Chapter 118

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Episode 27 - First Mission [2]

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"Hum, I think I’m the first one."

Zoey looked up from her book. She was sitting at a table, about a meter away from the large sofa in the center.

At that moment, she was wearing a pair of round glasses that suited her well, and her hairstyle consisted of two ponytails falling over her shoulders.

’She looks like a nerd, according to college students, right?’

Zoey pursed her lips and said:

"You are."

Nodding, I walked through the door and sat down on the sofa, right on the same cushion where I had sat the first time.

I leaned back as I felt the sofa’s soft comfort and let out a faint sigh.

’I could sleep here, honestly.’

Training in the Second Form requires mental effort.

Even when I sleep, the fatigue and exhaustion are so intense that I calculated I would need to sleep more than sixteen hours a day for an entire week.

I rubbed my temples while waiting for the other members to arrive.

But several minutes passed and no one showed up.

And strangely enough, the leader still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. I wondered if she was doing teenage things; I mean, she’s twenty years old, and a lot of people that age do those kinds of things.

It wouldn’t be strange, but I didn’t use my senses to confirm it.

In any case, the other members never arrived.

And right at that moment, Zoey set her book down, took off her glasses, and looked at the wall clock behind the leader’s desk.

"It’s getting late."

She muttered while glancing toward the door and frowning.

I also started wondering why they still hadn’t come. I didn’t remember anyone mentioning they were going to the library or the D-1 Parliament.

’This is awkward, especially because there’s no one else who talks.’

I remained still, saying nothing in response to Zoey’s murmurs.

She soon sat back down and stared directly at me.

"...?!"

I didn’t move my head, but honestly, this was really strange.

Inside my mind, my master’s voice said:

〖Isn’t the atmosphere around you very awkward and strange, disciple?〗

’I think so too, and especially her...’

I was referring to Zoey, and my master confirmed my words.

〖Well, she’s definitely a little strange. She’s hiding her true attribute with a Relic, and who knows why. Actually, your Club leader is also a little strange〗

’What do you mean by that?’

The first time I met Alessia, I didn’t notice anything strange. In fact, I hadn’t even noticed the abnormality around Zoey until my master pointed it out and I checked for myself.

I usually keep my senses active, but sometimes I don’t even notice the little things.

〖Mhm, well, I don’t know. I would have to see her, but in my state as a sealed soul without any physical body, I can’t verify anything〗

I nodded inwardly. Then I remembered something I had forgotten.

’By the way, master, how much longer until you can make the Ancient Spirit’s body yours?’

It had been close to three months, more or less, since I obtained the Ancient Spirit’s body in the ruins of Zeron City.

And adding the time I spent inside the Memory Gate, the total was actually almost five months.

’Well, five months in another week or two.’

My master answered my question.

〖Ah, that. Well, there’s been progress. I’ve assimilated with the Ancient Spirit by around 68%. If we calculate how long it’ll take before I can possess it, it should be another three or four months〗

Actually, it was unexpected that the assimilation had been progressing fairly quickly.

Considering my master had said it could take anywhere from months to a year, or even several years.

But it seems it’ll be the former.

’Around the first month of the Second Semester, right?’

〖Exactly. It could take longer if something unforeseen happens, but I’ll have a new body this year〗

He said, his voice unable to hide the joy and excitement.

Anyway, when I stopped talking with my master, I nearly jumped when I realized that, at some point, Zoey had sat down in front of me.

Sitting on top of the small table, she had her legs crossed while resting her elbow on her knee and her cheek against her fist.

In any case, she was staring at me intently, and her curiosity was quite obvious.

I wondered if this was normal.

I slightly raised my head and, as if "looking" directly into her eyes, asked:

"Ehm, do you need something, Superior Zoey?"

Zoey blinked briefly before asking:

"There’s just one thing I’m curious about, may I ask?"

"...?"

Well, now she had definitely caught my curiosity.

I shook my head as I said:

"I don’t mind, go ahead."

Zoey gave a faint nod before asking me:

"Why don’t you leave the Academy if no one here really wants you to be a cadet?"

"Ah, that."

I shrugged.

The truth was, I wanted to leave the Academy, but at the same time, I didn’t.

Setting aside the obligation because of the Main Missions.

I had made enough friends, especially Rinna, who I spent every day with, even on weekends.

Besides, there were Professor Ashly and Professor Lunia, who treated me quite well and, from the very beginning, didn’t care that I was a user of the Dark attribute.

All the cadets and many professors criticized me, labeled me, or were, in a way, vulgar, racist, or threw all kinds of insults at me just because of my attribute.

But, in general, I simply ignored them, and afterward I couldn’t even remember what insults they had shouted or whispered at me.

Although Zoey’s question was more intriguing.

’It’s a possibility, but...’

I shook my head internally while trying to sense Zoey’s attribute.

At the same time, I answered her question.

"Well, it’s not a big deal. I don’t care about insults, I don’t care what people think of me, I don’t care how they see me. I just do what I want and... I have friends, real friends."

At first, I thought I wouldn’t make any friends.

I intended to subtly get closer to the main characters and Lumina so I could clear the Main Missions more easily.

But slowly, over the past few months, I had become friends with them.

It was no longer just Runna, who sat at the same table with me in the cafeteria every day.

It was no longer only Rinna, who talked with me every day.

’Yeah, I’ve made friends, real friends.’

A faint smile formed on my face.

Zoey, meanwhile, blinked in surprise.

"Really..."

"Yeah, but why the question?"

Zoey pressed her lips into a thin line before shaking her head.

"I... don’t think I could do the same thing as you, I guess."

"Mhm, that’s how it is."

Zoey shrugged, and although her question had been strange, looking at it from another angle, I had never seen Zoey with any second-year cadets.

Actually, I think she was always in the Club with Alessia.

’Could it be that she doesn’t have anyone to talk to, or is it something related to her attribute?’

Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, and just as I was about to ask...

Clank!

The club room door opened, and a group walked in.

"Ugh, sorry, we arrived late."

"We were all far apart, and everyone went looking for the others so we could gather up and come together."

"Sorry, leader."

At that moment, the leader also came out of the bathroom.

She sat down in her desk chair and said:

"Don’t worry, juniors. Today will only be a meeting anyway."

I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like these idiots weren’t as afraid of Alessia anymore.

I didn’t know the reason, but I didn’t care.

Shortly afterward, they took seats on the sofa. Veronica sat beside me as she quietly said:

"How long have you been waiting, older brother?"

I thought about it for a second before answering:

"I think ten minutes or more, and by the way, stop calling me that. It feels like you just want to annoy me."

Veronica closed her mouth and turned her head away, ignoring my words.

’I should just kick her while she’s sleeping.’

It was a great idea, but she wasn’t sleeping right now for me to kick her. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

In any case, the leader soon said:

"Well, guys, we have our first mission. Well, actually two missions, so you’ll split into two teams. Zoey and I will be the leaders."

Zoey returned to her desk while picking up her book and starting to read.

Meanwhile, Alessia continued:

"One mission is related to villains, and the other is related to clearing out a Demonic Zone. For now, I’ll mention the members of each team."

Without anyone saying anything, Alessia picked up a sheet of paper and started reading it.

"Group A consists of: leader, myself, Rinna, Charlotte, and Veronica. Now, Group B consists of: leader, Zoey, Diana, Adel, and Julian. Now I’ll explain both missions."

Alessia explained the mission involving the clearing of a Demonic Zone.

It was pretty simple. We just had to kill Demonic Beasts, demons, and so on.

Meanwhile, the second mission involved infiltrating a villain hideout. If possible, killing all the villains would be ideal.

However, if they were too strong, it would mean the place was a branch of some villain organization. Therefore, the leader said we would only gather information about it.

"So, which mission will both groups choose?"

While everyone was deep in thought, Julian made a suggestion.

"Uh, leader, how about a vote? I think it’d be easier that way, right?"

"Oh, that’s true. Let’s do what junior Julian suggested."

A short while later, the voting began.