As the dawn broke over the horizon, casting light across the Academy grounds, Minister Kim Kwanhyeong frowned while looking out the window.

The sunrise from the VIP room of the Academy was breathtaking, the kind of view that could inspire awe—but only for a day or two.

For someone like him, who had been cooped up at the Academy for days, repeatedly failing at every turn, even the beauty of the sunrise felt bitter.

…

After staring at the sunrise for a while, the Minister lit a cigarette to clear his thoughts.

Fwoosh.

Only after filling his lungs with the rich smoke of a Korean cigarette did he feel calm enough to reflect on recent events.

“...Not a single thing is going right.”

If one were to summarize the government’s recent actions, it would be a string of failures.

From the botched deal with the necromancers, to the Manchurian incident, and the diplomatic attempts to politically isolate the Academy—all failures.

Failure after failure after failure.

Starting with the necromancer deal in Incheon:
The government still hadn’t identified the culprit who raided the deal.
Whether it was an individual or an organization remained a complete mystery.

Even the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had resorted to absurd speculation, claiming it might have been a terrorist organization from beyond the dimensional gate.

“Useless bastards stealing their salaries.”

The Manchurian incident fared no better.

Despite the massive slush funds and manpower poured into the operation, they hadn’t even managed to secure half the “offerings” they needed.

Sure, the Saintess’s unexpected involvement was a factor, but that wasn’t an excuse for failure.

In an attempt to salvage the situation, Minister Kim Kwanhyeong himself had come to the Academy to apply pressure. But as his prolonged stay in the VIP room indicated, the results were unsatisfactory.

It was all because of that “special guest instructor.”

Who could have guessed that the Academy’s principal would openly welcome an external force?

While Korea had been aggressively pressuring the Academy, other bystander nations seized the opportunity to rally behind the principal’s decision.

Even the Holy Kingdom, which had been milking the Saintess’s popularity like a celebrity marketing scheme, supported the move. France, blinded by jealousy, and the delusional remnants of Moscow, still pretending to be a global power, followed suit.

With their support and the label of “special instructor,” the Academy’s position was suddenly untouchable.

The Minister had attempted to infiltrate agents among the shepherds, but…

Two of them were caught and killed by a mysterious special instructor named Corvus.

Even hearing the report left him speechless. How could their luck be so abysmal?

What were the odds that their agents would encounter a special instructor at that exact moment, in that exact place?

“We even used Awakening Potions to prepare those infiltrators… The heavens must truly despise us.”

Taking a final drag from his cigarette, Minister Kim finished it in one long pull. The rush of nicotine somewhat alleviated his frustration.

After a brief pause, he remembered something and pulled out his smartphone, initiating a video call.

Soon, the call connected, and a familiar face appeared on the screen.

"Minister, I received your message. What’s the matter?"

A stern but disciplined voice.

The woman on the screen had the composure of a soldier.

Her name was 10-11-16, a shepherd drafted from the ranch to infiltrate the Academy as a special instructor.

“The special classes start today, correct? I wanted to confirm. How are the preparations coming along?”

It was a routine question, but the shepherd responded without hesitation.

"Everything is in order. All sheep except the ‘Black Sheep’ have registered me as their instructor and are enrolled in my special class. Most Korean students are also placed under key instructors."

“Good, good. And what about the Black Sheep?”

"The Black Sheep has been safely assigned under ‘Stallion.’"

At the mention of that word, the Minister smiled for the first time that morning.

A honey trap, huh? Sometimes simplicity is the best solution.

“What’s your impression? Is Stallion as infatuated with the Black Sheep as reported?”

"More so. If the Black Sheep wanted, Stallion would willingly offer up his liver and gallbladder."

“…Ha!”

The Minister let out a satisfied laugh. Finally, something worthwhile from this miserable roadshow.

But complacency would be their downfall. Love, after all, could burn brightly but extinguish suddenly.

“Tell the Black Sheep not to hold back. If necessary, deploy other sheep to assist.”

"Other sheep? You mean…?"

“If we can secure Stallion’s loyalty to Korea before graduation, that’s ideal. But if not… we’ll settle for his seed.”

"Understood…."

“Yes, even a half-baked offspring should at least be able to spread their legs.”

The Minister’s words, as cold as those meant for livestock, were followed by him lighting another cigarette.

Click, click. As he flicked the lighter, he added,
“And reinforce security around the sheep.”

"Security? Is there an issue?"

“The scum who failed their terrorist attempt want to claim one of our sheep. I don’t know what they’re planning, but we can’t afford to be entangled.”

"Understood. Any other orders?"

The shepherd seemed unusually proactive today, perhaps due to the special classes.
The Minister dismissed the faint sense of unease and replied.

“Take occasional photos of the Black Sheep and Stallion together. A rumored romance might be useful for the next local elections.”

"Yes, Minister."

“Good. Carry on.”

With that, the Minister ended the call.

Whether it was the haze of cigarette smoke or the morning light, he failed to notice one critical detail:

The shepherd’s eyes had turned pitch black.

 

Morning Commotion

The school bustled with energy.

Today marked the end of the temporary lockdown, and the students were more lively than ever.

Some showed up in brand-new uniforms, while others couldn’t stop chattering about the special classes.

Of course, not everyone was brimming with excitement.

Those who had failed to secure a spot in special classes trudged toward the main building with dejected faces.

A landscape of extremes among the youth.

Taking in the scene, Yeomyeong let out a small sigh.

“Why the long face so early in the morning? Didn’t sleep well?”

Seti’s voice rang out beside him. Yeomyeong turned to her, narrowing his eyes.

“…Yeah, I didn’t sleep at all. Thanks to someone who paid me a visit last night.”

“Really? Who came to visit?”

“….”

“Who would visit a boy’s dormitory in the dead of night? I wonder who it could be.”

“…Indeed, who could it be.”

Blunt questions, playful answers.

The two walked side by side toward the school building, exchanging banter that sounded casual but carried an undertone of tension.

Some students gave them curious glances but didn’t linger.

They were past the age for petty teasing, and rumors about Yeomyeong and Seti were already widespread.

It was said that Yeomyeong and Seti had “a thing.”

They had allegedly hit it off after fighting on Yeomyeong’s first day at the Academy and grew closer while battling together during an evacuation.

Rumors, likely planted intentionally, had spread like wildfire.

Unbothered, Yeomyeong called Seti’s name with a serious tone.

“Hey, Hong Seti.”

“…What?”

“About last night. You remember everything, don’t you?”

Last night.
The sudden appearance of Mignium, the use of Seti’s body, and the altered Awakening Potion left behind.

If it had been a dream, he might have laughed it off. But the potion’s altered hue confirmed it as reality.

“Hmm… who knows?”

Seti shrugged innocently, feigning ignorance as she had been all morning.

“….”

Yeomyeong stared at her quietly. Feeling his gaze, Seti rolled her eyes and smirked.

“…You drank the potion, didn’t you?”

A comment she couldn’t have made without knowing about his interaction with Mignium.
It confirmed that the body he saw last night was indeed Seti’s.

Rubbing his temple, Yeomyeong replied.

“Of course not. How could I drink that thing?”

“Why? Because it came from my chest? Grossed out?”

“….”

“Oh… that expression. Haven’t seen that since Incheon.”

Should he hit her? Yeomyeong pondered briefly before Seti continued.

“You should’ve just drunk it. Think of it as a fair exchange for releasing my restraint.”

Seti turned off the main path, heading toward a less-traveled trail.

Matching her stride, Yeomyeong replied.

“I didn’t release your restraints expecting anything in return.”

“Oh, then I guess I didn’t give it to you expecting anything either?”

“…Are you going to keep joking around when I’m serious?”

Seti smiled sheepishly at his retort.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to. It’s just… hard to hold it in.”

Her trembling lips proved her words.
She seemed to be suppressing laughter—or perhaps some other emotion.

“Still, I really do want you to drink it.”

“….”

“You still have it, don’t you? The Awakening Potion.”

Yeomyeong silently opened his bag to reveal the potion, glowing faintly in the morning light.

“Knew it. You brought it to force me to drink it, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah, I did.”

“What if I refuse?”

“I’ll force it down your throat.”

“Uh… that’s a bit much….”

Seti scratched her cheek, shook her head, and said,
“Still, I think it’d be better if you drank it. It’d be wasted on me.”

Her tone had turned more serious, though her steps remained light.

“…Wasted?”

“Yeah, wasted. Remember what kind of potential we sisters were born with?”

All-Master.
Beings capable of simultaneously mastering all three mana paths granted to humans.

Seti and her sisters were artificially created All-Masters.

But…

“All of us were defective. We could only walk two paths. And even then, we had to choose one as primary and the other as secondary.”

Was it because her restraints had been lifted?
Seti’s expression remained devoid of regret or disappointment as she uttered the word “defective.”

“For me… martial arts is primary, and divine power is secondary.”

“Then…”

“Yeah, the potential I put into the potion is my mage potential.”

“….”

“It’s called potential, but I can’t even use the most basic magic.”

Seti averted her gaze slightly, as if apologetic for offering the least valuable part of herself.

“But it’s not like I’m giving it away recklessly. If you can use magic, our plans will go smoother. Efficiency and focus—that’s why I’m giving it to you.”

Yeomyeong watched her lengthy explanation and stopped in his tracks.

“Seti, are you sure you won’t regret this?”

“…I’ve never regretted anything since meeting you.”

The audacity of her blunt words made Yeomyeong shake his head as he retrieved the potion from his bag.

Staring at its radiant glow, Yeomyeong hesitated for a moment.
Could he really drink this? He still hadn’t questioned her about Mignium.

But his hesitation didn’t last long. He trusted Seti, even if Mignium remained a mystery.

Having made his decision, there was no reason to delay.

Pop.

Yeomyeong opened the bottle and downed the potion. Despite its appearance, it tasted sweet, like milk.

“Well? Feel anything different?”

As he emptied the bottle, Seti’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Yet Yeomyeong felt no change. Not in his body, nor in his senses.

“…Do you feel a surge, like when you first mastered Wave Breaking Sword Art?”

“…Not really.”

Yeomyeong placed the empty bottle back into his bag and assessed himself internally. Still, there was no discernible difference.

“Hmm… maybe the effects take time to kick in?”

“Probably.”

“Or… maybe you just got unlucky with the Awakening Potion’s randomness?”

“…What?”

What nonsense was she spouting now? Yeomyeong scowled at her half-joking, half-serious remark.

“Don’t even joke about that.”

“What? It’s possible. And if it failed, so what? It’s not like you wasted your potential—it was mine.”

“…Do you even know how much an Awakening Potion costs?”

“Oh, right. The price. Forgot about that.”

Forgot, huh? Seti added the comment and fell silent.

A brief quiet fell between them as they exchanged glances.

After a moment, both of them burst out laughing simultaneously.

The tension between them lightened considerably as Yeomyeong spoke first.

“Now that the potion’s dealt with, tell me—what’s your connection to Mignium?”

A direct question with no preamble.

Seti looked slightly startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to bring it up so soon.

“Ah, about… her….”

“…‘Her’?”

“Calling her by name is something only you can do. I… I can’t.”

Seti’s demeanor was cautious when speaking about Mignium, resembling the reverence the Saintess held for the Five Gods.

“Seti, don’t tell me you…”

Yeomyeong began, but Seti quickly waved her hands in denial.

“No, no. It’s not what you’re thinking. I chose her of my own free will.”

“….”

“Really. If you knew how we met, you’d understand. It was the day I broke my restraints….”

Just as Seti started explaining, something caught Yeomyeong’s senses beyond the wooded path.

It wasn’t a student but someone familiar.

Yeomyeong immediately focused his gaze on the spot. Following his instincts, he manipulated mana in the air.

Ting!

A fingernail-sized shard of ice shot through the bushes, grazing whoever was hiding behind them.

“Argh!”

A sudden scream erupted, and Seti turned her head toward the sound.

“Wait! Stop! I surrender!”

Emerging from the bushes with hands raised was a cleaning lady.

Ava.

A known spy for the Secret Society that orchestrated the Academy bombing—and the woman who had given Seti the Wave Breaking Sword Art.

Despite the blood dripping from the gash on her forehead, Ava stammered,

“Hong Seti… and the Earthling who mastered Wave Breaking Sword Art… can we talk for a moment?”