Department Head Meg's most distinctive feature were her high, strong shoulders. Muscles that even fitness-focused young men would struggle to attain bulged under her loose clothing.
Meg laughed heartily.
Her laughter was bright and resounding, audible clearly even dozens of meters away, "I knew it—startled you, didn't I?
"But not bad, Hayna! A few months ago, you wouldn't have even noticed my presence when I touched your shoulder. Now, I merely approach from behind and you sense it—this shows that the months of experience have indeed paid off!"
This incident could be considered Hayna's humiliation.
A few months earlier, she had applied to graduate early—emboldened by her exceptional grades, she had been full of confidence. Her request to graduate early had even alarmed Department Head Meg, who personally came to witness Hayna's graduation assessment.
Back then, just like now, she had appeared behind Hayna without a sound. But Hayna had been oblivious.
Even when her bow tie was leisurely undone by Department Head Meg, she was completely unaware throughout the process.
It wasn't that Meg had entered Stealth, but that she made Hayna's brain "dare not acknowledge her existence."
It was the Authority Force at work, forcibly altering cognition, much like calling a deer a horse.
And now, at least Hayna could sense the danger—
Even though Department Head Meg surely wasn't being serious, it still indicated Hayna's growth.
After Department Head Meg's arrival, the students around them visibly dwindled.
Initially, there had been quite a crowd around Hayna, but now a large space had cleared around them.
This wasn't just awe of a school leader.
It was also because of the intense and distinct "Authority" emanating from Department Head Meg. Those of a lower rank on the same Path dared not approach.
This spirited elderly person was one of the strongest beings in the world today.
—The Grand Arbitrator, Meg. The Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall.
She held the supreme privilege of executing direct descendants of the royal family.
The reason she was "Deputy" Director... in Avalon, a deputy position was in some ways stronger than the chief position—because the chief had term limits, but the deputy did not.
For twenty years now, Meg had been the Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall. The Director, who changed every three years, had been replaced seven times, each one Meg's student.
Even during the royal succession, Meg had to be present as a witness.
After the new king's coronation, she would be the third to pledge allegiance to the new king—the first was the Minister of Military Affairs who controlled the army and foreign spy agencies, followed by the Knight Commander of the Round Table Hall who also served as the Minister of the Privy Council. And the third was her.
Other royal family members had to wait until the sixth spot or later.
Merely standing with Old Meg made Hayna's heart race.
It was as if standing before her was not a kindly and robust old lady, but a fully-grown lion within arm's reach.
—If she thought to run away, she would probably fall, for her legs would stiffen with fear.
She had once, with her own strength, intervened in a war.
It was Avalon Kingdom's short conflict with the Iris Kingdom twenty years ago, due to border frictions, known as the "Ten-Day War."
When Meg arrived at the battlefield, all she needed was one sentence to make soldiers from both sides sheath their swords and point their guns at the ground.
She carved a "Peace Boundary" in the border area—anyone who considered themselves a "soldier" could not cross it. Approaching the boundary would bring unbearable fear, paralyzing them on the spot.
That boundary lasted four years before it gradually faded. Now, with the two countries' improved relations, it became a famous tourist spot, commemorating that brief ten-day conflict.
Hayna, of course, was not this esteemed lady's student. She wasn't qualified yet.
Sherlock had been invited to be her last disciple—however, he refused.
The old lady did not insist. But since then, she stopped taking on new students.
It was rumored that she had recently begun preparing to step down from her position as Deputy Director of the Arbitration Hall. This was a well-known secret within Royal Law University—because the new Deputy Director would be their young chancellor.
And this chancellor had also been a student of Department Head Meg.
"It was in the newspapers, wasn't it?"
Old Meg assessed her, raising her eyebrows with an inscrutable question.
Hayna, extremely nervous, kept her head down, not daring to raise it: "Yes, very fortunately... I actually didn't do much, it was mainly because of Mr. Aiwass..."
The old lady repeated with a sly smile: "You respect him a lot, don't you."
Hayna was startled, holding her breath. She didn't know how to respond.
"Don't be ashamed, you did right. I've heard about him from Yanis," Meg said with a voice as firm as iron: "'The correctness of the stronger is more correct.' No matter if you're his senior or predecessor, you're not his match in this respect. So you follow his command—this is in complete accordance with the concept of the Path of Authority."
At these words, she finally relaxed.
Being acknowledged and encouraged by such a respected mentor uplifted Hayna immensely. The world seemed to brighten before her eyes, and her body felt much lighter.
This even gave her the courage to ask proactively: "Excuse me, Department Head Meg... Did you perhaps come looking for me?"
"Yes, I did," Meg replied with a candid smile. "Isn't that obvious?
"You're a good kid, hardworking and diligent. But still a bit slow," Meg commented on Hayna who had graduated a year early with full marks in all subjects.