It was 6:50 in the evening when Fenric arrived at the Bay Hotel.
The moment he stepped through the doors, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Damn, Ric, why are you so slow?" Jitto grumbled, striding over.
Fenric raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say seven o'clock? Showing up ten minutes early hardly counts as slow."
"..." Jitto froze, then threw his hands up. "What you said is so reasonable, I don't even know how to refute it!"
"Come on, the classmates are almost all here."
Hooking his arm through Fenric's, Jitto dragged him toward the elevators. His voice lowered conspiratorially. "There are a ton of people tonight. Not just our class, but several from our school, plus seniors from First High and Third High. The whole Bay Hotel's practically been taken over by schools. It's insane!"
He leaned closer, whispering, "Ric, you'd better show off a little tonight. The school beauties from every campus are gathered here. A rare chance!"
Fenric only smiled faintly, unmoved. No matter how dazzling these so-called school flowers were, they were still just teenage girls—immature compared to the captivating women he had met in the Samsara dungeons.
The two stepped into the elevator.
Just as the doors were about to close, a crisp voice rang out.
"Wait!"
Jitto's eyes lit up. Spotting the source—a striking young girl—he immediately pressed the button to reopen the doors.
Three girls stepped inside.
They were all around the same age as Fenric and Jitto, but one stood out. Her features were exquisitely carved, her willow-leaf brows framing a pair of luminous eyes that seemed to pierce straight into the soul. With her tall figure and porcelain skin, she exuded an aura that made the air feel heavier.
A goddess.
Even Fenric, who had seen more than most, felt a flicker of surprise.
"Thanks," the girl said softly, her voice carrying a faint fragrance as if even her words left a lingering perfume.
Jitto's face turned red. "N-no need to thank us!" he stammered.
Fenric smirked silently at his friend's fluster.
The elevator began its ascent.
The three girls started chatting among themselves.
"Yuhan, I didn't expect you to come back."
"Yeah, we all thought you were still in the capital."
"A class reunion is too important to miss. Of course I came back."
Jitto, who usually couldn't shut up, suddenly transformed into a solemn gentleman, eyes forward, lips sealed. Fenric wasn't inclined to speak either, so he remained quiet.
Ding!
The elevator reached the sixth floor. The girls exited, their voices drifting down the hall.
The moment they were gone, Jitto exhaled heavily, clutching Fenric's arm. "Holy sh*t, Ric! Did you see that? That was Song Yuhan from Class One—the goddess herself! We actually shared an elevator with her. Tonight was worth it just for that!"
Fenric's eyes narrowed slightly. Song Yuhan… is she Belle from Samsara Space?
He decided to confirm. "She's the one they call Belle Morwyn, right?"
"Exactly!" Jitto's face was still glowing with excitement. "I heard she's already a B-rank Samsara. Unreal, right?" His voice dropped with a sigh. "But girls like that… not for guys like us. They say she's already caught the eye of Shura himself. And her cousin's one of the country's top-ranked masters."
Fenric said nothing, but his expression flickered. He hadn't expected to see Belle here, nor for her true face to be so breathtaking.
He couldn't help but recall the 128 days they'd spent together in the 2012 dungeon world—sharing life and death, but never crossing that final line. Now, meeting her in the real world, he felt an odd sense of irony.
He chuckled under his breath.
The two arrived at Box 602.
"Jitto? Fenric? Why so late? The class monitor's been waiting. Hurry up and punish yourselves with three cups!" someone called out loudly.
Fenric was usually a quiet, overlooked presence in class. But Jitto, thanks to his recruitment into a top university, had risen to a more central position. Their entrance drew plenty of attention.
"Fine, fine," Jitto laughed, grabbing a glass. "I'll take three first!"
Down went the drinks—fortunately only beer. Three glasses equaled barely half a bottle. Nothing for him.
"Good man, Jitto!" classmates cheered.
Then the focus shifted. "Fenric, your turn!"
Smiling faintly, Fenric obliged. "Alright."
He downed three glasses in a row, face unchanged.
Applause broke out.
"Impressive! Didn't know you could handle your liquor."
"Three glasses not enough—make it six!"
Fenric waved them off with a laugh. "Careful, if I keep going, you'll be carrying me home."
His words drew more laughter, and the pressure eased. None of them knew that his body, enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum, could shrug off alcohol like water.
The dinner carried on with food, drinks, and easy chatter. There was no arrogance, no pretentious show of wealth. Just a group of students on the cusp of graduation—naïve, nostalgic, and hopeful for the future.
"Ric," Jitto asked suddenly between bites, "how confident are you about tomorrow's exam? Shooting for 4.0?"
Fenric shook his head. "I'm not planning to take it."
"What? Are you serious?" Jitto hissed, lowering his voice. "If you're unsure, I can talk to my school's admissions office. With your ability, they'd fight to get you!"
Fenric waved him off. "No need. I have my own plans. Worry about yourself."
Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food. The evening soon shifted into the next part of the program—mutual toasting.
Officially, it was meant for students to mingle between boxes, visiting other classes to share drinks.
Unofficially, it was the perfect excuse to approach the girls they admired.