Isekai No Gakusei: Students From Another World
The Silent in the Shadow

"alright. Treatment complete. Quickly take him to the isolation room. Let him rest until he fully recovers!" Darren shouted at the nurses beside him.

"Good!"

In front of him, a young man who was supposedly an adventurer, was lying with his stomach partially covered in black patches. He was taken by the nurses with a train bed out of the room, to the isolation room.

At the door, some of his friends were waiting with worried faces. As soon as they saw Darren, they immediately approached him.

"Thank you very much!" The adventurers shouted thanks. They had a total of four people, including the patient.

"We don't know what to reply with" one of them continued.

"Ah, it's okay. Besides, we are trying to reduce the rate of spread of the disease" said Darren. "But if you may know, how did your friend become infected?"

They look at each other. Then one of them answered. "To be honest we don't really know."

Others continue too. "When on his way from Steinfen, he suddenly started to feel unwell. At first we thought he was just catching a cold."

"Steinfen?" Darren raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. City of famous adventurers. Many of the top diamond-ranked adventurers were from there," Clearly they were. "We originally wanted to celebrate the passing of the exam going up the ranks. But we didn't expect one of our friends to fall into this condition."

"Eh, the exam's up the ranks? What is an adventurer exam?" Ask Darren.

"Yes. To become a top adventurer, of course, you need a high rank. So we ran the exam at the adventurer academy there."

"Ah, so it seems," Darren nodded. "All right then. I hope you're all right."

"Thank you very much."

The adventurers also left. Darren just stood at the door with sweat all over his clothes. Suddenly someone appeared from the hallway and approached him.

"It must be heavy, yes" Nigel appeared with a handkerchief and potion. He gave it to Darren. "You look exhausted. Better drink this first."

"Yes, thank you."

Darren gulped down the potion. Instantly the Mana in his body was filled again. He then wiped away the sweat that flowed with a handkerchief.

"But there seems to be progress" Nigel said. "Lately you've been able to use that light magic a few times. Even though the previous one-time use alone can make you faint."

"Yes, I was a little surprised too. It feels like everything that happens in this village is so fast" said Darren. "It's not just my ability. But everything is literally."

"really? Everything is going normally for me" Nigel said. "When you rescue us from the slave merchant's hand, we can feel the decent living in this village. Maybe that's why we feel this village is like our own home."

"Haha, I'm glad to hear you guys are adapting well here."

Darren began to stretch his body. As usual, the light magic to neutralize the damned illness was really making him tired. Even the Mana Potion could not treat it as a whole.

"But this is serious" Darren said. "Lately, cases of the cursed disease are starting to spread rapidly. I'm afraid if this disease runs too far, I won't be able to treat everything."

"really. I think so too. The only one who can treat the illness here is you, Darren-sama. But we know that it will burden your health" replied Nigel. "If we had a reliable medical personnel to deal with this problem."

Darren glances. "What about the adventurers who live here? Can none of those who work as healers handle it?"

Nigel. "Many of them are talented. But the disease is far above their level. The light magic required was not arbitrary. Like yours."

Darren scratched his head. "Agh, this is very troublesome."

Darren was frustrated. He knew that he himself would not be enough to overcome the problem of this disease. He had thought of asking Lionna for help in Vertrag, considering that he was able to use light magic well. But he still abandoned that intention.

"Awl, Nigel. Do you still have any other information about this disease?" Ask Darren.

Nigel stroked his chin. "I'm afraid the information we have is limited to its effects. As I explained during the meeting, those who die from this disease will turn into the undead."

"Is that all? Are there no data on the characteristics of this disease?"

"The only characteristic he has is his weakness in sacred healing magic, as you have," Nigel explained. "Sadly few people have mastered this magic."

"so yeah. We're really short of information."

Suddenly from the opposite direction, it appeared that Riuku was running towards them in a hurry.

"Darren-sama," Call her.

"My wife, what's wrong?"

My riu tried to control her breath that was panting. "Ravenna-sama is calling you."

"Eh, what's all of a sudden like this?"

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Darren enters a room that is none other than Ravenna's room. While guided by Riuku, he was directed to a seat with a table full of books.

"We arrived. Please sit down first," Riuku pulled the bench and invited Darren.

"Ah yes."

Shortly after, from behind the lined bookshelves, Ravenna walked out. It was like he had been waiting for Darren ever since.

Darren glanced towards the impressed Ravenna dressed... 'different'?

"So this is what you always wear when you're not adventuring?" Darren looked at Ravenna in a t-shirt and shorts.

"I can also relax! You think I'm gonna wear that harness all the time?" Reply Ravenna while sitting in front of him.

"Then, what did you call me?" Ask Darren.

Ravenna threw some paper on the table. At first Darren did not understand what he meant, until suddenly his eyes were adrift on something on one of the papers.

"picture? Whose painting is this?" Darren grabbed the sheet and observed it.

A slightly complicated sketch. Not so detailed, but can explain that the image is a person.

"These are all reports from the patrol team that was on guard yesterday. One of them captured the moment when they found something strange on the outskirts of the city" Ravenna said.

"Is this human? His body shape looks normal. It just looks. Short."

"Indeed, the picture is a little unclear. But the testimony of the team members says that it's not human."

"Eh? Is this undead?"

"Eitherway. The patrol team chose to return the instant they saw him. According to the testimony, the creature exuded an extremely heavy aura. Just feeling it was enough to undo their fighting intent."

"so yeah. Do I have to check it out?"

Ravenna took a breath. "I'm not sure myself. After hearing that you are being hunted by the Demon King, I fear that this is just their game" Ravenna replied. "But on the other hand, no one can get close to him."

As they were conversing, suddenly another voice came from the window of Ravenna's room. A voice that suddenly appeared without being detected at all.

"Ravenna, don't-don't you forget that I'm still here" The masked man, the Emerald Green, jumped in through the window.

Ravenna turned her head and looked as if she said she had faced this kind of thing every day.

"How many times have I told you. Through door!"

"If I go through the door, you will definitely change the subject immediately" Akira replied as he walked closer.

"So you're spying on us?" Darren.

"I didn't mean to. But seeing you come in, I feel like something interesting is going to happen" he replied. "But take it easy. I'm not gonna leak anything I hear here to King Friedlich. I'll keep this information to myself."

"It's better" said little Ravenna.

Akira took off his mask and his eyes immediately glanced at the papers on the table.

"You want to catch this guy, right? What if I help you?" Akira. "At least I can take care of Esema-kun if anything happens."

Ravenna immediately rejected the proposal outright. "You are a guest. Wherever possible we'll leave our guests in danger."

"Ah done. Don't worry about me. If we let the enemy go too long, they might start the next step."

"That's right, Ravenna. We'd better act fast" said Darren.

Ravenna was worried. I doubt if this is the right choice. If it turns out that the enemy was planning this to capture Darren, then this would just be a suicide move. But he was even more doubtful whether letting the enemy roam would give better results.

"Huffs... All right, I leave this to you, Darren. And also Akira, please take care of him," Ravenna gave up and let them go.

"Give it to us. I, as Friedlich's representative, will definitely help our neighboring country" Akira replied.

The two of them immediately left and prepared everything needed to anticipate any threat. Don't forget Darren alerted his team and gathered them together. Now they are ready to go.

"So this is my first mission in town, huh?" Hain looked enthusiastic.

At his side, Tora giggled while glancing at him. "Hopefully this won't be the last."

"I'm not going to die that easy!"

Shiro walked over to Darren. "Darren-sama, what exactly is this?"

Darren said as he lifted the bag onto his shoulder. "We're just gonna check something out. Whether it's a threat or not."

Darren turned to Akira who was ready with his green sword. Bathed in the afternoon sun, the dominant mask of green color seemed to glow like a real emerald. Although his face was covered, Darren could guess that Akira was feeling excited.

"Just a few months ago. But it feels like we haven't worked together like this for a long time" Akira said. His silhouette grew thick as the sun began to sink.

Darren smiles. "Yes. I hope your abilities don't accumulate."

Akira chuckles. "I should have said that" he said. "Well, now we better get moving. The sun is getting dim."

Even dusk fetch. Slowly the darkness began to rise up enveloping the view. In times like these, darkness can be a good hiding place. But the only ones who think like that aren't just them. Anyone can join the shadow.

Like an owl, it watches its prey closely. Patiently, he will wait for the right moment to arrive. And when the time comes, it will strike like a silent lightning.

"This time I will never fail again. I, Serina, won't let you down, Albino-sama."

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