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After some more conversation, Headmaster Hugo asked,
"Department Head, didn't you say before that you took Davian to the secret underground study to see if he was a sprout of heroism or a root of evil?"
"Yes, that's right. I had him place his hand on the Crystal Ball of Truth and checked."
"Hmm... then I might as well help Davian a bit."
"You, Headmaster, personally?"
"Who knows, in this time of rising intercontinental tensions, he might be the talent Alcantia really needs. And... isn't it intriguing, student Davian?"
Headmaster Hugo chuckled, as if thinking it was a bit awkward to call him intriguing at his age.
Knowing the intention of the laughter, Department Head Sirims also chuckled along.
"That's true. The reason I instructed Davian to find the twelve traces of the Archmage is for that reason as well."
"An odd child with a dual major in magic and swordsmanship... Since the Department Head will surely nurture him into the best mage, I think I'll teach Davian the ultimate swordsmanship."
Department Head Sirims asked in surprise,
"The ultimate swordsmanship? Are you saying that you will personally guide Davian?"
Headmaster Hugo, who was drinking tea with one hand, waved his remaining hand.
"How could this old man possibly guide such a young hero now? I'm just going to help him find a way to use that overflowing energy more efficiently in swordsmanship."
"I wonder what method that is."
"I'm just going to suggest a direction. How he uses that unique energy is up to Davian."
Department Head Sirims slowly nodded.
"I wonder if Davian knows how much of a great benefit he's receiving right now. He's always so indifferent."
"Haha. Maybe we're the ones who will benefit from Davian."
"Ah, is that so? Haha. That could be the case."
"I hope that child follows along well."
"So, just follow me, got it? Huh? You guys. Got it?"
At the same time.
Restaurant C-Brais.
"Follow what, you almost got expelled today."
"Expelled? Me, the genius Liber Specula? No way. Follow me! Gray Bear Exploration Team!"
Belm shook his head.
"This bastard's drunk. I knew he was drinking beer too fast."
"Just leave him alone today. How happy must he be to have avoided expulsion."
"What's with you, Bonita. Why are you being so nice? Wait... why does our Bonita seem to be getting nicer and nicer? Am I the only one feeling this?"
Bonita glared at Belm.
"Being nice? So, you're saying I used to be mean?"
"No, it's not that. How should I put it? It's like you used to only think about yourself, or something?"
"...Tch."
It was true that she might have seemed that way.
Bonita's top priority was always swordsmanship training and Yeon Gong.
She didn't waste a single moment in order to become the best swordsman, so that's how it turned out.
Davian looked at Bonita, who had a somewhat angry expression.
'Bonita isn't the type to only think about herself.'
Davian knew it well.
When a battle broke out, when a comrade was in danger.
The one who rushed forward faster than anyone else was Bonita Fortis.
At first, he just thought she was combative and loved to fight.
In fact, there was a bit of that, but as the battles repeated, he realized that wasn't all there was to it.
Bonita Fortis was the one who knew how to take care of others more than herself.
At least on the battlefield.
But Bonita didn't argue with Belm any further.
She just picked up the remaining beer glass and gulped it down.
Nubes, who was gulping down beer after Bonita, shouted.
He usually doesn't do this, but his voice gets louder when he drinks.
"Kua! Good. To finish the first semester and have vacation already! That I completed the first semester of Elton Academy!"
Davian stared blankly at Nubes, who was talking with a reddened face.
'Considering that huge size, maybe this hearty appearance suits him better.'
But the problem was...
"Uhaha. I'm so glad to have met you! Davian! Luna! Belm! Bonita! Liber! And the very pretty La..."
Bang!
Nubes hit his forehead on the table with a loud noise.
"Psh. Purrrr. Psh. Purrrrr."
Belm sighed deeply.
"This big guy's asleep again. Ugh."
...He got drunk too quickly.
'Wait! If Nubes is like this?'
Davian and Belm exchanged glances.
The same thought that came to mind.
Their gazes simultaneously turned to Latia.
"I... can doo it too. Mind Magic. Yap!"
"Stop her! Stop her!"
"She's going to shoot mental magic at the employee! Grab her arm!"
Davian, who grabbed Latia's hands and held them on the table, shook his head.
"How come you guys are the same every time you drink?"
Thump!
Bonita slammed the table and stood up.
Davian and Belm exchanged glances again.
"Could it be...?"
Bonita said with a stiff expression.
"I can't stand it, really. I'm going first. It's better to do Nae Gong training with this time."
Bonita started walking slowly towards the restaurant entrance.
Belm nudged Davian's arm.
"Is Bonita going to fall diagonally again like last time?"
Bonita, who was walking straight towards the entrance, started to go sideways.
"It's the same as then?"
"Shouldn't we go grab her in advance?"
Luna, who was watching together, shouted.
"Oh? She's going back towards the door!"
"Come on, Bonita. Please! Please walk straight and go back. It's hard enough to take care of Nubes and Latia."
The three focused on Bonita's every step as if they were watching some kind of sports game.
"Going, going! Towards the door."
"Yeah. Someone has to change."
Squeak.
The large entrance door of C-Brais opened.
Bang!
Bonita, who was barely heading towards the entrance, collided with the suddenly opened entrance door and fell backwards.
Thud.
The man who was entering the restaurant quickly supported Bonita's back so she wouldn't fall.
"Oh, who's that guy? His movements are amazing?"
"Oh? Davian. Isn't that person... your attendant? Mons."
"Looks like it?"
Mons, who casually draped the completely unconscious Bonita over his shoulder, approached Davian's table.
"Young Master."
"What's going on, Mons?"
"That... the woman you told me to pack money and things for and send, the sixteen-year-old who lives in the Batian Lake area..."
"Bellus?"
"Yes! That's right."
"Why Bellus?"
"It seems she's been kidnapped."
"What?"
Mons and Davian's lodgings.
Latia and Bonita were casually laid down in Davian's room, and Nubes was laid down in Mons' room.
Belm, Luna, and Liber were fortunately able to walk back to their lodgings on their own two feet.
Davian and Mons sat at the table in the reception room between the two rooms.
"Who are these guys?"
"It's not certain yet. However, when I came back after going out, this had arrived at the house. The recipient wasn't written on it, so I opened it first."
Mons took a letter envelope from his chest.
An unknown seal was stamped on the outside of the envelope, and Mons had already opened it.
Davian. We have your lover who lives in the Batian Lake area. Come and find her if you want to save her.
"What is this? Who's whose lover?"
"Judging from the mention of Batian Lake, it might be about Bellus..."
"I know that. Why did Bellus and I suddenly become lovers?"
"I don't know either."
"Just who kidnapped her and why?"
Ting.
=====
[Achievement Event: Rescue the Kidnapped Bellus]
-Go to the eastern sea cliffs and rescue Bellus.
-Reward: Increase in achievement stats
Charm +1
Leadership +1
Dignity +1
-Failure: Bellus dies
-Accept: Y / N
=====
Achievement Event.
Once the achievement menu is unlocked, achievement events often pop up.
They are mostly related to external events of the academy.
If you clear this achievement event, not only will your achievement stats increase, but your status on the continent will also gradually increase.
'This is a completely new event.'
Fortunately, there's no mention of dying or becoming disabled as a failure penalty.
That means it's an event where you can pull out if necessary.
'Come to think of it, it seems like there are fewer deaths in the failure penalty since I raised my Inner Force...'
I still have to proceed with more events and quests to be sure, but from what I've felt so far, the failure penalty feels a bit more lenient than in the previous playthrough.
'Does that mean I can now pull out without dying easily? What a system that perfectly reflects reality. Anyway, Bellus will die like this if I don't go to save her.'
Bellus is a very important force later on.
I can't lose her here in vain like this.
Didn't I even go to the Demon Realm to save her grandfather in order to gain her favor?
Besides, there's even achievement stats as a reward, so there's no reason not to accept the event.
"I have to go save her."
Davian shifted his gaze to the left.
The Y of the Accept or Decline had a blue light.
Event Accepted.
"What? Young Master. Isn't this too obvious of a trap? The timing of the letter as well. As soon as vacation started as if they were waiting for it... It's as if they were waiting for when Young Master could do external activities as he pleases."
Mons is probably right.
They must have been aiming for this time.
"I still have to save her."
Mons slowly nodded.
It seemed like the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
"I see... so you weren't just ordinary acquaintances with Bellus. I knew it. That makes sense."
"What are you talking about."
"When I went to do Young Master's errand. When I said Young Master sent me, she had a happy expression as if a lover who had gone to war had returned."
"You're exaggerating."
"No, then why are you going to save Bellus even though it's obvious that it's a trap? Even though you're not in a relationship?"
"She's a junior who will enroll next year. She's a necessary force."
Mons nodded perfunctorily.
"Yes, yes. I understand, Young Master. Then when are you going?"
"Tomorrow immediately."
Mons stood up, dusting off the dust on his thighs.
For some reason, he had a happy expression.
"I'll prepare. It's been a while since I've been on a trip with Young Master. Ah, I've been bored lately, so this is good."
"Mons, are you going too?"
"Of course. Isn't that why I followed you all the way here? If Young Master walks into a trap on his own, I, Mons, must protect him."
Attendant Mons.
Real name Mondres Raon.
A swordsman with skills beyond the academy level.
There's no reason to refuse when such an excellent force is going with him.
"Good, Mons. Let's go together. We'll leave as soon as the sun rises tomorrow."
"Yes, Young Master."
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