Chapter 42: Revealing Freya’s Secret [2]

Chapter 42: Revealing Freya's Secret [2]

Freya's POV:

????????!— The explosion released a powerful tremor in the air. The flames engulfed the tent, the blazing heat making quick work of what was once inside.

I left a message to Myung Joon and deleted my call and chat history.

Cautiously scanning the area, I made sure that no one else was nearby.

I had to use alot of mana to incinerate the food. Using one of my ultimate skills was out of the question. Using ultimate skills always left behind a mana signature that any skilled supporter could easily trace back to the caster.

The MOLLE packs, dry bags, and vacuum-sealed containers were all fortified with enhancements, making them resistant to fire or water which can spoil the food. That is why burning everything was tough.

"No one would have a clue that I was behind all this, heh!" A chuckle of amusement left me.

As I turned to head back, my footsteps resumed their rhythm.

But suddenly, a noise distrubed my retreat and my amusement vanished.

Puzzled, I looked below.

Soon the frown lines on my forehead deepened as I saw what was beneath me.

There, right beneath my foot...

My right foot was stepped on a mud pool.

This was...odd. This was a forest where mud shouldn't exist. This place was all artificially made, no room for rain or humidity. Plus, this particular spot was supposed to be dry as a bone, which is why they put the food tent here.

'So, how on earth...did a mud pool end up here?' In that very moment—!!

'I heared something!'

"What was that...? Who's there?!" I warned to whatever this was.

A creepy feeling crawled over me, as if someone's eyes were on me.

Like a predator's on its prey.

I looked around, scanning the towering trees that surrounded me.

What could have gone wrong? The entire plan was perfect?

But, there was nothing. No sign of anyone or anything.

"Must have been the wind," I reassured myself, as I dismissed the eerie feeling. But the slight frown didn't wash off.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I quickly made my way.

***

Third Person's POV:

-"How did this happen?"

-"I'm already starving, and I can't even eat?!"

-"Seriously, what is our leader doing?"

-"This is ridiculous! How can such a thing happen?"

Suddenly, Takahashi's voice reverberated through the crowd, forcefully silencing the murmurs.

His gaze swept across the group, projecting authority and annoyance.

Indeed, the tent housing the precious food rations had been burnt under mysterious circumstances.

The absence of sustenance meant a lack of energy, a dangerous situation when surrounded by monsters and other classes.

"You can't even figure out who the hell destroyed our food ration?" Takahashi's finger blamed Aeravat, pointing at his incompetence.

"You're supposed to be the leader, but throughout the dungeon trial, we've constantly lost members due to your inept leadership. You fail to detect traps, to locate the dungeon entrance, and to protect the team. And now this?"

Aeravat stood there, burdened by the accusations.

Aurora moved through the crowd, her face tense with worry. "The search team we dispatched earlier has been wiped out. I just received the report," she announced.

And I was definitely planning on breaking that foul mouth of hers.

"You guys said there's a spy, right? Well, I think I can figure out who it is," I explained my existence or more specifically why I was daring to breath around the main characters.

I turned to Aeravat, silently seeking his permission, knowing that the rest of the main cast would simply brush me off.

"Oh really? And how do you plan on doing that Mr. Weirdo?" Soon another voice entered me, surprising me with its melody.

It was Aurora, who stepped forward with a quizzical expression that hinted at the disdain she had for me.

She was cute too, and I was definitely planning to fix her attitude one day.

I glanced at Takahashi, who only shot me a vexing glare for God knows what reason.

"Would you be willing to comply?" I asked, my eyes now locked on Aeravat.

He was the only one whom I didn't hate from the main cast.

"What is your plan?" Aeravat asked, his expression void of any discernible emotion.

Feeling the overwhelming pressure of the situation, I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure.

'This is intense,' I thought to myself.

Taking a deep breath, I focused my gaze on the class.

'Approximately one fifty students.' I counted in mere seconds.

"We don't have all day here?" Aurora spelt out my retard ass from the side, impaitence on her face reminded me why I needed to fix her attitude.

I began, "I believe it would be best if the entire class gathered together. Perhaps this way I can better investigate and determine the truth."

Despite its unconventional nature, Aeravat listened to my strange and random request, calling the entire class to assemble.

A total of one-eighty students stood before me as Aeravat brought them near the remnants of the burned tent.

I carefully scanned the faces of everyone present before declaring to Aeravat, "Now, this is just a theory, but consider this: The cooking tent was burned without leaving any traces. It is possible that someone planned this whole thing in collaboration with other classes long before the dungeon trials even began."

"Yes, what's your point?" Aeravat asked, his expression filled with confusion.

"Well, according to my hypothesis, the person who burned the tent should also be the spy. And that spy must have used fire magic."

I gestured towards the class while locking eyes with Aeravat, "It might be helpful if someone with expertise in support magic can check for any remnants or traces of fire magic in the tent."

Aeravat nodded in agreement and turned to Sophia.

After a few moments of investigation, Sophia confirmed, "He's right. Fire magic was definitely used here, but there are no mana signatures. It's going to be impossible to determine who the culprit is based solely on this."

Sophia gave me a questioning look, as if to say she expected more from my deduction.

"Of course, we can't pinpoint the spy using just this much. However, what we can conclude is that the person who burned the tent must be a fire magic user. Someone with fire affinity. And since I don't have fire affinity, it's safe to assume that I am not the spy?" I stated.

As soon as those words left my mouth, half of the crowd erupted in laughter, mocking my declaration.

-"Really? Is that his grand plan? To proclaim his innocence in front of everyone?"

- "Hahaha, bro, he is so stupid!"

-"I highly doubt that. Even if he were the spy, he would crumble under the weight of such an accusation."

"Exactly! Just like I am not the spy, those who do not have fire affinity, cannot be the spy!" I shouted above the laughter and sneering in an attempt to make my voice heard.

Aeravat, still confused, asked, "And what is your point?"

"My point is, let's separate the class into two groups: those who have fire affinity and those who donot."

When my point began to make sense and everyone understood my reasoning.

Aeravat followed my instruction and devided our class into two groups.

One consisting of seventy students who had fire affinity, and the other of one hundred-ten students."

I motioned for Aeravat to follow me as I stepped inside the remnants of the burned cooking tent.

Pointing towards the MOLLE packs, dry bags, and vacuum-sealed containers that remained relatively unscathed, I stated, "Take a look. They are enchanted with fire-resistance. It's highly unlikely a fire magic user would intentionally set the tent ablaze. It's just pointless."

Aeravat's expression shifted from confusion to intrigue.

This was my cue to elaborate the bullshit.

Maybe bullshiting was my superpower?