CHAPTER 7: FIRST DAY

The Imperial Academy was not the kind of place where students memorized history and solved equations all day. It was a training institution for people with abilities—magic, swordsmanship, and other specialized powers. Combat courses, survival classes, and monster subjugation drills were part of its curriculum. Calling us cadets instead of students wasn’t for show; the academy operated with strict, military-style rules.

One unique aspect was the allowance of pets on campus. Some mages required familiars, and certain beast-related skills needed partners. As long as they didn’t disrupt classes, pets could freely roam.

Although... some nobles took that privilege a little too far.

There was one guy—son of an earl—who actually brought a giant snake. It kept shedding its skin all over the corridor.

"Maybe I should get a pet too," I muttered while walking, "The house is pretty empty now."

But those idle thoughts vanished the moment I passed through the academy gates.

Everywhere I turned, stares clung to me. That was the gentlest part.

Several cadets didn’t bother hiding their voices.

"Isn’t that Lucien?"

"Scum actually came back?"

"Look at him acting normal."

I was mentally prepared for this, but experiencing it firsthand felt different—harsher.

The unpleasant attention followed me all the way to the classroom building. When I slid open the door to Class A, the noise died instantly. Dozens of eyes locked onto me at once. For a moment, even breathing felt difficult.

It was like walking into a room full of people who all remembered exactly what you did wrong.

If this were Earth, it would be similar to showing up after causing a scandal that went viral overnight—only worse.

This world took discipline seriously, especially here. The academy was filled with nobles, royals, and talented elites whose reputations mattered. Running a violent circle, tormenting a fellow cadet, and getting punished publicly... there wasn’t a single person in this room who thought Lucien deserved forgiveness.

I kept my head down and ignored the staring as best as I could.

Is this the right way to act?

I wondered for a second.

Then I dismissed the thought and walked to the very last row.

The back corner seat—a place for loners, delinquents, and anyone wanting to be invisible.

Perfect.

Once I sat down, the tension in the room slowly melted away. Conversations resumed, not loudly, but in the hushed, gossipy tone of people who thought they were being subtle.

"Look at him pretending nothing happened."

"No shame at all. Disgrace to nobles."

"Let’s just ignore him."

So they had collectively decided not to deal with me.

Honestly, I was relieved.

Being openly hated was one thing, but having people constantly confront me would have been exhausting.

If they ignored me, I could ignore them. That was a perfectly acceptable arrangement.

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled quietly. At least this time, no one was trying to pick a fight.

For now, silence was the best welcome I could ask for.

But silence didn’t last long.

"Come on, think about it. How did a guy like that even get into the Imperial Academy?"

"You ask obvious questions. He’s the heir of a noble house. They get in no matter how useless they are."

Thanks to the gossipers, I finally understood how Lucien—with stats so pathetic even commoners would laugh—managed to join the academy designed for geniuses.

Family influence. Just that.

Great. Another reminder that I was benefiting from the original Lucien’s nonsense.

Before the whispers could get any worse, the mood shifted.

The chatter gradually died down, and heads turned toward the door.

The star group had entered.

Kael walked in first, followed by Princess Celestia and the three heirs of the ducal families. Each one of them possessed strength, prestige, and reputations far above the ordinary cadet. Compared to them, everyone else looked like background extras.

That group alone held enough influence to practically run the academy.

There was one more faction—a certain crown prince’s circle—but that was a story for another time.

As I watched them take their places, I met their eyes for a brief moment.

The reaction was immediate: the same look of disdain and rejection.

Kael’s hostility made sense. Lucien and his thugs went out of their way to torment him before.

But the others?

Lucien wasn’t stupid enough to cause trouble for the princess or the ducal heirs. He never dared touch people that far above him. So why did they look at me like I was the most unwelcome sight here?

Whatever the reason, yesterday’s restaurant incident had already crushed any naive plan of approaching them. Trying to get along with them now would be asking to get stepped on.

I did have self-respect.

Seeing them act so high and mighty—despite being predictable characters who would follow scripted routes—I couldn’t help feeling irritated.

Maybe that was Lucien’s lingering elitism.

Or maybe it was just me being fed up.

Either way, the anger simmered quietly in my chest.

Not enough to do anything foolish.

Just enough to remind me of my current place.

I turned away and stared out the window instead, letting the sunlight hit my face and calm me down.

I needed to become stronger. That was obvious.

But I didn’t know how to even start.

The system was still a mystery. Aside from showing my status and having a locked shop, it had been completely useless. No guide, no quests, no explanation for how to earn points.

It would’ve been nice if that so-called God had included a basic manual.

Or a tutorial.

Anything.

I sighed quietly.

"Completely useless... God."

I barely had time to finish that thought when the classroom door slid open. The homeroom teacher entered with a commanding presence.

"All students, take your seats."

Celestia stood up immediately, her posture rigid with discipline. "Cadets, attention! Greet the teacher!"

Forty voices boomed in perfect unison. "Good morning, instructor!"

The synchronization was impressive. Even among nobles, commoners, and royalty, the academy drilled everyone under the same rules. Rank outside didn’t matter here — at least not while under a teacher’s authority.

"Good morning. I hope you have a productive day."

Standing in front of us was Samantha Everhart — our homeroom instructor and a platinum-ranked knight. In the game, she was one of the empire’s strongest warriors and a major supporting character. A mentor to the hero party. A steadfast shield against the threats that plagued the storyline.

She was everything a knight should be: strict, honorable, unwavering.

Which meant... someone like me sat directly in her crosshairs.

Her eyes swept the room.

Then stopped on me.

"Oh, come on..."

I had lost count of how many times I’d received that exact stare today — a look that combined disappointment, suspicion, and the faintest desire to toss me out the window.

’Aren’t teachers supposed to be impartial?’

Samantha spoke sharply. "I’m sure you are all aware that Lucien, who was referred to the disciplinary committee, has returned after a week-long suspension. I won’t tell you how to welcome him."

A deadpan joke. Delivered with the tone of a firing squad.

Then she continued, "I hope you all take Lucien as an example and diligently pursue your studies."

Laughter burst from the room.

I sank lower in my seat, wishing I could crawl under the desk and never resurface. Being publicly humiliated by the teacher wasn’t something I could argue against. Lucien earned this treatment. But now that I was here instead of him, enduring his mess became unavoidable.

Someday, somehow, I’d change how they saw me.

That was the only answer I could give myself.