NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15 - If there are too many cooks (5)
From the beginning, Arnold was hiding in the center of Warren Forest and was constantly monitoring the situation in the forest.
This is because there were cases where students could not control their excitement and fought, resulting in unexpected situations such as serious injuries.
‘It’ll probably be similar this year. Because students with strong fighting skills always fight against each other and collect cards.’
Every time Arnold wandered through the forest and saw students gathering their colleagues, he watched with disappointment as they repeated the same thing; some students were defeated, while others triumphed.
Arnold expected the same result this time.
The beginning was as expected.
In contrast to before, Esf increased his expectations by obliquely mentioning the class’s context, but he was unable to influence his peers.
But at some point, the flow began to completely follow one wave.
A violent and gigantic wave called Lucius Kendrick.
“Where on earth has he been until now?”
He initially felt Lucius’ intervention in the argument between Esf and Irinushka was a show of bravado.
However,
“What is that?”
After seeing Lucius’ power, Arnold couldn’t help but change his mind.
“It’s quite a formidable destructive power. Even the seasoned Dryads who have completed their adulthood ritual would be impressed.”
Although many of Lucius’ strikes were straightforward and uncomplicated, the overall performance was astonishingly good. Surprisingly, Lucius displayed a solid foundation of skills in close-quarters combat.
If he could expand the range of plant creatures he could summon and develop the ability to adapt to various environments, it would not be impossible for him to become an extraordinary force.
Above all, it was surprising that Lucius’ seemingly arbitrary actions were in fact intentional.
By pinpointing the intent of the class and making himself an enemy that everyone must defeat together, he encouraged the establishment of a natural cooperative relationship.
It was a method he would not have imagined or attempted if he were not confident in his own abilities.
This lesson was completely in the palm of Lucius’ hands.
“I have to admit that he’s amazing. He’s a cocky guy.”
Arnold had devised an arrangement in which the more cards they collected, the more powerful the shadow demons that appeared from the cards. Even with only five cards, a demon that would be difficult for the current students to face emerged. Nonetheless, Lucius collected all 50 cards and summoned a dragon with ease.
Arnold was extremely moved when he saw Kerensta’s shadow, which he had carefully prepared just in case, be summoned.
“Summoning is all well and good, but the lesson won’t end until Kerensta is defeated. It’ll be tough without a competent commander.”
However, this time, the situation unfolded differently than Arnold expected.
This is because the class president, Rayel, was leading the students more skillfully than expected.
The line of students who had been distraught was quickly brought together.
Rayel protected the weak friends who were targeted first by the shadow dragon and gave precise orders so that everyone could use their strengths to the fullest.
Even Lucius, who was fighting fiercely moments ago, seamlessly cooperated with the students and provided appropriate support.
Not long after, Kian’s claws tore through the dragon’s scales and plunged deep into its core.
As his claws touched the cards, the dragon emitted a radiant light before transforming into a black mist, concealing its form.
The students, who looked at each other in disbelief, cheered and enjoyed their victory.
“We… we won?”
“We did it! We won!”
Arnold, who gave them a moment to feel the lingering effects of victory, went down leisurely.
Despite the students bearing minor injuries and fatigue, they smiled widely upon seeing him.
“Well done in your first class, students. It was a tough fight, filled with twists and turns, but you managed to find the solutions in your own way.”
“Hehehe.”
“Hmm.”
Receiving praise without being able to suppress their joy, their laughter naturally burst out like that of children.
Arnold cleared his throat once and then looked at each of the students.
“I think you will probably understand what this class was about without having to say much. So, guys, please write a report on this lesson and submit it to your class president by this time next week. The content can be anything related to the class. It could be a simple review, or it would be good to do your own analysis. Feel free to express yourselves.”
After saying that, Arnold snapped his fingers once.
All the bands on the students’ wrists disappeared and turned to ashes.
Perhaps because of the light feeling of liberation, some students completely lied down on the floor.
Arnold clicked his tongue and scolded them.
“Guys. If you sleep here, your mouth will be twisted.”
T/N : They can die from cold.“Ugh, teacher. I can’t move.”
“Good work! Even though it’s a fake dragon. How did you guys win?”
“My whole body aches. This is my first time using so much magic power.”
Except for Lucius, all the students sat down or lay down on the ground.
Some of the students even dozed off.
While the students grumbled about Arnold being unnecessarily dramatic, he nonetheless took the role of a teacher and meticulously examined each student’s situation one by one.
Then he saw Lucius and asked casually, “Lucius, you must be in good shape, right?”
“I mainly provided combat support, so I naturally have less fatigue,” Lucius replied.
“Is that so? Well, then, go to the infirmary and ask for Teacher Lipton. Tell him I sent you, and you can go in first.”
“Alright, I’ll do that.”
* * *
Lucius left the forest and headed to the health room in the main school building.
As he opened the door to the health room and entered, he could see teacher Lipton working with a look on his face that looked like he was about to collapse at any moment.
“Hello teacher.”
With a complexion full of dark circles, he looked at Lucius and lightly exclaimed.
“By any chance, is this the student, Lucius Kendrick?”
Arnold had told him about it. Arnold was keeping a close eye on him because he was an interesting student.
In addition, Lipton occasionally talked to students and gave them advice, and one of the students who visited him most often was Lennox.
It was even more interesting because Lennox came to visit him yesterday and talked about Lucius.
“That’s right. I came to deliver a message to you because Mr. Arnold wanted you to come to Warren Forest.”
However, Lucius spoke to Lipton in a stiffer manner than he expected.
“It looks like the kids were exhausted after class. Fortunately, you seem to be okay.”
“I’m fine. Well, I delivered the message, so I’ll go back now.”
Lipton began preparing the various items needed to go to Warren Forest.
‘There’s no need to stay long.’
Lucius came out of the health room and headed to the dormitory.
Since Lennox’s class ended late today, Lucius had some free time and was thinking of supplying magic power to Hamel.
As soon as Lucius entered his dorm room, he took a deep breath and spoke.
“Hamel.”
Hamel appeared as if he had been waiting. The furrowing of his eyebrows was an expression of dissatisfaction.
“I guess you finally have some free time, Lucius-nim.”
“Despite the fact that I was only a few days late, you have been extremely persistent. Learn to be patient.”
Hamel had been absent due to teacher training, and there were also preparations for the entrance ceremony, so Lucius hadn’t been able to provide him with magical power for quite a long time.
Moreover, the overlapping of fasting due to orders had pushed his irritation to the limit.
So, while rebuking him, Lucius quickly rolled up his sleeves without saying much.
As Hamel handed him a drawn dagger in impatience, Lucius deeply slashed his forearm, and blood began to flow.
Hamel kneeled down and pressed his lips against Lucius’s wound, starting to drink the blood.
‘I guess he was starving.’
Lucius, who was watching him eat uncharacteristically hastily, summoned a plant to absorb the smell so that the smell of his blood would not remain.
Hamel’s teeth, engrossed in the feast, sharpened further as they dug deep into the wound.
Sensing that Hamel might protest for being a little late for the mealtime, Lucius warned him in a cold voice.
“Don’t bare your fangs.”
Growl.
The corners of Hamel’s eyes rose fiercely as he let out a throaty growl.
However, Lucius’ eyes were as cold as ice.
Like a hungry beast disturbed during mealtime, Hamel struggled to retract his fangs.
“…I apologize.”
Even though it hadn’t been much time since the wound appeared on Lucius’s arm, the wound had already healed, and no more blood was flowing.
Hamel looked at the healed arm with a hint of regret, then took out a handkerchief and tidied up the surroundings.
The soft silk was stained with crimson blood.
In truth, Hamel, not being a vampire, didn’t really need to drink blood. If the purpose was simply to supply magical power, a light touch would have been sufficient.
However, he insisted on sating his hunger with blood, as he believed his own sense of taste needed to be fulfilled.
The annoyance that had filled his face disappeared, and he now wore a contented expression.
Hamel asked him with a distinctive smile.
“By the way, when are you going to stop by the mansion?”
“Is there some problem?”
“Not exactly. I was just wondering about planning my tasks in accordance with your return date.”
“I intend to go within four days at the latest. There are a few things I need to confirm, and it would be good to show my face to Dummett as well.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Oh, speaking of which, is the class worth taking?”
As soon as the topic of classes came up, Hamel’s previously softened eyebrows furrowed again. He still seemed reluctant to associate with the demons.
“There is nothing difficult about work. Now that I think about it, Lucius’ class is tomorrow.”
“Have you obtained any other information? Something about Lennox.”
“The topic was lightly discussed, but it was meaningless. I’m sure everyone knows this information.”
Hamel touched his chin thoughtfully, then spoke.
“Now that I think about it, I can feel Mr. Arnold’s presence behind my back every time I indirectly bring up Lennox.”
“Mr. Arnold?”
“He seemed uncomfortable with the story itself being brought up.”
“Because the student that Lennox killed was in Mr. Arnold’s class. If anyone knows anything, it must be Arnold.”
If Arnold is the only teacher who has information, then there must be no information available over there.
There was a limit to how easily information could be extracted from him, and there was no need to raise suspicion by pushing too hard.
Woo. Woo.
As they were talking, they heard a resonant sound coming from Ophelia in the corner.
Since it was a cursed sword that sucked blood and energy, it seemed to react to Lucius’ energy and the smell of blood that spread throughout the room.
Hamel furrowed his brow in displeasure and showed his teeth.
“Lucius-nim.”
“It looks like Ophelia starved while Lennox wasn’t taking care of it.”
When Lucius didn’t take any action, Hamel cast a dissatisfied look at Ophelia.
If his master had planned to give blood to that sword, Hamel would have done whatever it took to break it up and render it useless.
Ophelia’s ringing gradually stopped, possibly because she was unable to get a response from them.
Lucius checked the time once and then signaled for Hamel to leave.
“Don’t worry, go back now. It’s almost time for Lennox to come.”
“Alright.”
Hamel cast one last glance at Ophelia before bowing his head towards Lucius and swiftly disappearing from sight.