Rian's words weren't mere guesses.
With his Six Eyes constantly working in real time, Rian had grown accustomed to analyzing the power levels of entities scattered throughout the Reincarnation Room—beings from countless humanoid races.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Completing the first mission—defeating a non-human existence—seems like it'll be a little easier than I expected," Rian said calmly.
His statement wasn't arrogance—it was a logical assessment.
Even though he was only at Authority Level 5, Rian possessed a total of 104 attribute points, far above the average standard.
When combined with the Six Eyes, Limitless, and the effects of his equipment, Rian's full power was more than enough to challenge foes of Authority Level 4—and even prove troublesome for those at Level 3.
"'Defeating' doesn't necessarily mean 'killing,' right?" he murmured, slipping both hands into his pockets. "But… maybe I'll handle that later. No need to rush."
With that thought, Rian casually began walking toward the school building—to his new classroom.
For now, he had no intention of challenging them.
It wasn't because Rian needed time to prepare some cheap trick or trap. Quite the opposite — Rian simply wanted to build a connection first.
To interact, to engage — and when the time was right… he would make an offer: a "spar."
A spar or a fight — what's the difference? The end goal remains the same: to win. The only difference is that no one dies.
Meanwhile, far from where Rian had been standing earlier, three male students watched him with expressions very different from the female students around.
Not admiration — but envy, frustration, and… a hint of resentment.
The first boy had short, spiky brown hair with two locks sticking out at the back like antennas. His eyes were light brown, and he wore the standard Kuoh Academy male uniform.
But what made him stand out was the bright red T-shirt he wore beneath his shirt and blazer.
"ISSEI… I DON'T GET IT! WHY IS THERE SOMEONE THAT COOL?!" shouted the second boy loudly, his face twisted in frustration as he glared at Rian. "EVEN THE WIND SEEMS TO GREET HIM! THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
He was the second boy — the tallest among the three, with a very short haircut, almost like he'd just finished military training. He wore the same uniform. His name: Matsuda.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER, MATSUDA!" shouted the brown-haired youth: Issei Hyoudou.
Beside them stood a third young man, black-haired, wearing glasses, and with a blank expression.
He adjusted his glasses with two fingers, striking a pose as if he were a professional analyst.
"Based on an instant calculation of his walking style and jawline…" he said seriously, "that man is a superior species. We are completely outmatched in every aspect."
Issei immediately screamed in his mind, his face turning pale. "You're saying that, Motohama!? This is Hell for us!!!"
Motohama and Matsuda nodded in agreement.
The school bell suddenly rang, and students hurriedly entered their respective classrooms to begin their lessons.
***
Kuoh Academy, Class 2-B.
That morning, the students were already seated neatly at their desks. The atmosphere was calm—at least until the classroom door slid open.
A female teacher stepped inside. Her brown hair flowed smoothly down to her back, and a pair of glasses framed her composed face. She wore a formal outfit, holding a textbook in one hand.
She walked to the teacher's desk, sat briefly, then stood again with a gentle smile.
"Everyone, we have a transfer student joining us today," she announced softly, yet clearly enough for the entire class to hear.
"A transfer student?"
"Don't tell me…"
"It's him, isn't it!?"
The classroom instantly erupted into chatter—especially among the girls, who had already caught a glimpse of the striking figure that had passed by the school building earlier that morning.
Their eyes sparkled; whispers and giggles spread quickly.
Meanwhile, in one corner of the room, Issei Hyoudou grimaced in frustration.
"Tsk… It has to be that handsome guy…" he muttered inwardly, his expression that of someone who had just lost all hope in life.
Issei's two closest friends, Matsuda and Motohama, sat gloomily at their desks as well.
Neither of them spoke, but from the look in their eyes, it was clear that their minds were filled with curses for "the handsome guy who destroyed the natural ecosystem of ordinary men."
The teacher then raised her hand and gestured toward the door. "Rian-kun, come in. Don't be shy—greet your new classmates."
The classroom door slowly opened.
Not pulled—but slid aside lightly with a single finger, as if the door itself knew who was coming.
His first step into the room was greeted by a soft breeze from nowhere.
The glasses on Rian's face caught the morning light, reflecting it in a way that made it seem as if he were standing under a spotlight.
The trench coat he usually wore draped over his back was gone; he had neatly stored it in his locker. He knew that for a first day, a touch of restraint was better than overdoing it.
Then, without any cue, a single black rose appeared in his right hand.
His appearance was nothing short of mysterious—perhaps the rose came from inside his jacket… or perhaps it was simply born from the wild imagination of the girls who were already screaming internally.
In truth, however, Rian had drawn the rose from his void ring, his personal spatial storage.
But the way he did it—swift, smooth, and stylish—made it look like a high-class stage magician's trick performed in a grand theater.
"Whoa, is that…?"
"It's really him!"
"No way… this isn't a transfer student, it's a guest of honor!"
Rian strolled casually toward the teacher's desk.
Before the teacher could even say a word, Rian raised his index finger and gently pressed it to her lips.
"Shh…" whispered Rian—softly, yet somehow his voice echoed throughout the room. "i not shy, Sensei..."
The teacher's face flushed pink. Suppressed squeals erupted from the corners of the classroom.
With a dramatic flourish, Rian tucked the black rose behind the teacher's ear, then stepped back slowly. He turned around in one graceful motion—and, of course, pulled a small mirror from his jacket pocket.
Rian gazed at his reflection for a moment, adjusting his bangs with a confident touch before giving himself a faint, satisfied smile. Once content, he slipped the mirror back into his pocket with effortless flair.
Without uttering a single word, Rian picked up a piece of chalk from the teacher's desk. With quick, theatrical movements—almost as if he'd practiced them countless times before a mirror—he wrote his name across the blackboard:
{リアン・アンドロメダ}
Rian Andromeda
When he finished, he turned to face the class, standing tall as though the stage of the world itself belonged to him.
"My name is Rian Andromeda," he said calmly—his voice soft, yet carrying the chill and grace of a midnight breeze.
"A handsome man destined… to steal the stage of the world, and the hearts of anyone who looks at me for more than three seconds."
He paused for effect, letting the silence hang as dozens of eyes stared at him, unblinking.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Rian continued warmly. "But… please, try not to fall in love too quickly. It's only the first day."
He ended his introduction with a faint, confident smile—his very presence seeming brighter than the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
"Is he even human?! That aura… that's the aura of a GOD-TIER IKEMEN!!"
"I can't take it anymore… someone, please—my heart—CPR! But only from him!"
One of the girls was already half-standing from her seat, while another frantically scribbled Rian's name into her notebook, surrounded by hearts.
Someone even opened her planner and wrote: Goal: Become Rian's girlfriend.
Meanwhile…
At the back of the classroom, Matsuda was already standing on top of his chair, one foot on the classroom window frame.
"I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE! LIFE IS UNFAIR! DAMN YOU, HANDSOME GUY!!"
"HEY, MATSUDA, DON'T GO CRAZY!" shouted Issei, jumping up and yanking Matsuda's pants from behind.
Motohama joined in, pushing from the side to pull him back down.
"We can still survive! We can still be the best supporting characters! JUST BELIEVE!!"
"NO WE CAN'T! WHEN HE SAID 'SHH,' THAT WAS ON ANOTHER LEVEL! OUR ENTIRE POPULATION HAS LOST ITS PURPOSE!"
The other male students could only hang their heads in despair. Some even began scribbling in their notebooks:
Note: Never stand next to Rian.
The teacher herself was still frozen in place—half dazed—her cheek faintly warm from the touch and the black rose that somehow still radiated heat.
"U-um… Rian-kun, your seat is behind Issei-kun, okay? The empty one there," said the teacher, her voice a little shaky—almost drowned out by the lingering buzz of the restless class.
She pointed toward the vacant desk in the middle row, right behind Issei Hyoudou.
"This handsome man understands," Rian replied softly, his tone as gentle as a morning breeze.