Floor Intermission Room – Underground Bracket, Sector 4
Riku sat on a low bench in a dimly lit chamber, shirt removed and bruises swelling along his ribs. The fight with Shiba left more damage than he expected. A few feet away, Sorin leaned against the wall, arms folded, her breath still a little shaky.
[System Alert: Temporary Combat Lock. Recovery Period: 3 Hours]
[Skill Shop – Tier 1 Unlocked: Accessible Now]
[Warning: Passive Damage Threshold Reached – Recomnd dical Item or Rest]
He exhaled deeply. "System, display Tier 1 Skill Shop."
A translucent nu floated before him, lined with glowing tabs:
Skill: Montum Surge (Lv.1) – 4,000 Credits
Skill: Mana Concealnt (Lv.1) – 6,000 Credits
Skill: Strategic Copy – One-ti Use – 8,500 Credits
Item: Combat Stimulant – Grade C – 3,000 Credits
Skill: Tactician’s Eye (Lv.1) – 6,200 Credits
Riku ignored the items for now. His focus was on versatility.
"Buy: Mana Concealnt."
[6,000 Credits deducted. Skill learned.]
Sorin raised a brow. "You spent your reward already?"
"Only a portion," he replied. "Let’s just say I’m planning long-term."
She tilted her head slightly, studying him as if noticing sothing for the first ti. "You’re... not like the others."
"Because I don’t fight like a madman?"
"No. Because you fight like you already know the outco." She crossed her arms tighter. "Like you see three moves ahead."
He didn’t respond.
Instead, he turned his attention to a faint green envelope glowing in the corner of the room—materializing out of nowhere.
[Special Invitation: Accept?]
[Sender: Classified | Authority Level Required: Tier 1 Clearance (t)]
"System... show sender na."
[Sender: Professor Helena Valestria – Departnt of Magical Theory]
Professor Valestria? The Ice Witch?
He rembered her vaguely—tall, cold, distant. Known for her harsh grading and rumored underground affiliations.
"Accept invitation."
---
Teleport Initiated – Hidden Research Hall
When Riku reappeared, the world was quiet.
He stood in a suspended hallway of clear crystal walls, hundreds of ters beneath the academy’s surface. Magical devices humd from every direction. At the end of the path stood Professor Helena Valestria—silver-haired, regal in a midnight blue dress, and sipping tea like she wasn’t watching him with hawk-like eyes.
"You made it," she said without turning around. "That alone raises your value significantly."
"You invited . Why?"
Helena set her teacup down. "Because I saw you not your fake grades, not your cover personality, but your mind. In the arena, with that system-enhanced reaction ti, with that risk-taking strategy. I saw a boy who doesn’t belong in an ordinary classroom."
"...So?"
She turned now. Eyes piercing.
"I want to sponsor you."
"Sponsor?"
Helena extended a sigil-inscribed scroll.
"Join my special studies faction. Under my guidance, you’ll access restricted knowledge, hidden training zones, and underground networks. All while maintaining your ’average student’ facade."
Riku didn’t take it.
"What do you get from this?"
"Power is currency. And I invest in high-yield futures." She stepped closer. "But most importantly—I want to know the origin of your abilities. And I don’t care how you acquired them."
She knew.
Maybe not the system... but she suspected sothing.
---
anwhile – Ayumi’s Heart is Stirring
In the central dormitory, Ayumi sat on her bed, gripping the edge of her mattress.
Rumors flooded the academy forums.
"Masked Genius Defeats Shiba Kazeharu!"
"Ghost Blade Riku Identified?"
"Girl With Silver Eyes Protects Him—Possible Romance?"
Her lips thinned.
"That idiot..."
She recalled how he saved her from thugs weeks ago.
How he walked away after giving her the last word.
Why does he hide so much of himself?
She didn’t realize she was clutching her pillow.
Why do I want to know what he’s hiding so badly?
Her cheeks reddened.
---
Back in the Hidden Hall
Riku stared at Helena’s sigil. "And if I refuse?"
She smiled.
"Then I will continue watching. And eventually, I’ll find out anyway."
It wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.
He weighed the risks.
Joining her would expose him to dangers. But also... power.
Knowledge.
He extended his hand.
"I’ll consider it."
Helena chuckled.
"I already knew you would."
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