Absolute Cheater - Chapter 494
Chapter 494: Averin Academy XVIII
Asher didn’t linger in the arena. He gave them one last glance—five cousins buzzing with adrenaline, pride, and a nervous excitement they were still trying to hide—and then he stepped out of the circle of students.
He didn’t need to stay.
They deserved their moment.
So he waited.
Up on the guardian platform, he remained still as a statue, arms folded behind his back, cloak brushing lightly against the marble as cheers continued to roll across the arena. The academy staff bustled around him, instructors whispering, spectators pointing, but no one approached. No one dared interrupt Asher Magnus unless he initiated it.
He watched his cousins from a distance.
Maxwell puffing his chest as other boys crowded around him.
Amanda pretending to be annoyed while clearly enjoying every second.
Sylens nodding politely to admirers he didn’t quite know what to do with.
Sophia overwhelmed but glowing with pride.
Lia smiling shyly as older students congratulated her.
He waited until their celebration burned itself out naturally—until the last student drifted away, until the crowd thinned, until the arena floor began to clear.
Only then did he move.
In the main entrance hall of the academy—wide, grand, and bright with floating light-crystals—parents and guardians were already gathering to greet the successful teams. The hall buzzed with noise: proud shouts, relieved laughter, congratulatory handshakes, the rustle of silk robes from noble families who had come to watch their heirs.
But when Asher stepped in…
A hush rolled through the crowd.
Some parents straightened instinctively at the sight of a guardian with such controlled presence.
Some offered polite bows, unsure of his rank but sensing his authority.
Some whispered to their children, “Don’t stare—he’s strong.”
That was all he was to them:
a powerful guardian with no known background, no listed family, no public reputation.
Just a quiet force people instinctively respected.
Asher ignored the attention easily.
His focus immediately locked onto Team Magnus as they finally entered the hall—still flushed with victory, their newly granted badges glowing faintly on their chests.
Maxwell spotted him first.
“There he is,” he muttered under his breath, straightening up so fast his back cracked.
Amanda elbowed him. “Try not to embarrass us.”
Sophia hurriedly smoothed her hair.
Lia fixed her posture.
Sylens took a slow, steadying breath.
Asher approached them—not with the overwhelming aura of a legend, nor with the cold authority of a high-ranked official, but simply with the steady presence of an older cousin who expected discipline and effort.
But at the edge of the hall, something shifted.
A cluster of nobles and fellow guardians waited—those who had accompanied other teams. They didn’t know who Asher was, where he came from, or which region he represented. He never attended ceremonies, never showed off, never gave any clue about his origins.
That mystery made them watch him more closely than usual.
Some with curiosity.
Some with suspicion.
Some with thinly veiled competitiveness.
Asher’s expression didn’t change as he stopped beside his cousins, standing like an unspoken wall—not protective, not domineering, simply present.
A tall guardian from another house stepped forward, stiff and polite.
“Guardian… Asher, correct?” he said, as if trying to recall a name he had never heard until today. “Your students performed admirably. Their teamwork was… surprising.”
Asher offered him a faint smile—courteous, but not particularly warm.
“Surprising excellence,” he replied calmly, “is still excellence. Though I take it your team wasn’t pleased losing to them.”
The guardian’s jaw tightened.
Behind him, a few noble parents shifted, pretending not to react.
Maxwell had to bite the inside of his cheek not to grin.
Asher continued, tone steady but sharp enough to cut through posturing:
“These five worked hard. That’s all there is to it.”
A simple statement.
Nothing boastful.
Nothing arrogant.
Yet the nobles looked away first.
A few swallowed.
Some frowned.
Some wisely chose silence.
Asher turned back to his cousins, giving them a small nod.
“Come. There’s something we need to discuss for tomorrow.”
Amanda lifted a brow. “Already? We just—”
“It won’t take long,” Asher said.
Team Magnus instantly fell into step behind him.
And as he led them deeper into the academy’s inner halls—past the whispering nobles, curious guardians, and puzzled families—one thing became clear:
People didn’t know who Asher was.
But they knew he was not someone to underestimate.
As Team Magnus followed him toward the main exit—past the outer corridors and toward the academy courtyard.
The echo of their footsteps carried through the hall until a figure stepped out from the side passage—a senior instructor in silver-trimmed robes. She approached with a measured expression, carrying a small bundle of documents and sealed packets.
She gave Asher a polite nod.
“Pardon the interruption,” she said. “I was told these five were leaving with you, but protocol required I meet you before they exit academy grounds.”
Asher stopped, raising an eyebrow. “Is there an issue?”
“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “Nothing negative. I simply need to deliver their orientation packets, gear schedules, and the list of items they must bring when they officially join next week.”
She held out the bundle.
Asher accepted it calmly.
But the instructor hesitated… studying him.
“Forgive me,” she said, cautious but curious, “but may I ask what your official role with these students is? You aren’t listed as faculty, guardian, or academy personnel.”
Asher’s answer was brief.
“They’re my cousins.”
The instructor’s eyes widened a fraction—surprised, but not disbelieving. She had seen the way the five clustered around him, how they listened, how they walked with him like someone familiar yet authoritative.
“I see…” she murmured.
She adjusted the papers in her hand and continued professionally:
“This packet includes the rules they must memorize before next week. The academy takes discipline seriously, so please ensure they review everything. There’s also a checklist of supplies they need to bring on their first official day.”
She offered a respectful nod to the group.
“We understand you’re in a hurry, so rather than keep them here for orientation speeches, I’ve included everything in written form. Their mandatory robes and tokens will be delivered to their assigned dorms by tonight.”
Asher nodded once. “Appreciated.”
“Thank you for your time,” she said, stepping back. “And welcome to Averin Academy, all of you.”