Priscilla stared at Alex, her amber eyes narrowing in disbelief. She had always known he was abnormal—his SS-rank Dark affinity alone was proof of that—but now he was claiming to have awakened another magic affinity? That wasn't just absurd; it was practically impossible.
Alicia, on the other hand, had a triumphant grin stretched across her face. She crossed her arms, nodding in satisfaction. "As expected of my disciple." she said, her tone practically dripping with pride.
Alex shifted uncomfortably under Priscilla's scrutinizing gaze. He had expected suspicion, but Alicia's lack of concern caught him off guard. Keeping his explanation vague was intentional—there was no way he could reveal the truth about his system. That secret was too much to share. Instead, he simply shrugged. "I just did."
Priscilla wasn't buying it. "You just did? That's your explanation?"
"Yeah."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Bullshit."
Alicia let out a laugh. "Oh, relax, Priscilla. This world is full of mysteries. It's not impossible for someone to awaken a second affinity, rare as it may be."
"But not just anyone!" Priscilla shot back, her skepticism unwavering. "It's not just rare—that's unnatural. Even prodigies don't suddenly wake up with an entirely new element affinity overnight."
Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I get that it's weird, but there are too many unexplained things in the world. I don't have a better answer."
Priscilla studied him for a long moment before clicking her tongue in frustration. "Fine. Whatever."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Nearly a month had passed since Alicia had begun teaching Alex her personal swordsmanship style. The training had been intense, grueling, and relentless, yet undeniably transformative. Now, more than two months since becoming her disciple, he had come a long way in an astonishingly short time.
His vacation had ended weeks ago, but he had missed nearly a month's worth of classes—not due to negligence, but because Alicia had outright refused to let him leave until he had mastered the fundamentals of her style. She had been firm, almost unyielding, her reluctance evident in every stern glance and sharp instruction.
"You don't need that academy," she had told him, arms crossed, her icy-blue eyes filled with absolute certainty. "If you stay here, I can teach you everything you need. Whatever they can offer, I can provide better. You can be homeschooled instead."
Alex had politely declined—or rather, he had fought to make her let him go. It hadn't been easy. Alicia wasn't just strong in power but in sheer will. Convincing her of anything once she had set her mind to it was no simple feat.
To others, her offer might have been an irresistible opportunity—training full-time under the legendary Sword Empress, bypassing the need for formal education. But for Alex, it wasn't just about strength. In his previous life, his frail body had forced him into homeschooling, robbing him of a normal school experience.
That sense of normalcy—attending an actual academy, living as a student—was something he refused to give up. It was a part of life he had never fully experienced, and he wasn't going to let it slip away now.
Alicia hadn't been pleased, but she had eventually relented.
"Hmph. If you insist on going back, fine. But don't slack off."
He had no doubt she had pulled some strings to make his leave approval go smoothly. She clearly had connections with the Principal, though he had no idea what their relationship was. Whatever the case, he wasn't about to complain if it made his return easier.
Now, standing in his room, Alex exhaled and pulled up his status window, his gaze scanning the information displayed before him.
----------------------------------------------------
[Status]
[Host: Alex Blanc]
[Title: Territory Boss Exterminator]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 16]
[Rank: B]
[Magic Affinity: Dark(SS), Ice(F)]
[MP: 3800/3800]
[HP: 5000/5000]
[Experience: 19600/125000]
[System Points: 183]
----------------------------------------------------
In just two months, he had progressed further than he ever expected. His swordsmanship had advanced in leaps and bounds, far beyond what he could have achieved alone.
And his magic… well, that was another story altogether. With the awakening of a second affinity, his growing mastery over spells, and his evolving combat skills, he had become significantly stronger.
Alex had grown considerably stronger, but that wasn't the only thing that had changed—he was now officially a B-rank adventurer.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
It had happened just a few days ago when Alicia took him to the Adventurer's Guild. The moment they stepped inside, the once-lively hall fell into immediate silence. Conversations halted, and the bustling crowd instinctively parted, creating a clear path for them. Soft murmurs and hushed gasps rippled through the adventurers like a wave.
He could see the range of emotions painted on their faces—fear, respect, curiosity. But none of it was directed at him. It was all because of Alicia.
Ignoring the stares, Alicia strode forward with her usual carefree yet domineering aura, exuding absolute authority. Walking beside her, Alex felt like he was in the eye of a storm, watching as hardened adventurers barely dared to breathe in her presence.
They headed straight for the VIP room. The receptionist didn't even ask questions—she simply bowed and hurried to escort them inside. Within minutes, the Guild Master arrived, nearly out of breath from rushing.
He was tall and lean yet well-built, dressed in an expensive suit that contrasted sharply with the rugged attire of the adventurers outside. His refined appearance spoke of authority and competence, but the flicker of wariness in his gaze as he looked at Alicia made one thing clear—he wasn't entirely at ease in her presence.
As he moved to take a seat and greet them properly, Alicia cut him off with a casual yet commanding tone. "This is my disciple. He's here for a rank upgrade. Also, add me as his sponsor."
The Guild Master blinked, momentarily stunned, before forcing an awkward smile. He had clearly expected some kind of preamble, but he should have known better. There was no point in arguing—he knew exactly who he was dealing with.
With a silent nod, he called in a staff member to make the necessary arrangements. Normally, adventurer ranks increased step by step, requiring multiple successful quests and thorough evaluations. Exceptions existed, of course—those with overwhelming talent or the right connections could be fast-tracked to D-rank, provided they passed the required assessment.
But B-rank was another matter entirely.
To reach it, an adventurer had to complete a series of high-difficulty quests and undergo a duel against an existing B-rank adventurer. Victory wasn't always necessary, but they had to prove their strength beyond a doubt.
Alicia, of course, had other ideas. Alicia, as an S-rank adventurer, naturally had the privilege to recommend someone for promotion. And when Alicia wanted something done, it got done.
Her "persuasion"—which was really just thinly veiled intimidation—ensured Alex could bypass the usual quest requirements and go straight to the duel. She had no doubt he would win. In fact, if she had her way, she would have pushed for an A-rank promotion on the spot. Unfortunately, even she had limits to what she could bend within the system.
Alex could only shake his head. His master really was too overbearing.
Even so, he didn't complain. If nothing else, he was curious to see just how strong B-rank adventurers were. After weeks of grueling training under Alicia, this duel would be the perfect opportunity to test his progress.
As for his opponent, he was a veteran adventurer. Since Alex was a swordsman, it was only fitting that his challenger was one as well. However, rather than pitting him against a seasoned B-ranker with years of experience, the guild had chosen a newly promoted B-rank adventurer.
At first glance, this might have seemed like a handicap in Alex's favor—but that wasn't necessarily the case. A freshly promoted B-ranker was still leagues above the average adventurer.