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Seraphina watched the Entrance Mock Battle with a satisfied smile as she observed the fresh-faced new cadets.

For her, always brimming with a desire for talent, the Academy’s Entrance Ceremony was an opportunity to see shining stars with her own eyes and a filter to sift out the chaff.

No matter how detailed the reports she received, Seraphina, with her exceptional eye for talent, always preferred to see things for herself. She always concluded matters by personally reviewing the talent-related information that came up from her intelligence department.

In that sense, the Entrance Mock Battle was like a party banquet for her.

‘Is that Ian Tigress Line Barrel?’

A man with rare black hair and a gentle demeanor caught Seraphina’s eye as he entered the VIP seats.

Though not burly, he seemed well-trained and sturdy, with soft eyes and a round face that naturally drew people’s affection.

It wasn’t strange that most of the people looking at him were women.

But what Seraphina saw was not his appearance but his overall information.

The Line Barrel Count Family was highly esteemed by their territory’s people, and their accumulated wealth was among the Empire’s richest.

The specialty products from the Line Barrel territory, created by the family’s brilliant talents, were unique and led trends among both nobles and commoners.

From this family of technological prowess and wealth, Ian Tigress Line Barrel was born with a different kind of talent.

Known from a young age for his exceptional swordsmanship and military acumen, he was particularly gifted with Colossal Mechs.

Seraphina’s intelligence department had already marked Ian as the top recruitment target, having awakened a Characteristic Skill related to Colossal Mechs.

What was a Characteristic Skill?

It was a divine talent not granted to ordinary people, and even if granted, without the fortune to meet the awakening conditions, one might never awaken it in their lifetime.

Ian Tigress Line Barrel was the man who had broken through these conditions and acquired a Characteristic Skill from a young age.

With his talent and the Line Barrel family’s wealth, he had grown to a level comparable to a trainee knight and was considered a sure candidate for the next knight position.

Moreover, being a beloved heir to the territory’s people, he was Seraphina’s top recruitment priority.

‘That aside.’

As Marquis Lucas’s speech ended and the Entrance Mock Battle began, the selection of commander cadets started.

Seraphina was happily guessing who would volunteer first for the commander position. Given the position’s importance, she expected some preliminary skirmishes, but her expectations were pleasantly off.

“I’ll do it.”

A man with a towering height of 190 cm, golden flowing hair, a rebellious golden piercing in his ear, and apple-red eyes stood up without hesitation.

Seraphina watched with interest as Gilbert Lion Heart, whom she had met before, confidently stepped forward.

“Isn’t this interesting?”

“Your Majesty, I’m too dull to grasp your meaning.”

“Yanik, surely the Academy has banned that title inside.”

“My apologies, Lady Seraphina.”

The man called Yanik immediately straightened his posture and bowed.

Seraphina waved her hand and repeated her question to Yanik.

“What kind of man do you think Gilbert Lion Heart is?”

“Arrogant, dishonorable, and worthless.”

“Arrogant, dishonorable, and worthless. I see…”

Yanik wanted to say more but swallowed his words upon seeing Seraphina deep in thought.

She pondered Yanik’s words, which echoed the public’s view of Gilbert.

A dishonorable, rude, and morally corrupt heretic.

Before seeing him herself, Seraphina had thought the same. She still hadn’t entirely discarded that view, considering him a cancerous presence to be removed first.

Suddenly, she recalled seeing Gilbert in the Physical Training Facility days before the Entrance Ceremony.

His physique was the result of extreme training, making her doubt if he was truly the rotten scoundrel the world believed him to be.

Could someone with such a body really be beyond redemption?

That small doubt had grown into a current dilemma. Considering the intelligence department’s 5% margin of error, most reports she received were accurate.

But her eyes and intuition kept telling her there was something more to Gilbert. That’s why she had decided to keep watching him.

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on Gilbert, who had volunteered as commander.

The Entrance Mock Battle progressed quickly after Gilbert’s volunteer. The next three commander positions were filled, teams were randomly assigned, and after a brief strategy session, the battle began.

Seraphina noted the unusual alliance of three teams and predicted the fall of Team 1, the alliance’s target.

The numerical disadvantage was too great for Team 1 to overcome without some advantage, which Seraphina couldn’t see.

That was until Gilbert faced the alliance’s vanguard.

“Yanik, what do you think?”

“…I can’t believe that’s really Gilbert Lion Heart, even with my own eyes.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The way he overcame the numerical disadvantage. It was no ordinary feat. His calmness was his strength, regardless of his piloting skills.”

“It seems worth watching a bit more.”

“I agree, we need to keep an eye on him.”

Seraphina inwardly nodded at Yanik’s assessment. While Gilbert’s piloting skills were impressive, his opponents were also inexperienced.

Still, overcoming such a numerical disadvantage was a remarkable achievement.

Delivering fatal strikes with precise movements was no easy task. But what Seraphina and Yanik focused on was Gilbert’s calmness, much like Team 1’s deputy, Angelina.

Despite the overwhelming victory, Gilbert’s immediate return to prepare for the next battle showed the demeanor of a meticulous commander.

That’s why he was worth watching.

After the initial clash, a brief lull followed as strategies and plans were exchanged. Contrary to expectations of a swift battle after one team’s fall, the pace slowed.

“Yanik, what do you think will happen next?”

“In my humble opinion, Team 1 will be the key.”

“Because of Gilbert Lion Heart?”

“Yes. He nearly single-handedly held off the alliance’s vanguard. To preserve their forces, the other teams’ strategies will inevitably become chaotic.”

“A sound argument. It’s no exaggeration to say Team 1 holds the initiative. Attacking them again is an option, but preserving forces for the next battle is crucial. There will inevitably be a loss of strength.”

Seraphina and Yanik accurately assessed the battle’s flow and exchanged opinions. Soon, Team 4 and Team 1 clashed, leading to an interesting outcome.

The 3 vs. 1 situation became 2 vs. 2.

Seraphina couldn’t help but highly regard Gilbert, who had completely reshaped the battle’s dynamics. He held the key to turning the situation around.

Team 1 allied with Team 4 and attacked the base where Ian Tigress Line Barrel was stationed. The chaotic battle began, with some preparation evident against the two-team alliance.

Seraphina kept an eye on Ian. She wondered if he, like Gilbert, held the key to overcoming this challenge.

The three-team melee unfolded, with Colossal Mechs clashing and iron swords tearing through the air.

Ian’s performance stood out even more than Gilbert’s, showcasing flexible piloting skills.

Ultimately, it was Gilbert, Team 1’s leader, who faced Ian, and the two clashed spectacularly. Seraphina applauded the two shining talents in the fierce exchange.

As the battle intensified, a decisive move came from Gilbert.

“Ha, hahaha!”

Seraphina burst into laughter at Gilbert’s evasive maneuver involving a hundred tumbles. Even Yanik, who would usually chide such flamboyance, was stunned, staring at Gilbert’s Colossal Mech.

“Truly, isn’t he a man who brings joy? Yanik, do you think a man who just boarded a Colossal Mech for the first time could perform such three-dimensional maneuvers?”

“In my humble opinion, no.”

“Then I ask again. Should we believe he hid his skills and trained in secret? Or that it’s innate talent?”

Yanik couldn’t answer Seraphina’s sharp question. No matter how talented, performing such maneuvers within hours of piloting was implausible.

But suggesting the intelligence department was fooled or doubting the Lion Heart Count Family’s intentions was equally untenable.

Caught in this dilemma, Yanik remained silent, ready to endure any response from Seraphina.

But Seraphina hadn’t asked Yanik for an answer. Though she posed the question to him, it was more of a self-reflection.

She shared Yanik’s thoughts. If forced to choose, she leaned towards the latter.

She fully acknowledged her intelligence department’s competence and had no desire to doubt the steadfastly loyal Lion Heart Count Family.

Thus, she decided to consider it innate talent, which suited her position.

As another team fell and the battle entered a new phase, the name Gilbert Lion Heart was deeply etched into Seraphina, the embodiment of the desire for talent.

 

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