Chapter 128: The Legend’s Return
Chapter 128: The Legend’s Return
Meanwhile, just a few hundred meters away from the academy, a dashing young man with ash-colored short hair was madly sprinting towards Colzen Academy, it was unknown whether he was feeling anxious or excited as his facial expression changed every few minutes.
Naturally, the young man was Shye, who just got out of the mysterious tomb after a year and a half.
'Crap! Crap! Gods…Goddesses…Please allow me to make it on time for the selection.'
After hearing the deafening cheers coming from Colzen Academy's direction, Shye knew that the representative selection had already started, thus, he was sprinting like crazy while hoping that the deans would still consider adding him to the roster after a year and a half of disappearance.
Earlier, upon arriving at Colzen City, the first thing he did was enter a building which luckily happened to be an inn.
He then immediately asked the manager of the inn what the current date and time was, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief upon confirming that he barely made it back in time.
Realizing that today's date held the possibility of being a representative selection day, Shye had the urge to immediately sprint toward Colzen Academy.
However, something inside him prevented him from doing so while looking utterly disgusting as flies followed him wherever he went, his clothes looking filthy– his hair, crusty.
Thus, he decided to rent a room, take a quick bath, and change into a fresh set of clothes before making a mad dash towards the academy, hoping and praying that he would make it into the roster.
Heck, it was unknown whether the deans would still accept him as a fourth-year student after failing to complete his requirements on time so he could do nothing but hope and pray as he dashed toward the grand stage.
Tears threatened to stream down his cheeks as he saw the familiar Colzen Academy Entrance Arc. However, he understood that this wasn't the time to reminisce.
He could indulge in it as much as he wanted after accomplishing what he needed to do. For now, showing up in the area of the grand stage was more important.
Hence, after a momentary stop in front of the entrance, Shye immediately continued sprinting, this time, towards the grand stage.
"Huff…Huff…"
Shye breathed heavily as he madly darted towards his destination, leaving a trail of dirt and dust swirling in his wake.
***
Meanwhile, on the grand stage, the deans had already finished announcing five of the representatives and as expected, they were:
1. Kiin Wujin
2. Siegfried Lionheart
3. Ian Izanagi
4. Harry Copperfield
5. David Houdini
Naturally, the seventh member was Wendy from Colzen Monastery, thus leaving only one representative spot available.
The four deans and the five representatives couldn't help but inwardly sigh. Though their outward appearances show nothing but pride and confidence, they were inwardly regretting Shye's absence.
Fortunately, one warrior student stepped up in Shye's absence, shocking everyone with her borderline impossible and unexpected achievements.
Starting as the weakest top twenty warrior student when they were freshmen, Shirley Locke was expected to remain above average at best with no one caring about her somewhat mediocre skills in the beginning and the only thing everyone talked about her was her beauty and elegant demeanor.
However, her unexpected growth started when she became a sophomore, her growth rate intensifying after the disappearance of her beloved Shye Crowley.
Currently, although her beauty remained, her innocence and elegant demeanor had long vanished.
In their place was an aura of toughness and savagery, her once slightly innocent and classy disposition replaced by an ice-cold and valiant expression.
The freshmen only knew her as the beautiful, strong, tough, and cold senior Shirley, not knowing that beneath the fearsome exterior was a lonely maiden's heart, longing for her beloved to return.
After a few moments of regret and dejection, Dean Privett forced herself to reorganize her thoughts and carry on with the selection.
"This year, I regret to inform other year-levels that since we are gunning for at least a top 8 finish, we will be selecting another fourth-year student on par with the earlier chosen individuals as the substitute representative."
Hearing the dean's words, the third-year students weren't disappointed at all, in fact, they felt even more excited to watch this year's Adventurer Academy competition even though all of them would be watching from the stands.
Seeing that the other year-levels didn't take her words negatively, she unhesitatingly announced the substitute representative.
"This year's substitute representative! A fourth-year student from the warrior course, Shirley Locke!"
Everyone erupted into wild cheers, especially the freshmen who were mesmerized by Shirley's demeanor and beauty.
In their arrogant and naive minds, since they hadn't seen the so-called legend, Shye Crowley, in action, they believed that he didn't deserve to be this beautiful senior's partner at all.
Hence, most of them thought that Shirley deserved the final spot, which to an extent is true since she worked very hard to get to where she was now.
However, to say so without seeing Shye in action was too naive, though no one could blame them since he disappeared one and a half years ago.
Hearing her name called, Shirley stood up and slowly walked towards the stage.
She wanted to watch her beloved Shye Crowley participate in the adventurer academy competition but unfortunately, since it seemed like he wouldn't be able to get out of the labyrinth on time, then she had no choice but to participate in his place.
Unbeknownst to her, she was about to get the most pleasant of surprises in her entire life as a low-ranking staff member suddenly ran in the direction of the grand stage, seemingly not caring at all about making a scene.
The staff member screamed unintelligible words at the top of his lungs, his facial expression showing nothing but pure excitement.
"DEAN!!! S-S-S-S-S-Shy! S-S-S-S-S-Shy!! Returned!! There!!! Running!!
Haaah…Haaah…"
Everyone's attention including Shirley's, the representatives', and the deans' was captured by this hysterical staff member, their brows furrowed as they felt a bit annoyed by the staff member's interruption, robbing Shirley of her glorious entrance.
With an irked expression plastered on her face, Dean Privett looked coldly at the staff member, however, she gave him a chance to explain.
"Take a few moments and catch your breath then explain."
The staff member felt nervous as everyone waited for him to catch his breath but upon remembering how important the news he bore was, he gradually calmed down.
After a few breaths, the staff member managed to reorganize his thoughts, he then looked at Dean Privett with sparkling eyes and proclaimed with a loud voice:
"Deans! Shye Crowley…Has returned!"