I glanced at Cypher, my voice trembling slightly. "What did the ssage read?"
He quickly stood up, his expression serious. "It’s an ergency. It says we have to leave this cave imdiately. Let’s go."
I hesitated, then hesitantly admitted, "Uh, wait. There’s one tiny problem."
"Are we in danger?" Cypher asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
"N-No. We’re perfectly safe now, but... I-I can’t move," I admitted, unable to et his gaze as I darted my eyes elsewhere.
"You—what?" Cypher said, his expression shifting from concern to confusion.
"I can’t move my body, okay? It seems that I’ve pushed my body to the limits, resulting in excessive loss of my aura," I reasoned, trying to explain my predicant.
"But even though you’re out of mana, you can still move, right?" Cypher questioned as his brows furrowed.
"J-Just help out, okay? I really can’t move my limbs," I insisted, feeling a flush of embarrassnt wash over .
"Oh my god, Remi," he exclaid, quickly kneeling down to check if I had more serious injuries. He sighed in relief when he found nothing. "Next ti, don’t overexert yourself, okay?"
I just humd in reply, grateful for his concern but also feeling a bit sheepish. "I didn’t think it would take such a toll on ."
Cypher’s face softened as he looked at . "Seriously, Remi, I don’t know what to do with you," he said softly, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"W-Wait, what are you doing?" I stamred, feeling a surge of embarrassnt as I realized that Cypher was going to carry out of the cave.
"Carrying you?" Cypher said, raising an eyebrow.
"Ah-huh? N-not like this! Stop it!" I protested, but it was too late. Cypher had already lifted up, cradling in a bridal-style position.
"It’s no use. If I try to piggyback you, you can’t even wrap your arms around ," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact as he began to walk out of the cave.
The blockade to the entrance of the cave was already removed thanks to rescues destroying it.
As Cypher started to walk, I could feel the eyes of his teammates on us. They all seed to be watching, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, wishing I could disappear into the shadows, but I knew I had no choice but to rely on Cypher for now.
I felt like I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. My cheeks were flushed with embarrassnt, and I wanted to bow my head, but I couldn’t move. In the end, I could only stare at Cypher, my heart racing as I tried to process the situation.
[Can you feel the love to~niiight—] the system suddenly interfered with my thoughts, its playful tone grating on my nerves.
’Can you shut it? I’m already embarrassed as is!’ I thought, annoyance bubbling up inside .
[But you’re already dreaming of your future together, right~?] the system teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
’What? No! He’s fated for soone else! And that soone is not ... Anyways, get out of my mind, I need to rest!’ I ntally shouted, feeling overwheld.
[Co on, just tell the truth already. You don’t want to ruin the mood. So enjoy ~] the system continued, voice practically singing.
’This bastard!’ I muttered internally, annoyed at the intrusive interference.
After sensing that the system had finally retreated, I heaved a sigh of relief. But even in the quiet, my thoughts lingered on what I had just considered. Cypher belonged to soone else. I was just an extra in this story, a fleeting mont in his life.
As we walked through the long, dark path, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of my thoughts pressing down on . The exhaustion from the battle and the emotional turmoil began to take their toll, and I felt my eyelids growing heavy.
Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Cypher’s footsteps as he searched for the exit. In that mont, I found a brief respite from my worries, wrapped in the warmth of his presence, even if I couldn’t fully acknowledge the feelings stirring within .
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
The atmosphere outside the cave was buzzing with whispers and excited chatter. The sudden alert from the protection scale about the surge of dark mana had sent alarm bells ringing through the patrols. The exam was temporarily suspended, and everyone’s focus shifted to the mysterious events unfolding inside.
As students gradually erged from the entrance, their conversations kept circling around Remillia and Cypher.
"Amazing, right?" one student said breathlessly.
"Yeah. They really look like a couple. They’re so strong, especially considering only the two of them fought that monster," another added, eyes filled with admiration.
Whitney stood among the crowd, fidgeting anxiously. She was eager to know what had transpired inside that cave. The fact that they didn’t get a chance to peek or hear a thing only fueled her curiosity. Her gaze kept darting toward the cave’s exit, impatience growing with each passing second.
"Why are they so slow in coming out?" Whitney mumbled, disappointnt creeping into her voice. With each new student erging, she would quickly scan them, hoping to catch a glimpse of Remillia and Cypher. Yet, each ti, her hopes were dashed—they still hadn’t appeared.
Her eyes finally landed on Angela, who was walking out of the cave with a calm expression. Hope flickered in Whitney’s chest. Maybe Angela knew sothing. She quickly approached her, forcing a cheerful smile.
"Angela! Which path did you take?" Whitney asked, trying to sound casual but eager.
"Whitney," Angela greeted her with a quick, polite nod. "I took the left path. How ’bout you?"
"We took the opposite side," Whitney replied, crossing her arms with a hint of curiosity.
"Oh? So did you et Cypher there?" Angela asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Apparently not. Remillia was the only one who got to enter the hidden boss’s arena. And I heard that the both of them defeated the boss," Whitney said, her voice tinged with admiration and a bit of envy.
Before Angela could respond, her eyes suddenly caught movent. Cypher was stepping out of the cave. Angela’s eyes widened slightly, and without missing a beat, she turned to Whitney.
"There’s Cypher! I’m just gonna question him instead. Gonna go now, bye Whitney!" Angela said quickly, waving her hand in farewell before darting off towards Cypher.
Whitney watched her go with a smirk, folding her arms. "This will be interesting to watch," she muttered under her breath, a playful glint in her eyes.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Angela’s heart pounded in her chest as she drew nearer to Cypher. The sight of him carefully carrying Remillia in his arms puzzled her even more. ’Why is he holding her like that?’ she wondered, a flicker of unease twisting inside her. The image of Remillia, weak and unconscious, stirred a mix of concern and suspicion in Angela’s mind.
As she reached them, Angela took a deep breath to steady her voice, though her nerves threatened to betray her. "Why are you carrying her?" she asked, her tone clipped and edged with restrained fury. She clenched her fists slightly, fighting to keep her composure and hide the storm of emotions inside her.
Cypher looked down at Remillia with a calm, unreadable expression. "She helped kill the boss monster, and I carried her since she was exhausted and can’t move her body," he explained softly.
Angela’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! Unbelievable! I an, she’s strong—" she started to protest, but Cypher quickly shushed her, raising a hand to his lips and pointing at Remillia.
"Angela, lower your voice. You might wake her up," Cypher warned, his gaze serious.
Angela’s frustration flared. "I don’t care! I an, are you not curious about her? Just think about her weapon—a dagger—which can deal that much damage," she said, her voice rising slightly.
Cypher nodded thoughtfully. "It’s not because of her weapon," he replied. "She really has excellent combat skills. In a short ti, she can counter the attacks of the boss monster. It’s like she has more experience in real-life combat than most of us." His tone was respectful, revealing genuine admiration for Remillia’s abilities.
Angela felt a twinge of jealousy tighten in her chest as Cypher continued to praise Remillia. She had always viewed herself as Cypher’s closest friend, and sotis a rival, but now it seed like Remillia had sohow taken her place. Her fists clenched at her sides, and she stomped her foot in frustration.
"Hmph!" she huffed, crossing her arms stubbornly. "I don’t want to hear it anymore! Anyway, how did you go farther that you ended up in a cave dungeon?"
"The ground shook—" Cypher’s expression shifted slightly, his response interrupted by a sudden bump against his side. He grunted in annoyance but quickly regained his composure, brushing it off. "As you can see, I’m carrying soone," he said calmly, gesturing to Remillia.
Edge, who had been observing quietly, cast Cypher a quick, knowing glance before turning his attention to Angela. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he asked, "Hey, Angela, how was your performance at the dungeon cave?" His tone was light, but there was an underlying eagerness to hear her story.
"You don’t need to know," Angela snapped, her tone sharp as she shifted her annoyance toward Edge. She crossed her arms defensively, clearly not wanting to share any details about her experience.
anwhile, Whitney had been silently observing the scene unfold from a distance. She had been waiting for the right mont and, seeing Edge engaging with Angela, she decided it was her cue to step in.
As Whitney approached, Edge was too engrossed in coaxing Angela and teasing her about her dungeon cave performance. Angela, annoyed by his chatter, rolled her eyes and snapped back at him, clearly irritated with how talkative he was. They didn’t notice her arrival.
Whitney watched the interaction quietly, a faint scowl on her lips. "Whenever Angela’s around, he wouldn’t care about anything else," she thought to herself, a mix of annoyance and subtle rivalry flickering in her eyes.
Cypher, noticing Whitney approach, turned his head and greeted her with a friendly tone, "Whitney, what’s up?" His voice was warm but kept a respectful distance, reflecting their formal relationship.
Whitney’s eyes flickered briefly to Edge and Angela, gauging their reactions before settling her gaze on Cypher. Her tone was quiet and sowhat reserved as she replied, "Just getting so fresh air. Also, why are you still carrying Remillia? Set her down on that big tree over there."
Cypher hesitated for a mont, a subtle flicker of sothing unreadable crossing his face. He shook his head slightly, as if resisting the idea. "I’ll just wait for her to wake up," he said softly, his grip on Remillia’s shoulder tightening just a little. Despite Whitney’s straightforward suggestion, he didn’t seem eager to put her down.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
My eyes slowly fluttered open, the bright sunlight filtering into the dungeon cave blinding montarily. I blinked a few tis, my vision hazy from sleep, trying to adjust to the daylight outside. As I looked around, I saw Cypher, Angela, Edge, and Whitney engaged in a conversation.
I shifted slightly, trying to move, but imdiately realized that Cypher was still holding in his arms. My cheeks ward with embarrassnt as I awkwardly spoke, voice trembling a little, "C-Cypher! I’m okay now, you should have just shoved on a tree or sothing!"
Cypher chuckled softly, a gentle smile on his face. "It’s fine. Besides, you’re too light as a feather," he replied, clearly amused but caring.
My face flushed even more at his words, and I hurriedly tried to cover my face with my hands. "L-let down now. I think I can stand myself."
Cypher nodded politely to the others and excused himself, making his way to the big tree where Whitney had been waiting earlier.
Whitney watched him go, her gaze flickering between Cypher and the group. Angela was glancing at them with a mixture of glare and annoyance, while Edge kept his eyes fixed on Angela, as if trying to gauge her mood.
As Cypher gently set down, I imdiately felt my legs turn to jelly beneath . My knees buckled, and I wobbled unsteadily, trying to stay upright. Despite my efforts, I couldn’t maintain my balance and closed my eyes, instinctively trying to block out the dizziness and pain.
Suddenly, I felt Cypher’s strong arms catch , his grip firm but careful. "Remi!" he exclaid softly, gripping my waist just in ti to prevent from collapsing completely.
When I opened my eyes, I was face to face with Cypher, our proximity startling . His presence was close, steadying, and intense. I instinctively tried to pull away, voice trembling, "Let go," I insisted, attempting to free myself from his hold.
But Cypher’s grip tightened slightly, his tone serious yet gentle. "Stay still, or do you want to fall face first on the ground?" he warned, low and firm.
My eyes flickered with a mixture of embarrassnt and frustration. I hated feeling so helpless and weak, especially in front of everyone. But I knew deep down that I couldn’t deny the truth — the lingering effects of my Spectral Seal still had a hold on . With a reluctant sigh, I took a slow, steadying breath and nodded. "I’ll stay still," I mumbled, trying to mask my embarrassnt with a semblance of composure.
Cypher’s grip softened, and he looked down at with a hint of concern in his eyes. His voice was gentle but earnest. "Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not going to pass out on again, are you?"
I shook my head quickly, feeling a flicker of irritation at the concern. "No, I’m fine. Just give a minute," I replied, my tone a little sharper than intended, though my voice still carried a hint of vulnerability.
Cypher nodded in understanding and took a step back, giving space to breathe and recover. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady my nerves and regain my composure, though the flush of embarrassnt still lingered on my cheeks.
After resting for a while, I took a tentative step forward, testing the strength in my legs. I wobbled slightly, but managed to regain my balance. "Thanks for the help, but I need to get going."
"Do you want to accompany you to your dorm?" Cypher asked, his voice a concerned murmur.
"No, no need. You should really go find your friends," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Okay. Thanks again for your help," Cypher replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"You still owe a favor, right?" I said, a playful glint in my eye.
Cypher chuckled. "Alright."
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
As Remillia and Cypher continued their conversation, Whitney and Angela stood a short distance away, silently observing. Whitney’s expression remained neutral, her eyes steady and unreadable, while Angela’s face was twisted with agitation.
"I’m telling you, that girl’s really a witch! She bewitched him!" Angela hissed under her breath, her voice tense. "Cypher isn’t that kind of guy. He never talks to anyone that long—except for his friends. Grrr!"
Whitney raised an eyebrow but kept her silence, her gaze never leaving the scene before her. Angela’s fuss was starting to irritate her, and she was content to watch quietly.
Edge, noticing Angela’s fixation on Cypher, tilted his head slightly. "Why do you care so much about that guy? Just let him be."
Angela’s face flushed a bright red, and she muttered hurriedly, "Because he’s my friend."
Whitney’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing there was more beneath Angela’s words. She had seen this kind of fixation before—those subtle signs that revealed feelings hidden under layers of denial. From the way Angela’s cheeks burned and her gaze darted away from Edge’s, it was obvious she harbored feelings for Cypher. Whitney had seen similar expressions many tis before; they told a story that words often couldn’t.
anwhile, Cypher, unaware of the silent drama behind him, finished bidding farewell to Remillia and turned back toward the group.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
I trudged into my dorm, feeling the weight of the monster hunting class pressing down on . Exhausted, I collapsed onto my bed, sinking into the mattress as if I could lt into it. Macaron was perched on my bedside table, watching with his curious, unblinking eyes.
"How did you do at your monster hunting?" Macaron asked softly, tilting his head in that adorable, inquisitive way.
I groaned, rubbing my eyes tiredly. "Worse," I mumbled, voice thick with fatigue. Then, almost as an afterthought, I added, "By the way, can you open the system window?"
Macaron tilted his head again, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You can just quickly say or think about it without my help anymore. It seems that you leveled up again," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.
My fatigue imdiately lifted, replaced by a spark of excitent. "Really?" I exclaid, sitting up straight, my eyes wide with surprise and curiosity.
Macaron nodded confidently. "Yes, it looks like you defeated the boss monster. That’s quite an accomplishnt."
My brow furrowed slightly. "How did you know?"
"Our physical and ntal health are connected," Macaron explained patiently. "That’s why I can sense your emotions from a distance. When you’re feeling exhausted or overwheld, I can tell. It’s part of how I help you monitor your progress."
"Open system window," I said decisively, eager to see what new features or options might be unlocked now that I’d leveled up.
The system window flickered into existence before , shimring with new information. All my achievents, my progress, everything laid out clearly in glowing text.
[Congratulations on defeating the Crimson Scourge! You’ve obtained its skill, ’Bloodthirst’.]
[New skill: ’Bloodthirst’ can be activated anyti you like, no mana required.]
[Bloodthirst: This type of dark magic can extract the opponent’s vital energy. You can use this skill when you’ve exhausted your energy and mana.]
[An Extra Assisting The MC! Title changed from extra to side character!]
[Saving the MC’s life! Reward: Cypher’s familiarity with you increased!]
[Jealous Waifu? Angela’s familiarity with you decreased!]
[All stats have been increased by 2 points.]
My eyes darted across the screen, absorbing every detail. I couldn’t help but reflect on the events that had just transpired—how much more I needed to train, how unprepared I still felt. My current skills weren’t enough, not yet.
Turning to Macaron, I let out a tired sigh. "I think I’m going to take a nap now. This leveling-up business is exhausting."
Macaron chuckled softly and settled comfortably back onto his perch, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusent. "You’re welco, master," he said with a gentle chirp. "Get so rest—you’ve earned it."
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