Chapter 63 - 063: The Third Day

Chapter 63: Chapter 063: The Third Day

Mikael was dressing the collar of the sleek suit when the door slid open, revealing a Leon with widened eyes in surprise.

"And what are you dressing up for, Mikael? Lights out is coming up soon," Leon asked, stepping into the room.

His eyes roved over Mikael slowly—from the black suit, to the single-shouldered cape, to the black shoes that shone under the light of the chandelier overhead.

"Have you a dinner with the ladies, perhaps, my good man? Many are swooning over you after your..... Impressive feats this afternoon."

Mikael laughed heartily, slipping on black gloves. "No, no, Leon. I’m leaving."

Leon was also laughing, thinking his roommate to be love-struck. "Ah, you are lea— Eh? Leaving? The academy? Why? Trouble at home?"

"Which home?" Mikael walked over, smiling. He clapped his shoulders with a sense of camaraderie.

"I’m leaving here—" He was cut off.

"Where are you going to? You are throwing away the way to a stable future. Have you gone insane?"

Mikael sighed.

"Listen, Leon. Staying here won’t do me any good. Not in the slightest. So, I’ve got to get going." He continued towards the door.

"I won’t say it wasn’t amusing. Seeing things from the eyes of children of mortals was certainly interesting and—"

"And where are you going, then? You still never replied to the question."

Mikael shook his head.

"Not even sure myself. But when I get out of here, I’ll figure something out."

"So you are looking down on us?" Leon’s tone turned venomous with anger, though Mikael barely acknowledged the change in his emotions. "You think you are above everybody here? Is that it, Mikael? Just because you slew some newly formed, stupid S-class Ravager, you think you are now powerful enough to survive in the outside world? Huh, Mr. Potential?"

Mikael’s face was covered with a warm, radiating smile.

"I fail to see how my actions are your business. And..."

Leon did not sense it coming as it slammed him into the ground, deep enough to form a crater and blow up the room. Intense pressure fused with a killing intent that made him retch.

"Do I look down on you all? Yes, somehow. I mean, you’re all kids. Do you have anything to teach me, to offer me? No. Then why should I waste my time here?" He let up the pressure.

The same instant, Leon caught his breath and took in large gulps of air.

’He’s a teenager like me,’ he thought, visibly shaken. ’And his core should at most be at the cusp of Grandmaster. So where did that magic aura come from? Not to mention that insane murderous intent. Is he an assassin?’

Mikael flashed him a warm smile as he continued towards the door.

"You’ve got some potential, roommate. Be sure to come look for me when you’ve gotten so much stronger. Oh."

He threw a shard immediately, causing Leon to reach out instinctively.

Leon’s eyes widened with shock. "This is...?"

"Should help you break through a few ranks instantly, without any side effects. It’s the Rank Breaker you’ve been hearing so much about."

Mikael also brought a small sealed chest seemingly out of nowhere.

"Pass this to Isabella for me." He handed it over. "Do not open until it gets to her."

After straightening his jacket, he bowed once and slipped away into the corridor and onto a window.

A gust of wind emanated, followed by a loud BOOM that shattered a couple of windows and got the whole building instantly alerted.

The dazed Leon stood for a few minutes.

Then he gritted his teeth, quietly closing the door to his room, fumbling all the while and mumbling under his breath. "Tch. I have failed again. Curses!"

The next morning

The auditorium was abuzz with most of the murmurings as the interviewees were visibly excited, albeit anxious, about the third and final trial.

The happenings of the previous night seemed surreal to him until the dorm master asked about his roommate’s whereabouts. That was when it finally hit him.

His face was contorted with anger and anxiety. The third trial wasn’t even bugging him much.

"That damned bast—"

"Good morning, Leon," a familiar cheery voice interrupted his chain of thoughts.

Leon’s ugly expression was immediately replaced with his usual warm smile.

"Isabella, Miriselle. Good morning."

"Good morning," Miriselle said, sitting down in the nearest seat beside Isabella.

"I don’t see Mikael anywhere. Mr. Popular deciding to run late?"

Leon almost scoffed.

"He left."

"Left? The third trial will surely start anytime soon."

"He left the academy."

"Huh!"

"Eh?"

Miriselle took a good look at Leon. "What do you mean, left the academy? He—"

"Said he was no longer interested in dawdling with brats. That there was nothing he would gain from staying here." Leon felt the anger he had rehearsed nearly choking him.

"So he went back to the Limnor Manor, right?" Isabella was surprisingly the most worried. "I...—"

"Forget it," Leon sighed. "I seriously doubt he’s going back there."

"How did you know?"

A puff of smoke cleared on the podium, revealing the old man.

The auditorium went dead silent.

Behind the old man, some teachers also appeared.

Malcius cleared his throat as he looked around. ’That kid really did leave. His imagination must be a really wild one.’

"Good morning, you all. I trust you had a wonderful night. As you know, today is the third and final test of the interview that will determine whether or not you will build your future here with us. Cough, cough."

"Before that, I regretfully wish to inform you that one of you has voluntarily quit the interview and has already left the academy. I believe his—"

"I bet it’s some nameless peasant."

"Nobles giving in to pressure. Shameful."

And so the mockery strung up in the hall. At least until the Headmaster completely stilled it. Most of it, though.

A light tap on the ground with his cane, followed by just one word: "Silence," and a stare.