Shadow Monarch: Heroines Could Hear My Thoughts?!

Chapter 162- Moving Floors (Part 3)

The group left the class, they walked inside the corridors of the building with Mrs. Roseair at the lead. She had a satisfied smile on her face for some reason as she hummed some kind of happy tune.

Then, midway, she turned around and said.

"It's truly amazing what I have seen from both of you. You have broken the record of the highest ever points accumulated in the first month inside the academy. In fact, you doubled the previous number."

The way she praised them with a warm look made Rin and Elise feel unconsciously relaxed. Her aura was just too friendly to make them put their guard too high around her.

"I'm now more curious than ever about you two. Fufufuf! It's been a while since my old heart was ignited with excitement about seeing two young talents rising up this quickly. Your path to the top will be hard and thorny but I'm sure if you kept your head straight and focused on your goals, you will be able to achieve great things, I'm certain of it."

"Mm, thank you, Mrs. Roseair."

Chuckling, the old woman didn't say anything and walked them to an empty office in the same building that most likely belonged to her. Every professor had an assigned office in their teaching buildings where they spend most of the day in.

When they were inside, she made them sit down and then walked to another room. The three people started looking around with impressed looks on their faces.

Roseair's office was unlike anything they had seen before. If Rin had to describe it in one single word, he would say that it was very very 'Lively'. Flowers and plants were everywhere. All kinds of rare species with multiple beautiful colors filled the office and made it look so weirdly ambient and relaxing even though the atmosphere of the room should've been overwhelming because of the huge number of colors present.

'Hmm, is there some kind of trick here?' Rin questioned confusedly. However, for better or worse, this place didn't affect him much. In fact, it had a positive effect on his mood so he wasn't going to complain.

"Hey, t-this r-room is really w-weird, h-huh?"

As they were like that, the third girl that was with them suddenly spoke with a whisper. Looking to the side, Rin could see from one glance that it took her her full effort to actually be able to utter those words and he could guess the reason why.

'Well, we are both quite intimidating, I guess?' He smiled wrily at that fact before he responded.

"It is. Well, It's the good type of weird at least."

Seeing that Rin answered with a friendly tone, the girl was able to gain more confidence in talking.

"True! I feel like I'm laying on a warm bed. I love it." Her face lightened up with a happy smile.

"By the way, what's your name again?" Rin decided to ask.

"Tonalia Laker. It's an honor talking with you, Mr. Silvereye." She said as she extended her arm for a handshake.

"Rin is fine. Nice to meet you too… mm, can I call you Tonalia?" He asked.

Seeing that dazzling smile on Rin's handsome face, the girl's face turned beet red as she looked down shyly before she nodded her head.

"Y-Yes, please. Ehem, feel free to call me however you want." She said.

"I see. Well, Tonalia it is. A very beautiful name inde-"

Before he could finish the word, he felt something hit him on the side and made him squint a little bit.

Looking to the side, he saw Elise still staring ahead as if she had no hand in what just happened.

"Mmm, Elise?" He asked with a questioning gaze.

"Nothing." She said before she immediately ended the conversation and seemingly started checking her system stats.

'What's up with her, geez?' He furrowed his eyebrows before he turned to Tonalia again.

"Well, as I was saying before, you have a very beautiful name." He said.

Hearing that, the girl's eyes widened as she panicked quickly and started fidgeting around.

"Y-You think so? I-I-I, it's an honor to hear that from someone great like Mr. Rin!!"

Seeing her acting all flushed and shocked, Rin chuckled before he shook his head with a sigh.

'I guess I still am quite intimidating even after talking with me.'

[I don't think that's the reason for her reaction, host.]

'Hm? Then, what is it?'

[She's reacting to your superficial features.]

'Superficial features? What the fuck does that even mean?' Rin blinked a few times.

[Your face and your looks, host.]

'Ooooh? Yeah, I guess that's another reason too. I'm still not accustomed to my new looks even though it has been a while. One who lived as an average joe for the biggest part of his life shall still be an average joe in the heart.'

*Pinch*

"Ouch!" Rin looked to the side again as he held his side where he was pinched by Elise for the second time.

"What?!"

"She's coming back," Elise replied with an oddly colder tone than usual.

'What's the matter with her? Is she jealous or something?' Rin clicked his tongue and didn't say anything else.

A few seconds later, Roseair comes back with a tray filled with cups.

"I've made some very delicious tea. Please, give it a try. These tea leaves are very expensive."

Smelling the whiff of aroma coming from the tea, Rin felt his mind completely relax. The smell was just so hypnotizingly good. Picking up the cup, Rin took a sip, and his eyes immediately widened in surprise.

"This is really great!" He praised honestly.

Even Elise and Tonalia responded with the same impressed look.

"Ohoh, well, thank you for your honest opinions. I love this particular plant for its great mental effects. It even reduces stress."

After a few seconds of silence, she put the cup down and then looked at the three of them and said.

"Well, since you three are going to be moving floors soon. I have to tell you a few things before that since the next floors are quite… different from what you have seen here."

"Different?"

"Yes, most of the things on the higher floors are actually quite different from here. However, before I go deeper into that, I want to tell you two something. I have received a notice from the administration about you." She looked at Rin and Elise.

"You will be moving 3 floors." She said.

"3 Floor?!" Rin almost spat his drink as he looked at Roseair. Elise was also quite shocked by the revelation. Did something happen? Were they noticed by the higher-ups already?

"Yes, 3 floors. It should be expected. Your points are both too high for you to keep moving one floor at a time. Your level fits the 4th floor quite perfectly if I have to say."

'I see… Damn, we really did something that broke the system of the academy. Jumping 3 floors in one month.' Rin rubbed his chin.

"Well, if anything, that would be very helpful to you two. Being around people your level, it will boost your growth a lot."

Then, she relaxed on her chair and continued.

"Now, for the rather more important part that also concerns you, Miss. Tonalia. The next floors have two major differences from the first floor. The first one is that these floors focus more on training than theoretical knowledge. Those that aren't pursuing theory and studies, they are going to have to focus more on power-up and gaining strength. That's your main goal in contrast to the more broad curriculum choice you have here."

'Well, we were going to focus on training anyways.' Rin thought as he rubbed the back of his head.

It was already given to Rin that training is his top priority now. Especially knowing that at any moment, a world-scale war could start so if he wasn't prepared for it, he would be in huge trouble.

He had no idea how strong the cult was or how far behind he was. His only option right now is to try and close up that gap as soon as possible. Using his system, that task, as hard as it may look, would become ten times easier and more within the realm of possibility. From his progress and Emilai's training, Rin was sure that in a few months, he could completely become a monster capable of fighting against the cult confidently. It would still be a very hard war that could end up killing him but Rin was mentally ready for the ordeal.

As to whether he had that much time or not, he didn't know. Only the future will tell.

"The second biggest change is your bracelets."

(A//N: Sorry for the lack of updates these days. I have been quite busy with life and also with the second book. But, I will come back to uploading two chapters a day. Don't forget to check my other book too and support it, it would mean the world to me :) )