Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 496: Obsessions [2]



House of Myron.

"Are you saying that communication has been cut?"

Aoife's face tightened as she stared at the Professor before her. The Professor's expression mirrored her own, equally grim as he scrutinized the communication device in his grasp.

After a while, he retrieved another communication device.

Aoife recognized the communication device and pursed her lips. The model he had was a lot more powerful and had a harder time getting disrupted by spells.

But...

"It's not working."

Just like the first device, it also didn't work.

The expression of the Professor turned even gloomier.

"Looking at how both devices are not working, it's likely that someone is interfering with the signal. I wouldn't have been worried if they were only capable of blocking the first device, but to even block the second? I'm afraid the situation is more serious than I anticipated."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The Professor was quick with his actions.

"Aoife, get all the cadets here in the next hour or so. Report to me if anyone is missing in the meantime. I will now try to get in contact with those of the Myron family. I'll delegate authority to you for now."

"Understood."

As Aoife took over, she started nibbling on her lips.

'I don't like where this is going. Especially since Julien is missing, whenever he goes missing things start to warp. I need to keep control of the situation before its too late.'

Flicking her head towards Kiera and the others, she started to bark orders.

"You heard the Professors. Help me out for now and get all the cadets here. Look in each room twice. If there's anyone missing report it to me."

Having said all she needed to, Aoife turned and left, leaving the others speechless as Kiera looked especially annoyed, 'This bitch, since when did I become your dog?'

Despite her grumbles, Kiera got to work, alongside the others.

Staring at the others, Leon also left the hall and started to look for the cadets. As he stepped into the hallway, an owl suddenly appeared before him, its eyes gleaming under the dim light.

Owl-Mighty hopped onto Leon's shoulder.

"I thought you left. Did Julien send you back?"

Leon turned his head and looked at the Owl. Following his message about Julien's situation, the Owl had directly left. Leon thought it had gone back to Julien but seeing it here again, something must've happened.

"No, it's not about Julien. It's something else."

"As in?"

Owl-Mighty fixed its gaze on Leon's right pocket.

"Take it out."

"...What?"

Confused, Leon tilted his head but the Owl's gaze never budged from his pocket.

Seeing the grim look in the owl's eyes, Leon reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar

red leaf. The Owl's expression fell at the sight of the leaf.

Leon noticed the changes in the Owl rather quickly and his body tensed.

"What happened? What-!"

Squelch~ Squelch~

Sensing something, Leon's head flicked down to see root latch onto his foot. His expression changed dramatically just as the owl's voice echoed in his ears.

"When did it...!?"

"I don't know when, but we've been caught by it."

"Caught by...?"

Rustle~ Rustle~

As a rustling sound filled Leon's ears, he felt the root latched onto his foot get pulled away by

a mass of intertwining roots. The sensation was abrupt, and his heart raced as the owl's voice continued to echo around him.

"Me."

When Leon turned around, his face tensed as he saw a large tree appear right behind him. "...You've been caught by my main body. Everything that you're seeing. Its most likely an illusion."

***

Tak-

Breaking me from my sleep was a small tug that came from my lower leg. As my eyes snapped open, I noticed that a new thread had appeared.

'Ah, shi-!'

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"Uh!?"

I almost jumped back when I noticed a face appear near mine.

"Hey, calm down. I'm not going to bite you."

It was the not-so-old man.

Deng~

He tapped the thread on my leg and watched it oscillate.

"As you can see, you're still here. I didn't lie to you. The box works."

"...Yes."

But my body felt heavier than the previous day.

Not only that, but my mind also felt a little foggy. As though I didn't feel like getting up.

"Hmm, I'm surprised you're the only one who woke up."

As the old man looked beside me, I also noticed Caius and Kaelion. Covered in bed sheets, the two were sleeping with frowns on their faces.

"Well, I'll let them sleeping for a bit more. It'll be a rough day for the tee of you."

Looking at the old man who bent down and rummaged through whatever he had under the

bed, I suddenly had a question.

"Why are you helping us?"

"Helping you?"

The old man took out several unopened cans.

They looked to be quite old.

"Well, you can say that I'm helping you."

He stood up and stretched his back.

"But it's not lwike I'm helping you for any noble reason. You can say I'm doing this for myself

too."

"For yourself?"

"It's been quite lonely these past few days."

"....So you're doing this because you were lonely?"

"Haha."

The old man laughed and reached for a can opener.

"It isn't that simple. I'm also doing this because I might be able to finding the one

responsible for all of this with you help."

My brows shot up in surprise.

"You have a lead?"

"...For a while now."

"But..."

"I can't do it by myself. That's why helping you."

"Ah."

It all made more sense to me as an acidic smell suddenly filled the air, prompting my brows to

furrow.

When I looked at the cans, I immediately reached out.

"Actually, about the food..."

I waved my hand and displayed several fresher cans, alongside several species and herbs.

"Wha-!"

This was the first time I saw the old man look surprised and I felt somewhat proud by the fact.

"How did you do that?"

"...It's a secret."

"Tsk."

The old man clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"I don't like people who keep secrets. It reminds me too much of the slippery roa-bugs from

the other houses."

"Uh? What's that...?"

I brought my hand to my ear.

"It looks like you don't want the food. Well, that's alright. I guess we'll stick with what you've

brought."

The old man's mouth wiggled.

"...On second thought, those bugs were more annoying."

"More? Are you saying that I'm annoying?"

"Haa."

The old man forced a smile that wavered between joy and sorrow, his face as scrunched up as I

had ever seen it.

"...Not at all."

I held my laugh back.

"You don't look sincere."

"You're pushing too much."

"For?"

I opened the can and started smelling the contents.

"Huaa."

It smelled a lot better than whatever he had.

Gurgle~

And as expected, even his stomach thought so.

"You..."

The old man wiped the corner of his mouth as I took out a spoon and prepared to add the salt.

"Are you some sort of demon?"

"No, why would I be? You're the one who-"

"Ark, fine!"

The old man cursed while holding his stomach.

"You aren't annoying. You're the most un-annoying guy I've ever meeting. Are you happy?"

"I guess."

I thought about teasing the old man more but I just held myself back. Who knew what he would do if I pushed him too much?

But even so, who would've thought there'd be such a weird side to this lunatic?

"Since you're being so honest, I guess I don't mind sha-"

"Stop for a second."

A hand suddenly reached out from behind me, stopping me from handing the can to the old

man who sharply raised his head to look at Kaelion.

Ignoring the old man's gaze, Kaelion looked at me.

"Give me your food."

"Uh? Why...?" "I'm cooking." "You are? But this is-" "No."

Kaelion looked serious.

"Wh-"

"No."

He snatched the salt from my hand and gave it to Caius who took it without making a single

noise.

"The hell?'

Kaelion then looked at the old man.

"We just saved your life."

"Eh?"

Without elaborating, Kaelion snatched the ingredients from my hand and extended his free

hand.

"Do you have a pan?"

"I do..."

"Give it."

"I..."

After seeing his stare, I could only quietly purse my lips and hand him a pan. As I did, the old

man appeared next to me while mumbling, 'Is that a relic? How did you do it...?'

I didn't say anything and just waited for Kaelion to finish cooking. Thankfully, we didn't have

to wait for long and he presented each of us a bowl of food. I wanted to say it was bland, but

when I turned my head to see the old man's expression, I decided to close my mouth.

"This... This..."

Taking another spoonful, the old man covered his face.

"...How can something be this good?"

He looked really happy with his meal.

I tried again but the taste never changed.

'It's still bland.'

"Buurp-!"

To mark the end of his meal, the old man burped out loud and I winced slightly. The smell. It

was awful.

"...It's been a while since I last eaten something so good."

Rubbing the top of his mouth, the old man stretched his back and turned his attention

towards us. A smile suddenly surfaced across his lips.

It was a creepy smile that made my stomach churn.

"Now then..."

His heavy hand fell on my head.

"...It's time we continue what you guys did yesterday."

"Ah."

My consciousness faded right after that and I appeared before a familiar cave.

"...I'm back here again."

Looking around, I saw the same two books as before. I cursed inwardly, moving towards

them. After a moment of hesitation, I decided to grab the blue book instead.

'No pain, right?'

I wanted to try this.

Growl~

In the distance, the monster's growl echoed.

"Yeah, yeah."

I waved my hand and opened the blue book. I wanted to see what the difference between the

two books.

...And I immediately notice the differences upon opening the book.

Unlike the red book, I felt no pain upon opening this one. In fact, I felt completely fine, which

was odd. However, if there was one thing to note, it was that the strength increase was a lot

slower.

The pages also felt heavier and they were much harder to turn.

No, it was more than just slow. "This is beyond slow.'

I couldn't afford to waste time like this.

Therefore, after a little bit of thought, I tossed the blue book and grabbed the red book.

Mastering this was going to be a lot easier and faster for me.

This was my specialty, after all.

And so...

"Uakh-!"

I endured pain, unlike anything I had ever felt before.

"It hurts!"

I screamed.

"Ahhh!"

I thrashed.

"Khhh-! Arkhh!"

And I endured.

All for the hope of reading all the pages of the red book.

So long as I read them all, I'd be able to beat the monster and be done with this trial.