The sounds of conversation, pages turning, and tables and chairs lightly bumping together blended into a subtle harmony.
Although slightly noisy, the sounds made people feel at ease, because they were a genuine reflection of everyday life.
At the back of the classroom.
Hughberlian remained silent.
Conflicting emotions began to intertwine in Hughberlian's heart.
Her gaze drifted between the lectern and the exit, her fingers lightly pinching the pages of her book as the scales in her heart wavered.
"Lanchi, generally speaking, all kinds of preparations are needed before challenging a Shadow World."
At last, Hughberlian managed to calm herself first, her voice flowing like a gentle stream,
"Of course, we also need to give more thought to whether our teammate is suitable."
And do a few more rehearsals, make sure her teammate was trustworthy, and so on...
In short, leaving immediately was too abrupt and impulsive...
"How about we go in a few days instead? Please think it over carefully."
Hughberlian's voice grew increasingly dispirited.
Perhaps by tomorrow, Lanchi would learn about her demon identity from Mo Dan or someone else.
He would see the real her clearly.
And then.
He could go back on their agreement and make a better decision.
That might be the better outcome for Lanchi.
Lanchi watched Hughberlian hesitate, even gradually losing her nerve, and seemed to understand what was in her heart.
Her answer was actually—
She needed a teammate more steadfast than herself to help her make the decision.
"Hughberlian, sometimes what seems like prudent consideration simply leads to endless delays until you give up altogether."
Lanchi grinned. Now that he had a plan for legitimately skipping class, all traces of fatigue had vanished from him, and even his words were full of vigor,
"If we don't leave now, we'll never set sail! So trust me. Let's go."
Lanchi's voice was clear and bright as he stood up and looked at Hughberlian.
He seemed eager to take her on a wondrous journey.
At that moment.
As the sky neared sunset, it gradually took on a faint pink hue, almost like the color of dawn.
The classroom's floor-to-ceiling windows were as calm as the surface of the sea, reflecting their figures.
Lanchi's words were like a small boat cutting through wave after wave on the storm-tossed sea of her heart, echoing without end.
Hughberlian gazed into Lanchi's clear and earnest emerald eyes, and the genuine stirrings in her own eyes could no longer be concealed.
She seemed to have finally made up her mind.
"Let's go."
With her crisp and resolute voice, Hughberlian also rose and hurried with Lanchi toward the classroom exit.
Because the two of them had left, the classroom, which had merely been somewhat noisy, was like a stone dropped into water, rippling in circles until it suddenly fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the figures of the two students who had decisively fled just as class was about to begin, until they completely disappeared from view.
The atmosphere of surprise and curiosity surged up again like a tide, accompanied by the din!
The entire classroom erupted with discussion!
"What did they go off to do?"
"Skip class for a date?"
Some students gossiped with rapt attention, while others gathered together and began discussing excitedly, their faces glowing with enthusiasm.
Even some of the students who had originally been quietly reading put down their books and joined the heated discussions.
"I heard just now that the two of them wanted to go challenge a Shadow World..."
One student still recalled it in a daze, clearly finding it hard to believe.
The surrounding area quieted considerably.
Quite a few people turned their attention over.
"No way? They're going to challenge a Shadow World on the first day of school? You must have heard wrong. They're definitely just using it as an excuse to go on a date."
"It's absolutely true. They really agreed to go challenge a Shadow World."
"Just the two of them?"
"Just the two of them."
"Wha—?"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the classroom grew tense.
Everyone's eyes focused on the few students who had confirmed the contents of Lanchi and Hughberlian's conversation.
The next moment, a chaotic uproar filled the entire classroom.
At Iketerite Academy, there had almost never been a precedent of two freshmen forming a team and heading into a real Shadow World on the first day of school!
Most first-year students did not even have a Challenger License yet.
Even super rookies who had obtained an Iron-level Challenger License upon enrollment usually made their debut alongside upperclassmen.
Because this was not a race or some sort of achievement. It was a life-and-death challenge that wagered one's life and soul!
"If—and I mean if—the two of them really passed the Third Round Exam through their own strength and teamwork, without any of the rumored element of luck, then could they actually handle a real Tier 2 Shadow World with no experience just by working together?"
"Hard to say. Some Tier 2 Shadow Worlds are extremely dangerous, while some Tier 3 Shadow Worlds may be relatively safe. It all depends on luck."
"The timelines and historical settings corresponding to some Shadow Worlds may themselves be extremely dangerous. When challengers encounter those Shadow Worlds, even if their rank is higher than the Shadow World's rank, large-scale casualties often occur."
Amid the students' discussion, Vice Principal Ron entered the classroom carrying a thick ancient book.
The final class today, "Magic Detection and Shielding," was to be taught by him, the vice principal.
After placing the book on the lectern, Vice Principal Ron began scanning the classroom.
He felt that the atmosphere in the classroom was far too lively.
These freshmen were acting as if it were a festival. Even now, they could not stop discussing whatever topic had them so excited.
Soon, the freshmen in the classroom gradually quieted down and turned their attention to Vice Principal Ron.
But at that moment, Vice Principal Ron could not help showing a puzzled expression.
Why did all these students seem to have something they wanted to say but could not bring themselves to say whenever they looked at him?
They seemed to want to tell him something extremely important, yet were hesitating over whether it was appropriate to say it.
"What's going on?"
Vice Principal Ron looked at the students in the front row and asked.
"...Two people went off to challenge a Shadow World."
The student under Ron's gaze stammered.
Ron glanced toward the back, and even without asking which two students they meant, he already knew the answer.
The Lanchi and Hughberlian he had been keeping an eye on were nowhere to be seen in the classroom.
Ron then pinched the bridge of his nose, his expression becoming quite complicated.
Although none of the students knew how well those two had worked together or performed during the Third Round Exam, he did.
If any other students had gone to challenge a real Shadow World on the first day of school, Ron would certainly have become extremely anxious by now and might even have had to call an emergency meeting.
But if it was Lanchi and Hughberlian, the nature of the problem changed somewhat...
Before you continue