CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER: 43, BITTER FACTS

A few moments ago

Aldric has just returned from the dungeon finally reaching level 10 after a week of grinding. He was smiling when suddenly Caspian approached him with a serious look in his eyes.

"Hey~ dear hero~" He said.

Aldric looked annoyed. He had never been close to this loner of the classroom. Caspian had always been quiet, alone and mysterious, always showing a smile that looked fake if observed thoroughly.

Aldric has a feeling that this guy never ever saw everyone as equal, not in the arrogant kind. It was as if he saw himself as a higher being forced to keep appearance in front of some ants.

Even when he was talking to the principal, school officials and people who others would respect, he talked with a face that showed his precious time was being wasted. Even in front of Hestia’s Grandfather, a man who any person would fear to offend, he acted in his same unimpressed demeanor.

"What?" Aldric asked.

"You know you’re being pathetic as the Hero, right?" he asked, his tone turned cold and eyes narrowed in disdain.

"Hm?" Aldric was confused for a second.

He was a Hero, a person who leads his teammates to victory with righteous conviction and a greater cause. Up until now, he has never shown any signs that would label him as pathetic for a hero. Why would this quiet kid in the class suddenly say this to his face?

"You are a Hero. A righteous person whose true objective should only be the purpose of saving and protecting the world, not something as insignificant as personal feelings should weigh you down" Caspian finally uttered the words that had been annoying from the very beginning.

Aldric narrowed his eyes, finally understanding the meaning of his words. He tried to go past him, saying coldly as he walked, "My personal matters are none of your business. Instead of annoying me with meaningless chatter, you should go and level up."

"I am already level 14." Caspian stated flatly as a matter of fact.

Aldric’s feet halted, he looked back at the man with clear shock in his eyes.

Caspian laughed in mockery, "Isn’t it funny? I, with a mere S-rank class, am now on a higher level than you. You people, including those three girls and Kieran would’ve been much stronger than you are now only if you weren’t infatuated with the feeling of this so-called ’Love’.

"You all are being pathetic, not focusing on the main goal you were summoned here for. Instead, those three girls are infatuated with Dainsleif with no progress on them whatsoever. Kieran is better than them, but still that Goblin girl is taking his main focus. I am warning you, focus on strengthening yourself or you will regret it in the future."

Aldric’s heart stirred seeing even he could see those three girls are in love with Dainsleif and are wasting their true potential, but who could convince them?

He waved his hand, saying "You just mind your own business and don’t put your nose in others matters. I’ll be going."

He tried to walk ahead when suddenly he felt something and moved his body to the side. Dark sword intent flowed violently through the place he stood just a second ago. A second delay could’ve hurt him pretty badly.

He looked at Caspian, now holding a sword in his right hand with growing hostility. He quickly summoned a sword from the storage ring given to him by the officials as he saw Caspian rushing forward to attack again.

"You think you’re superior just because you have a higher class with higher Talent? No. Even a fool can have a good talent. Talent without Hard work is just a waste of potential, which you are doing right now.

Even a talented fool wouldn’t only do the bare minimum people expect from him and give half the effort he could to his progress. But you people are so blind that it’s infuriating me. I’ll show you what you could’ve become if only you had focused on your goal." He stated as his sword intent was thrown at Aldric.

Aldric quickly dodged his sword in his hand as he decided to not continue this fight here. There were many people and they might get hurt if they fought here. He quickly rushed towards the door as Caspian followed him.

"What? The mighty hero is scared now?" Caspian mocked.

Aldric ignored him and quickly left the underground chamber. They were in the hallways when Caspian suddenly sped up and kicked him hard with his enhanced strength.

Aldric was sent flying through the long hallway and directly crashed into the dense wall of the training grounds. A loud crash echoed through the entire place as many of their classmates and servants rushed out to see what happened.

They all were shocked to find Caspian slowly walking through the ground and heading towards the injured Aldric. They were confused as to why would Caspian attack Aldric when he was pretty quiet and calm before.

Among the crowd of students, Hestia and Dainsleif were also present with the other two girls.

Aldric watched as Hestia looked at the two of them with a calmness that felt suffocating. Hestia wasn’t impressed as this event also happened in the previous life and she knew Aldric would be fine on his own.

Aldric’s eyes suddenly turned violent as unwillingness filled his heart. He picked up the sword from the ground and with clear determination, launched an attack towards Caspian.

Caspian watched calmly as the golden sword intent, clean and gentle that still rivaled his own in power, was coming closer. He dodged and rushed forward.

Aldric didn’t run like before and bravely confronted him head on. Both of them knew what they would do and covered their swords in their own sword intent.

Sounds of metal ringing echoed through the training ground as their classmates witnessed their violent confrontation that shouldn’t be in a friendly spar.

Kieran also came out right at that moment with Gura trailing behind him. Everyone looked at the scene as confusion about Caspian’s sudden change entered their minds.

To be continued...