"The Core Tower is an Academy!?"
Everlearn asked, as The Boss nodded.
"It is. X Guard Academy is the number two most high-ranking Corer Academy in the world. You don't seem to be aware," he said, looking at Ryuk, who scratched the back of his head.
"Ever since after my Affinity Potential test, I actively tried not to pay attention to Corer-related stuff," he said, and The Boss chuckled understandably.
"This Academy has produced 90% of the X-Guardians in the world today and some of the most powerful Corers on Nvidian. In fact, three of the top ten strongest Corers on Nvidia graduated out of X Guard Academy," he said — something that made Everlearn finally recognize just what was before him.
"If you wish to be a full-fledged X Guardian worthy of the mark on your neck, then you must attend."
"I... I don't have any money on me, though," Everlearn said, making The Boss chuckle.
"You being an X recruit is already part of the advantage of being an X-Guardian. Just think of yourself as attending the school on a scholarship program."
"But..." Everlearn mused, his eyebrows creasing."My potential is FFF. I don't think I can even survive in there," he muttered, and The Boss nodded.
"That's what surprises me too," he said, and Everlearn turned to him.
"Ash knew about the academy, and she is an S-grade. Yet, she recommended you, knowing full well you'd be joining an academy where even C-grade potentials don't make the mark still," he said.
"Even if you don't wish to be a Corer and only a Mech designer, you still need to have a B-grade potential to be guaranteed entrance," he continued.
"I don't know what Ash was thinking when she recommended you, but I know Ash," he said."If she believed you could be a Guardian, then you could be a Guardian. I'm not sending you here knowing you're worthy."
"Strictly, you're far from being worthy at all," he said, looking right at him.
Ryuk couldn't argue with that at all.
"I'm sending you here because I believe in Ash's judgment in you, no matter how crazy it is.If you wish to survive, then it's time you find out what Ash saw in you and begin believing it too," he said before the hoverboard lowered down, and Everlearn followed down as both of them soon arrived before the revolving glass doors.
"The training will take years — four at least," he said to Everlearn.
"But you're not an ordinary recruit. You're already officially a Guardian, so at any time, you could be called out to perform missions as a Guardian."
"The world is vast, Everlearn, and there are many things you are yet to be aware of," The Boss said, falling on one knee, but even then, he was still at Everlearn's eye length.
"While your potential for greatness is really low, the view you hold on the world, and the uniqueness you have in that view, is something I have never seen before," he said — and truly, The Boss meant it.
Ryuk's words back in the vehicle had been really deep, and that unique realization he had wasn't some random statement. The way he said it was like he had truly pieced it together and come to his own conclusions. That was something truly unique.
"If you wish to be great, just like you said..." he said, and from his coat, he slipped out a blue card with a sign, sliding it into Everlearn's hands.
"This card is the pass, and that glass over there..." he said, pointing to the entrance of the Core Tower."That is the starting line to your greatest wish," he said.
Everlearn looked silently at the glass before turning to The Boss, who rose to his feet. The hoverboard beneath his feet merged together to become one, and he stood on top of it, slowly flying into the sky.
"We'll meet again, Everlearn Snowfall."
The second the words were completed, The Boss glitched out of existence, disappearing, only for a storm of air to rage in the air, throwing Everlearn's hair around his head, though his hands remained on the card in his grip.
He turned from it to look at the glass that silently stood there, seemingly waiting for him.
There was nobody around, nor any gaze looking at him.It gave him the chance to really think, and right now, Everlearn had a single thought.
Should he step in?
A place where even C-grades struggled to get into?His chance of surviving in that environment wasn't up to 1%. It was full nil.And him crumbling to pressure or just getting himself killed? That was a 100%.
But at the same time, this was it — the second-best academy in the world.This was the best opportunity toward his wish he had ever had.Would he let that fly past him?
"I..." Everlearn said, backing off the glass."I just need more time to think about it..." he said, but he had yet to fully turn when the notification flashed.
[Epic Quest Activated: Join The X Guard Academy!][Rewards: ???][Punishment: Level Up Cards Will Cease To Exist For the Host!]
"What!?"Ryuk screamed out, but he was silenced when the panel flashed.
[Time limit left: 9 seconds...]
"Hey, what do you mean punishment!?"
[7 seconds left.]
"Hey, stop counting the time down! I'm asking—"
[4 seconds.]
In the next second, Everlearn gritted his teeth, bolting forward through the glass door.
Right in the sky, unknown to Everlearn, was The Boss looking down at him, watching even as he bolted through the door.Beside her was a woman who wasn't floating with a hoverboard but standing in the air, a crimson coat flowing behind her.
"Oh, he really took the step in. Impressive courage, but..." the woman said before turning to The Boss."He will be dead in a week at most," the woman said, chuckling to herself as The Boss narrowed his eyes.
"Ash recommended him," he said, making the woman burst into laughter before raising an eyebrow.
"Is she trying to get rid of him?"
"No.""If she was, she wouldn't go through the trouble of signing out his background and sending his files to me. She's serious about this."
"Are you trying to ask me to interfere?" she asked, and The Boss shook his head, his eyes turning slightly cold.
"No. Leave him to his fate. The only thing I ask you to do is to make sure he doesn't die."
"I'm not sure how that'll affect Ash. I needmore time to understadn their dynamic."
"Anything else, leave it to his fate."