The award ceremony for the Freshman Test was a bit excessively simple.
Principal Aurora pinned a golden badge engraved with “Freshman First” onto Lilith’s chest, patted her on the shoulder, said she had done a good job, and then declared the event adjourned.
“Alright, students, today’s Freshman Test concludes here. From now on, it’s free time!”
After saying that, Aurora hurriedly turned and left the plaza.
Lilith touched the badge on her chest and watched the principal’s retreating back as he hurried away.
“That’s strange. What’s wrong with the principal? Why is he in such a rush?”
She had originally intended to go back to the dormitory for a nap, but curiosity could sometimes be more agonizing than sleepiness.
“Should I follow him and see?”
Lilith thought about it and decided that since she had nothing better to do, she would follow him.
Aurora moved very quickly. After passing through the towers of the teaching area, he headed straight for the tower where the principal’s office was located.
Lilith followed unhurriedly, maintaining a distance just far enough to avoid being noticed.
“Is the principal in a hurry to use the restroom?” she wondered to herself. “Wait, no, every floor of every tower here has a restroom...”
Just as she was thinking this, Aurora pushed open the door and entered his office.
Lilith tiptoed to the door and pressed her ear against it.
The sound of someone rummaging through things came from inside, along with Aurora’s low muttering: “Where is it... it was clearly right here just a moment ago...”
“What is he looking for?” Lilith became even more curious.
She gently pushed the door halfway open and slipped inside.
Aurora had his back to her and was searching through the bookshelves, completely unaware that someone had entered.
Lilith looked around, and her gaze fell upon the desk.
There was an open file lying there. The top page featured a complex map with annotations in an ancient script next to it.
“What’s this?” Lilith walked over and picked up the document to read.
She quickly scanned the contents in her mind:
【Top Secret File: No. #】
【Discovery Location: Eastern Endless Mountains】
【Discoverer: Royal Archaeological Association Third Exploration Team】
【Preliminary Assessment: Suspected site of the War of the End from a thousand years ago. Abnormal high-concentration Demonic Energy residue detected on-site. Pollution Level: Extremely High. Recommendation: Seal off and conduct further investigation...】
Lilith’s brow furrowed deeper as she read.
“What’s this all about?”
She continued reading:
【Follow-up Investigation Record: The Royal Capital dispatched a Rank 9 powerhouse, the Starry Great Archmage, to the scene. Confirmed the existence of beyond-standard magic fluctuations within the ruins, suspected to be an active demonic energy pollution source. Recommendation: Assemble at least five Rank 9 or higher existences to perform a sealing...】
【Draft Action Plan: Dispatch five Rank 9 powerhouses and one existence above Rank 9, to be determined...】
After seeing this, Lilith looked up at Aurora, who was still rummaging through the bookshelves.
“Principal, is the information in this file real?”
“Gah!” Aurora jumped in fright and spun around abruptly. When he saw the file in Lilith’s hands, his face changed instantly. “You—how did you follow me in here? Also, that’s not something you should be looking at! Put it down immediately!”
He stepped forward quickly, reaching out to snatch the file back.
Lilith took a step back, deftly dodging him. “No, I haven’t finished reading it yet. I’m the Freshman First; surely you can’t forbid me from seeing this?”
“What does being Freshman First have to do with this!” Aurora grew anxious. “This is a top-secret file from the Royal Capital! Give it back!”
“You just leave top-secret files lying around on your desk?” Lilith curled her lip. “Besides, I’ve already seen it. A thousand-year-old ruin, ultra-high Demonic Energy pollution, and the Royal Capital is sending five Rank 9s and one above Rank 9 to investigate. Right?”
Aurora froze. “You... you read all of it?”
“Pretty much.” Lilith waved the file in her hand. “So, it’s real?”
Aurora sighed helplessly and gave up on trying to snatch it. “It’s real. But be careful with that; it was delivered secretly from the Royal Capital just today. Don’t damage it.”
As he finished speaking, he took advantage of Lilith’s momentary lapse in attention to suddenly strike, snatching the file back and clutching it tightly to his chest as if it were a precious treasure.
Lilith pouted. “Stingy. Tell me about it; I already know everything anyway.”
Aurora glared at her, but looking into Lilith’s red eyes—which were practically screaming with curiosity—he eventually conceded.
He walked behind his desk and sat down, locking the file in a drawer before finally speaking. “It doesn’t matter; knowing won’t do you any good anyway. The thousand-year-old ruins recorded in that file are suspected to be the site where the Demon King and the Hero fought their great battle.”
Lilith was stunned. She thought to herself, “The Demon King? No, that Demon King couldn't be me. It must be the former Demon King.”
“Oh, right. Veen mentioned this to me before. The former Demon King fought the Child of the World, and in the end, the Demon King killed the Child of the World.”
She remained outwardly calm and continued to ask, “And then?”
“And then?” Aurora rubbed his temples. “After the Rank 9 powerhouse from the Royal Capital investigated, they discovered that the place had suspected ultra-high magic fluctuations, which resulted in the area becoming polluted. Therefore, the Royal Capital decided to assemble five Rank 9s and one existence above Rank 9 to go and investigate.”
“Demonic Energy pollution? Is it that serious?” she asked.
“Extremely serious.” Aurora’s expression turned grave. “Ordinary magic residue will naturally dissipate within a few hundred years at most. But the magic in that place has existed for over a thousand years. It was originally dormant, but just a few days ago, it suddenly became increasingly active. This is very abnormal.”
He paused and lowered his voice. “Some scholars suspect that something... might still remain there.”
“What thing?”
“I don’t know.” Aurora shook his head. “In any case, that place is dangerous. Very, very dangerous.”
“Then, Principal, are you going?”
Aurora blinked. “Me? I’m certainly not going.”
“Why?” Lilith asked curiously.
“Why?” Aurora looked at her as if she had asked a ridiculous question.
“That’s a place that requires five Rank 9s plus one above Rank 9 to handle! Why would an old man like me, who only broke through to Rank 9 a few years ago, go there to join the chaos? Besides, if something were to happen to me, who would be responsible for the academy? Who would be responsible for your education? That’s why I decisively rejected the Royal Capital’s request.”
Lilith understood. “So, the principal is just afraid of dying?”
“You...” Aurora’s face turned red with embarrassment. He pointed at Lilith, his finger trembling. “How dare you speak to me like that! That’s called being cautious! Cautious, do you understand? Only by staying alive can I contribute more to the academy!”
“Oh.” Lilith nodded. “So, you’re afraid of dying.”
“Get out!” Aurora finally couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and pointed toward the door. “Immediately! Get out of here!”
“Fine, fine, I’m going.” Lilith raised her hands in surrender and turned to walk toward the door.
As she reached the doorway, she suddenly looked back. “Principal, where exactly is that ruin located?”
“Why would I tell you!” Aurora was so angry his beard was shaking. “Just leave!”
“If you won’t say, you won’t say. No need to be so aggressive.” Lilith grumbled as she pushed the door open and left.
Rate on N.U.
