“A battle between a Troll and a Hero… Though a bit boring, it was an interesting experience. Erika, you always bring me such interesting performances.”
After the duel ended and the various results were being arbitrated, Evelyn placed her small hand on Erika’s head and stroked it gently.
[**Behavior perfectly in line with the fairy spirit! Job Experience Points for ‘Half-Elf’ gained! +50**]
‘I can gain experience points just by having my head patted? The Half-Elf class is quite mysterious.’
Erika couldn’t help but wonder how a fairy was defined. She suddenly remembered that Noelle’s cheap old man had once laid his demonic claws on a young-looking fairy, and her mood became exceptionally complicated.
‘Wait, it might not have been my old man…’
At that moment, Evelyn spoke up. “However, I would like to see you in action personally, Erika. From now on, you must train hard every day.”
“…”
The girl was speechless for a moment.
The Big Guy also gave her a low warning. “Before those birds intervened, you were completely helpless, weren’t you? You were only bullied like that because your body is too weak. By the way, when exactly did you tame that Ogre?”
The muscular woman was right. This duel had made Erika realize how dangerous and terrifying it was to be unable to protect herself. This wasn’t the Noel Court where guards were lined up, nor was she surrounded by old fogies who only knew how to talk.
In this conflict-ridden Ark Academy, people might target her for her courses and ranking, her relationship with the Queen and the Marquess’s daughter, or perhaps even her beauty and talent. In short, Erika was in danger! She had to strengthen her means of self-preservation.
Fortunately, Gorigo had been planted as a staff member beforehand for this duel. Otherwise, if something had gone wrong, the one being carried away on a stretcher would have been her, not the little brother spitting up 3 liters of blood.
Speaking of which, she was still a bit concerned about the birds that had suddenly flown in.
The way those birds suddenly gathered and focused their fire on Eph didn’t seem like an accident…
[**You have used your wicked means to manipulate people’s hearts and the situation!**]
[**The level of the ‘Trainer’ class has increased.**]
[**Trainer Level 4 — Level 5**]
[**Every word and action you take is now more persuasive! Train them well!**]
‘That’s enough from you, System.’
[**You have moved one step closer to the mysteries of the world’s origin.**]
[**The level of the ‘Mage’ class has increased.**]
[**Mage Level 2 — Level 3**]
[**You are now considered a true Apprentice Mage.**]
What concerned her most was the level increase in the Mage class. The phrase “Halcyon Roost” she had shouted in her urgency was one of the terms related to the Noel Taboo Heritage. Could it be that it really possessed and exerted some kind of power?
Other than that, there seemed to be no better explanation.
The Big Guy patted the girl’s shoulder hard. “Well, at least you won, even if you did nothing but hide behind the Troll like a coward.” Emil seemed to be congratulating her on the victory in her own way.
*Click-clack, click-clack.*
Someone approached with crisp footsteps. A woman stood there with a blue raptor perched on her shoulder.
Her amber eyes swept over Erika and Emil before finally landing on Evelyn. “Long time no see, Your Majesty, and Miss Liones.”
Evelyn lifted her chin slightly and let out a disdainful snort. “Borbeck, you dare ignore the invitation I sent last time?”
“I have been quite busy lately. I shall take my leave now.”
With that, Cortifine Borbeck left in a hurry. She came and went quickly. Watching her retreating back, Emil clicked her tongue.
“Those Borbeck people… you can never guess what they’re thinking. After all, they are Elves with an absurd amount of accumulated wealth. In the eyes of those long-lived species, everything probably seems insignificant.”
Erika agreed — it was impossible to guess what she was thinking.
‘The daughter of the Borbeck family is actually a professor at this school?’ She had only just found out.
When she returned to the dormitory, the Apprentice Priest Axis and the country noble Lisette were already sitting inside. The two seemed to be chatting excitedly, but as soon as Erika returned, they immediately shut their mouths.
‘What’s going on? Am I being ostracized now?’
The girl didn’t care much about such things, but these people clearly possessed useful information for surviving in the Ark. After the trial she had just experienced, she deeply realized the importance of winning over allies.
Thus, Erika decided to take the initiative to talk to them.
“Has everyone successfully finished their course selection? How do you feel?”
“…”
“…”
Axis and Lisette’s exchange of glances was caught clearly by the sharp senses of the Half-Elf. It was as if they were pushing each other to go first. After a moment of hesitation, Lisette finally spoke.
“Um, Miss Erika, if we were disrespectful before…”
“Oh — “
Erika understood. It turned out they were afraid of her now.
After all, the scene of using an Ogre to make a human meat pie must have been quite shocking. It was no wonder others would be afraid of ending up in the same state.
Even if others continued to fear and flatter her, it wouldn’t be entirely bad, but the resulting superior-subordinate relationship would be exhausting.
“Why are you being so formal? Am I going to eat you? There’s no need to be afraid as long as you aren’t my enemies.”
However, resolving this awkwardness wouldn’t be fixed in just a few sentences. It would likely take a few days of mediation. Erika observed them with a slightly tired mindset.
“As I thought! Friend, you are truly amazing! You took down that arrogant FFF in one go!” Lisette, who had looked trembling just a moment ago, now wore a smile as if nothing had happened.
“It’s so satisfying! That guy snatched an A-rank course from me last year. Axis feels the same way, right?”
“Thanks to you, Erika, I also successfully finished my course selection this time. Although there are still a few days before classes officially start, as long as we stay in the dormitory, our courses shouldn’t be stolen.”
“That’s good.”
Erika nodded casually. At that moment, her two roommates’ gazes fell on the silver brooch shining on her chest.
“Silver! How incredible! I heard that Mithril Rank students can get a development grant of 50,000 Star Coins every semester. That’s nearly ten times more than the Brass Rank!”
“You’re probably the only one who could jump from a four-digit rank directly into the Mithril Rank range within the top 500, Miss Erika.”
“Is that so?” Erika was about to give a perfunctory reply, but Lisette started another topic. “So many people saw your heroic posture when you dueled FFF. You’re truly amazing, Erika!”
“Gorigo is indeed very strong. He’s a guy who almost captured a fortress single-handedly.”
“No, no, no. That sudden Word Chain Game was also a provocation to guide the situation, right? I didn’t realize you were planning every step!”
‘Well… I’ll just have to go along with it.’
“But…” Axis, the priest girl with glasses, spoke in a worried tone. “The people from the Mithril League witnessed that battle. Those guys have always turned a blind eye to FFF’s tyranny. They might be dissatisfied with you, Erika.”
“The Mithril League? What’s that?”