"Aurora White," Professor Rundel called.


    The beautiful woman they were all watching, rose gracefully and nobly, the beautiful blue-white hair moving with her synchronized movements.


    "Present," she said in a soft, but haunting voice to many.


    ''Little princess of the Tiger race and Duke family of the Soultrad kingdom," Theos thought with interest.


    He remembered Aurora being of the Tiger race, but looking at her head, no tiger ears could be seen.


    Then he remembered... She is hiding her lineage as a Semi-Human of the Tiger race!


    And if he doesn''t misremember, she is a heroine of n''s harem. After n saves her on a couple of asions and tells her that she shouldn''t be ashamed of her lineage, Aurora falls in love with him.


    She tries to be cool on the outside, but on the inside, she''s an ocean of insecurities.


    "Mmm, okay then," Rundel nodded, setting the student list aside on the side of the desk.


    Withplete naturalness, Rundel stood right at the front of the ss. His posture was erect; he eyed every one of his students. Until finally he said:


    "I will be your lead teacher or guide teacher, whatever you want to call me, for the entire year, so, I look forward to getting along with you."


    Although the words were kind, Rundel''s expression, serious and regimented, like a stone, is anything but friendly.


    "Well, nice to meet you," a few students responded.


    Rundel nodded, continuing his chatter:


    "You see, currently the Academy''s enrollments have not ended, so, most likely, you will have one more partner among you, or if you have good luck, it may be two."


    The students nodded, minus Theos and Astaroth, thetter because he didn''t care in the least about his new ssmates, and Theos for different reasons.


    But Rundel paid no attention to him, going on with his talk:


    "Now, the academy costs 3 years, first, second, and finally, third year; after passing the third year, you will be able to graduate. The first year is located in the entire South part of the academy, all the buildings here are strictly for first years."


    "Each building has its respective utility, training, food, entertainment, education, missions, homes and much more."


    Taking a moment to observe all the students, he asked the question that several had on their minds.


    "Do you want to know what are the benefits of belonging to ss Zero?"


    Hearing the expected question, many nodded. Every year, the academy''s format is at least slightly different; some years, it even doesplete remodels to its educational system.


    So guessing the benefits of this year''s ss Zero is difficult, if not impossible.


    Rundel smiled slightly. "The benefit of ss Zero this year is... ess to Third Year Training and more advanced Mission ranks for the most proficient."


    For the first time, everyone''s eyes lit up with emotion. The benefit is too great! To see Third Year students, some of whom could be considered World Powers, training is more than a privilege.


    With the second reward, it is also great! It gives you the ability to gain more experience in more difficult missions.


    No oneined in the least, feeling emotional by this news.


    ''Ooh... Nowes the downside,'' Theos smiled mysteriously, remembering that this year... ss Zero has a downside.


    And it didn''t take Rundel long to reveal it. "However, this year''s ss Zero is the first in history to have a disadvantage."


    Happiness and enthusiasm waned considerably. A handicap? What the heck? Each had simr thoughts.


    Rundel smiled more broadly. "This year''s disadvantage is that there will be a bigpetition at the end of the year, you will be fighting against... The Third Year! If you fail to defeat at least three of their members, you will have to choose one of you to get the hell out of the academy!"


    "Eh?"


    Hearing the shocking disadvantage, everyone was shocked! With their eyes wide open. They couldn''t believe such a handicap or condition... They are sending him to directly eliminate one of his ssmates


    Everyone was surprised by the cruelty shown by this handicap. It should be known that expelling someone directly from the academy is a sentence of uselessness, especially since it is very likely that the person they are going to eliminate is amoner or minor/small noble.


    What could a minor noble do? Or worse, what could amoner do? Surely their rtives have all their hopes on them to be able to get their family ahead.


    It was not only cruel but a sadistic method, extremely sadistic.


    But no one said anything, if the Academy has already made its decision, what''s the point of meddling? They knew more than anyone else that they were not going to achieve any results.


    Rundel nodded with satisfaction, turned to walk to the desk, and sat down.


    "Don''t worry, you have the whole year to prepare, besides,pleting certain missions can get you advantages when thatpetition is going to happen," the professor said boredly.


    The students nodded, being a little calmer. It was much more rxing to know that they could have advantages in thispetition.


    After that, Rundel went on to exin the whole mary/economic system of the Academy.


    The Acmy currency could be earned in different ways, one of which is toplete missions; the higher the rank of the mission, the higher the rewards of Acmy coins and other materials.


    There are also Duels, where the winner gets a high % of the loser''s Acmy coins. The percentage is chosen by the duelists.


    You could also get Acmy coins for helping in the Academy, helping with cleaning, food, and other things.


    Finally, one could earn those coins by having a good academic performance; with a good academic average, they could have a good amount of Acmy coins.


    The exnation was long andplex, but fortunately, every student understood how it worked.


    Thus, hours passed in the academy; some bored students rested their heads with their hands, others listened attentively, and some, like Theos, paid attention but also had their heads elsewhere.


    ~