Dante lay back on the bed, the replenishment of his mana still a sluggish affair. Yet, he found no cause for complaint. After all, he now possessed a portable abode, a structure he could manipulate with his skills, relocating it at will.
The only significant drawback was the mana cost associated with moving such a colossal entity. Having maneuvered it into the mountain, the task of carving out space for it lay ahead.
"Shlllllp."
A low groan escaped Dante's lips as he lowered his gaze. "A beautiful sight indeed." Vexion was diligently at work, her lips clinging to his cock as she pleasured him.
He turned his head, reaching down to caress her hair, an action she clearly adored. As she continued her ministrations, he shifted his eyes towards her, leaning up on his shoulder.
"It's been one hour," she murmured, her lips pouting slightly as she slowly released him, swallowing the culmination of his release. "One more hour, master."
Dante chuckled. "That's not possible; you need to get going."
Her brow furrowed, and she wiped her hand against her lips, a flicker of fear crossing her features. "Master is leaving me again?"
Dante chuckled.
"No. But we do need to get going. You know this."
Vexion sighed in relief before nodding.
After a quick shower and breakfast, Dante and Vexion finally got dressed and stepped outside.
Lexa was already waiting for them when they arrived. Her eyes immediately settled on Dante, whose hands were buried casually in his pockets.
"Master still wakes up late even here?"
Dante shook his head.
"I'm tired, man. My mana hasn't even replenished yet."
Vexion gently tugged at the edge of his jacket, drawing his attention toward her.
"Master... I can take care of you more. You don't need to leave yet."
Dante chuckled.
"You think I could lose even with only seventy percent of my mana?"
The concern in Vexion's eyes gradually faded. She shook her head.
"No."
Then, a little more quietly, she added,
"Can I at least stay with you?"
Dante nodded.
"Of course."
He glanced toward the thick mist surrounding the area, which seemed to have grown even denser overnight. The faint sunlight struggling to pierce through it barely illuminated their surroundings.
"First, let's clear all our objectives here. I can finish mine in less than two weeks. Ten days, maybe. After that, I'll stay with you."
Lexa nodded as she stared into the mist.
"I'm surprised, but..."
She hesitated before reluctantly admitting,
"Separating from you isn't exactly fun."
Dante glanced at her.
"I get too worried about what you'll do."
He chuckled.
"I can act responsibly, you know?"
Lexa gave him a flat look.
"You? The same person who somehow burns eggs?"
Dante coughed.
"Cooking just isn't my specialty."
He gestured toward the direction of their residence.
"Besides, don't forget I have that beautiful mansion I made."
Vexion laughed softly, clearly feeling more at ease. Her eyes lingered on Dante's back as she quietly recalled the previous night.
'Four hours...'
She had lost count of how many times he had pushed her to her limit, yet somehow...
'It still never seemed like he had enough.'
Her gaze briefly dropped toward herself.
'I hope I'm fulfilling my role as his woman properly.'
Dante turned toward her.
"V."
Vexion immediately looked up.
"How much do you need to get done in this area?"
She checked her academy bracelet.
"I'll finish as quickly as possible. If Master gives me four days..."
She considered it for another moment before continuing.
"Maybe five. I should be able to complete everything."
Dante nodded, then shifted his attention toward Lexa.
"What about you? You want total freedom?"
Lexa shook her head and rested one hand against the hilt of her sword.
"I like taking it easy as much as you do. Moreover..."
She looked directly at him.
"I'm your number two. You promised me a position beside you. I've trained those two enough to handle what they can."
Her expression became slightly more serious.
"Especially Elric."
Dante chuckled.
"Fair enough. I'll let you do as you please."
Lexa nodded, but before the conversation could end, she added,
"However, Master..."
Dante turned toward her.
"Hmm?"
"You've made a lot of enemies."
Dante shrugged.
"They can all suck my dick. I didn't do anything."
He paused, seemingly reconsidering his own statement.
"...Wait. Did I?"
Another brief pause followed.
"It doesn't matter."
Lexa simply nodded, apparently having no intention of arguing with him.
Vexion looked toward Dante.
"Master... aren't you going to check on the faction members?"
Dante shook his head.
"No need. Jurian seems to be rather well known and feared. I don't know exactly how, but that guy can apparently take on someone at Level Three without any trouble."
He continued without much concern.
"Aishwani is no different. I'm sure she'll be a bigger problem than people realize."
With that, Dante began rising into the air. Lexa and Vexion immediately activated their own abilities and followed him.
"The Legendary-tier members will be fine. I've seen enough to believe that."
Lexa nodded as she flew alongside him on her blood-forged sword.
Dante remained silent for a moment, his attention seemingly elsewhere. Then his expression changed slightly.
"System?"
[Yes, Master.]
"What did you find?"
[Do you want the answer now, Master?]
Yes.
A brief pause followed before the System responded.
[The distinction between Beasts, Monsters, and Beastkin varies considerably between species.]
[However, I have confirmed one important difference.]
[Beasts do not process intelligence in the same manner as Humans, Demons, Elves, and other beings classified as intelligent races.]
Dante nodded.
"Cliché... But sensible."
He considered the information for a moment before asking,
"So I'm assuming the mana core is what separates them from us?"
[Correct, Master.]
[Most intelligent beings refine mana through their bodies and mana pathways.]
[Beasts, however, possess mana cores.]
[Special Beasts possess unique variations of these cores, allowing them to develop increasingly sophisticated intelligence.]
Dante frowned.
"And what happens when they reach a certain point?"
The System paused briefly.
[Such beings possess what the academy's texts refer to as... World Essence Cores.]
Dante stopped mid-flight.
"...You're sure?"
[Yes, Master. I am certain.]
His eyes narrowed as a slow smile appeared on his face.
"So that's why the academy has so many seemingly ordinary monsters roaming around."
[Precisely.]
[I believe Midvest Academy will deliberately release or place such creatures within the examination zones.]
[The purpose would be to determine which students have actually taken the time to study the information available within the library.]
Dante's smile widened.
"I wouldn't put it past them."
He looked down toward the seemingly endless mist below.
"So... the library wasn't just teaching us how the world works. It was teaching us how to survive the academy."
[That appears to be the case, Master.]
Dante chuckled.
"Then let's see what kind of surprises they've hidden down there."
Vexion glanced toward him.
"Master?"
Dante looked back.
"Hm?"
Her crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Are we hunting monsters today?"
Dante smiled.
"Apparently."
Lexa's hand tightened around her sword as she looked toward the mist below.
"Then let's see what Midvest considers a monster."
The three accelerated into the mist.