'Bang!
"Guuuh..."
A pained groan escaped from my lips as I crashed against the side of the wall. I opened my eyes with some difficulty. My entire body ached.
"Not bad, you lasted one more minute compared to last time"
On the other side of the room, Donna tied up her hair. Staring at me she smacked her lips. It was a habit of hers that came out whenever she was satisfied.
"Miss, what do you suggest is the best way I can improve my strength faster?"
Recovering a little, I sat up and spoke up.
After the fight with Thibaut back at the banquet, I had come to a powerful realization.
I was weak.
Purely based on my fighting strength alone, I was far from where I should be. I urgently needed to improve the mastery of my arts.
They were the foundation of my strength.
Unfortunately, I did not have a lot of time.
With everything that I needed to do, I couldn't focus as much on training as I used to.
From handling the mercenary group stuff, the company, studying for classes, and the many other things, I couldn't train as hard as before.
I needed to increase my efficiency. I needed to find a way to train faster.
Unaware of my circumstances, Donna thought for a moment before speaking up, "Train faster? You're already improving much faster than other people at the moment. Why do you want to improve faster? If you want to increase your rank, take a potion or an earthly treasure"
Donna paused and shook her head. Walking over to the side of the room, Donna took a white towel and sat down.
"However, I suggest against doing so. For one, it's really expensive, and two it can only be used on rare occasions. There's a chance you might get a backlash or it could even stunt your talent limit"
If too many potions and natural treasures were consumed there was a chance that they could permanently damage someone's body beyond repair.
If such a situation happened then there was no longer a chance for them to become stronger.
That was why most people didn't just stuff themselves with potions and earthly treasures. It did more harm than good.
"If you're looking it at from purely from a skill perspective then the answer is easy. Just go to the time regressor machine and hone your skills there. It's the perfect place to practice your skills"
"...ah, that"
My mouth twitched. I almost forgot about this.
With me being so busy and those bastards monopolizing the place I still did not have a chance to use that place.
Had I been able to use that place, then perhaps I would've been stronger than now.
"You better get going, classes will start in half an hour"
Checking her watch Donna spoke up. It was already 9:30 A.M, and classes were about to start soon.
In response, I stood up and patted my clothes.
"Fair enough"
"Oh right, before you go, I've got some good news for you"
Suddenly, Donna recalled something.
Tapping on her watch, she scrolled through a couple of files. After a few scrolls, she stopped at a specific file.
"Good news?"
My interest instantly piqued. Who didn't like good news?
"Mhm, congratulations"
"Congratulations, for what?"
I was instantly confused. Did I win something? I don't recall ever doing something that warranted an award. Noticing my confusion, Donna shook her head and explained.
"You have been accepted to the Leviathan building. You can move in by as soon as next week"
"Leviathan building, next week?"
I was instantly taken aback.
Though I did expect this to happen, I didn't expect for me to move in so fast.
"Hmm, somehow you don't seem as enthusiastic as I thought"
At my response, Donna raised her brow.
Normally, when someone was given the opportunity to enter the Leviathan building, they'd be jumping up and down with joy. Yet here I was completely unfazed by the news.
"No, no, no, don't get me wrong, I am indeed really happy"
I raised my hands in defeat.
I wasn't lying when I said I was happy.
Problem was that I had a lot of unfinished things back in the Manticore building. Furthermore, despite its flaws, it really was a nice place. Especially since Leo and Pram were there.
The more I thought about it, the more melancholic I became.
"Was that sarcasm? You know that you have every right to refuse to move right?"
"No, I'll go"
I helplessly shook my head. I'd be stupid to refuse such a place. Especially since the equipment, there was far more advanced.
"Haa..."
Stumbling a couple of steps I made my way towards the exit of the training grounds.
'Looks like I'll have to hasten my plans...'
I guess I needed to push up my plans to clear up the Manticore building soon.
Before I could start that, I had to wait for Angelica to be back on my side.
Since the deal with the demon hunter guild was finalized, I no longer had to worry about my parents as much.
Angelica could now return and join me once again. I needed her for the next part of my plans.
She was crucial.
"See you, Miss"
Waving Donna goodbye and dragging my tired body away, I inwardly muttered, 'Looks like I have to start doing some revision...'
...
Inside of a large office space decorated in gold with fine paintings all over the beige walls, in front of a large desk, sat a man. Though he did not look any older than forty, the man's hair had a mixture of black and white hair.
On his face was a black goatee that reached halfway through his neck. Despite his looks, an air of elegance and authority exuded from him.
'Clink!
Suddenly, the man tapped on his phone and dialed a number.
'Tut!
Not long after someone picked up. The man instantly greeted him. His voice carried a hint of respect.
"It's been a while, Micheal. Have you been doing well?"
'...Jasper Roshfied. Why have you contacted me?
After a short pause, an imposing and authoritative voice rang out from the speaker of the phone. In response, a faint smile appeared on Jasper's lips.
"Stop playing dumb. I know a man of your caliber knows exactly why I contacted you"
'...So you want my aid?
There was a brief pause that stemmed from Jasper's voice. Not long after, the man named Micheal once again responded. Jasper smiled at the response.
"An enemy of my enemy is my friend. Isn't that what they all say these days?"
'What do you propose?
'Got him'
Jasper clenched his fists underneath the table. He knew that he had caught Micheal Parker's interest. Without skipping a beat he went straight to the point.
"Let's form a partnership"
'A partnership?
"Yes, help me get rid of my niece.
'Oh? So you want me to do your dirty work?
Jasper rubbed his chin and pondered. His lips curled up even more.
"Hmm...I'm not sure if that's the correct way to word it, but yes. That's precisely it"
Jasper's goal was to get rid of Emma. Despite being the current head, he had no real power.
Only his brother had that authority.
Jasper hated that. He also carried the Roshfield family blood. What made them so different?
Jasper secretly clenched his fists beneath the desk, as he thought, 'It doesn't matter anymore'
With his brother missing, Jasper knew that he had a chance to turn the tables in his favor. He had to deal his brother a blow now that the opportunity presented itself.
This was why he called Micheal Parker. His brother's enemy.
'If I agree to this deal, what do I stand to gain from this?
Throughout the whole conversation, Micheal Parker's voice remained stoic. However, despite it being that way, there was no denying that he was interested.
Jasper could feel it. Thus, he explained.
"You'll obviously get a chance to deal a big impact on my big brother. I thought you hated him, didn't you? Plus, you'll be directly removing a thorn known as my niece from your sight. Given how talented she is..."
Suddenly Jasper's eyes became cold.
"...if she's allowed to grow any further, we both know how things will turn out for the both of us right? With me aiding you from the inside, handling her shouldn't pose a problem for you"
'...I see, what about you? What do you stand to gain from this deal?
The phone became silent for a couple of minutes before Micheal Parker once again spoke.
"Me?"
Jasper smiled.
"My son's future..."
...
Despite the Lock being the number one academy in the human domain, they did not have access to a lot of dungeons as most of them were under different guild's jurisdiction.
Fortunately, the Lock could make up for it with its expansive connection. With many students graduating each year, they had many various connections that spanned all over the human domain.
At the moment, over a thousand students stood outside an enormous gate.
In front of it were multiple men and women dressed in black with all sorts of devices in front of them.
"How is the energy level?"
"Everything seems in check"
"Are the preparations done?"
With the man and women in black busily talking amongst each other, an instructor wearing a Lock uniform stood before us.
With his sharp eyes that were faintly hidden beneath a pair of sunglasses, the instructor looked at every student present before him.
"Courtesy of Liamon Guild, today, you'll all be entering the dungeon in teams", he said as he took off his sunglasses.
"The teams will be selected at random, and once you enter the dungeon you will be directly spawned into the environment with your team. You will all be on the same map at the same time and..."
Listening to the instructor, I nodded my head.
Today we were going to have a real dungeon experience. Students would form a team of six and experience a real dungeon for the first time in their life.
Not the school dungeon, but a real functioning dungeon.
With the connections the Lock had, it wasn't hard for them to rent out a dungeon from the Liamon Guild. A small gold-graded guild.
"Alright, I'll send you the team list now"
Ten minutes in, the instructor finished talking.
Taking out his tablet, the instructor tapped on the screen. Instantly the sound of smartwatches vibrating echoed across the area.
'Ding! 'Ding! 'Ding!
Turning my wrist, I pressed on the foremost notification.
[Team 4]
Amanda Stern
Emma Roshfield
Eleonore Grey
.
.
[Team 7]
Aaerin Leinfal
John Berson
Ren Dover
.
.
[Team 15]
Kevin Voss
Melissa Hall
.
.
[Team 23]
Jin Horton
Aaron Rhinestone
.
.
"Haaa...give me a break"
Checking my team list, I covered my face with my hand.
To think that I would be in the same group as two new exchange students. Suddenly, skimming through the list, one of the teams caught my interest.
"Huh? Jin is with Aaron?"
I caressed my chin.
'Right, there was something like this back in my novel. I almost forgot'
This was the event that would lead to Aaron proving a statement. In this event, Aaron would cement himself as the main antagonist of the tournament arc by humiliating Jin.
Wasn't sure now though.
Turning my head, I looked in their direction.
Aaron had a provoking look on his face as he looked at Jin in the distance. On the other hand, Jin just stood motionlessly. He seemed completely unfazed by the provocation.
In fact, I don't even know who his teammates are.
'He sure changed a lot...'
Had it been the old Jin, he would've immediately checked the watch and tried to establish his dominance. This time, he treated Aaron like air.
This obviously didn't sit well with him as his face soon became dark. Looking at the duo, my interest piqued.
'I wonder what will happen between the two now....'
