The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 52. Mission starts

Chapter 52: 52. Mission starts

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If anyone feel the pacing is off or the quality drops, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I’ll do my best to make improvements.

Thanks!

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Both Leo and Erin were sitting on the floor, breathing hard after their sparring match ended. Sweat dripped down their faces, and their clothes were damp.

Neither had won, but it was clear neither of them had held back much. Leo leaned back on the stone wall, glancing at Erin.

"You know," he started, his voice a little strained but calm, "your skills are impressive, better than most. But they don’t seem like the skills of an academy entrance exam topper." He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why were you holding back?"

Erin chuckled, wiping some sweat from her forehead. "Me? Holding back?" She nodded toward his wrist bracelets with a playful grin. "What about you? You weren’t exactly going all out either."

Leo glanced at the heavy white bracelets he wore and let out a short laugh. Without a word, he unfastened them and tossed them aside. They hit the ground with a solid thud, and the sound echoed in the quiet gym.

They were gravion bracelets—training weights designed by Torgrim that increased resistance. He flexed his wrists, already feeling lighter.

Erin’s smile widened slightly. "If you’re serious now, I guess I won’t hold back either."

A pause followed, the air quiet except for their steady breaths. Finally, Leo broke the silence. "Erin, you’re strong, one of the strongest in the academy. And you’re close to the Princess. So why didn’t you take the Gold Leader position from Darius? You could’ve helped Thalia win this election easily."

Erin stood up slowly, brushing off her pants. She looked at Leo with a small smile, her violet eyes gleaming with something thoughtful. "I could’ve," she admitted, her tone light but firm. "But I don’t want to be involved in politics or power."

She started walking toward the gym’s exit, her voice calm but certain. "It’s like your brother, Lucian, isn’t it? I don’t have any real desire for power. But I just like watching things happen—the drama, the chaos. It’s fascinating."

Leo tilted his head, watching her closely. "So that’s why you joined the student council early? Without being a leader?"

She turned to look at him over her shoulder, her smile widening. "Exactly. Being in the council without the burden of leadership—it’s the best seat in the house to watch everything unfold."

Leo stood up, his gaze following her. "Still," he said slowly, his tone thoughtful. "You’re different. Suspiciously different." His crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he added, "You remind me of someone I know."

Erin stopped in the doorway and glanced back at him with a playful smile. "Maybe," she replied, her tone teasing. She took a step forward but turned back again. "Oh, and one more thing, Professor Avoor wants to see you in his office tomorrow."

Leo sighed, running a hand through his red hair. "Great. What headache do I have waiting for me this time?"

______

Leo sat across from Orange haired Professor Avoor in the quiet staffroom, his crimson eyes showing a mix of annoyance and uncertainty. The professor’s desk was cluttered with papers and documents, yet Avoor seemed perfectly relaxed in his chair.

"So, you’re serious about this?" Leo asked, his tone uncertain. "You actually want me to babysit some first-year students on a monster hunt? Is that what you’re saying?"

"Yes, Leonhardt," Avoor replied with a calm smile. "Not asking, Leonhardt. Telling. You’re doing it. It’s tradition for seniors to guide first-year groups on these exercises every year."

Leo frowned, leaning back in his chair. "But why me? Can’t you ask someone from Gold or Silver? Or even one of the third-years?"

The orange haired professor shook his head. "The one volunteer we had fell sick, and no one else has come forward. And that, Leonhardt, is where you come in.

Leo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Still doesn’t explain why I’m the one you chose."

Avoor leaned forward slightly, his tone dropping into something sharper. "Do you know what your credits are, Leonhardt?" The question struck like a blunt weapon, the kind that didn’t leave room for avoidance.

Leo sighed deeply, his annoyance clear. He couldn’t deny it—Leonhardt’s credits were embarrassingly low in physical tests, even though he’s strong now, it takes time to reclaim the credits.

"If you want your credits to improve," Avoor continued, "this is a good chance for you to earn some. Volunteering for the monster hunt will help your record."

Leo stayed quiet, clearly not thrilled. Just as he was weighing his options, a faint chime echoed in his mind. A glowing text box appeared before his eyes:

[Alert!]

[It’s advised to take up this mission, Reo Carter.]

Leo’s eyes narrowed, the text pulling his attention instantly. He remembered the Goddess words: Follow the missions Elynn shows you, and they’ll lead you to your path. This wasn’t just about credits. It felt like there was more to this mission than the professor was saying.

"Leonhardt?" Avoor asked, his tone calm but expectant.

Leo leaned forward, his irritation giving way to focus. "Fine," he said, his voice steady. "I’ll do it."

The professor smiled, clearly satisfied. "Good. You will meet your group tomorrow morning in the courtyard. They’ll be under your care. Make sure they’re ready."

As Leo left the staffroom, his thoughts raced. Elynn’s message had changed everything. This wasn’t just about guiding some students—it felt like something bigger was waiting for him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this hunt would be far more than a routine exercise.

____

In The forest near the academy, two people stood in the moonlight, dressed in white cloaks with plain masks covering their faces.

They glanced around as they were waiting for someone. The only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind—until footsteps broke through the silence.

Both cloaked figures snapped to attention, turning quickly toward the noise. A third person appeared out of the darkness, completely covered in a black hooded cloak. His face was hidden. He moved smoothly, stopping just a few steps away.

"How are the preparations?" the dark figure asked, his voice low and cold.

One of the white-cloaked people stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Almost finished, Lord," he replied. "We just need something that belongs to the target."

The dark figure reached into their cloak and pulled out a small glass vial and tossed it toward the white-cloaked man, who caught it easily. He held it up to the moonlight, where the faint glow revealed its contents—a strand of red hair.

The man nodded, looking at the hair. "This will work."

The black-cloaked figure stepped closer, their presence heavy and commanding. "The target will enter the forest tomorrow as we planned. Start the ritual as soon as they step inside."

"Yes, sir," the second white-cloaked person replied, bowing.

"What about the sacrifices?" the dark figure asked, their voice sharp.

"They’re in place, ready," the first man answered.

The dark figure chuckled—a low, chilling sound that echoed softly through the trees. "Good. This ruler’s prophecy ends now. He can’t get into our ways, our deity ways."

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