The Third Return of the Necrotic Magic Swordsman

[14TH Everdusk 2103]

Lucas, now confronting Darian before an audience, showed no signs of fear. He believed Darian wouldn’t dare attack or kill him.

While Lucas smiled as if nothing was amiss, Darian’s face betrayed his struggle to contain his anger and not annihilate the insignificant pest before him.

Darian knew the consequences of such an act; killing a newly awakened citizen would lead to severe punishment, possibly imprisonment, and the loss of his position.

”Oh Mr... ah, I can’t seem to recall your name, sir. Would you mind reminding me?” Lucas taunted slightly.

”You... hah, listen, kid, you still have time. Apologize to me now, and we can end our feud here and now,” Darian, on the verge of saying more, noticed Miriam pleading with him from the side.

”Huh, apologize? Perhaps you should see a doctor, sir, as I don’t recall any conversation about me apologizing to you,” Lucas retorted, feigning confusion.

I observed Lucas provoking Darian further, suspecting he had some strategy up his sleeve to be so bold.

Such tactics are rarely used and likely have a cooldown period. I doubted Lucas had anything other than some system abilities to counter Darian’s powers.

”Hah, it seems Miriam’s student will soon be hospitalized,” Darian sneered, poised to move, while Lucas readied his counterattack.

Before that could happen, a staff member appeared between them so swiftly that no one could perceive it, not even Darian, whose expression revealed his surprise.

”Arah, it seems I’ve jumped in at an awkward moment,” she said, her demeanor calm, yet everyone understood that if Darian was this intimidated by her presence, she must be formidable.

I was certain that Lucas might use her to remove Darian from his path, or perhaps even eliminate him after gaining some power.

”Oh, Mrs. Lilia Ashenbrook, I was unaware of your presence, or I would have come to greet you personally,” Darian said, having initially thought he could act freely without alerting the vice branch manager.

”There’s no need for concern, Sir Darian. I returned just a few minutes ago and saw you conversing with these students, so I came over to check in, that’s all,” Lilia explained, admitting that managing a branch was exhausting and she often slipped away from work seeking amusement.

”Then it’s fine, Ma’am. We’ve just arrived to issue these students their IDs, which will be beneficial for them,” Miriam interjected, seizing the opportunity to engage with Lilia and establish a rapport.

”And who might you be? Mr.~~~~~ ah, Miriam Westfield, I see. You have an impressive class in your care, a Master Educator (B Rank). Quite commendable for a teacher,” she remarked, leaving Miriam astonished as he had not expected Lilia to recognize him.

”Ma’am, it’s an honor to be known by someone of your stature,” he replied with as much grace as he could muster.

”Oh, Mr. Miriam, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t know you personally; I simply have my ways of discerning the potential in your group, and I see some promising young talents,” she said, her gaze turning sharply towards the students.

I immediately lowered my head, hoping not to be noticed.

As I know that some people in branch like those possess the skills to analysis your status.

So I was just trying to find some time to pull out my mask and use it to hide my status and not get caught as if did then I was doomed to get find out and may who find me try to blackmail me and I don’t want to get into much bloodshed right now like I didn’t have got to kill my first monster and yet to start plan to kill some normal people. 

Then it would be not that good but what he can do in it.

”So, you’re saying you’re one of the appraisers checking the status of hunters for promotion?” Miriam asked, nodding at the frustrated Darian who nodded back, properly introducing her.

”Well, students, as you know, this is Lilia Ashenbrook, the branch manager of our city (DC-23) in Dyna Crest. She is also our only high appraiser. You might be lucky if she makes your IDs, so be sure to ask her nicely,” he said, introducing her and trying to entangle her to avoid a lecture.

”Wait, wait, are you implying I don’t have time...?” she interjected, realizing he was trying to rope her in.

”Oh, manager, I must go; I have some work,” he said, disappearing from his spot.

”Geez, that old man left me here again,” she grumbled, stamping her foot on the ground, leaving a noticeable dent in the tiles.

Before she could direct the students to other appraisers, some people she always found annoying came running straight towards them for some reason.

The people she disliked were the independent guild executives who came to recruit the students who had recently awakened into their ranks. Even though they were low in class grade, some were quite impressive, with a handful of C-ranks and even one B-rank among them.

Lyre, the S-rank Flame Witch, wasn’t swarmed by them, as they knew trying to recruit her would almost certainly lead to their guild’s destruction.

So now, every guild executive was buzzing around the newly awakened students like bees to newly blossomed flowers.

They began querying the students about their class and started making offers, but only a few showed interest, as most students believed joining the CGA branch was a better option than joining a guild.

Seizing the opportunity to escape, Lilia quickly disappeared in the direction of her office.

She didn’t want to waste time making IDs for new students unless someone of a high or higher, like an grade, appeared; then she might consider it.

Here, we observed that aside from a few students who were not engaged by the guild recruiters, Lucas, Lyre, and I were included.

Lucas was there because he stood behind Tess, who acted as a barrier, preventing anyone from approaching him. Lyre was guarded by her own guild members.

I was also at the back, away from the groups of students who were the main targets of all recruiters. After all, who would spend time on individual students when groups were available? This situation allowed Evan to take measures to safeguard his status.

What he did was covert; he first moved his activities from here to somewhere quieter, and I knew where that was.

And what he did was~~~~~~~~~~~.

-- To be continued --