Aiming to be the perfect butler for my lady

Chapter 85- Wasteland~1

Wastelands are artificial labyrinths or dungeons prepared to train students and soldiers. It's also used for hiring mercenaries as a testing ground.

The Dark Water—the essence which makes a demon—attracts them, and in a Wasteland, Dark Water is present in abundance at several spots, so it doesn't take any other source to keep the demons inside. Each floor has a different amount of Dark Water given the rank of demons residing on each floor. And for today, the students of the Starfall Academy had to explore the first floor.

"Okay then, students. I hope you all are physically and mentally prepared for this. Remember the absolute rules I spoke of in the class and you won't risk yourself under normal circumstances."

The instructor spoke up while looking at the different groups.

Once he found no question or excuse arriving from the students, he commanded, "Now, off you go!"

The older one stepped aside and the wide gate of the labyrinth came into view.

The first team walked forward, albeit a little hesitantly.

The teleportation portal situated at the entrance of the labyrinth would only throw the students at some place on the first floor. The Wasteland was wide so each group could explore different regions of the same floor.

Alatia's team was sixth. She was standing along with others without bothering to chat with them. Well, only Logan and Sasha were talking about how excited and scared they were to experience their first labyrinth.

Alatia had faced demons before when she was getting trained by her brothers and the Sage. That explains her indifference wasn't fake bravado but natural confidence.

"Team Sixth, step forward." They did as told and everyone finally stepped inside the labyrinth.

"Fuck!" However, the next moment, a curse left Logan's throat as he realised that they were falling from the ceiling into the dark hole which had no end.

"KYAAAAHHHH!" Sasha yelled with tears at the corner of her eyes as, along with others, she also began to fall.

Alatia drew a sharp breath, her violet eyes shining in the darkness. With a fierce burst of energy, she unleashed a wave of ice from her feet, desperate to extend it faster and farther. The ice shot downward, racing against her fall, expanding with relentless speed as she pushed herself to create a frozen bridge before she could hit the ground.

Aron simply strengthened his body without showing much of a reaction.

Charlotte....was nonchalantly falling.

Logan realised his role and instantly held Sasha by her waist and pulled her close. He also strengthened himself, and all of a sudden, the group of four hit the ground.

"Ah!" A loud exclaim left her lips as Sasha found her vision coming to a standstill but it didn't hurt anywhere.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked her while breathing a little unsteadily and streaks of sweat sliding down his head.

"Y-Yes...I am fine. Thank you for saving me." Sasha blushed finding herself so close to Logan as she hurriedly left his arms and stood on her feet.

Logan turned towards his left and found Alatia slowly melting her ice and descending to the floor with ease. Aron had his hands on his waist and his head tilted upward.

Logan's eyes rounded as he also looked in the same direction as him—only to find his eyes widening.

From above, a fairy was descending.

Her two golden wings fluttered beautifully as Charlotte, with a soft smile on her face, slowly came down without showing any difficulty whatsoever. She didn't even show panic earlier as well.

'What a daring girl...'. A look of awe flashed in Logan's eyes as he watched Charlotte finally land her feet on the ground.

"Wah...Miss Charlotte? You can summon your wings on command?" Sasha exclaimed; completely surprised by the fact that a fellow student had achieved a feat which even the third year-students couldn't accomplish.

Charlotte didn't reply to her but just smiled in response. Rather, she glanced at Alatia and surely, the Princess had completely ignored Charlotte.

Alatia was currently looking around the place. There was something ominous about this floor which she didn't expect. The first floor of the Wasteland shouldn't be giving such excessive feeling-

"Watch out!" Someone shouted from behind, but Alatia didn't pay heed to them and instantly summoned an ice shield to protect herself from the incoming attack.

The large club held by a large orc struck Alatia's shield, and in the next moment, it broke her spell-like glass and sent Alatia flying away because of the brutality behind the attack.

"No!!" Sasha shouted and covered her mouth in shock.

Logan jumped into action and brought himself in the route of her trajectory before grabbing Alatia from behind.

Alatia felt dizzy as she somehow stabilized herself on her feet. That...was unexpected. Weren't these monsters only meant to be on F to E-rank?

A thick streak of blood slid down her head as Alatia looked at the Great Orc in front. There was no doubt that this beast was D-rank.

"A-Are you alright?" Logan hesitantly asked from behind; however, the response never arrived as Alatia disappeared in a mist, and before Aron could have engaged in battle, she appeared above the Orc's bald head with a large seven-foot ice spear held in her hand.

Her eyes burned with a fierce intensity that made Aron more terrified of her than even the orc.

The demon sensed something above its head and instinctively raised its club to swat it away—but it was too late.

*SQUELCH*

The Princess was sharp in both her knowledge and her strength. She knew the orc’s weakest spot was its crown, and even though she was injured, she stayed calm.

The ice spear plunged into the monster's thick skin, and with a burst of power, Alatia drove it deeper into the demon’s body. The spear sliced through its insides pierced its groin and stabbed into the ground below.

"*GRUOOGH*" The helpless cry of the demon resounded as it failed to move even an inch around and vitality left its ugly eyes.

"Is this the infamous Judgement of the Princess?" Sasha asked in a meek tone as she noted things in her diary, even though she was scared to death just a few moments ago.

The short battle, came to an end, with both parties exchanging a single blow. But the difference was that Alatia only incurred a little scratch while her enemy lost its life.

"What the hell with that speed...." With his lips parted agape, Logan looked at the majestic figure of the Princess who stood atop the head of the dead foe. He thought she was injured and might need some rest...but this? Her magic activation speed was insane and her unshakable precision was just....

"Incredible." For some reason, Logan couldn't look at Alatia with scornful eyes anymore. He had started to feel more from her.

He admires her.

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A/N:- Stop there!