Chapter 168: Don't speak like you know everything
Flora Continent
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three distinguished women watched as the live feed from the dungeon was obscured by a cloud of sand and smoke
"sigh" Mariel sighed heavily...It was a bit difficult to see her daughter pierced through the throat.
However, she wasn't sad. In fact, she was happy that her daughter seemed to have done something that she hoped for.
'She awakened her bloodline!!!' Mariel screamed inwardly.
Mariel knew that her daughter had always been stubborn about awakening her bloodline. There were reasons for this, but Mariel didn't want to dwell on them.
Mariel also knew that her daughter's awakening was a sign of her strength and determination. It was a sign that she was willing to do whatever it took to protect those she loved.
Although Mariel was a little pained to know that her daughter had only awakened her bloodline for her brother, her joyousness overwhelmed that pain.
"Aunt, please stop hiding your smile....Your current reaction is more repulsive than ever before," Rose said bluntly as she glanced at her aunt's wicked face.
'cough, cough', Mariel cleared her throat and tried to appear as calm as possible. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said.
Rose simply stared at her aunt, her eyes filled with amusement. She knew that Mariel was trying to hide her joy, but it was obvious to anyone who could see.
"You guys should rest now," Aadya said suddenly, glancing to the side before focusing back on the video.
Hearing that, Mariel snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the people who were approaching. Rose also turned her head to see who was coming.
The people who had been eliminated from the dungeon emerged from the white tent. Luna, Mia, Scylla, and Zera walked out, their bodies fully healed by the healers who had been on standby inside the tents
The white tent was specially created for medical help and transportation destinations. The people who 'died' in the dungeon appeared inside the white tent which was for girls while the green tent beside the white was for boys.
Aadya, Rose, and Mariel could see the frustration and anger on their faces. The girls didn't even show any surprise when they saw Rose. They simply treated her like she was air.
If not for the 'guest role' Mariel would have already hugged her dear little daughter for her spectacular display of power....even if it was a tiny bit.
Rose and Mariel glanced at Aadya, who was responsible for these 'kids'.
Aadya knew what to say. Her gaze briefly landed on the girls, and as a good teacher, she tried to encourage them.
"You did very well, even though you guys were eliminated first," she said.
"urgh"
"arh"
"aaa"
"..."
An invisible arrow struck their heart.
However, Aadya continued without batting an eye on them,
"You guys know the reason, right?"
"..."
Everyone turned silent as they knew the reason for their defeat.
"First, Luna, who was the first to be eliminated since the start of the Training Program," Aadya said indifferently, her green eyes glaring at Luna. "You failed to train your body and failed to realize your vital role in a group. You are not in your kingdom where other people protect you. A Saintess should not drag their team down, even if she is not a combat type."
"....Yes," Luna lowered her head gloomily.
But Aadya was not yet finished.
"However, your Holy Power seems to have increased a lot, and the way you controlled the mass amount of Holy Light is a remarkable effort. I acknowledge that, Luna Dawn."
Luna's eyes lit up a little at the end.
"...Yes," Luna said softly, glancing at her big sister, who had been softly clapping her hands without anyone noticing.
Rose really wanted to ask what had happened during the time on the stairs, as their view had been blocked. 'I'm pretty sure he must have done something to her. I must ask her later,' she thought, putting the question aside for now.
"Next, Mia," Aadya said, looking at Mia, who had a frustrated face.
"Your Darkness and Fire Elemental control were extraordinary..."
Aadya's words didn't cheer Mia up. 'That's good,' Aadya thought and continued, "But you lack the knowledge to utilize your power. You are not even trying to find the weakness of an enemy instead using full power to kill every monster you encounter. You utterly wasted so much mana for nothing."
"..." Mia bit her trembling lips as she lowered her head in shame.
Mariel silently observed her daughter and didn't say anything. However, it still pained her to see her like that.
"Even so, it's good you awakened your bloodline. Congratulations, Mia M," Aadya said warmly at the end.
However, Mia didn't seem to care about it. Her mind only repeated an image of her brother, who looked at her with a pained expression and red eyes... as if he couldn't protect her.
Aadya just left her as it was and looked at Scylla and Zera. "Scylla and Zera... There is nothing I can say because you guys are the vital point during the confrontation and... yet, you guys lost focus for a single second, which leads to utter defeat," she said.
Zera lowered her head in shame, knowing that if her mother knew, she would really beat her.
While Scylla simply closed her eyes.
Aadya's eyes lingered on Scylla, and the same could be said for the other two.
If one were to ask who the 'MVP' was, all three of them would undoubtedly point to Scylla. Her handling of the situation, her execution of tasks, and her ability to predict the outcome of the fight were truly remarkable.
It made them wonder whether Scylla was a seasoned warrior disguised as a maid by someone's order.
However, Aadya had already informed the other two that Scylla had been trained by the Vampire Queen personally and was the Vampire Queen's personal maid sent to protect Eli.
If Scylla knew what the leechers had done, she would surely do anything to make her regret it.
Hearing the Vampire Queen's involvement, the other two silently shut their mouths.
Only their thoughts were about the person who managed to get the Vampire Queen this much attachment towards him.
Aadya gave a final piece of advice.
"It all took a single second to divert your attention and that was enough to take your life.
You should focus on yourself befo--"
Before Aadya could impart her wisdom, a chilling voice echoed through the air.
"Don't presume to know everything," the voice said, laced with indifference.
All eyes turned to the source of the voice,
Scylla, her eyes gleamed with an icy intensity.
Aadya frowned, her gaze hardening as she met Scylla's defiant stare.
"Pardon?" She asked, her voice cold., 'I don't care who you are...give respect and take respect' she thought while keeping her cool outside.
"It's funny to think you could give advice about it" Scylla said sarcastically.
"....Care about explaining?" Aadya didn't want to release her killing intent in front of her student
"No, you don't even understand unless you love someone" Scylla shook her head then She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, 'It seems like I am showing anger somewhere else'.
"Oh, so you're claiming that love is a convenient excuse for your dismal performance?" Aadya countered, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Scylla fell silent, knowing that any further argument would only lead to unwanted consequences. She was still fuming with anger at herself for being so easily manipulated by the brats, but she knew that Aadya was simply doing her job as a teacher.
After a few moments of silence, Aadya sighed. "I know you guys are furious about your loss," she said. "Just take this as an example and learn from your mistakes."
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed them, allowing them to rest.
However,
"I want to see how Big Brother is doing," Mia declared firmly, her eyes refusing to back down from Aadya's gaze.
Seeing Mia's determination, the others quickly followed suit, voicing their own desires to see Eli.
Aadya sighed, knowing that there was no point in arguing with them. She made some arrangements and soon the girls were gathered around a large display, watching as Eli made his way through the dungeon.
Suddenly A furious voice echoed through the air, shattering the silence settled over the area.
"That damn mortal! I'm going to freaking kill him!"
The voice belonged to Jayvald Dracula, his eyes blazing with hatred as he came out from the green tent.
"I'm going to make him pay for what he did to us!" Austin Alpha snarled, his fists clenched tightly.
"...."
Aadya looked at the three people who came out of the red tent.
"You!" She spat, her voice dripping with venom.
"!!"
"!!!"
"!!!"
Jayvald and Austin flinched at the sound of her voice, their bodies going rigid with fear.
"M-Ms. Aadya?"
"Not you Noah..." Aadya glanced at Noah Caddle, the lion-eared guy before saying emotionlessly,
"Jayvald Dracula and Austin Alpha"
"Y-Yes?"
"M-Mam?"
"Do you think this training was funny? Do you think you can laugh about our effort?"
"...W-We don't kn-"
"Don't fuck with me brats" her tone turned even more deadly.
The others decided to avert their gaze from the commotion and focus on the screen instead.
"It seems he has managed to escape," Rose muttered under her breath.
"He is a death-cheating devil" Mariel said in amused expression.
Everyone's attention was drawn to a particular frame where the sand smoke had dissipated, leaving behind a gaping hole in the ground.
In the frame, a young man clad in a black dress was hanging from the wall, his muscles torn and bloodied. The blood dripped from his wounds incessantly.
"B-Brother"
"E-Eli"
"..."
"..."
____________________________________________
Rock-Maze Dungeon
"-huf-huf-huf"
With a raspy sound, Eli struggled to regain his breath as he clung to the jagged wall, his fingers digging into the crevices for support. His Ember was firmly embedded in the stone, providing a much-needed anchor.
"Damn Hero," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with exhaustion. "You really broke the floor."
As he glanced down into the gaping hole below, his eyes were met with an endless expanse of darkness. There was no sign of his foes, and he couldn't tell whether they had been eliminated or not.
There might be a possibility this was also their plan....but, 'now is not the time to think about' he thought as he tried to reach the other end.
Focusing on the task at hand, he began to slowly release the chain, swinging back and forth to gain momentum. As the length of the chain increased, he was able to swing further and further across the gap.
With a final burst of effort, Eli released the chain and launched himself into the air. He didn't dare to aim for the edge of the broken floor, knowing that the slightest miscalculation could send him plummeting into the abyss below.
Instead, he focused on landing as far as possible.
As he arced through the air.
'Thud'
Eli managed to twist his body and land on his feet. The impact was jarring, and he could feel the bricks beneath him give way slightly.
But he had made it.
As he stood there, catching his breath, he could hear the sound of crumbling bricks falling into the black void below.
'I knew it' He muttered and with trembling hands, he took out a few Healing Potions.
'gulp'
'squelch'
'gulp'
'cough, cough'
'squelch'
'gulp'
'crunch'
Eli then threw the bottle and took another.