Chapter 140: Bellina Awakens

"You're afraid that the plants and trees you've cultivated will be damaged, aren't you?" Sophia asked while continuing to stare at the monitor screen.

"Y-yes?" Luna became increasingly nervous.

"If that's the case, what do you think about using them for a greater purpose?" Sophia spoke in a flat tone, which made Luna feel frightened.

"No! Don't do that, Head of the Academy! I beg you! I won't complain anymore! But please don't take my children away!" Luna immediately knelt down, pleading with Sophia.

"Really?" Sophia asked seriously.

"... Yes..." Luna replied with a sad face.

"Well, you always make me anxious every time something happens to the plants you cultivate. I thought there would be a great danger when the Synthesis was performed, you know... I was very worried that this Exam would be stopped because the students were injured. Do you understand?" Sophia smiled ominously at Luna, causing Luna to shudder in fear.

...

...

...

Seeing the knife in his hand, Haruto quickly looked around before finally returning to the cave.

Once back inside the cave, Haruto sighed as he saw Natsuki and Patrick injured and bleeding quite a lot. Without thinking, Haruto immediately walked over to Lilyana.

"Stop, Lilyana." Haruto called out to Lilyana, who was still standing firm while controlling the iron orbs.

"Ah?" Lilyana then realized Haruto's presence.

"You two, treat your wounds immediately. I did ask you to train your bodies to use Aura Energy roughly, but that doesn't mean you have to get hurt this badly." Haruto said while glancing at Patrick and Natsuki.

"Haah... Haah... We... can still try..." Patrick spoke with labored breaths.

"Stop, you've lost so much blood, and some of your bones are already cracked. You say you can still try? That's just ridiculous." Haruto looked at them with a condescending gaze before pulling out a knife and handing it to Lilyana.

"This?" Lilyana was surprised to receive a knife from Haruto.

"Examine it, observe it, study it, and find out about this knife. Once you have a proper understanding of it, then return it to me. But... if you can't understand this knife, then never return it to me, do you understand?" Haruto looked at Lilyana with a serious expression and a cold tone, a strong pressure was felt as he spoke, while Lilyana, who was listening, fell silent and lowered her head.

"I... I understand. I will try to find out everything about this knife, and... After that, I will return it..." Lilyana replied in a soft voice. If Haruto had looked down and noticed Lilyana's expression, he would have been surprised to see her smile so wide.

"Uhm..." A voice was heard, and instantly all eyes turned to where the sound came from, revealing Bellina, who was starting to move her body.

"Bellina!" Natsuki shouted as she stumbled toward Bellina.

"Slow down, Natsuki...!" Patrick warned Natsuki with a serious face, but in the end, Natsuki still tripped and fell.

"..." Patrick could only stare blankly before helping Natsuki.

"Are you awake?" Haruto, unconcerned with what happened to Natsuki and Patrick, chose to approach Bellina and ask.

However, what Haruto did not notice was that the smile on Lilyana's face suddenly vanished, replaced by an expression of displeasure and disgust as if she were seeing something unpleasant, but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

"I... I'm not sure?" Bellina replied with a confused expression, as honestly, she didn't know if she was okay or not.