Chapter 811: The Hermit’s Rewards

Right now, Alex was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

He was currently sitting on a log by the campfire, sandwiched between Queen Elaris and Aeris.

Aeris and Lapiz’s mother was giving him the kind of look that made Alex feel like he had committed a capital crime punishable by execution.

Well, in a way, he might have just done that... by accident.

Aeris and Lapiz were the Kingdom of Faelarun’s precious princesses.

What he had done with both of them was more than enough to make their father, mother, brother, and anyone who had a secret crush on the two beautiful princesses line up with kitchen knives and patiently wait for their turn to stab him!

"Alex, I understand there were circumstances involved that led to that outcome," Queen Elaris said calmly. "But as a mother, I simply can’t just turn a blind eye and say ’just charge it to experience’ and move on. Do you understand what I am talking about?"

"Y-Yes," Alex replied.

For some reason, Aeris took that opportunity to hug him from behind, pressing her body against him.

The young man didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the elven princess’s antics. She should be helping him put the fire out, but there she sat behind him, fanning the flames even further.

Lapiz watched this from the side with a beet-red face, thinking she should have sat behind Alex instead.

"I have been told by my daughters that you already have lovers," Queen Elaris said. "How many are they again?"

"M-Maybe five?" Alex replied. He didn’t add Lotte, Lumi, and Lulu to the count. Any higher, and he’d fear what Queen Elaris would do with the sword she was currently sharpening.

His lovers were Lavinia, Latifa, Fran, Evangeline, and Astrea.

He had already told Astrea that he would take responsibility for her, so she was now his woman.

"Maybe five?" Queen Elaris arched an eyebrow as the sound of her sword being sharpened grew louder. "Why are you unsure of how many lovers you have? Are there more?"

"T-There are candidates."

"Uh huh... so including those candidates, how many exactly are we talking about?"

Alex didn’t dare answer that question.

If he added all the possible candidates, including Latifa’s Alters, Efa, as well as the one whom he wished to meet back on Earth, then there was a chance that the count would reach double digits.

No. It would definitely reach double digits.

"Um, Your Majesty, we should leave Hy-Brasil soon," Alex said. "I fear we’ll get trapped here if we don’t leave right away."

"Trying to dodge my question, huh?" Queen Elaris narrowed her eyes. "But you are correct. I’ve already been stuck on this island for seven years. I don’t want to stay here for another seven."

Alex sighed in relief internally, but his relief was short-lived after hearing Queen Elaris’ next statement.

"You plan on taking responsibility, right?" Queen Elaris asked with a smile, her sword raised and pointed at Alex’s heart. "Right?"

"O-Of course," Alex answered. "I’ll take responsibility. Definitely."

"Very well." Queen Elaris nodded. "I’ll believe you... for now."

She then lowered her sword and glanced at her two daughters.

"Are you fine with that arrangement, or do you wish to have a different partner aside from Alex?" Queen Elaris asked.

"I-I’m fine with Alex, Mother," Lapiz replied.

Aeris didn’t voice out her answer. Instead, she just gave her mother a brief nod of acknowledgement.

Suddenly, a portal appeared right beside them.

Alex, Queen Elaris, Aeris, and Lapiz immediately took a fighting stance, reflexively assuming that the people from Reverse Arcana had come back.

But when they saw Astrea emerge from the portal, looking at them in confusion, they all lowered their weapons and backed away.

Suddenly, Alex’s body shuddered uncontrollably.

At that moment, he heard several notification sounds inside his head, and soon, a blue window screen appeared in front of him.

——————

[Congratulations! You have passed the Trial of the Hermit!]

[Rewards]

— Your current Rank has been upgraded to Rank 6.

— You have gained the skill, Judgment.

— You have gained the skill, World Traveler [EX] - (Incomplete Version)

— You have gained the title, Descendant of King Aetherion.

————————

[World Traveler [EX] - Incomplete Version]

— You can now cross over to other worlds. However, since this skill is incomplete, the only world you can cross over to is the world "Reverse Arcana".

— Can only be used once a month. This means that you can only return to your original world after a month has passed.

— Pass the last test of The Hermit to obtain the completed version of this skill that would allow you to travel to any world that you have been to before.

————————

[Descendant of King Aetherion]

— All Elves will treat you as their friend.

— All Dragons will not be hostile to you during your first meeting with them.

— You will be able to enter hidden places that only King Aetherion is allowed to enter (Example: The Sacred Vault of the Aetherion Empire).

————————

Alex panted for breath as the sudden surge of power inside his body finally stabilized.

However, his gaze never left the window screen in front of him, especially after reading the rewards that he had received from completing the trial.

"World Traveler..." Alex muttered.

The Hermit told him that the world of Arcana possessed infinite possibilities.

Perhaps knowing that the young man wanted to return to Earth, the Deity decided to give him the incomplete skill that would grant him the power to achieve his wish.

Now, more than ever, Alex wished to go to the Kingdom of Solara in order to complete the last trial.

However, now was not the right time to do that.

The Sea of Flames that protected the last trial also served as a barrier that prevented anyone from coming close to it.

Fortunately, those flames would recede when Alex became a second year.

There were only six more months before his first term in the academy ended.

That meant that he had half a year to prepare for the greatest and hardest trial that The Hermit had prepared for his challengers.

Now that their mission in Hy-Brasil was over, it was time for him to return to Frieden Academy.

However, Queen Elaris asked Alex to go to the Kingdom of Faelarun with her first so he could have a proper talk with her husband.

Alex reluctantly agreed. In any case, bringing Queen Elaris back to the Kingdom of Faelarun was a matter of great importance.

Princess Xenia was more than happy to host the Elven Queen in her airship. She had indirectly taken part in the Queen’s rescue by providing Alex and his group with a transport ship to reach the Island of Hy-Brasil.

Since this would strengthen the bonds between the Kingdom of Faelarun and the Kingdom of Avalon, she took it upon herself to escort the Queen back to her domain.

In the end, Lavinia, Latifa, Evangeline, Fran, Astrea, Cairo, Elaine, Efa, Renard, Charles, Nessia, Chuck, Vaan, and Eleanora all boarded the other airship, which would take them back to Frieden Academy.

Alex promised to return as soon as possible with Princess Xenia, assuring his lovers that everything would be fine.

But just as he was about to hop on the princess’ ship, he looked at Efa in askance. No words were said between the two of them.

The young lady only smiled and placed a finger over her lips in response, as if telling Alex that there were things she couldn’t tell him right now.

High above the clouds, Himea and the little devil looked down at the island.

"Aren’t you going to say goodbye to Alex?" the Little Devil asked.

"No need," Himea replied. "I will see him in the academy."

"Well, suit yourself." The devil shrugged.

Himea glanced at Alex one last time before turning into a purple beam of light, flying in the direction of the Kingdom of Avalon.

Once everyone had left, the Island of Hy-Brasil was once again covered in thick mist, vanishing without a trace... never to be seen again.