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In truth, the Water God Style main dojo and the Magic University operated on the same principle: anything that posed a "threat" was relegated to the Free Zone, kept under the watchful eye of the Knights' Order, who were absolutely loyal to the King. At the same time, an elite Knights' Order squad, 'Dawn,' was also formed.
Where was Asura's 'Dawn'?
—The Silver Palace.
The 'Dawn' Knights' Order reported directly to the King. After the Laplace War, it absorbed two Emperor-level swordsmen and seven King-level swordsmen from within the country, aiming to mitigate the potential risk of high-ranking warriors or mages causing disturbances in the royal capital.
Looked at this way, the 'Free Zone' was like a special class for 'problem children,' and 'Dawn' was the class monitor.
The Water God Style main dojo continuously maintained its influence in the secular world.
It consistently supplied 'class monitors' and 'assistant monitors' to 'Dawn,' and 'disciplinary committee members' to the Knights' Order, garnering immense prestige within Asura's upper echelons.
This was the fundamental reason why Reida, the Water God, held such significant influence in the royal capital.
Meanwhile, this abnormally developed area, born from such a distorted initial intention, paradoxically became the most prosperous district in Asura over time. This was due to the dense movement of people from various social strata, frequent cultural clashes, and a higher degree of freedom.
—The Triumphal Arch, built to commemorate the victory of the Laplace War; the Knights' Order training grounds, established for the 'police' of the Free Zone and Noble District; the Water God Style main dojo, which supplied personnel to the Knights' Order; the Holy Milis Main Church's Temple, for preaching and prayer; the Asura Arena, openly hosting gambling; the Asura Magic University, a gathering place for anti-government individuals; the Flower Street, where pale-skinned women swayed as they walked; brightly lit brothels filled with 'chicks'; Opera House Street, lined with theaters; and ballroom banquet halls, carpeted and grand.
Solemn yet absurd, vulgar yet romantic.
This was the 'Free Zone.'
So, here's the question.
Those who frequented the Flower Street certainly knew who the toughest man on Flower Street was. Don't misunderstand, Allen didn't engage in sword fighting, so his name didn't circulate there.
As for the Asura Grand Arena, which hosted public duels where swordsmen and mages, disliking each other, would challenge one another, and where bets were placed—Allen, being no gambler, was naturally not present there either.
Allen also wasn't a believer in the Holy Milis Church. At most, he'd wait outside the entrance for Isolte to finish her worship. So, his name certainly wasn't circulating in that circle either.
So where exactly was Allen famous enough for Derrick Redbat to know about him?
—He was famous among the 'groups aspiring to be class committee members.'
Because the Asura Magic University, where Derrick Redbat himself belonged, essentially employed a similar method of expanding influence to the Water God Style main dojo.
However, the former, in peacetime, suffered from the general disregard for mages. Even graduating as an excellent student, or even as the top student from the Magic University to become a guild master in the Mage Guild, still wouldn't earn respect, leaving them at the bottom of the power structure in the royal capital.
They held empty titles, unable to wield corresponding power. This led to a concentration of so-called 'anti-Asura individuals' within their ranks.
After all, what you can't have must be bad.
Hence, the Magic University outwardly disdained the Water God Style main dojo.
But deep down, they were incredibly envious.
So much so that...
The entire Magic University was incredibly obsessed with the Water God Style main dojo; they were all his loyal haters.
"As the neighboring 'academy' that leads directly to prosperity, especially that small dojo within it, these inherently wicked nobles will surely cling to power and become dogs."
"Allen Boreas Greyrat, top student? What kind of damned 'little' top student? Even if he enters Dawn, he's just another stinking noble."
At this very moment, in the Princess's private cabin on the ship, Derrick Redbat looked at the "stinking little top student" who had been so "unrivaled" at the Magic University three years ago. His expression was somewhat dazed, memories swirling in his mind. In his peripheral vision, Ariel stood up as she spoke, grasping the hem of her skirt, and curtsied slightly to Allen with a completely unpretentious noble gesture.
"Firstly, thank you for your assistance."
Meanwhile, as Ariel spoke, distant conversations with past colleagues continued to filter into his mind.
"There's a commendation ceremony recently; they invited our Magic University to observe. It seems they actually recognize the importance of our Magic University. Should we go?"
"What, a commendation ceremony? Never heard of it, no."
"It's that stinking Allen Boreas Greyrat's commendation ceremony, you know?"
"Ah? Ha, then let's go. Let me confirm, is it that arrogant noble brat who served as the top student of the main dojo for three years, then won ten challenges in one day, climbing to the top 'little' student?"
"It's him."
"Then I'm going."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
"I'm going too!"
"Derrick Redbat, are you going?"
At that time, Derrick Redbat turned in surprise to his colleagues.
"You hate him, so why are you still going?"
At his words, the joyous faces of his colleagues simultaneously stiffened. They all put on sour expressions and declared righteously.
"Just tell us if you're going or not? Why so much nonsense? What's wrong with hating him? If you don't confront the abyss, how can you fill its void?"
At that time, seven-year-old Derrick Redbat looked at them with confusion.
"Going, I never said I wasn't going from the beginning. I was just asking why you are going?"
"Derrick Redbat!!!!!" *n
So, even though Derrick Redbat, after all these years, had passed the age of admiring handsome and academically gifted peers in school, if Allen hadn't disappeared, he would still be the first person Derrick Redbat, as the Guardian Mage under 'Princess Ariel,' would choose to try and recruit.
After all.
The time they "revealed themselves" in Derrick Redbat's eyes was the same day.
That "damned, stinking, utterly worthless, wet-behind-the-ears brat."
He was so incredibly memorable at the banquet.
And that "approachable, spring-like, unpretentious, trust-inspiring" Second Princess.
She, too, was utterly captivating—as the rumors said, it was the first time he had seen a royal 'child' appear in the 'Free Zone' at a commendation ceremony attended by so many commoners, acting like an adult, conversing and acknowledging everyone with a sweet smile.
And she participated in the Magic University's Grand Magic Tournament every year.
Therefore, Ariel and Allen, in his mind, had always been highly correlated.
The former was the only royal whom everyone at the Magic University simultaneously loved.
And the latter was the only noble whom everyone at the Magic University simultaneously "detested."
They were two names he heard every single day.
As natural as the changing of day and night.
Lost in thought, Ariel's gentle, sweet voice, laced with clear persuasiveness and charm, reached his ears again, but because Derrick Redbat was deep in thought, the voice seemed distant.
Intermittent.
"The matter of recruitment... expressing apology... you are right... recruiting you, Allen Boreas Greyrat... no matter..."
"...sincerity..."
Derrick Redbat blinked slightly, 'Yes, they've always been connected.' As this thought crossed his mind, he snapped out of his daze. He then glanced at Allen, only to find him looking at Ariel with an open mouth and a somewhat stunned expression. Then, seeing Derrick Redbat look his way, Allen quickly gave him a meaningful look.
Derrick Redbat: ??
Just as he was wondering.
From beside him, he heard the Princess, who possessed the 'aura of a King,' her beauty like something out of a painting, her hands neatly folded on her lap, speaking to Allen, whose expression was clearly a bit off, with a supremely approachable smile.
She said this:
"I, Ariel Anemoi Asura, can invite you as my 'intimate guest' as the 'price' for recruiting you."
"I believe this is the only way to prove our 'sincerity'."
After she spoke, as if afraid it wasn't convincing enough, Ariel looked at Derrick Redbat with a knowing smile.
And added.
"Right, Derrick Redbat?"
At this very moment.
A voice as melodious as a nightingale echoed through the ship's cabin.
Derrick Redbat felt like he was suffocating.
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