Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 844: Meeting With The Headmaster

“Himea told me that the two of you wish to speak to me.” Professor Rowan rested his chin over his intertwined hands and narrowed his eyes. “I have a feeling this will be a serious discussion.”

The Headmaster looked at Alex and Lex, who had come to his office together.

Since the professor had been away from the academy, they only managed to secure a late-night meeting with him on the same day the exchange students had arrived at the academy.

“Yes, our topic will be very serious,” Lex replied. “So make sure no one overhears our conversation. It is that confidential, and it is that sensitive.”

Professor Rowan had known the Guardian of the North for quite some time, so he took his words seriously. With a wave of his hand, he remodeled the space around them, making it impossible for anyone else to see or hear whatever they were about to discuss.

“Please continue,” Professor Rowan said.

Lex glanced at Alex, prompting the young man to nod in affirmation. They decided that it would be best for them to tell the Headmaster about a secret that might affect the peace of the academy.

“First off, before I say anything, you must promise to believe my words no matter how unbelievable they might sound,” Lex stated. “Second, you must promise that you won’t tell another soul about it. I want you to swear it upon The World.”

“This seems more serious than I had expected.” Professor Rowan’s expression turned solemn after hearing Lex’s request.

Still, the Headmaster made an oath to The World and agreed to the conditions that the Guardian of the North had set for this discussion.

“Alex Stratos is the missing prince of the Aetherion Empire,” Lex said without hesitation.

“What?!” Professor Rowan looked at Lex in disbelief before shifting his gaze toward Alex. “He is Aetherius?!”

“The one and only,” Lex answered calmly.

He didn’t laugh at the Headmaster’s reaction, aware that the news was akin to a bomb.

In the past couple of years, the Aetherion Royal Family and those who knew about the secret of their bloodline believed that the prophesied prince was dead.

So when they received another prophecy, one that claimed the murdered prince was still alive and that he could be found in the southern lands of the continent, all of them were in disbelief.

“You’re not making all of this up, right?” Professor Rowan asked. “I am not in the mood for jokes.”

“I wish I was joking.” Lex shook his head. “But I am also not in the mood for jokes.”

A tense silence descended upon the room as Professor Rowan stared at Alex, as if wanting to see his very soul.

The young man met the Paragon’s gaze without flinching.

Both of them stared at each other for a while before the Headmaster heaved a long and deep sigh.

“I’ve always thought your background was mysterious, Alex,” Professor Rowan said. “However, I didn’t expect you to have this kind of secret. Since Luthor is vouching for your identity, you must be the prince the Aetherion Empire had tried to kill.”

“They actually succeeded in killing me, Godfather,” Alex stated.

“If they succeeded, then why are you here?” Professor Rowan asked back in a teasing tone. “You’re not actually an Undead, right?”

Alex knew that whatever he was going to say next would be very hard to believe, but he decided to tell the Paragon the truth.

Since he was the Paragon of Space, he must have known that there existed other worlds aside from the World of Arcana.

Lex quietly listened from the side. He had already heard this story earlier. But hearing it again didn’t diminish the awe he felt for the young man’s story.

A world without magic existed somewhere, and it was more technologically advanced than the world they lived in.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, Professor Rowan was fascinated by Alex’s story, even at the part where he was sent back to this world through a cannon.

“This story is something even a drunkard cannot imagine,” Professor Rowan said with a wry smile. “And since I don’t see any falsehood in your gaze, I am inclined to believe that this is the truth.

“Well then, tell me the real reason why you decided to share this secret with me. I’m sure you didn’t approach me based on a whim, right?”

Alex nodded. “The Aetherion Empire doesn’t do anything for no reason. I’ve heard from the Student Council President that the one that reached out to the academy was the Aetherion Empire. Is this true, Headmaster?”

“It’s true,” Professor Rowan answered. “I was surprised when the King sent me a personal letter, telling me that he wishes to send the students of Aetherion Academy on an exchange program to strengthen the ties between the two academies.

“I didn’t believe it at first. But when I personally came to meet him, he told me that he was serious about this student exchange program. Although I found it fishy, I decided that this might be a good opportunity to see the qualities of the students from Aetherion Academy.”

“I don’t want to sound paranoid, but I think they didn’t come here just because they wanted to mingle with the students of Frieden Academy,” Lex commented. “Perhaps they are here to investigate…”

“Or to find someone,” Professor Rowan finished what the Guardian of the North was hinting at.

“Right.” Lex nodded. “The reason why we approached you is that we don’t know their true goal. If their objective is to find clues about the prince, then telling you the truth will give Alex some layer of protection.”

Professor Rowan sighed before pinching the bridge of his nose. Alex heard him mutter something about a “ticking bomb,” which made him smile wryly.

Yes.

He was a ticking bomb.

A bomb that could blow up at any moment if someone accidentally messed with it.

“So, what do you propose I should do?” Professor Rowan asked. “Send Alex on a mission so that the Prince and his subordinates wouldn’t have any opportunity to meet him?”

“No.” Alex shook his head. “I don’t want to leave the academy.”

“Then what do you plan on doing?” Professor Rowan arched an eyebrow. “Hide in your dormitory room all day?”

“I was thinking of keeping a low profile and spending most of my time in the clock tower,” Alex answered.

Professor Rowan nodded because this was a good plan.

However, a part of him believed that sooner or later, Alex’s popularity—err, infamy would reach Prince Asta’s ears.

If the Prince became curious enough, then he would find ways to meet with Alex.

“Have you seen Prince Asta or any of the other students use some kind of artifact earlier?” Lex asked. “Like something that can detect bloodlines?”

At this, the Headmaster’s expression turned solemn.

“I didn’t see anything earlier,” Professor Rowan replied. “But now that you mention it, I’ll pay closer attention to their movements.”

“Please do.” Lex glanced at the young man beside him. “I don’t know if the students can recognize me. But if they do, it would be best for me to stay away from Alex for now. I would also appreciate it if you would assign a guard to him who won’t stand out too much.”

“A guard?” Professor Rowan stroked his beard before an idea came to his mind. “I have a candidate for the job.”

The Headmaster then wrote something on a piece of paper before snapping his fingers.

Soon, the paper rose from the table and disappeared without a trace.

A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door, and then a familiar voice reached Alex’s ears.

“Headmaster, it’s me.”

“Come in, Himea.”

The young lady wearing a fox mask entered the room.

Although the Headmaster still hadn’t said anything, Alex already understood what he was thinking.

And just as he expected, Professor Rowan assigned Himea as Alex’s temporary bodyguard, who would watch him from afar and protect him the moment he came across a dangerous situation that he alone wouldn’t be able to overcome.