Chapter 9: Immeasurable Mana Had Been Detected Headmaster!

"Welcome. It is truly an honor to host the Guild Masters of such top-tier Guilds."

While Neo Haias was being thoroughly milked dry by his four slime demi-human Summoned Beasts and then comforted with their breast milk...

The Headmaster of the Academy had invited the Guild Masters of the most prestigious Guilds.

"The pleasure is entirely ours for receiving the invitation."

"We are simply grateful for the Academy’s work in nurturing talent."

"We look forward to the future."

...

Ten top-tier Hunters, each the Master of a so-called prestigious Guild, exchanged light greetings with the Headmaster one by one.

The Headmaster, despite the title, was simply a man in his late thirties.

The Guild Masters themselves all looked young.

There was a clear reason they had gathered despite their busy schedules.

The Academy selected promising talents from among the top students and recommended them to the top-tier Guilds.

In return, those Guilds provided substantial sponsorship to the Academy.

Talented students naturally wanted to enter the top-tier Guilds for the sake of their growth.

A recommendation from the Headmaster was, for any student, the most legitimate and stable path to success that everyone desired.

In short, it was a perfect win-win arrangement for both the top-tier Guilds and the Academy.

"Esteemed individuals who stand at the very pinnacle of Hunters. I invited you here because I wanted you to witness the outstanding performances of the first-year students during the final exam. Well... there are many students who are already being called geniuses participating in this final exam. Especially the top students, who possess both talent and skill to such a degree that professors are competing to take them as direct disciples... Also! There are outstanding students who are carrying on the proud names of their families."

Frankly, the Headmaster himself had once been a veteran Hunter who had survived every kind of hardship.

For a man like him to praise the students this highly, and to go so far as to request the personal presence of all ten Guild Masters, was enough to spark genuine curiosity.

However, as the leaders of the top-tier Guilds...

They had already obtained information on many of the students through their vast intelligence networks, and some had even secured complete dossiers on the ones they wanted.

"I personally favor Kalavinka. Isn’t she a student from the prestigious Juaren family of martial artists? Her martial arts skills and her ability to apply Mana... She would be an excellent fit for our Guild."

"Haha...! Then allow me to say a word... I like Vishyu, who shows clear talent in Holy Knight abilities with the Light attribute."

"Oh-ho? Vishyu, you say. That student is excellent as well, but Ananta of the Pecor family, who was born with every talent related to magic, is also an outstanding Hunter candidate."

From the moment they sat down there were minor skirmishes like this, yet they were merely praising the students they preferred. It was not as if anyone intended to fight over them.

"But I heard there is a student in the first year who has not even manifested an ability. Can such a disgrace truly exist in this Academy?"

A muscular man spoke up.

"Ah, Neo Haias. Yes... his written exams are nearly perfect. He has displayed an unprecedented level of knowledge. But his ability has not yet manifested. If he fails to show even the slightest ability in this final exam, he will be expelled."

"Really? How broad is his knowledge that he has not been expelled until now?"

It was a question that could easily be taken as a slight against the Academy, yet the Headmaster’s expression did not change.

"Yes. He is so knowledgeable that you could take him into a Dungeon right now and use him as a guide. He lost his parents to Monsters when he was young and has lived with the single-minded determination to take revenge. But there has been no sign of his ability awakening... Well, isn’t there always such a person? He might become someone who buys and sells information to Hunters."

Having said that, the Headmaster clapped his hands loudly to shift the atmosphere.

"Well~ this year’s freshmen have an unusually large number of talented individuals. There are many first-year students who already possess the skills and experience of a second-year... third-year... no! It is no exaggeration to say they have the skills and experience of novice Hunters. So I hope you will watch the students taking this final exam, which is also a practical exam, and have many conversations with them afterward. Are you not all heroes respected by humanity?"

The Headmaster, once a famous Hunter and now the leader of the Academy, continued to praise them freely.

Praise could make even dolphins dance.

How much more pleasant would it feel when the words came from a capable and well-known figure?

"Well... for you busy people, we have arranged for the top students’ exams to be viewed separately. After much deliberation, I thought it would not be a bad idea for the students to experience combat similar to a real battle during this final exam... Are you not curious as well? What kind of performance the top students you favor will show when placed in extreme situations?"

The Headmaster’s words were met with nods of agreement from everyone present.

As no one objected, he displayed a wide screen in the space.

Just then...

Knock knock knock!

A light knock sounded from outside the door.

"Come in."

At the Headmaster’s invitation, a female Academy employee entered carrying a pad the size of a framed portrait.

Under the heavy gazes of everyone present, she immediately showed the pad to the Headmaster.

The Headmaster carefully examined the contents written on it. His eyes widened.

He read the report several times, yet the facts remained undeniable.

"...Is this true?"

"Yes. It happened this morning at dawn."

"Which student... manifested Mana like an Awakening? Could it be... that student? Are there no more accurate coordinates?"

"No. It was only a fleeting moment, and the monitoring equipment malfunctioned, making accurate measurement impossible."

"Then... its true value may be revealed in today’s exam. Tell all the teachers and professors to keep a close watch on the students."

"Understood."

After a brief, quiet exchange she left the room...

Curious gazes flew from every direction, wondering what had just happened.