Chapter 50: Ch 50: What do you mean he has an artifact?

Noah did not like violence, and he did not like relying on violence either. But there were times when it felt good to let loose and smack someone who deserved it.

"Ah, it feels so good. I hope I don’t make a habit of this. That won’t be good for my mental health."

Noah complained as he straightened his back and started to drag the body back toward the medical wing.

For the record, he did not expect Riku to believe the excuse he was about to give him for finding this esper. But Riku was at least reasonable enough to think before reaching a conclusion. Another teacher would just blame Noah for things he did not do...well, he did do it this time...

Anyway, the important part was that he was going to pawn this body off so that he would not have to think about it.

He reached the medical hall and opened the door, only to see Riku sitting in the chair and looking at the door with an unexplainable expression.

The medical esper’s eyes sharpened when they fell on him, and Noah took a sharp breath before he looked away.

"Well, surprise? I went out to take a walk and found him collapsed. Do you think you can help him?"

Noah asked as he dragged the heavy unconscious body behind him.

Riku’s gaze was starting to remind him that he was hurt and supposed to be resting. He should not be capable of dragging a full-sized esper around in his condition.

But Noah had an excuse ready to give.

"Are you surprised at how strong I am? I had special training dragging others out of the dungeon during emergencies. My guardians said that since I don’t have a high guiding grade, I need to make myself useful in other ways..."

Noah stopped saying any more once he felt like he had explained enough. And Riku did not say anything to him. He simply sighed and helped Noah dump the unconscious esper back on the medical bed.

He looked over the esper for a few minutes, but Noah could feel his gaze turning toward him once in a while.

Noah did his best to ignore those looks, but there was only so much he could ignore.

"Hey kid, where did you say you found him unconscious? Did you see anything else around?"

Riku asked, and Noah shook his head.

"No! Was I supposed to?"

He asked in a concerned voice. Noah was sure he had not missed anything important when he dragged the unconscious esper around. But he was also in pain, so it was possible that he had missed something.

"There is no need to be concerned. It’s just that rich kids like him usually carry around dungeon artifacts for protection. But maybe this one did not-"

"Watch out!"

Noah sensed the surge in energy seconds before it erupted, and he pulled Riku back right before his head could be cleaved off by the shadow monster.

It suddenly appeared out of the necklace the unconscious esper was wearing and took a defensive position over him.

"Well, looks like we found our dungeon artifact after all. Ugh, it would have been better if I never opened my mouth to begin with."

Riku complained as he looked at the monster-shaped artifact.

"What are we going to do now?"

Noah asked as he looked at the tiny creature as well, and Riku let out a sigh.

"Well, we are going to neutralize it for sure. And then I will check up on that esper-"

The artifact started shaking and slowly gaining another form. It was evolving and becoming much more violent compared to a few seconds ago...

’What should I do now? I know I can neutralize that threat, but I will likely expose my true nature and power-’

Noah was trying to find a way out when his body ’kindly’ decided to remind him that it was not done healing. His legs buckled, and he almost fell face-first before he was caught by Riku.

The doctor looked just as annoyed as he was at the situation, and then he took a deep breath and turned to look at him.

"Alright, kid, there has been a change in our plans. We are going to run away and let the academy deal with this. I am not going to waste my time and energy dealing with something they approved of."

Riku told him before he began to drag Noah out of the medical wing.

Luckily, there was no other patient here tonight, and most of the equipment had gone for maintenance as well...which was rather suspicious, right? It almost felt as if this attack was done deliberately.

Riku must have come to the same conclusion he had because he let out a startled laugh before looking back.

"These lunatics are actually out to kill us without any regret! Darn it. I’ve had enough of this academy! I am going to put in my two weeks...no, quit immediately once I make it out alive."

Riku complained, and Noah felt a pang of guilt and regret at dragging him into his issue.

This adult was the only one who was actually a decent person here, and he was helping Noah. But as a result, he was being treated like this.

Noah could not expect Riku to remain in this academy for the sake of his sanity...even if he desperately needed it.

"Hey kid, I am just saying this for your own good, but it would be for the best if you decide to run away from here as well. These people don’t see guides like you as humans anymore. So if you want to live, you better think about your options carefully."

See! This was why Noah admired Riku. He was not afraid to speak his mind and even speak out against the academy and his fellow espers.

But maybe it was for the best for an esper like this to escape before he could be corrupted by this academy.

crash

The monster hit a building behind him, causing it to collapse, and Noah let out a curse.

’Darn it. Now is not the time to be thinking all this. Let’s focus on survival first.’