Chapter 30: Enrolling in the University

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Enrolling in the University

Chapter 30: Enrolling in the University

Ren and his parents had arrived at their home after a long one-hour bus ride. All through the ride, Ren peered out the window in awe at the scenery around Japan.

Strange metal carriages with four wheels rolled along the paved roads. Ren had learned the name from Claire that they were cars.

Groups of young men and women in matching uniforms walked along the street, chatting to each other and heading to the nearby schools.

Adults in neatly pressed suits hurried past him on the sidewalks, all heading to work. Large signs with lit letters dominated the front of shops and people carried small boxes that they placed to their ear as they talked.

It all blended into a strange harmony with its order that Ren found himself finding familiar.

Claire guided him through it all, explaining what he pointed out as things that he hadn’t seen before. Ren wasn’t from around here after all.

With the relaxing ride and the beautiful scenery around, Ren found himself almost longing for this peaceful place. There were no monsters crawling out of dungeons and no higher-ups treating awakened beings like disposable tools as they did back in Alderia.

"Son," his mother spoke, breaking through his thoughts, "we’ve signed you up at the University of Tokyo. You may enroll there tomorrow and select your courses of study."

Ren blinked and turned his gaze around the room. He was seated at a wooden table with his father taking his seat on a sofa nearby, flipping through a giant folded piece of paper – a newspaper, Claire told him. His mother was in the kitchen, preparing food.

’Claire, you truly are something else. Thank you.’

[Mr. Ren, I am only being of service to you, so no need to thank me.]

Ren only thought to himself for a moment if the voice in his head belonged to a real person, but that thought didn’t last long.

A few minutes passed before his mother placed out a number of small plates onto the dining table. Bowls of steaming white grains, slices of grilled fish with a glaze, colorful pickled vegetables, a clear soup with floating bits of something, and some small dishes of something dark and shiny lay in front of them all with a strange but oddly delicious aroma.

Only the rich and influential in Alderia ate like this. Everyone else was simply tools to the higher-ups.

His father set the paper he was flipping through aside and got up, taking the head seat at the table as if it was meant for him before his mother seated herself down and gave a small gesture for Ren to start eating.

Ren clasped his hands together and gave a small bow, saying softly,

"Thank you for the food."

His mother gave a look of surprise for a moment before saying nothing. His father only smiled faintly and thought to himself,

’Go at it, champ.’

Ren had asked Claire beforehand about the etiquette of things so that he wouldn’t be rude and make any mistakes.

---

[Two days have passed in this world since you were reincarnated.]

’Thank you for telling me, Claire.’

The day before, Ren had eaten more food than he ever had in Alderia and spent endless hours studying the small device his parents called a phone.

With Claire’s help, he had become increasingly accustomed to the culture and custom of the Japanese and more importantly the way to get to the university. He had learned throughout dinner time that the University of Tokyo was located in the central part of the country, where the population was the densest.

Today was his first day at university and also possibly his last if things went well. He didn’t want to waste any time here as four days and four hours in this world only meant a day in Alderia. He needed to leave as soon as possible.

His parents had prepared a school uniform for him. Upon seeing it, Ren smiled. It was the first time he had ever called them his parents, even if it was only for a moment.

The uniform consisted of a clean black blazer with silver buttons, a white collared shirt, a matching pair of black trousers, and a dark tie.

---

After finishing washing up, Ren put on the uniform. Japan wasn’t nearly the same as Alderia. Even the water here was something that the rich could monopolize.

Once he was dressed, Ren put on a pair of black leather shoes and fastened the bag that hung across his shoulder. Ren turned to the mirror and was greeted with the sight of a handsome young man with neat black hair and good looks. Whether it was the original body or the soul of his old self, he looked quite handsome.

He smiled at the boy in the mirror before turning to the door. His parents were already waiting for him in the hallway, both smiling as they said their goodbyes. The University of Tokyo had their dormitories so the students who enrolled there would live inside the campus and did not have to return home every day.

Ren stepped out into the clean morning air. He preferred the outdoors to the small apartment complex the family lived in.

As he walked the streets of the town that he now considered home, Ren thought to himself.

’Claire... is there any chance there was another hidden fragment of the Virtue here as well?’

[There is an 80 to 20 percent chance that there is another one here. However, the weakest fragment must be gathered first.]

That meant that he had to get his hands on the Virtue of Humility first before any other fragments of the Virtue would present themselves.

As he continued his walk through the town, there was a great anticipation in his heart for what was to come today.

---

At the train station, Ren noticed a number of other students also in the same type uniform. One was a girl with tanned skin and blonde highlights in her hair. She was chewing a piece of gum while browsing through her phone. Standing next to her was a boy, also wearing the uniform, as well as a small child who looked very similar to him – most likely his younger brother.

A moment later, a long silver train slid smoothly into the station and came to a halt with a soft whir. As the doors opened and the passengers stepped off, Ren entered with the other students.

There weren’t many people inside the train and Ren picked a seat near the window. The girl from the station saw him and approached, seating herself next to him.

"Hi," she remarked casually.

Ren said nothing. Across the aisle, the boy seated himself with the small child next to him.

As the train picked up speed, it moved at a relatively fast pace of eighty kilometers per hour as it glided through the rails.

---

As the train came to a halt at the next station, Ren stepped off and found himself in front of a great city. Skyscrapers stretched out before him as crowds of people bustled through the area. In the station, a number of adults were dressed in neat suits, supervising the flow of people.

He was already close to the university, so there was no need for further transport. After minutes of walking, the University of Tokyo was in sight.

Students entered and exited the gates of the campus.Some talked in small groups. Some girls stood to the side, taking pictures of themselves while a group of boys laughed heartily at one of their fellow’s jokes. The buildings were huge and traditional with well-kept paths and trees in the surrounding area.

As he stepped inside the main gates, a strange pressure washed over Ren’s senses.

He paused for a moment, muttering under his breath,

"So this is the power of the fragment of Humility, huh?"

The girl from the train, who had been walking not far behind him, overheard the remark and frowned.

’What is he talking about?’ she wondered.