Karen's gaze stayed fixed on Evelyn. He looked completely different from the cold manner he had shown toward Graham as he slowly spoke.

  "Evelyn, I heard you have been recovering from your injuries these past few days. Are you feeling better now?"

  "I have two bottles of high grade healing potions here. I can send them to your residence later."

  Evelyn cast Karen a cool glance, then turned away directly, completely ignoring his goodwill, as if she had not heard a word he said.

  The smile on Karen's face froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. It seemed he was already used to Evelyn's aloofness.

  He then turned his attention to Allen and deliberately put on a gentle and friendly expression."You must be Elder Eleanor's newly accepted apprentice, Allen, right?"

  Allen nodded, thinking to himself that Karen was someone who could hide his intentions well. He clearly hated him to the bone, yet not a trace of it showed on his face.

  Most likely it was because Evelyn was present and he did not want to lose his composure and make her dislike him.

  Also, with the academy's rules being strict, he did not dare to act openly. He could only put away his fangs for now and pretend to be friendly.

  "So you must be Karen. I have heard so much about you. A pleasure, a pleasure. To meet you today is truly a great honor."

  Allen wore a perfectly timed smile and deliberately dragged out his tone.

  Hearing this, the smile on Karen's face stiffened at once, and a flash of anger passed through his eyes.

  He clearly caught the mockery in Allen's voice, but for the moment could not find a handle to seize.

  He shot Allen a cold glance and was about to flare up when Allen hurriedly spoke.

  "Oh, my apologies!" Allen said in an oddly affected tone, sounding flustered on purpose.

  "I was born on a distant southern continent. People there do not understand formal social etiquette. If my words offended your dignity, please do not take it to heart."

  Karen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his chest. He still forced a smile onto his face, though it was several degrees colder than before.

  "If I remember correctly, the southern continent has long been the territory of the Demon Tribe, has it not? Could it be that you have had dealings with the Demon Tribe as well?"

  Allen's heart skipped a beat, but he put on a shocked look and immediately shook his head in denial.

  "No, how could that be! My family was harmed by the Demon Tribe back then. I share no sky with them and would love nothing more than to wipe them out. How could I have anything to do with them!"

  Karen's smile grew even brighter."So that is how it is. I have heard a lot of rumors spreading around the academy lately."

  He paused, his tone sounding casual, yet every word was a hidden trap.

  "When you were at Umbra Gorge, you took out a secret art scroll and made a deal with those two demons, and only then did everyone manage to escape."

  "I thought you really had some connection with the Demon Tribe. It seems those were all false rumors. I misunderstood you."

  As Karen said this, his tone suddenly shifted, and a glint of calculation flashed through his eyes.

  "Still, in the end, words can be terrifying. If these rumors are left unchecked, they will eventually ruin your reputation and inevitably drag Elder Eleanor and Evelyn down with you."

  Karen sighed with feigned regret, putting on an expression of being caught in a dilemma. After pondering for a moment, he spoke as if he had finally thought of a solution that would satisfy everyone.

  "Allen, how about this. I cannot add you to this round of training. Tomorrow I will be leading a team to the Gale Demon Forest, taking the newly enrolled apprentices to complete their first trial mission."

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  "You know that this kind of academy assigned trial has never been something we can refuse at will."

  "Although the scheduling of these trials is handled by my father, if I were to add you at the last minute, it would inevitably give people something to talk about. They would say we are abusing our authority for personal favor."

  "When there is another trial mission targeting Shadow Creatures, I will definitely report it to my father and arrange for you to join as a priority."

  Karen's tone grew even more earnest."At that time, as long as you personally slay a few Shadow Creatures and bring them back as proof."

  "The rumors accusing you of colluding with the Demon Tribe will naturally fall apart, and no one will dare to gossip anymore."

  Hearing Karen's words, Allen seemed to notice nothing of the trap within.

  He nodded excitedly, his voice full of gratitude."That is great! Then I will be counting on you! Please make sure to arrange it for me as soon as possible!"

  In his heart, Allen saw through Karen's scheme as clearly as a mirror.

  Elder Marcus held the authority over the academy's trial assignments. As long as he found some pretext to send Allen out of the Radiant Magic Academy, away from the restraints of the academy's rules and Eleanor's protection.

  Once they reached a desolate place, it would be child's play for Karen to make a move against him.

  But what Karen never expected was that this was exactly the opportunity Allen had been hoping for. The Gale Demon Forest. A beginner trial tomorrow.

  It was simply a perfect chance delivered right to his door. He had been worrying about finding a reasonable excuse to leave the academy, and now he could go out openly.

  And at the same time, he could take the opportunity to deal with these constantly provoking pests and let them experience what it was like to step into the forest and run straight into a fully leveled boss.

  Allen's eager response made Karen freeze for a moment. He was secretly puzzled. Could this kid really be an idiot?

  He was clearly sending him out of the academy, yet he did not show the slightest bit of caution.

  Or had he already accepted reality, knowing he could not refuse an academy trial and simply given up resisting?

  In the blink of an eye, Karen suppressed his doubts. A smug smile bloomed on his face, and his tone was filled with false warmth.

  "I am really starting to admire your straightforwardness more and more."

  "Then it is settled. In a few days, I will come and inform you, and we will set off together for the trial in the magic forest."

  After saying this, Karen did not wait for Allen to respond. He turned and cast a cold sideways glance at Graham, who had long been frightened into silence.

  A sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth."Graham, come with me."

  "Go back and pack early. Tomorrow morning, we must depart for the Gale Demon Forest on time. Do not delay the trial schedule."

  As Karen spoke, he lifted his hand and lightly patted Graham's shoulder. The gesture looked gentle, but it carried an oppressive weight.

  Graham trembled violently, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

  Only after Karen and his group had completely disappeared did Evelyn turn to look at Allen, who was still beaming with excitement, seemingly lost in anticipation for the upcoming trial, and asked,"Do you want to die?"

  Allen shook his head, feigning confusion."Of course I don't want to die. Why would you say that?"

  Evelyn raised her eyes toward the direction Karen had gone, her brows knitted tightly, her voice edged with urgency.

  "Can't you see? He is deliberately trying to get you out of the academy! In a place like the Gale Demon Forest, outside the constraints of the academy's rules…"

  "Even if you die there, he can easily find an excuse, saying you were killed by Shadow Creatures. By then, your death would be in vain, and no one would investigate further!"

  Allen smiled, deliberately adopting an innocent, naive expression."I actually think Karen is a decent person. What he said makes sense, and he is quite considerate of me."

  "This trial is the perfect chance for me to communicate properly with him and get him to help clear up the rumors outside."

  "Once the rumors die down, I can move freely around the academy and no longer cause trouble for you and Mentor."

  His face was full of genuine excitement, his eyes shining with anticipation for the future, completely oblivious to the trap before him.

  Evelyn frowned, staring at Allen in silence for a long while. Looking at his clueless expression, she finally said,"Idiot!"

  With that, she turned and walked toward the Arcane Library.

  Allen hurried to follow her. After just a few steps, he heard Evelyn, without turning her head, throw out a cold remark.

  "I am coming with you to the Gale Demon Forest."

  In his mind, he thought: It seems Evelyn does care about me a little after all.

  The two walked one after the other and soon reached the Arcane Library.

  Allen put on a show, selecting a few basic magical texts from the lower shelves, pretending to read a few pages seriously, then followed Evelyn back to the Eleanor Estate.

  …

  The next morning, Allen first found Evelyn and borrowed some coins from her. He then informed Eleanor that he planned to go to the marketplace outside the academy to purchase daily necessities.

  At first, Eleanor considered having Evelyn accompany him to prevent him from encountering trouble outside. But then she thought about the rampant rumors circulating in the academy.

  If the two went together, the gossip would only intensify. She abandoned the idea and merely reminded Allen to return early and not linger outside too long.

  Thus, for the first time since entering the Radiant Magic Academy, Allen stepped out of the academy gates alone.

  The Gale Demon Forest lay to the east of the academy, yet Allen deliberately walked toward the opposite, western side.

  He strolled leisurely through the marketplace outside the academy, seemingly browsing for daily goods, but in reality he was secretly observing whether anyone sent by Karen was following him.

  After nearly an hour, having confirmed that no one was trailing him and that the time was approaching Karen's scheduled trial assembly, Allen changed direction.

  He used a concealed forest path, swiftly making a circuitous route toward the Gale Demon Forest.

  Meanwhile, Karen was leading the trial team, composed of new apprentices, along the road on the eastern side of the academy.