Chapter 120: Ariel’s Life

To develop an underground information network, while trying to defend himself from attacks that might come from various parties.

It was impossible for Ariel to quietly infiltrate the Central Region and develop his spy network.

Fine, on his own, he could get the chance to enter Canelo Academy. But, there were limits to that.

Ariel wasn’t at a sufficient age, so there was a high likelihood he’d be rejected due to many factors involved.

That was why Ariel had once been confused. There was no way he had to wait three or four more years just to reach the right age, right?

Then, right when he was confused, a certain path finally opened. It came from a girl he believed to be the leader of a cult worshipping the person Ariel considered his benefactor.

That was a genuinely strange meeting.

But Ariel couldn’t deny that it was a meeting that had changed his life up to this point.

Ariel had found a way into Central with that girl’s help. He’d been adopted by a family, and through that, obtained a place at the Academy as an ordinary student.

His background was neatly covered up, so except for insiders or those who really tried to search, almost no one would be able to discover Ariel’s identity as a child originally from the Slums.

“Yeah, just as expected.”

Ariel smirked, his lips curving into an amused smile as he looked at the buildings outside the Academy.

He stood in the corridor, staring out the window with a calm expression.

“Heey! Ariel, let’s go play, damn it! I heard a new game was released at the arcade! Let’s skip class and go play!”

“Whoa Carul, can’t you calm down a bit? I think Ariel will be troubled if you keep inviting him like that, haha.”

“Tsk. So what? When else will we get to be new players in such a promising game? I mean, there’s no way you’ll refuse again this time, right, Ariel?”

Right, Ariel’s life so far had been genuinely normal. He turned around and smiled, looking at the two Academy students who had become his friends for some time now.

“That sounds good. I heard the female characters are pretty?”

“Heeh~ if we’re talking about the female characters… Damn! You won’t be able to handle it, seriously!”

“Hoho, I’ve seen the trailer, aren’t the assets a bit too excessive and big?”

“Psst! Don’t be too loud, or we’ll get caught!”

In the morning, Ariel came to the Academy to study, in the afternoon he’d study again, something like a skill book apparently would only be given to him after he received enough lessons.

So, Ariel still had to be patient for that.

And, when evening arrived, as could be seen, Ariel might soon leave evening class to play with his friends.

Of course, Ariel wasn’t being lazy or anything. It’s just that he was trying to appear normal and not look suspicious.

Given his status as the leader of an information network that was rather extraordinary for his age, Ariel had directly become a target for many parties.

He’d only managed to survive because they were in conflict with each other. As for the great families, so far, they hadn’t made any concerning moves.

‘Speaking of great families…’

Ariel suddenly remembered Kina. He hadn’t expected the girl he’d met that day wasn’t just an ordinary wealthy girl. Who would have thought that girl herself came from a great family that served as a pillar for humanity today?

That was genuinely shocking news, to the point that every time Ariel thought about it, his mood immediately turned sour.

‘That rude girl turned out to be from a great family… Ugh… Truly unfair.’

For some reason, in Ariel’s imagination, he could always see Kina continuing to mock him in a rude and cruel way.

Of course, that didn’t mean Ariel rejected that relationship. In fact, he actually felt happy because his relationship with Kina, though somewhat rough, wasn’t in a position where they became enemies.

In fact… weren’t they on the same side because of Julian’s existence?

That was the important core here.

‘That girl is also a monster. I didn’t expect her to become so popular once she entered the elite academy. Just as expected from Lord Julian, he’s so skilled at guiding people.’

When that thought shifted toward Julian.

Ariel immediately felt rather complicated. He remembered again all the sentences Ilunia had told him, rambling about how that man was a god or something worthy of worship.

At first, that felt like nonsense, but now?

“I hate myself for feeling like that’s starting to feel true.”

“Hm? What did you say, Ariel?”

“Ariel hates himself? I’ve never heard someone say something that stupid before.”

“Shut up, you’re both still kids.”

While walking away from the Academy and looking at the clear blue sky with the somewhat golden evening sunlight, Ariel let out a small sigh.

‘How could someone like that exist in this world?’

No clear origin. He just appeared out of nowhere, got a follower, received support from the Association, and even after that, Ariel had surprisingly become part of that man’s power base.

Wasn’t that some kind of deliberate move that eventually just came together on its own?

‘He didn’t need to say anything at all, and we met each other and ended up supporting that man, as though it were something that naturally had to happen.’

Ridiculous, but that’s what happened.

It even felt terrifying, didn’t it?

Ariel rubbed his face irritably. He never got any answer every time he thought about that man, but gradually, he started feeling that the man really was the kind of figure more deserving of worship than mere respect.

Of course, that was only if everything that had happened so far was something that man had already planned.

Just like that, Ariel spent his time thinking in a complicated way, unable to focus on what he was doing until night arrived.

This was a rather special night because after some time, Ariel finally received a guest’s visit after returning home.

“Miss Ilunia, welcome. Would you like tea, or coffee?”

In his dark, modern, and luxurious house, Ariel offered a single sofa to the blind girl, who had come at night wearing a thin dress covered with a thick black jacket to cover her skin.

Her golden hair flowed gently down her slender waist, making her figure under the moonlight reflected from the open glass window look so beautiful and gentle to behold.

Ariel wouldn’t lie about how much he appreciated that beautiful appearance. But, of course, Ariel wouldn’t let himself fall in love.

‘I won’t fall in love with anyone before my little sister is happy.’

Ariel’s own happiness was second, and his little sister was first.

“Don’t bother. Instead, how are you doing?”

Hearing the blind girl’s gentle voice, Ariel sat on the long sofa and chuckled as he answered.

“Of course I’m fine. I never thought that in Central, life would be so different from the Slums.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Ariel nodded. “The Academy also feels amazing. Although… the kids there, none of them are quite remarkable enough to pay attention to. Just potential, but they don’t make use of it.”

That part itself left Ariel somewhat confused. He’d come to the Academy to study, but what he found there were just naughty kids who came to play around, not to genuinely study.

‘Don’t they understand how dangerous this world is? Or are they just stupid?’

While thinking about that in his mind, Ariel blinked in surprise, hearing Ilunia’s small laugh, as though what Ariel had said was something amusing.

“…Why are you laughing?” Ariel asked, tilting his head, somewhat irritated but trying to understand.

“Huhu… It’s not that,” In front of him, Ilunia coughed awkwardly, holding back the amusement on her lips and answered. “Ariel, you shouldn’t consider those kids the same as you.”

“…?”

“They were born into well-off families, they’re spoiled and don’t understand the dangers that exist in this world. Unlike you, you’ve lived your whole life surviving all this time. They’re not as perceptive as you. Go, try to find a child your age who leads an organization under their own leadership, and you’ll never find one.”

Hearing that, Ariel fell somewhat silent.

‘So I really am the problem here?’

He tilted his head with a complicated expression. If what Ilunia said was true, then Ariel felt somewhat disappointed. He felt as though the anticipation he’d felt upon entering the Academy had already faded before it even began.

He’d expected rivalry and difficulties that would keep pressing him to keep learning and keep rising to be better, but… it seemed that was a rather impossible request.

Ariel let out a sigh with a somewhat sad expression.

“…That’s rather sad. Well, I guess I expected too much.”

Ilunia just laughed hearing that, while Ariel stayed silent for a moment, then said:

“So, may I know why Miss Ilunia suddenly came again today? Does Miss Ilunia need some kind of information or something?”

“Ah, yes, I have something I’d like you to do.”

Ariel raised his face with interest, “Oh? What is it?”

However, Ilunia shook her head.

“Don’t rush. First, I want you to develop yourself first. Since you’re no longer in the Slums, you’ve lost your freedom to go to invaded territory, right?”

“Oh… right. My rank progress hasn’t increased at all.”

Ilunia seemed to have already guessed that, so the blind girl, still with a sweet smile on her face, said:

“Yes, that’s exactly why, I’ll be making some adjustments to this academy. All to help you develop.”