Back in the Hall
The hall buzzed with heated argunts and lingering tension.
So students were shouting accusations, while others had already resorted to fists.
"You bastard! You coward! I took you into my team, and you stabbed in the back!"
Similar outbursts erupted all over the hall, as students who had been betrayed during the expedition now challenged their forr teammates to one-on-one duels.
Amidst the chaos, Arthur calmly observed.
His golden eyes scanned the room, noting sothing odd.
"Hmm… looks like only Class S and A students are here. The other dungeons haven't been cleared yet."
"Talking to yourself again?"
A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
A firm pat landed on Arthur's shoulder.
Turning around, he found Cedric standing there, grinning.
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Huh. You look fine. Honestly, I thought you'd be crawling out of the dungeon half-dead."
Cedric scoffed.
"You wish."
Then, with a proud smirk, he folded his arms.
"Luckily, Kaela and I spawned together. She carried the entire ti."
Arthur blinked.
"…You're actually bragging about that?"
Cedric shrugged.
"Why not? Everyone has their own strengths. Kaela's got the muscles, and I've got the brains. We made a great team. We crushed it."
Then, nudging Kaela, he smirked.
"Isn't that right, dear~? Isn't this love?"
Kaela rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Idiot."
Still, she didn't deny it.
"Cedric planned everything. He figured out weak points in monsters, gave strategies, and handled directions. Otherwise, I'd probably still be lost in that damn forest."
Arthur chuckled.
"I see. So, you two balance each other's weaknesses. That's good."
Then, without warning—
Arthur grabbed Cedric by the collar and dragged him to the side.
"H-Hey! What the hell, man?! I thought we were celebrating!"
Arthur smirked.
"We need to talk."
Arthur leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as he eyed Cedric with a knowing smirk.
"So… just how close have you two gotten to be calling each other 'love'?"
Cedric's grin turned downright lascivious.
"We've gone all the way."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Tch. And what are you grinning for? I highly doubt you were the one in charge in bed. Let guess—she tossed you around like a ragdoll?"
Cedric snorted.
"Heh~ Even if that's true, I was still the one doing the penetrating. That's what matters."
Arthur chuckled.
"Technicalities. You're still getting manhandled."
Cedric just shrugged.
Arthur shifted the conversation.
"Does Alicia know about you two?"
"Of course. And she approves." Cedric puffed his chest out proudly. "Hell, I even told my family."
Arthur's curiosity piqued.
"Oh? And how did they take it? Weren't they mad that their heir fell for a beastman?"
Cedric laughed.
"Mad? On the contrary, they were ecstatic. Our business has been stagnant for a while, and we've been looking for a way to expand into other races. hooking up with the princess of the Wolf Tribe? That's a golden opportunity."
Arthur whistled.
"You lucky son of a bitch. You got the girl and boosted your family's status. Your standing must've shot through the roof."
Cedric grinned smugly.
"Damn right."
Just then—
"What are you guys talking about?"
Arthur and Cedric turned to see Alicia approaching, her curious gaze flicking between them.
Without missing a beat, Arthur smirked.
"Oh, nothing. Just discussing how Cedric handled himself in the dungeon."
Cedric, ever the smooth talker, chid in. Explore more stories at empire
"Yeah, just sharing so experiences."
Arthur and Cedric exchanged a knowing glance.
"Well, since Alicia's here, I'll give you two so space." Cedric smirked, patting Arthur's shoulder before casually making his way back to Kaela.
Arthur turned to Alicia, raising an eyebrow.
"Why are you alone? Where's Akira and Eveline?"
Alicia tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Oh, Eveline? She's over there."
She gestured toward a distant corner where Eveline sat, legs trembling, her expression dazed.
"It seems that, thanks to a certain soone, she can't even stand properly."
Arthur let out a low chuckle.
"Huh. Did she forget she's a Saintess? Can't she heal herself?"
Alicia leaned in, grinning.
"Oh, she can. She just doesn't want to."
Arthur's eyebrow arched. "What?"
"She said she likes this pain." Alicia's grin widened.
Arthur let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Tch. Naughty little Saintess."
Alicia giggled.
"And what about Akira?"
Alicia shrugged.
"No clue. She's been avoiding us."
Arthur smirked.
"Still shy, huh? Give it ti. She'll 'open up' soon enough."
Alicia crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you seriously saying that in front of your girlfriend?"
Arthur t her gaze without hesitation.
"Are you mad about it?"
Alicia's expression softened into a knowing smirk.
"Not really. If anything, I'll just be getting more girls under ."
Arthur chuckled, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into his embrace.
"Of course, my queen." His voice dropped to a low, sultry whisper. "I'll make sure to gather a grand harem just for you to command."
His lascivious smile made Alicia's cheeks tinge pink, but she didn't deny it.
However—
"SILENCE!"
A booming voice cut through the hall.
Professor Samantha's authoritative tone instantly commanded attention.
The murmuring crowd fell still.
She stood tall, her gaze sharp as she swept it across the students.
"I have assessed your performance during the dungeon expedition."
Her voice was calm but heavy, each word dripping with disappointnt.
"And I must say... I am not impressed."
A wave of unease passed through the hall.
Samantha's eyes narrowed.
"While there were a few exemplary talents, most of you..." she exhaled sharply, "...spent more ti robbing your fellow students than actually hunting monsters."
The hall erupted into murmurs of protest.
Discontented voices rose, but Samantha didn't waver.
"I know it was I who told you that you could steal points from others." Her tone hardened. "But that rule was there to test your judgnt—to see whether you would make the right choice."
She let her words sink in before continuing.
"Instead of honing your skills, instead of proving yourselves as warriors, you chose the easy path—attacking your fellow students rather than the real enemy."
Her gaze swept over the crowd.
"And that, my dear students, is not the mindset of a warrior fit for the frontlines."
Silence fell over the hall.
For so, her words struck deep.
For others, resentnt simred.
Arthur simply smirked, watching the chaos unfold.
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