In the next second, Azriel blinked, and suddenly his vision tilted as his head smacked hard against the edge of the bed.
“Argh…”
Wincing in pain, he found himself unable to move as Amaya clung tightly to him, soaking his shirt with her tears.
“I-I thought you were dead, my prince! The moment I heard you were alive a few days ago, I wanted to rush here immediately!”
She cried, and Azriel’s face softened with guilt as he sighed quietly, gently stroking her long hair.
There were many things Azriel regretted from his previous life, things he had done before dying that day.
But one of the biggest regrets was this: the fight he and Amaya had had.
She hadn’t wanted him to go to the military base, and Azriel, stubborn as always, hadn’t listened.
In the end, he had died by the Void rifts.
Jasmine and Mira stood by, confused, watching Azriel’s face contort with regret as he averted his eyes.
They didn’t know anything about what had happened between him and Amaya before that fateful day.
They remained silent as Amaya continued to hug Azriel, unwilling to let go.
Eventually, without looking at her, Azriel spoke softly.
“…I’m sorry.”
His words only deepened the confusion on Jasmine and Mira’s faces, but Amaya slowly looked up.
Azriel felt a pang in his heart when he saw her red, tear-streaked eyes.
He couldn’t meet her gaze for long, so he looked away again, the emotions he inherited weighing on him.
He could feel the immense regret enveloping him.
“…Please, don’t say that,” Amaya whispered, resting her forehead against his chest.
“I’m just happy you’re back.”
She took a shaky breath before continuing.
“My foolish prince… ever since you were little, you never listened or did what was expected of you. So, I can only be grateful that you’re still alive.”
Azriel finally looked at her, seeing her smile brightly up at him.
He was at a loss for words.
In the end, all he could do was return a smile.
*****
Lumine sat quietly on one of the soft couches in the hotel lobby, watching the scene unfold before him.
Yelena sat beside him, both of them overwhelmed by the crowd of cadets in front of them.
“You really are incredible, Cadet Lumine! To slay so many skeletons with a fire sword—how cool!”
“Cadet Yelena, watching you felt like I was seeing someone with aimbot!”
“Seriously, both of you are so talented, and you fight so well together!”
The cadets continued praising them one after another, admiring their achievements.
Lumine and Yelena could only smile awkwardly, unsure of what to say in response to their admiration.
This was all new to them.
Undoubtedly, some of the cadets were trying to build connections with the two.
After all, Lumine and Yelena weren’t from any prestigious families, making them appear as easy targets for networking.
The same couldn’t be said for another person sitting a little farther away on a separate couch.
Ignoring the praises, Lumine’s gaze shifted toward that person, who had his eyes closed, head leaning back.
‘Cadet Nol…’
No one dared to sit near him.
Out of fear.
Perhaps noticing Lumine’s gaze, the other cadets followed suit, glancing at Nol before quickly turning their heads and whispering among themselves.
“You’ve heard about him, right?”
“Yeah, he fought with Princess Jasmine… they call him the Silver Blood Devil.”
“They say he ate the heads of all the terrorists he fought…”
“W-what a terrifying person…”
Lumine and Yelena exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing in unison as they observed Nol, who seemed completely oblivious to the rumors swirling around him.
‘I knew it. He’s been hiding his strength all along.’
From the first moment he met Nol, he could sense the hidden power within him.
Of course, Lumine didn’t really believe the rumors about Nol eating the heads of terrorists, but it was clear that Nol had done something to earn such fear and notoriety.
Then again, it could also be because more information had surfaced about him being a servant who had come to the academy with Azriel.
Speaking of Azriel…
‘So much has been happening…’
Lumine’s thoughts darkened as he remembered Neo Genesis’ attack.
He had failed his quest by not saving Cadet Kanae’s life.
But then again, the system had given him a quest to ensure no cadets died.
It could have assigned him a specific quest to save Kanae, but it hadn’t.
That meant the system had expected more cadets to die.
Yet none did.
All because of Azriel.
Azriel, who had killed a Heptarch and taken down Neo Genesis members on the second floor, while Nol and the Crimson Princess handled the rest on the first floor—all under Azriel’s orders.
The system hadn’t predicted Azriel’s actions, and as a result, Lumine had almost nothing to do except fight skeletons that didn’t even have mana cores.
They were being controlled by something—or someone—but weren’t particularly strong.
There were just a lot of them.
But it made Lumine wonder: if they had stayed longer, would they have encountered whoever was behind the skeletons?
Did he even want that?
‘How long has all of this been planned…?’
Lumine realized just how clueless he was about what was truly going on in the world.
He wasn’t part of one of the four great clans, but still, was this normal for them?
He didn’t think so.
And yet, he was also worried about Azriel, especially after seeing his missing right hand.
But unfortunately, Lumine couldn’t leave the hotel yet.
A sudden clap echoed through the lobby, halting everyone’s movements as they turned toward the entrance.
“Instructor Solomon..!”
“Can we finally leave the hotel?”
“I just want to sleep in my own bed…”
Solomon grinned as he walked toward the center of the room, ignoring their complaints and questions.
His eyes locked onto Lumine, sending a shiver down Lumine’s spine.
For some reason, Solomon’s eyes…
They reminded him of a predator.
Lumine gulped as Solomon blinked, and in the next second, he was standing right in front of him, making Lumine’s breath catch in his throat.
Solomon leaned in closer, far too close.
“I’ve heard a lot about you… quite the hero, Cadet Lumine.”
He turned to Yelena.
“And you as well, Cadet Yelena. Both of you have made sure no one died.”
Yelena was the first to regain her composure.
She bowed slightly, her voice quiet.
“What we achieved is nothing compared to Prince Azriel.”
Solomon nodded, acknowledging her words.
“Azriel is Azriel. You two are yourselves. If everyone acted like him, this world would collapse.”
His words, though cryptic, carried weight.
Words that could have had several meanings and consequences.
Yet Solomon didn’t seem to care.
He didn’t have to.
Though the rumors credited Azriel with killing Heptarch Zoran, everyone here knew it had been Solomon who delivered the fatal blow.
‘I need to grow stronger,’ Lumine thought, his expression growing grim.
He had realized just how weak he was—not just physically, but in many other ways as well.
If it weren’t for Azriel today…
Who knew what kind of tragedy might have happened?
‘Everyone owes him because of this…’
Indeed, a sense of admiration began to take root in Lumine’s mind for Azriel.
He was a true hero, someone who had given his hand—and nearly his life—for the sake of everyone.
Solomon laughed, addressing the group.
“The prince and princesses will be leaving in a few hours. Cadet Nol, you’re requested to head to the Tenths immediately. As for the rest of you, start packing up. We’re returning to the academy. As compensation for this ordeal, the academy is granting all of you a week-long break. You can stay in your dorms or go home once we arrive.”
The cadets’ faces brightened at Solomon’s words, and they began cheering.
Lumine and Yelena exchanged a glance and smiled. They had both missed their families. Though it hadn’t been that long, the Void Dungeon had been an exhausting experience.
They needed some rest.
Nol finally opened his eyes and, without a word or a glance at anyone, walked out of the hotel, his expression unreadable.
The cadets tensed, their chatter dying instantly as if afraid any sound might provoke him.
Solomon’s lips curled into a twisted smile, his gaze following Nol.
But Nol remained indifferent, his steps steady and unhurried, oblivious to the reactions swirling in his wake as he disappeared from sight.
Just like that.
Lumine watched him go with a bitter smile.
‘I can’t tell what he’s thinking…’
It was strange.
Lumine shook his head as he was about to stand up and go pack his belongings.
But before he could, a system notification flashed in front of his vision.
He glanced at it, noticing it was a sudden quest.
Furrowing his brows, Lumine began to read, and as he did, his eyes widened in disbelief.
It felt as though a cold wave had crashed against him, draining the blood from his face as his body trembled.
‘This…!’
He immediately regretted letting his guard down, allowing himself to relax too soon.
Lumine’s thoughts stalled as he reread the objective, unable to believe it.
The quest reward was 50,000 SP—an entire zero added compared to his previous reward.
But the task itself…
The quest…
To rescue the Crimson King who had ventured into the Void Realm.