Chapter 216: Fighting Back
"..." Silvester’s body froze. The color on his face started to disappear. He abruptly fell back into his seat.
Meanwhile, the others were dumbfounded by what they had just seen.
"What? A silver badge?"
"Sorry? I think I saw two!"
"Two silver badges? How is it possible?"
"No. In the first place, we’re talking about a 17-year-old boy. He should have awakened for only a few months. I can understand the birth of a genius if he’s a bronze-grade evolution master, but a silver-grade evolution master?"
"Did he study to become an evolution master while still in his mother’s womb?"
"There is one more pressing matter. A silver-grade evolution master means a juvenile-form avatar!"
"Is he cheating?"
"Are those badges fake?"
"Ahem!" Professor Schad coughed to get their attention. "Let me explain the situation. So as to not violate Student Auric’s privacy, I won’t reveal everything.
"However, I can tell you that Student Auric is a very talented person who is able to wield multiple elements.
"He became a bronze-grade evolution master two days after his awakening through the proper channel. The record of his test should be in the database of the Evolution Association and I’ve checked its authenticity.
"Because of his uniqueness, he was granted a special right to test for evolution master certification for his other elements.
"Approximately one month ago, Student Auric awakened another element, which is a rank 2 element. Because it was a new element, he needed to undergo testing again. As a result, he not only became an evolution master for that particular element, but he also qualified as a silver-grade evolution master.
"As I said, all the records of his test were documented properly in the Evolution Association. You can check the authenticity yourself. You may never have heard of him, but that’s because of his age and to respect Student Auric’s wish to remain like a normal student.
"So, the badges he currently possesses are real, and I can vouch for him." Professor Schad explained everything, but he didn’t directly say anything about Auric’s situation with his elements.
The people only thought Auric awakened multiple elements, not the fact that he was a unique element user. Of course, even Auric didn’t tell him about the fact that he failed to awaken an avatar.
Even if people found out about it, there were only two possibilities. Something was wrong with Auric’s body. The other possibility was that Auric had an avatar, but it wasn’t detected by the system.
They knew how mysterious unique elements were, so it was understandable that such a case could occur.
Auric had already prepared an answer for this day, so he didn’t panic.
"Now, is there anyone else who wants to ask? No one? Then, with this, this concludes the presentation."
None of them expected that Auric would be this talented. This kind of talent might far surpass national-level talent. This could only be considered world-class talent.
Not only was Auric strong, but he was also terrifying as an evolution master.
The average age for becoming a silver-grade evolution master is around 20. A lot of good students in famous universities could do better, but this was probably the first time the world witnessed a 17-year-old silver-grade evolution master.
In other words, Auric was a genius. He might possess something special that allowed him to achieve such feats.
And that uniqueness might allow him to help Professor Schad and create this new concept.
"Amazing! If that’s true, then he possesses a godlike talent."
"A silver-grade evolution master with multiple elements? With that kind of talent, can’t he become gold-grade easily?"
"No. He should have gone higher. What if he becomes a diamond-grade or even titanium-grade evolution master?"
"He might even aim for a higher rank. This country only has 10 adamantium evolution masters. If he can awaken even more elements, once he reaches that level, won’t he become the equivalent of multiple adamantium-grade evolution masters?"
Their imaginations couldn’t help but go wild. With this much information, they expected Auric to reach the highest. After all, he was simply that talented.
They thought Auric might become the next Supreme Chief of the Evolution Association. If he could reach his full potential, he would become a great asset to the country.
One journalist was completely shaken. He couldn’t help but recall what happened a few days ago.
...
"Mr. Jeremy!" The journalist didn’t expect that Jeremy Relesha would actually call him. They had collaborated a few times, so he knew Jeremy would have another scoop for him.
"Do you have a slot at the magic conference that will be held this Wednesday?"
The journalist was startled. "I do have one. My junior is supposed to go there."
"You should go there. I will arrange an exclusive interview for you. This time, you will definitely get a big scoop."
What the journalist didn’t know was that Jeremy was actually calling him in front of Lunaria and Mathias.
Jeremy gave them an ’OK’ sign. "Everything is done. He is my journalist, so he’s going to paint Auric in a way to make him famous but also link it to our family. Once everything settles down, we just have to spread the rumor about him becoming the son-in-law of the Relesha family."
"!!!" Lunaria and Mathias looked at each other, their expressions brightening.
...
At that time, the journalist didn’t think there would be something shocking that would garner such high praise from him.
It turned out Jeremy was right. He couldn’t help but mutter, "This is going to be big."
The presentation continued with other people showing their own research. However, none of them caught their attention, especially after seeing someone like Auric.
The only one who managed to pique their interest was Professor Schad. He had explicitly told them about his research being directly related to Auric’s. They wanted to see what kind of research actually made Auric find such a concept.
They were quite surprised when they saw the combination of two techniques, and the principle behind it was the combination of passive and active energy.
It was no wonder that their topics were related. Without Auric’s research, Professor Schad couldn’t have completed his research.
Still, this also made Auric look even more terrifying. They realized this might be the reason Kallarnos University used this opportunity to bring Auric to their university as an exchange student.
Auric knew that his life might not be the same anymore after this. And it all started with the interview.
To avoid everyone ganging up on him, Auric chose to follow Mathias’ request.
Mathias asked him to meet a journalist and answer a few questions from him. Since Auric also wanted to use the power of the media to fight back against Trevor’s family, he agreed to the interview.
The journalist smiled at Auric. "Hello, Student Auric. I’m a journalist from Tampan Media. Just call me Carry."
"Hello." Auric shook his hand firmly.
"Please relax. You don’t have to answer the questions you don’t want to answer."
"Yes." Auric nodded.
"Shall we begin?"
"Sure."
"Let’s begin with your name and birth date."
"I’m Auric Elfe, born on 4th April 105."
The journalist nodded. After the apocalypse, it was decided to set that day as Day Zero. It had been 120 years since that apocalypse, so the journalist continued, "You are studying at Grand Magica College, correct? Are you currently in Kallarnos University’s exchange program?"
"That is correct. This is the second week, so I will go back this week."
"How is studying at Kallarnos University for you?"
"Well..." Auric scratched the back of his head. "I can’t really say it’s pleasant."
Carry raised his eyebrows. "Can you elaborate on that?"
Auric just smiled, signaling that he refused to answer the question.
Carry knew that he shouldn’t poke, especially at someone under the protection of the Relesha family.
"Let’s change the topic. How did you come up with the research?"
"Well, I originally had a battle technique in mind. I planned to use it as my main battle technique because it could allow me to utilize all my elements. But I was stuck because it couldn’t go the way I wanted to.
"Professor Schad found me and asked about the research he had done. Since it aligned with my goals, I agreed to help him and ultimately we found the answer."
Carry was quite surprised. "So, it’s all because of a battle technique? Aren’t you supposed to be an evolution master?"
"What do you mean? Can’t evolution masters be good fighters as well? If we can’t do anything, we will require protection all the time. So, of course, I learned how to protect myself."
"I see. You are currently living with the Relesha family, correct?"
"Maya Relesha is my teacher at Grand Magica College. After knowing that I’m in the exchange program, she offered me to stay with the Relesha family."
"How about your friends?"
"They stayed in another place, but they were not mistreated or anything. After all, one of my friends, Ellia, managed a hotel, so they lived there for the time being."
"Ellia? Do you mean the daughter of the Astler family, Ellia Stroph Astler?"
"That is correct. She is one of the people who are here as an exchange student."
"How about your relationship with the Relesha family? Have they been treating you well?"
"Of course. They’re very warm to me. I’m thankful for the Relesha family for all the care. Without them, I won’t be able to focus on my studies here."
Carry nodded carefully and raised one finger. "Let’s talk about your career as an evolution master. When did you become a bronze-grade evolution master and a silver-grade evolution master?"
"After the awakening ceremony, I gained an opportunity to study under a mentor. He helped me with my studies. After receiving some energy, he asked me to register as an evolution master, so I did.
"After close to two months, I then received my silver badge."
"A mentor? Is it not your current teacher, Maya Relesha? May I know this person’s name?"
"I apologize. Without his permission, I can’t reveal his name." Auric shook his head. "However, Teacher Maya has also helped me with a lot of things. She is the one teaching me how to get stronger."
"I see. Are you aware that you have become the youngest bronze-grade evolution master and the youngest silver-grade evolution master in the world?"
"I am aware."
"You haven’t wanted to reveal it all this time? There was plenty of time before this conference to reveal it, right?"
"The matter of me becoming a bronze-grade evolution master is already common knowledge back in Thunderer City. Mayor Petrus has taken care of me all this time. As for the silver-grade, I don’t necessarily need to reveal it."
"Why is that? Don’t students your age love to show off their achievements?"
"It doesn’t matter to me. If it hadn’t been for this conference and my circumstances, I wouldn’t really reveal the fact that I’ve become an evolution master. I don’t want to be seen as a genius. I just want the people who need help to come to me because of my skills, not my age or any titles."
"You don’t feel happy about becoming a silver-grade evolution master?"
"I am happy, but at the same time, it also feels burdensome. Instead of wasting my time basking in glory, I would rather take care of my store."
"Your store? The Night and Day Store, isn’t it?"
"Yes."
"It’s a store that has been inherited from your parents?"
"My father is currently overseas, so he asked me to take care of the store."
Carry nodded in understanding. He continued asking Auric a few more questions, and Auric calmly answered most of them, but he didn’t say anything regarding his life at Kallarnos University, subtly implying that something happened at the university.
Carry was satisfied with the result of the interview. Of course, he did some research on Auric’s life. He was shocked by what he found, so he prepared a few headlines.
...
That night, Trevor, who was still lying in the hospital, gritted his teeth as he looked at the news.
[The genius of the century. A 17-year-old silver-grade evolution master.]
[Kallarnos University is not treating the genius well?]
[A new concept of passive and active energy?]
[Ellia Is My Friend.]
