Chapter 175: Chapter 175 - Reunited
Grant led Logan across the courtyard and through the main hall, talking the entire way as if he’d been saving every word for this moment.
The academy felt louder than he remembered. Banners for the freshman competition hung from the high ceiling, catching light as students passed beneath them in clumps.
Everywhere Logan looked, people were training, whispering, and pointing.
’Can’t say I haven’t missed this,’ he thought.
"Robert, Livia, and the others are all waiting for you in a private training room," Grant said, grinning. "You want to come, right?"
Logan smiled, feeling warmth spread through his chest. "Sure."
As they walked, he couldn’t help but turn to Grant.
"Haven’t you guys only just come back from fighting creatures in Chile? What are you doing in a training room already?"
Grant chuckled. "We might’ve just come back, but with the freshman comp coming up, we got no other choice. No one wants to be the one caught slacking when the matches start."
Logan shook his head with a faint smile. "You don’t change, do you? Still dragging everyone with you the moment you get back."
Grant shrugged, his grin growing even wider. "What can I say? Somebody’s gotta make sure this group doesn’t look like fools out there."
Logan chuckled, but his amusement faded quickly as he noticed the stares around him intensify.
Every hallway they passed seemed to swell with students slowing their steps, whispering behind their hands, or outright pointing.
"That’s him..."
"Mercer."
"Didn’t he kill Derek during the duel?"
"Forget that—he was on the church broadcast. My father won’t shut up about it."
It didn’t take long before a few bold ones stepped out in front of him.
"Mercer, right?" one tall boy said, his tone carefully polite. "My family’s with the Ashford Guild. If you’re ever open to allies—"
Before Logan could answer, another voice cut in from the side. "Mr. Mercer, I represent the Lyon Syndicate. We’d be honored if you—"
The hallway crowded fast, voices overlapping as more students joined in. Dozens of curious eyes bored into him, some full of awe, others filled with envy.
Grant sighed, muttering under his breath, "Knew this was coming." Then he got louder, "Alright, back it up, people! Logan just got back and doesn’t want to talk!"
His loud voice startled most of them for a second. Using that opportunity, Grant grabbed Logan’s arm and roughly pushed through the crowds that had formed around them.
"What are you doing?" a voice rang out.
"I just need a second of your time!" another.
Slowly, the students pressed on again. None of them would ever want to pass up the opportunity to become acquainted with one of the most influential persons in the United States.
’Ugh,’ Logan thought, following after Grant now. ’The one thing I did not miss. People trying to kiss up my ass.’
Grant ignored all of them though, using his large physique to clear out a path for Logan.
It didn’t take long before they arrived at a training room. People behind them tried their best to follow, even asking if they could join his training, but Grant pushed all of them away as he unlocked the door for both of them.
Finally, once the door shut behind them, Logan let out a sigh of relief.
His eyes glanced around the room. In the back, he could see Robert and Layla sparring with Ethan and Thomas. The noises of the battle carried softly through the room, most of it being blocked by an advanced sound barrier.
"Finally," he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair.
Grant smirked from beside him. "What? You don’t like being treated like royalty?"
"Not like this," Logan said, shaking his head. "Trust me, getting bothered everywhere you walk is not something fun."
"That’s why you needed to set boundaries early on," a familiar soft voice entered his ears.
"Livia," Logan said, looking up.
"It’s been a while, Logan," Livia said, smiling faintly under her veil.
"Right," Grant scoffed, shaking his head as he took a few steps back.
Logan glanced at Grant strangely for a second. Then, he turned his attention back to Livia.
"That boundaries thing," he said. "What did you mean by that?"
Livia chuckled softly. "Unlike you, I made it clear from the start I wasn’t interested in company. And once people remembered who I’m tied to, they stopped trying on their own."
Her tone was light, almost teasing, but there was a weight to it that Logan couldn’t quite put a finger on.
He raised a brow. "So you scared everyone off."
"Scared?" Livia tilted her head. "I prefer... discouraged."
Grant snorted from the corner. "Discouraged? None of the other students wants to get within ten feet of you."
Robert’s sparring session slowed as he noticed Logan near the door. He tapped his blade against Ethan’s shoulder, ending the match before turning with a grin.
"Logan," Robert said, his tone calm but steady with warmth. "Took you long enough."
"Guess I made you wait," Logan replied, smiling faintly.
Thomas and Layla’s spar also ended, both of them walking towards him with smiles on their faces.
"Good morning, Logan," Layla said, smiling confidently. "It’s been a while."
Logan’s eyebrows shot up from surprise, hearing Layla speak so confidently despite multiple people around her.
"Good morning, Layla," Logan said, his tone warm. "Looks like someone’s grown while I was gone."
Layla’s expression lit up instead of retreating like she would’ve done in the past. "I’ve been training a lot."
Grant laughed and wrapped his arm around her. "Fighting the relentless water creature raids made her tougher than half the guys out there."
Thomas and Ethan greeted Logan next, both with relieved and confident smiles on their faces.
"Good to have you back," Ethan said, his tone carrying a little more weight than before.
He’d grown too, Logan immediately realized. The timid, struggling boy who once second-guessed every swing of his blade now stood taller, shoulders straighter.
Thomas nodded, his voice low. "We weren’t sure when you’d return... but it’s good you’re here before the competition. It wouldn’t feel right without you."
Logan gave him a small smile.
Robert stepped forward, resting his blade against his shoulder. "He’s right. This year’s freshman competition isn’t just another academy event. It’s already one of the most important events, but because of you, it’ll be looked at even more now."
Logan scratched his head. He hadn’t thought that far ahead and didn’t think his actions at the Imperial Church would have such consequences too.
’I guess it only makes sense,’ he thought. ’But I’m only partially the reason for this one.’
He wasn’t the only student at the Imperial Church after all. Many people want to see exactly what the future Church will look like, therefore, this event is a perfect indicator.
Grant’s grin widened as he glanced at Logan. "Half the school’s already looking at you like you’re a champion before the competition even starts."
Logan snapped out of his thoughts and looked up, surprised. "Really? I was expecting more people to think that I’d lose."
Grant chuckled. "Lose? Please. Everyone’s seen the way you melted through Derek back then, no one underestimates your strength even in the slightest."
"Ah," Logan said, nodding. "Well, I still don’t know anything about the other SSS-ranks so I’ll have to see if I can win."
Before anyone could continue, Livia stepped closer, drawing everyone’s attention. "It’s good that you aren’t underestimating the competition," she started, her voice serious. "Not everyone has shown their strength publicly like you have."
Logan narrowed his eyes, nodding seriously. "I know that."
"Even the daughter of the Virtue of Faith decided to participate in the competition," she said. "And even I don’t know much about her affinities. That’s to say how hidden they’ve kept her."
"Isn’t there a chance she’ll just not participate then?" Grant interjected.
Livia immediately shook her head. "The locked dungeon from the university is far too precious. Even I was ordered to compete at my full strength in order to get a spot to go there."
Logan’s eyes narrowed slightly again. ’Locked dungeon, huh,’ he thought. ’I still haven’t been to one.’
His mind went to the relic the Imperial Church used for their miracle. ’That reminds me, I have yet to go to their locked grounds.’
One of the initial rewards he had gotten for selling them an amazing technique, and he had completely forgotten about it in all the messes he’d created.
Grant frowned slightly. "If even you were ordered to compete seriously, then the academy must be expecting blood this year."
Livia gave him a short nod. "They are. Every faction wants that dungeon slot no matter the cost."
Robert leaned on his blade, glancing at Logan. "We can’t afford to hold back then. Even if it means killing people."
Logan’s lips curved faintly as he met each of their eyes. "Good. Then neither will I have to."