Ryn
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Chapter 192
🕑 Added 2024-10-31 19:00:13 +0000 UTCHe was proud to say that this was not the first time he had been teleported before, but he could honestly say that this was a new feeling for him. It was like being tilted upside down and getting swung by his feet like the blades of a helicopter.
However, when he opened his eyes he felt fine. It was like vertigo was suddenly gone.
He still felt the person’s hand tucked tightly into his and turned to see who was still grabbing his hand. And he was slightly shocked to see who it was. A pair of sparkling rainbow eyes that had hints of panic stared up at him.
Huh, not who I thought it would be, he thought to himself. He had originally believed that it was either Tia or Nessa, perhaps even a nervous Polux who had grabbed ahold of his hand. He didn’t expect to see Reinera there holding his hand.
Once they met gazes, she quickly removed her hand from his. “I’m sorry, I just…” She trailed off as if she didn’t know what to say.
For the moment, Julius ignored her apology and took a look around. The cavern was replaced with a narrow corridor, something that he had previously been expecting when they entered the rift. It was still dim and the only lighting was from the small number of lanterns hanging from the walls.
Where the hell are we?
However, there was a much larger issue. Unlike the cavern, when he sent out a pulse of [Spatial Perception] he ended up detecting several monsters far down the hallway. The walls were still blocking most of his skill, but he could still sense around the nearby corners.
When he noticed that the princess who was with him was about to speak again, he held up his hand and covered her mouth. He felt her freeze when he touched her, but she didn’t try to pull away, which was weird. He honestly thought that a princess would hate being touched by a stranger like him.
He took the time to take a look at the person who he was seemingly stuck with. Her brilliant silverish-white hair was a stark contrast to the dark and dreary stone walls around them. Her eyes were literally glowing in the dark as well.
She doesn’t exactly blend in, does she?
Eventually, she carefully pulled his hand away from her mouth. “What? Do you sense something?” she asked him in a quiet whisper.
He noticed that she hadn’t let go of his hand right away and was still holding it in her hand. He gave it a pointed look and she dropped it quickly after she realized what she was doing, her blush was subtle in the darkness, but he could still see it.
“At least six monsters ahead,” he told her before sending out more pulses, trying to penetrate the walls of the labyrinth.
Julius was feeling very confused at the moment. He had so many questions.
He had no idea why there was a teleportation circle in the middle of the rift. He didn’t even know if they were still in the same rift. That teleportation had taken them here, but for what purpose?
Was it an attempt on the princess’s life? That seemed the most plausible answer, but why go through all of these complications? If they managed to set up a teleportation circle wouldn’t they be able to just kill her directly instead?
Or perhaps they were hoping to separate the princess from the professor and the others, hoping that the monsters would kill her for them.
It was a very odd predicament, one that he wanted nothing more than to ask the girl next to him about.
He quietly walked down the hallway, away from the group of monsters he sensed. He was assuming that this was still a labyrinth type, considering their current environment. That meant that there should be multiple ways to the exit.
When he didn’t sense anything with his perception skill, he finally turned to the princess.
“Do you know what is happening here?” He asked her bluntly.
She winced and gave him a guilty look. “I have a suspicion,” she admitted.
He gave her a blank look. “Well, whenever you want to let me in the know, I am listening.”
She started to pick at her fingers anxiously, something he noted as familiar.
“This might have been an assassination attempt on me,” she said carefully.
“I guessed that might have been the case, but where I am having a hard time understanding the reason for all of this,” he said while waving at their predicament.
She nodded gravely. “I’m guessing that whoever wants me dead can’t make it so obvious. That’s the reason for the teleportation circle. It’s not exactly a new way to kill a noble before. There have been similar cases when they want to make it look like an accident or to shift the blame, they use these kinds of methods to do so,” she explained with a frown.
Julius pinched his nose. “Why not just kill everyone immediately instead? That could still look like an accident.”
She shook her head. “Not with Professor Rowe there with us. If something was able to kill a Tier 4 in a Tier 2 rift, it would be too suspicious.”
“And this isn’t?” He asked doubtfully.
“This way there are more options to explain what went wrong. A random teleportation circle in a labyrinth is not unheard of, it is actually a common trap at the higher tiered rifts. While it shouldn’t be in a rift that Goldencrest controls, it can be chalked up as a mistake on behalf of the school. And if I were to die, then who’s to say that I didn’t die in the transport?” She said bitterly.
“But we didn’t,” Julius pointed out, like it wasn't obvious.
“No, but I assume whoever planned this expected that. If I die to the monsters in here, then who’s to know any different?”
“Are you saying that the others are probably okay?” Julius asked, a little concern for his team seeping into his voice.
“Oh, it is highly likely that they were transported out of the rift and are safe and sound. You can’t exactly kill over half a dozen prominent scions and risk offending their families.”
“And yet it’s okay to kill you?” Julius asked.
“I’m a princess with a target on my back. It certainly will not come as a surprise, it’s just a part of the game. People will know it’s an assassination, but if there is no hard evidence, nobody can really do anything about it,” she said sadly.
“You sound like you are already accepting your death,” Julius said accusingly.
She gave a harsh chuckle. “You think the people who set this up would just allow me to fight my way out? No no, they are going to make sure that I am going to be buried here,” she said with another bitter laugh. “I can’t imagine what they had to do in order to get access to Goldencrest’s rifts, but it was well played.”
Julius frowned. He really didn’t like how bleak she was sounding. It sounded like she had already given up. “Maybe you shouldn’t be throwing in the towel so early. I don’t know if you are aware of this, but I am with you as well. And I can promise you that I don’t have any plans to die in this rift.”
“Have you taken a good look at the mana around us? I don’t think we are in the same Tier 2 rift anymore. I don’t know what they did, but the air has a quality that is like a Tier 3 rift,” she quietly stated to him.
He did as she said and quickly realized that she was right. Somehow the mana was similar to how the Tier 3 rift he had delved into felt.
She must have seen his reaction because she continued. “I know. I am so sorry for pulling you into this,” she apologized to him with a guilty face, she was almost on the verge of crying.
Wait, when she grabbed my hand did that mean she had taken me with her? If she hadn’t done that, wouldn’t that mean I would be safe with the others?
With this new realization, he looked at her with cold and judgemental eyes. I guess a drowning person will take down anyone in reach, huh?
“So why did you? If you had an idea of what was happening why would you pull me down with you?” he asked calmly, glad that [Sage of Savagery] was active.
At that, she seemed to finally break down. Tears started to trickle down her face. “I didn’t realize it until it was too late. It was just… instinctual,” she finally stammered out.
“Instinctual, huh? Your first instinct when you are dying is to take someone along with you, is that it?" He scathingly asked. He knew he probably shouldn’t be venting his frustrations on her but he was very annoyed. He didn’t appreciate that he had been dragged into this.
She just put her head down and continued to cry. He let out a frustrated exhale. He turned to the other direction where the monsters had been. Honestly, I can always just go my own way. It’s not like a Tier 3 rift is that dangerous to me. And I also don’t really feel like saving her if it means revealing my strength. I have no reason to help her and I am pretty pissed that she put me in this situation.
The more he thought about it, the more it sounded like a good idea. He was already feeling much happier with the prospect of it. He would find the exit and kick the shit out of any monsters who got in his way. That seemed like a good plan to him.
Not to mention she had already given up it seemed, so it shouldn’t matter to her. With his mind made up and with a much more satisfied mindset he got up to leave.
He didn’t say a word and began to walk back to the monsters he sensed a ways back. However, just as Julius took the first several steps, she called out to him.
“Wait, where are you going?”
He didn’t even bother to look back. He didn’t want to see her beg, that would make abandoning her more difficult. Still, he didn’t know her. He had no obligation to help her nor to reveal his secrets to her by doing so.
“Please, don’t leave me here all alone,” he heard as he was walking away, but ignored her pleas.
“Julius, please!”
It was at that moment he paused. She knew his name and not only that, but her voice had changed too. Furthermore, it was a voice that he was familiar with. He turned around to look at her and was surprised at what he saw. It was Grace standing there with tears running down her face. When she saw him turn around she slowly transformed back into Reinera and then back to Grace.
What the hell?
His brain short-circuited and everything started to come together. He always knew that it was a possibility, but he never actually believed it. Everything from her physical form to her aura, to her mannerisms were different.
Actually… he recalled that she had just been anxiously picking at her fingers a few minutes ago, something that he noticed Grace doing on many occasions. She also hadn’t shied from physical contact with him.
But it all made sense in a way. Her constant secrecy, hiding her classes and affinity from him. It kind of all fitted together, and now he didn’t see how he didn’t realize it sooner.
He could be so stupid sometimes. He had been so confident in his perception skill that he ignored some pretty blatant signs.
That was the reason why she grabbed his hand. She was scared and her friend was right next to her. He didn’t find fault in her wanting some comfort when she thought she was going to die.
Julius couldn’t find the heart in himself to blame her for that. Knowing that Grace was Reinera changed everything.
He chuckled softly and looked up to the ceiling. It wasn’t like he could abandon her now. That wouldn’t be right. He was still of course frustrated at being dragged into this but he didn't blame her for not telling him. They all had their own secrets after all.
“I wish I could say I never thought it was a possibility, but honestly I just thought I was paranoid. How did I not see it?” He asked her.
Grace, or rather Reinera shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
She reached down and pulled out a necklace from her uniform, another thing that Julius had never sensed before. She fiddled with it and suddenly she was back looking like the princess. To his spatial senses, her entire form changed physically, it wasn’t like an illusion.
“This is an item made by my uncle. It creates a tangible and material disguise that alters my aura. It also has some subtle mind effects that make any person who has suspicions of my identity doubt themselves. It is relatively simple in its function, but very potent,” she explained slightly nervously.
He gave the necklace in question a very interested gaze. The plain looking necklace was an absolutely amazing work of inscriptions. He couldn’t even begin to start tracing the delicate and complex lines of mana running through it.
He bet even a stubborn person like Dante would be impressed.
Yeah, very simple in its function, he thought to himself sarcastically.
“Wow, that is one amazing necklace,” Julius commented while slowly walking toward the necklace, all previous signs of anger and frustration nowhere to be seen. He was too absorbed in looking at the item with sparkling eyes.
He wondered how it worked. He couldn’t imagine that an item like that was easy to find normally. He would bet that Kyle would love to get his hands on something like that.
While he admired it, he completely ignored the way that Reinera just looked at him like he had grown a third head.
Comments
D H
Yea... I get the whole princess arc is to get him to have friends in high places for plot development but it can't be because of status cause MC can do no wrong but... I don't understand why author is shoehorning this so much.
D H
He still should. He wont cause the novel is becoming slice of life and I don't think the author can let his characters die even if it will create a better story. MC can't lose no matter what happens. His family is probably alive and well too.
V B
Honestly I hope the princess arc ends. From the first time I read about it I sighed, because the trope is just so old. Plus....someone help me with the logic: princess is in danger , but only 1 bodyguard who lets her dive in a rift alone even if it's known to harbor assassination attempts....
dethrothes
These past dozen chapters has been slice of life basically
11037
The decision to walk away wasn't really the problem. That's totally in line with his character. The issue is how he got to that decision. Thinking she deserves it, thinking she wants to die, walking away without a word as she sobs and begs. A simple "I don't know you, and I think I have better odds of surviving without you, so I'm leaving, sorry." could replace that, and you could still have the scene where she then begs him to stay as he walks away.
Eric Sweeney
Contrary to many posters here, I actually like that Julius was going to abandon her before the big reveal. It’s been stated multiple times that he doesn’t want to get involved in national level political matters. Nor does he have a lot of sympathy for those of the social elite. Combined with a tempered soul, his recent death, and his sage buff / debuff, it’s really not unexpected for him to focus on his needs and not the needs of others. It’s also not like the Princess would immediately die. He’s going to tear through this dungeon like a hurricane of death as he removes his training restraints. As long as she follows in his wake, she would have been likely safe while he steam rolls through the dungeon. It would just save Julius the mental worry off having to spend additional energy protecting a “non-combatant”.
gray matter
“Jasper had also lied when he said, he could only bring Julius into the void after he cleared a rift. He could have done it anytime he pleased” Ok I’ll give you I missed this bit. Not because of any restrictions on his power it was because he was worried about someone else being involved with Julius. I’m aware Jasper is above any known power. That was part of my point. Even so you’re talking about power this world/continent doesn’t even know about (possibly I’ve theorized Jasper is the emperor or equal space guardian for the continent) Even so the power and knowledge required based off of what Declan said for a portal to be able push all but one princess outside of the rift has to be limited to very few people… possibly Alice included. Which would limit the assassins plausibility
Sean
Weird chapter tbh. Julius being judgy, Julius snapping at her, and Julius just immediately insulting her when she's acting like a normal person. He's never that volatile, he even lets Polux blackmail him and he just shakes his head. Then there's how Julius mentions the possibility of Grace being the princess and even puts a tracker on her and still not even considering he's right when it's staring right in front of him? The entire first part reads like forced dialogue. Then when the reveal happens he's all chastising himself for not seeing it sooner? He did see it. He tried to confirm it. He brought up multiple reasons why his theory made sense. Even if the necklace is supposed to be mind controlling him to not make the connection the way Julius was acting towards her was completely out of character.
Zenty
Eh, He doesn't need food or water since his healing skill can keep him going.
Read Isekai
So is perhaps the bigger worry going to be who's waiting for them when get out? I doubt this rift will be much of an issue for Julius who already solo's T3 rifts, and I'm going to guess he knows the right hand rule already
Read Isekai
If there's one thing we know about Julius is he's got all the munchies stashed in his storage Getting [Spacial Perception] to 20 seems to require a concept, But I hope he gets a spacial concept on this little date with the princess
Oliver Reilly
So the real question may be how much food and water Julius brought with him? Will the new environment help to push his [Spatial Perception] to 20? Is Julius going to learn how to work inscriptions and will he be able to cheat with [Armaments of the Arcane]?
Kyfe
Jasper had different restrictions. His restrictions were he couldn't directly interfere because of his power and the consequences involved, not because he couldn't absolutely do it. Jasper is definitely above a Tier 6 scholar. He's probably Tier 8 or higher if it exists. It was heavily implied, at least. We also know, from that incident, permission isn't strictly required. We also only know that entering a rift requires permission, not changing rifts, so teleporting to a whole new rift is still completely plausible within the established rules. It could be that permission is required to shift from the main dimension to a new one, but once you're there, it's free game to shift around anywhere else without having to gain permission once more. It's also plausible that the intricate teleportation spell provided the permission itself. There are many ways to justify being transported to a whole new dungeon and still be consistent with the world's rules.
John O'Connor
That’s true but choosing to do the right thing is independent of feelings and he actually gets angry about the situation so perhaps Sage of Savagery isn’t as effective or the author forgot.
Brian
Ooh great catch, thanks!
Zack
In chapter 190, it says the tracker disappeared about an hour(?) after placing it. It's just after the bit with the smoking pipes.
Brady Fiola
Agreed, seemed super weird. Honestly so out of character it was jarring, especially considering that Julius speculated on the princess being Reinera just a few chapters ago.
11037
Yeah, that scene didn't quite work. It would make more sense if he had an attitude of "It's not abandonment, I'll just move forward without considering her, and she'll live or die by her own abilities, I don't care." By declaring it abandonment and then justifying it, it comes across as "No one will ever know so I can do whatever I want to her. She's got it coming to her for what she did to me, muahahaha."
Andi Scherndl
Love those two together :) Amazing chapter
Legacy
He had sage of savagery activated
Vorid
He was really going to just leave her there? Not going to lie, that makes it a little harder to root for him My guess is, this rift is some kind of hard counter for her. And no one knows about Julius’s strength, so they didn’t think anyone would be able to help her even if they got roped in by mistake.
gray matter
So questions, how did it target her, we know she has tons of antiscrying/tracking artifacts. I guessed last chapter light affinity so possible. They shouldn’t be able to be portalled out of the rift, I originally thought maybe if it was a direct line of teleportation they could be pushed through the exit, but it requires you to grant permission, I guess they could be portalled directly to an exit and then leave. Granted them being safe is still speculation and they could’ve all been randomly teleported as well. Following that they shouldn’t be in a new dungeon, maybe just a deeper part of this dungeon? Maybe that’s why it’s always Professor Rowe and not TAs that takes them and that is what makes this dungeon so dangerous is the labyrinth starts at tier 2, but moves to tier 3, making this random teleportation a very viable assassination strategy. Jasper needed Julius to touch the portal and accept the transportation before even he could affect the transportation. Along with that I’m unsure why that’s even speculation since I believe it was Declan who is a graduate of goldencrest and tier 4 captain of the guard who told Julius that a tier 6 scholar had once tried to examine and uncover the secrets of rift space and that they still didn’t understand it, but maybe it’s just wishful thinking in a stressful situation.
Brian
Yeah I remember that but I guess for me it wasn't clear that she removed it, nor did we get a PoV of Julius reacting to it being removed. So overall I feel like that plot line did absolutely nothing.
gray matter
Yes and no he has Sage of Savagery cranked pretty high right now, it dulls his emotions.
RedLeaf
Thanks for the chapter. From Julius' reaction here, it's pretty clear he could benefit from a good counselor. Between his father's abandonment, the loss of his uncle and tutor in that ambush, the Tier 3 troll rift, etc. he's got a lot of emotional damage that needs dealt with.
RedLeaf
It was resolved in chapter 190. "Grace" detected the tracker, but in her POV, decided not to mention it to Amelia.
Zach
It almost feels like a skill problem or a soul problem with him just immediately giving into his emotions. He even has called out multiple times he should not act a certain way or make decisions bc he is mad but then does it immediately anyways. Maybe im crazy but that’s how it feels when he makes those comments
Brian
Am I stupid but what happened to the heat tracking thing he set up? I don't recall that being resolved before we jumped into this arc
Zach
TFTC! - Julius there is no way you are that stupid or cold hearted, like cmon my friend. A wild way to pretend this would not weigh on you or not make you a bad person, especially since it very well could have not been on purpose. Also, ITS TIME FOR THE GAMES TO BEGIN, GOOD LUCK MONSTERS YOULL NEED IT, TIER 3 RIFT FOR BREAKFAST
Pararably
For someone who has had the worst happen to him bc of similar plots on his own family. You would think he would be sympathetic to a similar cause. Feels out of character from the author.
Wellinton Henrique
yeah, after today i decided that i will let the chapters stack for a while. Maybe come here every Friday or something like that, it will be less frustrating haha
Orthneil Kelley Jr.
Thanks fir the chapter!! This cliffhanger hurt... Now he knows her identity, I want her to see his real power and be a part of his little group
Kevin McKinney
The plot thickens. I am very intrigued
apple goose
TFTC!
apple goose
I believe the author should release every two days and release two chapters of the current length as one so more can be expressed. I feel like I'm being shown parts of a movie 30 seconds at a time and while it's an interesting movie I've already eaten all my popcorn and now it's kind of grating
John O'Connor
He’s leaning into evil very easily. I thought he had more character than this.
Connor
I dig the slice of life stuff and as an author myself it gives character depth which is sorely lacking in the books these days. But man this chapter is the pay off and it’s TOTALLY WORTH IT! Finally getting some traction and moving forward feels so good :D Good chapter M8
Nate Slattery
Alright here comes the rest of the plot starting now
Raymond Mouton
Thanks for the chapter. but where I am having a hard time understanding the reason for all of this => but where I am having a hard time understanding is the reason for all of this
Nick Lembcke
Seriously need another chapter today that cliffhanger is killing me
Quentin Cozzi
Thanks for the chapter!
Connor
I know it’s the same time everyday but com’on that was a cliffhanger to end all cliff hangers!
Connor
Finally!
