Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 58: Change in Emma

Noticing Emma, Isabella walks to her, after her brief talk with Adrian and Aric.

"Hey, Emma." she approached, pretending to be happy.

"Isabella, how did you finish this fast?"

Hearing Emma's question Isabella raised one of her eyebrows. She glared at Emma.

"What? Are you questioning my ability right now Emma?"

Seeing that her question could be wrong, she shook her head and corrected herself.

"No, I know that you are strong. I just wanted wanted to know how you came here thus fast."

Isabella stared at it for a few seconds and then answered her.

"As much as I do not like it, it was Lucas who helped us come here this fast," Isabella said, her expression was like she ate something bitter when she said Lucas's name.

Emma was also in shock after hearing Lucas's name. She knows him, after all at Crew Hall besides Evleyn and Lyra he also helps her and Adrian against Tony and Second-year student.

He also is one of her crew members after he joined Trevling Crew.

He was also in an incident that took place in the 'Artefact Room' at Eldiria.

Wait a minute, Lucas's name always comes up nowadays.

"So you are saying it was not Evelyn but Lucas who helped you to reach here faster?"

Isabella sighed after she heard Emma's words.

"Yes, you are right."

"I see." she closed her eyes opened them again and started to walk in Lucas's direction.

"...Emma?"

She didn't respond to Isabella's call. Ignoring her completely, she left her standing there.

First, it was Aric whom she lost and that was a humiliation she felt and now some unknown guy suddenly came up and beat her in this.

If she lost against Evelyn who is also an Archer, whom she thought of as a rival and friend since [ Union Academy ].

She didn't feel anything about it. But Lucas suddenly came and picked a Bow and sword on the first day of Nova Academy like a joke.

She thought he was an idiot for choosing something Two weapons at the same time. Since everyone knows that you should master your first Profession and then practice some weapons.

There are Some people pick two weapons at the same time but Lucas is not in that category.

She does not hate Lucas at all she is thankful to him when he helps her but this is different from that.

And so with that thought, she reached where Lucas and Evelyn were.

***

Evelyn stood beside me as I sat on the ground, it's been like Five minutes since we were alone here.

Sunny is talking with Noah at a distance from us, he left after one minute's rest. Living me here in this awkward silence with Evelyn.

After what felt like an eternity Evelyn breaks this awkward silence.

"How did you manage to avoid all these traps set in the Lybraith dungeon?"

I said after a few seconds "I told you already I have good eyes."

She scoffed at my answer. "Come on Lucas no one going to buy that kind of excuse."

Well, she is right no one going to buy this kind of excuse, but does it matter to me?

The answer is, No.

It does not matter if they don't want to believe in my excuse. Why would I let someone else know about my skill?

I'm not an idiot. In this world ever told if anyone else knows about your skill you might get at a disadvantage if someday you have to fight against that person.

Like for example if the enemy about Adrian's [Bloodlust] skill which he is only able to use for two minutes after that time is over, Eighty per cent of his mana is sucked out of his body, living him vulnerable stat.

And if the enbeforehandhand knew about this all he had to do was not come anywhere near Adrian at that time.

After those two minutes are over Adrian is a free meal for the enemy.

So that's why not all people want to tell others about their skills.

After thinking about all of that I decided, not to tell Evelyn about my skill name.

"It's a skill I got from Nova Academy, there happy now?"

I just told her I got a new skill, that's all.

She smirks at my answer. "Ha, I know that."

This bit- whoa there came down Lucas, let's not use any curses today, okay?

"Then you should not asked about it."

"I asked because it's fun to see your expression."

A tic mark appeared on my head, My smile grew into a thin line. As barely control myself to not lunge at her.

She always replaces ways to make my Blood pressure high.

I sigh at this.

"Whatever." after that, I turn my head in a different direction.

We were silent after that as we just stared ahead.

In about five minutes, another team arrived. I wasn't surprised with who it was. Archer generally had good eyes.

It was Emma and Elera. And one male and one female student. To tell you the truth I forgot about those student names.

But can you blame me? I have to remember all of these details, there's to mistake at some point.

And this is one of those point, but I know that you will know their name in future.

Well, I hope so...

"It's Emma."

Seeing Emma's silhouette from the darkness, Isabella approached, pretending to be happy.

For some reason, Emma was covered in dust. It seemed she fell into a trap.

They talked for a bit but the distance between us was long so I could not hear what they were saying to each other.

Then suddenly Emma turned her head in my direction, glaring at me.

"Lucas, why the hell Emma is glaring at you?"

Evelyn from my side asked me, confused at Emma's behaviour.

I shook my head, I also don't know why is she glaring at me.

"I don't know either."

"Don't lie and tell me what did you do this time?"

"I am telling the truth, don't you believe in me?"

I asked her but her face told me the answer already.

"No, I do not believe you."

Oh, Well that's hurt now I tell you. Well, what do I expect from her?

"Whatever," I said and toward Emaa's direction.

Walking towards my direction, she rested her eyes on me and paused. Her cold eyes seemed to pierce through me.

"...Emma?"

"Oh Hii, Emma."

She didn't respond to Isabella's call and Evlyn's greeting. Ignoring them completely, Emma marched towards me and asked suddenly.

"What was your time?"

"What time?" I asked her instead clearly confused by the sudden question.

"your team finishing time.

It was a short question. I gave back a short reply.

"...50 minutes."

Emma clenched her teeth.

Then sudden answer thought came into my head.

Archer often acted as a team's pathreplaceer. Emma rightfully knows that I guided my team.

Must be Isabella told her now.

"Looks like even you have something you're good for."

It was a clear provocation. I hesitated to reply. Should I strike back?

I did have a good reason to do so.

The novel's antagonists had become stronger, so it was necessary for our side... though the current Emma might not be on my side... Anyway, it was necessary for the leading characters to also get stronger.

To do that, Emma needed to quickly become stronger. In this world, her potential is very large. Her potential is ‹SS-› rank But after I met with Evelyn whose also

potential is ‹SS-› rank. Things kind of mixed up.

But it's good we have more upcoming heroes with higher potential.

"...I guess you're right."

But I still didn't replace the need to respond to her provocation.

Between negative motivation and positive motivation, Emma was more affected by the former according to my setting. By this time she must trained very hard for not to be defeated again by Aric or others

However, the agent of the motivation was important. Some like me provoking her most likely wouldn't have much meaning.

Now wasn't the time. Furthermore, I was confident that it wouldn't be long until I surpassed Emma and Evelyn in archery.

I just had to wait until then.

"Hmph."

She seemed bored by my retreat, as she returned with a snort.

I shook my head.

At that moment, my eyes met Isabella. For some reason, her eyes carried a slight hint of interest that hadn't existed before.

"Hmph."

...But soon, she walked away with the same disdainful snort as Emma.

My head turned after Evelyn who was watching all of this from my side.

"I told you, didn't I? I don't do anything to provoke Emma."

Evelyn's face flushed as she started to avoid my eyes.

"I'm so sorry, I should not jump to conclusion without proof.

She hangs her head downstairs and mutters an apology for it.

I just checked at her sudden change of behaviour.

Finally, it's come to an end. I mean Lybraith dungeon.