Chapter 143: Return to Campus
[Name: Raiden Mei]
[Affection: 75%]
[Level: 60/(???)]
[Race: Human/Herrscher]
[HP: 1300/1300]
[Constitution: 130]
[Strength: 145]
[Agility: 200]
[Intelligence: 175]
[Total Attributes: 650]
[Equipment: St. Freya Academy Uniform, Pulse Katana Type-19]
[Learned Skills: Basic Kendo (Mastery), Hokushin Ittō-ryū (Mastery)]
[Name: Bronya Zaychik]
[Trust: 82%]
[Level: 65]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 1000/1000]
[Constitution: 100]
[Strength: 50]
[Agility: 50]
[Intelligence: 500]
[Total Attributes: 700]
[Equipment: St. Freya Academy Uniform, Exoskeleton Armor, Project Bunny 19C]
[Learned Skills: Artillery Mastery (Mastery), Hacking Mastery (Mastery), Assassination Mastery (Mastery)]
[Name: Kiana Kaslana]
[Trust: 90%]
[Level: 68/(???)]
[Race:???]
[HP: 3000/3000]
[Constitution: 300]
[Strength: 350]
[Agility: 150]
[Intelligence: 50]
[Total Attributes: 850]
[Equipment: St. Freya Academy Uniform, Modified Colt Python]
[Learned Skills: Basic Martial Arts (Minor Accomplishment), Gun-Fu (Minor Accomplishment)]
Using his 'Observation' skill, Rovel finally got a clear look at the girls' current attributes. The data panels shimmered into existence in his vision, a private stream of information only he could see.
He noted, however, that the numbers were incomplete, almost misleading. Bronya's stats, for instance, couldn't be judged by the panel alone. Her Strength and Agility were listed as a mere 50, but that was just her personal baseline. With her Exoskeleton Armor, her speed could easily surpass even Kiana's explosive bursts, and when piloting Project Bunny 19C, her effective strength could go toe-to-toe with a Temple-class Honkai Beast. On top of that, the mech could generate a powerful defensive field.
'Among the three of them,'Rovel concluded,'Bronya is, without a doubt, the strongest at this moment.'
"Mei, long time no—"
Rovel's greeting was cut short as a soft warmth slammed into his chest. Mei had closed the distance in a heartbeat, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his uniform.
"Mr. Rovel... I missed you so much..." she whispered, her voice a muffled, heartfelt sigh. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. It had changed. Before, he carried the faint, clean fragrance of cherry blossoms. Now, that was gone, replaced by something far more complex, something rich and difficult to describe, yet it drew her in with an even greater pull than before.
Hearing the soft collision, Kiana and Bronya turned around. They took in the sight of the two, lost in their own world like a couple deep in the honeymoon phase. The girls exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them that ended in a mutual, helpless shrug.
They waited patiently. Only when Mei finally, reluctantly, pulled away, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, did Kiana and Bronya step forward.
"Long time no see, Rovel," Bronya stated, her tone as even as ever, though a flicker of warmth danced in her eyes. "You look to be in much better spirits than before. Bronya's Project Bunny has monitored your physical data. It is unexpectedly good."
"Yeah," Rovel confirmed with a nod, feeling the vibrant energy thrumming just beneath his skin. "The negative side effects from using Jizo Mitama have completely disappeared. My physical condition is better than it's ever been."
"Hmm... You were like this last time as well," Bronya remarked, her gaze analytical. "Other Descenders show no physical changes after leaving and returning to this world. You are the only exception."
Rovel recalled how, the last time he'd returned, he had caught her completely off guard and managed to forcibly escape from ME Corp's clutches.
He just grinned. "Maybe I'm just a 'Cheat Player' in this game."
"Speaking of which..." Kiana blinked, her head tilting as a sudden thought struck her. "Aren't we forgetting something?"
As if on cue, the sharp, insistent ringing of the school bell echoed across the campus. The four of them froze for a split second before their eyes widened in unison. With a shared sense of panic, they broke into a frantic sprint toward their classroom.
Kiana, being the fastest, was the first to burst through the door.
"Kiana, you're late again!" Himeko's voice cut through the air, sharp and stern. She stood at the front of the class, arms crossed.
"I can explain!" Kiana yelped, holding her hands up defensively. "I wouldn't have been late, but on the way, I ran into..."
"An old lady crossing the street? Or a lost little girl?" Himeko cut her off, her expression unimpressed. "Enough. I've heard your excuses dozens of times. You're punished to stand for this lesson." She had already sentenced Kiana before the girl could finish her fabricated tale.
Kiana's cheeks puffed out in a pout, clearly dissatisfied with the verdict.
Just then, Mei and Bronya arrived, breathless. "Professor Himeko, sorry, we're late."
Himeko's eyebrow rose. "Mei, Bronya, how are even you two late?" This was a rare sight indeed. Her two top students, paragons of excellent conduct, had never been tardy before.
"We ran into Rovel on the way," Bronya explained calmly. "We accidentally lost track of time."
Himeko's gaze shifted back to Kiana, who was now wearing a deeply wronged expression, her pout intensifying.
"Then where is Rovel?" Himeko glanced behind the two girls but saw no one else.
"Professor Himeko, I'm right here."
A calm voice spoke up from the back of the classroom. Rovel, seated comfortably at an empty desk, gave a small wave. He had to admit, his newfound 'Quantum' Authority was incredibly useful. A subtle manipulation of space, a step through a non-existent door, and he had appeared in the classroom without a single person noticing.
"Eh?!" Kiana stared at Rovel in utter disbelief. He was clearly running behind her just a moment ago! How did he get to the classroom in a flash and find a seat?
Bronya and Mei's eyes also widened, their surprise evident. Neither of them had any idea when he had slipped past them and entered the room.
"How did you sneak in?" Himeko's face darkened, her eyes narrowing dangerously. She had scanned the room when she first entered. If Rovel had truly been here the whole time, there was no way she could have missed him.
"I've been here the whole time," Rovel said, his eyes darting around with an air of feigned innocence. "Maybe you just didn't notice, Professor Himeko."
Himeko rolled her eyes, a gesture that spoke volumes. "Go stand with Kiana. Bronya, Mei, return to your seats."
Rovel sighed helplessly and got to his feet. He ambled to the back of the classroom, taking his place beside Kiana. Together, they became the twin guardians of the back row.
"Why do I have to stand too?" Kiana grumbled, confused. "Mei and Bronya were late for the same reason!"
"To prevent you from falling asleep," Himeko replied without missing a beat, a counter-strategy already prepared. "Standing during class keeps you more alert." She knew perfectly well that if Kiana sat down, she'd be dozing within minutes.
"..." Kiana was completely out of arguments. At least, she thought, Rovel was standing there with her.
It was rather amusing. Rovel hadn't been in any trouble initially, but his attempt to be clever had backfired, landing him a punishment alongside Kiana. Still, the fact that the class's top student and its bottom-ranking one were punished together proved that Himeko was a good teacher who didn't just value grades.
The lesson passed quickly enough. When the bell rang again, Rovel was liberated. Kiana, on the other hand, slumped over her desk, looking completely burnt out.
"Kiana, you can't be this decadent," Mei reminded her gently. "The next Monthly Exam will be here again soon."
"Eh?!" Kiana's head shot up, a look of horror on her face. "Didn't I just finish one?" She looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown. Why was there another exam?!
"Idiot Kiana," Bronya interjected mercilessly. "Guess why it's called a 'Monthly' Exam? The reason you feel like it hasn't been long is because you spent an extra week on Make-up Exams."
"And after this exam, it'll be the Shenzhou New Year," Rovel added, leaning over and lightly flicking the stubborn cowlick on her head. "That means a long holiday of over half a month. You wouldn't want to waste another week of it on make-up exams, would you?"
"I don't want that to happen!" Kiana clutched her head, the image of a wasted holiday flashing before her eyes.
"So to avoid that, listen well in class from now on," Rovel said. "When we go out to play during the holiday, the teachers will be on vacation too. No one will have time to tutor you."
His words seemed to have some effect. For the rest of the day's classes, Kiana didn't fall asleep once. Though, judging by the vacant look on her face, it was hard to say if she actually understood anything.
That evening, Rovel was dragged to the infirmary by Himeko for a full check-up. When the diagnostic machine showed that Rovel's Honkai Energy Erosion progress had actually reverted to 0%, her eyes were wide with shock and a raw, undisguised envy.
She urgently grilled him, demanding to know how he did it.
Rovel, however, could only offer a helpless shrug. "Sorry, Himeko. I don't have a way to help you solve the artificial stigmata issue. Not for now, anyway."
Though a flicker of disappointment crossed Himeko's face, she didn't let it linger. Instead, she threw an arm around his shoulder and dragged him to a nearby bar for a drink.
After a few glasses, Himeko fell quiet, leaning over the small table and staring into the clear liquid swirling in her glass. The boisterous atmosphere of the bar seemed to fade around her, leaving an uneasy silence in its wake.
"A couple of days ago, Theresa told me I have a few years of life left at most."
Without any warning, Himeko spoke the words, her voice quiet but clear.
Her expression was utterly calm, as if she were merely commenting on the weather or some other trivial matter.
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