This time around, they had definitely gained a lot since the number of monsters they killed was not few.

It was more than double the amount they got before.

Well, it was only normal, though.

They got all the supplies they needed and even ordered some extra.

Since he noticed that his hoodie had become too prone to getting blood nowadays no matter how careful he was, he decided to get some sets as well.

Noah got another set of shield and bat since the one he previously used was already damaged to some extent. Desther also got a new dagger since the previous one was already getting duller.

After that, they decided to take a rest in some of the tents provided by the school.

These tents were just temporary lodging, and they even needed to pay a few points to stay for a night. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The school was really encouraging them to get used to living on their own in the wild.

Scrolling through Professional Tube, Desther did not get any notable news. The trending topic as of this moment still revolves around the announcement made by the Celestial Kingdom.

He went to sleep and, as usual, woke up before the sun could rise.

He and Lexie decided they would meet after breakfast at the entrance of the main gate. He thought that he should still have enough time to do some exercise to pass up some time.

Although with his current strength and physique he no longer needs to exercise, once you build a habit, it would be very hard not to do it.

Desther did not do some hard exercises, but he did do enough to make him feel a little warmed up.

As the sun gradually rose, Desther went to the main base cafeteria and bought his own breakfast. He ate light, as he did not like what the cafeteria offered. The prices were not too student-friendly as well.

As he ate, he also looked around, searching for Noah and Lexie.

He was already done when he saw Lexie was already freshened up. She was wearing a simple white long-sleeved shirt that she intentionally rolled up to her elbow.

Desther observed as she approached him.

"Done eating?"

Desther nodded his head in response.

"You?"

"I’m done as well. Are we just waiting for Noah?"

Desther nodded his head in affirmation.

"I assume you weren’t able to find a cure for that?" He suddenly said, his gaze landing on her right side.

She may have freshened up, but Desther could tell by the way she walked that the wound was still there, aching on her back.

She nodded curtly at his question.

"I applied some advanced ointments as well, but none of them worked, at the very least, not as they are advertised to be. The wound is slowly healing now, though, to say the least. Still, it might take a few days or even a week before it completely heals."

As one advances in levels and tier, natural recovery would also speed up. For those with high Vitality Attributes, the effects would become even more exaggerated. Normal wounds would take less than a day to completely heal naturally.

But of course, the higher the level and tier of the Awakened Professional, the kind of wounds and injuries they endure could no longer be called normal. Enough rest was still necessary for complete rejuvenation and recovery.

For Lexie to estimate that it would take a week to recover even with advanced ointment and maybe healing potions at play spoke volumes to what kind of injury she had sustained from that monster.

"You’re sure you don’t want to rest a few more days before we check that area?" He asked.

"It’s fine. I’m also curious what kind of monster it is. I have already reported this to the teachers in charge, but none of them knew of it either. If we gather enough evidence that the monster indeed exists in that area, we can commission a task in the Professional Alliance and let the upper-tier Awakened Professionals hunt it."

Desther nodded his head in understanding.

This was the usual process. If an Awakened Professional gathered enough evidence pointing out a strong monster in a particular area, they could report it to the alliance and let them issue a task for other Professionals to complete.

The reporter would be given a reward depending on the risk involved and how much profit they could get from that monster. It was made this way to encourage others not to face such monsters forcefully and instead let the alliance handle it properly.

"Anyway, why’s Noah not here yet?"

The time was ticking, and they should already be leaving by now.

Desther shrugged his shoulders and whipped out his phone to message him.

The moment he opened his phone, though, a message came right at the exact moment, as if just waiting for him to pick up the phone.

"Boss, I can’t come. I have diarrhea."

’This kind of excuse sounds lame...’

Desther thought. From the looks of it, Noah did not plan on going in the first place.

Awakened Professionals, especially those who have already increased their levels, rarely get natural sickness anymore. After all, as their levels rose, they would have surely input some Free Attributes toward their Vitality too.

Although he did not know why Noah didn’t want to come, Desther did not think too much about it and even thought that it was better this way.

After all, they were going to search for that monster, and from his and Lexie’s previous encounter with it, it did not seem to be the type to be easily defeated.

If Noah came, he would just become a burden once a battle of such caliber unfolded.

Although it seemed hurtful, that was the truth, and he doesn’t want to sugarcoat it.

Desther had actually planned to let him stay in the treehouse, but it seems that it would not be needed anymore.

He showed the message to Lexie, and even Lexie raised an eyebrow upon seeing Noah’s message.

"Well, it seems that it’s just gonna be the two of us this time around," he said as he got up, preparing to leave.

"Right!"

Lexie responded calmly, but her inner emotions were anything but that.