Looking at the suspicious Undine, Eros gave a dry cough. "We weren't whispering about anything special. We were just chatting about how to spend the holidays. Alright, alright! The results are being settled now, let's go."
Undine wanted to say more, but Eros firmly dragged her away.
A short while later, it was Eros's turn for the settlement. Since the device used for testing was not a Holy Artifact, it couldn't detect if Eros was lying. He simply reported a number—one that was higher than everyone else's but not absurd.
He knew that telling the absolute truth would only invite unnecessary trouble. How could a Sequence 7 kill thousands of specters alone? Explaining that would be an endless headache and might expose his hidden cards. It wasn't worth putting himself in danger for the sake of a few extra rewards from the Academy.
He had plenty of future opportunities to squeeze benefits out of the Church. There was no need to pick up a sesame seed only to lose a watermelon.
Soon, the results were announced. Eros secured first place without any suspense. Then, to his slight bewilderment, Dean Como and the others on stage called him back to the containment room to select a Sealed Artifact.
Wait, didn't I pick one yesterday? This... this is!
However, Dean Como on stage seemed to have "forgotten" yesterday's secret visit. He looked warmly at Eros and the other nineteen top students. "Next, follow me to the underground containment room to choose your rewards."
As Dean Como stepped down from the stage and passed Eros, he paused, patted the young man on the shoulder, and smiled. "You are a fine young man."
As he walked past to lead the group, a voice echoed directly in Eros's mind. While the Dean spoke those words aloud, he simultaneously sent a Soul Transmission.
The message told him: When you choose an object later, pick the iron-gray wooden box on the fourth shelf to the far right.
Eros finally felt the pure joy of "going through the back door." This is comfortable~
Despite the satisfaction, Eros remained still for a moment, maintaining his "Elf" persona. Going yesterday was one thing—he was technically entitled to it then. But going today and pretending he hadn't already taken one required a bit of acting. As an upright Elf, he shouldn't be greedily taking two rewards when the Academy only promised one.
Dean Como, seemingly expecting this hesitation, sent another transmission without looking back: "This is an extra reward for your bravery in luring away the specters to save your fellow students. It is not favoritism."
Eros feigned a moment of realization and then stepped forward to follow. It was a bit hypocritical, but the protocol had to be observed.
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A long while later, Eros emerged back onto the surface holding an iron-gray wooden box—the exact one Dean Como had pointed out.
Grade 3 Sealed Artifact: Seed of Thorns
Ability 1 — Thorny Jungle: Can rapidly grow a vast thicket of thorns to attack enemies.
Ability 2 — Corrosive Fangs: Attacks from the thorns randomly inflict bleeding, toxin, or dizziness (Success rate depends on the target's strength).
Ability 3 — Natural Perception: Allows the holder to resonate with nearby plants to sense changes in the surroundings.
Negative Effect — Bloodlust: Highly craves life force.
After hearing the description, Eros knew Dean Como had hand-picked this for him. It complemented Elven arts perfectly; the thorns it produced were far more lethal than the standard vines he grew from ordinary seeds. Furthermore, the "Bloodlust" drawback, which would be fatal for most, was a minor issue for an Elf with naturally overflowing life force.
The only redundant part was the perception ability, as his [Divine Art: Nature’s Protection] was already far superior. Regardless, the first two combat abilities were incredibly useful and fit his cover perfectly.
Once the top twenty finished their selections, the other students received their compensations. As for the deceased, their compensation would be personally delivered by the Church (in a way the common folk of the civilized world could understand).
With all matters settled, the Academy officially declared the start of the break. Students boarded steam trains back to Intiles, then scattered toward their respective homes.
In these few days, the empire was a mix of joy and mourning. Some celebrated the return of their children, while others realized their loved ones would never come back.
In a small village on the outskirts of Intiles, a young man in a crisp police uniform walked up to a modest house. Looking at the rusted iron door with its singular polished handle, he knocked.
A little girl opened the door. Seeing the uniform, she froze, her voice trembling. "Who... who are you looking for?"
The officer looked at her gently. "Is this the home of Moji?"
The girl’s pupils shrank. It was common knowledge that a policeman asking for a specific home usually meant bad news. She turned and ran inside, screaming, "Papa! Mama! Something's happened!"
Soon, a thin, middle-aged man with graying hair walked out, followed by a weathered woman. They were terrified, fearing their son had gotten into trouble in the city. They were so proud of their eldest son; he had a good job as an apprentice to a master cobbler in Intiles. He sent home three pounds a month—enough to save for a decent wedding in a year’s time. They had dreamed of a life so comfortable that even "noble lords" couldn't have it better.
The officer sighed as he looked at the trembling couple. "You are Moji's family?"
The man bowed repeatedly. "Yes, yes, I am his father. Officer, did my boy do something wrong?"
The officer shook his head. "He didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, he did something heroic. He saved the child of a high-ranking noble during an assassination attempt. Sadly, while holding off the assassin, he was stabbed. By the time we arrived, he had returned to the Lord's kingdom."
"However, that noble is deeply grateful. He is providing 3,000 gold pounds in cash as a reward, and all funeral expenses will be covered. Moji's body has been cremated according to Imperial law, and his effects will be delivered shortly. You can ask the people arriving later for more details. I have other matters to attend to."
He turned and left quickly. He couldn't bear to face the grieving eyes of the family. Besides, he had three other houses in this tiny village to notify.