It took me approximately thirty minutes to return to the hotel, whereupon I detoured to a clothing store to purchase a new outfit.
After all, I couldn't possibly show up looking like this.
By the way, the physical repercussions of utilizing the 'Embrace Discard' had begun manifesting on my body.
My muscles were ablaze and my bones ached with intensity.
Interestingly, this time the side effects appeared much later than they did when I last employed the 'Embrace Discard' against Quinn.
Perhaps as I advance in the mana core rankings, the onset of the side effects will be delayed even further.
As I made my way toward my room, I could sense the red ruby beginning to materialize within my chest once again, causing me great discomfort.
Despite the pain, I clenched my teeth tightly and marched on.
"Welcome back, sir. Can I see your room key card?"
Upon passing the hotel entrance, the receptionist greeted me with a warm welcome.
Without bothering to stop, I just showed her my room key card and kept walking.
Glancing at my watch, I noted that it was already 12:55 PM. As I recall, today's itinerary included a brunch at 1:00 PM in the dining hall.
Then we are set to visit the elven market, followed by some sightseeing with Drake and Emma.
That means if I quicken my pace and reach my room swiftly, I can evade any chance encounters with my classmates.
All I wanted was to sink into my cozy hotel bed and slumber. After that, I would need to start preparing for what will happen tomorrow.
Tomorrow during the masquerade dance event, a few cadets will uncover the true identity of a vampire assassin.
Then the vampire assassin will attack everyone present in the ballroom, resulting in a massacre.
Although I could skip out on today's sightseeing and shopping excursion with my classmates, attending tomorrow's masquerade party will be mandatory for everyone.
Not only that, but once inside the ballroom hall, we would be unable to leave without presenting our invitation cards to the guards, which Drake and Emma will have with them.
In short, once I go there, I would need to have a plan ready to keep myself safe from the destruction that the vampire assassin will cause.
Taking the lift, I got to the floor where my room was and quickly headed for it.
"Hmm?"
But before I could take even a few steps out of the lift's door, I saw a bunch of three girls ganging up on a blond-haired teen in the corridor.
Yes, it was Grace. And for some reason, these three maidens had her surrounded.
"Look at yourself, bitch! You acted so high and mighty before, but you were just a liar! Hahaha!" one of the girls surrounding the blonde beauty barked while pulling her hair.
Another girl joined in on cue like a typical bully's lackey, "Yeah! What happened to that haughty attitude of yours, huh? You traitor!"
The third girl smirked, unmistakably the leader of the other two girls, and grabbed Grace tightly by her neck.
She ran her fingers through her fiery red hair before crossing her arms. "Remember when I spilled my drink on you that one time by accident? You made me apologize to you by kneeling in front of the whole class. No one objected because of your popularity, but look what happened to you now. No one is by your side. You are all alone. You only have yourself to blame."
Thwack—!!
As soon as she finished talking, the red-headed girl thrashed her foot into Grace's belly.
"Khuuk!"
The force of the kick made Grace cough violently and fall down on her knees.
She clutched her stomach to shield herself from any further attack as the first gill pulled her head up by her hair.
"How come Nero allowed a traitor like you to join this trip anyway?!" the first girl said while baring her teeth like a dog.
"Yeah, he didn't allow Quinn to join just because he refused to follow his orders," the second girl chipped in. "But this bitch right here straight up betrayed her own class!"
"That's because–"
Before the redhead girl could answer the second girl, I stepped in.
"That's because having a traitor among your ranks is a common occurrence in warfare," I explained as the heads of the girls turned to look at me.
As their expressions shifted to either concern about being caught bullying a fellow cadet or surprised at how I snuck up behind them, I continued.
"She was punished in the VR by getting her head decapitated," I walked up in front of them, unfazed by their confused looks. "Quinn, on the other hand, failed to follow his duty as a soldier and received no punishment for it."
"Lucas?" the redhead looked at me with a frown, instantly recognizing me. After all, who else can be as beautiful as me?
"What are you doing here right now? Everyone is already down in the dining hall," she asked.
"I'm not joining everyone else for brunch," I answered before looking at Grace, who still had her hair pulled by the first girl.
Grace, of course, wasn't the least bit happy to see me. She gave me a hostile look while gritting her teeth and clenching her fists.
Maybe she was stopping herself from using magic.
Using spells or mana-infused martial arts anywhere outside the academy for first-year cadets was absolutely prohibited.
Well, even if it wasn't, she wouldn't be able to win against these three girls, let alone me.
Ignoring her bloodlust-filled look, I moved my eyes back to the redhead girl and sighed.
"Enough about me. What are you three doing here? Bullying a girl in an open corridor right in front of the lift. Do you guys want to get caught?" I asked.
"S-So what?" she replied while averting her eyes before quickly establishing eye contact again as if she had rediscovered her confidence. "Remember, she also falsely accused you of assaulting her!"
"Do not bring my name into this," I said. "And leave before I report this incident to the Cadet Council."
The redhead girl gave me a taken-aback look. "You are taking her side? Even after she tried to set you up?"
"Taking her side?" I furrowed my brows into a frown. "Oh, no. I just need you to leave us alone because I want to have a personal chat with her. Bully her after this if you want; I really don't care. Now, go."
The girl looked at me with a blank face for a couple of seconds before awkwardly nodding and walking toward the lift.
"Come on, guy. Let's go."
At her command, the rest of the girls followed her to the lift but not before giving me a scrutinizing look.
Heh. Can't blame them. I really am handsome, after all.
As I watched the leave, Grace got up to her feet while still clutching her stomach with one hand.
I looked back at her in a moment of silence, and she returned my gaze with disdain.
"How does it feel?" I asked. "You are all alone. Not even Ella is by your side now. These commoner girls that you used to call insects are bullying you now. Even the boys who were all swarming you before have been distancing themselves from you. Although, there are bound to be some creepy ones still following you, no?"
"What the hell do you want?!" Grace shot back in a tone laced with venom.
"What do I want? Oh Grace," I shook my head. "I already got what I wanted. Just remember one thing, I gave you a chance to switch sides."
"You think you can go against Kai?!" Grace barked. "I have already told him about you! He will come after you!"
I merely flashed a grin in reply.
Thwaam—!!
"Heeik!"
Before suddenly, I grabbed her neck and slammed her into the wall.
As a shriek of surprise and pain left her lips, I leaned my face closer to her. My grin turned wider, and a glint appeared in my eyes.
Terror filled Grace's eyes for a split second before she masked it with braveness while clenching her jaw.
"Let him come. Tell him that I am waiting for him," I said through gritted teeth. "He won't believe you after meeting me. I will deceive him. But by the time he'll realize that he has been deceived, it'll already be too late. I would've won."
As I finished speaking, I let go of Grace's neck, allowing her to breathe again. She buckled down and started gasping.
"Haaaa!"
After rendering her in that state, I turned around and started walking off. "My offer stands until King's Tournament, Grace. Come to me and beg. Switch sides before it's too late. It's the best strategic choice."
