What else was there to consider?
Link immediately shook his head with firm determination.
After this month of training, Link had come to understand something very clearly—talent was far more important than he had ever imagined.
The reason he had managed to become a Level 1 Esper in just one month was partly due to the Flesh Forging Art and Meditation Technique provided by Lib. But there was another crucial reason—his innate talent was powerful enough.
However, over the course of this month, he also discovered a problem.
His current set of talents still wasn't enough.
As the only remaining human known to possess a UR-rank talent, it would be a waste not to die a few more times just to squeeze its value dry.
If he actually encountered some Moonfolk, it would be a perfect opportunity to farm some new talents.
And as for why he chose Astral Nexus University, the reason was rather simple.
When he was younger, he had a neighbor—a girl a few years older, sweet-looking, adorable, and always radiating the gentle warmth of an elder sister.
Later on, that girl was accepted into Astral Nexus University, and her whole family moved away.
Link didn't exactly have a childhood crush or anything like that—it was just a kind of instinctive admiration for something beautiful.
If his memory was correct, she should be exactly three years older than him.
And as the saying goes—"A woman three years older is like holding a brick of gold!"
"Headmaster, I've made up my mind. I'm willing to join the Eagle Hatchling Camp. Please help me write a letter of recommendation."
Hearing Link's resolute answer, Headmaster Ximar's face lit up with a smile of approval.
He gave Link a firm pat on the shoulder and said with a laugh,
"Link, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. I truly hope you achieve excellent results at the Eagle Hatchling Camp."
"But more than anything, I hope you come back safe and sound."
"Don't worry, Headmaster. I'll give it everything I've got."
Seeing the unwavering look in Link's eyes, Headmaster Ximar seemed to recall something. He reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a purple card, handing it to Link.
"Here, keep this safe. It's a membership card for the Velmoria Training Grounds."
"You can use it for free access to all actual combat training sessions."
When Link heard that, a look of surprise and delight immediately appeared on his face.
In every human city, there were several training grounds. And the most important feature—also their primary source of profit—was actual combat training.
As the name implied, actual combat training meant real fighting.
But unlike what most people imagined, the enemies in these sessions weren't other humans. They were real Moonfolk!
It was well-known that many Moonfolk possessed bizarre and unpredictable abilities, with extremely diverse combat techniques.
For humans preparing to enlist or go to the frontlines, sparring with actual Moonfolk in a controlled environment allowed them to gain valuable, life-saving experience.
That kind of training could significantly increase a soldier's chance of survival on the battlefield.
Which is exactly why, despite how expensive these training sessions were, countless people still flocked to them.
After all, it was far safer than clashing with Moonfolk on a real battlefield. The Moonfolk used in training were carefully selected—they didn't have lethal strength or overwhelming powers.
Most of these Moonfolk were prisoners captured from the front lines.
In fact, when the number of captured Moonfolk became too high, training grounds would even conduct periodic clearing campaigns to reduce the surplus.
In short, for most humans, actual combat training was one of the few safe yet effective ways to enhance their battle experience.
That's why this membership card was even more valuable than the 300,000 credits awarded by the school. It was a clear sign of just how much Headmaster Ximar valued Link.
Taking the card with both hands, Link earnestly expressed his thanks to Headmaster Ximar before leaving the office and returning to class.
The classroom was now empty—everyone else had gone.
Only Max remained, waiting with a goofy smile still on his face.
"Link, finally! You're back!"
"Come on, let's go have some fun—it's time to celebrate your promotion to Level 1 Esper!"
"You think I made you wait because I want to hang out and play?"
Link rolled his eyes at him, clearly unamused.
Max looked confused.
"Wait… isn't that the whole point of celebrating?"
"The National Awakener Trial is just around the corner. Aren't you feeling the pressure?"
"What good is worrying going to do?"
Max let out a rare sigh, his expression uncharacteristically gloomy.
"I only have an E-rank talent, and my family doesn't have much money. Honestly, I'd be satisfied just making it into an ordinary academy in a regular city."
"But even that feels like a stretch."
Link gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. Then he reached into his bag and pulled out a small notebook, handing it to Max.
"Take this. Don't let anyone else see it."
Max blinked in surprise. A second later, realization struck him, and his eyes widened in shock and joy.
"Wait a second! Are you finally coming to your senses and handing over all your treasures to me?"
"Link, you're a real bro! I get it—you've got amazing potential now, so you don't want to waste time on this stuff."
"So, let me take good care of your anime waifus for you!"
"…Excuse me?"
Link was utterly dumbfounded. The thought that Max would jump straight to that conclusion left him speechless.
His collection… how could he possibly give that to anyone?
With a deadpan expression, Link raised a hand and bonked Max on the head.
"Stop daydreaming. What's inside is a set of Flesh Forging Art and Meditation Technique, as well as a psionic potion recipe."
"If you train hard with it, you'll make real progress. And the potion itself doesn't cost much to make—your family should be able to afford it."
The set Link gave Max had been carefully selected by Lib, based on an in-depth scan of Max's physical and mental profile.
While it wasn't the most powerful set of techniques out there, it was without question the most suitable for Max.
According to Lib's analysis, if Max trained diligently, he could eventually become a Tier 3 Esper.
That might not sound particularly amazing—but it would place him comfortably within the upper-middle class of human society.
Max's hand, which had eagerly reached out to accept the notebook, suddenly froze in mid-air.
"L-Link… this is way too valuable. I can't… I mean, I shouldn't…"
"Oh, stop with that nonsense."
Link waved dismissively and said,
"Just keep it to yourself. This was a gift from a powerful figure. Practice it quietly—and don't tell a soul."