A few minutes later—

"Hm…"

Robin leaned back lazily in his chair, both legs resting comfortably atop the polished professor's desk. His head tilted backward, eyes closed, his breathing slow and steady — for the first time in weeks, he looked completely at peace. It was as if the weight of the last two grueling months had finally begun to melt away from his shoulders.

And yet, even that calm wasn't quite enough to loosen the stiffness coiled deep within him.

"Is this spot good, Your Majesty?" Morgana's voice came as a tender whisper near his ear. She stood behind him, her soft hands working in smooth, circular motions across his shoulders, careful yet deliberate. Her touch carried warmth — the kind that seemed to reach beneath the skin, easing tension with almost magical precision.

"A little higher… yes, right there…" Robin's once-furrowed brows relaxed, the corners of his lips curving into a faint, content smile. "Perfect."

"…" Morgana continued her gentle massage, her fingers pressing along the edges of his neck with quiet focus. A subtle smile lingered on her face — calm and professional — but behind it, her mind buzzed with curiosity. After a brief hesitation, she finally spoke, her tone soft but probing.

"Your Majesty, forgive my question, but how did those boys grow so strong so quickly? That wasn't the strength of mere Academy students — they fought like seasoned Marshals commanding entire divisions in a true Empire!"

Her brows knitted slightly as she thought aloud. "And it wasn't just their individual power that caught my attention. Their coordination was remarkable — every movement connected like clockwork. Each of them covered the others perfectly, supporting all six companions through the entire fight. That's how they endured as long as they did."

"I merely offered them ways to refine their bloodlines," Robin replied calmly, still not opening his eyes. His voice was steady, almost casual, as though what he described were nothing of consequence. "Some methods involved external injections — others were techniques to awaken potential through disciplined training and repetition. Nothing extraordinary."

He let out a quiet breath. "After that, I sent them beyond the Academy's walls. I told them not to return for several decades — to fight, to live, to survive. Judging by how they've grown, it seems they took on missions together… forged bonds through hardship. That shared struggle must've deepened their coordination to such a refined level."

"Master," Jabba's low, gravelly voice came from the miniature combat arena that separated the professor's desk from the student seats. His tone was light but carried a strange undertone of bitterness. "So, while I was sealed away in slumber, you came back here to relive the thrill of teaching again? I didn't expect that from you."

A faint chuckle escaped him, but beneath it hid something sorrowful.

The existence of those seven students was proof that Robin hadn't been too affected by what happened between them — proof that he could still give away precious techniques and sacred methods again, without hesitation, without forging any real bond in the process.

"There's nothing worth reliving about dealing with reckless, ignorant brats," Robin said with a dry laugh. "I was never cut out to be a teacher, unfortunately. But their motivation… that was admirable. I gave them something to hold onto, a direction to grow toward. The fact that they managed to find and draw out the treasure I pointed them to — that achievement belongs to them, not me. They're good kids, all things considered."

"Master," Shaddad interjected suddenly, his massive frame turning slightly toward the door. His thick brows lifted in curiosity. "What do you think those children's families want from you, exactly?"

A short while ago, the seven had gone to complete the procedures that would allow their families to enter the Academy's restricted grounds. Of course, things would've been far simpler if Robin had gone to meet them himself — but that thought never once crossed his mind. And, perhaps out of respect or fear, none of the students dared to suggest it.

"Maybe they just want to thank me," Robin said with a faint, sarcastic grin, his tone half-playful, half-distant.

"Master, come now," Shaddad replied, shaking his head with a deep rumble of laughter. "You and I both know better. Do you really think they would spend decades searching for you across worlds and realms just to offer their gratitude? Please. I can already smell their rotten greed from here."

"They can't do anything reckless inside the Academy," Morgana said sharply, her voice laced with authority. Her hands had stopped moving, now resting on Robin's shoulders as she frowned deeply. "If they even think of trying something foolish, they'll all be detained in seconds. The Academy's enforcement divisions won't hesitate."

"There's no need to assume the worst before we see the truth," Robin murmured softly, his tone calm and measured. He raised a hand slightly, motioning for silence. "We'll know everything soon enough…"

Then, slowly, an amused smile curved across his lips. "They're here."

Knock Knock

Creak

Two polite knocks echoed through the room, followed by the low sound of the heavy wooden door opening.

"Pardon the intrusion," came a formal voice from the hall.

Then — step step step — a procession of figures began to enter the room one by one, their footsteps echoing faintly on the marble floor as the air in the study grew noticeably heavier.

It wasn't only the seven students accompanied by their fathers or mothers— suddenly, large groups began entering the hall, waves of people pouring in one after another, enough to make Shaddad and Morgana exchange surprised glances.

To obtain permission to enter the academy grounds, each visitor had to pay tens of thousands of Pearls, the exact amount depending on their training rank. The reason was simple — the presence of Nexus State individuals within the premises meant that academy guardians or designated overseers had to remain on standby in case someone attacked a student.

Because of that, it was incredibly rare to see anyone entering apart from students themselves — and rarer still to witness such large crowds gathering like this.

Take the young man Voda, for example — he entered with seven companions, a mix of elders and venerable figures whose steps carried the weight of experience. Mirina, too, arrived with her father, mother, and eight elderly masters whose robes fluttered with faint spiritual energy. The others came in similar numbers, each accompanied by their own retinues.

Only Vanir stood apart, walking in with a single person at his side.

Once inside, they all stopped near the entrance, glancing around curiously as if uncertain. "…?"

Everyone who laid eyes on Robin — the human reclining lazily with his head tilted back, while an enchanting woman gently massaged his shoulders — froze in place for a moment. Their gazes would shift toward one of the seven students, as though to confirm something, before they exhaled sharply and moved deeper into the hall.

"I greet Professor Robin."

Only one man among them paused to speak — Mirina's father, who placed his hand over his heart in a brief but respectful gesture before stepping inside.

"Welcome, honored guests," Robin said with an easy smile. Though his eyes remained closed, he was perfectly aware of every movement, every breath in the room. "Please, have a seat in the stands. They might still be a little bloody because of your children's deeds earlier.."

"Please, please, this way."

The seven young students smiled awkwardly, then hurried to guide their families toward the cleanest seats they could find. As expected, each family chose to sit apart from the others, maintaining distance.

"Professor Robin."

A deep, resonant voice suddenly shook the hall's stillness. "Have we arrived at an inconvenient time?"

"..."

Robin opened his eyes just a fraction, his calm gaze falling upon the speaker — a massive man seated beside Vanir, sharing a faint resemblance with him. Robin slowly studied the man from head to toe; a faint glimmer flickered in his eyes before he closed them once again.

"Yes," he replied evenly. "It's inconvenient. Say what you came to say, quickly."

"You!!"

The large man slammed his hand on the table, his voice booming with indignation. He had been mocking Robin moments earlier for keeping one leg propped lazily on his desk in their presence. "Do you even realize who sits before you?!"

Vanir tugged gently at his father's sleeve, urging him to sit down.

"..."

The other six families exchanged uncertain looks. None of them had expected such a blunt, almost dismissive reception from Professor Robin. Even if he was a Star Academy instructor, even if he was a prodigy — there were limits to casual arrogance, weren't there?

"You're people who want something from me, and that's all there is to it."

Robin exhaled slowly, then gestured toward his ear. "…and here too, Morgana."

"Yes, Master."

Morgana smiled softly and began massaging his ear with delicate precision.

Robin opened one eye halfway, letting his gaze drift across the gathered guests. His tone was calm, yet carried the weight of quiet authority.

"So then," he said, voice smooth but firm, "how may I assist you all today?"

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