Grand Return System

A Treasure Won, A Bond Deepened

All in all, Leon had made a killing in this Martial Meeting.

The shattered arena was slowly calming, but inside him, waves were still crashing.

He did not know if the others were happy, but he was quite happy.

Very happy.

Ridiculously happy.

When he was in a good mood, even Shera—whom he had always disliked—was starting to look somewhat likable.

Because this time...

That was an immortal grade!

Leon had already experienced the joy of an immortal-grade immortal pill once.

And now—

He had ten more.

Ten.

Even thinking of it made his heart race.

Ten times happier.

Ahem ahem...

Outwardly, his expression remained composed, almost detached, the same old calm that made people feel nothing in this world could shake him.

But inwardly?

He was nearly laughing like a madman.

His heart was filled with ecstasy. On the surface, he was as steady as an old dog, but his joy was hidden in his heart.

If anyone knew what he had just obtained—

The whole academy would go insane.

A faint fragrance of lotus drifted through the wind.

Soft footsteps approached.

Maya slowly walked over and said, "Junior Brother, congratulations on getting rid of the title of Forever Last and successfully winning."

Her blue hair moved like flowing water beneath the sunlight, and though her voice was calm, there was unmistakable admiration in it.

She could not be said to be envious of him.

At this point—

Would anyone in Celestis Academy dare look down on Amethyst Summit Division again?

No.

Not after today.

Selena’s sword had carved a new name into the Seven Division.

Selena ’s sword just now had already made Amethyst Summit Division famous. Among the Seven Division, there was no existence more terrifying than that sword.

Even many elders were still shaken by that final Hell Maw Strike.

Leon merely smiled faintly.

"I was lucky, lucky."

Still humble.

Still irritatingly humble.

Maya looked at him, almost amused.

Lucky?

That word coming from Leon felt absurd.

Yet when that calm expression fell into the eyes of others, it felt completely natural.

As if...

This championship had belonged to him from the beginning.

As though the result was inevitable.

Mike stepped forward, laughter carrying through the grounds.

"Everyone, this Martial Meeting has successfully come to an end. Students who haven’t achieved good results, don’t be discouraged. After you go back, cultivate hard and strive to obtain a good result in the next Martial Meeting."

His voice held the authority of a Headmaster, but also warmth.

Thousands answered as one.

"We will follow the instructions of the Headmaster!"

The response thundered over the Academy Premises.

Then, slowly—

The gathering began to loosen.

Excitement turned into murmured discussions.

People were already retelling the battle like a legend born moments ago.

But Leon had already turned elsewhere.

Toward the one person who mattered.

As the Martial Meeting ended, Leon slowly walked to Selena’s side.

She had gradually recovered.

Her silver-white hair moved in the breeze, and though her face still held traces of exhaustion, those blue eyes were brighter than ever.

When she saw him approach—

Her gaze softened instantly.

"Teacher..."

Her eyes were like crescent moons.

After suppressing her grievances for months...

After enduring mockery...

After training until her bones nearly broke...

Selena finally successfully proved herself on this day.

Yet there was no arrogance in her.

No pride swelling in her chest.

Only relief.

And gratitude.

Selena did not feel any smugness as she enjoyed the admiring gazes of her fellow students. Instead, she knew very well that everything she had now was given to her by the man she respected the most.

Leon stopped before her.

And for once—

His usually unreadable eyes held open warmth.

"Yes, girl, you did well! I’m proud of you."

He gently stroked her hair and said gently.

That simple touch—

That simple praise—

Hit harder than any reward.

Selena’s breath caught.

Her lips curved, almost trembling.

Selena was delighted.

To be able to obtain her teacher’s affirmation was more direct than any reward.

To her—

This mattered more than victory.

More than applause.

More than glory.

At this moment, a lonely figure slowly came behind Leon.

The air subtly changed.

Leon turned.

It was Shera.

His black robes stirred in the wind.

His face held none of the old hostility.

Only complexity.

It was Shera. His gaze was complicated as he looked at the teacher and student. There was an indescribable dilemma in his heart.

He stood there a long while before speaking.

"Junior Brother... congratulations, you won..."

His voice was rough.

Like those words had cost him something.

Then—

As if resolving something deep inside—

He took out a supreme-grade treasure.

The Ariel blossom pin.

Fine as silver moonlight, delicate petals forged in metal, carrying hidden killing power.

He held it out.

"I admit defeat. This treasure... is yours."

The arena seemed strangely quiet at that moment.

Years of pride.

Set down in a sentence.

Shera turned around and left after leaving the treasure behind.

No grand speech.

No lingering.

Only a man walking away lighter than he had arrived.

Leon watched him go.

Then smiled.

Faintly.

Perhaps... old grudges really could end.

Leon held the Ariel blossom pin in his hand.

He weighed it once.

Then without hesitation—

Gave it to Selena.

"Student, you won this thing back. It should belong to you."

Selena froze.

Her blue eyes widened.

She hadn’t expected that at all.

A supreme-grade treasure—

Given away so casually?

"Teacher, I already have the Amethyst Mist Sword. What’s the use of this thing? You should keep it. If you really can’t, you can give it to Rias."

There was sincerity in her refusal.

Not politeness.

True sincerity.

Leon chuckled softly.

"There’s no harm in having more skills. Who in the world would dislike having more treasures?"

He placed the treasure in her hand.

A quiet insistence.

"Keep it. It might be useful in the future. Rias doesn’t need any weapons. The Inferno Lotus Art is her strongest weapon."