Royal Academy
The academy bell echoed across the vast campus.
One year had passed since the entrance examination.
Yozaro was now ten years old.
His once-childish face had become sharper, though he still carried a calm smile.
Every morning before sunrise…
He trained alone.
Not because someone forced him.
Because he feared becoming weak again.
A New Team
During the opening ceremony, the Headmaster announced,
“Starting today, students will complete missions in five-member squads.”
The entire hall buzzed with excitement.
“Instructor Orion will now announce the teams.”
“…Team Seven.”
“Yozaro Asgard.”
“Kael Draven.”
“Luna Sylphine.”
“Mira Solis.”
“…and Rex Ironheart.”
A tall beastkin boy with red hair and wolf ears stood and grinned.
“So you’re Yozaro Asgard.”
“I’ve heard you beat Cedric without getting hit.”
Yozaro smiled politely.
“I got lucky.”
Rex laughed loudly.
“I like you already!”
Thus, the five who would one day shake the world met for the first time.
Luna remained distant.
She spoke only when necessary.
During lunch…
Kael whispered,
“Does she ever smile?”
Mira giggled.
“Rarely.”
Just then, Luna dropped a stack of books.
Without saying a word, Yozaro helped gather them.
“…Thanks.”
“It happens.”
She looked at him for a moment.
“…You’re strange.”
“Why?”
“You help people without expecting anything.”
Yozaro simply smiled.
“My father taught me that strength exists to protect.”
For the first time…
Luna smiled naturally.
Kael nearly dropped his lunch.
“…She smiled.”
Later that week…
The academy library was nearly empty.
Yozaro searched for books on ancient magic.
Someone sat across from him.
It was Elenia.
Disguised once again as an ordinary noble girl.
“You really like books.”
Yozaro nodded.
“Knowledge is another kind of weapon.”
She smiled.
“That’s an interesting way to think.”
For hours… Find the original chapter at g.com.
They read in comfortable silence.
Neither noticed the librarian smiling to herself.
“They look good together.”
Outside the window…
A jealous Cedric watched them leave together.
His fists tightened.
A week later…
Instructor Orion gathered Team Seven.
“Your first mission.”
He handed Yozaro a scroll.
Quest Rank: F
Investigate missing livestock near the Green Forest.
Kael groaned.
“Sounds boring.”
Orion smiled mysteriously.
“Don’t underestimate even simple missions.”
The five entered the Green Forest at dawn.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until…
Rex stopped walking.
“…Something’s wrong.”
Fenrir growled.
Luna quietly raised her staff.
“The mana is disturbed.”
Suddenly—
A deafening roar echoed through the trees.
Birds scattered.
The ground shook.
Mira whispered,
“…That’s not an ordinary monster.”
A giant ogre emerged from the forest.
Nearly four meters tall.
Its skin was dark blue.
Its club looked as thick as a tree trunk.
Kael swallowed.
“This is… way above an F-rank mission.”
The ogre charged.
“Scatter!” Yozaro shouted.
The club smashed into the ground.
BOOM!!
Earth flew everywhere.
Kael attacked from the left.
Rex from the right.
The ogre blocked both effortlessly.
Luna completed a spell.
“Ice Spear!”
Three icy lances shot forward.
They struck the ogre’s shoulder.
It roared in pain.
Mira immediately healed Kael after flying debris cut his arm.
Yozaro observed quietly.
‘Its left knee…’
‘It’s injured.’
He smiled.
“I found the weak point.”
“Kael!”
“Keep its attention!”
“Rex!”
“Push it toward the hill!”
“Freeze the ground!”
The team moved without hesitation.
Everything happened exactly as Yozaro predicted.
The ogre slipped.
Its balance broke.
“Now!”
Yozaro leapt high into the air.
Mana surged through his wooden sword.
One precise strike.
CRACK!!
The ogre’s injured knee shattered.
The giant collapsed.
Before it could stand—
Fenrir bit its arm.
Rex pinned its body.
Kael struck its neck.
The battle ended.
Silence filled the forest.
Then…
The entire team burst into laughter.
“We did it!”
Instructor Orion stepped out from behind a tree.
He had secretly watched the entire mission.
“…Interesting.”
“None of them acted alone.”
“But that boy…”
He watched Yozaro helping Kael stand.
“A natural leader.”
Back at the academy…
Elenia found Yozaro sitting beneath a cherry tree.
“You seem happy today.”
“We completed our first mission.”
She smiled.
“I’m glad.”
A soft breeze carried pink petals through the air.
For a moment…
Neither spoke.
Then Elenia quietly asked,
“Do you ever get scared?”
Yozaro looked toward the sunset.
“Every time.”
“But courage isn’t the absence of fear.”
“It’s choosing to move anyway.”
Elenia’s heart skipped a beat.
She smiled to herself.
Far below the academy…
Inside forgotten ruins…
The chains binding an enormous creature cracked once more.
CRACK…
A single crimson eye slowly opened.
A deep voice echoed through the darkness.
“The heir…”
“…has found companions.”
“Good.”
“Breaking him…”
“…will hurt far more.”
The eye closed again.
But the chains continued to weaken.