Chapter 146: Spiderweb

Chapter 146: Spiderweb

Many students poured out onto Alven Street to welcome the weekend, seeking to release the accumulated fatigue and stress without going far from the nearby place. Alven Street was a frequented spot for students of Monas Academy, so it was a place where everyone, regardless of their affiliation with the university or the academy, could meet.

"It feels like it's been a long time," Louis said, looking around.

Due to not taking a break and running non-stop even on weekends, he had taken some time off to come to Alven Street.

"Rest is also a part of growth. You should take a break," Serena advised.

"Serena, you're saying that?" Louis replied.

"Why? Can't I say that?"

"You're the one who hasn't taken a break since entering school. Today you suggested coming to Alven Street together, and just now, your words... Have you changed a bit? What's been going on recently?"

In response to Louis's question, Serena simply smiled. Then she pointed to a caf and rushed over.

"Let's go there! I saw it before, and I really wanted to go!"

Watching Serena rush ahead, Louis chuckled.

But he was secretly relieved to see her in a good mood.

'Just a few days ago, she didn't have any free time...,' he thought.

He had been worried about her, so he was initially pleased with this sudden change.

He didn't know what had happened in those few days, but he didn't plan to ask until she spoke about it.

"Hmm, it's delicious," Serena said after taking a bite of her ice cream dessert.

Louis, watching her, ordered a slice of cake and tea to enjoy together.

"Curious?"

"Huh?"

"You were surprised when I suddenly suggested going out, right?"

"I was. We've been training even on weekends."

Hearing Louis's response, Serena stirred her ice cream awkwardly with a spoon.

Then, slowly, she began to explain what had happened not long ago.

"Senior Vivianne came to see me."

"Senior Vivianne?"

"Yeah. Remember the day when you went in first, and I stayed alone to train? After you left, Senior Vivianne came."

At the mention of Vivianne, Louis leaned in, wanting to hear more.

Subsequently, Serena briefly described what had happened that day: going to the training grounds with Vivianne and Ivy waiting for them, the demonstration that Vivianne and Ivy put on, and the unexpected high level of sparring that took place.

Louis was amazed after hearing the whole story.

"So, all of this was set up by Senior Adrias?"

"Yeah, I never expected it."

Given the amount of effort Adrias had to put into mastering both magic and the sword, it was surprising that he still managed to take care of his juniors he encountered by chance.

"He says that rest is also a part of training."

"That's right. We already knew that."

It was a fact they were aware of; they had just been running without rest since entering Rodren Academy.

In retrospect, there was no reason to rush like this, but at some point, they had started running non-stop.

"It all started after we enrolled in Rodren Academy, didn't it?"

At Monas, there was no one ahead of them.

Louis, Serena, and Chris had the lead, and nothing stood in their way.

However, after enrolling in Rodren, the appearance of numerous seniors had made them feel somewhat rushed.

"Instructor Ivy and Senior Vivianne told me. At least once a week, make sure to take a break."

"Right. Let's take Saturdays off from now on. And, if possible, invite Chris as well."

"I'm not sure if he'll listen," Serena laughed.

In that scene, Louis, feeling a rare sense of relaxation after a long time, turned his gaze to look at the surrounding scenery.

Sitting on the caf terrace, they could observe the people strolling down Alven Street.

While doing so, a noticeable boy caught his eye.

"Is he looking at me?"

Who is he? Does he know me?

Louis examined the boy more closely.

The boy, who looked somewhat familiar, had something long wrapped in gray fabric on his back and carried four swords at his waist.

"He handles all of those? He's quite unusual."

As they stared at each other for a moment, the boy was the first to speak, changing the atmosphere.

"Are you Louis Artman?"

At the boy's question, Serena turned her head, and Louis confirmed.

"Yeah, I'm Louis Artman."

"Adrias Cromwell sent me."

Of course, I had gained the talent in swordsmanship and had discovered clues about the superhuman barrier, so overall, I was far ahead.

But the fact that I didn't get the information I was looking for was stressing me out.

'I should go back.'

There were some unintended events, but there was no helping it. I needed to return to the academy.

As I got up from my seat, the witch who was still playing the role of a maid tried to support me. But I deliberately stood up on my own. It felt uncomfortable for our bodies to touch in many ways.

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah. Thanks for the concern."

I needed to get rid of this witch quickly. Why was she even here in the first place? If I hadn't played the game, I wouldn't have known she was a witch. I would have just thought she was a slightly strange maid.

"Wouldn't it be better to rest a bit more? I'll talk to them for you."

"No, there's something urgent, so I need to leave quickly."

I wasn't sure what she was up to, but I couldn't go along with her child's play.

After all, she was one of the most representative witch characters in the game. Even now, she was far superior to me in skill, so I knew that getting involved with her wouldn't end well.

"Hmm."

She started making a strange noise. I deliberately ignored her and tried to open the door to leave.

But when I noticed an odd substance on the doorknob, I couldn't bring myself to touch it.

'A spiderweb.'

That lunatic...

As I hesitated in front of the door, a voice came from behind me.

"Why are you standing there like that? You said it was urgent, didn't you?"

With her shameless attitude, I let out a sigh and turned around.

"What do you want?"

"What do I want? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

She said that so casually, but when I saw her laughing as if her mouth was about to split open, it gave me a headache.

Why do I only attract these lunatics?

In the end, I let out a sigh and thought about the undead that would be in the void space.

Unlike when Hegel was here, there was no one else in the room except for her.

"Eika Imp, there must be a reason for what you're doing right now."

Eika Imp.

One of the most powerful witches along with Eve Millenium, she had gained a reputation as the most powerful witch in the world. She was a user of ancient magic, inheriting the ancient magic that transcended time, and held great influence as a dark magician with a powerful cabal.

Certainly, during the meeting, she wasn't present, and I couldn't understand why she was here right after the meeting.

"Ahaha!"

Had she recognized my identity?

She suddenly started laughing, and her crazy expression made me realize that the title of "lunatic" given to Luna was more suitable for this woman.

"Are you saying I'm Eika Imp? What on earth are you talking about, sir?"

She stared at me with a face that seemed to say she had discovered an interesting toy.

From her appearance, she might look like someone of my age, but she was a monster over a hundred years old.

If such a monster was going to play with me, I couldn't help but be amazed.

"When you play pranks on the doorknob like that, anyone can figure it out."

"Well, I'm not so sure about that. It felt like you noticed as soon as you saw me."

While she was talking, she took something out of her bosom.

I was tense, but I cautiously checked what she handed to me and accepted it.

"It's from Hegel. A letter and a ring."

A letter I could understand, but a ring?

Wait, a ring?

"A ring?"

"It seems like Hegel quite liked you."

I narrowed my eyes at Eika's words.

When I examined the ring she handed me closely, it was clearly a "Meeting Ring."

'This is a ring that even those from the meeting faction can't possess freely.'

I knew that there were only ten of these rings even within the meeting.

In the game, it was occasionally dropped as a rare item when you killed a named dark magician, but why would Hegel give this to me?

It was indeed a rare item in the game, but I couldn't believe that Hegel would give it to me.

"Now that I have done what I was asked to do, I have a request for you."

Eika smiled at me.

"Adrias Cromwell, will you join my faction?"