Whispers rippled through the square.
In fact, the word "whispers" was no longer enough.
Thousands of students were staring at Kim.
Some with curiosity.
Some with envy.
And some with outright hostility.
As for the nobles...
Signs of deep resentment were written all over their faces.
A commoner.
Just a commoner.
Yet he was summoned directly to the High Academy Council.
A place that even the children of the most prestigious families could not easily enter.
Meanwhile, Kim...
Was not looking at the students.
Nor at the professors.
He was looking up at the sky.
As if none of this concerned him.
But inside...
He began to analyze.
Why?
Did they discover the sword?
Unlikely.
Did they discover the true nature of his strength?
Impossible.
Was it because of the sanctuary?
Most probable.
But even that shouldn't be enough.
Therefore...
There was something he didn't know yet.
And that was what he disliked.
Because being blind to information...
Is the most dangerous weakness.
> "Follow me."
>
Kim raised his head.
He found a knight wearing the black armor of the Academy.
Standing right before him.
It wasn't a request.
It was an order.
Kim let out a faint smile.
Then walked behind him.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone.
As for Leon...
He watched him leave.
Then laughed.
> "Interesting."
>
As for Iris...
Her eyes narrowed.
> "I feel like trouble follows him."
>
Leon smiled.
> "No."
>
Then he looked toward the gate behind which Kim had vanished.
> "I feel like trouble is the one searching for him."
>
**The High Council Hall**
A few minutes later...
Kim arrived.
Two colossal doors.
Each standing over ten meters high.
Ancient inscriptions.
A heavy aura.
Then...
The doors ground open slowly.
*Boom.*
And he stepped inside.
The hall was massive.
And at its far end...
Sat seven individuals.
Elders.
Professors.
True monsters in the world of magic.
Every single one of them was capable of wiping out an entire city.
And in the center...
Sat Eldar.
His eyes were locked onto Kim.
For a long time.
A very long time.
Then he spoke:
> "What is your name?"
>
Silence fell.
As for Kim...
He looked back at him calmly.
Then replied:
> "Kim."
>
One of the elders frowned.
> "We know that."
>
> "We want your family name."
>
Kim replied:
> "I don't have one."
>
The frown deepened.
As for Eldar...
He remained silent.
Then he asked:
> "Who taught you?"
>
> "No one."
>
> "Who trained you?"
>
> "No one."
>
> "Where did you learn strategic analysis?"
>
> "Life."
>
Silence fell once more.
Then, one of the elders...
Slammed his staff against the ground.
> "Enough of this nonsense!"
>
His aura exploded.
And the hall shook.
> "Do you think we are fools?!"
>
But Kim...
Didn't flinch.
He didn't tremble.
He didn't step back.
Instead, he just looked at him.
Calm.
So calm that it unsettled everyone.
Because they were used to seeing students paralyzed with fear.
But this boy...
Was acting as if he were sitting with ordinary people.
Then Kim finally spoke.
Softly.
> "You are asking the wrong questions."
>
The hall froze.
As for the angry elder...
He stared at him in utter shock.
Then Kim let out a small smile.
> "You are looking for the one who taught me."
>
> "While the real question is..."
>
He raised his eyes toward them.
> "Why does the existence of someone like me bother you in the first place?"
>
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Eldar didn't speak.
Because he understood something.
This boy...
Wasn't just strong.
He was dangerous.
Dangerous because his mind didn't operate like a student's.
But like someone who had lived for a very, very long time.
Suddenly...
Eldar stood up from his seat.
An action that shocked everyone.
Then he said calmly:
> "Leave."
>
The elders' eyes widened.
> "What?"
>
> "I said leave."
>
For the first time in decades...
Everyone obeyed without objection.
After a few minutes...
Only two people remained inside the hall.
Eldar.
And Kim.
Silence reigned.
Then Eldar walked toward the colossal window.
And looked down at the Academy.
Before saying a single sentence.
A sentence that made Kim's eyes narrow for the very first time since entering this world.
> "You are not from this world..."
>
> *"The most dangerous moment in a liar's life...
>
Is not when they lie.
But when they meet someone who already knows the truth."*