The morning sun poured through the tall glass windows of Hagun Academy's administrative building, painting the marble floor in pale gold. Inside the principal's office, the air was thick with quiet tension.
Stacks of reports sat neatly on one side of the desk, beside a steaming cup of black coffee. The scent of roasted beans blended with the faint metallic tang of mana residue—Kurono Shinguuji had been working since dawn.
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[System Interface — Scan Complete]
Target: Kurono Shinguuji
Level: 23
Abilities: Causality Time Manipulation, Inherent Device — Propater, Inherent Device — Ennoia
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Haruto's lips curved slightly. Level 23, huh... not bad.
But what caught his interest wasn't her strength—it was her ability. Causality manipulation tied to time... That's new.
Up until now, he'd only faced mindless monsters, undead, or Kabane. This woman was on a completely different level—an intelligent opponent wielding something abstract.
Before he could say anything, a familiar voice called out.
"Haruto, you're here!"
Stella Vermillion, her fiery red hair reflecting the sunlight like molten glass, looked visibly relieved.
She knew she couldn't beat the principal alone. Calling for help had been her only way out. After all, she refused to share a dorm room with a man.
Seeing the recognition between them, Kurono's composure shifted slightly. Her tone turned firm.
"You. How did you enter Hagun Academy without making a sound?"
Haruto raised his hands casually, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "It's obvious. I'm here for Stella."
"W–wait!" Stella's face flushed red as she hurried to clarify, "He doesn't mean it like that! He's here to help me seek justice!"
Haruto nodded as if that were his intended line all along. "Exactly. Since she doesn't want to share a room with a man, I'd say her reasoning is sound. Gender, reputation, and all that."
Kurono stood up slowly, crossing her arms as her expression hardened. "This is a rule of Hagun Academy. You have no right to interfere."
Haruto tilted his head, the faint smile still there, but his eyes grew colder. "A rule, huh? Or is it favoritism? Don't tell me... you've taken a liking to that boy—Ikki Kurogane—and you're trying to set them up?"
Stella, however, froze. Then, realization dawned on her face as her eyes widened in disbelief and her face darkened.
"Wait... Principal, do you know Ikki Kurogane?"
Kurono remained silent.
That silence was answer enough.
Stella slammed her fist onto the desk, flames flickering faintly around her shoulders. "What right do you have to meddle in my relationships?! Even my father and mother wouldn't dare decide that for me! Who do you think you are?!"
Before she could summon her weapon, Haruto placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Calm down, Princess," he said softly, though there was iron in his tone. "I'm here to help you get justice, not wreck the place."
Then, his voice dropped lower, filled with quiet challenge.
"So... why don't we handle this the Hagun way—with a duel?"
Kurono's brow arched. "A duel?"
Her eyes glimmered faintly—curiosity mixing with a spark she hadn't felt in years. She hadn't fought seriously since retiring from the KOK Alliance. The idea alone stirred something nostalgic.
She studied him more closely. That composure… that arrogance. How old is he?
"What's your name, and how old are you?" she asked.
"Haruto Amakawa," he replied, casually sliding one hand into his pocket. "Eighteen."
"Eighteen?!" Kurono's composure cracked for the first time.
He didn't look like a teenager—his confidence, the quiet weight in his presence—it didn't belong to someone that young.
After a moment, she exhaled and asked, "Fine, but if you're serious about a duel, what's your wager?"
Haruto grinned faintly, eyes glinting with amusement. "If we're going to bet, let's make it interesting."
He raised a finger. "The fight continues until one side surrenders. The loser must obey the winner. Do you dare?"
The office fell silent.
Kurono's expression stiffened. She hadn't expected stakes that high. She'd thought he only came to negotiate—perhaps show off his power. But this…
"W–wait!" Stella gasped, spinning toward him. "Haruto! You don't have to go that far for me!"
Her voice trembled with worry. She'd only wanted him to talk to the principal, maybe scare her a little. She never intended for him to risk something this serious.
If he lost, he'd basically belong to Kurono Shinguuji.
But Haruto only smiled, stepping forward with a calm confidence that sent a shiver through the room.
"It's fine," he said quietly. "If she dares to bet, I'll dare to fight."
He wasn't bluffing. In truth, he was provoking her deliberately.
Kurono's motives were obvious—but so were his.
Her ability fascinated him. Causality and time... Let's see how far that goes against me.
For a few seconds, neither spoke. The ticking clock seemed louder, echoing in the heavy silence. Then Kurono's lips curved slightly, and her gray eyes burned with new intensity.
"Fine," she said finally. "As long as the terms don't disrupt Hagun Academy, I accept."
Haruto's grin deepened. "Good. I'm more interested in you than your school anyway."
Hagun Academy — Battle Arena
The academy's central arena was massive—nearly a hundred meters across, surrounded by ascending rows of stone seats. The air buzzed with anticipation as hundreds of students filled the stands.
It wasn't every day the principal herself fought a duel.
On the stage below, Haruto stood with a hand resting casually on his hip, surveying the crowd.
"Tch, tch. So many people watching me for the first time. I feel like a celebrity," he murmured with a faint smile.
Across from him, Kurono Shinguuji rolled up her sleeves and loosened her tie, her composed aura unwavering despite the murmurs around her.
"Haruto Amakawa," she said evenly. "Do you need time to warm up?"
Haruto chuckled and raised his hand. "No need."
Frost began to gather in his palm, condensing in the shape of a blade. Within seconds, an ice-forged sword shimmered under the arena lights, releasing cold mist with every breath.
The students gasped softly.
Kurono's eyes narrowed. "Ice…?"
She searched her memories—there was no record of any swordsman this young with such refined control over elemental ice.
Haruto twirled the blade once, its edge slicing through the air with a whisper. His eyes, once relaxed, now gleamed with focus and quiet sharpness.
"If you need to stretch, I don't mind waiting," he said casually.
"I don't need to." Kurono straightened, summoning her twin Inherent Devices, Propater and Ennoia, glowing faintly in her hands.
"Good," Haruto said simply. "Then let's begin."
The crowd fell silent.
A bell rang—clear and crisp.
The duel began.
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