ã€ŠDark Slitã€‹


 Chains of Humiliation

    The afternoon school bell echoed through the halls, signaling the start of the break. Students poured into the hallways, flooding the cafeteria, courtyard, and garden. As usual, some grabbed a quick bite in the bustling cafeteria, while others retreated to the shade of trees in the garden, lost in their romantic worlds, oblivious to the chaos around them.

    In a secluded alley near the edge of the school grounds, a small group of students lounged around, smoking and laughing. Among them was Shin, standing awkwardly, his fists clenched by his sides.

    "Hey, Shin!" one of them barked, his tone commanding. "Go get us a yogurt. Strawberry."

    Shin''s jaw tightened, but he didn''t argue. He knew the consequences of defiance all too well¡ªbruises and humiliation were guaranteed. With a reluctant nod, he turned and walked away.

    As he trudged through the hallways, the chatter and laughter of other students grated on his nerves. "That bastard," he thought bitterly, his disgust evident in the scowl on his face. "If he weren''t a superhuman, I''d knock him out without hesitation."

    His gaze shifted to the garden, where couples nestled together under the trees, sharing soft laughter and stolen moments. The sight only deepened his resentment. "What a joke," he muttered under his breath, his steps growing heavier. "I hate this damn school."

    Reaching the cafeteria, he begrudgingly handed over his own money to buy the yogurt. The coins clinked on the counter, and his frustration bubbled over. "Great," he thought sarcastically, gripping the cold plastic container. "I''m paying to keep those idiots happy. Fucking bastards."

    "Hello, ma''am. I''d like to buy four strawberry yogurts," Shin said softly, avoiding eye contact.

    "Here you go. That''ll be ten thousand won," the lady replied, handing him a small bag with the yogurts.

    Shin sighed as he pulled out the cash, glancing at his near-empty wallet. "Two more days of school this week, and my allowance is already almost gone," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

    Walking back to the alley, his gaze landed on another couple in the garden. This time, they were kissing, completely absorbed in their little world. "There should be a rule against that kind of PDA," he thought bitterly, turning away in frustration.

    When he finally reached the alley, Cid was waiting, arms crossed, his expression annoyed.

    "What took you so long?" Cid snapped.

    "Ah, sorry. The line was pretty long," Shin said quickly, bowing slightly. "Here you go, Cid."

    Cid snatched the bag from Shin''s hands and peered inside. His face twisted into a scowl.

    "Strawberry? Are you trying to kill me? You know I''m allergic!"

    Shin froze, panic flashing across his face. "B-But you said yesterday you liked strawberry..."

    "You''re talking back to me now?!" Cid growled. He stepped closer and slapped Shin across the face.

    "That was yesterday, idiot! People''s tastes can change, you know!"

    Shin stumbled back, his cheek stinging. "This bastard," he thought, his hands balling into fists. "He''s just making my life miserable for no reason."

    "Kneel," Cid ordered, glaring at Shin.

    Without a word, Shin obeyed, dropping to his knees. His teeth clenched as he lowered his head. Cid opened one of the yogurts and, with a smirk, poured its contents over Shin''s head.

    "Fucking bastard," Shin thought, his jaw tightening as the sticky liquid dripped down his face. "I swear, one day I''ll get my revenge."

    "Oh? Look at this little worm clenching his jaw," Cid said mockingly. He delivered a sharp kick to Shin''s face, sending him sprawling to the ground. The spilled yogurt smeared across Shin''s clothes as small tears began to escape his eyes.

    The other students burst into laughter, their jeering voices echoing in the alley.

    "Hey, we''re friends, right, Shin? I''m just disciplining you," Cid said with a fake smile.

    "Y-Yeah," Shin replied weakly, his voice trembling. "I want to die."

    The group left him there, laughing as they walked away. Shin lay on the cold ground, quietly sobbing.

    After a while, a voice called out. "Hey, get up."

    Shin turned his head to see a girl standing over him.

    "Did those bastards mess with you again?" Ria asked, her expression filled with concern.

    "No, Ria. I mean... President. I just fell, that''s all," Shin stammered, forcing a weak smile.

    "You know you can''t lie to me, right? I''m here to help. We''re best friends, aren''t we?" she said softly.

    "It doesn''t matter," Shin replied, averting his eyes. "I''m fine."

    Ria frowned but didn''t press further. Shin forced himself to his feet and headed to the restroom.

    In the quiet solitude of the sink, he splashed water on his face, watching the yogurt and tears wash away.

    "Why is this happening to me?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

    As he stared at his reflection, a sudden thought struck him. "Maybe... maybe I''m chosen. Yeah, that''s it. This is just a challenge to make me stronger!"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    His lips curled into a manic smile, and he began laughing uncontrollably.

    In one of the stalls, a student froze mid-movement. "What the hell?" he muttered, opening the door cautiously. He peeked out to see Shin laughing like a madman at the sink.

    "Uh, I think I''ll head out..." the student mumbled, quickly grabbing his bag and rushing away.

    After a while, Shin returned to his classroom, sinking into his rickety chair. The desk was a mess, covered in crude drawings and insults like "orphan," "loser," "Big Rooster Shin," and "doggy," among other hateful scribbles. He stared at the words for a moment but quickly shook his head. None of it mattered to him. His only hope was to study hard and succeed, to leave all of this behind one day.

    Two long hours passed, and the school day finally came to an end. Shin grabbed his bag and walked out of the classroom. As he passed the school gate, a familiar voice called out.

    "Hey, Shin!"

    He turned to see Ria waving at him, her usual cheerful smile on display.

    "School ended pretty early, huh?" Ria said as he approached.

    "Yeah," Shin replied, his voice flat but polite.

    They walked together for a while before Ria broke the silence with a question. "Hey, Shin, what do you like in a girl?"

    Shin blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "I''m not really into that kind of thing," he said simply.

    "Why not?" Ria pressed, tilting her head in curiosity.

    "I find it distracting," Shin answered, shrugging.

    "You''re such a nerd," Ria teased with a laugh.

    Shin didn''t mind. Instead, he smiled faintly and replied, "Maybe."

    As they continued walking, the conversation shifted. They entered an alley, one of the shortcuts Shin usually took.

    "Why does your family still live here? Your dad could easily afford a condo, right? He''s pretty rich," Shin asked, looking around at the narrow, poorly lit path.

    "Dummy," Ria said with a pout. "If we moved to a condo, we wouldn''t get to walk home together like this."

    "You don''t have to¡ª" Shin began, but Ria cut him off.

    "Don''t tell me you''ve forgotten our promise!" she exclaimed, her voice rising.

    Shin scratched his head, genuinely confused. "What promise?"

    Ria''s face turned red with frustration. "Dummy, I hate you!" she yelled, smacking him lightly on the back before running off ahead.

    "What''s with her?" Shin muttered, sighing. "Hey, wait for me!" he called out, running after her.

    When Shin caught up, he saw Ria standing frozen in place. A group of gangsters had blocked her path.

    "Is that your boyfriend?" one of them sneered, a smirk plastered on his face.

    Without hesitation, Shin grabbed Ria''s wrist and gently placed her behind him. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite the nervous lump in his throat.

    "Tch, trying to be a hero, huh? That''ll get you killed," the fat gangster said with a mocking laugh.

    Shin narrowed his eyes, stepping into a defensive stance. "Back off. I used to do karate!" he said, trying to sound confident.

    The gangsters exchanged amused glances before one of them stepped forward. "Yeah? I used to do boxing," the leader said with a grin before throwing a straight jab at Shin''s face.

    The punch connected, and Shin crumpled to the ground, knocked out cold.

    ---

    When Shin opened his eyes, he was lying on the cracked concrete. He groaned, clutching his throbbing head as he tried to sit up. Around him, the gangsters were sprawled out, unconscious. The narrow alley was in ruins¡ªdeep cracks ran along the concrete walls, as if some kind of monster had rampaged through.

    Shin''s gaze darted to Ria, who stood trembling a few steps away. Her face was pale, her wide eyes filled with fear.

    "H-Hey, Ria... what happened?" Shin asked, his voice unsteady.

    Ria didn''t answer. Instead, she let out a bloodcurdling scream and bolted, running as fast as she could toward her home.

    Shin stared after her, stunned. "What the hell was that about?" he muttered, still trying to piece together what had happened.

    He glanced around at the destruction again, a chill running down his spine. Shaking his head, he staggered to his feet. "I should head home too. I''ll just talk to her tomorrow at school," he thought, walking away from the eerie scene.

    Shin arrived home and greeted his grandmother. "Hello, Ma."

    "Oh, hello, son. You should wash yourself now. I''ll close the shop later," Grandma Anne replied with a warm smile.

    Shin nodded and headed to the bathroom. As he scrubbed the grime and humiliation of the day off his body, his thoughts lingered on a recurring idea. What if I ask Ma to let me transfer schools? Maybe it''ll end the bullying.

    While he was lost in thought, his grandmother called out, "Hey, Shin, dinner''s ready!"

    "Yes, Ma!" he replied.

    At the dinner table, a simple meal of noodles with thinly sliced beef awaited him.

    "How''s school, Shin?" his grandmother asked, her eyes filled with quiet concern.

    "It''s the same as always, Grandma Anne," Shin replied with a forced smile.

    "I see," she said, sensing there was more he wasn''t saying.

    They ate in silence for a while before Shin finally mustered the courage to voice his thoughts. "Hey, Ma," he began hesitantly.

    "Yes, son?"

    "Can we... transfer schools?"

    Grandma Anne put her chopsticks down and looked at him with gentle curiosity. "Why? Is something wrong at your school?"

    "Not really," Shin lied. "I just feel like I could do better in a different school. The teachers at mine aren''t that great."

    Her expression softened. "You know we can''t afford that, son."

    Shin forced a bigger smile. "It''s okay, Ma! I''ll do my best to succeed and give you the best life someday!"

    Grandma Anne laughed and patted his head affectionately. "Of course, son. So, eat a lot and grow strong!"

    "Yes, Ma!" Shin replied with renewed determination.

    ---

    After dinner, Shin sat in front of the TV, idly watching the news. The reporter announced, "The Third Hero of the Sword has appeared!"

    Shin leaned forward, his eyes glued to the screen. "Wow, it must be amazing to be chosen as a hero and sent to another world," he muttered. "Man, I''m so jealous. Even though I''m powerless, I could train my body to obtain Aetheris... but it costs so much money nowadays. And they won''t just teach it to anyone. Same with mystic arts."

    Later that night, Shin lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Silent tears streamed down his face.

    ---

    The next morning, Thursday, Shin arrived at school and spotted Ria by the gate.

    "Hey, Ria! Why did you run yesterday?" Shin asked, curious.

    "I¡­ forgot," Ria replied nonchalantly, avoiding his gaze.

    "What? By the way, who beat up those gangsters?"

    Ria hesitated, frowning slightly. "That''s the part that makes my head hurt. I ran because¡­ I felt like it."

    "Oh," Shin replied, unsure of how to respond. The conversation fizzled out into awkward silence.

    When they reached their classroom floor, they went their separate ways¡ªShin heading right and Ria going left.

    ---

    Two periods passed, and it was time for PE. The teacher decided the class would play soccer. Cid and his gang took the opportunity to grab Shin and make him the goalkeeper.

    Each deliberate shot from Cid and his friends was aimed to hurt, slamming into Shin''s body with painful force. Shin glanced at the teacher, hoping for some intervention, but the teacher turned a blind eye. They don''t care. Is it because Cid''s a superhuman? Are they protecting him? Shin clenched his teeth in frustration.

    The relentless torment was interrupted by a loud, commanding voice. "Hey! Get off my poor grandson!"

    Shin''s eyes widened in shock. "Ma?!"

    Grandma Anne marched onto the field, her expression furious. "Are you okay, son? Did they hurt you?" she asked, fussing over him.

    Shin felt his face burn with embarrassment. "Fuck, this is so humiliating," he thought, looking at the smug faces of Cid and his gang.

    "Ma, you''re embarrassing me! We''re just playing!" Shin yelled, his voice shaky. If they find out where we live, they''ll target our house too.

    Cid smirked, his tone mocking. "See, lady? Me and your grandson get along pretty well!"

    Grandma Anne''s expression faltered. She looked at Shin for confirmation, and when he nodded reluctantly, she sighed. "Oh, I see. Sorry for the trouble."

    To make amends, she reached into her pocket and handed Shin some money. "Here, treat your friends to something nice."

    "Ma¡­" Shin whispered, his heart sinking.

    Cid and his gang grinned, snatching the money from Shin''s hands. "Thanks, Granny!"

    As Grandma Anne walked away, Shin stood frozen in place, his fists clenched tightly. "One day, I''ll make them pay. One day¡­"

 Tears In The Dark

    Shin stood there, frozen and pathetic, while Grandma Anne looked back at them with a warm smile. "You guys should visit our place sometime! I''ll make you some pancakes," she offered cheerfully.

    "W-wait, Grandma, you don''t need to! W-we can just hang out here or somewhere else," Shin stammered, his voice trembling in panic.

    Cid, noticing Shin¡¯s flustered state, grabbed his shoulder firmly and grinned. "We''ll visit sometime, Grandma!" he said confidently, his grip on Shin''s shoulder tightening.

    Grandma Anne chuckled and waved as she walked out of the court and exited the school grounds.

    The moment she left, Cid and the others resumed their game with renewed vigor. This time, their shots became even harder and more deliberate, targeting Shin¡¯s face, chest, and¡ªmost cruelly¡ªhis more sensitive areas.

    By the time the PE session ended, Shin was worn out and covered in dirt and sweat. He trudged to the locker room, retrieved his uniform, and headed for the showers.

    Undressing slowly, Shin stepped under the running water, letting it wash away the filth clinging to his body. Each droplet that hit his skin carried away the humiliation and exhaustion of the day, though the sting of those "powerful shots" still lingered.

    As the warm water cascaded over him, Shin drowned in his thoughts. "I''m so pathetic," he whispered to himself, his voice cracking. Tears began streaming down his face, blending with the water. He sniffled between sobs, muttering, "Just two more years, and this will all be over."

    After scrubbing away the filth and sweat from the day''s torment, Shin stepped out of the shower. He walked back into the locker room, dressed in his uniform, and made his way to class.

    Three hours later, evening arrived, and Shin packed his things to leave. As he approached the school gates, he spotted Ria waiting for him. She waved enthusiastically.

    "Hey!" she greeted with a bright smile.

    "Oh, hey," Shin replied, his voice subdued.

    "How was PE?" Ria asked, walking beside him.

    "It was good. I became the goalkeeper," Shin muttered.

    Ria raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess¡ªyou took all the shots again?"

    "Yeah, but they weren¡¯t that powerful," Shin said, forcing a weak smile.

    "You know you can¡¯t hide your bruises, right? And I heard your grandma caused a scene earlier," Ria teased gently.

    Shin stayed silent, his expression unreadable.

    Ria softened. "I get it. I won¡¯t bring it up," she said, dropping the subject.

    The two walked together in silence for a while until they reached Ria¡¯s home. She waved at Shin as she entered. "See you tomorrow!"

    Shin waved back, his smile barely there.

    That evening, Shin returned home, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the day. As he entered the house, he avoided making eye contact with Grandma Anne, who was seated in the living room.

    ¡°The dinner¡¯s on the table,¡± she called out. ¡°If you want to eat, just heat it.¡±

    Shin nodded silently, heading straight to the shower. Once under the spray, the tears he had held back all day returned, but he wiped them away before stepping out.

    After drying off, he reheated the bowl of ramen his grandmother had left for him and sat down in front of the TV to eat. A news broadcast caught his attention.

    "The Extro Nemesis Guild is hiring talented young people! Requirements are simple: you must possess Abilities, Aetheris, or Mystic Arts. Applicants must also be 18 or older."

    Shin stared blankly at the screen, his expression hollow. "Must be nice," he muttered to himself. "That bastard Cid will probably get scouted the second he turns 18. Meanwhile, someone powerless like me..." He trailed off, sipping the last of the noodles and drinking the soup.

    After finishing, Shin cleaned the table and washed the dishes before heading to bed. His routine felt suffocatingly mundane. As he lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, tears welled up again, though this time, his voice was empty.

    "Even in sleep, I can''t help but cry," he whispered, his words devoid of emotion.

    The morning sunlight streamed into Shin''s room as he woke up groggily. He noticed a letter left on the table beside him. Picking it up, he read:

    "Shin, I¡¯m going somewhere for a while. I cooked some beef earlier¡ªjust heat it up and eat."

    After reading the note, Shin heated up the beef, eating in silence before heading to the shower. Once he was dressed in his uniform, he locked the door behind him and began walking to school.

    Upon arriving, Shin spotted Ria near the gate, chatting with someone. His eyes lingered for a moment before he recognized the person she was talking to.

    "Hm, isn¡¯t that Zeeke? The guy who won the national contest for runners? He¡¯s so popular... and way more handsome than me," Shin muttered under his breath. His gaze shifted back to Ria. "She must be happy talking to someone like him."

    Shin quickly looked away, pretending not to notice them as he walked past.

    ¡°Hey, Shin!¡± Ria called out, noticing him.

    But Shin ignored her, keeping his head down and choosing to walk alone.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? That was definitely Shin,¡± Ria thought, frowning slightly.

    ¡°Hm? Did you see someone you know?¡± Zeeke asked, curious.

    ¡°Oh, no. I just thought I saw someone familiar,¡± Ria replied, brushing it off.

    ¡°I see. Anyway, let¡¯s go?¡± Zeeke asked with a smile.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go,¡± Ria answered, following him.

    ---

    Three hours later, during the students'' break, Shin found himself on the school rooftop. Leaning against the railing, he watched the sun slowly being consumed by the encroaching darkness.

    ¡°The sunset is beautiful,¡± Shin murmured softly. His voice was laced with regret.

    He sighed deeply, sitting down on the cold floor. ¡°I should¡¯ve apologized that night. I shouldn¡¯t have yelled at her like that. I¡¯m already so grateful that she adopted me,¡± he muttered, lowering his head in shame.

    "God, I¡¯m so pathetic," Shin whispered to himself, clenching his fists.

    As his thoughts spiraled, something across the city caught his attention. Smoke was rising from a building, forming dark clouds in the sky.

    ¡°Hm? What is that?¡± Shin squinted at the scene, assuming it was just a fire. But his breath caught when he saw something far more terrifying.

    Out of nowhere, several portals began appearing in the sky, swirling ominously. Shin¡¯s eyes widened in realization.

    ¡°Wh-what is that?¡± he stammered.

    In seconds, monstrous creatures started pouring out of the portals, their forms grotesque and unfamiliar.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Sh-shit, that¡¯s definitely a portal!¡± Shin gasped, his heart racing.

    Panic surged through him as he bolted down the rooftop stairs.

    ¡°I need to tell the teachers!¡± he thought frantically.

    Rushing through the corridors, he spotted a random male student.

    ¡°Hey! Where are the teachers?!¡± Shin asked, barely catching his breath.

    ¡°They¡¯re in the faculty office,¡± the student replied, pointing in the right direction.

    ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± the student wondered as Shin ran off, his panic evident.

    Shin rushed into the teacher''s faculty room, bursting through the door.

    "TEACHERS! THERE''S A PORTAL OUTBREAK!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice trembling with urgency.

    The teachers turned to look at him, confused.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± one of them, the teacher of Class C, asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°I-I swear! I saw a lot of portals in the sky!¡± Shin stammered, his breathing erratic.

    The male teacher crossed his arms, clearly skeptical. ¡°If there really was a portal outbreak, the government would¡¯ve already issued a warning.¡±

    ¡°I saw it with my own two eyes!¡± Shin insisted, panic seeping into his voice.

    Another teacher scoffed. ¡°This better not be some prank, kid. If it is¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡±

    The voice of the principal cut through the room like a knife. He had been sitting quietly in the corner, observing. Slowly, he stood, his face grim. ¡°Prepare the emergency button,¡± he commanded.

    The male teachers exchanged worried glances before one of them hurried to a safe, unlocking it to reveal an emergency weapon.

    Before they could act further, the television in the corner of the room suddenly switched to a black screen. A red warning symbol appeared, accompanied by an automated voice.

    ¡°WARNING: A portal dungeon has broken out. A total of 22 portals have been detected in your region. Please remain calm. Hunters and heroes are on their way. Secure your homes or any areas that may allow monsters to break in.¡±

    The room fell into stunned silence for a moment. The teachers¡¯ eyes widened in shock. The principal, who had been calm moments ago, immediately shifted into action mode.

    ¡°GET THE STUDENTS UNDER CONTROL! NOW!¡± he shouted, his voice echoing in the room.

    The teachers bolted out of the faculty room, heading toward the courtyard. But the sight that greeted them froze them in their tracks.

    Chaos had already erupted.

    Students were screaming, phones in their hands displaying the same warning. Some tried to push through the gates, desperate to escape, while others huddled together in fear. A few were injured, either from being trampled in the panic or from collapsing in terror.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± one of the teachers cursed, running to assist the injured students.

    The school guards were doing their best to block the gates, forcing students to return to safety. But it was too late¡ªseveral had already slipped past them.

    Among the chaos, one teacher, gifted with the ability of supersonic projection, stepped forward. She inhaled deeply and released a piercing scream that reverberated across the courtyard.

    ¡°EVERYONE, STOP AND LISTEN!¡± her voice boomed. ¡°RETURN TO YOUR CLASSROOMS IMMEDIATELY! THE HEROES WILL ARRIVE SOON TO HANDLE THIS!¡±

    Her voice cut through the noise, and some students paused, hesitant. Slowly, a portion of the crowd began retreating to their classrooms, heeding the warning.

    But not everyone complied. Fear had taken root too deeply. Some continued to flee, ignoring the teachers¡¯ instructions.

    The principal, now standing in the courtyard, clenched his fists. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time,¡± he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting toward the portals visible in the distance. ¡°This is worse than I thought.¡±

    ¡°Fuck, they¡¯re just trying to kill us,¡± a student muttered under his breath as he ran from the school grounds, glancing over his shoulder at the others who were retreating back to safety. A sly grin spread across his face.

    ¡°Hehe, stupid bastards. When I get interviewed as the sole survivor, I¡¯ll be rolling in cash,¡± he said to himself.

    Turning his gaze forward, his confident smirk faded instantly. His eyes widened in terror, his mouth agape as his legs trembled beneath him.

    Standing in his path was a towering creature, at least 8 feet tall, its humanoid body completely covered in jagged spikes. Its glowing red eyes seemed to pierce straight into his soul.

    The student stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground. "H-H-H¡­" he tried to speak, but fear choked the words out of him.

    The monster slowly raised a massive spiked arm, preparing to swing down at the helpless student.

    Before the blow could land, a blur of movement interrupted the scene. In an instant, a man appeared, delivering a powerful kick to the creature''s neck¡ªthe only part of its body not covered in spikes.

    The monster flew backward, crashing into the ground.

    The man stood tall, his blonde hair gleaming like gold in the sunlight. He was clad in a sleek suit with yellow and white stripes, and a logo that read "F.B" was embedded on his chest.

    ¡°T-T-Thank you! Mister Flashy Blond!¡± the student stammered, trembling with relief.

    The commotion drew the attention of the other students, who were peeking from their classrooms or lingering outside. They noticed the bright glint of light emanating from the man, even from afar.

    ¡°It¡¯s MR. FLASHY BLOND!¡± a group of students shouted excitedly at the top of their lungs, their fear momentarily forgotten.

    With a burst of incredible speed, Flashy Blond traveled to the school gates, arriving just as the principal approached.

    ¡°Hey, students! Are you all okay?¡± Flashy Blond asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

    ¡°YES, WE ARE, MR. FLASHY BLOND!¡± the students yelled in unison, their voices full of awe.

    The principal stepped forward, his face stern. ¡°Where are the rest of the heroes?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°They¡¯re on their way, sir,¡± Flashy Blond replied. ¡°Medics are also en route.¡±

    The principal clicked his tongue in frustration. ¡°Tch. Fine. Just hold the line until they arrive. Students, stay inside the classrooms! Do not come out!¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Flashy Blond nodded, turning to face the horde of monsters that began swarming through the portals.

    Some students obeyed, retreating to their classrooms and watching through the windows, their faces pressed against the glass. But others refused to go inside, captivated by the sight of Flashy Blond battling the monsters with unmatched speed and agility.

    The hero darted across the battlefield, taking down one monster after another with precise, calculated strikes. His movements were a blur, each attack landing before the monsters could react.

    ¡°Damn it, where¡¯s the backup?¡± Flashy Blond muttered under his breath as he continued to fight. ¡°I¡¯m starting to get pushed back... and some of these creatures are evolving mid-battle.¡±

    A particularly large, mutated monster emerged from a portal, roaring loudly as it charged at him. Flashy Blond braced himself, his expression firm.

    ¡°I have to hold them off. I can¡¯t let them get to the school.¡±

    The monsters were growing stronger and larger with each passing moment, each one more formidable than the last. Finally, a towering humanoid creature emerged from one of the portals. It stood nearly 20 feet tall, its eight massive tentacle-like arms writhing with deadly intent.

    Flashy Blond, despite his incredible speed, couldn¡¯t avoid one of the tentacles that lashed out with terrifying force.

    ¡°Ugh¡ª!¡± He coughed up blood, staggering backward as he clutched his side.

    Looking down, he saw the damage¡ªa deep, dark purple bruise spread across his ribs. The pain was unbearable, and he could feel the venom coursing through his veins.

    ¡°Damn it... those tentacle suckers are... poisonous.¡± His voice was weak as he dropped to one knee, his vision blurring.

    ¡°MR. FLASHY BLOND, GET UP!¡± the students screamed desperately, their voices filled with panic.

    But their cries were in vain. Flashy Blond fell forward, collapsing onto the ground, unconscious.

    ¡°EVERYONE, GET INSIDE!¡± the principal roared, trying to maintain order amidst the chaos.

    A loud cry pierced the air¡ªa female student was trapped beneath a large piece of debris, likely dislodged during Flashy Blond¡¯s earlier battle.

    ¡°P-Please, someone help me!¡± she whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

    Shin, who had been watching from nearby, gritted his teeth and dashed toward her. Without hesitation, he lifted the heavy stone, his muscles straining.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Shin asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

    ¡°I-I think my left foot is injured,¡± the girl replied, her voice trembling.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Shin reassured her, gently picking her up. ¡°The medics and other heroes are on their way. You¡¯ll be safe soon.¡±

    As he carried her toward the teachers, the girl couldn¡¯t help but glance at Shin, her cheeks flushing. She quickly turned her head to hide her expression.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Shin asked, trying to keep her calm.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m Andrea,¡± she stammered.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Andrea. I¡¯m Shin,¡± he said with a small smile.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Shin,¡± Andrea replied softly, her voice tinged with gratitude.

    Shin set her down near the teachers, who were organizing the injured. Before he could catch his breath, a student screamed, ¡°SOMEONE HELP THEM!¡±

    Turning back, Shin saw a group of students frozen in terror. Among them were his bullies, their faces pale as the monstrous tentacle creature loomed closer.

    For a brief moment, Shin hesitated.

    Why am I doing this? he thought. Why should I protect those bastards?

    But deep down, he already knew the answer. He clenched his fists and moved forward.

    Even if I die here, I¡¯ll accept it. Fate, destiny¡ªnone of it matters. I just don¡¯t want to regret it.

    With newfound resolve, Shin sprinted toward them, shoving the trembling students out of the way just as the monster¡¯s massive tentacle swung down.

    ¡°W-What...?¡± one of the bullies, Cid, murmured in shock as Shin pushed him aside.

    The tentacle struck Shin with a devastating force, sending him flying through the air. He landed several meters away, rolling to a stop as blood trickled from his mouth.

    ¡°Shit...¡± Shin whispered, his vision fading. His body screamed in pain, every nerve on fire.

    As he lay there, his thoughts drifted.

    I think... I actually regret this. I at least wanted to have sex before dying.

    A faint chuckle escaped his lips, though it was barely audible. His consciousness began to slip away.

    But just before the darkness consumed him, he opened one eye slightly and saw something¡ªa portal, shimmering in the distance.

 The Panty Thief and The elf

    Just before the darkness consumed him, Shin opened one eye slightly, catching a glimpse of something¡ªa shimmering portal in the distance.

    A powerful energy pulled him into the portal. As he was dragged forward, Shin felt himself falling into an abyss¡ªa place too horrifying to be called a realm. It was a void, an empty expanse devoid of light, sound, or anything resembling life. He spun uncontrollably, his body stretched unnaturally, becoming an elastic, almost unrecognizable humanoid shape.

    Shin¡¯s consciousness began to fade, but his thoughts remained sharp, racing through his mind.

    ¡°Where am I?¡±

    ¡°Is this death?¡±

    ¡°This feels... wrong.¡±

    ¡°What about Grandma? She¡¯ll be all alone...¡±

    Even as despair took root, a sudden glimmer of light emerged, piercing through the overwhelming darkness. The light grew, weaving around his distorted body in a radiant dance. It wrapped itself around him, as if guiding him toward something. Slowly, it led Shin into another realm, carrying him away from the abyss.

    ---

    Shin landed with a heavy thud on soft grass. Groaning, he slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry at first.

    As clarity returned, he found himself lying in the middle of a breathtaking field of flowers. Vibrant blossoms stretched endlessly in every direction, their colors so vivid they seemed otherworldly. Soft blues, brilliant yellows, deep purples, and fiery reds swayed gently in the warm breeze. The air was rich with the earthy perfume of blooming petals, and the field buzzed faintly with the hum of insects and the rustling of leaves.

    Shin pushed himself up, his hands brushing against the soft ground. ¡°W-where am I?¡± he muttered, his voice trembling.

    Looking around in awe, he whispered, ¡°If this is the afterlife, I think... I could accept this.¡±

    As he tried to calm himself, his gaze fell on his own body. His heart skipped a beat as he realized something.

    ¡°WHAT THE HELL?! WHY AM I NAKED?!¡±

    Panic surged through him, but he tried to reason with himself. ¡°Maybe... maybe if this is death, clothes don¡¯t matter? Heh...¡± He let out a nervous chuckle, trying to laugh it off.

    Shin''s embarrassment quickly turned to curiosity when he noticed a small house in the distance. Determined to find something to wear, he walked toward it, his bare feet crunching softly against the grass.

    As he approached, he saw a line of clothes hanging outside to dry. His relief was short-lived when he realized they were all women¡¯s clothes¡ªdresses, skirts, and... panties. Hesitating, he picked up a pair of panties, inspecting it awkwardly.

    ¡°Well, this is... uh... kind of... erotic,¡± he muttered, his face burning with embarrassment.

    Before he could place the panties back, the cabin door creaked open. A young woman with long, flowing hair and pointed ears stepped out. Shin froze, realizing instantly¡ªshe was an elf.

    Their eyes met, and her gaze quickly dropped to the panties in his hand. Her face turned beet red, her expression shifting from shock to fury.

    ¡°M-MONSTER! YOU PERVERT!¡± she screamed, her voice echoing across the field.

    The elf raised her hand, and a glowing magical circle filled with intricate symbols appeared in the air. ¡°Grand De O Posh!¡±

    A powerful force slammed into Shin, hurling him back into the field where he had woken up. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.

    ¡°O-ouch... wh-what the hell just happened?¡± he groaned, clutching his chest as the flowers around him swayed gently, oblivious to his suffering.

    ¡°Fuck, when I got here my pain was gone, but now it''s hurting again. Also, did she use some type of magic on me?¡± Shin groaned, wincing in pain.

    The elf rushed toward him, holding out a set of clothes. ¡°H-here, sorry if it¡¯s too big,¡± she said, her voice tinged with awkwardness as she tried her best not to look at Shin, blushing deeply.

    Shin endured the pain and struggled into the clothes. ¡°These are way too big. It''s like they were made for a bodybuilder,¡± he thought, feeling the fabric sag around him.

    "Ah, thanks. By the way, I¡¯m not trying to steal your stuff or anything," Shin said, trying to ease the tension. "I just thought I could borrow some clothes."

    The elf remained silent, her face still flushed.

    ¡°Are you done dressing?¡± she asked finally.

    ¡°Ah, yeah.¡± Shin replied, relieved to be clothed, but his body was still in agony. "By the way, is this really¡ª"

    "AHHHHHH!" Shin yelled in sudden pain as he was hit by a jolt of electricity.

    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t let you roam freely,¡± the elf said, her voice colder as she stood over him.

    Shin¡¯s body froze from the shock, and he could barely catch his breath as she lifted him and carried him towards her cabin. She set him down and quickly grabbed a handcart, lifting him into it with surprising strength.

    "W-we¡ªwhere are we going?" Shin asked, trembling from both pain and the uncertainty of the situation.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to the kingdom,¡± she replied curtly.

    ¡°K-kingdom?¡± Shin muttered in shock.

    ¡°Yes, now shut your mouth,¡± the elf said, casting a spell to mute him.

    ¡°Kingdom... does that even exist here?¡± Shin thought to himself, still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

    She covered him with a blanket and pushed the cart along the path, traveling from a field of beautiful flowers into a dark, foreboding forest. After what felt like hours, they finally arrived at the gates of a massive kingdom.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Two guards clad in steel armor stepped forward, stopping them. ¡°Show your permit!¡± one of them called out.

    The elf removed her hood, revealing her face, and part of the black cloak she wore. The guards¡¯ eyes widened.

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Madam Fiona! We didn¡¯t recognize you!¡± The guards quickly lowered their heads in respect.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said in a soft tone.

    ¡°May we ask what you¡¯re doing in the city? We need it for our report,¡± one of the guards asked.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to the prison,¡± Fiona replied without hesitation.

    The guards exchanged puzzled glances. ¡°Oh, I see. But what¡¯s in the handcart?¡± they asked, eyeing the young boy under the blanket.

    Fiona pulled the blanket away, revealing Shin, who was still bound by magic and unable to speak. The guards¡¯ eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°Fuck, a prison? These guards should be helping me! What is she some a kind of nobel?¡± Shin thought, trying unsuccessfully to break free from his magical restraints.

    "He looks young," one of the guards remarked.

    ¡°Yeah, I agree,¡± the second guard said.

    ¡°Are you really putting him in the prison? What crime did he commit?¡± one guard asked.

    ¡°I saw him stealing my panties while he was completely naked. I just gave him the clothes left by my brother,¡± Fiona explained casually.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right, Madam. I think you should see Father Charles first. He might know this boy¡¯s identity,¡± one of the guards suggested.

    ¡°Yeah, Madam, you should see Father Charles first,¡± the other guard agreed.

    Fiona thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. ¡°If he really is that young, I suppose I should see Father Charles.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, after a long pause. ¡°I¡¯ll see Father Charles first, then.¡±

    The guards nodded, and one shouted, ¡°Open the gate!¡±

    The guards inside the kingdom''s walls complied,

    and the massive gates slowly creaked open, allowing Fiona and Shin to enter.

    As they entered the city, Shin noticed a small crack in the handcart''s blanket. Through it, he caught his first glimpse of the capital city of the kingdom. The streets were bustling with life¡ªhouses, inns, and merchants selling all kinds of exotic items he had never seen before.

    "Wow," Shin muttered to himself. "It''s almost like I''m not dead... Did I somehow become a hero in another realm?"

    The realization hit him like a lightning bolt. "Wait, what if this is another realm?" he thought, panic rising. He started shaking Fiona''s handcart frantically, drawing the attention of passersby.

    Fiona''s voice suddenly echoed in his mind, calm but cold. "You little shit, one more move and I''ll remove another of your five senses. You''re making a scene."

    Shin froze in place, fear gripping him. He stayed quiet after that.

    As they continued, his eyes were drawn to a church at the center of the city. The building was a masterpiece, its carvings and architecture so intricate and flawless that it made Earth''s churches look like mere shadows in comparison.

    "Wow," Shin whispered, awestruck.

    Fiona stopped the cart and pulled off the blanket. "Get up. I''ll remove your mute seal once we''re inside," she said.

    Shin obediently climbed out, following her into the grand church.

    "A church?" Shin thought, his confusion growing.

    Once inside, Fiona flicked her fingers, and the seal on Shin''s mouth vanished. He immediately stretched his jaw. Before he could say a word, Fiona called out, her voice loud enough to echo. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

    Shin frowned. "What are we even doing here?"

    A tall figure appeared from the shadows, clad in a long white alb. His presence was commanding.

    "Is that you, Fiona?" the man asked in a deep voice.

    "Yes, Father Charles," Fiona replied, removing her hood.

    Charles''s gaze shifted to Shin. "And who is this? Did you bring him here for something important?" He smirked. "Or perhaps you''re getting married to that young man behind you?"

    Fiona''s cheeks reddened immediately. "What?! No! I caught him stealing my panties... while he was completely naked."

    Charles''s expression turned deadly serious. His eyes narrowed at Shin, whose face flushed red with embarrassment.

    "I swear, I didn¡¯t mean it that way! I don¡¯t even know how I got here!" Shin stammered, desperate to explain. "When I woke up, I was just... here!"

    Charles studied him for a moment before speaking. "So you''re saying you just appeared in this world? Are you from another realm, perhaps?"

    "Y-yes! I¡¯m from a world called Earth. I thought I was dead, but there was a portal outbreak in my world, and I was slammed so hard I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was here."

    Charles¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t soften. "I see," he said flatly.

    "Please, believe me!" Shin clasped his hands together in desperation.

    Charles sneered. "You expect me to believe that? First a pervert, now a liar? Disgusting."

    "I promise, I¡¯m not lying!" Shin¡¯s voice trembled.

    Charles leaned closer, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you¡¯re really from a different world, how do you know our language?"

    Shin froze. His thoughts raced. "Wait... Their accent is different, but somehow, I understand them perfectly? This isn''t any language from Earth... I''m screwed."

    Charles sighed. "I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Follow me." He turned sharply. "Fiona, come with us."

    Without question, Fiona followed him. Shin hesitated, his mind spinning. Shit, what if they¡¯re leading me somewhere to kill me and sell my organs? Like one of those movies where churches are a front for something shady...

    Charles approached a large bookshelf and pulled a specific book from its stand. A low rumble echoed as a hidden door slid open, revealing a dark passage.

    "Follow me," Charles commanded, his voice cold and unyielding.

    The hallway was pitch-black until Charles clapped once, and an eerie light illuminated the space, revealing a staircase leading downwards. Fiona stepped forward without hesitation, while Shin¡¯s legs felt like jelly. His thoughts swirled with paranoia. This is bad. Really bad.

    But he had no choice. Swallowing hard, he followed them into the unknown.

    After what felt like hours of descending through endless spiraling floors, they finally reached a grand chamber. The room was vast, with walls carved in intricate designs that glowed faintly with divine symbols.

    "This is the chamber I use for judgment," Father Charles said, his voice echoing through the sacred space. He gestured toward a glowing circle at the center of the chamber. "Young man, step into the circle and sit down."

    Shin hesitated but quickly obeyed, his curiosity mixed with a growing sense of dread. "What is this? Are they summoning some kind of demon?" he thought nervously as he stepped into the circle and sat cross-legged.

    "Close your eyes and empty your mind," Father Charles instructed.

    Shin clenched his fists, trying his best to remain still. He closed his eyes, attempting to silence the storm of thoughts swirling in his head.

    ¡°Judgment,¡± Father Charles said solemnly.

    Standing to the side, Fiona crossed her arms, observing the scene with mild interest. "It seems Father Charles is really curious about this guy," she thought.

    Then, in a calm but commanding voice, Father Charles began to chant:

    "¦¨¦Å?, ¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦Á¦Ê¦Á¦Ë?, ?¦Ð?¦Ê¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É¦Í ?¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦Ï¦Í ¦Ê¦Á? ¦Ê¦Ñ?¦Í¦Ï¦Í ¦Ó?¦Í ?¦Í¦È¦Ñ¦Ø¦Ð¦Ï¦Í ¦Ó¦Ï?¦Ó¦Ï¦Í."

    The words echoed through the chamber, ancient and heavy with power. Charles¡¯s calm demeanor shifted as he focused entirely on the ritual.

    A blinding light suddenly erupted around Shin, illuminating the chamber in a divine glow. It wasn¡¯t just light¡ªit was pure, overwhelming energy, like the presence of something greater than anything Shin had ever felt before.

    Shin¡¯s eyes shot open, panic rising in his chest. What is happening?

    Father Charles¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he staggered back, his face pale. "I-it can¡¯t be..." he whispered, his voice trembling.

    Fiona¡¯s eyes narrowed, her usual confidence faltering. "What the hell... Is this a divine intervention?"

    The light around Shin intensified, forming into the shape of a radiant figure, ethereal and otherworldly. Its presence was suffocating, yet somehow comforting, as though the weight of judgment itself had descended into the chamber.

 World Of Expectations

    light around Shin intensified, coalescing into a radiant figure¡ªethereal, otherworldly. Its presence was suffocating yet oddly comforting, as though the weight of judgment itself had descended into the chamber.

    The radiant figure began to speak, its voice carrying across the room. ¡°My son, Charles, I have sent this young man to save our world from the great forces that will come in the future. Tell him that I have already given him my blessing.¡±

    Charles and Fiona knelt in reverence, showing respect to the figure. As the figure placed its hand on Charles'' head, a blinding light flashed, engulfing both him and Fiona.

    It then spoke directly to Charles¡¯ mind: ¡°Take care of this boy. He will be my vessel in the future.¡±

    As the light vanished, Charles was drenched in sweat, shaken by the words. His voice trembled as he asked, ¡°P-Priest, what happened?¡±

    Fiona, looking equally stunned, asked, ¡°What did the goddess command?¡±

    Charles hesitated before answering, his tone serious. ¡°It¡¯s true. He¡¯s the hero from another world.¡± Fiona¡¯s eyes widened in realization.

    Shit, I was too harsh on him, she thought.

    ¡°I see... did the goddess give us any specific commands?¡±

    Charles looked at Shin, unconscious on the bed. ¡°It said we should protect him.¡±

    They both looked down at Shin¡¯s body, devoid of consciousness, and then at each other. ¡°Help me carry him to the bed,¡± Charles said, as they gently lifted Shin.

    Charles gave a slight chuckle as they moved. ¡°He¡¯s surprisingly light for someone his age.¡±

    After navigating the many floors, they finally reached a room where they carefully laid Shin on a bed.

    ¡°You should wash him off¡ªjust use some wet towels,¡± Charles suggested, a teasing glint in his eyes.

    Fiona blushed. ¡°W-Why?¡±

    Charles smirked. ¡°Look at the dirt on his body. It¡¯s definitely from your reckless use of magic.¡±

    Fiona¡¯s blush deepened, and she stammered, ¡°F-Fine.¡±

    ¡°Or are you already thinking lewd thoughts?¡± Charles teased.

    ¡°St-stop,¡± Fiona said, pushing him out of the room and closing the door behind him.

    ¡°By the way, there are some clothes that might fit him. I¡¯ll call them.¡± Charles left with a serious expression, heading downstairs.

    Inside the room, Fiona hesitated for a moment, but then began undressing Shin, carefully removing his clothes. She walked to the restroom, grabbed a towel, and dampened it with water. As she began cleaning his body, she couldn¡¯t help but notice how lean and skinny he was.

    He¡¯s very skinny, she thought.

    She focused on cleaning him without lingering on certain parts of his body, though she couldn¡¯t deny the energy his body seemed to radiate, especially given the rough circumstances. After she finished, she retrieved a fresh set of clothes that fit Shin perfectly.

    "Finally, I¡¯m done... Fiona thought, exhaustion creeping in. Wait, I shouldn¡¯t fall asleep. The goddess told us to protect him."

    But despite her best efforts to stay awake, Fiona slowly dozed off beside Shin, her head resting near his body.

    Two hours later, Shin stirred, his body slowly waking from a deep slumber. He groggily looked around, confused. ¡°What happened?¡± His voice was soft and hoarse.

    As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was in a simple room, with a bed, a single table, and a lone chair. His gaze then shifted to Fiona, who was sleeping peacefully beside him.

    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t realize she was that pretty...¡± Shin thought, his eyes lingering on her features. "She looks like a pure elf... Back on Earth, I never really found elves attractive. Is this the difference in beauty between a pure elf and a half-elf?"

    Shin couldn''t help but glance at Fiona¡¯s beauty. What if she wakes up and sees me staring at her? She might think I''m a creep again...

    After a while, Fiona finally stirred. The first thing she saw was Shin''s face, inches away from hers. Their eyes met, and both quickly averted their gazes. Fiona scrambled to her feet and left the room, with Shin following close behind.Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°U-uh, what are we going to do?¡± Shin stammered.

    ¡°U-uh... follow me downstairs,¡± Fiona replied nervously.

    ¡°O-okay,¡± Shin nodded quickly, trailing her down the hall.

    Where¡¯s that priest from earlier? Shin wondered.

    ¡°So, what now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°We''ll wait for Priest Charles to arrive,¡± Fiona answered.

    Moments later, Charles walked in, accompanied by six other important figures of the kingdom.

    ¡°That¡¯s him, our goddess'' hero,¡± Charles said, pointing toward Shin.

    Hero? This girl... Fiona, what did you get me into? Shin thought.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re a hero?¡± Shin asked Fiona in confusion.

    Fiona¡¯s telepathic magic reached into Shin¡¯s mind. You''re the hero, dummy. Then, she cast a mute spell on him, silencing his words. Don¡¯t freak out, okay?

    Shin nodded, his eyes wide. Fiona released the seal, allowing him to speak again.

    ¡°Hello, hero. My name is Reyden Xyrus. I¡¯m one of the generals in this kingdom,¡± said a middle-aged man with clear facial hair. He wore a blue steel armor adorned with the logo of a wolf crossed by an "X" on his chest.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, General Reyden,¡± Shin said, bowing respectfully.

    "Did Fiona already tell him about him"? Priest Charles thought. I¡¯ll leave it to her, then.

    Fiona silently commanded Shin in his mind. Continue greeting them, hero.

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you, hero. My name is Georgios Sympat. I¡¯m Charles¡¯ younger brother and also one of the generals in the kingdom,¡± said another man, kneeling. He wore a blue steel armor with the logo of a lone wolf and an "X" symbol on the back of the wolf.

    A tall, muscular man stepped forward, wearing a compression shirt. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up, hero? I¡¯m Bajar de Monico. I¡¯m General Reyden¡¯s right-hand man, as well as General Charles¡¯¡ªwhy? Because I¡¯m the strongest.¡± He grinned. ¡°Oh, and I¡¯m also the head instructor at the Kingdom Academy. Nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Shin muttered repeatedly, bowing deeply to Bajar, almost as if accepting him as his master.

    A girl dressed in a typical archer¡¯s outfit, her hood concealing most of her face, spoke up. ¡°H-hi... my name is Cellia Magster. Nice to meet you.¡±

    "She¡¯s just my type!" Shin thought to himself.

    Shin extended his hand for a handshake. ¡°Nice to meet you, Lady Cellia. No need to call me a hero,¡± he grinned.

    A woman in a cloak, holding a staff, approached. ¡°Hello, young man. My name is Belldia Magster. I¡¯m the academy¡¯s archmage, and one of the few to reach this rank in magic,¡± she said with full confidence.

    "Wow, look at those... jugglers." Shin lewdly thought, his gaze lingering on her chest for a moment.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Madam,¡± he grinned, trying to hide his thoughts. Maybe this life will be better after all...

    A man stepped forward, wearing the same armor as the generals. ¡°Hello, my name is Reydel, son of Reyden. I¡¯m one of the vice generals in the kingdom,¡± he said in a deep voice.

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Reydel,¡± Shin said, offering a handshake. Reydel slapped it away.

    ¡°If you want to earn my respect, you¡¯ll have to earn it. Are you really the hero? Look at you. You¡¯re below average height, you¡¯re skinny, and you look pathetic.¡±

    Shin stood frozen, taking in the harsh words without saying anything. "Great, even here, I¡¯m getting humiliated..."

    "What the hell?" Shin¡¯s anger simmered. "I didn¡¯t ask to be a hero. I thought I died, only to be sent to this damn world. And now I¡¯m getting humiliated by some guy who thinks he¡¯s better than me?"

    In that moment, Shin snapped. "Listen, Reydel, I¡¯ll surpass you..."

    With that, he stormed off toward the church¡¯s upper floor, locking himself in the room where he had previously slept.

    Shin''s tears fell steadily, his emotions uncontrollable. "Why am I even here? I just want to go back to Earth. I miss Ria... my grandma..." he muttered, his voice breaking as the sobs wracked his body. "Why do I have to be so pathetic now? I can''t even see them anymore. And I don''t even know who my parents are..." he thought, the anguish evident in every tear that rolled down his face.

    Meanwhile, downstairs, the atmosphere was tense.

    "I think you all should leave now," Charles said firmly. The group nodded, preparing to depart.

    "I apologize for what my son, Reydel, said," Reyden offered.

    "It''s fine," Charles replied with a calm tone. "We all have those moments."

    Everyone left except for Bajar and Fiona.

    "Fiona, check on Shin upstairs," Charles instructed. Fiona nodded and began heading to the room.

    As she left, Charles turned to Bajar. "Why are you still here?"

    "I want to train that kid¡ªwhatever his name is," Bajar said, arms crossed.

    "But isn¡¯t that against academy rules? Teaching a student secretly is favoritism," Charles countered.

    "Who cares?" Bajar replied with a confident grin. "The current king wouldn¡¯t be mad. It¡¯s the goddess¡¯s wish, after all."

    "Hm, you have a point," Charles admitted.

    "I told you," Bajar smirked. "Besides, the kid probably already likes me. I made a great first impression, right?"

    Charles chuckled lightly and nodded, reluctantly agreeing.

    Upstairs, Fiona stopped in front of Shin''s door and knocked gently. "Hey, Shin, open up," she called softly. Silence greeted her. Instead of leaving, she sat down outside the door.

    "I understand how you feel, Shin. I''ve been there before," she said gently.

    Inside, Shin finally spoke, his voice shaky. "No, you don¡¯t. All my life, I¡¯ve tried to be something, but people always drag me down. Back on Earth, I was bullied every single day. And now, even here..."

    Fiona sighed and leaned her back against the door. "I knew someone like you once. He was my older brother, Hanster. Everyone doubted him, but in the end, he proved them all wrong. Now he¡¯s one of the Eight Heavenly Warriors of this world. Why don¡¯t you do the same? Flip the script, Shin."

    "It¡¯s easy for you to say," Shin shot back. "How about me? I have nothing. No talent. No potential. I¡¯ve tried everything, and I always fail. And I don¡¯t even want to be here. I want to go back to Earth."

    "You know we can¡¯t do that," Fiona replied softly. "The goddess chose you. But think about it¡ªthis world is limitless. Maybe you¡¯ll become something greater than you ever imagined."

    "Shut up and go away," Shin said, his voice flat and exhausted.

    Fiona sighed and stood up. "Fine. I¡¯ll leave you for now. But think about what I said."

    She left quietly, her footsteps fading into the distance. Shin remained locked in his room for the rest of the day, only opening the door to take the meals Charles left for him.

 The Warmth of a Friend

    Shin had locked himself in his room for a week straight.

    "Is Shin still locking himself up?" Priest Charles asked, his tone heavy with concern.

    "Yes, he is," Fiona replied with a sigh, her voice weary from her week-long stay at the church, right next to Shin¡¯s room.

    "Tsk, he''s supposed to be a hero. How do we convince him to come out?" Charles muttered, rubbing his chin as he tried to come up with a plan.

    At that moment, a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Bajar, carrying bags filled with fruits, vegetables, and meat.

    "Hey, what''s going on? You two look stressed," Bajar said, waving a hand nonchalantly.

    "Shut up, we''re trying to figure out how to get Shin out of his room," Fiona snapped, her frustration showing.

    "Why not just force the door open and drag him out?" Bajar suggested casually.

    "We can''t do that. The kid might lose even more trust in us," Charles replied firmly, shaking his head.

    "Fine," Bajar grinned mischievously, "then why not have Fiona ask him to explore the kingdom? Or, better yet, seduce him."

    "WH-WHAT?! I''M NOT SOME KIND OF WHORE!" Fiona shouted, her face turning bright red.

    "I''m not asking you to be one. I''m just saying he might respond better to you inviting him," Bajar said, shrugging.

    Charles nodded in agreement. "He''s right. Fiona, you''re probably the person Shin feels most comfortable with. You should ask him to explore the village with you."

    Fiona hesitated, still flustered, but finally relented. "F-Fine. I''ll try to convince him."

    She climbed the stairs and knocked on Shin''s door three times. "Hey, Shin, do you want to explore the kingdom with me?"

    There was a pause before Shin¡¯s muffled voice came through the door. "Ex-explore? For what?"

    "Well," Fiona began, trying to sound cheerful, "I think you should see the beauty of the kingdom. Plus, you¡¯ve been cooped up in your room for a week. You need some sunlight and exercise."

    Another pause. Then, finally: "F-Fine."

    The door creaked open, and an unimaginable stench wafted out. Fiona¡¯s face twisted in disgust as she fought the urge to gag.

    "Oh gods, he stinks," she thought, horrified. "Has he not showered in an entire week?!"

    Aloud, she managed to say, "I think you should wash yourself first. I''ll leave some fresh clothes on your bed."

    "O-Okay," Shin stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment as he shuffled off to the restroom.

    Fiona descended the stairs, relieved to escape the smell.

    "So, how did it go?" Charles asked.

    "He agreed. He¡¯s washing up now," Fiona replied.

    "Good. The freshly washed clothes are in the backyard. Grab some and leave them in his room," Charles instructed.

    Before she could leave, Charles handed her a red dress adorned with pink flowers. "Here, this is my wife¡¯s old dress. Wear it. Maybe the kid will fall for you." He chuckled and gave her a knowing wink.

    Fiona shot him a glare but snatched the dress without a word. She retrieved the clothes for Shin, placed them neatly on his bed, and left the room.

    When Shin finally came downstairs, clean and dressed in fresh clothes, his face was a mix of embarrassment and reluctance.

    "I can''t believe I even have the face to show up to the priest after all this..." he thought, his cheeks burning with shame.

    Shin stood before Priest Charles and Bajar, unable to make eye contact. His hands fidgeted nervously as he spoke.

    ¡°H-Hello, Priest Charles and S-Sir Bajar,¡± Shin stuttered.

    ¡°Hello, young man. Are you ready to explore the kingdom?¡± Charles asked in a kind, fatherly tone.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Shin replied, bowing slightly.

    ¡°Damn it, they¡¯re so nice¡­ Why do I have to act like such a kid? I¡¯m sixteen! Is that even considered young?¡± Shin thought, his frustration directed at himself.

    ¡°Hey, Shin, here.¡± Bajar handed him a small pouch. The sound of coins clinking inside immediately caught Shin¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s 50 gold coins, all for you.¡±

    ¡°T-Thank you, sir!¡± Shin exclaimed, his eyes widening. He shook Bajar¡¯s hand enthusiastically.

    ¡°Haha, no need for all the formality. Now go on, Fiona¡¯s waiting for you outside,¡± Bajar said with a hearty laugh.

    Shin bowed again before stepping outside. As soon as he did, the sunlight blinded him momentarily. But it wasn¡¯t just the sun that caught his attention¡ªFiona¡¯s red dress, adorned with pink flowers, seemed to radiate a divine glow. She smiled at him, her expression soft and warm, like a newly bloomed flower defying the chaos of the world.

    Shin¡¯s heart began to race.

    Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

    ¡°He-Hello, Fiona,¡± Shin managed to say, his voice trembling. He couldn¡¯t believe the elf he first saw was now standing before him, looking like a goddess descended from the heavens. Her beauty left him unable to focus on anything else.

    ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± Fiona thought, noticing Shin¡¯s awkward behavior.

    ¡°Hey, Shin, let¡¯s go!¡± she said with a smile, extending her hand toward him.

    Shin hesitated for a moment before taking her hand. It was soft, warm, and delicate¡ªyet there was a strength to it that reminded him of something enduring, like a dream that refused to fade. As they walked, he tried to focus on the surroundings, but his gaze kept drifting back to Fiona.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    They eventually reached a part of the kingdom bustling with activity. Houses of various sizes lined the streets, built with wood and metals unique to this world.

    ¡°This part of the kingdom is where most of the people live,¡± Fiona explained.

    Shin looked around in awe at the intricacies of the homes. ¡°Wow, she¡¯s¡­ beautiful,¡± he thought, his focus entirely on Fiona rather than the scenery.

    ¡°You done looking?¡± Fiona asked with a small smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡±

    They continued toward the marketplace, a lively hub filled with different races, though humans were the most common. Merchants shouted about their goods, their stalls stocked with armor, weapons, potions, vegetables, clothes, meat, and fruits.

    ¡°This is the kingdom market,¡± Fiona said, her voice bright. ¡°You¡¯ll find all kinds of merchants selling unique items here. Take a look around, Shin!¡±

    Shin¡¯s eyes wandered, overwhelmed by the variety. Suddenly, his stomach growled. ¡°I¡¯m kinda hungry¡­ What do you suggest we eat?¡±

    Fiona pointed to a nearby stall. ¡°How about there? They¡¯re selling the famous elfple.¡±

    ¡°Elfple?¡± Shin asked, confused by the unfamiliar term.

    He handed the pouch of coins to Fiona. She approached the merchant. ¡°Hi, ma¡¯am. How much is one elfple?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s 1 gold coin per elfple,¡± the merchant replied.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take five, please!¡± Fiona said cheerfully. The merchant quickly placed five elfples into a bag and handed them over.

    ¡°Here, Shin. Try this,¡± Fiona said, handing one to him.

    Shin took a bite, and his eyes widened. A rush of sweet, creamy flavors overwhelmed his senses, as if heaven itself had descended into his mouth.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming!!!¡± Shin thought, the sheer deliciousness of the treat blowing his mind.

    "How was it?" Fiona asked.

    "It was fantastic!" Shin smiled, replying enthusiastically.

    "I''m glad you liked it. Only the Elf Kingdom produces these kinds of fruits, so they''re in high demand. That''s why they go for one gold per elfple," Fiona explained.

    "The Elf Kingdom? Is that where the elves live?" Shin asked, intrigued.

    "Yes, that''s where I grew up," Fiona answered with a soft smile.

    "I see. It must be nice living in such a place," Shin remarked thoughtfully.

    "Well, you could visit. The kingdom is open to all races. It''s practically a must-see in this world!" Fiona encouraged, her eyes twinkling.

    "Traveling... I never really thought about that, even back on Earth," Shin thought to himself. "I never really had that kind of mindset."

    "Be a hero, Shin. Don''t you want to travel the world, meeting new people?" Fiona persisted, trying to sway him.

    "Don''t you have a goal?" she asked, sensing his hesitation.

    "Goal? I never really had one... I thought finishing school and getting a well-paying job was enough," Shin thought, feeling a sense of uncertainty. "I... I don''t know."

    Fiona remained silent for a few seconds, sensing his internal conflict. "I see... Well, take your time. Think about what you want," she said gently.

    After a brief, awkward pause, Fiona shifted the topic. "How about we go to an inn? It''s my treat¡ªmy favorite place in the kingdom."

    "Sure, I''d love to!" Shin replied, eager to move past the uncomfortable moment. "I''m kinda hungry too," he added, thinking about the food.

    ---

    A few minutes later, they arrived at The Opal Inn.

    At first glance, it was massive¡ªits walls glimmered with a golden hue, as if they were painted in gold. Exotic, colorful flowers unique to this world decorated the exterior.

    "Looks like an expensive place," Shin remarked, eyes wide.

    "Don''t worry, it''s my treat," Fiona said with a smile, her confidence almost blinding Shin.

    "Shit, she''s way too pretty to be doing this for me," Shin thought, a little flustered.

    Once they stepped onto the red carpet and entered, the servant opened the door for them. Shin glanced around. The entire place was beautiful, bathed in a warm, golden light with sparkling glass tables. Wealthy patrons dined in elaborate clothing.

    "Seems like this place is for the rich," Shin thought to himself.

    "Most of the people here are nobles," Fiona said with a grin. "But the prices? I can handle them."

    "God, I''m falling for her," Shin thought, unable to hide his growing affection.

    "Wow, are you a noble yourself, Fiona?" Shin asked.

    "Maybe," Fiona teased, flashing a sly smile.

    A male servant greeted them. "How many people?"

    "Two," Fiona replied, and the servant led them to a cozy two-person table. After they were seated, the servant took their orders.

    "Ma''am, what would you like to order?" the servant asked.

    "One gorca meat, a juice, and a flower cruise dessert," Fiona said.

    The servant nodded and turned to Shin. "And for you, sir?"

    "I''ll have the same," Shin said, not wanting to make any decisions himself.

    "All right, coming up! It¡¯ll be ready shortly!" The servant left to head to the kitchen.

    "Why did you order the same as me?" Fiona asked, curious.

    "I don¡¯t really know the food here, so I just trusted your choice," Shin admitted.

    "You dummy," Fiona thought, then realized, "Wait, if he ordered the same as me... does that mean he trusts me?"

    She smiled, but quickly covered it up. "I forgot to recommend something, but don¡¯t worry¡ªthe one I picked is definitely worth it!"

    A few minutes later, their food arrived: two plates of gorca meat, two juices, and two flower cruise desserts.

    "Gorca meat? What is this?" Shin asked, eyeing the dish suspiciously.

    "Just taste it first," Fiona urged.

    Shin took a bite, and immediately, an explosion of flavors hit his taste buds. The meat was tender, savory, and the juices flowed with every chew.

    "Wow!" Shin¡¯s eyes widened. "That¡¯s... pretty crazy."

    "Haha, I know right?" Fiona grinned, taking a big bite herself. "It¡¯s good, right?"

    "By the way, what¡¯s this meat made of?" Shin asked, genuinely curious.

    "It¡¯s a hybrid of wolf and boar," Fiona explained. "They boil it for an entire day. Once it¡¯s tender, they add the sauce and let it sit for another day, then cook it for three more hours. Most of what we eat here is already cooked. They just heat it up before serving."

    "That¡¯s insane," Shin said, impressed.

    After finishing the gorca meat, they moved on to dessert.

    "Flower cruise... what is this made of?" Shin asked.

    "It¡¯s a special flower dessert from the land of magic, Arcanathis," Fiona said. "The flowers are purified with a magical liquid only found there. That¡¯s why only they can produce it."

    "If it¡¯s a flower, how can it be edible?" Shin wondered.

    "The dessert itself isn¡¯t actually a plant," Fiona explained. "It¡¯s more like a cake made from the flower¡¯s nutrients. The flower itself is inedible, but its essence is extracted to create this natural sweetness. And get this¡ªit doesn¡¯t contain any sugar at all. It¡¯s completely pure and incredibly beneficial for your body."

    "Wow, that¡¯s a lot of explanation," Shin said, intrigued. "Well, I¡¯ll give it a try now."

    He cut a small piece and tasted it. Immediately, his eyes widened as the sweetness overwhelmed him, unlike anything he had ever experienced.

    "It¡¯s incredible!" Shin exclaimed, taking another bite.

    Fiona chuckled softly, pleased to see him enjoy it so much.

    After they finished their meal, the male servant returned with the bill.

    "Your total is 40 gold," he said politely.

    Fiona smiled and immediately paid the full amount. "It''s on me," she said, glancing at Shin, who looked surprised.

    "Wow, you really didn¡¯t have to do that," Shin remarked, his cheeks flushed with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

    Fiona simply waved it off with a smile. "It¡¯s my treat. I wanted you to enjoy yourself."

    Shin couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of warmth at her generosity, silently wondering how someone like Fiona could be so kind

    Once they finished their meal and the bill was settled, Fiona and Shin walked out of the inn. The evening air was cool, and as they stepped into the quiet streets, they looked up at the sky. It had already turned to night, with the stars twinkling faintly overhead. The moon hung high, casting a soft azure glow across the horizon, bathing the world in an ethereal light.

    Shin paused for a moment, admiring the view. "The sky looks... different here," he said, his voice thoughtful. "It¡¯s so much clearer, and the glow... it feels almost magical."

    Fiona stood beside him, her gaze turned upward as well. "The Azure Glimmer," she murmured. "It¡¯s said to be a blessing from the ancient gods, a symbol of peace and prosperity. Only in places touched by magic can you see the sky like this."

    Shin absorbed the scene in silence, the quiet night offering a rare moment of peace. "It¡¯s beautiful," he said, a hint of wonder in his voice.

    Fiona gave him a soft smile. "It is," she agreed. "It¡¯s moments like these that make the journey worthwhile, don¡¯t you think?"

    Shin nodded slowly, feeling a stir in his chest. "Yeah... it really does."

    They stood there for a while, letting the calmness of the night settle over them, before Fiona finally broke the silence.

    "Well, it¡¯s getting late. Shall we head back?"

    "Yeah," Shin said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Let¡¯s go."

 The Heros Choice

    They walked together through the peaceful night of the kingdom, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating their path. Despite their proximity, neither of them spoke a word, silence weighing heavily between them. As they neared the church, Fiona finally summoned the courage to break the silence.

    "H-Hey, Shin," she stammered, her voice hesitant.

    Shin tilted his head slightly to the side, glancing at her. "Hm?" he responded, his tone neutral.

    Fiona hesitated, her heart racing, but she pushed forward. "Have you thought about... being a hero in this world?"

    Shin turned his gaze to the sky, his eyes tracing the azure expanse now tinged with stars. His thoughts were a storm of doubt and uncertainty. "Do I really have it in me?" he wondered.

    "I¡¯ll think about it," he finally replied, his voice calm yet distant, and continued walking.

    Fiona trailed behind him, her expression conflicted. Her trembling voice barely carried through the night as she murmured, "Please... I don¡¯t know what will happen if you don¡¯t choose to become our hero."

    Shin stopped in his tracks, her words and tone piercing through his thoughts. He turned back to her, concern flickering in his eyes. "Don¡¯t worry," he said gently, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "I¡¯ll make up my mind soon."

    They resumed their walk, but Shin¡¯s thoughts were heavy. "I don¡¯t know what you see in me, Fiona, but I¡¯m not some kind of hero. I¡¯m no hero..."

    After a few minutes, they stepped inside the church. Priest Charles and Sir Bajar were waiting for them Bajar, however, was fast asleep on a pew. Shin bowed politely to both.

    "Good evening, Father Charles," he greeted.

    Charles returned the gesture with a warm smile. "Good evening, Shin. Have you eaten yet?"

    "Yes, I have, Priest. I¡¯ll be heading to bed now," Shin replied.

    Charles nodded. "Make sure to wash yourself first."

    "I will," Shin said with a respectful nod before heading upstairs. Once he disappeared from sight, Fiona and Charles began a hushed conversation.

    "So, how did it go?" Charles asked, his voice low.

    Fiona hesitated, then sighed. "He said he¡¯ll think about it."

    "I see," Charles murmured, his expression pensive. "The problem is, we don¡¯t know how much time we have before the Great Force arrives."

    "I understand," Fiona replied, her voice heavy with worry. "But he¡¯s still a kid. His opinion matters."

    Charles sighed deeply, his features hardening. "The goddess has chosen him. That is absolute."

    Fiona¡¯s eyes filled with concern. "But can¡¯t we choose someone else? Someone more mature, someone who¡¯s already a strong warrior in this world? Why did it have to be him?"

    Charles remained silent for a moment, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Fiona," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "the goddess¡¯s commands are absolute. Do not forget that."

    Fiona¡¯s knees buckled, and she knelt before him in fear. "Y-Yes, Father," she whispered.

    "Go to bed," Charles said, his voice softening slightly.

    Fiona nodded and walked upstairs, her eyes cast downward. As her footsteps faded, Bajar stirred on the pew.

    "You didn¡¯t have to be so harsh on her," Bajar muttered, his voice laced with disapproval.

    "You were awake?" Charles asked, raising an eyebrow.

    "Obviously," Bajar replied, sitting up. "I know you believe in the goddess¡¯s will, but is that really all there is to it?"

    Charles said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.

    Bajar stretched and leaned back. "I¡¯ll take him to the academy tomorrow. Maybe seeing it will spark some passion in him," he suggested.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Do what you want," Charles said flatly as he turned to leave for his personal chambers. "Just make sure that kid becomes a proper hero."

    "I will," Bajar said, his tone resolute.

    Meanwhile, Shin lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above him. His mind was restless, cycling through thoughts he couldn¡¯t suppress.

    ¡°This world is beautiful, but I miss Grandma. It¡¯s been a week¡­ I wonder what she¡¯s doing. I miss Ria¡­¡± Shin thought, a pang of homesickness tugging at his heart.

    He sighed. ¡°And they don¡¯t even have TV or phones here. It gets so boring sometimes.¡±

    Shin shifted on the bed, his gaze still fixed upward. ¡°Maybe if I become a hero, I can find a way back to my world. But¡­ it¡¯s scary.¡±

    Frustrated, he slapped himself on the cheeks. ¡°What are you doing, idiot?¡± he muttered aloud. ¡°Back on Earth, you were dreaming of revenge, yearning to learn Aetheris. Now¡¯s your chance to shine!¡±

    His eyes widened in sudden realization. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡±

    But then another voice echoed in his mind, soft yet stern. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Shin. You¡¯ll get hurt.¡±

    Shin scowled, clenching his fists. ¡°I¡¯m always getting hurt anyway!¡± he retorted to the imaginary voice. ¡°Back on Earth, pain was a daily thing. Why not do it here, where I¡¯ll actually have the power to fight back?¡±

    The conflict raged on in his mind. ¡°Enough, all of you, I¡¯m trying to sleep!¡± he snapped internally. Silence followed as the mental angel and demon retreated, leaving him to his restless thoughts.

    The morning sunlight crept through his window, casting golden rays onto his face. Shin groaned and tried to shield his eyes with his arm, but the noise of the bustling kingdom outside soon pulled him from his half-sleep.

    ¡°Ugh,¡± he muttered, forcing himself to sit up. After a moment of gathering his thoughts, he stood and stretched, the floorboards creaking beneath his feet. Just as he was about to head out, a knock came at his door.

    Dung. Dung.

    ¡°Hm? Who¡¯s that?¡± Shin wondered aloud. He opened the door to see Fiona standing there, a tray of food balanced carefully in her hands.

    ¡°Did you just wake up?¡± she asked softly, her tone as gentle as her presence.

    ¡°Yeah, I just did,¡± Shin replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

    ¡°Here¡¯s some food. After you eat, go wash yourself. Sir Bajar said he wanted to see you,¡± Fiona said, placing the tray on the small table in his room.

    ¡°Why not now? I don¡¯t want to keep him waiting,¡± Shin said, his sense of urgency showing.

    Fiona shook her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°He can wait, Shin.¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°Just eat,¡± Fiona interrupted, her glare sharp and serious.

    ¡°O-Okay,¡± Shin stammered, intimidated by her sudden shift in demeanor.

    As she set the food down, her gaze flickered for a moment after seeing shin morning wood before she quickly turned and left, her cheeks a faint shade of red. Shin raised an eyebrow at her retreating figure, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s with her mood?¡± he wondered, sitting down to eat.

    After finishing the meal, Shin headed to the restroom to wash up. The cold water jolted him fully awake, clearing the last remnants of sleep from his mind. He returned to his room, pulling on a fresh set of clothes, before heading downstairs.

    In the church¡¯s main hall, Sir Bajar, Priest Charles, and Fiona were waiting for him. Shin approached them with a polite nod.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said, his voice steady despite the nervous energy coursing through him.

    "Bajar is waiting for you," Priest Charles said.

    "Hey, kid."

    "Hello, sir." Shin bowed respectfully.

    "Is there anything you need?" Shin asked, noticing Bajar''s usual grin.

    "Come with me. I''ll show you the kingdom''s academy," Bajar said, his smirk widening.

    "Wow, really?" Shin''s eyes sparkled with excitement.

    "Yes, now let¡¯s go." Bajar grabbed Shin¡¯s hand and ran toward the door, making Shin feel like a paper being swept through the air.

    "HEY, CLOSE THE DOOR PROPERLY!" The door slammed behind them with a loud BOOM.

    Ugh, he still acts like a kid, Priest Charles thought, shaking his head.

    "I guess the kid really likes him," Fiona said, smiling at the sight.

    "Yeah, it''s a good thing. He''ll be his mentor."

    "It''s a sad thing he''ll never get to have moments like this with his own son," Charles said with a wistful expression.

    Shin and Bajar continued their run.

    "Hey, is it pretty far?" Shin asked, panting.

    "Nah, we''re pretty close," Bajar replied.

    We''ve been running for at least 20 minutes, Shin thought, breathing heavily.

    After 10 minutes, they finally reached their destination.

    "What the hell is this?" Shin wondered aloud. "It looks scary and dark..." He gazed at the academy¡¯s secret entrance¡ªan underground, shadowy path leading into the heart of the academy.

    "Yeah, it''s kind of dark," Bajar admitted. "My father told me they did this when the kingdom went to war. The enemy killed all the students, so they built it like this. Only students know the location¡ªnone of the normal citizens, even the parents, have any idea."

    "I see... but why are you showing it to me?" Shin asked.

    "You¡¯re becoming a student soon, anyway," Bajar replied with a grin.

    As they walked down the dark path, the air grew cooler, and the weight of the past seemed to linger. Finally, the path opened up, revealing a sprawling academy full of activity. Students were scattered around, each engaged in their own tasks. The academy was surrounded by towering trees, their leaves swaying in the breeze.

    "Wow," Shin thought, his eyes wide with awe. The academy¡¯s insane design left him speechless¡ªit was completely covered by trees, yet it still exuded an undeniable beauty.

    "Beautiful, right?" Bajar asked, grinning.

    "Ah, yes. It is," Shin replied, his voice full of wonder.

    "Follow me," Bajar said, leading him through the academy. They climbed a ladder that led to a large tank of water, from which they gained a panoramic view of the entire campus.

    Shin gazed at the bustling scene below. He saw the hall where everyone ate, the classroom where magic was being taught, and the garden where most students gathered for their martial arts practice. He saw the dormitories where students stayed, training year after year to become great warriors. Finally, he noticed the sparring room, empty except for humanoid-shaped sandbags.

    Shin¡¯s eyes widened, filled with hope.

    Can I really be a hero? Shin thought, a positive determination settling in his chest.

 A Mans Dreams Has No End!

    "Can I really be a hero?" Shin thought, a flicker of determination settling in his chest, growing with each breath.

    "Looks like I¡¯ve already got him," Bajar thought, a knowing grin spreading across his face.

    ¡°Listen, kid. A man¡¯s dream has no end,¡± Bajar said, his tone strong and encouraging.

    ¡°A man¡¯s dream¡­ has no end?¡± Shin repeated, his voice trembling with curiosity.

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Bajar placed a firm hand on Shin¡¯s chest, his finger tapping over Shin''s heart. ¡°The only limit is you! Your will becomes the will of others to survive, to fight, and to keep going. Even if the world doesn¡¯t call you a hero, who cares? Carve your own path!¡±

    Shin¡¯s eyes widened as tears began to well up. ¡°T-That¡¯s right¡­ A man¡¯s dream has no end!¡± he stammered, his emotions spilling over.

    ¡°Whahahaha! Even if you only have a small spark inside you or no flame at all who cares!?¡± Bajar shouted, clenching his fist and raising it toward the sunlit sky. ¡°Your fate is in your own hands!¡±

    Shin fell to his knees, overwhelmed. ¡°C-Can I really be a hero?¡± he asked, his voice shaking with doubt and hope.

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Bajar said, his grin widening, a fierce glint in his eyes. ¡°But one thing¡¯s for sure: anyone can be a hero if they have the will to do it! So, Shin¡ªcarve your own path!¡± He patted Shin¡¯s head with surprising gentleness. ¡°Before you answer me, though, let me show you what someone like you can do.¡±

    Bajar gestured toward a line of students practicing martial arts with impressive precision and strength. ¡°Look at them. Every single one is between sixteen and eighteen years old.¡±

    ¡°How old are you?¡± Bajar asked.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sixteen,¡± Shin stammered, still caught in the emotional whirlwind.

    ¡°Good,¡± Bajar said with a wicked grin. ¡°Now take a good look at them. Strong bodies, tall frames, and incredible talent. So, Shin¡­ aren¡¯t you jealous?¡±

    Shin¡¯s gaze locked onto the students. A mix of envy, inadequacy, and determination bubbled within him. ¡°I¡­ I envy them. I feel jealous looking at them,¡± Shin admitted, his blue eyes beginning to darken, taking on the depth of an abyss.

    ¡°Whahahaha! That¡¯s right. You feel pathetic, don¡¯t you? So prove them wrong!¡± Bajar¡¯s tone grew darker, almost menacing, as if he was unlocking something deep within Shin.

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll prove them wrong,¡± Shin stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with an unmistakable resolve.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Make them pay,¡± Bajar encouraged, his words dripping with intensity. For a moment, his grin faltered as he thought to himself, Am I using too much of¡­ that?

    ¡°Before you make your final choice,¡± Bajar continued, ¡°watch them closely.¡±

    Shin¡¯s eyes focused on the students as they showcased their martial arts with fluid movements and impeccable accuracy. Each punch sent ripples through the air, their strength so palpable Shin could feel it, even within the towering 80-foot water tank that surrounded him.

    ¡°So, tell me,¡± Bajar said, his grin now stretching almost unnaturally, his dark aura pulsating. ¡°Do you think you can compete with them?¡±

    Shin¡¯s gaze hardened, his voice low and steady, tinged with an eerie determination. ¡°I will.¡±

    Bajar¡¯s grin twisted into something almost sinister. ¡°This is it,¡± he thought, his dark aura swirling with satisfaction as he imagined what Shin would become in the future.

    Bajar smiled, but the sight was horrifying it carried an unshakable weight. He stood tall, crossing his arms, his hair flowing with the rhythm of the air.

    "Remember, Shin," he said in a deep, commanding voice, "you were not born to blend but to carve your own path true, unshakable, and whole."

    Shin remained silent, only nodding as his dark eyes slowly returned to normal. "When do I start?" he asked, a small grin forming on his face.

    Bajar grinned back, his face bright with approval. "Later. Let¡¯s head back to the church. I¡¯ll prepare your fake documents. Only a few people can know your real identity."

    With a sudden burst of energy, Bajar grabbed Shin and leapt from the towering 80-foot water tank to the ground below. The impact created a small crack that echoed throughout the academy. Yet no one dared check it was Sir Bajar, after all.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Landing smoothly, Bajar put Shin down and adjusted his stance. "So, Shin, do you want to come to the church with me, or would you rather explore the kingdom a bit first?"

    "I think I''ll explore the kingdom more before you come back," Shin replied with a confident nod.

    "Alright, but make sure to return to the entrance before the azure sets," Bajar said with a grin before turning to leave.

    In an instant, he bolted away, his powerful legs moving as if fueled by tireless energy. The air waves from his speed made Shin¡¯s hair flutter.

    "Wow, he¡¯s really amazing," Shin thought, blushing not out of attraction, but admiration. He stood for a moment, staring after Bajar before turning back toward the kingdom. "I¡¯d better get going before the azure sets."

    Shin wandered the streets, taking in the sights of the bustling market, narrow alleys, and vibrant life of the kingdom. Merchants shouted their prices, children ran about, and people went about their routines.

    After some time, he noticed a small sign by a painter''s stall: "1 gold for 1 painting."

    Shin paused, thinking to himself. This could help me remember Grandma Anne and Ria. Who knows how long I¡¯ll be here...

    Approaching the painter, he said, "Hey, sir, I¡¯d like two custom paintings."

    The painter smirked, his eyes gleaming with greed. Never seen this kid before. Bet I can rip him off. "That¡¯ll be 10 golds!" he said with a grin.

    Shin tilted his head and smiled. "Wow, that¡¯s a great deal, sir. I¡¯ll pay 20 golds!"

    The painter froze, his smirk dropping as his eyes widened in disbelief. "Wh-what? Really?"

    "Of course, sir! I¡¯ll wait for it," Shin replied casually.

    The painter¡¯s eyes filled with tears, overcome by Shin¡¯s generosity. "Thank you so much!" he exclaimed, shaking Shin¡¯s hand vigorously. "Please, tell me the details of what you want painted!"

    Shin took his time describing every detail the faces of Grandma Anne and Ria, their warm smiles and kind eyes. He requested a background of an island, lush with green leaves, white sand, and pure blue water, a reflection of peace and beauty.

    The painter nodded eagerly, ready to bring Shin¡¯s memories to life.

    Shin grew bored of waiting at the painter''s shop and decided to explore the kingdom again. As he wandered through the streets, he came across a merchant selling various common items. His eyes landed on a small stack of books.

    "Hm, maybe I could use these for a journal," Shin thought, a spark of inspiration lighting up. I want to write about my adventures here. He approached the merchant.

    "Hey, could I buy two books and..." Shin paused, eyeing the other items. They¡¯ve got ink and feather pens for writing. That¡¯ll come in handy.

    "I¡¯ll also take 10 bottles of ink and 2 feather pens," Shin added.

    The merchant nodded eagerly and quickly gathered Shin¡¯s order, handing him two books, ten bottles of ink, and two feather pens. The merchant hesitated, unsure what Shin meant by "feather pen," but assumed he had pointed to the correct item.

    "How much?" Shin asked.

    "Five gold, sir," the merchant replied.

    "Wow, that¡¯s pretty cheap. Good thing I brought this pouch earlier. I still have 15 gold left I¡¯ll save it," Shin thought. He handed over the gold. "Here. Thank you."

    The merchant smiled as Shin walked away with his supplies. As he wandered, Shin noticed the serene quiet of the kingdom at night. The kingdom is so peaceful during the night. I guess people in this era don¡¯t have the kind of technology we did back on Earth to keep themselves entertained, Shin mused.

    Almost back at the painter¡¯s shop, Shin saw a man in a black cloak running down the alley, clutching several books. The cloaked figure bumped into him, almost knocking him over. Moments later, two guards in steel armor appeared, spears in hand.

    "Hey! Did you see anyone suspicious running around here? Someone in a black cloak?" one of the guards asked.

    "Hm, a bad person?" Shin thought, glancing in the direction the cloaked figure had gone. "He went that way," he said, pointing toward the market.

    As the guards rushed off, Shin scratched his head. "What a weird time to be getting chased by guards. Then again, this world is probably different from Earth."

    Almost at the painter''s shop, another thought hit him. Come to think of it, every time I walk, the gold in my pouch jingles. It¡¯s so noticeable. He instinctively checked his pocket and froze.

    "SHIT," Shin muttered under his breath. His grin tightened. That bastard stole my pouch when he bumped into me.

    "Thankfully, the paintings were already paid" for. When Shin arrived at the painter''s shop, the artist handed him the completed works. Shin''s eyes widened as he took in the vivid details. The paintings exceeded his expectations absolutely stunning.

    "These are amazing," Shin murmured before quickly running off toward the academy¡¯s secret entrance. As he ran, he noticed the sky. Damn it, the azure has already set!

    When he arrived, he saw Bajar standing by the entrance, pinching the bridge of his nose.

    "Oh, hey," Bajar said, noticing Shin. "Did you get what you wanted?"

    "Yes," Shin replied, clutching his paintings.

    "Let me see," Bajar said, snatching one before Shin could protest.

    "Fuck, he just grabbed it," Shin thought bitterly.

    Bajar inspected the painting, his expression softening. "Wow, this is beautiful. Is this your grandma?"

    "Yes, that¡¯s my Grandma Anne," Shin replied, a touch of pride in his voice.

    Bajar moved to the second painting. "And this girl she¡¯s really pretty. Is she your fianc¨¦e?"

    Shin¡¯s face turned red. "Wh-what? No! She¡¯s just my friend! Her name is Ria," he stuttered.

    Bajar chuckled quietly. "Whatever you say, kid. I¡¯ll believe you." He gave Shin a mischievous look.

    "Wh-what? Why are you looking at me like that? I swear, she¡¯s just a friend!" Shin exclaimed, his voice rising in embarrassment.

    "Whahahaha! It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine," Bajar laughed loudly. "Let¡¯s go."

    Without warning, Bajar grabbed Shin and dashed back into the dark tunnel. His speed was incredible, each step creating gusts of wind that pushed Shin¡¯s hair back. After some time, they reached the academy, entering the dormitories.

    "This will be your room," Bajar said with a grin, gesturing toward a door. "Now, let me explain the rules." His grin widened, carrying an air of both amusement and authority.

    "I''ll carve my own path, starting here in the academy," Shin thought, his determination burning brighter than ever.

 Academy Chronicles: The First Lesson

    "I''ll carve my own path, starting here in the academy," Shin thought, his determination burning brighter than ever.

    "First rule," Bajar said, raising his hand and releasing his index finger, "you can''t leave the academy unless you have permission from me or one of the other teachers."

    He then released his middle finger. "Second rule, you must follow all the academy''s rules."

    Shin frowned and asked, "Can you explain the rules in a simpler way? The first one was easy to get, but the rest feel all over the place."

    "No, I''m not a teacher," Bajar replied bluntly.

    Shin''s face twisted in annoyance. "You''re just lazy," he thought, shaking his head.

    Ignoring him, Bajar released his ring finger. "Third rule, if you want to fight another student, you both have to sign a consent form and do it in the designated sparring area. No exceptions."

    "Fourth rule: You must never cheat, whether it''s on a test or during sparring. You must always fight equally," Bajar said in a serious tone. "That''s the most important rule. Do not break it."

    Shin wiped sweat from his brow, clenching his fists. "I won''t break it," he said, though his own voice was filled with uncertainty.

    "How embarrassing... did I really say that?" Bajar thought, but he pushed the feeling aside.

    "That''s all. There are other rules, but the teacher who handles your class will explain them," Bajar added.

    "I see. Thank you, sir." Shin bowed respectfully.

    "See you tomorrow. I¡¯m probably going to sleep now," Bajar said, turning to leave.

    "You''re not going to help me with all these clothes you brought?" Shin asked politely.

    "Nah, you can handle it. I¡¯m too tired." Bajar waved as he walked out the door.

    "Oh, by the way," Bajar called back, "don¡¯t make too much noise. The students sleeping next to you need their rest."

    "Yes, sir," Shin replied, his respect unwavering.

    "Fuck. How am I supposed to put all this stuff away?" Shin muttered to himself. Bajar had left a large bag full of clothes and supplies.

    It was late, but Shin was too tired to think about it and soon drifted into a deep sleep, snoring heavily.

    A few hours later, Shin woke up with a groggy groan.

    "Hmmm, what time is it?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. He squinted at the timer on the wall. "9:38?"

    Shin blinked, then his eyes widened in panic. "FUCK!"

    "What time is my class?" he thought, his mind racing. Sir Bajar didn¡¯t even say anything!

    He scrambled out of bed, rushing to the restroom. After a rushed wash, he attempted to get dressed but tripped and fell flat on his face.

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    "OUCH! Fuck!" Shin cursed, groaning in frustration. He lay on the ground for a moment before spotting a piece of paper fluttering toward him. He grabbed it and saw that it was a note from Bajar.

    "Your class is at 8 in the morning."

    -Bajar

    "FUCK, I¡¯M LATE!" Shin shouted, panic rising in his chest.

    After a few more minutes of frantic dressing, Shin bolted out the door. Just as he was about to close it behind him, another note caught his eye. He read it aloud to himself.

    "There¡¯s 12 classes. Your class is at 8."

    -Bajar

    "Why couldn¡¯t he just put it all together in one note?" Shin thought, frustrated but still rushing.

    Without another thought, he sprinted downstairs and dashed toward the academy.

    While Shin was running toward the classroom, he bumped into someone else who was also rushing. They both fell to the ground.

    ¡°Ouch,¡± Shin muttered, rubbing his shin.

    "Ah! Are you okay?" the other person asked, his voice laced with concern.

    "Y-yeah, I¡¯m okay. Sorry, but I gotta hurry! I¡¯m late for class," the other person said, standing up and quickly adjusting his uniform before dashing off again.

    Shin stood up, still a bit confused. "His voice feels way too feminine, but he''s dressed as a guy. His face also looks just like Fiona¡¯s, but more... undeveloped? Shin thought, rubbing his sore shin. Oh, crap! I¡¯m late too!"

    Shin quickly got back on his feet and resumed running. After a while, he arrived at the academy building and saw a bunch of students'' faces through the class windows.

    "Class 1¡­ Class 5¡­ Class 8! This is it!" Shin thought happily, clenching his fist in excitement and giving an awkward smile. As he stepped inside, he immediately felt the change in atmosphere.

    This place feels totally different from the outside... Shin thought, shivering slightly as his body hair stood on end. It feels so weird walking into a class like this.

    "The classroom was set up like a university lecture hall. I should probably make some friends," Shin thought as he looked around.

    He stepped forward, scanning the room to find a seat next to someone who seemed comfortable. "These people look scarier than the thugs back in my room on Earth, he mused, feeling a little intimidated. Oh, that guy seems normal."

    As Shin sat down, he realized that the person he had bumped into earlier was sitting right beside him.

    "Oh, hey, you''re the guy from earlier, right?" Shin said with a friendly tone.

    The other person blinked and stuttered, "O-oh, hello... new student."

    Shin smiled, "Yeah! I just got here last night. I was transferred by Sir Bajar!"

    "S-sir Bajar?!" the other student asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

    The rest of the students in the room immediately took notice, giving serious glances in their direction.

    "Yeah, why?" Shin asked, a bit confused.

    "Well, that¡¯s pretty rare. He never transfers students on his own, except for one. You must be really talented, just like him!" the student said, now speaking more energetically.

    Shin scratched the back of his head. "Oh, this is my first time learning something like this."

    A few students nearby started murmuring to each other.

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s probably a noble and used his connections to be transferred by him.¡±

    ¡°Probably, but Mr. Bajar doesn¡¯t accept bribes.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s probably a nephew, or even a son.¡±

    They whispered among themselves, but the atmosphere didn¡¯t seem as welcoming anymore.

    Shin smiled and extended his hand to the student. "Oh, I see! Anyways, my name is Rayden Blackwood!"

    The other student hesitated for a moment before shaking Shin¡¯s hand. "Oh, nice to meet you! I¡¯m Shin."

    They both smiled, but then Shin looked around. "By the way, isn¡¯t there supposed to be a teacher here?"

    The student chuckled nervously. "You¡¯re asking me? We both just arrived almost at the same time, haha. I think the first teacher ended their class, and the second one should come next!"

    "I see! Thanks for the info!" Shin said, flashing another smile.

    After a few minutes of chatter among the students, a tall man entered the room. His white glasses gleamed under the light, and though his hair was short, his long bangs gave him a sharp, distinctive appearance. He smiled, though the chill in his tone was unmistakable.

    "Is Shin here? Mr. Bajar''s transferred student?" the man asked, his piercing gaze scanning the room.

    Shin raised his hand. "It''s me, sir," he replied.

    The teacher''s expression turned serious as he gestured. "Please come to the front."

    Taking a deep breath, Shin stepped forward confidently. "Relax, Shin. You''ve got this. Be confident," he thought, shaking off his nerves.

    Once he reached the front, the teacher spoke again. "Introduce yourself to your classmates."

    Shin nodded, standing tall. "Hello, everyone. My name is Shin. I was transferred here by Mr. Bajar. Please be nice to me." He finished with a grin, his voice steady.

    "Did I do good?" Shin wondered. "Sir Bajar told me not to reveal my identity."

    The room fell silent, and the weight of the students'' serious, almost hostile, glances bore down on him. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. "Shit. I messed up,"he thought, panic creeping in.

    But then, he caught sight of Rayden, who gave him a bright smile and an encouraging thumbs-up. Though he couldn¡¯t hear him, Shin read his lips "You''re¡­ doing¡­ good."

    "Oh, I see," Shin thought, relief washing over him.

    "Nice to meet you, Shin," the teacher said, breaking the tension. "You may return to your seat. And, for the record, my name is Kaizen Varros." His tone was polite, but the suspicious glint in his eyes lingered.

    Shin nodded and returned to his seat, replaying the moment in his head. An hour passed as Kaizen delivered his lesson, focusing on weapon techniques. Finally, the teacher spoke, his words like a release.

    "You may now head to the banquet hall," Kaizen announced before leaving the classroom.

    "Two subjects a day? First magic, which I missed, and then weapons? That''s not too bad," Shin thought as he stretched.

    Turning to Rayden, he asked, "Hey, want to head to the banquet together?"

    Rayden blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded. "O-Oh, sure!" His voice betrayed his excitement. "This is the first time someone¡¯s asked me to hang out," he thought, his heart racing slightly.

    "Truth is, I have no idea where the banquet hall is," Shin admitted to himself as they walked.

    After a few minutes, they arrived at two massive, intricately carved doors that marked the entrance to the banquet hall. The rich aroma of food wafted out as the doors opened, revealing a bustling space filled with the academy''s cooks and rows of dishes Shin had never seen before.

    As students rushed past them to claim their seats, Shin''s eyes widened in awe. Plates of

    vibrant, steaming meals lined the tables, showcasing a dazzling variety of cuisines.

    "This¡­ this is incredible," Shin thought, his stomach growling at the sight.

 Academy Chronicles: The Path of Martial Mastery

    "This¡­ this is incredible," Shin thought, his stomach growling at the sight of the banquet hall''s grand display of food.

    "Ah, hey! Where do we line up?" Shin stammered, unable to contain his excitement.

    "There," Rayden pointed toward a long line, amused by Shin''s reaction. "He seems really excited," Rayden thought to himself as they quickly walked over and joined the line.

    "I can''t wait!" Shin said, practically bouncing in place.

    "Have you never seen anything like this before?" Rayden asked, curious.

    "Ah, yeah¡­ we barely had any meat back where I¡¯m from," Shin replied, making up a quick lie.

    "I see. That must¡¯ve been tough," Rayden said with a sympathetic nod.

    "Hm, that¡¯s a good lie," Shin thought, relieved.

    After a few minutes, it was finally their turn. A stern-looking cook glanced at them from behind the counter.

    "What do you want?" she asked, her tone brisk.

    "I¡¯ll have everything on the menu!" Shin exclaimed happily, his eyes shining with excitement.

    The cook paused, giving him a serious look.

    "Are you Sir Bajar''s transferred student?" she asked.

    "Yes, ma¡¯am!" Shin replied proudly.

    "I see. My name¡¯s Hilda. I¡¯ll get your tray," she said, her voice softening slightly.

    "Thank you, Cook Hilda!" Shin said with a bright grin.

    Rayden watched the exchange with surprise. "Wow, Sir Bajar really is a big deal. I heard he¡¯s the head instructor, but this is crazy," he thought.

    After a while, Hilda returned with Shin¡¯s tray, piled high with different meats, fruits, and vegetables.

    "Wow, I can barely lift this!" Shin thought as he carefully balanced the tray.

    "I¡¯ll go find us some seats!" Shin called to Rayden, who nodded as he waited for his own food.

    As Shin walked past the other students, their eyes followed him, and whispers filled the hall.

    "Wow, being transferred by Sir Bajar must be nice."

    "Yeah, no kidding."

    "Dang, he gets to eat all kinds of meat!"

    Shin heard the murmurs and smirked to himself. That¡¯s right, "get jealous, you fuckers," he thought, enjoying the attention.

    He found an empty table and set his tray down with a satisfied sigh. "I should wait for Rayden," he thought, resisting the urge to dig in right away.

    A few minutes later, Rayden arrived with his food. Shin waved him over.

    "Oh, there you are!" Rayden said, sitting down across from him.

    Without wasting a second, Shin began devouring his food, grabbing two different types of meat in both hands and biting into them like a starving beast.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "Wow, he sure eats a lot," Rayden thought, watching in awe.

    Shin paused for a moment and looked at him. "Do you want some? You look pretty feminine with your frame."

    Rayden blushed. "Wh-what?! I don¡¯t need it!" he stammered, embarrassed.

    "Okay then," Shin said with a shrug, returning to his feast.

    "Haha, how can I call him feminine when I¡¯m skinny as hell myself? He¡¯s also a little taller than me," Shin thought with a small chuckle.

    Rayden finished his meal quickly and glanced at the large clock mounted on the banquet hall ceiling. "Hm, we still have 30 minutes" left, he thought.

    "Hey, Shin," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I¡¯m going to take a nap. Wake me up when you¡¯re done eating."

    "O-okay!" Shin replied, already halfway through a bowl of fruit.

    After fifteen minutes, Shin finally finished eating and gently shook Rayden awake.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m done eating,¡± Shin said.

    Rayden sat up, glancing at the massive clock in the banquet hall. ¡°Oh, alright,¡± he said, noticing they still had fifteen minutes before their next class. ¡°I¡¯m going outside for some fresh air. You could hit the restroom or just let your food settle,¡± he added as he headed toward the door.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Shin replied, watching him leave.

    Five minutes passed. Shin leaned back and sighed. I should probably head to the restroom now, he thought, quickly getting up and rushing toward the bathroom. After taking care of business, he stepped out, feeling refreshed.

    Shin left the banquet hall and spotted Rayden standing near the entrance. ¡°Hey, Rayden! Let¡¯s go!¡±

    Rayden turned and smiled. ¡°Oh, yeah. Did you let it all out?¡± he asked casually.

    ¡°Y-Yeah, haha...¡± Shin replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck as they started walking together.

    While they made their way, Shin asked, ¡°By the way, what class are we heading to next? I thought there were only two classes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re going to martial arts class. It¡¯s where we learn the kingdom¡¯s martial arts¡ªor academy martial arts, as some call it. You¡¯ll pick it up eventually, but since you joined late, we¡¯re already past the basics,¡± Rayden explained.

    ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s kind of weird, though,¡± Shin replied, a curious tone in his voice. ¡°Learning the same moves for two years?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it is,¡± Rayden said with a shrug. ¡°They¡¯ve never taught us anything advanced in the two years I¡¯ve been here. Anyway, we¡¯d better hurry up! We don¡¯t want to be late!¡±

    Shin nodded as they picked up the pace. "Hmm¡­ could it be that only the teachers know the advanced techniques? Or maybe the basic techniques are the only ones that exist?" Shin wondered, his mind deep in thought. "Or¡­ what if they want us to master the basics completely first? Based on what I saw yesterday, the academy¡¯s martial arts seem to rely heavily on the body. Teaching advanced techniques without preparation might break or even kill someone."

    Rayden noticed Shin¡¯s distant expression. ¡°Hey, are you thinking about something?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Ah, no. I just remembered something,¡± Shin replied quickly, shaking off his thoughts.

    ¡°Oh, I see. Well, let¡¯s go!¡± Rayden said, grabbing Shin¡¯s hand and pulling him along as they rushed toward the martial arts hall.

    They finally arrived at the martial arts hall. Shin looked around, scanning the place. The large room was already packed with students, many warming up for practice. The energy in the hall was palpable, as if everyone was preparing for something intense.

    After a moment, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the hall. A tall, muscular man with a scar running down his left eye entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. He shouted, ¡°EVERYONE, TO YOUR PLACES!¡±

    The students instantly scrambled into position, forming neat rows. ¡°Hey, Shin, follow me!¡± Rayden said as he guided Shin into the line. ¡°Stand next to me and just mimic what I do!¡±

    Shin nodded and quickly took his place beside Rayden.

    The teacher¡¯s voice thundered again. ¡°STANCE!¡±

    At once, the students bent their knees slightly, lowering their bodies into a solid stance. Their legs were firmly grounded, and their fists clenched tightly at their hips. Shin followed along, observing the movements carefully.

    This stance¡­ it¡¯s similar to karate, Shin thought, his body adjusting to the unfamiliar pose.

    ¡°RIGHT!¡± the teacher roared.

    As one, the students launched their right fists forward in a powerful punch. Shin mimicked the move, but he was immediately overwhelmed. He could feel the sheer force emanating from the collective strikes around him.

    "Wh-what the hell is this energy?" Shin thought, his eyes widening in shock.

    ¡°LEFT!¡± the teacher barked.

    The students¡¯ left fists struck forward in unison, and once again, Shin felt the immense energy radiating from the synchronized punches.

    ¡°Wow¡­¡± Shin muttered under his breath, his excitement growing.

    The routine continued for twenty minutes straight, each punch executed with precision and intensity. Shin¡¯s breathing grew heavier, sweat dripping down his face.

    "How long are they going to keep this up?" he wondered, struggling to maintain his posture.

    Rayden glanced at Shin out of the corner of his eye. "He¡¯s starting to tire out¡­ but he¡¯ll get used to it," Rayden thought.

    Shin gritted his teeth, refusing to collapse. "Somehow, my body¡¯s holding out¡­ I¡¯m not used to this, but I¡¯m not breaking either."

    He stole a glance at Rayden, who was still punching with steady determination. A pang of guilt hit Shin. "Rayden is incredible¡­ and I called his body feminine earlier. I¡¯m such an ass."

    ¡°SECOND FORM!¡± the teacher shouted.

    The students immediately shifted into a new stance, their bodies angled sideways. Their left arms extended slightly forward while their right arms stayed back. Their knees remained bent, but their posture seemed more relaxed yet ready for action.

    ¡°Hold it, Shin! We¡¯re almost done!¡± Rayden encouraged, noticing Shin¡¯s struggle.

    Shin nodded, forcing a smile through the sweat dripping from his brow.

    ¡°STRIKE!¡± the teacher commanded.

    The students moved fluidly, launching their left fists first and following up with their right in a seamless combination. Shin could tell the strikes were faster, but they lacked the overwhelming energy of the first form.

    "This form¡­ it¡¯s focused on precision and speed. The kingdom¡¯s martial art is a hybrid of power and technique," Shin thought, his mind racing as he adapted to the moves.

    For another ten minutes, they repeated the strikes in perfect rhythm. Then, the teacher¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°EAST!¡±

    The students turned sharply to face the eastern side of the hall, shifting into yet another stance. This time, their arms were lowered, as if leaving their bodies unguarded.

    ¡°STRIKE!¡±

    With a burst of motion, the students kicked forward, their legs slicing through the air. One foot supported their entire weight while the other delivered a powerful, precise strike.

    Shin executed the kick, his leg stretching high into the air. Once again, he felt the immense energy surging through the move.

    "It¡¯s powerful, yet fast¡­ another hybrid technique?" Shin thought. Despite his lack of experience with regular exercise or martial arts back on Earth, his body seemed to move naturally. His leg stretched effortlessly, reaching a full extension.

    "What the hell? How am I this flexible?" he wondered, a grin forming on his face. "Am I really a hero?"

    As he kicked again, his excitement grew. His eyes began to shimmer faintly, a colorless aura flowing around them.

 Academy chronicles: Bathhouse Bonds and Weaponry Trials

    As the last kick landed, Shin felt his excitement grow. His eyes began to shimmer faintly, and a colorless aura seemed to flicker around them. He paused, noticing this strange sensation, but quickly shook it off to focus on the exercise.

    The group continued the drills for twenty grueling minutes under the unrelenting heat. Finally, the teacher clapped his hands together, his booming voice echoing through the training hall.

    "YOU CAN REST NOW! YOU HAVE 1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES USE IT HOWEVER YOU WISH!"

    Without another word, the teacher leaped high into the sky, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

    Shin stared after him, wide eyed. "Wow," he murmured, still in awe of the display.

    Rayden flopped down onto the ground beside him, breathing heavily. "Hey, Shin, let''s sit down for a bit."

    "Ah, yeah," Shin replied, plopping down beside him. They both lay back on the stone floor, catching their breath.

    "It''s so hot today," Shin said, wiping the sweat off his brow as he stared at the sky.

    "Yeah, it¡¯s always like this here," Rayden replied, shifting to sit cross-legged. "The academy is a magical place. The weather changes every day it¡¯s nothing like the kingdom."

    "Magical place?" Shin thought, glancing around. It certainly didn¡¯t look magical on the surface, but something about it felt... different. He wondered if the academy was intentionally separated from the rest of the world, as if hidden beyond the kingdom¡¯s walls.

    Rayden interrupted his thoughts. "Hey, Shin, if you¡¯re feeling too hot, you could check out the academy bathhouse. I bet there aren¡¯t many people there right now."

    Shin turned his head. "Bathhouse? There¡¯s a bathhouse here?"

    "Yeah, we were late earlier, so we missed the chance to check it out," Rayden explained.

    "Hm, then let¡¯s go," Shin said, starting to get up.

    Rayden stammered, blushing slightly. "W-what? Me?"

    "Yeah, why not?" Shin asked, tilting his head in confusion.

    "I-I don¡¯t need to!" Rayden quickly replied, averting his gaze.

    Shin shrugged. "If you don¡¯t want to, I¡¯ll go alone." He started walking away but paused, realizing something important.

    "Wait... I don¡¯t know where it is."

    Rayden sighed, still looking flustered. "It¡¯s near the classroom. Just look for the sign with a bathhouse symbol on it."

    "Okay, thanks!" Shin flashed a quick smile and headed off.

    As Shin walked through the academy halls, he couldn¡¯t help but think to himself. "If my clothes don¡¯t smell bad, maybe the sweat didn¡¯t soak into them much... but my body definitely feels disgusting."

    Finally, he spotted a wooden sign near the classroom area with a simple symbol of steam rising from a tub.

    "That must be it," he thought, quickening his pace.

    The bathhouse was quiet and peaceful. Inside, Shin removed his clothes and grabbed a freshly washed towel from a nearby rack.

    "Good thing I don¡¯t smell bad. Wait..." He suddenly realized something and groaned inwardly. "Crap. I didn¡¯t bring any extra clothes. Well, too late now."

    Wrapping the towel around his waist, Shin made his way into the main bathing area. The warm, steamy air enveloped him, and he felt his muscles begin to relax even before stepping into the water.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    As he washed himself near the taps, an old thought resurfaced, bringing an uncomfortable weight to his mind.

    "Hopefully, I won¡¯t get bullied here... not for that again i hate those big rooster jokes..." he muttered under his breath, his face darkening slightly. Memories of the ridicule he faced in the kingdom the whispered comments, the mocking laughs flashed through his mind.

    He shook his head, trying to dispel the negativity. "It¡¯s fine. No one here cares about that... probably."

    Finally, he stepped into the spring, the hot water instantly soothing his aching body. The soreness from the morning¡¯s training seemed to melt away, and Shin let out a content sigh, leaning his head back against the edge of the bath.

    "This feels... amazing," he thought, closing his eyes.

    For the first time since arriving at the academy, Shin allowed himself a moment of peace. However, deep down, he knew moments like these wouldn¡¯t last forever. The path ahead was still long, and the challenges far greater than today¡¯s heat or grueling drills.

    Shin rested in the soothing warmth of the bath, letting out a relaxed sigh.

    "Ahh, this feels so good," he thought, sinking deeper into the water. "It¡¯s like this bathhouse has some magical effect or something."

    He glanced around the room. Thankfully, there weren¡¯t too many people around, making it feel more private. However, a nagging thought crossed his mind, bringing a frown to his face.

    "Wait... earlier, they were staring at me. Shit, are they also looking at the rooster?" His face darkened as the embarrassing memories of being teased flashed through his mind. He shook his head, trying to push the negativity away.

    Five minutes passed, and just as Shin was beginning to fully relax, he heard someone call out.

    "Hey, you¡¯re Shin, right?"

    Shin opened his eyes, startled, and froze. Standing in front of him were three students all naked, just like him. The one in the middle had long hair and a lean build. To his right stood a clean-cut student with a similarly lean frame, while on the left towered a muscular, tall figure with an imposing presence.

    "Shit, this is so weird they¡¯re all naked in front of me," Shin thought, giving an awkward, uncomfortable smile.

    "Yeah, I¡¯m Shin," he replied, trying to keep his composure.

    "Nice to meet you! I¡¯m George!" said the long-haired student with a wide grin, pointing to the student on his right.

    "Hi, I¡¯m Jack!" the clean-cut student waved cheerfully.

    "And I¡¯m Lloyd. Nice to meet you," said the tall, muscular one, extending a massive hand toward Shin.

    Shin hesitated for a moment before shaking Lloyd¡¯s hand. "Holy shit, his hands are huge," Shin thought as their hands clasped.

    After the introductions, the three students sat down beside Shin in the cramped bath.

    "Why is it so tight in here all of a sudden?" Shin thought, shifting uncomfortably.

    "So, you¡¯re new here, right?" George asked.

    "Yeah, I am," Shin replied.

    "How¡¯s the martial arts training? You were pretty late to enroll, so I imagine it might be hard to catch up," George said.

    "I don¡¯t think so. Earlier, I saw him adapting really quickly," Lloyd chimed in.

    "Well, what can I say? I¡¯m a quick learner," Shin said with a smirk, flexing his arm slightly.

    "Fuck, that was so cringe," Shin thought immediately, regretting it.

    "WHOA, THAT¡¯S AWESOME!" the three students yelled in unison, their excitement echoing through the bathhouse.

    After a while of chatting, the four of them exited the bathhouse, steam still rising from their freshly cleaned bodies.

    "So, what¡¯s next on the schedule?" Shin asked as he adjusted his towel.

    "It¡¯s weapon practice," Jack replied casually.

    "Weapon practice? So, are they going to teach us directly?" Shin asked curiously.

    George shook his head. "No, the academy lets us choose and practice with any weapon we want. Teacher Kaizer, though, will guide us on the basics and teach us about the Four Main Systems to master a weapon properly."

    "Four Main Systems?" Shin echoed, intrigued.

    George nodded. "Yeah, the systems are: footwork, breathing techniques, weapon style, and, lastly, the mana core of the user or willpower, if they don¡¯t have mana."

    "I see," Shin said thoughtfully. "Thanks for the info." He smiled at the group as they walked toward the training area.

    When the time for rest ended, Shin, George, Jack, and Lloyd regrouped with Rayden outside the weapon hall.

    Rayden glanced at the group, then leaned toward Shin with a teasing smile. "Wow, you made a lot of friends in the bathhouse."

    Shin frowned slightly and whispered back, "Shh! I know. Don¡¯t think of anything weird."

    Rayden chuckled and nodded as they stepped into the weapon hall, the vast array of weapons glinting under the light, promising a new chapter in their training.

    After they arrived, Shin immediately noticed a lot of students practicing with their weapons. Scanning the area, he spotted a variety of weapons on the left side longswords, shortswords, greatswords, war hammers, iron gloves, cutlasses, spears, bo staffs, sabers, and many more. Everyone walked over to select their main weapon.

    George quickly grabbed a pair of iron gloves and slipped them onto his hands. Lloyd picked up a giant war hammer, gave it a swing, and grinned. "Same as always." Jack grabbed his dual sabers, while Rayden chose a pair of daggers.

    ¡°Hey, Shin,¡± George said, pointing to the side, ¡°if you look over there, you¡¯ll see some dummies you can use for sparring. Don¡¯t worry about breaking them they can repair themselves.¡±

    The group moved to the sparring area, and Lloyd went first. Holding his war hammer with both hands, he swung it behind him, bending his knees slightly before slamming it down. The dummy shattered instantly. Lloyd followed up with a faster horizontal swing, cutting through another dummy with such precision that half of its body remained intact while the other half was obliterated.

    ¡°Wow! I thought Lloyd relied purely on raw strength, but his technique combines power with speed and accuracy. Amazing!¡± Shin thought, genuinely impressed.

    Next, Shin turned his attention to George, who was practicing the academy¡¯s martial arts. His punches were so fast that the dummy¡¯s parts seemed to vanish where they were struck. George followed up with a powerful kick to the dummy¡¯s head. At first, only the head was destroyed, but then the entire body disintegrated.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Shin thought, his jaw practically dropping at George''s sheer power and precision.

    Jack was up next. Kneeling slightly, he stretched out both arms, gripping his dual sabers tightly. In an instant, he slashed the dummy clean in half.

    ¡°S-so fast!¡± Shin thought, his heart racing. After executing the move, Jack¡¯s body began to emit steam.

    ¡°An effect of his technique... or something else?¡± Shin wondered curiously.

    Finally, Shin observed Rayden, who wielded his dual daggers with lightning speed. In just a second, he delivered eight rapid slashes to the side of the dummy, leaving it in pieces.

    ¡°H-holy shit! No wonder his build is so lean he relies entirely on speed,¡± Shin thought, awestruck.

    Rayden noticed Shin staring at him and blushed. ¡°Wh-why is he looking at me? Is he judging me? No, no, I should just focus on improving,¡± Rayden thought, his mind spiraling into self-doubt.

    At last, it was Shin¡¯s turn. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward. ¡°I don¡¯t know any sword styles or formal techniques,¡± he thought to himself, gripping his sword tightly with both hands. ¡°But I used to watch the Hero of the Sword on TV, showcasing different styles.¡±

    As Shin too

    k a deep breath, his body began to release a colorless aura. A grin spread across his face.

    ¡°It¡¯s my turn!¡± he declared confidently, stepping into the sparring area.

 Academy Chronicles: A Spark Ignited

    ¡°It¡¯s my turn!¡± Shin declared confidently, stepping into the sparring area.

    He gripped his sword tightly with both hands, bending his back deeply in an attempt to mimic Lloyd¡¯s momentum. With a determined grin, he swung at the training dummy. "This is it!" he thought, excitement rushing through him.

    Clang! The sword struck the dummy, but instead of causing any damage, it bounced off harmlessly.

    ¡°What?!¡± Shin exclaimed, stunned. His grip loosened, and the sword flew out of his hands, spinning through the air.

    ¡°Shit!¡± he cursed, watching in horror as the weapon hurtled toward a group of unguarded students. Rayden, Lloyd, Jack, and George were too far to intervene.

    ¡°HEY, MOVE!¡± Shin yelled.

    One of the students turned around, confusion written all over his face. ¡°Huh?¡± His eyes widened as the sword barreled toward him. His legs trembled, and panic overtook him.

    ¡°Wh-what sho-should I do?¡± he stammered, frozen in fear. The sword sped up, slicing through the air. In that moment, the student¡¯s trembling legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, seemingly accepting his fate.

    Just as the blade was about to strike, a blur of motion cut through the scene. A student with dark blue hair leapt high into the air.

    ¡°Shattering Piercing Kick!¡± he shouted, his foot connecting with the sword mid-flight. The sheer force of his kick split the blade cleanly in half, the broken pieces clattering harmlessly to the ground.

    The crowd gasped in shock.

    ¡°Holy shit¡­ wh-what was that?¡± Shin thought, his jaw dropping.

    He quickly ran over to the trembling student, who was sitting on the ground, pale and shaking. The boy managed a weak, ¡°Th-thanks¡­¡± to the dark-haired student.

    ¡°Pathetic,¡± the blue-haired student spat, glaring down at him with disgust. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

    Shin passed him, ignoring the cold dismissal, and knelt by the terrified student. ¡°Hey, are you okay? I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean for the sword to fly out of my hand. The impact was just¡­ too strong,¡± he said, trying to reassure him.

    ¡°Y-yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± the student replied shakily.

    Another student approached, this one with a stockier build. ¡°I¡¯ll help him. He¡¯s my friend,¡± the newcomer said, helping the boy to his feet.

    ¡°Thanks, John,¡± the shaken student said, leaning on his friend for support.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Chris,¡± John replied, guiding him away from the scene.

    As they left, the dark-haired student glanced back at Shin, his expression still full of disdain. ¡°Hey, transfer student. If you don¡¯t know how to use a sword, don¡¯t try to mimic techniques that clearly aren¡¯t suited for you. Pathetic.¡± He sneered before walking off.

    George and the others finally arrived. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him,¡± George said, trying to console Shin.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s get back to training,¡± Shin replied, though his thoughts betrayed his calm demeanor. "Pathetic? Me?" he thought, questioning himself. "Maybe, back then, I would¡¯ve run¡­ but I¡¯m different now."

    ¡°By the way, what¡¯s his name?¡± Shin asked, glancing at George.

    ¡°That¡¯s Eclid,¡± George replied. ¡°Just don¡¯t let him get under your skin. And don¡¯t get into trouble with him.¡±

    Shin nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. "Eclid?" he repeated in his thoughts, his eyes darkening as a black aura flickered around him. "I¡¯ll devour you soon."

    Afterward, they quickly spent their remaining time training. Jack took the lead in helping Shin learn the basics, guiding him through fundamental techniques. Shin adapted quickly, combining what he had learned from Teacher Kaizer with Jack¡¯s teachings. His progress was remarkable, and before long, their training session ended.

    At the weapon wall, they placed their training tools back and headed to the garden to rest while waiting for the next activity to begin. Shin collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

    ¡°Hah¡­ hah¡­¡± He continued to gasp for air, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion.

    ¡°Thanks to Jack, I¡¯ve finally learned the basics,¡± Shin thought, reflecting on his progress. "Mimicking someone¡¯s techniques was a mistake. Lloyd and I are completely different different physiques, different raw power. He clenched his fist. I shouldn¡¯t try to copy anyone recklessly again."

    As his breathing steadied, Shin¡¯s attention drifted to the beauty of the garden around him. Towering, massive trees cast dappled shadows across the grass, vibrant flowers painted the area with color, and the air was filled with an otherworldly, calming scent.

    ¡°This garden is really beautiful,¡± he thought, gazing up at the sky visible through the canopy. It reminds me of Ma¡¯am Fiona¡¯s house. His mind wandered for a moment. Come to think of it¡­ I haven¡¯t seen her. Isn¡¯t she allowed to come here? Shin pondered. Sid Bajar never mentioned her absence¡­ and only students are allowed to leave with permission. Where could she be?

    His thoughts drifted aimlessly until the start of the next activity snapped him out of his reverie.

    ¡°Rayden said this one¡¯s about cultivating our mana core. I should ask him how to do it,¡± Shin thought, standing up. He walked over to Rayden, who was preparing for his own cultivation.

    ¡°Hey, Rayden. How exactly should I do this?¡± Shin asked, curiosity in his voice.

    ¡°Oh, cultivating?¡± Rayden replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go over to that tree it¡¯s quieter there.¡± He pointed to a lone tree at the edge of the garden. They walked toward it, and Rayden gestured for Shin to sit.

    ¡°Alright, sit here,¡± Rayden instructed. Shin sat cross-legged beneath the tree, waiting for further guidance.

    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Rayden said. Shin obeyed, shutting his eyes slowly.

    ¡°Now, focus on your inner energy. Don¡¯t think of anything else. Just focus,¡± Rayden instructed in a calm voice.

    Shin concentrated deeply, his mind emptying of all distractions. Rayden¡¯s voice began to fade into the background until Shin could no longer hear it. It was as if he was alone in a void.

    After a while, Shin began to feel something a fire, small and delicate, yet alive. It wasn¡¯t just a fire; it felt like a newborn flame, slowly growing, maturing like a living being. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as the sensation deepened. Soon, his entire body was covered in a faint, colorless aura. He focused, holding onto the fire inside him, letting it grow and burn brighter.

    He pushed himself until he couldn¡¯t sense anything more, his energy completely spent. Opening his eyes, Shin gasped. His eyes widened in shock, his expression frozen as though he had just woken from a nightmare.

    Rayden noticed Shin breathing heavily and walked over to him. "Hey Shin, how did it go? Feels good, right?" he asked with a smile.

    "Good? That was a nightmare," Shin thought, his mind still reeling from the experience. "I should ask Sir Bajar about this." Out loud, he replied, "Yeah, it¡¯s good. It¡¯s just... a different feeling. I got overwhelmed."

    Rayden nodded, clearly pleased. "I see. That¡¯s good, then. George and the others finished earlier; they¡¯re already at the last activity. Let¡¯s go if you can stand."

    "Ah, sure. Let¡¯s go," Shin said, attempting to stand up. But as soon as he tried, a wave of panic washed over him.

    "What the hell?! I can¡¯t feel my legs!" he thought, his forehead beginning to sweat.

    "Oh, you probably used a lot of energy. That¡¯s why you¡¯re having a hard time standing," Rayden explained, noticing Shin¡¯s struggle. He offered his hand.

    Shin hesitated before grabbing it, allowing Rayden to support him. Each step felt heavy, his legs trembling under his weight. "It¡¯s draining my energy while I cultivate? Shin wondered. It must¡¯ve been a lot, considering I can barely move compared to the earlier activities."

    After some time, Shin began to regain feeling in his legs, though Rayden insisted on supporting him. Eventually, they reached a new hall.

    "What is this place for?" Shin asked, glancing around the room.

    "Oh, this is where we test mana cores," Rayden replied casually.

    "Mana core test?" Shin echoed, puzzled.

    "Yeah. You see that glowing ball?" Rayden pointed at a large orb radiating a faint light. "It measures how many mana cores you have in your body!"

    "You can have more than one?" Shin asked, surprised.

    "Of course! The more cores you have, the stronger and more talented you¡¯re considered," Rayden explained, his tone upbeat.

    "The word ''talent'' again..." Shin thought bitterly. "I¡¯ll probably be zero. It¡¯s my first time cultivating," he muttered, his tone pessimistic.

    "Don¡¯t lose hope!" Rayden said encouragingly, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

    The testing began, and one by one, students approached the glowing ball. There were a total of 329 students. Over 100 had a single mana core, 113 students measured double mana cores, and 109 students had triple mana cores. Jack, Lloyd, and Rayden stood out, having quadruple mana cores. Only 6 students stood out and george was part of it the single student who reached the fifth mana core is missing.

    Finally, it was Shin¡¯s turn.

    They said it¡¯s a tradition for transfer students to go last... Shin thought as he stepped forward. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the glowing orb. At first, he felt nothing, the room silent with anticipation. Then, the orb lit up, revealing Shin¡¯s result a single mana core.

    Shin¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. But instead of disappointment, a grin spread across his face. "Maybe wasting all that energy earlier wasn¡¯t such a b

    ad thing after all." He clenched his fist, determination burning in his gaze as a colorless aura began to surround his eyes.

 Academy Chronicles: A Portal to Power

    Shin¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, but instead of disappointment, a grin spread across his face. "Maybe wasting all that energy earlier wasn¡¯t such a bad thing after all," he muttered. He clenched his fists, a spark of determination igniting in his gaze as a faint, colorless aura flickered around his eyes.

    After the activity concluded, Shin met up with the others outside the academy.

    "Hey, Shin, that¡¯s awesome! It¡¯s your first time awakening your core, right?" Rayden asked with a wide grin.

    Shin scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess I got lucky."

    "That¡¯s not luck," George said, clapping Shin on the shoulder. "You¡¯ve got real talent."

    Shin smiled, his expression bright like a ray of sunlight breaking through storm clouds. "Thanks."

    "Alright, enough talking. Let¡¯s head to the banquet hall I¡¯m starving!" Jack interjected, pointing toward the massive building in the distance.

    "Yeah, we¡¯ve got to fuel up to grow these muscles!" Lloyd added with a cocky smirk, flexing his biceps.

    The group laughed and nodded, falling into step as they made their way toward the banquet hall. The conversation buzzed around them, but Shin¡¯s mind drifted.

    Talent? he thought to himself, his expression clouding over. "Maybe. But I¡¯ve never believed in talent only luck."

    Memories from his past flickered in his mind, moments of struggle and chance. Since I was a kid, luck is all I¡¯ve ever known. He clenched his fists, pushing the thoughts aside as they reached the banquet hall.

    Inside, the room was alive with activity. Some students were eating while others lined up to grab trays of food. Shin and his group quickly filled their plates, hunger driving them to finish their meals in record time.

    Afterward, George, Jack, and Lloyd headed to the bathhouse together, laughing and joking as they walked off.

    "You good with heading to your dorm alone?" Rayden asked Shin.

    "Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine," Shin replied.

    "Alright. See you tomorrow!" Rayden waved as he climbed the stairs to his dorm.

    Shin returned the wave with a tired smile. "See you!"

    The walk to his dorm felt longer than usual. His body ached from the day¡¯s training, and by the time he reached his room, he collapsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh.

    "Hopefully, I can get used to this life," he murmured, staring up at the ceiling. His eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, but he forced himself up. Dragging his feet, he made his way to the bathroom to wash off the grime of the day.

    Just as he finished, a loud knock echoed through his room.

    "Wait!" Shin called out, hastily grabbing a shirt.

    The knock came again, louder this time.

    "I said wait! I¡¯m putting on clothes!" he shouted, irritation bubbling to the surface.

    Another knock, this one thunderous, shook the door.

    "Ah, for crying out loud..." Shin yanked his shirt over his head and stormed to the door.

    As he swung it open, his breath caught in his throat. A massive shadow loomed before him, and his eyes widened in shock.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.It was Sir Bajar.

    ¡°Shit, it¡¯s just you, Sir Bajar,¡± Shin thought, his face betraying a mix of annoyance and relief. Quickly, he composed himself and spoke in a cheerful tone, "Oh, hey, sir!"

    "How''s the training?" Bajar asked casually as he stepped into Shin''s room without hesitation, promptly laying down on Shin¡¯s bed.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s alright,¡± Shin replied, though his thoughts screamed, He just straight up laid down on my bed! His face twitched with barely concealed irritation.

    "I see. Did you make a lot of comrades?" Bajar continued.

    "Yes, I made a lot, actually," Shin said with a forced smile.

    "That¡¯s good," Bajar nodded. "In two months, the Academy Festival will begin. It¡¯s good to make allies nowcomrades who¡¯ll take your side when it matters."

    "Academy Festival?" Shin asked, his curiosity piqued.

    "You¡¯ll learn about it soon," Bajar said, tossing a small white pill engraved with strange symbols at Shin. Startled, Shin caught it mid-air.

    "What¡¯s this?" Shin asked, examining the pill.

    ¡°Essence Pill,¡± Bajar explained in a serious tone. ¡°It restores energy perfect for someone like you with a single core foundation.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this rare or something?¡± Shin asked, raising an eyebrow.

    ¡°It¡¯s pretty common in Arcanathis. They mass-produce stuff like this,¡± Bajar replied nonchalantly.

    "Arcanathis?" Shin thought, recalling Fiona mentioning it before when they discussed Elfple¡¯s creation. ¡°I see,¡± Shin said aloud before swallowing the pill.

    Almost instantly, he felt the effects surge through his body. A colorless aura enveloped him as energy flooded his system.

    ¡°Wow, I feel replenished!¡± Shin exclaimed in amazement.

    ¡°Heh, feels good, right?¡± Bajar said with a grin.

    ¡°But wait, what brings you here at this hour? It can¡¯t just be this, right?¡± Shin asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.

    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Bajar said, sitting up. ¡°Remember when I said I was going to train you? Well, starting today, after your daily academy activities, we¡¯re training.¡±

    ¡°Wh-what? Right now? After all that training during the day?¡± Shin asked, clearly not thrilled.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bajar replied without hesitation. ¡°Your energy is restored anyway.¡±

    ¡°Wait-¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bajar cut him off, pulling out a small cube etched with glowing runes. He tossed it to the floor, and the cube lit up, creating a floating portal in the air.

    ¡°WHAT IS THAT?!¡± Shin exclaimed, equal parts awestruck and terrified.

    ¡°Cube Drift,¡± Bajar explained matter-of-factly as he stepped into the glowing portal.

    Shin stared at the swirling light in disbelief. ¡°Cube Drift?¡± he muttered to himself.

    The Cube Drift is a compact, rune etched item capable of creating portals to preset locations when thrown or activated by pressure. More advanced versions allow users to open portals to any desired location.

    As soon as they stepped through the portal, Shin felt a sudden change in the air. The atmosphere here was heavy, almost oppressive, and his skin prickled as if the very air itself was alive. A faint fog hung low, swirling lazily across the ground. Shin''s hair stood on end, and he instinctively rubbed his arms.

    The eerie fog began to dissipate as Shin moved closer to Sir Bajar. What lay ahead made him pause in awe. They had entered a dense forest, its canopy so thick that only faint slivers of moonlight seeped through. In the clearing was a small, worn-down cabin surrounded by various pieces of training equipment. Everything looked old and overgrown tree roots coiled around weights and wooden dummies like snakes, moss covering the remnants of what might have once been pristine tools.

    As Shin scanned the area, his eyes landed on a particularly massive tree, its trunk wide enough to house several people inside. Beneath its shadow, something caught his eye a grave. Unlike everything else here, it was untouched by roots or grass, as though the earth itself respected its presence.

    ¡°A grave? Isn''t that a little... creepy?¡± Shin thought uneasily, his gaze lingering on the solitary marker.

    ¡°Wh-what is this place?¡± Shin finally asked, his voice trembling as he tore his eyes away from the grave.

    Sir Bajar turned to him, his face lighting up with a wide grin. ¡°Our training ground! Awesome, right?¡±

    Shin frowned, unconvinced. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The equipment looks ancient, and there¡¯s a grave-¡±

    Before Shin could finish, Bajar moved with lightning speed, clamping a hand over Shin¡¯s mouth. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a cold, serious glare that sent chills down Shin¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention that here,¡± Bajar said quietly, his voice low but firm.

    ¡°O-okay,¡± Shin stammered, nodding quickly.

    Bajar''s expression softened, and he stepped back, a grin creeping onto his face again. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get started.¡±

    ¡°Started?¡± Shin echoed, still unnerved.

    ¡°For the next two months, you¡¯ll spend every single night here,¡± Bajar announced, his voice filled with authority. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you the basics properly. Don¡¯t expect to master them in two months, but you¡¯ll at least learn enough techniques to hold your ground against the other students.¡±

    Shin gulped. The thought of training here every night wasn¡¯t exactly comforting.

    Bajar suddenly turned to face Shin fully, his eyes glowing faintly with a dark, almost menacing aura. A grin spread across his face, sharper than before.

    ¡°And,¡± he added, his tone low and dripping with intent, ¡°I¡¯ll also teach you my method.¡±

    Shin¡¯s stomach twisted at the sight of Bajar¡¯s black aura swirling around him like a living shadow. The grin on Bajar¡¯s face only widened, his excitement palpable.

    Shin thought to himself, "What have I gotten myself into...?"

 Academy Chronicles: The Festival Awaits

    For two months, Shin trained diligently under his mentor, Sir Bajar. By day, he attended his regular academy activities, and by night, he swallowed essence pills to restore the energy he expended. Back on Earth, before being isekai¡¯d into this realm, Shin had endured years of relentless bullying, from elementary to high school. Despite the hardships, he had always been an honor student. The academy¡¯s lessons, though different, posed little challenge for him, as Shin quickly adapted to the new curriculum.

    Two weeks after his arrival at the academy, a new facility the Training Hall was unveiled. It housed advanced equipment unique to this world. Eager to test himself, Shin asked Lloyd to train with him. Over time, Shin¡¯s once-skinny frame, where his ribs were clearly visible, began to fill out. His body, though not yet on par with George, Lloyd, or the other top students, had grown noticeably toned.

    Shin also learned an intriguing fact about the academy: it only accepted male students. Female students aspiring to become warriors were sent to another kingdom, while those aiming to become mages were trained under the renowned Archmage Belldia Magster. When Shin asked Sir Bajar about this, the answer was surprisingly amusing. ¡°Back in my day, 20 years ago, male and female students would sneak out at night to meet each other. It led to... well, let¡¯s just say, a lot of unplanned pregnancies,¡± Bajar explained with a laugh.

    Shin¡¯s days were grueling but rewarding. He spent countless hours swinging his sword, carrying heavy weights, and learning about this unfamiliar world. His relentless efforts began to bear fruit.

    One afternoon, Shin lay in the academy garden, breathing heavily after completing a thousand sword swings. His muscles ached, but he noticed other students pushing themselves just as hard. Despite the approaching festival, some still trained relentlessly, determined to rise to the top. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the festival, but Sir Bajar hasn¡¯t explained what it¡¯s for,¡± Shin thought as he observed his peers.

    As he rested, a familiar figure appeared, making Shin¡¯s eyes widen with excitement. ¡°Lady Fiona!¡± he shouted, his voice filled with joy.

    Every nearby student turned to look, blushing at the sight of Fiona. Her beauty was unmatched, and today, she wore a traditional dress adorned with flowers unique to this realm. The sunlight reflected off her, enhancing her radiant appearance.

    ¡°Hey, Shin!¡± Fiona replied softly, her tone as gentle as the breeze.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Ignoring his sore muscles, Shin quickly got to his feet and ran toward her, his face lighting up with a bright smile. ¡°What did you bring?¡± he asked eagerly.

    ¡°Well, since it¡¯s festival time...¡± Fiona began, her voice cheerful.

    ¡°Ah, yeah! Sir Bajar already told me about it!¡± Shin interrupted, his excitement evident.

    Fiona smiled warmly. ¡°Since tomorrow is the academy festival, I thought you might like to experience our kingdom¡¯s festival outside. I¡¯ve already gotten permission!¡±

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯d love to!¡± Shin exclaimed, his hands instinctively holding hers.

    Fiona laughed softly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. ¡°Well then, go wash yourself up! You can¡¯t go looking like that!¡±

    "Ah, you want me to carry you?" Shin asked nervously, scratching the back of his head. His mind raced, "Shit, what are you doing, Shin? Don''t fumble this!"

    Fiona tilted her head, her cheeks dusted pink. "Ah... sure," she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

    "O-okay, get on my back!" Shin stuttered, crouching down.

    Fiona gently hopped onto his back, her arms sliding around his neck as her soft warmth pressed against him. Shin¡¯s hands carefully gripped her legs for support.

    "M-may I?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "Yes," Fiona murmured, her blush deepening.

    "Thank god! I can feel it on my back!" Shin thought, his face burning as though his head might explode. His nose almost looked ready to puff out steam like a bull about to charge.

    Time to use the techniques Sir Bajar taught me! he thought, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Shattering Boosters!" he whispered under his breath.

    An invisible, colorless aura swirled around his legs. With a sudden burst of energy, they shot forward, the ground beneath him cracking slightly. In a flash, they zipped across the academy grounds.

    "It''s working!" Shin thought, excitement coursing through him.

    Fiona tightened her hold slightly, her face glowing with awe. "Wow, I guess Sir Bajar did teach him a lot," she thought as they effortlessly soared over rooftops.

    Even at such insane speed, Shin was careful to keep Fiona''s dress in place, fighting against the wind like an invisible shield. After a few more jumps, they landed in front of Shin''s dorm.

    "I''ll quickly change!" Shin said, setting her down gently. He darted into the room, grabbing some fresh clothes before disappearing into the bathroom.

    Fiona, left alone, sat on his bed, her gaze wandering across the room. Her eyes landed on a painting of two women one older, the other younger.

    "Hm... his grandmother and sister?" she muttered, tilting her head in thought. A playful smirk crept onto her face. "Or maybe a fianc¨¦e? What a playboy~" she teased softly to herself in a seductive tone.

    Moments later, Shin emerged from the bathroom, his hair slightly damp and his fresh clothes fitting snugly on his toned frame. "Shall we go?" he asked, smiling brightly.

    Fiona nodded, and before she could say anything, Shin activated Shattering Boosters again. They sped through the underground academy tunnel and emerged into the kingdom streets.

    Shin''s eyes widened in awe. The kingdom was alive with vibrant, colorful designs. Strings of lanterns lit up the streets, music filled the air, and vendors lined the roads with delicious food and trinkets.

    "Wow," Shin whispered, stunned by the beauty of it all.

    "Isn''t it amazing?" Fiona asked softly, stepping closer to him.

    Shin nodded, unable to take his eyes off the dazzling scene. For a brief moment, he forgot his sore muscles, his training, and the struggles he''d faced. All he could feel was

    the wonder of the moment and the warmth of Fiona standing beside him.

 Academy Chronicles: The Date

    Shin nodded, unable to take his eyes off the dazzling scene. For a brief moment, he forgot his sore muscles, his training, and the struggles he''d faced. All he could feel was the wonder of the moment and the warmth of Fiona standing beside him.

    As the sun dipped lower into the horizon, the soft hues of twilight painted the sky. ¡°Shall we keep going?¡± Fiona asked gently, her voice barely above a whisper.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go!¡± Shin replied, his voice filled with excitement.

    They strolled together, eventually reaching the kingdom¡¯s bustling main street. Merchants lined both sides, selling a variety of goods trinkets, food, and handmade crafts. The once plain street was now decorated with festive lanterns, their glow reflected in the smiling faces of people passing by. Overhead, wires held banners adorned with a lone wolf emblem and an ¡°X¡± symbol behind it.

    ¡°That¡¯s the same logo as the armor those generals wore,¡± Shin thought, recalling his earlier days in the kingdom when he first met the generals and other prominent figures.

    As they continued walking, they arrived at a lively avenue filled with colorful stalls, mini-games, and small rides. The air buzzed with cheerful laughter and the sounds of children running around with glowing toys.

    ¡°Wow! I didn¡¯t expect them to have all this,¡± Shin thought, his eyes darting around to take in every corner of the bustling street.

    ¡°Hey, Shin! Let¡¯s try that one!¡± Fiona exclaimed, grabbing his hand tightly and pulling him toward a nearby stall.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Shin asked curiously as they stopped in front of a brightly lit sign that read, "GOLEM STRENGTH TEST!"

    ¡°Look at the rules!¡± Fiona said, pointing at the sign with enthusiasm. ¡°You just have to hit the golem¡¯s head as hard as you can to get the highest score.¡±

    ¡°Wanna test your strength here?¡± Fiona encouraged, her playful smile lighting up her face.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Shin said confidently.

    They approached the merchant running the game. He was a middle-aged man with a sly grin, eyeing Shin¡¯s slim build. ¡°It¡¯s five bronze per try,¡± the merchant explained.

    ¡°Great! Here you go,¡± Fiona said, handing over the coins.

    The merchant smirked as he took the money, thinking, ¡°This kid¡¯s so skinny. I¡¯ll probably make a fortune from him missing the top score.¡±

    Shin stepped up to the contraption, which had a box-like base topped with a golem¡¯s head. Above it was a metal pole with numbered points indicating the strength of the strike. At the very top sat a bell, waiting to be rung.

    ¡°This reminds me of those carnival games I saw in movies,¡± Shin thought, gripping the wooden hammer firmly.

    He adjusted his stance, recalling the swing techniques he¡¯d observed from Lloyd during training. ¡°Maybe I can mimic a small piece of his technique,¡± Shin thought as he bent his back and built up momentum.

    With a deep breath, Shin swung the hammer in a wide arc and slammed it down with all his strength. The sound of the impact echoed loudly, and the golem¡¯s head shot up, striking the bell at the very top with a resounding ding!

    ¡°Holy crap! It worked!¡± Shin thought, his eyes lighting up in disbelief.

    ¡°I did it!¡± Shin shouted, grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡°Wow! That¡¯s amazing, Shin!¡± Fiona cheered, clapping her hands. Her smile was as bright as the lanterns hanging above.

    ¡°Heh, now I can finally get that teddy bear,¡± Fiona thought, her eyes sparkling as she pointed to the prize she wanted.

    ¡°So, what prize do you want?¡± Shin asked, still catching his breath.

    ¡°That one, please!¡± Fiona said, pointing to a large, fluffy teddy bear.

    The merchant¡¯s smug grin melted into a forced smile as he reluctantly handed over the bear. ¡°H-here you go. Wow, kid, you¡¯re a student at the academy, huh?¡± the merchant asked, trying to mask his frustration.

    ¡°Yeah, but don¡¯t worry I didn¡¯t use any techniques,¡± Shin replied casually.

    ¡°Well, technically, I only used a small part of Lloyd¡¯s swing technique,¡± Shin thought to himself.

    ¡°I see. Well, good job, kid. Nice meeting you!¡± the merchant said, forcing a bright tone, though inside, he was cursing himself for underestimating Shin.

    With the bear in hand, Shin and Fiona continued exploring the street. They tried out various games, from ¡°Bowling Head¡± to ¡°Smashing Fist¡± and ¡°Iron Wrestling.¡± Laughter and playful banter filled the air as the two enjoyed the festival to the fullest.

    For the first time in a long while, Shin felt at peace not as a warrior or a survivor, but simply as a young man making memories with someone he cared about.

    As the lively night carried on, the streets bustling with laughter and chatter, Shin and Fiona wandered through the crowd, their energy waning after hours of playing games.

    ¡°Hey, Shin, I¡¯m starving. Want to grab some food from the vendors?¡± Fiona asked, her stomach growling loudly.

    Shin chuckled at the sound. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll eat whatever you¡¯re eating!¡± he replied cheerfully.

    ¡°Alright, follow me!¡± Fiona commanded with a grin, taking the lead.

    As Shin followed her through the busy street, his eyes wandered upward. ¡°Wow¡­ they have fireworks here, too,¡± he murmured to himself. The sky was a mesmerizing blend of azure and deep indigo, illuminated by bursts of unique fireworks that painted the heavens with colors unlike anything from his old world.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    When Fiona returned, she held two sticks of grilled meat in one hand and a pair of drinks in the other. ¡°Here, take one,¡± she said, handing Shin a skewer.

    ¡°Ah, thanks!¡± Shin said as he grabbed his share.

    They continued to stroll through the vibrant streets, savoring the savory taste of the meat while the fireworks lit up the night. The warmth of the food and the company made the moment feel comforting amidst the chaos of the festival.

    As they wandered further, they came across a massive tent, its bright red and white stripes standing out against the darkening sky. The entrance was adorned with lights and banners, and the sound of drums and laughter spilled out from within.

    ¡°Hey, look! It¡¯s a circus! Wanna check it out?¡± Fiona asked excitedly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

    Shin paused, taking in the sight of the towering tent. ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± he replied with a shrug, though curiosity flickered in his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to a circus before.¡±

    With that, they approached the ticket booth and purchased two tickets. After a short wait in line, they stepped inside, greeted by the warm glow of lanterns and the smell of popcorn and sweets. They found seats near the middle of the tent, where they had a perfect view of the stage.

    The murmurs of the crowd quieted as the lights dimmed, and a booming voice filled the tent.

    Shin and Fiona exchanged excited glances as the show began, the stage coming alive with performers, acrobats, and dazzling displays of skill and wonder. For a moment, the weight of the world seemed to melt away, replaced by the magic of the moment.

    As the lights dimmed, a booming voice echoed across the tent. "Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Prepare to be amazed, dazzled, and thrilled! Welcome to the Grand Lunar Circus!"

    The crowd erupted into cheers as the first act began.

    A group of acrobats dressed in shimmering blue leaped onto the stage, flipping and tumbling effortlessly through the air. They formed human towers, balancing on each other¡¯s shoulders as they performed gravity-defying stunts. Fiona gasped, her hands clapping together in awe. "How do they do that?!"

    Shin smirked, leaning in. "Magic, maybe?"

    Fiona nudged him playfully. "Don¡¯t ruin it!"

    Next came a fire dancer, twirling blazing batons as she spun in hypnotic circles. The flames reflected in Fiona¡¯s eyes as she watched, mesmerized. At one point, the performer hurled a flaming hoop into the air and jumped through it flawlessly, earning a round of thunderous applause.

    "That¡¯s incredible," Shin whispered, his voice low with genuine admiration.

    As the fire dancer exited, the lights dimmed again, and the sound of drums echoed throughout the tent. A troupe of clowns burst onto the stage, performing comical antics that had the audience roaring with laughter. One particularly cheeky clown threw a pie, which narrowly missed Shin''s head and landed on another clown. Fiona burst into laughter, holding her sides as tears of amusement streamed down her face.

    "That was close!" Shin chuckled, shaking his head with a grin.

    The next act was quieter but no less enchanting. A lone performer in a long flowing robe stepped onto the stage, carrying a wooden chest. She opened it, releasing dozens of glowing butterflies into the air. The insects sparkled like miniature stars as they danced around the tent, weaving through the audience. One landed briefly on Fiona¡¯s hand before flying away. She gasped in delight.

    "It feels so real!" she exclaimed.

    "It might actually be real," Shin said, watching one butterfly settle on his shoulder.

    Finally, the grand finale arrived. The ringmaster stepped forward, his booming voice capturing everyone¡¯s attention. "And now, for our last act of the night, prepare yourselves for the celestial aerial dance!"

    Two performers were lifted high into the air by invisible threads of magic, their movements elegant and synchronized. They twirled and spun, ribbons of light trailing behind them, creating a dazzling spectacle. The crowd was silent, completely captivated by the breathtaking performance.

    As the show came to an end, the audience erupted into a standing ovation. Shin and Fiona stood alongside them, clapping loudly.

    "That was amazing," Fiona said, her cheeks flushed with excitement as they walked out of the tent.

    Shin glanced at her, a soft smile on his face. "I¡¯m glad you enjoyed it."

    Fiona turned to him, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you for bringing me here, Shin. Tonight feels¡­ magical."

    Shin rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit flustered. "It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just happy you had fun."

    As they strolled through the festive streets, the sounds of the circus lingered in the air, creating a memory they would both cherish for years to come.

    As the circus came to a close, Shin and Fiona made their way out of the vibrant tent, still buzzing with excitement from the performance. The night air felt cool against their skin as they walked through the bustling festival, the sounds of laughter and music fading in the distance.

    They soon found themselves near a section of the festival where fireworks were being set up. The colorful displays of pyrotechnics were already arranged, waiting for the perfect moment to light up the sky.

    "Hmm, there''s a lot of fireworks here ready to go. Won''t it be too much?" Shin thought to himself, scanning the area.

    "It seems they''re already setting up fire-crackers," Fiona observed, glancing around at the crates filled with explosives.

    "Yeah, we should probably move before they go off," Shin suggested.

    Fiona nodded in agreement, and the two began to walk away from the setup. But before they could leave, a large group of people suddenly rushed toward them, causing a chaotic stir. Shin and Fiona were separated in the frenzy, and in the blink of an eye, the air was filled with the deafening sounds of fireworks going off. The bright explosions filled the azure sky, sending plumes of smoke and fog into the air.

    Shin''s vision blurred from the smoke as the crowd stopped in their tracks, and he found himself searching for Fiona amidst the confusion. His heart raced, but then he spotted a familiar silhouette in the haze. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed the figure''s hand, pulling it toward him.

    Fiona''s face collided with Shin¡¯s chest as he caught her.

    "Are you okay?" Shin asked, his voice filled with concern as he noticed her trembling from the noise.

    Fiona''s eyes were watery from the overwhelming sounds of the fireworks. "Y-yeah... I''m okay," she stammered, trying to hold back her tears.

    Shin gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Hold my hand, and let¡¯s get out of here," he said softly.

    Fiona nodded, gratefully taking his hand as they began to move through the smoky haze. They made their way to the main street, where the noise of the fireworks faded into the distance.

    Once they reached the clearing, Fiona stopped.

    "Shin, I need to go now. I have to visit Father Charles," she said, her voice a little quieter than usual.

    "I see," Shin replied with a smile. "Say hi to Priest Charles for me."

    Fiona smiled back, waving as she turned to leave. "I will. Take care, Shin."

    Shin waved as Fiona walked off toward the church, and he watched her disappear into the crowd.

    As she left, a thought crossed Shin¡¯s mind. So this is what dates are like...

    With a small chuckle to himself, Shin turned and started walking back toward the academy.

    On his way, he noticed a group of women in cloaks walking briskly toward the second gate of the kingdom the entrance to the noble¡¯s district. Shin couldn¡¯t help but glance at them curiously, wondering what they were up to.

    Suddenly, a girl bumped into him, knocking him off balance.

    "Watch where you''re going!" Shin said, annoyed as he landed on the ground.

    "S-Sorry!" the girl stammered as she tried to stand up. She had long, blonde hair and glasses, but it was hard to miss the way her large chest stood out.

    Shin observed her, thinking, She stutters a lot.

    "Did you see a group of mages pass by?" the girl asked, her voice shaky.

    "Yeah, they went that way, toward the second gate," Shin said as he stood up and dusted himself off.

    "Thank you, Mister," the girl said with a deep bow, clearly grateful. She quickly got to her feet and hurried off, disappearing into the crowd.

    Shin watched her for a moment, puzzled by the odd encounter. What a weird encounter, just like that day when I lost my pouch... he thought as he continued on his way.

    After a while of walking through the quiet streets, Shin finally reached the entrance to the academy''s secret passage.

    "I guess it¡¯s time to meet Sir Bajar," Shin murmured to himself as he entered the passage, his thoughts turning to the next challenge that awaited him.