“Why… are you avoiding me?”
In the Hall of Struggle, the blonde knight Aveline Valantes strolled through the training hall with her thumb on her lips.
The testimony from Raymon and Emma indicated that a man using a crossbow played a significant role in taking down the Pleasure Lord.
“See? That person!”
Despite the testimonies, it was hard to believe.
The Pleasure Lord was a boss-level foe for the expedition group; how could one person do it alone?
Unless someone actually witnessed the process of that takedown, it was unlikely anyone would easily accept it.
In the end, to confirm this, she followed Lev, but he blatantly avoided Aveline.
No, he ignored her.
Lev Denec was only a B-ranked guy.
Meanwhile, Aveline was a noble lady with the esteemed background of [Divine Valhalla].
Naturally, if a woman like her showed interest, it would be proper for a man to at least respond.
But he seemed to dislike even initiating a conversation and left the scene.
Crack.
“Did he really take down the Pleasure Lord all by himself…?!”
If it weren’t something of that scale, he wouldn’t act so high-and-mighty.
Aveline recalled Lev Denec from her memories.
‘Come to think of it, he didn’t lose by much to Caeran…’
In terms of a match, Lev Denec was defeated, but that was also due to his own admission of surrender.
Really, that guy might be hiding his true strength, and the mere thought of this excited Aveline.
And if it turned out that he truly took down the [Pleasure Lord] alone, if this fact got out to other guilds…
They would undoubtedly come at her with blazing eyes, desperate to recruit him.
‘Then, I need to hurry…!’
Now that Caeran was staggering, Aveline was anxious.
Once the second semester started, they would begin selecting candidates for the heroes.
To belong to the 5-member hero party, capable companions were essential.
Crack.
If there’s an opportunity for a higher card, it’s a natural truth to go for it.
To avoid tarnishing the name of Divine Valhalla, she couldn’t just sit idly by.
Crack!
“…!”
Just then, when Aveline was cornered psychologically, she caught a glimmer of hope.
A place where the gazes of the male students were cast.
Yeriel Artina came into her sight.
*
Thump Thump.
A few days after returning from Hwangdo, Yeriel’s heart had yet to settle.
‘I lied…’
In fact, today was the last day for the private tutoring request for magic lessons.
The limit she determined from the mana sensing gem revealed he only had growth potential of about 3 circles.
Of course, his growth speed was incredibly swift, taking much less time than Yeriel had anticipated.
Normally, it would take more than two weeks to see him again…
‘By tomorrow, you really have to come… read this first, same time, same place.’
Perhaps that’s why, without thinking, Yeriel ended up saying she had more plans for tomorrow.
“Really…?”
Since break had started, Lev would probably return home for a bit or have his own schedule.
She had told an unwanted lie.
‘This time, I have to return too…’
Of course, she too had to visit the mansion of the Artina family located at the border before the break ended.
That’s just how it was for nobles. One couldn’t devote all their time to the Academy.
Her schedule didn’t end there.
If there’s one thing Yeriel was looking forward to right now,
‘Yeriel… I might have to see those guys again… they say first-years are terribly disobedient! Just because they’re the same age, do they take us lightly or something?’
The friend who accelerated with her, Daisy, had grumbled about this,
And there was a trip itinerary aimed at promoting relationships between upperclassmen and freshmen after the festival of Claris happening a few days later.
Of course, since it was a group trip, she wasn’t sure about the specific members involved, but maybe she would be part of Lev’s entourage.
Also, the memorable one-night, two-day journey in Hwangdo was entertaining, so the trip shouldn’t be any worse than that.
‘And… I have to push harder in the second semester…!’
Yeriel clenched her fist.
After all, she had managed to receive permission to run the Black House in the second semester after much difficulty.
Thanks to Lev, who hadn’t created a significant incident.
‘…’
And Yeriel left a part of her heart empty.
For Lev, who had been with her throughout the first semester.
It would be greedy to hope he would choose the Black House once more, now that he had cleared all his demerit points.
“Yeriel.”
“?”
Then, a familiar shadow approached her.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
It was Aveline, the only one with such a tone in the Academy.
“Aveline?”
“I’m glad to see you look well.”
The two exchanged warm greetings.
Then, with a calm smile, Yeriel asked,
“Is there something going on?”
“Well, actually… I have a favor to ask…”
“Feel free to say it…!”
Aveline seemed to hesitate in her words, but Yeriel was inclined to help her request since she had previously helped Edwin with training upon Lev’s request.
“I’ve noticed that you seem quite close to Lev Denec, don’t you…?”
“Le…v?”
As soon as Lev’s name came out of Aveline’s mouth, Yeriel momentarily panicked but quickly regained her composure.
“Well… I guess it looks that way… Oh, I’ve been teaching him various things these past few days…!”
“Then this conversation will be quick. Our guild, Divine Valhalla, has discussed recruiting Lev.”
“In Aveline’s guild…?!”
Divine Valhalla was commonly known as the Holy Knight Guild in the world.
Of course, since a pure order of knights couldn’t accomplish all the guild’s demands, they had built some level of cooperational guilds and members.
Thus, if it was directly affiliated with Divine Valhalla, it was quite an extraordinary offer even if it wasn’t strictly a Holy Knight.
Above all, the prospect of cooperating with powerful individuals equivalent to the imperial knight order made this even more appealing.
“However, could you perhaps tell Yeriel to ask him to visit Divine Valhalla? Of course, if both of you come, I would be even more delighted.”
“Uh, well…”
Yeriel pondered briefly before organizing her stance.
“Since this is related to the guild, wouldn’t it be better if Aveline spoke to Lev directly…?”
“…That’s…”
“?”
In response to Yeriel’s question, Aveline slightly turned her head, avoiding the gaze.
Experiences such as guild interactions or visits, or even recruitment tests were common during breaks in the Academy.
And it was quite unusual for a large guild like Divine Valhalla to show interest in a first-year student first.
‘But why is she asking me…?’
“As you know, Yeriel, since we aren’t particularly close with each other, it’s difficult to arrange a separate meeting… That’s why.”
“I see….”
“Remember when I helped fulfill your previous request?”
“That’s true, but…”
“So if you help me just this once, I would truly appreciate it!”
At Aveline’s words, Yeriel suddenly recalled something Aria said during the trip to Hwangdo.
“Yes, it seems Lev felt uncomfortable and chose to avoid the situation.”
The story that Lev had avoided the moment Aveline approached came to mind.
Of course, she would need to listen to both sides, but Lev likely had his reasons for acting that way.
‘I’ve decided to trust Lev.’
She politely declined Aveline’s request.
“I’m sorry, Aveline. I don’t think I can help with this request.”
“!!”
Although she usually couldn’t refuse requests easily, she could be resolute when it came to Lev.
*
Claris Academy, Evolution Chamber.
“I’m here.”
Sinatis spoke as if she had expected my arrival.
After the incident with Yeriel, this was my first proper meeting with Sinatis.
Naturally, it felt awkward.
Swift.
Without any foreplay, I presented her with a gift right away.
“This is a gift for you, from Hwangdo.”
Sinatis, who received the well-wrapped small box, looked at me in silence, as if waiting for an explanation.
-…
“This is to thank you for carrying me to the Black House back then. You should like it.”
Sinatis used most of her mana for the operation of this chamber.
Therefore, what she did by carrying me with the griffin and bringing Edwin must have been quite burdensome for her.
-…
After receiving my gift, Sinatis glanced at me momentarily and began to walk ahead.
It felt as though she was telling me to follow her, so I traipsed behind.
*
When I came alone, I stayed there.
After possibly passing through numerous rooms, she led me to a spot at the end of the chamber, a secluded place where no one was around.
What she brought me to appeared to be a personal tutoring room…
A private room.
“As the Spirit King, Ariel said, it is my duty to assist you.”
She opened up a bit, unlike before when she spoke in two syllables.
The implication communicated was simple.
Because of the Tarchangel Tobiel incident, it looks like Sinatis has caught on to who I am.
At least, she recognized that I utilized demonic power.
So the reason for preparing a private room was likely that she wouldn’t restrict the use of Dark Magic…
“You were aware, huh?”
-…
Sinatis didn’t deny it.
But I had already formed a contract with the Spirit King of Wind, and she was a spirit beast, so our relationship would stay as it was.
Sinatis would help me grow using awakening materials, and I would obtain awakening essences to enhance my Wind Archery.
I assumed she wouldn’t interfere further aside from these aspects.
After all, Sinatis was the one who had sworn not to engage with humans again after the passing of the former hero, Kroon.
“I appreciate your guidance in advance.”
-…No need to explain, right?
“Yes.”
I replied briefly and stepped into the chamber.
*
In the Evolution Chamber, the test for Trial 3 is simple.
Trial 1 assessed strength and mana.
If Trial 2 tested responsiveness, mental strength, agility, and endurance.
Then, Trial 3 would evaluate all these aspects comprehensively.
In other words, I had to overcome the wind doppelganger that Sinatis created…
‘What a ludicrous level of difficulty…’
Wondering how the students from other grades managed to handle this, the answer was straightforward.
Starting from Trial 3, entry restrictions expanded to the five who completed Trial 2.
In other words, it was a party-based clearing content.
What Sinatis wanted to explain was probably that “this isn’t a solo place.”
However…!
There was a reason I disregarded that and entered.
The extreme hellish difficulty was also reflected in the trials of this Evolution Chamber.
Ding.
————————————————
[Trial 3: Choose the achievement to challenge]
[Extreme Hell Difficulty]
▶ [5-person Clear] (Recommended)
▶ [3-person Clear] (Not recommended)
▶ [1-person Clear] (Definitely not recommended)
[*Skill gained (Wind Archery) varies by difficulty!]
————————————————
Although they state it’s not recommended, the rewards are tiered.
How completely… tsundere!
Nevertheless, if you asked me whether I could endure this…
“I absolutely cannot.”
I selected the third option, ‘1-person Clear.’
Ding!
————————————————
▶ [1-person Clear]
[*Once selected, it cannot be changed]
————————————————
“I choose to do it. 1-person clear.”
Ding.
[Are you sure you want to select this?]
‘This is so scary.’
Soon, demons would crash in and threaten my life. Just this mere thing wouldn’t scare me.
I uttered “yes” as if declaring four dollars without a care.
Ding.
[Entering Trial 3.]
[Starts in 30 seconds.]
*
As Lev Denec disappeared into the chamber,
Zzziik.
Sinatis peeled off the wrapping of the gift he gave her.
It was a music box.
Just an ordinary music box that the former hero Kroon had carried around.
Without realizing it, Sinatis wound the music box.
-♪?♩~
The treasured item from her memory, used to comfort herself when she met Kroon, once the monster.
It had been lost for a long time, so how did he know to bring this?
-♪?♩~
Lev Denec uses demonic power.
But let me assure you, it’s not necessarily a bad direction, she seemed to convey as the familiar melody eased Sinatis’s anxiety.
-…Kroon.
*
-If you understood, apologize to my companions.
-Hey! What’s with the lack of manners towards the professor?
Stepping up out of the blue for oneself.
-There’s… no time left. We have to go.
-I’m in a hurry. Please carry me.
Not hesitating in actions.
Most importantly, even though this trial was designed considering 5 people, it’s clear that no one had shown up… right?
-You really do remind me of him.
Your personality and appearance are entirely different, yet why does he seem so familiar?
Playing with the music box, Sinatis wore a lonely smile.
