"It’s really too bad we can’t watch the second trial." Efa sighed. "Waiting makes me anxious."
Elaine couldn’t agree more. She also found it hard to sit still, knowing that Alex was participating in the second trial after barely recovering from his injuries.
She could still remember how the young man had tried to dissuade them from going to Briarwood Village in order to repay their debt to him.
Only after the incident transpired did she realize why the young man had told them they could only come after they became Rank 3 in their respective professions.
’If I had gone there as a Rank 2 Swordsman, I’d probably be dead by now,’ Elaine thought. ’Good thing we listened to Alex.’
For her, Alex was an enigma.
He had arrived at the Town of Thaloria with Dim Dim and claimed he came from a very faraway place.
Back then, he was just starting out as an adventurer, and yet, he came to save him despite him being the weakest of them all.
The young man then left and returned as the Oathkeeper, who had the entire Clawford Tribe backing him up.
Then, he went to Briarwood Village to help a complete stranger and even asked his master, Cairo, to accompany him. That alone proved he had already known the Dungeon Outbreak would happen.
Of course, Elaine was very tempted to ask Alex many questions, but she felt he would only change the subject if she tried to get to the bottom of this.
The Flame Swordsman then glanced at Cairo, who was sipping his tea sparingly. Among the three of them, the Catkin likely knew the most about Alex.
"Is there a problem?" Cairo asked after noticing Elaine’s gaze.
"No." Elaine shook her head. "I’m just thinking that Alex is really a mysterious person."
"That he is," Cairo replied as he placed his teacup back on the table. "He once told me he’s some kind of Seer that can see visions of the future."
"It’s not only Alex who is mysterious, you know?" Efa commented. "Dim Dim is also quite mysterious. I mean, I’ve never seen something like it. Is it a monster? Is it a pet? Or is it something else?"
"Dim Dim doesn’t seem like a monster," Elaine said. "Maybe it’s some kind of spirit? I don’t feel any malice or hostility coming from it."
"Do you remember the time when Alex got drunk?" Efa smirked. "I asked him what kind of Monster Dim Dim was, and he told me that Dim Dim wasn’t a monster but a Deity."
"A Deity?" Cairo smiled. "Well, maybe it is? There are quite a few Deities in the world, and we can’t possibly say that we know all of them. If Alex says Dim Dim is a deity, then it must really be a deity."
Roselia, who was listening silently to the conversation, suddenly glanced at the door of the restaurant.
In walked an old Catkin with an eyepatch over his left eye and a smile on his face.
Lavinia’s handmaiden immediately stood up and bowed respectfully to the current Patriarch of the Hartwell Clan.
"Greetings, Sir," Roselia said while still bowing her head.
"At ease, Roselia," Ramza replied before taking the seat opposite his grandson. "It seems all of you had an amazing adventure as of late."
Cairo glanced pointedly at Roselia to silently ask her if she had told his grandfather about what had happened inside the Dungeon of Beginnings.
However, the maid firmly shook her head because she had never done such a thing.
Lavinia had asked Roselia to keep their experiences in the dungeon a secret because she didn’t want her grandfather to know about the dangers she had faced.
"Roselia didn’t tell me anything," Ramza said in order to clear any misunderstandings. "The Headmaster of the Academy did. We’re old friends—he and I."
Cairo turned his attention back to the Hartwell Patriarch. "What are you doing here, Grandfather?"
"What else?" Ramza shrugged. "I came to see if Alex and Lavinia will pass the second trial of the academy. So, the four of you should come with me."
"Where are we going?" Cairo inquired.
"Where else?" Ramza smirked. "The academy, of course."
"But they’re not allowing anyone to enter the academy grounds during this time."
"That only applies to people with no connections. Now, enough talk. Let’s go."
Ramza had only visited the restaurant because his Ninjas had told him that Cairo was there. Now that he had found his grandson, it was time they went to the academy.
Several minutes later, they were stopped at the gate by the guards of the academy.
However, the guards’ tone instantly became more polite after Ramza showed them a golden emblem. They courteously opened the gate so the Patriarch and his entourage could enter.
"See?" Ramza chuckled. "Cairo, you’re very strong, but sometimes, being strong is not enough. You also need to build relationships. When you continue your journey, be like your disciple and talk to people more. You’ll never know who you’ll meet along the way."
"Yes, Grandfather," Cairo replied. "I will keep this in mind."
Ramza nodded. He had noticed some changes in his grandson, and he was sure most of it could be attributed to Alex.
The Cairo of the past would have roamed the land in silence, alone, striking down Demon Worshippers and any evil crossing his path.
But being strong meant that you chose to walk the path of loneliness.
He didn’t want his grandson to suffer such a fate, so he was quite thankful to Alex.
Back then, Cairo and he hadn’t really talked a lot. But now, they could hold a proper conversation, and he could feel his grandson mellowing out a bit.
When they arrived at the plaza, the Headmaster of Frieden Academy chuckled as he shook hands with Ramza.
"You old coot, I don’t understand what you’re trying to do," Rowan said. "You’ve already paid the tuition of your granddaughter, so why is she still taking the trial to become a scholarship student? Have you suddenly changed your mind, you stingy miser?"
"Well, my granddaughter has her reasons for joining the trial," Ramza replied. "Anyway, since I have already paid the tuition, I’m not taking it back. I’m not a stingy miser, you know?"
Rowan grinned before waving his hand.
Three of the projections that were hanging in the sky flew in their direction, showing Alex, Lavinia, and Charles.
Ramza immediately recognized the Oathkeeper and his granddaughter. However, he did not recognize the teenage boy.
"Is he Charles?" Ramza asked his grandson.
"Yes, Grandfather," Cairo answered. "He’s the reason why Alex went to Briarwood Village."
Cairo had mentioned that Alex planned to meet someone in Briarwood Village, and it had piqued Ramza’s curiosity.
However, he hadn’t bothered to launch an investigation on the teen lest he offend Alex.
"Hmmm..." Ramza stroked his beard thoughtfully as he paid close attention to the teenage boy who might have been the reason why his grandchildren had experienced something similar to a Dungeon Outbreak.
"Do you know these two young men?" Rowan asked. "Why did you let them take the trial when you can just pay for their tuition as well? Are you hoarding your gold as dowry for your grandson and granddaughter?"
"Something like that," Ramza replied casually. "So, what do you think? Do they have a chance of passing the second trial?"
"The second trial just started, so I don’t know if they can pass it," Rowan answered. "But I will tell you this—many talented individuals are taking the trial this year.
"Unless they regroup with each other, they might all get eliminated before the trial ends. This is especially true for that young man with a broken arm."
Ramza turned to look at the projection of Alex, who seemed to be walking confidently in a particular direction.
A minute later, everyone saw the young man finding a treasure chest covered by shrubs. The old Catkin smirked in delight.
"Hey, old friend, would you like to bet with me?" Ramza asked. "If I win, you’ll owe me a favor. If you win, I’ll owe you a favor. How does that sound?"
"That depends on what kind of bet we are going to have," Rowan answered. "Last time, you tricked me. I will not be fooled a second time."
Ramza chuckled because he had indeed used an underhanded method to win his previous bet with the Headmaster.
"This time, there will be no tricks," Ramza promised. "I just want to bet that this young man with the broken arm will pass this trial of yours."
"Oh? You seem very confident." Rowan smiled. "But I personally created the rules for this year’s second trial. I guarantee it will not be an easy challenge. Do you still want to bet with me?"
"Of course." Ramza nodded. "So, are we betting or not?"
"Sure." Rowan glanced at Alex and Dim Dim, who had started throwing rocks at the treasure chest, making Cairo facepalm in embarrassment.
"It’s not a Mimic this time, Dim Dim," Alex said with a smile.
Ramza and the rest watched as the young man stored the treasure chest inside his storage ring before leaving his location.
The young man seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere else.
A few minutes later, he found another treasure chest, then another, and another.
This made the corner of Rowan’s lips twitch. After all, he had personally hidden those treasure chests as rewards for the lucky trial takers who would find them by accident. Supposedly.