Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

The raging cold wind swept into the teaching building, brushing against the hair on the back of Hayes's and his two companions' necks like a blade.

[Silver Lion - Loki] instantly emerged from the necklace, his nose twitching as he discerned the scent, and spoke solemnly to the three.

"Hays heard right, something... is coming this way!"

Upon hearing this, Gentry was so frightened that his body trembled!

In this mysterious place, who knows what is chasing them?

Even Linda looked unwell, and she asked Hayes.

"What should we do, hide?"

Hayes remained silent, using his exceptional hearing as a fourth-tier warrior to discern the other's footsteps.

Da da da...

It sounded like high heels?

Then it must be a creature from the secret realm, not a student from Class 1 or Class 2, because wearing these kinds of shoes is prohibited in practical classes.

Da da da...

The other party's movement speed is not fast. Although it is a creature from a secret realm, it shouldn't be chasing them because they left the classroom.

With his mind racing, Hayes quickly made a decision.

"Let's avoid her for now and keep moving forward."

However, no sooner had Hayes finished speaking than the owner of those footsteps seemed to have seen through their intentions.

The footsteps suddenly quickened and became louder in Hayes' ears!

Da da da da!

In just about two seconds, even Gentry and Linda heard footsteps!

Hayes's expression changed: "She's sped up, run!"

Linda reacted instantly, deftly flipping onto Loki's back, the two of them tracing a graceful arc along the corridor.

Hayes, who was a step behind, was perfectly on par with Loki. He pushed his physical abilities to the limit and his running speed even slightly surpassed Loki's!

As Loki ran, he glanced back and saw Hayes keeping up with his speed with his bare hands. He was so shocked that he staggered and almost fell.

"Did this kid use a card? He's running so fast!"

Linda was already used to being on his back. She looked back in the direction they had come from, and her brows furrowed instantly.

"Hays, where's Gentry?"

Hayes was startled and subconsciously turned around to look. His eyesight, enhanced by his warrior class, watched as Gentry "wriggled" toward the two of them at a pitifully slow running speed.

Hayes panicked and yelled, "You idiot, use a card!"

Running away physically in a secret realm? You think you're me?!

Gentry was panting heavily, crying out as if he wanted to cry but had no tears.

"I didn't bring any escape cards!"

A card master can carry and use a maximum of thirty cards at a time. Even if they forcibly carry more cards, they will be "locked" by an invisible force.

It seems to be one of the unique rules in this world.

Hayes rolled his eyes and almost fainted from anger. He thought of the scene when Gentry moved dormitories and cursed as he turned around.

"No cards needed to move luggage, no cards needed to escape, what on earth is in your deck of eight cards?!"

Even so, Hayes' pace was not slow at all. He silently calculated the distance between them in his mind. It would only take him seven or eight seconds to reach Gentry and pull him along.

However, from the darkness behind Gentry, a familiar figure burst forth...

Hayes' pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Professor Grace?"

"No, wait, who the hell are you?!"

A familiar figure, a familiar running style.

The iconic demonic hand surrounding the opponent instantly reminded Hayes of the terrifying night during his hospitalization when he was "paralyzed" by the opponent's single blow.

In stark contrast, Grace at that time wore an old nightgown and was disheveled.

But this "old professor" is dressed... a little too fashionably!

She was wearing a glamorous burgundy dress, sky-high heels, and her makeup was so thick it could withstand an attack!

The most egregious part was that the other person's dry, yellowish-brown calves, exposed as they ran, were smooth and hairless, resembling the smooth, moldy shell of an egg that had been meticulously cared for...

Hayes was genuinely terrified; he had always thought that the real-life Professor Grace was terrifying enough.

But now, facing Grace, who still retains her charm, he understands what it means to be a nobody compared to a great one!

"Hays, come up here!"

In that instant, Linda, who was controlling Loki, caught up. She grabbed Hayes's hand and pulled him behind her, then activated the [Swiftness Potion] to increase Loki's speed by another level!

However, Hayes hesitated as he pressed against Linda's back.

"Should we run away and forget about Gentry..."

Linda: ? ? ?

"What's wrong? What did you see...?"

Hayes:...

You'll find out soon enough.

"..."

Holy crap!!!

Linda, whose eyesight was not as good as Hayes', did not see the identity and face of the pursuers until she was right next to Gentry.

This noble lady, who had received a high level of etiquette education since childhood, actually swore at this moment!

Sitting on Loki's back, Linda panicked: "What is this?"

She could barely speak properly, so she hurriedly called Gentry up.

Before the three people and the lion could even set off again, the "Gorgeous Limited Edition Grace" had already blocked their way.

"This way!"

Linda grabbed Loki by the hair, trying to escape down the other side of the corridor, but Grace was much faster than Loki!

She leaped high over the three people's heads and instantly appeared in front of them again.

"Hehehe..."

Grace straightened her long, red-dyed wavy hair and adjusted her dress.

A kind smile appeared on her face, which was covered with blush and white powder.

She looked at the three people huddled together, shivering, and greeted them warmly.

"Class, don't I look pretty today?"

No one answered; the only sound in the air was Gentry's uncontrollable hiccups, a result of his overwhelming fear.

"Um?"

Grace stopped giggling; her expression turned cold, and the demonic hand wrapped around her back trembled.

She asked again, "Am I pretty?"

Linda dismounted from Loki as if facing a formidable enemy, fully prepared for battle.

Hayes finally snapped out of his daze at the other man's striking appearance and nodded vigorously, saying repeatedly.

"Beautiful, beautiful!"

"She still retains her charm!"

Hayes' face darkened as he met the incomprehensible and shocked looks of Linda and Gentry.

He muttered to himself, "Unless you want to fight this guy..."

"Or just go along with her and praise her lavishly!"

To be honest, Hayes was really thrown off balance by this "mysterious version of Grace" just now.

But by this point, he had already vaguely guessed the monster's inner logic...

With Hayes's reminder, Linda and Gentry realized what was happening and began nodding frantically at Grace, mimicking Hayes's actions.

"Good! Good!"

"She's beautiful!"

Upon hearing this, Grace grinned so wide her mouth was crooked, revealing two rows of carefully polished white teeth.

Hayes and the other two chuckled along with her, but soon their laughter stopped.

"So, students, tell me, what makes the teacher beautiful?"

Hayes: !!

Linda: ? ? ?

Gentry: Hiccup!