‘Blake Sears, better than I expected.’
Cain watched Blake with calm eyes as he thought this.
Having Blake cast Fire first, anticipating that Richter would find fault with it, was an excellent judgment.
Thanks to that, Richter had fallen into the trap of his own fault-finding words, and for the sake of saving face, he would never bring up the topic of expulsion again.
‘But what kind of scheme is that now?’
Cain alternately looked at the faces of Richter and Blake Sears.
Richter, who had been red-faced with anger just moments ago, suddenly wore a calm expression, and conversely, Blake now looked flustered.
“To Cain, you say…?”
Richter nodded.
“Since we’re investigating anyway, wouldn’t it be better to give Cain a chance to prove his abilities? Even if he can only properly handle 1st Circle magic, catching Snow Rabbits shouldn’t be difficult, so I think it’s something that someone as talented as Cain could definitely handle.”
Richter looked at Cain with a smile.
“If it’s simply because it’s breeding season and their numbers have increased, then he just needs to catch that many Snow Rabbits… If there’s another cause, he can identify what that cause is. It’s a simple matter.”
It was indeed a simple matter.
In reality, missions to investigate abnormal monster behavior were often assigned to disciples.
However.
‘It seems like they’re hiding something.’
Though he had no talent for reading people’s emotions, he had learned from Harman that when someone who was just angry suddenly proposes something with a calm face, there’s usually something fishy behind it.
-And they’re even giving compliments? This is one hundred percent suspicious. Remember, Cain. The bastard who asks for reconciliation first is the culprit.
-I’ll keep that in mind.
Blake Sears also seemed to sense something suspicious and couldn’t readily respond.
When Blake hesitated, Richter added magnanimously.
“If Cain just brings back enough Snow Rabbits, we won’t hold you further responsible for the attack we suffered this time. And if Cain can identify the definite cause…”
Richter looked at Cain and said.
“We’ll also treat the incident where Cain confronted Hayden as if it never happened.”
“…!”
Blake’s eyes widened.
“You mean…”
“Of course, we’ll restore the funding cuts that were implemented at that time, and we’ll provide other conveniences as well.”
Gulp.
Blake Sears swallowed hard. Even the master and direct disciples who had been quiet until now flinched.
Unlike other cut measures, in the case of the Hayden beating incident, the justification was so clear that the scale of the funding cuts was considerable.
If they could just restore that, the budget that had been split and re-split would finally have some breathing room.
Blake glanced sideways at the carriages lined up behind Richter.
Inside those carriages would be the support funds to be given during this visit.
If Cain successfully completed the mission and returned, it meant they could receive the increased support funds on the spot.
‘Moreover, treating that incident as if it never happened… means they’ll also withdraw the penalties that were given without explicitly stating they were because of that incident.’
Most importantly, it also implied that they wouldn’t interfere with matters concerning Cain anymore.
‘The expulsion matter was resolved, but as long as Hayden harbors resentment toward Cain, I thought there would continue to be interference in other ways…’
Since Richter had publicly declared this in front of all these people, he wouldn’t be lying.
If Cain cleanly completed the mission and returned, no matter how much of a tantrum Hayden threw in the future, there would be no touching Cain.
‘However…’
But Blake knew.
‘There’s no way they’d offer such good conditions for no reason.’
There must be a reason, a purpose for setting such conditions.
Blake slowly opened his mouth.
“Then perhaps other conditions are…”
“Ah, it’s nothing much. There’s only one condition. Cain must go to the snowy mountains alone. That’s all.”
Richter said with a grin.
“What…!”
Blake unconsciously clenched his fist.
‘How shameless!’
That Cain would fail to complete the mission in the snowy mountains and die at the hands of monsters.
Blake had already guessed that this was what Richter truly wanted.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to promise such exceptional rewards.
But he never expected them to shamelessly propose such a brazen condition.
‘I should have known.’
At first, he thought it was a reasonable wager.
Richter probably thought that Cain was only at the 2nd Circle and had almost no practical experience, while the real Cain that Blake knew had the skill to hunt even adult Snow Leopards alone.
‘But no matter how skilled Cain is, if he goes to the snowy mountains alone, there’s no telling what might happen to him.’
Though Snow Rabbits had relatively weak bodies, if they charged in groups from multiple directions with their agile movements, it would be dangerous without the 3rd Circle magic Fire Wall, and if two or three Snow Leopards appeared on top of that, he’d be as good as dead.
‘Even when sending missions to the snowy mountains, they send ten people, or at minimum five…’
But not ten, not even five, but to go to the snowy mountains completely alone.
‘It’s no different from telling him to die.’
It was an unwinnable wager from the start.
Blaming himself for even briefly considering it, Blake opened his mouth.
“That’s something we cannot accept…”
And at that moment.
“I’ll do it.”
Cain’s voice resonated quietly but clearly.
“What, what did you say?”
“Go to the snowy mountains alone to catch Snow Rabbits and identify the cause of why Snow Rabbits are acting outside their territory. That’s all there is to it, isn’t it? I’ll do it.”
It was the longest statement Cain had made since coming out here.
‘This is an excellent opportunity.’
Though it appeared to be very unfavorable conditions for Cain to anyone else.
For Cain, it was as if a good opportunity had rolled right to him.
‘I was just wondering if there was a way to go to the snowy mountains alone, so this works out perfectly.’
The plan might be to send him to the snowy mountains to be killed by monsters, but Cain had no confidence he would die in Gahril’s snowy mountains, which were like his own backyard.
‘Going alone would actually be advantageous for me. I’d have freedom of movement.’
In fact, from the moment Richter first brought up the snowy mountains, he had desperately wanted to say he’d go.
But he wasn’t certain exactly what their scheme was yet, and he thought that if he waited, they would present conditions and rewards, so he waited sufficiently.
‘If this can restore the support funds and get rid of the annoying Hayden, there’s no reason not to do it.’
But unfortunately, Blake didn’t seem to think the same way.
“Cain! What are you talking about! Going to the snowy mountains alone? Do you think I would allow that?”
“Yes. The reward is certain, isn’t it?”
“The reward isn’t the problem!”
Blake shouted.
Even Blake Sears, who had won the family head competition, couldn’t be confident he would survive if he returned to his 2nd Circle days and went to the snowy mountains alone.
‘In terms of pure potential, Cain might be even better than I was. It means his future is open. But.’
That’s precisely why he couldn’t send him to such a dangerous place alone before he could achieve growth.
“I… absolutely cannot allow it. Lord Richter Bederman. I’m grateful for your promised reward, but please consider this matter as if it never happened.”
“Haha. But Cain himself seems to want to go. As a family head, rather than keeping your disciple caged within walls, wouldn’t it be better to support his challenges?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this.”
Blake Sears seemed to have absolutely no intention of changing his mind.
Then Richter clicked his tongue quietly and soon shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, fine. Then let’s change the conditions a bit.”
Richter held up three fingers.
“Three people. Up to three people may accompany him. Of course, disciples at the 2nd Circle or below like Cain.”
Blake Sears hesitated.
Three companions. Including Cain, it meant they could send a total of four people.
Based on disciples of the same 2nd Circle, assuming Cain could do the work of two or three people, it could be considered meeting the minimum personnel requirement.
Even Blake, who had firmly refused, hesitated at Richter’s rather exceptional proposal.
And then, someone’s voice came from behind.
“Brother. Why don’t you let him try once.”
“Cristian…!”
The one who spoke was Cristian Sears, Blake Sears’ younger brother and one of the family elders.
When Blake was chosen in the past family head competition, those who didn’t become family head either left the family or became elders, and the two mages who chose to become elders were Cristian Sears and Wayne Sears, who stood beside him.
Among them, Cristian remained as an elder to draw the big picture of making his son the next family head, and indeed his son Derek Sears was currently competing for 1st or 2nd place among all disciples.
“Honestly speaking, how much financial damage has Cain caused the family so far? When he says he’ll take responsibility and make it right himself, we should give him the opportunity. You think so too, don’t you, Wayne?”
On the other hand, Wayne Sears was evaluated as staying as an elder because he lacked the courage to leave the family, and his children were still generally lacking in skill to be active in the succession competition.
Wayne avoided Blake’s gaze and answered quietly.
“…I’ll leave it to the family head’s judgment.”
“Tch. Indecisive fool.”
Cristian clicked his tongue.
“I’m sure there are many people here who think like me, even if they haven’t said it. It’s not just one or two people who’ve suffered because of Cain.”
“Cristian!”
Blake sent a sharp look meaning to choose his words carefully, but Cristian looked straight back at Blake.
It meant Cristian also had no intention of retracting his words.
“If they said to go alone, I wouldn’t have stepped forward either. But he can take three with him, right? Even if he just catches all the Snow Rabbits, it’s good conditions for us. Please make a decision thinking of the other family members too, brother.”
Blake ground his teeth.
Unfortunately, there was some logic to Cristian’s words.
And no matter how much he was the family head, he couldn’t completely ignore an elder’s words.
‘Sigh…’
Blake took a slow deep breath.
And looked down at Cain.
Cain still seemed to want to go to the snowy mountains, looking at Blake with unusually lively eyes.
His eyes were bright enough that if they were just a little brighter, you’d think they were sparkling.
‘Cain… do you really have confidence?’
If he succeeded, Cain would be free from Bederman’s checks and interference during his period of explosive growth ahead.
‘Cain is probably also considering that risk.’
Cain, who had been holed up in his room, had changed at some point.
Not only his skills, but his manner of speaking and atmosphere had changed too. It wasn’t just in front of the family head – he received reports that his attitude during education in the dormitory was perfect.
Would such a Cain really come forward for a reckless challenge without any chance of winning like a thunderbolt out of the blue?
He began to think such thoughts.
Blake closed his eyes for a moment.
And soon opened them and spoke.
“Fine. I’ll send Cain to the snowy mountains. However.”
Blake looked around at the disciples and continued.
“If three volunteers to accompany him come forward, I’ll send them. Since they’re taking risks, I can’t send them arbitrarily.”
That was Blake’s final decision.
“Among the 2nd floor disciples, those who wish to go to the snowy mountains with Cain, raise your hands.”
Cristian clicked his tongue upon hearing this.
‘It’s ruined. Brother was clever.’
Without even a higher circle disciple to lead them, there couldn’t be any disciple who would want to join a venture with just four 2nd Circle mages.
Though it seemed like he was accepting Cristian’s opinion, it looked like things would end up as Blake wanted after all.
Cain also thought this had no possibility and sighed inwardly.
‘What a shame.’
Cain had confidence, but the possibility that the other three would trust Cain and follow him was realistically almost zero.
It seemed he’d have to give up going to the snowy mountains and find other ways to accumulate mana.
“……”
As expected, no one raised their hand.
Only silence flowed for a while.
“If no one…”
And then.
“I’ll go.”
“Me, me too.”
The ones who raised their hands were the brothers Edward and Fon.
There was a brief stir at the unexpected volunteers.
“Quiet.”
But even though Ed and Fon filled two spots, the 2nd Circle disciples only looked at each other anxiously with uneasy eyes.
After sufficient time passed.
Just as Blake Sears was about to open his mouth with half relief.
“I will go.”
Surprisingly, the one who raised his hand was Bolio, who had picked a fight with Cain on the first day of entering the dormitory.
