"I still can't believe this little girl is supposedly Hero Headquarters' strongest..."

Though Night Zero had long ago mentioned Mira was a girl, he hadn't expected someone so petite and adorably cute.

"Hehe, what you see is just the surface. You'll find out soon enough."

Night Zero wore a mysterious smile, playfully refusing to spill the final secret.

The grand auditorium—built for events—had been requisitioned for this speech due to Mira’s arrival. Packed with twenty thousand students across three grades, Empty City and Night Zero sat in the faculty section, closest to the stage. Earlier, Celestial Wolf, the academy dean, had given a speech introducing the Hero Headquarters members. Those seated at the center were likely VIPs.

And now, Mira—the core figure of this assembly—would deliver an electrifying speech at the finale.

Under every gaze, the girl on stage walked calmly to the center with crisp, measured steps. She took the microphone and elegantly lifted her prepared script.

*So formal... Hard to believe she’s only thirteen.*

But something felt off. Since Mira took the stage, even the VIPs—and Celestial Wolf himself—had lowered their heads slightly. Were they shy? Awed? Or... no. Empty City, seated front row, saw it clearly: those VIPs were snickering behind their hands. He turned to ask Night Zero what was happening—only to receive a knowing smirk in return.

Mira stepped forward, smiling under the spotlight.

Then—

*Shhk!*

The school-prepared script shredded into confetti.

*Told those idiots in the administration not to prepare a script. They never listen.*

Even from afar, Empty City heard Celestial Wolf’s exasperated mutter.

*To tear up a script so calmly in front of twenty thousand students... What terrifying confidence! Wait—does this even have to do with confidence?*

After shredding the pages, Mira flashed an absolutely domineering grin. She leaped onto the podium, stomping the poor table underfoot. Not even the front-row audience could glimpse anything under her skirt!

"Look at your spineless faces! What expressions are those? Admiration? Envy? Respect? *Hah?!* Do you really think students should wear such looks?!"

Silence swallowed the auditorium.

Stunned faces stared back at her unexpected words.

Seeing their blank reactions, Mira’s irritation flared. She stomped the table again and roared:

"Where’s your student spirit?! Do you even remember why you’re here?! I’ve watched you all day—you shrink like scared rabbits whenever a veteran hero walks by! We’re your future *colleagues*, your *comrades*—not your damn bosses!"

"Do you think this is some Fortune 500 company where you bow to seniors?! Wake up!"

"You don’t need to grovel before us! No one here can guarantee who’ll be stronger than you someday—well, except me! No one can promise future ranks! So why bow your heads?! Why flinch at our words?! Think you’re special just ’cause you’re students?! We’re veterans—so you *owe* us respect?! Bullshit!"

"In this world, strength rules! Ever asked yourselves *why* you cower before us?!"

The students shook their heads.

A few finally snapped out of it, cheering wildly—only to wilt instantly under Mira’s glare.

"You cower because you’re *weak*! The strong rewrite rules wherever they go—they don’t follow them! You stay silent before S-Rank and A-Rank heroes because you’re *weak*! That pitiful weakness is rotting your bones!!"

Her voice thundered through every corner. Students stared, moved.

Estia gaped, murmuring: "So... amazing..."

Cheng Zhihui’s determined eyes burned as excitement surged through him.

Empty City? Utterly frozen.

*Don’t judge a book by its cover, huh?*

He’d briefly chatted with Mira earlier. He knew she’d saved him years ago during an Apostles raid—when a collapsing building trapped an eight-year-old girl beneath rubble. Her face had changed so much he hadn’t recognized her. Back then, her words and manners had been perfectly elegant. Now?

"Mommy~ No need to be so shocked. At HQ, Mira-chan’s always like this."

Night Zero grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying Empty City’s dumbfounded expression—*Are you kidding me?! She pulls this kind of stunt?!*—exactly as she’d expected.

Swearing freely, radiating a presence utterly unlike any "proper" girl.

*Honestly... a girl like this is scarier than a damn tiger. I pity her future boyfriend.*

"If you’re weak—what will you do?! Will you cling to this weakness?! ANSWER ME!!"

"Unwilling..."

The reply was scattered, quiet, drifting from corners of the hall.

Mira’s scowl deepened. "Did you skip breakfast?! Are you all mute?! Louder, damn it—*louder*!!"

No laughter followed her slip. Instead, a deafening roar erupted—like a concert crowd’s frenzy. The soundwave alone threatened to burst Empty City’s eardrums:

"**UNWILLING!!!**"

Only this girl could turn such raw, fiery words into inspiration.

As the speech ended, students’ eyes hardened with resolve—to grow stronger. The goal was achieved. This speech *was* the motivation.

*...Gotta admit. She really knows her stuff.*

Empty City admired the girl on stage. Beside him, Night Zero smiled at Mira.

But...

Even this was just a facade.

Lies beneath the surface would eventually be pierced.

Empty City narrowed his eyes and slipped out of his seat.