188 Dekan’s Online Torment Behind the Scenes
Two days later.
Today is the first day of the second semester for first-year students at Hewenlit Academy.
Dekan resumes his calm campus life.
However, after experiencing this peaceful campus life for another month, he will embark on a journey with his friends to take the assessment for the seventh-tier squad.
Although Dekan could live a stable life just by staying in the capital city, he needs to enter a higher-tier Shadow World.
Because only by going to the seventh-tier or even eighth-tier Shadow World can he access the follow-up stories of the Holy Country and help his Master retrieve the missing parts of her memory.
Additionally,
There are some matters related to himself.
Dekan has a feeling that he is not the only one connected to the Holy Country.
Perhaps some of his friends also have connections to the Holy Country.
It feels like a kind of fate.
They meet each other in the present world, challenge the Shadow World together, and encounter the Holy Country as if the Shadow World of the Holy Country is calling to them.
There is a history that must be uncovered by them.
Dekan tidies up his outfit and prepares to attend his only class today before heading back to the dormitory to start crafting cards.
This semester, Dekan has not chosen any elective courses.
On one hand, his credits are already quite sufficient.
On the other hand, he will be busier this semester.
There is still a month and a half until the seventh-tier squad assessment, and they need to set off half a month in advance to ensure they arrive on time.
So, Dekan has one month of preparation time.
He needs to craft some of the most practical fourth-tier cards before departure.
After all, Dekan can be hundred percent sure that someone will come looking for trouble.
Anyone like that will definitely focus on countering him and stock up on counter cards.
For example, his slave Isabel once brought cards like [Pain Relief] and [Spell Counter] when she faced him in a one-on-one battle.
If it weren’t for Dekan having the information advantage, it would have been difficult for him to manipulate her.
If all goes well, once the Beautiful Soul Squad completes the assessment, it will take another half a month to return to school.
By then, it will be early May.
They can start considering how to tackle the seventh-tier Shadow World.
However, the seventh-tier Shadow World cannot be challenged whenever they want.
After all, its appearance frequency is relatively low, unlike the lower-tier Shadow Worlds, which have readily available opportunities.
They can only apply for the challenge when a new seventh-tier Shadow World appears.
In this case, Dekan and Cornelia will have to put aside the matter of running into Morion for the time being.
After all, Chloix is now in the second semester of his third year, and they want to ensure that he can clear a Shadow World this semester without regrets.
Moreover, according to Morion’s challenge routine, he always challenges the Shadow World at 8 AM on April 1st and June 1st without fail.
Although Dekan and Cornelia could continue to team up to confront Morion on those two days, on April 1st, Dekan is set to participate in the seventh-tier squad assessment, causing a scheduling conflict.
And if they confront Morion on June 1st, due to the longer cooldown time for higher-tier Shadow World challenges, completing the sixth-tier Shadow World would lead them into more than a month of cooldown. By then, even if the seventh-tier Shadow World refreshes, they would only be able to stare at it helplessly, and it is likely they would miss the opportunity for Chloix to clear a Shadow World before graduation.
So Dekan and Cornelia decide to prioritize Chloix, intending to deal with Morion after this semester ends.
Thus, they will probably complete only one challenge in a Shadow World this semester.
Then comes the joyous summer vacation.
During the summer vacation from first year to second year, there is an important event.
That is the once every five years, rare “Kingdom Union Hero Festival.”
Dekan, Cornelia, and Chloix have made plans to attend the “Hero Festival.”
This was arranged in advance when Dekan and Cornelia were challenging the “Mountain Storm Illusion” and made new friends in the Shadow World, Miss Lilith.
The kingdom hosting this year’s “Hero Festival” happens to be in Lilith’s hometown, located to the south.
And Morion is hiding among the Southern Kingdoms.
Dekan believes that Morion, the opportunist, will not miss out on a large event like the “Hero Festival.”
Perhaps they might really capture Morion in the present world!
Dekan feels there are many exciting things to look forward to, with travel plans fully packed.
So, before heading out, the cheerful Dekan takes out the “Dekan’s Gospel” to cast a daily curse on Laxus VI.
He thinks for a moment that today he can give Laxus VI an extra regular-strength curse.
This way, Laxus VI will realize—
He can’t just think that being cursed once every day will be enough for peace.
If he doesn’t infuse additional magical power, the second curse wouldn’t cause him to suffer backlash like last time when he cursed the king of the Rick Kingdom, Ashston, to the point of nosebleed.
So Dekan doesn’t push too hard this time.
After completing the two curses, although Dekan feels a bit fatigued, he sets off on the path to the new semester with exceptional ease.
……
Meanwhile.
Northern Kingdoms.
Kingdom of Tomafis Royal Palace.
In a retro hall, the walls are adorned with vivid carvings of heroic epic murals, shining brilliantly under the glorious lights.
On the throne at the end of the hall sits a powerful man, the ruler of the Kingdom of Tomafis, Laxus VI.
Laxus VI’s eyes gleam with wisdom, carrying a proud demeanor as if looking down on all things in the world.
“Your Majesty, the layout for the seventh-tier squad assessment has been arranged, and the Rebirth Church has agreed to cooperate.”
“Rest assured, this cooperation requires minimal involvement from us. It seems the Rebirth Church is even more eager to eliminate Dekan than we are; the transaction has gone smoother than expected.”
“I have also prepared a backup plan; when the time comes, we will be completely clean, with no evidence pointing to our involvement in this transaction with the Rebirth Church.”
“Even if Dekan manages to escape, he has no evidence to trouble us and can only suffer in silence.”
Laxus VI is listening to his confidants’ reports on their tasks, nodding frequently.
His mood gradually improves.
That was how it was meant to be.
However, in the next moment.
“Ugh!!”
Laxus VI’s expression turns to one of shock and anger as he clutches his chest, twitching in his throne.
“Your Majesty!”
The priest beside him hurriedly undoes this curse state for him.
“Didn’t we say it was impossible for anyone to curse me again? And you all, how many times have you checked the entire palace already?!!”
Laxus VI regains his breath, gasping for air, and then bellows angrily at the priest and his subordinates.
This is the third time he has been troubled by this curse state.
It seems like he is cursed relentlessly every day!
And he can’t predict the timing!
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, this is truly perplexing…”
The priest’s expression is also filled with confusion, and he even doubts the depth of his cultivation since he can’t sense the occurrence of the curse.
“Then search again! Until you find him for me, if you can’t find him, broaden the search area!!”
Laxus roars in frustration, not knowing who he is yelling at.
In any case, those who hear this sentence dare not take it lightly.
“At your command, Your Majesty.”
“Better to mistakenly kill than let any suspects go free!! I want this curse to stop immediately, right away! By tomorrow, I want to see the head of the one who cursed me!”
Laxus VI is already convinced that he has been targeted.
Not long ago, the turmoil in the Rick Kingdom involved a mysterious curse user manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
Although this mysterious curse user only indirectly caused the turmoil in the Rick Kingdom, many speculate that this curse user is the true mastermind behind it all.
After all, it was he who pushed that boulder that once out of control would lead to disastrous consequences, causing the Rick Kingdom to collapse at a reckless speed.
This raises doubts about whether he is really just a highly skilled curse user.
Who knows how much groundwork this person with such abilities has laid out in the Rick Kingdom behind the scenes?
Several princes may just be pawns played by him.
Perhaps the entire Rick Kingdom has long fallen under his control, and he only chose the best moment to showcase his masterpiece to the world!
The mysterious curse user who can manipulate everything from the shadows undoubtedly instills fear in anyone.
Due to the war in the Rick Kingdom, Laxus VI, as the leader of the Northern Kingdoms, is beset with troubles.
Just when Laxus VI thought this mysterious curse user would remain low-key for a while, he was shocked to discover that he had been targeted!
This mysterious method of casting curses without a trace undoubtedly comes from that mysterious curse user!!
The continued curses are like a death notice, conveying to Laxus VI that he has become a new target.
This makes Laxus VI feel both furious and restless!
On the bright side, it seems this curse user can only curse him once every day.
At least he can relax for the rest of today.
However, shortly after.
Laxus VI felt that familiar pain again!
As if to slap him in the face, he received a second curse!
The priest quickly and efficiently removed the curse from Laxus VI.
“Ahhh! Who is it?! Who exactly is it!! Are you watching me?!”
Laxus VI clutches his scalp, his eyes bloodshot.
If this continues, he feels he’s going to lose his mind.
The opponent looks as though they are observing him from a god’s perspective, continually raining down punishments and chronic torment upon him!
And like a ghost, they cannot be captured.
“Don’t let me find you! Otherwise, I will make you die in the most brutal way possible!!!”
Laxus VI’s roar seems to echo throughout the entire royal palace.
He has summoned the kingdom’s top-tier spellcasters, those at the seventh and eighth tiers, to come to the capital to help him search thoroughly.
In no more than a week, those powerful individuals will assemble! At that time, not even a fly will be able to escape the capital! Laxus VI vows to spare no effort in investigating thoroughly, until he captures that arrogant and despicably crafty curse user!
