Grand Return System

Chapter 246: A Favor He Refused to Admit

A Favor He Refused to Admit

Selena looked at Shera for a long moment.

The battle was over.

The terrifying pressure from the Prison Holy Sect had vanished, leaving only the lingering dust and countless cracks spread across the battlefield. The wind swept through the ruined ground, carrying away the last traces of tension.

Yet for some reason, the emotions inside her heart felt far more difficult to deal with than the battle itself.

Her silver-white hair swayed gently as she lowered her head.

"Guardian Elder Shera..."

Shera glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Selena took a breath before speaking sincerely.

"Thank you for helping us."

For a brief moment, silence fell.

Then Rias stepped forward as well.

The usually confident girl bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you, Guardian Elder."

Amaya nodded from the side.

"If not for your intervention, things could have become much worse."

The moment those words landed, Shera’s expression immediately stiffened.

"Hah?"

His eyebrows twitched.

Then he snorted loudly.

"Hmph!"

He folded his arms behind his back and raised his chin.

"Who said I helped you?"

Everyone blinked.

Shera’s face remained completely serious.

"Don’t get the wrong idea."

His voice became even colder.

"I simply couldn’t stand watching an old fossil throw his weight around and bully a bunch of juniors."

He paused.

"That’s all."

Rias stared.

Selena stared.

Amaya stared.

Even Harry looked confused.

Shera continued speaking as if trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

"You people just happened to be standing there."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

Shera immediately turned around.

"Since everything is settled, I’ll be leaving."

His voice remained calm.

His footsteps, however...

Were suspiciously fast.

Everyone watched his retreating back.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

"Pfft—"

Harry was the first to break.

He quickly covered his mouth.

Unfortunately, his shoulders were already shaking.

Rias slowly turned toward him.

"Are you laughing?"

Harry immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Pfft."

Another laugh escaped.

This time even Selena’s lips twitched.

Amaya looked away, trying to maintain a serious expression.

She failed.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

Rias rubbed her chin thoughtfully while watching Shera’s disappearing figure.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"He helped us."

"Yes."

"He also knows he helped us."

"Yes."

"We also know he helped us."

"Yes."

"Yet he’s still pretending he didn’t."

Harry finally lost control.

"Hahahaha!"

The young man nearly doubled over laughing.

"This is unbelievable!"

Selena couldn’t help smiling either.

"The Guardian Elder is... surprisingly cute."

Rias nodded seriously.

"Classic stubborn senior behavior."

"He saved everyone and now refuses to admit it."

Amaya covered her mouth.

"Now that I think about it..."

"The way he left was incredibly suspicious."

Harry pointed at Shera’s distant figure.

"Look at him."

"He’s practically escaping."

The group burst into laughter again.

Far away, Shera’s ears twitched.

His face darkened.

Naturally, he could hear everything.

Inside his heart, he stubbornly argued with himself.

What nonsense.

Who helped them?

I didn’t help anyone.

I merely happened to arrive.

I merely happened to stop Ronan.

I merely happened to protect them.

That doesn’t count.

Right.

It definitely doesn’t count.

Shera nodded to himself with complete confidence.

A moment later, his walking speed increased slightly.

Unfortunately, that only made the laughter behind him become louder.

Meanwhile, the surrounding cultivators had become unusually quiet.

Earlier, many had looked at the Celestis Academy students with ridicule, contempt, or hidden amusement.

Now those looks were nowhere to be seen.

After witnessing Shera force back Ronan and suppress the Prison Holy Sect without hesitation, nobody dared underestimate Celestis Academy anymore.

Respect had replaced mockery.

Fear had replaced arrogance.

Amaya slowly released a breath she had been holding since the battle began.

Only now did she truly feel the weight lifting from her shoulders.

Straightening her robes, she stepped forward respectfully.

"Greetings, Guardian Elder Shera."

The moment those words left her mouth—

Shera, who had been trying to escape the conversation, froze mid-step.

His eyelid twitched.

"..."

Shera looked over and recognized her.

"Hm? It’s you, Amaya."

He frowned slightly.

"Where’s your Teacher? Didn’t she leave the Academy Premises with you?"

Confusion appeared in his eyes.

Maya should have been here.

If she had appeared earlier, he would never have involved himself in this troublesome situation.

Thinking of this, Shera suddenly felt annoyed.

Troubles.

More and more troubles.

Amaya hesitated.

Then she lowered her head.

"Guardian Elder... Teacher has already entered the Martial Emperor Tomb."

Shera froze.

"What?"

His expression instantly changed.

"She entered already?"

"What exactly happened?"

"The Martial Emperor Tomb hasn’t fully opened yet. There are dangers everywhere inside."

"Why didn’t you stop her?"

Amaya looked wronged.

"Guardian Elder... we couldn’t."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"Guardian Elder Leon had already entered first."

"During the opening of the Martial Emperor Tomb, he chased after the Inferno Swift Bird and entered alone."

"There hasn’t been any news since."

"Teacher learned about it and told us to remain outside while she went to find him."

Silence.

Shera’s face slowly darkened.

Leon entered?

Alone?

For several seconds he stood there motionlessly.

Then his eyelid twitched.

"Does this kid want to die?"

"Before leaving the Academy Premises, Headmaster Mike specifically instructed us that if anyone encountered the Inferno Swift Bird, we were to crush the communication talisman and gather together."

"And this fool chased after it himself?"

Shera’s expression looked uglier and uglier.

Inside his mind countless thoughts flashed.

Then another thought suddenly appeared.

Favor.

Damn favor.

He hated owing people favors.

Especially Leon.

Shera took a deep breath.

Then silently comforted himself.

Fine.

One last time.

Just one final time.

I’ll help him once more.

After this—

We’re even.

Absolutely even.

Straightening his sleeves, Shera turned around calmly and said,

"Stay here obediently."

"Don’t run around."

"Guardian Elder Yaman and the others should arrive soon."

Amaya blinked.

"Guardian Elder... where are you going?"

Shera’s expression immediately became cold again.

"The Martial Emperor Tomb."

The next second—

His figure transformed into a streak of light.

Without looking back, he shot toward the distant entrance.

Then disappeared from everyone’s sight.