Conquering The Novel

After reaching an agreement with Erina, I and Ziona left her faction's stronghold and were on our way back to the academy.

"You can ask me about whatever's on your mind," I said to Ziona, who was walking next to me and appeared to be contemplating something since we had left Erina.

"Hmm! It's nothing much. I was just wondering if she was just pretending to care about her faction members," Ziona expressed.

"No, I don't think she was putting on a show. Despite being Claude's sister, her personality is the polar opposite of his.

But when it concerns her people, I believe she can be frightening at times," I spoke up.

"What makes you believe that? Have you met her before?" Ziona inquired, as she turned to face me.

"...No, I hadn't met her before; you can just assume I'm good at judging people," I replied.

"...."

Despite what I told Ziona, I was very familiar with Erina's character from the book.

She has a lot of personality traits in common with Tania and Lucas, but she isn't particularly driven by her own sense of heroism.

Because she can be brutal at times, unlike Lucas, and doesn't mind killing criminals or people who try to harm her or those close to her.

She shows concern for those around her, which she considers to be an important trait of a sovereign.

And Later on, she will also be accepted as Tania's disciple, at which point she will grow closer to Lucas.

While Lucas has had a secret crush on Erina since they met before the tournament, which is around this time.

...So, we could say that Erina is our protagonist Lucas's first love interest.

Ding!--

!?

As I was thinking to myself, I heard a notification sound from my system, which jolted me out of my contemplation.

So I summoned the system to inquire about its contents.

==SYSTEM NOTIFICATION==

Ongoing Quests:

Complete The Following.

1) Form A Faction. (Completed)

2) Become The Academy's Representative For The Upcoming Tournament. (Incomplete)

3) Win The Tournament. (Incomplete)

Quest Reward ~ Unlock A New Ability

------

Quest: Visit the Abandoned Kingdom. [New]

Location: 📒□

***

I rubbed my brow as I checked on the new quest because I don't understand its contents and it seems so ambiguous to me.

There was no proper explanation of the quest, nor were any rewards or a time limit mentioned.

In addition, there was a map with a GPS-like indication of the precise location I needed to visit.

"What the actual fuck is this system up to now?" I muttered to myself, annoyed by how I had to work around the quests assigned to me by the system, and the worst part was that it always got me in trouble.

Despite the fact that it occasionally offers rewarding benefits.

...But I despise things over which I have no control.

And, as the name implies, the abandoned Kingdom has been forsaken due to regular monster attacks.

Because numerous gates appeared at the same time, the civilization didn't have much time to clear them, resulting in gate outbreaks.

So, the creationists regard it as impossible to regularly clear the numerous emerging gates and counter the monsters that surfaced from them every day.

Hence the kingdom was forced to abandon and is now overrun with monsters, against which civilization is still struggling.

And To keep the monsters inside and prevent them from running over other nearby kingdoms, enormous barriers were built surrounding the abandoned kingdom.

Additionally, adventurers are frequently hired to patrol the Kingdom's borders and to regulate the monster inhabitants.

'So if I want to travel there, I have to take a quest from the adventurers guild of clearing the monster inhabitants.

which I don't think I have time to do right now...maybe I can after I deal with Zerix,' I reasoned.

***

As I was ruminating to myself, Ziona abruptly spoke.

"There's still time before the next class begins; shall we go eat something until then?" Ziona asked as we got closer to the academy.

"Sure," I responded.

And then we headed in the direction of the restaurant that Diana had previously taken us to.

Everyone's eyes were on us when we walked into the restaurant, but we both pretended they didn't exist.

"Ares, how do you intend to deal with Zerix? I don't see why you had to take Erina up on her offer.

We'd have to deal with Zerix eventually, and Erina was already at the end of her rope, as you mentioned," As we settled into one of the restaurant seats, Ziona inquired.

"...Yes, you are correct; I didn't necessarily have to accept her offer because her faction would have been utterly defeated by Zerix's side if we had waited a few more days.

And we could have simply dealt with Zerix at the time and that would have been the end, leaving Erina with no choice but to accept me as the representative," I responded and paused as the waitress brought our orders.

And when the waitress had finished putting our orders on the table and had left, Ziona asked confusedly.

"So why did you take her up on that offer?"

"Because I had nothing to lose in accepting that offer, as Zerix would be taken care of eventually, and on top of that, I had Erina willingly follow me.

...And if I have to give another reason, I agree with Erina because I, too, dislike how Zerix treat others as if they are pawns, and how he is willing to go to any length to achieve his goals, even if it meant playing dirty by sacrificing some of his faction members," I stated, as I sipped my coffee.

"...."

"Look who's talking!" Irethiel commented and laughed hysterically as if she had heard something comical.

When I heard Irethiel's remark, I simply smiled and ignored her.

!?

"Uh ...? I'm not sure I follow your last statement. What do you mean when you say he uses his faction members as pawns?" Ziona questioned perplexed while chewing on her greasy chicken leg piece.

"Oh, you weren't paying attention? We are being surrounded, and I think they are from Zerix's faction," I casually replied and continued to sip my coffee.

"...."

"Oh, I see now. But how do you know they belong to Zerix's faction?" Ziona questioned as she sat amiably devouring her chicken.

"They appear to be keeping an eye on Erina, and after spotting us leaving her faction's stronghold, they have been following us ever since.

Other than Zerix, I don't think anyone else has a reason to be monitoring Erina at this time," I replied and then continued after I had finished my coffee.

"I can't believe you didn't notice them with your senses,...they seem to be somewhat capable," I stated.

"Hmm, it appears they are beastman kin who are adept at concealing their presence.

I'm surprised as to how you were able to discover them; as I have to fully concentrate just to discern their presence," Ziona stated.

"I was the one who found them, you know!" Irethiel hurriedly said telepathically.

!?

"Yes, you were the first to notice their presence, but does that matter? I keep you by my side for the same reason, and you're simply doing your job," I responded with a smirk.

"...I played my demon slave card. Irethiel, I chose you!-- is that how it goes?" I remarked and imitated, chuckling.

"...."

"Y-You, don't copy that anime thing," Irethiel retorted, offended.

***