Chapter 31 – If There Is Qualification, It Is Not Arrogance

It goes without saying that Deus couldn’t let this incident pass quietly.

Though some credit was given to the dispatched force led by Luciel and Nefertiti.

Even though the official outcome was that there were heroes of the Cradle, not just a hero of the Cradle.

In the end, the one who had dealt with the newly emerged enemy, the ‘Demon,’ was him.

[ The Cradle’s New Hero! Slayed the ‘Demon’! ]

[ Well done, our junior! Well done, our freshman!! ]

[All freshmen must be like Deus! Deus! Deus!!]

These mad fools. Stop it. My life points are already at zero!

Whether they understood Deus’s inner feelings or not, the students showed a new reaction every time.

“Junior! It, it! It’d be good if you smiled brighter— Ah, no! Don’t smile! It’s scarier!!”

Choosing to approach with courage instead of running away.

“So… what path have you walked, Junior? How could you become so strong?”

Genuinely curious about his past and thinking of following his example.

“We unanimously believe that Deus should be the freshman representative!!”

Choosing a method that put Deus at the very front of the freshman class.

Whatever it was, it was complete chaos. There was even a banner with Deus’s face on it.

One problem: anyone could tell, “That’s too beautified, isn’t it?” It was drawn too gently.

And right now. Deus was heading to the Headmaster’s office, summoned by Headmaster Pohn.

“…Therefore. All of Yggdrasil’s teachers have unanimously agreed to include you, Deus, in the dispatch team. The team members also welcomed you, saying that even though you’re a freshman, you’re more than qualified.”

Headmaster Pohn gazed at the freshman sitting before him. Or, more accurately, gazed *up* at him.

He wondered if this could really be human. It wasn’t just the size, but also the *atmosphere* he exuded.

Such a fierce energy emanated from him that he involuntarily shuddered.

Considering he was a skilled individual who had been in the field in the past, it really made no sense.

Was this… a well-honed sword? A spear brimming with keenness?

No. Neither of those. He didn’t know what to call it.

In sixty years, he’d never seen a young man like this!

‘I can see why Luciel and Student Council President Nefertiti praised him so highly.’

A typical alpha male type. And also a typical front-line warrior type.

Just being in a party with someone like him would instill courage and fighting spirit.

If he strode forward with a hearty laugh, the other party members would also find courage.

Although there was the downside that if the warrior failed, it could severely damage morale.

But seeing his prowess in that incident recently, it didn’t seem likely.

“What do you say? Will you join?”

Dispatch team experience. Something that every student at Yggdrasil wants more than anything.

You need to be at least in the top of your class, combining theory, practice, and ethical conduct.

Otherwise, you need the agreement of more than half of Yggdrasil’s teachers to obtain the position.

It’s proof that you’ve already been verified to some extent as a capable individual.

In fact, the majority of prominent skilled individuals in the Empire have dispatch team experience.

In their world, it can be considered more important than family ties, school ties, or regional ties.

“The dispatch team. Is it.”

But, but. Something felt a little strange.

“…Student Deus.”

“Yes, Headmaster.”

“You. You don’t exactly look thrilled.”

Others would grit their teeth and work hard to get that position.

If they could get it by some stroke of luck, they’d snatch it up in a heartbeat.

That student, Deus, who’d been offered the chance, wore a strangely listless expression.

It felt absurd even to think it, but in the off chance…

“As expected, I can’t fool the Headmaster’s eyes. I’ll be frank, then. Truth is, I have no intention of joining the Expeditionary Force.”

Incredulously. This Deus student had truly rejected the Expeditionary Force.

“What is the meaning of this? Why on earth?”

A chance others would kill to grasp. A path laid out to assured success.

And he rejects it? What an utterly preposterous answer.

Perhaps taken aback, Headmaster Von’s voice edged higher.

“The reason. What is the reason?”

“I simply believe that going through the curriculum at the Cradle, and then formally starting my career as a Regulator, is sufficient.”

“Yes. That’s all the more reason why joining the Expeditionary Force would be beneficial, Deus.”

“I apologize. While I appreciate your consideration, I will not be joining the Expeditionary Force.”

Ha. Hahahaha. Headmaster Von let out a dry laugh before he could stop himself.

What was going on? He hadn’t imagined anyone would reject a spot on the Expeditionary Force.

An unprecedented event in the entire history of the Cradle was unfolding before him.

“Still, Deus. This is an incredibly good opportunity….”

Just as he prepared to persuade him once more, a sudden memory seized his attention.

“He likely won’t, Headmaster. Our junior, Deus, won’t join the Expeditionary Force.”

What are your thoughts on bringing Deus into the Expeditionary Force?

Luciel, the Captain of the Expeditionary Force, had agreed without hesitation, but had left that answer.

“Why do you say that? It’s because he’s just like me. A possessor of what others might call stubbornness. What some might even deem foolishness. That, ‘romance’, Headmaster.”

At first, he’d wondered what that meant.

But standing here facing him, he had a feeling he understood why Luciel had said that.

‘Judging from that expression, he won’t give a proper answer even if I ask.’

Headmaster Von knew individuals like this well.

Those with confidence in themselves, those with a firm vision of the future.

Those who chose the path they would take and walked it alone. Those who possessed an iron will.

Persuasion was useless against them. They trusted only themselves.

A rather arrogant statement for a freshman.

But arrogance with reason, arrogance with qualification, was no longer arrogance at all.

Having roughly organized his thoughts, Headmaster Von decided to back down for now.

“…I see. I cannot force the matter if the person in question is unwilling.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

“Understanding? Nonsense. If anything, I am the one who should be grateful.”

Headmaster Von knew it, too. He was, after all, a high-ranking official of the Empire.

In this chaotic situation, Deus had presented a title – the new heroes.

Brave, indomitable future heroes who had defeated the unknown enemy they had first encountered.

Thanks to them, despite the loss of a number of Regulators, public sentiment within the Empire had not been greatly disturbed.

They believed it was not an ill-omened event, but the beginning of a new legend being written.

It became the reason why trust in the Empire, the Regulators, and the Cradle could remain unshaken.

“Then, I shall take my leave now.”

“Indeed. …Ah. Just a moment, Student Deus. May I ask you something?”

As if questioning, Deus stood before the door, eyes fixed on Principal Von.

“What is your assessment of the current situation?”

“I am merely a student, and a freshman at that.”

“But also the one who faced that unknown entity head-on and emerged victorious. That is why I ask. What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Even if the Empire’s smallest investigative unit has already made their official announcements.

Even if there’s a wish, as a human being, that this will be the end.

Perhaps, the one closest to the answer is the man before him.

“Can you answer?”

After a moment of silence, Deus opened his mouth as if there was nothing difficult about it.

“When coincidences overlap, they become inevitability, or so they say.”

“….”

“It is a coincidence that the gates could explosively increase. It is a coincidence that the monster’s power could rise so rapidly. And also, a coincidence that a new entity could emerge from beyond.”

Shouldn’t that be impossible? A thought that flashed through his mind.

Principal Von, however, nodded as if agreeing that it was the correct assessment.

“If these had appeared separately, then perhaps it would be different, but the way they all erupted at once—”

I believe the Principal is aware of what my answer will be.

With those words, Deus disappeared through the Principal’s office door.

“….”

Staring blankly at the empty space, Principal Von sighed almost unconsciously.

Perhaps, the reason that monstrous freshman appeared was for precisely this reason.

At first, he thought it was a gift from the gods to end this long and tedious war.

But now he sees it as a presence to maintain balance as the scales threaten to tip toward disaster.

— *Wooom!*

The comm device on the desk began to emit a frantic glow.

Judging by the color, it was no ordinary communication. It was a direct line from the Minister of Education.

‘What could be happening?’ He thought, activating the device.

“Principal Yorham, Von Bauken Johann here. Minister.”

[Principal Von! Tell me, is Shabel currently at Yorham?]

“…Pardon?”

What utter nonsense. Why is Shabel suddenly being sought here?

“Minister? I, what are you talking about?”

[That young man named Deus. The moment that impulsive idiot heard he was a Yorham student, he vanished. It’s obvious where he’s headed at this point, is it not?]

“Ah…!”

The Principal became just as agitated as the Minister at the urgency of the situation.

This is a catastrophe! This is truly an emergency!

This is a whole other level of disaster compared to the gate outbreaks!

‘Shabel Saber…! That lunatic!’

A figure regarded as the most outstanding and powerful graduate in Yorham’s history.

At the same time, the most notorious culprit behind the Cradle’s history of destruction and mishaps.

Those unfamiliar with Shavel simply called him a prodigious talent.

But those in the know would likely remember Shavel like this:

[Be careful, Headmaster. If that ‘reckless troublemaker,’ the one who ‘won’t learn his lesson until his dying breath,’ goes to the Cradle… especially if he crosses paths with that new student.]

“…I already had a battle with the Ministry of Finance over the Cradle’s expansion. I really don’t want a round two due to reconstruction costs. What should we do about this?”

[We have to stop him, no matter what. He hasn’t been gone for more than an hour, so he couldn’t have entered the Cradle yet. You must find him first and prevent him from entering.]

He was right. Preventing him from approaching at all, to avoid any incidents, was the best course of action.

Even that troublemaker wouldn’t cross a pre-determined line.

After ending the call with the Minister, Headmaster Von raised the Cradle’s alert level to maximum.

From the teachers’ point of view, who were suddenly struck by a bolt out of the blue, it was enough to make them spit blood.

But what could they do? It was better than the Cradle being wrecked by a fellow ability user than a monster.

‘Please. Just let this pass quietly. The recent Gate incident was enough to drive me crazy!’

Headmaster Von pleaded and pleaded, but as with all things in this world, it was for naught.

“So, it’s you?”

“…Who are you?”

At that moment, Deus was already facing someone with a playful smile.