The Strongest Studen Chapter 26 The Academy's Competition (VIII)

"Haah... the hotel's bed really is comfortable."

I muttered, collapsing onto the soft mattress. The plush fabric embraced

as I rolled onto my side, the exhaustion of the day lting away.

"Master..."

Lumi's soft voice pulled

back from my drifting thoughts. She was lying beside , her translucent form shimring faintly in the dim light.

Her large, innocent eyes were fixed on mine, but I could see the fatigue behind them.

I had used her as a weapon earlier, and even though she always insisted she didn't mind, I knew it took a toll on her.

"Here, have so sugar cubes."

I said, holding out my palm to her.

"YAAY!"

Her mood flipped instantly. Lumi practically launched herself at the sugar cubes, chomping down on them with audible enthusiasm.

Her cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

She looked cute, like a squirrel munching on his food.

"Hah... thank god, it's one day per round, if not... we wouldn't have a chance of winning," I muttered to myself.

The Academy's Competition takes three whole days since they've decided that after each phase, the students would need to rest to recharge their energies.

And I'm damn thankful for that.

Slurp!

I blinked.

Mhm..? What is this feeling?

I turned to Lumi once again, and I felt a shiver running down my spine as I suddenly saw her body changing into a pink color, and her pupils turning into a vertical slit.

"Master~~"

Her voice took on a sultry, unfamiliar tone, and before I could react, she reached out and grasped my hand.

Her fingers were surprisingly firm as she brought my hand to her mouth, her tongue darting out to swirl around my fingertips, licking off the remnants of sugar.

"Lumi, stop!"

I called out to her, taking my hand out of her mouth.

But sothing was different... her tongue was different, it was...

Longer?

But then, she lunged forward, her sharp teeth grazing my finger.

"Agh!"

A sting shot through

as a few drops of blood welled up on my skin. Her unnaturally long tongue shot out, snatching the drops in one single movent.

And that was when I truly saw her tongue.

It was a long tongue, very reminiscent of a snake's, having a split in the middle.

"Don't tell ...?"

I gulped audibly, prompting her to look at

with curious, yet sharp eyes.

In the novel, there was a ntion of an ancient creature called the: "Gluttonous Sli".

This rare type of sli could absorb the racial traits of creatures it devoured and replicate their abilities—sotis even their physical characteristics.

"Was Lumi... one of them?"

No wonder she had been targeted by that insane scientist. Not to ntion, that she must be the reason the morph weapon she beca was considered a high-grade artifact.

So... if the Holy Nation truly saw

with her, I could potentially beco their target of elimination.

God damn it.

My life is only getting more complicated with each passing second.

"Now... how do I get you back to normal?"

I muttered, rubbing my temples as she continued suckling my finger, her tongue savoring every drop of blood like it was the most exquisite treat in existence.

But the mont I spoke, she stopped.

Her tongue withdrew slowly, and her vertical pupils t mine.

"Hey... what are you doing?"

She crawled closer to

until her face was just a few centiters away. Her tongue stuck out, and suddenly...

Lick...

She licked my neck, causing my body to quiver unnaturally.

"Master... tasty~"

Her voice dripped with delight, and a shiver ran through my body as her tongue glided down my neck.

"Stop."

I uttered coldly, making her tongue retract back almost imdiately.

Woah... this was more effective than I had thought.

And if that wasn't enough, the pink hue faded, her snake-like traits disappearing as quickly as they had co.

In monts, she was back to her usual shimring green form with her long cyan-tinted hair framing her small, innocent face.

"Master?" she called out, tilting her head in her usual manner, full of curiosity.

"Hah..."

I let out a long sigh of relief and reached out to pat her head. She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing as a contented hum escaped her lips.

"You're too cute for your own good."

However, if this cute thing is a gluttonous smile...

It's going to be a very, very big problem if soone finds out.

"Damn it..."

Leaning my back against the bed, Lumi snuggled into my chest and let out a small giggle right next to my ear.

I hope this peaceful atmosphere doesn't go away.

.....

The next day, after waking up and finishing my daily routine, I rushed out to the arena. My classmates were probably already there waiting for .

I was already late.

'Gosh, I hate mornings...!'

Clang!

The sharp clash of tal greeted

as I entered the arena. Two figures were sparring under the morning sun.

Ella and Lucas.

Seeing them locked in combat, I exhaled a sigh of relief. I wasn't late after all. But... sothing felt off.

The usually bustling arena was strangely empty.

"Hah... A-Aestrea...?"

Ella stamred, her voice faltering mid-swing as her eyes landed on .

"Mhm? Oh, hey!"

I greeted her with a casual smile and nodded toward Lucas, who lowered his weapon slightly.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.

I was confused but decided to ask nonetheless.

"I thought the second phase was happening right now?"

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head.

"Let

guess—you're not good with mornings?"

"Not at all."

He smirked faintly before explaining:

"Today's competition is postponed. It seems the Saintess had an issue and needed to take a day off to heal from so injuries."

"Huh... no wonder."

I muttered, stretching my arms until I heard a satisfying crack.

"Well, thanks for letting

know. Guess I'll leave you two lovebirds alone," I teased with a sly grin, turning on my heel to leave.

"W-wait! We're not lovebirds!"

Ella shouted after , her cheeks flushing a deep red.

I chuckled at her reaction but didn't stop walking. Lucas remained silent, though I caught the subtle twitch of his lips.

Ella's future is designed to be with Lucas, so in the future, she'll probably turn into his wife.

Although I teased her in Lavousier's Cafe... that shouldn't change their relationship, right?

Well, it doesn't really matter.

If today is a free day, then I guess I'll take a trip around the capital.

But then, sothing struck .

Wait a second.

Did Lucas say sothing about the Saintess having a problem?

Imdiately, I turned back and then approached Lucas again.

"What... are you doing here again?"

Lucas asked, exasperation creeping into his voice.

"I just have a small question, I won't bother you too much. What exactly happened to the Saintess?"

Hearing my words, Lucas had a thoughtful expression as held his chin, but then, he finally seed to have rembered sothing.

"I think... it was sothing related to the attack of demon beasts."

I froze entirely.

"Demon beasts?"

"It seems that more and more demon beasts seem to be appearing around the capital, more precisely around the forest zone."

"And unfortunately... many people got injured because of that. So people even..." His voice trailed off, and his expression turned somber.

"...died."

I went blank upon hearing his words.

"Aestrea...?"

Ella called out to , seemingly staring at my face.

What kind of expression was I making, I wondered.

"You... okay?" She stepped closer, concern etched across her face.

But, my lips quickly curled into a smile as I replied to her with the sa tone.

"I'm fine. Just thinking about sothing."

"I'll be going now..."

I said leaving them alone.

"His expression..." Ella murmured softly.

Lucas glanced at her, then nodded.

"He seed a little bit off. As if sothing that shouldn't have happened... actually happened."

"Exactly..."

Ella bit her lip, a flicker of unease crossing her features.

"Fuck..."

My mind was a whirlwind as I stord through the corridors, heading straight for the forest.

Swoop!

CRASH!

I slamd my fist into a tree, splintering it in half. The crack echoed through the stillness, but it did nothing to calm the rage boiling inside .

I gritted my teeth as I swung yet another punch at so other three.

Why?

WHY?!

I was warned by the system.

I could prevent people from being dead!

And instead of investigating... damn it.

I shouldn't have gone to the academy competition when I knew that there was a fucking horde of demon beasts coming to attack.

"DAMN IT!"

THRASH!

Another tree shattered, then another, as my fists tore through the forest. The gusts from my strikes toppled even those untouched.

I bit down hard on my lip, tasting the faint tallic tang of blood.

I should have investigated sooner. I should have taken the warnings seriously.

"I can't wait anymore."

I growled through my gritted teeth.

"I'll leave a note for Vivian or sothing."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I went back to the hotel where I t Lumi and made her transform back into a sword.

Then, I walked to Vivian's hotel room and left a small note before leaving for the forest.

The note talked about how I would probably only appear during the last phase of the competition if they indeed passed without .

Along with that, it was the weakness and fighting ways of every opponent that I had seen fighting.

I hope they can hold on without

and reach the last phase of the competition.

Besides, if there's a chance of that horde of monsters appearing, I need to make sure they die before it's too late.

Even if I told the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation, they probably wouldn't believe it. So, I'll need to make this my own way.

I was still wearing my Leader's Suit as I walked down the forest, and couldn't see my expression, sotis I couldn't help but think...

Was this an expression by Aestrea or ?

Or both of us?

I knew we had beco a single entity, but still...

It felt strange, this rage coming deeply from my heart. I was never infuriated like this before, but why was I so mad?

I didn't know.

But soon enough...

Sothing reached my nostrils.

The disgusting sll of blood.