144 Chapter 144: Underground Spring (1/2)

The next day, when I arrived at school, I was mobbed by Alicia.

”Richard! You're finally back! Are you all right?!”

”Yeah.” I managed to hold her off as she barreled into me. Everyone was staring at us, which made me feel awkward. I wasn't used to public displays of affection. ”What's up?”

”You've been gone for a week! You had me worried!” she clung to me with a cute sulk. ”You should have told me!”

”…I would have, if I could…”

I was telling the truth. After all, I had spent the entire week in bed, totally unconscious. Unless I gained the skill to call or email people while I was unconscious, there was no way I could communicate in such a state.

”Sorry for making you worried, though.”

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and bowed apologetically. Alicia shook her head.

”No, it's okay. I heard from Kureha. You did a great job.”

”You know Kureha?”

I was astonished. At this point, I didn't know that Kureha and Alicia were friends. She didn't mention it. Well, I was aware that Alicia had all sort of connections with all the high-ranking or upper class daughters – she was friends with Cecilia, after all – but Kureha didn't really behave like an upper class noble, so it never occurred to me that she had connections here.

”Yeah, we've been friends for a few years.” Alicia nodded. ”She told me that you and Troy helped her out…”

Trailing off, she closed her eyes briefly. I stared at her, perplexed, only to understand why she was so emotional when she forced out the next sentence.

”…with the case regarding her sister.”

”…yeah.”

Scratching my head awkwardly, I nodded. We weren't able to save her, but we at least avenged her. Partially, anyway. The main perpetuator who masterminded Kurenai's death was still at large, or at least that was what I last heard before my week-long coma.

I should contact Kureha and get up to speed…except that I didn't have Kureha's number or email. Oh…this was bad.

Well…honestly, I wasn't some hero who went around saving everyone. I couldn't afford to run to the rescue of every single human in the Federation, not when I had my own affairs to worry about. If Kureha didn't contact me or ask me for help, I wasn't going to desperately track her down and offer my assistance. I had better things to do with my time.

Even so, I was curious as to whether Kureha would eventually track down her uncle and kill that bastard. But there was no way Alicia would know about that, right?

”Oh, and there's one more thing…”

Alicia stared at me somewhat sternly.

”Were you at the Northern Fortress yesterday?”

”How do you know about that?” I asked, taken aback. Since I was out of commission and unable to contact her, she had no way of knowing where I had been this entire week. Not unless Kureha told her, which was a distinct possibility, given that they evidently met after I was out cold. You know how it is with girls and gossip.

”That's not important.” Alicia took my question as affirmation, and she nodded thoughtfully. ”So it really was you…”

”What do you mean?”

”Nothing.” Alicia giggled as she spun away. I followed her as we headed toward the main campus building. ”Just that you like…blowing things up on a large scale, as usual!”

Somehow I had a feeling she was referring to my nuke spell that annihilated three thousand monsters in one shot.

Eventually, we went our separate ways and attended our individual classes. I headed to Teacher Fielding's combat magic class, where Harvey was waiting for me.

”Senior Richard! It's been a while! Were you on a mission?”

”Yeah, you can say that.” As my unconsciousness was caused by my mana depletion upon accomplishing my mission and slaying a dragon, it was the truth. Speaking of which, I had only just realized that I had scored a lot of prestige points and earned a bit of fortune from nuking the two dragons. That was in the mission log, along with my obliteration of the three thousand monsters. No wonder Alicia knew about that.

Apparently, the whole school would know about it soon enough, but for now I was happy to be able to maintain a low profile. Or at least that was what I believed until Teacher Fielding waved me over after the class ended.

”Richard. A minute, if you will.”

I nodded and approached him without any hesitation. Harvey followed me, only for Teacher Fielding to raise any eyebrow.

”I asked for Richard only, not you, Harvey.”

”Aw…”

Honestly, I didn't feel sorry for Harvey, but it was always useful to have a fan hanging onto my every word, so I decided to play nice.