01. An Unfamiliar World
01. An Unfamiliar World
If the Chief Instructor had a chill in her blue eyes, this person had red eyes.
Of course, the chill was the same.
Is this place full of nothing but icy women? Sasha's a bit better, at least.
"Average 40. From a human perspective where you barely live to around 60, age must matter. But to the people here, it's meaningless. At least they live twenty times longer than humans."
Twenty times...? So by our standards, that means they live at least 800 years. Wow, no wonder they look down on us.
Of course, that doesn't apply to me and Bari.
"I don't know what your intention was in asking, but it won't mean anything even if you hear it. Never mind me, but none of the examinees will be over 100 years old. Satisfied now?"
Whoever it is, they'll be older than you, so if age is such a big deal, figure it out yourself... something like that?
"So, what's your age? That's not an answer at all."
"...Persistent."
"You gave me a whole speech, but sorry, I asked for your age. And lifespan talk doesn't apply to me either."
"Hoh. Does that mean you're mixed with Noblesse blood or something?"
"What's that out of nowhere?"
"Maybe it's the name."
Name...?
Just a normal Korean name....
Oh, right. Both the Chief Instructor and this one have very Korean-sounding names.
'Ha Yeon-seo' 'Yu Ina'.
Yeah... so nobles here use names like that.
"From your reaction, guess not. Whatever, doesn't matter. No need for me to know a human's lifespan."
No, I asked for your age.
She completely ignored me and went back to the podium.
Is it okay to be an instructor with that kind of personality?
"No more personal questions from now on. Ask something more meaningful."
She deliberately looked at me on the 'meaningful' part.
Fine.
If you're gonna go that far, I'll ask a 'meaningful' question too.
"Question."
"......"
I raised my hand confidently, but she just stared at me with a shit-eating face without calling on me.
"...I said ask something meaningful?"
"How do you know without hearing it?"
"Ha...."
Deep sigh.
"Go ahead."
"Three sizes?"
"...."
Crunch.
Oh. She's grinding her teeth.
She's pissed.
"You... don't know the meaning of manners."
"Doesn't seem like something I should hear from you."
"I said no personal questions."
She glared at me intensely.
Even I, who knows nothing about martial arts, could feel the killing intent dripping off her, so I tensed up wondering if she'd attack, but she didn't.
"Phew... getting mad at a human one by one is ridiculous."
But that's somehow more annoying.
Not even worth getting mad at, huh.
"That question!"
This time Sasha raised her hand.
"When's the next exam? The other ranks already seem to be heading to the exam halls."
"Finally a proper question."
The instructor smirked coldly and answered.
Her gaze was on me for some reason.
"A-Rank means potential, including stats, that can cover any weaknesses. Entrance exams are meaningless for them. No additional tests."
"!!"
Oh?
"Good news. Sihwan-nim has no patience."
"...You've been throwing shade at me subtly since earlier?"
"No way. How could I?"
Look at this cheeky one.
"But don't get the wrong idea. It's only 'usable by trainee standards.' Don't get cocky just because you skipped the entrance exam."
Why look at me again.
Crushing on me?
"Any more questions? Excluding the human."
"So what happens to us now?"
"I said excluding the human."
Lasers are gonna shoot from her eyes. Chill out.
"I asked a meaningful question. What happens to us."
"......After a brief interview with the Chief Instructor-nim, you'll enroll. Then you'll receive special classes for a month."
"Special... classes?"
"You're special at the trainee level. The other applicants still have exams left, and the final one takes nearly a month. This is so you don't waste that time."
Got it.
Special treatment for top scores... not bad.
"If no more questions, we'll end here for today. Tomorrow you'll have interviews with the Chief Instructor-nim."
She stepped down from the podium, done talking.
Without the slightest hesitation, she headed for the classroom door.
"Wait."
"...What now?"
"What if we just leave?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Where do we sleep? Where's food served? Dormitory or something."
I don't even know how to get out.
"..."
It's a perfectly normal question, but she looks annoyed.
"I told you earlier."
"...Huh?"
"Handle that yourself. Can't a human even eat alone?"
Laughter bursts out here and there.
No, is asking because I don't know a crime? Huh?
"So there's a dormitory in the Academy? You have to tell us to know."
"..."
She smacked her lips a few times, then turned her body from the door toward me and tilted her head to the side.
"Flustered. First time getting a question like that."
First time? How? They explain nothing—how could no one ask?
"Sihwan-nim."
Then Bari tugged my sleeve and whispered.
"Wasn't it announced beforehand? They're all applicants."
Pre...announcement?
Ah!
Everyone's an applicant, so the basics were notified in advance or common knowledge. That's why... they're looking at me like I'm pathetic.
But even with announcements, a couple people always don't read them, right? Shouldn't they account for that and explain? Isn't that normal?
Well, this is a place that kills 30% of applicants from the start, so nitpicking that is kinda funny.
"You, follow me."
The instructor tossed that out and left through the door.
"Tsk tsk tsk... lowly human bastard."
The Horned Guy clicked his tongue and shook his head, while the others snickered.
I looked at Velvet with my last hope(?), but she was smiling cutely too.
Bad bunch.
"Let's go, Sihwan-nim."
"Bari."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow, castrate that Horned Guy for me."
"Yes."
Dare to mock me?
.
.
"No personal servants, I assume?"
At the instructor's question, I looked at Bari.
"Servant... if anything, Bari..."
"This doll?"
"Not a doll. A state-of-the-art android with AI loaded."
"...No idea what that means."
"Super-intelligent interface-based household AI. Think of it as billions of humans combined, intelligence-wise."
"Even less idea. Anyway, excluding this, none."
Yeah.
But calling her 'this.' Bari has a sense of self too.
About 10 minutes later.
We left the building we were in and arrived at a large mansion.
First majestic building I've seen since coming here.
Still tiny compared to my house, though.
"By any chance, is this the dormitory?"
"No such thing as dorms."
"Then why."
Where do we sleep? Weren't they all applicants from far away?
"Follow for now."
The instructor strode ahead confidently.
Like it wouldn't matter if I didn't follow.
Arrogant, rude, or both.
Anyway, her personality really rubs me the wrong way.
If only her personality matched her pretty face.
"For Sihwan-nim to comment on others' personalities..."
"Ahem."
I'm plenty gentle.
"Here?"
"My office. Come here if you need me later."
One of the doors lining the long hallway.
The instructor flung it open and went in.
"Ah, you're here, Mistress."
Women who were cleaning hurried over with quick steps and bowed.
Three of them.
All cute girls.
They call her Mistress, so probably not nobles.
"These people...?"
"Trouble-making trainees."
Who's the trouble-maker.
"Ah, hello."
They bowed politely.
I nodded lightly back.
"How about meals? At your residence?"
"Here today."
"Theirs too?"
"The doll eats food too?"
"I can eat."
"Three servings."
"Got it."
"Oh, treating us? Thanks."
"..."
She stared at me blankly, then let out a deep sigh.
"Sit."
She sank into the sofa, crossed her legs, and gestured with her chin for me to sit.
"Then I won't hold back."
I sat opposite her and crossed my legs like she did.
Bari stood at attention behind me.
They said they'd feed us—sit next to me, Bari.
"Just sit next to me."
"...Shall I?"
Bari sat beside me too.
The instructor glanced at her and opened her mouth.
"Seems you know nothing about the Academy, so I'll explain specially. Ask away."
"Not just the Academy—literally nothing."
"Something to brag about?"
"What can I do if I don't know."
"..."
The instructor leaned back into the sofa and frowned.
"That speech pattern... really grating. Needs correction."
"What's wrong with my speech?"
"Extremely... very arrogant."
"Arrogant? This?"
"No self-awareness?"
"This is me being 'polite.' If it's the casual speech, deal with it. I'm not in a position to honorific you."
"Polite?"
The instructor scoffed.
Even her twisted smile was pretty, thanks to the original.
"Seems you don't grasp what polite means. Fine, whatever. We'll talk about that later. Not a big deal."
Hmm.
That grating, huh?
"Mushroom soup."
One of the maid-like women placed soup bowls on the table one by one.
In fantasy novels, modern people often get food they can't eat, but thankfully no nightmare like that.
The savory aroma wafting up looked plenty appetizing.
"...Luna."
"Yes, Mistress."
"How many years today?"
"16 years and 1 month."
"16... for a human, that's adult."
She's a kid....
"You're of breeding age too."
"Br-breeding...?"
The instructor turned her gaze to me.
"What do you think? Same human."
"...Huh?"
"If you're okay with it, I'll lend her for a bit."
"What're you talking about?"
"Means she should receive seed now that she's adult."
"..."
"Win-win. I get a new breed through you, you get info and convenience."
"..."
What the hell is this innovative proposal.
She wants me to be a stud horse?
"Let me see... Luna's 16 years 1 month, so Rina's 15 years 11 months."
"Y-yes..."
The woman called Luna went pale.
Yeah.
Slaves, huh.
Deliberately describing humans like livestock in front of me—a human. Must have intent. 'Your race are basically slaves, so know your place.' Something like that?
"Don't make that face. Way better than bringing in stud horses."
"Yes... Mistress."
"Hey."
"Hm?"
"You want me to play stud right now?"
"Among other things. Live with Luna and get info and convenience. It's a hassle if my trainees know nothing. Even if I look like this, I was born and raised in the Tower."
So basically, she wants a kid through me anyway. That's how they multiply human slaves.
Either way, I'd be the stud.
"Not to your taste?"
"Nope."
"Kek. Fine. No need to force it if you don't like. Dismissed."
"Yes, Mistress..."
The slave called Luna bowed and scurried off.
Living as someone else's slave. Born into it too. Kinda pitiful.
"You must have tons of questions, but first, one thing. Why'd you come to the Tower? Reason or not, getting A-Rank as a [Human] makes you a mega-hero by their standards. Couldn't you live well back home?"
Her face showed pure curiosity—not disdain or contempt. She genuinely couldn't understand why I'd come to the Tower.
"Whatever the reason... I came to and was just here."
"...Believe that?"
"What if you don't? Don't then."
"..."
"Why would I lie for gain? Geez..."
"Fine... if that's true, from a [Human] settlement outside the Tower... or maybe inside, like Luna or Rina. Anyway, you teleported here or something... could be. Sure, let's go with that."
She clearly didn't buy it.
Well, I wouldn't either. Too half-assed.
"So, what'll you do as a Tower Warrior? Honestly, even talented [Humans] have limits. And those limits are pathetically low compared to other races."
"A-Rank, right?"
"You yourself are a fail. The doll next to you is A-Rank."
"..."
"Even that's the Chief Instructor-nim's arbitrary call. As I explained, A-Rank just means 'no need for entrance exam'—not that you have great combat power. You need constant growth to barely pull your weight."
"Yeah, figures."
"But you yourself are a fail. Relying solely on the doll to get here—how long can that last? How will you grow? I don't even know how to train a human."
"No worries, Bari can grow plenty. Might grow too much and cause problems."
"Really? Seems she only obeys you. Magical artifact?"
"Nah. Made with science and tech."
"Science? Made with something like that?"
"'Like that'? The humanity from my world... nah, don't even need them. Just what I brought could raze this place in a second."
"...Felt it since first sight, but beyond speech, your personality is awfully arrogant."
"You think so?"
The instructor looked at me, then picked up her cup from the table.
"Anyway, my questions end here. Anything you wanna know?"
"What's the Tower?"
"..."
"Pfft!"