Chapter 61: True Friends

Zach stopped thinking about everything. He had asked Yanael what he wanted to ask. He hadn't gotten the answer he wanted. But he had learned more about the world. That was enough for now. He didn't know how to make Yanael evolve, but it wasn't something he needed to rush.

Sooner or later, he would make progress in that area, either by coincidence or by learning more.

For now, Zach's priority was leveling up so that he could grow stronger and gain more authority. Yanael had already hit the limit of what she could tell him. There were still things Zach wanted to know, but they weren't much different from the things he had first asked Yanael.

He was still far away in terms of authority. He didn't know how far away, but it was another thing that didn't matter. Sooner or later, he would make progress in that area as well.

For now, Zach was going to sleep. After that, he was going to sit down with Julius and have a proper talk.

Then, after the mundane matters were settled, it was time to start working hard.

Zach had made an enemy of the Great Ugor.

He knew he would be safe as long as he stayed in the Academy. But field trips, holidays, other excursions, and so on aside, Zach had at most four years of safety. Afterward, the Academy's protection would cease. He would be a young bird without its parents or the safety of the nest.

Well, there was still his family. But they weren't as reliable as the Academy since the Academy had the principal and instructor Kami.

The only one Zach could truly rely on outside the Academy was himself and, by extension, Yanael. And Nora.

The Great Ugor probably wouldn't come for Zach himself. But the more time passed, the more of a threat Zach would become. The Great Ugor had already expressed his intentions. If Zach didn't join him, he wouldn't have much of a future, and neither would his friends.

The Great Ugor had been limited by time and place in what resources he could mobilize to kill Zach during the field trip. He had probably thought the assassins were enough. They would have been enough if Zach and Yanael hadn't grown stronger through hunting monsters.

Zach had to be prepared. He also had to bring the fight to the Great Ugor if he wanted to protect Dukiel, Julius, and the others.

Zach sighed in his sleep, the weight of great burden and responsibility settling firmly on his shoulders.

Zach naturally woke up around noon and stretched his arms before rolling his stiff shoulders. He didn't waste any time and immediately asked for a massage. Yanael obliged while Nora prepared something for him to eat.

As soon as he was done with that, he went to look for Julius. He didn't have to look long. Julius was in his dorm. He looked ragged, much more so than when they had brought him back to Dukiel's place last night.

"Zach!" Julius exclaimed and hurried to wrap Zach in a hug. Just as quickly, he let go with an apologetic expression and stepped back.

"S-sorry. I was just—"

Before Julius could finish what he was saying and take another step back, Zach grabbed him and gave him a much-needed hug. Julius had clearly worn himself into a homeless shoe with worry. Zach didn't need to guess about what.

"There's no need for you to apologize, Julius. I'm the one who should say sorry."

"N-not at all! I accused and blamed you for all kinds of horrible things. You, on the other hand, only spoke the truth! And you were right. I am grateful. I was grateful.

I just couldn't show it. Argh, I'm so angry! It was like someone else was in control of my body—I'm not trying to make excuses, but I can't believe I acted like that!"

"Julius." Zach grabbed Julius by the shoulders and stopped him from pulling on his hair. He forced Julius to look at him.

"It's fine, Julius. Have you ever heard of friends who don't fight?"

Julius' brow knotted.

"Yes. Multiple times, actually."

Zach frowned.

"No, you haven't. Whatever. True friends fight and make up. That's what we're doing now. We've talked about it, admitted our faults, and apologized. Now, it's time to move on and buy Dukiel some food as thanks for putting up with us."

Julius nodded. And that's what they did as soon as Julius freshened up a little. He couldn't go to the cafeteria looking like he was fresh off the ground after a scuffle with a dog over a piece of bone.

Dukiel was relieved. Zach and Julius were friends again.

Together, the three enjoyed the rest of the day talking about everything the principal had said and the field trip. The day was long, and the night was longer.

But they seemed to never run out of things to talk and laugh about. One of the things they talked the most about was Julius' C-rank *Corrupted Mannequin. They did it mostly out of awe at the Mannequin's evolution and what it might mean for its future. S~eaʀᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Although they had encountered it themselves, the scale was too big for the three youths. The Underworld and the war between the Underworld and the surface were just too far away.

So, even if they knew that absorbing more underworld energy was most likely the easiest way for the Mannequin to grow even stronger, it wasn't something that seemed feasible. But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

All three of them remembered how Julius had changed due to the influence of the underworld energy. He hadn't absorbed it personally. It could only have come from the Mannequin when it absorbed it due to the master-familiar connection.

Until they could figure out how the Mannequin could safely steal underworld energy, it was best to hold off on even looking at the ground.

Eventually, the next day came and it was time for lessons again.

Jarron greeted the students in their classroom. And it seemed he wasn't satisfied with how the students had rested and recovered since he was bringing shocking news.

"Students, I'm sure you've all heard about the Underworld that your fellow classmates Zacharia, Dukiel, and Julius encountered during the field trip, right? Those three didn't hallucinate anything, even if that would have been for the best."

"Ahem."

"Right. Well, the Underworld is at war with the surface. Finding and destroying their Locales will earn you bonus marks this year. I think it's a little early, but the principal told me to tell you all will only be allowed to graduate in four years if the Great Ugor, the King of the Underworld, is dead."

"..."

"!!!"