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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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On my way to the headmaster’s office, I organized the information I’d gleaned from Yu So-hyun.
‘The funeral and the award ceremony are over.’
Apparently, the day after things settled down, a funeral had been held for the fallen students.
And before their grief could even subside, on the third day, Mirinae Academy held an award ceremony.
They must have rushed the ceremony to dispel the despair that had settled over the academy.
The awards went to the students and professors who had fought against the high-rank demons.
While the rewards varied, they were all substantial, so no one complained.
In fact, given the circumstances, relief at having survived likely overshadowed any concerns about reward distribution.
‘I should have been there too.’
Since each zone had been isolated during the attack, the details of what happened were shrouded in rumor.
Stories of heroic deeds and miraculous victories spread like wildfire, embellished with each retelling.
The award ceremony itself avoided detailed explanations of the events, focusing instead on the symbolic recognition of their achievements. A full recounting would have taken too long, further dampening the mood.
And among those embellished tales, my story was the most exaggerated.
That I’d single-handedly taken command of the situation, that I’d defeated a high-rank demon with a single, earth-shattering blow…
My reputation, already inflated, continued to grow, painting me as some kind of high-ranking knight or even a knight commander.
‘How did the rumor about me soloing a high-rank demon even start?’
While it might have looked that way to an outside observer, the reality was far more nuanced. A confluence of fortunate circumstances had led to my victory.
Garan, being an assassin, had lower health than other high-rank demons. The daylight had hampered his abilities. I’d managed to strike before he could unleash his full power. My hidden skill, Rival, had boosted my stats. And finally, the finishing blow had been powered by Natural Mana.
This series of fortunate events, along with Ki Ju-seon’s support and Gainard’s presence, had made the victory possible.
‘If Gainard hadn’t pressured both Roomlau and Garan with his aura, I would have been dead.’
A man once known as the Golden Knight was now a mere martial arts professor for first-year Class S.
But even suppressed, his aura was immense, and Garan couldn’t help but be affected by it.
To a stronger being like Garan, Gainard must have seemed like a monster.
‘He’s the type who draws on his past strength during battle.’
The longer a fight lasted, the stronger Gainard became, making him a formidable opponent for Garan.
“Are you disappointed you didn’t get to stand on the podium?”
“Not really. It doesn’t change what I did.”
“Indeed. You’ve done well.”
As Gainard escorted me to the headmaster’s office, he asked several questions, seemingly trying to gauge my mental state.
I maintained a calm demeanor throughout, assuring him I was fine, but he seemed unconvinced.
‘I really am fine, though.’
I’d not only survived but was about to receive an additional reward from the headmaster. What more could I ask for?
Fame held no value for me right now, and building a reputation within Mirinae Academy wasn’t a priority.
“Here’s the headmaster’s office.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After a brief exchange, Gainard excused himself, clearly having other pressing matters to attend to.
He must have taken time out of his busy schedule to escort me, likely concerned about my well-being.
Creak.
As soon as Gainard left, the door to the headmaster’s office swung open.
“Come in.”
A calm voice, yet filled with an undeniable authority.
A legendary figure who had guided Mirinae Academy through countless crises, its unwavering protector.
Perto Lafer.
The long-awaited one-on-one meeting was about to begin.
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“Is there anything you desire?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked if you have any requests.”
As soon as I sat down on the luxurious leather sofa at Perto’s invitation, he got straight to the point.
He seemed to be urging me to ask for anything I wanted.
This direct approach caught me completely off guard.
‘Shouldn’t he offer condolences or express concern first?’
To skip the pleasantries and dive right into the reward discussion…
It was completely my style.
“Thank you for your hard work, you’ve accomplished a great feat, this was a glorious achievement—those words feel empty. That’s what I’ve been thinking.”
I was about to launch into my prepared speech when…
The headmaster continued.
“So many have died, pleaded for their lives, wept in despair… What comfort could empty words possibly offer?”
“What truly matters is tangible reward. Consolation is important, but what we need now is to strengthen our forces.”
“Promises of safety? How can anyone guarantee such a thing? This is a place where we teach students to fight against demons, to protect humanity from monsters.”
As he spoke, gazing out the window, he turned to face me.
Tears streamed down his face.
‘This is a bit much.’
The headmaster approached, his eyes filled with a mixture of grief and pride.
I could feel the weight of his emotions, the gratitude he was trying to convey.
“That is why I am grateful to you. For walking such a difficult path and emerging victorious.”
He clasped my arm, his words filled with genuine emotion.
‘He’s not wrong.’
If I hadn’t arrived, the first-year students would have been slaughtered.
While luck had played a role, the undeniable fact remained: I’d defeated all four high-rank demons and minimized casualties.
To the headmaster, I was a beacon of hope in the midst of tragedy.
‘So that’s why he’s asking for my requests.’
But was this really the right time?
To calmly list my demands while he was pouring out his heart?
“Thank you for your kind words. Then I’ll tell you what I want.”
“Very well. Speak your mind.”
It turned out to be the right approach.
While it was interesting to hear about the academy’s struggles and my own exaggerated accomplishments from someone else’s perspective…
That wasn’t my priority.
I knew my classmates would bombard me with questions about the fight later, clinging to every detail, showering me with praise.
That would be more than enough.
‘When asking for rewards, it’s important not to be too greedy.’
I needed to request things that a first-year student, even a talented one, could reasonably know about.
Asking for endgame-level rewards would only raise suspicion.
“First, the Arachne’s Breath Gloves I’m currently using are damaged beyond repair. Therefore, I request a weapon that can compensate for this loss.”
“Also, I’ve formed a contract with a spirit and require spirit stones for its growth.”
“Finally, I’d like to request support for the Manaplate Armor project I’m working on with Professor Ki Ju-seon.”
Three requests: one for immediate power, one for mid-term growth, and one for long-term development.
With these three secured, I could handle the rest.
‘I can still use spider silk thanks to the Spider title.’
As the early game transitioned into the mid-game, these power boosts weren’t just desirable—they were essential.
Without them, surviving the next inevitable disaster would be impossible.
“Hmm… Ah… Very well. Is there anything else you require?”
“If possible, I’d like some Century Gold-Command Honey.”
“Very well.”
The headmaster seemed taken aback by my direct and specific requests, but he didn’t refuse.
He’d likely anticipated having to guide a naive first-year student through the process, offering suggestions for appropriate rewards.
But I’d shattered those expectations with my perfectly formulated demands.
‘I’m not one of those unprepared newbies, Headmaster.’
I was a veteran Final Destiny player, a true expert among experts.
If someone like me got the chance to ask for anything, this was the natural outcome.
“I’ll have everything prepared shortly. You may leave now. I’m sure you find this situation uncomfortable.”
“Not at all, but I appreciate your consideration. I’ll take my leave then!”
He even sensed the perfect moment for me to depart. I gave a polite 90-degree bow and left.
Having overcome a near-death experience, nothing could be more restorative than a mountain of rewards.
‘Now, while waiting for the rewards, I should whip those kids into shape.’
Any student with ambition would be gathered at the training grounds after such a major incident.
Their desire to grow stronger made this the perfect opportunity for training.
It was time for a veteran to educate the newbies.
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Good job, mod.