Chapter 41: Moon Wolf’s Wrath

After plenty of rest and medicine, Lydia felt much better. Thankfully, the wound from the rabbit monster hadn’t left a scar.

Midterm break was over, and Lydia was back at Belfort University. She was having lunch in the cafeteria with her friends when Kathy groaned in frustration.

"I can’t believe Professor Tristan gave us tons of assignments right after midterm break!"

While eating her braised pork, Kathy growled as if she wanted to march straight to the professor’s office and demand an explanation.

"Me and Hugo barely made it out of the remedial class," she complained. "Does he want us to spend the rest of our lives studying?"

Simon calmly cut his steak into small cubes before replying, "But that wasn’t what you said last night, Kathy."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You nearly fainted when Rishe agreed to study with us. You even said you’d happily do a hundred assignments if she helped you." Hugo laughed, exposing his friend’s shameless behavior.

"That’s because Rishe is amazing!" Kathy immediately defended herself.

The fox Sentinel clasped her hands together with sparkling eyes. "Thanks to her, we passed our last examinations with flying colors! She’s the only reason I’m still alive in this university. Gosh, I’ll even sing praises and thank yous if for Rishe if she ever wants to step on me."

"I’m sitting right here, you know," Rishe reminded her with a helpless smile.

If the university ever established a fan club for the beautiful Moon Wolf Sentinel, Lydia had no doubt Kathy would become its president in a heartbeat. She was such a simp for Rishe.

"Speaking of assignments, we should divide the work before the next class," Simon suggested. "I don’t want to end up rushing everything at the last minute. Just like how Kathy and Hugo always do."

"Agreed." Hugo nodded. "Professor Tristan said we could choose our own groups, so let’s make sure we’re all on the same page."

Most Elite Class students came from noble families, while the Regular Class had students from middle-class and working-class families.

This was Lydia’s first group assignment at Belfort University, and she found working with her friends much easier than doing everything alone in her previous life.

"Lydia, what do you think?" Rishe asked.

"I’m fine with whatever everyone decides. Just tell me which part I need to handle."

"Then we’ll send you the details later," Simon replied.

After dividing the assignments, Lydia noticed Rishe looking at her with a worried expression.

Right after the group assignment discussion was finished, Rishe quietly approached Lydia’s desk and placed a small pouch beside her notebook.

"Keep this with you," she said softly.

"What’s inside?"

"Something that might help. I have to get to my next class, so I’ll explain later if you need me to."

With that, Rishe gave her a reassuring smile before leaving the classroom.

What’s inside this pouch?

Curiosity got the better of her. Lydia opened the pouch beneath her desk and discovered a small jar of healing salve along with several warm patches—which was perfect for this chilly autumn.

These were for her injuries.

Lydia carefully closed the pouch and stored everything inside her bracelet’s inventory.

She hadn’t expected her friends to notice her wound, much less prepare something to help her recover.

When she glanced around, she found Simon, Hugo, and Kathy were watching her.

Simon offered a small smile and nodded. Hugo did the same, while Kathy gave her two enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Yet none of them had questioned her about it or being nosy.

I was lucky to have caring friends like them.

Once their classes had finished for the day, Simon asked Lydia, Kathy, and Rishe to wait for a while in the campus courtyard.

A few minutes later, he returned with Hugo, who was carrying a large sack over his shoulder.

"What did you two bring?"

"Today’s special treat!" Hugo announced proudly.

Simon placed the sack on the ground and opened it, revealing a pile of sweet potatoes.

"These are specialties from House Enotts," Simon explained enthusiastically. "My family sent them over this morning."

After putting some of the potatoes into aluminium foil, Simon continued. "We always believe enjoying roasted sweet potatoes with our friends would sweeten our friendship. Let’s roast them over a campfire!"

Kathy’s eyes lit up.

"Roasted sweet potatoes? I’m in!"

Fluffy fox ears and tail were swaying merrily as Kathy raised her hands to focus on her Resonance. But before she could do anything else, Rishe caught her wrist.

"Remember, we aren’t allowed to use our Resonance on university grounds, Kathy."

"Oops, my bad. Thanks, Rishe. Guess we’ll have to roast them in a traditional way."

What an amusing girl.

While Simon and Hugo prepared the sweet potatoes, Lydia opened the online marketplace on her bracelet. She browsed through the available items, searching for a few ingredients that might make their little gathering more enjoyable.

"Lydia, what are you doing?" Simon asked when he noticed the blue holographic interface floating above her wrist.

"Ordering something from the online shops."

Before Simon could ask what she ordered, Hugo reached for the sweet potatoes that had been roasting for a while.

"Ouch!"

Several potatoes flung away instantly when his fingers touched the hot skin! Unfortunately, Simon happened to be standing directly in their path.

"Wah—!"

The sweet potato struck Simon’s glasses and hand before bouncing onto the ground.

"Hugo!" Simon shrieked at Hugo as his raccoon ears and tail were showing.

"I’m sorry!"

"Touching a hot sweet potato will burn your hand. Use that wooden stick instead!"

"I forgot!"

"How can you forget something so obvious?"

Their little gathering had barely begun, and the courtyard was already filled with chaos.

"Anyway, I’ve ordered sour cream, butter, bacon, and cheese for us," Lydia announced. "They’re supposed to go really well with sweet potatoes."

"Wait, you can order food directly through your bracelet and get it delivered right here?

"Why not? The university has a designated delivery system."

She had barely finished speaking when a soft mechanical hum came from above.

A black with golden stripes delivery drone descended toward them, its compact body gliding smoothly through the air.

Belfort university’s security system recognized the registered delivery route and allowed the drone to land safely in front of Lydia.

The compartment opened and revealed her order. How convenient.

As she examined the drone, however, she noticed the small emblem embossed on its side.

A familiar black panther with several golden stripes on its tail logo. Wait. Isn’t that the House Ludenberg’s insignia?

Lydia checked the marketplace interface again. The name of the platform appeared at the top of the screen, accompanied by the same insignia.

The online marketplace was owned by the Ludenbergs, too.

Of course it was. How many businesses do Ludenbergs actually own?

"Ah, that explains it," Hugo remarked when he noticed what she was looking at. "The Ludenberg Group owns this marketplace and the delivery network. Almost everyone uses their services because they’re fast and reliable."

"Not just the marketplace," Simon added. "Their company also develops most of the technology we use every day. Hospitals, real estates, jewelries, banks, food companies, hotels, restaurants, transportation, energy supplies..."

Lydia gawked as the list kept going on.

Senior Zachary, just how much of this continent belongs to your family? It would be much easier to list the things they don’t own.

She had already known the Ludenbergs were wealthy, but their influence seemed to extend into every corner of daily life.

Thinking about it now, perhaps calling Zachary a golden key to her financial crisis had been an understatement.

He might be an entire golden treasure vault.

The group soon returned their attention to the sweet potatoes. A fragrant delicious smell spread through the courtyard.

"This is amazing!" Kathy declared after taking her first bite.

"Right?" Hugo grinned. "I told you House Enotts had the best sweet potatoes!"

Simon adjusted his glasses and nodded in agreement. "The toppings go really well with the sweet potatoes."

"Well, well. I never thought I’d see the day when the fake lady of House Valendorf got downgraded to a primitive monkey who eats baked potatoes!"

Emily Fielyn stood a short distance away, wearing her usual haughty expression. Her gaze traveled over the group before settling on Lydia, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

"That’s what happens when someone gets kicked down to the Regular Class, isn’t it? Shameless, shameless."

"Emily!"

"What?" Emily tilted her head innocently. "Did I say something wrong?"

Before anyone could react, Emily blasted a burst of flames at Lydia. She twisted aside just in time, and the flames hit the roasting area behind her.

Smoke rose into the air as the flames consumed their little gathering. The remaining sack caught fire, and the carefully prepared food scattered all across the ground.

"Lady Fielyn, you—!" Hugo pushed his chair back with his bear paws. "You can’t just attack people because you’re unhappy!"

"That’s enough, Hugo," Rishe said. Her voice was quiet, but something about it made him stop.

Rishe stepped forward as she glared at Emily. The gentle smile she usually wore had disappeared completely.

A pair of wolf ears emerged from her pink hair, followed by a long tail that swayed behind her.

The air around her grew colder.

A massive blue wolf appeared beside her and growled at Emily. Its loud howl sent the nearby students scrambling away.

Lydia had seen Rishe angry before, but this was different. The Moon Wolf Sentinel was furious.

"Lady Fielyn," she warned, her voice cold and steady. "You should know better than to show such hostility toward us."