Clara?!

Once she left, I finally felt like I could breathe again. Collapsing onto my bed, I let out a long sigh and stared at the ceiling. I wanted nothing more than to sleep—to rest and cast away the stress clinging to me like a second skin.

But I couldn't. Not now.

A new hero had been born. And with him, new enemies would inevitably follow.

My mind drifted toward the mysterious and terrifying powers of the Seven Sins. Just thinking about their skills and spells made me want to scratch my head in frustration. Their power wasn't something that could be predicted or easily countered.

Gab would soon be facing the Sin of Greed. In just one month.

Even though I told myself I shouldn't interfere, deep down, I knew I would.

Irish would be caught in the battle as well—she'd fight and be slightly crippled in the process. The memory of it hadn't happened yet, but I already felt the weight of it. And Gab, despite everything, would help her. He'd use the system shop, sacrificing precious points to buy a powerful recovery pill. It wouldn't be cheap, and it would come at the cost of completing a string of difficult quests.

That meant I had exactly one month.

One month to become strong enough—to become a 2-Star Knight and reach Foundation Establishment. Not just any foundation, but a perfect one. Only then could I truly protect myself and stand beside those who mattered when the time came.

The main character, Gab, had the holy sword and a powerful system. With his overpowered skills, he'd still win the fight—but just barely. A hairbreadth of victory. That's how close it would be.

I smiled bitterly, eyes falling on the Divine Fruit beside me. It shimmered with energy, a condensed mass of life and power. I was stronger now. Unlike in the past, each Divine Fruit no longer increased my strength by bite i need whole Devine fruit to double everything.

Satisfied, I nodded and bit into the fruit. Instantly, warmth surged through my veins. My mana and qi recovery sped up. My bones felt denser, my strength sharper. I felt lighter, faster. I could feel the change as my muscles pulsed with newfound energy.

I had about a week. The academy had suspended classes due to the dungeon outbreak. That was enough time for me to reach 2-Star.

But I didn't want to just reach foundation establishment. I needed it to be perfect. And for that, I needed qi. A lot of it. No, scratch that—I needed an absurd, amount of qi.

A soft sigh escaped me. Maybe I should've asked Clara to help. If she guarded me deep in the forest and in the pond full of Qi I might have reached it faster. But it was too late for regrets now.

Still, within the week, I was confident I could reach 2-Star. My blink skill and combat intent would become much more refined, quicker, stronger. I'd be able to fight on my own terms.

---

Meanwhile, in the academy, the entire kingdom reeled in shock. News had spread fast—a new hero had been born.

The kingdoms that once ignored us were now scrambling to pay attention. Yet they couldn't get their hands on Gab. He was under the protection of the Auxiliary Kingdom and the academy.

Because of this, the academy's reputation had skyrocketed. People across the continent were talking about it.

Gab, the new hero, was now a name everyone knew.

When he left his room, people stared. Admired. Envied. Girls swooned over him, despite him being a commoner. Being a hero elevated him above all status. Destiny carved his name into history, and everyone knew it.

The guys were jealous, of course—but Fiona was on a whole different level. She was always near him, alert and ready. Whenever a girl got too close, her sharp, icy glare shut them down immediately.

Gab was… confused. Rightfully so. The treatment he received now was worlds apart from before. His room had become luxurious overnight. He could eat any meal for free. He could get almost anything he wanted. He was, in every sense, a celebrity.

And yet, beneath his smile, there was a hint of guilt. A shadow in his eyes for the people who had died while he rose.

---

In the blink of an eye, a week passed.

I stood alone in the training field, breathing heavily, covered in sweat—but smiling.

I did it.

I reached 2-Star.

My strength had quadrupled. My body, once Strong gotten even more stronger now pulsed with raw power. My reflexes were lightning-quick. My mana control—precise.

And now, I could finally use the Eye of the Dragon for up to ten minutes. Ten full minutes of accelerated speed. The Eye could slow time around me, making everything else feel like it moved in slow motion.

In combat, that meant I'd move eight times faster than normal. I could dodge, strike, and vanish before anyone blinked.

If I had this back during the dungeon raid, I'd have walked through the treasury without a scratch.

Suddenly, I smacked my forehead. "Damn it forgot to ask Irish how she saw me that time."

No one should have been able to detect me. And yet, she did.

I shook my head, pressure tightening on my chest. Things were only going to get more intense from here.

Tomorrow, classes resumed. I'd ask her then.

---

The next morning…

I woke early, ran through my daily routine, and opened my storage bag.

Gold coins glittered inside—enough to buy four entire villages, and still have plenty left.

Nodding to myself, I thought, Maybe I'll visit the Black Market later.

I concealed my mana and left for the academy building. The sun had barely risen, and students were trickling in. After a few minutes of walking, I reached the classroom.

And stopped in my tracks.

There she was—Aira. One of the heroines. She was leaning over Gab's table, talking to him with a demanding tone and a blinding smile.

Right, I thought, this is where it happens—Fiona and Aira's first fight over Gab.

Aira, having heard about the new hero, was now obsessed. She wanted to marry him. A real hero. A fairy-tale ending.

Her long pink hair cascaded down her thighs, and her black-and-pink uniform clung to her flawless figure. She was undeniably beautiful.

I yawned and walked past them like a background character, trying to ignore the growing tension. From the corner of my eye, I saw Irish flustered, trying to intervene between the two girls.

I was just about to ask her how she'd seen me before when the classroom door burst open.

---

Every head turned.

There, in the hallway, stood a girl unlike any other.

She was… breathtaking.

Golden eyes. White uniform. Blonde hair tied into a ponytail, revealing her graceful neck and delicate collarbones. Her smile radiated confidence—no, arrogance.

Even the girls were staring. Smitten. Seduced.

A transfer student?

That was the word being whispered. And yet… something felt off.

Clara had used concealment strong enough to fool even a 7-Star if they didn't check carefully. To everyone else, she looked like a 2-Star at peak layer. No one would dare challenge her here.

And then came Teacher Lyra, clad in her tightly fitting black uniform, curves outlined as she stepped in behind Clara. Her elegance drew stunned gasps, but everyone's eyes still lingered on Clara.

"Good morning," Clara said with a dazzling smile.

Everyone froze.

Except me.

They all thought the same thing: She's incredibly beautiful.

But I knew better.

She looked straight at me. That smile… that look… I realized something horrifying.

If I kept acting like this—if I kept interfering with the plot—I'd completely derail everything.

Well i was helpless if i want to change things i should ruined some of the plot

Well