(Raven's POV)

"Now, we can talk properly."

I said to Branwen after pulling him close to me using <Psychokinesis>.

The words left my mouth slow and deliberate, my tone calm but firm, the kind of voice that didn't invite disagreement.

I heard him call me a jerk after that, muttering it under his breath, but honestly I don't really care... I just want to finish this already so I can get back to training.

His comment barely reached me anyway, it's just like an insect buzzing in the background. And besides, looking down at him from above put me in a better mood for some reason, so I decided to just ignore his petty remark.

[You sadist.]

Sariel suddenly came out and said that after reading my thoughts.

'Shut up.'

I replied internally, not in the mood to get teased by him right now.

Anyway, I was feeling kinda exhausted from all the training I did today. My body didn't show it much, but deep down, the fatigue was definitely there, weighing on me little by little.

SWOOSH~

So I sent my mana into the [Celestria], shaping it in my mind, willing it to transform into something I could sit on— just a simple chair to take the weight off for a while.

But for some reason...

FWISH—!

It didn't just turn into a chair.

It transformed into a goddamn throne!

"..."

I was speechless for a second, staring at the oversized, extravagant seat that stood before me. Its presence felt absurdly imposing, completely different from what I intended.

I just want a normal chair...

In confusion by what just happened—

'Sariel?'

I called in my head with a questioning tone, my brow twitching slightly.

[It seems like your newly evolved skill, <Emperor's Aura>, is influencing your skills and equipment.]

Sariel immediately replied, his tone straight and clear, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"..."

I was speechless. I don't know what to say.

But after a while—

'Meh, whatever.'

I just brushed it off.

'This will do, it's better than nothing.'

I thought while looking at the throne in front of me. It wasn't what I asked for, but I guess it fit in its own twisted way.

Though, sitting in it will be embarrassing as fuck.

I frowned at that idea.

Then, from my side—

"Are you flexing?"

Branwen suddenly asked me that question, dragging my attention back to him.

Bringing my eyes away from the throne, I saw him frowning, his gaze moving back and forth between me and the overblown chair like he couldn't decide if I was serious or just mocking everyone with it.

As a response, I simply shrugged my shoulders—

"So what if I am?"

And I replied nonchalantly, letting the words roll out like it was nothing at all.

"..."

Branwen was unable to say a word at my response. He just sat there, lips pressed tight, as though he couldn't believe I'd answered so casually.

Which, honestly, put me in a better mood.

So with a slight smile on my face...

"Anyway, let's start."

I said that, shifting the atmosphere back toward my real purpose here.

"Start what?"

Branwen asked, his tone flat but edged with skepticism.

"Our discussion."

And I answered immediately, not leaving room for delay.

"Discussion?"

Branwen mumbled with a scoffing tone, his head tilting slightly.

"You just barged in here with no explanation and forced me to have a talk with you, is this a discussion for you?"

Then he added afterward, looking at me with ridicule, as though he couldn't resist mocking the way I handled things.

'I see, he really doesn't plan to give me an easy time.'

I thought while watching Branwen's calm but sly smile. That expression of his, smug and knowing, was making me want to punch him right in the face.

As a matter of fact, my hands are already clenched into fists.

"..."

Anyway, I ignored Branwen's words—

"You probably already know why I came here."

And I carried on with what I called our "discussion," steering the talk back to where it needed to be.

"..."

Branwen didn't reply, his eyes drifting elsewhere as though he'd lost interest, but I know he was listening closely. He always was.

So I just continued talking.

"There will be a field trip next week, and the tertiary students obey your words well, so it would be helpful if you can convince them to join."

I said, laying the request bare.

"Why should I?"

Branwen asked immediately after I finished talking. He didn't even pause to think about it, his quick reply showing just how much he wanted to annoy me by being petty.

'Oh trust me Branwen, you don't need to do that to annoy me. Just existing is enough.'

I thought, keeping my irritation to myself.

"Because something interesting will happen there."

I answered him calmly.

Branwen, confused by my words, looked at me strangely and asked...

"Interesting? How?"

Then, to answer his question...

I leaned closer to Branwen, lowering my voice so no one else could hear.

"I got a tip that a group of terrorists will attack us students during the field trip."

I whispered that, making sure it was only audible to Branwen and me!

Then upon hearing my words—

"...?"

Branwen's index finger twitched almost imperceptibly, but his face remained calm, expression steady as though he'd heard nothing shocking.

"Where did you get that information?"

Branwen asked me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

So I leaned back on my throne, returning his smile with one of my own before answering...

"It's a secret."

"Bastard, this isn't the time to be joking around if what you just said is true."

Branwen said to me, still smiling like a conman, but I could feel the faint edge of annoyance beneath it.

"I can't tell you, I promised my informer to not reveal anything about them or else they wouldn't give me information anymore."

I said with a calm smile on my face, speaking as though the matter was already decided.

From the others' perspectives, it just looked like we were having a "friendly" chat, nothing serious at all.

Anyway, after hearing my reply...

"..."

Branwen just looked at me for a couple of seconds without saying anything, letting the silence stretch.

"Are you sure that the information you got is true?"

Then he asked me afterward, voice steady.

'Of course, the information is from me after all.'

I thought before opening my mouth to reply.

"I wish it wasn't, but apparently, it is."

"Hmm..."

Branwen leaned back on his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Did you tell this to anyone else?"

He asked me that, curiosity slipping through.

"Nope."

I replied simply.

"Then why did you tell me?"

"Because I need your help."

"You must be joking, you want me to protect the kids?"

He asked, disbelief tinging his tone.

"Not just you, but the other tertiary students too."

And I answered without missing a beat.

"..."

After our short exchange of words, Branwen went silent again. He leaned back, his gaze drifting upward to the ceiling, clearly lost in thought.

He's contemplating... weighing his options carefully.

"Are you planning to tell this to others, like Lillen for example?"

Branwen then suddenly asked me, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Nope, I don't think so."

"Why?"

"I can't tell you, I have my reasons."

"..."

After hearing my answer, Branwen fell silent once more, his mind clearly racing as he started thinking things through thoroughly.

'If I tell the others about this information, they would surely try their best to stop the field trip.'

'Which might be the best thing to do in others' perspectives... But if they do that, the future that I know will greatly change.'

'And the enemies might notice that someone knows their plan... Making them change, not only their terrorism plan but their future plans as well.'

'Resulting in unpredictable attacks from the enemies and disasters in the future.'

'If that happens, there will be more casualties...'

That was my reason for not telling this to Lillen and the others.

Anyway, my plan to oppose the enemies is simple.

I just need to prepare for their attacks and stop them head-on every time.

I will let things go as they planned...

'Except that they wouldn't get the results they wanted.'

I thought with a determined face, my mind set firmly on the path ahead.

And that's when...

"I initially plan not to attend this stupid field trip with the other tertiaries–"

Branwen spoke at last, his voice breaking the silence after long contemplation.

"–And instead just prepare for the friendly competition against the Sun Academy next month."

He added, his eyes locking with mine as he spoke.

Then after that, with a smirk pulling at his lips...

"But now that I think about it, fighting off some terrorists sounds like a good training method."

Branwen stated that, his words laced with amusement.

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about."

I replied, a faint grin spreading across my face.

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