Chapter 55: Chapter 55

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Team Iris

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While Barcop was suffering from heartbreak,

Hanania abruptly pushed me away.

Hanania and I were face to face.

If it had been Hanania's original face, perhaps, but since Hanania was currently in Hanon's form, I quickly moved away too.

I had no hobby of getting close to a man's face.

"…I was wondering why Lady Iris suddenly called for me, but the timing is truly something."

Hanania sighed, her expression troubled. It seemed Iris had sent Hanania here.

I was grateful to Iris.

I almost had to deal with a corpse today.

"Hanania, so Associate Professor Barcop has been your stalker all this time, hasn't he?"

Hanania glanced at me when I asked.

"That's right. And quite persistent too."

An associate professor and a well-connected family.

With these two things backing him, Associate Professor Barcop was a difficult opponent even for Hanania to deal with.

"I was waiting for him to give me something to work with. He really has terrible timing, that man."

Hanania shook her head, looking utterly fed up.

"More importantly, we're supposedly dating now. What are you going to do about that?"

Recently, I'd been rejected even before confessing.

Now, I was dating someone before even confessing.

My life truly was dynamic.

"…Associate Professor Barcop, despite how he seems, has a needlessly strong persistence."

"So, if he finds out we're not dating, he'll just go back to being a stalker."

"Yes, probably."

I understood the situation.

Since I had also been attacked by Barcop's confession,

I could empathize with how tormenting it was to be stalked by someone like him.

"How long do you think it'll take for Professor Barcop to understand and give up?"

"…Probably a few months."

"Then, let's just pretend to date for a few months."

Hanania's eyes widened.

"It's spilled milk anyway. Might as well make use of it now that it's spilled."

"…You don't just want to date me, do you?"

I straightened my face.

"It's a joke."

It genuinely seemed like a joke she made to try and lighten the mood.

"Even though things turned out this way, I'm sorry for getting you involved."

Hanania offered a more sincere apology than I expected.

She had only been prickly because of the group match with Iris.

Her nature itself wasn't that bad.

"It's fine. This isn't your fault."

It was Barcop's fault, through and through.

I didn't think Hanania needed to apologize.

"Hanon Airey, you're a better person than I thought. Is it because you have a little bit of Lady Iris's blood in you?"

"My high opinion of you just now dropped a bit because of that last comment."

"I wonder how low it can go. More importantly, if rumors spread that I'm dating you, won't Hanon be in trouble too?"

"Do you really think adding one more rumor to my current reputation will cause me trouble?"

Hanania thought for a moment, then understood.

I was the one called 'Lightning Bastard'.

If I were to date Hanania, it would only generate sympathy for Hanania.

It would have no impact on me, then or now.

"More importantly, we've spent too much time. Let's go back to our respective teams now."

"You're right."

Hanania turned and spoke to me.

"Please take good care of Lady Iris."

The corner of my mouth lifted.

"Sure, leave it to me."

"Ha, honestly, who do you think I'd entrust Lady Iris to?"

What did she want me to do about that?

Hanania gave a short laugh, as if it were a joke, then left for her team.

It seemed I had left a good impression on Hanania through this incident.

'There's no harm in getting close to the combat magic runner-up.'

Having a bad relationship with just Isabel was enough for me.

As I emerged from the forest, I saw people gathered around Iris.

Iris was standing with her arms crossed, and when her eyes met mine, she reacted.

"Hanania."

"I'm back."

When I stood beside Iris, she looked around, then leaned closer to me.

"What happened?"

"Hanon came and it was resolved well."

Iris let out a small sigh of relief.

Then, Iris's red eyes gleamed chillingly.

"…I'll have to cut him loose soon."

…She means cut him from his associate professor position, right?

I shivered, feeling goosebumps.

"Hey, Hanania."

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

Knowing the owner of the voice, I shifted my gaze.

Short-cropped brown hair and rings dangling from his fingers.

As soon as I saw him, my eyes involuntarily filled with disdain.

Second-year Archmage runner-up.

Dorara Korazin.

He, the rear-guard of Iris's team, was there.

"Just now, that bastard Hanon came out of the forest. Were you with him?"

"Yes, I was. Why?"

Dorara's face crumpled when I answered.

His teeth ground together.

"Hanania, I'm warning you now, don't even associate with that bastard. He's someone you gain nothing from dealing with."

Dorara had been thoroughly beaten by me recently.

Perhaps holding a grudge from that incident, his teeth were grinding fiercely.

"Hahaha, it seems you really got a taste of it, just like the rumors say!"

Then, a large man behind Dorara laughed, looking at him.

Dark skin and thick lips.

A man clutching a bible tightly in his thick hands.

Divinity Studies runner-up.

Joachim.

The thick muscles visible through his clothes seemed far removed from Divinity Studies.

That was natural.

Because he was a battle priest.

'He's a year younger than me, and he's a freshman?'

Joachim's face was not much different from that of a veteran mercenary who had seen many battles.

Even professors would inadvertently bow their heads when they saw Joachim.

He possessed a naturally imposing appearance.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, it's naughty to speak ill of others."

Then, a face subtly emerged from behind Joachim's back.

Unlike the massive Joachim, this one was infinitely small.

Wearing a deep hood over her head, her gray bangs covered her eyes completely, making them invisible.

She appeared infinitely frail, but knowing the truth, it was a different story.

Top student of Special Studies.

Curse Weaver.

Varencia Kaze.

This was Iris's team.

'Even looking again, she really gathered only formidable individuals.'

It's just that I brought out cheats like the Saint or Sharin.

Iris had essentially assembled the best team she possibly could.

And at the center of all these members was Iris herself.

"You guys just don't know! If you knew how crazy that bastard is, you'd take back what you're saying right now."

Dorara was practically having a fit, seemingly unable to bear even imagining what happened back then.

His face looked like he was about to foam at the mouth.

"Not long ago, you couldn't leave Sharin alone, and now it's Hanon. Brother Dorara, you truly are consistent."

"That guy is much worse than Sharin, that wench!"

It was the first time I'd been rated higher than Sharin.

I felt like I could puff out my chest a little.

"Ahem, ahem."

Meanwhile, Iris subtly turned her head and covered her mouth.

It seemed Dorara was cursing in front of her without knowing, which meant she was having trouble maintaining her composure.

"Lady Iris, this isn't the time to laugh."

I poked Iris's arm.

Iris then briefly curled the corner of her mouth, as if apologetic.

It was an enchanting smile that captivated people.

"Tsk, if I had properly faced him, he would have been the one beaten to a pulp. I just let my guard down at first for no reason."

Dorara began to grumble.

It seemed he had completely forgotten being beaten unconscious by me back then.

'Well then.'

I'd have to remind him when I got the chance.

I quietly clenched my fist, unnoticed by others.

"Team Iris."

Just then, with all the third-year students finally entered, Iris's team was called.

Even though they were second in the group match,

judging by their overall performance, Team Iris was ahead of everyone else.

As Iris stepped forward at the call,

even Dorara, who had been grumbling moments ago, and the other two, immediately fell silent.

Instead, they walked with proud strides, as if escorting her.

As Iris advanced, gazes of admiration streamed from the other students.

As they walked beside her,

many different gazes, unlike any I had ever experienced, converged on us.

The gazes were heavy.

A mix of admiration, jealousy, longing, and resignation.

Various complex emotions dripped from the students' eyes.

Now I understood why Team Iris always walked with such proud steps.

They needed to be strong, if only to shake off the students' gazes.

And this was directly linked to their confidence.

The supreme confidence that they could do anything.

'This is Team Iris, the strongest existing team.'

The aura emanating from Iris, leading the way, was something no one dared to approach.

"Team Iris."

Professor Veganon, looking exhausted, swept his gaze over everyone.

"Return safely."

He didn't say much.

What the strongest team needed was trust, more than advice.

Soon after, Team Iris entered the Magic Palace.

The unique, unsettling sensation of the Magic Palace brushed over my body.

A moment later, my head slowly lifted.

"It seems to be the Iron Dust Desert today."

Magic Palace, 1st Floor.

Iron Dust Desert.

A desolate desert of iron stretched before my eyes.

As I licked my lips, a subtle metallic taste lingered in my mouth.

This meant that iron dust was mixed in the air.

At that moment, a wind rose around us.

The iron dust, which had been carried by the air and seeping into our clothes and airways, was all blown away by the wind.

"First the Gray Forest, now the Iron Dust Desert. I wish the seniors would clean up a bit before they leave."

It was Dorara's magic, his staff in hand.

"Ugh, seniors always hurry to descend to the next floor as quickly as possible."

The Curse Weaver, Varencia, spoke, holding her bangs with her hand.

And her words were correct.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble!*

Beneath the Iron Dust Desert.

A massive tremor began to be felt.

*Boom!*

Soon after, a giant snake with a massive body burst through the iron dust, rising up.

Covered in steel blades all over its body, it looked dangerous at a glance.

A magical beast wielded by an Apostle.

The One Who Could Not Become a Dragon.

*Clang-*

Before I knew it, Iris had drawn her sword.

It seemed the seniors had decided to avoid confronting The One Who Could Not Become a Dragon, judging it a waste of too much time.

But for the strongest imperial family member, such considerations were irrelevant.

"Team Iris."

With Iris's call, a crimson aura bloomed from her sword.

The aura, reminiscent of a rose, was beautiful enough to captivate everyone's gaze.

Iris moved through the iron dust.

Her majestic steps, each one, were like the strides of a giant.

"It's a hunt for a large magical beast."

The team leader had called it.

"Yes."

If so, everyone would simply follow.