Multiverse: Library

"Shhh—"

The automatic doors of the Student Council Office slid open once more, and Kaiser stepped out.

Inside the office, Claudia's once-composed smile had disappeared.

The golden-haired girl sat in silence, watching as Kaiser's figure receded into the distance.

Then, after a moment, she reached down to her waist and retrieved two small objects.

A pair of strange devices, their design resembling eerie, staring eyes—so lifelike they sent a chill down one's spine.

Claudia gazed at them intently, almost as if locking eyes with the haunting pair.

Her expression was a mix of surprise and intrigue.

"…Was it just my imagination?"

At first, she questioned herself.

But soon, she shook her head.

"No. That boy definitely triggered something just now."

The moment Kaiser turned his back to leave, the eye-like devices on her waist had trembled ever so slightly.

As their wielder—someone who held a deeply complex bond with them—Claudia was absolutely certain that even the slightest reaction would never go unnoticed by her.

And because of that certainty, she was shocked.

"What was that reaction?"

"Fear?"

"Or… reverence?"

She muttered to herself, staring at the Orga Lux in her hands.

Then, after a moment—she chuckled.

It was a mocking, amused smile.

"So, even you are capable of fear and reverence, huh?"

To her, this was almost laughable.

"Interesting."

Unavoidably, Claudia's curiosity toward Kaiser had been piqued.

Originally, she had barely paid attention to him.

A first-year student suddenly showing up at the Student Council Office, boldly requesting to borrow an Orga Lux—it was nothing unusual.

Everyone knew how valuable and powerful Orga Lux weapons were.

Aside from a small group of skeptics, most students desired them in some way.

Any student interested in gaining strength, climbing the academy rankings, or making a name for themselves in the Festa would naturally dream of wielding such a weapon.

Especially average students—

How many times had history repeated itself?

A nameless, mediocre student gets their hands on an Orga Lux—suddenly rising to prominence, dominating the academy, even becoming a legend in the Festa.

These stories weren't uncommon.

There had been many famous figures throughout history who wielded Orga Lux weapons.

It was only natural that students fantasized about obtaining one, seeing it as their ticket to greatness.

At first, Claudia thought Kaiser was just another one of them.

If it weren't for her duties as Student Council President, she wouldn't have given him a second thought.

If Kaiser had left quietly, she would have submitted his application as a formality, then forgotten about him entirely.

After all, with his lack of achievements, his application was doomed to be rejected.

There was no way he would have been granted permission to use an Orga Lux so early on.

But now—

Claudia changed her mind.

"For Pandora to react like that… yet for him to never appear in my 'dreams'—just what makes him so special?"

Walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, she gazed down at the academy grounds, a meaningful smile forming on her lips.

"Let's give him a little push, shall we?"

—

Outside the High School Building, Courtyard

Stepping out into the open air once more, Kaiser instinctively looked up, his eyes drawn to the top floor of the school building.

"She's noticed me by now, hasn't she?"

He murmured under his breath.

Being familiar with the original story, Kaiser knew—

With his current skill level and reputation, there was no way his Orga Lux application would be approved.

Normally, the correct path would have been to improve his ranking, gain recognition, and prove his worth to the academy before applying.

If he stood out among his peers, if he climbed to the top, the academy would gladly grant him an Orga Lux—so he could bring them prestige in the Festa.

But that took too long.

And Kaiser wasn't willing to wait.

So—he needed Claudia's influence.

"If the Student Council President backs me, my approval chances will skyrocket."

Claudia wasn't just a student leader—

Her parents were high-ranking officials in Galaxy, the corporation that funded Seidoukan Academy.

The academy would never ignore her opinion.

Because the true owner of Seidoukan's Orga Lux weapons was Galaxy itself.

If Claudia pushed his application forward, the academy would have no choice but to comply.

And given her personal relationship with her Orga Lux, if he showed even the slightest influence over it, she would undoubtedly become interested.

Once that happened—

She might help him willingly.

Of course—this was only speculation.

Kaiser wasn't certain things would play out this way.

His knowledge of the original story gave him insight into Claudia's unconventional personality.

That was why he took the risk.

But whether it actually worked—that was another matter.

"The question is… will her Orga Lux react to me?"

That part, he couldn't predict.

"My Authority is supposed to be the ultimate dominion over weaponry…"

"A weapon with a will of its own shouldn't be able to remain indifferent to it, right?"

With that thought, Kaiser left the courtyard, letting fate take its course.

—

The Next Few Days

Kaiser spent the following days blending into the academy's daily routine.

He attended classes on time.

He practiced swordplay in secluded areas.

He trained his body whenever he had free time.

His new body thrilled him.

It was young, full of energy, and incredibly strong.

For the first time in years, he actually felt like moving, as if all his previous laziness had been cured.

He had no friends in the academy.

Even though he recognized many major characters from the original story, he had no intention of seeking them out.

At most, he felt mild curiosity about seeing them in real life.

But beyond that, he remained neutral.

That said—he kept an eye on online news and the academy's website.

Through them, he saw familiar names, faces, and even duel recordings.

One thing that fascinated him was the technology of this world.

Their smartphones were tiny—barely larger than a laser pointer.

And yet—

They could be operated hands-free, responding to gestures instead of touch.

They projected virtual screens, allowing users to access information midair.

Even video calls could be handled with just a wave of the hand.

"All of this is thanks to Mana technology, huh?"

Kaiser often found himself marveling at it.

Then—finally—

He received the news he had been waiting for.

"Your application has been approved, Kaiser."

That day—

Claudia walked straight into his classroom, carrying a stack of documents in her arms.

Ignoring the stunned whispers around them, she smiled directly at him.

"Let's finish the paperwork first—then we'll head to the Equipment Bureau together."