Chapter 6 - Actively Attracting Attention“Laugh!”

The automatic door of the student union office slid open again, allowing Albert to walk out.

However, Claudia, who was usually composed and smiling, suddenly lost her usual calm expression.

The beautiful girl stood still, her gaze fixed on Albert's retreating figure. After a while, she reached down to her waist and retrieved two peculiar objects.

They were a pair of strange, eye-patterned artifacts—creatures of unknown origin—that exuded an eerie presence.

Holding up the activators, which resembled a pair of monstrous eyes, Claudia studied them closely. Her face displayed a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"…Was that an illusion?"

She muttered to herself before shaking her head in denial.

"No, this kid definitely reacted strangely just now."

When Albert turned his back moments ago, the pair of activators strapped to Claudia's waist suddenly vibrated for an instant.

As their wielder, and someone who harbored deeply complex emotions toward them, Claudia was absolutely certain that even the slightest tremor was not a mistake.

And that was exactly why she was so surprised.

"What was that reaction?"

"Fear?"

"Or… awe?"

Claudia continued staring at the activators in her hand, her expression contemplative. Then, all of a sudden, she scoffed.

"So even you have things that scare or intimidate you?"

For her, this thought alone was amusing.

"How interesting…"

Unconsciously, she found herself becoming intrigued by Albert.

Initially, she had dismissed him as just another student—a nameless, unremarkable individual who had suddenly walked into the student council office requesting permission to borrow a Pure Star-Glorious Armament.

Everyone understood the significance and rarity of Pure Star-Glorious Armaments. Unless they harbored a personal aversion to them, most students at the academy dreamed of obtaining one.

After all, these weapons were highly coveted by those seeking to enhance their abilities, rise in ranks, or even leave a mark in the Star Warrior Festival.

For students with average talents, the allure of these weapons was even greater.

Time and again, history had shown how ordinary individuals rose to prominence after obtaining a Pure Star-Glorious Armament—soaring through the ranks at the academy and even making names for themselves at the Star Warrior Festival.

Many of today's renowned warriors were once wielders of these legendary weapons. Their stories were frequently covered in news reports, fueling even more desire among students to obtain one.

Originally, Claudia had thought Albert was just another hopeful dreamer.

If not for her role as student council president, she wouldn't have given him a second thought.

If Albert had left without issue, she would have simply processed his application, submitted it to the academy, and forgotten about him.

In the end, given his current standing at Star Guide Academy, his request would have been rejected.

After all, it was impossible for someone at his level to be granted access to a Pure Star-Glorious Armament.

However…

Now, Claudia found herself reconsidering her stance.

"It made Pandora react like that, yet I never saw him in my 'dream.' What's so special about this person?"

She walked over to the large glass window, gazing out at the school grounds below. A subtle, meaningful smile formed on her lips.

"…Let's give it a try."

Outside the Academy's Higher Education Building – Atrium

Albert walked out into the atrium, pausing momentarily to glance back at the towering school building.

"…That should have caught her attention, right?"

He muttered under his breath.

Having knowledge of the original story, Albert understood that, given his current abilities and reputation, applying for a Pure Star-Glorious Armament through standard procedures would almost certainly result in rejection.

Under normal circumstances, the correct way to obtain one would be to raise his ranking and popularity in the academy, attract attention from faculty, and then submit an application.

By proving himself among the academy's top students, the institution would actually encourage him to wield a Pure Star-Glorious Armament—recognizing its potential to strengthen him for the Star Warrior Festival and bring prestige to the academy.

However, that process required time and effort—luxuries Albert did not have.

So, he decided to take a different approach.

He needed to capture Claudia's attention.

"If I can get the student council president on my side, my chances of approval will increase dramatically."

Claudia was not just the student council president—her parents were high-ranking executives within the Integrated Corporate Consortium, giving her considerable influence over school affairs.

In particular, Galaxy Corporation, one of the six major consortiums, was the primary benefactor behind Seidoukan Academy.

And since Galaxy owned the academy's Pure Star-Glorious Armaments, Claudia's opinion would undoubtedly carry weight.

If she supported his application, the school wouldn't dare ignore her.

More importantly, Albert knew about the complicated relationship Claudia had with the Pure Star-Glorious Armament in her possession.

By demonstrating a unique connection with these weapons, he suspected he could pique her curiosity.

That, in turn, might compel her to support his application.

Of course, this was merely speculation.

Albert was simply taking a calculated gamble—leveraging his knowledge of the original story and Claudia's unconventional mindset.

Whether it would work or not remained to be seen.

"…I just don't know if the Pure Star-Glorious Armament in her hands will react to me."

That part was uncertain.

"After all, my authority is said to be the Ultimate Authority over Weapons. A self-aware weapon like a Pure Star-Glorious Armament shouldn't remain indifferent if I deliberately stir my power… right?"

With these thoughts in mind, Albert left the atrium, placing his faith in fate.

The Following Days…

For the next few days, Albert settled into his new routine at Star Guide Academy, blending in as an ordinary student.

He attended classes as required.

When he wasn't in class, he would find open, secluded areas to practice his swordsmanship.

During his free time, he would engage in physical training.

Albert found himself genuinely enjoying his new body—youthful, energetic, and strong.

Gone was the laziness of his previous life. Now, he had an incessant urge to keep moving.

He didn't have many friends at the academy, though he was aware of the many remarkable figures from the original story who studied there.

Rather than actively befriending them, he was content just observing them from afar.

Still, Albert kept an eye on the academy's news—monitoring online rankings, official announcements, and student duel videos.

One thing that particularly intrigued him was the advanced technology of this world.

Personal mobile devices were tiny laser pens that projected holographic interfaces—allowing users to navigate menus, access information, and even engage in video calls with simple hand gestures.

Albert found it fascinating.

"…Is this another innovation made possible by the Universal Element brought by the Falling Star Rain?"

The more he learned about this world, the more amazed he became.

Then, finally—after days of waiting—he received the news he had been hoping for.

"Your application has been approved, Albert."

That day, Claudia appeared at Albert's classroom door, completely disregarding the commotion her presence caused.

She held a stack of documents in her hands, smiling at him.

"Let's complete the formalities first," she said. "Then we'll go to the Equipment Bureau together."

End of Chapter