Chapter 72

EP.72 Hunting Evaluation - Interlude (2)

"Then, I'll take that as a yes."

「Wind Generation (Wind Attribute, ★1)」

Whoosh──!

"……?!"

Suddenly, Kaya sent the blanket flying up with a wind spell.

Then, she placed her hand on my cheek and started to lean in as if to kiss me.

It was a very sudden situation.

Whoosh─.

As Kaya's wind died down, the blanket that had risen up gently covered both of us.

In the stifling blanket, our breaths mingled at close range.

"Mr. Isaac."

Kaya stopped right in front of my face and whispered with a serious expression.

"I'll thank you later. Please finish your business quickly now."

Despite the healer shouting in anger from outside the blanket, "W-What are you two doing?!", Kaya paid no attention.

‘Oh…’

For a moment, I thought Kaya was really going to kiss me, and my heart almost sank. How long had I been awake, and why was every action of hers so bold…?

In "The Magic Knight of Merchen," Kaya, when she had the personality of a glutton, had actively expressed her affection to Ian. Now, experiencing it in reality, I could understand the feeling…

I could empathize with Ian's constant flustered reactions to Kaya's attitude in the game.

Anyway, Kaya seemed to have immediately guessed that we needed to coordinate our stories.

I was in a position where I had to hide my identity, and Kaya knew this.

"You're quick."

I let out a low sigh of admiration. It was a fortunate thing.

I took out a neatly rolled piece of parchment from my pants pocket and handed it to Kaya.

It contained the prepared message. I had written down in detail how to state things.

Rustle─!

"Hey, you two! What are you doing in there?!"

The healer lifted the blanket that covered Kaya and me in one swift motion.

"Even if you two are, well, like that! You should know the time and place! Don't you?!"

The healer, trying to intimidate us, glared at Kaya and me alternately and then huffed as he returned to his spot.

As I watched this, suddenly I felt a tickling sensation on my thigh.

Kaya was tracing her fingers back and forth on my thigh.

The sentence she wrote with her fingers was:

─Did your heart race?

Kaya and I made eye contact. She placed her remaining hand on her lips and tilted her head to the side. Her fine, light green hair cascaded down.

A lecherous yet confident smile. A smile so seductive that it made me involuntarily swallow.

That smile was directed solely at me.

Then, her fingers traced my thigh again softly.

─That's how I felt.

[ Kaya Astraen ]

Psychology: [I want to kiss you.]

Unrestrained expression of affection. She seemed to be openly trying to get me to see her as a woman.

This was, well, very….

‘Embarrassing.’

It felt like my energy was being drained….

……

Late at night.

During the entire journey across the sea by boat, there was nothing unusual with Kaya, except for her constant expressions of affection.

The ships docked at the academy pier and all the students were let off. The hunting evaluation bracelets had been collected by the academy.

Afterward, the academy, in cooperation with the royal knights, began to focus on investigating the Elt Island incident.

Kaya and Ian were moved to the academy infirmary. As mentioned earlier, they would rest under the protection of the academy and be called when the investigation committee convened.

The academy informed Rizetta and me that we might be called again if there was more business and sent us back to the dormitory.

However, on the way to the dormitory, I had to walk with Luce, who was waiting for me. It was fortunate that he didn't take out those terrifying restraints again.

Lower-middle-class dormitory, Bricks Hall.

As soon as I arrived at my room, a sense of relief washed over me. My energy seemed to drain out of my body naturally.

I didn't even have the energy to wash. I just lay down on the bed.

‘At least I got this.’

I took out the red earring from the inner pocket of my school jacket.

The loot, 'Blood of the Void.' It was the one I had taken from Kaya's ear.

If I swallowed this, even if someone was in a life-threatening situation, they would instantly recover and survive.

Even if a part of their body was missing, it would regenerate perfectly.

For reference, it was a one-time use item, so melting it and trying to use it multiple times would be ineffective.

‘I should save it.’

I intended to use the Blood of the Void for Ian. I was so anxious about the possibility of him dying.

This place was a hellishly difficult world. A difficulty level where even seasoned players barely managed to clear it.

I could understand why Ian fainted so often. That's why I had only complained while moving forward.

Incidentally, I was honestly grateful that Ian was still alive. If he could just get the Bright Sword and use [Exile from Paradise] at the right time, it would be perfect.

‘Next… stat allocation.’

I opened my status window.

[ Status ]

Name: Isaac

Lv: 72

Gender: Male

Grade: 1

Title: 1st Year Adapted to Academy Life

Mana: 7000 / 7000

- Mana Recovery Speed (C+)

- Stamina (B)

- Strength (B)

- Intelligence (C+)

- Spirit (A+)

Since reaching level 51, I could clearly feel the rapid increase in my mana.

When I reach level 101, the next mana surge level, my growth will accelerate even more.

It seemed that my [Mana Recovery Speed] would also be upgraded by one level within a few days.

[ Potential ]

Owned Stats: 18

◆ Growth Speed

- Physical Training Efficiency (B+): 56/100 [UP]

- Magic Training Efficiency (A+): 81/100 [UP]

- Learning Efficiency (B+): 57/100 [UP]

◆ Elemental Resistance

- Fire Elemental Resistance (D-): 10/100 [UP]

- Water Elemental Resistance (D+): 16/100 [UP]

- Ice Elemental Resistance (C+): 34/100 [UP]

- Lightning Elemental Resistance (B-): 39/100 [UP]

- Rock Elemental Resistance (D): 12/100 [UP]

- Wind Elemental Resistance (C-): 23/100 [UP]

- Neutral Elemental Resistance (D+): 18/100 [UP]

◆ Combat Power Against Races

- Combat Power Against Humans (E): 4/100 [UP]

- Combat Power Against Other Races (E): 1/100 [UP]

- Combat Power Against Celestials (E): 0/100 [UP]

- Combat Power Against Demons (S): 100/100 [MAX]

‘Now I can reach S-rank in [Magic Training Efficiency].’

I invested 5 stats into [Physical Training Efficiency], 10 stats into [Magic Training Efficiency], and 3 stats into [Learning Efficiency].

[Your [Physical Training Efficiency] has improved from B+ to A-!]

[Your [Magic Training Efficiency] has improved from A+ to S!]

Now, the increase in [Elemental Power], [Elemental Efficiency], and [Elemental Synergy] would be faster than any other first-year student.

By the time I reach second year, I might be able to aim for the upper-middle class B rank.

“…….”

Sleep came over me like a tide.

I closed my eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

……

The stifling summer breeze was replaced by a clear autumn.

The street trees around Orphin Hall were adorned in red and yellow. The moderate coolness and the vibrant scenery gave a subtle charm.

Although Alice and I were called again for the Elt Island incident investigation, it wasn't for a formal statement before the investigation committee.

They only asked for a detailed description of what the inside of the giant demon looked like, and I provided it.

The royal knights within the academy were less busy than usual because most of the personnel had gone to Elt Island to conduct the investigation.

‘Maybe I should summarize the situation.’

In the middle of the day.

While walking through the garden in front of Orphin Hall on my way to the training ground, I thought.

It's always good to thoroughly check the scenario.

‘First, the Elt Island incident.’

The appearance of the giant demon brought equal disgrace to both the academy and the royal knights.

Firstly, the magical device, the test bracelet, designed to protect the students, failed to function properly.

There was a time gap where the students' locations could not be determined, and communication was impossible, even though they might have been in danger.

Even if there were no casualties, this was a significant issue. From a distance, it would be perceived as the academy's inadequate response.

Therefore, the Merchen Academy would likely lose a significant number of investors who were responsible for the academy's finances.

‘There might not be any more demons with mana nullification properties, but that's only something I know.’

From the academy's perspective,

Is there any guarantee that no more demons like the giant demon, which nullify