For someone like Claudia, obtaining a large number of Manadytes was hardly a challenge.
What intrigued her, however, was why Kaiser suddenly needed so many.
Logically speaking, he had just acquired Ser-Veresta—an immensely powerful Orga Lux.
He wasn't a researcher, had no reason to craft other Lux weapons, and certainly wasn't working on any technological experiments.
So why the sudden demand for such a vast supply of Manadytes?
"I hope you don't mind me asking—what exactly do you need them for?"
Claudia didn't reject him outright; she merely asked the question.
And to Kaiser, that meant there was room to negotiate.
Faced with her inquiry, he didn't bother to lie.
"It's for my training."
Strictly speaking, that wasn't false.
After all, he was genuinely using them to enhance his combat potential. Calling it "training" wasn't exactly a lie, was it?
"Training…?"
Claudia blinked curiously.
"That's right," Kaiser nodded. "If everything goes well, I should see rapid improvements over the next few weeks. That's why I came to you for help, President."
"I see."
Claudia accepted his explanation without pressing further.
She didn't ask how the Manadytes factored into his training.
Nor did she question why he needed so many.
After all, personal training methods were considered private information in Asterisk.
In a school where every student was a potential rival in battle, asking about someone's training regimen was hardly appropriate—if not outright taboo.
So Claudia didn't pry.
"If this is for your training, then I have no reason to refuse."
With that, she agreed without hesitation.
"Is this really alright?" Kaiser hesitated. "Even if they're just Manadytes, collecting them in bulk must still be quite expensive, right?"
Even the cheapest ore, when acquired in large quantities, could become costly.
Seidoukan Academy, backed by Galaxy, had no shortage of Manadytes.
But giving such a large sum to a single student?
That was no trivial expense.
And while Claudia could afford to make it happen—
That didn't change the fact that he was essentially asking her to spend money on his behalf.
If there were any other way, Kaiser would have preferred not to ask for her help in something like this.
Claudia, however, was unfazed.
"There's no need to worry," she replied. "The academy offers various benefits to outstanding students. If your ranking is high enough, you can even receive special privileges. Providing resources for promising talents is nothing unusual."
She clearly intended to request the Manadytes under this justification.
And in her mind—
There was no reason for the academy to reject it.
"It's only natural, isn't it?" Claudia suddenly asked. "You are planning to participate in the Festa, correct?"
"Of course."
Kaiser was momentarily surprised, but he saw no reason to hide it. He nodded.
"In that case, the academy has every reason to support you," Claudia said, unfazed. "I'm sure you're aware—Seidoukan Academy's performance in the Festa hasn't been ideal in recent years."
Kaiser nodded again.
He didn't remember every detail of the original story, but after browsing the internet for the past few days, he had picked up on plenty of things.
Seidoukan Academy had been struggling in the Festa for multiple seasons.
The Festa—Asterisk's world-famous combat spectacle—was a student battle tournament, held every three years and divided into three distinct events:
Phoenix Festa (Year 1, Summer): A two-person team competition.
Gryps Festa (Year 2, Autumn): A five-person team competition.
Lindwyrm Festa (Year 3, Winter): A solo competition.
Each Festa awarded points to its top-performing students.
At the end of the third year, the scores were tallied, determining the overall rankings of the six academies.
And for several seasons, Seidoukan Academy had ranked near the bottom.
"In the last season, our academy placed fifth overall," Claudia explained. "And since Queenvale Academy rarely prioritizes Festa rankings in its strategy, that effectively means… we placed last."
She spoke seriously—something rare for her.
"Because of this, Seidoukan Academy is focusing heavily on student development this year. If they find out that supplying you with Manadytes will significantly improve your growth, then the upper management will approve it without hesitation."
And right now—Kaiser was worth investing in.
As the wielder of Ser-Veresta—a weapon of immense power—he had already caught the attention of the academy's executives.
Especially considering his unprecedented compatibility score.
A never-before-seen phenomenon.
If Claudia put in the request, the academy wouldn't hesitate to back him.
"There's no need to feel guilty," Claudia assured him. "If you perform well in the Festa, that alone will be enough to repay the academy."
She tilted her head slightly, offering a gentle smile.
"And you don't need to feel like you're troubling me, either. I'm just submitting a simple request—it's hardly any effort at all."
Hearing that, Kaiser could only nod.
But in his mind—
He was already taking note of something.
"This, and my Orga Lux application… both were handled by her."
"She's helped me twice now."
Because of his past experiences, Kaiser had learned to be self-reliant.
For years, he had struggled on his own, pushing through hardship after hardship.
And because of that—
He resented those who tried to bring him down when he was at his lowest.
But he also deeply valued those who extended a helping hand.
Claudia might see these things as minor favors.
But to him—
These weren't things he could have easily accomplished alone.
So this favor—he would remember it.
At that moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Subtly, he shifted his gaze toward Claudia's waist.
A new plan was forming.
A Few Hours Later…
True to expectations, Seidoukan Academy had no shortage of Manadytes.
Kaiser had only spoken to Claudia about it in the morning—
By afternoon, they had already been delivered.
"This is one of the academy's underground storage facilities," Claudia had informed him via message.
"The Manadytes you requested have been transferred there."
Along with her message, she had attached a location marker.
The meaning was obvious.
Unable to suppress his excitement, Kaiser endured the wait until the final class of the day.
Then—
The moment the bell rang, he immediately left the classroom.
He wasted no time heading straight for the designated location.
And soon—
He arrived at the underground storage vault.
At the entrance, he placed his hand on the scanner.
The lock released.
Clearly, Claudia had taken care of everything in advance.
Feeling a hint of gratitude, Kaiser stepped inside—
And was instantly greeted by a mountain of glowing green ore.
A vast pile of Manadytes, stacked like a small hill.
"...Perfect."
Kaiser couldn't help but smile.
He couldn't help it.
Because these—
These were the keys to his rapid growth.
And so—
Without another word, he stepped forward, gripping Ser-Veresta's activator tightly.
With gleaming eyes, he strode toward the mountain of Manadytes—
And began.