Ch.5150. Midterm Exams (4)

# 50. Midterm Exams (4)

“With you, that makes 24 people total. Hmm… unnecessarily many.”

A voice that seemed to lament its own situation entered our ears.

And that voice was strangely similar to Rachel’s.

I asked Rachel, who had frozen at the sight of the person behind me.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Rachel’s expression, as if time had stopped only for her, made me even more curious about who was standing behind me.

Before turning around, I tried to predict who this person might be.

This person had the same voice as Rachel and seemed to be quite close to the royal family of the Orion Kingdom.

‘No way… it couldn’t be, right?’

There was one person who came to mind, but I thought such an important figure wouldn’t be in a place like this.

However, considering Rachel’s reaction and that voice… there were too many clear indications to make a hasty judgment.

With a strange sense of anticipation, I turned around to see who was there.

And when I turned around, the person I had thought “no way” about was actually there.

‘Karina Ignite…’

In the past, she had been a comrade with whom I was somewhat close.

The Orion Kingdom had always maintained an alliance with the Kainis Empire even during times of war, so we had fought in many battles together.

‘She hasn’t changed much since then… both in appearance and atmosphere.’

A lady with the same red hair and red eyes as Rachel, but with slightly more chic features than Rachel, was looking at me.

She looked almost identical to the Karina in my memory.

Even that gaze directed at me was the same.

“Hello?”

Before I could answer, Rachel spoke first.

“No!.. Unnie, why are you here!?”

“Unnie?”

“Unnie?”

Everyone was focused on that word “unnie.”

Since everyone present knew who Rachel was, they were even more surprised by Karina’s appearance.

Of course, I was also quite shocked.

“I just stopped by briefly for some business. I’ll be leaving again next week.”

“Business? What kind?”

“I commissioned something from Uncle Dren, and I came personally just to be sure.”

The person Karina referred to so familiarly as Dren Vulcanus was not only the best weaponsmith in the Kainis Empire but could be called the best in the world without exaggeration.

Almost all of those considered skilled in the Empire used weapons made by him, and people from other countries, like Karina, would come all the way to the Empire specifically to obtain his weapons.

That “just to be sure” probably meant “I was worried it might get stolen during transport.”

‘More importantly, a weapon from Dren…’

She must be quite wealthy indeed.

Dren’s weapons are famous for their performance, and accordingly, they’re insanely expensive.

Of course, my [Black Sword] outperforms Dren’s weapons, so it doesn’t matter to me.

No matter how good a weapon from the world’s best weaponsmith might be, it was still somewhat lacking compared to the [Black Sword] that I could summon with my skill.

Though there were exceptions depending on the circumstances.

‘For example, that one…’

The sword Karina was wearing at her waist would probably outperform my current [Black Sword].

As I stared at the weapon, Karina noticed my gaze and placed her hand on her sword.

“Yes, this is that sword.”

It was a masterpiece whose presence leaked out even while sheathed.

‘It must give at least +100 to Strength and Agility combined.’

While I was estimating the sword’s performance, Chris, unable to contain his curiosity, asked its owner.

“How much does it boost?”

“80 Strength and 50 Agility.”

Karina revealed this fact in a calm voice as if it were nothing special, but to us, it was shocking.

‘A total of 130…’

It was truly a monstrous performance that my current weapon couldn’t even compare to.

Considering Karina’s level and skill, the weapon seemed excessive, but I couldn’t bring myself to say that out loud.

As we were still reeling from the shock, Karina asked us:

“May I join you?”

***

When we finished dinner and left the restaurant, it had gotten quite dark outside.

‘Why on earth would anyone spend two hours eating a meal?’

I had already left the restaurant and was sitting at an outdoor table drinking coffee, but the others were just now starting to come out one by one.

“Seems like he prefers being alone.”

“He’s just a loner.”

Karina and Aelin showed completely opposite reactions.

The two of them seemed to have become quite close thanks to their shared love of Chinese cuisine.

From what I saw earlier, they also shared the trait of eating enormous amounts.

“By the way, unnie, did you tell Mom before coming here?”

“No? I didn’t.”

“You went to another country without saying anything?”

“Unlike you, I’m an adult. An adult.”

“Even adults usually mention that kind of thing, don’t they?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

Rachel was dumbfounded by Karina’s shameless response.

Karina stopped the conversation and slowly approached me, still talking to Rachel.

“I’ll be going now.”

Just before she really left, Karina slipped a piece of paper into my pocket, unnoticed by anyone except me.

Then she gave me a meaningful wink and departed.

‘A wink?.. What does that mean…’

I carefully checked the paper in my pocket.

This is what was written on it:

-By the time you become second-years, a major war will break out. Not just our country, but the Kainis Empire won’t be safe either. So please train Rachel so she can survive on her own by then.-

And along with the reason she told me this, there was a phone number.

‘Same party… and you seemed the strongest among them… really?’

What a ridiculous reason.

But more important than the reason was what she said at the beginning.

‘A major war where even the Kainis Empire is in danger…’

I already knew it would come someday, but it was coming much faster than expected.

‘By the time we become second-years…’

That’s only about 10 months from now at most.

It seemed the Babylon Kingdom was already preparing for such a large-scale war.

And from what Riel and Karina said, the Orion Kingdom and Kainis Empire were also preparing for that war.

‘Then what did Riel mean by the end of the first semester? Is it not as dangerous then?…’

If that’s the case, the Babylon Kingdom will invade once at the end of the first semester on a not particularly large scale, and then invade again with an enormous force around the time we become second-years.

‘Less than 3 months until the end of the first semester…’

At least the scale doesn’t seem too large, which is fortunate.

“What are you thinking about?”

I stared at Rachel’s face as she asked the question.

“Why… are you… looking at me like that…?”

Rachel blushed and lowered her head.

I said to the trembling Rachel:

“It’s nothing…”

“Huh?”

I said to Rachel, who was looking at me with an expression that seemed to say, ‘What’s this guy doing?’:

“I’ll tell you later, when we’re alone.”

“Oh?…. Okay..”

For some reason, Rachel seemed to be having strange thoughts.

I left the red-faced Rachel behind and walked toward the dormitory.

‘And what training… I’m feeling a bit anxious myself…’

***

As soon as I returned to my room, I called the number written on that paper.

“Hello?”

-Oh!? Is that you from earlier?-

“Yes, I called because I have something to ask.”

Karina spoke with a bright voice that made it seem like she would answer anything I asked.

-Something to ask? What is it?-

“Will nothing happen before that war breaks out?”

-Did you call knowing everything already?-

“I didn’t know, it’s just a prediction, a prediction.”

Karina spoke with a surprised voice.

-I’m a bit taken aback. Those guys will probably invade before you become second-years too. With a very high probability.-

It seems Riel’s words were true.

“Then which side will the Persian Kingdom take in that war?”

The Persian Kingdom.

A race whose numbers are very few, but whose strength is beyond imagination.

The noble country of dragons that always maintains neutrality and never responds to any nation’s call for help.

From the Persian Kingdom’s standpoint, they always maintain neutrality, but the thoughts of the country’s residents vary.

Some believe they should side with humans, while others think they should side with demons.

So in reality, some of the few citizens of the Persian Kingdom participate in wars as they please, without considering their country’s circumstances.

-The country’s official position is always neutrality, but… I’m not sure either.. It would be nice if they just stayed put…-

Since individuals often participate in wars following their own beliefs, it’s impossible to make a definitive judgment.

I stopped asking such trivial questions and asked what I was really curious about.

“Why did you entrust Rachel specifically to me? There must be someone more suitable than me.”

Karina said it was because we were in the same party and I was strong, but if that were the case, there was someone who would be more suitable than me.

Someone who was second to none in terms of reliability.

Yet Karina entrusted Rachel to me instead of her.

-Hmm…-

After contemplating for a while, Karina finally spoke.

-I think my sister has quite a crush on you.-