Advent of the Three Calamities-Chapter 211 Four Empire Summit [2]

?Kaelion stared at the woman in front of him with a frown.

'Is this a joke...?'

He knew who the woman in front of him was. It wasn't just because her face was extremely easy to remember, but it was also because of the surname she used when greeting him.

'Megrail...'

She was the Empire's princess.

But here lay the problem.

'Black Star...?'

Since when had the Black Star changed?

Kaelion had seen the one meant to the Black Star, and it wasn't her.

It couldn't be that...

"Hah."

He unconsciously let out a small laugh.

It was subtle, but enough to be caught by Aoife and the people standing behind her.

".....Is there a problem?"

Aoife asked with a calm expression.

But the words made the situation even worse as Kaelion found himself covering his mouth in an attempt to hide his smile.

If the situation was really as he thought...

'Funny.'

It was just too funny.

"Ho..."

He was gradually able to calm down, and once he did, he focused his attention back on Aoife.

"I apologize for that, I was just taken aback."

"You were? By what exactly?"

"Yes, I was previously made aware that the Black Star was someone else. Your presence has surprised me a little."

"...Ah, so that's how. That is understandable."

Aoife replied with the same smile from before.

It was hard to read her expression.

But that didn't matter to Kaelion who had already formed an idea of what was happening.

'They sure are ruthless. Downgrading their own Black Star just to give it to her.'

It was merely an assumption, but it seemed to be the most likely of possibilities. The Megrail family was renowned for pulling such stunts.

To them, there was nothing more important than having their own members stand out from the rest.

They needed to be number one in everything.

It was highly likely that she had used some sort of underhanded tactic to pull down the previous Black Star and make herself one.

.....The realization was what had made Kaelion laugh.

Lifting his head to meet the princess's gaze, he opened his mouth to ask,

"What happened to the previous Black Star? Did you manage to def—"

"Fuck, you talk too much. Mind your own fucking business."

A certain voice cut him off.

Taken aback, Kaelion frowned and turned his head in the direction of where the voice came from.

"Ukh, fuck."

Standing a few meters behind Aoife was a girl with platinum long hair and red eyes.

Her appearance was of a similar level to that of Aoife, making her pop out with just a glance. But there was something about her that felt disturbing.

Rubbing her pinky against her ear, she scowled.

Kaelion didn't know much about her.

".....You are?"

"Your mom."

"...."

Kaelion frowned.

Her looks were wasted on her personality.

"Ho..."

But still, he found the situation to be rather amusing. When was the last time someone had talked to him like this?

Yet again, he found his lips pulling up.

"My mom died quite a while back. I don't exactly think you're her."

".....No shit."

Her scowl worsened.

"We look nothing alike. I was just fucking with you. Are you dumb?"

"...."

Kaelion narrowed his yes.

"But you know, I didn't think you'd lack such basic mann—"

"Huam... I'm tired."

"What?"

"What? What? Shut up. Your face bothers me. Go back to your pack and shut up while the adults talk. I want nothing to do with you. Neither does anyone here for a matter of fact."

"...."

Kaelion clenched his teeth, anger finally starting to rise in his body.

"Huh? Still here? Shoo...! Shoo!"

'How cocky.'

To behave like this while barely having any skills...

Kaelion turned his attention back to Aoife who kept her face straight without saying a single word. It was as though she hadn't heard a single thing.

'Isn't even respected by her own peers. How absurd.'

Kaelion secretly shook his head.

...Unlike her, he could keep his group in check.

Right then, he heard Atlas's words.

"Well then, I'm very happy that you have come to visit us. How about we go in?"

"Let's do that."

The conversation between Atlas and the Professor came to an end rather quickly, and they were offered a tour of the Academy.

It was something that his Professor didn't deny and they were escorted in.

Aoife and the rest of the first years didn't follow them in and stayed back at the entrance.

Walking past them, Kaelion looked at them before shaking his head.

'Disappointing.'

Such were his thoughts as he entered the Academy grounds and toured the place.

The entire group.

It was disappointing.

***

Standing by the entrance, Aoife mantained her serious demenour for a few more seconds before letting out a long and tired sigh.

"Haaa..."

Whatever strict, and cold facade she previously put on disappeared as she glared at Kiera.

"What?"

"What do you mean what?"

Aoife pinched the middle of her brows.

"What did I tell you about being on your best behavior? We're supposed to set an example."

"Bleh, didn't you see that fucker was looking at us? You should be happy I didn't beat his ass there and then."

".....As if you could do it."

"Uh? You think I can't?"

"No, you can't."

Aoife knew that person in question all too well.

She had made it her mission to memorize the names of all the notable figures within the other Empires.

The Four Empire Summit was about to start and someone needed to do their research.

Such was her role after becoming the Black Star. 𝐟r𝗲𝚎𝚠e𝐛no𝘃𝗲𝐥.c𝗼m

"He's not someone you can face at your current level."

Kaelion.

He was a five-star prospect.

Prospects were ranked from one to five, with five being the highest.

A five-star prospect was a prospect at the Black-Star level.

They were the prospects with the highest chance of reaching the Monarch Level. Something that the Empire only had seven of.

"Fucking bitch, what?"

Kiera narrowed her eyes.

"You're a four-star prospect while he's a five-star prospect. There's a gap between your abilities and his."

".....That guy? Hell no."

"That's how it works."

"And what's your prospect level?"

"Four and a half."

"Four and a half? How are you ranked higher than me?"

Aoife shrugged.

"I am not the one who gives away the prospect level."

"Nah, this shit is rigged. I'm stronger than you. There's no way this is true."

"Stronger?"

Since when?

"Why do you look so shocked? Of course, I'm stronger than you. The only reason you rank higher is that I don't rank high in the exams."

"And how is that my problem?"

"This system is corrupt."

"No, it isn't. Just study."

"I am, but..."

For the briefest of moments, Kiera paused and her expression changed. But she was quickly able to hide her expression as her expression turned fierce again.

"Whatever, this is rigged."

"It's not."

"Tsk."

Kiera clicked her tongue in annoyance.

It really looked like the two were about to fight, but just when things were about to get serious, they both turned their heads and looked away from each other.

".....Even though this isn't the first time I've seen it, I still struggle to get used to this scene."

Evelyn murmured from the side, watching the entire spectacle unfold.

Leon stood next to her as he casually nodded his head.

"Yes."

He couldn't help but agree.

It was also a bit of a shock for him to see them like this. Had it been the past, the two would've already attacked each other by now.

And yet,

Whatever conflict arose between the two, it'd get resolved rather quickly.

It was strange.

So strange...

'Since when did it start...?'

Leon didn't necessarily have to think much.

He knew all too well when it all started.

'The day when Julien disappeared.'

That was when the change occurred. It wasn't fast, nor was it noticeable.

If before Aoife and Kiera couldn't stand each other, they could tolerate each other now. They still weren't friends, or at least, didn't say they were, but as opposed to the past where they wouldn't even talk with each other, the two had become a lot more vocal with each other.

Sometimes, he'd even see them try to slap each other.

It was weird...

Especially since Evelyn also appeared to have a bone to pick with Kiera.

'But yeah, it all changed since the day he disappeared....'

Nobody knew where he was, and whenever someone brought the question up, the Academy would give the same response.

'He's fine.'

But was he really...?

Leon had tried to get the Evenus family to do something, but they also received a similar response.

Aoife tried the same thing with her family, but even she got the same response.

Even the Megrail family was covering this up?

What sort of situation was this?

It made no sense.

.....It was as though Julien's disappearance was being completely ignored.

The situation truly sunk into their minds when Aoife was nominated as the new Black Star after the second month of his disappearance.

Aoife didn't seem all too happy about the position given that he'd occasionally hear her say things like, 'I wanted to take it not get it gifted it,' or 'I can't believe I have to cancel all my plans for the elections.'

Either way, Leon didn't think there was anyone else more fit for the Black Star than her.

Technically, he was supposed to be the next Black Star, but he didn't want the position and purposely tanked his ranking to third place so that Aoife could receive it.

Seeing how much Aoife was struggling with handling Kiera, Leon thought he had made the right decision.

Without having the need to handle all those problems, he devoted the entire five months of his disappearance to training.

There were times when trouble followed, but he had been able to handle all those problems.

He was now a lot stronger than he was back when he had fought Julien.

A lot stronger.

....To the point where he didn't think he'd lose again.

"Haa...."

Letting out a long breath, Leon raised his head to stare at the sky.

It was devoid of any clouds, and the sun shone brightly.

'I'm a lot stronger now.'

Shielding his eyes with his arm, Leon squinted his eyes.

'.....It won't be so easy to beat me anymore.'

So,

'Hurry up and come back before it's too late.'

***

End of Volume [2]

(No break)