My System Just Exploded, And You Ask Me to Become a God?-Chapter 52 --Mobilization Assembly

Day by day, time passed, and the mysterious archmage incident that had taken place at the academy gate gradually faded from memory.

In the end, this little episode became nothing more than idle gossip for students during meals, never stirring up any real waves.

On this particular day, Joad had just returned to the academy after a relaxing time at Maiton Keep. He was walking leisurely, ready to lie beneath the statue of the Goddess of Magic and enjoy a good nap.

Suddenly, a graceful figure stepped into view.

"Mr. Joad!"

Vanessa’s appearance was entirely different from the frail girl she had once been. She now seemed lively and composed, exuding a confident energy.

Joad curved his lips into a slight smile and greeted her, "Yo, feeling better?"

Vanessa rubbed her arms a bit shyly. "Much better, thank you. I came here today because... before I leave, I wanted to see you one last time."

"You’re leaving?"

Joad looked surprised and quickly asked, "Are you going back to the Pyrothian Kingdom?"

Vanessa shook her head. "Not just yet. I still have a few loose ends to tie up in the Ilan Principality. But don’t worry, Mr. Joad, I’ll never forget your kindness. If you ever face trouble in the future, please come to the Pyrothian Kingdom. I’ll do everything I can to help you."

Looking into Vanessa’s sincere, innocent eyes, Joad—who so often played the role of the scoundrel—found himself touched.

He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and said in a soft voice, "It was nothing, really. You don’t need to dwell on it. But... if you happen to meet anyone from Ilan Royal Academy in the future, I’d appreciate it if you could look after them."

"Of course!"

Vanessa nodded earnestly.

The two of them then waved goodbye beneath the ginkgo tree.

Once Vanessa was out of sight, Joad casually used a bit of mana to clean the area around the Goddess of Magic statue. Then, without a second thought, he flopped down beneath it and began his nap.

He had originally planned to use the 100,000 mana stones he’d received from Nicky to further improve his strength.

But remembering those agents left behind by the archmages just outside the academy, he quickly abandoned that idea.

Strength couldn’t be rushed. Sometimes, you had to let it grow naturally.

Besides, the Trial of the Luminous Pearl was coming up—a major event. Absorbing mana stones could wait until after that ordeal. By then, Nicky’s injuries would likely be healed, and once it left, the archmages would surely leave as well.

Then the academy could return to its usual peace and quiet. That would be the perfect time to absorb mana stones.

As Joad drifted into a pleasant, half-conscious state, dreaming as usual...

A female student came rushing up to him, breathless. "Senior Joad, why are you still sleeping here? The headmaster is looking for you! He said the Trial of the Luminous Pearl is about to begin!"

...

In the following days, Ilan Royal Academy shifted into full mobilization mode.

Headmaster Simar gathered everyone and stood alone at the grand podium, delivering a stirring and passionate speech to the assembled students.

Then, one by one, he called forward the twenty students who had been selected to participate in the Trial of the Luminous Pearl, bringing them on stage to be introduced.

The majority of them were elite students—carefully nurtured by professors and grand scholars alike. They were the future pillars of the academy.

If Grand Duke Ilan represented the academy’s past glory, these young talents were undoubtedly its shining future.

There was, however, one exception.

Joad stood lazily on stage, squinting under the dazzling magical spotlights that nearly blinded him.

Had it been any other student behaving so nonchalantly, they would’ve been scolded harshly by the professors.

But Joad was a special case.

No one cared what he did. No one had expectations for him. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Grand Duke Ilan’s insistence, most people wouldn’t have even included him in the trial team. To them, whether Joad went or not made no difference.

"Good luck, Senior Joad!"

"Don’t forget to sleep in every day when you get to the Luminous Pearl Kingdom—just to spite those snobby noble brats!"

"Wait a minute... Isn’t Joad from a noble family too?"

"Who cares? Does he look like a proper noble to you?"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Standing on the stage, Joad frowned slightly.

These little brats... getting bolder by the day. Mocking him in public now?

His gaze swept over the students who had laughed the loudest, silently memorizing their faces and names. Once this was all over, he’d make sure they regretted it.

The Rogue Thief Kid would become their most unforgettable nightmare.

Meanwhile, hidden in his clothes, Nicky had spent enough time with Joad to learn a fair bit about him—and about the academy.

Joad should have been a genius who stunned the world. Before even turning twenty, he had already reached archmage rank—something others couldn’t even dream of.

But not only had he done it, he treated it with complete indifference. He never flaunted his power. Instead, he disguised himself as a mediocre trainee mage, blending in with the academy’s ordinary students.

"No wonder you made me swear that secrecy contract," Nicky muttered. "You’re really good at hiding things, huh? If someone ever pisses you off, and you go all out on them, they’ll be lucky if there’s even dust left behind."

Hearing Nicky’s annoying chatter from inside his clothes, Joad quickly looked down and whispered, "If you keep talking, I swear I’ll roast you!"

"Pff, you’re a powerhouse who hides his strength just to bully a bunch of clueless rookies—and I’m not allowed to comment?"

Joad chuckled coldly.

"Of course you can comment. Just like I can sell you for a million mana stones."

"Y-You wouldn’t dare!"

Nicky instantly fell silent.

Because based on everything it had learned about Joad... it absolutely believed this shameless, low-class noble might actually do it.

His obsession with money had reached terrifying levels!

...

"Let us take the first step toward a new future! Carrying the honor of Ilan on our shoulders—depart!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

At last, Headmaster Simar wrapped up his long-winded, sleep-inducing speech.

A massive levitation spell enveloped him and the twenty students behind him.

But just then, new figures appeared at the school gates.

Thankfully, it wasn’t the archmages looking for Nicky. Instead, it was Ivy and several others from House Rima.

After a brief exchange, Simar learned that House Rima had recently landed a major business deal in the Luminous Pearl Kingdom and would be heading in the same direction.

Having the academy’s people along meant they could skip hiring expensive mercenaries as escorts.

And not only that—House Rima had dispatched one of their finest constructions: a super-large flying airship, designed and built by the top craftsmen in the Ilan Principality.

The ship could hold nearly a hundred people!

With the vessel already hovering over the academy, Simar had no excuse to refuse. He reluctantly agreed to travel together.

After all, during the recent joint invasion by the nations of Mindon and Ironchain, House Rima had done a lot to help the academy. If the academy now turned around and acted cold or aloof, it would only invite resentment...