[Professor Verron! I beg you, show Ryder and me the way to a secluded training hall! We need this—like, seriously! [Crying Emoji] [Desperate Emoji] [Pleading Emoji] [Fire Emoji]]
…is what I typed in the message.
I thought it was unique, maybe a bit informal, but certainly heartfelt. My fingers had barely released the send button when I saw Professor Verron's face shift to a deep frown. His gaze hardened as he read my message.
'…Was it that bad?' I wondered. My online interactions usually involved playful emojis and a casual tone, but perhaps that wasn't the norm here?
After a tense pause, Professor Verron walked over to Ryder. His voice was low, and he gestured toward one of the doors on the left—the private training rooms. Relief washed over me. At least he was following my request.
Without his help, I'd have had to train alone. Or worse, someone might have challenged me to a duel, turning my solo training into an impromptu match. While I usually prefer training alone, especially with the curses affecting me, I wasn't keen on unexpected duels. The fight with the Jester had felt like it lasted mere seconds, even though I was under the influence of a skill I barely understood.
I needed to figure out those skills later. For now, Professor Verron was approaching me with a stern expression that made my heart race. What had I done wrong?
I stood rooted to the spot, awkwardly waving my hand.
"Hello."
I forced a smile, trying to ease the tension.
"Do you know what you've done?"
"…No?"
The professor's frown deepened. He sighed heavily, looking at me with a mixture of frustration and exasperation. "Alyssa, you sent that message to all the first-year professors."
I blinked in disbelief. I quickly checked my messages. Instead of the intended recipient, the message had been sent to [First-year Professors].
I froze, my face burning with embarrassment. Without a second thought, I deleted the message.
[Message Deleted]
"Phew."
How had I messed that up? It was supposed to be a straightforward task. I must have accidentally selected [First-year Professors] instead of just Professor Verron.
Feeling my cheeks flush, I quickly moved toward the training room.
"Professor… let's just focus on what's ahead, okay?"
Professor Verron's silence was heavy as he followed me, his expression a mix of disappointment and contemplation.
When we reached the door Ryder had entered, I pushed it open and peered inside. The room was lined with weapon stands, each displaying a wide array of weapons. Swords occupied most of the stands, their polished blades gleaming under the lights.
As we stepped inside and closed the door, I spotted Ryder sitting on one of the benches. His bangs were plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his academy shirt clung to him. His intense, golden eyes met mine, causing me to momentarily pause.
'…damn, he's incredibly handsome.'
I still haven't gotten over how good he looks.
Just then, Ryder's voice cut through the silence.
"What are you doing here?"
His annoyed tone jolted me from my thoughts. Then I met his gaze steadily.
"I think you're forgetting something."
"What did I forget?"
"You're supposed to pay your respects now, no?"
Of course, this bastard would choose to call me that in front of so many people. Yet, in all our rare moments of privacy, except for Professor Verron, he never dared to use that term.
Speaking of which, let's use his first name now—Eilot. Given the secrets I know, we're on more equal footing.
Eilot glanced between Ryder and me, his confusion evident. The awkwardness of the moment only heightened the discomfort of the situation.
Then Ryder's expression darkened.
'..heh, take that you bastard.'
I couldn't quite pin down why I had such a strong dislike for Ryder, but there was something undeniably entertaining about taunting him.
Though, given all the future events I'd have to assist him with, my current level of teasing wasn't too excessive.
"Do I really have to say it her?"
Ryder's voice was edged with irritation as he turned to Eilot.
"Yes, you do,"
I responded firmly.
Eilot's brows furrowed, his gaze shifting between us in growing bewilderment.
"What's going on with you two?"
I let out a chuckle, savoring the brief amusement.
"Ryder, you can tell him."
Ryder's face dropped as he looked away, mumbling,
"...We're currently in a master-disciple relationship."
"..."
Eilot's eyes widened in surprise before his expression quickly cooled.
"Oh. You were only shy about that?"
Ryder stared at Eilot, clearly shocked. The words 'Oh. You were only shy about that?' echoed in his mind, replaying over and over. The look of disbelief on his face was almost comical.
"Oh, don't be too shocked," He said, grinning. "I was in even more of a state of shock than you."
"..."
Eilot, with a sympathetic look, patted Ryder's back.
"Don't worry, we'll get through this together."
Upon hearing those words, I couldn't help but think,
'...What the hell? I'm not bullying you, but him instead!'
This wasn't supposed to turn into some sort of bromance! What kind of unexpected development was this?
Haa..."
I sighed, trying to refocus.
How am I supposed to deal with these two?
"Let's get back on track."
"So, the reason I asked to be put into this training room is to train you, Ryder," I said, pointing at him. "Don't get me wrong, but for now, Professor Verron will be your instructor."
Ryder's face scrunched up in confusion.
"I thought you were going to teach me whatever you used during that Jester fight!?"
'...'
This fucking bastard.
"Your current manual is way better than mine,"
I said, trying to stay calm. The urge to hit him was growing stronger, but I knew I had to keep it in.
"No, not the manual. I'm talking about that weird ability you used to beat the Jester,"
Ryder insisted.
Ah, Sovereign's Path. I sighed inwardly, my thoughts drifting back to that enigmatic skill.
"I can't teach you that. I don't even understand how it works myself."
Ryder's excitement that once quickly surfaced, quickly faded once I finished talking.
Then Eilots voiced out his complaints.
"Hey, I didn't agree to teach him. I only agreed to keep the secrets!"
'Hmm…'
…well, I suppose she might allow me to share that information, given that it would do more good than harm.
[...]
"...Haaa. Remember the so-called 'hero' I've mentioned?"
I prompted, hoping he'd connect the dots.
"Yeah? What about it?"
Eilot replied, still not catching on.
…with all the hints I've already given, he still can't figure it out?!
I pointed at Ryder, whose face contorted in shock.
A second passed.
Two.
Three.
And finally, Eilot's eyes widened in realization.
"Wait, it can't be..."
Eilot finally said, his voice filled with disbelief.
Looks like he figured it out.
"Yes, exactly. So, do you agree to teach him now?"
Eilot hesitated, looking between us.
"...Well, I guess I kinda have to now."
I clapped my hands in satisfaction.
"Great! Get ready to practice now!"
I promptly moved to the bench next to Ryder and took a seat. As Eilot and Ryder began preparing for their training, I decided to take a break and watch them.
'...I guess I'll just sit back and enjoy watching them train.'
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but wonder about those two outside. With Ryder out of the way, what were they up to now?
***
"No, that's wrong. This is also wrong. Ugh."
The blue-haired girl muttered to herself, her frustration palpable. Her once meticulously styled hair was now a tangled mess, mirroring the chaos around her. Papers were strewn across the desk and floor, each one a testament to her relentless investigation. Scribbled notes and crossed-out names formed a cluttered web of her ongoing search for the truth.
She sifted through the papers, her crystal-clear eyes darting between the lists of professors and her notes, each mark and annotation reflecting her growing anxiety. Her fingers trembled slightly as she crossed out yet another name, her brow furrowing in concentration. After a few tense moments, her gaze settled on the last unchecked name on the list.
Professor Kellen Roth.
The name stood out starkly against the crossed-out entries. Roth was known for his secretive research and erratic behavior—traits that now seemed to align perfectly with the leak she was investigating. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pieced together the fragments of her clues. The pattern pointed unmistakably to Roth.
'Only Roth remains. His actions align too well with the leak,'
she thought, her resolve hardening with each passing second.
Determined to confront Roth, she quickly donned a set of black robes. The dark fabric concealed her identity and provided the anonymity necessary for her covert operation. Skipping her other classes for the day, except for Mana Fundamentals.
After that class, she swiftly gathered her notes and the various pieces of evidence she had compiled.
She left her dorm room and ventured into the quiet halls, heading straight for Professor Roth's lab, where he usually stayed when not teaching classes.
'I can't afford to let him escape. The academic council wouldn't be much help at this moment as well.'
The academic council, she knew, would be slow to act and possibly dismissive of her claims. With their bureaucratic processes and possible skepticism, there was a real risk that Roth might slip through their fingers even if she provided all the details.
'They probably wouldn't believe me if I said Professor Roth is a spy, who's been funneling immense resources to students both within and outside the academy,'
She mused.
Yet, the signs were irrefutable. Roth's behavior had shifted abruptly two months into the year, a timeframe that coincided with the emergence of numerous red flags. Whispers among the professors spoke of his unsettling inquiries into sensitive areas of the academy, and his financial backing had surged dramatically. Notably, he had declined the trip to Ardentis, citing an urgent need to focus on a crucial experiment.
'...and most importantly, he was the one who suggested that I should venture deeper into the forest—a forest where demons lay in wait to ambush me,' she recalled, as the horrible memories of those demons resurfaced.
With all the clues she had, she needed to corner him, forcing him to reveal his true colors.
'With ample supplies of Mana cores, it was just enough to summon a tier-6 Astralis. Just enough to deal with Roth, whose prowess is cited to be nearing tier-7.'
Lost in thought, she soon found herself standing in front of his lab.
***
Clank—!
Klaaang—!
The sound of their swords clashing filled the room.
'...those two seem to enjoy this.'
Then why can't I enjoy watching them?
Well from my view, they moved so fast that my eyes couldn't keep up.
I sighed, shifting in my seat as I continued to watch.
'But ain't forgetting something?'
Three hours had passed, and they showed no signs of stopping, their relentless training showing just how dedicated they were.
'...both are training maniacs, but I can't say the same for myself.'
Hmm. Oh right.
Isn't today the day Alice started her search for clues?
'...well, nothing bad could've happened, right?'
Just then, my bracelet beeped with urgent notifications.
Ding—! Ding—! Ding—!
'Hmmm, what's this?'
A holographic window immediately popped up once I tapped my bracelet.
[ Breaking News: Student Alice Rosenfall is in critical condition after a confrontation with a 7th-tier Demonic Human! ]
"..."