Chapter 176: "Sobu High School Really is Crawling with Talent."
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"In the first event, I received a wisp of Divine Breath."
"In the second, I got an item that could convert that Divine Breath."
"My guess? The first-place reward for this third event is most likely a Godhead Shard!"
Even without official details, Seito could more or less divine the trajectory of the rewards. After all, they were becoming more absurd with every iteration.
Sora and Shiro pondered the possibility.
"It might actually be a Godhead Shard. If not that, then definitely something in the same ballpark," Sora mused after a moment of thought.
"If it really is a shard, we'll finally know how to officially unlock a Godhead," Seito added.
As the words left his mouth, the siblings turned to look at him simultaneously. A moment later, all three of them shared a knowing smirk.
Whoosh—!
Just then, two pillars of light erupted within the palace. Haruno Yukinoshita and Ako materialized side-by-side.
"I saw you pop up on the Harbinger channel and wanted to come over," Haruno said with a graceful smile, naturally taking a seat. "But I got held up for a bit with Imperial business."
"What's happening with the Empire?" Seito asked, blinking.
"Check your Merit Points," Sora chuckled from the side.
Seito clicked his interface to look. His jaw nearly dropped when he saw his Merit balance had skyrocketed to 70 million! He quickly scanned the system logs, and a wide grin spread across his face a few seconds later.
"Looks like Baifeng really delivered."
All five enemy empires had been toppled by Baifeng. Not only had the Snezhnaya territory expanded, but Seito's personal Merit had surged by over 50 million in one fell swoop!
"By the way, take this." Haruno handed him a glowing orange material. Seito took it and focused his gaze.
[Spatial Spirit Root (Orange Material): A spirit root imbued with the power of space. Legend has it that this root appears once in a thousand years! Whenever it manifests in the wild, it stays for only a single day before slipping back into sub-space—unless someone manages to pluck it. Using this to craft equipment grants the item 'Spatial' properties.]
"Another Divine Artifact is about to be born!" Seito let out a hearty laugh.
He couldn't help it. For his fourth piece of Golden-tier equipment, he was exactly one spatial-type material short. He'd expected the "Dragon-type" materials to drop first; he never imagined the Spatial Root would beat them to the punch.
"Where did you find this?" Seito asked, curious. Spatial materials were notoriously rare, yet Haruno had just produced one like it was nothing.
"One of the smaller empires we just conquered had it tucked away in their national treasury."
Seito nodded. Those ancient treasuries were literal gold mines of artifacts. Finding a Spatial Spirit Root wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility.
"Seito-ni~!"
Just then, Shiro raised a tiny hand high in the air.
"What is it?" Seito tucked away the material and looked down at her.
"When are you coming home~?" Shiro looked up at him with pitiful, puppy-dog eyes. Her large, star-like eyes looked as if they were about to brim with tears. She truly missed him.
"I'll be back the day after tomorrow~" Seito reached out and gently ruffled her hair. Their school trip was scheduled to end and head back around noon that day, so it wouldn't be much longer.
Upon hearing this, Shiro pouted grumpily. To her, two days felt like an eternity.
"Speaking of which, Shiro and I are technically students at Sobu High too. Theoretically, we could have gone on the trip," Sora noted as the thought struck him.
"Ni~! No! Can't go!" Shiro shrieked immediately.
"I know, I know!" Sora said, shivering.
Even though the siblings had become fast friends with the other Harbingers, actually attending school? They'd rather die!
"Ako is a Sobu High School student too~"
Haruno chimed in, smiling playfully at the girl beside her.
"Eh? Ako, you too?" Seito looked at her.
"Mmh," Ako nodded, sounding a bit bashful.
"I'm in Class 1-C, but... I've never actually gone to class."
Ako suffered from social anxiety as well, though it wasn't quite as crippling as the siblings'. Now that she could make a living through the game, whether she set foot in the academy or not didn't really matter to her.
"Sobu High School really is crawling with talent," Seito couldn't help but mutter.
It seemed almost every Harbinger in his guild was connected to that school in some way. But then he remembered that most "protagonists" and "heroines" in this world lived there, and it quickly started to make sense.
"I'm heading out now." Seeing that their business was concluded, Seito didn't plan to linger. The others nodded, and Seito logged out.
The Ryokan, Second Floor.
Seito's figure reappeared inside the restroom stall. He stepped out and made his way toward the ground floor. Halfway down the stairs, he ran right into Shizuka Hiratsuka and Sae Chabashira heading up.
"What are you doing on the second floor?" Shizuka asked instinctively upon seeing him.
"Just had some business with Haruno," Seito replied.
Shizuka understood immediately. He must have just been in the game. Beside her, Sae Chabashira assumed he'd been on the phone and didn't think much of it.
"Did you bring your swimsuit? The sun is brutal today; everyone's hitting the beach this afternoon," Shizuka asked.
This time, Sae's expression shifted.
Shizuka's tone with Seito was... a little too friendly. Something had definitely happened yesterday afternoon that she wasn't privy to! Sae made a mental note to interrogate her friend later.
"Brought it, definitely brought it." Seito's lips curled into a smirk.
Of course he brought it. What's the point of a school trip if you can't appreciate the sight of long legs in swimsuits?
Shizuka didn't push further. With a quick wave, she led Sae upstairs while Seito continued down.
Time ticked by until noon. Just as Seito finished getting his lunch, Sae Chabashira blocked his path.
"Come. Let's talk upstairs," Sae said coldly.
"Sure." Seito nodded.
He had no idea what she wanted, but eating lunch with a beautiful woman was never a losing deal in his book.
The two left the hall and headed to the second floor, stopping in front of Shizuka's room. Sae unlocked the door with a key and stepped inside.
"Come in. Shizuka is in the female teachers' dorm; she won't be coming by."
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Thank you for reading.