Stellar Echo: Heart of the Myst

[Pef]

Hey author.

I have a few things with your story.
While I get this is a 'slice of life' thing, the pace is far too slow, especially for such someone at low levels as Erik.

If he is cultivating so slow at a low level, how could he possibly get to Sage or Arcane, not to mention Master level ?
The incongruence is jarring, for someone described as best genius of the ages.

Also, if you post this on QQ, you can also give your readers something saucy to read, not just vivid descriptions of virgin goddesses.

 

[lordanl]

"That sounds interesting, but I didn't know you were in the public relations business." Upon hearing Laura's proposal, Erik commented with an intrigued smile on his face, to which she responded seriously.

"I'm actually not, but I think this is a great opportunity to boost my auction house's reputation and possibly expand into new markets—which is what I'm really aiming for."

"Really? But I thought your auction house was one of the most important ones." Erik asked with mild curiosity, prompting Laura's smile to widen slightly as she replied.

"Thank you for the compliment. You could say we have a certain level of recognition at the university, but we still lack a vital element to take the next step forward."

"Oh? A sponsor, perhaps?" Erik asked with a subtle businesslike smile, to which Laura nodded and replied delightedly.

"Fufu, it's truly a pleasure to talk with someone so sharp."

"So basically, you're looking for the support of my masters."Erik said in a calm tone as he set the cookie he'd been eating back on the plate—an action that caught Sofía's attention as she turned to look at him, slightly confused, while Seraphina's smile began to widen discreetly. That alone set off every alarm in Laura's mind, prompting her to quickly speak in a slightly rushed tone.

"No, no, Erik, you're mistaken. What I'm looking for is your support in particular."

"I see."

Erik nodded and responded casually, as if it didn't really matter. But somehow, Laura could feel that something was off—something hadn't sat well with the young man in front of her. And the faint smirk of the maid standing behind him, which seemed to scream disdain and satisfaction, only confirmed it. For some reason, that realization made Laura panic—but being an experienced woman, she quickly began to speak again, this time with composure.

"What I need most right now is the support of a young academic genius who managed to register patents that spread across the galaxy before turning thirty, and who is publicly recognized as the best of the current young generation. That would allow my auction house to open up an entirely new market segment that has so far remained unexplored."

After finishing her explanation, Laura looked calmly at Erik. Although he simply took a sip of his tea, the experienced Laura could feel that he was studying her intently, so she too picked up her teacup with steady movements, determined not to reveal how fast her heart was racing.

"I wonder what you would need such a specific profile for."

Erik commented in a calm tone after setting his cup down on the table. At that moment, Laura quickly extended her hand, and from a beautiful wooden cabinet behind her, several folders floated toward the table, landing neatly in front of Erik—a moment in which Laura allowed herself a discreet sigh of relief.

"Here's a brief summary of the project I want to present to you."

Laura said in a composed and even tone as she managed to calm herself down. At the same time, she found herself wondering why she had panicked so suddenly. After all, while Erik's help would make the project she had in mind significantly easier, it wasn't like she couldn't do it without him. In the end, it would just require more capital, more time, and calling in a few favors—she was perfectly capable of pushing through on her own.

(Maybe it's because my business instincts warned me not to let this opportunity slip by and are pushing me to invest in Erik. After all, Erik will undoubtedly become a powerhouse within the Order, and having his favor would be an incredible asset...

(Yes… that must be it. I only panicked because I realized I was about to leave Erik with a bad impression of me and possibly ruin any chance of building a connection with him—because my subconscious mind warned me of the future consequences that could have on my career… yes, that's why.)

As Erik opened the folders, Laura—having reached a consensus in her heart—began to present her project with a professional and confident tone.

"Well, Erik, as you know, although the auction house I run has earned a solid reputation within the Arcane Order—especially at the university—primarily thanks to the good fortune of being able to auction off Master-level items, the truth is that we've hit a ceiling, which leaves us with very little room to grow within the auction market.

"The only path forward would be to secure the support of a recognized Master within the Order, but that's not a viable option. Even though I have some connection with Master Jessica, Master-level individuals don't lack resources. And if they wanted to get involved in the market, they could simply open their own auction houses and achieve great results on their own."

Laura watched Erik carefully as he began reading through the documents while listening to her. Seeing the young man nod in agreement, she continued, now a bit more at ease.

"Faced with this kind of stagnation, I decided to start thinking outside the box, and I couldn't help but notice a significant challenge: young talents often struggle to secure investment, while investors, in turn, have difficulty identifying real talent and promising business opportunities in early-stage projects. I firmly believe there's a major business opportunity there—one that could catapult the reputation of Aetherion's Hall to a whole new level."

Laura took a sip of tea, which helped clear her thoughts, while she observed Erik—who now looked much more relaxed and was smiling calmly as he showed some of the documents to Sofía. That encouraged her to keep going.

"That's why I decided to organize a series of auctions focused on young talent—primarily in innovation projects, startups, art, and educational experiences, as well as products and services from young individuals still striving to make a name for themselves in the market.

"Not only would this boost the reputation of the Aetherion's Hall brand by associating it with entrepreneurship and technological development, but it would also allow us to diversify our auction portfolio, giving us protection against market fluctuations."

Erik looked at Laura in a new light, letting go of the annoyance he had felt when he thought she just wanted to use him to hang onto the coattails of his masters. After all, the business proposal Laura had laid out sounded solid. And if the market analysis and financial projections she presented were accurate, it would be extremely profitable. While he still needed to conduct his own research to verify everything, Erik could already sense that it was a genuinely viable project.

But what truly drew Erik to the proposal was something more forward-looking: the opportunity to gain access to ambitious and talented young individuals. Not only could they potentially be employed under his brand, but even those who didn't want to work for him would still be useful. After all, the nature of youth is to embrace change—something that older generations, weighed down by prejudice, often struggle with.

If they saw profit, those ambitious youths would no doubt help popularize his current inventions, like Manalite, and more importantly, the ones that were still to come—some of which, if successful, would certainly make a massive impact on the galaxy. But to achieve that, he'd need the energy and adaptability of the younger generation.

"This is truly a fascinating project, Laura. I still need to do my own research, but I have to say I'm looking at it very favorably—and it could potentially be a great help to me."

After a few moments, Erik commented with a calm smile as he looked at Laura, who couldn't help but return a beautiful smile of her own and replied in a cheerful tone.

"It makes me truly happy to hear that, Erik. I really want the business my grandparents sacrificed so much for to be recognized throughout the galaxy, and I know that with your help, I'll be one step closer to making that dream a reality."

Upon hearing Laura, Erik's desire to work with the woman in front of him skyrocketed by 200%. With a warm smile on his face, he responded in a more formal, business-appropriate tone—while laughing inwardly, wondering if the woman before him had already figured out how to push his buttons.

"And according to the documents you gave me, what you expect from me is to help leverage the current hype surrounding my patents to attract interest in the event—both from investors and young talent—and also provide a headline for the press."

"I actually expect much more than that, Erik, because I'm certain these patents are just the beginning, and in the future, you'll continue to leave your mark on the galaxy with your talents. That's why I'm proposing that we become equal partners—I'll handle all the logistics, contacts, and so on, while you'll be responsible for giving the project credibility and appeal, acting as both an ambassador and a mentor."

Laura replied with a beautiful smile, to which Erik responded in noticeably good spirits.

"I really like your project, so I'd love to go over it in more detail and maybe contribute a few of my own ideas. So… how about we order something to eat?"

"Of course! It would be a pleasure to work with and share a meal with the great genius of the young generation." Laura said playfully, matching Erik's cheerful tone with a teasing smile.

"Then I hope you appreciate the time of this young genius, hehe." Erik replied jokingly as he took a bite of a cookie and added.

"Although, if this goes well, you won't have time to design the offices for my company."

"Oh? You're already starting work on your brand?" Laura asked with interest, making a great effort to ignore the looks being thrown her way by a certain maid. The star-haired boy replied in a calm tone.

"Yes, I recently received a decent amount of capital, so I want to start working on it. For now, I'll just be renting a floor in an office building here at the university, but I'd like it to have an attractive design since I think that's important for a productive work environment. Also, I want to have everything ready before I leave for the ruin exploration…"

Erik and Laura continued discussing the brand Erik intended to develop, while Sofía reviewed the project documents and took notes in a small notebook. Meanwhile, Seraphina let out a quiet, slightly resigned sigh that masked a bit of inner irritation—but she quickly hid it, not wanting her young master to see the ugly jealousy threatening to consume her.

But no matter how hard she tried, Seraphina couldn't help it. Her instincts screamed that this woman was having thoughts about her young master, and the worst part was… he seemed to like her. That alone made the situation feel both dangerous and infuriating.

All of it made Seraphina regret, just a little, having brought her young master to that auction in the first place. Even with all the "fun" she'd had from the images in her secret stash of her handsome young master acting all high and mighty… maybe, just maybe, the price she paid for it had been a little too steep.

For her part, Sofía couldn't help but be amazed by her boss's influence and the absurd profits this venture could bring. The documents spoke in terms of billions, and although she wasn't yet an expert, she had worked hard to master mathematics and the fundamentals of economics. And since she had a natural talent for it, she could easily see that if even half of what was written in those documents became reality, her boss would be swimming in money within a couple of decades.

That was precisely why it was her duty to verify the validity of those claims. She was taking notes on what she considered most important—not only to study it on her own later, but also to prepare a summary for Lady Seraphina and her boss so they could review it in more detail afterward.

This was how she wanted to be useful to her boss: beyond just keeping track of his schedule and handling minor affairs, she wanted to go a step further, to stand out, to make full use of her talents, and to become a key piece in his commercial development. All so that he would feel proud of her—and more importantly, so he would feel truly satisfied with his decision to help her that night.

Spoiler: Patreon

If you like it, you can support me on https://www.patreon.com/lordanl and get up to 10 advanced chapters.

 

[lordanl]

A couple of weeks after the meeting with Laura, early in the morning, Sofía stood at the entrance of the mansion alongside Clara and Martín, where they waited for a few minutes. Soon, they saw their boss emerge, dressed in the elegant uniform of the university, accompanied by his personal maid, who followed him like a loyal shadow.

"Good morning." Erik greeted with a smile as he approached, prompting the siblings to respond in unison, full of enthusiasm.

"""Good morning, boss."""

"Heh, glad to see you're energetic. We're going to meet your new tutors, who will be educating you until I return from the expedition to the ruin, so let's not keep them waiting."

"""Understood."""

After the siblings replied energetically, Erik smiled, somewhat amused, and turned to look at Seraphina, who immediately wrapped the group in a cocoon of darkness extending from her shadow, teleporting them to their first destination. The shadow cocoon faded into nothingness, revealing the siblings looking slightly dizzy.

"Alright, the first one we're going to meet is Clara's tutor—none other than the chief alchemy assistant of my master, Valeria Fenixara. She's an Arcane-level and a highly respected alchemist at the university, so treat her with the proper respect."

Upon arrival, Erik spoke in a calm yet firm tone while the siblings looked around, realizing they were in a forested area full of natural beauty. What stood out most was an incredible structure, seemingly fused seamlessly with the surrounding nature.

The building had a curved, almost organic design composed of several smooth, bluish metal domes intertwined harmoniously. These featured massive glass windows and runes carved all across their surfaces, giving the siblings the impression that they were gazing at something that could only exist in a civilization millions of years more advanced than their home planet, Aranta.

That structure fit much more closely with the mental image the siblings had of the Arcane Order—the most advanced place in the galaxy. It was worlds apart from their boss's mansion which, although incredibly luxurious and, above all, absurdly large—with several secondary buildings in addition to the main estate, gardens that practically looked like entire forests filled with exotic plants, and more—its design was something they could easily imagine seeing on their own planet.

While their boss's mansion was truly impressive, the young siblings couldn't help but feel a slight sense of disappointment when they first saw it. After all, its design was too "normal"—nothing like what they had imagined from the Arcane Order, that dreamlike place where they thought people could communicate instantly with anyone in the galaxy, where high-speed flying cars were the norm, and more. But the building before them truly told them they had arrived at the place they once dreamed about.

As for Erik, when he noticed the siblings' strange expressions—completely enthralled by the mansion, to the point they hadn't even bothered to respond—he couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. Then, with a cheerful and relaxed tone, as he understood them well, having been the same way years ago, he asked.

"What's the matter? You liked the house that much?"

"Sorry, boss, we got carried away." Sofía quickly replied, visibly embarrassed as she bowed slightly. At the same time, Clara also bowed and added in an equally embarrassed tone.

"I promise it won't happen again, boss."

"Don't take it so seriously. I get why it caught your eye—it definitely has an interesting design." Erik said in a calm and cheerful voice, which gave Sofía just enough courage to ask quietly.

"Boss, are all the houses here at the university like this?"

"I imagine you're wondering why my master's mansion is so 'simple', right?"

Erik said with a small smile as he looked at Sofía, who couldn't help but blush—along with Clara. Since they'd been caught, both nodded with curiosity, prompting the star-haired young man to explain in a clear and measured tone.

"Well, the answer is actually pretty simple: it comes down to personal taste and resources. Even if it doesn't look like it, building a mansion like my master's is actually several times more expensive than this one. That's because this place is primarily built from Velirium, the same material used in spacecraft. It's abundant, easy to work with, and has top-tier properties.

"Meanwhile, my master's mansion is made of super exotic and hard-to-obtain materials—like Eldora wood, which is everywhere in the mansion and is said to easily cost around 15,000 mana crystals per cubic meter. That's because only the Stellar Empire is capable of producing it, and even then, in very limited quantities. So only someone as 'generous' as my master would use something like that to build a house."

"… The world of the elites is something else…" Sofía muttered in complete awe after hearing the explanation—just as a playful, melodic female voice sounded from behind them.

"I heard you, Erik. I'm going to tell Sigrún you've been calling her a reckless, tasteless nouveau riche behind her back, fufu."

Upon hearing the melodious voice, the siblings quickly turned around, startled—only to find a beautiful woman with delicate features, reddish hair, fair skin, and lively blue eyes who looked to be around nineteen years old. She was wearing a black dress somewhat similar to the ones the siblings wore and smiled playfully while elegantly covering her mouth.

"As if she'd believe you. Your real thoughts are so obvious, you'd end up with third-degree burns first."

Erik replied as he turned to look at the woman, rolling his eyes in the process, which made the stunning woman laugh in amusement. She then quickly turned to look at the siblings, focusing especially on Clara, before asking cheerfully.

"So I suppose you're leaving this lovely young lady with me?"

"Yes. Her name is Clara, and as you can see, she has a wood affinity. I hope she'll eventually become my alchemy assistant." Erik replied in a calm tone as he gestured for Clara to step forward, which she did with slight nervousness. At that moment, Erik continued.

"Clara, this woman is Valeria Fenixara. She'll be your tutor from now on."

"N-nice to meet you."

Clara spoke quickly in a slightly nervous voice, partly because Valeria was observing her closely, looking her up and down with one hand on her chin. Then, the red-haired beauty commented with a wide grin.

"She's quite promising! I'll make sure to train her to become the perfect head assistant—and secret lover! Fufu."

"Just getting her to pass the 1-star alchemist assistant exam is enough. Don't overdo it—or I might start introducing lovers to your husband too."

Erik quickly replied in a tone that was half-joking, half-serious. After all, he was talking to Valeria—who, despite being talented, loyal, and highly efficient, had one fatal flaw: once she got comfortable with someone, she became what people call a "loudmouth". She loved saying random things and joking around, and while she rarely followed through with her outrageous remarks, the problem lay in that "rarely." Occasionally, she did—and it was genuinely problematic.

"Hey! Leave my hubby alone! He's being very well-behaved at the base and doesn't need anyone leading him astray." Valeria quickly shot back, also half-joking, half-serious, which brought a meaningful smile to Erik's face. A moment later, he turned to Clara and spoke with a smile.

"Well, Clara, I'll leave you in her care. And even if it might not seem like it, she's very good at what she does, so she'll be a big help to you."

"What do you mean, 'even if it might not seem like it'?!" Valeria snapped back with mock indignation, then turned to the siblings and asked in a playful tone.

"Don't I look like one of the top alchemists in the university?"

"""Yes…"""

Sofía, Clara, and Martín could only respond in unison, visibly uncomfortable, which made Valeria laugh before instantly shifting into a serious, professional demeanor as she looked directly at Clara.

"Jokes aside, you can count on me for your training, Clara. But I'm going to be strict, and I want everything you've got—because if Erik brought you to me, it means he has high hopes for you. And I would never allow the head assistant of the first disciple of Master Eldurdóttir to be some random, mediocre girl. So—are you ready to give it your all, Clara?"

"Yes! I'll work day and night without rest, so don't go easy on me. I want to be useful to the boss as soon as possible." Clara replied quickly, her voice full of determination, leaving all her nervousness behind. This made Valeria's smile visibly widen. She nodded and spoke in a satisfied tone.

"Perfect. Then get ready—it's going to be tough."

"Yes, ma'am!" Clara responded firmly, at which point Valeria turned to Erik and added with a cheerful smile.

"Well, Erik, you can leave her to me. I'll make sure to train her down to the finest detail."

"She's in your hands—especially when it comes to her mana control. There's quite a bit to refine there." Erik replied with a smile, to which Valeria nodded and said.

"I figured as much. But don't worry—leave it to me. Though, I must say, talking out here doesn't feel quite right. Want to come in for a drink?"

"Maybe another time. I still need to take the others to meet their tutors, and I have a lot to organize before departing for the ruin expedition." Erik shook his head and responded calmly, prompting Valeria to smile and reply.

"Well then, I wish you good luck."

After saying their goodbyes to Valeria and Clara, Seraphina transported the group to a new location—though not before casting a warning glance at Valeria to make sure she didn't do anything unnecessary. In response, Valeria gave a small, nervous smile and waved her right hand in farewell.

Soon after, the darkness that surrounded them faded once more, prompting Sofía and Martín to look around. They realized they were now standing on what appeared to be a large farm, where all sorts of fruits and vegetables were being cultivated. But what stood out the most was a beautiful, elegant, and minimalist-looking mansion. Nearby, they could see a tall and well-built man with light green hair and tanned skin greeting several young people arriving in all kinds of vehicles and flying magical artifacts.

Just as Erik was about to take a step forward, a sleek black flying car with a refined design and numerous runes engraved across its surface landed a few meters away. From it emerged a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her thirties, with silver hair and violet eyes, accompanied by a boy who looked to be around twelve.

"Professor Sunflare, it's been a while since I last saw you." Upon spotting the woman, Erik quickly approached and greeted her with a slightly nostalgic smile, to which the woman responded with a joyful smile of her own.

"It certainly has been a while, Erik. You've grown a lot—you're a full Ascended-Expert now."

"I also heard you ascended to the Arcane level, Professor Sunflare. Congratulations." Erik said sincerely, causing the woman to smile softly before responding in a calm voice.

"I just had a bit of luck. But tell me, what brings you here?" Professor Sunflare asked casually, prompting Erik to gesture toward Martín and explain.

"I'm here to enroll one of my trainee assistants into the camp. His name is Martín. He has a great talent for runes and top-tier body control, so I'm sure he'll perform exceptionally well."

Upon hearing his name, Martín quickly turned to look at his boss, then lowered his head, slightly embarrassed by his words. At that moment, Professor Sunflare looked him up and down and commented in a calm tone.

"How interesting. I didn't think you were one of those who raise their assistants from scratch, Erik. You were always the one advocating that the easiest path is the right one."

"And I still believe that—the easiest path is always the most efficient, productive, and also the least risky. And it's no different in this situation. Given the position I'm in, the 'easiest' option for me is to raise someone from scratch." Erik replied confidently, which made the silver-haired woman smile as she nodded and said.

"An interesting perspective, as always."

"And are you dropping off your boy too, Professor Sunflare?" Erik asked as he looked at the young man standing behind her, who bore a striking resemblance to her—though his hair was a dark gray and his eyes a deep red.

"Yes, it's about time my grandson started working those muscles." Professor Sunflare replied with a cheerful smile, which surprised Sofía and Martín, who had both assumed the boy was her son. At that moment, Erik commented with a smile.

"Well then, I hope the boys get along."

"You still have that habit of talking like an old man, Erik. You're barely two decades older than my grandson—you're just a baby." Professor Sunflare said with some amusement, to which Erik simply smiled without saying a word, prompting the beautiful woman to add cheerfully.

"But I have to get going now—I've got a class to teach later. I wish you the best of luck on the ruin expedition."

"Thank you, Professor Sunflare."

After Professor Sunflare departed, Erik turned to Martín and began explaining in a calm tone.

"Well, Martín, you'll be entering a training camp run by Arcane Merrikson—a well-known knight who retired from the front lines a couple of centuries ago and now focuses on training the new generation in his unique unarmed combat tactics. He employs the Aegis system in a very interesting way—without using the typical tattoos.

"But the truly important things you should focus on in this place are twofold. First, mana control—he's renowned for greatly refining the mana control of his students. And second, his use of runes. While he won't teach you everything, he'll provide you with the foundational knowledge. Based on what you learn from him, we'll analyze which paths are best suited for you once I return."

"I understand, boss. I'll do my best to learn everything I can." Martín replied firmly, which made Erik smile. He nodded and spoke in a calm tone as he turned to face forward.

"I trust you. Let's go."

Spoiler: Patreon

If you like it, you can support me on https://www.patreon.com/lordanl and get up to 10 advanced chapters.

Spoiler: Images

Valeria Fenixara:

Valeria's house:

 

[lordanl]

"Direct disciple Erik, it's a pleasure to have you at my humble inn."

As soon as Erik approached, the man immediately turned to face him and greeted him with a firm yet cordial voice, extending his right hand for a handshake, which Erik accepted while speaking.

"The pleasure is mine as well, Arcane Merrikson. I've heard of your achievements—they are truly admirable."

"Haha, they're not that great."

The man laughed with genuine cheer and a hint of pride, then added with a big smile as he released Erik's hand. At that moment, he glanced at Martin beside him and spoke in an analytical tone, deliberately avoiding looking at Seraphina, who stood behind Erik with a soft smile.

"I suppose this is the boy Lady Ravenspell told me about."

"Nice to meet you; my name is Martin López." Martin quickly introduced himself in a loud and firm voice, prompting a satisfied nod from the man, who commented with a smile on his face.

"I like that attitude, kid. Get ready—the camp lasts only one year, but it won't be easy!"

"I'm ready for anything, sir! I'll dedicate myself body and soul to learning everything I can!" Martin promptly replied with determination, making the man nod once again before turning back to Erik and commenting with a grin.

"He's got guts, I like that. Leave him to me—I'll make sure to train him thoroughly."

"I fully trust your abilities, Arcane Merrikson."

Erik quickly replied with a voice full of confidence, leading to a brief conversation, after which he politely said his goodbyes. He then took Sofia, who gave her brother one last hug before running back to Erik. At that moment, darkness enveloped them completely, allowing Arcane Merrikson to slightly bow toward Seraphina, who simply looked at him calmly before initiating the teleportation, disappearing from the place entirely.

"Kid, since you're with the man that woman chose to serve, I have to make sure you meet at least a minimum standard—otherwise my conscience won't let me sleep peacefully. So be prepared; I'll be paying special attention to you."

After Seraphina disappeared, Arcane Merrikson spoke in a deep voice filled with meaning, causing Martin to turn and look at him with some surprise. But at that moment, the man began walking toward the interior of the estate and firmly said.

"Let's go—we don't have all day!"

"Yes, sir!"

…

…

…

The moment the darkness vanished from her sight, Sofia found herself standing before a beautiful building with bluish glass walls and large doors adorned with intricate runes that softly glowed, creating a spectacle of iridescent lights all around. There were two women standing there; one of them was a beautiful woman with black hair and olive skin, dressed in an elegant long blue gown, whom Sofia quickly recognized.

"Erik, Sofia." Laura greeted them warmly, a small smile on her face, prompting Erik to return the greeting with a similar smile.

"Hello, Laura. Sorry for the delay."

"You're actually right on time. I just got out the door." Laura replied with a polite smile, then turned to look at Sofia and added with a warm smile.

"And we'll be together for the next year, so I hope we get along well, Sofia."

"Thank you very much, and I apologize for any inconvenience, Sage Sánchez. I'll do my best not to waste this great opportunity." Sofia quickly bowed politely and spoke in a calm voice, just as her boss's personal maid had taught her—making Laura smile as she replied in a welcoming tone.

"Your pronunciation has improved—congratulations. But let me introduce you to the person who will be in charge of you."

Laura then motioned toward the woman beside her, a black woman with long wavy hair cascading down to her shoulders, dressed in a formal pantsuit and jacket, and added with a smile.

"Her name is Yelena, and she's the manager in charge of the administrative side of the auction house—a very capable woman."

"Nice to meet you; I'm Yelena Voss, administrative manager of the Aetherion's Hall auction house." The woman quickly introduced herself with a slight formal bow, which Sofia mirrored as she introduced herself.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm Sofia López, assistant-in-training to direct disciple Erik."

"A pleasure. And due to the agreement reached by our superiors, I'll be assigning you to various positions throughout the year so you can develop your skills. I hope we can work harmoniously together." Yelena replied in a serious and firm voice, to which Sofia quickly nodded and responded.

"I'll be in your care. Rest assured, I'll do my very best to perform satisfactorily."

As Yelena began explaining the details of Sofia's upcoming work at the auction house, Laura approached Erik and asked with a small smile.

"And how have you been, Erik?"

"A bit busy, since I have a lot to sort out before leaving for the ruin exploration, but aside from that, I'm doing quite well, honestly." Erik replied casually, at which point Laura commented with a cheerful voice.

"I see. My brother is going through the same, and thank you very much for the opportunity, Erik. My brother and Jessica are very excited and busy."

"There's no need to thank me. Honestly, that spot came out of nowhere and I gave it to my 'older sister'—the second disciple of my master. She's the one who decided to offer it to your brother; I had nothing to do with it." Erik responded casually, prompting Laura to simply smile before calmly asking.

"I still feel like I owe you a favor, so… Would you like to come in for a drink?"

"Another time. Right now, my schedule is really tight." Erik said, shaking his head and replying casually as he pulled his agenda from his storage ring to check it. Laura could only respond with a hint of disappointment.

"I see, that's a shame."

"Well, I'm already running late for a meeting I have after this. I have to say goodbye now." After glancing at his agenda, Erik spoke in a serious voice, prompting Laura to nod and reply with a smile.

"Then I'll see you another time. And don't worry about Sofia—I'll make sure to take special care of her."

"I know. And thanks again." Erik said, sincerely grateful, to which Laura shook her head and replied in a cheerful tone.

"Even if it's not official yet, we're partners. This is nothing…"

After saying goodbye to Laura, Erik walked over to Sofia, who looked a little nervous, and spoke with a smile.

"Sofia, make sure you learn as much as you can here. After I come back, there are several things I want you to start handling alongside your studies. Depending on your performance here, I'll know what workload is best suited for you."

"Don't worry, Boss! I'll do my absolute best!" Sofia quickly replied, full of enthusiasm and determination, prompting Erik to smile in satisfaction and say.

"I know you will. But even so, don't push yourself too hard. No matter how good you are, if you don't have your health, it's meaningless."

"I'll keep that in mind, Boss." Sofia replied warmly, and Erik nodded. After saying his goodbyes, he approached Seraphina, who promptly teleported him to the location of his next meeting.

...

When the light faded, Erik found himself standing before a towering building of black metal and glass, with a curvilinear design that rose more than 100 stories high. He quickly entered, accompanied by his loyal shadow, and was greeted by a team of four men and three women, all dressed in elegant black business suits. The man in the center, who had short black hair and light violet eyes, spoke in a serious and formal tone.

"Direct Disciple Erik, it's a pleasure to have you with us. Please follow us—everything is ready for the meeting and the subsequent signing of the contract."

"That's good. Let's go." Erik replied calmly before moving toward the glass elevator located at the corner of the building's elegant lobby.

Shortly after, Erik arrived at what appeared to be a conference room with a panoramic view of District 6 of the University Planet. The district was filled with all kinds of tall buildings, which, although they varied slightly in design, mostly shared a consistent style—primarily made of metal and glass—giving the whole area a far more serious and professional atmosphere. After all, this was the Financial/Corporate District of the University Planet.

After taking a seat at the head chair, Erik grabbed the contracts and began reviewing them along with Seraphina, who remained standing behind him as always, reading a copy of the contracts at great speed. After a while, Erik placed the documents down on the table and spoke in a calm voice, leaning back against the chair's backrest.

"The corrections I requested seem to be all in place. What do you think, Seraphina?"

"They are in order, Young Master. You can sign them without any problem."

Seraphina quickly replied as she made the contracts she was holding float down to land neatly on the table. At that moment, she swiftly grabbed a teapot and prepared tea at remarkable speed, then placed a cup of hot tea on the desk beside her young master. Erik glanced at the lawyers and spoke in a calm tone.

"Everything is perfect, so now we just have to wait for the Atticus family representatives to arrive and begin the proceedings. Is there anything else you would like to report?"

"Yes, Direct Disciple Erik. The negotiations with the Etherglass suppliers and the craftsmen you requested have already been completed. Would you like to review the figures and conditions?" The man with short black hair and light violet eyes reported in a serious tone, prompting Erik to nod and reply as Seraphina began massaging his shoulders.

"Perfect, let me take a look at how that turned out."

…

…

…

A couple of hours later, Erik walked out of the elegant building accompanied by his older brother Desmond and a man who seemed to be a few years older, bearing a certain resemblance to Desmond. However, the man's eyes were a pale pink color instead of the young mage's grayish tone. At that moment, Desmond extended his hand toward Erik and commented with a smile.

"It was truly a pleasure doing business with you, Erik. Everything went smoothly and without a hitch—one of the best negotiations I've ever been part of."

"The pleasure was mine as well. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Manalite will become in your hands." Erik said with a smile as he shook Desmond's hand. At that moment, the man beside Desmond extended his hand and spoke.

"We already have several ideas that I'm sure will surprise you, Direct Disciple Erik. We'll be awaiting your visit to our home planet so we can discuss them more thoroughly."

"Don't worry, Arcane Atticus. As soon as I return from the exploration, I'll reorganize my schedule and make that visit as soon as possible. Besides, I'm really looking forward to seeing the factories." Erik replied cordially as he shook the man's hand, prompting a satisfied nod from him as he calmly commented.

"It will truly be a pleasure to welcome you to our humble home, Direct Disciple Erik. Although I must apologize—I have another meeting to attend."

"I'm in the same situation, so I must take my leave as well. We'll meet again soon."

After bidding farewell to Desmond and the elder in charge of the Atticus family, Erik hurried off with Seraphina. He still had to file a couple of licenses for his spells, send academic documents, meet with the construction company responsible for remodeling the offices he had rented, among other tasks—he simply had too much to do.

…

…

…

By the time night fell, Erik collapsed onto the sofa in his master's mansion, exhausted. At that moment, Seraphina began massaging his shoulders with perfect technique, while the wolves emerged from his shadow and started rubbing against him as if they hadn't seen him in centuries. Erik spoke with a visibly tired voice.

"So many meetings in a single day completely drained me…"

"Don't worry, Young Master. Your personal maid will make sure to pamper and take care of you until you're as good as new."

Seraphina quickly replied with a smile. At that moment, a flash of light lit up the room, and almost instantly, Erik felt two warm, soft, and elastic sensations wrapping around his arms, followed quickly by Sigrún's cheerful voice.

"Erik, we have a bunch of gifts for you!"

"Fufu, and your armor for the tournament is ready, so you can try it on." Eleonora added with a joyful smile as she intimately hugged her beloved disciple, who replied with a somewhat dull voice.

"Great, let's go see them."

Noticing the tiredness in Erik's voice, Eleonora and Sigrún's excitement instantly vanished. The beautiful golden-haired master released Erik's arm and gently pulled him down to rest his head on her lap, smiling as she said.

"Let's do that later. For now, I just want to spoil you a lot."

"Don't worry, I really want to see the armor and the gifts."

Erik quickly replied with a smile, trying to seem like everything was fine. At that moment, Eleonora rose from her seat and knelt in front of him, starting to unbutton his jacket as she spoke.

"Don't think about any of that right now. Just relax and enjoy yourself. You've worked so hard—you deserve to be thoroughly pampered today, don't you agree, Seraphina?" Eleonora said, turning to look at Seraphina, who quickly nodded with a smile as she pulled several lotions, masks, and similar items from her storage ring.

"Yes, my Young Master worked very hard today and truly deserves a good rest."

"Then let's get to work! Let's get rid of these pesky clothes, hehe,"

Sigrún quickly added with a playful smile, causing everyone to laugh joyfully. At that moment, Eleonora stripped Erik down to his underwear, then pulled a specially designed massage chair from her storage ring—a chair she had crafted herself—pointing to it as she spoke.

"Sit here, Erik. This is one of the things we prepared for your ruin exploration. I'll explain how it works later, but for now, just relax."

"All right."

Visibly exhausted, Erik sat down on the chair, which immediately began massaging him with great precision. At the same time, Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina started massaging his face, arms, and legs, respectively; their movements were practiced and measured, all while maintaining warm, loving smiles on their faces. It was inevitable that Erik would feel enveloped in warmth and infinitely loved by these beautiful women.

"Thank you…" Erik murmured, his voice heavy with exhaustion, prompting Sigrún to respond with a smile full of love.

"We love you. There's no need for thanks."

Hearing Sigrún's warm voice, Erik turned to look at Eleonora and Seraphina, who both wore joyful and affectionate smiles, making it impossible for him not to smile as well. Closing his eyes, he surrendered to the care of his beautiful masters and his devoted maid, who laughed softly and wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to pampering him with all their love.

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[lordanl]

In the middle of a peaceful and quiet garden, filled with beautiful flowers of all shapes and sizes, there stood a simple rustic wooden cabin, roughly 60 square meters in size. Inside, the director sat cross-legged on a simple cushion—the only "furniture" in the cabin—his eyes closed in meditation. But at that moment, out of nowhere and without warning, a humanoid figure materialized in the room.

The figure soon revealed itself to be a woman of divine beauty, with pale skin and facial features so finely sculpted that she looked more like a masterfully carved statue than a living being. The impression she gave was that of standing before a true warrior empress—or perhaps even a goddess. But undoubtedly, the most striking detail about her was her long crimson hair and her bright orange eyes.

"Lysander."

With a melodious voice, one that seemed to carry an unmatched majesty, the woman called out as a simple black cushion appeared in her hands. This caused the director to open his eyes abruptly, visibly startled. But upon seeing the woman sitting calmly in front of him with a relaxed expression, a bitter smile inevitably formed on his face.

"Brigid, stop scaring me like that. It's not good for my heart. I'm getting old—you're going to make yourself a widow if you keep this up." The director said in a somewhat playful tone, which made the beautiful woman roll her eyes before replying with sarcasm.

"What a delicate flower. Next time I'll send you a formal announcement a decade in advance to see if that helps."

"Hehe, it's good to see that you're finally able to come out." The director said with amusement, to which the woman calmly nodded.

"Although it won't be for long—maybe one or two years. I still haven't fully stabilized." Brigid replied as she turned her head to the left and added.

"But that's not important. What matters is that I want to see that boy."

"Hehe, I figured as much."

The director commented while looking in the same direction as Brigid, where he could see Erik, dressed only in his underwear, being thoroughly massaged by Sigrún, Eleonora, and Seraphina. But just then, Seraphina suddenly turned and 'looked' directly at them, murderous intent practically written across her face, causing Sigrún and Eleonora to glance in the same direction, slightly confused—only for their expressions to quickly fill with rage.

"Oops, we've been spotted." The director said with a chuckle as he withdrew his gaze and turned to face Brigid, who now wore an expression full of fury.

"What the hell are those three doing…" Brigid muttered in a cold, visibly furious voice, nearly gritting her teeth. The director, still amused, commented.

"Hahaha, those three just love little Erik a bit too much."

"I'm going to have to remind them what decency looks like… with a little 'tough love'…"

Brigid replied coldly as a simple, unadorned spear materialized in her hand—the shaft made of black wood, the tip a deep crimson metal. The director, however, spoke cheerfully and completely relaxed, since the problem wasn't his.

"Let them be happy—they're not hurting anyone."

"What, do you want something like that too?" Brigid quickly turned to look at the director with a sharp gaze, causing the great leader of the Arcane Order to shake his head furiously and speak hastily.

"No, no, no, of course not! I've always been a creature of a single nest—you know that."

"Hmph, you better be."

Brigid replied in a voice full of warning as she laid her spear across her lap, allowing the director to let out a discreet sigh of relief. But at that moment, the beautiful crimson-haired woman spoke in a thoughtful tone.

"But it's just as you said. That boy—although similar to Tal'veren—is also different. The Myst around him behaves strangely."

"Like a mother watching over her chick, right?" the director asked in a serious tone, to which Brigid quickly nodded and replied contemplatively.

"It certainly feels that way… really strange. I don't recall ever reading anything like this in the ancestral records…"

"So it wasn't like this with Tal'veren. For a moment, I thought maybe I just hadn't been able to sense it back then and that it was the same." The director commented calmly, prompting the beautiful, crimson-haired woman to shake her head and explain.

"No, with Tal'veren, it was as if the Myst were an extension of his being. He could impose his will through it, enhancing his four affinities and his five 'perfect synergies' to the extreme—defeating enemies several times stronger than himself with ease. But with this boy, it's different. It's as if the Myst itself is actively trying to stay by his side and follow his will—more like a subordinate…"

"Or an overly indulgent mother." The director finished his beautiful wife's thought, to which she nodded with a pensive expression, before looking him in the eyes and asking.

"What's his personality like?"

"…It's strange. In a sense, he's like a 'light' version of Tal'veren." the director replied after thinking for a second, then quickly continued explaining in a serious tone.

"He's individualistic and values freedom above all else, just like Tal'veren himself. But unlike him, Erik doesn't resort to violence easily. He's solitary, calm, and focused—always working on something different—and seems to avoid trouble whenever he can. But once he's forced to be violent, he's capable of killing without even blinking.

"In the duel he was cornered into, the moment his opponent attacked him with murderous intent, Erik killed him without hesitation, without even changing his expression. It was as if, in his mind, killing wasn't registered as something wrong or shameful—he simply chose the fastest and most effective method: beheading him with a single strike. So it wouldn't be surprising if he launched a full-scale war if he ever felt his freedom was being restricted, just like Tal'veren.

"But at the same time, Erik seems to harbor a certain disdain for power and governance. Although he doesn't say it explicitly, it seems that, to him, the act of ruling is something shameful or disgraceful—especially regarding taxes. From time to time, he sends letters to the tax office and the government proposing tax reductions, suggesting alternative methods of funding—letters in which he occasionally hints subtly at just how much he despises them."

"A strange boy…" Brigid commented thoughtfully. But at that moment, a smile inevitably formed on her lips as she glanced at her husband and added.

"Though I suppose those letters didn't sit very well with Selene."

"She read one out of curiosity after I ordered them to be sent directly to my office the moment they arrived—and she almost ran out to punch him. She only stopped when she found out that Seraphina was his personal maid, hehe." The director replied with amusement, which brought a somewhat odd smile to Brigid's face. She couldn't help but comment in a contemplative tone.

"But truly, that boy seems to have a special kind of charm. Not just Seraphina—according to what you told me, even Her Excellency Ebonique Nox chose to stay by his side. I still find it hard to believe…"

"Is the dragon spirit really that impressive?" The director asked, a bit curious, prompting Brigid to fix her gaze on him and warn him in a serious tone.

"Watch your words, Lysander. Her Excellency Ebonique Nox is one of the Eternals—beings said to have been born even before the universe itself was formed. Moreover, she is one of the most powerful and elusive among them. There's barely any information about her in the ancestral records, but one thing is very clearly emphasized.

"She, along with Her Excellency Ignis Caelestis, are the closest things to invincibility. They may not win every battle—but they will never lose one. Not even my ancestors would have dared to disrespect her. So be very careful when you're in her presence."

"I understand…" The director replied in a serious tone, gazing off into the distance, trying to rationalize what kind of monster it was that now accompanied Erik.

…

…

…

In the middle of the main port of the city atop the space elevator, Erik stood dressed in leather armor that not only offered great protection but also allowed for ease of movement. Over it, he wore a long coat made of the same leather as his armor, giving him a mystical and mysterious air.

The base color of Erik's armor set was a deep dark blue, blending seamlessly with the void of space, while intricate golden details in various geometric patterns adorned the suit, lending it an elegant and sophisticated appearance. These designs highlighted the intricate runes that glowed faintly with a soft golden hue across its surface.

Although his armor appeared more aesthetic than functional, the truth was that it was a specialized magical artifact personally crafted by Eleonora. As such, the armor contained everything Erik could possibly imagine—and more. With just a single thought, Erik could see various screens positioned strategically within his field of vision, providing real-time information about his surroundings, along with data on his physical condition, the armor's integrity, his mana reserves, and more.

Sweeping his gaze over the ninety-nine young individuals perfectly lined up around him—each wearing different suits and armors of various shapes, sizes, and colors, some with excited expressions, others looking worried, and many bearing serious, emotionless faces—Erik could see that, in his vision, small screens appeared above each of them, displaying relevant information about them.

Then, Erik turned his gaze forward, where the director stood accompanied by Adrian, Ryoma, Ngozi, Eleonora, Sigrún, Thalia, Jessica, and two other men. One with dark blue hair and fair skin, and the other with greenish hair and tan skin. Whom Erik didn't recognize at first, though the small screens floating above their heads quickly informed him who they were.

Even though everyone stood with serious, solemn expressions that conveyed their power and authority, Erik had to struggle not to laugh in amusement. After all, the displays that appeared in his vision above and around Eleonora and Sigrún contained information that was very far from serious.

…

[Name: Sigrún Eldurdóttir (Sweetheart, if you're Erik.)]
[Titles: Number One Alchemist of the Galaxy, …, Beloved Master of Erik.]
[Species: Human.]
[Known Strength Level: Master-level.]
[Combat Type: Long-range.]
[Known Strengths: Perfect Synergy (Phoenix Forest), 'Immortality', …, Super soft arms perfect for hugging her beloved disciple.]
[Known Affinities: Wood, Fire.]
[Profession: Alchemist.]
[Additional Data:
[*Contractor of an ancestral blue phoenix spirit.
[*Auric Award winner.
[*…
[*Madly in love with her first and only disciple.]
[Recommended Approach:
[*If you're Erik: lots of kisses and hugs. If not: stay away.]

…

[Name: Eleonora Silverwood (My love, if you're Erik.)]
[Titles: Empress of Lightning, …, Secretly number one in her Erik's heart.]
[Species: Human.]
[Known Strength Level: Master-level.]
[Combat Type: Mixed.]
[Known Strengths: Perfect Synergy (Conductive Tempest), …, Soft and elastic lap for her Erik to use as a pillow.]
[Known Affinities: Metal, Electricity.]
[Profession: Artificer.]
[Additional Data:
[*Contractor of an ancestral golden electric tiger spirit.
[*Auric Award winner.
[*…
[*Madly in love with her Erik.]
[Recommended Approach:
[*If you're Erik: one kiss every half hour. If not: stay away.]

…

"Young ones, you are about to embark on a journey to investigate an ancient ruin, and without a doubt, it will be a journey full of dangers. But as you well know, danger and opportunity go hand in hand. That's why I expect you, as representatives of the Arcane Order, to seek out your own opportunities while upholding the honor of the Order."

While Erik silently amused himself with his playful master's antics, the Director's voice suddenly echoed through the place, stirring all sorts of emotions among the young listeners, who immediately responded in unison and loudly:

"YES, DIRECTOR!!!"

"That's what I like to see. Soon we'll begin boarding the cruiser. You may say your goodbyes—we'll meet on the ship."

With those words, the director disappeared in a flash of light along with all the Masters level who had accompanied him, leaving the young ones behind. After a moment, they began walking toward the rear area, where hundreds of people surrounded the entrance to the port.

Seeing everyone saying goodbye to their families, Erik quietly moved to a corner, pulling a table and a chair out of his storage ring. On the table, a plate of cookies, a porcelain cup, and a black-covered book with golden embroidery appeared, and he sat to wait in silence. After all, no one would be coming to see him off—he had already left the siblings with their respective tutors, and his masters were with the director.

With a calm expression, Erik picked up the book from the table and reached for the porcelain cup, over which a beautiful teapot floated gently. But just before he could serve himself, a delicate and beautiful hand took hold of the teapot. Erik turned to find Seraphina, who had appeared out of nowhere in front of him, gracefully serving the tea with a lovely smile on her face.

"Thank you, Seraphina."

"It is always a pleasure to be by your side and serve you, Young Master,"

Seraphina, as the perfect maid she was, quickly replied with a respectful bow, causing the star-haired young man to smile warmly. However, curious about what information the armor would display regarding his ever-reliable personal maid, Erik focused his attention on her, prompting several information screens to appear around her.

[Name: Seraphina Ravenspell.]
[Titles: Perfect Maid (exclusive to her Young Master), Demon Dressed as a Maid, Queen of Shadows, …]
[Species: Human.]
[Known Strength Level: ????, Arcane-Peak.]
[Combat Type: Mixed, with a preference for stealth.]
[Known Strengths: Hips that always catch her Young Master's gaze.]
[Known Affinities: Darkness.]
[Profession: Personal Maid to her Young Master, Erik.]
[Additional Data:
[*Devoted in body and soul to her Young Master, Erik.]
[Recommended Approach:
[*If you are her Young Master, anything is fine. If not, watch every word and action in her presence.]

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Spoiler: Erik's Armor

 

[lordanl]

Upon seeing the information, Erik couldn't help but glance at his ever-reliable personal maid with amusement, already imagining what she must have done to make Eleonora limit the display to only that information—and the fact that several entries were crossed out was very likely her form of retaliation. But Seraphina, ever the perfect maid, simply stood by his side like a loyal shadow after serving his tea, smiling with quiet satisfaction, which made him chuckle softly once more.

After a few seconds, Erik returned his gaze to his book while Seraphina remained standing behind him, giving the impression that the two of them were in their own little world—completely disconnected from the tears and farewells taking place around them. That was until they were interrupted by the arrival of three beautiful young women: one with chestnut hair, one with jet-black hair, and another with short blonde hair.

The moment the trio appeared, Erik quickly closed his book and stored it in his storage ring. Immediately after, he summoned three chairs identical to his own, which he placed around the table. The young women calmly took their seats.

"Hello, long time no see."

Erik greeted them with a smile, looking at Elara and Zoe, both of whom were dressed in armor just like him. In Elara's case, she wore what could only be described as an elegant magical armor, featuring a fitted metal breastplate adorned with a beautiful glowing red gem in the center and various runes carved into the surface that glowed with a warm golden light.

Elara's breastplate extended from her neck down into a beautiful black skirt with an inverted V-cut, which revealed her legs clad in elegantly styled plate armor, matching the armor on her arms and shoulders. From those shoulders, a ghostly, enchanting flame emanated, giving her a mystical and otherworldly appearance.

Zoe, on the other hand, wore a highly detailed and stylized silver plate armor with intricate runes carved throughout, glowing with a soft whitish hue. The breastplate hugged her body tightly, accentuating her voluptuous feminine figure, and ended in a skirt of layered plates that protected her hips and upper thighs. This same layered design extended to her pauldrons, which featured a sharp and intimidating finish.

Meanwhile, Zoe's arms and legs were protected by gauntlets and greaves made of layered plates, their elegant design perfectly balancing coverage and mobility. The entire ensemble radiated a sense of unmatched femininity and strength.

"Well, Disciple Erik hasn't bothered to come see us—not even to apologize for the rough time he gave us during the tournament—so we decided to come to him." Zoe remarked in a calm, measured tone, seated in her chair as Seraphina gracefully served her a cup of tea.

"I'm sorry about that, and although I wanted to meet with you as soon as Liliana told me about the trouble you went through because of me, I've been incredibly busy and it just wasn't possible. But if there's anything I can do to make up for it, don't hesitate to let me know—I'll do my best to help."

Erik replied with a warm smile, while Liliana—dressed in the university uniform and only there to say goodbye to her friends, and, reluctantly, her annoying younger brother—rolled her eyes, clearly not believing a single word he said.

"Don't worry, fellow Disciple Erik. Zoe's just teasing you. We're well aware it was a competition, and at the time, we didn't even know it was possible to form teams." Elara said cheerfully after taking a sip of the tea Seraphina had served her.

"Fufu, I originally felt the same as Elara." Zoe added with a sly smile and continued.

"But now that you want to apologize, why don't you form a team with us as your way of making it up to us?"

Zoe's words made Elara's green eyes light up like lanterns as she quickly nodded and chimed in.

"Yes, that's a great idea! What do you think, Disciple Erik?"

"Of course—it would be a pleasure to team up with such capable ladies."

Erik replied with a calm smile, not seeing much of a problem in forming a team with the young women in front of him. After all, he had seen some footage from the tournament thanks to his masters, and they were indeed strong and talented. Having their help in an unfamiliar environment like the ruin—of which only a preliminary exploration report existed—would be a great asset.

Additionally, Erik was eager to meet Zoe's fox spirit in order to identify any differences it might have with Ebonique—if any existed at all. To him, Ignis and Ebonique were remarkably similar despite the vast difference in their ranks, which struck him as both strange and confusing. Especially considering how the two were always spoken of as equals, he wanted to determine whether such parity among spirits was common or if there was something more going on beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Zoe and Elara exchanged a satisfied glance. Although they hadn't been able to watch much of the tournament footage—and their Grandfather/Master hadn't shared many details either—the official announcement of the participant rankings listed Erik as the second-best overall, just below the champion team.

He had not only finished the trial first but had done so entirely on his own by discovering a hidden challenge that no one else had known about, one that—according to rumors—had earned him a significant reward.

That alone spoke volumes about Erik's skill. Combined with what they had seen in the duel he fought a few years ago, it ultimately convinced Elara and Zoe that if they had teamed up with Erik from the very beginning of the tournament, they would have had a much easier time—and who knows, maybe even taken the championship. After all, Erik had singlehandedly completed a challenge that many couldn't overcome even in groups, so who could say what he might be capable of with the right support?

…

The group of four young people continued chatting about random topics—though the conversation mostly revolved around Erik, his patents, his publications, the secret trial from the tournament, and so on. Eventually, the conversation shifted toward Liliana's situation, prompting Elara to smile as she looked into the blue eyes of the chocolate-haired girl.

"And Liliana, I still don't understand why you turned down the spot Disciple Erik secured for you and gave it to Disciple Williams instead."

Finishing a cookie—a taste she had acquired after working so long with that star-haired cookie-devouring monster—Liliana took a sip of her tea before responding in a calm, casual tone.

"Well, I can't say it was easy to give up such a huge opportunity, but honestly, I feel like losing the tournament was a major turning point in my life. It helped me realize a lot of things, and in a way, I think I gained something far more important than a spot on the expedition. Going anyway would've felt wrong—like it would've cheapened all of that.

"That's why I decided to give it to Disciple Williams after speaking with my master and Erik. I truly feel he was a key part of our team, and his help was essential in getting us as far as we did. Plus, he got eliminated because he 'sacrificed' himself at the end to help me hold off that vixen and her lapdogs—so I felt like he really deserved the chance to go."

"Well, even though you haven't wanted to tell us what exactly you gained by giving up your spot in the expedition, I can see that it was something very important to you—something you want to treasure. So, I can understand that." Zoe said with understanding. Then she turned to look at Erik, her eyes full of curiosity and interest, and asked.

"What I'm still curious about is how you got that spot in the first place, Disciple Erik. Was that the rumored prize from the secret trial?"

"No, not at all—it actually had nothing to do with the tournament. I don't know if you heard, but shortly before you earned your spots in the competition, I had a run-in with someone at the space station. That person had a spot, which was revoked after they ended up spending some time in jail. So, their master suggested I choose who would take the spot as compensation—though it came with a few conditions."

Erik explained with a smile, prompting Elara to lean in with curiosity. A juicy piece of gossip like that was too good to pass up.

"Now that you mention it, I did hear something about that. Apparently, the junior disciple of the Order's newest Master-level got into trouble, was tried by the court, and is going to spend a couple of decades in prison. Were you the one affected, Disciple Erik?"

"Not directly. It was actually my new assistants who were affected. They met him by chance—and the idiot tried to kidnap them."

"What was that guy even thinking?"

Zoe asked, completely incredulous, doubting that someone could actually be stupid enough to anger the court like that. Erik chuckled as he picked up a cookie and replied.

"Haha, that's exactly what I thought…"

As the four of them gossiped, a nearby gate opened, revealing an imposing stellar cruiser of massive size, radiating beams of blue light. The entire surface of the cruiser was a complex network of panels and hatches, covered with countless carved runes—giving the ship a high-tech appearance infused with magical and ethereal elegance.

In front of the gate, Adrian appeared with a serious expression, emanating an aura filled with power and intimidation. He spoke softly, yet his voice reached the ears of all the young people saying goodbye to their families.

"Prepare to board."

"Well, Liliana, it looks like it's time to go." With Adrian's words, Erik began to rise from his seat and turned to Liliana to say goodbye—something Zoe and Elara did as well.

"Take care, Liliana. I'll make sure to bring you something nice." Standing up, Zoe bid farewell with a smile, and Elara stepped up beside her, adding cheerfully.

"Yes, if I find something good, I'll make sure to share it with you."

"Haha, no need for that. Take care, girls—I'll be waiting for you." Liliana also stood from her seat to say goodbye to her friends, then turned to Erik with a smile and added.

"And you take care too, annoying little brother."

"You too, 'big sister'." Erik replied, slightly amused, as he stored the table and chairs into his storage ring—what made the chocolate-haired girl smile a little.

…

Soon after, Erik headed toward the gate accompanied by Elara and Zoe, though not without first casting one last glance at the families saying their farewells. By chance, he caught a glimpse of Laura trying to fix the hair of a young man with black hair tipped in red, who was protesting in embarrassment.

As if by magic, Laura seemed to notice Erik's gaze and raised her hand to wave at him, a beautiful smile on her face—something that appeared to surprise her younger brother, who quickly seized the opportunity to run off. In turn, Erik returned Laura's wave with an amused smile and passed through the gate guarded by Adrian, who greeted him with a nod before turning his gaze back toward the interior of the port.

"I didn't know you were acquainted with Master Soracchi—that's seriously impressive." After they had walked a bit away from Adrian, Zoe looked at the star-haired boy and asked with clear interest, to which he responded in a calm and casual tone.

"It's not that I really know him. I've just seen him a couple of times during meetings with the Director. Maybe that's why he greeted me. I didn't actually know who he was at first."

"Seriously? You had meetings with the strongest Master-level and second-in-command of the university and didn't know who he was?" Zoe asked, clearly finding it hard to believe what she was hearing, to which Erik replied with an ironic smile.

"Well, what can I say—honestly, I didn't know at the time."

"But you really met with the Director…" Elara commented with a hint of surprise, to which Erik nodded and replied without giving it much importance.

"Well, yeah, though I was really just accompanying my Masters, so it's not that big of a deal."

"I've never been allowed to accompany my grandfather to a meeting…" Zoe said softly, and Elara nodded, adding.

"Yeah, my master doesn't let me go with her either."

"Well, maybe my masters bent protocol a little. Apparently, they're known for doing exactly that…"

Erik replied casually, not daring to mention that the first time he met the Director wasn't just at his home—but that he didn't even recognize him and actually thought he might be some kind of enemy.

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***
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Spoiler: Elara's Armor:

Spoiler: Zoe's Armor:

Spoiler: Spaceship

 

[lordanl]

"By the way, since we're going to be teaming up, I think it'd be better if we just used our names. All that 'Disciple this, Disciple that' gets a little annoying."
Trying to shift the topic, Erik spoke casually, which brought a smile to the girls' faces as they responded with enthusiasm.

"I was just about to suggest the same, Erik." Elara said with a cheerful smile, followed by Zoe, who added in a similar tone.

"Yeah, addressing each other so formally makes us sound weird—so we're counting on you, Erik."

"And I'm counting on you too, Elara, Zoe."

Erik replied with a calm smile, and with that, the group of four stepped aboard the ship—only to be greeted by the intense gaze of four Master-levels of immeasurable power.

"Hello." Erik greeted the group of Master-levels calmly. Standing before him were Ryoma, Thalia, Eleonora, and Sigrún—who all seemed to be waiting for them.

"Erik, come with us."

After smiling in greeting, Eleonora spoke with elegance. Erik nodded in response, then turned to say goodbye to the girls as they made their way toward their respective masters.

"See you later."

"Of course." Zoe replied with a beautiful smile, nodding her head, followed closely by Elara, who waved her right hand gently.

"See you soon, Erik."

"Fufu, yes—we'll see you later, Erik."

At that moment, Thalia added with a smile, prompting an annoyed tongue-click from Sigrún, while Erik simply nodded before turning around and following his masters, who quickly began leading the way deeper into the ship.

Erik followed Eleonora and Sigrún through a majestic hall with an incredibly high ceiling, which connected to several corridors—all illuminated by glowing runes carved into the walls, floor, and ceiling.

They took one of the corridors, where Erik saw enormous windows revealing the space elevator port outside, along with various holographic displays, even though from the outside the ship looked entirely metallic.

Shortly after, the group arrived at a door that opened automatically, and they entered what looked like a sci-fi presidential suite. The floor was a sleek jet-black adorned with softly glowing runes, massive windows offered a view of the exterior, and elegant, luxurious-looking sofas completed the space.

As Erik admired the stunning room, he suddenly felt the warmth of two bodies embracing him. Before he knew it, he was lying on a bed, tightly hugged by Eleonora and Sigrún, both wearing expressions of sadness and guilt.

"Did something happen?" Erik asked, a little uneasy. While his masters were, to put it mildly, very affectionate, their expressions immediately put him on alert.

"Erik, forgive us for leaving you alone. You must have felt so lonely and sad watching everyone say goodbye to their families…" Eleonora said, full of sorrow and regret, her face resting on Erik's shoulder.

"Yeah… we didn't want to leave you there by yourself, but that old bastard didn't let us bring you with us—and we couldn't stay with you either, or the jealous ones would've started questioning your achievements, saying we were giving you special treatment in public…" Sigrún added as she clung to Erik's waist and buried her face in his chest, full of frustration and pain.

Erik, upon hearing his masters' words, let out a quiet sigh of relief—glad it was just that silly misunderstanding and not something serious. Still, he now found himself at a crossroads: should he stay quiet and enjoy the affection, or speak up and clear things up?

(Well, taking advantage of situations like this has never been my style...)

"Ah, don't worry about that. I didn't feel lonely, sad, or anything like that. In a way, I'm used to it. A long time ago, I came to understand that those kinds of things don't really involve me, and I don't feel anything when I see them. So there's no need to make such a big deal out of it. Besides, I wasn't alone—Seraphina, Liliana, and her friends were with me."

Erik spoke with a smile as he gently stroked the silky hair of his masters. His words caused the eyes of the two breathtakingly beautiful women to grow glassy with emotion as they hugged their beloved disciple even tighter.

"Don't say things like that… Maybe you were unlucky and lost your parents early on, but we're your family—and we'll always be with you…" Eleonora said in a trembling voice, holding back tears.

"Yes, Erik. You might not have a family now, but that's only temporary. In the future, we'll be surrounded by chubby, beautiful children running around everywhere…" Sigrún added with a hint of sadness, her cheeks adorably tinged pink, yet her gaze remained sincere as she looked at Erik.

Without saying a word, Erik leaned in toward his beautiful blonde master and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, leaving her completely stunned. Then, as he pulled back slightly, he looked directly into her eyes and spoke with a warmth that filled the room.

"Thank you, Sigrún."

Erik smiled affectionately as he watched the surprised expression of his master, who was now turning a deep shade of red. He then felt a tug on his coat and turned to see Eleonora, her face completely flushed as she spoke in a barely audible voice.

"W-we'll also have lots of chubby, beautiful children…"

Hearing his master's words, Erik couldn't help but smile warmly—amused and touched at the same time. He leaned in toward the golden-eyed beauty and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, which only deepened the color in her cheeks.

"Thank you, Eleonora…"

Seeing the two ethereal beauties—who just minutes earlier had carried themselves with elegance, charm, and power—now clinging to him like shy teenagers, burying their faces against his body, Erik leaned back onto the pillow and closed his eyes as his mind drifted into thought.

(Children, huh? … Honestly, one of the biggest regrets of my life. I still curse the day I let myself be convinced not to have them—believing all that nonsense about them being a burden, complicating life, and so on. How the hell did I ever fall for that? Who the hell even came up with something like that? If it was premeditated, whoever planned it is an absolute villain—damn insidious.

(A large part of society—including myself—believed those stupid lies and willingly jumped into the grim, dark pit of loneliness and eternal regret with arrogant smiles, thinking we were the smarter ones…

(Near the end of my life, the thought that it might have been premeditated terrified me. Because if there truly was a mastermind behind it, then that person could only be an absolute evil genius—someone who managed to make human civilization self-destruct from within, like a Trojan horse…

(I just hope that, unlike me, humanity in my past life woke up in time—realized that all those lies were just half-truths. That, in the end, the greatest accomplishment in life is to have children. Everything else becomes meaningless when you've got one foot in the grave... just funny stories to tell at dinner.)

With a heavy sigh full of endless regret and the bitter loneliness that lingered from his past life, Erik continued thinking about his final, isolated years—letting his mind drift down an endless spiral of thoughts until, eventually, he fell asleep without even realizing it. Sigrún and Eleonora noticed this right away and carefully removed his armor, leaving him dressed only in a simple dark outfit.

After watching their beloved disciple sleep peacefully, Eleonora turned off the light. She and Sigrún then lay down on either side of Erik, embracing him lovingly before closing their eyes and drifting into a warm, peaceful sleep. Even though their bodies didn't physically need rest, the mental pleasure of sleeping beside the man they loved was greater than anything else.

…

…

…

In the center of a luxurious and elegant suite that radiated a mystical atmosphere thanks to the magical lights illuminating it—complete with beautiful leather sofas and large windows revealing a distant asteroid field—Erik stood surrounded by Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina, who were checking his appearance and explaining several things before disembarkation.

"Erik, once we step off the ship, we'll be face to face with people from other factions, and those bastards love intimidating the weak—but they're cowards in front of the strong. So act proud and upright. Don't let them look down on you." Sigrún said seriously, to which Eleonora added in a similar tone.

"Remember that we're right behind you, so you have no reason to fear anyone. None of them are worthy. You can look down on them all you want."

"Also, once inside the ruin, you must stay alert at all times and never trust anyone too easily. Plenty of people will be more than willing to stab you in the back for a few miserable gains, some petty grudge, or simply out of envy." Sigrún added immediately as she adjusted Erik's elegant dark blue leather coat, meticulously ensuring every detail was perfect.

"Yes, Erik. A ruin like this—where the elders can't interfere—will inevitably give rise to twisted ideas in many people who see it as the perfect place to settle old scores or give in to their worst impulses, thinking they'll get away with it. So don't trust anyone lightly and stay on guard at all times." Eleonora said seriously as she brushed Erik's star-like hair, making sure it looked flawless.

"Also, you must be especially careful with the other factions, young master. Those people will go for the kill the moment they get the chance against anyone from the Arcane Order, so you must not be lenient with them—strike to kill from the start." Seraphina added seriously as she polished Erik's boots, making sure they were spotless and gleaming, completing her young master's flawless, impeccable look.

"I understand. I'll act with authority and strike to kill when it comes to members of the other factions." Erik replied with understanding, making a mental note and wearing a faint smile, to which Eleonora quickly added in a stern tone.

"But that doesn't mean you should go around killing at random, Erik. Even though it's common for the other factions to attack us, not all of them do. You must first assess their intentions. Still, if you're in danger, don't hesitate—have no mercy and don't worry about the consequences."

"I understand." Erik nodded seriously, at which point Seraphina spoke while double-checking the appearance of her beloved young master.

"You must also remember to keep your wealth well hidden, young master—especially anything you find within the ruin. It's happened many times that large groups gather to attack someone who's found riches in a ruin, intending to rob them."

"And always keep your weapons ready. No one knows what could happen, and in a fight, even a second's delay can be fatal." Sigrún added quickly, urging Erik to draw his machetes, at which point Eleonora added with equal seriousness.

"And most importantly, don't take unnecessary risks. Even if you can gain valuable things in there, ultimately, you are our disciple—and there is nothing in this galaxy that we cannot obtain for you. So just treat it as a journey to gain experience and a bit of reputation. Retreat immediately if things get complicated."

"Understood. I won't take any more risks than necessary."

Erik replied as he pulled a pair of dark blue machetes from his storage ring—matching his outfit—with golden details on the elegant hilts and runes engraved all over the blades, which, along with the edges, glowed with a soft golden light.

He carried the machetes to his left hip, where they hovered in place as if held by an invisible sheath attached to his belt. The three stunning women standing before him watched with visible satisfaction and a subtle sparkle in their eyes.

"Yes, you look perfect, fufu."

Feeling like she was falling in love with her Erik all over again, Eleonora commented with satisfaction, to which Seraphina and Sigrún nodded in full agreement.

"Definitely worthy of being my first disciple and my future husb—"

Sigrún spoke with a hint of pride, but as she reached the last part, she suddenly realized what she was about to say, and her face turned a deep red—prompting smiles from the other three in the room.

"You look wonderful, young master. Without a doubt, you'll be the center of attention when we disembark." Seraphina added playfully, giving Sigrún a bit of breathing room. Sigrún, after feigning a light cough to hide her embarrassment, spoke, trying to sound calm.

"Well, we're running late. Let's go."

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[lordanl]

Seeing the blush on his sweet blonde master's face, Erik smiled gently and opened his arms in a subtle invitation for a hug. Sigrún immediately leapt in with joy, giving her beloved disciple a tight embrace before looking into his eyes for a moment.

Summoning her courage, Sigrún quickly gave Erik a soft kiss on the lips and vanished in a flash of light before he could even catch her expression, leaving a warm smile on everyone's face.

After Sigrún's departure, Erik turned to look at Eleonora, still holding his arms open. The beautiful golden-eyed woman approached him with elegance and gave her future husband a firm hug, ending it with a loving kiss on the lips.

"Fufu, see you later, darling."

Eleonora said with a radiant smile before disappearing in a flash from the room—though not before casting Seraphina a knowing and encouraging look, which the maid returned with a calm smile.

Left alone with her young master, Seraphina stood silently, gazing at the spot where Eleonora had just vanished, her usual serious and professional expression in place—though her lips were slightly pursed, which to Erik looked like the expression of a forlorn puppy.

Knowing his sweet and diligent maid and the "special treatment" she needed, Erik decided to play along and make her happy. With a small smile on his face and his hands behind his back, he struck a posture of slight condescension, like an aristocrat addressing a commoner, and said.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your young master, Seraphina?"

"I wouldn't dare, Young Master."

Upon hearing her young master's commanding voice, Seraphina trembled slightly and quickly bowed hurriedly before Erik, refusing respectfully—just as a perfect maid like her should. Yet, the unusual glint in her eyes betrayed just how much she enjoyed the fact that her young master understood her so well.

In response to Seraphina's refusal, Erik's expression turned cold and commanding. He turned to face her and spoke in a heavy voice as a thick "killing intent" began to fill the air.

"You dare refuse me, maid?"

"I-I could never, Young Master."

Seraphina looked up and replied 'nervously', as if she were truly frightened—though the growing blush on her cheeks and her slightly eager gaze betrayed her true feelings. It nearly made Erik laugh, but he restrained himself to stay in character, replying coldly.

"Then what do you think you're waiting for? Do you believe I have all day to waste on a mere maid?"

Erik's icy, authoritative voice echoed through the room, causing Seraphina to reflexively squeeze her thighs together. After a couple of heavy breaths, she approached Erik with short, timid—yet visibly excited—steps.

"B-but Young Master, I can't do such a thing to the young miss…"

Just a few inches away from Erik, Seraphina spoke in a 'nervous' and 'guilty' tone, though her act was crumbling due to her growing anticipation. At that moment, Erik smirked arrogantly, delivering a sharp spank to his 'disobedient maid' before gripping her waist and whispering coldly into her ear.

"That's not something for you to decide."

"Y-young master…"

Seraphina spoke, doing her best to act frightened, but her flushed face and heavy breathing ruined her attempts. Without a word, Erik leaned in, slowly licking her beautiful cherry-colored lips before giving her a small kiss and releasing her.

"Know your place, maid."

Erik delivered the final blow with a cold, arrogant tone, dealing critical damage to Seraphina. Her legs weakened, and she clung to her beloved young master's shoulders, pressing her ample bust against Erik's firm chest as if trying to melt into him.

Seeing Seraphina's heavy breaths and trembling body, Erik was tempted to tease his sweet personal maid a little more. But knowing things could spiral out of control, he simply hugged her and began gently stroking her petite back to help her calm down.

After a few minutes, Seraphina regained enough composure to steady herself. Then, she brought her lips to her young master's ear and whispered softly—her voice laced with traces of lust interwoven with unparalleled love and devotion, bordering on obsession.

"Thank you, Erik… You truly are the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't imagine life without you anymore. You are, and always will be, my only master for eternity…"

"And I wouldn't know what to do without your love and care. So you'll be my personal maid forever, Seraphina—I'll never let you escape." Erik responded warmly, embracing her tenderly. Seraphina practically melted in his arms and murmured in a dreamy voice.

"I love you, Erik."

"And I love you."

Hearing the serious and resolute response from her young master, Seraphina was overwhelmed with infinite happiness. She immediately hugged him tightly as her heart pounded fiercely, doing her best not to break into tears, utterly overtaken by her emotions.

Such happiness was something Seraphina didn't know how to handle—after all, it was something she had believed she would never be able to attain in her life, a long life filled with sorrow, loss, and loneliness. Inevitably, it led her to feel grateful with every fiber of her being to that cheerful blonde girl who one day found her on that desolate planet, full of sadness and memories, and brought her to the Arcane Order with a proud smile.

For his part, Erik, noticing how deeply affected Seraphina was, chose to remain silent and gently embraced his maid, softly caressing her small back to give her the support she needed to calm down. This caused the beautiful woman to cling to him and bury her face in his chest without saying a word.

After some time, Seraphina finally managed to settle her erratic feelings. She began to release her young master and quickly tidied her appearance. Then, standing calmly in front of him with her hands clasped over her apron, she bowed respectfully and spoke in a warm tone.

"I apologize for showing you such an embarrassing side of myself, young master."

"There's no need to apologize. A Seraphina who's not the 'perfect maid' is truly charming." Erik replied with a warm smile as he looked at his personal maid, who straightened her posture and gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, then spoke in a cheerful tone.

"That Seraphina is only for my young master—but it's time to go."

"You're right, let's go."

Erik nodded with a playful tone, then began walking out of the room, with Seraphina following close behind like his loyal shadow—though now her steps were so light it seemed as if she were floating rather than walking.

…

Erik walked down a lavish, 'futuristic'-looking hallway, adorned with holographic displays and wide windows that revealed the emptiness of space, until he reached an enormous door. It opened immediately, revealing on the other side a vast and luxurious hall that resembled an aristocratic banquet hall. Grand columns draped with white curtains stood tall, and elegant tables and chairs were symmetrically arranged in the center.

The hall was filled with young people dressed in all kinds of armor and battle outfits of various styles and colors, chatting in different groups. Some sat around the tables, while others preferred to remain standing.

Upon entering the hall, Erik drew the attention of several individuals who turned to look at him, though none approached to greet him. As he made his way toward one of the long tables full of all kinds of delicacies, he spotted Elara and Zoe in the distance. They seemed to be conversing with Laura's younger brother and another young man with long black hair tipped in green.

As Seraphina picked out a few interesting-looking desserts from the table for her young master—who had begun reviewing one of his many agendas—a bewitching and melodious female voice rang out behind them.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet the famous disciple Erik."

Upon hearing his name, Erik turned to see the source of the voice, finding a young woman with blue hair dressed in armor that, while somewhat elegant, made him genuinely wonder what had been going through the designer's head. At that moment, a screen visible only to him appeared next to the young woman, containing all kinds of information about her.

[Name: Christine Taylor]
[Species: Human]
[Known Power Level: Ascended – Peak]
[Combat Type: Long-range]
[Known Strengths: Wielder of multiple magical artifacts]
[Known Affinities: Water, Air]
[Additional Notes:
[*Disciple of Master-level Albert Taylor from the Arcane Order]
[Recommended Approach:
[*Cautious and alert – known to seduce talented young men.]

…

"It's likewise a pleasure to meet the direct disciple Taylor." Quickly scanning the information provided by his armor, Erik returned the greeting with a courteous smile.

"Fufu, there's no need for such formality, disciple Erik. Just Christine is more than enough—I wouldn't dare act high and mighty in front of what is possibly the most famous direct disciple in the Order right now."

Christine spoke with a smile full of charm and seduction, something that was only amplified by the armor she wore—a sort of tight-fitting corset that extended downward into a skirt split at the front, revealing her impressive legs clad in what appeared to be stylized greaves reaching up to her thighs, though in truth they resembled an elegant and seductive metal garter more than anything else.

Meanwhile, the upper part of Christine's armor wasn't much different. Her shoulders were exposed, and her generous bust was covered by silver metal plates shaped perfectly to her curves, sharing a design with her sleek, pointed pauldrons. Combined with her long, fitted gloves, the overall effect made her look more like she was wearing a sexy gala dress than armor—especially when viewed from behind.

"Disciple Christine flatters me. The Order is full of geniuses at every turn—there's no way someone like me could stand out that much." Erik replied with a smile, causing Christine to cover her mouth with one hand and laugh elegantly, giving Erik a look that practically screamed interest before speaking in a melodious voice.

"Disciple Erik is truly a very humble person."

"It's just the truth, and honestly, I wouldn't dare boast and end up making a fool of myself in front of a beautiful lady." Erik replied gently, exuding an attractive charm that made Seraphina, standing behind him, frown slightly—though her expression quickly returned to its usual composed self.

"Disciple Erik is truly a charming gentleman—fully worthy of his reputation."

Christine replied with a smile as she discreetly studied the armor worn by the handsome young man in front of her, and to her surprise, she quickly recognized it was made from Cosmic Leviathan leather—something virtually no one would use for an Ascended-level armor.

After all, Cosmic Leviathan leather was so rare and valuable that only a Sage-level or higher would dare wear it. Not only was it incredibly scarce, but finding an Artificer skilled enough to work with it was extremely difficult—money alone wasn't enough; it required deep connections or significant merits within the Order.

"I'm flattered, Disciple Christine." Erik responded in a calm and cordial tone, also discreetly studying the young woman in front of him.

…

While Erik was speaking with Christine, Elara and Zoe noticed his distinct starry hair from afar. Upon spotting the blue-haired "vixen" talking to him, they nearly sprinted toward them, metaphorically breathing fire. However, by the time they reached him, their demeanor completely shifted—they adopted elegant expressions and graceful postures, approaching with calm and control.

"Well, look who's here. A pleasure to see you again, Direct Disciple Taylor." Zoe said with poise as she approached Erik, whom she greeted with familiarity.

"Hi, Erik."

"Hi, Zoe." Erik replied with a smile, just as Elara arrived at his side, greeting him while completely ignoring Christine—whose elegant expression tightened slightly in displeasure.

"Hello, Erik."

"A pleasure to see you both again, Disciple Laverne and Disciple Belmonte. I didn't know you were on such good terms with Disciple Erik."

Christine quickly added in a composed voice, while subtly analyzing the two women, trying to gauge their closeness with Direct Disciple Erik—a juicy prize she intended to claim, no matter who she had to step over to do it.

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Spoiler: Christine's Armor

 

[lordanl]

"Well, it's nothing much—just that we've known each other for a while and decided to form a team to explore the ruin." Zoe replied calmly to Christine's question, casting a glance full of superiority in her direction.

"Rather, I didn't know you were acquainted with Erik, Disciple Taylor." Elara quickly added in a cheerful tone, though her inflection at the end hinted at something more.

"Fufu." Christine smiled elegantly, her eyes throwing daggers at Zoe and Elara, who responded with scornful, defiant stares of their own. Then Christine spoke in a casual tone,

"It's not like we really know each other—it's just that we happened to meet and naturally started talking. It truly is a pleasure to meet such a charming gentleman as Disciple Erik."

At Christine's pointed words, Elara and Zoe shot her warning glares, which she effortlessly ignored as she turned to Erik with a smile and asked.

"But it really is a good thing to form teams for exploration. It must be quite encouraging to work closely with someone as capable as Disciple Erik."

"It's nothing like that. It was just a random idea Zoe and Elara had to help guide me a little. After all, I'm the youngest and lack experience."

Erik lied naturally, which brought beautiful smiles to Elara and Zoe's faces. After all, the star-haired young man had just handed them the initiative regarding the team they had agreed to form—or, in other words, he had just elegantly and subtly crushed the door Christine was trying to force open for herself.

Wanting to capitalize on the initiative Erik had just given them, Zoe quickly tried to speak—but at that moment, a young man approached. He had short black hair with red tips at the top and wore a sleek cobalt-blue plate armor adorned with ornate golden trim, filigree, and runes. A segmented skirt decorated with more runes and a flowing cape hanging from his pauldrons completed his impressive look.

"Hello again, Disciple Belmonte, Disciple Laverne." Ethan greeted politely before turning to Christine with a smile.

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Ethan Williams, disciple of Master Jessica Roa."

"Oh, a pleasure to meet you as well, Disciple Williams. I'm Christine Taylor, disciple of Master Albert Taylor."

Christine replied with a charming smile, acting as if it were the first time she had ever seen the young man, with not the slightest intention of mentioning their clash during the tournament.

Ethan, aware that Elara and Zoe weren't particularly fond of the hot chick standing in front of him, quickly turned to look at Erik—the young man he had heard so much about and was eager to meet. He extended his right hand as he spoke in a cordial tone.

"Direct Disciple Erik, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I've heard a lot about you from my master and my sister."

"The pleasure is mine, Direct Disciple Williams. I've also heard about you from Master Roa and Miss Laura." Erik replied kindly, taking Ethan's offered hand in greeting—though the look Ethan gave him stirred a fair bit of curiosity in Erik's mind.

(Is it just my imagination, or is this guy looking at me with a mix of pity and camaraderie? What a strange way to look at someone you're meeting for the first time…)

"Hehehe, I hope the things they said were at least half as good as what I've heard about you. Still, it really was a surprise to find out that Direct Disciple Erik knew my sister." Ethan said with a cheerful and casual tone as he released Erik's hand.

"It was just as surprising for me when I found out Laura was your older sister." Erik replied just as casually, selectively ignoring part of what the young man had said.

...

Meanwhile, the girls had been listening to the conversation between the two young men, which left Elara and Zoe quite surprised. After all, they were used to hearing from Liliana how unsociable Erik was. So the fact that he knew a woman well enough to call her by her first name—and without any title—immediately put them on alert.

"I really didn't know Disciple Williams had a sister. Is she a university student?" Elara asked casually, though her eyes revealed a slight trace of anxiety. Ethan, unaware of the mild concern reflected in Elara and Zoe's eyes, responded with a smile.

"Oh, yes. My older sister has been part of the Arcane Order since she was little, and she graduated from the university a long time ago. She currently runs the auction house her paternal grandparents left her."

"Oh, I suppose that's where Disciple Erik met her." Zoe commented with a smile, though her eyes were fixed intently on Erik's reaction. He simply responded in a relaxed tone.

"You suppose correctly. I happened to visit her auction house some time ago, and that's where I met her."

"What a coincidence. Truly, the world of direct disciples is a small one." Christine commented with her usual charming tone, feeling a bit left out of the conversation. Erik couldn't help but nod in agreement and reply sincerely.

"That's exactly what I thought—it was quite the coincidence."

…

As the group of young disciples continued chatting about random topics, a new group entered the hall—men and women clad in matte black futuristic-style armor, engraved with runes that faintly glowed. Some of them carried flags bearing the insignia of the Arcane Order.

What caught Erik's attention, however, was that many of them were holding what looked like magical versions of the assault rifles from his past life. Although he knew such weapons existed and were widely used among the infantry of the Arcane Order's armies, it was the first time he had ever seen them with his own eyes—university guards never carried them.

"The Honorable Director and the Esteemed Masters of the Order will now be present. Form ranks!"

Upon reaching the front of the hall, the apparent squad leader shouted the announcement, prompting the young disciples to quickly begin forming lines. At the same time, Christine spoke in her usual alluring and seductive tone.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting Disciple Erik and Disciple Williams. I hope we can encounter each other inside the ruin… and perhaps cooperate."

With that said, Christine walked toward the center of the hall in a sensual manner, her hips swaying fluidly—somehow reminiscent of a seductive serpent—which inevitably made Ethan swallow hard, earning him a look of disgust from both Elara and Zoe.

"Erik, be very careful with that woman. She's a well-known vixen at the university and loves taking advantage of men who fall for her charms." Elara said, somewhat pleased to notice that Erik didn't even glance in Christine's direction as she walked away.

"Yes, Erik, try not to get involved with that woman. She only brings trouble." Zoe added seriously, also ignoring Ethan.

"Don't worry. I have no interest in getting involved with her. Let's just go form up." Erik replied casually, giving the matter little importance. The others nodded and quickly moved to take their places.

As Erik approached his spot in the formation, he pulled out a notebook with a yellow cover and quickly wrote down a name. At that moment, Seraphina asked in a neutral, professional tone.

"Young Master, did that young lady catch your attention?"

"Who? Christine Taylor?" Erik asked while putting the notebook back into his storage ring and turning to look at Seraphina, who nodded with a professional, emotionless expression. He quickly added in a serious tone.

"More than catching my interest, she gave me the creeps the moment I saw her. If I could've, I would've run away right then. That kind of woman is one of the worst enemies you can have. The best thing to do is play along just enough not to draw attention and stay as far away as possible. Women like that are like a wasp nest."

"The worst kind of enemy?" Seraphina asked curiously, though her expression now carried a much more relaxed smile. Erik then explained.

"Yes, one of the worst. That kind of woman is usually a specialist in creating enemies for you, and it doesn't matter whether you're on good or bad terms with her—her mere presence causes spineless fools to start targeting you. Just like a wasp nest. But when she does it deliberately, it's several times worse, since they're usually expert manipulators as well.

"So if you add that to her beauty and social standing, you can already imagine the amount of trouble she can cause. After all, humanity may lack many things, but it'll never run out of idiots who can only think with the head down below—and when they have power, they're a damn unbearable karma."

Erik added with a harsh expression, almost as if recalling a terrible memory, as he adjusted his posture. Meanwhile, Seraphina—who shamelessly remained at her young master's side—smiled slightly with visible satisfaction. And curiously, although the beautiful maid should have stood out like a sore thumb in the orderly lines formed by the young disciples, for some strange reason, no one seemed to notice her.

Shortly after the ranks were formed, a flash of light marked the sudden arrival of the Director, accompanied by all the Master-level mages who had been with him at the port—except for Adrian, who was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, the Director spoke in a serious tone.

"We're about to disembark, so remember to stand firm and not disgrace the name of the Arcane Order in front of the other factions."

""""YES, DIRECTOR!""""

The assembled youths shouted in unison, while the Director discreetly chuckled upon seeing Seraphina standing among the ranks behind Erik. Immediately after their response, a flash of light filled the hall, and everyone vanished from the room—leaving the once-bustling luxurious hall completely empty. Moments later, several staff members entered and began cleaning up quickly.

…

When the flash faded, Erik found himself greeted by a curious sight. He now stood upon an asteroid that seemed to span several kilometers in diameter—large enough to destroy a planet. It was surrounded by an energy shield formed of glowing hexagons, very similar to the one protecting the university, which Erik theorized must be responsible for the breathable air.

At the center of the asteroid stood something that could only be described as a fortress of impervious metal, bathed in a faint silver glow from the countless runes carved across its surface.

This metallic fortress was enclosed by another force field similar to the one around the asteroid and was heavily guarded by what appeared to be the military forces of all four major factions—each with weapons at the ready and sharp eyes. However, in Erik's opinion, the ones that stood out the most were the soldiers from the Order. Their futuristic armor was truly impressive.

Looking around, Erik spotted several groups composed of a few older individuals and around a hundred youths, all surrounded by armed personnel and others carrying flags with various symbols. However, only the guards of the Arcane Order wore matching futuristic-looking armor and wielded "magical rifles." The rest were clad in more traditional forms of armor.

Analyzing the scene more closely, Erik noticed that each of the other three groups had a figure standing at the front who exuded an incomprehensible power—so intense it seemed to bend the very space around them. Each of these central figures was surrounded by several others radiating a devastating level of strength, though clearly less than that of the person in the center.

As if performing some kind of strange greeting, the moment the Arcane Order's group arrived, the young people from the other three factions ignited their mana—almost as if trying to showcase their power—causing the air around them to fluctuate violently, taking Erik a bit by surprise.

In response to the "warm welcome", the youths of the Arcane Order ignited their mana as well, something Erik quickly mimicked. However, he soon noticed that under the pressure of the other three groups, they seemed to be slightly overwhelmed, making them appear a bit weak and vulnerable.

After thinking it through for a moment, Erik began to subtly manipulate the surrounding Myst, which for some reason felt noticeably "thicker" and "heavier" than usual—yet still easy for him to control.

Careful not to let anyone realize he was the one behind it, Erik made the Myst "dance" energetically around his group, which immediately boosted their momentum by several orders of magnitude—soon leaving the other groups in the dust.

Noticing how effective his trick had been, Erik looked around with a satisfied smile, which allowed him to see that the Director, his masters, and Thalia were all watching him with small smiles—especially the Director, who for a moment seemed to be struggling not to burst out laughing.

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***
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Spoiler: Ethan's armor

Spoiler: Armor and weapons of the Arcane Order Army

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[lordanl]

"Hehehe, it seems your little factions get weaker by the day. Even joining forces, they can't keep up with my Arcane Order anymore." The Director remarked confidently, his voice radiating power as he looked at the three others standing before the groups. His words caused their expressions to sour for a brief moment.

"Don't get too cocky, Lysander. As always, you're just relying on cheap tricks to stand out."

A man who appeared to be around 35 years old replied with irritation, prompting Erik to take a closer look at him, noticing a few curious details. The man had sharp, well-defined features, and together with his neatly styled short brown hair and the elegant, aristocratic-looking dark robe he wore, he projected an imposing and attractive presence.

But what caught Erik's attention the most were the man's piercing golden eyes, which looked strikingly similar to Eleonora's—so much so that they seemed to share some kind of connection, as if they were related in some way.

"Hehehe, are you really so desperate that you're calling the Myst connection a cheap trick? Seems like your Meridian Federation isn't doing too well these days." The Director replied with disdain as he stared at the golden-eyed man, whose brow furrowed in response.

"Sounds like you're begging for a beating, Lysander." The man said in a heavy tone as his mana ignited and the space around him began to tremble.

"Well, I've been meaning to stretch these old bones anyway…" The Director replied confidently, just as an imposing sword appeared in his hand, radiating a violet ethereal light while the space around him began to fluctuate dangerously.

"Oh, a fight? How fun. Let's get started already."

As the two legendary-level figures glared at each other with hostility, a melodic voice filled with power and dignity echoed through the air, prompting Erik to turn his head with curiosity—only to find a woman of wild beauty, holding both a sword and a battleaxe in her hands.

The woman had long, pale-blonde hair braided over her shoulders and wore an imposing Viking-style armor made of leather and metal, designed for high mobility. It also featured a prominent neckline that accentuated her generous bust.

But the most striking thing about her were the runic tattoos that covered her body—from her forehead to her chest, arms, and legs—which glowed with a mystical, supernatural blue light that matched her deep blue eyes.

"Don't say something so terrifying, Yrsa. If you join in the fun, we'll definitely miss the opening of the ruin and have to wait another three months."

Looking at the wild beauty, the Director commented cheerfully as his sword vanished from his hand and he calmed his mana—something the golden-eyed man did as well, albeit with an annoyed groan.

"You're right about that. A shame—it would've been fun."

The fierce and stunning warrior woman replied with a hint of disappointment in her tone as her sword and battleaxe disappeared. Then, with a subtle smile, she added.

"But I must say, the young ones from your Arcane Order this generation are quite impressive."

Erik's muscles tensed instinctively as he felt a subtle gaze of curiosity coming from the legendary-level ruler of the Boreal League. Though he tried to act like nothing was happening, doing his best to ignore the woman who was triggering all kinds of warning signals in his mind.

"Hehehe, what can I say? My Arcane Order has always been full of geniuses."

The Director remarked with a subtle hint of disdain in his tone as he glanced toward the groups accompanying the other three faction leaders—each made up of only three or four Master-level individuals. It was a pitiful sight compared to the eight proud Master-level powerhouses standing behind him.

"Taking in traitors makes it easy to pad your numbers." The golden-eyed man remarked at that moment, glaring at Eleonora with open hostility.

"How pathetic you look, making such cheap excuses, Aelric FULGUR."

Eleonora snapped almost instantly, her voice dripping with contempt as she placed sharp emphasis on the man's surname, her beautiful golden eyes glowing dangerously. The ruler of the Meridian Federation attempted to pressure her with his aura, but the Director immediately countered with his own, speaking in a mocking and scornful tone.

"Did it really hurt you that much that a descendant separated from you by more than ten generations rejected your pathetic Meridian Federation? You truly look pathetic, Aelric."

"That treacherous bitch is the pathetic one—for daring to reject her ancestor. Her rightful place was at my side, since she owes everything she has to my bloodline."

Aelric snapped back in anger—after all, he still remembered the day he had personally extended an olive branch to that ungrateful bitch, offering her the chance to redeem the sins of her exiled bastard son who had died pathetically hundreds of thousands of years ago, leaving behind that joke of an empire called Silverwood. But the treacherous woman had the audacity to reject him and make a fool of him.

"Right, that's why all your descendants reach the Master level before they're even five thousand years old."

The Director retorted sarcastically, his tone laced with mockery as he glanced at a golden-eyed man standing near Aelric. This man appeared to be around forty and bore a notable resemblance to the ruler of the Meridian Federation—one of the arrogant bastard's direct descendants, who had managed to reach the Master level within the last hundred thousand years, doing so at the age of eighty thousand after consuming the resources of entire planets.

…

While the Legend-level figures argued, unnoticed by most—but not by those paying close attention—a notebook appeared in Erik's hand. It had a black cover with subtle golden metallic threadwork along the edges. Despite being a completely ordinary notebook, it seemed to radiate an infinite murderous intent, enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who laid eyes on it.

Without saying a word, Erik wrote something in the notebook in a slow, methodical manner, almost as if performing a personal ritual. Once finished, he closed the notebook using only the fingers of his left hand while staring at the Meridian Federation's group. The sound of paper snapping shut echoed—but for those watching closely, it carried the unmistakable weight of a guillotine slicing through the neck of the condemned.

The Director, who—even in the midst of his argument—had never stopped keeping an eye on Erik, could easily sense how the Myst surrounding the star-haired young man subtly began to turn 'cold and murderous', resonating with the boy's emotions. This led him to glance at Aelric with a mixture of pity and mockery.

(You're seriously screwed, Aelric. You just pissed off none other than the most talented man in recorded history—someone who checks every box to be a true child of the Myst—and to top it all off, is beloved by the most terrifying spirits I've encountered in my entire existence.

(Rest in peace, old rival... your absurd arrogance has finally caught up with you, and you've just signed your death warrant. And if Erik truly has some of Tal'veren in him… you may have doomed your entire faction too.)

Meanwhile, on the faces of Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina, charming smiles appeared as their hearts beat with intensity. They knew perfectly well what Erik's notebook represented—and seeing the man they loved becoming enraged on their behalf, seeking vengeance, made them feel incredibly cherished and protected. His actions made it clear that they mattered more to him than his usual aversion to conflict.

Meanwhile, on Thalia's face—who had also been watching Erik—there appeared a beautiful smile full of approval. Though she didn't know what the notebook meant, she was sensitive enough to feel a genuine murderous intent radiating from him. She found the star-haired young man increasingly interesting and attractive, which made her shake her head, amused at herself. Anyone hearing her thoughts might think she was interested in someone several thousand years younger—a complete absurdity.

(How ridiculous... it's not like I'm a cradle-robber like Eleonora and Sigrún. I just find him a little interesting because of his incredible connection to the Myst—it could really help me improve. And he's also very smart... and talented... and funny... and creative… and maybe a little handsome...

(Anyway, it's purely academic interest! I'm only paying attention because of that, and maybe to annoy Sigrún and Eleonora. That's all! I'm not a cradle-robber, and I'm definitely not a husband-stealer!)

"Alright, stop barking like bitches already—you look pathetic."

As Thalia tried to come to terms with her own thoughts, the wild beauty in Viking armor commented casually, looking at Aelric and the Director.

"As sharp-tongued as ever, Yrsa." The Director said casually, while Aelric let out an irritated growl and crossed his arms, to which Yrsa replied dismissively.

"Whatever. Let's leave the youngsters alone to get to know each other—I want to speak with you both."

Before continuing, Yrsa turned to look at an Asian man dressed in an elegant traditional robe, which blended aesthetically with light armor featuring intricate details—especially on the pauldrons, which somehow resembled wings thanks to their sharp, stylized design.

Despite standing at the front of the Jade Lotus Union's group, the man had not spoken a single word and had simply observed everything around him with a calm, serious expression. Combined with his perfectly styled long hair and finely trimmed beard and mustache, he exuded an air of authority and elegance.

"This includes you as well, Xiuwen."

The man simply nodded with poise at Yrsa's words and vanished from the scene in a flash, quickly followed by the other legend-level figures, who disappeared moments later.

…

The disappearance of the legend-levels acted like a signal—shortly afterward, the Master-levels began talking amongst themselves or gathering with Master-levels from other factions, forming small cliques, something the younger ones quickly began to imitate.

Soon, across the arid asteroid, all kinds of tables, chairs, and other furnishings began to appear, creating a kind of impromptu social gathering, albeit with clear divisions—the Master-levels grouped several dozen meters away from the younger crowd, who began to chat among themselves.

As for Erik, he simply found a secluded ledge and sat down in front of an elegant table that had appeared out of nowhere, where Seraphina promptly served some cookies and a bit of tea with great professionalism. After eating a cookie, he took a book from his storage ring and began to read.

A few minutes later, a handsome young Asian man appeared in front of Erik. He had short, neatly styled black hair and dark eyes, and was dressed in a traditional black Asian robe embroidered with intricate gold-thread patterns on the sleeves and chest.

"Long time no see, Erik."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Erik looked up to find Chen Ming—the young man from the Jade Lotus Union whom he had met during his first university class with Professor Sunflare, and whom he occasionally helped with calculations and similar matters. Erik greeted him with a smile.

"It really has been a while."

Erik set the book he had been reading on the table and smiled as an elegant chair materialized in front of him. Chen sat down just as Seraphina served him a cup of tea.

"So, how did the family meeting go?" As Chen tasted the tea, Erik asked casually, and the young man responded a moment later with a rather peculiar expression.

"Well… you could say it went pretty well. At the very least, my father was quite pleased with my progress."

"Then why that look?" Erik asked, slightly curious, prompting Chen to smile somewhat awkwardly as he answered.

"Things happened, hehe."

"Family secret?" Erik asked casually while picking up a cookie, to which Chen replied with a hint of discomfort, imagining how the star-haired boy might react once he heard it.

"Not exactly… and actually, it involves you."

"Me? What do I have to do with your family matters?" Erik asked, clearly confused, and Chen replied with a small sigh.

"I'd have to tell you the whole story."

"Then give me a summary." Erik replied casually while Seraphina refilled his cup of tea, to which Chen responded with a bitter smile.

"I'll try."

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[lordanl]

"I'll try."

After speaking, Chen proceeded to taste the exquisite tea—tea that was not only ridiculously expensive, but also something money alone couldn't buy. It relaxed his mind and slightly nourished his mana. Then he set the cup on the table and began recounting his story in a serious tone.

"Well, actually, it all happened during the family gathering. At first, everything was going pretty well. All the younger generation members of the clan were showing their progress in formation techniques, and I managed to stand out quite a bit—I was the only one who could deploy all the formations. The problem began when the youngest son of my third uncle showed up."

"I still can't get used to the way you number your relatives..." Erik commented casually in the middle of Chen's story, to which Chen quickly replied in a calm tone.

"It's by seniority. I've told you this already. And don't interrupt my story."

"Alright, alright, carry on." Erik said casually while taking a cookie, and Chen nodded before continuing seriously.

"Anyway, as I was saying, everything was going well. I was the best among the younger generation, and my father was quite proud. But then Zhang Ming, the son of my third uncle, showed up—and everything changed. I don't know how he did it, but the bastard managed to master two of the ancestral formations."

"Ancestral formations?" Erik asked back, a bit confused, to which Chen replied in a serious tone.

"The secret ones."

"Ohh, I see. So he totally crushed you."

Erik commented with realization, understanding the core of the problem—since the techniques were supposed to be secret, getting outside help was difficult, and if someone managed to master them before everyone else, they'd naturally be seen as more talented. At that moment, Chen nodded and continued speaking.

"Exactly. And as you can imagine, my father didn't like that one bit—especially because my third uncle has always had his eyes on the patriarch's seat and holds considerable influence within the elder council. Having a son with superior talent would be the perfect excuse to put pressure on my father. So I had to improvise."

"Wait, wait—you can just casually talk about internal clan conflict like that?" Erik asked, somewhat confused as he looked at Chen, who replied with a small smile.

"Well, it's not exactly a big secret. Honestly, it's something that can be figured out pretty easily. Besides, I involved you this time, so it's better if you know."

"…What the hell did you drag me into?" Upon hearing Chen's answer, Erik's expression soured as he asked in a blunt tone, to which Chen chuckled awkwardly before beginning to explain more seriously.

"Hehe, it's not a big deal—let me finish the story, and it'll all make sense. So, as I was saying, when that idiot Zhang Ming managed to show off by successfully deploying two of the ancestral formations, he started mocking me and challenging me with that arrogant attitude of his. At the same time, my third uncle was trying to pressure my father with the elders from his camp.

"That didn't leave me with many options, so I had to come up with an excuse for why I couldn't deploy the ancestral formations. The only thing I could think of was saying I was focusing on a project to improve formation efficiency—which, if successful, could be applied to the ancestral formations as well, making it a major breakthrough for the clan and all that.

"But as you can imagine, they didn't believe me. So I had no choice but to show them the prototype you deployed in your garden the other day. Luckily, everything went well, and it worked in a similar way—though interestingly, it only improved efficiency by about 35%. Still, that was more than enough to leave everyone speechless."

"But that still doesn't explain how I'm involved. I haven't published any academic paper on the subject, or… don't tell me you gave me the credit?" Erik asked, a bit surprised, to which Chen nodded and replied with a slightly helpless expression.

"It's not like I had much choice. While showing the prototype really helped me get out of that situation, the clan is now expecting results—and I know myself, I don't have the capability. So I had to say it was a joint project with you. That also made it more believable as to why I hadn't been studying the ancestral formations actively."

"So you're expecting us to improve the efficiency of the formations…" Erik sighed and took a bite of his cookie before continuing.

"But I don't think I'll have the time. As interesting as formations are, I've got way too much on my plate right now."

"Oh, no, no—I never expected you to actually make time for it. I just wanted to inform you, so there wouldn't be any trouble later. I'll be working on it as much as I can on my own. After all, no one knows what a monster you are when it comes to formations, so I easily claimed that small result took us a decade of development and only happened by pure chance.

"So I've got at least three or four decades before they get desperate and start pressuring me for results. In the meantime, I'll focus on mastering the ancestral formations and the prototype you created that day. If I can deploy it the same way you did and back it up with solid theory, the old men in my family will be jumping for joy.

"So there's more than enough time for you to spare a couple of afternoons to help your good friend Chen. And, as always, your name goes first; I'll cover all expenses, and I'll write the paper. They gave me a nice budget to work with—and a few things I'm sure you'll find interesting. So it's a win-win. What do you say?"

"You're a damn shameless bastard, you know that?" Erik said with amusement, to which Chen laughed cheerfully and replied.

"Hahaha, well, you've got to make the most of the resources at hand."

Erik shook his head and thought for a moment, quickly concluding that it wasn't a bad deal. Sure, Chen would be gaining resources and reputation from his work, but the guy wasn't stupid, and he'd known him long enough to know he'd never dare take the credit for himself. Plus, he never forgot to bring something interesting whenever he asked for help.

So in reality, Chen would get to enjoy the honor of being listed as co-author—something he was used to trading for favors in his past life—while he would gain access to interesting resources from the Jade Lotus Union, or more specifically, from the Zazen Discipline, which was the most "inaccessible" to him.

"Well, I suppose I can help you out—just don't push it. Everything in moderation." Erik said with a smile after a few moments, to which Chen responded cheerfully with a satisfied and relaxed expression.

"Hahaha, of course."

While chatting with Chen, Erik glanced around and easily spotted Elara and Zoe chatting with different people, while Ethan was shamelessly flirting with women from all sorts of factions—and it looked like things were going pretty well for him. Several of them seemed ready to jump on him, especially a gorgeous blonde wearing a mage's robe.

Taking in the general landscape of the youth section, Erik then turned his attention to the Master-level section, where he spotted his own masters speaking with members from various factions. Judging by their expressions, though, it was safe to say that Sigrún was pestering them quite a bit.

Particularly, a beautiful Asian woman with long jet-black hair, dressed in an elegant and intricate white robe that looked as if it were made from a piece of cloud—highlighting her slender and agile figure. She looked like she was about to start steaming from the ears at any moment, her face slightly flushed and her teeth tightly clenched.

...

After a while, Elara and Zoe finally made their way to Erik's table, having barely managed to escape the endless tide of people trying to flirt with them or approach them in some way. The two beautiful young women felt as if they had reached a safe oasis—since, for some reason, no one dared get too close to Erik's table, even though many kept eyeing the star-haired boy with visible desire.

As soon as Elara and Zoe arrived in front of Erik, a pair of elegant chairs appeared before the table, and the girls sat down with familiarity. At that moment, Seraphina—ever the perfect maid—swiftly served them tea and desserts with a professional smile.

"A pleasure to meet the renowned direct disciples of the Arcane Order. My name is Chen Ming, a humble cultivator from the Ming family and a student of the Arcane University."

Upon seeing the two stunning women, Chen quickly stood up and gave a slight bow as he greeted them. They responded with a gentle smile while sipping the delicious tea prepared by Seraphina.

"There's no need for such formality, fellow Chen Ming. Since you're a friend of Erik's, you can be more relaxed and informal." Elara said casually, to which Zoe nodded and added.

"Yes, a friend of Erik's is a friend of ours as well—no need for excessive formalities."

"Thank you very much. Your humility and warmth truly deserve admiration."

Chen responded with a smile and sat back down, though he couldn't help but glance subtly at Erik, wondering how that antisocial guy—who looked like the very air outside his mansion bothered him—had managed to become so familiar with two of the most sought-after beauties of the younger generation.

(This guy's a monster in more ways than one… getting close to him back then was honestly one of the best decisions I could've made...)

"Don't worry about that—it's not humility. It's simply the natural treatment a friend of Erik should receive from us."

While Chen was lost in deep reflection, Zoe elegantly spoke as she picked up a small dessert from the table, snapping him out of his thoughts and prompting him to turn toward her in slight surprise.

"Zoe's right, don't overthink it." Elara added casually before turning to look at Erik and continuing to speak with a beautiful smile.

"But setting that aside, it's really nice how you've managed to create your own little island away from all those annoying people, Erik."

"What can I say? Apparently, I have a natural talent for repelling others. So if you ever need someone cleared out, call me—I'm pretty good at it."

Erik joked, though the comment didn't earn a laugh from Elara, Zoe, or even Seraphina. Instead, all three stared at him in silence. Not wanting to be scolded again, the star-haired boy quickly changed the subject with a smile.

"But the Master-level section over there looks pretty lively. Any idea why?"

"Hmm, hard to say. But from what I've heard from my grandfather, those gatherings usually turn into a competition to see who has the best disciple."

Zoe commented casually, following Erik's lead in changing the subject. After all, she was just starting to get along better with him, and it wasn't a good idea to become annoying—her best strategy was to play along and keep him happy.

"Yeah, my master's told me similar things. Also, this is the first time Master Eldurdóttir gets to talk about her disciple, and it looks like she's really enjoying herself."

Elara added with some amusement as she looked toward the beautiful Master-level woman with golden hair, prompting Erik to glance in the same direction. There he saw Sigrún laughing cheerfully and teasing everyone around her, having fun like a little girl.

"Yeah, she looks like she's having a blast—so much so that the other Master-levels seem on the verge of a nervous breakdown…"

Erik added casually, just as he noticed a young man from the Jade Union approaching. He wore an elegant, traditional white robe, and his long hair was tied up with a pair of metal hairpins.

"A pleasure to meet you, Disciple Erik, Disciple Belmonte, Disciple Laverne. We're organizing a small friendly competition among the younger generation, and I would humbly like to extend an invitation. It would be an honor to have you participate."

Upon arriving, the young man spoke with style and grace, though his attention was mainly on Erik. Erik turned to look at him and asked in return, noticing that in the distance, several youths from different factions were gathering and setting up tables and chairs.

"Competition?... What kind of competition?"

"It'll be a casual arts competition, nothing too serious." The young man replied with a relaxed smile, though there was a strange gleam in his eyes as he looked into Erik's green ones.

"Arts?" Erik couldn't help but murmur in confusion, prompting Seraphina to lean close to his ear and whisper softly in a voice only he could hear.

[Young master, he's referring to things like poetry, music, chess, and similar disciplines. Since battles aren't always possible, it's quite common among the younger generation of the Jade Lotus Union and the Meridian Federation to hold these kinds of 'competitions' to stand out and attract attention.]

"Oh, I see. Sorry, I'm not really interested in the arts, so I'll pass—but thanks for the invitation."

Now understanding the context, Erik looked at the young man and replied disinterestedly, which caused a cunning glint to flash in the young man's eyes. He quickly responded.

"It would be a shame for Disciple Erik not to join. We were truly hoping to witness the talents of someone so renowned—someone who's left the galaxy in shock."

"Well, there's nothing to see. I don't know anything about 'arts'." Erik replied casually, which brought a complicated expression to the faces of Elara, Zoe, and Chen, who couldn't react in time to stop him.

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[lordanl]

For his part, upon hearing Erik's response, the young man from the Jade Lotus Union put on a fake expression of surprise, though his eyes gleamed with a nearly sadistic glint of mockery. He then began to speak in an exaggerated tone—worse than a bad theater actor.

"How can it be that the 'great' disciple Erik doesn't even possess basic knowledge of the arts? That just can't be true because if it were, he'd be nothing more than a random country bumpkin. I mean, how could anyone have an even remotely interesting conversation with someone like that?"

The young man's comment drew a cold stare from Erik, who looked him up and down with detached indifference before speaking in a calm and measured voice—though his tone was so unusually cold that it caught Chen, Elara, and Zoe by surprise.

"Well, what can you do? I'm just a poor, random country bumpkin. But I think there are still a few interesting things we could talk about—alchemy and artificery, for example. This poor bumpkin has managed to earn a couple of one-star licenses in those fields.

"So, while I may not measure up to someone of such exalted status—someone who can afford to call me a bumpkin and still take part in art competitions instead of doing actual work—I still know a few things we could discuss."

"…"

Upon hearing the response, the young man fell completely silent—mainly because the aura Erik was emitting was nearly suffocating him. But it was also true that he simply didn't have anything good enough to say in return. That gave Erik the perfect opportunity to continue, which he did with a relaxed, casual expression as he reached out to grab a cookie.

"Oh, we could also talk about recent developments. Perhaps you could tell me a bit about the patents you've registered. After all, if a 30-year-old country bumpkin managed to file a few, I imagine someone of your caliber must have a good number under their belt. It would be a pleasant experience for me to speak with someone who's ahead of me on the path."

Biting into his cookie, Erik looked directly into the black eyes of the young man from the Lotus Union, who was starting to show visible signs of panic. He couldn't help but tremble slightly as he watched the star-haired youth bite into the cookie, feeling as if he himself might be devoured next. That's when Elara, who had been quite irritated with the fool, chimed in with a mocking tone.

"You're giving him too much credit, Erik. The so-called core disciple of the Xiao family we have here hasn't even started a proper profession—how could he possibly have created anything worth registering? Then again, patents are a thing of our Order. Over in their precious Lotus Union, they still hoard knowledge like squirrels, terrified of competition and the idea that someone might actually surpass their pitiful little skills."

Upon hearing Elara, Erik turned to look at the beautiful girl and gave her a knowing smile before turning back to the young man and speaking in a calm tone—though subtly sarcastic and mocking.

"Oh, then it was my misunderstanding. My apologies. So what's actually going on is that this 'great figure' must have dazzled the galaxy with his mastery of the 'arts', participating in all sorts of competitions and earning renown. I see."

At that moment, Zoe lowered her teacup from her lips and added in a calm, explanatory tone, looking directly at Erik—as if explaining something that was just basic common sense—completely ignoring the idiot from the Jade Union.

"You've misunderstood again, Erik. Besides his mother, no one even knows his name. It's just that among so-called 'aristocratic' families, it's common to raise their children in the 'arts' to display their 'superiority' and 'refinement.' And that's all most of these mediocre types have to show off, since they don't excel at anything else."

"Oh, I see—now everything makes sense."

Erik gave Zoe a small smile, then turned and stared directly into the eyes of the young man, who looked like he was about to choke, and continued in a calm voice—but with sarcasm so thick that Elara and Zoe had to pinch themselves discreetly to keep from bursting into laughter.

"It's perfectly understandable that a 'great figure' like yourself wouldn't need to bother learning a profession or developing knowledge to create wealth. After all, you have your family's fortune to spend—something you surely fought for with all your might in your mother's womb for who knows how long. Such an arduous battle, shared only by every other viviparous being in the universe.

"A world of difference from a poor country bumpkin like me, who has to work tirelessly just to register a few patents and try to amass some wealth before turning thirty. My apologies—it's truly hard for a bumpkin like me to imagine the 'great hardships' of an aristocrat and his exalted understanding of the arts. I'll try to pay more attention from now on."

. . .

Meanwhile, over in the Masters' pavilion, Eleonora and Sigrún—who had been frowning just moments ago at the shameless attempt to humiliate their beloved disciple—were now smiling with pride and no small amount of arrogance.

"Our apologies—we truly failed to teach our disciple the 'arts'. It's just that he's been so focused on earning his licenses and developing 'a few' patents that his schedule's been a little tight. But once he finishes registering his latest discoveries—which are a bit more advanced than the handful of patents he casually developed in his early years—we'll be sure to polish his artistic style properly."

Sigrún spoke with a tone of "regret," as though she were genuinely remorseful about this "oversight" and sincerely planned to teach Erik those silly arts—prompting Eleonora to follow with a discreet smile.

"Yes, we really failed there, Sig. How could we let our Erik reach the age of thirty without learning the arts? Being an Ascended-Expert, an Artificer, an Alchemist, and having his academic papers circulate across the galaxy clearly isn't enough—we really need to reflect on this."

The double strike from Eleonora and Sigrún caused a massive and indiscriminate "massacre" among the Master-level figures present, who had to summon every ounce of self-control not to spit on the floor in disgust. After all, how many of their own children, grandchildren, or disciples had learned the arts before the age of thirty? None. At that age, the most they could do was train desperately just to reach the Apprentice level and barely be considered geniuses.

But now there stood a monster capable of reaching the Ascended level, while also possessing such dazzling academic achievements that, frankly, several of the Master-levels present couldn't even match. Inevitably, a single thought began to take root in the minds of Masters from various factions: someone this monstrous could only be allowed to exist within our faction—otherwise, it would be better if he didn't exist at all.

"Fufufu, I suppose I could help with that. My Elara excels at both piano and chess, so she'd make a fine teacher for Erik."

Used to the constant boasting from Eleonora and Sigrún, Thalia was the first to react, commenting casually with a smile on her lips as she gazed off at Erik—who was stylishly ignoring the young man lying unconscious on the floor, suffocated by the sheer pressure of the star-haired boy's aura, which had paralyzed him to the point he couldn't even breathe. She found him genuinely attractive.

"There's no need, Thalia. I myself possess certain accomplishments in the field of the arts, so I'm more than qualified to educate OUR Erik on the matter. Nevertheless, I appreciate the offer." Eleonora said with elegance, though she couldn't help but place a subtle, somewhat possessive emphasis on her beloved disciple.

"Fufu, my apologies—I meant no offense to the great Imperial Princess Silverwood." Thalia replied in a calm tone, though a playful smirk crept across her face.

"Fufu, how could that be? I merely didn't wish to trouble the "great princess" of the Arcane Order with the task of educating OUR little disciple." Eleonora countered with equal grace, landing her blow with refined precision. Thalia's expression immediately soured, and she had no choice but to cross her arms and fall silent, accepting her defeat with obedient restraint.

. . .

While Eleonora and Thalia were having their little spat, a beautiful woman from the Jade Lotus Union cast a casual glance toward a slim young man with similar features, who radiated a scholarly aura and was the center of attention among a large group of youths gathering for the upcoming "arts competition."

Just one look was all the young man needed to understand the message the woman was silently conveying. With an elegant smile, he quickly excused himself from the group surrounding him and began making his way toward Erik, followed closely by two other young men.

Upon reaching Erik's table, the young man casually waved his right hand, and the two youths accompanying him quickly moved to pick up the first young man—now unconscious on the floor, rendered breathless by Erik's aura. He then gave a small bow toward Elara and Zoe.

"Our apologies for the rudeness of the young man from our family." The scholarly youth said calmly, before turning his gaze directly to Erik and continuing with a scornful smile.

"But the Ascended Erik is absolutely right—our origins are far too different to understand each other easily. After all, what could an aristocrat possibly learn from a country bumpkin who can't even afford a surname?"

The moment those words left the young man's mouth, the smiles on Eleonora and Sigrún's faces vanished almost instantly—replaced by cold expressions filled with murderous intent. That reaction brought a smile to the woman from the Arcane Order, who had only moments ago been clenching her teeth in anger, while Thalia, Jessica, and Seraphina began observing the new arrival with unreadable expressions.

"And look how strange life is: this country bumpkin can't even afford a surname, yet you know who I am—and I have no idea who you are."

Erik, for his part, simply turned to look at the new young man and spoke in a calm voice, casually studying him as he reached for another cookie. The young man before him gave a soft smile in response and replied.

"It's barely comprehensible—country bumpkins are nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, unable to see the bigger picture, yet still arrogant enough to think they know everything."

"Curious notion. I wonder what's more impressive: a random shooting star in a universe full of them, or a frog in a well that the whole world has heard about." Erik replied calmly, reaching out to take his cup of tea, which caused the young man's gaze to sharpen as he responded.

"You speak with wit, Ascended Erik, I'll give you that. But even a famous frog is still just a creature confined to its pond. We, on the other hand…" The young man paused briefly and extended his hand slightly, as if encompassing the entire crowd on the asteroid, before continuing with a smile.

"We have seen 'oceans'."

"Oceans, huh?" Erik replied casually, then took a sip of his tea, followed by a slight smile.

"Seems you crossed one just to meet a simple 'frog'. How adventurous."

"That's an innate trait of those who pursue excellence, Ascended Erik. Sometimes even the simplest frog on the path can teach us by example what we must avoid." The young man replied in a measured and elegant tone as he placed his hands behind his back. Erik nodded in return and remarked calmly.

"A very true statement. Even the simplest, most mundane creature can teach us something—like not wasting time on useless little ego contests, wouldn't you agree?"

"For you to dare call a tradition that has been upheld for millions of years a mere ego contest only proves that an education in the arts isn't the only thing you're lacking, Ascended Erik. Respect for one's elders is a fundamental virtue for any proper human being." The young man replied with a subtle smile—one that only made Erik's own smile grow slightly wider. Crossing one leg over the other, Erik responded.

"Well then, if that's the case, I must apologize. But I do ask for a bit of indulgence—it's a common mistake among us young people not to fully grasp the hardships of our elders. Don't worry though, we'll reach that age eventually and understand it better... even if from a different height. Don't you think so, Mister Nameless Revealed-level?"

Erik ended by subtly raising his teacup toward the young man, almost as if offering a toast, before taking a calm sip. Meanwhile, Zoe and Elara had to pinch themselves even harder to keep from bursting into laughter.

"I see even frogs grow fangs when their well becomes too small." The young man remarked, letting out a short chuckle before adding with a faint glint in his eyes.

"But if you're so eager to know my name, you'll be invited to learn it in a more appropriate setting. There, words alone won't be enough. Though I suppose for a mere Ascended, it might be a bit difficult to 'rise above.'"

Just at that moment, Erik snapped his fingers, which caused a flicker of confusion in the young man from the Lotus Union. But almost instantly, the elegant and refined youth felt two bursts of hot air hitting his body—prompting him to slowly lift his gaze, only to find himself face to face with two massive canine snouts full of razor-sharp teeth, poised to devour him in a single bite. That's when Erik's calm voice echoed through the air.

"My apologies—my pups tend to act on their own in certain situations. That's on me—they still need more training."

At Erik's words, Kaiser and Tiberius backed away from the young man, though they continued to stare at him like prey, their gazes filled with murderous intent. At the same time, their bodies shimmered with power—Kaiser crackling with silvery electric sparks, and Tiberius surrounded by a dark mist that seemed to devour all light.

Meanwhile, the young man from the Lotus Union couldn't help but tremble slightly. Even though his magical artifacts and other protective treasures might have saved his life if those wolves had actually attacked, the fact that he hadn't seen the attack coming was utterly terrifying. It was enough to plant the illusion in his mind that the star-haired youth standing before him held his life in his hands—and that all it would take was a simple snap of his fingers to end it.

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The moment the wolves moved to attack, the Master-level woman from the Lotus Union narrowed her eyes, filled with murderous intent—but almost instantly, five terrifying killing auras surrounded her from all sides, as two ethereal-looking women appeared at her sides.

"Make a single move, and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

Eleonora spoke in an icy voice, just as the other three Master-level members of the Jade Lotus Union ignited their mana, causing the very air to tremble. At the same time, an angry male voice spoke coldly—though it could only be heard by the Master-levels present.

"Are you treating us like nothing? Or are you declaring war on our Jade Lotus Union?"

"Do you think your pathetic excuse of a faction scares anyone?"

Sigrún quickly replied in a cold voice, while turning her gaze toward a man who appeared to be in his forties, with long pale blue hair and features typical of the Lotus Union. He wore an elegant black robe, characteristic of cultivators. Sigrún then added in a mocking tone.

"I'd love to see you stand up from that chair and declare war—go on, show me if you've got the guts."

"A tiger that hides its claws isn't a sick cat, Sigrún. Don't press your luck."

At that moment, another Master-level from the Lotus Union—this one standing, appearing to be around twenty-five years old, with long black hair tipped in silver and holding a beautiful black Jian sword behind his back—spoke with a cold tone and a sharp gaze.

At the same time, the killing intents of the Master-levels from the Arcane Order and the Jade Lotus Union intertwined in a silent battle, imperceptible to anyone below their level. But the winner of that 'fight' was far too obvious.

The Order had twice as many Master-levels present—the other side didn't stand a chance. However, just then, the killing intents of the three Master-levels from the Meridian Federation flared up, more or less evening the scales, though the fact that they were one short was still noticeable.

"I suppose it was to be expected—rats of the same kind always gather."

At that moment, Eleonora spoke with a scornful tone as she turned her gaze toward the Meridian Federation group, which consisted of two men and one woman. Among them, a man with golden eyes stood out, staring back at her coldly.

But just then, Sigrún turned to admire her beloved disciple, who had calmly stopped his young wolves from devouring the idiot who clearly didn't value his life—now simply eating a cookie as he watched his pathetic excuse of an opponent flee in shame.

That scene was so endearing to Sigrún that it completely erased her anger and killing intent, while a smile full of pride bloomed on her beautiful face. With a tone of utter smugness, she commented.

"But thinking it over… it's a common mistake among us youngsters—not fully understanding the struggles of decrepit old folks. Maybe I was being too harsh. What do you think, Eli?"

Sigrún's sudden words nearly made all the Master-levels present stumble—some couldn't help but glance at her in slight disbelief. It was genuinely difficult for them to understand how that troublesome woman could switch moods so drastically. Not even someone with bipolar disorder could manage something like that, which inevitably led the Master-levels from the Lotus Union and the Meridian Federation to exchange confused looks among themselves.

Meanwhile, Eleonora had to restrain herself from bursting into laughter at the sight of her sworn sister's expression—one that resembled a proud child reveling in a mischievous act. She could easily imagine what Sigrún was thinking: trying to imitate Erik and "win with style" instead of resorting to brute force as she usually did.

"That may be true, although I think it's important to set a precedent—that no one messes with our disciple or what belongs to him. Otherwise, they'll face a very painful death." Eleonora quickly added in a calm voice, directing a sharp gaze at the woman beside her. Sigrún nodded in agreement and replied.

"You're absolutely right. It's important to set a precedent. Do you think we should do something special to make it even clearer?"

"There's no need to do anything else." Thalia quickly interjected in a composed voice, wanting to prevent the troublemaking duo from causing a scene. She then added in a firm tone.

"Erik is a direct disciple of our Arcane Order, and if there's one thing that defines us, it's that we protect our own. And everyone knows the Arcane Order has never feared a war—no matter who the enemy is."

"Hehehe, as expected from my granddaughter."

At that moment, the cheerful voice of the Director echoed in the minds of all the Master-levels present, and immediately afterward, the figures of the four Legendary-level individuals materialized before them. The Director crossed his arms and looked directly at both Aelric and Xiuwen—the Regents of the Meridian Federation and the Jade Lotus Union, respectively—before asking.

"You're absolutely right. If someone lays a hand on one of our own, we'll crush everything in our path. So if it's a fight you want, now's the time to say it."

Though the Director's voice sounded casual, Aelric and Xiuwen couldn't help but narrow their eyes slightly. While it went unnoticed by most, those of similar power could feel it clearly—an aura as sharp as a blade surrounding him, ready to erupt at any moment. And that aura made one thing perfectly clear: he was dead serious. Which made things very problematic.

While Lysander wasn't vastly stronger than either of them in terms of raw power, both Legendary-level figures were painfully aware of one factor that changed the situation entirely—experience. Battle experience far beyond what either of them, or any other human Legendary-level, could even begin to imagine.

Even though no one at their level lacked experience in life-and-death combat—after all, their rise to power had been anything but peaceful—Lysander was in a league of his own. He had committed the most reckless act any human could dare to undertake… and not only returned alive, but much stronger than before. Lysander had dared to explore the universe on his own.

Although none of the Legendary-level beings knew for certain what Lysander experienced during his journey through the universe, what they did know was that he not only gained overwhelming power—reaching the Legendary level, as he had only been a Master-Peak when he left. Also, his technique and combat skill allowed him to fight all three of them at once without losing. Moreover, from his journey, he also brought back a certain terrifying monster that made the Arcane Order literally impregnable.

But without a doubt, the one who felt most uneasy at Lysander's sudden seriousness was none other than Aelric. After all, provoking Lysander a little was usually harmless—the guy might fight a bit or, at worst, swindle some resources and let things go. But a serious Lysander was a whole different matter. There was a reason he looked like the oldest of the four, despite being the youngest. And Aelric could still hear the warning of that red-haired monster echoing in his mind.

"Old man, while it's a common mistake for us youngsters not to understand the hardships of you decrepit elders, this time I like your style—let's start a war and show them who's boss."

As the tension among the Legendary-levels quickly rose, Sigrún spoke with a cheerful tone, hands on her hips, while Eleonora chuckled softly beside her, and Thalia facepalmed in exasperation. She truly couldn't understand how that troublemaking blonde could turn Erik's sharp and clever retort into such a dumb and reckless insult.

"Hehe, that's a great line—I like it."

For his part, the Director turned to look at Sigrún with an amused smile, almost like a father watching the antics of his mischievous daughter. That made Sigrún laugh in delight, and she quickly replied in a voice full of smug pride, puffing out her chest.

"Right? Totally worthy of my Erik."

"We should find a good calligrapher and have it framed." The Director responded cheerfully, which made Sigrún's eyes light up. She nodded quickly and replied.

"That's a great idea, old man—seriously, you come up with the best stuff."

Meanwhile, the others present exchanged confused looks, unsure where all the fighting spirit had suddenly gone. But the Legendary-levels understood perfectly well—this was Lysander's way of offering them a graceful exit. Though, of course, he'd likely show up later to swindle them as usual, so they'd better hide their truly valuable treasure before he arrived.

Similarly, Eleonora and Thalia couldn't help but chuckle a little. While Sigrún could be impulsive, she was far from foolish. Knowing the Director well, she offered him an excuse to deescalate the fight. After all, even though she would kill and dance on the corpse if anyone ever laid a hand on her Erik, he had already won—utterly defeating his opponent. There was no need to sour his victory with a greater conflict, or worse, make him feel guilty about it.

As the Director and Sigrún began a lighthearted debate about how to frame the phrase, the beautiful blonde Master-level couldn't help but feel her heartache—a sentiment shared by Eleonora. After all, the mockery directed at their Erik for lacking a surname still stung deeply. It struck a nerve like few things could because it was a wound they had been avoiding for many years now.

That insult tore at their hearts and nearly drove them to madness—especially Sigrún. After all, she was the one who gave Erik his name when he didn't have one. And at the time, since she still needed to verify his backstory, she refrained from giving him a surname, knowing how delicate a matter that could be across the galaxy.

But as time passed, that sweet child became a handsome and captivating young man who ended up stealing her heart. And Erik's lack of a surname began to weigh on her more and more, filling her with regret for not having given him one back then. At the same time, the three of them—she, Eleonora, and Seraphina—wanted Erik to choose a surname for himself—one that would truly represent him. After all, that surname would one day be carried by their future children.

The problem was that reason and emotion don't always align. While rationally, they wanted Erik to choose a surname of his own—just as Sigrún had done, taking one in honor of her master and adoptive mother—the pain and shame she felt for never giving a last name to the one she loved, who had once lacked even a first name, didn't lessen in the slightest.

…

…

…

At Erik's table—where the little 'war' between Master-levels had gone completely unnoticed by everyone except Seraphina, who had pulled out a full plate of ultra-special cookies to spoil her young master—Zoe looked at Erik with sparkling eyes and said in a voice full of admiration.

"You were amazing, Erik. You completely destroyed him."

"It was just a casual conversation, nothing special." Erik replied in good spirits as he reached for one of the ultra-special cookies. At that moment, Elara spoke up with a delighted smile.

"Don't be so humble. That was honestly the first time I've seen someone lead another person around by the nose like that."

"Oh? You noticed?" Erik turned to look at her with a playful smile as he asked, to which Elara cheerfully replied.

"Not at first, but when I saw your smile and heard your next response, I figured that's what was going on."

"Well, the guy was throwing around 'truths', so I just returned the favor." Erik said with a laugh, then broke into genuine laughter.

Erik commented playfully, then laughed—a moment when Elara and Zoe exchanged a glance, a particular sparkle in their eyes. Meanwhile, Chen stared at the star-haired boy in surprise; he truly found it hard to grasp how someone who rarely spoke with others could be so eloquent—an absolute mystery.

(Maybe I should read more… Erik is always doing it. Maybe that's what I'm missing…)

As Chen reflected on the path his life was taking, Erik turned to look at his beautiful fellow disciples and spoke in a more serious tone.

"But setting that aside, things have gotten a bit complicated, so... are you still sure you want to team up with me?" Erik asked doubtfully, then casually pointed toward the group from the Lotus Union and added.

"Those guys want to skin me alive."

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