Chapter 1: "The Librarian"
"Mm..."
A faint murmur echoed through the silent space.
Kaiser felt as though he had returned to the womb, his entire being immersed in warm water, enveloped in a sense of tranquility and comfort.
Just as he was about to surrender himself to this blissful sensation and drift into a deep, dreamless slumber, a sudden thought—no, an intent—descended upon him.
[A suitable individual has been selected and successfully integrated into the Library.]
[You have become the Librarian of the Library.]
It was an intent of absolute purity.
Like a voice resonating directly within his mind, it emerged without warning, yanking Kaiser out of his unconscious state.
"Splash!"
As he instinctively sat up, the sound of water sloshing rippled around him.
Only then did Kaiser realize—he really was submerged in water.
Yet, oddly enough, though he was sitting in the water, his clothes remained completely dry. His hair and body, too, were untouched by moisture, as if the water itself refused to cling to him.
"What... What is this?"
He stared blankly, utterly bewildered.
The sound of water continued to echo, crisp and clear in his ears, forcing him to momentarily set aside his confusion and take in his surroundings.
And what he saw left him utterly captivated.
A vast, circular space unfolded before his eyes.
The chamber spanned at least several hundred meters in diameter, with a height just as impressive. Yet, despite its enormity, it did not feel empty. Instead, it exuded a sense of perfect harmony.
This was largely due to the countless bookshelves arranged in a meticulous, deliberate fashion throughout the space.
Some bookshelves stood firmly on the ground, while others extended upward, stacked along the cylindrical walls. Each shelf was neatly packed with books, emanating an aura of mystery, tranquility, and boundless knowledge.
Deep crimson carpets covered the floor, while corridors stretched along the walls and into the open air. The ceiling was absent, revealing a breathtaking starry sky beyond—a vast expanse where twinkling stars shimmered, casting a dreamlike glow upon the library.
At the very heart of this magnificent space stood Kaiser, within a slightly sunken area encircled by wooden railings.
This central space had been designed as a leisure zone, complete with a large fountain, a pavilion, and even a soft grass lawn. A vine-woven hammock swayed gently, reminiscent of something straight out of a fairy tale.
Kaiser himself was submerged in the crystal-clear water of the fountain. Water continuously spouted from the center, cascading over him, yet still, he remained inexplicably dry—as if everything around him were merely an illusion.
"Where... am I?"
Mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the scene for what felt like an eternity, Kaiser finally snapped back to reality and voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.
And then—
"Hum—"
The intent from before descended upon him once more.
Kaiser felt himself enveloped in an unseen force, his eyes shutting involuntarily.
Minutes passed.
When he opened them again, the confusion was gone.
In its place was understanding.
"The Fantasy Library... So this is where I've arrived?"
A realm forged from humanity's collective dreams of other worlds—its curiosity, longing, admiration, regrets, and wistfulness, all condensed into an existence beyond reality.
It did not belong to any one place, yet it connected reality and imagination.
Every book within these shelves was an entire world born from someone's imagination.
Every page was a fragment of a life envisioned by another.
The Fantasy Library gathered these lives and dreams, preserving them in written form, transforming ephemeral fantasies into tangible realities, crafting an infinite array of worlds and dimensions.
However, there was a problem.
"If fantasy is to become real, it requires someone to live through it."
"The lives created by others' imaginations are ultimately hollow. Without real people to experience them, they will remain mere fantasies—forever intangible, never truly existing."
"And so, from the moment the Fantasy Library took form, it was destined to require an Librarian—someone to step into these imagined lives and traverse these imagined worlds."
And thus, Kaiser had been chosen.
He was now the first Librarian of the Fantasy Library.
"…Does this count as me finding my true profession?"
Before coming here, Kaiser had simply been a bookstore clerk.
His life had been anything but ideal. His parents divorced when he was young, leaving his grandparents to raise him with great effort. When he finally entered university and gained independence, his grandparents passed away peacefully, having fulfilled their duty.
His parents had long since built new families of their own. No matter which side he went to, he never truly belonged—always the unwanted one, the outsider.
So he chose to support himself through part-time work, earning a degree that was neither outstanding nor useless, and became one of countless fresh graduates who stepped into the world, only to find themselves unemployed.
Eventually, he took a job at a bookstore. It was the first time in a long while that he felt a semblance of stability.
Kaiser remembered that just last night, he had been organizing the store's newly arrived books. By the time he finished, it was late, so he had simply curled up in the storeroom and fallen asleep.
Who would have thought that upon waking, he would find himself here, chosen as the Librarian of the Fantasy Library?
"Well… so be it."
Stepping out of the fountain, still as dry as before, Kaiser gazed up at the open sky, his eyes reflecting the starlight above.
"If reality is unsatisfactory, then I'll leave it behind."
"From today onward, I am the Librarian of the Fantasy Library."
"Traveling through countless fantasy worlds, living through real experiences… Sounds like it could be interesting."
Years of fending for himself had granted Kaiser a decent level of adaptability and acceptance.
And so, he quickly adjusted to his new reality, already contemplating his next steps.
"Hum—"
At that moment, the unseen force descended for the third time.
Now that he had absorbed a portion of the Library's knowledge, Kaiser understood—this force was, in fact, the will of the Fantasy Library itself.
The Fantasy Library possessed no consciousness, no emotions. It functioned purely as a system, descending only when its Librarian required guidance, imparting knowledge as needed.
It did not "speak" in the conventional sense, nor did it transmit words or images. Instead, its essence flowed into Kaiser, translating itself into a form his mind could comprehend.
And now, once more—
[You have become the Librarian of the Fantasy Library.]
[As the Librarian, you are entitled to a gift from the Library—a power that best aligns with your very being.]
[Upon completing a life experience, the Library will reward you based on the depth of that experience and the degree of reality within the world you traverse, in accordance with the power granted to you.]
[Initiating the gift…]
In an instant, the entire Fantasy Library began to change.
Soft luminescence radiated from the ground, countless books on the shelves glowing in various intensities. Even the vast celestial expanse above sparkled brilliantly, stars blazing with renewed splendor.
Bathed in this radiance, Kaiser felt something within him expand.
A moment later, that expansion burst forth from his body—manifesting as a single page that floated into the air.
"This is…?"
Kaiser stared at it, dumbfounded.
The page hovered before him, absorbing the luminous energy of the Library, then suddenly ignited.
As it burned away, intricate golden patterns formed in the air.
The gilded lines intertwined, connecting, converging—until they constructed a complex, enigmatic geometric symbol.
The symbol then shot toward Kaiser, merging into his very being.
And in that instant—
He instinctively knew.
He understood exactly what power he had just received.
Chapter 2: "Authority"
What had taken root within Kaiser—what had sprouted after absorbing the power of the Fantasy Library—was, in essence, an Authority.
This Authority was both a symbol and an embodiment of supreme power.
Its effect was singularly focused on the concept of "Armament." Any form of equipment that could affect its wielder fell under its domain, including but not limited to weapons, armor, and artifacts.
Whenever Kaiser came into contact with such items, he would have the option to invoke his Authority and manipulate them in ways yet to be discovered.
Exactly how he could do so was something he would have to figure out on his own.
But one thing was certain—he had obtained an ultimate dominion over Armament, a power so absolute that it could even surpass the authority of gods!
"...I feel like I've just gained something ridiculously overpowered."
Watching the golden markings fully integrate into his body, that was the only thought left in Kaiser's mind.
Unfortunately, without possessing a powerful weapon, this ability was little more than a decorative title.
In short, for now, Kaiser was still an ordinary person.
But that… was about to change.
Rather than dwelling on his newfound power, Kaiser turned his attention to the towering bookshelves around him.
"Are these books really manifestations of entire fantasy worlds?"
Although the Fantasy Library had already imparted the basic knowledge to him, curiosity still stirred within him.
With that thought, he made his way toward a corner of the leisure area, stepping onto a staircase that wound along the walls. After circling a small section of the Library, he finally arrived at the archives.
Without wandering too far, Kaiser approached the nearest bookshelf and pulled out a book at random.
The moment he did, the Library's silent intent surfaced once more.
[By opening a book, you will enter the fantasy world recorded within its pages and undergo a randomly assigned life experience.]
[Please note: Until the assigned life experience reaches its designated endpoint, the Librarian cannot return to the Library.]
[If the Librarian dies within the fantasy world and revival is deemed impossible, the Library will revoke their status and select a new Librarian.]
Kaiser's fingers froze just before flipping the book open. His brows furrowed.
"So… if I die, I really die?"
After a moment of contemplation, his expression eased.
"That makes sense. The Fantasy Library exists to transform fantasy into reality. The moment I, a real person, step into those worlds and experience them, that process begins to take shape."
"If it's becoming real… then of course, death is real too."
Perhaps, before he set foot in them, those worlds were merely fantasies.
But the moment he entered them, his experiences would give them reality.
Which meant—
"Let's just get started."
Without further hesitation, Kaiser flipped open the book in his hands.
"Whoosh—"
Immediately, the book's pages began to turn on their own.
One after another, they lifted from the book, detaching completely, and began to flutter around him as though they had a will of their own.
"This… this many?"
Kaiser was stunned.
According to the Fantasy Library's rules, every single page in these books represented a different imagined life experience.
Much like writing a novel, some stories were built around protagonists who were exceptional from the start—blessed with noble bloodlines, powerful backers, or overwhelming abilities.
Others, however, depicted protagonists who began as ordinary people, struggling before they eventually rose to prominence.
When the Fantasy Library collected these imagined lives, it automatically filtered out the most illogical or broken settings, only keeping those that could exist within reason.
Even so, not all lives were created equal.
Some began at the peak, while others started at rock bottom—meaning that the experience could either be a dream come true or an absolute nightmare.
And now, as part of his first entry into a fantasy world, Kaiser had to randomly draw one life experience from these pages.
Once the selection was made, the remaining pages would vanish. Even if he reentered this world in the future, he would always follow the same path he was about to choose now.
After all, once he completed a life experience in a fantasy world, that world would become real.
At this moment, he was undergoing the process of choosing his role in this world.
If he was lucky, he would be the protagonist.
If he was unlucky… well, then he'd have to struggle to survive.
And worst of all—he had no control over this selection process.
Even as the pages swirled around him, Kaiser could only stand there and watch.
Time passed.
The number of pages dwindled, one after another.
Until finally—
Only one remained.
"Clang!"
At that moment, the book in his hands emitted a radiant glow.
Within that glow, a title appeared on the cover, as if an invisible pen had just written it into existence.
"The Asterisk War"
"...This world?"
Kaiser's expression flickered in shock.
"Shff!"
Suddenly, the last remaining page transformed into a streak of light and shot straight into his mind.
At the same time, the book in his hands lifted from his grip, opening once more in front of him.
Its pages remained intact, but now, they were all blank.
Because the one who would write the story… had yet to step inside.
As if guided by an unseen force, Kaiser reached out and touched the book.
The next second—
He vanished.
The only thing left behind was the book, hovering in midair, gently rising and falling as though breathing.
—
"————"
Kaiser's consciousness shifted.
He felt himself severed from solid ground, yet he was not floating.
Everything in his vision had been washed in white, devoid of any color.
The space around him wavered, like a film scene transitioning at a thousand times slower speed, gradually replacing the image of the mysterious Library with something else.
Then, as the white faded, the wavering ceased.
And his feet touched solid ground once more.
It was only then that Kaiser realized—
He was in a classroom.
A multipurpose classroom, to be precise.
There were only a few dozen desks, spaced apart from one another, each occupied by a student.
All of them wore school uniforms, giving Kaiser a strong sense of déjà vu—like he had just returned to his high school days.
At the front of the classroom stood a teacher, delivering a lecture. Behind him, a projected window displayed a catastrophic scene.
"This is the Invertia—an unprecedented disaster that changed the world."
The teacher's monotonous voice droned on.
"It struck the earth in the 20th century, bringing unparalleled devastation."
"For three days and nights, meteor showers rained down across the globe, obliterating countless cities."
"Nations crumbled. The world order was completely reshaped. If not for the rise of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, civilization as we know it may never have recovered."
The teacher's delivery was uninspired, causing most students to nod off in boredom.
"Furthermore, it was through the Invertia that humanity discovered an unknown element—Mana."
"This discovery not only revolutionized science and technology but also led to the emergence of a new kind of human—Genestella."
"And that is exactly what all of you are."
Most of the students remained completely uninterested, barely paying attention.
But Kaiser—seated near the corner—was gripping his hand tightly.
He slowly lowered his gaze and looked at his palm.
Within it, stardust flickered.
Tiny specks of light, like the cosmos itself, danced across his skin.
As he felt an entirely new power coursing through his veins, he understood.
At this very moment, he had truly become what the teacher was describing.
A Genestella.
Chapter 3: "Genestella"
"Ding-dong—"
The pleasant chime of the school bell echoed through the modern, open-style high-rise buildings, filling the campus with the lively hum of students.
One by one, uniform-clad students streamed out of the school buildings. Some chatted and laughed with friends, while others hurried off, their energetic figures weaving through the walkways.
Kaiser blended into the crowd seamlessly, indistinguishable from any other student.
That was because, at this moment, he truly was a student of this academy—dressed in the same uniform and appearing years younger than before.
Now, Kaiser looked like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old high schooler, his youthful body striding through the lush, green pathways with a vigor he hadn't felt in years.
"...Didn't expect to get this kind of perk from entering a fantasy world."
Kaiser found it amusing, running a hand over his face. His skin was smooth, full of collagen, completely free of the slightest blemish or oiliness.
As he marveled at the changes, he took a moment to sort through his situation.
"There's no doubt about it—I'm in Asterisk now."
Asterisk—more formally known as the Hexahedron.
A massive artificial floating city, built atop an enormous impact crater lake, its shape was a perfect hexagon, true to its name.
Its official title was Rikka, and it had been constructed by the Integrated Enterprise Foundation for one singular purpose—dueling.
Of course, dueling here wasn't about playing cards like a certain Duel Monsters world. These were real, weaponized combat tournaments, fought with actual weapons in high-intensity battles.
In this world, the ultimate tournament—the Festa—was a globally renowned combat spectacle, with the largest fanbase in the world. It was not just a sport but an event that profoundly influenced the global economy.
Asterisk existed as the stage for the Festa, and also as the primary training ground for its competitors.
According to the Festa's regulations, only Genestella between the ages of 13 and 22 were eligible to participate.
And since all eligible competitors fell within that age range, nearly all of them were students.
Thus, within this artificial city, six elite academies had been established to train these future champions. Each academy had middle school, high school, and university divisions, covering all Genestella between 13 and 22 years old.
"And the academy I'm in right now is Seidoukan Academy."
Seidoukan was not only one of the six major academies, but also the central stage where the main characters of The Asterisk War were active.
According to the life experience he had drawn, Kaiser was now a first-year student in Seidoukan's high school division.
His reason for coming to Asterisk?
To compete in the Festa.
Nothing special about that.
After all, seven or eight out of every ten students in Asterisk had the same goal.
The remaining two or three? They had their own unique reasons for being here.
Kaiser was simply one of the many who wanted to compete—nothing remarkable at all.
"Looks like I didn't get a protagonist-tier background."
Kaiser thought this with mild amusement.
According to his assigned role, his strength was only average within Seidoukan Academy.
Not weak enough to be bottom-tier, but also nowhere near the level of a Festa-worthy elite.
Completely mediocre.
But honestly—that was fine by him.
"Jumping straight to the top would be nice and all, but that wouldn't be very realistic."
As he walked, Kaiser arrived at a quiet corner of the courtyard.
The area was sparsely populated, with a small pavilion standing amidst a grassy field and flower beds.
Aside from the occasional silhouette of students passing in the distance, the place was almost deserted.
Stepping into the pavilion, Kaiser stretched his body lightly.
"Hmm… my physical capabilities really are much stronger now."
He could feel it—his body wasn't just younger.
It was faster, stronger, sharper.
"With just this level of physique, I could easily break multiple world records back in the real world… but here, I'm just average?"
He couldn't help but sigh.
"So this is what it means to be Genestella?"
As the teacher had explained in class, following the Invertia disaster in the 20th century, humanity had discovered Mana—a previously unknown element from the meteor fragments.
This discovery propelled technological advancements and gave rise to a new breed of humans—Genestella.
Enhanced by Mana, Genestella possessed physical abilities vastly superior to normal humans, along with access to a unique energy called Prana.
Prana not only boosted their attack and defense, but also provided a significant increase in durability, making them far more resilient than ordinary people.
Ever since arriving in this world, Kaiser could constantly feel this energy flowing within him.
Just like he had in the classroom earlier, he now consciously activated this power.
"Zing—"
Like dancing stardust, shimmering streams of light enveloped his entire body.
Watching the radiant spectacle around him, Kaiser clenched his fist, feeling the change firsthand.
"If I took a bullet right now, I'd probably only feel a slight impact—not even a scratch."
And this was only the strength of an average Seidoukan student?
The truly powerful Genestella must be on an entirely different level.
For Kaiser, this was already a satisfying gift.
"Too bad this kind of perk only happens once."
This ability boost was a one-time benefit, granted only during his first-ever life experience.
A hidden "starter bonus", so to speak.
But this wouldn't happen again for future experiences.
"If I had drawn a life with an overpowered protagonist, wouldn't I be unstoppable right now?"
Thinking about it, Kaiser doubted it would have been that easy.
After all, if the Fantasy Library truly sought to make these worlds real, it wouldn't allow anything too unbalanced to exist.
His guess?
Even though the selection process was random, it was still influenced by the Librarian's own abilities.
If a Librarian was already insanely strong, then they'd have a higher chance of landing an overpowered role.
Conversely, if they were weaker, they'd be more likely to get a humble, even tragic start.
"And with the strength I have now… making this experience 'exciting' is going to be a challenge."
Kaiser fell into thought.
The Fantasy Library had made one thing clear:
At the end of a life experience, the Librarian's rewards are based on how 'exciting' their journey was.
In other words—if Kaiser wanted to maximize his rewards, he needed to make this as thrilling as possible.
And what could be more thrilling than competing in the Festa, facing off against the strongest fighters in Asterisk?
But with his current abilities, he'd probably be eliminated in the first round.
"Looks like I'll have to get stronger first."
But how?
Kaiser barely had to think about it—he already knew the answer.
"I need a weapon."
"Something powerful enough… to make me powerful."
Right now, everything about him was mediocre—except for one thing.
Deep within him lay an Authority—an ultimate dominion over all Armament.
A power that could manipulate weapons, armor, and artifacts.
Which meant…
"If I want to get stronger quickly, my best bet is to find a powerful weapon."
And he already had an idea where to start.
But first—he needed to test his ability.
His gaze shifted to his waist.
Attached to his belt was a cloth holster.
Reaching down, Kaiser retrieved a small device from it.
A metallic hilt, embedded with a green gemstone, shaped almost like a sword handle.
"...So this is an Activator?"
Examining it curiously, Kaiser's thoughts stirred.
"Zing!"
In an instant, a long, glowing blade extended from the hilt in his hand.
Chapter 4: The True Power of Authority
"Orga Lux…"
Kaiser's gaze trembled slightly as he looked at the glowing blade in his hand.
In this world, traditional cold weapons and firearms had long since been rendered obsolete.
The meteors from the Invertia had brought with them an unknown element—Mana. But beyond transforming humanity and giving birth to Genestella, Mana had also crystallized naturally into a rare mineral known as Manadyte.
This mineral had revolutionized countless scientific fields, but its most notable breakthrough was the development of Mana-conversion weapons, with Manadyte as their core.
These weapons were self-sustaining, requiring zero external resources. Once activated, the Manadyte within them would materialize pre-programmed elemental constructs, transforming Mana into tangible weapons—beams, blades, arrows, bullets, and more.
These weapons were called Lux.
Lux weapons could have their output and properties adjusted, and when inactive, they remained in their compact hilt form, making them highly convenient to carry. Their practicality had made them the dominant form of weaponry, even for civilians.
From self-defense tools to children's toys, Lux weapons had become so common that they were now a part of everyday life.
Naturally, in Asterisk—a city built for combat tournaments, home to six elite academies training Festa competitors—such an essential piece of equipment was standard issue.
All students enrolled in Asterisk's six academies were entitled to request a Lux from the school's Equipment Bureau, which would even customize and modify the weapon to suit their needs.
Right now, the weapon in Kaiser's hand was one such Lux.
And yet—
"————"
Gripping the hilt tightly, an indescribable sensation washed over him.
Before this, Kaiser had never wielded a weapon in his life.
The most he'd ever held were kitchen knives and fruit-cutting blades—maybe a pair of scissors or nail clippers at most.
Under normal circumstances, this should have felt foreign to him.
He should have had no clue how to use this weapon properly.
Yet, the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he did not feel unfamiliarity.
Instead—
He felt a sense of absolute mastery.
It was as if something within him was whispering—
"This weapon is an extension of your body."
"This weapon is an extension of your senses."
"You have already mastered it completely—you know exactly how to wield it."
"It is yours to command."
"Vmm—!"
Without thinking, Kaiser moved.
His eyes shut instinctively, his body slipping into a mysterious state.
His blade danced.
The Lux in his hands felt as natural as his own limbs, and his body followed without hesitation.
Though he had zero prior training, though this new body was merely younger and stronger, his movements were perfect.
He wielded the sword as if he had spent decades mastering the art.
"Vmm!" "Vmm!" "Vmm!"
As the energy blade vibrated, his strikes grew faster—sharper.
Light flashed.
Countless sword arcs wove together, forming an intricate storm of blades and slashes, an impenetrable web of lethal precision.
"Sching!" "Sching!" "Sching!"
His strikes carved deep grooves into the ground.
The flowers and grass of the courtyard swayed violently under the force of his sword wind.
"Boom!"
In the final stroke, Kaiser slashed forward with full force.
A shockwave erupted from the tip of his blade.
The entire courtyard floor was upheaved, the turf shredded into pieces as if sliced by countless razor-sharp swords.
Dust surged.
Dirt and stones flew.
The carefully trimmed grass was scattered like confetti, each blade sliced cleanly at the stem.
"D-Did I just… do this?"
Kaiser froze.
Still in his final stance, he stared at the devastation before him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Then—
"What was that sound?"
"That was a huge impact—!"
"Is someone fighting?"
"Let's go check it out!"
As expected, his little 'experiment' had drawn attention.
Kaiser could already see figures rapidly approaching from the distance.
Without a second thought, he deactivated his Lux, making the energy blade disappear, leaving only the hilt.
Then—he bolted.
Luckily, he was fast enough.
By the time the approaching students arrived, the scene was already empty.
All that remained was a shredded courtyard, the aftermath of an unnatural sword wind, leaving the spectators murmuring in confusion.
—
"Haa…"
Elsewhere, Kaiser had escaped to another isolated corner of the campus, finally exhaling in relief.
But then—
"Wait. Why did I run?"
He smacked his forehead.
He had completely forgotten—
This was Asterisk.
A city where duels were part of daily life.
It was completely normal for students to fight each other—whether inside the academy or out in the city.
As a result, collateral damage was expected.
Not only were students rarely held accountable for property damage, but in most cases, they weren't even required to pay compensation.
Of course—this only applied if they had a valid reason for fighting.
"I was just practicing my swordplay in an open area. That should count, right?"
Shaking his head, Kaiser let the matter drop.
Instead, he focused on what had just happened.
Once again, he activated his Lux.
"So… that wasn't a fluke. It wasn't an illusion. It was real."
Gripping the hilt, Kaiser could confirm it now.
He had absolute mastery over any weapon he wielded.
No training required.
No effort needed.
Just by holding a weapon, his body would instinctively know how to use it in the most optimal way possible—perfectly and flawlessly.
"So this is what my Authority does?"
Excitement surged within him.
"No—this isn't all it can do."
He could feel it.
His Authority wasn't limited to just wielding weapons perfectly.
There was something more.
"I… I can make this weapon recognize me as its rightful owner?"
Through sheer intuition, Kaiser sensed the truth.
Just by holding a weapon, he could imprint his mark upon it, making it his personal weapon.
And if he did—
The weapon would become bound to him, responding only to his command.
It would grow stronger alongside him, increasing in power over time.
Even if broken, it could be stored within him, gradually self-repairing over time.
If lost, he could summon it back instantly, no matter where it was.
It would be impossible for anyone else to steal or use it.
"This… this is the true power of my Authority!"
Realizing this, Kaiser's mind raced.
But—
He did not bind the Lux in his hand.
This was just a standard-issue weapon.
Even if it had been custom-modified, it was nowhere near strong enough to be worth binding.
Now that he understood his power, there was no way he'd waste it on something so ordinary.
If he wanted to grow stronger quickly—
"I need a stronger, rarer, and far more powerful weapon."
With that thought, he turned toward the school building.
His destination was set.
"Looks like I'll have to pay a visit…"
Steeling his resolve, Kaiser put away his Lux and began walking.
Toward the Equipment Bureau.
Chapter 5: Orga Lux
Seidoukan Academy's campus consisted of three main buildings.
Each division—Middle School, High School, and University—had its own separate facility, arranged around a spacious central courtyard.
With the addition of student dormitories and various other facilities, the entire campus spanned an immense area, far larger than even some of the most prestigious academies outside the city.
Kaiser walked through the largest of the three—the High School building, brushing past a few lingering students who had yet to leave for the day.
His destination lay at the very top floor of the building.
There, an office awaited him.
The Student Council Office.
"I should be in the right place."
Standing before the office door, Kaiser took a moment to collect his thoughts before reaching out and pressing the notification buzzer beside the entrance.
"Beep—beep—"
A holographic window materialized in the air before him, its screen completely black.
Then, a voice rang out.
"Hello. How may I assist you?"
It was a cold, mechanical tone—an AI response system, undoubtedly pre-programmed.
Kaiser raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Pretty advanced setup."
Muttering under his breath, he wasted no time getting to the point.
"I'm Kaiser, a first-year in the High School division. I'm here to apply for authorization to use an Orga Lux."
The moment those words left his lips, there was a brief silence.
Then—
"Come in."
This time, a different voice responded.
Unlike the emotionless AI, this voice carried warmth, yet retained an air of composure and authority.
It was a sweet voice, but with a steadfast calmness that made it distinct.
"Shhh—"
The automatic doors slid open, revealing a space so immense that it was hard to believe it was merely the Student Council Office.
Kaiser hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.
The floor was covered in dark brown carpeting, and the room was furnished with a full set of luxurious leather chairs and tables.
The walls were adorned with scenic paintings of Seidoukan Academy, creating an atmosphere of opulence and grandeur.
At the very back of the office, the wall was replaced by a massive glass window, offering a breathtaking aerial view of the city below.
From this vantage point, the streets of Asterisk looked like a miniature model, spread out beneath the sky.
In front of this panoramic view, a large oak desk sat elegantly.
And behind that desk—
A girl.
She had brilliant golden hair.
Not the smooth, silky kind, but a flowing cascade of wavy curls, exuding an elegance and allure that instantly caught the eye.
Her entire presence radiated calm confidence, and her beauty was undeniable—she was, without a doubt, a stunningly gorgeous young woman.
"I am Claudia Enfield, Student Council President of Seidoukan Academy."
With an elegant, composed smile, the girl gestured toward Kaiser in welcome.
"Welcome to the Student Council, Kaiser."
Kaiser did not respond immediately.
Instead, he subtly observed her.
"So this is Claudia…?"
Claudia Enfield.
Seidoukan Academy's Student Council President.
And, just like Kaiser, she was also a first-year high school student.
But unlike his ordinary status, Claudia was far from obscure.
She was one of the most well-known figures in Seidoukan Academy.
Not only was she the Student Council President, but she was also ranked second among all Genestella in Seidoukan.
To top it off, her parents were high-ranking officials in "Galaxy", one of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation's most powerful conglomerates.
She was the perfect blend of talent, beauty, and wealth—an untouchable high-society heiress.
In the original story, she was also one of the main heroines, and at times, her popularity even surpassed that of the actual female lead.
For Kaiser, meeting Claudia here was the equivalent of seeing a two-dimensional character brought to life—a surreal experience.
Fortunately, he had already mentally prepared himself beforehand, so he remained composed.
"Nice to meet you, President Enfield."
Kaiser greeted her politely, mirroring her calm demeanor.
"Just call me Claudia."
She responded with a polite smile, unfazed.
"I've already received your request. You're here to apply for authorization to use an Orga Lux, correct?"
"That's right."
Kaiser nodded.
"As far as I know, all students at Seidoukan Academy are theoretically eligible to apply for an Orga Lux."
"So, I'd like to request your assistance with the process."
An Orga Lux was, in essence, a superior version of a standard Lux weapon.
Both were Mana-conversion weapons, but the difference lay in their core material.
While ordinary Lux weapons used Manadyte as their power source, Orga Lux weapons were powered by Urm-Manadyte—a material of far greater purity and potency.
Urm-Manadyte was exceptionally rare, offering not only higher energy output but also special abilities that standard Lux weapons lacked.
Because of this, Orga Lux weapons were far more powerful than their standard counterparts and could greatly enhance a wielder's combat prowess.
Naturally, Kaiser had set his sights on acquiring one.
But—
"That's true—in theory, any student can apply for an Orga Lux."
Claudia acknowledged his statement but then added,
"However, you're aware that this is just theoretical, aren't you?"
Indeed.
While the official policy stated that any student could apply, reality was another matter entirely.
"Unlike standard Lux weapons, Orga Lux weapons are far too rare and valuable to be freely distributed."
"Most Orga Lux are directly managed by the Integrated Enterprise Foundation."
"The Foundation only provides a limited number of these weapons to each academy, allowing students to use them temporarily. However, students are only granted usage rights—not ownership. The weapons still belong to the Foundation."
"And the primary reason they do this is to collect usage data."
Kaiser remained silent as Claudia continued.
"After all, Orga Lux weapons are different from standard Lux—they have will of their own."
"They choose their own wielders."
"If an Orga Lux does not acknowledge its wielder, it simply cannot be used."
Claudia patiently explained, subtly implying—
"Even though all students can apply, due to their scarcity, power, and unpredictable nature, the selection process is extremely strict."
"If a student is ranked highly in the academy or has proven themselves in the Festa, their chances of approval are much higher."
Then, with a small smile, she added—
"But Kaiser… I don't think your application will be easily approved."
Claudia knew.
She had already investigated him before he even entered the room.
She knew his standing in the academy.
She knew that, based on his "ordinary" level, his application would likely be outright rejected.
But Kaiser had anticipated this.
"Please submit my application."
His voice remained calm.
"…Alright."
Claudia studied him for a moment before nodding.
"I'll submit the request on behalf of the Student Council. You can wait for the results."
"Thank you."
Kaiser gave a small nod of appreciation.
Then, turning away from her—
He activated his Authority.
"————"
An invisible force surged from his body—so faint that no ordinary human could perceive it.
But—
"…Huh?"
Claudia's expression shifted ever so slightly.
---
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Yep, this is a re-release—you probably already know why!