Shunjiro stepped into the grand chamber, a sense of trepidation coursing through him. The room was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings of past battles, mythical creatures, and heroes who had stood where he now stood. The air felt heavy, charged with the weight of countless decisions made in this very room. At the end of a long, polished table sat five individuals, each radiating authority, power, and an aura of mystery. Kaito, the leader of the Gilded Blades, was seated at the center. To his right sat Hiroto, a man with a sharp gaze and a teasing smirk, and Yumi, who carried herself with a quiet yet piercing presence. To Kaito’s left were Akira, whose confident demeanor demanded respect, and Mei, who exuded an aura of wisdom and calm. As Shunjiro approached the table, the intensity of their collective gaze made his steps falter slightly, but he quickly recovered, determined not to show weakness. He took his seat at the far end of the table, folding his hands tightly in his lap to stop them from trembling. Kaito leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. His voice was steady and commanding. “What is it you want to do with your life, Shunjiro?” he asked, his piercing eyes locked onto the boy. The question hit Shunjiro harder than he expected. It wasn’t something he had a clear answer for, but he knew he had to speak from his heart. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “I want to become an adventurer,” Shunjiro said, his voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside him. “And…I want to reunite with my older brother.” A brief silence followed his words, and the weight of the room seemed to grow. Kaito’s gaze didn’t waver, and Shunjiro could feel the unspoken demand for more. Kaito leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. “And what do you bring to the table? What makes you stand out among the others?” Shunjiro hesitated. He knew he lacked the raw talent of some of his peers, and his spiritual energy was hardly noteworthy. But there was something inside him, a fire, an unrelenting will. He met Kaito’s gaze, determination blazing in his eyes. “I may not have incredible power, and my spiritual energy is nothing to write home about,” Shunjiro began, his voice gaining strength with every word. “But there’s one thing I have that no one else out there has.” Kaito raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what is that?” “Determination,” Shunjiro said firmly. “I won’t stop. No matter how many times I fall, I’ll get back up. I’ll prove to everyone, including myself, that I can become an SSS-rank adventurer. No, I will become one.” The room fell into a stunned silence. Even the stoic Akira seemed taken aback by the conviction in his words. Shunjiro’s heart raced as he waited for their response, unsure if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life by sounding overly confident. Hiroto suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the tension. He leaned back in his chair, his grin wide. “I like this kid,” Hiroto said, his voice full of amusement. “He’s got guts.” Yumi, quieter than the others, spoke next. Her voice was soft but carried a sense of certainty. “I think he has potential,” she said. “He could become a great leader one day.” Akira, her arms crossed, scrutinized Shunjiro with a critical eye. “I don’t see it yet,” she said bluntly. “But…prove me wrong. I’ll be watching.” Mei smiled gently, her gaze warm. “You have spirit, Shunjiro. That’s a good start.” Kaito, who had remained silent during their comments, finally spoke. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority. “During the dummy test, you scored the highest strength of spiritual energy out of every single recruit,” Kaito revealed, his tone measured. “There have only been four others in the history of these exams to score an S or higher. That includes me and the other leaders here.” Shunjiro’s eyes widened in shock. He had no idea. How could someone like him, with seemingly no power, achieve such a feat? “With that being said,” Kaito continued, “I want you to join me. Let’s uncover where that hidden power came from and use it. I choose you, Shunjiro.” The words hit Shunjiro like a tidal wave. For a moment, he could only stare in disbelief. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. He stood and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Kaito,” Shunjiro said. “And thank you to all of you. I won’t let you down. I’ll prove myself to the world.” Hiroto chuckled. “Well, don’t keep us waiting too long. Go send the next recruit in.” Shunjiro nodded, still reeling from what had just happened, and left the room. As he walked down the stairs, his heart felt lighter than it had in years. At the bottom of the staircase, he encountered a girl with long blonde hair and a noble air about her. She smiled warmly at him. “Hello,” she said, her voice melodic. “I’m Yuki. You must be Shunjiro.” Shunjiro blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Y-Yeah, that’s me. Nice to meet you, Yuki.” They began talking as they waited for the next person to be called. Yuki mentioned that Akira had chosen her, and Shunjiro was impressed. She seemed confident, poised, everything he wasn’t. “I like your eyes,” Yuki said suddenly, catching Shunjiro completely off guard. “My…eyes?” he stammered, his face turning bright red. “They’re intense,” she said with a playful smile. “Like you’re always thinking about something important.” Shunjiro was at a loss for words. No one had ever complimented him like that before. Desperate to escape the awkwardness, he invited her to join him at his table with Itsuki and Yoshinori. When they reached the table, they found Sora already there, chatting with Itsuki. Sora looked up and grinned. “Hey, Shunjiro! Who chose you?” “Kaito,” Shunjiro replied, still trying to process everything that had happened. Sora’s grin widened. “Just great. He chose me too. Looks like we’ll be on the same team.” Shunjiro felt a swell of relief. He had been worried about fitting in, but it seemed like he was already forming connections. Yuki and Shunjiro sat down, and the group quickly fell into a lively conversation. For the first time in a long time, Shunjiro felt a sense of belonging. It was a small start, but it was enough. And as he glanced around the table at his new friends, he couldn’t help but smile. He had a long way to go, but he was no longer alone on this journey.