Talentless Extra Of The Legendary Hero Academy-Chapter 88: Jeff

One week is a long time and yet so fast for people that really needed the time.

The team worked hard that week. Julius made sure he read out the names of those that disappeared in the cursed land for them, and there were lots of them.

It created a weird atmosphere throughout that week.

On one hand, they trusted that Severin wouldn’t just lead them to their deaths and that he must have something planned. On the other hand, they couldn’t deny that the situation surrounding the cursed land was truly mysterious and terrifying.

Because none of the people that went missing there were ever found.

Still, it didn’t take from their training, as they even seemed to train harder throughout that week. But it wasn’t only training that they did; they also prepared in another way.

Severin wrote down the list of things they were going to need, and Ethan provided the money until the House would be capable of paying him back.

And then finally, they assembled in front of the House building on the day they were to depart and claim their prize.

Derrick and Ethan, Julius and Celia, and then Serena.

With Severin. That was the number of people that wanted to clear the cursed land and claim the prize for themselves.

"Do you think we should have employed more people just for this? Maybe some of the other first-years to help?" Ethan said. The spatial chest they gained from clearing the dungeon floated beside him; they planned to use it in getting all the loot they acquired.

Julius adjusted his glasses. "Well, that was part of the plan of things that Severin decided to buy, but none of the students wanted to go with us. It’s a death sentence."

Ethan scowled. "Cowards."

Derrick pressed his fists together. "This just means we will be the ones to have all the gains to ourselves. And what are we still waiting for? Let’s go!"

The others nodded with him.

They had already made up their minds to go, so what should they be waiting for?

Severin agreed with them. His hand went to his sword, and he nodded. "Alright."

They began to move.

The news that the Academy had given them the cursed land and that House Chains wanted to develop it had spread slowly but surely throughout the school that week, and some of the students that saw them shook their heads.

"So this will be the end of the new House. They didn’t even wait to entertain us a bit more."

"Right! It’s almost as if the Academy is planning on getting rid of them!"

"Awww... and I was planning on joining the House."

"No, you’re not."

Comments like those followed them as they made their way past all the very much developed parts of the Field Zone. They saw the mines and special herb gardens that belonged to the other Houses.

The forest became denser and more crowded as they waded deeper in.

They walked in silence, enjoying the small sunshine that managed to filter through the leaves. Animals shouted, and insects made their chirping sounds.

It was a peaceful walk, and no monsters jumped out at them.

Severin found it refreshing, just as he had in the weeks since Zigi was captured. The Zigi incident had shown him clearly and brutally that he was now in unfamiliar territory where plot mattered almost in no way.

He would now be tested in ways that were entirely personal and tailored to him.

And that was why he had been feeling uneasy.

He could feel that something was coming, but he couldn’t point at what it was. "...Maybe it’s my perception, but I can feel that something so unexpected is about to happen again..."

And it wasn’t only because he was in the cursed land. It was more like it was tied to it in some ways but not entirely the same.

"....Will the traitor make a move against me? No, he shouldn’t know that I’m responsible for what hit the Scar... then... what could be coming?...."

Since Severin didn’t know, he kept his peace.

He would wait for it to happen and respond.

"We are in the cursed land already. I hope everyone knows this?" Julius said.

Even if they didn’t, they could feel it.

The animals had stopped shouting, and the insects were gone. The light coming through the trees had dimmed, and even though it was daylight, everywhere was getting dark around them.

"From the information that we know, there should not be other monsters in the area. The only monsters should be the Dark Cloak that Severin told us about."

Julius had told them the same thing again and again during the week, but he still repeated it, mostly because everywhere was silent. Too silent.

"Should I start shielding now?" Julius asked.

Severin shook his head as he raised his eyes to look at the sky through the layers of trees. There was still daylight left. "It’s not yet time."

They began to walk faster, Julius directing them on the way to the Etherion stones, but suddenly Severin froze. It was a small thing, but he stopped walking.

His eyes swept their small camp.

"Why are you stopping?" Julius asked.

Severin did a mental head count.

Derrick was scowling, his face covered in leaves, while Celia was breathing harder than usual. Serena had made herself a sled with ashes and was using it to move herself.

Ethan still carried the chest, and he was the only one that remained unaffected among them.

Julius was breathing very hard and was sipping on a water bottle.

And beside Severin, Jeff was smiling to himself.

Severin nodded to himself. "We’re complete...!!"

His head suddenly exploded with pain as his perception pressed down heavily on his brain.

Jeff? JEFF?

Who the fuck is that?

Severin’s hand went to his sword, and he drew it in a flash. Steel screamed and glinted in the air as he aimed at "Jeff’s" head, only to stop an inch from his neck as Julius’s voice shouted from Jeff’s own mouth.

"What are you doing, Severin? Do you want to kill me?"

Severin paused and turned to look beside him. The smiling Jeff was indeed Julius.

And when he turned to look at the group, there was still another Jeff there.

Severin’s hand tightened on his sword. "Fuck."