The Sword God's Title
Days had passed since the incident.
On a cool, breezy day, over 500 students in their uniforms stood lined up on the athletic field. The most striking change was the school's appearance. Everywhere except the field had been transformed into an outdoor party venue. And Chairman Yubel, to celebrate the festival, had declared today a temporary holiday.
"An event like this... I wonder how much money they must've poured into it. It's incredible."
From the third-floor waiting room, Zien looked down at the school.
What kind of award ceremony requires makeup, of all things?
Still, after the recent Bluma incident and all, it was a request from Selphis, who'd helped him out. Zien couldn't refuse.
"Well, ever since Yubel became chairman, Arcana hasn't had to worry about money. Forget the cash talk, Zien—check out this article first!"
Karsen held out his phone.
The screen showed a video titled [Desire! Tastes Its First Humiliation!].
"A current affairs show?"
"Yeah, from the most popular broadcaster."
At Karsen's excited urging—as if it were his own story—Zien hit play. For an info program, the cast was simple: one host and one expert. The host was just a female celebrity, and the invited expert was...
Why's this guy here?
Bluma.
The 6th-rank Saber Bluma.
The video opened with the host's question.
Bluma's explanation went like this.
Desire.
A fearless villain team that had terrorized government agencies from the moment they appeared. Especially after recently stealing hundreds of high-grade artifacts from the AIA artifact vault and Stealth Bank, their infamy had reached its peak.
— What makes them truly terrifying is their executive lineup.
The so-called Seven Evils.
The number of Desire executives revealed so far was seven. Of them, three had their skills made public.
Zien could see Bluma's lips twitching in the video.
Yeah, she would smirk.
Excluding Zien, the other five students had zero real combat experience. Zien had done all the heavy lifting. With Bluma's intel network, she'd know that full well.
"Thanks for showing me, Professor Karsen. Looks like my makeup's done too."
"You pull off something like that and stay this nonchalant? You know what that 6th-rank Saber Bluma in the video offered you?"
Karsen cleared his throat dramatically before speaking.
"Five hundred million a year."
The offer letter from before had jumped fivefold in salary. Considering students didn't work full-time, it wasn't a bad deal.
"I'm not thinking about joining a guild yet."
But Zien was only a first-year. Graduation was far off, and he'd gain more influence in time. This was just the process; his goals loomed much higher.
"Fair enough. Even with that pay, it'd be a waste for talent like you to end up as a janitor."
Karsen gazed at him with a proud smile.
Lately, Karsen had been showing Zien blatant favoritism.
"Then I'll head out, Professor. Say hi to Professor Romina for me. Tell her the gear she lent worked great."
"Why should I pass on your message to Romina?"
"You two are close."
"Who said that?"
Do I really have to spell it out?
Zien just grinned and left the waiting room instead of answering.
All five hundred pairs of eyes converged on the platform. Principal Selphis wore the white suit from exam day.
Heh heh, who'd have thought this day would come.
Crowds of reporters had swarmed for interviews on the terror incident. Selphis delivered his speech with the dignified voice and posture befitting a principal.
"...Having excellently carried out the off-campus activity, thereby enhancing the school's honor and serving as a model for other students, we hereby award this certificate to Zien Rushell."
Selphis handed the certificate to Zien. He looked at the boy who'd orchestrated all this with eyes dripping trust and affection.
This lucky charm of a kid! And rightly so. With all the coverage—headlines like [Saves Arcana's Mage Tower!]—interest in Arcana was at an all-time high. Plus, with funding issues, Selphis always wanted to impress Chairman Yubel.
And then he goes and scratches that exact itch for me! Adorable!
Problem child, failing student, dropout.
All the negative keywords about Zien had long been erased from Selphis's mind.
"Thank you."
A short statement.
Zien stepped down from the platform. The students weren't too fussed about the Mage Tower incident, but they were thrilled with the hero who'd turned a weekday into a holiday. At Selphis's permission to enjoy the festival...
"Hero! Hero! You're so handsome!"
"Wooooaaah!!"
"No way! Did you see the Saber next to the chairman? 5th-rank! 5th-rank!"
The restrained atmosphere ignited in an instant.
"Hey! Thanks for the meal~!"
"I saw you on the news!"
"Remember me? Newspaper club president Riel! Any chance for an interview...?"
"Got a party?"
"About that new compact shield ad model that's launching..."
Students surrounded Zien. Even scouts from small guilds who hadn't observed the mock gate exam and reporters joined in, turning it into a commotion.
Hmm. Might run late.
This popularity felt worlds apart from the attention in his past life. If he had to compare, this was sweeter.
"I've got prior commitments, so only 30 minutes for talks. Everyone, form a line."
At Zien's words, the crowd lined up orderly.
"I'm still sore, so I'll sit."
Zien tapped the band on his wrist. A folding chair and desk popped out. A pocket item from the Mage Tower. Price: 75 million coin.
Expensive stuff really is the best.
Zien smiled and sat. The weather was sunny, the breeze refreshing. And it was still morning—plenty of time to enjoy the festival.
Peaceful.
To keep this peace, to protect what mattered without losing a single thing, he needed more power. Power to face gates or Desire with indifference.
Like in my past life... no, a more perfect party.
Zien knew better than anyone that he couldn't do it alone.
Zien lay on a mat spread on the grass, healing time. He watched passersby on the path and drifting clouds.
"Chris. You have no idea how much trouble you've caused me."
Chris sat beside him.
"Yeah, yeah~ Just eat your meat."
Chris speared a perfectly sliced piece of barbecue and fed it to Zien, who ate it readily.
"You sticking to the schedule?"
At Zien's question, Chris hummed thoughtfully.
"Yeah. But I get everything else... except mana circulation and body strengthening..."
Zien sat up abruptly and coached him on the issues in detail.
"Ah, that one's like... spreading it out."
"Like this?"
"Good. Now tense the muscles more..."
Zien grabbed Chris's forearm and taught precise mana control. Surprisingly diligent, Chris picked it up quickly, filling Zien with satisfaction.
Great sense.
At this rate, learning another magic art would be a breeze for him.
"Oh! And about mana circulation..."
At the top student's continued questions, Zien flashed a fatherly smile.
"Impressive you're thinking this deeply on your own. But brace your core more, and breathing's key."
"How?"
"Inhale to gather mana. Exhale to spread it. Try."
Following Zien's guidance, Chris began mana circulation.
"Hoo, haa."
"Deeper inhale, like 'hwoop.' Hwoop—haa!"
"Hwoop~ haa."
"Good. Hwoop~ haa."
"Hwoop~ haa."
As Zien's breathing lesson peaked, a cold voice came from behind.
"What the hell are you two guys doing?"
"What's this from your school...?"
Lake with a furrowed brow, Aria half-covering her eyes with her hand.
Chris looked surprised at the pair.
"What kinda combo is this? Weren't you two at each other's throats?"
At Chris's jab, Aria waved her hands like swatting a fly.
"We're here for the Mage Tower princess. Beat it, kid."
At Aria's words, Zien turned. Princess? Not prince?
"What're you talking about?"
"Oh, you didn't know, Your Highness? Here, the newspaper!"
Aria knelt on one knee and offered the paper reverently with both hands.
"...When did they take this?"
Zien sighed. The close-up photo showed him and Isabel embracing as they fell from the Mage Tower.
Photo of Isabel tightly hugging Zien, safely landing via mana ejection.
Cutting the prior events, it looked like Isabel had saved Zien.
Eh, just a little mishap. No big deal.
With Zien's muted reaction, Aria lost interest and grumbled.
"That's it? I thought you'd freak out. Lame..."
"Hey, who the hell is this chick yapping? Read this. Don't faint."
Chris proudly thrust Zien's certificate forward like it was his own. Aria took it grudgingly.
...for the aforementioned reasons, One Number Zien Rushell is awarded... 500 SP Points.
Aria pointed at Zien like she'd seen a ghost.
"No way! This guy, this guy! One Number? And 500 SP? What the—total scam!"
As Aria gawked, Chris's shoulders puffed up again.
"Scam? Anyway, he's officially One Number now! Show some respect."
Chris bragged about Zien to the hilt, then speared another barbecue piece.
"Here, esteemed One Number, have a bite."
The petite Chris feeding Zien looked like king and servant. Aria blanked out briefly before snapping back.
"From 162nd to 9th. Well... beating Isabel earns that... What's the alias?"
One Numbers got teacher-given nicknames. Aliases highlighted a student's specialty. Zien's, courtesy of Karsen, was short and punchy: two syllables. Chris lowered his voice, narrowed his brows, and intoned gravely.
"...Sword God!"
"Sword God? What's that?"
Aria, whose greatsword magic tool kept her distant from swords, tilted her head. Lake, wielder of a greatsword himself, answered.
"Title from Zone 3. Means someone who wields a sword like a god."
Aria nodded in understanding. She started to say something but stopped, poking Lake accusingly. He just shook his head. Aria sighed deeply.
"Truth is, Zien... we came with a teeeny favor?"
"Favor?"
"Yeah. We go way back from the exam, kinda friends, right?"
Zien cut through Aria's circling.
"Spit it out casually."
"Well... you're in the off-campus event, right? Mind squeezing us in...?"
Such major events boosted name recognition with higher-ups and school rankings. Pure gain to participate. Problem: Zien had already secured a full party of four, including himself.
"Sorry. Spots are filled."
Chris smirked at the rejection.
"Heh. Who does this chick think she is, grabbing a spoon late? Better head out."
"No way... you're partying with this, this kid?! With a 90-something rank moron?"
Aria stared aghast at Chris, who chuckled and nodded. Having subtly bickered with Chris before, Aria was on the verge of flipping out.
"What makes me worse than this puny brat? Obvious! Seduction?!"
"You bitch! What rude crap? Idiot? Obviously it's skill!"
Lake gently nudged the heated Aria and Chris.
"Makes sense. You two paired in the mock gate once. But who's the last one?"
"Last one?"
She's quite famous.
9.7 mana talent. Mini-powerhouse with free access to all school facilities.
Red hair, striking red eyes.
"Someone you know well."