Chapter 73

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Episode 15 - Anti-villain club [5]

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When we returned to the club, we sat down on the sofa while Alessia went back to her desk.

Meanwhile, I noticed a presence on the other side of the door; the other member was probably in the bathroom.

After a few seconds, the door opened and a girl wearing glasses appeared. Her hair barely reached her shoulders.

She had a bob haircut, although I couldn’t see the color of her eyes or hair. Either way, I used Mana Sense.

I noticed that her strength was at the 5-Star level, at least at the peak of 5 Stars.

’She’ll probably reach 6 Stars during the second semester.’

Then I noticed the brooch on her uniform, right over her heart. It had the number two engraved on it, not painted.

’She really is a second-year student.’

Although I was somewhat surprised, she might have come from one of the Five Houses.

When you think about the children of the Five Houses, among second- and third-year students, you’ll only find 5-Star or 6-Star cadets.

The heads and matriarchs of the Five Houses are around the 8-Star or 9-Star level.

And judging by this girl’s talent, she was probably the daughter of one of those people.

In any case, when Alessia saw the girl come out of the bathroom, she smiled and said:

"Ah, you’re here, Zoey. Look, we have new members. Well, now you won’t be alone anymore."

The girl with glasses, Zoey, looked in our direction. For a second, she neither reacted nor said anything.

Shortly after, she simply nodded.

"Don’t bother me."

Then she walked toward a table and sat down. She opened a book and started reading.

"..."

None of us said anything. Alessia simply kept smiling and ignored Zoey’s cold response.

"Ah, don’t worry about her. Zoey may be a commoner, but she’s also fun to tease. Heh heh."

’A commoner.’

That was more surprising than anything else. It’s not that I’m saying commoners can’t reach that level of strength in their second or third year.

It was because of one particular thing.

’Her mana circulation and the refinement of her attribute, even though I don’t know what attribute she has, are as advanced as if she possessed advanced or secret techniques known only to the Five Houses.’

For me, simply training mana is enough to refine it, and my mana circulation is already nearly perfect, so I’m fine.

But her... honestly, I don’t know how she’s so strong and has such refined mana.

’It’s as if she were a 7-Star. The amount of mana she has is abnormal.’

The more refined the mana is, the greater the quantity compared to others at the same level.

So that means this girl has overwhelming talent.

’If that were the case, she would already be a 6-Star. Or perhaps she has focused entirely on training her mana.’

In any case, I wasn’t the only one who noticed it; however, no one asked about it.

But then...

〖Mhm, that girl seems to be using some kind of Relic to hide her attribute. How strange, who would want to hide something like that?〗

"..."

The word Relic was the first thing that caught my attention.

A Relic is literally something created during the era of the Progenitors.

Although unlikely, there is still a slight possibility that many Relics were made by the Progenitors themselves.

And this girl named Zoey was using one solely to conceal the attribute she possessed.

’Now that I think about it, I can’t detect exactly what attribute she has.’

I couldn’t sense it clearly, but there was definitely something familiar about it. Even so, it wasn’t enough to determine exactly what it was.

If even my Max Mastery Mana Sense could barely detect anything...

Then yes, it must be a Relic created by one of the Progenitors, though I don’t know which one.

’Still, it’s strange that it hides its attribute.’

Anyway, after I snapped out of my thoughts, Alessia soon explained the club’s rules.

Eventually, we got to the schedule.

"We receive search or assassination missions specifically targeting Villains every day after classes, so take these watches and, when they vibrate, you’ll have to come here, to the club."

She handed us some watches. I used my Mana Sense and felt a complex network of magic inside the watch.

"Now, regarding the missions: once you come here, you’ll be given the details. And when the watch vibrates more than once, it means there’s a meeting. Well, that’s all."

Smiling, Alessia waved her hand in farewell.

Honestly, her explanation of the rules and that last part had been very vague.

In any case, the six of us left the place and headed back to the classroom.

An hour had already passed, so it was time to return.

***

When Adel and the others left, Alessia leaned back in her seat and looked at Zoey.

"Can you believe it, Zoey? I fought that blind junior, and he forced me to use Eclipse’s first form. Can you believe that?"

Her gaze fixed on Zoey. Zoey looked up and met Alessia’s eyes.

Then, her lips parted and she said:

"Seriously."

Alessia nodded.

"Yeah, he’s really strong, and it seems like he uses some kind of sword art, but do you know the strangest part of all?"

Zoey said nothing and continued looking at Alessia.

"He uses mana in reverse. He literally uses Mana Reflux as if it were normal. I didn’t ask anything, but now I’m extremely curious."

Zoey briefly frowned before returning to her usual stoic expression.

"I see. I guess you loved that."

"Exactly, and he also seems unable to feel pain. Anyway, how about you take him with you on the next mission and then give me your opinion?"

Zoey stayed still for a second before shrugging.

"I don’t mind."

Alessia smiled.

"Very well, then have fun."

While Alessia went back to doing her own things, Zoey focused on her book again.

Even so, although Alessia had talked to her about Adel, Zoey had already heard about him.

’Dark Attribute, huh.’

Though barely noticeable, a faint smile formed on her face.

***

After leaving the main building, the six of us returned to the classroom.

Everyone took their seats while we waited for the professor to arrive.

Meanwhile, my thoughts kept drifting back to Zoey.

’A Relic, huh.’

I was curious, since I also have a Relic.

The Ring left to me by the Lady of Beasts still hasn’t shown any signs of activity.

Maybe I’ll have to wait much longer.

Of course, I don’t know whether certain conditions are required or if it will simply reveal its effects at the right moment.

’In any case, the mysterious Ring must have something important for me.’

I let out a small sigh. Then, shortly afterward, Professor Lunia entered the classroom.

I slightly shrank into my seat, trying to avoid letting her see me.

’Ever since the last class, she’s been looking for me everywhere.’

She has even waited for me outside the dormitories.

Naturally, since she isn’t strong, I can escape without any problems.

But that’s not the important part.

The important part is that she just won’t stop looking for me. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Professor Lunia stood at the center of the podium and said:

"Today’s class will be a little different from the previous ones. Today, we’ll be going to the Alchemy Field, and your task will be to gather materials to make the Tears of Scales Potion. My assistant will hand out a list of all the ingredients."

Alchemy Field.

The memory quickly came to mind, and if I hadn’t been wearing bandages over my eyes, I would have widened them in surprise.

’There’s a hidden piece there.’

Although this hidden piece doesn’t actually benefit me, but rather another main character.

And it truly is a very important hidden piece, but that wasn’t the only thing there.

’Also, if I remember correctly, there’s a fragment of the Beast Lady’s Memory Gate there.’

In Holy Land, it is only revealed at the very end of the story that there is a fragment of a Progenitor’s Memory Gate.

And that Progenitor was none other than the Beast Lady.

Of course, this was information revealed by the system, not through any character’s dialogue.

And since no one can guess or know which Memory Gate each discovered fragment belongs to...

The system itself should know.

’But this is reality now, so I don’t know whether the system will reveal that information.’

In any case, I remembered this information that I had almost left behind.

Good thing Professor Lunia mentioned the Alchemy Field.

The Alchemy Field is a vast plain filled with all kinds of plants, special animals born from mana, and more.

It is a good place for spirit contractors to train.

Although it is also useful for fairies. Liora, who was sleeping on my head, seemed to read my thoughts.

She patted my head with her tiny hands as if saying she agreed.

’Isn’t this fairy very intelligent?’

She hasn’t even been born for a month yet.

Anyway, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on Professor Lunia.

"Alright, we’ll be heading to the Alchemy Field in about ten minutes."

Shortly afterward, the cadets left the classroom and headed toward a room where a Teleportation Matrix was located.

The Alchemy Field was not inside the Academy.

Instead, it was located somewhere else within the Empire, a place under Director Bernice’s control.

And that was where we were going.

’Well then, all that’s left is to slip away from the group and avoid Professor Lunia’s surveillance.’

I briefly glanced at Professor Lunia while hiding behind Rinna.

"Hey, Adel, you really are scared of the professor."

"Shh, lower your voice, you might attract her attention. And no, I’m not scared of her, I’m stronger."

"....."

"But this isn’t about being stronger."

"Forget it and walk to the center."

Shortly afterward, I was teleported to a different place.