"Today was just a prelude. For the rest of the few days of your training, I'll be pushing you all to the limit, so get ready."

Ralyks stood in front of all the Otherworlders, addressing them in his strict, yet calm and understanding tone.

"Is all that understood?"

"YEAH!" The Otherworlders exclaimed with pure energy.

It seemed like seeing a rabbit display more power than they could ever dream of mustering had awakened something within them.

They wanted to try more.

"I'll be leaving you all for today. Make sure you rest well on preparations for tomorrow." Ralyks added, his gaze flowing to one person in particular.

"Also, Rey Skylar… I'll need to do something about your current pathetic state. You're coming with me right now."

The moment he said this, three people displayed the most shock.

Alicia, Adonis, and Rey himself.

"R-right now?" Rey responded with a bit of uncertainty in his tone.

"Yes. Don't worry, it's for your own benefit. I also have permission from the Royal Council, so there's nothing wrong here."

Ralyks had been granted so much authority over them that it wouldn't be strange if he chose to take all of them to the Royal Dungeon at that very moment.

Fortunately for them, he was a very reasonable man.

"The choice is yours, though. I don't force people to grow strong. If you wish to remain the weakling that you are, then that's also fine."

Once Rey heard this, his countenance changed from uncertainty to resolve.

The change was a little too swift and unnatural, but those who looked at him could understand the cause of his expression.

Compared to every other Otherworlder that chose to remain in the Royal Estate, Rey was too weak.

It was probably for the best for both them and Rey that Ralyks had personal training sessions with him. At the very least, so he could keep up.

"I'll do it! I'll come with you!" Rey said, his fist clenched as he raised it in determination.

Ralyks hooded his head and turned to the rest of his wards.

"You all did well today. But, as long as you can do better, then there's no need to settle for less."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Good. Looks like we have an agreement. Let's go, Rey!"

Rey stepped forward and was about to leave with the Dark Adventurer when Alicia reached out to him and nearly touched him, but he managed to evade her grip at the last minute.

"At least pet Snow before you go."

As soon as she said this, Snow shot her another quizzical look and looked at Rey with narrowed eyes.

Ray's expression was unexplainable, but it seemed to border on the realm of nervousness and indecisiveness. Before he could make the choice, though, he vanished from his position.

In a split second, he was right beside Ralyks.

"He'll do so when he returns." With those words remaining in the air, a portal opened behind the two of them.

They were swallowed by the spatial distortion, taken to a place no one knew.

For a moment, there was silence.

Alicia's face appeared downcast, almost as if she could sense something was wrong.

'Did he do it on purpose? Is he… avoiding me?'

Rey didn't really seem scared of the rabbit, so it had to be her that he was running away from.

He even avoided her touch.

'Is it because I kept what happened with the kidnapping a secret? I… I just…'

She couldn't properly think about the whole thing, and the more she suspected Rey of drifting away from her because of that reason, the more her heart ached.

'Maybe…'

Before she could complete her thoughts, though, someone appeared right in front of her.

"Alicia, mind if I pet Snow?"

It was Adonis, with his charming smile and genuine interest in the Familiar she cradled close to her chest.

"O-oh…? Really?" She appeared a little hesitant, though her friendly smile remained.

"Yeah! It's really amazing how cute and adorable she looks, yet she could most likely beat me in a fight."

"Come on, Adonis. You're kidding. I don't think Snow could take on someone as strong as you."

The moment Alicia said this, Snow—who had kept her eyes closed—shot Adonis a competitive glare.

"Haha… stop." He quickly raised his hand in surrender. "I'm actually… not that strong."

There was a tinge of sadness in his tone—one that Alicia could relate to.

It caused her to smile sweetly and hold one of Adonis' raised hands.

She guided it to her rabbit's soft fur.

"Sure. You can pet her." She gave a genuine toothy grin.

To Alicia, her pets were sacred.

She hardly allowed strangers anywhere near them, talkless of touching them.

Conversely, if she had someone she considered a true and close friend, she wouldn't hesitate to let them touch her pets.

In fact, she would prompt them to do so.

'I wanted Rey to be the first, but…' As Alicia looked at how Adonis stared very excitedly at Snow, she couldn't help but smile.

He was doing it right, and Snow also seemed to be enjoying herself.

It made her glad.

'I'm not very close to him—not like before—but it seems he still has a soft spot for animals.'

Adonis was very kind. That was what made her fall for him back on Earth.

Things were a lot different now, but she was happy that he hadn't grown haughty due to him being a Hero.

'I initially misinterpreted his intentions, but he really is a good guy, huh?' She nearly laughed at herself.

"About Rey… please try to understand him."

Adonis' abrupt words caught Alicia off-guard, and she found him looking at her with his bright golden eyes.

"He desires to be strong. He probably feels even more of that now that you have Snow and everyone seems to be getting stronger at a rapid rate."

Adonis patted the rabbit's head and ceased his action.

"I know you care about him and want to protect him very much, and he probably also feels the same about you."

Alicia didn't realize she had made her intentions or emotions so obvious.

Perhaps Adonis was just very good at reading her.

Thankfully, his tone was low, so none of the surrounding students heard anything.

They were all talking with one another, but it was clear that they were waiting for their turn to pet the new member of the group.

"He's weak right now. I can relate to how frustrated he must be feeling right now… wanting to be better."

Alicia wasn't sure about Adonis being able to relate to Rey, but she said nothing and continued to listen.

"The best thing we can do right now is grow strong—all of us in our own way. We should also encourage others to do the same."

He slightly used his fist to hit Alicia's shoulder in a casual, friendly manner.

Typical Adonis behavior.

"So, yeah. No need to overthink it. We all have work to do."

Once he was done speaking, he stroked Snow a little more before walking away.

"Later then."

"W-wait!" Alicia yelled out, before realizing how loud her voice was.

She awkwardly looked around and found her classmates looking at her—but quickly turning away.

It was so embarrassing.

She continued with what she wanted to say, though.

"Thank you, Adonis."

Despite her cheeks red and flushed with embarrassment, she uttered the words anyway.

"No problem." He waved, walking away as he did so.

Alicia felt a slight relief in her heart as a result of her conversation with him.

'I feel much better now.'

Right as Alicia had this thought, she could already see the rest of her classmates close in on her due to Snow's overwhelming cuteness.

Billy inconspicuously walked away, but everyone else was subtly—but also not so subtly—hinting at their intentions.

However, Alicia wasn't going to have any of that.

Not with these people.

"Oh? What's that, Snow? You want to see my room right now? Let's go, then!"

Hence, Alicia was able to escape the mob of Otherworlders and safely keep Snow away from the clutches of her classmates.

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Thanks for reading!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Stockpiling all those chapters for a mass release was really tough, but I'm glad I pulled through.

I really appreciate all your support!