Descending Into A Novel

Chapter 136:Mission Jungler (1)

Thomas raised a hand, "Instructor, what does the word ’jungler’ mean?"

Rudeus let out a hum, rubbing his chin as he contemplated.

"Who knows? The academy simply gave us this mission and it was called this. Ask them if you’re curious about it."

Thomas lowered his hand, satisfied with the answer he received.

Their mission today wasn’t really a mission but more so a field trip for the special class students.

Not just any ordinary jungle of course. But a field trip into the Evergloom Jungle.

The Evergloom Jungle stretched on for nearly three thousand miles, it was one of the main barriers that prevented much of humanity from having full transportation to other cities. Since most logistics had to travel either around or above rather then through. Most city states run by the government or the Families were self sufficient enough, but the biggest and often most important ones heavily relied on imports for important goods.

So, the government and many families would periodically sent in awakened to cut down the outer edges and occasionally thin any wild monsters within. In the hopes that after doing this for long enough. Safe transportation could be achieved.

Their mission was the same, venture around the outskirts of the Evergloom Jungle and thin it down while causing the occasional wildfire here and there.

There was no need to fear burning down the entire jungle when the jungle itself actively fought back at each and every step.

Raymond normally would never have minded a mission like this, he might complain about the bugs and the heat. But it was bearable.

The real problem was the warning he received last week.

On this mission, they were going to be attacked by the Black Legion, and their main target was him.

At least they had Rudeus, Noelle’s instructor who was considered a strong S-rank among S-ranks. Managing to reach the seventh tempering.

It was probably better that it was instructor Rudeus then instructor Sienna. If the Black Legion sent an SS-rank, they would have died just from being caught up in the crossfire alone. The difference between an S-rank and an SS-rank was massive.

Ellen, who was sitting next to him. Quietly whispered in his ear.

"You still have the warning device right?"

This was already the fifth time today she was reminding him.

The warning device was the cube he created back in Mirovia City, which when destroyed. Would send a signal to instructor Sienna.

He pulled it out of his pocket and showed it to her.

"Just checking."

While Raymond and Ellen were whispering to each other. Unbeknownst to them, they also had a third person listening. A certain pair that was sitting right behind them.

’Warning device?’

Lucy narrowed her eyes, Ashfield transmitting information to her through their invisible bond. His ears being the only thing able to pick up what they were whispering about.

Wasn’t this just an ordinary mission? Shy the need for a warning device?

With how Raymond and Ellen knew of the laboratory in Mirovia City, she had to take this situation a lot more seriously then before. It was clear they knew something the rest of them didn’t.

This mission was definitely shaping up to become something more then just a routine clearing.

***

"I hope Erin is doing fine."

"The academy has hired some of the best babysitters and teachers. She’s going to be fine."

Since the two of them were on this mission now. Erin would be left at home alone.

With how young she was, they decided to entrust her to the academy for the duration of their mission. Trusting the academy would take care of her.

The academy had assured them repeatedly that she would be fine, but even so. Raymond felt extremely worried for her. What if she mistakenly injured someone?

Ellen felt her mouth turn dry at his words.

There’s a bigger issue to worry about first!

She too felt worried for Erin, but in terms of seriousness. Raymond being attacked by the Black Legion was much more important then Erin not being able to adjust to new caretakers! They were aiming for his life!

Yet said person was more worried about Erin then their own personal safety.

It reminded Ellen of the time when she formed her core. In terms of importance, Raymond’s life was obviously more important then her forming a stronger core. Yet Raymond chose to risk his own health just to help her. Entering a coma because of her own selfishness.

For a mage, his core was practically his life. But he risked his own core for her without any hesitation whatsoever.

It really put a foul taste in her mouth, why? She wasn’t exactly sure yet.

She stuck a hand out, flicking him on the forehead. With her strength, it was significant enough to actually hurt.

He glared at her, clutching his forehead.

"What was that for?"

"Worry about yourself first."

The Black Legion was a significant demonic organization, it wasn’t weak at all. In the previous timeline however, it was the first to be wiped out.

As the name implied, they thought of themselves as an army unit for the demons. Consisting entirely of battle maniacs whose desire for fighting had only been amplified even more by the demonic energy.

When the third Human-Demon war was kickstarted with the death of Sienna. The Black Legion almost immediately launched a massive attack, going all-out at the start.

Naturally, in a war that lasted for nearly two decades. Going all-out at the start was a surefire way to burn out and crash, and crash they did.

She sighed, picking up her Kairos bow.

"I’m gonna head to the training carriage. You wanna follow?"

"Sure."

Rather then bring anything needed for training however, Raymond instead brought along a note book and several colour pencils.

It felt like every few months, Ellen would learn something new about him.

Despite living together for four years in the Grace estate, she still didn’t know much about him.

She had learned about his past from when he woke up, and she had learned several odd tidbits of his life here and there. Like the fact that he knew how to play several instruments, and that he was very proficient in several types of arts such as painting and drawing.

It also explained how he knew a lot about noble etiquette, he was a prince himself! A real genuine prince of an empire rather then her and the Families being pretend ’nobles’.

She also couldn’t believe that Raymond had girlfriends before! Raymond Vance, or Rayleigh managed to find other women who were interested in him!

Granted, he was probably quite different from how he was now, and he could be annoyingly charming or nice when he wanted to (the academy male looks ranking was proof enough). But his current default state was almost always a mess!

He was lazy, about as active as a sleeping sloth on a good day. Only ever came to class when he felt like it. Only ever listened to her when he felt like it.

How someone like this managed to get into multiple relationships was a mystery still.

And finally, Ellen could tell Raymond was still hiding a lot from her.

His story made sense sure, but Ellen was someone with years of experience of seeing through people. She didn’t need any of Killian’s Arts to see Raymond was hiding something from her.

The story of his past had a massive gap in it, he had hesitated a bit once he reached a certain part and continued off elsewhere.

He also still hid many parts of his travels across dimensions. Mainly brushing it off by saying they were boring.

And most infuriatingly of all, he refused to tell her anything but the bare minimum for the novel he wrote about them.

All she knew was that Zachary was the main character, that he cut out a lot of the parts he considered boring and that he made several changes in order to make the novel more interesting according to him.

When questioned about any of the changes however, he would shut his lips tighter then an oyster. Making it impossible to know more, and she could always use her authority but she didn’t want to abuse it on Raymond.

But Ellen knew he definitely changed something important!

This was practically announcing that he was guilty of something after all! If he wasn’t guilty then he wouldn’t have kept his mouth shut!

If someone who peed themselves was asked did they pee themselves, even if they didn’t reply. The evidence was still there!

Perhaps this analogy wasn’t the best to explain. But Ellen knew!!

Raymond looked up at her, feeling her intense gaze on him while he quietly worked on whatever it was he decided on that day.

Puzzled, he asked. "Did I do something wrong? Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"I’ll find out one day."

"...what?"

Her ominous message left him no room to even think.