Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 86

At Geba Station.

The instructors rescued the trainees who had been imprisoned in the dungeons of the lord’s castle and led them to the train platform.

There, the head instructor and Yan’s companions stood waiting.

“Lady Lorena! Mr. Yan!”

Charl, who was at the forefront, ran towards them.

“Ah, you’re on our side too.”

Yan’s words made Charl tilt her head in confusion.

But seeing the head instructor smirking beside him, Charl lost the courage to ask why.

As Charl quietly took her place beside Lorena, other trainees approached Yan.

“You survived too!”

“Tha-thank you… If it weren’t for you, we would be…”

“Yan! Don’t jinx us with such talk.”

Trainees under Kasa’s command approached Yan, showing friendly attitudes and expressing their gratitude.

Not just to Yan, but to all his companions.

However, no trainee came to thank Cruel.

“…Why doesn’t anyone come to me?”

Roman chuckled beside him.

“Don’t you remember all the things you’ve done?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve always picked fights and threatened other trainees at the slightest provocation. You did the same to her.”

Roman gestured towards Lorena.

Cruel’s face turned red-hot, not from embarrassment.

“All that, and I don’t even get a word of thanks? It’s not like I’ve crippled anyone.”

Roman shrugged.

“What can you do? It’s your karma.”

Cruel gritted his teeth as he watched the trainees leave without a glance his way.

That’s when it happened.

A short trainee scurried over and bowed deeply.

Cruel and Roman looked puzzled.

“Th-thank you! If it hadn’t been for you when the undead climbed the walls, we would’ve been in serious trouble!”

The trainee shouted his thanks and quickly followed the others.

Cruel watched the trainee’s retreating figure with a stunned expression.

Poke, poke.

Someone nudged his side, and Cruel finally turned his head.

Kasa looked up at him with a sly grin.

“Are you touched by this? Or did you take a liking to that trainee?”

“No!”

Cruel shouted and spun around.

But he couldn’t hide the twitching at the corners of his mouth.

Kasa watched Cruel with a smirk.

‘He’s simple-minded at times like this. He wasn’t like that during the fight.’

Kasa had come to a clear realization about his place during this second exam.

He knew he was now even falling behind Roman.

But that didn’t mean he had given up.

‘If I follow that guy, I might gain something.’

Kasa’s eyes drifted towards Yan, who was conversing with the head instructor.

Whoooooo!

The train bound for the imperial capital sounded its horn as it entered the platform.

* * *

The companions stepped into the train, each finding their seats according to their tickets.

Yan’s face twisted suddenly.

“Wow, the same spot.”

It was because of the head instructor’s smile as he looked at Yan from the front.

‘I won’t even be able to rest on the train.’

The moment he let his guard down, they would pounce on any weakness.

-Good day to you all. This is your conductor speaking…

As the conductor’s announcement echoed through the train’s speakers, the train began to move forward.

“I didn’t have high expectations, but I never imagined we’d rescue everyone.”

The head instructor leaned back, a smirk curling his lips.

Yan waved his hand dismissively at the head instructor’s remark.

“Did I do well? It’s thanks to everyone for holding on.”

“But still, you were isolated. How did you escape?”

Yan pulled out a portable warp gate from his pocket.

Seeing this, the head instructor let out a chuckle.

“That pig handed it over to you? He’s not the type to do such a thing.”

“I thought so too, so I swiped it.”

“What?”

The head instructor’s eyes widened, then he burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! How did you swipe it? It sounds like an interesting story. Do tell.”

Yan recounted the events that had transpired.

The head instructor listened intently, his face showing genuine interest.

And then, it happened.

Beep-beep-beep.

An alarm sounded from the head instructor.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a bead.

It was a communication orb.

The head instructor poured mana into it and held it to his ear.

His face, previously smiling and nodding, suddenly turned stern.

He glanced slyly at Yan.

‘He’s heard something.’

Yan tensed up, alert.

“Okay, got it. Go rest when we get back.”

The head instructor ended the communication and looked at Yan quietly.

“…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Why?”

“You’re staring at me.”

At that, the head instructor gave a wry smile.

“They say no more undead have appeared on the Plains of the Dead since you were there… What did you do?”

“It seems to be because of the lich we took down there.”

“Lich?”

The head instructor settled deeper into his seat cushion, looking at Yan.

It was a gesture for Yan to continue.

Yan spoke smoothly about the related events.

“The only way out, this warp gate, ran out of power after sending all the isolated trainees and Charl back.”

“That makes sense. That thing can only transport five or six people at most.”

“Yes. So, while it was recharging and I was driving away the undead, the lich appeared.”

The head instructor looked straight into Yan’s eyes.

“I’ve never heard of a lich on the Plains of the Dead before?”

“It must have been hiding well.”

“And this lich appeared just when you were there?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

A snicker escaped from the head instructor.

Yan swallowed hard at the sound.

Then he lifted the Ascalon, still in its sheath, from his waist and showed it to the head instructor.

“If it weren’t for this, I probably would have died.”

“What is that?”

The head instructor looked at the Ascalon Yan had drawn with interest.

He had thought Yan had gotten a new sword after breaking the one he had given him during the battle with Vilay, but that wasn’t the case.

Yan faced the head instructor and said,

“Would you like to try drawing out the shadow?”

The head instructor complied with Yan’s request.

A shadow crept out from beneath his legs.

Yan drew Ascalon from its sheath and lightly traced the shadow.

Swoosh.

The shadow was cut and vanished.

“Huh.”

The head instructor looked at Ascalon as if it were a marvel.

Yan continued,

“It’s an artifact given to me as a gift by Duke Beowulf.”

“An artifact that can interfere with mana. Quite precious. It could be a natural enemy to mages.”

“…Yes.”

“And the undead… the same.”

The head instructor finished speaking and grasped the Ascalon lying on Yan’s knee.

His lips curled into a smile.

“Interesting?”

The head instructor released the handle of Ascalon.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t lift it.

The head instructor extended his hand.

“Give me your hand.”

Yan looked at the hand the head instructor had offered.

‘He’s doubting my abilities.’

A snake-like character.

Even after revealing Ascalon, which was enough to explain the situation, he wasn’t satisfied.

‘I’m glad I prepared for this.’

Yan casually wiped his hand on his clothes and handed it to the head instructor.

Thump.

As they shook hands, dark energies transferred from the head instructor, scanning Yan’s body.

The head instructor seemed to be checking thoroughly, but it didn’t matter.

‘I’ve already hidden everything.’

The moment he rubbed his hand on his clothes, he had embedded half of the mana stored in his mana heart between his bones and muscles.

The rest he pushed below his navel, into his dantian, and hid the existence of the mana heart itself.

After a while, the head instructor released Yan’s hand.

He smiled slyly and nodded.

“You were really lucky, weren’t you?”

“So it seems.”

Fortunately, the head instructor hadn’t noticed anything.

* * *

Whoooooo!

Before they knew it, the train had arrived at the Imperial Capital.

Leading the way, the head instructor, followed by Yan, Lorena, Charl, Kasa, Cruel, and Roman, disembarked.

Yan, Cruel, Kasa, and Lorena, familiar with the capital, remained unfazed, but Charl and Roman gaped at the sights of the Imperial Capital.

“Save the sightseeing for after graduation. Don’t lose track and follow me.”

The head instructor clicked his tongue and strode ahead.

Buildings unlike any seen in the north, east, or their respective hometowns crowded the view.

Signboards floated in the air, and the pace of the people was much faster than elsewhere.

Everyone seemed to be living busily.

The head instructor walked on the ash-white marble laid in the middle of the main road.

“Why is marble only laid here? Is it a road for carriages?”

Charl asked, and Lorena answered.

“Those with business at the Imperial Palace must enter through here. It signifies following the path of His Imperial Majesty.”

Roman was about to snort at this.

But he had to stop when Kasa immediately covered his mouth.

Kasa whispered quietly.

“Do you want to be dragged to the underground prison for making unnecessary remarks in the Imperial Capital?”

Roman nodded, and Kasa removed his hand from Roman’s mouth.

“If you touch me one more time, I’ll start by smashing that parasitic face of yours.”

“Even after helping you, honestly?”

“Why bother helping such a brat? Just let the guards or knights beat him to a pulp.”

Cruel chuckled as he brushed past Roman.

After walking on the marble for a while, they reached a building overwhelmingly majestic compared to the others outside.

It was as if more than ten buildings had been merged into one.

And below the stairs, several statues were impressively displayed.

As the head instructor and Yan’s group ascended the stairs, they encountered the gatekeepers blocking the main entrance with halberds.

Dressed in shining white full plate mail, they stood in that position all day long.

And Yan knew they were formidable.

‘At least 5th grade or higher.’

To think that individuals who would be treated with great respect in the frontier were merely gatekeepers here.

Truly befitting the palace where the Emperor resided.

The head instructor showed his identification badge to them.

“Welcome.”

“And the people behind you are…”

“The children His Highness the Crown Prince has been looking for. Yan, Lorena, Kasa, Charl, Roman, Cruel.”

The gatekeeper immediately contacted the inside, and seemingly receiving permission to enter, he slightly bowed and opened the blocked main gate.

* * *

Stepping into the Imperial Palace, the corridors were brimming with people.

All were nobles, invited to the palace’s grand banquet.

They huddled in groups, engaging in trivial banter, while noblewomen boasted of their offspring, seeking suitable betrothal matches.

The head instructor, seemingly indifferent, pressed his lips tightly together and moved forward.

He entered the room assigned to him.

Inside, one could immediately tell it was filled with expensive paintings and art pieces, furnished with antique furniture.

It appeared to be a room designated for nobility.

“Phew, every time I come here, it feels suffocating, doesn’t it?”

The head instructor exhaled heavily, clearly loathing such places.

“I have separate matters to attend to now.”

Yan raised his hand.

“What about us?”

“You all…”

The head instructor glanced at Yan and the others, his lips curling into a sly smile.

“There should be a banquet happening about now. Those who wish to go may, and if not, feel free to rest in your rooms.”

Most of the group greeted this news with excitement, except for Lorena, who was weary of banquets, and Kasa, who hailed from a fallen noble house.

The head instructor put a finger to his lips, warning them.

“But if you tarnish my name, you’ll be expelled immediately, and I won’t let it slide. I truly despise this place and have no desire to be caught up in any nonsense.”

With that, the head instructor left the room.

The remaining trainees exchanged glances.

Lorena and Kasa didn’t seem eager to leave, but the excitement on the other trainees’ faces eventually got them on their feet.

Yan watched them with a light chuckle.

“It looks like we’re all going, so let’s hurry.”

And so, the trainees made their way to the banquet hall without hesitation.