Chapter 217: A New Semester A New Evaluation 7

Chapter 217: A New Semester A New Evaluation 7



Surprised for a moment, I wondered why such a crazed character would approach me out of nowhere.

Still, I quickly shifted my gaze back to its usual nonchalance, masking my curiosity.

Wasn't she supposed to be at Kagami's stage, waiting for her turn?

But, then again, I couldn't afford to pay too much attention to that section with Uriel's fight coming up soon.

Before I could overthink it, her voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Could I ask you a question?"

"You are...?"

"Oh, my apologies for the rudeness." With a graceful flip of her red fan, she closed it with a soft snap, revealing her full face.

The faint smirk on her lips became clearer as she smoothly gathered the hem of her skirt, bowing lightly toward me.

"My name is Stacia Alger Del Luna. It's a pleasure to meet you, Senior."

She moved with practiced elegance, her every action dripping with regal refinement, which only made me warier.

"Riley... Riley Hell. You may call me Riley, Your Highness," I replied, standing from my chair to meet her gesture with a slight bow of my own.

"Fufu~" Stacia chuckled softly, her fan lifting back up to partially cover her mouth.

There was a knowing gleam in her crimson eyes as if she found my acknowledgment of her royal status amusing.

It wasn't as though she was making any effort to hide it-anyone with half an eye could tell she was of high rank just by the way she carried herself.

That unnerving confidence, like someone who knew they could do anything and get away with it, was impossible to miss.

Her smirk grew slightly, as though she were sizing me up.

"You're quite well-informed, aren't you?" Her voice held a teasing lilt. "I didn't think you'd know who I was so quickly."

"It's hard not to," I replied carefully, keeping my tone polite but distant. "A princess of your standing naturally draws attention."

Her smile widened. "How flattering." There was a pause, her eyes flicking over me, studying my reaction like a predator evaluating its prey.

"But enough about formalities. I'm more curious about you, Senior. And please, stop with the honorifics. I may be of royal birth, but in the academy, all of us are equal. You're my senior, after all. Just call me Stacia if you want."

"I believe I can't afford to do that, Your Highness."

"And why is that?"

"You already know the reasons, don't you?"

"But I don't care about such reasons."

||

Just like in the game, she's as stubborn as ever.

Stacia had always been a character defined by her defiance and lust for glory. Once she committed to something, there was no going back.

She had an unshakable confidence in her beliefs-especially when it came to matters, she thought she was right about.

She stepped closer, her crimson eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"So now that we've gotten to know each other, is it alright if I ask you a question now, Senior Riley?"

"Yes..."

"Heroes of Light... does that title ring any bells to you?"

Her words sent an immediate chill down my spine, causing me to stiffen.

I felt the blood drain from my face.

How could I have forgotten? I'd been so focused on my intense training during the vacation and obsessing over Alice's upcoming arcs that I'd completely neglected the most crucial aspect about Stacia.

She wasn't just a princess of royal blood.

No, she was a woman obsessed-with power, with destiny.

"Those titles are certainly quite popular around the academy..." I muttered, trying to keep my tone neutral.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Her eyes glinted with amusement as she pointed her fan toward Lucas, who was battling in the distance. "That senior over there is one of them, isn't he?"

Her voice carried a dangerous undertone, her gaze narrowing as her fan fluttered closed. "And the other... the golden child."

"Though I haven't met her personally, I can tell just from watching that senior on stage... she's probably extraordinary as well. Especially considering she's a mage of almost Archon levels of power. Their popularity and prestige in the academy have skyrocketed, haven't they?"

I nodded slightly, not wanting to give too much away. Lucas and Rose were legends in the making, their reputations growing after the incident with Dorothy Gale, the former student council president.

Princess Stacia, with her usual unpredictable flair, had thrown her red, lace-covered glove

directly at me. The delicate fabric landed unceremoniously, draping across my cheek.

An action like that could only mean one thing. I stared down at the glove in disbelief.

"Please accept my challenge, Senior," she said, her tone laced with a mixture of playfulness

and resolve. "And I'll take you back to the spot where you rightfully belong to ~."

This girl was just doing everything on her own terms.

"AGHH!!!!"

A young first-year's scream pierced through the air as a brilliant explosion of stardust

erupted across the battlefield.

Kagami, standing tall at the center of it all, casually opened his palm before clenching it

again, stretching out his right arm as though warming up for more.

"Woah... how are we supposed to win against that?!"

"That senior is terrifying!"

"This is just unfair!"

The chorus of complaints from the surrounding first-years reached Kagami's ears, but

instead of feeling remorse, he couldn't help the smirk that crept onto his face.

The power trip he was on right now felt intoxicating.

He didn't realize it back then-caught up in the whirlwind of battles and surrounded by the

high-level monsters in his class-but his strength had far surpassed that of his peers. Now, with a clearer perspective, it was obvious to him. He was far above average. "Good job... but I think you should hold back a little more," came a quiet, monotone voice

from behind him.

Turning around, Kagami saw Seo, her red eyes calm as she observed the aftermath of his

display.

Her presence was subtle, but her words carried an undeniable weight.

Despite her gentle tone, she wasn't shy about offering honest feedback. Kagami grinned in response, almost as if he expected the remark. "Hah, I believe I'm doing

well enough for them. Any more humility and it might feel like an insult."

Seo raised an eyebrow slightly, her expression barely shifting. "They might think it's

unfair..."

"They're already thinking that," Kagami replied, his grin widening as he gestured to the murmuring crowd. "Besides, if you were the one on stage right now, then it would really be

unfair."

Seo stood silently for a moment; her gaze thoughtful as she considered his words. It was true. Even she couldn't deny that fact.

"By the way, where is Riley?" Seo asked curiously, tilting her head as she scanned the

examination grounds.

Having arrived late, she hadn't been able to figure out where Riley's stage was located, and

she had ended up at Kagami's stage, simply because it was the closest one.

Of course she could've used mana detection but then she'd have to differentiate and filter out

every mana that was in the air right now.

Which was close to impossible even for her, especially with how good Riley has come to his

mana control to the point that where he can hide most of it.

Kagami couldn't help but laugh at her inquiry. "Hahaha, already trying to find your boyfriend,

huh? You do know you're still up next as an evaluator, right?" He sighed, amused at Seo's predictability. "Anyway, the man said he'd be at the second stage, so he should be somewhere over ther-"

Kagami's words trailed off as his eyes landed on an all-too-familiar scene-a sight he had come to expect at this point. He chuckled inwardly, shaking his head in disbelief.

There was Riley, yet again, caught up in conversation with another stunning girl, this one of

divine beauty and proportions.

It was almost predictable, how these situations seemed to follow him like a magnet.