Let's Tour the Academy!
"Yep, you can really tell the difference once you're all cleaned up."
Having changed into a crisp, brand-new uniform and with a pleasant scent wafting from my body, I felt great.
"Hehe~ Doesn't my shampoo smell amazing?"
The only shocking twist was that the shampoo in the shower wasn't something I'd bought—it belonged to my roommate.
"I'll pay you back later... I had no idea..."
"Huh? Why pay me back? Roommates can share stuff like this!"
"We don't share underwear...!"
"Yeah, your tops would definitely be a bit small on you."
She'd seen me wrapping my chest with bandages every time and knew all about the sorrow and suffering of massive breasts. She'd offered to introduce me to a custom tailor for underwear, but I'd turned her down because I had no money. For some reason, she misunderstood and started sniffling about how much it cost to buy new underwear every time. Come to think of it, women had to buy both tops and bottoms, so their expenses were double.
Man, besides tuition, I guess I have to worry about money too.
I'd saved up pretty diligently, but who knew how long that would last. I'd heard "points" could be used in place of money, so it seemed smart to learn more about them.
Academy points—the currency that made life easier for commoners navigating the academy and let nobles snag rare items. I currently had 1,700 points after getting one necktie snatched away last time. If I hadn't lost the others, I'd probably have over 5,000 at least. What a shame.
"Oh yeah, you're in a different class from me, right, Lume?"
"Our class has the top student, Ephemera. She's super nice~"
"...Don't tell her we're close or that we're roommates. She seems to hate me."
"Huh? Why would she hate youuu? She shares points with other students, so I thought you two were friends."
"Maybe she's arbitrarily decided I'm her rival or something..."
<That wouldn't be out of the question, would it? Facing the strongest witch in history—surpassing even the greatest of all time—anyone's competitive spirit would ignite.>
Grand Duke's praise that no witch in the future would match my level just drew a sigh from me. Sure, but she was the crazy girl who couldn't control her powers and blew off one of her senior's balls. She laughed it off saying the infirmary could fix it since one was left, but the guilt was no joke. Once I grew my abilities more, I could heal it too, so I had to keep working hard.
"Morning, everyone."
"You look full of energy!"
"Nice not having to check in at class."
I felt a bit cheated, but the week-long entrance ceremony wasn't over yet. I'd gotten roughed up pretty bad in the freshman hunt, but thinking about it, did every incoming freshman go through that? I could see why the upperclassmen weren't in a rush—they had freshmen to hunt coming out their ears. Though some repeat-year seniors were so desperate they tried to swallow them all at once.
"Let's take our time looking around!"
Beatus took the lead, hand on hip, laughing heartily and saying our trio had plenty of points. Kali somehow had a first-year academy map. The problem was it took seven folds to open, and even tall Kali struggled to hold it up.
"Gotta lay it on the ground to see it..."
"What kind of map is this huge?"
"The academy has space expansion magic, so that checks out..."
Of course, most of that vast space was classrooms and dorms. Even excluding those, there were tons of facilities—like the pool Beatus suggested we check out. But all we found was a locked gate.
"Hmm, just like I heard."
"Facility unlocks, right?"
Shockingly, academy facilities were structured to be unlocked by students. Groups could pool points to unlock them too, and once done, they could even generate points—from other students! Prices had to be fair, and maintenance fees applied, which felt kinda weird.
"If you can't pay maintenance, does it lock again?"
"Probably."
Beatus noted commoners got automatic point discounts, making it easier for them. I worried it was just nobles squeezing commoners, but reality had nobles sucking blood from commoners too, so whatever. Just look at Beatus tearing up about vicious cycles: more residents meant more taxes, taxes funded territory management, repeat. Rich commoner Meru Lume was enviable—no duties, just money. The best life.
"The only thing we can afford is a [Cafe]. It includes a [Kitchen], we can hire outside help, and sell food. But before maintenance, stocking up costs a ton. Bulk buys get discounts, but commoners still lose out with their discounts on top."
"Nobles profit from big buys, huh? So for business, we need margins that cover discounts."
"How about board games or manga rentals?"
"Great idea."
Our trio had a whopping 50,000 points—90% from Kali, so we deferred to her. They expected great things since I could cook, planning special cafe weekends, which motivated me. But would anyone want to eat witch cooking? A worry.
"You can expand with earned points too, so better start early. Some think first-year buildings switch to second-years, but we use them till graduation."
"Buy and expand quick for max gain... What's with these empty spots?"
"Probably blank spaces for quick setups like [Cafe]s. But invest carefully—easy to lose 'em."
Points buys, bad rep leading to profs stripping rights, duels over facilities—Beatus crossed arms, pondering seriously. So many ways to gain or lose.
"What's the priciest facility?"
"Library."
At 100,000 points, the library was a student treasure. Unlocking it first made you king of first-year academy. Textbooks alone wouldn't cut it— the academy's ancient history-filled library was paradise and salvation for studious kids.
"Surprisingly, our top student Ephemera Flash beat all second-years and opened it."
"Entry fee?"
"Don't freak—zero points."
Beatus suggested we check it out, and it was packed. An elderly prof helped students borrow books. Normally students hire staff, but Kali said profs were so moved they volunteered.
"She said, 'Those without talent must repay with effort,' and vowed free access. Moved profs drag their old bones to librarian duty."
Beatus shrugged: kinda annoying but hard to hate.
"Top student's studying in the corner all day."
First-years took all subjects, so pre-studying. Following Beatus's finger, there was Ephemera Flash buried in books. Sunken eyes, sipping coffee, nose plugged with tissue—nosebleed maybe. Intense.
"That's what it takes for top spot. Full marks, first in all seven exams. Insane drive. Commoners already have fanbases."
"Yeah... Commoners lack cash, unlike nobles. Unequal learning access, so free library's a godsend."
"But no points makes other stuff hard, right?"
"Commoners get in free with attendance, monthly stipend—different from us."
I inwardly fumed: I was a commoner too! Crying over tuition? Me, the duke family's sole heir??
"Gotta grind cafe money..."
<No allowance from Mom?>
"I defied Mom to enter academy—begging her now?! Too much! A man's gotta own his choices—with responsibility and resolve!!"
Fist clenched, arm raised high in determination. Beatus and Kali applauded my spirit.
"You got this, Chocolate. Pride's off the charts."
Thinking back, this was the library. I'd clapped teasingly yelling "Fight on, Ephemera!" Students cheered too. Mortified, face tomato-red, I buried it in Beatus's fluffy goat wool.
"Arghhh!!! I won't owe anyone!!"
I dumped my points into library maintenance in a huff and bolted.
"Is this that lily thing, Kali?"
"Eh... Points aren't an issue. Whatever, Beatus."
"She cooks, so no points from her. Fine!"
Always acts without thinking ahead—our witch friend. Kali and Beatus waved goodbye to library friends, yelling "Study hard!"
Good grades earned points fast, but with top student that desperate, better give up first place. Quickest path.