Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 110: The Mercenary Union

Reesa found the whole scene increasingly baffling.

The two of them had been trading sharp words back and forth, sparks flying, yet not a single sign of actual violence appeared. No killing intent, no surge of killing aura. Just... arguing?

Arguing.

The moment that word surfaced in her mind, even Raphael herself felt disbelief.

Arguing and Alaric Von Seraph?

Those two concepts had never belonged in the same sentence. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Everyone in the academy knew that Alaric Von Seraph, the strongest among the special-enrollment students, was famously cold, distant, and razor-tongued. He rarely spoke, and when he did, it was brief and merciless.

Bickering was something he should be fundamentally incapable of.

Even Sylvandria was quietly stunned. Her clear, watery eyes held unconcealed surprise.

She had never seen Alaric Von Seraph behave like this. Never.

If it were anyone else daring to speak to him that way, the outcome would have been simple and brutal. Alaric Von Seraph did not differentiate between men and women. Aside from her, no one received special tolerance.

So why was Zora different?

That question lingered uncomfortably in Sylvandria’s mind.

The meal ended amid this strange and slightly chaotic atmosphere. After leaving the restaurant, Zora and Reesa did not walk together with Raphael and the others.

"Zora," Reesa asked curiously, "what exactly is going on between you and Alaric Von Seraph?"

She didn’t know Zora for very long, but she understood her temperament well enough. Today’s behavior clearly wasn’t normal for her.

Zora shook her head lightly. "I just happened to run into someone who ruins my appetite. He started it."

Reesa laughed softly. "That sounds about right. Alaric Von Seraph is famous for his cold demeanor and poisonous tongue. Everyone knows that."

"That’s also why, even though his strength clearly surpasses everyone else, his popularity is nowhere near Senior Raphael’s," she added.

Zora raised an eyebrow. It seemed she really needed to learn more about the academy’s influential figures.

"Let’s not talk about him anymore," she said calmly. "Just seeing him is enough to ruin my mood."

Reesa nodded in agreement, then suddenly changed the topic. "What do you think of Sylvandria?"

Zora thought for a moment. "She’s gentle and beautiful. Not bad."

Reesa shook her head decisively. "Too gentle. It makes me uncomfortable. I prefer being around you."

A faint smile appeared on Zora’s lips. Somehow, that answer felt very much like Reesa.

*

The next day;

Morning sunlight streamed through the window, falling gently over Zora as she finished her cultivation.

Knock. Knock.

"Zora," Baldwin’s cheerful voice came from outside. "The back mountain martial training starts soon. Are you up?"

Zora opened her eyes, already fully prepared. She opened the door with a smile. "Sure, let’s go together."

Baldwin grinned brightly. It was their first official day of cultivation at the academy, and his good mood was unmistakable.

Raphael had already explained yesterday that ordinary students trained at the academy’s open martial fields, while special-enrollment students cultivated at the back mountain.

The back mountain was, in effect, their exclusive territory.

As they passed by the ordinary training grounds, they spotted Reesa waving enthusiastically in their direction.

Zora waved back calmly.

Baldwin, however, waved with such enthusiasm that it looked like his arm might fly off.

White rolled his eyes. "Is he afraid his hand won’t get noticed unless it falls off?"

Black stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Do you think he’s interested in Reesa?"

White’s eyes lit up. "You know... that actually sounds very possible."

Somewhere ahead, the path to the back mountain stretched onward, and with it, the beginning of a very interesting academy life.

Zora paid no attention to the wild guesses of the two little fellows. Still, she had to admit that Baldwin’s enthusiasm toward Reesa was a bit... excessive. That said, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Along the path leading toward the back mountain, many students cast envious glances in their direction.

Cultivating at Mt. Etna was something countless students dreamed of.

Special-enrollment students were, after all, a completely different existence within the academy.

When Zora and Baldwin arrived at Mt. Etna, they discovered that Raphael and the others had already arrived.

The training grounds here were far broader than those used by ordinary students. Vast, open, and infused with a faint spiritual aura, the place felt entirely different at first glance. Yet despite its size, there were only a handful of people present.

Raphael, Alaric Von Seraph, and Sylvandria were already there, along with three unfamiliar students.

At that moment, Miel’s figure appeared before everyone.

"Since everyone is here, let me first welcome the two new special-enrollment students of this year," Tutor Miel said with a smile. "Zora and Baldwin."

As his voice fell, Raphael and the others applauded, the sound echoing clearly through the mountains.

"Raphael should have already explained the general situation of the academy to you yesterday," Miel continued. "For special-enrollment students, cultivation is not confined to the academy grounds. In fact, most of your training will take place outside."

From Miel’s explanation, Zora learned that special-enrollment students rarely gathered like this. Some had yet to return at all.

Today’s meeting was only because it was the first day of the term. On ordinary days, there was no need to report in regularly.

Their primary way of cultivating was through missions. By accepting tasks at the Mercenary Union, they could earn points while tempering themselves in real combat.

Points were everything within the academy.

Entering the cultivation tower required points. Without them, one couldn’t even step inside.

The cultivation tower was the holy land all practitioners longed for. With its dense and refined spiritual energy, cultivation there produced twice the results with half the effort, raising their sea of mana and pushing them closer to their next stage. No one could afford to ignore its value.

"The two newcomers are still unfamiliar with how to earn points," Miel said, turning to the others. "Alaric Von Seraph, Raphael, you’ll take Zora with your group. Baldwin, you’ll follow Marcus. Make sure you guide them well. Any objections?"

When Alaric Von Seraph heard that Zora would be assigned to his group, a flicker of emotion passed through his dark eyes. His gaze swept briefly over her before he replied coolly, "No problem."

Marcus nodded with a grin. "No problem at all."

The smile in Raphael’s eyes deepened. This arrangement was... interesting.

Zora and Alaric Von Seraph clearly didn’t get along, yet they were now assigned to the same group. It seemed fate had a sense of humor.

Sylvandria stiffened slightly upon hearing the arrangement, though her expression quickly softened again, her gentle smile returning as if nothing had happened.

Raphael walked over and casually draped an arm over Zora’s shoulder. "Have you registered with the Mercenary Union yet?"

Zora paused, then shook her head. "Not yet."

Her answer drew surprised looks from those around her.

The Mercenary Union was one of the largest organizations on the Holy Mystic Continent. Most cultivators registered there as soon as they came of age.

No one had expected that Zora hadn’t registered at all.

Raphael blinked, then laughed softly. "Looks like we’ll have plenty to do."

"Zora, I’ve been registered as a mercenary for two years already, and you still haven’t registered?" Baldwin stared at her in surprise.