Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 583: Diona’s Punishment

Inside the Headmaster’s Office…

Diona looked down on the hands she rested on her lap. Professor Rowan had summoned her, saying he wanted to talk to her about the incident in the Clawford Tribe.

“I believe we had an understanding, Ms. Diona,” Professor Rowan said calmly. “Did you take my words lightly?”

Diona remained silent. Lying didn’t work on Paragons, and making an excuse was beneath her. But she was also too prideful to admit her wrong.

A sigh escaped the Headmaster’s lips, conflicted about how he’d deal with the young lady in front of him. Despite his warnings, she still dared to attack one of his students.

“Won’t you at least say anything?” Professor Rowan asked.

“I… I promise I will no longer harm Alex Stratos and his friends,” Diona replied.

“And why should I believe you?” Professor Rowan arched an eyebrow. “Last time…”

“Last time, I didn’t promise anything,” Diona interjected. “But now, I promise that I will keep my word.”

The Headmaster of the Academy tried to recall his meeting with Morax, where Diona had also been present. After he had sealed her powers and told her what she mustn’t do as a Professor in the academy, the young lady had indeed uttered no agreement.

She made no promise to not harm Alex and his friends. At least, she was telling the truth about that part.

“I can tell that you’re being sincere.” Professor Rowan rested his chin on the back of his intertwined hands. “But a punishment is still in order.”

Diona clenched her fingers slightly.

She had expected this. Sealing her powers was one thing, but the Headmaster never let disobedience go unpunished.

“For the next three months,” Professor Rowan continued, his tone calm and utterly merciless, “your salary will be withheld.”

“… That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Diona raised her head to look at the Headmaster. She couldn’t believe that her punishment was only three months of docked pay.

She thought her powers would be further sealed, weakening her by another rank.

Was this even a punishment? Morax had given the members of the Void-Touched their own bank accounts, and he had always been ridiculously rich and generous. Money was the last thing Diona lacked.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an issue even if she wasn’t paid for a few years as a Professor.

“Are you not satisfied with your punishment?” Professor Rowan smirked. “Do you want me to…”

“I’m not complaining!” Diona hurriedly replied. “I was just surprised.”

Professor Rowan stood up and walked toward the window of his office. He stared at the buildings of the academy, where the students attended classes.

“My students are very precious to me, Ms. Diona,” Professor Rowan said after a minute of silence. “It’s my responsibility to keep them safe while they’re within the walls of the academy.

“But outside the walls, it’s inevitable to face the dangers of the world. I’m not growing delicate flowers in a greenhouse. They need to overcome challenges to grow. If they can’t tackle their problem with their current strength, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“I protect my students the best I can, but they’re on their own in places that I couldn’t see. I have an idea why you’re targeting Alex, but let me tell you something.”

The Headmaster turned around to gaze at the Beast Conqueror, whose face was now as pale as a sheet of paper.

“If not for Alex, Charles wouldn’t be alive now,” Professor Rowan declared. “Do you know what students have to do to be a scholarship student? They must first dive down inside the Dungeon of Beginnings?”

After hearing the Headmaster’s words, Diona’s eyes widened in shock.

“Y-You mean Charles… entered a dungeon before becoming a student of the academy?!” Diona asked in a trembling voice. “H-How did he survive?!”

“Alex helped him,” Professor Rowan smiled faintly. “He brought a party with him to assist Charles in his dungeon expedition. Even if you don’t tell me, I already know that Charles is taking the path of a Dungeon Conqueror.

“But remember this—when the monsters from the lower floors ascended to Charles’ location, it was Alex and his friends who fought the monsters tooth and nail to protect him. They could have left him behind, yet they fought until they bled.

“A Dungeon Outbreak. Any other Adventurer would’ve felt despair when met with such a calamity during a dungeon expedition. Charles was only a Rank 1 then. Do you think he could have survived alone?”

Diona bit her lip. There was no need to give an answer.

Without a doubt, Charles would have died inside the Dungeon of Beginnings. There was no way he could survive such a calamity.

“Diona, the person you tried to kill is Charles’ benefactor.” Professor Rowan sighed. “Now, do you understand why Charles trusts Alex very much?”

Diona didn’t answer. She couldn’t.

She didn’t know that Alex had played a role in Charles’ survival during his first major tribulation as a Dungeon Conqueror.

As one of the Void-Touched, she understood too well how scary the skill, Challenger’s Mark, was.

She had been hunted by countless monsters when she first awakened her powers, and she almost died many times because of it.

If not for the help of other people, she wouldn’t be where she was today.

“You may leave.” Professor Rowan waved his hand. “I don’t know how you will treat Alex from this day onward. But the least you can do is leave him be. Stop targeting him and his friends. They were the ones who helped him pass the trial and become a scholarship student.”

Diona nodded before leaving the Headmaster’s office. The moment she closed the door behind her, she used the wall of the hallway to support her body.

Her legs had lost their strength, so she couldn’t walk at the moment.

The Headmaster’s revelation was still swirling inside her head.

She couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

She couldn’t help but feel guilty.

She couldn’t help feeling that he had wronged the wrong person.

Now that she knew the truth about Charles’ story, she could no longer treat Alex as someone that must be eliminated.

After a few minutes, she finally regained enough composure to walk on her two legs.

When she had finally left the tower where the Headmaster’s office was located, Professor Rowan heaved a sigh.

“Happy?” Professor Rowan looked at the corner of his office.

A moment later, Morax appeared. He had been there ever since Diona entered the Headmaster’s Office.

“Happy,” Morax replied. “I owe you one, Professor.”

Professor Rowan sighed helplessly before glancing in the direction where Diona headed.

He hoped that after this incident, one of the troublemakers under his wing would finally be able to spend a few days of peace… before he once again ventured into the outside world where danger lurked everywhere.