Crimson Hawk Club headquarters, Vice Chairman's seat.

Edmon Atalek slumped into his vice chairman's seat, exhausted and powerless.

"Ah..."

It was still difficult for him to accept reality.

‘I... lost...?’

‘And it was in Soul Chess, too?’

‘Why? How? Losing to a mere freshman... It meant losing in Soul Chess to someone so insignificant?’

‘No, even before that…’

"Did I really... have my qualification for Aslan Seminar... taken away by such a lowly commoner...?"

The Oath of Magic Power was absolute.

If one didn’t uphold it, not only would he be stripped of all his abilities as a mage, but he would also become a laughingstock in the magical world.

"Argh...!"

Bam!

Edmon forcefully slammed the desk, startling the members gathered in the Crimson Hawk Club headquarters.

They were Hong Bi-Yeon's faction members, but in reality, they were walking on a tightrope in Edmon’s line.

But no one dared to step forward hastily.

It would be an instant downfall if they were even slightly out of favor with him.

Edmon tremblingly brought his shaky hand to the telephone.

Should he explain it to his father? Should he let him know?

He couldn't even finalize the contract for the item, and now he had lost the Aslan Seminar as well.

How on earth could he explain this?

If things continued like this, the Atalek family would tread the path of ruin because of him.

The Alterisha Research Institute, which possessed the skills of the item and boasted about it, not only turned the entire Kingdom of Adolveit upside down because of him, but not he had also lost the attendance ticket for the prestigious Aslan Seminar, which proved proving them as a "Nobility of Mages,”…

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!!"

Bam! Bam! Crash!

No matter how much he slammed the desk or shouted, his anger wouldn't dissipate.

He felt like his insides were about to explode, worried about the future, and frustrated that there was no solution.

Moreover, the fact that he couldn't retaliate against that commoner who annoyed him only added fuel to the fire.

"Huff, huff...!"

While he gnashed his teeth, he reluctantly reached out his hand towards the telephone.

Clunk!

The door opened, and someone entered. Despite standing in a position devoid of sunlight, she seemed to radiate an aura, holding a silver mirror that flowed with a shimmering haze.

"Bi-Yeon..."

"Senior."

Edmon tried to gather his strength and say something, but he could only bow his head. It was no longer a situation where he could talk aimlessly to her.

‘How does she see me now?’

Edmon was aware of it himself. He had been using his authority to oppress Hong Bi-Yeon all this time.

But now, a part of that authority had crumbled. The balance of power that had been maintained between him and Hong Bi-Yeon had been shaken in an instant.

"Hmm..."

And Hong Bi-Yeon pondered as she looked at Edmon.

She couldn't strike him down here. Even though the power of the Atalek family had weakened somewhat... they still needed her, Hong Bi-Yeon.

Now, weren’t those students gathered in the room practically loyal followers of the Atalek family?

She had the intention of leading them all.

However, thanks to Baek Yu-Seol, many things had changed from now on.

She no longer had to forcibly entangle herself with the Atalek family.

She no longer had to suffocate under Edmon’s subtle pressure regarding marriage.

Now, Hong Bi-Yeon could purely treat Edmon Atalek as her "vassal" and herself as his "lord."

"Senior."

When Edmon raised his head, Hong Bi-Yeon spoke in the calmest voice possible.

"I will try to persuade that commoner on your behalf."

"That means..."

"I will ask him to cancel the statement he made about the item's trading rights and the Atalek family."

If that happened, at least within the Kingdom of Adolveit, the Atalek family's standing would no longer be rejected.

Edmon looked at Hong Bi-Yeon with trembling eyes.

"But how on earth..."

"That's..."

She made a troubled expression outwardly but inwardly, she was smiling.

She had already finished all the discussions with Baek Yu-Seol. They even stamped the contract.

At that moment, Baek Yu-Seol smiled and said,
"It's absurd for a single school to challenge Adolveit. However, I simply wanted to diminish Atalek's power and support Hong Bi-Yeon."

"Well, I suppose I'll have to pay a heavy price for it."

A heavy price. Hong Bi-Yeon deliberately said it to weigh down Edmon’s shoulders.

To make him fully realize the reality that he owed her.

"... Thank you, Bi-Yeon. I'm really grateful."

"It's just something that needs to be done, of course."

As Hong Bi-Yeon turned around, she added one last remark.

"I am destined to be a queen. So, it's only natural for me to take care of my 'vassal.'"

After saying that, Hong Bi-Yeon briskly walked away, making the sound of her heels echoing.

Edmon, unable to close his mouth, stared at her back with a dazed expression.

"'Vassal'... she said?"

Yes, originally, their relationship was akin to that of a king and vassal.

Edmon had forcefully manipulated their relationship with his power, trying to alter it.

But now that the balance of power had been shattered, they returned to their original positions.

"Ha, hahaha..."

Sinking back into the chair, Edmon grasped his own hair and remained silent for a long time.

The sense of loss became even deeper and more profound than when he had lost the invitation to the Aslan Seminar.

He felt as if everything had been taken away from him by that commoner.

———-

Stella Academy had an actual phone booth, believe it or not.

Of course, not many people used it. It required the premise that the other person also had a telephone to make a call.

"Thank you for granting my request."

-Of course I will. Who else would I do it for?

When Alterisha’s voice came through the receiver, Baek Yu-Seol burst into laughter.

Despite being exhausted, it was a voice that seemed happy for some reason.

Even though she was likely busy with research and development at the moment, he was grateful that she took the time to make a phone call.

-Anyway, you said you resolved the trade deal with the Adolveit Royal Family, right?

"Yes. Please postpone any transactions with the Adolveit Market or companies for about a month. For the time being, it will only be distributed through the royal family."

During that month, Hong Bi-Yeon would exert a significant influence on her homeland. If she could monopolize the entire Adolveit market in her name, it would be a tremendous achievement.

In truth, she might not even need this kind of help.

Hong Bi-Yeon had the true power to resist any influence or political manipulation.

She just didn’t realize it yet.

-Oh, and the response to the video you sent was really good. Honestly, it was your first time using that kind of magical tool, but I never imagined you could utilize it to 100%, no, even 200%.

"I just helped a bit."

In fact, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't say that he had already used many similar things before.

-In terms of their individual performances alone, honestly, they're still not quite there yet. Thanks to you, we received a great response from sponsors. It seems like we'll be able to accelerate development quickly.

"Oh, that's good to hear."

‘They might be able to make the items I requested soon. It's amazing that items that were only used in the game can now be used in real life.’

No wonder Baek Yu-Seol's heart was pounding.

-Um... Yu-Seol.

"Yes?"

-Thank you.

He was slightly taken aback by the unexpected expression of gratitude.

"It's actually me who should be thankful."

-Well, no. It's all thanks to you.

"Me?"

-These days, I'm happy every day.

Alterisha spoke in a strange voice she hadn't revealed before, speaking calmly as if reciting a poem.

-I've always dreamed. A dream of having my own little research lab.

"......"

-Even if the performance isn't great, having my own experimental tools... I've always waited and yearned for the day when I could do the research I wanted. But I thought it was impossible, that dreams are just dreams. And now, an opportunity has been given to me.

That... was the most precious golden thread in the world.

-Even in my dream, I couldn't have imagined this. In the best environment in the world, with brilliant professors... being able to use the best experimental tools and rare materials according to my own will.

Who could have imagined it?

Who would have thought that she, who had been conducting research in a shabby warehouse with crude experimental tools, would suddenly become the world's greatest alchemist and conduct research in a fitting facility?

-Now, no one opposes whatever I do. Everyone respects my opinion and listens to what I say.

For her, who had always been ignored, wasn’t that... the greatest happiness?

-These days, I feel the reality of being alive. When I place my hand on my chest, I can feel it pounding. This... It's all because of you.

-It's the same this time too. Once again, someone tried to take away my precious children... and you stopped them all, didn't you?

"Well, yes..."

-That's why I wanted to express my gratitude once again. Just... yeah, like that.

As her words ended, Baek Yu-Seol carefully contemplated how to respond to her heartfelt words.

"Um..."

-Oh!

However, Alterisha, who realized the belated confession of her embarrassing feelings, reacted first.

She quickly stammered and exclaimed.

-I, um, I! Dr. Beaurock is looking for me! I have to run away! I'm hanging up now!

"What? Wait, just a moment! Alterisha?"

Dial tone…

Before he could respond, Alterisha hung up the call, leaving Baek Yu-Seol feeling empty and sighing.

"Oh, really..."

After hanging up the phone, he leaned against the wall and absentmindedly stared out the window.