Chapter 191

Chapter 191. Interlude – The First Night (1)

The day after the treasure hunt.

After breakfast, the candidates gathered again at the meeting place.

“Alright, the commotion from yesterday has fortunately been resolved without any issues.”

As soon as the word “commotion” was mentioned, all eyes turned to me.

I felt the sharp gazes pouring in from all sides and hung my head low.

‘This is driving me crazy, seriously.’

From my perspective, it felt like only 1-2 hours had passed at most.

But when I came out, it turned out that over five times that amount of time had passed.

‘It must have been because I was in the mental world.’

Just like when people say “I lost track of time” when they’re in a state of extreme focus, the flow of time in the mental world often works completely differently from how we perceive it in the physical world.

But even so, it’s rare for there to be such a massive gap of over five times.

‘But yesterday… wasn’t a normal situation.’

The Primordial Flame, which had absorbed the Fire Seed, started raging like a wild beast, and the “Power of Extinguishing Fire,” whose true nature I still don’t understand, calmed the Primordial Flame.

And then there was testing out the newly acquired Calamity Fire.

“Sigh.”

Looking back, it’s a miracle that it all ended in just about 12 hours.

Of course, saying it’s a “miracle” doesn’t quite cover all that was lost.

‘And I got an earful last night too.’

Yurina, Iris, Camila, Lanes, and the other comrades.

I had to explain what happened inside, and it was a real sweat-inducing ordeal.

Well, after a grueling 3-hour explanation, I was finally let off the hook.

“Now, for the candidates who found tokens during yesterday’s treasure hunt, we will hold the treasure award ceremony.”

Since Pope Marian and the Seven Star Knights were busy and had to return to the capital, the award ceremony was conducted under the guidance of the professors.

“First, the candidates who won first place, Yuren, Iris, Camila, and Albert, please come forward.”

At Professor Lucas’s words, the four of them stepped onto the stage.

“As promised, the first-place candidates will receive ‘God’s Favor’ along with special bonus points.”

Professor Lucas handed a box adorned with an elegant pattern to Yuren.

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

“And next, for the candidates who took second place, Sophia, Lanes, Berald, and Juliet…”

After the short award ceremony concluded.

The candidates who received bonus points were given free time to relax and enjoy the hot springs for the day.

“Alright! The other candidates will now move to the Light of Life Exhibition Hall, so please board the Magic Carriage!”

“Ugh…”

“We wanted to go to the hot springs too…”

“Sigh.”

The candidates made sour faces at the mention of going to the exhibition hall.

A few candidates who were particularly interested in history showed interest in the Light of Life Exhibition Hall, where Grace’s life story was recorded.

But most of them looked enviously at Yuren’s party and Sophia’s party, who had been given free time.

But that was only for a moment.

“Stop chattering and move!”

At Professor Lucas’s shout, the candidates slumped their shoulders and headed toward the Magic Carriage.

Of course, I, who hadn’t found any treasure, let alone first place, also turned toward the Magic Carriage.

‘A visit to the exhibition hall, huh.’

It was a classic school trip course, but not many candidates would enjoy visiting an exhibition hall.

Especially.

“Dale, you’ll be moving with me during the tour.”

Especially when the supervising professor was right there as a watchdog.

Sigh.

I let out a deep sigh and followed Professor Lucas.

* * *

After the Magic Carriage carrying the candidates departed.

The hot spring inn, which had been bustling with hundreds of candidates, became as quiet as a stage after a festival.

“Hmm. Maybe I should’ve just followed Dale to the exhibition hall.”

Iris kicked the ground with her toes as she watched the Magic Carriage disappear into the distance.

Yurina chuckled as she watched Iris.

“Even if you went, you’d have to move around with Professor Lucas, right?”

“Ugh… that, that’s a bit unpleasant.”

“Well… this is Dale’s own doing. Let’s just relax on our own today.”

“Okay.”

As Iris nodded, Professor Elisha approached her.

“Shall we go to the hot springs together?”

“Huh? Professor Elisha? Weren’t you supposed to go to the exhibition hall?”

“Well, originally I was supposed to go as a supervisor, but…”

Professor Elisha shrugged and continued.

“I left the supervision of the candidates to a reliable junior.”

“…Is that okay?”

“Hehe.”

Instead of answering, Professor Elisha lit a cigarette.

Iris silently prayed for Professor Lucas, who had been burdened with both supervising Dale and leading the candidates.

“Anyway, if you have nothing to do, shall we go enjoy the hot springs?”

“Hmm. It’s a bit early, but… well, I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

“Yurina, you should come too.”

“Ah, yes.”

“And…”

Professor Elisha’s gaze turned to Lanes.

Lanes, who had been stuck to Sophia like glue, flinched under Professor Elisha’s gaze.

“Lanes, would you like to join us?”

“Huh? M-me…?”

Lanes, looking flustered, tugged at Sophia’s sleeve.

“Sophia… let’s, let’s go together.”

“No.”

“Why…!”

“Hmph. I don’t need a reason to say no.”

Sophia flatly refused.

Lanes pouted and stomped her feet.

Professor Elisha glanced at Camila and Sophia, who had naturally distanced themselves as soon as the hot springs were mentioned, and chuckled.

“Camila and Sophia seem to have no interest, so let’s just go by ourselves.”

“I, I’m fine too…”

“Come along.”

“Eek!”

Lanes was dragged along by Professor Elisha.

“Perfect timing.”

Professor Elisha looked at Iris, Yurina, and Lanes and spoke softly.

“I’ve been wanting to have a relaxed chat with just us.”

“…Just ‘us’?”

“Hmm? The only thing we all have in common is one thing, right?”

Professor Elisha smirked.

“Let’s all soak in the warm hot springs and talk about Candidate Dale.”

“……”

“……”

Iris, Yurina, and Lanes stiffened, glancing at each other.

Professor Elisha flicked her cigarette and leisurely walked toward the hot springs.

* * *

“Ahh. Coming in early in the morning gives a different feeling.”

The private hot spring.

Only the four of them were there, and a quiet silence settled over the area.

“By the way, if what Dale said is true, the hot springs in the Thermal Region will disappear in a few years… What a shame.”

Professor Elisha clicked her tongue, recalling what Dale had told her last night.

“But we can’t leave the seeds of calamity left by the Devil God just for the sake of the hot springs, right?”

“That’s true.”

Professor Elisha nodded and looked at Iris.

“By the way, Iris, why did you fall for Dale?”

“Pfft! Huh? W-what kind of question is that…?”

“Hehe. Isn’t it normal for girls to ask these kinds of questions when they get together? Especially…”

Professor Elisha smiled meaningfully as she looked at Iris, Yurina, and Lanes.

“Especially when you all have feelings for the same man.”

“……”

The three women gulped as Professor Elisha spoke so bluntly.

“…Professor Elisha, why did you fall for Dale?”

“Hmm? You want me to go first?”

Professor Elisha poured herself a drink from the cold ice bucket she had brought before entering the hot springs.

“Ahh. Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m telling you all about myself.”

Professor Elisha spoke softly.

“My hometown was destroyed by the Monster Legion led by the Grand Archbishop of Beasts. My parents, my friends… everyone in the village except me died.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s…”

“It’s an old story. No need to make that face.”

Professor Elisha smiled faintly and continued in a calm voice.

The reason she became interested in Dale.

The story of how she followed the Grand Archbishop of Beasts to a rural village.

How she descended into the abyss chasing the Grand Archbishop of Beasts during the Monster Legion’s invasion.

“That’s… quite a story.”

While some of the stories were already known, they only knew the general outline of the events, not the emotional changes Professor Elisha had gone through.

“To be honest… I was jealous of you, Iris.”

“Jealous?”

“It was obvious who Dale cared about the most, even without him saying it.”

“……”

Iris flinched at Professor Elisha’s words.

Yurina and Lanes, who had been quietly listening, also nodded with bitter smiles, as if they already knew.

“T-that’s…”

“It’s not something you need to worry about, Iris. It’s more that I’m foolish for not being able to sort out my feelings even though I knew.”

“……”

Iris cautiously spoke to Professor Elisha, who was smiling self-deprecatingly.

“That’s not true.”

“Hmm?”

“Even if the situation were reversed… I wouldn’t have been able to give up either.”

“……”

Professor Elisha’s eyes widened in surprise.

“And… it might sound strange, but I think this kind of relationship isn’t so bad.”

“That really is a strange thing to say.”

“Hehe. Right?”

Iris laughed lightly and hugged her knees.

“But… I mean it. I don’t know about the others, but before I met Dale, I didn’t have anyone I could call a friend except Camila.”

“Same here.”

“M-me too! Before I met Dale… I didn’t know being with others could be this fun!”

Iris’s words made Yurina and Lanes nod.

The four women looked at each other and laughed together.

“This is really… Dale is quite the sinful man.”

“Hehe. That’s true.”

“Hmm. By the way…”

Professor Elisha looked at Iris with a sly smile.

“So, Iris, how far have you gone with Dale?”

“Huh? W-what do you mean, how far?”

“Have you done it yet?”

“……!”

Iris’s legs flailed as her mouth hung open at Professor Elisha’s bombshell.

“W-w-what are you talking about?!”

“Hmm? Isn’t it natural for lovers to have a physical relationship?”

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

“Or is it that the Saintess has no interest in such scandalous things?”

“That’s… not it, but…”

Iris’s face turned red as she half-submerged herself in the hot spring water.

Bubbles rose from below her nose.

“Hmm. How about this then?”

Professor Elisha smirked.

“How about you and Dale share a room tonight?”

“…Huh?”

“Hehe. If you take the first step, it’ll be easier for the rest of us to follow, right?”

“……”

Iris’s pupils trembled at the unexpected suggestion.