CLEAVER OF SIN - Chapter 277

Chapter 277: Five Points
Within an unknown forest, atop an equally unknown mountain, two hundred students sat scattered across the rocky surface. Some lay flat on their backs, others leaned against boulders or tree trunks, but all shared the same dawning realization that crept over them like a cold mist.

“Fuck! We were just left on an unknown mountain… is this another form of training or some kind of test?” one student exclaimed, his voice carrying through the silent air.

“Forget about the training or test!” another shouted in frustration. “How are we even supposed to reach the Healing Department from this damned forest?” He gestured angrily toward the dense stretch of trees before them, towering, old, and unnaturally thick, their massive trunks extending several meters upward, their canopies blotting out much of the sunlight.

Since there had been no scheduled class after Jane’s lesson, she had deliberately left them here.

The moment Jane departed, Asher immediately sat cross-legged in a lotus position, his posture straight and composed. His eyes snapped shut as he attempted to steady his ragged breathing. He remained silent for a few seconds, his concentration gradually drowning out the rising noise of complaints and chatter from the others. After about a minute, his deep purple eyes opened once more, their calm gleam cutting through the lingering tension around him.

Asher exhaled slowly, recalling his recent spar with Jane. Though he had technically won, by exploiting her reflexes, he could not deny that victory filled him with genuine satisfaction. He still had no clear understanding of Jane’s true strength, but to him, progress was progress, no matter how small.

He could feel several gazes fixed upon him. When he lifted his eyes, he found that the top ten and a few more students were all looking his way, each with varying expressions, some neutral, others curious, and a few quietly contemplative.

Asher paid them little attention. Whatever they were thinking was of no importance to him. Perhaps this was the first time many of them had ever truly seen him battle. He had no intention of hiding his strength from his classmates, nor did he plan to boast about it.

‘So he didn’t even use his full strength against me during the battle exam…’ Ryaen Silvershade thought, her black eyes remaining fixed on Asher. She had suspected as much after losing their duel, but the sheer physical gap between them still left her stunned. How could the difference be that vast?

Asher eventually tore his gaze away from the crowd of onlookers and rose to his feet. He had no desire to remain idle among their chatter. He intended to walk down the mountain, perhaps explore the surrounding area a bit before heading back to the Academy grounds.

A soft humming sound resonated beside him as Virelass, his companion rapier, floated gently into view. Her form shimmered faintly as she communicated with him in her usual melodic tone. She was asking if she could finally heal his wounds, since during the spar with Jane, Asher had explicitly forbidden her from doing so.

But Asher refused her offer once again. He was heading to the Healing Department anyway; there was no need to waste the precious blood essence he had collected when he could be healed for free by professionals.

As he was about to leave, a familiar chubby figure approached him from the side, an expression of awe and admiration etched on his face. It was Finch.

“You are so cool, Tenth Sun,” Finch said, his round eyes practically shining as he looked Asher up and down, half-convinced that the boy before him was an Emovira in disguise.

Asher simply gave a short nod, saying nothing. He had no response for Finch’s enthusiastic words. Some of the students nearby briefly glanced at their interaction before returning to their conversations. They had already noticed Finch hanging around Asher for quite some time.

After a bit of discreet investigation, they discovered that Finch was actually the weakest student in their class, a surprise to many, considering how often he associated with the Tenth Sun. Moreover, he was the heir to a mere Barony, not the son of a powerful Duke or Count as some had assumed.

The moment Asher nodded at him, Finch’s demeanor shifted instantly. The once-awkward boy straightened his posture and adopted a noble air that hinted at years of etiquette training. Despite his bleeding injuries and slightly pudgy frame, the transformation was remarkable, he suddenly resembled a young, chivalric noble knight addressing a court.

Turning to face the crowd of students, Finch raised his voice so that everyone could hear him. “Good afternoon, everyone!” he began, his tone clear and confident. The sudden formality in his voice drew everyone’s attention, even that of the top ten. One by one, their gazes fell upon him out of instinct.

Asher paused, curious. He wondered what this chubby boy was planning now.

Seeing that he had successfully gathered their attention, Finch continued, “As many of you already know from your investigations, my name is Finch, heir to a Barony. The reason I’ve called upon your attention is because of our current predicament, this unknown forest.” He gestured dramatically to their surroundings. “None of us truly know how to leave.”

He paused for a moment, letting the silence sink in. His sharp black eyes swept across the group, gauging their reactions. Most simply stared at him in silence, uncertain of where he was going with this speech.

“Well,” Finch resumed, a faint smile tugging at his lips, “I have a solution for everyone.”

At those words, several heads lifted, interest gleaming in tired eyes. Even the most skeptical students paid closer attention.

Finch raised his right hand, revealing a golden ring adorning his pinky finger. The faint glow of the artifact reflected against the sunlight. “This,” he declared proudly, “is the teleportation ring that was granted to the Tenth Sun during our class orientation. The ring has now been entrusted to me by the Tenth Sun himself.” He smiled confidently, the kind of smile that made one question whether he was serious or simply playing a part. “I believe I need not explain the function of a teleportation ring, yes?”

A collective sigh of relief passed through the group. Smiles broke out as murmurs of gratitude filled the air. Finally, they could leave without wandering aimlessly for hours through this endless forest.

However, a few of the sharper students, those with a keener sense for trouble, remained silent. Their eyes narrowed slightly as they continued watching Finch closely, waiting for the inevitable catch.

“I will be teleporting everyone back to the front of our residential buildings,” Finch continued, his tone turning smooth, almost merchant-like. “For a small price of five points each.”

At his words, several faces immediately fell. A wave of discontent spread among the group. These were their hard-earned points, valuable, not easily obtained. To give up even a single one felt painful.

“Five points?!” someone muttered under their breath. “That’s absurd.”

“Typical,” another whispered. “There’s always a catch.”

Still, not everyone seemed angry. A few students simply nodded, not in agreement, but in acknowledgment. They had already guessed Finch would want something in return. After all, it would’ve been far too naive to think he was offering the teleportation service for free.