CHAPTER 31: SENTIENT ACADEMY — PRINCIPAL

At the instructor’s reprimand, all the instructors who had been causing Arthur trouble, including Osmout’s father, quietly reined in their behaviors.

Arthur curiously glanced at the principal, but she paid him no attention.

Many thoughts swirled through his mind even as the participants who failed were escorted out of the arena.

’Was she angry at the fact that he told her he was a mage only for her to realize he was a summoner?’

’Or perhaps she already knew all along? Then she most likely treated his behavior as a little kid’s hormones?’

An unsettling feeling plagued Arthur’s heart.

Glancing at her one last time, he clenched his fist.

The air silently rippled, and the little fox materialized in front of Arthur.

It stunned a few students, including the instructor who had been about to lead the students away.

Arthur forced a smile. "Don’t mind it. My second summon."

The instructor’s lips twitched slightly, and so did his hand.

He wanted to scan the potential of the little creature immediately.

But the scan app had already crashed.

"I’ll lead you to your dormitories."

Coughing to change the topic, the instructor turned and led the remaining first-year students.

Arthur unsummoned Titan and followed with the group, his eyes scanning the crowd of people behind them.

A rough estimate showed about a hundred or so present.

Arthur glanced through them, then shifted his attention away from them and onto the cobblestones, and the direction the instructor was leading them.

Along the way, the instructor described the academy’s environment to them, including vague rules concerning the academy.

"The academy forbids relationships between male and female students. You shouldn’t be caught in the female dormitory or you’ll face severe consequences."

"That aside, leaving the academy without permission will also lead to various consequences, and so does fighting using one’s class abilities within the academy."

The instructor went on explaining various rules along the way.

Finally, he reached a demarcation.

To the right was a large expanse of space, and at its center stood a massive spiraling building.

To the left was a similar building.

"The ladies should head towards the left. Your rooms are on the first floor, and within your rooms is a briefing of the academy’s rules and regulations."

At his words, the clatter of boots echoed and more than half the crowd noisily stepped aside.

They noticed a few older-looking youths situated at the door of the building and quickly walked up to them.

After meeting them, they were led into the female dormitories by the seniors.

Meanwhile, the boys continued under the instructor’s lead.

’Entering a relationship with ladies is against the rules and regulations, and yet they put the ladies so close to us?’

Arthur mused silently.

Glancing at the surroundings, he and the others entered the building under the instructor’s guidance.

A cool breeze hit Arthur the moment he stepped in.

His eyes scrunched up slightly.

There was something different about the air...

"Indeed, it’s as you all have guessed," the instructor calmly interrupted everyone’s thoughts. "There are many mana veins situated within the dormitories. Using a special invention, as you step higher through the rooms, the density of mana increases, aiding in one’s recovery."

Arthur was pleasantly surprised by the statement.

It seemed the school had truly come far in technology.

"Everything you need will be in your rooms. You’re free to choose whatever room you want, but remember not to cause any fights within your dorms. The punishment is quite severe."

The instructor’s gaze deepened at his last words.

Turning around, he left the speechless group of boys standing near the door.

Arthur glanced around.

Aside from the massive building situated in the middle, there was a spacious courtyard where he guessed those who wanted to train could stay.

His eyes shifted to the door ahead, and without hesitation he walked toward it, having no reason to linger with the crowd.

The remaining students noticed his movements and couldn’t help watching him with curious gazes.

Arthur reached the door and immediately pulled on its handle.

A new world opened before him.

The aisle was spacious enough to accommodate a crowd of people, and a few meters from the wall was a door on both sides of the corridor.

Ignoring the gazes behind him, Arthur stepped inside and calmly walked, his footsteps echoing silently through the passageway.

The others noticed his movements and their eyes flickered toward one another.

Osmout glared at Arthur, then snorted and followed behind him, matching almost the same pace.

Arthur noticed this from the corner of his eyes but paid the kid no mind.

He continued walking, already having a particular room in mind.

Although the walk through the corridor stretched for a while, Arthur arrived in no time.

He reached the end of the wall, and surprisingly, in front of it was a room.

The main room.

It was said this room was only taken by the strongest of each class, though Arthur was unaware of that.

Feeling it was the perfect room for him, he reached toward the handle.

But a hand was faster.

Osmout.

Sneering, the youth grabbed the handle and glared at Arthur.

"I selected this room first, kid. Go choose something else."

Arthur’s eyes settled into a deep gaze that met Osmout’s own.

Osmout’s heart skipped a beat, but he remained unfazed, eyes unblinking as he stared at Arthur.

"What?" he questioned, then turned and reached out to open the door.

’All these cliches...’ Arthur was already getting tired of the situation even though it had just started.

Without hesitation, a black abyss-like portal materialized beside him and Titan stepped out.

Titan glanced at Osmout the instant he appeared, his golden eyes locking onto the kid as he sensed the malicious intentions Osmout held toward Arthur.

"You..." Osmout trembled in disbelief. "The instructor said we shouldn’t use our abilities in the academy."

Arthur snorted in disdain.

"I’m not using my abilities. Maybe my summon went out of control and I had no way to stop him..."

A grin tugged at the corner of Arthur’s lips as he glanced at Osmout’s pale face.

"Titan, slaughter him."