[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith":3,"chapter-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-15":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Return of the Legendary Runesmith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1562540,2026,"Chapter 15 14- Departure","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>In the evening, Adrian met the person who would be protecting him for the next two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nice to meet you, Miss Eve.\" It was a red-haired woman in her twenties, perhaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in sleeveless armor that showcased her toned muscles and battle-worn scars, she carried a striking, almost rugged allure. Her fiery red eyes burned with intensity, and her sharp features only added to her untamed beauty—fierce, unyielding, and effortlessly captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was requested to be an escort.\" She said in a flat tone as she remained standing before the table\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A straightforward personality, huh? Well, Adrian appreciates it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, you need to be my guard until I return to the Academy. I think you must have already had a talk with Headmistress Ariana about the pay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. It'd be 700 a day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian raised his brows...that's quite less than what he heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you mind if I ask for your Warden ID card?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman might have read his thoughts as her eyes narrowed. However, she didn't say anything, even though she seemed inclined to, and handed him her hunting ID.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian assessed the ID and was surprised to find her rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are at seventy-seven rank? That's impressive.\" Adrian complimented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. The only reason I am charging you so little is because Ariana is my ex-senior.\" She clarified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian hummed. That explains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the ID back to her before asking her, \"So, shall we leave right away?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman remained silent, which was taken as a 'Yes' by Adrian as he got up from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has already hired a carriage and a driver to drive him back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The total money he would be spending on this trip was about two thousand gold coins. Too much, but there was no other option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stepped into the hall, Eve began following him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were several students who came across them and greeted Adrian as they usually do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve noticed that the most enthusiastic ones were the little girls, who stopped in their tracks to greet the teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their giggling and the sighs of admiration made it clear that Adrian was popular in the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Well, he has the looks...but without strength, it means nothing.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, hello, Miss Sylvie.\" Adrian nearly bumped into a girl with wavy blond hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She visibly shivered upon coming across the male.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Blond hair, those eyes, that name and student of the Runebound...' She discerned her identity soon and also stepped forward and greeted her, \"Good evening, Your Highness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sylvie narrowed her eyes at the woman before she reflexively asked, \"Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve opened her mouth to say something but, \"She is my friend. We are going for a casual outing. Okay then, student.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without another word, Adrian pulled Eve away from the Princess—leaving a shocked Sylvie behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you lie?\" Eve asked in a tone that barely hid her annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't want anyone to know that you would be working as my guard.\" He simply told her without further explaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth was, Adrian knew how far his family could go. If they get to know that Adrian is bringing a Warden as security, they will also prepare accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They don't want to lose control over Adrian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And considering Sylvie's grudge against him, he knew she might inform his family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, Eve felt that the man was spouting nonsense. He just didn't want to embarrass himself in front of the Princess by declaring that he needed a guard just because he was a weakling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I heard he is a failure as a Runesmith as well...' She scoffed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>....\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon they reached the front gate of the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy was quite vast that's why it took them ten minutes to reach the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black carriage, not too fancy, with four wheels and tied to two horses, could be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian went to have a quick chat with the carriage driver and after he paid him, he returned to the lady before ushering her, \"Please go ahead.\" He opened the gate for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve wordlessly stepped inside the carriage and ran her eyes around just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't find any unnecessary items, nor did the carriage driver seem suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sat down on the left while Adrian took the seat across from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there was not much leg space, and Adrian had really long legs, he shifted to the front end of the carriage and gave her the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage soon left the premises and headed towards the destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Runebound Academy was situated on the top of Adevery Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It lies in the north of the Capital. Since the Kingdom is small, there is only one Duke, one Count, two Viscount, and three Barons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the whole nation was situated in a compact area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lockwood's territory lies between the academy and the Capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason for the family's strong ties with the royal family lies in the invaluable services Count Lockwood has provided over the years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only does Count Lockwood ensure the presence of elite personnel for security during times of crisis, but his long-standing reputation among traders has also significantly boosted trade, further strengthening his influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's why, the new lady of the Lockwood would force Adrian to apologize to the Princess to maintain a good relationship with the King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, she is not a bad ruler, however, she is a cruel person when it comes to her family's reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since she never considered Adrian as her family member, there was no doubt that she would go beyond rational means to bring things back under her control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Eve's voice, Adrian broke out of his daze and realized he was drawing runes in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the astonishing part ...he was not using his magical tool but his finger\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I got distracted.\" He said but just when he was about to dispel it, he found the flame rune reacting violently to the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have fire affinity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve narrowed her eyes, but her head nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian hummed as he took out a wooden spoon from his bag before he asked, \"What weapon do you use?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve took out a dagger from the side of her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian nodded as he inscribed runes on the spoon casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know why, but inscribing runes seemed fun to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because he merged with the real Adrian, he feels so relaxed when his fingers continue to move, and his mind is focused on runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve was looking at him with a blank expression; she couldn't discern what was going on in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**BOOOOOM**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An explosion shook the surface, making Eve and Adrian hold their seats to prevent their fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eve instantly looked out of the window, and her eyes widened upon seeing a cloaked figure approaching them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an Evil-God believer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>°°°°°°°°\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A\u002FN:- The story might feel slow in the beginning...I am trying to build the world.\u003C\u002Fp>",1173,"2026-06-06T07:53:02.152Z",1,"novelbin.me","08d83254bd305c8d5100424c3bab27a4d73c520ae9f84cf2b3db1b6a16563c69","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-16","return-of-the-legendary-runesmith-chapter-14",595,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freturn-of-the-legendary-runesmith-cover.jpg"]