CHAPTER 97: ATTACK ON ASHTON CITY [4]

"Damn it, I stink." Matt clicked his tongue loudly before raising his head from where he was sitting.

Kai, who had been staring at him as he mumbled to himself, lingered for a bit, almost as if letting him process the embarrassment of being caught acting like a lunatic. "You look rough, man."

Veins popped out on Matt’s forehead, but with clenched fists, he barely held himself back. Sighing, he asked, "So, how was your fight? And don’t give me any deadpan answers."

Kai nodded. "Well, I killed three mid-level B-ranks who bullshitted me into thinking they were A-ranks, but I guess they were using the four energies. After that, I turned them into mage saints."

Matt looked at him, then at the ground. "Why do I always end up choosing crazy people as my friends? And of course, my best friend just has to be the craziest of the bunch."

Kai grinned. "Oh, were you worried?" His grin abruptly vanished. "Just to say, I’m into girls, okay?"

Matt almost stood to his feet, but his slightly twisted ankle prevented him from getting up. "Tch." He clicked his tongue and looked away.

Kai smiled softly, then sighed. ’Seriously.’

Still, he couldn’t help but be impressed by Matt. Kai knew Matt was strong, even stronger than him.

However, he hadn’t expected there to be any real gap between their strengths. But he had been wrong.

Just like Neko-sensei, Kai relied more on hacks than actual combat skills. That included Shadow of Dominion, Infinite Adaptability, and Weaving. Matt, on the other hand, was well-rounded in all categories.

Because three Sequence-Five Drifters and four B-rank mana beasts lay dead around his feet. His breath might have been ragged and he might have sustained some injuries, but it was no small feat. Even Kai doubted whether he could have pulled it off.

[You could if you went all out.]

’Right, I thought so too... Wait, Alpha? You spoke on your own for once?’

[You do realize I’m still your companion, right?]

’I doubt anyone would consider you their companion with how often your line is busy.’

[I suppose you’re right. Still, I think I’ll be able to assist you for a while.]

’Seems like you’ve regained a lot of your energy.’

[Yes. As you grow in weaving, my consciousness and body will slowly return.]

’Any new features?’

[Well, aside from being able to analyze and handle some mental tasks for you, I can now take on a spirit form.]

’Hmm... I’d like to see that, but we’ll have to save it for later.’

[Agreed.]

For now, Kai needed to report to Professor Simba, since Neko-sensei was nowhere to be found, and he still had to get both his compensation and his combat suit from Gimli.

Matt, who had been watching Kai for a while, asked, "Why do you look like someone’s in your head?"

Kai tilted his head slightly, his long hair swaying to the side. "Because there is someone in my head... And yes, I mean literally, not metaphorically."

Their gazes locked for a moment before Matt said, "You know I can’t be surprised by anything you say anymore, right?"

Kai frowned. "So you’d believe me if I told you I went to hell, killed the devil, and became the king of hell?... Or that I’m the grandson of the demon god?"

Matt placed a hand on his chin. "Maybe not everything."

Kai smiled, then tapped him on the shoulder as he walked past. "I’ll be back soon..." He paused, turning back. "And do you know where Hari is?"

"She went to help some students." He looked at the ground for a moment. "You know, you don’t have to act so tough around me."

"What?" Kai asked, perplexed.

Matt took a moment before replying. "I know your heart must be aching. You probably feel like running into the cocoon to save Reni."

Kai’s expression darkened slightly. "I guess... a little."

Matt raised a brow. "Just a little?"

Kai nodded. "You see, I’m not quite sure what I feel for either Amy or Reni yet. Maybe it’s love, maybe it’s just friendship."

He paused, then smiled back at Matt. "These kinds of emotions are still new to me. I’ve always been kind of a loner. Even when I did date, it was only for convenience."

Matt stared at his friend, then looked away. "Okay." Before Kai could leave, he called out, "But Kai, settle those feelings before it’s too late. This isn’t some novel or movie. People’s feelings change... and they grow."

Kai nodded. "Can’t believe Matthew Von Silver is giving me relationship advice."

"Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? You do know I’m a lady killer, right?"

Kai waved his hand as he turned his back. "Then that makes me a goddess slayer."

There wasn’t much distance between Matt and Professor Simba, and since the professor was in plain sight, Kai didn’t need to search for him.

But Matt’s words still echoed in his mind.

Did he really like the two girls? Or was it something deeper... or more shallow?

Kai sighed. ’No need to think about troublesome things now.’

Yes. If he didn’t save Reni first, then there’d be no way to know how he felt about her.

Besides, love was far too complicated to dwell on in the middle of a crisis.

Kai raised his gaze to the sky but couldn’t shake the feeling that things had been going a little too smoothly.

The demonic humans weren’t fools, and it wasn’t like they underestimated them either. Noctis had already foiled their plans once, mostly thanks to Kai and his companions.

That meant there was either a backup plan... or worse, their decision to regroup and share intel before saving Reni might have been part of the enemy’s strategy.

Kai shook off the thought. Even he doubted their simple plans could be so layered, unless there was a master tactician among them. Someone like him, Reni, or Hari.

Reaching the small tent that Professor Simba had set up, Kai didn’t need permission from the first years guarding the entrance. As if they had been waiting for him, they opened the curtain immediately.

Kai looked at Professor Simba, then turned to Gimli and smiled.

The old dwarf had likely seen him coming and rushed into the tent to seek protection from Kai. He knew Kai wouldn’t act up in front of his teachers.

The old man shrieked at the sight of Kai’s gentle smile. ’What is this little witch’s disciple planning? Should I run?’

Kai didn’t say a word and turned back to Professor Simba. Gimli sighed in relief.

Kai immediately began recounting everything he had pieced together: what had happened, and the solution he had devised.

After a moment of thought, Professor Wednesday, seated beside Professors Simba and Kylie, along with Kelvin—the other two first-year homeroom teachers alongside her and Neko-sensei—finally spoke.

"Thank you for your hard work again, Kaiser. You, Matthew, Cordelia, and Reozaki are shaping up to be fine heroes."

Professor Simba nodded. "I agree. This batch of first years are truly impressive..."

’Are they supposed to say this while I’m still here?’ Kai thought.

Professor Kelvin, who had been flipping through some books, likely searching for a solution, set them down. "To think you gathered all this information while we were still trying to regroup the students."

Kai, his expression stern, replied, "It’s my job as a cadet of Noctis. Besides, if it weren’t for you teachers being here, I doubt the students would have remained so organized... especially Professor Kylie. I saw how you used your ability to buff most of the students. So I don’t think it’s that big of a deal if I share some of that burden."

Kylie smiled slyly. ’So he noticed? Now I want him even more... but that witch just has to take all the good ones.’

Professor Simba nodded, but before he could speak, Gimli muttered under his breath, "So the witch’s disciple has a honeyed tongue just like her... And here I thought you couldn’t be polite... Brats."

Kai turned to the man with a gentle smile. As soon as Gimli, who had been staring into space, noticed Kai, he shrieked and nearly fell off his chair. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I can’t fight? Let me tell you, I learnt ancient martial techniques."

Kai’s smile softened. "Why do you think so ill of me? I was just worried. Wouldn’t want you breaking a leg or two."

The old man broke into a cold sweat and looked away. "Yeah, I’ll be more careful."

The three professors, slightly confused and mildly terrified, asked, "Do you know the legendary blacksmith?"

Kai nodded. "He’s my slav... no, my partner."

A bead of sweat appeared on all their foreheads.

Professor Wednesday sighed and covered her face with her palm which rested on the chair. ’I guess I spoke too soon. He’s Lisa’s disciple, after all. It would’ve been stranger if he were normal.’

Kai’s smile didn’t fade, even as the professors freaked out slightly.

’I think he was about to say slave... He made the Grandmaster his slave? Not even the empire managed that,’ Professor Simba mused.

Professor Kelvin, struck by nostalgia, stared at Kai. ’He really reminds me of the old days when Lisa was still insane and tried to take the Grandmaster under her wing... Looks like her disciple succeeded in doing it.’

Professor Kylie sighed. "Well, I didn’t expect anything less from someone that witch trained."

The teachers’ silence was a quiet agreement to Kylie’s words.

Kai, still smiling, turned to Gimli and narrowed his eyes.

Gimli cursed inwardly. ’Someone please save me.’

****

After Kai had given his report, he left the tent and went to find Hari and Matt. ’Feels like something bad is about to happen.’

He looked up at the sky for a brief moment, then, as if a chain had clamped his heart in place, he felt it tighten and his mind warp.

’What the hell?’

Almost immediately, the professors rushed out of their camp and looked at the sky and the black hole, which were all swirling.

"This isn’t good," Professor Simba exclaimed. He turned, gesturing with his hand to address the students. "Everyone get in..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a black light flashed in the city like a bright light had suddenly been turned on, only this time that light had no color or characteristics of light.

The students and teachers all lost their sight at the same time.

Kai tried to make sense of what was happening using clairvoyance, but it proved ineffective.

But he was still able to make out the figure who stretched his small hands forward toward him.

"Hey, little witch," the voice called out. "Take the suit I made for you. I’ve given the rest to your friends."

Kai knew the voice too well, even through the darkness that surrounded them. "Gimli?"

Gimli, who was beside Kai, waved, even though Kai couldn’t make out anything clearly. "I had to use my precious time chamber so I could complete it in a day, though it took me two years."

Kai could feel his presence fading. "So with that... my job is over for now."

Kai raised a brow, his expression turning into a frown. "Where are you...?"

Gimli shook his head. "Kid... I was never here to begin with. It was only my fragment that helped you forge the weapon. So let it rest now. But you can still leave your vestige at his grave from time to time."

Kai stared into the darkness, then rolled his eyes. "Cut the crap, old man. Who the hell are you trying to fool? I know you just want to run before I make you work again."

Gimli’s face twisted. "Don’t raise your voice at me, you brat. I know you want me to be your personal slave."

"Huh? What’s so bad about being my slave?"

Before Gimli could respond, the world shook slightly.

Kai shook his head after regaining his balance. "We’ll talk about this later. Just leave first."

Gimli put on the cutest expression he could manage. "Can I really go?"

Kai nodded. "Yes. I don’t want you getting hurt. If my senses are right, then we’re being pulled into the dimensional portal the demonic humans set up."

Gimli nodded. "Okay."

Kai looked at the spot where Gimli had once stood, then tried channeling mana through himself, but it failed miserably.

Seeing that he couldn’t do anything, Kai couldn’t help but feel that his decision to tell Gimli to leave was the right one.

He still had to exploit him for all he was worth, after all.

Tensing slightly, Kai called out to Alpha internally. ’Alpha, you’re still there, right?’

[You know you don’t have to ask every time.]

’It’s just easier,’ he paused, staring into the darkness. ’If anything happens to me—or if I pass out—I want you to wake me up.’

[...Okay.]

Kai took a deep breath as the world suddenly became bright again.