After Stealing Hero's Mother, I Reincarnated in the Fantasy World!

'Ael. Ael. Ael. Please say something.'

Cale's gaze fell on his childhood friend who was standing next to Rain.

But despite his pleas, she didn't react in any way to the tension between them.

Cale's heart hit rock bottom.

Even from their shared childhood, he believed she was destined to be his.

From the moment he met her as a little girl, he couldn't forget about her. And after spending those years training to become a man worthy of her, he finally got the chance to meet her again.

Trial in the Rift, Academy Tournament, and Cultural Vacation.

These were the three events Cale had to use to get close to Ael, gain her trust, and make her see him in a new light. Not as a 'Silly Cale', but as a man.

These were his precious opportunities!

But right now, two of them had already been brazenly stolen by a smarmy bastard... and the third was on the verge of meeting a similar fate.

The truth was that Cale had purposely found Ael today when students were supposed to be deciding how they would spend their upcoming vacation. It was a very important day, so he planned to let her remember him and suggest that they return together to her Elf Kingdom where they had spent their childhood.

And yet... now it was broken again. By Rain.

"Haha, fine..."

How could this man annoy him to death with his mere existence?

Cale gritted his teeth, ready to burn him with a glare. But soon a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He hid his true cultivation level, but the truth was that not only had he recovered, he had broken through to a new level!

Recovering from injuries from the Rift trial was a frustrating endeavor, but in the end he was able to create an opportunity out of it!

Glancing at Rain, Cale couldn't help but grin to himself.

'So naive and relaxed...'

How would Rain's face change if he found out?

His cultivation level had already surpassed that of most students, bringing him to the top of the academy. If the Academy Tournament were held now... he would most likely take first place.

Of course, right now, right after the breakthrough, he still hadn't stabilized his base, so he couldn't show his full strength, but once he did... he would be like a dragon spreading its wings and soaring into the thunderous skies, he was ready to incinerate everything in his path.

'When I reveal my cultivation, perhaps I should directly cripple him? Or destroy his cultivation and look at his face? Both options have their advantages...''

While Cale was deciding what to do with his enemy after revealing his cultivation...

'Oh, he broke through.'

Rain had already noticed it.

While he was looking at Cale's face, which was going from one emotion to another like a madman, either smiling stupidly or blushing, he had already activated the status on him.

'He's really gotten stronger since we met last time.'

[Cultivation: Ethereal Disciple].

'To think, one defeat at my hands allowed him to break through to a whole new stage.'

Indeed, breaking through to the Ethereal Disciple realm was no easy feat.

This meant that he had now moved from the early to the middle cultivation stage, having made a qualitative breakthrough.

Although it was called the middle stage, in a world where only a few reached the advanced stage, it was no small strength.

On it, one could use Ether to enhance themselves and all aspects of their abilities. This made a significant difference in combat power.

If a comparison between the previous realms was still possible, the gap between the stages was too great now. Though Cale still hadn't stabilized it, he had already surpassed almost all the students of his year at the academy. Including Rain himself.

'Shall I say that he deserves the title of being blessed with the World?'

Finally, Cale decided Rain's fate in his head and his eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Rain, can you leave? Ael and I needed to talk. This is a matter between old friends and outsiders shouldn't interfere with that."

Although his words sounded polite, there was a sense of menace in them. He also put special emphasis on the words 'old friends' and 'outsiders', emphasizing that Rain was nobody to her.

"Hmm? I don't want to."

It was true that their cultivation gap was large right now, but cultivation wasn't the only thing that decided whether you could win.

Rain grinned to himself.

If one's cultivation level determined everything, what would be the point of fighting?

Crackle!

That carefree look annoyed Cale to the core.

"You may regret your decision very deeply in the future, but it will be too late. I promise that even your family won't avoid..."

"Hey, what are you talking about, Cale?!"

The angry voice of his childhood friend interrupted him.

"Apologize right now!"

Ael wasn't blind not to notice the tension between them. But while it was 'normal' among friends, Cale's words were clearly excessive.

Of all people, how could Cale talk about other people's families?

She felt a slight disappointment in her newfound childhood friend.

It felt like he had deteriorated during their time apart. He was no longer the cute, weak Cale she'd known.

"I...have to apologize?"

Cale stared stunned at his childhood friend.

Wasn't she on his side?

Memories of the many times she had defended him from the attacks and humiliation of his peers flashed through his mind, hurting him even more.

'Rain was definitely the one who started it... but why are you still defending him?'

Her next words, however, further dashed his hope.

"Of course you should!"

Ael could ignore a lot of things, but talking about family was something she hated.

She immediately stepped away from him and moved closer to Rain.

"I'm sorry about him, Rain. He doesn't usually act like this, I don't know what got into him today."

"It's okay, don't worry."

Rain just smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. She flinched slightly, but didn't pull away.

Cale's fists continuously clenched and unclenched as he stared at them in helplessness.

'I... I'll... Okay, Ael..... for your sake, I'll do it.'

At the end he could only lower his head, hiding his emotions.

"Sorry..."

"Louder!"

"I'm sorry."

Having said that, he felt as if he had eaten a cartload of manure.

Without even looking up, he could feel Rain mocking him. He wished more than anything to tear him to pieces right now.

'Should I unleash my cultivation right now and cripple him on the spot? Even if it hurts me, I'm willing to do it!'