No miracle occurred. His feeble cries for help were swiftly drowned out by the monsters’ guttural, rasping shrieks.
Charlotte raised his knight’s longsword, but his pale little hands trembled uncontrollably. Anyone watching would’ve wondered if the blade might slip from his grip any second.
He swung the oversized sword wildly, eyes squeezed shut, mouth gaping in wordless shouts.
Yet the Deep Diver fish-men kept their distance. They merely held their hooked war spears loosely, watching the flailing boy with the pitying gaze one might give a fool.
If his teammates were here, they’d likely avoid him entirely. His reckless, blind swings could easily kill anyone nearby.
His teammates would die first.
But unfortunately, they weren’t here. Somewhere in the town, a shadowy figure dashed about in confusion.
*“Wasn’t he heading to the docks? Did he get lost?”*
Lin Zhong stopped and scanned his surroundings. The boy who’d been beside him had vanished. Only Lin remained. And this place…
*“So familiar. Where is this?”*
He scratched his head, staring at the small wooden cabin ahead—the broken door, the dead fish-man lying beneath it—as he strained to remember.
*“Forget it. Docks first.”*
He abandoned the thought and turned toward what he believed was the dock direction.
It was the very path he’d just run from—the exact opposite route he and Charlotte had taken.
As he stepped forward, a hand landed on his shoulder. Lin Zhong whirled around, thrusting his Snowfall Thousand Chills war spear instinctively.
*“The port isn’t that way.”*
A clear, melodic female voice spoke in French. A figure in a black robe stood behind him—but her height didn’t match the monsters he’d expected.
His spear thrust missed.
*“An NPC?”*
The robed woman didn’t answer. She withdrew her hand from his shoulder and pointed at a signpost behind him.
*“Turn left there, then go straight. That’s the docks.”*
*“Oh.”*
Lin Zhong lowered his spear, nodded, and sprinted off in the direction she’d indicated.
Once he disappeared from view, the woman removed her hood. Beneath it lay a stunningly beautiful face framed by golden hair—a flawless young lady. She wore the same girls’ academy uniform as Su Han.
Any student from Fool’s Academy would’ve gasped. This was their Student Council President, Aester.
*“I came to the right place after all.”*
Aester smiled faintly. She could still feel that icy chill hovering over her head—the lethal threat to her life.
She glanced at the dead fish-man under the cabin. *If I’d been its height… I’d be dead.*
Lin Zhong’s strength defied all rumors. The so-called “hopeless trash” everyone despised clearly hid terrifying power. Aester, who’d secretly followed him into this dungeon instance after spotting his sudden leap from the school, was stunned.
*“But… he won’t get lost again, will he?”*
She pulled her hood back up and chased after him. She’d been tailing him the whole time—she’d seen him ignore the signpost and head the wrong way.
She was right. She caught up just as he turned right at the sign.
*“Wait!!!!”*
Her shout stopped him mid-step. It was the same robed woman.
Aester doubled over, hands on her knees, gasping. Relief washed over her when she saw him turn back instead of walking away.
*“Straight ahead! Go straight—don’t turn!!!”*
She jabbed a finger toward the docks.
*“Isn’t it left?”*
Lin Zhong pointed at the right path beneath the sign.
*“That’s RIGHT!!!”*
Aester nearly despaired. *Did he get into Fool’s Academy because he’s directionally challenged?* The school was a haven for problem students, but admission required either combat skill or… some talent.
If “getting lost” counted as talent, the academy was doomed.
*Super High School Level Directionally Challenged.* The title fit Lin Zhong perfectly. She now wondered how he ever found his classroom—let alone the school.
*“Oh.”*
Lin Zhong gave a simple reply and ran off in the direction she’d pointed.
*“STRAIGHT! NO TURNS!!”*
Aester’s voice grew hoarse. She prayed he’d remember. But doubting his sense of direction, she followed again.
To her relief, he didn’t stray this time. He marched straight down the path without veering.
The road was short. No anime-style light glowed at the end—just the docks, clearly visible ahead.
Seeing them kept him from turning. Otherwise, he might’ve looped back to the cabin.
Aester slowed her pace, finally relaxing.
At the road’s end, Lin Zhong spotted the gathered Deep Divers—and the ‘girl’ wildly swinging a longsword.
He pulled off his rain-soaked hood. Dazzling silver hair spilled into Aester’s view.
*‘Silver hair?’*
Rumors about Lin Zhong’s appearance at Fool’s Academy were endless—but all painted him as hideous. They claimed he hid his face out of shame.
Aester had heard every version. None mentioned silver hair. She hadn’t seen his face yet.
But anyone with such beautiful hair couldn’t possibly be ugly.
*“Head down!”*
