100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 69 - Panic

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 - Panic

Lucien was led through the halls toward the Headmaster’s office.

Along the way, he couldn’t help but activate INSPECT on the people accompanying him.

To his surprise, every single one of them was strong. Far stronger than he’d expected.

’So this is the Academy’s standard...’ he mused, quietly nodding to himself. ’No wonder it’s considered elite.’

But what truly caught him off guard... was the Headmaster.

And her hidden identity.

***

Name: Ellen (Ellenwen Copperrock)

Age: 50

Race: Human

Job: Chrono Witch

Level: 89

Title:

• Headmaster of the Royal Academy

• Sole Surivor of a Fallen Family

• Obsessed Witch

Skills:

• Perfect Loop

• Parallel Thoughts

Magic:

• Time Magic (Advance)

• Dark Magic (Advance)

Magic Affinity:

• Time Magic

• Dark Magic

Favourability: 60

Status: Relief

***

This was the first time Lucien had ever met someone who could use Time Magic.

It was rare.

But even more shocking was her name...

Copperrock.

That family was supposed to be extinct.

Yet here she was. Alive. Hidden in plain sight as the head of the Royal Academy.

And judging by her behavior... Maxim seems connected to it.

Her strong attachment to him said it all.

Lucien’s gaze returned to her skillset.

Parallel Thoughts.

It’s a Four-Star Skill he had read about in SKILLPEDIA. It’s a skill that allowed the user to process multiple lines of thought simultaneously.

He had always wanted it.

But Perfect Loop... He had never seen it listed anywhere.

Its name alone suggested terrifying potential.

Possibly a Five-Star Skill.

’It sounds almost on par with Uncle Max’s Perfect Calculation...’ he thought.

Who exactly was this woman?

And what kind of power was she truly hiding?

Soon, they arrived at the Headmaster’s office.

Without delay, Ellen turned to Lucien.

"Young man," she began. Her tone was much gentler now, "do you truly have the materials listed? We can offer something in exchange if you prefer. And of course, feel free to name your conditions."

She smiled softly. Gracious and calm. It was a stark contrast from the commanding presence she displayed earlier.

Even the department heads remained silent, visibly relieved at her softened demeanor.

Lucien scratched the back of his head.

"Actually... Aunt," he said honestly, "I don’t have the exact materials."

The heads tensed.

A few of them exchanged wary glances.

’Oh no...’ they thought. ’She hates lies. This could go bad fast.’

Some even shifted forward, ready to step in and mediate before things escalated.

But then...

Ellen chuckled.

"Of course you don’t," she said, waving it off. "Don’t worry about it. I didn’t expect you to. It’s not your burden... it’s ours."

Everyone relaxed.

But Lucien wasn’t done.

"What I mean is... I don’t have the exact materials," he continued, "but I do have better alternatives."

Silence.

That statement sucked the air out of the room.

The materials on the list were already among the best available.

High-grade.

Troublesome to acquire.

Curated by specialists.

Better than that?

The heads looked at him with doubt in their eyes.

Was the boy just boasting?

But Ellen didn’t look skeptical.

She looked intrigued.

Maxim and Edric’s trust in Lucien was no small matter. The fact that they had even lent him the Silvermine Seal spoke volumes.

To Ellen, that was more than enough.

Maxim’s skill... Perfect Calculation... had never been wrong. If Maxim placed his trust in Lucien then Lucien couldn’t be ordinary.

That alone was reason enough for her to be open and accommodating.

But there was something more.

Earlier, she had felt a pressure from the boy. One that made her skin tingle and her instincts flare.

It was an aura she had only ever felt from one man.

The king.

And that made her even more curious.

"I believe you, young man," Ellen said gently. Her eyes narrowed with interest. "Can you show us?"

Lucien gave a small nod and looked around the room.

Then without a word, he reached for one of the spatial bags carried by a Silvermine guard. He rummaged inside for a moment before pulling out two odd-looking items...

A Permanent Marker.

And a Radish Peel Wrap.

The department heads blinked, confused.

"Um... is it alright if I do it here?" Lucien asked politely.

After a round of nods, he sat down and got to work.

He began writing on the wrap... carefully with Steady Hands.

His strokes were fluid, confident, unshaken.

He was drawing a Fireball Rune.

Though the materials looked laughable to some, his craftsmanship was anything but.

Lucien had invested time to learn Steady Hands and it showed.

The heads watched in silence.

Curious but skeptical.

To them, Lucien was still a boy. One who probably hadn’t seen much of the world. And the materials he used were... questionable, to say the least.

They couldn’t sense any mana being channeled.

They couldn’t detect any particular enchantment.

But as they observed the way he drew the rune...

Their skepticism began to fade.

Each line was precise.

Each curve had intention.

There were no smudges, no wasted motion.

It was clean. Perfect, even.

So perfect, in fact, that the Head of the Talisman Department leaned forward. His eyes were glowing with fascination.

’This level of precision...’ he thought, ’he’s better than half my apprentices. No. He could even match me on a good day.’

By the time Lucien finished the rune, the man had already made a decision.

’I must make him my disciple.’

"I’m done," Lucien said simply, setting the talisman down.

There was no dramatic build-up.

No magical flair.

Just calm precision.

And that... confused them.

Most of the department heads exchanged uncertain glances. Some even looked amused.

They didn’t feel any mana.

They sensed no enchantment.

To them, it looked like a child’s toy. Not a functioning talisman.

Lucien understood. What they couldn’t see was the divine energy he’d subtly infused alongside his Fire Attribute while inscribing the rune.

Then his eyes flicked toward Ellen.

And he froze.

She was watching him closely.

Her smile was faint but there was a glint in her eyes. As if she’d sensed something.

Her gaze narrowed, probing.

Lucien swallowed hard.

Then he turned to the rest of the room.

"May I activate it?" he asked.

A few of the heads chuckled under their breath. The skepticism in the air was palpable.

"Go ahead. Don’t mind them, young man," Ellen said. Her tone was patient and oddly encouraging.

Lucien nodded.

He raised the talisman, infused it with mana... and threw it into the air.

What happened next wiped the smirks off every face.

The talisman glowed gold then released a golden fireball.

It shot forward with blazing speed, searing the air as it tore across the room.

Boom!

It struck the curtain on the far window... setting it ablaze instantly.

The fire spread like a living beast.

Wild.

Hot.

Unrelenting.

A sharp gasp rippled through the room.

Then...

Silence.

Everyone stood frozen.

The curtain was still burning.

And no one moved.

Lucien instinctively raised his hand, ready to summon Water Magic to extinguish the fire.

But then... he froze.

A soft laugh echoed through the room.

It came from Ellen.

Lucien turned to her just in time to witness something unbelievable.

The blazing curtain... began to unravel.

Not burn away but backward.

The flames reversed, shrinking inward.

The smoke spiraled in reverse.

The blackened fabric returned to its original color, thread by thread... as if the very flow of time was being rewound.

Lucien’s eyes widened in awe.

Time Magic.

His heart raced.

Within seconds, the curtain looked untouched. As if nothing had ever happened.

The room stood still in stunned silence.

Then suddenly...

Chaos.

The department heads surged forward.

Questions flew from every direction.

"Young man, how did you do that?!"

"Is that magic quill for sale?"

"That rune was flawless! Do you want to be my disciple?"

It was like the office had turned into a bustling marketplace. Everyone spoke at once, surrounding Lucien with excitement and praise.

He could barely breathe.

Just then...

Clap.

A single, crisp sound cut through the noise.

Everyone froze.

A dark pulse rippled through the room.

Dark Magic.

Ellen lowered her hands.

"Alright, everyone. Let the young man breathe."

Reluctantly, the heads backed off, giving Lucien space.

He let out a quiet breath of relief.

Then Ellen turned to Lucien. Her expression was both impressed and regretful.

"Young man," she said thoughtfully, "what you showed us was indeed far superior to anything we currently use. It’s... revolutionary, really. But it’s unfortunate. We need a lot of them... More than a thousand for the upcoming practical exams."

She let out a soft sigh.

"And seeing how refined that one was... I assume it can’t be mass-produced."

There was disappointment in her voice. Genuine.

Lucien just blinked.

Then calmly, he replied, "Just a thousand? I have more. It’s just been troublesome taking them out one by one."

He gave a tired sigh and glanced at the sky through the window.

’This is taking too long... I still need to find Vivian.’

Then... he did something that made everyone panic.

Without warning, Lucien turned the spatial bag upside down.

Items per items came spilling out...

They all hit the polished floor in a clatter.

"YOUNG MAN! Be careful with the materials!"

"OH NO, HELP!"

"Use magic! Use magic!"

"Guards! Don’t just stand there! Assist him!"

The room descended into chaos.

Mages scrambled across the floor.

Several were on their knees, trying to catch items before they rolled too far. Others forgot they could use magic entirely, too flustered to think straight.

Even Ellen stood up from her seat with her eyes wide in disbelief.

She couldn’t stay calm either.

She had expected a handful of prototypes... not an avalanche.

This was unexpected.

Utterly unexpected.

The dignified halls of the Royal Academy had turned into a scene of controlled chaos.

Panicked, the department heads scrambled across the floor, trying to gather the spilled materials with their hands. In their rush, they even forgot they were mages, neglecting to use magic altogether.

Their fear?

That the precious items might be damaged.

Lucien, however, remained calm.

Picking the materials out one by one would’ve taken far too long. Dumping them all at once was the fastest way to show everyone the quantity he had on hand.

And he wasn’t worried about damage, these came from the drops, after all.

Tough.

Durable.

Surprisingly flexible.

Then, while everyone was still scrambling, Lucien casually reached for another spatial bag. One held by a Silvermine guard who was helping pick up the markers.

But before he could flip that one...

"Shadow Bind."

Ellen’s magic flared and Lucien’s body froze in place.

Tendrils of shadow wrapping gently around him.

"Let’s talk about this," Ellen said quickly stepping forward. "I know you’re in a rush and I promise, we’ll compensate you generously. But please... don’t damage the materials."

Lucien who was now bound and immobilized, sighed in resignation.

He wasn’t going anywhere.

Eventually, the room calmed down. The markers and talisman materials were gathered.

Order restored.

Everyone returned to their seats, breathing a collective sigh of relief.

•••

• 10,000 Lowest-Grade Mana Cores

• 5,000 Low-Grade Mana Cores

• Spatial Bags enchanted with Anti-Decay spells personally inscribed by Ellen herself

• Free pass to the Royal Academy and restricted areas

• Privilege to sit in on any class and visit the Academy freely

After thorough discussions, Lucien emerged with more than he expected.

The department heads were ecstatic.

They got only not just the markers but also other astonishing materials inside the other spatial bags. It was enough to supply their departments for the entire year.

Lucien had initially only asked for a simple visitation pass so he could meet someone inside the Academy.

But Ellen wouldn’t allow it to end at that.

She personally handed him a beautifully engraved token. Warm to the touch and humming with authority.

"This token grants you the same privileges as our professors," Ellen said with a gentle but firm voice. "You can enter the academy anytime you wish and go anywhere without restriction."

Lucien’s eyes glowed with appreciation. That kind of access was unprecedented for a visitor.

And still... it didn’t end there.

The department heads feel their gratitude was insufficient. Each of them stepped forward and gave Lucien a family medal.

Symbols of their noble lineages.

"Use this if you ever need help from our family."

"Call on me anytime."

"You have my backing."

Lucien glanced at the growing pile of noble medals in his INVENTORY.

’I’m starting to feel like a collector of medals...’ he mused.

Once everything was settled, he stood up and gave a light bow.

"If there’s no more issue, I’d like to visit a class now."

The Talisman Department Head nearly jumped to his feet.

"Of course! Come, I’ll take you there myself!"

He led Lucien out of the office like an excited scholar showing off a prized treasure.

As Lucien exited, the remaining department heads were still frozen in place, speechless from everything that had happened.

Then... someone finally broke the silence.

"Is it just me, or... does that boy feel like the king?"

The History Department Head whispered as if afraid the walls might hear.

Another replied softly...

"No... You’re not imagining it. That presence... maybe royalty. If not from here then from another Nation."

Even Ellen couldn’t dismiss the thought.

She watched Lucien leave with thoughtful eyes.