Two days ago.
"Sir! I've got an urgent report." A man entered the room.
The mayor raised his head. "Oh, so it's you. What is it?"
"Actually, my cousin's son volunteered in the association test yesterday."
"What of it? If we're talking about the test, it should be about the new evolution masters, right? Higher-grade evolution masters are not tested openly."
"Yes, sir. Actually, I heard something I couldn't believe, but according to him, someone—barely 17 years old—has managed to become a 3-star bronze-grade evolution master."
Clack!
His pen dropped. "What did you say?"
"According to him, the president of the association witnessed it himself and gave him his full support. He even managed to help someone with an extreme variant evolve with his limited energy."
"Do you know how hard it is for me to believe it?"
"I understand it very well, sir. It's just when I was trying to probe the association, they were deliberately hiding the information."
The mayor fell silent. It was strange for the association to be uncooperative. It looked like they were trying to hide him.
"So, I come to ask for your permission to investigate it."
"Do it, do it right now! If someone like that is real, we will be in luck." The mayor grinned. "Find out everything about that person."
"Understood."
The investigation was quite difficult since the association was hiding it, but because there were too many volunteers as well as staff, they managed to find almost everything in two days.
Auric's information was laid out on his desk.
The mayor was speechless. "Someone who has just awakened a few days ago can actually become an evolution master? With a three-star badge on top of that?"
"There is one more thing that confused me, sir. This is why the investigation took longer than planned." The man raised one finger. "There was another person who failed to awaken any avatar in Lensord High School."
"Failed to awaken? You mean…" The mayor was bewildered. He had never heard about a person failing to awaken their avatar.
"Yes. We managed to confirm that both of them were the same person."
"You mean someone who failed to awaken an avatar ended up becoming an evolution master in just two days?" The mayor simply couldn't believe it. "Wasn't he supposed to have no element if he failed to awaken…"
The mayor stood up. "According to this report, the Grand Magica College snatched him."
"Vice Dean Maya personally went to the graduation and even drove him home. The weird part was that the university never sent an invitation to him due to his failure."
"Think about it." The mayor snapped his fingers repeatedly as his mind filled with possibilities. "It has never been seen before, so people assume the worst. But the fact that he can achieve all this in two days means we should assume the opposite."
"!!!" The man gasped.
"Wednesday… Today must be the registration day, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Hurry up and prepare my car. I need to see this genius myself."
…
Finally, he could stand before Auric himself.
Obviously, his statement had changed everything.
"EEEEEHHHHHHHHHH?"
"What did he say?"
"3-star bronze-grade evolution master?"
"Isn't he supposed to be a new student?"
"Did he have a bad grade? Or maybe he took a leave for a year or two?"
Even Charles was speechless. He thought Simon would be the best student, but how could he be compared to an evolution master?
If he wanted to get stronger, he would need help from an evolution master. Without it, his advancement would be very limited.
Mila crossed her arms, a smile forming on her face. "Interesting. With that talent, won't he have a say in the association in the future? I need to make him mine."
There were a few reactions from people who already knew Auric.
"NOOO!" Angelina was clutching her head.
Her friends grinned. "Sharing is caring, my friend."
"That's right. You can't hog him to yourself."
"Wait. Will we even get a chance after all this ruckus?"
"…"
Arina was also among those people. She scratched the back of her head, thinking, 'What am I supposed to do here? Miss asked me to take care of him, but the other parties are the mayor and the Lightning Emperor's disciple. Wouldn't this endanger her business?'
Eric clenched his hands into fists. 'So that's the reason he can come here. As expected of you, Auric. But this is not over. I will eventually catch up to you.'
"So, this is the student you're talking about." The principal rushed to the mayor and Auric. "Auric Elfe… I feel like I have heard that name before. I think I may have approved your recommendation letter."
"So, you know him?" The mayor rolled his eyes.
The principal thought for a moment before asking, "Do you want to be my student?"
"Oi!" The mayor glared at the principal. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? A good student needs to be nurtured well."
"You didn't even know this before I came here."
When the two were about to start an argument, Auric interrupted them by saying politely, "I'm sorry. Before coming here, I became a student of Vice Dean Maya."
"What?" The mayor gasped in disappointment.
The principal pumped his fist as if he had won. "Great job. Good, good. Study hard. I hope that you can become the pride of our campus. What is your element again?"
"Thank you, Principal." Auric nodded. "I have registered myself as a plant evolution master."
"So, have you decided to enter the Evolution Department?"
"Yes. I'm interested in both the Element Department and the Evolution Department."
"That's good. If you need anything, tell your teacher. I'll make sure she takes care of you."
"Yes, sir."
"Enough with this thick-skinned old man." The mayor stopped the principal. He then turned to Auric. "I hope that you become the pride of our city as well. How about this? It looks like we have taken up quite a bit of space here. Why don't we go to your house and talk about it?"
"Understood."
"Let's go, let's go!" The mayor immediately pulled Auric along, not letting the principal react.
"Who is the thick-skinned one?" The principal sighed.
When Auric was gone, everyone's gaze immediately shifted to Simon. That was right. They had almost forgotten about it.
There was a small conflict between Simon and Auric. Simon challenged Auric, thinking he was the one with the upper hand.
It turned out Auric was an evolution master, the youngest one at that.
"The Lightning Emperor is nice, but what about the Evolution Association?"
"However, there is no telling whether the association will back Auric up."
"That's right. What if no one protects my darling?"
"My darling, you say? You are not even a toad, you are a tadpole wanting to eat the swan! He's obviously my honey."
"What did you say?"
"I don't care. Didn't he say earlier that he intended to enter the Element Department and the Evolution Department?"
"Ah! I can't become an evolution master, but my ability definitely suits the Element Department!"
Without Auric realizing it, the number of students registering for the Element Department for this year surpassed the highest record by a large margin.
…
Meanwhile, Auric had reached his home.
His mother was surprised that the mayor had come to visit.
"Madam, you are so beautiful that I almost mistook you for his sister. It's no wonder your son is like this. It must be your genes."
"Oh my. You know your way with words, Mayor." Natalia covered her mouth while chuckling.
But her face soon filled with worry. "So, has my son done anything bad, sir? He is very well-behaved at home. Auric is a good kid."
"Of course, your son is a good kid, Madam. Too good, in fact. That's why I've come here."
"Really?" Natalia was taken aback. "I was worried because my son didn't awaken a single avatar."
"Your son hasn't told you about it?" The mayor stiffened. He glanced back and forth between Natalia and Auric.
"What is this all about?" Natalia turned her head to Auric.
"Mom. I have become an evolution master."
"Evolution master?" His statement left her astounded. "But weren't you…"
"I found a way around. Well, you could say it's a blessing in disguise." Auric nodded, assuring his mother.
"Really…" Natalia's eyes welled up. She had been worried that Auric would be depressed because he failed to awaken, so she was ready to throw a big celebration after Maya told her that Auric could enter the Grand Magica College.
"I planned to tell you today, or you might end up celebrating twice." Auric added a small joke.
She would probably throw two celebrations—one for becoming an evolution master and one for getting accepted into Grand Magica College.
She wanted to cry, but she ended up praising him even more. "See, Mayor? My child is very attentive."
"Your child loves you so much, Madam. He's a good kid." The mayor nodded with a smile. "That's why I've come here."
The mayor took out a certificate. "To be able to become an evolution master at such an age, the city will do its best to ensure his growth. We have decided to present you with a monetary reward of two million credits.
"Not only that, we will also give you a full scholarship so that you can focus on your studies.
"I hope that you will be able to continue working diligently and show your brilliance."
Lindwurm was already circling around. "One meat, two meat, three meat… Money, money, money!"
Auric didn't expect that this dragon had become so obsessed with money.
Still, Auric didn't think the sponsorship would be so simple. "I'm grateful that the mayor would put so much effort into me. However, just as with any scholarship, you are expected to achieve something.
"May I know what the mayor would like me to do?"
The mayor smiled. "You are different from any other kids I've met. Well, since you put it that way, I'll be honest with you. I want you to continue improving and demonstrate your ability."
"Hmm?" Auric was confused. He had already mentioned it, so was this really his true intention?
The mayor chuckled. "It looks like you don't know what benefits it will bring to the city. Think about it this way. The fact that we have someone like you in our city will boost the city's popularity.
"This means more and more people will come to the city, meaning more money being poured into the city. Just like the academy tries to recruit as many talented people as possible, the city does the same."
"I see. Thank you for teaching me."
The mayor nodded gracefully. "I just want you to focus on your studies and continue to gain more experience as an evolution master. If I have to say what I truly want, you can say I want you to progress as quickly as possible so that you can graduate quickly. Well, become a silver-grade evolution master or even a gold-grade evolution master at the same pace."
"I understand. I will do my best not to disappoint you."
"Mhmm." The mayor nodded in satisfaction as he stood up. "In that case, I won't hold you any longer."
Natalia's sharp gaze immediately turned to Auric as if telling him to show him the way.
"This way, please." Auric immediately extended his hand, guiding the mayor.
As soon as they came out of the house, the mayor halted his step, his face turned grim. "Becoming an evolution master so quickly and having no avatar yet possessing an element…"
Auric's expression turned solemn. It appeared the mayor was about to say something important. He might not want to say it in front of his mother, since she didn't even know about Auric's achievement before this.
He assumed Auric was deliberately hiding the news for some reason.
"Plant evolution master… If you can possess a plant element despite having no avatar, can't you say the same for other elements?"
"!!!"