet me? Suddenly, her vision became pitch ck. She had fainted several times during her probation period with this kind of thinking. If it continued like this, she would copse aftering all the way here. It wouldnt have any meaning. I-I have to knock. Lina mustered all her strength and knocked on the door with force. Knock, knock. Uhm, Ian? I-Its L-Lina I have something I want to talk about. Despite trying to control her voice, it kept cracking. Uhm, I have something I want to say to you. Words that had to be said. She had prepared better words, but she couldnt remember them. No response from the silent door. Lina swallowed her saliva. Helle out in a moment Surely. Five minutes passed like that. Hes probably taking a shower, right? Ten minutes passed. Uhm, Ian? Silence without any response. Is he not at home? But the lights are on. After work, Ian wouldnt be wandering outside somewhere. That means as expected. He probably doesnt want to meet me. Like a discarded puppy, her eyes welled up with abandonment. Her head hung low. For Lina, meeting him was the top priority, but it wasnt the same for Ian. I know this is my problem. Whenever she was with Ian, she only thought about herself. She didnt consider Ians feelings. She thought she had reflected countless times. But here she was, doing the same thing again. Whether Ian had any intention of meeting her, she didnt think about it. She ran all the way here fueled only by the desperate hope that he might want to see her. But what was the current situation? Ian clearly didnt want to see Lina. Lina bit her lower lip. She was selfish. But, still maybe, just maybe. If there was even a 1% chance that Ian wanted to talk to her, she was willing to bet everything on it. Th-This is the only chance we have to meet Lina gathered herself and knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock. I-I know I did something wrong. So, Ian please. Please Knock, knock, knock. Theres so much I need to say. I really thought about it. I know I was wrong. So, just once. Please, just listen to me. Please. Please. Please. Please, please. Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock Linas hand, which was pounding on the door, dropped. A reddened hand. No more strength left in her hand. She couldnt call out to Ian like this. She couldnt cling to him. No it cant be. Linas face began to pale endlessly. Her breath became shallow. No matter how much she tried to breathe, her chest wouldnt move. Just a gust of empty air. Then, she realized the reality. Oh, I get it. I know. You probably dont want to see me anymore Perhaps there might be a chance for a few words. But the hope she had clung to crumbled. Ian didnt want to meet her. He didnt want to say a word. Those thoughts overwhelmed Lina. Ugh. Her breath was cut off. It wasnt a feeling of a strangled throat, but rather, someone squeezing her heart. The world went dark. Her right hand, which no longer moved, was reced by her left hand. Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock. Continuing to knock on the door. If it didnt open, she felt like she would truly truly die like this. Ian didnt want to see her. Someone as insignificant as herself should live where Ians gaze couldnt reach. That might be the help for Ian. Save me, Ian. Please. Please. I know I was wrong. Huh? Just once. Please listen to me. Please. Please. Please. Huh? Please. Please But still Maybe it will help. If she dedicates her body and mind, maybe Ian will look back at her. She would rather be a sl*ve in his presence. It would make her feel better. Rather than that, no other way of living came to mind. Please, please please Tears continued to flow. Drenched in her clothes, she fell to the floor. Still, she kept knocking on the door. How much time had passed? Ttok, ttok. Footsteps heard from afar. Lina Rosewell? At the sound of her name, Linas head turned weakly. Lina Rosewell, copsed in front of Ians door. Wow. Silvia was shocked at her miserable appearance. She shed so many tears that her wet dress was almost transparent. It was the second time a different woman was at the door on her two visits, but Silvia was so confused that she momentarily forgot about the feeling of jealousy. Are you okay? Silvia found herself asking about Linas well-being. After looking at Silvia with her trembling eyes for a moment, Linas eyes drooped. Its not Ian Ugh, sorry. Sorry, Ian Please. Please open the door. Just once, please. Please Thud, thud. Lina was pounding on the door with her forehead. Silvia hurriedly tried to stop her. Hey, snap out of it. Ian is probably not home right now. Lina struggled to focus her eyes. Ian not here? Yes. Hes likely busy. After the recent grade assessment, where he went up at least one star, many guilds must be chasing after him. Oh, hes not here. Lina wiped away tears with the backs of her hands. She thenughed andughed. I-I I thought Ian was inside, and he just wouldnt open the door for me. Thankfully, hes not. Thank goodness. Linas emerald eyes lit up with renewed vigor. Even her pale face gained a flush. Sorry for showing you such a pathetic sight. As if nothing happened, Lina Rosewell stood up and smiled. Seeing this, Silvia couldnt help but ask. Arent you embarrassed? Huh? About your appearance. Lina, examining herself, scratched her head andughed. Maybe a little? Hehe. But being embarrassed isnt that important. ? Now I have another chance to meet Ian. Besides that, nothing else is important to me. Her voice was full of energetic and cheerful vibes. It was the Lina that Silvia knew. But for some reason, it sent shivers down her spine. Lina looked at Silvia and tilted her head. But Silvia, why did youe to Ians house? Oh, um, I brought a rare dessert to share Silvia stumbled over her words. Linas eyes were calm, but somehow it felt eerie. Her obsession with Ian seemed strangely dangerous. Silvia asked cautiously. Are you jealous? However, Lina responded by widening her smile and shaking her head. No. Thanks to Silvia, Ian can eat delicious food. Im happy when Ian is happy. Thank you. Oh But still, I envy you. If only I had money, I would have bought many nice things for Ian. Ehehe. I-I didnt buy anything! I just brought something that was left over! Im jealous of that too. It means you have something to give Ian. My ce has nothing. Im worried about how to repay him. Silvia realized. Youve just be a pushover. (TL: Original meaning is basically: someone whos very gullible and easily exploited, so Linas a simp.) Lina Rosewell was now just a pushover for Ian. Silvia sighed at that blind obsession. For some reason, it felt like the number ofpetitors had increased. Why is this ce so popr Silvia absentmindedly stared at Ians door. Initially, she thought it was a blue ocean. But now, its more like a fiery red ocean Such intensepetition wasnt Silvias taste. But now that she had entered, there was no room forpromise. Even so, Im probably ahead, right? The image of that cating out of Ians door shed through Silvias mind But she quickly shook her head. That sharp cat was nothing more than a pet. Normally, such people thatpete with cuteness dontst long. She needed to be directly helpful to Ian. Oh, right. The reason she came to find Ian. It was partly for dessert, but also because of the summoning of the disciplinarymittee. Lina Rosewell, this girl, could be quite helpful. Come to think of it, Lina, theres something you can do for Ian. R-Really?! Lina instantly perked up. S-So, does that mean I can see Ian? With brightened eyes, Lina looked up at Silvia. Her appearance was cute, like a puppy hearing the footsteps of its owner returning. Silvia sighed internally. Well, Ive be a rival to a cat, now a dog Am I doing well? But Ians resolution was the top priority. Silvia nodded at Lina. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 60 Chapter 60 The disciplinarymittee response should be approached from three perspectives. First, secure the dominance of power. We need sufficient authority on our side. Professors and relevant personnel need to be secured. Second is logical superiority. The more favorable evidence or circumstances, the better. However, it should be noted that logic does not guarantee everything. Third is the dominance of public opinion. This is why I hoped for Ians performance. Well done. And I happened to find a decent piece of information yesterday Ill let you know about itter. The day after the assessment. Ian, who received a call from Silvia, was unexpectedly dragged to a cafe. Two people are enough to meet in front of your home! Now its your turn toe to my ce! Silvia looked inexplicably angry. As soon as he was dragged out, he was seated in a room deep inside the cafe, where Silvia suddenly briefed him on the disciplinarymittee countermeasures. Although he tried to concentrate immediately since the disciplinarymittee was approaching the next day Silvias face, which poured out calmly, turned slightly red. Lets continue this storyter. I have something I want to talk about briefly. Flutter, flutter. Gracefully fanning herself, she snapped it. Arent you just letting random people of the opposite gender into your home?! Hmph! Silvia, with an angry face, handed a paper bag to Ian without giving him a chance to respond. I was going to refuse to give it but since it might go bad, Im giving it to you. A pouty expression. From Silvias perspective, she had failed twice to visit his home just to deliver this, and instead, unnecessarypetitors were all she saw. Meanwhile, Ian looked at the paper bag as if it were something amazing. Cold air was constantly flowing out from inside the bag. Its a specialty product from the northern territory. Can I take it out? Of course. Zip. Inside the paper bag was a single piece of fruit. But he was surprised. A highly exclusive specialty only found in the northern region of the continent. Its called Ice Grape. The visual of the fruit was simr to Shine Muscat Tanghulu. The difference was that the outeryer was ice, not sugar. Looking at Ian, who was amazed, Silvias frustrated feelings disappeared. Instead, she even let out a pointlessugh. Well, my pride Suppressing the rising corners of her mouth, Silvia said. Dont just stand there staring. Eat it quickly. It wont taste good if it melts. Ill enjoy it. Ian took a bite of the Ice Grape. The crispy ice with a hint of sweetness crunched and shattered. Following that, the juicy flesh with a refreshing grape aroma burst out. Wow. How is it? Delicious? Ive never had such a delicious fruit in my life. Smirking. Unable to hide the rising corners of her mouth, Silvia finally turned her head. Hmph. Well, since you enjoyed it, I might give you a break this time? A break? For what? For nothing. Feeling good, Silvia put an Ice Grape into her mouth and chuckled. Its delicious Well, lets get to the main point. Smoothly. Silvia elegantly took out a piece of paper and a fountain pen from her bag. Swipe, swish. On the paper, two precisely drawn vertical lines divided the page into three sections. At times like this, she truly seemed like a professional and nobledy. Admiring her, Ian saw Silvias earlobes, which turned red as if embarrassed. Silvia turned her head slightly and said. First, secure the professors. Professor Violet, Professor Rowen of the Reconnaissance Department, and Professor Suzi Dismal of Pharmaceutical Magic whom Ian seduced will be of great help. This is amazing. When did you seduce professors like this? They are all women, too. Its not like I seduced them. Dont say things that will cause trouble. Ians body trembled. Professors aiming for him as a research assistant. They were weaving a web and aiming for him. Oh, by the way, Dean Jan Bommel is also involved. After the grade assessment, he apologized in a casual and generous manner for ignoring Ian and at the same time inquired about what he needed. Ian requested support from the disciplinarymittee. Hmm. I heard about the disciplinarymittee. But since our student Sharon Pierce is involved, I cant support you. Instead, Ill definitely maintain neutrality. When he conveyed his words, she was surprised. Wow. Did Dean Jan Bommel really say that? Amazing. Silvia was sincerely impressed. Full support from three professors, and even the interest of the head of another department. Starting from scratch, was there anyone other than Ian who can attract the attention of professors in such a short time? At least among the people she knew, there was no one. Hes really more remarkable than I thought. Silvias gaze at Ian became even more intense. Emilia Raymond, who moves the elites of the academy, is quite expected to have the upper hand. Silvias fountain pen moved to the secondpartment. [ Obtain Evidence ] You can actually say that this is our special move. The results of the evaluation that Ian requested will probablye out this evening. And thestpartment. [ Secure Public Opinion ] I had my subordinates investigate briefly, and public opinion about Ian is not bad. Hmm. In the past, words that came to mind when thinking of Ian were hooligan, p*rvert, but now its changed to crazy guy, fun, curious. Its quite a positive transformation. Now you are undoubtedly the hottest potato at Lichten Academy. Its quite formal. Almost at the level of Kor- well, my previous country. Ians expression showed admiration. Silvia tapped her chin. Hehe. This kind of thing needs to be handled straightforwardly. We can use this as a basis to make more detailed ns, but But? Actually, theres one person who could be a great help. Silvias eyes became more serious. Theres someone who seems like they could be really helpful? In a voice that seemed to suggest a difficult topic, Silvia asked carefully. What do you think of Lina Rosewell? I dont have any particr thoughts. Although there was some unease about whether she was a v*rgin or not, now it seemed reasonable to consider that the possibility of her being the culprit was quite low. Therefore, Lina was currently far from Ians attention. Then. Just wait a moment. Saying that, Silvia stood up from her seat. She walked outside the room with a steady pace. Then, a familiar voice reached Ians ears. I-Ian. Always confident and cheerful, a heroine of Fantasy X Academy. Hi there? Lina Rosewell looked at him with a slightly nervous and tense expression. Linas expression wasplex. At first, she seemed tense, and a sense of guilt appeared in her timid posture. But her blossoming smile seemed happy. Ian didnt know how to express that face. Instead of standing there like that,e over and sit. I-Is it okay to do that? To keep standing? Uh, no! Thank you. Walking over, Lina hesitated and almost sat down as if her legs had lost strength. Uh, hey. Why is this happening? Suddenly, my legs feel weak. Im sorry. Ill be back in a moment Ian sighed and grabbed her, gently cing her in the chair. S-Sorry. Thank you. Lina lowered her head deeply. Then, after looking at him for a moment, she lowered her head again. I-I finally met you. Im relieved. Ehehe Muttering to herself, Linas eyes, visible between her lowered head, were filled with hope as if she had discovered an oasis in the desert. What was she seeking hope from in Ian? The sudden curiosity faded away like dewdrops on the sand. Ians current focus was not on Lina. He looked at the clock. Then he let out a small sigh. Seeing this, Lina, shoulders trembling. Ian asked, ignoring her. So, whats the matter? Uh there, um. I-I have something I want to say. Can you say it as briefly as possible? B-Briefly? Yeah. The hopeful expression from just a moment ago seemed to have disappeared. Lina now wore an expression like a frightened puppy. W-Well, I havent prepared to say it briefly. I-Im sorry, just a moment Mumbling, Lina then spoke hesitantly. S-So, you know? I, um I want to apologize to you. Yeah. I thought a lot about it. Th-that, you know, I thought I was wrong. I thought, maybe the kids were trying to push you away? But Im so sorry. Hmph I was wrong. Im sorry. I wanted you to punish me Lina. Hmphhuh? I have a disciplinarymittee tomorrow, so Im quite busy. Could you sum it up in one sentence? Uh there, um I-I havent prepared to say it briefly. Im sorry, just a moment Suddenly tears poured from her eyes. Well, you know? I I want to apologize to you. Yeah. I thought a lot about it. Th-that, you know, I thought I was wrong. I thought, maybe the kids were trying to push you away? So, I thought, maybe I was wrong? I-I thought they were trying to frame you? But maybe not? I was so worried. I-Im sorry. I was wrong. I didnt understand. I-I ignored you, got jealous, attacked you. Im so sorry, really sorry Tears suddenly poured out of Linas eyes. Her sweet trembling lips were wet with tears, and her scratched leg, used to endure crying, turned bright red. Ian watched Lina, who was shaking like a willow tree, with a calm gaze. What should I say. It didnt resonate. Ian, who had been pondering for a moment, decided to speak honestly. You know, Lina. Hmm. Huh Yeah. Since it seems better for both of us to be honest with each other, Ill tell you straightforwardly. Hah yes, yes. Your apology doesnt really hit me. I only get the impression that Lina feels sorry. Just because you say sorry doesnt mean my life is going to change. Hugh! So, sorry, but I cant ept it. If you have nothing else to say Ian stood up from his seat. There were still many crises to ovee before bing sentimental. If he couldnt resolve the disciplinarymittee meeting scheduled for tomorrow, he would be expelled from the academy. Then, how would he deal with the main scenario that would unfold afterward? He would distance himself from all the scenarios that would happen in the future, and a clear bad ending seemed to be the only future to hope for. Perhaps the reason Linas apology didnt resonate was because of that. There was no room for sentimentality. Therefore, Ian walked out of the room. No, he tried to. A leg that got in the way. I-Ian As he lowered his head, Lina grabbed onto the hem of his clothes. Lina. I dont have time to deal with you right now. Lina desperately shook her head. S-sorry. Its not like that. Its not about me. Uh-huh. I get it now. Even if a worm like me apologizes, its just going to irritate you. I wont bother you. Instead, I, I can help. Silvia said so. Ian silently looked down at her. Lina continued urgently. I, I can testify at the disciplinarymittee. Give me a chance to prove that Im useful. In, in return In return? Ill work hard at the disciplinarymittee. After that, can you talk to me at least once? Ian looked at her for a moment. A desperate and genuine gaze. It was a gaze that couldnt be seen in Lina, who was loved and cheerful within the Fantasy X Academy. Ian nodded silently. T-thank you, really. Huhuh Thank you. Tears welled up in Linas eyes. A bleak and empty lodging. Sharon, kneeling in front of a low table, slowly read the letter that came from her family. In summary, it said: Like all heirs, excessive economic support was not possible. Regrettable results in the grade assessment. However, keep an eye on the ckangers familys heir. There is someone among our acquaintances who is interested. Ensure that he receives full punishment for his crimes. It will be better for him to despair. He deserves such punishment. I will send someone to the disciplinarymittee. Expect them to arrive the next morning. Sharon clenched her teeth. There seemed to be more talk about Ian ckangers than about Sharon herself. Why why. Why did her family show more interest in Ian than in their own blood? Did they know that he had cursed Sharon? There was no choice. To im their attention, there was no other way but to prove it. The impending disciplinarymittee. This might be thest chance for her to catch the family heads eye. Sharon clenched her fist, her hand cramping. On the day of the disciplinarymittee. Underground of the Lichten Academy main building. The ce where themittee was located exuded a solemn atmosphere. The interior design was intended to create an intimidating atmosphere for the purpose of making the suspect feel pressured. Finally, is this tedious disciplinarymittee thest one? In front of the cold iron door. Ians lips curled up slightly. (TLN: Which one of you reported that 1* NU review, I enjoyed reading it from time to time *sigh*) ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 61 Chapter 61 [ Kirtos Anonymous Bulletin Board ] [ Title ] Today is the day of the disciplinarymittee for the celebrity. [ Content ] The disciplinarymittee is convened today. The reason is s*icide threats, and there are victims like Sharon and others lol his never-ending harassment is amazing. [ Comments ] I came back after a long time, but why is Ian a celebrity? Havent you seen the grade assessment? [Moving picture] Come after seeing this, its crazy. Wow, what skill is this? *Shivering* It turns out, he was a romanticist. If he cant have you, hed rather die. Dont exaggerate him, lol. Honestly, there seems to be some story behind it. Without a sword, isnt Ian better than Sharon, a water rocket who cant use mana without a sword? Talking about a 4.5-star water rocket, lol, crazy guy, lol. Dont insult Miss Sharon. Ill report you. Sharons fans are here again. Looking at the growth trend, Ian might catch up soon? Wow, there are a lot of crazy people above. Did everyone forget who Ian was collectively? Even among the extreme, he was extremely annoying. (Deleted post) Are you an employee by any chance? I heard you got caught posting on the Raymond board recently Wasnt it your Laurent boss and not Raymond? (Deletedment) Lolol, seeing your its definitely an employee. Isnt Ians story the most interesting these days? Ive never seen Kirtos Anonymous so lively. Are you friends with him? Put him on. If you get involved with Ian in real life, youll be treated as a crazy person and end up joining him, lol. I hope the disciplinarymittee resultse out quickly. If the results are good, he will be the real academy celebrity, lol. In fact, once the disciplinarymittee is convened, its almost impossible to avoid punishment. Even if its just Linas punishment, it seems like itll be a relief. Like any prestigious Academy. The Lichten Academys disciplinarymittee was notorious for its harsh punishments. Initially, ensuring maximum freedom for new students, but once a certain line is crossed, themittee proceeds. Therefore, if the disciplinarymittee is convened, avoiding strong punishment is practically impossible. Lina Rosewells punishment became a controversy for being the weakest in the history of Lichtens disciplinarymittee. In my case, expulsion is a real possibility. Expulsion needed to be avoided. It was tantamount to missing the flow of the entire main story, bing no different from a death sentence. Just looking at the next main story that will be held shortly, the premise condition for intervening in Act 2, Frozen River, can only be fulfilled by being a student of the Academy. Hoo. Ian let out a small sigh. A faint breath briefly obscured his vision before disappearing. Lichten Academy Main Building Basement. The air here, where good students cannot enter, was cold and damp. The waiting room with various metal interiors exuded a chill and intimidation. Considering that Lichten Academys basic interiors was nature-friendly and luxurious, the designers intention behind this ce became apparent. [ Suspect Entrance ] Inside the iron gate, voices of professors exchanging opinions asionally echoed. It must have been a discussion about what would be an appropriate level of punishment. Useless. Ian calmly refined the words he had prepared. He did his best in preparation. Now he just had to wait until he was called. While vaguely concluding this. Are you Ian? A womans voice reached him. She seemed to be in her early to mid-thirties. A beautiful face but somewhat intimidating. ng. Unlike the long sword at her waist, her luxurious clothes emitted a soft rustling sound. Was she a knight? A luxurious and somewhat burdensome fragrance lingered. Aran Alteach. Responsible knight of the Crimson me Order. Ian was surprised. The Crimson me Order was one of the two major knight orders of the Empire. Being a responsible knight meant holding considerable power. Contrary to her appearance, the woman could produce a bright smile. Her demeanor felt somehow familiar. Im also the older sister of Yurran. Today, consider me as Sharon Pierces guardian. Yurran. The Bloodstone Cultist he was on the same team with not long ago. Ian only now realized the true identity behind that bright yet ufortable smile. Theres a considerable possibility that shes a Bloodstone Cultist. Bloodstone Cultists were reaching out even to the Crimson me Order. Shocking, but is it really that surprising? Thinking of the characters he would encounter in the next scenario, most of it made sense. Of course, he should think about it when that time came. Ian quickly turned his head. There was no reason for someone like her to be here. It didnt make sense unless she was rted to Sharon Pierce. In other words, this person was a card chosen by the Pierce faction to exert pressure on the disciplinarymittee. I didnt expect them to call someone of this caliber. Should I scratch her a little? It seemed like an opportunity to introduce some variables. After a moment of contemtion, Ian nodded politely towards Aran. I am Ian. I am well aware of the reputation of the Crimson me Order. Arans eyes widened. She probably didnt expect such a response. Ians actions were merely an attempt to get to the point with her. Dealing with people like her was familiar territory. Hmm? Despite what Ive heard, it seems like we canmunicate well. You have manners. Ho-ho. Aran produced a diplomaticugh. She then spoke. Im quite busy, so Ill get straight to the point without beating around the bush. Please go ahead. Ian, I want you to admit that you were wrong. Do you know what that means? Oh my, dont make such a scary expression. Its just expulsion at worst, right? So, what do I gain from this? With a gracefulugh, Aran continued. Instead, Ill take you in as an apprentice of our Crimson me Order. We treat our mages well. Or, if you prefer, I have connections with a guild I know well. With a rmendation from a responsible knight of the Crimson me Order, there wont be a difficult ce for you. Think about it. Even if you graduate from the academy, the path youll eventually have to take, I can help you get there faster. Oh, and Approaching a step closer, Aran whispered. Of course, if you wish, Ill provide you with money as well. Enough for several years. Well, that was the deal. Anyway, Bloodstone Cultists were true to their nature. Despite the pleasant words, the moment you agree, all control shifts to the other party. Listening to ttering words, they lure you into a trap from which you couldnt escape. Ian found himself chuckling without realizing it. Aran was furious. Are youughing right now? I apologize. It just happened. You. Do you know what the Crimson me Order is? Crimson me Order or whatever. From my perspective, being expelled from the academy meant death. Well, I thought it was a pretty well-known knight order, but now it doesnt seem like it. What, what did you just say! Oh, didnt you hear? An order with an old woman as the responsible knight. What, what did you just say! Oh, didnt you hear? Auntie. You b*stard! Arans face swelled intensely red. An ufortable sound like huffing and puffing was audible for a while. Losingposure over such a provocation. It was easy to see the angle. Is she the type who climbed to the top through political maneuvering rather than skill? After a while, Aran spat out her words with great difficulty. Truly like a child from a failed family. Lacks manners due to ack of proper upbringing. I dont know where this person is getting involved. Such an unlucky child. Hmm. She even did some background research. Suddenly, Ian felt a shiver down his spine. Why are they showing interest in me like this? Aran Alteach. A knight under the influence of the Pierce family, but also a Bloodstone Cultist. Come to think of it, Ian, who was originally Pongpong, was destined to sacrifice himself to the Bloodstone Cult. Although his destiny changed slightly after his possession by Ian, the interest of the Bloodstone Cultists had been relentless. If you think about it, they were all trying to get Ian involved. So, does that mean they dont intend to kill me? A woman right in front of him, enraged. Ian spoke coldly to her. Maybe youre just a bodyguard of the Pierce family. Now that youve lost your flexibility, youve been assigned to do menial tasks? You!! A piercing scream. Aran closed the distance in an instant. The thick scent of luxurious perfume irritated Ians nose. You. Dont you know that youre standing in front of someone superior? Without that person, you wouldve been finished already. Prepare yourself. Ill not only get you expelled but also make youpletely miserable Ill somehow Ian observed that even in the face of such humiliation, Aran didnt draw her sword. At this point, he became genuinely curious. Who in the Bloodstone Cult could have an interest in him? Regardless, pondering on it now wouldnt lead to a conclusion. He had already shattered Arans mentalposure, and that seemed sufficient. Besides, many professors disliked imperial authority. It might be a while before the overbearing imperial knights came rushing in. I look forward to what youll show me. Oh, and the audience entrance is over there. Its dark, so be careful as you explore. Ian, confident in his ability to provoke, was scratching at her with confidence. Disciplinary Committee Hearing Room. Seven disciplinarymittee seats arranged in a semicircle, imposingly positioned. In the center below, interrogation chairs are arranged in a surrounded shape. The proceedings here proceed as follows. Victims testimony. Interrogation of the used. And the vote and verdict of the seven disciplinarymittee members. Before the victims testimony began. Professors who would serve as disciplinarymittee members were already seated in the sevenmittee seats. The most noticeable among them was Professor Violet, who was in charge of the Mezai ss in the Department of Magic. Long violet hair falling gently over her shoulders. Beautiful eyshes and subtle purple eyes. And long legs. Despite her beautiful appearance, her personality was straightforward and unreserved, befitting a magician. Professor Violet was very ufortable. It was because of the fat-filled voice of a professor. At the prestigious Lichten Academy on the continent, facing such an incident with these delicate and refined students is uneptable. Especially considering the recent issues with womens rights Professor Todd Cam of Hexology Defense, boasting as if he were the chairman. His frog-like face twisted every time he spoke. Sigh Violet let out a long sigh. There wasnt much reason for her dislike of Todd Cam. Hes just ackey for Raymond. Todd Cam emitted the stench typical of corrupted humans. Though only a small part, Violet, born with elven lineage, could sense it. Thats why she was convinced. Theres no way Ian would have done this. He was a gloomy kid, but determined. Even when faced with obstacles, he had the resilience to get back up. Well, it wasnt necessarily in the right direction, but After the s*icide incident, he became almost wless. Ians performance afterward shone like a gemstone, to the point where Violet wanted to carve it herself. He even mastered a movement skill with the Earth element. It meant he knew how to put in the effort. So, the notion that a person like him would resort to s*icide threats just because girls wouldnt meet him? Its just not convincing. Moreover, the attitude of the so-called victims side was suspicious. At least two of the disciplinarymittee members were professors from Emilia Raymonds side. And it was clear that the Bishop of the Lichten Branch on audience tform was supporting the saint candidate Aria, while the knight from the Crimson me Order was supporting Sharon Pierce. Famous figures to an almost exaggerated degree. Honestly, just by looking at them, one could believe it was a witch trial. The urgency of the victims seemed strangely doubtful to Violet. Therefore, Violet had made up her mind. To actively defend Ian. Honestly, even if hemitted the crime, she intended to defend him, given his exceptional talent. Seven professors of the disciplinarymittee. Among them, only Violet and Suzy Dismal of Clinical Magical Pharmacology, were firmly on Ians side. Ian should have prepared well While Professor Violet pondered with her long fingers resting on her chin. Kii-eek The meeting room door opened, and someone entered. Sharon Pierce. The appearance of the victim of the case. The official disciplinarymittee hearing had begun. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Thats how it happened. Sharon Pierce finished her testimony. In summary, all four female students rejected Ians confession, and they all read the threatening letter left by Ian. ng As if waiting for her testimony to end, Professor Todd Cam mmed the table and eximed. Is this eptable in an Academy of sacred learning? S*icide threats just because they didnt ept a confession! This is why young people these days Lets expel him immediately! Every time Professor Todd Cam shouted, spit flew, but Sharon calmly held her position at the witness stand. Herposed attitude added credibility to her words. Moreover, the weight of the testimony from a Pierce family member differed from that of ordinary students. After she stepped down, opinions were naturally expressed. It seems trustworthy. Professor Todd Cam has a point. He is indeed someone with clear reasoning. Some professors nodded, and there were even those who took the opportunity to tter. It was well-known that he held influence in the Raymond family. Violet frowned at the scene. Everyone, calm down. Except for the letter, isnt everything else circumstantial evidence? Professor Todd Cam raised his temperature on his toad-like face. Professor Violet! All four cadets gave the same testimony in the preliminary hearing! Why do they say different things after hearing it together? Theres no physical evidence. Theres consistency in the testimony! And, more importantly, its about the victims feelings, isnt it? Feelings! Emilia Raymond, Sharon Pierce, Saint Candidate Aria, Lina Rosewell of them are promising students, arent they? Those kids are suffering like that, and you speak so coldly! Was he appealing to emotions rather than logic? Professor Todds opinion is correct. If we show leniency, it wont end well when the reporters start asking questions. We need to decisively cut ties. From the beginning, Ians reputation wasnt that great. It wasnt just not great. It was the worst. The absolute worst. A back-and-forth exchange among Professor Todd Cams group. Violet sighed lightly as she watched them. Then she intervened. Wait a moment. Professor Suzy Dismal has something to say. Professor? Please speak up. Uh me. Feel free to speak. During thest Median House attack, Student Ians help was significant. He provided information about the blue mushroom spores in advance, allowing us to prepare the antidote to some extent. Whats the conclusion? In my opinion, Student Ian ckangers is not entirely in the wrong? Saying it like that might be unreasonable. Clinical Magical Pharmacology Professor Suzy Dismal. As soon as her story ended, Violet grinned. Now, isnt it a bit too tense based on circumstances alone? It might be better to consider evidence-based on the disciplinarymittee regtions even at this point. Some professors, leaning towards neutrality, nodded at Violets words. Hmm Come to think of it, didnt he also not receive amendation during thest ceremony? Reflection might be possible, but maybe his inherent nature is correct. Todd Cams face contorted in an instant. Those b*tches! Why were they making such a fuss over something insignificant? But there was no need to worry too much. Information had alreadye from the Raymond family. It was mentioned that there was a discussion with Lina Rosewell in advance. Originally, only Sharon Pierce was nned to testify, but just in case, Lina Rosewells testimony was also prepared. In the end, whether this way or that way, the Disciplinary Committee followed the flow and momentum. Todd Cam, having made his calctions, once again mmed the table. ng! His fat neck shook with the impact. Well then, lets call Student Lina Rosewell as well. Since she was able to attend as a witness today. Unless theres evidence, its meaningless Are you going to ignore the voice of the victim? The Disciplinary Committee is for the victims. Student Lina Rosewell. Pleasee in. Seeing Lina Rosewell enter as the door opened, Professor Todd Cam chuckled inwardly. Money is rolling in on its own. If he handled this matter properly, the amount of gold coins he would receive from the Raymond family would be substantial. But that was not all. With Raymonds support alone, reaching higher positions in Lichten would also be possible. I am Lina Rosewell. He nced at Lina Rosewell. Her b*****s may not berge; it seems shes been losing weight here and there. Professor Todd Cam quenched his appetite. With a sly smile, he opened his mouth with an oily voice. S*icide threats, it must have been a difficult memory to ovee toe forward with testimony. It might be a painful memory for the students, but could you please describe your feelings at that time in detail? Lina Rosewells testimony. She, known for her endless friendliness, couldpletely dominate the atmosphere of this disciplinarymittee if she shed tears. Evidence? How amusing. Just like this. Confirm Ians disciplinary action, receive the money. As Todd Cams lips curled up, Lina spoke. I dont believe Student Ian did such a thing. Really. It must have been difficult if you experienced such an event No, what? I believe Student Ian is being falsely used. What are you talking about! Clearly, even during the pre-hearing There was a misunderstanding at that time. I apologize for the incorrect testimony, but it was a case that was difficult to judge rationally. The contents of the will were shocking. Moreover, at that time, there was pressure from other victims Well, now Im not sure if theyre victims, but there was pressure on us. What was she talking about? Wait a moment. He had nned to use Lina Rosewells detailed testimony to drive the point home emotionally. But what was she saying? She didnt think Ian would do such a thing? She feels he might have been falsely used? The story was different. Todd Cam began to break into a cold sweat. Um Wait But Violet Professor didnt miss the opportunity and interrupted. A false usation There seems to be a need to rify this part a bit. Isnt this apletely new testimony? The atmosphere of themittee rapidly changed. Even though Todd Cam tried to speak. Well Just a moment. What do you have to say? No, its not that He couldnte up with a suitable remark. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Violet spoke up. Now it seems like its time to hear Ians testimony. Please call Ian. A shady area in the Disciplinary Committees observation room. Creak Emilia Raymond was grinding her teeth. That useless human. Seeing the pathetic figure of Professor Todd Cam, Emilia Raymond shook her head. She hadnt expected Lina Rosewells betrayal But there was nothing difficult to handle in that situation. If youre going to stumble over receiving a recent disciplinary action, then just do it. Why couldnt she do such an easy thing? Emilia felt a sense of nausea at Todd Cams toad-like face. This is why you should spend money wisely when you spend it. If only she could acquire a more useful professor. She simply kept a low profile during thismittee session because there were many eyes watching from the outside. When even the bishop of the church came out, she was a bit surprised. Well, as long as Pierces side is sincere, it should be fine. She nced at the journalist walking out of the observation room. Ian entered abruptly. Kwaaaaang! And right behind him, the door to the meeting room was mmed open. A sudden rudeness. It was natural for everyones attention to turn to the door. What in the world Who are you! While some professors were getting angry The Crimson me Knights? On the contrary, professors who prioritized substance recognized the uninvited guest. Although Lichten Academy may have seemed like an independent institution at a nce, it was ultimately an Academy within the Empires sphere of influence. The Crimson me Order, one of the two major knight orders serving the Emperor. Among them, knights with significant responsibilities were beings that differed significantly from ordinary professors at the Academy. A few professors quickly assessed the situation. Amidst your busy schedule, youvee all the way here. May I ask what brings you here? Some professors seemed to be busy getting angry, but others didnt show it. No good coulde of challenging Imperial authority. I am here to serve as Miss Sharon Pierces guardian. A brief pause as the knight, Aran, caught her breath. A loud sound erupted from her lips. Threatening s*icide to the Pierce family? And you intend to let it slide? Are you all insane? Aran Alteach, with eyes filled with madness and contempt, looked around at the professors. Each professor who met her gaze flinched. However, a courageous professor cautiously spoke up among them. Just looking at it, there are conflicting testimonies, and theres no clear evidence. What? Evidence? Hey, Professor there. No. Just calm down for a moment. Still, I thought Id watch over this prestigious academy, but this isnt right. Does the name Pierce mean nothing to you so easily? Of course, thats true, but this is an academy with a clear extraterritorial jurisdiction She pulled something out from her bosom. A badge indicating the authority for immediate judgment. Silence fell in the meeting room. If this incident is properly handled, it could be nothing. She stepped into the center of the room. But if not. Then, looking at each professor, she spoke each word carefully. You should be prepared for what youre doing. Silence enveloped the space. In the midst of it, Ian was rolling his head. Though he came in with Aran, he seemed overshadowed, present but unremarkable. Aran overwhelmed the meeting room with her momentum. However, there was a clear dissatisfaction with her presence, even though she hadnt stepped forward. It might be good to break the atmosphere a bit and go in. Should I do it myself? Just as Ian was about to speak. Clunk! Once again, the door opened. Is this the level of the Disciplinary Committee of Lichten Academy? Creak, creak. With a lively sound of footsteps, someone walked in. Who dares to Aran Alteach was about to retort with arrogance, but she stopped on the spot. What a mess. Is this almost like a street brawl? Dont nobles behave like this? Its fun. Its like a cheap y. P-Princess Asteria? How did you end up here? She bowed, showing respect. A slight disturbance erupted in the meeting room. -P-Princess? Princess Asteria chuckled lightly. Oh, right. I came to enroll in Lichten Academy. I came down for registration and decided to check things out. I love courtroom ys. One of the professors spoke up. Princess, were currently in the midst of the Disciplinary Committee, so it might be a bit awkward unless youre involved. If you want to watch, theres a separate way Turning her head towards the professor, Princess Asteria gave a yful smile. Oh, I didnt know how to do that. Arent I famous? The Third Princess Asteria, known for being foolish. Oh, right. Didnt you just point that out, Professor? N-No, its not like that! I didnt mean to insult the royal family. I-I apologize! No, whether its true or not, and since its bothersome, an apology is enough. Anyway, it looked like it would be fun, so I came to see. Swish. Princess Asteria extended her hand. More than that, is it proper to judge the situation by the volume of the voice? Its noisy and has no substance. Isnt the primary focus in court supposed to be the battle of truth? Silence among themittee members. The princess then turned to Ian. And I think youre a suspect, but dont you have any evidence? In ys, when someone says, Objection! its cool and all. Do you have evidence? Standing there silently, Ian finally spoke. Ive prepared the evidence to submit. What is it? A portion of the will that the victim ims I wrote, and SIlvia Laurent as a witness and a handwriting expert vouched for by her. Hmm? Smirking, Princess Asteriaughed. Now it feels a bit more like a trial. Ill watch from above then. Swiftly turning around, the Princess nced at Ian. In that moment when their eyes met, one of her eyelids blinked and then opened wide. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 63 Chapter 63 ? Ian was bewildered. With a dignified appearance, as if pulled from golden silk, she had long and shiny blond hair and a somewhat aggressive figure. Winking with one bright blue eye slightly closed, the passing figure was named Asteria. She was the third princess of the Britannian Empire. Why would the princess be interested in me? The influence of the emperor was absolute in the central part of the continent where Lichten was located. Asteria was the direct descendant and child of that emperor. Noble, dignified Describing the presence of the emperors bloodline here was so heavy that it was difficult with just a few words. The atmosphere in the disciplinarymittee, frozen in an instant, was proof of that. Even the distinguished professors were silent in the space. Of course, if you scrutinize it, there might be a few individuals within the academy whose power and reputation match that of the princess. However, they must have possessed overwhelming talent, put in relentless effort, and had good luck to reach their positions. The princess, on the other hand, possesses nobility equal to their lifetime achievements solely through her bloodline. Such a person suddenly appeared in the disciplinarymittee. It was natural that no one would be unsurprised. Ians reason for being shocked, however, was different from others. Its about time for Princess Asteria to enroll. She was the central character in Act 2 of the main scenario, Frozen River. The scenario began with Asteria entering the Academy and searching for trustworthy students. The foolish princess, The princess entranced by luxury Contrary to her public image, Asteria would embark on genuine sessor activities starting from the Academy. Therefore, her presence here was not surprising. Ian was just curious about why she took an interest in him. Well, the situation isnt bad for now. Whether it was because she was a drama enthusiast as she imed or for some unknown reason, Ian was helped. It was fortunate that the content of her interest was positive since there were things to extract from the princess in the future. Ahem. Lets proceed with the disciplinarymittee. After an unintended break, the disciplinarymittee resumed. Professor Violet skillfully took the lead. Student Ian, what evidence have you prepared? Professor Violet, right now, rather than that trivial evidence In response to Professor Todd Cams objection, Professor Violet red at him. Are you calling the essential content for determining disciplinary measures trivial evidence? Moreover, I mentioned it because Princess Asteria kindly made a good suggestion. Professor Todd Cam, are you expressing the princesss proposal as trivial? N-no, thats not what I meant! Absolutely not! Then just listen. Student Ian, we request the evidence you mentioned earlier. Todd Cam grumbled. Professor Violet effectively controlled the atmosphere. Ians mouth opened. I was able to obtain a part of the controversial will, allegedly written by me, during the Median House incident. If its the Median House, it must be the threatening will that Student Lina Rosewell had. Yes. I requested an analysis of that will. I propose Silvia Laurent and the handwriting expert she hired as witnesses for the results. Those in favor of epting witnesses and evidence submission, please raise your hands. Yes, majority rules. Come in. Swiftly. From here on, it was a speed battle. Silvia, who entered and made eye contact with Ian, lightly smiled and stood in the witness stand with a serious expression. Beside her was a man in histe forties, giving off the impression of a skilled artisan. After a brief introduction, Silvia took out a document. It was the s*icide threat will that Lina Rosewell had kept. She spoke. I had the handwriting analyzed. It matched Ian ckangers handwriting by 90%. People who thought that the content would be favorable to Ian were in the majority. The hall buzzed. Todd Cam, who was dumbfounded, shouted. See? Its confirmed that Ian did it! What kind of evidence is this, full of hearsay! However, his words were immediately drowned out. Silvia asked the expert standing next to her. It was only a 90% match. Isnt this a figure that can easily be achieved with a trained forgery specialist? Yes, thats correct. Even if youre not an expert, if you have enough data, you can produce a simr result by following along. There is also the possibility that this will itself is a false usation manipted by someone, isnt there? If we only consider the handwriting, the possibility remains. Silvia, nodding, now looked at Ian. I became curious around this point. Ian, have you exchanged notes or letters with anyone? A script pre-prepared. Ian responded naturally. A few notes with Student Lina Rosewell. Many exchanges with Student Aria Lumines Bell. For notes, collecting the entire handwriting might be challenging. So, whats your rtionship with Aria? We are childhood friends. Did you also exchange letters? Yes. The conversation flow naturally raised suspicions about the victims. This is an absurd and forced logic! Observant Todd Cam muttered. However, his resentment was immediately ignored. More importantly, there is one more crucial piece of evidence. The ink used in this will. I requested aposition analysis, and the result showed the inclusion of holy water However, Silvia did not conclude and blurred her words. Here. Up to this point, it was a nned script. The evidence Silvia proposed was all pointing to Aria Luminous Bell. A candidate for saint. No more strong arguments could be made. Why? ming a saint is in itself sphemy. Even if she was still a candidate, it was no different from challenging the authority of the church. So, here, he had to step in. This was Ian and Silvias n. And sure enough. Drrrr The sound of one audience seat being pulled echoed. Bishop Freiha of the Lichten branch. He stood up from the audience seat. Are you now suspecting Saint Candidate Aria? To that question, Silvia nonchntly replied. The ink in question is distributed only to a specific individual by the church Always showing apassionate smile, the bishops expression stiffened. Lady Silvia Laurent, be careful with your next words. Simultaneously, an immense pressure enveloped the chamber. Bishop Freiha. Not only the bishop of the Lichten branch but also one of the 72 Cardinals of the Holy Kingdom of Constantine. A person with abilities equal to his authority. ! Most people in the room felt an unbearable force emanating from him. A saint is a symbol of the church. An existence that must be pure and chaste. A candidate for sainthood, someone who could be such a saint, was suspected. No one could challenge the bishops attitude. But even up to this point, it was within the range expected by Ian and Silvia. Silvia Laurent finished her words with a casual smile. Furthermore, ording to external experts, there is a possibility that the ink used is a relic, but in this matter, it would be necessary for the church to conduct an investigation. She left room for possibility. She respected the church and implied stepping back a bit. She also handed over the investigation to the church. This was a kind of deal. The bishop would probably understand the meaning. In that case, the investigation should be handled by the church. The bishop, regaining hisposure, promptly epted Silvias proposal. Also, dear members of the disciplinarymittee. Although I participated as an observer, I would like to suggest one thing. All incidents rted to relics will be judged internally within the church as witch trials. Witch trials. The mention of that word chilled the atmosphere in the room. I would like to investigate this incident on the churchs side as well. Therefore, I, Bishop Freiha, request the postponement of the disciplinarymittee until the churchs investigation is concluded, indefinitely. But! Professor Todd Cam objected. However, the bishops eyes glowed fiercely. Witch trials are presided over by the Pope. No one here didnt understand the meaning of those words. Todd Cam also immediately closed his mouth. The decision on the indefinite postponement of the disciplinarymittee should be unanimous. To summarize, it seems that sufficient evidence from both sides has not been collected yet for this case. The results of the churchs investigation could also be crucial evidence. Therefore, I propose the indefinite postponement of the disciplinarymittee. If you agree, please express your opinion. Agreed. Agreed. Same opinion. And finally, Todd Cam. Yes. I agree. Unanimous. And so, the indefinite postponement of the disciplinarymittee was decided. Congrattions. Thanks for your help. Why all this fuss? Ill go in first. I want to talk openly with the princess over there. Silvia rushed off forworking. Watching her retreating figure, Ian let out a small sigh. Its done. With this, the disciplinarymittee had safely passed. Indefinite postponement? No need to worry about it. The church would most likely try to cover up this incident. Indeed, the ink used for the will was confirmed to be a holy relic. Symbolic relics received once bing a candidate for sainthood. Whether Aria wrote it herself with the ink or simply lost it mismanaging the relic. It was Arias fault. A saint must be pure in every aspect. No sins, no records of being investigated for anything. You wouldnt want even a small blemish. The church would probably never announce the results of their investigation. Thats precisely why they involved the church in the resolution of this issue. And it turned out to be the right solution. We achieved the goal. In the history of the Academy, no disciplinarymittee had ever ended without some form of punishment. Therefore, as long as it didnt go to the end of the disciplinarymittee, it was fine. Indefinite postponement. The best oue was obtained. But theres still a lingering difort. It felt like his skin was sticky, like the sweaty heat of midsummer. Real messes also had this kind of chaos. In the end, it was all because of political struggles. When you thought about it, evidence or facts werent important in thismittee. They were just used as ammunition for endless political squabbles. In terms of roles, professors and students. In terms of affiliations, the Lichten Principality, the Britannia Empire, and the Holy Kingdom of Constantine. In terms of sses, the royal family, high nobility, clergy, and knights. At least half of the political squabbles in this worldview were a taste of what he experienced. Come to think of it, it really was just a taste. With Princess Asterias appearance, the plot was about to intensify. Act 2, Frozen River, revolved around the conflict between Princess Asteria, the third princess, and the Pierce family attached to another imperial sessor. Now, lets prepare for the Act 2 scenario With such thoughts, Ian left the location of the disciplinarymittee. In his eyes, a half-fazed Sharon Pierce appeared. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Sharon said nothing. No. Its probably more urate to say she had lost her mind. Ian just walked past Sharon, who was staring nkly into the air. Two dayster. Weekend. Rumors spread that Sharon Pierce had disappeared from the Academy. [Silvia]: I found out where the Miss Sharon went. [Ian]: Where? [Silvia]: The Northern Duchy. Since its soon the Saint Gregory Rest Week, the academy doesnt seem to have any special ns to deal with it. It seemed quite shocking. Well, considering the results of the grade assessment were the worst and theplete defeat at the Disciplinary Committee. She must have returned home after all. He had expected it, as it was an event that asionally urred in the game when the so-called Sharon Pierce Development failed. Regardless of whether it was an enemy or whatever, a slight sense of disappointment arose. There wouldnt be a suitable ce for Sharon Pierce in that huge mansion. Figuratively and literally, the only ce for Sharon Pierce tofortablyy her body was on the path of the sword. Ian temporarily put aside his concerns about Sharon Pierce, who had already left and would soon meet again. Instead, there was a more urgent issue than Sharon Pierce at the moment. Money. Because of the daily incidents and training that needed to be handled, time was rapidly disappearing. And for Ian, time literally equaled money. The debt Pongpong borrowed for his dubious activities. Considering the significant amount of interest ruing monthly, a substantial sum was needed to repay it. Of course, it would have been daunting for an ordinary person, but Ian was different. He knew the name of thepany that would show explosive profitability in the future. Now was the time to actually buy stocks of thatpany. [Ian]: Oh, and can you rmend a guild suitable for securities trading? [Silvia]: Stocks? For reputable securities, theres a branch of Standard and Riches near the east gate. For small and medium-sized tech, Continental Securities Association seems good. Its located near the north gate. [Ian]: Thanks. And so, during a leisurely weekend that came after a long time. Ian arrived at North Town, the bustling district in the north of the academy, as expected for an area with many cost-effective stores. This train will arrive at North Town 11th Avenue Station shortly. The surroundings of the station are busy, so please be careful True to the nature of the northern district of the academy, known for its many cost-effective stores, North Town was bustling with many people and diverse shops. Ians first destination was the bank. [Charles Bancorp Lichten Branch] Looking at the notice attached to the door of the amodation, this was Pongpongs main bank. Sure enough, a female employee greeted him. Ian ckangers, its been a while. Come this way and have a seat. It was natural for the employee to greet Ian like this. Ian was a distinguished customer for the bank. The banks in Lichten had various loan programs for academy students. The interest rates were quite reasonablepared to the general public. It was possible due to the academys guarantee and support. Considering the principal and interest Ian owed, he might not be a VIP, but he was certainly an excellent customer. Ill repay some of the principal and interest. Excuse me? The employee was surprised. Paying back the principal is a first for you. Just a moment Pongpong, who had been busy begging the heroines, would have borrowed more money if needed, but he probably wouldnt have repaid any. Surprisingly, he had been diligently paying the interest. The bank employee inserted something into a magical engineering crystal. Soon, the crystal emitted a green light. Huh? Interest rate adjustment? The bewildered employee mumbled to herself. She soon smiled awkwardly and opened her mouth. Congrattions. Due to recent improvements in Ians reputation, the interest rate has been reduced with this partial repayment of the principal. The monthly burden of interest you have to bear has decreased by about 30 percent. Thank you. Ian smiled broadly. Indeed, this aspect was not much different from the game. The judgment criteria for bank transactions were all determined through that magic crystal. And one of the easiest strategies to reduce loan interest rates was to meet the conditions of reputation increase and partial repayment of the principal. He came to see if it would work, and it did, so it was a win. Wait, is this really a win? It felt like being happy about reducing the burden by repaying someone elses debt. Whip. Ian shook his head. Think positive, think positive. Above all, he would soon be able to repay this enormous debt anyway. Was there anything else you wanted to discuss regarding your transactions? Yes. I wanted to take out an additional loan now. What? The employee was perplexed by Ians words. Making money through stocks was simple mathematics. A 100,000 won could only be 10 million won if it increased by a hundred times. However, 10 million won became 100 million won even with just a tenfold increase. No matter how high the rate of return was, it was useless if there was no money to invest in the first ce. That was why Ian had decided to take out an additional loan. Fortunately, there was still a remaining loan limit, and the amount he could borrow was reasonable. One gold coin. In modern value, it would be around ten million won. For now, this amount should be appropriate. Buying too much at once could potentially alter the future. Pleasee again next time, sir. And so, he had headed to the Securities Trading Association. [Continental Securities Association] The associations building had been quiterge, giving off a sophisticated feeling, much like a grand art museum. Employees at the reception desk had nced at him suspiciously. Perhaps they had thought a young student had taken a wrong turn. The exchange entrance fee is one silver. Ten thousand won just for entrance. It hadnt been a small amount, but Ian had handed over the money without hesitation. His pockets had been currently filled. The atmosphere of the employees had changed instantly. Due to the high density, please wait for a moment. Well guide you. Following the employees guidance, Ian had arrived at the waiting room. Through the ss, he could see the vast trading floor of the main exchange behind the ss. Tall ceilings had given a sense of openness, andrge columns had caught his eye. Around the columns, papers had been stuck, constantly disying moving numbers. In front of them, people had been busy cing orders on phones, celebrating or feeling disappointed. As we guide customers in the order they arrive, please wait for a moment. Ian had sat quietly in a luxurious chair. Indeed, it had been like a stock exchange where a considerable amount of money flowed. Everything had seemed to operate based on the logic of money. Since the guild he had been going to buy was already decided, there hadnt been much to worry about. While leisurely looking around in afortable posture ? Under the white lights, beautiful translucent golden hair, glimpses of violet eyes beyond the sunsses, and sharp eyes like those of a cat. It was Silvia Laurent. At the end of her waiting room, wearing a sophisticated hat that had given off a nobledy vibe, staring off into the distance. She must have been busy with Laurent family matters today. Why was she sitting there? Ian approached her quietly. Silvia? Eek! Why are you here? You said you were busy with Laurent matters. Shh! Keep it down. Im in a ce with a lot of Raymond influence, so its embarrassing if they find out. She nced around behind her stylish yellow prized sunsses. The more she looked at it, the more curious she became. Are you here to see me by any chance? W-What? No! Its amazing how self-centered you are. For someone as busy as me toe all the way here secretly just to see you! Well, that made sense, doesnt it? When they were talking on Kirtos in the morning, there was somehow a feeling that she wanted to meet him, and there might have been a slight misunderstanding. Still, calling it self-centered felt a bit too harsh. Ian wanted to thank Silvia for helping with the disciplinarymittee and thought about buying her a drink, but he guessed that could wait. Sorry. Looks like I misunderstood. O-Of course! However, Im sorry too I got startled, and those words just slipped out. Anyway, I didnte to see you for real. Maybe some work came up coincidentally. Really. That sometimes happens Really. Silvia actively defended herself, using gestures and expressions. What exactly she was defending herself from, Ian didnt know Got it. Even though Ian answered, Silvia looked at him with suspicion. I mean it. Its not like I specifically came to see you after checking Kirtos. I just happened to remember some business here. Really. asionally, things like this happen, okay? Seriously. I understand. Heh! Silvia, who made a fist and waved it, turned around and mumbled. But I have some time left, right? I can at least give you some guidance. It was quite fortunate that there was suddenly some time left. The timing seemed unbelievably good. Ian nodded his head. Sure enough, a staff member appeared at that moment. It seems you have an acquaintance. Ill guide you both. From the waiting room to the main hall of the exchange, it was quite a distance. As they walked through the corridor following the employee, the heat gradually became noticeable. Distant shouts could be heard intermittently. Did I say the stock would rise today? Lets go. Lets go. Gooo! This XX! Delisting? It was supposed to be a good stock! You said it was a good stock! Amidst the noisy sounds, the employee asked us somewhat awkwardly. By the way, what is the rtionship between you two? Ian and Silvia were both surprised. Since Silvias identity had to be kept secret, there was no prepared answer. Fortunately, the employee made a reasonable guess. Are you a newlywed couple? Yes, thats correct. When situations like this arise, it was best not to hesitate in answering to avoid unnecessary suspicions. Ian smoothly epted it. Huh? On the other hand, Silvia made a strange sound. Hmm. This wasnt her usualck of wit. Why was she acting like this? Looking at her red ears, did she have a fever or something? The employee stared at us suspiciously. Ian, feigning warmth despite the awkward situation, asked Silvia. Are you okay? Y-yeah. Silvia hesitated as she took her seat. Her legs seemed to have lost their strength. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Silvias face turned red. It was only then that Ian realized his mistake. Its unbearable. As for the Laurent family, it was a so-called celebrity family itself. Elegant, sophisticated, and aristocratic. Silvia had undoubtedly received a conservative and strict upbringing. Given Silvias conservative values, being cast as a newlywed couple was undoubtedly infuriating for her. As Ian misunderstood Silvias situation and momentarily sat down to observe her condition. Why is she even meddling now? The guide from the exchange was visibly annoyed. It happened that he had recently broken up. The reason for Ians arrogant demeanor was clear. No matter how you looked at it, the female side,pared to the ck-haired man, seemed endlessly more wasteful. To the point of feeling a pain in the stomach. Even with a hat and sunsses covering, her face looked dignified. Her elegant and sophisticated fashion sense was believed to be the best among actors in the capital. The attitude of the employee facing Ian became somewhat unpleasant. Have you tried trading stocks? It would be fair to say this is my first time. Although Ian had experience in his previous life, this was his first time here. In that sense, Ian replied. The employee opened his mouth with a mocking tone. Let me exin briefly then. Um, thank you. Do you know what determines the price of securities? I dont know. If you know that, you can be rich easily. If you dont even know that ande to the exchange, its not right. Even if its just to see your wifes face, Ill teach you a bit. What was this person? Sudden pretense of knowledge. Of course, in modern stock trading, he had seen such people asionally, but here too? While Ian was bewildered, the employee grumbled. The value of apany ultimately depends on how much profit it generates. In that regard, its good to look at guilds that are undervalued for a long time. Sales are important. I see. Not only that It was a one-sided act of pretending to know. It seemed that even Silvia wanted to hear it, judging by the way she looked at him. Shes one of the upper echelons. Ian chose to ignore the employee. While listening with one ear and letting it go with the other, they arrived at the main building of the exchange. Wee to the Central Branch Headquarters of the Continental Securities Association! Wow. A cry of admiration escaped as the magnificent golden spectacle unfolded before their eyes. It was a splendid and dazzling sight. The dome-shaped interior with an endlessly high ceiling was luxurious with white marble and gold leaf decorations. Numerous devices, like Kirtos terminals, were hanging from the towering pirs so long that they could only be seen when fully raised. Shururururuk! The constantly updated numbers inside, turning red and green, were endlessly dazzling. Lets go! Lets go! People cheering. Oh no! My money! This is for my daughters medical expenses! People in despair. Torn securities were flying in one corner. On the other side, the newly rich were throwing bills. What unfolded before their eyes was an endlessly fatal and decadent scene. When you think about it, this is no different from a casino. In modern times, stock trading is done through the inte and phones, but here, everything existed in physical form. Buying stocks meant receiving them on paper, and when delisted, they became real scraps of paper. Wee to the stock exchange. In a scene rarely seen in modern times, Ians heart raced involuntarily. It might be more troublesometer, but thats a story for another time. Ian picked up a catalog ced nearby. [Column 1 Transportation] [Column 2 Grain] Each column had a different theme, and the terminals hanging there were bewilderingly tempting. What about mana Is there a separate category for mana? Ah, its ssified as energy. Ian flipped through the pamphlet. The employee, looking somewhat condescending, muttered. Energy is difficult for beginners to get into because of its vtility. Ignoring thement as if he hadnt heard, Ian grabbed the pamphlet he had. Large guilds are more prevalent in the transportation sector. Its good for beginners. Even your wife is so pretty, but you need to manage money well. Well, I see. Its fine. Were looking for the energy section. Lets go, Silvie. Silvia was surprised by Ians words. S-Silvie It was the first time someone had given her a nickname in her life. It was an impulsive decision she made while ying on Kirtos. The likelihood of not being able to meet seemed high but the thought of that animal-like woman, with her tails swaying, made her anxious, so she went. To catch up on the dyed work, she would have to work through the night, but with this kind of reward, it was nothing. I made the right decision toe. Silvie, arent youing? Hehehe. Ill go! Silvia followed Ian with a lively step. The sight of it made the veins on the forehead of the employee pop out. *** Of course, it was another countryside guying to the exchange for the first time. On the female side, they were infatuated with the guy to the point where they couldnt even criticize herpared to that ck-haired man. It was to the extent that it hurt. Hah This situation was not unfamiliar to him. The case of a country bumpkin making some money and showing off to women. The employee couldnt control the boiling jealousy. I must intercept him. Women tend to easily fall for a few coins and some seemingly sophisticated gestures. Many people working in the stock exchange believe that if youre a stock exchange employee, you must be rich and smart. They subtly attack the men with usible knowledge, andter, when stock prices drop, they say, I told you so. This was not the first time he had intercepted a woman like this. Trying to boast about making money through stocks in front of an innocent girl wont work. The employee immediately followed Ian. And he started pretending to know, speaking loud enough for Silvia to hear. Recently, there has been a rapid increase in travel demand. From that perspective, guilds rted to travel seem quite promising. The price-to-expected-earnings ratio is below 3.3, the lowest in history. You can expect at least double profits. Its okay. I already have some stocks in mind. Ian responded firmly. The employee frowned. Is it a small guild by any chance? Yes. The employee finally realized that this was not going well. He probably got fooled somewhere. Either that or this novice wouldnt be so confident. Its easier this way. Its a fact that they will fail anyway. All he needed to do is finely craft the logic. Anyway, his goal was Silvia. After that ck-haired man failed, she would be his. The employee nced at Silvia and continued speaking. What stocks are you nning to buy? Its apany called ana. What? Apany with no significant revenue. Look. The annual revenue is not even 10 gold. The profit is in the negative. Theres even a risk of capital erosion. Silvia stared at him in response to the employees words. An even more excited employee continued. If you want to invest in mana-rted businesses, its better to go for stocks from more reputable guilds. There are traditional mana distributionpanies other than these tech stocks. Hmm, I see. If it were me, I would buy stocks from a more reputable guild for a stable life with my wife. Its better to invest in stable bank stocks rather than energy. Undervalued stocks that are stable for a long time are safe. You should invest in that direction. However, Ians response was nonchnt. Oh, well. Still, Im going to buy this. He showed a firm stance. A move without any logic. How ignorant and pathetic. At this point, even that woman must have realized his arrogance. The employee chuckled slyly and whispered to Silvia. Try to stop him, madam. He seems not to know anything. This is definitely a scam guild. Saying that, he subtly ced his hand on Silvias shoulder. Silvia looked down at his hand in silence. *** Just a moment ago, Silvias mind was filled with a flower garden. A newlywed couple This was a role y that Ian had started to hide Silvias identity. Even though she knew it was just a role y, it felt like ying pretend after a long time. Moreover, the fact that Ian was her partner made it even more enjoyable Her lips couldnt stop smiling. Try to stop him, madam. He seems not to know anything. This is definitely a scam guild. Who is saying that someone doesnt know anything? In terms of information, Ian was superior to Silvia herself. In response to the employees clear disdain, Silvias expression instantly hardened. She spoke coldly. What if its a scam? Excuse me? Isnt it all about making money? Sharp and cold eyes, just like her original personality. And youve been pretending to know all along. Since when did stock prices determine the intrinsic value of apany? Prices are determined by the market sentiment and peoples psychology. Dont you know the saying that stocks perpetually undervalued are the fair value? It seems like the level of the association is lower than I thought. No. Maam, its just that Im concerned about Concerned? Since when did association employees intervene in personal transactions? Did the rules change? Silvias eyes were sharp and warm, as if piercing with a needle. S-sorry! The employee bowed his head without realizing it. Her gaze was as intimidating as facing a high-ranking superior. Instinctively, a sense of fear arose. Silvie, dont be like that. Hes just saying it because hes worried. Hehehe. I didnt realize. Then, as if her expression from a moment ago was false, Silvia turned to Ian. Now the employee understood. The temperature difference between the way she looked at the ck-haired man and the way she looked at others was more severe than the difference between hot and cold baths. *** A device resembling a telephone. Ian picked it up. Please tell us the stocks you want to purchase. EcoMana. The current value per share is 0.01 silver. How much would you like to order? The minimum order amount is 1 silver, 100 shares. 1 gold worth. The employee standing next to him muttered quietly enough for Ian to hear. Buying such trash stocks with that money. Ian casually ignored his murmur. The expected average execution price is 0.011 silver. Would you like to proceed with the order? Yes. Drrrrr. A paper surrounded by gold foil was printed from the magical engineering device. [Continental Securities Association Guaranteed Securities] [EcoMana 9091 shares. Total value based on the current price is 1 gold.] Ian clenched his fist lightly. On the other hand, Putting 1 gold in the trash, huh? The employee ncing at Ian over his shoulder silently celebrated. One gold was an amount mostborers would have to work for six months to earn. Refund Please refund. I said its for my mothers medical expenses Its impossible. If you continue like this, well call security. Please leave. The sight of an investor nearby begging. That ck-haired mans future seemed bleak. Watch and see. Hell whine about not getting a refund at half the price. With the thought that these people would also part ways with the stock exchange, and naturally, the woman would be in his possession. The employee chuckled to himself. ncing at Ian with a smirk, he shrugged. Crazy guy. Whatever. In truth, Ian didnt care about what the employee thought. ana was expected to rise to 1 silver per share in a short period. The current price was 0.01 silver per share, so in terms of profit, it was a 10,000 percent increase. In other words, it was 100 times. Just in case, lets assume I split the sell order with a 20 percent margin If Ian did that, the money in his hands would be at least 80 gold. Even after repaying the principal, it was a substantial amount to buy several houses near the academy. If I can quietly buy more without attracting attention If the stock price crashed for some reason, he might be able to quietly umte more, but that would be too greedy. 80 gold was already enough money for activities for a while. Anyway, the future I know is not just about this. Grinning, Ians mood lifted. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Raymonds Lichten branch, Emilia Raymonds office. Emilia was receiving a report from her subordinate. They say theyve purchased the securities of a guild called ana. What kind of guild is that? Do you have a report? Yes. The contents of the report were all about Ians activities, especially those at the stock exchange. The subordinate handed her the report. Piles of papers passing through Emilias hands. With each flip, the toes of her crossed legs twitched lightly. Suddenly, Emilia covered her mouth. What is this Pft! Emilia? Pfuhahaha! Bang, bang, bang. Emilia mmed the table in amazement. There cant be such a joke! It feels like he was scammed by someone! Kyahaha! Laughing like that for a while, Emilia, with tears in her eyes, asked her subordinate. Do we have ana stakes in our Lichten branch? A small initial investment is in ce. Its about 2.5% of the total shares. That should be enough to cause a significant drop in the stock price if we sell it all at once. Yes? Oh, yes. Thats correct. It would drop quite a bit if theres no force to absorb it. Then, when those twoe next time, sell it all. We should enjoy watching their despair. Once theyve been hit, they should pay back. Saying that, Emilia lowered her head to the documents. The subordinate hesitated. But What is it? Its just that, what if this stock turns out to be promising? Since we have enough room for a rise with the shares we hold, it might be good for our portfolio Bellows. Emilias tone was stern. The subordinate immediately straightened up. Yes, yes! Even if this stock goes up a lot, its only a double. Its okay even without that measly 100 gold. Just follow my orders without unnecessary talk. I-I apologize. Understood! Peoplemonly referred to as outsiders have one characteristic. Once they step outside, they optimize their routes to handle all tasks and return. Next is shopping for winter clothes. Ian was like that. Once hes out, he needs to get everything done. I can train for two hours as soon as I get back today. Even though it was to secure training time, the principle behind his actions wasnt much different. So, Ian arrived at thergest clothing outlet in North Town. [North Town Woodbury Outlet] The warehouse-style store, with rows of clothes in various colors, stimted the customers. The store was quite crowded. Ill put in extra effort for this years Lantern Festival. Look at this outfit, it suits me well. Wouldnt a slightly more refined outfit be better? Even while passing through the entrance, the chatter of young female academy students could be heard. Its probably because of Saint Gregorys Lantern Festival. Saint Gregorys Lantern Festival. Amemorative event where the streets are filled withnterns to honor the sacrifice of Saint Gregory. During this time, the central business districts of nations under the Empires influence illuminate the streets with orange lights. I want to charm someone with a vi this time. I heard the southern beach is so beautiful these days. Constantine is too hot. If I go, I want to visit the Northern Duchy. The festival was followed by a week-long holiday, known as the Saint Gregory Memorial Week, which was also called the Golden Holiday. A week of rest. As it coincided with the festival, the fervor of the Lantern Festival was truly remarkable. It was an opportune time for finding lovers and making connections. There was even a statistic that showed the highest birthrate urred ten months after Saint Gregory Week. The outlet was on the same line as the reasons why people crowded the streets. However. Sway, sway. Among the many people, there was someone strolling around the clothing racks with fluffy cherry blossom-colored ears. Even among the crowded store, she stood out. Due to her short height, only her ears were visible, but her identity was clear. Ian approached her stealthily. Arent these too short? At this rate, its just a piece of cloth Its, its unreasonable. Danya was seriously contemting, holding a white dress exclusive to beastmen. What are you doing? Nyan! Danya was startled by Ians unexpected appearance. Then she quickly hid the dress she was holding behind her tail. Ian, how did you get here? Isnt today the day for mana training? How do you know my training schedule? He would surely find it strange to know that whenever Ian trained outdoors, she coincidentally passed by and watched, right? Thats because we are colleagues! Hmm. Is that so? Ians nonchnt attitude made Danya sigh inwardly. More importantly, why are you here? Dont tell me Thud. Danyas expression changed abruptly, and her tail curled up. Dont tell me you have a date for the Lantern Festival?! Ian tilted his head. I came to buy winter clothes. Oh, by the way, do you know where the winter clothes are? Danyas tail returned to normal. She almost bought the wrong clothes for no reason. I saw them earlier! Ill guide you! Gently swaying her tail twice without drawing attention, Danya grabbed Ian and led him to the winter clothing section. Hmm A grumbling sound came from Ians mouth. The prices of winter clothes were higher than he expected. Regr animal fur materials were too bulky, and the specially crafted materials with magical engineering were surprisingly thin but overly expensive. I should have left around 10 silver. The money in Ians hand was three silver coins. Considering the prices, the Sky Feather Set seemed reasonable to purchase, but it was too restricting in terms of volume. If this is going to happen, it would be better tob Danyas tail fur and make padding. Ians eyes had a subtle and mysterious look. Danya instinctively hid her tail. Well, nothing. I didnt think of anything. You definitely had some weird thoughts. Avoiding Danyas scrutinizing gaze, Ian turned his attention to the shelves. [Andrew Workshop Top and Bottom Set. (10 silver)] Andrew Workshop. It was well-known for being cost-effective in the game as well. This seems to be the best option But 7 silver was stillcking. Will they give a discount? If he solved about five backlogged prophecies, he could earn the money. While pondering, Danya spoke up. Should I buy it for you? Ian asked. Why? Oh, no! A nervous expression appeared on Danyas face. After a few taps with her index finger, she finally spoke. T-Thats Its a congrattory gift! For resolving the Disciplinary Committee issue! Ian hesitated for a moment. Is it okay to ept such a gift? Considering its not a small amount 10 silver. Ian looked a bit indecisive, and Danya quickly said. I-I have a lot of money! Come to think of it, Ian had never seen Danya acting greedy for money. Okay, Ill gratefully ept it. Yeah! Yeah! Danya appeared to be smiling brightly. In reality, behind that seemingly innocent smile, she harbored a mischievous intent. Its 100 years too early to tempt someone with just something to eat, Silvia! It was an activation of some mysteriouspetitive psychology triggered by the encounter with Silvia in front of Ians home. Suddenly, Ian became curious. How do beastmen wear pants or skirts? Thinking about it, if they wear a skirt, their tail might show, and if they wear pants, they have to pull it down to cover the tail. Instead of answering, Danya grabbed a set of beastmen-specific pants. A small hole located just below the waist. Danya, as a demonstration, inserted her tail through that hole. This is how you take out the tail, Nyah. Due to the small size of the hole, the tail barely passed through, but the inside was not visible. Fascinating. Walking towards the checkout counter, Ian observed closely and noticed that there were beastmen-specific pants and hats disyed sporadically. Danya passed by, lightly swaying a white brimmed hat. Ian picked it up. Try it on. Ill watch. It might look weird because of my ears Instead of the hesitant Danya, Ian put the hat on her head. Ears poking out through the holes. For some reason, it looked cute. It suits you well. Eeek! In a hurry, Danya took off the hat and hung it back on the disy. Then, Ian picked up the winter clothes in one hand. Without saying a word, she headed towards the checkout counter. Is she angry? Danyas ears turned slightly red. Putting a hat on a beastmen might be beyond etiquette. Even though Ian usually doesnt care much about the other persons feelings, when ites to someone who gave him a 10 silver gift, he felt a bit obligated to be nice. Honestly, he was a bit nervous until Danya took the next action. Do you have anything else to ring up? Well, wait a moment. Approaching Ian again, Danya grabbed the hat again and then hurriedly ran to the cashier to hand it over. P-Please ring this up too. Yes. The total is 13 silver 23 copper. As soon as she received the hat, she pressed it t and lowered her head. Ian couldnt help but smile at her adorable appearance. Danya, approaching with asional steps, tossed the clothes wrapped in Ians arms. There you go. Thanks. The hat really suits you. Heh! Ian deliberately teased Danya once more, enjoying her well-matched reactions. While Ian made a mental note to continue teasing Danya asionally, Danya mumbled softly. Um, Ian. Yeah? T-This Um. Would you like to explore the festival together? While asking this, she tapped the ground with her shoes. Ian pondered for a moment. This festival is quite important. During the Saint Gregory Lantern Festival, a significant event urs. The yer, who was quite ordinary in the setting, was given a unique opportunity to receive the attention of the named character The Third Princess. It was the Assassination Attempt on the Third Princess. Princess Asteria was a key character in the main scenario, Act 2, Frozen River. Since the scenario itself started from her request. In other words, this event was the prologue of Act 2. If I dont attract the Third Princesss attention during this festival, I wont be able to participate in Act 2. That meant heading straight to the bad ending. Moreover, considering that Sharon Pierce is involved, to get a proper ending, he must lead to a good result in the prologue of Act 2. The problem was whether Danya would be helpful in this event Thinking about it, the conclusion was simple. Yeah, lets go together. Im looking forward to it. Earth and Grass magic. It seemed like the right time to use their interaction. On the other hand, Danya slightly misunderstood Ians intentions. Im looking forward to it. She replied with a bright smile but felt a bit embarrassed. Yes! Although she pressed the hat firmly to cover her blushing face, her pointed ears and swaying tail couldnt be hidden. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Novel Page Previous Next Chapter 67 Chapter 67 The Grade Assessment. And the Disciplinary Committee. Evaluation of Ian took a significant turn after the two incidents. Walking through the academy, Ian felt the change. People who used to avoid eye contact or nod their heads when their eyes met now stared directly at him, and some even greeted him. Ian, hi! Hehe! Hehehe! There were even kids who would throw a sudden greeting and run away. Later, Ian found out that the Ian greeting challenge was trending on the Kirtos Network. Curious, he asked Silvia why such a thing was popr. Ian used to be a confession bomber, right? If you greet such a person first, you might receive a confession. Its about enjoying that thrill. Think of it in a positive way. Your delinquent image is gradually disappearing. If you really think you might confess, dont approach lightly. As advice, dont harbor delusions and confess. Ironically, Silviasst piece of advice was a bit hurtful. Saying that meant she still thought of him as a delinquent. Anyway, the fact that his reputation was changing for the better was a positive development. Moreover, with the uing Lantern Festival and the subplot involving the princess, interest was gradually fading away. This too shall pass. Ian decided to take the attention lightly. Before lunchtime. In the Magic Departments Mezai ss. His gaze does seem to have changed a bit. He used to fool around, but now he has a more gentle vibe. Gentle? He wont change into a good guy that quickly. Hes also raising his rank quickly. Cant personality change? Interest in Ian was buzzing even within the same ss. Lina Rosewell, along with her close friends Annie and Gabrielle, was in a corner of the ssroom. Wow. Thanks to Ian, things are a bit better. Strange rumors about Lina dont seem to circte anymore, right? Annie! Oh, right. Sorry. After the disciplinarymittee for Lina. Annie and Gabrielle were very worried about her. All sorts of rumors were circting about her, including absurd nder and malicious gossip. Most worrisome was the fear that if Linapletely broke down, what would happen. But their worries were in vain, as Lina returned to her usual self after the disciplinarymittee. Except for one thing. Be cautious when mentioning Ian. Lina became visibly gloomy whenever the word Ian was mentioned. She mumbled. I feel so shameless. Is it okay to ept Ians help like this? Im so grateful that I dont know what to do now. Huff. Resting her face on her hands on the desk, Lina let out a deep sigh. Annie and Gabrielle sighed quietly. Whether eating lunch or having tea, there was always Ian. It seemed as if Lina, like a princess grateful to the knight who saved her, couldnt help but develop strong feelings. Its not like hes the only guy around. Oops! Gabrielle, whose waist was pinched by Annie, let out a small scream. Of course, the question had already been asked. Its not like that. We still have to talk properly. I have to say thank you, apologize, and ask for forgiveness But wasnt Ian always a bit strange? Yeah, right. Aplete p*rvert. Absolutely not. Its a misunderstanding. Its a misunderstanding. What a great guy Ian is. I told you. Someone framed him. Must be a joke. Its true! Suddenly, standing up from her seat, Lina grabbed the hands of her two friends. If someone asks you about Ian, you have to speak well of him, okay? Yeah. Got it. Lina was certainly serious. But with such passion in her words, it seemed right. Gabrielle and Annie started to feel confused. Holding hands, Lina spoke warmly to her friends. Of course, you two are dear and precious to me. Thanks for helping me. Whats there to be thankful for? Anything. Ill repay youter. Lina smiled at her friends. The schrships and dormitory qualifications were nullified during the disciplinarymittee. Lina borrowed money from her friends and exined the situation to her rtives, begging them to cover the tuition for just one semester. She managed to find a ce to stay for now, so she could continue attending sses this semester. With the schrships gone, she could now take on part-time jobs. In a way, it was a bit better than the past when she couldnt even afford to eat. In the midst of all this, she couldnt help but think. Why couldnt I do this back then? Of course, I know. In fact, everything Im doing now, I could have done back then I just didnt have the courage. It was because the kindness that confined Lina couldnt be broken. Only after breaking free did the world feel a bit bigger. And that was it. Thanks to Ian If he, who had treated her so warmly, hadnt been there. If he hadnt restrained her infected throat and purified her. There were things she would never have experienced. But how about Lina herself? To the one who showed her kindness, she ended up causing harm. Deep in her heart, she couldnt tolerate such a situation. It was partly her nature, and partly because of her upbringing. Ugh. Once again, her breath was caught. Are you okay, Lina? She pulled a cold ck handkerchief around her neck. Ironically, as her throat tightened, it became easier to breathe. Haa ugh. Im okay. Lina managed to muster a weak smile. Lets go to the hospital together. My family doctor is good, lets see him. Her friendsforted her. Thanks. But I know how to get better. Sorry to her friends, but there was only one person who could solve this. Ian. And the first step of the apology to him, Lina knew exactly what it should be. Lina took a deep breath and looked through her desk. In the past, there would have been a lunchbox made by Ian. But, of course, it was empty or so it should be. tter. There was a lunchbox. She carefully took it out. Whats that? This? Hehe. A lunchbox. But it wasnt a lunchbox made by Ian. Oh. Youve been going to the market every morning to buy ingredients, right? Yeah. Hehe. Now I can make something edible, so I brought them. It was a lunchbox that Lina had practiced making several times. Shall we go eat? Oh. Sorry. I wont be eating this. Hehe. Carefully holding the lunchbox in case it shook, Lina took it in her hand. Today, I will definitely convey this to Ian. Ians disciplinarymittee. She gained a chance to talk to him by helping him. She vowed to prepare the lunchbox and talk to him. Ill be back. With a determined face, Lina stood up from her seat. Her lower lip trembled lightly with tension. She cautiously lifted her foot towards Ian. At that moment Drrring! The ssroom door opened. It was Professor Violet. Everyone, please pay attention. A new student has joined the Mezai ss. Well theres no need for me to say to take care of her. Shell be with us temporarily this semester. Even if you dont like it, Im sure youll take care of her on your own. I dont quite understand why someone like her woulde into Mezai, but its bothersome. Murmurs filled the room. For a moment, students were taken aback by Professor Violets introduction. The gasp of a student sitting near the door reached everyones ears. Huh! T-the Princess?! ck ck. Distinctive footsteps. When everyone regained theirposure, a radiant blonde beauty stood before them. Nice to meet you all. Shall we speakfortably? This kind of school life has always been my dream. I guess I dont need to introduce myself. I think you all already know about me. Please call me Asteria. A noble voice befitting a princess, yet a tone that contradicted the elegance expected of a princess. No apuse or weing greetings echoed in the ssroom. Everyone seemed frozen. Understandably so, for she was a princess, carrying the noblest lineage of the dazzling yet ruthless imperial family. Feel free to sit wherever you like that suits your fancy. I understand. Thank you, Professor. With a flicker of a smile toward Violet, the princess continued her stride through the ssroom. In the midst of it all, Lina Rosewell stood in her ce, somewhat inconspicuously. Princess Asteria, with her long golden eyshes, swiftly scanned Lina before passing by. Light footsteps. She was standing next to Ian. Gracefully setting down her bag, the princess inquired. You, could you please guide me around the academy? You. Yes? Thank you for guiding me. Ian turned to acknowledge the voice. Flowing golden hair gently swayed as Asteria looked up at Ian. Long golden eyshes. Sky-blue eyes resembling the sky. The gradually blinking, beautiful, and enchanting gaze was only a small part of her overall appearance. Apart from her face, her figure was also striking. Her body, seemingly pieced together like a violent mosaic, was the very symbol of the Third Princesss allure. That was the popr image of the Third Princess, Asteria. Surely, half of the various rumors about her were rted to jokes about her bust size. At a secluded bench outside the academy. I think this spot will do. Ian handed a sandwich to the princess and took a seat. She sat close to him, almost sticking by his side. Why was she sitting so close? Ian couldnt guess. Certainly, during the disciplinarymittee, she helped me. At that time, he thought there might be a connection with Pongpong. After themittee, he tried to recall the setting of Fantasy X Academy multiple times. However, he couldnt remember the connection between Pongpong and Asteria. Her subtle yet hard-to-read interest, without apparent reason. She was an essential character in the story, making her motivations intriguing. You seem to have a lot on your mind. Ill allow you to ask anything. Its okay to ask anything. Consider this as my thanks for guiding me to such a nice ce. Is that you way of speaking part of your concept? Ahaha. Youre straightforward as always! Since you said I can ask anything. (TLN: The you she uses, (), can also be tranted as dear/dearie, its not impolite.) Frown. Asteria yfully closed one eye and then opened it. When addressing others in the pce, I always use you. Be it a teacher or anyone else. Except for family members higher than me. Its a habit. On the contrary, this casual way of speaking is a result of effort. Is it a reaction against authority? It could be seen that way. The pce is more stifling than you might think. Theres a saying. Catch a mouse when its young, and it will grow up to bite you. Thanks to that Flutter The princess picked up the hem of her own skirt and fluttered it. This is how such a princess was born. Smoothly. Instead of gazing at her toned inner thighs, Ian met her eyes. Staring intently into her blue eyes, Ian asked. Why did youe to me? A good question. Asterias pink lips. Her yfully curved lips foreshadowed that her next words would be unexpectedly out of context. Slightly parted, her lips hinted at a forting revtion. You. Would you go out with me, a true princess? Asteria Estrid For future generations, she would be called the Princess of Rebellion. Her gaze was both charming and fatally captivating. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Novel Page Previous Next Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Are you saying you want to date me? Exactly as it sounds! Holding hands like lovers, having meals together. You know, I really wanted to try the food at Lichten Academy! The food in ys always looks so delicious! Yes. And going to cafes together. Ordering two cups of fragrant coffee and only one dessert. Sharing and identally touching forks, its a clich. In that moment, you should wipe off the cream on my lips with yours! Ah, yes. And we should have a not-too-heavy dinner with good cocktails. A slightly tipsy atmosphere, softmppost lights. If you like me, I would say Do you want to take a little break? Ian stared nkly at the princess. What kind of second-rate y had she been obsessed with? And why was she so interested in Ian himself? Anyway, she asked again. So, will you date me? Flirtatious eyshes. yfully twitching lips. Following that line of sight, if you looked down a bit, Asterias long fingers were sliding between her own cleavage. Pulling the neckline taut. Not revealing too much. How about it? She seemed to be an easy woman at first nce. Contrasting herscivious body, she looked foolish and seemed like a dumb girl. Seems obsessed with s*xuality, and with a reach of her hand, she would probably give away that soft-looking body. So, lets revisit her name. Asteria Estrid. The absolute ruler of the Britannia Empire, the Estrid Emperor. Estrid. Cruel, savage, dominant, cunning, and intelligent, a perfect lineage of conquerors. That bloodline cannot tolerate this. Suppressed? Amusing. Asteria Estrid is someone who would proudly boast about being of such lineage. Someone who cannot restrain the conquering instinct surging from her own instincts. Originally,pared to the Empress, Crown Prince, or Crown Princess, she was overwhelmingly weak. If you yed Fanta X Aca ten times, you could see her facing a miserable end at least seven times. The reason, of course, is her defeat in the struggle for the imperial session or the failure of rebellion. Whether its execution, assassination, or any other type of death, she died. Yet Asteria never regrets the path she walks. Hey Ian, Im waiting for you. He needed her attention. But not like this. He needed to be acknowledged for his skills. Will you date me? is not the right question. It should be Will you work with me?. Asteria, the Princess of Rebellion. If it was not her, there was no need to pay attention to this woman with only arge chest. Or maybe it wouldnt be bad for me to start a fling with you. I dont like that. Simultaneously with Ians response. Rustle The grassy forest behind them rustled. Both of their gazes turned back at the same time Nyah There seems to be a cat. Yeah no, thats not it. Why? As the two heads turned back, their eyes met. Asteria had a somewhat distressed expression. You cant find someone with the face, body, and status like mine anywhere, right? I apologize. No way, you. Asterias face quickly became serious. An expressionless face. She blinked her long eyshes several times and opened her mouth. Are you gay? No. Ian immediately replied. Youre avoiding me even after seeing me? Maybe you have a taste for older women? If so, I have no choice but to call the guards. Tomorrow is the festival. If you walk around with me, it might look good on you. It could even spread as a rumor? Asteria subtly pressed her chest closer to Ian. Rustle This time, they both ignored the sounding from the bushes. Ian spoke up. Im sorry. I already have a prior arrangement to attend the festival. Excuses should be sufficient at this point. Nyah Once again, the sound of a cat was heard. Ian left the bench. Alone, Asteria quietly finished her sandwich. Its delicious. Chirp chirp. Having cleanly licked the sauce off her fingers, she fell into deep thought. Ian ckangers. Hes indeed an interesting one. Asteria knew that her body was a weapon. When approaching someone worth manipting, she always started with her body. In fact, there was no more efficient approach. People who touched her could be exploited and then coldly discarded. I didnt think of applying that standard to you. Swoosh. Asteria yfully wiggled her foot in the air. Droplets in the shape of stars appeared and disappeared along with her footsteps. Actually, about Ian it was just pure interest. The Grade Assessment Ceremony she witnessed on her first day at the Academy intrigued her. His use of magic was entertaining. When he imitated mid-air fixation using the interaction of metals, it was amusing like a fine joke. And when he demonstrated a hard-to-identify movement technique, it was astonishing and admirable. Watching such a talented individual facing disciplinary action from themittee was irresistible. So she thought. While at the academy, why not casually, truly casually, make at least one normal acquaintance? Well I guess its greed for me. Its an instinct to tempt only those who are useful. Perhaps Ian showed enough potential to rival her own talents. Asteria smiled a bitter smile. Then she gracefully rose from the bench. On the quiet outskirts of the academy. By the way, I dont know the way back. She was quite a calm fellow in many ways. On the day of the St. Gregory Lantern Festival,te afternoon. Having woken up from a nap, Danya buried her face in the pillow for a moment. Then she pounded the nket with her little feet. Already made a prior arrangement! Hehe. She wagged her tail for a moment like that. After washing up, she dried her hair and tail. Using flower oil with a subtle fragrance, she calmlybed her tail. With the clean white dress, her hair was neatly braided and let down. Thin makeup added just a touch to her already vibrant skin, and simple earrings adorned her jewel-like eyes. Finally, she wore sandals, her soft bare feet clearly visible. Hmm. In front of a full-length mirror, Danya nced at her own reflection for a moment. Looks good but a bit short? Trying to pull down the slightly revealing dress on her exposed thighs, she tilted her head. Ive grown up too! Turning around happily, Danya left her home satisfied. As the sun set in the early evening, the sky would normally begin to darken, but today it remained unusually bright. When Danya arrived at the festival street, people had already gathered around, making the surroundings lively. A vibrant festival street. The street, filled with orangenterns, exuded a different, gentle, and sweet atmosphere from usual. Danya stood on tiptoe and looked around the meeting ce. Danya. Ian was standing there. Come to think of it, Ian often spotted Danya first. Why did that happen, Danya briefly wondered. Ian! Yeah, here. Somehow, Ian seemed different from usual. It was only then that Danya noticed the bouquet of flowers in his hand. For some reason, her heart raced. I-is that for me? Huh? Ah yeah. A somewhat dyed response from Ian. Normally, Danya would have pointed out the timing for such a remark, but for some reason, all that came out was a gigglyughter. Thank you. Danya reached out her hand, but Ian didnt extend the bouquet. Ill hold it for you since it might be inconvenient for you to carry it around. Really, his manners were impable. Perhaps it was because of the festival atmosphere. Danya felt a slight melting sensation. What should I do? Until now, she had just considered him a slightly closer colleague, but now Gulp. Danya swallowed nervously. Wanna go grab something to drink? Uh, yeah! They walked along the street. Stalls on both sides were filled with tempting treats. Cheap aphrodisiacs! Have a child blessed by Saint Gregory! There were also somewhat embarrassing types of stalls asionally. Cherry-vored stamina potion? Wanna try that? Yeah! They tried various unique drinks and indulged in different snacks. Although the highlight of the festival was probably still ahead, why did this moment feel so pleasant for Danya? Danya silently observed Ian, who was walking a bit ahead of her. Certainly, she had thought of him as a valuable colleague. I want to hold hands. Suddenly, that thought crossed her mind. His hand was muchrger than her small one, andtely, the veins had be more pronounced, giving it a rather masculine appearance. At the right moment. Thump Ian, who was walking ahead, bumped into someone and was pushed back for a moment. The back of his hand touched Danyas hand. It felt like that spot had suddenly be hot, as if it were burning. Seems like its getting crowded. Danya? Uh, yeah? Why are you spacing out like that? Is your hand hurting? Stick close to me and follow. Y-yeah! Danya cautiously grabbed the hem of his shirt sleeve. Lets be satisfied with this for today. An unfamiliar feeling. Danya took a step back. No, that was her intention. Rustle ! Until Ian suddenly grabbed Danyas hand. Thump thump! A heart beating roughly. The moment Danya tried to look up at Ian. Swish! Suddenly, her body was thrust forward. Run, Danya! Eh! As Danya was about to release Ian from her hands, feeling the warmth covering her hands for a moment. Ba-a-a-ang! A massive explosion filled the festival. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Novel Page Previous Next Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Countless stalls lined up in a row, bustling with various races. Ian was quite immersed in the festival. Part of the reason was the excitement of experiencing a festival for the first time in a fantasy world. It was also to avoid being caught. Every time the target looked back, Ian headed towards the nearby street vendors. This time, it was a hat vendor. Give me one rabbit hat, for a beastperson. Sure, here you go! Holding the hat in his hand, Ian approached Danya, who was standing there absentmindedly. Today, she seemed unusually quiet. The usually lively and yful cat was now listless. Without saying a word, Ian put the rabbit-eared hat on Danyas head. Whats this? Danya tilted her head, then touched the hat. Along her hand trailed the floppy ears. A chuckle escaped Ian. Well, it suits you. Heh! Danya lowered her head. Was she feeling low again? Ian, still watching his surroundings carefully, went back and forth among the street vendors. This time, he got a tempting hotdog. Danya, try this. Huh? Ian suddenly stuffed the hotdog into Danyas mouth, who was staring nkly. Nom nom. She ate it eagerly. The ears swayed with each chew. Ians mouth formed a satisfied smile at her appearance. Thats why people keep pets. The hat seemed to have been a good buy. This should muffle the sound to some extent. The festival grounds would fall into chaos with a loud explosion. Although beastmen could adjust the sensitivity of their hearing when inbat, a loud noise in a rxed state could be dangerous. In the distance, a man walking around caught Ians attention. He was Yurran Alteach, who had once been in the same group during sses. Its time for that guy to make a move. Avoiding Yurrans gaze as he nced back, Ian bought a sugar-coated fruit. It went straight into Danyas mouth. Ian I feel f-full Eat a lot and grow up quickly. Ugh No! But Ive already grown! Sure. Sure. You have a lot to do, so you need to be strong. Strength? Hmm? They walked like that for a while. Just as it felt like the hem of his clothes was being tugged, a massive explosion covered the festival. Boom! The explosion marked the start of the assassination event. The deafening noise froze the surroundings. Then, screams erupted like an infection, spreading from the distant explosion. Bwaaaaah! People fleeing in panic. Ian grabbed Danyas hand. He needed Danyas help in this incident. Getting swept away by the crowd would be troublesome. Danya also firmly held Ians hand. Feeling Ians touch on her covered hand, Danya suddenly regained her senses. Ian, why are we running towards the explosion? Do you know Princess Asteria? Of course, were in the same ss Shes in danger now. We have to save her. Without further questions, Danya tightened her grip on Ians hand. Thank you. Because we arerades. Bang! Boom! Explosions resonated one after another as if bombs were dropping from the sky. Smoke billowed into the sky. At a nce, it seemed like a war had broken out with massive explosions. It looked extremely serious, but in reality, it wasnt that dire. If the story is progressing as originally intended, there shouldnt be any casualties among the civilians. People caught in the panic might get injured, but that would be the extent of it. The explosions and smoke were just devices set up by the Bloodstone Cult for the assassination. Ian briefly briefed Danya on the n. They are chasing Yurran Alteach, who is likely the mastermind behind the Bloodstone Cult and this incident. He also outlined the strategy for dealing with Yurran and his group. Danya, using her beastman senses, started tracking Yurran. He went into that alley up ahead. The full-on pursuit began. In contrast to the lively main street filled with the festival, the alley was dark and narrow. Foul smells and puddles of water scattered here and there. If Ian hade alone, it would have been nearly impossible to follow Yurran without Danyas excellent guidance. I hear voices beyond that corner of the alley. Ian, who had stopped silently following Danya, listened carefully. Do you know who this person is? Third Princess Asteria? Those who know her! Dont think youll get away unharmed! Ian cautiously peered over the wall. Thick smoke. As it cleared, the situation revealed itself. Princess Asteria lying on the ground, apanied by one guard with a ck short haircut, holding a dagger. But her condition didnt seem good either; it appeared she fell into a trap. On the opposite side were Yurran Alteach and three Bloodstone Cultists who seemed to be his subordinates. Yurran spoke towards the guard with ck hair. Its troublesome. As if youre saying we dont have any backup behind us. Haha. What kind of backup do Bloodstone Cultists have! Oh dear. Ahaha. If you keep underestimating us, it might hurt your feelings. We have permission for all of this, you know? What? You guys cant possibly! Its inconvenient if you ask more than that. Smirking, Yurran shed an unfortunate smile. By the way, Karen. The guard with ck hair twitched. How do you know my name! If its money, we can offer more. How about joining us? Our family never betrays its clients! Well then, it cant be helped. Grinning, Yurrans smile widened. Behind him, the Bloodstone Cultist with red hair shot forward at an almost impossible-to-follow speed. Pffft! Asterias guard, Karen, crumbled. The red-haired Blood Cultist had only a small smile on his face. He licked the blood sttered on his face. I guess I have no choice but to intervene. Ian quickly calcted the situation. The red-haired cultist, although strong enough to defeat Asterias guard in one blow, was undoubtedly weaker than Yurran. I need to make him absorb the princesss blood. When Bloodstone Cultists absorb life force, they cannot move. Ian needed to take advantage of that timing to deal with the remaining enemies. Its Yurran as expected. What Ian ckangers? Yurrans eyes widened. Why did youe here? I thought you were here for a peaceful date. If you got lost looking for a hotel, theres a nice one over there. They have a variety of equipment prepared. Oh, really? Thanks. The alleyways are confusing. By the way, you have a taste for beastmen p*ostitutes. Quite impressive. Whos a p*ostitute! Danya retorted indignantly. Both Ian and Yurran ignored her. But she looks like Asteria. Ians words made Yurran smile slyly. Ill make an exception for you. Just pretend you didnt see anything and pass by. That might not be possible. Its a shame for the princess to be a sacrifice for the Bloodstone Cult. Hahaha! You knew, didnt you? You were too obvious. Hehe. Ian, Mr. Ian ckangers. Smirk. The corners of Yurrans smiling mouth instantly lowered. The murderous intent was immediately written across the face with just a nk expression. Youre too much. His mouth opened coldly. Even back at the dormitory. When that crazy Sharon didnt even know the subject and you approached. It felt strange since she sneaked in there. No matter how pe*verted, theres no reason to be in the female dormitory at that time. Thump, thump. Yurran moved towards the princess. Youre alive because that person desires you. Know your ce. Youre nothing but trash. Vwoosh A transparent barrier formed around Yurran. His signature skill, a protective barrier, was an impable non-elemental barrier, impervious to any elemental attacks. A skill perfectly countering the weakness of Bloodstone Cultists during life force absorption. He wrapped an arm around the princesss waist, holding her close. And above all, this person probably doesnt matter much to you. Dont boast unnecessarily. Go your way and forget everything you saw today. My subordinates will help you forget. A sinister smile returned to his originally repulsive face. He pressed his mouth to the princesss neck and murmured. Kill the woman, and subdue the man if possible. If he resists. St. A chilling sound apanied the blood flowing from the princesss neck. One arm should be forgiven by that person. The two darkened cultists and the cultists bowed their heads towards Yurran. Step back, Danya. While Ian murmured, he immediately transformed the Lunar Staff strapped to his waist. The Lunar, transformed into a shield shape, sttered with blood. Crack! Slow down, you b*stard. The blood cultists asionally used their blood for a surprise attack. Ian had already anticipated it. In the midst of the confused attack by one of the ckened cultists who had approached for a sudden assault. Kwaaang! Ians fist surrounded by Lunar struck the cultists skull. Thump, thump, thump. Ians heart started beating rapidly in tune with thebat. There was no time to take a breath, and a spear shot out towards him. Another blood cultists spear was aimed at him. He dodged it with his reinforced arm. Swoosh! An arrow of grass attribute shot from behind and pierced the cultists forehead. However, it wasnt enough to finish him off. Ian, who had approached, grabbed the cultists throat, opening his mouth. Dishwashing. Crack! The blood cultists skull should have disappeared by now. The purified and lifeless neck fell off. Two ckened cultists were dealt with at once. Hoo. The red-haired man stared at Ian as if amused. Even though he was on the same side, there was undoubtedly a gap for Ian to be attacked. If the attack hade at that moment, Ian would likely have been unable to block it. Nevertheless, the blood person remained silently watching from behind. You seem to enjoy fighting a bit. Ian silently observed the Bloodened. The red hair and blood-like pupils were signs of blood transformation, indicating that he was a master at a high level even within the ruthless Bloodstone Cult. The Bloodened slowly raised his sword. The de was as red as his hair. Is it a magic sword? The man brought the de to his own wrist, drinking the blood that flowed from it. Ulk, ulk. The sound of drinking blood echoed. Since you said one arm is fine, then let this guy be prey. The Bloodeneds new form shot towards Ian. ess 10 Chapters ahead of the Novelupdates release on our Patreon. <3 Get notified about releases on our Discord Server Ko-fi Patreon Novel Page Previous Next Chapter 70 Chapter 70 The Bloodened surged towards Ian. An overwhelming speed that was difficult to follow with the naked eye. Ian instinctively transformed the Lunar into a shield form, just enough to withstand the onught. Aaaargh! Barely defended against the Bloodeneds attack. But the part of Lunar touched by his sword turned ck. Infused with the energy of the moon, the Lunar that came into contact with the sword disintegrated. Ho. Fascinating mineral. On the other hand, the Bloodeneds sword was the same. ck blood flowed from the veins on the sword, staining half of it ck. My intuition was not wrong. This is fun. The Bloodened shed his opposite wrist with his own sword. Squelch. Squelch. The bloodsword, saturated with blood, regained its original color. Is this a monster? Ian sighed inwardly. Not human, and the sword itself regenerates. The Bloodstone Cultists are not only insane but also their weapons seem to be the same. The bloodsword, starting to merge with the Bloodeneds arm as it greedily consumes blood. Thick veins protruding from the bloodsword were connected to his arm. Haah This is it. This feeling. The Bloodened seemed satisfied. No, he was downright excited. Without any intention of swallowing the saliva dripping from his mouth, he chuckled and stomped on the ground. Another strong blow. Ugh! A rough groan erupted from Ians mouth. Despite blocking with reinforced wrists, his whole body tingled. Blood dripped down his arm and fell to the ground. Interesting. An alchemist, perhaps? Your fighting style is quite amusing. The Bloodened genuinely praised. Most magicians or knights use standardized magic. Those who can handle the fire element focus on aggressive magic. Water element users mainly support, and so on. Predictable magic at predictable times. After dozens of fights, it bes boring. But this guy was entertaining. Almost to the point where he wanted to y more. Ian, hearing those words, felt a bitplicated. Is that praise? To be the target of the first praise in a real battle from a crazy Bloodstone Cult fanatic obsessed with blood. He decided to take it as high praise. Of course, there was no time for idle thoughts. Such praisees when the Bloodened thought he had the upper hand. Conversely, it meant he was being careless. Nows the chance. So discreetly, Ian signaled Danya by tapping his index finger against the Lunar. Ping! Grass attribute arrows flew from behind towards the Bloodened. Amusing. The Bloodened casually blocked the arrows with his sword. But it didnt end there. Entangle. Danya quickly repeated the spell. Countless arrows surrounded her. Since she drank the elixir Ian gave her, Danyas magical power had significantly increased. Not only that. The biggest weakness of beastmen is their excessive sensitivity, sensing even unnecessary elements, creating noise. Ian, using and asionally, helped her growth, turning that weakness into Danyas strength. Rapidly increasing the number of grass attribute arrows. Its something that can only be done if your elemental sensitivity and control ability are at a considerable level. ! The Bloodened observed Danyas magic with interest. Of course, the Bloodened, a fool who just watched while the opponent casted attack magic, was not rmed. He was confident that he could block it anytime. A student, and a beastperson, disying such high-level magic? Even as a student of the Lichten Academy, it was impressive. It might only be possible for those who have absorbed the lives of dozens of other beings in the Bloodstone Cult. Interesting. Not as much as the alchemist, but youre amusing. Try shooting. Swoosh! Shoosh! Shoosh! Arrows tightly bound around Danya shot straight towards the Bloodened. The arrows speed and trajectory changed with each movement of Danyas tail and ears. The scene of arrows filling the space was spectacr. Kaaang! Of course, the Bloodenedughed and blocked the arrows. Phew! A discreetly turned arrow embedded itself in his back, but he paid it no mind. It was nothing more than a minor injury. Now now The moment the Bloodened raised the corner of his mouth and opened it. !!! Suddenly, Ian was right in front of him. Did he approach hidden behind the arrows? This was the moment when the sense of control of the Bloodened who had been controlling everything in this space until then was broken for the first time. You tried, but thats all. Surrounded by metal from the waist up, Ians fist punched through. To the Bloodened, Ians movements seemed infinitely slow, like a slow-motion video. It was the difference in skill and experience. It was obvious to him that Ians lower body was extremely weak. Indeed,cking in experience. The foundation is in the lower body. The Bloodeneds sword aimed heavily at Ians ankle. Originally, I would have cut it. Be grateful to Lord Seven. Whooosh! Huh? The Bloodened was bewildered. The sensation of the opponents ankle that should have been felt was not there. Most surprising was that he missed the opponents movement. Even though the speed was supposed to be inadequate? What? A moment of brief astonishment. Whoosh! The Bloodened looked down at his chest. A thin rapier pierced through his heart. Following that slender de, the head of a floating ck-haired boy came into view. A smirk on the boys lips. Only then did the Bloodend realize the situation. You targeted mycency. I suppose you could see it that way. You werent fast. You just moved behind the arrows. Exactly. Thest thing I missed was because I never heard or saw that movement ability of yours. What ability is that? Well, I havent decided on a name yet. Interesting. You wlessly exploited the gaps in experience umted through countless real battles. It feels like my perception of the space Ive built up is crumbling. Such a sudden vertical movement without any warning. The Bloodened chuckled. It was aughter of someone who was fatally stabbed but had a leisurely demeanor. But Is this your strike imbued with your soul? Its, I hate to say it, a bit ticklish. Like a mosquito bite. It seems youck an understanding of the Bloodstone Cultists. We dont die so easily. To think this is your final strike. Disappointing. Ian also smiled while facing him. Who said it was the final strike? Blessing, Dishwashing. Ian had realized one characteristic of his blessing while using it. That is, no matter how keen the opponents sensitivity was, they couldnt feel the power of the Blessing. Even the banter exchanged with the Bloodened was merely a means to gather enough power for purification. Youre too caught up in your high and mighty illusion. Because everything youve built up has been too easy for me. Just absorbing the vitality and abilities of the opponent made you stronger. Huh? He deliberately spat out words of contempt. As the Bloodened paused to interpret the meaning of those words. Ian channeled his power through the rapier pierced into the Bloodeneds heart. This was the sword that also received Sharons Frost Mana. The Blessing could easily flow into the body of the Bloodened. The Bloodeneds pupils dted in an instant as he tried to retreat. But it was already toote. Kuaaaaah! The Bloodened radiated intense light. Bent over, his body twisted. Kuaaack. Kuaaeargh. You, youuoomph! The Bloodened attempted to swing his sword, but Plink. The Bloodeneds sword couldnt reach Ian and fell to the ground. Crimson hair, red irises, even the entire skin. Everything rapidly turned ck. Originally, he wouldnt have been affected. It was because the essence of the human body contains only its own vitality. No. No. If only a bit more time I could have reached The Bloodened, whose jaw, down to the bones, turned ck, vanished. Hoo. Ian wiped the sweat off his forehead. The arm that got injured while blocking the Bloodeneds strike earlier throbbed with pain. But there was no time for healing. Wow. Quite an interesting mad dog you were. Pfft. Yurran Alteach, with glimmering yellow eyes, looked at Ian andughed. Even now, he was sinking his teeth into the pure white neck of Princess Asteria, sucking her blood. Hmm. Do you know this? Maybe its because of the noble blood, but its pungent and delicious. Extraordinary vitality, too. This princess, her abilities were not ordinary. Oh. If I consume all of this Yurrans eyes glimmered like a crescent moon. Ranked Thirteenth in the cult, huh? Well, how many times will you have to receive it? Did I mention my dream? I want to try being the leader of the Bloodstone Cult. Hahaheehee. The Bloodstone Cult Thirteen. The position and number granted to the thirteen strongest members of the Bloodstone Cult. Those with that number had the right to inherit the position of the leader. In other words, Yurran was convinced. He believed that the value of Princess Asterias vitality was so immense. Ian approached Yurran without uttering a word. It took about ten strides, but a semi-transparent barrier blocked his path. Will it work? Do I look stupid like that bloodhound? Kuhahahee! You cant break through that. Its a barrier, magical and physical protection, you b*stard! Yurran boasted proudly. Watch from there how I digest this person! Once its over, Ill be cute for you. Yurrans confidence was overflowing. And rightfully so. Yurrans Anti-Principle Force Field. Thats because it was a skill that was notorious for being an unbeatable strategy even in Fanta X Aca. Ian swung his reinforced fist. Whooooosh! It bounced right off. Both magical and physical principles. In the face of this protective shield, they were useless. Ugh. Its sweet. Yurran, overwhelming the yer by unfolding an impregnable barrier and gobbling up the yers character with a gulp. He was the trauma of all yers in Fanta X Aca. Are you angry? But what else can you do? What can you do outside of my field? What can you do? Hahaha. Until Ian, a veteran yer, had found a way to break through that barrier. Ian stood still in front of the barrier. An expressionless face. Yurran felt an inexplicable sense of eeriness. What are you trying to do? Ian swung the bouquet he had brought, hitting Yurrans protective barrier. Soil and flower petals clung to the translucent shield. Hahaha! Are you insane? I thought you prepared something, but flowers, a bouquet, hahahah! Yurrans eyes, tense a moment ago, filled withughter. Facing Yurran, Ian smiled with a grin. Youre screwed, you b*stard. An arrow shot by Danya flew and pierced the barrier. A green sh covered the surroundings. [sc name=ac ][/sc] Chapter 71 Chapter 71 In the world of Fanta X Aca, various interactions existed between elements. Damage and effects varied greatly depending on the reactions between elements. For yers who had reached a certain level, delving into interactions was a natural progression. Of course, among them, there were interactions considered trash. One such example was the interaction of Earth + Grass known as . The only effect of germination was the effect of sprouts appearing on the screen. As one could predict from the name, the nickname for thisbination became Cancer, firmly established. Thebination of Earth and Grass was infamous for being a practically useless interaction. Until a yer discovered a unique effect. If you use Sprouting on a shield, cracks appear. It turned out that Sprouting was an interaction that could break through most shields. The discovery of this effect urred after Fanta X Aca had already be a dead game Zzzzzap! Ian was the discoverer of the effect of Sprouting. Uh, huh. Why is this breaking?! Yurrans pupils expanded in an instant. M-myplete immunity!!! His shield providedplete immunity to physical, magical, and divine attacks. Yurrans role was significant, even rising to the upper ranks of the Bloodstone Cult. Anywhere, anytime, Yurran could perform the highest-level technique of the Bloodstone Cult, the Vampirism. While Vampirism hadplex procedures and many constraintspared to other life-absorption methods, it had the advantage of absorbing the maximum vitality and abilities of the opponent. I cant break off contact here. During the execution of Vampirism, under no circumstances should contact be severed. If Vampirism, carried out with trust in the barrier, was forcibly stopped, significant injuries were inevitable. Yurrans eyes trembled intensely from side to side as he sucked away the princesss vitality. Ahaha. Ian, lets have a little chat, shall we? Of course, Ian casually ignored Yurrans words. Kwaanng! Ians fist struck the rift where the sprouts had emerged. Yurrans shield crumbled like ss made of sugar, scattering into powder. Absurdity, injustice, anger. Ian grinned as he looked at Yurrans face, where the perfect smile had vanished. I told you, youre screwed. Yurran fled with significant injuries. Ian didnt bother to chase. Even if he had suffered injuries, Yurran was a character with numerous variables, making it difficult to predict his full power. Instead. The fleeing Yurran Alteach would face charges of regicide, attempted murder of royalty, and various other crimes. Even if he overcame the injuries he suffered, there would be significant constraints on his future activities. The next day. Reception room of the princesss residence. The awakened princess immediately summoned Ian. When Ian arrived, Asteria, who had been sitting somewhat disheveled, stood up abruptly. Thanks to your actions, Im alive. I just did what needed to be done. Originally, ording to the story, Lina and Sharon were supposed to solve the festival incident. Sharon Pierce returned to her family, and Lina was in a state that was difficult to determine if she was sane or not. However, it was not a situation where the central characters of Act 2 could be left to die. It was simply something that had to be done. And it also garnered attention from her. I sincerely want to express my gratitude. Thank you, Ian ckangers. Asteria bowed her head. Even with a face that seemed so pale that it was worrisome, there was no disarray in her posture. Perhaps it was due to exhaustion from using all her energy? Asteria, with her spunky side gone, looked rather elegant. Meanwhile, Asterias ck short-haired escort, Karen. She was restless next to the princess. Because she failed to properly protect, it was her fault that the princess had to bow to someone else. Im sorry, Your Highness. I didnt perform my escort duty properly Karen. I told you. Its not your fault. Wouldnt you like to stop making that expression now? As per the princesss words, Karen, who looked out of ce with her sharp eyes, was shedding tears that didnt match her sharp demeanor. But, Your Highness Its because I didnt understand those traps that you ended up like this Phew. Its more burdensome for me to see you crying like that. Look at that. Ian is also looking at you. Ian was in a dilemma. He hadnt noticed Karens expression, and he was pondering if she looked simr to someone else. Ian, say a word or two. Me? Yes. A spark of unexpected fire. After a brief moment of contemtion, Ian spoke up. You were too ipetent to be an escort. You need to work harder. Guh! A single tear rolled down her eyes. Karen rushed out of the reception room. Asteria awkwardly watched Karens retreating figure. Ian, youre not ordinary either. ? I think its the first time Ive seen Karen so emotionally charged. Shes usually a quiet and brief person. There are times when you need to scold. Ian remembered someone who had clung to him, begging to be scolded not long ago. Hmm? Of course, Asteria wouldnt miss such a sensational topic. The corners of her eyes were bent into a half-moon shape. Surprisingly strict, huh? Yes? Even at night, youre this strict? Ian, who had been worried about the recently weakened Asteria, lost that concern when he saw her twisted expression. As expected, royalty is not easy to deal with. Seeing Asteria regain that mysterious smile so quickly, Ian sighed softly. Asteria, with her mouths corners raised, patted the space next to her. Stop standing there with a scary expression ande sit here. Excuse me. The sofa was spacious enough to lie downfortably. Ian intentionally left a space between him and the princess and sat down. Although there was no significance in Asteria moving one space closer, she did so anyway. Theres something I want to ask you. Feel free. Do you really not feel anything even after seeing my body? It was a provocative question that sneaked in while she nonchntly touched her chest, but Ian remainedposed. No. Really? Even when I look this pitifully weak? Its rare for a man not to give a single nce when a woman looks like this. Ian knew Asterias original personality. Therefore, seeing her act like this was somewhat annoying. It seems Im an unusual man. A firm response left Asteria slightly dumbfounded. In truth, Asteria had half-yfully teased him because she wanted to be closer to Ian. Is my charm not working on him? That he was not affected at all was a different story. That means that a man named Ian is one of the two. He is either a sage with deep experience and wisdom enough not to fall for temptation. Or Are you by any chance impotent? Ian momentarily put down the teacup that he had been holding. No, its not that. Rather, you should cover up a bit. Why? I, as a princess, am perfectly fine like this. Without a word, Ian pointed towards her chest. Asterias delicate indoor clothes were soaked with sweat, revealing what was underneath. She hastily covered the slightly protruding parts with both hands. I-its not like this should be exposed, right? Theposed expression she had just a moment ago disappeared, reced by a blushing Asteria. I know. Asteria quickly wrapped her upper body with a nket. Turning his gaze into the distance, Ian spoke. Im actually more interested in something other than the Princesss body. What is it? A request. The princesss hand, which was fastening her buttons, stopped. She murmured quietly. How much do you know? Enough to know that you want to cut off the hands and feet of the Crown Prince. Gulp Feeling the chilling sensation on his neck, Ian lowered his head. Karens sword was delicately carving a thin crimson line on Ians neck. Shes truly skilled. Nothing could be felt as she approached. Nothing could be felt as she approached. Recognizing that precise movement, the name of the prestigious assassination family, ck Cat, came to mind. Shall I ring? Its okay Karen. I think youre overreacting. Its a confidential matter that shouldnt leak out. Asteria nodded her head. Thats correct. But he is my benefactor. Put away the sword, Karen. The chilling sensation that touched his neck disappeared. It stings a bit. Ian grinned. Now that it seemed they could finally get to the main point, the serious look in Asterias eyes was evidence enough. Can you exin how you knew, Ian? The voice that used to be infinitely yful was now much deeper and more serious. Finally, the serious princess has emerged. Ian spoke up. The princess is notorious for being a fool and a nymphomaniac. True. I made a hypothesis here. What if the Third Princess is acting? She has a weaker foundationpared to the Crown Prince and Princess, so she would hide behind the shadows and seize opportunities. Such a person wouldnt hesitate toe to a remote ce like the Academy. Continue. Since she doesnt have any pawns to use quietly, she must have been thinking of seducing a few innocent students here and using them. Hide and gain strength. Its a good ce for that, with many uncut gems lying around. Are you insulting the princess? Karen, sharply using, Ian shook his head. Its not an insult; its cold judgment. Even I would have thought the same. The Third Princesss ultimate goal is to seed or take the throne. Not to mention, she is likely more interested in thetter. Asteria stared at Ian without expression. She initially thought of him as a talented mage. But she didnt expect him to be so wise. It feels simr to when I was dealing with a great sage. Being wise means seeing through the essence of a person, her mentor used to say. This time, she nned to send others and observe, but the princess changed her ns. The target is the head of the Pierce family. Hes collecting evidence of being a Bloodstone Cultist. While Karen was taken aback by the princesss mouth opening out of nowhere. Asteria and Ian exchanged opinions quickly as if they were continuing a conversation they had been talking about for a long time. How certain are you? 100 percent. If sessful, whats the reward? Do you want gold coins? Not bad, but I prefer something more valuable. In that case Ill give you one of the treasures I possess. Karen, who was barely keeping up with the conversation, widened her eyes. If it was a treasure, it must have been something collected by the Empire from the continent. An item that even those not of royal blood cannot casually touch. Well, considering she saved our lives, its the least we can do as long as its not one of those Numbers. Among them, the value of the numbered items called Numbers is at a level that cannot be measured even in gold coins. While Karen barely caught up with the conversation, the princess spoke. Choose one from the range of numbers 100 to 110. P-Princess! Karen, who was shocked, tried to stop her. If its Number 100 Im fine with it. Ian grinned and shook hands with the princess. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 [Numbers] is Fanta X Acas item ranking system. In addition to themon item system that distinguishes between Normal Advanced Rare Legendary, unique and highly valuable items are assigned numbers. Simr to how valuable national treasures are numbered like National Treasure No. 12, these items are assigned identification numbers. Number 100 not bad at all. The value of items tends to increase exponentially around that range. Ian couldnt help but smile at the princesss proposal. Originally, the rewards were just a few gold coins and items crafted by artisans. Compared to the original rewards of Act 2, it had been significantly upgraded. How about it? The princesss proposal? The princess extended her hand, and Ian shook it satisfactorily. Great. The more I see you, the more peculiar you seem. In what way? At times, you seem indifferent and indifferent, as if you dont care about anything. At other times, you exude confidence and have excellent drive. I see. Yeah. Its like you see through everything, whats important to you, and whats unnecessary, as if you know it all. Ian felt a bit embarrassed. Have I been too efficient so far? He focused on what was necessary based on the information he knew about the scenario and boldly ignored the rest. Asteria must have noticed his attitude. A man who has no interest in a princesss body is beyond belief. Haha. Although she said it like a joke, she must be well aware that she only emphasized the fact that she was not an ordinary woman. She had a subtle smile in her eyes. If Asteria in Fool Mode were tough seemingly innocent yet alluring, her currentughter was both intellectual and overflowing with grace. Even though it may contain a hint of sarcasm and self-mockery. I dont know how to eptpliments. If you mock me, youll be in trouble, even if youre you. Sorry. With a grin that seemed to suggest it was just a joke, Asteria soon crossed her legs and asked seriously. Im not ignoring you, but do you understand the meaning of the mission I gave you? Gather evidence to prove that the head of the Pierce family is involved in the Bloodstone Cult. Just like that, isnt it? Do you know who the head of the Pierce family is? Richard von Pierce. The Grand Duke of the North. Hmph! The one who sighed in admiration was not the princess but someone else. The heads of Asteria and Ian turned to the side. Karen was staring at Ian with apletely dumbfounded expression. She bowed her head. Sorry. Its just surprising that theres someone who talks about the Duke of the North so casually. Its fine. I was surprised too. Richard Pierce, Grand Duke of the North. How many people in the world wouldnt be afraid of his formidable name? As the princess, still feeling the aftermath of surprise, looked at Karen, she spoke. Ian, you probably already know, but I cant apany you. Instead, this girl will be with you on your journey. I want to issue themands. Do as you please. Karen was astonished at the princesss immediate response. Your Highness! Karen. Im not ignoring you. I know very well about the reputation of your family and your contributions so far. But just this once, can you trust my judgment? Tingling. Karen red at Ian instead of the princess. Ian, quiet and shrugging his shoulders. Karen, exhaling a small sigh, bowed her head to the princess. Yes. Of course. Good. Um. By the way, Ian. Are you nning to bring your cat along? She seemed to get along well with you. It was about teamposition. Ian hesitated for a moment. Danya would undoubtedly be helpful. Yes. I dont mind. Considering the location of the Pierce family in the North, it might be good to have a team member with a fire element as well. Due to the frozen terrain in the North, the Pierce family had many individuals who manipted the frost element. When dealing with frost-based adversaries, a member with fire abilities was essential. Moreover, the difference between having and not having fire abilities could be significant in unexpected disaster situations. Therefore, including a fire element ability user in anybination was considered a standard strategy when heading towards the North. If you dont know anyone, feel free to hire someone. No need. I know someone. Ian knew of a fire element user. Whats the point of going through the main scenario without a heroine? However, there was one thing that had not been clearly concluded with her yet. There was a clear difference between a probability of 0.001% and a probability of 0%. It might be worth checking it out properly. He didnt want to take unnecessary risks. While Ian was making a decision, the princess came out wearing a hat and sunsses. With the sunsses covering her face, she spoke to Ian. Ill take care of the misceneous preparations, so focus on teamposition and nning. And Asterias hair turned white in an instant. This is what my disguise looks like, so keep it in your memory. That form, which Karen had been silently observing, made her sigh softly as if she had resigned herself. I find it difficult to understand why you trust him so much to disguise yourself like this. Who do you think I am? Hmm. With a twirl, Asteria lowered her sunsses towards Ian. Who is it? He is an advisor to the next Empress. Frown. Asteria blinked with one eye. That sight was somewhat burdensome to Ian. The next day. Be careful. Ian went to Silvias office to receive the items he had asked for. Buried under piles of documents, Silvia, upon seeing Ian, stood up, smiling broadly, and turned her face away with a yful Ahem! clearing her throat. Hmm? What should I be careful of? The princess. The Third Princess. Asteria. Silvia, who had risen from her seat, approached, raising her index finger. Last time, after the disciplinarymittee was over, we had a conversation. Shes definitely not an ordinary person. It felt like she was acting, walking around as if she were a p*ostitute. Shes not just a foolish person, so dont be tempted easily. Oh Yeah. Was it a somewhat lukewarm response? Silvia immediately looked sulky. As expected, you knew. Now, when will I repay the debt Ian, realizing his mistake, hastily waved his hand. No, thanks to you, I feel more alert now. I appreciate it. No need for such cheapfort! Heung! Even while snorting, Silvias expression softened. After a moment of pursing her lips, she spoke. Too bad. I also wanted to go to the Northern Territory when I had the chance. Come to think of it, the situation seemed unusual. Many residents had left for vacation due to the Saint Gregory Rest Week. Yet, with so many documents piled up the reason was obvious. Are Raymond making moves? Yes. Especially the movements of that fox, Emilia, seem suspicious. Silvia slightly furrowed her brow. Emilia, that fox-like woman, was annoying at times, and at the same time, there was something more she wanted to say to Ian, but it didnte to mind. Oh, right. ? There are rumors that the condition of the Saintess candidate, Aria, is very bad. How bad is it? Turned into a vegetable or, well ? Seems like shes drugged. Its not just a baseless rumor; its information obtained from a somewhat reliable source. In an abnormal state. Ian thought for a moment. Aria Lumines Bell. Her mental state was usually far from normal. In such a state, with suspicions of her relic being used for forgery In Pongpongs [Strategy Guide], the section about Aria was unusually long. Most of the content was about how to take care of Arias mental state. In a way, its natural. Ian, who knew about Pongpong and Arias past, nodded silently. Can you keep an eye on those two for me? Of course. They are people Ive been observing carefully anyway. Thanks. This much is nothing. Oh, right. Silvia took out a small box from a drawer. Boldly offering the box, Silvia stammered a bit. This is, um, the requested cough, cough. Its a unicorn string. I dont know why you need something like this, but its performance is guaranteed. Oh. Thanks. Ian checked the item Silvia handed him. It was a string with a circumference that could amodate a thick stick. [Unicorn String] Originally an item in the game setting, there was no doubt about its performance. Uh there. Silvia, whose earlobes were red, hesitated. What? The size No, not this. W-who are you going to use it on? Hmm. Ian thought for a moment. Should he tell her this? Ah, no! Its private, so what am I saying? But Ian, sir. ? If youre confused about whether someone is a v*rgin or not, theyre probably not a v*rgin already. Once again, Silvia threw a fastball full of insight. Ian nodded in agreement. I guess so. Thanks, Silvia. Yes! Cough! However, Ian couldnt fully understand why Silvia was so self-assured and confident. Having left Laurents upper floor, Ian boarded the tram heading towards the Academys north gate. Due to the students leaving, the tram was spacious. He sat in an empty seat and took out the Kirtos terminal. As the departure date was tomorrow, there was no time to dy. [Ian] Lina, do you have a moment? If it were the original Lina, she would have gone down to her hometown to take care of her siblings. However, in her current situation where her schrship was cut, she couldnt afford the portal transfer fee, one of the schrship benefits. She must be in Lichten. Given her extroverted personality, she would probably be hanging out with friends somewhere. However [Lina] Yes! Was he just staring at Kirtos terminal this whole time? A surprisingly quick reply arrived. [Ian] Lets meet at this cafe in an hour. [Lina] Yes! Ill be right there! The location sent to Lina was a room-type cafe. Ian yed with the unicorn string. It wouldnt be too much to check simply, right? Ian came to a rather simple and reasonable conclusion regarding the events that would unfold in the future. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Ian The room was dimly lit, with the curtains half-drawn. Lina, wrapped in disheveled sleepwear and a thin ck handkerchief loosely tied around her neck,y motionless on the bed. For those who knew Linas usually vibrant self, this sight would be astonishing. Lina was well aware of how pathetic she must appear. But by now, any rational judgment regarding Ian had dulled, yet she couldnt bring herself to let go. Just once. Just apologize properly once, and then I can She wished he could hold her tight like that again. Truth be told, Linas judgment was clouded at this point. Obsession with someone only deepens the more one indulges in it. Since she regained her senses, Lina had been wearing the ck handkerchief Ian gave her around her neck, tightening it whenever she felt anxious. At every opportunity, she would secretly approach him, stealing nces unnoticed. The sight of him with Danya, Silvia, or, more recently, the Princess made her feet tingle, but there was a reason she couldnt approach him. I need to know my ce Lina was aware of how much trouble she had caused Ian. She even rejected him when he brought lunch. It was foolish, incredibly foolish. At that time, she happily rejected him, and now she was fixated on him. In terms of wisdom, wasnt she at the level of a worm or a snail? Surely, Ian thinks the same If Ian viewed her the way she viewed him, then she was like a snail. So, she decided to be careful not to harm Ian. Just observing from a distance should be satisfying enough. Thats how she resolved. But Ian, snails arent that clever She kept imagining herself as a snail. Apologizing to Ian and seeking forgiveness the image of Lina herself. Ian punishing Linas soul. So, so diligently serving him to wash away her sins Lets go down to my hometown together They would descend to her hometown located in a beautiful area in the Grand Forest. Introduce Ian to her siblings, take walks basking in the sunlight beyond therge trees. Wake up early and share a lunch made from fresh fruits and vegetables,ughing happily Those images kepting to mind. Its truly an absurd thought When she thought about Ian, she found herself immersed in such fantasies before she knew it. In fact, this was considered an improvement. She was of no help to Ian at the disciplinarymittee, and until she got a chance to talk to him once it was pure hell. It might be better to indulge in such flower-filled fantasies in her mind. What an shameless imagination I have. Get a grip on yourself. Such daydreams were better suited for after Ian epted her apology. Lying down with her face buried in the pillow, Lina heard the Kirtos Terminal notification. Please, let there be more posts rted to Ian! The only ce where Lina could findfort was the Kirtos Network bulletin board. Thanks to the constant influx of posts about Ian after the grading event, it helped fill the Ian void in her deprived heart a little. She found joy in reading the posts and leavingments, feeling like she was helping Ian in some way. Tap, tap, tap. However, that joy was short-lived. No new posts. Ah Linas face darkened rapidly. Just as she was about to lose hope, an rm sounded on her terminal. [Kirtalk!] [Message from Ian ckangers has arrived.] I-Ian?! Ouch! Thud. Her forehead and nose hit the fallen Kirtos terminal. Suppressing the pain with a few strokes, Lina quickly opened the Kirtalk. [Ian]: Theres something I want to check. Can youe to this cafe? [Lina]: Yeah. Yeah. Ill be right there! Thanks!! It had to be a confirmation. Whether Im a v*rgin or not Lina took down her pajama top for no reason. He even asked me directlyst time. Are you asking because you like women like that? Lina has heard that there are many men who are obsessed with the chastity of their partner. Could it be Ian was interested in her romantically? Linas ears turned red. W-Well, of course not. Thump, thump. Regardless, the fact that Ian wants to talk to her made her heart beat wildly. Lina rushed straight to her wardrobe. Choosing the outfit was easy. The problem was the underwear. Uh, maybe something modest is better? But if she wore something like this, wouldnt it make her look too childish? She didnt want to miss the chance she had worked so hard to get. Thud, thud, thud. Linas heart raced as if it was about to burst. Not bad for a growth trend. No matter how you look at it, its a bit intimidating, right? No. Its actually quite good. While waiting for Lina, Ian checked his condition. Finally, the utilization of Transformation had be quite proficient. Even with lower- to mid-grade materials slightlycking, he could easily transform them into simple shapes like shields. For higher-grade materials like Lunar, assuming they stick to the body, he could freely transform them into shapes like gauntlets. Moreover. Once he transformed Lunar covered over his fist into a gauntlet shape. Swish. After that, he could even transform it into a dagger-like point. In appearance, it looked as if a dagger was extending from the back of his hand. It can be used quite flexibly as a variable. Ian was satisfied as he released Transformation. Even though it was a private room where privacy was guaranteed, someone might be surprised if they saw it unexpectedly. Ugh! I-Ian! Ah, hello! Just like someone who conveyed a surprised voice, Ian wanted to calm her down. Relieved to hear a familiar voice, he turned his head, and sure enough, it was Lina. The white blouse she wore contrasted nicely with the ck choker, and the neat yet slightly flowing long skirt subtly highlighted her figure. In a moment of trying to calm down the somewhat frightened girl. Ah-uh! N-No, I mean, its not that Im scared, I just, just got startled, you know? I know Ian, youre a good person! Lina poured out words as if she was sorry for being surprised. Then she seemed to be embarrassed by the words she spat out. N-No! Good person doesnt mean like, foolishly kind. Handsome? Yeah! Handsome. What on earth did she want to talk about? For some reason,tely, Lina seemed to be in a hurry every time they met. Its okay, just sit down and have some water. Uh, okay. For the drink, would herbal tea be okay since you seem a bit tense? Seeing that Ian thought she needed to calm down a bit, he ordered herbal tea. Y-Yes! Uh, thank you! Bowing her head as if greeting, Lina sat still, staring at the table. Ian was momentarily surprised, but since it had turned out this way, he carefully observed Lina. Come to think of it, this calm face-to-face encounter with Lina was the first time since the Blue Mushroom incident. They did meet before the disciplinarymittee, but Lina was so excited, pouring out words, and it was the day before the disciplinarymittee, so it wasnt that noticeable. Since then, Lina has been acting as if her self-esteem has dropped significantly. Anyway, she seems to have a lot she wants to talk about. Ian nced at the clock. Considering the circumstances, the important preparations would likely be made by the princess. There probably wouldnt be anything more important to doter. If Lina can be put to good use, she will undoubtedly be quite helpful during this Northern expedition Should I listen to her story a bit? As soon as Ian made that decision Lina, clenching her fist as if making a pledge, raised her head. I-I, well! I wont ramble likest time, and Ill speak properly now! Uhm, I practiced a lot at home. So, 15 minutes should be enough! I-If its convenient for Ian, that is. Yeah. T-Thank you! Linas eyes sparkled brightly. Like a person who, after wandering through a mountain path, discovers light, Linas eyes were filled with hopeful anticipation. So, what is it that you want to say? W-Wait a moment! With deep breaths, Lina, with closed eyes, took two breaths and then opened her mouth. During this time, Ive thought a lot about you. Your actions, the asional words of encouragement, the confession you made to me before, and the way you looked at me coldly and warned me after that. All of that. Though there seemed to be a slight misunderstanding, Ian nodded once. So, Ivee to this conclusion. The incident where you fell from the rooftop and left a note. I think someone framed you for that. Misunderstandings about you started from there. So, thats why you helped me at the disciplinarymittee. Yeah! What I said at that time was all sincere! So, I want to say this for sure Lina, with a subtle smile, struggled to open her mouth. Sorry. With a once-trembling mouth, Lina continued her words. Im sorry for not firmly rejecting your confession when you needed my help because I was thirsty for assistance. Im sorry for seeing you, who treated me kindly, as somewhat trivial. And Im sorry for feeling jealous when you suddenly changed and started doing well. I couldnt handle those emotions properly, and in the end, I attacked you using the power of the Blue Mushroom. I was wrong. Thud. Tears poured from Linas eyes. Despite closing her eyes and wiping away the tears, she spoke again. Youve taken care of me, and afterward, youve looked at me with a calm gaze. So, in the end, I gained courage. I wanted to break free from the mold of being the kind Lina who had to live like a fool. So, Ian, youre my savior. Im the fool who betrayed my savior. So, if, if someday Sob, hup- Even as tears were swallowed, and emotions burst out, Lina desperately opened her mouth. If you ever feel like it, um, someday, I hope youll punish me. Insult me, hit me whatever it is, since I was the one who was wrong. So, please, just dont treat me like I dont exist. With tightly closed eyes, Lina bowed her head. As she stopped speaking, the surroundings became eerily quiet. The warm yellow light gently illuminated the surroundings, and the subtle scent of herbs calmly settled the air. Drip, drop. In the midst of this, the sound of falling water droplets began, starting from Linas eyes and trickling down her back of the hand. Ian silently looked at Lina. Thump. Like waiting for a verdict, Linas hand, clenched into a fist, trembled. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Hmph. Theres nothing quite like the feeling of crying over your own mistakes. Lina suppressed the overwhelming urge to burst into tears. I Ive said everything. Thinking about it, she had managed to do something she never thought possible. She cleared her mind, expressed her apology. She hopes to punish her someday, but she knows it will take some time. For now, she just hoped for eptance of her apology. Thats what she kept repeating in her mind. Lina cautiously watched Ians reaction. Ian was lost in thought, silently. The tension of waiting for his response, the relief of having said her piece. And the anticipation of whates next. With a mix of emotions, Lina felt oddly nervous. Unconsciously, her eyes kept drifting to Ians forearm. It seemed thicker than before. Veins protruding more distinctly, giving a more masculine look. His shoulders were broader too, noticeably different from before. Thicker neck, sharper jawline. And even his eyes had be calmer, moreposed, and deeper. Was it because of the tension or the subtle anticipation bubbling up from deep within? Gulp. Lina swallowed her saliva without realizing it. Heroine. After all the deliberation, Ian came to one conclusion. The existence of a heroine is crucial. Of course, its not about Ian himself. In terms of intimacy, he has deeper connections with girls like Danya or Silvia. The reason why heroines are important is because they are the central premise around which the scenarios unfold. After all, theyre the ones who drive the scenarios in this gacha game. Lina Rosewell. Even if these conflicts were born out of misunderstandings, he knows she brought him perilously close to death. Ultimately, it might feel cold, but it leads to contemting whether she could be helpful in the future or not. Then theres no need to ponder. From the beginning, he met Lina with the belief that she could be helpful. Thanks to Linas confession, many doubts were resolved. The Lina on the screen seemed excessively perfect. Like a case of the Nice Girl Syndrome. The reasons behind Linas attack and her murky emotions perhaps Ian was in the best position to understand. After all, Ive been embodying the epitome of murkiness. He also realized that Linas feelings towards him were straightforward. Since the Pongpong days, there was no attraction. It was rather refreshing. If there was no interest from the Pongpong days, its easier to deal with it now. Having one heroine versus having no heroines at all makes a huge difference. Ian nodded towards Lina. Im relieved that our emotions seem neatly sorted out. Linas dted eyes, once as small as peas, expanded. Then. Ah yeah! Lina grabbed Ians hand with both of hers,ughing brightly. A pureugh, so characteristic of Lina. More than anything, its a relief that you didnt have any interest in me, Lina. But Ians subsequent words startled her. Huh? Wha? t wasnt the time back then, but now it was a story of interest. Or at least If the dayes when she escapes this worm-like state, she hoped Ian would look back at her at least once. It was a shameless hope, but it existed. But for now. Yeah. Lina nodded quietly. For now, just receiving his eptance of the apology was enough. Being a fool and a snail herself, there was nothing she could do But no, I cant give up like this. Lina shook her head vigorously. It wasnt over yet. If theres even a slight chance, she should hold onto it. Hey, Ian. If I were a v*rgin ? If I worked hard and you wanted to praise me. Yeah. I-I prefer punishment over praise. ? Ian, seemingly perplexed, set down his teacup. Well, uh. If thats what you want. Yes! Thank you! Lina grinned and grabbed the ribbon on the table. Ian had already exined this. It was quite important for him to confirm whether someone was a virgin or not. He said that when the string was inserted and pulled out, if it remained white, it meant purity. Ive heard it before. Theres something that a man ties up there before doing anything. Lina cautiously held the string. A pure white string that looked like a t stic rubber band. Despite wrapping it around her fingers, the thickness made Linas face instantly flush. But how big But it was a pointless spection. Ian had said she just needed to insert and remove it herself. Suddenly, an idea struck Lina. But Ian, can you trust me? Huh? If, if Im a v*rgin, itll disappear. But what if, while youre not looking, I use magic to change the color? Then, you wouldnt be able to confirm it properly right? You would do that? Looking at Ians expression, Lina shivered involuntarily. It seemed like he didnt expect her to do such a thing. Oh, no! I wouldnt do that! I mean Rolling her eyes. Linas face turned crimson. -Do you want to check it yourself? Were near my house. She thought of saying this But perhaps its still too much? Instead. Just, watch closely, okay? There was nothing more she wanted to hide from Ian. The next day. Around 10 a.m., people had already gathered at the train tform located outside the northern gate. Ian! Lina, who had already wrapped herself up tightly, greeted enthusiastically. Beside her, Danya, with a chubby expression, raised her eyebrows slightly as she made eye contact, then turned away with a slight smirk. Why is she acting like that? Since it would take more than 16 hours on the train to reach the Northern Territory, theyd have time to figure it out gradually. Ian walked towards the princess who came to see him off. She had disguised herself as she did before, hiding her face with arge pair of sunsses over her snowy white hair. Using her original serious demeanor as a disguise was truly bold. Dont overdo it. A little evidence is enough for the princess. Of course. If you want more conclusive evidence, youll have to pay extra. You cost more than the top assassins in the kingdom. I appreciate your recognition of my worth. Hmph. The princess, who elegantly covered her mouth, gently ced her hand on Ians arm. Since youre attending as a representative of the court, you should treat them well. As theyre academy students, they might not be as guarded. However, beware of Lord Richard. Hes always cunning and fierce. The princess spoke carefully, then bit her lip for a moment. Hes more cunning and fierce than any wild beast. Ill keep that in mind. With a wry smile, she nced back at the train. Im sorry. I feel like Im taking your time for no reason. Noble etiquette often tends to be far from efficient. Its okay. I wanted to ride the train at least once. You speak well. Your tastes are truly unpredictable. The princess muttered as she watched people boarding the train. Choo-choo! The sound of steam signaling departure. Ian lightly bowed his head towards the princess. May the stars guide your path. With the princesss farewell, Ian boarded the train. The corridor connecting the cabins. [VIP Guests] Pointy ears peeked out from under the sign. Danya, were you waiting? Hmph! I wasnt waiting; I was worried youd sit in the wrong ce! Dont worry. Quit your nonsense ande quickly, meow. My legs hurt. Danya tugged at Ians shirt sleeve and entered the VIP cabin. Oh, Ian. Awkwardly standing in the corridor, Lina sat next to Karen, the princesss escort, with a forced smile. After reaching the front row, Danya let go of Ians hand and went to sit by the window. Ian followed her and sat down beside her. Sniff sniff Wriggling her nose, Danya casually threw out a question. What did you do with Lina yesterday? We had tea. And? Um. Ian hesitated for a moment. Linas v*rginity was confirmed. It was clear that he would cause too many misunderstandings if he said that. As Ian momentarily closed his mouth. Danya leaned against the window, chin in hand, looking contemtive. The small hairpin attached to her side hair glimmered. As a means to break through Yurrans protection, Ian couldnt just overlook Danyas despairing eyes. So, he gave her the hairpin as a gift. After ying with it for a moment, Danya spoke up. Lets go out for a meal when we return from the north. I know a good restaurant. Sure. But its quite far. Lets go. Ians answer was decisive and without hesitation. Since were going together to the north, we can eat together anywhere. That was Ians thought. Anyway, thanks to his prompt response, a smile returned to Danyas lips. At that moment. Chugga-chugga Perhaps it was because of the magic stones used as materials. Although not fast, the train started smoothly. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the passengers who boarded the train to Schulz The northern part of the Empire was ruled solely by the Grand Duke of the North. The Pierce Duchy was, in essence, a giant fortress itself. Originally, its purpose was to constantly fend off external threats. Many people are drawn to the specialties of the Pierce Duchy, known as the Cold Knights and Giant Gate. The scenery outside the window gradually began to change. Thendscape of Lichten flowing backward. Danyas ears twitching like butterflies. An unnamed in. Casual chatter. Danyas eyes bing droopy. And so, five hours passed. As snowkes began to fall outside beyond Danya leaning on his shoulder. The next stop was Schulz, a small city located at the junction of the central and northern regions of the continent. And so, the train slid forward towards the second Act of the story. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 The train arrived at the station in the city of Schulz, which marks the northern border. From here, its a three-hour journey by train to Engelholm, the final gateway. From Engelholm, its a six-hour ride on the North Trans-Mountain Train to the northern capital, Lahti. In terms of time, roughly half of the journey remained. One had to change trains here. Hmm. Ian felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension as he got off the train. Its so cold! Danya, who jumped off the train, shivered. The weather was emitting a faint chill. Should I lend you my scarf? Its fine! I can easily regte my body temperature Is that so. Ian nodded. Indeed, among the beastfolk, there were those who were adept at regting body temperature. They seemed to have excellent control over their bodies. However, he didnt know why Danyas tone suddenly became unclear. Danyas gaze lingered on the scarf with a hint of regret. Beyond her, Lina and Karen got off the train. Karen, you should hurry too! Im fine, really. You should eat something! Lina seemed to have already be friendly with Karen, who was silent andposed. Her charisma is something else. Indeed, should one call a heroine a heroine? Ian clicked his tongue at Linas overwhelming charm. Lina often approached him as they walked. Oh, Ian! Here! She called out, holding something in her hand. It looked like a stacked bento. I-I packed lunch. Um remember back then Lina hesitated before closing her eyes and blurting out. Back then, I just took it too seriously! I brought enough for everyone to eat! Oh really? Since there arent many good restaurants around, that works out. Lets eat together. Yeah! Ill set it up in the lounge! With a smile on her face, Lina ran towards the VIP lounge of the station. Regardless, wouldnt such warmth and generosity be another advantage for the party thats being assembled now? Thinking so, as Ian moved his feet, Karen approached him. Theres something Id like to talk to you about. Karen had a cold expression. Since the princess ordered her to follow Ian, she had been speaking quite formally. However, it seemed managing her expression was difficult, and she wasnt in a good mood. What is it? Were not going on a pic. Im aware. But the people who brought us seem too rxed about it Miss Karen. Ian cut Karens words firmly. Were not going to fight Duke Pierce. Thats true. But their attitude seems too casual For example, if Lina bes friendly with one of the Pierce familys servants and easily secures evidence Karen closed her mouth like a mute. I hadnt thought of that. I am determined to fulfill the mission the princess has entrusted to me. Thats what it means. Ian stopped walking and addressed Karen. It means I wont hesitate to use any means necessary. Of course, fighting would be the worst-case scenario. Fighting Richard Pierce would undoubtedly be dire. Being the head of the Pierce family meant upying the highest position in the best knight family. Even so, Ians thoughts remained unchanged. Ill count on you when the timees. Its not expensive meat, hehe. As befitting a space used by nobles, the VIP lounge at the station had private rooms. Lina found arge room and skillfullyid out the lunchbox and tes on the table. One could say it was an expression of her vivacity, nurtured from an early age by taking care of her younger siblings. I thinly sliced it and marinated it in sweet soy sauce. Then I stir-fried it with green onions and coated it with our familys special seasoning. Saying so, Lina started cing pieces of meat, which she had separately prepared in a warming container, onto each te. Thank you. Karen was the first to lightly bow her head. Enjoy your meal. Then, it was Ians turn. Thank you. Mmm. After receiving the meat, Ian nodded. It feels a bit thick? Ian examined the meat. There was anotheryer hidden underneath. Grin As Ian passed by, Lina quickly winked with one eye at him. Without any reaction, Ians gaze fell on Danya. Danya was looking back and forth between Ian and Lina with a puzzled expression. Without hesitation, Lina sat between them. Then, she leaned towards Danya. Danya, heres some meat and this for you. ? Since you said you liked this ingredientst time, I made a little for you. Eh Th-thank you. Lina stuck close to Danya and offered her some side dishes she might like. A faint scent of catnip wafted through the air. Lina knew very well that she had to build a good rtionship with Danya beforepeting with Ian. Ian silently watched Linas actions. I cant tell whos the cat and whos the fox. Why did Lina seem to have a red fox-like tail attached to her? It must be an illusion, right? Ian blinked and took a bite of the meat dish that Lina offered. Mmm. It was definitely delicious. When he raised his head, he met Karens eyes, who also took a bite with widened eyes. Though she quickly returned to her expressionless state, she couldnt hide the blush on her cheeks, as if embarrassed. After finishing their meal, the train to switch onto arrived at the tform. Thest stop, Engelholm. The train headed there was a short two-car train. As Ian sat down next to Danya, who had already fallen asleep like a log, a person sitting across the aisle approached them. If youre taking this train at this hour, are you also heading to Lahti, young man? Lahti was the capital of the Pierce Duchy and the final destination of Ians group. Ian scrutinized the person who had approached him. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties, with a good impression but traces of the hardships of social life. His impressive attire included a camera-shaped magical device hanging around his neck. Oh, excuse me. Its just my professional habit to pretend to know someone first and see how it goes. Haha. Im Schwab, a senior editor at the Imperial Gazette. The Imperial Gazette was one of the three major newspapers representing the Empire. A journalist? The inexplicable sense of unease Ian had been feeling intensified. After a brief hesitation, Ian shook the hand Schwab had reached out. Ian ckangers. Im a student of the Lichten Academy. Ah! Schwabs hand, which Ian had shaken, tightened. I heard you made quite a ssh at the grade assessment. How did you hear about that? Ah, you must be surprised. Important events at prestigious academies are usually shared among journalists. Its only a few lines of news, but you should remember it well. Figures like Promising Mage of the Year chosen by the Imperial Gazette arent just randomly selected, you know? Haha! He chuckled lightly, scratching his head as if embarrassed. Oops. This might be interpreted as Ian here being a candidate. Well, some people are interested enough to keep an eye on it. Since Ive already mentioned it, what can you do? Please keep it a secret. Hahaha! Despite his gentlemanly appearance, he seemed to enjoy gossiping. His profession as a journalist seemed to suit him quite well. However, the information he provided was interesting enough to be worth paying attention to. By the way, it seems Ian is attending the social gathering? Yes, thats correct. Well, as a journalist, Ill naturally be attending, but whats Ians qualification for attending? Ian briefly pondered. However, since he was officially attending, there was no need to hide it. Im attending on behalf of Her Imperial Highness, the Third Princess. Schwabs eyes widened. Huh! How interesting! The Third Princess sends such a diligent young man, hahaha! What do you mean? Dont you know? The Third Princess has sent different men as representatives to every social event. At first He whispered, lowering his voice. There were some rumors about why a noblewoman would change herpanions so frequently, but now it seems they werent so bad after all So, there are high expectations for who wille to each event. Be careful of the paparazzi from the dating magazines. Haha. But I think you can trust our major publication more than them. He handed over his business card along with his advice. Though he seemed to enjoy gossiping, the information he provided would likely spread everywhere. Thank you. There was no reason not to take it. It was easy to obtain information, and if he had something to say, he could spread it quickly. It was actually an advantage. When the timees to ask for an interviewter, you wont refuse? Of course not. Ian shook his hand. Wow! The train arrived at thest intermediate station, Engelholm. We will stop for 30 minutes to recharge mana stones! The train conductor personally guided the VIP cabin passengers. Danya, wake up. Mmm. Lets go eat udon. Udon? Whats that, nyah? At an altitude of over 1000 meters, it was definitely cold outside, covered in snow. Danya, still half-asleep, seemed about to fall into a deep slumber. It was for temperature regtion, so it wasnt apletely inurate story. Leaving Karen, who decided to stay on the train, the rest headed to the makeshift restaurant on the tform. Its, its delicious, nyah. Udon? Its really, really delicious. How did you know, Ian? The journalist sitting next to us insisted we should try it. Regardless of what kind of noodle dish it was, eating it in such a cold and high ce would definitely taste good. But the udon here was definitely so delicious that it could be called a specialty. Actually, there was something more surprising than the udon. As they stepped out of a simple shop, a majestic sight immediately caught their eyes. W-whats that? A railway track cutting through the rugged mountains. If you followed the track with your eyes, a massive iron gate blocked the view. A majestic iron gaterger than a 30-story apartment building. It was one of the 99 gates scattered throughout the Northern Mountains, and thergest and most majestic gate: the Gate of Engelholm. Wow Though it was located in the farthest reaches of the north, it was the tallest and most formidable. The reason behind it was undoubtedly that the north existed solely to prevent harm to the empire. The gate is opening for the passage of the train! ng! It was quite a spectacle to see the single apartment-sized gate opening. Looking out of the train window, through the gap of the gate, a white canyon and mountain peaks stretched out. The train slowly began to move. Wow. Danya, gazing out with wonder. Ian was also amazed by the expansive scenery. The railway track perched precariously on the cliffs. The view from the train slowly climbing towards the summit was indeed breathtaking. However. Tock As if mocking their amazement, Danya, who had just admired the view, leaned her head against Ian again as if to fall asleep once more. Perhaps she would adapt to the temperature after sleeping for a day. Truly convenient body, indeed. However. The steep cliffs. The tilting angle of the ground felt noticeable. The inexplicable sense of dj vu became clearer and clearer. What am I missing? An ufortable feeling that seemed to grasp at him but couldnt be grasped. Schwab, who mistakenly thought Ian was afraid of being lost in his thoughts, approached him. Theres no need to worry too much. This train, which runs on both rails and mana, has more than enough safety measures in ce. Mana. Right. It must have been something rted to mana. Mana. Mana. Mana. Certainly, something rted to mana was happening. But the train continued to move on smoothly, as if to deny that feeling of unease. Clunk No. It wasnt smooth. He hadnt noticed it, but thefort had disappeared. The faint vibration felt in his lower body leaning against the seat. Huahm. Danya, who had been sleeping like a log, woke up to the point where she was now looking out the window with a dazed expression, her head swaying back and forth. Isnt the train slowing down too much? ! It came to him. Screeeeech! Far away, the mountain peaks moving outside the window gradually stopped. No. It would be more urate to say that the train they were on came to a halt. Only then did Ian be certain. Why he had felt such unease. The moment when ana took off. That was undoubtedly it The raw w in mana stones. The train crossing the Northern Mountains using mana stones as raw materials Huh? It was because it had crashed in the mountains. ck! Clunk! With a chilling sound, the scenery outside the window began to flow backward. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 A train crashed. The cause was simple. A fuel-rted defect in the mana stones. Originally, mana stones were of uneven quality. When mana stones with excessively coarse mana were used as fuel, it caused problems with the magitech equipment. Therefore, this was more of an issue with the refinement process of the fuel rather than the mana stone itself, and it was due to the operators of the train ignoring minor warning signs. However. The reason the entire continent was in an uproar over the Mana Stone Train Crash Incident was threefold. Firstly, most people regarded mana stones as a perfect power source. After all, mana stones were essentially fuel powered by mana. To theyperson, anything fueled by mana stones appeared sophisticated, mystical, and perfect, not unlike the mysterious powers wielded by magicians. So, everything powered by mana stones had an image of being luxurious, mystical, and wless. That image was shattered. Secondly, the train was the dream of allmoners. The Northern Mountain Crossing Train A train navigating a perilous path through rugged cliffs. Riding with family or parents, enjoying the perfect scenery of the Northern Mountains along with the stability offered by state-of-the-art magitech trains, was the dream of every sessfulmoner. To ride in one of thepartments allotted tomoners, some saved most of their ie frombor. Others plunged into stocks and gambling. Their dreams had crashed. Andstly, thirdly. Arent there any mages here! Emergency, emergency! The mana engine isnt working! Mana, mana! Help! Aaargh! Falling! Kwaaah! On that train, there happened to be a conscientious pro-journalist, and while the camera broke, the magical film remained intact. The film capturing the moment the train plummeted from the cliff, and the vivid voice of the conductor. [Mana, mana!] That desperate cry was enough to make headlines in every newspaper. Eeek! With a chilling friction sound, the train began to slip backward. Ian recalled the headline of that newspaper in his mind. But if it were the original story where the heroines receive requests and go, I wouldnt have taken the train. That was the reason he couldnt predict what was happening now. But he soon realized. Ah. The departure was rtively quick. Because he immediately caught the attention of the princess. Or. What, whats going on here! There might be something rted to the journalist grabbing his camera and making a fuss. Anyway. F*cking butterfly effect. Ian stopped thinking about the cause. Naturally, thinking about solutions should take precedence. Or perhaps hoping that this eerie feeling was just a misconception. Of course, as if to dismiss such futile hope, the door to thepartment connected to the engineers room swung open with a creak. Um, are there any mages among the passengers! Emergency, emergency! The engineer, with a pale face, desperately shouted. Ian somehow felt he knew what the engineer would say next. The mana engine isnt working! As he turned his head, Schwab was already acting like a professional journalist, holding up his camera and capturing the engineers face perfectly. Yes. This part should be well captured since its the headline. Mana, mana! Help! Ian, the reporter, and Schwab were the only ones present. Ian, who confirmed Schwab was changing the film, asked. What happens if we continue like this? Were performing the emergency stopping protocol as much as possible, but, we, we dont have much time left. If the brake system fails, the train will elerate along the tracks. Ah, we were almost there, but of course! The path visible outside the window seemed infinitely distant. And then? Since the precise control magitech engine isnt working, i-its a derailment no matter what! Escape? One side is blocked by mountains and the door cant be opened, and the other side is as you can see. Everyone nced sideways. A cliff whose end could not be seen, obscured by cloud-like fog. Ian didnt bother to look down. Falling! Kwaaah! The future was obvious if things continued like this. Do you have any idea what the problem might be? Its probably rted to the fuel. How much longer until we reach safety? 1000 feet, just 1000 feet more and well be safe. About 300 meters. If they could just drag the train that much, the problem would be solved. But how? We need to minimize the weight. Danya muttered. Ian nodded. Ill discard the rearpartments. All passengers, includingmoners? Hmph! Ian found himself looking at the engineer as if he were a bug. Ian let out a small sigh and thenmanded Karen. Karen! Move all the civilians to thispartment. Yes. And Danya! Lets go to the fuel room together. Lina, stay put for now. Got it! Mana stones are loaded on the upper part of each carriage. This means that to inspect the mana stones, one must go outside the train and climb up using thedder on the exterior. ng, ng. It seems the door is malfunctioning, Nyah. In the state of mana supply being cut off, the door didnt function properly either. Ian cautiously applied pressure to thetch. Thud. The door fell off and dropped down the cliff. Thud, thud, thud. The distance to the ground couldnt be heard, not even the sound of impact. Whoooosh! Instead, there was a chilling gust of wind blowing on their faces. Ian hung onto thedder outside the train. Phew. Ian, ncing back, found himself involuntarily taking a deep breath. The end of the cliff was too far away. If someone fell from here, it would be difficult to find their body parts. Ian, over here! Danya, who had jumped up ahead, waved her hand. Shes agile, that one. As expected, the condition of the mana stones isnt good. When Ian concentrated on mana detection, he felt the rough and poor-quality mana remaining in the mana stones. Typically, the mana stone ratio of such fuel-type mana stones was 9 to 10%. However, most of the remaining stones had a ratio of less than half that, and there were many other impurities as well. Hmm. After using Extraction to filter the impurities, Ian carefully ced the mana stones at the entrance. They fit well. Wow! But this wouldnt be enough. Even if he managed to fit one fist-sized mana stone at a time, it wouldnt be feasible to fit several simultaneously and adjust the ratios. Im not a machine, Im a human. At that moment. ng! The train shook violently. Ian. Along with an inexplicable sense of foreboding. Clunk. The train began to elerate as it descended. Aaargh! The brakes! The screams from the lowerpartment were from the conductor. The train began to elerate downwards along with gravity. Im going to die like this. The journalist, Schwab, tightly shut his eyes. He was even wrapping himself up with his clothes in preparation to leave behind at least a magic film Vroooom! He hurriedly followed Lina and Karen out of thepartment. As they climbed up thedder onto the train, they were met with an unbelievable sight. W-what, what is? A massive wall was blocking the movement of the train. Astonished, Schwab blinked and lifted his camera. Both Lina and Karen were also surprised for the same reason as Schwab. Uh? Did you do that, Ian? What? Ian casually asked Karen. What happened to thepartment carriages? Weve moved all civilians. Youre surprisingly good at handling people. No. I knocked everyone out. ? Their conversation was cut short. Creak. Cracks began to appear in the wall. Its going to copse soon. Karen, when it does, please separate thest carriage. As Ian predicted, the wall copsed. Karen swiftly swung her dagger. Thud. The carriage at the very end of the train began to move backward. As the train derailed, the carriage tumbled down the cliff. Again, there was no sound of impact as it hit the ground. Kwooong! The wall summoned by Ian once again blocked the rear of the train. One carriage removed lightened the load, but we cant keep blocking like this. Mana isnt infinite. We need to find a way to pull the train forward somehow. Ians group pondered on finding a solution. Schwab, swallowing nervously, continued to turn his camera. Surely there would be limitations to blocking a train weighing tens of tons. It would be even harder to push it uphill. Even though he wasnt an expert in this field, it wasmon sense. Using just the mana of a few mages wouldnt be enough to move this massive train forward. It was a situation where they couldnt even push it by force along the tracks. The space itself was precarious, with only a narrow trackid out. It seemed impossible, but For some reason, I feel like hell pull it off. Schwab felt a strange sense of anticipation as he looked at Ian. And as if on cue, Ian spoke up. Interactions. Interactions? Schwab furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar term but didnt stop turning his camera. Danya. Remember the seed experiment from before? When you created the seed and broke Yurrans barrier. Y-Yes! Im going to try making that seed as big as possible. And it has to be sturdy. Stick it to the back of the train. Ill do my best! Ian then turned to Karen. Karen. Yes. When Danya makes the seed, pour water into it. If possible, in the form of steam. Understood. Next was Lina. Lina. Yeah! Heat up the seed slowly. A giant seed attached to the back of the train. The sound of boiling bubbled from within. What is he nning? Schwab wondered briefly. Ian thinly coated the seed with metal. Thick on the side facing the train and thin on the opposite side. Rrrrrrrrkk! The unidentified seed began to make a sinister noise. I-Is that thing going to explode? Danya muttered. Yeah. Hold on tight! Ian shouted, grabbing Schwab by the cor. Kwaaaaaaaaaang! The train shot forward in an instant. T-Thank you Just like that, one more time! Kwaaaaaaaaaang! Tremendous eleration. Schwab, half out of his mind, instinctively snapped pictures. Someone shouted. Ah, curve ahead! As expected, a sharp left turn came into view. It was certain they would derail if they continued like this. Ian urgently gave an order. Karen, push all everyone to the left! Yes! At the same time, Ian summoned a wall to the left of the train. The train teetered dangerously to the left. Tzzzzzzzzt! They managed to make the turn, albeit barely. And soon, they arrived at the peak of the summit. Schwab screamed with relief, forgetting all dignity. I-I survived! The scenery from the peak was frighteningly beautiful. Phew. Ian sighed softly. Ian let out a small sigh. The explosion utilizing the interaction of grass, earth, water, and fire went off better than expected, despite being a bit of a gamble. Wahh! I thought we were done for Hmm. Each of them celebrated and felt relieved in their own way. Their mutualforting seemed to form somewhat of a team. Most of it was praise for Ian, after all. At that moment, Lina smiled brightly and raised her hand. But I have a question. All eyes turned to her. What about the downhill? A sunny question. Click. As the train reached the end of the short teau at the summit, it tilted forward towards the descent. Thats a good point, Lina. That day, Imperial Gazette journalist Schwab eventually fainted. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 The station ahead. Danya wrapped the trains wheels with vines. Squeeeak! The train came to a stop with a tremendous noise. We did it. We made it. It descended down the slope of a mountain ridge as smoothly as if it had never derailed, all thanks to Ians efforts mostly, but still, it felt good. Nyaaa. A sigh, trying to hide the sense of aplishment, burst out from Ian. Nevertheless, he felt good. Had anyone already heard the news? The tform below became bustling with staff rushing out. Ian and Schwab, who exchanged a few words, went down. It was probably okay for Danya. Rather than that, he wanted to enjoy this feeling right now. The rough wind brushing against them as they descended the endless slope, the mor of trying to maneuver the train at every curve, and even amidst the hardship, Ians face turning charred with sootall of it made him chuckle. It was tough, but it was so much fun. It was the first time it had been this enjoyable since he had entered Lichten Academy alone. If I had given up on the path of a mage just before meeting Ian, I wouldnt have had this experience. Danya gave up trying to suppress the upward curl of her lips. Then she sat down beside Ian, smiling broadly. Are you tired, Ian? A little. Hehe. Swish, swish. Danya wiggled her legs in the air a few times before speaking up. Im having so much fun. Is that so? Thats good. Danya turned her head to look closely at Ians face. Ians face was usually expressionless. It only had confident eyes and somewhat tired features, always advancing without hesitation. And it was still the same now. His eyes filled with confidence remained, but the dark circles under his eyes had deepened a bit. Apart from that, his cheeks were tinged with soot. Danya wanted to say this. Im lucky to have you as arade. But. Her lips didnt part to say it, staying shut like budding flowers. It was too embarrassing. Even if she didnt know about other things, expressing good feelings honestly was difficult. It was even more so in front of Ian. Instead, Danya cupped her hands. Give me some soil here. ? Ian, who had a puzzled expression, handed her the soil without saying much. The moist texture of the soil. Danya closed her eyes. If its hard to say with words with magic. Since that was also why she chose the path of a mage in the first ce, she recalled the emotions she wanted to express. The cool and cold wind felt while descending the mountainside on the train. Passionate spells cast to maintain the track somehow and the pleasant feeling of momentum. Beautiful scenery with snowkes all around. Wishing for even a little healing for the tired you. To capture those emotions, the mana of the grass full of vitality was moved. A sapling sprouted from the soil. It grew into a stem, then a flower bud. And it bloomed brightly. How is it? Extending that pure white flower to Ian, Danya smiled broadly. A 3-star mana recovery skill for grass-type mages. Snowke Flower Considering the fact that its a 3-star skill, its definitely not low-grade, especially considering its mana recovery effect through summoned creatures. Unlike typical mana recovery skills that transfer the casters mana, this skill transfers mana through summoned objects, making it a true mana recovery skill. Therefore, Snowke Flower is known as the flower of the Grass-type support skill. Ian opened his mouth, hiding his surprised emotions. Its beautiful. Hehe. Watching her naturalughter, Ian thought to himself. Indeed, Danya has talent. Its not just a matter of having talent. Danya possesses an overwhelmingly impressive talent, to the extent that she doesnt pale inparison to heroines. Ian didnt actively push her forward like a typical heroine. He simply provided small assistance giving potions, refining grass elements by her side with her overwhelmingly responsive mana affinitypared to her skills. With just a small spark, Danyas talent began to ze brightly. In this moment, Ian could be certain. Danya would undoubtedly be a significant asset as a mage in the unfolding scenarios ahead. She would grow into a mage capable of leaving her mark on the continent and in history. However, he couldnt be certain what would happen to her as she grew. Ian had never seen her future. In the Fantasy X Academy he yed, Danya was just an extra who disappeared in an ident during early-stage practice sessions. If that was her fate, there might be moments of imminent danger ahead. Of course, Ian wouldnt just let her quietly die. If Danya survived through his reincarnation, taking responsibility for her future would be another task. No, it would be a reward to have gained a reliablepanion. Tame. The interaction between humans and beastfolk was clearly defined as taming. Perhaps it didnt just mean humans taming beastfolk. Maybe humans could also be tamed by. Ian ced his hand on Danyas head. ? Danya opened her eyes roundly, looking up at him. As always, she didnt recoil sharply. She just blinked softly, her ears slightly red. So, Ian gently stroked her head. Danya also closed her eyes and quietly enjoyed the touch. Her tail swayed pleasantly. Thanks to Snowke Flower, the depleted mana and energy began to slowly replenish. They enjoyed healing and rxation for a while. Student Ian! Schwabs voice rang out. He hade running upon hearing that something was wrong with the train and, seeing the short, subtly moving pictures offered by Schwab the journalist, he was astonished. Gatewin, the Vice Chairman of the Northern Mountain Range Train Operation Association, rushed out upon hearing that something was wrong with the train. He was astonished as he looked at the brief but subtly moving pictures presented by Schwab. Oh. I wouldnt have believed it if these pictures didnt exist. Two or three mages had pulled the stalled train over the ridge. Moreover, one mage had yed the main role. A young man with ck hair approached. Is that person? Yes. He immediately reached out his hand towards Ian. Im Gatewin, Vice Chairman of the Northern Mountain Range Train Operation Association. Northern Ah, yes. Im Ian ckangers. To think that such a young mage had moved the stalled train here. Moreover, there were no serious injuries among the passengers, even though there were some minor injuries. I sincerely apologize for the regrettable incident that urred during our train operation. Gatewin bowed politely. A much bigger incident was about to happen, but the novice in front of him had prevented it. Moreover, if he was a student at the Lichten Academy, there was a high chance he was a member of a well-off family. He knew well that swift and sincerepensation was the most effective way to prevent a major incident from urring. Gatewin handed a box to Ian. Whats this? These are high-grade mana potions from the Alchemist Workshop. Itspensation for the magical power you and yourpanions used. There were four transparent bottles filled with blue liquid. As Ian examined one, Gatewin continued. We will also provide separatepensation for any mental damage you may have suffered We guaranteepensation equivalent to ten times the ticket price for this journey. We will make arrangements for further discussions at any branch of the Northern Mountain Range Train Operation Association. Yes. Please do so. Also, weve prepared a special high-speed train to your destination. Please trust and use it. Itll arrive in about 10 minutes. Yes. Then. Gatewin had a mountain of tasks to deal with. With a bow of his head, Gatewin left. Meanwhile Schwab approached Ian, who was curiously looking at the mana potions. Student Ian. No, its better to call you Ian-nim now. You have such remarkable abilities that it would be too much to call you a mere student. Just call me whatever yourefortable with. Haha! Well then, Student Ian. As I said on the train, Ians feats wont be published as news just yet. Well release an article emphasizing the dangers of Mana Stones first. Thank you. Is there a reason why you want to hide your feats? Originally, the train incident should have resulted in a crash, which would have be a major issue on the continent. Ian himself wouldnt expect any good oue if he were to intervene. Therefore, its better if the future doesnt change. Of course, he couldnt just tell all this to Schwab. So, instead Wouldnt it be better to focus on one issue at a time? Schwabs eyes widened as he listened to Ians words. Ohh. You know how to handle public opinion. Alright, Ill put in a good word then. Hahaha! It was his misconception, but well, it didnt seem harmful. At the Pierce Duchy. Luxurious carriages began to arrive one by one. Nobles, dressed for the asion, descended from the carriages, warmly weed by the familys butlers. Meanwhile, in the study of Lord Richard Pierce. A servant was reporting to him. It seems we failed. That child was on board, so we didnt proceed with the second n. The child hasnt died, has he? No, they survived on the train. But they had to feign unconsciousness to avoid suspicion, so theyre unaware of the process. As expected, the insight was wrong. That childs life is more important now. Chaos can ur at any time. Then I suppose well just have to take him out of social gatherings to Slither. A brief rustle near the door caught their attention simultaneously. Their eyes turned towards it. None of them missed the fleeting sight of long, blue hair passing by. It seems Sharon eavesdropped. Should we take care of it? Its fine. That child is already broken. Didnt she recently start practicing the sword again? She seemed to regain her senses after that. At the servants remark, Lord Pierce chuckled softly. She tried to end her life without even understanding the situation. I see. Im just waiting for her blood to mature like her mothers. Lord Pierces blue eyes gleamed with greed. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Unlike other siblings who were bustling with weing guests, Sharon Pierce quietly made her way to the training ground. It was a social event. The first day hosted a banquet for the guests who had traveled far. From the second day onwards, the actual duels between promising heirs of each family began. A gathering where swords were crossed fitting for the name of the North. That was the Northern Dukes social event. It was something Sharon would have simply ignored and moved on. But she overheard the conversation of the lord. Hesing. As Sharon opened the door to the training ground, she bit her lower lip. Ian ckangers. That boy wasing here. For reasons unknown Creak The bitter taste of defeat spread through her mouth from her bitten lip. Compared to the defeat tasted because of Ian, this pain was truly insignificant. He had made her taste a different kind of defeat than being trampled within the family. If she were to think that the humiliation she faced within the family was inevitable. What Ian brought upon her was a defeat brought about by her own pure abilities. Because I underestimated him Because he was from the regr Magic Department rather than the Aether, because the way she was treated was despicable, because his reputation wasnt good She underestimated Ian. She underestimated it as merely a clever curse to hinder her growth or merely a coincidence that he learned ck magic. The price was painful. Sharons own growth crumbled, she practically lost in the Disciplinary Committee, and she was thoroughly defeated in the Grade Assessment. She needed time to regroup. She left the academy as if fleeing. And she coulde to a conclusion. Ian ckangers, was stronger and more scheming than she had thought. Upon careful consideration, even cing a curse to hinder her growth secretly from the beginning might have been part of his n to suppress her. You sneaky b*stard An uncharacteristic murmur flowed from Sharons lips. Behind Ian ckangers, there must surely be rotten things. The dark magic he unfolded. Its clear there would be an association with one of the thirteen factions causing harm to the empire, The Thirteen Evils. Perhaps even with the Bloodstone Cult She should also consider the possibility of him being rted to the Bloodstone Cult, which she did not hate. Such a person wasing here this time. She needed to be wary again. No. Could it be an opportunity instead? Sharon grasped her sword. And swung it towards the wooden dummy. Silence. Only a brief sh of blue, not even the slightest sound of the usual impact. But shortly after. Crack! Shattered into pieces while frozen. If Ian ckangers existence was stronger than she expected, if it became even stronger, that would be the end. I will capture him and torture him to hear the truth. Sharon knew she had nowhere to run. She just needed a moment to catch her breath. Sharon grasped the sword again. As her mother said, Sharon herself knew she had to wield only the sword. Approaching the next dummy. Just as she was about to swing the sword again. Youre hiding here, arent you. Sharon turned her head towards the voice. A man with blue eyes opened his mouth. An eye full of disgust as if seeing a bug. The eldest of the family. Herman Pierce. Surely you were told to just breathe, as if you were there but not. As befitting of the Pierce familys heir, Hermans eyes glimmered with disdain. Sharon instinctively held her breath. Her body remembered the deeds she had suffered from him since childhood. So thats the sword you received from Father this time. Sharon hid the sword behind her back. Do you think hiding it like that will work? Where did this lowly thing crawl in from, tarnishing the familys possessions? Its none of your business. Hoo. Now youre rebelling just because youve grown up. Step by step. Herman Pierce slowly moved towards her. The sword Father bestowed upon you is merely out of pity. You know nothing of your situation. Standing at an almost touching distance. Hermans military boots were ced on top of Sharons feet. Ugh. Do not address me as your equal. Even less so as your brother. Your mother was amoner concubine, so you would be closer to a servant than that. Click. Click. Sharon bit her lip in pain as her nails broke. Hermans eyes seemed to light up with satisfaction. Now youre finally making a face worthy of a concubines child. By the way, werent you expelled from the Academy for some crazy stunt? I left on my own. Boasting, I see. Tarnishing the familys name and then iming virtue. Blood dripped from Sharons trembling fist. In Hermans blue eyes, there was a hint of mockery as he observed it. Stupid b*tch. Leaving those words behind, Herman departed. Bang! The door mmed harshly. Sharon, as if familiar with it, took out bandages and wrapped them around her feet. With bloodied hands, Sharon grasped the sword again. The chill of the wounds was cold. But it was okay. She was ustomed to the cold. The warmth she had felt, ever since she was embraced by her mothers arms, had been absent since then. Sharon. We can only find happiness by blooming like snowkes. No matter what happens, never let go of the sword. Im sorry for giving birth to you under such circumstances, my daughter. Thest words she exchanged with her mother were still vivid. Her mother always hoped to be acknowledged by the lord, and that would be happiness. If so She would do her best for that too. -Swish The sword Sharon wielded cut through the air. For now, only the cold frost filled the air. In the heart of the northern city, Lahti. As they stepped off the train and out onto the tform, a carriage prepared by the princess was waiting. The carriage was so dazzling that it made one squint. Karen, as if ustomed to it, got into the carriage straight away, but Ouch, its blinding! W-Whats with all these jewels hanging around? Because it really was blinding, everyone had to squint and get into the carriage. The inside of the carriage was long and spacious like a limousine. There were only a few rare gadgets or chairs that caught the eye. Why is there a swing in the carriage? To Danyas question full of wonder, Linas face flushed instead. Uhm, Danya. Lina called Danya and whispered in her ear. Whisper, whisper. Ugh! Danya, blushing, obediently sat down. Ian leaned backfortably on the sofa. Its just part of the interior. Karen spoke up towards Ian. Ian nodded quietly. < Luxury + Lust = Princess > The image the third princess Asteria pursues externally is made up of such an equation. Quietly replenishing the familys weakened power by pretending to indulge in luxury and charms. Of course, the performance in a situation where the noble families are fiercelypeting for the session is not an easy task. Perhaps all the carriages she had or borrowed included this kind of interior. Of course, Ian knew Asterias original personality. She would never have used these gadgets before. Therefore, he could naturally ept this to some extent. Its not that extreme anyway. Instead, he was more concerned about Lina, who was ncing at the leashes and ropes hanging on the wall. Well, its just a matter of taste. What he was really curious about right now was Karen. Karen, squinting her eyes, asked. Why are you staring like that? If you have any questions, please speak up. Its nothing. I-I havent used them either, of course. Top of Form Whats with this sudden remark from her? Ian looked at Karen with a puzzled expression. Karen, however, misunderstood his expression somewhat. O-Of course, I have experience. Well, Ive had numerous experiences, so Im used to this kind of thing, but um I guess its just not my taste? Karen seems to be quite loyal to the princess. Ah. Karen closed her eyes tightly. When she opened them again, she returned to her usual (emotionless assassin-like) expression. Her cheeks were still red, though. Im putting in every effort for the clients sake. So if I pay you, will you be loyal to me even if its just for show? Hmm. Your expression is answer enough. Ian was sure of it as he looked into Karens eyes full of guile. With that, Ian was sure. Karen was also an assassin belonging to the ck Cat Order. One of of the Empires three major assassination groups. They pursued money, not loyalty. Although a small curiosity arose between them. Princess Asterias carriage is here! The carriage had already arrived at its destination. Voices could be heard beyond the carriage as the mansions door opened. Oh, its Princess Asterias carriage. I wonder whos riding it this time? It would be nice if it were a handsome man likest time. It seemed like the nobles were already chatting away in the outdoor reception area, set up on the snowy field. [ Initially, Ian, youll attract a lot of attention. As always with the princesss men. ] Karens voice rang directly in his mind. The skill of the assassins to secretly convey messages without anyone noticing, Telepathy. Although the n was devised together, Karen started briefing once again to get ustomed to Telepathy. [ Until Miss Lina attracts peoples attention as nned, be careful of your posture. ] Lina winked at Ian with a V sign. [ From the start of the second days match, we will start our activities in earnest. Please forget about the goal of gathering evidence against the family for today. You must deceive yourself in order to deceive others. ] Ian nodded lightly. Swoosh The carriage door opened, and Ian stepped out of the carriage. At the same time, all eyes fell on him. It seems the princess didnt choose based on appearances this time. His demeanor isnt very pleasing. Oh, Lady Yuliana, these days, men with tired and sharp looks like him are quite popr. If he wore proper attire instead of travel clothes, I might reconsider. Is a mans face everything? Perhaps the Princess, having met all kinds of men, is now looking for someone with inner strength. Heh. The nobles in the reception hall all made their ownments. Some were amazed, while others mixed mockery into their remarks. Whether positive or negative, Ians presence significantly heightened the atmosphere in the reception hall. Its truly remarkable how youve lifted the guests spirits. I wonder how I can properly express my gratitude as the host of this party. Ian turned his head towards the voice. A man stood there, like a male version of Sharon. Tall. Cold eyes. But he was also a charming cold-hearted man who knew how tough charmingly enough to make some nobledies forget their manners. Herman Pierce. He was the eldest son of the duke and was already a renowned knight. The mid-boss of Act 2, Herman Pierce, extended his hand. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Act 2, Frozen River, was a scenario with clear objectives and defined adversaries. From the beginning of the scenario, it was given as amission from the Third Princess, and themission objective was to collect evidence that the Northern Grand Duke was a member of the Bloodstone Cult. However, there was one unique aspect to this scenario. That was, even though it was the main scenario, there were no immediate consequences for failing. Failing to collect evidence linking the Northern Duke and the Bloodstone Cult didnt immediately result in death. If faced with the overwhelming power and charisma of the Northern Duke, it was natural for yers to consider avoiding confrontation rather than directly opposing him. Thus, by carefully considering the events that unfolded in Act 2 and prioritizing survival, yers could securely fail without antagonizing the Northern Duke. The result was bittersweet. Havingpleted a main scenario without any major incidents, yers could delude themselves into thinking they had yed smartly. And the price to be paid for that delusion was harsh. yers who sumbed to fear and failed to confront the imminent threats were not clever but rather foolish, having failed to properly understand the scenario. Act 2 expanded the world. Not only did it expand upon the backdrop of the Academy, but it also significantly expanded the factors yers needed to consider. By failing to collect evidence, yers would lose many things. The ns of the Third Princess Asteria, who would be a future political ally and strong supporter, would crumble, and she would be executed. As a result, the influence of the First Princess and the Northern Duke would increase, and the alliance of the Second Prince lead by Raymond, aimed at Engelholm, would twist the economy with itswork and resources, pressuring them. The Bloodstone Cult, having lost the support of the Northern Duke, would swallow up the Thirteen Evils one by one, expand its influence, and even corrupt one of the candidates for Saint, reaching into the clergy. This would escte the conflict between the Holy Kingdom of Constantine and the Empire, leading to war. By then, the yers would realize. There can be no paradise where one flees. Therefore, Act 2 was a kind of test for the yers. Do you have the ability to read the situation enough to navigate through this story, and the mindset to do so? Herman Pierce. He, who was hosting this banquet, smiled kindly at Ian ckangers. To gain an advantage in the session, this banquet must be sessful. It was never a small matter when his father entrusted him with the banquet he used to host, Herman thought. The second was in the bordends, and the third could already be considered on his side. The fourth could he even call her the fourth? That b*tch is nothing more than a leech and ispletely broken. The fourth, who once shone brightly with talent at a nce, hadpletely copsed at the Academy. In the end, this banquet meant that Herman Pierce himself could firmly establish himself as the closest sessor to the Northern Duke. In such a situation, the man of the Third Princess appeared. The man of the Third Princess. A title that would be the center of attention wherever he appeared. Already, Herman hadid out a n to utilize that title. However, there was some doubt. It was Herman Pierces nature. Perhaps, just as Herman himself was sinister, the other party was also adorned with all sorts of pretenses. Of course, adeptly concealing such emotions, Herman smiled. My father has been busy with state affairstely, so I am hosting this banquet. Thank you foring all this way. Meanwhile, Ian lightly nodded in response to Hermans kindness. Thank you. Of course, Ian was wary of Herman. Though Hermans face was smiling, his demeanor was anything but weak. Hes quite formidable. Even through the handshake, there was a tremendous force. Even if he wasnt a mid-boss, as the eldest son of the Pierce family, he was a formidable expert. Moreover, unlike Sharon, who was merely promising, he was nearingpletion in his early thirties. But. This guy is ying around too. The handshake was just the beginning. A tremendous force emanated as Ian withdrew his hand, followed by an eerie sensation creeping through his palm. Instinctively retracting his hand, Ian purified the energy into a benign aura. Seemingly oblivious to Ians purification, Herman smiled kindly and guided the group. Allow me to lead you to your amodations first. This way. Herman was cunning and deceitful. The malice hidden behind his smile was anything but superficial. Walking behind him, Ian couldnt help but realize afresh. It feels like stepping into the lions den. This scenario was truly unsettling in many ways. Herman Pierce, the mid-boss. Unlike the final boss, the Northern Duke, Richard Pierce, who had several strategies to evade him, there were no exceptions for the mid-boss, Herman Pierce. Moreover, his prowess was far fromcking. An expert who had reached thete 4-Star stages. Considering that it became significantly harder to advance in levels beyond mid-4-Star, he would already be a formidable figure, known throughout the North. But even in the lions den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you. But this was a den with three or four lions and a monster roaming around. Fortunately, they werent friendly with each other. It was a precarious bncing act. Furthermore, maintaining the interest of the surrounding nobles was essential. That way, they wouldnt dare to capture him recklessly. Well then, Ill see you after changing. With that, Herman left. Ian and the group exchanged nces and headed to their rooms to prepare. The rooms were spacious and luxurious, more than expected. However, there was a slight unease about staying in the room Herman had guided them to. Maybe I should purify it just in case. sh There was no sign of purification in the wide-area Dishwashing Spell. Dressed in the banquet attire provided by the Third Princess, Ian stepped out of the room. It will take time for the women. There was no point in sticking together; it would only raise suspicions. Ian slowly made his way towards the banquet hall. The corridor was quite rough but elegant. Since the main mansion and guest house of the Pierce family were separate, it seemed necessary to explore the main mansion. As he arrived near the banquet hall. Through the window, the vibrant lights and music of the banquet could be heard. Just as he was about to open the door and enter, Swift. Someone pulled Ian from behind. Before he could react. Creak The sound of the door closing echoed. It seemed to be a warehouse between the corridors. The shy lights of the banquet couldnt reach here. Dark. His sense of smell reacted before his vision. A musty smell, as if it had been umting for a long time. And a faint, sweet scent mixed with ink and blueberries. It was the scent of someone familiar. Ian spoke up. Surprised me there, Karen. Whats going on? The warehouse was dark and quiet, but precisely because of that, every sound of breathing and heartbeat seemed louder than any other noise. Of course, it was Ians own. You seem tense. Although it was dark and hard to see, Ian felt like Karen had raised one corner of her mouth slightly, as if smirking. Suddenly grabbing and pulling someone like that makes anyone nervous. Hmm. A faint sound as if suppressingughter. Ians eyes soon adapted to the darkness. A few rays of light were shining through the cracks in the trees, illuminating the interior. Karen, dressed in a ck dress thatplemented her short ck hair, smirked slightly. Ian felt that Karen didnt particrly fancy him. Since the moment he demanded authority over Karen from the princess, Karen had shown a slight displeasure. At the same time, Ian knows that Karen is a professional. She wouldnt resort to such antics just for augh. Ian asked her. So why prepare such a surprise? Youre not getting angry. Were on the same team for now. Karen nced at this side with a serious look. Then she spoke. Our n had a w. I was worried whether Ian could dance or not. Come to think of it, all Ian knew about noble parties was from movies. There was no way Ian could dance for socializing purposes. How did you know? Womans intuition. Was she also a woman? Ian barely swallowed the question. There was no one to help here, and Karen was a top assassin belonging to the elite assassination group, the ck Cat. I have to be careful. He definitely wasnt joking. Seriously. Anyway. Karen grabbed Ians hand without answering the question. Outwardly long and beautiful, but rough hands. As an instructor, she had no finesse. Extend your left foot forward and move your right foot to the side. The faint music from the banquet hall could be heard even here. In response to that, Karen moved Ians body. And now, reverse the movement you just made. Like this? Good. Keep doing it, one, two. One, two. Karen was skilled. The warehouse was narrow, but there was no chance of bumping into objects. Was she also once a nobledy in the past? Or did she learn it for missions like a spy? Dancing is ultimately like one-on-onebat. If the opponent is strong, step back, and if not, approach as if youre going to devour them. In the end, its a fight over who will dominate the rtionship between the two. As they moved their bodies, they began to match each others rhythm. Why? Ian, who had been pondering for a moment, realized. Come to think of it, that Pongpong guy, he was once the son of a prestigious household. Surely, he had learned to dance at some point. So, his body was remembering. At one point. Ian noticed an opening in Karens defense. In the end, its a fight over how to pull the opponent towards you. Ian pulled her towards him. Ah. Karen gasped softly as she was embraced by Ian. Their eyes met. Ian saw his own reflection in Karens widened eyes, surprised. How does it feel now? Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Karen didnt quite fancy Ian. Because a stone that rolled in from somewhere captivated Princess Asterias heart. Such talented. Its to the point where I want to somehow make it him my own, but Im grateful just to stand side by side with him. She couldnt understand it. Why someone as esteemed as Princess Asteria would desire someone of that caliber so much. She never attached herself to anyone Not even to Karen herself. And he was her superior during the mission. Annoying. A corner of her heart felt stifled. She knew it was off-topic, but she felt a slight dissatisfaction. Of course, it was just a minor dissatisfaction. Karen was a pro among pros. She would follow Princess Asterias orders, but she couldnt help but notice his shorings. His performance on the train was excellent, but heckedposure. For example, his somewhat rhythmless gait It certainly wasnt the gait of someone who had danced. Thinking about him having to perform the role of the princesss man splendidly at todays banquet was somewhat dreadful. Ill have to teach him. A little revenge, perhaps. She startled him slightly as the price of her teaching. Then she took his hand. One step, two steps. ? Karen was taken aback. .. She felt it. His footsteps changed with each step he took. As if absorbing her teachings as if rediscovering a long-lost memory. A certain genius sculptor once said, One does not carve the sculpture, one merely reveals the form buried within the marble. Ian was clearly remembering, as if he had momentarily forgotten the dance he was just learning. Karen realized. Thats talent. And she let her guard down for a moment in that realization. Ian pulled her closer. They were close enough to hear each others breaths. His ck pupils were staring at her. How does it feel now? Even in this darkness, his eyes shone brightly. Just like his talent. Its enough. Karen could vaguely feel what Princess Asteria saw in him. Escorts are not allowed into the banquet hall. However, it seems the escorts also dress up in simple ceremonial attire to blend in with the atmosphere. Its nice not to have to fit into the nobles expectations, being an escort makes me happy. Karen headed towards the side road, saying that there would be a separate gathering for the escorts. The representative attendee for the Third Princess, Ian ckangers! The banquet hall was luxurious and splendid. Act as naturally as possible. Of course, Ian, who was not ustomed to such noble gatherings, was there. But. Originally, the princesss man is lenient no matter what he does. Shall we say hes a kind of clown? ording to Karens advice, as long as he doesnt get scared, its fine. It means he just needs to act confidently and leisurely, so its not that difficult. As he ate finger food and looked around, he noticed some notable figures. Promising talents from the North, mid-level members of various guilds, a couple of people who seemed like journalists including Schwab, and others. However, even among those people, Ian felt that the interest in him was not small. Oh my. You look even more elegant when dressed up. Whats your rtionship with the Third Princess? The first woman who approached him was a youngdy from a viscounts family, who was borately dressed and seemed interested in gossip. And. As you attended the Northern Grand Dukes banquet, I naturally expect you to participate in the tournament that will begin tomorrow. Ill be looking forward to it. Prospective named knights, who are mainly active in the northern region, also showed a strong desire to win. If its ckangers, isnt it the family that ruled Istan near the capital? Hehe. Among the middle-aged nobles, there were some who approached him with a somewhat pitiful tone. And so, he interacted with people for a while. The dazzling jewels adorned by the nobles hurt his eyes, and the strong scent of perfume kept numbing his sense of smell. Socializing is tough. He felt the need for some fresh air. Taking a brief respite shouldnt tarnish his image as the princesss man. A small outdoor area connected by a small door caught his eye. Despite looking deserted due to most nobles having gone indoors, it seemed suitable for a brief escape. As he tried to make his way through the corridor. Oh, are you already tired? A greasy and slippery voice reached his ears. Haha. A bit disappointing for someone dubbed the third princesss man, isnt it? The mid-level boss, Herman Pierce. At first, he thought he resembled a male version of Sharon, but that wasnt the case. If Sharon Pierce was like an ice sculpture, this man was like melting, slippery ice. Despite his sharp appearance, he felt somewhat rounded. Even his light-hearted jokes carried weight. Its a splendid banquet with plenty of entertainment. Thank you for your hospitality. Haha. I thought you might be tired since youre the third princesss man. Havent you experienced more morous banquets than this, even if you are rtively new? Typical of him to be suspicious. While his words seemed half-hearted on the surface, they carried clear sarcasm and doubt. Dont you want to savor the excellent food slowly and enjoyably? To take it easy for a bit. Hmm. He let out a soft breath. It might be interpreted as suspicion, questioning whether there was another motive behind that sigh, but it wasnt easy to guess what was on Hermans mind. Herman muttered in his slippery voice. The third princesss men have always been sociable. I look forward to the performance that will soon begin. With that, Hermans figure disappeared into the distance. Whats his deal? The purpose behind his annoying behavior wasnt clear. Was he hoping to boost the sess of the banquet as the princesss man clown? Or was he doubting whether the title of the princesss man itself was false and hiding some other purpose? The former, because this banquet was a significant event in his sessionpetition, and thetter, to build up achievements. It wasnt easy to guess what was going on in Hermans head. But one thing was for sure, he was definitely looking down on Ian. Ian let out a small sigh as he stepped outside. Phew. Even though it was outdoors, it was cool. Upon closer inspection, there was a clear boundary between where snow had piled up and where it hadnt. Perhaps it was the manifestation of some kind of magic. Turning his head, he saw Lina Rosewell,ughing brightly like a fish in water, meeting people beyond the windows. Her dress, matching her hair color, seemed to bloom like a flower. Danya He had worried about potential discrimination as a beastman, but it seemed she was attracting the attention of young nobles. Well, with those fluffy tail and perky ears, its hard not to. Theres no need to ruin the party. Ian muttered. Though he felt a moment of frustration because of that slippery ice guy, he needed to focus on the bigger picture now. Herman Pierce was the mid-level boss he should stick to, so even if he decided to turn the tables on him now, it wouldnt be too bad, but it wouldnt be wise to attract the attention of the Grand Duke for no reason. I dont necessarily have to ruin it. Anyway, this banquet was already a mess. Bububam! Just then, from the inside, the sound of musical instruments was heard. The flower of the social scene, the ball. The music announcing its beginning started to flow. Bubam! The attention of the banquet hall was drawn to a sudden, loud sound of musical instruments, halting momentarily in the spotlight. The abrupt silence caused people to look around for a moment. Tick-tock The dazzling lights that illuminated the banquet hall dimmed. Then, the magic candles that had been softly glowing on the floor began to rise slowly towards the ceiling. Oh, oh. The gentle and moody rise of the candles, apanied by the light murmurs of admiration from the attendees, added anotheryer to the atmosphere of the ball. As the music resumed, signaling the beginning of the ball, it also marked its conclusion. Ah, that was quite a spectacle. Lord Herman Pierce indeed possesses not only a sharp wit but also versatile talents. Herman Pierce looked satisfied as he surveyed the banquet hall. Surely, the effort put into the production was worthwhile. Although the expected princesss man turned out to be a disappointment and his true identity needed to be investigated, finishing the ball in this kind of atmosphere would be impably perfect. Once rumors spread in the social circles, solidifying my session will be much easier. Herman Pierce nodded satisfactorily. Meanwhile. Hmm. Ian was realizing his mistake. I forgot to find a partner. Its customary for men to find female partners at balls. While others were busy finding partners, he was outside enjoying the cool breeze Being the princesss man was no different from being ipetent from the start. Ian let out a small sigh. He had an inkling of where Hermans suspicion might have stemmed from. My dance instructor never taught me the basics. If Karen had heard, she would have given him an earful. Of course, theres no rule that says he must dance from the first song. Its just that skeptical nces would be focused on him for passing on the first song as the princesss man. It seems Ian ckangers couldnt find a partner. Wow, there wasnt a singledy here that caught his eye? Is it because theyre not princesses that they dont interest him? As he walked towards the outskirts, murmurs from the surroundings reached his ears. At the other end, the conductor was about to wave his baton, and the strings of cellos and violins were trembling, about to start the first waltz for the ball At that moment. Creak! The door of the banquet hall opened roughly. A bright light suddenly flooded the softly lit banquet hall. The people standing in the ballroom squinted their eyes. Amidst this, someone muttered. Sh-Sharon, Lady Sharon? All eyes turned towards the door. With her blue hair tied up, the cold-faced girl, Sharon Pierce. She bowed slightly, appearing somewhat embarrassed yet elegant in a way unseen before. Sorry for being a littlete to my brothers banquet. Creak. Herman Pierce gritted his teeth. Why is that b*tch here. Both the lighting and sound had been meticulously crafted to create a romantic and subtle atmosphere. And yet, that girl hadpletely ruined it just by opening the door. Was it intentional? No. It was definitely intentional. A thin bead of sweat dripped from Hermans furrowed brow, but due to the attention gathered around him, he quickly regained his smile. Wh-what can one say about a younger siblings visit. Especially when its her first step into society. Come on in. The ball was just about to begin. Slick. Sharon, who had been holding the hem of her dress and bowing her head, nced around the ballroom. The youngestdy of the Pierce family, making a shocking debut into high society at her brothers ball. Where she would go was the subject of everyones attention. Or rather. In fact, her destination was already determined. Because there was only one person without a partner on the ballroom floor. Tick-tock. In the silence, the sound of Sharons footsteps echoed. And at the end, the third princesss man stood. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 A top-tier boss named Grand Duke. The scenario where you have to carry out missions at his headquarters is Act 2. Act 2, which carries an absurd level of danger as the final boss itself, but the crux of this scenario lies within the various monsters lurking within the Northern Dukes family. First and foremost, a mid-boss. Herman Pierce, a 4-Star nearte game. The second child, the strongest woman in the North, Yerina Pierce, at the 5-Star boundary. Third, a figure shrouded in mystery, Alicia Pierce. And finally, the heroine who reaches the 5-star breakthrough, Sharon Pierce. Even beyond the Northern Mountains, where foreign forces constantly invade, the children of the ruler are like strongholds themselves. In such a ce, to gather evidence against the Bloodstone Cult? It might seem obvious for yers to give up everything and hide to preserve their lives. Of course, there is a way to clear it without losing limbs entirely. Through numerous attempts and deaths, one learns. If too many predators gather in one ce, they eventually turn on each other. In short, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Once realizing this fact, the scenarios difficulty drops from absolutely impossible to manageable with some effort. Of course, Sharon Pierce was also one of the wild beasts in that cage. Ian had no intention of utilizing her. Under the soft glow of candlelight, the melody of a cello and violin flows. People dressed in extravagant attire dance to the lively rhythm of a waltz, exuding grace and elegance. Among them, one pair stood out. Sharon Pierce, the youngestdy of the dukedom, and Ian ckangers, the man of the third princess. Their attention is drawn not only by thedys icy beauty and the mboyant title of the man but also for another reason. Step Tap Traditionally, the man leads in a dance, but in this case, its the man being led by the woman. Ian found himself lost in thought. Maintaining the impression of being the third princesss man like this was troublesome. It was evident that he hade here for social purposes. Karen said that dancing is like a one-on-one fight. Her advice came to mind. Though the memory seemed somewhat exaggerated, the context was likely urate. Gaining an advantage in an unfavorable one-on-one fight is all about psychological warfare. Ian was spurred on by Sharons graceful dancing to the music. You dance well. Have you practiced separately? Sharon skillfully avoided Ians advancing steps. Without furrowing her brows, she pursed her lips. Why did youe all the way to the North? To dance with you? ck Ian narrowly avoided stepping on Sharons shoe. You cant even joke. Weve received awards together, you know. Your tone has be as frivolous as befitting the third princesss man. Ians lips curled upwards. Id prefer if you call itposure rather than frivolity. Quit joking and speak. Why did youe looking for me? Sharon Pierce. ? Why do you think I came looking for you? Youre more self-aware than you think. For the first time, Sharons brow furrowed slightly. Self-aware? What was he talking about? In other words, did she mistakenly believe that all of Ians actions were solely for her? No. It wasnt a mistake. Were all those actions, including the curse, directed towards Sharon herself? You say Im self-aware? Did I tread on your back? The music reached its climax unnoticed. The women in the ballroom twirled around their partners in unison. Sharon also circled around Ian. Every aspect of him was vividly observed by her, as if she had been observing him all along. Maybe its because you only looked at me, Sharon. What nonsense is this? I confessed not only to you but to three others as well. I was just coincidentally at the Median Girls Dormitory. The Disciplinary Committee med you and the others for picking a fight with me, and at the Grade Assessment, I simply showed the results of my efforts. T-Thats Well then, Sharon Pierce, answer me now. Why do you think I came looking for you? Is there a reason for me toe looking for you? Why do you think everything I do revolves around you? Sharons steps faltered for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ian interjected himself into her assertive rhythm. Tsk. But it was Sharon who regained herposurete. She straightened herself out, refraining from rebutting directly. I see. Ian sighed softly. Sharons eyes gleamed with a sharp light. As expected, youre still the same, Ian ckangers. Dont try to confuse and deceive your opponent with nonsense. And behind, youre just a dirty trickster. That was a mistake. But Sharon Pierce, let me give you some advice. I dont need your advice. Still, listen. You believe that everything you see and hear, everything you feel, is the truth. Thats not true. What do you mean, not true? Look at your brother. He doubts everything and looks back again. How are youpared to him? Dontpare me to that trash. While being trampled by such trash? I I came out like this today for I dont know about your family circumstances. Why do you think Im so rxed and confident? What nonsense Ignoring Sharon, Ian continued. This isnt a ce for you to hide. Sharon Pierce. Within the family, you have nothing to fear. Sharons breathing became erratic. But Ian didnt intrude into her territory. Instead, he gently supported her lead from behind. Thanks to the highlight of the music, it wasnt too obvious. Sharons hand trembled. Are you making fun of me, Ian ckangers? Are you angry? I did try to help you this time. I will never trust you. I never asked you to. Just open your eyes properly. Like Lina Rosewell. Lina Rosewell? Why does that namee up here? Ian pointed with his eyes towards a woman dancing expertly in the distance. Why is Lina Rosewell here? That child made efforts to see the truth. Eventually, she ended up with me. Shes just a traitor who abandoned us in the Disciplinary Committee. Hmm. Ian, who had caught his breath amidplex steps, spoke. Alright, Sharon Pierce. Lets make a bet. A bet? Yes, a bet. If everything I said is true, what will you do? Ive never thought about such a thing. You cant be right. Lets just hypothetically consider it. Sharon, who had been silently ring at Ian, let out a faintugh. Kneel down and apologize, and Ill do whatever youmand. Are you saying that you will follow orders and even swear an oath of obedience? The oath of obedience. A magical covenant that engraves ones status beneath the presence of another. Terrifying in its own right, but what makes this covenant famous is the process of its conclusion. It is a ritual in which one kneels and bows without even a single piece of cloth on, meaning that one has not hidden anything. In short, it meansplete humiliation. ! A chill flickered in Sharons eyes. Unrefined coldness flowed towards Ians hand, freezing it. However. Bam! The most intensest note of the first song, the trumpets sound towards that direction, resonated loudly throughout the ballroom. In the moment Sharon took a breath to say something. Ian extended his right foot. And using it as a pivot, he exerted all his strength to pull Sharon forcefully. ! Caught off guard by the sudden strong momentum, Sharons eyes widened. Already confused by various thoughts, her center of gravity copsed due to Ians unexpected action. Even with the musics highlight, who could pull someone so forcefully? Tsk. She tried to pull her leg and resist. But Ians left foot shifted her center of gravity. Huh. He supported her waist as she fell to her left knee. Oomph! As the music ended. All eyes turned towards Ian and Sharon at the center. p p p p! The sound of apuse filled the ballroom. Seems like theyre about to devour each other What an impressive dance. I thought the two were sparring. I heard that Lady Sharon is very skilled with the sword, so I guess that wasnt for nothing. Lord Ian also seemed to be quite skilled. He even seemed fitting for the title of the Princesss man. As Sharon surveyed the reactions around her, she lifted her head. Ian pinned her waist firmly and looked down at her. The way shey delicately on the knee he supported. Sharon stood up. How graceful he is! So elegant, truly. It was a sound she didnt want to hear. She only came here to assert her own presence as one of the heirs. It wasnt about unting femininity. Sharon nced at Ian silently. You always hide your strength so ominously, only to unleash it like this. I was just dancing. Lets stop with the pretense. Sharon bit her lip. When did you be so bold? You were clearly timid andcking in confidence. Are you only realizing it now? Shouldnt you have realized it sooner? Im not praising you. Ian ckangers. Sharon momentarily closed her lips. Although she had interfered in social affairs and marred Hermans mood by attending this event, her intended purpose was somewhat fulfilled. However, Ians words were simply intolerable. Is she deluding herself into believing that shes overly conscious and only sees Ian? That she believes wrong things to be right? Ridiculous. Well, theres nothing you cant do. A clear provocation from Ian. Sharon narrowed her eyes and nodded. Fine. If by some chance youre right, then Ill perform the oath of obedience. But what if its the opposite? If its the opposite Before Ian could respond. Kwaang! The door opened once again. No, could you even call it an opening? Fragments of the shattered door poured onto the floor as if ignoring thews of physics. It was an obvious situation, with Herman Pierce on the verge of losing his temper. However, all eyes gathered towards the wide-open, or rather now shattered, door. W-whats this now! Whats happening again! Thud A solid footstep of metal rubbing against metal. The weight of that sound enveloped the entire ballroom. S-second Lady? Someone murmured from the front. There was no need to confirm the truth of that question. Soon, as she revealed herself. Thud Merely walking caused an immense presence that seemed to crush the entire ballroom. Her head was blue, but her eyes were so red they could belong to a beast. She was an impressive woman with her tall height and her well-pronounced thighs. Although she was not small, it felt that she had enormous strength that far exceeded her appearance. As Ian looked at the second child, he furrowed his brow. Is that thing shes holding a person? After casting a wide nce around, she opened her mouth as if a beast was growling. I came because they said there was a party, but it doesnt look very fun. Thud. Thud. The blood dripping from her hands stained the floor red. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Yerina Pierce. A named character who most likely reached the rank of 5-Star. As she walked, the distinct muscles of her thighs, clearly visible beneath her short armor, caught the eye. ck. ck. The sharp sound of metal boots hitting the ground. It was those behind her who noticed the fact that she was carrying something. Ahhhhhhhhhh-! A youngdy screamed. The scream spread like an infection. I-Is that a, a person? How could such a heinous thing be here! They hadnt noticed her arrival in advance because it was too shocking. Yerina left behind long bloodstains as she walked. Drip, drip. Dragging it along, Yerina Pierce stood before Herman. After looking around, she spoke. What a splendid banquet, brother. Her tone was as rough as that of a seasoned soldier who had been through many wars, but her pronunciation of brother was dignified. Why, why have youe here! The banquet was said to be progressing faster than usual, so I hurried here. You werent even invited! Oh, is there aw that says I cant attend my familys banquet? Arent you supposed to guard the northern border! Ah, yes. I had to rush here to attend Brothers banquet. She tapped her toe and winked at Herman. It was more like a threat than a wink. Dont lie! I know full well how aggressively the barbarians have been encroachingtely! Oh. So you knew. Smirk. But why hold a banquet on a day like this? While your sibling is busy dealing with the barbarians at the border. T-Thats! Banquets are supposed to be held on good days! Good day, huh. Yeah. The weathers been a bit chillytely. Thats right. Yeah. Hehehe. Yerinas shoulders shook withughter. Her presence alone was enough to freeze the surroundings. With a light movement as if tossing a small backpack, she threw what she held in her hand. St! The bloodied man fell in front of Herman, convulsing. W-What kind of monstrous act is this! Its just a little scare with a bunch of people. Yerina! Show some respect! Oh. Yes, respect. Im terribly sorry, everyone. Nod. Yerina bowed her head sternly to the nobles. And again when she lifted her face. Grin Yerinas smile, with her teeth showing, was as fierce as that of a beast. Her red eyes gleamed brightly. But you know. Yerina grabbed the hair of the man lying on the ground. Thud! She mmed his head onto the floor. Gah! Groans erupted from the man, who was now covered in blood. His breathing seemed precarious, as if it could be cut off at any moment. Small screams and greater fear spread through the banquet hall. Herman shouted. What kind of outrageous behavior is this! Outrageous? Ha! Yerina wiped her head with her hand, which was covered in blood. The blood stained her hair red. You nobles can enjoy such festivities because there are knights and soldiers guarding the borders. Is there anyone among these fancy nobles who can refute that? But what? Outrageous? The banquet hall became deathly quiet. Yerina, who had mocked, squatted next to the fallen man on the floor. Then she grabbed the mans hair once again. Thud. Ignoring the mans screams, Yerina asked. Hey. Speak up. Ah, Antigonus is eternal. Our people for four years All right, thats enough. Thud Yerinas fist struck fiercely. Gurk. The mans life was extinguished. The onught of Antigonus is growing stronger day by day. Herman. If you are truly the eldest of the Pierce family, dont hide in the family like a rat and hold banquets. Hold your banquets openly at the border. Yerina brushed the blood off her fist as she spoke. That will be the courage to show the true sessor to the Pierce family. Herman Pierce blinked rapidly, his face slipping like melting ice, as if he had turned into a goldfish. The other nobles didnt look much different. Amidst the bewildered people, only Yerina smiled. Her demeanor was fierce and ferocious, like a wild beast. ck, ck. She continued to walk confidently, following the traces of blood she left behind. When Yerinas figure disappeared and her ominous aura finally faded away. Ugh! Someone exhaled as if they had been holding their breath. Soon others began to breathe heavily too. Some young nobles even copsed in relief. Of course, Ian was observing the situation calmly, unlike the other nobles. This scenario is getting quite tricky. Although he hadnt anticipated Yerinas arrival, he had considered the possibility. Ian intentionally approached Sharon, who was standing still. Your sister is quite audacious ck. Like a bug, Sharon brushed past Ian and followed the red carpet left by Yerina. Ian fell into deep thought. As one progresses through Act 2, various branching paths be apparent. One significant branching point is the Yerinas Banquet Confrontation scene. Although its a rare event, if triggered, it esctes the conflict within the Pierce family to its peak. I anticipated Sharons sudden appearance, but The conflict between the first and second children of the Pierce dukedom alone significantly raises the stakes in the story. But theres also an increased possibility of resolution. Ian surveyed the banquet hall. With the nobles in disarray and Herman standing tall in the distance, there seemed to be nothing more to gain here. Ian headed towards the third door of the banquet hall Of course, the destination was obvious. In fact, the scenario in Act 2 progresses under the assumption that the yer has unlocked the talents of the heroine, Sharon Pierce. In other words, the conventional strategy is to raise Sharon Pierce to the rank of 5-Star through various in-game purchases and level-ups, and then have her enter the Pierce familys session race. Of course, the Northern Grand Duke has no intention of handing over his position, so the session fight itself does not have much meaning, but the key to the strategy is to unite ones side in the process. However, as the Grand Duke of the North has no intention of relinquishing his position, the session battle itself holds little significance. But rallying ones faction during the process is crucial. Its the conventional strategy, but The heroine Sharon Pierce, who was supposed to flourish and lead the way with her 5-Star status, is currently in no state to be utilized, nor does she have the intention. The third child ispletely out of the question. Since the third child of the Pierce family has never made an appearance, Ian decided to dismiss her presence with some difort. In a way, its the worst-case scenario, but Yerinas appearance in the story is a stroke of luck. It signals the beginning of a real fight between Herman and Yerina. Whether the shrimp fights the whale or not For the shrimp to survive, it must engage in a fight with the whale. Ian resolved to be the bait himself. Where did she go? Ian followed after Yerina. Fortunately, her footprints were still visible in the snow, making it easy to follow. It seemed to be a forest created for walks within the mansion grounds. They must have a lot of money Following the footprints in the snow for a while, Huh? Suddenly, the footprints disappeared. Panic-stricken, Ian looked around. Swish. He felt a sensation like a de slicing through his neck. Something warm is soaking my throat. When he lowered his head, he saw a small branch. Who are you? Ah, the Third Princesss ything. As Ian turned towards the voice, Yerina was standing there. Her red eyes, like burning mes. For a moment, she furrowed her brows, then picked up the branch and licked it lightly. Can she cut skin with such a thin branch? If Ian had confirmed that his neck had been sliced perfectly straight at the same depth, he would have been even more astonished, but for now, this was enough. Swallowing his saliva and hiding his tension, Ian spoke up. Not quite a ything, though. People were whispering about you though. Im Ian. Ian ckangers. Hehe. Quite bold and funny guy you are. Yerina, who had beenughing, wiped the expression off her face. So Ian, what brings you here? Just so you know, Im not easily satisfied with ordinary ythings. You seem rather mediocre. A chill ran down his spine. Maintainingposure against the overwhelming difference in status, Ian opened his mouth. I didnte here to be a ything. Then why did you follow me? Yerina, who had been somewhat wary of him to begin with, asked. Her voice grew harsher. Her hidden aggression had risen to the surface. Ian had a gut feeling. Yerina might be under the misconception that he was affiliated with Herman. Just ying along while waiting for an opportunity. If she were tond a punch, Id turn to dust. There would be no need to clean up the body. The difference between a 5-Star and a non-5-Star, its like the difference between a human and an ant. In short, its the worst-case scenario. He hadnt intended to encounter her in this manner, being followed and cornered. He had nned to meet her as if by chance during a stroll. D**n. Anyway. A response. A proper response was necessary. Yerinas eyebrows twitched as if she couldnt endure any longer. Seeing her fist clenched slightly, Ian opened his mouth. I am in love with you, Lady Yerina. What? Her piercing eyes crumpled into a nk stare. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Well, what did you say? Yerina, taken aback, stuttered in a way that was unlike her. Ian felt the same. What on earth did I just blurt out? It was important to be quick-witted to avoid the imminent danger at hand but to confess to Yerina? Even after saying it out loud, he couldnt help but feel embarrassed. But. It doesnt seem like something I can just brush off. In this situation, saying something like, Aha-ha! Just kidding! would probably result in being torn apart at the molecr level, not just into dust. Of course, whether its dust or molecules, whats the big difference? Either way, its death. He didnt want to die. Therefore, once spoken, the words he uttered were set in stone. He had to believe that what he said was true and stick to it. Yes, I like Yerina. Ive been secretly admiring her. Though somewhat stumbling, it actually added sincerity to his confession. Yerina was even more bewildered. How long had it been since she received such a sincere confession in the backyard? Wait. Had she ever received one? It was like something from apletely different world for her, who dealt with frontline matters every day. Then, Yerina suddenly realized. Youve only seen me for a moment, how did you develop feelings in that short time? It doesnt make any sense. In a brief moment, Ians mind raced. Then he came up with a usible answer. Ive always been interested in those who protect the borders. Among them, after first encountering you in a certain magazine, my admiration grew After first encountering me? Seeing you today, striding in, I once again realized your strength and promptly rushed out. Hmm. Yerina sighed heavily. Whether it was awkwardness or embarrassment, Yerina was clearly flustered. Seeing her like that, Ian suddenly realized. This feels like Pongpongs instinct kicking in. It was a reckless confession attack that could even work on Named individuals. Pongpongs confession skill level seemed higher than expected. As they maintained silence, Ian entertained some trivial thoughts. Yerina finally managed to speak, her lips trembling. B-But arent you the princesss ything? Im a man, not a ything, and even that is not the kind of rtionship we have. Hmm. Pongpongs instinct was telling him something. This person was pushing him away, so he should stick even closer. Pongpongs authority in confession attacks was absolute. Ian went with the flow. My feelings are firm. Flinch. Yerina, who had never trembled in front of any enemy, lightly trembled with her shoulders. Her red eyes narrowed like a cat stalking its prey. Then tell me what you like about me. Can I be honest? Only the truth. Its your appearance. My appearance? I like strong women. To be more honest, its the thickness and whiteness of your thighs Stop. ? Thats enough. Yerina sighed and turned away. Did I push too hard? It seemed like he had pushed too far. Ian noticed Yerinas ears starting to turn red as she tensed up. After a moment of collecting herself, she muttered quietly in that posture. In terms of strength, the Third Princess, with the Empires bloodline, would be stronger than me. It was a response squeezed out in preparation for rejection, but it was also a true statement. Even if she wasnt the emperor, the presence of the Estrid bloodline, the princesses, and princes was not something easily surpassed. The skirmish was over. Ian decided to make his move. Thats why I hope Yerina will stand at the top of the family. Whoosh. She turned back with a serious gaze. Are you talking about Herman? Its not difficult. My conflict with Herman is famous. Why bring that up? Your credibility is in question with the things youve said so far. Yerinas eyes burned red. But Ian remained undaunted. My goal isnt Herman. Then? Im aiming higher. Higher? Ians lips curled slightly upwards. The Duke has to be fed. Expression vanished from Yerinas face. For a moment. Thud! The sound of air splitting was heard. Blinking, Ian found Yerinas fist halted before him. ? His hair, lifted by the wind, settled back into ce. Ian stared nkly at the fist before him. Did this person just throw a punch? But there was no sign, no movement at all? Wow. Youre quite audacious. Can you read the air to that extent? Read what? Ian was bewildered. Rather than reading the atmosphere, he didnt even know if she was about to punch him. While trying not to show surprise, he managed somehow. Thud. A tree behind Ian fell over. Youre an amusing one. Ill give you that much. But sweetheart, theres a gap between us. I dont see a reason why I should have this kind of conversation with you. Come back when youre older. Yerina judged her opponent with force. The condition for her to converse with him was a minimum of mid 4-Star. Ian was far from that level. Perhaps I could have taken advantage of the confusion from the confession attack and slipped in a question. As expected, tricks didnt work on someone like Yerina. Of course, there was another way. Even if the rank isnt mid 4-Star, proving my abilities should be enough. He was confident. The tournament starting tomorrow would be the perfect opportunity. If I were to win first ce in the tournament? First ce? Yes. Ill aim to win in a ce where the highest-ranking figures from the northern region and the entire continent are participating. You dont seem to be at that level. I will prove it. Then, please acknowledge my feelings at that time. Yerina looked at Ian with a troubled expression. I may not acknowledge your feelings, but Ill listen to your story. The confession attack was a sess. The next day dawned. Walking towards the unarmedbat area with Danya, Ian reminisced about his encounter with Yerina. The confession attack worked better than I thought. It was a way to catch the opponent off guard and achieve what he wanted in the meantime. Moreover, with Pongpongs experience ingrained in his body, he could naturally make the opponent feel burdened. Using it on Named in the future wouldnt be a bad idea. They arrived at the unarmedbat area. Ian nced around. In this world, women were everywhere. This also meant that there were always half of the targets to which confession attacks could be applied. Hehe A smile formed on its own. Walking beside him, Danya asked with a worried expression. Ian. Yeah? You havent reverted back to your old self, have you? Old self? Never mind. Anyway, hang in there. Stay strong. Pat, pat. Danya lifted her tiptoes and patted him on the shoulder before heading towards the outskirts of the unarmedbat area. Nobles began to take their seats in the prepared chairs. Murmur. Many nobles gathered. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as many nobles gathered for the uing tournament. The Grand Tournament was a gathering where promising nobles from the northern region, along with invited nobles from various parts of the continent, came together to engage in unarmedbat. While many participated directly in the duels, there were also quite a few spectators who came to watch. There are many faces from the banquet yesterday. Considering the chaos caused by Yerina at the banquet, they were indeed bold nobles. After all, they are nobles from the North. They werent the type to be scared off by a death threat. Instead Hey, I really enjoyed watching you and Sharon dance yesterday. How do you dance so passionately? Thank you. So, can you hug me like that once too? Of course. Kyaaa! Some of thedies who seemed to be enjoying themselves asked for an ending pose together. It was a bit overwhelming, but it was also an opportunity to solidify the image of being the princesss man. Oh my, look at these biceps. Youve been hiding this well. Can I touch them? Sure. Hmm. But why did he feel some sharp gazes from afar? Of course, there were those who red at Danya in a different way. Especially the men dressed in te armor. The envious nces from those who seemed to be knights were quite intense. The princesss man? Tsk tsk. What do these girls see in parasites like him? If he shows up at the tournament, Ill make sure to crush him if we meet. Haha, whats up Lord Jade, look at those skinny legs, could you break them with one low kick? Ian was somewhat puzzled. Seeing them dressed in te armor for a banquet extension like this only added to his confusion. At best, they probably wouldnt even make decent knights. Considering that theyre usually around 3-Star beginners or intermediate level to be honest, it seems rather pathetic. Of course, Ian ignored them. There was no reason for him to engage in such fights. He just smiled nonchntly. He yed the role of the princesss man for a while. Someone muttered nearby. I-it looks like its about to begin. Look, theres Hermaning. Herman Pierce, looking somewhat flustered, stood on the tform. He must have had quite a headache dealing with yesterdays events. However, his demeanor was as dignified as ever. After ncing around, he nodded solemnly. Then, in a deep voice that reflected his status, he shouted loudly. Let the Martial Exchange begin! The atmosphere around became fervent. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 A warehouse located deep within the mansion. Sharon opened one eye. ng ng The chains around her wrists and ankles rattled. She blinked again. One eye wouldnt open. Must be the area where Herman hit her. Tsk. A trickle of blood came out of her mouth. Everything seemed normal. Thank goodness Even with healing magic, it takes time for wounds to heal. Unlike other bones that may break or be damaged, they have to grow back entirely. This kind of injury greatly hinders training. It would be more efficient and convenient to injure a different part. ng Theyll probably release her in an hour or two. Considering how yesterdays banquet was ruined, Herman was likely to be angry. He always got rough when he was in a bad mood like this. Nevertheless, Sharon had never been broken even once. Sheplied with the family. She didnt resent anyone. She just took it upon herself to be stronger. She thought that was the rational and right path. Or so she thought. Am I really overthinking this? Why does Ian ckangers namee to mind even in a situation like this? Thanks to the anger that erupted whenever she thought of him, she was certain of one thing. That this anger wasnt solely directed at him. It seems the participants in this tournament are of a high caliber. Surely its because Lord Herman himself is personally hosting it, haha. Herman Pierce, seated in the VIP box, with nobles on either side, was busy receiving praise for the tournament. Since yesterdays banquet was practically ruined because of Yerina, it was an attempt to lift Hermans spirits. Oh. Some rare talents indeed have shown up. Of course, it was true that the participants were of a high standard. Nobles from across the continenting here beyond the north, it was to assess promising talents in advance. It wasntmon to have an opportunity to see young promising individuals from various families at once. By the way, Lord Herman, who from the Pierce family will be participating this time? Starting from the quarter-finals of the tournament, a member of the Pierce family would participate. It was called the Northern Dukes teachings. One young noble nearby spoke without reserve. Surely its Lady Sharon Pierce? Hey. Miss Sharon is that An elderly noble whispered to him. Sharon is the only exceptional child among the four children of the Northern Duke. Her mother was practically amoner and is rumored to be dead. Hermanughed at the gradually pale face of the young noble. Dont worry too much. Even if her background is different, shes still my sister. Yes, indeed, Lord Hermans heart is truly generous. No, its just natural. But anyway. ? I will be participating in this tournament personally. ! The fact that Herman himself would participate. Of course, he couldnt participate in the final of the tournament, which is primarily a ce for the teachings of the Pierce family, but still. As this is the first event hosted by the sponsor, I should pay a little more attention While Herman was exining. Whoaaaa! A cry erupted from the unarmed section, interrupting his words. Among the participants being announced, it seemed Ian ckangers name was called. Herman, whose speech was cut off, furrowed his brows. The oily noble sitting beside him didnt miss a beat and waved his hand, followed by the others. Dont worry too much. Such a clown-like person, the children of the Limmksh family will neatly bend their knees. If its Limmksh, you can trust them. The Lady of Something or Other? Those parasites are liked by the journalists, arent they? Thats right. If they make a fuss, the masses will gather around. Meanwhile. Journalist Schwab of the Imperial Gazette, who was listening to their conversation from the front row of the audience seats, smiled. How clueless these people are. Even I was invited by the Northern Duke himself. They have no eye for talent. Ian, that guy, has talents to the point where he can pull that heavy iron train with just magic. Their faces will be quite a sightter. The tournament was about to begin. Schwab stopped eavesdropping and raised his camera. He captured Ian standing alone far away, expressionless, through his magical lens. Well captured. Excitement welled up inside him. What kind of performance will Ian show this time? And not just today, but in the days toe as well. Kwang! Wooohoo! The victorious participant brandished his sword and cheered. His gaze turned towards the dignitaries watching from the stands. Hahaha! As expected of the Anior family, the swordsmanship runs deep. -Oh, no, no. The Gram familys participant was also remarkable. As the situation was wrapping up, the momentum of those sitting mainly around Herman was high. It seems almost like a nobles yground. Ian nodded, realizing the situation was winding down. While some participants hade with the goal of genuine growth through the tournament, there were also those who had participated to uphold their familys prestige. Watching the nobles who were ttering Herman, a knight next to him struck up a conversation. Are you also participating in the tournament? Yes. It must be exciting topete against the Princesss man. From what I see, you dont seem like someone who has lived just to show off. Ian nced at him briefly. He was in histe twenties to early thirties. He could still be considered promising at his age, but at the same time, he showed a seasoned experience. Thank you for your kind words. Thank meter. Youre too modest. Who is this guy? A tone of voice that makes it seem as if he can see through your skills. Ian casually checked the tournament bracket. Well, unfortunately, if I want to meet you, itll have to be in the finals. Are you worried? Haha. No need to worry about you. I just have to deal with the Pierce family in the semifinals. I wonder who wille out. Tsk. With a sarcastic tongue, the knight swaggered off to the opposite side of the arena. Hes an interesting one. It wasnt clear whether he was just ying the role or if he had a talent for seeing through others abilities. Ian would have to keep an eye on him. As he was thinking this. Youre not even funny. Do parasites like you even know your ce? Men dressed in finery approached. Before the start of the tournament, he remembered them mocking him, saying they could easily break his leg with a low kick. Ian wasnt one to forget a slight easily. Hey, parasite. Isnt it too early to think about going to the finals already? With a weakling like you, it looks like itll be over in three seconds. If anyone thinks theyve got the victory secured, its me. Youll need a few low kicks toe to your senses. They kept babbling one after another. Ian nced at the stands. The noble sitting next to Herman was gesturing towards him, whispering something to Herman. Those guys seem to be the instigators. He could roughly understand why they appeared like this. Ians lips curled up slightly. Are you so envious of me talking to thedies? What? Whenever I talk to thedies, you keep ncing at them. What are you implying! If your stomach hurts so much, can I at least introduce you to someone? It looks like youre very lonely. But, if youre a man, just try to get in touch with him. That way hes more popr. you-! If your stomach hurts so much, shall I introduce you to someone? Seems like youre quite lonely. But, if youre a man, just make a move. Thats more popr. Even though youre a knight, you only have eyes for your sword, huh? Yeah. If youre still lonely, I can give you some tips. I recently developed a method called the confession attack Ians cheerful response caused the faces of the three to contort in anger. Hey, you b*stard! How dare you insult our honor! Themotion drew attention. Among them, the eyes of the female participants were also drawn. Their shoulders twitched simultaneously. You, you dare to challenge us! They spewed out clichd lines and backed away. Ian chuckled as he watched their retreating figures. That guy isnt scared of me. It seems like a g for something interesting. A tempting breadcrumb in a favorable direction, after a long time. It was a satisfying moment. The next match, representing the Third Princess, Ian ckangers. His opponent, a knight from the Limmksh family Whoaaaaa! The enthusiastic cheers of the audience erupted immediately. Somehow, the screams of women seemed to stand out more, was it just an illusion? Ian ascended the stairs of the arena. In the meantime, an announcement was heard. [Now that everyones attention is focused, lets explore the interior of the mansion.] Click. Ian, with a slight clench of his fist, stepped onto the arena. Now youre finally feeling nervous, huh? Parasite. A man wearing te with a sneering face, one of the knights who had been provoking. Not your typical viin with a low kick. Instead, hes a three-second viin whod be beaten in three seconds. Ian picked up the sword ced in the corner of the arena. Its quite amusing to see you holding a sword. Knight of the Limmksh family, Krimhild Reeshich Just a moment. Interrupting his self-introduction, Ian raised his hand towards the judge. Whats the matter? The judge asked. Is it allowed to wear tes while fighting with a sword? Isnt that cheating? Its fine. As long as you dont harm your opponents life, equipment is free. Holding a wooden sword instead of a weapon is just symbolic. Then, is magic allowed as well? Of course. Consider the sword just symbolic. Ian nodded towards the judge and turned to Krimhild. Sorry. I thought it was cheating again. Grinning, Ians lips curled upwards. Krimhilds eyes rolled. I wont go easy on you! As you wish. The judges shout signaled the start. And at the same time. Shaa! Ian disappeared from Krimhilds sight. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 3 seconds Reeshich thought that three seconds would be enough to knock Ian out. Look at that pathetic parasite. A punch to the jaw, one to the throat, and one to that ugly forehead. With that thought, he adjusted his posture. A magician, huh. Reeshich had already grasped some information about Ian being a mage. It didnt make sense why a mage would wield a sword, but perhaps it was just a deception. Reeshich scrutinized Ians mouth and feet closely. His mouth for casting spells, the feet for movement. Just approaching before he could cast a spell would be enough to win. Well, even if he casts a spell Snick. Just then, as Reeshich was about to adjust his posture, Ian disappeared before his eyes. Faaah! Ian disappeared before his eyes. ?! What? There was definitely no movement of the legs? As Reeshich turned his head in confusion. Grin It caught Reeshichs eye. Ian, with a smirk on his face as devilish as ever. And at the same time, his wooden silvery sword gleaming as it swung down. Reeshich felt a sense of unease. No. Wait. Why is the wooden sword silver? And how can a mage wield a sword so fast? Can he block this? Such thoughts didntst long. Pueeeeek! Onlookers briefly doubted their own ears. Does a sh of a sword against an iron helmet make such a sound? Anyway, one thing was certain. The center of the helmet dented. Fwushushushushu! Blood spurted from Reeshichs nostrils. Geh-hack! With a strange groan, Reeshichs eyes, gathered in the center, suddenly stiffened and then he copsed. Thud! A heavy collision echoed through the ground. Next to Herman Pierce. Count Limmkshs eyes trembled. Did I see something wrong? Literally, it happened in the blink of an eye. He blinked once and when he opened his eyes, the knight of the family, Reeshich, was being crushed by Ians blow. The sight of his helmet copsing and protruding on both sides was chilling. Its a win for Ian ckangers! The referee shouted. Servants rushed to move the fallen Reeshich. They would probably get healing immediately, but That useless fool! Suddenly, mes erupted. Herman Pierce had just dered confidently that he would defeat Ian. What kind of disgrace was this, with the most skilled knight of the family? Well, if its Vance and Hannelsichi, theyll somehow manage to win. Count Limmksh was just an ordinary person without any expertise in fighting orbat. He couldnt objectively assess Ians strength. The author must have used some cunning trick. He attacked straight away without even a greeting. It means hes a dishonorable scoundrel. Hes just blinded by victory, tsk tsk. As the surrounding nobles checked Count Limmkshs expression and tried to appease him. Herman Pierce, sitting on a throne, blinked silently. What was that spell just now? Herman couldnt catch all of Ians movements. It was because he hadnt been paying attention. Just the fact that he didnt even move his feet and suddenly shifted to a different angle in the opponents field of view. And then, while the opponent was still confused, he delivered a decisive blow. That was what Herman Pierce had confirmed as Ians movements. In fact, just the fact that he had confirmed those things made Herman different from the majority of the noble spectators and himself. However. Considering that he was an expert who had reached upper 4-Star level, the story was different. Wasnt Herman Pierce surely within the top ten in terms of skill in the north? And yet, had he missed such a trick from some parasite-like scoundrel? Herman was perplexed. Ive never witnessed or encountered such a trick. In fact, it was doubtful whether those could even be called tricks. There were no movements of the legs when he slipped out of sight. Either it didnt happen, or it was too fast to see. At least it wasnt a knights skill. Mages, in general, didnt bother with tricks, and it wasnt instantaneous movement magic. The movement itself was visible. The most likely possibility was that it was either an assassin or someone who had mastered some peculiar martial arts of Antigonus. But that cant be. When wielding the sword, it was utterly monotonous. Above all, the ability to instantly change the material of the sword. That was Earth Magic. Therefore, the most reasonable judgment would be that an Earth-elemental Mage, unheard of in both rumor and fact, used teleportation magic That would be logical. Unbelievable. Herman furrowed his brow. Whatever it was, there were more people cheering for Ian. Wow! Amazing! An unbelievable sight even when seen with ones own eyes. No. Did he really see it wrong? The gap between Hermans brows deepened. Wow, that was amazing! Descending from the training ground, Ian rolled up his sleeves. He had intended to just knock his opponent out, but it took more effort than he had thought. Its not easy to control when theres so much mana in the body. Would he say, more urately, that his ability to manipte mana had grown? Even using the same technique, the intensity had increasedpared to before. Just now, he had reinforced his body more than expected and struck down the viins head in 3 seconds. Anyway, now that he had dealt with one of the three viin knights, he felt relieved. Ian returned to his seat feeling satisfied. That was impressive. You seem to be quite good at fighting? Youre the princesss man, right? Are those techniques you learned in the pce? Until he went up, the participants who had previously shown no interest now pretended to be knowledgeable. Perhaps because of the viin knights, they had started to take interest now that he was active in the duel. Well. Originally, all the participants were obsessed with power, so this was actually in line with their nature. From their perspective, this sudden interest was no different fromvish praise for Ians abilities. Answering appropriately, Ian eventually slipped out to the outskirts of the training ground. Hah As he sighed like that. Ian! Suddenly, Daniya approached and stuck her face out in front of him. That was really amaziNyah! Thank you. Especially that movement at the beginning! That was the same one you did during the Grade Assessment, right? Ian silently nodded. The explosive movement he had learned anew during the Grade Assessment. He had transformed it into a more optimized form of movement. Although he reduced the speedpared to the original method, the casting time became faster, allowing for stable movement. The name he gave to this newly learned movement was [Leap]. Although I should avoid exposing my abilities as much as possible to Herman Pierce Anyway, since this [Leap] was going to be used as a basic form of movement, he judged that gaining practical experience inbat would be better. Moreover, by showing it now, he couldplicate the thoughts of mid-boss Herman Pierce. No. He was a suspicious guy, so he would definitely do that. Yeah. I weakened it a bit. Nyah, weakened? That was incredible. Suddenly, Daniya put on a serious expression. I want to try too. Shasha! Suddenly, she moved sideways like a crab. Pff! Why are youughing? Hahaha! Did I move like that? Ugh! Blushing furiously, Daniya inted her cheeks with air. Anyway, you were amazing, you idiot! After sticking him with a poke, she huffed and left. No, it seemed like she floated away. Why are youing back? Hmph! Then she ced something on Ians head, grumbling, before returning to the spectators seats. It was a magical item with healing effects, called Snowke Flower. The second match was easily handled, with just a sword and enhanced body strength being sufficient to deal with the opponent. The result was a simple victory. Then came the official tournament rounds. I will avenge Reeshich, the youngest of our three brothers! Coincidentally, he encountered another one of the remaining viin knights. At this rate, would he end up meeting all the viin knights and ultimately face the low kick knight in the semi-finals? Anyway. Ian responded seriously. Oh Did the youngest one die? Hes not dead! But why are you calling me an enemy? Anyway, its a relief that you can take that blow and be okay. Well, they say hell just need about a month to recover But whats fortunate about it? Its not fortunate at all! Werent you the one who did that? Well, in a tournament, you can get hurt, right? And besides, wearing heavy armor to fight with a wooden sword in the first ce makes it harder, you know. What? Anyway, for a month it will be two brothers instead of three. You! His tone was so self-righteous. Ian deliberately teased him. Originally, the goal wasnt to punish these guys but to perform well in the tournament and appeal to Yerina. If there was an easy way to win, then it was better to take it. Reeshich is our brother even if something goes wrong While he kept bbering, Ian gradually closed the distance. Even though he seemed to be wary of the sword flying from the side. Pah! Ian dove straight into the center of the guy. You, b*stard! As the guy raised his sword above his head to block the impending blow. Huh? Bwaaaaack! Ians reinforced fist struck him squarely on the jaw. Whirl! He spun around like a cartoon character and crashed to the ground. Ohhhhh! The match is over with just one hit! Ian! Ian! Cheers filled the training ground. The number of people calling out his name instead of referring to him as the princesss man began to increase. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 The heads of two knights viins were shattered. Ian looked around. Knights reception position. Low Kick Viin was already looking this way with youthful eyes, having already secured a spot in the semifinals. I can feel the will to really break your leg. Looking forward to the duel with that guy, but for now, its starting from the quarterfinals. Ians opponent in the quarterfinals was a woman with a sword, looking quite agile. As the tournament progressed, he felt that more and more skilled individuals with four stars or above were appearing. Ugh! He managed to slip through with a [Leap], but his opponent instinctively blocked with her sword, albeit slowly. Then she shot out sharp ice fragments. Pfft. Ian immediately transformed his wooden sword into a shield shape and blocked the sharp ice fragments. Ice fragments as sharp as piercing through wood. Wow. Would I die if I cant dodge this properly? In response to Ians words, the opponent with thick coffee-colored hair was jabbed sharply. Youre not dead. What, do men get scared of just this much? Ian realized something. In the games setting, Northern women are said to be pretty, but have dirty personalities. Maybe Sharon Pierce wasnt the only one. With such thoughts and a generous amount of mana, he swung his fist forcefully. Kwaaaaang! The opponent was quite anticlimactically bounced off the sparring ring. Perhaps that ice fragment ambush was herst move. Amelia Ice, daughter of Viscount Kano, outside the ring! Ian ckangers wins! Cheers erupted at the referees deration. Wow! Combining magic with punching! Whats his deal? Stagnation. At someones cheer, Ian suddenly fell into deep thought. Come to think of it, can I be called a magician? He had felt this before, but for a magician, he seemed to engage in too many closebat fights. Even if its because of the efficiency of mana usage. Maybe a couple of long-range attack spells would be necessary after all. Phew. As he rested like that, Danya came rushing over. After praising him, she abruptly stood up. Whoosh, whoosh. She gestured as if coaching boxing. Seeing her like that, Ian chuckled, which immediately annoyed her. Ian managed to calm her down and asked. Oh right. Hows Lina doing? Shes already climbed up there. Looking where Danya pointed, he noticed a red-haired girl who had ascended to just below Hermans viewing area. She climbed up from the bottom, chatting with each person along the way. How can there be such a socialite. Socialite? Its nothing. Shes amazing, really. As expected, is the heroine truly a heroine? Ian marveled at the ability that seemed to easily surpass 5-Star status when it came to affinity alone. Watching Ian like that, Danya pursed her lips. Hmph! Although Ian acknowledged that Lina was doing well There was a tiny dissatisfaction towards Ian who only had eyes for Lina while she was here. Well, Im broad-minded. The moment when Danya was about to offer a Snowke Flower to Ian. By the way, thank you. Danya. Ian thanked Danya at an unexpected timing. Actually, it had be a habit for Ian to express gratitude whenever he received something Swish. Danya approached Ian until she was just about to touch him. Then, she gently presented her head. Ian, who was reaching out his hand to receive the eye-catching flower, was somewhat bewildered. Whats this? Standing there in confusion, Danya took Ians finger and lifted it. Fluffy. Then she ced it on her head. While looking down at the ground, Danya murmured softly. Stroke, you idiot. Ah. Okay. Smoothly, smoothly. At first, Ians touch was stiff like a wooden stick, but gradually he began to stroke Danyas head more leisurely. It really feels like petting a cat. Whats with this feeling of being chosen. Anyway, thanks to Danya, both his magic and mood were sufficiently healed. Next, please prepare for the semi-finals! Is it already time for the semi-finals? To gain theplete attention of Frost Queen Yerina, the daughter of the Northern Grand Duke, it was the final victory. Since no proper fight would be possible regardless of who the opponent in the final would be. The opponent who made it to the semifinals would naturally be formidable. The heat within his body began to simmer. The announcer signaled the start of the semifinal. Sir Lambert, the Guardian Knight of Count Limmksh! The announcer encouraged the audience with loud cheers. Wow. A knight who made it to the semifinals. Count Limmksh must have chosen a promising Guardian Knight this time. With decent reactions, the knight in full armor stood at one end of the arena. And then the next participant. Half-tired (originally, he looked like that) as he ascended the arena, the announcer introduced him. Ian ckangers, participating as the Princesss representative! Wo! Ians cheers were even louder. It was iparable. Take your positions! A circr arena. Ian stood at the end and looked at the knight on the other side. Among the three knight viins, he faced the Low Kick Viin. Ian hadnt forgotten the boast that one low kick could break his own leg. Ive been waiting for this moment. Somehow, you managed to crawl up here. The Low Kick Knight suddenly struck a pose. Ian narrowed his eyes and looked at him. Facing each other like this, he was indeed big and bulky. He must not have said one low kick could break his leg for no reason. In other words, he was bragging about his strength. Suddenly, he became curious. Do you also have Reeshich in your name, sir? Thats right. How did you know? Oh, just wondering. Ian smoothed his forearms. That gives me the chills. Indeed, there seemed to be something sinister about the name Reeshich. If someone has Reeshich in their name, they are undoubtedly a viin without exception. From now on, all Reeshichs should be approached with caution. It seems you were lucky enough to acquire some mysterious magic technique. Let me show you what Ive got. Whats your rank, sir? I recently broke through mid-level 4-Star. Hmm, quite high. Then prepare yourself to take what you deserve. I wont forget to repay the debt owed by you all. Ian felt unfairly treated. They started the argument, and when he tried to defend himself, they asked why he hit back. It was naturally ridiculous. Swoosh. As the referee signaled the start with a hand gesture. Bang! Ian immediately leaped towards his opponent. Here ites! ng! The wooden swords shed as if they were metal. The Low Kick Viin, Lambert, cleanly defended against Ians attack. Interesting. Not just swordsmanship, but using strange abilities too. Ian examined his metal-reinforced sword. Lamberts sword had left a chunky mark where it collided. You seem to be skilled in swordsmanship. Its nothing special. Take this! Swish! With a battle cry, the knight charged forward. The sword glittered as it pierced in all directions. Observing the sword, Ian roughly understood what the man intended. It seems like he wants to win as mboyantly as possible to appeal to the audience. These people dont know how to retreat. Countless promising young warriors watched the sparring match. The Lord and eldest son of the Northern Grand Duke watched from their box seats. And countless other spectators. They all wanted to unt their swordsmanship in front of them. And Ians deduction was urate. Lets just corner him like this. Lambert observed Ians sparring attentively. It was easy to notice that Ian wasnt familiar with swordsmanship. His swordy was based on various unconventional techniques. It was shy yet had a considerably wide attack range, making it difficult to evade carelessly. It was impossible to counterattack. Ian nned to corner him as promised and properly execute a low kick on the viins leg. Prepare yourself! As Lambert moved forward to press harder. Wobble The onught of Lamberts sword suddenly stopped. His posture became unbnced due to losing his center of gravity. What? He nced downward. A mound of earth had risen where he stepped. The basic of magic was to confirm the ground youre standing on. It was t just now, wasnt it? As he raised his head with a question. Kaaaah! He barely blocked a downward strike that poured down vertically above him with his sword. Ugh! Realizing his wrist was tingling, Lambert looked at Ian as if he couldnt believe it. Surely youre not a knight! Before he could say anything, another thrust came. It couldnt have been more sloppy. But could it be because of that mysterious movement technique? The sword is unbelievably fast and strong for a non-knight. ng! Lambert managed to deflect Ians attack aside. Damn! It was just thrusts and downward strikes. It was an attack even a newborn could do as long as they held a stick. Unable to break free from the situation, he tried to readjust his stance with anger and determination. Wobble! Once again, the ground bulged out. Whats this again! Losing his center of gravity once again. As he tried to correct his posture by turning his waist straight. Thud! Ians sword struck his waist heavily. Pain that felt like his waist was breaking apart. But he could endure this level of pain. After all, he was a knight, wasnt he? If I could just correct my posture properly! Lambert immediately tried to regain his bnce. No, he tried to. Will you make it? No Ugh! This time, the ground exploded as if it were erupting. A leg sprung into the air with that recoil force. I cant dodge this from the ground! Lambert rotated his body once in the air, trying tond. The moment his face came into view with Ians face while turning once. ! It seemed like a demon stood there. His mouth twisted into an exceptionally sinister grin. For some reason, Lambert looked down at Ians posture with curiosity. At the same time. Snap! A sound of something breaking filled the arena. Lamberts sturdy body fell out of the stage. His leg was bent in reverse. Deep silence enveloped the surroundings. Ian looked up at the stands. Herman Pierce was looking down at him with an incredibly heavy expression. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Inside the mansion. The library of the Grand Duke of the North, where no light prates. Tap. Tap. Tap. In that dark space, the only sound was the tapping of the table. For a while. What will you do? A figure rose from the darkness. The attendant of the Grand Duke of the North, Han Sen. He kneeled before the Grand Duke of the North. Preparations areplete. Most of the nobles are gathered in the assembly hall. With many awakened ones present, we should be able to gather thirty years worth of blood power. Thirty years If you absorb it well, you should be able to hold it within your grasp in no time. Being one of the thirteen esteemed figures atop the pyramid of the Bloodstone Cult. Among them, being in the top five had a special meaning. Finally being able to face the Bloodstone Cult Leader, it was also why the Grand Duke of the North, Richard Pierce, had dedicated himself to the Bloodstone Cult. The eyes of the Grand Duke of the North glowed with a deep crimson color. He closed his eyes wearily. A chilling aura spread from him. When he opened his eyes again, they were back to their original blue. Have you examined the assembly hall? That child is there. Master Herman? Shall we give him a warning and extract him so he wont be sacrificed? The Grand Duke of the North shook his head too easily. No. They were raised for this purpose from the beginning. Referring to his own offspring as them, the Grand Duke of the North was infinitely cold. It was something Han Sen was ustomed to. Rather, he was curious about what the Grand Duke of the North feared. So its about the ckangers bloodline. The silence now would be affirmative. Han Sen knew there was an interest in the child named Ian ckangers, but he didnt expect the bloodline to be beyond ordinary. The Grand Duke asked. Can we reach the blood demon? It seems difficult. Then theres no need to challenge Lord Seven. In the end, could it be because Ian is receiving attention from Lord Seven? Han Sen asked cautiously. Why why is Lord Seven showing such interest in that child? I do not know. The Grand Duke of the Norths response was cold. Wow! Semifinals. The tremendous cheers erupted from the spectators witnessing Ians glorious victory. What was that! It was so shy! Ive never seen anyone use basic magic like that! Not only the participants of the tournament but also those watching had some basic background knowledge. And Ian was far different from what they thought of as a mage. Usually, mages tend to be distant and pursue extreme damage from a distance. But Ians fighting style waspletely new. As an Earth Elemental Mage who fought in close quarters, his main form of damage was physical. I couldnt help but be excited by the emergence of a promising talent that I had never heard of or seen before. Furthermore, the magic Ian actively utilized this time was the most basic skill of Earth Elemental Magic, Earth Bind. The situation couldnt help but erupt in cheers. This was a situation where even children around ten years old, whose magical talents were just budding, or usable magic, had managed to outsmart a guardian knight of a noble family. Click. Capturing Ians image through the magic lens, Schwab smirked. Look at that, they said hes different. The high-ranking nobles seated in the front rows, who had previously ignored Ian and Schwab, were undeniably quiet. You didnt need to turn around to know that. How satisfying. Schwab suppressed the cheers that kept bursting out due to Ians performance. Ian ckangers would soon be recognized as one of the Empires most promising youths. However, Schwab had no intention of using Ians exploits for journalism right away. With that level of ability, even without making him a knight, rumors would spread like wildfire. And the moment Ian became famous and peoples attention was focused on him. Ill start revealing these things one by one. Thats how his genius would shine even brighter. Of course, Schwabs evaluation of Ians genius was his own, as someone who recognized it from the start. It seems luck is truly on my side at times. To have randomly sat next to Ian on the Express and forged a camaraderie with him. Such luck was rare indeed. . Meanwhile. That pathetic b*stard! Count Limmkshs blood pressure soared as he clenched his teeth. Even knowing that Herman Pierce was sitting next to him, he couldnt hold back the curses bubbling up. Of all things, it was the familys Guardian Knight. How much effort did he put into finding a young and talented individual to win this tournament! The money invested in that guy alone was worth hundreds of gold. But to lose to a mere novice mage in the semi-finals? Urgh! Count Limmksh, amidst the throes of a stroke due to high blood pressure, grumbled. Herman Pierce, on the other hand, remained silent, gazing downwards. Ian ckangers. As the representative of the Third Princess, Herman felt an indescribable unease. There was a scent that he could sense from those who were hiding something. Although he temporarily set aside such doubts after seeing him dance at the reception. Next move Its my turn. Herman descended slowly towards the arena. Watching Hermans semi-final match, Ian bit his lip slightly. Its over. Hermans appearance was unexpected. The tournament storyline typically involves high-ranking knights from the Pierce family or someone like Sharon Pierce. Hermans participation was too high of a caliber for the tournament. The ranking system in Fanta X Aca esctes geometrically as it progresses. Even considering only knights, the gap between mid andte 4 Star is immense. Beginning at mid 4-Star, a Sword Master is an expert who can use mana with a sword. A Sword Master is ate 4-Star to 5-Star sword user who can wield their sword freely. Hence, reaching the 4-Star results in a staggering difference between mid andte 4-Star statuses. It was the worst-case scenario for Ians n to appeal to Yerina through winning the tournament. Ian quietly observed Herman Pierces and another knights duels. Swish Herman effortlessly shattered his opponents sword with a simple horizontal sh. No, it would be more urate to say he turned it to dust. The shattered pieces of the wooden sword didnt even make a sound as they hit the ground. The opponent had also imbued mana into his sword, but the insurmountable gap in power couldnt be helped. Hermans mouth opened without any cheers from the audience. You might as welle up here. Theres no need to rest. You might get bored if you wait too long. At the end of that gaze was Ian. As unlucky as ever. Ian didnt like the kindness that bordered on condescension. From the first handshake pretending to spar with him subtly leaking magic, to now, pretending to consider the opponent. The slippery, icy demeanor of the man stirred instinctive difort within him. Thats what it meant. He could win even without resting? Theres a difference in tone, so it may be a fitting statement. However, despite appearing aplished on the surface, the personality of those who abuse and gaslight the weak internally is not pleasing. Anyway. It was somewhat difficult to boast about winning to provoke Yerina but it was a bit difficult. I never imagined that Lord Herman himself would make an appearance at the tournament. The purpose of the tournament was originally to discuss swordsmanship of the Pierce family with various experts. Because there were many distinguished individuals at this tournament, I couldnt abstain. I see. Feigning innocence again. Ian barely contained the urge to roll his eyes. Then, he raised his wooden sword. It was a signal to stop talking and fight. Hahaha. Hermanughed as he drew his sword. However, contrary to his expression, considerable confidence emanated from him. Life. Had Ian ever faced an upper 4-Star opponent? Perhaps Lina, when she was corrupted, was close to the early phase of that. The palpable difference in strength. Of course, if he fought with the determination to die, he wouldnt be defenseless. However. This duel isnt a matter of life and death. Above all, he couldnt reveal everything here. Herman was just a mid-boss. He had to save his strength to face the Grand Duke. Ians mind began to race. And just as he was about toe up with a n that seemed feasible and use [Leap] Saaah Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. ? Ian halted his steps in confusion. It was too chilling to ignore. A feeling of being denied existence by something. It felt like his instincts were screaming. Sssaaaah Once again, that chilling feeling pierced through his body. Wave? Yes. This is a kind of wave. And the center of the wave is the arena. Ian stared silently at it. Blood droplets were scattered around. He just thought it was the result of the previousbat. Thirteen. Thirteen drops of blood. Ian understood their significance. Ian unconsciously took a step back. Are you afraid now? Herman spoke. With his casual and self-assured face, Ian was taken aback. Even someone who reached that level of strength didnt sense this? Someone who had reached thete phase of a 4-Star. It was hard to believe that such a person couldnt sense this chilling wave. Then is it an illusion? No. Ian had a gut feeling. This was something more sinister and powerful that someone like Herman, someone who could be called such as, was unleashing. Sssaaaah Once again. Its that wave. This time, it passed through the skin like a snake slithering. Ian hastily looked around. The bewildered spectators gazing at him. No one knows. No one else feels this sensation. Why only me? Is it an illusion? The waves frequency increased. This time, it pierced through the skin, reaching the mana circuit. In that moment. Tsuz! His ability, Dishwashing, activated automatically. A clear signal that something was wrong. Damn it. Ian turned and ran. He paid no heed to the murmurs around him. Where is Danya? Pointed ears caught his attention. Danya! He grabbed her hand. W-why are you like this? We need to get out of here. As soon as possible Ugh! Tsuzuzuzuz! Once again, the wave collided with Ians ability. A convulsion that felt like his body was being turned inside out. Th-there, Lina is there too! Lina! Run for now! Okay! People in Ians sight were panicking. If they stayed still, they would be sacrifices. Everyone, get out of here as soon as possible! With that shout, Ian grabbed Danya and Linas hands. He was nning to use [Leap] like that. Its uncertain whether its safe or possible to move with several people, but theres no time to consider such things. Hold on tight. Ians body floated lightly. Just as he was about to be propelled forward with a slight static charge. Tsuzuzuzuz! The twelfth wave pierced Ians body. The bnce of mana copsed, causing [Leap] to fail and stagger. Damn it. No more waves were felt. Instead. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart beat roughly. Ddududuk! A chilling sound was growing louder from behind. Ian turned around as it grew louder. Ggududududuk! Space was being swallowed by darkness and crumpling. Richard, you insane b*stard. A curse escaped his lips. Then, darkness enveloped his vision. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 The whole world was ck. No. Was it really ck? It felt like something was pressing on his eyes. Ian wiped away what had piled up on his eyelids. -Thud. So when he opened his eyes, it was a white snowy in. Endless expanses of snow greeted Ian. Hah It was obvious who had prepared this, and what their intention was. The vast arena where the duel took ce. It was a sacrificial altar in itself. The n of the Grand Duke Richard Pierce, intending to devour everyone present. Everyone had fallen for it. Damn it. Along with frustration, curses involuntarily spilled from Ians mouth. Originally, it was supposed to be the children of the Grand Duke who became sacrifices. Herman, Yerina, Sharon. Initially, Richard Pierce raised his children for that purpose. The reason was obvious. Those with Pierce bloodline all possessed exceptional talents. The efficacy as sacrifices was proportional to the talents of the subjects. As those talented children surrounded him, they were the perfect prey for Richard, the Bloodstone Cultist. So, he thought to devour only them. I got careless. He is a b*stard who considered raising his children to devour them. Surely, they wouldnt target the invited nobles. Surely, there must be a reason to leave everything to the eldest son It must be an attempt to cover everything up. The dead dont speak. Anyway, its all in the past now. Regrets can be dealt with after leaving this ce. He looked around. Endless expanses of snow. How do I get out of this? Whether this ce was actually a real world or a damn illusion was uncertain. The only sure thing was that this ce would be some form of barrier. Among the absorption methods of the Bloodstone Cult, there were methods of trapping humans within barriers and slowly digesting them. So, he had to find a proper escape before dying here Eek! It was incredibly cold. Once realizing how cold it was, it felt like his whole body would freeze. Toes and fingers were already numbed as if they had been cut off. Ian looked around. It was a in covered entirely with snow. Snowkes were falling from the sky. And right nearby, red hair was buried in the snow. Lina, wake up! MmmIan. A bit harder. What kind of dream is shes having? After shaking her a few more times, Lina blinked her eyes open. And then. Achoo! She sneezed, her nose turning red. Seems like shes fine for now. He didnt know about her head, but her body seemed fine for now. Next is Danya. Wheres Danya? Ian looked around anxiously. Danya was nowhere to be seen. Since Lina was here, Danya must be nearby. As Ian searched around, he noticed a tuft of cherry blossom-colored fur sticking out from a little distance away. Without hesitation, Ian grabbed the fur. Hyah! With a strange cry, Danya was pulled out. Plomp. Danya, with her tail caught, looked at Ian with bewildered eyes. What are you doing! I thought you were stuck upside down in the snow. No way! Puff. As Ian let go of the hand holding the tail, Danya gracefullynded on the snow. Hmph! How dare you treat ady like Danya like that! Danya eximed, then dived back into the snow. Again, with her tail and buttocks exposed, Danya swayed like a fox hunting prey buried in the snow. For a moment. Found it! In Danyas brightly smiling hand was a magical backpack. Huh? Why is that here? Hmm. Hmm. The backpacker does the job properly! Ian remembered. The n was to always carrying emergency supplies because no one knew what would happen within the Pierce family. He didnt Danya expect to bring it all the way to the arena. Danya, you Yeah? Are you a god by any chance? Hehe. Moved by Ians sincere praise, Danya scratched her head. Achoo! Lina sneezed loudly again. To protect against the cold with just willpower alone was, literally, an ordeal. Danya hastily pulled out winter clothing from the backpack. After hastily putting on the clothes, Lina and Ian finally looked relieved. Youre truly the best, Danya. Ians right. Youre the best, Danya. Danyas nose lifted slightly in pride. As Ian gently stroked her head, he looked around. For now, its best to find a ce to stay. It looks clear now, but who knows when itll snow again. Snow? When you woke up earlier, there was snow on your face. Ohright. Really? Lets just move. With that, Ian took Linas hand. ? ! The two girls were taken aback for different reasons. Ah. Ian exined. Use fire magic to share warmth. Without physical contact, the efficiency drops. Ah, right! Got it! Thats why you grabbed me, huh? What was I thinking? Linas hand, held by Ians, started warming up. She was probably about to use elemental magic. Danya, who had pushed her nose forward, seemed to understand the situation and grabbed Linas other hand. Wheeeeeee Sure enough. Just as the wind picked up, snow began to fall. Snow umting in no time. Ian constantly turned his head. How do I escape from here? Regardless of whether this was reality or a space constructed by magic, every barrier had a release condition. That condition would likely be the goal we needed to figure out. Visibility blurred in the intensifying snowstorm. Sniff. Danya, walking ahead holding hands, suddenly twitched her nose. I smell something. Sniffing the air and confirming the direction of the wind, Danya pointed somewhere. It smells like someone Its not a good smell. I smell a lot of them. Danya looked at Ian. Ian pondered for a moment. Not a good smelllikely meant the other party wasnt friendly. However, if people were gathered in this snowy wastnd, there might be some significance to it. Lets go check it out. Finding a clue, whatever it may be, was important. In a world full of nothing but snow, the options were not plentiful. They walked towards the smell for a while. Ugh. Danya frowned. A weird smell. In the distance, they saw the silhouettes of people. Ians group observed the crowd of people from afar. Whats that? Can those even be called people? At first nce, they didnt seem to be in good condition. Most of them were skeletons wearing tattered robes adorned. Their eerie figures looked more like corpses than anything else. Those with some flesh left had it turned ck, emitting a sinister aura. A crowd of near-dead bodies. They stood like skeletons. Over there! At Danyas nasal sound, they turned to the side. Holding her nose with one hand, Danya pointed to something. Ian followed her gaze with narrowed eyes. Through the blizzard amidst the corpses, something vaguely rose up. Looks like a building. Did ite from there? Theres a chance they froze while heading there. The distance might be farther than expected. Then all of these people They must have been transformed into mummies after having most of their life force absorbed by Richard. Ian didnt bother to answer. Right now, those mirages were enemies. Sniff. Im used to it now. Danya, taking her hand off her nose, furrowed her brows. Shall we push through? With so many enemies, it wont be easy to deal with. But more importantly More importantly? If those were swallowed by the Grand Duke of the North, they might be formidable opponents. The situation where the level of strength possessed by those corpses could not be estimated. Lina and Danyas faces turned gloomy. It was understandable. It was the only clue they found in this endless snowy wastnd. More than them, the mysterious building obscured by the blizzard beyond was even more so. After a moment of contemtion, Ian spoke up. Danya, can you try shooting an arrow from as far away as possible? Nodding her head, Danya hid in the snow and fired a magical arrow from her bow. Whoosh! But the corpses easily evaded it. Dodging that. Lina praised as she watched from the side. Ian felt the same way. Itll be hard to catch themWait a moment. Ians eyes narrowed. The reaction of the corpses was strange. While they dodged, if they turned around and wandered around, they would just walk around aimlessly, making weird noises. Danya, who cautiously joined in, also expressed her opinion. They seem to havepletely lost their sight and smell. Thats true, but its suspicious how they dodged the arrow so easily. Nevertheless, it meant that even those chilling corpses had weaknesses. It seemed possible to devise a strategy. However, amidst all this, there was a possibility that someone could get hurt. Dodging Danyas magic arrow wasnt normal. With even the corpses having the upper hand, the danger was doubled. Ian, momentarily resting his chin in his hand, reached a conclusion. For now, lets try to find another way while bypassing them. They wandered the snowy wastnd while searching. Nyah! Grabbing Danyas neck as she nearly fell off a cliff, Ian reached a conclusion. That was the only passage, and everywhere else was crevasses. To be precise, it seemed that the area crowded with corpses connected the divided teau like a bridge. It makes sense. Yeah, it seems likely. Danya and Lina also nodded in agreement with Ians hypothesis. Even though it was suspicious, they had to figure out how to deal with them somehow. So they returned to the path toward the corpses. Huh? Whats that? Danya, looking ahead, pointed at something. I dont smell anything. Faint smell of someone seemingly alive? When they looked in the direction she pointed, something stood tall. It was about the size of an adult man. Lets go. Ian took the lead, followed by Lina and Danya. Naturally, the tanker took the lead. And when they arrived nearby, they could ascertain its identity. I-Is that a person? As Danya said, it was a person. With thick, white thighs. Blue hair. Snow piled on long eyebrows. Ian muttered as he observed the pale figure as if frozen. Yerina? It was Yerina Pierce. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Gathered before the snow-covered Yerina, the group eximed. She looks fierce. Do you know her, Ian? Shes Yerina Pierce, the second child of the Duke. We had a briefing on the train once. Youve seen her at the ball, right? Yeah, shes the intimidating one! Thats true. But she seems frozen, doesnt she? It might be worth trying to thaw her out. Yeah, let me try a fireball. Ifrit Yikes! Yerinas eyes snapped open. Its so noisy. Yerina blinked a few times. Snowkes piled on her long eyshes fell softly. Lina and Danya, who thought she was frozen, were startled. W-We thought you were dead. We thought you werepletely frozen! You all underestimate me No, you did. Tap, tap. Yerina chuckled as she brushed off snow from her head and shoulders. Thanks. I appreciate the warmth of the fireball you were about to hit me with. Seeing her smile, Lina whispered to Ian. I thought she was really scary. Maybe not. No, shes still scary. Shes the one who can turn people into dust with one punch. Eek! Hey, there. Ian, who was spreading rumors, was singled out by Yerina. Dont spread unnecessary rumors while trying to lighten the mood in a crisis. Voluntarily dragged in front of her, Ian asked. Why were you standing like this? I was nning to maintain my body and wait until someone came. Someone? Given that so many people were swallowed up, wouldnt everyone be dead? I judged that I needed allies. If were allies, do you trust us? Yerina responded to Ians question with more questions, seeming skeptical. Didnt you tell me? ? Youre interested in me. Ah. Yes. Ian affirmed for now. But. If someone confesses to you, do you trust that person? This person. I feel like theyre easy to fool. And Ian soon realized he didnt need to worry about that. Even if I get fooled, I can just break them. He noticed the main weapon hanging on her thigh, a chain mace. (TLN: Basically a il.) Yerina, noticing Ians gaze, chuckled. Dont worry. Ive understood your sincerity while watching the tournament. Thank you. So, how about joining me? After all, Yerina is an absolute power even in the bustling north. She has a somewhat violent side, but shes a trustworthy figure. Utilizing her unique efficiency cultivated from a long time with soldiers, persuasion should be easy Theres no reason not to join her. Of course. Good decision. I needed someone to have my back. By any chance, did you also discover those corpses? Did you all see them too? Yes. Oh, theres a better guide than I thought. I flinched. Danyas tail drooped as she received Yerinas gaze. Haha. It happens asionally. You seem confused because of the smell of blood. Ill take the lead. With a brief nce at Danya, Yerina smiled brightly and led the way. She looked like a truemander. Every time the wind blows, fine snow particles piled on the ground scatter. The surroundings are hazy, as if covered in mist. Step by step. Ian was walking behind Yerina (the leader). Only then did he match his stride with Danya. Danyas tail was still drooping. It was obvious how she felt. Scared? Nod nod. Danya spoke up. The smell of blood is strong. Smell of blood? Yeah. Its a mixture of many types of blood smells Certainly, considering the number of enemies Yerina has faced until now, it would easily exceed three digits. It seemed obvious why Danya was feeling overwhelmed. But. This isnt within the confines of the Academy. This is a real battle where either the opponent or oneself could end up dead. Yerina would have known that too. If she hadnt been cut down, she could have been the one to cut down her opponent. Ian intended to start such a conversation. However Seeing Danyas expression, Ian remained silent. Her eyes were already filled with determination. Come to think of it, Danya, who had been a resident of this world longer than Ian himself, probably knew that better than anyone. Perhaps she just needed some time to ovee her instincts. Ian silently ced his hand on top of Danyas head. And gently stroked it. Isnt it cold?! When Lina turned this way, she quickly averted her gaze. Danyas tail, gradually finding its ce. Ian stopped his touch only after her tail had fully settled. Whoosh A chilling wind blew as if brushing against their flesh. Danyas nose twitched again. Tensely. With clenched fists, she shouted at Yerina. Its over there! At the serious mistimed utterance, Ian struggled to contain hisughter. T-there, over there. Danya cautiously spoke again. As she said, through the blurred vision, zombie-like corpses came into view. Good job, Cat Girl! Danya shivered before nodding her head. Yerina, with amanding, reassuring smile, was about to charge forward. Hastily, Ian asked. Do you have a separate n? A n? Yerina lifted the chain mace she had been leaning against her thigh. Not necessary. As her hand touched it, the head of the mace froze white and erged to the size of an adults torso. If I smash everything, itll be over. Crack! With tremendous force, Yerina charged forward. Just cover my back! Behind her was an exudingbat spirit. Yerina surely had the power to sway people. Grrrrr? Gyaah! From up close, the zombie-like corpses looked even more eerie. Yerina leaped among them. Puh-berberberber! And with a single strike, the heads of five corpses burst apart. Ian shuddered. At Yerinas overwhelming power. And at his own fear dissipating due to her momentum. This is what 5-Star means. As Yerinas Morning Star struck high, it suddenly erged like a boulder. Ku-Kwang! It crushed about ten corpses in one go. Kugugugung! The aftermath of that vibration caused the eyes on both sides to dim. With an immense sound, the eyes cascaded down the cliff. As Ian had expected, the ce littered with corpses was some sort of passage or bridge leading to the oppositend. Something faintly stood tall beyond. And that massive hole could it be a cave? Pah-bak! Without a moment to further observe, Yerinas strikes rained down, and some corpses managed to avoid it. Their movements were indeed out of the ordinary. Moreover, the biggest issue was their numbers. From somewhere, an endless stream of corpses seemed to surge. How many humans did you swallow, Richard? What seemed like dozens of corpses had suddenly swollen to hundreds. Literally, a wave of corpses. Hwaaaah! Yerina also tried to change her attack pattern to focus on area-of-effect spells, but as her mana filled, the corpses began to dodge her attacks skillfully. Among them, one corpse wielding a dagger showed particrly noticeable movements. Ian, who had been keeping an eye on it, rushed forward. ng! Blocking the imminent attack on Yerinas back, he struck toward the corpses head. St. With an unpleasant sound, the corpse copsed. Thanks. But its not feasible to continue like this. Hmm. Did you feel it too? Yes. Their response to magic is unusually excellent. Its not your typical necromancy, Yerina. Im not doubting your skill, but But? It seems like it would be futile without physical attacks. Yerinasbat style relied on various Frost-based skills mediated by her mace. A decrease in mana efficiency was bad news. However. Thunk. Thud. While her pure physical strength was overwhelming, Yerina, who had just burst the heads of three corpses with her mace, muttered. Theyre really bizarre. Suddenly, one idea shed through Ians mind. I have a solution. Arent you a mage too? Yes. Please give me a moment. Ian immediately turned around. Keep providing cover fire! He ryed to Danya and Lina, then dashed backward farther than them. And when he had put enough distance between himself and the battlefield. Extraction. Ian pulled earth and metals from the ground. Simultaneously, he shaped them into a sphere. Roll. He rolled it as is. At first heavy, but gradually gaining speed due to a subtle slope downwards. Extraction. Continuing to roll while continuously extracting. The snow piled around, mixed with the growing dirt snowball. Danya! Lina! The pupils of the two who had been supporting Yerina widened in surprise. Aaaah, Ian, what did you make this time?! Wow, its huge! Stop gawking ande help roll! Thud. Clunk. It seemed to meld into the ground littered with skeletons, but there was no time to slow down. In no time, the dirt snowball had grown into a snow dirt skeleton lump the size of a small house, or rather, a big boulder. Goo-goo-goo-! Yerina, who had been sweeping away the corpses, turned back at the sound and widened her eyes. W-what are you doing? Avoid it! Swiftly dodging aside, Yerina joined in, adding force to roll the dirt snow skeleton. Kugagagak! It flew off at an unstoppable speed. Standing in ce, they watched as the dirt snow skeleton rolled away. Gruk? Pajik! Grurruruk! Pajik! Corpses with significantly diminished physical sight and sensation. They stood still for a moment before either copsing or providing support in the form of snowball-sized lumps. Someone murmured. Looks like a giant snowman made of rotten mud. Its terrifying enough to appear in nightmares. The snowball rushed through the path between the cliffs. Thousands of corpses crushed into the giant snowball or poured down the cliffs on either side. It was literally a waterfall of corpses. It was a grand and grotesque sight indeed. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Bodies poured down like a waterfall. Incredible. Yerina eximed. Despite her age, she had the experience of a seasoned warrior, but she had never seen or heard of such a sight. A snowball mixed with dirt and corpses rolled relentlessly to the edge of the terrain. Crushing even thest body Kwaaaah! Something collided and fell, split in half. Yerina was momentarily silenced by the grand spectacle. Unconsciously, she evaluated Ian. What a guy. Yerina had observed him covertly during the sparring match. Thanks to that, she held Ians magical talent in high regard. Although Ians mana quantity was average, his rity and purity of mana were overwhelming. It meant he had pushed his fundamentals to the limit. Therefore, there were no interruptions or resistance in his spellcasting. That was why the boy could perform so admirablypared to his rank. Having witnessed countless soldiers who died due to poorly mastered basics in wars, she couldnt help but appreciate Ians skills. And he has judgment and adaptability as well? Even now, that was true. Dealing with adversaries who disyed movements surpassing those of expert mages was challenging. And their numbers were in the thousands. The ability to find the enemys weaknesses, assess the surrounding environment, and maximize ones strengths. In practicalbat, this talent was more important than fighting prowess. Even for Yerina, who had reached 5-Star status, oveing such a volume would have taken days. He did it in just a few minutes. Yerina nced back at Ian. Despite aplishing such a remarkable feat, his expression remainedposed. In battles, one needed as much mental fortitude as physical prowess. Greed flickered in Yerinas eyes as she looked at Ian. You swept them away neatly. Its all thanks to Yerinas contributions upfront. Excessive modesty isnt appealing either. Ian opened his mouth, momentarily closing it at Yerinas jest. Yes. Actually, I did it all. So, how about acknowledging my status? Hahaha! Yerina burst intoughter and sprang forward. Heads of the remains were crushed into powder under the swinging club. Ian let out a small sigh. The look in Yerinas eyes just now, it was like the gaze of professors recruiting research students. I thought I was going to be eaten. Brrr. Shivering, Ians body trembled slightly. There were still many bodies left unresolved besides those swept away by the snowball. Of course, Yerinas efforts were nevercking. With every swing of her giant ice mace, bodies fell off cliffs. They crumbled with each strike. However, asionally, those avoiding her weapons posed a problem. Unlike Yerina, who had fought on snow-covered terrains before, the ground was too slippery for Ian and hispanions. The tension and exhaustion were twice as much as usual due to the cliffs on both ends. Somehow, they managed to reach the cave entrance. Huff haaa Haah. Danya and Lina exhaled heavily, seeming exhausted. Ian didnt show it, but his muscles were tense all over. At the end of the terrain in the shape of a leg, Yerina spoke at the cave entrance. There seems to be some kind of transparent barrier here. Every time she reached out at a certain point, faint ripples spread as if stones were thrown into calm waters. Ive never seen anything like this. Me neither, meow. After a moment of contemtion, Yerina swiftly stepped in. ! Before anyone could say anything, she entered. It seems fine. Ian was amazed by her unmatched actions. What kind of life had she lived? Shes someone Id like to have as a captain. Yerina chuckled at Ians astonished face. Dont worry,e on in. This barrier must be preventing the corpses. It feels like its measuring the degree of life. If thats the case. Ian entered the barrier first, followed by Danya and Lina. The cave was warm from the entrance. Despite the chill seeping out, the absence of snow on the ground earned it high marks. Haah. Seems like we can walk a bit now. Yeah, nyah. After walking for a few minutes from the entrance, a vast cavern unfolded. Soft light filtering throughyers of ovepping ceilings. Yerina, after surveying the surroundings, took her ce. Since everyone seems exhausted, it would be wise to establish a forward base here. Lets take a break for now. Danya began to unpack various items from her magic backpack. Well, calling it various would be an understatement. From coins sized items to instantly expanding tents. Campfire. Sleeping bags Did all this fit in there? I only realized it after receiving the backpack the Third Princess wasnt just talking nonsense when she said, With this, you can survive for a week in any crisis.'' Crack-Crack. The campfire crackled, emitting aforting sound. A bit of warmth and a hint of red amidst the otherwise white world. After eating emergency rations, Lina and Danya quickly fell asleep, sitting upright. After wandering in the snow for quite some time, it was understandable they were exhausted. Yerina spoke to Ian, who was lost in thought. I still cant grasp where exactly this is. But you seem to have a clue at least. I know the purpose. Purpose? Its a kind of barrier created by some Bloodstone Cultists. To slowly absorb those trapped inside. The entire snowy wilderness? Yes. Yerina fell silent without furtherment. Crack-Crack. The sound of the campfire burning was heard for a moment. Then she spoke again. So, those bodies just now. Most likely, theyre people whose life force has been mostly drained. And their reactions to magic? Since their life force was absorbed first, they lost their senses, but their response to mana probably remained. Yerina bit her lip. Everything seems to fit. Ian quietly waited for her next question. So, whats the deal with this Bloodstone Cult? If theyre capable of such a thing, they must be formidable. Ian hesitated for a moment. Would it be safe to say to a 5-Star with overwhelming destructive power, Your father is one of those ruthless Bloodstone Cultists? There wasnt much difference from inviting disaster and saying the truth. But Ian didnt ponder long. Even Yerina, who seemed capable of smashing everything, was still a Pierce. Cold determination ran through her veins, just like her fathers. She trusted that lineage. Richard Pierce. Grand Duke of the North. My father a Bloodstone Cultist? Yes. Yerinas narrow gaze sharpened at the firm answer. If what youre saying is true, then my father aimed not only for me but also for Herman. Yes. Ha! Yerina murmured to herself, covering her forehead with her long fingers. Indeed. If a barrier of this scale is established, its likely that only a few individuals capable of absorbing humans exist. But. Isnt he already the Grand Duke? What more does he aim for Between her fingers, Yerinas red pupils glinted ominously. You. You mentioned you were the Third Princesss ything. Not a ything, but something simr. And Im only cooperating with her momentarily. Could it be that the Bloodstone Cult is aiming for the throne? I cant be certain about that. But the possibility exists. Yes. Hrrr! Yerina stared at the dwindling campfire for a moment. To her, it felt like the mes were now engulfing the entire Empire. This is why you told you to look beyond. To take down the Northern Grand Duke. There was no need to hide it now. Ian nodded. Thats correct. Suddenly. At that moment, the force emanating from Yerinas eyes pressed heavily on Ian. It was the same gaze that charged into the bodies of thousands. But Ian, relying solely on his mental strength, withstood the pressurepletely. Soon after, Yerina diverted her gaze. Its hard to guess what youre looking at. I just want to solve the problems in front of me right now. The issue of the Grand Duke being part of the Bloodstone Cult. How on earth did you n to prove it? Right now our goal is to leave this ce. That goal aligns with mine. Yes. Yerina let out a long sigh. Even if there is some reason, its hard to believe such shocking ims outright. I need time to make my judgment on this matter as well. Yes. But, getting out of here is themon goal. Lets do our best. Of course. Though disappointed, Ian nodded. There wasnt really any evidence to prove that Richard Pierce was a member of the Bloodstone Cult. But the fact that Yerina didnt doubt him was enough. At that moment. Yerina suddenly narrowed her eyes. Wait. So ? Could it be that what you confessed to me back then was a lie? Ian swallowed hard. Several seconds, which felt like an eternity, passed. In that moment. Thump! The sound of footsteps echoed. Yerina and Ian simultaneously turned their heads towards the sound. Down a narrow corridor, the tips of blue hair disappeared. Did you see that? Wake the kids up. Theyre awake. It hadnt been long since they met, but their breathing synchronized seamlessly. Gathering only the essentials, they headed straight towards the corridor where they sensed activity. The dark passage descended downward. Ifrit. Lina lit a faint me, and they walked down following its dim light. Danya pointed to a spot. There are marks scratched on the wall here. Looks like marks made by a sword. Hold on. Yerina examined the marks closely, her eyes widening gradually. These this isnt the work of an ordinary practitioner. They were one of the top experts on the continent in their time. An expert? Yes. Their name alone is enough to be renowned among all martial artists. In this case its as if the swordsmanship itself resembles a snowke. Why would these marks be here? Im not a swordsman myself, but some swordsmen im they can learn a martial art just by reading the sword marks engraved on a wall like this. Finishing her statement, Yerina pulled her mace from her thigh. That means if this person turned into a moving corpse, theyre certainly not to be underestimated. Everyone, prepare yourselves. Rather than being caught off guard, lets strike first. Thump. Thump. As they walked like that for a while, suddenly the surroundings brightened. The warmth was enough to make them feel hot because of their winter gear. But there was no time to doubt the sudden change in environment. A cozy space, about the size of a ssroom, came into view. Standing there was a woman. Long dark blue hair neatly tied into a single strand. Her somewhat frail appearance, with pale white skin covered by a ck robe, seemed delicate. The womans warm breath gently swirled around, enveloping the surroundings. In her presence, there was a sense of fragility, even though it was hard to tell why. Oh my. Its been a while since Ive had guests. Mature and dignified, she seemed warm like a mother figure, yet appeared youthful enough to not quite fit that role. Ian suddenly felt a sense of dj vu. The woman in front of him seemed familiar. Sharon Pierce? At Linas murmuring, the womans somewhat pale face broke into a smile. Her graceful smile was harmless enough to dissolve any sense of caution. Do you know Sharon? Ah yes. ncing at Ian, Lina answered. Was that taken as hesitation? Oh, look at my mind. She didnt even introduce herself. I get called a lot for being rude. She opened her mouth like a woman making excuses. Oh my, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sasha Asilia. Im somewhat embarrassed to say this, but Im also known as the Snowke Swordmaster. And cing her hand on her chest, the somewhat shy woman bowed slightly. Sharon Pierce. Im that childs mother. There was someone there who definitely should have been dead. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Ian was taken aback. Sharons mother, huh? Ian didnt know if Sharon and she were on good terms, but their rtionship was strange enough that a fight wouldnt be out of ce right now (not that he knew if there was a fight to be had with Sharon). But to her mother, who was unting her fragility like this. Right. Your daughter grew up wrong. Why did you raise her like that? But Ian still had some sense of Eastern etiquette in him. However. In fact, my rtionship with my daughter isnt good. With a politeint, he found himself tumbling too far once he possessed Ian. Having grown into a fine pragmatist, Ian remainedposed. That cant be The womansplexion darkened rapidly. Already fragile-looking, Sharons mother now looked like she might copse at any moment. As Ian looked at her pitiful face, he paused for a moment. Upon closer inspection, even the womans hair was styled in the so-called short-lived haircut that mothers often wear in fiction. Come to think of it, isnt this a bit too much drama? She didnt scold her mother in front of her daughter, but she scolded her daughter in front of her mother It felt like the sound of his reputation plummeting was being broadcast in real-time. Moreover, in the current situation, she was the only clue to salvage this situation. At a time when he should focus on the woman in front of him rather than worrying about the nonexistent Sharon. Ian hastily added. Your daughters swordsmanship skills are so outstanding that Im a little jealous. Sharons mother, Sasha Asilia, brightened up. Thats fortunate. Because I worried so much about parting ways with that child when I was young Struggling to catch her breath, she spoke. I was so worried that something might have gone wrong. Suddenly, I couldnt breathe, and everything seemed bleak. Im sorry for my ugly appearance. With trembling arms, she wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Ian sighed quietly. I almost died socially and reputationally. From now on, he would pay close attention to the hairstyles of the other party. But then. There was a part of Asilias words that couldnt be ignored. Officially, Sasha Asilia was supposed to have been killed by the Bloodstone Cultists when Sharon was a child. Thats the setting. But the fact that she was here meant she had been absorbed by Richard Pierce. There was no deviation from the setting either. Anyway, being absorbed by Richard Pierce, who was a Bloodstone Cultist, was no different from being killed. Is it true that you were absorbed by Richard Pierce? Asilias pupils widened. W-what, do you happen to know? Asilias dark blue hair swayed softly as she asked. If youre asking about Richard Pierce being a member of the Bloodstone Cult and if hes been absorbing people, then yes. Thats my conclusion. Oh, someone knows. Asilias expression was like someone who had discovered an oasis in the desert. She held Ians hands with both of hers. No one believed me. I tried to confront him alone and then Just as it was starting to feel burdensome, Yerina interrupted. Just a moment. Interrupting Asilias words, Yerina pressed her temples for a moment. She had too many questions. Yerina opened her mouth with difficulty. Are you really Sharon Pierces mother? The first question she asked was the least shocking among the other possibilities. Asilia nced at Yerina for a moment, then pped her hands together. Oh, my. Is it really you, Miss Yerina? How did you grow up so well? Ian was surprised. Asilia had started stroking Yerinas head without any hesitation. And then, she blinked. ??? Pat pat pat. Stroking her head like a surprised lion allowing someone to pet it. What kind of sight was that? The sight of someone stroking the head of a 5-Star. Ah. Then he remembered. There was a hidden SSR-ranked sword technique in the Fanta X Aca called the Snowke Sword. If Sasha Asilia was indeed the Snowke Swordmaster, then she was a skilled practitioner surpassing Yerina. To Ian, the scene resembled a dragon gently stroking a lions mane. Though the dragon seemed infinitely benevolent, warm, and somewhat fragile. Yerina, feeling a bit embarrassed, opened her mouth as if to apologize to Asilia. I, Im sorry, but I dont remember you. I didnt even know you were the Snowke Sword. Its okay. Asilia, you went straight to the front lines and grew up there. Everyone understands. Thank you for your efforts. T-Thank you. I guess you really are Sharons mother. I cant believe it was you who invented the Snowke Sword. Yerina was still in disbelief within Asilias embrace. Every gesture exudes tremendous skill. Shes warm and smiling, but still a master who once dominated an era. If one were to silently ept her touch, even though she was the mother of another sister, the heart couldnt help but be warmer No, thats not it. Ahem! With a cautious and courteous push apanied by a cough, Yerina asked Asilia. Id like you to answer one thing. Is Father Richard really a member of the Bloodstone Cult? Are we all trapped within him? Yes. My husband, and your father, Richard Pierce, is a member of the Bloodstone Cult. And this ce? Here is a realm he created to absorb the life force of others. To be precise, its his mana heart. That is Coughing, Asilia, looking pitiful, finished her words. Its a prison. So this is Richards prison? It gave me goosebumps for a moment, but it also made sense. The most efficient way to absorb humans for sustenance would indeed be to digest them within the prison. The others states were no different from Ians. Am I being digested? asked a shocked Danya. I havent experienced much yet replied Lina, constantly fidgeting with a handkerchief around her neck and looking at Ian. Yerina seemed lost in deep thought. More precisely, she looked like a lion that was halfway broken. Then p! The sound of hands hitting each other. Everyones attention turned to Asilia. Oh my, snap out of it. Asilia held both hands together and smiled warmly. Now that guests have arrived, I should treat them well! Ian thought she was pushing it a bit to lighten the mood. Understandably so. There seemed to be no suitable cooking ingredients in this cave. Im sorry its nothing fancy. She said as she worked on something. This is shaved ice made with snow from the past 10 years. She presented a te piled with white substance. And this is shaved ice made with snow from the past 30 years. It has a richer vor. Ian took the te and took a bite. Of course, it was just snow. Yerinas expression sank sadly. I thought there wouldnt be anything to eat. Lina stole a nce, looking sad. How long have you been suffering like this Meanwhile, Danya Mm, its delicious. Enjoyed eating the snow. Come to think of it, there are dogs and cats that asionally eat snow. Maybe they find it really tasty. No, thats not it. Danya, can I have your backpack? He had seen some ingredients in the magic backpack briefly. Jerky, powdered milk and cheese, dried noodles, spices Ian skillfully set up ingredients and cooking utensils and then pped his hands. Then he turned to Asilia. Please make some. I-Ian. What are you saying Shes the Snowke Swordmaster. Ian? The group was bewildered. But Ian was adamant. Im hungry. Please make some. Yerina let out a small sigh at Ians words. It seems shock has regressed you to childhood. I-I can take care of him! Ive been taking care of my younger siblings since I was little! Im older! My tail was so fluffy and popr with kids! Ian ignored the sudden squabble that had erupted. Asilia, who was silently watching Ian, beamed with a warm smile. Of course. Its time to show off my skills after a long time. Swoosh, swoosh. Asilia rolled up her sleeves and started cooking. Sizzle She skillfully greased the pan and added garlic on top. Slice As she wielded the cooking knife, the pieces of jerky were cut into perfect bite-sized chunks and grilled to perfection. Finally, she added milk and boiled pasta that had been sliced four times. There you go. I tried to show off my skills after a long time. I hope it suits your taste. She said as she served one dish after another. Asilias shoulders were higher than before. You said you were hungry, so eat a lot. If you leave any, you will be scolded. As they dug into their tes, they noticed an unusuallyrge amount of meat. Smirk. Asilia winked. Thank you. Danyas eyes narrowed Was it because of the meat or Asilias wink? Ian avoided Danyas gaze and took a spoonful into his mouth. Wow. He blinked several times in a daze. Then he took another spoonful. Its amazing. Praise flowed out involuntarily at the taste. The broth based on milk had a subtle richness. Just when it was getting heavy, the garlic provided a crisp finish. A dish that made the body feel incredibly warm. Moreover, the meat was outstanding. Tender yet moist with broth. Who wouldve thought of cooking with jerky? In fact, it felt like without the jerky, the dish wouldnt beplete. Ive never tasted such delicious food Its so good. Danya and Lina murmured simultaneously. Hehe, Im d you all enjoyed it. Asilia smiled contentedly as she watched them eat. Without even putting food in her mouth, she made something else. Its a dessert made by grinding dried fruit with sugar. Despite not having a mixer, she solved the problem with just one cooking knife she was holding. Maybe cooking is not about the taste of fire, but the taste of the knife, Ian thought as he tried the dessert. The tanginess of the fruit and the sweetness of the sugar blended perfectly, satisfying the tip of his tongue. Ian put one in his pocket and focused on the conversation between Asilia and Danya. It was Lichten Academy, right? How was Sharon there? Danyas eyes rolled around. Asilia didnt miss her gaze checking Ians reaction. Lina hastily intervened to smooth things over. She was so great that she was considered the top talent at the school for a while! Many students followed her lead. Oh, really? Yes! She really was! A faint bitterness briefly crossed Asilias face before disappearing. But she didnt ask further and just grinned. Hehehe, thats a relief. Would you all like to follow me for a moment? Asilia stood up gracefully from her seat. Seeing her, Danya whispered cautiously to Ian. Isnt it suspicious? Shes being too nice to us, isnt she? After serving such delicious food? T-thats Anyway, something feels off. Its weird She had an infinitely serious face. And where Asilia took them, steam was rising. S-She, she was fattening us up to eat us! Danyas eyes trembled. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Theres a ce where you can rx your body. Alicia spread her arms with a smile as she introduced the location. It was a hot spring. I felt something weird though Danya rolled her eyes yfully and skillfully avoided making eye contact. Ian, who was considering teasing her, dropped the idea. Danya cornered was amusing enough on its own. Its not good to be cautious about speaking just to avoid teasing. So instead, heplimented her. Well done. Ugh! But it seemed like thepliment hurt Danya even more as her face turned red. Without time to ponder why. Ian, would you like to bathe together? Asilia asked with a bright smile. Her skin was moist because of the dewy moisture in the surrounding white steam. Thats good, my muscles are already tense. You too,e in, Ian. Yerina said, taking off her outer garment. Her top seemed to press firmly against her chest, the volume was quite no, thats not it. I, Im fine. Its not like its anyone else but Ian, right? Yeah. Its okay. Lina muttered, nibbling the handkerchief around her neck. Is promiscuity amon urrence in this world? Come to think of it, even in some countries in his past life, men and women Everyone, snap out of it! Dodo. Danya, who had rushed over, made Yerina and Lina put their clothes back on. Then she rushed over again and lifted herself on tiptoes to cover Ians eyes. What are you looking at, Ian! Of course, its prohibited! Peeking is also prohibited! Covering Ians eyes with her small hands, she spun around. Its a relief that at least one person in this small party is normal. The thought of at least one person being normal in this small party brought tears to Ians eyes. Lumbs of fat are also prohibited. Huh? Ah, its nothing! Anyway, dont peek! Absolutely! Ssh! Of course, there was no door in the cave, but if there were, thats the sound it would make. In the moment Ians mind was swirling, he calmed it with a deep breath. Hehe. Well then, Ian, would you like to take a walk with me? Swoosh. The sound of fabric brushing against the floor was heard. Asilia, who had appeared out of nowhere, was smiling. She seemed to have something to say. Inside the cave, there were quite spacious and diverse areas. Ian followed Asilia, who was leading the way. Step Asilia stopped walking where the light was hitting the ground. When she looked up, light wasing in from a small hole in the ceiling. Asilia turned around. Not a single snowke fell. My child. Seems like I raised her wrong. It was a confession. If they remained silent for a while, there seemed to be no way out. Ian scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Did you notice? When everyone talks about that child, they nce at you, Ian. Mothers are quick to notice things children when ites to matters of their child. Ian cautiously observed Asilias reaction. Rather than her being an overwhelming authority It felt more like discussing with a friends parent after a fight with that friend. Sharon must be just a friend or even less than that. It felt peculiar. You two fought? Yes. It seems that girl, Sharon, was mostly at fault. Yes. He didnt ask how she knew. It would probably be a parents intuition, as Asilia had said. A hint of sadness settled on her eyebrows, then she smiled bitterly. Ian is very considerate for his age. When someone is young, they dont realize that people like you are good people. Was he really a good person? Even considering Asilias feelings and trying to understand her, it was just a single clue to her heart. Ian lowered his head. Thats also consideration. Come here. Asilia, sitting on the ground, tapped the spot next to her. In front of her, there was a small hot spring with rising steam. Asilia lifted her dress and dipped her feet in. Ian followed suit. Snowkes falling one by one through the open ceiling. It felt like being in an outdoor hot spring. Im sorry. I raised my daughter wrong. I dont think you need to apologize for that, Miss Asilia. Hehehe. Thats true too. Tickle. Tickle. Asilia yfully wiggled her feet. This isnt the behavior of a mother, but that of a child. Indeed. Sharon and she were separated when they were young, and considering that marriage happens early in this world Come to think of it, how long has Asilia been trapped here? Its a secret. But I havent asked anything yet? It looked like you wanted to ask about my age. Shes really sharp in unexpected ces. Instead, Ill tell you another story. Is there anything youre curious about in this world? You said this is Richards prison. Are you referring to this cave? No. More than that. More than that? Asilia closed her mouth as if to let Ian guess. There was no need to ponder on it. So, could it be youre saying this entire snowfield is Richards prison? Yes. Ian recalled the snowfield he traversed to get to the cave. It was a vast expanse of snow with no end in sight. If this vast space was all Richards prison Ians eyebrows trembled. It was the first time he felt such a distant feeling since the possession. . Shiver. A chill ran down his spine. How big was his prison right now? Even if he managed to fill it up diligently, with all the effort he could muster Its an overwhelming difference. As Ian bit his lip, Asilia asked him. Are you anxious? This isnt the end here. Richard Pierce will continue to grow stronger. Even in the future. Were you nning to confront him? I was considering it, but Did you have a n? Asilia asked. n. There was certainly a n. To capture Yerina through his performance at the tournament. To gather evidence with Linas social skills. Karen was to survey the mansion for intel. Even if there was a hint of evidence, they would quickly retreat and request support from the princess. Of course. All of those ns have now gone up in smoke. So, are you going to give up in the future? No. There is no giving up. Itll just get a little harder. No, maybe a lot harder. So what? To survive, you always have to consider the best course of action. This game is inherently difficult. If you sacrifice more sleep, think harder, train harder, and dont ck off, there are still plenty of options. Strategies began to be developed in real time. Even if we fail to gather evidence against Richard Pierce, I believe we can survive and leave the North. Its just that things will get a little more difficult from now on. The biggest problem with failing to contain Richard is that the influence of the Bloodstone Cult will seriously affect the entire continent. Especially if they quietly infiltrate the upper echelons of the Empire. Asilia listened quietly, smiling, as Ian spoke. First, we need to exert a little more political influence. Politics is essentially about peoples interests. Ive already built a good rtionship with a journalist from the Imperial Gazette. If I ask him to exaggerate my activities a bit, that should be a start. Being named the Promising Mage of the Year is just the beginning. Being named the Promising Mage of the Year. Its not a grand title, but its certainly one of the most popr titles among the public. The political issues regarding society, diplomacy, and so on will start to be pointed out. Especially focusing on areas where the Bloodstone Cult is silently exerting its influence. We can lead the support of the Third Princess. I will step forward as the face of the front, and she will be the political figurehead. We can also utilize Silvia Laurents connections. We need to simultaneously strategize and conquer all aspects of the economy, society, and politics. Asilia stared at Ian. His insights were profound, his ns bold yet meticulous. And Desperate. In Asilias eyes, Ian seemed incredibly desperate. Ians expression wasposed, but the corners of his eyes trembled thinly. His voice wasposed, but his lips were parched. Despite his confident demeanor, Asilia didnt miss the trembling of his fingertips. Because that appearance resembled Asilia herself. It was like her, after realizing Richards true nature and worrying. And Asilia knows. She knows the oue if they continue down this path. Anxiety intensifies tension. Impatience and urgency grow. Efforts are made to do a little better, ns are made. But no matter how hard you try, no matter how perfect your ns are, there are things that cannot be achieved. Sometimes, the answer lies not in effort. If you dont realize that, the ending will always be tragic. Asilia stared at Ians intensely serious gaze. She looked into his slightly trembling pupils. Ians mouth opened once again. The problem lies with the Imperial Family. The influence of the First Princess is too strong. If they join hands with Raymond, the Second Prince will undoubtedly be more actively involved with the Bloodstone Cult and Snowkes scattered. Along with the wind that entered through the ceiling, strands of dark blue hair fluttered. Ian stopped speaking. No, the words involuntarily stopped flowing. Something touched his lips. It was soft flesh. It didnt take long for Ian to realize that he was embraced by Asilia. It was as natural as the wind wrapping around something. Ian. A soft voice tickled his ears. A faint scent wafted through his nose. Youve worked hard. He wanted to say something in response. But instead. A deep inhale filled his body before leaving. The tension eased. Nestling even deeper into Asilias embrace, Ian finally realized. That he had always lived like this, giving his all with every fiber of his being. Asilia gently patted his back. Youve really worked hard. It wasforting. It was the first time he heard it sinceing here. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Winter. It was a night when the snowstorm was severe. Asilia grasped the sword. Someone grabbed and pulled Asilias hem as she cautiously stepped out of the house. Um. Where are you going, Mom? Asilia suddenly felt afraid. Would she not be able to see her daughter anymore? If that were the case, could this small child of hers stand alone? But she had to do it. To hide her trembling eyes, Asilia hugged her daughter. -Mom has something important to do. Are you going to catch the bad guys? M-Mommy, are you going to the blood religion? Thats right. What if something happens while youre gone? Cant you stay? Asilia hesitated as she looked at her tearful daughter. Should she just run away? If they ran away together, could they survive a little longer? That wouldnt be possible. They are everywhere. So Richard made sure that even her daughter Therefore, they couldnt run away together. Sharon. My baby. Sharon isnt a baby anymore! I can wait! Huh? How many times do I have to count this time? Last time, I counted thirty times! Asilia looked at Sharon. With a determined expression, she folded her fingers back and forth, eventually bending both hands three times, the odd child. Th Thirty! See, Mom! So tell me. How many times do I have to count this time! Could she give the child false hope? But she couldnt bring herself to say it to those round, innocent eyes. This time, she probably wouldnte back. All that her mom could do would be to go on a journey. Ten thousand times. Ten thousand times! I dont know how many that is. Sharon, who bent all ten fingers, asked. You have to count a hundred times a hundred. Huh A hundred times! Thats too much! Asilia hugged Sharon. She would hug her as much as she couldnt in the future. Mom Im suffocating Sharon, while counting to ten thousand, you must chew your food well, okay? Okay. And dont leave any carrots behind. Eat them well. Ehh Carrots Dont you have to practice swordsmanship a lot? Dont you have to be strong enough so that nobody can hurt you? Yes! I want to be the best knight like mom! Thats right. Promise. Yes. I promise! Mom! Ill eat my carrots diligently! So, you muste back? She couldnt bring herself to answer. Asilia hugged the boy, reminiscing about the day she was defeated by Richard. Anxiety, restlessness, and tension. The boy was pushing away the emotions that should rightfully be there into a corner of his heart. Asilia wanted to relieve him of that burden, even a little. Youve been through a lot. Why did she want tofort this child? Perhaps because he reminded her of her own childhood. Or maybe because he was the same age as her daughter. Sharon must have grown up by now. There were many things she wanted to teach her. Many things she wanted to do together. She wanted to see her talking proudly about her days at the Academy. She wanted to see her arguing with friends and sulking, and also see her excited about making good friends. Why do you fight with such a good child? Asilia looked at Ian kindly. Only after their skin touched did she truly feel the worth of this boy. Gathered pure magic power. A solid foundation. She could even sense a vaguely noble aura that seemed to be of a higher order. A prodigy born with innate talent. She must be jealous. Shes a child with strong ambitions. It seemed she vaguely understood why the rtionship between the boy and Sharon wasnt good. Sharon was just as dishonest with the person she was interested in, as was Asilia herself. But the reason the boys emotions seemed deeper Did he catch Sharon in the wrong position? Since she has a personality that doesnt give in easily, she must learn through experience. Asilia swallowed her overflowing worry. Now that she didnt have much time left, it was all just a matter of hope. Instead, Asilia wanted to focus on the boy in front of her. Why did this boy seem so pitiful to her? Now she knew the answer. Ian. ? It was because the boy resembled her when she was young. Striving to the point of death, pondering. A life where she cut everything for her goals alone. That was the path Asilia had walked. It was also a path of failure for her. She couldnt overlook the boy who seemed to repeat the same failures as herself. So, she asked. Will you be my disciple? His throat felt dry. He was nestled in Asilias embrace as if enchanted. Receivingfort from someone was a first for him. Feeling this much at ease was also a first. In that state, Asilia asked. If he would be her disciple. Ian, who had slipped out of her embrace, asked. A disciple? Asilia cleared her throat loudly and straightened up. Am I not recognized as the Snowke Swordmaster? Ian was taken aback. Of course, he knew how strong Asilia was. It was because he knew the power of the Snowke Sword. He just didnt expect her to volunteer to be his master first. While Ian was still bewildered, Asilias face flushed. Oh, uh Do the young people these days not know who the Snowke Swordmaster is? Well, there shouldnt be such a generation gap. I may have been a bit less activetely, but No. Its not that. Im just curious why someone like you would want to take me as a disciple. Oh. Asilia blinked herrge eyes. Youre quite cheeky. Are you expecting a woman to confess first? This woman. Is she really the same person who was just overflowing with maternal warmth? Asilia, who sometimes seemed excessively naive, now resembled a fox waving its long tail. To be precise, a professor who lures innocent students into graduate school with a beautiful tail. But quite an impressive professor. Hehehe. Asilia chuckled mischievously. Its a joke. Judging by Ians expression, it seems my sense of humor isnt dead yet. With a bashful smile, Asilia said seriously. Even if I disappear, I hope some traces remain. Traces? Like what, teaching swordsmanship? Ian vaguely thought so. That she wanted to inherit the swordsmanship, the Snowke Sword technique she had founded. But Asilia shook her head slowly. Hmm. It might be a little different. For example Asilia took Ians hand. It was a natural movement, as if there was no way to avoid it. She massaged the calluses scattered here and there on Ians hand. Training immediately upon waking up. Thinking about how to get stronger even while doing other tasks. Food is about nutrition rather than taste. Pursuing efficient meals rather than chatting with others. Lucky days if you can train even for a short while during rest time. Days of falling asleep exhausted after finishing work and training a bit more. Ian couldnt respond with anything. It was too urate, as if she had been observing his daily routine. Youve put in a lot of effort, just looking at these hands tells me. That was true. Thats how he could survive. But have you ever felt it? Asilia, holding Ians hand, ced it directly on her left chest. What it feels like to hear someone elses heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Through his hand, he could feel her heartbeat. It was gentle. But there was a definite resonance indicating that she was alive. Its my first time feeling it. How was it? I felt vitality. Good. With a bright smile, Asilia nodded. What I want to convey is values. Values? Shall we take the Bloodstone Cult as an example? They are those who have chosen to absorb others as a means of growth. They dont know how to love or acknowledge anything other than themselves. They only see others as objects of absorption. Its true. Theres no normal way to catch up with the growth of the Bloodstone Cult. Then how should we confront them? Youre not suggesting more effort? Asilia tilted her head, asking. Have you ever heard the sound of snow piling up? Ian shook his head. Have you seen Danyas lips curl up beautifully when she secretly looks at you? He couldnt know since it was done secretly. Linas passion may seem excessive at times, but sometimes new experiences arent so bad. He knew that too well. Then what about love? What does it feel like? I dont know. Asilias face drew closer. Her soft hair brushed gently against his cheeks. Her eyes were clear and blue, like the sky after a snowfall. A gentle touch on the shoulder. It traveled down his arm to the fingertips. There are things you only learn when you love. She sped his hand with hers. How the other persons fingers move when theyre happy. The disparity between the eyes and lips when theyre upset. The trembling when sharing love, the rough breaths. Ian was lost in thought. He felt like he understood what she was trying to say. But it eluded him as if it were just out of reach. Feel the world. Listen to the various sounds and colors,ndscapes and shapes. Pay attention to everything. Asilias face was warm. Infinitely natural. When I be one with the world. He realized then. Why he couldnt help but miss Asilias movements moment by moment. The moment when the world bes a part of me. Asilia was the sky. She was the wind, the earth, and soon, nature. Everything is one. Asilia chuckled at Ians murmur. Its not quite that profound. She took a step forward. Footprints engraved on the snow. Asilia raised her hand high. It resembled a tree branch in winter. One, then two snowkes fell from the sky. As the weight of the umted snow overpowered the branch, Asilias arm gently descended. Snow scattered. Countless snowkes bloomed following Asilias hand movements. It looked like snowkes, hence people called it the Snowke Sword, Snowke Technique. It was a sword technique but at the same time, it was undoubtedly snow. Thus, like melting snowkes leaving traces on the wall, they disappeared. She sheathed her sword. It was only then that Ian realized Asilia was holding the sword. If I exist within the world. Asilia turned to Ian. Then soon, the world will exist within me. Sasha Asilia, the Snowke Swordmaster. She asked him to be her disciple. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Ian stood still for a long time. The legendary Snowke Sword wielded by Asilia. He pondered over her swordsmanship, which swept away countless snowkes with the de, multiple times. It wasnt a sword meant to cut someone. It was expression and path. What Asilia wanted to convey was the path she had walked. I think I understand. He understood what Asilia wanted to say. And Ian acknowledged it. I only wanted to be stronger. I wished for daily training, growth, only stronger growth. That seemed necessary to defeat my enemies. The enemies werent just Richard Pierce. Not just the Bloodstone Cult. Numerous evils that could unfold in scenarios. Thats what it meant. My growth goals were all rooted in anxiety and obsession about the future. Asilia blinked. Your self-awareness is fast. Because I saw something very valuable. Hehehe. Ian quietly looked at Asilias warm smile. She asked him to be her disciple. Not anyone else, but the Snowke Swordmaster. Even in the game, she was a character shrouded in mystery, trapped in Richards prison, digesting within it, with no way to be revealed. But her swordsmanship she left behind was famous. The top swordsmanship known to be created by the reclusive master, the Snowke Sword, created by Asilia. It was also Sharon Pierces final sword technique. I didnt expect such a background. It felt like the missing piece of the story in the game had been filled. He was given the opportunity to learn such a legendary swordsmanship. However, there was one thing to note. Ian silently stared at Asilia. She, who had been smiling faintly, sighed quietly. Did you notice? Nod. Ian nodded and said. Your skin felt particrly cold. Asilias skin was cold. Even when she hugged, it felt like it was in a ce cooled by the mist of a hot spring. I felt it when I hugged you. There was an energy in your body that wasnt yours. Shiver. A sound of footsteps. As Asilia turned around, her dress top slipped off. White arms and back. There were ck scars there. Its from the fight with Richard. The scars started from her arms and extended across her back to the opposite wrist. It hasnt healed. Rather, after being absorbed here, vitality has been flowing out from this wound. Blocking with mana was all I could do. Ian looked silently at the ckened scars. Like wounds torn by a beast. There, he felt a simr energy to the corpses he had encountered outside. So thats why Danya suddenly got scared. Danya, who was suddenly afraid before introducing the hot spring, came to mind. It was surprising, but her sharp intuition made him admire her. Just a moment. Ian asked for permission from Asilia and ced his hand on her back. Cold. He covered the scar with his hand. Huh. A small surprised groan mixed with Asilias breath. Ian slowly sent his power through his hand. But the wound did not respond to his power or Dishwashing. Youre good at using warm energy. I thought I could purify it. Its not contaminated. Its just that all the vitality in that area has been absorbed. Just a space that sucked the vitality just by existing. Asilia would have resisted it with mana. But here, mana cannot be gathered. All mana scatters and disappears. As Ian sent more power, he asked. How much mana do you have left? The reason her body was cold must signify the limit. Both mana and vitality have reached their limits. Asilias back twitched. If youre too perceptive, women dont like it. How much longer can you hold on? The time here flows about five times faster than outside. Five times. Judging by Sharons age, it wasnt difficult to calcte the passage of time. At least 50 years had passed. Then. How much time do you have left? Silence engulfed the cave. Ians mouth opened with difficulty. If it were Danya If it were Danya, she wouldnt know. If she could use her Snowke Flower, some mana would be restored, even if only a little. As Asilia turned her head back, she chuckled softly. My prison, although not as big as this snowfield. It was a meaningless statement. Ian sent his power to her back, silently wishing for somefort, even though he knew it was meaningless. Then. A rustling sound was heard. Theres a saying that even a tiger speaks if it does. Danya stood at the entrance of the cave. However, there were a few problems here. One was that Asilia had taken off her top, revealing her upper body. The other was that Ian had his hand on her bare back. Danyas eyes widened naturally. W-What are you two doing! Silence descended. Both of them hesitated on what to say in response. F-Friends, mom! In response to Danyas shocked exmation, Asilia hurriedly spoke. Miss Danya, this is a misunderstanding. Oh, indeed, Snowke Swordmaster Asilia. Ian silently cheered for her quick response. A-A misunderstanding? Yes. Weve just formed a bond. If you say that, wont the misunderstanding deepen, Snowke Swordmaster? While Ian was bewildered. Kwoong! I-If youve formed a bond, then, then with a m-man and a w-woman together like that! Danya stuttered her words. A considerably shocked expression. Disappointed! The pink tail rose up and then disappeared. It felt like something came like a storm and then vanished like a storm. Was it a dream? He wished it was a dream. There was silence. Asilia smiled apologetically. Im naturally introverted, you see. Hehe. Its okay. I couldnt find words to say. Do you need me to chase after her? I was concentrating on you, Asilia, so its fine. Ian is quite popr, isnt he? Hehe. Asilia, elegantly covering her mouth,ughed. Seeing her like that, Ian made up his mind. I dont quite understand what youre talking about. Ian concluded his sentence after a brief pause. Master. Whirl. Asilia, startled, met Ians eyes with a puzzled look. Her top was down. Seeing Ian turning his eyes away from her. Swush After a moment, she hastily put her top back on. Thats enough. Their eyes met. A somewhat awkward atmosphere. Its a little awkward, isnt it? Its my first time having a master. Its my first time having a disciple too. Dont masters and disciples usually perform some kind of ritual to mark their bond? Ive seen that in martial arts novels. Like bowing or something. We dont have to do that. Smile. Asilia smiled softly and embraced Ian. You are now my disciple, the Snowke Swordmaster. Sasha Asilias disciple. The existence of a master felt warmer than he had expected. Danyas mind was in turmoil. Weve just formed a bond. Asilia had definitely said that. But what does forming a bond entail? Why was Ian looking over Asilias bare back, with her top slipped off and her hand covering her chest? Uggghhhh! Frustrated, Danya turned to the girl sitting next to her. Hey, Lina. Yeah? Danya. Whats up? They had be quite friendly over time. Lina had treated Danya quite kindly. However, at the same time, Danya knew well that they were alsopetitors. But at this moment, Danya needed Linas help. To deal with the voluptuous woman with that lewd body. Yerina had gone out to look around, so Danya couldnt ask her for help. What does it mean to form a bond? Usually, its a metaphorical expression for a physical rtionship. Why, Danya, are you? Oh, no, no! What nonsense! Ian and I are still just colleagues! Lina tilted her head. I know that. I thought I saw the title of a book I was reading. Lina rummaged through her bag and pulled out a book. [The Dukes Young Lady Wears a Leash Every Night] What is this? Its a novel thats been very popr in the capitaltely. I borrowed it from school to read on the train. Want to read it? Danya epted the book and opened it. The first thing that caught her eye was an illustration. It depicted a beautiful youngdy in a dress, wearing a cor and crawling on the floor. The raised hem of the dress looked indecent. Danyas face turned red in an instant. Squeezing her eyes shut, Danya closed the book. N-No, not this kind of thing. I-I mean Yeah? W-Whats the usual way to form a bond? Lina raised an eyebrow. Well? Do you not know either? Not that I dont know I just have a specific way in mind. As Linas face began to blush, Danya unknowingly swallowed her saliva. Why was she feeling so embarrassed just by hearing about forming a bond? What is it? I like it a bit wild. Wild? Yeah. Lina brought her hand to the handkerchief tied around her neck. First, we would lie together on the bed and look into each others eyes. Its nice if its warm, but I prefer it cold. Id like to be pressed down firmly as you gaze at me with those cold eyes, as if scolding me. Huh? With your thick hands, youd press down firmly. Until my breathing bes rough. Until my head spins. Is this what it means to form a rtionship? Is this how normal people form bonds? Or is this just Linas preference? Danya was confused. But wont it hurt? Even if my breath isbored and my body feels exhausted, my heart would be asfortable as ever. Lina smiled as if just thinking about it made her happy. She didnt know. It was still too difficult for Danya to understand. Then, when forming a bond, do you also stroke each others back? Back? Yeah. Should we try it? Suddenly, Linas finger traced down Danyas back. Eek! I-It tickles! If it tickles, that means it feels good. So, Asilia and Ian! Danya, with her tail standing straight up, said to Lina. You know, Danya. Yeah? Do you also like Ian? It was a sudden and direct question. Danya was taken aback and blurted out something she didnt even mean. L-Like him? What nonsense! Were just colleagues! Really? Y-Yes! Really! Then, would you mind if I formed a bond with Ian? Danyas eyes, initially filled with confusion, suddenly became serious. I wouldnt like that. I thought so. You know, Danya. ? I-I can give up Ian for you. When I was lost for a while, you took care of Ian. And that Silvia too. Why bring her up here! Lina giggled at Danyas flustered reaction. Instead, no matter who takes first, I will be second. If its not you two in front of me, Ill be more assertive. A calm yet shocking confession. I I dont think I can live without Ian. She is Lina, who always smiles brightly. She had never seen Lina speak so seriously. Danya bit her lower lip. Or if you think you cant handle it, I could try it first and let you know? Linas words were provocative. Danya stood up abruptly. A surge of emotions bubbled up within her. It felt like jealousy, likepetitiveness. Silvia. Asilia, and other women. No matter who they were, Danya was determined not to lose Ian. But Im so inexperienced She didnt even know how to deal with Asilia, who seduced Ian by taking off her top. Lina looked at her innocently. She said shed be satisfied with being second. Danya had heard that popr men sometimes have concubines. Maybe she needed to give up her excessive greed to win Ian. After making her calctions, Danya reached out to Lina. Lets cooperate. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Lina smiled brightly. Somehow, Danya felt uneasy about that smile. But Ill be the legal wife. The moment Danya dered loudly. Legal wife? Ian and Asilia returned. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Asilia. No. The Master and Ian returned to where ourpanions were. Step, step. Footsteps echoing in the cave. Memories of the Masters teachings resurfaced. She had instructed him to not only focus ahead but also be aware of his surroundings. He was curious. What could she be thinking? Unlike the times when she would embrace with maternal warmth at any opportunity, the Masters furrowed brows now betrayed a mind deep in contemtion. Do you have something on your mind? Mm. Indeed, she could be serious when the asion called for it. If her demeanor had been akin to that of a friends young mother until now, her current contemtive silence exuded a sense of mastery to the point where he could almost feel her as the Snowke Swordmaster. I apologize for doubting. As he reflected on the doubt towards the Master, she spoke up. Im deeply contemting what I should teach my disciple first ugh. Thunk. The sound of her forehead hitting the rock echoed. It seemed like she had collided with the stctite above her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she rubbed her forehead. Trying to show some authority in front of my disciple and end up like this! Indeed, she had her moments of clumsiness. At times like this, he really wondered if she was truly the Snowke Swordmaster Suddenly, Asilia lifted her face. Disciple. The Master is a remarkable person, you know? Shouldnt doubt her, right? Of course not. His gaze kept returning to her flushed forehead. Disciple. You just doubted me. No, I didnt. The look in your eyes said, Is this person really the Snowke Swordmaster? Be honest. Shes quite perceptive. An unexpected crisis of faith. Thud. Ian rolled his eyes, finding a usible excuse. Maybe the stctite was the best in the world. The Masters cheeks puffed up instantly. Just as the atmosphere, which had been heavy with the weight of the disciple doubting his master, was about to change, they arrived where theirpanions were. But Ill be the legal wife. Danya dered, looking at Lina. Legal wife? Danya turned her head in response to Ians question. Her eyes widened, and she bounced excitedly. Ian? Oh, when did you get here! Ians gaze fell on the book Danya was holding. [The Dukes Young Lady Wears a Leash Every Night] Ian? Uh, this, um She hastily hid the book behind her back. Danyas face turnedpletely red. Ian roughly guessed the situation. She mustve been acting. Theatrical performances were quite a major hobby in the Empire. Many people enjoyed recreating scenes from novels as if they were acting in a y. Come to think of it, The Dukes Young Lady Wears a Leash. Now that he recalled, there were many children among the nobles who enjoyed leashing. It wasnt a discriminatory statement; it was actually true. Paying attention to your surroundings really opens your eyes to a lot. This must be part of his Masters teachings as well. Ian nodded subtly and patted Danyas shoulder. I respect whatever preferences you have. Swoosh. Danya sank. A strategic ally entered the war on behalf of Danya, who waspletely defeated. Smile. Smiling brightly, Lina spoke up. You two seem to get along really well. Uh. Well, you see Ian and Asilia looked noticeably embarrassed. Watching them, Danya, who had been observing, suddenly perked up. Thats right! Exin what kind of rtionship you two have! Ears perked up. Tails curled upwards. With narrowed eyes, Danya seemed to have been suspicious about something with a hint of certainty. But oddly, Ian seemed more uneasy about his masters reaction. Umm As she covered her lips with her hand, she pondered. Why was she hesitating so much? What was she trying to say? And this unease it wasnt just a trick of the mind. Would you say its a rtionship in which we promised each others future? Fu, future? I, for one, have walked this path first with foresight, so I can fill in this childs weaknesses. Ian is Asilia smiled brightly at Ian. I just hope he treats me well. There was silence. Eh, ugh Danya groaned. She spoke up. S-So, youve made a marriage pact? In Danyas mind, essentially, marriage was the only deep rtionship between a man and a woman. As Asilia blushed at Danyas question. I-I mean its not quite appropriate for your age Ian felt the need to rify the situation. Just a moment, Danya. I think theres a misunderstanding here. Were not in that kind of rtionship Wow. Y-Your? Are we already at the stage where we call each other you? This was getting ridiculous. With each word, Ian gave up on rifying the misunderstandings that piled up. But there is a big age difference Ian tends to be quite assertive in his seduction. When did I! I-I cant ept this rtionship! Dont be like that, Miss Danya. As someone older, I can teach you a lot. Eh? Young people often miss out on genuine experiences that I can teach. Ian felt utterly lost. Wasnt the Master enjoying this from the start? Just as that thought crossed his mind. Asilia. Enough with the teasing. Yerinas voice came from behind. When Ian turned his head, Yerina was walking in. As she tucked away the weapon she was holding in her hand to her thigh, Yerina spoke. I recall Asilia used to tease me like this when I was young. Oh, really? You remember? As I walked, some memories came back to life. But her tone remained unchanged. She sounded like a dignified Duchess of the North. Yerina nced over this way and then opened her mouth. By the way, it seems the two of you have formed a different bond. How did she know? Yerina pointed to Ians cor with a puzzled look. A snowke is drawn on your cor. Ian looked down at his clothes. When was this carved in? As Yerina said, there was a flower-shaped snowke engraved on it. When did his master carve this in? Her movements are often hard to notice. Miss Yerina, youre still sharp as ever. Sharp? It seems more like showing off ones possession to anyone who looks. Oh my. Yerina, did you also sense this childs talent? I did consider teaching a few things. Hmm. What did you want to teach? Why did these two suddenly start fighting? In the sh of the two masters, Ians skin felt prickly. To truly improve ones skills, theres no ce like the battlefield. With the recent fierce fights on the border, I was thinking of taking him around for a few months. Ian inwardly sighed. We almost got into big trouble. That side seems more formidable than actual university professors. Its fortunate to have Asilia as his master. Scratch, scratch. Yerina, tapping on the back of her head, started talking first. Even if I didnt solely rely on a mace as my weapon, I wouldnt regret learning from you, the Snowke Swordmaster. Oh my. Thank you. I mean it. Yerina shrugged and stood in the middle of the group. Rather, Ive found out a few things by looking around. You found out? In response to Ians question, Yerina nodded. I went out for exercise and climbed the cliff where this cave is located. What did he just hear? Climbing a cliff where a snowstorm rage? Instead of being baffled, Ian decided to just ept Yerinas words. After climbing up to a certain height and looking around, I could see it. It seemed like a huge array was spread out from this cave. Array? Yeah. That barrier-like thing at the entrance of the cave surrounds the snowy area. There were piles of corpses nearby. Im not sure of the purpose, but it felt like there was some intention behind the array. Yerinas expression turned serious. Ian nced briefly at his master. She was focused on Yerinas words without any change in expression. Well look into this gradually. Yerina continued speaking. The second thing concerns the escape route, Ian. Yes. This ce was Richards prison. Thats correct. In that case, somewhere in this snowy area, there must be a point connected to the outside. A prison must have fluctuations of energy. Ian nodded. It was a logical deduction. I felt like this cave might be rted to it. This ce has many peculiarities. Theres not just bone-chilling cold, but theres also a hot spring that could melt ones body. Although it doesnt seemrge at first nce, there are manyplex and deep areas. It seems like we need to conduct a proper exploration. Ian fell silent. It wasnt because he disagreed with Yerinas words. No. On the contrary, there was insight in her words. Yerina may not be as revered as his master, but shes undoubtedly a skilled expert from the North. However. The doubts arise from elsewhere. Did his master really not know these facts? What is the reason for the masters presence here? Then, if she couldnt find a way out. All the doubts stemmed from her. Ian quietly looked at his master. Asilia also looked back at her disciple. Their gazes sank deep into each other. Asilias lips parted slowly. I know the way out. But She didnt finish her sentence. But Ian could understand what she swallowed. Not everyone will be able to get out of here. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 It was a winter storm. Asilia gritted her teeth and stared at the demon in front of her. Realizing my true nature, youre quite perceptive. Her Richard looked down at her with a smile as if he had rescued her from hell. The moment they exchanged blows, Asilia realized. That she had greatly underestimated Richard. He was much stronger than she had anticipated. At the same time, cruel. You are worthy of the title of Snowke Swordmaster, What stood before her was not human. A demon d in human skin. From head to toe immersed in the Bloodstone Cult, there was no trace of humanity to be found in him. ng! Kakang! Kagagagak! Just blocking his sword swing made her arm feel as if it would fall off from the pain. Ferocious. Overwhelming strength. She realized this wasnt a situation to aim for a stalemate. What was the Snowke Swordmaster, and what was the First Sword of the North? Asilia regretted her arrogance. She was never strong enough. Not even enough to secure a better future for the child. Asilia. Your mistakes are too grand. Shut up. To pursue strength, one must have no qualms about anything. I said shut up. You filth. Even if its family, just like me who can devour anything to be stronger. Gripping her trembling arm, Asilia unfolded the Snowke Sword. And. Interesting. He barely managed to evade the snowke she sent while smiling. Swish Her back feels hot. Richards arm, grotesquely twisted, shes her back. She sensed it immediately. He deliberately avoided hitting vital points. Im fortunate to have married you. Ive got the chance to absorb you like this. Because the blood flowing from her back filled the surroundings. Her eyes turn red. Mom! Her childs voice was heard from afar. A brief exchange between Richard and her. Did I not say? You didnt. Please, spare the child Even without saying, I intend to raise that child. Isnt she both yours and mine? I wonder how strong shell grow. A child born from the blood of Richard and the Snowke Swordmaster. Brace yourself. You might meet her when the timees. The Snowke Swordmaster. Sasha Asilia was absorbed by her husband like that. I know a way out. Asilia, having said that, exined the method. She had a n she had been calmly preparing, and to realize it, she needed her disciple by her side. Thus, the group split into two. One side consisted of a reconnaissance team led by Yerina, including Danya and Lina. And the other side was Asilia and Ian. Ian didnt bother to inquire about his masters intentions. Disciple. Yes, Master. Its burdensome when you stare at me like that. The masters expression was calm and seemed natural. Instead, over the course of several days, the master began to pass on her knowledge to him. Ian, her disciple and proxy, practiced wielding the sword. And then, at some point. The master smiled. As expected of a disciple, your sword is upright. Is it too simple? No. Thats why I like it. Too many variations can be poison when infusing meaning into a sword. Your sword seems ready from the start. Originally, Ian was a mage. From the most basic principles of swordsmanship, the teachings of the master continued through to the attributes. Fortunately, the experiences umted in closebat were helpful. Moreover, the masters teachings were excellent. Now lets delve deeper. When he reached a certain level, the master began to impart more profound teachings. Of course, how you hold the sword is important. But as you reach a certain level, what you hold it for bes more important than how you hold it. The masters voice gently echoed in the cave. Ian ckangers. Why did you pick up the sword? The reason for wielding the sword. Its Ian himself, originally a mage, who coincidentally became the disciple of Snowke Swordmaster Asilia and picked up the sword. But thats not the fundamental reason. Why did he want to be the disciple of the Snowke Swordmaster? To be stronger, and to resemble the vision of my master. Good. Thats an honest reason. The master smiled. At the same time, her hand approached. Ian felt the gentle touch covering his eyelids. Shall we try bing a tree with only ugly branches left in the dead of winter? Ian sensed it. That she was imparting important teachings. With closed eyes, he listened attentively to his masters words. The way you hold the sword is akin to a tree shedding leaves to prepare for winter. In the position of a tree sacrificing something to protect. Winter arrives, bringing cold. Water starts to freeze. Frost from the breath colors the surroundings white. Snow begins to umte on the branches. Where leaves should have been, now snowkes pile up. asionally, snowkes pile up like flower buds. From the perspective of the branch, it might seem bewildering, but think about the shape of snow. How do snow crystals grow? The process of snow formation ultimately parallels that of a tree. Its a homogeneity of living and non-living and soon epasses both human and nature. Amidst the cold, flowers begin to bloom. Snowkes spread out and scatter. He felt the weight. Snowkes, blooming profusely, pressed heavily on the branches. The weight of protecting something is so heavy. Let go. Letting go of what you cannot bear is also a part of nature. Endure. Make an effort to protect what you want to protect as much as possible. But the branch starts to bend involuntarily. Because it cannot bear the weight of umting snow. The branch bows, and the snowkes on it fall off. The falling snowkes scattered chaotically. The sight was so splendid that Ian quietly opened his eyes. The master was softly holding his arm. And the snowkes that bloomed from Ians fingertips vanished, leaving traces on the floor and walls. Incredible. With eyes widened in a circr shape, the master met Ians gaze. Youre a great vessel. She said with a voice mixed with admiration. Even if it was aided by my inner strength, to produce snowkes from the beginning is indeed a remarkable talent. Youve raised your disciple well, Master. Hmm. Youre confident too. I could proudly say Ive raised a disciple like you anywhere. As Ian looked at his smiling master, he asked. Were those just the fundamentals of Snowke Sword Technique? Yes, they were. However, you dont need to remember each and every one of them. Swordsmanship is determined by the values youve lived by. These are just principles established here, so there must be another path suitable for you, Ian. Ian nodded quietly. Although he managed to produce snowkes, he hadnt fully understood Snowke Swords Technique. Not even a tenth of it. He needed to contemte it repeatedly Was the enlightenment sufficient? He turned his head at the somewhat rough voice. Yerina was standing there, looking at him. I came to deliver a message, but ended up observing unintentionally. With that statement, Yerina smirked. Im a little jealous. Jealous? Yeah. If you had followed my original path, I would have tried to teach you a slightly more ruthless path. Its a martial art that requires less thinking and is more efficient. Yerina also possesses the talent to acquire abilities equivalent to Snowke Sword in the future. With her coldness and boldness, she will tread her own path. The sight just now seemed to stimte her pride. Grab your sword, Ian. Ill teach you a lesson too. As soon as she finished speaking, Yerina rushed in menacingly. Kaaah! His hands feel numb. No, not just numb. He feels like dropping the sword right away because of the pain. Why all of a sudden? Without time to be surprised, Yerinas eyes gleamed. Youre weak! Her mace swung straight at him. Ian rolled back to avoid it. Puh-uk! With a dull sound, the snow that had been lying on the ground rose up. As if snowkes were falling, the kes began to descend. Damn. Strong and fast. The snow is falling, so winter hase. The voice of his master reached him. Teachings immediately came to mind. Winter. When winteres, the branches shed their leaves and prepare for the cold. Ian rxed his body. Shoooo! Yerinas mace narrowly missed him. As tension eased, the opponents path became clear. But still, ng! Ouch. It still hurts just as much. The weight of the mace presses down heavily on his arm. Ah. She said to drop it if its heavy. But before that, wasnt he supposed to feel the coldness? When was he supposed to feel the chill? Ian was confused. There were too many confusing points to apply the Snowke Sword he just learned. You think too much! ng! Chang! Dr-r-rung! Taking advantage of that moment, Yerina unleashed a torrent of attacks. Strong. Straightforward. She never gives up. Its clearly the opposite of his masters teachings. A martial art solely for overwhelming the opponent. Thats why its strong. How on earth should he deal with this? Cant find a way, huh? Are you starting to doubt Asilias teachings now? Yerina shouted. Its not doubt. Then what is it? This is Its not doubt about his masters teachings. Her teachings werent just about swordsmanship. Snowke Sword. He didnt learn that. Its a more fundamental teaching. Embedding values into the sword. That was his masters teaching. Then what did she embed in her sword? Unity with nature, and maternal love. One of her values is maternal love. Knowing she would lose to a powerful being, yet sacrificing herself in hopes of giving the child a better world. Her strengthes from that. Then what are my values? What am I pursuing? an gave one answer to that question. This world. He cursed the game countless times, but. Ian liked this ce. Again and again, countless retries in this damn world. If possible, he wanted to prevent its destruction. Not just because he wanted to live, but because he wanted to. Kwaah! Once again, Ian barely managed to block the descending mace. He didnt think he could hold out much longer. Like a branch unable to withstand the weight, he let go of his arms strength. The sword slid along with the mace. In that moment. A sword path was visible. There wasnt much thought behind it. Just like painting along the lines, he wielded the sword. From a distance, it looked like the branches swaying. From the tip of the sword, something emerged. It wasnt as pure white as his Masters. Instead, flowers bloomed vigorously from the sword. And poured out. Tsk! Yerina leaped to dodge. Suk. Beyond Yerina, a diagonal crack appeared on the giant stctite. Silence followed. The long crack diverged. Kuuuuuuung! With a tremendous noise, the pir-sized structure copsed. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Bam! With a loud noise, the stone pir copsed. Ian, I didnt know you would hate me this much. Yerina was astonished. Even though she had provoked him first, Ian unleashed such a powerful attack! No. This is Of course, Ian was also taken aback. He had just swung his sword following the feeling of darkness, but such a monstrous attack was unleashed. Its difficult. If Yerina hadnt dodged, the oue would have been terrible. But lets not panic and stay calm. He hadnt intended to harm Yerina in the first ce, so its just a matter of lifting her up a bit. I believed in you, Lady Yerina. Really? Ian quickly nodded to Yerina, who squinted her eyes. Since it hade to this, he had no choice but to show some backbone. I thought Lady Yerina could easily block such an attack. To think of that monstrous strike as just such an attack? I thought Lady Yerina could handle it. Youre too modest. But it doesnt feel bad that you overestimate me. Swoosh. Yerina put her weapon into the leather belt around her thigh. The corners of her mouth slightly lifted. I survived. Ian let out a small sigh of relief. But that thing that came out from the tip of the sword just now. Was it Sword Aura? Ian nced at his hand cautiously. He used Sword Aura. Although he wasnt particrly skilled in swordsmanship, it was clearly a remarkable achievement. Among swordsmen, just being able to emit Aura was enough to be recognized as a master. In the academy, only knights of the highest rank, the Aether ss, could use it. Of course, Sharon Pierce, who used her sword with magic, was an exception. I didnt expect to seed from the beginning. Certainly, Ians performance was remarkable even in Asilias eyes. A child who had never held a proper sword suddenly emitted a sword aura. Of course, once someone became proficient in magic to a certain extent, they could emit a sword aura more skillfully than an ordinary person. But this speed was not ordinary. It seems like Ive got an excellent disciple. Asilias voice was filled with surprise and pride. It means your teaching is excellent. Ian. Yes. Youre my chosen disciple, but Im really d you speak so well. On the contrary, its my honor. Yerina watched the conversation between teacher and disciple with a somewhat absent-minded expression. Werent they embarrassed to constantly praise each other like that? Oh, right. It wasnt that. There was something she had to tell them, so she came. The recent duel was just to help Ian gain some insight. Ahem. Yerina cleared her throat. Confirming that both of them were paying attention, Yerina spoke. By the way. I have something to propose. A proposal? Recently, the vitality draining from our bodies has noticeably increased. Ian, you must have felt it too. Ian nodded quietly. He had felt an increase in the absorption rate of vitality and abilities by Richard. If this ce was a manifestation of his prison, then it meant that Richard, the host, was experiencing something or nning something sinister. Therefore, Yerinas subsequent words were quite understandable. I wanted to suggest that we execute the escape n as quickly as possible. The core of the escape was essentially in Ians hands. Could the things his master created be activated? I thought I would need more time. Yerina thought so. But the sword aura Ian just emitted clearly indicated that his talent had reached a certain level. Ultimately, what mattered was Asilias judgment. Did she believe Ian had earned the right qualifications? Ian and Yerinas gazes turned to Asilia. Asilia remained silent. To be honest, she wanted to say that her disciple wasnt ready yet. And that was the truth. Now was the time for him to open his eyes to the sword and simply repeat the most basic training methods. He wasnt prepared. But this childs talent bypassed all those obstacles. He exuded sophistication in personality and speech, and his judgment was quite quick. So thats what worries me She wanted to teach him more thoroughly. She wanted to impart everything she had to offer. Perhaps its all just my greed. Asilia sighed softly, reflecting on herself. At this point, the chances of sess seem fifty-fifty. Its a matter of luck and circumstances. Asilias candid response. Yerina nodded. 50/50 was sufficient. Before unexpectedly falling into this world, she had made preparations. I, too, have prepared some devices to counter Richard. Devices? If this ce is his prison, theres a considerable chance of it going berserk. Yerina had been devising a n to confront Richard ever since she vaguely heard the truth about him from Ian. Outside, there may be assassins targeting the Grand Duke. With Richards paranoia escting, itll be difficult to maintain a normal psychological state. To directly hire assassins. Ian found Yerina even more frightening. In the end, all eyes converged on Asilias response once again. After a moment of silence, she nodded. Then thats even better. Itll be easier to escape safely. But wont this ce turn into a mess once everyone leaves? Ian asked his master with concern. If I can properly train my disciple and send him back to where he originally belonged, theres no greater aplishment for a master than that. With those words, Asilia smiled softly. The group immediately gathered their belongings. Once they decided to proceed with the n, there was no time to waste. Every hour spent here meant rapidly draining the lives of living beings. Everyone immediately exited the cave. Outside, the surroundings were excessively bright with countless snowkes covering the ground. This way. Asilia took the lead, followed immediately by Yerina and Ian. Lina was in the middle and Danya was in the rear. In the bright surroundings, the location of the cave was now clearly visible. It was arge mountain, or more precisely, a cave beneath the mountain. Wow, I didnt see it at first, but its really huge here. But why didnt we see it before? Asilia responded to Linas question. Its due to a structural arrangement that disrupts vision. Its not magic or any spell, just the arrangement itself causing this effect. You wont see it until youe here in person. Perhaps because of this, an eerie and gloomy atmosphere was felt. Their destination was the summit of this towering mountain. The mountain grew deeper. ckened trees and snow piled upon them endlessly. Although the direction was confusing, Asilia led without hesitation. Wait! At that moment, Danya halted the group. Gurgle! A strange howl echoed. There! Lina! Yeah! Danyas grass-attribute arrow flew behind a tree, followed by Linas fire magic. The corpse behind the tree reacted to it, springing out. At that moment, Thud! Danyas arrow split, leaving a greenish trace on the corpses body, like a kind of. Sizzle! Linas magic hit the spot, engulfing the corpse in mes. Utilizing the elemental reaction of covering grass attribute with fire attribute makes it burn even better. Woah. An exmation escaped Ians mouth at the rather impressivebination. Proudly, Lina and Danya put their hands on their hips. Ian, while you were learning swordsmanship, we practiced hard too, nyah! They continued to advance, disposing of the sporadically appearing corpses. That rock beyond is the summit. Asilia pointed at the massive rock. Indeed, beyond it, the dense ck forest of trees was no longer visible. Their destination was now close at hand. Strange. Theres something strange nearby, nyah. Yerina and Danya murmured simultaneously. Ive never felt this kind of energy before. Asilias expression wasnt any better. At that moment. Something emerged from the shadows. Its appearance was infinitely grotesque. Guoooooh! Should I describe it as a massive mound formed by corpses gathering and converging? The dismembered facial features of the corpses were densely packed together, rolling around like a giant ball. Lina and Danya expressed their brief thoughts. Eugh Whats that? Unlike the two girls, Ian thought the grotesque pile of corpses resembled something of unknown origin. What in the world is that? Ah. Just a moment ago, rolling snow + pile of corpses. As soon as that thought crossed his mind. Ting Hundreds of eyeballs were fixed on them simultaneously. Their appearance was unequivocally more grotesque than any other creatures. Guaaaah! Graaaargh! Guaaard! Hundreds of mouths opened simultaneously. An incredibly chilling cacophony erupted from its mouth. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 The corpses here are like remnants that have absorbed most of the vitality. Just as those who died of thirst in the desert cling to water, it is natural for the corpses here to cling to vitality. With Richard having devoured so many humans, tension was necessary wherever he went. However, such oddly shaped creatures emerged unexpectedly. Are they clinging together in a spherical form to avoid draining the remaining vitality? As Ian analyzed the massive lump, Danya murmured distantly. Its like a ball made of corpses The unknown voices flowing from the mouths of hundreds of gaping corpses were eerie, and the countless arms moving incessantly as if pleading for salvation instinctively instilled fear. Though Danya had seen many things during her time in the forest, she had never seen anything as grotesque as this. If hell existed, it might resemble that. As Danya gazed at the corpse monster, she shouted urgently. Dodge! As Danyas words fell, the corpse monster emitted a ck aura frighteningly. Crackle! Eyes melting away, emitting ck smoke, Trees turning into ck powder and disappearing. Incredible. Yerina lowered her shield, now cracked. Testing the opponents strength by imbuing her shield with magic, only to find out that the opponent was strong enough to cut through her magic without a doubt. Everyone, retreat. Before the words finished, Yerinas weapon was shot out frighteningly. Boom! A tremendous sound erupted. One side of the mass of corpses, previously in a spherical shape, crumpled like a squashed apple. But soon, other things sprang out from within to fill the void left by the broken corpses. Disgusting. Yerina immediately widened the distance. Thud! Once again, the ck aura of the corpse monster erupted fiercely where she had stood. Another charge from Yerina. But the creature was resilient. Pow! Quang! Coooooo! Despite Yerinas various attacks, the corpse monster promptly recovered its condition and evenunched a counterattack. The creature showed an extraordinary response to mana-based attacks, just like other corpses. We cant engage in a prolonged battle like this. Everyones stamina had to be maintained at its best. Once they left this cursed snowy wastnd, the final boss awaited. But its not reasonable for me to engage in the battle. There was no energy Ian could afford to waste here. The method to break through this impasse and dismantle Richards stronghold depended on Ian. The unique characteristic of those damn corpse monsters. Mana avoidance is the root of all problems. How to deal with that Wait a moment. A single idea shed through Ians mind. What if I attack using magic disguised as vitality? Surely the creature would charge towards the magic itself. And in this world, the most simr thing to vitality is the reaction of grass and water. But the problem is, theres no water Could it work if I melt it? Ian immediately gave the order. Lady Yerina! Freeze the surface of that monster! Hmm? Alright. As Yerina approached the corpse monster, the volume of the mace swelled rapidly along with the ice that formed on the surface. Crack! The icy blow from the mace froze the surface of the corpse monster. Lina, melt the ice! Huh? Okay! Though puzzled by the need to melt what was just frozen, Lina immediately followed Iansmand. From experience, whenever Ian issued such orders, there had never been a wrong move. As fire passed through, melting the frozen surface. Steam rose, and the surface of the corpse monster became damp. Danya! I got it! Countless Grass-attribute arrows were summoned above the corpse monster. When did she learn that? For a moment, they marveled at Danyas progressed abilities. Countless arrows of grass rained down upon the corpse monster. Originally, the creature would have avoided the attack. But with the interaction of elements, along with Danyas arrows, numerous flower buds bloomed on the corpse monster. For a moment, the eyes of the corpse monster, filled with vitality, seemed to falter. Thud! Magic arrows poured down, embedding themselves into the creatures surface. Grooaaaah! It was effective. Simultaneously. Grunt! Grrrrrrr! A grotesque sight unfolded. Originally, the corpses, whose outer shells should have copsed immediately, tried to burst out as if devouring each other to catch Danyas vitality-filled arrows. Lady Yerina! I got it! The size of Yerinas ice mace, already erged with magic, was enormous enough to cover the creature and then some. Precisely aiming towards the center of the corpse monster, her mace descended. Kuwaaaah! A tremendous vibration shook the ground. Most of the corpse monster crumpled and disappeared. Completely unbnced, they devoured each other greedily. Kwaddddeuk! A grotesque sight of corpses devouring one another. As Ian frowned at the sight, he heard a cough in his ear. Cough. Bright crimson blood stained his eyes. It was Asilias. Master! Ian rushed to her and supported her immediately. I have no one but my disciple left. Cold. Asilias body was as cold as touching ice. Also Before Ian could say anything, Asilia cut him off. Its enough that my disciple genuinely cares and worries about me. Ian suspected. That cave was the space that sustained Asilias remaining vitality. Now that she hade out, her remaining life would be quickly consumed. As expected, how to Its okay. Im just feeling a bit dizzy. Rather, Im worried about my disciples face. Youll get wrinkles for nothing. Asilias hand touched Ians forehead. Gently. What I was waiting for wasnt someones salvation. Like molding y, Asilia gently touched Ians face. We have enough time to see the end of this ce. That was your masters goal. So, please turn away. Asilia smoothed Ians forehead. But her smile held a hint of sadness. It would have been better if we had met outside. There was a slightmotion. The group that was finishing off the corpse monster returned. Danya came running and looked at Ian and Asilias faces in turn. W-Whats going on? Blood? A-Asilia, are you okay? Miss Danya. Im fine. B-But! Master is okay. Lets proceed with the n. Kuuk. Danya grabbed the hem of her own clothes. Then she turned around and started walking. The rest of the group followed Danya discreetly. When their backs had gone far enough, Ian quietly nudged his masters back and knelt down. Ssshh. Without a word, his master was hoisted up on his back. The weight was infinitely light. One, two. Tears started falling. Ian cautiously moved towards the summit. I have a lot to tell you. If you speak quickly, I think I can listen to everything on our way. Though he couldnt see his masters face, he imagined her smiling. What were you hoping for during all those long years of waiting? The hope of having a splendid disciple like you someday. And the expectation that we could eventually bring down this ce. In fact, it was rather enjoyable. Unlimited hot springs and plenty of time to refine swordsmanship. Then Ian intended to vow for revenge. Revenge against Richard, the one who made her like this. But. It felt too obvious to utter such words. Isnt this pure white snowy in beautiful? Asilia said naturally. You had to spend decades trapped here. Yet, you remained unwavering without a trace of faltering. There was much to learn. It wasnt just about swordsmanship. Dealing with the most difficult enemy. Learning the values to confront the Bloodstone Cult. If he hadnt met her, Ian himself would undoubtedly have fallen apart at some point. Ian condensed all those words into one sentence. Thank you for being my master. A moment of silence passed. Im thankful to you too. For being my disciple despite being socking. They reached the summit. Endless snowy ins spread beneath their feet. It was shaped like an eye. Yerina murmured. Ian closed his eyes along with her. He felt strange energies crossing the snowy expanse. It was an enormous, eye-shaped barrier that covered the snowy in beyond the horizon. Did you create all this, Master? Well, what else could it be? I made it initially and have been maintaining it steadily. I was quite lively when I was young, you know. Wheeiiing The wind intensified. The swirling snowkes began to be rougher. Richards mana movements are getting more intense. Now, Ian, its time for you to show what youve got. Ian nodded. He carefully leaned Asilia against a tree. Then he drew out the sword that had once been a staff. Ian stood at the starting point of the truth. Now. Their business at Richards prison was over. Once they escaped, they would have to face the final boss, Richard, in battle. But Ian wasnt worried. Sasha Asilia, who stood against Richard. Because he received the teachings of his master. She nodded at Ian and turned her gaze towards him. Ian slowly raised the sword. He felt the snowkes piling onto the de. He felt the weight of the snowkes. He thought of a branch swaying under the weight, unable to withstand it. And then. Following the path Asilia had paved, Ian swung the sword downward. There was no need for a shy sword dance. The sword unleashed a torrent along its ck path. As a result, it was activated. For a moment, he felt helpless as all his mana was drained away. Kugugung A tremendous noise surged from afar. The snowy in, like a heavy breath, writhed with a massive body. The world began to copse. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 The snow copsed in front of the mountain. A massive hole undted in green. Its a gap in space. Asilia quietly opened her mouth. It seems simr to what we saw when we were absorbed. The rest except for Yerina was bewildered by Asilias words. I lost my mind, nyah. Me too Did you see it, Ian? Dont forget were just students. Whether they saw it or not, they could make judgments. They might be able to return to their original world through that gap. When everyone reached that thought, they nced at Asilia and Ian. Clearly, the two who seemed intimate here. One of them seemed unable to leave. Asilia spoke. Ah, it feels refreshing. I wanted to see this sight so much. Thank you all for your hard work. And Im really grateful. Her smile seemed incredibly happy. Thank you for enduring hardships under such a mediocre master. Sigh-. As ifmemorating thest moment, Asilia embraced Ian. But Ian pushed his master away. Disciple. Yeah, you dont like the embrace of an olddy like this? Ignoring Asilia pretending to be teary-eyed, Ian turned to Danya. Ill be back. Danya nodded. This time, he asked Yerina. The gap will close soon, right? It should be about an hour. Yes. Ian turned away immediately. And knelt in front of the bewildered Asilia and showed his back. Master, please get on. Um, it seems my disciple misunderstood, I cant pass there, right? Theres not much time left Ian straightened his head immediately. Were not going together. Ive prepared a ce for Master to stay for a while. A ce to stay for a while? I was going to see off my disciple going, but where are you nning to leave me Just kidding. Im serious, Master. Please get on. We dont have time. Disciple, instead of unnecessary troubles, lets go back quickly. I really dont have any hope, any way left. Ian firmly replied to Asilia, who awkwardly smiled. I wont go either. Ill live here with my master. Please ride for now. Really. Reluctantly, Asilia rode on Ians back. Where are we going? Where Master will close her eyes for a moment. As they rode back the way they came, Ian spoke. No matter how skilled Richard is, he cant create a world like this on his own. If we specte on his style, hell probably use all sorts of magic, like boundaries, to link his prison to some real space in the north. Thats In other words, if Richard dies or he undoes the strange magic hes done, this space will reveal itself again in the real world. A shiver ran down the masters spine. It was impossible not to notice that slight change. Master, you knew about it too. Its spatial distortion magic. You were trying to hide it. Thats just in case Ian spoke instead of Asilia, who was blurring her words. In case I had to figure out a way to save you. Silence descended. Ian ran without saying a word. Thats how they returned to the cave where Ian first met his master. The other side had copsed, but the cave remained. Trot, trot. The ce where they first rested. The ce where they met his master. Passing by the ce where there was a hot spring she introduced, Ian stepped into a small, sturdy space. Asilia, who had been silently watching only her disciples back, twitched her nose. A strong scent of flowers filled the air. T-this is Beyond Ians shoulder, Asilia blinked nkly. The cave was filled with white flowers. A bedspread spread among hundreds of flowers. There, Ian carefullyid down his master. I-Is this could it be, Snowke Flowers? Danya made it happen. Why would she go to such lengths Because one alone couldnt replenish his masters mana. Then, even if its just a few, as long as it can sustain her mana even a little! So, Danya made it happen. Why would she do this for me? Ian asked. W-Well? Just because? I felt a bitcking in my abilities, so I made it! Though Danya replied like that, Ian seemed to understand her true intentions. One day, he would have to thank Danya separately. But for now, his master came first. When you see those masters, there are always people like them. Now that Ive reached the pinnacle, theres no one in the world who can rival me! Since Ive be invincible, Ill just go into hibernation until the next master appears! People like that. The Master doesnt understand what the disciple is talking about. Ian grinned at the master, who seemed bewildered. Master, please stay here. What? Please go into hibernation. In fact, Asilia understood what her disciple meant. If she hibernated here, it meant that someday her disciple woulde to save her. But it shouldnt be like that. If she carried the burden in her heart, she couldnt focus on the fight. Above all, she didnt want to see her disciple wandering around trying to find this ce. But. If you cant fall asleep within thirty minutes, Ill just live here with you, Master. What did you say? It seems like Master wants to live together with the disciple. Because Master is a bit absent-minded, the disciple will have a bit of a hard time, but it cant be helped. Isnt that what a master-disciple rtionship is like? Later, when Master gets old, the disciple will take care of her, right? Anyway, Ill set up my sleeping ce first. Since were living together, should Iy it next to Master? Hesitantly. As Ian began toy out his bedding, Asilia grabbed his sleeve. Really how did I end up with such a disciple? Ian quietly epted the weak gesture of Asilias hand, which was almost fading away with her waning vitality. Asilias smile faltered. A disciple who doesnt listen to the masters words, with such stubbornness Ian quietly met her eyes, filled with sadness. A master who takes advantage of the fact that she cant beat her disciple. Tap, tap. As if she wanted to hit him if she could, Asilias hand rose to Ians chest. Ian gently held her hand, hoping to warm her icy hands a bit. Asilias lips opened with infinite sadness. The most precious disciple in the world, why did youe now? Cough. Asilia, who coughed dryly, spoke with difficulty. While being here, surely you closed off all your emotions. Youre hoping, arent you? Tears formed in Asilias eyes and trickled down her cheeks. Ian carefully wiped away his masters tears. You have to hope, master. Who am I to you? Who are you? The disciple of Sasha Asilia, the Snowke Swordmaster. Really Smoothly. Asilias lips rose heavily. This would only be a burden in such a situation. Im a master just taking up space without any usefulness. Its not a burden, its a treasure. Something you cant throw away no matter how heavy it is. Of course, right now, youre too light. Later, well have to fatten you up a bit to make you more valuable. Smoothly. Asilias lips twitched upward with great effort. Even her breathing seemed faint and indistinct. Even in this situation, jokes It was sincere, but thank you for smiling. Thank you. As if she wanted to firmly store it in her memory, Asilias gaze scrutinized every corner of Ians face. My disciple. Smoothly. Asilias eyes closed. Her upper body fell and leaned against Ian. Asilias breathing in Ians ear was calm. Carefully, Ianid his master down among the flowers blooming profusely. Well then, good night. Master. Did everything finish well? Ian returned to the gap in space. Yerina asked him. The real ending will be when we see the end of Richard. Those are the right words. Yerina was worried about Ians mental state. He and Asilia had a short but deep master-disciple rtionship. But Ians face was calm, and even his determination was felt. Facing the imminent battle with Richard. Ian seemed to have no shortage of determination. Yerina nodded satisfactorily. If we pass through this gap, theres a very high chance welle face to face with Richard. No. Well definitely do. Theres a high chance hell try to fight us straight away. The location and external circumstances are significant variables. However, theres a possibility that Richard might be fighting someone else. If the assumption that the eyes here are Richards mana is correct. Watching the increasingly fierce snowstorm, Ian spoke. The problem is how severe Richards injuries will be. This ce is Richards prison. Using the mark left by Asilia, Ian destroyed more than half of the snowfield. In other words, it was no different from destroying the prison from the inside. However, since this form of prison was not ordinary, it was difficult to gauge Richards condition. The virtual prison has been shattered. Its not just ordinary injuries. Its safe to assume that about 90% of it has been destroyed. In that case Yeah, the current Richard wont even be able to wield a fraction of his power. Of course, his power at its fraction is probably stronger than mine. Richard Pierce, the Grand Duke of the North, and the final boss of Act 2. And one of the high-ranking members of the Bloodstone Cult. Originally, this scenario was supposed to be about him gathering evidence of being part of the Bloodstone Cult, but Its an opportunity. We can capture him. This time, a situation had arisen where they could outright hunt him down. Yerina spoke with a voice full of determination. Everyone, stay alert. Ill take the vanguard. Yerina stepped into the gap in space and disappeared. Ian followed her lead and threw himself into it. In an instant, the scenery changedpletely. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 The white snowy ins were eerily silent. The first thing that hit was the smell of blood. The nauseating scent of blood filled the nostrils. Ugh. A groan escaped Ians lips. What happened? One thing was clear: he had lost consciousness after stepping through a fissure in the snow. Since then, it was difficult to assess the situation. It seemed impossible to adapt to whatever magic or space this was. Damn it. Losing consciousness was only natural. ng! The sound of metal shing violently echoed. That sound, like a warning, gradually brought back Ians senses and consciousness. His head felt hot. Ian touched his forehead with his hand. Something warm and viscous trickled down. It was blood. Clearly his own blood. Was this the cause of the pervasive smell of blood around him? It felt as though he were still dreaming, in a haze. Yourete! Ian ckangers! sh. Someones voice snapped him awake. Not just someone, Yerina. Ian quickly surveyed his surroundings. It was dim. But there was a ceiling. It must be indoors. Given the decor, it was likely somewhere in the main building of the Richards mansion. The problem was the corpses strewn around. Several corpses wearing masks. And several more with heads drenched in crimson, their eyes too stained red. Lina, Danya. And there, lying next to him, were familiar faces. Thankfully, they were still breathing. A faint sense of relief washed over him. Thunk! Ian immediately deployed the Lunar to block the attack. His hand felt numb. Are you okay! Yerinas voice came again. Turning towards the voice, Ian saw Yerinas back. Her thighs and shoulders, full of red, as if she were facing off against someone. Beyond her, the opponent remained hidden behind her. However. The opponent was heavy. An overwhelmingly heavy presence. It felt like this space was bending around that figure. Even its aura was dark and menacing. That person is evil. Though unseen, there was a certainty about their presence. Ruaaaaaaa! With a tremendous roar, shockwaves engulfed the surroundings. Yerina, pushed back, stood beside Ian. You finally regained your senses! Yourete, Ian! Sorry. Get ready to defend. Its a damn monster. Itll attack soon. Smoke thickened before their eyes from the recent shock. Ian immediately assumed a defensive stance. Contrary to her warning, there was no sign of any attack. Instead. Thud. Thud. The heavy sound of footsteps echoed. One step, two steps. Through the dense smoke, a dark and massive figure loomed. As the smoke cleared, the figure revealed itself. Hmm. A voice deep and menacing, like a beast growling. The one who uttered that voice had thick blue hair slicked back neatly. Even in a standing position, he exuded an imposing, sturdy middle-aged man. A familiar face to Ian. A face he had seen countless times across screens, struggled against, and finally triumphed over. The final boss of Act 2. The head of the Pierce Duchy, the Northern Grand Duke. Richard Pierce. Just his presence alone seemed to diminish everything around him. As if he were an ant looking up at a human foot. The vast gulf of disparity didnt seem to register. His lips slowly parted. So, youve finallye out. Ian swallowed. Finally, you too. The weight of that word was heavy. It seemed to make sense yet didnt. Was he, like him, constantly observing and tracking him? Why? But Ian halted his pondering. Richard Pierces eyes seemed to prate everything, staring at him as if seeing through him. The sharpness in Sharon Pierces eyes, like a veil, seemed reminiscent of her father. Though not exactly the same, Ian felt as if his mind was being read, causing him to stop all thoughts. Right. What need is there for pondering in this situation? If a fight is inevitable, all worries and doubts must be set aside, focusing only on the battle. Ho. As if finding himself amusing, Richard Pierce looked at Ian. In response, Ian respectfully bowed his head. Ive been invited to the family for a while, but I havent properly greeted the lord. Please forgive my negligence. I am Ian ckangers. Huh? Richard chuckled as if it was an unexpected move. Would there be another youth who would greet him like this in such a situation? Gone were the expressions of fear and worry he had just had. Now, there was a bold young man standing in front of him. Richard smiled. But no one would call that smile a smile. It was a smile that seemed to make one shiver just by looking at it, filled with a fear-inducing aura. Yerina, who was taking a stance next to him, swallowed her saliva. Ian. Ian ckangers. You are indeed an interesting child, as Ive heard. It is an honor to be liked by the Grand Duke of the North. I must say, youre more polite than Ive heard. Thank you. Hehehe. Heughed like a wild beast growling. This is Richard Pierce, the head of the family here. Though the arrangements havent changed, feel free to make yourself at home. The arrangements havent changed indeed. The hospitality of the Duke was truly remarkable, and the sights you showed were truly impressive. Oh. Sights, you say? I dont recall showing anything. Didnt you show everything, even the deepest ces that couldnt be shown to others? The snowfield was truly vast. Yerina flinched at Ians words. He was obviously referring to Richards prison, and bringing up that topic seemed more like provoking that monster-like figure. What are you thinking, Ian? Contrary to her thoughts, Richard calmly responded. Indeed. Did you enjoy the sights? Why speak? It was truly breathtaking. Such a ce seemed almost unreal in this world. There were no rivers or seas, yet it was even more culturally rich. Oh. Why is that? Many people usually think ces with water are culturally rich. Snow is also water. The snowfield is full of snow, which is water, and when it flows in the wind, it bes a river, doesnt it? The mountains are high, and the river made of snow flows, so it cant help but be a sight among sights. You know how to appreciate scenery. I understand now why that person took an interest in you. Thank you. That leads me to ask. Go ahead. After seeing the scenery, I feel a bit homesick. May I return home for a while? I miss my familiar bedding. Richard chuckled. Fascinating. So, you want to go back? Yes. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem likely to happen. Ah, escaping is futile Theres nothing you can do about it. Yerina, who had been standing tensely beside Ian, looked at him incredulously. Ian shrugged his shoulders in response to her gaze. I thought it was worth a try. Is he crazy? Yerina was about to say something inappropriate out of surprise. But Richard, who had been watching her, spoke up. Intriguing. Yourepletely different from what Ive heard. I might want to see you myself, considering the interest shown by the one who has been watching you. Whats he talking about? As Ian was about to respond, Richard took a step forward. I also want to see you. Personally. Thud. It was just a simple step. But it felt as if the ground was shaking, such was the force resonating. An overwhelming presence. Even Yerina, standing beside him, staggered slightly. But Ian remained standing, looking directly at Richard. In the midst of this, Yerina interjected. Richard Pierce. Yerina. Your speaking habits have be bad towards me, your father and head of the family. My speaking habits have been bad ever since I found out that you were a member of the Bloodstone Cult. You are no longer a father or anything else to me. I see. But. Yerina pointed at Ian. What about this boy and those two young girls? Will you not let them go? This matter should be settled within the family. Yerina was the first to emerge from the gap in space. As soon as she appeared, she exchanged blows with Richard Pierce, and even though all her strategies had been shattered, she sensed it. Even though she had undoubtedly reached the level of a 5-Star, Richard Pierce was overwhelmingly powerful. Just one of his moves was enough to make it a struggle to even hold on for time. It was a fight with no chance of winning. Therefore, her thought was to save these kids if possible. Then, there might be a chance to n a counterattack. But it was Ian who blocked her judgment. Ian grabbed her by the hem of her dress from behind. Ill take it from here. Yerina looked at Ian with bewilderment. Hasnt hee to his senses yet? Even after all the strategies have been shattered, whats the point of taking such an attitude towards someone emitting such a powerful aura? Yerina opened her mouth somewhat sharply. Step aside. Im only trying to save your life. Its not like that. What? Ian chuckled. Now I understand. Even if I were to escape, that gentleman would chase me to the end. What do you mean? The Grand Duke of the North. His target is me. What are you talking about? If he had thought that way, he wouldnt have swallowed you in the first ce. Back then, he probably didnt know me well. But things have changed now. Im not sure why the Northern Grand Duke suddenly changed his mind, but Thud. I seem to be quite an important figure. Ian took a step towards Richard. Within the Bloodstone Cult, at least. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 It is definitely strange. Upon reflection, Ian found that the obsession of the Bloodstone Cult towards him was peculiar. Whenever he took any action, it felt like the followers of the Bloodstone Cult were always involved. Of course, their influence was the strongest, but viins in this world werent solely limited to the Bloodstone Cult. Just within the Lichten Academy, there were several other influential forces at y. But Ian encountered mostly members of the Bloodstone Cult. And not just encountered them, but hindered their ns. Despite that, they didnt try to get rid of me. What kind of existence is the Bloodstone Cult? To them, humans are beneath consideration. No, they consider them as prey. Like livestock roaming the streets. One of those livestock obstructing their ns? It would be fitting to kill and devour them straight away. However, despite Ian thwarting some of their ns, he remained unharmed. Or rather, they didnt attempt to kill him outright. Even when facing them, there was a clear intent to capture or kidnap him. Something was odd. But in this current situation. Facing the behemoth in front of him, Richard Pierce, Ian was certain. I am the target of the Bloodstone Cult. What gain do they achieve by obtaining him? Perhaps just seeking his physique and vitality, or aiming to craft powerful killing weapons. Just like how Pongpong destroyed the academy in the scenario released before the possession. The problem lies here. It seems there are factions even within the Bloodstone Cult. The Bloodstone Cultists brutally dug around Richard, clearly targeting him, so there must be some conflict among them. Perhaps only certain factions within the Bloodstone Cult are targeting him. Richards change in attitude is probably rted to that. Anyway, right now Richard is curious about me. The interest of a middle-aged man stronger than himself was nothing but disdainful to Ian, but in this situation, it could be useful. Richard Pierce. Even though his prison was shattered, an overwhelmingly powerful final boss. To face him, Ian would use anything at his disposal, even someone like Sharon Pierce lying there like a corpse. Having organized his thoughts, Ian turned to Richard. Someone high up in the Bloodstone Cult clearly wants something from me. Youre quite confident. Otherwise, this situation wouldnt make sense. Richard chuckled deeply. Boldness, high spirits. All good. But. ? If that makes me ufortable, do you think youll survive? It was an endlessly chilling remark. Even Yerina, who was watching, shuddered. But Ian didnt flinch. Anyway, its a showdown now. A showdown? If all possible strategies are blocked, you have to find a new path. Richards gaze softened slightly. Who was he? He was Richard Pierce, the epitome of fear in the empire, the Grand Duke of the North. Everyone who stood before him for the first time inevitably bowed their heads and trembled. Even now, Richard was emitting an imposing aura. It was ordinary for people to kneel and beg for mercy. But what about this boy? He stood casually in front of him. It reminded him of Sasha Asilia. Her determined gaze, even if Richard, who had swallowed countless people, remembered it. But this boy was different. There was no sense of determination in his eyes. He seemed indifferent, as if this situation was nothing out of the ordinary. At first nce, it seems like he has a keen understanding of the world. How have you been living? A nonchnt demeanor, as if he had repeated this world several times, emanated an otherworldly nonchnce. Would that level of calm and fragility be said to be the kind of demeanor that only the leader of Bloodstone Cult would exude? The absurdity lies in the fact that this boy is infinitely weakerpared to the leader. Hes a hard one to figure out. Richardpletely understood the Blood Witchs blind obsession and interest. Its peculiar. Definitely peculiar. It could be one of two things. Either hes so dim-witted that he doesnt even feel fear without knowing anything at all. Or. His vessel is so vast that it can contain everything. It seems even the Grand Duke of the North has no intention of killing me either. Are you sure about that? Yes. Why is that? If you had decided to kill me, I wouldnt be standing here arguing with you like this. And Ian pointed to Richards side. There were numerous corpses. Figures with masks, Sharon Pierce, and bloodied Bloodeneds. Youve killed skilled individuals sent by the Bloodstone Cult, so there must be something to gain from it. Yeah. There must be something to gain from killing them. But that doesnt give me a reason to spare you. There are plenty of ways to absorb you. But sparing me would allow you to achieve more. Youve sent skilled individuals from the Bloodstone Cult to absorb. It must be for that purpose. So, are you asking me to spare you now? Yes. Youre quite the amusing one. Just a moment ago, you were so confident, and now youre begging for your life. Ian chuckled foolishly. Obviously, I dont stand a chance against the Grand Duke of the North. Instead, I have a few conditions. Conditions? If I make a valid attack on Richard within seven moves, you will spare my life. I concede seven moves to you, and what do I get in return? I will cooperate with the Grand Duke of the North, as much as I can, and I will even give you a magic-bound contract. The corner of Richards lips twitched upwards. Alright. If you manage to sessfully attack me within seven moves, Ill spare you. Thank you. But. The chill emanating from the Grand Duke of the North froze the surroundings white. If you fail, Ill show no mercy. Yerina, who had been watching, grabbed Ian. Whats on your mind? Keep watching. No. Why are you suddenly begging for your life? Just because youre living like this doesnt mean its real living. Of course not. What? Then why? With a puzzled expression, Yerina whispered, and Ian smirked. Its an act. What? The way Richard Pierce is standing there, enduring like that. Its an act. How? How can that be an act? His prison has been destroyed to such an extent. Its impossible for him to be perfectly fine. No matter how powerful Richard Pierce is. Ian. I understand the feeling of wanting to catch a straw, but now is not the time to cling to false hope. Its time to be realistic. Retreat is the best option. Ian lowered his head. I understand. I know that Richards condition is being forcibly maintained. Trust me. Besides, retreating doesnt significantly increase the chance of survival, does it? Thats true. So, are you saying theres a way for you to defeat Richard? No. Winning requires all of us to gather our strength and fight together. Hes like the final boss in a scenario. All of us? Yes. All of us. After scanning the surroundings, Ian continued. We need to break this scenario together for it to be satisfying. What scenario? Oh. Sorry. I was talking nonsense. Anyway. Ians smirk widened. Keep watching. Watching Ian circle around towards Richard, Yerina sighed. Watch? What was there to watch? Hes the Grand Duke of the North. A powerhouse of the Empire. Even if he were to grant seven moves, nothing would change. The corpses littered around Richard prove it. Assassins she sent, Bloodeneds, and Sharon Pierce, for whatever reason shes here. Theyre all strong. But by the time Yerina slipped out of the gap in space, they were all dead. Even amidst the chaos of the copsing prison, Richard had dispatched them all. Yerina wanted nothing more than to tear this reckless brat apart right now. Yet somehow, amidst all this chaos, she was starting to develop a bit of affection for him. But even then, there didnt seem to be any clear solution. Even if Richard isnt entirely in his right mind, sticking to him doesnt seem like itll change the situation. And its equally preposterous to think Ian could defeat Richard within seven moves. I guess I have no choice but to look at the situation. Richard Pierce. Her father, at least by promise, would keep his word. Not because Richard is a true human being, but because of his confidence in his own strength. Yerina anxiously nced at Ians back. Ian. The child she had watched over was undoubtedly intelligent and talented. He was not one to engage in a losing battle. Please She prayed and hoped. But at the same time Seven moves. Its enough time to grasp a suitable escape route. If necessary, shell grab Ian and flee. Yerina made up her mind and took a step back. Richard smiled as he watched Ian step forward. Seven moves. nk! With just a surge of his momentum, the surroundings froze white. Smirk. Ians smirk widened. Raaaah! With a wave of sound, Ian charged forward. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 With a piercing sound that tore through the air, Ian charged. The Lunar, who had been held like a staff, transformed into the form of aplete sword. It was an attack that seemed to take advantage of the opponents momentarypse. But. Tsuzuzuzut! Richard calmly deflected the sword with a simple downward motion, as if brushing off dust. Thunk! Ians sword, deflected by Richards gesture, fell powerless to the ground. Some shattered Lunar fragments, unable to withstand Richards force, grazed Ians cheek. Trickling. Warm blood flowed from the opened wound. Richards eyes gleamed brightly as he observed it. Quite a vorful blood scent you have. Ian wiped his cheek with his hand. It was just ordinary blood, with a strong metallic scent. Why are you so obsessed with this? Ian wondered as he flicked his hand, causing the transparent frost on the ground to turn crimson. Leave the feasting to other humans. There are plenty of corpses here. Even if youbine them all, they wont match your worth. A fleeting madness passed through Richards seeminglyposed face. In Fanta X Aca, the Northern Duke may seem arrogant, but there are many crazies with intense obsessions. Now, a traditional clich of some genre finally crossed Ians mind. Did he attach that condition ofplete submission if he couldnt defeat him within seven moves for no reason? Thats when he hadnt seen those lustful eyes shing with desire. Why did he suddenly recall an image of himself trapped in some dark ce, shackled, and having his blood drawn? Tsk. Ian shook his head dismissively. Anyway, the condition didnt matter. Within the remaining six moves, he would exploit Richards most fatal weakness. Ian looked down at the sword embedded in the ground. And there, at close range, were Sharon Pierces unfocused pupils as shey copsed. Unlike the other bodies with frost on their wounds, Sharon Pierces wounds were clean cuts. Without saying a word, Ian transformed and withdrew the Lunar pierced beside her. You have quite an interesting fighting style. I didnt expect you to block. Pretending to be a mage and luring the opponent intocency before striking. Understanding your advantages clearly is also a skill. Thank you for thepliment. Ian and Richard distanced themselves. Yerina Pierce, who had been watching, narrowed her eyes. Richard ispletely toying with him. It seemed like praise, but it wasnt. Teaching your opponent in a one-on-one fight is the utmost contempt. It means seeing through everything about you. And Richard did just that. After just exchanging one attack, he had already grasped everything about Ians abilities and fighting style. Such an overwhelming gap. But it wasnt because Ian was weak. It was because Richard Pierce was strong. So far away. What surprised Yerina was when Ian rushed at Richard immediately upon emerging from the gap in space. His prison was clearly destroyed to the point of being shattered. She had thought there was some chance, but it was futile. Even Yerina herself, who was considered one of the strongest in the North and reached the level of 5-Star, found Richard Pierce to be far beyond. It was strange that even considering the humans he had swallowed, he didnt seem so distant. Thats why. Yerina kept anxiously watching Ian, worried, realizing the difference in their ranks. You must have noticed the difference in ranks as well. Ian is a bright kid. He must be aware of Richards strength. At least, he would have felt it clearly with the recent exchange. Even Yerina, with Ians lightning-fast strike that barely managed to be blocked, couldnt help but see how effortlessly Richard deflected it, as if swatting a fly. What exactly are you aiming for, Ian? Yerina swallowed dryly. Ians provocation of Richard with himself as the condition, leading to seven opportunities for attack, clearly indicated that he was aiming for something. It wouldnt be the same sudden assault as before. Six moves left. All Yerina could do was watch, hoping that Ian had a way to defeat that monstrous man. The first encounter in battles between individuals is often a reconnaissance. They gauge each others strengths by shing weapons and sometimes sense the oue sharply. In Richards case, he sensed victory. No, it was more like confirming the obvious, given his inherent strength. However. My blood is boiling. His heart, which always seemed frozen, began to beat. Richard had maintained calmness even in situations where his prison was shattered by a futile trap. But now, his heartbeats were gradually quickening. The reason? It was obvious. The only thing that had changed from before was one child. Ian ckangers. Thats the reason. Ians recent strike had truly been astonishing. Was it a staff or a sword? He had initially judged Ian to be a mage, but his confusion started from the moment he transformed the staff into a sword in an instant. What followed was even more astonishing. Without any apparent use of mana or any movement to indicate, he simply floated a step in the air and then charged forward. In knightbat, it is customary to focus on the opponents feet for responses. There are even cases where one only looks at the opponents feet during battle. If Richard hadnt far surpassed that level, it would have been dangerous. A big if. How rare it is to entertain such assumptions in ones mind. I must restore the prison first. I cant take my eyes off him. Whaty before him was talent. A bundle of talent. So deep and splendid, he knew why the Blood Witch was so obsessed. But at the same time. He wanted to devour it. The blood scent flowing between those parted cheeks was exquisitely vorful. He wanted to absorb everything, feeling the peculiarly human pungency. Originally, he had intended to produce offspring from his dignified bloodline, but now they had drifted away from Richards interests. Look at this being from another dimension. He would savor it slowly and thoroughly. The familys cer would surely yield well-aged wines. Richards eyes began to gleam with desire. The mask he had kept so coldly in ce was melting away. But he endured it. Just for now. It was merely indulging in this little game. A sort of searing. It wasnt difficult to wait a little longer for the banquet to ripen. Richard took out his mask again. What Richard felt in the first move against Ian was exactly that. So, he asks. Yeah. What did I feel in the first move? Ian raised the corner of his mouth wordlessly. Ill never admit that I confirmed the key to defeating the final boss. Richard knew how to block. The first move was a nned strike. He wanted to see Ians response. The result. A low chance of sess, a small piece of the puzzle confirmed. However, it seemed like the middle-aged mans gaze had be quite dangerous But anyway. For Ian, the first move was enough. It confirmed the possibility of sess. Was Richard Pierce overwhelmingly strong? So what? Hes supposed to be the final boss of one scenario. Just exploit his weaknesses. First and foremost, the biggest conundrum. Why was that Northern Duke so calm even though his prison was shattered? And he confirmed the reason for that in the first move. The remaining moves would be dedicated to exploiting that. Or rather, it was more like persuasion than exploitation. He just had one wish. Realize it aste as possible. Thats all Ian himself can hope for in the task hes undertakingto dy that damn final boss from realizing it as much as possible. Swoosh. Ian once again forged his sword with Lunar. It was slightly smaller than before, but Ian didnt mind. The swordsmanship he had mastered, it was like a winter tree shedding its leaves, starting anew. Ian assumed a straight posture. Ignoring Richards cold silence, Ian focused on his posture and mindset. It was time to recall the swordsmanship he had learned from his master. Her actions. Her values. With all her teachings in mind, he struck with his sword. ng. Richard effortlessly blocked it without any change in expression. This strike was nothing extraordinary. However, Richards reaction was different this time. His brow furrowed momentarily. What a clumsy swordsman. Yes. However, this sword isnt aimed to cut me. The quick-witted middle-aged man. At a nce, vitality emanated from him. Its not about ignoring me. No. In that case, what are you aiming to strike? Ians silence drew Richards gaze. His cold eyes nced briefly at Sharon Pierce, lying on the ground. Did you catch on? Yes. Richard fell silent. The vitality emanating from him confirmed his anger. Well, its understandable. The fact that Ian noticed Richards biggest weakness and that Richard noticed Ian noticingthats the situation. Why is this soplicated? Anyway. Thats Richards weakness. With his prison destroyed, hes currently using Sharons prison. I dont know the method. Perhaps its rted to the magic he used to devour the snow field as his prison. Thats why Ian was confident in front of Richard. The difficulty level is decreasing. Its not about defeating Richard, its about defeating Sharon Pierce. If Sharons prison is destroyed, so is Richard. The eerie madness emanating from Richards eyes was not without reason. In such a situation, Ian boldly spoke. Please keep your promise to endure seven attacks. Youre indeed an interesting guy. After all, Richard, you wont let that Sharon girl slip through your fingers, will you? Well, of course. However. Richards pupils glowed ominously red. Instead, my condition has changed. After the remaining five attacks, I will devour you. Of course, Ill ensure your survival, so it wont vite your condition of wanting to stay alive no matter what. Damn it. I knew youd do that. He really intends to devour him. Indeed, there are many crazies among the Northern Duke family. Ian swallowed dryly. Furthermore. From now on. Richards vitality turned into frost, instantly freezing the surroundings. After your attack, Ill retaliate. Isnt that too much? Instead of answering, Richards finger snapped. Just that, but it sent shivers down Ians spine endlessly. Ian immediately leaped to the side. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 The atmosphere of the mansion felt strange. It had been a day since Sharon realized this, noticing the absence of people. Sharon, bound to the corner of the mansion by Herman. Through the crack of the door, she saw figures with strikingly red hair passing by. They were members of the Bloodstone Cult. They were the enemies who took her mother away, the targets of her vengeance. Sharon loosened the chains that bound her hands and feet. She didnt dare to do so recklessly, knowing that Herman would be furious if she did. On such days, his punishment would be even harsher. However, it was evident that something had happened in the mansion now. She could deal with the consequencester. Sharon followed the trail of the Bloodstone Cult. Their steps led towards the masters study. Creak Sharon opened the door and witnessed an unbelievable sight. The head of the family, Richard Pierce, stood in the study with arge wound on his chest. Are you alright, Master Pierce? The bloodsuckers who followed her were already dead. It was expected. Master Pierce had always despised the Bloodstone Cult. Even her dying mother had said so. To defeat the Bloodstone Cult, one must stand by Master Pierces side. Now, Master Pierce was dealing with masked figures of unknown identity. It seemed he got injured while fighting them. Blood flowed from his abdomen. W-what happened Sharon. Let me borrow your prison for a moment. What? Richard smiled softly at Sharon, who followed after him. Sharon wasnt surprised by the fact that it was her first time seeing him smile. His mouth opened straight away. Let me borrow your dantian. It is needed. Ah. Can you entrust me with it? Entrusting ones dantian was never a decision to be made lightly. No. Could one simply give away their dantian so easily as to speak of it casually? Surely, there was no ordinary way. It must be some sort of intermediate magic. Suitable for use by the Bloodstone Cult. Sharon. My child. Help your father for a moment. For the first time, Master Pierce called her his child, and all doubts melted away. Sharon nodded her head, as if enchanted. Yes, Master Pierce. Something struck Sharons back. Her vision was engulfed in darkness. Suddenly, she remembered the day her mother died. Her back had been struck then, too, and blood had flowed from her eyes. That day, her mother had said. To hate the Bloodstone Cult and to stand by the family head. She had no choice but to follow those words. Kwaaang! A moment ago, where Ian had been, a massive ice spear passed through. A few severed strands of hair floated in the air before falling. One of Grand Duke Richard Pierces hidden patterns, Ice Impale. A pattern that annihtes opponents with horn-like ice pirs. Fighting the final boss, Richard Pierce, in the scenario of Fanta X Aca was one of the worst possible scenarios, but some deliberately chose to fight him. Most people would die from just one of his sword strikes, but some had discovered a few hidden patterns. One of them was Ice Impale, a pattern that could sweep away opponents with giant horn-shaped ice pirs with just a flick of his wrist. Richard Pierce, Frostblood Sword. He was fundamentally a knight and a swordsman who had reached the pinnacle of mastery with his sword. His overwhelming swordsmanship was his most impressive ability, mercilessly cutting down opponents with a single stroke. The problem was that even in using knightly aura, he had almost reached a levelparable to magic. While all knights imitated magic through sword techniques, Richard could use such techniques even without a sword. Sword Aura. The ability to utilize a sword even without its physical form. Focusing solely on the final bosss sword could result in losing ones life to suddenly appearing magical patterns. I almost died. Richards hand gesture. If he hadnt been aware of the flick of his index finger pattern, he would have died. It was a pattern etched into his mind because most people who saw it died. A chill ran down his spine. It felt like all the sensations in his body were being squeezed out. He narrowly escaped certain death. This crazy final boss. He was just looking greedy a moment ago. Now hes trying to kill him without leaving a trace. No. Is he testing him instead? Ians pupils narrowed as he looked at Richard. The faint smile on Richards lips was more sinister than ever. Isnt your counterattack a bit too strong? I wonder if its because its someone elses mana, I cant seem to control it. Do you see the end behind that old man? It seemed Ian felt pretty annoyed at being seen through, using Sharons own dantian and mana. Ian silently steadied his breath. Then, he drew his sword without hesitation. The third strike. The attack pierced Richards heart like a stab. Kaang! Richards sword easily blocked Ians attack. Ugh! Despite being shaken by the difference in strength, Ian moved forward. One, two. The damage umted. Yet, he continued his onught without crumbling. His sword was his branch. It was natural for snow to pile up on it in winter. Kaaaang! Once again, from Ians extended sword, a white snowke-like sword aura was unleashed. Hoo. Richard involuntarily uttered a small admiration. A magician with this level of swordsmanship. Not only was the utilization of the sword remarkable, but the strength of his swordsmanship was also unexpectedly impressive. However, Ians sword missed Richard and stuck into the ground. A snowke that had bloomed disappeared around Sharon. Ian confirmed Sharons pupils flickering. She was somewhat aware of the surrounding situation. Perhaps her mind was foggy from sharing her dantian. Richard spoke coldly. Do you think you can protect that girl? Step by step, he approached Sharon. Would I let someone else hunt the prey Ive raised? Sharons trembling shoulders. Look at that viinous final boss. Is he doing this now? Our heroine, stupid Sharon, had a high chance of getting caught up in it. Of course, I wouldnt allow it. Indeed. Because you dislike it when someone else hunts the prey youve raised. Richards lips twisted. Tch. Damn it! Kwaaaang! Ian rolled to the side, but his thigh was deeply cut. I thought it was a coincidence. But apparently not. Desire gleamed in Richards eyes. You know my skills. Abilities that Ive never shown to anyone. There was no room to reply. The bleeding thigh felt icy. Ian tore his sleeve and quickly applied pressure to his thigh. Ugh. After just two counterattacks from Richard, Ian was in this state. Struggling to stand again, Ian spoke. Not to Richard, but to Sharon. Sharon, get up. You must have seen it just now. Even if you didnt see it, you must have felt it. There was no response. But he was sure she was listening. Its your mothers swordsmanship. Yerina, say something. Y-yes. I saw it too! Richard Pierce was devouring your mother! Sharons unfocused pupils began to shake violently. But Richard intervened. Are you going to fight with words instead of swords now? Truly pathetic. Richards lips curled coldly. Sharon Pierce. Richard addressed her. Trust your fathers words. Thats deception. Sharons shaking pupils gradually calmed. The Snowke Sword Technique is onlyplete when snowkes bloom. Do you really think this child can bring forth snowkes? Its just an illusion created by magic. Sharons head drooped like a broken doll. With a sinister smile and madness, Richard turned to Ian. Boy, it wont go as you think. Grrr. Ian gritted his teeth. Yeah. One of the reasons Richard was so difficult was because of this. He was sinister and maliciouspared to his abilities. He had raised his children just to absorb them. Theres no choice but to show it. Thud! Ian kicked the ground. And he charged straight at Richard. It felt like running towards death. But there was no other way. Whether to close the eyes of the fallen stupid heroine or to open them. Because that was the only way, Ian rushed towards the final boss. Kwaaaang! As soon as Ian struck, Richard counterattacked. But this time, it was different. As if not tolerating Ians nonsense, Richards sword filled the space in front of him as if it split into multiple swords. Illusion Swords! Ian immediately transformed his sword into a shield-like shape. Protecting only vital spots. Sssaaack! Sssssack! With chilling sounds, his body was shed. Blood flowed down his torn forehead, obscuring his vision, and his wounded left arm lost its strength. But he immediately turned the shield back into a sword. He looked at the growing eyes of Richard and struck with the sword. Richards eyes twitched. The swords shed. There was a clear gap in skill. But. Tsuzuzuzut! Ian, who evaded Richards sword, swung his arm long. As if sweeping away piled-up snow on a branch unable to bear the weight of snow. ! As white snowkes bloomed, one, two. Snowkes began to bloom. What! Richards eyes were filled with astonishment. It was undoubtedly the Snowke Sword Technique that he had swallowed. One, two. The blooming snowkes sparkled brightly around him. Although not many, they were unmistakable snowkes. Richard swatted away the snowkesing towards him. However. One of themnded in front of Sharon Pierce. The white snowke reflected in Sharons darkened pupils. Light returned to her eyes. Cough! Ian, spitting out blood roughly from his mouth, nced at her. Sharon Pierce. Did you sleep well? Chapter 104 Chapter 104 After presenting her dantian to Richard. In the endless darkness, Sharon Pierce looked back on herself. In retrospect, she was nothing. Just blindly chasing after one desire. That desire wasnt something grand like growth. It wasnt as noble or prestigious as knighthood. It was something too mundane. Yet, it was more precious to Sharon than anything else. Thats why Sharon Pierce is straight. Both the path she walked and the path ahead of her are straight. Every straight line has a beginning and an end. Her starting point was one night. . . . Its red. Though her eyes should be white, everything is red. Mom! The little girl, despite being washed away by tears, stood up again and knelt beside her mother. St. The girls knees stained crimson with her mothers blood. Are you okay? Why, why is this happening? Blood, blood, moms blood. Sasha Asilia smiled faintly. Mom is fine. H-how can you be fine? Sweetie. Asilia gently wiped Sharons cheek with her bloodied hand. Mommy has to go a little far this time. But youre hurt? Dont go Sharon. Beware of the Bloodstone Cult. Asilia couldnt bring herself to say more. If her daughter defies Richard, shell die soon. So she taught her to hate the Bloodstone Cult. When she realizes Richard is a Bloodstone Cultist, then she must resist. That was the best she could do. Thats the best she could do. Listen to the Lord well. Ah okay. Okay. Will youe back? Asilia smiled weakly. Sharon remember our promise? Yeah, promise? To which number do you have to count for Mom toe back? Uh ah 10,000. Okay. 10,000. Will you count well? Yes. Ill count properly. Mom. And so. The snowfield thickened with blood. . . . Why do memories from that lost momente back now? Its a nightmare, the only moment she can see her mother. Memory fades, plunging into darkness again. It must be darkness. The surroundings are noisy. Sharon Pierce! A voice Sharon didnt want to hear reaches her ears. Its Ians voice. He who constantly hindered her. He seemed to havee here. Be quiet. I dont want to hear your voice. Even though she thinks so, she keeps listening to that voice. She doesnt know why. But it has always been like this. Maybe. Yes. Perhaps because she feared deviating from the straight line she was walking. He kept making her look back, for whatever reason. Gradually, her vision returns. Sharon stared nkly outside. Someones swordsmanship moves vaguely into her sight. Mom? In Sharons memory, her mothers figure, each of her movements during training, unfolds before her eyes. Mom might be struggling now, but someday, shell bloom like a flower. Sharon, watch closely. The movements of the sword that seem like flowers will bloom for sure. Her mother was clear about that. No one else could do those movements except her mother. She wants to open her eyes. She wants to see that figure more clearly. Her blurry vision starts to clear up bit by bit. Finally, her mother But whats stuck in her sight isnt her mother. Ian. Ian. That guy. Why is he the one performing her mothers swordsmanship? It is a trick of deception. Dont fall for it. The voice of Master Pierce echoed. Yeah, Master Pierce must be right. Mother said the same. Follow Master Pierce. As Sharon tried to sink back into darkness, Ian grabbed her. His movements seized her. It was undoubtedly her mothers swordsmanship that Sharon had been trying to replicate. And so. A snowke gently descended before Sharons eyes. Bright. Bright and pure white, piercing through the darkness. Sharon opened her eyes. Ian stood there, his entire body soaked in blood, smiling brightly. Sharon. Did you sleep well? The boy who bore all her doubts and hatred, smiled brightly amidst the blood. Ian smiled. If Sharon get away from this situation, Richard will lose his prison once again. Richards wavering gaze hinted at that fact. And so, Ian focused on Sharon. As long as Richard blocked her, he concentrated on getting her to stand up. I just need to prevent Richard from harming Sharon, right? Such foolishness. He can make Sharon walk on her own. Ian smiled as Sharon opened her eyes. It will be your defeat, Richard. Humans are not just prey. They have emotions. The Bloodstone Cultists fail to recognize this fact. Thats why they make mistakes. Richards mistake was Sharon. Though Sharon may seem devoid of emotions at first nce, focused solely on her sword, she wasnt really like that. She had someone she watched over. It just appeared that way because the sword was on that path. Ian smiled at Sharon. It didnt mean forgiveness for all the torment Sharon had caused him. Look ahead, not just in front of you, but feel. Your surroundings. The environment surrounding you. It was merely satisfaction from realizing the teachings of his master, Asilia. It was satisfaction from seeing the trembling gaze of Sharon Pierce, who had run in a straight line so far. It would be satisfaction from the situation where the proud and noble knight trembled and asked him for guidance. Ian. Sharons mouth, barely opening, shut immediately. Parrrr. Her lips trembled. Ah. Only meaningless sounds escaped. She had to say something. At the same time, she didnt know what to say. What had Sharon lived for until now? Mother. Sasha Asilia. Mother. Only her. But. But why. Ian, why does he. Know her mothers swordsmanship? Ah. She had to ask. Why do you know my mothers swordsmanship? Why do you know my mothersughter? What kind of connection do you have with her? Are you my mothers disciple? One simple question would be enough. Not asking that easy question stemmed from fear of what his answer might bring. Fear. For the first time, Sharon Pierce felt fear. She feared Ians answer being yes. She feared all the truths that woulde as a result of that answer. She feared that she had wrongly suspected Ian as a viin. She feared that her actions towards him had been a mistake. Because she thought so, she feared those actions themselves. She feared the consequences of her actions, something she could never repay in her lifetime. Ultimately, it was fear of her own foolishness. Fear of walking the wrong path. Fear of admitting that everything was wrong. . Her lips felt parched. Her focus continued to scatter. She couldnt look directly at Ian. But even so. Sharon had to face that fear. Because it was the consequence of her actions. This question wasnt meant to doubt Ian. It was a question to confirm her own mistakes. Have you ever ced a curse on me? Impossible. Was it my delusion that you hindered my path? I had my own path to walk. Then Ian, are you not part of the Bloodstone Cult either? Naturally. nk. Blood trickled from Sharons lips. Are you my mothers disciple? Yes. Her always expressionless and sharp eyes faltered. What have I done. Ian intercepted the sinking Sharon. Listen, Sharon. ? Youre not strong. Youre foolish and worthless. Its mediocrity. You just pretended to be mature early. His words stabbed Sharon like a dagger. You still need your mother. Come back after youve received more education. ? Go find your mother. Shes in the snowfield. Mother? Wasnt she everything to you? Your mother. Thats right. His words were right. The reason Sharon Pierce could always walk looking ahead was because she had only one goal in her life. Mother. Sasha Asilia. Click. Her body moved. Sharon instinctively took a step forward. That step was blocked by Richard. Sharon Pierce. His cold voice stopped her. Isnt your father calling you. It was a voice Sharon had never been able to rebel against. If you continue like this, your wounds will never heal. But that was solely because of her mothers words. Now that she realized reality, now that she knew where she belonged, nothing entered her ears. Sharons pupilspletely lost their light. Since she already knew where to go, her sight didnt matter much. Sharon just moved forward. Thud. A sound of something breaking. As Sharon walked, she vomited blood. Richards expression contorted. It was the sound of the connection being severed. nk! With a sharp sound. Sharon left a long trail of blood as she walked away. The receding figure of Sharon. Richard asked. Why did you send her away? Even if you wanted me to deal with her, she would have listened. You said go, and shes going. Ian chuckled. Usually, in a situation like this, youd say, Youre right. Let me help you. But no, the kids always looking straight ahead. Thats no good. Its unbelievable. We should have educated our daughter better. Then I might have gotten some help. Hahaha! Richard burst intoughter like a madman. Actually, there might be another way to steal someone elses dantian. How did you manage to sweet-talk her like that? Are you curious? Yes. Then Ill tell you. How? Im going to make your dantian mine. Bring it on. Theres no other way now. The corners of Ians mouth quirked up once again. Ians smirk widened. Oh. I asked for seven attacks. Thats right. That was just a ploy to get Sharon out. Does that even matter now? ? Your prison is already gone, leaving behind just the shell. Richards face contorted. Kwaahhh! A huge explosion enveloped the surroundings. Snow poured from the sky. A distant roar. Iaaan! Someones scream pierced through the snow. Sharon, walking dazedly, stopped in her tracks. It was 10,000. Ten thousand, her mother had surely said to meet after ten thousand nights. Suddenly, Sharon realized. She had counted up to today, ten thousand nights. The starlight she had counted while yearning only for her mothers embrace. If she could break through the snowkes before her, in half of that promise, she would meet her mother. But. Her feet wouldnt move. Why. Tears began to flow from Sharons eyes. Why cant I go. Thud. Thud. She struck her own legs, hitting and hitting, but they wouldnt move. The legs that had always walked upright, yearning only for her mother, now refused to obey. Even when she was abused by Herman, she never lost her direction. But now, so close to her mother, Sharons legs stopped. My mothers there. Why cant I go She wanted to meet her mother first. She wanted to be trash once more. She tried to push all her emotions aside and walk forward. But she couldnt push them away. None of her impurities could be washed away. For a human, that was not the way. Thuck, thwack thuck. Sharons hand, striking her legs, went limp. With her head bowed, she murmured. Mom. Surely it was a straight line. Surely it was a straight path toward her. Sharon turned back. Im sorry. Mom. The light returned to Sharons eyes that had lost it. There were still stars to count before she could meet her mother. Following the footsteps in her mind, Sharon ran back. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 The 2nd Arc¡¯s final boss, Richard Pierce. An entity you could never defeat head-on with skill alone. But Ian boasted he knew most of his patterns. It was possible, given how many times he¡¯d died in the game. ¡®¡­Though I¡¯ve never actually beaten him.¡¯ Richard Pierce. His presence was beyond what any yer could assess. Not only was he the best in the north, but he had also defeated members of the Bloodstone Cult. In fact, Richard¡¯s true power had never been properly measured. ¡®But.¡¯Now the situation was clearly different from the game. Richard¡¯s own dantian prison was destroyed. Even his connection with Sharon Pierce, who often supported him, was severed. ¡®I have to defeat him.¡¯ It has to be here. This opportunity won¡¯te again. If left unchecked, Grand Duke Richard Pierce¡¯s influence in future scenarios is absolute. Especially now that conflict with him is inevitable, Ian is essentially walking into hell. Especially considering the insane difficulty spike in scenarios following this. This crazy game almost guarantees a bad ending. And now, Richard Pierce¡¯s anger is added on top of that. ¡®In that case, dying might be preferable.¡¯ On the other hand, if he defeats him here. ¡®It could lead to a positive oue.¡¯ It could change the flow of the story. It could create a new atmosphere focused on the Third Princess. It could find a way to restrain the power of the first and second princesses and the prince, including the Bloodstone Cult. It could buy time to prepare for ¡®them¡¯ in the long run. The conclusion is clear. ¡®Even if I have to take the risk, I¡¯ll defeat Richard here.¡¯ How? By making the most of knowing his patterns. First, provoke him into attacking and then exploit the opening. That¡¯s why Ian continuously provoked Richard, gesturing to Yerina. ¡°Seems like being a Bloodstone Cultist makes you clueless about human emotions. You couldn¡¯t even stop your precious prison from being walked all over.¡± ¡°¡­Do you truly seek death?¡± ¡°Try me. Without your base, just once.¡± Richard was irritated by Ian¡¯s constant provocation. ¡ª Kwaaaaang! With a thunderous roar, Richard charges. It¡¯s as if a giant horned beast is ramming its body into him. A straight-line attack filled with immense weight. ¡ª Plop! Ian made earth rise along his path. Since he couldn¡¯t properly manipte magic, it would disrupt his spells. ¡°Murdah!¡± But Richard, without flinching, approaches with eerie steps. ¡ª Kaaaang! Once again, Ian blocks Richard¡¯s sword with his staff-turned-shield, hitting the earthen wall again to neutralize the force. His wrist feels like it¡¯s going to break. Despite all the obstacles he¡¯s thrown at him, it¡¯s not enough. But this isn¡¯t the end of this pattern. Soon, ice spears shoot from Richard¡¯s hand. Just as a master swordsman fights, Richard¡¯s specialty is throwing unexpected daggers even amidst a sword fight. Ian rolls on the ground to avoid it. He anticipated it, and Richard¡¯s power was diminished without his base. ¡°!¡± Richard, somewhat surprised. Ian doesn¡¯t miss this chance. ¡°Yerina!¡± ¡ª Paaaaang! Yerina, who had floated up into the air, strikes with immense force with her mace. ¡ª Kuuuuung! The ground shakes like an earthquake. As the settled dust clears, Yerina¡¯s erged macees into view. And beneath it, Richard, reaching out with his sword. ¡°Yerina, still fighting in such a primitive manner.¡± With utter calm, he defends against her weapon with his sword. ¡°Damn it.¡± Is that really a human who lost his dantian? ¡ª Kka-ga-ga-gang! Richard¡¯s sword begins to move like a dance. From the start, Richard is a master swordsman. Even without his prison, he¡¯s not an easy opponent. Yerina, who had been blocking his sword with the chain part of her mace, is gradually pushed into a corner. As Richard Pierce, seizing the advantage, lifted his foot to swing his sword with force. ¡ª Papababat! A massive stone chunk, prepared with chemical traps activated by Ian around him, erupts like an explosion. ¡°Gah!¡± Richard, for the first time, roughly loses his bnce. Ian, mming the ground, initiates a maximum output leap. ¡ª Paaaang! A rough explosion echoes out. Normally, he¡¯d decelerate his speed by exerting maism at the point of impact. ¡°Ugh!¡± Ian reinforces his entire body with a deep breath. Then, his fist, surrounded by Lunar, extends towards Richard. The physics force generated from unbelievable speed directly hits Richard. Though Richard tries to use Frost to protect himself, blocking with his sword against Yerina¡¯s mace, he couldn¡¯t prevent it entirely. ¡ª Kwaddudeuk! With the sound of ice shattering, Ian¡¯s fist connects with Richard¡¯s side. The moment of impact, Ian sensed it. ¡®Let¡¯s not do this attack again.¡¯ Despite all his reinforcements, the sensation of his fist crumpling and his arm breaking numbs his upper body. ¡ª Quaaaaaaang! Well, thanks to that, Richard was also thrown against the wall. A round, cracked wall surrounding Richard reflects the damage he received. Meaningful damage dealt to the final boss for the first time. ¡°Cough!¡± He coughs, spitting out blood. But there¡¯s no time to watch. ¡°Yerina!¡± ¡°Of course!¡± With tremendous momentum, Yerina charges towards Richard. Her mace, reinforced with frost, gleaming white. The incredible blow of a 5-Star hero directly hits Richard. For a moment, there¡¯s silence. The surroundings fill with stillness and dust. Prepared for such an eventuality, Yerina¡¯s and Ian¡¯s n aligns perfectly. ¡°Haah.¡± Ian exhales, half immobilized by his right arm. Yerina, pulling her mace from the wall, murmurs. ¡°¡­ Is it over?¡± Wait a second. The moment Ian couldn¡¯t even say anything. ¡ª Sasasasasak! Yerina¡¯s figure is cut. Blood sprays from her fallen arms and legs. A figure crosses over thepletely disarmed Yerina. ¡°¡­Damn it.¡± Ian muttered. As the dust settles. There stands Richard. His head and eyespletely dyed red, resembling a true Bloodstone Cultist. ¡°¡­ Monster.¡± Ian muttered without realizing. ¡°¡­ Having two phases is just overkill.¡± Was he even interested in the meaning of those words? ¡ª Sseik. Silently, Richard¡¯s mouth curled up. Partially revealed by the blow of the mace, his gums are vampire-like. With the speed Richard could manipte, he lunged towards Ian. Ian immediately raised Lunar. Kaaang! He blocked the first blow, but¡­ ¡°¡­Damn.¡± Curses involuntarily spewed from Ian¡¯s mouth. Almost simultaneously, there was no way to block the onught of his ice pirs. The world before him quickly darkens. ¡ª Quaaaaaaang! ¡°Iaaaan!¡± Yerina, who had fallen, screamed in agony. Kwaddudeuk. A sound of something crumpling is heard. Ian, who was floating in the air, fell as if he were a puppet with its strings cut. ¡ô Sharon ran towards the mansion as if possessed. She couldn¡¯t understand why she was doing this. Her mind and heart were tooplex to be defined by just one thing. Mother. For Sharon, who had walked solely for her, it was an unimaginable change. But the reason for this change was clear. Ian. ¡°¡­Ian.¡± She muttered the name she had so despised. ¡ª Quaaaaaaang! Once again, an explosion was heard from the mansion. When did she walk out so far from the mansion? A blizzard rages. Suddenly. Sharon felt it. This situation right now. It resembled the day her mother left. The incessant snowstorm. The snow piled up on the ground. The roar heard beyond the snow. ¡°¡­No.¡± Sharon murmured. She didn¡¯t know what was wrong, but she murmured. Her already running footsteps quickened. She ran at full speed. Her body had already suffered considerable injuries from forcibly severing the shared potion spell, but that wasn¡¯t important in this situation. Familiar sceneryes into view. But the building that should be there is gone. Where there was a building just moments ago, there were now rubble and snow. Many peopley on the ground. But one person lying down stood out. In a field of pure white snow. The cold snow that seemed to cover everything. There, it was full of red blood. Red blood, like a pool of water, pooled as if to melt the cold snow. Steam rises. ¡­It¡¯s that scene. That day ten years ago. It¡¯s the scene she saw back then. Only the person lying there has changed. Jet-ck hair. Deep dark circles that seem to bear all the worries of the world. Pale lips that don¡¯t feel alive. ¡°¡­Ian.¡± Sharon¡¯s lips trembled. Her knees, which had sunk, began to stain red with blood. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Ian¡¯s waist. The sword stained with bloodes into view. It¡¯s the familiar rapier in Sharon¡¯s hand. A sword Ian once handed to her, only to return to him again. Sharon numbly grasped it. Their rtionship was defined by this sword. ¡ô ¡ª Swaeeak! The sword cleaves through the air roughly.Frost briefly forms in the air before vanishing. ¡°Miss Sharon, are youing to the freshman social today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just focus on swordsmanship. Let¡¯s have some fun for once. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve been here long.¡± ¡ª Swaeeak! ¡°You¡¯re not going today either?¡± ¡°¡­ It might be better to fit in a bit.¡± ¡ª Swaeeak! ¡°Did you hear? She¡¯s been shunned even by her own family.¡± ¡°What kind of person has no shame?¡± ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s go.¡± Sharon only looked ahead from the beginning, ignoring all rumors around her. Instead, she wielded her sword. However¡­ ¡ª ng! The problem was the sword kept breaking with every mana release. Sharon sighed as she wrapped her hand with bandages. ¡®¡­ I wish I had a better sword.¡¯ Then, from afar, came the noisy shouts of a knight academy peer. ¡°Sharon! Something big¡¯s happened!¡± Sharon lightly furrowed her brow. The disturbance wasn¡¯t wee. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Sorry for interrupting! But listen!¡± The ssmate abruptly handed her a piece of paper. ¡°Look at this! Look!¡± Their excitement was evident, continuallyughing. It was obvious what would interest girls of their age. ¡°¡­ Let me see.¡± Sharon received the note. A chill suddenly appeared in her eyes as she read the words. ¡°What is it? What is it? A confession, right?!¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Come on, it seems like it! Who is it? Who is it?¡± Sharon bit her lip. The note clearly bore the name Ian. Ian. He had often helped her. When she needed rare equipment, he would find it as if by magic. His earth elemental magic was greatly beneficial in difficult training sessions. So, there was gratitude. But that was just help from a colleague. ¡®I don¡¯t need anything that interferes with my training.¡¯ This approach was awkward. To Sharon, it was just a waste of time. ¡°What¡¯s up, Sharon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Sharon coldly pushed away her persistent peer. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re so unlucky.¡± ¡ó In a certain garden, Ian was indeed waiting as the note said. Sharon approached him coldly. ¡°If it¡¯s a confession¡­¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not that.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Ian took something out. ¡°Do you need a sword?¡± It¡¯s a simple yet seemingly expensive sword. Each material is high-quality, and the craftsmanship is evident. Its understated appearance suited Sharon¡¯s taste even more. ¡°¡­ Do you not care about how I¡¯m perceived?¡± ¡°Is that important?¡± ¡°¡­ No.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s not important to me either.¡± Ian smiled. Then he asked. ¡°Do you need a sword?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then take it.¡± Her hand reached out involuntarily toward the sword he offered. Just before touching it, Sharon stopped. ¡°Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t look at you differently just because you¡¯re giving me something.¡± ¡°¡­ Yeah.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you my heart either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll only ept. I have a path to follow. I have reasons to be stronger. For that, I¡¯ll focus solely on training.¡± Sharonid out words she didn¡¯t even realize were in her heart. It was the first time she had spoken them to anyone. Ian, who had been silently listening, spoke up. ¡°Then just ept.¡± ¡°¡­ What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just give. So you can ept.¡± For a while, Sharon looked at Ian incredulously. Why was this guy, who kept everyone at a distance, approaching her like this? ¡°Do you not understand¡­!¡± Sharon shouted without realizing it. ¡°It means I don¡¯t have the luxury to amodate someone or anything!¡± ¡°It¡¯s implying why you¡¯re treating me well!¡± ¡°It¡¯s saying not to expect anything from me!¡± She knew. There were rumors about this guy being interested in girls. That¡¯s probably why he was clinging to her. She thought it was enough. She thought she would have pushed him away by now. But. ¡°Yeah.¡± He smiled. With a truly foolish face. ¡°¡­Hah.¡± What an idiot. Both of them. And her, for allowing herself to be helped by such a person. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ept. Don¡¯t regret itter.¡± Sharon gripped the sword in her hand. Ian smiled and said. ¡°One condition.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°When you reach the end?¡± ¡°The end?¡± ¡°If you achieve what you aim for?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Will you look back at me then?¡± Sharon stared nkly at Ian. ¡°¡­What.¡± What is he even saying? Why does he cling to her like this? ¡°¡­Then.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Sharon answered. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± ¡ô When she looked at the sword, that thought naturally arose. ¡°Of course, back then, you were just Ian.¡± Days passed. Ian confessed his feelings. Though he said he wouldn¡¯t, he still stirred her heart. She might have waited. But then again, he wasn¡¯t that kind of gentleman. Once an open heart turned to doubt. She closed the door even tighter. Enough to not look outside anymore. After that, delusions followed. You had changed. She doubted him. Doubt crept in, and she contemted breaking it. Give me the sword that day, then snatch it back the next. By the time she thought everything must have ended. Definitely follow her path. The end of the path she walked. How should she ept him, who has brought himself here so persistently? ¡°Ian. Ian ckangers.¡± Why are he making her look back at you like this? ¡®What are you to me.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know. Everything isplicated. She who has walked only one straight path cannot understand. What you are to me. What I am to you. One thing is certain. Why I turned my steps. I think I understand now. ¡°I¡¯ve only received.¡± I¡¯ve only received everything. Just an excuse to walk my path. I received everything from you. ¡°A while ago, I¡­¡± Knowing you would be in danger. Knowing Richard Pierce would eventually harm you. I walked. Because I¡¯ve lived my life looking only ahead. It seemed natural to want to receive from you. ¡°¡­But isn¡¯t that wrong.¡± To keep giving everything, to show me the end of my path. If I¡¯m human. If I¡¯m a person. ¡°¡­It¡¯s wrong to let someone like you go.¡± I want to ask. ¡­What was I to you? Why did you keep appearing to me, who only ran forward? The path beside me was filled with you. I just didn¡¯t realize it. ¡°I was foolish.¡± I selfishly looked only at one path and didn¡¯t look around¡­ ¡°I was selfish.¡± Sharon muttered. It was enlightenment. It was the growth Sharon Pierce had longed for. It was the rise from the misconception that Ian was blocking her path. Abandoning the single-minded pursuit of growth and looking around was the only way to attain liberation. Her mother, Sasha Asilia, had walked a simr path. ¡°So I got another one like this.¡± Yet, I turned my eyes away from you. It meant something different from not looking at you until now. Because there was someone right in front of me who needed to be dealt with. Sharon picked up the blood-stained sword. ¡ª Squelch. The blood on her hand was Ian¡¯s. They followed the de¡¯s edge. St. Thud. The snowfield turned crimson. As she averted her gaze, things unseen before came into view. It was like when she lost her mother. A man stood next to the fallen Ian. Richard Pierce. The head of the family she had served. And the father who never acknowledged her as his child. Nowpletely drenched in red, even his hair. Now even his hair is dyed red with no sign of hiding it. A member of the Bloodstone Cult. ¡°¡­You were a Bloodstone Cultist.¡± Sharon gritted her teeth. ¡°The Bloodstone Cultist my mother warned me about was you.¡± She couldn¡¯t see it because she was looking straight ahead. She projected the evil that was right next to her onto thepletely wrong person. ¡°¡­What was I¡­¡± How stupid was she? As Sharon¡¯s expression crumbled, Richard spoke. ¡°Sharon Pierce.¡± ¡°With that filthy mouth.¡± Sharon raised her sword. ¡°Don¡¯t utter my name with that filthy mouth.¡± ¡°It was an inevitable choice to devour your mother.¡± ¡°What nonsense!¡± ¡°Sasha Asilia. She was foolish.¡± Richard smirked. ¡°She rushed at me without discrimination.¡± ¡°That was a sacrifice.¡± ¡°Anyway. But now, it seems you¡¯re trying to be like her.¡± Sharon¡¯s lips trembled. Then she regained herposure. ¡°Do not insult her. I may have been foolish, but my mother was not.¡± ¡°Indeed. Why are you standing before me?¡± ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°No. You do. You¡¯re trying to sacrifice. It¡¯s a meaningless sacrifice like your mother¡¯s.¡± ¡°This is not a sacrifice.¡± ¡°Why. Choosing not to walk away to the snowy fields right now, isn¡¯t that a sacrifice?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s only repaying what¡¯s due, now, even if it¡¯s just a speck of dust.¡± ¡°You¡¯re foolish.¡± Richard moved. His sword forcefully aimed towards Sharon¡¯s heart. Sharon didn¡¯t flinch either. Her sword also sharply aimed at Richard¡¯s head. ¡°Sharon! Your sword is simr to mine!¡± Yes. The swordsmanship she had mastered resembled Richard¡¯s. It was the swordsmanship of the Pierce family. ¡ª sh! So, they shed. Blocked by enlightenment, blocked by growth, and thus blocked by Richard. ¡ª sh! Her waist was cut. Sharon immediately froze her waist to stop the bleeding. At the same time, she exhaled frost, wrapping Richard¡¯s sword. ¡ª sh! Part of his sword broke. But a long icicle pierced Sharon¡¯s left arm. Every time a technique was used, blood poured from Sharon¡¯s mouth. Richard was the same. There were no ordinary people in this snowy field. ¡°You cannot defeat me!¡± ¡ª ng! Sharon barely blocked Richard¡¯s strike. The three swords bent like branches. An insurmountable gap in power. And then. Sharon remembered. A curved sword. The sword Ian had drawn, even if it only drew small snowkes. The sword technique her mother had tried to perfect. That sword, unfolded before her eyes. Sharon¡¯s rapier bent like branches. ¡°Where!¡± Richard unleashed sharp ice relentlessly. Sharon¡¯s body tore apart and blood spurted. Yet her gaze remained unchanged. Her sword moved. At the same time, flowers began to bloom. Amidst the falling snow. One. Two. The blooming flowers began to fill the world like a snowstorm. ¡°What, what is this!¡± The flower snowkes poured endlessly, shing Richard. The white snowkes filled the sight. Undoubtedly overwhelming. ¡°Cough!¡± Richard¡¯s sword crumbled mercilessly. Resisting, resisting, and then. ¡ª Thud! Richard copsed. From the copsed figure, not a drop of blood flowed to melt the snow. Only ck powder was staining the pure white snow. ¡°Sharon.¡± He spoke. Even though his face was so distorted that half of it couldn¡¯t be recognized, and his eyes piercing through, freezing him, he greedily spoke. ¡°This should be enough to rival the top five of the Bloodstone Cult. I didn¡¯t recognize it. I didn¡¯t recognize your talent.¡± Sharon didn¡¯t reply. She just looked down at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see the end of martial arts?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to cut through the mountains with your sword? Don¡¯t you want to put the family that has always been behind the emperor¡¯s throne? Don¡¯t you want to look down on the world from the top of the empire, no, the continent!¡± ¡°Sharon, Sharon. You can be the strongest on the continent, even the strongest of all time. I am convinced of this. It will happen. It must happen.¡± ¡°You are a child who received both the blood of the Snowke Swordmaster and the blood of me, Richard Pierce.¡± ¡°Sharon. Sharon Pierce. Listen to me.¡± ¡°The end of the path you¡¯re walking on will eventually lead there.¡± ¡°The Bloodstone Cult Leader, they would be pleased.¡± ¡°They will make them a presence like never before. You may be the cult leader. That¡¯s enough. Your talent is enough. And thus, the history of all continents will be established around you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Hold my hand and let¡¯s go. I will introduce you to the cult leader. They will wee you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. To where you should be.¡± Richard spoke with eyes still full of desire. ¡°Will you be a Swordswoman?¡± Sharon¡¯s lips moved quietly as she looked down at him. ¡°No. You should face the consequences.¡± Sharon¡¯s reply was cold. Yet that¡¯s why she asked. She didn¡¯t decisively end Richard¡¯s life out of anger. ¡°You¡¯re making such a wrong choice again, child.¡± Richard chuckled. ¡°I have never sincerely scolded you before.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯m scolding you. Maybe that¡¯s good.¡± Richard, lying on the ground, shook his body. At the end of it, there was Ian. ¡°Ah.¡± Sharon flew her body. It was just an instinctive action. ¡ª Whoosh Her stomach felt hot. The sword was thrust beyond her stomach, but it didn¡¯t touch her next time. She desperately applied force to her stomach. As a result, Richard¡¯s sword only stirred Sharon¡¯s entangled organs. ¡°Cough.¡± ¡ª Thud Blood spurted. Yet Sharon looked at Ian. Her spilled blood painted Ian¡¯s outstretched arm. To the man who had suddenly stood up, Richard¡¯s sword did not reach. Sharon stared into Ian¡¯s eyes. Deep and dark. Endlessly upright eyes. It wasn¡¯t looking at herself but far away. At the end of that gaze, there would be Richard. His drawn sword had brushed by Sharon¡¯s side. And so. It would pierce Richard¡¯s heart. Ian¡¯s resolute gaze spoke everything. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a pity.¡± It was regrettable. If possible, she wanted to live. There¡¯s much to repay. There¡¯s much to atone for. There¡¯s much to reflect on. ¡­Yet. ¡®At least I looked back in the end.¡¯ The corners of Sharon¡¯s mouth slightly lifted. She could realize it, albeitte. She could repay it, even a little. ¡°¡­I¡¯m grateful.¡± The white snow filled the snowy field. The copsed buildings, the blood, the mistakes. The white snow covered everything. Thus, while cold, the snow was warm. Swoosh. Sharon¡¯s eyes closed. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Ian exerted strength on his arm. He exerted so much force that his veins nearly burst. He poured all his strength into the sword as if to pierce Richard¡¯s heart. He also channeled all his remaining magic and abilities into it. ¡ª Grrrrk! A grotesque sound flowed from Richard¡¯s throat. His eyes darkened like those of a demon. Then. ¡ª Thunk With a snapping sound, Richard ceased his movement. ¡°Haah¡­ Haah¡­¡± His rough breath, flowing from his mouth, filled his vision with white. In between, he saw it. Richard¡¯s body turning ck. It was as if the corpse he had been harboring in his prison was manifesting. ¡°¡­¡± Ian stood still for a while. He remained there dazedly. Perhaps due to the blow he received from Richard, his head spun. Everything just seemed blurry. Was Sharon in front of him? At least she wasn¡¯t cold. Her body, warmed by blood, feltforting. ¡ª ¡­¡­! Far away. People were rushing towards them. Enemies? Hmm. At this point, it seemed impossible to face them. Staggering. Through his blurry vision, he caught sight of bright golden hair. ¡°¡­ Asteria.¡± He copsed, capturing her in his sight. ¡ô ¡°¡­¡­¡± His legs were numb. Ian blinked and opened his eyes. An unfamiliar white ceiling. After blinking for a moment, Ian nced down. ¡ª Sshuk, sshak. ¡ª Nyaam¡­ Lina and Danya. Both were peacefully sitting on chairs beside the bed, legs resting on hisp, fast asleep. ¡°¡­ Are my legs pillows?¡± He sighed lightly, and someone approached. ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°¡­ Miss Karen.¡± ¡°The princess is cleaning up, so I¡¯ve been keeping watch in her ce.¡± She bowed her head slightly. ¡°I apologize. With everyone from the tournament missing and the influx of Bloodstone Cultists and assassins, it was deemed an overwhelming situation.¡± Come to think of it, her mission during the tournament was to search the mansion. Thanks to that, she managed to handle the situation without being swept away by Richard¡¯s stronghold. ¡°We requested urgent support to leave the mansion¡­ I had no idea such things were happening. Being absorbed into Richard¡¯s dantian.¡± That was quite a judgment. Even if she tried to confront Richard, the number of casualties might have only increased by one. ¡°No. It was a good decision.¡± It seemed a variety of medical supplies wereid out around. It seemed she requested reinforcements properly. ¡°By the way. My head feels a bit fuzzy.¡± His head still hurt. The aftermath of Richard¡¯s strike was not ordinary. ¡°W-well, at the time of discovery, it was quite serious.¡± ¡°Serious?¡± ¡°Physical damage due to impact, nervous system damage due to magic¡­ Luckily, there was a skilled priest.¡± It would have been really bad if not handled well. Now he understood why Karen was so apologetic. Ian smiled warmly at her. ¡°You brought an amazing priest.¡± ¡°The princess brought the pce¡¯s priest.¡± A priest of the imperial family. Then their skills would be dependable. To the fumbling Karen, Ian opened his mouth. ¡°Thank you, Karen. Thanks to you, I¡¯m alive. If Karen hadn¡¯t assessed the situation quickly, the princess wouldn¡¯t have been able to respond either.¡± Karen, who had been biting her lip for a moment, bowed her head slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Before he could respond, he heard the shuffling sound of approaching footsteps. ¡°Looks like you¡¯vee to your senses!¡± With a hearty shout, Yerina appeared, wrapped in bandages all over her body. They both seemed to have lost consciousness simrly, so how does she look in better shape over there? ¡°When you¡¯re badly hurt, your body¡¯s recovery speeds up. It¡¯s also a form of training, right, Ian? How about crossing the border with me?¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll pass.¡± As expected, Yerina was a formidable presence, whether before bing acquainted or afterward. While Ian carefully rearranged Danya and Lina¡¯s heads from his legs to the bed, Yerina spoke up. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Sharon left after crying by your side. She said she couldn¡¯t bear to see you.¡± Ian blinked absentmindedly for a moment. ¡°True. I was surprised too. To survive in that condition. Pce priests are indeed different, no matter what. To heal such severe wounds in an instant. Though they say I need to rest.¡± Well, of course, the healing part was impressive, but what really surprised Ian was something entirely different. ¡°¡­ She cried? Sharon Pierce did?¡± ¡°She was sobbing.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± ¡°She leaves a trail of tears wherever she goes. Ian, you must have wronged her a lot.¡± ¡­The guilt definitely leaned towards Sharon¡¯s side. It was quite surprising to see the haughty heroine in tears. Indeed, one sees a lot living for so long. No,e to think of it, not that long. ¡°She kept muttering apologies until she saw you starting to wake up, then left after basic medical care. She probably went to find Asilia.¡± Ian looked out the window. A crimson streak towards the north caught his eye. Ian, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality. ¡°Ah, right. Master.¡± Ian called out to Karen, who was still standing nearby. ¡°Hey, Karen. Can you find someone for me?¡± ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°Someone pretty, looks like they¡¯re in their mid-twenties, up in the northern snowy areas? Large chest.¡± Karen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Ian borated a bit more on his mistake. ¡°A woman with thick, long blue hair and very pale skin. I don¡¯t know the exact location, but she¡¯s likely in a huge valley beyond the cave.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll try to locate this person.¡± Nodding, Karen walked away. Yerina then asked, looking at Ian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you go look for her yourself?¡± ¡°Would it help in my condition? They¡¯d find her first if I went. I¡¯m not a search expert.¡± Yerina followed Ian¡¯s eyes and looked out the window. She noticed a long trail of blood stretching towards the snowy field. It was Sharon Pierce¡¯s blood. ¡°You¡¯re patient.¡± Yerina chuckled softly. ¡°Kind and strong too.¡± Yerina murmured. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ahem! Yerina suddenly cleared her throat. ¡°So much has changed while you were down.¡± ¡°So much?¡± Ahem! Yerina cleared her throat again and shrugged confidently. ¡°Now I¡¯m the Grand Duchess of the North.¡± ¡°Congrattions, Your Grace.¡± ¡°That title must be a bit burdensome for you. After all, most of it was your work¡­¡± Yerina scratched her cheek. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be bad to call me Yerina if you want.¡± ¡°Just calling you by your name feels a bit awkward.¡± Hmm. After a moment of thought, Ian suggested something. ¡°Yerina-unnie?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yerina¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment. Was that too much? ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not angry. Just amazed.¡± Amazed at what? Yerina swallowed a sigh and tilted her head towards Ian. ¡°There¡¯s much to do. You get back to your senses.¡± The Pierce family must pay for what Richard Pierce did. Fixing things afterwards will not be an easy process. It was Yerina Pierce¡¯s remaining homework. ¡°¡­ And I have to have a child.¡± ¡°That must be tough¡­ Wait, what? You?¡± Ian was taken aback by the sudden promation of the Northern Grand Duchess. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? The position of head of the Pierce family passes to the strongest child among the lord¡¯s offspring.¡± ¡°Well, I knew that.¡± ¡°But if I don¡¯t bear a child, the lineage will be broken. So, I must give birth.¡± ¡°Ah, but isn¡¯t there¡­ a bit more romantic or something?¡± ¡°Do you think there¡¯s room for that in the North? I¡¯ll soon return to the borders, not knowing when my time wille. It¡¯s best to give birth as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Noble titles like a duchess entail considering political factors as well. It must be truly exhausting. Anyway, it¡¯s unrted to Ian himself. Ian went along with Yerina¡¯s words appropriately. ¡°I hope you can meet the ideal type you want, Yerina.¡± ¡°My ideal type is the strongest person. To me, that is romance.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯d like to receive the seed of the strongest person, if possible.¡± ¡°May I introduce you to someone? Haha.¡± Yerina grinned mischievously. ¡°No. But my ideal type has changed a little recently. Because someone was hitting on me.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°The person who will be the strongest won¡¯t be bad either.¡± Huh, why is she looking at me? Beyond the bandages, Yerina¡¯s thigh tightened as if angered. ¡°Come to think of it, Ian.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°On the day we first met, I remember you confessed to me.¡± Ian¡¯s eyes rolled. He had clearly approached Yerina to egg her on, but ended up confessing to avoid a crisis during their first encounter. There¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t remember that. Yerina smirked strangely and took a step closer. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me you confessed falsely, are you? If you did, you¡¯ll pay a hefty price.¡± ¡°N-No! It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to pay for seducing me.¡± Yerina shed the garment she had draped over herself. Her body, with beautifully toned muscles, was healthy and¡­ no, that¡¯s not it! ¡°L-Lina and Danya are here too!¡± ¡°They¡¯re in mana exhaustion. They fell asleep after enduring, so they won¡¯t wake easily.¡± Thump. Thump. Ian slowly backed away on the bed. ¨C Thud. Unfortunately, his back hit the wall. There was no escape now. Yerina¡¯s face came right up close. ¡°Ian.¡± Her already red eyes were burning with either passion or intensity, or something else entirely. ¡®Here ites, I¡¯ll be eaten.¡¯ Cold sweat dripped down Ian¡¯s forehead. At that moment. ¡ª Emergency! Patient fever critical! Rapid fluid loss detected! Emergency!¡­ An artifact ced on the table red loudly. Yerina grinned mischievously. ¡°The Third Princess seems to care quite a bit about you. She even left this artifact behind. Her face was quite a sight to behold too. I think she has a lot of things she wants to say.¡± Saying that, Yerina got up from the bed. ¡°The North will always wee you. If you ever need help, just let me know.¡± The new Grand Duchess of the North left like that. If he missed this ce, he woulde back when he was stronger. Ian promised that. Otherwise, he feared he might be devoured. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 It wasn¡¯t because of Yerina that he was sweating, but rather some sort of immune response. The royal priest who had rushed over said. ¡ª Alongside mental and physical exhaustion, ovepping mana exhaustion often leads to recovery like this. Bncing one¡¯s body and mind is important. Just as you must recover mana and physical strength, you must also rest your mind. The priest of the royal family emitted a sacred aura as he rambled on in his speech. ¡®¡­ Oh.¡¯ Come to think of it, was this the first time experiencing genuine holy power? Only Yurran, whom he had met in ss, came to mind, but that guy was a follower of the Bloodstone Cult. Holy power was warm yet robust, unlike magic. As if defying cause and effect, it began to heal injuries. It reminded Ian of his own abilities for a moment. ¡ª Well then. The priest finished the treatment and walked away. Ian sighed as he lifted his upper body. He felt like he could move a bit now. ¡°¡­ I wonder if they sleep without any back pain.¡± Danya and Lina were sleeping deeply under a nket soaked with sweat, indicating how tired they were. Of course. Both of them must have used up their manapletely. They couldn¡¯t recover mana within Richard¡¯s prison. Still, they endured without a singleint. Ian moved Danya first. ¡ª Ugh¡­ it¡¯s too much to finish¡­ Danya squeezed out thest remnants of her mana to grow Snowke Flowers for his master. ¡°Okay.¡± Lina, in an unfavorable cold space, managed not to get exhausted despite focusing on others¡¯ body temperatures and monster strategies. ¡ª Ugh. Please press harder, master¡­ ¡®¡­ What kind of dream are you having.¡¯ Ian sighed again as he ced Lina next to Danya. They both slept soundly, showing various signs of their efforts. ¡°Hoo.¡± Now that he looked at them, they really went through a lot. ¡°I¡¯ll rely on you for the next scenarios too.¡± ¡ª Nom. Drink it¡­ Instead of responding, Danya yed with her cherry blossom-colored hair. Ian chuckled as he tidied up their hair. While he was doing that. ¡ª ck! ck! Footsteps sounding urgent could be heard from afar. They slowed down in front of the treatment room. Creak. The door cautiously opened. The Third Princess, quite disheveled, peeked in from beyond the door. ¡°Your Highness?¡± The princess awkwardly stuck out her tongue. ¡°I heard you woke up.¡± Creak. The princess opened the door and came in cautiously. ¡°I was nning to just sneak a peek at your face and leave.¡± Then she plopped down on the bed. The princess¡¯s face was filled with worry. It was quite a fresh sight. Asteria, the Princess of Rebellion. Asteria, who would not hesitate to do anything to ascend to the throne. Contrary to her public image as a gentle princess, she had an endlessly cold real self. Ian chuckled without realizing. ¡°Why are youughing! I was genuinely worried about what would happen if you didn¡¯t wake up!¡± ¡°It looks like Your Highness¡¯s condition is worse than mine.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Asteria blinked in front of the mirror that Ian held up. Asteria looked at the corner of her own eyes for a moment. The deep, dark circles under her eyes were a form of guilt. To her, everyone was a kind of chess piece. To ascend to the throne, she used them and sometimes discarded them boldly. But Ian was different. His talent and unique humanity intrigued Asteria. After he saved her life, Ian became the first person she found ¡°humanly intriguing¡±. It must have been like that. However, she needed to send someone to the north. She needed someone trustworthy. Ian naturally came to mind. But Grand Duke Richard of the North was cruel and audacious, much more so than Asteria had anticipated. Karen¡¯s emergency report was full of things that shocked her. Asteria immediately crossed over to the North with as much force as she could muster. What caught her eye was Ian, who was sticking a sword into Richard¡¯s heart. She couldn¡¯t help but worry about Ian, who fell like a puppet whose strings were cut, with all energy drained. She should have been happy that Richard had fallen, she should have been overjoyed, but for some reason, her guilt and worry about Ian took priority. The result was the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°¡­ This, this is¡­¡± Ian chuckled as he watched the flustered Asteria, unable to respond like herself. Two sides of Asteria. The actively flirtatious and somewhat provocative appearance, and the ever-serious, power-strengthening Princess of Rebellion, both in different directions, were equally resolute and strong. But when she looked so exhausted and defeated, it was, well, something. It¡¯s ungodly cute. ¡°You must have had a hard time cleaning up.¡± ¡°Yeah, well. There was a lot to do, so it was tough!¡± The princess mumbled, then fell silent. Her ears seemed a bit red, but Ian attributed it to the lighting. There was silence for a moment. The candlelight softly illuminating the surroundings swayed with the cold winding through the window. Just when the silence didn¡¯t seem so bad, Asteria spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve done something truly remarkable. Taking down Richard.¡± Richard, Grand Duke of the North, had died. One of the key figures of the Bloodstone Cult had fallen. It would undoubtedly halt their reckless expansion. Not only that. One of the support bases of the Second Prince, who was ahead in the race for the throne by using Richard and the Bloodstone Cult hidden behind him, copsed. Befitting his grandeur as the Grand Duke of the North, he will bring about tremendous changes throughout the Empire and even the continent. ¡°¡­ Therefore, I must say this to you.¡± Asteria¡¯s eyes, like the night sky, stared at Ian. ¡°Thank you, Ian.¡± Her gentle touch took Ian¡¯s hand. ¡°And.¡± Silence fell again. Heat shimmered in Asteria¡¯s eyes, following the swaying candlelight. ¡°I was worried.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes?¡± ¡°I was worried. These dark circles. They¡¯re because I was worried about you.¡± Ian was embarrassed. The Asteria he knew was not the kind of person who would say something like this. Why would a princess who viewed people as chess pieces be worried about him? Is she in ¡®Sl*t Mode¡¯? But Asteria¡¯s gaze was serious. It was Serious Princess Mode. At the same time, her cheeks flushed red. As if embarrassed. ¡°I was worried. I thought maybe you¡¯d suffer because of me.¡± Ian managed to respond. ¡°¡­ I wouldn¡¯t suffer because of you.¡± ¡°But I said evidence was enough. So why take risks like that¡­¡± ¡°Because I need to bepensated. It was too much for a small amount of evidence. Now can I expect a bigger reward?¡± Hah. The Princess sighed and smirked. ¡°You really¡­ sometimes, it seems like you¡¯re more ambitious than I am.¡± ¡°I do have quite a bit of greed.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I meant ambitions toward people.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Acting like you don¡¯t know, keeping your distance.¡± Ian felt unjustly used. He didn¡¯t remember doing anything like that. But before he could defend himself, the Princess¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°It¡¯s frustrating.¡± Ian thought to himself. Perhaps, rather than Asteria in her sl*t state, the real her might be more unsettling. Her l*stful eyes soon regained their color. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to reward you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She added a few exnations. The number items were in the pce¡¯s warehouse, and once things were sorted out here, they could visit the pce together. Since Ian already knew this, he nodded in understanding. The Princess continued. ¡°¡­ Actually, I¡¯m worried if that will be enough for you.¡± Sigh. She smirked. It was a smile that mixed a devilish charm with something deadly. ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll give you myself.¡± ¡ô The next day. With Ian and Lina sufficiently recovered to travel, they, along with Danya, prepared to return to Lichten. The princess mentioned she needed to handle a few more things before joining them. In reality, many nobles were implicated in the incident. Some survived the copse of Richard¡¯s dantian, but many did not. Of course, the princess bore no responsibility for the situation. ¡°If the princess handles this, the North will soon be her stronghold.¡± As expected, the Third Princess was always politically shrewd. Yerina, now the new Duchess of the North, also needed her support. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again: you¡¯re always wee here.¡± After exchanging greetings with Yerina, a carriage arrived smoothly. It was the same carriage the princess had taken on her way here. Danya, who had ridden in it before, muttered a bit disappointedly. ¡°Huh? The swing is gone. Nyah.¡± ¡­Wait. Why was she disappointed? The approaching princessughed. ¡°I think I can slow down the acting now. Thanks to someone.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If the main woman flirts with others, doesn¡¯t that make you unhappy?¡± ¡°?¡± Asteria, who smiled brightly as she looked at Ian¡¯s confusion, continued to speak. ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention. You¡¯ll notice when you look around, but the situation in Lichten City, specifically at the Lichten Academy, is quite precarious.¡± ¡°On thin ice?¡± The princess replied. ¡°Yes. First, the saint candidate Aria is not in good condition. Because of this, tensions between the clergy and other factions are slowlying to the surface.¡± ¡°Not only that, but Raymond oversees the Lichten branch. Emilia is working tirelessly to expand her influence by any means necessary.¡± ¡°Just keep it in mind. Don¡¯t act rashly. We don¡¯t know how the Bloodstone Cult will respond to you, so be extra careful.¡± As the carriage departed, the princess added one more thing. ¡°Once I return, I¡¯ll be able to exert more significant influence.¡± ¡ô They decided to use a portal as their means of return. The reason was simple: Ian had no desire to ride the trans-mountain train of the North again. Portals were faster and more convenient. Arriving at the Northern checkpoint felt like entering a terminal. ¡°Wow, there are so many people here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s packed like ants, nyah.¡± Although magical portals were primarily used by wealthy merchants and nobles, they were also essible due to theck of reliable transportation from the North to the maind. Because of this, various shops and eateries filled the checkpoint. Danya¡¯s ears perked up, listening intently. Her nose twitched every time a pleasant scent wafted by. Suddenly, Ian remembered Danya¡¯s sleep-talking and chuckled. ¡°What should we eat before we go?¡± ¡°Really, nyah?!¡± ¡°My treat. Lina, pick something too.¡± ¡ª Jingle. Ian shook his coin bag. Part of thepensation received from the princess. Of course, he needed to split it with Lina and Danya, but they could just subtract that amount when they received it. Excitedly, the two of them picked out what they wanted to eat. Danya had a long soft serve ice cream that reached up to her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t it cold?¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Lina chose fruit covered in frozen sugar. ¡®ssic insider.¡¯ They enjoyed a brief respite at the customs office. Buzzing chatter filled the air. Laughter from Danya and Lina. A peaceful scene after a life-threatening struggle. A smile naturally etched on their faces. Then, suddenly. In the distance, he saw a person walking unsteadily. The coffee in their hand shook uneasily, as if it might spill. ¡°Oops.¡± The drowsy, unfocused person collided with another. The coffee cup slipped from their hand. The pouring dark brown liquid stood out vividly. ¡ª Clunk. Ian vaguely expected coffee to spill and make that noise. However. ¡ª¡­¡­ Silence. No subsequent sounds followed. No. It wasn¡¯t just that sound that was absent. The entire tform fell silent. ¡°¡­?¡± Ian slowly surveyed the surroundings. Everyone froze in ce. Danya¡¯s mouth, wide open to take a bite of ice cream, remained as is. Lina¡¯s bright smile, hands gesturing with a handkerchief, froze. Each droplet of coffee in the distance was sharply visible. Time stopped. Except for him. In that realization, a single cold sweat bead ran down Ian¡¯s spine. ¡ª ck. The sound of shoes reached his ears. Ian turned his head. Whether he turned or the surroundings rotated, the still background was unsettlingly motionless. ¡ª ck. The sound of shoes getting closer. Who on earth was moving? Obscured by so many people, no matter how much he turned his head, I couldn¡¯t see. ¡ª ck Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. ck shoes. ck hair. And crimson eyes. Eyes so red, they seemed made from blood. As their eyes met. ¡ª Sasasasasasak Goosebumps spread across his body as if hundreds of spiders were crawling on it. ¡°You must be Ian.¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 The moment Ianid eyes on the approaching woman, he had a gut feeling. That person was a cmity. ¡ª Tap. Tap. Her steps were graceful yet enchanting. But the crucial part was not her appearance. Just one step. She had only taken one step forward, yet the distance between them closed in an instant. Her flowing hair was jet ck. The eyelids, seemingly painted with the darkness of the entire world, contrasted sharply against her ck-and-white face. As a backdrop, her eyelids, drawn out like a long brushstroke, blinked slowly, as if heralding the start of a y.Her gaze, with eyes redder than any devotee of the Bloodstone Cult, fixated intensely on Ian. ¡°So, you¡¯re Ian. It¡¯s my first time meeting you face to face like this.¡± Her voice, murmuring from crimson lips, was alluring yet disturbing. ¡°¡­Blood Witch?¡± Ian mumbled unintentionally. The woman¡¯s ruby-like eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°You know who I am?¡± Her tone was casual. But her smile was captivating. With just a slight lift of her lips, the world seemed to grow redder. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be better if you just called me ¡®Blood Girl¡¯? I don¡¯t like being called a witch.¡± Ian nodded silently. Putting together the information he knew, her abilities ranked among the top in the Bloodstone Cult. No. There was no need to piece together information. The frozen tform where thousands of hours lingered. The momentum in her tone and gestures. That she surpassed the realm of a blood witch was something one could easily feel with their own body. For now, he¡¯d go along with her rhythm. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°Ah. Such a cold tone.¡± A hint of madness flickered in the Blood Girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s quite heartbreaking when the one I¡¯ve always watched acts so cold.¡± Her eyebrows furrowed as if genuinely saddened. The Blood Girl wore a sad expression, reminiscent of someone missing a lover. ¡°¡­¡± Ian gritted his teeth inwardly. Always watched. When, where exactly? No. Why? One thing was certain: being bitten by a seriously crazy woman had to mean something. Something quite strong. ¡°But I suppose I can overlook it for a momentous asion.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You defeated Richard.¡± The Blood Girl¡¯s face lit up with a smile. It was a smile of genuine happiness, like that of a parent or a proud pet owner. ¡°I was watching to help, and you managed to defeat him splendidly.¡± ¡°How can I believe that? You, a member of the Bloodstone Cult, wanted to help me¡­¡± The Blood Girl¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡ª Ssrrrk Her figure disappeared. At the same time, Ian¡¯s vision blurred. He closed his eyes and opened them again, only to find crimson eyes ring at him as if filled with rage. They were so close that their noses almost touched. ¡ª Ssrrrk Between her swaying ck hair, the Blood Girl¡¯s eyes shed with anger. ¡°Doubting my feelings towards you is unforgivable, evening from you.¡± ¡°Doubt?¡± ¡°Just now. You doubted whether Richard, an old man, was more important to me than you.¡± Of course, he thought they¡¯d both prioritize the Bloodstone Cult. But voicing that thought seemed like it might get him in real trouble. ¡°Answer.¡± His whole body tingled under the Blood Girl¡¯s gaze. ¡°Did you doubt me or not?¡± The heat of anticipation left Ian with dry lips and a parched throat. He managed to speak. ¡°¡­ No.¡± In an instant, the intensity in the Blood Girl¡¯s eyes softened. The tension vanished, reced by a gentle smile on her face. ¡°Good. You really do know me well.¡± Watching her, Ian thought to himself. ¡®¡­ Crazy b*tch.¡¯ Suddenly, the Blood Girl¡¯s eyes took on a crescent shape. Could she have read his thoughts too? It felt eerie, but that wasn¡¯t it. ¡°I really liked how you didn¡¯t flinch even when I approached.¡± Her breath touched his nostrils. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find someone who doesn¡¯t take a step back.¡± Ian had a simple reason for not fleeing. He knew he¡¯d be caught if he tried to escape. ¡°When caught in a spider¡¯s web, it¡¯s best not to move.¡± ¡°Ahaha. You¡¯re indeed clever. But let me tell you one more thing.¡± Ssrrrk. The Blood Girl¡¯s face nced past and froze. Her throat was starkly white. A seductive breath escaped as she leaned in. ¡°¡­ When caught in a spider¡¯s web, you should pray.¡± She whispered close to his ear, her breath tickling. ¡°¡­ Spider, please spare me.¡± A thin, long finger slid around Ian¡¯s neck. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll do anything, please spare me.¡± Goosebumps ran down his spine. His instincts urged him to flee immediately. But Ian clenched his teeth and endured. For whatever reason, this woman wasn¡¯t going to kill him. If she had wanted to kill him, there would be no need for this bothersome act. ¡°But you won¡¯t beg, will you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°As if you believe I wouldn¡¯t harm you.¡± ¡°If you wanted to kill me, you would have had plenty of chances.¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart indeed. But listen.¡± Ssrrrk. Her touch tousled Ian¡¯s hair. ¡°What if I couldn¡¯t control my excitement and wanted to open your smart brain?¡± Her breath was thin. ¡°Even if I were to savor every bit of your clever thoughts and make them mine.¡± Her mouth opened as if to devour his thoughts. ¡°Would you still think the same then?¡± Instead, her soft lips wrapped around Ian¡¯s ear. ¡ª Kka-deuk Her tongue lightly touched his earlobe. Trailing down from his earlobe to his neck, the Blood Girl¡¯s tongue left a long streak of saliva on his skin, akin to a beast marking its prey, leaving behind a long strand of saliva. ¡°Your neck looks delicious.¡± Lick. Ian shivered. Her wet, prickly tongue passed over his neck. ¡°Tasty.¡± Again. And again. As if savoring, the Blood Girl pressed her entire tongue against Ian¡¯s neck. ¡°Mmm.¡± Heat radiated from the Blood Girl¡¯s breath. His neck, moist with her saliva, tingled hotly. ¡°It tastes like fine soil. Savory. Pure mana. Dirty enough to want to defile it. But someone has already dirtied it. It¡¯s not bad, though.¡± Her breath grew rougher. The already moist neck and tongue slid against each other, making a gurgling sound. Her breath poured out as if unable to contain it any longer. ¡°Haah. I was going to wait a bit longer.¡± Monk. Her lips lightly traced the thick veins on his neck. Then, her pointed fangs touched the saliva-moistened skin. A sharp sensation. ¡°¡­ Got to endure this.¡± The Blood Girl withdrew her half-buried fangs, leaving behind a thin strand of blood. She licked it with her tongue and looked into Ian¡¯s eyes. With eyes burning crimson with all kinds of desires, she spoke. ¡°You suit me.¡± As if about to kiss him, her touch wrapped around Ian¡¯s face. Their gazes met. The madness reflected in the Blood Girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve always watched you from afar since the first moment I saw you. Delving into the past, unraveling people.¡± The Blood Witch spoke with a nostalgic tone. ¡°I¡¯ve spent every possible moment with you and realized. Your mind, your talents, they all shine brightly.¡± It was a softugh. Therefore, it was endlessly sinister. ¡°Only I can recognize you, so you¡¯re mine.¡± Sweat trickled down. This was the first time Ian had encountered something so sinister since the possession. Not even Richard was like this. As if reading his thoughts, the Blood Girl whispered his name. ¡°I was nning to watch you if possible. But Richard¡­¡± A sharp, biting sound. The Blood Girl ground her teeth. ¡°That damn old man threw you into that filthy prison of his.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t understand why the Blood Witch was so agitated. ¡°It was heartbreaking. The first dantian you encountered swallowed everything, that filthy prison of Richard¡¯s.¡± In that moment. Without any time to resist, the Blood Girl sped her hands behind his back. ¡°But I¡¯m different. I¡¯ve kept it all to myself without epting anyone else. Look.¡± A sweet voice. The Blood Girl ovepped each other¡¯s lower abdomen. Dantians touching each other skin to skin. He couldn¡¯t escape. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± Even if she asked, there was no answer. Her eyes narrowed in disappointment. ¡°I wish I could share more of this experience.¡± ¡°What¡­ Urgh!¡± The Blood Girl¡¯s dantian suddenly opened. A passage was instantlyid between their touching dantians. Every detail about her dantian was vividly felt. Its size, strength, contained magical power¡­ even the fullness of blood scent. It was just a connection. Nevertheless, Ian¡¯s mana surged toward the Blood Girl as if to be absorbed. Even though the Blood Girl wasn¡¯t trying to absorb it. ¡®What the¡­¡¯ Ian ground his teeth. His mana. He had to control it. However. The magical power did not flow through the mana circuit. There was no time to refine mana through battles with Richard. Impurities mixed with mana disrupted mana control. ¡®¡­ Damn it.¡¯ Mana, and everything else, surged toward the connection to her. All Ian could do was exert all his strength to block the passage. Smiling enchantingly at Ian, the Blood Girl spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back.¡± She pressed her body closer. The distance between their dantians grew closer. ¡°Feel it.¡± The Blood Girl gently twitched her lower abdomen. In that moment. The mana passageways that had been misaligned slid perfectly into ce. Ian gritted his teeth. But. ¡ª Crack! His mana, which had finally carved a narrow path, poured towards the Blood Girl. ¡°¡­ Tsk.¡± The Blood Witch¡¯s slightly parted lips emitted a sharp breath. She tightened her grip on Ian, exerting force with her fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, pour it all out.¡± Her dantian opened wide. ¡ª Gush! No, there might not even be an entrance to the dantian. He just felt his entire mana being sucked into her. Far away. He couldn¡¯t control it at all. At this rate, everything would be absorbed. ¡­ In that case. ¡ª Clench. Ian gritted his teeth. And he invoked his power. Not towards the Blood Girl, but through his own body. He rerouted the power along the same path where healing priests had channeled holy power into him, turning it into a mana circuit. ¡ª Sizzle! As soon as his power reached her dantian, the Blood Girl¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°Ugh!¡± With a startled groan, the Blood Girl recoiled. ¡°You¡­!¡± Blood trickled from her mouth. ¡°Wow, impressive indeed. Alright. I really like how you resist. Haha!¡± The Blood Girlughed as if amused. Ian stared at her incredulously. She seemed even more insane. Lick. After gulping down the flowing blood, she smiled a beautiful crimson. ¡°It was delicious, but you¡¯re not fully grown yet. I look forward to you growing enough to satisfy me. Don¡¯t forget today and satisfy me more next time.¡± In a foggy haze of elerated senses, Ian thought to himself. ¡®Crazy b*tch¡­¡¯ ¡°See you next time.¡± Her hair fluttered like silk. ¡ô Crash! A sound like something breaking echoed. Simultaneously. ¡ª The next Lichten-bound gate will open soon. Passengers, please¡­ ¡ª ng! ¡ª Damn it! I spilled it all out! All the sounds that had disappeared returned. Everything that had stopped moved vigorously as if someone had pressed the y button on a video. As if nothing had happened. The world began moving again. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 The moment the game called Fanta X Aca became a reality. There were several risks that had to be taken. The most serious of these was ¡®difficulty¡¯. True to its reputation for extreme difficulty, every single enemy was formidable, especially as the game progressed. Not only did powerful enemies appear, but the viins themselves also grew stronger. Richard Pierce was a prime example. Appearing out of nowhere in the 2nd Arc, Richard, who panicked yers,ter transformed into a cmity that swallowed people whole with overwhelming power, but there was also his role as the Northern Duke. Strong enemies became increasingly daunting. And then, a realistic problem was added to the mix. Ian became intertwined with the progress of Fanta X Aca¡¯s story.Hidden within the story¡¯s shadows were unknown viins. All that could be done was to vaguely specte based on the breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story. If Pongpong, whom they thought hadmitted suicide early in the story, suddenly appeared as a Bloodened, one could only vaguely specte that there was some connection to the Bloodstone Cult. Without even dreaming that it was the Blood Girl. Everything seemed to return to normal. ¡°¡­¡± Ian paused for a moment. It felt like he had returned from being detached from the world. ¡®¡­ Was it a dream?¡¯ Perhaps it was all just a pointless ordeal caused by suffering in the North. Could it make sense for a much stronger enemy to appear immediately after surpassing a scenario boss? The unchanged surroundings, as if nothing had happened, fostered even more futile hope. However¡­ It felt too vivid. The crimson gaze of the Blood Witch, the texture of her skin, everything. ¡ª Tap Tap As if to confirm, footsteps were heard in the distance. ¡°¡­¡± His mind grew distant. ¡®The challenges just keeping.¡¯ To face Richard Pierce and then confront such a nonsensical monster. ¡®I would¡¯ve been more at ease if it was all for nothing.¡¯ He preferred to believe he hadn¡¯t seen it at all. The reasons he couldn¡¯t easily believe it, despite its vividness, were twofold. First was the Blood Witch¡¯s iprehensible strength. ¡®The ability to stop time with magic¡­¡¯ He had never heard of such magic. If such a thing existed, it would be a bnce-breaking power. An absolute ability that was impossible to deal with. Even though Fanta X Aca was a cruel game, there was still a distinction between what was possible and what wasn¡¯t. But what Ian had just witnessed was clearly a scene where everyone except himself and the Blood Girl was frozen. ¡®Did she control each one of them?¡¯ It seemed more realistic that way. Entrapping every human here with magic, stopping them in their tracks, and doing the same with all objects was a deception. ¡®Whatever it is, it doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡¯ He sensed the extraordinary strength of the Blood Witch firsthand. She had the power to make the impossible possible. Second was her obsession. Anyway, Ian was currently growing. Growing meant that the enemies already strong enough didn¡¯t know much about Ian or pay much attention to him. For instance, figures like the ¡®2nd Prince¡¯ or the ¡®Inquisitor¡¯ had likely never heard of Ian ckangers. However. The Blood Witch was different. She clearly fixated on Ian himself. Beyond simple obsession, a distinct madness could be felt. The Blood Witch¡¯s touch was clearly filled with desire. ¡®Why.¡¯ Why would such a nonsensical monster lurk and watch. There was one guess. Yurran and Richard from the Bloodstone Cult that Ian had encountered. Both had subtly hinted that someone high up in the Bloodstone Cult had an interest in Ian. Moreover. The story just before Ian¡¯s fusion with Fanta X Aca supported that fact. Pongpong, who was supposed to have ¡®died¡¯ by s*icide in the story, turned into a Bloodened. If ordinary humans were considered just prey for the Bloodstone Cult¡­ Everything fell into ce when the Blood Witch was added to the mix. ¡°¡­¡± Ian swallowed dryly. His mouth felt bitter. ¡°Ian, are you okay? You¡¯re sweating.¡± Danya looked up at him with a worried expression. ¡°It must be because of mana exhaustion. I¡¯m fine.¡± While patting Danya¡¯s head, Lina ran over. She untied the handkerchief around her neck and wiped the sweat away. ¡°You should be fine now, Ian.¡± ¡°But why are you sweating so much all over¡­ Does something hurt?¡± Instead of answering, Ian asked them both. ¡°By any chance, did you just see something?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± Passing through the portal caused a brief dizziness, and they were immediately in Lichten. ¡ô Having finished one scenario, Ian wanted to take some time to rx. Now that he was aware of the Blood Witch¡¯s presence, getting at least a basic understanding of her was a priority. So, unpacking their belongings at the dormitory and heading towards the library seemed like a suitable n. ¡°¡­?¡± Walking down the street, Ian felt a subtle difort. It was because students passing by kept ncing at him. ¡®¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡¯ There were always people staring at Pongpong back in the day, but most of them openly scorned him. But now, it was a curious kind of nce. ¡°You were really impressive out there!¡± A male student in priestly robes passing by unexpectedly gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Uh, thanks for the support.¡± This time, a girl in priestly robes came over and murmured. ¡­ What¡¯s going on? Ian shrugged and opened the library door. Luckily, the scenery here remained the same. As always, a girl with sky-blue hair was sitting in the same spot with the same expression. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The librarian greeted him. Turning her eyes expressionlessly for about a second, she lowered her head back to her book. ¡®Initially, it was 0.1 seconds. Have we be closer?¡¯ With idle thoughts, Ian stood in front of the desk. The librarian looked up at Ian. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She replied with a slight nod. ¡°What did you do over the holidays?¡± No response. This means that you should ask questions quickly rather than being rude. Chatting is prohibited. The questions are in short answer form. After observing a few times, Ian realized how to handle this girl. ¡°Is time-stopping magic possible?¡± The end of his question coincided with the moment she closed her eyelids. As her sky-blue eyelids slid down halfway, they stopped. Ian was momentarily startled. Was time stopped again? It wasn¡¯t. ¡ª Swish ¡ª tter The noise of flipping through full shelves or adjusting chairs filled the surroundings. Only the girl in front of him remained frozen. ¡®Is this some kind of buffering?¡¯ Just as he thought that, the librarian¡¯s eyes closed fully, then opened. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°How?¡± Instead of answering, she picked up a notepad and pen. It wasrger than usual notepads. ¡®If it¡¯s this big, it¡¯s more like a notebook than a notepad, right?¡¯ To exaggerate a bit, it looked like a sketchbook. Ian leaned forward slightly. ¡®What is she writing?¡¯ ¡ª Scrible Scrible Along with the scratching sound of the pen on paper, ck ink filled the page densely. Neat, small handwriting about 8pt in size. With that small handwriting, the girl filled the notebook-sized notepad with a list of rted books. ¡°¡­ Uh.¡± ¡°?¡± Raising her head, she continued to toy with the pen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to read all of that.¡± Squeak. Her hand, like an unlubricated machine, stopped. The librarian nodded expressionlessly, as if nothing had happened. But Ian noticed. Thest stroke she had written was slightly off by about 1mm. ¡°Um, but I¡¯ll try my best to read through it. Would you mind?¡± Nod. ¡°Thank you.¡± He would have to read one book at a time whenever he had spare time. Preferably while the librarian was around. Folding the paper neatly and putting it in his pocket, he asked the next question. ¡°Could a very powerful viin ever watch over or raise someone who might harm them?¡± Ian was curious about the mysterious look the Blood Witch gave him. He wanted to understand how she perceived him. Nod. This time, without hesitation, the librarian handed him the notepad. Her cheeks seemed subtly flushed. Was it a feeling of joy, or just a misunderstanding? Ian nced at the notes. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
  • ¡¸My sl*ve was a prince of an enemy country, so what? ¡¹
  • ¡¸How to devour the disciple you¡¯ve painstakingly raised.¡¹
  • ¡¸Ah, Master! You can¡¯t do this! ¡¹
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°¡­¡± These were quite dizzying literary titles. Some theoretical books were listed on the back. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
  • ¡¸Psychology of Obsession and Love¡¹
-¡­
  • ¡¸Psychology of the TRPG Board Game Trend Among Recent Empire Youths: Focusing on the yer¡¯s Alternate Persona ¡®Character¡¯.¡¹
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª One particr word caught his eye. Character. Come to think of it, Fanta X Aca was essentially a typical character cultivation game. Heroines who, despite overwhelming talent needed to avert world destruction, were little more than cannon fodder. Even Lina Rosewell, who had shown considerable growth during her brief stint in the north. Handling fire spirits in a ce filled with nothing but ice was no easy task. Moreover, in situations where mana recovery was scarce, she faithfully fulfilled her role to the end. Danya was a bit of an exception. She wasn¡¯t a heroine, but rather met her end early on due to a definitive incident in the story. The talent disyed by the living butterfly effect of possession, to Ian¡¯s eyes, showed a remarkable growth trend. And then there was Sharon Pierce. Possessing the most radiant potential, yet appearing most mundane among heroines. Given her lineage from Richard and his master Sasha Asilia, her talent left no room for doubt. Suddenly, the thought urred because, prior to possession, Ian was just one of the yers. Being immersed in the fun of nurturing characters, he inevitably grew attached to them to the point of obsession. Ian realized that the way the Blood Witch looked at him was akin to how one would view a toy or a cherished doll. Of course, he wasn¡¯t saying she was a yer. Just that¡­ It was only then that I realized why the blood girl¡¯s eyes looked at her as if she was treating her as a toy or a favorite doll. He understood why the Blood Witch looked at him that way ¡ª his talent, intelligence. She had repeated such words. As if raising characters in a game, the Blood Witch was raising Ian in reality. Just for fun, or perhaps to devourter. ¡®¡­ This is really insane.¡¯ The desire glowed crimson in the Blood Witch¡¯s eyes, vivid even now. Wait. ¡®Why did she try to absorb my mana?¡¯ If he was just her ything, was there any need to harm him? The sudden thought made Ian quickly circte mana through his mana circuit. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s cleared up.¡± The tangles with Richard and the mana circuits had settled down. It must have been because he was sucked in by the Blood Witch once before. ¡°¡­¡± A tingling sensation crept up, and he remembered the stickyughter of the Blood Witch. At that moment. ¡ª Swoosh He heard the sound of hair brushing past. Ian lifted his head. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t the Blood Witch. The librarian was tilting her head slightly. It was only then that Ian realized he was still standing in front of the librarian. ¡°Ah, sorry.¡± Instead of a reply, the librarian nodded lightly. It must be okay. Ian waved the notepad she had given him. ¡°Thanks for the rmendations. I¡¯ll go read them.¡± As Ian was about to leave, a soft voice stopped him. ¡°Rather than books¡­¡± The librarian extended her finger. ¡°That person. Since earlier.¡± Ian turned his head in the direction of her finger. There stood Silvia, on the verge of tears. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Walking down the street to Silvia¡¯s office. A brisk, chilly wind blew from her. ¡®Have I returned to the North again?¡¯ Ian rubbed his arms. The chill was enough to make him momentarily think he had returned to the North. That¡¯s how they arrived at Silvia¡¯s office. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± Now he could feel the drop in temperature. As he sat down, Ian swallowed dryly.It felt like sitting in an interrogation room. Silvia opened her mouth, straightening her own light golden eyebrows and her purple eyes. ¡°When did you return to Lichten?¡± ¡°Today.¡± ¡°Did you go straight to the library?¡± ¡°¡­ I had something on my mind.¡± Pause. Silvia, sitting at her desk, scrutinized Ian sharply. ¡°Hmm.¡± In truth, she was slightly upset. Every time news of Ian¡¯s trip to the North reached her, it kept her awake at night. When the Princess hurried to the North, her anxiety was almost overwhelming. While everyone else waited anxiously for Ian¡¯s return, he simply dashed off to the library. Even rational Silvia couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips. ¡°He went to the library to see the librarian rather than books. He stood there just looking at her without reading anything.¡± A muttered remark, almost audible. Meanwhile, Ian nkly stared at Silvia¡¯s foot poking out from under the desk. It was an adorable sight, a fluffy slipper with a character on it. ¡®Why would Silvia wear something like that?¡¯ Ian lost in his thoughts, looking at the tips of Sylvia¡¯s feet. His thoughtful expression seemed reflective, softening Silvia¡¯s tone. ¡°Huh. So, what¡¯s the rtionship with the librarian?¡± ¡°The librarian?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No rtionship at all?¡± A straightforward reply. Silvia twirled her hair. She was already less annoyed. No. Rather, she was at a stage where she suddenly became embarrassed and wondered why she was like this. ¡°Ahem!¡± Though Silvia had already rxed considerably, there were still some points to address. Silviaposed herself. ¡°In fact, news of Mr. Ian¡¯s exploits in the North is spreading far and wide.¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yes. There haven¡¯t been any official reports from the Empire yet, but rumors are circting. To think the Northern Duke was Bloodstone Cultist is quite shocking. It¡¯s bound to spread quickly.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Moreover, the person who defeated such a Northern Duke is a student of Lichten Academy. It¡¯s truly remarkable.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done something truly remarkable, Mr. Ian.¡± Ian did not respond. Silvia¡¯s smiling face somehow felt cold. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like apliment.¡¯ Silvia¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°So, I understand perfectly now.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve be famous, you must not care about being Laurent¡¯s sessor anymore.¡± Smile. Her smile was chilling. The air around them tightened like a noose. Ian swallowed again. There was truth in Silvia¡¯s words. Despite everything, Ian had received a lot of help from her. He had even made a request before going to the North. ¡®I should have brought a gift at least.¡¯ Yeah. It was like leaving work to a teammate and going on a trip abroad. The problem wasing empty-handed and being greeted by her first, the worst-case scenario. ¡°¡­¡± He only just realized it was a crisis. A cold sweat ran down Ian¡¯s forehead. In the midst of the crisis, Ian¡¯s brain began to spin at an incredible speed. Instinctively, Ian formted a sentence to get out of this situation. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Silvia.¡± Intentionally stimting her embarrassment. At this point, Silvia would respond, ¡®Oh, I wasn¡¯t worried!¡¯ Then Ian would counter with, ¡®But you still showed concern,¡¯ finding a way to conclude the conversation. A tailored strategy that yed to Silvia¡¯s understanding. But Ian¡¯s sly n was shattered by Silvia¡¯s fastball. Silvia dered with a quiver in her voice. ¡°I-I was worried!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I was worried! A high-ranking noble¡­ and not just any noble but fighting the Northern Duke directly¡­ I couldn¡¯t sleep because I was so worried¡­¡± Ian stood before Silvia, lightly biting his lip. After the possession. It was the first time he had felt someone genuinely worry about him from behind. Silvia, who usually looked down on him, had her eyes slightly sad and emotional. Tear drops hung from her eyes, beautifully reflecting the light. Relieving herself, Ian sincerely spoke. ¡°Thank you for worrying, Silvia.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± But would that sincerity be conveyed properly? Silvia¡¯s face suddenly turned red. She blinked, cleared her throat, and eximed. ¡°I-I was worried in case¡­ I might lose a colleague! That¡¯s why I was worried!¡± Bam. Silvia, who had risen from her desk, bowed her head and swiftly sat in her spinning chair. ¡°Hmm!¡± She huffed and spun in her chair. After a few minutes of fidgeting, Silvia returned to her seat with her usual calm and rational face. ¡°Ahem. Let¡¯s get to the point.¡± ¡°¡­ Wasn¡¯t that the point earlier? You said you were worried.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it!¡± Excited Silvia regained herposure as she cleared her throat. ¡°The church will probably reward you soon. Probably with a significant reward. Maybe even a minimum of a deputy ranking.¡± ¡°The church? But I¡¯m not even a believer.¡± Silvia nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the point. To make you appear as a devout follower of Deus.¡± As Ian looked puzzled, Silvia exined. ¡°While you were in the North, there were some unfavorable rumors about the Saintess candidate circting. The church covered her up, and the process of handling the rumors was somewhat oppressive. Thanks to using inquisitorial methods, there was tension between the Empire and the autonomous government of Lichten.¡± In short, the continent¡¯s major religion, the Deus Church, and the Empire were bing strained. ¡°In such a situation, you, Mr. Ian, who defeated Richard, the Northern Duke and a member of the Bloodstone Cult. If the church embraces you, they can use Richard¡¯s status as the Northern Duke for a public opinion campaign against the Empire, and conversely, the Empire can defend against such campaigns and criticize the church for failing to properly track down a member of the Bloodstone Cult.¡± It wasplex, but the summary was simple. ¡°So it¡¯s apetition between the Empire and the Church. How long they can hold onto Ian¡¯s heart.¡± Emphasized by a deep breath, Silvia exined. ¡°Substantial rewards await Mr. Ian.¡± Gulp. Ian swallowed. Not out of greed. It was because of the tension. A substantial reward? Of course, many rewards are good. But he couldn¡¯t just smile. The stakes surrounding Ian had increased, meaning he could be exposed to stronger adversaries. ¡°Surprisingly, you don¡¯t seem too thrilled?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s because normally, neither the Church nor the Empire would bring such significant rewards.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If anything, under usual circumstances, they would have done their best to quietly bury the Richard incident.¡± ¡°Indeed, it suggests that there are factions within each side who surely oppose excessive rewards.¡± ¡°¡­ You¡¯re sharp.¡± With the conflict between them, Ian¡¯s potential rewards increased. But at the same time, so did the risks. When receiving rewards from each faction, one had to be mindful of the other¡¯s scrutiny and even the internal opposition within those factions. It was like being caught in the midst of political warfare. ¡®¡­ But could this actually be beneficial?¡¯ Upon reflection, Ian realized that while the risks were greater, the potential for greater rewards was also apparent. It wasn¡¯t just about ordinary rewards. Hidden Pieces that can only be obtained if you are involved with the church or the imperial family. He might be able to get a chance to ess them. ¡®¡­ Maybe it¡¯s actually a good thing.¡¯ However, Ian was beginning to feel a slight chill. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit cold in here?¡± At first, he thought it was because of Silvia¡¯s mood, but no. The office was genuinely cold. Silvia¡¯s attire was definitely unusual. She always wore stylish clothes, but today she was dressed in a fluffy outfit. ¡°Silvia, your style today is a bit different.¡± As he stared at her, she embraced her upper body as if someone had seen her n*ked. ¡°Don¡¯t look too much.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to show myself like this.¡± Desperately hiding herself under her desk. ¡­ Uhm. ¡°Hmph. Embarrassing.¡± Cute. The gap with Silvia was no joke. It felt like dressing a sophisticated nobledy in animal pajamas? Come to think of it, animal pajamas would suit her well, wouldn¡¯t they? Something with cat ears to match her image, or perhaps cute rabbit ears. ¡®I should give her a giftter.¡¯ For now, leave that as a hopeful thought. Ian shook his head to clear his imagination. Unlike Silvia¡¯s cuteness, the fact that the nobledy wore such clothes meant she was in quite a serious situation. Silvia¡¯s obsession with fashion was a part of her branding strategy. It meant she was pushed to the edge to give up on that. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of Raymond. The Lichten Autonomous Government is trying to increase their influence amidst the chaos caused by Raymond Senior.¡± Worry settled in Silvia¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­ They¡¯re fighting over money. We¡¯re scrimping because we don¡¯t have any funds left due to fighting them. It¡¯s basically a capital fight.¡± Indeed. In terms of capital, Emilia¡¯s Raymond would overwhelm Silvia¡¯s Laurent. But money. Ian suddenly remembered something he hadpletely forgotten. ¡°Oh right, the stocks.¡± Surely, with the surge of interest in the Northern Mountain Train, EcoMana should have skyrocketed. But then¡­ Silvia¡¯s face turned thoughtful. ¡°What¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ well.¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 About 2 weeks ago. Emilia Raymond¡¯s office. Emilia was savoring the pleasant smell of money permeating from the Academy. ¡°The progress of our ns is currently smooth. The conflict between the cult and the autonomous government is escting.¡± Upon hearing her subordinate¡¯s report, Emilia tapped her fingers on the table. Tap. Tap. Tap. The table, made of fine wood, responded with a soft resonance. However, she wasn¡¯t fond of the texture of the wood. Each time she tapped her fingers, its slight roughness bothered her. ¡°Please ensure the conflict continues. We must expand our influence as much as possible by exploiting the blind spots.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Lichten Academy. It was like a pot of money in itself. That¡¯s how Emilia Raymond saw it. She began to engulf Lichten from its darker corners. Capturing professors to expand influence, ultimately even taking control of the board of directors. Seizing Lichten Academy. That was Emilia Raymond¡¯s primary goal. Currently, the n seemed to be sailing smoothly. However. ¡°¡­¡± Someone was bothering her. Since the first time she saw him, constantly. Ian ckangers. That¡¯s what it boiled down to. ¡°¡­ Come to think of it, what about that guild we were concerned aboutst time? How¡¯s their stock doing?¡± ¡°Are you referring to EcoMana?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°As you mentioned, we¡¯re currently selling off all the shares.¡± ¡°Selling off aggressively, I presume?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re dividing and selling off the shares to maximize the impact on the stock price, just as you instructed.¡± ¡°We should be able to push down over thirty percent.¡± ¡°Yes. Unless something unexpected happens. However¡­ if there¡¯s unexpectedly good news, given our short positions, we¡¯ll have to bear some losses¡­ Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°Mr. Kyle.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ever dabbled in stocks? You¡¯d be rich if good news spreads.¡± ¡°I-I apologize.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry and handle it.¡± ¡ô A week passed. Silvia¡¯s office. ¡°¡­ Actually, that¡¯s the thing. The stock has been plummeting until recently.¡± Silvia said, herplexion turning pale. ¡°Plummeting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How much did it drop?¡± ¡°About 35%. That was thest I checked, three days ago.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Ian rubbed his chin. Wasn¡¯t the investment one gold? From Ian¡¯s current standpoint, it was a considerable sum, but not enough to be a major problem if forgotten about. Just skip a meal or two a day. ¡°So, Ian, you mentioned before heading north, if it drops, you¡¯d like to borrow under your name and keep buying.¡± ¡­ Ah, right. He requested Silvia to buy at every dip. That was Ian¡¯s request to Silvia. ¡°But it shouldn¡¯t be too much, right?¡± Anyway, Ian was already halfway detached. Even if a loan was taken out in his name, it might only amount to around 0.5 gold. ¡°W-Well.¡± Silvia stuttered, then rolled her eyes. ¡°The Princess even provided a guarantee.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°About triple the principal?¡± Saying that, Silvia handed over some documents. ¡°This is the interest that Ian should pay going forward.¡± Ian entered the numbers on the paper into his mind with a distant gaze. Hmm. Are there guilds like loan sharks even in fantasy? Maybe he should find a free cafeteria somewhere. ¡°Silvia, you¡¯ve got connections, don¡¯t you?¡± She really dug into all his assets. ¡°Of course! I trust Ian¡¯s information.¡± Silvia said enthusiastically. Come to think of it, their rtionship started when Ian began selling information to Silvia. Ian realized this situation was his own doing. ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard news of it dropping recently, so I forgot about it. It¡¯s probably¡­ dropped quite a bit.¡± It seemed that Silvia was indeed only buying stocks when they dropped, just as Ian had mentioned. ¡°Hmm.¡± Ian was somewhat taken aback. Sure, three gold was a lot from the standpoint of someone who¡¯s broke, but it wasn¡¯t entirely unattainable money. Besides, there were rewards to be harvested here and there. Therefore, his surprise wasn¡¯t due to the debt or interest. ¡®Has the story gone off track?¡¯ Originally, after the special event on the Northern Range Train, EcoMana¡¯s stock should have soared. ¡°Has there been any news rted to the Northern Range Train?¡± ¡°¡­ There was something about it around three days ago.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Only then did Ian realize what was happening. The proper articles were dyed. Imperial Gazette¡¯s journalist, Schwab, who was the only witness to the derailment incident, was caught up in the Richard incident. It was probably after his return that the proper articles starteding out. ¡®Ah, I see.¡¯ Ian¡¯s mouth curved upwards. ¡°Silvia, let¡¯s head to the stock exchange for a bit.¡± It was time to reap the rewards. ¡ô [Continental Securities Association Lichten Branch Stock Exchange] The waiting room of the stock exchange was still bustling with people. ¡ª It seems like both the mana and energy sectors are taking a big hit from this incident. ¡ª We relied on trust as our greatest weapon, and now it¡¯s crumbling¡­ While some engaged in deep conversations while sitting with crossed legs. ¡ª Refund, refund! I can¡¯t believe they turned into pieces of paper in a day! There were also customers who were dragged out. Probably not a customer anymore. But when will the assigned staff arrive? ¡°Silvia, are you sure it¡¯s okay? I brought you here even though you¡¯re busy¡­ Do you want to go back first?¡± ¡°N-no way! I¡¯ll wait too.¡± Silvia stubbornly shook her head. ¡­ Did she feel responsible? She didn¡¯t need to. As they waited for a moment. ¡°Ahem.¡± The staff member they first encountered here arrived. Slightly rude and always boasting about his rmendations. ¡°Oh? You two were the newlyweds back then.¡± It seemed like he recognized them. Did he remember that? Thump. Ian¡¯s eyes softened as Silvia leaned against him naturally. She casually linked her arms. -It¡¯s all an act. Remember when we pretended to be newlyweds here? Her cheeks blushed slightly as she whispered. ¡°Are you here to check on the stock you purchased back then? What kind of stock was it again? Come this way for now.¡± The staff¡¯s attitude was quite arrogant. Well, it was understandable since everyone ignored his rmendations back then. Well, customers forgetting what they bought was normal for this level of employee. As they walked through the corridor into the exchange. Through the window, Ian noticed the mana-rted stocks tinted in blue in the distance. There were stories about all rted stocks dropping. Ian asked the staff member. ¡°I remember you rmended mana-rted stocks when we were herest time. Seems like they¡¯re not doing well these days?¡± ¡°Oh. Um, well. It was a decent sector back then.¡± The employee ended vaguely, exaggerating his tone. ¡°Well, rather! Mana is all the rage now. Remember the incident with the North Trans-Mountain Train stopping recently?¡± ¡°Yes. It was in the news not long ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been on the rise ever since. If one had invested in this from the start, they¡¯d be rich in no time. Not many people like that, though. They¡¯re truly skilled.¡± ¡°Is it that significant?¡± ¡°As a guest, you probably wouldn¡¯t know much if it was your first time buying back then.¡± Another employee interjected. ¡°Even just looking at EcoMana, one of the best-performing mana-rted stocks recently, it¡¯s staggering.¡± Silvia, who had been concentrating on the sensation of her arms around Ian, blurted out without thinking. ¡°¡­EcoMana?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. What¡¯s interesting about this stock is that it¡¯s tripled three times and doubled once in thest four trading days.¡± ¡°W-what? So, that means¡­¡± Silvia¡¯s eyes widened as she tapped her temple. Seeing her widened eyes, the employee chuckled. ¡°Hard to believe, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s risen by more than 60 times. If you yed this stock well, it could go even further.¡± The employee, as if he had be a shareholder of EcoMana, was in high spirits. ¡°Anyway. Well. This is the realm of the experts after all. By the way, sir. What did you buyst time? Let me check the returns for you.¡± The employee¡¯s expression as he asked this had a faint smirk. Checking the stocks Ian had bought while ignoring his rmendations, as if to see how much they had risen. Ian replied calmly. ¡°¡­EcoMana.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°The stocks I boughtst time were EcoMana.¡± Upon arriving at the main stock exchange, the employee¡¯s legs froze in ce. Above his head, a terminal shed with the message [EcoMana, up 10% today]. ¡°How much did you buy it for back then, sir?¡± ¡°I bought it for one gold. I think I bought more, so it¡¯s around three gold now.¡± ¡°Ah, um¡­¡± The employee was tongue-tied again, like a cat that had eaten the cream. Ian asked him. ¡°Could you check my bnce now?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Yes, sir. Please wait a moment.¡± Taking Ian¡¯s membership card, the employee scanned it on the terminal and checked the numbers. ¡ªAh! A death like a scream. He returned, almost as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°Your current bnce is¡­ 180 gold, sir.¡± Combining Silvia¡¯s additional investment amount with the original three gold, now evaluated at 180 gold. A return rate of more than 60 times. ¡°Well, then. I¡¯ll sell half for now.¡± The employee, who should have mumbled something like ¡®what the h*ll¡¯, silently went to get the cheque. ¡°H-here you go, sir.¡± Ian lowered his hand. 90 gold. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 After receiving the check. Ian, along with Silvia, headed straight to the bank. [Charles Bancorp Lichten Branch] ¡°Customer Ian! Wee!¡± An enthusiastic employee rushed over to greet him warmly. It was the same female employee who always weed him whenever he came. ¡°Pleasee over here and have a seat. Oh, is this your girlfriend? She¡¯s so beautiful. Here, have a cup of tea.¡± Her guidance, from the entrance to the customer reception table, contrasted sharply with the unfriendliness of stock exchange employees. Silvia was also smiling, looking quite satisfied.¡°No trouble with repaying the interest, right?¡± Although the inquiry seemed to carry a will and greed for collections and performance if unable to repay, Ian chose to interpret it positively. ¡®¡­Well, at least they¡¯re friendly.¡¯ Ian decided to view things in a good light. The employee, who had been alternating between smiling at Ian and Silvia, whispered cautiously to Ian. ¡°Um, Ian¡­ I¡¯m sorry, but additional loans might be difficult.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Although the Princess guarantees it, even just the interest being charged to you exceeds the average amount that amoner can earn. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Perhaps the employee mistook Ian for seeking another loan. Come to think of it, hadn¡¯t he been increasing his loans every time? As the monthly interest started surpassing what an average middle-ss sry could cover, it seemed even the bank realized it couldn¡¯t continue. ¡­ But why whisper it? ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend¡­¡± The employee wore a face filled with apologies. In reality, if you dissected the employee¡¯s words, they meant, ¡®We can¡¯t lend you any more money. Prove that you have the ability to repay.¡¯ However, Ian found the cautious approach strangely pleasant, making the listener feel better. The employee was quite adept at handling interactions. ¡®I should continue using their services often.¡¯ Ian smiled lightly at the embarrassed employee. ¡°No, I¡¯m not here for a loan today.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to repay the loan.¡± ¡°Re-repay?¡± The employee¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°The entire amount.¡± ¡°¡­All of it?!¡± ¨C Bam! The employee stood up abruptly, making a loud noise, then quickly apologized to those around. She continued to stare at Ian in disbelief. ¡°All¡­ all that loan amount? H-how?¡± She was beyond shocked. Ian silently handed over a nk check with the amount from selling EcoMana stock. ¡°¡­ Really?¡± Tears welled up in the employee¡¯s eyes as she looked at the check. ¡°Please convert the remaining amount into cash after repaying the loan.¡± ¡°R-remaining?¡­ What?!¡± She checked the amount and froze. Ian was equally astonished by the overly flustered reaction of the employee. ¡°¡­¡± Was this really such a surprising event? While not a small sum, banks routinely handle muchrger amounts. ¡ª Swish A tear trickled down the employee¡¯s cheek. No! Why is this happening! Her mouth hung open. ¡°It was Ian who was paying interest with a lot of money¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I was really cheering on the inside. I couldn¡¯t ask, but I thought there must be a story behind it.¡± Ah. So that¡¯s what it was. He felt somewhat sorry for her. ¡°¡­¡± Ian remained silent. There was no way he was going to say Pongpong was starting to act like a simp. Sigh. Sigh. The employee, wiping tears with her sleeve, asked hesitantly. ¡°I-I¡¯m really sorry, but¡­ can I ask where your fundse from? Not from drugs, gambling, fraud, or illegal trading, right?¡± Ian pointed silently at the check issuer. ¡°Oh right, the issuer¡­ it was the Securities Association.¡± Afterward. Principal and interest repayment, document processing, etc., all proceeded swiftly. ¡°The remaining bnce is 55 gold coins and 17 silver coins.¡± The employee grinned broadly, presenting a hefty pouch. ¡°Congrattions, Ian!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Um, by the way¡­¡± Dum Dum. The bustling employee looked up. ¡°Will you be getting another loan next time?¡± Her name tag caught Ian¡¯s eye beyond her flowing brown hair. [Veril] ¡°Of course, Veril.¡± Kindness is always wee. ¡ô They returned to Silvia¡¯s office. The pouch of gold coins now fuller than when they left. ¡°¡­ 55 gold coins.¡± Silvia muttered as she gazed at the pouch on the table with a half-dazed expression. ¡°Are you alright, Silvia?¡± Silvia didn¡¯t respond to the question. ¡°¡­¡± She just stared nkly at the pouch of gold coins. ¡°Uh, Silvia!¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Silvia, startled, finally turned this way. ¡°W-what is it!¡± ¡°Just snap out of it.¡± ¡°Did I¡­ seem strange?¡± ¡°Yeah. You were just staring at the gold coins.¡± Blink Blink. Blinking rapidly, Silvia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she nervously extended her hand. ¡°I-I¡¯ve never had any thoughts of sneakily taking Ian¡¯s gold coins or anything like that!¡± Silvia¡¯s lips trembled with drool streaming down. Under Ian¡¯s piercing gaze, she shook her hand more assertively. ¡°I absolutely didn¡¯t think, ¡®If only I had that money, I could make it through this month.¡¯ I would never have such shameless thoughts! Of course, I¡¯m desperate, but I have confidence. Yes!¡± Silvia raised her voice as if giving a speech. It was a new side of her that seemed to draw inspiration from her noble upbringing. ¨C Whoosh! Silvia stood up, clenching her fist. ¡°I, Silvia Laurent of House Laurent, will triumphantly navigate this liquidity crisis!¡± ¡°Wow.¡± p, p, p¡ªIan reflexively apuded with enthusiasm. ¡°Ugh!¡± With heightened energy, Silvia pointed at the pouch of gold coins with her finger. ¡°Therefore, I have never coveted Ian¡¯s gold coins!¡± ¡°¡­ Wipe that drool off your mouth and speak, Silvia.¡± ¡°Chuup.¡± Silvia swallowed her saliva and blushed as she sat back down. ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed¡­¡± Thump, thump, thump. She tapped her forehead on the desk for a while before lifting her head. ¡°What will you do with that money, Ian?¡± Silvia, with a bright red forehead, asked. Ian smiled. ¡°Why are youughing? I¡¯m genuinely asking! Hmph!¡± With her arms crossed, she pursed her lips. ¡°To invest.¡± ¡°Another investment?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The reason Ian sought this money was simple. ¡°I¡¯ve found a better investment opportunity than where I originally invested.¡± It was a significant investment opportunity that wouldn¡¯t normally be avable unless it was an urgent event, with considerable value. ¡°¡­ Where is that?¡± ¡°Here.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes?¡± ¡°Laurent. I want to invest in the Lichten branch managed by Silvia Laurent.¡± Silvia blinked slowly several times. Her face seemed unsure whether to smile or cry. Her confused face. After a few moments of hesitation, her pink lips parted. ¡°Ian¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Why do you go out of your way to help me so much? From our first meeting, you¡¯ve been helping me, giving me information, providing potions, saving me¡­ What am I to you?¡± Well¡­ She told herself¡­ ¡°Silvia Laurent herself.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± A girl who, despite her aloof exterior, knows how to appreciate when something is given to her. A girl who always strives to repay what she receives. A girl with a vessel notcking in talent, possessing faith and trust. Silvia Laurent is such a presence. That¡¯s why. ¡°Someone with many things they want to do together. That¡¯s you, to me, Silvia.¡± Silvia¡¯s violet eyes shimmered slightly. Pook. Silvia immediately lowered her head and muttered. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Well, I guess it didn¡¯t mean what I thought it meant.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a secret.¡± Ahem! Silvia cleared her throat and raised her head again. Her face was quite red, perhaps from the rush of blood. But her voice was filled with determination. ¡°Should I consider this a business proposal? You want to be with Laurent?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ian extended his hand to her. Silvia reached out and held his hand. ¡°Please take care of me, Ian.¡± With a smile brighter than ever. ¡ô Back at his lodgings, Ianid down on the bed after a long time. ¡°Ah, I missed this. Oh, bed.¡± It wasn¡¯t particrly cozy like a budget amodation, but there was afort that came from familiarity. As hey buried for a while, his mind naturally began to churn. ¡°Now there are only two left.¡± Havingpleted the second chapter of the scenario, the remaining heroines were Aria and Emilia. ¡°The scenario continues to intertwine.¡± No, let¡¯s be precise. The main storyline progresses for the heroines. After all, Fanta X Aca is a game about collecting and nurturing heroines. Just as the episode of ¡°Grand Duke of the North¡± was crafted around Sharon Pierce¡¯s activity, there are episodes for Aria and Emilia. This means that it will inevitably be entangled with religious denominations and religious organizations. ¡°Aria Lumines Bell is naturally associated with the church.¡± Aria is a candidate for sainthood from the Church of Deus,monly referred to simply as the ¡®Church¡¯. Deus Church. It is the state religion of most countries on the continent, including the Empire, and therefore wields considerable influence. Considering Aria¡¯s title as a saintess candidate, her influence extends not only to the Deus Church¡¯s Lichten branch but also to the Pope. The Pope of the Deus Church is not only the leader of the religion but also the leader of the Holy Kingdom of Constantine, a country located in the southern part of the continent. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± That doesn¡¯t mean Emilia Raymond¡¯s side is any easier. Raymond is a prominent faction in the Empire. Their influence, which has taken root not only in the Empire but across the entire continent, can never be said to be weaker than that of the Church. ¡°Hah, it¡¯s like climbing a mountain after another.¡± Ultimately, since they¡¯ve be heroines, the scenario¡¯s difficulty is expected to increase several times. Of course, it¡¯s not impossible to navigate without them. After all, even Sharon Pierce, whom he once thought waspletely stoic, was eventually utilized in some way. For now, let¡¯s observe the situation a little longer. Aria Lumines Bell is reportedly not in good condition, and Emilia seems to be actively moving within her faction. There¡¯s a need to gather more information about them before the next main scenario begins. ¡°Phew!¡± Ian stretched and let out unnecessary worries. It¡¯s daunting that the board has suddenly expanded. But as the board expands, there are also many things to utilize. The reason Ian left 10 gold after urgently funding Silvia was also for this. The essence of this game is originally a ¡°pay-to-win-style cute girl gacha game¡±. ¡°Skill is important, but money is equally important in this game.¡± As the assets grow, the level of opportunities one can ess¡ªinformation, equipment, hidden pieces, etc.¡ªchanges. ¡°Shall I spend some money properly for a change?¡± Smirk. Ian¡¯s lips curled up at the thought. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Making gold was hard, but spending it wisely was even harder. The purse of gold coins that hung from his waist jingled. He currently had 10 gold coins. In addition to what he has earned as a prophet, which amounts to about one gold coin saved in the Kirtos Network during that time, he had approximately 11 gold coins in his possession. ¡°¡­ Come to think of it, there will be some pretty good weapons at the auction.¡± Lunar is in a lot of pain after everything that¡¯s happened. The [Auction System], which was almost like a mainstay during gaming, is likely to be implemented again. If that system remains the same, items that suit his current situation will soon be avable at the auction. ¡°I think it was around 200 gold.¡± As the price suggests, it¡¯s not only high-performing but also holds unrecognized value. It shouldplement transformation and extraction skills well.¡°For now, I should aim for that as my main weapon.¡± Tap. Sitting at the desk, he bounced the pen off the paper. ¡°Utility and uniqueness can be covered by the Numbers promised by the Princess.¡± Items in the 100s certainly have strong utility, so much so that people might suspect. They are items that others don¡¯t even know how to use properly. ¡°I still have plenty of time to adjust to the items.¡± He needed to get used to these items, but there¡¯s no need to rush into equipping them right away. ¡°Then maybe I should focus on making money for now.¡± Investing in Sylvia¡¯s project and leaving a hefty sum of 10 gold coins without a second thought isn¡¯t simple. Rustle. Feeling the rough texture of the paper, he toyed with the pen. [Business] He was thinking of starting a steady funding business. The purpose is not just to make money. ¡°It¡¯s not just about the advantages.¡± As he felt paying off loans at the bank, his status so far has been as a meremoner. Even if he earns money, he¡¯ll soone under suspicion. On the other hand, running a business changes things. Not just amon student, but a ¡®president¡¯es into y. It is easier to get a loan than simply having money, and the biggest advantage is that you can use your qualifications to shop around. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to open any big business.¡± With 10 gold, you can start a business like a restaurant that requires little capital. He ns to target the students from the Academy. ¡®Students can easily do business within the Academy.¡¯ This advantage must be utilized to the fullest. The academy is a ce where many children of wealthy nobles gather. Indeed, what yields the highest profit is¡­ [Business Item]: Dessert There is one item that could leverage my experience in the North. ¡°Should I call Danya for now?¡± ¡ô The next morning. The Northern Market was bustling with numerous merchants and customers since dawn. ¡°Fresh fish directly imported from Constantine! Even the Pope approves of its taste!¡± ¡°Armor made from monster hides, meticulously crafted by hand. Lightweight and impervious even to beast ws¡­!¡± Amidst the bustling noise, I briefly walked along the street. Near the agreed-upon meeting ce, he spotted Danya standing upright. More precisely, he noticed her standing confidently with her pink tail. To be exact, her tail, which drew a doughnut shape in the air while rotating. ¡®That¡¯s her way of surveying the surroundings.¡¯ After spending a long time in the northern region, specifically within Richard¡¯s dantian, he¡¯s gained a better understanding of Danya. More urately, he learned to interpret her tail. Her tail, drawing slow circles towards the sky, was scanning the area. When her tail is drooping, she¡¯s out of energy. When tucked between her legs, she¡¯s scared or embarrassed. And¡­ ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Startled like this, each hair on the tail stands on end. ¡°Why are you so surprised? It¡¯s just me.¡± ¡°Ian, you¡­ Hmph!¡± Danya crossed her arms and turned her head as if she was angry. ¡°You kept me waiting for so long.¡± ¡°Like Danya would wait for someone like you! I just got here!¡± Despite her heavily pouting and angry expression¡­ When she swings her tail to the right like that, it means she¡¯s happy to meet someone she¡¯s been waiting for. With closed eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but smile at Danya maintaining her ¡®hmph!¡¯ expression. ¡°Hehe!¡± ¡°Why are youughing like that!¡± Danya tried hard to keep up the act of being mad. He should keep it a secret that her tail reveals her feelings, even for her sake. After pursing her lips for a moment, Danya spoke up. ¡°Ahem. Anyway. Why did you want to meet today? What are you nning to buy?¡± ¡°Fruits.¡± ¡°¡­ Fruits?¡± ¡°Yes. I need a variety of fruits that can be eaten in one bite.¡± Danya tilted her head. ¡°What do you need those for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you once I buy them.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± What could he possibly need fruits for? Danya¡¯s lukewarm response showed herck of enthusiasm. Of course, he knows how to invigorate her spirit. ¡°The important thing is finding fresh fruits, and this seems to be your specialty, Danya. It requires sensitivity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Please. Lead me to a store with fresh fruits.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± That¡¯s praise right there. Praise makes even sulky Danya dance. Danya immediately switched to exploration mode. Her tail gently swayed as she sniffed around. Come to think of it¡­ ¡®I also need wooden skewers, sugar, and an ice-making device. I should know where to buy those.¡¯ There are a few more things he needs to prepare, but for now, he followed Danya¡¯s lead. The first ce Danya led him to was arge store piled high with various fruits. ¡°Are you students from the academy? Are you looking for specific fruits?¡± A tidy-looking merchant came out to greet them. ¡°We¡¯re looking for various types of fruits.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯vee to the right ce. Please try some at our tasting corner.¡± Oh wow. There were indeed all kinds of fruits prepared for tasting. They were generally tasty and fresh. Meanwhile, Danya looked somewhat puzzled. ¡°Could you give us a box of these fruits to try?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± The cheerful merchant handed us a box of fruits. ¡°You can enjoy them just as they taste during the taste text.¡± Then, Danya¡¯s sniffing nose. ¡°Just a moment.¡± She reached into the box and pulled out the fruits at the bottom. They were all dried up and moldy. ¡°No wonder it smelled strange inside. Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Swoosh. Danya¡¯s professional demeanor as she turned and walked away was truly impressive. ¡ô ¨C This one¡¯s rotten! ¨C Umm¡­ not fresh! And so, Ian and expert sniffer Danya wandered through the market for an hour or two. ¡°Oh!¡± Danya¡¯s ears perked up, and she darted into an alleyway. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± That¡¯s how they barged through the crowd and entered a narrow alleyway. Inside the shabby-looking shop that seemed like it would copse any minute. [Uncle¡¯s Fruit Store] Even the half-faded sign seemed somewhat unsettling¡­ ¡°Here it is! This way!¡± Danya wagged her tail and pointed towards the shop. ¡°Huh? Who¡¯s making a ruckus in front of someone else¡¯s shop?¡± ¡°Heeee!¡± Startled by the person who came out of the shop, Danya clung to his side. He certainly looked ragged enough to be scary. But he didn¡¯t sense any malice. ¡°I came to see some fruits.¡± ¡°¡­ Come in.¡± After ncing around as if smuggling something, the man gestured them into the shop. ¡°¡­ Is this a decent ce?¡± ¡°The smell is the freshest here!¡± He decided to trust Danya¡¯s words for now. Contrary to its appearance, the inside of the store was quite tidy. Numerous boxes of fruits lined up neatly. Meanwhile, the man inside the store, with crossed arms, proudly disyed his rugged muscles. ¡°Um, could we perhaps taste some of these?¡± ¡°Taste what?¡± The man looked over with suspicion. In a low voice, he asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°¡­ Can we try some?¡± ¡°Oh. Taste test? Just open any box and try.¡± Don¡¯t they usually offer the best for tasting? He started examining the boxes on the outer edge. ¡®Oh. These are really fresh?¡¯ Meanwhile, Danya, who had been sniffing quietly, rushed over to a box. In her hand was a bright red fruit. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a tomato. The folks in Constantine call it the devil¡¯s fruit.¡± ¡°The devil¡¯s fruit?¡± Danya tilted her head and licked the skin. ¡°It doesn¡¯t taste like anything.¡± ¡°You have to eat the inside.¡± Squish. Danya pressed down with her fingers. ¡°Wait a minute, if you press like that¡­!¡± Pop! ¡°¡­ It popped.¡± Danya¡¯s face was smeared with tomato pulp. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, like a cat cleaning itself. Then she licked her hand. ¡°It¡¯s tangy and sweet!¡± Danya wiped the tomato off her cheek while gently wagging her tail. ¡°¡­ You¡¯re not a kid.¡± With a sigh, Ian wiped Danya¡¯s face with a handkerchief and handed her a tomato. Nevertheless, it was unexpected. Apart from not being nicely disyed, the overall quality of the fruits was excellent. ¡°Most of them seem fresh and delicious.¡± ¡°I grew or hand-picked all of them myself!¡± Her man hit his chest vigorously. ¡°By the way, you b*stard! You seem to know how to look at some fruit!¡± The man flexed his shoulders. His bulging muscles looked impressive. ¡°These scars! They¡¯re from pruning in the orchard! Ha, that apple tree. It was formidable!¡± ¡­ He¡¯s nuts. Anyway, befriending the man turned out not so bad. It would be a bit inconvenient to buy so many different types of fruits one box at a time, so he asked. ¡°Can we buy them one at a time?¡± ¡°Hahaha! I can¡¯t refuse such recognition of my fruits from a young friend like you!¡± In an instant, with the close proximity, he was able to receive both hands full of fruits. Buying fruit felt like winning a battle. ¡°Now let¡¯s go, Danya.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ Okay!¡± Danya, who had been peeling and licking the tomato skin, followed along. ¡°Come again next time!¡± He bowed his head to the man and went outside. ¡°Where to next?¡± Danya asked with a tilted head. ¡°To make.¡± ¡°¡­ Make what?¡± ¡°A dessert that duplicates money.¡± Hehehe. He managed to suppress the urge to smirk. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 ¡°By the way, Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think you bought too much? It seems like too much to eat at once.¡± Danya tilted her head in confusion. Well, it made sense. She had followed without any exnation, so it was natural for her to be curious. Danya was a key figure in the ¡®Ice Sugar Fruit Project¡¯. She needed a bit more detailed exnation. ¡°Danya, do you remember eating [Ice Grape] in the North?¡± Ice Grape. It¡¯s a fruit enjoyed by at least counts, dukes, or equivalent bourgeois among the nobility. Formoners or lower nobility, having the chance to eat it even once in a lifetime would be a stroke of luck.Sweet ice envelops arge bunch of grapes, making it a symbolic luxury item that epitomizes a tangy and sweet delight. Its unique characteristic was its high price due to being produced only in certain areas beyond the northern border. He, too, first tasted it thanks to Silvia, and then only at the Northern Grand Duke¡¯s social gatherings. ¡°Yeah. It was really delicious!¡± Recalling that memory, Danya beamed with a broad smile. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of selling something simr within the academy.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t that an incredibly expensive fruit?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°Only someone like Silvia can afford to eat it!¡± ¡°No. She can¡¯t eat it anymore either.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°That happens.¡± An image of Silvia shivering in her office in fluffy bunny slippers came to mind. Anyway. Clearing his throat, he corrected Danya¡¯s misunderstanding. ¡°We¡¯re not selling that fruit. We¡¯re going to make something simr.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°With these fruits.¡± They would coat the surfaces of fresh fruits with sugar water to create a snowke-like appearance. Having already made simr dishes before, he was confident. Even if it wouldn¡¯t be on the level of [Ice Grape], they could make ¡®Ice Sugar Fruits¡¯ that wereparable. As he walked around, he realized again that not only the academy but also the markets didn¡¯t sell simple, enjoyable desserts like this. If they started selling ¡®Ice Sugar Fruits¡¯ in such ces? They might need to buy scales to count the money because they would earn too much to count one by one. The cost of raw materials was minimal, so the profit would be enormous. ¡°Hehehe.¡± ¡°Ian, you¡¯ve beenughing like a viin for a while¡­¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Ahem. It was hard to contain hisughter at the path of flowers thaty ahead. As he tried topose himself, Danya was struggling beside him. ¡°Ugh. It¡¯s heavy¡­¡± Danya whimpered. Her left hand was full of fruits for the project. Her other hand held tomatoes he bought for her as a reward. It was hard to help her since his hands were already full. ¡°Using mana doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea.¡± Depending on the elemental attribute, the efficiency varies, but most elements can enhance physical strength. With Danya¡¯s grass attribute, it would be like reinforcing her arms with vines. ¡°If it were the old you, struggling with grass element resonance, it might have been difficult. But now, it¡¯s definitely possible.¡± ¡°Yeah! I can do it now!¡± Danya immediately straightened her shoulders and raised her nose proudly. ¡°But relying on magic alone doesn¡¯t make you strong!¡± ¡°Strength?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve realized muscles are just as important as magic!¡± ¡­Ah. Now that he thought about it, in the North, Danya and Lina were always with Yerina. While he trained with his master, it seems Danya was influenced by Yerina somehow. ¡°Physical training should be integrated into daily life! Hand over your bags to me, Ian!¡± He rushed ahead urgently. ¡°Why are you running away?¡± He preferred soft flesh over muscles, after all. That¡¯s how they naturally found themselves on the street of magitech. ¡°But how are you going to make ice?¡± Danya asked with a sharp tone. In a world where the concept of ¡®freezing¡¯ something was rare, there were refrigerators powered by magic tech, but they were expensive and only maintained a certain degree of coldness. Ice was the exclusive ability of frost-type adepts. ¡°We¡¯re going to buy it.¡± ¡°¡­Buy what?¡± ¡°A massive refrigerator.¡± ¡°?¡± Stores lined the streets,rge and small. In addition, there were disys of magitech equipment like an electronics market, catching the eyes of passersby. ¡°Refrigerators, the cheapest ones are in our store!¡± ¡°Buy one get one free!¡± ¡°We guarantee the lowest price! If you find it cheaper elsewhere, we¡¯ll refund you the difference!¡± Leading Danya, who was lost in the fiercepetition of hawkers, he walked straight into a side alley. Because he knew a store hidden here. ¡¾ Magic Engineering Research Institute ¡¿ Like any hidden gem, the shabby exterior of the store inspired confidence. It was a familiar ce, often visited for magitech-rted quests. As the bustling noises from inside reached them, the sliding door opened, and a woman emerged. Long brown hair covering her eyes. An attire that couldn¡¯t be distinguished between pajamas or sweatpants. sses so thick you couldn¡¯t guess how high the prescription was. At a nce, the identity of the gloomy woman was clear: a genius magitech engineer, Amy. In a voice that seemed to crawl, she opened her mouth. ¡°W-What can I do for you?¡± ¡°We heard you¡¯re selling high-performance refrigerators here.¡± ¡°Ah. Hehehe¡­¡± Chuckling Amy entered and rustled around beforeing out with something the size of a box. ¡°B-But, it¡¯s ex-expensive¡­¡± Do you intend to buy it or not? ¡°How much?¡± ¡°5, 5 gold.¡± In modern terms, the value of a decent foreign car. For a refrigerator at that price, it was natural that it wouldn¡¯t sell, even with magitech. ¡°The price¡­¡± ¡°Oh, no. I can¡¯t sell it for less than that!¡± Shuffle. Amy shook her head looking at the floor. Her head was spinning like a propeller. ¡°Th-This isn¡¯t intentionally overpriced, right? It¡¯s because it costs a lot to make. I used 99.9999% pure apatite ore to make the circuit and coated it with raymonium¡­ Hehehe. It¡¯s incredibly cold. I wanted to make the coldest refrigerator in the world¡­ Hehe.¡± ¡­ Selling something like that as a refrigerator, no wonder people wouldn¡¯t buy it. In fact, this was more valuable than a refrigerator. Unlike regr magic refrigerators that only cool the inside with cold air, this one maintained even colder temperatures by producing frost elements. On closer inspection, the core of the device wasn¡¯t about ¡®refrigeration¡¯. It was a device that transformed other elements into ¡®frost elements¡¯. The fact that this gloomy magitech engineer was considering it merely as a ¡®cooler refrigerator than others¡¯ showed how she was underestimating it. It was possible because her goal was originally to create ¡®the coldest refrigerator in the world¡¯. She was a magitech engineer who unfolded adventures as a journey itself, just like any other genius. 5 gold? The cost of materials would likely be a significant loss. She probably didn¡¯t ount for scavenging materials from various ces as part of the cost. This item could easily sell for 500 gold, not just 5. ¡­ So. He negotiated a fair price. ¡ª Chink! Coins poured into Amy¡¯s hands. As she stared nkly at the sight, her pupils gradually dted, and eventually, her eyes began to shake from side to side. One, two. Counting the coins, she finally spoke with a trembling voice. ¡°Um, sir¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You gave me, um, ten more¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°10, 10 silver coins more¡­¡± I paid 5 gold and 10 silver coins. ¡°Please deliver it to my home. My hands are full.¡± ¡°U-um, really¡­ Th-thank you¡­ for buying this¡­ Hehehe! P-pleasee again¡­!¡± The additional 10 silver coins were for the delivery fee. ¡®Capitalism is a cold business.¡¯ Anyway. Thus, he managed to obtain all the materials. ¡ô Back at his lodging. He closed his eyes while holding a bunch ofrge grapes. ¡°I apologize for using the Snowke Sword Technique in a ce like this, Master.¡± After making his apology. He stood in front of the ¡®refrigerator¡¯. He lifted up the prepared sugar solution through extraction. At the same time. ¡ª Shooaaahh Sugar flowers bloomed in the shape of snowkes. As they passed through the refrigerator, they turned into frost. White sugar ice snowkes scattered. He waved his hand, filling the fruits with sugar ice snowkes. ¡°Phew.¡± He handed the [Ice Sugar Snowke Fruit] to Danya. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Yum.¡± Danya¡¯s eyes widened as she swallowed one. Her tail shot up in surprise, then swayed gently. Sess. ¡°Mmm¡­ I ate it!¡± Should he try one too? ¡ª Crunch! The soft ice snowkes settled delicately, providing a crispy and sweet texture without sticking excessively to the teeth. The bursting fruit insideplemented the tartness in the mouth. ¡­ It was delicious. He was sure without hesitation. This was probably good enough to open a dental clinic simultaneously. ¡°I¡­ Ian!¡± Danya, who had already devoured two skewers, came back with a handful of cherry tomatoes. ¡°Do it with tomatoes too!¡± He did. ¡­ And the result. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t move anymore.¡± Danya, clutching her stomach, copsed on the floor. Stroking her protruding belly. As he packed the snowke fruits into the ice bag, he advised her. ¡°¡­ Lie down on the bed.¡± ¡°I-Is that okay?¡± It might look suspicious if the neighbors saw Danya leaving the house with a bulging belly. ¡ª Oh my, bachelor! Congrattions! Ohoho! Seems like you¡¯re doing well at night! She looked a bit young for a bride, but she¡¯s okay, right? Just imagining it made him dizzy. ¡°Yeah. Digest all of that no matter what happens before you go out.¡± With a nonchnt reply, Danya had already tucked herself into bed. ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°¡­ What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± Danya peeked her head out from under the nket, asking. ¡°Where are you going, Ian?¡± With the ice bag full of snowke fruits, he answered. ¡°To the academy.¡± Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Going to the Academy was always challenging for Ian. At first, it was difficult because of the looks he received from people who treated him like Pongpong shortly after he possessed this body. For a while, it was hard due to the intense training and the relentless scenarios¡­ he was just too busy. Now that he had somewhat adjusted to the training and the scenarios. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m really going to die.¡± It was simply exhausting because the icebox was heavy. Couldn¡¯t he just enhance his body with magic? All of his mana was being used to maintain the cold in the icebox through a non-stop extraction-transformationbo, essentially turning him into a human outdoor unit supplying the chill. Some cadets passed by him in carriages or magitech cars. ¡ª Whoosh!¡°¡­ Maybe I should have bought a car.¡± The thought of reducing the investments in Silvia flitted through his mind, but he shook it off. His current financial management n was perfect. Sweat dripped down. As he walked, the magic department building came into view. ¡°Ahhh! Please stop giving us assignments, Professor Violet!¡± ¡°Tell that directly to the professor.¡± ¡°Could you argue with that witch professor?¡± The noisy first-floor lobby. It seemed like afternoon sses were in full swing. ¡®Come to think of it, I might be in danger of missing sses soon.¡¯ A week off for Saint Gregory¡¯s Day. Then, he had another week off on his own. The tight schedule in the North had made it inevitable. From now on, he needed to focus more on the Academy. It wasn¡¯t because he was a well-behaved student¡­ ¡ª¡ª ¡¾ Announcement ¡¿ ¡ª Aether Promotion Information > Comprehensive evaluations for the promotion to the Aether course are currently being conducted for students of each department. > Based on these evaluations, additional assessments may be carried out¡­ ¡ª¡ª The biggest academic event marking the end of a semester at the academy, the ¡®Aether ss Promotion¡¯, was about to start. The Aether ss essentially represented Lichten Academy. Only the most outstanding students from each department were selected for the ¡®Aether¡¯ ss, and having this qualification alone was enough to ensure recognition in society. Originally, the main scenario was for all four heroines, including Emilia, who had been in the Aether ss since admission, to gather in the Aether ss through this promotion exam. ¡®Sharon is almost impossible, and Lina seems slightly at risk, doesn¡¯t she?¡¯ Thanks to various incidents, it seemed likely that the main scenario might deviate slightly. Well¡­ since it was going to be held in a battle royale format, there would be variables. ¡®I¡¯ll probably meet Aria and Emilia both.¡¯ He needed to start nning soon. For now, he should focus on the snowke fruit. Money was always the best n. He arrived at the backyard of the Magic Department building after passing through it. There was a building that looked like a container box. The identity of this ce, covered in vines and looking extremely nature-friendly, was the ssroom where the ¡¾Spirit Studies¡¿ ss took ce. Since he hadn¡¯t registered for ¡¾Spirit Studies¡¿, he had another purpose foring here. He called out for the reason he hade all the way here. ¡°Ian! What brings you here?¡± Lina ran out, turning back to fix her hair. Then she stood about three steps in front of him, her green eyes sparkling. She looked like a puppy seeing its ownere home after a long time. It seemed like only a day had passed since they returned from the North together. No wonder she had many friends among the students. ¡°I need a favor.¡± ¡°Really? Sure! Just tell me anything!¡± Lina answered with a bright smile. With one hand, she was adjusting the ck handkerchief around her neck. ¡®¡­ Come to think of it, she used that to wipe my sweat, didn¡¯t she.¡¯ At the time, he had been too distracted by meeting the Blood Witch, but thinking back, that was indeed the case. ¡°I should have washed that for you once.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh¡­! It, it¡¯s okay! I-I washed it! I mean, I hand-washed it! It¡¯s fine because you gave it to me anyway!¡± Lina suddenly stuttered, her face turning red. Hmm. Sometimes, Lina would say things that were hard to understand. Recently, Ian realized that it was best to pretend nothing happened when she did. ¡°More importantly, try this.¡± Ian took out a ¡®Snowke Fruit¡¯ from the icebox and handed it to her. Lina¡¯s eyes grew wider with each bite. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! This isn¡¯t just because I didn¡¯t have breakfast; it¡¯s genuinely delicious! Better than any fruit I¡¯ve picked and eaten from the forest!¡± Lina¡¯s evaluation was credible, especially since she often had to make do with wild fruits due to ack of money. ¡®I can trust her.¡¯ But there was another reason he had sought out Lina. ¡°I¡¯m curious if this dessert would appeal to the students, especially the girls.¡± Lina quickly understood and her eyes sparkled. ¡°Should I let the others try it and ask them?¡± ¡°Yeah. But I¡¯d prefer it if you didn¡¯t mention that I made it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± If they knew Pongpong made it, they might suspect something strange was in it, just like he would. Ian exined it to her in a roundabout way and handed her two packs of ten Snowke Fruits each. ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll ask the others! Yum!¡± Lina snatched the Snowke Fruits eagerly, swallowing her saliva with a loud gulp. Hmm. Why did he feel uneasy? It felt like entrusting fish to a cat that hadn¡¯t eaten breakfast. As he worried needlessly for a moment. ¡ª Wow! ¡ª What is this? He heard excited screams from inside. After a while. ¡°It was an incredible reaction. They even tried to lick my fingers¡­¡± Lina emerged, looking somewhat worn out, holding empty wooden skewers. ¡°Anyway, they all loved it! They were asking where they could buy it, saying they¡¯d pay 10 silver each. Those rich kids¡­ I¡¯m jealous.¡± Lina¡¯sst words revealed a bit of her inner thoughts. Nevertheless, ¡®I¡¯m d I handed out samples.¡¯ Like introducing coffee to a country that had never tasted it before, Ian handed out samples to gauge market reactions. Even though it was a copy of the ultra-premium fruit Ice Grape, how many cadets would have tasted it? By familiarizing them with this new taste and preparing the supply chain and staff for sales, he could create a demand that would lead to immediate sales. ¡®It¡¯ll be a sellout on the first day.¡¯ Seeing people lined up would naturally make anyone curious! Ian couldn¡¯t help but smile at his perfect n. ¡°So what are you going to do with this? Running a business in the Academy is prettyplicated¡­ Getting administrative approval for a business registration is hard and takes a long time. I considered it when I was out of money, so I know.¡± Lina seemed to understand his n without further exnation. Perhaps it was due to her survival instincts honed from living with little. Her survival skills were indeed impressive. ¡°If you try to do it illegally, the Student Council will catch you¡­ Even for street vending, you need a food sales permit.¡± Lina shuddered as if recalling unpleasant memories. He didn¡¯t know when she had thought about selling food, but¡­ Her insights from experience were valuable. They were also something Ian had already considered. That¡¯s why he had a solution. ¡°I¡¯m going to start a club.¡± ¡°¡­A club?¡± ¡ô There are two ways to run a business within the Academy. One is to get approval from the administration and enter the Academy as a business entity. The other is to get approval from the Student Council and operate as a student-run club. Naturally, thetter is easier and cheaper than the former. ¡®Of course, it¡¯s a bit of a loophole.¡¯ He nned to take advantage of the fact that club activities could share their results with the students. From performance clubs like the Drama and Opera Clubs to equipment-rted ones like Alchemy and Magitech, there were already several clubs generating revenue, so it wouldn¡¯t be a significant issue. Moreover, creating a club provided additional benefits like having a club room. The problem was, a club needed members to be established. ¡°Lina, what do you think of the food at Lichten Academy?¡± Lina blinked at the sudden change in topic before answering. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I guess?¡± ¡°And the desserts?¡± ¡°To get a good one, I have to go out of the Academy and make a real effort. It¡¯s difficult.¡± ¡°How about selling something like this right here in the Academy? Especially since the weather will be warming up soon.¡± ¡°¡­It would sell really well.¡± Lina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So, I need you, Lina.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Lina looked at him nkly, then lowered her gaze. She pressed down on the handkerchief around her neck and tapped the ground with her shoe. Seeing her misunderstanding, Ian added. ¡°I need an employee like you.¡± ¡°¡­An employee?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That was the reason he sought out Lina. With her striking appearance and extensivework, she was the best sales assistant he could hire. Plus, she was already doing part-time jobs here and there because she needed the money. ¡®¡­Now that I think about it, how did she manage to follow me to the North?¡¯ He wondered for a moment, but then Lina, who had been lost in thought, spoke up. ¡°Hehe¡­ Of course, that makes sense! What was I thinking? There¡¯s always a flow to a conversation. Right? Hehehe.¡± She scratched her head and pped her hands together. ¡°I actually just got fired from my part-time job for poor attendance. Not because I wasn¡¯t working hard, but because I didn¡¯t show up for a few days¡­¡± ¡­So she had just followed him to the North without a n. ¡°Anyway, I can do it! Totally!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Thank you.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s grateful!¡± Lina smiled brightly. Seeing her like that gave Ian a strange feeling. ¡®To think I¡¯m hiring a heroine as a part-timer.¡¯ In his past life, he had worked to support these characters on a screen. The feeling was peculiar. Anyway, Lina was the best part-timer he could get. He needed to keep her on board. ¡°Lina, I¡¯ll pay you double the minimum wage.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Hehe! It means I¡¯ll be loyal like a pet! Since Danya is like a cat, I¡¯ll be the dog!¡± ¡°¡­What does that even mean?¡± Lina made a surprising statement, then stepped forward as if she had nned it. She turned her head and looked around, then whispered softly. ¡°You know, Master.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably ¡®Boss,¡¯ not ¡®Master¡¯.¡± ¡°Oops, slip of the tongue.¡± Hehehe. Lina¡¯s smallugh was carried on her breath. ¡°If it sells well, will you give me a bonus?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°But you said you¡¯d praise me in the North and never did, you know?¡± Did he? He had been so busy that he had forgotten. ¡°Do I have to give it to you this time?¡± She twisted the handkerchief around her neck and took another step closer. Lina¡¯s breathyugh felt strangely warm. ¡­It seemed like he had hired a somewhat dangerous part-timer. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 There¡¯s a saying that you should strike while the iron is hot. ¡°Let¡¯s go get that club approval.¡± If I stayed here alone with Lina any longer, something was bound to happen. Ian led Lina toward the Student Council Hall of the Academy. ¡°¡­Ian? Why is he here?¡± ¡°Is he turning himself in?¡± Ignoring a few startled student council members, he walked inside. For a standalone building, the student council hall was quite luxurious. Given that Lichten Academy guarantees a certain level of student autonomy, the Student Council also holds considerable power. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the announcements posted on the bulletin board.¡ª¡¾ Announcements ¡¿¡ª
  • Recruitment for Swordsmanship Instructor (Aether ss)
  • Ongoing Recruitment for Student Council
  • For general administrative processing, please go to the Student Affairs Office in the academy¡¯s main building!
¡ª¡ª Recruitment for a swordsmanship instructor, huh. Come to think of it, they should be contacting him soon. He tore his gaze away from the bulletin board and walked forward. ¡¾ Reception ¡¿ The Student Council¡¯sint window wasrger than expected. It was almost the size of argemunity center. ¡°Wow, there are so many documents.¡± Lina¡¯s reactions were always exaggerated, even over small things. Doesn¡¯t she ever get tired of it? The world of social butterflies is hard to understand. ¡°The club application forms should be somewhere around here.¡± ¡°Here they are!¡± Filling them out wasn¡¯t too difficult. Creating a club wasn¡¯t hard because of the paperwork. The challengey in the founding fees and the approval process. ¡®Considering the personality of the vice-president who handles the reviews, it¡¯s better to fill out the forms properly.¡¯ While jotting down the nature and activity ns of the club, Lina asked. ¡°Hey Ian, we need at least three people to start a club, right? Who else is joining?¡± He simply added Danya¡¯s name. ¡®She owes me for the tomato.¡¯ The world can be a harsh ce. ¡°Hmm. As expected, it¡¯s Danya, huh? By the way, what are we naming the club?¡± Hmm. He hadn¡¯t given it much thought. Tap. Tap. Tap. While he was flicking his pen, Lina seemed to get lost in thought as well. As a spirit summoner, she might have a knack foring up with names inspired by spirits. After tapping her lips for a while, she spoke. ¡°Ian and Lina¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just write ¡®Dessert Research Club¡¯.¡± ¡°Hehe, I was just joking. But I like it. Dessert Research Club. It sounds sweet.¡± Everything proceeded smoothly from there. He had plenty of experience filling out forms in the modern world. ¡°Wow, that was fast.¡± He handed thepleted forms to the awestruck Lina. ¡°?¡± He nudged her towards the reception window and took a step back. Seeing her confused look, he exined briefly. ¡°From here on, you take the lead, Lina.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The Student Council doesn¡¯t have a good opinion of me.¡± There was no need to search his memory too deeply. It wasn¡¯t too long ago that Pongpong was flirting with and confessing to all sorts of girls. The Student Council was partly responsible for managing students. So how manyints about Pongpong would have poured into the student council? If he were a new recruit in the Student Council, he would have gritted his teeth at Pongpong too. ¡°Oh, right! I forgot about that.¡± Lina quickly understood, making Ian feel even more apologetic. Lina, with the documents in hand, approached the queue. Of the five reception windows, four were crowded. At the remaining window, a girl with light blue hair was dozing off. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lina headed towards the dozing girl. The young girl with sleepy eyes had very light sky-blue hair, topped with arge ck ribbon that was quite striking. Her name was Suya. She was somewhat of a mascot for the Student Council, frequently encountered in the game. Smiling brightly, Lina approached, and Suya yawned widely ¡°Yawn. Student Lina Rosewell? What brings you here?¡± ¡°Hello! We¡¯re here to start a club¡­¡± ¡°Yawn. Sorry, but you can¡¯t right now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The president said there are too many club approvals, yawn, and asked why there were so many simr clubs. So it¡¯s a no.¡± Even though Rina is in trouble, she clings to Suya here and there. Despite Lina¡¯s attempts to persuade her, Suya remained firm. ¡°No means no. I don¡¯t want to get scolded by the vice president¡­ yawn.¡± With that, she started dozing off again. ¡°Uh, excuse me.¡± Lina was visibly flustered. Well, no matter how sociable she was, talking to someone who was practically asleep would be difficult. With a sigh, Ian stepped forward. The reaction was dramatic. ¡°Yawn, wee¡­ Eek! I-I-Ian ckangers!¡± Suya, now fully awake, iled her hands in rm. This fierce rejection pattern reminded Ian of someone. After a moment¡¯s thought, he realized it was someone unexpected: the librarian. Though their gestures werepletely opposite, the underlying sentiment was the same¡ªdisgust at Pongpong¡¯s habit of constantly confessing. She would probably say, ¡°No confessions allowed!¡± But his prediction was way off. ¡°I¡¯m not tasty!¡± Suya eximed. ¡­ What on earth did she think of him? ¡ô ¡®Suya of Civil Comint Rejection¡¯ who always rejects civilints with sleepy eyes. However, contrary to her infamous nickname, she is an ¡®Easter Egg¡¯ of the Student Council. Despite her infamous reputation, if you knew how to handle her, she could help with any paperwork easily. Ian spoke calmly. ¡°What you just said sounded a bit insulting.¡± ¡°B-But the senior members of the Student Council told me to be careful around Ian, so I don¡¯t get eaten!¡± ¡°What do they think I am? Is it okay for the Student Council to make such discriminatory remarks?¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­!¡± Suya was notably weak against reasonable-sounding reproach. The girl at the Student Council reception was adept at practicing ¡°cute toughness¡±. ¡°S-sorry.¡± ¡°Then, could you take a look at our club establishment documents?¡± ¡°N-no! I¡¯ll get in trouble with the vice president! Besides, you missed a lot of sses¡­ Yourint is low priority.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I was away in the North¡­¡± ¡°Eek!¡± He suddenly wondered why she was like that, and it seemed like she knew about news from the North. ¡°R-right! You devoured the Grand Duke of the North¡­ Suya had forgotten about that.¡± ¡°Could you stop using ¡®devoured¡¯? It¡¯s unsettling.¡± Besides, he was the one who almost got devoured. Suya, trembling on her own ord, didn¡¯t seem to hear him. ¡°If you mention the Grand Duke of the North as a threat, Suya has nowhere to go¡­ You might be scarier than the vice president¡­ Danger rank up.¡± ¡°?¡± Suya, shaking, pulled out a stamp and stamped the documents. Thud! ¡°T-take them!¡± Well, everything turned out fine. Ian bowed his head to Suya. ¡°Thanks for approving it.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a club certification, it¡¯s just an approval to be reviewed¡­! Don¡¯t get me wrong. Suya doesn¡¯t have that kind of power.¡± ¡°Oh, about that, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Y-you¡¯re not going to threaten to devour me unless I give you more, are you? Eek!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking for the club support package too, aren¡¯t you?! Just as I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re too much! If the special support funds hadn¡¯t been released, our Student Council would have gone bankrupt because of you!¡± Thud! Suya, unexpectedly, started providing more than he¡¯d asked for. Despite appearing sleepy, she had a thorough grasp of the Student Council¡¯s affairs, making this possible. The documents were approved one after another. Even though he¡¯d only submitted one document, Suya handed over about five. ¡°As requested, I¡¯ve processed the club establishment request, special support package, club room usage authorization, etc. There¡¯s nothing more I can do for you!¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Suya recoiled when Ian reached out to take the documents. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t eat me¡­¡± .. Seriously? ¡°N-now you just need to proceed with the review session. Have you scheduled a meeting with the three reviewers, including a Student Council officer?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s what I wanted to ask about earlier.¡± ¡°To say ¡®no¡¯ so confidently¡­¡± Suya, teary-eyed, stood up. ¡°You even intend for Suya to handle that? Suya is miserable.¡± Muttering, she walked to the door at the back. After a moment, she returned. ¡°We will proceed with the review session. Come in, Ian ckangers.¡± A cold voice called from inside. ¡ô Inside, Ian and Lina found three members of the Student Council waiting for them. The Student Council Vice President, a representative who also served as the Head of ounting, and likely a freshman. Ian was unfamiliar with them personally, except for the freshman, but he had seen their faces on screen before. They probably knew of him too, given theints they likely received about him. ¡®This won¡¯t be easy.¡¯ As soon as he sat down, the atmosphere turned tense. The members of the Student Council wouldn¡¯t think highly of Pongpong, known for causing trouble. Sure enough. ¡°Bold of you to walk into the Student Council on your own.¡± The vice president spoke sharply. She was quite haughty, reminiscent of Silvia if you stripped away her cuteness and added more arrogance. This was Vice President Iris. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you in person, Vice President.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that smile will get you anywhere. The Student Council has suffered for weeks because of you.¡± Hmm. As expected, they were quite hostile. They might reject him just based on his reputation. ¡°Of course, your disciplinary actions have been postponed by the Disciplinary Committee, so we won¡¯t consider that in this case.¡± As expected of the vice president, she was quite adept at psychological tactics. ¡°But.¡± She added coldly. ¡°We can certainly consider your past actions in the evaluation of this club. We can¡¯t have a club, sanctioned by the Student Council, stalking people or making shady concoctions. We¡¯ll thoroughly evaluate the club¡¯s purpose, nature, and expected oues.¡± She extended a pale hand toward the freshman. ¡°?¡± ¡°Hand me the documents.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Clearly intimidated, the freshman hurriedly handed the documents to Vice President Iris. Swish. With a confident expression, Iris crossed her legs. ¡°Well, it¡¯s probably just another so-called academic club disguising something unsavory. Don¡¯t think you can fool me.¡± Flutter. Flipping through the documents one by one, her eyes, initially brimming with confidence, gradually widened in surprise. ¡°¡­ Student Lina Rosewell, are you also a member of this club?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m one of the founding members.¡± Lina nods her head proudly. ¡°I thought you were here for something else¡­¡± Iris hastily searched through the documents. ¡°¡­ D-Dessert Research Club?¡± Her voice was filled with disbelief. ¡°Ian ckangers, you want to create a club for dessert research?¡± ¡°Yes. The n, goals, and expected oues are all perfectly detailed.¡± Her eyes scanned the documents quickly. ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­ The documents are indeed wless¡­ Ahem!¡± Gone was her initial confidence, reced by confusion and surprise. Seizing the moment, Ian ced the icebox on the table. ¡ª Thunk White mist poured out as he opened it. Ian presented snowke fruits to the wide-eyed Student Council members. ¡°Please, have a taste.¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 White steam was flowing out from the icebox. Vice President Iris eyed it suspiciously. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°These are the expected results from our Dessert Research Club.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already brought research results?¡± It was understandable for Iris to be taken aback. The clubs at Lichten Academy are required to submit ¡®research results¡¯ or ¡®activity achievements¡¯ at the end of each semester. However, many clubs fail to even produce these minimal results and get their approvals revoked. Considering that this is the time when everyone is likely stressing out, my presentation would naturally pique curiosity. ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s see it then.¡± He gestured to Lina.She quickly ran over with a te and skillfully arranged several pieces of snowke fruit. Iris picked one up and squinted at it. ¡°These white powder-like things¡­ they all look like snow crystals. They seem very delicate. Ah, it¡¯s cold. It really feels like snow.¡± Iris¡¯s eyes grew wider and wider. ¡°¡­ Ian, did you make this?¡± He shrugged. The beauty of the snowke fruit wasn¡¯t just in its appearance but in its taste as well. ¡°Please, give it a try.¡± Iris furrowed her brows deeply. It was obvious she was thinking, ¡®How can I eat something made by Ian?¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s safely made food. You should taste it to give a fair assessment, don¡¯t you think?¡± Iris hesitated, then nced at the student council neer. ¡°¡­?¡± The neer tilted her head in confusion as Iris spoke. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡­ Wow, really passing the buck, huh? The neer¡¯srge eyes welled up with tears as she received the order. She shook her head vigorously in refusal. ¡®¡­ What on earth do they think of me?¡¯ He felt a pang of indignation but didn¡¯t say anything, considering the neer¡¯s pitiable situation. ¡°Sophia, this is a trial everyone in the Student Council must endure. Even if something happens, the Student Council will remember you forever.¡± Shiver. Shivering like a scared puppy, the neer reluctantly picked up the snowke fruit as if she were receiving poison. The tangy flesh and juicy goodness of the snowke red orange. The girl, closing her eyes as if receiving a death sentence. ¡°Ah.¡± And bit into the juice-filled orange. ¡°What do you think? As expected, your tongue feels numb and strange, right? Maybe it¡¯s spiked.¡± Wow¡­ did she really think that and still made the neer eat it? I shot Iris a look of pure disdain, but she nonchntly looked back, brushing her hair aside with the back of her hand before asking again. ¡°How is it, Sophia? Is it spiked?¡± ¡ª Chewing The neer¡¯s eyes lost focus more and more with each chew. ¡ª Gulp She swallowed a bite, her small pink lips trembling slightly. ¡°Hya-aang.¡± A sweet voice resonated. Did she not realize she made such an embarrassing sound? Despite making such a sweet sound, the girl¡¯s face remained serene. She merely picked up another orange slice and savored it. In fact, it was the Vice President whose face turned red. ¡°Wh-Wh¡­ What! What kind of sound are you making in the sacred Student Council room!¡± Iris¡¯s outburst. The neer turned to face the Vice President shakily. But her eyes were already half out of focus. ¡°Nye-he-e?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not spiked, right? Are you okay, Sophia?¡± ¡°Hehehe. I¡¯m okay¡­ yesss.¡± ¡°Th-Then evaluate the taste! Without making weird noises!¡± ¡°I need to, to eat a little more, nom, to understand¡­.¡± What she had eaten was a tangy orange. Ian now offered her a sweet and soft snowke peach. With eyes as if gazing at a lover, she looked at the snowy white peach and bit into it with her moist lips. ¡°Nyahaaan~?¡± ¡°What kind of vulgar sound are you making, Sophia!¡± ¡°Haa¡­ not yet, it¡¯s not there yet. Something feels strange. Munch munch. I think I need to try another one¡­ Give me more. More of the sweet ones.¡± At this point, Iris finally caught on. Bang¡ª! She mmed the table and shouted. ¡°As the Vice President, I can¡¯t let this stand! I¡¯ll set an example! Give it here¡­ slurp!¡± ¡­ Are they acting in a skit or what? ¡ó ¡°It¡¯s just an ordinary, slightly fresh-looking fruit, but how can it taste like this¡­.¡± ¡°The way this white ice melts around it is perfect, just like snowkes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a devil is whispering to me, Vice President.¡± ¡°It reminds me of the Ice Grapes I eat once a year.¡± Sugar makes everyone happy. The Vice President¡¯s sharp brows softened, and the neer¡¯s expression was like she had experienced heaven. However, the ountant still remained expressionless, quietly chewing on a piece of snowke watermelon with his mouth. Having finished a snowke blueberry, Iris reached out for the next skewer, then abruptly snapped out of it. Ahem. Clearing her throat, she gazed wistfully at the icebox before speaking. ¡°¡­ Honestly, Ian, it¡¯s hard to believe you made this. It was so refreshing it numbed my tongue, then turned sweet, then tangy, then sweet again with the fruit¡¯s flesh. I admit it was almost impossible to keep myposure.¡± He thought she was being unexpectedly cool about it, but then she added. ¡°¡­ But. There¡¯s still the matter of freshness and cleanliness with this kind of food. I can¡¯t imagine Ian ckangers making something clean.¡± Is she trying to reject it one more time? He decided to make his move. He slowly began putting each of the snowke fruits back into the icebox. ¡°W-What are you doing? We haven¡¯t tasted everything yet¡­!¡± ¡°You said it doesn¡¯t seem clean enough, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Tangerine, dragon fruit, cherry¡­ Oh, this gold kiwi is said to be really delicious ording to the fruit vendor.¡± One by one, he slowly put the fruits back into the icebox. The three girls¡¯ eyes trembled as they watched the skewers go back. ¡°If freshness and cleanliness are an issue¡­ it¡¯s sad, but I¡¯ll have to dispose of them.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If not, I was going to share them with the hardworking Student Council members.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Iris trembled at his words. She understood it as a threat. ¡°Hmph! I guess so.¡± ¡°Hmph! Fine, I suppose.¡± At that moment, the ountant, who had been quietly watching, mmed the table and stood up. ¡°That won¡¯t do!¡± The Student Council members¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°Char-Charles? Why are you doing this all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Abandoning such an excellent source of glucose is a loss for the Student Council, no, for the Academy. Under such excellent sugars, intellect blooms. As the ountant and treasurer of the Student Council, I propose we approve the Dessert Research Club¡¯s status.¡± ¡°M-Me too! This is a loss, Iris! If we can¡¯t eat something this delicious, it¡¯s definitely a loss!¡± The neer also shouted, having grown in confidence after trembling in front of Iris earlier. Another benefit of the snowke fruit. Adjusting his sses, the ountant turned to Ian. ¡°If it bes known that only we tasted such food, the students will surely rise up. They¡¯ll say it¡¯s discrimination by the Student Council. Right, Ian?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking if you have no intention of stirring student sentiment if the club approval is rejected. That we rejected the club to monopolize the dessert.¡± Say it¡¯s true, say it¡¯s true. The ountant¡¯s lips moved quickly. ¡°¡­ Probably so.¡± ¡°If that happens, we Student Council members will face a major crisis. Vice President. For the greater good, you should approve it.¡± Iris¡¯s eyes trembled as if she was embarrassed. She screamed, squeezing her eyes shut. ¡°Argh! Fine! I¡¯ll approve it!¡± With the Vice President¡¯s desperate cry, the club was approved. The approval fee was 1 gold. ¡ô All the remaining fruits were distributed to the Student Council. Thanks to Pongpong, who had caused a lot of trouble, he hoped they¡¯d look kindly on him in the future. Moreover, the Student Council¡¯s workload is always heavy. As they often use their brains a lot, they will definitely think of snowke fruits when they need a sugar boost. In other words, it was both a bribe and a sample supply. Thus, the first batch of snowke fruits were distributed as free samples to the students. Starting with the popr students who studied elemental magic, and the well-connected Student Council members. Word of mouth would spread quickly. ¡°Now, we just need to prepare for our first sale.¡± Of course, they had exhausted all their mana for now, so it was impossible to start immediately. It seems they would have to use Danya¡¯s ¡®Snowke Flowers¡¯ to announce the grand debut of the . And the next day, he received news that his Master had been found. ¡ô It felt like returning to the Mezai ss after a long time. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Ian.¡± ¡°Go ask him if the rumors about the Grand Duke of the North are true.¡± ¡°No way¡­ It¡¯s scary.¡± The news about the Grand Duke of the North was still spreading like wildfire. ¡®As expected, the Church seems to get information quickly.¡¯ The scene was different from the familiar faces of the students in the Priest Department who had recognized me on my first day back. It seemed that magicians, with their strong sense of individualism, were slower in sharing information. The murmuring subsided quickly. ¡ª Squeak! The door opened, and Professor Violet entered the room. ¡°Today I see faces I haven¡¯t seen in quite a while.¡± Tingle. Professor Violet nced at him before stepping up to the podium. ¡°Lina, Danya, and Ian, please see me in my office after ss.¡± ¡°Yes, Professor!¡± Thanks to Lina¡¯s polite response, Professor Violet¡¯s sharp gaze softened quickly. ¡°Now, regarding the Aether Promotion Exam. The exam format for the advancement test, which will begin in two weeks, has been decided. All first-year students will¡­¡± As Professor Violet began to speak, his Kirtos terminal vibrated. He discreetly checked it, avoiding Violet¡¯s gaze. ¡ª¡ª [Lichten Postal Service]: A new telegram has arrived for Ian. ¡ª Subject: We have rescued Asilia. She is in good condition. ¡ª Sender: Asteria Please check the details at the post office. ¡ª¡ª Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ¡®Thank god.¡¯ Ian sighed softly after confirming the title. The northern part isrger than expected, and it is difficult to search unless you are a professional. The North was broader than he had imagined and difficult to search without specialists. The relentless snowfall, unpredictable terrain, and the scarcity of self-sustaining resources made the task even harder. Ian, Danya, and Lina refrained from participating in the search to avoid bing a burden. Among the personnel brought by the Third Princess, there were skilled individuals like Karen who could handle the task more effectively. ¡®Of course, I thought they¡¯d find her quickly.¡¯ He was relieved that the rescue was faster than expected. If there hadn¡¯t been news in a few days, he had nned to push himself to return to the North. He needed to get to the post office quickly to check the details of the telegram.¡°Student Ian?¡± A cold voice interrupted his thoughts. It was like the chill of frost. Looking up, he saw Professor Violet staring down at him. Her gaze was icy. Those eyes are infinitely cold. ¡®Come to think of it, I didn¡¯t inform her when I went to the North.¡¯ Professor Violet was in charge of the Mezai ss and had helped him significantly during the Disciplinary Committee. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ He realized he hadmitted many offenses. The vein on her forehead pulsed with what seemed like genuine anger. ¡°Yes, Professor.¡± ¡°Did you hear what I just said?¡± Ian felt a shiver run through his body at her stern tone. If he admitted his attention was on the Kirtos terminal, he feared he¡¯d be dragged off as a test subject. ¡°I did hear you¡­¡± ¡°Then, what did I say?¡± ¡°Congrattions, Professor, for being selected as the most beautiful professor by the Academy¡¯s students.¡± ¡ª Snap! He looked down to see a piece of white chalk embedded halfway into the desk. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his back. ¡®That didn¡¯t work.¡¯ Professor Violet¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change a bit. It seemed like she was talking about the promotion exam, and it was the right time for such an announcement. ¡°You were talking about the promotion exam.¡± ¡°Anyone with ears could have heard that. I trust that a student like Ian would not neglect his duty by closing his ears and doing something else, especially after all the support from his professor.¡± Smile. She smiled, her expression sharp as a sword. ¡°I trust Ian, so why don¡¯t you share some details?¡± Ian racked his brain for specific details¡­ ¡°The uing promotion exam involves all first-year students in a battle royale¡­ ahem, a point-based survival event. Points can be earned by defeating monsters and other entities. The goal is to survive as long as possible while umting the highest points.¡± ¡°And the location?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s an uninhabited ind.¡± Professor Violet¡¯s eyebrow twitched slightly, as if doubting he had really been paying attention. ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Even though it¡¯s a survival event, it¡¯s not a real life-or-death situation.¡± ¡°Next.¡± ¡°The strength of the protective shield is distributed based on academic rankings. Higher-ranked students have stronger shields, reducing their risk of elimination, while lower-ranked students face a penalty but also have the opportunity to target stronger opponents for aeback.¡± Professor Violet¡¯s sharp eyebrows softened considerably. Rather, it felt somewhat embarrassing. ¡°You really were listening?¡± ¡°Of course, to the perfect voice of the Academy¡¯s finest professor. Participants will need to form teams strategically.¡± ¡°¡­ I hadn¡¯t mentioned that part yet.¡± Oops. ¡°Ahaha¡­ it seemed like a given¡­¡± ¡°Well, bright students often confuse facts with assumptions.¡± Swish. As she turned away, Ian thought he saw a hint of a smile on her lips. Was it his imagination? ¡°As Student Ian said, you need to form teams. There are no restrictions on faculty or ss. You can ally with students from the Aether ss for a better chance¡­¡± Her announcement continued coldly, detailing the size and terrain of the ind, the journey byrge ship, and the parachute drop, but leaving out the most crucial information. ¡®¡­ At least I survived.¡¯ He resolved to never daydream in front of Professor Violet again. ¡ô After ss. Ian headed straight to the post office. The [Post Office] was information infrastructure operated by the Empire. Some might wonder, ¡°Why not just use thework?¡± But the Kirtos Network was a uniquemunication magic only avable at Lichten Academy. Its maintenance method was so mysterious that it was considered one of the academy¡¯s three great mysteries, a kind of ¡°Oh, it exists¡± magic. Maintaining such awork continent-wide was impossible. In this world, information is always written on paper and transmitted as ¡®telegrams¡¯. Although there are magitech tools that can record audio and video, written text remains the mostpact form ofmunication. There are three methods of transmitting ¡®telegrams¡¯: Physical Delivery: Much like traditional fantasy settings, this method involves trained birds or couriers. It¡¯s slow and inefficient but cost-effective. Portal Delivery: This method bundles multiple telegrams together and sends them through portals. It¡¯s fast but expensive. Mage Transmission: This method uses mages¡¯ sending and receiving magic. It¡¯s extremely expensive and limited to areas with avable mages (regions with establishedmunicationworks). Of course, if funds allow, abination of these methods can be used. For example,munication might be handled by mages up to a portal station, then transmitted across a long distance via portal, and finally handled by mages again. This method is nearly instantaneous¡­ ¡°This telegram is for Mr. Ian ckangers.¡± The Third Princess, Asteria, had used this method, so the telegram she sent arrived within thirty minutes¡ªso quickly that it was still warm from the magical transmission. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Sender] Asteria [Title] We have rescued Asilia. She is in good condition. [Content] Ian, I hope you are well. I always wonder what I should give you. Every night, I think of you, and I only wish for your safety¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°Pfft!¡± What is this? Why did this suddenly turn into a love letter? ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­Don¡¯t worry. The first few lines of telegrams traveling through the Empire¡¯s informationwork are often filled with such frivolous content to avoid interception. Although, since all of my letters are intercepted, it doesn¡¯t matter much. Anyway, to the point. We sessfully rescued Sasha Asilia, the Snowke Swordmaster. Sharon, that kid found it surprisingly quickly. Both Sharon and Seolhwageomje are currently recuperating. Sharon found her incredibly quickly. Both Sharon and the Snowke Swordmaster are currently recuperating. The Snowke Swordmaster is a bit exhausted but otherwise in surprisingly good condition. Sharon, however, needs a bit more time to recover as she pushed herself quite hard. As per your request, the royal priest is staying with them to monitor their recovery. I feel at ease, having repaid part of my debt to you. By the way, the affairs in the North are more than half resolved. As I mentioned before, a month should be enough. P.S. When the Snowke Swordmaster asked about your wellbeing, I told her you were in great spirits. She insisted there is no need for you to visit. She¡¯s quite worried about you, marveling at how you attract women wherever you go. Perhaps you should take on my title. P.P.S. Normally, I write better letters than this. Please understand that I wrote this in a hurry ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡­ What can I say? ¡­How typical of Princess Asteria. Her confidence in sharing tips to avoid interception, despite knowing her letters are intercepted, is astounding. ¡°More importantly, I couldn¡¯t afford such an expensive telegram.¡± Ian assumed the princess had a special rate. Regardless, he was relieved that his master was in better condition than he had feared. He had asked the royal priest to stay behind just in case, and their reassurance meant everything was indeed alright. But why did the closing lines feel a bit scary? Was it just his imagination? ¡°Is there something wrong with the telegram?¡± The concerned post office clerk inquired, noticing Ian¡¯s expression. ¡°Oh, no. Thank you.¡± ¡°Are you sure? Sometimes telegrams can get damaged, so I just wanted to check. Would you like to send a reply? The cost is covered by the sender, up to five lines.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Ian pondered for a moment. Though relieved about his master¡¯s condition, he was worried about something. Could his master truly feel at ease in a ce where Richard¡¯s presence still lingered? He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the clerk. ¡°Could you send this?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± It was one of the notices he had picked up from the Student Council. (TLN: Another series from the same author, I Became a War Hero Executed Due to False usations, ch.1 here) Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Meanwhile. At a training facility on the outermost edge of Lichten. Emilia Raymond crossed the training room, receiving nces from the sweaty men. In one corner of the training room was arge iron door. ¡ª Creak Pushing it open, a dark staircase leading underground was revealed with a rough metallic sound. ¡ª Tap, tap Emilia descended the stairs without hesitation. Soot clung to her white blouse, but she didn¡¯t mind since she was used to it.After descending for a while, a sudden red light appeared in her sight. A vast, ruin-like space where the building¡¯s structure was exposed, as if two floors had been forcibly dug out. ¡ª Tap At the sound of Emilia¡¯s footsteps, a giant shadow that had been crouching in a corner stood up. ¡°¡­ What do you want, b*tch?¡± Barbarian blood coursed through his veins, his yellow eyes characteristic of a beast. The Giant, Jan Victor. ¡°Are you the giant freshman, Jan Victor?¡± ¡°Every time you open your mouth, the smell of a b*tch assaults my nose.¡± ¡°I have something to say.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t listen to women. Even if it¡¯s a b*tch.¡± ¡ª Boom! In an instant, he closed the distance and trapped Emilia against the wall. But Emilia¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°Well, I doubt someone like you could turn me into a b*tch.¡± ¡°¡­ Hah! You¡¯re not the pampereddy I heard about.¡± ¡°An honor that you know of me. But I¡¯m gathering people for the promotion battle. I heard there¡¯s no better tank than you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t unt the Aether. Do you think I¡¯ll easily fall under someone¡¯smand?¡± ¡°I know. I know. You didn¡¯t join Aether on purpose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± At Jan Victor¡¯s words, Emilia¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I wonder how your drug business is doing.¡± ¡ª Boom! Emilia turned her head aside. A gigantic, snake-like vein throbbed. Following it to its end¡­ ¡ª Whoosh! With rough smoke, his fist the size of a cauldron lid had dented the pir of the building. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll hit your stomach. If you don¡¯t want your guts crushed, you¡¯d better answer right away. Where did you hear such bullshit?¡± Jan Victor growled. But Emilia, familiar with such threats, just chuckled. ¡°How do you think those drugs got imported?¡± ¡°¡­ No way, you?¡± Jan Victor¡¯s eyes filled with astonishment. Emiliaughed at his reaction. ¡°Of course not. Do you think the Raymond Trading Company would tantly import drugs? But we do get reports.¡± ¡ª Crack Jan Victor withdrew his fist from the pir and shook his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide. Go up. I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go.¡± ¡°What?¡± Emilia took a step closer and caressed his pir-like arm. ¡°I heard you hate ckangers quite a lot.¡± That was true. Because that guy had taken his closestpanion. But Victor¡¯s curiosityy elsewhere. ¡°¡­ Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s the same for me.¡± Despite Emilia¡¯s gentle voice, Jan Victor flinched without realizing it. She slowly opened her mouth. ¡°Promotion battle. How about we discuss what we should do?¡± ¡ô With the announcement of the promotion battle, the atmosphere among the Academy freshmen heated up. Whenever more than two gathered, the academy became even more bustling with discussions rted to the promotion battle. ¡°¡­ Is it really okay for me to join?¡± Danya said, almost in tears, moved. Her reaction made him smile. ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I want to team up with you?¡± ¡°Is it really?¡± ¡°Did you think otherwise?¡± Danya¡¯s cheeks reddened slightly. ¡°N-no. It¡¯s not that¡­¡± After fidgeting with her fingers for a moment, Danya spoke up. ¡°My grades are always at the bottom, so I probably have low stamina¡­¡± Stamina. More precisely, the stamina of the shield, is one of the characteristics of this promotion battle. Students dropped onto a deserted ind are given a ¡°shield¡±. Its nature is simr to the ¡°emergency escape device¡± used during the Shadow Forest exploration at the beginning of the semester. A student equipped with the device will be immediately lifted into the sky and excluded from the promotion battle if they receive damage exceeding the preset amount of magical or physical damage. In other words, the damage the emergency escape device can withstand is the shield¡¯s stamina. This ¡°stamina¡± is distributed based on academy grades. It¡¯s a reward for high achievers, reflecting both academic performance and actualbat skills in line with Aether¡¯s promotion standards. ¡°Danya, even if your shield¡¯s stamina is depleted, it doesn¡¯t mean the team is disqualified. You don¡¯t need to worry too much. Teams are just called that for convenience. They¡¯re simply people who¡¯ve promised to stick together.¡± During the promotion battle, students can earn ¡°cores¡± by defeating monsters or dangerous species. The goal is to collect as many cores as possible. Evaluation is based on the number of cores each individual acquires, so teams are essentially partnerships with a mutual distribution agreement. ¡°I know that. But I¡¯m worried if a pre-formed team falls apart, we¡¯ll be at a disadvantage when joining another team¡­¡± ¡°You worry too much. And you¡¯re mistaken if you think my grades are high. With the synergy we¡¯ve built, teaming up with you will actually make the most of my abilities.¡± ¡°So, Ian, you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll take me even if I¡¯m weak?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Danya lowered her head, tapping the ground lightly. Her tail swayed gently. Then she raised her head with a determined look and dered, ¡°Th-then, I, Danya, will graciously join your team!¡± As she spoke, a slight smirk appeared on her lips. ¡®¡­ Surely she wasn¡¯t just pretending to hesitate because she wanted praise, right?¡¯ ¡°W-what are you looking at? I never had any sneaky thoughts!¡± Sure, if she says so. ¡°Who else should we bring? We should find them quickly before others take them.¡± Danya¡¯s words were spot on. Now that the announcement was out, they needed to act fast to secure good teammates. Ian fell into thought for a moment. Ideally, he wanted to form the best possible team, but strong candidates might demand arger share of the cores. After all, there¡¯s the ¡°shield stamina¡± criterion. Plus, betrayal was a concern since anyone could steal acquired cores at any time. It was more stable to form a team with trustworthy people. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of adding Lina and Sylvia. Sylvia¡¯s already in Aether, so she might team up with other Aether members.¡± This lineup would ensure trust but¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t that too mage-heavy?¡± Danya¡¯s point was valid. A ssic team should ideally bnce knights, priests, scouts, and mages. The ind would have many tricky dangerous species, making this bnce even more crucial. However¡­ ¡°We don¡¯t need to stick too rigidly to teamposition.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Danya, you can guide us. Your senses have be sharper.¡± In the North, Danya had proven her ability to find corpses, so Ian trusted her. Moreover, since the ind they¡¯d be on was a jungle terrain, Danya¡¯s skills would be even more advantageous, likely surpassing most scouting students. ¡°I¡¯ll be the tank.¡± Ian was resigned to this role. ¡°It would be nice to have someone who can handle sub-tanking and healing¡­¡± This was definitely a job for a priest. Ian suddenly remembered the unpleasant experience with Yurran. ¡°Danya, can you contact the others and see if they¡¯ll join us?¡± Danya, who had been staring nkly at him, quickly responded. ¡°Ah, got it! Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to visit the church.¡± ¡ô The Deus Church is the most dominant religious force on the continent. Centered around the Holy Kingdom of Constantine, which revolves around the Pope, this religion has two factions. The Celeste faction, which traditionally recognizes the existence of saints and believes they are sacred beings who spread the will of God. The anti-saint faction, which does not recognize the existence of these saints. The conflict and rivalry between these two factions are significant enough that each faction has its own distinct name. The Celeste faction is named after the first saint, Celeste. The anti-saint faction is named after Numina, who established the doctrine and also signifies divinity. Ian headed to the Numina faction¡¯s church on the outskirts of the academy. ¡°Is this the ce where I can hear the teachings of Numina?¡± Arge tent. Inside, a priest who had been praying weed Ian. ¡°Wee, brother! You are a precious guest to know the name of Numina. Please,e inside!¡± The inside of the tent was tidy but also humble. Beyond the pping fabric in the wind, a girl knelt in prayer in the distance. Other than that, the scene was rather barren. The Numina faction was weak. Compared to the Celeste faction, which fronted saints as mascots, the Numina faction always held a minor position. With no followers or money, they had nothing but this tent. ¡®That doesn¡¯t mean their skills are inferior.¡¯ Ian, who had been disgraced by the Celeste faction, couldn¡¯t risk recruiting a Celeste priest with the possibility of being discovered by Aria. Of course, there was no guarantee of finding a priest here either. It was more likely to be impossible, given that Ian had no connection to the Numina faction. Even promising other rewards would be difficult, as the Numina priests tended to be highly ascetic. Yet he hade, grasping at straws¡­ ¡°Hmm.¡± The priest, who had been giving Ian a brief introduction, suddenly widened his eyes. ¡°Brother¡­ are you Brother Ian?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Oh! It¡¯s an honor, Brother.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The priest¡¯s eyes were filled with respect. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 The tent of the Numina sect. ¡°Ian, are you Brother Ian ckangers?¡± The priest asked. Ian flinched slightly. The priest¡¯s momentum was unusual. ¡°Yes.¡± Lately, it had improved a bit, but most people still frowned as soon as they heard Ian¡¯s name. What kind of contemptuous expression woulde his way? But contrary to his fears, the priest¡¯s face brightened with a radiant smile.¡°Ah, Brother Ian, to think you are interested in the teachings of Numina, I should have sought you out sooner!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Please,e this way. Once again, a sincere wee.¡± ¡°??¡± Such sudden hospitality. How long had it been since he received such a wee after introducing himself? Although he didn¡¯t show it, Ian was slightly moved. At the same time, a chill ran down his spine. ¡®¡­ Are these guys a cult?¡¯ Even before his possession, the only people who weed him were usually cultists. However¡­ ¡°We have heard of your heroic deeds. May Deus¡¯s blessings always be with you!¡± The priests of the Numina sect had a reason to wee Ian. Their foundation was inherently anti-saints. Ever since Ian delivered a blow to the saintess candidate at the disciplinarymittee, an atmosphere of high regard for Ian had subtly emerged among them. Moreover, he had recently exposed and executed the Northern Grand Duke as a Bloodstone Cultist! To the doctrine-centric Numina sect, heretics like the Bloodstone Cult were objects of intense hatred and eradication. Unbeknownst to Ian, he was an idol here. Even though the priests of the Numina sect were only a handful, they were the ones who approached Ian when he returned to Lichten after a long time. Anyway¡­ An idol-like figure personally entering their sect¡¯s tent! ¡°It¡¯s modest, but please have a seat here.¡± The priest¡¯s smile became even more benevolent. Of course, Ian couldn¡¯t guess their circumstances. His unfortunate fate forced him to doubt others¡¯ kindness. He discreetly checked the exits as he sat at the table the priest guided him to. ¡°Elena, could you bring some tea?¡± The priest called to a female priestess bowing in front of the sect¡¯s symbol. ¡°¡­¡­¡± But there was no response. Was she absorbed in prayer? Just as Ian admired her devotion¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± The priestess¡¯s head bobbed vigorously back and forth, startling herself. ¡°Elena?¡± ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t sleeping!¡± The priestess tried to hide her embarrassment, her hands iling. The priest sighed lightly, as if familiar with this sight, and spoke again. ¡°Alright, can you bring some tea for our guest?¡± ¡°A¡­ guest¡­? Yes, yes!¡± Ian blinked at the priestess who brought the tea. Her appearance seemed familiar. Short stature, hair mixed with gold and brown hues, a noticeably broad forehead, and timid movements. Avoiding his gaze shyly, she clutched the oversized sleeves of her priestly robe while pouring the tea. ¡°Priestess Elena¡¯s tea-brewing skills are exceptional. Even the student council often requests her service. Maintaining this tent isrgely thanks to Sister Elena.¡± The priestess blushed at the praise, her ears turning red. Finally, Ian remembered who she was. The youngest member of the student council trio who had evaluated the club. The difference between her current appearance in priestly robes and her previous one was significant, which was why he didn¡¯t recognize her at first. ¡°Ah, you were the Student Council member from that time¡­?¡± The priestess finally met Ian¡¯s eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Eh-heck?¡± She pointed a finger and shouted. ¡°You¡¯re that incredibly delicious fruit vendor from back then?!¡± ¡­What on earth does she remember him as? ¡°¡­ Slurp.¡± Her reflexive drool slipped into the guest¡¯s teacup. ¡ô ¡°¡­ That¡¯s why Brother Ian, who revealed the saintess candidate¡¯s mistakes to the world, and then made another significant contribution in the north, is someone we Numina sect priests couldn¡¯t help but revere!¡± This was the priest¡¯s answer to Ian¡¯s question about why they were treating him with such hospitality. In short, it seemed they appreciated him for dealing blows to both the saintess candidate and the Bloodstone Cult. ¡°I see, that¡¯s how it was.¡± ¡°Yes. Some of our priests have even been praying for you recently, Brother Ian.¡± Ian was honestly touched. ¡®I can¡¯t believe there were people praying for me!¡¯ Since his possession, this was perhaps the first time he had received such treatment from people he barely knew. It was also evidence that people¡¯s opinions about him were slowly changing. However, just because others were praising him didn¡¯t mean he could just bask in it without reciprocating. In society, praise should be returned in kind. ¡°As expected of the Numina sect. Unwavering in the face of public opinion, you see through to the core. This must all be thanks to the teachings of Numina.¡± Essentially, he was ttering them for recognizing his value, but the priest was extremely pleased nheless. ¡°As expected of Brother Ian! I knew we would see eye to eye, haha!¡± ¡°Haha!¡± Ianughed heartily with the priest. Elena, seated at the end of the table, trembled as she watched them. Both of them seemed to have a hint of madness. After a minute ofughter, the priest stood up. ¡°It is truly an honor that you havee to form a team with a priest of the Numina sect. However, the only novice here is Priestess Elena.¡± ¡°Uh, Priest, excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? Elena, do you have something to add?¡± ¡°I am devoted to serving Deus and following the teachings of Numina. I don¡¯t have any intention ofpeting in the promotion exams.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so shy, Elena. Brother Ian will take good care of you.¡± ¡°Th-that¡¯s not what I mean¡­!¡± Thump! The brother priest lifted Elena¡¯s chair, which he was trying to avoid, and made her sit in front of Ian. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave you two to have a thorough conversation.¡± ¡°Uh, uh¡­ Excuse me, Priest¡­¡± ¡°Sister Elena, please take good care of Brother Ian.¡± Elena¡¯s flustered gaze briefly swept over the priest. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The priestughed joyfully and left the tent. ¡ô An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment. Ian could tell that the young priestess was uneasy around him. Why on earth was she avoiding him? He didn¡¯t remember doing anything to upset her. In fact, she had enjoyed the snowke fruit the most out of the student council trio. ¡°Y-you tempt me.¡± Elena shouted, eyes tightly shut. ¡°Tempt?¡± ¡°The sugar-coated fruit you gave me back then was so delicious¡­ I had to eat it, forgetting all decorum, even moaning with pleasure. Even though I am a priestess who shouldn¡¯t indulge in such pleasures, it was just too delicious!¡± ¡­You¡¯re the one who moaned, not me. Ian felt wronged but also happy. It was like receiving the highestpliment, akin to ¡°You y like a pro gamer.¡± ¡°I even had to lie, saying I needed to examine it further just to eat more¡­ It makes me a failure as a priestess.¡± ¡­Weren¡¯t you just lying about not sleeping a moment ago? Not wanting to point out her recent lie and risk her breaking down, Ian decided to change the subject. ¡°But wasn¡¯t your name Sophia? The Student Council members all called you Sophia.¡± ¡°S-Sophia is the name my mother gave me. Elena is the name given by the God.¡± ¡°I see. Then may I call you Elena too? It feels like it brings us closer.¡± Elena nodded silently. Despite her somewhat clumsy personality, she was indeed a devout believer. And it¡¯smon knowledge that the more devout a priest is, the more exceptional their abilities tend to be. Ian became even more determined to persuade Elena. ¡°As I mentioned to the male priest earlier, I need a priest who can be on my team for the promotion exam.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I think it will be difficult for me.¡± Elena refused firmly in a small voice. ¡°I¡¯m not very interested in promotion. My path is solely to serve Deus and follow the teachings of Numina.¡± A resolute refusal. Of course, Ian wasn¡¯t one to back down from a mere refusal. He was well-trained by numerous rejections of confessions in the past. In fact, rejection was like fuel to Ian¡¯s energy. ¡°But Elena, think about it carefully.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°In the end, you will have to spread the teachings to others someday. Having the title of Aether ss would make more people listen to your voice. We¡¯re the only team that distributes the cores from hunting dangerous species exactly in equal parts.¡± Elena seemed to consider his words, but soon her expression hardened again. ¡°Excessivepetition and greed should be avoided. I¡¯m sorry, but it seems difficult for me to join.¡± Even as she held her perpetually slipping priestly robe, she shook her head. She was as unyielding as an iron wall. ¡®Still, a priest is absolutely necessary.¡¯ Ian couldn¡¯t give up. Judging by the reaction of the Numina sect, it would be impossible to find a priest from the Celeste sect of the saintess candidate. So, Elena was the only priest he could possibly recruit. ¡®Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect her to be uninterested in the Aether promotion.¡¯ The basic principle of negotiation is to understand what the other party wants. Ian had naturally assumed that even a priest would desire Aether promotion. In Lichten, ¡°Aether¡± was a brand in of itself, synonymous with prestige. Just maintaining Aether status for one semester guaranteed significant opportunities post-graduation. ¡®But she doesn¡¯t want that¡­¡¯ Ian¡¯s mind worked quickly. What was Elena¡¯s deepest desire? After a brief pause, Ian spoke. ¡°Then.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you 10 vouchers for Snowke Fruits.¡± ¡°?¡± A brief silence ensued. Elena spoke in a determined voice, a beatte. ¡°I am a priest who serves God. I will not be swayed by mere desserts.¡± But Ian didn¡¯t miss it. He saw the storm of guilt and desire flicker and then vanish in Elena¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hmm¡­ Alright then. How about one Snowke Fruit every month for life?¡± ¡°¡­What? For life?¡± ¡°Yes, for life.¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t think I will fall for such a temptation! Devil! Oh God, please help me resist this temptation.¡± Even as she started reciting a prayer, Elena¡¯s body was honest. Her lips began to glisten with drool. Ian¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°What, is that not enough? Then how about one Snowke Fruit every week for life?¡± Mmm. Elena¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Protect me from my desires¡­ Slurp.¡± Her prayer was notpleted. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Lichten Academy, Church of the Celeste Sect. A room that must have once been the most splendid was now filled with darkness. A single ray of light pierced the room through the ckout curtains blocking the window. Dust particles danced in the beam of light, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Did she think that beam of light was a holy sword meant to condemn her? A girl kneeling on the bed struggled to escape the light. Finally reaching a corner where she was fully enclosed, the girl¡¯s movements ceased. Hugging her knees and burying her head in them, the girl was none other than the candidate for the next Saintess of the Deus Church. Aria Lumines Bell.¡°¡­No. I don¡¯t want to.¡± A soft breeze blew in through the window. The curtains fluttered, causing the beam of light to shift around the room. Revealed by the moving light were luxurious furnishings, expensive luxury items, and sacred relics. Each time these objects glimmered, Aria buried her face even deeper. ¡°I can¡¯t do it. I just can¡¯t¡­ Please¡­¡± She was afraid. Afraid of the fact that she had been chosen as the Saintess candidate. Afraid of the expectations ced upon her. Afraid of the greed she saw in the eyes of those who handed her those expectations. And she was also afraid. Afraid of her own worthlessness, that she would never fulfill any of those expectations. ¡°Sob¡­¡± Where had it all gone wrong? Was it her fate to be a Saintess candidate? Or was it the belief that she could change herself in the future? Or maybe it was the fact that she had cruelly rejected that person¡¯s touch, dering she no longer needed it? Even in that ce, now shrouded in darkness with no light left, Aria couldn¡¯t find her own space. She believed that the only space allowed to her, an endlessly insignificant self, was the corner of the bed attached to one side of the room. Aria buried her face even deeper. Then she caressed her wrist. The rough scars she felt. Since bing a Saintess candidate, she couldn¡¯t even freely add another line to the scars on her wrist. The forced tattoo twisted her wrist whenever she held a knife. ¡°¡­Sob.¡± All she could do was hug herself tightly enough to feel like she was breaking apart. But it was as if even that wasn¡¯t allowed, as the door opened. ¡ª Creak Suddenly, a flood of light poured in. ¡°Eek!¡± Aria hastily pulled the nket over herself. She trembled under it. The visitor sighed deeply as he looked at the trembling lump under the nket. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Holy Knight Yerhi, the personal guardian priest of the Saintess candidate. ¡°Lady Saintess.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not a Saintess. I¡¯m not the Saintess¡­¡± ¡°Lady Saintess candidate.¡± ¡°I-I did wrong. I did wrong¡­ I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯m sorry, Ian. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡ª Sob, sob. Seeing the broken Saintess candidate, the Holy Knight Yerhi¡¯s eyes grew dark. Through numerous attempts and experiences, he knew he couldn¡¯tfort her. So he merely stated the purpose of his visit. ¡°Lady Aria, you need to prepare for the promotion battle.¡± ¡°Sob¡­ Sob¡­¡± ¡°We have selected the most capable students from the Priest Department. They have all pledged to devote everything to you, the Saintess candidate. We have also arranged funds tomission high-level Aether magicians, scouts, and knights.¡± Since the disciplinarymittee, countless arrows of criticism had been aimed at Lady Aria. The artifact mentioned to have written the will of that filthy human, Ian ckangers. That was the cause. Subsequent investigations found no evidence proving Lady Aria¡¯s guilt. So she could stand tall with confidence. No matter the truth, she could stand tall. ¡°In times like these, you must show even more strength.¡± Thus, it was imperative to advance to the Aether ss. It made no sense for a Saintess candidate to be unable to handle Aether ss. If this reached the ears of the Pope, it would be better for her to quit the academy. But there was no need to worry. As long as she followed the n he hadid out, the Saintess candidate would advance to the Aether ss. This was the best result Yerhi had achieved after countless nights of deliberation and effort. ¡°Wh¡­ where is Ian?¡± And yet, the Saintess candidate still uttered that name. Ian, Ian ckangers. Again, that name. Grinding his teeth, Yerhi responded. ¡°He has nothing to do with this. I, Yerhi, am here to do my utmost for you, Lady Saintess¡­¡± ¡°I need to see him¡­¡± ¡°Absolutely not. That is an order from above, Lady Aria.¡± ¡®¡­ Wasn¡¯t it you who said you no longer needed him?¡¯ Yerhi swallowed the words that nearly escaped his lips. He knew about Aria¡¯s past because he had investigated it. Ian ckangers had been gaslighting her continuously since childhood. Hadn¡¯t Lady Aria said so herself? ¡°Sob. No. I can¡¯t endure this any longer¡­¡± The Saintess candidate trembled under the musty nket. She should have been perfect in every way. So why had things turned out like this? Yerhi¡¯s eyes gleamed a cold blue. ¡®It¡¯s Ian ckangers, after all.¡¯ He was the root of all problems. If so, eliminating him would solve everything. This promotion battle. There would be ample opportunity. For Deus. And for Lady Aria, who would shine brilliantly upon the world. ¡ô The air was tense. In a secluded meeting area on the outskirts of the Academy, Ian rubbed his arms against the chilly atmosphere, reminiscent of the northern regions. ¡®Where did it all go wrong?¡¯ No matter how much he pondered, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint the cause. So he focused on the situation before him. Danya and Elena. Sitting across from each other, cold air flowed between them. Danya¡¯s tail was bristling, and she finally spoke. ¡°What are you?¡± Surprisingly, it was the first word exchanged after ten minutes of staring at each other. Elena responded as if she had been waiting. ¡°My name is Elena. I serve Deus. And you?¡± Elena, usually timid, spoke with an unusually bold and loud voice. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be shy? While Ian was momentarily confused by this sudden change, Danya spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m Danya. Uhm¡­ Guardian of the Forest, the Great Forest?¡± ¡®¡­ Danya, since when did you be the guardian of the forest? It¡¯s just that the sacred ground of the beastmen is in the Grand Forest.¡¯ Ian barely restrained himself from pointing out the inconsistency. It seemed like Danya was saying anything to avoid being intimidated, and it was somewhat effective as Elena¡¯s gaze wavered slightly. ¡°Huh, hmm. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone of simr height to me, and you seem to be taller than I thought.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± The conversation between the two was filled with things Ian wanted to correct. Once the dam broke, their conversation¡ªor rather, their argument¡ªcontinued without interruption. Mostly, Danya attacked and Elena countered, leading to increasingly pointed questions. ¡°I still find it suspicious. Why would a priestess, who should be the purest and solely devoted to God, want to team up with someone like Ian? You must have an ulterior motive!¡± Although Danya was clearly attacking Elena, it was Ian who felt the sting. ¡°Do you really think I joined just because of Brother Ian¡¯s face?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case.¡± Ian took another hit at Danya¡¯s firm head shake. She continued. ¡°It must be something more sinister! Your eyes are filled with desire!¡± ¡°I follow the will of God! My intentions are pure!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Truly! My intentions are entirely pure.¡± ¡°Then swear to God about these pure intentions.¡± ¡°S-Swear? Well¡­ that¡­¡± Elena fidgeted nervously. Danya¡¯s pupils narrowed as she watched her. ¡°Suspicious, indeed.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Elena shrank back with a strange noise. ¡°There¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± As Danya leaned forward, Elena seemed to make up her mind, closing her eyes tightly. Then she shouted loudly. ¡°I-I joined because of Brother Ian¡¯s firm and long¡ª¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Red, juicy, and when you bite into it, something sweet bursts into your mouth and fills it with vor! That¡¯s the only reason!¡± Danya¡¯s eyes turned icy cold. No, they were almost shootingser beams. She red at Elena, who still had her eyes closed, then slowly turned her gaze towards Ian with a creak. In that intimidating atmosphere, Ian hastily whispered to Elena. ¡°Snowke fruit.¡± ¡°Oh! Snowke fruit!¡± ¡ª Whoosh. Danya¡¯s tail, which had been standing on end as if ready to strike, rxed. At the same time, her sharp eyes softened. Danya sighed quietly, muttering under her breath. ¡°¡­ Thank god.¡± What was she thinking¡­? Suddenly, she locked eyes with Ian and blushed furiously, shouting, ¡°Wh-what are you looking at, p*rvert!¡± Then she quickly turned her gaze back to Elena. ¡°But there aren¡¯t many fruits that are red, firm, and burst inside.¡± ¡°Wh-what was it that I ate¡­ A do¡­ Doma?¡± ¡°Do you mean tomato?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s it! It was so delicious! I thought it was a fruit blessed by God!¡± Elena¡¯s words werepletely off. Is a tomato a fruit? No. Is it blessed by God? No. Tomatoes were actually vegetables and were known here as the ¡®Devil¡¯s fruit¡¯. Knowing this would likely break their contract based on snowke fruit, so Ian decided to keep quiet. ¡°¡­ Do you also like tomatoes?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. Do you, Lady Danya?¡± Elena smiled brightly first. Danya¡¯s eyespletely softened. ¡°You know the taste!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± Suddenly, they sped hands and began praising tomatoes. Ian was honestly bewildered. ¡®¡­What¡¯s with them.¡¯ The two who had been fighting just moments ago were now perfectly in sync, holding hands and gushing about how delicious tomatoes were, as if they had been persecuted together. Now that he thought about it. ¡®Maybe I was the one who asked what¡¯s so good about tomatoes with sugar coating.¡¯ Hmm. They must have been holding a lot in. Anyway. ¡°Did you know? Tomatoes taste great even when you cook them with rice!¡± ¡°Oh, that sounds like God¡¯s blessed food just imagining it!¡± Their niche tastes elerated, bing even more obscure. At this rate, the whole world might turn into tomatoes. Ian had no choice but to make a decision. A very sensible remark came from Ian¡¯s lips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you twopetitors?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tomatoes are limited, and you both want to eat them. Tomatoes are quite a luxury fruit, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± A brief silence ensued. It felt like the calm before the storm. Of course, that calm didn¡¯tst long. ¡°Nyahh!¡± ¡°In the name of God!¡± Before Ian could intervene, Danya and Elena¡¯s fight began. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Ian, pretending to break up the argument, subtly led them towards the nearby training ground. ¡°Oh? There¡¯s a sparring arena here? How convenient and clever.¡± It was clear to anyone that Ian had nned this, causing both Danya and Elena to re at him slightly. Of course, their gazes quickly shifted back to each other as the fight began. ¡®I¡¯ve been wanting to see Elena¡¯s skills anyway, so this works out well.¡¯ The two of them, bristling with tension, entered therge sparring ring. ¡°Ian, you be the judge!¡± ¡°Please be fair, Brother!¡± ¡°Got it.¡±Ian responded casually and surveyed the sparring ground. All the training facilities at Lichten were cutting-edge,bining magic engineering with advanced technology. The sparring arena was no exception. It provided a virtual dueling environment that perfectly matched reality,bining illusion magic and various magic engineering techniques. From physical and magical skills to the pain felt when hit by these techniques. Of course, no one actually got hurt; it just hurt enough to feel real. That¡¯s why duelists could fight freely in the magic engineering sparring arena. ¡®This is my first time handling the referee interface.¡¯ Ian stood at the referee¡¯s stand near the ring. Touching the protruding magic stone, a translucent screen appeared. A variety of options were disyed on the screen, more than Ian had expected. He manipted it, bringing up a few screens. The most noticeable feature was the health bars hovering above the two fighters. ¡®So damage reduces the health bars?¡¯ The initial health level could be adjusted with a slider below. At this point, it felt like watching a fighting game. ¡°Can we start fighting now?¡± Danya asked, holding a magical bow. Ian was surprised. She seemed ready to fight at any moment, yet she was waiting calmly. Was Danya also curious to see the new team member¡¯s abilities? ¡®That Danya¡­¡¯ Ian felt a small surge of emotion. The girl who had once considered dropping out of the academy was now taking on the role of weing new members. ¡®It feels worth all the effort of taking her around.¡¯ Technically, Ian had taken her along because he needed her, but still, wasn¡¯t it nice when things turned out well? Ian thought this was the joy of nurturing characters. ¡°Get ready!¡± With Ian¡¯s shout, intense tension filled the ring. ¡°Fight!¡± They moved apart, cautiously eyeing each other. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Ian had expected a chaotic brawl. As expected, students trained at the Academy were different. Danya quickly retreated to the edge of the ring, widening the distance. In her hand was the magical bow she had drawn out. ¡®It¡¯s definitely more defined than before.¡¯ This was proof of Danya¡¯s growth in mana responsiveness and control. Ian felt a sense of pride. It was like nurturing a sprout that hadn¡¯t seen the light and now watching it bloom. Honestly, the help Danya provided was no less than the heroines of the original story. ¡®Raising Danya is so satisfying.¡¯ Feeling pleased, Ian turned his attention to Elena. Elena stood with a white shield, wary of Danya¡¯s movements. In fact, the reason Ian was observing their fight was to see Elena¡¯sbat style and abilities. What the team currently needed was a sub-tanker and healer. He had heard in conversation that Elena could fill that role, but seeing it firsthand was different. First, her stance. ¡®Her stance is optimized for team y.¡¯ Ian nodded in satisfaction. Elena stood at a diagonal angle with one foot back. Main tankers who handled the team¡¯s defense usually stood facing forward, anticipating attacks from the front. However, a sub-tanker¡¯s role was different. They stood in front of the main attackers, protecting them from any attacks the main tank couldn¡¯t block. Elena¡¯s immediate adoption of this stance indicated her familiarity with the sub-tanker role. Meanwhile. ¡®I, Elena, servant of Lord Deus! I will defeat this cat named Danya and reim all the tomatoes¡­ I mean, the divine blessing!¡¯ With a holy vow, Elena narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her opponent. Even from Elena¡¯s perspective, it was uncertain what abilities this catgirl Danya possessed. She only spected that Danya might be a magician. However, being apanion of someone as talented as Ian meant she likely had significant talents. ¡°Where¡¯s that fierce momentum gone? Are you running away? Are you scared?¡± Elena taunted, peeking out from behind her shield. Danya snorted and raised her bow. Thwack¡ª With a whooshing sound, the arrow flew towards Elena, who quickly ducked behind her shield. Though the shield vibrated from the impact, it wasn¡¯t particrly strong. ¡®If it¡¯s just this much!¡¯ Elena, filled with confidence, immediately pulled out a secondary weapon hidden behind her shield. ¡°A chain il?¡± ¡°Yes, it has always been the best for dealing with heretics.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a heretic!¡± Elena charged at the startled Danya. ¡°Prepare yourself!¡± Although Danya¡¯s agility was one of the best at the Academy, the ring was a confined space. Elena caught up with Danya and swung her il. Wham¡ª Danya nimbly leaped to dodge the heavy strike, moving like a swift cat. ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re fast!¡± While Elena was pulling the il out of the ground, Danya twisted her body mid-air and fired an arrow. ¡°Oh.¡± Even Ian, who was watching, was impressed by the precise shot. It was a perfect hit. Elena¡¯s health dropped by about 10% instantly. It must have hurt. However, Elena merely frowned briefly and then rushed towards Danya¡¯snding spot. No matter how agile the opponent was, they couldn¡¯t change direction mid-air! ¡°Hiyaaaah!¡± Elena charged with her shield forward, hitting Danya squarely. Danya bounced a few times on the ground and wiped her mouth. Virtual blood, indicating her health had halved, stained her hand. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite agile too, Danya.¡± Instead of replying, Danya backed away and nocked another arrow. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere left to run in this ring!¡± ng¡ª! ¡®Snowke fruit¡­ Brother Ian¡¯s trust belongs to me, Elena, not to some catgirl!¡¯ Elena easily blocked Danya¡¯s arrow and advanced. But it was a feint. Suddenly, the ground erupted. Ian, observing, murmured. ¡°¡­Earth?¡± It was a technique Ian had shown a few times before, making the ground protrude. Danya had adapted it to create vines from the ground. ¡°What!¡± Elena had no time to react. She tripped over the vines and fell. But it wasn¡¯t over. ¨C Thrum! A menacing sound came from above. Hundreds of arrows hung in the air. ¡°Ugh!¡± There was no time to respond. The pressure in the air was palpable. It felt like thousands of bees buzzing, followed by a flurry of arrows. Thudthudthudthudthud¡ª! Arrows rained down continuously. Arrows imbued with green magic rained down in an unrelenting barrage. ¡°¡­!¡± Elena¡¯s health quickly drained to zero under the relentless arrow storm. ¡°Danya wins.¡± With Ian¡¯s deration, the sparring ground¡¯s illusion magic dissipated. ¡°Phew.¡± Danya sighed and approached the copsed Elena. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really good. I thought I¡¯d win because I¡¯m a melee fighter¡­¡± ¡°Your strike wasn¡¯t bad. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect you to charge through the arrows. You¡¯ve got some grit.¡± ¡°I learned something today, Sister. No, Danya-unnie.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Danya¡¯s tail swayed slightly at Elena¡¯s praise. ¡°Well, from now on, every time I eat twice, I¡¯ll let you eat once. After all, I¡¯m your unnie!¡± And thus, the hierarchy was established. ¡®¡­Or perhaps Elena had figured out how to deal with Danya.¡¯ Ian couldn¡¯t tell which was the truth. ¡ô While Elena and Danya were resting, Ian headed straight to Sylvia¡¯s office. ¨C Oh right! Danya had mentioned that Lina was avable for the promotion battle, but Sylvia was still undecided about participating. Sylvia¡¯s office was five tram stops away. ¡°What brings you here, Ian? It¡¯s rare for you to visit me.¡± ¡°If anyone heard that, they¡¯d think you alwayse to me.¡± ¡°I always thought I was the one clinging to you in our rtionship.¡± ¡­It did seem like he was the one who usually initiated contact. Ian shook his head, noting the yful curve of Sylvia¡¯s eyes. If he engaged in her teasing, he¡¯d lose. ¡°More importantly, what¡¯s this about not being sure if you¡¯ll participate in the promotion match?¡± Sylvia chuckled softly. ¡°Hmm. Are you genuinely worried about me? How sweet. I¡¯m d we became partners.¡± Her words were clearly leading somewhere. When Ian pressed her with silence, she finally relented. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be honest. I¡¯m thinking of skipping the promotion match.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because the time while Emilia is absent is the only chance to catch up with Raymond.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Come to think of it, ording to the original story, the Raymond Trading Company had seized control of the Academy¡¯s market after the promotion battle. ¡°Even if it means giving up the benefits of the Aether ss?¡± ¡°Of course, there are many advantages, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn¡¯t matter if I join Aether a semesterte. But once we lose the upper hand in trading, it¡¯s over.¡± Moreover¨C Sylvia continued. ¡°There¡¯s no great benefit to both of us getting promoted. If one of us gets promoted first, they can help the other during the next promotion.¡± Ian nodded. Sylvia¡¯s argument made sense. However, he couldn¡¯t ignore the way she phrased things. ¡°We?¡± Sylvia blinked a few times before tucking her hair behind her ear. ¡°W-well, we¡¯re partners, so it¡¯s natural to say ¡®we¡¯, isn¡¯t it?¡± She had a point. ¡ô Returning to the original location, Ian found Elena eagerly waiting, fully recovered. On her head rested a pure white snowflower. ¡°Danya-unnie may have a sharp tongue, but she has a very warm heart.¡± Danya bristled at Elena¡¯s words. ¡°N-no, I don¡¯t! Hmph!¡± Inadvertently proving Elena¡¯s point, Danya retorted. ¡°You both must be exhausted, so head back and rest. We can discuss team matterster.¡± Oh¨C Elena softly eximed before continuing. ¡°I have something to tell you regarding the club.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°The Dessert Research Club room. You get to choose one.¡± Oh, right. I hadpletely forgotten about that. After touring a few empty ssrooms with Elena. ¡°¡­What is this doing here?¡± In one of the old, long-abandoned magic wing ssrooms, Ian stumbled upon an unexpected item. A locked, old wooden box. It was one of the Numbers. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 The first ce Elena led Ian to was a building near the student council. It was a state-of-the-art club hall made of marble. The dazzling white stones were almost blinding. An empty club room located in a corner of such a building. ¡°This is the best remaining club room.¡± ¡°It does look clean. But isn¡¯t thepetition for ces like this intense?¡± At Ian¡¯s question, Elena confidently put her hands on her hips. ¡°Yes! I secretly obtained the information from the student council and only told Brother Ian!¡± Elena¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, her expression saying, ¡®I did well, right? Praise me!¡¯ Ian couldn¡¯t help but point out.¡°Is that okay? Isn¡¯t it kind of unfair?¡± ¡°That¡­ that is!¡± Elena¡¯s face turned red, her mouth opening and closing without a sound. ¡°¡­If you¡¯re going to get flustered so easily, why did you do this?¡± ¡°Well, because¡­¡± Desperately searching for an excuse, Elena finally closed her eyes tightly, as if she had no other choice. Her true feelings slipped out. ¡°Because of Sister Danya!¡± ¡°Danya?¡± ¡°Yes! I can do better than Sister Danya! I wanted to show that!¡± Despite having already lost the fight against Danya, Elena didn¡¯t give up. It¡¯s not like Danya was always with Ian, and if she got closer to Ian, she would have more opportunities to approach. Therefore, the priority was to work hard to gain an advantage in Ian¡¯s heart. Elena¡¯s mind was particrly sharp that day. ¡®In the end, everything depends on a person¡¯s heart!¡¯ It was the firm will of a small priestess to monopolize a divine blessing-like fruit. Meanwhile, watching Elena, Ian felt proud. It was a result mixed with a slight misunderstanding. ¡®Are theypeting to see who bes stronger? How admirable.¡¯ Bing stronger meant training! Come to think of it, wasn¡¯t there a state-of-the-art training ground nearby? Elena was this dedicated to training! ¡°I can feel yourmitment to endless training, Elena.¡± With a slight misunderstanding, Ian nodded proudly. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°But it seems difficult to live here.¡± ¡°Live here?¡± Some club rooms were designed for living as well. ¡°They have showers and toilets nearby, and there are facilities for cooking with water and fire.¡± ¡°Oh, this ce doesn¡¯t have that, but others do. How did you know?¡± Well, in Fantasy X Academy, club rooms were used as bases. yers could stay there, and characters they collected would gather in the club rooms. ¡®Of course, school dramas should have clubs.¡¯ Ian wanted to find a decent club room where the dream of such a school story could be realized. In fact, he was also starting to feel tired of wandering around to meet the kids. ¡°We can use the club room as a base for our promotion team.¡± ¡°That, that¡¯s not allowed¡­ club rooms must be used for club purposes only.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± ¡°¡­Are you sure you understand?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elena started nagging, and Ian, led by her, explored various possible club rooms. The condition Ian set was that the ce should be livable and spacious enough to amodate a group of people without feeling cramped. However, finding such a room proved to be difficult. ¡°The further from the Academy¡¯s center, therger the rooms, and the closer, the smaller.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°¡­ They¡¯re all a bit vague.¡± Ian and Elena wandered all over the Academy. They had inspected about six rooms when Elena hesitantly spoke up. ¡°¡­ I know a ce that meets the criteria.¡± Elena trailed off. ¡°It¡¯srge and has various facilities. But¡­¡± What¡¯s the issue? ¡°Is the deposit too expensive?¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s not it¡­¡± ¡°Then why are you so anxious?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll understand once we get there!¡± Elena led Ian to the old Magic School building. ¡°Isn¡¯t this ce good enough?¡± It did show signs of age, but it didn¡¯t feel dirty. The leaves and vines covering the walls gave it an antique atmosphere. As Ian was about to enter through the main door without hesitation, Elena pulled on his sleeve. Elena¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at Ian¡¯sment. ¡°Brother Ian, haven¡¯t you heard the rumors about this ce?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of the 10 Wonders of Lichten Academy¡­.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Of course, he had heard of the Academy¡¯s ten wonders. He remembered about two or three being covered in the story. But the old Magic School wasn¡¯t one of them. ¡°Why is this ce a Wonder?¡± ¡°G-Ghost¡­¡± ¡°Ghost? A human ghost?¡± ¡°No, not that!¡± Elena looked around nervously and whispered to Ian. ¡°A g-ghost. There are rumors that this building is haunted.¡± ¡°I see. But why are you whispering?¡± ¡°The ghost might be listening!¡± Ian momentarily had a puzzled expression before straightening his face. Elena flinched at his look. ¡°Of course, as a servant of God, I don¡¯t believe in ghosts! Even if one appears, I can purify it!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Go in? Really?¡± ¡°Are you scared?¡± ¡°Deus is always by my side, so I¡¯m not scared¡­!¡± Despite clinging to him, she imed not to be scared. With a smirk, Ian moved forward without hesitation. ¡®The conditions are just too good.¡¯ Close to the Academy¡¯s center but slightly northeast. It was convenient for getting supplies from the northern market and expanding into the Academy¡¯s eastern luxury shopping district. Additionally, as an older building, it was likely to be quite spacious inside. The front door of the building exuded an aura of age. Desks and chairs were scattered haphazardly. ¡ª Creeeeak! ¡°Yaaah!¡± Elena screamed and clung to Ian¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s just the wooden floor creaking, Elena.¡± Elena blushed and let go, though she still held onto the edge of Ian¡¯s shirt with her fingertips. ¡°H-here it is.¡± Elena, who had been continuously checking something on her Kirtos terminal, stopped in front of a ssroom. ¡°This ce has been empty for about three years. No one wanted to start a club in a building rumored to be haunted.¡± Ian opened the door without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s quite spacious.¡± The room was asrge as an average ssroom,rger than Ian had imagined for a club room. ¡°We can put basic furniture like sofas and tables over there.¡± Ian imagined the furniture arrangement and spun around. In one corner, there was a sink and a small kitchen area. ¡°That corner can be used for equipment for the Dessert Research Society.¡± Even with those additions, there was plenty of space left. ¡®This ce is so big we could practically live here.¡¯ Even if they only used half of it, it would berger than his current lodging. Moving here might not be a bad idea. Ian thought it wasn¡¯t a bad idea at all. It would save a lot of timemuting to the Academy, the training ground was nearby, and it would be a bit safer within the Academy¡¯s restricted ess area, away from threats like the Blood Witch. However, the room was a bit dusty from being neglected for so long. But that could be easily cleaned with a thorough scrubbing. ¡®If it¡¯s too much, I can use my divine power to clean it.¡¯ While exploring, Ian noticed something. ¡°Hmm?¡± Ian found a small box on a shelf in the corner. It was a palm-sized, antique wooden box with a luxurious but old look. The gold lock on the box was quite intricate. ¡°¡­ Why is this here?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°One of the ten Wonders of the Academy you mentioned.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Elena, who had shown interest and peeked over, immediately backed away, looking at it as if it were a bomb. But Ian knew this box was a highly valuable item. It was one of the rare ¡°Numbers¡± items obtainable at the academy. ¡¸Number 777: Mystery Box¡¹ ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to find this here.¡¯ Ian was genuinely surprised. Number 777, the Mystery Box. As the name suggests, the box itself is an ¡°item.¡± If you put valuable items like gold coins or magic stones into the box, it would convert them into other items of equivalent value. ¡®It¡¯s like a gacha tool.¡¯ Ian had wanted to find this item when he yed the game because it offered a simr experience to spending real money for in-game currency. ¡®To think it was hidden in such a corner.¡¯ Ian recalled the painful memories of his extensive but fruitless search for this box. It was hidden in an old ssroom drawer, making it understandable why he never found it. ¡°But we need a key to open it.¡± Looking around, there was no sign of a key. At that moment, ¡ª Creakkkk! ¡°Kyah!¡± The door suddenly opened, and Elena screamed, clinging to Ian again. ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s not a ghost.¡± Ian calmed Elena down and looked towards the open door. Arge, muscr young man with bronze skin stood there. His raised blond hair and earrings made him look quite menacing. The guy stepped into the room and greeted them. ¡°New neighbors?¡± ¡°We¡¯re considering it.¡± ¡°Your manner is short.¡± ¡°So is yours.¡± Their brief exchange gave them a sense of each other¡¯s feelings. The guy smirked and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t be so wary. I¡¯m just here to give some guidance.¡± ¡°¡­ Guidance?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you want to use this ce, you need to pay a development fee and a passage toll.¡± ¡°¡­ Development fee?¡± Instead of answering, the guy pulled something out of his pocket¡ªa sharp dagger. Like a viin from an old tale, the blond youth licked the de with his tongue. ¡°T-that weapon vites school rules¡ª!¡± Ian stopped Elena. He wanted to resolve this through dialogue if possible. ¡°Development fee? Why should I pay that?¡± ¡°If you want to use a building managed by our club, you need to show some goodwill.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what your club is, but what if I refuse to pay?¡± ¡°If you refuse, you¡¯ll have to leave, immediately.¡± The blond thug brandished his knife threateningly. Elena, gathering her courage, stepped forward and shouted. She¡¯s not afraid, unless it¡¯s a ghost. ¡°P-please calm down! If you act like this, the student council won¡¯t stand idly by! Just having such a weapon is grounds for disciplinary action. There are nobat clubs in this building, so which club do you¡ª¡± Ian cut off Elena urgently. ¡°Elena, shield!¡± The blond guy threw the knife and charged. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡ª ng! Elena blocked the thug¡¯s dagger and shouted. ¡°Brother! It¡¯s a muscle ghost!¡± ¡°How is that a ghost!¡± ¡°But look!¡± Ian turned his head as per Elena¡¯s instructions. There was another blonde thug who looked identical to the one who had shot a dagger at Elena. ¡°¡­ A duplicate?¡± Ian was bewildered.He had never heard of a duplication spell before. Meanwhile, the thug threw another dagger. ¡ª ng! Elena quickly charged forward and knocked the dagger away with her shield. ¡°Brother Ian! Get a grip!¡± ¡°Elena, maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re small, but you¡¯re fast.¡± ¡°Stop joking and get a grip, Brother! It¡¯s a ghost¡­! It¡¯s a ghost, aaaaah!¡± ¡°¡­ I think you¡¯re the one who needs to get a grip.¡± Ian mumbled as he watched Elena stamping her feet with the shield in hand. ¡°Exterminate the ghost!¡± Elena clung to one of the blonde thug¡¯s duplicates and started smashing it with her shield. Seeing her berserk-like behavior, Ian sighed softly. Still. ¡°This is strange. I¡¯ve never heard of a duplication spell.¡± As far as Ian knew, there had never been a duplication spell mentioned at Lichten Academy. Of course, that didn¡¯t prove the spell didn¡¯t exist. ¡®In any case, it must be a very high-level spell.¡¯ Would someone with such a skill really juste to extort money from a club? Something felt off. ¡°What are you so deep in thought about!¡± Suddenly, the image of the blonde thug appeared before him. And then. ¡ª Thud! His vision darkened abruptly. His head felt fuzzy. Did he get hit? When he opened his eyes, he saw the thug smirking wickedly. ¡°Ian! Is that all you¡¯ve got? You¡¯re much weaker than I heard!¡± The thug wiggled his fist tauntingly, and Ian stared at him in disbelief. ¡®¡­ Who the hell is this guy?¡¯ That movement just now was faster than any opponent he had faced so far. No. It was more urate to say he didn¡¯t even sense the punch. ¡®Was Elena right calling him a ghost?¡¯ Literally ghost-like movements. The blonde thug sneered. ¡°Surprised, Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°A bit. Who are you, really?¡± ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m here to collect the club dues.¡± ¡°With your abilities, you could collect dues from royalty, not just some club.¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote to kiss up, b*stard!¡± ¡ª Thud, thud. Thud! A barrage of attacks came at a tremendous speed. Ian barely managed to block them with his Lunar. ¡°Hahaha! This is fun! You should be my punching bag!¡± Ian¡¯s whole body ached from the few effective hits he took. Who the hell is this guy? With this level of skill and insanity, he could easily be a named viin. Ian couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°I¡¯ll hit you for every copper you owe, you bastard.¡± As the thug prepared his next move, Ian used [Leap] to quickly retreat to the window. The candle flickered btedly. Shadows danced in the wavering light. Ian quickly scanned his surroundings. One side of the room. Under the clock. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Elena was being attacked by another duplicate. However, ¡ª ng! ng! Having crawledpletely under her shield, she seemed unharmed despite the thug¡¯s relentless strikes. ¡®¡­ Is she a hedgehog?¡¯ ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± A own blonde duplicate pursued him immediately. Even as he raised his arms to block, the questions remained. Why would someone with this ability just beat people up to extort money from a club? The suspicion didn¡¯t stop there. Above all, this space. It felt off. Ian quickly raised his hand. ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll pay.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The fee and development fund, right? I¡¯ll pay that money.¡± ¡°¡­ Really?¡± ¡°I have plenty of money. I¡¯ll pay as much as you want.¡± Calming the thug down, Ian scanned his surroundings. Something was definitely off. Was that candle on the table in the corner there from the beginning? Most disturbing of all was the analog clock hanging in the middle of the room. It had been stuck at exactly 5:53 PM since they entered. And. ¡®¡­ No shadows.¡¯ There were no shadows on the hour hand, the minute hand, or even the clock itself, where they should have been. A nce. Turning his head, Ian locked eyes with the blonde thug. The thug¡¯s face suddenly paled. Ian pulled a battery out of his pocket. Then he leapt. Full power. Bang! As Ian leapt towards the clock, the blonde thug lunged to grab him. ¡°Too slow.¡± ¡ª Smash! Ian shattered the clock. The world trembled violently. The scene in the club room transformed. Standing before Ian was no longer the blonde muscle thug but a bold-looking girl wearing arge wizard hat. ¡°H-How did you break my hypnosis spell¡­¡± The girl copsed, her legs giving out. ¡ô Lupina. A student of the Lichten Academy¡¯s Department of Magic. President and only member of the ¡®ult Research Club¡¯. She sensed something had gone terribly wrong. ¡°My¡­ my hypnosis spell broke so easily.¡± In her third year at Lichten, Lupina had spent countless nights and days researching ¡®wide-area hypnosis¡¯ for the ult Research Society. She had turned the old building of the Magic Department building into a single hypnosis array. Entering the building, one would encounter various arrays and spells, starting the hypnosis process from the shaking vines at the entrance. The building¡¯s reputation as a haunted house was a result of these hypnosis effects. She used this setup to asionally extract small amounts of money (around 1 silver coin) from curious students to fund her club activities. She also drove away those who sought to use the empty club room. Regr inspections by the student council were easily handled with hypnosis. This was how the ¡®ult Research Club¡¯ maintained its official club status with only one member. So when she saw Ian and Elena enter, Lupina licked her lips. She only needed to collect about 10 silver coins as an entrance fee to the ¡®haunted house.¡¯ And she nned to drive them away so they wouldn¡¯t im the club room. ¡®Where did it go wrong?¡¯ Was it when she didn¡¯t drive them away at the entrance and let them in because the girl¡¯s reactions were amusing? Or was it overestimating her own hypnosis? Perhaps it was a mistake to let that keen Ian ckangers, a perceptive monster, enter at all. Ian ckangers, who had broken the hypnosis object and returned to normal vision, started walking towards her. ¡°Kyaa, kyaa¡ª! S-Stop!¡± Lupina, her legs giving out unexpectedly as the hypnosis broke, fell over. Rumor had it Ian ckangers was truly fearsome. At this rate, he might beat her just as badly as she had attacked him with the fake blonde thug illusion. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I, I was just trying to scare you off¡­!¡± Lupina, retreating while on the ground, her skirt riding up, exposing her white legs through the torn ck tights. Ian extended a hand to her. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Stand up.¡± Lupina, dazed, took his hand and stood up. Her skirt fell back down, covering her legs again. Even after standing, Lupina remained flustered. ¡­ He¡¯s not going to hit her? Ian pointed at Elena and asked her. ¡°When will she wake up?¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Lupina snapped her fingers. ¡°¡­Nooo! Brother Iaaaan! ¡­Huh?¡± With a dumbfounded exmation, Elena regained consciousness. While Ian checked on Elena¡¯s condition. ¡°Th-Then, I¡¯ll be going now. There won¡¯t be any side effects.¡± Lupina attempted to slip away quietly. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yes?¡± ¡°Your name.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lupina, president of the ult Research Club downstairs.¡± ¡°Alright, Lupina. I¡¯m nning to use this club room. No objections, right?¡± Lupina nodded hurriedly. ¡°Of course. This kind of thing will never happen again.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± As Lupina bowed her head and tried to leave the room. ¡°Oh, one more thing.¡± Ian snapped his fingers. ¡°The fee. And the development fund.¡± Ian approached with his hand in his pocket, and Lupina trembled, stepping back. ¡ª Thud! But soon, she was against the wall. ¡°I really don¡¯t have any money. I couldn¡¯t even pay for the club certification fee, which is why I did that!¡± ¡ª Step, step. But Ian¡¯s footsteps didn¡¯t stop. This was the student with the fearsome reputation of even taking down the Grand Duke of the North! ¡°Eek!¡± Lupina, eyes tightly shut, shouted. ¡°T-Then! I¡¯ll pay with my body!¡± Only after shouting this did Lupina manage to slip away. ¡ô ¡°What¡¯s with her?¡± Ian, who had been taking out his wallet, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. ¡°It¡¯s probably because Brother Ian¡¯s face looks scary. You looked like you were trying to extort money.¡± ¡°I was actually going to give her some. For the development fund and fee. Aren¡¯t those necessary?¡± Ian shook the wallet in his hand. ¡°¡­ All club rooms are managed by the Student Council. There¡¯s no such thing, Brother Ian.¡± Ian was somewhat shocked. He had assumed that, just like in rural areas where development funds were collected, there would be a simr culture for maintaining this somewhat rundown building. Or some kind of premium for using the room. Even so, experiencing a hallucination like that was worth paying for. Honestly, the fight with the blonde thug was something Ian wanted to try again someday. Those overwhelming movements. Extortion and paying for an experience were entirely different matters. ¡®She might have a talent for dark magic.¡¯ It would be interesting to learn if given the chance. Anyway. Ian looked around the club room with a satisfied smile. ¡°This ce is the best. It seemsfortable enough to live in.¡± The room was reasonably spacious. The plumbing was already connected, and with just a stove, cooking wouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°You¡¯re really going to live here?¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s also a deposit for using the club room, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ about 50 silver.¡± ¡°Living here will save money. Plus, it¡¯s convenient being inside the Academy.¡± ¡°But what if ghosts appear¡­!¡± At Elena¡¯s words, Ian responded, ¡°In that case, our devoted sister Elena will handle it.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Ian chuckled and walked over to a shelf. Fortunately, it was there. Number 777. Mystery Box. ¡°I was worried it might be a hallucination.¡± With the promotion test just days away, this item was perfect for securing resources. The problem was the golden, dazzling lock. ¡­ He had to find the key to open it. Ian smirked. ¡®Luckily, I know where it is.¡¯ It¡¯s not even hard to obtain. Ian knew about this item because, in the game, the key was found before discovering the box. ¡°Elena, are you free tomorrow?¡± ¡°¡­ Yes? I think I can make time.¡± ¡°Great. Gather the party members, we¡¯re going on a trip.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°A dungeon.¡± ¡°A dun¡­geon? But most dungeons are dangerous¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± He already knew the strategy for conquering it. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 A heroine of Fanta X Aca, Lina Rosewell. A spirit mage who handled the element of fire. Possessed numerous area attack skills based on her attribute. In some cases, explosive single strikes were also possible. Danya Catsnesia. A mage of the nt element. Mainly focused on long-range attacks using her magic bow. She seemed to have recently learned an area skill. With the heightened senses characteristic of beast people, she could serve as a guide. Various interactions were possible due to her nt element, showcasing excellent utility. These were the two rear members of the current party. Thebination wasn¡¯t bad. If Danya spread out nt element attacks, and Lina¡¯s fire attacks were added on top, an interaction called [Ignition] would ur.At the front was Ian. Although a mage, he always ended up tanking whenever a party was formed. His main skills involved [Extraction] and [Transformation], using items and surrounding metals. He was starting to worry that he was enjoying punching people too much. And the newly recruited Elena from the Numina sect. She was a priest from the Deus religion, recruited for healing and sub-tanking. Unexpectedly, she seemed capable of providing quite reliable tanking, which he was looking forward to. Her skills shown during practice with Danya and in the club room were not bad. Of course, healer and tank characters were not popr, making them rare in reality. Elena¡¯s presence was a big plus in many ways. However, he discovered one concern about her¡­ ¡°What if we get stuck in the dungeon and can¡¯t get out?¡± She was quite fearful, as seen during the clubroom incident. Danya and Lina remained calm. Having already been in Richard¡¯s Dantian, they thought a small dungeon like this would be no problem. ¡®Experience is crucial after all.¡¯ Elena chattered without pause. ¡°Brother Ian. Entering the ck forest at this dusky time is not a good choice. If we continue like this, even after clearing the dungeon¡ª¡± ¡°Elena.¡± ¡°Yes, Brother Ian. Shall we prepare to return right away? I can lead the way back.¡± ¡°Ghosts take the talkative ones first. Quiet down and follow.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± This was the outskirts of the Academy,monly called the ¡®Shadow Forest¡¯. The reason they came to this ce, where Ian and Danya once dealt with a giant rabbit at the start of the semester, was simple. The dungeon that rewarded the key to the Number 777, Mystery Box, was located here. He quieted the chattering Elena and focused on scanning the surroundings. It was currently five in the afternoon. The sun was setting. The shadow of the Magic Tower was visible beyond the Academy. And when one connected a peak of the northern mountain range. ¡°This way.¡± As they walked, an unexpected clearing appeared in the middle of the forest. Three fallen treesy around the clearing. ¡°Is the dungeon here? It just looks like a normal forest.¡± Lina tilted her head in confusion. Ian pointed to the three fallen trees. ¡°Those trees are the hint to finding the dungeon entrance. If you follow their direction, you¡¯ll see a rabbit-shaped stone.¡± ¡°Rabbit?¡± Lina tilted her head again. ¡°Ugh¡ª Another rabbit? Though it was tasty.¡± Danya let out a somewhat uneasy sound. Come to think of it, they had been recharged with protein from the rabbit jerky they caught with Danya. ¡°Danya. It¡¯s a rabbit-shaped stone, so you can¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°Do I look like an idiot to you!¡± Ian didn¡¯t understand why Danya was angry at his serious advice. ¡°Anyway. You¡¯ll recognize it at a nce. It¡¯s a marker. Don¡¯t wander too far. Walk about 300 steps, and if you don¡¯t see it,e back here.¡± ¡°Um¡­ What about me?¡± Elena raised her hand timidly. ¡°Elena, either stay here or follow me. What will it be?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll follow.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s move.¡± They spread out and searched for a while. ¡°This way!¡± Danya¡¯s voice called out. ¡®¡­ How did she get up there?¡¯ From arge tree, Danya pointed to a spot with her finger. ¡°Here it is, here!¡± As Danya said, there was a rabbit-shaped stone. When he touched the area corresponding to the ears, the ground in front of the rabbit began to ripple. Wooong¡ª! A strange crack appeared. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a real dungeon?¡± Lina murmured in amazement. ¡°And it¡¯s a dimensional transfer type. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡± Danya was equally surprised. She poked her finger in and out of the crack, then asked Ian with a serious expression. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about something for a while now, Ian. Can I ask?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°How do you know all this stuff?¡± What a sharp question. ¡°I read it in the library.¡± ¡°No wonder you¡¯re always at the library¡­ So you weren¡¯t going there to meet that librarian.¡± Lina made a remark that could cause trouble. ¡°By the way, how do you know I¡¯m always at the library?¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Lina tapped the ground with the tip of her shoe, looking embarrassed. There were many things Ian wanted to point out, but entering the dungeon took priority. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡ô After a brief dizziness, he opened his eyes to find a green meadow stretching out before him. ¡°Wow¡ª! The scenery really changed in an instant!¡± Elena looked around in awe. ¡°It feels like passing through a portal.¡± ¡°¡­ It reminds me of entering Richard¡¯s prison. But it¡¯s warmer, which is nice.¡± Having experienced portals and dimensional cracks before, Lina and Danya calmly surveyed their surroundings. In the distance, they could see piles of debris from buildings. This dungeon was called the ¡°Ruined Temple¡±. It was a dungeon only essible through the exploration quest series [Traces of Ruin], which appeared randomly while exploring various parts of the academy. Of course, Ian could find it by retracing his past experiences. ¡°There¡¯s no need for everyone to be too tense. This isn¡¯t a terribly difficult dungeon. We just need to go as far as we can.¡± Unlike closed dungeons where the exit was blocked upon entry, this one was an open dungeon with a constantly essible exit. If they felt it was too much, they could always turn back. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve heard dungeons are a blessing from God. That might really be true. Gaining experience like this should help us grow quickly.¡± Elena murmured, pping her hands together. This time, she was right. An open dungeon was a treasure trove of experience and loot. ¡°But what are these snowke-like things? They¡¯re so pretty. Wow. It looks like snow is falling on the grass!¡± ¡°I have a bad feeling about them¡­¡± Lina and Danya were showing the differences between emotional and rational people. Lina¡¯s excellent empathy was what made her the most popr girl in the academy¡­ ¡°Everyone, put this on.¡± This time, Danya was right. Ian distributed the masks he had prepared to the party members. ¡°¡­ Masks?¡± ¡°These snowke-like things are the pollen of the ¡®Ruined Flower¡¯ that only blooms in the ruins. Inhaling it continuously affects both stamina and mana.¡± Everyone epted the masks without a word. ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t do anything without you, Ian.¡± Lina lowered her mask slightly and gave a sly smile. ¡ô ¡ª Pshuuung! Themon enemies in the ¡°Ruined Temple¡± were mainly enhanced wild animals. Most of them were gray wolves called Ash Wolves. ¡°Bad wolves! Die!¡± Here, Danya¡¯s skills shone. Despite the wolves being quite fast, she took them down with one shot, one kill. Her predictive shooting was impressive to watch. ¡°Our Catsnesia n has a bad history with the wolf beastmen!¡± Apparently, there was an emotional connection. If it was the Lupus n of the Grand Forest, they were known for their ferocity. As they got closer to the ruins, Danya¡¯s bow shot fire. Ian and Elena, who were at the forefront, had nothing to do. They leisurely walked and chatted as Danya¡¯s arrows flew past. ¡°It¡¯s a bit odd to say this, but it seems too easy, Brother Ian.¡± ¡°Who was trembling in fear earlier?¡± ¡°Th-that was because this is my first dungeon!¡± ¡°Still, don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± ¡°Why not? Do high-risk creatures appear here? Could it be¡­ the dungeon¡¯s master?!¡± The dungeon master. In simple terms, the boss. ¡°Of course there is.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to doubt if I can trust you to take the lead, Elena.¡± ¡°The dungeon¡¯s master would be those who have made a pact with demons! Monsters with hundreds of faces and thousands of eyes!¡± ¡°¡­ What kind of ultra-difficult dungeon boss is that? Normal dungeons aren¡¯t like that. They are hard but manageable. And.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not nning to take on the boss today. We¡¯re just here to get what we need and leave.¡± With their current strength, it was impossible to face the dungeon boss. ¡°Th-that¡¯s a relief.¡± Elena sighed in relief. After walking for a while, they entered the ruined city. The main stage here was the ruined temple located in the middle of the city. But they weren¡¯t nning to go there. The goal, the ¡®key to open the mystery box¡¯, was in therge za at the city entrance. It could be found in the broken fountain in the center of the za. ¡°Here it is.¡± The fountain still had some water, and numerous coins were sunk at the bottom, as if someone had made a wish. Given the city¡¯s current state, those wishes hadn¡¯te true. ¡ª Ssh The water in the fountain was quite deep. Now, they had to find the key among the coins. While Danya kept watch, Elena, who had stepped into the fountain, muttered. ¡°¡­ Huh? This isn¡¯t a coin.¡± ¡°Yes, it is. They¡¯re not worth much.¡± Ian had tried selling these coins in the game a few times but found they had no value, so he hadn¡¯t paid them any attention. ¡°But they¡¯re ancient coins.¡± ¡°What?¡± Was there an Easter egg hidden here? This was news to him. ¡°I¡¯ll take one and verify itter.¡± While Elena examined the coins, Ian pulled out the key wedged in the drain. Their goal in this dungeon was achieved. ¡°Good job, everyone. Let¡¯s head back and loot the wolves we took down on the way out. We should give Danya arger share.¡± As he spoke, Danya suddenly shouted. ¡°Ian! Something¡¯sing!¡± ¡ª Growl! At the end of Danya¡¯s pointing finger, a giant wolf was charging at them. A gem embedded in its tail glowed ominously with a purple light. ¡°Ah. Why is that here?¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 ¡ª Boom! The creature made a grand entrance by leaping with its massive body. Crack! As itnded, the stone floor shattered, sending debris flying in all directions. It was asrge as a three-story building. With thick, ash-gray fur. And a menacing purple gemstone embedded in its tail. [Twilight Wolf] This was the mid-boss of the dungeon.Why on earth was it here instead of wandering around the temple far away? ¡ª Growl! The creature stood still, ring at them as if assessing whether it could defeat them. It was a smart one. It was trying to gauge if it could win against them. All they could do was prepare for battle, hoping it would leave on its own. ¡°¡­It seems to dislike Ian?¡± Lina kindly interpreted the wolf¡¯s emotions. ¡°I can see that too, Lina.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Everyone, take your positions. Elena! Watch out for the flying debris and tail attacks. That tail can whip around like a whip.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Elena stood beside Ian, seemingly unafraid. Good. The front position was secure. ¡°Lina and Danya, focus on preventing it from approaching. It¡¯s quite fast and agile, so hitting it with direct spells won¡¯t work. Use area attacks.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Danya, if possible, aim for the gemstone in its tail¡­ Danya?¡± Danya didn¡¯t respond. ¡®This never happened before.¡¯ A sudden sense of unease made him turn to her. Unfocused pupils. Trembling fingers. Danya was nkly walking towards the Twilight Wolf. ¡°Danya! What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ian hurriedly grabbed her hand. Her hand was so hot from how tightly she was clenching her fist. At the same time, it was trembling. ¡°Danya!¡± Ian shook her shoulders roughly. Only then did her focus return, and she tilted her head. ¡°¡­Nyah. Ian? Huh. What was I doing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I want to ask. What¡¯s going on?¡± Danya looked up at the wolf again. The wolf was also ring at Danya with its huge golden eyes. Danya¡¯s pupils narrowed like those of a cat about to pounce. ¡°¡­That wolf. I can feel it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A simr aura to the enemy who killed my parents. It¡¯s not the same one, though.¡± Danya muttered through gritted teeth. Come to think of it, Ian had never heard about Danya¡¯s past. She wasn¡¯t a heroine, so he didn¡¯t have much information. All he knew was that she was from the feline tribe of Catsnesia, located in the central continent¡¯s Grand Forest. He had vaguely sensed that she avoided talking about her past, so he never asked. Besides, he also couldn¡¯t talk about his past either. ¡®¡­It feels simr to her nemesis.¡¯ So, was that a moment of madness brought on by rage? He needed to calm her down first. Ian flicked her smooth forehead. ¡°Ow! What are you doing, Nyah!¡± ¡°Calm down and take your position. You can¡¯t face that thing alone.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right. Of course. I just had a moment of nkness, Nyah. I¡¯ll take my position.¡± ¡°Aim for the tail with your bow. The gemstone embedded there is its weak point. It has magic resistance.¡± ¡°Got it, Nyah.¡± ¡ª Growl! The Twilight Wolf stepped forward as if it had finished its assessment. ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± ¡ô With a size well over three meters, the wolf was truly immense. To be honest, Elena was quite scared. Until the creatureunched its first attack, she was frozen in ce. But. ¡°Tail pattern iing! Shield up, Elena!¡± As soon as Ian spoke, she raised her shield just in time to intercept the wolf¡¯s tail. ¡ª Boom! The impact made her shield reverberate heavily. Her arm went numb. Only then did Elena snap back to her senses. The wolf¡¯s tail came whipping around again, this time aiming for Danya and Lina in the rear. Whoosh! Elena dashed forward, blocking the tail just above Lina¡¯s head. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Just doing my duty.¡± ¡°Ifrit!¡± Lina summoned the spirit of fire. Fwoosh! The Twilight Wolf¡¯s tail ignited. But the creature easily shook off the mes. ¡ª Bang! Taking advantage of the moment, Ian¡¯s fist mmed into the wolf¡¯s face. But as expected of a mid-boss in a hidden dungeon, the wolf twisted its head, deflecting the impact diagonally. Its thick, tough fur absorbed most of the remaining damage. ¡®This is really tough.¡¯ Ian thought as he resumed a defensive stance. Twilight Wolf. With a mouth full of sharp, massive teeth. ws that were almost like swords. And a tail thatshed out like a whip. In many ways, this creature was hard to handle with their current strength. ¡®We need to target the gemstone in its tail.¡¯ In other words, they needed to get behind it. The problem was finding a way to do that. Danya was shooting arrows, but it was nearly impossible to hit the tail. The tail was too fast and erratic. Using ranged attacks that took time to travel was almost pointless. ¡®Should I abandon tanking and switch to my sword?¡¯ Ian considered briefly before shaking his head. It was too risky. They needed one person to handle the teeth, another for the ws, and someone else for the tail. Ideally, they would need three main tanks to handle this creature. If he left his position for an attack, the rear could copse, leading to a disastrous situation. Ian frowned. ¡®We really need a melee damage dealer to shake things up. If only we had someone who could move freely and deal damage.¡¯ Despite the unexpected appearance of a raid-level monster, having just one such fighter would have made it possible. ¡°Ifrit!¡± ¡ª Howl! Lina¡¯s fire magic red up again, spreading through the seedlings Danya had nted. Whoosh! But the wolf shook its body, extinguishing the mes immediately. ¡°¡­Its magic resistance is insane.¡± Lina¡¯s voice slipped out with a rare sharpness. ¡°Seriously¡­.¡± Danya, her brow furrowed, agreed. They were clearly outmatched by this monster. The only reason they were holding their ground was because Ian was in front, taking the brunt of the attacks. ¡ª Boom! Danya watched in shock as Ian blocked another headbutt from the wolf. How much stronger had he be over time? Ian¡¯s growth was undeniably extraordinary. At the same time, she felt anxious. It seemed like she was constantly holding Ian back. ¡®If we don¡¯tnd a significant hit soon, we¡¯re going to be in real danger¡­.¡¯ She had no idea how to handle an opponent like this. At that moment, Ian spoke. ¡°Danya!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Scatter arrow seeds on the ground behind the wolf!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± What was Ian nning? She didn¡¯t fully grasp it but followed hismand immediately. ¡°Done!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± As soon as Danya finished, Ian sprang into action. ¡ª Rumble! He extracted heavy elements, holding the wolf¡¯s jaws at bay while summoning an earth pir behind it. ¡°¡±!!!¡±¡± A technique he had refined since his battle with Richard. ¡°Danya! Bloom the seeds!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± With Ian¡¯s order, Danya made the arrow seeds she had nted in the earth pir bloom. ¡ª Whizz! Arrows shot out from behind the Twilight Wolf. ¡ª Growl! Elena protected the team from the wolf¡¯s thrashing tail and the iing arrows. But the Twilight Wolf couldn¡¯t defend against the arrows pouring in from directly behind its tail. ¡ª Yowl! The wolf tried to shake them off, but Ian had already pulled in all the heavy metals around, making the wolf¡¯s movements sluggish. ¡ª Crack! With the sound of something breaking, ¡ª Yipe! The Twilight Wolf shook its body violently and fled. ¡ô The loot from the lesser gray wolves included their ¡®hide¡¯, ¡®meat¡¯, and other byproducts. From the mid-boss Twilight Wolf, they obtained two ¡®superior magic stone fragments¡¯, three ¡®Twilight Wolf ws¡¯, and two ¡®Twilight Wolf fangs¡¯. Most importantly, they acquired one ¡®key to the mystery box¡¯. The dungeon raid ended sessfully. Ultimately, they gained far more than their initial goal. Most notably, even though they hadn¡¯t defeated the Twilight Wolf, they still secured valuable items from its broken parts. ¡°Wow¡ª!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve never gotten so many things before!¡± The team was visibly delighted with their haul. Ian suggested a simple distribution method. ¡°Share the items from the gray wolves among yourselves. I¡¯ll sell the materials dropped by the Twilight Wolf and distribute the moneyter. How does that sound?¡± Danya, who had been unusually quiet, raised her hand. ¡°But Ian, you did almost all the work fighting the Twilight Wolf.¡± The rest of the team members echoed Danya¡¯s sentiment. ¡°Right. Splitting the Twilight Wolf¡¯s loot evenly feels a bit unfair. I don¡¯t need my share.¡± ¡°Me neither. Deus says not to be greedy. Plus¡­¡± Elena added. ¡°Knowing about the dungeon is reward enough. It¡¯s an open dungeon, so we cane back and farm as much as we want.¡± ¡°I have the same opinion.¡± ¡°Absolutely. The dungeon intel and the gray wolf spoils are enough for us.¡± Ian felt genuinely touched by his team¡¯s consideration. These kids knew how to makepromises. He felt reassured that he had chosen a great team. ¡°If that¡¯s how you all feel, I¡¯ll ept it gratefully.¡± Ian wasn¡¯t one for unnecessary modesty. If they were offering, he¡¯d take it. Still, he thought he should do something special for themter. With that decided, Ian collected the Twilight Wolf¡¯s loot and gathered some of its scattered fur. ¡°This fur is more like ropes.¡± It was indeed incredibly tough. ¡°Why are you collecting the fur?¡± ¡°I have a use for it.¡± While not extremely valuable, the fur was still considered a material for items. He needed all sorts of materials right now. After finishing their looting, the team exited the dungeon. By now, the evening sun was beginning to set. After ensuring everyone was uninjured, they prepared to part ways. Elena approached Ian shyly. ¡°Um, excuse me.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d give Snowke Fruits every week. When will we get this week¡¯s supply, brother?¡± Her voice was so soft, almost embarrassed. There was no need for such shyness; after all, it was a contractual agreement. Ian smiled warmly and replied. ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted the application for the first sale, which will be in two days.¡± ¡°Wow! So, it¡¯s finally happening!¡± ¡°Yes. Come help out, and I¡¯ll give it to you then.¡± Elena looked shocked. ¡°You weren¡¯t just going to give them to me? That¡¯s different from what you promised¡­!¡± Poor Elena. That¡¯s why contracts should always be written down. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 [ Mystery Box ] Number 777, which exchanges for a random item equivalent to the ¡®value¡¯ put into the box. ¡°¡­ Fangs need to be processed to increase their rating. Let¡¯s set these aside. The rest can go into the Mystery Box.¡± Tomorrow marks the first sale of ¡®Snowke Fruit¡¯. If he could earn enough money, he could afford to use the Mysterious Box properly. ¡°All done.¡± Ian had finished organizing the loot he had obtained from the hidden dungeon ¡°Ruined Temple¡± and looked around the room. This was the room of the Dessert Research Club. A bed, wardrobe, table, chairs¡­Even though he had only moved in the essentials from his dorm, it already felt like a lived-in home. Although it was a sight he was seeing for the first time, it felt strangely familiar. Why was that? After pondering for a moment, Ian realized the reason. ¡°Ah. The waiting room.¡± The waiting room. One of the locations in Fanta X Aca where characters he had collected as allies would gather. Unknowingly, he had arranged the furniture in a simr manner to one of those ¡®club rooms¡¯. ¡®This must be why they say habits are scary.¡¯ In fact, the waiting room was one of the main features of Fanta X Aca. Decorating the room, offering refreshments, and adding amenities or totems could boost the characters¡¯ morale and performance. ¡°Hoo.¡± With a deep sigh from the depths of his heart, he sat on the bed. How should he put it? It was nostalgic. When he first possessed Pongpong¡¯s body, he was at a loss as to how to survive. Not to mention gathering allies, it was hard enough to get by day to day. Suddenly, a notebook lying on the bed caught his eye. [ Love Diary ] One of the most important items to him. It contained all the details Pongpong had collected while stalking the heroines. As he leaned over to put it in the drawer, ¡°Sniff sniff.¡± ¡­What was that? A faintly sweet peach scent wasing from the nket. Did something spill? When he lifted the nket, he saw some long, pink tail hairs stuck here and there. Come to think of it, Danya, with her bloated belly full of tomatoes, hadin here the other day. ¡°¡­ Danya.¡± He¡¯d have to call her overter to clean up the hairs. He was thinking that when¡ª ¡ª Knock knock. He saw pink ears twitching beyond the window in the door. Speaking of the devil. When he opened the club room door, Danya was timidly looking up at him. ¡°Wee. I guess all feline animals have simr habits.¡± ¡°¡­ What are you talking about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a saying that when you talk about someone, they appear¡­ No, never mind, you probably don¡¯t have such proverbs here. Forget it.¡± ¡°Whatever. Silly.¡± Danya pouted and was about to step in. Ian quickly stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Nyah?¡± ¡°Your shoes.¡± Danya tilted her head at Ian¡¯s pointing finger. ¡°What about my shoes? Are they pretty?¡± ¡°No, take them off beforeing in. There¡¯s a shoe rack right here.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Dirt and dust are dirty. Where Ie from, everyone does it this way.¡± ¡°¡­ Strange.¡± Grumbling, Danya took off her shoes. ¡°Hmph.¡± She sat down and slowly undid the straps of her sandals. Her feet, tightly curled to remove the sandals, showed the delicate curve of her pale insteps. The soles and tips of her feet were red from the chilly weather outside. Sitting and taking off her shoes made her skirt ride up a bit, but Danya was focused solely on removing her shoes. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ But why was he staring at this absent-mindedly? He must be tired from organizing things. He needed to sleep early since he had to earn money tomorrow. When he looked away, he met Danya¡¯s eyes. ¡ª Shk. Danya¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits in an instant. ¡°So, you had an ulterior motive in making me take them off?¡± ¡°No, it was purely for sanitary reasons¡­¡± ¡°Suspicious.¡± She hopped up from her seat. Then she took a step towards him. The distance between them grew too close, making Ian take an involuntary step back. ¡°As expected.¡± One step. One step. As he was cornered, he ended up copsing on the bed. Danya looked down at him with a peculiar smile on her lips. ¡°Be honest, and I¡¯ll forgive you.¡± ¡°Forgive me for what?¡± ¡°Why did you make me take off my shoes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just something any modern person would¡ª!¡± ¡ª Thump! Danya ced one of her feet on his knee. Her skirt rode up, revealing her pale thigh. Following the curve down with his eyes. He saw the soft-looking white skin, ending in toes tinged with a peachy blush. Her toenails were painted the same cherry blossom color as her hair. ¡°What do you think of the view?¡± ¡°What view?¡± Slide! Danya wiggled her toes. ¡°P*rvert.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°You touched my toes in the Shadow Forest too. You really are a toe-loving p*rvert.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well? Don¡¯t you want to touch them?¡± It tickled. The nerves in his thin knee skin were too sensitive to the wiggling of her toes, so he couldn¡¯t even hear what Danya was saying. ¡°Admit it. Say, ¡®I like feet, so I made you take off your shoes.''¡± Danya¡¯s eyes narrowed like crescent moons. ¡°If you admit it, I might let you touch them.¡± She smiled yfully. Seeing her looking down at him like that, he suddenly regained his senses. ¡®Hierarchy.¡¯ Just like with animals, establishing a hierarchy with a beastkin could be a serious matter. Danya¡¯s actions were definitely¡­ an instinctual attempt to establish hierarchy. In that case, he couldn¡¯t back down. He pointed out her misconduct simply. ¡°I can see your underwear.¡± ¡°Nyah!¡± Swoosh! Danya quickly tucked her skirt between her thighs. ¡°P-p*rvert!¡± ¡°I think the one showing it is the p*rvert.¡± ¡°T-this is unavoidable!¡± Seeing Danya embarrassed in front of the bed, a thought crossed his mind. ¡°Ah. Right. You came at the perfect time, Danya.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Come over here.¡± He patted the spot next to him on the bed. Danya¡¯s face turned red instantly. ¡°Nyah¡­ Nyaaaah?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run away.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not ready yet¡­¡± ¡°What preparation? All that¡¯s needed is responsibility, Danya.¡± He grabbed her arm and pulled. She resisted a little, but soon gave in and rxed. She rxed so much that she ended up lying on the bed under the nket. ¡°Smart. You know what to do, huh?¡± Instead of answering, Danya squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°How can you close your eyes?¡± ¡°B-but¡­ it¡¯s embarrassing¡­¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t look, you can¡¯t confirm.¡± Danya¡¯s trembling eyelids. Her eyes were strangely moist. ¡°And you should be lying on your stomach.¡± Danya started to whimper. ¡°Still, for the first time, we should face each other¡­ You told me to keep my eyes open.¡± ¡°Why would you be facing me? You should be looking at the floor.¡± ¡°T-that!¡± ¡°Are you going to disobey? After doing something wrong?¡± Danya¡¯s sharp gaze wanted to retort, but she soon turned over. ¡°Y-yes, I understand. Master¡­¡± Master? Well, whatever. Situationaledy isn¡¯t bad either. ¡°B-but, I don¡¯t really know the posture¡­ It¡¯s not something covered in books, so I couldn¡¯t study it¡­¡± ¡°Do you really need to study that posture?¡± ¡°B-but! I¡¯ve never done this before¡­!¡± Danya squeezed her eyes shut again. Ian sighed and sat beside her. ¡°You were raised well, Danya. Look. I¡¯ll show you an example.¡± He leaned down and plucked a tail hair from the nket. ¡°See? Just pull them out like this.¡± ¡°¡­Nyah?¡± Danya stared at him nkly like a broken cat. He gave her a clearmand. ¡°Remove the hairs. The ones you left from your tailst time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Danya suddenly began to tremble. ¡°Are you okay? What¡¯s wrong?¡± She red at him. ¡­ Scarier than ever. He couldn¡¯t avoid her swift kick. ¡°Idiot!¡± It didn¡¯t hurt since she was barefoot. ¡ô A ball of fur the size of a 100-won coiny on the table. Behind it, Danya sat dejectedly. Her ears drooped low against her head. To reward her for herbor, Ian brewed some tea from the high-end leaves he bought in the eastern market. ¡°¡­¡± Danya silently sipped the tea, her head dipped towards the cup. asionally, she would nce up stealthily. ¡°Eep!¡± When their eyes met, her cheeks reddened, and she quickly looked away. After a few more sips. Danya, having finished her tea, silently stood and headed for the door. It was hard not to wonder, ¡®Why did shee here in the first ce?¡¯ But Ian had a guess. The look on Danya¡¯s face when she stared nkly at the wolf in the dungeon. Her voice, heavy with emotion, muttering that it looked like her parents¡¯ enemy. Danya¡¯s past. Since she wasn¡¯t a heroine, Ian didn¡¯t know how heavy her burden was. He also didn¡¯t know why the usually cheerful Danya looked so troubled now. Instead. ¡°Danya.¡± He was no longer just watching her through a screen. He was here with her, and he could listen. To understand the weight hispanion carried. To hear the stories he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Tell me when you¡¯re ready.¡± By the door. Danya, who was clenching her fists so tightly they turned red, looked up at him. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s hard to talk about now, you can take your time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­ not going anywhere?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Danya¡¯s hand slowly unclenched. The red marks on her palm looked painful. But he didn¡¯t ask if she was okay. Her voice regained its brightness. ¡°Hey, Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°If you have time during the break, will you go to the Grand Forest with me? To my n¡¯s ce.¡± The Grand Forest. The sacrednd of the beastkin. Where Danya grew up. A ce whose location they rarely revealed to outsiders. ¡°Of course.¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 After the incident with Ian. Lina Rosewell¡¯s preferences had changed significantly. From her s*xual preferences to her minor habits. There were so many changes that it was difficult to list them all. One of those changes was preferring a dark environment over a sunlit room. A dark room with ckout curtains. Lina reached out and turned on her Kirtos terminal. [Ian]: Pleasee to the club room by 7 AM tomorrow. [Lina]: Sure, I¡¯ll be there!It was the Kirtos message she received from Ian yesterday. Now it was five o¡¯clock, so she had about two hours left. Lina Rosewell held the terminal with Ian¡¯s message against her chest and waited for time to pass. Thump. Thump. Her heart beat faster whenever she thought of Ian. No. It seemed like her heart only beat when she thought of Ian. Since that day when Ian scolded her harshly and fought with her while she was contaminated by the blue mushroom, her thoughts about Ian had only deepened. No matter how much she struggled to break free, she couldn¡¯t shake off the memory of those thick arms and veins that felt endlessly strong. Her heart thumped so hard that eventually her body would heat up. At first, she interpreted the excitement as simply Ian helping her break out of her kind persona and grow. But that excitement alone didn¡¯t exin why her body felt hot. When she asked a friend who was experienced in romance, pretending it was about someone else, the friend replied: ¡ª Maybe it¡¯s like when someone ps you for the first time! Isn¡¯t it that kind of effect? Lina, everyone always treated you with a smile. They can¡¯t help but smile when they see you. ¡°Could that really be it?¡± It made sense. The way Ian looked at her coldly, his gaze was chillier and more bone-chilling than eternal snow. That chill eventually made Lina reflect on herself and helped her break out of her mold. In the end, it always came back to the conclusion that Ian was incredibly precious to her, no matter what. That¡¯s why she wanted to have him. His gaze. His breath. His gestures. His rough touch. She wanted them so much that she would settle for even a small part, even if it meant sharing him with someone else. She felt that way just yesterday. ¡°Danya smelled like Ian.¡± Danya, who hade to her dorm room at night. Even while listening to her story, Lina couldn¡¯t stand the smell of Ian on her. What had they been doing together sote at night? She kept fidgeting with her toes and blushing, which made it clear they had made some progress. But it didn¡¯t seem like they had kissed or gone further. ¡ª Um¡­ Is it better to close your eyes when you kiss? Judging by her questions about how to kiss and what to do next, it was obvious. Even while answering her, Lina couldn¡¯t help but be envious of Danya. If only she had even a slight chance like that. Lina fiddled with the handkerchief around her neck. The only thing Ian had ever given her. She buried her nose in the handkerchief and sniffed. The scent of him, which she had managed to capture on it, was now fading away. ¡°¡­ I can¡¯t keep relying on this forever.¡± It had been weeks since she had been holding back. Just yesterday, she had found herself hugging Danya, pretending tofort her, but actually searching for traces of Ian on her. The guilt was immense, but she couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°It would be better if Danya and Ian just went to sleep.¡± Lina had many rivals she had to ovee to win Ian. The first was Danya. A pure girl who even Lina, a girl herself, wanted to stroke and sometimes yfully tease. She formed a strategic alliance with Danya. Danya, like Lina,cked confidence with men, and at the same time, was so desperate to have Ian that she didn¡¯t mind sharing him if it came to that. The agreement was that if Danya took the first spot, Lina would aim for the second. Danya was an ally in this battle. Therefore, the next seriouspetitor was the following person. Second, Silvia Laurent. The esteemeddy of the Laurent Trading Company, which had a significant influence in Lichten and its surrounding areas. The term dy¡± was not wasted on her, as she was elegant, graceful, sophisticated, and dignified. Her hair, which was a blend of silver and gold, flowed smoothly. Her light purple eyes resembled precious gemstones. Her sleek figure looked stunning in fashionable clothes. Previously, Lina hadn¡¯t noticed, but after gaining interest in ¡°femininity,¡± Silvia seemed even more impressive. ¡°¡­ But I have an advantage when ites to chest size.¡± Silvia¡¯s chest wasn¡¯t that big. Lina had devised a strategy to emphasize this aspect more. ¡°The problem is that there¡¯s also the princess when ites to breasts¡­¡± The princess¡¯s figure was, to be honest, disastrous for anypetitor. But Lina hoped that her incredibly busy schedule would mean she wouldn¡¯t have much time. ¡°And then there¡¯s Master Asilia¡­¡± Asilia. They imed to be master and disciple, but they were too close to each other for that. Come to think of it, there¡¯s also Sharon Pierce. Lina had vaguely felt it for a long time. Despite her intense hatred and disdain for Ian, she kept her eyes only on him. Sharon, who was always so proud, acknowledged Ian as her only rival. The rarely-speaking Sharon would always talk about Ian when she did. ¡°But Sharon, your path to forgiveness is long and arduous.¡± Lina realized that Ian¡¯s heart was like a massive stone wall. It wasn¡¯t easily affected by outside influences, but at the same time, it wasn¡¯t easy to prate. Lina herself was just clinging to that wall, struggling. Even if Sharon joined the fray, she would still have to ovee the moat from afar, making her less of apetitor. ¡°¡­¡± Lina tightened the scarf around her neck a bit more. Honestly, she didn¡¯t expect much from Ian. Just asionally. Only when she was this desperate and yearning. She hoped he would hold her again with that firm touch. To receive praise, she would have to work even harder to assist Ian. It was time to start getting ready. As she put on the subtly revealing outfit borrowed from a friend, Lina muttered. ¡°Come to think of it, there¡¯s also the mating season.¡± It might not be a bad idea to push Danya a bit more. For now, she should start by diligently helping Ian. ¡ô Seven o¡¯clock in the morning. Today was the first demonstration meeting of the dessert research club. To procure the freshest fruits, the children were gathered early. Present were Lina and Elena. Ian asked Lina. ¡°Where¡¯s Danya?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still sleeping because she has a fever.¡± ¡°A fever? If she¡¯s sick, I should visit her.¡± ¡°No. If you go, it might get worse. Definitely.¡± Hmm. Was there a possibility that she caught it from me? It was indeed possible. By the way, it seemed Lina and Danya had be quite close. ¡°When did you two get so close?¡± ¡°Fufu. Don¡¯t underestimate the charm of Lina Rosewell.¡± Indeed. Lina¡¯s charm was undeniable. Ian briefly exined their destination to the two. Then Lina raised her hand energetically. ¡°Oh, that ce? It¡¯s faster if we go this way!¡± Lina led Ian and Elena through the back alleys of the market. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit secluded?¡± ¡°Ie to the market every day, so just trust me!¡± Since being expelled from the dormitory, Lina seemed to be buying ingredients from the market to cook for herself. It was cost-effective and convenient. She looked quite cheerful as she walked ahead with her hands behind her back. Separately, the alley was run-down. It was somewhat dark and damp. ¡°Sometimes bugs or animalse out, but it¡¯s only asionally, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°It seems like a slightly scary path to walk alone.¡± ¡°Yeah, but this is the fastest way.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Besides, since I¡¯m with Ian today, I feel quite reassured.¡± Lina gave a sly smile and winked. Her beauty drew the eyes of the asional vagrant they passed. ¡°It¡¯s definitely better to walk this kind of path with a guy.¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have a lot of friends? You could ask one of them to apany you.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. I guess so.¡± Lina seemed oddly deted. She mumbled quietly. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any male friends.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I mean, in case you misunderstand. I don¡¯t have any close male friends¡­ except you.¡± ¡°Really.¡± Strange. It seemed Lina¡¯s social skills were only effective with girls. At that moment, Elena, who had been walking quietly or half-asleep, suddenly shouted. ¡°A snake¡­ it¡¯s a snake!¡± Sure enough, something was wriggling where she pointed. ¡°¡­ Kyaa! Kyaaah!¡± With an oddly slow scream, Lina¡¯s arm suddenly clung to Ian¡¯s. It was warm and soft. ¡°Lina.¡± ¡°What do I do, Ian! I¡¯m so scared of snakes.¡± Lina clung to Ian¡¯s arm, eyes tightly shut. Every movement of her chest brought a lively and enchanting floral scent. Regardless of her intentions, staring at her bouncing chest wasn¡¯t a good idea. Ian struck the long creature crawling along the wall. ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s not a snake, it¡¯s a smander.¡± ¡ª Sssrrrk Lina, still squirming, opened her eyes slowly. ¡°Hehe, I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Now you do. By the way, are you going to walk like this?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± At Ian¡¯s remark, Lina let go, though they ended up walking close enough that their clothes brushed against each other. It didn¡¯t interfere with their walking, so it was fine. But there was another issue. The fruit shop, which they reached faster than usual thanks to Lina¡¯s shortcut, was in chaos. With a crashing sound. ¡ª Bub bub bub! Red liquid dripped down the window. The shop was inplete disarray. ¡ª Thud! A fallen wooden tray. Fruits smashed and scattered on the floor. ¡°What the heck is this¡­¡± They stopped in shock. Then. ¡ª Whizz! Something red flew through the shop. Round, red, about the size of a man¡¯s fist, with a bit of green on top. ¡®¡­What is that?¡¯ Ian stared at it nkly. From behind, Elena threw herself forward. ¡°No!¡± ¡­ .. . ¡ª St! It fell to the ground just in time. ¡ª Drip The red liquid stained Elena¡¯s white hand. ¡°My, my tomato¡­ nooo!¡± A tear from Elena¡¯s eye fell onto the tomato. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Elenay prostrate on the floor with her hands pressed to the ground around the tomato debris. Ian quickly grabbed the back of her neck. She had been about to put her mouth on the smashed tomatoes. ¡°Three seconds¡­ three seconds!¡± ¡°Say something that makes sense.¡± ¡°Noooo.¡± Elena¡¯s arms iled as Ian held her by the neck. Realizing she couldn¡¯t win by force, her arms and legs went limp. She turned to him with a frustrated look.¡°Why, why, brother! It hasn¡¯t been three seconds yet! You made it pass by pulling me!¡± ¡°Get a grip, Elena. There are many eyes watching.¡± ¡°I, Priestess Elena, serve only Deus and spread the teachings of Numina. I¡¯m not ashamed of others¡¯ gazes as long as they aren¡¯t the gazes of those two.¡± ¡°Do you think Deus isn¡¯t watching from the sky?¡± Following his pointing finger, Elena looked nkly up at the sky. Then she let out a small sigh. ¡°Ah.¡± Thankfully, that seemed to work. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Why is it so bright today? If only it weren¡¯t¡­ Tsk.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t imagine what the doctrines of her cult were like. Anyway. ¡®Thank you, Deus.¡¯ He silently thanked Deus and the clear weather for calming Elena down and then surveyed the situation. The overturned stall and the noisy store. Considering the gleaming bald head and the muscr physique of the ¡°Uncle¡¯s Fruit Store¡± owner, it was likely the opponent was not an ordinary person. At the same time, no windows were broken. It wasn¡¯t as big amotion as it seemed. ¡°Stop. You can¡¯t enter here right now.¡± As they approached the store, a man came out and blocked them. Dressed in a ck suit but with a menacing face. His golden tooth shed with every word, adding to his menacing look. ¡°We have business with the owner here.¡± At Ian¡¯s words, the man smirked. ¡°Owner? There¡¯s no such thing here, kid. This ce is undergoing debt collection, so you¡¯d better get lost before things get rough. Come back when a new shop opens.¡± Debt collection? That means he borrowed money and couldn¡¯t repay it? Ian squinted his eyes. ¡®Indeed, the store¡¯s condition was poor. Despite having high-end goods, there were no sales.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t strange that he borrowed money. But the store didn¡¯t seem so bad that it would go bankrupt right away. Ian had even boosted salesst time. There didn¡¯t seem to be any major expenses. As expected. ¡ª Whatw demands repayment of principal and interest in advance! Uncle¡¯s loud voice was heard from inside the store. Entering the store, Ian saw the fruit vendor¡¯s face red with rage. ¡°¡­ He looks like a giant cherry tomato.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Ian covered Elena¡¯s mouth and asked. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Oh, the distinguished student of Lichten Academy, our fruit store¡¯s hope, top customer Ian, hase! I¡¯d like to give you something, but the store is in such a state!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. But what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I borrowed money from the Raymond Trading Company. Suddenly they demand the principal and interest! It¡¯s not even the due date! These thieves! I just paid for the imported fruit wholesale. I have no money now. They must have targeted this moment!¡± The fruit vendor, uncharacteristically, poured out his words. He seemed quite aggrieved. And indeed, the story seemed legitimate. Elena cautiously tugged at Ian¡¯s sleeve. ¡°¡­ What is it, brother?¡± ¡°In short, the owner has no cash, so despite the contract, they¡¯re demanding the principal and interest, and since he has no money, the store is at risk of being taken over.¡± ¡°Demanding such a thing¡­! People who y with money should be cleansed in the name of God!¡± ¡­ Is your doctrine really okay? Only briefly doubting, Ian was interrupted. ¡°Demanding, you say.¡± From the shadowed corner of the shop, a man emerged. He resembled a rat, with a thin mustache and a frail appearance. He stroked his mustache and held a piece of paper that looked like a contract. ¡°If you look here, it clearly states, ¡®In the event of cash flow difficulties at the Raymond Trading Company¡¯s Lichten branch, the repayment date for half the principal and interest can be advanced, and this may lead to debt collection,¡¯ doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You bastards said it yourselves! Raymond Trading Company having cash flow issues? Does that make any sense? How could the Raymond Trading Company go bankrupt!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ What can I say, my lord? Such a thing has happened. Our Lichten branch has made many investments recently, and it just happened. Truly tragic.¡± The rat-faced man rubbed his hands together andughed sinisterly. ¡®It¡¯s a setup. I¡¯ve seen this pattern before.¡¯ This was a scheme Ian had often seen even before his possession. A frail country is kindly lent money at low interest, and when they can¡¯t repay it, they are subtly swallowed up. ¡®The neighboring country used this tactic frequently.¡¯ To see it in a fantasy world was surprising. Judging by the cleverness, it was undoubtedly Emilia Raymond¡¯s strategy. When ites to these tactics, she¡¯s the most brilliant heroine. ¡®So, this is how the Raymond Trading Company expands its influence.¡¯ Ian now understood why Silvia had such difficulty dealing with the Raymond Trading Company. While Silvia meticulously formed cooperative rtionships with small shops, Emilia Raymond was swallowing them up in this manner. Their methods were iparable from the start. ¡°Anyway, since there¡¯s no cash, we¡¯ll continue with the collection. Please proceed with the appraisal, appraiser sir.¡± The rat-faced man bowed to the man standing beside him. A plump man with sses. He adjusted his sses and started examining the fruits and the store. Ian discreetly asked the fruit vendor. ¡°How much are you short?¡± ¡°I borrowed 2 gold, so I¡¯m short about 1 gold.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the fruits here be enough to cover that?¡± The fruit vendor¡¯s face turned red again at Ian¡¯s words. He started pointing at the appraiser. ¡°He¡¯s the problem! How can he say these fruits aren¡¯t worth that much? Only 10 silver for all of this? These damned thieves!¡± Thud. When the fruit vendor hit the table, one of the fruits flew off. So that¡¯s how that tomato ended up flying earlier. The appraiser frowned and spoke. ¡°It¡¯s not 10 silver, it¡¯s 1 million krone. Since when was the currency unified¡­ such ignorance.¡± ¡°What did you say!¡± ¡°And fruits can¡¯t be properly appraised for their real value. Even if we seize them and sell them, their value would drop over time.¡± The appraiser¡¯s words were followed by the rat-like man. ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy, you could sell everything, but not by today. Hehe.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t sell them all today anyway. Hehe. Appraiser sir, how much is this shop worth? I think it matches the principal and interest perfectly. Hehe.¡± At the rat-like man¡¯s words, the fruit vendor grabbed the back of his neck and sat down. ¡°My¡­ my shop is falling into this wretched scheme! Ahhh!¡± Man. Small business owners really have it tough. This is as chaotic as it gets. The way they set this up is too cunning. They targeted the exact moment the shop had no cash? It couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. It means the Raymond Trading Company was tracking the money flow in and out of this shop. And probably not just this shop. ¡®Amazing. Truly.¡¯ Ian was once again impressed by the scale of this world¡¯s machinations. He realized he would soon have to step into such a world himself. ¡°Now¡­ it¡¯s time for you to leave. This ce now belongs to the Raymond Trading Company. Since you probably can¡¯t repay the money¡­ signing quickly would be less stressful, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°You¡­ you b*stards.¡± ¡°Oh, if you hit me, you¡¯ll be charged for additional damages. Hehe.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°By the way, there seems to be a lot to clean up. If these fruits don¡¯t sell, they¡¯ll have to be disposed of¡­ what a worry.¡± ¡­Anyway. Ian realized he could solve the immediate problem in front of him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± The rat-faced man turned to look at Ian. Not only him, but everyone in the store focused their attention on Ian. ¡­ It¡¯s a bit embarrassing, though it¡¯s not like I¡¯m doing something grand. Ian called out to the half-dazed fruit vendor. ¡°Uncle, or rather, sir.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Ian gestured to the shelves full of fruit with his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll take everything from here to there.¡± The fruit vendor¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Ian gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°With this much, I think I deserve VIP treatment, right? You¡¯ll deliver, won¡¯t you? And from now on, too.¡± This is how you flex. ¡ô That afternoon. To be precise, 30 minutes before lunchtime. In the central garden of Lichten Academy. Students with ck, pink, red, and beige hair were busily moving about. The leader among them seemed to be the lone male student, as his voice was the loudest. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s hurry up! We need to finish preparing before lunchtime!¡± . ¡°Danya! Your face is red, are you okay? You could¡¯ve rested if you were feeling sick. Hm? Of course, we need you.¡± . ¡°Elena! If you keep staring at the tomatoes, I¡¯ll take them off the menu! Then you won¡¯t get to eat any, will you? Come on, focus!¡± . ¡°Lina, did you message your friends on Kirtos? Keep sending it. Invite everyone! But make sure they have money to spend!¡± . ¡°Danya, I need some Snowkes. I¡¯m already running low on magic. Thanks. How many have I made? Probably a thousand.¡± ¡°Elena. I told you not to suck the sugar off your fingers, didn¡¯t I? Switch ces with Danya. Go set up the signboard.¡± ¡ª Crash! ¡°Elena, are you hurt? No, it¡¯s fine. We can set the sign up again. It¡¯s not useless. You skewered all the fruit, didn¡¯t you? Don¡¯t cry. Thanks to you, everything is ready. Good job. I¡¯ll give you two tomatoes today. Not now. Let¡¯s set the sign up together? One, two, three!¡± [ First Sale Begins! ] ¡°Ah! I forgot something. Lina and Danya, can you bring that over here for a moment? Yes, that. Just lift it up!¡± [ Dessert Research Club ] [ First Sale Begins! ] Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Lichten Academy. Newspaper Club Room. Once one of Lichten¡¯s top ten core clubs, it now seemed like a relic of past glory. The Kirtos Network was the reason. Since the bulletin boards became active, the number of people looking for the school newspaper had plummeted. ¡­ Therefore. [Newspaper Club President // Brody] In the highest seat of the club. Brody, who was sunk into the luxurious legacy of a leather chair, sighed softly as she looked out the window.¡°Haah¡­ Can¡¯t something newsworthy happen?¡± They needed an incident that would stir the Academy. Something like a grade assessment ceremony or a disciplinarymittee. By covering such big events, the newspaper club barely managed to survive. Rustle. Brody¡¯s rich brown hair rustled with boredom as she looked out the window. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± A small question popped out of her mouth. Someone was running toward the third club building. Of course, there were many clubs in the third club building. ¡°But no one would rush here except us.¡± She smelled it. The scent of a big story. Sure enough. ¡ª Bang! The door swung open roughly, and a girl appeared. A freshman in the Mezai ss, J, who was Brody¡¯s childhood friend despite being in a different grade. ¡°Brody!¡± She grabbed Brody¡¯s hand and pulled her up. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on!¡± ¡°Just run!¡± Instinctively, Brody grabbed her camera and reporter¡¯s notebook. ¡®A true journalist must be ready to handle any situation!¡¯ Thus, Brody was dragged to the Academy¡¯s central garden. ¡°What on earth is happening?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± The garden should be quiet around lunchtime, but today, for some reason, it was crowded. People were gathering from all directions. Was there an event? Brody had never seen J this frantic. Brody, ready to take pictures at any moment, followed J¡¯s lead. ¡°Ah, over there!¡± J shouted brightly. Following her pointing finger, Brody saw hastily written letters on a wooden nk. [Dessert Research CLub] There was a small stall. In front of it, about twenty people were lined up. ¡®Is it a club performance presentation?¡¯ She had never heard of this club. Brody stood at the end of the line with J and whispered softly. ¡°¡­Did you make such a fuss over a club performance presentation? Why is the line so long?¡± ¡ª Smack! Her forehead suddenly throbbed. As her vision returned, she saw J in a flicking pose. ¡°W-What¡¯s with you!¡± ¡°Brody.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Just taste it. Would I have brought you to a strange ce?¡± ¡°Well, no, but.¡± To Brody, J seemed enveloped in a subtle madness. It wasn¡¯t just her. Everyone in this line seemed the same. ¡®¡­What on earth?¡¯ It smelled dangerous. It was the instinct of a journalist. Brody cautiously took out her reporter¡¯s notebook. Even if her instinct was wrong, the fact that about twenty people gathered for a club performance presentation was enough for a small paragraph in the newspaper. People continued to gather. ¡°¡­F-Finally. I saved my allowance for today.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t forget that white powder¡­¡± The crowd swarmed in like a horde of zombies. ¡®Seriously, what is this!?¡¯ There were easily over a hundred people. This couldn¡¯t be a simple club performance presentation. Brody took a photo of the long line. Finally, their turn came. A red-haired girl greeted them from behind the stall. ¡°J! You came! And this is Brody? Nice to meet you. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from J.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°Hehe, sorry. Is this our first time meeting? Did I act too familiar? My name is Lina! Nice to meet you.¡± Wow. It was obvious she was famous, but her friendliness was captivating in conversation. Brody, already feeling like Lina was a friend, watched as Lina smiled brightly and asked. ¡°So, what would you like to eat? I rmend the tangerine. It¡¯s really delicious because it¡¯s so tangy.¡± In truth, Brody hadn¡¯t nned on buying any of these unknown fruits. But Lina¡¯s natural rmendation made her respond without thinking. ¡°T-Then I¡¯ll have that.¡± ¡°Hehe! You¡¯ll love it! So, what about you, J?¡± ¡°I like grapes.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lina smiled and held out her hands. ¡°One piece for 1 silver.¡± ¡°1 silver¡­?!¡± 1 silver was equivalent to 100,000 krone. This for just a few pieces of fruit on a stick. With white powder sprinkled on top. And it cost 1 silver? ¡°A¡­Ah.¡± Brody was too shocked to speak. Seeing this, J sighed softly. ¡°Spent all your money on another camera, huh? I¡¯ll cover you this time. Here you go, Lina. One for me and one for her.¡± Clink. Lina smiled as she received the silver coin. ¡°Oh, J, you¡¯re such a good friend. So¡­¡± Lina nced around. Then. ¡°Ta-da.¡± She took out some fruit from an icebox and added one more piece to each skewer. ¡°I secretly added one more piece for you! This one¡¯s for J. This one¡¯s for Brody!¡± ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re the best, Lina.¡± J epted hers with a smile. Unlike her, Brody narrowed her eyes. Having regained her senses, Brody hurriedly took out her notebook. ¡°Boss¡­? This is a club, right? When you say ¡®boss,¡¯ does that mean there¡¯s a big capital behind this club? I¡¯ve heard there are forces using clubs for business. Can you tell me more?¡± This was a hot topic. Recently, some clubs had been acting suspiciously. J scolded Brody as she opened her notebook. ¡°Brody, are you a T?¡± ¡°T?¡± ¡°Are you going to respond rationally to this situation? Lina risked getting caught by others to give you this precious snowke fruit as a service?¡± J¡¯s stern gaze. Brody quickly shook her head. ¡°Oh. Sorry. Of course! Thank you, Lina. I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s my pleasure. Take care, Brody.¡± As Lina smiled, Brody felt admiration. She¡¯s beautiful. This girl is a blessing. ¡®¡­Maybe this is a genuine club.¡¯ With her emotions stirred, Brody watched Lina sp her hands apologetically. ¡°I¡¯d love to chat more, but I¡¯m sorry. We have too many customers. Let¡¯s talk again sometime, okay?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes!¡± ¡°Ah, and if you throw the wooden skewer in that trash can, you¡¯ll earn one more coupon, so don¡¯t forget, okay?¡± ¡ª Suspicious club ¡ª Lina is pretty and kind. Closing her notebook after adding this line, Brody epted the snowke fruit. ¡ô J and Brody took a seat on a bench near the garden. ¡°You have to eat it quickly for the best taste.¡± J took a bite right away, letting out a sweet moan. ¡°Ahh¡­ this is it¡­¡± ¡°J! Wh-why are you making that sound all of a sudden!¡± Brody hastily looked around. Fortunately, there were no people around. ¡°Why on earth¡­ huh?¡± Turning back to J, Brody was rmed. J¡¯s pupils were dted. ¡°Wh-what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± Prrrrr. J¡¯s lips trembled instead of answering. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on? This is really strange.¡¯ Her breathing was a bit rough and hot. Her face flushed a rosy pink. It looked like the expression of a girl deeply happy in the midst of love. ¡®Could it be this white powder¡­¡¯ This was definitely a scoop! And a true journalist remains objective, even with friends! Brody quickly took a photo of her friend. Then she took a picture of the ¡®snowke tangerine¡¯ in her hand. A dangerous scent lingered. Fiverge tangerine segments covered in white powder for 1 silver¡­ that¡¯s 100,000 krone? It didn¡¯t make sense logically. ¡®There¡¯s only one exnation for this.¡¯ The fruit wasn¡¯t expensive. It was the white snowke powder on the fruit that was pricey. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ so delicious¡­¡± J mumbled. She looked incredibly happy. Brody stared at her portion. The pristine appearance of the fruit. ¡°Gulp.¡± Swallowing involuntarily. She wanted to eat it. Realizing this, Brody quickly shook her head. ¡°This¡­ this is it!¡± A true journalist always needs to experience it for himself! A true journalist must experience things firsthand! Mumbling to herself, Brody activated the auto-capture magic on her camera. Setting it to capture her actions, she took a bite of the snowke tangerine. Chew. The first bite filled her mouth with a refreshing coolness. The powder on the surface sweetly melted and spread in her mouth. Chew. As the sour juice burst, it wrapped around her tongue. This was¡­ yes! Brody had never kissed anyone. But she understood. It was like the act of lovers entwining their tongues. Sometimes like a gentle embrace, sometimes stimting. The sweet and sour coolness swirling in her mouth made Brody¡¯s breath quicken. ¡°¡­Huff.¡± Brody¡¯s saliva mixed with the tangerine juice, thick and sweet. Without realizing it, Brody swallowed the contents of her mouth. ¡°Huff¡­ no!¡± Oh, she hadn¡¯t finished chewing yet¡­! The smooth and sticky flesh of the fruit, mixed with saliva, slid down her throat. An unfamiliar sensation in her esophagus. Brody had a narrow throat. When taking pills, she couldn¡¯t swallow them in one go, often having to break them into smaller pieces or remove the coating. But now, she had swallowed pieces twice asrge. In her excitement, she had produced an excessive amount of saliva. The overly slick texture allowed the pieces to slip down her throat. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± A moment of crisis. ¡®¡­ But at this thickness.¡¯ She might be able to swallow them if she tried hard enough. She didn¡¯t want to spit it out. Brody epted the pieces sliding down her throat. ¡ª Gulp. Gulp. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± The chunks forced her narrow esophagus to widen. Her breath slightly restricted. Instinctively, Brody tensed her throat to push the flesh down. Her toes curled from the effort. Her mind went nk. Tremble. Her body shook for a moment. ¡°Gulp¡ª¡± Finally, the fruit pieces passed through her esophagus, and the sweetness and sourness spread down her throat. ¡°Haa¡­ haah¡­¡± She regained her breath. Her mind sparkled. She stretched her toes, which had curled up. Tears had gathered at the corners of her eyes. Wiping them away, she looked down at her hand. There were still four pieces of fruit left. ¡®¡­I only swallowed one bite, and it was like this.¡¯ If she ate it all¡­ ¡°I-I¡¯ll definitely lose my senses¡­¡± But. But this was for journalism. Brody brought the thick piece of fruit to her mouth. ¡ª Plop, drop. Her pen rolled off the bench and onto the ground. ¡ô That day, there were notably more happy-looking students at the Academy. Ian was among them. For a slightly different reason than the others.
  • Number of sales: 1,312
  • Average number of items purchased per person: 1.9
  • Sales revenue: 1,312 silver, or 13 gold and 120 silver. (1,312,000 krone)
  • Net profit: 10 gold.
It was a perfect debut. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 The first sale of the ¡®Dessert Research Club,¡¯ which started at lunchtime, didn¡¯t end untilte in the afternoon. ¡°Haaaa¡ª¡± Everyone let out a deep sigh. It was really tough, after all. Of course, cheers soon erupted. ¡°One thousand! We sold so many! I can¡¯t believe we sold all that!¡± Lina shouted, her face full of smiles. Lina had yed a significant role in gathering the customers for the first sale, so she must have felt the pressure. Every time he made and stacked the snowke fruits, Lina would worry, ¡°Ian, I don¡¯t think I can gather this many people. I¡¯ll try my best, though!¡± or ¡°I don¡¯t have that many friends.¡±Outsiders would have been shocked to hear Lina¡¯s concerns. Sure, the initial free samples we handed out helped a lot, but Lina¡¯swork also did an amazing job. ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s 1,312! Sister Elena! I sold them with great dedication to Deus!¡± ¡°Clean the sugar off your mouth before you talk, Nyah. I saw you sneaking tomatoes!¡± ¡°That, that was an unavoidable choice because my sugar level dropped¡­!¡± Danya and Elena were also happy with the results. Well, it¡¯s natural to feel a sense of aplishment with a perfect sell-out like this. Ian didn¡¯t even remember how many times he used mana until he waspletely drained. Without Danya¡¯s ¡®Snow Flowers,¡¯ it would¡¯ve been impossible. ¡°Alright, everyone did a great job. Danya, Lina, Elena, thank you all for your hard work.¡± ¡°Nyaa!¡± ¡°Yes, hehe!¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Their expressions showed joy, but their voices were weak. The way their words trailed off indicated how exhausted they were. Ian smiled and said, ¡°How about we go for apany dinner?¡­ No, wait.¡± Isn¡¯t this a typical bossment? He was surprised at himself. If they¡¯re tired, they should naturally go home and rest¡­ ¡°Company dinner? What¡¯s that, Nyah?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it. It¡¯s a ritual where high-ranking priests treat their subordinates to a meal for their hard work!¡± ¡°Wow, Ian, are you treating us to dinner? Hehe! I¡¯m so d to have such a great boss!¡± Hmm. Ian guessed his worries were unnecessary. ¡°Of course. Today, we¡¯re going to the most expensive ce in Lichten.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Amidst the mixed cheers, they headed to the academy¡¯s east gate. A street lined with luxurious stores and guilds. Danya mumbled, feeling somewhat intimidated. ¡°It¡¯s my first time here, Nyah¡­¡± Lina, echoing her. ¡°I¡¯ve been here before, but I always just window-shopped¡­ It¡¯s too expensive here.¡± East Street of Lichten. As they said, this street was defined by ¡®luxury¡¯ and ¡®high-end.¡¯ The main clientele were nobles from Lichten, but mainly the high-born students from the academy. After all, those who casually bought 10-silver snowke fruits if they tasted good could afford such things. The spending here was on a different level. As they walked further, getting away from the luxury and high-end areas, Danya sidled up to Ian and whispered. ¡°But, won¡¯t we go bankrupt from buying food here? You said we¡¯re going to the most expensive ce.¡± She nced at Elena, who was already drooling. ¡°Did I say the most expensive ce?¡± ¡°You did, Nyah.¡± ¡°That was a slip of the tongue. I meant a ce that will be the most expensive.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± They walked quite a bit in East Street, heading into an alley. When they were far enough from the luxury and high-end areas, they saw their destination. [Restaurant Esm¨¦] ¡°This is our dinner spot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different from what I imagined based on your description¡­! The building is quite old, is this really the most expensive ce?¡± Ian exined to the puzzled Elena. ¡°Not the most expensive, but it will be.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°The chef here is the best in Lichten. And, believe it or not, this is still a high-end restaurant.¡± Unlike the cheap snack bars. ¡°Then I¡¯m satisfied!¡± Elena beamed. For such a tiny body, she sure was obsessed with food. Of course, neither Lina nor Danya were particrly concerned about appearances. That¡¯s why Ian brought them here. ¡°Ian, if you say so, I¡¯m excited.¡± ¡°Of course. You can expect great things.¡± There aren¡¯t many times you can eat a meal by such a talented chef without a reservation. ¡®Restaurant Esm¨¦¡¯ This ce would eventually grow to be one of the top three restaurants in the Empire, purely through its exceptional skill. Its owner and head chef, Chef Esm¨¦, possessed overwhelming culinary talent. ¡°So today, let¡¯s eat as much as we want.¡± With that confident deration, Ian opened the door and entered the restaurant. However, he couldn¡¯t help but stop in his tracks, taken aback. Inside was an unwee guest. ¡°Oh my. Ian, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Golden hair as if spun from pure gold. Graceful movements befitting a noblewoman. A soft face with a smiling expression. And golden eyes that shone like coins. ¡°Emilia Raymond. What are you doing here?¡± ¡ô ¡°Oh my, is there any reason I shouldn¡¯t be here?¡± Hehehe. Sheughed softly, covering her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again, Ian.¡± Nice to see him? From Ian¡¯s perspective, and likely Pongpong¡¯s as well, there was no reason for them to be pleased to see each other. Between being exploited and abandoned. That was the rtionship between Pongpong and Emilia. ¡°After that, you haven¡¯t visited our tradingpany. I was disappointed. You must have been very busy.¡± Her infinitely kind-seeming greeting was, in reality, far from friendly if one considered their past rtionship. It felt more like she was mocking him. ¡°I came here to eat, so we¡¯ll talkter.¡± ¡°Oh, am I interrupting? Of course. I¡¯m busy too.¡± Surprisingly, she stepped back easily. Herpliance made Ian uneasy. Who knew what she was plotting? At least in the game, Emilia was smart enough to be used as a strategist. Ian led his group to a table. They sat at a distance where they could still see and hear Emilia¡¯s interactions. She was talking with the restaurant¡¯s owner, Esm¨¦. ¡ª The coboration will greatly benefit the restaurant. Just changing the exterior will make a noticeable difference¡­ Hmm. So, she came here to invest. As expected, she had a nose for opportunities. ¡ª I told you already, I¡¯m not interested in investments. Please leave. Ian couldn¡¯t help but smile at the chef¡¯s response. ¡°Why are you smiling, Brother?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing. Just keep looking at the menu.¡± Emilia¡¯s presentation was impressive, even to Ian. Yet, the chef¡¯s firm rejection without even considering it was refreshing. ¡ª I only coborate with someone who has cooking skills equal to mine. The same goes for investments. ¡ª But without expansion, your restaurant won¡¯t grow. ¡ª My priority is not to make the restaurant bigger, but to focus solely on cooking. Please leave now. The customers at that table are waiting. Thanks to the chef pointing in his direction, Ian made eye contact with Emilia. What expression did he have? Probably a smile. ¡ª I apologize. I¡¯ll visit again. Tap. With a click of her heels, Emilia left the restaurant. No, she turned around and walked back. Approaching Ian, she whispered. ¡°Ian, we seem to run into each other quite often these days.¡± Before he could respond, Emilia nced over hispanions, as if assessing their capabilities. ¡°I look forward to seeing your performance in the Aether Promotion Evaluation.¡± With those meaningful words, Emilia finally left. ¡ô Surprisingly, no special feelings arose. Emilia Raymond. Simply not encountering her for a while had been half a sess in itself. Her specific mention of the Aether Promotion was a bit concerning, but Ian felt he could handle it. ¡®I¡¯ll be getting some items soon.¡¯ He nned to invest all the gold they earned into a ¡®Mystery Box¡¯ as soon as they returned to the club room. That would naturally guarantee some good equipment. There was no point in worrying too much about future events. Even if Emilia was the only heroine who had the talent to be admitted to the academy as an Aether. ¡°¡­ Ian, are you okay?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Danya¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Did he look worried? Danya was staring at him with a concerned expression. ¡°Oh. I was just thinking for a moment.¡± ¡°Is there something serious going on?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s order quickly. The tomato dishes here are delicious. You and Elena should try the pasta, risotto, orsagna.¡± In this world, tomatoes weren¡¯t widely used as a cooking ingredient. Restaurant Esm¨¦ was one of the few ces where one could enjoy tomato dishes. That was one reason Ian had chosen it for their celebratory dinner. ¡°¡­ We already ordered, and the food is here, Nyah.¡± Ian looked down. A perfectly cooked steak was elegantly ted before him. Elena was already diving into her pasta, her face practically buried in the dish. ¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°What were you thinking about, Nyah?¡± Danya squinted at him. Ian smoothly changed the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s eat. It looks delicious.¡± Danya¡¯s eyes narrowed further, but then she pouted slightly. ¡°Do you always worry about yourself alone? Don¡¯t you?¡± She muttered before taking a bite of her risotto. Her previously pouty expression brightened immediately. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s delicious!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m willing to forgive you this time, Nyah!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Ian smiled as he began to cut his steak. Slice, slice¡ª Juices flowed as the knife cut through the tender meat. Just as he was about to take a bite, his vision widened, taking in his surroundings. ¡°Lina! You have sauce on your nose!¡± Linaughed and wiped the tomato sauce from Elena¡¯s nose with her finger while eating her sd. ¡°Hold on!¡± Elena yfully licked Lina¡¯s finger in response. ¡°Yum!¡± Danya smiled with her eyes closed, savoring a spoonful of risotto. Taking a bite of his juicy steak against this cheerful backdrop, Ian felt certain. ¡°This is it.¡± It seems this possession was not all that bad. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 [Deluxe] While eating the food at this restaurant, Ian realized that the important thing was ¡®reputation.¡¯ Creep, crease. Slicing through the steak, the juicy texture, the perfect temperature of the meat, it all melted in his mouth. It was an unbelievably delicious steak. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± However, the emotions he felt went beyond just the taste. ¡®Is it really just grilled meat that can taste this good? As expected of Restaurant Esm¨¦.¡¯ ¡®Or when else would I ever taste the food of the world¡¯s strongest chef?¡¯Restaurant Esm¨¦. Knowing that the owner of this ce would be the greatest chef made the meal even more enjoyable. It was like his brain was being toyed with. ¡®Indeed, branding is everything.¡¯ At that moment, Lina, who hadn¡¯t heard about this chef bing famous, was eating seafood sd oil pasta. Feeling Ian¡¯s gaze, Lina smiled and offered a plump shrimp egg with her fork. ¡°Want to trade a bite?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good. How¡¯s the taste?¡± Lina, who had a briefly pouting expression, brightened up with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s really delicious.¡± Ian whispered softly to her. ¡°Just between us, the chef here is going to be one of the top chefs on the continent.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. You saw Emiliae in earlier, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, for sure.¡± ¡°Now, try another bite. See how it tastes.¡± Mumble. As Lina chewed on the shrimp, her eyes widened. ¡°¡­ I think it¡¯s gotten a little more delicious.¡± As expected. People taste food with their mouths but also with their minds. The image in their heads can influence the taste. ¡°In that sense, we need to n our strategy for selling Snowke Fruits carefully.¡± All eyes turned to Ian. Even Elena, who was busily emptying her te, asked between bites. ¡°What are you talking about? Nom nom.¡± ¡°Currently, the price of a Snowke Fruit is 1 silver, which is 100,000 krone. The same price as this steak. Quite expensive.¡± Surprisingly, it was true. It¡¯s not that Esm¨¦, which isn¡¯t famous yet, has high prices. Simultaneously, it highlighted that the price of the Snowke Fruit was exorbitant. But it wasn¡¯t Ian¡¯s fault; it was the fault of the wealthy academy students who bought it all. While justifying himself like this. ¡°Reducing the price would be good, brother. If possible, to the price of a single fairy tale!¡± Uhm hehe¨C Elena, with her face buried in her te, smirked mischievously. ¡°And if we give one free with each purchase, sales will skyrocket! Everyone will be happy! I could even quit this job and be a customer. Ooh hoo hoo¡­¡± Moments like these made Ian doubt whether she was really a priest. ¡°Even if we lower it to the price of a single fairy tale, the Snowke Tomatoes will remain at 10 silver.¡± ¡°Nooooo-!¡± Elena, the mischievous worker, clutched her head in despair. Leaving her aside, Ian exined his strategy. ¡°From now on, let¡¯s reduce the number of Snowke Fruits we sell. We¡¯ll only sell them asionally.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that reduce our revenue?¡± Danya tilted her head. ¡°No. In the long run, this will be beneficial.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°By selling them asionally and in limited quantities, we can maintain the Snowke Fruits as ¡®special.¡¯ Everyone will want them, but only the lucky ones will get to eat them. This way, we keep the price steady and the demand high.¡± This was the so-called Honey Butter Chip strategy. ¡°Ah. Since we have a monopoly, it would definitely be good!¡± ¡°Lina is right. Only we can produce them. Growing Frost Snowkes requires the master¡¯s teaching.¡± Moreover, Ian needed to reduce the sales volume to survive. Excited about making money, he had worked hard, but it was truly exhausting now. The amount of magical power required to produce Snowke Fruits was beyond imagination. If he were of the frost element, it might have been different, but being of the earth element, the waste from using the elemental converter was inevitable. Since there was no one else of the frost element who could produce Snowke Fruits, his suffering was predictable. In many ways, the so-called ¡®Honey Butter Chip¡¯ strategy had significant advantages. ¡°Oh, and about profit distribution.¡± As soon as Ian spoke, Elena, with her mouth full of tomato sauce, eximed. ¡°I¡ª Keh!¡± ¡°Finish eating first.¡± ¡°Gulp. I¡¯m a priest serving Deus. I don¡¯t need my share of the money. This is also a path of asceticism.¡± ¡°Truly, a priest of the Numina sect. I¡¯m moved.¡± ¡°Ehehe.¡± Elena scratched the back of her head with an embarrassed smile. ¡°Then, that¡¯s settled for Elena.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯ll give everyone 10 silver per day and a share of the club¡¯s profits.¡± Elena cautiously raised her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t receive money, but I can ept goods.¡± Oh, she meant she wanted something other than money earlier. ¡°Snowke Tomatoes?¡± Nod. ¡°Okay. Come to the clubroom tomorrow. It¡¯s a day off, so I¡¯ll make them for you. And is it alright if I give the others their money a littleter?¡± ¡°Of course, but why?¡± ¡°I have something to take care of.¡± It was to handle the Mystery Box. ¡°Dessert is served.¡± Just then, dessert arrived. Taking a bite of the cold fruit pudding, Danya muttered. ¡°Dessert made from Snowke Fruit tastes better, nyah.¡± Hmm. Ian had to agree. ¡ô ¡°Check, please.¡± The store, not yet that spacious, had the chef and owner, Esm¨¦,ing out to handle the bill. With a sharp orange bob cut, she looked to be in her mid-20s with a sharp gaze. Ian couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit intimidated by her aura. As expected of someone destined to be a top chef. Or maybe she used to be a delinquent. ¡°The total is 430,000 Krone.¡± So, it came out to a bit over 1 silver per person? Considering each dish was priced at 100,000 krone, it felt like they got a great deal. Later on, these dishes would be worth ten times as much, making them hard to get even at that price. ¡°It was incredibly delicious.¡± Though it was genuine praise, Esm¨¦¡¯s expression remained stoic. She asked. ¡°Are you in the dessert business?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°I heard our dessert wascking.¡± re. Her stare was intense and direct. ¡­ Was the earlier aura actually a hint of killing intent? ¡°¡­ Did you hear that?¡± ¡°As you can see, the ce is small. I¡¯m attentive to feedback.¡± ¡°Sorry about that.¡± ¡°Oh¡ª.¡± She sighed briefly and scratched her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to receive an apology.¡± ¡°I felt like I¡¯d get hit if I didn¡¯t apologize.¡± ¡°¡­ Sir, what do you think of me, really?¡± Crack, crack-. She cracked her knuckles and asked. ¡°If I look closely, the chef is quite gracious. I must have been mistaken. Maybe I need new sses.¡± ¡°Hoho. Indeed, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Haha. She let out a smallugh and added. ¡°You enjoyed the main course well enough. But I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°The dessert you made. Just how good is it that you speak so proudly of it? Where do you sell this Snowke Fruit dessert?¡± Her eyes glinted sharply, showing herpetitive spirit even towards a customer. ¡°You probably won¡¯t get to taste it.¡± ¡°Why? Are you backing out now? How boring.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that it¡¯s only sold inside the academy.¡± ¡°Well, I guess there¡¯s nothing I can do about that. This olddy can¡¯t get in there.¡± Phew¡ª. She sighed softly. Was she always this expressive and talkative? Maybe she interpreted Ian¡¯s expression as curious because she continued. ¡°Actually, I also think our dessert menu is a bitcking. I want something sweet and refreshing to finish off the main course nicely.¡± Hmm, that fits perfectly with Snowke Fruit. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you one if I get the chance.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to it.¡± It seemed Ian had unintentionally found a way to expand the ¡®Dessert Research Club.¡¯ ¡ô The next day. As always, Ian¡¯s body woke up early in the morning. He went to the market at dawn. He bought a few tomatoes for Elena and Danya, and some ingredients that were considered ¡®high grade¡¯ in the game. After spending all 10 gold, his wallet felt astonishingly light. ¡°Now I¡¯m broke again.¡± Well, money wasn¡¯t the main issue. The urgent matter was preparing for the Aether Promotion Battleing up on Monday, just two days away. Plus, the Emilia event was ovepping with it. ¡°Emilia¡¯s whisper at the restaurant. That was definitely a deration of war.¡± Outwardly, Emilia appeared infinitely proper andposed. But as the sessor of the top-ranked merchant guild, she had a basic battle mindset. Typically, such whispers were Emilia¡¯s trademark deration of war. She even scanned the team members, so it was undoubtedly true. Thus, Ian needed to use the ¡®gacha¡¯ he had been saving. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to shine.¡± He carefully opened the shelf. Inside was the cherished Number 777. [Mystery Box] He took it out and ced it on the table, along with the key he had found in the dungeon. The box was fairly small, about 30cm by 30cm. Made of dark wood, its distinctive feature was the three nk spaces carved on the surface. [ / / / ] When an item was ced inside and the handle on the side was turned, the nks would spin and disy numbers. [ 7 / 7 / 7 ] If these numbers appeared, it would be a jackpot. That¡¯s how it worked. ¡°Whoo.¡± How long had it been since hest did a gacha? The tension was palpable. And more than the tension, the excitement was even greater. This wasn¡¯t about drawing an item to use in the game but pulling out something he would use in reality. Even though he knew how to increase the odds of the box, ¡ª Gulp He swallowed nervously. Ian carefully inserted the key into the box¡¯s keyhole and turned it. The key turned smoothly. ¡ª Click The box opened. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Number 777. [Mystery Box] Just like any gacha elements in games, the important thing is the item¡¯s configuration. What kinds of rewardse out when you spin the gacha. What are the chances of getting a good reward, and so on. He recalled the configuration for this item. [Number 777 has the following restrictions: (1) You cannot put itemsrger than the box. (2) The converted item cannot exceed the size of the box.] Ian nced at the box. It was about 30 cm in width, length, and height.It would be difficult to expect equipment-type items. Still, since there were many essories among the game¡¯s special items called ¡®Numbers¡¯, this size wasn¡¯t too bad. [ (3) Item conversion is based on the grade of the item put in. ] This raised the question of what to use for the gacha. In the game system, most things had a ¡®grade¡¯. This grade concept didn¡¯t exactly match up with value. Lunar was a case in point. Despite being a mid-grade mineral, it was expensive and he used it quite effectively. In other words. ¡°It means we have to put in cheap but high-grade items and change them.¡± This was why he had gone to the market at dawn. He lifted therge bundle he had prepared and ced it next to the box. With a thud, itnded. ¡ª Srrrk The sound of hundreds of misceneous items settling inside the bundle echoed. Cheap items bought at the [Everything for 1000 Krone Shop]. The reason he bought these was simple. [ (4) Probability elements are the same as the game¡¯s currency probability system. ] Obviously, probability was everything in gacha. And the probability elements in Fantasy X Academy¡­ ¡°Pretty stingy.¡± It was notoriously greedy. ¨C Ah, if I put all this in and nothinges out, I¡¯m quitting for real. There were so many yers who had quit after saying this. But Ian knew. How Fantasy X Academy¡¯s probability elements worked. In this game, there was a [Probability Adjustment] for gachas. For example, in reality, the probability of flipping a coin is always 1/2. In Fantasy X Academy¡¯s gacha, if the previous result was heads, the probability of getting tails next would increase. This gave rise to the term ¡®sacrifice¡¯. The misceneous items he had prepared in this bundle were all offerings. By using up these cheap items to raise the probability, then putting in a well-prepared, high-value item? ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be probability anymore; it would be a sure thing.¡± Heh heh¡ª A sly smile crept onto his face. Of course, he had also prepared the high-value item to put in after the ¡®sacrificial offering¡¯ process. ¡°Now, let¡¯s give it a spin.¡± He ced a cheap item into the open box. Click¡ª [ ? / ? / ? ] As he closed the lid, the inscriptions on the box began to turn. The rules were simple. ¨C All different numbers meant a dud. ¨C Two matching numbers meant an average reward. ¨C Three matching numbers meant a jackpot. The higher the numbers, the better the jackpot. ording to a review from a yer who had used this box, the jackpot probability was about one in a thousand. The chance of even getting an average reward was less than 20%, making it truly a trash probability¡­ ¡°But knowing the strategy made it different.¡± He just hoped the jackpot wouldn¡¯t hit prematurely. But as if mocking his wish¡­ Click¡ª! The sound of the lid unlocking was followed by the numbers updating. ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± [1 / 1 / 1] A sudden jackpot appeared. ¡°Ah, what is this!¡± Was it beginner¡¯s luck? This was too much! He had just spun it with a 1000 Krone item he bought from the discount shop. Even if it was a jackpot, how good could the item be? ¡°Hah¡­¡± He had blown his odds from the start. His forehead throbbed as he raised his hand to it and opened the box. A ringy on the pitch-ck floor. A thin silver ring. Where there should have been a gem in the center, a faint light shone like a jewel. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± Surprisingly, it turned out to be quite a decent item. [Ring of Light¡¯s Blessing: Increases experience gained from light attribute elements by 5%. (Cannot be used multiple times)] It was undoubtedly one of those. Among basic items, this one was pretty solid. The junk item he put into the box was worth 1000 Krone. In the game¡¯s store, this ring¡¯s purchase price was 100,000 Krone. Considering the game valuepared to the purchase price of my junk item¡­ ¡°It¡¯s almost a tenfold increase, isn¡¯t it?¡± Moreover, a ring that increases elemental growth rate by 5% just by wearing it. Its real-world value was priceless. This Mystery Box was quite impressive. The item quality for a [1 / 1 / 1] pull was unbelievable. And thinking it over, it might be good to reset the odds from the start. He got upset for nothing. But now. ¡°What should I do with this ring?¡± It was useless for me, who was of the earth attribute. Selling it to someone else would be a waste, and if it ended up with a viin, it would be a headache. ¡°I should give this to Silvia.¡± The only light attribute mage he knew was Silvia. The question was whether Silvia would like this ring. It didn¡¯t look particrly luxurious. ¡°It¡¯s almost like a candy ring.¡± That was a bit of an exaggeration. It didn¡¯t seem fitting for the fashionable Lady Silvia. But his colleague¡¯s growth was also his growth. He would force her to wear it if he had to. With that crude resolution, he started cing the junk items one by one into the box. ¡°Now, please, only bad ones.¡± / 1 / 5 / 3 / / 2 / 1 / 7 / ¡­¡­. The subsequent results dutifully demonstrated why gambling was a bad idea. Finally, thest ¡®sacrifice¡¯. This was the most nerve-wracking moment. /7 / ? / ? / ¡°Why do you have to make me nervous?¡± /7 / ? / 7 / The numbers matched except for thest slot. If it hit here, everything would be ruined. He had used a rtively high-value item for the final sacrifice¡­ but still, it mustn¡¯t hit! For the first time since the possession, he sped he hands together. And he prayed. ¡°Please, please.¡± Did the first prayer since possession work? /7 / 1 / 7 / ¡°Ye¡­¡± Thankfully, it was a medium win. Wow. His heart was pounding. The 900-odd sacrifices he had offered so far almost went to waste. Of course, if it reset, he nned to start again from the beginning. But this was quite a tiring grind. ¡°Alright, now for the final one.¡± From one side of the table, he picked up an item wrapped in fine cloth. Hmm¡­ could this even be called an item? It was a bizarre object consisting of a shard of the ¡®Twilight Wolf¡¯s¡¯ magic stone, wrapped in 100% pure gold thread, and connected to various other materials attached to an exquisite cloth. This was the result of exploiting Fantasy X Academy¡¯s grading system, where the value and grade of an item increased with the variety of materials used. The price of the magic stone shard alone was about 10 gold. The gold thread, exquisite cloth, and additional materials also cost around 10 gold. A total of 20 gold, roughly equivalent to 200 million Krone worth of materials, but in the system, it would have a value of about five times that, around 1 billion Krone. ¡°Alright. Here we go.¡± With trembling hands, he carefully ced it into the box. As delicately and respectfully as possible. Gacha was like a ritual. And then, he cautiously closed the lid of the box. ¡ª Charrarak! [ ? / ? / ? ] The inscriptions on the box started spinning. He shut his eyes tightly. The world turned ck. Only the sound filled his mind. ¡ª Chack! One number locked into ce. His heart pounded harder. ¡ª Chack! Another one fixed. Another number locked in. ¡°Please. Please¡­.¡± A flood of random thoughts filled his head. What if the numbers don¡¯t match? Should he open his eyes and check? Maybe he should have just sold it and bought equipment? And then once more. ¡ª Chack! By now, he couldn¡¯t think anymore. Thump. Thump. Thump. He could only hear his heartbeat. ¡°¡­ Please!!!¡± He shouted as he opened his eyes. ¡¾ 4 / 4 / 4 ¡¿ Oh. Jackpot. If 1, 1, 1 was a tenfold increase¡­ this should be at least a twentyfold increase, right? He opened the box without hesitation. Inside, there was no radiant light, no shimmering gold. Just red. Like a blood-stained iron shield, a foreboding rust-red color. The moment he identified the item, he clutched his forehead. ¡°¡­ Is this for real?¡± ¡ô High risk, high return. Recalling this age-old truth, he grasped the small shield in my hand. Or rather, could he even call this a shield with a diameter of just about 20 cm? ¡¾ (No. 444) Berserker¡¯s Guardian Shield: It looks small, but it¡¯s still a shield. It¡¯s quite sturdy. It seems like it would hurt a lot if you got hit with it. ¡¿ Sure. It was a shield. ¡°¡­ Was this meant to be worn on the wrist?¡± It was a shield you strapped to your wrist, using it like a guard. At most, it could cover just about his face. But this item had two features. One was its characteristic as a shield. ¡°¡­ It has a mid-level indestructibility attribute.¡± This shield, norger than a pancake, could still be called a shield because it was indestructible. To be precise, it couldn¡¯t be destroyed by any reasonable means. It was sturdy, but its small surface area made it a high-risk, high-reward item. And then there was the second characteristic. Its special ability. ¡¸When remaining health is below 10%, damage increases by 1,000% for 10 minutes. Activates upon absorbing a sufficient amount of impact.¡¹ It had the berserker trait, living up to its name. An enormous damage increase option, but only when I was near death. This was an ability he couldn¡¯t even test in reality. As far as he knew, there weren¡¯t many items in the game that symbolized high risk, high return like this one. ¡°Wow¡­.¡± He felt a bit dazed. No, he needed to get a grip. Thinking about it, this wasn¡¯t such a bad item. In fact, for something he got for 200 million Krone, it was an incredible gain. A number in the 400s. The special ability was what he unconsciously focused on, but even without it, the shield was valuable enough. A manly shield the size of a pancake. Practically unbreakable. ¡°Wait a second.¡± ¡®Extraction¡¯¡­ of course, it wasn¡¯t possible. Probably because of its indestructibility attribute. At this point, he realized something. The world seemed to be forcing me down the path of magic (or physical prowess). Whatever. He might as well go for it. Just as he made up his mind. ¡ª Knock, knock, knock. He checked the time at the sound of the knock. It was around noon. Come to think of it, he said he would make Snowke Tomatoes today. It must be Elena. ¡°Elena, wait a moment. I got a bit distracted with something and forgot¡­.¡± Click. The moment he grabbed the door handle, he felt something strange. The handle was unusually cold. It had a thinyer of frost on it. He turned the frozen handle. ¡ª Creak Old fittings groaned as the door opened. Through the gap in the opening door, he saw long hair. An icy blue color, seemingly cold to the core, perfectly neat, reaching down to her waist. As the door fully opened, the woman with her head bowed lifted her gaze to meet his. Eyes like the depths of a frigid ocean, cold and deep. Her face was unusually tense. ¡°¡­Sharon Pierce?¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135 The Snowke Sword Master, Asilia, was steadily recovering her health. The Northern Mansion where she returned after a long time¡ª Richard¡¯s second child, Yerina, made every effort to ensure Asilia could restfortably. Thanks to this, Asilia was able to recover smoothly. Her once cold body temperature returned to normal, and her long hair regained its luster. As she regained her depleted internal energy, the frost mana began to sparkle around her. Even the straight-backed knights would nce her way when she walked through the mansion. It was then that Asilia realized this mansion was no longer a ce for her. This was the mansion built by Richard Pierce.His presence imprinted in every corner. Asilia was not ipetent; she didn¡¯t need to stay in a ce built by the one who had consumed her. Even the annex where she used to live with her young daughter, which she could somewhat call home, was long gone. At that moment, she received a reply from her disciple. [Lichten Academy Aether ss Swordsmanship Professor Recruitment Notice] ¡°¡­ That child, really. Hehe.¡± Asilia smiled broadly for the first time in a long while. Ian. He was truly a beloved disciple. How could he be so deep and empathetic? Being able to form a bond with Ian made the long years in the Dantian worth it. But there were things she missed because of that. Sharon Pierce. Her precious daughter. Another worry was growing in Asilia¡¯s heart. ¡°Thank you for the meal, Mother.¡± The small table set for just Asilia and Sharon. Sharon¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Sharon staggered toward her room. Watching her, Asilia tightly closed her eyes. Sharon shut herself in her room except when eating meals together. She was not originally like this. Sharon¡¯s hands used to grip the sword daily without fail. But that wasn¡¯t the only problem. The dark circles under her eyes grew deeper day by day. Her gaze became increasingly anxious. Asilia¡¯s daughter, Sharon, was clearly falling apart. And the reason was Sharon herself. Asilia¡¯s heart ached. She couldn¡¯t correct Sharon¡¯s wrong path because they were apart. Not being able to help her walk the right path by her side. That was something Asilia had to fix. She was delighted to see her daughter again after so long. She wanted to hug her tightly for years. But. Now was the time to teach her daughter. ¡ª Knock, knock. Asilia knocked on Sharon¡¯s door. But inside, there was only the sound of rustling. Asilia cautiously opened the door and went in. A spacious room, a bed in the corner. A white nket bulged slightly. Just enough for someone to sit inside, hugging their knees. From within, a muttering voice leaked out. ¡°¡­ Ian. Yes. You were right. You were right about everything. Absolutely everything. Hahaha¡­¡± It was a self-deprecating and hollowugh. Sharon had always been bold and upright since she was young. She was a child with high pride, never bending in what she believed was right. But now. ¡°¡­ It wasn¡¯t you. You never cursed me. You never blocked my path. It wasn¡¯t even the Bloodstone Cult. None of it. Hahaha¡­¡± In Asilia¡¯s eyes, there was only a girl who had lost her way, drifting in the room. Asilia knew well why Sharon was breaking down. ¡ª Actually, Ian ckangers and¡­ Ian. Her disciple. ¡ª ¡­Things like this happened, Mother. Just hearing about Sharon and Ian¡¯s rtionship painted a clear picture. She could envision Ian sincerely taking care of Sharon. Ian standing nearby to help when Sharon hit a wall in her training with his magic. When Sharon¡¯s equipment couldn¡¯t withstand her mana, gifting her an excellent sword. Ian was a warm child. When he took care of someone, he did it sincerely and wholeheartedly, without making a fuss. From what she heard, it seemed he took even more care of Sharon. But at some point, things went awry. Sharon started to suspect Ian. She thought her suspicions were justified. It was the beginning of the tragedy. ¡°Ha¡­ ha. Ian, I cursed and hated you so much. But it wasn¡¯t you. Everything was my misconception. Isn¡¯t it funny? I suspected you alone and got angry alone. How ridiculous and stupid I must have seemed to you. Ahaha¡­ ha.¡± The nket trembled slightly. The silhouette of shaking shoulders was visible. Asilia knew Sharon well. Sharon always pursued what she believed was right. Once she set a goal, she relentlessly followed that path. She was cold, decisive, steadfast, and disciplined. She was like a sharply honed sword. Sharon thought her suspicions about Ian were correct. So, she pursued them. And she was wrong. Sharon. The certainty she had firmly believed in had shattered. For the first time, everything was wrong. It must have been a tremendous shock. ¡°Uhhhh¡­!¡± When grass receives a shock, it bows its head. Trees fall. And swords, they shatter into pieces. Sharon was a sword. So she shattered into pieces. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ever want to just kill me? It would have been better that way. Ah, I would rather end my own life. Yes. Since everything was wrong, I¡¯d rathermit s*icide. How about that? Would that give you any sce? Ian. Answer me. Answer¡­ please.¡± Her only daughter was breaking down. Asilia wanted to embrace her daughter. With all her might. Tightly. But. She couldn¡¯t do that. For her disciple and for her daughter. Asilia spoke softly. ¡°Sharon.¡± Flinch. The nket inside shook violently. And then, after a moment. ¡ª Rustle Sharon emerged from under the nket. ¡°¡­ Yes, Mother.¡± Dted pupils. Deep dark circles. Blood dripping from her bitten lips. Yet, she forced a smile, as if nothing was wrong. Seeing her broken daughter smile, Asilia felt her heart shattering. Therefore, she spoke even more firmly. ¡°Go and ask for forgiveness.¡± It was a simple and direct statement. But it was enough. Sharon¡¯s barely maintained smile copsed. She shut her eyes tightly as if she couldn¡¯t bear to face the world. Tears burst forth, soaking her clothes as they trickled down her chin. She choked out words that made no sense. ¡°Ah. No. He won¡¯t¡­ he won¡¯t ept my apology¡­ Ian won¡¯t ept my apology¡­ there¡¯s no way.¡± Sniffle. Sob. It was the first time Asilia had seen her daughter cry so intensely, but she just watched quietly. Only after Sharon Pierce¡¯s sobbing subsided did she speak again. ¡°Sharon Pierce.¡± ¡°¡­Sob. Yes, Mother.¡± ¡°What are you hesitating for?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°My daughter doesn¡¯t hesitate to do what she believes is right.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. Sob. But¡­¡± ¡°Sharon, if you realize you were wrong, you know what¡¯s right. Go forward.¡± ¡°But¡­ Sob. But¡­¡± Sharon lowered her head. Her lips trembled slightly. Tears kept falling. ¡°What are you worried about?¡± In response to Asilia¡¯s question, Sharon barely opened her mouth. ¡°¡­ He must be disgusted with someone like me. He won¡¯t even meet me.¡± ¡°Maybe so.¡± Knowing Ian¡¯s character, he might indeed be treating Sharon as if she didn¡¯t exist. That was more frightening than hatred. Asilia sighed softly and took out a memo. Scrible, Scrible. ¡°Give this to him.¡± Sharon¡¯s hand trembled as she took the note. Asilia added to her daughter, ¡°An apology should be made until it is epted. Even if it takes a lifetime.¡± Sharon simply nodded, tears streaming down her face. Eternal atonement. Once the path was set, moving forward. It was what Sharon had done well and what she could do now. The only path for her. ¡ô Lichten Academy Dessert Research Club Room. I nced down at Sharon standing outside the door. And fell silent. I had nothing to say to Sharon. She must havee to say something. ¡°¡­¡± Sharon nced up at me for a moment. Her face was like a puppy about to be scolded. It didn¡¯t fit her image at all. ¡°If you have nothing to say, I¡¯m closing it.¡± I closed the door. Close to a promotion battle that¡¯s right in front of my nose. There¡¯s a lot to do. I didn¡¯t want to waste time. But soon. Knock, knock. I opened the door again. ¡°Just a moment!¡± Sharon urgently called out. Huff- I took a deep breath. Then cautiously opened my mouth. Her voice was like a crawl. ¡°May Ie in? I have something to say¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m only interested in business here. I¡¯m busy.¡± Sharon looked puzzled and bit her finger. ¨C If I hand this over, there will be no way to meet him again. Muttering that, she took out a small note from her pocket. ¡°¡­ I have something to deliver. It¡¯s a message from my mother.¡± ¡°Message from Master?¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± What¡¯s this? I checked the note. ¡ª Thank you, disciple. Thanks to you, your master seems to have found a job. It must be a response to the employment notice I sent. It was such a simple line. I wondered why she sent this. The meaning behind the note could be understood. ¡°Thank you. Then.¡± ¡°Just a mom¡­!¡± Sharon put her hand in and blocked the door that was about to close. Then, she herself was startled and quickly put her hand away. ¡°Ian. J-just a little time¡­¡± ¡°Sorry. There¡¯s a lot to prepare for today.¡± Everything has its priorities. And most of my priorities are now aligned with the promotion round. Unfortunately, Sharon¡¯s priority was not on my list. ¡°Thank you for passing this along.¡± ¡°Um, Ian-¡± ¡ª Thud I closed the door. Not just empty talk, I was really busy. Already, early lunchtime. I have to make Snowke Tomatoes topensate Elena. ¡ª S-sorry. Apologize¡­ Knock knock knock knock knock. Ignoring the sounding from the other side of the door, I focused on making Snowke Fruit. It takes quite a bit of concentration like this. After making a few Snowke Tomatoes. Knock knock! The sound of knocking on the door had changed a little. ¡°It¡¯s me, Brother Ian!¡± Elena? I let her into the club room. (TLN: Writing perspective has changed here, idk if it will continue with 1st person or alternate¡­ oh well.) Chapter 136 Chapter 136 ¡°Brother, there¡¯s a woman standing outside, staring nkly.¡± Elena widened her eyes and tilted her head in curiosity. Does she not know Sharon? Well, Elena is a diligent priestess of the Numina sect. It seems she spent her lifemuting between the sect¡¯s tents, ssrooms, and the Student Council after entering the Academy. She might have heard the name but probably doesn¡¯t recognize the face. ¡°Could it be that you hired a new staff member? Was this Elena not good enough to win Brother Ian¡¯s favor?!¡± ¡°She¡¯s not a new staff member.¡± ¡°Then who is she?¡± ¡°Sharon Pierce.¡±¡°Hiiek-!¡± Elena let out a strange scream and covered her mouth with her hand. She is indeed a child with rich expressions. ¡°Sharon Pierce, the brilliant prodigy of the Swordsmanship Club! Why is such a person kneeling in front of your door, Brother?¡± Is she really kneeling? Whatever it is, it¡¯s not my concern. ¡°Who knows.¡± ¡°I can hear her muttering something¡­ Brother, you seem particrly cold today.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been cold.¡± ¡°On the outside, yes.¡± What¡¯s she talking about? ¡°Stop babbling and eat this.¡± I ced a snowke tomato in Elena¡¯s mouth. ¡°Ugh!¡± Was it too cold? Elena shivered and stepped back. Then her eyes grew wide again. ¡°This¡­ this is the first time I¡¯ve seen something this big.¡± ¡°I specially prepared it.¡± ¡°You did this for me¡­! I¡¯m so touched!¡± I¡¯m the one more touched. She offered to be payed with snowke fruits instead of money. I picked out the finest, most luxurious tomatoes from the fruit shop. ¡°Hurry and swallow it.¡± ¡°Wait a moment. It¡¯s so big it hurts my mouth¡­¡± ¡°How can you lick it like that?¡± ¡°This size! My small mouth can¡¯t take it all at once!¡± For some reason, it suddenly got quiet outside. She must have given up and left. Sharon¡¯s prideful knightly spirit probably couldn¡¯t endure such indifference. While I was momentarily distracted. ¡°Y-Yes, I have to bite it¡­!¡± ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t bite¡­!¡± St¡ª! Elena caused an ident after all. Shemitted the atrocity of biting into the tomato. Luckily, the tomato juice sttered only on her face. Come to think of it, this scene looks familiar. ¡°How can you lick it?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ it¡¯s delicious!¡± Licking it just like Danya. Anyone would believe they¡¯re sisters. Elena devoured five special snowke tomatoes. ¡°Elena. I think you should stop eating.¡± Not because I¡¯m regretting the cost. ¡°No, Brother. I can eat plenty more.¡± ¡°But your stomach can¡¯t.¡± Elena¡¯s belly was bulging like a tadpole¡¯s. The same goes for Danya, and since they are slender, it seems like they are immediately revealed on the outside like that. Moreover, the priestess robe is quite tight, revealing the silhouette well. Elena kept stroking her belly, making it hard to know where to look. It¡¯s also difficult to send her out like this. Unlike with Danya at the external dorm, this is the clubroom. If there¡¯s an unnecessary witness, it could really be troublesome this time. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother. For a priestess, v*rgin pregnancy is an honor.¡± ¡°Please refrain from saying such things.¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling very good right now. Perhaps if it¡¯s with someone who can make such blessed food as Ian, I might consider marriage.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Deus will allow such special cases.¡± ¡°If you joke like that one more time, no more snowke tomatoes.¡± ¡°Nooo, my baby!¡± Despite her enthusiastic shout, Elena looked drowsy. Her full stomach probably made her feel this way. How can there be such a degenerate priestess¡­ Isn¡¯t the future of the Numina sect too dark? Of course, I feel partly responsible for it. I shook my head and looked at the degenerate priestess. She was contentedly stroking her bulging belly. ¡°Even if Dad¡¯s not around, I¡¯ll raise you well by myself, okay?¡± This is driving me crazy. ¡°¡­Get some sleep before you go.¡± I should probably get a guest bed or something. ¡ô ¡°What? You¡¯re still here?¡± As I opened the door to see Elena off, Sharon Pierce was still there, kneeling in perfect form. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Her face was somehow red, and she was staring nkly with unfocused eyes. Ignoring her, I saw Elena off. ¡°Elena, go inside now.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you for the meal!¡± After confirming that Elena had quietly hurried away, I closed the door again. ¡®Her posture is impressively straight.¡¯ Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock. ¨CIan. Just a moment. No, it won¡¯t be enough, but I¡¯ll try. I¡¯m asking you like this. Please¡­. Hm? Please¡­ It was already evening. Ignoring the noise outside, I sat down at my desk. On the desk was Number 444, the ¡°Berserker¡¯s Guardian Shield¡±. ¡°I think I can use this properly in the promotion match.¡± When health is below 10%, damage increases by 1,000%. A sudden thought crossed my mind: this shield¡¯s special ability might actually be usable. The problem with this special ability is simple. Since this isn¡¯t a game but reality, it¡¯s hard to notice when health drops to 10%, and it would definitely be a desperate situation, making it difficult to use. ¡°But the promotion match will be different.¡± In the distant southern part of the Academy, on the isted ind where the promotion match will take ce, a ¡®health system¡¯ utilizing magitech will be applied. The professors packaged it simply as the greatness of ¡®magitech¡¯, but that¡¯s not entirely true. The isted ind ¡®Volta¡¯, where the promotion match takes ce, also has a ¡®special field¡¯ with a unique health system in the game. In other words¡­ ¡°¡­This could work.¡± The conclusion was that I could use this Berserker¡¯s Shield to activate the health system of the promotion match, not my real ¡®life¡¯ health. If that works, it would strengthen the party¡¯s weakest point: melee damage. We could cover our biggest weakness. With a positive conclusion, I looked at the clock. It was already half-past nine at night. ¡ª I¡¯m sorry. Please give me a chance to apologize. No, please. I beg you. Please. Please. Sharon¡¯s muttering was still audible from outside. At some point, her informal speech had changed to formal, and her once firm voice was now broken and faint. ¡°¡­It¡¯s almost curfew for the club building.¡± Of course, no kids would bothering to this old magic school building. Thanks to the ult Research Club, there were rumors that ghosts haunted this ce. ¡®But there¡¯s always a possibility.¡¯ I opened the door. ¡°¡­I was wrong. I waspletely wrong. Ian. Please, just once, give me a chance to ask for forgiveness¡­¡± Sharon¡¯s head was bowed. She hadn¡¯t noticed meing out and kept muttering. Her fists were tightly clenched, as if holding back tears, and had turned red. Her legs were pale blue from kneeling for so long. Noticing the light seeping through the crack in the door, Sharon finally looked up. ¡°I¡­ Ian?¡± Her previously crumbled expression lit up with life. It was like seeing someone find an oasis in the desert. I¡¯d never seen Sharon¡¯s face so full of hope before. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°I¡­ I really can do that¡­¡± ¡°Should I close the door?¡± ¡°Oh, no. Thank you.¡± Sharon¡¯s tearful face was filled with gratitude. It was a sight I wasn¡¯t used to. Even in reality, and in countless events within the game, Sharon had never once cried. Sharon pressed her hands against the floor to stand up. No, she tried to stand up. Thud. Had she been kneeling for too long? Sharon toppled forward. Though she hurriedly got back up, her legs wobbled precariously. ¡®Didn¡¯t she reinforce her body with mana?¡¯ She must have at least that much pride. ¡°Speak briefly.¡± At mymand, a single tear rolled down her cheek. ¡°Th-thank you.¡± ¡°Get to the point.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ just a moment.¡± (TLN: Lina 2.0 I swear.) Sharon rummaged through her belongings. Then she pulled out a stiff A4-sized sheet of paper. On it, written in elegant script, was its purpose. [ Oath of Obedience ] Below that, Sharon had already signed her name. ¡°Ian. I don¡¯t know if you remember, but we had a bet at the social ball. If you were right, I promised to make this oath to you.¡± ¡°I remember.¡± Before I even finished speaking, Sharon knelt before me. ¡°No atonement of mine seems sufficient. I want to show my resolve this way. Please, let me make this oath.¡± The Oath of Obedience. A kind of ck magic that binds one¡¯s soul to another. If she makes this oath, Sharon will literally follow my everymand. There was only one reason I requested this as the bet¡¯s reward. ¡®It¡¯s a symbol of humiliation.¡¯ To make this oath, one must kneel and bow their proud head to the other person. I never thought Sharon could do it. Her personality wouldn¡¯t allow it. She would rather die. To provoke that Sharon. I simply chose the Oath of Obedience as that means. However. Sharon took a step back and knelt. Then she bowed her head. Until her smooth forehead touched the floor. Since Sharon didn¡¯t move far back, it looked like she was bowing right at my feet. Sharon Pierce, crouched and prostrated, looked incredibly small. ¡°Please¡­ give me a chance. My Lord.¡± My Lord? Does she think the Oath of Obedience is like a knight¡¯s oath to a lord? ¡°Since when does an Oath of Obedience have to be done with clothes on?¡± Flinch. Sharon¡¯s shoulders trembled. She spoke, still lying down. ¡°I-I will take them off.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not necessary.¡± I had no intention of making the Oath of Obedience. Who knows what side effects mighte from binding our souls? At my firm words, Sharon hurriedly lifted her face. Was my expression too indifferent? Perhaps this oath was the only hope she found after much deliberation. Sharon raised her head pleadingly. ¡°I may be weak, but I can support you with my swordsmanship. I heard there¡¯s a promotion match. Please, let me be by your side. Just give me one chance¡­ just one.¡± A chance. Sharon would indeed be a valuable asset. Having learned the Snowke Sword, her swordsmanship must have reached a high level. I know her capabilities better than anyone. Even so. It¡¯s toote. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes twisted in pain as I continued. ¡°It looks like there won¡¯t be a ce for you.¡± Her face showed nothing but despair. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Sharon looked up at me with a distressed expression. But only for a moment. Her face soon crumbled like someone who had lost theirst thread of hope. Did she think I would ept the Oath of Obedience? Or did she think I needed her help for the promotion battle? Whatever she thought, Sharon was wrong. Those weren¡¯t urgent matters for me at the moment. The Oath of Obedience has the side effect of being unpredictable during the soul-binding process.It¡¯s the same with Sharon joining the promotion battle party. There¡¯s no telling what side effects her joining might bring. Like reigniting conflicts with Lina, who had previously split from her. Or perhaps shing personalities with Danya or Elena. Sharon Pierce¡¯s skills and talents are undoubtedly excellent. She would surely bolster our party¡¯s melee damage and crisis management, which have been weak points. But we already have the Berserker¡¯s Shield, right? There¡¯s no immediate need to take on the risk that Sharon represents. Therefore, to me, Sharon is a liability. And above all¡ª ¡®I just don¡¯t feel like it.¡¯ I don¡¯t know the exact reason. But I just don¡¯t feel like it. Maybe it¡¯s due to disappointment. The disappointment and emptiness towards a character I admired so much from behind the screen. You might call it disillusionment. Before I knew it, it was curfew time. ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say.¡± I issued an order to leave to Sharon. ¡ô On the day of departure for the promotion battle. We gathered in a southern port city of the continent from early morning. Being told to gather from across the continent in the morning. Even with portals, isn¡¯t that a bit much? Comints were short-lived. ¡°Wow¡ª! It¡¯s so big! I¡¯ve never seen such a big ship before! Come quickly, Ian!¡± Lina smiled brightly and pulled me towards the ship. ¡°If it¡¯s this big, it looks like it could carry all the students of Lichten Academy! Wow. Ian, have you ever seen such a big ship? All we had was a small wooden boat for theke inside our mansion! We had to sell it because we didn¡¯t have money!¡± ¡­ Ake inside your mansion? Are you sure you were poor? There were many things I wanted to retort to the overly excited Lina, but I kept my mouth shut. Tworge ships filled the port. The size itself wasn¡¯t all that surprising. To the eyes of a modern person, they were just a bit smaller than cruise ships. But the point that surprised me was different. And for good reason¡­. ¡°Wow¡ª they¡¯re actually floating!¡± These ships. They fly in the sky. Why did they make them in the shape of ships if they were going to fly in the sky? And why did they float them on the sea in the first ce? I set aside my scientific critique for the moment. Enjoying this scenery took priority. The light blue sky. The deep blue sea. The distant horizon. White clouds drifting between the ships. ¡°Wow. This is pure fantasy.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but exim. ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Lina smiled and pointed at Danya. ¡°Hehe. Danya doesn¡¯t seem scared at all.¡± Danya was precariously hanging on the railing at the edge of the ship. Her pink hair fluttered in the wind. The gently swaying tail indicated that the breeze felt very pleasant. ¡®She looks like a dog with its head out of a car window.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just Danya. The ship carried students from the Magic Department and the Priest Department. They were all enjoying the trip as if they were on a school excursion. Among them, some students were spreading rumors. ¡°They say if you search well on Volta Ind, you can find ancient treasures. I heard someone found a treasure and paid for all their Lichten tuition with it.¡± ¡°Is that so? My family has plenty of money, so I¡¯m not particrly interested, but ancient treasures do pique my academic curiosity. Coincidentally, I also heard a rumor about an ancient magic-inscribed tablet found in a cave¡­¡± Well. The rumors spreading in such an atmosphere were predictable. Treasures buried on the ind. Something scary roaming around. And so on. ¡®Half of it is true.¡¯ To be precise, it¡¯s more ¡®relics¡¯ than ¡®treasures¡¯ and ¡®mysteries¡¯ rather than ¡®ancient knowledge¡¯. The location of the promotion battle, Volta Ind. Here, relics and mysteries rted to ancient times lie dormant. Mysteries such as ¡®body regeneration¡¯ or ¡®overwhelming senses¡¯¡ªspecial abilities. This was one of the reasons the promotion battle was so exciting. There would definitely be an opportunity to secure a relic or mystery at least once. ¡®To do that, we have to survive for a long time.¡¯ Lina, Danya, Elena, and I. Though it¡¯s early in the semester, ourbat power is not low. At that moment. p, p-. Professor Violet pped gracefully, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°All of Mezai. Gather around.¡± In arge room on one side of the ship. At Professor Violet¡¯s feet was a small box. ¡°¡­ What¡¯s that?¡± Someone voiced their curiosity briefly. Professor Violet, having confirmed the students had gathered, waved her fingers. ¡ª Sssssh! Out came small wristbands resembling smart bands. Numbers were inscribed in the center. ¡°These are protective devices you will wear during the promotion battle. The health points have been distributed based on your grades. Students with lower grades need to be especially careful.¡± Nooo-! One student wailed as he looked at his wristband. At a nce, the number [2] was disyed. ¡®With that much, even a stray rock could eliminate him.¡¯ ¡°Of course, they only work on Volta Ind, so there¡¯s no need to start hitting each other on the back of the head here.¡± The student who had been approaching the crying one awkwardly scratched the back of his head. ¡°The rest is as previously exined. Survive as long as possible while eliminating monsters or threats. Bringing the wristband close to a defeated foe will reward you with coins based on their rank. Forming a team to hunt stronger enemies and sharing the coins isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± Violet paused before continuing. ¡°Moreover, you can also acquire coins from other students.¡± The students started to buzz at her words. ¡°If you reduce another cadet¡¯s protective artifact health to ¡®0¡¯, that cadet will be immediately eliminated and protected. Their wristband will drop and be avable for others to pick up. Since ¡®coins¡¯ are stored in the wristband as information, you will acquire all the coins that student had.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The students of Lichten Academy were mostly smart. Everyone present understood that this rule was crucial. It was why the kids¡¯ eyes had be so intense. ¡°I will exin a few more additional rules.¡± Violet waved her hand in the air. Like chalk drawing on a ckboard, a map of the ind appeared in the air. ¡°The ind is about three times the size of the academy grounds. It¡¯s not an exaggeration to call it a small city. Among its features¡­¡± She marked several locations with Xs. ¡°There are bases where you can find food, convenience tools, and weapons necessary for survival. Securing these ces will allow you to survive rtivelyfortably.¡± On the other hand. That¡¯s how much you have to prepare for battles with other students. ¡°During the 7-day promotion battle, solely aiming for survival is not a bad strategy. If you seed in surviving, you will be awarded bonus coins equivalent to the participant average.¡± In other words, surviving alone will get you more than halfway there. However, the promotion battle is not an easy test. As with any deathmatch, there are rules in ce to prevent participants from surviving without fighting. ¡°Once all students are deployed on the ind, an ¡®encroachment¡¯ will begin from the outer regions. If you enter an encroached area, your health will steadily deplete, and if you don¡¯t escape quickly, you will be eliminated.¡± Naturally, this scenario brings to mind battle royale-style FPS games. ¡°In a short while, we will arrive above Volta Ind. You will be transported from the ship to the ind. Your location will be random. However, if you stand near your teammates, you will start in a simr area.¡± Violet concluded her briefing with some final advice. ¡°If an unexpected situation arises, withdraw immediately. It¡¯s only the first semester of your first year. You will have many more opportunities to advance to Aether.¡± It¡¯s not because of your mood that it seems like you¡¯re talking specifically while looking at me, right? The way she seems to be looking directly at me makes it feel like she¡¯s speaking specifically to me. Is that sparkle in her eye a sign of concern? Or is she suggesting I stay another semester with her? ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Thetter thought is quite sobering. I recall the time I was detained in Violet¡¯sb recently. She sat me on the sofa and sat close enough that I couldn¡¯t escape. ¡ª I¡¯ll overlook your unauthorized absences if you do something nice with me. I had to spend an entire hour discussing her research with her that day. ¡°¡­¡± A shiver runs down my spine. I really thought I was going to be devoured! Apologies to Violet, but I need to advance to Aether. Moreover, I must prepare for the uing ¡®Act 3¡¯ of the scenario. Whether the setting will be the Holy Kingdom of Constantine or the Imperial Pce, I don¡¯t know yet¡­ ¡®Wherever it is, I need the title of at a minimum.¡¯ Both ces are highly prestigious. Aether is the minimum requirement to be treated with respect. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Even thinking about it gives me a headache. Have I been coasting too long since the possession? ¡®Honey¡­ I need some honey.¡¯ Volta Ind is the perfect ce to score some honey. Relics. Mysteries. Various rare flora and fauna. And the promotion to Aether. This time, I¡¯m nning to take full advantage of it. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 After the announcement ended, I quickly went up to the deck. The blue sky. The bright blue sea. I wanted to enjoy this view a little longer. As I was savoring the breeze on the deck, cadets from other sses starteding out one by one. ¡®Everyone¡¯s mood has be more serious.¡¯ Now is a good opportunity to observe the state of the students, who arepetitors for survival. ¡°I, Ian¡­! Have you found a team yet?! If not, would you like to join me?¡± For example, acquaintances like this, whom I only recognized in passing.There were many students frantically searching for parties with anxious faces like his. Maybe about half of all the students? At this point, even if you find party members, all the students on this ship are from the Knight and Magic Department students. It would be hard to form a goodbination. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve already found my team.¡± ¡°Ah, ah, really, how did you¡­!¡± He walked away with an extremely shocked expression. Alright. You. If I meet you below deck, it¡¯s a death sentence. ¡­ I thought idly as I looked around the deck. About a quarter of the students were leisurely chatting, as if they had already formed their teams. I need to remember these guys well since they will be my mainpetitors. Especially the one who keeps meeting my eyes. A giant stature. Muscles and a physique that look both fierce and savage. A giant from the Knight Department, Jan Victor. I remember him because he¡¯s a viin with an unusual background as a barbarian hybrid¡­ ¡®This guy makes me uneasy.¡¯ Why does he keep looking at me? I¡¯ll put him on my watch list for now. There were also kids standing idly as if they had given up. These aren¡¯tpetitors but rather a dangerous group. People with nothing to lose are scary by nature. One of them particrly caught my eye. At the edge of the railing. A girl with blue hair fluttering, indistinguishable from the sea. ¡°Wow. Miss Sharon has quite an atmosphere.¡± Someone muttered exactly what I was thinking. She stood alone, nkly staring at the sea below the sky. ¡®Is she going to jump?¡¯ She looked so gloomy that such a thought crossed my mind. ¡°I¡¯m curious about what happened with her, Brother.¡± ¡± Nothing happened, really.¡± I rebuked Elena, who was busy chattering and spreading rumors next to me. Wait a minute. ¡°¡­?¡± Why is this kid here? ¡°Didn¡¯t the Priest Department take a different boat? Why are you here? ¡°Our ship was full, so I came over here! I was looking for Brother Ian, and I finally found you.¡± I see. ¡°I have no friends, Danya is too scary, I have a fear of heights. You are my only hope! I¡¯m scared, so let¡¯s go inside!¡± ¡°Perfect timing. Let¡¯s use this opportunity to discuss a more detailed strategy¡­¡± ¡°B-Brother.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Elena pointed at Sharon. A few students were approaching her. ¡ô Sharon looked down at the sea. Below. The sea swelled as if taking a deep breath. Wouldn¡¯t this vast sea ept someone like her? She wanted to jump into those arms right now. ¡°¡­¡± Sharon covered her face with her hands. She thought about the opportunities she had missed. Ian¡¯s arms had once been as wide as that sea. The one who had turned them into an endlessly firm and cold iron wall was none other than Sharon herself. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A life lived pursuing nothing but her own creed. That creed was wrong. And she had realized what was right. Therefore, she had to move toward that rightness. My mistakes, my arrogance, my atrocities. I have to reflect. ¡°Ah¡­¡± But she couldn¡¯t move forward. She was blocked by a massive wall, repeating the same steps in ce. A deep sigh escaped her. If only you had insulted me. If only you had paid me back for everything I did to you, one by one. If you had trampled and beaten me, saying you couldn¡¯t even stand to look at someone like me. Even that kind of attention would have been less painful. While drowning in despair, a voice reached her. ¡°Hey, Sharon?¡± For a moment, she hoped. It wasn¡¯t Ian¡¯s voice. In hindsight, it was never going to be. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If, if you don¡¯t mind, would you like to join our party? You can take half of the party¡¯s coins.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± She answered coldly as usual. And then she paused. ¡®¡­ This was my problem.¡¯ Not caring about others¡¯ feelings. Living solely for my own satisfaction. Even when Ian looked after me, if I had considered his feelings even a little. I regret everything. Because I pushed away everything Ian offered me. So. I have to change, even now. I have to practice. I must change, if only for the next opportunity that mighte. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± An apology slipped from Sharon¡¯s lips. The group that had approached her was startled. The stern and proud Sharon is apologizing? ¡°N-no¡­! It¡¯s okay! We¡¯ll find someone else. See you!¡± Even as they moved away from Sharon, the group couldn¡¯t hide their shock. ¡°Did Sharon just apologize?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. The cold, ice-like Sharon actually apologized. It¡¯s like ice melting!¡± ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s not as stuck-up anymore. Did something happen?¡± The group shuddered as they looked at each other. ¡°If Sharon has changed, just how immense must that incident have been¡­¡± Meanwhile. Their gossip didn¡¯t reach Sharon¡¯s ears. Even if it did, she ignored it. Ian. If I can find even a needle hole in that massive iron wall, I can endure any gossip and insults within the Academy. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a good thing.¡± Even if she was being criticized, the Academy was the only structure that still connected Ian and Sharon. After all, hadn¡¯t they participated in the same promotion event? A distant ind began toe into view. It looked more like a small continent than an ind. ¡®I heard there are incredible things roaming inside.¡¯ She recalled the professor¡¯s exnation. There would certainly be enemies difficult for the cadets to handle. If that¡¯s the case¡­ it was an opportunity. An opportunity to be of some help to Ian. Sharon looked down at her physical strength. Due to her unauthorized absences from sses, her stamina was pitifully low, barely a quarter of the others. Nevertheless, Sharon clenched her fists tightly. ¡°¡­¡± Thest practical activity of this semester. There would be no other opportunity to be of use to him like this promotion match. ¡°I will help, even if it costs me my life.¡± Looking at the ind, Sharon vowed with a determined voice. ¡ô ¡°Everyone, gather around.¡± In a small storage room below the deck, my party members huddled together at mymand. ¡°You all heard that the starting locations will be random, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! How are we going to meet up?¡± Danya eximed, clearly curious. Why do I find that question so reassuring? Lately, I¡¯ve realized that Danya is the voice of reason in this party. Take Lina, for instance¡ªshe¡¯s smiling at me as if to say, ¡°I¡¯ll just do whatever you say!¡± And Elena is staring nkly with a ¡°Hehe¡± expression, probably imagining food given the drool on her face. Anyway. ¡°Thanks for the good question, Danya.¡± ¡°Hmph. It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Everyone, take a look at this.¡± I pulled a map out of my pocket. A map of the ind that I had drawn myself. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°A map.¡± ¡°¡­ A map? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a map of Volta Ind¡­?¡± Danya looked at me with a puzzled expression. ¡®¡­ As expected.¡¯ Honestly, I had debated whether or not to show this to my teammates. ¡®I¡¯ve been revealing too much future information.¡¯ Like during the recent dungeon raid, I could feel the growing curiosity about how I knew all these things. For a while, they responded with: ¨C Wow, Ian, you¡¯re amazing. ¨C How do you know this?! ¨C Truly impressive, Brother. Buttely, it had changed to. ¨C Do you know this too? ¨C Ian¡­ are you a fortune-teller? ¨C Brother, when will the era of tomatoese? It was changing to this kind of reaction. In other words, they were starting to question the source of my information. Of course, we trusted each other as teammates, but I couldn¡¯t exactly tell them, ¡°I¡¯m a transmigrator!¡± I showed the map after the professors¡¯ announcement to avoid suspicion. If asked, I nned to say I drew it based on the exnation. Sure enough, Danya narrowed her eyes at me while examining the map. Go ahead, ask anything. I¡¯m ready to answer. Her mouth opened slowly. ¡°This is¡­ a map?¡± Elena chimed in from the side. ¡°No way! It looks like the stained ss windows in a big church! It¡¯s abstract art!¡± Lina finished it off. ¡°Pfft! Ian, you¡¯re not very good at drawing, huh?¡± ¡­ These guys! Then don¡¯t look! Danya grabbed my hand as I hurriedly tried to put the map away. ¡°S-sorry. I mean, doodle. No, map¡­ Pfft! Please take it out again. I won¡¯t make fun of it anymore.¡± ¡°Almighty Deus, please help me ovee this trial.¡± ¡°Yeah, Ian! We¡¯ll try hard. Iughed it all out, so it¡¯s not funny anymore. I¡¯ll hold it¡­ back¡­ Hi-hic!¡± Ah, the humiliation. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt such direct ridicule. Fine, I¡¯ll endure it this once. I picked up my pen and circled a spot on the edge of the map. ¡°We¡¯ll gather at the outer edge.¡± ¡°¡­ The outer edge? Instead of heading inward? Are you giving up on the base the professor mentioned?¡± Danya tilted her head. ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve already prepared well. There¡¯s no need topete with others for food or sleeping spots.¡± The students were allowed one backpack each. We had meticulously prepared essentials like food and capsule tents. ¡°We¡¯ll secure coins quickly. We¡¯ll gather at the outer edge and immediately target a monster.¡± ¡°A monster?¡± ¡°Yes. From the map Violet showed, there are rock formations that look like unusual animals. There¡¯s bound to be something there. Plus, they¡¯rerge and distinct enough that it will be easy for us to meet there.¡± Everyone nodded, somewhat convinced. However, Danya and Lina exchanged nces and subtly signaled to Elena. Elena, shaking her head, reluctantly raised her hand. ¡°Um, Brother, what kind of animal shape did you mark on the map? A big, s-squirrel?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a crocodile-shaped rock.¡± A moment of silence. The silence was broken by Lina. ¡°Pfft¡­ A crocodile!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a cute crocodile! Haha!¡± Seriously! ¡ô After themotion settled, a magically amplified voice echoed throughout the ship. ¡ª The ship has arrived above the ind. Everyone, stand on the magic circles on the deck. Each magic circle had a number. Those with the same number would be transported to the same area. I led the party to the numbers corresponding to the area near the ¡®crocodile-shaped rock.¡¯ The party members stood in a row on the magic circles, still giggling about the ¡®crocodile.¡¯ Elena, who had beenughing, trembled as she stood on her perfectly square magic circle. ¡°We¡¯re not really going to drop, are we, Brother?¡± She has a fear of heights, doesn¡¯t she? ¡°Just go stand properly and wait, Elena.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡ª Random teleportation will begin. Brace yourselves for impact! Just then, the ground under Elena¡¯s feet lit up. Perhaps sensing the impending drop, Elena looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. Even if she looks at me like that, there¡¯s nothing I can do? ¡°You might feel like you¡¯re falling, but don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just like teleporting.¡± ¡°R-really falling?¡± ¡°Look down.¡± Following my gesture, Elena looked at the ground beneath her. The square tile she stood on was glowing. Right on cue. ¡ª Thud! The ground under Elena¡¯s feet literally vanished. ¡°Kyahhhhh¡ª!¡± Elena disappeared below, screaming. It¡¯s just a feeling, but she¡¯ll be fine. Still, seeing that makes me feel better. Maybe I¡¯m not a saint after all. One by one, the students vanished from sight. It was the beginning of the promotion battle. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡ª Woooong! A ringing sound filled Ian¡¯s head, as if his mind had been flipped upside down. The dizziness was akin to passing through a portal¡ªa typical side effect of teleportation magic. Ian¡¯s senses began to awaken one by one. The first to return was his sense of smell. He could detect the scent of water and moss, trees, and damp earth. As his other senses recovered, the surroundingndscape came into focus. ¡°¡­.¡± The whole world was green. In front of him, an abundance of grasses and various nts stretched out.Looking up, he saw leaves filling the sky. Lowering his gaze, the soft and rich soil gently supported his weight. Tall trees rustled as birds fluttered and chirped. Chirp chirp chirp¡ª ¡°Hmm¡ª¡± Unconsciously, Ian took a deep breath. It was perfect nature. Ian was not someone naturally inclined to be captivated by nature. However. ¡°The mana of the earth is responding.¡± The Earth Element mana attuned to nature lifted Ian¡¯s spirits. The mana of the earth element coursing through his body, as if it had returned home, jumped with joy and raced within him. His pants suddenly tightened. ¡°What is going on?¡± Ian sat cross-legged on the ground. It seemed necessary to calm the mana once. ¡®¡­ Am I going crazy?¡¯ The eerie and frightening feeling toward himself. Of course, Ian wasn¡¯t some nature-obsessed freak. It was just that the lively mana flow had also affected his body. The feeling of abundant mana was excellent, but if he wasn¡¯t careful, it could go out of control and rampage. Ian quickly calmed the mana through Dantian breathing. Finally, the mana that had been rampaging inside him gathered in his Dantian. The earth element mana, always prioritizing purity, now collected anew. Looking at it again, he saw it was about the amount of arge bottled water. ¡°¡­ I might be able to gather more here.¡± Is this the taste of Mother Nature? Smiling, Ian stood up and looked around. In the distance, a crocodile-shaped rock. Though it was called a crocodile, it resembled an Eastern dragon. Its official name in the game was ¡°Dragon Rock.¡± Its location and strategies were well-embedded in Ian¡¯s mind. It was one of the few ces in Pantax Academy where mysteries slumbered. ¡°¡­ Quite far.¡± The distance was greater than he thought. It seemed he hadnded on the outskirts of the designated area. Ian hurried his steps. ¡ª Kkeeng! Hunting animals and monsters along the way that could serve as food. In the early days of his possession, when money was tight, he often hunted for protein sources, so it was not difficult. Moreover, being an earth element awakener. To Ian, this ce was like a home for his talents. ¡ô Ian, who adapted wonderfully to nature. In contrast, the other students were in a dire state. ¡°Kyahhh-! A hairy insect!!¡± Some students screamed at the sight of caterpir-like bugs. ¡°I thought it would be a resort ind¡­ Is there really such a filthy ind in the world?¡± ¡°Wait, I just want to sit down. This tree looks rtively clean¡­ What is this! Some strange sap on my clothes¡­!¡± Many struggled to adapt to the wild ind. The reason was simple. Most of the students at Lichten Academy were the children of high-ranking nobles or bourgeoisie. For those who lived in the capital or major cities of the empire, the sudden experience of ¡°real nature¡± was not easy to handle. Of course, the Academy exposed students to various experiences through duels and practical training. Those who embraced these experiences with an open mind managed to adapt more flexibly. ¡°Kyahhhh! A bug!¡± For those sheltered in greenhouses, it was nothing short of hell. Meanwhile, behind arge tree. Elena watched the flustered students and burst intoughter. ¡°Hehe. Everyone seems more scared than I expected.¡± Elena was a priestess of the Numina sect. She had no money. This meant she was close to nature. ¡ª Crunch! Biting into a handful of wild fruit she had picked, Elena looked around. ¡°I need to get to a higher ce.¡± Due to her short stature, her view was obstructed. Despite this, Elena moved while hiding her body. There were many students where she had fallen. Venturing out into the open could expose her to attacks. ¡°¡­ Is it over there?¡± Sure enough, it was a rock shaped like a crocodile. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t seem too far. About a 30-minute walk if she hurried? Elena pulled out a long-sleeved shirt and long pants from her backpack, put them on, and quickly moved through the bushes. In the meantime. ¡ª ¡­ Stop right there. Hand over what you¡¯ve got. Voices murmured beyond the trees in an open area. ¡°¡­ What¡¯s this?¡± Elena carefully peeked towards the open area from behind a tree. Three male students were surrounding a female student. ¡®¡­ Those brutes!¡¯ Fundamentally a kind priestess, Elena was enraged. She was scared to go out and help, though. But wait a minute. Isn¡¯t that Sharon Pierce? While Elena stood on tiptoe, the conflict was intensifying. ¡°¡­ Why are you blocking my way?¡± One of the boys mocked Sharon¡¯s murmur. ¡°Why are we blocking your way? Tsk Tsk.¡± ¡°Does this girl still think she¡¯s something special?¡± Two of the boysughed mockingly. One of them, looking a bit uneasy, tried to stop them. ¡°Tsk. No matter what, she¡¯s the strongest in the Swordsmanship club. Maybe we should let her go.¡± ¡°This coward.¡± ¡°Coward? I¡¯m just being strategic.¡± ¡°Hey. Didn¡¯t you see her at the Grade Assessment? She¡¯s just a toothless tiger now.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t look well either. We need to gather some coins while we can. How can you call yourself top rank in the Reconnaissance Department with this attitude?¡± Sharon attempted to pass by them expressionlessly. At that moment. ¡°Hey. Are you just going to walk past us like you didn¡¯t see anything?¡± ¡°As the rumors say, she must take after her father, the funny girl.¡± Information rted to the authority of the empire is controlled. The news that the Northern Grand Duke was associated with the Bloodstone Cult was a prime example. It was merely a rumor. Of course, even mentioning such a rumor was a severe insult. Twitch. Sharon¡¯s brow moved slightly. But it wasn¡¯t because of the insult to herself. She couldn¡¯t tolerate the dy. She had to move quickly. To help him. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry. Move aside.¡± ¡°Acting tough with so little stamina.¡± The male studentsughed at Sharon¡¯s words. Normally, her character would have already drawn her sword. However, despite her frustration, Sharon gritted her teeth and spoke again. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my strength here. Move aside. I don¡¯t wish to make more enemies.¡± Constant despair and pain. Sharon continued to step forward despite it all. She had to improve. ording to his standards. However. ¡°Wow, Sharon, your spirit¡¯s pretty low, huh? Seems like it¡¯s true. Creepy, huh? Hehe.¡± To others, she only appeared weakened. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she look a bit cute like this? Like we¡¯ve broken the tough girl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy. You should just get expelled.¡± ¡°What, am I supposed to do something? Just saying. Hehe.¡± The incessant insults. Yet, Sharon eventually drew her sword for a different reason. ¡°I guess the rumor about something going on with that weakling is true.¡± ¡°Oh, Ian ckangers? Seems like they stick to their own kind.¡± ¡°I heard Victor would give something if he catches that guy. It¡¯s about time to recover those coins and go after him¡­¡± ¡ª Fwoosh! The blood of the three men spilled. The scent of blood was not excessive. Their bracelets were activated. [ Student Agelon eliminated! Emergency protection system activated. ] [ Student Anyev eliminated! Emergency protection system activated. ] [ Student Dave eliminated! Emergency protection system activated. ] Red light pirs erupted above the fallen students. Theyy on the ground, appearing lifeless. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Elena, who had been watching the scene, let out an involuntary exmation. ¡°¡­ Eek!¡± She quickly covered her mouth. Sharon slowly turned her gaze towards Elena¡¯s direction. Beyond the expressionless face, her eyes were cold and lifeless. A few drops of blood sttered on her white cheeks. ¡°Eek!¡± Elena fled without looking back. ¡ô Meanwhile, at the edge of the ind, two massive ships were anchored. On one of them, all the professors supervising the students had gathered. This was the so-called central control room for monitoring the promotion battles. Through numerous crystal spheres and screens, the students¡¯ images were projected. And at the top, summarized figures disyed. [ 1931 / 1987 ] ¡°Less than ten minutes in, and already over forty have been eliminated.¡± A professor muttered, while another, dressing in frustration, grumbled. ¡°Three eliminated at once. Idiots!¡± It was also the role of the supervising professors to handle the eliminated students. Although they used a rotation system among themselves to manage things flexibly, it was inevitable that dealing with the eliminated students became more bothersome. Of course, the chief professors responsible for each major, known as ¡°year heads¡±, were an exception to this annoyance. The role of the year heads was to grasp the overall flow of the students. ¡°Indeed, Emilia Raymond of the Aether ss is taking the lead. It¡¯s overwhelming.¡± Among them, the most perceptive, Professor Rowen from the Reconnaissance Department, murmured. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Professor Rowen¡¯s head turned with a creak at the words of another professor. Purple hair. A noticeable upper body volume. That was none other than Professor Violet, who had recently been promoted to head of the Magic Department. As Professor Rowen mentioned, Emilia Raymond and her group were busy moving. As expected of the Aether ss. It seems they¡¯re quite adept at strategy, befitting the children of the elite merchant guild. The head of the Aether ss smiled slightly at the activities of their students. ¡°The teamposition is excellent, isn¡¯t it? Three from the Aether ss and even the runner-up from the Knight Department, Hector. Student Hector is highly coveted even among us in Aether, so we have high hopes.¡± ¡®Greedy woman.¡¯No matter who it is, she takes all the good students for Aether, and now she¡¯s talking about expectations. Violet muttered to herself. Though she nodded out of courtesy. It was true. Emilia Raymond¡¯s teamposition seemed excellent at first nce. Warrior, scout, priest, mage. Except for the warrior, all were from the Aether ss. All proven talents. Moreover, their grades were top-tier, with overwhelming stamina. No matter what anyone said, the team with the highest probability of winning was theirs. Professor Rowen drew their route on the map and added. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re nning to secure the supply base at [Rock Tower] first. A good choice. It¡¯s not only a supply point but also a mandatory pass to the center of the ind. If someone asked me to choose the most important spot in the early to mid stages, I would choose that ce.¡± Meanwhile. There was another noticeable party. ¡°Saint candidate Aria¡¯s party from the Priest Department is also noteworthy. Except for the saint candidate, the entire team consists of priests from the Aether ss. It¡¯s a bit of a biasedposition, isn¡¯t it?¡± At someone¡¯s remark, the head of the Priest Departmentughed heartily. ¡°Haha. How can we stop the students¡¯ faith?¡± ¡°Well, Student Aria¡¯s abilities are certainly notcking. I¡¯ve heard she recently had another revtion?¡± ¡°Haha. Rumors do spread quickly.¡± The head of the Priest Department nodded kindly. ¡°As expected¡­ They seem to be moving ahead of Emilia¡¯s party. Are they nning to start directly at the center? Perhaps they¡¯ve noticed Emilia¡¯s strategy. Indeed, the top ranks tend to consolidate rather thanpete¡­¡± From that conversation, discussions among the department heads about the top students began. Amelia¡¯s party. Aria¡¯s party. Partiesposed entirely of Aether students. Partiesposed of top ranks from each ss excluding Aether. The start is half the battle. Groups showing excellent performance from the beginning were likely to be promoted to Aether or maintain their position if they were already in Aether. It was natural for the professors¡¯ attention to be drawn. However. Professor Violet was observing other students alone. While everyone else was heading to the center, a few were heading to the outskirts alone. Violet tapped her lips anxiously. At Violet¡¯s unusual behavior, the head of the Knight Department next to her asked. ¡°Why are they heading backward?¡± It wasn¡¯t a voice of concern. Rather, it carried a strange smile. The rtionship between the Magic Department and the Knight Department was far from good. The heads often bickered, trying to pick on each other. The sight of three students from the Magic Department moving backward brought a sneer to his face. ¡°Ah, they¡¯re really going backward. Did they misunderstand that the destion starts from the outskirts? Sometimes there are such foolish ones.¡± ¡°¡­They are not foolish.¡± Violet unintentionally snapped back. This means losing. Violet closed her eyes tightly. ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m sorry if you¡¯re upset. It seems those students are cherished by Professor Violet.¡± First scratching the person and then apologizing. And knowing he¡¯s not one to apologize sincerely. As expected. ¡°Still, at this rate, they won¡¯t make it in time for the destion. Unless they learn to levitate and fly back.¡± Violet remained silent. The strategy of staying silent when at a disadvantage. Mages must know how to wait. Of course, Professor Engelgard from the Knight Department, who had seized the opportunity to mock the proud mage, wouldn¡¯t remain silent. ¡°I look forward to seeing how many from the Magic Department will make it this time. At least three from the Knight Department will surely make it¡­ As for the students from the Magic Department¡­¡± Hmm. The man who took his time solely to provoke continued. ¡°I suppose you need to teach them how to read a map first.¡± Pfft. With a sneering exhale, Engelgard from the Knight Department turned away. A vein slightly bulged on Violet¡¯s fair forehead. ¡®Ian must have a n. Bald old man.¡¯ She muttered softly to herself and turned her gaze to the screen. ¡ô ¡°Do you see them?¡± ¡°Just a moment¡­ Yes! Everyone¡¯sing!¡± On the outskirts of the ind, in front of a dragon-shaped rock, under arge tree. Danya, who was observing from above, shouted. Ian let out a sigh of relief. ¡®¡­ Somehow, everyone managed to gather.¡¯ This beginning moment was the most worrisome. The promotion battle¡¯s start is crucial, with numerous variables concentrated at the starting point. One could be summoned to a ce with monsters and get attacked. Even if teams were formed, they could be picked off one by one before meeting up. Once near this area, there was no worry of encountering other cadets, so it was as if everyone had gathered. ¡°Danya, you cane down now.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Ian offered his shoulder to Danya, who was hanging from a branch. It was precarious. ¡ª Whoosh! ¡°Come down slowly. Even a monkey¡­ no, a cat can fall from a tree.¡± ¡°Hmph. What do you think I am? When I was little, I even slept in trees.¡± It¡¯s Danya hanging from a branch above Ian¡¯s head. Danya, hanging from a branch above Ian¡¯s head, needed to step on his shoulder to get down. The height was such that she had to hang from the branch like on a horizontal bar to barely reach Ian¡¯s shoulder. Danya confidently extended her white, soft foot onto Ian¡¯s shoulder and continued speaking. ¡°As a member of the great Catsnesia tribe¡­ Kyaaah!¡± Slip! Danya¡¯s hand slipped from the branch. As a result, she slipped off Ian¡¯s shoulder. Her legs slid toward Ian¡¯s chest, and to bnce, she grabbed Ian¡¯s head with her upper body. Danya ended up sitting on Ian¡¯s shoulders, almost like riding a horse. ¡°¡­!¡± Ian lightly adjusted his bnce. It was somewhat expected. He was wary of the cat¡¯s overconfidence and arrogance. Meanwhile, Danya. ¡°Ugh-!¡± Let out a scream of surprise, mixed with a hint of sweetness. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ian raised his head. At that moment. ¡°Nyah! Ah, no¡­!¡± ¡°¡­ Danya?¡± ¡°Nooo! Don¡¯t look up!¡± Feeling the softness on his neck for a moment. Ian quickly but carefully sat down on the ground. Danya¡¯s face was flushed red. She couldn¡¯t support her legs and slumped to the ground. Why is she like this? Does she have a fever? Ian asked her. ¡°Did a bug bite you from above? Are you okay? Did I lower you too quickly?¡± ¡°N-no, it¡¯s not your fault¡­ I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing? You look really hot right now. Are you sure you don¡¯t have a fever?¡± ¡°Ha¡­ No.¡± Danya, with half-closed eyes, exhaled heavily. Ian reached out to touch her forehead. At that moment. ¡°Ian!¡­ Oh? Wait!!! Don¡¯t touch her!¡± Thud thud thud! Lina came running from afar and hugged Danya. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her. Are you okay, Danya? He didn¡¯t touch you, did he?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yeah.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t grasp the situation. But he felt hurt. It felt as though he was being treated like a virus. Ian¡¯s expression usually doesn¡¯t show much. But Lina, who always watched him, could tell. Right now, Ian was looking quite dejected. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s not that¡­ I can¡¯t exin it, but anyway! You shouldn¡¯t touch Danya for a while. It¡¯s something¡­ we can¡¯t really talk about with men¡­! Anyway, I¡¯m sorry!¡± Swish. Lina, who had turned away from Danya, whispered. ¡®Are you in heat?¡¯ All beastkin have a period known as ¡°heat¡±,monly referred to as mating season. ¡®Yes. I think so¡­Nyah.¡¯ ¡®Didn¡¯t you say you had about a month left?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s strange since we arrived on this ind¡­¡¯ The duration, cycle, and intensity of heat day vary by species. For felines, it typically urs every two months for about five days. ¡®But we still have a week until the advancement test. Will you be okay?¡¯ The solution to heat is simple. Either suppress the instincts with superhuman patience. Or make efforts to satisfy those instincts. Danya had a strong control over her instincts. She had never felt difort from heat before. But now it was different. The cause was right nearby. ¡ª Sniff sniff! Danya instinctively searched for Ian¡¯s scent and hurriedly covered her nose. ¡®I¡­ I can hold on. I can¡¯t be a burden to the team¡­¡¯ In fact, while in heat, beastkin be stronger. Their physical abilities increase and their senses be more acute. This is to bond with a desired mate. It¡¯s simr to constantly being on natural adrenaline. The problemes after bonding. Once the desire is satisfied, the entire body besnguid. They have to cope with the effects of the enhanced physical state. ¡®Then I¡¯ll manage it well. What should I do?¡¯ ¡®If we don¡¯t touch, I think I can endure¡­Nyah.¡¯ While Lina and Danya whispered to each other. Ian deliberately stood a little farther away. It was a delicate matter involving women, so it was difficult to intervene. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal.¡± The destion was about to begin. Of course, there was no need to rush. Even if destion approached, it wasn¡¯t too frightening. This was the ind¡¯s outermost edge. But at the same time, it was a ce with a path to the ind¡¯s center faster than anyone else. By the way. Where was Elena? She should be arriving soon. ¡°Hey, Brother!¡± Speaking of the devil. From a distance. Elena, running at full speed, came into view. Why is she in such a hurry? Is she being chased? By monsters? There shouldn¡¯t be any around here. The target to be captured was like a boss of this area, so the regr monsters should be cleared out. No¡­ wait a minute. Does that mean there¡¯s a monster stronger than the one he was after? Swallow. Ian swallowed hard and assumed abat stance. ¡°Haah¡­ ah! Heg¡­!¡± Upon arriving, Elena ced her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Then she stretched both hands toward the sky. ¡°I¡¯m in first ce!¡± Ian gave Elena¡¯s broad forehead a light tap. ¡ª Smack! The crisp sound echoed through the forest. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Holding her reddened forehead, Elena shouted. ¡°Why did you hit me?¡± ¡°Sorry. Your forehead just looked too tempting. I did it without thinking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much!¡± Elena pouted her lips. Ian looked beyond her. As expected, no monsters were following. ¡°Why did you run?¡± ¡°Of course, toe in first¡­¡±¡°How can youe in first when I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°Brother, you are like the High Priest! You are an exception in the rankings. Haha. This means I also beat Danya and Sister Lina to be second¡­¡± Elena chuckled. Until Lina and Danya, who were out of her sight, stood up. ¡°Elena, you¡¯re here?¡± Seeing them, Elena despaired. ¡°No way¡­ Am Ist? I definitely ran hard.¡± Danya was practically born in the forest. Lina had learned the forest to survive. They were unmatched talents from the start. Ian pushed Elena¡¯s drooping back. ¡°Anyway, you made it. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ian led the group towards the base of Dragon Rock. At a nce, Danya seemed normal. Could Lina have some healing abilities? Except for avoiding eye contact, Danya was back to her energetic self. Then, Danya suddenly twitched her nose. ¡°¡­I smell something strange.¡± Danya pointed to a spot. It was a huge entrance at the base of Dragon Rock. The closer they got to the entrance, the stronger the smell became. The source of the smell was the stench of blood. They reached the cave entrance. Did a massive monster pass through here? The entrance was wide and spiral, leading underground, like the entrance to a huge underground parking lot. ¡°It looks like even a house could fit in here¡­¡± Danya¡¯s muttering increased the group¡¯s fear. While Danya, Elena, and Lina hesitated for a moment, Ian boldly followed the entrance into the cave. Then he squatted to the side. Long grassesy before Ian. He plucked a leaf from the pile. Then he rolled it up. ¡°What are you doing, Brother?¡± Elena, who had cautiously followed, asked. ¡°I¡¯ll show you. I need fire¡­¡± ¡°Eek. Are you going to smoke? Or is it some strange leaf that makes you feel good?! Maybe my suspicion that Brother isn¡¯t quite normal was right¡­!¡± Thud. While Elena clutched her forehead after being flicked. ¡°Lina, can you light this?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Okay!¡± ¡°Just a little, like lighting a cigarette.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ sm-smoke.¡± ¡°Sorry. Like lighting a candle.¡± ¡°Got it. Ifrit, can you help?¡± A small me emerged from Lina¡¯s fingertip. Ian brought the leaf to the me. ¨C Whoosh! He threw it forward. ¡°Everyone, step back a bit.¡± Before he even finished speaking, ¡ª Crackle, crackle, crackle! The leaf burned with an incredible crackling sound. The air was filled with straight lines of mes. They left long, straight marks as if cutting through space. After the mes disappeared. The ground was etched with numerous deep, long ¡®1¡¯ marks. Among the bewildered children, Lina spoke up. ¡°W-What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Scorching Grass. When it reacts with fire, it burns in long, tearing lines, creating a special effect.¡± Scorching Grass. In the game, lighting this would give an effect simr to shing with a sword. A very useful nt for dealing with bosses from a distance. Its presence at the cave entrance was simple. It meant you needed it to attack the monsters inside. ¡°Danya. Can you attach this to an arrow and shoot it?¡± As Ian roughly handed the Scorching Grass to Danya. ¡°Eek!¡± Danya recoiled in fear, avoiding Ian¡¯s hand. Then, she brought her hands together and very carefully received the leaf. ¡®What¡¯s with her?¡¯ Ian narrowed his eyes. Blushing and avoiding his gaze, Danya summoned her magical bow. ¡°I-I can attach the leaf to an arrow and shoot it.¡± As she said, the leaf attached to the arrow flew stably and hit its mark. Seeing this, Lina pped her hands together with a snap. ¡°Then I can light it on fire afterward, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ian smiled with satisfaction. Now they understand each other perfectly with just a look. The kids were growing step by step every time he took them along. Unlike in a game where progress was shown with exact numbers, these moments felt much more valuable. This is why nurturing promising talents is so rewarding. He wanted to pat their heads, but he decided to save that forter. Just then. ¡°Brother! Behind you!¡± A massive ck shroud was approaching them. It signaled the start of the real destion. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry inside.¡± ¡ô The cave was dark and damp. They walked for a while, following Lina¡¯s softly glowing me magic. ¡°W-Wait. Everyone, stop.¡± The sound of four pairs of footsteps abruptly halted. Drip, drop. Only the sound of water droplets could be heard in the eerie silence. Within that, the cave began to tremble. ¡ª Thud ¡ª Thump The sound grew louder and more frequent. ¡ª Thud! ¡ª Thump! The approaching sound suddenly stopped. Elena¡¯s face turned pale. Danya and Lina scanned their surroundings with tense expressions. ¡ª Ssssst! A chilling hiss, like a snake flicking its tongue, echoed. And the trembling began again. Rumble, Rumble. The cave shook violently, and dust rained down from the ceiling. Finally¡­ A giant creature emerged amidst the rough vibrations shaking everything. Everyone froze, observing its overwhelming form. A monster with the head of a snake and the body of a Komodo dragon. Its ck skin was covered in slick, sticky scales. A forked tongue flickered out. Its bright yellow eyes gleamed. The creature¡¯s presence was as imposing as that of a dragon. Ian knew what it was. ¡®A Grade 4 Danger Species, Gergos.¡¯ A Grade 4 Danger Species meant a monster capable of threatening an entire medium-sized city just by its appearance. In other words, a named monster. Sssss! It made an unpleasant sound as it flicked its tongue. Its long, slitted yellow eyes scanned the surroundings. Only then did small cries of fear escape. ¡°I¡­ Ian.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Oh, dear god.¡± The children, frozen in fear, clutched their weapons and trembled. It was understandable to be scared. ¡°Everyone, get a grip and get ready!¡± Ian snapped them out of it. ¡ô Meanwhile. On the surface, dusk was beginning to settle. Six hours had passed since the promotion battle began. Even though they were students raised infort, they were, after all, students of the prestigious Lichten Academy. They were gradually adapting to the wilderness. Those without teams had soon formed parties, and everyone was moving for survival. Their destination was the center of the ind. They could see the enormous shroud of destion creeping from the ind¡¯s outskirts. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry!¡± But the shroud wasn¡¯t the only problem. As time passed, hunger grew more intense. Most of the kids had packed emergency rations, but it was only enough for a day. As hunger set in, the problem of securing food became apparent. While hunting animals was not an issue, processing them afterward was. For these students, hunting was merely a hobby. They didn¡¯t know how to prepare their catches for consumption. ¡°How do we even clean this?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ the innards are gross¡­¡± Parties that included students frommoner or hunter backgrounds were better off. However, their numbers were quite few. Even if they were fortunate enough to have such members, ¡°¡­No matter what, it¡¯s heartbreaking to eat such a cute rabbit.¡± Many students still had psychological barriers. Eventually. Everyone¡¯s attention turned to one ce. [Supply Base] It was the location the professors had pointed out on the map before the promotion battle began. ¡°They said we could find food there.¡± ¡°And a ce to sleep. It¡¯ll get cold at night.¡± A convenient ce to solve both food and shelter needs. The only base along the route to the center was the ¡®Rock Base¡¯. Knowing thepetition could be dangerous, the kids started flocking there. ¡°Stop.¡± A giant over two meters tall. Bare-chested, with no regard for others¡¯ stares. His massive muscles exposed. Victor Jan, the runner-up of the Knight Department. A descendant of barbarians. His already fearsome reputation was enhanced by his deep, intimidating voice. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°To pass, you need to pay one coin each.¡± ¡°A coin to pass?¡± ¡°Got a problem with that?¡± Crack. Victor Jan¡¯s threatening demeanor made the students quickly summon a coin from their bracelets and hand it over. The coins were absorbed into Victor Jan¡¯s bracelet. ¡°Move along.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you.¡± Blocking the path to the base. Collecting tolls. Just enough so the students wouldn¡¯t revolt. Victor and his party had collected over 2,000 coins this way. ¡°Victory is assured. But it¡¯s boring.¡± Victor frowned and looked back, asking. ¡°When on earth is Ianing, Emilia?¡± At Victor¡¯s question, Emilia, hidden in the shadows, revealed herself. ¡°Just wait a little longer. To reach the center of the ind, this is the only path.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Saaaa¡ª The Gergos scanned the surroundings once more. Lina, Danya, and Elena were frozen in ce, trembling and unable to move. A Grade 4 Danger Species The fear ingrained in human instincts affected everyone. ¡®Damn. I didn¡¯t expect it to have the [Fear] effect!¡¯ The passive skill ¡®Fear¡¯ is present in somerge-scale threats. ¡®Fear¡¯ is a debuff skill that can slow down orpletely immobilize targets of rtively lower levels. No matter how much experience Lina or Danya had, it was nearly impossible for them to escape the ¡®Fear¡¯ of a Grade 4.Three out of the four party members werepletely immobilized. ¡®¡­ Wait. Why am I okay?¡¯ Ian quickly deduced a simple conclusion amidst his brief contemtion. Killing Richard Pierce. In this game, when you kill a higher-ranking entity, your rank follows suit. In other words, Ian¡¯s current rank was no different from Richard Pierce¡¯s. Even so, being the only one able to move was not a good situation. ¡®¡­ I let my guard down.¡¯ It finally came to him. In Fanta X Aca, there was an early strategy where you hunt weaker yet higher-ranked enemies to level the heroines. Ian bit his lip. To be caught in such a crisis due to his own foolishness. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that there was no way out. ¡®If I can just hold them.¡¯ He could break the fear state. All he could do was hope that the creature wouldn¡¯t attack in the meantime. Ian took a step towards Danya, who was the closest. ¡ô A gigantic size that couldn¡¯t be taken in at a nce. The rough vibrations felt from the floor due to its immense weight. The moment she recognized the presence in front of her. Danya waspletely frozen in ce. ¡®¡­ My body, my body won¡¯t move¡­ Nyah.¡¯ Due to being in heat, her highly sensitive senses were fully absorbing the ¡®Fear¡¯ emanating from the Grade 4 threat, Gergos. The scariest part was its breathing. With every inhale, it seemed to be checking the state of its prey by sucking in the air of this vast space. When it exhaled, the entire cave responded and vibrated. The breath of aplete predator. ¡®Somehow¡­ I have to get away.¡¯ Her instincts were screaming. She barely managed to hold onto her mind, which was about to bepletely blocked out. And she put all her effort into taking a step. Of course, she couldn¡¯t move at all. She was just preparing her mind to ept the gradually encroaching fear. She was going to be eaten. That thought alone filled her mind. At that moment. ¡ª Step The sound of footsteps echoed in the cave. Compared to the monster in front of her, it was an incredibly light sound. But. To Danya, those footsteps felt heavier than anything. Her gaze naturally turned towards him. Ian was moving. As if this was nothing, he was walking towards her. Against the backdrop of the gigantic monster, Ian¡¯s gradually approaching figure¡­ It was like the arrival of a savior. The ck fear lifted. A corner of her heart stirred. He stopped just a step in front of Danya. Ian¡¯s deep ck eyes met hers. For a moment, she felt as if she was being drawn into them. ¡°No other choice. Just hold on a bit.¡± With Ian¡¯s words, Danya¡¯s vision went dark. ¡°¡­!¡± She realized she was being hugged when her face touched his solid chest. Snug. She could feel Ian¡¯s strong arm over her back. The air around her filled with Ian¡¯s scent. The happiness that enveloped Danya was enough to make her legs give out. ¡ª Sway She naturally broke free from the ¡®Fear¡¯ state. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Then go hug Lina. I¡¯ll wake Elena.¡± Ian chuckled lightly as he approached Elena. Unconsciously, Danya almost reached out to him. ¡®¡­ Don¡¯t go.¡¯ She wanted to hold him a little longer. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. Her hands were sweating with excitement. She wanted to cling to Ian right then. She wanted to embrace him and satisfy her desires. But Danya clenched her fists tightly. ¡®I¡¯m not an animal.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t so out of control that she would lose herself to lust in any situation. Even in a state of arousal, she wouldn¡¯t pounce on someone without their consent. Danya calmed her heightened senses and hugged Lina. Lina¡¯s frozen body soon rxed as well. Danya summoned her magic bow. She knew the perfect way to channel her heated, excited body. ¡®I¡¯ll show you, Ian.¡¯ ¡ô The Gergos watched Ian as if observing something intriguing. It was fortunate for Ian. He had managed to free his party members from their fear without taking any damage. He even had enough time to brief them. For example, about this pattern. The battle had reached its midpoint. The creature inhaled a massive amount of air as if preparing to unleash a breath attack. ¡ª Guooooo! ¡°Elena! It¡¯s the poison pattern!¡± ¡°Yes, Brother!¡± Barely before Ian¡¯s shout ended, the creature spewed green saliva from its mouth. ¡ª Sssszzt! Ian used Lunar, his Dishwashing and the Snowke Sword to initially block the poison. Yet some of the green saliva still went beyond Ian¡¯s protective range. ¡°Hyah!¡± Elena quickly summoned a protective shield using her holy power. ¡ª Ssszzt! Ultimately, the Gergos¡¯s most troublesome pattern, the poison discharge, passed without causing any harm. The battle continued thereafter. Ian and Elena defended against Gergos¡¯s attack patterns. ¡ª Whoosh! Lina and Danya unleashed ranged attacks from a distance. Most of their attacksnded effectively. But a Gergos, being a Grade 4 threat, was a formidable opponent. The reason was simple. It possessed a monstrous regenerative ability. Even if Lina¡¯s mes burned its arms or legs, it was only momentary. ¡ª Crack! With a chilling sound, the creature quickly regenerated the burned parts. It wasn¡¯t enough to simply burn parts of it. They had topletely sever them. Cutting off arge area would limit its regeneration capabilities. ¡°Danya! Severing Shot!¡± At Ian¡¯smand, Danya readied her bow. But the Gergos seemed to have learned from experience. It immediately changed its pattern and mmed its tail down violently. ¡ª Boom! The ground shook, and dust and rubble fell. Ian barely managed to raise his berserker shield to block the attack. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ This creature¡¯s strength was truly terrifying. Even though he blocked it, it felt like being hit by a dump truck. If he hadn¡¯t reinforced his body immediately, he would have been crushed. ¡ª Sssss! The creature flicked its tongue, looking down at them. It seemed to think, ¡°How could they block this?¡± ¡°Predictable, you b*stard.¡± When dealing with massive monsters, always beware of the tail. It¡¯s a basic piece of knowledge for any veteran yer of Fantasy X Academy. Meanwhile, Danya, who had been watching from behind, dashed forward. ¡®This is my chance to embed the Severing Shot in the tail!¡¯ During the briefing, Ian had said that cutting off this creature¡¯s tail would make the fight much easier! From the front, the tail was in the blind spot, making it impossible to target. ¡®Notice me more, Ian!¡¯ With that thought, Danya slid forward, positioning herself ahead of Ian. She was now at the rear of the Gergos. Close enough to see the slimy texture of its skin. Danya immediately fired the arrow bound with Severing Shot into the Gergos¡¯s tail. And then, she fired the arrow lit with the me Lina had prepared. ¡ª Boom! With a sound like exploding fireworks. Thud! Gergos¡¯s tail was severed. ¡°I did it!!¡± Danya¡¯s cheer was short-lived. ¡ª Guooooooo! An ear-splitting roar filled the cave. The Gergos¡¯s tail quickly began to regenerate. Its bulging eyes scanned precisely for Danya¡¯s location. ¡°¡­ Nyah?¡± Separated from her team due to targeting the tail. ¡ª Swish! An enormous tail, moving horizontally like a sweeping scythe. There was no way to dodge it, even by jumping. ¡®I¡¯m going to die like this¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Ian.¡¯ Danya closed her eyes tightly. ¡ª Thud! An immense impact filled her ears. Surprisingly, it didn¡¯t hurt. ¡®Did I die before I could even feel the pain?¡¯ She somehow felt Ian¡¯s warmth. Even in death, she still cherished Ian. His scent filled her mind. Her body grew hot on its own. ¡­ Wait a second. Can you feel such things even after death? Danya opened her eyes a sliver. A massive back filled her vision. His broad, muscled shoulders and back were straining beneath a sweat-soaked shirt. ¡°I¡­ Ian?¡± Ian had raised his shield to block the Gergos¡¯s tail. ¡ª Sssssszt! His feet were being pushed back by the force of the tail. Torn clothes, tiny veins bursting out. Despite the apparent pain of blocking the Gergos¡¯s attack, his voice remained steady and unwavering. ¡°This is your chance. Aim for its neck.¡± Danya instinctively drew her bow. Swish. Thunk! The Severing Shot embedded itself around the creature¡¯s neck. Lina seized the opportunity and unleashed her mes. Simultaneously. ¡ª Boom! Boom! Boom! With a tremendous noise, the Severing Shots carved a long gash. Screeeech¡ª! The Gergos¡¯s death cry echoed through the cave. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Kwaang-! The Gergos fell with a massive shockwave, blood gushing from its severed neck. Ian took a step back, avoiding the scattered debris. The fierce gaze that once belonged to the creature was now hollow and empty. ¡®Hoo.¡¯ Ian finally let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t sure what would happen when the entire party froze up. ¡®¡­ To make such a ridiculous mistake.¡¯ If the Gergos hadn¡¯t been observing Ian¡¯s movements with curiosity as he tried to protect the party members, the oue would surely have been disastrous.In short, they were lucky. Ian looked back at his party members. ¡°Ha¡­ Ha¡­¡± They all seemed to have rxed a little, finally slumping to the ground. He felt a bit sorry for his party members. Ian scratched his head and brought the bracelet to the Gergos¡¯s corpse. ¨C Ding! With a rather cheerful sound, coins were rewarded. A total of 800 coins were awarded. Since Ian¡¯s party agreed to divide it equally, each person received 200 coins. Ian racked his memory. ¡®I think around 400 coins were needed for a certain promotion.¡¯ This was only the first day before promotion. Given the harvest in just one day, it¡¯s highly likely they ranked up quickly. ¡®Not a bad start.¡¯ Moreover, the objective foring here wasn¡¯t just to gain coins, so the result was even better. After all, the main purposes were quick movement to the ind¡¯s center and obtaining mystic items. Shall they head out to acquire the mystic items now? As Ian was about to get up, Danya approached him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nyah¡­¡± Ian looked at Danya. Her eyebrows were drooping diagonally. Her eyes had a slight moisture. She was holding onto the bottom of her top and looking quite dejected. Why is she acting like this? ¡°A-Are you okay? Because of me¡­¡± Danya pointed at Ian¡¯s left arm. Only then did Ian properly check the condition of his arm. There were deep abrasions scattered everywhere. Blood was flowing out, dripping steadily. ¡®¡­ I didn¡¯t realize.¡¯ Surprisingly, he hadn¡¯t felt it. It must have been because of the adrenaline rush from the unexpected situation. While blood was flowing, it wasn¡¯t an immediate life-or-death issue. At this level, it would be suitable for testing Super Regeneration. Danya¡¯s eyes shone with concern. Ian understood why she was apologizing. ¡®She must think that I got hurt because I took such risks.¡¯ Ian shook his head. Such guilt is unnecessary. The root of the problem was his own judgment mistake from the beginning. It was remarkable to not freeze up in front of an opponent radiating ¡®fear¡¯ and instead take such bold actions. But Danya, despite her rough words, had a gentle nature inside. Ian hesitated to pat her on the head. ¡®¡­ She told me not to.¡¯ Instead, he spoke gently. ¡°No. It was actually a very good decision. Thanks to you, we shortened the strategy time.¡± ¡°But if things had gone wrong, you might have been hurt even worse¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that just showing how much you trusted me? Thank you for trusting me.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± Danya looked down. Her body was trembling. After hearing Ian¡¯s response, Danya had to desperately suppress her instincts. ¡®How unfair.¡¯ It felt unfair. Ian, not scolding her but rather praising her even in this situation. If this keeps up, she really¡­ might not be able to hold on anymore. Her lower abdomen ached. She wanted to pounce on Ian sitting on the rock right then and there. But at that moment, Ian got up. Elena rushed over to tend to Ian¡¯s wounds. Ian shook his head. ¡®It¡¯s a good opportunity to test the mystic items anyway.¡¯ The distance to the mystic items wasn¡¯t far. They would be in the monster¡¯sir. ¡°Let¡¯s move for now.¡± Soon after, a cave appeared. It was arge opening, just the size that Gergos had used toe and go. ¡ª Swoosh! Nearby, the sound of underground water flowing could be heard. There might be wooden logs scattered around here unexpectedly. Ian looked around. ¡°¡­ What are you doing, Brother?¡± Ian gave instructions to Elena, who had been following him closely. ¡°There should be some logs around here. Could you make a raft out of them?¡± ¡°A¡­ raft?¡± ¡°Yes. Ah, there they are.¡± Logs of a suitable size for making a raft were found. ¡°Make it well. I¡¯ll go down for a bit.¡± Leaving the brief instruction, Ian walked into the depths of the cave. ¡ô Inside the Gergos¡¯sir, it was damp and dark. Using the magical torches he had requested from Lina, he carefully made his way forward. ¡°Where could it be.¡± After wandering through the spaciousir, which was as vast as Gergos¡¯s enormous size, Ian soon found a faintly glowing pile of grass. ¡®This area feels warmer for some reason.¡¯ As he pushed aside the pile of grass, a fluorescent pattern became clearly visible. So the Gergos was using the mystic items as a substitute for a heater. With such extraordinary regenerative powers, perhaps the Gergos had made this ce his resting spot. Ian looked at it for a moment. Arge magic circle, measuring 1 meter by 1 meter, was drawn on the floor. The method to obtain the mystic item was simple. Just step onto it. ¡®But before entering.¡¯ Ian looked down at his bracelet. The current health value disyed on the bracelet was 39. Considering the initial health value was 96, the battle with the Gergos had been quite intense. ¡°Alright then.¡± With the number 39 noted in his mind, Ian stepped onto the magic circle. ¡ª Whoooosh! A sudden activation sound. At the same time, a column of fluorescent light shot up to the ceiling. A dazzling disy of light. Ian reflexively closed his eyes and then opened them slightly. ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± The mass of light that had surged up was slowly being absorbed along his fingertips. And a fluorescent pattern, about 3 cm in diameter, was engraved on his left arm. It matched the pattern of the mystic item that had been glowing on the floor earlier. That thought was brief. A warm, gentle breeze wrapped around his body¡­ ¡ª Swoosh The wounds on his body began to heal slowly. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Therge wounds on his arms and legs gradually closed up. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] . [ 45 ] . . [ 46 ] The health disyed on the bracelet also increased slowly. Perhaps wounds heal faster when they are more critical? Although the rate of health increase decreased as time went on, it continued to rise steadily. After waiting for about 5 minutes. [ 71 ] The health value stopped increasing beyond that point. Ian looked down at his body. Most of the wounds that seemed like they would need dozens of stitches had healed. The aching in his waist and muscles had also subsided. ¡°This is incredible.¡± Ian moved his body around. He felt like a troll with incredible regenerative powers from a game. Is there no limit to regeneration? ¡°Hmm.¡± The regenerative pattern on his forearm. What had been fully filled at first was now stained ck at the end. This must be some kind of limit. Ian nodded. A limitation like this is fine as long as the healing happens automatically. Moreover, the effect of ¡®Super Regeneration¡¯ doesn¡¯t end with mere healing. It also synergizes with the ¡®Berserker¡¯s Guardian Shield.¡¯ With health hovering around 10%, he would be able to utilize the skills of the Berserker¡¯s Shield effectively. ¡®More experimentation is needed.¡¯ However, it is a bit troublesome. He needs to anticipate situations where health drops below 10%. He¡¯ll have to wait for a crisis situation to see. Though he hopes such a situation never arises, the enhanced ability to ovee crises is a significant benefit. ¡°Alright then.¡± With that conclusion, Ian left the Gergos¡¯sir. The atmosphere at the entrance felt oddly strange. Lina, who seemed exhausted, was copsed. Elena, looking embarrassed with a red face, had her head bowed. Danya, with a strangelynguid expression, looked up at Ian with wide eyes. Yet her gaze remained oddly rxed. ¡°Ian, you¡¯re all healed up, meow.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. There were some potions that the lizard didn¡¯t digest and spat out.¡± Danya muttered the prepared excuse. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Danya let out a sigh filled with heat. Ian tilted his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a sweet smelling from somewhere?¡± Danya suddenly sped her legs together. Elena, who had been crouching on the ground, approached and pped about in a panic. ¡°Th¡­ Brother, you¡¯re a p*rvert.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Squish. Perhaps due to the water nearby? There was a lot of water spilled on the floor. Elena hurriedly dragged Ian to the underground riverbank. ¡°Anyway! The raft you requested is all done!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Elena proudly presented the raft. It looked like a decent raft on the outside. ¡°You can trust me and board it!¡± Hmm. Ian examined the raft for a moment before nodding. ¡°Where are we going with this?¡± Lina, who had approached unnoticed, tilted her head. ¡°We¡¯re heading straight to the ind¡¯s center. There¡¯s a river surrounding the ind¡¯s center, right? This is the upstream of that.¡± ¡°¡­Here? But we¡¯re underground.¡± To be precise, they were below the mountain. In other words, they were at a higher elevation than the river surrounding the ind¡¯s center. Following this underground river would allow them to reach the ind¡¯s central area directly. That¡¯s not the only advantage. There would surely be obstacles on the surface. There would be bridges blocking the way to the ind¡¯s center. Utilizing this river would neutralize all of that. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ian led the way and boarded the raft. ¡ô The ¡®Rock Hill¡¯ checkpoint controlled by Emilia¡¯s party. A necessary path for those heading to the ind¡¯s center from the west. In the underbrush at the entrance of the path, a young student was hiding. Her identity was Sharon. Sharon had concluded that Emilia would be monitoring Ian. She was therefore here waiting for Ian. To help him. ¡°¡­¡± But Ian was nowhere to be seen. Before she knew it, the veil of devastation hade into close range. What could have happened? Sharon¡¯s anxiety only increased. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Her soft pink lips fluttered. ¡°¡­F*ck.¡± But the words that came out of her mouth were coarse and full of anger. The ¡®Rock Hill¡¯ where a passerby had be rare. Emilia¡¯s eyes, looking into the distance, did not see the figure of the ck-haired person she was looking for. More than 70% of the students who started from the west had passed this path. Ian ckangers was not weak enough to fall outside the top 70%. As Emilia recalled this conclusion, she stomped her feet on the ground in irritation. ¡ª Crack!An unfortunate twig broke under her shoe. Emilia sighed deeply. ¡°Haah.¡± Ian ckangers. That cunning b*stard had undoubtedly realized and escaped her strategy. Emilia pressed her thumb hard against her forehead. It was her habit to do so whenever a difficult situation arose. ¡®I guess I underestimated you.¡¯ ¨C A man who can¡¯t keep his wits around women. A pathetic person so obsessed with women that he doesn¡¯t even recognize his own talents. That was her first impression of Ian ckangers. The Ian she actually met didn¡¯t deviate from that first impression. With just a few tail wags, she could easily use his special talents. And if she thought she no longer needed him, she could have decisively cut him off. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect that to be an illusion.¡¯ After seeing his return to the Academy, Emilia had a gut feeling. That all her judgments about Ian were wrong. And therefore, he was a dangerous person who must be removed. ¡®¡­ He still doesn¡¯t seem to understand what he¡¯s done.¡¯ Emilia wasn¡¯t the type to allow even a slim chance of possibility. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She spoke coldly. Her team members behind her flinched. ¡°Are we going just like this? There¡¯s a student that needs to be dealt with.¡± ¡°The fact that he hasn¡¯t shown up by now means he probably took another route. He¡¯s not a man without skills. No, rather, should I say he was hiding? Anyway.¡± ¡°Then where will we go?¡± A rough, unenthusiastic voice. Emilia was about to lose her temper but swallowed her anger. The voice belonged to Victor Jan, a descendant of the Barbarians. He was one of Emilia¡¯s pawns in the promotion battle. ¡°We¡¯ll head straight to the bridge connecting the central ind. We¡¯ll be in charge of the eastern bridge. Let¡¯s go.¡± A cold and straightforward exnation. Pat! Emilia quickly took her leave. Watching her disappear in an instant, Victor Jan smiled and followed. The speed at which Emilia¡¯s party moved was almost unbelievable for humans. It was possible because everyone in the party was in peak condition. Since entering Volta Ind, they had only earned coins through tolls. Without having to hunt a single monster, they had risen to the top ranks in no time. Viktor, who followed Emilia¡¯s new form, asked her. ¡°The remaining students should be resting at the supply base by now.¡± ¡°Do you want to rest?¡± At Emilia¡¯s words, Victor Jan shrugged his massive shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°Then follow me. We¡¯ve already agreed to control the bridges to the central ind with the other Aether students.¡± At her words, Victor Jan scratched his head with his pot-lid-sized hand. ¡°You Aether people are more cunning than I thought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cunning. It¡¯s strategic. From the start, this exam is just a demotion battle for us.¡± An exam where there¡¯s only loss to be faced. The Aether students had no choice but to stick together. The moment they checked the ind¡¯s structure, the discussion among the Aether students was over. The key to this promotion match is the ¡®Central Ind¡¯ in the middle of Volta Ind. By controlling the four bridges leading to this area, they could effectively gain an advantage. The bridges in other directions had probably already been controlled. Emilia had only managed to acquire coins more efficiently through ¡®tolls¡¯ along the way. Her party had been advancing forward for a while. ¡ª Whoosh! The strong sound of flowing water echoed from afar. It meant they had arrived at the river dividing the ¡®Central Ind.¡¯ The bridge leading to the Central Ind came into their view. This specially crafted bridge was nearly impervious to any physical attacks or magical damage. Controlling these bridges in all four directions was the strategy of the Aether students. ¡ª Whoosh! Due to the significant width and strength of the river, this was a feasible strategy. The bridge was the only means to cross to the Central Ind. ¡°Now, let¡¯spletely block this area ording to the strategy we discussed¡­ huh?¡± Just as Emilia was about to start a brief briefing after crossing the bridge, an unusual sound came from afar. Emilia turned her head toward the source of the noise. From the upstream side of the river, voices could be heard. ¡°How did you make the raft, Elena!¡± Emilia frowned and focused on the voice. ¡°¡­ Ian ckangers?¡± How had he already made it here? That question didn¡¯t linger long. Soon, the answer to the question became visible. ¡ª Whoosh! From the upstream direction of the river, students on a raft were drifting down. ¡°What on earth is that¡­¡± It was rare for Emilia to be flustered. But this sight was indeed ¡®rare¡¯. The scene was so unimaginable that Emilia stood there, momentarily stunned. In the meantime. ¡°Arghhhh!¡± ¡°Stop spinning around, damn it!¡± ¡°Deus, oh God!¡± The raft, spinning wildly, was carried downstream by the river¡¯s current. Realizing the situationte, Emilia shouted. ¡°D-Don¡¯t let them pass! Stop them!¡± ¡ô Spinning wildly. The raft spun like a top. Magic and physical attacks rained down on it. Ian, seeing the attacks, shouted. ¡°Elena, shield!!¡± In the chaotic situation with sights constantly shifting, Elena followed Ian¡¯smand even with her eyes spinning. ¡°Eueeeeek¡ª!¡± With an incantation or a scream that was hard to distinguish, a translucent barrier enveloped the raft. ¡ª ng, ng, ng! Elena¡¯s shield excellently blocked the initial barrage of attacks. ng! Although it was shattered by the aftermath. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± With a short murmur, Elena copsed from exhaustion. She had done well to hold out for this long. She had blocked Aether students¡¯ attacks on a wide scale. ¡°Everyone, stay close to me as much as possible!¡± From then on, it was Ian¡¯s one-man show. In one hand, he wielded the Berserker¡¯s Shield, and in the other, a shield forged from Lunar. Using both, he deflected or parried the iing attacks. He lightly ignored the asional wounds on his body. Ian¡¯s performance on the raft, spinning and drifting, resembled a dance. ¡®Alright. Just a little more and we¡¯ll drift far enough.¡¯ There was a point downstream where the current changed direction. It was close enough to the Central Ind that they could potentially jump off. Since they had to guard the bridge, they wouldn¡¯t be able to follow any further. The magic attacks began to miss more frequently. The distance from the bridge that Emilia¡¯s group was guarding was now sufficiently far. ¡®Did we get them?¡¯ Just as he was about to rx. ¡ª Whoooosh! A tremendous whooshing sound sliced through the air. A straight-line objecting from the bridge. ¡®An axe?¡¯ Ian quicklybined the Lunar shield around his Berserker¡¯s Shield, forming a standard-sized shield in an instant. ¡ª Kwaaaaang! The object collided with the axe, producing a thunderous noise. [ 78 ] -> [ 51 ] Despite sessfully blocking it, his health was rapidly drained. The impact even caused the raft to elerate. Ian, wincing from the numbness in his shoulders, muttered. ¡®What kind of monstrous strength is this¡­¡¯ The figure briefly seen on the bridge. He couldn¡¯t see clearly, but was it Victor Jan? As expected of a descendant of the Barbarians¡­ ¡°Throwing again!¡± Danya¡¯s shout. ¡®I can¡¯t keep blocking like this.¡¯ Ian quickly assessed the situation. It seemed the distance from the raft to the Central Ind¡¯snd was about 30 meters. ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Ian spread his arms and pulled his party members close. Then, he leaped into the air. ¡ª Whaaam! The raft shattered into pieces with a tremendous impact. It was as if a cannonball had hit the river, sending a column of water soaring into the sky. Simultaneously. From the column of water, Ian¡¯s new form emerged. No, saying he emerged doesn¡¯t quite capture it. With a speedparable to teleportation, Ian, carrying his party members, rolled onto thend. ¡ª Rumble! Rolling on the damp riverbank, Ian thought. ¡®Controlling the full-power Leap is still difficult.¡¯ Anyway, rolling onnd was better than in the river. He rolled contentedly for a moment. ¡°Ugh!¡± He only stopped when he hit a rock. The pain was considerable, but he was used to it. Ian tilted his head slightly and looked around. Fortunately, Lina and Elena, whom he had been carrying, seemed to be safely ced. Danya, whom he had pulled and rolled with¡­ where did she go? The moment Ian tried to stand up by putting his hands on the floor, holding his dazed head. ¡ª Squish! He caught something small, like pudding, in his hand. He also felt a soft, warm sensation on his knee. It was as if he had been hugging Danya from above. ¡°Mmm¡­ ?¡± Danya¡¯s sweet moan filled the riverbank. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 For beastmen, there is something called ¡°taming¡±. Taming is also a form of love. The difference is that while love usually involves a mutual exchange of feelings, taming can ur even if only one party is entirely devoted. Thus, taming can be divided into two types. Love and Obedience. When both parties tame each other, it is no different from love. If only one side is tamed, it is no different from obedience. Therefore, beastmen strive their hardest not to be tamed. Usually, it ends up with only one side being tamed.This results in many unfortunate situations where one cannot escape from the other person. Aplete master-servant rtionship. In the end, it progresses into a rtionship where they are only used. Thus, beastmen are wary of other races. They learn to always treat others coldly, doing their best not to be tamed. Danya was no exception. Her cold tone and actions were all part of such efforts. ¡­That was the n, anyway. ¡°Nyaaaa¡­¡± A hot moan escaped her lips. Her heart pounded. It wasn¡¯t because it was a heat day. It was because the person she was pressed against was Ian. Through numerous events with Ian, her cold barrier had long since melted away. She was already tamed by Ian. Ian was lying on top of her as if he was covering her. He looked down at her. His eyes, which were usually expressionless, now had a hint of bewilderment, looking cute. She felt Ian¡¯s hand on her chest. The warmth of his knee pressed between her legs. ¡°Ha¡­¡± She barely held back her instincts¡­ She had been trying so hard to endure her heat day. Hah hah. But her stomach ached with need. ¡®I-I must endure.¡¯ Danya clenched her fist tightly. She shouldn¡¯t go into heat now. She could endure a bit longer. She nned to hold out for at least three more days. ¡®¡­I can hold out.¡¯ That was her intention. But now, sensitive areas were being touched. Watching Ian¡¯s eyes as he did so made her body heat up. A conflict started in her heart. Danya slightly sumbed to her instincts. She decided to make contact with Ian, just enough not to get caught. Even though Lina and Elena were watching, she didn¡¯t care. ¡®I¡¯ll just pretend it was a mistake.¡¯ With a ridiculous excuse, Danya slightly lifted her waist. And towards Ian¡¯s knee that was between her legs, she subtly pushed her hips closer. ¡ª Squish The sensitive inside that had heated up touched his knee. A hot breath escaped her lips, unable to hold back. ¡°¡­Huuu.¡± How mean. Ian looked down at her in confusion. He was hesitatingly lying on top of her, worried about her. And yet, she was using his knee to satisfy her desires. The guilt made her even more excited. Danya slightly twisted her lower body. ¡°¡­Haaaang!¡± A more explicit moan escaped her lips. Elena and Lina, who were watching, blushed and averted their eyes. Ian, who had been dazed for a moment, removed his hand from Danya¡¯s chest. ¡°Sorry. I had somewhat noticed your condition.¡± Ian created some distance. He opened his mouth, half-concerned, half-apologetic. ¡°Are you okay, Danya?¡± That soft voice elerated her excitement. He was truly a shameless person. His eyes, which had grownrger out of concern. His slightly parted lips. Whenever she tried to regainposure, he stimted her. Whenever she tried to rebuild her wall, he came over it. Because of him, who constantly approached at all times, how could she be okay? ¡°¡­No. I¡¯m not okay.¡± Danya swallowed her words. It was hard to express herself any further. Ian took a step back. Danya, as if entranced, approached him. ¡°Danya¡­?¡± Ian¡¯s voice was filled with confusion as she lightly pushed him. She climbed onto hisp as he sat on the ground. For a moment, their eyes were on the same level. Through the damp clothes soaked by the river, she could feel his body heat. ¡ª Srrrp Danya kissed Ian. She opened his slightly stiff lips with her tongue. She wasn¡¯t worried that her tongue might feel rough; she was just happy and her mind was nk. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She was short of breath from excitement but wanted to savor him more. Danya rolled her tongue around as if she were ying with arge candy. Only when she couldn¡¯t hold her breath any longer did she pull away. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Only then did Danya part their lips. A single string of saliva stretched like a spider¡¯s web between their tongues. Their mingled saliva dripped down and touched their stomachs. It was incredibly arousing. ¡ª Swish Using that as lubrication, Danya pressed her stomach against Ian¡¯s. She didn¡¯t mind the wet clothes soaked by the water. The skin she felt through them was so firm and warm. She unconsciously let out a soft moan as she felt his hard abs. ¡°Nyaaa¡­?¡± Ian flinched. Danya gently bit his ear. Then, she pressed her hips closer to his. Just enough to feel each other more. As Danya was about to lower herself between Ian¡¯s legs, ¡°Th-that¡¯s not okay!¡± Lina, who had been watching through her fingers, ran over. She quickly lifted Danya up. ¡°¡­ Why, Lina?¡± Danya, with hazy eyes, tilted her head in confusion. Lina, holding Danya like a princess, set her down in a secluded spot. Then she whispered to Danya. ¡®You said you wanted your first time with Ian to be when you were fully in your right mind!¡¯ Only then did Danya nod and say, ¡°Ah-.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I remember now. I asked you to stop me.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m in my right mind now.¡± ¡°Look over there!¡± Lina pointed to Ian¡¯s knee. His knee was sticky. Unlike other parts soaked by the river, that area was uniquely sticky and shiny. It was where Danya¡¯s lower body had been. A sign of her arousal. Danya¡¯s mind, which had been heated, quickly cooled down. She lowered her head. ¡®Wh-what was I doing¡­!¡¯ She had tried to satisfy her sexual desire with someone else¡¯s leg. She was too embarrassed to lift her head. Yet, her heart continued to race. ¡®I wish you would be tamed by me too. No, just take responsibility. It¡¯s okay if you handle me roughly. It¡¯s okay if you put a cor on me and treat me like a dog.¡¯ But. Danya firmly suppressed her instincts. She had to endure. Just a little more. Just until her heat season ends. ¡®I will approach him with genuine feelings, not instincts.¡¯ So she would endure. Instead. ¡°I-I was worried about you, Danya¡­¡± The girl in front of her continued to speak. At first, Danya had been wary of her, but Lina had taken care of her in many ways. Thanks to her, she was getting closer to Ian bit by bit. ¡°Thank you, Lina.¡± Danya approached Lina. And she kissed her. ¡°Mm!¡± She poured the saliva she had been holding onto Lina, who was flustered. ¡°Puh-! D-Danya, what are you suddenly¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a reward, Nyah. Ian¡¯s saliva.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ what?¡± ¡°We agreed to share, remember?¡± Slurp. Lina, whose legs gave out, sank to the ground. Clench. Danya grabbed the hem of her pants to suppress her instincts. Her hands trembled. ¡ô The morning of the second day of the promotion battle dawned. Though only a day had passed, the gap between the top-ranked students and the others had already begun to widen noticeably. The lower-ranked students were either shivering on the outskirts or dropping out endlessly due to the cold that swept through during the night. Already, around five hundred students had been eliminated. This meant that roughly one-quarter had dropped out in just one day. Meanwhile, the students who had adapted well to the ind rose early and headed toward the central ind. As they began to adapt and regain their rationality, they realized that the core of this promotion battley in reaching the central ind. ¡°We can¡¯t go through.¡± But what they saw were students from Aether blocking the bridge. ¡°If you want to pass, pay 5 coins per person.¡± ¡°Five coins means we have to kill five monsters to earn that many!¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re from Aether doesn¡¯t mean you can do this!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back and find another way!¡± However, the students soon realized. Ether students controlled all four bridges leading to the central ind. Some, giving up, paid the 5 coins and entered. But those who couldn¡¯t pay began to gather outside the bridge. The tension between the students over the bridge leading to the central ind continued to rise. Meanwhile. Those who had already reached the central ind were deep into their hunts. The center of Volta Ind,monly referred to as the central ind, has a basin-like structure surrounded by high hills. Beyond the hills stretches a vast jungle-like forest. Dense trees, diverse terrains. The number of monsters and dangerous species in this area is significantly higher than outside. ¡ª Screeeech! An orc screamed and copsed. The orc was the chieftain of an orc horde. The male student who had in the chieftain knelt on one knee to absorb the coins. Combining the coins obtained from dozens of orcs and the chieftain, he had about 100 coins. ¡ª Clink, clink. The sound of armor clinking as he stood and walked over to a woman, kneeling before her. ¡°Please ept these, Saintess.¡± The studentt was Dave, a student from the Priest Department and the guard knight of the saintess candidate, Aria. He offered all the coins he had gathered to Aria, pledging his eternal loyalty. Other priests also followed suit, handing over their coins. Aria¡¯s party, consisting of the saintess candidate and three members of the Celeste faction, had only one goal: to ensure Aria¡¯s sessful promotion to Aether. ¡®All for the sake of the Saintess.¡¯ Dave smiled as he watched Aria¡¯s coin count grow. If they seeded in her promotion to Aether, the suspicions surrounding Aria would be alleviated. ¡®¡­ Once that person is eliminated.¡¯ No one would be able to obstruct Aria¡¯s path. As Dave¡¯s thoughts darkened. ¡ª Boom! The basin trembled violently. Dave looked up, stunned. ¡°Oh my God.¡± Someone muttered. A dangerous species, and a Grade 3 one at that, was looking down at them. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 ¡ª Grrrrrrrr! 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!¡± ¡°Kyaaaa! Save me, Brother!¡± The monster was nearly upon her when Elena managed to leap to where Ian was gesturing. ¡ª Thud! While the hedgehog-like monster floundered in the trap, Ian gave themand.¡°Got it! Fire, Danya, Lina!¡± ¨C Whizz! ¨C Fwoosh! 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. Tap, tap. 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. ¡ô 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. ¨C Let¡¯s gather! ¨C Down with Aether! 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. ¨C Crack 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?¡± Crack, Crack. 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. ¡ª p p p! 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.¡± ¡ô 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.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± 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. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Sharon bit her lip firmly. Ian ckangers. Every time his name came up, it was difficult to maintain herposure. In hindsight, it had always been that way. Sharon¡¯s calm demeanor was always powerless in front of Ian. If that emotion had been hatred in the past, now it had simply changed to atonement. ¡°Miss Sharon?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°No matter how much you do this alone, Ian won¡¯t know. It means, please let us pass.¡±Emilia¡¯s persuasion, or provocation. She had a point. Even if she stopped Emilia here, Ian wouldn¡¯t know. But Sharon gritted her teeth. It didn¡¯t matter if Ian didn¡¯t witness her atonement. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he recognizes it or not.¡± If by chance, someday, he happened to look back, and she got the opportunity to apologize. That would be enough. Sharon gripped the handle of her sword tightly. ¡ª Crunch! The frost emitted from Sharon began to freeze the surroundings. A stance full of fighting spirit. Before Emilia could react, it was Victor Jan who responded first. ¡°Are you challenging me?¡± Crack. Victor Jan tilted his neck. Sharon¡¯s icy gazended on him. ¡°¡­ Victor Jan.¡± ¡°Oh. The honorabledy of the Pierce family actually knows this lowly guy. I guess we¡¯re in the same department after all.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well. Fine. I¡¯ve always wanted to spar with you at least once. Bring it on.¡± Emilia hastily grabbed his log-like arm as he tried to step forward. ¡°What is it? Emilia?¡± ¡°No.¡± Emilia shook her head and pointed to Sharon¡¯s surroundings. A frozen flower bud turned to powder and disappeared in the drifting wind. ¡°Sharon¡¯s condition is not ordinary.¡± It was Emilia¡¯s intuition. She asked Sharon directly. ¡°Miss Sharon. How did you cross to this central ind? All the bridges we controlled, and others were likely under guard too.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sharon didn¡¯t answer. But the guess was possible. Sharon Pierce. Emilia knew this woman would never pay a toll to cross a bridge. Two assumptions were possible. ¡®Either she annihted the group guarding the other bridge¡­¡¯ Or found another way to cross. Emilia¡¯s unease stemmed from the second assumption. Sharon¡¯s surroundings. Objectspletely frozen solid. The intensity of her cold was far from ordinary. Emilia¡¯s mouth opened unconsciously. ¡°¡­ Sharon, did you, by any chance, freeze the river and cross it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sharon¡¯s silent expression. But Emilia intuited it. This woman truly crossed the river by freezing it. The river was 500 meters wide. The speed and strength of the current were more like rapids. To freeze such a river and cross it? ¡®What is this¡­¡¯ Even the reputation of being a prodigy of the Lichten Academy¡¯s Knight Department wasn¡¯t enough to exin it all. There could only be one reason it was possible. ¡°¡­ You. Finally came to an epiphany?¡± No answer. But it was obvious. She must have ovee the wall that had been blocking her for a long time. ¡®I hoped she wouldn¡¯t.¡¯ Emilia clenched her fist tightly. Then she spoke to Victor. ¡°Victor Jan. We¡¯ll handle this ce. You go alone and take care of Ian.¡± ¡°You three will deal with that girl alone? Are you out of your mind? A girl with only 25 health?¡± ¡°Victor Jan. Are you perhaps afraid to face Ian alone?¡± Victor Jan punched a nearby tree in response to Emilia¡¯s provocation. Thud. The tree splintered. ¡°Of course not!¡± ¡­ He was such an easy person to handle. ¡°As I mentioned, it¡¯s tough to face Ian alone right now. We¡¯ll deal with this girl as quickly as possible and join you, so do your best.¡± Emilia took out another yellow vial and tossed it to Victor. The ampoule was a specially formted stimnt. An item that temporarily significantly increases physical and magical abilities. Of course, it¡¯s illegal, so the side effects are unknown. ¡°Are you telling me to drink both of these?¡± ¡°With your body, you can handle two easily.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± A sly grin appeared on Emilia¡¯s lips. ¡°Though it¡¯s an overdose, you can withstand it, right?¡± Nodding, Victor Jan shot off in the direction where Ian was, his massive frame moving swiftly. As Sharon turned to follow him. ¡ª Crackle! A fierce current of electricity surged in front of her. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Whirrrrrr. With a crackling whip-like magic staff, Emilia smiled. ¡°I¡¯m your opponent.¡± ¡ô Having finished their day¡¯s hunt safely, Ian and his party looked for a ce to rest. On this central ind, there are ¡®single-use bases¡¯. Special rest bases where one cannot be attacked while inside. They break after one use but offer a secure ce to rest for the night. These single-use basese in various forms: tents, cabins, caves, houses up in trees, etc. ¡°¡­Hmm. It¡¯s quite hard to find one.¡± Ian scratched the back of his head, regretting what had happened yesterday. They had found two single-use bases but used both in one day because the men and women slept separately. ¡®Because of what happened with Danya¡­¡¯ He still vividly remembered the feel of Danya. The sweet smell he often noticed since arriving on this ind seemed to be her scent. In such a situation, it was right to avoid sleeping in the same space as Danya. Though it was a bit regrettable. While they were scouting the surroundings, Elena suddenly growled. ¡°¡­This is the trace of the Celeste faction.¡± She pointed to a patch of grass that had turned white. ¡°That?¡± ¡°Yes. When those people use holy power, the surroundings turn white like that. They¡¯re bad news. Be wary of the Celeste faction, Brother.¡± Ian was quite surprised by Elena¡¯s intense reaction. Was the rtionship between Celeste and Numina that bad? Of course, within the Holy Kingdom, Constantine, the two factions had significant underground conflicts. But it wasn¡¯t supposed to be this severe at Lichten. ¡®I should check this outter.¡¯ Anyway. These traces meant that other students were already active. ¡®A bit fast?¡¯ It was about time for one or two to show up, but it was sooner than he expected. With everyone holding a certain amount of coins, conflicts between students would be more intense. If one¡¯s stamina is entirely depleted and deemed incapacitated, they lose half their coins. This implies a different development from simply hunting monsters. ¡®We need to secure a single-use base quickly.¡¯ With that conclusion, Ian instructed his team. ¡°Let¡¯s split up to search. You three go together.¡± ¡°What about you, Ian?¡± ¡°I can escape quickly, so it¡¯s safest if you stay together.¡± With that, Ian parted ways with his team. Walking through the dense forest, searching. ¡ª Wham! Suddenly, he felt an enormous gust of wind above his head. Instinctively, Ian raised his shield. ¡ª Thud! The heavy impact left his arm numb. Even with immediate body reinforcement, it was this bad. ¡®What kind of person is this?¡¯ Before he could survey his surroundings, another attack came. A swift punch aimed at his abdomen. ng! Ian blocked with his shield and widened the distance. But immediately, a piece of metal flew at him. ¡®Axe?¡¯ He bent his waist back, narrowly avoiding the huge axe that swept past his eyes. ¡®Wow. I really thought I was going to die.¡¯ Ian quickly took a short leap back to create more distance between them. Only then did he get a clear view of his opponent. A muscr giant. A savage face. ¡°¡­ Victor Jan?¡± At Ian¡¯s muttering, Victorughed harshly. ¡°Oh. You know me?¡± Of course he did. Victor Jan was a viin who operated deep in the shadows of the academy. He was also the main boss of one of the main scenarios, ¡®The Tunnel.¡¯ Yesterday, when he destroyed the raft, Ian thought it was just an extension of guarding the bridge. But was he actually targeting him? Ian adjusted his stance. Sigh. Victor grinned wickedly. ¡°You¡¯ve got some sense, blocking my ambush like that.¡± ¡°First, I¡¯d like to know the reason for this ambush.¡± ¡°Are you that curious?¡± Crack. Victor tilted his head once and spoke. ¡°There¡¯s a hefty bounty on your head.¡± Creak, crack. Each time he bent and stretched his finger joints, a grotesque sound like twisting metal echoed. Ian quickly assessed the situation. ¡®Someone must have ordered him to do this.¡¯ He remembered seeing Emilia with Victor Jan yesterday. If Emilia had enough influence to move Victor Jan, she was definitely involved. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ Ian cursed inwardly and readied his stance. ¡ª Whoosh! This time, he saw Victor Jan¡¯s charge. Smash! Pow! Each punch was painful enough to make his muscles tremble. [ 77 ] [ 75 ] Even with his shield up, his health visibly decreased. But at the same time. ¡®This might be manageable.¡¯ Initially, he was overwhelmed by Victor¡¯s surprise attack, but after exchanging a few blows, he started to adapt. Victor was indeed incredibly strong. His punches were almost too fast to follow with the naked eye. His physical abilities were beyond the level of a student. But his attackscked precision and were overly aggressive. ¡®In that case¡­!¡¯ It meant there was a clear weakness. Ian¡¯s utility was optimized for exploiting his opponent¡¯s weaknesses. As Victor prepared for his next punch. ¨C Pop! Ian summoned a pile of dirt under his feet. ¡°F*ck!¡± Victor, who had lost his bnce, staggered greatly. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Center of gravity. For all warriors engaged in closebat, the most crucial aspect is the center of gravity. If the center of gravity is misced even once, it can lead to unexpected counterattacks. As one approaches the realm of a master, the movement of the center of gravity bes more natural. ¨C Bang! However, Victor was different. Despite having significant physical strength due to drugs and his innate body, his skill level couldn¡¯t keep up with his physical specs. The ground under his foot suddenly bulged out. Wobble!Victor¡¯s vision shook violently. He tried to shift his bnce to his right foot immediately. But. ¨C Swish! A fist came flying, seizing the opportunity. ¡®Just with this mere fist!¡¯ Victor tried to block it. It seemed possible to block it. But his body didn¡¯t cooperate. In the split second where his center of gravity hadn¡¯t fully shifted. Ian boldly exploited Victor¡¯s staggering stance. ¡®Attack as strongly as possible when you get the chance!¡¯ Ian gritted his teeth and threw a punch. A pointed fist, covered in Lunar like a gauntlet, struck Victor¡¯s face. ¡ª Crack! A sound like something breaking apanied a heavy pain imprinted on his fist. That meant the opponent received a significant shock as well. Sure enough. ¨C Drip. Blood poured from both of Victor¡¯s nostrils. After checking his condition in a daze, he burst into augh. ¡°Ha ha¡­¡± Seeing this, Ian was slightly taken aback. ¡®Even after hitting him this hard, he¡¯s fine?¡¯ Should he have brought a sword? It¡¯s a pity he couldn¡¯t bring it due to the weight limit. As Ian was about to follow up by transforming the gauntlet into a sharper edge. ¨C Bang! Victor rolled backward to widen the distance. Without giving Ian any time to react. Gulp. Gulp. He pulled out a yellow vial from his pocket and quickly drank it. ¡°Heh heh. You¡¯re dead, you little brat.¡± Victor, who uttered a line like a third-rate viin, suddenly began to bulge. ¨C Crackle. His muscles bulged with a strange sound. Simultaneously, coarse purple veins popped up. ¡®¡­ No way.¡¯ Ian furrowed his brow. The unauthorized awakening drug, a core item of the episode [Rat Nest]. Had it already fallen into Victor¡¯s hands? Rat Nest is an episode that spans from the vacation to the second semester. The game¡¯s timeline might be elerating. Ian¡¯s contemtion ended there. ¡°Die!!!!!¡± With blood-red eyes bulging, Victor charged again. At an even faster speed. ¡ª Roar! Though Ian barely managed to block it with his shield, he was pushed back ten steps. [55] In a single strike, over 10 points of health were drained. The problem wasn¡¯t just the health. ¡®It hurts?¡¯ A vivid pain felt after a long time. Cough! With a cough, a handful of fresh blood was spat out. This shouldn¡¯t happen when 55 points are still left. ¡®¡­ Did the shield fail to activate?¡¯ ¡®The impact just now was on par with the Gergos.¡¯ Of course, the fist felt stronger due to its smaller surface area. ¡®Could it be that if physical strength is extremely high, the damage prates the health system?¡¯ It was a usible theory. Even the most bizarre bracelet would have its limits. Bang! Victor charged again. An enormous pressure, as if a tank were advancing. Ian immediately cast the earth spell, but¡­ Thud! The pile of earth shattered into dust, scattering in all directions. ¡°Dieeeeee!¡± ¡ª Kwaaaaang! The shockwave lifted the surrounding dust momentarily before it settled again. However, the result was markedly different from before. Victor¡¯s fist. It pierced through the silhouette hidden by the dust. ¡°Ha¡­ Hahaha! Was this all there was to it?¡± Victorughed harshly, looking at the crushed head. ¡°I¡¯ll pulverize youpletely!¡± Boom! His fist mmed down vertically. The human shape distorted like a sandcastle. ¡°Hahahaha! Did you see that, Emilia? Just three blows were enough. The one you feared so much!¡± Bang! Bang! Victor continued to punch the remaining form, as if trying to leave no trace. He was driven by instinct, incapable of rational thought. The side effects of the Awakening drug were gripping his body. At that moment. A voice came from behind him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A cold voice. Victor shuddered for a moment. It was the voice of Ian, whom he thought he had pulverized. A gust of wind blew. The dust cleared. What he had been hitting was just a pile of earth. ¡°What the, what is this.¡± ¡°Oh, I developed a new skill. Something like a doppelganger.¡± Of course, Ian was not the type to miss the timing of an attack just to talk. While confusing his opponent with words, Ian extended his foot. Simultaneously, he cast [Leap] towards the sky. This added more physical force to his kick. And that elerated kick. Hit Victor Jan precisely between his legs. Crack¨C!!!!!! A dreadful sound, as if thousands of reproductive cells were disappearing, filled the forest. Victor Jan knelt on the ground, clutching his lower abdomen. ¡°Ugh. G-guh¡­ Ugh.¡± He groaned unintelligibly, foaming at the mouth. ¡®He¡¯s even foaming at the mouth.¡¯ With him in such a state of panic, there was plenty of time to finish him off. Ian gathered as many metallic elements as possible from the surroundings. He nned to strike him down in one blow like a hammer. Just as he was about to finish his preparations. ¡ª Screeeeeam!!! ¡°¡­?¡± A scream echoed from afar. ¡®That voice¡­ Could it be Elena?¡¯ It was unmistakable. It was the same scream she let out whenever she saw something terrifying. Come to think of it, if only Victor Jan hade here¡­ it meant the rest of Emilia¡¯s group was up to something else. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ In that moment of hesitation. ¡°Grrrr!¡± Victor scurried away on all fours like an animal. ¡ª Noooooo! The direction Victor was fleeing and the direction of Elena¡¯s scream were opposite. He had to choose one. The choice wasn¡¯t difficult. Ian ran towards the direction of Elena¡¯s scream. ¡ô Danya¡¯s group separated from Ian. While searching for a temporary base, Danya¡¯s nose twitched. ¡®¡­ The scent of people!¡¯ Danya¡¯s sensory acuity was unmatched due to her being in heat. This heightened sense was one reason she suppressed her rising s*xual desire. If she gave in, she¡¯d lose this sharp awareness. ¡®I can pounce on Ian after the test.¡¯ Her resolve had subtly shifted from ¡®never pounce¡¯ to ¡®pounceter¡¯. She shouted with confidence. ¡°Get ready, Nyah! Someone ising!¡± At Danya¡¯smand, the party members quickly took their positions. With Ian absent, Elena took the front line, Danya yed the role of an aggro tank, and Lina was the main damage dealer. They had be quite synchronized after spending several days together. People soon emerged from the bushes where Danya had indicated. ¡°Quite perceptive, aren¡¯t you?¡± A woman with radiant golden hair emerged. It was Emilia¡¯s group. Their party also consisted of three members. From the rear, Lina greeted Emilia loudly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while! Emilia.¡± ¡°You too, Lina. You look quite happy.¡± ¡°Of course! It would have been better if I hade over sooner! Hehe!¡± Linaughed cheerfully. Danya squinted, observing the two alternately. ¡®It seems like a psychological battle¡­¡¯ Though Lina was smiling brightly, the corners of her mouth were twitching slightly, unlike her usual self. Emilia¡¯s words also had a peculiar undertone. Danya¡¯s observation was urate. From Emilia¡¯s perspective, this was indeed a psychological battle. Lina was the first to leave the group of female students Emilia had gathered. ¡°Smiling after betraying us. I didn¡¯t know you were so shameless.¡± ¡°Huh? No? I just came to the right side.¡± Lina tilted her head innocently. That innocence only irritated Emilia more. ¡®That fox-like woman, she sometimes acts like she knows everything.¡¯ Emilia sighed and waved her hands sideways. ¡°We don¡¯t want to fight you. Move aside and let us pass.¡± Emilia¡¯s words made Elena turn and look questioningly. She seemed to be asking, ¡®What should we do?¡¯ Lina grinned and put a finger to her lips. ¡°Hmm. Emilia, you¡¯re not yourself today, are you?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Because right now, we¡¯re good prey for you. We don¡¯t have a proper tank. So why aren¡¯t you attacking and just passing by?¡± Lina tilted her head. That natural gesture further provoked Emilia¡¯s anger. ¡°I¡¯m just looking for monsters¡­!¡± ¡°You¡¯re hunting something bigger. What is it? Why are you telling us to move aside?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Thump Thump. Lina lightly tapped her lips as she walked around, as if deep in thought. Then she snapped her fingers loudly. ¡°Oh, I get it!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just be honest? You¡¯re after Ian. You¡¯re always so insincere. Come to think of it, you¡¯ve always been like that, manipting people from behind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re quite shady, Emilia.¡± Hehe- Linaughed and spewed her unfiltered thoughts, causing Emilia to finally snap. ¡°¡­ You wretched woman.¡± Crackle! A long streak of electric current surged straight towards Lina. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 ¡ª Crackle! The bright yellow streak starting from Emilia extended all the way to Lina. ¡°Watch out, Nyah!¡± Danya grabbed Lina and rolled her to the ground. Then. ¡ª ng! As if the space itself was tearing apart, a long horizontal line was harshly ripped open. The grass within its radius rose as if reacting to static electricity and then instantly burned away. Danya¡¯s fur stood on end.¡®This woman isn¡¯t ordinary either!¡¯ Does every Aether ss student have this level of ability? If her senses hadn¡¯t been sharpened by her being in heat, she wouldn¡¯t have dodged it. Rolling on the ground once, Danya quickly regained her stance. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two green magic arrows shot towards Emilia in rapid session. ¡°Not a chance!¡± One of Emilia¡¯s guards deflected the arrows with a dagger. The magic arrows dispersed, spreading green energy. Watching this, Danya shouted. ¡°Now, Lina!¡± ¡ª Fwoosh! mes shot out from Lina. One of Emilia¡¯s sub-tankers raised his shield with a triumphant look. ¡°This won¡¯t even¡­¡± It was a me that a single shield could block. Just as he thought he could block it easily. The mes suddenly spread over the shield. ¡®The broken arrows from before!¡¯ He realized his mistake toote. Whoosh! The mes followed the scattered nt elements in the air. The impact spread to Emilia. Everyone in Emilia¡¯s party lost about 10 health points at once. Emilia¡¯s eyes, slightly scorched, grew fiercer. She bit her lip and held a short but luxurious magic staff. ¡°!!!¡± A rather long casting time. ¡ª Whir! Countless round yellow spheres appeared in front of Emilia, as if something was gathering and forming. Danya stood frozen, her skin prickling. ¡®I can¡¯t tell the direction.¡¯ Where should she dodge? The brief moment of hesitation was over quickly. ¡ª Rip! With the sound of space tearing, numerous yellow lines crossed before her eyes. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Danya let out a short gasp. This can¡¯t be dodged. ¡ª Boom! A torrent of countless electric elements. Elena raised her shield with a grim face, but her hand was trembling, realizing it was impossible to withstand. At that moment. ¡ª Thud! A massive earth wall blocked their path. Zzt! The electric elements couldn¡¯t pass through the earth and were absorbed into the ground. It was the perfect counter for electric elements¡ªearth elements. While confirming with a side nce that Elena and Danya were safe, Ian did not stop his advance. A mage is weakest at two moments. First, after casting a powerful spell and falling into a momentary state of mana exhaustion. Second, when somethingpletely unexpected happens to a wizard who has nned everything. Ian¡¯s charge corresponded to both cases. < Shield Bash > A skill thatbines the kic energy of a rapid ¡®Leap¡¯ with the indestructible attribute of the ¡®Berserker¡¯s Shield¡¯ to strike the opponent. The sub-tanker on Emilia¡¯s side barely managed to take a defensive stance to block Ian¡¯s collision¡­ ¡ª Boom! But she couldn¡¯t withstand the remaining physical force and was flung back. A startled Emilia shouted btedly. ¡°Ian? How did you¡­!¡± Ian felt no need to respond. As soon as Emilia uttered those words, it was as good as confessing she had sent Victor. Ian immediately transformed Lunar into a gauntlet. Then he threw a punch at Emilia. ¡°!!!¡± In a panic, Emilia activated an emergency scroll. ¡ª Crack! The emergency protection scroll, worth hundreds of millions of Krone, shattered instantly upon impact. Its value was undeniable. It bought Emilia time to retreat. ¡ª Rip! She pulled out another scroll and tore it. In an instant, she and herpanions¡¯ figures rapidly receded. Emilia¡¯s image vanished from sight. Ian looked at her retreating form with a bewildered expression. One of her party members had been left behind. The sub-tanker from the Priest Department, who had blocked Ian¡¯s . She btedly tried to run in the direction Emilia had disappeared. But Ian wasn¡¯t about to just watch. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± She turned to Ian and shouted. ¡°I won¡¯t let this go! Do you know who Lady Emilia is¡­!¡± Crack. With a tremendous sound, the student copsed. ¡­Well. He didn¡¯t hit her that hard, so she should be fine. It¡¯s the first time he had seen someone actually knocked out. Shey there unconscious. Upon closer inspection, her health indicator read [0]. At the same time, her bracelet glowed a grayish hue. ¡°This is just like when you defeat a monster.¡± Ian brought his bracelet to the light. [ 224 coins have been awarded! ] ¡°¡­224 coins?¡± If a student is knocked out, they lose half of their coins. So, this girl had already umted 448 coins. Thanks to that, he gained a considerable reward for such a brief battle. Knocking out a student and obtaining half the coins Gregos gave. Considering Emilia didn¡¯t evenly distribute the coins¡­ ¡®She amassed quite a bit.¡¯ Well. Emilia is a woman who can handle such promotion battles easily. Emilia Raymond. In terms of overall abilities, she possesses the most overwhelming specs among the four heroines. She doesn¡¯t just stand out as the heir to the Raymond Trading Company, the empire¡¯s top tradingpany. As a lightning-type magician, her talent is also top-tier at the Academy. If not for Sharon Pierce, she would be the top prospect in Lichten. Forpetitive Emilia, it¡¯s certainly not a pleasant situation. But she never shows it. She¡¯s a woman who can hide her instincts and emotions calctively. That¡¯s Emilia. ¡®But she was clearly emotional just now.¡¯ Something must not be going right for her¡­ Ian pondered for a moment. The actions Emilia had shown so far. Victor Jan, who was obviously sent by her. ¡®¡­Could I be the reason?¡¯ The search for the culprit was practically 50/50. And Emilia seemed to be one step ahead. ¡°Are you okay, Ian?¡± Danya had run over and was looking up at him. Ian nodded with a smile instead of answering. Elena poked the unconscious girl with a stick. ¡°She¡¯s really knocked out, Brother. Will the professorse to retrieve her now? I feel a little sorry seeing a fellow student like this, but considering what happened, serves her right!¡± Instead of answering, Ian brought his arm to her bracelet. 56 coins were transferred immediately. Elena¡¯s eyes sparkled as she got over her reluctance. ¡°Oh¡­! This is a better reward than most monsters¡­! Maybe hunting, I mean helping more students might be good! Let¡¯s find our next target!¡± Elena¡¯s eyes shone brightly. The team¡¯s priest. She should be okay, right? ¡°¡­First, let¡¯s find a ce to sleep.¡± Beyond Elena, the sun was setting. ¡ô The third day dawned. The coin farming had resumed. Currently, each person had earned just over 300 coins. ¡®At this rate, we should be able to gather 400 coins by tomorrow.¡¯ The benchmark for Aether promotion. There might be a slight margin of error, but that should be enough. Then. ¡°Brother!¡± Elena called out to Ian. She was pointing at a patch of grass that had turnedpletely white. ¡°There¡¯s another sign of the Celeste faction here! And it¡¯s a pretty intense one!¡± Indeed, there were more white patches of grass than in other ces. Elena smiled, exhaling lightly. ¡°Brother, I have a suggestion.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s follow these traces and eradicate the Celeste faction! They¡¯re using a lot of divine power, so I think we can beat them! And!¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve been seeing their traces since yesterday, they must have quite a few coins! We¡¯ll hunt Celeste and get coins. Two birds with one stone!¡± Hehehehe- Elena grinned wickedly. ¡°No.¡± Ian¡¯s firm refusal left Elena gaping in shock. ¡°W-why¡­!¡± ¡°The fact that we can see their traces means they¡¯re moving before us. They¡¯re strong. There¡¯s no need to overextend ourselves.¡± A few more monster hunts would secure their promotion. There was no need to take on the risky variable of fighting other people. Besides. ¡®Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡¯ Priests moving in a group like this? It was highly likely to be the party of the saintess candidate. At that moment. ¡°¡­Wait.¡± Danya, who was ahead, suddenly stopped. ¡°Over here!¡± Ian turned his head in the direction she was pointing. It was a giant tree. Three long, rough w marks were etched into the tree trunk. ¡°A¡­ a bear?¡± Danya, trembling, muttered as she approached. ¡°A bear?¡± ¡°Yes. It looks like bear w marks. But it¡¯s several times bigger than a normal bear.¡± A bear. A bear. Ian fell into thought. The width of a single w mark on the tree seemed to be about 1 meter. A gigantic creature with ws 1 meter wide. Naturally, one creature came to mind. The massive crater in the center of Volta Ind. The creature living inside, the master of this ind. < Crimson Grizzly > Ian subconsciously murmured. ¡°¡­Why did that thinge out?¡± It seemed like the field boss had left its home. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 ¡°It seems like a dangerous situation.¡± Control Room. Whispers spread among the gathered professors. ¡°Have there been no updates from the professors who went out for field support?¡± Unlike other ces on Volta Ind, the central ind can only track the location and stamina of students wearing bracelets. About half of the students who entered the central ind have been eliminated. Naturally, anxiety began to spread among the professors gathered in the control room. ¡°There is still no news.¡± ¡°¡­ Too many students are being eliminated right after entering the central ind.¡± ¡°In this case, we should¡­¡±A brief silence fell over the control room. Violet also joined in that silence. The owner of the central ind, a third-grade dangerous species, the Crimson Grizzly. Also known as Urugios. The promotion exams of Lichten Academy have been held on this Volta Ind several times. However, the ind¡¯s owner has never personally appeared until now. ¡°¡­ It can¡¯t be.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°This monster has never left its nest before. It¡¯s a strict territorial creature. It wouldn¡¯t leave its crater to wander now.¡± He spoke firmly. Violet quietly tapped her lips from her seat. His words were credible. As the head of the Reconnaissance Department, he had considerable knowledge about dangerous species. But idents always happen where they are least expected. What if someone deliberately provoked Urugios? If they have reached the central ind, they are already among the top students in this exam. For about half of them to be eliminated one after another? It¡¯s not a situation where one can simply think someone had a good strategy and move on. ¡°We should be more cautious.¡± Violet spoke up. This Volta Ind is a ce full of various mysterious phenomena. Even if one believes in the abilities of the students of Lichten Academy, it doesn¡¯t mean they can be blindly trusted. Above all, Violet was suspecting one possibility. The mysterious artifact operating on this ind, the ¡®bracelet¡¯. Despite the intuitive and convenient system of the protective shield¡¯s stamina, it might be misleading people. ¡°If a high-ranking dangerous species like Urugios appears, we must consider the possibility that the bracelet might not function properly.¡± The critical rationality unique to wizards questioned that as well. If any student gets seriously injured, it would be problematic for Lichten Academy. Even now, professors are not actively dealing with students who have reached [0]. They trust the protective function of the bracelets. But if that premise were to be shattered, the current approach of the professors would becent. It could potentially lead to fatalities. However, other professors dismissed Violet¡¯s concerns as unfounded. ¡°Of course, I expected the ever-critical Professor Violet to say something.¡± Engelgard from the Knight Department spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s an unlikely scenario. Injuries and fatalities have urred for various reasons already. Even if the bracelet¡¯s efficacy drops, it¡¯s something the students have to handle.¡± They must handle death. Engelgaard certainly had a strict educational philosophy. Violet shared that as well. She simply disliked standing by and watching preventable incidents. This was purely a matter of efficiency. ¡®¡­ I am also worried about Ian.¡¯ For some reason, Ian is involved in most major incidents whenever they ur. Hopefully, nothing major happens this time. Violet murmured briefly. ¡ô Suspicious. The further they went while hunting monsters, a faint sense of unease tickled their skin. ¡°¡­ It seems there are fewer monsters than yesterday.¡± Danya murmured. ¡°There are also no increasing traces of students.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s different from yesterday.¡± The party members each added a word. This persistent sense of incongruity. It¡¯s not something that can be dismissed as a mere hunch, as everyone feels something simr. Therefore, it should not be ignored. The feeling of unease is a warning of danger etched into their instincts. Ian spoke up. ¡°I have a rough idea. It¡¯s possible that the ind¡¯s owner, the Crimson Grizzly Urugios, is wandering around.¡± Urugios. The most notable feature of this creature is its ¡®ferocity.¡¯ And it makes sense. ¡°Come to think of it, thousands of uninvited guests have invaded its home and turned it upside down under the guise of an exam.¡± No, it¡¯s not even human. Considering its size, it would probably see the students as nothing more than a swarm of mosquitoes. Trying to rest while surrounded by buzzing mosquitoes. ¡­ He¡¯d have his rage gauge maxed out too. ¡®Why am I empathizing with the monster?¡¯ Ian shook his head to dispel the distracting thoughts. Understanding the enemy¡¯s psychology is essential. The monster¡¯s ¡®rage¡¯ is a crucial point to exploit. Its attack patterns depend on its level of anger. When first encountered, it primarily uses straightforward attacks. Swipes and actions simr to those of an ordinary bear. But as things don¡¯t go its way, its patterns be more varied. Biting, grabbing and throwing, body mming, and so on. The problem arises in the final phase when its rage is maxed out. After a long battle, failing to catch the buzzing mosquitoes in front of it, its fur turns crimson with rage. The so-called ¡®Berserk¡¯ state. At this point, the patterns actually simplify. However, each attack¡¯s power and speed increase drastically. ¡°¡­ Hmmm.¡± Of course, there are strategies to defeat it. Assuming it¡¯s in its den. But if it¡¯s roaming outside itsir? ¡®We must be careful not to encounter it.¡¯ Elena and Danya murmured. ¡°¡­ Somehow, I smelled blood.¡± ¡°There were traces of holy power everywhere. Were those defensive marks?¡± It seems we need to be mentally prepared. Ian gathered his party members. Elena fidgeted anxiously. ¡°Th-That Urugios must be incredibly strong!¡± Danya also had a worried expression, but Linaforted them with a bright smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Elena. We have Ian with us.¡± Hmm. While it was nice of her to reassure them, even Ian didn¡¯t have a special method if it was Urugios. He did know its weakness, though. ¡°If we encounter it, aim for its eyes. Use Danya and Lina¡¯s elemental attacks to trigger a ¡®Burn¡¯ reaction. That should be enough to make it pause for a moment.¡± ¡°And after that?¡± Gulp. Lina swallowed hard and looked up at him, expecting a brilliant strategy. ¡°We run away.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Taking it down directly is too much. Its physical capabilities are overwhelming. Ideally, we would use the swampy terrain near itsir, but if it¡¯s roaming around, that method won¡¯t work either.¡± He had nned to defeat Urugios and obtain the hidden piece in itsir, but¡­ ¡®¡­Wait a moment.¡¯ Ian suddenly stopped in his tracks. Maybe there¡¯s a way. By utilizing the ¡®Super Regeneration¡¯ and ¡®Berserker¡¯s Shield¡¯ passives he recently acquired, it might be possible. After all, it¡¯s a skill that multiplies his damage by ten. But he quickly shook his head. ¡®There¡¯s no need to be greedy.¡¯ The promotion to Aether was a crucial element for advancing the scenario. He had to y it safe. Thus, Ian¡¯s party continued to hunt monsters cautiously, keeping a vignt eye on their surroundings. For a while. ¡°Help, please!¡± A voice called out from beyond the bushes. ¡°Brother, over there¡­!¡± ¡°I heard it too.¡± Beneath a tree marked with deep gashes from a massive bear, a studenty sprawled on the ground. ¡°What should we do? Should we help?¡± ¡°Or maybe¡­temporarily take their coins for safekeeping wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea either!¡± Ian calmed Lina and Elena before stepping forward. ¡°Everyone, stay here.¡± He didn¡¯t n to help the fallen student unconditionally. However, if the student had valuable information, he could consider it worth the effort. Ian cautiously approached the female student. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like a trap.¡¯ There were no noticeable elements around. The tree she leaned against was bare of leaves, indicating no one was hiding there. Beyond that was a cliff about 10 meters high. ¡°Are you alright?¡± The student responded urgently. ¡°P-please help me. I can¡¯t move my leg.¡± A wound was etched into her leg. While the bleeding wasn¡¯t severe, it seemed like the tendons had been struck, rendering her leg immobile. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°A¡­a giant bear-like creature!¡± ¡°What did it look like?¡± ¡°Its surface was covered with something like hard, crimson armor.¡± ¡­So it is Urugios. Ian let out a small sigh. ¡°Where did the bear go?¡± ¡°I-it jumped down there!!¡± The student pointed to the bottom of the cliff. It was an area dense with trees, stretching for dozens of meters. ¡®So Urugios is wandering down there?¡¯ They just needed to avoid descending into that area. ¡°Mypanions are down there¡­¡± The student murmured sadly. However, Ian spoke firmly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t help with that.¡± With that, Ian approached the student. He had obtained the information, so he should offer some help. As he turned toward the cliff to approach her. ¡°¡­?¡± A sudden, chilling sensation struck him. What had he missed? Why did the height of this cliff seem so familiar? At the end of that question, he let out a small sigh. ¡°Oh.¡± It was simr to the height of the school rooftop where he first fell. Back then, the sunset was just like this. And when he turned around at that moment¡­ ¡ª Thud! Something collided with Ian. He described it as ¡®something¡¯ because it felt like he was pushed by thin air. As he was pushed toward the cliff, Ian reached out towards the invisible presence. There had to be something there. Swish. He felt a fabric-like texture. He pulled it. Is it an invisibility cloak? As the cloak was pulled away, the figure became visible. ¡°¡­How did you!¡± A man stared back at him, wide-eyed in shock. Ian recognized that blond face. ¡°So, it was you, Dave.¡± A knight from the Priest Department. And. The Guardian Knight of Aria Lumines Bell, the saint candidate. Recognizing his face, Ian tumbled down the cliff. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Pow! Pow! Pow! Ian tumbled down the cliff. Just as he was about to hit the ground. ¨C Woong Ian used his [Leap] to absorb the impact andnded softly. His feet gently touched down. ¡°Phew.¡± Ian sighed and looked up.A sheer cliff. ¡°Going back up is going to be tough.¡± Ian¡¯s movement skill, [Leap], has its limitations. It¡¯s difficult to use for vertical movement. Upon falling, he realized the cliff¡¯s height was at least 20 meters. Climbing back up would be a challenge. ¡°I got caught.¡± He got caught perfectly. He had thought there might be a trap. But he didn¡¯t expect the trap to be an invisibility scroll. The look in the guy¡¯s eyes when he removed the invisibility cloak is still unforgettable. ¡°Still, if this counts as a gain, it¡¯s a gain.¡± He now knew who orchestrated this. The saint candidate Aria¡¯s escort knight. Dave. He was definitely emitting killing intent from our first meeting.¡¯ When he met Aria at the library, Dave had been right next to her, ring at him as if he wanted to kill him. That¡¯s why he remembered him. ¡®I¡¯m sure¡­ it was also written in Pongpong¡¯s love diary.¡¯ [ Love Diary ] There, it was written about suspicions regarding the rtionship between Aria and Dave. Was it affection or excessive loyalty? Whatever it was, the fact that Dave saw Ian as a thorn in his side to be removed was undeniable. ¡®Now I¡¯m curious.¡¯ Did Aria give the order, or was this Dave acting on his own? It felt like Aria had suddenly intervened when Emilia was leading in the criminal race. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll think about thister.¡± For now, survival was the priority. If Ian¡¯s prediction was correct, this ce was where Urugios roamed. ¡ª¡ª! Above all, the faint but clear rumbling of the ground made him confident in his prediction. ¡°At this point, there¡¯s no other choice.¡± Either he escapes this ce without being caught by him, or fights until he dies. Ian nced at his health. [ 78 ] Thanks to his rapid regeneration, his health was at a decent level. The problemy elsewhere. ¡°If Urugios¡¯ attack is too strong and prates this bracelet¡­¡± Just like Victor Jan said, Urugios¡¯ attacks could prate this bracelet. No, they would definitely prate. The guy was incredibly strong. That would truly endanger his life. He had to be cautious. As he was moving while staying alert to his surroundings, ¡°Kyahhh¡ª!¡± A shrill scream was heard. Where was it from? Ahead? Right? ¡°Move, Brotheeerrr!¡± Ah, above. Looking up, Ian saw Elena riding a shield like a snowboard down the cliff. ¡­ She¡¯s skilled. No. Can that even be called riding? ¨C Ting, ting, tang. Bounce, bounce, bounce¡­ Roll¡­ Elena rolled on the ground amidst the dust. ¡°I-I-I¡¯m okaaaay!¡± Aside from her spinning eyes, she seemed pretty sturdy. But the screams didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°Nyaaaah!¡± ¡°Aaah!¡± Ian quickly moved to catch Lina and Danya. ¡°Hnng~??¡± Danya¡¯s moan immediately followed. Ian barely managed to detach her clinging body and asked about the situation. ¡°Why are you guys here?¡± Elena puffed out her chest and shouted in response to Ian¡¯s question. ¡°When Brother fell, we couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing!¡± Hahaha! Elenaughed proudly, tapping her meager chest. She looked quite reliable. But her expression seemed a bit suspicious. As Ian gave her a sideways nce, she confessed. ¡°Actually¡­ that guy Dave was too strong. He hadpanions too. Those creepy Celeste Cultists!!!¡± ¡°And so?¡± ¡°We thought we¡¯d get annihted if we kept fighting, so we decided to jump off the cliff instead!¡± So there was a story behind it. ¡°Anyway, good jobing here. I was feeling overwhelmed about how to get through this alone.¡± That was true. If a situation arose where they had to fight Urugios, being alone would be impossible. ¡°Did you need me, Brother?¡± Hehe. Elena squinted her eyes and chuckled slyly. She was already getting cocky. But she was right. He needed her at that time. ¡°Lead the way, Elena.¡± ¡°Huh? Me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why¡­!¡± ¡°Because Urugios likes soft, little girls.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Sister Danya should go!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re shorter.¡± ¡°¡­!!!¡± Elena was shocked, her mouth wide open. Actually, Urugios responds to holy power rather than small girls. He¡¯s generally aligned with evil attributes. Elena, her lips twitching, opened her mouth. ¡°Wait a minute. Then I should fall back! If I go ahead, it¡¯ll attract Urugios.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the goal.¡± The children looked at Ian with question marks floating above their heads. Ian dered once more. ¡°We¡¯re going to capture Urugios.¡± ¡ô Initially, he nned to proceed cautiously. But he changed his mind. ¡®Aria¡¯s up to something.¡¯ He didn¡¯t know what her ns were, but the situation was definitely changing rapidly. In such cases, speed is crucial. If they moved too slowly trying to be cautious, they might end up just being dragged along by the situation. ¡®Moreover.¡¯ There was a possibility the promotion battle might end abruptly. If the students suffered severe damage from Urugios, the professors would make a decision. In that case, he¡¯d have to give up the Hidden Piece in Urugios¡¯sir. ¡®That would be such a waste.¡¯ It didn¡¯t suit his nature to give up when the goal was within reach. Besides, he could trust hisrades. After walking for a while. ¨C Guooooooooo! A loud roar echoed from afar. Elena flinched and turned back with a look like a wet puppy. However, Ian¡¯s face was resolute. ¡°Eek!¡± After walking a bit further with Elena leading the way, ¡ª Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! A massive noise apanied by vibrations shook the ground from a distance. Soon, trees started falling over, and the creature revealed itself. An overwhelminglyrge crimson bear, at least 4 meters tall. Calling it 4 meters tall seemed an understatement; it looked like a massive house walking. < Crimson Grizzly, Urugios.> ¡°¡­Dinosaur!¡± Elena shouted. It¡¯s not a dinosaur. It¡¯s a bear. Though, there were enough elements to make that mistake. A colossal size. A hard, armor-like outer skin. Thinking about it, there¡¯s not much difference between that and a dinosaur. ¡ª Grrrrr! It growled deeply from its core. This was a sign of an impending attack. ¡°Run, Elena!¡± ¡°Kyaaah!¡± Ian stepped in front of Urugios to protect the fleeing Elena. ¨C Guoooooooo! With a tremendous roar, it lifted its front paw. A shadow darkened the ground. It was as if a bridge was being lifted. Swaaack! Its arm swung down with immense force. ¡ª Kaga-gaga-gang! The sound of metal shing violently as it collided with the Berserker¡¯s Shield. Even though Ian¡¯s shield was metal, the fact that the bear produced such a sound was baffling. [ 59 ] His health dropped significantly in just one sh. Even though he deflected most of the attack, this happened. Despite his enhancements, his whole body ached. Gritting his teeth, Ian swung his gauntlet at the armor on Urugios¡¯s arm. < Limb Destruction >, a special attack on a boss¡¯s specific body part. The solid ck-red armor of the creature was a target for limb destruction. This was crucial for dealing proper damage and temporarily putting the boss in a groggy state. However. ¡ª Ting! His fist bounced off without even scratching it. Instead, only Ian¡¯s hand hurt. [ 58 ] His health dropped by 1 because of it. ¡ª Guoooooo! The creature roared in displeasure at the result. Well, you¡¯d be mad if you got bitten by a mosquito too, Ian thought. He swung again. ¨C Kaang! Still, there was no scratch¡­ But that wasn¡¯t the goal. The objective was to enrage it. The key to defeating Urugios was managing its rage gauge. In short. ¡®I can control your emotions at my will.¡¯ With this mindset, Ian kept punching Urugios¡¯s arm, even though it did no damage. The creature¡¯s enormous eyes started to bulge with fury. ¡ª Grrrrr! A menacing growl that anyone could recognize as furious emanated from the creature. ¡®Did I finally hit a nerve?¡¯ Its judgment would be severely impaired now. Ian turned his back to the beast and started to run. ¡°If you want to catch me,e this way!¡± ¡ª Gaaaaaaah! Thump! Thump! The colossal creature dropped to all fours and charged after him. ¡®It feels like a piece of heavy machinery is chasing me.¡¯ Although he felt like he was being pursued by a dump truck, Ian didn¡¯t give up and kept running. The creature¡¯s greatest asset was its incredibly tough armor. Ian knew how to break that armor. The distance between them was narrowing. ¨C Squelch But at the same time, the ground started to soften. It was the muddy area Ian had scouted earlier. ¡ª Guoooooo! Normally, Urugios would have to turn around in front of the mud, but now it was different. That¡¯s because Ian had properly provoked it. Squelch! Squelch! The mud couldn¡¯t withstand the creature¡¯s weight and churned wildly. Ian deliberately maintained a distance where he was just out of reach. ¡ª Whooom! The creature extended its hand to grab Ian. But. ¨C Pow! Ian used [Leap] to evade, causing the unbnced creature to roll into the mud. No longer a ck-red grizzly, it had turned into a mud-colored grizzly. Its defensive strengthy in that tough armor. The armor was a kind of protective shield. And the most effective ¡®interaction¡¯ to break through such a shield is! ¡°Danya! Now!¡± The ¡®Germination¡¯ reaction when earth and nt elements meet. At Ian¡¯s shout, Danya scattered seeds onto the creature¡¯s armor. The sprouts began to grow as the nt element took root in the earth. The creature thrashed its body to shake them off, but the deep-set mud made it difficult. Soon. ¡ª Crackle! Cracks began to form on the creature¡¯s armor. ¡ª Crash! The broken pieces of armor fell away. (TL RANT: I¡­ why do authors have to make R18 chapters so long¡­ Also R18 chapters will be uploaded on G-Drive and linked on a chapter page on the website (if you don¡¯t read in English and are on mobile, open the pdf file in another tab on the browser and google trantion should work on it. Also weird how the new novel had R18 chapter released before this¡­Check it out here: The Mid-Boss Hides the Heroines (Shameless self-promotion >_<)) Chapter 152 Chapter 152 The strategy for defeating Urugios is as follows: ¨C Phase 1: This is the initial encounter with the creature. It¡¯s a dangerous type with high vignce and intelligence. The key in this phase is to drive it into a state of rage. ¨C Phase 2: Lead the enraged creature to the mud pit near itsir. This mud pit has special properties that soften its armor. Focus on attacking and removing the softened armor. ¨C Phase 3: The so-called ¡®Scratched Urugios¡¯ state. Intelligence is reduced, but physical abilities increase drastically. It gains significant attack power but has reduced defense due to the removal of its armor. Tackle it effectively. The key to defeating Urugios is destroying its armor during Phase 2. An essential part of this process is rolling the creature in the mud near itsir. However, this area is neither itsir nor a mud pit with special effects.¡°But we have an interaction.¡± The interaction between nt elements and earth elements. The best efficiency for shields is achieved through this interaction. With Danya¡¯sbination, we were able to sessfully remove Urugios¡¯s armor. Thanks to this, Urugios has entered an incapacitated state. ¡°Ifrit!¡± Whoosh! Lina unleashed an immense me. The fur of Urugios burned away instantly. On top of that. ¡°Nyah!¡± A rain of arrows from Danya poured down. Magical arrows falling like a heavy rain. It¡¯s always a spectacr sight. However. ¡ª Roaaar! The creature recovered from its brief incapacitation with a roar. Its remaining fur turned aplete red with the roar. ¡°Entering Phase 3! Everyone, fall back!¡± Ian shouted urgently. But was it a bit toote? Urugios¡¯s reset aggro was drawn to thest attacker, Danya. ¡°Danya, run away!¡± Swish. Danya swiftly fell back. But the aggro from Urugios remained on her. No matter how skilled Danya is, surviving an attack from the creature in Phase 3 would be difficult. ¡°Your opponent is me!¡± Ian threw a rock towards its eyes. Thud! The creature immediately turned and swatted the rock away. Urugios¡¯s weak point is its eyes. Although it wasn¡¯t a direct hit, it had a good effect. The creature¡¯s attention refocused on Ian. ¡ª Roaaar! The creature, now red with rage, charged directly. A straightforward diagonal swipe. Once in Phase 3, its patterns simplify. Thud. Ian rolled to evade. But. Drip. A small crack on the surface let blood flow out. Despite predictions, it was an overwhelmingly fast speed. The problem was that the creature, having passed Ian, seemed to defy physicalws and charged again. ¡ª Rooooar! Ian managed to deflect the impact while twisting his body but had to roll on the ground several times. [ 34 ] Health shattered in an instant. Despite blocking it and even spilling some of it, this is the result. It truly is an absurd creature. But perhaps because of that, the creature was now struggling in the mud. The ground, unable to support its weight, was dragging it down. Urugios should be hunted in the swamp, after all. ¡°Danya, Lina. Now¡¯s the time. Aim for its eyes.¡± The strategy that was shared in advance. Danya immediately nodded and fired her arrows. Thud! An arrow struck precisely in the creature¡¯s eye. Following that, Lina¡¯s mes engulfed it. ¡ª Raaaaaaar! Urugios writhed in pain as its flesh burned, but its struggles gradually lessened. Elena, who was observing, jumped with excitement. ¡°Hahaha! We did it! This voice is only for the big bear!¡± ¡°No, Elena.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly setting up a ¡®we did it¡¯ g¡­ Oh.¡± Ian¡¯s eyes narrowed in an instant as he examined Urugios. ¡®What¡¯s that on its shoulder?¡¯ There was a small, glowing yellow vial embedded in its left shoulder. It was the same color as the awakening potion used by Victor Jan. If that¡¯s an awakening potion, then when did it get embedded? ¡ª Grrr¡­ Grrr¡­ The creature¡¯s breathing gradually returned. And it slowly tried to open its eyes. Leaving onepletely destroyed eye as is, the other eye began to open slowly. A bloodied, red pupil fixed directly on Ian. ¡®¡­This is like a horror movie.¡¯ Ian spoke in a low voice. ¡°Everyone, fall back as far as possible. And pour in the strongest attacks you can.¡± ¡°R-Retreat!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t run. Only attacks will work. Trust me.¡± Ian¡¯s party members quickly fell back and unleashed their attacks. ¨C Pabababababak! ¨C Whooosh! Lina and Danya¡¯sbined attack painted the sky with green and red lights. Dust billowed up where Urugios had been. But through the dust, a towering ck shadow rose. The creature leapt as if it were flying. Thending spot was, of course, where Ian was. Ian gripped the Berserker¡¯s Shield. ¡°Elena, shield me!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Whoooosh! Elena¡¯s shield enveloped the area. At the same time, Urugios¡¯s attack exploded. Rumble. The ground shook violently. Followed by the sound of the shockwave. ¡ª Kuuuuaaaargh! Dust scattered. A massive crater formed as if a meteor had crashed. [ 5 ] Remaining health: 5. ¡°Cough!¡± Blood flowed from Ian¡¯s mouth. Bright red blood. He could feel his health depleting. And at the same time. ¡ª Bzzzzzz A ringing filled his head. His vision momentarily went dark. ¡°¡­.I-I-I-I-Ian!¡± ¡°Are¡­ are you okay?¡± The voices of hisrades came slowly and brokenly from afar. ¡°Ah.¡± Ian realized. It wasn¡¯t that they were speaking slowly. He was the one moving faster. An unknown force filled his body. He absorbed the blood-red energy. The ckness in Ian¡¯s vision was gradually filled with red. Finally, his eyes opened. The Berserker¡¯s Shield. The passive effect, , manifested. In a world turned entirely red. Ian faced Urugios and smirked. ¡°Bring it, you b*stard.¡± The sh between the two began. Boom¡ªKaaaaboom! A massive explosion enveloped the surroundings. ¡ô ¡ª Zzzziiiiiiing Ian¡¯s head was filled with a ringing sound. He felt incredibly dizzy. Ian shook his head. But he couldn¡¯t. He only felt a soft sensation on the back of his head. What¡¯s this? Did he copse? Ian slowly opened his eyes. Fortunately, the world had returned to its original colors instead of the red hue. ¡°Y-You¡¯re awake!¡± ¡°Ian!¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Drops of water fell on Ian. Danya, Lina, and Elena, who had gathered around Ian, were all in tears. ¡°Why the sudden outburst?¡± ¡°Brother was unconscious for a whole minute!¡± ¡°Only a minute, and you¡¯re crying so much.¡± ¡°The blood¡­!¡± Following Elena¡¯s gesture, Ian looked down and understood the situation. The clothes were so red that blood was squeezing out of them. It seemed he was indeed in a serious state. [ 24 ] On the other hand, his health had recovered quite a bit. Seeing that it stopped at 24, it seems the regeneration charges were all used up. ¡°Without Elena, it would have been a disaster!¡± Lina pointed to Elena¡¯s priestess robe. Indeed, her robe was also stained bright red. ¡°Good work, Elena.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay, Brother!¡± Ian used purification to clean Elena¡¯s clothes. ¡°By the way, what about Urugios¡­?¡± Danya silently pointed to one end of the area. The huge creaturey defeated. Ian approached and ced a bracelet near it. ¡°Oh.¡± And let out a short exmation. A whopping 2000 coins were awarded. Even if divided among four, that¡¯s 500 coins each. With this amount, even if he were to be out now, it would mean a promotion to Aether. ¡°W-Wow!¡± Lina, having received the coins, hugged Ian and jumped up and down. ¡°With this, if I get promoted to Aether, tuition is free¡­! Thank you! Thank you, Ian!¡± Then, as if realizing she¡¯d done something embarrassing, she clutched her chest and blushed, but her smile remained. Elena also looked quite pleased. But Danya seemed more relieved than happy. ¡°I¡¯m d.¡± It seemed she was genuinely worried that Ian might be dead. ¡°I told you. I don¡¯t die so easily.¡± There¡¯s still so much to do in this world. Ian, who had given a reassuring smile to Danya, approached Urugios¡¯s corpse again. The vial he had briefly noticed earlier. It seemed to be embedded somewhere on its shoulder. ¡°Here it is.¡± Ian carefully extracted the vial embedded in the creature¡¯s shoulder. The end of it was sharp, like a syringe. For now, let¡¯s take this with us. ¡°Then should we find a safe ce to rest?¡± Lina asked, looking at Ian. Ian shook his head. ¡°No. There¡¯s still something left to do.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Having defeated the field boss, they needed to im their rewards. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡ô On the cliff where Urugios had been active. A girl with blue hair gazed down from above. The girl, Sharon Pierce, was dressed in clothes stained heavily with blood. She had not eaten or slept properly; she had only pursued the traces of one person. Finally, she had arrived at the source of those traces. The direction of the traces pointed below the cliff. ¡ª Kaaaaa-boom! And beyond the cliff. The earth shook, and asionally an immense force burst forth. It was undoubtedly Urugios, a Grade 3 species. This meant Ian ckangers was likely in danger. Therefore, she had to save him. A remaining fragment of Emilia from earlier had subtly hinted at the woman¡¯s ns. Ian would be in grave danger. [ 12 ] Sharon had only 12 health left. Even if it was just this much, if it could help Ian, she would dly throw herself into the fray. Crunch. Sharon tightly gripped her blood-stained sword. Then she leapt off the cliff. The massive red bear visible in the distance. Despite the tremendous force emanating from it, Sharon strengthened her resolve. ¡ª Tap, tap! The reason was simple. She could sense Ian¡¯s presence beyond the cliff. If he was in danger, she needed to save him. She needed to atone, even just a little. ¡°Hang on, Ian. I¡¯ll find a way to¡­¡± She would help him. As Sharon rushed forward and began to see Urugios, ¡ª ng Sharon lost her grip on her sword. Urugios had already fallen. To Ian¡¯s strike. ¡°¡­ How.¡± A monster like that¡­ Alone? Sharon¡¯s expression crumbled. She felt it. Endless despair. Ian didn¡¯t need her help. He was strong on his own. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 The crater on the central ind. This field, devoid of trees but filled with grass, is the dwelling ce of Urugios. There were already two figures scouting the area. In the center of the crater, performing a ritual, was Aria Lumines Bell, a saintess candidate. And a short distance away, a man was watching her. He was Dave, her escort knight. Dave stood still, gazing at Aria with eyes full of passionate emotions. Was it admiration or perhaps affection? One thing was certain: he was constantly engraving his resolve into his heart. ¡®Candidate, I will absolutely make you a saint.¡¯Dave was prepared to do anything for that purpose. He had already dealt with Ian ckangers. He was the greatest obstacle in Aria¡¯s path. Ian ckangers, who had been by her side since she was young, constantly manipting her, was someone who deserved to die. Even now, when Aria has nightmares, she sometimes utters his name even in her sleep. He had already been thrown to Urugios as prey. He wouldn¡¯t survive. Dave let out a sigh of relief. ¡®The only thing left now is for Aria to be promoted to Aether.¡¯ Currently, the saintess candidate had 750 coins. Even if an unexpected incident caused her to be knocked out, she had umted enough to advance smoothly. Thanks to that, Dave had secured enough coins for himself as well. As long as he wasn¡¯t knocked out, he would ascend without issue. ¡®That means I¡¯ll have even more time to spend with the saintess candidate.¡¯ Even though they were together every moment, the future was important as well. While Dave was lost in these thoughts, ¡°?¡± Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Just as he was about to turn his head, ¡ª Thud! Dave¡¯s body copsed to the side. He had been struck hard by something. Lying on the ground, Dave blinked nkly as he stared at his bracelet. [ 0 ] The bracelet had turned gray, signaling his defeat. The meaning was simple. Dave had failed the Aether promotion. Who on earth? Through his blurring vision, he saw a man with ck hair. ¨C Close your eyes. Dave gritted his teeth, but it was no use. His consciousness faded. ¡ô ¡°Phew.¡± This was quite a nerve-wracking experience. Ian dispelled the invisibility scroll. His figure gradually appeared. Perhaps because he had used the exact same method Dave had used on him, Ian felt immensely satisfied. ¡°I¡¯m d I brought the Copy Scroll.¡± Ian had prepared extensively for the Aether promotion battle. He had packed his backpack full of supplies. One of them was this ¡®Copy Scroll¡¯. At first nce, it seemed no different from a game item like ¡®Reflective Counterattack Scroll¡¯, but among the veterans of Fantasy X Academy, it was a highly useful item. As the name suggests, it copies the function of the scroll the opponent uses. Of course, there are some restrictions. The most notable penalty is that you muste into direct contact with the scroll¡¯s function to copy it, the copied function is unstable, and the duration is short. Despite these various drawbacks, this scroll is valuable for one reason alone. It¡¯s cheap. Items like the ¡®Invisibility Scroll¡¯ or the ¡®Advanced Shield Scroll¡¯ can cost hundreds of millions of Krone each. But with this scroll, even if imperfectly, you can use such items for a rtively low price of around ten million Krone. ¡°It was a worthwhile investment.¡± Ian was confident as he looked at Dave, whoy unconscious. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go im the reward.¡± Field boss Urugios. The reward it drops is unique. The reward is a ¡®yer¡¯s Special Item.¡¯ Stepping over the fallen Dave, Ian walked forward. There, he saw a girl in a nun¡¯s habit kneeling on the ground. Aria Lumines Bell. The saintess candidate. Swish. She was drawing a magic circle on the ground. So focused was she that she didn¡¯t even notice Ian approaching. For a while, Ian watched the magic circle over Aria¡¯s shoulder, his brow furrowing in confusion. ¡°Hey, how do you know this?¡± His sudden voice startled her, and Aria scrambled backward across the ground. As she crawled away, her nun¡¯s habit rode up, revealing her pale white legs, now dirtied by the soil. ¡°Eek!¡± Her eyes trembled with fear. But Ian didn¡¯t care. He walked toward her and grabbed her hand. ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I did something wrong.¡± Aria mumbled, her eyes downcast. ¡­ This girl seems really broken, Ian thought with a sigh as he knelt in front of her. ¡°Aria.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°Look at me. Do you remember who I am?¡± She briefly met his gaze, then flinched away as if burned. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡± Ian¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Look properly.¡± (Illustration) Aria¡¯s eyes hesitantly returned to Ian¡¯s face. Gradually, her eyes widened in recognition. ¡°I¡­ Ian? Is it really Ian? Ian¡­ is it really you?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Why? Why did youe for me? I¡­ I did such horrible things to you¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯te here for you. You just happened to be here.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Ugh¡­¡± ¡°So, answer me. How did you know about that?¡± Ian pointed to the writing Aria had been engraving into the magic circle. ¡ºLaye Specia¡» The letters were crooked but unmistakably written in Korean. As soon as Ian pointed to them, Aria began to tremble uncontrobly. ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look away. Tell me, how do you know this?¡± Aria¡¯s expression crumbled. Her pupils quivered as she murmured. ¡°¡­No, this isn¡¯t right. Ian isn¡¯t supposed to be this scary.¡± Her eyes plunged back into despair, as if she was beyond reasoning. Ian clenched his eyes shut. ¡°Haa¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Please don¡¯t hit me. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She¡¯spletely broken. How did she end up like this? At this point, Ian couldn¡¯t see a way to restore her mental state. Should he just knock her out? After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ian shook his head. It might be better to let her promote to Aether and keep an eye on her. There¡¯s a chance Aria could be responsible, but in this state of mental copse, she would be easier to manage. Given a little time¡­ ¡®The real danger seems to be that guy, Dave.¡¯ Ian would have preferred to bury him while he had the chance, but that wasn¡¯t an option. The professors would likely rush in, and if they found out, not only would Ian be expelled, but he¡¯d also end up in prison. For now, he should im the reward. ¡°Close your eyes for a moment.¡± Ian blocked Aria¡¯s view and crouched by the magic circle she had been drawing. The crooked Korean characters, ¡ºLaye Specia¡» ¡°You might as well have written it in English.¡± The reward would manifest as long as the meaning was correct, regardless of thenguage. Ian quickly erased the letters and wrote them correctly: ¡ºyer¡¯s Special Item¡» Soon, the ground glowed yellow. A box, 50cm by 50cm, emerged. The item reward was determined randomly. But the item that emerges is something the yer will almost certainly need in the future. Therefore, this ¡°yer¡¯s Special Item¡± carries a prophetic nature. ¡ª Click! Ian opened the box without hesitation. A brilliant light surged from the box. The color was orange, indicating at least a legendary-grade item. ¡°¡­ Jackpot?¡± Ian clenched his fist in excitement at the sight of the light, but his enthusiasm quickly faded when he saw the actual item inside the box. A rusty chain-shaped ornament. The item, consisting of exactly three linked iron rings, was called [Rotted Chain Links]. ¡°Haa.¡± Ian let out a quiet sigh as he examined the reward. It was indeed a powerful item, but¡­ To reiterate, the ¡°yer¡¯s Special Item¡± has a prophetic nature. And the effect of this item is¡­ ¡¾Prevents fatal threats to your life three times.¡¿ Ian grasped the Rotted Chain Links in his hand. Without needing to equip it, the item naturally absorbed into his body. Three chain links were now etched like a tattoo on his right index finger. What kind of danger is about toe my way? Before he could ponder it further, ¡ª Fwoosh! Crackle! A massive firework burst in the sky. It was the signal marking the end of the Promotion Battle. ¡ô The signal announcing the end of the trial filled the sky. Ian left Aria and Dave behind and rejoined his group. ¡°¡­ What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t there at least two more days left?¡± Lina tilted her head. She was right. The professors had subtly hinted that the duration of the Promotion Battle would be between 5 to 7 days. It was only the end of the third day, so the battle was ending at least two days early. It did seem unusually quick. But Ian had a rough idea why. The gathering point for the end of the Promotion Battle was on the western side of the ind. It was an area with a few rather impressive buildings along with the port. As the students gathered one by one, the area became quite crowded. ¡°Wow, that was brutal. I just want to go home.¡± ¡°Let me take a bath¡­ Give me something to eat¡­ Please¡­¡± Grumbles echoed from various directions. It was understandable, as most of these students looked exhausted and disheveled. It was a wonder they had managed to survive the past three days. Meanwhile, other rumors circted. ¡°Did you hear? A few students from the Priest Department got seriously injured and were sent straight to Lichten.¡± ¡°There were a few from the Knight Department too.¡± ¡°A huge bear was reportedly attacking students.¡± The better-off students exchanged these kinds of rumors. ¡°Do you know? They say it was one of those dangerous species, a ¡®Crimson Grizzly¡¯, and that one of the students even killed it.¡± ¡°¡­ Jennifer, I know you like attention, but isn¡¯t that a bit too far-fetched?¡± The gathering point buzzed with various rumors. Then, a professor rose into the air, ready to make an announcement. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Was it magic or just an illusion? The professor, who seemed to be floating in mid-air as if standing on a transparent tform, was Engelgard, the head of the Knight Department. Regardless of what it was, it was an excellent disy of showmanship. The attention of the students was instantly focused. ¡°Wow¡­ How did he do that?¡± ¡°How much did he hone his Aura?¡± Admiration erupted among the students. However, there were alsoints among the gathered cadets. ¨C If it had gone on a bit longer, I could have been promoted to Aether.There was frustration like that. Most of the students were relieved that the survival game was over, so theirints were restrained, but otherwise, the discontent would have been quite significant. Engelgard, seeming ustomed to dealing with such discontent, used showmanship to control the students¡¯ mood from the start. Then, he spoke. Engelgard¡¯s voice resonated widely with magic. ¡°Everyone, you worked hard. The exam ended earlier than everyone¡¯s expectations; some may be happy, and some may feel it was unfair.¡± As Engelgard paused, various reactions were exchanged. He continued. ¡°However, there are clear regtions regarding the end of the exam. I cannot disclose those regtions. However, since it was unanimously decided by all the professors, you may discuss any doubts with the respective professors.¡± As he spoke, Engelgard¡¯s gazended precisely on Ian¡¯s party. Ian frowned. What could those regtions be? The Urugios hunt? Or perhaps injuries or deaths among the students? The number of injuries and deaths is not publicly disclosed. If it was the condition of the Urugios, there should have been more than one or two deaths or injuries. Well, thanks to that, he was promoted safely. Ian shrugged. The professor¡¯s announcement continued. ¡°Everything that happened on the ind should be left on the ind. Dormitories have been assigned based on academic performance, so everyone should use tonight to catch up on things.¡± Someone shouted in response. ¡ª What about dinner!! ¡°Of course, we have prepared top-quality, specially made beef barbecue from Volta Ind.¡± ¡ª Waaaaa! The cheer that seemed to fill the ind. Ian looked around with an incredulous expression. ¡­ Were you all nobles? Well, a noble who has been starving for three days is more greedy than a beggar who has been starving for a week. ¡ô A three-day survival game. Food and wooden tables were prepared in the spacious outdoor area. A feast wasid out after the hard struggle. ¨C Ahaha! ¨C It¡¯s so delicious! Happy chatter andughter filled the air. Danya held a te and looked around. ¡°Here, Danya!¡± Lina, standing on a chair and waving her hands, was visible. As Danya approached the table, she noticed a boy. It was inevitable. Ian had ck hair that stood out even from a distance. Whenever she saw that ck hair, her heart always started to flutter. Ian, who was eating, noticed Danya and grinned. ¡°Sit down quickly. Try it before it gets cold. It¡¯s delicious.¡± His deep, resonant voice and natural smile blended so well with the lively background of the children moving around that Danya stuttered without realizing it. ¡°Nyah¡­ Uh, yes.¡± Uh, where should she sit? Danya was momentarily flustered. Where should she sit? She wants to sit close to Ian, but it might be too obvious. At that moment. Lina, winking, pointed to a seat facing Ian. ¡°Here, I¡¯ve saved a spot for you.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± It was a seat where she could see Ian¡¯s face clearly with just a nce. Danya, barely eating, kept ncing at Ian. Crunch, crunch. The veins in Ian¡¯s arms that bulged with each cut of the meat. The thick arm muscles that were visible when he lifted his fork to his mouth. Since getting to know him, Ian had been growing more and more masculine each day. Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heart raced every time she looked at Ian, and that was probably the reason. Danya, who was secretly ncing at Ian, stared at his lips for a while. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s up, Danya?¡± Ian tilted his head and asked. It was only then that Danya realized she had been staring at Ian nkly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing!¡± ¡°What? Don¡¯t you like the meat? You haven¡¯t eaten any.¡± The same reason for the food on her te that she barely touched. Ian looked at her empty te with concern. Danya hurriedly came up with some excuse. ¡°I, I¡¯m just¡­ my arm¡­ yeah, my arm hurts.¡± ¡°Did you hurt it when younded earlier?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so¡­¡± Seeing Ian¡¯s worried expression, Danya felt a pang of guilt. Did he know her guilt? Ian asked kindly. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first and then have Elena take a look at it. But you need to eat something first.¡± Swoosh. Ian cut a piece of meat to make it easier to eat. Then he offered it to Danya. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°If your arm hurts, you should say so. Here, open up.¡± Danya stared nkly at the forking towards her mouth. I-is he feeding me? Danya¡¯s face turned bright red. ¡°I-I can eat it myself.¡± ¡°But your arm hurts.¡± ¡°Still.¡± ¡°Oh. My arm hurts too.¡± Ian pretended his arm hurt. Danya, without realizing it, opened her mouth. Ian ced the meat in Danya¡¯s mouth. ¡°Chew it well.¡± Ian, smiling, went back to his own meal. His warm and kind demeanor was soforting. ¡°¡­ Nyah.¡± As Danya savored the meat, she looked at Ian. Soft skin. The juice of the meat spreading in her mouth. Danya¡¯s appetite slowly turned into another desire. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t hold it any longer.¡¯ Danya whispered quietly, so Ian wouldn¡¯t hear. ¡ô Amodations are given out by rank. Ian¡¯s party was naturally the first ce overall in the promotion match. ¡°Wow¡­ Elena, I¡¯ve never seen such a wonderful amodation before!¡± Ian¡¯s party was given an ultra-luxurious vi with an ocean view and a swimming pool. Elena, who was the first to enter, expressed genuine admiration. Lina and Danya, who entered after her, couldn¡¯t stop their amazement. ¡°What is this ce? It¡¯s so beautiful!!!¡± ¡°The sky looks so open! The moon is shining too!¡± Lina looked around with awe. The distant sunset over the sea was incredibly beautiful. ¡®¡­ If it hadn¡¯t been for Ian, I wouldn¡¯t have seen such a view.¡¯ The amodation provided by Ian. Thinking about it made Lina¡¯s face flush with warmth. Did Danya¡¯s influence affect her? Since arriving on the ind, Lina¡¯s face had been constantly flushed. The difference from Danya was that it was her neck, not her lower abdomen, that was turning red. If only she had a mating season like Danya, she could use that as an excuse to cling to Ian. Of course, Lina wasn¡¯t without a n. ¡®First, I need to keep my promise.¡¯ She needed to find a way to get Danya and Ian together. That was Lina¡¯s top priority right now. Having helped Danya with her kissing practice and other things, Lina was confident that Danya would be able to handle it now. ¡°I¡¯m going to step outside for a moment to get some fresh air.¡± At that moment, Ian left the room. Lina secretly called Danya. ¡°Hmm?¡± Danya tilted her head. Lina nced around to make sure Elena was bouncing on the bed, not paying attention, then whispered to Danya. ¡®Today¡¯s the opportunity.¡¯ ¡®Ah¡­ Yes!¡¯ Lina was surprised by Danya¡¯s proactive response, which was different from usual. ¡®Looks like Danya made up her mind too.¡¯ She felt a little jealous. But still, a promise is a promise. ¡°Good luck.¡± Lina gently pushed Danya towards the door Ian had just exited. ¡ô Ian sat on a bench with a view of the sea. He was taking some time to sort out his thoughts. Looking at the setting sun beyond the sea, he felt much lighter. ¡®Oh, right.¡¯ Ian rummaged through his pocket. In his hand was the light attribute ring. He had realized during the fight earlier that he should have given the ring to Silvia, but he had brought it back with him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to give it to her.¡± As he muttered, a voice naturally interjected. ¡°Hee. Who are you nning to give that ring to?¡± ¡°Oh, this? I meant to give it to Silvia, but I forgot.¡± ¡°Hm? When were you nning to give it?¡± ¡°As soon as we get back to Lichten. I should have given it before we came.¡± ¡°It must be a precious ring, then.¡± ¡°Is it? Hmm. I guess so.¡± As Ian unconsciously continued answering, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. ¡®Who am I talking to?¡¯ Ian turned his head to find Danya standing there, tears in her eyes. ¡°Idiot! Fool!¡± She then ran into the building. ¡­ Hmm. For some reason, Ian felt a strong sense of guilt. ¡ô Danya¡¯s bedroom After begging for about ten minutes, Ian managed to enter the room. He kneeled without hesitation and started to exin. ¡°Were you really preparing to propose?¡± ¡°I swear it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Danya¡¯s mood quickly improved. It was a misunderstanding that had arisen from her expectation that Ian might give her the ring. Ahem. Clearing her throat lightly, Danya spoke. ¡°Well then, I suppose a reward is in order.¡± ¡°¡­ A reward?¡± Rustle. Danya took off her fur slippers. Why slippers in such a warm room? As if she had heard Ian¡¯s internal question, Danya exined. ¡°I heard that it makes your feet soft. I always take good care of them.¡± Ah, that¡¯s why. Well, understand¡­ No, he still didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Because you like feet.¡± ¡°I do?¡± ¡°When we first teamed up in the Shadow Forest, you keptmenting on how much you liked my feet.¡± Just as Ian was about to respond. ¡°Hmm.¡± Danya¡¯s toes pressed against Ian¡¯s mouth. The pink, flushed toes emitted a sweet peach fragrance. ¡°Since that day, I¡¯ve practiced using my feet a lot.¡± The wiggling toes teased Ian¡¯s tongue. The moist, sticky sensation naturally flowed from Danya¡¯s feet. Ian looked up and met Danya¡¯s eyes. Danya gazed down at him with eyes softened by desire. A sweet voice emerged from her lips. ¡°You look cute like this, Ian.¡± With a teasing smile, Danya removed her feet from Ian¡¯s mouth. Then she slowly caressed Ian¡¯s body. Chin. Neck. Shoulders. Chest. Abdomen. Her toes slowly moved downward. Softly. Her feet came to a halt at Ian¡¯s waist. ¡°Danya, wait¡­ ah.¡± Danya¡¯s feet skillfully removed Ian¡¯s lower garments. Ian¡¯s exposed lower body was revealed without a single piece of cloth. Danya¡¯s gaze paused momentarily on the inside of Ian¡¯s thighs. ¡°¡­ Haa?¡± A hot breath escaped her lips. Then, Danya swallowed hard like a cat that had found its prey. Swoosh. Danya¡¯s feet skillfully moved to probe the inside of Ian¡¯s thighs. Ian let out a small breath at the sudden touch of Danya¡¯s feet. Danya¡¯s small, soft feet. ¡®¡­ This is dangerous.¡¯ The exquisite pressure from her feet felt so good it was nearly unbearable. Blood rushed to his lower body, making him twitch. Danya, observing this, let out a purring sound. ¡°Hmm¡­? You¡¯re quite honest about this, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°W-wait, Danya. If we continue like this¡­¡± ¡°Rx and enjoy it. We¡¯re both adults, aren¡¯t we?¡± Danya¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile as she looked down at Ian. ¡°Want me to do something even better?¡± The small arch of Danya¡¯s feet embraced Ian in a delicate, exquisite manner. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Click This Button to Read the Chapter (Content Warning) Chapter 156 Chapter 156 The next morning. ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± Ian woke up in bed, feeling refreshed. [10:33] Is it already thiste? It¡¯s the first time he had slept in sote since the possession. ¡°¡­Well, I did go to bedtest night.¡± Recalling the events of the previous night, Ian smiled slightly. At the end, Danya, who was almost unconscious, fell asleep.¡®Maybe this is usable after all?¡¯ Ian praised his still-aching lower body as he turned his head. Did he manage to use his power and sleep even though he was tired? Luckily, the bed was dry. He was sure it had beenpletely damp just before he fell asleep. Danya, nestled in the clean white sheets, murmured in her sleep. ¡°Ugh¡­ It¡¯s too big, Nyah.¡± What kind of dream is she having? The sound of Danya¡¯s gentle breathing was oddly sweet. But what really caught Ian¡¯s attention was the way Danya was sleeping. Lying on her side like a shrimp, she was hugging her fluffy tail tightly. Almost like she was hugging a long pillow. ¡°¡­Wow. This is really too cute.¡± As Ian stroked her tail a few times, Danya made a contented sound. He covered her with the nket and got out of bed. ¡°Ah.¡± He almost slipped as he opened the door and stepped out. Looking down, he noticed the floor outside the door was oddly slippery. ¡°¡­Did someone spill water?¡± He thought he should clean it up so Danya wouldn¡¯t slip on it. When he went downstairs to the kitchen and living room, Elena greeted him enthusiastically. ¡°Woah-!¡± She came running up, holding a clock in one hand, and stopped in front of him. Then she held out the clock and eximed. ¡°Brother, sleeping in! It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen this!¡± How does she know his sleeping pattern¡­? Ah. They slept together while on the ind. Elena was a sleepyhead, and it was hard to wake her up. Did she hold onto that in her heart? She seemed to be enjoying the fact that she had found Ian¡¯s weakness, smiling widely and bouncing up and down. ¡°What on earth were you doing to wake up sote? I demand an exnation!¡± She¡¯s repeating what he said to her. And¡­ it was hard to argue with her. Ian ignored Elena and poured himself a ss of water. Gulp. Mmm. As expected of a luxury amodation, even the water tastes premium. ¡°Sister Lina, you should say something too¡­ huh? Why is Sister Lina¡¯s face so red?¡± Now Elena tilted her head in front of Lina. Just as Elena said, Lina¡¯s face was as red as a beet. Every time their eyes met, Lina avoided Ian¡¯s gaze. As if she was embarrassed. She kept tugging at her clothes, trying to cover the space between her legs. And there were dark circles under her eyes. Ian asked her. ¡°Did you not sleep wellst night?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ no, it¡¯s not that? It¡¯s just¡­ I had some stuff going on, you know? Haha? I didn¡¯t go to the second floor yesterday!¡± The second floor, where Danya and Ian¡¯s rooms were located. Lina¡¯s shifty eyes seemed a little suspicious, but Ian shrugged it off. Honestly, he was in a good mood regardless of anything. Ian sat down on the sofa in the living room. Creak. Through the transparent window, he could see the sea at a nce. He suddenly thought that living in a ce like this wouldn¡¯t be bad once everything was settled. ¡°Sister Danya also slept in!¡± Ian followed Elena¡¯s gaze to the stairs. Elena tilted her head, looking at Danya. But why is she walking so strangely? Waddle, waddle. Danya was awkwardly holding onto the stair railing as she came down, her legs spread apart. It seemed her lower body was quite sore. Well. Even just exercising would make one sore after doing it like that. Ian smiled faintly and supported Danya. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Danya¡¯s face turned red. Elena muttered as she watched them. ¡°You two¡­ something is suspicious.¡± Elena¡¯s eyes were full of questions. Ian skillfully redirected her attention. ¡°Rather than that, how about we go to the beach? It¡¯s been a while, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted, Brother! Sounds great!¡± ¡­As always, she¡¯s easy to distract. Thus, they spent thest day on the ind having a st, leaving everything else behind. They swam, fished, and even grilled the fish they caught. Finally, they ended the day with a campfire and fireworks, and once again, the deep night settled in. In the middle of the night. ¡ª Creak. Ian¡¯s bedroom door quietly slid open. Standing there was Danya, dressed in a fluttering nightgown. ¡°Sh-should we do it again tonight?¡± Of course he wanted to, but¡­ Tonight, he had to restrain himself. They were heading back to the Academy the next day, and if Danya ended up waddling around like before, it could make her the target of teasing. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m okay with it, Nyah!¡± No. Ian couldn¡¯t allow that. He firmly shook his head, but Danya continued to seduce him. Lick, lick. Her rough tongue kept teasing Ian. ¡°Mmmbph!¡± Danya discovered that she could find happiness even through her mouth. ¡°Ah¡­ Haa¡­¡± Though, for a while, she found it difficult to open her mouth. ¡ô The massive airship ferried the students once again, slicing through the sky. On the deck of the ship. Ian gazed out at the distant sky the ship was cutting through, lost in thought. ¡®It¡¯s about time for the next main scenario to begin.¡¯ The Volta Ind promotion was what you¡¯d call an interlude story nestled between the scenarios. He had achieved Aether promotion, obtained Super Regeneration, and even received bonus perks. It was, in essence, a 100% clean finish. Honestly, this was an achievement worth patting himself on the back for. Good. Very good. But¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve got a few new concerns now.¡± To be precise, the concerns he originally had became clearer. You could say the enemies he needed to face had be clearer too. First of all, there was Emilia Raymond. She had definitely shown hostility toward him. If she returned to Lichten and attended the Aether sses, she might be more aggressive in her attacks. Or perhaps even sooner. But she wasn¡¯t the only problem. ¡°What on earth was with Aria?¡± Aria, who had written in Korean on the ground. The more he thought about her, the more anxious he felt, as if somethingpletely unexpected might emerge. As soon as he got back, he needed to take a closer look at the ¡®Love Journal¡¯ that Pongpong had written. Moreover, there was the item he obtained as a ¡®yer Perk,¡¯ the [Rotten Chain Links]. Its effect was excellent, but the given context was troubling. It was like a prophecy of future events, an item that saves him from death three times. ¡®It¡¯s basically telling me that I¡¯ll face at least three life-threatening situations.¡¯ Why did the future seem so bleak? Ian looked down at the three strands of chains engraved on his finger. ¡°Three life-threatening situations.¡± If he thought it through, he had quite a few enemies. Emilia Raymond. Aria¡¯s knight. And then a sudden name popped into his head. ¡°¡­Blood Witch.¡± His first encounter with her was so shocking that she would asionally cross his mind. How wide was the gap in skill between them? He couldn¡¯t even begin to gauge it. ¡°Well¡­¡± This isn¡¯t an easy game. Maybe that¡¯s why he liked it so much. There¡¯s no need to be scared already. ¨C Crack. Ian stretched his shoulders and neck. The uing main scenarios. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t too worried. He felt confident that he could get through them just fine. ¡°Time to get prepared.¡± ¡ô ¡°My apologies, but without the branch manager¡¯s permission, you cannot enter.¡± The building had be sleek and polished. It was decent before, but now it had an unexpectedly shy appearance. ¡°Hmm.¡± This feels like¡­ The sudden transformation of a mid-sizedpany thatnded a huge contract overnight. ¡°Customer? Excuse me, did you have an appointment with Branch Manager Silvia Laurent?¡± The guard asked again. Ian, who had been tilting his head in thought, nodded confidently. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid you cannot enter.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This was an unexpected obstacle. Ian hade to give Silvia a ring that had crossed his mind, but now there was a barrier between them. ¡®I should¡¯ve contacted her through Kirtos first.¡¯ But going back to his amodation was too bothersome. Isn¡¯t it Silvia¡¯s fault for suddenly hiring security without warning? Feeling slightly indignant, Ian decided to try something bold. ¡°I¡¯m friends with the branch manager here.¡± ¡°¡­Friends?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The guard briefly nced at Ian, then quickly lowered his gaze, probably remembering the training about not being rude to guests. A professional, indeed. Silvia sure knows how to pick people. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but your name isn¡¯t on today¡¯s guest list. Maybe you could schedule another¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had meals with the branch manager!¡± Just as Ian was trying to bluff his way through, the sound of footsteps echoed as a graceful woman stepped out of the building. ¡°¡­What are you doing, Ian-nim? Stop bothering the poor guard ande on up.¡± At Silvia¡¯s words, the guard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So, you really were a friend?¡± ¡°Told you.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°No problem. I was just teasing a bit. I¡¯m the one who should apologize.¡± With a grin, Ian followed Silvia inside. Click. Without a word, Silvia opened the door to her office and walked in. Ian followed and let out an impressed whistle. ¡°Wow, your office really got a luxury upgrade.¡± Wasn¡¯t this the same office that used to be so cold she had to wear fur boots? Silvia chuckled softly as she looked at Ian. ¡°Haha. I spruced it up to win the business contracts with the Lichten City Council and the Academy. People judge by appearances, after all. And honestly, it didn¡¯t cost that much.¡± The business with the city council and the Academy. Silvia had even given up on the Aether promotion topete with the Raymond Merchant Guild. ¡°¡­So, how did it go?¡± At Ian¡¯s question, Silvia¡¯s face turned somber, and she hung her head low. ¡®Did she fail?¡¯ ¡­Well, if nothing unexpected happened, it would make sense for the Raymond Merchant Guild to take over all of Lichten. Just as Ian was about to offer some words offort, Silvia suddenly shed a bright smile and made a V sign with her fingers. ¡°I seeded!¡± Before Ian could even praise her, Silvia jumped at him and hugged him tightly. ¡°I did it, I really did it!¡± She then started bouncing up and down. Silvia, who rarely showed such joy, was beaming, and Ian found himself smiling and jumping along with her. But only for a moment. ¡®¡­Big.¡¯ Ian couldn¡¯t help but notice how close Silvia¡¯s body was pressed against him. Although she had a slender figure, the softness was unmistakable. As Silvia¡¯s excitement faded, she blushed and quickly stepped back. ¡°S-Sorry. I think I got too close. Why did I even do that¡­¡± Silvia fidgeted with the hem of her clothes, looking flustered. Ian spoke confidently. ¡°No need to apologize. I actually liked it.¡± Silvia looked at him in disbelief. ¡°¡­P*rvert.¡± ¡°I was just being honest about how I felt.¡± ¡°Huh? W-What exactly did you like?!¡± Silvia snapped back at him. Ian shrugged and responded honestly. ¡°The feel of your body? It was soft and pleasant when I hugged you.¡± ¡°U-Ugh¡­!¡± Silvia¡¯s face turned as red as a beet. It was a bit too crude for someone who grew up as a nobledy, but it was still apliment that made her feel good. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 It was entirely an ident. Silvia, who had always lived a strict life, had never properly held someone¡¯s hand. But to think that she would end up cing her own body against someone else¡¯s. She was already flustered, but Ian¡¯s reaction was even more unexpected. ¡®He¡­ he said it feels good? How am I supposed to react to that¡­¡¯ This was obviously a situation where she should be angry. Complimenting a sensitive part of her body? She had been raised with strict discipline. Considering her background, this was something she could never ept.She should be angry, but¡­ Despite everything¡­ Even Silvia was no different from other girls. It was apliment from someone of the opposite sex her age. Moreover, it was the first time she had ever received such apliment, and without realizing it, Silvia blushed and lowered her head. ¡®Is there something wrong with her?¡¯ Seeing her reaction, Ian, somewhat misunderstanding, asked her. ¡°Are you okay, Silvia?¡± Silvia¡¯s ears turned red at Ian¡¯s concerned question. She mumbled while keeping her head down. ¡°Did¡­ did you really like it that much?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°My b-br*asts.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I always thought they weren¡¯t that big. I thought¡­ men liked bigger ones.¡± Silvia¡¯s sudden question hit Ian out of nowhere. Although Ian had asionally experienced her bluntness, he was still momentarily taken aback when Silvia asked such a question. ¡®Well, I guess there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡¯ He decided to just be honest about what he felt. ¡°For your size, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re small.¡± ¡°R-really?¡± Silvia quietly supported her lower chest with her hands. Her chest, which fit softly in one hand. ¡®¡­ At least they¡¯re okay for Ian.¡¯ Silvia let out a small sigh of relief. Silvia, who had been conscious of people like Lina and the Princess, couldn¡¯t help but be concerned about their impressive sizes. She wondered if Ian preferred women withrger chests. ¡®¡­ But then again, considering that cat, it doesn¡¯t seem like that¡¯s the case.¡¯ Ahem! Clearing her throat, Silvia lifted her head, regaining her confidence. ¡°But.¡± Click. Regaining her confident gaze, she took a step closer to Ian. ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Are you saying that even while I was hugging you out of happiness, you were focused on the feeling of my chest, Ian?¡± Silvia¡¯s eyes curved coldly. Ian averted his gaze from her. Silvia, like a hunting fox closing in on her prey, slowly and elegantly moved closer, one step at a time. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± A small sigh escaped Ian¡¯s lips. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Silvia¡¯s eyes narrowed as she approached Ian¡¯s chest and picked off a pink strand of fur. ¡°What is this?¡± Her voice grew colder. Ian shivered as if he felt a chill in the air. Seeing his reaction, Silvia¡¯s gaze sharpened even more. ¡ª Sniff, sniff. Silvia, like a search dog, sniffed Ian. ¡°Peach scent.¡± Thump. Ian was flustered. Had he been spending too much time with Danya? Come to think of it, they had spent almost two nights together, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that her scent had rubbed off on him. Especially since Danya was in heat, her scent was particrly strong. ¡°¡­I must have spilled some fruit.¡± ¡°And the fur?¡± ¡°Danya¡¯s fur is shedding a lot these days, I guess. It¡¯s flying everywhere.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Did she find that excuse usible? Silvia, who had been ring at him with a sharp expression, finally softened her face. ¡°More importantly, why did youe?¡± But each word she spoke felt like a cold breeze blowing through. She was still angry, clearly. Or rather, it felt more like the calm before a storm. Why? Because despite her cold words, her hands were trembling slightly. Ian scratched the back of his head. For some reason, whatever had happened with Danya weighed on his mind, especially when it came to Silvia. But he couldn¡¯t juste out and confess everything himself. There was no choice but to proceed with the reason he hade to see Silvia in the first ce. Ian pulled out the ring he had brought with him from inside his coat. There was no special case or anything; the ring simply appeared in Ian¡¯s hand. ¡°R¡­R-Ring?¡± Silvia, who had been nning to express her anger, froze in ce. She was utterly bewildered. The suspicion that had almost burst from her mouth, questioning how Danya¡¯s fur had ended up all over Ian¡¯s pants, was swallowed back down as she stared nkly. ¡°Uh, well, um¡­¡± Silvia waved her hand slightly, as if to tell him to wait a moment. But to Ian, who was solely focused on whether the ring would fit Silvia¡¯s finger, it was just a perfect opportunity to try it on. ¡ª Slide. The ring, imbued with the light attribute of luck (+7% growth rate), fit perfectly on Silvia¡¯s long, slender finger. Ian stepped back and crossed his arms, admiring how the ring looked on her hand. ¡®¡­ It doesn¡¯t really suit Silvia, does it?¡¯ It looked like one of those candy rings he used to buy from the school store. ¡ô ¡°¡­!¡± Silvia stared nkly at the ring now on her finger. It was not a ring that could be called refined or tasteful, and it was far from her usual aesthetic preferences. ¡°I-it¡¯s ¡­ beautiful.¡± Yet, without realizing it, Silvia murmured those words. Her voice had sprung from her pure, unfiltered emotions, bypassing any rational thought. The world Silvia had lived in was always strict. As the heir to the Laurent Trading Company and the daughter of a noble family, her life had been unimaginably rigorous, filled with nothing but education and work, leaving no room for genuine friends. She had lived that way for so long that she no longer even felt lonely about not having friends. Her world had always been so barren. There was no ying with friends, no exchangingpliments, and no joy in giving or receiving something sincerely without expecting anything in return. Because of the life she had led, the ring Ian had given her felt all the more special. ¡°A¡­ a ring.¡± Silvia looked down at the ring on her ring finger. Even someone as uninterested in anything other than managing thepany as she was understood what a ring on the left ring finger symbolized. ¡®¡­ Starting our newlywed life in Lichten wouldn¡¯t be too bad, I suppose?¡¯ If they were to have children, one boy and one girl would be ideal. ¡®But I doubt my parents would approve¡­¡¯ Suddenly, the strict faces of her parents came to mind. They wouldn¡¯t approve of a spouse unless they were a duke or at least a count, or had a great deal of money. As these thoughts spun around in her head, Silvia, who had fully embraced her misunderstanding, asked Ian. ¡°Do¡­ do you have any savings?¡± ¡°Savings?¡± Silvia reached out her palm in response to Ian¡¯s confused question. ¡°No, I can secure as much money as we need. The problem is the title. I heard your family has already fallen¡­¡± Silvia, pacing around the office as if deep in thought, suddenly grabbed both of Ian¡¯s hands. ¡°There will be many hardships ahead, but I¡¯ll do my best to ovee them.¡± ¡ô t took quite a while for Silvia to clear up her misunderstanding. In the end, everything was somehow sorted out with Silvia¡¯s reaction: ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted to get married or thought about how many kids we should have or anything! Obviously, I just thought of it as a simple gift for a friend!¡± After some back and forth, things were finally settled. After handing the ring to Silvia, Ian made his way back to the Academy. There wasn¡¯t any particr reason for going there; it was just that he had made the clubroom his unofficial home. Thus, the equation had be lodging = school = clubroom. ¡°Haaah. That was exhausting.¡± Feeling as limp as a half-melted marshmallow, Ian opened the door to the clubroom. As soon as he returned, the familiar atmosphere made him feel like he wasing back home. It was a somewhat strange feeling. Shaking his head to clear away unnecessary thoughts, Ian flopped onto the bed. He wanted to fall asleep just like that, but there was still something he needed to do. Of course, the feeling ofziness was also lingering. Caught in the bnce betweenziness and duty, Ian reached out from the bed to rummage through the shelf beside him. ¡ª Rustle, Rustle. ¡°I¡¯m sure I put it somewhere around here¡­¡± A thick hardcover notebook was in his hands. Soon, his hand grasped a thick, hardcover notebook. The title on the cover read: ¡ºLove Journal¡» The elegant script made it look grand, but in reality, it was just Pongpong¡¯s record of stalking activities. The reason he pulled it out now was simple. ¡°Aria definitely acted suspiciously in that crimson bear¡¯sir.¡± Aria Lumines Bell, crouched in Urugios¡¯sir, performing some kind of ritual. Her behavior couldn¡¯t just be dismissed as merely suspicious. And for good reason:
  1. She knew the exact location of the special reward called ¡°yer Perk¡±, which is given by the field boss Urugios.
  1. She even knew the method to im the reward, which required writing ¡°yer Perk¡± in Korean.
At this point, it was beyond suspicion. He felt an intense urge to interrogate her until she confessed everything, perhaps even using truth serum. ¡°¡­But if I did that, I¡¯d probably get disassembled on a molecr level by the Inquisition.¡± Turning the entire Holy Land against him was not an option. What made Aria dangerous wasn¡¯t her personalbat power. ¡®At my current level, Aria¡¯sbat power isn¡¯t a concern.¡¯ What¡¯s terrifying is the force backing her. Therefore, Ian decided to take a different approach. ¡ª Flip! Holding the notebook by its spine, he quickly flipped through the pages until he found the entry he was looking for. [Gloomy] Gloomy. This was the name Aria Lumines Bell used during her time as amoner. Gloomy was also the girl who had developed a severe dependency on Ian ckangers, filled with an overwhelming sense of mncholy. Therefore, the method to deal with Aria was simple. Gaslighting. He would make every single one of her brain cells belong to him. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 A long time ago, back when Ian and Aria were both just children. The setting is a vast meadow. In a cozy but old wooden house, a little girl sits alone, reading a book. Her long, jet-ck hair falls over her eyes, but it doesn¡¯t seem to bother her. She turns the pages with ease, as if she¡¯s used to it. ¡°Gloomy,e y!¡± When she spends all day cooped up in her room, a boy with a board game in his handses to visit. ¡°You¡¯ve been reading in your room all day again, haven¡¯t you?¡± The boy always says the same thing. If you peek through the curtains, he¡¯s there, poking his head through the window with a bright smile¡ªIan ckangers.To her childhood friend, the girl always replies in a voice that sounds like it¡¯s swallowing her whole. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t keep doing that, Gloomy! Come on, let¡¯s at least y a board game together!¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± She stumbles over her words, but she knows it¡¯s a perfectly happy moment. The book she was reading¡ªshe¡¯d read it dozens of times. Even though her bangs covered her eyes, she could still read it because of that. The house was boring, and the outside world was scary. She was grateful that Ian woulde to visit her. [ Chronicles of the Hero ] She admired the heroes, magicians, and saints in the board games he brought. ¡®¡­Ah.¡¯ It¡¯s around this point that she realizes. Aria Lumines Bell. Revered as a saintess candidate, she realizes now that she¡¯s dreaming about her childhood when she was called ¡®Gloomy¡¯. And then she realizes something else. The happy scene will end soon, and a dark one will follow. Whoosh¡ª The scene shifts harshly. The location is still her hometown, Istan. But time has passed, and she¡¯s now at the primary education institution. The surroundings are dark. Even though she knows it¡¯s a dream, Aria flinched. ¡®I¡¯m scared.¡¯ The girl, a little older now, sits with her knees pulled up, burying her head. ¡®It hurts.¡¯ Something flies at her¡ªa chalk eraser, a pencil, a small stone, or maybe sharp words. ¨C Gloomy. Gloomy. ¨C Your bangs are messy! ¨C Your ck hair is dirty and ominous! ¨C I can¡¯t even hear you! ¨C A pig with big b*obs! ¨C Gloomy. Gloomy. Ian is not here. He¡¯s the highest-ranking noble in Easton. He¡¯s probably at home, taking magic lessons. They say he¡¯s quite talented. The girl curls up even more. Scenes sh by rapidly. She¡¯s holed up at home. She¡¯s trapped in darkness. Parentsin that sending her to school is pointless. When she swallows her tears and goes to school, she¡¯s bullied. When she can¡¯t take it anymore, she climbs a cliff. Ian pulls her back down. Ian, who apologizes for not being there for her. But the bullying doesn¡¯t stop. Her wrists, long and scarred. Ian,forting her once again. The relentless cycle. Over and over. ¡®It hurts¡­¡¯ Just when she thinks it¡¯s too much to bear¡ª ¡°Ah!¡± The girl wakes up from her nightmare. She quickly looks around. The soft glow of amp envelops her. A cozy dormitory near the Academy. ¡°I must have fallen asleep for a bit.¡± A deep anxiety washes over her. Memories of the past make her feel mentally unstable. But she¡¯s not the same girl she used to be. She quickly rummages through her drawer and finds her ID. [ Aria Lumines Bell ] The girl, Aria, fingers the namete with her name on it. It was a badge given to her personally by the Pope. She calms down quickly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Aria didn¡¯t like her original name. That¡¯s why this namete was so precious to her. A quiet giggle escapes her lips. ¡°Aria. It¡¯s such a nice name.¡± Aria gently strokes the namete. She felt like she hadpletely changed after receiving this name. Even people¡¯s reactions had changed. No one called her ominous or unlucky anymore, nor did they say they couldn¡¯t hear her or dismiss her. Now, she could confidently step outside. Even nightmares that suddenly came and the fear that apanied them¡ªshe could now handle them on her own, without the help of her childhood friend. She had gained confidence. With the new name ¡®Aria¡¯, she felt she couldpletely distance herself from the miserable person she once was. So Aria made a resolution. ¡°Let¡¯spletely forget the old name.¡± The name that had only made her a target of ridicule and eventually led her to shut herself in. ¡°And forget the memories associated with that name too.¡± The kids who bullied her. The school she didn¡¯t want to attend. Her hometown. And maybe even her childhood friend. All the painful memories from that time. ¡°I need to forget everything I can.¡± It was better for everyone. Gloomy had been a burden to everyone, even to the person she loved. She felt that this was the only way she could truly be the new her, not Gloomy, but ¡°Aria¡±. Aria looked in the mirror and adjusted her bangs. She swept her hair, which had been covering her eyes, to the side. ¡®It makes me a little anxious not to have my bangs.¡¯ Aria clenched her fists and held on. Today was a very important day for her. ¡®It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve invited someone else to my house¡­¡¯ Of course, Ian hade by often when they were younger. But that was because Ian wanted toe. This time, Aria herself had decided to invite someone to her home. For a homebody, it was a significant step. Although she had no choice but to do it, her heart still raced. ¡®¡­I¡¯m nervous.¡¯ At that moment, ¡ª Knock, knock, knock! There was a knock at the door. It was already time for her appointment. Thump, Thump. Her heart pounded. Feeling the heat rise in her face, she undid one button on her shirt. Aria opened the door with the smile she had practiced. ¡°Wel¡ª Wee!¡­?¡± Ian was standing outside the door. Her childhood friend, Ian Von Pong Istan ckangers. ¡°Hello! You¡¯re different than usual?¡± That¡¯s what he said. The smile on Aria¡¯s face slowly faded. Why is he here all of a sudden? ¡ô Earlier in the semester. The day after Ian (Pongpong), the confession bomber, was rejected by Sharon. The memory of the day Ian (Pongpong) confessed to Aria, as recorded in the journal, was still vivid. ¡°Gloomy. I like you. Will you go out with me?¡± Having searched every nook and cranny of the storage room for something, Pongpong had brought out their old board game [Chronicles of the Hero], which was filled with their shared memories, and ran to his childhood friendte in the evening. ¡°To be honest¡­ I don¡¯t see you as a man.¡± The conversation between them grew more intense. It was heading in the direction where Ian was clinging pathetically to Aria, only to be rejected. While Ian was getting crushed emotionally, another guest entered Aria¡¯s house. Ian, ncing at the guest, opened his mouth as if feeling wronged. ¡°But Gloomy, we¡¯ve had fun together all this time. We know each other better than anyone!¡± ¡°Yes, knowing each other too well¡ªthat¡¯s the problem.¡± ¡°Knowing someone well is a good thing, so why is that a problem? I know you better than anyone, so I can protect you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me by that name. And don¡¯t you understand? Knowing about those endlessly dark and miserable days of mine¡ªthat¡¯s the problem.¡± Pongpong seemed to be at a loss. And understandably so. At that moment, his mind was likely filled with the logical thought, ¡°To protect someone who feels unstable, you need to know them well!¡± Unfortunately, humans are often irrational creatures. Aria was avoiding the ¡°past¡±. And, of course, that past included her childhood friend, Pongpong. Regrettably, Ian made the worst possible choice. He touched on her ¡°new present¡± with her ¡°past¡±. ¡°¡­Who was that person who went in?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± Aria straightened out her disheveled shirt. The violent size of her chest momentarily distracted from the serious conversation. Aria¡¯s eyes narrowed as Ian¡¯s gaze also seemed to wander. The spark of doubt extended to the sincerity of his confession. ¡°How long have you been looking at me like that?¡± With a sharp remark, Aria buttoned up her shirt. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that! My intentions were pure!¡± ¡°Pure? You say that while staring at my chest?¡± ¡°Th-that¡¯s not what I¡ª¡± ¡°You know, right? That I¡¯m a candidate for sainthood. Yet you still ogled my body?¡± Ian fell silent. Aria¡¯s voice dropped even lower. ¡°You know, I was really grateful to you once.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°But now, I¡¯m not so sure.¡± ¡°Gloomy¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯te any closer.¡± Aria took a step back toward the door. ¡°Once I start my formal sainthood training, I won¡¯t be allowed to see you. Your reputation is terrible.¡± ¡°¡­Gloomy.¡± ¡°That name!¡± Snap. Aria shouted, her voice echoing. ¡°Don¡¯t ever call me by that name again!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Gloomy anymore. I¡¯m Aria. I¡¯m a saintess candidate. I¡¯m not sad anymore. I¡¯m not struggling anymore. There¡¯s no going back to that name!¡± She imed she was fine, but to those around her, it didn¡¯t seem that way. That¡¯s how it was with Aria. ¡°¡­¡± Even at that moment, Pongpong seemed worried about her. ¡°But if, if things ever get tough, you can stille to me¡­¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s never going to happen.¡± ¡°What do you mean never? You said that before, and how many times¡­¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Aria snorted, as if she had just realized something. Her words wereced with thorns. ¡°You know what, Ian?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°It almost seems like you want me to be miserable.¡± ¡°N-no! That¡¯s not true. I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± ¡°That kind of worry is unnecessary.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a candidate for sainthood now. My future is set. I¡¯m no longer the gloomy person I once was. But why do you keep trying to drag me back to that past?¡± Ian ckangers lowered his head. He shouldn¡¯t apologize. If he did¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡­It would be an admission. An admission that he was a terrible person who had been gaslighting Aria all this time. Aria spoke again, her tone full of disappointment. ¡°I knew it. You were only around me because you wanted to feel like a good person, because you thought it made you look cool to be the oneforting me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ian couldn¡¯t find the words to respond. The ufortable silence hung in the air for a moment. Then, Aria let out a harsh sigh. ¡°Haah. Well, maybe it¡¯s for the best. I wanted to say this anyway.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stop seeing each other. I¡¯m done with that game too. Don¡¯te looking for me anymore.¡± Pongpong flinched, instinctively hiding the old board game he had retrieved from the storage room behind his back. ¡°Gloomy¡­ No, Aria!¡± He reached out, almost pleadingly. But Aria was resolute. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to know me again. Never.¡± ¡ª Bang! The door mmed shut with force. Ian¡¯s hand, which he had reflexively extended, never reached her. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 The next morning after falling asleep, pondering strategies to conquer Aria. ¡ª Knock knock knock. What woke me up was a careful knock on the door. When I opened it, bright red hair was shimmering dazzlingly in the morning sunlight. ¡°Ian, good morning! Oh¡­? You¡¯re still in your pajamas?¡± ¡°I just got up.¡± ¡°Huh, did I wake you up by any chance?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I was nning to get up anyway. So, what brings you here, Lina?¡± Although the club room had quickly be Lina, Danya, and Elena¡¯s hideout right after we created it, this was the first time Lina hade by so early in the morning.¡°Ah! Oh, I made way too many lunchboxes this morning, so I thought we could share¡­!¡± Now that I think about it, Lina was holding a lunchbox in her left hand. I always wee a morning where I don¡¯t have to prepare breakfast myself. As I opened the door wide, Lina suddenly flinched and her face turned red. ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Th-that¡­¡± She squeezed her eyes shut and pointed at my lower body with her finger. Since it was morning and I was in my pajamas, things were quite¡­ tense. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± After I changed my clothes and came out, Lina had neatly set the lunchbox on the table. Fresh vegetables, finely grated cheese, and sd topped with bacon and shredded chicken breast. A perfectly healthy and clean breakfast. Very much like Lina, who goes grocery shopping every morning. ¡°Are you okay with money?¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯ve been promoted to Aether, I don¡¯t have to worry about tuition fees anymore. Hehe.¡± ¡°I see. This is delicious.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± She nced at my face once and then, after briefly looking down at my lower body again, blushed and quickly buried her head in her te. Hmm. I¡¯d like to calm it down as well, but there¡¯s nothing I can do. Why, you ask? Apparently, if you form a rtionship with a beastfolk during their Heat Day, it also enhances the partner¡¯s s*xual stamina for a while. My junior has been up for over 20 minutes and still remains firm¡ªit can only be exined by that. ¡°Um. Sorry about this. It¡¯s a physiological reaction. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m excited about you, Lina.¡± Flinch. Lina¡¯s shoulders shook slightly as she muttered. ¡°T-That¡¯s ¡­ even worse.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lina lowered her head and stared at the empty te. After about 30 seconds of silence, she finally spoke, her voice strained. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to exin it. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m jealous of Danya, but I want you to praise me too.¡± ¡°Praise?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lina looked up at me, her eyes pleading like a puppy begging for food. ¡®¡­Hmm.¡¯ Praise, huh. Lina¡¯s contributions have certainly not been insignificant. Not only has she served as the party¡¯s fire element dealer, but she has also practically acted as the eldest sister, looking after Danya and Elena like an older sibling. More importantly¡­ ¡®I think I promised her some sort of reward before, too.¡¯ I don¡¯t clearly remember, but it feels like we¡¯ve had a simr conversation a few times. Lina herself sometimes needs praise too. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± I ced my hand on her head. I intended to pat her a few times, just like I often did with Danya. But then. ¡ª Swish. Lina suddenly grabbed my fingers. Then, she brought my hand to her neck. The soft texture of a ck scarf. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I like it here better.¡± With each word Lina spoke, I could feel the rise and fall of her breath beneath the scarf. What does she want me to do here? Lina ced her hand on top of mine. ¡°Squeeze it like this.¡± ¡ª Squeeze¡­ Lina pressed my hand firmly. Naturally, my fingers tightened around her neck. ¡°Ian¡¯s hands¡­ they¡¯re so big¡­.¡± Lina¡¯s gaze, looking up at me, was filled with excitement. Gulp. I could feel the tension in the air, even hearing the faint sound of her swallowing. ¡°Lina, this is¡­¡± ¡°Just like this¡­.¡± Lina spoke with a heavy breath, her voice soft but full of heat. ¡°Just stay like this for a little while longer.¡± Her desperate eyes told me this was all she needed, as if staying in this moment was the simplest thing. Strangely enough, I couldn¡¯t refuse her request. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. With the ticking of the clock, my consciousness faded into stillness. How much time had passed? ¡°Hrgh¡­ I-Ian.¡± Lina¡¯s ragged breath brought me back to my senses. I realized I had been gripping her neck too tightly and loosened my hold. ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡± She gasped for air, like a balloon deting, her breathing heavy and unsteady. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she blinked several times. ¡ª Drip, drip, drip. Had she worked up a sweat from all the excitement? Droplets of water began to drip between Lina¡¯s legs. ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­ Hey, Ian.¡± Just as she exhaled another hot breath¡ª ¡ª Knock knock knock! m! The door to the club room flew open abruptly. ¡°Brother! I have arrived! Oh, what are you two doing? The room seems unusually hot and humid!¡± Elena. That girl. I taught her how to knock, but I suppose I need to teach her how to wait next time. ¡ô The [ Dessert Research Society ] is filled with peace. After the exhausting trials of the promotion exam, everyone seemed to be basking in the post-victory lethargy. One by one, the members gathered in the clubroom, lounging about in full rxation mode. Elena, who had stormed in with such force earlier, was now dozing off by the window. Danya arrived not long after, smiling mischievously. ¡°Hey, Ian,¡± she greeted me with a yful wink before curling up on the ultra-soft cushion ced on the floor and lying down. It seems Laurent Trading Company¡¯s ¡°Drug Cushion¡± has caught her fancy. I should suggest to Silvia that they market it to beastfolk buyers¡ªit seems like a good idea. s for Lina, she seemed to have calmed down, or at least was trying to? ¡ª Swish. Swish. As she gently brushed Danya¡¯s pink tail until it gleamed with a glossy sheen. Watching this scene was like a moment of pure healing. ¡®To think I have toe up with a n to gaslight someone in the midst of such peace.¡¯ ..Am I being too grim? I shook my head to clear the thought. It¡¯s unfortunate for Aria, but there isn¡¯t much choice. Forcing her to spill everything with drugs would be much worse than this, wouldn¡¯t it? [12:00] The clock struck noon. After making lunch for thezy club members still lounging around, I grabbed my coat. I also slipped the ¡®gift¡¯ I had prepared for Aria into my pocket¡ªsomething I¡¯d dug out from my stuffst night. Elena, who had been nodding off, quickly ran up as I was about to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going out for a breath of fresh air. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Safe travels, Brother.¡± Elena returned to her spot by the window, dozing off once more. It really does feel like raising a little squirrel sometimes. I bet Elena will grow up and have plenty of exciting storylines to explore once she matures a bit. She¡¯ll be a key yer in the future. Lost in thought, I finally arrived at my destination. The Lichten branch church of the Deus Church and Celeste faction. As the service ended, I made my way through the exiting crowd. Inside the now-empty chapel, a priestess noticed me and greeted me with a gentle smile. ¡°What brings you here today, sir?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a believer. I¡¯m just here to meet someone.¡± ¡°I see. Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see Aria Lumines Bell.¡± The priestess smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but meeting with the Saint is difficult unless you have an appointment. May I ask your name?¡± ¡°Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± The priestess let out a short gasp before responding. ¡°She did say that if you ever came by, we should bring you in right away. Let me guide you.¡± I stopped her before she could turn to leave. ¡°I don¡¯t need to meet her. Just deliver this to Aria.¡± Aria was in a fragile state of mind right now. ¡®Normally, Pongpong would have been the one tofort her.¡¯ Aria would have likely clung to Ian forfort, but not anymore. Aria had coldly rejected Ian, so meeting her wasn¡¯t an option. Even so, she was probably still waiting for thatfort. I could tell from how the priestess immediately offered to bring me in the moment I mentioned Ian¡¯s name. Aria was likely waiting for Ian toe to her, but the guilt she felt was holding her back. ¡®That makes things easier.¡¯ I was going to break Aria¡¯s guilt wide open. And the tool I would use for that was¡­ ¡°Please deliver this.¡± I ced a small figurine of a sword-wielding figure into the priestess¡¯s hand. [ Chronicles of the Hero ] It was the board game piece Aria had thrown when she rejected Ian¡¯s confession. ¡°¡­Are you sure you don¡¯t want to meet her? Aria seems to be waiting for you quite eagerly.¡± The priestess asked, her face filled with concern. ¡°Yes.¡± My answer was firm. I couldn¡¯t approach Aria right now. The next part of the scenario was [Act 3: The Emperor¡¯s Assassination], and it would take ce within the imperial pce. I just hoped that while I was away, Aria would be consumed by her growing guilt. ¡ô That evening, the clubroom was quiet and empty as the members had all gone home. I was deep in thought, nning for the next scenario, when someone knocked on the door. ¡ª Knock, knock. Did Elena leave something behind again? When I opened the door, my vision was filled with brilliant white light. Moonlight illuminated the white hair of the person standing there. Squinting, I saw the figure chuckling softly. ¡°Is my appearance still too dazzling for you?¡± Princess Asteria. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, my dear.¡± She smiled radiantly. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Thanks to the exquisite moonlight, Asteria shone in a brilliant white glow. ¡°So. How long are you just going to admire my beauty?¡± Had I been staring too absentmindedly? She looked like a goddess had descended. ¡°¡­ Come in.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The princess entered with a charming stride, crossing her legs as she sat in front of the table. ¡°Haah. It was so hard in the North. You have no idea how much I missed you.¡± ¡°Has the duchy stabilized?¡±¡°Of course. Who do you think I am? I worked tirelessly, even through the night, just to see you sooner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news.¡± I know better than anyone that Asteria flirts as a form of jesting. In fact, she was the one who confessed first when we met. In a way, she¡¯s even more of a confession machine than Pongpong. Although, she certainly surpasses him in appearance, body, and status. ¡®But make one wrong move, and you¡¯ll get devoured.¡¯ I casually matched her banter as I prepared some tea and snacks, now able to afford this luxurypared to the days when I trembled under debt. ¡°Mmm. What a delightful aroma.¡± Asteria elegantly closed her eyes, savoring the fragrance of the tea leaves. Moments like this made her status as a princess sink in anew. ¡°It¡¯sforting and soft. A scent that suits thete evening. You certainly have good taste.¡± ¡°I¡¯m honored. Your Highness also looks lovely at night, as radiant as the moonlight.¡± ¡°Oh my. Flirting?¡± Asteria¡¯s yful fox-like smile made me swallow my breath. ¡®¡­ I guess I can¡¯tpliment her without consequences.¡¯ This was actually a probing question for the princess. The third imperial princess of the empire, Asteria Estrid. She has the ability to change the color of her hair at will. Radiant blonde. And pure white hair. It¡¯s not merely magical camouge but a power etched into her bloodline. If her golden hair is proof of the blood of Estrid, the founder who built the Britannian Empire¡­ Then her white hair belongs to the witch whom Estrid contracted with. Typically, the two colors mix, which is why the imperial family¡¯s hair often appears faded blonde. ¡®Which is why purer blonde is more highly valued.¡¯ The more golden the hair, the stronger the connection to tradition. But Asteria was different. She inherited both radiant blonde and pure white hair and could switch between the two freely. That was a unique trait she had kept hidden until now. Only her close circle, including me, knew about it. In public, her hair was always radiant blonde. ¡ª Clink As the sound of the teacup touching the saucer echoed, Asteria spoke. ¡°In your opinion, which color suits me better?¡± I was caught off guard by her question. This serious atmosphere. Her question wasn¡¯t merely about aesthetics. The deeper meaning behind her question was clear. Should she pursue her im to the throne with her golden hair, standing tall as a legitimate heir of Estrid¡¯s blood, even if it means epting defeat? Or should she embrace her white hair, the bloodline of the witch, and rise as a tyrant who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to start a rebellion? This was the choice she was asking me to weigh in on. [Princess of Rebellion] Someone with such a nickname. ¡°¡­¡± I silently gazed at her. Her white hair shimmered in the moonlight, casting away the surrounding darkness. ¡°I¡¯ll go with whichever color you prefer, Ian.¡± Though she said that, I knew my choice would hardly sway her final decision. Asteria was, after all, a proud being born from noble blood. This was, without a doubt, a test. A test to see if I was worthy of standing by her side. It was simultaneously a proposition. My deliberation didn¡¯t take long. ¡°I prefer the white hair.¡± The bloodline of the imperial family is absolute and noble. Even if it bes the seed of rebellion, it is something one must keep close. Just as she needed me, I also needed her. Asteria smiled softly. ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll keep it like this.¡± ¡°¡­ Are you sure?¡± Her white hair was originally a color she used for disguise. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered the northern forces that once belonged to the Second Prince. There¡¯s no need for me to lower myself anymore.¡± Asteria¡¯s eyes gleamed with the passion of someone who had just resolved a long-standing grievance. ¡°The birthday banquet for the Second Prince is in three days. You will apany me to the imperial pce.¡± Asteria, making decisions without even asking about my schedule¡ªtruly befitting of a princess. Of course, anticipating this, I had already cleared my schedule. ¡°I also need to give you the Numbers I promised¡­ Oh, and.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The Emperor wants to see you. He seems to want tomend you for your contribution regarding the Richard affair. So, be prepared to leave a good impression.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes?¡± ¡°It means you will have an audience with the Emperor.¡± ¡ô Surprisingly, there was one morepanion on the road to the capital. ¡°I heard from Her Highness.¡± In the Lichten branch office of the Laurent Trading Company, Silvia smiled brightly as she spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll take good care of you. After all, I, Silvia Laurent, am the social flower of the Count Laurent family.¡± Hohoho. She covered her mouth and let out an elegantugh, like a proper noblewoman. Her demeanor was so convincing that it inspired trust. ¡°¡­ Still, an audience with the Emperor¡­¡± This unexpected audience with the emperor seemed rather daunting. Well, upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t so unexpected. After all, I was the one who dealt with Richard. In any case, I wasn¡¯t particrly thrilled about meeting the emperor. There¡¯s too much to losepared to what I could gain. The emperor of the empire wields absolute power. A Lichten student with no powerful backer is as insignificant as an insect before him. If I displease him, off with my head. Say something wrong, off with my head. Cough inappropriately, off with my head. Anything could happen. It¡¯s easy to imagine all sorts of bad oues from this encounter. Would the reward be worth the risk? Probably not. In this world, having an audience with the Emperor is a reward in itself. ¡®I wish I could just be emperor and take it easy.¡¯ In fact, even receiving a significant reward could be problematic. Any reward woulde with political implications, potentially creating unnecessary rivals. When I exined my concerns, Silvia nodded in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right.¡± ¡°¡­ So what should I do? Should I just pretend to be sick? Doesn¡¯t your tradingpany handle medicine for colds or something?¡± Silvia¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­ That was a bit pathetic.¡± A rare but brutal reality check. It stung. But I was being sincere. ¡°Her Highness will be busy, so I¡¯ll coach you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Well, that¡¯s true. Silvia grew up in a well-respected count family (and even one that was instrumental in the founding of the empire). She knows more about the culture and etiquette of the ruling ss than anyone. If I receive etiquette training from her, I may not be the social flower, but at least I won¡¯t get my head chopped off forcking manners. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, so let¡¯s start now. The timing is perfect. First, let¡¯s learn how to greet people properly like a gentleman.¡± And a short whileter. I regretted my decision. ¡°Bend lower! Is that the best you can do, Ian? Be smoother!¡± ¡°Ah! My arm! My arm is twisting, Silvia!¡± ¡°More! More! This won¡¯t do. Put your fingers out.¡± Silvia turned out to be a far stricter teacher than I had imagined. With precise strength, her wooden stick kept aiming for my fingernails. Why she even had something like that, I had no idea. One thing was for sure¡­ ¡ª Thwack! It didn¡¯t look like much, but it really hurt. ¡°¡­ It hurts, Silvia.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t even bow properly, you deserve the pain. Again.¡± ¡­ After about an hour of this harsh ¡°indirect experience¡±. I finally mastered the nobleman¡¯s greeting. ¡°Tr¨¨s bien. Very good. You did well.¡± Only after all ten of my fingernails were red and throbbing did I finally manage to perform a passable bow. ¡°Are your hands okay?¡± ¡°No, they really hurt.¡± Silvia had hit me just hard enough not to break my nails. Her face remainedpletely calm the entire time, though. ¡°Oh, stop whining. I was hit much harder than that when I was learning.¡± ¡°Do you have steel fingernails or something, Silvia?¡± Smack. She lightly tapped my arm before crouching in front of a drawer. After rummaging around, she brought out a small medicine container. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Thud. As I ced my hand in hers, I suddenly felt like a puppy. Before I could react, she was already applying the medicine, gently rubbing it onto each of my sore fingers. Squelch, squelch. The sticky ointment was absorbed as Silvia carefully massaged my fingers. ¡ª Fwoooo She even blew softly on them¡­ Ah, so this is the proverbial ¡°giving the disease and the cure¡±. After tenderly applying the ointment to each finger, she smiled. ¡°All done. It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, right? This is a pretty effective balm.¡± ¡°Yeah, it really is.¡± I nodded, grabbing my coat as I prepared to leave. Why? Because she had started reaching for the wooden stick again. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve learned all the etiquette I need for the imperial pce. Thank you, Silvia. I¡¯ll be going now. See you next time.¡± ¡ª Click-ck Silvia skillfully blocked the door. ¡°What are you talking about? There¡¯s still a mountain of things to learn.¡± ¡­ Please, spare me. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 The day of departure to the imperial pce arrived quickly. I woke up early in the morning and carefully packed food for the club members in an icebox, enough tost for three days. ¡°¡­ I feel like I¡¯ve be a mother bird.¡± But there was no other choice. Recently, Danya, Elena, and Lina had beenzing around so much that if I didn¡¯t prepare for them, they¡¯d probably skip meals entirely and just continue lying around. ¡°I want toze around too.¡± Perhaps because Danya had been absorbing my energy recently, I, too, had the urge to do absolutely nothing andze around. ¡­ But I swallowed that terrible thought. Given the reward Asteria promised and the scenario resolution, it was clear I had to go.This scenario could resolve itself smoothly if luck was on my side. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d be that lucky.¡± So, I had no choice but to go. What else could I do? ¡ª I¡¯ll be back within three days, so make sure you all eat properly. ¡¾Act 3: The Emperor¡¯s Assassination Attempt¡¿ is shorter than other scenarios. A storyline that would unfold in just about three days¡ªshort enough to give me some relief. With that, I began preparing, albeit sluggishly. ¡°First thing is clothing.¡± I didn¡¯t need to dwell on ¡°What should I wear?¡± They say that in front of the Emperor, it¡¯s most polite to wear clothing that signifies your status. So, I would wear the formal uniform of Lichten Academy. ¡ª You need to tuck the shirt cuffs with your fingers like this. Yes, good. The fit is pretty nice, and you might even look a bit cool¡­ Huh? I didn¡¯t say anything! Recalling Silvia¡¯s advice as I dressed, I thought, ¡®Hmm, even I don¡¯t look too bad in this, right?¡¯ Thatmon delusion that urs when standing in front of a well-lit bathroom mirror. After running my hand through my hair and packing a few items, I finished my preparations. ¡°Time to head out.¡± Let¡¯s hope I don¡¯t get my head chopped off. ¡ô We instantly arrived at the capital¡¯s portal checkpoint. The Princess paid all the portal fees, and I heard that royalty gets a 90% discount for up to twopanions. Royalty. How enviable. However, there are clear inconveniences to being a member of the royal family. ¡°There¡¯s a portal checkpoint in the imperial pce, but we can¡¯t use it. You need the Emperor¡¯s approval.¡± Apparently, even though they have a portal at home, only those with important business with the Emperor can use it. That rule applies even to princes and princesses. You could say they draw a firm line, even among blood rtives. To ensure you feel the Emperor¡¯s majesty as a slight inconvenience, you have to travel by carriage from the checkpoint to the pce. ¡ª tter, tter. ¡°Here ites¡­ a carriage sorge it¡¯s almost a waste of tax money.¡± The carriage was at least twice the size and more luxurious than the Princess¡¯s personal carriage we used in the North. On the side was the golden crest of the royal family, and even the pure white horses pulling it were adorned with shy golden decorations. While the size and grandeur left me impressed, I found myself agreeing with Silvia. ¡®It¡¯s a waste of money, really.¡¯ Isn¡¯t a carriage just supposed to move people from ce to ce? That perfectlymoner-like thought vanished the moment I sat down in the seat. ¡°¡­ Wow. This ride is something else.¡± The seat cradled my body with suchfort. It felt as if I were nestled in the embrace of a warm person, with all the tension in my body melting away. On top of that, I couldn¡¯t feel the usual bumpiness thates with riding in a carriage. Before I knew it, I almost asked how much it would cost to get one of these carriages myself. ¡°It would probably cost around 2 billion Krone per carriage.¡± For a moment, I had to wonder if I had said my thoughts out loud. I don¡¯t think I did. ¡°Everything you¡¯re thinking shows on your face, Ian.¡± Silvia smiled mischievously. Surprisingly, the one who reacted to her was the princess. ¡°Hmm. You¡¯re not trying to im Ian as yours in front of me, are you, Silvia?¡± ¡°Oh my, oh my. Why would I engage in a power struggle with you, Princess, after we¡¯ve known each other for so long?¡± I was taken aback by how quickly the atmosphere heated up. Silvia and the Princess¡­ did they know each other? No, wait¡­ Silvia, are you really okay going toe-to-toe with the Princess? Even as a nobledy from a prestigious family, getting into a verbal spat with royalty isn¡¯t something to be taken lightly. The more I watched, the more curious I became about the history between these two. ¡°Silvia, you¡¯re still as sharp as ever. Though it seems your chest hasn¡¯t grown as much as your wit. I envy how well your clothes fit.¡± ¡°Hm. I see the Princess is still getting all her nutrients in her chest. It must be amazing how any outfit you wear stands out.¡± ¡°I wasplimenting you.¡± ¡°Oh, so was I. Your future children won¡¯t have to worry about ack of milk. You¡¯ll be able to produce plenty, being as¡­ well-supplied as you are.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. Thank you for thepliment. After all, a woman¡¯s poweres from the size of her chest. If you ever run dry, let me know.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll share some of mine with your children.¡± Zap. I felt an electric tension in the air and instinctively scooted to the far corner by the window. The carriage was rolling through a fairly ordinary alleyway. ¡°¡­ Ah, the scenery is nice.¡± It wasn¡¯t particrly stunning. I just needed something to break the tension. Thankfully, their verbal sparring quieted down soon after. ¡­ Or so I thought. At some point, it had evolved into a strategic discussion. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve secured control over the North.¡± ¡°The Laurent Trading Company¡¯s intelligencework has certainly grown, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s expected. So, are you nning to target the Second Prince next?¡± ¡°Yes. Without the Northern Grand Duke, he¡¯s a toothless tiger.¡± ¡°That works in my favor too. Emilia is aligned with the Second Prince.¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t get along with Emilia Raymond, huh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ever get along with a sly woman like her. On the other hand, the First Princess¡¯s faction¡­¡± As their conversation unfolded, I started to piece together the imperial power dynamics. ¨C First Princess¡¯s Faction: Traditional nobility + Holy Constantine (religious groups of Deus within the empire). ¨C Second Prince¡¯s Faction: Former Northern Grand Duke (now gone) + Raymond family, aligned with tradingpanies and bourgeois forces. ¨C Third Princess¡¯s Faction: The North (newly gained) + me. Naturally, the Third Princess, Asteria, stood out with me, Ian ckangers, on her side. Is this going to be okay for us? Asteria turned toward Silvia. ¡°Silvia, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you joined my side?¡± ¡°You know the Laurent Trading Company officially doesn¡¯t support any faction.¡± ¡°Officially.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± A rather meaningful exchange of nces passed between them. ¡°Your insight is still impable, Silvia.¡± ¡°As is yours, Your Highness.¡± I couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and finally asked. ¡°¡­ So, are you two friends or not?¡± Silvia and Asteria answered simultaneously. ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not friends.¡± They looked at each other and answered again. ¡°Actually, we¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Actually, we are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Their rtionship was more confusing than I could ever understand. As the carriage rolled onward, the majestic imperial pce came into view through the window. Britannian Empire. A glorious empire that directly ruled over a third of the continent and controlled over half of it through influence. True to its name, the imperial pce was grand, luxurious, and overwhelming. The gold adorning every corner of the building shimmered under the sunlight, like a sea of brilliance. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out an involuntary gasp. The carriage slid smoothly into that sea of splendor. ¡ô The carriage stopped at the main hall of the pce. The hall where we were to meet the Emperor. Normally, we would have had to walk quite a distance to reach it, but because we were in a carriage bearing the royal family¡¯s insignia, we coulde directly here. ¡°Once we enter, be very careful with everything you do. Unless, of course, you wish to disappear like morning dew on the executioner¡¯s block.¡± Despite Silvia¡¯s grim warning, the hall itself was both imposing and breathtakingly beautiful. As I marveled at the grandeur of the imperial pce¡ªthe very heart of the empire¡ªone of the knights kneeled before us. ¡°I shall guide you, Your Highness.¡± With the knight¡¯s escort, we stepped into the great hall. The hall was vast and open. As we walked along a corridor adorned with magnificent paintings, a striking blue line on the floor caught my eye. ¡°That¡¯s the Sword Line. Beyond this point, even direct members of the royal family are forbidden from carrying any weapons.¡± Asteria exined as she handed her rapier and staff to the knight. ¡°Make sure neither of you cross this line with any weapons.¡± With practiced ease, Asteria walked confidently across the Sword Line, her heels clicking sharply with each step. Silvia and I followed her lead. As soon as I crossed the line, I felt a sudden churn in the mana circuits within my body. ¡®¡­A magic barrier.¡¯ Inside the Sword Line, I could not sense any mana at all. ¡°Please wait here. My apologies, but Lady Laurent of the Laurent family is not summoned by His Majesty at this time¡­¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯ll wait quietly right here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Asteria,pletely at ease, casually munched on the pastriesid out on the table, while Silvia sat still, her posture poised. ¡®In the original scenario, I was supposed to side with Emilia and attend the prince¡¯s birth celebration. But now, having turned Emilia into a clear enemy, the entire scenario has taken a different path.¡¯ The shift was significant. ¡°Thank you for waiting.¡± Asteria and I followed the knight¡¯s instructions. A giant door, easily three stories tall, creaked open with a heavy sound. Beyond it, a red carpet spread across the floor, leading up to a towering throne. There, sitting arrogantly upon the imperial throne, was the ruler of the Empire. ¡°Asteria. And Ian ckangers.¡± A deep, rumbling voice¡ªlike that of an aged but still fearsome predator¡ªresonated from above, reaching me as I kept my head bowed. ¡°Raise your heads.¡± The Emperor of the Empire, Remnus Estrid. His piercing golden eyes, gleaming like a beast¡¯s, fixed upon me, as if they were ready to devour me whole. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Bright yellow. The Emperor gazed down at me with an intense look, like a predator eyeing its prey. ¡°¡­¡± I was overwhelmed by his aura. He is a ruler. Beneath his feet, I felt the urge to bow my head and swear allegiance. Everyone would, under that gaze. But here, I managed to suppress my fear for a moment. I knew something. If I looked closely into the Emperor¡¯s eyes, the story would change a little.I looked beyond those predator-like eyes. They were empty pupils. No soul, no mind. There was only one sycophant whispering something into his ear. The Emperor is, indeed, a stuffed beast. ¡ô Apart from his gaze, the Emperor resembled an ancient tree. His darkplexion, his emaciated body could be sensed even beyond his royal robe. The stuffed emperor looked like an ancient tree. Then, who stuffed him? You just need to turn your head slightly to the side. An ipetent king with a leeching sycophant is an overused clich¨¦. If I had be emperor, I would have doubted the people who constantly spoke tteries around me at least once. But unfortunately, the Emperor of the Empire could not. ¡ª Your Majesty. There was a man beside him, looking like a court eunuch. A sly little mustache, like a rat. Always bowing, his posture hunched from constant groveling. But in reality, he was the one holding the emperor in his hands, pulling the strings. ¡ª They deserve a reward. They uncovered the Bloodstone Cult members who had been hiding. Their merit is no small feat. He whispered something into the Emperor¡¯s ear. The Emperor¡¯s mouth opened in response. ¡°You have done a great service. Name the reward you desire.¡± Hmm. The worst question. Choosing my own reward? Whether I ask for something big or small, it¡¯s a problem. If I ask for something big, they¡¯ll say I¡¯m trying to take advantage of the Emperor. sh. If I ask for something small, they¡¯ll say I¡¯m disrespecting the Emperor. sh. The sycophant next to the Emperor spoke. ¡°Speak quickly. His Majesty himself is offering you a reward.¡± ¡°I am satisfied just by having the honor of seeing His Majesty¡¯s face. It is the glory of a lifetime.¡± ¡°His Majesty has heard that answer dozens of times. Name a proper reward.¡± Tsk. Someone¡¯s already used that line. I racked my brain. A suitable reward, not crossing the line¡­ But I can¡¯t ask for a Number. ¡­ Ah. Might as well take a little help from the scenario. ¡°¡­ In that case, may I request some of Your Majesty¡¯s time?¡± Curiosity flickered in the Emperor¡¯s eyes, as if my unexpected response caught him off guard. For the first time, his lifeless eyes seemed to regain a glimmer of interest. ¡°How many minutes?¡± ¡°Just three minutes in the future would be an honor.¡± The sycophant whispered something to the Emperor. The Emperor spoke. ¡°Very well. What is it?¡± ¡°I possess a certain talent.¡± ¡°What talent?¡± ¡°I am quite observant, and I often give advice to my fellow students at Lichten Academy. They say I have a good sense.¡± ¡°Observation and intuition¡­ Very well. Speak.¡± I improvised a story. ¡°As I entered, I saw a long, thin shadow cast above the pce. Following that shadow, I saw a snake slithering along.¡± ¡°¡­ A snake?¡± ¡°Yes. Both the shadow and the snake represent yin energy¡ªdark forces. In other words, they symbolize a singr dark energy. The fact that it looms over the top of the pce, which protects Your Majesty¡¯s imperial body, signifies imminent danger.¡± ¡°¡­ Danger? That¡¯s quite an ominous fortune.¡± ¡°It is not ominous but auspicious. Now that you are aware of the danger, you can prepare for it. I wish for Your Majesty¡¯s peace and safety.¡± Even if he¡¯s merely a figurehead, the Emperor must remain alive. If he were to die now due to this scenario, the Empire would fall into chaos. There¡¯s a proper time for his death. ¡°Knowing the danger makes it auspicious, you say. Your words flow smoothly. So, what is the solution?¡± ¡°If Your Majesty permits me to walk the grounds, I will prevent any misfortune that may arise.¡± ¡°Ha ha. Amusing. Give this young one a pass of entry.¡± Wait. What? ¡®¡­ A pass of entry?¡¯ I only hoped for the right to roam around the pce a little, to resolve the emperor assassination plot and perhaps obtain some hidden pieces. But suddenly, I received an additional reward out of nowhere. The ¡®Pass of Entry¡¯ is a top-tier special item. It allows ess to any area, unless it¡¯s ssified or rted to the military, without requiring further permission from the Emperor. Most impressively, this item doesn¡¯t just apply to the pce; it works everywhere. For example, restricted areas at Lichten Academy. It bypasses all those barriers. I stared nkly at the pass in my hand. ¡°If you truly prevent the threat to me, I shall grant this to you permanently.¡± The sycophant standing next to him nodded approvingly. ¡­ In hindsight, even he values the Emperor¡¯s life. After all, it¡¯s no easy task to create a new puppet. ¡°I am deeply grateful.¡± This is a major win! ¡ô Asteria¡¯s quarters, befitting her status as a princess, were grand and beautiful beyond words. We walked across the garden in front of her residence. ¡°An assassination attempt on the Emperor¡­¡± Silvia hadn¡¯t heard what happened inside, as she was waiting in the reception room. Asteria¡¯s murmur caught her by surprise. ¡°Your Highness, are you seriously considering a rebellion?¡± ¡°Silvie, could you refrain from speaking as if I¡¯ve been dreaming of rebellion all along?¡± ¡°¡­ But it¡¯s true.¡± Good question, Silvia. When I first encountered this storyline, Asteria was the first person I suspected. The image of a ¡®Princess of Rebellion¡¯ is ingrained in her character, after all. ¡­ But. ¡°It¡¯s not me, Silvie.¡± This time, she¡¯s innocent. Currently, Asteria¡¯s power is growing faster than anyone else¡¯s, thanks to her control of the North. Aside from the leading First Princess, she¡¯s catching up right behind the Second Prince. Would she really assassinate the Emperor and plunge the continent into chaos? It would be a loss. A huge loss. ¡°Then who could it be?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it?¡± Asteria and Silvia both turned to look at me, puzzled. ¡°¡­ Why are both of you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Because we think you might know.¡± ¡°Ian, with your information.¡± That¡¯s a misunderstanding, you know. Still, I can say one thing with certainty. ¡°The one who stands to gain the most from this incident is likely the culprit.¡± It¡¯s an obvious statement, but necessary. ¡°Ian, your insight never fails.¡± ¡°As expected of Ian.¡± ¡­ Don¡¯t tease me. ¡ô ¡®The Second Prince¡¯s Birthday Banquet.¡¯ For the next three days, the royal pce will host a grand celebration. It¡¯s no coincidence that this event oveps perfectly with the nned The Emperor¡¯s Assassination¡¯. The assassination forces must have taken advantage of the bustling and chaotic atmosphere inside the pce. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll head to the banquet hall first. Before that fox Emilia starts charming everyone.¡± Silvia departed for the banquet hall ahead of us. Asteria and I had a different destination. As she walked ahead, Asteria turned to me with a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ¡°Are you ready to receive my reward?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Hmm, I wonder what you¡¯ve decided on.¡± She casually adjusted the neckline of her top, emphasizing herself. ¡°The Numbers.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure this will feel pleasant too.¡± She yfully licked her lips with a teasing grin. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen Asteria in her Sl*t Mode. The only problem was that there were many people passing by in the pce. ¡°Please, Your Highness, have some restraint.¡± ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re no fun~¡± I was still sensitive because the aftereffects of having s*x with Danya, who was in heat. So I walked for a while, blocking the Princess¡¯s s*x jokes. We arrived at a rather in building, considering we were still inside the pce. It looked like an unimportant structure, sitting there as if it didn¡¯t matter much. But its true identity? The entrance to the royal family¡¯s secret vault. To be exact, it was the building that housed the underground passage leading to the vault. ¡°What brings you here?¡± As soon as we entered, a guard greeted us. His attire was that of a regr guard, but I could sense his immense strength. A highly skilled individual. Well, that¡¯s expected. The moment his eyesnded on the Princess, he immediately snapped to attention. ¡°Your Highness, Third Princess! What brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee to retrieve something of mine.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± As the guard moved aside, his gazended on me. ¡°Is this person apanying you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Might I request a moment? Non-authorized outsiders must undergo basic external clearance before entering.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my guest.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Well, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± Kneeling on one knee as if apologizing, the guard addressed Asteria. ¡°For individuals not listed in our records, we require at least a minimal identity verification¡­¡± He nced at me with suspicion in his eyes. Fair enough. This is an understandable precaution. But I didn¡¯t want to prolong this conversation, especially when the royal vault was right in front of me. I was eager to get inside and check out the treasures. Hah. Without a word, I smoothly pulled the ¡®Pass of Entry¡¯ from my pocket and held it up. The guard¡¯s eyes widened as his face filled with shock. ¡°T-This is¡­ A pass? And issued by His Majesty himself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. Is that sufficient?¡± The Pass of Entry¡ªnot only does it grant free passage, but it also signifies that I¡¯ve met the Emperor, thus confirming my identity. The guard quickly stepped aside. ¡°My deepest apologies, sir!¡± We passed him and walked down the underground passage for a while. ¡ª nk. A massive iron door slowly opened, revealing the imperial family¡¯s treasures. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 The massive iron door opened with a soft sound. As I looked inside, I couldn¡¯t help but be in awe. ¡°Wow¡­¡± This was a basement where no light could properly enter. This was an underground vault where hardly any light entered. Despite the faint illumination, the treasure inside shone so brightly that it seemed like daylight. Srrk. The princess put on her round, tinted sses. ¡°I don¡¯t like this ce much. Every time Ie here, my eyes hurt.¡± Wow. Is this what it means to be wealthy?The princess, casually ncing around, looked especially cool today. ¡®¡­No.¡¯ This isn¡¯t the time for that. First, I should take a look around. Luxurious metal shelves stretched endlessly, like a massive library. ¡°Oh, from here to here is my section. You can pick something from these.¡± She pointed to three long shelves. Even justbining the items here, they¡¯d probably be worth billions of Krone. Was my expression showing too much awe? The princess smirked. ¡°This vault is the lowest-ranked one owned by the Imperial family. That¡¯s why outsiders like you can enter. There are much better ces.¡± Amazing, Your Highness. While I was still admiring everything, the princess held out her palm. ¡°Hand.¡± Her voice was somewhat forceful and firm. ¡°?¡± ¡°Hand.¡± Was she asking for my hand? I ced my hand in hers. ¡°My obedient puppy listens well, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡­This woman! As she patted my head, I started to feel a bit emotional. Smirk. The princess¡¯s eyes narrowed like a crescent moon. Then¡­ She picked up a small, finely crafted dog-shaped ornament from a nearby shelf and ced it in my hand. Even at a nce, it was intricate and looked very expensive. ¡°If you keep listening to me, I might just give you one of my treasures one by one.¡± ¡°¡­Not a bad deal.¡± ¡°Or if you win me over, all these treasures could be yours. What do you think? Want to give it a try?¡± Her hand brushed my cheek, and her eyes were so seductive, like those of a fox. Gulp. Without realizing it, I swallowed and shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ll start by choosing something from the Numbers first.¡± ¡°Hmph. Trying to slip away, huh?¡± Swoosh. She withdrew her hand after grazing my cheek. If I¡¯m not careful, she¡¯ll really devour me. But more importantly, the treasures. These were the riches umted over centuries of the Estrid Imperial family ruling the Empire. Even though this was just a small portion, it was allid out before me. Various ancient relics. Incredibly fine weapons. Jewelry encrusted with gems, their price beyond estimation. ¡®So this is where Serilia¡¯s ne was.¡¯ I stared in a daze at one of the most expensive items from Fantasy X Academy. The fact that this was in the ¡®lowest-ranked vault¡¯ meant it hadn¡¯t even been properly valued. ¡®This really is incredible.¡¯ As I nced over the shelves, I recognized about 30% of the items. How much treasure did they even gather? After taking a walk around, I surveyed the treasures one by one. This alone is a big harvest. Being able to pinpoint the location of the treasures? That¡¯s extremely valuable information. ¡®Alright, enough sightseeing.¡¯ It was now time to make a decision. After surveying the area, I confirmed that what I needed most was one of the items deep within the vault, one of the Numbers. [ Krolux¡¯s Boots (No. 101) ] These boots, which appear to have holes that make them seem chilly, increase mobility stats immediately just by wearing them. They significantly enhance movement speed, reaction time, and agility. Among the ¡®shoes¡¯ Numbers, if you are solely focusing on mobility, this is arguably the best choice. Since it doesn¡¯t consume mana and directly affects physical capabilities, it¡¯s even more outstanding as a Number. Another Number worth considering. [ Blue Frog¡¯s Eye (No. 117) ] This is a drop item from the massive monster ¡¯Blue Frog¡¯, which has hundreds of eyes all over its body. The Blue Frog is notorious for its ability to perfectly read the flow of mana around it, making it a very tricky and dangerous species to deal with. Every one of its eyes can track mana. Since it¡¯s the eye of that monster, the [ Blue Frog¡¯s Eye ] is a Number that allows you to visualize the flow of mana. In other words, using this item makes it much easier to fight against mages or avoid magical traps. Additionally, whenbined with other sensory-rted items¡­ ¡®You could potentially create a cheat item that allows you to see through almost anything.¡¯ Of course, that¡¯s just a theoretical concept, but with the Blue Frog¡¯s Eye, it might not be impossible. Finally, there¡¯s one Number that seems a bit underwhelmingpared to the previous two. [ Hourss of Precise Time (No. 177) ] This item is numbered in thete 100s among the Numbers. Its function is clear at a nce. ¡ª Swoosh. Turning the hourss gently, I could see the translucent grains of sand slowly flowing downward. As the name suggests, it is simply an hourss. However, two things make this hourss special. The first is its sheer beauty. The grains of sand inside shimmer as they catch the light, sometimes reflecting rainbow hues like a prism. ¡°It¡¯s pretty, but it¡¯s known as one of the most useless Numbers.¡± The princess chimed in, watching over my shoulder. ¡°Princess, wouldn¡¯t you prefer if I took something useless? After all, it¡¯s still one of your treasures.¡± ¡°Do I look like a petty woman to you?¡± Asteria crossed her arms and leaned her upper body toward me as if she were angry. I unconsciously acknowledged the volume that stood out. ¡°¡­No, you have a trulyrge heart.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡­Alright, back to choosing the item. The second unique aspect of this hourss is how the grains move. A normal hourss is inurate due to the unpredictable collisions between grains of sand, which introduce small errors. But the ¡®Hourss of Precise Time¡¯ is different. True to its name, each grain falls at an exact, constant interval. If you observe closely, the grains don¡¯t affect each other at all. It¡¯s as if they defy thews of physics, falling one by one at a steady pace. ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision.¡± The choice wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡ô ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going with that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The princess tilted her head, looking at me briefly before handing the treasure to the royal guard overseeing the vault. The guard gave me a quick nce and then asked the princess, ¡°Is this for donation purposes?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Numbers¡­ If you take it out this time, you will no longer be able to withdraw any more Numbers for donation purposes. Are you sure about this?¡± It was surprising that even the princess couldn¡¯t freely withdraw her own possessions from this ce. The Imperial vault was strict in maintaining a thorough withdrawal system. Well, that¡¯s probably how they¡¯ve managed to maintain such vast treasures. After receiving the Number, we returned to Asteria¡¯s residence. ¡°So, what are you nning to do with that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to break it.¡± ¡°¡­ Break it?¡± Asteria looked up at me with a stunned expression. ¡°Why do you look so disappointed?¡± ¡°W-well, I thought you took it as a keepsake to remember our time together¡­¡± Asteria muttered in a slightly teary voice, an emotional and mncholic tone that didn¡¯t suit her. I was so surprised by this uncharacteristic statement that I had to ask again. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Huh? Did I say something?¡± ¡°¡­No, never mind.¡± Did she say that without thinking? Or was she trying out a new personality? Instead of trying to figure her out, I shook the hourss in front of her eyes. ¡°More importantly, do you see the grains inside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not colliding with the other grains, are they?¡± ¡°¡­ That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°The white color you see is just an aura. It¡¯s merely reacting to the surrounding grains.¡± ¡°¡­ Wait a second.¡± Asteria¡¯s eyes widened. Her pink lips parted and closed repeatedly before she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Is this¡­ Ether?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ether. It¡¯s a substance that is both tangible and intangible, able to take form or remain formless depending on the situation. A mysterious material with the potential to be anything. It¡¯s even said to be the origin of all things due to its limitless possibilities. ¡°¡­ Why is this here?¡± ¡°¡­ Why is this here?¡± Ether is extremely rare. Because it can be anything, it¡¯s almost impossible to find naturally scattered Ether in the world. It can only be distinguished by interacting with other Ether. In other words, you need Ether to find Ether. Even after collection, there¡¯s another issue. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve heard that no one can handle this substance.¡± It¡¯s known that no one can manipte Ether. Therefore, its ssification is unique among the materials of Fantasy X Academy. [ Beyond ssification ] That¡¯s why I dare to predict¡­ This is a material that only I can handle. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 ¡°Let¡¯s try to extract the Ether from inside, somehow.¡± Asteria, being a mage herself, quickly understood that the object contained Ether and had no trouble agreeing with my n. We moved to Asteria¡¯s personal training room. ¡°Is there arge box or something that can contain it? We can¡¯t let the Ether escape.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Asteria spoke to her attendants and soon returned with a ss box, roughly the size of arge kimchi container. ¡°Will this do?¡± ¡°Yes, we don¡¯t need to break it with any force.¡± To be precise¡­ we shouldn¡¯t break it at all.When you think about it, it¡¯s a simple problem. ¡°This hourss, in essence, was a container for Ether.¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± At first nce, its ssic hourss appearance almost fooled me, but the fact that it could hold Ether alone made it incredibly valuable. ¡®I need a container for Ether too.¡¯ ¡°So, rather than breaking it¡­¡± ¡°Yes, opening it intact would be more beneficial in many ways.¡± Now, how should I open this? I ced the hourss inside the box and pondered with my chin resting on my hand. On the surface, it was a beautifully crafted hourss, about the size you¡¯d get when spreading your thumb and index finger wide. ¡°Do you see any seams?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t see anything.¡± Asteria, too, was now immersed in the puzzle alongside me. It was too perfect, with no visible seams or signs of how it was molded¡ªjust a wlessly crafted hourss. ¡°How did they put Ether inside?¡± ¡°Exactly. There should at least be traces of a small hole.¡± I agree. Unless they sealed the Ether inside and then covered it with ss, there¡¯s no logical way. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve solved a puzzle like this, and it¡¯s giving me a headache.¡± I couldn¡¯t agree more. My head was starting to ache too. Wait a second. ¡°A puzzle, huh¡­¡± The puzzles never exceed the concept of the object they¡¯re tied to. For a question like ¡°How do you take something out of a strange box?¡± the answer wouldn¡¯t be something like ¡°smash it with a hammer.¡± ¡®¡­If that¡¯s the case.¡¯ After all, this is just an hourss. What can you do with an hourss? ¡®The only thing to do is flip it over to measure time.¡¯ Thud. I flipped the hourss over. Tiny Ether particles gently began to fall. There¡¯s definitely some significance to this. ¡°¡­ Wait, Ian, do you see this?¡± Asteria pointed to one side of the hourss with her hand. Something like faint, translucent letters appeared. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s forming the shape of ¡®¤Æ,¡¯ as I see it.¡± Asteria traced her fingers through the air, drawing the shape. Hmm. On closer inspection, it was clear. But why was this shape drawn here? ¡°¡­ Just a moment.¡± If this letter¡­ if I flipped it and viewed it from the opposite side¡­ [ ¤Æ ] -> [ 2 ] It would look like this. Let¡¯s wait until all the sand falls. ¡°¡­ As I thought.¡± The symbol soon changed to 1. The meaning was simple. I quickly flipped the hourss again. Barely 10 seconds passed before all the sand fell. [ 1 ] -> [ 0 ] Asteria suddenly pointed with urgency. ¡°¡­ Ian!!!¡± One side of the hourss. Ether began to flow out of it, passing directly through the surface as if stars were rising over the horizon¡ªa truly mystical and unique sight. It wasn¡¯t pouring out too quickly. But if we just stand by and watch, the Ether will disappear into the air. Will it stay together since Ether tends to clump? Anyway. Focus. The first step of [Extraction]. I closed my eyes, concentrating on feeling the Ether. I reached out and felt it pass through my hand. ¡®So this is how it feels.¡¯ Formless and yet with form. Defined and yet undefined. Its existence was almost philosophical, something I sensed through both reason and intuition. Then it became visible. A thin white thread extended from the tip of my fingers, linking to a single element of Ether. It was an image drawn in my mind. I call this process a link. As soon as Ipleted the link with one element of Ether, white threads expanded like a web. When all the Ether was connected. ¡ª Woong I drew it into my body, circting it through my mana circuit as I considered what form to shape it into. What should I manifest it as? This was my first time handling Ether. Let¡¯s think of the most basic and powerful weapon. Yes. A sword would be good. ¡°Kuh¡­ It¡¯s big and beautiful.¡± With the princess¡¯s muttering, I opened my eyes. In my hand was a shimmering, translucent sword. Beyond ssification Material. A sword forged from Ether, the only one of its kind in this world. ¡°¡­ This actually works?¡± Ether was known to simply exist, a material no one could control. Asteria, her face a mix of disbelief and amazement, stared at my creation, her fingers moving in disbelief. I have to admit, I¡¯m surprised too. ¡°I¡¯ve surpassed expectations.¡± ¡ô The banquet hall was vast, luxurious, and dazzling. The celebration for the Second Prince¡¯s birthday. This grand event, attended by carefully selected elites of the Britannian Empire, buzzed with conversations that filled the air. ¡°Oh my, Lady Laurent, it¡¯s been so long.¡± ¡°Nice to see you, Countess Montmartre.¡± ¡°Sorry to ask as soon as we meet, but your dress is just stunning. May I ask who designed it?¡± ¡°Fufu. It¡¯s from our Laurent tradingpany¡¯s head designer, Charelle, for the new season.¡± Silvia gracefully navigated through the hall. There was the wife of a duke. Over here, a prominent merchant. Even high-ranking government officials with political connections. Silvia deftly strengthened her ties with these important figures or expanded herwork with new introductions. Her eyes then caught sight of Emilia Raymond. Like Silvia, the youngdy alsomanded attention from everyone in the hall. Their eyes met, exchanging an intense nce. But only for a moment. Called by someone, Emilia quickly put on a practiced smile and turned around. ¡®¡­ I can feel Emilia¡¯s influence weakeningpared to before.¡¯ Gossip spreads quickly among nobles. Since Silvia had taken the lead in Lichten, this was her first banquet, and she could sense that she was rapidly closing in on Emilia. The way Emilia furrowed her brows at the sight of her wasn¡¯t by chance. ¡®¡­ Hmph.¡¯ With a light smile, Silvia elegantly sipped her champagne. Then, a firm voice rang out from the entrance, not loud butmanding enough to catch attention. A kind of announcement reserved for only the most important guests. ¡°Her Highness, Asteria Estrid, the Third Princess, has arrived.¡± The hall remained lively, but many eyes turned toward the entrance. There, two figures walked in side by side. ¡°¡­ Whoa.¡± The men gasped. Wearing a dress so thin it was unclear if it concealed her chest or only covered the essential parts, the princess entered with a deadly, femme fatale smile. ¡°¡­ Wow¡­¡± A few women also let out soft gasps, among them was Silvia Laurent. The man with ck hair escorting the Third Princess caught Silvia¡¯s eye. Dressed sharply in a formal uniform, she was certain of one thing. Ian ckangers had undeniably grown more handsome. It wasn¡¯t just his deep, mncholic eyes. His already tall frame now boasted broad shoulders, the kind that practically invited you to fall into them. Despite undoubtedly sensing the gazes around him, he appearedpletely unfazed¡ªa cool indifference that only added to his allure. And the way he wore that impably tailored uniform, incorporating the little details Silvia had taught him¡­ it was a rare sight. ¡°¡­ Take me.¡± Silvia muttered under her breath. Startled by her own words, she quickly pped a hand over her mouth and nced around. Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard. Trying to calm herself, Silvia fanned her flushed face, embarrassed by the absurd line that had slipped out so impulsively. Luckily, her moment of fluster didn¡¯tst long. ¡°His Highness, Prince Guillotine Estrid, the Second Prince, has arrived!¡± The main event had begun. All eyes turned to the prince. Silvia, too, quickly shifted her gaze from Ian, swallowing hard. If she kept looking at him, she felt like her rationality would melt away. Instead, she focused on the prince. Blond, objectively handsome, with a face that could inspire endless poetic descriptions. But to Silvia, it meant little. She was known for her coolness, rarely sparing a nce at things that didn¡¯t interest her. In contrast to his looks, the prince¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t particrly good. ¡®That¡¯s because Richard has been removed from the picture.¡¯ The two major pirs of support for Guillotine were Richard Pierce and the merchant houses led by the Raymond Ducal House. One of those pirs had crumbled, thanks to the Emperor¡¯s recent reward to Ian ckangers, and Guillotine¡¯s sour mood was understandable. ¡®It must feel like being abandoned by his circle of opportunistic sycophants.¡¯ The politicalndscape of the Britannian Empire was beginning to shift rapidly. The downfall of Guillotine Estrid, second in line for the throne, was a critical event. For Silvia, and everyone in attendance, the significance of Guillotine¡¯s birthday banquet was clear. The orchestra began to y softly as the banquetmenced. Meanwhile, Ian, who had been keeping a low profile, slipped out of the banquet hall. From a distance, he noticed figures in masks darting across the rooftops of the imperial pce. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 ¡®It¡¯s about time for the assassins to make their move.¡¯ I opened the door to the hall and stepped outside. The sounds of the noisy banquet hall faded behind me. Calm moonlight and the chirping of insects in the garden greeted me. It would take less than 10 minutes to cross the garden and reach my destination. There¡¯s no need to rush. In fact, it¡¯s better to walk leisurely to avoid suspicion and unnecessary attention. ¡­But then. ¡ª Step, Step. I encountered someone walking towards the banquet hall. No, it would be more urate to say they blocked my path. ¡°So, you¡¯re Ian ckangers.¡± The person, showing a somewhat sullen smile, was Guillotine Estrid, the Second Prince. ¡®¡­ This is thest person I wanted to run into.¡¯ Richard and Raymond. I¡¯ve shed or had conflicts with both factions supporting Guillotine. Would someone like him have any favorable feelings towards me? More likely, he¡¯d want to tear me apart. Honestly, I wanted to just ignore him and pass by. But he stopped me and even greeted me. Why is the star of the banquet loitering around here anyway? Still, I can¡¯t just ignore a prince¡¯s greeting. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Your Highness, the Second Prince.¡± ¡°An honor, you say.¡± Hoh! He snickered, lifting the corner of his mouth. ¡°Of course, it would be an honor for you. You crushed Richard, a member of the Bloodstone Cult, and were rewarded by my father because of it. How could that not be an honor?¡± His words wereced with venom. Though he wasn¡¯t outright threatening, the air around him felt thick and heavy, like a fog just before dawn. ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t a situation I could respond to easily. When I remained silent, he spoke again. ¡°.. Did you really have to do it?¡± ¡°Do what, Your Highness?¡± ¡°Expose the fact that Richard was a member of the Bloodstone Cult. Did you really have to go that far?¡± What kind of nonsense is this insane prince spewing in the sacred imperial pce? What was I supposed to do? Ignore the evil roots of the Bloodstone Cult? From the first moment I met him, I could tell Guillotine wasn¡¯t in his right mind. ¡°Is the Bloodstone Cult really all that bad? I mean, there could be some good people among them, right? Like any group, they probably have their share of good and bad.¡± I hesitated before answering. Why? Because I was beginning to seriously suspect that Guillotine might be part of the Bloodstone Cult himself. ¡°That may be true, but if I might offer a humble suggestion, Your Highness. As a future ruler, shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned with the harmful influence of a group like the Bloodstone Cult, rather than focusing on the individual good or evil within it?¡± I hid two des within my response. The first was that a mere student of Lichten Academy was offering advice to the Empire¡¯s prince. The second was my open condemnation of the Bloodstone Cult. Guillotine¡¯s eyebrow twitched in anger, signaling his frustration. If he responded by defending the greatness of the Bloodstone Cult, even if it were evil, then he was certainly a member. If, on the other hand, he simply reacted to the insult to his authority, then he wasn¡¯t a cultist. Just another power-hungry fool. ¡°How dare you! You have no restraint when speaking to a prince!¡± He was furious. At least he¡¯s not a member of the Bloodstone Cult. But his eyes gleamed dangerously. His aura became so fierce it seemed as if he might draw the sword at his waist at any moment. Whatever he was, the Estrid bloodline is undeniably strong. I almost turned the hourss I had set to [1] to prepare for a counter. ¡®Don¡¯t fight.¡¯ Fighting the prince in the imperial pce would be sheer madness, a surefire way to court death. I¡¯d be instantly charged with treason and a dozen other crimes, and executed. No, running away would be a much better option¡­ ¡°Snap out of it, Guillotine.¡± A cold beauty with blonde hair walked out from behind him. ¡­ The First Princess? And following her was none other than the Archbishop of the Lichten branch of the Deus Church. The princess, the prince, and even the archbishop. What on earth were they all doing here together? ¡°Adriel, this is none of your business.¡± ¡°Guillotine, show some respect. And remember, this man was personally invited by His Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± ¡°I¡¯m stopping you despite the fact that it would benefit me if you caused a scene. Don¡¯t you understand why?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Guillotine, now silent, released his grip from the handle of his sword and walked past me. ¡°Consider yourself lucky.¡± Indeed, I was lucky. The First Princess, who had saved me, stared at me intently. Her gaze was as unsettling as the Emperor¡¯s¡ªcold, as if she could see right through people. But. It wasn¡¯t just an empty gaze. There was a fierce ambition burning within those eyes. I didn¡¯t know where that ambition was directed, but at least for now, she wasn¡¯t my enemy. That was a relief. ¡ª Click. Without another word, she walked past me. Her stride was so graceful, she could be called the Empress right now, and no one would argue. As if to take her ce, a gentle elderly man called out to me. ¡°Ian ckangers, it¡¯s a pleasure to see you here. Funny how we¡¯ve never crossed paths in the same city.¡± He was an elderly man with white hair and a long white beard. He was a high-ranking figure, the head of the Lichten branch of the Deus Church and one of the 13 archbishops of the Holy Constantine. It wasn¡¯t strange that he was with Princess Adriel. After all, the Holy Kingdom of Constantine was one of the forces backing her. ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Your Grace.¡± ¡°When you return to Lichten, I¡¯d like to invite you to the church.¡± I nodded silently in response and gave a polite bow. ¡­ I had nned to visit anyway, to check on Aria¡¯s shattered mind. A prince, a princess, and an archbishop. The main storylines were slowlying to an end, visible on the distant horizon. But for now, I needed to focus on the present. To see the end of this main storyline, the Emperor needed to stay alive for the time being. ¡ô The moon was rising. I stepped into the main hall, avoiding the flood of moonlight pouring down like rain. The Emperor may be a mere figurehead, but his influence in the Empire is immense. Everyone at least nominally swears allegiance to the Emperor. The rise of the Bloodstone Cult and the escting conflict between the Holy Constantine and the Empire were already intensifying. Meanwhile, although the First Princess seemed to be leading in the session race, nothing was certain. If the Emperor were to die under these circumstances, the Empire¡¯s entire ruling structure would fall into chaos. Not only the princess and princes but also the treacherous ministers who controlled the Emperor and various greedy factions would rush to im the throne. The result would be even more severe chaos. The far-reaching impact on the entire storyline was clear. Despite the short volume, this was why the ¡®Attempted Assassination of the Emperor¡¯ was treated as a major scenario in the main plot. ¡°You cannot pass. What is your business here?¡± Before I knew it, I had reached the Sword Line. The knight firmly blocked my way. Silently, I handed him my Pass of Entry. The knight bowed his head slightly but spoke firmly once again. ¡°You cannot carry any weapons past this point.¡± Even the Emperor¡¯s parents would not be allowed to enter here with weapons. Only the Emperor and his direct guards were permitted to carry weapons and use magic in this area. The Sword Line is absolute. That blue line isn¡¯t just a simple rule but a barrier formed by a magic circle. This barrier serves two purposes. No one carrying an object above a certain ¡®threat level¡¯ can pass through. And no magic can be used within. This is why assassinating the Emperor is no easy task. I handed over my weapons to the knight, except for the hourss, which I kept in my pocket. The knight¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­ What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s an hourss.¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not a dangerous item, is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to check for yourself.¡± The knight¡¯s hand glowed faintly blue as he examined the hourss. After a brief nod, he returned it to me, and I proceeded past the Sword Line. ¡ª Woom! Crossing the blue line, I felt a subtle sensation of difort, but the barrier didn¡¯t stop me. That¡¯s because what I carried wasn¡¯t a weapon but Ether, a material that¡¯s ssified as ¡°Beyond ssification¡±. The hallway, now draped in night, was quiet. Only a few servants and guards passed by, meeting my gaze briefly before bowing their heads. ¡®This way.¡¯ I turned right into a corridor lined with portraits of the imperial family. A series of identical, ornate doors stretched out ahead of me. One of these rooms was the Emperor¡¯s chamber. Imperial guards stood posted outside each door, and the one who seemed to be their leader approached me. ¡°What is your business here?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee to protect His Majesty.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Just as confusion spread across themander¡¯s face¡ª ¡ª Woom! An invisible pulse rippled through the air, and I could suddenly sense the flow of the surrounding elements. This phenomenon had a simple meaning. ¡®¡­ The magic-restriction barrier has weakened.¡¯ And once again¡ª ¡ª Woom! This time, it was the weapon-restriction wave being lifted. ¡ª Crash! Before anyone could react, the windows in the corridor shattered simultaneously. Masked figures dressed in ck stormed through the windows. ¡°The barrier¡¯s down? Stop them! Don¡¯t let them find His Majesty¡¯s chamber!¡± The initially stunnedmander quickly began to respond. I stepped in front of him. ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°Guard only the Emperor¡¯s chamber. These intruders are well-informed. Smoke screens won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°¡­ Understood!¡± At least the knight could follow orders. He immediately gathered his men and positioned them around one door. Had he realized I was guiding him? Some of the masked assassins at the rear turned their attention toward me. ¡°¡­ Quick-witted, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Are you the leader of this assassination squad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to know. You¡¯re going to die here anyway. It doesn¡¯t seem like you even have a weapon.¡± Tzzz. A chill ran down my spine as I felt the deadly intent in the air. I quickly used [Leap] to gain distance. ¡ª Swish! I barely escaped in time, though a part of my sleeve was sliced clean off. ¡°Oh, that was an expensive uniform.¡± The assassin looked at me with a bewildered expression. ¡°What kind of man are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to know either.¡± The magic had returned. I could now use Ether. Ether can be anything. Just as I could leap¡­ So could the Ether. ¡°I¡¯ve actually been working on a new weapon¡­ or maybe it¡¯s more like magic.¡± I grinned and pointed my fingers at him. ¡ª Pshooooo! Ether transformed into sharp, arrow-like projectiles and shot toward the assassins. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 ¡ª Tsz Tsz Tsz Tsz! The leader of the assassins barely dodged the attack. ¡°!!!¡± His cheek was cut, dyed by a fraction of a second. Blood streamed down from the wound. But the situation didn¡¯t end there. Thud. Thud! The three assassins standing behind him copsed simultaneously.The leader¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Surprised? I was also surprised by the attack I came up with. It was the first time I had designed a long-range skill, and for it to work this well¡­ Could I be a genius? With that silly thought in mind, I rushed toward the leader. ¡ª Thud! This time, I used the close-range skill, [Shield Bash]. ¡°Guh!¡± The leader blocked it with his dagger, but he couldn¡¯t withstand the force of the impact and coughed up blood. ¡°Y-You¡­ aren¡¯t you supposed to be a mage?!¡± ¡°I am a mage.¡± ¡°What kind of mage does this¡­?!¡± Why are you so confused? This is a simple and ssicbat strategy. You surprise the enemy with a long-range attack, then follow up with a main damage-dealing close-range assault. If assassins sent to kill the emperor are this bewildered, I could probably use this tactic like a staple. Boom! Assassins ultimately survive on ¡®unpredictability¡¯. Their ambush had failed, and now that I had seized the element of surprise, the tide had clearly turned in my favor. ¡°You b*stard¡­! Do you know how meticulously this n was crafted?!¡± ¡°Oh, was your n to weaken two barriers and break in through the window? I think even I coulde up with something like that.¡± From the various battles I¡¯ve experienced since my possession, I¡¯ve learned one thing. The one who loses theirposure first is the one who loses. ¡°Die!¡± The leader pulled out a dagger from his leg and threw it. ng! Blocking it wasn¡¯t hard. An ambush only works if it catches someone off guard. The tide of battle was gradually turning. Even the knights guarding the Emperor¡¯s quarters started actively engaging in the fight, holding their positions at the door. Shooook! In between my fight with the leader, I supported the knights with long-range attacks. And finally¡­ ¡ª Pop! I managed to disrupt the leader¡¯s footing by using a dirt bump. ¡°Ugh!¡± As he tried to break free, I morphed Ether into a snare and trapped his ankle. ¡°Why¡­ why is this happening?!¡± He shook his leg in panic, but it was futile. The Ether was colorless and odorless, invisible to the naked eye. Just then¡­ ¡°Reinforcements are here!¡± The off-duty knights rushed in. Among them was the captain of the royal guard. ¡°Are you Sir Ian ckangers, who met the Emperor earlier today? You¡¯ve done well. We will take it from here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No, we should be the ones thanking you.¡± The Knight Commander who said that quickly subdued the assassins. No. To be exact, it would be more urate to say that the assassins took their own lives. Well, to be more precise, the assassinsmitted suicide by stabbing small pen-like objects into their thighs. ¡°Damn it!¡± The leader I had been fighting attempted the same. However, I immediately restrained him using a morphing technique, immobilizing him so thoroughly that he couldn¡¯t even move his tongue. ¡°¡­!¡± Looking at me so resentfully won¡¯t help. There¡¯s no benefit in killing an assassin. We need to keep him alive to figure out who sent them. Interrogation seems to be the specialty of the Knight Commander, who was ring with wide eyes over there. Clunk! The door to the Emperor¡¯s quarters opened. Themander and the Emperor stepped out from inside. ¡°Is everything settled?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The Emperor calmly surveyed the surroundings. His gaze swept over the masked corpses, the bound leader, and the injured knights before finally resting on me. ¡°You were right. Thank you.¡± ¡°I am humbled, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°As promised, I will bestow upon you the pass. And¡­¡± The emperor stepped into his quarters and then came back out, holding a small badge in his hand. ¡°Imend your efforts.¡± I knelt and respectfully epted the badge with both hands. It wasn¡¯t made of any extraordinary material. Just a badge finely crafted from pure gold, tinum, and a few luxurious gemstones. However. ¡ª¡¸ Title: Recipient of a Special Medal of Honor ¡¹¡ª Authority increases. Dignity increases. Respect increases. Those who understand the value of this badge will begin to look up to you. ¡ª¡ª The side effects are quite nice. Especially when dealing with ¡®important people¡¯. ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± With an appropriate reward in hand, only one question remains. ¡­Who could have sent these assassins? The surviving masked figure was roughly dragged off to the interrogation room. ¡ô At the Second Prince¡¯s birthday banquet. Since the events at the pce were kept secret, the celebration was still in full swing. ¡°I¡¯ll step out for some fresh air.¡± Silvia, who had been energetically mingling throughout the banquet, walked out to the garden to cool down. ¡ª Click, Click. Despite her exhaustion, her steps were filled with energy. Her eyes sparkled with life, and a subtle smile crept up her lips. ¡°Whew. Finally¡­¡± Her goal, the one she once thought she could never achieve, was now within reach. ¡°The Raymond Trading Company is finally within sight.¡± Silvia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Haaa¡ª Memories from over a decade ago surfaced. The scene was the guest reception room of the Laurent family. A much younger Silvia, still cheerful in her childhood, peeked through the door of the reception room. Through the narrow gap in the door, she saw her father kneeling before someone. His back trembled as he pleaded incessantly. Begging for just one chance for the sake of his family. As her father begged, the person he was pleading with raised their head. They smiled¡ªa cold, terrifying smile directed at Silvia, who was peeking through the crack in the door. Terrified by the grin, Silvia ran away. It was after that day. That the Laurent family began to decline. Until they eventually rose again, Silvia knew well what they had endured at the hands of the head of the Raymond family. That¡¯s why Silvia had one goal. ¡°To be strong enough that no one I love will ever have to kneel before anyone else¡­¡± Silvia let out a small chuckle. She was fully aware. That ordinary women don¡¯t set goals like this. But that¡¯s who Silvia was. A person who would lead the greatest tradingpany and possess a strength no one could challenge. Strong. Wise. Sophisticated. That¡¯s the kind of person she aimed to be. ¡°I thought it was impossible to achieve.¡± Though she had worked herself to the bone, there was always a part of her that thought so. The Raymond Trading Company was powerful and relentless. Compared to them, Laurent was nothing more than a small shop that could only exert influence in Lichten. But now, she could see it. In her mind and before her eyes, countless ways to surpass the Raymond Trading Company came to mind. Though the odds might be slim, it was enough to give her confidence. And this wasn¡¯t because Silvia had done well on her own. ¡°¡­Hehe.¡± As she strolled through the garden, Silvia smiled softly. She often found herself smiling out of nowhere when she thought of that person. It was because of that person that Silvia had made it this far. ¡°In some ways, it might have been fate disguised as a coincidence.¡± The beginning of the school year at the academy, on a rainy day, in a damp alley. If she hadn¡¯t slipped there, if her clothes hadn¡¯t been dirtied, if she hadn¡¯t met ¡®that man¡¯ who cleaned her clothes¡­ She wouldn¡¯t have made it to where she was now. So, it was purely luck. The luck of meeting Ian ckangers. ¡ª Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heart was pounding. At first, Silvia thought it was just a heart problem, but now she knew that this feeling was lovesickness. She had heard it from the most renowned physician on the continent, so it had to be true. He even told her how to cure it. ¡ª ¡°Confess to him, miss. Hold his hand and kiss him. That¡¯s the best prescription.¡± Silvia looked up at the sky. As she gazed at the moon, obscured by clouds, she imagined the prescription. Holding hands. ¡ª Thump. Thump. And¡­ kissing. ¡ª Thud! Thud! Thud! Her heart raced as if it was about to burst. ¡°That doctor really is a quack¡­¡± What was his name again? Hoa Ta or something? A doctor renowned in history? Yeah, right. Pouting her lips, Silvia tried to calm her racing heart. But of course, her thoughts drifted back to Ian. Whenever she received his timely assistance, Silvia found herself unknowingly letting go of the tight tension she always carried. ¡®If it¡¯s Ian¡­ it might be okay.¡¯ That¡¯s what she thought. Their rtionship had begun the day he cleaned her mud-soaked clothes. Since then, that encounter had grown into the most precious, irreceable bond in Silvia¡¯s life. ¡°Whew.¡± Silvia used the thought of Ian to calm her racing heart. Then, she nced down at herself. Her dress was a sheer, elegant design that barely hinted at her silhouette. Her hair and nails were meticulously done. She caught a glimpse of her reflection, admiring the effort she had put into preparing for this social event. ¡°Surely, Ian won¡¯t be able to endure today, right?¡± She ced her hand on her chest, feeling its soft contours. ¡°¡­ This might be a bit of a disadvantage.¡± But she had confidence in the rest of her appearance. At that moment¡ª ¡ª Footsteps! She heard someone approaching on a nearby path. Peeking out, she saw a servant hurrying along. The servants in the royal pce never moved in haste. Their job was to exist without being noticed, blending into the background. This meant one of two things. Either this person was someone else disguised as a servant. Or there was truly an urgent matter. ¡®¡­ This is suspicious.¡¯ The servant nced around nervously, as though hiding something. Silvia carefully followed him. He stopped at a gazebo in the garden. A woman turned to face him, as if she had been waiting. The silhouette was familiar. Narrowing her eyes, Silvia tried to get a better look at the woman hidden in the shadows. ¡®¡­ Emilia?¡¯ Why was Emilia here? The servant mumbled something in a voice too quiet to hear, and though Silvia couldn¡¯t see Emilia¡¯s face, her trembling arms gave away her agitation. But that wasn¡¯t the only strange thing. ¡ª Step. The Second Prince joined them. The servant whispered something to him as well. ¡ª p! The servant received a harsh p across the face. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I apologize.¡± The servant¡¯s muffled voice reached Silvia¡¯s ears. When the prince waved him away, the servant disappeared into the shadows. ¡®¡­ What in the world is happening?¡¯ There were so many unknowns. One thing was certain, though¡ªsomething bad was going on between them, and Emilia and the prince seemed unusually close. Just then¡ª ¡°!!!¡± The silhouettes of the prince and Emilia ovepped, as if they were kissing. ¡ª Rustle. Startled, Silvia unintentionally made a sound by stepping on some leaves. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Asteria¡¯s reception room. I wasfortably resting, sinking into a rocking chair. ¡°There¡¯s no need to attend the birthday banquet.¡± Especially since my rtionship with the prince hosting it is at its worst. Going there and getting stabbed for no reason would be a loss. Besides, Silvia is probably doing wonders at the event. Her social skills at official gatherings are unmatched. ¡°I¡¯ve done everything I needed to.¡± I aplished everything I was supposed to in this episode.So smoothly that I even wondered if it was too clean. ¡®¡­Usually, something bad happens right about now.¡¯ I shook my head quickly. Let¡¯s stay positive. Yeah, I did a good job, so it went smoothly, didn¡¯t it? Thanks to Asteria, securing Ether was key to dealing with the assassins. Anyway. Soon, blood will flow in the Imperial Pce. The moment the captured assassin can¡¯t withstand the torture and opens their mouth, that¡¯s when the bloodshed will begin. ¡°¡­ It might happen sooner than expected.¡± It¡¯s best to avoid the storm of blood. Since I¡¯ve cleared all my missions, returning early doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. Of course, it¡¯s a shame to miss out on the luxurious food and expensive drinks prepared for the banquet¡­ ¡°I can just visit Restaurant Esm¨¦ in Lichten again.¡± In terms of vor alone, it¡¯s better than the Imperial Pce chefs. Okay. I should head back quickly. Since I got deeply involved in this scenario, I should be cautious. Should I go to the banquet hall and fetch Silvia? As I was contemting this, I heard hurried footsteps approaching. ¡°I-Ian!¡± ¡°What is it? Did the banquet go well?¡± Huff¡ªHuff¡ª Silvia barely nodded, catching her breath. ¡°Y-Yes¡­ But, but!¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± I plucked a twig stuck in her bangs. It was dangerously close to poking her eye. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem. But what happened to you? Why are you covered in leaves and twigs?¡± Silvia, always impably clean, was clearly in a situation. After briefly blushing, Silvia gathered herself and spoke. ¡°Kiss¡­ kiss!¡± ¡°Kiss?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°You want to kiss?¡± Silvia stared nkly at me for a moment after my question. ¡°Is that okay? ¡ª No! That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± She iled her hands, lookingically flustered, reminding me of Elena in her clumsy moments. But then Silvia shook her head and regained herposure. ¡°The Second Prince kissed Emilia Raymond.¡± Now I understood why Silvia was so worked up. ¡°¡­ The Second Prince and Emilia?¡± It¡¯s likely a strategic rtionship. No, it must be. ¡°Did you see the kiss clearly?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t close enough to be sure, but I saw them holding each other¡¯s cheeks, and their shadows ovepped.¡± Even if they didn¡¯t actually kiss, it was close enough to count. ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± Silvia continued. ¡°Just before that, a servant rushed up to Emilia and whispered something to her. That was even more suspicious. It seemed connected to the prince as well.¡± ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°About 30 minutes ago.¡± That would be after the assassination attempt had failed. The prince and Emilia. This suggests they might be involved in the assassination attempt. ¡°How did they react?¡± ¡°They looked extremely disappointed.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Definitely suspicious. ¡°Do you have any guesses?¡± I briefly exined the Emperor¡¯s assassination attempt to Silvia. The sequence of events from the assassination¡¯s failure to the report reaching Emilia and the prince. The timing was eerily perfect. ¡®The question is, does this benefit them?¡¯ Let¡¯s think simply. If the Emperor dies right now, the one most likely to ascend the throne is the First Princess. Both in terms of session rank and the scale of her influence, she¡¯s the frontrunner. On the other hand, the Second Prince, who has lost most of his allies, is currently even threatened by Asteria. However, all the circumstances point to him perfectly. How should I interpret this gap? ¡®¡­Does he have another hidden card?¡¯ That would exin it. The Second Prince¡¯s power isrgely divided into two factions:
  1. The North, once ruled by Richard Pierce.
  2. The Raymond Trading Company and its alliance.
The North was taken by Asteria. The Raymond Trading Company and its alliance are still strong, but they can¡¯tpare to the First Princess, who has united the nobles and the church. This means¡­ There must be another hidden force behind the Second Prince, one that could instantly turn the tide in this political power game. Who could it be? The Council of Elders? Holy Constantine? Or perhaps the Bloodstone Cult? A few names floated through my mind, but for now, it was difficult to specte. We¡¯ll have to wait for the results of the interrogation with the captured assassin to piece things together. By the way¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You got caught spying, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you ended up like this.¡± I smiled and removed another leaf from Silvia¡¯s hair. ¡°Hmph¡­ I wasn¡¯t spying, just tailing them.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± I continued plucking leaves from the back of her hair. Swish. Swish. Her hair was delicate and fine, like silk spun from the finest threads. As her hair swayed, a subtle floral scent tickled my nose. I inhaled the fragrance and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of returning to Lichten.¡± ¡°Already? You didn¡¯t even get to see the banquet properly.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not careful, the fallout from the assassination attempt might reach me.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Given the prince¡¯s temperament, that¡¯s very possible. When will you leave?¡± ¡°Now.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you.¡± Silvia answered without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°The second and third days of the banquet are just for deepening friendships. Leaving now will be fine, and it¡¯ll even help with maintaining a bit of suspense.¡± If Silvia says so, I believe her. ¡°But what should we do about this dress?¡± Silvia gestured at her dress, which was stained with dirt and grass, looking troubled. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± I lightly activated Dishwashing. Pah! A white light enveloped her dress, swiftly purifying it. ¡°¡­Ian, do you remember?¡± ¡°Remember what?¡± ¡°When we first met, you cleaned my dress like this.¡± Hmm. That¡¯s right. We met in a muddy alley. Back then, Silvia was quite troubled by the mud that had sshed onto her clothes. Silvia spun around and smiled at me. ¡°Thank you, just like that time.¡± Her gown fluttered gently as it descended under the night sky. Her radiant smile, bathed in moonlight, gleamed white. Silvia¡¯s pure and graceful charm remained as captivating as ever. ¡­But this isn¡¯t the time to get distracted. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out.¡± We exined our early departure to Asteria, who had just returned. ¡°I see. Not a bad choice. I can handle things on my own from here.¡± She nodded in approval, though for some reason, there was a hint of loneliness¡­ It was probably just my imagination. Silvia and I boarded the carriage to depart. ¡°Here you go, hop in!¡± There was an emergency carriage ready for nighttime travel within the pce. Though not as ornate as the one we had arrived in, the ride was smooth as we cut through the night. ¡°Escaping from the pce in the dead of night¡ªhow romantic.¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t it?¡± We exchanged light banter as we rode alongfortably for a while. ¡ªScreech. The carriage suddenly came to a halt. ¡°Oh no! My lord, I am terribly sorry, but the carriage can¡¯t go any further.¡± The coachman said, bowing deeply. We waved our hands dismissively and asked for an exnation. ¡°This is the quickest route to the checkpoint, but once a year, on the night of the full moon, the water rises in the city like this.¡± Silvia and I stepped down from the carriage and looked ahead. Just as the coachman had said, knee-deep water shimmered over the stone streets of the city. ¡°How long will it take if we go back?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll take about two more hours, my lord.¡± ¡°And if we walk from here, it¡¯s not far to the checkpoint, right?¡± ¡°Yes, just keep following this street, and you¡¯ll reach it in about 15 minutes.¡± ¡°Then this is far enough. You can head back now, coachman.¡± We sent the coachman on his way and began walking. The water wasn¡¯t too deep to hinder our progress. Clear water rippled across the road, reflecting the glowing full moon above. It was quite a surreal experience. ¡ª Plop I dipped my toe into the water. It felt a bit cold but not unpleasant. ¡°¡­ Students, are you?¡± A voice came from nearby. An old man was sitting on a wooden table. ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± ¡°Thank you for the concern, but we¡¯ll be alright, sir.¡± ¡°Heh, a polite one, aren¡¯t you.¡± The old man gazed at me thoughtfully, his eyes filled with wisdom, as if he could see right through me. His gaze lingered on my chest, then drifted away. ¡°That badge¡­ You¡¯vee from the pce, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± The old man chuckled and lightly swung his cane. Suddenly, a small boat appeared, floating gently before us. ¡­Was he a mage? ¡°Feel free to ride.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir. But how will we return it to you¡­?¡± ¡°Heh, look over there.¡± The old man pointed his cane forward. In front of us stretched a long stone road. The full moon, glowing over the water, softly illuminated the path ahead. ¡°A truly magical night, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± With those words, the old man closed his eyes, as if preparing to sleep. Silvia and I exchanged nces before stepping into the small boat. It was a narrow boat. Sitting across from each other, our legs brushed together gently. We could hear each other¡¯s breathing. ¡°How does this thing move, anyway¡ªAh!¡± ¡ª Thunk. The boat began to glide through the water on its own. That¡¯s why I looked down. Silvia was in my arms. Her tear-filled violet eyes, reflecting the night sky, gazed up at me. Arge full moon hung overhead. Around us, floatingnterns began to rise. Sometimes, the mood shifts without reason. Simply because the scenery is beautiful, the person before you begins to seem beautiful, too. ¡°Um, this hurts.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The only cure is Ian.¡± Before I could ask what she meant¡­ Silvia¡¯s lips met mine. Her lips carried the subtle scent of moonlight. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 The hallway of the Dessert Research Clubroom. I¡¯m sure I came back after just a day, but why does it feel like it¡¯s been so long? My brain is now fully recognizing this ce as home. Anyway. ¡°Did I leave the lights on?¡± The current time is 2 a.m. Yet, the hallway was brightly lit. As I opened the door and entered. ¡°Oh!!! Brother¡¯s here!¡± Elena greeted me loudly.At the same time, Danya and Lina, who were sitting on the bed and chair, turned to look at me. ¡°¡­ Aren¡¯t you all supposed to be under curfew? Why are you still here?¡± ¡°The curfew? The student council secretary handled that! By the way, where have you been, brother? You just made us food and suddenly disappeared! Sister Danya was really worried about you!¡± ¡°N-Nyah! Who was worried!¡± Danya quickly turned her head away, with dark circles under her eyes. Lina, who quietly approached, looked up at me and said. ¡°I was really worried, Ian.¡± Then, Danya quickly rushed over to stand next to Lina. ¡°I-I was worried too, Nyah.¡± ¡­ What¡¯s going on with you two? Are you doing a skit? Anyway. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me.¡± I instinctively patted Danya and Lina on the head. It feels like this has be a habit. Neither of them seemed to mind. ¡°And me! I¡¯m the one who dealt with the curfew issue, Brother!¡± As she chewed quietly, the room became peaceful, filled only with the sound of gentle head pats. Not a bad kind of peace. Sometimes, these kinds of ordinary healing moments are important. At that moment. ¡ª Sniff Sniff! Suddenly, Danya¡¯s nose twitched. As she sniffed near my chest, her eyes narrowed. The genre shifted from a peaceful healing moment to a thriller. ¡°What were you doing, Nyah?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Who were you with? What were you doing?¡± Gone was the ¡°Nyah¡±, reced by Danya¡¯s icy stare. Feeling the chill, I quickly pulled out the souvenirs I had brought from the pce. ¡ô At the Deus Church Lichten branch. In the room called the residence of the saint candidate, but more like a prison. The spacious, luxurious, and dimly lit room was filled only with the sound of someone biting their lip. The girl with long, dark hair, so long it almost hurt her eyes, was Aria, the saint candidate. Though it was the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep, she alone wandered in the dark, unable to sleep. How many days had it been since shest slept? Aria stared nkly at her hand. In it was a figure shaped like a hero. It was a piece from the board game [Chronicles of the Hero] that she used to love as a child. Therefore, it had been more than two days since she hadst slept. After all, it was two days ago that she received this. ¡ª Squeeze. Aria clenched her already numb palm. Her hand was now so pale it was turning blue. Yet, she couldn¡¯t release the figurine. In this vast, luxurious space, it was the only thing that made her feel connected to Ian. ¡°Ugh!¡± And at the same time¡­ It was also the item she had mercilessly thrown away onto the street. With both hands gripping the figure tightly, Aria bent her back like a curled shrimp, unable to stop herself from doing so out of overwhelming regret for her actions. ¡°S¡­ S¡­ Sorry¡­¡± After curling up around the figure, words finally began to spill out. Breathing became easier, her eyes blinked, and tears started to flow. The memories that had felt broken suddenly began to flood back, all tied to this figure. ¡ô ¡°Alright. In this game, you get to be part of the hero¡¯s party. You can choose your ss from these four. Hero, Mage¡­¡± A house set apart from the city. This wooden house, where only her family lived, was often left in Aria¡¯s care when her parents went out. ¡°So, what do you want to be, Gloomy?¡± Aria, who had never been the type to meet friends outside, had already read the books in the house so many times that she could practically recite them. She was always bored. When she could no longer endure that boredom, she became lethargic. As a child, there were days when she couldn¡¯t even speak properly and would just stare nkly at the walls. It was a boy who first started to brighten her dark life. Today, the boy had brought a board game called [Chronicles of the Hero]. Aria was at a loss, unsure of which piece to choose, and her face showed it. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Just pick whatever feels right.¡± ¡°Even so¡­ I-I¡¯m bad at making choices.¡± ¡°Well, what do you like? Something strong, something pretty, something cool¡­¡± Ian held up each figure, introducing them one by one. He exined each one with such passion and care, as if it was essential that Aria make the perfect choice. Then he looked at her. His eyes seemed to say, ¡°I¡¯ve exined everything so well; now you can choose, right?¡± Was it the pressure? Or had she perhaps been won over by the kindness in his gaze? Aria¡¯s heart started to race. ¡®I-I need to say something!¡¯ Squeezing her eyes shut, she blurted out whatever came to her mind. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m dumb and can¡¯t talk well, so I want the strongest one!¡± With her eyes still tightly shut, Aria waited for Ian¡¯s response. A warrior? A priest? She hoped Ian would pick something for her. But no answer came. Why? Had she said something wrong? Was he upset? Did she seem too pathetic? The silence was terrifying. She was scared that Ian might be looking at her with disappointment. After a long, timid deliberation, Aria cautiously opened her eyes. As expected, Ian was looking at her. ¡­But it wasn¡¯t a disappointed look. He was gazing at her with incredibly warm and kind eyes as he spoke. ¡°Gloomy, you¡¯re not dumb.¡± ¡°B-But I stutter when I talk.¡± ¡°I heard something from the great sage who visits my house sometimes. He said that people who know too much sometimes have trouble speaking well because of it.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m not that smart, though.¡± ¡°But Gloomy, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve read all the books in your house multiple times? I can¡¯t even finish a single book properly. You¡¯re definitely smart.¡± Ian¡¯s words, spoken with such confidence, made Aria¡¯s heart race even faster. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Why was she feeling like this? At that time, Aria was too young to understand the meaning of her racing heart. Instead, Ian handed her something. ¡°Then, Aria, you should take this one.¡± Ian handed her a figure from the board game with a bright smile. It was a hero figure holding a long sword, and it quickly became Aria¡¯s favorite possession. She held it close to her chest. For some reason, the figure hero seemed incredibly cool to her. The little hero¡¯s smile strangely resembled Ian¡¯s. Come to think of it, what had Ian chosen? Aria raised her head and asked. ¡°W-What do you like?¡± ¡°I like the saintess.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s got a big chest!¡± ¡°¡­ P-P*rvert.¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± Though Aria had retreated slightly at Ian¡¯s sillyment, she couldn¡¯t help but think. ¡®Maybe with my chest size, it would be fine.¡¯ That day, her face turned as red as a beet at the thought. ¡ô The memories with Ian were the only reason Aria was able toe out of her shell, even just a little. She had been admitted to a public school in Istan. Even though it was a public school, it was rare formoners to attend. ¡ª I asked my family for help! You¡¯re smart, Aria, so I know you¡¯ll do well! It was thanks to Ian¡¯s help that this was even possible. Despite her negative thoughts, Aria resolved to give it her best. ¡®I-I can do well too!¡¯ She didn¡¯t want to let Ian¡¯s support go to waste. With countless hours of practice and self-encouragement, she finally entered the school. Surprisingly, Aria adapted to school more easily than she had anticipated. Though she still stuttered when speaking, her efforts and her pure-hearted nature endeared her to others. She didn¡¯t have any close friends, but there were plenty of kids who at least greeted her. For Aria, that alone was enough to make her happy. She dreamed of something good. ¡®Maybe I can make friends too.¡¯ She thought. But Aria¡¯s dream went no further than that. It all changed when the exams and performance evaluations began. Ian was right. Aria was a genius. She excelled in nearly every subject. She was so talented that not only her peers but even students in higher grades couldn¡¯tpete with her. In everything, except for her ability to control mana, she was unmatched. And that was the problem. ¡ª ¡°¡­ What¡¯s this? Were you just pretending to be dumb the whole time?¡± ¡ª ¡°She¡¯s so creepy.¡± ¡ª ¡°Look at that gloomy fringe. She¡¯s probablyughing at us behind it.¡± Jealousy, envy, and unfounded criticism rained down on her. Her stuttering and her shy demeanor were now seen as deceptive, part of some act to appear harmless. ¡°Uh, h-hello?¡± Even when she tried to greet others. ¡°Ah, hello? Th-th-th-that¡¯s r-right! Hahahaha!¡± That was the response she got. ¡®It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡¯ Aria gripped the figure hero tightly in her hand for courage. And she tried again. But the next day. And the day after. Everyone continued to mock her. It was despairing. She wanted to give up. The world wasn¡¯t like Ian. Yes. ¡°¡­ Ian.¡± So, for Aria, there was only Ian. The only person who had ever epted her was Ian, that boy. Her dependence on him grew. The more others mocked her, the stronger her attachment became. Every moment without Ian felt gloomy. ¡°Ian.¡± Even during break time, when she pretended to sleep with her head buried on her desk. ¡°Ian, Ian.¡± Even when she secretly ate her lunch alone. Aria would repeat Ian¡¯s name over and over. She had to imagine Ian, who was likely receiving tutoring from his family, just to endure it all. If she could endure, they would meet. One day. Just one day a week. Chapter 169 Chapter 169 One day a week. On the day she was to meet Ian, Aria woke up early in the morning. It was because she wanted to prepare herself. Unfortunately, Aria didn¡¯t know how to dress herself up. However, she knew that her peers were particrly interested in things like cosmetics and clothes. Aria, too, pretended not to care but had a bit of interest. She had even secretly taken some samples handed out by merchants in front of the school. But her reflection, adorned with makeup and essories, felt too awkward. That awkwardness became a small inner wound that made her give up trying to decorate herself. That¡¯s why Aria¡¯s way of getting ready was simple to exin. She spent more time than usual washing herself clean.She carefully washed her long bangs that nearly covered her eyes and her messy hair, strand by strand. Even the soap that she usually smeared on quickly, she rubbed slowly and firmly today. Today was a special day. It was a day she could spend all day with Ian. ¡°¡­I think I cleaned up well.¡± She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Her bangs always drooped down, covering her eyes. Aria yfully brushed her bangs back and forth. Would it look better if her eyes were more visible? Wouldn¡¯t that be prettier? These were the thoughts going through her mind. But in the end, she always returned to the same ce. Her long bangs, hiding her eyes in a gloomy way. This was the best fit for her. It conveniently shielded her from people¡¯s gazes. For someone as insignificant as her, this look suited her perfectly. ¡®¡­ And maybe I should look a bit sadder.¡¯ After all, that made Ian pay more attention to her. And so, she went to meet Ian. ¡ô Whenever she met Ian, the conversation was always the same. There was this incident at school. It feels like everyone hated her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. After talking like this for a while, Ian would always respond in the same way. ¡°It must have been tough.¡± ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± He never judged her. He didn¡¯t give advice. He would just, always, quietly. Hug her. ¡°¡­Mhm¡­¡± Ian¡¯s hug. At first, she had rejected it. The very act of physical contact with someone was too frightening and terrifying for Aria. Besides, she thought Ian had other motives. She feared that after hugging her, he might try something more. So, she tried to run away. She wanted to escape from his arms. But Ian didn¡¯t let go. He just hugged her tightly, even as she tried to run. It wasn¡¯t until she stayed in his arms for a while that she realized. The sound of someone else¡¯s breath in a hug. Thump, Thump. The soft sound of a beating heart. The smell of another person. These things made her feelfortable. She realized that Ian truly wanted tofort her. That¡¯s how hugging became a habit. ¡°¡­¡± At some point, she started to enjoy this closeness. Her body and heart felt like they would melt away. Being in his arms made her happy. It was as if all the pain she had experienced over the week disappeared. Aria listened to Ian¡¯s breathing as she remained in his embrace. His chest moved with her sadness. It was so warm. Like the only light in a world full of darkness. Yes. Ian was Aria¡¯s only light. Only when she felt his warmth could Aria truly feel the world. That was why. Aria gradually became addicted to Ian¡¯s warmth. It couldn¡¯t be considered a good thing. Because without him, she could do nothing. She had be dependent on him. ¡®¡­ What if he gets tired of me?¡¯ That thought suddenly crossed her mind. And that was the problem. The fear that Ian might leave her. Aria became anxious. ¡°I-Ian, listen¡­¡± At times like that, Aria poured everything out to Ian. Because if she didn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t bear it. And then. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aria. I¡¯m here for you. You¡¯ve had it tough.¡± Ian always looked at her warmly as she cried. That warmth made her cling to him even more. She began to think of ways to hold onto Ian. ¡®Should I offer him something?¡¯ Her face, her body, entertainment? Aria believed she wasn¡¯t attractive enough. Instead, she came up with another method. ¡®If¡­ if I fall into deeper despair¡­!¡¯ Smart as she was, Aria had already noticed. The more desperately she cried, the more worried Ian became about her. There was no other way to hold onto him. That was the turning point. Aria¡¯s expressions became more extreme. She scratched her wrists. She mimicked hanging herself. She acted as if she might fall off a dangerous cliff. All to hold onto Ian. She did it all deliberately. To keep his eyes on her. To beg him not to leave. It was a kind of addiction. ¡®I-I know.¡¯ She knew Ian¡¯s expression crumbled every time she hurt herself. She knew she was hurting him. She knew she was being selfish. But she couldn¡¯t stop. Because she couldn¡¯t live without Ian. Because he was the only light in her dreary life. She just wanted to hold onto him, even in this way. Ian was everything to Aria. She knew. She knew she was trash. That she had crossed from dependency into obsession. She knew that as she spiraled further into despair, Ian was being dragged down with her. She knew that this rtionship could only end badly. That was what addiction was. The ending of their story would surely be a bad one. Then one day, a miracle happened in Aria¡¯s life. ¡°You have been chosen by Lord Deus.¡± She was given the perfect chance to change. ¡ô ¡°Lady Gloomy.¡± The ones who sought her out were people dressed in priestly robes. A young man among them knelt before Aria. He had blonde hair and carried a long sword. He looked exactly like the hero figurine Aria cherished. ¡°Lady Gloomy, you possess the qualities of a saint.¡± ¡°A¡­ saint?¡± ¡°Yes. It means someone who can spread the word of Lord Deus and save the world.¡± ¡°I-I can¡¯t believe this. It sounds suspicious.¡± The man nodded slightly and ced his hand on Aria¡¯s neck. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± Before she could react, the man¡¯s hand glowed white. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Aria recoiled, instinctively rubbing her neck. There didn¡¯t seem to be anything wrong. ¡°I¡¯ve blessed you. You won¡¯t stutter anymore.¡± ¡°No way¡­ Am I really not stuttering?¡± The man smiled benevolently. ¡°Lord Deus is omnipotent. If you rise to the position of a saint candidate, you will gain even greater things than this.¡± ¡°Greater things?¡± ¡°Yes. Anything you desire.¡± ¡°Then¡­ can I change myself too?¡± In response to Aria¡¯s question, the man smiled and pointed at her neck. ¡°You¡¯ve already changed. With divine power.¡± ¡­He was right. Aria had already changed. The soft white light emanating from his hand¡ªdivine power. ¡°I can use that too?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯ll wield this power better than anyone. Would you like to try putting your hand in here?¡± The man presented a wide, gold chalice. ¡°This contains holy water. If it turns white, it means you are qualified to be a saint candidate. However.¡± He continued with a serious expression. ¡°If it turns white, you cannot go back. Not until you either be a saint or are eliminated.¡± It was a moment of decision. Hope is terrifying. The hope of bing a better version of herself. The hope of no longer needing to rely on Ian. Aria reached out and ced her hand in the chalice. The water turned whiter than anyone¡¯s ever had. And so, she became a saint candidate. The world changed like magic. There was no longer any need to attend the dreary school. ¡ª Are you defying the will of His Holiness, the Pope of Constantine? The headmaster, who once held her back, couldn¡¯t utter a word. Everything unfolded just as the priests had said. The more she prayed, the more she touched divine power, the more Aria changed. ¡ª As expected, she¡¯s a true saint candidate! ¡ª What overwhelming holy power, it¡¯s truly beautiful, Lady Saint! Everyone admired her. Everyone praised her. Even the Pope bestowed her with a name. ¡ª Aria Lumines Bell. Her confidence grew. I can change. No. I already have changed. ¡®I¡¯m not Gloomy anymore. I¡¯m Aria.¡¯ Her hope wasing true. She was filled with confidence¡ªno, it could even be called arrogance. Then. Ian came to visit. ¡ª Ian? Why are you here? ¡ª I was worried about you. ¡ª I¡¯m fine. Besides, I¡¯m busy. You should leave now. Aria cut him off firmly. Ian was crushed. ¡ª Please, Gloomy¡­ Please. She ignored Ian as he pleaded desperately. I¡¯m not Gloomy anymore. If I stayed with Ian, it felt like the past would resurface. ¡­And because the end was already set in stone. ¡ª I don¡¯t need you anymore. Let¡¯s each live happily on our own. She thought this was the right thing to do. At least until¡­ Until the moment people around her began to criticize her. Those who once praised her scattered. Their admiration for her turned into hatred. Divine power stems from people¡¯s faith. As that faith disappeared, so did her divine power. And then, Aria crumbled. Even more than before. More than when Ian was by her side. It was the side effect of addiction to false hope. ¡ô ¡°¡­ Ah.¡± The countless memories she had reyed over and over were always bitter. Aria made a strange sound, close to a groan, as she curled up tighter. ¡°Ugh¡­ aah¡­¡± At the end of every memory was Ian¡¯s face. The day she proudly received her new name from the pope. The day Ian came to her front door, confessing his feelings. ¡ª Please, Aria¡­ Please¡­ Don¡¯t you remember? You couldn¡¯t be without this. ¡ª I don¡¯t need that anymore. She looked down at her hand. In her palm was the hero figurine Ian had brought that day. The one she had coldly thrown onto the dirt. She remembered Ian kneeling in the dirt, desperately searching for it. ¡°No¡­¡± The image of Ian, devastated, looking at the dirty figurine shed in her mind. ¡°No, no, no, no¡­¡± Yet, there it was again, in her hand. Clean, no longer covered in dirt. But. Its chest was hollowed out, a piece missing. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡± Tears streamed down Aria¡¯s face. She bit her lip, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop. Drop by drop, they fell onto the figurine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She shouldn¡¯t have done it. She shouldn¡¯t have relied solely on the warmth Ian gave her. She shouldn¡¯t have been so selfish. She had chosen a different path, thinking she could break free from him. She had let arrogance take over, believing she didn¡¯t need him anymore. She was a fool. An idiot. Trash. It was all her fault. ¡­Even as she regretted everything. Even though she knew she had no right. ¡°Ian¡­¡± She wanted him again. Because she didn¡¯t know how to escape this darkness. Because she didn¡¯t know how to step out of the solitary room she had trapped herself in. And so, she waited. Hoping the prison-like door would open and Ian would walk in. Hoping the bars of the window would break open, and he woulde, smiling brightly like he used to when they were younger. ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s impossible.¡± Her chest ached as if it was being torn apart. She knew the moment she had cast off the name Gloomy and chosen to be Aria, all her rtionships had shattered. The sun had risen, but Aria could not feel its warmth. She needed him. She needed Ian. He was her only light. Only Ian could save her. ¡°I¡¯ll go back to being Gloomy¡­ So please¡­¡± Just give me one more chance. I¡¯ll apologize. I¡¯ll do anything. Please, just one more¡­ ¡ª Creak The door to her room opened. As if her desperate wish had been heard. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Aria gazed at the door. Light poured in slowly from beyond the door as it opened, filling the dark room with sunlight. Aria¡¯s world, once filled only with shades of ck and white, began to bloom into color. ¡°¡­Why¡­ Why?¡± She found herself stammering again. There was no particr reason. It just felt like she had to. Thinking back, it had always been this way. During the time when her world consisted only of books, walls, and her home, it was you who had first shattered those monotonous colors. That day.I remember you, standing beyond the unusually dark window. You looked just the same as today. Your hair, dark and deep ck. Eyes so intense they seemed to pull me in. Even your pale skin and lips, which looked almost lifeless, appeared as if cast in ck and white. Yet, the sunlight and blue sky that flooded in as you drew back the curtains filled my world with color. Yes. Just like now. ¡ª Step You opened the door, walking in with those colors, standing before me. I could only stare nkly up at you. I longed for you, but I never believed you would return. ¡°¡­Why?¡± The same words escaped my lips once more. They held no real meaning. They were just words that tumbled out from my mind, without any conscious thought. All the memories that had resurfaced so helplessly. All the regrets I¡¯d harbored while thinking of you. All the despair I felt, ming myself. None of them lingered in my mind right now. The room hade alive simply because you were here. The once lifeless scenery around me began to stir again. Thump. Thump. Thump. Just from seeing you again. I recalled the times when you embraced me. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡± Inarticte sounds, which could not form into proper words, spilled from my lips as I looked at you. You crossed the unnecessarilyrge room, standing before me. Your face hadn¡¯t changed since then. The same sorrowful expression you had when you would embrace me,forting me in my weariness. Not a single feature had shifted. So, I began to hope¡ªhope that perhaps you would hold me once more. Even though I knew it was shameless, I swallowed nervously. ¡°¡­¡± I looked up at your face. Only now did I truly see your expression. And then I realized. Your face waspletely devoid of emotion. Despite looking at what must be my haggard face, not even a twitch of your eyebrows. And so, I began to wonder. Maybe you no longer felt anything for me. Since the day I chose to leave you behind, cutting you from my life as if you were merely part of my past, had you done the samepletely severed me from your heart? ¡®¡­That must be it.¡¯ It had to be. Looking at Ian ckangers¡¯ cold expression, I finally understood. I hadmitted an unforgivable sin against you. You would nevere to save me now. The moment I realized this, the world, which had grown so bright just a second ago, was once again consumed by darkness. It was as if I had been swallowed by the deepest ocean depths. A world where not a single light could be seen. ¡°Haah¡­¡± I felt like I was suffocating in that abyss. ¡ô I made my way to Aria¡¯s quarters. ¡°We¡¯ve been expecting you, Sir Ian ckangers. I will escort you to the Lady Saint Candidate¡¯s residence.¡± They greeted me as they had in the past. It seemed the Saint Candidate had made a special request. As I stepped into the room, a cloud of stale dust swirled up. It was a spacious, luxurious room. And in one corner of it, there she was¡ªAria, sitting hunched over on the edge of the bed. Her condition was immediately clear¡ªit wasn¡¯t good. Her already messy bangs were sticking out in all directions,pletely disheveled. The dark circles under her eyes were so deep they seemed like they might reach the bridge of her nose. ¡®She¡¯s still holding onto that.¡¯ In her left hand, she tightly clutched a miniature of the Hero. Her grip was so firm that her hand had turned pale. It was exactly as I had expected¡ªAria hadpletely fallen apart. But despite her haggard appearance, her expression was somewhat different. There was a faint glimmer of hope on her face. It was an expression filled with desire and anticipation. How could she make such a face? In this situation? I looked down at her with a bit of curiosity. And then I understood. ¡°I-Ian¡­¡± Her voice was as cracked and dry as someone suffering from thirst. Her eyes, jittery and unstable, trembled incessantly. Yet her lips were still smiling. I knew what that face and those movements meant. I¡¯d seen people like this before. People who were addicted to drugs. People who, though addicted, had been forced to quit and then fell into withdrawal. When they finallyid eyes on the drugs again, they made the same expression. A face overwhelmed by darkness and pain, yet spotting a cheap glimmer of hope beyond it. With the face of a drug addict, Aria looked up at me. ¡®¡­¡¯ The Ian ckangers she was hoping for wasn¡¯t here. False hope. False desire. False longing. She was searching for something in me that no longer existed. All her expectations would only lead to disappointment. Even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t give it to her. That person¡ªwhoever she thought I was¡ªwas long gone. So, I made no expression. I simply looked down at her, not as someone who might fulfill her hopes, but as someone who could see the truth. Perhaps I was the very person responsible for pushing away her hope¡ªfor pushing away myself. ¡°I¡­ Ian?¡± Had my coldness reached her? Her hopeful expression began to fade. Her eyes, once filled with hope, slowly lost their light, and her trembling lips began to quiver even more. Who could call her a Saint now? The divine power that should have radiated from her was nowhere to be felt. It was almost expected. After all, Aria, who had yet to awaken, was nothing more than a puppet pretending to be a Saint Candidate. Her confidence and pride had been misced from the start, like a fishing hook caught in the wrong ce. In truth, I had done nothing for Aria. Any sacrifices made for her had been by the original owner of this body, not me. As a yer, as someone who liked Aria as one of the heroines, the only emotion I felt for her now was pity. Who could look at her like this and think she was a heroine? An addict, trembling as she clung to the thought of her lost drug. That¡¯s all Aria was now¡ªnothing more, nothing less. And that¡¯s precisely why I¡¯d given her the Hero miniature. She needed to feel it¡ªthe reality that Ian, her crutch, her drug, was no longer here. Aria, you are in a situation where you can no longer have any expectations. Seeing her expression crumble, I knew my intention had hit the mark. ¡°There is no hope for you in me.¡± That was the only sincere thing I could say to her. ¡ô What did I just hear? Hope? In you? Aria¡¯s mind went nk. ¡°N-No¡­¡± Panicking, she reached out to grab Ian¡¯s hand. But Ian firmly pulled his hand away. Instead, Aria clung desperately to the hem of Ian¡¯s shirt. Kneeling before him, she muttered in a pleading voice. ¡°I-Ian. I¡¯ll do better, okay? Please¡­¡± But Ian took a step back. With the force of her grip gone, Aria copsed helplessly to the floor. ¡°Aria, the Ian you¡¯re talking about isn¡¯t here. I am nothing to you.¡± ¡°But¡­ but we were childhood frie¡ª!¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s not a thing.¡± Ian¡¯s reply felt like the world was copsing for Aria. Not a childhood friend. It was Ian who had alwayse to visit whenever Aria was left alone at home. It was Ian who had been the first to say they were friends. But now, he was shaking his head firmly, denying it. ¡­ She knew. She knew the reason why. Aria squeezed the Hero miniature tightly in her hand. Because she had thrown it away. Because she had rejected the heart Ian had desperately extended to her. Because she had dered that she was no longer ¡°Gloomy¡±. Aria wasn¡¯t his childhood friend. It was Gloomy who had been his friend. Drip. Tears began to fall from Aria¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m Gloomy¡­ Gloomy, Ian¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again. Please, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re Aria. You¡¯re the Saint Candidate.¡± ¡°No¡­ No¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Please. No, I¡¯m not Aria¡­ Let me be Gloomy again. Let me be Gloomy¡­ please?¡± ¡°Aria, are you denying the path you chose for yourself? You said it with your own mouth, remember? That you were no longer Gloomy. That you didn¡¯t need the past anymore. Are you saying you can¡¯t even keep that promise?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± No words came to mind to defend herself. There couldn¡¯t be. Everything was her fault. Despair swirled through her mind, over and over, burning itself out only to return. ¡°Hic¡­¡± Aria cried. Even so, she kept crying while looking into Ian¡¯s cold eyes. ¡°I-I¡¯m s-sorry¡­ Forgive me. I-I was wrong. I was wrong. I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± She crawled on the floor, groveling as she apologized. Ian just looked down at her. Surprisingly, he felt no particr emotion. Only thoughts of how he could use Aria in the next scenario crossed his mind. But. It seemed she was of no use for now. Aria was far more pathetic than he had expected. ¡°¡­I¡¯m leaving for today.¡± Ian turned, opening the door to leave. Aria, on all fours, grabbed his ankle, crawling as if in desperation. ¡°No, don¡¯t! Don¡¯t leave¡­ Don¡¯t gooo!¡± Ian ignored her. Pulling his foot free wasn¡¯t difficult. At that moment. Aria suddenly shot up and ran toward the desk. ¡ª ng! The sound of something breaking rang out. Ian turned to look. ¡®¡­Is that a holy relic?¡¯ A ss figurine of a sacred objecty broken. Aria stood there, bleeding from her hand, holding one of the shattered pieces. ¡°If¡­ if you leave¡­¡± Her hands trembled violently. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t go¡­¡± Aria was holding a broken ss in one hand. The sharp, jagged edge looked like it could cut her at any moment. In fact, blood was already trickling from her pale hand, likely from the shattered shards. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t leave¡­¡± Her trembling eyes reflected her desperation, her posture awkward, making it hard to tell if she intended to stab me or herself. But her intentions soon became clear. Aria slowly brought the broken ss toward her opposite wrist. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Ian. But I¡­ I don¡¯t think I can live without you.¡±I had anticipated this. How much can a person really change? I never had high expectations of Aria. Her sess always depended on the yer¡¯s proper care. And I knew this as well: she wasn¡¯t the type to be so bold as to truly harm herself. So, I calmly responded to her theatrics. ¡°Cut.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Go ahead and cut.¡± At my suggestion, Aria¡¯s eyes trembled even more. Was she shaking from ack of magnesium? Of course, this wasn¡¯t the time to rmend supplements, so I stepped closer to her. ¡°Go on, cut.¡± ¡°A¡­Ah¡­¡± If she couldn¡¯t do it, I¡¯d do it for her. As I moved forward with that resolve, Aria stumbled backward, step by step. Thud. She hit the wall behind her, and the ss shard fell from her grasp. ¡°¡­Ugh¡­¡± Tears of despair welled up in her eyes. But the wound that had been bleeding quickly healed. The church must have taken precautions against self-harm. Given her current mental state, it was obvious she would have tried it repeatedly. There wasn¡¯t a single decent pen in this room, likely for the same reason. Anything sharp had been removed. Though no one probably anticipated she¡¯d break a ss. ¡°Sob¡­ Sob¡­¡± Aria cried like her world had shattered. And it should feel that way. Ian, her only pir of support and light, was no longer here. ¡°Hic¡­Hic¡­¡± It must feel like someone was choking her, making it hard to breathe. Like her joints were twisting in agony. She needed to fall like this. Only when she hit rock bottom would Aria be able to start again. Seeing herpletely crumble¡ªthat¡¯s why I pushed her this far. ¡°Hic¡­Hic!¡± It seemed my goal had been achieved. Aria, now utterly broken, crawled across the floor and clung to my pants, begging. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Ian. I¡­ I have treasures. I¡¯ve also received money. Ian. I have money. Should I give it to you?¡± Instead of hurting herself, Aria desperately tried to offer me something. She¡¯s not entirely clueless, after all. ¡°I have a lot of money.¡± ¡­It was a useless offer for me. ¡°I-I can¡¯t use it well right now, but I have good divine power¡­ Should I do something for you? Please? Let me? Please?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°T-Then¡­¡± I rejected every one of her offers. Aria started biting her hand anxiously. There really was nothing more she could offer me. But still, her eyes darted around, as if refusing to give up. And then, as if resolving herself, she tugged at her saint robes. ¡ª Shhh. The soft sound of fabric moving filled the air as her saintly robes slid up, revealing Aria¡¯s pale legs. Stop. Aria¡¯s hand trembled briefly as she lifted her saintly robes past her thighs¡­ ¡ª Squeeze. She tightly gripped the fabric, then pulled it up even higher, revealing her navel. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll give myself to you.¡± A bright red face. She muttered as she pulled the robes up to her chest. I stared at her nkly. No, more precisely. I fixated on her lower body. ¡°¡­ You.¡± There was no cloth covering the critical area. She wasn¡¯t wearing any undergarments. But more importantly¡­ ¡°Why are you wearing this?¡± Her private area was covered by a gold lock. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Why are you wearing a chastity belt?¡± Indeed, she was wearing what ismonly referred to as a chastity belt. Of course, the existence of chastity belts wasn¡¯t shocking. Some noblewomen from strict households still wore them. However, cing one on a saint candidate was problematic. ¡®A saint candidate is supposed to be the purest and most virtuous.¡¯ The act of locking someone in a chastity belt implies doubt about that purity. Thus, it¡¯s unheard of for a saint candidate to wear one¡ªunless something extraordinary had happened. And for her to be wearing this¡­ ¡°Hah¡­¡± Aria, looking up at me, trembled slightly before speaking. ¡°I-it¡¯s fine. The nuns told me it¡¯s¡­ possible to do it from¡­ from the other side¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Eek¡­!¡± ¡°Why are you wearing this?¡± I grabbed hold of her chastity belt. ¡ª nk, nk. The lock wouldn¡¯t budge. It was a proper chastity belt,plete with the emblem of the Deus Church engraved on it. This meant it was a church-sanctioned item, and that Aria, at some point, had done something to make her purity questionable. ¡®¡­ In that case.¡¯ I had no evidence to clear Aria from being the culprit. She was still under suspicion. ¡®I thought I could narrow it down.¡¯ I had hoped to confirm her condition before heading to the Holy Kingdom, but thisplicated things. nk, nk. Is there any way to forcefully unlock this thing? ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m still a v*rgin.¡± I didn¡¯t believe her. As I pondered a way to open the lock¡­ ¡ª Knock, Knock, Knock! There was a sudden knock on the door. I quickly withdrew my hand from her waist, and Aria, sensing the situation, hurriedly pulled her robes down. ¡°Saint candidate, I heard that Ian came¡­ Ah, he¡¯s already here.¡± Without waiting for permission, a blonde pdin entered the room. It was Dave, Aria¡¯s personal escort knight. Without any hesitation, he stepped forward and stood before me. ¡°Ian, what gives you the right to barge in here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why I shouldn¡¯t be allowed in.¡± ¡°This is the sacred church and the residence of Lady Aria¡­!¡± The pdin¡¯s face turned red as he shouted in frustration. I nced at Aria, who was still lying on the floor, and then turned my attention back to Dave. ¡°Before that, shouldn¡¯t we first deal with the unresolved issue? Like how you tried to kill me?¡± I emphasized the word ¡®kill¡¯ so Aria could hear. As expected, her face turned pale, and she murmured in shock as she looked at Dave. ¡°Dave, did you really¡­?¡± ¡°No, Lady Saint! It¡¯s a misunderstanding. This b*stard is the one who¡¯s¡­!¡± Dave, who had been muttering defensively, suddenlyshed out. His anger was directed at me. ¡ª Boom! I didn¡¯t bother raising my guard. I simply leaned against the wall, watching the fire in his eyes as his punch struck near me. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you defending yourself?¡± I smirked at him. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me here. Do you know why?¡± Just then, Aria, who had staggered over, pushed Dave away. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Saint candidate?¡± As Dave was weakly pushed back, Aria stepped between us, blocking me. ¡°You¡­ you can¡¯t harm Ian.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m doing this for the saint candidate¡­!¡± ¡°Even so, I won¡¯t forgive it.¡± Dave¡¯s face crumbled. After a moment, his expression hardened, and he muttered quietly. ¡°¡­ An Inquisitor from the Holy Constantine is on their way.¡± ¡°Inquisitor?¡± An Inquisitor is a title held only by the highest-ranking pdins in Holy Constantine, known for their exceptional skills. And if someone is simply referred to as the Inquisitor¡­ their power rivals that of dozens of elite warriors. ¡°Either you¡¯ll be judged, or I will. It¡¯ll be one of us.¡± With that, Dave murmured hisst words and left the room. ¡ô Amotion had stirred in the saint candidate¡¯s quarters. ¡°By principle, a religious trial should be held immediately.¡± This statement came from the highest authority of the Celeste faction of the Deus Church in Lichten. Archbishop us. It was no mere coincidence that I found myself meeting this old man again, a man I had once encountered alongside the First Imperial Princess at the Imperial Pce. ¡°Though the pdin¡¯s sin is far greater than mine.¡± ¡°Hahaha! I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you.¡± In the hierarchy of Holy Constantine¡¯s power within the Deus Church, the order goes like this. At the top sits the Pope, followed by thirteen archbishops. In other words, us is one of the top 14 most powerful figures in Holy Constantine. The fact that he summoned me to his office clearly meant there was a specific reason for this meeting. I looked around. The office was sparse, almost bare. ¡®Is this supposed to be modesty?¡¯ But considering the power he held, I suspected there was more to it than that. Someone of his stature would not be tied to mere material wealth. Archbishops are people who have transcended such values. Even the aura he exuded was extraordinary. Such individuals cannot be understood with conventional judgments. You never know what they¡¯re thinking or what they¡¯re seeing. So, I chose to approach directly, asking him without preamble. ¡°Why did you call me here?¡± He responded first with a benevolent smile before finally speaking. ¡°I want to tell you an old story.¡± ¡°¡­An old story?¡± ¡°Yes, you could even call it a myth.¡± After a brief pause, he continued. ¡°In this world, there exist beings who have crossed over from another dimension.¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172 ¡ª In this world, there exist beings who have crossed over from another dimension. I took a small breath. ¡®¡­That¡¯s creepy.¡¯ It was a statement I hadn¡¯t expected, not even for a moment. Of course, his expression had shown he was about to say something serious. Even with the authority and kindness of an archbishop, there was a gravity in his demeanor. But to open his mouth and say, ¡°There are people who have crossed over from another dimension¡±? ¡®¡­He¡¯s definitely testing me.¡¯ It¡¯s a dangerous statement to make without any hint of context.If someone who knows nothing heard such words, they might think, ¡°Has the archbishop gone senile?¡± So, to some extent, the archbishop must be suspicious of me. And the fact that he didn¡¯t beat around the bush, but directly threw that statement at me¡­ ¡®It¡¯s a test.¡¯ He¡¯s testing me. I have no idea why the archbishop is testing me, or exactly what he means by ¡°people who crossed dimensions¡±. But one thing is certain: if I fall out of his favor, a quick death on the execution tform, or worse, burning at the stake as a witch, would be a happy ending. Therefore, my stance is clear. ¡°Are there such beings?¡± I simply asked back as if I didn¡¯t understand. Usually, this is the most natural response, right? I added a suspicious look as I asked, as if to say, ¡®Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡¯ ¡°Heh. Indeed,¡± the archbishop justughed it off pleasantly, continuing to observe me in silence, as if gauging my reaction. What a sly old man. But I won¡¯t let him drag me into his game. ¡°Beings that crossed dimensions? What do you mean by that?¡± I acted as if I didn¡¯t understand. Well, it¡¯s not really acting, is it? I don¡¯t know what he means by ¡°people who crossed dimensions¡± either. It could be someone possessed, or perhaps actual aliens from another dimension. In this situation, ying dumb is the best option. ¡°Hmmm. Yes, I should exin from the beginning.¡± The archbishop stroked his beard thoughtfully. He soon began to speak again. ¡°Officially, they¡¯re called ¡®Dimensional Wanderers¡¯. They take control of human minds and manipte them. Usually, if someone¡¯s personality suddenly changes one day, it¡¯s a sign of their presence.¡± ¡°Such beings exist?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re usually full of greed. They try to take control of something and cause chaos. That¡¯s why we call them Wanderers.¡± ¡°Wanderers?¡± ¡°It means beings whose souls have no resting ce, wandering in greed for this world, seizing bodies and corrupting it.¡± Finishing his exnation, the archbishop scanned me with a meaningful gaze. What a sly character. He tosses a usible answer and watches for a reaction. Then, he asks more questions and observes again. He¡¯s slowly feeding information while testing my responses. From his behavior, I was now sure of one thing. I was definitely under suspicion. But why? Did I do something suspicious? Admittedly, I¡¯ve been making some big movestely. Most notably, I was personally rewarded by the Emperor. ¡®I¡¯m not sure how or why he took an interest in me, but¡­¡¯ He must have noticed something and decided to probe me. ¡®¡­Hah.¡¯ I never thought I¡¯d be suspected of being a possessor. It¡¯s unsettling, like having a fundamental w pointed out. ¡®Then again, when you think about it¡­¡¯ In the world of Fantasy X Academy, there¡¯s no such thing as ¡°Dimensional Wanderers¡±. Have there ever been such drastic differences in the setting after possession? Of course, there have been times when the plot or setting diverged slightly, but this is the first time things have gone so off course. It¡¯s quite unsettling. ¡ª Click I need to stay calm. I sipped the tea on the table slowly, trying to regain myposure, making sure to look like I was genuinely trying to understand the conversation. But the situation isn¡¯t all that bad. ¡®The suspicion isn¡¯t that strong yet.¡¯ If the archbishop¡¯s suspicion was closer to certainty, he wouldn¡¯t be trying to have this conversation. He¡¯d just hold a witch trial and burn me at the stake. Since I¡¯m just an ordinary academy student with no real backing, the archbishop could deal with me however he pleases. ¡®Wait a minute.¡¯ Can I really say I have no backing now? After my recent visit to the pce, I¡¯ve likely been unofficially marked as someone associated with the third princess, Asteria. Not to mention my close ties with Silvia Laurent¡¯s merchant guild and Yerina Pierce, who now holds the title of Grand Duchess of the North. Hmm. I actually do have some support, don¡¯t I? That might be why this old man is probing me so cautiously. His suspicion could be stronger than I initially thought. I need to navigate this situation carefully. ¡°Hm. I see. Beings from another dimension, huh? I get the gist, but it¡¯s still a bit hard to fully grasp.¡± ¡°Hehehe. That¡¯s understandable. But aren¡¯t you curious?¡± ¡°¡­About what, exactly?¡± ¡°Whether there¡¯s a way to identify those Wanderers.¡± The archbishop smiled, his wrinkles deepening. ¡­This is inevitable. Whatever that sted method is, the archbishop is clearly nning to use it on me. I need to dig out as much information as I can. ¡°What is that method?¡± ¡°The church, or rather, the Vatican, has a sacred relic.¡± ¡°¡­A sacred relic?¡± ¡°Yes. When someone¡¯s face is reflected in it, it reveals whether they are a Wanderer or not.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Well, isn¡¯t that convenient? Things are really taking a frustrating turn. And if I recall, isn¡¯t the next episode supposed to take ce at the Vatican? This is one of those moments where maintaining a neutral expression is incredibly difficult. ¡°Well¡­ It¡¯s just something to keep in mind, haha! Given your recent achievements, I thought you might be interested in these sorts of topics.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely a fascinating subject.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± The archbishop nodded contentedly, stroking his beard. Swish. Swish. There was a brief silence before the old man spoke again. ¡°Inquisitors areing to Lichten.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard.¡± The old man gazed at me steadily. His eyes looked ordinary, but the weight behind them was anything but. ¡°The First Princess has an interest in forming an alliance with Princess Asteria.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. This is an offer.¡± He didn¡¯t spell out the terms of the offer, but I understood its implications. ¡°Think about it and let me know.¡± ¡ô ¡°Haaah¡­¡± After leaving the church, I returned to my dorm as if fleeing. Though I tried to walk confidently, the truth is that I felt uneasy deep down. ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought they¡¯d suspect my true identity?¡¯ It was a question that came out of nowhere, catching me off guard. Even someone as experienced as I am couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill down their spine. ¡®At least it doesn¡¯t seem like the suspicion has gotten worse.¡¯ ¡ª Click As I opened the door to the dorm, I reyed the conversation with the archbishop in my mind. ¡®I didn¡¯t handle it badly.¡¯ ying dumb with all my might¡ªthat was the best response I could give under the circumstances. It didn¡¯t seem like the suspicion had deepened overall. In fact, by the end, the archbishop seemed more like he was questioning himself, as if thinking, ¡°Did I misjudge?¡± Of course, I can¡¯t say the suspicion ispletely gone. The archbishop¡¯s final offer was certainly filled with meaning. ¡®¡­ This is dizzying.¡¯ So much unexpected information came at me suddenly and in overwhelming amounts. Most of all, the existence of the ¡°Wanderers¡±. I suspect this means there were others who had also experienced possession before me. If that¡¯s the case, do they know about my existence as well? And what impact will the revtion of ¡°possession¡± have on the future of the scenario, considering it wasn¡¯t a part of the original game? ¡°Ugh.¡± The situation was soplex it made my head throb. However, this isn¡¯t something that thinking more about right now will resolve. I need to gather more information. I¡¯ll leave judgment forter. After a shower, I came to a conclusion and headed for bed. Sometimes, a refresh is exactly what¡¯s needed. Today, I¡¯ll stop thinking and just rest. ¡­ Or at least, that was the n. ¡°?¡± I stopped in my tracks, puzzled as I stood in front of the bed. The bed looked oddly lumpy. What is this? A ghost? Did a wild animal somehow get in here? I cautiously pulled back the nket. ¡ª Shhhh¡­ Snore. ¡ª Mmmnya¡­ Lina and Danya were curled up under the covers. Well, at least it¡¯s not a wild animal¡­ right? Why are they sleeping here? Now that I think about it, the air in the dorm feels a bit cold. They probably crawled under the nket to escape the chill and ended up falling asleep. ¡°By the way, are they even allowed to be out thiste?¡± Ah. Now that I remember, once you reach Aether ss, the curfew no longer applies. It¡¯s one of the perks of being in Aether ss: you get treated almost like a graduate in terms of school regtions. ¡°¡­ Well, I¡¯m sure Elena handled it somehow.¡± She did extend the curfewst time too. There¡¯s no harm in it, right? Today¡¯s been full of too much to process. My mind is overflowing with new information, and I¡¯d rather stop thinking for now. I noticed there was just enough space between Lina and Danya for me to lie down. Good thing I bought a slightlyrger bed than usual. ¡®¡­ Come to think of it, if Asteria¡¯s returned, hasn¡¯t Master also arrived?¡¯ With thatst thought, I drifted off into a deep sleep. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 The dawn light gently filtered through the curtains. ¡ª Rustle. It was a deep night when everyone should have been asleep, yet faint sounds of friction could still be heard from the bed. It wasn¡¯t very loud, just barely audible if you paid close attention. Soft whispers of fabric brushing against fabric filled the air. Squeeze, Squeeze. Listening even more closely, there was the faint sound of skin touching skin. ¡°¡­Haah.¡± A sweet sigh surrounded the bed.Lina hurriedly moved her hand to cover her mouth. Her breath was hot, and the scent from her hands was making her excited. ¡®¡­ It smells naughty.¡¯ Lina bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her growing excitement. This was a rare opportunity. She didn¡¯t want to waste it on a fleeting moment of pleasure. From the beginning, Lina had no intention of falling asleep tonight. ¡®¡­ This is precious.¡¯ The moments spent lying beside Ian were precious, every minute, every second. It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t had any chances to be close to Ian recently. Since receiving Ian¡¯s ¡®reward¡¯st time, their rtionship had shifted slightly. If she desperately asked, he would sometimes press his hand gently against her neck¡ªclose enough to feel intimate but not too much. Lina had achieved a goal she had desperately longed for, at least to some extent. ¡°¡­Mmm.¡± But this was a different matter entirely. Iany next to her, close enough that their skin could touch without even trying. Although it wasn¡¯t an intentional situation, it was still the moment she had dreamed of. As a result, her breathing became more ragged. Each time their bodies brushed, a current of sensation spread throughout her. ¡°¡­¡± Lina had already lostpletely to Ian. Even though her mind had been in a fragile state, she had fought Ian sincerely¡ªand lost. She lost in strength. She lost in intellect. The moment he pressed his hand mercilessly against her neck was still vividly etched in her memory. A perfect defeat. That defeat was significant. It meant there was someone capable of bringing her to her knees. As if to say, she was nothing in front of him, that he could crush her if he wanted. It was terrifying¡­ But at the same time, it was exhrating. Just like how living beings instinctively try to leave their offspring before death. This was a sexual attraction engraved in the primal instinct of defeat. And that person was lying right beside her. Lina couldn¡¯t resist. ¡ª Slide. At first, she pretended to brush against his arm. She lightly ran her hand along Ian¡¯s arm, feeling the firm muscles and thick veins through the back of her hand. Ian didn¡¯t wake up. So, Lina grew bolder. Squeeze. Next, she touched his fingers. Those long fingers that had once wrapped around her neck. Focusing on Ian¡¯s steady breathing, Lina intertwined her fingers with his. They were long, and thick. Each one felt like a solid rod. Squeeze. Press. Lina pressed Ian¡¯s hand a little harder. ¡®¡­ I can make an excuse up to this point.¡¯ Even if Ian woke up, she could say it was a nightmare, that she was scared. But beyond this¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Lina bit her lip hard. She had to swallow the saliva that kept pooling in her mouth. Rationally, she knew she should stop. But she didn¡¯t want to. This was the first time she had touched Ian¡¯s strong hand like this. And more than anything, Ian was still deep in sleep. His calm, steady breathing hadn¡¯t even faltered, indicating how deeply rxed he was. That fact emboldened Lina. ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± She whispered softly into Ian¡¯s ear. And then, Lina grasped Ian¡¯s hand with both of hers. She raised his hand just enough to reach her chest, being careful not to lift it too high, worried that Ian might wake up. ¡®I can lower it to my face myself.¡¯ Lina nced at Ian. Thump, Thump, Thump. Her heart pounded wildly at the thought of doing something she knew she shouldn¡¯t. The mix of thrilling excitement and tension made her mouth fill with saliva. Swallowing hard, Lina brushed her hair back and held it in ce, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t brush against Ian and wake him. She carefully extended Ian¡¯s index and middle fingers. Lina was someone who liked to experience things through all five senses. She couldn¡¯t let an opportunity like this pass by. ¡°Haap!¡± Without hesitation, she took Ian¡¯s fingers into her mouth. Even though it was just two fingers, her mouth felt full. ¡®This is what Ian tastes like¡­¡¯ Slowly, she ran her tongue along his fingers, savoring the taste, the scent, and the rough texture of his skin. It was exactly as she had imagined. Her mouth was filling up so much that she almost drooled. ¡°¡­!¡± In a hurry, Lina moved her mouth lower on his fingers, taking them deeper into her mouth. ¡°¡­Slurp.¡± She barely managed to swallow the saliva before it spilled, but¡­ ¡°Ugh.¡± Ian¡¯s fingers had gone so deep that they touched the back of her throat. ¡°¡­Guh.¡± She couldn¡¯t make a sound. If she pulled them out now, the sudden movement might make a noise. So, she stayed still, enduring the foreign sensation deep in her throat. Gulp, Gulp. Her throat instinctively tried to rid itself of the intrusion, and Lina barely managed to suppress the gagging sensation. Her breathing becamebored. Her vision blurred. ¡®I¡­ I¡¯m going to¡­ die¡­¡¯ Finally, her throat adjusted, and the ufortable gulping stopped. ¡°Pwah¡­!¡± Lina hurriedly pulled Ian¡¯s hand from her mouth. Thankfully, she managed to keep from making too much noise. ¡®That¡­ that was close.¡¯ Or so she thought, but there was another problem. Though it was clear, there was a sticky substance on Ian¡¯s hand that could hardly be called saliva. ¡°Wh-what should I do?¡± Lina panicked. Wiping it off only made her own hands sticky. Should she lick it off again? But her mouth was already messy. As she debated, her rational mind came to a conclusion. ¡°¡­¡± For the first time, her desire and reason aligned. She knew that if she got caught now, there would be no turning back. And that made her even more excited. Lina whispered softly into Ian¡¯s ear. ¡°This is your fault for not waking up.¡± She lowered Ian¡¯s hand beneath the covers. His arm was long enough to reach her lower body. As soon as she slipped his hand inside¡ª ¡°Haaahng!¡± A moan escaped her lips, louder and more ragged than she had intended. Lina quickly looked over at Ian. Thankfully, he was still sound asleep. But. ¡ª Rustle. Danya stirred, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked over at them. ¡®I¡­ I need to think of an excuse¡­!¡¯ Lina opened her mouth, ready to say something¡ªanything. But. ¡°Haaah¡­¡± Instead of words, another breathy moan slipped out. Danya¡¯s eyes grew even wider, but Lina couldn¡¯t manage an exnation. Instead. ¡°¡­Hmph.¡± All Lina could do was quietly ce a finger over her lips. ¡ô ¡ª Rustle! ¡ª Scrub, Scrub! I woke up to the sound of something being cleaned. When I opened my eyes, I saw Lina washing the bed linens, and Danya wiping my body. ¡°¡­ What are you doing?¡± At my question, both Lina and Danya visibly panicked as they replied. ¡°D-did you wake up, nyah?¡± ¡°G-good morning, Ian!¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly doingundry?¡± ¡°I-I just felt like it, nyah!¡± ¡°Th-the weather is nice!¡± Hmm. I nced at the two of them with a slightly suspicious look, but then I just shook my head. Well, I suppose there are days when you just feel like doing random things likeundry. Besides, they¡¯re doing it for me, so I have no reason toin. Though it seems to be raining outside despite the ¡°nice weather¡± they mentioned. But with Lina, the human dryer, around, I don¡¯t have to worry about that. Still, for some reason, my fingers feel sore. What¡¯s going on? When I lifted my hand to inspect it, I saw Lina and Danya flinch from a distance. ¡°¡­?¡± Well¡­ never mind. Now that I think about it, I do recall having a rather rough dream. Yesterday was a bit mentally taxing, so maybe that¡¯s why. There was also this strange, damp sensation lingering throughout. ¡°I think I had a dream about falling into the ocean.¡± ¡°Lucky dream, nyah!¡± ¡°Y-yeah! The ocean is vast and deep! It¡¯s definitely a lucky dream! You¡¯re going to find something really important!¡± Hmm. Is that so? ¡°Lina, I didn¡¯t know you could interpret dreams.¡± ¡°Uh? Ehehe¡­¡± Lina awkwardly avoided the question, which was unusual for her. Despite a few unclear moments, it wasn¡¯t a bad morning overall. Somehow, the air even felt sweeter than usual. Breakfast with Danya and Lina had a pleasant atmosphere too. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the library for a while today.¡± ¡°Wash up before you go, nyah!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Once I arrived at the library, the scene was the same as always¡ª the librarian sitting behind the desk, expressionless, reading a book. ¡®¡­Today might not be the best day to ask her.¡¯ I passed by the librarian without a word. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust her¡­ but asking for books on topics like ¡°Dimensional Wanderers¡± or ¡°Possession¡± would surely raise some eyebrows. This isn¡¯t about whether she trusts me, but whether it looks suspicious to her. Because of that, I¡¯ve run into a significant problem. The Lichten Academy library is farrger than I imagined, and the sheer number of books crammed into its shelves is overwhelming. I¡¯ve been to the library plenty of times before and prided myself on knowing my way around, but now I see that was just arrogance. ¡°Dimensional magic¡­ Dimensional copse¡­ Dimensional¡­¡± I didn¡¯t expect there to be so many subcategories under the keyword ¡®Dimension¡¯. Searching for books alone proved more difficult than anticipated. In short, I wasn¡¯t making much progress. ¡°¡­Dimensional wanderers are nothing but filthy scum.¡± The only trace I found was an incredibly hatefulment about wanderers. Well, I can¡¯t me them. Most wanderers probably take over someone¡¯s body and live their life as they please. Who would like that? But there¡¯s one thing I can deduce from this. ¡°There are almost none of them.¡± The information is nearly non-existent. It¡¯s not that it¡¯s being controlled¡ªit¡¯s just that no one seems to know about it. This suggests that dimensional wanderers are rare, perhaps only known by a select few at the top of the power structure. In other words, even if I went around shouting ¡°Wanderer!¡± no one would know what I was talking about. Should I give it a try? Just as I was considering it, someone whispered from beside me. ¡°¡­Dimensional Wanderer.¡± The voice was cold, quiet, barely audible. It was the librarian, standing there with her usual expressionless face. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 The librarian spoke just one thing. ¡®Dimensional Wanderers.¡¯ I was surprised for several reasons. Of course, the term ¡°Dimensional Wanderers¡± that came from her mouth was part of it, but¡­ ¡°So you doe out from behind the information desk?¡± It was the first time I¡¯d seen her outside. I had always thought she lived in the library. At some point, I even considered her just another NPC. ¡°I often wondered, sitting there every day, does she ever go to the bathroom?¡± ¡°¡­ P*rvert.¡±The librarian muttered coldly. At first nce, she seemed expressionless, but the tip of her eyebrow twitched slightly. That expression probably meant disdain. I mentally noted this as a new expression of hers. Today seems to be my lucky day. Moreover¡­ ¡°She even started talking to me first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡± ¡°¡­ That¡¯s not the point.¡± The librarian shook her head. Her expressions had definitely be richer. In the past, she would only slightly tilt her head about 1mm, but now she tilted it a whole centimeter from side to side. This is a remarkable improvement. Maybe someday, the librarian will give extravagant reactions like Elena. I look forward to that day¡­ No, that¡¯s not the important thing right now. Despite all this small talk, the thing I was most curious about with the librarian remained the same. ¡°Do you know about the Dimensional Wanderers?¡± At my question, she looked up at me with her usual nk expression. However, her gaze somehow felt more serious. Even more than usual. ¡°¡­¡± Her light pink lips didn¡¯t part, but instead, she nodded her head. Subtly, but considering who she is, definitively. She knows about the Wanderers. Various thoughts flooded my mind. How does she know? Did she read every book in the library? And¡­ .. Can I trust her? I know I¡¯m being overly cautious. But I have to be, especially about this topic. It¡¯s a story element that wasn¡¯t expected. More importantly, it directly involves me. Even so, worrying about it won¡¯t solve anything. In that case, the only question I can ask her is set. ¡°Is there a book about it?¡± Our conversation never strays from this point. Always inside the library. Within the confines of the information desk. Asking for books and getting rmendations. In my heart, I had probably defined her as just that. Maybe that¡¯s why¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Scribble, Scribble. Seeing her write something down with a pen on a piece of paper felt unusual, likely because this wasn¡¯t happening at the information desk but in front of the bookshelves. Her ordinary height, reaching about my shoulder. The impression she gave off was not cold but rather like an inanimate object. Efficient, but with an air of dignity in her movements. Just as I began to feel a spark of curiosity about her, the librarian handed me the note. ¡°Thanks.¡± She gave me the note, nodded slightly, and turned away, walking off coolly. As always, she wasposed. ¡°¡­ Hmm?¡± Looking down at the note, I felt a bit confused. [36.3277 N, 127.4273 E] Is this some kind of ssification system? The numbers seem much longer than usual. What are the letters at the end? It¡¯s an unfamiliar ssification system. I turned to the side of the bookshelf. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be here.¡± What¡¯s this? Did the librarian make a mistake? I stuck my head out into the corridor to look toward the information desk. The ce where she should be was empty. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± I examined the note for a while. There was nothing written except for those numbers. ¡ô ¡°The atmosphere in Holy Constantine is unusual. It feels like a rebellion might break out.¡± Holy Constantine is a country located in the southern part of the continent, ruled by the Pope of the Deus Church. Its national strength is slightly less than the Britannian Empire, but considering the influence the Deus Church has on the continent, it holds a bnce of power with the Empire. The talk of a rebellion in such a country isn¡¯t something to be taken lightly. Lunch time. The one bringing up this serious topic was Elena, who was shoveling a tomato sd into her mouth as if it were feed. Without thinking, I put my hand on her wide forehead. ¡°Nom Nom. Brother, why are you doing that all of a sudden!?¡± ¡°You were saying something serious, so I thought you might have a fever.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it! I¡¯m always serious!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What is it? Nom Nom. That shocked expression!¡± ¡°Oh. Sorry. I just don¡¯t find it very convincing.¡± Even as she chewed her cherry tomatoes and said that. After briefly puffing out her cheeks in irritation, Elena drew arge circle in her notebook. ¡°You know that the core of Holy Constantine is the Vatican, right?¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s the Pope. Since they serve the Pope, the representative of the Absolute One.¡± ¡°¡­Right. How do you know that so well?¡± ¡°I know a little.¡± Elena blinked her eyes wide in surprise before continuing. ¡°Anyway, there are two factions within the Deus Church. The Celeste faction, which supports the existence of the Saintess, and the Numina faction, like us, that sees the Saintess as just a slightly special priest.¡± There are many differences in their doctrines, but Elena¡¯s summary was simple and precise. She then drew the territory of Holy Constantine, shaped like a penins, in her notebook and divided it horizontally. ¡°Northern Constantine is the territory of the Celeste faction. Southern Constantine is the territory of the Numina faction. They are practically enemies, only held together under the Pope¡¯s name.¡± And in the middle of it all is the circle representing the Papacy. ¡ª Squeak! Elena shed through even the Vatican with her pen. Her hand was unhesitant. ¡°That, too, is starting to crack. Even the Vatican itself is beginning to fracture.¡± ¡°Fracture?¡± ¡°Yes. Southern Constantine has started to make moves.¡± The meaning behind her words was clear. The beginning of serious conflict within Holy Constantine. Just like the episode of Fantasy X Academy. ¡°Since Southern Constantine follows the teachings of the Numina faction, they are suspicious of the Saintess.¡± Elena drew a doodle of a Saintess in her notebook. Then she harshly scratched a horizontal line across the neck of the drawing. ¡°The interrogation of the Saintess will begin. The targets will be the Saintess candidate and those around her.¡± This rified the reason behind the visit from the heresy inquisitor to Lichten, as mentioned by Dave, Aria¡¯s escort knight. It was clear now. ¡°Of course, since it¡¯s also a power struggle, it won¡¯t escte into a full-blown heresy trial. But just the fact that the Saintess candidate is being investigated will undoubtedly damage the Saintess¡¯s image.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°Yes. I thought you¡¯d be curious, Brother. I heard this from our chapter head.¡± If it¡¯s the chapter head of the Numina branch at the academy, it must be that senior I met in the tent. It seems he¡¯s morepetent than I thought. This is excellent information. ¡°Thanks, Elena.¡± I patted her head. Elena closed her eyes, enjoying the gesture with satisfaction. I should probably buy more tomatoes next time I visit the market. ¡°Oh, and!¡± Elena suddenly jumped up from her seat and rummaged through a drawer. She soon brought over a note. ¡°This came in the morning. I forgot to give it to you.¡± I looked at the note she handed me. [Summons] Student Ian is requested to visit Aether Research Lab, Room 301 by 1:00 PM today. I nced at my watch. It¡¯s 12:50 PM. I immediately looked down at Elena. ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡­ What¡¯s with the ¡®hehe¡¯? It was my mistake to think you were being serious today. ¡ª Thock! I gave her a light flick on her wide forehead and left the clubroom. Surprisingly, it only took me 15 minutes on foot to reach the Aether ss building. ¡®They really did a good job choosing the clubroom¡¯s location.¡¯ At this rate, it¡¯s practically in the perfect spot for convenience. With that idle thought, I walked into the building. ¡°It sure is fancy.¡± Unlike the other general faculty buildings, the Aether ss building had a distinctly luxurious feel. Marble floors and walls, sophisticated decorations here and there, and leather chairs everywhere for people to sitfortably. So, this is where all my tuition money was going to waste. [3rd Floor] The magic-powered elevator glided smoothly upward. ¡°Room 301¡­¡± Who could have called me? I had no contact with any of the Aether professors. I couldn¡¯t think of anyone in particr. While looking for the room, an unexpected face caught my attention. Why is the Mezai ss homeroom teacher here? ¡°Professor Violet¡­?¡± ¡°Student Ian.¡± ¡ª Crack, Crack. ¡°Why are you here¡­ Mmph.¡± Without warning, she suddenly embraced me. A soft, plush pressure enveloped my face. The scent of her mature skin filled my nose. ¡°W-wait¡­ Mmph.¡± I tried to say something, but her soft body made it impossible for me to speak. Still holding me tightly, she murmured, ¡°It makes me so sad that my precious student is leaving.¡± ¡°W-wait a minute.¡± I really felt like I was about to leave¡ªleave this world, that is. ¡­ I couldn¡¯t breathe. Just as I was wondering if this would count as a peaceful death, Violet finally let go of her hug. ¡°Feel free to visit the researchb anytime. If it¡¯s for you, Ian, I¡¯ll help with anything.¡± With those words, Violet left gracefully without even waiting for my response. ¡­ She might be a bit cool. With that thought, I turned toward the door in front of me. [301] Beyond thisrge door would be the professor who had called for me. Who could it be? At this point, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was the department head. ¡ª Knock, Knock. ¡°This is Ian ckangers.¡± The door slid open smoothly on its own. Despite being a heavy, old-fashioned wooden door, as it opened, I was greeted once again by the sight of elegant and dignified wooden furniture weing guests. The room was filled with theforting scent of wood. Sunbeams poured in through the windows beyond. And standing there was a woman. Familiar as if I had just seen her yesterday, which made her face all the more wee. ¡°¡­ Master?¡± Asilia¡¯s lips curved into a serene smile. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 She stood under the scent of abundant trees. The sophisticated interior and her graceful posture. This ce alone glowed softly, as if it were a serene Eastern painting. Asilia, the Snowke Sword. The beauty that elicited a small gasp upon seeing her couldn¡¯t define her alone. Her long, dark blue hair flowed smoothly. Her eyes, deep as if they held the entire world within them. Even her elegant body, tracing soft curves, was insufficient to describe her. A gentle smile rested on her lips. Her faint smile, as delicate as the first snow, was marvelous. It was so calming and graceful that it dissolved any wariness or tension. A softness and righteousness that seemed to know everything. A warmth that felt like it could embrace anything. To understand her, one must only gaze upon that smile.And usually, it wasn¡¯t necessary to be conscious of that fact. Because when you saw Asilia, your eyes naturally drifted to that smile. Swish. The sound of cloth brushing gently together could be heard. Asilia walked towards me. Even the sound of her footsteps blended into the scenery with elegance. Her smile remained as her lips gently parted. ¡°Ian, my disciple.¡± With her smile still present, her hair flowed down like rippling waves. Absorbed by her atmosphere, I responded as well. ¡°Master.¡± Sometimes, when there¡¯s too much to say, it¡¯s allpressed into a single word. This was enough of a greeting between us. Asilia smiled, and so did I. Asilia smiled, and so did I. There was no need for lengthy words. Just hearing each other¡¯s breathing was enough. That sound formed the background as we met each other¡¯s gaze. For a while, this continued. Asilia¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°My disciple.¡± ¡°Yes, Master?¡± Click. This time, the sound of footsteps was unmistakable. Only a handbreadth of space remained between us. Through the faint scent of her presence, she spoke. ¡°I didn¡¯t know my lovely disciple had such tastes.¡± ¡°¡­Tastes, Master?¡± Asilia let out a soft snort. ¡°Hmm. Hiding it even from your master?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean¡­¡± ¡°My disciple is still so cute and cheeky.¡± Asilia¡¯s eyes gently narrowed. Her lips parted yfully. ¡°I saw you outside, hugging another woman outside.¡± ¡°¡­You saw that?¡± I turned to look at the door. It seemed like that thick wooden door had been properly shut. ¡°Seeing beyond things is not difficult.¡± Asilia smiled serenely. That smile was slightly intimidating. Seeing through things? That¡¯s not an easy skill. It requires an exceptional level of mastery, not to mention it drains a lot of mana. Is Master¡­ angry? As I was thinking that¡ª ¡°My disciple has such preferences, huh.¡± Click. The small gap between us waspletely closed. ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­ Mmph.¡± I didn¡¯t even have time to exin. Suddenly, my face was enveloped by something soft and warm. Larger, softer, and more resilient than expected. Aforting sensation surrounded me. It had been a while since I smelled my master¡¯s scent. ¡°¡­¡± It was simplyforting. Her embrace was so warm and cozy that, for a moment, I felt like I could fall asleep right there. Yes. I swear, my thoughts were pure. Until the blood suddenly rushed through my body. ¡°¡­?¡± This is confusing. Why is this happening all of a sudden? Thest time I felt something like this was with Danya¡­ and because of that¡­ ¡®Ah.¡¯ The image of Lina and Danya, busily cleaning the nkets earlier this morning, shed through my mind. And their bewildered expressions as well. ¡®¡­What did they do to my body?¡¯ ¡°Master, wait a moment¡­¡± I hurried to escape from my Master¡¯s embrace. I thought, it¡¯s not that noticeable yet. ¡°Why? I¡¯d like to stay like this with my disciple a little longer.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Is it okay with that professor earlier but not with me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s stay like this.¡± Master pressed her body even closer to mine. Her body, especially her abdomen, pressed directly against me. ¡°¡­¡± I flinched. Her body trembled slightly. She must have felt it too. There¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t notice when the blood rushed like this. I thought this was an ufortable situation for both of us and tried to pull my waist back a little. But¡ª ¡ªSrrrk She leaned in again. ¡°Master¡­?¡± ¡°My disciple has grown a lot. I didn¡¯t expect this.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± She still hugged me warmly as she spoke. ¡°No need to apologize. It¡¯s just a natural bodily reaction.¡± It¡¯s not that natural though¡­ Well, Danya came from nature, so I guess that could be considered natural, too? What am I even thinking? ¡®¡­ I¡¯m really trash.¡¯ Here I am, with someone who genuinely cares for me, and despite a bit of a hormonal imbnce, I¡¯m feeling aroused. Guilt filled mepletely. While I was thinking that, I heard Master mumble softly. ¡°¡­I might be a little happy about it.¡± ¡ô Somehow, we managed to ease the tension. We were now seated in front of a refreshment table. Sipping the tea my master poured, I asked her to rify her earlier request. ¡°You want me to assist you as a teaching assistant in your swordsmanship ss?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s mastered the Snowke Sword technique.¡± Asilia smiled gently as she spoke. How could someone so mature still show such a pure smile? I realized that if I just kept admiring her, nothing would get done. Shaking my head to regain focus, I replied. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Sharon be a better choice?¡± Sharon had recently ascended to Aether status. How she managed that with just 10 HP¡ªa tenth of what others have¡ªremains a mystery. ¡°She¡¯d be able to execute the Snowke Sword technique better than I can.¡± At my words, Asilia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You¡¯re right. Sharon can perfectly wield the Snowke Sword technique. But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°There are other things she needs to learn. Things more important than sses.¡± Asilia continued with a bitter smile. ¡°And more than anything, she grasps swordsmanship almost intuitively. She¡¯s not suited to be a teaching assistant.¡± Unlike me, who had to train hard to understand the techniques, Sharon was a natural-born genius. ¡°I guess I know whose bloodline she inherited that genius from.¡± ¡°Oh my, my disciple can be quite ttering.¡± She giggled shyly. Sometimes she could be unexpectedly cute. Now, I understood why she asked me to be her assistant. At Lichten Academy, even a simple teaching assistantship offered a variety of benefits. Though rare, in exceptional cases, it could even lead to eligibility for professorship. Of course, such perks weren¡¯t the reason I¡¯d consider Master¡¯s request. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll do it.¡± If Master asks for something, I¡¯ll do it without hesitation. At my answer, Asilia smiled brightly and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness. I was worried you might refuse.¡± ¡°Why would you worry? If it¡¯s something my master asks, it¡¯s only natural to agree.¡± ¡°¡­Sometimes, a master has concerns.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid my disciple might charm others just as much elsewhere.¡± ¡°Come on. You¡¯re ttering me too much, Master.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± She crossed her arms seriously. Hmm. Am I really that popr? I don¡¯t think I¡¯m that attractive. Wait¡­ there are some people who are interested in me. Danya¡­ and Silvia. ¡®¡­I guess there are quite a few.¡¯ For some reason, I felt a slight pang of guilt, though I wasn¡¯t sure why. ¡°¡­That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve had a husband and even a child. Your master was much wilder in her day.¡± ¡°No way, Master. When I first met you, I thought you were Sharon¡¯s sister.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± Masterughed softly, like melting snowkes. It felt good to see her so happy, even though I had only spoken the truth. ¡ª Bzzzzz It was then that I heard a vibration. ¡°Oh, right.¡± My master stood up and pulled something out from the desk drawer. A small, leather-bound device. Ah, is that a Kirtos terminal? It looks like a high-end version. ¡°This is¡­ a bit embarrassing to admit, but¡­¡± She fidgeted awkwardly as she held the terminal. ¡°Well, you see¡­?¡± Hmm. I think I know what¡¯s going on. She must be confused about how to use it, right? I remember struggling a lot with it myself at first. I sat down next to her. ¡°Watch closely. You just have to do it like this.¡± ¡°¡­Ian?¡± I gently took her hand, guiding her step by step through the process. ¡®This reminds me of when I first learned swordsmanship.¡¯ Back then, my master would hold my hands and teach me one move at a time. Her hesitant fingers slowly followed my lead. Drag, swipe, double-click¡­ That should do it. I released her hand. ¡°¡­?¡± She looked up at me, blinking in confusion, tilting her head slightly. It was such an adorable expression, like she was wondering why I stopped. So this is why people love teaching their disciples. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you everything. You¡¯re free to graduate.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She lowered her gaze to the terminal and swiped through the screen before looking back at me. ¡°¡­But I feel like there¡¯s still something I haven¡¯t learned.¡± ¡°What are you curious about?¡± ¡°¡­Well.¡± She met my eyes for a moment, then quickly looked away, a blush forming as she spoke cautiously. ¡°How do I add my disciple¡¯s number?¡± ¡°Oh, for that, you just do this.¡± I instinctively reached for her hand again. ¡ª Gasp! Did I move too suddenly? She jumped in surprise and dropped the Kirtos terminal. It¡¯s a high-end version; it must be expensive¡­ I have to catch it! Without thinking, I lunged for the device. Naturally, my master was in its trajectory. There was a soft ¡®Ah!¡¯ followed by an impact to my face. For a moment, everything shed as if electricity coursed through me. It seemed my face had collided with her body. I tried to regain my bnce. But the falling terminal caught my eye again. ¡°Hup!¡± With a sharp breath, I managed to grab the device. My victory was short-lived, though. Thud! I tumbled to the floor, entangled with Master. I ended up sprawled on top of her, cushioned by her soft body. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Thankfully, despite the fall, we both seemed fine. I hadnded in her embrace, and we were both unharmed. At least until my body reacted unexpectedly again. ¡ª Squish! The position we were in¡­ was very unfortunate. ¡°Dis¡­ disciple?¡± Her voice was a mix of embarrassment and confusion. I tried to get up quickly. But then¡ª ¡ªThump. Thump. Thump. My heart started racing uncontrobly. ¡°Master¡­¡± My body began to heat up, much like Danya¡¯s during her¡­ heat day. ¡°We¡­ shouldn¡¯t be doing this¡­¡± My master shifted beneath me. I knew it, too. But¡ª ¡ªThump. Thump. Thump. How can I stop when my body won¡¯t listen? Chapter 176 Beeeeep ¡ª Beeep ¡ª Complete darkness. A sharp beeping sound filled the air. As my mind slowly started to return, I tried to make sense of the beeping. Hmm. I¡¯ve definitely heard this sound before. What was it? ¡ª Beeeeeep¡­ Beeeeeeep¡­Ah, I remember now. It¡¯s that sound that often ys in hospital scenes in dramas. Was it from a vital sign monitor? I don¡¯t know the exact name. I feel dizzy. How do I even open my eyes? I can¡¯t muster the strength. It¡¯s not that my body is in pain. It just feels like all the energy in my body has beenpletely drained, leaving me in a state of utter fatigue. I can picture it roughly. I must be in some hospital, lying in a bed, hooked up to a vital sign monitor or something like that, right? At that moment¡­ ¡ª Beep¡­ Beep. Beep! The beeping sound from the vital sign monitor started to intensify. What¡¯s going on? ¡ª Beep! Beep! Beep! BEEEEEEEEEEP¡ª! What¡¯s happening? Am I dying? A chill ran down my spine. It was like that moment when you lie down in bed only to notice a cockroach crawling on the ceiling¡­ I was instantly wide awake. ¡ª Blink, Blink. I expected to wake up in a panicked rush. But instead, my eyes just blinked open slowly. A white ceiling. A hard bed. Cold sheets. And the smell of medicine. As my senses returned, I blinked. As I expected, I¡¯m in a hospital. But¡­ ¡®¡­ I don¡¯t see any machines or anything.¡¯ Well, after all, isn¡¯t this a fantasy world? There wouldn¡¯t be any vital sign monitors here¡­ ¡ª Beep¡­ Beep. Beep! The sound came again. I turned my head toward it. There, I saw Elena ying a flute. ¡°Elena, stop it already. No one¡¯s going to wake up from that, nyah.¡± ¡°I can do it! I¡¯ve seen someone wake up from this before, Sister!¡± ¡°¡­ If they wake up from the noise, maybe¡­ huh?¡± Danya¡¯s eyes grew wide as she made eye contact with me. Following her, Elena also turned to look at me. ¡°See! He¡¯s awake! I told you it works!!!¡± Their shouting was brief. Both of them rushed toward me. ¡°Brother, are you conscious?¡± ¡°Are you okay, nyah? We heard you copsed in Lady Asilia¡¯s room, and we were worried!¡± Ah. That¡¯s right. I did copse in Master¡¯s room. There was definitely a reason I copsed, but I can¡¯t quite remember it. ¡°¡­ By the way, where am I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in the emergency hospital at Lichten Academy, nyang!¡± ¡°Dammit¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh. The reason was obvious. Lichten Academy¡¯s affiliated hospital. This ce is ridiculously expensive. Just lying here and breathing is costing me money. Money. There¡¯s no way this ce has a social system like health insurance. ¡°I need to get up.¡± I tried to raise myself from the bed. But I copsed back onto it. ¡°¡­?¡± What¡¯s wrong with my body? Danya and Elena grabbed my arms and, with a heave-ho, helped me lie back down properly. ¡°They said you can¡¯t move yet, nyah! Even if you wake up, you need to rest for at least half a day! You also need to eat the special hospital meal.¡± No way. Not the special hospital meal. Every bite of that would probably drain my wallet. ¡°By the way, why am I like this?¡± I remembered my heart pounding heavily before I copsed. ¡°I heard¡­ you tried to attack Lady Asilia, nyah.¡± Ah, I remember now. Danya muttered with aplicated expression. ¡°Well, you do have¡­ a good body¡­¡± As she nced down at herself, Danya¡¯s face took on a somewhat sad look. I don¡¯t know why, but I felt the need to exin myself. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Mis¡­ misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Really. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it with Master. My heart just started pounding on its own.¡± Back then, I was definitely acting strange. Even when Master hugged me, my¡­ important part started swelling up. Especially when I felt the warmth of her skin. My heart raced, and my mind became a bit hazy, as if my reason was slipping away. I did resist somehow, but it was certainly not typical of me. ¡°Did the doctor say anything about my condition?¡± Lichten Academy¡¯s affiliated hospital. It¡¯s expensive, but their skills are top-notch. As expected. Danya hesitated for a moment before muttering. ¡°¡­ They said it¡¯s your mating season.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They said you¡¯re in your mating season¡­¡± ¡°Mating season?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s not too severe, but¡­ anyway, you need to stay calm for a while, nyah. Wait here, I¡¯ll go get the doctor.¡± Danya quickly shuffled out of the room. But I couldn¡¯t shake off the shock. Mating season? Me, in heat? ¡ô Doctor, what on earth is happening to me?! ¡­ I wanted to yell that, but the doctor turned out to be a very beautiful woman. She was a striking figure with a white coat and rimless sses. ¡°The reason for the sudden copse was that all your body¡¯s energy was concentrated on your reproductive function. In other words, your reproductive system took control of your body. It seems you¡¯ve entered your heat cycle.¡± The way the doctor exined that my most personal area had taken control of me was calm and professional, but it only made me feel more humiliated. It felt like my lower body was on fire¡­ This doctor seems like a real expert. ¡°So the conclusion is simple. Right now, you have a deficiency of vital energy.¡± ¡°Vital energy¡­?¡± Why is she suddenly talking about energy? ¡°Vital energy. Life force.¡± Haah-. With a light sigh, the doctor pulled out a pointer she was holding. Tap. Tap. She struck a male anatomical model with the pointer, hitting the exact spot of the reproductive organs so precisely that it made me flinch. But her next words were even more shocking. ¡°Your testicles arepletely empty.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Male or female, reproductive organs are often referred to as another Dantian. You¡¯vepletely drained the vitality stored there. Of course, it can be replenished, but¡­ what in the world were you doing?¡± At the doctor¡¯s question, Lina and Danya, standing beside me, looked down in embarrassment. The doctor nced at them and clicked her tongue. Their shoulders flinched. ¡°Hah¡­ I guess it happens. With youth and a heat cycle, I understand. But¡­¡± She then looked at me like I was some sort of anomaly. ¡°How could you be so reckless?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice? Your ability to maintain firmness should have beenpromised. It would have been difficult to continue.¡± ¡°¡­I managed.¡± ¡°Really? Based on the research, it should have¡­¡± Muttering to herself, the doctor¡¯s gaze fell on my lower body. ¡°Hmm.¡± Her eyes sparkled as if she had found an interesting subject for research. I quickly closed my legs. Her gaze was far too curious. ¡°Ahem.¡± She cleared her throat and continued. ¡°In any case, given the situation, you¡¯ll need to¡­ release it regrly.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Since your vital energy ispletely depleted, there¡¯s a risk of umting harmful energy. For the next week, you should maintain a simr interval. Otherwise, it could explode in a negative way.¡± ¡ô I returned to the club room for now. Unless it¡¯s a life-threatening emergency, the academy hospital is not the ce to be. It¡¯ll just drain my wallet. ¡ª You have no payment to make. It¡¯s already been taken care of. That¡¯s what I heard at the reception desk, which was quite the unexpected response. Who on earth paid for me? I had my suspicions, but I could guess. For now, rest is the priority. As the doctor said, the most important things are. First,plete rest. Second, be careful not to let anything build up. I briefly wondered how those two could coexist, but I set my doubts aside. ¡°More than that¡­ this feels like an unexpected vacation, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Since my body wasn¡¯t moving well, I couldn¡¯t exactly go anywhere. It was like I had been forced into a period of self-reflection. This ¡°no choice but to rest¡± situation put my usually anxious, overachieving self at ease in a way I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. How long has it been since I¡¯ve been able to just lie down and rx like this? I felt two conflicting thoughts. One, that this wasn¡¯t so bad, and two, that I wished time would stop right here. Those peaceful thoughts were soon interrupted by the appearance of a woman. ¡°¡­ Are you alright?¡± It was my Master who hade to the club room. It waste, the sky outside the windowpletely dark. Not having a curfew¡ªwhat a wonderful privilege. Incidentally, because Elena had been so focused on looking after me, the other club members hadn¡¯t been able to lift the curfew. ¡°¡­ It seems my student¡¯s actions were because of that heat cycle after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master. You must¡¯ve been shocked.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Master held her words for a moment. Well, she had every right to be angry. A trusted disciple suddenly acting out of control! Even though it was due to a hormonal issue, it still felt unsettling¡ªlike I had crossed a line that should never be crossed between Master and disciple. ¡°Still, I knew my precious student wasn¡¯t someone who would be ruled by such desires. But yesterday, you were clearly not yourself. I¡¯m just d we found the reason behind it so easily.¡± Master smiled as she said that, but there was something bittersweet and slightly regretful in that smile. Why was she making that face? I couldn¡¯t help but feel curious about the reason. At the same time¡­ ¡°¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but notice how prominent Master¡¯s figure seemed. It might have been due to her martial-arts-style dress, which was quite revealing but perfectly suited to her form, making her appearance even more striking. She crossed her legs as she sat in the chair next to my bed. And no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, the hem of her dress lifted slightly, revealing the smooth, toned lines of her legs. I was flustered. ¡°Master, I¡¯m sorry, but could you adjust your sitting posture a bit¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. Are you afraid you might get aroused by looking at me, my student?¡± ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not that¡­¡± I mumbled my response. It was hard to lie. Despite my awkward reply, Master gave a bright smile. ¡°Did you happen to be the one who covered my hospital fees, Master?¡± ¡°Yes, that was me.¡± ¡°But that hospital is so expensive!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. Professors get a special discount.¡± Ah, right. There was a whole system like that. I¡¯d even read strategies about how to ¡°target professors¡± to make use of the affiliated hospital. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t feel entirely bad about it.¡± ¡°Sorry? What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± Master patted my head, winked yfully, and then left the room. Once again, my heart started pounding. The mating cycle¡ªdid they say it couldst three days to a week, depending? ¡°¡­ Seems like this won¡¯t be easy to get through.¡± A vague sense of unease crept over me. Chapter 177 ¡°Something feels strange.¡± The next morning. As I got out of bed, I looked down at it in a daze. All night, I felt an odd breeze through my lower half. When I checked the nket in the morning, something huge, like a pole, was pressing against it firmly. ¡°This isn¡¯t usually the case, even for me.¡± Could this be the power of the mating season? The change wasn¡¯t only below. There was an unbelievable surge of vitality flowing throughout my whole body.My body temperature seemed to have risen by about 0.5 degrees. It felt like I¡¯d downed an energy drink. A sense of physical confidence kept surging up, as if I could do anything. ¡°¡­It¡¯s hot.¡± I pushed off the nket. My body was already warm enough; no need to cover up. Shhhh. As I got rid of the nket, the cool morning breeze helped to cool me down. Oddly enough, despite my body heating up, my mind stayed remarkably clear. Maybe my rationality was instinctively suppressing my urges, like a silent rm. ¡°Hmm.¡± Is that really it? It was the same when I identally stumbled onto Master, and also when I held onto Professor Violet. Even though I was fine rationally, there were moments when instincts broke through. Although I managed to hold back¡­ situations kept arising by chance, and I had no choice but to go along with it. ¡°The temptation was too strong.¡± Yes. It¡¯s not an excuse; it¡¯s the truth. For some reason, I kept getting put in tempting situations. Looking back, that¡¯s exactly how it was. Professor Violet suddenly hugged me out of nowhere, pressing her chest against me. And then Master, acting jealous of Professor Violet, dressed in a thin outfit, and pulling me into an embrace as if it was nothing. Yesterday morning, Lina and Danya were the problem, to begin with. What the heck did they do in bed to leave me sopletely drained? ¡°It¡¯s definitely strange.¡± Whether it¡¯s Professor Violet, Master, Danya, or Lina, none of them are the type to act so provocatively or suddenly jump on me. We¡¯ve been fine until now. And then suddenly, from yesterday, they all started to tempt me? There are two possible exnations for this weird situation. First, they have also changed somehow. Second¡­ ¡°I might be the one who changed.¡± Maybe I got excited over something trivial and lost control. Looks like I¡¯m not exactly in my right mind either. Yes, my current state is hardly normal. It¡¯s likely that I¡¯m too overwhelmed to see things clearly. ¡°I probably need to calm down a bit¡­ No, on second thought, maybe not.¡± Being too calm might actually be harmful too. The doctor said the same thing. If I keep holding back, I might explode even more. For about a week, I should just let it all out as ites. ¡°Let it out, huh.¡± Luckily, I know a pretty good way. A way to burn off all this energy in both body and mind. Let¡¯s properly burn off this vitality bubbling inside me. Not just a partial burn, but a full one. And it¡¯s early morning. ¡°Of course, I should call Danya and Lina¡­¡± They¡¯vemitted sins, so they¡¯ll have to serve me diligently. And then¡­ ¡°Maybe I should call Elena too. She might be helpful to have around.¡± ¡ô ¡°Okay, I made a mistake¡­ This, this is too, too thick¡­!¡± ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s too big!¡± ¡°Brother¡­ ahhh, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m really sorry!¡± It was chaos. Handling three people at once was overwhelming. But it felt like I could manage it. Was this the strength of the mating season? This was enough to wear anyone out, yet the more I used it, the more energy surged within me. ¡°I can¡¯t hold on anymore¡­!¡± ¡°Brother¡­!¡± This level was nothing to be fussed about. I could keep going for as long as I wanted. ¡°Whew¡­¡± With each effort, a wave of pure energy seemed to sh around us. ¡°Oops, watch out, Elena.¡± A slight miscalction led to some of the white stuff sshing onto Elena. ¡°Nom¡­ nom¡­¡± She eagerly licked it up. ¡°I told you not to eat it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m innocent! It¡¯s your fault, Brother! You couldn¡¯t even aim the snowke properly!¡± Hah. She was right, so I couldn¡¯t argue. With a sigh, I sprinkled the remaining snowkes on the other fruits. ¡°This whole caramel apple is way too heavy¡­¡± ¡°And these bananas are too thick¡­ I can¡¯t lift them¡­¡± The club members were struggling to keep up. I encouraged them. ¡°Stop dawdling and let¡¯s hurry up and carry these, everyone. If we don¡¯t make money today, there¡¯ll be no dinner.¡± ¡°Noooo!¡± Elena cried out, and then she got busy carrying the fruits. The concept for today¡¯s Dessert Research Club stall was [Giant Fruit Research]. We¡¯d done simr events before with snowke-topped fruits, but I thought selling only the same snowke fruits might get boring, so today we went with a giant fruit theme. The sess was uncertain at first. ¡°My arms are shaking¡­¡± ¡°So many people¡­ next time, I¡¯ll bring fewer friends.¡± So many customers came that everyone was exhausted. Once we wrapped up sales for the day, the half-zombified members gathered around the chairs. ¡°I thought I¡¯d die¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m still tired from yesterday¡­ Whew!¡± ¡°I, Elena, am still full of energy!¡± Each person¡¯s reaction was different. Unlike Elena, who was munching on the Snowke Fruit she had failed to make, Danya and Lina looked quite exhausted. Reactions varied. Elena was munching on some failed snowke fruit with a sparkle in her eyes, while Danya and Lina were visibly worn out. Danya slumped in her chair, and a bead of sweat trickled down her face, following her jawline until it fell onto her shirt. ¡ª Smack! A light sting hit the back of my hand. ¡°Ian.¡± I turned to see Lina looking up at me with a rather strict expression. Lina, usually smiling, had a clear reason for her serious look. ¡ª If I¡¯m ever staring at a woman¡¯s attractive features, they¡¯re supposed to stop me. I¡¯d asked all the club members for this favor. ¡®S*xual stimuli seem to trigger my mating instincts.¡¯ After much discussion about what counted as ¡°attractive features¡± ¡ª chest, hips, stomach, feet, neck, etc. ¡ª we¡¯d agreed that club members would warn me if I stared for too long. For example, if I find myself thinking about how alluring Lina¡¯s curled fingers looked as she smacked the back of my hand and even wishing she¡¯d do it again¡­ ¡°Get a grip, will you!¡± Danya then steps in, covering my eyes with her small palm. However, this presents another problem of its own. Ever since my mating season began, simply catching a whiff of Danya¡¯s scent is enough to set me off. Though it¡¯s been days since her heat ended, the pheromone scent still lingers on her. ¡®My sense of smell has definitely sharpened.¡¯ I barely held myself back from taking a deep inhale and forced myself to open my eyes. ¡­At least, with my body and mind feeling a bit worn out, I¡¯m not bursting with energy as recklessly as I was this morning. ¡°Let¡¯s go over the earnings, shall we?¡± As today¡¯s event wasbeled the ¡°Dessert Research Club¡¯s Giant Fruit Festival¡±, we naturally charged double the usual price. Yet, the number of customers stayed about the same¡­ ¡°Wh-what?!¡± Peering over my shoulder, Elena stared in shock at the endless string of zeros in the ledger. ¡°We¡¯re¡­ we¡¯re going to be rich!¡± Indeed. At this rate, we might actually be rich soon. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s payout time.¡± With the Dessert Research Club doing so well, I raised the members¡¯ payouts ordingly. Each member was visibly shocked as they held their earnings. ¡°My¡­ my wallet feels heavy!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this much money since my family went bankrupt.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine without the money, Brother. B-but if I get all of this in snowke fruits¡­ oh no, I¡¯m going to burst!¡± Elena¡¯s already thinking about eating it all. ¡°I¡¯ll make as many as you want.¡± Of course, I¡¯ll just give her the rest of her payment in supplies instead. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Brother Ian!¡± She clings onto me, and her small but firm belly presses right into¡­ that area. ¡®Get a grip, Ian.¡¯ ¡°Maybe you should¡­ ugh!¡± Then Lina and Danya pile on too, enjoying the cash. With Lina¡¯s chest and Danya¡¯s thigh pressed up against me, I feel my rationality slipping. ¡°¡­Hey, you two.¡± Aren¡¯t you supposed to be stopping me?! ¡ô After exerting superhuman patience, I finally made it back to the club room. ¡°¡­If I hadn¡¯t beenpletely exhausted, something might have actually happened back there.¡± To think I¡¯d be tested like that by the members I trusted. ¡­Then again, they are partly responsible for this problem. ¡°Hah. It¡¯s like trusting a cat to guard fish.¡± With a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. But the persistent heat in my lower half¡­ When will this settle down? ¡°It seems to be getting worse.¡± For the next few days, I really hope there¡¯s someone who can keep me grounded. Preferably, someone who won¡¯t get swept up in emotions and can stay rational. ¡°¡­A rational person.¡± One face immediately came to mind. Maybe I should ask Silvia for help tomorrow. Chapter 178 The next day, Silvia came rushing over after hearing my request. ¡°W-What did you say? In heat?!¡± Out of breath, Silvia spoke without pausing, so I offered her some tea. Barely sipping it, she asked again. ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s no problem?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°If you say so, Ian¡­ but why are you suddenly making people worry like this? You¡¯re not usually like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ashamed.¡± Hah. With a worried sigh, Silvia crossed her legs.¡°There¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡± ¡°Silvia, I know you¡¯re busy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m d you called me because you needed me.¡± She mumbled that so softly, it was almost inaudible, her face turning red. It seemed like she hadn¡¯t meant to say it aloud, just a thought that slipped out. Ahem-. Silvia lightly cleared her throat. ¡°But if you¡¯re in heat¡­¡± Her expression quickly turned serious. ¡°I thought it was only an issue animals or beastfolk faced, where pent-up desires explode and¡­ well, instincts override the mind.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin it so specifically.¡± ¡°To think a human could be a ve to their own desires like that. Honestly, I can¡¯t imagine it. How could you endure such a humiliating condition?¡± Is something wrong with me? Silvia¡¯s words were starting to sound like scolding. And¡­ I didn¡¯t realize I had this sort of reaction. My heart was starting to beat faster. No. I need to calm down. Unaware of my inner turmoil, Silvia continued with either bluntness or disdain. ¡°Humans maintain dignity by holding onto reason, and to abandon that for instincts¡­ it¡¯s pathetic. If you¡¯re like that, you¡¯re no better than an animal.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I kept my mouth shut. I couldn¡¯t argue back against her words. Just hearing her harsh judgment was making me ache down there again. In this state, standing up was absolutely out of the question. Besides¡ª ¡°In any case, I¡¯ll give Ian my full support today.¡± Her words drew my gaze toward her upper body. A light, sheer blouse that let a hint of her skin show through. Silvia had been wearing these see-through tops asionally as ofte. She paired them with sophisticated ck lingerie underneath. Lichten Academy was once all abuzz over this seductive attire of hers. Apparently, her designer clothes and lingerie had sold outpletely. Of course, they were Laurent Trading products. But that¡¯s not the point. ¡®¡­This feels different than usual.¡¯ The top was still sheer as usual. The issue was¡­ ¡®It looks like she isn¡¯t wearing anything underneath.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t see any trace of the lingerie that should have been supporting her. Through the translucent white blouse, there was a faint glimpse of her skin. And if I looked carefully, it seemed to have a faint pinkish glow¡­ -Smack! I pped my own cheek, snapping myself out of it. Silvia looked startled. ¡°W-Why did you do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just felt like I needed a sudden wake-up call.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After a moment of silence, Silvia¡¯s eyes became slightly misty. Why was she looking at me like that? She took my hand in hers. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to help you properly today. If you start feeling in heat, just let me know. I¡¯ll make it so you¡¯ll never feel desire again.¡± ¡­ Is that really okay? I wanted to ask how exactly she nned on making me ¡°not feel desire,¡± but something about her gaze today felt intimidating. ¡°Especially you, Ian. You¡¯re the kind of person who could do anything if you set your mind to it.¡± ¡°¡­ I have no idea what kind of image you have of me.¡± ¡°A smart, decisive person who would do whatever it takes to achieve their goal?¡± Isn¡¯t that a bit too ttering? ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll be keeping a close eye on you, to keep you from getting any funny ideas.¡± ¡°¡­ Thanks.¡± This level of vignce is part of Silvia¡¯s charm. She quickly assesses situations and devises strategies that fit perfectly. She¡¯s always spot on. Silvia¡¯s mind was probably already processing several different ns. She¡¯d even have emergency protocols ready for unexpected situations. I could practically hear the gears turning in her head. After a moment of tapping her lips thoughtfully, she cautiously spoke. ¡°But, you know¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°That¡­ that is¡­¡± Uncharacteristically, Silvia hesitated. sping her hands like she was praying, she rolled her eyes a little before speaking. ¡°There¡¯s¡­ I mean¡­ there¡¯s a chance you might actually reach a point where you can¡¯t hold back, right?¡± Ah, she¡¯d already thought that far ahead. So dependable. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°And if that happens¡­ th-that¡­ that¡­¡± ¡°That?¡± Her mouth moved slightly, her lips glistening. ¡°T-Then, I¡­ No!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Just tell me! Tell me if that happens! You have to!¡± Silvia raised her voice unusually high. I guess that just shows how worried she is. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Y-yeah, sure.¡± But now that I think about it¡­ ¡°Considering you¡¯ve thought about worst-case scenarios, do you actually trust me?¡± ¡°Yes, I trust you, Ian.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ve never broken your word. You¡¯ve always been there to protect me. So I trust you. Just you.¡± Honestly, I was a little moved. I didn¡¯t realize Silvia trusted me this much. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡ô ¡°This way.¡± We walked outside the academy. It was a bit unexpected. With Silvia¡¯s personality, I thought she¡¯d lock me away somewhere or tie me downpletely. ¡°¡­ Is that something you¡¯re into, Ian?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well, if you wanted, I could make that happen.¡± Silvia cast a sidelong nce at me before looking ahead again. ¡­ That look was a bit unsettling. Calm down, my friend. I swallowed and kept walking, following Silvia. ¡°So, where are we going?¡± The boundary between the northern and eastern parts of the Academy. The moderately bustling street started to grow lively. I could hearughter spilling from beyond the corner of the alley, shaped like an ¡®L¡¯. Curious, I wondered what it could be, and just then, Silvia stepped up beside me. ¡°Give me your arm.¡± Without another word, she looped her arm through mine. ¡°?¡± ¡°I need to make sure no one else touches you.¡± Silvia spoke bluntly, though her cheeks looked slightly flushed under the streetlights. As I offered my arm, she held onto it firmly. I could feel her warmth¡­ but. ¡®I have to resist.¡¯ ¡°Come along.¡± With her arm linked through mine, she led me forward. As we turned the corner, the scenery changed. ¡°¡­ A street festival?¡± Seeing my surprised expression, Silvia beamed. ¡°It¡¯s a light-hearted festival day.¡± This type of street stall wasn¡¯t really her style, was it? I wondered. But Silvia held my arm tightly and led me into the crowded alley. Food stalls of all kinds. Games like fish scooping. Shops selling various trinkets. Silvia¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked around. ¡°Look, Ian! If you catch a goldfish, you get to keep it! Let¡¯s try!¡± Watching her pout as the thin paper tore under the goldfish¡¯s weight was strangely endearing. ¡°That looks delicious! It¡¯s like a cloud made of sugar!¡± Silvia, who would usually never touch sugar or artificial colors, indulged in a huge puff of cotton candy. ¡°Try this on! A bunny hat! Haha! It suits you so well!¡± pping her hands with joy as she ced a character hat on me. Each moment revealed a new side of Silvia. A glimpse of her innocent side. Watching herugh so freely was oddly soothing. Not the capable woman buried in documents, nning for the future. But a girl enjoying cotton candy, frowning at gimmicky games, and giggling as she made others wear cute hats. Maybe this was the real Silvia Laurent. ¡°Come this way.¡± Before I knew it, we were holding hands. Walking, I nced at the fox mask tilted slightly on the side of her head. ¡°Here we are.¡± By now, streemps were beginning to flicker on, one by one, in the evening glow. She had brought me to a quiet riverside. Beside a wooden dock, a small rowboat awaited us. ¡°Get in.¡± The little boat looked just like the one we had taken in the capital. Only this time, there were nkets and cushions inside. As before, our legs brushed, and our breaths mingled. But unlikest time, there was no awkwardness. It feltpletely natural. Silvia¡¯s eyes sparkled as she pointed toward the sky. ¡°This is the perfect spot.¡± ¡°¡­ For what?¡± I didn¡¯t really need to ask. ¡ª Fwoooosh! A single firework shot straight up, streaking a line across the sky. For a moment, everything was silent as the firework burned up. ¡ª Boom! Countless fiery flowers blossomed, painting the sky in a vivid disy. Watching the fireworks over the still water, undisturbed by anyone else, truly felt like the perfect spot, just as Silvia had promised. Her face changed color with each sh of the fireworks. I found myself staring at her face, entranced. Noticing my gaze, she turned to me with a bright smile. ¡°Is it really that pretty?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°The fireworks? Or¡­ me?¡± Silvia¡¯s yful question hung in the air, and I answered with equal yfulness. ¡°Both.¡± Silence settled between us, but it wasn¡¯t ufortable. Instead of responding, Silvia held out her hand. ¡°?¡± ¡°Take my hand.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re some weirdo who gets excited just by holding hands, right, Ian?¡± Right. Let¡¯s hope not. I took her hand, feeling its warmth. Her fingers were long and graceful, and the ring I¡¯d given her was there, snug on her ring finger. Her skin was soft, except for the calluses on the fingers she used to hold her pen. I held her hand for a while, feeling its warmth, until Silvia¡¯s voice, slightly flustered, broke the silence. ¡°Ian¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s¡­ up.¡± She was right. Just from holding her hand. ¡°¡­ I guess I¡¯m a p*rvert.¡± Silviaughed at my self-deprecating mutter. ¡°Pffft!¡± ¡°Why are youughing?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­ but¡­¡± She averted her gaze, her voice dropping to a murmur. ¡°¡­ I could help.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s too much¡­ I could help you with that.¡± ¡ª Boooom! Thest firework exploded, casting a blush of red across Silvia¡¯s face. Chapter 179 Click This Button to Read the Chapter (Content Warning) Chapter 180 The next morning. I woke up on the boat, unable to remember when I had fallen asleep. Silviay covered in a thin cloth and nket, her graceful curves catching my eye as I stared absentmindedly. She looked elegant and beautiful, her delicate, fluttering eyshes adding to her charm even in deep sleep. Her milky-white skin was so soft and smooth; it was hard to believe she had been in my armsst night. ¡°¡­¡± She really was sound asleep. ¡ª Rustle, Rustle. When she¡¯s awake, Silvia is graceful and a bit like a feisty cat.But while asleep, she looks irresistibly cute and lovable. Maybe that¡¯s why her usual sharp gaze appeared gentler now? ¡°I¡¯ve seen two different sides of you.¡± Silvia looks adorable when she¡¯s asleep. But when we¡¯re together like this, she can be so poised, uttering bold words with that dignified expression. It was fascinating to see these new sides of her. ¡ª Slip! And I felt a surge of excitement, too. ¡°When will this insatiable desire end?¡± I wrapped a nket around my lower half, though it seemed pointless. Still, the fact that I tried was what mattered¡­ I think. ¡°Hmm.¡± I noticed Silvia¡¯s hair brushing the floor. As I was gently arranging it, she slowly opened her eyes. Blink, Blink. She blinked twice gracefully and asked, ¡°¡­Ian, did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yes. And you?¡± ¡°I did. I don¡¯t even remember when I fell asleep. I usually don¡¯t sleep well at night.¡± Silvia tilted her head curiously, genuinely wondering. I recalledst night¡­ or rather, the early hours of the morning. During one of our many close moments, Silvia¡¯s body tensed, and she began to tremble. ¡ª Haah¡­ Mmm! What escaped from her mouth was less of a moan and more a deep, heavy breath. It was as if the sound came from deep within her. Shudder! Silvia¡¯s legs quivered, and soon her entire body started trembling. Then she copsed, her eyes losing focus. ¡ª Silvia, are you okay?! I was quite startled at the time, right until she began breathing softly in her sleep. ¡®Come to think of it, Danya has been like this before, too.¡¯ I checked on Silvia¡¯s condition¡ªher breathing, pulse, and pupil response were all normal. She seemed at peace, so Iid herfortably, watching her until I drifted off myself. ¡°Ahh, I feel refreshed! I wish I could wake up like this every day.¡± Silvia stretched, extending her arms, a slight yawn escaping her lips. My gaze lingered on the smooth, fair skin of her underarms, and I quickly averted my eyes. When would this fervor finally end? I sighed softly, adding another nket to cover myself as Silvia tilted her head and asked. ¡°Hey, Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°How was it yesterday?¡± That was an unexpected question. Of course, I sometimes wonder if Silvia was satisfied too, but¡­ There was an unusual coolness in her tone. ¡°It was¡­ wonderful.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Silvia crossed her arms, looking down at me. I felt a strange pang in my chest. Her next question revealed the reason for this unease. ¡°Was it better with me than with Danya?¡± A chill ran down my spine. Silvia¡¯s direct questions are always so piercing. I hadn¡¯t hidden it, but when had she figured out that Danya and I had been intimate? And how should I answer this? ¡°¡­¡± After a brief hesitation, I shook my head. After all, any answer derived from hesitation would only sound like an excuse. And that wouldn¡¯t be respectful to Silvia. All I could do was speak honestly about how I felt. ¡°I¡¯ll neverpare the experience I had with you to anyone else.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a memory just for you and me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I spoke honestly about how I felt. ¡°I was happy because it was something I could only share with you.¡± The judgment is entirely up to Silvia. Whatever she thinks, I¡¯ll respect her thoughts. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Silvia pouted, looking adorably irritated with her usual cool expression. I guess I¡¯ve collected another rare expression from her. Lost in that silly thought, I noticed Silvia looking down at me intently. ¡°Is this what you like, Ian?¡± ¡°This?¡± Silvia didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she stepped closer. With elegant hands, she reached for the hem of her dress. ¡ª Swish As her dress lifted, the silky undergarments came into view. Silvia spoke in a chilling tone. ¡°Me, who usually looks so poised, acting this way for you¡­¡± She had already seen through mepletely. Silvia was as sharp as ever. ¡ª Thump, Thump Her gaze, almost scornful, held a hint of mischief as she lifted her dress. The alluring sight only fueled the fire within me. ¡°Hmph¡­?¡± Seeing my reaction, Silvia¡¯s eyes curved yfully. Whisper. A soft, delicate fragrance tickled my nose. ¡ª Hoo Silvia leaned close to my ear, her warm breath brushing against it. She whispered. ¡°Please punish Silvia, who¡¯s already feeling this way from the morning.¡± ¡ô Lately, I¡¯ve felt like I¡¯ve beening to my private room less and less. This ce is supposed to be my own space, after all. ¡°Am I really that busy?¡± After casually tossing my belongings aside, I stretched. Thanks tost night¡¯s vigorous exercise, my thighs and lower back were aching. If I keep this up, I might not need any extra physical training. ¡°¡­No way.¡± I tried tough it off, but a dull ache in my lower abdomen stifled my smile. I really had overdone it. Not just today but yesterday too; Danya and Lina definitely wore me out. In the middle of it all, I began to ponder. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up.¡± Something definitely felt off. Let¡¯s think carefully. I¡¯m the one dealing with this feverish desire, but I haven¡¯t exactly been the one initiating anything. If anything, I¡¯m the one being¡­pursued. I¡¯d expect this from someone like Danya or Lina, but I never thought Silvia would be the same. ¡°Not that I¡¯mining.¡± But that¡¯s beside the point. The real question is why they were the onesing after me. ¡°¡­¡± Danya and Lina acting more instinctively is one thing. But Silvia, who usually has such rational judgment, making these moves? It¡¯s unlike her. I didn¡¯t haveplete certainty yet. But something was suspicious. My initial feeling of unease was starting to grow into doubt. ¡®If my hypothesis is correct¡­¡¯ This isn¡¯t just my problem; it¡¯s everyone¡¯s problem. ¡°The issue is that there¡¯s no way to prove it.¡± All I have are suspicions and doubts. And if I share this theory with someone and turn out to be wrong, I¡¯d definitely be seen as some weirdo. It¡¯s a kind of conspiracy theory, after all. ¡°Who could I turn to for help?¡± That was the dilemma¡ªif you could call it that. ¡°¡­Actually, I might know just the ce.¡± A sh of insight struck me. ¡ô The ¡®ult Research Club¡¯ was located in the same building as the ¡®Dessert Club.¡¯ As soon as Lupina, the only member and head of the ult Research Club, saw me, she trembled and started backing away. ¡°Ah¡­ Eek¡­!¡± ¡­What¡¯s this? Is she chanting a spell? I tilted my head in confusion, and Lupina squeaked, hurrying to a corner. ¡°D-Don¡¯t hit me!¡± ¡­What exactly does she think of me? Instead of scolding her, I raised my hands. It was bodynguage meant to reassure her I had no intention of harming her. People like her were never convinced by words alone. Finally, a slightly calmer Lupina asked cautiously. ¡°A-Are you here because ofst time?¡± ¡°Last time?¡± I tilted my head, wondering what she meant by that. Did we even have a st time¡± worth mentioning? ¡°When the D-Dessert Club first tried to secure a room¡­ I, um, interfered¡­¡± Ah, right. Now I remembered. Lupina had tried to monopolize the building and even used hypnosis to try and drive us away. Honestly, I didn¡¯t mind too much. Thanks to her, we basically have this whole building to ourselves. One thing, however, came to mind. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise to do something as a forfeit for losing back then?¡± ¡°Eek!!!¡± Lupina scurried back to the wall once again. What on earth did she agree to that she¡¯s so scared about now? ¡°I¡­ I haven¡¯t showered for two days, so I probably¡­ smell. I-I¡¯ll help you next time, I promise.¡± ¡°???¡± I couldn¡¯t follow this conversation at all. Her eyes filled with tears, so I decided to get straight to the point. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m not here to im anypensation today.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then¡­ is it about rent? A friendship fee?¡± Friendship fee? Seriously? ¡°Nothing like that. I came to ask for some advice.¡± ¡°A¡­ advice? From¡­ from someone like me?¡± Despite her words, a wide grin spread across Lupina¡¯s face. It seemed I might be the first person to ever seek her out for advice. ¡®She really wears her emotions on her sleeve.¡¯ I guess spending all her time alone researching dark magic in a ce like this must get lonely. Though she might seem gloomy, her nature didn¡¯t seem all that bad. After finishing my mental assessment of her, I finally got to the topic. ¡°It might just be a conspiracy theory¡­¡± ¡°C-Conspiracy theory?¡± Haa, Haa. Lupina¡¯s breathing grew heavier. ¡­I really hade to the right ce. Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkled. I presented my hypothesis to her. ¡°It seems that all the academy students are¡­ in heat.¡± Chapter 181 ¡°It seems like the students are spreading arousal.¡± At my words, Lupina lowered her head and shook it vigorously. ¡°I-I never made and sold arousal potions!¡± Lupina denied it, even though no one had used her. Hold on. ¡°So, you can actually make arousal potions?¡± ¡°Yes! Using manticore hairs, and the pistil of moonlit flowers¡­ uh!¡± Chattering on, Lupina suddenly mped her hand over her mouth. All it did was confirm that this ult enthusiast indeed could make such potions.¡®If that¡¯s the case¡­¡¯ Though it was just a theory, I started considering that an ¡°arousal¡± disease might be spreading around the Academy. The question was how it was being spread. ¡®Could it be spreading through the use of arousal potions?¡¯ It was a usible scenario¡ªassuming certain conditions were met. ¡°That potion¡­ is it colorless?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And odorless?¡± ¡°Right. My clients always insist on that for some reason.¡± ¡­ Of course they would. If it¡¯s truly colorless and odorless, then it could certainly be transmitted through food or drink. ¡°Does it only take effect if consumed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the most effective way. Efficiency drops with vapor or direct skin contact.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s possible that I or others have been affected by it in vapor form.¡± As I considered the increasing likelihood, Lupina shook her head. ¡°But it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s incredibly expensive.¡± ¡°How much are we talking about?¡± ¡°At least a billion Krone per bottle. And even at that price, the ingredient costs are so high that there¡¯s hardly any profit left. Spreading it through vapor? That would cost billions of Krone.¡± That¡¯s an astronomical amount. Only a few people at the Academy would have that kind of money. A few names came to mind¡ªpeople like Emilia¡­ ¡®But they wouldn¡¯t waste resources on something so inefficient.¡¯ For now, I¡¯ll just keep them on the suspect list. So, let¡¯s discard the potion hypothesis. ¡°What other methods could there be¡­? Lupina?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I examined Lupina¡¯s pupils closely. Pink pupils. They had a peculiar shape. ¡°Your pupils look a bit unusual.¡± Heart-shaped eyes. At my observation, Lupina grinned knowingly. ¡°Oh~.¡± She pulled a potted nt out from under the desk. Until just moments ago, she had been experimenting with it. I took a step back. ¡ªWriggle, Wriggle. The pot contained pink tentacles that moved in an oddly mesmerizing way. At about 50 cm in length, they weren¡¯t intimidating, but their appearance was naturally off-putting. Yet, Lupina stroked them as if she found them endearing. ¡°Just add water, and it stays moist with a constant secretion of lubricant.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Want to try our ¡®Moistie¡¯?¡± So, it even has a name, ¡®Moistie¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. Can¡¯t imagine how to use it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like thi¡­¡± I grabbed Lupina¡¯s wrist before her hand could make any questionable gestures. ¡°Lupina, I understand what your specialty is.¡± ¡°Yes. I like dealing with dark magic that handles desires.¡± ¡°Your tentacle creature¡­ I mean, Moistie, is certainly intriguing, but what I want to know right now is whether people are experiencing arousal, and if so, what¡¯s causing it.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ right.¡± Finally, Lupina set the tentacles back on the desk. Wriggle, Wriggle. I¡¯d had enough of that sight. ¡°If it¡¯s not arousal potions, then what could be causing people to experience arousal?¡± Tap, Tap. Lupina tapped the desk as she pondered. ¡°Hmm.¡± I rubbed my eyes. For some reason, Lupina seemed surprisingly professional at this moment. After a moment of contemtion, she asked. ¡°Are you aroused right now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± Step, Step. She approached me. ¡°Let¡¯s analyze it.¡± ¡°¡­ Analyze?¡± Without a moment to reflect on her question, Lupina quicklymanded: ¡°Moistie!¡± The tentacles wrapped tightly around my arms and legs. Lupina grinned mischievously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡ô ¡°Wow. It¡¯s like milk jelly.¡± Squish¡ªsquish. Only after the beaker was filled to the brim did Lupina¡¯s hands finally stop. ¡­ I feel vited. Actually, I think I was. Though, thankfully, it wasn¡¯t by the tentacle creature itself. I shook my head to clear the unpleasant memories. ¡°Huff, that was tougher than I expected. It was bigger than I anticipated.¡± Lupina, massaging her hands, picked up the beaker beside her. It was filled with the white liquid she had extracted from me. She shook it for a moment before dipping her index finger into it. ¡°What are you¡­!¡± She then brought her finger to her mouth. ¡°Ugh¡ªbitterer than I thought.¡± h¡ª Watching her stick out her tongue, I decided not to try to understand. ¡°It¡¯s not supposed to be sweet. It came from a human body.¡± ¡°Mine¡¯s sweet.¡± ¡°¡­ Not something I wanted to know.¡± Really. Humming lightly, Lupina sniffed the beaker. ¡°It¡¯s kind of addictive. I heard eating fruit makes it smell fruity. Maybe we could experimentter?¡± ¡°Lupina, let¡¯s focus on the main issue.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± She tapped her own head lightly. At times, she seemed creepy; other times, lively. I couldn¡¯t quite figure out her personality. ¡°Consider it an honor to be analyzed by Lupina! My adept sorcery is the best in Lichten!¡± ¡°Adept sorcery?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a form of magic that maniptes human desire. Desire is often symbolized in red, so it¡¯s called adept sorcery.¡± ¡°First I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°Well, I coined the term.¡± So, it¡¯s the best in Lichten because you¡¯re the only adept sorcerer. ¡­ I swallowed that thought. Lupina¡¯s intense focus on experimenting with the whitish substance felt distinctly professional. ¡°This isn¡¯t it¡­ hmm, theseponents are unique. Let¡¯s categorize them.¡± Time passed, and eventually, Lupina stretched her arms upward and shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± She jumped up from the desk, mumbling under her breath. ¡°Using this method, I could effectively induce arousal in people¡­ and maybe even develop a new potion¡­¡± With a sinister grin, she was lost in her thoughts, so I pulled her chair back with my toe. Startled, Lupina grabbed her chair. ¡°Ah! Why the sudden¡­!¡± ¡°Focus, Lupina. And release this tentacle creature, please.¡± I was still restrained by Moistie or whatever it was called. ¡°With your skills, you could easily free yourself¡­¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to damage your precious creature, would I?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± With a wave of her staff, Lupina released the binding. ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly kind, Ian.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°¡­ And quite full of yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called confidence. Now, what did you find?¡± Lupina lifted the beaker. As she gazed intently at the substance extracted from me, I began to feel an odd sense of apprehension before she spoke. ¡°In my opinion, it¡¯s a virus.¡± ¡°¡­ A virus?¡± ¡°Yes. The arousal virus spreads and causes people to enter a state of arousal.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s contagious?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± Her eyes still had that heart-shaped gleam. As I stared, an obvious question surfaced. ¡°Then, aren¡¯t you infected too?¡± Lupina looked up at me. Her pink pupils stretched into a long curve. ¡°Looks like it?¡± An unsettling grin spread across her face. ¡°Hold tight, Moistie.¡± Once again, she was quick to act. ¡ô ¡°¡­Ah!¡± Lupina¡¯s toes curled with tension. After lying down as if exhausted, she slowly stood up. In the end, nothing happened to me. I had simply observed Lupina¡¯s various ways of using Moistie from a respectful distance. ¡°That was¡­ wonderful.¡± Freshly cleaned, Lupina murmured, her gaze now showing her pink pupils, which had returned to their round shape. ¡°Your pupils are back to normal.¡± Lupina nodded. ¡°It seems that these heart-shaped pupils indicate arousal. It¡¯s a shame I don¡¯t have other test subjects, but we should be able to tell if someone¡¯s in an aroused state by looking at their eyes.¡± I¡¯d better pay close attention to people¡¯s eyes from now on. Rustle, Rustle. Drying her hair with a towel, Lupina continued speaking. ¡°The cause of this arousal¡­ is you.¡± ¡°¡­ What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s highly likely that you, Ian ckangers, are the transmitter of this arousal phenomenon. The method of transmission, however, is still unknown¡ªit could be through breath, bodily fluids, or other means.¡± ¡°And why do you think that?¡± ¡°Me. I¡¯m not usually this¡­ loose, you know? Not enough to ask someone to watch me¡­ handle myself.¡± ¡°¡­ Doesn¡¯t seem that way. You seem quite¡­ loose.¡± ¡°You!¡± Lupina pouted. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s definitely been a change in emotions. And the basis of that change is you¡ªsince you arrived here.¡± So, I¡¯m the transmitter. Thinking that way actually cleared up a few mysteries. Nodding confidently, Lupina held up two fingers. ¡°And there are only two ways to resolve this arousal phenomenon.¡± ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°Either the infected person¡¯s s*xual desires arepletely satisfied¡­¡± I recalled some experiences. It did seem like Silvia, Danya, and Lina resolved things that way. ¡°Or theye into contact with your white fluid on their mucous membranes.¡± Lupina shook the beaker she¡¯d been examining. ¡°In other words, your fluid is the cure.¡± So, I¡¯m the cause of the arousal, and the cure as well. ¡°Unintentionally, it¡¯s a case of being both the disease and the remedy.¡± ¡°Exactly. Hehehe.¡± ¡°Why are youughing like that?¡± ¡°Because it would¡¯ve been nice if I were you, Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°You know why.¡± With a dark chuckle, Lupina continued ominously. ¡°Oh, and one more thing. For the cure to be effective, the quantity needs to be sufficient. Only specificponents within it have curative properties.¡± ¡ô In the hallway outside the ultb. A girl with long blue hair stood there. Beside her, sharp spikes of ice jutted out. Following the cold, smooth surfaces of the ice, figuresy copsed on the floor. To Sharon, they appeared to be assassins who hade to kill Ian. Leaning against the wall in the hallway, Sharon closed her eyes tightly. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ if no one knows.¡± After biting her lip hard, Sharon slowly opened her eyes. Her two eyes, curved into heart shapes, glowed a deep, icy blue. Chapter 182 The consultation with Lupina was a huge help. The fact that I¡¯m the transmitter of a certain¡­ urge. But knowing there¡¯s a way to treat them even after the spread brings me a certain relief. ¡®¡­The question now is who¡¯s the culprit.¡¯ The culprit who made me this way. And their motive. Knowing these answers might be the key to resolving this situation. ¡°Anyway, thank you, Lupina. This helped a lot.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ yes!¡±She nodded earnestly. At first, I was doubtful, but I didn¡¯t expect it would be this helpful. Still, it¡¯s hard to understand some of her actions. For instance, why is she tapping her foot on the floor right now? She finally spoke. ¡°Uh, Ian¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Then, does that mean there¡¯s no reward today?¡± ¡°What reward?¡± Lupina fidgeted, pressing down her shirt as she spoke. ¡°You, you said I¡¯d have to pay with¡­ my body.¡± ¡°¡­Did I say that?¡± What was I even thinking back then? I wasn¡¯t even in that¡­ state. ¡°Actually, yes, I was the one who said I would.¡± ¡­I thought as much. Reward, huh. Back when Lupina first tried to sabotage the club selection, I had demanded something like that from her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Helping me today is enough of a reward.¡± ¡°Oh. Th-thank you.¡± Lupina lowered her head in gratitude. Yet, she kept sneaking nces at me, her gaze lingering with a strange look of disappointment. ¡­I¡¯m not sure why. Then¡ª ¡ªWhooosh! From one corner of the ult Research Lab, an owl in a cage began to hoot. Wasn¡¯t that just a decoration? ¡°It¡¯s an rm.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s watching us from the hallway.¡± Thump, Thump, Thump. She ran over to the door and pressed her ear against it. ¡°It¡¯s quiet. Too quiet.¡± I immediately spread a thinyer of mana. The Earth element is naturally close to the ground, so I extended it quickly out into the hallway. ¡°¡­¡± There¡¯s definitely something there. A person, perhaps fallen? Whatever it is, it¡¯s not natural. I readied my Berserker¡¯s Shield, preparing myself. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out to check.¡± The disturbance was right near the door. Maintaining caution, I slowly opened it. Creak. In the silence, the sound of the door echoed loudly. Outside, the moonlight cast a dim glow, leaving the hallway in near-darkness. I waited for my eyes to adjust before scanning the surroundings. ¡®No one¡¯s moving?¡¯ The hallway was quiet, not a creak or sound. ¡°No¡­ no one¡¯s there?¡± A faintly fearful voice from behind¡ªit was Lupina. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the head of the ult Club?¡± ¡°Even so, it¡¯s still scary!¡± Though she raised her voice, Lupina was trembling. Well, we¡¯re in a situation where our lives feel directly at risk. It¡¯s understandable that it feels different. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry too much. There¡¯s no sign of life, and the mana flow is stable. Stay in the room. I¡¯ll check the surroundings.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t I just stick with you?¡± Is this girl really the head of the ult Club? ¡°Fine, stay close, then.¡± Feeling her close behind, I stepped into the hallway. Silence and darkness filled the space. Earlier, the detected figures were along the wall of the corridor to the right. I tossed an artifact into the air to break the darkness. As the surroundings brightened softly, the figures became visible. Two silhouettes of peopley copsed on the hallway floor. ¡°Lupina, light it up a bit more.¡± They were masked figures, their bodies covered in ck attire. Well-trained, they looked agile and solid even at a nce. ¡®Are they assassins?¡¯ If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s possible that even their copsed state is an act. I released mana to check their condition. ¡°They¡¯re all dead.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± Ignoring the trembling Lupina behind me, I examined the masked figures up close. I kept my shield ready in case anything happened and studied them closely. First, a long cut across their necks. ¡®They must have died because of this.¡¯ It was a wound inflicted by something very sharp¡ªa deep and clean slice. ¡­There should have been blood from a wound like this. But there was none; it was perfectly clean. I leaned in to examine the wound more closely. ¡®It¡¯s frozen.¡¯ It seems the cause of death was the cut to their throats. The other body was in the same condition. I scanned them with my eyes. The weapons in their hands and the hidden des within their cloaks. They were definitely assassins. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± This naturally raises two questions. Who were these masked figures targeting? And who was responsible for taking them down? Just then¡ª ¡°Watch out!¡± Lupina shouted urgently. I instinctively moved back, away from the corpses. ¡ªSsshhh! An eerie sound I had never heard before. I blinked as I watched the source of the noise. The bodies were disintegrating, breaking down piece by piece like ck pixels, sublimating into nothingness. ¡°¡­ck magic.¡± Lupina muttered from behind me. ¡°A dark art that erases traces of one¡¯s existence from this world. If you¡¯re too close, you could get drawn into it.¡± Is that so? That¡¯s quite a terrifying spell. Just as Lupina said. The evaporating bodies left no trace behind. With no evidence remaining, there was no chance of a proper investigation. I couldn¡¯t even assess their level of skill. Do all assassins use this spell? It¡¯s a frustratingly powerful spell. ¡°It¡¯s a veryplex and expensive spell¡­ Why would people like thate here¡­?¡± Expensive andplex, huh. Lupina¡¯s words gave me a useful hint. ¡°Lupina, have you done anything that might make someone want to target you?¡± ¡°Well, not to this degree.¡± ¡°But there is something.¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s just small things, like hypnotizing people or sprinkling water to collect their emotions, or sometimes touching people randomly¡­ only things like that!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve certainlymitted quite a few minor crimes.¡± ¡°¡­I admit it.¡± She admitted it rather quickly. Still, none of those things warrant an assassination attempt. ¡®So, that means I¡¯m the target.¡¯ ¡°I can think of plenty of enemies.¡± Even from a quick list in my mind, there are a few candidates. There¡¯s the Second Prince, who showed clear hostility when I visited the pce. Emilia, who seems to be waiting for an opportunity since the promotion match. And Dave, Aria¡¯s escort knight. Any of them could be sending assassins after me. Just as I¡¯m dealing with enough chaos from my current state, now an assassination attempt? My head is pounding. ¡°I figured you¡¯d have a lot of enemies.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lupina began to speak. ¡°On the outside, you seem obnoxious, but inside, you¡¯re warm. You seem to have a clear sense of principles but are open to various things. Most people recoil or hate my research, but you¡¯re the first person to take it seriously.¡± ¡°I am quite exceptional.¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯re so exceptional it¡¯s annoying.¡± ¡°¡­Thanks, I guess?¡± ¡°Let me know if there¡¯s anything I can help with. Let¡¯s be allies.¡± Lupina held out her hand. It was white and, for some reason, looked slightly glossy. ¡°Did you wash your hands after whatever you were just handling?¡± ¡°¡­Of course!¡± ¡°Alright, looking forward to it.¡± I shook her hand firmly. But I didn¡¯t let go when she tried to pull her hand away. ¡°?¡± ¡°Then since you¡¯re already here, help me out right away.¡± ¡°¡­Right away?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nced down the dim hallway. ¡°There are likely more assassins in this building.¡± ¡ô Meanwhile, in a professor¡¯s office for the Aether ss. Sasha Asilia leaned against the window, gazing out. The moonlight caught on her delicately curved eyshes, casting a warm glow as it neared fullness. With a few soft blinks of her longshes, she opened her lips in a faint sigh. ¡°Haah.¡± A sigh that was deep, yet somehow tender, slipped out. Asilia lightly bit her lip, as if swallowing the bittersweet feeling. ¡®¡­Something¡¯s strange.¡¯ Lately, her body felt unusual for some reason. At night, she felt her body heating up, almost feverish. She tried various ways to calm her simmering body. Training. Meditation. Channeling her mana. Reading. But each attempt was only a temporary fix. On quiet, moonlit nights like this, it all returned the same. It puzzled her. For someone at Asilia¡¯s level, controlling her own body should have been a simple task. Since she reached a certain stage, she hadn¡¯t experienced anything like this. ¡°¡­¡± The Snowke Swordmaster. Sasha Asilia felt a certain restlessness within her heart. Her life had always followed a disciplined path. The pursuit of a better sword. Training, honing herself, and striving toward mastery. Even the arranged marriage, something she couldn¡¯t refuse for her family¡¯s sake, hadn¡¯t disrupted her path. Her child was endlessly precious, but Asilia hadn¡¯t strayed from her course. Not even after she was absorbed into the Northern Grand Duke¡¯s faction. Her life had been all about the sword¡­ and yet¡ª ¡°Why does my heart keep aching like this?¡± Asilia shut her eyes tightly. But it only made things worse. Thump. Thump. Thump. Memories of that day surfaced, causing her heart to beat even faster. She knew very well what this feeling was. And she knew exactly who it was for. ¡°¡­How foolish.¡± So, Asilia rebuked herself. She told herself she couldn¡¯t act this way. That she should close her eyes and let it fade. But it only grew stronger each day. Hoo¡ª Exhaling deeply, Asilia tried to calm herself down. And then a possibility dawned on her. ¡®Maybe the more I try to forget, the harder it is to let go.¡¯ The harder she tried to forget, the clearer the memories became. So, perhaps¡ª If she could just bring herself to say his name, maybe she could let go of this feeling. Her lips moved silently. Even so, no voice came. The idea of saying his name for this purpose felt wrong. It was something she shouldn¡¯t do. But despite this¡ª After much hesitation, she finally let the name slip from her lips. ¡°¡­Ian.¡± Chapter 183 The school at night, when everyone is asleep, feels eerie. Especially if it¡¯s an old building. The creaking wooden floors with each step. A hallway so dark that, no matter how much light is shone, it¡¯s impossible to see its end. Standing there, the anatomical models in the scienceb could be called a sort of clich¨¦. ¡°¡­ W-Was school always this scary?¡± Lupina trembled. There was no need to tell her to act more like the head of the ult club. As I looked down the corridor myself, I couldn¡¯t help but feel that some monstrous creature might suddenly jump out. ¡°It feels like something like a gremlin or a doll ghost could pop out¡­¡±¡°Just follow me; nothing like that is going to show up.¡± ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± ¡°What we¡¯re looking for is far scarier than any minor ghost or spirit.¡± ¡°¡­ Ugh.¡± With a short groan, Lupina clung behind me. Since she wasn¡¯t in the way, I let her stay there¡­ Rustle, Rustle. asionally, her torso would brush against my back, providing a rather provocative sensation. Could it be that those with the ¡°gloomy¡± attribute are somehow affected in chest size? Feeling that soft sensation made me want to¡­ ¡®Stay calm.¡¯ I¡¯m already getting used to the ¡®excitement¡¯ effect. I can restrain myself at this level. Right now, it¡¯s time to focus on the ones who¡¯ve actually shown up before us. Lupina and I cautiously made our way toward the center. There was still no sign of anything unusual or any devices. Only darkness and silence. Creak, Creak. After a while of walking down the creaking wooden corridor, we arrived at the central entrance. ¨C [2] Floor The ¡°ult Research Room¡± we¡¯re currently in is located on the second floor of the former Magic Wing. ¨C ¡ý[1] Floor Going down to the first floor allows us to exit the building through the main entrance. The distance from the central entrance to the main gate isn¡¯t too long. If we prioritize safety, leaving the building immediately wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice. ¨C ¡ü[3] Floor The ¡®Dessert Research Group¡¯ is located on the third floor. When I extended my senses briefly to scan for a presence earlier, I felt a clear oneing from the third floor. It was the presence of someone lying in wait, as if provoking me toe up. ¡°Hmm.¡± I paused to consider. Should we go down to the first floor and make a safe retreat for now? Or go up to the third floor and settle things with those who seem to be assassins? The second option appeals to me more. ¡®I can¡¯t be certain retreating to the first floor would be any safer.¡¯ In fact, it¡¯s likely that traps have been meticulously set along our escape route. ¡®Looks like there¡¯s only one option.¡¯ I prefer this. Just as I was about to step onto the staircase leading up¡­ ¡°Huh¡­ Hyaaah!¡± Lupina shrieked and thrashed about. ¡°Save me! S-something¡¯s on my neck¡­!¡± Something was indeed clinging to her neck. I reached out to her neck. Swish. After removing it, I held it out in front of Lupina. ¡°It¡¯s just a notice.¡± Lupina blinked her tear-filled eyes, realizing what had startled her. Her face turned red with embarrassment. ¡°Wh-where did it fall from?¡± ¡°This ce still has all sorts of old flyers and notices stuck around here.¡± Indeed, the interior of the old Magic Wing felt cluttered. Old posters of now-defunct clubs were stered all over the ce. ¡°What is this?¡± I read the piece of paper that had been stuck to Lupina¡¯s neck. ¡ª ¡®Central Hall Usage Rules of the Old Magic School.¡¯
  1. Walk softly with gentle steps. 2. Avoid loud talking. 3. Keep both hands visible at all times.
¡ª¡ª¡ª ¡°¡­So, these are the usage rules.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange to see things like this around here. I heard the rules were strict back in the old days at the academy.¡± Lupina, leaning beside me to read the paper, chimed in. Her side brushed against my arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go up.¡± I cleared my throat and stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor. The stairs were all clear. No unusual devices. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any spells, either.¡± Lupina added. However, the presence grew stronger. A distinct aura of murderous intent, something that could only be felt from a formidable foe. With each step up, my suspicions turned to certainty. I don¡¯t know who, but an extraordinary opponent is waiting for me. Calling me to the ¡°Dessert Research Club¡± room. Who could it be? Swallowing hard, I stepped onto the third floor. ¡ô At the top of the stairs, a bulletin board stood in front of me. To the right was the washroom and restroom. To the left, down the line of club rooms, was the ¡°Dessert Research Club¡± room. The third floor was still shrouded in darkness. But on my left, a faint light was visible. From the supposedly darkened ¡°Dessert Research Club¡± room, light was leaking out of the window. And two shadows stood in front of it. It didn¡¯t take much to sense that they were waiting for me. Did they, like me, confirm my approach? Step. One of the shadows walked forward. Under her hood, the corners of her lips curved into a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting a long time.¡± A soft, quiet voice. It was a cold, feminine voice that made you lean in to hear it clearly. With her words, she pulled back her hood. A woman with sharp, blood-red short hair, giving off a fierce, intense impression. Her tight leather pants made a faint creaking sound with each step. ¡°Isn¡¯t the up-anding kid a little different? Ian.¡± In Fantasy X Academy, sorcery isn¡¯t limited to a single form. It can¡¯t be ssified into elements, like magic. Sorcery is the unique expression of a practitioner¡¯s personal talents. That is magic. And here was a woman casually addressing me like a familiar younger brother. I knew her face. One of the top-ranked sorcerers in Fantasy X Academy. At the same time, one of the most skilled assassins. ¡°¡­Leisha.¡± Why is she here, of all people? Leisha widened her eyes in surprise at my murmuring. ¡°Oh my. You know my name? Perhaps an old client?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve heard your name from Eternal.¡± ¡°¡­ Ho. That¡¯s unexpected. Didn¡¯t think there¡¯d be such a young client of ¡®Eternal¡¯.¡± Leisha chuckled softly, amused. Her short hair swayed like a sword. The reason for her amusement was simple. The information guild, ¡°Eternal.¡± It¡¯s a guild that only serves the highest elites from all sectors, hidden deep within the Empire. Mentioning her name, as well as dropping ¡°Eternal¡± as my source, was a form of bluffing. It was one of the ways to deal with Leisha. ¡°Hmm.¡± A slight hesitation appeared on Leisha¡¯s lips. The appearance of information beyond what she had already gathered made her slightly uneasy. But, really, it was just a drop in the bucket. Thwack. With practiced ease, she pulled out a cigarette with one hand and ced it between her lips. ¡ª Sizzle. She snapped her fingers, lighting the cigarette, and exhaled a plume of smoke. ¡°What a shame. Watching someone like you, Ian, would be quite entertaining.¡± ¡°Did someone ce an assassination contract on my life?¡± ¡°Can you even call it an assassination contract¡­?¡± She tilted her head slightly, cigarette between her lips, and shed a sly grin. ¡°Rather than a contract, it¡¯s more like someone paid as if it were an event. Be happy, Ian. Your bounty¡¯s up there with dukes, you know?¡± That was valuable information. Whoevermissioned my assassination was either careless with money or very wealthy. Should I press her for more? ¡°I could double the fee.¡± ¡°Double the fee¡­ I don¡¯t mean to underestimate you, but sorry, Ian. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve got that kind of cash.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°The request was 5 billion, so maybe 10 billion?¡± ¡°That¡¯s beyond my means.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± Whoo- Exhaling onest puff of smoke, she flicked the cigarette butt to the ground. Thwack. Before it could even hit the floor, it turned to ash and vanished. ¡°I like to keep things clean, you see.¡± I watched her mocking smile for a moment. She was strong¡ªstrong enough that the word ¡°difficult¡± didn¡¯t even begin to describe her. An assassin who wielded sorcery. Among her various techniques, the most challenging to counter was her skill called [Restriction]. [Restriction] was a sorcery of physical enhancement that imposed a self-limitation, drastically boosting everything else outside of that restriction. For example, ¡°sealing the movement of her left index finger to increase her entire physical ability by 10%.¡± That¡¯s the kind of restriction she would use. But she didn¡¯t stop there. She subtly hinted at her restrictions to her opponents, amplifying their effect even further. A character who would announce her own restrictions and gain absurd buffs as long as she adhered to them. In the end, the key to countering Leisha was straightforward. ¡®Identify her restrictions and force her to break them.¡¯ The problem was, no one knew what they were. Not even in the game. If you couldn¡¯t find them, you died. I focused intently on her every movement, every gesture. Rustle. She smirked at my vignce and pulled something from inside her coat. ¡°Well, shall we begin?¡± Chapter 184 Leisha took an object from her pocket. It gleamed under the moonlight. ¡°!¡± I stumbled back, nearly falling to the ground. Watching me, Leisha chuckled. ¡°Scared of something like this? I thought you were cautious, but you must be a bit of a coward.¡± The object she took out was now on her face. It was a pair of sses. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I stood up. With a small smirk, Leisha pulled out a small note and waved it.¡°Ian ckangers. Assassination briefing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This note here gives a summary about you. Want to hear it?¡± Her eyes glowed a deep red. Could stating that summary be a form of [Restriction] that makes her stronger? If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯d be better not to listen. Every restriction she meets will only make her stronger. But I don¡¯t have the power to stop it. The atmosphere was clearly under her control. She would keep growing stronger, maintaining her hold. That¡¯s the tricky part about dealing with Leisha. She started reading the note, tracing her finger over it. ¡°ssification: Mage.¡± She nced at me to gauge my reaction and continued. ¡°But you use the Earth element. That¡¯s quite unusual.¡± Does she want an answer? I thought I might have an opportunity to probe into her client. ¡°Isn¡¯t that pretty well-known information by now? There must be plenty of people willing to sell info on someone like me.¡± ¡°Puh. Well, that confidence of yours is noted here too.¡± ¡°Seems like someone¡¯s been watching me pretty closely.¡± ¡°Could be. You mainly use a weapon that looks like a club. What¡¯s that about?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t share that with an enemy, would I?¡± Leisha shrugged and went on. ¡°And this isn¡¯t all. Caution: carries a sturdy small shield. Beware of physical attacks, including body ms.¡± Sssss¡ª She grinned yfully and lowered the note. ¡°Think that¡¯s enough for me to know about you?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! With a snap of her fingers, the note crumbled to dust and vanished instantly, even faster than a cigarette ash. Her intensity seemed to have grown; she was now at least 10% stronger. So, it was a restriction. ¡®A restriction to say everything she knows about her opponent, perhaps?¡¯ To think she grows this much stronger with so little information. It¡¯s truly a cheat-like technique. But at the same time¡­ ¡®Seems doable.¡¯ I let out a slight grin. The reason was simple. If that¡¯s all she¡¯s got on me, it means she hasn¡¯t fully figured me out. ¡®Plus, there¡¯s her client info.¡¯ One thing was clear: the person wasn¡¯t close enough to know me that well. So it¡¯s likely someone I recently made an enemy of. The prince came to mind. ¡ªStep. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Leisha took a step toward me. The hint of unease on her face, likely from me knowing her name, had transformed into confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a special choice.¡± ¡°What kind of choice?¡± I answered, stepping back. Dust rose from where I had fallen. Leisha stepped into that spot. ¡°How you die.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a privilege.¡± ¡°Yes, I prefer younger men.¡± She smirked with a cynical smile and extended her index finger from the hand holding the note. ¡°So choose. The first option: quickly and cleanly, so you don¡¯t even realize it.¡± Despite the difort, she didn¡¯t remove her other hand from her pocket. Instead, she extended her second finger. ¡°Or, slowly, enjoying the suffocation along with the pleasure.¡± It was hard to keep observing her. That smug, enchanting smile radiated charm. Her red hair and tight leather clothing demanded attention. It was intentional. All of it designed to prevent me from observing her closely. Because I knew, I could avoid getting caught up in her game. ¡°If you don¡¯t respond, I¡¯ll go with the second option, you know? Let¡¯s have some fun.¡± ¡ª Shink. An intangible force swept past me. The chill that seized me was intense enough to make my life sh before my eyes. The storage cab in the hallway was sliced in half. Thud! Her overwhelming power. ¡°This is as much as I¡¯ll use.¡± Her smile, brimming with confidence like a razor de, and her stance, with one hand still in her pocket, were equally imposing. Ultimately, there was only one way to handle Leisha. Find her restrictions and break the conditions that trigger them. Looking up at her sly, fox-like smile, I asked. ¡°No other choices?¡± ¡°Other choices?¡± She asked, tilting her head in mock curiosity. Standing in the spot where I had fallen, I matched her smile. ¡°How about an option where you lose a wrist?¡± I subtly moved my finger, triggering the ground I had already enchanted. ¡ª Crunch! The Ether I had prepared shot from the ground, slicing cleanly through her right hand. ¡°Huh?¡± She btedly pulled her hand away, but it was toote. Thud. Her severed hand rolled onto the floor, still clutching the note with my supposed weaknesses. ¡°Seems like none of it was urate. Do your research properly next time.¡± Whether it¡¯s Ether or abination attack using [Leap], I doubt she could block it even if she knew. ¡°Ugh.¡± Simultaneously, the blood flowing from her severed wrist stopped. Did she use magic to cauterize it? Whatever it was, I had to maintain the upper hand I¡¯d seized. ¡°Lupina!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lupina threw a ck rope toward Leisha¡¯s severed wrist, snatching it and flinging it down the opposite hall. ¡°You damn brats!¡± Leisha finally pulled her left hand out of her pocket in anger¡­ ¡ª Crack! With a twisted sound, she coughed up blood. ¡°Cough!¡± The meaning was clear. One of the restrictions Leisha had ced on herself had been broken. She wiped the blood from her lips and muttered. ¡°Damn it¡­ Ian. Go report back. I¡¯ll finish this and follow shortly.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°And get me another hand ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The man beside her disappeared. Leisha¡¯s eyes glinted darkly as she looked back at me. ¡°I was being cute with you little brats, and you crossed the line?¡± She cracked her remaining left hand, her gaze intense. ¡°How did you figure it out?¡± ¡°Are you talking about this?¡± This time, I waved a piece of paper at her. ¡ª ¡®Central Hall Usage Rules of the Old Magic School.¡¯
  1. Walk softly with gentle steps. 2. Avoid loud talking. 3. Keep both hands visible at all times.
¡ª¡ª¡ª Leisha smirked incredulously. ¡°Sharp, aren¡¯t you? How did you know?¡± ¡°Anyone could see the third rule was odd. And it was strange that this paper just flew over to me, like it was begging me to read it.¡± ¡°This is why I hate smart and perceptive ones.¡± Tsk. Leisha clicked her tongue and steadied her stance. One of her three restrictions had been broken. Her power was now effectively halved, yet her intimidating presence hadn¡¯t diminished. She was still a formidable force, having reached a high level of mastery. Only after dismantling all three restrictions would I be able to truly defeat her. ¡°ytime¡¯s over, kid.¡± Swoosh. Leisha extended her remaining hand and murmured. ¡°Call of the Void.¡± ¡ª Swirl! Countless dark threads materialized around her. ¡°It¡¯s the same energy as those disappearing corpses!¡± Lupina shouted from behind. That meant anyone struck by those dark lines would vanish without a trace. Of course, she was no ordinary magician. With this level of skill, she could easily be a final boss in any storyline. Swoosh ¡ª I gripped the Berserker¡¯s Shield in my left hand and a de forged from Lunar in my right. This setup was ideal for defense. Heup. I took a deep breath and swung the Lunar de and shield at the dark threads slowly filling the corridor. ¡ª Crunch, Crunch. The ck lines tried to devour even the Lunar, but as soon as I imbued it with authority, they dissipated. ¡°How¡­ How are you using Void energy¡­ with aura? But that¡¯s not mana¡­?¡± Leisha mumbled, looking bewildered. That, too, was an opening. I sent a small burst of ether toward the note she held in her severed hand. ¡ª Crackle! With a slight tearing sound, the note was ripped apart. ¡°!¡± Leisha¡¯s eyes widened once more. At the same time¡­ ¡ª Rrrip! A loud tearing echoed down the corridor. The unusually dark and oppressive atmosphere dissipated as a thin barrier surrounding the hallway shredded like paper. ¡°It was a spell! A technique using enchanted paper!¡± Lupina eximed btedly. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I just had a hunch. It was way too dark here.¡± ¡°A hunch of 5-star level¡­¡± Apologies to her, but it wasn¡¯t merely a hunch. This was basic knowledge when dealing with named assassins. Darkness and gloom aremon in the area-of-effect buff skills used by Void-attribute sorcerers. They subtly impair the awareness of those within, cloaking the area in darkness. ¡®Once I remembered what I knew about Leisha¡­¡¯ Such tricks wouldn¡¯t work. ¡ª Rrrip! As thest barrier dissipated, the darkened corridor was once again bathed in starlight and moonlight. The surroundings grew visibly brighter, and at that moment¡­ ¡ª Thud-Thud-Thud-Thud-Thud! I unleashed a flurry of ether needles, hidden in the moonlight, straight at Leisha. Chapter 185 When I was trapped in Richard¡¯s Dantian, I learned various things from Master Asilia. One of them was the art of utilizing light. ¡ª Here¡¯s a little tip: the better you can manipte light, the more effective it bes. For instance, if you conceal mana within light like this, even the most skilled opponent will be thrown off guard. Light is also a form of energy¡­ As the seal set by Leisha shattered, and moonlight shone through, the teachings of my master resurfaced in my mind. Since Ether is naturally transparent, it should be even more effective. And sure enough¡­ ¡ª Pshhh! Several transparent needles shot towards Leisha, piercing her. Seeing the blood trickling from her wounds, it was evident that the attacknded meaningfully.Leisha frowned deeply. She did a backward flip with one hand to avoid the remaining needles. Like someone who just got pierced, blood trickled from her lips and ears. ¡°Puuh.¡± She spat out a handful of blood and red at me. ¡°¡­ You little brat.¡± She growled in a low voice, pulling out a ck piece of paper from her pocket. Then she ced it over her left eye like an eyepatch. ¡°ept the gaze of the species.¡± Her short murmur seemed like an incantation of ¡®restriction¡¯. What did she gain by sacrificing half of her vision? The answer became clear immediately. ¡ª Crack! With only one arm remaining, she gripped a dagger in reverse and charged. Her speed was almost impossible to track. ¡®Did she use Restriction to enhance her speed¡­?!¡¯ I couldn¡¯t react in time. But. ¡ª Crack! The transparent Ether I had ced around my neck for protection prevented her dagger from shing my throat. Instead¡­ ¡°Tch!¡± Clicking her tongue in irritation, Leisha steadied herself, swinging her severed left arm toward me. Having already lost track of her movements, her strike hit my exposed abdomen. ¡°Ugh!¡± A searing pain as if the air had been knocked out of my lungs surged through me, epassing my entire body in an instant. Instinctively, I steadied myself and took a few steps back. I could feel blood trickling from my lips. This was definitely an internal injury. Leisha looked at me and spoke. ¡°Well, well. Even after taking that hit, you¡¯re still standing?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m unscathed.¡± ¡°The fact that you¡¯re still talking is proof you¡¯re fine. No one else has held up against me like this.¡± That¡¯s because one of Leisha¡¯s restrictions was lifted. If her powers were fully restored¡­ ¡®¡­ I would definitely be dead.¡¯ A shiver ran down my spine. Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d use her severed arm as a weapon? This is why strategizing is crucial. Releasing her restrictions as soon as possible is key. ¡°How much do you know about me, Ian?¡± ¡°More than you¡¯d imagine.¡± ¡°What exactly are you?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡± As I ended my sentence, Iunched Ether toward her¡ªa long-range attack fused with ¡®Leap.¡¯ Woosh! The overwhelmingly swift attack¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t be caught twice.¡± Leisha dodged it. The result of the restriction she ced over her left eye. However¡­ My true aim wasn¡¯t to strike her. The Ether lodged into a fire sprinkler pipe, and the water pressure burst forth. Pssssh! Leisha was drenched in water. The paper she had ced over her left eye began to dissolve. ¡°Damn it.¡± I immediately used ¡®Leap¡¯ toward her as she murmured. By now, my mastery of Leap had reached a ¡®proficient¡¯ level. With her speed buff nullified by the restriction, Leisha must have felt her body moving much slower. ¡ª Wham! I adjusted my speed just right,nding a punch squarely on Leisha¡¯s face. She tried to deflect some of the impact by turning her face slightly, but¡­ ¡°Cough!¡± The nosebleed and blood trickling from her mouth showed she wasn¡¯t unscathed. Yet, Leishanded softly and gracefully, wiping the blood from her mouth. ¡°For your age, Ian, you¡¯re the first to fight this skillfully.¡± Hmm. Beingplimented by your opponent mid-battle does feel a bit awkward. Of course, it was partially luck. Every time Leisha¡¯s restriction was released, she seemed to suffer side effects, so I guessed she¡¯d feel the loss of her speed buff acutely. And it paid off. ¡®¡­But there¡¯s still a vast skill gap.¡¯ Right now, she was at least two levels above me. And there was another problem. Maybe from the punch¡¯s aftermath. A part of her top was torn¡ªright below her chest. Through the tear, I could see the lower part of her pale chest. Her tight top seemed to enhance the visible part¡¯s firmness. ¡®¡­Damn this teenage hormone surge.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t look away. ¡°?¡± Leisha gave me a curious nce before approaching again. Click. Is she throwing her dagger this time? ¡ª Thwack! I blocked it, having anticipated this attack pattern. Still, it wasn¡¯t easy. Moreover, Leisha¡¯s chest shook noticeably as she threw the dagger. Noticing my gaze, Leisha smirked. ¡°Hmm. Quite full of energy, aren¡¯t you?¡± And then, she subtly tore her top a bit more. With my gaze inevitably fixed on her, she narrowed her eyes into crescent moons. ¡®¡­Damn it. She already figured it out.¡¯ Leisha didn¡¯t initially know I was in a hormonal state. She deduced it just from my gaze. She¡¯s sharp as a fox. ¡°How about it? Want me to show you a bit more?¡± As she lowered her pants slightly, revealing her hips, I decided to charge. If my hormonal state worsened, my chances of victory would plummet. However¡­ ¡ª Smack! She¡¯s two moves ahead of me. This half-hearted attack couldn¡¯t hurt Leisha. Effortlessly dodging my tackle, Leisha stomped on my foot. Crunch! It hurt as if my toes were being crushed, despite me reinforcing them just before impact. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite good at this.¡± Leisha smiled slyly, pulling something out from her thigh. Her legs were beautiful¡­ no, focus. Crack! Without time to react, a sharp pain struck my back as if I¡¯d been hit with a whip. Wait¡­ was it a whip? ¡°Haha! Try to escape.¡± Whip! Whip! In this sadistic scenario, Leisha¡¯s lower chest jiggled with each crack of the whip. Her expertly modted strikes kept my sense of crisis piqued, preventing me from finding a way to escape. My gaze was locked on her body. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ I should have emptied my mind today. Was this the price for not heeding the doctor¡¯s advice to stay calm? ¡°I¡¯ll give you something even better, boy.¡± Click. Just as Leisha approached, preparing to kick my lower abdomen¡­ Swoosh! ck ink poured down everywhere except where I stood. Leisha got drenched as well. Lupina¡¯s voice rang out confidently. ¡°It¡¯s ink that never washes off! Developed just for handling troublemakers!¡± ¡°Got it, now hurry back and hide.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± With that, Leisha¡¯s distracting figure was no longer visible, leaving me focused. I immediately crystallized the scattered Ether around me. The result was a fully formed sword. The reason I crafted it this way¡­ ¡ª ng! ¡­To pressure Leisha with my Snowke Sword Technique, my one true martial art that surpassed my natural capabilities. This was my trump card, rarely used, except to make snowke fruit. The scattered snowkes swirled around, and Leisha¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What is this¡­!¡± She frantically used her whip to fend off the snowkes, but that was only the beginning. ¡°You think this trick will¡­!¡± ¡°Gluck!¡± The Snowke Sword Technique could drive an opponentpletely on the defensive, even if only for a short time. As Leisha staggered back, I caused the ground to shoot up under her heels. And with that¡­ ¡°Ahh!¡± Leisha lost her bnce, stumbling and rolling roughly on the ground. Which meant¡­ [1. Walk softly with gentle steps.] Her first restriction had been broken. ¡°Cough!¡± The bacsh of the shattered restriction caused Leisha to cough up blood. In her momentary groggy state, I drove my fist upwards into her abdomen with all my strength. ¡ª Paaaaaaaah! ¡°Keugh!!¡± She gasped, as if the air was forcefully knocked out of her lungs. [2. Avoid loud talking.] Another restriction shattered. In an instant, all three of her core restrictions were broken. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The onceposed Leisha was now barely able to stand from the pain. Of course, I wasn¡¯t just going to stand and watch. I reshaped the Ether into a club and¡­ ¡ª Crack! ¡­Hit Leisha¡¯s abdomen with full force. ¡°Gahh!¡± She coughed up a mouthful of blood and slumped over, her eyes unfocused. I grabbed her face. ¡°Now talk. Who hired you for the assassination?¡± ¡°¡­Do¡­ you really think¡­ I¡¯d tell you?¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t talk. Instead¡­¡± I exhaled near her. ¡°This¡­ What is this?¡± ¡°Oh. Apparently, anyone in close contact with me or near my breath ends up¡­ well, aroused.¡± I didn¡¯t know who caused this arousal effect or when it would end. But for now¡­ ¡°If I can use it to get some information out of you¡­¡± Just as I was thinking this, Leisha mumbled something and spat something out. ¡ª Whizz! Damn. A concealed weapon? I hadn¡¯t anticipated that she¡¯d have hidden it in her mouth. ¡®I let my guard down.¡¯ No way to dodge. I was going to get hit. Countless thoughts shed through my mind as the weapon sped toward my forehead. ¡ª Dooooong! A deep bell tolled, defying allws of physics, freezing everything around us in ce. Chapter 186 It was a tantpse in judgment. A confidence born from thinking I had full control of the situation. The assumption that Leisha waspletely exhausted and down. But above all, the heat boiling within me had already clearly consumed a part of my rationality. The heightened instincts of a male driven into estrus made minor risks seem insignificant. ¡®A mistake.¡¯ By the time I realized it, the dagger Danya had thrown was already in front of my forehead. I¡¯m going to die. Even that spine-chilling realization came as a kind of excitement.This was what ¡°estrus¡± felt like. Thus, in the moment I tilted my head, trying to avoid a fatal wound¡­ ¡­Despite my efforts, I felt the distinct possibility of death. ¡ª Doooonnnngg! A bell rang out. Heavy, deep, yet piercing. The sensation that the entire world was drenched in blood must have been an illusion. The scenery before my eyes remained unchanged. Only, everything hade to a halt. Leisha¡¯s frowning eyebrows. Her lips pursed to spit out another dagger. Even the dagger poised to pierce my forehead. Everything stopped moving. This was a familiar sensation. I had felt it once before. A dark corridor filled with shadows. Out of instinct, I nced toward its unseen end. Just a breath¡¯s time passed. ¡ª Click. Seductive footsteps echoed. The sound approached, slicing through the thick darkness. Hair cker than the shadows, indistinguishable from the surrounding gloom. Eyes as red as if they held the blood of all mankind stared down at me. A gaze akin to that of a supreme being, looking down from an unreachable height. Yet, even the allure woven into her presence elevated her dignity. ¡°¡­Blood Girl.¡± For some reason, only my mouth moved. At my muttering, she smiled. Brightly, innocently. And therefore, cruelly. ¡°Ah, you remembered. I asked you to call me that.¡± ¡°¡­Every moment I spent with you is burned into my mind.¡± ¡°Oh my. Are you flirting with me? You¡¯ve be so romantic since Ist saw you.¡± She smiled slyly and slowly approached me. To me, she looked like a spider, hunting prey caught in its web. ¡ª Click, Click. Even the sound of her footsteps threatened to drive me mad, yet I forced myself to speak. ¡°Can we even call it ¡®time¡¯? Blood Girl, you seem to stop time itself. A moment like this can¡¯t truly be called time, can it?¡± I grasped at straws, desperate to uncover some hint of her abilities. Stopping time itself was an impossible feat, beyond any known magic. It left no room for countermeasures. If she wanted to kill me while the world was frozen, I would die. That¡¯s why I had to find something. Even the slightest clue to unraveling her powers. ¡°Interesting.¡± Instead of answering, the Blood Witch stood before me. The faintly bitter scent, reminiscent of wood and blood, tickled my nose. ¡°You think there¡¯s some kind of trick, don¡¯t you?¡± She could see through my thoughts, as if reading my mind. That was what made her terrifying. ¡°Do you want to escape my powers so badly?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s a little upsetting. I don¡¯t understand why you, Ian, would want to get away from me.¡± Click. The Blood Witch stood right in front of me. Ting¡ª. With nails painted ck, she effortlessly deflected the dagger poised to pierce my forehead. Then, she reached out with her slender fingers and touched my face. Slide. I couldn¡¯t resist her touch. I couldn¡¯t move. Neither arms nor hands. I was nothing more than prey caught in her web. The overwhelming sense of powerlessness left me despairing. The Blood Witch murmured wistfully. ¡°I like you so much, yet why are you so cold to me?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t know what you want from me.¡± ¡°How could you not know?¡± Her fingers, which had been stroking my face, pressed slightly harder. ¡°Your hollow, deep eyes. Your pale skin. Your expressionless face.¡± Her hand, caressing my face, began to drift downward. ¡°Your hardened body. The kind that could satisfy any woman.¡± Her fingers, thin, long, and unsettling, trailed over me as though a spider were crawling across my body. Even as her hand touched my lower body, I felt no excitement¡ªjust a chilling sense of dread. ¡°But above all¡­¡± In an instant, her hand that had traced over me wrapped itself around the back of my head. Like a spider embracing its prey, the Blood Witch pulled my head close to her. I could only nkly stare as her face drew nearer, ever so slowly. ¡°What¡¯s inside your head¡ªthose gem-like talents. Your gifts.¡± Her crimson eyes gleamed with greed. Her slightly parted lips and the tongue within moved as if they might pierce into my skull at any moment to devour me whole. ¡°I want you, Ian.¡± I couldn¡¯t find the words to respond. Perhaps she didn¡¯t expect an answer. After all, it wasn¡¯t a question¡ªit was a statement. She possessed the power to im me whenever she wanted. The fate of prey caught in a spider¡¯s web is always decided by the spider. The Blood Witch¡¯s hand, which had been tracing my nape like a predator savoring its catch, came to a halt. Her blood-red predator¡¯s eyes bore into me. ¡°I like that your mating season isn¡¯t as intense as I thought it would be.¡± ¡°¡­It was you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hmm. Who knows?¡± Hehe- Sheughed yfully, a mischievous smile on her face as her hand moved toward my left eye. Her ck-painted nails stood out starkly against her pale skin. I instinctively shut my left eye, feeling the cold touch of her fingers on my eyelid. ¡°If it were you, could you stand watching what belongs to you lusting after someone else?¡± For a brief moment, fury flickered in her eyes. The fingers gripping my eyelid tightened. Would she take my eye? As that thought crossed my mind, she released my face and turned toward the frozen Leisha. ¡ª Tap. The sound was soft, almost insignificant. Leisha disappeared. She crumbled into dust and dissipated. In this frozen world, she likely hadn¡¯t even realized her own death. It was an overwhelming, hollow sight. ¡°I don¡¯t let anyone touch my prey.¡± The Blood Witch murmured. ¡®¡­Wait.¡¯ Could she have done the same to the others¡­? ¡°You¡­!¡± My voice cracked involuntarily. The Blood Witch smirked. ¡°What¡¯s precious to my prey is precious to me. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That was a relief. Or was it? Could I even call it relief? ¡°In return.¡± She shed her outer coat, revealing a ck dress that clung tightly to her body. ¡°A prey that seeks another master can¡¯t be ignored.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never acknowledged you as my master.¡± ¡°Not now or ever?¡± ¡°Never.¡± She gently brought her hand to my head, mimicking the gesture she¡¯d made before dismantling Danya. ¡°Do you want to die as well?¡± Silence. As our breaths exchanged three times, I finally spoke. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°What makes you think that?¡± ¡°If you were going to, you¡¯d have done it already.¡± ¡°Oh my. Confidence.¡± Sheughed, covering her mouth with her hand, and I asked her. ¡°Why are you doing this? Whether or not you¡¯re responsible for it, there has to be a connection.¡± ¡°You mean your mating season?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She swayed her body yfully, side to side, as if amused. ¡°It¡¯s true that it¡¯s an ancient spell that amplifies lust.¡± With one hand forming a circle and the other moving in and out through it, she smirked, illustrating her point in a provocative manner. ¡°But. The more you act on that lust with someone you don¡¯t love, the more your body and mind would have deteriorated.¡± ¡­Wait a moment. ¡°Deteriorated? As in losing reason?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Falling into corruption or turning into something like a Bloodbound?¡± ¡°Oh my, you know quite a bit.¡± If that¡¯s the case¡­ could it be? Is this that main episode? The one where Pongpong loses control and destroys the Academy? A chill ran down my spine. If I hadn¡¯t managed to control my lust¡ª No, if I hadn¡¯t genuinely cared for the women I was with¡­ ¡®So you¡¯re saying I could have turned into a ckened version of Pongpong?¡¯ The Blood Witch chuckled gleefully, clearly entertained. ¡°You¡¯re quite the romantic, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°To love so many women like that.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence. The Blood Witch brought her lips close to my ear. Her body was suddenly near, the scent of blood bitter yet intoxicatingly sweet. I realized then how seductive the smell of blood could be. Snap. A brief sting in my ear. A fleeting heat, as though blood was being drawn. Squelch, Squelch¡ª The sound of her tongue echoed in my ear as she sucked the blood from it. Puhah¡ª She pulled back, gazing at me with a glistening mouth. Traces of my blood were faintly visible in her saliva. ¡°You taste delicious, as expected.¡± Her eyes curved, filled with a heat that mirrored my own. ¡­ I couldn¡¯t deny I was likely no different. With a voice that was both sweet andmanding, she gave her next order. ¡°Open. Your mouth.¡± Instinctively, I obeyed her. Her lips pressed against mine. Her saliva, mixed with my blood, flowed into my mouth. It was a kiss that tasted of blood¡ªbitter, decadent, and sweet in its depravity. Time, already halted, seemed to stretch endlessly. By the time our shared fluids had soaked through the front of our clothes, she finally pulled away. ¡°This will quell your lust.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So for today, if there are still people afflicted by this lust, take care of them. I¡¯ll overlook it this time, as a special favor.¡± I struggled to pull my foggy thoughts back together. ¡­Who could be left? My master came to mind, and I couldn¡¯t shake the worry. I¡¯d met her around the start of my estrus period. ¡°Oh, and one more thing.¡± As she turned away, the Blood Witch whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°When we meet a third time, I¡¯m taking you with me.¡± ¡ª Click. ¡°Be ready for it.¡± Her footsteps echoed as she disappeared into the shadows. Chapter 187 ¡ª Daaang! Once again, the sound of arge bell echoed. ¡­No. Could I even call itrge? In this moment where everything else is frozen, it might only seem that way because it¡¯s the only thing I can hear. It felt like the sound moved alone through stopped time¡ªjust like the Blood Witch. ¡°Ian!¡­ Wha?¡± Lupina, who had been shouting loudly, now wore a nk expression. It seemed she had also witnessed the projectile that Leisha hadunched.This kid, surprisingly, has some sharp instincts. ¡°¡­You dodged it? H-how? I was sure something terrible was going to happen!¡± For some reason, she seemed to be panicking more than I was. It made sense, though¡ªspectators are often more shocked than the people directly involved. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I just got lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky? Now that you mention it, where did the assassin disappear to¡­?¡± A tricky question. There¡¯s the existence known as the ¡°Blood Witch¡± of the Bloodstone Cult. She¡¯s either the one who triggered my [Leap] or someone sent to watch me. To her, I seem to be some sort of toy. When her toy was on the verge of breaking, she appeared out of nowhere to keep it intact. And then Raisha, who tried to break her toy, turned to dust and vanished. ¡®¡­I can¡¯t exactly exin it like that, can I?¡¯ So I only provided enough information for Lupina to ept. ¡°She disappeared suddenly.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yeah, in the blink of an eye.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ve heard of a technique that allows for instantaneous movement to a designated location.¡± Muttering to herself, Lupina drifted back into her own little world. I¡¯m d I managed to dodge that bullet. Technically, I didn¡¯t lie, so it¡¯s all good. A nice, clean piece of self-justification. ¡°¡­¡± I shook my head to clear my thoughts. ¡®For now, I need to survey the area.¡¯ There¡¯s a chance the Blood Witch might have left a trace behind. The Blood Witch. An irregrity soplete that even Fantasy X Academy had never documented her existence properly. Since I¡¯m caught in her web, I have to find a way to escape¡ªor at least struggle against it. ¡®Let¡¯s start with where I was standing.¡¯ In front of the corridor¡¯s window. I moved backward as though retracing my steps. The Blood Witch had stood before me, so any traces she might have left would be here. I searched the area thoroughly. Her saliva. A strand of her hair. Even a footprint would suffice. ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± But it was cleanpletely spotless. The Blood Witch had vanished without leaving a single trace, not even a strand of hair. It was astonishingly clean, as though she had never existed in the first ce. Even when I walked to the end of the corridor where she had first appeared, it was the same. There wasn¡¯t even a passage there. Just a perfectly enclosed wall on three sides. She must have walked out from here, but how? ¡°¡­¡± Leaning against the wall, I felt a pang of futility. The surface was cold against my back. ¡°Could she really be a ghost¡­?¡± Her abilities seemed otherworldly. The overwhelming gap in power made it hard to think otherwise. The realization stung deeply. ¡®I¡¯ve grown so much, too.¡¯ I¡¯ve honed my skills: pure earth mana gathered in my core, a variety of techniques, my [Leap] mobility skill, the Snowke Sword style, and the absurdly powerful weapon Ether. Not to brag, but my strength isn¡¯t weak by any standard. If I made such ims, people might use me of arrogance, even though it¡¯s true. And yet¡­ ¡°¡­I can¡¯t see her.¡± The bitterness rising from deep within. I swallowed the bitterness welling up from deep inside along with my saliva. This is cleaner¡ªbetter, even. I decided to push thoughts of the Blood Witch aside for now. This battle wasn¡¯t originally about her. It was a fight against the assassins. Though the assassins had tried to cover their tracks¡­ ¡®Compared to the Blood Witch, it¡¯s child¡¯s y.¡¯ Of course, they were professionals. Their intent must have been to clean up the traces once everything was over. But they underestimated me¡ªand failed to predict the cmity that was the Blood Witch. Scattered across the hallway floor were fragments of paper and a few other remnants. Valuable things worth collecting. Finding traces of someone as skilled as Leisha, a renowned assassin, wasn¡¯t an easy task. Even this small act of gathering evidence was an opportunity to learn a part of Leisha¡¯s abilities. As I searched further¡­ ¡°¡­What¡¯s this?¡± In one corner of the hallway, Leisha¡¯s coat was tossed aside. Inside, there was a small notebook. The contents were encrypted, making them unreadable for now. ¡°Well, might as well hold onto it.¡± Raisha was a titan among assassins. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if this held critical information. While I was gathering the remaining evidence, Lupina¡ªwho had been daydreaming¡ªsuddenly spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s only one conclusion!¡± ¡­What¡¯s gotten into her? She ran over to me, full of energy, and asked. ¡°Ian, I have a question for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Who¡­ or what are you?¡± Who I am? Thankfully, it didn¡¯t seem like she was asking to dig for answers¡ªjust to keep the conversation going. ¡°You¡¯re clearly¡­ in heat, yet you just held it in with willpower.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°An assassin suddenly targeted you out of nowhere.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± I felt unfairly used on that point. ¡°And you¡¯re ridiculously strong.¡± Now that¡¯s an exaggeration. I¡¯m not strong enough to warrant such dramatic descriptions. All I¡¯ve done is make full use of everything I have to the best of my ability. When I replied that I wasn¡¯t ¡°ridiculously¡± strong, Lupina shook her head fervently. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve never seen a student as strong as you.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you spend all your time cooped up in the archives?¡± ¡°¡­Ahem.¡± Coughing awkwardly, as though hit where it hurt, Lupina continued. ¡°Your swordsmanship is top-notch, and your skill with throwing weapons is unbelievable. Just how many of them are you hiding on you? They¡¯re invisible, fast, and I can¡¯t even follow your throws with my eyes.¡± Most of it is just me creativelybining things¡ªlike pairing Ether with Leap. Of course, it might look impressive from the outside. That¡¯s something I deliberately exploit. Just then¡ª ¡ªThud. Something hit my foot. ¡­What is it? I thought I¡¯d already searched this ce thoroughly. I knelt to check. It was a ne. A distinct cross ne belonging to the Deus faith¡ªbut ckened, corrupted. A ck nail was embedded into one side of the pendant. ¡°¡­Interesting.¡± This was an ominous but significant item. I slipped the ne into my pocket. ¡ô Today, the church was unusually bustling. Once a week, Aria Lumines Bell left her residence to maintain her qualifications as a saint candidate. Even through her gloom and exhaustion, she sensed something was amiss. ¡ª¡­Damn it. ¡ªI thought this would be handled somehow. ¡ªWhat are the others even doing¡­?! Her escort knight, Dave, was one of the sources of the disturbance. He was muttering low and inaudibly, a stark contrast to his usual calm and loyal demeanor. Still, whenever he addressed Aria, he reverted to hisposed, respectful self. ¡°This way, Saintess.¡± Following his guidance, Aria knelt before the holy figure. The One God, Deus. Praying before Him once a week was the entirety of her duties as a saint candidate. In this moment, even Aria found peace. ¡°Let us return.¡± On the way back after her prayer, Aria noticed how unusually heavy Dave¡¯s footsteps sounded. The weight of it lingered as they returned to her quarters. In a dark room. As Dave hesitated while closing the door, he finally broke the silence. ¡°Lady Aria.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, the Inquisitor will arrive at our diocese.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I swear upon my honor as a knight to protect you at all costs. And also¡­ Ian¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t intend to harm Ian, do you?¡± Dave gave no reply. He merely bowed his head, his expression grave. Aria wasn¡¯t particrly concerned about his mutterings. ¡®¡­Will I be able to see Ian tomorrow?¡¯ A faint smile graced Aria¡¯s otherwise somber face for a brief moment. ¡ô ¡°Professor Asilia, how do you maintain yourself so well? Honestly, it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯ve had a child.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°When I first met you, I really thought you were Miss Sharon¡¯s older sister. Someone like you could easily be considered one of the greatest beauties in all of Lichten¡­ Professor? Professor Asilia, are you listening?¡± It was a lively gathering of professors enjoying drinks together. Asilia, staring into her ss, slowly raised her head when her colleagues called her name. Though she had already had three or four drinks, her pale face remained unchanging. If someone looked very closely, they might notice a faint blush on her cheeks¡ªbut such a subtle change could only be detected by those who had carefully observed her for a long time. ¡°She drinks so gracefully, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°And she doesn¡¯t even get drunk.¡± Unbeknownst to them, she was drunk. She could have chosen not to be, but she had allowed herself this state, thinking that perhaps it would help her forget. Forget just one thought. But she couldn¡¯t. The thought kept resurfacing, relentless and consuming¡ªa wish that must nevere true. Thump. Thump. Thump. Even knowing it should never happen, the very idea made Asilia¡¯s heart race. The murmurs around her faded into irrelevance. ¡ª Srrr. Quietly, Asilia stood up from her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll head back first.¡± She nodded and left. In the distance, voices followed her. ¡°She left because you were saying weird things!¡± ¡°Truly such a moral and upright professor¡ªsomeone to admire.¡± Asilia walked calmly, muttering under her breath. ¡°¡­I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± They wouldn¡¯t understand the terrible thoughts swirling in her mind. It had been a long time since she¡¯d harbored such dark thoughts. ¡°No¡­ Maybe it¡¯s the first time¡­¡± And yet, that very realization made her heart pound even harder. Leaning on the warmth of intoxication, Asilia let her feet guide her forward. It wasn¡¯t in the direction of her lodging. Chapter 188 The night air was crisp and serene. I washed away the exhaustion of the day. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± A small sigh escaped as I dried my hair. It had been a particrly draining day, for many reasons. Not just the Blood Witch, but the image of that dagger almost embedding itself between my brows lingered vividly in my mind. The memory became even clearer, thanks to the Blood Witch¡¯s ability to freeze time. The sharp tip of the de, stopping just before piercing my forehead, was a scene I wouldn¡¯t easily forget. ¡°I really almost died today¡­¡±Even though I managed to twist my body away, at best, I would¡¯ve suffered a fatal wound. Sure, I had the hidden ability of Super Regeneration, but¡ª ¡°If I were to fall into apletely groggy state, who knows if it would even activate.¡± It had been dangerous. Very dangerous. Wrapping a bathrobe around myself, I sat down on the bed. As I reached for the notebook and pen by my bedside to jot down the events of the day¡ª ¡ª Knock knock. A knock came at the door. ¡°¡­Who is it?¡± By now, I¡¯d grown ustomed to various visitors, to the point where I could somewhat identify them just by their knock. But the pattern of this knock was unfamiliar. Refined, careful, yet strangely pleasant to hear. I opened the door. To my surprise, an unexpected figure stood outside. ¡°Master?¡± At my words, my master slowly looked up at me. We weren¡¯t too different in height, so she only tilted her chin slightly. Her eyes seemed unusuallyrge and glistening today. ¡°¡­Disciple.¡± She gazed at me wistfully before continuing. ¡°Why is my disciple here¡­? Am I finally hallucinating?¡± Her words were like a soft mumble, as though she were dreaming. Today, my master was undeniably different. Usuallyposed and firm beneath her elegance, she now seemed rxed and defenseless. I etched this rare side of her into my memory before speaking. ¡°This is the Dessert Research Club room, Master.¡± Blink, Blink. She slowly closed and reopened her eyes before replying. ¡°¡­Ah. This isn¡¯t my dormitory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°¡­I thought my disciple was waiting for me in my dormitory. But that would make no sense. How foolish of me¡­¡± Her head drooped, her mood visibly dampened. I quickly reassured her. ¡°You¡¯re not foolish, Master. These things happen. You¡¯re always amazing.¡± ¡°¡­Really? Even with a master like this, my disciple doesn¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Her lips moved slightly, as though she had something to say. I had a feeling her next words would reveal her true feelings. But instead, her lips softly closed again. She bit her lip and silently studied my face. Finally, she spoke in her usual tone. ¡°My disciple, did something happen? You look a bit shaken.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Your body seems tense too. Is it something difficult to tell your master?¡± Her gaze softened as if saddened. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. I told her everything that had happened today. As she listened quietly, nodding asionally, her head lowered even further. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t protect you. My disciple was in such danger¡­¡± ¡°No, Master. How could you have known¡ª¡± ¡°I was just drinking, wasn¡¯t I? What a terrible master I am.¡± ¡°Even if the roles were reversed, it would have been the same¡­¡± But she shook her head firmly. ¡°Perhaps. But more than anything, right now¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°The feelings I should have¡ªthe ones of concern¡ªare being overtaken by something else¡­¡± She stopped mid-sentence. We stood silently, gazing at each other. Enough time for five blinks passed. Then, she spoke again, carefully. ¡°Even after hearing about how you almost died, my worry is overshadowed by another feeling¡­¡± She swallowed hard, still looking up at me. ¡°That makes me a terrible master.¡± Whether it was sadness or something else, her eyes shimmered as if tears were about to fall. Continuing to apologize repeatedly, my master clearly seemed to be undergoing some internal struggle. ¡­What could it be? Observing her closely, I tilted my head in confusion. ¡®¡­Is she feeling hot?¡¯ Her whole body seemed slightly damp, as though she was about to break into a cold sweat. There was also an unusual warmth radiating from her, almost like she had a fever. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Her dazed eyes focused on me, and I noticed a faint flush on her cheeks. Her lips parted slightly, in a way that seemed strangely alluring. ¡°My disciple is even worried about this pitiful master¡­ You¡¯re too kind. I¡¯m such a disappointment.¡± She sighed softly, and I caught a faint whiff of alcohol. Finally, I began piecing the situation together. ¡°Did you drink, by any chance?¡± ¡°Hm? Just a little. Hehe.¡± Her defenselessugh was followed by a slight wobble, and I quickly moved to steady her. ¡°How much did you drink?¡± Could there even be alcohol potent enough to affect someone who had mastered the Snowke Sword? ¡°Just a bit.¡± ¡°A bit, and you¡¯re already drunk?¡± ¡°I just felt like getting drunk tonight.¡± She murmured the words softly, almost as if confiding in herself, then leaned against me for support. Slurp. Her clothes, as always, were thin and light. Through the fabric, I could feel her soft skin. If I hadn¡¯t already ovee my hormonal impulses, this could have been a dangerous moment. ¡®¡­Stay focused. She¡¯s my master.¡¯ Steeling myself, I supported her as we moved. She leaned more heavily against me, pointing toward the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, disciple. Just take me over there.¡± Although she was tall for a woman, she wasn¡¯t heavy. With some effort, I helped her to the sofa and tried to straighten up. ¡ªThunk. Our feet identally got tangled, and I lost my bnce. I fell¡­ directly onto her. ¡ô Asilia couldn¡¯t quite understand the sensation of ¡°heart-pounding¡±. From a young age, her physical capabilities had been exceptional. Even after intense activity, her heartbeat would only elerate briefly before quickly returning to its steady rhythm. She hadplete mastery over her body. Of course, she had felt joy and satisfaction before. When she perfected the Snowke Sword Technique, or when she saw the smiling face of a child looking up at her with admiration, her heart had raced. But those moments were fleeting, driven by happiness, not this overwhelming pounding. So now¡­ Thump! Thump! Thump! The intense and painful rhythm she felt was entirely unfamiliar. ¡­Why was this happening? It wasn¡¯t because of rigorous exercise. It wasn¡¯t because she was in an overwhelmingly happy situation. It was simply because of proximity. The sheer closeness to her beloved disciple. The sensation of his body against hers. His face, his eyes, his lips¡ªso close. The steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, coupled with the warmth of his breath, put Asilia to the test. ¡®¡­No. This isn¡¯t right.¡¯ Asilia bit her lip lightly, resisting the primal urge welling within her. She knew she had to suppress the instincts stirring inside her. And yet¡­ Through the thin fabric of his clothing, she felt the youthful vitality of his body. No, not just youthful¡ªyoung. Young enough to be her daughter¡¯s peer. Asilia forced herself to calm down. ¡®Absolutely not.¡¯ She reminded herself that he wasn¡¯t even trying to seduce her. Nor had she pretended to be drunk just to cling to him. Even the secretly stepping on the feet of the disciple who was carefully putting her on the sofa. It was all Asilia herself. ¡®¡­I.¡¯ She was really trash. She felt like tears were about to flow. At the pitiful sight of herself, who had grown old. She was reallycking in controlling her instincts. She couldn¡¯t help but be a pitiful master. ¡®Yes. I¡¯m pitiful.¡¯ She repeated that fact. The more she repeated it, the more her reason faded. ¡®I¡¯m at the bottom.¡¯ She bent herself. She bent and bent, lowering herself to the point where she could barely see the floor. That made her feel closer to her instincts. She was able to admit it. That she, who was so insignificant, was lusting after her disciple. Even this prickling guilt. She was getting excited by using it as material. ¡®¡­ I¡¯m really pitiful.¡¯ That was Asilia herself. Asilia muttered without realizing it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ian. My disciple.¡± She felt sorry for him. For being so pathetic. For being so low. ¡°¡­ That¡¯s why.¡± Asilia covered her lips with her disciple¡¯s. ¡ô I epted Master¡¯s lips that were ovepping with mine. Her breath was hot enough to make me dizzy. It was such a captivating breath that I, too, felt hot. Only then did I realize. ¡®¡­ In heat.¡¯ Master was in heat right now. Her eyes hadn¡¯t changed at all. That¡¯s why I noticed it toote. ¡ª Churp While I was lost in thought, I found myself unconsciously mixing my tongue with Master. ¡®¡­ No.¡¯ I felt guilty. Master, with her eyes closed, was passionately exploring me while feeling pain somewhere. Now I understand why she kept saying sorry. Master. How deeply must Asilia have agonized? How deeply must she have felt sorry? Even so, unable to ovee her instincts, what must have been her heart that pressed her lips against mine? In the end, there was only one thing I could do. To do my best to satisfy Master. So that she could escape from the heat. ¨C Phew Our lips parted for a moment to breathe. Master apologized to me again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being acking master.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Master¡¯s hand naturally came down to my waist. We stared at each other quietly. I knew I shouldn¡¯t. But we were also clear about what each other wanted. Slurp. Master lifted the hem of her dress. I grabbed her hand. ¡°¡­Why.¡± Asilia sobbed. Chapter 189 The improper hand of my master, attempting to lift the hem of her dress. I grabbed her hand. ¡°Why¡­¡± She whimpered as if pleading. Her pupils had fully morphed into the shape of a heart. A deep sense of guilt surged from within me. ¡®¡­Because of the heat.¡¯ It had started with me. Although the Bloodstone Cult may have had a hand in this, the fact that I had ultimately spread it to others was undeniable.The way my master had ended up like this¡­ no matter how you look at it, it was my fault. She was warm,forting, and yet firm when necessary. Rational yet emotional. That¡¯s why it was the first time I had seen her so utterly close to her instincts. And it frightened me. What would happen once she snapped out of this state of instinct? What if she thought she had lost to her desire? Would she feel sorry and decide to leave me? That was the kind of person my master was. I didn¡¯t want to lose her. And so, it was inevitable. I grabbed my master¡¯s hand more firmly, the hand that was trying to shake me off, the hand that was attempting to lift her dress. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± She let out a faint sound as I suddenly exerted more force. Looking up at me, her tear-filled eyes seemed so unlike her usual self. My master appeared smaller somehow. And weaker. Her wrist was thinner than that of an average girl. From her nape came a fragrance as luxurious as fine tea. Her ears, flushed a pinkish hue, made me want to yfully nibble at them immediately. I swallowed the saliva that had filled my mouth. It wasn¡¯t me who was aroused. That¡¯s why I needed to guide her right now. Regain yourposure. I opened my mouth to console her as she whimpered while gripping the hem of her dress. ¡°Master, we still have plenty of days to meet ahead of us.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± Maybe I was being cowardly. Perhaps I was overly cautious. But I was scared. What if I embraced her now, only for her to leaveter, overwhelmed by guilt? So, I needed to focus solely on calming her current state. I had to soothe her heightened instincts. I needed to ensure her heart wasn¡¯t hurt. Minimal intimacy. Of course, even that wasn¡¯t exactly permissible between a teacher and a student. Any form of physical contact, however minor, would likely be considered inappropriate within this rtionship. But. If it¡¯s us¡ª If it¡¯s me and Asilia¡ª Maybe this much would be eptable¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll satisfy you with just my mouth.¡± ¡°¡­With your mouth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If it was just this much, even if she regained her senses, she might forgive me. With that thought, I made the suggestion to her. ¡°¡­But, I finally ended up like this, disciple.¡± She pulled back the hem of her dress, revealing her damp thighs. I gently covered her dress back over her legs. Then, more politely but also with a slightly firmer tone, I asked her. ¡°Master. Earlier, you said you were sorry to me, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I¡¯m sorry. For harboring such feelings for my disciple.¡± As she clung to me as if pleading, I grasped her shoulders firmly and asked resolutely, ¡°If you¡¯re sorry, then shouldn¡¯t you listen to what I say?¡± Perhaps startled by my firmness, my master, deted, nodded her head. ¡°¡­I should.¡± Seeing that, something in my chest zed. I wanted to pounce on her immediately. But I held back. It wasn¡¯t me who was in heat; it was her. ¡°So, I¡¯ll satisfy you with just my mouth.¡± ¡°¡­Your mouth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Now it was my turn to guide her. Though my master was usually firm when she needed to be, she was terrifying when she spoke in amanding tone. ¡­This time, it was my turn to do the same to her. I leaned in close to her ear, wide-eyed, and whispered softly. ¡°Open your mouth, Master.¡± Master blinked, clearly taken aback. It must have been the first time she¡¯d been ordered by her student. ¡°I said, open it.¡± She nced up at me nervously, resembling a rain-soaked puppy. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± She nodded and closed her eyes, tilting her head toward me. Her lips slowly parted. Her tongue, already wet and glistening,y inside her mouth, crimson and trembling. Deeper still, her flushed throat contracted and rxed, as if yearning for something. I gently grasped her chin with one hand. ¡ª Flinch! Surprised? She shuddered, startled. ¡°Open wider. Stick out your tongue.¡± Master obediently adjusted, her hesitation fading as she extended her tongue toward me. The usuallyposed and graceful master now appeared utterly vulnerable. Calming my pounding heart, I issued anothermand. ¡°Don¡¯t let any spill.¡± I tilted her head slightly upward, firm but careful, as I held her chin steady. Then, I let my saliva drip into her open mouth. ¡ª Flinch! The moment my saliva touched her tongue, she jolted again. ¡°Stay still and swallow it all.¡± She obeyed, swallowing my saliva. ¡ª Gulp. The movement of her throat, as she struggled to swallow, seemed strangely beautiful. ¡°¡­¡± I needed to stay focused. This was simply the most efficient method. The Blood Witch had exined that my saliva acted as a cure for the heat, just as hers had worked for me. Thus, this was the logical course of action. There was no room for inappropriate thoughts¡ªnot with Master in such a vulnerable state. Kneeling before me, Master quietly epted my saliva. ¡ª Cough! The angle must have been too steep. I adjusted her head back to a more natural position and let the rest of my saliva trickle into her mouth. She held it there, gazing up at me, lips closed around my offering. ¡°Swallow.¡± She nodded without opening her mouth, making a soft noise of acknowledgment. ¡°¡­Mmhmm.¡± Munch¡ª Gulp¡ª She swallowed, then looked up at me, her lips slightly parted. ¡°Did you swallow everything?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Show me.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Asilia opened her mouth wide, as though she were being inspected, moving her tongue around to prove her obedience. Her expression reminded me of a puppy seeking praise. The sight tugged at my emotions¡ªa mix of guilt and something else I couldn¡¯t quite name. But I couldn¡¯t ignore her. I reached out to wipe away the saliva that had escaped onto her lips with my thumb, softly reassuring her. ¡°Good job.¡± She blinked a few times. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± She replied, her tone both pleased and slightly regretful. I had poured out all the saliva I could muster into her mouth. This should be enough to quell her heat. Based on my own experience, it would take about an hour. I exhaled, tension easing from my body. That should be sufficient. Or so I thought. ¡ª Press. A faint pressure pricked at my thumb. It wasn¡¯t quite pain, more like a persistent squeeze. I looked down. ¡°Master¡­?¡± My thumb, which I had extended to wipe her lips, was now caught between her teeth. She was gently biting it, her lips wrapped around the digit, her gaze fixed on me. ¡ª Crunch. Asilia bit down on Ian¡¯s thumb once more before opening her mouth. ¡°¡­I listened well, didn¡¯t I?¡± Her saliva, now sticky again, coated Ian¡¯s hand. ¡°Reward me, Disciple.¡± ¡ô Back when Asilia was teaching Ian swordsmanship, she had a cherished memory that often came to mind. Sometimes, when instructing Ian, there were moments when she needed to be stern. Ian was usually so mature, but during those times, he would asionally act yful. ¡ª If I do this well, will I get a reward? When Ian would ask such things in jest, it was so endearing, like watching a child beg for attention. It was a glimpse of another side of him¡ªa stark contrast to his usualposed demeanor. To Asilia, Ian was that kind of student. But now, that very student had issued a firmmand. ¡°Open your mouth, Master.¡± He told her to open her mouth, stick out her tongue, and swallow his saliva. And he had done so in his polite but resolute tone, leaving no room for objection. ¡ª Thump. Thump. Thump. Asilia¡¯s heart pounded fiercely, as if it might burst. For a master to obey her student¡¯smand¡ª It was, of course, something that shouldn¡¯t happen. And yet¡ª ¡®¡­I think I might enjoy it.¡¯ She thought she might feel good following her disciple¡¯s orders. That was the only reason. That was why she obeyed. Asilia opened her mouth. When Ian frowned slightly, as though it wasn¡¯t wide enough, she opened it even wider. Even the simple act of opening her mouth made her entire body tremble with excitement. Simply biting down on his thumb made her feel like she might melt. And when she finally swallowed his saliva, her mind went nk, as though it had caught fire. By the time she had fulfilled her disciple¡¯s orders. Her mind and body were entirely nk. All she could do was wait, dazed, for her disciple¡¯s praise. Like a puppy waiting to be petted. That was all she could do. ¡°You did well.¡± But her disciple¡¯s praise was brief. All he did was wipe her lips with his thumb as he spoke. Asilia felt a lump rise in her throat. Whenever she praised Ian, she always made sure to give him a hug or do something to make him feel rewarded. And yet Ian was trying to let it end with just this. ¡®¡­That¡¯s unfair.¡¯ For the first time, she thought her disciple was being unfair. She felt upset that he was trying to brush past it so lightly. So Asilia bit down on his thumb. To let him know she was sulking. She pressed her lips firmly around it. ¡°Master?¡± Ian tried to pull his thumb away. But Asilia didn¡¯t let go. Instead, she sucked on it harder. ¡°Please praise me more.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 190 Asilia pulled Ian. Ian, caught off guard, found himself locking eyes with her. The expression on Sasha¡¯s face was soft, almost melting, her features unguarded. ¡°Ha Herbored breaths, so unreserved, ignited something within him¡ªmore than any stimnt ever could. ¡°Disciple.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­Please, give it to me.¡± He had to hold himself back.He must hold himself back¡­ Yet, the sight of her lips, glistening and connected by strands of saliva as they parted, was far too suggestive. ¡°I held you and all that before. So unfair.¡± Pouting like she was sulking, Sasha¡¯s lips jutted out slightly. Ian¡¯s rationality crumbled in an instant. ¡°Mmph¡ª!¡± By the time he came to his senses, he was already biting her lips with his own. As if paying back her lips for biting his thumb earlier, Ian firmly, persistently pressed against them. ¡°Ahng¡ª¡± Her soft, muffled moans spilled out against his lips. Sasha bit back the sounds, suppressing them, yet teasingly provoked him further. Once more, she opened her mouth, pleading. ¡°¡­Put it in.¡± Ian hesitated for a moment. Sasha, sensing his hesitation, lightly bit his lips to spur him on. Startled, he¡­ ¡°¡­!¡± ¡­Acted like he meant to scold a mischievous teacher. Ian¡¯s tongue ventured into her mouth. The mere fact of her disciple¡¯s tongue entering her was enough to make Asilia tremble. An overwhelming surge of sensation covered her body, far beyond anything she had felt earlier. But Ian didn¡¯t seem to notice her state. His tongue roamed aggressively, exploring every corner of her overly sensitive mouth. ¡ª Squelch, squelch Lewd, wet noises filled the room, impossible to believe they came from mere kissing. Throb, Throb. The sound sent shivers through her lower abdomen. She couldn¡¯t tell anymore whether it was his tongue entering her mouth¡ªor somewhere else entirely. No matter how much she tried to hold back, moans burst forth in waves. ¡°Ha She had sworn to suppress them, but once a sound escaped, they wouldn¡¯t stop. Blushing furiously, Sasha let out sweet,bored breaths. Like swirling a piece of candy, Ian¡¯s tongue yed across every corner of her mouth. Every time it teased her, saliva spilled and dripped down. ¡°Gul Swallowing, kissing, gasping¡ªthey had no time to properly breathe as they devoured each other. Theck of oxygen and waning rationality blurred the lines between them. Their bodies, pressed close together, only heightened the tension. Ian¡¯s lower abdomen, firm against Sasha¡¯s stomach, caught her attention. She moved, straddling him as if to im him fully. ¡°¡­¡± Ian, putting his hands on Asilia¡¯s waist, tried to push her away gently. But Sasha stopped him, whispering softly. ¡°¡­Just over the clothes.¡± The night slipped away quickly. ¡ô The next morning. After seeing my teacher off, I copsed back onto my bed. For days now, it felt like all my strength had been drained from me. I was trying to recuperate, even just a little. ¡°Iaaaaan¡ª!¡± It was a shout so drawn out that it made me realize just how long my name could be stretched. With a loud m, the door flew open, and Danya burst into the room. ¡°Ah, you almost got taken out by an assassin! Are¡­ are you okay?!¡± Like an excited puppy reuniting with its family, Danya leaped into my arms. ¡°¡­That hurts.¡± ¡°S-sorry! Are you hurt anywhere?¡± If I told her the pain was from her tackling me like a wrecking ball, she¡¯d definitely get mad. I chosefort over honesty. ¡°No. Actually, I was joking.¡± ¡°Nyah!¡± Smack! She gave me a yful p on the back. When I let out a light ¡°Ah¡ª,¡± Danya quickly apologized and started rubbing my back. A real case of causing pain and then fixing it. Pressing her face against my back, she murmured. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t lie about being hurt.¡± Her words pricked at my conscience a little. I had a ¡°don¡¯t die, don¡¯t fuss¡± mentality and usually hid any pain. Danya, despite her carefree demeanor, was unexpectedly kind and caring¡­ Sniiiiiff¡ªhaaah¡ªsniiiiiff¡ªhaaah. ¡­Except for the part where she was sniffing my back like that. ¡°Stop sniffing me.¡± ¡°I-it¡¯s not sniffing!¡± ¡°Then why are you sniffing so much?¡± ¡°Th-this is, uh¡­¡± Her eyes darted around before she answered. ¡°With my nose, I can tell someone¡¯s health! Y-you¡¯re healthy!¡± Hmm. It sounded like an excuse, but maybe it was true. I decided to believe her¡ªDanya was someone who would go that far for others. ¡ªSniff, sniff! Her ¡°health check¡± became more vigorous. As she sniffed all over, I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. Danya frowned at me, her face scrunched in mock anger. ¡°I smell another woman on you.¡± She leaned in and sniffed my face before continuing. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ was Lady Asilia here yesterday?¡± ¡°Yeah. She came overst night.¡± I answered, ncing at her reaction. Danya had a knack for overreacting whenever I was with another woman. Her eyes narrowed to slits, her expression far from ordinary. Slowly blinking a few times, she seemed deep in thought. ¡°What? What are you thinking about?¡± She opened her mouth a few times before finally saying, ¡°I believe you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You and Asilia are just master and disciple. There¡¯s no way something weird happened between you two, right?¡± She smiled innocently. A pang of guilt stabbed at my chest. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, at first, I was suspicious because you two were so close, but after seeing you in Richard¡¯s Dantian, I realized nothing was going on.¡± I avoided her gaze. To say ¡°something happened¡± wasn¡¯t entirely urate, but to im ¡°nothing at all¡± wasn¡¯t true either¡­ Danya, seemingly satisfied with her conclusion, nodded. Then her gaze drifted downward, resting on my lower body. ¡°But your¡­ issue is fine now? You¡¯re not all fired up today.¡± ¡°Yeah. I think it was tied to that Blood Witch I mentioned before.¡± ¡°That crazy strong woman from the Bloodstone Cult¡­?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Danya shuddered. The Blood Witch¡¯s strength was on par with, if not surpassing, a scenario boss. Considering she was likely among the top three in the Bloodstone Cult¡¯s hierarchy, it made sense. If she wasn¡¯t that strong, she wouldn¡¯t hold her rank. As much as I hoped there wasn¡¯t anyone stronger than her¡­ ¡®There¡¯s still the cult leader.¡¯ The leader of the Bloodstone Cult. No one even knew their gender. With such an unknown force looming, it was impossible to dere the Blood Witch as the strongest. ¡°Oh? My nket is gone!¡± Danya casually sat on the bed and nced around. She seemed to be looking for her favorite nket. ¡°That¡¯s my nket, not yours.¡± ¡°¡­Whatever, where¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Master borrowed it for a bit.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Remembering what happened at dawn, I searched for a more delicate way to phrase it. Master¡¯s clothes had been soaked to the point of being unwearable outside. Completely soaked, in fact. ¡°Master¡¯s clothes were soaking wet.¡± ¡°¡­Did you spill water or something?¡± ¡°Something like that. It was my mistake.¡± ¡°Ian, sometimes you¡¯re strangely clumsy in the oddest ways.¡± Danya muttered as she began to slip under the nket I had over me, attempting to join me unnoticed. ¡ªKnock, knock! A sharp and precise knock echoed through the room. Who could it be? I began to rise, but Danya stopped me in a rush. ¡°Stay in bed! I¡¯ll check!¡± she said, scampering toward the door. About a minute passed. ¡°¡­Is something wrong?¡± Danya hadn¡¯t returned, so I got out of bed and approached the door, where a smallmotion was unfolding. ¡°Only members are allowed in here, nyah!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that written? Show me your club¡¯s internal rules.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the vice-president¡ªI just made that rule right now!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll join the club.¡± ¡°¡­Nyah! That¡¯s not allowed!¡± Danya and the guest¡ªSilvia Laurent¡ªwere bickering back and forth. Silvia was holding some sort of small document in her hand. ¡°Hmph! Just for today, nyah!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your permission.¡± Eventually, Danya grudgingly let Silvia in. Since when were those two so antagonistic toward each other? ¡°Ian!¡± Silvia stopped ring at Danya and beamed as she ran over to me. It was almost strange to see Silvia move with such urgency¡ªit didn¡¯t quite match her usual graceful demeanor. Watching her, Danya pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, nyah¡ª¡± before stepping outside. ¡°Danya, at least eat something¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go.¡± With her head lowered, Danya quickly disappeared down the hallway. Her retreating figure seemed small, and just as I was about to follow her¡ª ¡°More importantly¡ª!¡± Silvia grabbed my arm. Her action was uncharacteristically impulsive for someone as refined as her. Silvia herself seemed startled, quickly releasing my arm. ¡°S-sorry! But this is urgent.¡± She extended the document she had been holding. Considering Silvia hade all this way to deliver it, it had to be important. I took the paper and unfolded it. Despite the creases, it was made of a remarkably high-quality material. The distinct golden patterns on the edges marked it unmistakably as a papal document. This world is upheld by two great pirs of power. The Empire and the Vatican. At the apex of the Vatican, the Deus Church, stood the one who had personally issued this promation. ¡ª¡ª¡¸Authorization for Inquisition¡¹¡ª¡ª Permission granted to dispatch Inquisitors to the following region. ¡ª Britannian Empire, Lichten. ¡ª Inquisitor: Oscar Javert Thus began the episode, ¡®The Witch Trials¡¯. Chapter 191 ¨C Disobey, and you¡¯ll be handed over to the Inquisitor to face the Church¡¯s torture chambers? It¡¯s something many rebellious children often hear from their parents growing up. Of course, as they grow older, they inevitably realize the absurdity of it all. ¡°Why would the Church even have a torture chamber?¡± or ¡°The Inquisitors only go after heretics!¡± they¡¯d say, rebelling against such notions. It¡¯s a perfectly reasonable reaction. After all, what is the Church? The Church, a sanctuary dedicated to Deus, exists to serve and bestow endless kindness upon all, following His teachings. Why, then, would a warm and serene ce like the Church have a torture chamber buried in its depths? And even if such a ce existed, why were no screams ever heard? Even children who once feared the Church eventually dismissed these tales as mere rumors upon pondering such questions.The torture chamber and the Inquisitors simply became topics of distant gossip. ¡°Grrk¡ª!¡± Deep underground in the Lichten branch of the Church of Deus, there was a chamber of inquiry. The cloth stuffed into a man¡¯s mouth served as an excellent muffler, ensuring his screams didn¡¯t escape beyond the chamber walls. Within the chamber, the muffled cries filled the space, echoing against its dark, cold walls. The only light came from a dim bulb illuminating the man being interrogated. The face and figure of his interrogator remained shrouded in shadow. ¡°I rmend you speak properly.¡± However, his voice was young. No, young was an understatement¡ªit was almost childish. The voice was clear and smooth, untainted by puberty. With the voice of a boy, as if he were a merchant describing his wares, the interrogator continued: ¡°A whip hurts, sure, but it doesn¡¯t causesting damage. These heavier tools, though¡­¡± The cheery tone belied the grim setting, making the casual exnation feel almost surreal. ¡ª Thud! A dull impact rang out. ¡°Grrraahhh!¡± Was it internal damage? The cloth in the man¡¯s mouth began to stain red. ¡°Starting to feel like talking yet?¡± The sound of a cheerful chuckle came from the boy. The tortured man began trembling violently, desperate to glimpse the boy¡¯s face. ¡°Mmphhh!¡± The man shook his head frantically, as if trying to back away. ¡ª nk, nk! But the chains restraining him wouldn¡¯t allow it. His wrists and ankles were already raw and bleeding from his struggles. ¡ª Click The boy stepped closer, his figure illuminated slightly by the faint sunlight streaming through the barred window. He was a striking young boy with golden hair and pale skin. The boy¡¯s lips parted slowly. ¡°¡­You seem tock faith.¡± ¡°Mmph!¡± ¡°Still not in the mood to talk? Who is it? Who are you protecting?¡± The boy¡¯s question hung in the air as the man¡¯s eyes darted desperately, motioning toward the cloth in his mouth. ¡°Oh, ha-ha! My mistake. Of course, you can¡¯t speak with that thing in your mouth.¡± The boy¡¯sughter was light and pleasantpletely out of ce in the gloomy torture chamber. He stepped forward once more, fully revealing his figure in the light. Short stature. Golden hair neatly parted to reveal a gentle forehead. The boy¡¯s smile was radiant, brimming with warmth. With no hesitation, he removed the blood-and-saliva-soaked cloth from the man¡¯s mouth and spoke: ¡°Now, shall we have a chat? About the heretics hiding here in Lichten.¡± ¡ô The feeling of dread often arrives without warning. The ¡®Witch Hunt¡¯ scenario takes some time to fully kick off. Deciding to take a day off, I woke to the morning sunlight filtering through my window. No, it wasn¡¯t the sunlight that was the issue. ¡ª Lick, lick! A cat was licking me. ¡°Ugh! What the¡ª?!¡± A shrill scream escaped me involuntarily. You might think I was overreacting to something as trivial as a cat, but¡­ ¡°How on earth did you even get in here?¡± There wasn¡¯t any conceivable opening through which this little intruder could have entered. ¡ª Lick, lick! On top of that, the cat was assaulting my lips. Grossed out, I grabbed the creature by the scruff and let out a sigh. The cat dangled from my grip, calm and submissive, without even a hiss or swipe. Instead, it looked up at me with such tender eyes, as if it had finally found its rightful owner. ¡°¡­¡± Maybe I¡¯m more popr with cats than I thought. In a past life, I might have been a devoted cat servant¡ªor perhaps I was some kind of walking catnip. At any rate, this was a tricky situation. Still holding the cat in one hand, I scratched my head and climbed out of bed. ¡°Who on earth is your owner?¡± Maybe I could spend today looking for its owner. It wasn¡¯t a bad way to pass a day off. First things first, I changed out of my pajamas. Meanwhile, the cat (sleek ck fur and overall quite elegant) simply stared at me or groomed its paws. ¡®This cat definitely has an owner.¡¯ Its posture screamed nobility, making me think of Silvia. After all, pets are said to resemble their owners. But somehow, I couldn¡¯t picture Silvia keeping a cat¡­ I¡¯ll just keep her as a potential candidate for now. ¡°Wait.¡± If I were to find the owner based on the idea that pets resemble their owners, then¡­ ¡°Could it be Danya?¡± Considering her race¡ªwell, species¡ªDanya was almost catlike in herself. Although her fur was pure ck, making the match unlikely¡­ she was still a possibility. Danya got along well with animals, after all. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll start there.¡± I grabbed the cat by the scruff again. ¡ª Meow! The cat nodded as if it understood me. So it¡¯s some kind of spirit, huh? Alright, I¡¯ll find your owner for you. ¡ô ¡°Ah, no, our ult Research Club doesn¡¯t keep cats!¡± My first stop was Lupina. Given that her clubroom was right below our floor, it seemed usible that the cat belonged to her. ¡°Although, a cat would be really useful.¡± Lupina¡¯s eyes sparkled with greed. ¡ª Hisssss! The cat let out a visceral hiss, as if sensing the danger. ¡°Our club¡¯s research funds just ran out. You want to donate this cat?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, it¡¯s obviously mine. Hehehe¡­¡± ¡ª Hisssss! From the context, there was no way Lupina was the cat¡¯s owner. And even if she were, I¡¯d probably still rescue it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Nooo! My catttt!¡± Leaving Lupina¡¯s desperate cries behind, I exited the building. The cat climbed up onto my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t rub against me.¡± I gently pushed the cat rubbing against my neck to the other side of my shoulder and resumed walking. Where should I head next? Danya, Silvia, and Lina seemed like usible candidates. They often came to the clubroom or stopped by asionally, after all. ¡°This might turn into quite the detour¡­¡± ¡ª Meow! The cat let out a long, contented meow as if to say it didn¡¯t mind. Well, if it¡¯s fine with it, I suppose I can¡¯tin. Just as I was about to take another step¡ª ¡°Ian ckangers!¡± A young girl came running toward me from the distance. She had ordinary brown hair that swayed with each step and wore an armbandbeled [Newspaper Club] on her arm. ¡°Brody, wasn¡¯t it? The one who¡¯s a regr for Snowke Fruits.¡± I remembered her distinctly because of her obsession with that dessert. Not to mention, the article she wrote for the Dessert Research Club had been a big help in promoting the club. ¡°I¡¯m currently working as a member of the Newspaper Club!¡± Out of breath, Brody stopped in front of me, looking up as she caught her breath. ¡°Are you looking for a scoop? If it¡¯s about the Dessert Research Club, I¡¯m all ears.¡± Anything that might increase sales is always a wee topic. ¡°No, it¡¯s not about that. I was just bored and couldn¡¯t find any stories. It seems like there¡¯s always something happening around you.¡± ¡­What¡¯s this kid implying? Is she treating me like a walking trouble ma? ¡®Now that I think about it, she might not be wrong.¡¯ Oh, right! Since Brody is with the Newspaper Club, she probably pokes around the academy a lot. Maybe she¡¯s seen this cat before. ¡°Have you seen this cat¡¯s owner by any chance?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Brody narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the cat. Being in the Newspaper Club, she might just¡ª ¡°Looks like a stray to me.¡± She clearly doesn¡¯t know much about cats. Anyone could tell this one is a high-breed, ssy feline. And smart too. ¡ª Meow! The cat meowed in agreement with my thoughts, earning a snap of Brody¡¯s fingers. ¡°Now that you mention it, the number of stray cats around the academy has been risingtely. Could it have something to do with that?¡± ¡°The number of cats is increasing?¡± ¡°Yep. It¡¯s too many to just me it on people feeding them. The growth rate is way too steep. The student council has already taken notice and is keeping an eye on it.¡± Hmm. That¡¯s an interesting piece of information. ¡°So, if it¡¯s not natural poption growth, someone could be intentionally releasing them?¡± ¡°¡­Exactly. Ian, you¡¯re pretty sharp.¡± Well, when ites to unusual incidents, there¡¯s almost always something ominous brewing beneath the surface. ¡®The Witch Hunt episode esctes because of a series of terror attacks, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯ T*rrorismes in many forms. Cats and terror. ¡°¡­Not exactly a fittingbination.¡± At my mutteredment, the ck cat tilted its head curiously. Chapter 192 #1 Student Council Nyaaah¡ª! ¡°Where are we heading now?¡± Nyaaang! ¡°To the student council. Sit quietly on my shoulder, ckie.¡± The ck cat named [ckie], which had been rubbing against my cheek, elegantly perched on one side of my shoulder. For the record, ¡°ckie¡± is just a shortened form of ¡°ck cat¡±. Calling it just ¡°cat¡± felt too impersonal, and naming it properly seemed like too much effort¡­Besides, it¡¯s a temporary name since I¡¯ll likely find its owner soon. Nyaaah¡ª! After carrying ckie around for a while, I realized that despite its chic appearance, it¡¯s surprisingly talkative. Thanks to that, I often find myself talking to it unnecessarily. Right now, it feels like its meows are asking why we¡¯re heading to the student council. ¡°The reason we¡¯re going to the student council? The chances of a connection between a cat and the scenario are slim. However, I think I might get some useful information to find your owner.¡± And so, we arrived at the student council. The student council¡¯s reception room was unusually quiet, a sign that not much had been happening recently. We were greeted by the student council¡¯s sleepy mascot, someone I had met before. ¡°Yaaawn¡­¡± Or not. They just yawned. Was that their way of greeting me? I prefer this nonchnt style myself, but seeing someone who was once surprised by my presence react like this feels a bit underwhelming. ¡°What brings you here¡­ yawn?¡± ¡°I heard the student council has been having trouble with catstely.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Like the one sitting on your shoulder, Ian ckangers¡­ wait, huh?¡± Suya¡¯s eyes momentarily widened in surprise before drooping again. ¡°No, not that type of cat. Hmm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fall asleep, Suya.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep¡­ Go in there. They¡¯re having a meeting today. Zzz.¡± Suya slumped over the desk. I poked her cheek a few times, but she didn¡¯t budge. A thin trail of drool was her only response. I wiped the drool on her sleeve and stood before the door she pointed to. ¡ªCome in. The cold voice came just as I knocked. As soon as I opened the door, the temperature seemed to drop by at least 5 degrees. Sssruk, sssruk. The rough sound of papers being flipped filled the room. At the head of the long meeting table was Iris, the student council vice president, ncing at me over the documents she was reading. She looked as cold andposed as Silvia when it came to administrative matters. Her rigid posture, metallic sses worn solely for reading, and the aura of professionalism made her seem like a human embodiment of ice. If someone could sculpt a person from coldness, it might look like this. A literal ice sculpture might seem warmer inparison. I felt that if I touched her, not only would I fail to melt her, but I might freeze myself. Would Lina need to be summoned to use a fireball just to detach me? And if that happened, how would I even¡ª ¡°Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ian ckangers, are your ears closed?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I snapped out of my thoughts and opened my eyes wide. I noticed Iris quietly observing ckie perched on my shoulder. ¡°What on earth are you doing, not listening to a word I¡¯m saying?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Iris, you¡¯re not an automaton sculpted from ice, are you¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m very much human, as you can see.¡± ¡°Right, of course.¡± ¡°If you interrupted a meeting, state your business quickly.¡± Her expression made it clear: ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything important, leave now.¡± Even as she looked at me, she kept ncing at her documents and asionally at ckie on my shoulder. To be honest, her precision and attentiveness bordered on superhuman. If there were an eye movementpetition, Iris would undoubtedly win the Lichten Academy championship. ¡°Student Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Your Dessert Research Club contributes significantly to our student council¡¯s finances. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m tolerating your presence. If you have no business, leave immediately.¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± I had been lost in thought for too long. I needed to focus. This ¡°cat incident¡± might somehow tie into the main scenario. ¡°The Witch Hunt episode requires delicate navigation.¡± The scenario originating in the small city of Lichten eventually concludes at the Holy See of Constantine, located in the southern theocracy. The Pope holds a status rivaling the Emperor, the absolute ruler of the Empire. To avoid an oue where I end up on the pyre before him, and to prevent a war between the Empire and Holy Constantine, this scenario must be carried out sessfully. Pulling myself together, I finally voiced the purpose of my visit. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the number of cats on campus has been increasing recently.¡± At my words, Iris¡¯ expression shifted. The hint of annoyance in her eyes gave way to something resembling interest. ¡°How much do you know about it?¡± ¡°Only that the student council is paying attention to the matter.¡± Hmmm. Iris touched her lips with her fingers, pondering. ¡°Indeed, the number of cats on campus has been increasing significantly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard as much.¡± ¡°The problem is, we¡¯ve found evidence suggesting someone is deliberately increasing their numbers.¡± ¡°Which means¡­?¡± ¡°It suggests two things: there¡¯s someone intentionally spreading cats, and their intent likely isn¡¯t benign.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely suspicious. The information we¡¯ve gathered recently doesn¡¯t look good. The student council is prioritizing this issue and monitoring it closely.¡± Finishing her exnation, Iris adjusted her sses and asked, ¡°¡­By the way, that cat?¡± Ah. ckie really does seem like a cat who gets around. Maybe Iris could shed some light on its identity. Her slightly more serious expression gave me a sliver of hope. Her gesturing hands, as though asking for the cat, made me decide to hand ckie over. ckie surprisingly settled onto Iris¡¯s desk without much resistance. ¡ªMeow. Iris examined ckie intently. Her gaze was exceptionally serious. ¡®¡­Does she really know something about it?¡¯ What was she going to say? I focused on her lips, anticipating her response. Her lips, pale yet glossed, slowly parted. ¡°¡­ Whoa.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s¡­ so¡­ cute.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What? I stared at her, utterly bewildered, as she turned to me and asked, ¡°Can I pet it?¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ ah¡­¡± Iris reached out to stroke ckie¡¯s back, her movements cautious and reverent. ¡ªNyaaaah. ckie purred contentedly under her touch, and Iris¡¯s frosty expression melted away entirely. ¡°¡­¡± What was this scene before me? A wholesome, unexpected moment of healing unfolded right in front of my eyes. Iris, now fully absorbed in petting ckie, even closed her eyes as if savoring the moment. ¡°Iris.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen that ck cat before?¡± ¡°¡­Hold on.¡± After stroking ckie several more times, she scrutinized it carefully. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen it before. But¡­¡± Hmm. Iris tilted her head briefly before speaking with certainty. ¡°It¡¯s not one of the newly increased cats. Those are all ¡®cheese cats¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­Cheese cats? Is that some kind of technical term?¡± At my question, Iris¡¯s face reddened. ¡°Those orange-and-yellow mixed cats.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Still, this was a valuable piece of information. So the issue revolves around cheese-colored cats. ¡ô ckie and I left the student council. ¡°Iris was right.¡± As she had said, there was an unusually high number of cheese-colored cats on campus. ¡ª Hyaaah! ckie clearly disliked it whenever those cheese-colored cats came near. As we walked, we eventually arrived at the one-room apartment area outside the northern gate of the academy. ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been here.¡¯ his was where my old dormitory was located at the beginning of the semester. I navigated the familiar alleyways and stopped in front of a particr door. ¡ª Knock knock! I knocked on the door and asked. ¡°Lina, are you home?¡± Crash! Bang! The sound of ttering and chaotic noise came from inside. Shortly after¡ª Bang! ¡ªthe door flew open. ¡°Ian¡­?!¡± It was Lina, clearly flustered, as though she had rushed to the door. She looked at me with a mix of surprise and delight. ¡°What brings you all the way here? Wait, isn¡¯t this your first time visiting my ce?¡± ¡°Is it? I think you moved in here back when I was still living around this area.¡± ¡°Yeah! But this is definitely the first time! I didn¡¯t even get to throw a housewarming party.¡± Hmm. Now that I think about it, she¡¯s right. The lingering trace of my inner Korean spirit pricked my conscience. I should¡¯ve brought a housewarming gift. I¡¯ll bring one next time. For now, uncovering ckie¡¯s identity takes priority. I held out ckie to her and asked. ¡°Lina, have you seen this cat before? It wandered into our clubroom.¡± ¡ª Nyaaaaaaah! ckie meowed, almost as if whining to Lina. She stared at ckie for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°No, this is my first time seeing it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± What a shame. That leaves Danya and Silvia as the remaining candidates. It would be best to visit Danya first and then head to Silvia¡¯s ce. As I turned to leave, Lina suddenly grabbed my sleeve. ¡°But¡­ I have seen another ck cat before.¡± ¡°Another ck cat?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lina answered while inexplicably lowering her head. For some reason, her ears turned red. Then, lifting her head to face me, she asked with a hesitant voice: ¡°¡­Would you like toe in and see the cat at my ce?¡± Chapter 193 ¡°¡­Would you like toe in and see the cat at my ce?¡± At Lina Rosewell¡¯s question, I couldn¡¯t help but tilt my head in confusion. ¡°Lina, did you always have a cat?¡± ¡°Ah, Lina trailed off, her confidence visibly waning. She nced up at me, then quickly averted her eyes, mumbling under her breath. ¡°Y-You could say that, I guess¡­¡± Her cheeks flushed bright red. The way she kept fidgeting made her look feverish. When I stepped closer to check on her, her entire face turned crimson.What kind of cat is she hiding to be acting like this? I pointed to ckie, sitting nearby, and asked her. ¡°Is it the same kind as this one?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just¡­e inside?¡± Lina opened the door and stepped in first. I followed her into the house. ¡°Wait here.¡± She left ckie and me on the sofa in the living room and disappeared into her room. Sssk, sssk. The faint sound of fabric brushing against something came from inside. ¡ª Meow! ckie, now purring softly, started grooming himself. It seemed like he felt quite at ease even with Lina around. Come to think of it, despite his proud appearance, he¡¯s a surprisingly docile creature. ¡°If I can¡¯t find your owner, maybe I should keep you.¡± I muttered to myself, absentmindedly petting him. The little guy rolled over onto his back, showing me his belly. ¡ª Meo! ¡°¡­ Should I buy cat food or something?¡± What a ridiculous thought. Instead, I should focus on finding his owner. ¡®It might seem like a hassle, but¡­¡¯ For some reason, I had a strong feeling that finding this cat¡¯s owner would y a big role in solving the scenario ¡®Witch Hunt.¡¯ Maybe it¡¯s the kind of quest that starts like this: ¡¸(New) Side Quest: Find the Cat¡¯s Owner¡¹ ¡ª Return the runaway cat ??? to its owner. There¡¯s an inexplicable, suspicious aura surrounding this task. It looks like just another trivial side quest, but as you progress, it weaves into various parts of the story and suddenly turns out to be critical to the main scenario. ?? Having yed games like Fantasy X Academy before, I had developed a knack for recognizing how important these seemingly minor side quests could be. ¡®Whether youplete them well or not often affects the main quest significantly.¡¯ Unexpected connections could be made, a crucial item might be discovered, or an important hint obtained. With that in mind, it¡¯s only proper to approach such side quests with utmost diligence. ¡°It¡¯s not like I feel sorry for you or anything, and I¡¯m definitely not doing this because I¡¯m bored.¡± ¡ª Meow! The little guy nodded as if he understood me, which earned him a satisfied pat on the head. And then¡ª ¡ª Click! At the sound of the door opening, I lifted my head. Fiery red hair, and green eyes so vivid they seemed to hold emeralds. Her usually cheerful eyebrows now drooped, giving her a hesitant, almost teary expression. The way her blushing cheeks and flushed ears mirrored the color of her hair only added to her shy demeanor. But above all, the cat-like ears on her headpleted Lina¡¯s overall impression in an instant. Oh. And she has a tail too. Lowering her head, she cautiously walked toward me in tiny steps. Once she stood in front of me, she nced up with a quick look¡ª ¡ª Swish! And immediately bowed her head again. ¡°?¡± It¡¯s not just me, right? Anyone would find this situation hard toprehend. Lina quietly fidgeted with her hands, sped in front of her stomach. ¡°Lina. Where¡¯s the cat?¡± Lina approached me as I asked her my question, leaning in to whisper in my ear. ¡°N-Nyah¡­ Nyah.¡± The sudden, sweet sound of her voice sent shivers down my spine, a tingling sensation that coursed through my body. My pulse quickened, leaving me slightly flustered¡ªno, wait, what am I even thinking? ¡°Lina, hold on a sec¡­¡± While I tried to regain myposure from the unexpected attack¡ª ¡°No! I worked hard to prepare for this!¡± Lina pressed herself even closer to me. Her bare, pale legs, exposed by her high-cut shorts, moved between my thighs. And that tail¡­ where is it even connected? My thoughts spiraled into a chaotic mess. Which is probably why I failed to notice Lina¡¯s face inching closer. She grabbed my hand, guiding it to her neck as she murmured. ¡°Danya did it. Silvia did too, so¡­¡± ¡°How do you even know about that¡ª¡± ¡°I asked them.¡± ¡°I doubt they¡¯d answer you.¡± ¡°They¡¯re shy. Just asking, ¡®Did you do it with Ian?¡¯ was enough to tell.¡± Oh. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine Danya blushing and snapping back, or Silvia deflecting by pretending to focus on her work. Good grief. Lina began to press my hand firmly against her neck. ¡ª Gulp I could vividly feel the movement of her throat. Lina, struggling to keep herposure, spoke hesitantly. ¡°T-Today¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Use something other than your fingers to fill my throat¡­ Master.¡± With that, Lina slipped out of my hand and dropped to her knees in front of the sofa. Without hesitation, she leaned toward my lower half. ¡°Lina, snap out of it¡ª!¡± I reached to grab her shoulders, but¡ª ¡ª Thwack! My arm froze, bound by something as if caught mid-motion. What the¡ª? Turning to look, I saw tentacles from the ult Research Club restraining my arm. ¡®Damn it, Lupina must¡¯ve sold her this thing!¡¯ Did Lina really buy those tentacles off her? If this keeps up, I¡¯ll be defenseless. Not that I couldn¡¯t deal with these grabby or clingy things, but¡­ ¡®They¡¯re expensive; it¡¯d be a waste to destroy them.¡¯ The stingy side of me hesitated. And in that moment, Lina managed to pull down my lower garments. ¡°Haaah¡­ it¡¯s so A long, dark shadow stretched across her flushed face. As she gulped audibly¡ª ¡ª Meo! ckie lunged at Lina with incredible speed, faster than my eyes could follow. ¡°Ah!¡± Lina, startled, fell backward, yelping as shended awkwardly. ¡°W-What¡¯s with you!¡± She iled, trying to pull ckie off her face, but the cat dodged her hands effortlessly. ¡®Impressive.¡¯ Even I was silently awed by his agile movements. Whoosh, swoosh¡ª! ckie wasn¡¯t just a ck cat; he might¡¯ve been one of the elite among all feline species. ¡°Please, I need to eat Ian today, kitty¡­!¡± Eat me? What am I, a meal? Before I could voice my objection, ckie took over, his nimble moves conveying my sentiments. Slipping out of Lina¡¯s grasp, he climbed onto her back. Then, with precision, he delivered a cat punch right to her backside. ¡ª p! ¡°Ahh!¡± Lina let out a sharp cry as the loud p echoed through the room. That move¡ªtruly the work of a master. I watched in awe as Lina, lying on her back, reached out for ckie once more. ¡ª Swish! But the little guy leapt high into the air, gracefully twisting his body to avoid her grasp. Uponnding, he wasted no time. ¡ª p! p! ckie delivered firm, decisive paw punches to Lina¡¯s chest. First the left, then the right¡ªwas she supposed to offer the other side after the first one got hit? ¡°Hnnngh¡­ haah!¡± Lina¡¯s ragged breaths escaped her lips as she clutched her chest and flipped over onto her stomach. Without hesitation, ckie climbed onto her back. And then¡ª ¡°No way¡­!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but exim as I witnessed the scene. ckie raised his tail high, like a whip ready to strike. And just as I predicted¡ª ¡ª Snap! aap! The resounding sound of the strike filled the room. Could a cat¡¯s tail really make such a sharp, satisfying noise? ¡°Hyaaah¡­ too roughhh?¡± And with that, Lina was utterly defeated. Her body trembled before copsing limply onto the floor. ¡ª Ssshhh. With her losing consciousness, the tentacles binding me loosened and disappeared. ¡°Phew.¡± I sighed, freeing my arms. This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d been restrained by these cursed things. Shaking my wrists, I quickly moved to sort out Lina and ckie. ckie, as usual, casually climbed onto my shoulder, his calm demeanor unshaken. Meanwhile, I lifted Lina and gentlyid her on her bed. She let out soft, shallow breaths, seemingly satisfied in her sleep. ¡°Mmm¡­¡± She stirred slightly before opening her eyes. Weakly, she offered an apology. ¡°¡­ Sorry, Ian. I don¡¯t know what came over me just now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. More importantly¡­¡± I got straight to the point. ¡°How did you know I¡¯de looking for a cat?¡± ¡°¡­ Originally, I was just going to ask if you wanted toe over to see a cat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°But then you mentioned looking for one, so I thought it was the perfect timing¡­¡± Ah, so that¡¯s how it was. The right opportunity, seized by someone prepared. I suppose that¡¯s what this was. ¡°Get some rest.¡± As I turned to leave¡ª ¡°Hey, Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°¡­ Okay.¡± Lina lowered her head dejectedly but then seemed to remember something. ¡°Oh, and if you¡¯re looking for information about the cat¡­¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I heard recently that Danya has gotten friendly with one.¡± Hmm. That¡¯s interesting. This little quest seems to be inching closer to its conclusion. ¡ô ¡ª Knock, knock. At Danya¡¯s dorm, there was no sign of life. Was no one home? Her usual routine involved either her club activities or her dorm. ¡®Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t seen Danya in quite a while.¡¯ Not since she ran off after that encounter with Silvia. An uneasy feeling crept over me. ¡°I¡¯ming in, Danya.¡± With a simple spell, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. And then, I realized it. Danya was missing. Chapter 194 Danya¡¯s lodging wasn¡¯t far. From the outside, it lookedrger and more luxurious than Lina¡¯s ce. When you consider that luxury and cost-effectiveness are often inversely proportional, it didn¡¯t seem like a particrly economical ce to stay. It gave off the vibe of a space that thrifty upper-ss people might live in. ¡ª Knock, knock! For some reason, I seemed to be knocking on a lot of doors today. Amusing thoughts, like whether my wrist would start to hurt at this rate, crossed my mind as I waited for a response. It was unusually quiet. Was Danya out somewhere?Just as I was about to lift my hand to knock again¡ª ¡ª Tap, tap! A soft, fluffy sound came from beside me, as though something furry was knocking on the door. I turned my head toward the source of the sound¡­ Blink, blink. Blink, blink. ckie was sitting there, blinking its eyes at me. Its front paw was stretched toward the door, revealing the true culprit behind the knocking noise. ¡°You knocked for me?¡± ¡ª Meow! ¡°Thanks.¡± I gave the purring little one a few affectionate pats on the head. Is this why people keep cats? The more time you spend with them, the more addictive their presence bes. ¡®No, I can¡¯t.¡¯ I shook my head firmly. ckie surely belonged to someone, so I couldn¡¯t let myself get too attached. Refocusing, I tried to sense if anyone was nearby. ¡°¡­¡± It was still quiet. The only noise came from the wind whispering through the cracks in the hallway windows. asionally, distant conversations andughter from passersby outside could be heard, but there was no sign of movement from beyond Danya¡¯s door. ¡°Hmm, where could she have gone?¡± I briefly considered where Danya might be. Usually, she¡¯de to where I was staying. Since my quarters had been relocated to the clubroom recently, she might¡¯ve gone there instead. Perhaps she was strolling along the walking paths where we¡¯d often meet by chance, or maybe she went to the cafeteria, where we¡¯d run into each other and end up sharing a meal. ??? ¡°There are a lot of coincidences, huh.¡± Looking back, I seemed to spend a significant amount of time with Danya whenever we happened to meet by chance. Other than when she stayed in her own lodging, we were often together. This made my concern for her grow. Normally, I would have run into her by now¡ªeither at the clubroom or along the way. That was typical of Danya. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s always the chance she¡¯s hanging out with someone else¡­¡± While mulling over this, I suddenly heard light, cheerful footstepsing up the stairs. They were quick and lively. At first, they reminded me of Danya¡¯s steps, but¡­ ¡®¡­ A bit different.¡¯ Danya¡¯s footsteps were softer, more delicate. Though it wasn¡¯t her, the sound was familiar. I quickly realized why. ¡°Brother Ian?¡± Elena appeared at the top of the stairs. ¡°Why are you here, Brother? I came to Sister Danya¡¯s lodging.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for Danya. Have you seen her today¡­¡± Before I could finish speaking¡ª ¡ª Meo! ckie, perchedzily on my shoulder, suddenly sprang toward Elena without warning. ¡°¡­ Ah! A cat!¡± Was it because she was quick on her feet? Elena swiftly turned and began running away from ckie¡¯s pursuit. But. ¡ª Swish, swish! ckie leapt, using the wall as leverage, and expertlynded on Elena¡¯s broad forehead in an impressive disy of agility. ¡°Eek! Get it off me¡ª!¡± Elena cried out in panic, iling about noisily. This was a lodging area; if we weren¡¯t careful, we could get kicked out. I cast a simple earth-element spell to muffle her shouts. ¡°Mmph!¡± With a quieter Elena in hand, I asked her. ¡°Have you seen Danya today? I haven¡¯t been able to find her.¡± But there was no reply. Curious as to why she wasn¡¯t answering, I tilted my head. ¡°Mmph!¡± Elena pointed to her mouth with her finger. ¡°Oh.¡± I was about to undo the adhesive spell sealing her lips but paused to ask. ¡°You¡¯re not going to scream again, right?¡± ¡°Mm-mmm!¡± Elena, with ckie still perchedfortably on her head, nodded vigorously. Satisfied, I dispelled the magic. Phew¡ª! She let out a dramatic breath and looked up at me, her eyes welling with tears. ¡°Brother Ian! Why didn¡¯t you help me when the cat attacked me?¡± ¡°Well, calling that an attack seems like a stretch.¡± I gestured toward her head. There sat ckie, in the ssic ¡°loaf¡± position, looking perfectly content. It seemed at peace, as if it were sitting in its own home. At myment, Elena¡¯s eyes glistened with unshed tears. ¡°I¡­ I always seem to be a target for cats like this!¡± ¡°This happens often?¡± ¡°Yes! They suddenly charge at me, or block my way by rubbing against my legs when I¡¯m walking! Once, I was napping on a bench, and a cat climbed on me and started kneading me! It can¡¯t possibly be for good reasons!¡± Elena added, trembling slightly. ¡°Cats definitely hate me.¡± Hmm. I disagreed. If anything, it seemed like they adored her¡ªperhaps excessively so. ckie¡¯s utterly satisfied expression proved it. Judging by its smug demeanor, it seemed more content on Elena¡¯s head than it ever was on my shoulder. Could it just stay there permanently? ¡°¡­Oh.¡± It wasn¡¯t jealousy. Absolutely not. Definitely not that. Anyway. ¡°Have you seen Danya?¡± ¡°No. Around this time, Sister Danya and I usually go to the clubroom together, but since she didn¡¯t show up, I came looking for her.¡± That exined things. No wonder they always entered the clubroom together so conveniently. Elena tilted her head and asked me. ¡°Could she not be inside right now?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange! This never happens!¡± Elena rushed to the door and knocked loudly. ¡°Sister! Are you not inside?¡± This scene felt oddly familiar¡ªlike those people who go door-to-door to preach. ¡ª Tap, tap, tap! ckie, still perched on her head, enthusiastically joined in, knocking on the door with its paw. ¡°This won¡¯t do! I¡¯m going in, Brother Ian.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just head back and check againter¡ª Wait, what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going in!¡± ¡ª Fwoosh! Elena¡¯s hand, gripping the doorknob, glowed bright white. Click! The door swung open effortlessly. ¡°What kind of magic is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the blessing of Lord Deus.¡± What kind of blessing allows someone to unlock doors so cleanly like this? ¡°Lord Deus is omnipotent.¡± ¡­Perhaps a bit too omnipotent. And so, we entered Danya¡¯s lodging. ¡ª Rustle, rustle A light breeze greeted us. The wide-open windows let in the wind, causing the curtains to sway gently. The room smelled faintly of flowers and grass¡ªthe same scent that lingered around Danya herself. ¡°Sister Danya lived in a much better ce than I thought.¡± ¡°She¡¯s got an eye for decor, too.¡± ¡ª Meow! ckie purred in agreement, its expression radiating satisfaction. I wondered if cats had some innate understanding of such things. Then again, the most excited one here wasn¡¯t ckie but Elena. ¡°Ooh, fascinating nts!¡± ¡°What¡¯s this tentacle-like thing?¡± She darted around the room, poking at various objects. I was about to grab her by the neck to calm her down when something unexpected caught my eye. ¡°Is that¡­ my T-shirt?¡± It was a short-sleeved shirt I¡¯d lost not too long ago. I¡¯d thought I¡¯d dropped it somewhere while trying to doundry. ¡®Why is it here?¡¯ I decided I¡¯d have to ask Danya about itter. Carefully, I continued surveying the room. There wasn¡¯t anything particrly suspicious, but there were two odd details worth noting. However, there were two things that were unusual.
  1. The unusually abundant yellow cat fur scattered around.
  1. A half-eaten meal sitting conspicuously on one side of the dining table.
The rest of the room was spotless, which made these two things stand out all the more. At that moment¡ª ¡ª Knock, knock! A knock came from outside the door. ¡°They¡­ they¡¯re kidnappers! I¡¯m sure Sister Danya has been taken by them too!¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± Signaling Elena to stay put and stop her wild imaginings, I headed toward the door. Carefully, I pressed my ear against it. ¡ª Is this the right ce? The faint sound of voices reached me from outside. Without hesitation, I opened the door. ¡°Is Miss Danya here¡­ Ian?¡± Standing there was Silvia, holding something in her hands. ¡ô An hour ago. Silvia paced anxiously in her office, walking back and forth before stopping abruptly and crossing her arms. ¡°¡­ This doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡± The deputy leader of the Laurent Trading Company¡¯s branch, Silvia Laurent, wasn¡¯t worried about work¡ªor about a man, for that matter. Her concern was her love rival. The very existence of Danya Catsnesia was enough to unsettle Silvia. ¡°The traces of her presence in that clubroom¡­¡± The fur scattered everywhere, the lingering scent¡ªshe couldn¡¯t forget them. It wasn¡¯t like Silvia to engage in a war of nerves, but Danya had pushed her buttons in a way few others could. Tap, tap. She drummed her fingers against her arm and let out a long sigh. ¡°Haah¡­¡± It had been a long time since another woman had gotten under her skin like this. Not since Emilia. No, Emilia didn¡¯t even count as humanpetition. This really was the first time. Thinking of Danya made her chest ache slightly. Was Danya holding Ian¡¯s hand at this very moment? ¡°It¡¯s not like I have low self-esteem¡­¡± But Danya¡¯s charms made Silvia anxious. Those ears and tail¡ªsomething pure humans couldn¡¯t hope to emte. Her soft, childlike skin. Above all, Danya was undeniably beautiful and overwhelmingly cute, even from another woman¡¯s perspective. Silvia, confident in both her looks and style, couldn¡¯t deny that Danya possessed a different kind of allure entirely. ¡°¡­ As much as I hate to admit it, she¡¯s a real rival.¡± Reaching a conclusion, Silvia gathered a few dessert boxes. She decided to visit Danya¡¯s lodging for a casual tea time¡ªa gesture that doubled as a deration of war, Silvia-style. When she arrived at Danya¡¯s lodging, however¡ª ¡°Ian? Why are you here¡­?¡± Could it be¡­ Were the two of them already living together? Silvia¡¯s pupils trembled violently at the thought. ¡ô ¡¾Lichten Academy Emergency Notice¡¿
  • Due to the recent surge in the cat poption on campus, all cats will be captured and removed effective immediately.
Chapter 195 Danya¡¯s lodging. As Ian emerged from inside, Silvia¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. ¡°Ian, why are you¡­ing out from there?¡± A whirlwind of thoughts swirled through Silvia¡¯s mind. Were they together? Could they have been together sincest night? Or are they¡­ living together? Silvia felt so dizzy that her vision spun. She couldn¡¯t understand why she was feeling this way.¡°Are you okay, Silvia?¡± Ian¡¯s concerned gaze rested on her, snapping her back to reality. It was then that Silvia finally understood the feelings bubbling inside her. She was jealous and angry¡ªjealous of Danya for monopolizing Ian¡¯s gaze. Silvia shook her head, trying to dismiss her emotions. If she stayed silent, Ian would surely notice something was off. ¡°I-I¡¯m fine. Just a bit dizzy.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°Yes. More importantly¡­¡± Silvia abruptly shoved a paper bag into Ian¡¯s hands. She was behaving oddly and wanted to escape the situation as quickly as possible. ¡°This, this is dessert. It¡¯s from an old shop run by a Saint of Holy Constantine. I brought it to share with Danya. You and Danya should enjoy it together. I¡¯ll be going now.¡± And with that, she hurriedly dumped her lines, thrust the bag into Ian¡¯s arms, and spun on her heels. Her n was to lock herself in her office and drown herself in work. She felt so embarrassed about her behavior. Just as she was about to leave, however¡ª ¡°Silvia.¡± Someone grabbed her wrist. It was Ian, of course. ¡°I need your help.¡± Help? If Ian needed help, Silvia was ready to assist, no matter what. But help¡­ in this situation? ¡®Miss Danya must be inside.¡¯ From what she knew, there was only one reason a man and a woman would share lodging. And Silvia had already suspected that Ian and Danya might have crossed that line. What kind of help could he possibly need? Her mind raced with images, and her face turned crimson. Ever since spending a night with Ian, her thoughts had been filled with such things. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°No, Silvia, you can. In fact, I need you specifically.¡± ¡°Wh-What does that even mean?¡± I can do it, and I¡¯m necessary? What kind of scenario is this? Silvia, her face burning, quickly looked down. For a moment, she struggled with herself before finally lifting her head to nod. ¡°I-I¡¯ll try my best.¡± ¡°Thank you. I appreciate it.¡± Silvia followed Ian into the lodging. Inside, the space was filled with Danya¡¯s scent. Jealousy surged. But at the same time, an odd sense ofpetitiveness red up inside her. For some reason, her body felt warm, and she unbuttoned her outer coat. ¡®Can I really do this?¡¯ Gulp. She gulped nervously, only to hear a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Oh? Sister Silvia?¡± ¡°¡­Elena?¡± Silvia turned, startled, to see Elena. Two women, she could understand. But three? ¡ª Pshu-shu! Silvia copsed andid down on the sofa. ¡ô ¡°Silvia, are you okay?¡± Silvia suddenly slumped onto the sofa. I ced a hand on her forehead¡ªit was burning hot. I soaked a towel in cold water and ced it on her head. ¡°Ah!¡± With a short gasp, Silvia shivered and looked up at me. ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡± ¡°No, just¡­ a little dizzy.¡± ¡°Have you been overworking yourself? Take it easy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it¡­¡± Silvia averted her gaze briefly, then muttered softly. ¡°Ian, about earlier¡­ when you asked for help, what exactly do you need?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, really¡ª¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll do it. Just tell me what you need.¡± Silvia¡¯s response was firm and resolute. The cold towel must have worked; her fever had subsided. If she was back to normal, then asking for her help seemed like the right decision. I recalled one of her abilities. ¡°Can you use Light of Search?¡± ¡°Light of¡­ se¡­?¡± I corrected her pronunciation. ¡°Light of Search. Danya has disappeared. I need to track her.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­ That¡¯s why you need my help.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Silvia lowered her head again, her earlobes visibly turning red. Her clenched fists fidgeted slightly. After a moment, she stood up and asked. ¡°Where should I cast the spell?¡± Calm andposed¡ªSilvia had returned to her usual self. I led her to the kitchen. Though everything seemed ordinary, two things stood out as suspicious in Danya¡¯s home. The first was the unfinished meal. ¡°Danya never leaves food behind! She devours everyst bite!¡± Elena painted a picture of Danya as an insatiable eater. It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but she was missing the point. Danya wasn¡¯t just gluttonous¡ªshe believed that leaving food was a sin against nature. So for her to leave a meal unfinished¡­ ¡°Leaving half her meal untouched suggests something happened while she was eating. And if she didn¡¯t return to finish it¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t return to finish it¡­?¡± ¡°Then something significant enough to break her personal rule must have urred. It¡¯s the mostpelling evidence linked to her disappearance.¡± Elena gasped dramatically. ¡°Amazing, Brother Ian!¡± Not at all. Anyone could deduce this. ¡°Silvia, use your magic to track Danya¡¯s movements from this te.¡± Silvia nodded and closed her eyes, concentrating. ¡ªWhoosh! A radiant light spread across the table, enveloping the scene. Light of Search reveals traces left by the target. As the glow faded¡ª ¡°Oh! Something¡¯s sparkling over there!¡± Just like an item dropped in a game, several long objects around the table glimmered white. Is this¡­ fur? ¡°I tracked Danya¡¯s tail fur, focusing on the timeframe when she was eating.¡± A good decision. Danya was known for leaving her tail fur all over the ce. Every time we washed the bedding, it was filled with her tail fur. But more importantly¡ª ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The long, white strands of fur belonging to Danya gleamed under the light. Silvia pointed a finger in one direction. ¡°It seems she moved this way during her meal.¡± The trail led from the table toward the bedroom. Elena darted into the room like lightning and soon called out. ¡°Over here!¡± She waved from one corner of the bed, where a cluster of glowing white fury. I crouched down and examined the fur closely. Soft, long, and pink¡ªundoubtedly Danya¡¯s. The problem was the other fur near it. ¡°What¡¯s with these orange strands?¡± They were a mix of yellow and orange, resembling the distinct fur of a ¡®cheese cat¡¯. The fur wasn¡¯t long¡ªclearly from a small-bodied cat. The ck cat perched on Elena¡¯s head sniffed at the strands with keen interest. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Silvia cast her search magic again. Soon, the orange fur began to glow brightly. The trail of these fur strands began right here. ¡°¡­No way.¡± A bad feeling crept over me. Following the glowing orange fur, I raised my head. The fur, starting from this spot, led directly to the wide-open window. I stared at it in stunned disbelief, my mind grasping at straws. I called out to Silvia. ¡°¡­Silvia, is it possible to track footprints too?¡± ¡°Footprints? You mean here?¡± I pointed to the small cat paw prints near the orange fur cluster. ¡ªsh! Silvia cast her search magic once more. The tiny cat paw prints began to glow white, starting from the orange-and-pink fur pile and leading straight out the window. The conclusion was simple. Elena eximed. ¡°¡­It looks like Sister Danya has turned into a cat!¡± Though the idea was shocking, I couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement. ¡°So, she went out through the window!¡± What in the world could have caused this? Dozens of possibilities raced through my mind, only to be discarded. ¡®The why isn¡¯t important right now.¡¯ Finding Danya is the priority. At that moment¡ª ¡°¡­Oh no!¡± Silvia¡¯s face turned pale as she pulled out her Kirtos device. ¡°L-Look at this, Ian!¡± She showed me the student council¡¯s announcement board. [Lichten Academy Emergency Notice]
  • Due to the recent surge in the campus¡¯s cat poption, starting today, all cats found on school grounds will be captured and removed.
Without hesitation, I bolted from the lodging and sprinted toward the student council building. ¡ô I arrived at the student council building like a gust of wind. Guided by Suya, I headed straight to the student council executive meeting room. ¡ªBang! I burst through the doors without even knocking. Inside, a number of student council executives were gathered. The atmosphere of the room shifted as the unexpected intruder appeared. ¨C What¡¯s this? Isn¡¯t that Ian ckangers? ¨C I heard he¡¯d gotten bettertely. Guess he¡¯s having another episode. Their remarks didn¡¯t matter to me in the slightest. I marched straight to Vice-President Iris seated at the head of the table. Adjusting her sses, she looked up at me. ¡°What is it, Ian ckangers? We¡¯re in the middle of a meeting.¡± I handed her the printed ¡®cat capture notice¡¯ from the board. ¡°Rescind this notice. Immediately.¡± This wasn¡¯t the time for polite words. Chapter 196 Danya is in danger. [Cat Disposal n] Before finding her, who has turned into a cat, I must neutralize this announcement above all else. However, like with any organization, overturning an already issued ¡°announcement¡± is no easy feat. ¡°If we provide evidence that Danya has turned into a cat and request them to revoke the announcement¡­¡± Lina¡¯s suggestion was cut off by Silvia. ¡°That won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°The Academy administration operates strictly by procedure. Even if a few students are injured or worse, they won¡¯t care as long as the announcement follows proper procedures.¡±¡°That¡¯s absurd¡­¡± ¡°The only avenue for students to voice their opinions is through the student council, at best.¡± To that end, we sought out the Lichten Academy Student Council. They are a notoriously challenging group to deal with. Given the Academy¡¯s emphasis on student autonomy, the council wields significant power. But the biggest issue lies with the student council¡¯s vice president. Taking the reins in ce of the student council president, who remains in the shadows, is Iris Lipenstein. She is endlessly cynical and strictly administrative. In the game, she was nearly impossible to win over. ¡®Still¡­¡¯ I have to find a way to overturn this announcement. It must be retracted. I don¡¯t know exactly what ¡°disposal¡± means in the announcement, but I can¡¯t ept any scenario where Danya could end up ¡°disposed of.¡± My mind raced. How do I deal with the student council? How do I win over Vice President Iris? A leader who is cold, logical, and idealistic. Someone who never strikes first but will never back down once provoked. A character who absolutely hates taking orders from others. Under normal circumstances, provoking her would be out of the question. Which is why I provoked her. ¡°Revoke this announcement. Immediately.¡± There was no time to approach her methodically. ¡ô Iris blinked in disbelief. ¡®What did I just hear?¡¯ It was the first time anyone had ever issued her such a forcefulmand. As the vice president of the Lichten Academy Student Council and the eldest daughter of the Lipenstein family, which has historically produced Lichten¡¯s leaders, Iris Lipenstein rarely encountered anyone who dared to speak to her this way. No, scratch that¡ªshe never encountered it. Not even within the Academy. Even the self-important professors, who thrived on their egos, treated Iris with a certain level of respect. The reason was clear: these professors were smart enough to understand the consequences of crossing the Lipenstein family. Nothing good ever came of that. This didn¡¯t mean the Lipenstein family was unusually authoritarian or powerful. They were not rulers of Lichten, officially or otherwise. Lichten¡¯s leaders were chosen by election. It was just that the elections always pointed to a Lipenstein. Because of this, the Lipensteins were expected to be ¡°ideal leaders.¡± They gathered opinions, made rational judgments, and responded kindly to kindness. Their respect for others made them widely respected in return. That was why Iris stared nkly at the young man who had just issued her amand. Ian ckangers. At the beginning of the semester, Ian was undoubtedly the most troublesome new student. His name came up so often in disciplinary discussions that the student council, led by Iris herself, seriously considered expelling him. The proposal to expel him? Iris¡¯s own initiative. Her impression of Ian had been that poor. But at some point, Ian began to change. Now, he was one of the Academy¡¯s most outstanding students. The Dessert Research Club he founded had be a major financial lifeline for the student council, saving it from a budget crisis. Every time she saw Ian, Iris found herself deep in thought. Perhaps even¡­ admiration. ¡°Revoke this announcement. Immediately.¡± Ian¡¯s voice carried a weight that made Iris involuntarily blink and look up at him. ¡°¡­ Vice President?¡± As the vice president, she was the chair of this working-level meeting. It was her responsibility to remove Ian from the room or put him in his ce. But her mouth refused to move. Was she being swayed by Ian? No, it was something deeper than that. The issuey within Iris¡¯s heart. It was also the reason why she admired Ian. Lipenstein. As someone groomed to be the ideal leader of Lichten, Iris had been taught to reflect on everyone¡¯s opinions, engage in discussions, and conduct debates. But Ian ckangers? He bulldozed through everything, relying solely on his instincts and will. And now, he had barged in with the student council¡¯s announcement in hand, demanding its immediate withdrawal. It was absurd. ¡°Vice President¡­¡± The flustered council members looked to Iris, their eyes filled with hope that she would resolve the chaos Ian had stirred. The leadership qualities Iris had been trained in as a Lipenstein kicked in reflexively as she responded to Ian. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. This decision was made by the faculty council and executed with the approval of the student council president. It cannot be reversed.¡± Her answer was cold, formal, and devoid of any consideration for Ian¡¯s predicament. Most people would have backed down at this point, conceding with something like. ¨C If that¡¯s the rule, then it can¡¯t be helped. But Ian was different. Instead of retreating, he pressed harder. ¡°There¡¯s a way. You¡¯re just toozy to think about it right now, Iris.¡± His words were undeniably rude. It wasn¡¯t Iris who bristled but one of her close aides. ¡°Ian, how dare you speak like that!¡± ¡°But he¡¯s right, isn¡¯t he? Are you seriously saying there¡¯s a rule that says you just have to blindly follow orders from above?¡± ¡°But the faculty decided this! What do you expect us to do?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the student council? Isn¡¯t that your whole point?¡± ¡°Yes! We are the student council! A representative body of the students! Ian, you can¡¯t belittle us like¡ª¡± ¡°Representative? You¡¯re just puppets of the administration, following their orders like loyal dogs.¡± ¡°¡­!!!¡± Having cornered her aidepletely, Ian turned his gaze back to Iris. ¡°Iris.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°There must be ways to challenge this authority. They¡¯re probably just tedious andplicated. You¡¯re acting likezy bureaucrats.¡± ¡°Lazy bureaucrats¡­¡± Under normal circumstances, Iris would have rebuked him, anger ring. But she couldn¡¯t. Because Ian¡¯s words were urate. They were also utterly disrespectful. What should she do in a situation like this? Her thoughts spun wildly, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. And Ian gave her no time to collect herself. ¡°More importantly, Iris, I know this isn¡¯t what you wanted.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen you, and I know you like cats.¡± It was true¡ªshe did like cats. She struggled to form a response. ¡°¡­But that doesn¡¯t affect my decisions. In leading discussions, it¡¯s important to guide everyone¡¯s opinions, not just my own.¡± ¡°Then what about your opinion?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How is your opinion reflected?¡± Iris fell silent. She knew. Of course, she knew. But the announcement came from the school. It was approved by the president. The majority agreed to it. She couldn¡¯t overturn something like that based solely on her preferences or opinions. She couldn¡¯t let her affection for cats¡ªa mere emotion¡ªdictate her leadership. ¡°No matter what the school¡¯s announcement says, there has to be a way, Iris.¡± Ian said, his tone softening. His gentler voice slipped into Iris¡¯s ears, wrapping around her thoughts. A way. A way to nullify the announcement. Unconsciously, Iris began reviewing the school rules and administrative orders in her mind. At that moment¡ª ¡°Vice President! Get a hold of yourself! You¡¯re not acting like yourself today!¡± Her aide¡¯s outburst snapped Iris back to reality. ¡°No. Ian ckangers, this meeting is closed to outsiders. Leave immediately.¡± Iris pointed toward the door, her usualposure firmly restored. ¡ô The calm, collected expression now returned to Iris¡¯s face. ¡®¡­Did I fail?¡¯ Clicking my tongue softly, I bit the inside of my cheek. So appealing to emotions doesn¡¯t work? Just a moment ago, she seemed almost convinced. Usually, people like Iris, who seem cold on the outside, are warm and soft on the inside. I had tried to wedge into that softer part to sway her, but it looked like I came up short this time. ¡®Well, she isn¡¯t supposed to be an easy character to deal with in the first ce.¡¯ Still, it feels like I got her halfway there. And honestly, that¡¯s enough. Enough to move to n B. I scanned the members seated in the room. Roughly a third of them looked like the type to favor animals and nature. Perfect. Time for n B. Beside Iris, one of her subordinates was grumbling. ¡°Get out, Ian! Now!¡± I ignored them and walked further into the meeting room. The tables were arranged in a ¡®U¡¯ shape. ¡ª Swoosh! Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the center. ¡°Wh-what are you doing?! Get out right now¡ª!¡± The subordinate¡¯s voice was drowned out entirely by my own as I raised it to full volume. ¡°All animal lives are precious! Cat lives are precious too!¡± The room fell into stunned silence. Taking advantage of the quiet, I raised my voice again. ¡°Even the smallest lives matter! And cat lives matter just the same!¡± Realizing what I was doing, Silvia rushed up to stand beside me, adding her voice. ¡°All animal lives are precious. Cat lives are precious too!¡± She winked at me as if to say, Nice one. Smart as always. We continued in unison. ¡°Come on, everyone!¡± ¡°¡±All animal lives are precious. Cat lives are precious too!¡±¡± Elena, who had been hesitating by the door, finally shuffled forward and mumbled nervously. ¡°¡­This feels like some kind of propaganda rally.¡± ¡°Join in, Elena.¡± ¡°But I¡ªI¡¯m technically part of the student council¡­¡± Elena¡¯s appearance caused a ripple through the room. Some members started whispering to each other, visibly swayed by her hesitation. Then, after a brief pause, Elena raised her voice. ¡ªAll animal lives are precious. Cat lives are precious too! Her deration seemed to spark something. More people in the room began to pick up the rhythm I had intentionally introduced. Some started murmuring the chant under their breath. The atmosphere shifted, tilting in our favor. The growing momentum was impossible to ignore. Just as the energy reached its peak, Iris, who had been silently observing, raised her hand. ¡°¡­Everyone, stop for a moment.¡± Her voice was calm, steady, and immediately silenced the room. All eyes turned to her as she spoke. ¡°I will put the cat disposal n on hold for 24 hours.¡± ¡°Wh-what?!¡± Her subordinates were visibly shocked. Iris, however, was unwavering as she delivered her deration. ¡°I¡¯m invoking my authority as Vice President.¡± Chapter 197 ¡°The n to deal with the cats will be postponed for 24 hours under the vice president¡¯s authority.¡± At Iris¡¯s words, the meeting room stirred. The first to react was, unsurprisingly, her close aide, who was always at her side. ¡°But, Vice President! This isn¡¯t like your usual judgment!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯spletely different! Besides, this ¡®cat disposal n¡¯ has already been announced by the academy with approval from the student council president! For us, the working staff, to suspend its effect isn¡¯t a trivial matter! You¡¯re aware of that, Vice President!¡± ¡°Beckett, calm down and listen to me.¡± ¡°No! The Vice President must have been deceived by Ian ckangers! You mustn¡¯t fall for his sly tongue!¡± Beckett, Iris¡¯s aide, pointed at me as she raised her voice.I bowed my head slightly. ¡°¡­ Thanks for thepliment.¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Beckett shot me a sharp re before turning back to Iris. ¡°I can¡¯t ept the Vice President¡¯s behavior today! This decision has no grounds whatsoever. Right now, you¡¯re being far too emotional!¡± With arms crossed, Beckett fumed, clearly upset. Watching her, Iris let out a deep sigh. ¡°Beckett.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I am the chairperson of this meeting. The decisions are mine to make.¡± Her words were calm, but the content was firm. It was essentially a deration of, ¡°I¡¯m your superior.¡± Beckett, previously indignant, shrank back slightly, looking chastised. ¡°And.¡± Iris continued with a resolute tone. ¡°It is an emotional judgment. The Academy¡¯s regtions contain provisions for the temporary suspension of announcements.¡± ¡°¡­ Such a provision exists?¡± ¡°The regtion regarding the enforcement of ordinances. It states that enforcement can be dyed for 24 hours if there is a gathering of five or more individuals. This is the regtion you¡¯re in charge of managing, Beckett.¡± At Iris¡¯s exnation, Beckett fell silent, looking as though she¡¯d been struck speechless. To be fair, it wasn¡¯t unreasonable for her to feel wronged. Just because she managed the enforcement of ordinances didn¡¯t mean she had memorized all the rted regtions. The fact that Iris had memorized it all¡­ well, that was unusual. Or maybe she was just a genius. The genius vice president turned her gaze to me. ¡°Ian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°What you just did¡ªraising your voice in protest¡ªis something I, as the vice president, recognize as a valid gathering. And there were more than five people chanting the same words, right?¡± ¡°There were.¡± ¡°Then the condition for a gathering of five or more is met.¡± ¡°¡­ Looks like it.¡± Iris stood up. She walked over to a stack of documents on the side of the room, rummaged through them, and pulled something out. ¡°Write this down.¡± [Petition for Objection] I filled out the form she handed me and returned it to her. Iris returned to her seat and announced. ¡°As the vice president, I officially ept this petition. The implementation of the n to capture the cats will be postponed for 24 hours, and no rted actions should be taken during that time.¡± The attendees, who had been staring at her in a daze¡ªexecutives andmittee members¡ªnodded in unison. ¡°Understood.¡± Iris, looking satisfied, turned to me. ¡°Does this suffice?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Now, please leave. There are many other matters to address.¡± I nodded and turned to leave. As I was about to exit, Iris called out behind me. ¡°Ian.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The student council estimates that there are at least 1,000 cats on campus.¡± ¡°24 hours won¡¯t be enough, then.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I need to find Danya. At the same time, I¡¯ll have to think of a way to extend the time. As I pondered, Iris spoke again. ¡°If 300 or more people gather, a general assembly will be convened.¡± ¡°Vice President¡­!¡± Ignoring Beckett¡¯s voice, Iris continued. ¡°In that case, the academy, the student council, and the assembly representatives would all convene. Depending on the oue, any ordinance could be overturned.¡± With that, Iris put her sses back on, which she had briefly removed. ¡°Although it¡¯ll make the student council busier, give it a shot.¡± With a wave of her hand, Iris dismissed me and returned her attention to the documents before her. ¡ô [Remaining Time: 24 hours] Current Time: 6 PM. ¡°If there¡¯s a ce with a lot of cats, it has to be that spot!¡± Elena actively suggested an idea. ¡°That ce?¡± ¡°Yes! There¡¯s a spot on campus known as the ¡®Cat Hill¡¯.¡± Cat Hill? It was the first I¡¯d heard of such a ce. And then there was Elena¡¯s overly confident expression. For some reason, I couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious. ¡°¡­ Brother Ian! Are you doubting me? Your face doesn¡¯t look great right now.¡± ¡°To be honest, yes.¡± ¡°Gasp! But it¡¯s true¡­! I walk by there all the time, and I have to be extra cautious! Otherwise, the cats swarm all over me!¡± Ah, right. Recalling Elena¡¯s ¡°cat ma¡± tendencies, I let her take the lead. ¡°Lead the way. I¡¯ll grab a few things from the clubroom first.¡± On the way, I stopped by the clubroom and picked up tools that might help capture the cats. I also grabbed a few things Danya might like. As I headed off to join Elena¡¯s group, I heard a familiar voice. ¡°Ian!¡± From a distance, Lina was waving her hand and running toward me. It seemed she had seen the message just in time. With Lina now joining us, we headed to the location Elena had mentioned. Calling it a ¡°hill¡± was generous¡ªit was more of a grassy slope on campus. At the entrance, Silvia stood, visibly restless. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Silvia?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s just, Ian¡­¡± Uncharacteristically, she seemed flustered. I followed her gaze and quickly understood why. Atop the hill, a strange yellow ball was rolling around. No, to be precise. ¡ª Meow! ¡ª Meo! ¡ª Meoww! It was a mass of cheese-colored cats, huddled together. And at the center of it¡­ ¡°Ahhh! Help me, siblings!¡± ¡­Was unmistakably Elena. A short distance away, ckie sat watching the scene, its gaze cold and indifferent. It was a surreal sight, to say the least. Using Elena as bait, we managed to ount for around 70 cats. Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t find Danya. ¡ó [Time Remaining: 18 hours] Current Time: Midnight The full moon shone brightly in the night sky. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Elena copsed face-down on the ground as we walked. A cheese-colored cat perched on her head like it owned the ce. ¡°There are just too many cats¡­¡± I gently lifted the cat off her face. Silvia tried using a search spell with some yarn she¡¯d brought from Danya¡¯s house, but there was no reaction. It wasn¡¯t Danya. I marked the cat¡¯s neck with a faint ck symbol to indicate it had been checked. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Elena. Go home and rest now.¡± ¡°But¡­ there¡¯s no bait better than me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you that, but I¡¯ve brought catnip. It¡¯ll be fine. For now, rest. We need to prepare for the long haul, and you¡¯re crucial to the n.¡± ¡°Then¡­ alright¡­¡± With that, I sent the utterly exhausted Elena home. ¡°Let¡¯s continue searching, then.¡± Silvia said, rolling up her sleeves. But I stopped her. ¡°Silvia, you should go home and rest too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still fine.¡± While she wasn¡¯t swaying or nodding off like Elena, it was clear she was fatigued. She had cast dozens of search spells throughout the day. It would¡¯ve been strange if she weren¡¯t tired. ¡°I really think you should rest.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be better to have one more person helping to search?¡± ¡°No. Besides, there¡¯s something I need you to prepare.¡± ¡°¡­Prepare?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll likely need to move on to the next step soon.¡± ¡ó [Time Remaining: 12 hours] Current Time: 6 a.m. We had found around 200 cats so far. None of them were Danya. The looming deadline was bing all too real. In the distance, the sun began to rise. ¡°You should go rest now too, Lina. With daylight, it¡¯ll be easier to see.¡± ¡°But Ian, what about you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to staying up all night.¡± And I truly was. After Lina left, I stood alone, facing the next stretch of the hunt. ¡ª Meo! ckie, who had been dozing off on my shoulder, suddenly perked up. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s give it one more push, shall we?¡± ¡ª Meow! ¡ó [Time Remaining: 8 hours] Current Time: 10 a.m. We¡¯d searched through around 400 cats so far. ¡®There¡¯s no end to this.¡¯ I¡¯d thought we¡¯d find a lead by the time we were halfway through, but the number of cats on the Academy grounds was far greater than I had anticipated. Who could possibly have let so many cats loose here, and how did they do it without anyone noticing? ¡°Let¡¯s stop the search here for now.¡± Silvia and Elena, who had rejoined me earlier, turned to look. ¡°But Brother Ian, there¡¯s still time. We can¡¯t give up yet¡ª¡± ¡°Do you have a new n?¡± Their reactions differed, but Silvia¡¯s question aligned with my current thoughts. ¡°We need a more systematic approach.¡± I¡¯d started to notice patterns in the cats¡¯ behavior. If Danya had turned into a cat, her rationality would likely be on the brink as well. In this vast sea of felines, a new n had formed in my mind¡ªone that made sense. The downside? It would take at least several dozen hours to execute. ¡°We¡¯ll need more time.¡± I nodded. With roughly 8 hours left until the ¡®cat disposal n¡¯ resumed, the solution to this situation had already beenid out by Iris: a general assembly with 300 or more participants. The only thing left was to take the necessary preliminary steps. ¡°I¡¯m here to file for a protest.¡± At the student council¡¯sint desk, I was met with a familiar face. The girl who had shown me hostility yesterday¡ªJeckett. ¡°You¡¯re here to file a protest? Jeckett.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Beckett! At least get my name right!¡± Ah, that¡¯s what it was. ¡°Alright, Beckett.¡± ¡°Fine! I figured you¡¯d show up. Here, fill this out.¡± Surprisingly, she handed me the protest application form without resistance. The hostility only returned after I handed her thepleted form. As she stamped the form, she nced up at me and smirked. ¡°You know something?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No protest in the academy¡¯s history has ever reached more than 100 participants.¡± She chuckled, amused by her own statement. ¡°You¡¯ll be no different, Ian. 300 participants? Pfft. You won¡¯t even get close to 100.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And you¡¯ve got less than six hours left. It¡¯s impossible.¡± Hmm. That was an interesting piece of trivia. But I wasn¡¯t worried. Why? I leaned in close and whispered to the smug Beckett. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what a real protest looks like.¡± Chapter 198 ¡°Ahahaha!¡± The clear and youthfulughter of a boy filled the air. Yet thatughter soon shattered, dispersing coldly against the stone walls. Inquisitor Javert. The boy crouched down, wiping away blood stter from his face. ¡°Brother¡ªno, straymb, you don¡¯t want to end up like that sheep over there, stripped of not just its wool but its skin, do you?¡± ¡°Mmmph! Mmmph!¡± ¡°Then just speak honestly. What are you releasing in Lichten?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­!¡±¡°Haa. This won¡¯t do.¡± There was no visible movement. Javert¡¯s hands didn¡¯t even stir. Yet¡ª Thud! With a dull sound, arge man copsed onto the stone floor. ¡°If only everyone would talk when I ask nicely, I wouldn¡¯t have to keep searching for new people.¡± Javert looked up at the blood-stained stone wall and grinned brightly. ¡ô ¡°A gathering. Hosting a gathering for the first time.¡± Elena muttered absentmindedly, walking aimlessly after leaving the student council hall. ¡°Have there been gatherings before?¡± ¡°Yes, there have been a few small ones! Usually, gatherings are considered minor headaches for the student council. Neers like me would just ask the participants to disperse, and it¡¯d usually end quickly. Sometimes, there wasn¡¯t even a need to step in.¡± ¡°Hmm. Do they usually not attract many people?¡± ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ve been dispatched twice, and both times, there were fewer than three attendees. So, to be honest, I¡¯m scared. Gathering 300 people feels impossible.¡± I see. Indeed, most of the students at Lichten Academy are sharp ande from influential families. Convincing such people isn¡¯t easy. Now we¡¯re tasked with gathering 300 of them. ¡°Haah¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t me but Elena who sighed. ¡°As a member of the student council, participating in a gathering feels¡­ unsettling.¡± ¡°Understandable, I suppose.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll just slip away quietly¡ª¡± ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± You¡¯re not going anywhere. Every person counts. ¡°But can¡¯t we just pay people to gather?¡± At my question, Elena looked horrified. ¡°Absolutely not! That¡¯s out of the question!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure, but anyway, no!¡± Silvia stepped in to exin instead of Elena. ¡°You could be prosecuted under imperialw for conscripting private forces.¡± ¡°Conscripting private forces?¡± ¡°Yes. Offering money to gather people in a public space, for any reason, is strictly prohibited by imperialw. This isn¡¯t just a matter of school regtions.¡± ¡°What a shame.¡± ¡°It is.¡± Beside us, Elena stomped her feet anxiously. ¡°What should we do, brother? I don¡¯t know how to hold a gathering! I don¡¯t even know how to bring people together!¡± Elena spoke, but Lina seemed to agree silently. Meanwhile, ckie, perched on my shoulder, was dozing off. Silvia crossed her arms, her expression serious. ¡°We have less than six hours left. Gathering 300 people won¡¯t be easy, especially if it¡¯s for a politically charged purpose. We need to act quickly.¡± A cold, calcted analysis. Silvia¡¯s icy tone hit the core of the issue. It was a sharp reminder that we were alreadyte. Considering the peculiarities of Lichten Academy¡ªwhere gathering people is particrly challenging¡ªit was clear that our situation was dire. ¡°But I decided to take a slightly different approach.¡± ¡°A different approach?¡± Silvia tilted her head in curiosity. ¡°We¡¯re not going to hold a gathering.¡± ¡°Then what are we doing?¡± ¡°A protest.¡± ¡°A protest¡­?¡± Silvia narrowed her eyes as if questioning the distinction. Unable to hold back, Elena interjected. ¡°What exactly is a protest?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit more intense and fun than a gathering. We gather, sing songs, and light candles when it gets dark.¡± ¡°Oh¡ª.¡± Elena, ever simple and excitable, was immediately intrigued by the idea. That¡¯s what a protest is like. From the outside, it may seem intimidating, but once you step in and participate, it¡¯s often fun. Humans are social creatures, and emotions spread easily in such settings. Sometimes, protests escte to violence, but I don¡¯t n to go that far. The goal is just to create a space where people cane together and have fun. With a few meaningful slogans and signs, of course. ¡°But this seems prettyplicated. Will people really gather in suchrge numbers within six hours? If I saw a big crowd, I might feel a bit intimidated myself.¡± Lina tilted her head, raising a fair point¡ªshe had a knack for understanding social dynamics. ¡°A protest isn¡¯t all thatplicated.¡± ¡°Notplicated? How so?¡± The group, except for Danya, looked at me with puzzled expressions. Silvia was among them, her curiosity evident. ¡°Protests are a form of fashion.¡± ¡°¡­ What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about making participants feel cool and important for being part of something.¡± A well-designed sign with a catchy slogan. Holding it gives participants a sense of superiority, like they¡¯re part of something meaningful. The sense of belonging from being surrounded by like-minded people eventually pulls them into the protest itself. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit materialistic?¡± Silvia¡¯s critique was sharp, and I nodded. ¡°In a proper protest, it¡¯s true that people gather out of genuine conviction. But.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°What we¡¯re doing is different. We need to gather as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t make them understand our purpose right away, we¡¯ll appeal to their sense of style instead.¡± Silvia tapped her chin thoughtfully and murmured. ¡°¡­ That sounds almost too urate.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Ian¡­ you might actually be a genius.¡± ¡­ What? Caught off guard by the unexpectedpliment, I barely noticed Elena sidling up to me with sparkling eyes. ¡°So, how do we do this protest? It¡¯s my first time!¡± Her eager gaze sparkled like stars. With that kind of enthusiasm, there was nothing to worry about. Before arriving here, I had seen and learned plenty of things. That¡¯s why I sent Silvia ahead earlier¡ªto prepare for this moment. ¡°Silvia, did you bring the things I asked for?¡± ¡°Yes, they should be delivered to the za by now.¡± As she said, the supplies had arrived at the central za. ck signs with white letters¡ªperfectly Instagrammable. They looked great for photos but also suited the silent protest concept we were aiming for. ck disposable masks to match the theme of a quiet, solemn demonstration. And candles to light as night fell. With this, everything was ready. ¡°Oh, right.¡± I opened Kirtos and searched for a name. ¡ô Lichten Academy Newspaper Club. Chief Editor: Brody. Upon receiving Ian¡¯s message, Brody grabbed her camera and rushed to the central za in front of the academy¡¯s main student council building. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Brody adored Ian ckangers. Absolutely adored him. Wherever he goes, he creates stories worth writing about. The revival of the Lichten Academy Newspaper Club¡ªits newfound glory¡ªis over 90% thanks to Ian ckangers. ¡°What kind of stunt is he pulling this time?¡± Was her heart pounding from running, or from the anticipation of Ian¡¯s next unpredictable move? Brody couldn¡¯t tell. She arrived at the central za, panting heavily. ¡°Huff¡­ Huff!¡± Bending over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath, Brody finally raised her head. And she was stunned. The once in and boring za had been transformed into something extraordinary. The dimming sunlight blended with warm orange halogen lights, casting an atmospheric glow. In this moody setting, a girl bustled about energetically. ¡°Many cats are being driven to their doom. Why not extend a small hand of kindness? Join us and help save these poor cats!¡± ck cat ears. A ck mask. A ck tail. It was Lina Rosewell, holding signs and masks in her hands as she moved through the crowd. ¡ª Click! Without realizing it, Brody raised her magitech camera and captured the moment. The image of Lina on her camera was wless, like a magazine photoshoot. Her striking appearance was part of it, but more than that, the entire atmosphere of the ce was captivating. Passersby began to gather, drawn by the scene¡¯s unique charm. Then, a young girl rushed over to Brody. ¡°Donations can be made over he¡ªugh!¡± The girl¡¯s enthusiasm was abruptly interrupted as Ian ckangers, the very man who had summoned Brody, grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. ¡°Calm down, Elena. You made it, Brody? Ignore her; she¡¯s too excited and doesn¡¯t even realize what she¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ yeah.¡± Still dazed, Brody shook her head and asked Ian. ¡°Is this¡­ some kind of festival?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not a festival¡ªit¡¯s a protest.¡± ¡°A protest?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ian began to exin. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about the Academy¡¯s announcement to dispose of stray cats, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard.¡± ¡°I want to stop it. Cats are precious living beings. Actually, it¡¯s not just cats¡ªall life is precious, no matter how small.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°For the sake of all life, I want to protect the cats.¡± Ian nced around, and Brody followed his gaze. More than 100 people had gathered. All wearing ck masks. Holding candles. Carrying ck signs with elegant lettering. [ Together with Cats ] [ Even Small Lives Matter ] [ Stop the Removal of Cats ] Brody, who had been snapping photos fervently, suddenly thought¡­ ¡°Ah.¡± She wanted to join the protest herself. ¡ô ¡°Mmmng!¡± Beckett stretched and nced at the documents she had been reviewing. [ 19:00 ] The clock¡¯s hands pointed to 7 PM. Ian ckangers had only one hour left of the 24 hours given to him. Beckett stood and stepped out of the student council building, heading for the central za. ¡°Three hundred people? There¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve done it. Honestly, I bet he couldn¡¯t even gather ten.¡± Pfft! With a light scoff, Beckett quickened her pace toward where Ian was supposed to be. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Underground of a certain building. In the darkness, two men concealed in the shadows were having a conversation. ¡°The execution order will soon be carried out.¡± ¡°Then, we don¡¯t need to do anything else, right?¡± ¡°Keep monitoring the progress. Don¡¯t forget His orders.¡± ¡°Ah, senior, you know me better. Do you think I¡¯d neglect that? I¡¯ll handle things properly.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± The cold muttering of one man was met with the smirk of a younger, somewhat brash man¡ªor rather, a boy¡ªwho paced around,ughing. ¡°Ha! Our boss really is something else.¡±¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it brilliant? Kidnapping the ¡®Seeds¡¯ all at once to use them as offerings is difficult, so they polymorphed them into cats, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Indeed. If you¡¯ve got a brain, you¡¯d understand that much.¡± ¡°Senior, you underestimate me too often.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you¡¯re in my position.¡± ¡°Anyway¡ªonce we gather these and execute them, the offering will beplete. Sacrificing dozens of cadets at once like this¡­ kuhuhuhu!¡± The youth clutched his face, bursting intoughter. The older man, startled by his outburst, let out a small sigh. ¡°What¡¯s the status on the Inquisitors?¡± ¡°They¡¯re closing in, bit by bit.¡± ¡°Any loose ends?¡± ¡°We¡¯re cutting them clean, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± The man crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. The cold, damp surface pressed against his back. ¡°Lichten Academy could be blown to pieces.¡± His superior would undoubtedly be pleased. ¡ô Ian¡¯s Protest Notification at the Academy The location was the central za of Lichten Academy¡¯s first student council building. ¡°I¡¯ve been under a lot of stresstely.¡± Beckett¡¯s footsteps were unusually light as she walked toward the za. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to mock you thoroughly, Ian ckangers.¡± A notice about disposing of the cats. And to counter that, Ian proposed gathering 300 people? Impossible. ¡°87 people.¡± The highest attendance at a protest at the academy in the past 30 years was 87 people. That, too, was a highly unusual urrence. What kind of ce is Lichten Academy, after all? It¡¯s a school that gathers the most talented students on the continent. Even a single cadet here, by society¡¯s standards, is worth at least as much as a small guild. And to gather such individuals under a ¡°political cause¡± for a protest? ¡°Maybe if you tempt them with money¡­¡± Offering tens of thousands of Krone in wages might attract a few dozen cadets whock funds, but such a move would tantly vite continentalw. Therefore. ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Ian ckangers.¡± Beckett nced at the distant statue in the central za, nodding as she continued walking. To be honest, Beckett didn¡¯t harbor any deep hatred for Ian ckangers. Sure, there had been some minor annoyances earlier in the semester¡ªhis reputation, akin to trash, was indeed off-putting, but that was about it. The current anger directed at him wasn¡¯t personal dislike. Instead: ¡°Vice President Iris¡­¡± Vice President Iris. The eldest daughter of Lichten¡¯s leading family. Alwaysposed, professional, and admired by all¡ªa paragon of excellence. Beckett¡¯s ire stemmed from the fact that Ian, someone who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, had shaken the object of her admiration. Perhaps it was closer to jealousy. ¡®I¡¯ve worked so hard by her side, assisting her diligently, yet she hasn¡¯t paid attention to me¡­¡¯ Meanwhile, Ian had simply barged in, uttered a few words, and effortlessly captured the Vice President¡¯s attention. ¡°Infuriating.¡± Even thinking of the way Iris looked at Ian filled Beckett with jealousy that bubbled uncontrobly. To enchant the one and only Iris, who should be hers alone¡ª. ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Step by step. Just around this cornery the central za. ¡°Hehe.¡± Before even rounding the corner, Beckett was already smiling. The surroundings were eerily quiet. If around 300 people had gathered, there should have been amotion audible from this distance. After all¡ª ¡°Canceling an academy notice isn¡¯t something that happens so easily.¡± Even if a notice led to the death of one or two cadets, it would merely serve as grounds for reconsideration, nothing more. Calling for a review of the Academy¡¯s decision through a protest? ¡°Pfft¡ª!¡± Beckettughed lightly as she turned the corner, only to stop dead in her tracks. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Her eyes were drawn to the za. Countless small candles illuminated the za. Each me was held by a cadet, one hand gripping the candle and the other holding a sign with white letters on a ck background. [Cat lives matter] [A nature-oriented academy] [Revoke the unteral Academy notice] The slogans were a clear rebuttal to the recent notice regarding the disposal of the cats. The number of participants was staggering, their candlelight bright enough to light up the entire area. ¡°W-What is this¡­?¡± Beckett stumbled, falling to her knees without realizing it. ¡ô ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± I left the group of participants for a moment and walked over to where Beckett sat. Spotting her sitting on the ground, I extended a hand. ¡°Sitting on the grass vites school regtions.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Stand up. A student council enforcement officer shouldn¡¯t behave like this.¡± ¡°I-I know that!¡± Blushing furiously, Beckett pped my hand away and got up on her own. Then, pointing a trembling finger at me, she shouted. ¡°H-How on earth did you gather so many people? Did you threaten them?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then you must¡¯ve bribed them! I knew it! Ian, you scoundrel! That¡¯s a serious offense¡ªif reported, you could end up in jail for¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then how did you¡­!¡± I was about to answer Beckett¡¯s flustered question when two Academy students cautiously approached me. ¡°Uh, excuse me, do you know what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°We¡¯re holding a protest to save the cats.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The two female students nced around at the demonstration before turning back to me. ¡°Can we join? Do we get candles and signs too?¡± ¡°Hey! You¡¯re supposed to ask that subtly¡­!¡± I smiled and handed them picket signs, masks, and candles. ¡°Of course. Please return them after the protest ends. Over there, Brody is taking photos¡ªfeel free to have yours taken as well.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Come on, hurry!¡± The two eagerly joined the protest with their pickets and candles in hand. I turned back to the dumbfounded Beckett, speaking calmly. ¡°This is how it happened.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Beckett¡¯s face was filled with shock, resembling the expression of a child witnessing magic for the first time. She pulled out a small notebook and began scribbling furiously. ¡°Protest organizer, Student Ian ckangers, correct?¡± Her tone had suddenly turned formal. I nodded, responding properly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You did not provide marypensation to any participants?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°And all attendees agree with the political purpose of the protest? Actually, there¡¯s no need for you to answer that¡ªthe fact that they¡¯re holding those signs implies consent.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°You even invited the newspaper club to record everything¡­¡± Krrr. Beckett bit her lip, closing her notebook with an audible snap and tucking it into her pocket. Beckett pulled out a small magitech device, a counter with a red button and a numeric disy. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A headcount device.¡± She muttered briefly before walking into the crowd. ¡ª Click! Each time she pressed the button, a faint light emanated from the device, scanning the area. The counter on the disy climbed steadily as she scanned the crowd. Meanwhile, I gathered the Dessert Research Club members and Silvia. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Brother?¡± ¡°Beckett is doing a headcount right now.¡± Elena, ncing around, spotted Beckett and let out a small exmation. ¡°What if we¡¯re short on numbers?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Judging by a rough estimate, we could likely exceed 300 participants. If not, well, I had a few backup ns¡ªeven if it meant bending the rules a little to gather a few dozen more people. More importantly¡ª ¡°I have instructions for you all.¡± ¡°Just say the word. We¡¯ll follow it.¡± Silvia and Elena nodded in agreement. I looked around at the group and continued. ¡°Elena, Lina, once Beckett finishes her count, immediately start searching for the remaining cats. Take ckie with you. He can track scents simr to Danya¡¯s fur.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Understood, Brother.¡± At first, they¡¯d been nervous about this kind of task, but now they¡¯d be reliable partners who could handle it with ease. ¡°And Silvia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Silvia, as always, was someone I could trust entirely, no matter the situation. That¡¯s why I assigned her the moreplex task. ¡°Once the notice is overturned, we¡¯ll need to search the entire Academy grounds for the scattered cats all at once.¡± ¡°¡­Is there a way to do that?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need certain materials for it. I¡¯m counting on you to gather them.¡± I handed her a note. She scanned the list for a moment and then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll try to get these as quickly as I can.¡± ¡°Thanks. Use my personal funds if necessary. The priority isn¡¯t cost but¡­¡± ¡°Speed and uracy. I understand.¡± After finishing preparations and sending them off, I returned my focus to Beckett. Beckett reached the final row of participants, her counter steadily ticking up. ¡°¡­.¡± She paused, staring at me for a moment before turning back to the crowd. ¡°298.¡± Her expression and bodynguage were hard to read¡ªpartly furious, partly dazed. ¡°¡­299.¡± She pressed the counter one more time, almost mechanically. ¡°300.¡± Beckett slowly lowered her hand from the counter, her gaze nk as she turned back to face me. ¡°I¡¯ll admit it, Ian ckangers.¡± ¡°Admit what?¡± She swallowed hard, her throat moving visibly, before bowing her head slightly. ¡°I lost. This is your victory.¡± Chapter 200 Beckett. The apology from the student council officer was as precise and immacte as one could hope for. Her reasons for being wary of me, her feelings toward Iris, and various other truths¡ªshe summarized all of it in under three minutes. Watching her, I couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°As expected of a student council officer.¡± But receiving an apology wasn¡¯t my priority. ¡°I already know. What you need now is swift action, right?¡± Beckett was well aware of that as well. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the announcement¡¯s enforcement. As long as you, Ian, have met the conditions, the execution will be postponed indefinitely until a temporarymittee is convened.¡±¡°A temporarymittee?¡± ¡°Yes. Amittee will be assembled to evaluate the appropriateness of the announcement. Its members will include professors, student affairs staff, the student council, and you, Ian, as the initiator.¡± Suddenly, an idea shed through my mind. If the person who turned Danya into a cat was someone within the Academy, they might be connected in some way to the individuals involved with the announcement. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, they must be watching from somewhere.¡¯ If I could convene the meeting immediately, perhaps I could root out the person responsible. ¡°Can we hold it right now? There must be qualified people on duty or otherwise avable.¡± ¡°Yes. Since it¡¯s an emergency meeting, everyone is already being contacted.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Beckett nodded and gazed at me silently. ¡°But¡­ can I ask you one question?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Why are you going to such lengths? Is there a cat in the academy that you¡¯re particrly fond of?¡± I calcted quickly. Would it be wise to reveal that Danya had gone missing? ¡®No.¡¯ I had no idea who had turned Danya into a cat. It could be someone from the student council, the administrative office, or even among the professors. I decided to withhold as much information as possible while pursuing the truth in reverse. No matter who the perpetrator was, caution was essential. ¡®If this is some sort of terrorist act¡­¡¯ The main scenario, ¡°The Witch Hunt¡±, had already begun. The person who did this to Danya would surely also be the culprit of the main scenario. ¡ô ¡¾Emergency Meeting Convened¡¿ A meeting regarding the following announcement has been called. Relevant professors and staff are requested to assemble immediately at the designated location. Faculty building of the Knight Department. ¡°¡­Hah.¡± A quiet sigh escaped from a lit research room. ¡°Things aren¡¯t going as nned.¡± The professor drummed his fingers anxiously on the desk. Tap. Tap. Tap. Various thoughts raced through his mind. Still, he tried to steer his thinking in a direction most advantageous to him. ¡®My role was only to push for the cat disposal announcement.¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s nothing more I need to involve myself in. That was the extent of the contract.¡¯ But uneasy thoughts often tend to align with reality. As he pressed his fingers against his eyelids in frustration, there was a knock at the door. -Knock, knock-knock, knock! A distinct rhythm. Soon, as always, a small note slid in through the gap under the door. A printed note with no identifiable handwriting. The professor picked it up. [Ensure the announcement is enforced. All cats must be disposed of and gathered in one ce.] As expected. Anxious thoughts are never wrong. ¡°¡­What do they think themittee is for?¡± The conditions for convening amittee to annul an announcement were notoriously strict. In other words, once convened, it was hard to stop. Still, the professor had no choice but to go through the motions. Especially after receiving that note. ¡°Damn it.¡± He cursed under his breath, throwing on his coat. If there was a silver lining, it was that the meeting hall wasn¡¯t far from his researchb. ¡ô Emergency Temporary Committee The members gathered for the emergency meeting looked weary. In a room with one prominent seat at the head and seven chairs arranged in a semicircle below it, the atmosphere resembled a courtroom. One of the seven seated participants spoke up. ¡°Was it really necessary to summon us so urgently?¡± The voice was oily,ced with irritation. The speaker was a professor, stout to the point of being rotund. Beside him, a sharp-featured individual nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s not as though the announcement would harm anyone. At most, if there were to be unjust damage, it would affect stray cats. And those are ssified as pests, after all.¡± ?? Grumbles of dissatisfaction filled thete-night meeting, hastily convened. ¡ª Bang! Bang! The gavel¡¯s sharp sound from the head seat silenced the murmurs. The chairman of themittee was an elderly professor with striking white hair, once the vice-dean of the academy and now a senior advisor. Respected by all, he was the natural choice to oversee this emergency session. ¡°I understand your frustration. But this matter pertains to the academy¡¯s regtions. It won¡¯t take long, so please,pose yourselves.¡± The grumbling died down, as the chairman¡¯s authority carried weight. ¡°We all agree that the announcement was issued far too hastily, almost as if it had been inserted into the system without due process.¡± He continued, ncing at a document summarizing the situation. His gaze suggested that the conclusion of this meeting was already forming in his mind. ¡°Bring him in.¡± At hismand, a young man entered the chamber. Though he looked somewhat haggard, his posture was steady andposed. Standing at the center of the room, he briefly scanned his surroundings before bowing politely to the chairman. ¡°I am Ian ckangers.¡± Though rebellious in demeanor, he carried himself with respect. The chairman gave a small nod, deeming Ian¡¯s first impression satisfactory. ¡°Very well. Why have you called for this assembly?¡± The chairman deliberately cut to the chase, testing whether Ian¡¯s calm was genuine. Ian responded confidently. ¡°I could not agree with the academy¡¯s announcement advocating for the indiscriminate disposal of cats.¡± ¡°You consider their lives significant?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± The chairman paused, studying Ian. To him, Ian didn¡¯t seem like the sentimental type to be moved by the plight of animals. ¡°Even if they¡¯re just wild animals?¡± Ian¡¯s mind raced. Their lives are precious, too. That would be the expected response. But it wasn¡¯t the truth for Ian. Only one cat mattered to him¡ªDanya. The chairman¡¯s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through to the truth. Ian chose his words carefully, offering a response that would justify his actions andpel the chair to nullify the announcement. ¡°With all due respect, Chairman, you shouldn¡¯t use the word ¡®just¡¯ in this context.¡± His reply stirred murmurs in the room. A student, correcting a senior professor¡ªone of the Academy¡¯s most esteemed figures? ¡°How dare he¡­!¡± A staff member began to protest, but the chair raised a hand to silence him, signaling for Ian to continue. ¡°Why do you think the word ¡®just¡¯ is wrong? Is it anger at describing the lives of wild animals as ¡®just¡¯?¡± ¡°No, sir.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°A student of the academy has, for the first time, challenged the validity of an announcement. Oveing severalplex and seemingly impossible conditions in the process.¡± The chairman¡¯s eyes glimmered with interest at Ian¡¯s response. ¡°Are you talking about public sentiment?¡± ¡°Exactly. If the academy administration wishes to continue using the term ¡®student autonomy,¡¯ then it should at least consider my perspective.¡± ¡°A threat, is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it politics.¡± Tremble. The chairman¡¯s hand trembled slightly, visibly agitated. Is he angry? The staff and faculty seated around the room subtly distanced themselves. ¡°Ha! Hahahaha!¡± Suddenly, the chairman burst into loudughter. ¡°What an amusing young man.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an excellent reason. Whatever your argument may be, it¡¯s not our concern. The real question is this: What should we focus on?¡± ¡°The strength behind the argument, of course.¡± ¡°Precisely! That¡¯s it. Most students don¡¯t grasp that. You, however, are quite sharp.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, sir.¡± The chairman nodded in satisfaction and surveyed the professors and staff gathered around him. ¡°So, does anyone have a differing opinion?¡± Silence. The chairman¡¯s deration that the content of Ian¡¯s argument wasn¡¯t the focus left no room for nitpicking. Finally, the stout professor, hesitant butpelled to speak, said. ¡°Having heard this, there seems little to refute. Adjusting the announcement is a manageable matter.¡± ¡°Indeed. There¡¯s no need toplicate things unnecessarily. However¡­¡± The chairman¡¯s gaze fell on another professor, whose difort was palpable. ¡°Professor Engelgard, do you have something to say?¡± Engelgard, a professor from the Knight Department, sat with dark circles under his eyes, his expression clouded with unease. His lips twitched slightly before he finally spoke. ¡°I find it difficult to agree.¡± ¡°In what respect?¡± ¡°The very notion of students influencing the Academy¡¯s announcements at their discretion¡ª¡± The chairman cut him off. ¡°Professor Engelgard.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Three hundred students gathered to hold this assembly. Not randomly, I assume?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Engelgard¡¯s gaze lowered slightly. ¡°Could you, professor, rally the agreement of 300 individuals for this matter?¡± ¡°¡­No, I could not.¡± With that, Engelgard fell silent, though his dark eyes bore into Ian. ¡°Then we¡¯ll conclude this temporarymittee meeting. The announcement is hereby nullified.¡± Bang, bang, bang! The resounding strike of the gavel echoed throughout the hall. Chapter 201 ¡°Senior¡­ We failed. The n to dispose of the cat won¡¯t be executed.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± The man, addressed as senior, kicked a nearby building pir in frustration. ¡ª Thud, Crumble Dust flew everywhere, and bits of stone fell to the ground. He brushed off his leg and muttered under his breath. ¡°¡­ What on earth is that professor doing?¡± ¡°Apparently, he tried but couldn¡¯t make it work.¡± ¡°Hah. A bunch of idiots whose heads are filled with nothing but academics.¡±¡°Senior, but Professor Lichten used to be¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior.¡± The senior¡ªEvan¡ªlet out a rough sigh. Everyone around him was an idiot, no exceptions. In hindsight, maybe they should have resorted to forceful measures. ¡­ No. Evan shook his head. ¡®That person¡¯ must have a purpose behind every order. They were nothing but loyal servants who carried out thosemands. That person demanded the blood of more seeds and instructed their agent on how to collect it. If that¡¯s the directive, then so be it. Evan crossed his arms, lost in thought. Everything was Ian ckangers¡¯ fault. The failure during thest Blooming Event was a painful one. He still couldn¡¯t understand why those higher-ups despised him so much. ¡®If I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll kill him.¡¯ Evan¡¯s musings were turning into anger when his subordinate interrupted. ¡°So, what do we do now, Senior?¡± ¡°Somehow, we need to gather the cats. We¡¯ve already turned the seeds into cats; there¡¯s no alternative.¡± ¡°And once we gather them¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯ll kill them all at once.¡± ¡°And if another variable shows up, like someone like Ian¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Evan rolled up his sleeve, revealing a ck crow emblem on his forearm with the number 5 engraved below it. ¡°Now it¡¯s time to resort to force.¡± ¡ô After themittee meeting, I gathered the scattered group of students. ¡°Huff- Ian, Brother Ian! Huff! Did you really cancel the notice?¡± Elena ran over, panting as she asked. ¡°Catch your breath first.¡± ¡°Inhale¡ª exhale!¡± ¡°Yes, I did. The stray cat capture notice has been revoked.¡± ¡°Amazing! This is the first time I¡¯ve seen something like this during the student council¡¯s term! As expected of you, Brother Ian!¡± Watching her bounce with excitement, I scratched my chin. It wasn¡¯t such a big deal. More importantly¡­ ¡°Any trace of Danya?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t find Sister Danya!¡± Elena babbled on, and Silvia chimed in from beside her. ¡°Same here. I prepared everything Ian requested, but the area is too vast, and there are too many individuals.¡± I had expected this. ¡°What do we do now¡­? If we can¡¯t find Sister Danya like this¡­¡± Elena drooped her head in disappointment. I patted her head and spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find her, no matter what.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve searched so much and still can¡¯t find her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because our search method is too weak.¡± ¡°¡­ Weak?¡± Yes. Up until now, our search methods hadcked impact. Searching through the cats one by one¡­ It was practically relying on a stroke of luck. ¡°I have a slightly more destructive method in mind.¡± ¡°De-Destructive¡­?¡± Elena trembled, her wide eyes twitching at the word ¡°destructive¡±. I gave her a light smile and stepped toward the items Silvia had prepared. ¡°Everyone, gather around. I¡¯ll give a quick briefing.¡± Elena and Lina, their faces full of curiosity, tilted their heads in unison. Silvia crossed her arms, focusing intently on me as though dying to know what her gathered items were for. I wasted no time getting straight to the point. ¡°We¡¯re going to gather all the cats in the academy into one ce.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°All the cats. In one location. We¡¯ll find Danya among them.¡± The group looked at me as though I¡¯d lost my mind. ¡°How?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°If we search one by one, some will inevitably slip through. But if we gather them all in one ce, Danya will have to be among them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant¡ª¡± Lina gulped, gathering her courage to ask. ¡°How are you nning to gather all the cats in one ce?¡± Lina, who usually led conversations with agreement and empathy, now sought an exnation. She must have been genuinely intrigued. ¡°I made an interesting discovery.¡± With those words, I pulled Elena forward. ¡°???¡± Elena¡¯s expression practically screamed confusion as I pushed her bangs aside to reveal her forehead. ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± ¡°Elena¡¯s forehead is irresistible to cats.¡± As if to prove my words, a ck cat darted toward Elena¡¯s exposed forehead. ¡°All the cats lose control around Elena¡¯s forehead. Even ckie here, who has exceptional self-restraint, couldn¡¯t help it. Elena is our secret weapon. But that¡¯s not all.¡± I began exining the items Silvia had prepared, holding them up one by one. They had been procured in record time. ¡°Here we have catnip, silver vine, and a cloth that captivates cats¡¯ attention. And to top it all off¡­¡± I carefully took the special items Silvia handed me. One was a small, incense-like object, and the other, a music-box-like device. The incense was Denia¡¯s Lure, an item designed to attract specific monsters. While it¡¯s typically used to lure and eliminate monsters, by limiting its effect to cats, it could be an invaluable tool for gathering them. The music box was The Piper¡¯s Music Box, which simrly attracted certain animals¡¯ attention. This, too, could be highly effective. Both were rather expensive, but¡­ ¡®This isn¡¯t the time to worry about money.¡¯ These items were created for gathering monsters scattered across a field, so their effectiveness was guaranteed. ¡°With all of these, we¡¯ll be able to gather every cat in the Academy.¡± I looked around at my teammates. Their initial skeptical expressions had softened into hesitant but hopeful ones. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a bad n, Brother Ian¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth trying.¡± That was good enough for me. Once we set it in motion, the sight of cats flocking to us would speak for itself. At that moment, Elena raised her hand excitedly. ¡°Wait, does that mean I have to run around with all this stuff, Brother Ian?¡± ¡°No, you won¡¯t need to do that.¡± Because Silvia had prepared for this as well. ¡ª Screeech! A vehicle rolled to a stop in front of us. It was arge, rugged magitech off-road car with massive, heavily treaded tires that looked ready to tackle even the harshest desert terrain. ¡°Wow¡ªwhat an expensive car!¡± ¡°Yeah, renting it cost quite a bit.¡± ¡°Can I drive it?¡± Elena¡¯s eyes sparkled as she asked, her voice brimming with excitement. I nodded benevolently. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re the star of the show, Elena.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so moved!¡± Well, not exactly. ¡°I¡¯m even more moved. Elena, your self-sacrifice is truly extraordinary.¡± ¡°Haha! This Elena is a faithful servant of Deus¡ªwait a moment. Sacrifice?¡± Elena¡¯s gaze trembled as she looked at me. Then, her eyes shifted back to the vehicle. Her attention was drawn to the cross-like frame on top of the car. It was equipped with ropes sturdy enough to securely tie someone down. Elena stared at it uneasily for a moment, her shoulders trembling as she shook her head. ¡°Surely not.¡± ¡°Not what?¡± ¡°I believe in you, Brother Ian. You wouldn¡¯t be so cruel.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just sit in the back seat, yes?¡± Elena pointed to the perfectly normal back seat. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then¡­ the front seat? I¡¯m short, so my peripheral view would¡ª¡± ¡°Elena.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes, Brother Ian.¡± ¡°You know where you need to sit.¡± Elena clenched her eyes shut. ¡°¡­ Just tie me up gently, please.¡± ¡ô ¡ª Sssaaa! Cool wind brushed against my face, refreshing and exhrating. ¡°So this is the charm of driving.¡± Silvia muttered, holding her windswept hair beside me. I agreed. It had been a long time since I¡¯d felt this kind of speed. Not that it was particrly fast, but still. The one truly experiencing the thrill of speed, however, was elsewhere. ¡°Ahhhhhhhh!¡± The piercing scream came from above. Elena, of course. I leaned out the window to check on her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Brother Ian!!!¡± ¡°You seem to be enjoying it.¡± Satisfied with her ¡°status,¡± I turned my attention back to the scenery. Behind the vehicle was an impressive sight: countless little furballs with short legs chasing after us. At least several hundred cats were sprinting to keep up, a veritable feline stampede. We wove through the academy grounds, dodging bewildered cadets gawking at the unusual procession. ¡°Once we round that building and turn right, we¡¯ll reach the end. There¡¯s arge za where we can gather all these cats.¡± Afterpleting the final turn¡ª ¡ª Screech! The magitech vehicle came to a smooth stop. I quickly got out, ready for what was toe. Meow! Hiss! Mro! A deafening cacophony of meows followed, as the swarm of cats barreled toward us. No, not us¡ªElena. Whoosh! The moment was surreal. Like a synchronized wave, the entire feline army leaped toward her. Silvia murmured in awe beside me. ¡°It¡¯s like a rain of cats.¡± It was truly a spectacle. Chapter 202 ¡°Eeek!¡± Watching the swarm of cats pouring in, Elena hurriedly untied the rope. ¡®She can untie it by herself?¡¯ I was about to climb onto the car to free her hands, but there was no need¡ªI shouted instead. ¡°Elena! Don¡¯t run too far¡ªjust circle around inside this za!¡± ¡°Brother, just die already!!!!¡± Even as she said that, Elena was earnestly running circles around the za. As expected, she listens well. The countless cats following behind her began to form a long circle.¡°That¡¯s really a lot¡­¡± Lina muttered nkly. They were cats numbering well over hundreds. It¡¯s no surprise they¡¯re densely packed. ¡ª Meo! ¡ª Meow! All of them, with crazed eyes, chased after Elena. The catnip scent calmly applied all over Elena. The monster-attracting items tucked into both of her pockets. Above all, Elena¡¯s unique trait¡ªa broad and shining forehead. Elena, leading over a thousand cats as she ran, seemed quite an extraordinary person. In a peculiar sense, that is. Lina, who had been staring nkly at the scene, asked, ¡°How are we supposed to find Danya here?¡± The most reliable method is, as expected, Silvia¡¯s search magic. As soon as I turned to look at her, she nodded immediately. It¡¯s reallyforting to have a teammate who¡¯s in sync at times like this. An incantation flowed from Silvia¡¯s lips. ¡°Please, illuminate the path for us.¡± It¡¯s been quite a while since I¡¯ve heard her chant. Given the wide-open space and the need to target multiple subjects, silent casting would have its limits. Soon, with a bright sh, light spread out in all directions. Brilliant beams of light filled the expansive za. ¡°Wow. Each one of these beams is a search spell¡­¡± Considering that a typical search spell consists of a single beam of light, Silvia¡¯s skill right now is undoubtedly overwhelming. Silvia, adjusting the beams with her eyes closed, murmured. ¡°It seems she¡¯s among them. I¡¯ll focus a bit more.¡± Swish! Her beams of light moved as if scanning the cats. At that moment. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Elena, who was running around, was body-mmed by a cat and fell over. ¡ª Meo! ¡ª Meow! Simultaneously, the cats began to swarm over her fallen body. A mountain of cats began to pile up. ¡°¡­¡± Silvia¡¯s brow twitched as she adjusted the beams. If the targets ovep too much, the search magic bes meaningless. However. ¡ª Meow! Elena was gradually getting buried. Her figure grew faint. Though I had prepared an oxygen mask for her, so she should be okay. ¡°¡­ Phew.¡± Silvia¡¯s search magic was lifted. It means further magic is meaningless. Half-exhausted, Silvia asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What should we do¡­?¡± ¡°No, you did well. Take a rest.¡± Since we¡¯ve realized that Danya is here, we can¡¯t say it¡¯s fruitless. But how to find Danya among them¡ªthat¡¯s another problem. While I was lost in thought for a moment. Something pressed repeatedly against my cheek. ¡ª Meow ¡°ckie, hold on a moment. Let me think.¡± ¡ª Meow Poke, poke. This time, a slightly stronger cat punch. ¡°Ow! Why all of a sudden¡­¡± He¡¯s not usually like this. I looked back at ckie. Raising his head arrogantly, he poked downward with his paw. ¡°What¡¯s there?¡± Following his gesture, I lowered my head. There was a cat rubbing its head against my leg. An orange tabby cat¡ªthe only one not following Elena. The little one looked up at me and purred softly. Its tail, with pink fur tinged with yellow, swayed gently. Even its light green eyes, like a forest just beginning to sprout. ¡°Danya?¡± I had found her. ¡ô ¡°¡­ Is that really Danya?¡± Lina lightly bit her lip and looked up at me and the cat. It was more concern than doubt. ¡°I thought Danya would be a bit more pink¡­¡± That¡¯s understandable. After all, that¡¯s the image of Danya. It¡¯s hard to be certain just because her tail is longer, fluffier, and closer to pink than other cats. But I know. I have proof that this little one is Danya. Not just a few physical characteristics. The way she rubs her face against me, her ears fluttering as if pleased. Her tail wrapping around my waist. And moreover. ¡°Even the raspy movement of her tongue¡ªthis is Danya.¡± re. For some reason, sharp gazes pierced me from around. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go ahead and put her tongue in?¡± Even in her exhaustion, Silvia shot me a scornful look. Avoiding her gaze and swallowing hard, I picked up Danya. Danya, in her happily purring polymorphed cat version. ¡®How do I turn her back?¡¯ Swish, Swish. Danya was batting at my swaying bangs with her paws as if they were foxtails. At a nce, she was closer to being a cat in her current state. The fact that she came to me instead of following the other cats chasing after Elena might be the only part where Danya remains herself. ¡®If that¡¯s the case, her condition is more serious than I thought.¡¯ Polymorph magic has side effects. The transformation of the body also affects the mind. Normally, since the caster casts the spell on themselves, it¡¯s typical to minimize side effects with proper preparation. ¡®But Danya was forcibly transformed.¡¯ That means it¡¯s hard to even guess what Danya¡¯s current state is. She must be under significant mental influence, and in severe cases, she might remain in a cat-like state and not be able to return. Perhaps the only constion is that Danya isn¡¯t being dragged along in the procession toward Elena. ¡°¡­¡± I have to find a way to return Danya to normal as soon as possible. I lifted Danya to examine her. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t seem injured. But then. ¡°¡­ Wait a minute.¡± What is this mark? On Danya¡¯s back, ck fur in the shape of a crow had grown, like a tattoo. ¡°Oh, I saw a cat with this kind of mark while searching.¡± ¡°Me too. Only a very few cats had simr patterns.¡± Silvia and Lina, who approached me, chimed in. Suspicious. This definitely smells fishy. The symbol of a crow. Because I know what this means. ¡®¡­The executives of the Bloodstone Cult.¡¯ Those who have achieved the so-called ranks of ¡®dignity¡¯. They have a crow symbol somewhere on their bodies. If they are rted to this incident. ¡®This situation itself is the main scenario.¡¯ The main scenario, ¡¾Witch Hunt¡¿ It means I¡¯m right in the middle of it. Along with the hostage, Danya. ¡­ Think. ¡¾Witch Hunt¡¿ is an episode that unfolds starting with the academy terror incident. There¡¯s no way the higher-ups of the Bloodstone Cult randomly inscribed crow symbols on the cats¡¯ backs. Surely, these cats are rted to some kind of terror plot. Especially those with the crow symbol. In the end, it means they n to use them somewhere¡­ ¡®The disposal notice.¡¯ The recent notice about disposing of the cats. That was distinctly different from the usual Academy notices. If we assume that the main viins of this scenario issued that notice? Why would they bother engraving a crow symbol on the cats, only to dispose of themter.. ¡°Ah.¡± An unrestrained sigh escaped my lips. ¡°Are you okay, Ian?¡± Lina asked beside me, and Silvia watched me with concern. With my mind nk from the shock, I instinctively spoke. ¡°It¡¯s a sacrifice.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± They looked puzzled. I murmured as if talking to myself. ¡°A sacrifice. They¡¯re nning to offer these cats as sacrifices to summon something. No, maybe the goal isn¡¯t summoning but absorption.¡± ¡°What on earth are you talking about¡ª¡± Ah, they won¡¯t understand if I exin it like this. I gathered my scattered thoughts. ¡°Suppose these cats with crow symbols were originally all cadets who were forcibly polymorphed.¡± Lina widened her eyes as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. Only Silvia frowned and spoke. ¡°¡­ And if the sudden notice to dispose of the cats was intended by someone.¡± ¡°Right. They turned humans into cats and nned to gather them in one ce to dispose of them.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s still a question. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to catch and polymorph them one by one, processing and gathering them individually? Why go through the trouble of capturing them all at once to do something?¡± ?? ¡°Exactly. Why indeed?¡± At my words, both fell silent for a moment. Then they spoke simultaneously. ¡°¡±Sacrifice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Answering, I moved my steps. ¡°A sacrifice requires the location, the targets, and the timing to all align.¡± ¡°Us gathering the cats like this might have disrupted their n.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± In urgency, my feet moved on their own. Looking for something likes to capture all the cats, I gave orders. ¡°We have to confine all the cats. Catch every single one without exception.¡± Over a thousand cats. ¡°How are we supposed to confine them¡­?¡± Lina was flustered. Even Silvia looked at a loss. Think. How can we confine them¡­ ¡°Build a wall.¡± ¡°A wall? In a za this huge?¡± It¡¯s understandable to be surprised. This ce is a gigantic za, as big as four ser fieldsbined. But. With my current mana. With my skill, it might be possible. I immediately knelt on one knee on the ground. I visualized it. An earthen wall high enough that the cats couldn¡¯t easily jump over it. ¡ª Rumble Rumble Rumble! A vibration felt from deep underground. I pulled it up as is. If I confine the cats in one ce as I wish, the scenario won¡¯t progress. If I can build the wall while Elena monopolizes the cats¡¯ attention¡­! At that moment. ¡ª Ca! An ominous crow¡¯s cry was heard. In the blue sky, a crow was flying in circles. ¡ª Ca! The ominous cry sounded once more. At the same time. ¡ª Whoosh! All the cats jumped up at once. Chapter 203 One day ago. After arguing with Silvia at the Dessert Research Club room, Danya headed back to her dormitory. ¡°Hmph! Silvia acts like she¡¯s his wife or something.¡± Silvia Laurent. A girl backed by a continent-wide merchant guild. Danya knew well thatpeting with her wouldn¡¯t be easy. Just now, Ian needed Silvia more than herself. That¡¯s why she had conceded to Silvia. Still, she was confident that her feelings for Ian wouldn¡¯t lose to anyone. That¡¯s why Danya didn¡¯t feel intimidated in front of Silvia.¡°Hmph!¡± But she couldn¡¯t help feeling jealousy andpetitiveness rising. Danya tossed her clothes onto the sofa. She nned to quickly wash up and then leisurely devise a strategy. A strategy to keep Ian from being taken by another woman. ¡°Ah, I haven¡¯t eaten yet, nyah.¡± After washing up, Danya poured some cereal and sat at the table. As she waited for the cereal to soak in milk, Danya fell into thought. Silvia¡¯s recent actions were clearly unusual. Somehow, Ian¡¯s embrace carried her scent as well. There¡¯s a high chance that the two of them have slept together. ¨C Heh Heh Her heart ached a bit, but Danya held it in. ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯re married¡­¡± She had learned that the human world was like that. Around capable men and women, many admirers would flock. Ian was more than capable. She had no intention of ming Ian just because flirty women were around him. Such people would always cling when they sensed opportunity. Sometimes even formidable ones like Silvia. She was simply trying to make Ian hers for sure now. ¡°¡­Yes, I have to cheer up, nyah.¡± Danya scooped a handful of cereal and munched vigorously. Eat well, exercise diligently. Danya thought that the more she wanted to cling to Ian, the more she should focus on improving herself. Besides, after all, she was the one who had spent the most time with Ian¡­ ¡ª tter! She flinched. Feeling the hair on her tail stand up, Danya put down her spoon. Just now, she definitely sensed a presence. The source of the sound was inside the room. This was the dormitory where Danya lived alone. ¡°¡­¡± Danya carefully moved backward. She stood up quietly, making no sound. She focused all her senses on her hearing. ¡ª Thud Thud. She definitely heard a sound. A thief? A robber? Or¡­ a kidnapper? Countless possibilities rose and faded in her mind. ¡®Should I run away?¡¯ Danya shook her head. If they intended to harm her, they would have attacked at a more precise timing. ¡®I need to assess the situation.¡¯ With that instinctive judgment, Danya approached the door of the room where she sensed the presence. Ready to flee if necessary. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the door. ¡ª Creak. The door opened with a very slight noise. She immediately pointed her bow and shouted. ¡°¡­ Who¡¯s there, nyah!¡± Swish¡ª swish swish! Danya quickly scanned the room at considerable speed. ¡°¡­ Ah.¡± She let out a somewhat hollow sigh. There was no sign of anyone in the room. Only a crow perched on themp next to the bed. Was she being too sensitive? It probably came in through the open window. ¡°Come here.¡± With a sigh, Danya approached to catch the crow. She intended to grab it and let it fly out the window. She was used to catching birds. Whoosh! At the moment Danya lunged toward the crow. ¡ª Sluuurp. The crow¡¯s beak opened wide. Danya suddenly felt chills run down her spine. Because inside that beak, it seemed as if endless darkness was sleeping. It was so deep that she felt she might be sucked in. ¡ª Ca! Then came the crow¡¯s cry. Danya lost consciousness right then and there. . . . After that. Her rationality returned only asionally. Once, when she opened her eyes, she was atop a tall tree. Another time, she was licking water by the riverside. ¡®¡­ A cat?¡¯ Only then did Danya realize she had transformed into an orange cat. But even that thought flew away along with her sanity. The more such incidents repeated, the more Danya felt it. That her rational mind was gradually fading. That she was slowly bing a cat. A day passed like that. A brief return of consciousness. ¡ª Shimmer! She saw a gleaming forehead. A forehead so tempting to lick that she couldn¡¯t help herself. When she came to her senses again, she was already chasing it. ¡ª Nyahhh! Once more, when she regained consciousness, she was on the verge of catching up. ¡ª Tap, Tap! Just as she was stepping toward that shimmering forehead. ¡°¡­ Even if Danya is among them¡­¡± A familiar voice came from afar. It wasn¡¯t a voice calling out to her. But. It was a voice she had to remember, even if her mind was clouded. Danya¡¯s steps halted. Thud. Thud. Other cats bumped into her as they passed by. But she didn¡¯t care. Because Danya¡¯s interests were no longer the same as theirs. She began walking toward Ian. She approached his leg. This scent, this touch. Danya liked this more than any temptation. ¡®Yes. The one I love is Ian.¡¯ From that thought, her rationality gradually returned. She regained control over her body. Just when she thought she could somehow resolve this situation. ¡ª Ca! The crow¡¯s cry echoed. She remembers nothing after that. ¡ô I wasn¡¯t just imagining things. The crow¡¯s cry was particrly ominous. ¡ª Whoosh! All the cats leaped simultaneously. It was more like a scene from a horror movie than an amazing spectacle. In the split second my body wavered as I tried to assess the situation. Danya jumped out of my arms. ¡°Danya!¡± She widened the distance in an instant, just like the agile Danya I knew. I never thought Danya would get away from me. Pushing all thoughts to the back of my mind, I reflexively spread an electromaic field on the ground. Whoosh! The movement skill [Leap], now as familiar as breathing. The distance between Danya and me closed rapidly. Her figure growingrger. Just when I thought I could catch her. ¡ª Gulp! A chilling sensation swirled around me. Instinctively, I twisted my body. Swish, Swish! The impact from the unstablending hit me. But the important thing wasn¡¯t the impact itself. ¡ª Thud! The shadows that had filled the ground rose up. They covered the spot where I had just been. ¡°¡­ Damn.¡± What on earth is that? I stared nkly at the ck form. It looked like a gigantic mouth. Pitch ck, as if it had swallowed all the light, just like something that had sprung from the shadows. The shape disappeared back into the shadows. Then. ¡ª Ca! A crow burst out from the shadows and snatched Danya. A series of events that happened in a split second, making it hard to regain my senses. Shooting Ether at the crow was almost an instinctive action. I aimed precisely at its wing. ¡ª Ca! It easily dodged, as if it had eyes on its back. But I can¡¯t let it go like this. ¡°Silvia! Use a tracking spell! Cast it on Danya!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A straight beam of light flew toward Danya, who was being carried away. The pure white light enveloped her body and then vanished. With this, we can track Danya¡¯s location for a while. ¡°Let¡¯s follow them!¡± ¡ô A dark space where dry stone dust swirls. But its height and width are so immense that it¡¯s hard to estimate. Tap, tap. Cold footsteps filled the silent space. They continued for a while with an eerily consistent rhythm. The footsteps were drowned out when a man spoke up. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s amazing that Senior Evan is personally drawing a Level 5 magic circle.¡± ¡°Shut up and either help or get lost over there.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The scolded man¡ªIsaac¡ªquietly went to stand in a corner. Although his nature was cheerful and at times unstable, he followed Senior Evan respectfully. Even though Evan was cold and heartless, whenever Isaac was with him, something interesting always happened. Even now. What Evan was drawing was a magic circle with a radius of 30 meters. Considering that the power of a magic circle is proportional to its size¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t get to see something like this just anywhere, do you?¡± Just the excitement alone was enough for Isaac to suppress his urges. ¡°Isaac. If you have time to babble, go check the surroundings again.¡± ¡°You worry too much, Senior. This is a B-grade Academy security zone. No one can enter recklessly. The procedures take more than a day to get through.¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t there a sewer?¡± ¡°Only something like a cat could get through¡ªit¡¯s too small.¡± They had done thorough preliminary research on the location. This was a huge cavity located beneath the center of the Academy. It was the perfect ce to performrge-scale ck magic. ¡°I see.¡± Even the perfectionist Senior agreed, so there should be no worries. ¡°By the way, what if the professors swarm in, Senior?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Screech! Evan carefullypleted thest stroke of the magic circle. Then he stood at its very center. ¡°Barrier Expansion.¡± A cold and heavy incantation. ¡ª Wobble A thin membrane spread out, along with a sensation as if the world was submerged in water. The range extended precisely up to the area guarded by the security of the restricted zone. ¡°No one will notice what happens inside here.¡± Their setup was nowplete. Chapter 204 We followed Danya¡¯s trail. The destination was the entrance to a massive sewer system. Iron bars blocked our way. The gaps between them were too narrow for a person to squeeze through, but a cat might manage to slip inside. ¡°It looks like the cats went through these gaps.¡± Silvia shone her light forward. It was a giant sewer, with a diameter of at least three meters. There was no noticeable odor. ¡®Not that it would have stopped us if there was one.¡¯Is there a way to open this door? It seemed like the type that required a key to be inserted in one corner of the bars to unlock it. With bars like these, I could probably just cut through them. As I took a stance, Elena stopped me. ¡°Calm yourself, Brother! I can open it!¡± Ah, right. For some reason, Elena always had a knack for picking locks. She fiddled with the lock here and there, and with a sh of white light¡ªclick! The lock opened easily. ¡°Well done, Elena. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± We opened the iron gate and entered. As expected, it was dark inside. Silvia cast a light spell, just bright enough to show the surroundings and the silhouettes of those nearby. It was the right decision to keep our presence concealed. Water trickled down the channel, and we followed the narrow path beside it. ¡°This way.¡± The path wasplex, but we didn¡¯t need a guide. Silvia¡¯s magic was clearly tracking Danya¡¯s location. ¡°Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve heard scary things live in the academy¡¯s sewers.¡± Lina said nonchntly. She must have picked up the rumor while chatting with friends. Elena reacted with rm. ¡°S-scary things? Like monsters?!¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Whaaaat?!¡± Elena started trembling. Silvia, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke calmly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± ¡°S-so, it¡¯s just baseless rumors?¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s a possibility of mutations, but I doubt they¡¯d be that dangerous.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°There are hundreds of research projects at Lichten Academy. Among them, there must be unregted waste, some of which likely flows into the sewers. Animals exposed to such substances could mutate¡ªthat¡¯s easy enough to imagine.¡± ¡°Whaaaat?!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s more likely they¡¯d get sick rather than stronger due to such ¡®idents.¡¯¡± ¡°S-so scary!¡± Instead of calming Elena down, Silvia¡¯s matter-of-fact exnation made her even more frightened. Still, Silvia had a point. The academy¡¯s sewer system was a breeding ground for various mutated animals and nts. ¡®Usually, the nts here have unique effects.¡¯ For now, we were busy tracking Danya, but since we¡¯d cleared the entrance, it might be worthing backter for gathering. As for the animals, they weren¡¯t a big concern. As Silvia said, most substances were more likely to harm than empower. ¡ªSsh, ssh. I patted Elena on the shoulder tofort her as we moved forward. The further we ventured into the sewer, the louder our footsteps echoed. The air grew more humid, and the path narrower. ¡°¡­¡± Perhaps because of the earlier talk of mutations and monsters, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the shadows around us were unusually restless. Ever since encountering that unknown skill that emerged from the shadows, I¡¯d been particrly wary of them. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading deeper underground.¡± Silvia warned quietly. As she said, the sewer now sloped downward. As we descended the stairs, Lina asked. ¡°By the way, Ian, why did you throw mud at the cats earlier?¡± ¡°Yeah! I also saw you detonate it while summoning a wall, Brother. What was that about?¡± Ah. I hadn¡¯t exined that yet. I must have been too focused on tracking Danya to think about it. ¡°It was to disrupt their ritual.¡± ¡°Ritual?¡± ¡°Yes. The cats are likely sacrificial offerings, and some of the marks on their bodies are probably tools to amplify a particr spell.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That raven-shaped mark. If my guess is right, our opponent is formidable.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your guess?¡± ¡°High-ranking members of the Bloodstone Cult.¡± For a moment, there was silence. ¡°I can¡¯t say more for sure. Just stay alert.¡± I held back the words ¡®If you want to turn back, now¡¯s the time¡¯. Havinge this far together, none of them were the kind to entertain thoughts of turning back. Determination was clearly etched on the faces of my party members. We walked on for a while. ¡ª Woom I felt a faint, transparent barrier, almost imperceptible. I halted and expanded my mana. Something was definitely there. Silvia, who followed my lead in deploying mana, murmured. ¡°It¡¯s a barrier.¡± ¡°A barrier?¡± ¡°The kind that conceals any traces of activity within. It¡¯s often used for covert operations.¡± As expected, we were on the right track. But there was a problem¡­ ¡°We can¡¯t go any further.¡± The sewer had gradually narrowed until it was now an opening so small I could barely fit through. Elena could go a little farther, but she¡¯d likely hit a dead end soon. The air was damp and suffocating. I scanned my surroundings. There had to be a door somewhere for maintenance purposes. ¡­There it was. ¡°This way.¡± A sturdy iron door stood nearby. It didn¡¯t appear to have a lock. I pushed it open with a loud creak. Beyondy a long passageway that seemed to lead further underground. ¡°Who are you!¡± A startled guard standing in the passage immediately pointed his weapon at us. Of course. Was this an Academy security zone? A few possible scenarios crossed my mind. Elena, following behind me, gestured at the guard. ¡°A gatekeeper¡­!¡± ¡°Are you students?¡± Ahem! The guard cleared his throat, then spoke firmly while fixing his gaze on us. ¡°You cannot proceed beyond this point without official authorization from the academy.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re looking for arade¡ª¡± ¡°This area is a B-grade security facility. You¡¯ll need proper authorization to pass. That¡¯s all I can say. Frankly, I should be investigating how you even got out from there¡­¡± He nced at the door we¡¯d just exited before continuing. ¡°Curiosity is a dangerous thing. Turn back now, and I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see you.¡± He seemed eager to avoid trouble. Still, he didn¡¯t look like someone who could be persuaded with words. Elena leaned in and whispered. ¡°¡­Shall I take care of him, Brother?¡± Are you seriously a priest? As I covered Elena¡¯s mouth, Silvia quietly spoke. ¡°This barrier seems deliberately nned. It starts right behind where the guard is stationed. This means it¡¯s all part of their calctions. Likely, they¡¯re trying to buy time with these procedures.¡± I nodded in agreement. ¡®To buy time, huh.¡¯ That meant they were likely setting up a magic circle or something simr. Unfortunately for them, their strategy wasn¡¯t going to matter. I pulled out a small metal que I always carried in my pocket. The guard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡¯m an imperial knight! I won¡¯t be bribed¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bribe. Take a closer look.¡± The guard, still wary, epted the metal que and examined it. His eyes grew progressively wider as he inspected it. ¡°¡­A pass authorized by His Majesty?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°¡­Who exactly are you? Or rather, who are you?¡± His tone shifted instantly to formal speech. I shrugged and asked. ¡°May we pass?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, of course.¡± I ushered mypanions inside first. ¡°If you have a passage permit, yourpanions can also¡ª¡± ¡°I understand. You may proceed.¡± Of course. Power makes everything convenient. After passing the guard, we broke into a run. This seemed to be a passage following the sewer¡¯s course. ¡°Wait a second. There¡¯s a map here.¡± It was arge map mounted on the wall. The map revealed where we were headed. A massive cavern located beneath the very center of the Academy. ¡®So that¡¯s what it is.¡¯ I began to get a sense of how things were unfolding. A fitting ce for a boss fight. ¡°Everyone, get ready.¡± ¡ô Bloodstone Cult. 5th Disciple. Evan Kessler. He stood beside the massive magic circle he had drawn. Creak. He tilted his head and looked around. ¡ªHiss! ¡ªMeow! Cats poured in through the sewer openings from all directions. The channels, which should have carried flowing water, were instead filled with an overwhelming number of cats. ¡°¡­Hah.¡± A shortugh, almost like a scoff, escaped his lips. Despite numerous obstacles along the way, the n had been carried out wlessly. Ian ckangers. That meddlesome brat had slowed things down, but the n had been executed nheless. Not that it mattered now. In the end, Evan had gathered all the ingredients he needed. ¡°No, not my ingredients.¡± These were the materials ¡®that person¡¯ needed. Fresh blood and flesh from 33 young sprouts. And 1,333 cats. He had gathered exactly 33 students as the sprouts. As for the cats, he had simply ensured there were more than enough. ¡°Isaac. Dispose of the unnecessary ones.¡± ¡°¡­ Street cats are filthy.¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°Apologies, sir. I¡¯ll do it immediately.¡± ¡ªRumble. The ground trembled, and roughly half the cats turned to ash-gray dust, vanishing into thin air. Isaac, watching the scene, muttered under his breath. ¡°Senior.¡± ¡°This ritual¡­ it really is connected to the ¡®Void,¡¯ isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I heard it from Lady Blood Witch. The leader is targeting the ¡®Void.¡¯ That¡¯s why he reached out to the Second Prince¡¯s faction and the Celeste faction. If he seeds, then everything in this world will¡ª¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°Yes, senior.¡± ¡°You talk too much.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡± That was the end of it. The 9th Disciple. Isaac¡¯s shadow opened its mouth wide, grotesquely swallowing its own master. ¡ªCrunch! It happened in an instant. Isaac was gone, consumed by the shadow, leaving no trace behind. Evan, who had been watching the shadow, raised his head. A deep smile spread across his face. ¡ªWoom. The magic circle began to glow. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 205 ¡°Let¡¯s move a little faster.¡± I led the children swiftly down the narrow stone corridor. Tap, tap! At the same time, only one thought consumed my mind. [Shadow] A high-ranking member of the Bloodstone Cult who primarily uses shadows. ¡®Even at Fantasy X Academy, their true identity was never fully revealed.¡¯ Only a few traces and hints had been pieced together. Even those were fragmented clues rted to their abilities.Of course, I know the profiles of the executives to some extent, but not enough to make a definitive match. We need to proceed with maximum caution. ¡°¡­ Over here!¡± Elena, who was leading the way, pointed to a spot. Following her gaze, I saw an iron door. This must be the entrance to the vast empty space beneath the academy. ¡°Everyone, get ready.¡± This ce is practically no different from a dungeon¡¯s boss room. No¡ªthis might even be worse, closer to hell itself. That¡¯s the kind of beings the Bloodstone Cult¡¯s executives are. ¡ª BOOM! I forcibly swung the iron door open, and an eerie gust of wind rushed out. The interior felt less like a man-made structure and more like a cavern. We moved quickly while staying alert to our surroundings. ¡°Ah!¡± Elena, who was leading, suddenly stopped. A massive pile of rocks blocked our path. The rocky heap stood as tall as a four-story building. It was unmistakably an artificial structure created to obstruct the way. ¡°We might need to find another route. It¡¯s too steep and high to climb over.¡± Silvia said as she examined the wall. I followed her lead, tilting my head back to look up. Beyond the rocky wall, a faint red light was seeping through. It was the signature hue of the Bloodstone Cult¡¯s magic circle. ¡°We have to get over it. The ritual has already started.¡± ¡°But it looks so slippery¡­¡± The height was roughly 9 meters. It was within reach of a [Leap]. Good thing I practiced for moments like this. ¡°I¡¯ll go first and pull you up.¡± I maized both the floor and the wall. If I fine-tune the force just right¡­ ¡ª Whoosh! The ceiling rushed closer in an instant. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ I barely adjusted my posture, avoiding a collision with the ceiling by a hair¡¯s breadth. I need to get more used to this. ¡°Whoa¡ª!¡± Cheers rose from below. Everyone was staring up at me in awe, but now wasn¡¯t the time to linger. ¡ª Whoosh! The light from the magic circle was bing a deeper crimson, like blood. Twisting Ether like a rope, I tossed it down and shouted. ¡°Grab on and climb up!¡± Then I lowered myself back down. As I stepped onto a few rocks andnded, the scene ahead became fully visible. A vast cavern, with an enormous magic circle drawn at its center. It was painted in a blood-red color, as if crafted from life itself. And within it, countless cats had gathered. ¡°¡­ Ian ckangers?¡± A single nce was enough to tell the figure addressing me was immensely powerful. Despite the faint muttering, their words reached my ears with eerie rity. A man dressed entirely in ck, with deep blue hair. Even from a distance, his thin, sharp eyes and the heavy dark circles beneath them were striking. d in pitch-ck attire and carrying an air of exhaustion and gloom, I darted straight toward him. ¡°You¡¯re more impatient than you look.¡± He was clearly no ordinary individual. Even with me rushing at him, he didn¡¯t blink an eye. Meanwhile, the red energy of the magic circle continued spreading outward,pleting about half of the massive circr pattern. ¡®¡­ Damn it.¡¯ The distance was still too far for me to close with a leap. I stopped in my tracks, exhaling hard. Suppressing my breath, I shaped my Ether into a sharp, bullet-like form and fired it. ¡ª Shwick! The nearly invisible Ether whistled through the air. Its target: the man¡¯s forehead and shoulder. ¡°Oh?¡± With a short exmation, the man unfolded his coat. Thwip! Thwip! The Ether was effortlessly blocked. What is that¡ªsome kind of steel coat? ¡®¡­ Wait a second.¡¯ Could that possibly be the ¡°Bloodstained Balmacaan¡±? As the realization struck me, the man smirked. ¡°You recognize the true worth of this coat?¡± Of course. I knew its value better than anyone. Number 53: Bloodstained Balmacaan. It was an item I had sought to obtain myself. But acquiring that coat required jumping through significant hoops. You either win the maker¡¯s favor¡ªor kill him and take it. There were no other options. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you killed Dior?¡± ¡°Oh? A little runt like you knows about Dior? No wonder the higher-ups are interested in you. I¡¯m starting to see why.¡± ¡°What did you do to him?¡± ¡°What do you think I did?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I killed him.¡± Dior. The most renowned artisan on the continent. He had crafted over ten Numbers purely through his own skill. And the Bloodstained Balmacaan was one of his masterpieces, ranking in the 50s. If he were still alive, at least three more Numbers would have been added to his legacy. And you killed such a master craftsman? ¡®¡­ A side quest.¡¯ There¡¯s a side quest around this time. A mission to go to the imperial capital and guard the artisan Dior. Thoughbeled as a side quest, it was infamous among yers for its difficulty. Even with support from the imperial family and merchant guilds, you could only hope to drive the viin away. But if Dior is already dead¡­ ¡®That means this person is the viin of that quest.¡¯ ¡°Evan Kessler?¡± ¡°Oh? You even know my name.¡± ¡­ Damn it. What is this bastard doing here? Evan Kessler, Fifth Disciple of the Bloodstone Cult. One of the top five members of the cult. What¡¯s someone like him doing beneath the Academy? It might not make sense at first nce, but if the stakes are high enough, the picture changes. ¡°I can hear the wheels turning in your head.¡± Evan said, extending a hand. I reflexively rolled to the side. ¡ª Crash! A shadow shot up from the ground, mming into the cavern ceiling. Thud-thud-thud. Fine rock dust fell heavily around us. As expected¡ªthis guy really was a Shadow Caster. ¡°Quick reflexes, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Evan said, leisurely tucking his extended hand back into his coat. Seeing that, fragments of information about him floated to the surface of my memory, piecing themselves together. If this mysterious Shadow Caster turned out to be Evan Kessler, the Fifth Disciple of the Bloodstone Cult¡­ That fact alone filled my mind with countless realizations. For instance, Evan Kessler was monstrously strong¡ªso powerful that he was beyond my league. And, of course, he was someone who loved to show off. ¡ª Whoosh! Without hesitation, I activated [Leap] at full power. The space before mepressed, folding as if reality itself was bending. The disorienting sensation had be second nature to me¡ªa speed so fast, it was nearly indistinguishable from teleportation. Evan¡¯s back came into view. [Extract] [Transform] [elerate] Using my skills in tandem with the velocity from [Leap], I swung the Berserker¡¯s Shield with all my might. This was my most powerful, all-or-nothing attack. ¡®When the gap is this big, you have to end it in one hit.¡¯ Swinging a shield as a weapon meant leaving no room for retreat. This was a raw, destructive strike thatbined enhanced physical strength with sheer momentum. If itnded, it wouldn¡¯t matter who the opponent was¡ªthey¡¯d be pulverized. Not even the Bloodstained Balmacaan, with all its resistances, could withstand this kind of brute force. ¡ª KABOOM! A heavy impact rippled through my body, convincing me I had seeded. Even if Evan managed to block, the sheer shockwave should¡¯ve been enough to cripple him. But Evan¡¯s response surpassed all expectations. ¡ª Whoosh! His body melted into a ck, liquid-like substance, disappearing into the shadows of the ground. ¡ª BANG! BANG! BANG! Without a target, my attack mmed into the ground, unleashing all its energy into the earth below. ¡°Ugh!¡± The recoil forced a groan from my lips as pain shot through my body. Evan emerged from the shadows nearby, a mocking smile stered across his face. ¡°Hehehe. That was a decent attempt, kid.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll admit, when it first connected, I was surprised. That was an absurdly destructive attack. But you know what? Dodging it was just too easy.¡± His grin widened, his tone dripping with amusement as he watched me, shield buried in the ground like a failed jester¡¯s prop. But just as Evan raised his hand to mock me further¡ª ¡ª Crack-crack-crack! The sound of rocks splitting filled the cavern. The ground trembled lightly beneath us. ¡°¡­?¡± Evan¡¯s smirk vanished. His face twisted into urgency as he spun around. The reason was clear. The tremor originated from his magic circle. As the shaking subsided, the massive circle he had painstakingly crafted had be fractured, as though the ground beneath it had been disrupted by an earthquake. ?? The magic circle wasn¡¯t erased, but the surface it was drawn on had beenpletely warped, rendering it useless. Evan¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as he took in the scene. ¡°You damned little brat.¡± ¡°When working on the ground, you should alwaysy a solid foundation first,¡± I said with a smirk, standing up and brushing off the dust. ¡°Was this your n all along?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± With a sly grin, I locked eyes with him. ¡°I just happen to enjoy a bit of chaos myself.¡± Chapter 206 ¡°Whew.¡± I adjusted my posture after confirming that the magic circle had stopped functioning. My body felt a bit stiff, but the results weren¡¯t too bad. More importantly, the cats inside the magic circle appeared to be unharmed. But where was Danya among them? It wasn¡¯t easy to tell, as they were all copsed. In the end, Evan¡¯s objective must have been to activate this magic circle. For a sorcerer like him, having his prepared magic circle forcibly nullified likely left him with internal damage as well. Even if this wasn¡¯t the highest score I could achieve, it was still a solid performance. The deep scowl on his face proved it. ¡°You damned brat.¡± ¡ª Thud!Dust billowed behind him. The red flickering of the magic circle added to the ominous atmosphere. He raised his hand. ¡ª Boom! Instinctively, I raised my shield to block it, but before I realized it, I was sent flying backward. A heavy pressure radiated from my arm. The shadow of a wolf surged toward me, as if it intended to crush mepletely. I transformed the Lunar into the shape of a spear and thrust it into the shadow. ¡ª Ssshh! The form scattered like ck mist. ¡°How did you¡­ my shadow¡­?¡± Evan was visibly startled but quickly regained hisposure. That calm demeanor came from the experience befitting a high-ranking member of the Bloodstone Cult. However, I didn¡¯t let that moment slip by. When facing an opponent of his caliber, every single breath mattered. Even though he had taken damage from the destruction of the magic circle, he was the fifth-ranked member of the Bloodstone Cult. Compared to him, the likes of Richard, whose core had been shattered, weren¡¯t even a validparison. Every advantage, no matter how slight, had to be exploited to its fullest. ¡ª Whoosh! I pushed off the ground and leapt toward him. The space between us seemed to fold, shrinking in an instant. ¡°¡­!¡± At the halfway mark, just as he adjusted his stance to anticipate a body m, I reinforced my arm and swung it at him. Adding a second leap midair, I hurled my spear-like weapon with blinding speed. ¡ª Thwack! Blood spurted from his shoulder, apanied by the sound of impact. ¡°Keep going!¡± ¡°Guh!¡± Evan dove into a pool of shadows, re-emerging a few steps away. Exactly within the range I had predicted. I swung my shield at him, maintaining my trajectory. ¡ª Boom! This time, the blow struck him directly. Evan¡¯s body was violently flung backward. ¡®This is it.¡¯ Two consecutive hits. I instinctively knew I wouldn¡¯t get another chance like this. Without hesitation, I charged forward and grabbed Lunar from where it had fallen. I switched to Lunar¡¯s gauntlet mode, not bothering to sharpen it¡ªhe¡¯d just block it with his blood-imbued barriers anyway. I drove it straight into his face. ¡ª Thud! The heavy impact reverberated through my fist. Evan¡¯s head jerked violently to the side. ¡®Got him.¡¯ I had rattled his brain hard. He wouldn¡¯t have the presence of mind to defend himself properly now. I prepared to transform Lunar into a sharp form again and finish him off. Just as Iunched another strike¡ª ¡ª Clink! The spear-shaped Lunar stopped cold. No, it didn¡¯t just stop¡ªit felt as though it was caught on something. A pitch-ck shadow wrapped itself not only around Lunar but also my arm. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The moment Evan spoke, a chill ran down my spine. I immediately abandoned Lunar and retreated, widening the distance between us. ¡ª Boom! A massive shadowy maw erupted from where I had been standing, greedily devouring the ground¡¯s debris before disappearing back into the darkness. ¡°You¡¯ve been quick on your feet from the start.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you have some sort of sense for shadows?¡± I couldn¡¯t exin it either. Before every one of Evan¡¯s attacks, an uncanny premonition seemed to envelop me. ¡®¡­ Could it be because of the Authority?¡¯ The ck energy entangled in those shadows was undoubtedly the opposite of divine power, the hallmark of Authority. If this was indeed the effect of my Authority, then perhaps I had discovered a hopeful means of countering Evan. The shattered, uneven ground stretched between us as we locked eyes, maintaining our distance. Evan spoke again. ¡°Well, no use expecting an easy answer. From the moment the higher-ups showed interest in you, I knew there was something about you.¡± ¡°Higher-ups?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to know. You¡¯ll find out soon enough when I capture you and take you to them.¡± ¡°And you think I¡¯ll just let you?¡± ¡°Hmph, perhaps not.¡± He took a single step forward. ¡°You have quite the variety of attacks for someone calling themselves a mage. Honestly, you seem more like one of us. I think I¡¯m starting to understand why the Blood Witch and the cult leader are so interested in you.¡± ¡°Not sure what you¡¯re talking about, but I¡¯d rather not get involved with pests like you.¡± ¡°Pests.¡± Evan¡¯s face twisted in a scowl at the derogatory term for the Bloodstone Cult. In the blink of an eye, a massive sense of danger overwhelmed me. ¡ª Boom! His relentless onught began. Even sensing the attacks didn¡¯t make it any easier to block them. His strikes were fierce and left no openings. Dozens of shadowy fists rained down like an endless barrage. I used the Berserker¡¯s Shield to guard against critical areas and relied on Lunar and Ether for the rest. ¡ª ng! Thud! The sound of countless impacts filled the air. In the gaps between his strikes, I cast numerous spells. When Evan condensed and hurled shadows at me, I deflected them with my shield. Any fragments thatnded wrong tore up the ground, but I used the debris as a springboard, utilizing Leap to counterattack. Of course, Evan effortlessly manipted his coat to block my retaliations, but the cumtive effort was weakening his attacks. I used every brief pause to recover my stance and prepare to withstand his next deadly strike. Wounds etched themselves all over my body. The absolute focus required to survive made it abundantly clear¡ªI was standing at the edge of life and death. He was overwhelmingly strong. But at the same time, a surge of exhration swelled within me. The fact that I was holding my own, even slightly, against such a powerful opponent filled me with a strange thrill. Was this the joy of realizing my growth? Or was it a cynical reaction to a hopeless situation? I couldn¡¯t suppress the faint smile curling at the edges of my lips. I was enjoying this. Analyzing his relentless attacks, calcting my every move to survive¡ªthis process was elerating my growth at an astonishing pace. The sharp trajectories of his strikes, the asional graceful arcs¡ªthey were mesmerizing in their deadly precision. The fifth-ranked member of the Bloodstone Cult¡¯s attacks were nothing short of an art form. ¡ª Crack! A shadow that seemed to retreat suddenly coiled back, reaching to strangle me. Noticing its sinister intent at thest moment, I twisted my neck just in time to narrowly evade it. ¡°Kehehe!¡± ¡°You crazy b*stard!¡± I couldn¡¯t understand why he seemed more irritated than I was. ¡®This is sorcery, and therefore magic.¡¯ Each of his attack paths imprinted themselves into my mind, sparking a new understanding deep within me. This is it. It feels like I¡¯m uncovering a circuit within magic, much like the paths of my master¡¯s Snowke Swordsmanship. My foundation is the earth. Water, fire, wood¡­ Unlike other elements, the earth is the one element every human must inevitably stand upon. Unless you¡¯re falling from the sky, you can¡¯t escape the ground. ¡ª Thud! Even as the shadow I failed to block mmed my face, violently twisting my head, my focus remained on this realization. Earth. What is soil? Everything begins from the soil and returns to it. ¡ª Boom! A stream of dirt erupted from the ground, piercing through the shadows. ¡°¡­?¡± Evan looked at the thin column of dirt, his expression filled with confusion and disbelief. ¡ª Rustle! The column of dirt drew a semicircle around Evan andnded on the other side, cutting cleanly through the waves of shadows. As soon as the arc wasplete¡ª ¡ª Shhh! Fine strands of sand wove together, forming a web across the arc like capiries. ¡°¡­!¡± Before Evan could react, stems of earth burst forth in a pattern resembling snowkes, perfectly binding him in ce. All of his sorcery halted instantly. Evan blinked in bewilderment, seemingly observing his immobilized state. After a moment, he muttered. ¡°You brat¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Did you block all the paths of my magic with dirt?¡± I couldn¡¯t nod. The earlier blow to my neck from his shadows had left me unable to move it. Would I be fine like this? That idle thought crossed my mind as I transformed Lunar. No¡ªthere was no need to focus on Lunar anymore. The earth felt closer than ever, its elements vivid in my senses. It was as if the ground and I had be one. I summoned the elements I needed from it effortlessly. Of course, what emerged was a gauntlet. It seems I¡¯m destined to keep fighting with my fists, no matter what. ¡ª Boom! I drove my fist into him without hesitation. There was no need to think about what came next. Even if my fist shattered, I had to seize this chance. ¡ª Crack! Evan¡¯s neck bent at a perfect right angle. I raised my fist, intending to deliver a vertical strike to finish him off for good. But just as I was about to hammer down with both hands¡ª ¡ª Tsss! A spine-chilling sensation crawled up my back. I whirled around instinctively, attempting to block whatever wasing at me from behind. ¡ª Crunch! An ominous, truly dreadful sound filled the air. It wasn¡¯t until after the sharp pain in my hand registered that my vision caught up to the situation. My hand was caught in a shadow. And standing there was another Evan. ¡°I had a feeling something was off. So I left a little piece of my shadow behind.¡± ¡ª Shhh! The body I thought was Evan¡¯s crumbled into ck dust and vanished. The shadow gripping my hand twisted into a sinister smile. ¡°You really are an entertaining one.¡± ¡ª Crunch! Another horrifying sound echoed, this time from my fist. It was the sound of my hand shattering. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 207 A magician¡¯s hands are one of the most critical parts of their body. After all, all magic ultimately flows from the fingertips. Staves and simr tools are merely amplifiers. In the end, a magician¡¯s skill depends on how well they can control their hands. ¡ª At least, that¡¯s what Evan believes. And in Evan¡¯s eyes, Ian¡¯s mana control is¡­ ¡°Within the top ten at the very least.¡± The only reason his destructive power doesn¡¯t surpass the Bloodstone Cultists is due to ack of refinement. But the potential of this child¡ªit¡¯s truly astounding.Boundless and worthy of admiration. When was thest time Evan had been pushed to this extent, even resorting to using [Shadow Clone]? That was the reason. ¡ª Crunch! It was why Evan crushed Ian¡¯s hand. Watching with mere interest wasn¡¯t enough¡ªthere was a sense of genuine threat. Especially after that final attack. That¡¯s why Evan had to utilize [Shadow Clone], even if it cost him half of his strength. ¡°You¡¯re truly fascinating.¡± A shattered hand. Ian, staring up at Evan without even a flinch, seemed incredibly intriguing to him. Pure awe. It had been a long time since Evan had encountered anyone who could maintain suchposure, even after their hand was utterly destroyed. A broken hand usually means a diminished ability to use magic in the future. Thus, it¡¯s one of two possibilities. The person knows a way to restore their hand. Or they¡¯re simply insane. And regardless of which of the two it was¡­ ¡®¡­You¡¯re remarkably like a true member of the Bloodstone Cult.¡¯ Only now did Evan understand. Ian. Ian ckangers. Why the higher-ups were so fixated on this boy. His talent, his personality¡ªeverything about him¡­ He was perfect for the Bloodstone Cult. No, if nurtured correctly, he might even rise to the highest position someday. That impression, fleeting and fragmented, struck Evan without reason. ¡°They must have seen something even deeper in you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ian remained silent, ring at Evan. Evan smiled faintly at his rebellious gaze. ¡®Come to think of it, there was a request to kill this one, wasn¡¯t there?¡¯ A request received simultaneously by the Bloodstone Cult executives. The client was an academy student, no less. The request was immense, from the reward to the apanying items¡ªnothing wascking. While most declined, one assassin took it up. Well, that foolish woman ended up shattered into pieces by the Blood Witch. ¡®Foolish.¡¯ Blinded by immediate gain, she failed to see the bigger picture. To the higher-ups, the academy was essentially a facility for nurturing the Bloodstone Cult¡¯s future ¡°saplings¡±. Of course, there were times when such individuals had to be used as elixirs, but¡­ Ian was different. Thus, Evan had no intention of killing Ian. He may have inadvertently gone all out, but¡­ ¡®Crushing his hand should be forgivable.¡¯ If not, he could always offer up another sapling as a sacrifice to restore him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your hand. Stay still, and I¡¯ll restore it for you.¡± ¡°What an honor.¡± ¡°Heh. Yes, you should consider it an honor.¡± Evan stretched, cracking his neck a couple of times. It had been quite a while since he¡¯d sustained damage¡ªboth physically and magically. His condition was probably below fifty percent now. ¡®Well, turning those into elixirs will solve that.¡¯ Evan shifted his gaze toward the magic circle. A multitude of sacrifices. The ingredients for the elixir are all for the Cult Leader. Even the remnants from brewing the elixir would easily heal this level of injury. Although the copse of the magic circle is infuriating, it can be easily restored. ¡°Since I¡¯ve gained an unexpected reward, I¡¯ll let it slide.¡± Now, should I knock him out and finish the job? ¡°Hmm.¡± Evan let out a short sigh and struck the back of Ian¡¯s head. ¡ª Crack! However, the sensation was off. ¡°¡­What? Cough!¡± ck smoke billowed from where Ian¡¯s head had been. ¡ô As the confrontation between Ian and Evan was concluding, the remaining team members cautiously approached Ian after scaling the wall. ¡ª Boom! To them, the duel was instantaneous. In less than a minute, countless unseen moves were exchanged. Utilizing Silvia¡¯s light-based illusion magic and Elena¡¯s divine protection to conceal their mana traces, they managed to approach undetected. ¡ª Crunch! Even when Ian¡¯s hand was crushed, they couldn¡¯t react. ¡®Oh¡­ no!¡¯ ¡®Everyone, stay hidden. Rushing out now won¡¯t change anything. Our top priority is Ian¡¯s life.¡¯ Swallowing their bted gasps, they edged closer to the imperiled Ian. This was possible due to Silvia¡¯s cold judgment and leadership. In truth, Silvia¡¯s mental state was in turmoil. The one person she had opened her heart to¡ª Ian was being thoroughly destroyed. ¡®¡­No. I must stay focused.¡¯ But Silvia held onto herposure and continued to think. How to rescue the captured Ian. Then, she recalled a fruit Ian had given her in the sewers. ¨C This is called a ¡®ck pepper fruit¡¯. When burst, it releases a pungent ck smoke. Think of it like pepper spray. If ignited, it causes a small explosion, making it great for creating distractions. Each of you should carry one. §² Silvia grabbed Lina and exined her n. ¡ª ¡­We¡¯ll seize the moment when he tries to finish Ian. That¡¯s our only chance to save him. As Evan moved to knock Ian unconscious¡ª ¡ª Whoosh! Silvia hurled the ck pepper fruit with all her might. Lina¡¯s ensuing spell detonated it right before Evan¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­Damn! What is this?!¡± While he was disoriented, Elena charged in. ¡°Haaah! Take this!¡± She grabbed Ian and tossed him toward Silvia and Lina. ¡ª Thud! Silvia and Lina caught Ian. Staggering, they managed toy him on the ground. Ian blinked and murmured. ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Yes! Save the thanks forter; we need to act now¡­!¡± Silvia stopped mid-sentence. Ian¡¯s mangled hands. He couldn¡¯t possibly use magic. After twitching his arms a few times, Ian gave an awkward smile. ¡°Silvia, could you stop the bleeding?¡± ¡°¡­Y-Yes.¡± Gritting her teeth, Silvia wrapped cloth around his hands. The red droplets that had been dripping ceased. Silvia couldn¡¯t fathom how Ian was feeling. ¡ô My hands, utterly destroyed. ¡°Hah.¡± A sigh escaped involuntarily. It wasn¡¯t despair over my ruined hands. Rather¡­ ¡®How do I defeat that monster?¡¯ It felt like confronting an insurmountable wall. It had been a while since I¡¯d felt this way. The problem was simple. The hands, the sole outlet for mana. With them destroyed, I couldn¡¯t channel any mana. ¡°¡­Damn.¡± As ast resort, I can channel mana through my wrists, but it¡¯s meaningless. There¡¯s no precision or control¡ªjust an uncontroble flood, like water gushing out of an open faucet. The best I can manage is reinforcing my body through internal mana circuits. But without hands, I have no way to wield any usable weapons. Right now, I¡¯m nothing more than cannon fodder. ¡®I¡¯m a liability to the team.¡¯ Having made my judgment, I stepped back, observing the situation carefully. Fortunately, Evan was still disoriented. He blinked repeatedly, sneezing uncontrobly. I had a good guess about what had happened. ¡®He got hit directly by the ck pepper fruit.¡¯ The fruit¡¯s effects are potent. Even someone like a Bloodstone Cult executive can¡¯t avoid being debuffed for a while if directly hit. That¡¯s likely why Elena was barely managing to hold off his [Shadow Bombardment] attacks. But it¡¯s only temporary. The pepper¡¯s effect is merely a debuff, and Evan isn¡¯t someone who¡¯d be seriously threatened by something as trivial as pepper. Instead, I focused on the weakness I noticed during our fight. ¡°Silvia! Absorb all lighting from normal light sources!¡± ¡°¡­Light?¡± ¡°Yes! Get rid of all steady light! Lina, create a fireball¡ªmake it as unsteady and flickering as possible!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± The atmosphere in the underground chamber shifted in an instant. Every shadow began to ripple and waver as if alive. Evan immediately reacted. ¡°¡­You damned brat!¡± As expected. I had noticed during our earlier fight that his power diminished slightly in areas where shadows were faint and unstable. With Lina¡¯s flickering mes turning the room crimson and random light sources creating chaotic shadows, Evan¡¯s strength was noticeably weakened. ¡ª Boom! Elena, who had been barely holding on, started to regain ground and fight evenly. It was proof the n was working. The problem was¡­ ¡®We don¡¯t have a finishing blow.¡¯ We needed a skill or attack strong enough to take him down, but nothing suitable was avable. Meanwhile, Evan continued to slowlyplete his magic circle. We had to disrupt the circle by striking his main body. ¡®If only I could use magic.¡¯ Or if Danya were here¡­ No. I shook my head, clearing away useless thoughts. At that moment¡ª ¡°Nyah!¡± A cat that had been lying on Evan¡¯s magic circle suddenly leapt into the air. A cat covered in cheese-colored fur. ¡°¡­Danya?¡± The cat, leaping high into the air, unleashed a cascade of various fruits aimed directly at Evan. Fruits with effects ranging from ignition, explosion, and slicing, to paralysis. Recognizing the opportunity, I shouted instinctively. ¡°Lina! Detonate them!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!