Teaming Up for the 5th Gate
The day after exam season ended.
Selphis had gathered all the first-years in the auditorium.
"Het het het! The reason I've called the first-years together today is to share some glorious news about our proud Arcana Academy."
The mention of good news sparked cheers. But the quick-witted students had already guessed from the tacky white suit Selphis was wearing.
"First off, the exams! Our Arcana first-years' average score crushed everyone else across all academies. Way higher than Celia's, even. Het het!"
The students' restrained applause filled the auditorium. Satisfied by the resounding noise, Selphis continued with a pleased expression.
"And as you all know, in the recent off-campus event, Arcana took first place. Out of 33 schools! Beating out second-place Celia, no less. Ha ha ha!"
It was hard to tell if this was a celebration or just an excuse to trash Celia. But the real point of the assembly was something else.
"Thanks to that, Central has issued a mission to the top two schools from the event: first and second place. Clear a 5th rank virtual gate!"
Suddenly, Selphis's eyes blazed with fervor.
The word "5th rank" shattered the silence, stirring up a buzz.
"5th rank?"
"Our school really did it."
"First-years? Which party?"
"Obvious, isn't it?"
Even virtual gates were deadly if you slipped up—the actual difficulty was the same as real ones.
But if students cleared a 5th rank gate? It meant they had the skills to deploy into real combat anytime. The first-years wore a mix of confusion, joy, and other emotions.
"Quiet down, everyone. This is where the real announcement begins."
Selphis quelled the noise.
He paused dramatically, then glanced toward the back of the auditorium.
"Even as the top-ranked prestigious academy, Arcana isn't the only one challenging a 5th rank gate."
At his signal, three students emerged slowly from behind the curtain.
Kua Warnerbill, waving cheerfully.
Demona Igzek, walking robotically with a blank expression.
And Celia's genius, Lucia.
Three top-tier aces who could carry Celia's entire strength.
The students' murmurs swelled again. But Lucia ignored them entirely, locking eyes on Zien.
......Zien Russell.
A subtle battle of wills.
Chris, sitting beside Zien, eyed Lucia with unease.
"Why's she glaring like that?"
Amy Rose chuckled at Chris's question, shrugging her shoulders and palms upward.
"Obvious, right~? 'How dare you beat me?' Something like that?"
"Yeah, that tracks."
Chris nodded.
Isabel frowned and pointed somewhere.
"......And what's with her?"
There stood Kua, gazing at Isabel with clear, innocent eyes.
Nothing like Lucia's competitive fire. Kua had endured Isabel's fireman's carry and a mountain toss, then taken a flaming fist to the face. Yet her current expression seemed far from anger or rivalry.
As the Arcana and Celia parties traded subtle glares, Selphis laughed heartily.
"These members will be joining Arcana to clear the 5th rank gate—they're Celia's students."
Clap clap clap clap!
If the earlier applause had been polite, this was genuine enthusiasm. The students cheered for the celebrities' arrival.
"While Celia's students stay with us, make sure our main campus kids help them out plenty. Het het het!"
The Arcana Party's clubroom.
For an impromptu tea time, Amy was brewing black tea.
"If you like it sweet, add sugar separately."
The premium black tea Amy served was a gift from Selphis.
Kua inhaled the aroma and let out an awed "Whoa~!" as if recognizing its quality.
"This stuff's worth more than gold by weight. Arcana's welfare is top-notch."
Chris shook his head at the amazed Kua.
"Not always. The principal just favors our party. Specifically Zien and Isabel."
The party leader was the school's hero.
The party member was the chairman's daughter. Selphis didn't mind splurging on fancy tea. Humming as she served, Amy scanned Celia's members one by one.
"Didn't expect Celia to send them for joint training. ......Well, makes sense. It's a 5th rank, after all."
"But with two parties mixing, who's the leader?"
Chris asked, sipping his tea.
A brief silence fell over the clubroom. Zien pondered for a moment before speaking.
"How about co-leaders, and separate sub-leaders for each side? Lucia for Celia, and for Arcana......"
"No need."
All eyes turned to Lucia's firm tone. She set down her teacup and met Zien's gaze.
"I lost to you, and even at a disadvantage, Arcana beat Celia. For this joint strategy team, Arcana—you—should take the leader role."
As Lucia finished, Kua nodded vigorously in agreement.
"If the leader says so, I'll follow!"
Demona remained silent, her expressionless face.
Her silence meant consent.
It wasn't an easy choice, but Celia's party respected Lucia, and Zien had bested her.
Trusting Lucia let them trust Zien.
"Alright. I'll make it worth it."
It worked out perfectly for Zien.
Lucia's growth potential rivaled Zien's heroic past life, but their experience gap was vast.
Lucia had never even entered a 4th rank gate. Zien, in his previous life, had cleared an 8th rank.
No contest for who was fitter as leader.
Thanks to Lucia's deference, Zien outlined the plan with ease.
"First thing we decide: gate selection."
Zien pulled a large sheet of paper from his pocket and spread it on the table.
[5th Rank - For the Liege (Zone 4)]
[Location - Lilfea Castle]
[5th Rank - Spiritual Medicine of the Cave (Zone 3)]
[Location - Human-Faced Earth Spirit Cave]
[5th Rank - Hunter's Night (Zone 1)]
[Location - New Sky City]
[......]
The paper was densely packed with virtual gate listings, even kindly noting quest titles and locations.
"Government handout. Let's narrow it down slowly. I'm against Zone 3."
The party agreed with Zien.
Zone 3 gates leaned heavily toward combat.
Too much for inexperienced students short on battle time.
"What about Zone 4?"
Zone 4's backdrop was the vast world of Jenia, where sword and sorcery coexisted.
Its immense scale meant diverse quests—acting, history, combat, unpredictable.
"Zone 4 gates of the same rank have huge risk variance."
Simply put: exclude Zone 4. Kua seemed pleased with Zien's pick.
"Exactly! Even 6th ranks there have notorious named gates."
As Kua said, Zone 4 was brutal beyond its rating. Most gates with labels like Fierce or Dragon were there.
Even Demon King's Demoniac Castle.
The inhuman realm.
The unknown 8th rank gate.
Zien's previous life's end was in a Zone 4 gate.
"Leaves Zone 1, then?"
Isabel dropped five sugar cubes into her tea as she spoke. Amy, watching, recoiled in horror.
"N-No way it'll dissolve! Might as well call it sugar water......"
Undeterred, Isabel enjoyed her tea with chocolate cookies.
Kua watched her reverently. Zien cleared his throat to refocus.
"......Yeah, Zone 1 it is. Its advantage: more similarities to our world than other zones."
Hunters and Sabers shared traits too.
Hunters had Traits. Sabers had Magic Arts.
Their powers weren't obvious at a glance.
"No history or acting needed, low threshold. Most quests are on the easy side."
Zone 1 quests were modern-scale events. Large, but within reason.
As Zien finished, Amy shot her hand up.
"Hunter's Night? Let's lock that in! One thing from me first!"
Amy showed her phone screen to Celia's members.
"Just so you know, I'll be streaming inside the gate. No objections from Celia, right?"
Streaming was why Amy joined Zien's party. Non-negotiable. Luckily, Lucia and Celia approved.
"Yo, how do you even film inside a gate? Bringing a cameraman?"
Amy gave Chris a pitiful look.
"You think?"
She pulled a drone from her pocket and launched it. The camera-equipped mini-drone zipped around the air.
"This baby's all I need for live streams! Invisible inside gates too."
It responded to her mana, gliding smoothly. Natural enough to amaze first-time viewer Chris.
"Whoa, convenient."
"Duh, 30 million coin price tag!"
Amy had sunk event sponsorships into gear. A born streamer.
"Next up: training."
Zien narrowed his eyes, scanning the party members.
He had data from watching them in the event.
"For the next two weeks, we'll patch weaknesses and max strengths."
Zien instantly knew what training each needed—even for Celia's side.
"As your leader, you'll follow the schedule to the letter. Don't worry—it's straightforward."
Zien's words made Isabel and Chris's pupils tremble.