Chapter 17 - academy

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 - academy

were all summoned into a massive hall.

I looked around.

Hundreds of people were gathered inside.

Then I noticed someone standing beside me.

Nyx.

She glanced at me, and I noticed her eyes briefly settle on my bracelet.

Then she smiled.

"Oh, you passed."

She tilted her head.

"What rank did you get?"

I looked at her.

"Second."

Her expression remained calm for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"Hmm. Figures."

She looked me over.

"With your skills, I wouldn’t expect you to have a lower rank."

Before I could respond—

A sudden pressure descended upon the entire hall.

Everyone stopped talking.

My body instinctively tensed.

I looked toward the source.

At the far end of the hall sat the headmaster on an enormous obsidian throne.

Her expression was calm.

Almost too calm.

Yet her mere presence was enough to make the entire hall fall silent.

Her gaze immediately moved toward Nyx.

A faint smile appeared when she noticed her speaking with me.

She studied the two of us for a few moments before her gaze shifted toward the rest of the students.

Then she stood.

The moment she did, her presence became even more overwhelming.

"First, congratulations to all one thousand of you who passed the entrance examination."

Her voice was calm, but every word carried clearly throughout the hall.

"However, don’t even begin to think your journey has become easy simply because you’ve entered this academy."

She paused.

"We are not interested in weaklings."

"We don’t care whether you are a prince, princess, high noble, commoner, or anything else."

Her eyes swept across the crowd.

"We only care about results."

"If you cannot produce them..."

Her voice became colder.

"You will be expelled."

The entire hall remained silent.

"As for the privileges within this academy, they will depend on your rank."

"The higher your rank, the better your resources, opportunities, and privileges."

She paused again.

"If you have a problem with your rank, that is not our concern."

"Every person standing here earned their position through either luck or power."

"That is all that matters."

"If you cannot accept that..."

She gestured toward the entrance.

"You are free to leave."

"No one is stopping you."

The headmaster’s gaze became sharper.

"But remember this."

"If you take a step outside this academy..."

"You will never be allowed to return."

The atmosphere became even heavier.

Then her gaze shifted toward the top-ranked students.

"As for the top three..."

A faint smile appeared.

"You three performed well."

"I’ve been watching you for quite some time."

Her gaze moved toward Nyx.

Then toward me.

"I saw many interesting things."

A chill ran down my spine.

Interesting?

What exactly had she seen?

I didn’t like the sound of that.

The headmaster continued.

"The top ten will receive the best resources available to students."

"Each of you will also receive a private room."

"But don’t become complacent."

"Every month, there will be tests and examinations."

"Your rank can be taken from you at any time."

"Someone else may replace you."

"So hold onto your position tightly..."

Her eyes sharpened.

"And strive for something higher."

She paused before continuing.

"You have one day to familiarize yourselves with the academy and settle down."

"Classes will begin afterward."

"If you are late or fail to attend your lessons, your instructors are authorized to deduct your merit."

"Merit is the currency of this academy."

"Outside money is useless here."

A few students exchanged surprised looks.

"Each of you will receive one thousand merit points as starting funds."

"The top ten will receive additional merit."

"The first-ranked student will receive ten thousand."

"The second-ranked student will receive nine thousand."

"And the last-ranked student will receive one thousand."

I glanced at my bracelet.

10,000 merit points.

So that was one of the rewards for being ranked second.

The headmaster continued.

"All information regarding your student status has been sent to your bracelet."

"Check it yourself."

"Your bracelet also functions as your student identification."

"So keep it safe."

She then looked at everyone with a serious expression.

"Each of you has also received an academy handbook."

"Read it carefully."

"If you violate the academy’s rules..."

Her voice became cold.

"You will be expelled immediately."

"And let me make one thing absolutely clear."

"Killing a fellow student is forbidden."

"If you kill another student, you will face a trial."

"Depending on the circumstances, you may be handed over to the victim’s family."

The hall became completely silent.

"So remember that."

She looked across the entire crowd one final time.

"Strength is important."

"But don’t mistake strength for freedom to do whatever you want."

She turned around.

"That’s all I have to say today."

"Strive for strength."

"And conquer the Tower of Ascension."

"That is the only path left for humanity."

"Good luck."

With those final words—

The headmaster vanished.

The moment she disappeared, the entire hall erupted into conversation.

I ignored the noise and looked down at my bracelet.

Merit Points: 10,000

Then I checked my student identification.

Student ID: No. 02

Second place.

I looked around the hall.

There were too many people here.

Too much noise.

I didn’t want to stay in the crowd.

I turned around and began walking away.

I needed to find the place the headmaster had mentioned.

My private room.

But before I could get far—

"Hey, wait!"

I stopped.

I recognized the voice.

Nyx.

I turned around and looked at her.

She quickly caught up to me.

"Can we talk?"

I stared at her for a moment.

Then I nodded.

"Yeah."

I glanced around at the noisy hall.

"How about we find somewhere quiet?"

"I don’t like noisy places."

She looked slightly surprised.

Perhaps she hadn’t expected me to agree so easily.

But after a moment, she nodded.

"Sure."

And just like that...

I walked away from the crowd with Nyx.

I had no idea what she wanted to talk about.

But I had a feeling this conversation was going to be interesting.