The Crown Prince In Hiding

”How did you do that?”

The scene opened in a golden conference hall, with all the instructors from the Knight and Combat Division seated around Dan Burn. The atmosphere was thick with pressure.

”In all seriousness, what technique did you use, student? There’s no way a human could physically generate that kind of force. Was it illegal magic?”

Professor McClaff was present among the inquiry committee.

”No, sir. It was just... my skill,” Dan answered, hands clasped calmly behind his back.

And he wasn’t lying. He hadn’t used magic—certainly not any illegal kind. That last part was serious.

Professor McClaff had no conclusive evidence to determine whether it had been a breach of magical law.

”Zentinel’s never produced anything like this,” said Professor Foden, turning to McClaff.

”I saw lightning. That’s not native to Zentinel magic.”

She dropped Dan’s student profile on the table.

”Be honest with us. What did you do, student?”

“There was no lightning,” Dan replied. “I just punched.”

“Don’t joke with me!”

Professor Foden slammed her hands down on the table, rising with a soldier’s fury.

“I’m serious. There wasn’t any lightning.”

“…”

Only Foden had seen it. Her reflexes were just too sharp—and she had started to doubt herself, especially since no one else had seen it.

If McClaff had been there, maybe he would’ve seen it too. But fortunately… he hadn’t.

“Tell me, Dan,” McClaff spoke up.

“Yes, Professor?”

“Who are your parents?”

“…That’s just it. I don’t know.”

“No memories at all?”

“None, sir.”

His record clearly said it—compiled with Zeedee’s help: Orphan. No guardian.

Perfectly engineered. There were hundreds of orphanages across Zentinel. No way they’d start checking one by one.

Flawless.

Dan smirked subtly.

“How did you train? Who taught you? I’d really like to know.”

“I taught myself.”

“Impossible,” Foden snapped.

“There’s no way a backwater kid from the countryside could do that. This is unnatural.”

“And that kind of thinking,” McClaff interjected, “is exactly why Luminus keeps falling behind.”

“What did you say, Professor McClaff?!”

“Good grief,” McClaff muttered, adjusting his glasses.

“You’ve seen it for yourself—Casca Saint-Maximin came from the rural corners of Luminus and rose to the top. Why can’t it happen again?”

“Casca was an exception. And she was discovered early, nurtured constantly by the academy. She didn’t just suddenly ‘pop off’ like Dan. I studied with her. I know her better than you. Don’t speak about things you don’t understand.”

Wait… studied together?

At that moment, the instructors’ loud bickering faded into meaningless noise for Prince Fury.

Because when he looked at Foden now, he saw golden light shining down on her. Not Foden. Not a teacher.

But a lead on Casca.

Jackpot.

This woman might know where Casca is.

Dan saw his opportunity—and took it.

“Casca Saint-Maximin is my idol,” he declared.

The room fell silent.

“Since we share a similar background, I always believed if I trained like her, maybe… I could become like her. I came here to learn, to grow—and to protect the world the way she once did.”

“…”

“I swear, on my life and my love for this academy—I will not let the scholarship go to waste.”

The instructors looked at one another, contemplative.

The camera slowly pulled away from the meeting room...

The Headmaster, with a long white beard, watched the young man with intense curiosity.

—

“So you got through the committee after all?”

“But now I’m being watched. Especially by Professor Foden.”

“You’re under her wing too… Think you’ll survive?”

“Honestly? Playing the ‘latent power’ card isn’t such a bad idea.”

“Latent power?”

“You know, the quiet type that only gets strong under extreme stress—usually a pushover otherwise.”

“Ahh, classic shounen type.”

“Exactly. That way I can claim the power only comes out sometimes.”

“And if Foden challenges you to a one-on-one?”

“...Haven’t thought that far. But that would violate academy policy. She wouldn’t dare.”

“Gotcha.”

As Dan and Zeedee passed the central fountain, heading between academy wings—

They locked eyes with a certain stern-faced short-haired girl…

Rafinya, swordswoman of an old Luminus noble line, was watching them.

“…”

And Dan accidentally made eye contact.

“Zeedee. Pick up the pace.”

“On it.”

As they walked by…

“Dan Burn,” Rafinya murmured. “What an interesting person you are… I’m sure I saw it—that black-red lightning.”

Dan didn’t reply. It was pointless. They were both scholarship recipients now—avoiding her forever wasn’t going to happen.

“There wasn’t any lightning,” he muttered as they passed.

“I don’t know what secret you’re hiding… but from today on, I’ll remember your name.”

Dan didn’t flinch. He just walked past and dragged Zeedee along.

—

Later that morning – History class.

“Your Highness, is it really okay for me to join your section?”

“Yes. Because now your job is to protect me.”

“Ooooh…”

Thud.

The moment Dan opened the door, the chatter of students died instantly—as if someone had hit mute. Every pair of eyes turned to him. He’d become a celebrity overnight. Rumors had already blown everything out of proportion.

And within seconds…

He was swarmed.

“Zeedee! HELP!”

“Back off, vultures!”

They managed to escape just in time, thanks to the bell ringing.

Dan slumped in his seat, saved by sheer miracle as the professor entered and began the lecture.

From the back of the class, a pair of pale blue eyes watched silently…

Nora Ophilis, cloaked in her usual black dress, blond hair shimmering like frost in the morning light.

—

Afternoon – Eden Garden

Dan couldn’t read in the library anymore—not until the attention died down.

So he relocated to Eden Garden, beneath a wide-shaded tree on soft grass. From here, he could see the statue of Casca Saint-Maximin in the distance.

He opened the thesis he’d borrowed from the library—the one about mana crystal refinement—and began taking diligent notes.

This was the most shamelessly legal method of knowledge theft in history.

And Dan didn’t care.

Diablo’s biggest weakness was that, aside from their endless mana crystal ocean—the world’s main fuel source—they had nothing else.

All innovation was stolen or imported. Fiorentina, his sister, had long known that wasn’t sustainable. Her two-pronged strategy was:

Refine the crystal quality to raise value.

Have Everton, the middle brother, figure out how to grow that capital.

Dan, for his part, only had military strength. So if he could help by stealing knowledge while undercover as a student, why not?

“You’re reading a thesis instead of Professor McClaff’s material?”

“!”

Dan shut the book and looked up.

The girl in black—elegant, intimidating, too beautiful up close—Nora Ophilis, with that cold, vaguely Russian accent, stood before him.

“Your Highness Nora…”

“Famous now, aren’t we? Changed venues too?”

“What brings you here?”

“I had to flee the Sheffield Library. The news club was waiting to ambush you. I couldn’t read in peace.”

“…And you came here?”

“And so did you.”

“But today isn’t a McClaff day.”

“I’m not here for McClaff.”

Still standing tall, she blocked the sun.

“I saw what you did that day. Soros was hospitalized for two days. Just woke up yesterday.”

“…I sent flowers to apologize.”

“You just humiliated him more. Especially being Luminus-born.”

Dan didn’t know how to respond. He just bowed his head, pretending to read again.

But Nora didn’t move.

“Your Highness Nora… do you need something?”

“How did you do it?”

Called it.

“Just lucky.”

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“How does a self-taught country boy punch through enchanted armor? What enhancement spell did you use?”

“Just… a basic one.”

“You might fool the professors. But you can’t fool me. That red lightning.”

“I told you. There was no red lightning.”

“Is that so?”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. I’m busy.”

Hmph. So you finally respect me enough to be evasive, Prince?

But I’ve got your number.

Fury had finally figured it out.

Nora wasn’t just hard-working. She was perfect. Impeccable. But also—addicted to perfection. Desperate to rise above all.

“!”

That truth reflected back at her like a mirror. She froze, just for a moment.

Dan slung his bag over his shoulder and walked away—ignoring her, ignoring everyone.