Multiverse: Library

"Next month, in the Official Ranking Battle… I will challenge you."

The moment those words left Kaiser's lips and reached Toudou Kirin's ears, the silver-haired girl froze.

"I came to talk to you, but more importantly, I wanted to tell you this."

Kaiser's voice remained calm, unwavering.

"If I win against you—maybe your expression… won't be as heavy as it was just now."

Those words snapped Kirin out of her frozen state. Her head snapped up, turning to face him.

"Senpai, you…"

But—

By the time she turned around, Kaiser was already walking away.

"Get ready. Don't say I bullied you when the time comes."

Leaving behind those parting words, Kaiser departed.

All that remained was Kirin, standing there—watching his figure fade into the distance.

She looked as if she wanted to call out to him—

But didn't know what to say.

After a moment, she turned away, her heart weighed down with thoughts.

—

Comprehensive Arena, Rear Exit.

Kirin exited the arena through the back.

Once outside, she immediately made her way toward a wooded pathway, a scenic trail designed for leisure walks.

There, she encountered a man.

He had also just come from the Comprehensive Arena.

But unlike her, he wasn't walking aimlessly—

He was waiting.

And from the look on his impatient expression, he had been waiting for a while.

"Uncle…"

Kirin's voice carried a hint of fear as she called out to him.

And given their difference in stature, her fear was justified.

The man standing before her was built like a boulder—a towering, broad-shouldered figure dressed in a sharp suit.

However, his face was anything but refined.

Rugged and intimidating, he had the air of a gangster, not a businessman.

Most importantly—

Unlike Kirin, this man was not a Genestella.

There was no trace of Prana emanating from his body.

No matter how physically strong he might appear, he wouldn't last a second against someone like her.

And yet—

Standing before him, Kirin looked small.

Timid.

As if he had crushed her will before she even had a chance to fight.

The man stared down at Kirin, his expression harsh and unyielding.

"Why did you take so long?" His tone was cold. Commanding.

"Didn't I tell you to come straight here after the match?"

This wasn't just strictness.

This was bullying.

"I-I'm sorry." Kirin's head sank lower, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I just spoke with a senior for a moment…"

"A senior?" The man's brows furrowed, his voice growing sharper. "From the high school division?"

"Yes." Kirin nodded honestly. "The one who just defeated Rank 13."

"Oh?" The man's eyes narrowed. "The one wielding Ser-Veresta?"

Kirin instinctively studied her uncle's face, searching for any reaction, before giving a small, hesitant nod.

"What did he say to you?"

The man demanded answers.

Kirin hesitated.

She looked as if she wasn't sure whether she should tell him.

"Speak!" The man's voice rose, tinged with irritation. "Or do you intend to defy me again? Think of your father!"

A visible shudder ran through Kirin's body.

It was as if an invisible knife had stabbed straight into her heart.

She curled in on herself—her posture shrinking.

"…He said that next month… he will challenge me."

Kirin's voice was barely audible.

"What?!"

For the first time—the man's expression changed.

This wasn't good.

He had been watching the Official Ranking Battle earlier—from the VIP section.

Which meant—

He had seen Kaiser's match with his own eyes.

And he hadn't forgotten what happened at the end.

Recalling the overwhelming force Kaiser had unleashed, the man clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"He just reached Rank 13, and now he's already aiming for Rank 1?"

"This is why I despise these Genestella brats!"

He spat the words with undisguised disdain.

He didn't even stop to consider that the girl standing before him—his own niece—was also a Genestella.

But Kirin didn't react.

She had heard this kind of talk before.

She had already grown used to it.

The man exhaled sharply, regaining his composure.

"Well… at the very least, we now know your opponent for next month."

"That kid might have some skill, and the Ser-Veresta is troublesome… but one month is more than enough time to prepare."

"A Rank 13 is still just a Rank 13. Even with that sword, he's no match for you."

The man sounded confident—almost arrogant.

"Dispose of him swiftly when the time comes. Understand?"

But this time—

Kirin spoke up.

"Senpai isn't just some nobody." She corrected him. "His swordsmanship… it's strange. It doesn't follow any structured style, yet every move is perfectly suited to the battle. It's flawless—without any openings."

"It's difficult to—"

She never finished her sentence.

"I don't care how impressive he is!"

The man cut her off sharply.

"No matter how strong he is, he's just a Rank 13. If you lose to someone like that, your reputation will be ruined!"

"That is unacceptable!"

His voice left no room for argument.

"I will gather all the information we have on him. For the next month, your focus will be on studying his weaknesses."

"When the Official Ranking Battle comes—you will defeat him quickly."

"You will not waste time. Do you understand?"

His words were harsh. Unyielding.

Kirin lowered her gaze.

"…Yes."

A long, heavy pause.

Only then did the man relax his expression.

"Good."

But he wasn't done.

"Kirin, you must remain Number One."

"Not just Seidoukan's Number One."

"I want you to become a legend. A true, undisputed, unchallenged Number One. The kind that will never be dethroned—the strongest in history."

His eyes darkened—his voice turning low.

"Only then will my ambitions be realized."

"Only then can you achieve your goal."

His next words—

Struck like poison.

"If you want to save your father—then you have no choice but to obey me."

At that moment—

Kirin shook.

Trembled.

"…Yes, Uncle."

Her voice was small. Weak.

"Let's go."

The man turned away, walking off without sparing her another glance.

Kirin followed.

Her steps heavy.

Her head low.

Her heart suffocated.

Then—

As they passed by a fountain, her eyes caught a reflection in the water.

A delicate, childlike face.

One that should have been full of innocence.

But in that reflection—

She looked like she was about to cry.

For some reason—

Kaiser's words from earlier echoed in her mind.

"If I win against you… maybe your expression won't be as heavy as it was just now."

That thought—

Would not leave her.

—

Later That Night—Seidoukan Academy

Under the cover of darkness, most students had already retired to their dormitories.

The academy had strict curfews.

Most buildings would be automatically locked.

But for Genestella, such locks were meaningless.

Especially for someone like him.

"So this is the place…"

Standing before a classical-style dormitory, a lone figure observed silently.

Kaiser.

After studying the building for a moment—

He sighed.

"Let's hope this goes well."

With quiet, calculated steps—

He advanced toward the girls' dormitory.