Transmigrated as the Novel's Final Boss
Chapter 142:Exploration [3]

Chapter 142: Chapter 142:Exploration [3]

Then, flipping the bottle around and allowing a portion of it to drip out onto the stone path through the area, Zeke pointed at the puddle below him.

"Do you really want steaming hot tea in this heat?"

Sighing and standing up, I responded.

"I mistook it for something else."

"For what?"

"Let’s go to that place you so desperately wanted to show me."

Watching me walk by him and onto the wooden bridge, Zeke muttered.

"You know, you really need to drop that mysterious guy act. You’re not even a damn royal."

"It’s not an act."

"...I truly feel bad for you."

"What? Do you think that makes me disabled or something!?"

Pausing atop the highest point of the arch bridge, I paused and placed my hands on the wooden railing, staring down at the fish.

In the background, the discussion of Coal’s group, Evangel, Charlotte, Mira, and Sage, echoed, forcing me to listen.

Rubbing my eyes, I turned around as Zeke caught up to me and asked.

"You feeling unlucky?"

Standing next to me and also looking down at the river below us, he answered.

"Well, first off, I’m spending the day with you, and my favorite place has been ruined. So, yeah, Jett, I would say I’m feeling pretty unlucky."

Pointing backward at the looming red shrine, I responded.

"Off to the ring bell we go, then!"

Ignoring Zeke’s surprise, I crossed the bridge, and instead of passing by our fellow Glaive students and heading back toward the curtains, I took a right, heading deeper into the garden.

Cherry blossom leaves lay on the stone path to the shrine, being trampled by my feet within seconds, and the sun was completely blocked off by the trees, casting a solemn mood.

I felt lucky...I mean, I had gotten a magical artifact, a future reward from Glaivve Academy, and an extra credit point for a trip I wasn’t even supposed to go on.

Yet, for some reason, I felt compelled to ring the bell, perhaps just for a bit more luck.

As Zeke caught up behind me, I curiously asked.

"Have you ever rung the bell before?"

Looking at me confusedly, Zeke tilted his head and sarcastically said.

"Why would I?"

Holding in a laugh, I grinned and answered for him.

"Yeah, you have money, status, and a great friend like me. Why would you ever need that bell!?"

Ascending the staircase and walking onto the shrine, feeling the soft bambo floor below my socks, I approached the bucket under the bell.

I, of course, didn’t have many, so I turned around to face Zeke.

Yet, to my dismay, he simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Hm?"

As I reached deeper and deeper into my pocket, a rough fabric suddenly scratched against one of my fingers, so I instantly grasped it.

When I pulled it out, my excited expression immediately disappeared when a dirty and bloody bandage came into sight.

It was the one I had used prior to my fight at the portal.

"*PFFT* a-are you r-really g-"

Ignoring the sounds of laughter behind me, I dropped the bandage into the bucket, watching it descend like a cherry blossom petal from its tree until it disappeared.

Then, placing both my hands on the rugged surface of the rope, I tugged it downward while staring upward

*Ring~ring*

*Ring~ring*

A sound, similar to that of the Glaive Academy bell, echoed throughout the garden for a moment before disapearing.

It was disapointingly quiet, only being heard by Zeke and I.

I didn’t feel any different from earlier...

Turning around, I was immediately faced with Zeke, who gazed at me with a smug expression.

"Well, was it worth it?"

Ignoring his jab, I answered.

"Your turn."

Shrugging his shoulders and standing before the bucket, Zeke muttered.

"If you say so."

When he reached into his pocket, his hand emerged with a small purple cloth, the size of a handkerchief.

Throwing it into the bucket, Zeke didn’t wait until his handkerchief hit the bottom and immediately tugged the rope downward.

*Ring~ring*

*Ring~ring*

Wiping the dust off the rope from his hands, Zeke joined me...looking weird?

His eyebrows were raised, and he gazed downward at his palms, not paying any attention to his surroundings.

"...what?"

Completely ignoring me, Zeke remained in whatever world he was, prompting me to shake his shoulders.

Like a human snapping out of a coma, Zeke immediately jumped upward and confusedly scratched his head.

"Huh...what? Where am I!? Who are you!? W-"

Shaking my head, I ignored his mutterings and said.

"Drop the act, buddy."

Grabbing his shoulder and dragging him down from the shrine, I strolled back toward the curtains; however, Zeke just didn’t give up.

"Where am I!? Sir, are you kidnapping me...? Where’s my dad!?"

Turning around and whispering into his ear, I threatened.

"I’m going to drop you onto Charlotte if you don’t stop."

"Who is Charlotte!? Who are you!?"

Despite my words, Zeke persisted, looking around the garden like a lost and confused child.

At this point, I was even shocked and somewhat confused.

Would Zeke really go this far to make believe his act...? Surely, he had some dignity as a royal, right?

Had the shrine truly done something to him!?

As the two of us passed the bridge and neared Coal’s group and the girls, Mira’s hesitant voice suddenly entered my ears.

"So...did anyone get, you know...the drop from killing Fenrir?"

"..."

Pure silence followed as Mira brought up the topic that no one had dared speak about.

Of course, she immediately waved her arms up and down and continued.

"I’m not saying you have to give it to anyone...it’s all yours. I...just want to see and observe a magical artifact in person."

"..."

As silence enveloped the area, the students looked around at each other with confused expressions, but no one stepped forward, resulting in an awkward atmosphere.

Letting out a dry cough, Coal eventually spoke.

"Maybe...the drop got lost in all the rubble from the cliffside falling?"