Severe Matters

I considered waiting for the leader of the Lord's envoys who was already nearing the fort, but I figured that it would be better if he joined the meeting once all the introductions and preliminary issues had been dealt with.

I smiled at the people seated, and they all gave me looks that indicated many things.

Curiosity. Awe. Expectations. Hopefulness. Inferiority.

The last part was from Ivan, since he must have felt extremely inadequate compared to me after witnessing the whole thing with that Demon Beast.

'He has grown to an unprecedented degree, though.'

It was just that comparing himself to me was a fundamental error, to begin with.

While I wasn't invincible—yet—I was above the league of most contemporary Magic Users.

After a little back and forth, Cephas also took his seat.

We were ten in the room.

Seven squadron leaders—each specialized in a particular aspect of warfare.

Ivan Smith—leader of the Academy Interns.

The Vice Commander—Cephas.

And then me.