"This is the proof of your completion." Joseph handed them several proof of completion to them. Each of them got one, but because this was a task from Shale, Noel's group also got another one for their group mission. It meant Noel and Anna only had one Individual Mission to finish the requirement to graduate.
Still, Joseph had a weird expression when handing the proof to Noel. It was so obvious that Noel knew he was a bit stiff. This was unacceptable for the Demon Observer Squad's vice captain, so he wondered what happened.
Unfortunately, Joseph didn't plan to tell him anything.
In the end, they were seen off after they got the proof while Lokhar had to stay for a few more days to recuperate.
"In that case, we'll be returning first. See you, Lokhar." Noel waved his hand with a smile.
"Yeah. Once again, thanks, Noel." Lokhar nodded.
After bidding their goodbye, Noel and Anna immediately rode their horse back to the Demon Banner Army headquarter as they finally had some time off to rest their bodies.
When they handed the report to Shale, the latter thanked them personally. "Thank you for your help in this mission. Thanks to you, we've managed to defeat a Devil Bishop and several Devil Inspectors."
"No, no. I messed up a bit back then. But thankfully, it's solved." Noel shook his head.
"Alright. It seems that you two need some rest. So, you should go back. Or you'd rather to have the last individual mission before getting some rest?"
"No, we'd like to get some rest."
"I understand. You also have garnered some points, do you want to use it? You can go to the person in charge of treasury to get the catalog."
"Can I exchange another Ancient Spirit Technique with my current point?" Noel asked.
"Mhm… Not yet." Shale recounted the memory a bit and continued, "An Ancient Spirit Technique usually cost around 10,000 points. Currently, you have 7,200 points, so I don't think it's enough for the time being. However, you can get some good equipment with this. It'll definitely help you after you graduate."
"Is that so? I don't think I need another equipment. But thanks for the suggestion." Noel nodded. He had a flexible armor and Ardagan Sword, so there was no other piece of equipment that interested him.
"Alright then." Shale recorded everything and gave their token backs.
After that, Noel and Anna walked away. Before reaching their rooms, Anna asked, "What are we going to do next? I mean, we still have another three months before graduation. A single individual mission will only take around two weeks. So, what are we going to do in the last two and a half months?"
"Do you remember when I told you that we'll create a stage where you killed me?"
"Yes." Anna nodded.
"It's going to put a stain in your name, you know. After all, I'm trying to build up my reputation."
"I know that. The stain in my name will make me leave the army, allowing me to start investigating the royal family."
"After that, we won't be able to meet easily, right? So, I'm planning to get the Body Strengthening Liquid first before our graduation."
"Wait, do you mean…"
"Yeah. We're going to spend the remaining time here for the individual mission and the liquid. Then, we'll graduate even if it's going to be a bit faster. In fact, it's better if we're a bit faster because after you kill me, I can use my second identity to reach the squad again, showing that I just got there after graduation."
"Ah!" Anna nodded in understanding. "So, you mind telling me your second identity now? Even though you have been playing ignorant all this time?"
"This is just the basic of cooperation. What you should worry is not about my second identity, but the timing for us to meet to give each other information."
"That's true."
"Anyway, we'll be talking about the timing and other details later. For now, I'm tired."
"Me too."
Noel and Anna agreed and went separate ways. As soon as Noel returned to his room, he had to clean up the room as well because the dust had been sitting on his room after leaving it for a few months.
He then lied down on the bed while furrowing his eyebrows. "The first step is done. I just have to start using my second identity before approaching the Third Prince. But still… to think all my hatred to Anna was just a plan. I don't know what to feel.
"On the one hand, Anna was just a pawn in this entire scheme. On the other hand, my father is toying with my emotion. I don't even know what to feel about Anna now that all my hatred is forcefully taken away like this."
Noel bit his lips. He felt like he was trapped inside a muddy field. He wanted to go to the nearest land, but he had a hard time to move and his body started itching because he just wanted to get this done already.
Even Noel didn't know what to do.
"What's the point of sowing discord between me and Anna, Father? Ah, right. I should have hit you once right after we meet… I shouldn't forget about this. Anyway, the point of the hatred is… Is he leading me to Anna?
"What if Anna doesn't join the Demon Banner Army? Now that I think about it, Anna in the past is far different than the current Anna. She has refused it, but what's the reason of her sudden change? It feels surreal."
Noel couldn't help but remember the meeting with the Sword Saint. If everything went according to his father's plan, his father must want to make them meet through this hatred.
But he wanted to solve the hatred between them by forcefully taking away the hatred and the Sword Saint even came out to tell them about the story of the Ardagan's ancestor and his sister. He even gave him the rings used for their marriage.
"Don't tell me… My father is planning to marry me to Anna? There's no way my father would know the content of the inheritance of the Sword Saint, right… RIGHT?"
"I must be overthinking…"
