“Is this really alright? We are risking our men.” Inside a dimly lit hall, a few people could be seen currently engaged in a heated conversation.

More like the seven people before the person—who sat on the throne—seemed quite worked up by their leader’s recent decision.

The decision not only endangered their men’s lives but also threatened their secrecy. If they got caught, the ones who would be capturing them would surely not leave this chance to pry inside the ambusher’s head.

The man on the throne had an unruly long white and black beard and a pot belly, but those strong arms signified that the man once was quite muscular.

The man rested his face against his fist lazily as he said, “They get caught, they are dead.”

The man’s nonchalant behavior didn’t sit well with the others, however, they couldn’t speak anything against their leader.

Sensing the hesitation from his men, the only person who was not hiding his face behind a veil—the Leader—said, “We have to support the brat’s decision. He is after that Princess and we are after that Runesmith. If those guys succeed, we both will achieve what we desire.”

The smirk on the Leader’s face clearly said that he was quite eager about how this mission proceeds.

One of the members asked in a hesitant voice, “But Sir…is that Runesmith really that useful?”

The man grinned, “Useful? Well, you can ask this woman how useful he is.” The man said while gesturing toward the redhead woman hanging on the wall.

Huge nails were piercing her ankles and wrists, keeping her pinned to the wall.

She was breathing roughly with a cloth tied around her mouth as she glared back with a ferocious look on her face.

She was the same woman who worked temporarily as Adrian’s bodyguard.

Eve.

The man grinned as he said, “If I get my hands on him, this world will remember what it means to live in fear—every second, every breath, haunted by the shadow of death.”

°°°°°°°°°

There was no training the next morning. They were leaving for the contest venue that’s why Ariana told him to report at her office by six in the morning.

Currently, he was making his way to the office while holding his two bags—in one was his clothes, and in the other was his work-related stuff.

While he walked, he asked the system, ‘Show me my stats.’

[Name: Adrian]

[Age: 23]

[Race: Human]

[Str: 18]

[Spd: 19]

[End: 14]

[MP: 150/150] (Avg: 100)

[HP: 100/100]

….

The average point of an average awakened is around ten, so he was better than an average. However, he has to go a long way.

Two things can never change, his Magic Points and Health Points, unless his race changes—which is impossible. Only humans exist on this planet.

‘System, what are the human physical limits?’ Adrian asked as he turned from the corner and headed towards the Headmistress’ office.

[Your current limits are 100.]

‘What do you mean by ‘current’? This time there was no response, much to Adrian’s annoyance.

This wasn’t the first time the system had ignored him. Although he generally doesn’t mind its silence, this time it was about his stats. If he could go past the human limitation with a method then the system should help him, right?

Regardless of how frustrated he was or how many times he tried to call out the System, nothing changed.

*Knock*

Upon getting the permission, he opened the door and stepped inside the office.

“Woah…” Adrian was surprised to find the office room…so clean and smoke-free.

Ariana was packing some files in her bag when she said, “You don’t expect me to smoke this early in the morning, do you?”

“I can expect you to smoke any minute of the day.”

The lady gave a look that showed her displeasure but it didn’t affect Adrian as he asked casually, “We will be given our rooms there, right?”

Ariana smirked, “I heard they might ask us to share the room.” Getting up and looking at him with a mischievous smile she said, “Surely you can share the bed with me, right? By the way, I prefer to sleep naked.”

Adrian….paused. Trying to tease him, huh?

Crossing his hands on his chest, he said, “Well, I don’t mind sharing the bed, but what about you? Will you be able to control yourself?”

Ariana chuckled, “Quite many young men I have played with. You are just a young chick in my eyes.”

Adrian shook his head. As far as he knows, she hasn’t dated a single guy before. But well, he allowed her to pretend like an ‘experienced’ woman for now.

They soon stepped out of the office and headed toward the front gate of the academy together.

“Did you prepare all the practice papers for the children?” Ariana asked.

She knew he was currently quite busy in training and in his workshop but considering Adrian’s capabilities, he was the right man to prepare the test papers.

And this contest held quite an importance in her eyes so she asked him to take some time off from training.

Adrian gave her a nod, “Yeah, it’s in here.” Adrian told her as he showed her the brown briefcase.

The duo soon approached the group of students and the one who would be handling the academy in Ariana’s absence.

“Glad you are back,” Ariana hugged the older lady who was the vice-headmistress of the academy.

A small woman with curly brown hair and delicate features.

She comes from a fallen noble family, and because of her weak stature, she couldn’t become a Warden either.

But since she was a scholar and great at teaching she joined the academy before Ariana and climbed her way to the second in command.

“Sorry for being absent. Please deduct my salary accordingly.” The brown-haired woman gave a soft bow with a sad look on her face.

Ariana, with a disapproving look, said, “Your brother was sick and there is no one to take care of him. It’s natural for you to take leave so don’t worry about salary deductions, Ophelia.”

The woman’s eyes lit up as she looked at the silver head with teary eyes, “Chief…”

Ariana patted her shoulder and said, “Please take care of this school in my absence, Ophelia.”

The woman wiped her tears and gave a firm nod.

Pumping her fists she said, “I will do my best!”

Ariana nodded before she turned towards the others.

Seven students—five would be participating and two would be performing in the third round.

Starting from the left was Elana, Aeris—the chief of the Disciplinary Council, Sylvie, Hayden and Thalia; the last two are the runesmiths.

And apart from them were two boys who would be testing the weapons tuned by their schoolmates in the third round.

The two of them were—Michael and Allen. The two of them have quite good scores in physical assessment.

Ariana rested her hands on her waist, as she looked at the others.

The students were prepared for a long speech which would fire them up.

But all they got was,

“Fail and I will whip your asses.”

“….”

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. They are cousins but not blood related, remember. Drop a comment.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep