Way Forward

Putting the phone in her suit pocket, Kira bore her purple eyes into Jules.

"With this conference, we Ravens have publicly announced cutting ties with you."

'Putting it like that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.' Jules frowned, forcing out a reply. "I see…"

"Of course, that is just for the public, including those who desire the blood," Kira Moon stated, revealing a slight smile. "This has paved the way for the next plan."

'The next plan…? How much have these people envisioned to do all this?'

Kira Moon saw the look of confusion Jules tried to hide and explained.

"At the conference, I mentioned we don't have the resources to help you. This will spark more interest in people to look into your background, and they'll figure out that your core size has hit its limit at a small size."

The feeling of being read like a book by even more people made Jules frown.

Ignoring him, Kira Moon continued.

"Although it's hard to find, there are resources that help with this. The Archangel's Blood is an example, even though that is just a side effect."

"Now, we'll pose as an Undisclosed Backer who has taken an interest in you and has resources to groom your talent. This way, it won't be suspicious if you start growing more evidently again after this incident. We will also spread rumors to add fuel to the fire."

Although Jules was discomforted, he couldn't ignore the plan. In a way, it contributed to his safety too.

'But they're slowly telling me how to live my life. I just want to live alone! A simple one, like it has always been! Is there no other way to do this?' Jules thought.

"After you guys pose as my Anonymous Backer, what next?" Jules asked, hoping for an answer that wouldn't disinterest him further. This much drama wasn't meant to be his business.

Kira Moon paused for a bit, resting her back on the couch.

"Once you leave here, you'll remain stagnant for a while before you start acting as an active adventurer again. During your stagnant period, your Backers are meant to contact you.

"You must then reach C-rank within the next three months—with the help of our resources, of course."

Curious, Jules tilted his head slightly. "Why do I need to reach C-rank?"

Kira Moon sighed, revealing a look of dissatisfaction to Jules.

"While everyone is looking for the 'lost' blood, we've decided to send you to the Promethean Institute, the place hailed as the best institute of this age. It is a place that should protect you while giving you a chance to grow—this is what the Guildmaster believes."

'That school? W-what? This… this is great! I like this!'

When Jules started self-learning magic in preparation to become an adventurer, he came across the Promethean Institute during his research and was intrigued by it.

'There, I can have time to sort things out! Thank you, oh unknown Guildmaster! Hopefully, there isn't someone to watch me there too. I doubt it—the nature of that school won't allow it.'

The Raven Guildmaster wasn't made public for reasons unknown. So was the nature of the Onyx Ravens; they were filled with mysteries.

Masking his face with an indifferent expression, Jules said, "If you suggest this path for me, I will follow it."

"Of course, you have to. To the best of your abilities, at that," Kira Moon replied, her voice laced with a tinge of disdain. "You can't waste the potential of an Heir."

"Ah…" Jules unknowingly let out.

It had actually just hit him that he didn't have a choice but to do as they said.

Kira Moon extended her palm over the table, a box appearing within her grasp out of thin air.

The box was made of silver metal that exuded an aura of quality mana, its edges engraved with runes crafted from mana stones.

She pushed the box closer to Jules and said, "This is a one-time-use spatial storage that contains resources to help your core cultivation and items that'll assist you. It also holds a card with 3,000 ark, details of a home you'll move into in a month's time, and other instructions."

"Eh? All this for me?" Jules blurted.

Standing up, Kira Moon spared Jules one last glance. "You really should stop underestimating your status. Leave before tomorrow ends. Till we meet again. Good luck."

Seeing Kira Moon walk out of the room, Jules called her back, "Oh, wait. I need the video of my fight against that assailant. Can I get that? I believe I will need it."

"Noted. I will send it to the communication device within the storage."

After replying to him, Kira Moon revealed her back to Jules and walked out of the room. She left muttering, "Why was this person chosen? I fail to understand."

Not hearing her, Jules just sprawled on the couch, looking up at the ceiling.

His mind drifted back to the conversation.

The way he was being treated by the Ravens gave him a displeasing feeling of being used.

'Isn't an Heir of an Archangel meant to be treated more carefully? Ultimately, is this really for my own good?' he wondered.

'My life… it's changing… How do I grow to influence their decisions over me?'

'I'll just become stronger as time goes by, I guess. My goal of an easygoing life seems far away now.'

With that train of thought in mind, Jules called upon his illusory status screen.

* * *

Name: Jules Evanava

Core Stage: Orange

Core Sub-stage: Light [2.48%]

Rune Gift: -

⤷ Gift Skills: -

Inherent Skills: –

Secondary Skills: [Echo of God (Dormant)]

Unique Skill: [Seraphim of War]

[Seraphim of War: …(Comprehension: 9.64%)]

* * *

Looking at his core sub-stage, a mild smile crept onto his face. Then, looking down at what he mainly wanted to check, his smile only widened.

'My feelings weren't wrong. There was a change when I saw that picture of myself!'

It was this feeling that prompted him to ask for the video of his fight. His memories of the fight were vague; they only became clearer after seeing that image of his post-battle state.

'Hopefully, I understand better what Vyrid means by comprehending the skill soon.'

Jules stood up from the couch, looked around the room, and sighed.

He didn't have any luggage here, so he was just going to get dressed and leave.

This room was now tiring to him.