“Judging from the remarkable progress you’ve all made, we’ve decided to venture deeper into the lush green forest,” Oscar announced with a smile, his words met with proud smiles from the class. Initially apprehensive and even fearful, they had witnessed firsthand the fruits of their labor and the astonishing strides they had made in their training.
Now, they exuded confidence in their newfound abilities.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude to Oscar and Cecilia for their guidance and support,” Jason remarked, flashing a smile towards the instructors. “Your dedication has been invaluable, and we sincerely hope to continue learning from you both.”
As Jason’s humility washed over the room, I couldn’t help but cringe inwardly. His innate charisma, coupled with his genuine appreciation for others, seemed to emit an aura of leadership that captivated those around him. In just a month, he had effortlessly assumed the role of the unspoken leader among the heroes, garnering the allegiance of the majority of the class.
The same sentiment extended beyond the classroom walls, resonating with the king, knights, and other nobles who viewed Jason with favor. His rumored connection to Princess Adelia only served to enhance his standing, painting him as the epitome of the perfect hero they had envisioned.
Yet, despite his seemingly flawless facade, I saw through the veneer to the man beneath. To me, Jason was nothing more than a typical classmate with a penchant for attracting the attention of countless admirers. His skill in concealing his true intentions was commendable, but it didn’t escape my notice.
Oscar’s smile lingered as he stepped aside, revealing an array of weapons and light armors meticulously arranged before us. “We’ve prepared sturdy armors tailored to fit each of your body sizes, as well as weapons suited to a range of skill levels. It’s crucial that you choose equipment that suits you best. Let’s remember not to let greed or arrogance cloud our judgment in this decision.
Lives could very well depend on it.”
His cautionary words barely had time to settle before the class erupted into a frenzy, eagerly scrambling to inspect the offerings like children presented with a trove of new toys.
While the others eagerly dove into the selection process, I hung back, observing from a distance. Only Gwen and Aisha mirrored my restraint, displaying a patience that seemed almost out of place amidst the excitement. However, I couldn’t ignore the presence of another lingering nearby.
“You shouldn’t stay too close to me,” I stated without turning to face Courtney.
Since our arrival, Courtney had maintained a cautious distance from me, neither drawing near nor straying too far. Her demeanor betrayed a level of confusion that exceeded my expectations following our release from our arrangement. Was it due to my luck or the residual effects of Khione’s divine energy that now coursed through me, prompting Courtney to feel an inexplicable attraction?
I couldn’t say for certain, but it would undoubtedly raise suspicions if she continued to linger near me.
Throughout the past month, it had been common knowledge among our classmates that Courtney harbored no particular fondness for me. We had taken pains to avoid each other’s company, save for our daily kiss—albeit discreetly—in secluded locations such as the library.
“Y..yes..” Courtney’s response came in a hesitant stutter before she, too, joined the throng to select her armor and weapon.
“You should hurry up, Nathan,” a familiar voice chimed in from behind me.
Recognizing the voice instantly, I turned with a smile. “Professor Carter?”
Amelia approached, though she maintained a certain distance, her smile warm but tinged with concern. “Yes, before they leave you with scraps. Are you joining us on the trip this time? It’s not your usual style…”
“Not at all. I’ve decided to come along this time,” I replied, shaking my head.
Amelia’s surprise was palpable, her concern evident in her furrowed brow. “I’m not sure this is a good idea, Nathan. You haven’t participated in training for the past month, nor have you faced the monsters outside the safety of the classroom. And now, we’re venturing even deeper into the forest where the dangers will be heightened. You should be at least level 30 to safely accompany us…”
As our teacher, Amelia’s concern for my well-being was genuine, but I sensed there was more to her apprehension than met the eye. Her recent avoidance of me hinted at a deeper emotional turmoil, one that mirrored the strange feelings Courtney had begun to experience in my presence.
However, unlike Courtney, Amelia’s preexisting positive feelings towards me seemed to amplify the effects of my luck and charm.
Despite my invisible attendance at training sessions, I made a point to appear during meal times in the garden, not only to keep tabs on my classmates’ progress and potential threats but also to enjoy solitary moments with my beautiful teacher.
Despite maintaining our teacher-student dynamic, Amelia and I had grown closer, our relationship resembling that of close friends, albeit with the same respectful tone in our conversations. We shared a level of openness that extended beyond the classroom, yet despite her remarkable mental fortitude, Amelia couldn’t help but succumb to the distracting allure I seemed to exert over her.
Eventually, she began to avoid me, citing excuses of sickness or lack of appetite.
Despite this, Amelia and “that woman” were the individuals with whom I had made the most significant strides.
“What level are you, teacher?” I inquired, spurred by her earlier mention of levels.
“Forty-one. And you, Nathan?” Amelia responded without hesitation, a departure from the usual taboo surrounding discussions of personal levels among classmates. It was a matter of pride and privacy, yet certain individuals, like Jason and Aiden, seemed eager to flaunt their accomplishments, boasting levels well into the fifties.
From my observations, I surmised that only Jason, Aiden, and my stepsister, Sienna, had reached level fifty, with Aisha and Gwen following closely behind. Amelia, Siara, and Courtney trailed behind them, all steadily climbing the ranks with each passing day—a feat that elicited shock and awe from the entire castle.
“Level twenty-one,” I replied, briefly glancing at my own level before fabricating the number.
“Oh! That’s quite impressive, Nathan, considering you haven’t been training…” Amelia’s astonishment was palpable, her disbelief stemming from the notion that someone like me, who rarely engaged in training or monster encounters, could have achieved such a level.
Well, I couldn’t just tell her that I had been killing stronger monsters than them since day one and was training in my own way.
Just like Aisha.
I glanced at Aisha.
Growing closer to Aisha had been a deliberate choice on my part, as I made it a habit to leave at precisely the right time to coincide with her solo training sessions in the garden. While I could have easily taken an alternate route to avoid encountering her, I purposefully sought out these moments, cherishing them as our little secret.
Remarkably, Aisha seemed unfazed by my nocturnal excursions, content to ignore my presence as long as I returned on time. Our interactions during these late-night rendezvous were brief, consisting of little more than greetings and casual conversation.
I couldn’t say for certain whether Aisha fully understood the nature of my nighttime activities. Perhaps she believed I was genuinely dedicating myself to training alone, oblivious to the fact that I was concealing my true progress from everyone, including Oscar and Cecilia.
So I’m quite sure that even Aisha didn’t notice the significant strides I was making with each passing day and that fact was sure making her curious and confused about what the hell I could be doing.
Her restraint in refraining from prying into my affairs only added to her endearing qualities, demonstrating a level of respect and trust that I found quite cute.
“I just realized I couldn’t afford to remain weak while everyone else is fighting for the future. I’ll start now,” I explained to the teacher.
“But…” Amelia was still concerned.
“Don’t worry, Professor, I’ll stick close to you so you can protect me,” I reassured her with a smile, quickly easing her worries.
“What a lazy student I have,” Amelia laughed, seemingly mollified by my assurance.
Of course, it was all a lie.
I had no intention of staying behind.
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