"Oscar, kid, do you want to be a student in my academy?"
Flender leaned forward, eyes gleaming with excitement. "You know, my academy has many strong soul masters who can train you."
Seeing the dean so desperate to recruit me, I naturally accepted.
"Yes, I accept!"
Well, it's not like I have much of a choice. If I want to get close to Tang San, I have to enter Shrek Academy.
The moment I agreed, Flender's grin widened.
"Excellent! Do you have any relatives, Oscar?"
"No, I'm an orphan."
"Perfect. Then hold on tight, we're going to fly."
"…Ah?"
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Before I could protest, wings sprouted from his back as his owl martial soul flared. He grabbed me by the arm, and the next thing I knew, we were soaring through the sky.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"
This lunatic! This man is a complete lunatic!
The wind howled past my ears, and my stomach twisted. By the time we descended over a small village, my legs had given out.
"Ugh—blergh!" I collapsed to my knees and retched.
Flender scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Sorry about that, kid. I just got too excited. Anyway, this is where you'll be living from now on."
I wiped my mouth and glanced around. "It's… not much better than my old village."
Flender coughed into his hand, clearly embarrassed. "Don't mind that. What matters is that we have Soul Emperors and even a Soul Saint here!"
"Anyway," he leaned closer, "what's your martial soul again?"
I stared at him incredulously. You dragged me all the way here without even knowing my martial soul?
Still, I raised my hand and summoned it. A small jade-green pill appeared, radiating a faint fragrance and soft glow.
"I call it Pill. And yes… I think you have to eat it."
Flender froze. Then his eyes widened to saucers.
"What!? A food-type martial soul… with innate full soul power? What luck! What luck! Hahahaha! I've struck gold! I've got a super genius!!!"
His booming laughter drew attention, and soon another figure walked over.
"Oh, it's you, Flender. I thought some crazy bird was making a fuss. What's got you so worked up?"
Flender turned, practically bouncing with excitement. "Yusong! We now have a genius in our academy! A super genius!"
Li Yusong raised an eyebrow. "Innate soul power? Martial soul?"
"Innate full soul power! And his martial soul is a food-type!" Flender declared proudly.
For a moment, Yusong just stared. Then, like a dam bursting, he broke into hysterical laughter.
"Pfft—hahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahahaha!" Flender joined in instantly.
The two grown men laughed until tears streamed down their faces. Meanwhile, I stood awkwardly between them, wondering if I'd accidentally joined a madhouse.
After a while, they finally calmed down and led me further into the academy.
'Wow,' I thought, glancing around at the shabby surroundings, 'they really are poor…'
Flender puffed his chest out proudly. "Oscar, we already have a food-type soul master in our academy. He will be your teacher."
"Teacher—?"
"Call me Dean," Flender interrupted, grinning. "I'm the founder of this academy."
"…Dean, then. How many people are in this academy?"
"Oh right, introductions!" Flender gestured dramatically. "Let's start with myself. I am Flender, a Level 83 Soul Douluo. Martial Soul—Owl!"
"The man you met earlier is Li Yusong, a Level 63 Soul Emperor, Martial Soul—Dragon Pattern Stick."
One by one, Flender listed the other teachers, his voice filled with pride despite the shabby state of the academy.
"Now that you know, impressive, right?" He gave me a smug look.
"…Sure," I said dryly.
Flender clapped his hands. "Wait here. I'll go fetch your teacher."
"…Teacher Zhao Xin?" I asked, half-expecting.
"Yes! So behave yourself."
No change, huh. Looks like this world isn't altered from the canon. Still… with so little data, I can't make solid conclusions yet.
After a while, Flender returned, bringing along a tall man with an imposing aura. His steps were heavy, his expression serious, and his voice deep.
"So this is the genius I'll be teaching?"