The next morning started quietly, but it didn't stay that way for long. This time, instead of a normal messenger, a royal servant personally arrived at their base. His posture, tone, and presence were completely different from before. He bowed respectfully the moment he saw them.
Servant: "I apologize for yesterday. Sending a normal messenger was inappropriate."
Igna noticed it immediately. Even Sele gave a small glance, understanding what it meant. Their presence had reached a level where even the palace adjusted its approach.
Servant: "His Majesty requests your presence again."
Yash looked at him for a moment, then at the others, and nodded.
Yash: "Alright."
They moved together toward the royal palace. The guards stepped aside the moment they arrived, and the gates opened without delay. Igna walked in silently, observing everything carefully. The size of the palace, the guards, the stillness in the air—it all felt heavy, but the people beside him walked as if it meant nothing.
When they entered the hall, the king was already waiting.
He wasn't sitting like a distant ruler.
He looked relaxed.
Like he was expecting them.
Andre: "So you finally decided to come."
Yash didn't bow. May didn't bow. Hena didn't bow. Emily stood casually. Igna and Sele hesitated for a second but stayed as they were.
Yash: "You sent someone properly this time."
Andre: "You rejected my first invitation."
Yash: "That wasn't an invitation."
Andre laughed.
They all sat down, and the atmosphere didn't feel formal at all.
Andre leaned forward slightly, his gaze moving across them.
Andre: "Distro returning with this lineup… Yash, Sele, Emily."
He paused.
Andre: "Putting you three in one team… that's not normal."
Igna listened carefully, then spoke after thinking for a moment.
Igna: "There are other teams with strong members together… even SSS rank ones… so why is ours special?"
Andre smiled slightly.
Andre: "Because I know more than what's written."
His gaze shifted toward Sele.
Andre: "The fifth floor incident… the killer everyone talks about."
A small silence followed.
Andre: "That was you."
Sele's eyes widened slightly. Igna froze.
The others stayed calm.
Andre: "So no… you're not just rank 34. You're far more dangerous."
Sele didn't deny it.
Andre then looked toward Emily and sighed.
Andre: "And you… you're still a problem."
Emily stood up casually, walked toward him, and lightly tapped his shoulder while teasing him about old incidents, forcing him to stop talking too much. May tried to hide her laugh, Hena smiled, and even Sele showed a faint reaction. Andre eventually gave up and shook his head.
Andre: "…You're still a menace."
Emily smiled and went back.
Then Andre turned toward Yash.
His expression changed.
More serious.
More focused.
Andre: "And you…"
The room grew quiet.
Andre leaned back slightly.
Andre: "I contacted the kingdom where you stayed for the past three years."
Igna focused immediately.
Andre: "They didn't hesitate. They didn't fear. They spoke very clearly."
A pause.
Andre: "They said you rarely fought."
Igna frowned slightly.
Before Andre could continue, Igna spoke.
Igna: "That's true."
Everyone looked at him.
Igna: "I've only seen him fight three times."
The room went silent.
Andre's eyes shifted back to him.
Igna: "And even those three times…"
He paused, trying to find the right words.
Igna: "…it didn't feel like a fight."
Yash didn't react.
Igna continued slowly.
Igna: "The first time… it ended before I understood what happened."
A short pause.
Igna: "The second time… it felt like the enemy didn't even get a chance to move."
Another pause.
Igna: "And the third time…"
He looked down slightly.
Igna: "…I couldn't even follow it."
Silence filled the room.
Andre listened carefully.
Then nodded slowly.
Andre: "That matches what they told me."
He leaned forward slightly.
Andre: "They said you only step in when needed."
Andre: "And when you do… the outcome is already decided."
A pause.
Andre: "No wasted movement."
Andre: "No unnecessary effort."
Andre: "Just precision."
Andre's voice lowered slightly.
Andre: "They also said you never fought seriously."
He looked directly at Yash.
Andre: "Not once."
Yash stayed silent.
Andre continued.
Andre: "Which means…"
A pause.
Andre: "Everything they saw… wasn't even your limit."
The weight of that statement settled deeply.
Andre leaned back.
Andre: "You're still rank 38."
Another pause.
Andre: "Not because that's your level…"
Andre: "…but because that's where you decided to stay."
Igna slowly turned toward Yash again.
This time, it felt clear.
Not confusing.
Not shocking.
Just real.
Andre looked at Igna.
Andre: "Everyone here knows this."
A short pause.
Andre: "Now you do too."
Dinner was served after that, but Igna couldn't focus much. His mind kept replaying everything he had just said, everything he had realized. Even during dinner, Emily continued teasing Andre casually like nothing serious had happened.
Emily: "Food is still bad."
Andre: "Then stop coming here."
Emily: "Make it better first."
May laughed. Hena smiled. Sele stayed quiet.
After everything, they stepped out of the palace.
The night air felt heavier than before.
Igna walked in silence for a while.
Then finally spoke.
Igna: "I understand now."
No one interrupted.
He looked at Yash.
There was no doubt left.
No confusion.
Only realization.
He wasn't just walking beside someone strong.
He was walking beside someone far beyond that.
And for the first time—
He truly understood it.