Chapter 167: A Dangerous Deal (3)
81OxEAmy approached them, probably thinking the same thing as Shirone, and couldn’t help but laugh at Canis’s predicament.LZo
G7VgBd“Hohoho! Did you guys get eliminated? That figures.”GIk2Ow
DvhrE1Though Shirone might not hold any grudge since he had won the battle, Amy had her own scores to settle with the pair.iMcmbOk
OKSgh7Her philosophy was simple: payback was due, and this was her chance to strike a blow.6zeJ
ikP6YHowever, Canis did not rise to her provocation.
“Humph, look who’s talking. As if you’re any better. Now I see, the seniors aren’t so special after all.”iMn
sYh5Yp“Laughable! How would you know if I’ve failed?”UXn
BpT“Knowing that I failed implies you took the test too. If you had succeeded, you wouldn’t be wandering around here. Are you an idiot?”EOM5SK
wTeE5bQ“You little brat! How dare you talk back to your senior!”tG24bV
nqcN84“At least you should be thankful. If I hadn’t stopped Lucas, you would have been dead.”l7fV
3SmF6Fire flashed in Amy’s eyes. The memory of being chosen by Lucas and nearly cursed during their exposure to the Abyss Nova filled her with rage.PkfBK
Qre“You little…”6kW8j0K
9sSfeBefore Shirone could intervene, Amy raised her fist towards Canis.vcsMwi
2rElJust as she was about to strike him with the power of her Schema, a dark shadow loomed behind Canis and a black clawed hand swept over his shoulder.54M7U
UgeeFHAmy instinctively stepped back. Harvest, protecting Canis as if embracing him, split his mouth in a grin.pez
2Scv3“Kekeke! Long time no see, sister. You haven’t changed a bit.”Mz8GH
zXT“Aaagh! What is that!”yck
lelTourists screamed and fled at the sight of Harvest. Shirone could understand their reaction; the effects of magic were familiar to nobles, but a shadow rising in human form was another level of bizarre.ift
okx3Even Tess lost her composure at the sight of Harvest.9Hw0Q
rym“My word. The shadow talks? Rian, have you ever seen anything like this?”7Na8a9U
BRLrA small face with broad shoulders, and a waif-like waist; though humanoid, its arms were twice as thin and long as a human’s. Its palms were as large as shields, and its nails as sharp as swords.R7uEcxx
BYz08“No, this is a first for me too, but seems like Shirone knows him?”zRmGWJ
YUd7nEHarvest spread his palm wide, covering most of Canis’s torso, optimized for absorbing impacts. In front of a Harvest specialized in shock absorption, even Amy had to be cautious.tN5hY
HY2MFaV“Keke, let’s be careful about approaching each other. I don’t want to see blood in such a place.”EDT
DTCa“Eww…”IH4Kv
Lt9DJust as Amy was about to rush again, Shirone raised his finger. A red photon condensed at his fingertip, ready to be shot any moment.hKRrOz
xpjThis time, Harvest remained silent. It was the same laser technique that had nearly annihilated him before.Flce
SevK“Apologize to Amy. It’s not right to dredge up someone’s painful memories.”LDENyvw
xDWvc“Painful? That much and it’s called pain? Besides, I saved that girl. Really, these nobles and their ways of thinking.”IdGAuq5
5usbz“That’s for the person who was hurt to decide. If you’ve stirred up painful memories, the least you can do is apologize. How long will you keep looking at the world so negatively?”ueF
DrKe“Hmph! I don’t need to hear that from a greenhouse flower.”SayK
e2HICanis’s taunt was followed by Harvest inflating his upper body, threatening everyone. Meanwhile, Shirone’s laser glowed even brighter.tXk3
rluArin, slowly extending her Spirit Zone towards Shirone in the form of tentacles, thought to disrupt his mental focus and disperse the laser.R69f
MpWSNBut before her Zone could reach him, Amy blocked the way. Arin frowned, aware that most mental magic was futile against those with red eyes.u5OP
jIqMagical creatures, lasers, mental magic, schema memories.5RZp59
LgNGqDifferent types of magic clashed and intertwined like ribbons, no one daring to make a sudden move, each watching the others.8CHwZD
d4zw5FThe tension was so palpable that Tess grabbed Rian’s arm and feigned crying.iLDIN
lC501“What’s with them? So scary.”v9dUyO
kuiwoRian thought differently. People said mages were bizarre, and the more they deviated from the norm, the more distinctly they defined their identity as mages.lAsTqmj
aaIgZaoRian was pleased that Shirone had become such an extraordinary and abnormal person.KgoKZ
B8Q2“You’re doing well, Shirone.”9uZ
ovI6J“What, what?”TSwsDc
jdFfTess looked at him incredulously, as if he were a pervert.vKtLizj
qUjezWfBut Rian simply walked towards the mages, drawing his straight sword from behind his back.0Y3xL
a1qAoL“Hey, whoever you are…”Zgw
eGaefOBefore he could finish, Tess, who had run up behind him, climbed onto his back and covered his mouth with her palm.bjo
i4HimMA“Please have some sense. What will we do if you start acting up too?”gkgQHZ
FF2“Mmph! Let go! Shirone! Mmph!”BNBnNC
XMqShirone, Amy, Canis, and Tess watched the struggle between Rian and Tess with dumbfounded expressions.aE5tO
6xmTheir fight eased the tension of the impending battle, and even Harvest deflated his inflated torso.pXXJHLl
VG0toCAs the light of the laser faded, Arin’s Spirit Zone dispersed, and Amy’s red eyes returned to normal.3ucefVS
6C9DovKReally, there was no need for such fierce hostilities. If Amy had scratched Canis’s pride, he had simply countered with a bit more force.f9FRFgT
BmkiXf“Let’s stop this pointless skirmish. We didn’t come here to fight you guys.”i9uWBZ
YFn5rNwCanis absorbed Harvest back into his shadow as he spoke.ZBB
iIZiWith the opponent offering a truce, Amy also cooled her fighting spirit and regained her rationality.RUsmNAN
590iaUWith tensions diffused, Canis finally asked the question he had been curious about since seeing Shirone.f3T
Cy6YX“So, how is it? Sticking around even after failing suggests you’ve found a way to enter the Kergos self-governing district, right?”Xzhx
s7Y4avkShirone was about to speak when Amy cut in.BQ2IL6Q
4RO“Why should we tell you?”IJ0sAz1
i81MThis wasn’t just provocation. The information they had risked their lives for was not something to be carelessly shared with untrustworthy individuals.WZNkRfW
0gUzy2“There’s no need to be so wary. We know how to enter the self-governing district too. You’re probably thinking of using the smuggling route, right?”hduv
aJcn7Amy was taken aback by Canis’s knowledge. It seemed he knew about Freeman Organization’s dealings with the loop. But then, why had they entered the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice and taken the test?xM9pjO
1NbAs Amy pondered, Canis, watching her closely, quirked an eyebrow.5Z8r
TIZxIA“Can you hear your brain ticking over here? Want me to explain?”am7
J4MWg“Pfft! Who’s curious? We know enough already!”ky0FGP
LCAQf“Ah, really? What about you, Arin?”UvVY8Zp
PbHSCanis turned to ask her. Arin, who had been distracted, hurriedly collected herself to respond.yQrI4N
RAos“Huh? Oh, it’s a lie. She’s very curious. Her heart is pounding.”cFI
ny00D7“Eek!”F9i
EWVAmy clenched her teeth in frustration. Whether ‘pounding’ was literal or not, hiding emotions was impossible around Arin with her abilities.GOflE
RxwXOnjAt that moment, a rumbling noise came from Arin’s stomach.CGtgeNZ
9hb20All eyes turned to Arin. She blushed deeply, embarrassed.Ocu2uss
bgT2Q“Arin, are you okay?”3f0
KVaxr“I’m fine. It’s nothing. I’ve been through worse.”NQz2I
KFXCanis clenched his teeth. They had been traveling for a long time and had run out of money, going without food for three days.DQAbQWG
NPMWUUmWhile he could endure hunger, Arin shouldn’t have to. His instinct to protect her, honed over a decade in Radum, still prevailed.CTsoYU
bJ4Swallowing his pride, Canis turned to Shirone.cs0T
21d“Do you guys have something to eat? Arin hasn’t eaten. I’m okay, so don’t worry about me.”0JFOKl
9KJ5Shirone took a good look at Canis’s appearance for the first time. The wear on his clothes and the dirt seemed to indicate they had been sleeping outdoors.2hur
yI4j2‘Arcane said they’d been stripped of everything he left them…’abRun
Mn2QvMJSince the pulse test, Canis had not returned to school. It made sense that basic survival was their biggest issue.XEQdrGA
tQeSkilled but without formal accreditation, mages found it hard to get work. Clients were wary, except for those involving criminal activities.H8rTZ
ygrAYHYBut Canis no longer wanted to live in the shadows. He had realized that fighting against society would never allow them to rise to the top.uxD7QXB
BljpYJAmy sighed.ovn
Ao1t“We need to eat something first. Let’s go to that pub we visited before. The noodles are good there.”MhIyTd
kNg“No, I’m really fine!”J82db
wEvArin waved her hands. She was starving, but she couldn’t bear to follow because of Canis’s pride.3CN
gtRfAmy grabbed Arin’s wrist and dragged her along.NP46UTW
Y5gDB“What do you mean, fine? There’s thunder in your stomach. You need strength whether you’re fighting or not. Canis, you come too.”VW9Wfe
Vz2MMLB“No, I’m good. Just take Arin.”CDm
6KK9RN9“Enough, follow me. It’s only natural for a senior to treat their juniors to a meal.”AGOK2Fj
v5SMvUShirone pushed Canis’s back.Jl5W
yBxu7L“Come on, Canis. Let’s go inside. We have things to talk about anyway.”MMhkKD
1B5Reluctantly, Canis followed, and Amy led them to the pub where they had met the mercenaries.I4oH
D3wDOnce the six of them settled down, Shirone introduced Canis and Arin to Rian. Amy’s explanation that they were disciples of the Archmage and Shirone had beaten him reassured Rian.JmAini
XV72PcyFilling their stomachs was the immediate priority. Canis and Arin were so hungry they quickly devoured two bowls of noodles each.31TQ
gJYWatching them eat, even those in Shirone’s group who had just eaten Yuna’s packed lunch felt full.J29Gze
JWK7TAfter gulping down the soup, Shirone smiled spontaneously. Regardless of their origins or personalities, they were all human after all.c1Z
iAtQbglOnce the pair seemed revived after their meal, Shirone tentatively broached a topic.xZZHd
opZq“We’re all dealing with complicated thoughts, but let’s open up a bit. Why are you guys here?”tcPhl
lcS“Canis has always been interested in ruins. So, we’re here exploring.”fIEVicU
UHphG“Ah, was being an archaeologist Canis’s dream?”esZv
DQRwNT“Tch, unnecessary chatter.”6fRVjvM
wzbNot fond of sharing his story, Canis grumbled. However, he didn’t stop Arin from continuing.hOayv
hP54KOAlthough not very sociable, Arin wasn’t someone who would simply answer anything asked. Her response was carefully calibrated to reveal enough without giving away crucial information.Z7Hi
A9NxiIn reality, their visit to the island wasn’t just for exploration; they had a specific reason that necessitated Shirone’s involvement.2OZKw
Y4c1uL“So, why are you here?”ZtR9g3
2IlCanis pointed at Amy. Although Shirone was likely the leader, he didn’t want to show too keen an interest.8yP
HF04XBut Amy was adept at psychological warfare, adept enough to navigate around Arin’s abilities.xGL3i
IxtyNM“Hehe, obviously to get into the Kergos self-governing district. Just like you guys.”hlkH0xI
MR78“Hmm, and what do you think is there?”T2GbfT
RHO7xIA“Hmm, you speak as if you know something?”QH5re
oy0T“It could be, or maybe not.”GZzezg
QL9YAmy flashed a feigned smile, but inside she was desperate.0BIi98
wqZ49hv‘They know. They definitely know, the bastards.’Sgf5
R70jDDCanis had chosen the test route, not the smuggling route. This meant he must have a clear reason for needing to take that path.4AT
XT4C6o6‘This is tricky. How do I get information out of these two?’euqysFq
9iAwCanis and Arin were different from the mercenaries they had met before. With Arin’s abilities, they were unbeatable in a battle of wits.aU7t8k
ujkMBvNShirone, having listened quietly, decided to ask directly.tsX
sEV“Canis, can you share what you know? We really don’t know much.”Dsj9B
XJCXAmy might think differently, but it was clearly a disadvantageous situation. It was better to be open and see how they responded.0uG
1wDxLUnexpectedly, Canis took it well. Shirone’s group couldn’t know, but Canis and Arin urgently needed Shirone’s help.y8heZL6
L0SynAK“Alright. But first, I need to verify something.”EWRH3
V4HQQX“Ask anything. If I know, I’ll tell you.”7peT62
hk3p“Are you trying to get into the self-governing district because you want to learn about the Labyrinth of Time?”DlZK
HfcShirone’s eyes widened. The Labyrinth of Time was supposed to be a secret known only to his close friends and the headmaster.v3iGfK
tam4dBx“How did you know? What do you know about the Labyrinth? Or about the Kergos Ruins?”01k7rmR
jAQBGAs Shirone pressed him, Canis leaned back casually.UiH
Dpk“Well, I suppose I know a bit more than you.”oQa5M
SYKYShirone pondered deeply. Where could they have gotten such information, and in such a short time?XpcpER5
afxwpThen it hit him. The shadow under Canis’s feet, and the magical creature dwelling there, told him everything.vKq
2zBnSq“It’s Arcane’s knowledge, isn’t it?”876CwoT
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