Master.

To transcend the mundane human body and establish a heavenly union between heaven and earth—an exalted state.

Those who attain the Master’s state gain the ability to wield an aura that symbolizes them, and simultaneously, their body is restructured to an optimal condition, allowing them to manifest a power that far surpasses that of an ordinary human.

In simple terms, it means becoming a superhuman beyond mere humanity, and naturally, for warlords to reach the Master’s state is an arduous journey.

In fact, it might be easier for magicians to transcend to the realm of the Great Magician once they surpass a certain threshold.

This is because the profession of a magician inherently requires a level of calculation ability and magical control that is on an entirely different dimension than that of ordinary people, coupled with the governing ability to oversee it all; thus, learning magic is impossible without these prerequisites.

Put simply, only a select few among countless individuals in the world can enjoy the privilege of learning and mastering magic, and those endowed with such “talents” are entitled to aspire to the level of Great Magician.

Of course, there exists a significant difference between being qualified to reach the Great Magician’s level and actually attaining it.

Likewise, for warlords to utilize their aura upon reaching the Master’s level carries a similar meaning.

Even now, countless individuals around the world swing their swords, dreaming of one day reaching the Master’s level, yet those who truly attain it are hardly one in ten thousand.

Well, the world is vast, and there are many geniuses, so it is true that somewhere out there, a prodigy might exist who can reach the Master’s level in their teenage years.

For instance, Erekaya del Pendragon, the Student Council President in Nineveh, or Altina von Rudel Seryas—women who stand as living witnesses of attaining the Master’s level at such a young age.

…However, defeating someone who has long reached the Master’s level is an entirely different matter.

In the martial world, the saying about the respect for elders often refers to the order of seniority among old-timers, yet regardless of that, experience is not something to be disregarded.

Serika, though she knows little about martial arts and has not been trained in them, is well aware that with enough accumulated experience and wisdom, she can threaten the lives of individuals just one or two levels above her.

…That is precisely why she finds her current situation utterly incomprehensible.

How could Jin, who enchantedly appears to have entered the Master’s level, defeat a Count who has wielded power for decades? Moreover, he shattered her foreseen future and created a new one, performing a miracle?

“Count, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, may I ask a question?”

“What is it?”

Serika, who had suggested keeping the infirmary vacant for Jin and Altina, cautiously opened her mouth while observing the Count, who had directed all his attention toward the infirmary.

“Regarding the duel between you and my junior just now. How did you perceive it?”

“How did I perceive it? What do you mean by that, Little Princess?”

“I ask this because I believe the duel should have ended in your victory. The disparity in levels between you and my junior was enormous, was it not? Therefore, I was wondering if perhaps….”

“Are you suggesting that I went easy on that young brat during our duel, Little Princess?”

With a swift approach to the topic, the Count’s words prompted Serika to gently nod her head.

“…Yes. No matter how I think about it, I never imagined my junior could defeat you head-on.”

In truth, it wasn’t just an imagination; she had even foreseen both their futures. The issue was that her predictions had gone spectacularly astray.

Upon hearing Serika’s words, the Count appeared to contemplate something, then soon let out a wry smile.

To be frank, it was an extremely rude statement that brusquely prodded the pride of a warlord, and she had braced herself for rebuke from the Count, yet surprisingly, his reaction was quite composed.

No, it almost seemed he anticipated such remarks.

“Well, to be honest, I’m not sure either. Even I think there’s something peculiar about that brat. For instance, he was predicting my movements and habits as if he were reading my palm, and the way he immediately devised countermeasures was reminiscent of a seasoned warlord from times long past.”
“…..”

“However, I can assure you of one thing. I have never intended to go easy on that brat just because he is my daughter’s boyfriend; rather, I aimed to defeat him with all my might.”

Yet, the Count couldn’t help but smile quietly, as if acknowledging that he couldn’t win against the younger generation.

“Of course, now that we are aware of each other’s trump cards, I won’t be caught off guard like before. However, I still sense something peculiar.”

“What do you mean by ‘peculiar’?”

“It indicates the possibility that he hasn’t revealed all his cards and is hiding something.”

The Count spoke in a seemingly indifferent tone, crossing his arms.

“Considering his age, it’s truly absurd. Not only has he reached the Master’s level at such a young age, but he also possesses refined skills that could be likened to those of a master. Additionally, he still has hidden trump cards.”

“…..”

“Yet the world is vast, and talent is indeed diverse. Just because it’s impossible for me doesn’t mean it can’t happen for others. Wouldn’t you agree, Little Princess?”

In truth, had someone of lesser quality tried to pursue Altina, the Count would have half-killed them right here. Fortunately, his daughter had brought back a decent young man, so perhaps it was time to wrap this up.

Seeing the Count’s satisfied expression, even though the duel ended in his defeat, Serika felt a sense of unease.

To enter the Master’s level at such a young age, possessing the experience to defeat even a Count directly, along with skills that could make even a Count marvel—it seemed almost incomprehensible.

Was it truly believable? No matter how she tried to understand the existence of Jin, there was always a sense of distortion and dissonance.

Even with all the knowledge she could muster, Jin belonged to an unknown realm that she could not comprehend.

…However, it was precisely for this reason that, at this moment, Serika von Valentine resolved to make a significant decision in her heart.

Jin, the man, hides a crucial secret unknown to others.

As Erekaya’s friend and a warlord who has reached the exalted realm, he seemed strangely disconnected from his age and martial prowess.

As the secretary of the student council and Serika’s junior, he was the only individual capable of opening the door to a ‘closed world’ and forging new possibilities for the future.

If that were the case, it was undoubtedly a moment to take a gamble.

The stake she was willing to bet was none other than everything that is Serika von Valentine.

If she emerged victorious from this gamble, she would be able to welcome her Master, whom she had long awaited. Even if she were to lose, she regarded it as impossible for her to have a major impact on the imminent end; thus, what she would lose held little weight.

The impending fate that the world itself would face and just one individual named Serika von Valentine.

The loss she would incur seemed trivial and insignificant, while the gains she could achieve were truly vast.

In that case, there was no reason to decline this gamble.

“…Count, then allow me a moment’s intrusion.”

“Huh? Why is that, Little Princess?”

“I just remembered. There’s only one thing I can do for my junior, who just lost consciousness over there.”

As Serika spoke to the Count with a faint smile, he observed her silently for a moment before gently nodding his head.

“Do as you wish, Little Princess. After all, it’s clear that he will be in immense pain from the recoil of that technique he just used, so it’s not a bad choice for you to alleviate his suffering in some manner.”

In truth, the House of Count Valentine stands as a neutral role of absolute detachment, belonging to no one, as descendants of a Prophet.

Though he didn’t know what she intended to do, there was no way such a person could harm someone who had fainted, so he let Serika go without further thought.
“Thank you.”

With that, Serika bowed her head to the Count before quietly opening the door to the infirmary, where Jin lay unconscious.

“Se, Senior?”

Perhaps it was due to the suddenness of her entrance; Altina, who was sitting quietly by Jin’s side, looked startled upon seeing Serika.

Now that she thought about it, Altina’s face seemed to have an inexplicable flush—was she perhaps unwell?

“Wh, what are you doing here? I was sure you were outside with my father, so I thought you wouldn’t come in here at all…”

However, Serika had little interest in Altina’s stammering. Her focus was solely on the man who lay silently with his eyes closed.

“Is our junior still in a lot of pain?”

“Y-yes? Ah, yes. He just fell asleep, but he said the pain was unbearable while he was awake. According to Jin, the pain feels similar to the recoil from that technique, and the healing magic doesn’t work…”

“I think I might be able to help with that.”

“Really?”

Altina was taken aback by Serika’s words. It had been too hard to bear watching Jin suffer, so the possibility that there was a way to alleviate his pain seemed almost miraculous.

“But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“What I’m going to perform on our junior is a Great Ritual that has been secretly passed down in the House of Valentine. Honestly, I don’t put much meaning into it, but since I’m claiming to be a successor of the house, I should respect the tradition, shouldn’t I?”

“So, that means…?”

“I’m sorry, but could you step outside? No matter how I think about it, this ritual is not something that can be performed in front of others.”

“…Ah.”

To be honest, Altina didn’t want to leave Jin’s side. Particularly after she had just crossed a line and kissed him while he was unconscious; this feeling was even more pronounced now.

…But she hated that Jin was hurting even more. While it wasn’t a bad thing that he was gazing only at Altina, seeing him in pain was something she could not accept.

Thus, she had no choice. For now, she had to give Jin up to Serika.

And besides, time was on Altina’s side. The memories they had shared and the future moments they could still experience together were more than sufficient.

So for now, she would take a step back. His pain and suffering were practically her own, after all.

“…Yes, then I will step back for now. But you must make sure to heal Jin.”

“Don’t worry. I will take responsibility for our junior.”

Serika smiled reassuringly at Altina, who watched her in silence.

Certainly, she wasn’t lying. Serika truly intended to improve Jin’s condition through the rituals secretly handed down in the House of Valentine.

However, the healing was merely a secondary purpose; her true intention lay elsewhere.

Once Altina exited, Serika sank down beside Jin’s bed and gently grasped his hand.

Though it was called a Great Ritual, there was no need for grand magic circles or procedures. What was truly important in performing the ritual was only one thing: a sincere heart that could dedicate everything to the person before her.

“Communication.”

In the next moment, an unknown light burst forth around Jin and Serika, enveloping them both instantly.

It was time to determine who would be the true master to whom Serika von Valentine should be bound.