Looking at Ikki Kurogane bowing at a ninety-degree angle, Noah felt troubled.
It wasn't that he was a person who wanted to demand something, but rather that Ikki had no "price" he could offer.
In Orario, members of various Familias had clear distinctions.
Even among friends or close relationships, when making requests, something would inevitably be paid—materials, money, favors, or any other exchangeable items.
Because of this exchange, everything in the dungeon city could function.
He wasn't the type who found joy in imparting knowledge or solving problems for free.
By helping Ikki with training, the only thing Noah might gain was a bit of "combat experience."
But once that value was exhausted, Ikki would have no "price" left to pay.
"Sorry, Kurogane. I can't accept your request."
Ikki raised his head but couldn't bring himself to say anything.
Everything he could say had already been said.
Even if he wanted to add more "chips"... his gaze met Noah's calm eyes.
In an instant, Ikki understood.
Yes. From the very beginning, he had no "chips" at all, and Noah had no reason to help him.
He had been "empty-handed" from the start.
Realizing how little he actually had to offer, Ikki stood there in a daze.
"See you later," Noah said, turning to leave.
He didn't know much about Ikki's personal situation, nor did he bother to investigate.
He had never once thought about exploiting the older boy's background.
Still, it did seem a bit strange.
Ikki was the young master of the Kurogane family, and the Kuroganes stood at the pinnacle of this country in every aspect—whether in politics, business, or producing outstanding Mage-Knights.
Despite coming from such a privileged background, he was so "clean-handed"... and his personality lacked the arrogance of his younger sister, Shizuku.
"Every family has its own troubles," Noah muttered.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a man's voice emerged from behind a pillar in the entrance hall.
The sharp sound of leather shoes echoed as a man in a suit and sunglasses stepped out from the shadows.
"Calamity, nice to meet you." He placed one hand over his chest, performing a standard greeting.
Noah stopped and turned to look at him. "Who are you?"
Faced with this arrogant attitude, the man frowned. He had offered the proper courtesy but received no polite response.
"I'm from the Kurogane family."
"What do you want?"
"..." The man felt uncomfortable with Noah's direct reaction and decided to get straight to the point.
"That Failed Knight... it's best you don't get involved with him anymore. I overheard your conversation just now. You made the right choice, and I hope you can continue to do so or else ...."
'What was this about? Was this referring to my refusal to help Ikki with his training?'
Noah faced the man directly.
He slowly walked up to the man until the distance between them was less than a meter.
"Are you threatening me?"
Noah's gaze turned dangerous.
If this were an ordinary student of Hagun Academy, they might have been terrified by now.
But this man from the Kurogane family wasn't one of those kids.
"Hah, you don't even have the qualifications to be threatened by the Kurogane family. It's all for your own good. If you don't want to... huh?"
The man was in the middle of speaking when he felt an immense pressure crushing his body, forcing him uncontrollably to his knees.
A sharp pain shot through his joints.
He tried to speak, but realized the air around him had become dangerously thin, making it impossible to draw a breath.
Noah looked down coldly at the man, watching him clutch his throat in agony, gasping for air.
Just a moment ago, this man had been threatening him and now he was reduced to a pitiful state.
"Huff... huff... What did you do to me?!" the man managed to ask.
Noah responded with an innocent expression.
"Sir, you seem to be in pain. Do you need help?" A faint, disdainful smile played on his lips.
Without warning, Noah had subjected the man to the full force of gravity within a five-meter radius and drained the air around him.
Judging by his ability level, this man was merely at the lower end of D-Rank.
Relying on the Kurogane family's name to act arrogantly—Noah had no intention of indulging him.
"St-stop it!"
The man felt himself on the verge of suffocation.
He couldn't understand why a mere student knight would act so decisively and recklessly.
He was a member of the Kurogane family!
This guy was just an exchange student, not even royalty from the Vermillion Empire!
This was bad.
He couldn't hold on any longer.
"W-wait... I apologize! Please stop, I beg you!"
With his last ounce of strength, the man grabbed Noah's pant leg before his head lolled to the side and he fell unconscious.
Noah kicked the man's hand away, used his student handbook to report that someone had fainted in the hall and leisurely walked off as if the incident had nothing to do with him.
Not long after Noah left, Ikki also emerged from the arena, looking disheartened.
Upon seeing the man collapsed on the ground, he hurried over to help him up.
"Hey, what happened to you?"
He shook the man a few times, but there was no response.
Hoisting the man onto his back, Ikki sprinted away using his physical abilities to get him to the infirmary.
...
"Sorry for the wait, Stella."
"You took a while. Did something happen?"
"Nothing much."
As Noah chatted with Stella near the exit, he felt a gust of wind rush past.
Glancing in that direction, he caught sight of Ikki sprinting with the Kurogane family man on his back.
Stella noticed it too and asked in confusion, "Was that Ikki?"
"Seems like it. He's carrying that man..."
"Yeah..."
Judging by what the Kurogane family man had said, it wasn't hard to guess that Ikki's status in the family wasn't high.
He might have even been expelled from the family, given the man's attitude.
The Kurogane family not only wasn't Ikki's backing, but might actually be targeting him.
Of course, there was also the possibility of factional strife within the clan.
'Hmm... Seems like that guy has a rough path ahead too.'