A Bumpy Road to Noble Academy
It was just as they stepped out onto the other side through the portal.
“Did you perhaps mix up the coordinates?”
“...Ahem. It's been a while since I handled a long-distance portal like this.”
What stretched out before their eyes was an endless desert. Scorching ground heat and barren dunes filled their entire field of vision.
Whiiish.
“Ah, sand.”
Suddenly, sand grains rode the wind and pelted Seongjin's eyes. He waved his hand frantically to brush them away.
“Just wait a moment. I'll open another portal.”
As Wibel focused his mind, the air rippled once more, forming a semicircular portal. The two hurried inside.
Shoooosh!
This time, a refreshing beach appeared before them.
“......”
“...Ahem.”
“You really know the coordinates, right?”
“...I'm pretty rusty. Again.”
Caw, caw.
“Seagulls are mocking us.”
“Be quiet.”
With Wibel's words, another portal opened. The pair stepped through once more.
And this time, it was a jungle.
“Is this some kind of magic? Like, we hit specific spots in order, and a path to the academy opens?”
“...I'm embarrassed. But I've got the feel now. This time, it'll definitely work!”
After that, they endured sheer rock cliffs, biting snowy plains, and even a bubbling lava volcano zone before finally catching sight of the city.
Vrrrrm.
Inside the maglev train heading to Novapolis A City, where Noble Academy was located. In the luxurious premium cabin at the front of the long train, only silence lingered.
‘Should I bail? Right now?’
Seongjin, seated a bit away from Director Wibel, seriously contemplated jumping off the train and reconsidering his decision.
No matter how you sliced it, what just happened was a bit much. He'd figured creating portals wasn't easy, but he hadn't expected the academy director—an S-rank hero and spellcaster—to be this bad at it.
‘If the academy facilities suck too, I'm outta here.’
With that thought, Seongjin gazed out the window at the towering skyscrapers of Novapolis flashing by.
“Ahem.”
From the seat ahead, Wibel kept clearing his throat awkwardly while glancing back at Seongjin. The intimidation from his S-rank hero title and aura had long since scattered like dust.
“...We should've gone straight there, but I wanted to give you a bit of a world tour first. Heh heh.”
“I'll pass on the lava sightseeing. Nearly became roast.”
“Goodness, young folks are so impatient. We're almost there now.”
Wibel sheepishly pulled a pill bottle from his pocket and swallowed two tablets. Seongjin narrowed his eyes at the sight. His complexion looked even paler than before—continuous long-distance transfers must have been a real strain, even for an S-rank.
Seongjin heightened his senses as he watched. The overwhelming presence he'd felt in the alley earlier now lay as calm as a sea after a storm.
‘He really is getting old.’
But he wouldn't let his guard down. This old man could still warp space to jungle and tundra even in a weakened state. That meant, if he wanted, he could toss Seongjin right back into that volcano crater.
...Yeah. Better not push it.
As he stared blankly out the window, a random curiosity popped into Seongjin's head.
‘...If I fell into lava, could I survive? What's the temperature? 1,000 degrees?’
It might be a useless thought, but he'd surely face heat-wielding enemies ahead. Testing his durability now was essential prep. He still didn't know the real performance of his Variable Bio-Armor, either.
Seongjin pulled out his phone and started searching about lava—what types existed, their temperatures, and if any superhumans in the community handled it.
He found a user named RedDog with unusually detailed lava knowledge and dug into his comments and blog. The guy preached that attack power was combat power and honed nothing but lava-fist punches.
‘Gotta test this out later.’
And so, Seongjin unexpectedly gained lava intel.
A few minutes later.
The train's speed began to slow. At the same time, an announcement echoed through the cabin.
This is Novapolis A City, Noble Academy entrance. Doors for disembarking passengers will open on the...
“Well, we're here.”
Wibel rose slowly from his seat. Seongjin pocketed his phone, grabbed the bag with 10 million credits, and stood.
As the train halted and the doors slid open, the city air rushed in. A world apart from the earthy scent of Helm Mountains or the dungeon chill—this was pure urban vibe.
Savoring the long-lost city aroma, Seongjin followed Wibel off the train and into the massive station.
Emerging from it, a gate like a city wall loomed before Seongjin's eyes.
NOBLE ACADEMY
Atop the grand gate, the academy's name gleamed in brilliant gold, welcoming Seongjin and Wibel. The world's top institution, accessible only to superhumans. Above the gate, a massive holographic lion roared down at visitors.
And beyond it, the scenery seized Seongjin's gaze.
“...What the hell. This is a school?”
Too vast for just an entrance. Shops, facilities, and stores crammed the space—from luxury boutiques selling superhuman gear to chic cafes with high-concentration drinks, restaurants plastered with photos of exotic foods. The street buzzed with a few apparent students and visitors.
“This street's a comprehensive academy-owned convenience complex. Better equipped than most cities.”
“Insane. And so many people. Isn't it vacation?”
“Yep, vacation's why it's this quiet. Normally, it's packed—fills this huge street solid.”
Seongjin took Wibel's words and scanned the area.
‘Fills this space? It's bigger than several soccer fields.’
He clicked his tongue at the expansive street. Another moment feeling this world's scale.
After walking some distance, a massive platform with circulating cable cars appeared.
Wibel led Seongjin not to the main path but a side platform in the corner. A luxurious cable car emblazoned with gold crests waited there.
“This is the staff cable car. Hop on. The real academy's up that mountain.”
They entered, the glass door sealed, and the car smoothly ascended the cable. The vibrant shopping street shrank below, the car climbing sheer cliffs.
About 20 minutes later.
Feeling the chill in the air during the quiet ride, they pierced the clouds to reach the summit.
“......!”
Seongjin involuntarily gasped.
A vast plateau at 2,000 meters elevation. Sleek, modern buildings rose like a city atop it. But that was just part.
As they neared, the full academy came into view.
Several sports fields, massive dome structures with tiered seating, a central tower piercing the sky. An utterly colossal scale—not a school, but a full-fledged city.
“What do you think? This is where you'll be based from now on.”
“Not bad at all.”
Wibel grinned in satisfaction. Seongjin smirked faintly too.
Hiss.
The cable car stopped at last. Wibel and Seongjin disembarked and walked on.
Guards and armed robots spotted Wibel and bowed in unison. Seongjin followed silently, scanning them.
‘...Pretty high caliber.’
All superhumans. Even the grunts exuded refined auras beyond typical underworld thugs. Wibel hadn't exaggerated about top-tier security.
Seongjin barely suppressed the urge to spar them right then.
“These folks have flashy careers. Heroes, hunters, soldiers, cops—all from combat organizations. Might not catch your eye now, but deeper in, you'll find ones you like.”
“These are decent enough. No complaints.”
“Good to hear.”
They slipped into a quiet back path toward the main building—a towering white edifice. Their footsteps echoed grandly inside. The vast lobby and high ceiling flaunted authority and wealth.
“Director! No word and you just vanish...!”
Then, a young woman hurried over in heels from afar. Seongjin eyed her: black clothes under a white coat, long black hair with orange inner tones, sharp eyes, and black spiral horns.
‘Beastkin? Goat type?’
She charged like she'd grab his collar, but spotted Seongjin behind and hesitated, approaching slower.
“...Who's this? Another stray you picked up after some mess, Director?”
“Heh heh, Iris, a mess? I'm the picture of restraint. This is—”
As Wibel opened his mouth.
“Director!”
A urgent voice called from somewhere. An intellectual-looking man in glasses sprinted toward Wibel at light speed upon spotting him.
“You're finally back! Come on, this isn't the time! Backlog's piling up!”
“Oh no, caught.”
Wibel winced, sighed, and beckoned Seongjin.
“You asked who he is? My newly found perfect special instructor candidate. Iris, show him around, help him settle. I vouch for his background. I'm off.”
“Pardon? W-Wait! Director!”
Wibel's body floated up and shot off in the opposite direction at blinding speed. The pursuing man accelerated after him.
“Running again, Director?!”
His voice faded fast. Faster than he looked—probably a physical enhancement superhuman. Surprising.
As the chasing man's back receded, awkward silence filled the lobby.
Iris pinched her temple and sighed deeply.
“Haa... Sorry about that. As you saw, our director's a bit... eccentric.”
She shook her head and turned to Seongjin. Up close, her eyes held sharp intellect laced with tense chill.
“I'm Iris. Director's physician and aide.”
“Han Seongjin.”
Seongjin replied curtly, offering his right hand. Iris scanned him head to toe, then shook it politely.
That instant.
“......!”
Iris's hand trembled visibly. Through their palms, Seongjin felt her heartbeat racing irregularly.
‘What’s this?’
He furrowed his brow. Flustered? No, the reaction felt off—more like a physiological rejection.
‘...Do I smell? Nah.’
“Iris?”
At his low call, she yanked her hand back like electrocuted, shoving it into her coat pocket with a cough.
“......Ah, sorry. Moment of dizziness. Han Seongjin, right?”
“Yes.”
Avoiding his eyes, she turned her head.
“Let's head to admin for formal registration first. Then I'll tour you around. Follow me.”
Seongjin watched her retreating back, glancing at his palm.
‘What’d she sense from me?’
Did his level 3 Demonic Body affect her? But others were fine—why just her?
Puzzled, Seongjin shouldered the bag with 10 million credits lightly and followed Iris deeper into the academy.