In the headmaster's chamber:
Headmaster Agor was engrossed in some files, his expression unsmiling and thoughtful.
He replaced the book he had been reading on the shelf when he noticed a figure entering the room.
Recognizing the person, he spoke up, "Austin, I was wondering when you would show up."
"Headmaster, who is this kid? I've never encountered a student like him in all my years... he is abnormal," Austin said with a grave expression, the scene of that enormous amount of energy being rapidly absorbed by Sam still fresh in his mind.
Agor smiled slightly. "Looks like you're impressed."
"Impressed? That's one way to put it. Who is this kid?"
"He is Jin Tatsuya's grandson."
"That explains a lot. Grandfather like grandson, I guess," Austin replied, well aware of Jin Tatsuya's reputation as one of the strongest heroes in history.
"Anyway, enough about Sam Tatsuya. He isn't going anywhere for four years. Tell me about the report," Agor said as he settled into a very comfortable chair and gestured for Austin to take a seat.
"Like you instructed, we scouted the area where it was last seen. We were able to find evidence that it has been widening its territory," Austin reported, handing over a scroll.
The scroll floated on its own, as if imbued with life, and placed itself onto a shelf already laden with hundreds of other scrolls.
"Something's changed. It used to stay in the deepest part of the Forbidden Forest, but now it's moving, expanding its hunting grounds... this is not good," Agor muttered, clicking his tongue and tapping the table with a finger.
He then looked at Austin.
"There should still be some time before it reaches the academy area, and even if it does, we have no way to know if it could breach the walls," Agor sighed, glancing at a painting in the room.
The painting depicted the back of a man in a golden robe, with an image of a red fiery bird at the center.
"If only he had left us the answer to our problems."
"That's the Founder, right?" Austin asked, looking at the majestic, life-sized image hanging high and mighty between two sets of three candles on each side.
"Ryuga Tachibana, the founder of the Hero Academy, was the only hero capable of wielding a technique that could harm a person's soul."
"He was also the strongest hero of his time, single-handedly elevating the Tachibana Clan to the same prestigious level as the Tatsuya and Asuna Clans, before his untimely fall."
"I still don't understand what happened to him and his clan. The records were unclear," Austine said, puzzled.
"Life happened. Every great thing must come to an end at some point; it's just a matter of when. Unfortunately for the Tachibana Clan, their time came sooner than anyone expected," Agor replied with a sigh.
"Were they killed?" Austine asked, leaning forward.
"No. Long story short, the clan was cursed never to bear sons again, leading to their ultimate demise and leaving Ryuga Tachibana's granddaughter as the lone survivor," Agor explained.
"Is she still alive?" Austin asked with a spark of hope, thinking that perhaps Ryuga Tachibana's granddaughter might hold the key to solving their problems.
He hoped she might possess the technique needed to defeat the terror lurking in the Forbidden Forest.
"Very much so. She is married to one of the strongest heroes in history," Agor said, looking at Austin with a knowing expression.
"You know him well, Austin. He is the grandfather of the kid who freaked you out earlier."
...
After Sam defeated Yami, he disappeared from the arena, grabbed the keys to his house from Lucy, and went straight home.
---
[Name: Sam Tatsuya/Brunheart]
[Hero Level: 17 (69%)]
[Mage level: 25 (92%)]
[Titles: An Anomaly]
[Race: Arcanian]
[Class: None]
[Contracted Beast: Anthra (Beast Ant Queen)]
{Physical Stat(s)}
Strength: 22
Agility: 28
Stamina: 28
Perception: 24
Heroic Power: 44
Mana: 44
Attribute Points: 10]
{Rare Stat(s)}
Charm: 15 (Note: 10 is the average charm level for a mortal.)
Soul Power: 4
Dark Power: 9
[Elemental Affinity(s): Wind, Flame]
[Innate Ability: Extraction (Level:2), Eyes of Truth (Level:1) ]
[Magic: Wind Magic, Flame Magic, Non-Elemental Magic]
[Skills: Heroic Sense, Mana Sense, Swordsmanship, Spearmanship, Spellcasting]
[Techniques: Soul Animation Concealment Art (Level: 2), Infernal Bird Reincarnation Art (Level: 2), Asura Sutra (Level: 1)]
---
It was already dusk when Sam was interrupted by a knock on the door as he was reviewing his status screen.
"Who could it be at this hour?" he wondered.
Spreading his senses, he noticed a lone figure standing on the other side of the door—a familiar presence.
He reached for the door handle but hesitated as a thought crossed his mind. "Why do I feel like I'm walking into something?"
Ignoring the feeling, he opened the door to find a beautiful girl with short white hair, bangs brushing her curved eyebrows, and bright blue eyes.
"Yuki? What are you doing here?" Sam asked, bewildered.
Yuki remained silent.
Without warning, Yuki swung her sword at him, aiming for his neck.
The blade stopped just before it could cut his skin.
"Let me live with you," Yuki demanded in an authoritative tone.
"Oh god, I just had déjà vu," Sam muttered, unable to believe his eyes. He thought he was seeing things.
"What did you say again?" Sam asked, rubbing his eyes in confusion.
"Let me live with you," Yuki repeated, her voice steady.
"...You do know I won this house because I don't have to share it with anyone, right?"
"..." Yuki remained silent.
"Why don't you live with the other girls?"
"My father asked me to live with you," Yuki finally replied.
"Of course he did. If your father wasn't the Hero King, I'd give him a piece of my mind," Sam said, frustrated.
That man had already asked him to look after his daughter, and now he wanted him to share his prized house with her?
A girl?
Oh, hell no.
"And you... you just agreed with your father? Is he pressuring you into this?"
"No... I made this decision on my own. My father just suggested it," Yuki responded.
"Why would you do that?" Sam asked, shaking his head.
"..." Ignoring him, Yuki walked into the house, found a room for herself, and began unpacking her things.
"Why does she have so much stuff?" Sam asked in frustration, momentarily forgetting why he was frustrated in the first place.
Just as he was about to enter his self-proclaimed room, his phone rang, displaying a message from his grandfather.
[Jin Tatsuya: Hey my grandson, just wanted to let you know that Yuki will be living with you. Take your time and get to know her. She will make a great wife.]
"This old man... colluding with the Hero King," Sam muttered, speechless.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
He heard two knocks on the door. "Who is it this time?"
Simultaneously, his phone rang again, showing the name Maya Tatsuya. "Mom?"
"Hey sweetie, how are you? I heard you won the top place in the entrance exam. No surprise there," a sweet voice replied on the phone.
"Mom, why are you calling me?"
"What do you mean? I'm calling because I miss you."
"That's pure crap, and you know it," Sam retorted. "What do you want?"
"You know my friend's daughter, what's her name again? Ah yes, Isabelle Lancaster. Such a pretty name, don't you think?"
"No," Sam interrupted before she could continue.
"I didn't even ask you anything."
"Whatever you're going to ask, my answer is no."
"Fufufu, you really are my son," Maya chuckled. "Well, you don't have a choice. Be a good boy and let Isabelle live with you."
"Seriously, Mom?"
"Come on, her mother is kind of worried about her, and I told her I'd let my son protect her. I already told her Isabelle is welcome to live with you. Are you really going to make me go back on my word?"
"Did you ever think I might need privacy?"
"Why would you need privacy?"
"You know... doing man stuff alone."
"... I don't even want to know what those things are. Just let her live with you. If you're lucky, you might have some happy accidents with the girls... Yes, your grandfather told me about Yuki. Way to go, son."
"You know, you're just like your father."
"Oh, did he also suggest you spark things up with Yuki?"
"..."
"Hehe, anyway, be a mommy's boy and treat those girls well, okay? And just so you know, I don't want grandkids right now." Then she hung up.
Trying to erase the whole conversation from his mind, he opened the door and found a long, curly, golden-haired woman with green eyes standing there, her charming smile almost making his heart explode.
"I'm guessing you want to live with me," Sam said.
"Yes, that's right."
"Did you make this decision on your own?"
"Yes... Don't worry, I asked permission from your mother, and she was very happy to let me move in with you."
"Why would you want to do that? I'm a stranger."
"Well, not to me, you're not," Isabelle replied, looking inside and noticing bags in the hall.
"What?"
"I've seen you dozens of times before when we were little. My mother used to take me with her whenever she visited your mother. They are close friends, after all. I don't see why we can't be."
Sam sighed. "Come in."
[A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider supporting it with a few Power Stones. And if you absolutely loved it, you can even contribute a Golden Ticket. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much! - Arigato! 🙏]