"This world truly deserves to be destroyed if it must rely on a single person to prevent its destruction."
[...]
The world or rather, humanity has always been threatened by the manas, and even then, we survived for several years. We lost territories but were never annihilated, as if things were leaning toward a certain balance.
Why would such a well-oiled structure suddenly be destroyed? And why would the intervention of a single person change things?
[This is information you can access, but some things must be ignored. It's to your advantage not to know them now; the time will come.]
"Hmm."
I suspected as much. I'm not really interested in actively working to save the world; I have other plans in mind.
Anyway, my rank proves it: I already contribute to the world through my actions.
[Indeed! Then continue to act as you see fit; I will assist you as best I can.]
By that, I meant that as a Brigadier, I had already gone to the front lines to fight. That already counted as participating in the effort to save humanity, but it seems I was always acting in its favor.
A car was parked outside the building where my apartment was located.
I got into the car. In the front seat, Zhen was seated; she was acting in accordance with the mission she had assigned herself.
Lie sat in the back seat like me. All three of us were wearing the academy uniform. Thus, the car left one of the academy's residential zones.
The building we were staying in was an apartment complex with several high-class apartments. Of course, the cost of staying in such a place was exorbitant, but the points I received upon enrollment were enough to stay here for a good month.
The car was heading toward the center of the academy.
After a fifteen-minute drive, we arrived. This place, the heart of Xerx Academy, was a large building, perhaps the size of a district. This is where classes and various transactions related to studies at Xerx would take place.
Lie opened the door and got out. I then got out as Zhen handed her terminal to the driver.
When enrollment at Xerx was confirmed, we received a small device resembling a rectangle with a thickness of two millimeters. This device served as a badge of our affiliation with Xerx. It was regularly updated and contained useful information, such as our name, class, etc., but most importantly, it contained our points.
Points could be exchanged for goods or services. To put it simply, it was the currency used in what was called the Xerx academic city.
The driver took the terminal and inserted it into a designated port. A beep sounded, indicating that the transaction had been successfully completed.
He returned the device to Zhen.
"Alden!"
"I know!"
I knew very well what she was going to say, but that couldn't be. Zhen and Lie had been admitted to class S.
I was in class Z. So we had to part ways here, but it wasn't the end of the world. Contrary to what one might think, there were many similarities between classes Z and S, as well as shared activities.
Lie sighed.
"Just be careful. We'll make sure your ambitions come true, but please be cautious when interacting with others."
"If there's anything, call on us. We'll take care of it for you."
While those two were talking, I was reflecting on their previous statement.
My ambitions? What ambitions!?
I took out the device similar to the one Zhen used. It seemed to be called a UI-phone. The screen lit up; I could navigate and see various information and access a map. Given the architecture of the place, not getting lost here was the bare minimum.
Zhen and Amelia took an elevator to the second floor.
"Do you think we should have accompanied him? After all, it's the first day. Since we're in class S, I don't think it would be a problem," Lie asked Zhen, slightly disappointed. She didn't like having to part with Alden.
"It bothers me just as much, but that's how it is! Anyway, I don't think he'd appreciate us ruining our experience here," Zhen sighed. Although she sighed, Alden's consideration delighted her.
"Oh, you know we didn't need to be here in the first place, and the same goes for him. We can make an exception."
Zhen's gaze hardened, even though she knew Lie was half-serious.
"Even if we don't care, that's not the case for her. Should I remind you that she entrusted us with a mission?"
Zhen didn't say more, but Lie shivered, recalling an authoritative figure as if she were behind her.
"I know!" Lie affirmed. The elevator had reached the second floor, and the door had opened. Upon exiting, they noticed other students.
Some of them, who had arrived earlier, glanced at the two sisters.
"Aren't those the girls who arrived at the same time as Alden KHAN?"
"They're in class S. Even his entourage is extraordinary."
While they whispered, the two girls paid them no attention. When Alden wasn't around, Lie was an ice block, and Zhen had that commercial smile that merchants give when they're after your money.
Just basic politeness, and that was the first impression they left. So much so that no one approached them.
Zhen had memorized the path to the class S amphitheater thanks to the map in her terminal, so Lie just followed her. The two walked as if they had been in the area their whole lives.
They arrived in the room. It was very large, and a few students were already present, but as soon as those two entered, the lively room became quiet.
They were all new, so every time someone entered, silence reigned, and everyone sized each other up. Those who had already settled in began to chat. The pattern repeated several times.
But this time, the loop was closed: as soon as those two entered the room, none of those who had been animating the place spoke until the end.
Meanwhile, three people were experiencing the most awkward moment of their lives. There were only ten students in class Z.
The class consisted of first, second, and third-year students.
It was a rather eclectic class, but now Alden KHAN had just joined class Z. The first day was the day of the gathering, but here they were, all stuck with him, no teacher, sitting around a round table.