Chapter 64: Ethan the Treasure Miser

Ethan and Aria entered the Combat Training Facility.

The area was much larger than Ethan expected.

Several large training buildings and open combat grounds spread across the area, with students moving between them. Some were practicing with weapons in the open fields, while others were heading toward the combat arenas.

Aria looked around with interest.

"There are so many places to train."

Ethan glanced toward the different buildings.

He quickly noticed the largest crowd gathered near one of them.

"Looks like that’s where they’re fighting."

Aria followed his gaze.

A large sign stood above the entrance.

[Combat Simulation Area]

They had only taken a few steps when someone called out from behind them.

"Aria!"

Aria stopped and turned around.

"Liana?"

Liana walked toward them with a smile.

"I’ve been looking for you."

Aria immediately smiled back.

"I was looking for you too."

The two girls met and started talking as if they had known each other for much longer than a day.

"You came here to watch the fight?"

"Of course." Liana pointed toward the simulation area. "Young Guild Leader Kael is going to fight Gareth. How could I miss that?"

Aria laughed.

"Exactly what I was thinking."

She turned toward the simulation area.

"Come on, let’s go before we miss it."

"Wait."

Liana grabbed Aria’s arm, and the two of them started walking forward together.

Ethan followed behind them.

The girls were talking so naturally that they didn’t notice they had completely blocked Ethan from Liana’s view.

"Do you think Young Guild Leader Kael can win?"

"I don’t know, but I want to see how much he’s improved."

Liana smiled.

"He’s probably been training since we left Thornheart."

Aria nodded.

"Then let’s see what he can do."

The two girls continued toward the entrance.

They were almost at the entrance when Liana suddenly stopped.

Her eyes widened.

She stared past Aria and slowly looked at Ethan.

"Wait..."

Aria stopped as well.

Liana pointed at Ethan.

"It’s you!"

There was clear shock in her voice.

Aria looked at Liana, then at Ethan.

"Uh... wait. Liana, you know Ethan?"

Liana didn’t answer immediately. She stared at Ethan as if she couldn’t believe he was standing there, then looked back at Aria.

"Know him?"

Her voice rose slightly.

"You mean this is Ethan?"

Aria nodded, confused by her reaction.

"Yeah. Why?"

Liana looked at Ethan again, and the surprise on her face slowly turned into disbelief.

"You’re actually friends with this guy?"

Ethan remained calm.

Liana took a deep breath.

"This thief."

Aria blinked.

"Thief?"

"Yes. A thief."

Liana pointed at Ethan, her expression filled with frustration.

"I’ve been trying to forget what happened in Thornheart, and now I find out he’s someone you know?"

"This guy entered the Verdant Alchemy Secret Realm through the back route instead of entering through the Verdant Alchemy Hall like everyone else."

Her voice grew more heated as she continued.

"He went straight into the place where the rare herbs grow and took the most valuable herb in the entire area."

Aria’s eyes widened.

"The most valuable herb?"

"It only appears once a year."

"And he took it right in front of us."

"And because he took it, Young Guild Leader Kael ended up in a terrible situation."

She paused, clearly still annoyed by the memory.

"That herb was one of the main reasons the Silvercrest Guild had sent us into the secret realm in the first place. We were supposed to bring it back to the Verdant Alchemy Hall."

"But this guy took it before we could."

Aria covered her mouth in shock.

"After we reported what happened, the Verdant Alchemy Hall investigated the matter. They checked the herb fields, the storage areas, and the records of what had been collected."

She shook her head.

"Do you know what they found?"

Aria slowly shook her head.

"A lot of herbs were missing. Not just the one he took from us. The other herbs and resources were worth more than two hundred thousand coins in total. And that’s not even counting the Thornheart Flower."

Aria’s eyes widened even further.

"And they thought Ethan took all of them?"

"They didn’t know who took them."

Liana shook her head.

"But we were the ones who had to explain what happened."

She looked toward the simulation area.

"Young Guild Leader Kael had to return to the Silvercrest Guild empty-handed. The whole situation nearly caused a dispute between the guild and the Verdant Alchemy Hall.

Liana’s expression darkened.

"He had to spend a long time explaining that it wasn’t our fault, and the worst part was that we couldn’t even find the person responsible."

She turned back to Ethan.

"Then I come to the Academy and just happened to find him standing here like nothing happened."

Aria covered her mouth and tried to hold back her laughter, but she couldn’t and a few seconds later, her shoulders started shaking.

Liana stared at her.

"What are you laughing at?"

Aria lowered her hands.

"I’m sorry."

She tried to stop herself, but another laugh escaped.

"I’m sorry. It’s just... I’ve actually been in your situation before."

Liana looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Ethan did the same thing to me."

Liana stared at Ethan, then back at Aria.

"He did?"

Aria nodded.

"I was in the Spirit Vein Cave looking for treasures. I spent a long time searching for them, and when I finally found the place where they were hidden, Ethan showed up."

She started laughing again.

"He didn’t even ask me. He just took everything and left."

Liana’s eyes widened.

"He took your treasures too?"

"Every single one."

Aria looked at Ethan and shook her head with a smile.

"I remember thinking I was just unlucky that day. Now that I hear what happened to you, I’m starting to think Ethan just likes taking other people’s treasures."

Aria laughed again.

Liana looked at Ethan, then at Aria.

"So he really did the same thing to you?"

"Exactly."

Liana stared at Ethan, clearly unable to believe it.

Aria shook her head with a grin.

"You really are a miser. No matter where you go, you always find something to take."