Chapter 85: New Friend Group [BONUS - ]

The strange spiritual world slowly faded from his vision as he prepared to return to the academy.

He had less than ten minutes to get to class.

***

Ethan hurriedly made his way back to Class 5D, silently praying that he hadn’t already missed half the lecture.

He had expected the class to have started by now, considering he was already three minutes late, but the moment he stepped through the classroom door, his footsteps slowed.

Something was wrong.

The classroom was in complete disarray, with students moving between their seats, talking among themselves, and generally making far more noise than he would have expected from a class that was supposed to be in the middle of a lecture.

Ethan’s brows knitted together as he looked around in confusion.

What was actually going on?

Had he somehow gotten the class schedule wrong?

He immediately pulled out his phone and checked again, just to make sure he hadn’t somehow remembered the time incorrectly. The schedule on his screen clearly stated that they were supposed to have a lecture at this exact time.

Then why was everyone acting as though class hadn’t even started?

Ethan lowered his phone and looked up, only to find two familiar figures making their way toward him.

Lara and Jake.

Ethan’s expression immediately flattened.

Was Jake coming to make trouble with him again?

He really wasn’t in the mood for that right now.

After spending the last hour rushing around to make his first spiritual fruit, then nearly sprinting back to class, the last thing he wanted was another pointless argument with someone who had apparently decided that disliking him was his main goal of the day.

Ethan quietly turned toward the classroom door.

Since the lecture clearly wasn’t happening, he could simply leave.

He had no reason to stay and deal with Jake’s hateful behavior when he could return to his room, rest for a while, and then go check on Rin.

He had barely taken two steps when a voice stopped him.

"Wait—"

Ethan paused.

He slowly turned around, and sure enough, Lara and Jake had followed him.

The two of them stopped directly in front of him, leaving Ethan with little choice but to face them.

He crossed his arms and gave them an expressionless look.

"What’s up?"

Lara immediately pointed a thumb toward Jake with a mischievous smile.

"Mr. Smarty Pants here wanted to apologize to you... properly this time."

Ethan blinked.

For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he had heard her correctly.

An apology?

From Jake?

His gaze shifted toward the green-eyed Sentinel standing beside her.

Jake looked noticeably uncomfortable.

He cleared his throat before rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah... I wanted to apologize to you for being a jerk earlier."

Ethan’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Jake continued, looking more embarrassed with every word.

"I honestly thought you were spreading false information because I prided myself on being intelligent, and I didn’t know you were actually right. Since you were right, I’m here to apologize properly. I had no malicious intent, really."

Ethan stared at him.

He tried to hide his smile.

He really did.

Unfortunately, the small curve threatening to appear at the corner of his lips was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.

He genuinely felt relieved.

The thought of acquiring another enemy every single time, wasn’t exactly exciting, and if Jake’s hostility had really only come from a misunderstanding, then Ethan wasn’t particularly interested in holding a grudge over it.

Besides, Jake had actually swallowed his pride and come back to apologize.

That counted for something.

Ethan finally relaxed his expression.

"It’s alright. I understand. We’re cool."

Jake visibly relaxed.

"Good."

Lara immediately brightened, apparently satisfied that the two of them weren’t going to start another argument.

She stepped forward with the enthusiasm of someone who had been waiting for this exact opportunity.

"Since we’re all getting along now, introductions properly! I’m Lara Brent, a B-rank Guide, and he’s Jake Colwell, an A-rank Sentinel."

Ethan nodded.

Then he paused.

Wait.

B-rank?

A-rank?

His gaze moved between the two of them.

They were both high-ranked.

And they were in the same class as him?

Ethan’s expression must have revealed his confusion because Jake quickly caught on.

"The academy mixes ranks starting from Class 5D," he explained. "You can be a high rank and still be demoted to a lower class. It’s weird, but understandable when you think about it."

Ethan nodded slowly.

That actually made sense.

The academy wasn’t simply arranging students according to their ranks. Their academic performance, practical results, combat records, discipline, and other factors could affect their class placement as well.

So even if someone had an impressive rank, they could still find themselves in a lower class if they performed poorly in other areas.

Ethan quietly accepted the explanation before glancing around the noisy classroom again.

"Then why hasn’t the class started?"

Lara’s expression immediately changed as though she had just remembered something.

"Ohh, the class was cancelled."

"It was?"

"Yep. Mr. Davin needed to sort out the results from the last obstacle course and assign the selected candidates to the frontline rift missions."

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.

"Oh."

He had almost forgotten about that.

With everything that had happened after the obstacle course, he had forgotten that Mr Davin had once said that those who did well during the obstacle course would participate in rift missions.

So there wasn’t actually going to be a lecture today.

Ethan mentally sighed in relief.

Well, since there was no class, there wasn’t much reason for him to remain here.

He had nothing else to do except return to his room, get some rest, and then go check on Rin.

Ethan turned toward the door.

"Well, since that’s settled, I’ll—"

Before he could finish, Lara suddenly moved to his side and grabbed his hand.

Ethan froze.

Lara smiled brightly.

"Well, Ethan, if you don’t have anything you’re doing, would you like to come with us and eat in the cafeteria?"