338 Chapter 338: Den of Dragons 2 (2/2)
”We made it!”
Dong Fang Yue Chu breathed heavily when the whole team, minus me, strode through the doors of the Olympus City center. Many of the teams who had made it were resting there before taking the train to Aurora City. Well, those teams whose members were all accounted for, anyway.
”Yeah, we sure did.” Theodore nodded, feeling an immense sense of relief as he looked around, almost as if he couldn't believe that they were able to reach their destination.
”I never doubted us,” Lily declared with a bright smile.
”Is everyone all right?” Harrison asked, checking on his team and carrying out his duty as captain.
”I am,” Cody said softly.
”No injuries here,” Craig assured him.
”None for me too,” Lily added. She smiled at Pearl, who was still looking a little crestfallen. ”It's all thanks to Pearl's healing magic.”
”…but Richard…he's not here.” The blue-haired healing mage was unable to suppress a guilty look.
”A mere blizzard won't kill him,” Bu Fan said dismissively. ”I wouldn't worry about him if I were you. Knowing him, he'll show up in dramatic fashion on the very last day, arriving just minutes or even seconds before the deadline.”
Yue Chu gaped at him in disbelief, momentarily dumbfounded. When he finally found his voice, he tried to work his mouth.
”I can't believe that you, of all people, have so much confidence in him.” he then rolled his eyes. ”And please don't give us that main character and plot armor bullshit. This is reality.”
”Well, putting that aside…” Bu Fan waved Yue Chu's words away with a flourish. ”The guy can nuke entire mountain ranges and wipe out hordes of rank A monsters. If there's anyone who can survive the Den of Dragons, it'll be him.”
”Even if it's Richard, he still has to be careful.” Harrison was pondering thoughtfully. ”He can't recklessly use his Strategic-scale spell, or he'll be in trouble when another dragon shows up. Never mind a dragon, he'll be too exhausted to fight the other monsters that show up after he nukes the Den.”
”That's where the rescue team comes in, right?” Craig suggested hopefully. Sheila smacked him.
”Even if they send a top rescue team, they'll have difficulty trying to extricate him from a horde of monsters. And it's not as if they can teleport to his position immediately after he nukes the dragons. Assuming they survived following him through the Den of Dragons. Even the most skilled mercenaries avoid the Den as much as possible.”
”That green-haired mercenary seemed extremely skilled, though.” Theodore seemed to be gazing into the distance. ”I daresay Richard is in good hands.”
”…that's true. We can only hope and pray for the best.” Harrison nodded and sighed. Before they could continue, one of the tournament staff stepped forward, his military uniform immaculate and his short-cropped hair hidden under a purple beret.
”Congratulations on passing the qualifiers!” He declared. He stared at their winter coats for a moment, realizing that he couldn't see their school uniforms under the thick winter clothing. So he had to do this the hard way. ”Um, which team are you guys from?”
”We're the team from Jing Tian Academy,” Harrison reported without hesitation. The soldier blinked for a moment, as if realizing something.
”Wait, that means…you're the team who encountered a blizzard and almost got run over by a stampede of Horned Boariceratops? Yet all of you managed to arrive here safely?!”
”…not all…” Pearl's shoulders were slumped. The soldier stiffened when he sensed the mood of the team, and he lowered his head apologetically.
”Oh…I'm sorry.” He softened his tone. ”Don't worry, we have tournament staff stationed all over the forest. I'm sure they'll be able to rescue your friend. For now, you guys should go get some rest, and get ready to depart for Aurora City once we bring back your friend.”
Everyone stared at him in wonder. It was as if the soldier was assuming that it was only natural for the mercenaries or tournament staff to rescue me and bring me safely back to the Olympus City center. That was quite the confidence they had.
Slowly, they began to feel a bit better and more assured. That was right. They should have faith in the authorities. Well…not exactly, but you know what I mean. Just like how you believe an ambulance will show up when you dialed the emergency hotline, or for the firefighters to arrive to extinguish the flames on your house, that sort of thing. I ain't talking about politics here.
Harrison handed the tournament staff the badge, and he nodded in approval. He scanned it with his smartphone, and verified the identity of our team.
”Good, I've confirmed that Jing Tian Academy has successfully passed the qualifiers, especially since you've returned with the badge, and more importantly, with sufficient members of the team. Again, allow me to offer my congratulations. We'll all gather back here, in the main hall, on the last day, before we proceed to Aurora City.”
”Roger that.”
With that, the staff dismissed the team, and they began to head back toward the dormitory they were assigned to. As they did so, a familiar figure popped up.
”Oh? Aren't you guys from Jing Tian Academy?”
It was none other than Ding Ke Po from Divine Divination Academy. Everyone turned to glare at him.
”What do you want?” Craig demanded.
”No, nothing. Just offering my congratulations to you guys for passing the qualifiers.” He then paused for a moment and crowed. ”But you're still slightly slower than us!”
”Yeah, yeah.” Bu Fan was irritably waving the guy away. ”If there's nothing else, I'm going to hit the sack.”
”Hmm?” Ding Ke Po stepped aside to allow Bu Fan to pass, but he noticed something was amiss. ”Where is the guy wearning glasses? The one with black hair?”
”Richard?” Yue Chu shrugged. ”Doing his own quest…he'll catch up with us later.”
Ding Ke Po paused for a moment, his sharp intuition allowing him to form a picture of the truth. He then smiled and shook his head.
”I wouldn't worry about your friend if I were you. According to my extensive knowledge of astrology, that Richard fella is a child favored by the stars. He won't die so easily.”
”You're an astrologer?” Harrison asked skeptically.
”I mean, he's from a school called Divine Divination Academy,” Yue Chu pointed out dryly. Ding Ke Po chuckled.
”That's right! That's why I say, don't worry!”
”We might have to worry a bit, though,” Cody remarked glumly. He was consulting his smartphone. Looking up, he sighed. ”According to the rules, if Richard doesn't make it before the deadline in four days…if he arrives in Olympus City after the deadline, then he will be disqualified.”
That meant, if I didn't hurry, I wouldn't be participating in this year's national tournament at all.
Richard… Pearl clasped her hands in prayer, closing her eyes briefly. Where are you…?