Green had to take back his previous words.
The thought of fighting waves of corruption from beyond the stars for three hundred rounds in a simulation was one thing, but re-joining the Star-Moon Adventure Team was a nightmare he never wanted to repeat. True, those high-born ladies were terrifying, but in the face of the examiner currently sent from the Royal Capital—Miss “Sophie”—even his past suffering and misery felt like a mild inconvenience.
“Mr. Green.”
The examiner’s voice was soft and her face was gentle, but her pretty features were twisted with a strange mix of conflict and distress. Her eyes were glazed with a daze that would make anyone feel an instinctive pang of sympathy.
But…
I haven’t done anything bad to her, have I?
Why did this examiner look as though he had just ruthlessly tormented her or despoiled her innocence?
“Green… Mr. Green.”
Gasping for air, Miss Sophie’s face flushed a deep crimson. It was as if merely speaking his name exhausted all her strength. After a long period of stammering, she finally managed to pose a question.
“What are your views on the… seventh technique of the ancient imperial Evocation School and its role within the modern array system?”
Even though she forced the question out, looking at her bizarre mental state, Green didn’t think for a second that she was in any condition to actually assess his academic level.
Given his current status as a dual-Legendary class expert—even if he couldn’t unleash his full power due to the soul curse—he would have plenty of career options even if he failed this Adventurer’s Guild assessment for the Senior Consultant position. But when he thought of Miss Betty’s meticulous care over the past few days, and how she had staked her reputation at the Guild to nominate him, Green didn’t want to let her down.
Should I apply for a replacement examiner? Sigh…
“Regarding that point, Miss Sophie.” Seeing how sensitive she was to his every move, Green had no choice but to back away to maintain a “safe” distance.
Wait, is Miss Sophie not socially anxious, but… a misanthrope? A man-hater?
“This is going to be a problem.”
Green thought of the young ladies in his former party. Thinking back, they seemed to have similar issues. Perhaps because they were of high birth and top-tier beauty, they had been surrounded by fawning men since childhood, leading to a natural sense of haughty arrogance toward the opposite sex. Given Miss Sophie’s legendary list of achievements, Green felt increasingly sure that his deduction was correct.
Forget it, let’s just give it my all.
“Regarding the role of the seventh technique of the Evocation School in modern arrays, I believe it pertains to the interior of buildings and topography…”
Having lived through a long simulated life and possessing a profound understanding of the caster system—no less than that of a formal Legendary Mage—Green answered Sophie’s seemingly tricky question fluently.
“…”
However, as Green spoke, he noticed the examiner was distracted again. Her long eyelashes fluttered, but her eyes were fixed on him as if he weren’t a stranger she had just met.
Is there something on my face? Green awkwardly touched his cheek. Nothing.
Hiss. If you keep looking at me like that, I might get the wrong idea.
Green rolled his eyes inwardly. If it weren’t for his vast life experience, he might have been fooled by Miss Sophie’s expression into thinking the girl’s heart was fluttering. But he knew that was impossible. While he had some confidence in his looks, he knew his face might work on an innocent commoner girl, but it was useless against top-tier “Ojou-samas” who had seen everything. Let alone a legendary genius mage like her?
One of life’s greatest delusions: She likes me.
And so, Green waited calmly for Miss Sophie to continue. Time slipped away unnoticed. Miss Sophie just stared at him blankly, unmoving. For some reason, as they looked at each other, a satisfied smile gradually appeared on her face.
Does she actually enjoy watching me squirm in this awkward silence? Green felt a bad premonition.
“Your answer…” Finally, as if an entire century had passed, the examiner from the capital spoke softly. “Was very good.”
The usually laconic Sophie managed a complete sentence. “Among all the candidates I’ve known, you are the most outstanding. However…” She paused, seemingly lost in thought. “The point you mentioned—that the ancient Evocation School was actually the origin of the modern array system for mages—is quite a novel perspective.”
Sophie’s eyes shifted as she asked softly, “Could you tell me… who inspired this connection for you?”
Who inspired me? Does this have anything to do with the academic discussion?
Green hadn’t expected this question and thought for a long time. Scenes from his second life simulation with Sophie flashed through his mind. The method of integrating the Evocation School into modern arrays was something Sophie had mentioned by chance back then. Of course, simulated experiences didn’t necessarily match the historical development of the real world. But considering how much history was lost during the eras of upheaval, historical knowledge was mostly a matter of debate anyway.
Combined with his experience that simulated knowledge often applied to reality, he had made that bold assertion. Was she trying to see if this was his own insight or if it was backed by an authority?
Green pondered for a moment. He decided to tell the truth.
“It was told to me by someone very important to me.”
“Very important? Was it your mentor?” Sophie’s tone suddenly became urgent.
“No, it wasn’t.” Green didn’t intend to fabricate an authoritative source. With his dual-Legendary strength, he had plenty of ways to repay Betty even if he failed. “It was my lover. The love of my life.”
A hint of reminiscence flashed in Green’s eyes. Even if it was just a “fake” simulation, the feelings between him and Sophie had been absolutely real. Green believed that with all his heart.
Bang.
The moment he finished his answer, Sophie suddenly stood up with a clatter and hurried out of the library without looking back, leaving Green sitting there, utterly baffled.
“Did my answer offend her?”
It made sense. With her background and pride, if Green had named an expert in the field, Miss Sophie might have taken it seriously. But his answer? “My lover, the love of my life?”
Ugh… did I blow it?
Green began to pack up the books on the desk with a sigh.
Meanwhile, in the hallway of the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Miss Sophie?” Branch Manager Betty saw Sophie rushing past and wanted to greet the genius mage. “Hmm?”
But upon seeing her face, Betty immediately abandoned the idea. Sophie… she was crying? No, “crying” was an understatement. She looked like she was having a total emotional breakdown.
“What happened?” Betty was stumped. What could possibly cause the legendary Sophie to break down like this? “I thought she was examining Mr. Green? Did Mr. Green… bully her?”
Pfft. Betty was quickly amused by her own absurd thought. As much as she respected Green, how could a mortal who wasn’t even a class-holder bring a peak Legendary Mage to tears?
“Sigh, I hope it doesn’t affect Mr. Green’s assessment,” Betty sighed.
Boom!
Outside the Guild, the drizzling rain was joined by a crack of thunder. The downpour intensified, instantly turning the town into a muddy mess.
“Hey, did you hear? The results for the Hero’s party selection are out!” “I heard it’s a huge upset! That famous Star-Moon Adventure Team didn’t pass?” “I heard that too. Weren’t they a five-star team? Every member is supposed to be top-tier, comparable to Legendary classes.”
Wrapped in her heavy robes, the aimlessly wandering Sophie stopped in her tracks.
Star-Moon Adventure Team.
“Hmph. Another bunch of bad women that idiot attracted, I bet.”
Letting the rain soak her, Sophie tilted her head back. “I finally saw Green, but the curse on his body hasn’t been removed yet, so I can’t reveal myself to him…”
Under the heavy rain, the moisture at the corners of Sophie’s eyes could no longer be distinguished from tears. “It hurts so much.”
As if thinking of something, Sophie’s expression hardened. “It’s all that damn Empress’s fault. If she hadn’t been so reckless back then, why would Green be in this state?”
A sharp light burst from Sophie’s eyes as she found a target. “Right. So, for Green’s own good, I can’t let him run into any more ‘bad women’!”
She narrowed her eyes, looking at a silhouette addressing a group of dejected adventurers.
Hero Alice.
“Adventure team members who failed the selection can go to the Sunset Tavern to rest,” the Hero said coldly, her face hidden behind a hood. “To defeat the Demon King, we cannot allow dead weight to participate in the crusade.”
She looked pointedly toward several disheveled girls in the corner.