Ran woke up to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling. As he scanned the dim room, he realized he was in a dark, shady room.
'My head hurts...'
He scratched his head before slowly sitting up in bed and noticed a letter clutched in his hand.
Ran could already tell who it was from.
[After you passed out, I ordered Thomas to take you to your room.
I wasn't able to tell you some things before you passed out so I am writing this letter.
Your breakfast typically starts after your first lecture but you are free to eat anytime in the cafeteria in the morning. The academy will have 4 total periods will different professors.
You will have free time after the lectures and you are free to do anything you want. The academy have facilities for library, training halls. Use those during your free time.
Thomas will place your clothes in your cabinet. By the time you read this, it might already be morning, and today is your first day. Your first class starts at 8 AM. Remember, your classroom is room no. 409. Try not to be late, freshman.]
Ran placed the letter down and began inspecting the room. It was far better than the shabby inn he stayed at previously. There were a few pieces of furniture scattered about, but the room itself was spacious and relatively empty.
Following the instructions, he went to his cabinet and found clothes neatly hanging inside: a white shirt, black pants, and a long black coat.
Ran couldn't help but be impressed. The clothes were elegant and well-made.
When he put them on and looked into the mirror, he realized they fit perfectly. The coat was long, reaching just below his thighs, but it still looked good on him.
The round crest of Fafnir Academy was embroidered on the upper right side of the coat. As he was admiring the dress in the mirror, he noticed it was already almost 8 AM.
'Shit'
In a panic, he rushed to open the door, and what he saw left him speechless. The crowd he saw during the entrance exam was nothing compared to this.
The entire 6-square-kilometer campus was teeming with students. Some were in groups, others walked alone, but the academy was alive with energy.
Ran couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. His room was near the corridor, and there were many other rooms like his.
The academy had a total of 18 buildings, 13 for dormitories and 2 for officials, remaining were libraries, training halls and the main building which was the largest of all.
The main building stretched about a kilometer wide and stood five stories tall, capable of housing around 12,000 people.
The place was enormous, and finding his classroom was no easy task. After much wandering, he finally reached his building, located on the second floor at the far east.
He entered the classroom and immediately felt the eyes of the other students on him. The room was packed with probably around 200 students, by his rough estimate.
Ignoring the stares, he made his way to the far end of the class, by the window.
Sitting next to him was a timid-looking boy with yellow, mushroom-shaped hair and glasses. He looked like a typical nerd, so Ran decided to leave him be.
Suddenly, a few whispers reached his ears.
"Hey, isn't that the rumored boy who aced the practical entrance exam?"
"Yeah, I heard his name is Ran. A commoner."
"That explains why he took the exam."
"I was in the stadium that day. Not gonna lie, he was pretty powerful. He even beat the rumored prodigy from the Montello household, the one who defeated that Class 4 giant monster terrorizing the village last month."
"No, he's nothing special. That guy's probably cursed."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you weren't in the stadium? He seemed to enjoy killing those monsters to the point he brutalized them while grinning like a maniac."
"That's kinda messed up. Gotta ignore this guy then."
Ran's ears were sharp. He could hear every word the group below him whispered.
He looked away, pretending not to hear anything.
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder. It was the same guy sitting on his left.
"Hey, I saw your performance that day. You're crazy strong, you know."
The boy was unexpectedly enthusiastic and extroverted. Ran knew nerdy types like him often came from lower-class noble families and were frequently bullied.
Was this guy trying to befriend him for protection? Ran couldn't be sure.
"Yeah, thanks."
His half-ass response would have bored most people, but the boy kept going.
"My name's Richard Garm. I'm from the vassal estates of the Valmonths. Nice to meet you."
He extended a hand, smiling brightly. Ran sighed and reluctantly shook it.
"Ran."
Then, as if to show his disinterest, Ran shifted his attention to the window. Richard smiled bitterly and looked away, not bothering him further.
A short while later, the door opened, and a man entered the classroom.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Edward Montello. I'll be taking your morning class from now on. Before we begin, let me clarify something. You'll all be examined based on your merit points."
The room grew silent as Professor Montello continued.
"Those whose merit points fall to zero will be immediately expelled, no exceptions. Merit points will be based on exams, attendance, and discipline records.
Be warned, the academy does not differentiate between rich and poor. Whether you're highborn or lowborn, you will be expelled if you don't meet the standards."
The entire class went still. It felt less like an academy and more like a survival game. Ran couldn't help but think that many students would be expelled soon.
'Probably a method to manage the overwhelming number of freshmen.'
He concluded before focusing on Edward.
"All of you begin with 100 merit points. These will be recorded in the student registry. If you ever want to check your points, just visit the reception. If you abide by the academy's rules and perform excellently, you'll earn extra merit points."
He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in.
"This year's annual exam will be based solely on your merit points regardless of your talent or potential. Anyone who earns less than 1000 merit points will be expelled."
"What?"
"That's unfair."
"That's too much! Don't you think it's ruthless?"
A chorus of protests erupted from the students. Arguments filled the classroom. Ran and Richard watched silently from the back.
"Haha, that's kinda messed up, don't you think, Ran?"
Richard looked at him with a bitter smile, but Ran ignored him lost in his own thoughts.
"You are real idiots."
Professor Edward's low, deep voice silenced the room.
"You filthy maggots, backed by your big-shot families, think life is easy. Nuisances like you are the reason humanity is getting weaker and weaker.
You parasites, who've never struggled a day in your life, think graduation will be handed to you on a silver platter. You're all bottomfeeders regardless of your family, class, or gender."
He glared at the room with cold eyes.
"This is the absolute rule of this academy. It won't change, no matter whose daddy shows up to visit. I can already see this classroom emptying in a month."
He grinned wickedly, sending a chill down everyone's spine.
"Try not to get expelled."