"I don't care."
The response struck Hamiel like a hammer missing its mark.
His eyes shook with undisguised disbelief.
For someone of his prestige, whose name carried weight across every land and race, the idea that a student—a first-year no less—would reject such an offer so effortlessly was unheard of.
The rejection stung not because of arrogance, but because Hamiel simply couldn't comprehend it.
"You must be rejecting because you do not know who I am," Hamiel declared, his voice carrying both pride and conviction.
In his mind, there was no other explanation—surely, this brat had no idea who he was turning down.
Hamiel had never introduced himself formally. Perhaps, Ashok assumed he was just another ordinary blacksmith instructor. That had to be the reason.
Before Hamiel could even begin his introduction, Ashok was already ahead of him.
"I know who you are," Ashok stated with unwavering certainty, his voice cutting through the moment like a blade.
