Free Web NovelChapter 47: Investment 47— Proud Students of the Adonite Academy
The feeling of grief, sorrow, and fear overcame the students within the cave—they had just watched their fellow students get slaughtered and killed like insignificant lambs.
Some were perplexed, others were downright scared—no matter how different their mindsets were, all of them had one thing in common—they were all simply afraid.
And a sheep who was afraid of the world would never be able to take the next step.
Elliot was well aware of this fact—and so he chose to address his fellow students. While Leonard was composing yet another heroic speech, Elliot walked right past him.
"Where is he going?... don’t tell me—"
He immediately took a step forward to stop Elliot, then Futaba held his hand and shook her head.
"This is not the time, Trigger," she whispered.
"Tsk!"
Leonard forcefully removed his arm from her grasp. Though he wanted to stop Elliot, Futaba had a point, and he wasn’t so stupid as to overlook her advice.
August stood beside Rose—he leaned close to her ear.
"Yo! Rose," he whispered.
"Yes, August," she replied calmly in a low tone.
"Eh, what exactly did Elliot say when you approached him earlier?" he asked.
"Nothing of any importance." She paused. "From the way he sounded—he did not want an apology."
Rose stroked her hair.
"Not that I blame him—we are all just a bunch of scum donning the masks of saints."
She uttered those words bluntly with no remorse whatsoever.
"Woooo!"
August placed a hand over his mouth.
"Rosey, you really don’t hold back with your words—and that’s one of the things I like about you."
He paused.
"Apart from you being hella strong, I mean."
He chuckled.
"Anyways, thanks for the info."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"So, how are things between you and Leonard?"
Rose turned her head towards him.
"I don’t know anymore at this point, Rosey."
He let out a defeated sigh.
"But thanks for asking, though."
August smiled.
"Anytime, Augusten," she replied.
"When was the last time anyone called me that outdated name apart from my old man?"
August let out a faint laugh.
His actual name was "Augusten," but only a few people knew about it since he went by "August" in the academy.
August’s and Rose’s eyes drifted towards Elliot—they were both curious to hear what he had to say.
"My fellow students of the Adonite Academy," Elliot’s voice carried, gaining the attention of everyone in the hall.
"That’s Elliot. If I remember correctly, he helped the Four Seasons stop that Vena girl."
"Yeah. That’s true."
"Let’s hear what he has to say."
"I’m not interested in hearing what some laggard has to tell us."
Liam stood to his feet with great annoyance.
"Isn’t it quite amusing?" Edith stepped forward.
"That you refer to someone who kicked your ass and stopped a foe you couldn’t even dream of defeating, a laggard."
Edith shut Liam up by reminding him of Elliot’s achievements and the fact that he had just saved them all.
"This dungeon expedition has become far more dangerous and troubling than what was to be expected in the first place."
Elliot continued his speech without worry.
"I know you are all scared. I am too—fifteen of our fellow students just got slaughtered like bloody lambs." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
He clutched his fist.
"But you know what’s more?"
He paused purposely, allowing all sorts of questions to pop up in their minds.
"I am fucking angry and furious, not because we are trapped like helpless animals, not just because our own were just killed like livestock before our very eyes."
He took a step forward on the terrace so that all the students could see him.
"But because they messed with the proud students of the Adonite Academy. We don’t cower in fear, we don’t hide, and we do not beg."
"We fight, we wage wars, and we conquer."
His voice boomed.
"This is not the time to fight amongst ourselves. This is the moment where we band together and show those bastards the wrath of the Adonite Academy."
Elliot’s voice chimed.
"Who are we?"
He shouted while raising a hand upwards.
A female student scrambled to her feet at the back.
"We are proud students of the Adonite Academy!"
"Since when did we become cowards who have forgotten who we are?"
Futaba stood beside Elliot.
"Cuz’ I know who I am. So answer the man’s question, would you?"
She stated boldly.
"We are proud students of the Adonite Academy!"
The students’ voices boomed.
"Ehmmm, what did you say? I didn’t quite hear you guys."
August placed a hand by the side of his ear as he walked forward.
"We are proud students of the Adonite Academy!"
The students sitting on the floor stood to their feet.
"I believe you all can do better than this."
Rose stroked her hair.
"We are proud students of the Adonite Academy!"
The students banged their fists against their chests.
"We may have lost once, but who said we were done fighting?"
Leonard wouldn’t waste this kind of chance to deliver his heroic epilogue.
"We are proud students of the Adonite Academy, and we do not back down from a fight!"
The students’ voices echoed in absolute unison.
"And what is our motto?"
Elliot’s voice boomed.
"Facing the Unknown Head On!"
Their voices shook the very heavens.
Within a mere second, the anxiety and fear that filled the cave disappeared—now the cave was bustling with zeal and conviction.
Elliot used a trick he picked up in his former life—he learned that the best way to motivate people who believed there was no way out and were downright scared was by showing them that they had all it took to conquer and ascend the mountain peak they were afraid of.
"Whoa!"
Seria’s crystal-blue eyes lit up.
"My beloved’s speech was simply impeccable."
She doted over him.
She swung her arms around rapidly.
"Now I’m all ready to go!"
Deria and Edith gawked.
"Girl, we think you should take it easy."
"It’s not my fault you don’t have a fiancé."
Seria pursed her lips.
"Hahahaha!"
They both burst into laughter.
Leonard walked up to Elliot and placed his lips by Elliot’s ear.
"I know that we are the lowest of scum."
He let out a sigh.
"But for the sake of all the students here... I suggest we join forces and share informational resources," he whispered.
Elliot’s right eye drifted towards Leonard.
"I am not so selfish as to put my pride before the lives of so many."
He stretched forth a hand.
"I look forward to walking with you."
Leonard shook Elliot’s hand.
In a dark room, most likely in the dungeon, three shadowy figures stood before the true body of the bug maid puppet.
"Mother, it seems Geny has failed us and sullied your name."
The shadowy figure that possessed the nose of a mosquito spoke.
"It matters not, child."
The bug maid rolled her eyes.
"The escaped instructor has yet to be found."
The shadowy figure with mushroom-like hair spoke.
"But given the injury I inflicted on him, he should still be on the third floor."
The shadowy figure with large eyes adjusted his specs.
"Ru, Gion, and Mary."
The bug maid called their names as they knelt before her.
"Find that instructor and bring the heads of the student council leaders, the Four Seasons, and Elliot Reingard to me."
Her voice rasped.
"As you wish, Mother."
They vanished.
