The Aftermath of the Clash
Morning dawned at the Lucentia Imperial Academy.
Students were heading to class as usual, but a strange tension hung over the entire campus.
Whispers and excited voices echoed from every corner, creating an atmosphere far different from the norm.
"Hey, did you hear?"
One student whispered to a friend.
"Hear what?"
"My roommate told me that the freshman representatives of the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments had a massive showdown yesterday."
"No way! Where? Why didn't I hear anything about this?"
Nearby students who overheard began to tune in as well.
The rumor spread like wildfire.
"Whoa, so who won?! Tell me!"
Just as someone asked, unable to contain their curiosity, a booming voice echoed from the end of the hallway.
"Everyone! A special edition of the Academy Times is out!"
The students turned their heads in unison.
Members of the journalism club were running around, handing out newspapers.
In an instant, a crowd swarmed to grab a copy.
• Magic vs. Swordsmanship: Who Won the Battle of the Century?
• Cyan Winters and Leon Blade: Their Hidden Talents Fully Revealed
• The Empire's Ultimate Combat Weapon, 'Nemesis,' Shattered by Freshmen
The students' eyes widened as they read the article.
Voices filled with shock and excitement erupted all over the place.
Morning was breaking over the Lucentia Imperial Academy.
As the campus slowly began to stir, a single shadow was already moving in the Swordsmanship Department's training ground.
Swish!
The sharp sound of slicing wind cut through the quiet air.
The trajectory drawn by Leon Blade's sword glowed faintly before vanishing.
Swish! Swish!
The continuous sword dance was elegant yet sharp, almost like a performance.
Leon was immersed in his usual training routine.
However, his eyes were somewhat unfocused.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't concentrate.
Stray thoughts kept clouding his mind.
Yesterday's events felt like a dream.
For just a brief moment, he had touched the realm of a 4-Star Knight.
The Kraken's Sword made by "that person," and the shield crafted by Edward.
The feeling of absolute omnipotence, knowing that no attack could harm him.
The overwhelming mana that surged uncontrollably.
Leon still couldn't forget that sensation.
"*Sigh...*"
With a deep sigh, Leon lowered his sword.
Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead onto the floor.
Leon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
A storm of conflicting emotions swirled in his chest.
Excitement and anticipation.
The yearning for the overwhelming power he had experienced yesterday burned through his entire body.
At the same time, anxiety and impatience crept in.
The realization that the power wasn't truly his—that it was merely borrowed—gnawed at him.
Will I ever be able to reach that level on my own...?
Just then, the distant voices of students began to drift in.
The campus was waking up.
Leon took one last deep breath and sheathed his sword.
It's about time for class.
Wiping his brow with a damp towel, he walked slowly toward the training room door.
Just as he reached for the handle, the door swung open violently.
Clack!
"Leon!"
A student rushed in, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Is this true?"
In his hand was today's special edition newspaper.
Leon asked with a confused expression.
"Is what true?"
At that moment, a loud clamor echoed from the hallway.
A crowd of student reporters had gathered right outside the door.
"How was the duel with the Magic Department representative?"
"What are your thoughts on what happened yesterday?"
Leon sighed and spoke.
"Please move. I have to get to class."
Despite his firm tone, the student reporters refused to budge.
Leon pushed his way through the crowd, using his shoulders to clear a path.
Though the barrage of questions continued, he kept his eyes forward and walked on.
"Leon! Just one word, please!"
"How did you manage to fight and defeat Nemesis?"
"There are rumors that you've already reached the level of a 4-Star Knight. Is that true?"
He barely managed to break through the reporters' blockade and enter the Swordsmanship Department building.
As soon as he stepped inside, the quiet atmosphere shifted.
The swordsmanship students gathered in the hallway turned their attention to him all at once.
Soon, cheers erupted here and there.
Whenever Leon walked past, students looked at him with awe.
"Look, it's Leon!"
"I can't believe a freshman defeated a combat doll equivalent to a 3-Star Knight. That's insane."
"Leon! I heard you put those magic freaks in their place yesterday!"
"As expected of the Kraken style!"
Leon tried to maintain a calm expression, but he was internally flustered.
He quickened his pace toward his classroom.
Just then, a conversation from a corner of the hallway caught his ear.
"Man, only the Weapon Crafting kids got to see that awesome fight?"
"Haha, it's not like they could have followed it with their eyes anyway. Their physical stats are trash."
Leon's footsteps faltered at their words.
The derogatory remarks about the Weapon Crafting Department suddenly grated on his nerves.
When he realized that he had held similar thoughts not too long ago, a strange sense of shame washed over him.
Leon stopped and turned toward them.
Unable to hold back, he called out to one of them.
"Hey!"
"Huh? Oh, Leon? Were you calling me?"
The students looked at Leon in surprise.
"Do me a favor and don't talk trash about the Weapon Crafting Department in front of me. It's annoying."
"Huh? Uh... but didn't you also feel that way until recently..."
The friend next to him quickly tugged his arm and shook his head.
"...Alright, Leon. We'll watch our mouths."
As Leon walked away, the remaining students looked bewildered.
"What's up with him?"
"Yeah, didn't he look down on the Weapon Crafting Department just a few days ago?"
But they didn't know.
A wind of change was already blowing in Leon's heart.
The Weapon Crafting Department...
Leon recalled the thoughts he had harbored until just a few days ago.
He had viewed the Weapon Crafting Department as a mere support group.
He had firmly believed that true power belonged only to those who wielded the sword, and that it was the knights who shaped the world.
But things were different now. His instincts whispered a new truth.
"That person" who created the Kraken series, and Edward.
These two weapon crafters would be the ones to change the course of the world.
I doubted my ears at Professor Elena's words.
"Excuse me? What did you say?"
She smiled and repeated herself slowly.
"A position for Head Researcher of the New Weapon Development Team has opened up at Mystic Arts. Are you interested, Edward?"
I fell into thought for a moment before asking.
"Are you... scouting me right now?"
"Yes, I am."
Elena nodded.
Her eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.
"Of course, we will offer you the best treatment. Not to mention research facilities and materials, we will fully support any project you wish to pursue."
I remained silent for a moment.
Various thoughts crossed my mind.
Sure, Mystic Arts is a decent company... but do I really need to join them?
Though surprised by the unexpected offer, my mind was already made up.
Rather than belonging to a massive organization like Mystic Arts, I wanted to conduct my research freely, in my own way.
And above all, other plans were already taking shape in my head.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke slowly.
"Professor, I truly appreciate the offer, but I already have other plans."
Elena's expression stiffened slightly.
A flash of disappointment crossed her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I must decline."
Elena was temporarily lost for words at my firm refusal.
Being rejected despite promising the company's full support must have been unexpected for her.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
"I see. But you haven't forgotten that the top project from this assignment will be sold at the Mystic Arts store, right?"
I nodded, and Elena continued.
"And you also know that since we covered the project costs required for production, that part cannot be undone."
"Yes, I am aware."
Elena smiled with satisfaction.
She led me inside the store.
We headed toward the display of high-end merchandise.
There, the Mana Circulation Shield I had created was already on display.
The shield sat elegantly inside a heavily modified crystal glass case.
Subtle magical lighting illuminated the surroundings, flowing along the surface of the shield and creating a mystical aura.
Although expensive gems and rare magical items sparkled around it, my shield stood out as the undeniable centerpiece.
This spot was a special space reserved only for the most expensive and precious items in Mystic Arts.
"We've priced it at 50,000 gold."
"Pardon?"
My eyes widened in shock.
Fifty thousand gold.
It was a staggering amount, nearly equal to all the profits I had made from selling the Kraken series combined.
"Fifty thousand gold? Will it even sell at that price?"
Elena replied with a confident look.
"We at Mystic Arts price our items according to their true value. We don't do discounts. That is our way of showing respect to the weapon and the artisan."
"Ah... right. Sure."
"Don't worry. Except for a five percent commission fee, all the proceeds will go to the creators."
"...Since I've framed it that way, the student will understand. Now, we just need to create a dummy buyer to purchase it."
Silence fell over the conference room as Elena finished speaking.
In this gathering of Mystic Arts' top executives, everyone was digesting her words, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"Understood... Then what kind of persona should we create for the dummy buyer? A wealthy noble? A foreign merchant?"
An executive asked cautiously.
Elena fell into thought for a moment before replying.
"Nothing too flashy, but someone who looks like they have plenty of money..."
Just then, one of the advisors quietly raised a hand.
"What is it?"
Elena asked.
"If it's such an incredible shield, why didn't you just tell him you wanted to buy it directly, Professor Elena?"
Elena's eyes flashed sharply at the question.
Her voice carried a hint of irritation.
"Did you not hear what I just said? He rejected my scout offer. Another competitor has definitely snatched him up by now!"
The advisors' expressions stiffened.
Elena continued.
"If we tell him we want to buy it under those circumstances, do you think he'd sell it to us? He'd obviously think we're trying to steal his technology!"
"I apologize. My thinking was shallow, Professor Elena."
The advisor bowed his head in apology.
"We don't know when he might try to copy it. He'd surely demand the shield back immediately."
Elena let out a deep sigh.
She slowly reached up to adjust her tie.
"That's why I set the price at an absurd level for now... so it won't sell easily."
An advisor asked cautiously.
"What price did you set it at?"
Without a word, Elena raised her hand and spread her five fingers.
The advisor's eyes widened in shock.
"Fi... Fifty thousand gold? With an amount like that, wouldn't it be difficult to cover even with our budget?"
"We have the budget allocated for the planned sixth branch. We can just divert it from there."
"What? But if we do that, the plans for the sixth branch..."
Clack.
The sound of a glass being set down brought a heavy silence to the conference room.
Elena's cold gaze swept over the advisor.
"We're lucky the Kraken series is only being sold inside the academy for now. If it hits the open market, the sixth branch won't matter because we'll all go under! Do you understand that?"
Desperation bled into Elena's voice.
"People outside the academy are bound to start clamoring for the Kraken series soon. Before that happens!"
Her eyes grew intense.
"We must develop a new game-changer! If we can just succeed in researching this technology, the Kraken series won't be a threat anymore. We can stay ahead."
The advisors couldn't hide their surprise at Elena's sudden outburst.
"With this technology, we can solve the magic stone recharging issue as well."
Anxious, Elena began to pace the conference room.
Holding a glass in one hand, she nervously bit her nails with the other.
Two advisors whispered in hushed tones.
"Why is Professor Elena acting like this lately?"
"Are you blind? Look at the dark circles under her eyes. She's been staying up all night clinging to that Kraken staff."
Another advisor who overheard chimed in.
"Rumor has it that the Nemesis at the academy was destroyed..."
"No way... That was personally bestowed by His Imperial Majesty... How could such a thing..."
"Would you mind keeping it down over there? Did we gather here to gossip?"
The conference room instantly fell dead silent.
Under Elena's piercing gaze, the advisors lowered their heads.
Just as the room fell into a tense hush, a sudden knock was heard.
Knock, knock, knock...
"We are in the middle of a confidential executive meeting! Who dares knock?!"
Anger flared in Elena's voice.
The door to the tense conference room opened slowly.
Her direct secretary poked her head in with an anxious look.
"Professor Elena, I apologize, but this is extremely urgent."
The secretary's voice trembled.
She took a quick breath and continued.
"Princess Idelia, the Third Princess, has visited Mystic Arts."
A look of bewilderment flashed across Elena's face.
She slowly closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
"*Sigh...*"
Elena opened her eyes.
Her voice was thick with exhaustion.
"Very well. Let's take a brief recess."
The moment those words left her mouth, relief washed over the advisors' faces.
Muffled sighs of relief escaped from here and there.
"Should I head to the reception room, then?"
"No, ma'am."
The secretary continued.
"She is not here at the headquarters, but at Mystic Arts Branch 3."
Elena's expression stiffened.
"What do you mean? She didn't come to see me?"
"Well..."
The secretary's face darkened.
"It seems the Princess stopped by to browse... and she purchased the Mana Circulation Shield immediately upon seeing it."
Clang!
The sound of the glass slipping from Elena's hand and shattering on the floor echoed through the conference room.