Chapter 12: An Ending And A New Beginning
The remainder of the journey proceeded smoothly, with tensions easing and discussions focusing on Dora's friends' grievances and Hope sharing his plans for the future.
Upon reaching Sungen Town, a major town in the area and home to the Southern Guild, Sana, Marie, Liliana, and Lilith got ready to disembark as it was time to bid farewell once again.
"So keep doing your best mister Dora, We'll do our best too and I hope to finally work with you one day."
"You wish to see Leon die?"
Liliana gave him a friendly punch on the back.
"You better keep getting strong because we won't stay E-rank for long."
"By the way, Idiora, What is this device you were manipulating in the bus? It looks like a magic stone."
Dora took his phone from his pocket.
"Marie, this thing is called a mobile phone, have you never... Oh, yeah... Poverty."
"Jerk."
"Hm! No, I mean the village is so poor that no one has one, even I got this... In a special way! I'm not insulting you, I'll even give this to you as a farewell gift."
He passed the device to her. The kingdom had recently started welcoming other nations, where technology had advanced significantly. As a result, some devices were imported, but the majority were owned by the wealthiest families.
Dora acquired his through a unique quest. Marie glanced at the device and cautiously accepted it, offering a small smile.
"Oh... Huh... Thanks, you're not too bad I guess... Hum..."
"You don't know how to use it, do you?"
"Jerk!"
Liliana chuckled as Lilith sulked, in Dora's opinion, it was definitely the correct choice to remove the weed beforehand.
"You better not think this is the end, You might have a better opportunity now but we will work harder and climb the ranks! Watch behind you because we will surpass you!"
"... You mean 'watch under me', right?"
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Liliana held back Lilith, pulling her out of the bus, and Marie quickly followed.
"Don't get killed in a rift."
"Won't happen, Don't get knocked up successfully by master Hero."
"Ew."
After sharing a final smile, Marie and Dora parted ways. As Dora was heading back to his seat, he unexpectedly came across Sana, who was still there.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now."
"... Yeah, you should hurry, with his speed, Leon should be there in a few minutes."
"I'm not worried, I mean he wouldn't have a chance against you, right? You were the one chosen by the academy. An avatar is always stronger."
Her reasoning came from a widely known quote among ordinary individuals, establishing a universal principle: a talented and powerful Avatar will always outshine the best in any other class.
This created immense pressure for weaker Avatars and served as a barrier for other emissaries.
For example, Dora was quickly dismissed as a potential hindrance to the future of the Shining Sword, while the Kingdom recognized his maximum potential and recruited him.
However, hearing this from Sana at this precise moment unsettled him.
"Who knows? No matter what happens, it's my life. If he gets stronger, it's on me, if I get stronger it's also on me. I don't bother comparing myself to others, I only need the power to do what I want."
"Y-Yeah, I just mean that you're very strong, you'll become famous in no time and the best of emissaries can become nobles, It's really great for you. Well, I'll go with the others now, so... Do your best, and don't forget us, ok? I'll write you often."
"Ok, go now, it's exhausting to keep this hypnosis for so long."
"Yeah... Huh..."
She glanced at him briefly, as if she had more to say, but instead she smiled and exited the bus. Hope and Elizabeth then joined him.
"I won't teach you how to defend your honor, but seriously if it was me, I wouldn't have listened to all her bullshit. Do you see how she changed? Talk about a gold digger."
"It's between them, Hope, Stop butting into other people's business like that."
"I won't, I won't. I don't have time for this anyway, tomorrow is the big day so let's hurry. The world is waiting for the Hero Hope."
The bus carried on its journey, leaving the 4 girls behind as the door shut.
"It's really great, in a way it's like a competition, us against Mr. Dora, are you feeling pumped up now, Marie?"
Marie smiled as she held a stuffed animal close to her chest while looking at the phone.
"Yes, let's not waste time... Oh, should we wait for them? They don't seem to have caught up."
They gazed upon the path they had traveled, yet their comrades remained unseen.
"... You two, go to the guild first and start the enlistments, Sana and I will wait for them here."
Marie and Liliana agreed with and proceeded forward, leaving their remaining two companions behind.
At that moment, Lilith shifted her attention towards Sana, her smile fading from her face.
"So... what was that?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, Leon would have been furious if he saw you talking like that to Dora. What are you playing?"
Sana fixed her hair and looked at the horizon.
"What's the problem? I'm just nice with an old teammate, why are you angry about it?"
"Because if I'm not mistaken you're currently dating Leon and he and Dora hate each other's, more... You're really bold, didn't you say that you hated him because he cheated on you? Why are you suddenly forgetting that?"
"I really don't understand what you want to say, You heard him, everything was his plan, of course, I would be mistaken. But we may let it to the past."
"The past? What are you saying? What's about Leon?? You... You should really be careful with what you do."
"Yeah, Yeah, I will."
Lilith was met with a simple smile from her. A grand card game had commenced, and now every contender found themselves perched upon an ejector chair.
The most treacherous game ever played was on the verge of commencing. Meanwhile, within the heart of the kingdom's capital, Ambrosia, the midday sun cast a brilliant white glow upon the walls of the esteemed magic academy.
In a disheveled underground chamber, a woman with wild, unkept green hair gazed intently at a suspended blue screen, suspended in mid-air.
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"Ah, at last. I can't believe you made me wait for so long, my little toy."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone