Standing so close, Leon could appreciate her beauty even more clearly.
Her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, her cheeks bore a faint pink tinge, and her long, slender eyelashes framed icy blue eyes that resembled the purest gemstones.
She exuded a crisp, refreshing fragrance, like the scent of a pine forest after a fresh snowfall.
Leon gritted his teeth.
Under the piercing glares of the crowd, he leaned forward.
His lips lightly brushed Claire’s cheek, quick as a dragonfly skimming across the water, before he immediately pulled back.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Everyone stared in utter disbelief, their minds blanking out entirely.
Leon had actually kissed Claire!
The school’s number one beauty, a Mythical-tier Sword Saint, a future powerhouse of humanity, and the daughter of the Fifth District’s top warrior was kissed on the cheek in broad daylight by a guy widely considered to have a ruined career.
It felt as if a collective string had snapped in the minds of Claire’s fans.
Jealousy, envy, and rage erupted like a volcano, instantly torching their sanity.
Zachary’s eye twitched.
He cast a look of profound pity at his best friend, then immediately backed away from Leon as if fleeing a plague zone.
He had no doubt that a brutal reckoning was about to descend upon Leon.
The deathly silence lasted for about three seconds.
Then, a furious roar tore through the square.
“Leon, you deserve to die!
You deserve to die a thousand deaths!” The roar lit a powder keg, and the entire schoolyard erupted into absolute chaos.
“Ahhh!
How dare you defile my goddess!
I’ll kill you!” “He kissed her!
He actually kissed her!
My pure, unblemished goddess!” “I do not approve of this!
Where are the guards?
Arrest him!
I want him drawn and quartered!” “Kill him!
Tear him apart!” The students were rabid with fury, many on the verge of rushing forward to tear Leon limb from limb.
Suddenly, a powerful aura boomed across the area, instantly suppressing the entire courtyard.
Principal Vance’s face was completely dark, his voice carrying undeniable authority.
“All of you, quiet down!
Do you have any idea what kind of occasion this is?
Stand down and continue the ceremony!” The overwhelming pressure of a Tier 3, Level 60 expert was suffocating.
The students choked back their rage and fell silent, retreating to their ranks.
However, the glares they shot at Leon were sharper than daggers.
If looks could kill, Leon would already be riddled with holes.
“Ahem.
Claire, you can return to your line now,” Principal Vance said, his gaze shifting to Claire.
His eye twitched slightly as he spoke in a much softer tone.
However, Claire completely ignored him.
She kept her cold eyes fixed on Leon, one hand tightly gripping the hem of his uniform shirt.
The cowlick on her head whipped back and forth violently in sheer dissatisfaction.
Feeling slighted, the principal’s face turned green with frustration.
But facing a student who had just awakened a Mythical class and happened to be the daughter of the Northern War God, he couldn’t do a thing.
Instead, he channeled all his fury into a murderous glare directed straight at Leon.
Under the headmaster’s menacing stare, cold sweat broke out on Leon’s forehead.
He lowered his voice and whispered urgently to Claire.
“I didn’t lie to you.
I said a kiss, not a kiss on the lips.
You need to go back now, or the principal is going to murder me.” The whisper wasn’t loud, but in the dead-silent courtyard, the students in the front row caught every word.
“What?
You mean you wanted to kiss her lips too?!” a boy screamed, his voice cracking.
“Damn you, Leon!
I’ll never forgive you!” “Who wants to join me in putting a burlap sack over Leon’s head after school?” “Count me in!” “+1!” “+10,000!” The crowd surged again, and this time, even Principal Vance’s aura couldn’t fully suppress the rioting emotions.
Leon tugged at his clothes, but Claire’s grip remained ironclad.
Looking at her stubborn refusal to let go, then at the murderous classmates surrounding him, Leon’s lips twitched.
He knew with absolute certainty that if he actually kissed her lips here today, the mob would tear him to pieces.
I have no choice.
Leon leaned in close to Claire’s ear, speaking in a breath meant only for her.
“Go back for now.
I promise you, you can come over to my room tonight.” A bright gleam flashed across Claire’s icy blue eyes.
The ahoge on her head stopped shaking violently.
It bobbed down slightly in a precise nod, as if asking, Really?
“Really.
I wouldn’t lie to you,” Leon confirmed with a serious nod.
Having received his solemn promise, Claire finally released her grip on his uniform.
She turned and walked back to the Class 1 line.
Her steps were light, her face still an unreadable mask of ice, but the single cowlick on her head swayed gently from side to side, completely betraying her bright mood.
Watching her walk away, Principal Vance let out a massive sigh of relief, his complexion slowly returning to normal.
He threw a burning glare at Leon.
I never expected you to actually become a freeloading face-worker.
Hmph, pathetic.
The principal felt a toxic mix of disgust and pure envy before returning to the microphone to finish the ceremony.
Zachary slipped back to Leon’s side, whispering, “Brother, you better not go home tonight.
I’m genuinely worried someone’s going to jump you with a burlap sack.” Leon: “…” Time ticked by, and the class transfer ceremony drew to a close.
“The ceremony is officially over.
Report to your respective homeroom teachers to receive your starter equipment pack,” Principal Vance announced over the PA system.
“All students who awakened combat classes will gather at the city square tomorrow morning.
The personal trial instances are dangerous, and injuries are inevitable.
The city administration and the school have arranged for medical personnel to be stationed on-site to provide immediate treatment.” “Prepare yourselves well.
Remember, personal trial instances below the Rare tier aren’t overly difficult, so do not panic.” “Tomorrow is your chance to change your destiny.
The data from these trial instances will attract the attention of countless professional organizations, mercenary guilds, and elite universities.” “Those confident in their skills can wear a Broadcasting Eye Stone to livestream their run.
It is an unparalleled opportunity to secure early investment.” “Do not try to hide your strength.
In this world, resources flow to the capable.
Being a professional is an incredibly expensive path; if you fall behind in the early stage, you will stay behind at every step.” “Top-tier skills and equipment are priceless.
If you don’t showcase your value, how will you attract attention?
How will you raise your worth?
Why would powerful figures invest their fortunes in you?” “That is all.
I wish you all the ultimate success in your future military endeavors.” The principal’s voice echoed across the open square.
By evening, the student body poured out of the school gates like a tidal wave.
Some excitedly tested their new skills along the pathways, while others anxiously calculated the costs of healing potions and armor to optimize their upcoming instance runs.
Leon leaned against a stone pillar near the main gates, his fingers idly tapping the rough surface as he waited for Zachary.
The setting sun cast a long, solitary shadow across the pavement.
Leon squinted into the light, his thoughts drifting.
To unlock the true potential of the Zoro template, he needed a contracted beast capable of wielding swords.
Ideally, it should possess a humanoid form so it could execute the Three-Sword Style.
This restriction severely narrowed down his choices.
But the most pressing crisis right now was money.
Leon frowned.
Monster pets were astronomically expensive.
It wasn’t just Beast Tamers who bought them; other classes could also form a single contract with a pet for utility.
Because an extra pet could mean the difference between life and death in a dungeon, market prices were inflated.
Even a standard White Common quality pet cost around 200,000 credits.
As an orphan, the savings Leon had scraped together from years of part-time jobs amounted to only a few tens of thousands.
He was nowhere near the threshold required to buy a proper beast.
Is my only option really to pull a night shift at that high-end women’s club Zachary mentioned?
Leon wondered grimly.
I don’t even know if my body can take that kind of grind.