Entangled Newcomers

A spacious and pristine research lab.

It was a private research lab obtained through a deal with Deos.

'Indeed, it's a private research lab. Look at the size and the equipment. It's on a whole different level from what I saw in games and what I see in reality.'

Thinking that it was a good idea to provoke, I recalled the strange energy I felt as I left the principal's office.

'It doesn't show because I lack affinity, but just in case, I emitted mana...'

When I emitted mana, I could feel something repelling it.

Deos couldn't hide his sinister intentions and tried to attach a spirit to me.

If he didn't know beforehand that I was a spirit magician, he would have unquestionably followed me with his spirit.

'Now, let's get to work. I'm busy, very busy!'

In a place filled with all sorts of tools and equipment for experiments, I had taken out Nickel and Timur.

'This is a complete mess.'

Nickel's damage rate was quite high.

Since he fought fiercely until the end against Hosan, there were more than just one or two places that needed attention, unlike other undead.

Thud!

Whether Nickel knew about my inner thoughts or not, he was still swinging his sword with one hand.

One good thing about being undead is that no matter how damaged their body gets, there's no pain.

"Let's start with repairing it."

Actually, after the battle with Hasan, there was unexpected news.

It was the news of Nickel and Timur's evolution.

[Evolution potential of Sloth Phantom (Legendary) - 32%]

[If evolved, there will be one branch.]

[Do you want to proceed with the evolution?]

[Evolution potential of Revenant Fighter (Legendary) - 88%]

[If evolved, there will be one branch.]

[Do you want to proceed with the evolution?]

I decided to wait for Nickel since there was only a mere 32% probability.

Since I hadn't seen the results of failure, there was no need to rush and take the risk.

'Timur deserves a chance though.'

For the typical necromancer, the methods to make the summoned entity stronger were limited.

At most, they would just provide equipment, right?

But since I can maximize their potential to the limit through evolution, I felt quite proud of myself for choosing the evolution feature once again.

'Let's start with the repairs for now.'

Just to be safe, I should evolve them after the repairs.

I took out Hosan's corpse from the expanded spatial bag and immediately got to work.

Restoring undead was an easy task for me, as I had experience from lifting curses under Charon.

In the early days under Charon, it was something I did almost every day.

'I should have done it sooner. The body has decomposed a bit.'

I replaced Nickel's left arm with Hasan's arm and also replaced the broken or missing ribs.

As for Timur, luckily he only had minor wounds, so I quickly attended to him without any body parts missing like Nickel.

Unless it was a severe injury from the beginning, undead summoned by magic would slowly and automatically restore themselves with my mana.

"Phew."

Checking the time, I realized that it had already become late at night.

Since I came straight after leaving the principal's office, it took about 10 hours for the repairs.

If I didn't have the experience, it would have taken me days to complete the task.

'I surprisingly have some skill with my hands.'

It could be considered as one of the few talents I had from my previous life as Adrias.

Of course, it wasn't outstanding enough to appear in the status window, but still.

'Now that the repairs are done, it's time for the awaited evolution.'

Unfortunately, it seemed that Nickel's evolution had to be postponed for now.

The 32% probability was honestly too risky.

[Revenant Fighter (Legendary)]

[In the process of evolution...]

[Remaining time: 342 hours 28 minutes 03 seconds]

It will take about 14 days and 6 hours.

About two weeks, right?

When I used evolution on Timur, he scratched his body as if it were itching, and it looked as if he were truly alive.

On the other hand, Nickel had a different reaction.

'Now, the remaining tasks are getting Lucia's healing potion and meeting Benjamin as we agreed. Is the exchange meeting next week?'

There were many tasks that needed to be dealt with.

In the meantime, I had to keep an eye on Kyle's potions being leaked to the outside world. I wished I had two bodies to handle everything.

'Can't be helped. I have to prepare for the future as busy as I am.'

But I couldn't stop training myself.

Since I had decided to stay in the Department of Magic, I had to learn not only Earth magic but also magic from other elements.

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Chris Unor was a person of great pride as the grandson of the prestigious Marquis Unor, a renowned swordsman.

Since he started walking, he had been training in swordsmanship, and on his fourteenth birthday, his father encouraged him to enter Monas Academy.

"The swordsmanship of our family is profound. However, it is like a narrow well. Learn about the wider world."

As previously mentioned, Chris took great pride in his family and their swordsmanship, but he couldn't go against his father's wishes.

He secretly believed that there was no swordsmanship superior to his family's.

Clang!

"Lewis defeated Chris!"

"Incredible! How did he defeat Chris, who comes from a swordsmanship lineage?"

However, Chris's pride was shattered shortly after he entered the academy.

And it was shattered by a mere commoner, not even from a prestigious family.

'A mere commoner, an ignorant fool without any knowledge of our family's swordsmanship!'

It was so humiliating.

It was a fact that he had to admit that he had lost.

His strict standards and self-critical nature applied to himself as well.

"Damn it."

Since then, Chris devoted himself to training with the intensity of self-destruction.

He had to find a way to regain his lost honor and reputation, no matter what.

Three years passed like that.

He still couldn't defeat Louis.

Not only could he not defeat Louis, but Serena, who was closely chasing after him, made it difficult for him to sleep at night.

'How on earth can I defeat that guy?'

Three years at Monas Academy.

He trained diligently to the point where everyone around him knew how hard he was working.

Of course, some called it part of the rest, but his restless heart prevented him from feeling the rest as restful.

With no reason to enter Rodren Academy, Chris followed Louis and Serena, driven by anxiety.

Thud!

As Chris, who had put down a barbell that regular people wouldn't dare to move for strength training, took a moment to rest, students who were conversing nearby approached him.

"Oh, Chris! Finished your workout?"

"No, not yet."

"Really? Well, haven't you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"After the morning lecture yesterday, Louis barged into the Department of Magic!"

"Hmph, I don't care."

He said that, but even though the rest time was over, Chris waited without lifting the barbell.

And the students who were talking continued as if familiar with Chris's response.

"This time, he went to find the person who became famous in the recent tournament. Was it Adrias Cromwell? I didn't see him, but he's someone who uses magic and a sword."

In an instant, Chris's anger flared up.

Who the hell was this guy who not only focused on the sword but also dabbled in everything!

Recently, Louis, who had been getting weaker in their sparring sessions, went to find someone who wasn't anyone special, and that didn't sit well with Chris.

"But you know what's funny? Louis went to him and challenged him to a duel, but that guy named Adrias completely ignored him without saying a word."

Upon hearing that, Chris abruptly stood up from his seat.

The students who were sharing the news with him anxiously asked, "Chris? Where are you going?"

"The Department of Magic."

With just those words, Chris disappeared.

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After all the classes were over, during the evening hours for wrapping up the day.

Serena was hurrying somewhere due to the news she had heard a while ago.

'This idiot!'

The news was that Chris had suddenly entered the Department of Magic.

At first, Serena didn't think much of it, but when she heard that his target was Adrias Cromwell, she couldn't help but try to stop him.

For Chris, Louis was a cherished goal.

To hear that Louis was ignored was something that would make him take action.

But...

'The Adrias senior I saw that day...'

As she was now, as herself or as Chris, it was an insurmountable wall.

Chris probably hadn't seen the tournament, so he could act recklessly like that.

The Unor family, to which Chris belonged, and the Erestial family, to which Serena belonged, had been rival families for a long time.

Though they were considered rivals, they didn't have a particularly bad relationship. They competed with each other to the point where it seemed childish, and from an outsider's perspective, they seemed to have more camaraderie than any other family.

As families with such a relationship, Serena and Chris had been aware of each other's existence and had grown up with that awareness since they were young.

They were good rivals and friends.

That was the beginning for them.

'Although it's a bit off now.'

Even when Chris had pride in his family, he didn't have such a closed-off personality.

He was no different from any other noble who understood the honor of their lineage and followed the code of chivalry.

However, he had become engulfed in darkness due to the immense light he encountered at Monas Academy.

'He became dark. He doesn't smile like before. It's as if he's possessed by something, just training.'

Darkness.

In other words, it could be described as loneliness.

Chris, deep in contemplation, had transformed into a lonely wolf, refusing others' approach and only pursuing the light.

Serena felt a mix of pity and sympathy for such a Chris.

Knowing his childhood, she felt even stronger emotions.

And because she was that kind of person, she could go and stop Chris.

'Is it too late?'

She took out her tablet from her embrace and checked for updates.

Fortunately, the classmates who were with Chris had sent her messages, following him.

'Arrived at the Department of Magic! But still couldn't find Adrias senior!'

Serena, after checking the messages, murmured anxiously, "Please..."

Adrias Cromwell had an infamous reputation.

Though he had changed a bit now, until last year, he was said to be like a trash with a ruined personality.

If Chris picked a fight with such a senior, he could be expelled if he made a wrong move, and even if not, he could end up with some injuries that would prevent him from seeking treatment.

At the beginning of the semester, when each lecture was important, being hospitalized would be fatal.

The fact that Chris, who cared so much about his honor and reputation, would have a downfall was an additional worry.

While lost in thought, a new message refreshed.

"Serena! I actually found him first. Adrias senior is in the research building of the Department of Magic. But it seems like Chris is also heading in this direction. Please stop him quickly!"

Coincidentally, the train arrived at the premises of the Department of Magic.

If Serena took the train to the research building, she could arrive earlier than Chris, who would have to walk.

"This station is..."

Finally, as the train arrived, Serena got off and looked around.

And she immediately spotted Chris.

"Chris!"

Chris turned his head at Serena's shout.

He looked at her with a slightly surprised expression and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Why am I here? Because of you, of course!"

Serena approached Chris with a sigh of relief.

With the thought of having to convince Chris from now on, she felt a headache.

"Chris, you came here to find Adrias senior, right? Let's just go back."

"I don't care where you heard what from. It's none of your business. Just go back."

Then, a voice from a distance was heard.

"So, you came to find me?"

Serena, with a chill running down her spine, turned her head and saw Adrias Cromwell approaching.

The fierce and ferocious aura she saw in the grand arena and his chilling smile seemed to have vanished, replaced by a cold and indifferent demeanor as he looked at her and Chris.

"Are you Adrias Cromwell?"

Chris asked, and Adrias gave a gaze that seemed to say, "Who are these guys again?"

Then he spoke, "You, a freshman? You've got some nerve. Respect your seniors."

As expected, the rumored Adrias was not an ordinary person.

Chris's brows furrowed at Adrias's comment about respecting seniors.

"I have no intention of showing respect to someone weaker than me."

"Chris!"

In the already tense atmosphere, Serena felt her mind growing hazy.

How clueless can this idiot be!

Upon hearing Chris's words, Adrias smirked sinisterly.

"That knight from the Department of Combat who talked like that to me, he was in the tournament too."

Suddenly, Adrias turned his head with a cracking sound from his bones.

He looked at Chris and Serena and said, "It seems like you came to find me..."

Adrias's aura began to permeate the surroundings.

Both Serena and Chris flinched at the sticky and dark aura.

"I'll give you what you want. Go ahead, make a move."