In the training field, Kai tried to see where Enrico was, since he thought Enrico would be venting his frustration by training, which was something he would definitely do.
'He's not here, so I'd better tell the others… Maybe they already found him.'
Looking at a wooden dummy in the distance, he decided to vent his frustration from these past few days by drawing his sword. Focusing his magic on the blade, he attempted to combine his two magics into one.
"Light of the Sea."
As he swung, the sword exploded in his hand, sending him flying backward into the wall. It seemed he had failed to combine his magics.
"For you, that should only be done once you reach a higher circle, since the difference between you and the others is that your magic is much stronger."
Turning around, he saw Enrico leaning against the wall, waving at him. Seeing him, Kai sighed in relief—not only because he found him, but because he was the first to do so, which meant they truly were the best rivals.
"You should go meet those noisy girls. They were really worried."
"I know. I'll talk to them after you, since I have something important to tell you."
"Something important? What is it?"
Enrico took a small piece of paper from his pocket. When he opened it, it revealed a map with a red marking between the castle and the academy.
"In a few days, a real dungeon will appear. I want you to take the troublesome guys and the girls there—you'll all get good rewards."
"Why are you giving me this? And why are you talking like you won't come with us? Is something happening to you that you can't go?"
"Yes. I'll be doing a training that will take me to a new level, so I don't want you all to fall behind. That's why I'm giving you this location."
Hearing that, Kai let out a happy laugh because Enrico seemed to be doing well and was already preparing to train. After a bit more time, Enrico commented about the third magic Kai needed to unlock.
"Well, it's about time I go meet her, so I have to leave."
"Already? It was fun. Why not stay a bit longer?"
"Let's just say I don't have much time—I'm starting this training today."
Kai was disappointed he couldn't talk longer, but since Enrico was going to train, he let it go and decided to start training as well.
"Alright, see you later."
"…Maybe 'later' will take a while, but yes, see you."
Before Kai could ask about those strange words, Enrico waved goodbye—his hand showing no major injuries—and left the room. On the way, he decided to gather with the girls at the dormitory and sent a message as soon as he arrived and sat on a chair.
"Master, where were you?"
"You worried me, my Ketsumei. And we deserve an explanation."
"Why did you leave without telling us? I almost died of worry, dear."
Aoi, Yumeha, and Rina spoke from the doorway while Valença, Serenya, and Seraphina looked at him with concern, rushing over to check his condition.
"No need to worry so much. I just went to pay my respects to the dead."
"I understand, Subordinate, but you could've told me. I also wanted to visit the cemetery again."
Serenya was completely serious and seemed disappointed with herself—maybe blaming herself for asking everyone to split up.
"Don't worry. I'll be going many more times in the future. I just needed to see…"
Serenya, looking a bit dejected, sat beside him without saying anything else, just lost in thought about how to get stronger—she didn't want to lose Elian or especially Enrico the way Caelan was lost.
"We're here for you, Enrico, so you can rely on us if you need to talk."
"Yes, we're your companions for life, so trust us fully."
A small smile appeared on his face, a warmth rising in his chest—but sadly, it wasn't the time for that.
"Thank you, everyone. But I want to talk about how we will get stronger."
The girls exchanged doubtful glances, but remembering what happened in Vesparello, their eyes turned determined and they nodded at Enrico. They didn't want that to happen again, and they didn't want to see him sad, so they would grow stronger.
After finishing with them, Enrico went to meet his other companions, visiting each one. With Danyana and Grakka, he mentioned a special dungeon that increased maximum capacities and would appear at the end of the year. With Elaris, he spoke about a small world tree he had "seen" when visiting his family. With the three girls he had been training—Kaela, Sisaka, and Erina—he handed them a training plan. He even visited Elowyn and Lan's team, giving snarky comments and tips without them suspecting much.
[Elowyn seems to want you to join her.]
'If she wants that, she'll have to wait, because for at least two years I won't see her.'
Elowyn had offered him many things if he joined her—great wealth or more places to become stronger. He said he'd think about it, surprising her, but honestly, he didn't want to worry about that now.
On the way, he also spoke to Virelle, giving her some information about events that would happen in the next two years—events only mentioned when Kai left the Hell Academy arc.
"I'll speak to the king immediately, so wait a bit, Enrico. And I hope you rest well, because when you recover, I'll train you even harder."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll be waiting."
Angela was giving him a back massage while he talked to Virelle, so when she was called to follow her, she promised she'd give him another massage that night too.
Looking for Elian, Enrico saw he was locked in his dorm and probably asleep, so he wrote a letter and slipped it under the door before leaving to meet the three vampires, thanking them for protecting his companions and giving them some of his blood.
'Let me see… now that I thanked my three vampire servants and visited Velka in prison, who do I need to visit now?'
[Seems like there won't be time.]
Sighing, Enrico saw a purple barrier forming around the academy. The girls, Kai, Elian (holding the letter), the vampires, and even Virelle were surprised at the sight.
"One-time pact."
[In exchange for only Enrico participating in the Hell Academy—greatly increasing his chance of dying—everyone else will be kept outside the academy in a zone beyond the barrier.]
"Well, I guess I'll have to work even harder now."
As Enrico walked deeper into the academy, his companions saw a crimson magic circle appearing below them and grew even more worried, especially noticing Enrico's mana traces within it. They began running everywhere searching for him, the circle following them.
"Have you seen Enrico? I'm looking everywhere!"
"Damn it, why did he disappear again?"
"He's in trouble—I'll punish him for worrying his leader!"
While heading toward where they believed he was, they saw him entering the special training room of the academy. They noticed the magic circle wasn't under Enrico, and their worry grew even more.
"Enrico!"
"Master!"
"What are you doing, Subordinate?!"
Before they could reach him, Enrico smiled and winked, as if nothing concerning was happening.
"I'm sorry, everyone—and I'd like to ask you to get stronger."
Everyone before Enrico vanished without a trace, transported instantly to where Hao was stepping, who was shocked to see his students suddenly appear before him. The six girls immediately tried to force their way back through the barrier, and seeing this, Victoria and Lira realized Enrico wasn't with them.
"What happened?"
"Director, help us open it! Enrico is inside!"
"What? Stand back!"
From a distance, Enrico saw everything around him shifting into a different dimension—as if it were a snowy forest, with the academy still behind him. Scratching his neck, he let out a deep sigh.
"I think they'll want to kill me when I get out of here."
[Well, you'll deserve it if they do.]
Climbing onto a window frame, he looked outside and saw numerous Nartheis beginning to appear—an entire army capable of killing him at any moment.
"Well, time to start my training."
[You should have talked to your family, too—they sent a message saying they're in the city waiting for you.]
"Well, they'll have to wait a little longer. Besides, they can forgive me—they think I'm special now."
[I just hope you don't die. If you do, the constellations' fun ends.]
"Why don't you all go to hell."
With a small, sad smile on his face, he decided to jump toward the area with fewer Nartheis to begin his training.
'In these two years, I promise I'll break every circle evolution record.'
Closing his eyes for a second, he opened them and fell with full force into the spot he wanted, thoughts of Chalés, Tolen, Val'Drakar, Grark, and Caelan crossing his mind—with only the promise he made to Tolen echoing inside him.
'I will get stronger. Much stronger.'