The Selection Power Changes Hands! Hagun's Hidden Trump Card?

The awkward atmosphere in the chairman's office grew increasingly thick after Kashu's series of counterquestions.

Both Kurono Shinguuji and Stella were typical combat-oriented types, and neither had truly given much thought to the flaws in the selection format before.

Now that Kashu had ruthlessly exposed the massive bug in the selection system, Kurono Shinguuji, already troubled enough by the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, clutched her head and slumped back into her office chair.

"What if I added a round-robin system?"

"That won't work!" Kashu replied decisively. "Not only would the students' recovery speed be unable to support it, it would also consume an enormous amount of academy resources."

Kashu once again mercilessly shattered her hopes. The new chairman looked ashen, closing her eyes as though she had completely given up.

She waved a tired hand. "Then what brilliant suggestion does Animusphere have? Surely you didn't come all this way just to make fun of me?"

Kashu remained composed, raising two fingers as he spoke in a deep voice.

"First, postpone the start of the selection tournament by one week."

"Second, hand over the authority to plan the representative selection matches to me."

"Hand it over to you!?"

For a moment, Kurono Shinguuji felt her temples throbbing.

She had thought the arrival of two A-Rank Knights would be a blessing for Hagun Academy. Now, it seemed neither of them was easy to handle!

"Animusphere, Hagun Academy has never delegated selection authority to a student, much less a first-year."

Kashu lowered his fingers, his calm gaze sweeping over the certificates from Hagun Academy's past competitions displayed to the left.

[Semifinalists] [Semifinalists] [Semifinalists] [Third Place] [Third Place]

"My goal is to stand on the stage of the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, face the other academies one by one, and ultimately claim victory."

"If the chairman is content with Hagun Academy's current state, then pretend I never said anything."

Kurono Shinguuji narrowed her phoenix-like eyes and viciously ground her cigarette into the ashtray. After pondering for a moment, she finally nodded.

Hagun Academy's results had already hit rock bottom. They could hardly get any worse!

It would be better to take this opportunity and gamble on the variable these two A-Rank Knights might bring!

Kurono Shinguuji promptly arranged dormitories for Kashu and Stella, then sent someone to guide them to collect their daily necessities.

She returned to her computer, lightly clicking the mouse. A new entrance examination report immediately opened.

Name: Stella Vermillion

Age: 15

Nationality: Vermillion Kingdom

Attack Power: A

Defense: A

Mana Capacity: A

Mana Control: B

Physical Ability: B+

Luck: A

Device: Dragon Princess's Sin Sword

Kurono Shinguuji compared the two reports, a childishly cunning gleam flashing through her eyes.

Her gaze settled on the Device entry in Kashu's report—

Just as expected, it was blank.

The admissions team had only dared to provisionally assign him the code name [Elemental Dragon]. They would never dare overstep their bounds and name it themselves.

Kurono Shinguuji tapped the keyboard and entered four words. The frustration from Kashu repeatedly refuting her vanished at once, and her mood immediately brightened.

"Arrogant little brat. Let this chairman vent a little of an adult's resentment too."

Meanwhile.

On the way to collect their daily necessities, the proud Stella could not hold herself back any longer and invited Kashu to a mock battle.

To her surprise, Kashu flatly refused without the slightest hesitation.

"I'm purely a real-combat fighter. I never fight others using a fantasy form. If you lack the corresponding resolve, don't challenge me."

With that, Kashu simply left, leaving Stella standing there in a daze, momentarily speechless.

As the publicly acknowledged strongest person in the Vermillion Kingdom, her strength could not possibly be summed up by the word talent alone. The effort she had put in was enough to leave ordinary people far behind.

Even so, Stella had never considered continuously honing her skills through genuine combat.

When Blazers fought using fantasy forms, attacks only depleted stamina at most, resulting in exhaustion or unconsciousness.

Real combat, on the other hand, was a bloody struggle where every blade drew blood. One careless mistake could mean the difference between life and death.

Stella stared at Kashu's receding back. That figure might have borne something even heavier than the effort she understood.

However, if she could have heard Kashu's thoughts at that moment, she would probably have drawn her sword in fury on the spot.

A mock battle? Hah, I'm not even a Blazer. Where would my Noble Phantasm get a fantasy form?

Under a staff member's guidance, Kashu smoothly received two sets of Hagun boys' uniforms and an academy-issued mobile terminal.

After entering the dormitory, Kashu first carefully put away the Mystic Code from Chaldea before changing into Hagun Academy's uniform.

Both sets of uniforms were black and white, so Kashu, who was fond of the old ways, did not feel the slightest discomfort.

Creak—!

The dormitory door opened again, and a tall black-haired boy dressed in sportswear walked in.

"Um, are you...?"

Kashu smiled and raised a hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kashu Animusphere, a first-year student. Please take care of me."

"Fouu~"

Kashu added, "Oh, this is Fou, my companion."

Seeing Kashu's friendly attitude and that he did not look at him strangely, the black-haired boy hurriedly raised his hand in response.

"Hello, I'm Ikki Kurogane, also a first-year. Please take care of me."

"I really didn't expect anyone to end up sharing a dorm room with me."

Hearing that, Kashu looked at Ikki Kurogane, whose face was filled with emotion, and asked in confusion.

"Why do you say that? Does Hagun Academy have special rules even for dorm assignments?"

Ikki Kurogane nodded solemnly. "Of course."

"Hagun Academy follows a ranking system. Students of similar strength are assigned to live together so they can spur each other onward."

Kashu showed a thoughtful expression, curiosity in his eyes.

"Similar strength? Then what is Kurogane's Blazer rank?"

At those words, Ikki Kurogane's expression immediately turned awkward.

But he had already decided that Kashu was in a similar situation, and since his own circumstances were common knowledge throughout the academy, there was no need to hide it.

"My Blazer rank is F. My ability is only the most basic physical enhancement, so... I've been repeating grades."

Kashu's eyes darkened slightly. He took out his mobile terminal and quickly searched for Ikki Kurogane's name.

Name: Ikki Kurogane

Class: Hagun Academy, First Year Class 1

Age: 16

Blazer Rank: F

Attack Power: F

Defense: F

Mana Capacity: F

Mana Control: E

Physical Ability: A

Luck: F

Device: Dark Iron

According to the academy records, Ikki Kurogane had not lied. He truly was only an F-Rank Blazer.

Yet in reality, Kashu could not sense the slightest aura of weakness from him.

Every movement he made was refined and precise, and the battle aura around him was steady and deep. Everything about him revealed the bearing of a strong person tempered through long training.

"Kurogane," Kashu said, a flicker of fighting spirit flashing through his eyes. "Interested in having a real combat spar with me?"