Chapter 174: Chapter 174:Aftermath [4]

Seeing the rest of the students begin walking across the bridge and towards the looming academy gate, I quickly caught up with Jin and Han.

Tapping both of them on the shoulders, I asked.

"Think you could do me a favor?"

Shaking his head, Jin immediately replied.

"Oh, after abandoning us for your new famous friends, you suddenly want a favor from us? HELL NO!"

Nodding his head, Han implicitly agreed before also turning around and ignoring me.

Wrapping my right arm around Jin's shoulder and my left arm around Han's shoulder, I smiled as I slowly took a piece of paper out of my sweatshirt pocket. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Shaking my arm off his shoulder, Jin was about to speed up and leave me behind before he saw me pulling something out of my pocket.

Handing him the piece of the paper, I smiled and replied.

"Don't tell me you guys actually thought I could be friends with them? They're just a bunch of goodie-two-shoes."

Skeptical at my reply, Han immediately responded back.

"So then why did y-"

However, before he could finish his sentence, Jin quickly exclaimed as he slowly read the three pieces of paper from my hand.

"THREE FAST-PASSES TO THE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND!?"

Christmas.

It is one of the few traditions from Earth that the author of this book had bothered to implement in the story.

It was also the location of the next incident.

Next week, the entire school would turn into a Christmas wonderland, with candy canes, snowmen, mistletoe, and other Christmas-related decorations plastered everywhere.

Students were even required to wear a winter-themed uniform with countless red and green ribbons.

...some unlucky students would also have to volunteer for the event, dressing up as nutcrackers, countless Christmas elves, and even Santa.

Every corner of the academy's island would be decked in decorations, making it impossible for anyone not to know it was Christmas.

...I think they spent more money on decorating the academy than paying our teachers and professors.

What was the reason the school was going all out for this event?

It also served as a recruiting session for Knight Orders to scout out potential candidates for their teams.

During this time, leaders of Knight Orders would be allowed free entry into the academy, even being allowed to watch students take classes and spar amongst each other.

Imagine just being in class and having a bunch of adults who could destroy the entire academy and kill every student at the snap of a finger, just watching you take notes and listen...

Well, that was my reality now!

A week from now, the school will be flooded with random adults who would just creepily watch you in an attempt to discern your skills.

For many students, this event could define their life if a Knight Order leader takes an interest in you; your life could massively change for the better.

This was also the time when my "father" would officially recruit Liam, giving him full access to the guild's vast information network, storage of weapons and skills, and finally, his own wealth.

Looking up at the perfectly blue sky, devoid of any clouds, and the bright sun intensely shining down on everyone, I opened my mouth in awe.

"...could anyone predict it was going to snow a week from now?"

Seeing Jin jump up and down in excitement, I quickly shushed him down before saying.

"Don't be too loud... don't you know how hard I worked to get these!"

As Han looked at the three tickets in shock, Jin practically hugged me while murmuring his thanks over and over again.

How did I get these exclusive tickets?

Well, a low-rank like me didn't even get the mid-tier tickets for the Christmas event, so there was only one way.

Steal!

Liam and the rest of the main cast had enough connections to get new tickets if they simply told the academy that they lost their tickets, so it didn't even matter.

Anyway, I needed some payment for putting up with them for the entire loop!

In a much more cheerful and sympathetic voice than earlier, Jin exclaimed.

"So, you were just using and playing them to get tickets! That's my boy, Ren!"

Shaking his head in disbelief after confirming the authenticity of the tickets, Han also added.

"I a-almost c-can't believe it. O-only the top 10 ranks of each year get these tickets..."

Slapping Han on the shoulder, Jin replied.

"That's Ren for you!"

Taking the three tickets back from Jin, I asked.

"Think I could get a favor now?"

Not skipping a beat, Jin immediately responded.

"Of course! But, don't get too cocky, these tickets are cool and all... but you can't just abandon us again."

Nodding my head, I promised Jin and Han that I would hang out with them in the week before explaining.

"Just tell the guards at the front gate that I'm already inside; I have some things to do outside the academy for a bit."

Seeing the two boys nod their heads, I waited until everyone had their backs turned... before diving straight off the bridge and into the water!

*SPLASH*

Finally escaping the hot rays of the sun, I basked in the cold feeling of the water before diving down even further.

Using my eyes, I looked right through the water, seeing every fish, piece of seaweed, and rock in the area.

Taking as much as needed since I didn't have breath due to the ability I had gained in my first dream, I finally found a couple of blue crystals.

While these crystals were rare, they did respawn and regenerate at certain locations every couple of months.

Picking up two dark-blue crystals, I looked around a bit longer before finding two oddly shamed clam shells.

Taking the clamshells, I pushed off the ground, heading straight for the surface of the water.

Feeling the sun immediately shine down on my face as it emerged from the water, I covered my eyes before making my way back to the capital city.