On the way back, they didn’t encounter any more powerful monsters.
After all, the swarms of Shadow Creatures summoned by Darkness had already scared off the native inhabitants of the Canyon.
The aura left behind from the battle between Liyakade and Darkness made other monsters too afraid to approach.
Even though the fight was over, the lingering traces of magic power still deterred other creatures.
As a result, during their return, Alice and the others didn’t run into any more trouble at all.
At this moment, Liyakade was still unconscious.
Field cradled Princess Liyakade in her arms, protecting her as they returned to the Camp.
“Alice? Princess Field, you’re back so soon?”
The Teacher guarding the Camp looked puzzled when she saw Field and the others exit the Canyon so quickly.
But when she saw the unconscious Liyakade in Field’s arms, she immediately understood.
They must have encountered a powerful monster inside the Canyon.
“What… what happened?”
This Teacher clearly knew how strong Liyakade was.
For even Liyakade to fall unconscious in battle, it showed just how terrifying the monster they faced must have been.
“Hurry, someone get a Physician to treat Liyakade!”
The Teacher called out anxiously to the Physician in the Camp.
“Teacher, Liyakade is fine. I’ve already treated her. She just passed out from magic exhaustion. Don’t worry, we just need to let her rest.”
Alice stepped forward, explaining to the Teacher.
They definitely couldn’t let an ordinary Physician examine Liyakade’s body.
Although Alice had already cleaned away the traces of residual magic from Liyakade before returning, the marks from Regeneration still remained on Liyakade’s flesh.
Alice couldn’t heal or remove those wounds left by Regeneration.
Because Liyakade’s Demon Bloodline was in an active state, Alice’s healing would only do more harm than good.
The blood scabs and scars from Regeneration could only heal on their own after Liyakade woke up.
“Is that so? What monster did you encounter? Where are the others?”
The Teacher still looked anxiously at them.
She didn’t know that Liyakade and the others had long separated from the main group.
Seeing only Alice and the others, and not the other students, she grew even more worried.
“Teacher, please calm down.”
Sistem waved her hand, signaling for the Teacher to calm herself, then explained in a gentle tone.
“We separated from the main group after entering the Canyon. The Teachers stayed with the main group, so the other students probably didn’t encounter any especially powerful monsters.”
“Also, with Teacher Fianna and the Director’s protection, even if strong monsters appeared, they could keep the students safe.”
“So… that’s how it was…”
Hearing this, the Teacher finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Teacher Fianna and the Director were the strongest in the Academy.
With their protection, the students shouldn’t face much danger.
The Teacher glanced at the Amulet on Liyakade’s neck.
It was undamaged, without any sign of being broken.
That meant Liyakade hadn’t suffered any fatal wounds, and the Teacher finally believed she was fine.
However, the Amulet not being broken wasn’t actually because Liyakade hadn’t taken a deadly hit.
In reality, when Darkness cut off Liyakade’s arm, the Amulet should have been triggered.
But due to Liyakade awakening her Demon Bloodline, the Amulet became ineffective during her Demonization.
Since it couldn’t judge Liyakade’s life state at that time, it couldn’t determine what counted as a fatal blow and thus did not activate.
“So, what kind of monster did you actually face…”
“It was an LV.75 Purple Abyss Demon Octopus. We went deeper into the Canyon to quickly gain more Score, and then we encountered it.”
Sistem purposely exaggerated the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus’s level.
If it were only LV.70, it shouldn’t have been able to exhaust Liyakade to unconsciousness.
“What!?”
The Teacher was stunned.
She hadn’t expected the monster Liyakade and the others encountered to be an LV.75 Purple Abyss Demon Octopus.
It was a high-level creature that could use water-element magic, had a massive body, powerful toxin-laced tentacles, and just being touched by it usually meant losing the ability to fight.
So, an LV.75 Purple Abyss Demon Octopus was much stronger than other monsters at the same level.
What surprised the Teacher even more was that Liyakade’s group actually defeated such a monster.
Just the Score from this single Purple Abyss Demon Octopus was enough to earn a perfect Exam Score.
“Wait, Her Highness Sistem, why are you with them?”
Only then did the Teacher notice something off.
Sistem was a third-year.
Even if she cared for her sister and followed Field to the Camp, by Exam rules, she absolutely wasn’t allowed to enter with them.
“Sorry, Teacher.”
Sistem, caught out, didn’t show any panic.
She apologized calmly, then explained.
“I was just worried about my sister. I didn’t go in with them, only followed behind in secret to protect them.”
“They didn’t know. When I saw them facing the Purple Abyss Demon Octopus and about to lose, I stepped in. Please don’t blame them.”
“…Sigh, alright.”
The Teacher was silent for a moment, then sighed and agreed.
After all, Sistem and Field were both princesses.
Though it violated Exam rules, it wasn’t too serious.
She could only turn a blind eye.
Besides, if Sistem hadn’t protected them from behind, Liyakade’s group might have died to the LV.75 Purple Abyss Demon Octopus.
Then, the Teacher’s expression turned stern as she admonished the group.
“Even though you’re stronger than most students, you can’t casually step beyond the area designated by the Academy!”
“The Academy clearly warned you to stay on the outskirts of the Canyon. Yet you went deeper, nearly causing disaster.”
“Her Highness Sistem’s matter can be set aside, but for leaving the team and entering the Canyon, each of you must write a 1,000-word Examination!”
“Understood?”
“Wha, an Examination too!?”
Field was instantly displeased, pointing at Sistem beside her.
“Why doesn’t she have to write one?”
“Hey, are you dragging me into this just to avoid writing an Examination?”
“Because… Her Highness Sistem is a third-year, and I’m not her Teacher.”
“Huh? Is that even allowed?”
“How could this happen…”
Behind them, Chloe let out a groan of despair.
Today had been a terrifying ordeal for her.
She hadn’t been told anything in advance and knew nothing of Liyakade’s plan, yet she’d been dragged onto this pirate ship.
When Darkness cut off Liyakade’s arm, Chloe had almost thought they’d all die there.
Fortunately, Liyakade had left a backup plan.
And now, she even had to write a 1,000-word Examination.
Truly a hard day.
“Be grateful your Score for this Exam wasn’t deducted.”
The Teacher rolled her eyes at the dejected Alice and the others, then continued.
“Hand over your Amulets. Then you can rest in the Camp. If you want to return to the Academy now, we have people to escort you.”
“Yes…”
Alice and the group handed their Amulets over listlessly.
They had crushed Darkness’s evil plot and protected the other students as hidden heroes, yet now had to write an Examination for going deeper into the Canyon…
Darkness truly was an evil existence!
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