Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Dinner Talk and Sudden Assault
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Evening dinner.
The kids, exhausted from burning their stamina at the beach, were sitting around the table.
Hena and Darin, looking especially worn out, muttered in pained voices.
“Ugh, what did we do to be this tired?”
“Yeah... It feels harder than stamina training.”
Seeing them like that, Abel chuckled and said,
“Water play takes a lot of stamina to begin with.”
“Really? I wouldn’t know.”
Daniel said as he brought a big chunk of meat to his mouth.
Hena and Abel immediately teased him.
“You wouldn’t get tired no matter what you do.”
“Stamina monster.”
“No, what did I...”
Daniel looked extremely aggrieved, but as soon as he put the steak in his mouth, his expression melted.
“Mmm. Delicious.”
And it wasn’t just talk—the food served for dinner was all excellent.
The dorm food wasn’t bad, but this was on another level.
Hena smiled happily and said,
“Good thing. Eat up.”
“Yeah. Oh, that looks tasty too.”
And it wasn’t just words—plates near Daniel emptied at a rapid pace.
Surprisingly, Darin had a hearty appetite too.
Thanks to the two of them, the generously served meal vanished in no time.
“Getting full now.”
“Yeah.”
Once dinner ended, various conversations started up.
“I’m going back home for a bit to rest before returning. I’ve been in the capital since before enrollment, so it’s been a while.”
Talking about vacation plans, Darin turned to Iolin and asked,
“What about you, Iolin? What’re you doing over break?”
She’d been reluctant about sharing a carriage at first, but now they were chatting normally.
Iolin thought for a moment before speaking.
“Mostly staying in the dorms to train, but I’ll be heading somewhere midway.”
“Somewhere else?”
“Yeah. For training.”
Darin nodded at that.
Iolin’s family would probably support her training separately.
‘Gaining real combat experience or getting personal instruction, something like that.’
As far as Abel remembered, Iolin came back even stronger after break.
With her monstrous growth rate and full family backing, she couldn’t help but improve quickly.
After finishing her story, Iolin paused in thought, then suddenly turned to Abel.
“What about you, Abel?”
“Hm? Me?”
It was out of the blue, but Abel answered without missing a beat.
“I’ll train in the dorms too at first, but might head out midway.”
“Where to?”
“Nothing set yet. Thinking of somewhere to gain more experience.”
He didn’t mention the special management zone.
Winning the tournament meant permission was basically granted, but there was always the off chance.
‘No point stirring up the others.’
Everyone here was important.
Provoking them could mean someone got hurt over break, which would be a headache.
Abel wrapped it up vaguely and turned the arrow to Hena.
“What about you, Hena?”
“Hmm... Probably staying at this villa. Got some special training lined up.”
“Makes sense. Better to train magic with help than alone.”
“Yeah.”
A faint awkward smile crossed Hena’s face for a moment, but Abel didn’t pry.
He could guess what the villa training was about.
‘Probably instruction on her awakened ability.’
Hena’s power was hereditary.
Her father’s generation barely manifested it, but the family records would have details.
High chance she’d focus on that over break.
‘Whatever, everyone’s coming back way stronger after break.’
Once Hena finished, eyes naturally turned to Daniel.
Daniel swallowed a dessert pastry and said,
“Instructor Kaul made me a training schedule, so I’ll follow that.”
“Instructor Kaul?”
“Yeah. He said at the last class, if I wanted special training, just ask.”
“Oh, that...”
The others made faces of dread.
Daniel looked puzzled by the reaction, but it was understandable.
Instructor Kaul had indeed said he’d do special training if asked.
‘But with a super creepy laugh, and hellish pain waiting.’
Remembering the cadets shuddering, few would actually go ask like Daniel.
Once everyone shared in turn, Darin said admiringly,
“Everyone’s so busy even on break.”
“You’re working hard too, Darin. Always in the training room.”
“Eh, I’m still way behind.”
“I’ve got tons of shortcomings too. Abel’s always nagging me about only having stamina.”
“When did I?”
“Four days ago during sparring?”
Abel thought back and said,
“It’s just to help you improve.”
“Sure.”
Daniel chuckled, lightly punched Abel’s shoulder, and said to Darin,
“Anyway, training every day ain’t easy. Let’s spar sometime.”
It was a bit odd, but pure Daniel. Darin nodded, faint red tinting her cheeks.
“Hmm.”
Abel saw it and barely held back a grin.
When talk paused, Hena jumped up.
“Alright, let’s head to the rooms!”
“To sleep?”
“No, just trust me and follow.”
No idea what to trust and follow, but they got up curiously and trailed her.
“Butler, thanks for the meal!”
“Same here.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes. Have a pleasant night.”
They thanked the butler waiting at the dining room door, then stampeded up the stairs to the second floor.
“This way.”
“Isn’t this your room?”
“I’ll explain inside.”
Hena herded them into her room relentlessly.
As Abel closed the door last, Hena grinned.
“Prepared something special for tonight.”
“What?”
At Darin’s curious question, Hena headed to a bookshelf against the wall.
Fumbling one side, she exclaimed brightly,
“Found it!”
In her hand was a square box.
“What’s that?”
“A game! The latest Gigant Wars!”
It was a board game.
Abel thought to himself,
‘Thought she’d pull out booze or something.’
He’d been briefly excited, honestly.
Still a year from adulthood here, so alcohol was mostly off-limits.
Unlike Abel’s mild disappointment, the others reacted great.
“Gigant Battle? The one from Reinhart Workshop?”
“Yup! Super hard to get, but I lucked out!”
Hena excitedly opened the box and started setting up.
It had miniatures from Tito-grade to Militum-grade. Seeing them, Abel sat to one side.
Hena held up the rules sheet and explained slowly.
“The rules are like this...”
Once they learned, they dove in scarily fast.
“This spot’s open?”
“Ah! What?!”
Chatting and shouting, they played three or four rounds. Outside, full night had fallen.
“Ugh.”
Abel died early in the fifth round without doing anything and stood.
“Gonna hit my room quick.”
“Yeah.”
“Sure.”
“Come back.”
The kids didn’t look up, just saw him off verbally.
Abel trudged off, feeling the loser’s bitterness.
‘Won’t go easy next round.’
His early death was just him holding back, in his mind.
In the hall, Abel headed to his room at the end.
He’d drunk a lot of water at dinner, so nature called.
He quickly finished in his room and stepped out.
But before leaving again, Abel felt an odd incongruity.
“Was the window... open?”
Chilly wind blew from the one on the side.
“Hmm.”
After a moment’s thought and checking for traces inside, Abel walked over to close it.
Grabbing the frame tight—
Whoosh—!
Sudden strong suction yanked Abel out.
So abrupt, he couldn’t resist and fell out the window.
Second floor, but high ceiling—still a drop.
Seeing ground rush up, Abel reflexively used Shadow Step.
Swish—.
Just before impact, his body slid softly across the ground.
Shadow Step fully absorbed the shock.
But he couldn’t relax.
He hadn’t identified the suction’s source yet.
Scanning quickly, Abel spotted something in the bushes.
-Shrrrk.
An unpleasant sound, red glow in the brush.
Abel tensed, hand to his waist.
Solid leather hilt met his fingers.
The dagger hidden there for emergencies.
Shhk.
As he drew it, the foe emerged from the bushes.
Scales covered its body, standing on two legs.
It resembled a lizardman from some novels.
But no such race existed here.
‘Gigadeus Fragment?’
That’s what he had to think.
Heteromorphic beings were mostly called that.
“Shrrrk.”
It stood still, staring at Abel.
Unsure of its intent, Abel faced it dagger-ready.
‘That suction earlier from this thing?’
Couldn’t tell yet.
But he was prepared.
Sudden pull could unbalance him badly.
Calling for help crossed his mind, but might provoke it, so he held off.
Then—
-Why.
A voice echoed in his head.
Abel flinched. A scene flashed: first facing the Blade Tail, the voice in his mind.
‘Why?’
Exactly like this mystery creature’s words.
Gathering courage, Abel spoke.
“Why what?”
No immediate reply.
As he opened his mouth impatiently, the voice returned.
-Why, do you have that power?
“That power?”
Abel echoed the nonsense. No kind explanation came.
Thak—!
Suddenly, it lunged, sharp claws first.