CHAPTER 412: LEAVING SLIME PARADISE [PART 1]

After their discussion, Luthor and Alex shared a moment of silence to further process all these revelations. After some time, the young man stood up, deciding it was about time he returned to his group.

Alex had already told Luthor everything he knew. There were still too many missing pieces, but even the meagre information he currently possessed was overwhelming. He knew he would need at least a few days to mull over this.

Given the number of missing pieces to complete the truth, he understood that it would take him a few days to understand the meager details he learned about Prince Aetherius.

Just as he was about to take his leave, the old knight made an unexpected request.

"Can I go to Frieden Academy with you?"

Alex blinked, wondering if he had misheard. But after confirming that Luthor truly wanted to come, the young man decided to agree, but with some conditions attached.

First, Luthor must not tell anyone about what they had discussed. This condition could have gone without saying, but Alex was on the edge.

After all, the Demon Worshipers would be the least of their worries if the dead prince of the Empire was actually alive.

Second, the old man must tell Alex more of Prince Aetherius’ past. Luthor readily agreed.

Although Luthor was almost certain that Alex was indeed the prince he had failed to protect, a part of him was still doubtful. If he could tell Alex more, maybe the seal would later break and confirm his true identity.

Third and last...

"If you want to stay in the academy, you should talk to the Headmaster and ask for a job. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gardener or a cleaner."

As long as Luthor becomes a staff member, Alex would have an easier time talking to him—or if needed, ask for help during emergencies.

The old man didn’t think much of this condition and agreed.

In any case, the purpose of his stay in the academy was to watch over Alex until the latter’s identity was confirmed, and he understood the convenience of being hired as a staff member.

As the former Guardian of the North, Luthor would certainly not struggle with such menial tasks.

Though... Luthor was so skinny that he looked like skin and bones.

Alex was concerned, but Dim Dim assured him that the old man would get all the food he needed to recover his former strength on their way back to the academy.

With the Dim Sum God volunteering to be in charge of Luthor’s recovery, Alex gained another helper for his future plans.

Frankly, having Luthor around was like winning the grand lottery prize.

It was like gambling in a gacha banner and getting the rarest, most OP SSR+ Hero within the first ten pull instead of waiting for the two-hundred-pull pity.

’I guess nearly dying was worth it,’ Alex mused as he shook Luthor’s hand.

Now that they had reached an agreement, the two left the cave together.

Lumi had been trying to get inside the barrier for quite some time, so she immediately noticed Alex and Luthor leaving the underground cavern.

The water slimes also placed a bubble around Alex’s and Luthor’s heads, allowing them to breathe underwater for a time.

"You’re back." Lavinia looked relieved after finally seeing Alex.

As her gaze subconsciously moved toward the young man’s bare upper body, her relief faded. Without thinking, she swallowed.

Lavinia wasn’t the only one affected. Chuck’s hand moved towards his own chest and patted it lightly a few times to feel for the muscles he already knew weren’t there.

Unlike his roommate, who had a lean and toned body, Chuck’s body lacked muscular definition. The only thing going for him was his handsome face. And his immunity to shame.

"Jealous?" Vaan asked. "You should start working out too, Chuck. I’m sure if you work hard enough, your body will look just as good as Alex’s."

"You should take that advice yourself, Vaan," Chuck replied, eager to direct the attention away from himself. "I mean. Just look at you. Even my own mom will think you’re a girl if I introduce you to her. She might even think that you’re my mistress or something."

Vaan giggled, not bothered in the slightest. Clearly, he took Chuck’s comment as a compliment.

Charles, on the other hand, moved to stand between Nessia and Alex.

Seeing Charles pop up in her view and block out Alex completely, the young lady arched an eyebrow, grinned, and then whispered something in the poor boy’s ear that turned his cheeks red.

But it didn’t take long for them to realize that there was an old, skinny man behind Alex.

"Alex, who is he?" Lavinia asked after having her fill of eye candy.

"His name is Sir Lex," Alex answered. "He’s gone into closed-door seclusion to gain enlightenment."

Before leaving the cavern, Alex had asked the old man to create a backstory for his temporary identity.

Amused by Alex’s scheme, Luthor had replied that if someone asked, Alex should just tell them that he was a Martial Artist who had secluded himself from the world in his pursuit for enlightenment.

Looking at his current form, it wasn’t that hard to believe.

His white hair was long enough to touch the ground and his beard had reached his waist. No one would doubt that he was some kind of enlightened master.

This scene would have looked perfectly imposing if not for the baby slimes using his beard as a swing while giggling as happily as a child with a brand new toy.

"Princess, he wants to go to Frieden Academy," Alex told Xenia. "Can we give him a lift with your airship?"

"I don’t mind," Princess Xenia replied while looking at the playful slimes on the old man’s beard. "Since the slimes like him so much, it means that he’s not a bad person, right?"

Alex didn’t answer right away, momentarily remembering his near-death experience after getting rough-handled by Luthor.

"Y-Yeah. He is a good person," Alex answered.

Lumi frowned, but didn’t say anything.

Latifa and Lotte also kept silent, not wanting to get in the young man’s way.

"But... it might not be appropriate for him to go to the academy like this," Princess Xenia noted, looking troubled.

She had already noticed the old man’s clouded eyes and realized that he was blind. Unsurprisingly, he was as disheveled as a beggar. Maintaining his appearance would have been incredibly difficult even if he hadn’t been stuck in a secret cavern away from everyone else.

Since Xenia was going to bring him to the academy as a guest of some sort, it would weigh heavily on her conscience if she turned a blind eye to his appearance and left him open to disrespect.

Sensing her thoughts, Alex took the initiative to ask the old knight a question.

"Sir Lex, would you like to have your hair and beard trimmed to make yourself look more... neat?" Alex inquired.

"Oh... appearances are indeed important," Luthor replied. "Can someone lend me a sword? I can cut my hair and beard myself."

"No need for that, Sir Lex," Alex stated. "We have a very talented lady with us who can take care of that. If you agree to it, I’m sure she’ll make you look twenty years younger."

Luthor smiled. "If it isn’t too much trouble, then I would like to ask for assistance. Although I can cut my hair to a more reasonable length, I make no promises that I can make it look decent."

Alex glanced at Mary, who looked at her Princess expectantly. She only accepted her princess’s commands.

"Mary, please help Sir Lex and give him a haircut," Princess Xenia ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness." Mary bowed respectfully.

Alex watched as the maid procured a chair for Luthor to sit on. She then took out a pair of scissors and a brush from her storage ring and started to cut the old man’s hair.