After a short celebration, everyone returns to their place and does their own project. Absolute Red may be new material, but an elemental with high fire elemental density is not rare. It is just there is no material as dense and pure as Absolute Red.
Moreover, Angus also needs to research this material to find more of its properties. It is estimated he needs a few months before making a complete report about the material.
Researching new material properties is not easy. Angus must experiment with it against various things without harming Absolute Red. He may have successfully created one, but it didn't mean he could keep making it like a vegetable.
Therefore, Angus needs to be careful when handling Absolute Red. While writing and recording the data, Angus finds Anna unusually staring at Absolute Red. The young couple notices Anna's behavior and decides to approach her.
"Anna.." called Angus.
However, the little troublemaker didn't respond and kept staring at Absolute Red.
"Anna, are you okay?" asked Jayna in worry while stroking Anna's head.
At this moment, Anna blinked a few times before looking at Jayna. During this moment, Angus and Jayna could feel a horrifying dreadful aura coming from her. It is when Angus and Jayna meet her for the first time.
"Anna, are you okay?" asked Angus while hugging the little monster from her pig.
"Ehh.. Oh.. What happened?" asked Anna in confusion.
"You suddenly release your aura." said Jayna in worry.
"Really? That's weird… Anna didn't do anything. Angus, Big sis, can Anna have that burning ball." said Anna.
"Ehh??" replied Angus.
"Please.. Please…" pleaded Anna.
"Alright. But don't lose it. We still need to enter the Undermine Council." said Angus.
"Yay!! Yay!!" replied Anna happily before hugging Absolute Red.
Angus and Jayna look at each other before shrugging their shoulders. They know Anna is hiding something from them. After living together, they know when Anna is hiding or lying with them or genuinely doesn't know.
This time they also know Anna is lying to them and pretend she didn't do anything. However, they also didn't want to pry further. They trust Anna will not do anything harmful to them.
A few days passed by without any significant event. Currently, Angus, Jayna, and Anna are going to the Royal Academy. Once again, they are back at their alma mater. This time they are going to visit the old dwarf Balrug.
Although Balrug is one of the officially hired researchers in the Research Facility, he still spends most of his time at the Royal Academy's smithing facility. The old dwarf would feel uncomfortable if he wasn't near the molten furnace and hammering something.
The Research Center also has its own smithing facility, but it has a different type than the smithing facility. Arriving at the Royal Academy, Angus and the others were personally welcomed by Headmaster Antonio.
Usually, the academy has strict procedures for outsiders. However, they know this time it is a special case. The journey toward the Undermine Council is quite unique and goes through a special underground tunnel.
This tunnel will appear at specific locations marked by dwarfs. The old Balrug couldn't just be put anywhere. It needs to be close to his current living place, which is the Royal Academy. He also didn't want to put it at the Research Facility since it may breach its security.
Balrug may belong to the dwarf race, but he didn't intend to betray the Heart. The undying loyalty of dwarves is as famous as their stubbornness. In the end, they chose the Royal Academy for the tunnel entrance.
"Baron Victory, Fourth Princess, please come." welcomed Headmaster Antonio warmly.
Lately, the Headmaster has been happy and proud of these two young couples' achievements. As their fame grew, the Royal Academy became more famous, attracting even other allied nations.
Not only students, Royal Academy also attracts more teachers and Masters in a specific subject. The recent Fame of Research Center also attracts many experts.
The Headmaster is even confident the Royal Academy may become the number one academy in the Humane Region in just a few years.
"Hmph!! Old coot, ignoring Anna!!" grumbled Anna angrily while riding a pinky pig.
"Hahaha… Good day to you too, Miss Anna." said Headmaster Antonio.
He didn't mind entertaining this troublemaker. Although this little girl only brings trouble during her stay at Royal Academy, she is still one of the students who graduated from here though she didn't learn anything.
"Miss Anna?! Wrong!! It is super duper cool Anna." retorted Anna.
"Hahaha… Ignoring her. She is just too mischievous. Anyway, where is the old man Balrug?" said Angus.
"He… Well, it seems he is still in the smithing facility." said the Headmaster.
Under the guidance of the Headmaster, they enter their alma mater and find a lot of students in the academy field. Same as Angus' time, the Royal Academy still emphasizes freedom in its curriculum.
If students don't want to get expelled, they must be proactive. Not only in the class but also outside of the class. Only those that stay active will learn more than the lazy ones. Currently, it is still early in the morning, and most of the students are still in their classes.
Unlike other academies, the Royal Academy's class is unnecessary to stay in a room all day. Some courses will remain outside the room, especially those with warrior class.
Noticing the student learning and listening to their teacher outside, "This really brings back memories." said Jayna.
"Really? I didn't remember they had these lessons during our time." said Angus.
"Those are for the warrior class and hybrid class. You are going into a magician class which stays in the class all day." retorted Jayna.
"Oh, right. Those days were really peaceful and blissful. I feel like I don't need to worry about anything." said Angus.
Hearing this, Jayna couldn't help but grimace. Unlike Angus, who has an enjoyable lazy academy life, she is frantically training hard every day in search of power and to break from her Fate. Noticing Jayna's emotion, Angus didn't say anything, just held Jayna's hand.
Despite not saying anything, it already calms and warms Jayna's Heart. For her, Contract Marriage is a nightmare and a bad experience, especially after seeing her sister die in front of her.
While they pass by, some students notice them, especially Anna, who is riding a pinky pig. However, no one dares to approach them since the Headmaster is escorting them. Soon, they arrive at the smithing facility.
Angus and Jayna, already familiar with the place, immediately enter and go toward the basement area.
On the way toward the basement area, Angus finds a loud hammering sound from the basement. Then, they meet Balkin, the supervisor of the smithing facility beside Balrug.
"Ohh… Isn't it Angus?!!" called Balkin casually.
"Balkin!! Have some respect. He is now a Baron." rebuked Headmaster Antonio.
"Gezz… You and your noble title. A man earned his respect not given." said Balkin with a red face.
"Err… Balkan, are you drinking again?" asked Angus.
He knows this dwarf fondness for liquor. Unlike Balrug, who is obsessed with smithing and crafting, Balkan is obsessed with liquor and brewing. Sometimes, he is even completely drunk and sleeping while on the job.
"Drink? What drink? I don't see any *Burp* drinking here." said Balkin before burping a smelly alcohol breath.
(A.N: Did you get the reference?)
"Ahh… Uncle.. Uncle… Remember Anna?!" called Anna from the side.
"Ohh… Little monster, you are here. Did you want to try my new brew?" asked Balkin, giving Anna a bottle from his waist.
"Anna!!" called Jayna before glaring at Balkin.
"Err… Balkin, I didn't know you were familiar with Anna." said Angus.
"Of course, I know her. This little monster likes to steal my drink when you and your girl are busy training with Master Balrug." said Balkin.
"Anna!!" called Jayna in surprise.
Anna didn't understand where she was wrong and only tilted her head.
"From now on, you must stay away from this drunkard and never drink anything given by him." lectured Jayna.
"Ehh… But it was delicious. Anna's head feels like spinning before it stops. Even Mira said it is a good thing." said Anna.
"No means no." retorted Jayna.
"Ehem.. I think we should meet Master Balrug first." reminded Headmaster Antonio.
"Sure. Balkin, where is the crazy old man?" asked Angus.
"He is… He is still in the middle of making something." said Balkin.
"Huh?! What kind of thing did he create at this moment?" asked Angus.
"I am not sure either. He didn't tell me anything and just told me to not disturb him until he came out from the facility." said Balkin.
"*Sigh* Old Balrug never changed. Let's meet him now." said Headmaster Antonio.
"Wait.. You can't!!" stopped Balkin anxiously.
"What did you mean, Balkin?" asked the Headmaster back.
"Headmaster… Don't worry about it. Old Balrug smithing facility is not just furnaces and tools but the whole room. If we enter now, we will affect the room temperature and may affect the smithing process. Let's just wait until he is done. We are not in a hurry." said Angus.
"Urgh.. If you said so. Still, why is he smithing at this moment?" asked Headmaster Antonio, confused at Balrug's behavior.
"Probably because he wants to get pressured by time and constraint." replied Angus casually.
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