Fantasy Library, Ch 76-80

Chapter 76: An Unforeseen Outcome

"Wole-Zain…?!"

Ayato Amagiri was stunned.

He saw it—the blade of the Wole-Zain had actually developed a crack.

A sword capable of slicing through space itself had been damaged by Ser-Veresta!

"Vrrrm!"

Even the Wole-Zain seemed to be caught off guard by this development. Its blade trembled violently, and the Urm-Manadyte embedded within flickered unpredictably, as if it were shocked and enraged.

"Wh-what's going on?"

"Both are Four-Colored Magic Swords… and yet the Wole-Zain was actually damaged by Ser-Veresta!"

Even the spectators were dumbfounded, and the voices of the commentators in the broadcast room erupted in sheer astonishment.

"How is this possible?"

Behind him, Julis couldn't believe her eyes.

Yet, it was undeniable.

"If we set aside the past, as things stand now, there's no doubt that Ser-Veresta is stronger than the Wole-Zain."

Kaiser watched Ayato's utterly stunned expression, the corner of his lips curling slightly.

After becoming his exclusive weapon, fusing completely with him, Ser-Veresta had long since been strengthened by his Ultimate Authority Over Weapons. As he grew stronger, she evolved alongside him.

In other words, much like Gravisheath before it, Ser-Veresta had undergone a complete transformation.

Perhaps Ser-Veresta hadn't yet surpassed the other Four-Colored Magic Swords by a large margin, but at this moment, she was undoubtedly the strongest among them.

Thus, with Kaiser unleashing his Prana without restraint and pushing Ser-Veresta's power to its peak, it was inevitable that, after such an intense clash, the Wole-Zain would sustain damage.

"In terms of Prana, in terms of physical ability, in terms of swordsmanship, I can’t say for certain that I’m stronger than you."

"But in terms of mastery over Ser-Veresta, in terms of unlocking its potential, you can't possibly surpass me."

"This is my advantage—it's also the moment I've been waiting for."

Kaiser spoke leisurely.

"And now, I've finally seized that moment."

The instant those words left his lips, Kaiser suddenly lunged forward, charging at Ayato.

Ayato snapped back to his senses. He couldn't afford to remain in shock any longer—he hurriedly raised the Wole-Zain.

However—

Just as Kaiser rushed toward him, he abruptly raised Ser-Veresta—and threw it directly at Ayato.

"Whoosh!"

A slicing gust echoed as Ser-Veresta erupted with scorching winds, transforming into a black streak of light propelled by the heat, shooting straight toward Ayato.

This unexpected maneuver caught Ayato completely off guard.

He had to admit—if not for his "Sense", he wouldn’t have reacted in time. He wouldn’t have been able to dodge this sudden attack.

Ayato twisted his body at the last possible moment, narrowly evading the attack as Ser-Veresta grazed past him.

But—

What happened next stunned him yet again.

"Vrrrm!"

As Ser-Veresta swept past him, it suddenly halted in midair.

The blade quivered slightly—then abruptly spun around and slashed at him once more.

"…!"

Ayato’s expression changed—he hastily leaped backward to avoid it.

"Vrrrm! Vrrrm! Vrrrm!"

Again and again, Ser-Veresta emitted an eerie hum, relentlessly attacking Ayato as if it were a living entity.

Ayato was forced to dodge repeatedly.

"It can do that…?!"

Astonished, he voiced his disbelief while evading.

"Ser-Veresta is flying on its own!"

"It's attacking Ayato!"

The commentators were dumbfounded, their voices filled with shock as the audience erupted into gasps and exclamations.

"Ayato! Behind you!"

Just as Ayato dodged another strike, Julis’ urgent warning rang out.

But—

It was too late.

"Got you!"

At some point, Kaiser had maneuvered behind Ayato and suddenly locked down both of his arms—restraining him completely.

"Damn it!"

Ayato panicked. He tried to struggle free, but Kaiser's grip was unshakable.

Kaiser had used every ounce of his strength to keep Ayato immobilized.

"Vrrrm!"

Ser-Veresta flew straight toward Ayato—aiming directly for the school badge on his chest—and slashed down viciously.

"Blossom—Dragon-Biting Scorching Flame Flower!"

At the critical moment, Julis acted desperately.

She struggled to connect with what little Mana was still lingering on the battlefield. Finally, she managed to grasp a faint trace of it—and summoned a fire dragon.

It was small—so small that it barely measured the size of a palm.

This only proved how scarce Mana had become on the battlefield.

However, precisely because of its small size, the fire dragon swiftly flapped its wings and soared through the gradually closing spatial rift in the center of the stage—charging toward Kaiser.

"Boom!"

A moment later, the fire dragon collided with Kaiser and exploded.

Flames engulfed both Kaiser and Ayato, sending them flying in opposite directions.

Thanks to their Prana-enhanced defenses, neither suffered injuries from the blast. However, they were still forced apart, creating some distance between them.

The attack from Ser-Veresta, which had been aimed at Ayato's badge, struck empty air.

"Amagiri Shinmei Style—Secret Transmission…"

As he was launched backward, Ayato twisted his body in midair. Seizing the opportunity, he kicked off the ground—dashing straight at Kaiser.

"Shura Moon!"

In the next instant, a crescent-shaped azure blade arc sliced through the air, tracing a beautiful trajectory.

That strike landed squarely on Kaiser's school badge.

"Crack!"

A crisp shattering sound echoed across the stage.

"—!"

Everyone in the venue gasped—their breaths caught in their throats.

Then, the mechanical announcement followed.

"Kaiser—school badge destroyed."

Kaiser's badge had been cleaved in two—falling to the ground.

However—

"Ayato Amagiri—school badge destroyed."

An identical announcement rang out simultaneously.

Yes.

Ayato’s school badge had also been destroyed.

"…Huh?"

Ayato stood there, completely dumbfounded.

"W-what?"

Julis, too, was utterly lost.

Not just them—even Kirin, the audience, and everyone watching the match exchanged bewildered looks, struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

"This… what just happened?!"

"Kaiser and Ayato's badges… were destroyed at the same time?!"

The commentators shouted in disbelief, their voices filled with confusion.

Only Kaiser, standing before a stunned Ayato, remained unsurprised.

He extended his hand, catching the returning Ser-Veresta.

That scene—drew everyone's attention.

Because—

"It's… so small!"

Gasps spread through the crowd.

The Ser-Veresta in Kaiser’s hand had shrunk—now barely the size of a fruit knife, smaller than even a palm.

At that moment, some quick-witted spectators finally realized what had happened.

The large display above the stage immediately replayed the final exchange in slow motion.

Onscreen, Ayato's Shura Moon slashed toward Kaiser—who had been unarmed.

But behind him—

At that precise moment—

Ser-Veresta had shrunk.

It became as small as a bullet, accelerating through the air with minimal resistance.

Ayato—focused entirely on his attack—had failed to notice the shrunken Ser-Veresta.

And so—both badges were destroyed at the same time.

A double elimination!

An outcome no one had foreseen!

Chapter 77: Award Ceremony, Closing, and Conclusion

With both Kaiser and Ayato Amagiri eliminated simultaneously and exiting the stage, the outcome was now beyond dispute.

From the very start, Kirin Toudou held a slight advantage over Julis, and now, due to Kaiser, the Mana on the battlefield had been completely burned away by Ser-Veresta, effectively sealing Julis' abilities.

Although Mana had gradually begun to replenish itself on the battlefield, allowing Julis to connect and exert some of her power, the overall supply remained scarce, significantly hindering her performance.

Given these conditions, the outcome of the one-on-one duel between Kirin and Julis was all but predetermined.

Thus, the moment the spatial rift on the stage healed enough to no longer obstruct Kirin’s movements, the girl wasted no time and charged straight at Julis.

Julis resisted with everything she had, fighting tenaciously, but the disparity was too obvious. A miracle simply wasn’t going to happen.

"Ding!"

Three minutes later, a loud notification resounded across the Sirius Dome's stage.

"The match is over."

"Winners: Kaiser & Kirin Toudou."

As soon as the final verdict was announced, the entire Sirius Dome erupted.

Applause thundered like a raging storm.

"The battle has been decided!"

"An incredibly intense grand finale has come to a close!"

"And in the end, the victors—the champions of this year's Phoenix Festa—are Seidoukan Academy's very own Kaiser & Kirin Toudou!"

"Let's congratulate them!"

Cheers, applause, whistles, and the voices of the commentators filled the stage, their excitement palpable.

"W-we won!"

On stage, Kirin Toudou, the sole remaining competitor whose school badge remained intact, was overcome with emotion. Her face lit up with joy as she ran straight toward Kaiser, throwing herself into his arms.

"Yeah, we won."

Kaiser wrapped his arms around her, chuckling softly to himself.

The spotlights shone entirely on them, making them the center of attention. Their figures were broadcasted across the world, ensuring that countless people would remember and recognize them.

After more than three months, Kaiser had finally seized one of the most remarkable moments of his life.

At that instant, a formless will descended into Kaiser’s mind, delivering a message he instinctively understood.

【You have reached a pivotal juncture in this fantasy world. Your life experience has reached a preliminary conclusion.】

【The Librarian may now choose to return and conduct this life’s evaluation in the Library.】

The message arrived and faded just as quickly, yet Kaiser’s smile never wavered.

"I'm sorry, Ayato…"

"No, if anyone should apologize, it’s me…"

Elsewhere on the stage, Ayato Amagiri and Julis consoled each other. Though their faces showed signs of regret, there was no resentment.

A loss was a loss—their opponents had won fair and square, without resorting to any underhanded tricks. Though they felt a pang of unwillingness, they had no complaints.

They could accept this result—they just needed some time.

"With that, the champions have been decided! The 24th Phoenix Festa has officially concluded!"

"Thank you to all our viewers for your support. We hope to see you again at the next Festa!"

And with the voices of the two commentators, the Phoenix Festa came to an official close.

The audience’s applause continued for a long time, refusing to fade…

That Afternoon

Time passed swiftly, and before long, the evening was approaching.

Due to the extensive damage sustained by the Sirius Dome’s stage, repairs could not be completed in the short term. As a result, the final award ceremony and closing event for the Phoenix Festa was relocated to a large-scale indoor venue.

The ceremony was attended by the champions and runners-up, as well as high-ranking officials from the Tournament Operations Committee and various city dignitaries. Additionally, the student council presidents of all six academies were present, though the overall number of attendees remained limited, making the large venue more than sufficient.

Of course, despite the restricted attendance, the spectator seats were still packed. The sheer number of people attending far exceeded expectations.

At that moment, Madiath Mesa, the Chairman of the Tournament Operations Committee, stood on stage, delivering his final remarks on this year’s Phoenix Festa. Meanwhile, Kaiser, Kirin Toudou, Ayato Amagiri, and Julis waited to receive their awards.

During this time, Kaiser took a moment to observe the student council presidents from the other academies.

At the forefront stood Claudia Enfield, Seidoukan Academy’s student council president. At this moment, she was undoubtedly the most prominent figure among them.

It was unavoidable—both the champions and runners-up of this year’s Phoenix Festa were from Seidoukan Academy, making it the biggest winner of the tournament. As such, Claudia had naturally become the center of attention.

Standing beside Claudia was Jie Long Seventh Institute’s student council president—a young girl dressed in lavish attire.

Although Jie Long had no representatives in the semifinals, it had the highest number of participants in the Top 32, with nine teams making it that far. One of their teams even advanced to the Top 8, ranking their overall performance second only to Seidoukan.

Thus, Jie Long’s student council president was positioned next to Claudia, staring at Kaiser with an intense gaze—as if she were eyeing a delicious piece of meat.

To the other side, the presidents of Le Wolfe Black Institute, Allekant Academy, Saint Gallardworth Academy, and Queenvale Academy for Girls stood in sequence, ranked based on their schools' overall Festa performance.

Among them:

Le Wolfe’s student council president was naturally Dirk, who stood with arms crossed, not even sparing Kaiser a glance, as if they were complete strangers.

Allekant Academy’s president was a frail-looking young man, who genuinely had no idea who Kaiser was.

Saint Gallardworth Academy’s president actually acknowledged Kaiser, offering him a friendly smile.

Queenvale Academy for Girls’ president surprised Kaiser—when their eyes met, she flashed him a cheerful smile, catching him off guard.

Upon closer inspection, she was a cute, petite girl with vibrant purple hair and striking violet eyes—as radiant as a sunrise.

And when she smiled at him, the audience’s cheers erupted, surpassing even the moment Kaiser was crowned champion. Their excitement was practically visible to the naked eye.

Of course, this was only natural.

Queenvale Academy for Girls was renowned for producing idols, and its student council president was the world’s most dazzling superstar—the most beloved idol of all.

She was Queenvale’s Rank One, the runner-up of the previous Lindwurm Festa, and a world-class songstress known as the "Sigrdrífa."

For some reason, Kaiser felt an odd sense of familiarity when looking at her.

Especially when she smiled at him—the feeling only grew stronger.

"It's her!"

Suddenly, Kaiser’s thoughts clicked.

Back then, when he had gone out with Julis, Kirin, and Ayato to a restaurant popular among Queenvale students, he had encountered a chestnut-haired girl…

Her appearance perfectly matched the world-renowned idol standing before him.

"So that’s how it is…"

At last, Kaiser understood.

At that moment, Madiath Mesa finished his speech.

"Now, let us welcome the champions and runners-up of the 24th Phoenix Festa to the stage."

Stepping forward, Madiath Mesa smiled warmly at them.

"Your match was incredible. I had the privilege of witnessing it firsthand."

"I hope to see you all competing on this stage again in the future. Congratulations."

With that, he presented two trophies—one to the champions and the other to the runners-up.

The Phoenix Festa had officially come to an end.

Chapter 78: A Wish Fulfilled

The scorching summer seemed to have left along with the Phoenix Festa’s conclusion, ushering in a gradual chill across Asterisk.

The long summer break had come to an end. Summer had departed resolutely, and autumn had quietly arrived.

With the Phoenix Festa over, Asterisk’s population had significantly decreased. Tourists left one after another, while students who had gone home for the holidays returned to the city, preparing for the start of a new semester.

Around this time next year, the Gryps Festa, held in autumn, would take place. By then, Asterisk would undoubtedly become just as lively as before.

But that was a year away. It had nothing to do with Kaiser, who had concluded his life experience in this world and was about to leave.

He had already made his preparations—once the new semester began, he would end his time in this world and return to the Fantasy Library.

However, before that, he had one last thing to do.

Asterisk – Central Administrative District

In the heart of Asterisk, within the central administrative district, stood one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city.

This was the Phoenix Festa Operations Headquarters—the Tournament Operations Committee’s main office.

On this day, Kaiser and Kirin Toudou had come here together after receiving an invitation to meet at the top floor of this massive skyscraper.

This was the private office of Madiath Mesa, Chairman of the Tournament Operations Committee.

"Welcome to both of you. Please, have a seat."

Seated on a comfortable couch, Madiath Mesa greeted the two of them with a polite nod, inviting them to sit across from him.

At first glance, the room resembled the Seidoukan Academy student council office, boasting a vast space, an entire glass wall offering a panoramic view of Asterisk, and luxurious furnishings of the highest quality.

The moment Kirin Toudou entered, she visibly tensed up, clearly uneasy in such an intimidating setting.

Kaiser, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. While he wouldn't say he felt at home, he was certainly far from nervous, even when facing a high-ranking executive of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.

"I apologize for keeping you both waiting."

Despite his position, Madiath Mesa showed no arrogance, maintaining his pleasant demeanor as he addressed them.

"I should have arranged for an immediate meeting with the champions of this year's Phoenix Festa, but post-tournament affairs required a great deal of time to sort out. It was only today that I was able to invite you both here. That is our failing, and I sincerely ask for your understanding."

With that, Madiath Mesa bowed his head slightly, offering his apology.

"Pl-please, there's no need for that! I wasn't bothered by it at all…!"

Clearly flustered, Kirin Toudou immediately stood up, stumbling over her words as she waved her hands in a panic.

Because her uncle, Toudou Kouichirou, was an employee of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, she was not completely unfamiliar with its people. However, Madiath Mesa held a position far above her uncle’s, and instinctively, she felt an overwhelming sense of reverence toward him—resulting in excessive nervousness.

"Haha, there's no need to be so tense. Just relax."

Seeing this, Madiath Mesa chuckled, then said:

"I was once a Seidoukan Academy student myself. In fact, you could even consider me your senior. So there’s no need to dwell on my current position—just treat me as a former student of Seidoukan Academy."

This was not a secret.

Not only Kaiser, but even Kirin Toudou had heard about it before.

Madiath Mesa had indeed once been a student of Seidoukan Academy. Like Kaiser and Kirin, he had competed in the Phoenix Festa and had even won, becoming the champion of his time.

After claiming victory, Madiath Mesa had used his champion's wish to secure a position in the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.

His wish had been granted, and through years of effort, he had climbed the ranks to reach his current status.

In a sense, it was a truly inspiring story.

"Come, have a seat. Let’s discuss this slowly."

Madiath Mesa gestured for Kirin to sit back down before getting to the main topic.

"The reason I invited you both here today is to discuss the wishes you wish to have granted as champions."

At these words, Kirin immediately reacted.

It was a long-standing rule—the winners of the Phoenix Festa were entitled to make a wish, which the Integrated Enterprise Foundation would fulfill.

For Kirin, this wish was the entire reason she had entered the Phoenix Festa.

Now that she had finally won, she was eager to see her wish fulfilled.

"I-is there… any problem with my wish?"

Instead of relaxing, Kirin Toudou became even more nervous, gripping her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Seeing this, Kaiser, who had remained silent until now, couldn't help but sigh.

He reached out and took Kirin’s hand.

Kirin immediately clutched his hand back, her grip surprisingly strong, a clear indication of how anxious she was.

"Of course, there is no problem at all."

Madiath Mesa maintained his gentle tone, smiling as he reassured her.

"While the Integrated Enterprise Foundation is not omnipotent, and we cannot grant absurd or impossible wishes, simply freeing your father is a trivial matter."

The champions of the Phoenix Festa could make any wish, but there were limitations.

For example, anything too extreme, too unethical, or too detrimental to society would not be granted. Even in this profit-driven era, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation had to consider the consequences of its actions.

Wishes that violated human rights, endangered society, or posed a serious threat to the foundation's reputation were outright rejected.

However, Kirin’s wish was simply to have her father released from prison—a small request that posed no real challenge to the Integrated Enterprise Foundation.

Thus—

"We've already completed the necessary paperwork. The release process is already in motion. If you’d like, we can even provide top-tier lawyers to reopen the case and have your father officially acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, ensuring he won’t face any societal backlash."

Madiath Mesa spoke casually, as if it were nothing at all, but his words made Kirin’s eyes widen in shock.

And then—

She trembled with emotion.

Finally…

She would see her father again!

"Congratulations, Kirin."

At last, Kaiser spoke, genuinely happy for her.

"Thank you… Thank you, senpai!"

Kirin Toudou struggled to keep her emotions in check.

Her eyes overflowed with gratitude as she gazed at Kaiser.

If not for him, she never could have become Phoenix Festa champion.

Everything had been made possible by him.

It was all thanks to him.

As this realization sank in, Kirin squeezed his hand even tighter.

Had they not been in such a formal setting, with others present, she might have thrown herself into his arms.

Since winning the Phoenix Festa, the distance between them had completely vanished.

Recently, she had unconsciously started to act even more affectionate toward him, to the point where Kaiser often felt overwhelmed.

If not for the age difference, and the fact that he was technically a full cycle older than her, he might have already made a mistake by now.

"And as for your wish, Kaiser…"

Madiath Mesa, pretending not to notice the subtle exchange between the two, turned to Kaiser with a smile.

"Your request was also approved. Everything you asked for has been delivered."

Saying this, Madiath Mesa reached for a box beside him.

It looked like a secure case, akin to a briefcase or a safe.

"This box has your biometric data registered. As long as you authenticate with your Seidoukan Academy school badge, you’ll be able to unlock it."

He pushed the box toward Kaiser.

"We’ve provided the maximum quantity we could allocate. Any more would disrupt ongoing research and development. I hope you understand."

However—

Kaiser ignored that last part.

His eyes were locked onto the box, filled with undeniable anticipation.

Chapter 79: Never to Be Forgotten

Five minutes later, Kaiser and Kirin Toudou left the Tournament Operations Committee Headquarters together.

However, the two did not return to Seidoukan Academy together.

Kirin planned to take some time off and return home for a while.

Naturally, this was for her father’s sake.

“I… no matter what, I want to see my father as soon as possible.”

This was what Kirin told Kaiser.

Madiath Mesa had also informed her that if she wanted to personally oversee her father’s case, the Tournament Operations Committee would handle her academic affairs, ensuring that she faced no obstacles in her studies or any other obligations.

This was considered a complimentary service attached to the champion’s wish—a small matter, hardly worth mentioning.

Thus, Kirin had already made up her mind to leave Asterisk for a while. She planned to return to the Toudou-ryu main family and discuss everything with its current head—her grandmother.

Although she felt a tinge of reluctance, there was no helping it.

Kirin had waited far too long for this day. She couldn’t just sit around in Asterisk, waiting idly for news of her father.

Kaiser, of course, supported and understood her decision.

“Just focus on what you need to do. I have some things to take care of as well.”

He patted Kirin’s shoulder reassuringly, and she nodded firmly.

“Um… when I come back, I’ll come find you right away. Please… wait for me.”

Her voice was soft, tinged with reluctance as she gazed at Kaiser.

“Alright.” Kaiser smiled. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

It was a kind lie.

By then, Kaiser would have already returned to the Fantasy Library. He wouldn’t be at Seidoukan Academy when Kirin returned.

But this lie would never be exposed.

Because once Kaiser left this fantasy world, its timeline would freeze.

Without a real person experiencing life here, this fantasy world would remain just that—a fantasy. Even though Kaiser had completed an entire life experience here, it was only a preliminary completion. The world had not yet become a fully independent reality.

Thus, when Kaiser left, the world would enter a state of suspension. It would only resume its course once he returned or when the world fully materialized into reality.

In other words, even if Kaiser left for the Fantasy Library, it wouldn’t affect this world at all.

When he eventually returned, time would pick up from the exact moment he left.

No one would realize that he had ever been gone.

And when Kirin came back, she would still find him in Seidoukan Academy, as if he had always been waiting for her.

For this reason, though Kaiser’s words were a lie, they would never be exposed, nor would they cause any harm.

Unaware of this, Kirin stared at Kaiser’s smile, then after a moment—

She hugged him tightly.

“I will never forget everything you’ve done for me, Senpai.”

Leaving behind those heartfelt words, Kirin Toudou finally departed, setting off on her journey home.

Kaiser watched her figure until it disappeared completely.

Then, he whispered to himself—

“Safe travels.”

Asterisk – Seidoukan Academy

After parting ways with Kirin, Kaiser made his way back to Seidoukan Academy alone, heading toward his dormitory.

“Kaiser-senpai—!”

“Kaiser-senpai, look this way!”

“P-please give me your autograph, Kaiser!”

“I’m your biggest fan!”

“Please shake my hand!”

From outside the academy gates to inside the campus, he was constantly surrounded by people, all of whom looked at him with adoration, their eyes brimming with reverence and enthusiasm.

To them, Kaiser wasn’t just a fellow student—he was an idol.

After winning the Phoenix Festa, becoming this year’s champion, Kaiser’s fame had skyrocketed worldwide, earning him a massive fanbase and unparalleled popularity.

He might not have reached the global influence of the Sylvia, but at the very least, he was now a world-class competitive star, comparable to modern-day football legends.

At this point, several fan sites dedicated to him had already appeared online. His supporters had formed organized groups, constantly cheering for him, tracking his latest updates, and even causing his autographed photos to be auctioned for exorbitant prices, enticing merchants from all over.

Since the end of the Phoenix Festa, Kaiser had received countless business offers—

Some companies wanted him to endorse their products.

Others wanted him to star in advertisements.

And some—rather absurdly—even proposed releasing a photobook of him.

“…If I had this level of popularity back in the real world, I wouldn’t have needed a part-time job at the bookstore.”

Kaiser found himself sighing for the umpteenth time at the sheer irony of it all.

But that was irrelevant now.

He was no longer that ordinary university graduate struggling to make ends meet.

As a Librarian of the Fantasy Library, no amount of wealth in this world had any real use for him.

Besides—he wasn’t short on money.

Not only had Seidoukan Academy rewarded him handsomely for his victory, but Asterisk’s municipal government had also given him a hefty bonus.

For a mere student, the sum was astronomical—enough to stun any ordinary family.

Thus, Kaiser rejected all the business offers.

For the record, Kirin Toudou also turned down every offer, especially those wanting her to do photobooks—all of them were immediately blacklisted.

Now that Kirin had left, Kaiser was the only one left in the academy, making him the sole target of attention.

As a result, he couldn’t take a single step without being mobbed by students, forcing him to take three times longer than usual just to reach his dorm.

“Yeah… I definitely need some kind of disguise when I go outside.”

Collapsing onto his sofa, Kaiser let out a long sigh.

Now, he fully understood why the Sylvia had disguised herself as a chestnut-haired girl when she visited the restaurant.

With her level of fame, if she walked around undisguised, she’d probably cause a city-wide commotion.

“Still, at least today’s trip wasn’t a waste.”

He lifted the box he had been holding all this time, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

Without any further hesitation, he placed the box onto the coffee table, then removed the school badge from his chest and brought it closer.

“Beep!”

The moment the badge approached, a red light flashed, followed by a soft electronic chime.

“Click…”

In the next second, the box unlocked automatically.

Its mechanical components shifted, smoothly disassembling and unfolding, revealing its contents to Kaiser’s eager gaze.

Inside, rows of neatly arranged compartments held variously colored crystals, each one shimmering like gemstones.

Had anyone else witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly stunned.

Because—

Each of these crystals was a high-purity Manadyte—an Urm-Manadyte.

Yes!

The entire box was filled with Urm-Manadytes!

Though they resembled ordinary Manadytes in appearance, their colors were vastly different—ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, silver, and more. Each crystal pulsed with immense Mana, causing the air itself to tremble faintly in response.

“No wonder they say the Integrated Enterprise Foundation is filthy rich… They really gave me this much in one go?”

Kaiser couldn’t stop grinning.

His wish had been simple—

To acquire as many Urm-Manadytes as possible.

And in response, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation had granted him an entire stockpile—far more than he had expected.

He had assumed that, given the rarity of Urm-Manadytes, there would be a strict limit on how many they could spare.

But now…

“Well then, no point in waiting—”

Picking up one of the Urm-Manadytes, Kaiser’s eyes gleamed.

“It’s been a while… but let’s absorb some energy again.”

Chapter 80: It’s Time to Leave

"Ser-Veresta."

Holding an Urm-Manadyte in one hand and the black Activator in the other, Kaiser couldn't suppress his anticipation as he called out.

"Vrrrm!"

A red glow immediately burst forth from the Urm-Manadyte embedded in Ser-Veresta's Activator.

The red light extended, reaching toward the Urm-Manadyte in Kaiser’s hand, attempting to consume it.

As long as Ser-Veresta’s glow could completely envelop the Urm-Manadyte, it could burn through its structure, break it down into pure Mana, and feed it directly to Kaiser.

It was precisely because of this ability that Ser-Veresta could assist in Kaiser's growth in such a unique way.

To this day, no other Orga Lux had demonstrated such a capability—at least, none had ever been recorded.

However, this time, the situation was different from when Ser-Veresta had previously helped Kaiser absorb Manadytes.

"Vrrrm—"

As Ser-Veresta’s glow spread across the Urm-Manadyte, attempting to break it down, the crystal suddenly shuddered violently, as if sensing imminent danger.

It was resisting.

It was rejecting Ser-Veresta's power, actively pushing it away.

The biggest difference between an Urm-Manadyte and a regular Manadyte was its will.

Sensing threat, the Urm-Manadyte instinctively fought back, unwilling to be burned and broken down like ordinary Manadytes.

Seeing this, Kaiser raised an eyebrow—then, with a calm voice, he spoke.

"Behave."

The moment his words fell, golden markings flashed across the hand holding the Urm-Manadyte.

"——"

Instantly, the Urm-Manadyte ceased all resistance, as though it had recognized an absolute authority it dared not defy.

Ser-Veresta's power immediately surged through it, breaking its structure apart, dissolving it, and extracting its Mana.

A massive surge of Mana flowed from the Urm-Manadyte, guided by Ser-Veresta, and poured directly into Kaiser’s body.

His already enhanced physique, strengthened from previous Manadyte absorptions, once again thrummed with power. As a new wave of Mana infused his being, his Prana reserves surged to greater heights.

"Good."

Kaiser’s eyes lit up as he quietly assessed himself.

There was no denying it—Urm-Manadytes contained an incredible amount of Mana.

Not only was the quantity overwhelming, but its quality was on an entirely different level.

As a high-purity Mana crystal, absorbing a single Urm-Manadyte granted far greater improvements than absorbing an entire mountain of standard Manadytes.

While regular Manadytes, when gathered in large quantities, might match an Urm-Manadyte’s total Mana output, their low purity made them far less efficient.

Once a cultivator reached a certain threshold, absorbing standard Manadytes ceased to provide any meaningful benefit.

But Urm-Manadytes were different.

Their high purity and superior quality allowed for direct and immediate enhancements to both the body and Prana reserves, making their impact far more significant than ordinary Manadytes.

By the time the Urm-Manadyte in Kaiser’s hand had faded into a dull, lifeless hue, its Mana almost completely drained, he realized that the improvement he had just gained surpassed multiple previous absorptions combined.

The sensation was intoxicating.

Only when he saw the Urm-Manadyte nearing total depletion did he finally pull himself out of this state of immersion.

"That’s enough, Ser-Veresta."

At Kaiser’s command, Ser-Veresta immediately retracted its glow.

Holding the now-dim Urm-Manadyte, Kaiser spoke softly.

"I won’t be too ruthless. I’ll leave you just enough energy to barely sustain yourself."

"This way, though you’ll be weak for a long time, with time, you’ll gradually recover."

"How about it? Acceptable?"

The Urm-Manadyte, now devoid of almost all its Mana, lacked the strength to respond.

However, a faint wave of gratitude emanated from it—an emotion of thankfulness for Kaiser’s mercy.

For a brief moment, Kaiser felt a strange sense of guilt.

He had robbed these crystals of their strength, leaving them feeble and drained—yet they still thanked him for his mercy.

Wasn’t this exactly how a villain operated?

But there was no helping it.

He needed strength.

He had to immerse himself in these fantasy worlds, growing stronger with each experience.

Until he reached true power, he had no right to indulge in useless sentiments.

"Next one."

Setting aside the drained Urm-Manadyte, Kaiser reached for another and resumed the process.

He repeated this cycle three times.

After the third absorption, Kaiser once again felt his strength surge beyond his control.

His body and Prana flow had become more powerful than he could fully command, making it harder to regulate his abilities.

"I’ll need some time to adapt."

Just as he had done in the past, the moment he felt his growth exceed his control, Kaiser immediately halted the absorption.

"I’ll finish absorbing all of these before returning to the Fantasy Library."

Adjusting his plans accordingly, Kaiser decided to use Gravisheath’s ability to train in a high-gravity environment—accelerating his adaptation process.

This would allow him to fully control his newfound power in the shortest time possible.

Without hesitation, Kaiser summoned Gravisheath's Activator and activated it—

For the next week, Kaiser remained inside his room, using Gravisheath to generate a high-gravity field, training relentlessly to adjust to his increased strength.

By the end of the week, he had completely absorbed all the Urm-Manadytes in his possession.

Of course, he had left behind just enough energy in each Urm-Manadyte to prevent them from shattering entirely.

With that done, he entrusted the remaining Urm-Manadytes to Claudia Enfield, asking her to handle their placement.

"It's time to leave."

Standing in the top floor dormitory room, Kaiser took one last look around.

After a brief silence, he closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to disperse.

....

Fantasy Library

The Fantasy Library remained exactly as it was when Kaiser had left.

By the fountain in the lounge area, a floating book bearing the title "The Asterisk War" drifted weightlessly in midair, suspended in a zero-gravity state.

"Zing—"

At that moment, the floating book suddenly emitted a brilliant light, forming the silhouette of a human figure within the Library.

The silhouette grew more defined—until it finally solidified into Kaiser’s form.

"…That was fast."

Kaiser opened his eyes, a trace of dazed confusion still lingering on his face.

But before he could fully process his return, the Library’s will descended upon him.

【Librarian detected—initiating experience evaluation.】

【Assessing the depth and authenticity of this life experience…】

【Evaluation complete.】

【Commencing reward distribution…】

As these thoughts entered Kaiser’s mind, an invisible force surged throughout the Library.

"Zing!" "Zing!" "Zing!" "Zing!"…

One by one, bookshelves began to glow, their light intensifying.

Then—

A particular book released an unparalleled radiance, summoning forth a weapon from its pages.

"That’s—"

Kaiser froze, his gaze locking onto the weapon.

It was a spear—

A long, ornate spear, easily over two meters in length, towering over even Kaiser himself.

Its shaft was deep blue, adorned with golden spirals, leading to an exquisitely crafted spearhead glowing with a holy light.

The tip of the spear formed a cross-shaped pattern, exuding a presence so divine that it commanded reverence.

This spear, radiating an aura of absolute sanctity, drifted into Kaiser’s hands.

And the moment he grasped it, his authority activated, revealing its true identity.

True Longinus—the legendary weapon that slew the Son of God, containing the remnants of a divine will, imbued with sacred power, the strongest Divine Annihilation Armament.