Chapter 45: Chapter 45: In The Flocky Village

After class ended, Adonis slipped out of the lecture hall before most students had even stood up.

He moved through the corridors with purpose, his black robes fluttering behind him like a shadow detaching from its owner.

Minos was already waiting near the mission board in the central plaza, leaning against a marble pillar with arms crossed. His striking pink hair caught the late-afternoon sun, making him look almost ethereal.

The moment he spotted Adonis, his lips curved into that familiar smug grin.

“Right on time, Mate,” Minos said, pushing off the pillar. “I was starting to think you’d chicken out.”

Adonis stopped a few steps away.

“I don’t chicken out. I just don’t waste time.”

Minos laughed, “Good answer. Come on then. We’re taking the D-rank observation quest for Flocky village. Bandit sightings. Perfect cover. No one will question two Nova brats heading out for ’village safety patrol’.”

Adonis agreed, “Alright.”

They walked together to the mission counter.

Minos slapped the scroll down with dramatic slap..

“Quest accepted, students,” the clerk said without looking up. “Your carriage will be herr in fifteen minutes. But you must return within three days or face penalty points.”

“Three days is more than enough, sire.”

“Good.”

After a while, the carriage ride started smoothly. Two sturdy Armoire horses pulled them out of the Academy gates and onto the wide dirt road leading north.

Inside the compartment, Minos sprawled across one bench while Adonis sat opposite, arms folded, staring out the window at passing fields.

Silence lasted approximately thirty seconds.

Minos suddenly kicked his boots up onto the seat beside Adonis, asking:

“So, why did you trust me?”

“I followed my instincts. But make no mistake, I still don’t trust you fully,” Adonis replied.

“Do you not fear I will kill you and take everything away?”

“The Technique is in my head. So stealing will be useless for you. And I do not fear death. I only fear betrayal.”

Minos looked a littlr surprised.

“Adonis, you talk like someone who’s already done impossible things before. Makes me curious. What else are you hiding under that pretty-boy face?”

Adonis finally glanced at him. “You ask too many questions Minos.”

“And you dodge too many answers.” Minos grinned wider, then without warning reached over and flicked Adonis’s earlobe.

“Come on, loosen up. We’re roommates. Practically brothers now.”

Adonis swatted the hand away instantly.

“Don’t touch me.”

Minos laughed, undeterred. “Fierce. I like that.”

He leaned closer again, this time resting his arm along the back of Adonis’s seat, fingers brushing the nape of Adonis’s neck.

“You’re tense, Adonis. Relax. I don’t bite, unless you ask nicely.”

Adonis frowned.

He grabbed Minos’s wrist and pushed it off his shoulder with controlled measure.

“Again, stop touching me.”

Minos raised both hands in mock surrender, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Alright, alright. Out pretty boy is sensitive today.”

Adonis looked at Minos weirdly now.

“I’m starting to wonder if you’re interested in men.”

Minos blinked once. Then he threw his head back and laughed so hard the carriage shook a little. “Hahaha…”

“Oh gods, no! I just like watching you squirm. Your reactions are gold. Besides if I were into guys, I’d have better taste than a sulky null with a chip on his shoulder.”

“That’s good to know.” Adonis now looked back out the window.

Minos was still grinning. “You’re fun to mess with, though. Most people either fear me or kiss my ass. You do neither. I respect that.”

“Respect,” Adonis repeated dryly. “Sure.”

The rest of the journey passed with Minos talking almost nonstop. He talked about his past duels, girls he’d turned down, rumors about other Nova students, the exact way he’d crippled a third-year noble last month.

Adonis answered in short sentences or not at all, but Minos didn’t seem to mind. Every now and then he’d try to nudge Adonis’s knee with his boot or ruffle his hair, only to get shoved away each time.

By the time the carriage rolled into Flocky village just before sunset, Adonis’s patience was running out.

The village was small. About thirty-odd thatched houses circled around a central well and a modest wooden shrine.

From the chimneys, smoke rose lazily.

A few villagers glanced curiously at the two Swordmasters stepping down from the carriage, but no one approached.

Minos stretched his arms overhead. “Phew, we have arrived at perfect timing. We’ll stay the night here, may e ask around about recent bandit sightings for the report, then head to the cave in the morning. At night, that spider gets very dangerous.

Adonis nodded once. “I have no problem.”

They approached the nearest house.

It was a sturdy two-story building with a small herb garden out front.

Before they even knocked, an older woman with gray hair opened the door.

“Are you from the Royal Academy of Swordmasters to take care of those stinky bandits?”

Minos flashed his most charming smile.

“Yes, ma’am. But we’re on observation duty for now. Do yoh mind if we rent a room for the night? Don’t worry, we’ll pay you double.”

The woman eyed them both, then sighed. “Fine. There’s no need to pay double.”

“Bless you Ma’am,” Minos said, bowing dramatically.

Inside, the guest room was simple. Two narrow beds opposite sides, a washbasin, one window overlooking the fields.

Minos immediately claimed the bed nearest the window and flopped onto it with a groan.

“God, I love village beds. Out Academy mattresses are too soft. They have no feelings at all.”

Adonis ignored him and walked to the basin, splashing cold water on his face.

His reflection stared back. His black hair was slightly mussed from Minos’s earlier attempts to ruffle it, but his ref eyes were more pronounced than usual.

Minos propped himself on one elbow, watching him.

“Hey Adonis, you’re really not going to tell me more about this technique of yours?”

Adonis dried his face with a towel, replying,

“No. You’ll see the results when it works.”

“Ah, You’re such a tease.”

Adonis sighed helplessly. “Why do you evem care so much? You already agreed to help didn’t you?”

Minos shrugged, “Because if you actually pull this off, you’ll be the strongest freshman in a century. And I want to be the first one to test myself against that version of you.”

Adonis studied him for a moment. “You’re obsessed with strength, aren’t I right?”

“Aren’t we all?” Minos countered. “You’re just better at hiding it.”

Adonis didn’t reply. He sat on the opposite bed and pulled a small notebook from his robe. Its pages were filled with his own handwritten diagrams of Ether pathways, ancient runes he remembered from the game’s hidden lore.

Minos watched him for a while, then spoke again,

“You know, most people would be screaming with excitement if they shared a room with Minos Starblazer. Top 50 first-year, undefeated in official duels, blah blah. But you treat me like I’m just some ordinary guy.”

Adonis didn’t look up from his notes, but replied, “To me, you are just a guy. Maybe a strong one. But still just a guy.”

Minos laughed softly, “You’re brutal, Man. I like it.”

Just then, Vexa spoke:

< Master, analysis complete. Do you want to see his profile? But you have to brace yourself, master. You’re going to receive the biggest shock of your life >

Adonis brows creased.

“What do you mean by that?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep