"You are to remain at the first zone, is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

Arlo and Joe answered while Arianne harrumphed.

Principal Stanley didn't mind it and instead handed the three of them space pouches.

"All you will need during the exploration, from food, clothing, and some basic medicines are present..."

"...then, let's leave!"

"...!"

"...!"

"...!"

Arlo and the others were dumbfounded. Joe couldn't help but blurt out:

"You mean now?"

"That is right!"

Arianne frowned, "Is there a need for us to go to the portal? Don't we already have the medallions?"

Principal Stanley had already handed each of them a medallion, and from his explanation, all they had to do was keep the medallions on themselves at all times. They would be naturally teleported into the secret realm once it was time.

"It is an order from your grandmother. The opening this time around is unusual, so we don't want to take chances. Besides..." he stared at the three intently.

"...we don't want you suddenly disappearing in class. You should know that a lot of people would not be happy about the three of you entering the secret realm."

Arianne closed her mouth, while a serious look appeared on Arlo's face.

He understood that the secret realm was a stage mainly for grandmaster mages, yet they who were barely in the advanced realm were given a shot among the limited slots. It was certain that a lot of people would be displeased if they found out.

Of course, there wouldn't be any issue with Arianne going, but what about him and Joe?

'I still need to go...' Arlo clenched his hands into fists. He wasn't willing to let go of such a precious opportunity.

This was an opportunity to improve his combat experience. As for the TIR fruits, he didn't care about them. They couldn't even enter the second zone, as according to Principal Stanley, the beasts in the secret realm are unusual, and are twice as strong as those in the outside world.

That was to say, a beast comparable to an early-level advanced mage in the secret realm could actually fight favorably with a late-level advanced beast.

He looked sideways at Joe and noticed the unusual look on his face. But before he could address it, Principal Stanley's voice resounded in the room.

"Let us go!"

.....

After using a teleportation formation, Arlo's group appeared outside the minor world housing the Academy.

They appeared on a familiar plain and found the same old man they met when they followed Stefan the first time.

However, the old man wasn't alone, as seven students and a middle-aged man were present with him.

The eyes of the third-year students widened when they saw Arlo's group.

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It wasn't until after a few breaths that someone voiced out:

"D-don't tell me they are the other three following us..."

None of the students could answer, but slowly their expressions darkened as they looked at Arlo and Joe with hostility. They all tactfully ignored Arianne.

"Teacher, can you explain to us what is going on?" Landon, the first ranked among the third years questioned the middle-aged man following them.

"Th-this..." Their teacher couldn't answer. They were also informed in the morning by the headmaster, and a lot of them were against Arlo and Joe going, but after hearing it was an order from their liege, they could only swallow their anger in frustration.

A dark look appeared on Principal Stanley's face when he saw the teacher who was supposed to explain the situation was quiet. How was he supposed to explain it to them? He might have the status of a principal, but he could only supervise the first years. It was inevitable that some of them would look down on him. The students before him were kids of grand nobles after all.

He looked at the old man guarding the portal for help, but the latter ignored him.

Not receiving any reply, some of the third-year students started emitting killing intent as they looked at Arlo and Joe. They knew they were not supposed to harm Arlo, but they couldn't swallow their anger and displeasure.

It was at this moment that the portal flashed before a new figure appeared.

The tense atmosphere disappeared as if a lie, while the angry look on the third years changed into surprise before reverting to normal.

"La-lady Evangeline?" Landon stammered in confusion.

Evangeline smiled before standing before Arlo.

"Can I be the one to take the students?" Evangeline ignored the third years and instead shifted her eyes between Principal Stanley and the third-year teacher.

A look of relief appeared on Principal Stanley's face as he nodded readily.

"Of course."

Evangeline shifted her gaze to the third-year teacher who flinched upon locking eyes with her. But a moment later, he seemed to gather his courage and spoke:

"But my lady, I was instructed by the principal to follow them. Besides, is it okay for someone of your status to handle such a trivial matter?"

Evangeline's face turned icy cold, "Are you telling me what and what not to do?"

"Heok!" The teacher stumbled and almost fell in fear. "I don't dare, I don't dare. You can go, I-I will explain to the principal."

The cold look on Evangeline's face suddenly turned into a light smile, "Thank you."

She finally looked at the third-year students and gestured toward the aerial mounts prepared by the academy, "Why don't we go?"

Gulping sounds resounded in the area. They already knew that Arlo was Evangeline's true disciple so they could only swallow their disgruntlement in defeat.

Arlo's heart warmed as he gazed at Evangeline's back.

'She is just as dependable as father...' While Evangeline's shoulder wasn't as broad as Arthur's, her image overlapped with his father for a moment in his eyes.

"Let us go!" Evangeline spoke to Arlo's group as she jumped onto one of the three mounts. Soon after, the group took into the air.

.....

The desolate plains.

This was the first place Arlo appeared after he was teleported into this world.

As they passed through the dark veil acting as a barrier for the northern continent, a familiar sight entered Arlo's vision.

The bleak rocky ground that filled his vision was dyed crimson by the sky.

Short memories of when he was captured and taken to the northern continent flashed within his mind briefly.

'It was during that time I made my first friend...' Arlo thought as he looked at Joe with a smile only for it to stiffen.

"Are you okay?" Arlo frowned as he looked at the trembling Joe but he didn't receive any reply.

He had to shake him before Joe came back to himself.

"Ye-yes?"

Arlo frowned at Joe's unusual behavior.

"What is wrong?"

"No-nothing!"

Arlo looked at the ugly smile on Joe's face and didn't know what to do. In the end, he decided to drop the issue and observe him closely.

Arianne looked at Joe with an unreadable expression. She had an inkling of what might be disturbing Joe but didn't want to pry into his personal matters.

Evangeline stood at the forefront of the group as she seemed lost in her thoughts. What Arlo's group didn't realize was that she had been studying the pitch-black snake coiled around Joe's neck closely with her divine sense. Even the now-powerful Arianne couldn't notice her spiritual energy.

She was really curious about the beast that piqued Scarlett's interest but in the end, she couldn't gleam anything special about the snake.

The journey continued for several hours.

Arlo had already noticed they were not flying in the direction of the crimson forest where he first met Joe and was attacked by slave traders and Torkuns.

Suddenly Arlo saw a crack in space a distance away from them. As they approached closer he noticed the crack wasn't wide, but he could still sense the chaotic space within it.

Before the crack were three groups of people.

Arlo's group landed before the groups who were studying them when his eyes suddenly widened in surprise.

He noticed that two of the groups had a different air around them. He could judge from the aura around them that they weren't humans neither were they vampires. In fact, one of the groups had an aura similar to Joe's.

However, that wasn't what surprised him.

Arlo's eyes were fixed on the last group comprised of nine people. He could tell from the air around them that they were just like him.

That is right!

They were humans...