122 – Special Training 12
About 30 minutes had passed since Sepia went to change into comfortable clothes.
Loki let out a deep sigh inside the mask.
It wasn’t because he was tired or angry from waiting for Sepia.
He was a bit surprised when Sepia came out in a dress, but he could wait for 30 minutes just to see that dress?
Even if it was 3 hours, he could wait.
As he was picturing Sepia in a dress in his mind, he felt a presence approaching.
That was why Loki sighed deeply inside the mask.
‘This must be the fourth time already.’
No, perhaps not.
It could be that they were coming this way because they liked the bench I was sitting on……
“Hello.”
That’s unlikely.
‘And this time, it’s a woman.’
From the voice, it was clear that the person speaking this time was a woman.
People who approached after Sepia left to change began to strike up conversations.
Up until now, all three who approached were men.
Some just exchanged greetings and left, while others suggested hanging out together.
The woman who initiated the conversation introduced herself as a member of the Croa Empire’s noble family.
“Why did you wear a black mask today instead of the white one?”
“I occasionally switch between them.”
An empire person…..
Honestly, I thought students from other kingdoms would be more talkative, but surprisingly, out of the 4 people who interacted, including this woman, three were from the empire.
Naturally, the reason they approached was revealed to be that they were the emperor’s disciples.
Since the emperor revealed me as his disciple, no student has insulted or ignored me.
Instead, something troublesome had occurred just like now.
It was fine to ignore or curse at those who deserved it.
But ignoring someone who spoke normally like now felt a bit off.
“I don’t mind my reputation being tarnished, but it could affect the reputation of others around me…”
How could he quickly send this woman away, he pondered.
Swish.
“What are you doing right now?”
With a cold voice, someone descended from the sky.
She was dressed comfortably, not in a dress, and her flowing pink hair was tied up for ease of movement.
“Princess Sepia Lividen?”
The woman who spoke suddenly saw Sepia descending from the sky and awkwardly bowed.
Honestly, even if the person who appeared wasn’t Sepia, wouldn’t anyone be surprised if someone suddenly descended from the sky?
“So, what’s the situation here?”
Sepia said, ignoring the woman beside her.
“Well…”
Loki pondered how to explain the current situation.
I don’t know either?
If he said that, Sepia might get even angrier.
The person who approached knew that I was the Emperor’s disciple and was trying to become friendly.
It was a valid statement, but it felt like giving in to the woman who approached.
If the woman had started an argument, he would have spoken without hesitation, but she didn’t.
As Loki searched for the right words, Sepia’s eyes were narrowing.
“I suddenly remembered an important appointment, so I should be going.”
The woman who had spoken looked at Sepia, bit her lip, then quickly left as if fleeing.
“What conversation was that woman having with Sepia?”
Loki interrupted Sepia’s words.
“Thank you, Sepia. I was wondering how to politely decline, but thanks to you appearing, I could do so comfortably.”
Sepia found Loki frustrating.
Why is it so hard to decline?
“Should I call her not a fool, but an idiot? Just say no, or… go away. Most would really leave then, right?”
“Gasp! How can you say such harsh words! And you know how introverted I am, right? It’s not easy.”
“Ha! Unbelievable.”
Sepia was astonished at Loki’s shameless talk.
Introverted? Who?
Walking around with the most noticeable mask and a red cape, claiming to be introverted?
Moreover, as Loki clapped once, he said,
“Earlier, the white dress and the hair really suited you, but the clothes and tied-up hair you’re wearing now also look great.”
Sepia knew in her mind that those words were just a way to change the subject.
“…Really? I just put on whatever I saw.”
Knowing that, she had no choice but to let it go.
By the way, Sepia swiftly flew home using the wind spirit.
However, even though it took 30 minutes, it was because she carefully pondered over comfortable yet beautiful clothes and various hairstyles to wear.
Plus, there were things to grab along the way.
“And this! I bought too many by mistake, but it’s a shame to throw them away, so I’ll give you one as a special gift.”
Sepia handed a perfume she had brought from home to Loki.
Because Loki had liked it earlier.
“What’s this?”
“Don’t you recognize it? It’s what you wanted earlier.”
Although Sepia felt embarrassed to say it was the same perfume she used, she turned around and said.
Loki just grinned as if he knew nothing.
“You said you wanted to know what perfume I used earlier!”
“But you clearly said earlier that you wouldn’t tell me, didn’t you?”
“…Argh! If you don’t want it, give it back! There are plenty of other people who want it besides you, you know?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“That’s not it. Once received, the owner of this perfume is decided. Sepia, thank you, I’ll use it well.”
Seeing Sepia carefully put the perfume in her pocket, she forced a smile and spoke.
“Dummy, but where should we train? The training ground is in the opposite direction from here.”
“I’ve already thought about the training location. If we go to the place I have in mind, we won’t be disturbed by anyone.”
Unintentionally, Sepia gulped nervously.
“Ah, in a place where no one is? Just the two of us?”
No matter how much she thought about it, there was no reason to train in a place where no one was around.
‘Could it be that training is an excuse, and no one is there to…?’
But then, there was no need to change into comfortable clothes from the dress if that were the case, right? A very sensible thought crossed Sepia’s mind.
‘That’s a trap to catch me off guard!’
Sepia’s delusion… no, imagination literally ‘passed by’ for a moment.
“Sepia, you changed into comfortable clothes, and I’ve made all the mental preparations as well. Shall we start heading out slowly now?”
Sepia nodded.
If she said she was going, she didn’t know what she might end up doing in a place with no one around.
Here, firmly…
“…..Yes.”
***
Chirp, chirp, the sound of sparrows crying from the sky.
Numerous trees swaying in the wind.
Even the scent wafting through the nose.
“Dummy, the place with no one around that you mentioned earlier, is it the forest?”
“Yes.”
“………………”
As Hoku said, indeed, there was no one around.
This forest belonged to the academy and was rarely used unless for exams.
“Right, if we don’t have permission, other students won’t be able to come in…”
As Sepia spoke, she sensed something strange.
It usually takes at least 3 days to get a permit to enter the forest.
This morning, Hoku suggested training together.
“……..Hoku?”
“Yes, Miss Sepia.”
“Just asking, did you get permission to use the forest?”
“…………. Such trivial matters are not important to us right now!”
“What if we get caught?”
“If we don’t get caught, it’s fine!”
A bold tone, as if nothing was wrong.
In the end, Sepia just sighed at the audacity and said nothing.
To be precise, it wasn’t that she didn’t say anything, but rather she couldn’t say anything.
If Hoku can just leave saying they might get caught here, then who knows when they’ll meet again.
“Alright, as you say, as long as we’re not caught. So, how will you make me stronger?”
“Miss Sepia, I know nothing about spirit magic.”
If Sepia had heard Loki’s words a while back, she would have been angry, feeling deceived.
But now, with her high level of trust in Loki, she listened quietly without getting angry.
Loki spoke seriously.
“Just to let you know in advance, it will be very tough. I estimated a month in my mind, but that’s assuming I push you to your limits, Miss Sepia.”
Taking Loki’s seriousness into consideration, Sepia also replied seriously.
“I’ll do my best, prepared for the worst.”
“No, why make it sound so scary. This is about survival. If you die during training, it’s pointless. Miss Sepia.”
“No! That’s not what I meant! I didn’t mean that!”
Sepia snapped at Loki’s words.
She seemed a bit serious! Indeed!
“Sigh… So, what should I do for a month then?”
“Well, Miss Sepia, please wait a moment. Concentration and preparation are required here.”
Loki vividly visualized the image he wanted to create in his mind.
The image was crucial to make it as close to reality as possible.
Even if Sepia borrowed the power of the guardian for a month to train, she would still be weaker than Betzdo.
Moreover, her opponent is not an ordinary knight or wizard, but Sepia has never faced a necromancer like Betzdo before.
It’s impossible for Sepia to become stronger than Betzdo in a month.
But in a month, she can be made to defeat Betzdo.
“Miss Sepia, do you know the easiest way to study?”
“That’s… What?”
Startled by the sudden question, Sepia was taken aback, especially when she saw skulls appearing next to Loki.
Not just one, but dozens of heavily armed skulls.
Having played Croaka for 10 years, Loki naturally had information about Betzdo, one of the bosses.
Such as what body he uses, what attacks he makes, how he fights with Sepia, and so on.
The way Sepia can defeat Betzdo.
“The answer is pre-study.
That’s memorizing all the patterns.