He awoke from his meditation early the next day. Then, vigorously and energetically, he made his way to the cafeteria. Everyone in the cafeteria was staring at him with glowing eyes. He hardly knew any of them, but still, people greeted him respectfully as they passed him. Sitting alone at his table, William began his meal with a smile on his face.

He found it pleasant to be greeted with respect by those around him. Such behavior confirmed his previous thinking. Indeed, power meant everything. He was sure that if he was one of the first to be eliminated from the competition, he would be teased and ostracized.

Later, he threw these thoughts into the depths of his mind and began to eat his special milk and meat, which he bought for three soul stones, for breakfast.

Halfway through the meal, a familiar face sat across from him. It was Merlon, and he had a different expression on his face again. Today, it seems, the day started with bad news again. He was already used to Merlon's constantly shifting mindset. Otherwise, a laughing person would not be able to define a crying person as a friend.

"Good morning, what's up?" This time, William initiated the first conversation.

"Bad. Why are you so happy?" Merlon felt he had to question William. Because William was happily buried in his food as if nothing had happened yesterday and nothing would happen today.

“Why shouldn't I be happy? Today is the day I win the competition and I will most likely be the principal's student.” Said. He then lowered his head, and his face wore the same questioning expression as Merlon had just now.

"I don't understand how you are still happy after all the carnage yesterday?" Merlon had not yet begun to eat, but he was clenching his dinner knife all the way through.

He knew that William should be aware of such matters.

“What massacre? I didn't even kill Leylin. Just two slaps, what's the exaggeration about that?" he asked.

"So what? Do you not know what your father did?" Merlon was becoming increasingly infuriated by William's callousness, but there was nothing he could do about it. Only he could calmly answer William's next question.

“Merlon, do you think I am something like a god? Maybe I have to be aware of events happening thousands of kilometers away through my divine senses? So tell me, what happened?" William put down his fork and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in front of him. It was his 'Tell me, I'm listening' gesture.

“Sigh, I've never seen anyone as strong as you and as careless as you. Okay, let me tell you briefly then, your father Theo crushed the cities of all the princes in charge, took their heads, and now put them all on pillars and exhibited them in front of the capital city walls.” Said. Even as he spoke, it was clear that he was sick to his stomach. He even put down the dinner knife in his hand and took a small sip of the water in front of him.

William was a little taken aback when he heard this, but that was all. He still remembered the thousands of bloody scenes he had read and watched before. Of course, although he knew that seeing up close was a completely different matter, he was not a person who had not been touched by blood. That's why he didn't care.

“ What is it to me? If my father did it, am I doing it too?" William approached the table again with an expressionless face and continued to eat. After all, it had happened and there was nothing he could do.

“What do you mean to me? Your father did this!” Merlon started to yell a little but then lowered his voice when he saw the surrounding crowd.

“How could you allow such atrocities?” he added quietly.

“Merlon, stop this conversation, it has happened, there are only two sides in this world, remember, one is a friend and one is an enemy. If you're on the friendly side, don't talk like the enemy." William no longer had an appetite. After saying those words to Merlon, he got up and headed for the exit.

Merlon simply lowered his head and fell into deep thought. Merlon was raised as a baby rose baby, just like his other noble children. To him, such actions seemed to be a great mistake. He would have to get blood on his hands to find out. Only fate would tell when that day would come.

On his way out the door, William found his current rival walking in. Leslie entered the dining hall in full body armor. Behind him were the blond and clean-faced people, whom he thought of as other princes studying at the academy. All of them frowned, including Leslie. William was at least one head taller than most of them in terms of physique. There were five princes in front of her, and they were all bronze, except for Leslie. Despite this, they were shorter in stature and thinner in arms.

William put a faint smile on his face when he saw the five-man squad of princes. Then he looked ahead and continued on his way. But one of the frail-looking princes wasn't pleased when William deliberately smashed him on the shoulder as he passed. William had already felt that this was going to happen. He knew that if it was a normal iron level, his shoulder would dislocate, but William was not a normal iron level.

It instantly activated William's body and he responded to the shoulder.

“Boom!” There was such a powerful sound from this little shoulder collision that the entire refectory turned to look at the two clashing in the doorway.

Neither had achieved any results. Although William's body could barely block that prince's shoulder movement, he was sure the press was putting all his strength on his shoulder. After the two of them clashed, the prince frowned as an extra. He wanted to at least get that off William's shoulder and make it easier for his brother to win in today's match. He couldn't help but worry when he saw that William could easily block him.

He was worried that his brother might be in a very difficult situation. He was a medium bronze-level person and could not harm an iron-level person. This left him deeply worried. He couldn't even hear William stop and speak two paces away.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

After Pausing, William shrugged the shoulder of his white shirt and spoke. “Watch out, this shirt could be worth a kingdom.” He said and continued on his way, smiling.

Leslie and the others heard clearly, though the prince, who shrugged, couldn't hear. They all had an expression like they'd eaten shit on their faces. William was the only one who was unaware of such situations.

William then moved on, not wanting to waste time on childish things they wanted to talk about or like little gang games on the street.

Where his feet finally took him was the beautiful scenery where they had sung and had fun with the girls before. Here, on the shore of the small pond, he found a small stone chair.

He didn't feel any anxiety about the finale of the competition, which was to take place in a few hours. He took out his guitar from his dimensional bag. He felt that he had listened to the music of his previous life enough and that he had to compose a new song that belonged to this world. His hands were wandering between the wires. Up and down. The newly born sun and the light reflected from the lake were enough to fill him with peace.

“I let go of my feelings…

In the shadow of the past…

Now, let me go

Let me fly to the sky…”

"Hmmm, it didn't seem like it." William closed his eyes. He was devoted to finding the lyrics for his new song.

He cried out with his eyes still closed. "I found." Then he opened his eyes. In front of him, he saw a middle-aged face, not the landscape that filled him with peace.

He knew this face. He had seen it before in the arena. His long, gray hair and long straight nose combined with the majesty of his body just shouted 'I am strong'. This man was the principal of the academy.

William did not dare to be disrespectful and immediately stood up. After all, this wasn't their first encounter. Speaking of the first encounter, he knew it was extremely disrespectful there, but there was nothing he could do because he didn't know the principal back then.

He immediately bowed, gave a noble bow, and spoke. "Greetings, principal."

There was no disdain or prejudice in the headmaster's eyes. He even looked with some appreciation.

“Hmmm. Hmmm.” The principal examined him from head to toe. “It is a magnificent building. That brat must have spent a lot of money on you.” Said.

William probably thought he was talking about his father. He nodded lightly. Finally, he gathered the courage and looked into the headmaster's face.

The principal, on the other hand, was still watching him without any change. Finally, he got bored and asked. “Sir, did you want something?”

"Hmm?" The principal bent his ear as if he hadn't heard. Then something seemed to come to mind. "Oh yes! 'I just found it!' you said. What did you find?" he asked.

William didn't find his question awkward because he had said it right to his face.

“Sir, I was writing a new song. I came here for inspiration. I had found the subject of my song.” he replied.

“Oh, what is it?” asked the principal. He was also intrigued.

“Sir, I forgot when I saw you. Sorry." William was a little pissed off. He thought he had just found a good topic, but when the principal asked, all the words in his mind flew away like a butterfly.

“Oh, bad luck. Anyway, you should pay more attention to your education, things like musicianship are secondary.” Said.

William immediately said, "You're right, sir, but I feel like I'm not ready to take that step yet, so I'm just doing this to get some relief."

“You are right, you are right. It's good to be distracted now and then. Oh, by the way, what shall I say, are you going to kill that boy?” William hadn't thought that in such a calm conversation the headmaster would talk about such a thing directly. He was taken aback for a moment but quickly collected himself.

“Sir, I have no such intention. I even saw him as my friend. But arrogance and ingratitude are not things I can afford. I don't know what will happen if I'm provoked." Said. William was leaving Leslie an exit door here. The only question was whether Leslie would understand that.

"Understood. You're brave, I like people like you. No matter what, you can give all your strength in the competition. If it is as you say, so be it. Then he didn't deserve it." Said. He then returned to the lake view. William wondered why he was doing this. He slid to the side a little and walked a step forward to stand next to the principal.

“What do you think about being my student?” asked the principal. Again the question was sudden.

William replied, looking at the landscape like the principal. “Sir, if you deem me worthy of being your student, I am ready to be your student.” He said and bowed slightly behind him.

"Good good. You are indeed worthy of being my disciple, but there is something I can feel about you and it makes me unhappy.” He said looking at William. William was puzzled. He tilted his head and thought for a while. He didn't understand what the principal meant.

"What is it, sir?" he asked.

“You don't look like someone who will stay in the same place for years and study. How should I say… 'Independent' or a 'Bard' or perhaps 'Wanderer'?”

William could see the headmaster's expression. He felt that his last words were true. He had listed the three things he wanted the most since he came into this world. Only one 'Explorer' was missing, but you could make it out of the wanderer and independent

.

"Why do you think so, sir?" he asked. Although he knew it was true, he wanted to know why.

“How many months has it been since you came to the academy? And how many days did you stay in the academy? How many days were you out? Moreover, you were at the beginning of the iron level when you arrived. Now you are at the top. It's not just something to be explained by chance. You're a hard worker and driven. Adventure is a part of you, I feel like you can't rise without adventure. Who knows how many dangers you've been through so far? Tell me how many?"

William couldn't help but be surprised by what the principal said. Every word that came out of his mouth was describing his lifestyle, even directly to himself. For a few seconds, he considered the dangers he had been taking.

Too many memories came to mind. Somehow he got rid of them all. And this salvation was rewarded in terms of both material and development. He looked at the principal in surprise.

The principal understood everything because of him. “I see, maybe countless.” Said. “This is why you are not fit to be my disciple. I'm not fit to teach you. You can interpret it that way as well.”

William thanked him sincerely and asked again. "And why are you telling me all this, sir?" he asked.

The principal was delighted at this question, his lips twitching a little. “Because of your father. That boy… He loves you very much. He knows he is talented and ambitious. Besides, it doesn't belong here. We have the same dreams, but we all uploaded(burden) it to a bronze-level brat like your father.”

William understood the relationship between his father and the academy, but there was still one thing or two he was missing.

“Well, why don't you do it? Why my father? After all, it's just a bronze level. I'm sure the power of the academy is enough to sweep our entire continent." William asked.

“Heh, so you mean continent now. You can say island, no one will be offended. There are two reasons for this. We are an oath, and I hope I don't need to tell you how important the oath is to warriors. After all, the academy exists today, thanks to the resources of all kingdoms. Secondly, imagine that the entire academy is attacking one of the kingdoms. What do people think of you? The next few generations will grow up knowing you are a dictator. This is counterproductive for a small community like us that needs to be united.”

Thinking for a few seconds, William found every word he said logically. Leaning in, "Thank you." he said. “I hope everything turns out the way you want it to and we reach bigger continents one day.”

"Let's hope so." The gloom flowed from the principal's face. "Take care of yourself." After saying that, he left like a wind.

Then William digested everything that had just been said and sat back down on the stone chair.

He picked up his guitar again, and his fingers traced its strings.

“Then this song will be known as 'freedom' from now on."