Chapter 99: Lies (2)
Piel's mind was filled with confusion.
'Aside from his sudden improvement...'
His foresight was astonishing, almost as if he had glimpsed into the future.
Of course, it was known that Theo had read the ancient documents from the Waldeurk main house, but to apply that knowledge in a practical scenario was a different story altogether.
Piel's family, the House of Chalon, too, had many ancient documents.
She had read many of them herself.
Yet, most of the content was difficult to understand.
It was far from easy to immediately apply it in real life.
There would undoubtedly be numerous trials and errors.
Although the ancient documents were family secrets, and there would surely be many differences between the documents of the Waldeurks and the Chalons... even taking that into consideration, this was different.
The Theo that Piel had known up until now was the embodiment of incompetence itself.
But he had transformed significantly over the past month.
Today, he was the epitome of competence.
He had solved the predicament as if it was nothing, maintaining his usual nonchalant expression.
It was something that would have been impossible unless he already knew what was to come.
His current demeanor was as if he could easily overcome any adversity, much like a mythical hero that now only existed in fairy tales.
'...Did he make a pact with a Great Demon?'
He came from a renowned hero family.
How much frustration must he have felt about being so inferior to his illustrious ancestors?
Surely, some people can change suddenly, though they are few and far between.
He might have unlocked a new trait.
But right now, Piel was certain that Theo had made a pact with a Great Demon.
It was as if his soul had transformed.
There was no other explanation except a pact with a great demon.
It was the only thing that made sense to her.
"..."
To keep her thoughts from showing on her face, Piel lowered her head and thought about her older brother, Markvern.
After making a contract with a Great Demon, Markvern had become more intelligent...
But he had always been clever.
He had an unmatched level of proficiency and foresight, even amongst the Chalons who were generally smart.
He was no failure like Theo.
Piel remembered her experience with Theo in the dungeon today.
His eyes at that moment were brighter and more steadfast than anyone else's.
She sensed a solid resolve that couldn't be faked.
'It's disorienting.'
But it all came down to one thing.
...She had to confirm the mark of the Great Demon as soon as possible.
The forceful approach had not worked.
So, even if it meant leaving the academy without permission during the semester, she planned to bring 'it' from her family... but fate had other plans.
Her family resided not too far from Fosspatil Pass.
So, after swiftly wrapping up the practical evaluations, she would go to her family house.
Only a select few from her family had access to that place.
Because there lay the thing that saved the soul of her fourth older brother, Markvern de Chalon—the few within the family who knew about the contract with the Great Demon, 'it' was sleeping there.
With 'it', she could manage even if Theo revealed himself as a demon, just like her brother Markvern.
"Ah."
Piel gazed at Theo with a melancholic expression, lost in her thoughts.
He was talking with the other students.
Seeing him, she felt a surge of tears threatening to overflow.
Today, when she saw him struggling in the dungeon...
She reacted before she could even think.
'What is this feeling?'
Frankly, she didn't understand it fully.
What she knew for sure was that after Markvern...
Theo was the first person who made her heart race.
She owed Theo a lot.
His appearance today was cool.
It wasn't about his looks.
Looks don't matter at all.
She felt a deep-seated belief that she could overcome any adversity as long as he was with her.
In the midst of numerous people gathered here, he was still radiating an aura of grandeur.
It looked as if he was standing alone.
'Once the dungeon exploration ends... I must verify it immediately.'
Before he occupies an even larger space in her heart.
Otherwise... it would be painful, but she would have to distance herself from him.
If he was possessed by a demon and became a threat to the entire continent...
She'd save him with her own hands.
Wearing a sly smile, I watched other students arguing, and after a while, I joined the conversation just like the others.
I spotted Jang Woohee and Noctar's team nearby and went over to greet them.
"Hey, Noctar."
"Good to see you, Theo."
Noctar, whose blond hair was stained with red blood, waved at me.
I observed his injury carefully before speaking.
"I'd ask if you're okay... but it seems like you went through a lot."
"Heheh. Yes, you mean this?"
Noctar pointed to his bloody forehead.
I nodded.
"So, you forcefully dispelled the debuff magic."
"Correct. We went to a dungeon today that Jang Woohee discovered. She truly is a capable woman. We were exploring when we were hit with debuff magic.
It must've been [Confusion] magic. She saved the others the first time, but the next time, she needed help as well. Everything went pitch black; I couldn't see a thing. It was likely [Blind] magic. So, I used this method."
Noctar tapped his temple as he spoke.
I understood at once and nodded.
"I see."
Jang Woohee, although her output is lower than mine, could use [Magic Nullification].
Just like me, she could only use it a certain number of times and had likely exhausted her uses at the first branching point.
When she was afflicted by [Blind] at the second point, Noctar must have forcibly lifted the debuff and then pulled the rest of the team out of the magic's range.
The small zombies probably didn't show up because our team had cleared them all away.
Noctar laughed heartily.
"Heheh, I've told the other brothers as well. But now we only have enough food for one meal. It's a challenging situation. As a warrior, I'm ready for this, but I'm worried about the others on my team."
"You don't need to worry about that, Noctar ."
I drew closer to Noctar and added in a whisper,
"If you go a bit further into the area affected by [Blind], you'll find food. Of course, don't say that I told you."
"Heh, of course. There must be a reason you can't tell, right?"
"...Yes."
I slowly nodded.
"Well, okay. I'll pretend I found it by accident. Thanks, Theo. You're truly my friend. Even if it costs me my life, I'll repay this favor.
If we safely return to the academy, let's study together for the midterms."
"Sure. You work hard, Noctar. I'll be going now."
As I bid Noctar farewell and was about to return to my team—
"..."
I locked eyes with Jang Woohee, who was looking at me.
Her eyes, which were indifferent until a moment ago, widened subtly.
I could guess what she was thinking.
Given that I accurately described the entrance and characteristics of the dungeon, she'll believe even more firmly that I'm a prophet.
...Yes.
Believe more, in me.
Misunderstand more.
Because I can't tell you about your friend, Woo Hyoyeon.
Not yet.
The commotion subsided without any issues.
Soon afterward, Rok and the other instructors appeared before the students.
"Don't be flustered. We've simulated a situation as close to reality as possible. In real combat, anything can happen. Unforeseeable situations happen often.
Your focus should only be on accomplishing the tasks assigned to you."
With that, Rok departed, leaving behind the resentful gazes of the students.
Before leaving, he cast me a knowing smile.
The meaning of his smile was crystal clear.
As expected, he had been dealing with the infiltrators from 'Turning White'.
Anyway, after Rok's departure, the students began to gather and share information.
Our team received the most requests for information exchanges, but we turned them down.
Are they out of their minds?
We would gain nothing from it.
Looking after Aisha, Siena, Jang Woohee and Noctar, is already taxing enough.
Of course, doing a good deed now might come in handy later... But I'm no superman.
I need to prioritize and concentrate on what's important.
These team members of mine are worth more to me than all the other students combined.
The following day, Wednesday.
Just like the day before, our team delved into the ghost-type Dungeon again.
"Hmm, but we've run out of food, what should we do...?"
"Right. Even if we try to endure, it'll be tough to go without eating until Thursday afternoon..."
Travis and Monica mentioned this while casting sidelong glances at me.
...It's like an automatic reflex now.
It's not like I'm a magic sack that can produce anything at any time.
However, it didn't feel particularly bad to receive those looks.
Especially because I plan to finish exploring today and then go searching for the Divine Beast.
I gave a small chuckle and said, "Let's go this way."
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