One of Caron’s secret offices.
Caron, realizing it was late at night, looked at the person in front of him.
A child whose eyes were so small that his pupils were not visible, Zero.
‘I should stop here for today.’
An interrogation that lasted for a full five hours.
It was a hot time as he had warned, but Zero would have no complaints either.
Because he was provided with a very hot(?) special meal that he didn’t even wish for.
“I’ll call you again before leaving. The rat will show you the way out.”
“Keke, then I’ll be on my way…”
Zero left his seat. With his usual smile full of composure.
But it couldn’t deceive Caron’s discerning eyes.
‘He’s exhausted.’
Maintaining a smile throughout.
Buying time to think by dragging out trivial stories and unsuccessful jokes.
Even coming up with suitable excuses in situations where he was caught off guard.
It was a situation where he had to reach his mental limit.
But look at that back, acting as if it’s nothing, as if he can do it all day long.
‘Impudent fellow.’
A very impudent fellow at that.
Caron closed his eyes and fell into thought.
‘…Well, such behavior itself is amazing though.’
The long story that began as soon as Zero was brought here and did a handstand, banging his head on the ground.
It was a plausible story, but Caron noticed that there was some falsehood mixed in.
‘Especially the fact that he knows information about the survivor of the Lester family. He made a bet with Lucia just for that and became her disciple?’
It’s something that can’t happen with Lucia’s personality.
There’s something more. For example.
‘Knowing the weaknesses or secrets of the Lucid family?’
It’s not certain.
It’s just speculation based on the fragments of conversations and reactions he overheard from time to time after Lucia came to the academy.
‘The guts to threaten Lucia… Well, I experienced something similar, so it’s not impossible, but…’
Just what is he holding on to that he can collar that tomboy Lucia?
Caron was genuinely curious.
Caron, who was confident that over 90% of the information that exists in the empire goes through him, was even more interested.
Knock-.
‘Would torture make him reveal it?’
The probability is fifty-fifty.
But that’s not a reason not to torture. Because he was confident in raising that probability to a high number.
Impudent attitude, lies, unknown identity, personal curiosity.
There are plenty of reasons to drag Zero away.
Still, the reason Caron leaves Zero alone. Although he’s also suitable as Luna’s temporary guardian.
‘The more I see, the more decent he is.’
Plausible excuses, occasional lies mixed in with the truth, a strong heart that doesn’t yield to interrogation.
Excellent information power and even the skill to control heart rate.
But what surprised him the most was.
Caron’s third original secret technique.
Shadow Rush of the Ravenous Wolf.
When Zero claimed that he could imitate the opponent’s technique, regardless of family secret techniques, just by seeing it once.
When Caron snorted and showed his technique, Zero immediately demonstrated his own original technique.
…While yawning at that.
‘It was the most difficult one among my techniques…’
A technique that takes away the opponent’s vision with the first attack and stabs a dagger held in the opposite hand into a vital point.
Both hands move with an interval of about 0.3 seconds, and the opponent’s attack is not paid attention to.
In summary, it can be said to be a technique that certainly takes the opponent’s life in exchange for giving up one’s own bones.
If the opponent is not an equal powerhouse, there’s no need to give up bones, but.
‘That guy noticed it.’
He realized and understood the foundation and principles hidden in the technique.
In other words, Zero’s claim that he can ‘imitate secret techniques of other families’ is true.
Honestly, it’s still hard to believe even now. But there’s no choice but to believe it.
Because he witnessed it with his own two eyes.
There were a few people who could imitate secret techniques of other families in the past.
Lérang was one of them. But.
‘I’ve never heard of anyone being able to imitate all the techniques that can be done with the body, and that too just by seeing it once.’
Of course, it’s not that there are no words in this world that can describe someone like Zero.
A word that refers to a being who has innate talent granted by the heavens.
Genius.
‘…Is that it?’
Caron smirked.
Because he’s not someone who often uses the word genius.
‘The guys who are called geniuses. When you actually go and meet them, most of them are idiots.’
Even if they’re real geniuses, it’s the same.
Children who realize they are geniuses inevitably go through a process of ‘laziness’.
Thinking ‘Why can’t they do this? It’s so easy.’
They neglect effort and let their genius talent rot away.
Most of them meaninglessly spend their youth and later gain enlightenment and start putting in effort.
But by then, it’s already too late.
The genius talent still remains, but the body is ruined. Even if they understand with their head, their body can’t keep up.
Not to mention the absolute lack of mana.
‘A hardworking ordinary person is better than a lazy genius.’
So Caron didn’t pay much attention even when Zero showed genius talent.
But now the situation has changed.
That ‘one strike’ demonstrated in the 3rd stage, the one-on-one duel with Lucia.
“A pure desire to become strong…”
Caron, recalling that strike again, unknowingly smiled.
There are still many shortcomings, but it was a strike that could be considered a secret technique.
‘That guy Daike is amazing too, but…’
That’s right. Daike also had personally developed secret techniques. Three of them at that.
Even the power and skill proficiency are overwhelmingly in Daike’s favor.
One and three.
Anyone would say Daike is superior. But.
‘That’s the story of people who don’t know Zero.’
A being who can understand and imitate other people’s techniques just by seeing them once.
Such a being inevitably seeks out only powerful secret techniques.
Because they can easily become strong just by imitating the strongest secret techniques.
But Zero, although he used secret techniques of other families, did not blindly pursue them.
Rather, he wanted to cultivate his innate strength.
‘An easy and fast way to become strong. But a path that can’t lead to the top.’
He didn’t fall for the trap and temptation that path holds.
‘A hardworking genius. There’s nothing scarier than that.’
Having talent and knowing it, yet still working hard.
Honestly, he’s a crazy guy.
If Caron himself had such genius talent.
No, even if he had a speck of that talent, he would have immediately fallen into the path of laziness.
“…Interesting.”
If Zero is a hardworking genius. That crazy guy.
If he learns all the secret techniques of others and hones his own swordsmanship.
In the history of the empire… no, in the history of the continent.
“The greatest monster might be born.”
Caron, who was thinking while stroking his chin.
Only then did he realize.
That he was smiling.
“Ahem… Well, what’s important now is not that guy.”
Caron erased Zero from his mind.
Raising Zero is important too, but now Kalos comes first. Tearing apart and killing the black mages there.
Swish-.
And so Caron disappeared into the darkness.
‘Oh my… My head.’
I put my hand on my throbbing head.
My head aches even after sleeping.
Because I had a hellish psychological warfare with Caron late into the night.
‘Not only mobilizing rats but even kidnapping…’
The moment the kids moved forward with Lucia, a sack was put over my face.
I arrived at Caron’s secret office like that. The hellish interrogation that began there.
‘It was practically mental torture.’
After changing into the gym clothes provided by the academy, I went outside.
It’s still early morning with a cold wind.
I headed to the training ground, pulling my collar tight.
Because a notice was given to have a simple exercise time before breakfast.
Something about having to relax the body that was tensed up due to the pop quiz.
Many kids were already at the training ground.
“Go over there. This is the Teron faction’s spot.”
“Ah, sorry sorry. Our numbers have increased a lot after yesterday’s test. Please yield a bit. You guys have fewer people anyway, right?”
“Impudent…!”
The battle of wills between the Yuridia faction and the Teron faction.
The original advanced class kids doing their own thing as if they’re used to it.
The kids who were promoted to the advanced class this time.
Even the kids who still haven’t decided which faction to join.
‘The advanced class is peaceful today as well.’
I slowly recalled the conversation with Caron while tightly pulling my collar.
An interrogation that lasted for a full five hours.
It’s not a short time, and I was interrogated at Caron’s home base.
The questions were as sharp as a knife, and I was hit on the head dozens of times.
I had no choice but to report every detail of what happened with Lucia.
‘Except for the fact that the Lucid family is cursed by demons.’
Anyway, considering it was a dangerous situation, I handled it well.
But it’s not without problems. There are many problems, but the biggest one is…
‘He noticed that there were some lies mixed in my words.’
Breath and heart rate control made possible with the [Mental Defense] skill.
It’s not a technique possible at my age. In other words, Caron would have believed that all my words were true until now.
‘But yesterday, I was caught lying in the middle.’
Caron didn’t say it directly, but I could intuitively tell.
He’s a really amazing guy.
He noticed I was lying but didn’t say anything and didn’t change his expression at all.
‘He’ll probably use it later.’
Whether it’s blackmail, a deal, or taking my life(?).
It won’t be used for a good purpose.
He probably already started distinguishing between truth and falsehood in the conversations we had before.
It wouldn’t be strange if my neck was snapped right now.
But there’s no need to worry too much.
“Zero! Over here!”
Luna waved her arms vigorously to let me know her location.
That’s right. Currently, I am Lucia’s disciple and Luna’s guardian.
Especially when it comes to protecting Luna, there’s no one better than me, so he won’t try to snap my neck right away.
‘Right now, the important thing is the fight with Necromancer Volkan.’
I don’t know how much power Caron has prepared, but the Hidden Piece where Lucia joins has been triggered.
My fists clenched involuntarily.
‘We might be able to catch Volkan.’
One of the Four Heavenly Kings. If we can kill Volkan, the ‘Maestro of the Battlefield’ who devours the continent in the late game, here.
The dozens of flicks I got hit by Caron are nothing.
“By the way… Where’s our Rezé?”
Luna’s voice full of worry.
At that moment, the [Hyper Sense] skill was activated. It pinpointed Rezé’s location nearby.
“She’s almost here. She just can’t come because the way is blocked.”
“Way? Why is the way blocked? It’s wide open around.”
“Keke, look over there.”
The battle of wills between the Yuridia faction and the Teron faction was in full swing where I pointed.
And right behind it.
Wobble wobble-.
Wobble wobble-.
A box disguised as a training ground was going back and forth.
Judging by the stealth being exposed in the middle, she was quite flustered.
Well, you can’t notice unless you look carefully like us.
“…What is she doing there?”
“Keke, she can see us but can’t go. She wants to go quickly. Her vision is narrowing. Something like that, right?”
“Then we should go get her quickly!”
“Go ahead.”
It was when I was tightly pulling my collar to avoid the morning chill.
Luna firmly grabbed my hair.
“What do you mean go ahead? You have to come with me!”
“Me too? Why?”
“Our friend is in a crisis!”
No, you can go alone, right? Why are you taking me when it’s bothersome?
And people don’t call that a crisis, you know?
But does it look like a crying baby rabbit on the battlefield to Luna’s eyes?
She started running at full speed. The problem is that Luna is grabbing my hair?
That wasn’t the only problem.
“Move out of the way! Don’t block the path!”
Luna chose to go straight, not take a detour.
She passed right in front of Yuridia and Teron, to be exact, ignoring the two leaders.
“Th-Those guys…!”
“Insolent!”
Not only ignoring the two leaders, but it was no different from saying ‘the likes of you don’t even matter’.
The gazes of the Yuridia faction and the Teron faction, who were having a battle of wills, as well as the newly promoted kids, turned towards us.
“Eek, eeek!”
It was only natural for Rezé to be flustered.
The problem is that she stuck close to my back.
“Kraken…!”
The girls’ eyes turned fierce.
Hmm, peaceful as always today.
Just like the usual advanced class.
–TL Notes–
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