Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 126: Return to the Academy

After everything they had been through, none of them objected.

Nearly a full day and night of running, fighting, and fear had pushed their bodies to the limit. Though exhaustion weighed heavily on them, this was not a place where they could afford to rest.

The four set off together toward the academy. With most of the monsters having joined the frenzy, the road ahead was eerily quiet. Not a single beast appeared, and the silence felt almost unreal after the chaos they had just escaped.

Meanwhile, far away, at the edge of the ravaged cliffs, a lone figure stood frozen.

Alder stared down into the abyss, his face drained of all color and his hands clenched tightly.

"Before leaving, His Highness had personally instructed me to protect the Princess Consort. For days, I had followed at a distance, guarding her in secret so as not to interfere with her trial."

Her performance had astonished him, and there had been no need for him to intervene.

Yet no one had expected a beast tide.

Even with his strength, he had been nearly powerless in the face of that overwhelming calamity.

By the time he realized Zora had been separated, it was already too late. He could not reach her. He could only watch helplessly as the beast tide swallowed everything in its path.

Zora... the one person the Prince cared for most.

Despair and crushing guilt filled Alder’s eyes. He felt as though his chest had been torn open. How could he face the Prince now? What right did he have to continue living?

For a fleeting moment, he even thought of leaping into the abyss himself.

But he stopped.

No matter how unbearable it was, he had to report back. Even if it meant kneeling and awaiting punishment, even if it meant death, he had to tell the truth.

Slowly, Alder straightened his back. His expression was ashen, yet his steps were firm as he turned and walked out of the White Mountains.

*

Later, at some unknown location, in a campsite with a couple of tents;

Prince Kael was staring down with an extreme cold gaze at his subordinate, as Alder reported to him every detail, from Zora’s heroics against rhino beasts to the beast tide.

A terrifying pressure exploded outward, filling the room like an invisible tidal wave.

The air trembled, the furnishings shuddered, and the atmosphere turned suffocatingly cold.

"You said..." Prince Kael’s voice was low, each word carrying an icy edge, "That Zora died under the beast tide?"

A thin layer of frost seemed to settle over his handsome features. His lips curved into something that was not quite a smile, but far more dangerous. His gaze locked onto Alder like a blade, so sharp that it made Alder tremble in fear.

Alder could endure no more. He dropped to his knees without hesitation. "This subordinate failed in his duty," he said hoarsely.

In truth, he felt that being allowed to kneel here was already a mercy.

Prince Kael’s expression was terrifying.

That woman, who was resolute, fearless, and decisive, the woman he had personally chosen and acknowledged... had fallen?

"Bang!"

His palm slammed down onto the exquisite pear-wood table. A violent surge of power erupted outward, the air exploding with a deafening roar. Alder was hurled backward like a broken kite, crashing hard into the wall as blood spilled from his mouth and splattered onto the ground.

The table, once carved with care and luxury, had already been reduced to fine dust.

Alder struggled to his feet, his body trembling as he forced himself upright. Ignoring the pain tearing through his chest, he staggered forward and knelt once more before Prince Kael.

He had failed.

He had failed to protect the person the Prince valued most. No punishment could outweigh that sin.

Prince Kael’s eyes were cold and razor-sharp, like a lone wolf staring across a frozen plain. Murderous intent surged silently within them, restrained only by sheer will.

Then, after a long, suffocating pause, he turned his sleeve sharply. "Prepare to leave. We’re going to the academy."

As long as he had not seen her body with his own eyes, he would not believe she was dead.

"But Prince, you are currently..." Alder began, alarm flickering through his voice.

Before he could finish, a piercing gaze locked onto him. It was enough.

Alder swallowed the rest of his words. The fact that the Prince had spared his life already exceeded his expectations. To say anything further would be courting death.

Still, his heart sank heavily. The Prince was at a critical stage of reclaiming authority. Leaving now would undoubtedly invite trouble from every direction.

Yet seeing the iron resolve burning in Prince Kael’s eyes, Alder understood something clearly. Nothing could stop him.

Only now did he truly realize the weight Zora held in the Prince’s heart.

In the past, he had sensed that the Prince treated Zora differently, but without an official bond of marriage, he had never regarded her as the true mistress of the household.

Now, however, there was no room for doubt.

She was the one.

And it was precisely because of this that guilt crushed his heart even more fiercely. If anything happened to Zora, he would be unforgivable.

*

After several days of exhausting travel, Zora and the others finally returned, having been forced to take long detours since the main routes were still affected by the beast tide. Time had been wasted, and fatigue weighed heavily on them.

Along the way, nearly every conversation revolved around the beast tide. Grief lingered in many faces they passed, and from the hushed tones and red eyes, it was obvious that countless lives had been lost in the White Mountains.

The moment the four appeared at the city gates, countless gazes fell upon them, filled with shock, relief, and disbelief.

Alaric Von Seraph and his companions were well-known figures from the academy.

Their venture into the White Mountains for a mercenary mission had long been common knowledge. After news of the beast tide spread, almost everyone had been anxiously awaiting word of whether they had survived.

For half a month, male and female students alike had been restless, fearing the worst.

Raphael and Alaric Von Seraph were the objects of admiration for countless young women in the academy. Even if they could never get close, the mere thought of them was enough to fuel dreams and fantasies. If those dreams were to vanish so abruptly, how unbearably dull would academy life become?

Sylvandria, too, was the dream lover of many men. Even though her feelings for Alaric Von Seraph were widely known, it had never stopped others from secretly longing.

And now, there was also Zora.

The newly arrived student, who had shaken the academy from the moment she appeared.

In beauty and presence, she was no less striking than Sylvandria. Sylvandria’s heart already belonged to someone else, but Zora was new, mysterious, and unattached.

Hope, for many, burned brightly around her.

The return of Alaric Von Seraph’s four-person team was enough to stir the entire academy.

After all, the squad almost embodied the dreams of countless students. If the four of them had truly perished in the White Mountains, then half the academy would have been left clutching broken hopes.

For that very reason, the moment Zora and the others appeared at the city gates, excitement rippled outward like waves.

"Senior Raphael and the others are back safely!"

"I knew it. With their strength, how could something go wrong?"

"I can finally breathe easy. I haven’t slept properly these past few days. Tonight, I’m sleeping soundly."

"My dream goddess... I can see her again. Just seeing her alive makes me happy."

Listening to the lively chatter, Zora’s red lips curved slightly, an amused smile blooming at the corner of her mouth. The youthful vitality of the academy was infectious.

The reputations of Alaric Von Seraph, Raphael, and the others were clearly well-earned. It was no small thing to have so many people genuinely concerned for their safety.

"Master, quite a few of them are happy about your safe return, too," Black whispered with a grin.

Zora lifted her brows faintly. She had only been in the academy for three days in total. Apart from Reesa and the special enrollment students, she barely knew anyone else.

"Master, your popularity is already on par with Sylvandria’s," White added smugly, his eyes curved into crescents. "So many men admire you. Hahaha."

Thinking of how, in just a few days, so many people had already remembered their master, Black puffed up with pride. At this rate, the entire academy would soon be conquered.

The four of them didn’t linger at the city gates. After days of nonstop flight and escape, exhaustion weighed heavily on their bodies.

"Let’s report to the mentors first," Alaric Von Seraph said calmly, his clear eyes thoughtful. "The beast tide erupted suddenly. Many students were in the White Mountains at the time. The mentors must be anxious."

Zora and the others nodded. These past few days must have been torture for those waiting for news.