Chapter 191: It’s Just The First Day

’It’s still the first day...’

Cillian had just achieved Circle One yesterday. The orientation day had just happened. He was almost embarrassed in front of many people, though he usually didn’t give a damn about it since he wasn’t that soft.

However, the biggest surprise of them all was Aster.

The moment he entered, this calamity magnet bastard of a main character’s flag had turned into a Death Flag, as Cillian witnessed it happening with his own eyes.

It was his first time witnessing such a phenomenon happen to someone. As far as he remembered, this kind of event had only happened to him, with his flag changing from a White Flag to a Death Flag right away.

’There’s a first time for everything, I guess.’

Cillian relaxed his back against the porch as he stared at the blue skies above. Then, he shifted his eyes to the side and said,

"Keep your voice low."

Aster shook his head.

"I... okay."

After saying that, Aster grabbed a piece of paper from his side and began to write on it. He was right to be careful. Who knew which people might be listening?

He remained silent for a few moments, busying himself with writing whatever he was planning in his mind before handing the paper over to Cillian.

’Where did he even get the pen and paper...’

Cillian mused inwardly, looking toward Aster’s hand before looking at the main character himself. Even though he tried to hide it, this main character still appeared restless and shaky.

Cillian received the paper and began to read it.

/The Dwarves are under attack by the Beastfolk Kingdom. Help me pass this information to the entire world. I’ve already sent similar information to the Star Breaker, with whom I had close ties, as well as to a few more of my confidants. Cale is coming to guard Aster until then and to help you release this information to the entire Xesie first. He’ll be useful to you since he can phase through walls. Help them, Cillian. This is what my master said. I just summarized the information./

’Under attack...’

Cillian knitted his eyebrows once he took another look at the note before drawing a short breath.

"War..."

One of the most overused plots, but at the same time, a fascinating arc authors can use in their novels.

Cillian was a fan of war arcs, but because some of them were downright bad, he nitpicked the authors who did them poorly. Well, even if he found some of the others entertaining in the books he had read, he still talked trash about them because he was a professional hater.

However, remembering his job as a professional hater back on Earth wasn’t because he was reminiscing.

It was for a totally different reason.

’Why now...?’

Why start a war with a different kingdom now?

What would the kingdom even gain from attacking another kingdom?

In fact, the most pressing matter of it all was why Oliver was asking Cillian and the others he had contacted to release this information when something as big as a war would already put everyone’s attention on it.

’Was someone hiding something as big as this throughout the whole world? It doesn’t make sense at all...’

Cillian’s thoughts began to spiral as he made some guesses and connections until he arrived at one conclusion that made him shiver.

’You’re telling me the Shepherds have one kingdom under their belt...?’

That... was bad news.

Cillian didn’t know why, but he felt that something big was about to happen. And because he was still ignorant and uninformed, he couldn’t figure out what he should do.

Even so, he could feel his heart pounding.

Was he nervous? Slightly.

But he was mostly excited.

’Calm down...’

It was because of those mysteries that his bored heart felt expectant.

’Don’t smile.’

Even so, Cillian failed to stop himself from smiling as the corner of his lips started moving upward, which Aster noticed, causing him to frown.

His lips pursed.

"Why are you—"

But right before he could even talk to him about it, Cillian cut him off. The one-second moment of him smiling instantly disappeared after Cillian followed up with a question, still not looking in his direction as his attention was still on the paper.

"When did this whole thing start? Did he tell you about it specifically?"

Aster paused, staring into Cillian’s eyes from the side before looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Since Cillian was asking about it, Aster figured that when it started wasn’t important enough to mention right away, at least not to him, as Oliver’s words had become the priority. He then gave an answer after pondering the question for a bit.

"After the gate’s disappearance."

Cillian was silent for a moment as he closed his eyes.

Then, he opened them again and grabbed the pen that Aster had used before, using the back page of the paper to write something on it.

’I should’ve told them about it already, the moment we talked from the shop. It was my mistake for only telling them about the Runic Gates appearing with monsters inside. Ah well, I can tell Aster now that I’m sure they fit the description of my suspicions.’

Once he was done, Cillian handed it over to Aster.

It was just a simple line of text.

/The Xesie Family is working with the Shepherds./

There was a simple reason why Cillian revealed this information to Aster.

They couldn’t just ask the Xesie Family for help when they were potentially allied with the Beastfolk. Aster might not immediately conclude what message Cillian was trying to relay, but the message was enough for him to realize that Cillian wasn’t just here to sit around and laze like before.

Aster stared at the message, his eyes visibly shaken as if he had discovered something that he shouldn’t have. Once his mind had cleared, he burned the paper with a simple fire spell. Then, he spoke after a moment of silence.

"How sure are you about this?"

"Pretty much at this point."

’Heck, their appearance at Viola right before we’re about to take over the Underworld is one thing. Death Flags while glaring at me were another.’

There might have been other reasons why the Xesie Family decided to visit and pass the message about the return of the Academy duties to Viola, but Cillian had already made his decision to push this idea forward.

A great family and a potential kingdom of another race under the Shepherds.

War.

Cillian couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

’It’s just the first day.’