Absolute Cheater - Chapter 495
Chapter 495: Leaving
As soon as the instructor left, the hall grew quiet again.
Asher looked at the five of them—still holding their documents, still trying to process everything that had just happened.
“Okay then,” he said, breaking the silence, “now that you’re officially part of Averin Academy…”
They straightened instinctively.
He continued calmly:
“I’m going on a short trip.”
All five of them blinked at once.
“A trip?” Maxwell asked.
“Where?” Sophia added.
“Why now?” Amanda muttered.
Asher lifted a hand, stopping all questions.
“It won’t take long. A few days at most. You’ll be fine—you’re in the academy now, and you’ll have your own schedules to follow soon.”
Lia nodded slowly, trying to look composed.
Sylens stayed quiet, but his eyes sharpened, already preparing himself.
Asher then reached into his cloak.
A faint shimmer of light appeared.
Five small objects materialized in his hand—each glowing softly with a pale red hue.
He held his hand out.
“Here,” Asher said. “Rewards for today.”
The cousins leaned forward, eyes widening.
“These are personal focus seals,” he explained. “They’ll help your training until I return. Use them before meditation, combat drills, or when practicing your techniques. They’ll make your progress faster.”
Maxwell’s jaw dropped.
Amanda’s fingers twitched with excitement.
Sophia nearly squeaked.
Lia covered her mouth.
Sylens accepted his with quiet respect.
Asher placed one seal into each of their palms.
The moment they touched the metal, a warm pulse of energy wrapped around their hands—gentle but powerful.
“You earned these,” Asher said softly. “All of you.”
They stared at him, surprised by the seriousness in his tone.
He stepped back, folding his cloak over his shoulder.
“While I’m gone, review the academy rules, read the manuals, and rest. No wandering off. No trying anything stupid.”
Maxwell opened his mouth.
Asher pointed at him immediately.
“That includes you.”
Maxwell closed his mouth.
Asher let out a faint, amused breath.
“I’ll be back soon. When I return… training will start for real.”
The five cousins exchanged nervous, excited looks.
Asher gave them one last nod.
“Take care of yourselves.”
Asher gave them one last nod.
“Take care of yourselves.”
The five cousins straightened, ready to respond—but Asher spoke again before they could.
“I’ll leave you all to your celebration,” he said, voice softening. “You’ve earned it more than you realize.”
They blinked, caught off guard.
He glanced at their uniforms, their documents, the glowing seals in their hands.
“You did everything yourselves today,” Asher continued. “And you did it well. From now on, the academy will guide you, challenge you, and shape you.”
He paused, eyes steady and proud.
“I’ll be your support—but your path is yours.”
A faint breeze moved through the inner hall, stirring his cloak as he turned slightly.
“Work hard,” Asher said quietly.
They all nodded at once—firm, determined, almost instinctively.
Satisfied, Asher turned and walked down the corridor, the soft echo of his steps fading as he headed toward the academy gates. Behind him, Team Magnus watched with bright, excited eyes before hurrying off toward the celebration waiting for them.
They had earned their moment.
By the time he reached home, the sun had dipped low, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet. Asher stepped through the front gate, the familiar scent of old wood and medicinal herbs greeting him.
His grandfather was in the courtyard, sitting calmly with a cup of tea. A few elders of the household stood nearby, discussing evening matters—but all of them turned as Asher approached.
“You’re back sooner than expected,” his grandfather said, raising a brow.
“I needed to inform you,” Asher replied. “I’m leaving for some time.”
A quiet hush settled over the courtyard.
His grandfather didn’t look surprised. Instead, he set his cup down and nodded, as though he’d been expecting this all along.
“Traveling?”
“Yes,” Asher said. “Alone.”
A few elders exchanged glances—concerned, but not questioning. They knew better than to interfere.
“Take care of yourself,” his grandfather said simply. “And return stronger.”
“I will.”
No lectures.
No warnings.
Just trust.
Asher bowed slightly, then turned and walked toward the outer path—leaving the house behind as quietly as he entered
Night had fallen fully by the time Asher reached the Association Branch.
Lanterns glowed red and gold across the building’s entrance, and the air hummed with the energy of cultivators coming and going—carrying reports, accepting tasks, or dragging in captured beasts.
Asher pushed the doors open.
Clerks and cultivators glanced up, briefly confused by the unfamiliar face—before instinctively stepping aside as he walked past. Something in his aura made people polite without knowing why.
He stopped at the mission board.
Pages fluttered softly as he scanned through them—beast infestations, bandit cleanups, rogue cultivators, lost ruins.
Then he found the list he was searching for:
INTERDIMENSIONAL INVASION INCIDENTS — ACTIVE THREATS
There were many.
Too many.
Small rifts appearing across the region. Strange creatures slipping through. Isolated villages attacked in the night. Survivors mentioning shadows with no faces, footsteps without bodies.
Asher’s eyes moved quickly down the list—
Until one mission caught his attention.
RANK: UNCLASSIFIED — INVESTIGATION & ELIMINATION
LOCATION: SHATTERGROVE WILDS
STATUS: MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS — HIGH DANGER
THREAT: UNKNOWN FOREIGN ENTITY
A slow breath left his lungs.
Perfect.
He reached out and pulled the mission slip free.
The clerk behind the counter froze.
“S-sir—that mission… no one has returned from it yet.”
“I know,” Asher said.
He folded the slip into his cloak.
“I’m accepting it.”
The clerk swallowed hard and nodded, stamping the mission record with trembling hands.
Asher turned away—walking straight toward the exit, toward the darkness outside.
Asher stepped outside the Association building and didn’t waste time.
He took a single breath, gathered energy in his legs, and shot upward into the night sky. The city lights blurred beneath him as he rose higher, then leveled out and began flying straight toward the Shattergrove Wilds.
The wind rushed past his ears. The cold night air didn’t bother him.
Below him, the world moved like a dark map—forests, small rivers, scattered villages, and long empty roads. He didn’t slow down to admire anything. He just kept moving.
Every few minutes, something tried to reach him.