Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 77: The Academy Invitation

Excitement, tension, anticipation—every young practitioner present straightened unconsciously, their gazes burning as they turned toward Sebastian and Miel.

The Imperial Academy, located at the border between the Elysia Empire and the Velithar kingdom, was a sacred place in the hearts of young cultivators.

It was the dream destination of countless practitioners.

To become a student of the Imperial Academy was not merely an honor but proof of one’s talent and future potential. Wherever the student of this imperial Academy went, admiration followed naturally.

The Academy gathered geniuses from all regions and possessed cultivation resources far beyond what ordinary families could provide. Training there meant soaring ahead of one’s peers at an astonishing pace.

However, its enrollment standards were infamously strict.

Although the name said Imperial Academy, it wasn’t exactly under the control of the Imperial family or even the Elysia Empire.

It was an independent institution.

Every year, the Academy sent tutors to different kingdoms and empires to observe young practitioners. If a tutor believed someone had potential, that person would be invited to participate in an assessment.

Even being allowed to take the assessment was already a rare opportunity.

Only those who passed could officially become students.

Yet there was an exception. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

In extremely rare cases, the Academy issued invitation letters.

A practitioner who received one did not need to undergo any assessment and could directly enter the Academy.

Those granted invitation letters were universally acknowledged as extraordinary talents whose abilities already surpassed those of others of the same generation.

At that moment, many young faces grew tense.

The sudden appearance of admissions tutors during the royal hunting competition could only mean one thing.

They were here to select students.

Perhaps... they had already taken a liking to someone among them.

After Sebastian and Miel appeared, Zora’s gaze quietly shifted toward the two men.

From Emperor Alexander’s reaction, she had already confirmed something.

The hidden gazes that Black and White had sensed earlier were not sent by the royal family.

They belonged to these two.

Which meant that the strange appearance of the Nether Wolf pack was very likely their doing.

Sebastian and Miel noticed Zora’s calm, assessing gaze and responded with friendly smiles.

Zora merely glanced at them indifferently before looking away, her expression unchanged.

She had no interest in exchanging pleasantries with people who had deliberately pushed her into danger.

Seeing her cold reaction, Sebastian and Miel were not offended in the slightest.

Instead, Sebastian spoke calmly, "Your Majesty, during this hunting competition, we discovered a very promising seed."

Emperor Alexander smiled knowingly, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Zora.

Among all participants, no one’s performance came close to hers.

He had originally planned to use this competition to polish Prince Philip’s abilities and perhaps pave the way for his entry into the Academy.

He never expected Zora to completely overshadow everyone.

Now it was obvious.

Sebastian and Miel had come for her.

Only now did Emperor Alexander fully understand why the rewards for this royal hunting competition were so generous.

The richer the rewards, the fiercer the competition.

And only when young practitioners fought with everything they had would their true potential be revealed—clear enough to catch the eyes of the Academy’s admissions tutors.

"I wonder which practitioners have caught the eyes of the two tutors?" Emperor Alexanderasked with a smile, though the answer was already clear in his heart.

Sebastian smiled faintly. "The Crown Prince and this young man and his companion have performed very well."

Nigel froze.

He stared in Sebastian’s direction, then pointed at himself in disbelief. "M–Me?"

"Yes. You," Sebastian confirmed calmly.

Prince Philip possessed excellent talent and strength. Though he lacked experience in life-and-death struggles, that weakness would disappear once he entered the Academy.

After all, the Academy was never a place that nurtured greenhouse flowers.

As for Nigel, his cultivation could only be considered average, but his character stood out sharply. Courage, loyalty, and the ability to act decisively in danger—those qualities were rare.

That alone was worth nurturing.

Not far away, a woman named Sapphire was equally stunned, then overwhelmed with joy. She had never expected to be chosen.

Countless gazes immediately fell upon Nigel and Sapphire—some envious, some jealous, some filled with regret.

To be noticed by tutors from the Academy was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I wonder if you are willing to participate in the Academy’s assessment?" Miel asked lightly.

Though phrased as a question, there was no doubt in his tone.

Sure enough, Prince Philip, Nigel, and Sapphire all nodded without hesitation.

This was an opportunity no practitioner would ever refuse.

Yet soon, whispers began to spread.

Eyes slowly shifted toward Zora.

She had clearly been the most outstanding performer in this royal hunting competition.

So why hadn’t the two tutors mentioned her name?

Speculation grew like wildfire.

Could it be that her first place was achieved through trickery?

Was the Academy dissatisfied with her methods?

Jasmine’s eyes suddenly lit up with malicious hope. She clenched her fists, convinced that Zora’s luck had finally run out.

But the very next moment, reality struck everyone like a thunderbolt.

Sebastian and Miel stepped forward—directly toward Zora.

Under countless stunned gazes, Miel took out a deep purple invitation and presented it solemnly.

"Miss Zora," he asked gently, "are you willing to join the Academy?"

Silence fell like a blade.

Then—

Gasps erupted everywhere.

"An invitation letter!"

"That’s an invitation from the Academy!"

"Zora received a direct invitation?!"

Invitation letters were legends.

Countless practitioners spent their lives dreaming of even a chance to take the assessment—yet Zora had been directly recognized.

No assessment.

No competition.

The tutors had already decided.

At that moment, everyone finally understood.

It wasn’t that the tutors hadn’t noticed Zora.

She was simply on an entirely different level.

Nigel’s shock quickly turned into genuine joy. "I knew it," he said softly. "Zora is extraordinary."

Nigel’s lover, Rose, smiled bitterly. She hadn’t even earned the right to be assessed.

And yet, just when everyone thought the shock had reached its peak—

Zora’s response made the entire crowd freeze.

"No interest."

Zora’s voice was calm, light, as if she were declining a cup of tea rather than rejecting the most coveted opportunity in the empire.

Miel and Sebastian both froze.

For a brief moment, neither of them reacted.

In all their years as enrollment tutors, they had only ever rejected others.

This was the first time someone had rejected them.

Silence fell like a heavy curtain.

The surrounding crowd stared blankly, mouths slightly open, as if reality itself had glitched.

This was the Academy.

A single invitation could change a person’s fate forever.

Had Zora lost her mind?

"You... don’t want to join the Academy?" Sebastian asked slowly, disbelief seeping into his voice. "Why?"

Zora’s expression remained indifferent. "No reason."

Miel frowned. "Do you resent the Academy?"

She shook her head lightly. "I feel nothing toward the Academy."

Then her gaze lifted, sharp and cold. "But I dislike both of you."

The crowd collectively inhaled.

Dislike... the tutors?

Had anyone ever dared to say such words out loud?

Miel and Sebastian exchanged looks, momentarily at a loss.

"Dislike us?" Miel asked, incredulous. "We’ve never even met before."

Zora raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curling at her lips. "Are you sure?"

That single sentence made both men’s hearts skip.