186 Dekan’s Time-Limited Teammate
“We’re still missing one person.”
Dekan leaned against the sofa, tilting his head back.
Without Morion, Dekan felt like half the fun was missing.
The biggest fun in teaming up with Morion was that Dekan could trick not only the opponents but also Morion himself.
So now, even if they counted Teacher Cat, the freeloader, their Beautiful Soul Squad only had four members.
For this seven-rank team evaluation, they had to find a temporary member to make up the five people needed to start the game.
“Why don’t you ask His Majesty the King? He will definitely arrange the most suitable seven-rank teammate for you, meow.”
Teacher Cat suggested.
“Is the Royal Palace a place you can just walk into that easily? Do you think the king has nothing better to do?”
Dekan shot Teacher Cat a glare.
Even though Dekan indeed had sufficient reason to seek help from the king, he couldn’t treat the Royal Palace as a community service center.
Dekan still liked the king who had been quietly helping him all along.
As long as you are on the side of peace, Dekan would consider you a friend.
So even if he had to ask the king for help, he would first go to the headmaster and report through the proper channels.
Instead of disturbing the king directly.
“Then where do you plan to look for teammates, meow?”
Teacher Cat felt that Dekan had no intention of asking anyone for help to recruit more teammates.
It was as if Dekan already had his answer in mind.
However, as far as Teacher Cat knew, there were currently no students in this school who had reached the seventh rank.
The seven-rank team assessment stipulated that the maximum rank of participants was seven.
So if they didn’t find a seventh-rank teammate, it would be extremely disadvantageous.
“I actually have someone in mind who would be quite suitable, but I don’t know if she will agree.”
At this point, Dekan thought of his half-sister ——
Mia, the Poisonous Sorceress.
Although Mia always declined to take on challenges in the Shadow World, claiming things like “administrative personnel don’t like fighting” and “as a student at the Alchemy Academy, I don’t need to clear the Shadow World to graduate” and so on.
But for this seven-rank team evaluation, Dekan thought and thought, and decided rather than finding an unfamiliar person, it would be better to look for a like-minded close friend from the “other side.”
Not knowing what rules would apply in this year’s assessment for the combat-type Man-made Shadow World where groups of five compete against each other.
But even if it turns out to be the classic 5v5 terrain, they could let Cornelia take the top lane, Chloix the middle lane, Dekan roam the jungle, with Mia and Teacher Cat forming a bottom-lane duo.
Very steady.
“It’s been days since I last saw Mia. It seems like she spent most of her vacation at the Royal Palace, keeping Alice company.”
Dekan thought for a moment, then picked up Teacher Cat and decided to head to the Royal Palace to look for Mia.
…
Royal Palace of the Norton Kingdom.
The fragrant aroma of the blooming flowers in the rear garden permeated the air, offering a calming effect.
Dekan, Mia, and Alice had agreed to meet on the stone bench adorned with white carvings.
After the palace guards informed Alice of Dekan’s request to see her and his purpose, Alice quickly arrived with Mia to greet Dekan at the palace.
And Dekan bluntly told Mia his request.
“Um, do you really have to involve me? I just reached the fifth rank, my profession is a doctor.”
Mia smiled her usual smile as she asked.
“You saying you’re a doctor is as laughable as you calling yourself a priest.”
Dekan’s face displayed a trace of mockery as he shook his head.
Both of you are old hands at falsely reporting your professions.
Mia pouted, but clearly this offended expression was feigned.
“Then what about me? I can go with you if Mia doesn’t want to!”
Alice eagerly pointed at herself, asking beside her.
Dekan just looked at her and smiled politely without saying a word.
Alice felt Dekan was calling her a fool, but she had no evidence.
“I just wanted to help…”
Alice lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers, muttering beside her.
Dekan: “Since you’re the princess, if you come along on this foreign trip, the nature of the mission entirely changes.”
Alice: “Alright then.”
In truth, Dekan had considered bringing his boss along for the map.
After all, if Alice could pass the seven-rank team exam, she’d surely enjoy the feeling of showing off immensely.
However, this time neither the assessment nor the journey would be peaceful.
They’re capable of taking care of themselves, but if anything happened to Alice, the consequences would be irreparable.
“Did you notice that if I join your squad as a temporary member, there would be only Cornelia as the primary output, and the other four members would all be supports.”
Mia seemed to hope Dekan would carefully consider the team’s structure and the feasibility of a “four-protecting-one” strategy.
“My dear sister, don’t pretend here. Are you really that useless? Don’t I know your combat ability well?”
Dekan couldn’t stand high-rankers, from Rank A and above, referring to themselves as “office workers”.
He knew Mia’s attribute test scores.
Her attribute growth was extremely peculiar.
Not only was her strength at A level, but so were her magic, stamina, and spirit.
Dekan had never seen anyone with such an even distribution of attribute growth.
Yet this person insisted on working as a clerk.
Mia: “But this trip will make me miss quite a lot of classes…”
Dekan: “The headmaster said that we are allowed holiday, and there are credits as rewards. Passing the seven-rank team assessment counts directly as a graduation project.”
Mia hesitated for a moment, still looking somewhat reluctant.
“Then let me make it clear that if I go, I’m also going to free-ride like Teacher Cat.”
“Meow meow meow! How can supporting be classified as free-riding?!”
Teacher Cat seemed rather dissatisfied with Mia’s straightforwardness.
Mia’s face brightened with a smile once again, without a word, she took out a small special cat treat from her pocket and handed it to Teacher Cat.
Teacher Cat, as if unable to control itself, pounced and bit into it.
“Meow meow meow!? What’s this meow!? So delicious meow!”
The excited cries of Teacher Cat reached the ears of the three, its eyes could not leave Mia.
But Mia just stretched out her hands, waiting for Teacher Cat.
Teacher Cat hesitated for a moment.
“Meow!”
And jumped into Mia’s arms.
Dekan sighed somewhat irritably as he watched Teacher Cat being so easily deceived.
He should take the cat out less frequently in the future.
Otherwise, one day it might be lured away by the Rebirth Church, who knows.
“At least contribute a little, if you’re not going to be an assassin, then at least be a poison master.”
Dekan said helplessly.
“Since you sincerely asked me for help, I’ll exceptionally support you once!”
Mia gazed silently at Dekan, thinking for a long time before finally agreeing to him.
Dekan: “Then I’ll be off first. See you at school later.”
Mia: “Okay.”
However, Dekan was still standing there, not moving.
Mia: “Is there something else?”
Dekan: “Give me the cat back.”
Mia: “……”
With great reluctance, Mia handed Teacher Cat to Dekan, and murmured a few inaudible words.
