The identity of the young man in front of him wasn’t so simple. He was the heir of the Mackay family, Galen Mackay. Even on his own, this young man would set out to be a great adventurer. Nikolai remembers the nickname this young man had.

Death Gale.

It referred to the man’s agility and technique, which he had trained to monstrous levels. It was also a part of his name, Galen. This man will become the guild master of the Serene Guild that the Mackay family owned.

‘He’s not someone I can handle.’ Nikolai thought silently to himself. He wasn’t a coward, but he wasn’t someone who would fight a losing battle. However, giving him this pin would mean he won’t be a part of Valkyrie’s party.

At first, Nikolai didn’t want to join the party. However, he changed his mind because it would make him obtain Fate Points and would be an excellent start to forge connections with the Helnes family.

He couldn’t ignore the fact Valkyrie will become a lord one day, even if he tried to stop her from becoming one. The god that will choose her would be useful after the apocalypse, allowing her to start a nation after every nation in the world falls to pieces.

The clock was ticking, and a sigh escaped Nikolai’s mouth. He took out the pin and handed it over to Galen. With a smile of approval, Galen walked closer to grab the item.

“You’ve made the right choice,” Galen smiled as he took the pin from Nikolai. “Don’t show your face to me again, and no one will harm you. Leave.” He dismissed Nikolai while studying the pin in his hand with greed.

Galen was currently a third-year student, making him quite powerful. However, even for him, the Drunken Stars party was quite the opportunity to forge connections with young masters from different prospects.

“How can someone like him obtain it?” Galen shook his head with regret, ignoring Nikolai’s existence. Suddenly, he felt the pin’s surface prickle his skin. “What is this?” Galen shouted and threw the pin away, but he was too late.

Red energy exploded from within the pin and struck his hand. Galen grunted as the blood inside his hand exploded, turning it into a mangled mess.

“You’re dead.” He turned to Nikolai with unbridled rage, eyes bloodshot. He couldn’t understand how this orphan managed to blow up the blood vessels in his hand, but it seems Nikolai had no intention of explaining.

“Try me.” Nikolai had his arrow ready the moment Galen turned to face him. “Light!” He infused the effect, and the arrow shone brightly. As he released it, the arrow cut across the air and struck the ground in front of the group.

Blinding light exploded from the arrow, forcing everyone to close their eyes. Nikolai darted and rolled on the ground relying only on perception and memory, picking up the pin before bolting away.

“Seize him!” Galen roared, but the rest of them were too blind to catch Nikolai. Sending his mana in waves to see while covering his eyes, Nikolai managed to flee through an opening.

The light began to fade as the assailants’ vision began to return. Nikolai could hear a whistle as Galen chased after him. Using Limit-Break, Nikolai bolted forward and jumped into the training field’s yard.

He rolled on the ground when he heard the wind whistle. Three deep marks cut across the field in the place he was just standing. Dirt covered Nikolai’s face as he looked at Galen rushing toward him.

Jumping and taking out his bow again, Nikolai nocked the arrow while thinking about which arrow to infuse. Before he could release his arrow, a different arrow cut across the air and went toward Galen.

‘This is…’ Nikolai frowned as he saw Galen stop to strike the arrow away. Taking this chance, Nikolai turned around and fled. He would glance back to see the arrows hindering Galen’s way until Nikolai managed to leave the field.

As he ran into the middle of the academy’s gardens, Galen chased after him no longer. While he was sitting down to gather his breath, someone walked up to Nikolai.

“Are you an idiot?” Nikolai asked without looking up. “Why did you get yourself into this mess?” Nikolai raised his head, and the archer made a few gestures in response.

‘It was the right thing to do.’ She gestured.

“The only right thing is to keep yourself safe and away from trouble.” Nikolai shook his head. “What are your demands?”

‘Demands?’ The archer tilted her head with confusion.

“In return for helping me.” Nikolai stared at her, his lips turning into a thin line. “Name your demands.”

‘I don’t have any.’

“You,” Nikolai hated her response. “You are a stupid person.” It was just stupid to risk yourself for others. He couldn’t understand it and hated anyone who did it so blindly.

‘Fine.’ The archer rolled her eyes and gestured. ‘Train with me every week.’ She demanded.

“Just that?” Nikolai frowned. “You can ask for something more.”

‘Nothing else, just that.’ The Mute Girl smiled. She then turned and left without waiting for Nikolai’s reply. Staring at her back silently, Nikolai gave his judgment of her personality.

‘This girl is delusional.’

***

Nikolai broke into the lab again with all of his items. He needed to recover in a private place, away from Galen’s and Julian’s influence. He couldn’t trust his roommates or the academy, so he found an isolated spot to recover.

His fractured bones have already healed thanks to the Blood Energy, although he had to consume most of it. The rest of his energy went into the pin, which he handed over to Galen, rapturing his blood vessels.

As Nikolai sat on the ground in the empty room, he waited until night arrived to sneak out of the academy. He wanted to make sure that they wouldn’t follow him as he leaves the academy, so he jumped over the academy’s walls and jumped into the canal.

It was an extreme action, but Nikolai had to do it. He knew that Galen was more ruthless than Julian and had more resources to use as the heir of his family.

The stream took him to the lower districts, where he got out and went to the workshop where Sergio stayed. Seeing his haggard appearance, Sergio allowed him to crash on the bed to rest.