Freshmen: Johan 9
Amid the excited freshmen buzzing with the thrill of enrollment, invisible factions had already begun to form. If I had to classify them, there were three types: nobles, commoners, and slaves.
The nobles were, without a doubt, the heirs of prestigious families with deep pockets and powerful backing. They'd already started building their connections, playing king of the hill among themselves. Their futures were more or less set in stone—they'd climb into the student council at the heart of power and inherit the academy's authority.
The commoners made up the bulk of the academy's students, those from middling backgrounds. Heirs from minor rural noble houses or true flatland commoners filled this group.
Their behaviors split sharply. About thirty percent had already lined up, kissing noble ass for whatever crumbs fell from the table, while the rest huddled quietly together, forming their own groups.
The slaves, finally, were the pitiful ones who'd barely scraped their way into the academy. Bursting with dreams of rising through the ranks, they slammed face-first into the class cliff from day one. Even they couldn't band together. Their only shot was sucking up to the nobles.
For the record, if I had to classify myself, I'd fall into the slave tier. But naturally, I operated solo. No ass-kissing for me. Unless it was Bernehardt's, maybe.
"It's been a few days already. How's school life treating you?"
"Aside from all the assholes picking fights, it's been pretty fun."
"I heard the rumors. How many demerit points you got now?"
"32... no, 33? Hang on."
I pulled out my student handbook. We were in Scarlett-senpai's office right now.
The handbook tracked my demerit points in real time. I was at 42.
"42 points."
"Off by a whole ten. You've got issues. 50 points lands you in the penalty dorms. Oh, as a freshman, you probably don't even know what those are, huh?"
"Do you?"
"Of course. Managing them falls under student council duties. Mostly just grunt work, though."
"I'll pass on the penalty dorms, thanks."
"Then manage your points better."
"But dodging every provocation just makes them bolder. The number picking fights with me has dropped off sharp lately."
It had been five days since enrollment. I'd racked up 23 provocations so far. The original story didn't give an exact count—just that it was "so annoyingly frequent you'd puke." I'd braced myself, but not for this many.
Eleven escalated to staredowns, but the other twelve turned physical. And naturally, I always came out on top.
"Word's spreading in the student council too. Some battle-crazed maniac in the Oracle freshmen. A few execs are taking interest."
"Oh? Scout from the council?"
"Eh, maybe if you start as a doorman. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about today..."
Scarlett-senpai brushed off her butt and stood. Today, we were heading to the demon realm for a date.
Saturdays and Sundays were class-free holidays. Most students did club activities on Saturdays.
There was after-school club time too, but weekends let you dedicate a full day, so plenty of clubs met then.
A lot of academy students built bonds through clubs. And those clubs were massive networking assets. No wonder freshmen were scrambling to join good ones.
"Shuttle time's almost up. Let's go."
Holidays ran shuttles between the heavenly realm, demon realm, and human realm. But hardly any students went home— the academy had every convenience inside, so no point wasting a weekend on the hassle.
Except during breaks, when most headed back to their hometowns.
"Just show up as is?"
"Anything I need to prep?"
"Your body's all that's required."
"Good enough."
Scarlett-senpai and I walked together. I'd planned to chat matching her stride, but she didn't say a word until we reached the carriage station.
Hmm. Still on guard, huh.
Today's outing would shatter that wariness.
"Here we are."
The station was a huge open-roofed building like a bus depot. On the outskirts of Silnakwon, the vast sky stretched out ahead, horizon to horizon.
Under the blue roof held by ten massive pillars, several carriages waited to depart. Ours was parked front and center.
Unlike the cargo wagon I'd ridden before, this was a luxury shuttle. The passenger compartment looked like a train car. Four handsome pegasi pulled it.
"Uniform even on a holiday? Model student."
"It's comfy. Especially Ibis uniforms—no awkwardness wearing them out."
Fair point. The Ibis girls' hoodie and pleated skirt worked anywhere without issue. Simple design that highlighted Scarlett-senpai's pure vibe with sleek sophistication.
Oracle had no uniform, so I wore plain cloth. Looked like your average human peasant.
Whatever—my looks made any rags work.
The carriage was sparsely occupied. Maybe not even ten people.
Scarlett-senpai and I sat with a seat between us. To avoid annoying rumors. Personally, I'd love the gossip, but not her.
"Where in the demon realm are we headed?"
The carriage lurched into motion, and the silent Scarlett-senpai finally spoke. I hadn't told her the exact spot, so curiosity made sense.
Just as I opened my mouth to answer, an interrupter appeared, smooth as silk.
"Well, well. Who's this? If it isn't the student council secretary."
Smarmy voice. Slimier than Rowin Franz, the so-called Butter Prince.
I turned to spot the owner: a tanned-brown hunk sauntering up to Scarlett-senpai, brown-dyed hair flopping.
Ibis uniform like her—no, Tempest. He flashed a sleazy grin, brushing his blazer.
Fuck, running into Geum Taeyang here. Felt weirdly off. If someone from Soul Community saw me, would I look like that?
Incubus, huh.
The swaying black tail with its heart tip gave it away. Classic succubus/incubus mark.
Succubus? Welcome aboard. Incubus prick? Off with his head. But Scarlett-senpai was watching, so I reined it in.
"Baren Kurger. What brings you here?"
"Oh? The secretary remembers my name. Honored."
"Anyone on the council who doesn't know the guy who's been to the penalty dorms twice? None."
Baren scratched his head sheepishly at her words but plopped into the seat next to her with a cheeky grin. Peak Geum Taeyang playbook. My brow twitched unbidden.
"Don't be so prickly. Heading home?"
"Demon realm. You're loud—keep it down? You're bothering others."
"Oho! Demon realm! Want a local guide?"
"Don't need your help."
"Hey, it's my hometown, but it's rough and dangerous. Sure you wanna wander without one?"
Scarlett-senpai's face screamed annoyance, but Baren kept yapping like it was nothing.
Perfect. Prime chance to score points with her.
The boyfriend who swoops in, handles the rival interrupting the date with ease.
Cliché so worn it's extinct now, but it ate big back in the day. And what works has a reason.
I stood and slid next to Baren. He ignored me, chattering at Scarlett-senpai.
She tuned him out, so it was pure one-sided blather.
"Mind giving up the seat?"
Kept it polite as hell. Partly for her sake, partly to maintain Johan's image. Other students around.
Baren finally glanced over. His eyes narrowed slyly. Probably how he'd eyed me earlier.
First real emotion on his face: wariness.
Instinct kicking in at the sight of chiseled competition? Incubi must have sharper stud-radar than most. Hoopa ace looks versus human top output? Worlds apart.
"Who the hell are you?"
"This is my seat. Right, Scarlett-senpai?"
Passed the baton her way. She eyed me, sighing softly. Weighing options.
Share space with the yapping asshole, or risk awkward rumors sitting with me?
Before she could answer, Baren jumped in.
"Wait—you're that human freshman, right?"
Face must be circulating among upperclassmen.
"That's me."
"Pfft. Inferior human who doesn't know his place serving betters—scram if you don't wanna get wrecked on a nice day like this. This ain't your lane."
His snarling threats made my fist itch. But Scarlett-senpai beat it there.
"No. Johan's right. This is his seat. You're the one who needs to move, Baren."
"S-Scarlett! What? You dating this human?"
"Ridiculous. Sitting next to someone doesn't mean dating—that's five-year-old logic. I just have business with him."
Scarlett-senpai chose me over the prick.
"If you don't move, I'll go sit somewhere else."
That did it—Baren bit his lip and stood.
I shot him a rotten smirk from Scarlett-senpai's blind angle. He clenched a fist, raising it.
"You little shit!"
"Whoa, scary! Guess I'll take the hit. How many points for violence off-campus again? 20?"
"Tch! We'll settle this at the academy. You're in the unarmed combat sword club, right?"
"Yup."
"Look forward to class. Hmph!"
Baren spun and bailed, spouting third-rate villain lines.
Did the original novel even have this guy?
Memory fuzzy. Meant he wasn't major.
Probably some Axelro-level throwaway. Speaking of, hope that prick croaks soon. Want the dorm to myself.
Gonna expand it into a sex house later.
"Johan. As a senpai, one bit of advice: pissing off same-department upperclassmen isn't smart. It'll bite you later."
"Solid advice, Scarlett-senpai. But this is all your fault."
"Excuse me? I never asked for help. Still, thanks for stepping in. That type's not my thing."
"What type is?"
"Dunno... animal lovers? That's all I got."
Felt like the distance between Scarlett-senpai and me had shrunk. Little trouble worked like a charm.
"Anyway, back to earlier. Where we headed?"
"Spoiling the surprise now would suck. Bear with it a bit—demon realm's almost here."
Scenery outside rushed toward a massive city. Modern buildings everywhere—unique vibe.
Portal city Renova.
Silnakwon floated in human realm skies, so heavenly or demon realm trips meant passing through portal cities.
Renova linked to major human cities. One of only two portals to heavenly and demon realms.
"Look—Renova. Touching down."
Our carriage landed smooth as butter.