Although the mories were unpleasant, Margaret's departure had cast a shadow over the Holy Light Squad. Only now had laughter and cheer returned to the lounge, and even the silent Yeger had beco more talkative.
Fudot, like a bristling kitten, stood opposite Kiruet as she approached her bed. Kiruet didn't understand why, rely chalking it up to a young girl's anxiety over personal gains and losses, and took Margaret's "relics" from her own bed.
Soon, Yeger and Nasi returned to the lounge with a new bed, assembling the fra and canopy. Then, Nasi was forced to gather his things—he was kicked out to the new bed because Margaret needed Kiruet's care.
Fudot's mood improved slightly.
Apparently, Margaret was in worse condition than Lu Li had once been, but with fewer negative consequences. The "glue" prepared by Professor Kris had firmly bonded her soul to her body, and although it made her movents slow and sluggish, her soul did not leave her body.
Pushing the sofa aside, Yeger and Nasi set up a tripod with a cauldron before the fireplace, laid out the raw food they had bought from the cafeteria, and started a fire for a party in honor of Margaret's return.
The fire illuminated everyone's faces as Margaret leaned against Kiruet. Kiruet's expression softened, and her masculine clothes made them look like a couple in love.
Fudot felt a pang of jealousy, having misunderstood sothing.
She didn't yet know Kiruet's true gender. Due to their reserve and pride, Yeger and Nasi couldn't bring themselves to tell her the little secret, and Lu Li wouldn't have ntioned it on his own.
Nasi recounted what had happened to the Holy Light Squad after Margaret's disappearance: the Lord who secretly helped them complete missions, Kiruet's Secret Cult Duel, and the month-long detention after beating up Kingard.
"That was an incredibly long ti! The captain and I had to take low-level missions to accumulate academic credits and team points," Nasi mysteriously announced, revealing his ultimate achievent:
"We're just a few academic credits away from the 100 needed for the senior courses! The Holy Light Squad even appeared in the rankings, but unfortunately, other teams started targeting us..."
This was a source of regret for him. Shortly after he had boasted to his family, the Holy Light Squad vanished from the rankings. To this day, Nasi's family still thought the squad was ranked and was imnsely proud of it.
Margaret's return was undoubtedly good news, but it also made the Holy Light Squad feel "bloated"—with a team of four, soone would have to beco a reserve mber.
However, it wasn't a matter of choice. Margaret faced a long recovery period, and the reserve spot was essential.
"Yeger, how many more academic credits do you need?" Kiruet asked, wiping the corners of Margaret's mouth with a napkin.
"12 academic credits."
"About the sa as Mari... Nasi and I are only a few credits away from advancing. The team will be taking on missions frequently now, and the rewards will be mainly distributed among you, Margaret, and Fudot."
Margaret and Yeger were on a similar tiline in the middle courses. With less than a month until the promotion to the senior courses, they should be able to et the credit requirent.
Lu Li didn't need their concern. Even without asking, they knew how many academic credits Lu Li's two theoretical articles would bring him.
"We'll all be moving on to the senior courses... But what about Fudot?" Nasi said tactlessly.
However, it was a problem they would have to face.
"With my family's power, assembling a team loyal to the Lince family will be no trouble at all," Fudot declared proudly.
Although the Lince family was a bloodline clan, they were not well-known before the Dark Era.
After the dawn of the Dark Era, when Midnicht rose to prominence and the Old Sewer beca its nexus, the worm that allowed for secret worship of the Eye-Worm enabled the Lince family, who could control a portion of the lesser worms, to earn vast fortunes by the minute through the Old Sewer and control nurous sea routes.
Although envious rivals called the Lince family nouveaux riches, only the ancient bloodline clans could say such a thing. Most bloodline clans had only appeared in the last hundred years.
anwhile, Fudot took out one of the used Light Tarot cards and held it out to Margaret.
Alchemy, being connected to divination, could make better use of the tarot cards' power.
Margaret refused the tarot cards, and Kiruet also advised Fudot to use them herself.
Because this set of Light Tarot cards still held hidden dangers.
Professor Kris had said that a Count Hunter had been offering a reward for this set of tarot cards for three years, and Lu Li's arrogant tone when he took the 6th-level mysticism trial mission seed to be related to this Count Hunter.
Letting them know that the Light Tarot cards were in the hands of the Holy Light Squad would clearly not be a good thing.
Although a noble title ant real power and status in Midnicht, so re count would obviously not dare to compete with Lu Li for a treasure. But if it were anyone else from the Holy Light Squad, the outco would be different, and only the Lince family behind Fudot could withstand such pressure.
"Or you could accept Count Hunter's reward and exchange the tarot cards," Nasi suggested.
"I refuse."
Fudot didn't care about the count's "friendship," and the predictive power of the Light Tarot cards was more useful than many comparable items, so it was unlikely the count could offer anything of equal value.
The party was drawing to a close, but lively conversation could still be heard around the warm fire.
"Lu Li, how close are you to learning how to release your Cursed Title?" Yeger asked.
"Level 7 mysticism and level 3 alchemy."
"You only joined the Academy of Giant Trees two months ago, right?"
Yeger sighed, taking a sip of red wine.
Nasi continued:
"When are you taking the level 3 alchemy trial?"
"Tomorrow."
"Then all that's left is level 7 mysticism!" Nasi, caught up in the rrint, hadn't yet realized the implication.
"Does that an... you're leaving?"
Margaret slowly parted her lips, a hoarse whisper suddenly escaping.
The lively atmosphere plunged into silence at the sudden question, leaving only the crackle of the burning logs.
Kiruet, fearing Lu Li hadn't heard, added:
"After you pass the trials, will you move on to the senior courses?"
"Mhm."
In truth, even if Lu Li failed the trials, he would still advance to the senior courses, because the only thing truly standing in his way was level 7 mysticism.
After a brief pause, Kiruet wanted to say sothing, but neither gratitude nor reluctance to part could be spoken to that rational and calm face.
"Let's drink to Lu Li," she finally said, raising her glass and looking deeply at him.
"To Lu Li."
The others around the fire raised their glasses in a toast to Lu Li.
...
Silence reigned in the lounge.
An hour after the party by the fire, the team mbers, having had their fill of drinks, were sound asleep.
Lu Li rose silently from his bed. He nodded to Margaret, who glanced up from the book she was reading, then walked past a softly snoring Fudot, a sleeping Kiruet, a sleep-muttering Nasi, and a silent Yeger, before leaving the lounge.
As expected, Lu Li successfully passed the level 3 alchemy trial, which brought mixed feelings to the Holy Light Squad.
If not for the month-long detention, Lu Li would have spent less ti in the middle courses than he did in the junior courses.
Now, Lu Li was just one step away from his goal. But before that, he would head off to register for the senior courses.
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