Ch.7776. An Unusual Daily Life (1)

# 76. Not-So-Ordinary Daily Life (1)

Always the same crappy Monday morning.

But today, the morning assembly began with a slightly different atmosphere, and Gloria, who seemed a bit tense, started speaking.

“Those who know probably already know this, but recently there was an incident where demons from the Babylon Kingdom invaded the Michael Palace.”

The incident was covered on the news last night.

The fact that demons had infiltrated the palace and that His Majesty the Emperor personally dealt with them.

“The demons are much stronger than we think. Even for you elites of the Empire, it would be too much to handle right now.”

For some reason, Gloria looked at me as she concluded her speech.

“Since other demons might be hiding nearby, please be extra cautious. Also, Albert’s final melee combat test will be held during fifth period today. Everyone, please come to the arena for fifth period.”

So that’s why she looked at me.

‘I felt unnecessarily guilty…’

I thought she was trying to tell me with her eyes, “No matter how skilled you are, Albert, demons are too much for you.”

“That’s all for today’s assembly. Everyone, prepare for first period.”

With those words, Gloria left the classroom, and at the same time, Chris spoke to me.

“I’ll get to watch you lose in person, and to your girlfriend at that?”

“How did you know about that?”

“It’s already all over the rumor mill. There’s even a rumor that you’ve gone all the way with her.”

It was absurd, but I could guess why such rumors were circulating.

‘It’s because I went directly into her room.’

Given what I did, it was somewhat inevitable.

“By the way, that’s pretty impressive? Dating the Imperial Princess?”

“I’ve been living for this moment all my life.”

“Wow… Senior should have heard this…”

Chris was amazed by my bombshell statement, while Raicle and Reina gave incredulous chuckles.

Rachel and Eve, however, looked somewhat bitter.

Especially Rachel.

I asked Rachel, who looked like she hadn’t slept all night.

“Did something happen?”

Rachel replied with a voice as rough as sandpaper.

“What did you do yesterday?”

“Yesterday?”

If we’re talking about yesterday, I slept at 3 AM, woke up at 1 PM, and then raided a dungeon with her and Aelin.

“I went dungeon raiding yesterday?”

“Oh? Really? With whom?”

“Um…”

Her voice sounded cheerful, but her expression and tone were anything but.

She seemed a bit angry.

‘Why is she acting like this…?’

I thought as I continued speaking.

“With Aelin and the Imperial Princess.”

“Oh, really? Must have been nice? Clearing a dungeon with your girlfriend? Good for you. I’m going to first period now. It’s fire attribute magic class.”

With those words, Rachel stood up and left the classroom, and Reina, who had been watching the scene, let out a deep sigh.

I asked Reina, who seemed to know why Rachel was acting that way.

“What’s wrong with her? Did something happen?”

“You clueless idiot.”

“Huh?”

“Remember when we trained together on Saturday?”

“Yeah, of course I remember…”

Just to be sure, I tried to recall the memory.

Given Reina’s words, the answer must be somewhere in those memories.

As I retraced my memories, I remembered the conversation we had just before parting ways with them.

-Come to the training ground when you wake up tomorrow, got it?-

-Got it.-

Only after recalling that memory did I understand why Rachel was in such a state.

“Ah…”

“You remember now?”

“Don’t tell me she waited for me yesterday?”

“Yeah, she was at the training ground from 8 AM to 7 PM… But neither you nor your shadow showed up.”

When Reina directly informed me of this fact, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly small.

“By the way, is it true that you entered the girls’ dormitory on Saturday night?”

“Yeah, I had something to discuss with the Imperial Princess.”

“And you had to go to her room to discuss it?”

Hearing that made me feel quite wronged.

I really just went there to talk, but people were misunderstanding.

“It was something others shouldn’t hear.”

“Is it related to the demon invasion?”

“Yes, and it was even more important than that.”

“I see… But putting that aside, how could you forget?”

The events of Saturday night had such a strong impact that my promise with Rachel had completely vanished from my memory.

“I know… But why didn’t she contact me?”

“How would I know?”

“That’s true…”

“Anyway, you need to make Rachel forgive you somehow.”

Even without Reina saying so, I was already planning to do that.

However…

“How can I make her forgive me…?”

I’ve always been awkward with relationships.

Even after living for so long, I barely had any friends besides Chris and Eve.

“That’s for you to figure out.”

“This is bad…”

Reina’s words were mercilessly cold.

Meanwhile, Chris and Raicle were reacting as if they were watching an entertaining spectacle.

“How about just bowing your head?”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Are you two seriously suggesting that right now?”

Chris responded to Reina, who was taking the situation seriously.

“It’s just forgetting something, she could have contacted him first and this would have been over, right?”

“Still, a mistake is a mistake.”

“That’s true. Just apologize. If you explain the situation well, she’ll probably forgive you. From what you’ve said, it doesn’t sound like you were doing anything inappropriate.”

Chris simply said to apologize, but I didn’t think it would be that easy.

‘I’m really… screwed.’

***

Eventually, fifth period arrived, and the entire A-class of both first and third years had gathered in the arena.

It was an enormous stadium with spectator seats.

‘Ah… I’m really screwed…’

I tried to talk to Rachel several times before fifth period, but she ignored me each time.

She seemed quite angry.

At that moment, she approached me, oblivious to the situation, and asked.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? You look quite gloomy.”

“Ah… it’s something, but nothing major.”

“That’s good then.”

Telling her would only make the situation worse, not better.

This was an issue that only Rachel and I needed to resolve, and I needed to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

“The teachers are here too.”

As she said, as the fifth period approached, both professors in charge of the A-classes for first and third years came to the arena.

And among the two professors, Gloria spoke first.

“The reason Professor and I called you all here is not for anything special, but to show you the match between these two geniuses firsthand.”

Gloria continued, looking at me and her.

“As you all know, these two students are skilled enough to win the Survival Tournament with just the two of them. Watching a match between such skilled individuals will be quite beneficial for you all.”

Gloria’s words were quite important.

Not only is direct combat practice helpful for improving skills, but observing others’ matches is also greatly beneficial.

“So please pay close attention to this melee combat test. The two students, please come up to the arena, and the rest of you, please go to the spectator seats.”

The other students hurriedly headed to the spectator seats while we climbed onto the large arena and prepared for battle.

She took out her staff and said.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve been deliberately avoiding duels until now.”

“It will be quite different from back then.”

“I know that.”

As we exchanged these words, Gloria, who had also climbed onto the arena, asked us.

“Are both of you not wearing armor?”

“No.”

“No.”

Neither of us were hunters who particularly needed armor.

She was already perfect in terms of defense just by existing, and I prioritized speed, so I didn’t use armor that would increase defense and magic resistance at the cost of agility.

“Do you think you can just dodge everything?”

“Of course.”

“Then we’ll begin now.”

In that breathtaking atmosphere, Gloria continued.

“Ready… Begin!”

Gloria’s resounding signal to start the battle echoed throughout the large arena.

And simultaneously, both of us activated our unique skills.

-Woong!-

As soon as the longsword appeared in my hand, I used [Swift] to charge at her.

-Swoosh!-

However, she erected an ice wall in front of me, forcing me to stop.

She had blocked my charge with just a single ice wall.

‘I wonder if this will break?’

Now I could solve that curiosity.

I had summoned [Sword of the Distant Abyss] in the form of a longsword, neither a greatsword nor a dagger.

I judged that I needed both strength and agility to fight her.

‘It should break, right?’

I raised my sword and slashed at the ice wall.

-Slash! Crack!-

The ice wall I struck had a large crack in it.

It looked like it would break at any moment.

So I raised my sword again and swung it at the ice wall.

Then.

-Crack! Crackle!-

The ice wall couldn’t withstand the second attack and shattered into two pieces.

And beyond the shattered ice wall, I could see her with a surprised expression.

‘Two hits, huh…’

This was definitely promising.

It broke after just two hits, even though I hadn’t put much strength into it.

I was surprised by this fact, and she was also amazed.

“Wow… just two hits?”

“This is just the beginning, Noona.”