Chapter 71: You’re on vacation!!!
My eyes remained fixed on Ruby’s figure for only a few more seconds.
Then...
A completely different presence took over the auditorium.
There were no footsteps.
No announcement.
Only a heavy sensation of mana.
I raised my head.
At the top of the platform, a silhouette had silently appeared.
Professor Lucius.
The master of the profession of Magical Creature Skinning.
Holding his long staff, he observed the entire auditorium with those indifferent eyes that seemed to evaluate meat destined for slaughter.
The entire hall fell into silence.
Even Ruby crossed her arms and shifted her attention to the stage.
After a few seconds...
Lucius finally spoke.
— Today, I have good and bad news for you.
His voice was not loud.
Even so, it seemed to echo throughout the entire auditorium.
No one dared to interrupt him.
— The good news...
— Is that you will finally have a vacation from this cramped tower.
Some acolytes blinked in surprise.
Others frowned.
Vacation?
At the Arcangrove Tower?
That seemed absurd.
Lucius cast a slow glance across the hall.
It seemed like he was waiting for some exaggerated reaction.
But no one celebrated.
No one smiled.
We simply continued looking at him.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly.
He seemed satisfied.
— The bad news...
His smile became sinister.
— Is that each one of you will take on two mandatory missions.
At that moment...
My heart tightened.
Then...
Lucius raised his staff.
"Bang!"
The metallic end struck the floor of the platform.
The enormous red crystal embedded at the top shone intensely.
"Zummm..."
A gigantic magical projection appeared above the stage.
Hundreds of green characters began appearing before our eyes.
[Available Missions]
[Investigate the disappearance of travelers in the Black Mist Swamp.]
[Recover an Aurora Crystal in the Luminous Caves.]
[Defend the Iron Wall against a monster assault.]
[Protect the Dark River Bridge during a caravan crossing.]
[Eliminate a predator in the Echo Forest.]
[Capture a wanted thief in the White Stone City.]
[Collect a Crimson Fruit from the Garden of a Thousand Vines.]
[Escort an alchemist to the Eldran Ruins.]
...
...
Hundreds of missions continued appearing.
I quickly scanned through the list.
Almost all of them belonged to the territory of Lumentrix.
Originally...
As acolytes of the Arcangrove Tower, our only obligation was to carry out occasional inspections in nearby areas controlled by the tower itself.
We lived relatively isolated.
Now...
All missions for acolytes throughout the entire territory had been opened.
Certainly, the tower was sending the best acolytes outside! It was so they could escape the approaching war.
And this situation for me was like a tight, warm glove. It came at the perfect moment; now I didn’t need an excuse to escape the tower.
I discreetly observed the older acolytes.
Some had completely lost their expressions.
Others seemed extremely thoughtful.
They knew exactly what I had also learned since arriving there.
In the Tower...
Nothing was given for free.
If someone offered an opportunity...
It was because they expected to receive something much greater in return.
While everyone was still analyzing those green missions...
Lucius casually moved his hand.
Instantly...
A large portion of the projection disappeared.
The green was replaced by dozens of orange lines.
Then...
By blood-red lines.
The entire atmosphere became heavy.
Lucius smiled.
— The green missions...
— Are optional.
— But...
His voice became colder.
— All of you will also be required to accept a higher-level mission.
— You will have three years to complete it.
— Should you fail...
He gave a small laugh.
— Hehehe...
— You will permanently lose your status as an acolyte of this tower.
— Speak with my disciple, Gael, to choose your missions.
The strong acolytes...
Were excited.
After all...
Missions meant resources.
Crystals.
Rare materials.
Recognition.
As for the weaker ones...
They were practically pale.
For them...
Those missions meant a death sentence.
I immediately began analyzing the entire list.
In the end...
I found the remaining green missions.
[Investigate strange noises in the Gray Silver Mines.]
[Defeat the leader of a pack in the Misty Hills.]
[Help a Meat Seed Plantation for a Mage.]
I discreetly observed the group gathered around Gael.
Several beginner acolytes practically sighed in relief.
Their faces lit up.
Some were already looking directly at Gael.
It was obvious.
Everyone wanted a spot on those missions.
Gael was also smiling faintly.
The four followers around him kept their heads held high with clearly triumphant expressions.
Probably...
They already considered themselves selected.
My eyes remained on that mission for only an instant.
Then I continued scrolling down the list.
No.
That did not interest me.
Technically...
I possessed enough qualifications to obtain a spot.
But...
That mission meant spending years surrounded by the same acolytes.
Under constant surveillance.
Without freedom.
Without space to carry out my own experiments.
Besides, I was certain that as soon as this meeting ended...
Many acolytes would certainly begin negotiations in the corridors.
Favors.
Alliances.
Submission.
Some would probably run directly to Gael, offering loyalty in exchange for a spot on those safe missions.
I raised my eyes again toward the rest of the list.
Of the approximately two hundred acolytes present...
There were only ten pseudo-mages at the peak of level three.
Around twenty acolytes who had just reached level three.
Everyone else...
Including me...
Was still trapped at level two.
I breathed slowly.
If an orange-marked mission already represented real danger for an ordinary level 2...
Then those marked in blood-red...
Were probably challenges that only pseudo-mages had the ability to complete with some degree of safety.
While my eyes carefully scanned through the enormous mission list, a low voice sounded beside me.
— My consort...
I discreetly turned my head.
Ruby kept her arms crossed, but her gaze was fixed on Gael’s group.
Her fingers slowly tapped against her own arm.
A clear sign of irritation.
— I will go to that Gael...
— And force him to put you on one of those safe missions.
— If he refuses...
Her small fangs appeared as she opened a smile.
— I...
I did not even need to hear her finish.
I could already perfectly imagine the rest of the sentence.
I sighed internally.
For some completely incomprehensible reason...
Ruby seemed genuinely worried about me.
She tried to appear threatening.
She showed those little teeth.
Wrinkled her nose.
Made a fierce expression...
But...
In my eyes...
It looked much more like a small feline defending its territory.
Strangely...
That awakened a warm sensation inside my chest.
Before she could actually cross the auditorium...
I extended my hand.
I gently held her arm.
She immediately turned her eyes toward me.
— Relax...
— My little wild kitten.
For an instant...
All the aggression on her face froze.
I continued before she could respond.
— You need to trust me a little more.
— I am not an ordinary level two acolyte.
— I am confident that I can handle an orange mission.
As I said those words...
I did not even realize that my voice had gained a different firmness.
It was not arrogance.
It was conviction.
After everything I had experienced since awakening in this world...
I truly believed it.
Ruby continued observing me for a few seconds.
Then...
Her small smile returned.
— Hm...
She slightly tilted her head.
— Since you are so confident...
— Then make sure to choose a good mission.
I nodded.
— I intend to do that.
But Ruby obviously was not finished yet.
She moved her face slightly closer.
Her hair brushed against my shoulder.
— Ah...
Her smile became dangerously charming.
— That nickname was very cute.
My heart skipped slightly.
She slowly raised one of her hands.
Gently running her fingers over her own cheek.
— What do you think of my skin?
She blinked slowly.
— Is it delicate?
She slid her fingers down to her neck.
— Smooth?
She discreetly moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue.
— I can feel that my skin is getting better and better.
For a brief moment...
Her green eye seemed gentle.
While the red one shone with an almost mischievous satisfaction.
My entire body shivered.
Damn...
My vision began to gain a faint pink tint.
The Biochip immediately identified the alteration in my physiological signals.
[Possible influence of passive charm ability.]
I took a deep breath.
Without wasting time...
I immediately released Ruby’s arm.
I looked away.
— C-Cough...
I forced my attention back to the mission projection.
— I need to concentrate.
I heard a low giggle beside me.
Ruby had clearly noticed my reaction.
And she seemed extremely satisfied with it.
...
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