?


    After receiving the ''Royal Museum Pass'' token from Princess Aurora herself, I made my way to Professor Llyod, who held authority over the expedition to the royal museum to ask for permission to participate in this event.


    At first, he was hesitant, but upon hearing that the princess had no objections, he reluctantly agreed to allow me to participate. As a result, the event, originally meant for 100 students, became exclusive to 101 students, including myself.


    Anyway, the atmosphere among the students was filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty.


    The departure for the royal museum was scheduled exactly a week after today. So the students had seven days to prepare, not that there was much to prepare in the first ce.


    Amidst the anticipation,, there was one more important thing that happened.


    [Rank, 101 - Eren Pendragon.]


    [You are promoted to the Kshatriya ss.]


    I was once again back in kshatriya ss.


    "You seem pretty happy. What''s the news, Eren?" Zephyr approached me, his tone friendly despite our past shes. I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of annoyance, remembering how his interference had cost me the opportunity to obtain the Royal Museum Pass on my own.


    If this bastard hasn''t challenged me in the ranking battles, then I should have still been in rank - 100.


    "You''re acting too close, considering you tried to challenge me when I was injured," I remarked, my voice tinged with lingering resentment.


    But Zephyr didn''t seem to be affected by my cold response as he continued to follow behind me towards the Kshatriya ss.


    As we made our way to the ss, I quickened my pace. Today''s first ss was Professor Joshua''s Magic Theory, and I couldn''t afford to bete.


    Although I refused to engage in conversation with Zephyr, he seemed unfazed, his easygoing nature persisting.


    "Come on! I was so excited to fight you that I forgot you were injured," Zephyr exined, his words trailing behind me. I stopped for a moment, considering whether to respond, but ultimately decided to continue on my way. It seemed futile to try and make him understand.


    Nothing I say would go inside his head anyway.


    Approaching the ssroom, a sense of familiarity washed over me as I entered the Kshatriya ss. The word "Kshatriya" adorned the entrance.


    I got a feeling of a son returning to his home.


    All eyes turned toward us as Zephyr and I entered, and the ss momentarily got silent until Zephyr and I found seats at the back before continuing the murmurs.


    Evan was the first to approach me after noticing my presence.


    "Wee back, Eren," he said, his face brightening with a genuine smile.


    Julia, who sat in front of me, joined in. "You made it back here in no time, huh?"


    I just smiled at them and turned my attention towards the new faces present in the Kshatriya ss—Esmerald, Theodor, and Martha. Their rapid growth in strength had earned them a ce among the notable students.


    But it seemed like the ss was not so weing of them as I could clearly see the students avoiding Esmerald and Martha.


    Theodor however was actively involved in conversation with some of the students.


    ''As expected.''


    I thought as I guessed this would happen as Martha and Esmerald weremoners whereas Theodor was a noble belonging to the house of count Brewer.


    But before my thoughts could delve further, Professor Joshua entered the ss and without any dy jumped to the lecture.


    ***


    Deep within the rebel army''s main base.


    A mysterious figure draped in a ck cloak stealthily infiltrated the secret stronghold, which had eluded even the royal army''s detection, as if he was walking into his own house.


    "Stop there! -"


    The guard stationed at the entrance attempted to halt the intruder, but before he could utter another word, the figure vanished without a trace.


    To be more precise the mysterious figure had walked past the guard without his notice.


    The Mysterious figure''s movements were swift and elusive, which went unnoticed by the guard.


    But someone else did.


    However, someone else sensed the arrival. Deep within the confines of a room, an elderly man opened his eyes, his senses attuned to the invader''s presence.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    "Ask all the roundtable members who are currently in the base to gather."


    His shadow moved in response to his words and quickly drifted off detaching itself from the oldman''s shadow.


    The elderly man approached the door, opening it to face the cloaked figure standing outside. "Wee," he greeted, his gaze steady and unwavering.


    You don''t seem surprised to see me," the cloaked figure remarked, its voice raspy and unpleasant to the ears.


    "I predicted that you woulde here," the old man responded, turning to walk towards the roundtable at the center of the room.


    "Showing your back to unknown individuals? The Leader of the Rebel army doesn''t seem to be a caution man?"


    The mysterious man said as he followed behind.


    "Well, it seems I am more carefree than you, sending this empty shell to negotiate with us," the old man continued, his words dripping with a hint of disdain.


    In the midst of the ck cloak worn by the mysterious figure, the face inside it was revealed..


    It wasn''t a man, to be more precise, it was a meticulously crafted wooden doll—controlled using magic.


    the doll remarked, its movements precise and calcted as it took off the cloak covering its head, revealing the neatly made wooden doll face.


    The old man merely shrugged, gesturing for the doll to take a seat. Responding to hismand, the earth itself shifted, molding into a chair made of mud.


    As the doll settled into the chair, four additional individuals joined the roundtable—a bearded man, a spirited woman, a child, and a dwarf.


    ""Let''s not beat around the bush and discuss the matter first," the old man dered, his hands sped together. He turned his attention to the doll, and the other members followed suit, curiosity gleaming in their eyes.


    "How are you going to help us?", he asked looking at the doll, seriousness adoring his face.


    Instead of words, the doll produced a wooden box, clicking a button at the side to reveal its contents—a stunning pendant adorned with a vibrant blue gem.


    The dwarf''s eyes widened in recognition. "A gate stone!" he eximed, astounded by the sight. The old man nced at the dwarf, silently urging him to exin.


    "It is a gate stone, theye in pairs. When one stone is shattered, it will open a space gate leading to the location of its pair," the dwarf elucidated, his voice filled with a mix of awe and curiosity. "But... these are too rare. Even the royal treasury possesses just one pair of gate stones," the dwarf continued, his gaze fixated on the clocked doll. "I wonder how you managed to acquire them.", with a glint of curiosity in his eyes the dwarf asked.


    The doll''s eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery. "That is none of your concern," it retorted, its tone icy and detached. "What''s important is that a door will open on the same day the students of the academy reach the royal museum." The doll revealed its cryptic n.


    "And after that... I will leave it for you to decide what to do," it added, pushing the box containing the blue stone towards the old man.


    The old man epted the pendant, his mind racing with thoughts.


    ''A gate would open in the royal museum... It means that this man, whoever he is, has managed to nt a spy among the staff or students at the Freljord academy.''


    The old man pondered silently. His eyes narrowed as he considered the enigma before him.


    ''I truly wonder who he is and how he is capable of all this….''


    The old man thought but kept his suspicions to himself.


    "Leave the rest to us," the old man finally spoke, his voiceced with hidden rage.


    The old man ced the pendant back in the box and stood up turning towards the direction of the royal capital.


    "It is time to show that damn royals what the rebel army is capable of."


    He spoke as some distant memories of the past resurfaced momentarily overwhelming him with emotion.


    The mysterious doll which produced the ck box to the old man nodded with satisfaction, "Then, I will take my leave."


    The doll said before copsing on the mud chair as if the strings controlling it had been cut off.


    Everyone in the round table just gazed at the copsed doll.


    Although surprised, they chose to keep their thoughts to themself.


    ---***---


    Daily Chapter Release~