Science/Magic

After learning that the news about the Heart of the Forest had been leaked and deciding to go to the Boerner Forest, Bloed, Regina, and Princess Elwha returned to the Machine Revolutio Tower.

Over there, Bloed gathered the rest of the group and told him about the situation.

"I'm going with you."

"Me too."

"My hero. My sister and I will go too."

Liu Ying, Aya, and Gina said immediately, and Sara looked at Bloed fixedly.

But Bloed shook his head.

"No."

"But–"

"Not this time, Liu Ying." He interrupted his demon girlfriend with a serious expression. "This time's trip will be very dangerous. Plus, I need someone trustworthy to stay behind." He said while looking at the other girls.

For this trip to the Boerner Forest, Bloed only planned to take Princess Elwha and Regina with him. It would be better if the others stayed behind.

If something went wrong, Regina could keep two people safe, but more than that would be dangerous.

The girls put on unconvinced expressions, and Liu Ying frowned. Obviously, they did not like this idea.

But Bloed was firm in his decision.

In the end, Bloed managed to convince them after he explained his thoughts to them.

But at that moment, an unexpected girl spoke.

"I'm going with you."

Bloed furrowed his brows.

"Eres, I guess I said that–"

"I'm going with you, brother. I'm strong enough to protect myself, so you don't need to worry about me. And I don't plan to be separated from you after we just met again."

Bloed narrowed his eyes. He stared at Eres fixedly, but the black-haired girl returned his gaze with a firm expression.

Even so, Bloed planned to refuse. But at that moment, Eres spoke again.

"If you don't agree, I will follow behind you regardless of your opinion."

Bloed was speechless.

Why was his sister so stubborn?

The pair of siblings stared at each other for several seconds, both of them unwilling to compromise. But in the end, Bloed was the first one to take a step back.

"Sigh, why are you so stubborn? Okay, okay, You can come with us."

"Mm. Thank you, brother." Eres smiled softly.

Bloed smiled as well, but at that moment, he noticed that the other girls were looking at him with dissatisfaction.

In the end, it took him a while to convince the rest of the girls to stay behind.

After he finished talking with the girls, Bloed decided to go to his laboratory next. The plan was to depart to the Boerner Forest in one week, so he needed to make as many preparations as possible before that.

Bloed had already thought of a few things that could be of help for this trip.

But in the way, he met someone familiar.

Prince Calisto.

The young lionkin prince was talking to someone in a corridor of the tower. Moreover, the person he was talking to was someone familiar.

Bloed remembered he was called Arlan Whiterock. A wolfkin student who was also a member of one of the strongest clubs of Academy City, [Beast Brotherhood].

At the start, Bloed did not pay much attention. But soon, he noticed that Prince Calisto was making a difficult face.

At that moment, Arlan seemed to notice Bloed. He furrowed his brows slightly before looking at Prince Calisto again.

"Think about my words, Prince."

Then, the wolfkin turned around and left.

Bloed raised an eyebrow when he saw that and then walked towards the lionkin prince.

"Did anything happen?" He asked.

Calisto smiled wryly and shook his head.

"It's nothing. Just that he was planning to return to the Beastmen Countries and asked me when I was planning to return."

Bloed frowned. That question…

"What did you reply?" He asked without changing his expression.

"About that… I told him that I'm fine here. I don't plan to return for the time being."

"Is it so?"

"Yes, big brother Bloed. I like this place, plus, I have learned a lot of things from you. I don't want to return to the Great Savannah that soon."

Bloed nodded to himself and continued talking to the prince.

But in his mind, he was thinking about what the lionkin prince just told him.

Arlan was planning to return to his country, and he was asking him when he was going to return.

Although nothing seemed wrong with that on the surface, the truth was very thought-provoking.

Normally, you could study in Academy City until your turned thirty.

Few people left before that. After all, Academy City was one of the best places in the continent to nurture geniuses.

But Arlan was just twenty-one.

Why did he want to leave the city then?

'… Could it be… rumors about Academy City's situation are already circulating?'

If it was so, then the situation was very bad.

Perhaps, Academy City had less time than they thought.

At that moment, the system of the tower told him that someone was looking for him at the entrance of the tower.

Bloed was startled. He connected himself to the system of the tower, only to see a familiar girl in the entrance.

Bloed's expression turned serious. He immediately went to the entrance of the tower to receive his guest.

As soon as the girl saw Bloed, she smiled softly.

"Long time no see you, Mr. Bloed."

Green eyes, soft features, and a benevolent smile on her face. She was wearing a nun habit that covered her entire body, and not even her hair could be seen.

She was the Saintess of the Church of Fate, Charise Amra.