Chapter 166: What''s Next?The ride back to campus was a quiet one.

    "...Do you have any questions?" [Wilharrow]

    "No." [Solace]

    I wasn''t even willing to look at him. Dragging me into battle is one thing, using Fina as a lock on me was another.

    "Look, don''t hate me for-" [Wilharrow]

    "Shut it!" [Solace]

    Wilharrow flinched.

    "It''s for the good of the people-" [Wilharrow]

    "Did you not hear what I just said?" [Solace]

    I glared at him.

    "..." [Wilharrow]

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    I didn''t even talk to him when we arrived on campus. I immediately beelined towards Master''s class and pulverized the brick wall with a single kick.

    "Oh my." [Vincent]

    Sitting leisurely, Master had prepared a table for two.

    "You predicted this?" [Solace]

    "Did I?" [Vincent]

    Again with his cryptic nonsense. I''ve had enough.

    "Do you think I''m stupid? Why else would you have a table with two chairs!" [Solace]

    "A table having two chairs doesn''t-" [Vincent]

    "There''s even two cups for your tea! What are you gonna do, drink both at the same time?!" [Solace]

    Master raised a finger.

    "As a matter of fact..." [Vincent]

    He then calmly poured tea into the two cups and downed them both at the same time.

    "...Do you think that''s funny?" [Solace]

    "Very, yes." [Vincent]

    That just pissed me off more.

    "Here." [Solace]

    I threw the flower at him. As expected, he caught it.

    "Careful there. You wouldn''t want to damage an important ingredient." [Vincent]

    "Great. Now what? What else do I need? How many more wild goose chases do I need to go on until you''re satisfied?" [Solace]

    Master gave me a weird look.

    "I''m sensing quite a bit of hostility from you." [Vincent]

    "Ya think?!" [Solace]

    I was absolutely seething.

    "How about you try telling me your plans for once, huh? Quit manipulating me like some kind of puppet master!" [Solace]

    Master raised a hand.

    "Gentleman''s rules number 11." [Vincent]

    "No." [Solace]

    "Say it." [Vincent]

    "I''m not sayi-" [Solace]

    "Say. It." [Vincent]

    The conversation wasn''t going anywhere so I folded.

    "...Gentleman''s rule number 11: A gentleman does not let their anger control them." [Solace]

    "Good." [Vincent]

    Master smiled a kind smile. Though, I only felt that it was insincere at the time.

    "Now, for your earlier question. There is one last ingredient required to get Fina''s mana back." [Vincent]

    "Shoot." [Solace]

    "A Demon Lord''s heart." [Vincent]

    "A... Demon Lord''s heart." [Solace]

    Master leaned back in his chair.

    "Indeed. It was the sole reason why I had you join the hero''s party." [Vincent]

    I had mixed feelings about this. My anger subsided knowing that I was going to have to do this anyways, but I was still peeved at how Master never tells me anything.

    "Have I addressed all your concerns?" [Vincent]

    "No." [Solace]

    Master then motioned with his wrist.

    "What are you waiting for?" [Vincent]

    "How fresh does the heart need to be?" [Solace]

    "It does not matter. Just bleed it out and it will preserve itself." [Vincent]

    "Hm." [Solace]

    Still annoyed, I left Master''s classroom.

    ("A Demon Lord''s heart... seriously?") [Solace]

    I got a bit lost in thought. So much so that I didn''t even notice Wilharrow waiting for me.

    "Alt? Are you okay?" [Wilharrow]

    "Hm?" [Solace]

    I flinched. It felt like he appeared out of nowhere.

    "Woah!" [Solace]

    "What the-?!" [Wilharrow]

    Startled by my flinching, Wilharrow backed away with his arms raised.

    "...Wilharrow?" [Solace]

    "Yeah?" [Wilharrow]

    We looked at each other in confusion. After a few moments passed, Wilharrow spoke.

    "U-Um... Alt, about Fina..." [Wilharrow]

    "Stop." [Solace]

    I raised my hand to cut him off. Sёar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Before you say anything... I''m sorry." [Solace]

    "...What?" [Wilharrow]

    Wilharrow seemed surprised at my apology.

    "I''m sorry for how I acted back in the carriage." [Solace]

    "...You don''t have to be sorry for that. In fact, I should be the one apologizing." [Wilharrow]

    This brought a slight smile to my face.

    "Then we''re cool?" [Solace]

    "Uh..." [Wilharrow]

    He appeared to be a bit puzzled as to what I meant.

    ("Oh. They don''t have that saying here.") [Solace]

    "I mean... We''re okay now, right? All is forgiven?" [Solace]

    "Ah, that''s what you meant. Yes, all is forgiven." [Wilharrow]

    He then put out a hand.

    "All is forgiven." [Solace]

    I proceeded to shake his hand.

    "Now, how do we slay a demon lord?" [Solace]

    Wilharrow smiled.

    "Good to see you''re on board." [Wilharrow]

    He then wrapped an arm around me and started walking.

    "We''re gonna travel to their country." [Wilharrow]

    "Oh. How far is it?" [Solace]

    "About a month." [Wilharrow]

    "A month?!" [Solace]

    That was longer than I thought it''d be.

    "A month by carriage is crazy." [Solace]

    "...On carriage? We''re going on foot." [Wilharrow]

    "What?! Why?!" [Solace]

    "Tradition." [Wilharrow]

    He put on the most stern expression I''ve ever seen.

    "...There must be something wrong with the traditions in this world." [Solace]