episode_0012

12.

Academy Blue Hawk Lecture Room.

Professor Berriol was lecturing on how to deal with wizard-type monsters.

“The weakness of wizard-type monsters is similar to that of human wizards. They become defenseless while casting spells. Of course, wizard-type monsters often try to overcome this weakness by coexisting with warrior-type monsters or hiding somewhere so that they are hard to find. In actual combat, you need to analyze the enemy’s tendencies well and respond quickly.”

Professor Berriol closed the book.

“Then, I will give you the following assignment.”

The students looked blatantly displeased because they were given another assignment not long after their midterm exams.

But Professor Berriol, regardless of the students’ dislike, announced the next assignment.

“The task for this mission is to catch 30 Magic Cubes from the Blue Lightning Swamp.”

Magic Cube. It was a monster of the wizard tribe that Professor Berriol had explained how to conquer in the previous lecture.

“You guys dug up all the rainbow ore for the midterm evaluation, right? You made some anti-demon equipment for this test, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”

The Blue Hawk class students each mined about 20kg of rainbow ore from Rainbow Valley.

Professor Berriol instructed his students to take the ore to the workshop inside the academy and create armor with anti-demon powers.

About 20kg of rainbow ore was enough to make a breastplate.

From Chris’s perspective, this task seemed easy.

Didn’t you already receive a breastplate, wrist guards, and shin guards from the workshop?

“As I said before, the Magic Cube is good at hiding in places where it cannot be seen, and it can hide behind other monsters that can protect it. That is why it may be difficult to do it alone. This task is also allowed to be done by forming a party with several people.”

At the professor’s words, the students each looked at their friends and wondered who they should party with.

“Lastly, the Blue Lightning Swamp is home to an S-class monster called Thunder Tiger. It’s usually hard to see, but if you happen to encounter it, run away immediately. This monster can be a burden to you.”

Professor Berriol ended his lecture with a final warning about the Thunder Tiger, the boss monster of the Blue Lightning Swamp.

As Professor Berriol left the classroom, the children began to gather in groups of three or five and form a party.

But not a single child approached Chris.

Although Chris’s reputation had improved due to his recent activities, the cadets still had the lingering effects of his past misdeeds.

‘Should I do it alone? But there must be a reason why the professor told me to form a party and go.’

Chris tried to approach the cadets first.

First, I approached a group of cadets who were talking nearby.

“Excuse me, do you need a summoner?”

Chris approaches first with a smile.

The children seemed a little awkward when Chris spoke to them first, but they didn’t look that offended.

Chris, who had received a commendation a few days ago and had ranked first in the midterm evaluation, had his bad image diluted a lot.

“I think it would be okay to do it with one more person… .”

“Then let’s do it together.”

Just as Chris was about to save the party, two other cadets from the Blue Hawk class entered.

The two were Vera Morgan of the Red Lion squad and Jeremy Klevin, second in command.

The Blue Hawk class is in an uproar as two high-ranking, famous cadets join the class.

Vera looked around as if looking for someone, then soon found Chris and walked towards him.

Chris knew Vera from afar, having seen her when he was a groom named John.

“Chris! Our Red Lion Band received the same assignment as you and went to the Blue Lightning Swamp.”

“Huh? But why…?”

“I’m looking for a party for Jeremy and I to join, you come too.”

Vera’s sudden proposal.

As far as Chris knows, Vera doesn’t like him as her fiancée, so why is she suddenly making this suggestion?

It was something unknown.

“Thanks, but I just found a party. Let’s meet up later.”

“What? You, the outcast, saved the party? Don’t lie.”

Vera scolding Chris.

“No, I really did get it… .”

Chris said, glancing sideways at the three friends from the Blue Dragon band he was partying with.

“What’s your name?”

As Vera glared, the boy who had been talking to Chris answered, trembling like a mouse in front of a snake.

“This is Sean Smith… .”

“What is your ranking?”

“233rd place… .”

“Almost last place!”

Vera selling out Sean.

“Chris, do you want to party with the 230th ranked guys, or do you want to party with me, who’s ranked 11th, and Jeremy, who’s ranked 2nd?”

Vera asks in a commanding tone.

“Not really, you just have to catch 30 Magic Cubes with anyone. This time, I decided to do it with Sean first. Thanks, but let’s do it together next time.”

“Huh? Are you serious? Jeremy and I, who are ranked high, are offering to do something together with you, and you think you’re in a position to refuse?”

“I said I’d do it with Sean, no matter what.”

Chris is a little annoyed with Vera who doesn’t understand him.

‘Hey, why are you so slimy?’

“Hey! Don’t you think? You’re just crawling up to me because I did a good job… Chris! Do you think you can do this to me!”

Jeremy stopped Vera from running wild.

“Wow, calm down, Vera.”

Jeremy looking at Chris.

“Chris, don’t you know it’s more beneficial for you to party with us? Drop those rags and join us.”

Chris shook his head at Jeremy’s words.

“I don’t know if it’s beneficial to party with you guys, but apologize for telling our party members to shake off their guard.”

Chris glares at Jeremy.

“Apologize? If 233 isn’t a loser, then what is? I don’t think I said anything wrong.”

Jeremy has a smiling face but his eyes are cold.

Tensions were running high between Chris and Jeremy.

“You really don’t plan on apologizing?”

“What are you going to do if I don’t apologize?”

Then Sean stepped in and stopped Chris.

“Chris, stop it. I don’t really care. Actually, 233rd place is a drop, so what.”

Shawn, worried about Chris, stopped him from fighting Jeremy.

Because it seemed like Chris would get seriously hurt if he picked a fight with Jeremy, who was ranked 2nd.

He couldn’t stand to see Chris, who was trying to help him, get beaten by Jeremy.

“Okay, let’s go, Jeremy.”

Vera glared at Chris once, then turned around and left the Blue Hawk class.

“Chris, I think we need to sort things out next time.”

Jeremy smiled and followed Vera out.

Chris came out of nowhere and started a fight with the two people who left, which was ridiculous.

‘What are you doing here? Did you come to the next class to find a party because you don’t have any friends?’

It didn’t seem like the two people in the rankings wouldn’t be able to find a party because they didn’t have any friends.

‘What are you really here for?’

“Chris, are you sure you’re okay? I think it’d be better to party with them like they said. They’re ranked. We’re okay with you going.”

Sean said, glancing at Chris.

“No, I decided to do it with you guys.”

Chris greeted each of his team members one by one.

It was a three-person party: Sean, a warrior, Joe, a wizard, and Austin, a healer.

They were all, like Sean, students in the lower ranks, ranked below 200.

“Actually, I’m the only vanguard in our party, and I was worried because my skills weren’t that great. But I’m a little relieved that you’re here, Chris.”

Chris was skilled enough to beat Howard, who was ranked 3rd.

Moreover, in the midterm exam, he took first place by digging up 100kg of rainbow ore by himself.

‘I think Chris would have done well even if he had done it alone.’

If a strong person like Chris joins the party, the burden on Sean, who has to guard the rear guard alone, will be greatly reduced.

“Hello everyone. Let’s do our best together.”

Chris holding a strategy meeting with his party friends in a friendly atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Vera and Jeremy’s plans are a bit disrupted when Chris declines their party offer.

“What are we going to do now?”

Jeremy asks Vera, the planner.

Vera’s plan was to party with Chris to see what he could do.

“Well, actually, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a party. You can just move around Chris’s party in the swamp and see how good Chris is.”

Although Vera was upset that Chris had rejected her, she still wasn’t completely interested in him.

“If Chris’s skills are good, can I try it once?”

Jeremy licked his lips as if he was looking forward to it.

“Why are you and Nick so impatient because you can’t fight?”

Vera gave Jeremy a look of incomprehension.

“They say that when you’re at Nick’s level, there are no challengers. It’s boring to fight just the two of us all the time. They say that we need new stimulation. Just like Nick said, I’m also interested in Chris. He seems like a guy with a strong will, so I wonder if his skills are just as strong. Hehe.”

Jeremy laughed playfully.