The Diamond Extra

I opened my eyes in bed on Friday, and my entire body ached.

The Stoneback Boar and Black Serpent I hunted yesterday were way too heavy. Thankfully, I returned just before curfew. A minute later and I would've faced disciplinary action… or worse, minus points.

"Argh…"

At least there were no physical training classes today. With some effort, I got up and grabbed my smartwatch.

[810,130 shards have been deposited.]

[450,270 shards have been deposited.]

[Here is the payment for yesterday's monsters. I hope to work with you again. — HD Agency Head Manager, Prince Soon.]

The money came faster than I expected. For a one-time contract, he still processed everything overnight. As expected of Prince Soon. He wasn't the best yet, but he'd clearly become something big.

Thanks to him, I could now open a brokerage account and invest in the Burdenwrights Guild stocks. A million shards sounded like a solid start. I headed to the shower with all sorts of plans brewing in my mind.

---

Friday's first class was Dimensional Phenomenon Analysis. The rumor was it was the hardest theory class of the week—probably because there was no physical activity to distract cadets.

I sat in a random seat and opened my laptop to check my status. Now that I knew only I could see it, I wasn't shy about using it in public.

▷[Master Sharpshooter] [Low-grade Rank] [Spirit Attribute] [Evolving — Grade D+] [Proficiency EXP: 13%]

— Master Sharpshooter's Training: Familiarity with all long-ranged weapons

— Mile's Eyes: Enhanced eyesight and movement prediction. Speed & Perception +3

— Bullet Sense: In combat, slow time for 10 seconds once per day

— NEW: Sharpshooter of Paradox: Deal bonus damage to stronger enemies depending on luck

That last one, Sharpshooter of Paradox, came from defeating the Phantom. It was a weird but powerful low-ranked skill. With Master Sharpshooter now at Grade D+, growth would slow, but the power curve would steadily climb.

"All right, everyone settle down."

The professor walked in while I admired my progress.

"There's a written exam today, as I mentioned last time."

The entire class groaned. I wasn't the only one hearing about this for the first time.

"Really? I didn't study at all!"

Lila Dawn, seated a few rows ahead, whined dramatically. Saul Mayne, ever the model student, silently handed her his notes. She coughed in embarrassment.

The professor silenced the room and began passing out test papers. After a bit of rustling, I received mine.

---

1. Who or what are the Galateans, and how are they characterized as monsters in the dimensional realm?

2. What are The Hallow Nine—also known as the Phantom—and what defines their presence and power?

3. What unique attributes or abilities can humans awaken or manifest within the dimensional realm?

4. …

---

The questions were more conceptual than expected. Cadets around me sighed as soon as they read them, but I just smiled.

I had all the answers—thanks to my laptop, which was synced with knowledge from my original timeline.

Q1. Galateans? Easy.

> Galateans are artificial beings sculpted from stone, metal, or flesh—masterpieces brought to life by forgotten magic or cursed technology. In the dimensional realm, they are classified as Constructed-Class Aberrants, existing as echoes of their creators' obsession with perfection…

As I typed in the answers on my paper, everything flowed.

But just as I was about to finish—

[SYSTEM UPDATE IN PROGRESS…]

"What…?"

My lifeline—my laptop—flickered. A screen popped up.

[The system is updating to support the user.]

[Observation and Analysis modules will be enhanced.]

Sweat formed on my brow.

"No, no, no… Not now—"

The screen darkened, then rebooted.

[Update Complete.]

[Updating 69%]

A strange stillness settled around me. I could see things I hadn't noticed before—Mira Dawn's slight fidgeting, the professor's impatient glances, even the faded handwriting on Saul Mayne's notes. It was like… my mind had upgraded.

"…Huh."

Not bad. Not bad at all.

---

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Caelus…

Mira Roodes was hosting her usual Friday leadership meeting, also known as the Royal Society. For Mira Roodes, it was a platform to forge powerful post-academy connections. But for Lila Dawn, it was basically just a friend reunion.

The venue was a stylish tea shop in downtown Caelus, rented out entirely by Mira Roodes.

"How are your grades?" Mira Roodes asked calmly.

"It's good enough," Louis Hall replied with a lazy shrug.

"The Louis Hall I know doesn't stop unless he's ranked first."

"I said it's good enough."

Clang. The bell on the shop's door rang.

Lila Dawn walked in, wearing blue jeans and a black jacket over a slightly translucent white top. She walked like a delinquent, but her elegance made her more captivating than any noble daughter.

"Lila Dawn, you came?" Louis Hall waved.

"Hey. Where'd your lackeys go?"

"They're training. Midterms are coming."

"Wait, those guys actually prepare for exams?"

Louis Hall chuckled and took a sip of tea.

"How'd you do on today's written test?"

"Are you mocking me?"

"No. You just said 'who cares about theory.' I was curious."

Mira Roodes silently watched the two of them bicker. They were close, but something about Louis' gentle smile toward Lila Dawn made her annoyed for reasons she didn't want to admit.

She clenched her teacup slightly. The drink she prepared for Lila Dawn had long gone cold, but she reheated it with a bit of magic.

"By the way," Louis Hall began, "do you know Paul Wayne?"

Mira's ears twitched.

"Paul Wayne?" she repeated.

"Yeah."

"What about him?"

"What do you think about that bastard, Mira?" Lila t asked, her face twisting slightly.

Paul Wayne. Normally, she wouldn't have given him a second thought. But lately, he had been… off. Lila Dawn didn't know why, but something felt off.

"He's just average," Mira lied smoothly.

"No, never mind."

Lila Dawn forcefully grabbed her tea and gulped it down.

"AAAK! Damn—That's hot! Water! Water!"

"Lila, that's tea," Mira Roodes smirked.

"I think you burned your tongue," Louis Dawn added, laughing.

An employee rushed over with a glass of cold water. Lila Dawn chugged it and wiped her mouth.

"Anyway—about that phantom at the Caelus museum…"

Mira Roodes and Louis Hall leaned in.

"That thing was stronger than Saul Mayne. Even I struggled against it. But that guy… Paul Wayne…"

Lila Dawn gritted her teeth.

"He blew off the phantom's arm. With a gun. A GUN."

Mira Roodes and Louis Hall stared at her.

"How does that make sense?" Lila Dawn continued. "Even if you train like hell, you don't just blow off a phantom's arm with a handgun!"

Mira Roodes furrowed her brow. She'd seen Paul Wayne fight—but nothing on that level.

"Wait," Lila Dawn suddenly leaned in, whispering.

"Do you think he might be… one of them? A phantom?"

Mira Roodes shook her head firmly.

"If he was a phantom, why would he attack another phantom?"

"…You're right."

"But still. That guy's definitely hiding something."

"So you don't like him?" Louis Hall finally asked. His smile faded slightly.

Lila Dawn paused. She knew Louis Hall well—too well. Her next words would influence what he did next.

"…Maybe not exactly," she said. "But it's pretty close to the truth."

Mira Roodes said nothing.

She quietly stirred her teacup, but her thoughts were loud.

"Paul Wayne…"

"Let's keep an eye on him."

---