Chapter 187 : Chapter 187
Chapter 187. Three-way Meeting with Royals
‘What am I doing here?’
Tarun was facing an unexpected situation. They were clearly moving forward to catch the Dungeon Boss on the 20th floor, but as soon as he suggested taking a short break, the atmosphere flowed strangely.
“Senior, do you like coffee?”
Radel, who skillfully started a campfire and boiled water, asked. Tarun nodded with a reluctant expression.
To think a guy who came to the academy to learn magic was so amiable. He had seen guys with agreeable personalities, but this was the first time seeing someone go this far.
Tarun himself was a magician, but magicians were originally a group with strong personal worlds. Although it had changed a lot recently, the essence was ultimately the same.
They didn't care about anything outside their fields of interest, and regardless of major, they were subtly stubborn. If their grades were good and they seemed flexible, professors would grab them and make them grade representatives.
'Come to think of it, did he say that guy was a grade representative too?' Tarun thought while glancing at Radel.
“Here you go.”
Soon, a cup was placed in Tarun’s hand. Tarun stared at the steaming cup, then, drawn by the gentle aroma, ended up taking a sip.
‘It's delicious.’
Ding.
[Target’s affinity breaks through 5.]
Radel heard the sound of Tarun’s affinity rising in his ears. He felt it with Armandy and Edward before, but surprisingly, there were times when a cup of tea raised affinity.
Seeing Tarun, whose expression seemed to have relaxed a bit, Radel also drank his coffee. It was then.
“……Why do you want to major in Combat Magic?”
Tarun asked in a blunt voice. Radel pondered for a moment, then decided to just be honest.
“At first, I had no intention of doing Combat Magic.”
“You had no intention of doing Combat Magic?”
“Yes. But that was a naive thought. Since what I need right now is Combat Magic.”
Hearing Radel’s answer, Tarun opened his mouth.
“Do you want to become strong?”
Want to become strong. Radel recalled a vow from sometime ago.
“No, I want to become comfortable. To do that, I have to survive.”
Along with that, the words of Ivan, the head of the Ability Management Bureau, came to mind. The words that if he endured in the academy, he could survive as much as he wanted.
“I came to the academy for that.”
It was as Ivan said. Just thinking about surviving in the academy made one semester feel insufficient. Enduring day by day like that, he had come this far. Radel planned to continue enduring in the future as well.
‘That guy…….’
Tarun’s eyes took on a cautious light. Honestly, he was a little surprised after hearing Radel’s answer.
Tarun’s goal was to become the strongest among combat magicians. To do that, he had the resolve to risk any threat to his life.
There were times he pushed himself too hard to challenge the tower deliberately, and times when all his limbs were broken after countless duels. Among Combat Magic majors, those who acted like Tarun were common.
‘But that guy is somewhat different.’
That nonchalant expression. That unwavering tone even while saying he had to survive. Did he not look like a person who always lived with his life on the line?
‘That guy's words…… might actually be true.’
Tarun felt, just a little, like he had seen Radel’s true self. But Radel downed his coffee in one gulp and shrugged playfully.
“Well, after touring, I did feel like, ‘Is it worth trying?’ because it seemed like it would be fun. Since the tuition is the same regardless of the major, learning more is a gain.”
Usually, do people think they should take all majors just because the tuition is the same? Tarun’s expression turned sour.
'……Is he crazy?'
* * *
It was when Tarun and Radel were about to move after finishing their short break.
BOOM!
Someone fired magic at where Radel was. Seeing the Ice Spear falling in an instant, Radel hurriedly rolled forward. However, that was not the only attack.
RUMBLE!
While ice spears struck consecutively, earth walls rose and pounced on Radel.
“Don't move!”
Tarun blocked Radel’s front and quickly swung his staff. As he swung his staff with a short incantation, wind element magic wrapped around the two.
CLANG!
BANG!
The ice spears shattered against the barrier he created, and the earth walls were blocked. Tarun looked around sharply.
There were at least two enemies. They were people with magic power strong enough to make his arm tingle.
Sure enough, the 4th Princess revealed herself with a follower from over there. She covered her mouth with a slender hand and smiled with her eyes.
“Oh my, Tarun. You should have just slipped away. Then I would have pretended not to notice.”
“Senior Estina…….”
A name like a sigh flowed from Tarun’s mouth. Of all people, it was the appearance of a Combat Magic expert who vied for 1st or 2nd place among the 4th-years. Moreover, she was also a royal who was trying to recruit Tarun as her follower.
“You persistently refused even when I told you to come to me, don't tell me you sided with the 8th Prince?”
Estina’s eyes grew fierce.
“Absolutely not.”
Tarun shook his head urgently seeing Estina suspecting his relationship with Radel, whom he met for the first time today. His body moved because someone attacked, not because he protected Radel as the 8th Prince’s follower.
But Estina’s gaze was persistent.
“You were protecting him just like a mother bird, what are you talking about. Are you trying to deceive my eyes?”
Something was flowing in a strange direction. Flustered, Tarun opened his mouth.
“I am just this guy's direct senior.”
“Senior…….”
This time, Radel, moved by Tarun’s words, covered his mouth. Didn't he just say he protected his junior risking his life solely because he was his direct senior?
Radel felt ashamed of himself for worrying before meeting the seniors. How worried had he been that he might meet a senior who treated juniors harshly?
But after experiencing the academy seniors, they were all only good people.
Anesha and Rauf who were kind to juniors, Venus who took care of him subtly, Zirco who gave generously to his junior, and finally Tarun who threw his body to protect his junior.
Everyone had different personalities, but their hearts thinking of their juniors were sincere.
“Thank you for protecting me, Senior.”
“No, I didn't mean that……!”
Radel’s words soaked in emotion were making the situation weirder. Appalled, Tarun shook his head wildly.
“I know. I will never forget your sincerity, Senior.”
Even so, all that came back was Radel’s moist eyes…….
‘Look at them playing around.’
Estina, who heard the conversation between the two, snorted.
Tarun Venders. The eldest son of the Marquis Venders family, a representative grand noble family maintaining neutrality. Good family, good grades, and even passion for Combat Magic.
If she could get her hands on such an outstanding talent, it would be helpful for Estina’s future as well. Estina had consistently attempted to recruit him into her faction since Tarun entered the school. Although he was a guy who wouldn't budge.
She didn't know how Radel had won Tarun over, but it didn't matter.
If he had sense, he would know that getting involved in a fight between royals was no good. Shaking his heart caring for his junior was enough.
“Fine. I'll believe your words, Tarun. If you haven't sided with the 8th Prince, back off at this point. If only you close your eyes here, there won't be any problem. How about it, going your way even now?”
Since it was a fight between royals, it meant outsiders should stay out. It was also an opportunity Estina gave to Tarun.
Actually, it might be different if it was just Radel, but dealing with Tarun as well was burdensome even for Estina. Naturally, it was easier to dispose of him with fewer eyes watching.
Now that Professor Lilian wasn't here, it was the golden opportunity to kill Radel. If only Tarun backed off, things would become easier.
However, the situation did not flow as she wished.
Rustle.
The number of witnesses increased again. What appeared from the opposite side was Leon, the 9th Prince.
‘Even the 9th Prince?’
Seeing the face of the 9th Prince looking exactly like Radel, Tarun clenched his molars. It was as he expected when he blocked the attack earlier.
Two or more enemies. But he didn't expect them all to be royals.
To think that the one who used magic simultaneously with Senior Estina just now was the 9th Prince. No student of noble origin could be unaware of the skill of the 9th Prince who possessed the Dragon’s Blessing.
‘A very difficult opponent.’
The reason they gathered in one place on the 20th floor without targeting the Dungeon Boss was obvious. Radel’s words from earlier came to Tarun’s mind.
‘I want to become comfortable. To do that, I have to survive.’
Back then, the weight of those words didn't sink in. But now he felt like he knew what they meant.
A life where those trying to kill him always lurked whenever there was a chance. Naturally, he couldn't be comfortable. When he heard those words, he should have expected that something like this could happen.
‘To live, I have to abandon that guy.’
Tarun clenched his molars tightly while looking at Radel.
* * *
Leon’s direct senior was his follower and a Magic Supremacist.
“Tarun is with him. He is the most outstanding among the 2nd-years. It would be best to avoid facing him head-on.”
Leon gauged Tarun’s magic power while listening to his follower’s words.
“Is he that outstanding?”
“He is the top student in 2nd-year Combat Magic. He is by no means an easy opponent.”
Although the follower advised from the side, Leon did not budge.
“So you're saying we should give up here and retreat?”
“That is not it, but since Princess Estina is also here, being careful is…….”
“It's enough if I kill them all.”
Leon’s expression turned cold. Anyway, killing and being killed was natural for royals.
The previous struggle for the throne was like that, and before that was the same. What use were blood-related brothers in front of power.
Leon knew that even if Radel died here, the Emperor wouldn't bat an eye. Because a weak royal was not qualified to become emperor. If it was said that an accident occurred during battle with monsters, who would say anything.
Meanwhile, Estina was thinking similarly to Leon.
‘Perhaps this is an opportunity to dispose of even the 9th Prince along with the 8th Prince?’
However, that was only for a moment; after weighing her combat power, Estina folded her expectations. Getting rid of just Radel might be possible, but removing even Leon was excessive greed.
Rather, she had to definitely dispose of at least one using this opportunity. Estina made up her mind to join hands with Leon temporarily and asked him.
“Don't you think we both have the same goal?”
“Seems like it.”
“Good.”
Hearing Leon’s answer, Estina smiled and proposed.
“Wouldn't we achieve the goal faster if you and I join hands? How about cooperating, just for a moment?”
It was a proposal that was unconditionally beneficial to Leon as well. Estina naturally thought Leon would accept.
But what returned was Leon’s cold reaction.
“Seems you are not confident in your skills.”
For a moment, Estina was speechless.
“……What?”
“Joining hands is something only the weak do. To request an alliance just to catch a guy like that. Are you telling me what level your skill is?”
That guy? The corners of Estina’s mouth trembled.
“You are really rude, aren't you?”