The Extra's Rise-Chapter 409: Return to Mythos (1)

Winter break finally drew to a close. I'd spent these precious weeks balancing my time between dates with the four girls, reconnecting with my family, managing Ouroboros's transition to Silver-rank, and somehow catching up on eleven months of missed schoolwork.

Now it was time to return to Mythos Academy.

Despite everything that had happened—despite the power I'd gained and the experiences I'd endured—I still wanted to complete my lower years at the institution. There was something to be said for finishing what you started, even when you'd outgrown it in many ways.

I hadn't been back on campus for more than a minute when a message found my phone, delivering a summons from Headmaster Eva. No surprise there—disappearing for nearly a year without explanation wasn't something the administration would simply overlook, regardless of my standing.

The Headmaster's office remained unchanged—the same elegant furnishings, the same artifacts of power displayed with casual indifference to their worth, the same imposing desk behind which Eva Lopez regarded me with thinly veiled exasperation.

"Welcome back, Rank 1," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "To what do we owe this honor of having such an illustrious student return to us?"

"Please, Headmaster," I replied with a smile, "a bit too much sarcasm, don't you think?"

"Fine," Eva conceded, leaning back in her chair. Her violet eyes narrowed as she studied me. "What the hell did you do over break, Nightingale?"

"What do you mean?" I asked innocently.

She made a dismissive gesture, twirling her fingers in the air. "I'm not stupid, you know. You're different. Your mana signature, your presence, even the way you carry yourself." Her penetrating gaze met mine directly. "So tell me—was it worth it in the end?"

No point in denying what she could clearly see. "Yes, Headmaster. It was."

She sighed, the sound caught between resignation and acceptance. "I suppose that's okay then. After all, the Academy's goal is growth. You found it outside our walls, but the result is what matters."

"Thank you for understanding," I replied, genuinely appreciative of her pragmatism.

"What choice do I have? I don't want to lose such an incredible talent," she admitted, her violet eyes shimmering with subtle power. She paused, her expression softening almost imperceptibly. "Also, comfort my daughter when you can. She lost her only friend while you were gone."

"I'll talk to Clara," I promised. The thought of the normally reserved girl spending months without her sole confidant gave me a pang of guilt I hadn't expected. "Is there anything else?"

Eva straightened in her seat, shifting back to her administrative role. "You need to take the midterm exams—we'll combine them to determine your grades. I trust you've studied?"

I nodded confidently. Despite my absence, I'd familiarized myself with the third-year curriculum during the break.

"Good," she continued. "Currently, you're ranked second in the Academy. Lucifer overtook you because of the Inter-Academy Festival results." freewebnσvel.cѳm

"If you want to reclaim the top position, do it during the Sovereign's Tournament at the end of the year," she added.

"Will do," I agreed, already contemplating strategies.

Eva brushed back a strand of her navy-blue hair, her expression turning curious. "Have you visited your various masters yet? The Martial King, Archmage Charlotte, Master Li?"

"I visited the Tower of Magic to see Archmage Charlotte," I replied, "but she wasn't there."

"Oh right, she's on the moon right now, handling some research project," Eva said with the casualness of someone discussing a colleague's trip to the market rather than lunar expedition. "Well, the Martial King is here on campus, so visit him after your exam." A mischievous smile spread across her face. "Which you have right now, by the way."

"Right now?" I asked, though her grin already confirmed it.

'Acting like you won't get a perfect score,' Luna scolded me mentally.

She had a point. I'd always achieved perfect scores on Academy exams, even before my... enhancements.

"And," Eva continued, her tone deliberately casual, "I'm removing you from the valedictorian position. Rachel gets it, and you'll be salutatorian if you achieve perfect scores."

I shrugged. "I don't really care about titles."

"I knew you'd say that, but I had to inform you officially," she replied, waving toward the door. "Now go take your exam, you eyesore."

"Cute eyesore," I corrected with a smile as I rose from my chair.

Eva scowled, though there was no real heat behind it. "Being cute doesn't let you get away with everything, Nightingale," she muttered as I left her office.

The familiar corridors of Mythos Academy stretched before me, filled with students rushing to classes or lounging in conversation groups.

The examination room was eerily quiet with just me and Professor Harwick present. My unexpected return had clearly disrupted the academy's normal procedures, requiring this special testing arrangement.

Professor Harwick glanced up from his tablet as I entered. "Mr. Nightingale. Right on time." He gestured to the lone desk in the center of the room, where a sleek computer terminal waited. "The Headmaster has arranged for you to take all your missed exams in sequence. The system will guide you through each one, which is why we are using a computer this time for the examination."

I nodded and took my seat, logging in with my student credentials. The screen illuminated with the first exam: Advanced Theoretical Mana Manipulation.

'This is easier than I expected,' Luna commented as I scanned the questions.

'Almost disappointingly so,' I agreed silently.

These questions about theoretical mana circulation patterns and conversion efficiency seemed like elementary school arithmetic to me.

The computer-based format allowed me to work at my own pace. I moved through exam after exam—Applied Combat Theory, Advanced Artifact Design, Sovereign Politics, and more. For appearance's sake, I maintained a reasonable pace, though I could have completed everything in a fraction of the time.

Three hours later, I submitted the final exam. Professor Harwick's eyebrows rose slightly as he received the notification on his tablet.

"Well, that was... efficient," he remarked, checking the timestamps. "Your results will be processed and available by tomorrow, Mr. Nightingale. Though I suspect we both already know the outcome."

I offered a polite smile and headed for the door. With the examinations complete, it was time to visit my master—the Martial King.

The combat training facilities were located in the eastern wing of the campus, a modern complex of reinforced training rooms and specialized equipment. Unlike the classic architecture of the main buildings, the combat wing featured cutting-edge design—all glass, steel, and advanced materials designed to withstand the pressures of high-level mana manipulation.

The Martial King had been assigned one of the VIP training rooms, accessible by biometric scan. As I approached, I could feel the distinctive pressure of his mana—a heavy, solid presence that seemed to compress the air itself. Even from outside, it felt like walking against a strong current.

I pressed my palm to the scanner. After a moment's verification, the door slid open with a soft hydraulic hiss.

The training room was spacious and minimalist, with adaptive floor panels and holographic projection capabilities. Magnus Draykar, the Martial King, stood in the center, manipulating a three-dimensional mana projection with subtle hand gestures. He wore modern training clothes—simple gray performance wear that contrasted with his traditional white topknot.

Without looking up from his work, he spoke. "You've returned, Arthur Nightingale."

"Yes, Master," I replied, stopping at a respectful distance.

The projection dissolved as he lowered his hands and turned to face me. For a long moment, he simply stared, his gaze penetrating in a way no ordinary sight could achieve. I felt his mana brush against mine—a master's assessment of his student.

Suddenly, his eyebrows rose in genuine surprise.

"What did you do?" he asked in shock before controlling his expression. Instead, he brought out his sword.

"Duel me, now."