Lord of the Truth

Ten Minutes Later — Just Outside the Student War Arena

"Come on, come on! The real fights are about to begin any moment now!"

"I don't want to miss out on today's incredible battles just because you can't resist stuffing your face!"

"Hehe, I'm coming, I'm coming!"

A cheerful girl with fair skin clutched a steaming hot meal between her hands as she dashed excitedly toward the arena stands.

Suddenly, she noticed the silhouette of two figures heading in the opposite direction, exiting the arena just as she was entering it.

Unfortunately, she had no time to stop or adjust her momentum—

"Aaah!!"

The girl squeezed her eyes shut tightly and turned her face away, fully expecting a loud collision and for her meal to splatter messily all over the strangers.

But… nothing happened.

"Hmm?"

She cautiously opened one eye, then both, blinking in confusion when she found no one standing in front of her.

She looked left, then right—nothing.

Still puzzled, she shrugged with both shoulders, thinking she must've imagined the entire thing, and continued running forward toward the stands.

"..."

Shaddad turned to glance back over his shoulder, spotting the girl as she disappeared into the crowd.

He then jogged forward to catch up with Robin, who was walking calmly ahead with both hands folded behind his back.

"How… How did you do that? You just disappear when you want!" Shadad exclaimed, baffled.

"You escaped from me at the sandwich stall earlier in the exact same way—and this time, you even brought me with you!"

"It's simple, really," Robin responded in a quiet, composed tone, though his eyebrows were slightly furrowed with thought.

"It's the third-stage space path."

"You have the third-stage of the space path?!"

Shadad's eyes widened almost to the size of saucers in disbelief.

"Yes. Don't you?"

Robin paused in his step and glanced back at him, raising one brow with mild curiosity.

"With that eye of yours, you should be able to see up to fourth-stage laws."

"Things don't work like that…"

Shadad shook his head and exhaled with a sigh.

"With my eye, I can perceive most complementary laws and a large number of basic-essential ones. But I do struggle with a few…

As for fundamental laws, I can barely perceive any pattern at all.

The only one I've managed to catch glimpses of is the Fundamental Law of the Living Body."

He then looked skyward and let out a chuckle, as though mocking his own limitations.

"Ahh, if only I could freely see all those elusive fundamental laws... I'd flood the entire academy with them and build the most powerful army the universe has ever seen!"

"....."

Robin stared at him in silence for a few seconds, his brows furrowed deep in thought.

Could it be that fake Chosen of Truth have such constraints?

It actually made sense—

If every one of them could perceive all the great laws freely, then why would fundamental laws remain so rare?

Come to think of it…

Neither the First nor the Second Heaven-Chosen in Nihari had ever forged a single tattoo using any path belonging to a fundamental category.

At that moment, Shadad suddenly narrowed his eyes, as if something clicked in his mind.

"Hey, Can you... see the fundamental laws without limitation?"

Robin gave a faint smile at the question.

Without replying, he turned and resumed his walk, placing the war arena behind him.

"Thanks for stopping me back there, by the way."

"Ahh, don't mention it—it was nothing."

Shadad's expression softened once again, returning to his usual warm demeanor.

"You really looked like you were about to kill that boy. It was honestly terrifying..."

"…I'm the type who cares a lot about his reputation, that's all," Robin muttered with a sigh.

"I'm the kind of man who'd rather carry the fearsome image of a murderous tyrant than ever be remembered as a failed teacher."

"Then why not just become a good teacher?"

Shadad caught up beside him and gave his back a light tap.

"There are huge rewards for teachers whose students perform best in these tournaments!

Plus, you'd be able to raise your annual teaching fee to thousands of star gems!"

"Do I look like someone in need of money, Shadad?" Robin chuckled under his breath.

"Did you already forget how much I sold Breaths of Ages for?"

"...."

The bear-like man stared dreamily up at the sky, temporarily lost in a trance of fantasy and desire.

Just recalling those twelve billion pearls made his imagination run wild with visions of all the limitless inventions and luxuries he could create with that kind of wealth.

But then, suddenly snapping back to reality, he looked at Robin again.

"Alright, alright—forget about the money. What about the kids themselves?"

"What about them?" Robin shot him a sideways glance.

"They're decent. The academy doesn't accept anyone with poor talent. But what do they have to do with me?"

"Not them personally—those behind them." Shadad reminded him, then let out a low chuckle.

"Each of those students comes from a powerful background. Even the poor ones usually hail from multi-planet empires that control no fewer than fifteen worlds!"

"Twenty-seven students means twenty-seven different powers within Mid-Sector 99. That means if you ever step foot on a planet belonging to any of those twenty-seven factions, you'd be treated with respect. And—if those students truly grow to admire and respect you—one of those forces might even shelter you if you ever fall into serious trouble."

"....." Robin raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Is that really how you people think here?"

"Why not?" Shadad grinned.

"I'm a researcher in body refinement, and Barok is one of the pioneers in using soul force for close combat—and yet, we teach here. Do you think we do it for the money?"

He shook his head with a smirk.

"Each of the academy's teachers is already a big figure, with their own fortunes and ambitions. The real reason we give lectures… is to build strong connections."

"...I remember, around 27,000 years ago, I needed several rare and missing ingredients to complete the construction of a third-stage Armament Bath.

I couldn't even find them in the Soul Society at a decent price, because each one was considered a national treasure.

So, I simply told my students what I needed.

Within just 100 years, their factions had gathered everything for me—

And thanks to them, I achieved my greatest accomplishment at the time."

"In another incident, Professor Leitha was badly wounded and being hunted by sinister specters—she was on the verge of death.

But she stumbled upon a group of travelers in the Specter Valley who turned out to be from the empire of one of her students.

They're the ones who saved her life!"

Then he gave Robin another friendly pat on the back.

"As they always say:

You might not know when you'll need strong connections—

But you do know you will need them, eventually!"

"Hmm." Robin nodded several times in understanding.

"Does this mean you'll accept them as your students and start teaching them?"

Shadad took a few quick steps ahead excitedly.

"No. Maybe if you'd convinced me when I first arrived, I might've done it...

But not now.

I don't like what Altheira did—forcing me into something like this.

I don't take kindly to being pushed around."

Robin waved dismissively.

"But... I'll allow them to keep using my name as they please.

Some of those kids… at least a few of them deserve that chance."

"Heh~ As you wish..." the bear-man nodded.

"So what now? You heading back to your apartment?"

"...No. Since I'm already out..." Robin's tone shifted slightly.

"I'm going to the secret archive."