Jaune was completely blindsided by Glynda's direct question.
He was confused. Wasn't he supposed to be dead, officially a missing person who failed the initiation?
Why did she talk to him like he was still a living student?
"Eh… Ummm… what do you mean?"
Jaune stammered, his mind racing to connect his new identity with his past life.
Glynda sighed in exasperation and held out the file, tapping his transcript photo.
"This is your transcript. Look at your photo and then at the mirror. They are almost not the same person! We know you faked your papers, but why the elaborate disguise now?"
"Oh, right, you mean that…"
Jaune trailed off, his attention fixed internally.
'Ciel, what is going on? Why do they think I'm still the original Jaune Arc?'
[The Host has died. However, when the Host connected to the system and was revived, the system initiated a Time-State Synchronization. The system returned time in this world to a point just before your death, ensuring your original identity still remains intact and preventing a catastrophic disruption to the local time-space continuum.]
Jaune was internally shocked. The system could turn back time! It was a power that dwarfed anything he had ever known.
[However, the price of turning back time was immense and is not something the host could bear again. This was a one-time service only. The next time the host dies, the system would shut down and find a new host. Please do not die.]
Jaune's mind snapped to attention.
He planned to never die again.
The pressure of being the Multiverse Keeper suddenly felt real, but the rewards were worth the risk.
He looked at the formidable professor and the cynical Huntsman before him.
"The transcripts are fake, Professor,"
Jaune admitted simply, deciding honesty was the best policy now that his existence was validated.
"I did that because I desperately wanted to be a Huntsman, but I don't have that intention anymore."
Jaune knew he didn't have to be a Huntsman to make his dreams come true.
Being the Multiversal Shop Keeper gave him infinitely more chances than Beacon ever could.
He could become a Multiversal Hero!
That sounded even cooler than his old dream.
"This is bad,"
Glynda muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
She came here to let him join the academy, a vital move given Ozpin's high hopes after the Remedy's success, but he was refusing.
She had to act fast.
However, before she could utter her next threat or plea, Qrow spoke first, seizing the commercial opportunity.
"Hey, kid. First things first, here is what I owe you."
Qrow tossed a heavy bag onto the counter, making a satisfying clink sound.
"54,000 Lien. Now, is there anything that could heal internal injuries? The Remedy only cured status ailments, I need something to heal deep wounds."
Jaune quickly checked the system.
"I have a High Potion (Origin: Final Fantasy, Rank: Copper, Price: 5 mcc). But it will cost you another 5,000 Lien per bottle."
"So expensive!"
Qrow exclaimed, but the look in his eyes was pure greed.
He reached into his coat and produced a second, much larger satchel, paid for by the Beacon budget.
"But I came prepared this time! Give me ten bottles!"
Qrow felt absolutely no guilt using Ozpin's vast resources for this miracle purchase.
Jaune felt a rush of euphoria. He had another Silver Coin equivalent with this transaction!
[Transaction Complete. Received 54,000 Lien (54 mcc for debt) + 50,000 Lien (50 mcc for High Potions). Total received: 104 mcc (1 msc and 4 mcc). Current Balance: 1 Silver Coin, 25 Copper Coins.]
Glynda couldn't wait any longer. She moved around the counter, her eyes firm.
"Jaune Arc, you will join Beacon Academy. I need you to be there."
She went directly to the point, and Jaune shook his head.
"I have a job here, Professor. I can't leave the shop."
"I have no choice then,"
Glynda declared, her voice resonating with finality.
She brought out a familiar, silver sheathed sword—his very family heirloom.
"My heirloom!"
Jaune gasped. Crocea Mors! She must have found it when the cleanup crews were preparing the Emerald Forest for the upcoming initiation.
"And not only will I give you your heirloom back without telling your parents about your initial lie, but I will also let you open your shop inside the academy grounds! You can tend to it in your free time. Qrow will take care of this place and the security in the slums for you until you graduate!"
Glynda went all out, offering an unprecedented deal.
She then snapped her fingers, burning his fake transcripts with a small flash of her Semblance, and brought out a pristine, new transcript that was personally issued by Ozpin himself, ready for the initiation.
They only needed his new photo.
Jaune stared at the document, then at his recovered sword and shield, then at the grinning Qrow, who was now clutching his ten vials of High Potion.
He was going back to Beacon, but this time, he was going back as a Multiverse Shop Keeper.