S-Class Arrival
Sky Academy never failed to impress me every time I saw it, but damn, it was huge.
From outside the Sky Island, protective magic kept it hidden, but once inside, the school was visible no matter where you were, boasting insane height and scale.
Huff... huff... huff...
Thanks to that, S-Class on the topmost floor required an elevator.
Stairs? Sure, I climbed them.
Mostly perverts did, though.
"Whoa, nice view."
I tapped the glass window, admiring the sight.
Facilities like this could put Earth's to shame.
Compared to schools built on budgets cheaper than prisons, this was leagues better.
And no cleaning required... sweet.
Forcing students to tidy up shared spaces was always annoying as hell.
Rewards? A pittance at best. They'd blow up instead: "It's your space too—don't act like cleaning's some big favor!"
At least here, no profs like that. No need anyway.
Cleaning was just a spell away, and most students here were nobles.
No prof would stoop to ordering them around.
Maybe assistants at worst.
Clothes are free too.
I grinned at my faint reflection in the glass. I was in priest robes.
Sky Academy had uniforms, but they weren't mandatory. I wore mine underneath for convenience.
Loved the no-force policy. Double points for free.
Nothing like my past life.
Expensive as hell, uncomfortable to move in, mandatory—or face penalties.
"Student duty," "memories," blah blah. Uncomfortable was just uncomfortable, not some fond nostalgia.
Just a cash grab for adults.
Here, an emblem on your weapon or clothes sufficed. Totally reasonable.
"Stick this on it?"
"Yes. Any problem...?"
"N-No need! I'll approve it separately—no emblem required for this student's weapon!"
"Pardon?"
"Wrap this instead! Think of it as special admission perks!"
"Principal, come on. That's a bit..."
"What. Why."
"Fine, on the priest robes then..."
"G-Get that away! Pass on this too!"
"??"
Of course, no emblems ended up on my gear.
The one and only archmage lich capable of engraving it had a meltdown.
Lucky only Nipella Aoman saw, or the profs' authority would've tanked into the trash.
Works for me, though.
Come to think of it, I should've asked Arcana about this sword's true nature.
Whatever. In a month.
I climbed the stairs lightheartedly. Eodukshini trailed sluggishly behind.
Sh-Shit...
"Hurry up. We're gonna be late."
"Why stairs when there's an elevator, you perv?!"
"Harsh. Pervert? Name one guy more normal than me."
?
"Wanna die?"
I plopped Eodukshini on my shoulder and reached S-Class's floor.
The golem guarding the fourth-floor entrance lit its eyes.
Security golem to prevent sneaking off or school violence.
A dry voice emanated from it.
"Please show your emblem."
I showed the sword hilt.
The golem nodded at the emblem on the wrapped cloth.
"Special admittee Eugene. Confirmed. You may enter. Class ends soon—hurry."
I nodded.
The golem watched me, then added:
"Next time, use the elevator or escalator."
"?"
"You'll have much to do. Wasting stamina on stairs is inefficient."
"Oh. Thanks."
Not that I'd use it.
If rushed, I'd run. This height? Morning exercise for me. Tough for a tiny slime like Eodukshini, though.
"S-Class... here."
First-year S-Class.
A plain sign hung on the door—clean, unremarkable design.
Thump, thump thump—
Excitement and nerves made my heart race.
Honestly, the school's vibe en route felt unfamiliar.
Less "I'm at school," more "nice place."
But standing before the class made reality slam home.
...Study? You're gonna study? Ahahah! Dude's studying!
What? You study?
Faint echoes. Faint visions.
Hallucinated kids hurling food, pouring milk, dumping trash.
Cackling, stealing my gym clothes, tripping me, humiliating...
Surprisingly, no emotions stirred.
Bring 'em on.
If they appeared, I'd blow their heads off.
Times changed. Now I had power and right.
Right not to take it, power to win!
Click.
I opened the door. Past classrooms were rowdy, reeking of mixed scents.
Cosmetics, sweat, perfume...
Not here.
The opposite.
No stale odors. Quiet, serious air.
Ventilation magic? Cool, clean air filled the room.
Adria, Ash, Jenella... over there.
Already seated, scattered appropriately.
Mosik... A-Class, right.
Top of A, but short for S. Regretted not pushing his role? Nah, with me, Ash, Adria, positions were set.
We'll cross paths later.
Same school.
I headed their way.
Adria and Jenella whispered. Ash scribbled furiously.
Here?
Nod.
Adria mouthed silently; I nodded quietly.
Normally I'd chat up a storm, but the silence felt off. Awkward.
"......"
"......"
Eye-greeting with Ash, sat nearby.
"......"
"......"
Silence again.
I scanned the focused students.
Yahan, green-haired guy, Jenella, Adria, Banasi, Ash, glasses girl...
Familiar faces mixed with new.
Hm. Not super friendly vibe.
Yahan and green-hair (Bulria) glared murderously.
Banasi analyzed students.
Purple-haired guy dozed, arms crossed.
Glasses girl memorized from paper.
Silence flowed on.
Ding, dong, dang, dong.
First-period bell shattered the awkwardness.
Without it, I'd have suffocated.
Even Banasi, who seemed ready to lead, stayed quiet.
Scrape! Thud—
Perfect timing—someone entered.
Cold-faced woman in sharp black suit...
Wait. What?
I blinked at the familiar face. Her...?
"I'm Jayyan, your S-Class homeroom teacher. Pleased to meet you."
The TA I'd buttered up with energy drinks first thing.
Why's sis here?
...She was a prof pretending to be TA?
Explains arbitrary eliminations.
...What'd I call her??
Sis, I think?
Not blacklisted, right?
As I panicked internally, applause erupted for Jayyan at the podium.
Poised amid elite nobles, she continued unfazed.
"Newly assigned, so no prior seniors here, but... this year's first-years are exceptional. More talent than in my student days."
Her gaze flicked to me and Ash.
...Blacklisted for sure.
Shit, scary profs like her suck.
Respectable, but intimidating—hard to mouth off.
Nipella felt approachable, especially after I saved him. Not her...
"However!"
Thwack!
Mom! She smacked the podium lightly with her file.
Scattered eyes refocused; her voice gained force.
"Talent abounds, but basics are lacking. Especially among those who think nobility makes them superior."
Gaze slid to Yahan and the green-haired kid.
"Your talents are top-tier. I guarantee it. You could reach 'greatest ever' status. While others take one step, you'll take ten."
Calm yet passionate, she pressed on.
"But that's it. Unchecked, you'll become tyrants. Easy path? Hardly. Even crushing with power, the next generation—hungrier, more persistent—will topple you. We must transcend our era, shaping the future."
Next generation...
My good influence...
Message: recruit harder.
"And no slacking in S-Class. You know Sky Academy re-sorts by exam results?"
Really?
"Drop scores, drop classes. Rise, ascend. Slack now, and it's A-Class."
All eyes on her at the podium.
"Remember: challengers rise from below. This isn't all—focus on now, build tomorrow. Dismissed."
Impressive prof. Still scary.
Feels like high school and college mashed up...
Jayyan met each student's eyes.
"Questions?"
Ash raised her hand.
"Ash Blue? Speak."
"Why divide classes?"
"Basics in homeroom with classmates. Electives elsewhere. Next."
I raised mine.
Blacklisted? Lean in. Or seem crazy—might work.
"Eugene?"
"Tell us about your first love."
"......"
"......"
Atmosphere froze.
Adria, Jenella, others gaped. Jayyan's icy facade cracked slightly.
I kept innocent eyes on her. She cleared her throat, deflected.
"...Later."
"Oh."
Nearby folks eyed me like a lunatic, but I was confident.
She liked oddballs, matching her quirks.
Flustered, but not disgusted.
Normally, delusion. But...
War God's blessing intuition, plus Eodukshini confirmed.
? When did I. Don't sell me out, psycho owner.
Jayyan recomposed, pulled sheets from her file.
"Schedules. Called names, come up."
School life's inevitable—might as well cozy up to profs.