Chapter 26: Transcendent Riki Potential

The system remained silent for several seconds.

Then...

〘Calculating enhancement requirements...〙

〘Analyzing Player’s dormant Riki Core...〙

〘Calculating required Enhancement Points...〙

A brief pause followed.

〘Calculation complete.〙

〘Required Enhancement Points: 50,000.〙

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

...Glad to see the price is the exact same as it was in the PC version of the game.

...Proceed.

A strange burst of energy suddenly erupted within Arthur’s abdomen.

It lasted only for a brief moment before settling deep within his body.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He could feel something that hadn’t been there before.

Something powerful.

Something that felt as though it had been waiting inside him all along.

The system’s voice immediately echoed within his mind.

〘Congratulations, Player.〙

〘Your dormant Riki Core has been successfully awakened.〙

〘Riki Cultivation Potential has been upgraded to: Transcendent Grade.〙

Arthur’s expression remained calm.

...Done.

He stepped forward until he stood directly before the testing device.

Sebastian’s expression was noticeably tense.

Arthur noticed it immediately.

The old butler looked as though he were preparing himself for the worst.

Arthur simply smiled.

It was a quiet reassurance.

Don’t worry.

Sebastian seemed to understand.

He took a slow breath and stepped back.

Arthur then placed his hand against the crystalline surface of the device.

For a moment...

Nothing happened.

Then a mechanical voice echoed from within the cube.

〘Beginning Riki aptitude scan...〙

Silence.

Several seconds passed.

Then several more.

The device remained completely unchanged.

No light appeared.

No energy readings manifested.

Nothing.

Arthur calmly waited.

Around him...

The banquet hall slowly began filling with whispers.

"Nothing?"

"Is the device malfunctioning?"

"It hasn’t registered a single trace of Riki energy."

A young lord frowned.

"Didn’t Young Master Arthur just claim he wanted to measure his cultivation talent?"

Another noble gave a quiet scoff.

"Perhaps this is the result."

"He’s already known to have no Riki talent."

"Riki talent isn’t something you can simply wish into existence."

"Perhaps he thought determination alone was enough."

"Or maybe he’s trying to save face after House Evergreen’s gift."

"Did he really think the testing device would suddenly tell him he was a genius?"

"Perhaps he did."

"Talent is innate."

"You either possess it..."

"...or—"

VISHHHH~

A sudden radiant golden glow erupted from the cube.

Its brilliance was almost blinding, causing nearly everyone present to shield their eyes.

"What the—?!"

"What’s happening?"

"Why is it glowing like that?"

The murmurs quickly spread throughout the banquet hall.

Then...

〘Scan complete.〙

The golden light continued to radiate across the hall.

Arthur slowly turned away from the device.

A smug smile appeared on his face.

"Come now. I know that was a bit impulsive..."

"But you all shouldn’t sell House Ashbourne short."

The nobles stared at him in confusion.

Their eyes widened as they stared at the golden radiance surrounding the device.

"This brilliance..."

"That aura..."

"Wait..."

"It can’t be..."

Everyone’s expressions changed.

The realization seemed to spread through the banquet hall like a wave.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Some nobles stood completely frozen, unable to utter a single word.

Arthur glanced toward Sebastian.

"Sebastian."

"Read the result."

The old butler stared at the device.

His mouth opened slightly.

For a moment, no words came out.

Then he stuttered.

"O-Oh..."

"Right, Young Master."

Sebastian cleared his throat.

The old butler straightened his posture, his expression quickly changing into one of solemn pride.

Then, in a voice loud enough to carry across the entire banquet hall, he spoke.

"From this night onward..."

"Let it be known throughout the Empire that the Young Master of House Ashbourne possesses Transcendent-Grade Riki potential."

He paused.

His gaze swept across the stunned nobles.

"And that he shall go down in the history of the Empire as a peerless genius."

Celestia gritted her teeth.

The composure she had maintained throughout the evening finally showed a crack.

She swiftly turned around.

"Miranda."

The young lord of House Solis immediately stepped forward.

"Yes, my lady?"

"We’re leaving."

"Of course, my lady."

Miranda briefly glanced back at Arthur.

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, intense and difficult to read.

Then she turned away and followed after Celestia.

Soon after, the golden glow surrounding the testing device gradually subsided.

The brilliance faded until the banquet hall returned to normal.

But the atmosphere had changed completely.

The silence that had previously filled the hall was replaced by an eruption of voices.

"Young Master Arthur, congratulations!"

"Transcendent-Grade Riki potential! Truly extraordinary!"

"House Ashbourne has produced a peerless genius!"

"I knew Young Master Arthur was destined for greatness!"

"With a genius of this caliber, House Ashbourne’s future is assured!"

"Indeed! The House will surely make its way back into the Central Empire’s upper circles!"

"Young Master Arthur, your achievement is truly worthy of celebration!"

One noble after another approached Arthur, their previous skepticism nowhere to be seen.

Some showered him with praise.

Others offered congratulations.

A few were practically falling over themselves trying to flatter him.

"Young Master Arthur, if you ever require anything, please don’t hesitate to ask."

"House Ashbourne’s rise is inevitable now!"

"With your talent, the Empire will surely remember your name for generations!"

"We truly underestimated you, Young Master."

"Please accept my sincerest congratulations."

The same nobles who had been whispering about Arthur’s lack of talent only moments ago were now practically singing his praises.

Some smiled so broadly that their faces nearly hurt.

Others praised his family as though they had always believed House Ashbourne was destined for greatness.

Arthur simply stood there, listening to the endless stream of compliments.

His expression remained calm.

But the faint amusement in his eyes made it clear that he understood exactly what was happening.

Just moments ago, they had been waiting for him to embarrass himself.

Now...

They were practically licking his boots.

And with that, his coming-of-age ceremony finally came to a close, a day Arthur would undoubtedly never forget.