Star Source

"How important is the Star Source anyway?" Shin asked, his curiosity evident.

Kate smiled faintly. "The simplest explanation? If I refined the Star Source, I would become this world's god. I could manipulate this world to my whims move the seas, reshape mountains. Those would be trivial tasks for me once I control it."

Everyone's jaws dropped in shock.

"Can I refine it then?" Shin asked excitedly, his eyes sparkling with wonder.

"SHIN!" Melinda's voice boomed as she shot to her feet. "A human must not overstep its mortality!"

"Grandma, calm down first," Kate interjected, raising her hands to pacify her. "We don't even know if there's a Star Source in this world yet. It's just a theory."

Melinda hesitated, taking a deep breath to compose herself, though her expression was still stern.

"Besides," Kate continued, her tone turning analytical, "based on this world's overall strength, Shin might already be at a pseudo-god-like level."

Everyone turned to Shin in disbelief.

"What do you mean by that?" Merlin asked, intrigued but wary.

"Shin's understanding of the human body and how it works is unparalleled," Kate explained. "He knows how to control his body down to its very core its cells and systems. For normal people, when the body ages or dies, it stops functioning. But with Shin, he can command his body to keep working indefinitely, even bypassing aging to some extent."

"So... you're saying Shin could live forever?" Merlin ask,

"Potentially," Kate said. "If nothing external interferes, and if Shin's control is absolute, he could live a very, very long time possibly forever."

A heavy silence fell over the room, everyone processing this revelation.

Melinda finally broke the quiet, her voice soft but firm. "Even if that's true, Shin... you must remain grounded. Power like that can easily corrupt a person if they lose sight of their humanity."

Shin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Don't worry, Grandma. I'm not planning to play god or anything. I was just curious."

Kate chuckled. "Good. Because trust me, trying to become a god is far more trouble than it's worth."

Melinda nodded, though her eyes lingered on Shin. "Remember, just because you can doesn't mean you should."

"Anyways, those are all theoretical," Kate said, breaking the heavy atmosphere. She leaned back, her expression turning serious. "Living for a long time might sound great, but trust me, it's not worth it."

The weight of her words made the room fall silent.

Shin looked at Kate, sensing the gravity behind her tone but deciding not to press further.

Kate then clapped her hands lightly, her tone shifting to something more cheerful. "Right, let's head to school now!"

"Right," Shin replied, standing up quickly to match her energy.

Melinda sighed, waving them off. "Go now, you two. You're stressing me out with this whole information dump. Just be normal students for once."

Kate chuckled, her silvery hair shimmering as she stood. "Don't worry, Grandma. We'll be fine."

As they headed out, Melinda watched them go, shaking her head. "Those two… normal? Not a chance."

Merlin chuckled beside her. "They're far from it, but maybe that's what this world needs."

Meanwhile, Kate, Shin, Cecily, and Maria were walking towards the school.

"I'm surprised that you're coming with us," Maria said to Kate.

"Since we're heading to school, I figured, why not?" Kate replied with a smile.

"So, we all live in the same direction?" Cecily asked.

"Yes, I live slightly closer to Shin's house," Kate said.

"The King mentioned you're his niece and training with the Heroes, so why not live with them?" Maria asked.

"Well, I might get engaged to Shin in the near future, so it would be bad if we're engaged and live in the same house," Kate replied, freezing Shin, Maria, and Cecily in place.

"I FORGOT ABOUT THIS EVIL WITCH'S PUNISHMENT!" Shin thought to himself as he glanced at Kate's cold, playful smile. Then, his eyes darted to Cecily. "THIS WITCH KNOWS MY FEELINGS FOR CECILY!" Shin internally screamed, panic building up.

"What's wrong, Cecily?" Kate asked sweetly, her expression feigning innocence.

"Cecily, you look like you've seen a ghost," Kate said, her tone teasing.

"N-Nothing, it's nothing. I'm just surprised by what you said," Cecily replied with a reassuring smile, though her voice wavered slightly.

"About our possible engagement?" Kate asked with a sly grin.

"DON'T REPEAT IT!" Shin screamed internally, feeling his frustration boil over.

"Well," Kate continued, ignoring Shin's silent plea, "Grandfather said that if we marry, it might look like the Wolford family is monopolizing both Shin's and my power. So, if we can find our own partners, the engagement will be canceled."

"But," Kate added with a pointed look, "the partner we choose must be examined first before the engagement can proceed."

"What do you mean by that?" Cecily asked, her curiosity piqued.

Shin quickly stepped in, placing himself between Kate and Cecily. "It's about the partners we choose," he said, his voice firm. "You think I'll let you have complete control over this!" he added, glaring at Kate.

"An example," Shin explained, turning to Cecily and Maria. "If I choose my partner, then Kate will examine her. Likewise, her partner will have to be examined by me."

"That is right!" Kate chimed in, her expression unreadable but her tone unwavering.

"So, that's the reason behind it," Maria said, piecing things together.

"Enough of this, let's go to school or we'll be late," Shin said, starting to walk. Kate walked beside him, while Cecily and Maria trailed behind them.

"Cecily, you need to up your game if you want Shin for yourself," Maria whispered, glancing over at the two of them walking shoulder to shoulder.

"Eh, no... it's not that," Cecily replied, her voice filled with worry.

"If you keep this up, you might lose Shin," Maria said, watching how Shin and Kate were whispering to each other, clearly comfortable in each other's presence. Cecily's gaze shifted to them, her expression growing more sad with every passing second.

"What are you planning?" Shin whispered to Kate as they walked.

"This is the first time for Cecily. She's lost, doesn't know what to do. Once I show her that she loves you and that there's a chance she might lose you, she'll make a move. The only thing you need to do is confess your feelings," Kate whispered back, her words making Shin go silent, caught off guard by her insight.

"Of course, you have to do something too. Don't be a wimp and tell her you love her," Kate said, catching Shin off guard.

"I better resume the construction of the mech," Kate thought to herself, as her red glasses materialized over her eyes.

"Eh? You can do that?" Shin asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes, I can deploy things wherever I want," Kate replied nonchalantly.

"What are you doing exactly?" Shin asked, eyeing her with curiosity.

"I bet you're using augmented reality with those glasses. Holograms are great, but since there are people around, you probably don't want them to see, so you use a AR?" Shin speculated.

"Indeed," Kate said with a slight smile. "Before I became a cultivator, I was a researcher, so of course, I have some private research to do."

After some time, the four arrived at the classroom.

"Good morning, everyone," Shin greeted as they all exchanged pleasantries. Kate walked toward her seat and immediately focused on her research.

"For now, open only one notification," Kate thought to herself as a new magical screen appeared in front of her, displaying the message: "Congratulations on your breakthrough. As a reward, you will be given 2 sets of ability cards and 1 set of full character card."

Kate's excitement surged, causing her Saint Qi to leak uncontrollably.

"What's this pressure?" murmured the others, struggling to stay on their feet as the overwhelming aura radiated from Kate.

"Kate, your Saint Qi is leaking!" Shin shouted, noticing the overwhelming energy.

"Eh, sorry, everyone, I got distracted," Kate apologized quickly, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she stopped the leakage of her Saint Qi, causing the atmosphere in the room to return to normal.

"Open another notification," Kate thought to herself as another screen appeared in front of her. It read: "You've taken another step in your mission. The Originator rewarded you with 5 sets of cards."

Kate's excitement surged again, but this time, she made sure to control her Saint Qi, preventing it from leaking. She focused, suppressing the overwhelming energy.

After some time, while Alfred continued his lecture, Kate was deep in thought, busying herself with her mech design.

"This won't do," Kate thought, observing her progress. "I'll distract myself with other matters first."

With a decisive nod, she focused again.

"For now, let's activate a single set of cards," Kate thought to herself, preparing to see what new abilities or features the cards would grant her.

The card floated gently in front of Kate, the words "Ancestral Cultivation Techniques" etched in glowing script.

"Huh? Ancestral? What rank is it?" Kate muttered under her breath, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

The first card revealed itself: "Ancestral Divine Ice Cultivation Technique."

"Finally! I've been searching for an ice cultivation technique for ages!" Kate exclaimed softly, her excitement barely contained.

The second card followed: "Demonic Fire Cultivation Technique."

"Demonic Fire?" Kate murmured, her expression shifting to one of curiosity.

Then came the third: "Heaven Devouring Battle Law."

Kate froze, her mind racing. "The Heaven Devouring Battle Law?" she thought, her heart skipping a beat. "Why is something like that here? This is... unexpected."

After a moment of deliberation, she made her choice. "I pick the first one," she said firmly.

The other two cards ignited in flames, disintegrating into nothingness, while the first card dissolved into a stream of brilliant light. It shot toward her forehead, merging with her soul. A rush of icy energy coursed through her, sending shivers down her spine as the knowledge and power of the Ancestral Divine Ice Cultivation Technique became part of her.

Kate exhaled, her thoughts swirling. "This technique... it's even more powerful than I imagined."

Not long after, Kate snapped back to reality, realizing she was still in the classroom. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as murmurs spread among her classmates. The teacher, having noticed the distraction, scolded her sharply, bringing her fully back to the present.

At lunch, without saying a word, Kate gathered her things and headed straight for the rooftop. Her sudden departure left everyone staring, curious about her unusual behavior.

"I'm sorry, but I'll skip lunch today," Shin said abruptly, standing and hurrying after her.

"Shin! Where are you going?" Agust called out, but he didn't answer, his focus entirely on following Kate.

At the rooftop, Shin pushed the door open and stepped outside. "Kate, is something wrong?" he called out, concern evident in his voice.

There, he saw Kate seated cross-legged on the ground, her eyes closed in deep concentration. Her aura flickered faintly, signaling that she was cultivating.

"Kate?" Shin called again, louder this time, but she didn't respond. He approached cautiously, unsure if disturbing her would be harmful.

After calling out a few more times and receiving no response, Shin sighed and sat nearby, deciding to wait. Even when the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break, Kate remained unmoving, lost in her cultivation.

The capital was bathed in hues of orange as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the rooftop where Shin, Merlin, and Melinda stood, watching Kate cultivate. Her stillness was unbroken, the faint ripple of her aura the only sign of her intense focus.

"Did she really do this after morning class?" Melinda asked, her tone a mix of concern and disbelief.

"Yes, Grandma," Shin replied. "She even skipped afternoon classes."

"What should we do?" Merlin asked, his usual confidence tinged with hesitation. "It might be dangerous to disturb her."

"Did she leave any protection behind?" Melinda asked, glancing at Kate. "If not, we'll need to arrange for Disseum to watch over her."

"Father?" August stepped forward, his expression serious. "Shall I send some elite guards here for her protection?"

"No, not yet," Melinda said firmly. "Let's not act rashly."

"I am Merlin, Kate's grandfather," Merlin said, his gaze sharp as he addressed the figure approaching. "I'd better know if someone is already protecting her."

"My name is Chu Yuechan," the woman replied, bowing slightly. She wore the school's uniform, her composure serene. "Milady assigned me to watch over her while she cultivates."

"Milady?" August repeated, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"I see," Merlin said after a moment of thought. "Since she arranged for someone trustworthy, there's no need to worry further for now."

"Then, can you tell us what happened to Kate?" Merlin asked, his tone steady yet concerned.

"She is currently cultivating an Ice Element Cultivation Method," Chu Yuechan replied calmly.

"I see," Merlin said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "So, she has acquired a new element?"

"Yes," Chu Yuechan confirmed with a small nod.

Shin, standing slightly to the side, furrowed his brows as he thought to himself. Kate was doing something in class earlier... something on her end. I guess there's something only she can see, or perhaps it's related to her AR glasses.

He glanced at Kate, who remained perfectly still, immersed in her cultivation. Whatever it is, it must be important for her to push herself like this.

"You might not know this," Chu Yuechan began, her tone calm but tinged with authority, "but a cultivator can cultivate for years non-stop. And if Milady's memories serve me correctly, once she reaches the Open Heaven Realm, she will be capable of cultivating for thousands of years without issue."

Her statement left everyone stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"Thousands of years?" Melinda repeated, her voice shaky with astonishment.

"Non-stop?" Merlin muttered, his hand instinctively gripping his staff tighter.

Shin glanced at Kate, still deep in her cultivation, and clenched his fists. She's really on a completely different level... he thought, equal parts amazed and concerned.

The rooftop grew silent, the weight of Chu Yuechan's words sinking into everyone's thoughts like stones into a still pond.

Not long after, Dr. Mei appeared, her presence commanding immediate attention. "Yuechan, we need to move Milady. This place is not safe," she stated firmly.

"How about bringing her home?" Melinda suggested, her voice tinged with concern.

"We can't," Chu Yuechan replied, her tone serious. "When someone is cultivating, there's always a risk of demonification if the cultivator harbors any demons in their heart."

"Demonification?" everyone exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing with shock.

"Yes," Chu Yuechan confirmed. The revelation left everyone's expressions darkened with worry as their gazes shifted to Kate.

Feeling the heavy tension, Chu Yuechan suddenly stepped forward, shielding Kate from their view. "What's going on?" she thought to herself as her protective instincts surged. Her Qi began circulating intensely, causing the air around her to chill. Frost spread across the rooftop as the temperature plummeted, making everyone shiver in fear.

"Yuechan, calm down!" Dr. Mei ordered, her voice sharp but steady. "They're not going to harm Milady. Don't forget, we're not from this world. If necessary, we can destroy this place and move to the next one."

Dr. Mei's serious tone made the already heavy atmosphere unbearable, as everyone felt the weight of her words pressing down on them. Melinda and Merlin exchanged uneasy glances, while Shin clenched his fists, his worry for Kate outweighing his fear of the terrifying scene unfolding before him.

"Let's take this opportunity," Melinda said, her tone firm as she turned to Dr. Mei. "Do you mind answering a question?"

Dr. Mei looked at her, her expression neutral. "What do you want to know?"

"What is Kate's next move?" Melinda asked, her concern evident.

"Milady is currently focused on improving our overall strength," Dr. Mei replied calmly.

"And after that?" Melinda pressed further.

"We don't know," Dr. Mei admitted without hesitation. "We only follow the commands Milady gives us."

"I see," Melinda said, her expression softening. "Then I won't ask anything further."

Dr. Mei gave a small nod. "Then we shall take our leave."

Before anyone could react, Kate's body was suddenly encased in a crystalline layer of ice. Slowly, she began to float upward, her serene figure radiating an unearthly light. Chu Yuechan and Dr. Mei followed, their movements fluid and graceful as all three rose into the sky and disappeared, leaving the rooftop silent.

Melinda, Merlin, Shin, and August stood in quiet awe, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on them.

"Kate's existence is becoming too dangerous for this world," August said, his tone heavy with worry.

"And what do you want us to do? Kick her out?" Melinda snapped, glaring at him.

"Kate is too powerful for this world to handle," Merlin said, his voice calm but firm. "But as long as she remains the way she is now, there shouldn't be a problem."

"Exactly," Melinda agreed. "From what I've observed, Kate only truly cares about two things: power and entertainment. As long as she's entertained, there's no reason to worry."

"But how long can we keep her entertained?" August countered. "What happens when she gets bored? She might do something... dangerous."

"Kate's working on a warship, right?" Shin interjected. "Between designing, gathering materials, and actually building it, that should take a considerable amount of time. For now, I think we're safe if we let her focus on her projects."

"There's also the demon problem," August said, hesitating. "Do you think we can rely on Kate to handle that?"

At this, silence fell over the group. Each of them exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the question lingering in the air.

"To be honest, I don't want Kate to fight," Merlin said, his voice heavy with concern.

"What do you mean, Merlin-sama?" August asked, turning toward him.

"Kate's power is beyond our understanding," Merlin explained. "The sheer scale and aftermath of her techniques might be more than we can handle."

"What do you mean exactly?" August pressed.

"It's like this," Shin interjected. "For example, let's say my mana is 50% pure, while Kate's is 100% pure. If I cast a fireball, it might disintegrate a hill. But if Kate casts the same technique, she could disintegrate an entire mountain. Do you get it?"

August furrowed his brow, thinking deeply. "I see... The purer her mana, the more destructive her techniques become."

"Exactly," Shin confirmed. "Even a basic technique from her could bring chaos to the battlefield. That's why, since Kate lives with us, we've had her agree to certain conditions."

"My father mentioned that," August said. "But what if we're in a situation where we truly need her help?"

"Enough of this," Merlin cut in, his tone final. "This discussion will only go in circles for now. Let's head home."

Reluctantly, the group nodded, their thoughts heavy as they made their way back.