Chapter 149: Leave You?

Seeing Rabst return emptyhanded but with a deep frown, Zach could already guess that his pursuit hadn't been very successful, despite being gone for hours."Did you find anything?" Still, Rabst couldn't have been gone that long only chasing the underworlder. He must have spent some time looking around as well.

"Not really." Unfortunately, Rabst hadn't found anything.

"That bastard was slippery and fast. He also seemed…unnatural."

"Unnatural?" Zach asked, unsure what Rabst meant by that.

"Mm. He was strong and fast and all, but he was weird. Even when running at full speed, he didn't leave any footprints or much of a scent. But that wasn't all. It seemed like he wasn't used to his own strength. He took corners badly and almost stumbled and crashed several times." It didn't make sense.

How could someone so clumsy manage not to leave a single trace behind?

"A traitor."

"What?"

"Someone who adapts well to underworld energy can grow stronger quickly by simply absorbing a bunch of underworld energy. That would explain why it seemed like he wasn't used to his strength. As for why he didn't leave any traces…" Zach stroked his chin as he thought about everything he knew about underworlders and what he had read in the library.

"It could be a unique ability he developed during his transformation or the effect of an artifact. Was he wearing anything special?"

"I couldn't get close enough to see his face. And his cloak hid everything else."

"It could very well be that cloak that hides any traces."

"I guess." Rabst glanced around the tunnel.

"The other two?" he asked.

"They grabbed the kidnapping victim and brought him back to the infirmary."

"Leaving you here to wait for me."

"Exactly."

"You could have gone with them."

"And leave you? No way."

"What would have happened if I hadn't returned?"

"...I would have waited for Dukiel and Julius, and then we would have looked for you."

"Setting aside how difficult it would have been for you to find me, what would have happened if someone or something with malicious intent found you and tried to kidnap or silence you?"

"I am very confident in my ability to survive. And my familiar is very good at preventing others, especially those who attack me, from doing the same."

"I see. Let's spar when we get back. I'll only use Rabbit."

"Sure. Sounds good." Zach was excited. He and Yanael had only fought monsters so far. He would need as much experience as possible if they were to go up against underworlders and human traitors. He was also a little excited since it seemed he had awakened something in Rabst.

It wasn't anything like rivalry or a fighting spirit. It was more like Rabst wanted to test Zach's claims and possibly humble him. But for a good reason. If Zach was that cocky against someone that was powerful enough to escape Rabst, he might lose his life. He needed to have some caution.

Zach didn't read that much into it. Rabst wanted to spar, and Zach was happy to accept the request.

They talked a little about the Underworld and what they might have to expect from what they were doing with the people they kidnapped, but Zach didn't know many details, and Rabst knew even less. The most they could do was speculate. However, speculating about how the underworlders were toying with human life wasn't exactly enjoyable, and they soon fell into silence.

They met up with Dukiel and Julius on the way back to the Academy. They had managed to save the man's life by a hair, and he was currently somewhat stable. But, just like Rierdan, he was in a coma with no signs of waking up. Searᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Dukiel and Julius were a little surprised to hear that Rabst hadn't managed to catch the underworlder, but they were equally worried. If a fourth-year couldn't catch a stray kidnapper, wouldn't that mean that they didn't have a chance?

Zach's idea of drowning the underworlders beneath the city was starting to sound better and better. As soon as they figured out how, they had to seriously consider it. After all, no matter how fast the underworlder was, he wouldn't be able to run from an overwhelming amount of water flooding his home.

Well, if there was another exit that could be blocked solidly enough to stop the water, that was another matter. That was entirely possible, considering how rat-like the underworlder bastards were. But even if they managed to escape a flood, their operation would still be ruined.

Zach and the others started seriously considering how difficult it would be to cause a flood until they returned.

Dukiel and Julius were about to return to their dorms to catch up on some well-needed sleep when they heard that Zach and Rabst were going to one of the training rooms. Along the way, Rabst's Dire Rabbit hopped out of the forest and joined up with them, taking the Dire Spider's place.

Zach found Nora along the way, just leaving the library to prepare a snack for when Zach would return. She was a little surprised to see him return earlier than expected but didn't let it show on her face.

She did, however, let it show when he said he needed his spear since he would be sparring with Rabst, a fourth-year student. She expressed her doubts with a few grumbles, but she continued walking toward Zach's dorm.

And after Zach, Rabst, Dukiel, and Julius entered the training room, Nora came carrying the Rat King's dark, shiny spear.

"A spear?" Rabst raised his eyebrows doubtfully. He had never heard or seen Zach use a spear. Dukiel and Julius were also a little surprised. They knew about the spear, but they didn't think it was much more than a souvenir from the Jira Labyrinth. They definitely didn't think Zach was good enough with a spear to spar with it against Rabst.

"Well, yeah. I'm not going to fight barehanded against you."

"...That's fair," Rabst said as he unsheathed the two hunting daggers strapped to either hip. He faced Zach.

"Ready?"

"Whenever—" Zach could barely finish before Rabst lunged forward.