Seventy Seventh Seven-Chapter 64: Rejection

"The fudge just hap—"

"Seven Hart."

"...?!"

Seven's breath hitched.

The familiar grand hall of the academy was gone. The murmuring students, the anticipation for the final test, the overwhelming presence of high-ranking Academy officials overseeing the applicants vanished in an instant.

Instead, he found himself in a dimly lit, expensive office. The scent of parchments and ink filled the air, and stacks of documents towered over the wooden desk in front of him.

Some were meticulously arranged, others haphazardly scattered, as if abandoned mid-task.

There was a sense of controlled chaos, the kind that spoke of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities.

And behind that desk sat a woman.

Cylinth dei Silverio.

The Vice Headmaster.

The current acting Headmaster.

'But wasn't she just on stage a second ago...?'

His mind raced, but his expression remained impassive.

Questioning the capabilities of someone who had reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Mana Gate was pointless. Some people simply existed beyond logic.

He exhaled as he tried to compose himself.

"Cyl— No. Vice Headmaster?"

Cylinth leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly against the wooden surface. Her gaze was sharp. Assessing. Measuring.

"Assistant."

"...What?"

"Be my assistant."

He blinked. Stared. Then blinked again.

Not only had he been warped into her office without permission, but now he was being offered as her assistant.

It was tempting.

But he knew better.

His gaze flickered across the room. The sheer amount of paperwork alone was a red flag. The pinned registration forms behind her chair—including his own—the calendar marked with frantic Xs and checks, all pointed to one thing.

She needed someone to do her paperwork.

"No."

The tapping of her fingers stopped.

"...If you're worried about the documents, don't."

"Still no."

"...Money?"

"No."

"Privileges?"

"Still no."

Silence stretched between them.

Cylinth studied him. This was new.

Most students would have jumped at the opportunity. Being her assistant meant direct access to the higher floor of the Academy's library, classified information, and resources that others could only dream of.

Countless applicants had tried to gain her favor, offering their undying loyalty just for a sliver of that power.

Yet here he was, Seven hart, blatantly rejecting her offer.

Amusing.

She let out a slow, quiet exhale before resting her chin on the back of her hand.

"Just like your sister, I figured you'd be stubborn."

"Then why ask?"

Cylinth smirked.

"Because you have potential."

Lies.

Or, at the very least, an exaggeration.

Seven wasn't special in terms of raw ability. His brown mana gate was proof of that. Compared to the prodigies in the academy, he was painfully average.

Only if he wasn't a reader.

The only thing that set him apart was him being a reader, and that was something he couldn't afford to expose.

Yet, she was persistent. That meant she saw something in him that even he, himself, wasn't even aware of.

Before he could respond, Cylinth reached into her drawer and pulled out an envelope.

Thud.

The envelope landed on the desk, its edge slightly creased from impact. The royal crest wax seal gleamed under the dim light.

An invitation letter.

"...You'll have an exemption from the seventh test."

Seven exhaled through his nose.

'So that was it.'

She wanted something from him, whether it was his potential, him being a Hart, or just someone to dump paperwork on, he didn't know. But offering this letter as a bargaining chip made it clear.

She expected him to accept.

He reached forward, his fingers brushing against the envelope before stopping.

His thoughts swirled, calculating the pros and cons. The last test was a one-on-one mock duel, and in a place filled with prodigies, he was at a clear disadvantage. He could use Theia's Eye, but that meant revealing too much.

But if he accepted this...

It would mean owing Cylinth a favor.

He withdrew his hand.

"...No."

Cylinth frowned. This was the most valuable thing up to the point that only one invitation was offered, and that was meant for Eden Hart... though she never used it.

"No?"

He remained silent for a moment, his fingers twitching slightly before he reached out for the inside portion of his cloak.

Slowly, without breaking eye contact, he activated his dimensional storage.

It was a necessary move so Cylinth would think that the storage was the enchantment of his clock and not an ability given by the system.

A soft ripple of energy flickered in the air. Then, in a smooth motion, he reached inside and pulled out a slightly crumpled envelope.

The heavy parchment was slightly worn from being stored away, but the golden seal remained pristine, pressed firmly with the insignia of the Kingdom's crest.

Thud.

The envelope landed on the desk, its weight heavier than the invitation Cylinth tried to offer him.

Cylinth's fingers, which had been idly tapping against the desk, froze mid-motion. Her dark-brown eyes flickered toward the envelope, then back to Seven's face.

"...?"

The invitation letter.

A privilege given specifically for Eden, but can be used by those of Hart bloodline. Yet, here he was. Casually throwing it onto her desk as if it were a piece of scrap paper.

"I already have a way to pass. But... I don't need an exemption."

She stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, she leaned back against her chair, resting her chin against her knuckles as her lips curled to a smile.

"You don't need an exemption?"

"Yes. I'll take the test."

"...?!"

There was no sign of anger in her expression. But mana leaked out from her body. Purposely. Guiding them to wrap around Seven's body.

His fingers twitched.

He wasn't afraid, but he was aware that the person before him was someone who had reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Mana Gate, a woman whose power alone demanded respect.

He knew rejecting her so blatantly was something that had likely never happened before.

And yet, despite himself, he wasn't intimidated.

Instead, a part of him felt amused.

Cylinth, on the other hand, remained still. Then, a slow exhale left her lips as she reached forward, dragging the envelope closer with a single finger.

"So you're refusing a shortcut. No. These two shortcuts?"

She tilted her head slightly, holding both invitation letters in one hand.

"Tell me, Seven Hart. Do you think you can pass on your own?"

A test.

A trap.

A taunt.

Seven didn't flinch and met her gaze evenly.

"That's not the point."

"Oh?"

"I'm not taking a spot I didn't earn."

The words hung in the air for a moment.

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Cylinth didn't laugh. She didn't scoff. Instead, after a long moment, her smirk faded into something more neutral, perhaps even thoughtful.

"Interesting."

Cylinth tapped the edge of the envelope, staring at it as if it held an answer only she could see.

Then, after a brief pause, she sighed.

"Very well. Do as you wish."

Seven remained still.

"However, don't regret it if you're not chosen by the judges."

Snap!

With a snap of her fingers, a black void expanded beneath Seven, swallowing him, only to reappear back into the grand halls of the Academy.

For a moment, he paused, thinking if he made a good decision by returning the invitation letter Eden gave him.

But thinking about it, he frowned, gripping the seven-shaped pendant of his necklace.

"I refuse help from the one I must surpass."