The Headmaster’s Gift

Black tensed up, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

“Headmaster Troy, good day.”

“Thank you for granting me the status of an honorary student.”

Black placed his right hand over his chest and performed a standard imperial salute, his posture neither servile nor overbearing.

“Sit, child.”

Headmaster Troy gestured to the chair opposite his desk.

His gaze swept over Black.

“To be able to move so freely in such a short time, it seems your physical constitution is quite outstanding.”

‘That’s all thanks to Kristine.’

Black thought to himself as he sat down as instructed, his back ramrod straight.

“You flatter me, Headmaster.”

Troy smiled and got straight to the point, bringing up the matter of the entrance exam.

“Regarding the incident during the entrance exam, the academy was negligent in its precautions. It was thanks to you turning the tide that the consequences were not unimaginable.”

“Therefore, the academy owes you a favor this time.”

“The status of an honorary student is what you deserve.”

“With it, most of the academy’s facilities and knowledge will be open to you. I hope it will be of some help to you.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand lightly, and three items appeared out of thin air on the desk.

“Of course, the status of an honorary student alone is naturally not enough.”

“Here are three items. You may choose one of them as a personal token of my gratitude.”

‘Here comes the main event.’

Black’s gaze focused on the three items.

He was very curious about what a gift from an Emperor-Tier Sorcerer would be like.

The first item was an ancient-looking, dark silver ring.

Set in the face of the ring was a deep black gemstone in which a nebula seemed to swirl.

“This is the ‘Void Traveler’s Ring’.”

“The highest-tier storage ring, its internal space is equivalent to a large warehouse.”

Troy explained.

‘It really is the Void Traveler’s Ring.’

Black was also quite familiar with this storage ring.

This item was also the highest-tier storage item in the game.

It was basically a must-have item for every player in the late game.

Once equipped, the inventory slots and capacity would be greatly expanded.

It was something that loot-hoarding players and grinders dreamed of.

“Speaking of which, this was personally crafted by the current Third Seat of the Round Table Knights, Ethan, who is also the empire’s strongest alchemist.”

“He is a good friend of mine of many years. He gifted me this ring a few years ago, but I have no use for it.”

‘To think it came from the hands of that Ethan!’

This was unexpected for Black.

‘That’s right, there are very few alchemists in the entire empire who can craft this highest-tier storage ring.’

This ring would sell for at least 500,000 gold coins on the market.

At auction, it could even fetch up to 1,000,000 gold coins.

Its preciousness was outrageous.

Black was tempted. He might not necessarily use it, but he could achieve financial freedom just by selling it.

‘Don’t be hasty, let’s look at the others first.’

When he looked at the second item, Black was stunned.

This second item, he not only recognized it, but he had also used it a few months ago.

It was a small crystal vial filled with a pale golden liquid.

It was identical to the one Alice had.

Water of Regeneration, an SSS-tier top-grade potion.

“Water of Regeneration…”

Black murmured, his expression a bit complicated.

“Oh, you’ve seen the Water of Regeneration before?”

Troy picked up the vial and said slowly.

“That’s right, this is the Water of Regeneration, the legendary potion that can revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones.”

“Even someone on the brink of death, as long as they have a breath left, can be pulled back from the gates of hell.”

Black hesitated now.

The preciousness of the Water of Regeneration was no less than that of the Void Traveler’s Ring.

Both were the highest-tier alchemical products.

‘This headmaster is quite generous.’

‘Forget it, let’s look at the third item first.’

The third item was a dark golden scroll.

The runes inscribed on the scroll were complex and profound, and it faintly exuded a terrifyingly violent energy fluctuation that made one’s heart palpitate.

Black frowned.

From the runes on this scroll, he knew that this was definitely a very high-tier scroll.

Its preciousness was probably no less than the first two.

“As for this…”

Headmaster Troy’s tone carried a hint of playfulness.

“It’s a magic scroll I personally inscribed. It took me quite a bit of effort.”

“It’s an enhancement scroll called the War God’s Scroll. After using it, the user’s strength will be raised to Over-Tier Level 71 for a short period, lasting about thirty minutes.”

“And there are no side effects whatsoever!”

Hearing the effect of this scroll, Black’s pupils widened in shock.

No wonder it took an Emperor-Tier Sorcerer a great deal of effort to inscribe.

This effect was truly heaven-defying!

An increase to Over-Tier Level 71, with no side effects.

This was a trump card that could turn the tide of a life-or-death crisis at any moment.

There were probably very few of these in the entire empire.

Black was sure that if this thing were put on the market, countless people would flock to it.

It was on a completely different level from the first two items.

‘Ah, this.’

Black’s gaze moved back and forth between the three items with difficulty.

To him, each one was extremely tempting.

He was having a bout of choice paralysis!

‘I want to take them all so badly!’

He wailed inwardly.

But that was just a thought. It wouldn’t be good to be greedy in front of an Emperor-Tier Sorcerer.

After weighing his options for a long time, Black finally chose the War God’s Scroll.

He would definitely not be short of battles in the future.

From his past experience, having one more trump card was just too important.

Although the Water of Regeneration was also very good, if he were killed in one hit, it couldn’t save him.

“Headmaster, I choose the War God’s Scroll.”

Seeing this, Troy smiled and nodded.

“Good. A young man should have this kind of daring, aggressive spirit.”

Immediately after, he waved his hand, and all three items floated lightly into Black’s hands.

“Ah? Headmaster, what is this?”

Black looked at the three precious items in his hands, his expression one of complete astonishment.

‘Didn’t he say I could only choose one?’

‘What’s the meaning of this?’

“Hehe, all three of these were meant for you from the beginning.”

“Just now was just a whim. I wanted to see what you would choose, that’s all. Don’t blame an old man like me.”

Troy stroked his white beard and chuckled happily.

‘Those students were right, this headmaster is a mean old geezer!’

Black complained wildly in his heart.

But having gained such a huge advantage, he was ecstatic.

He decided not to hold the old man’s wicked sense of humor against him.

“Thank you, Headmaster, for your gifts!”

Black stood up and bowed to him.

Just then, as if Troy had suddenly remembered something, he added.

“Regarding the matter with Ivo, although you seriously injured him, you don’t need to worry about retaliation from the Round Table Knights.”

“He was in the wrong first. The academy has already disciplined him. If he offends again, he will be expelled directly.”

“The academy is not afraid of a mere Round Table Knight.”

‘No wonder…’

Black had been wondering. Given Ivo’s personality and the power of the Round Table Knights.

After he had beaten that madman into such a state, shouldn’t they have come looking for trouble?

But the past few days had been surprisingly calm.

It seemed the academy had warned them.