novelkee Chapter 102 Summoned Beasts
Chapter 102 Summoned Beasts
Following the underground city incident, the academy suspended classes for a full week.
Given that many students narrowly escaped death, the academy was forced to offer an explanation to the angry parents. And those forces seeking to curb the Arcadia Hunter Academy's expanding influence would certainly not stand idly by.
Therefore, the academy's management needs to produce the results of their investigation, and they are currently pursuing this matter with all their might. Although the demon cultists' actions came on strong, their momentum was completely diminished by the academy's investigation.
Based on the game's lore, I know this investigation won't uncover much of the truth. The real mastermind will remain hidden in the shadows, and the exposed saboteurs are merely scapegoats.
This is the usual tactic of the demon cultists: coercion, kidnapping, impersonation... ultimately plunging the academy and the federation into a quagmire of mutual distrust.
The small group of demon cultists under the academy's administration were also trying their best to obstruct the investigation, while the academy's stance of maintaining its autonomy inadvertently provided them with cover.
Although the Arcadia Hunter Academy is a federal agency, it considers itself independent, and this arrogance leads it to refuse any external investigations. After all, allowing external forces to investigate would mean the academy would lose its autonomy.
This is why the academy previously concealed the details of the "Mist Ghost" incident and did not disclose them to the media, and this action greatly helped them.
In short, now that the classes have been canceled, I have plenty of free time.
Should we go check out that dungeon?
I examined my attribute panel and finally reached the average level of a junior student.
Top students like Irina, Alice, and Julia were already capable of fighting fourth-tier peak monsters on their own. No, the Yeti's actual attributes far exceeded fourth-tier at that time, after all, it had entered a berserk state due to interference from the demon cultists.
Therefore, it can be inferred that Irina alone is enough to fight against low-level fifth-tier monsters.
This is precisely the "underdog triumph" premise of this game. Ethan's starting point was extremely low. Even now, if ten Ethans ganged up on Victor, Victor could win without taking any damage.
Since I have free time, I can choose to train or take the opportunity to explore another dungeon I've been planning to visit.
Summoned creatures will be helpful.
As I pondered this, I slowly walked out of the training room. After resting in my room, I continued training, and now night had quietly fallen.
Just as I was leaving, I suddenly sensed someone's presence. Actually, I had already sensed someone watching me from the shadows, but they hadn't taken any action before. Now, however, things seemed to have changed.
However, this was not unexpected.
Since the joint exploration, my smartwatch has been bombarded with spam messages. I even had to turn off the watch's call and text messaging functions, because constantly blocking countless unknown numbers is really annoying.
But because of this, I saw posts about me on the college forum.
Whoever did this, they really put in a lot of effort.
I don't know who I offended that made them target me like this, but they have considerable influence because they were able to publish this article about me and bring so much false evidence.
They even brought in three girls to give false testimony.
No wonder Irina looked so angry.
Ordinary people are prone to believing rumors, as most lack the ability to distinguish right from wrong. But Irina should have better judgment, given that she herself has been troubled by rumors.
Perhaps I had too high expectations for that little girl?
Just as I was thinking this, I heard a noise behind me.
"Hey, you piece of trash."
Turning around, I saw three arrogant students approaching with sneers. The one in the lead, with his slicked-back hair, pointed at me contemptuously: "Think you're something special just because you got into this academy? You're nothing but a coward, you don't deserve to be here."
He grinned smugly.
'Looks like you've read that article too.'
I said nothing, I simply ignored them. There's no point in fighting these petty characters unless I can deal with the source of these rumors.
A direct confrontation might not be a good idea either, as they are quite powerful.
"Ha, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for?" another person nudged his companion with his elbow. "He's clearly just afraid of fighting."
Amidst the laughter, memories of the past flooded back.
'What would the original Morse have done?'
I pondered silently.
"He thinks he's so great, doesn't he? He's probably just trying to hide his status as an abandoned son of the family," someone mocked.
"Maybe he can't handle the pressure, so he's trying to put on a brave face here," another person maliciously added.
The slick-back-haired man squinted: "Look at his pathetic attempt to prove himself, he's probably a good-for-nothing who tries to fill his family's expectations by forcing women."
If it were the original Morse, he probably wouldn't be angry at these people, but would instead feel guilty, thinking, "It's all my fault for being too weak."
This is both right and wrong. He had done his best, but the world is cruel. It never cares how you feel.
"Hey, you piece of trash! How dare you ignore us?"
Bullies have one thing in common: they do it to satisfy their own vanity.
I didn't respond and kept walking.
Swoosh
One of the three people behind me blocked my way.
"Useless trash... I'm asking you a question."
"Get out of the way."
'I sized him up, quickly catching key information: his right foot unconsciously pulled back, his slightly hunched posture, and his strong trapezius and rear shoulders. A right-handed long-range rifle user. His clothes were free of sweat and dirt; he hadn't trained today. His constant checking of his watch indicated some connection to the mastermind.'
"Don't you know how to respect others when they speak?" the other person roared. His accomplices had already surrounded me from behind, trying to make it seem like I was trapped.
"Move aside," I repeated calmly.
"You think you're so great? You dare to ignore us?"
His clamor was nothing but a bluff. His eagerness to try was mostly to prove his worth to those who instigated him.
Whoosh!
He rushed towards me, throwing a punch. His movements were clumsy and full of openings.
I could easily read his body language and the intentions in his eyes. I leaned back and easily dodged. He was faster than most people, but he had clearly underestimated me.
"Huh?" He froze in surprise, not expecting me to dodge. "You!" His eyes blazed with anger.
Just as he was preparing to attack again, a majestic voice rang out in the corridor.
"enough."
Everyone turned to look, and saw Irina walking over. She had a powerful aura, radiating authority and strength.
'She's here…' I glanced at her. She'd been there for a while, but hadn't done anything, just observed and tried to hide. I could handle these guys even without her, though I'd need to take a beating to maximize my gains.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her gaze fixed on me.
"It's nothing," I replied.
“Report them to the academic affairs office.” She swept her gaze across the bullies, her eyes sharp as blades. “Don’t let them get away so easily.”
The three exchanged bewildered glances. Irina's dual identity as "third in the academy" and "the heir to Phoenix" was enough to make these cowardly bullies tuck their tails between their legs and run away.
"This isn't over!" the leader spat, trying to save face.
Irina remained expressionless, her aura still exuding confidence. "I suggest you think twice before you act. Disgusting insects aren't worth my time."
The bullies hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly turned and left.
“Should I thank you?” I asked, turning to her. Despite how annoying this woman was, she was the one who ultimately helped me.
"It was just a small favor; I didn't do it on purpose."
"is it?"
"That settles our differences," she said with an arrogant tone, reminding me of her appearance in the game.
In the game, she's a maverick, but that tactic won't work on me.
“Of course not,” I replied, refusing to let her do as she pleased.
"what?"
“This is not something I asked you to do. Besides, you just said that you didn’t do these things specifically to help me. Does that mean this doesn’t count as a form of repayment?”
She pursed her lips, stunned by my logic.
“You said that yourself,” I said, arms crossed.
“I know…” She started staring at me, as if she wanted to ask something.
"What's wrong? If you have a question, just ask."
"...Why didn't you fight back?"
"what?"
"I'm talking about those rumors... Why don't you clarify them?"
"So now you believe me."
"..."
"Looks like you still have a brain."
"Tsk... If you keep talking like that, I'm leaving..." She glared at me, then turned and left.
"You can't blame me for thinking this way, can you? How would you feel if you were in my shoes?"
Indeed, this is the attitude she should have.
"..."
"Right?"
"Sigh..." She sighed, turned around, and walked closer, standing in front of me. "Tell me, what do you want?"
"What do I want?" I asked in return.
“Don’t make unreasonable demands,” she said, slowly covering her body, seemingly alluding to the rumors.
What do you take me for?
"Hmm... arrogant, rude, selfish..."
Are you talking about yourself?
"Um?!"
"Don't worry, even if you were the only person left in the whole world, I wouldn't touch you."
"Really? That's exactly what I was thinking too."
"So? What do you want?" she repeated, crossing her arms.
I've thought about it for a long time, and the best thing I can get from her is money.
Give me the money.
"How many?"
"100,000 walers".
"Ha! One hundred thousand? Are you kidding me?"
"No."
"Then why so many?"
“This is the price for saving your life,” I retorted, reminding her of the time I protected her from the snow wolf and snow squirrel while she was unconscious.
"This……"
She was speechless. We all knew that if I hadn't protected her, she might not have died. But that was just a "possibility," while my protecting her was a "fact."
Although she could use my previous logic to refute me, she can't do it now.
“This is my bank account.” I opened my watch and showed a small QR code. “Take as much as you think your life is worth, I won’t complain.”
"Tsk, I really hate you." She scanned the QR code while starting to operate on the virtual keyboard.
"is it?"
I turned and started to leave; there was no need to linger here any longer.
"That's right!"
Ding!
The notification sounded:
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
150,000 valor has been received.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
At least they're quite generous.
My opinion of her improved slightly.