“Hey, hey, what’s it feel like to become an Aura Master?”
Inside the carriage heading to the Academy, Ruby’s endless questions were starting to grate on my nerves. I slightly furrowed my brow as I looked at her.
“What? Are you really that curious?”
“But─ I’m finally seeing a real-life Master right in front of me! And you’re younger than me! How can I stay calm when I’m face-to-face with a genius who became an Aura Master in their teens!?”
After hearing Ruby’s words, I let out a small cough and turned to look out the window. It had been a while since I’d received such unrestrained praise.
The people around me had already grown used to the fact that I was an Aura Master. They took my achievements for granted rather than praising them. But Ruby, who had just learned today that I was a Master, was different.
‘Hmm… this actually feels pretty good.’
So good, in fact, that I even considered revealing my status as a Master to others. Of course, I quickly shook my head, knowing that while it might feel nice now, it would be a disadvantage in the long run.
Sure, I could bask in admiration for a moment, but soon enough, people would treat me like any other friend—taking me for granted.
If that was going to happen anyway, it was better to reveal it slowly.
“Ahem, well, becoming a Master feels like…”
“Yes, yes!”
I began explaining to Ruby the changes in perception and the broadening of horizons that come with becoming a Master. This was a one-on-one private lesson from a Master that money couldn’t buy, so Ruby leaned forward intently, hanging on every word.
Meanwhile, the carriage continued smoothly toward the Academy.
* * *
“Ughhh…”
“—Over here! We have an injured person!”
“Cleric! This way!”
Inside the Academy, students began pouring back from their first field exercise, injured. Some had minor wounds, while others were drenched in blood from head to toe.
As the injured lined up, the instructors from the Knight Department calmly interrogated the partners of the wounded without batting an eye.
“Oh, so you ran off alone and got stabbed, huh?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You failed to control your junior properly. That’s a demerit.”
With those words, the instructor checked the name of the third-year student on their checklist. The chastised third-year grimaced before bowing their head and storming back into the Academy.
There was no sign of concern for the injured in their expressions. Thanks to the miraculous healing powers of the Holy Force, which could heal almost any wound, life had become cheap.
Just as the Dragon Balls made death less fearsome by reviving the dead, the Holy Force had rendered injuries trivial.
“—Instructor.”
“Ah, Kail Meyer.”
“I’ve completed my mission. Where should I go next?”
“Show me your mission report.”
“Uh…”
Kail scratched his cheek awkwardly after hearing the instructor’s words. The report had instructions to burn it after reading, and taking advantage of a moment when Ruby wasn’t looking, he had already incinerated it with his Aura.
He couldn’t hand over something that didn’t exist. Just as he was struggling, Gawein approached from afar.
“Ah, send them this way.”
“Huh? Oh, yes! Professor Gawein.”
Following Gawein’s instructions, the instructor immediately sent Kail and Ruby to him. Gawein gave Kail a nod and asked if he had completed his mission successfully.
“How did it go? Did you finish the job?”
“Yes, well… it was a bit tough. If you had been there, you might’ve died.”
“You brat. I’m still in my prime.”
Kail shrugged as Gawein, thinking his serious comment was a joke, brushed it off. If Gawein didn’t believe him, there was nothing he could do about it.
As they exchanged casual banter, Ruby suddenly interjected.
“S-Sir Gawein! I have something to tell you.”
“Hmm. You’re from the Alderica family, right…?”
“My name is Ruby Alderica. Actually, the thing is—I’ve become a Master.”
“What!? You’ve become a Master!?”
Gawein’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Ruby. His reaction was so exaggerated that Ruby quickly waved her hands, trying to clarify.
“A-Ah, no! Not me, but this person here…”
“Oh… Ahem, Ruby. To joke with a professor like that… are you in your right mind?”
“Huh? No, I’m not joking! I’m serious…”
Ruby glared at Kail, urging him to confirm her claim.
Of course, Kail feigned ignorance and simply shrugged his shoulders.
“He must’ve lost his mind after nearly dying today.”
“Hmm. I’ll forgive the joke this time. Go inside and rest, Ruby.”
“B-But… a Master has appeared among the students…?”
Ruby began to look utterly dejected, like a general who had just lost an entire army, as she watched Kail shrug nonchalantly.
Thinking she must’ve misunderstood something, Ruby staggered back to the dormitory. Watching her leave, Gawein cautiously turned back to Kail.
“So, you’ve done it.”
“I told you, it was strong, right? You’d have died if you were there.”
“I thought you were exaggerating… but that chimera was really that powerful?”
Gawein fell into deep thought, wondering how such a thing was possible. He soon recalled the Magic Department, which had created such a monster and casually dumped the problem onto them.
“These bastards… passing their mess onto us?”
“Anyway, the mission was a success, right?”
“Yes, good work. Clean up and get some rest.”
“Yes.”
As Kail walked toward the dormitory, swinging his arms, he crossed paths with students from other departments moving between classes.
Seeing Kail covered in sweat and dried blood, the other students wrinkled their noses and hurried past him. Among them was Izuna Hela, who had fainted upon seeing Kail just days before.
Expecting her to faint again, Kail tried to distance himself, but to his surprise, Izuna stared at him with disbelief.
“…Hi.”
“—Eeek!”
“Good grief.”
Kail, surprised that she hadn’t fainted, gave a casual greeting. Scratching the back of his head as Izuna continued to gawk at him, he quickly passed by, heading straight for the dormitory.
Izuna’s eyes followed Kail’s retreating figure until he disappeared from sight.
* * *
“Princess Hela?”
“Ah, yeah. Let’s go…”
Izuna Hela walked down the hallway surrounded by protective students, recalling her recent encounter with Kail.
‘This can’t be real.’
Information about Kail flashed before her eyes. Every detail of what he had done and achieved appeared clearly.
And then, the information updated. For an ordinary student, such updates wouldn’t be surprising.
Most students were too young to hold fixed titles. Titles were things one might earn after a lifetime of dedication.
‘It updated…?’
But Kail Meyer, despite being in his teens, already possessed numerous titles—and now, they had updated further.
Of course, it wasn’t the second shadowy figure that updated, but Kail Meyer’s own information.
His status screen, already marked with titles like “Sword Saint” and “Aura Master,” had changed.
‘Main Stream Breaker…?’
Not only that, but inexplicable titles like “Hero” and “Playable Character” had appeared.
Considering that even one title was enough to make someone legendary, suddenly gaining three was unbelievable.
Even more unbelievable was that these new titles weren’t bad ones.
‘How is this possible?’
Kail had already accumulated countless evil deeds.
A doctor who brutally murdered dozens couldn’t be called good just for saving hundreds.
A saint who saved hundreds couldn’t be called evil for ignoring one life.
Kail’s accumulated sins were beyond description. Even if he were to save the world, his intentions would still be questioned.
Yet, in just a few days, he had cleansed those sins and earned new titles—titles only the most virtuous beings could achieve?
“Kail Meyer…”
“Yes?”
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
Izuna Hela whispered his name and cautiously moved toward the classroom, her followers trailing behind her.
* * *
“A tournament to determine the strongest student in each grade will be held.”
Standing at the podium, Gawein began explaining the tournament schedule to the students.
Only those who wished to participate would compete in battles to test their strength. There was no penalty for not joining, but the winner would receive various prizes.
Upon hearing this, I immediately raised my hand to express my desire to participate. Meeting my gaze, Gawein silently cursed me with his eyes.
‘Do you really want to join a kids’ fight? You’ve got no shame.’
Hearing that voice in my head, I cautiously lowered my hand.
