Chapter 90: Working Together? I Refuse!

“Black magic?”

Elena’s gold-rimmed glasses slipped slightly. She adjusted them, her expression quickly returning to its usual calm.

“Stop joking.”

“That forbidden school of thought was purged by the combined efforts of the Church and the Royal Family hundreds of years ago.”

“I’m not about to trust an enemy.”

Lilith rested her greatsword on the ground. The flames on the blade flickered in sync with her turbulent emotions.

“Besides, you’ve been acting strange since the very beginning.”

“The entrance exam, this test, and the market fluctuations before.”

“Russel-man, what is it you want?”

She stared at Karenina with her crimson eyes.

“From where I’m standing, it looks like you’re the one who trapped us all here!”

“Was your IQ squeezed out of your skull by your muscles?”

Romu held his dragon sword, unable to keep a straight face. “If you’re going to label us like that, wouldn’t that make us black mages who infiltrated the academy?”

“You!”

Lilith was at a loss for words.

“Black magic…”

Elena took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She closed her eyes and sensed the flow of magic in the earth beneath her feet to confirm the situation.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, her expression filled with confusion and dread.

“No… this isn’t just a sealing technique.”

“Space has been locked down. Every means of communication with the outside world, including the emergency distress signals, has been cut off.”

“Moreover… the formation is absorbing our mana and our vitality!”

One of the members in her team gasped in terror. He looked at his palm, already feeling his mana being forcibly stripped from his body.

“My mana… it’s draining away!”

“Mine too!”

Panic began to spread.

Karenina swept a cold gaze over them.

“Quiet.”

Ibuki Mio gripped the hilt of her blade and stood by Romu’s side. She didn’t say a word, but her stance was clear.

Only the members of the First Rank team remained calm, as if they had anticipated this long ago.

Looking at them, the anger in Lilith’s heart was replaced by a sudden chill.

“You knew all along?!”

“This isn’t an accident at all. This is a trap targeting everyone!”

Romu finally shifted his gaze from the distant source of the increasingly violent roars of the magic beast back to them.

“You’re only realizing this now? It seems the quality of education in the capital isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Who exactly are you?”

Elena’s question was more direct and deadlier than Lilith’s accusation.

“Who are you?”

“Romu Arcady, a kind man who enjoys helping others and is generous with his coin.”

“Care to join my Talent Cultivation Plan? I guarantee you’ll pass the exam!”

Romu wasn’t nervous at all.

Before the exam, the team had prepared a mountain of alchemical cards for mana recovery and various potions. Thanks to his awakening as a Dragon Shinobi, many of them remained unused.

But the Black and White Queen teams were in a different situation!

“You’re free to question my identity, my birth, and other such trivial details.”

“However, it’s hard to say whether you’ll be crushed by a Rank 5 magic beast, accept your fate as failures in this exam, or be sucked dry by this formation.”

“Are your credit reserves looking okay?”

“You aren’t still hoping to get a good rank this time to show off in the next exam, are you?”

“You…”

Elena’s lips thinned into a straight line as she rapidly weighed her options.

“The scale of this formation is definitely not something a few students could set up. The academy would never allow something like this in the testing grounds.”

“There is a higher-level player involved behind the scenes.”

“Mm, not bad!”

Romu nodded in approval. “At least one of you has a clear head.”

“So, do you know who did this?” Lilith couldn’t help but press.

“Of course not,” Romu answered bluntly.

“?”

A question mark appeared in everyone’s mind simultaneously.

“But I’ve done quite a bit of research on how to break it.”

“My Lord, there is no need to speak like that…” Ibuki Mio shook her head.

‘Has he studied black magic…?’

Karenina took on a pensive expression.

‘Is this also some kind of hint, or is it a necessary protection for an heir from the royal examiners?’

“Have you even researched black magic just to make money?” Annie’s expression was serious.

Regardless of the situation, Romu was always honest and true to his word within the team.

But this… black magic?!

Was this guy’s bottom line a bit too flexible?!

“What do you want?”

Elena immediately caught the key point.

The other party had no obligation to save them. Since he was sharing this information now, he must want something.

“Credits.”

Romu’s answer was just as simple.

“…”

“…”

Lilith and Elena froze at the same time.

The answer was so mundane that for a moment, they thought they had misheard him.

At a life-or-death moment like this, you’re talking to me about credits?

“I don’t understand.” Elena frowned. “Are credits really that important to you?”

“Of course.” Romu looked like he was stating the obvious. “Why else would I take the exam? To play house with you lot?”

“I’m going to give you credits.”

“In your dreams… huh?”

Lilith exploded on the spot, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she blanked.

What? Give credits?

“Of course!”

Romu pulled out a contract scroll and drank a purification potion to recover his mana in front of them.

“I am a trustworthy aid. As long as you participate in my Talent Cultivation Plan, I will distribute credits to you immediately!”

“Moreover, if you join now, I have a way to deal with the black magic and ensure you pass the exam safely!”

“You don’t think the other students who weren’t trapped will welcome your passing with open arms, do you?”

“Don’t come crying with regrets when you get robbed later!”

Saying that, Romu began to count down.

“Three.”

“Wait, this matter…”

Elena hadn’t expected this guy to suddenly pull this move!

“Two.”

Romu waved his hand and moved toward Karenina with Ibuki Mio and Annie. He looked exactly like he was about to lead his team away.

“One.”

Karenina finished the final count and gave them a pitying look. “What a shame.”

With that, she turned to lead the team away.

“Wait!”

Elena hurriedly called out to stop him.

She saw clearly that Romu wasn’t joking. This man would really watch them get eliminated right here!

And if this formation could affect the academy’s brooches… they might even die!

“Lilith! Calm down!” she barked at her companion. “Can’t you see? We don’t hold the initiative right now!”

“But…” Lilith clenched her teeth, her heart filled with indignation.

“No buts!”

Elena turned her gaze to Romu.

“We can cooperate. This black magic formation and that Rank 5 magic beast… your team might not be able to handle them alone.”

“We can join forces. Once we’re out, we’ll split the spoils equally.”

“Bargaining requires having trump cards of your own.”

Romu turned his head, revealing a mocking smile.

“And you, my elf friend.”

“Aside from the dying plants beneath your feet, you have nothing.”