Five minutes later, Kaiser and Kirin Toudou left the Tournament Operations Committee Headquarters together.
However, the two did not return to Seidoukan Academy together.
Kirin planned to take some time off and return home for a while.
Naturally, this was for her father's sake.
"I… no matter what, I want to see my father as soon as possible."
This was what Kirin told Kaiser.
Madiath Mesa had also informed her that if she wanted to personally oversee her father's case, the Tournament Operations Committee would handle her academic affairs, ensuring that she faced no obstacles in her studies or any other obligations.
This was considered a complimentary service attached to the champion's wish—a small matter, hardly worth mentioning.
Thus, Kirin had already made up her mind to leave Asterisk for a while. She planned to return to the Toudou-ryu main family and discuss everything with its current head—her grandmother.
Although she felt a tinge of reluctance, there was no helping it.
Kirin had waited far too long for this day. She couldn't just sit around in Asterisk, waiting idly for news of her father.
Kaiser, of course, supported and understood her decision.
"Just focus on what you need to do. I have some things to take care of as well."
He patted Kirin's shoulder reassuringly, and she nodded firmly.
"Um… when I come back, I'll come find you right away. Please… wait for me."
Her voice was soft, tinged with reluctance as she gazed at Kaiser.
"Alright." Kaiser smiled. "I'll be waiting for you."
It was a kind lie.
By then, Kaiser would have already returned to the Fantasy Library. He wouldn't be at Seidoukan Academy when Kirin returned.
But this lie would never be exposed.
Because once Kaiser left this fantasy world, its timeline would freeze.
Without a real person experiencing life here, this fantasy world would remain just that—a fantasy. Even though Kaiser had completed an entire life experience here, it was only a preliminary completion. The world had not yet become a fully independent reality.
Thus, when Kaiser left, the world would enter a state of suspension. It would only resume its course once he returned or when the world fully materialized into reality.
In other words, even if Kaiser left for the Fantasy Library, it wouldn't affect this world at all.
When he eventually returned, time would pick up from the exact moment he left.
No one would realize that he had ever been gone.
And when Kirin came back, she would still find him in Seidoukan Academy, as if he had always been waiting for her.
For this reason, though Kaiser's words were a lie, they would never be exposed, nor would they cause any harm.
Unaware of this, Kirin stared at Kaiser's smile, then after a moment—
She hugged him tightly.
"I will never forget everything you've done for me, Senpai."
Leaving behind those heartfelt words, Kirin Toudou finally departed, setting off on her journey home.
Kaiser watched her figure until it disappeared completely.
Then, he whispered to himself—
"Safe travels."
Asterisk – Seidoukan Academy
After parting ways with Kirin, Kaiser made his way back to Seidoukan Academy alone, heading toward his dormitory.
"Kaiser-senpai—!"
"Kaiser-senpai, look this way!"
"P-please give me your autograph, Kaiser!"
"I'm your biggest fan!"
"Please shake my hand!"
From outside the academy gates to inside the campus, he was constantly surrounded by people, all of whom looked at him with adoration, their eyes brimming with reverence and enthusiasm.
To them, Kaiser wasn't just a fellow student—he was an idol.
After winning the Phoenix Festa, becoming this year's champion, Kaiser's fame had skyrocketed worldwide, earning him a massive fanbase and unparalleled popularity.
He might not have reached the global influence of the Sylvia, but at the very least, he was now a world-class competitive star, comparable to modern-day football legends.
At this point, several fan sites dedicated to him had already appeared online. His supporters had formed organized groups, constantly cheering for him, tracking his latest updates, and even causing his autographed photos to be auctioned for exorbitant prices, enticing merchants from all over.
Since the end of the Phoenix Festa, Kaiser had received countless business offers—
Some companies wanted him to endorse their products.
Others wanted him to star in advertisements.
And some—rather absurdly—even proposed releasing a photobook of him.
"…If I had this level of popularity back in the real world, I wouldn't have needed a part-time job at the bookstore."
Kaiser found himself sighing for the umpteenth time at the sheer irony of it all.
But that was irrelevant now.
He was no longer that ordinary university graduate struggling to make ends meet.
As a Librarian of the Fantasy Library, no amount of wealth in this world had any real use for him.
Besides—he wasn't short on money.
Not only had Seidoukan Academy rewarded him handsomely for his victory, but Asterisk's municipal government had also given him a hefty bonus.
For a mere student, the sum was astronomical—enough to stun any ordinary family.
Thus, Kaiser rejected all the business offers.
For the record, Kirin Toudou also turned down every offer, especially those wanting her to do photobooks—all of them were immediately blacklisted.
Now that Kirin had left, Kaiser was the only one left in the academy, making him the sole target of attention.
As a result, he couldn't take a single step without being mobbed by students, forcing him to take three times longer than usual just to reach his dorm.
"Yeah… I definitely need some kind of disguise when I go outside."
Collapsing onto his sofa, Kaiser let out a long sigh.
Now, he fully understood why the Sylvia had disguised herself as a chestnut-haired girl when she visited the restaurant.
With her level of fame, if she walked around undisguised, she'd probably cause a city-wide commotion.
"Still, at least today's trip wasn't a waste."
He lifted the box he had been holding all this time, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
Without any further hesitation, he placed the box onto the coffee table, then removed the school badge from his chest and brought it closer.
"Beep!"
The moment the badge approached, a red light flashed, followed by a soft electronic chime.
"Click…"
In the next second, the box unlocked automatically.
Its mechanical components shifted, smoothly disassembling and unfolding, revealing its contents to Kaiser's eager gaze.
Inside, rows of neatly arranged compartments held variously colored crystals, each one shimmering like gemstones.
Had anyone else witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly stunned.
Because—
Each of these crystals was a high-purity Manadyte—an Urm-Manadyte.
Yes!
The entire box was filled with Urm-Manadytes!
Though they resembled ordinary Manadytes in appearance, their colors were vastly different—ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, silver, and more. Each crystal pulsed with immense Mana, causing the air itself to tremble faintly in response.
"No wonder they say the Integrated Enterprise Foundation is filthy rich… They really gave me this much in one go?"
Kaiser couldn't stop grinning.
His wish had been simple—
To acquire as many Urm-Manadytes as possible.
And in response, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation had granted him an entire stockpile—far more than he had expected.
He had assumed that, given the rarity of Urm-Manadytes, there would be a strict limit on how many they could spare.
But now…
"Well then, no point in waiting—"
Picking up one of the Urm-Manadytes, Kaiser's eyes gleamed.
"It's been a while… but let's absorb some energy again."