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Chapter 42: Farewell Before Departure

Seeing he made no response for a long while, Clara could not wait any longer and felt somewhat at a loss.

The girl poked Ashura’s arm with her slender finger, then shot him a sharp look and pointed at the notebook on the desk.

Ashura finally came back to himself, scribbled a few lines, and replied, “I want to go out for experience; my training plan requires me to leave the academy for quite a while, so rather than keep this seat empty I may as well auction it off and earn some credits!”

When the notebook returned to Clara’s hands, the girl looked even more flustered.

After hesitating she wrote, “Must you really go? You are smart enough that I think you will do well in the academy. If you mess with your seat, I will never speak to you again!”

Ashura took the notebook once more, nodded with a wry smile, and wrote nothing extra.

Perhaps he did not know how to answer her next questions; he only hoped he would still be alive to sit in that seat again.

Seeing his shameless expression, Clara ground her silver teeth in anger yet still did not know what to say or write.

She had no idea what the lecturer said for the rest of the class; her mind remained a complete mess.

When the dismissal bell rang and she was about to speak with Ashura again, the guy stood up, whispered a few words into chubby Na Wei’s ear, and she clearly saw Na Wei look up at Ashura in utter shock and confusion.

Ashura merely patted Na Wei’s shoulder with a smile and then left the classroom.

Clara did not know whether she was angry or disappointed, but her icy expression frightened off several students from other classes who had planned to strike up a conversation.

Ashura then headed for the training field and strolled over to Warrior Class 7; he was already a celebrity there, for every first-year warrior knew about the weirdo in a magic robe who showed up to the field every day.

The two strongest beauty freshmen of Warrior Classes 7 and 8 had chosen him as their sparring partner, so he was beaten up every single day.

In truth many freshmen warriors envied Ashura for serving as practice dummy for two gorgeous fighters, yet pride stopped them and the idea of being pummeled by beauties every day was not exactly pleasant.

Thus, although Lan Yu and Magina had countless admirers, none of them considered Ashura a rival in love, for no one believed the daily punching bag would ever win the favor of those two beauties.

When Lan Yu saw the black-haired boy ambling over, the corners of her mouth lifted; seeing Ashura apparently put her in a good mood.

She swung her impossibly long legs and sauntered up to Ashura, but before she could speak he waved his hand and said, “No sparring today; come with me to find Magina, I have something to tell both of you!”

Lan Yu’s smiling face collapsed at once and she complained, “Weren’t you supposed to spar with me today? Why are we going to Magina?”

Ashura gave the proud girl no explanation; he simply seized her uniform sleeve and dragged the reluctant beauty toward Warrior Class 8’s training queue.

Magina had not expected Ashura to show up with Lan Yu; puzzled, she followed his beckoning over to a large tree at the edge of the field.

She traded glances with Lan Yu, who shook her head, and the two of them turned their eyes on the scoundrel who had summoned them.

Ashura narrowed his eyes at the two uniquely stunning women; they were certainly a sight for sore eyes, and if they did not hit so hard, being their sparring partner would be a lovely job.

Meeting his lecherous gaze, Lan Yu and Magina exchanged looks; one drew a Horse-Cutter Sword from her space ring, while the other pulled a blue-gleaming dagger from the sheath strapped to her right thigh.

Realizing things were about to turn ugly, Ashura frantically waved his hands and said, “Stop, stop, I’m not here to fight; I need to talk to you two, so put the swords down!”

The two girls halted, glared coldly at the punch-worthy boy, yet still kept their weapons out.

Ashura swallowed hard and tried to smooth things over: “Give me your badges and I’ll refund each of you 10 credits; I’m leaving the academy for a while to train and won’t be back any time soon.”

“You two had better work hard, or I’ll make you cry when I get back!”

That kind of provocation normally deserved a thrashing, yet neither girl moved; instead they slowly lowered their swords.

The hot-tempered Magina frowned and asked, “Where are you going? I’ve never heard of a student leaving the academy to train before completing a year.”

Lan Yu chimed in, “Exactly, why are you suddenly running off? If it’s that bad, we’ll hit you lighter from now on, okay? Without you, sparring is boring!”

Ashura felt speechless and retorted, “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed; I’m no longer the weakling you two used to bully.”

“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you and then someone will give me trouble… especially that top freshman Menlo; if he hears I hurt Magina he’ll drag me to the duel arena for a death match!”

At that, Magina snatched up her Horse-Cutter Sword again and barked, “I have nothing to do with Menlo; say that again and I’ll tear your mouth off!”

Seeing Magina truly angry, Ashura no longer dared to joke.

He hurried to patch things up: “Anyway, that’s the situation; I won’t be at the training field for a while, I’m leaving in a few days, and if you don’t take these credits now I won’t refund them later!”

Both girls wanted to say something, but with the other standing beside her neither managed a word, and they could only watch the boy wave over his shoulder and stride away.

Ashura did not know that after he left several foolhardy warrior students volunteered to spar with the two girls, but they hit harder and harder, and after a few partners lay there with broken bones and torn tendons, no other idiot dared to show up, and everyone began to admire that eccentric magician who had somehow managed to keep those two tigresses satisfied!

Ashura strolled back to the dormitory, knocked on each door, and gathered his three roommates in the common room.

After a year of living together their bond was already strong, and their side business of gossip cards had tied them even closer.

Last month they had published a new set of rumor cards: the Top 10 Freshman Experts, following their earlier Top 10 Beauties.

The cards had filled their pockets once again, and because young people loved the spotlight, some students even challenged those ranked experts in the arena to improve their standings.

Ashura looked at the other three and calmly announced his plan to leave for training.

The three were stunned and had no idea what scheme their most mysterious third brother was hatching.

Eldest brother Jin Ze thought for a moment and then handed Ashura a waist token.

The moment Ashura took it he knew it was extraordinary: it felt heavy, was neither jade nor metal, and bore a single character, “Gold.”

Jin Ze smiled and said, “Third brother, I never mentioned my family before; we are the Jinli Lai Trading Company, and I am the legitimate eldest son of the current head.”

“This token is my credential; if you run into trouble on your journey, go to any Jinli Lai branch for help!”

At those words Ashura and Angelo drew a sharp breath, whereas second brother Arthur showed no reaction, as if he already knew Jin Ze’s background.

The Jinli Lai Trading Company was one of the four greatest merchant houses on King’s Continent!

Jinli Lai had branches in every city on the continent, its resources and connections immeasurable, and the thought that the easy-going Jin Ze was likely the next heir left the pair dumbfounded.

No wonder Jin Ze was keen on any chance to earn credits; he was born for business!

Before they recovered from the shock, second brother Arthur also handed over a token; it bore no script, only the Valencian Empire’s guardian beast, the Flame-Lion, rendered in majestic relief.

Arthur then said, “Third brother, I don’t know why you’re leaving so suddenly and I guess it won’t be easy, so here is my token.”

“I am the second prince of the Valencian Empire; with this in hand it is as if I am present, and you may seek aid from any General’s Household in our empire.”

Ashura was even more stunned to learn that Arthur was the empire’s second prince; by rights he should have knelt, yet this always-cool second brother had never shown the aura of a ruler.

Since his own homeland, the Olei Kingdom, was merely a vassal of the Valencian Empire, Arthur had probably kept silent until now to spare him any pressure.

Holding the two tokens, Ashura could not calm down for a long while; he understood their weight and why eldest and second brothers had revealed their lineage today.

It was not to boast but to show the depth of their friendship.

With that thought he turned to look at fourth brother Angelo.

Angelo scratched his head in embarrassment and said, “Third bro, you know my background; I don’t have any tokens… at best I can give you a 20 % discount at my family’s gear shop!”

The other three exchanged glances and then burst into hearty laughter.

Genuine friendship filled the dormitory amidst their laughter!

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