"What rumors?"

"That you’re insane."

Alex walked past him casually.

"They’re probably accurate."

Leon watched him disappear toward one of the bedrooms before muttering quietly to himself.

"...This year is gonna be awful."

The next morning arrived quickly.

A loud bell echoed throughout the academy grounds at exactly six in the morning.

Alex opened one eye slowly from bed.

Then immediately shut it again.

Another bell rang.

Longer this time.

"...I already hate this place."

A voice came from outside his room.

"Orientation starts in thirty minutes."

Leon.

Alex groaned quietly before dragging himself upright.

The academy uniform had already been placed neatly beside the bed overnight.

Black and silver.

Expensive-looking.

Naturally.

After getting dressed, Alex stepped into the shared lounge to find Leon already prepared.

"You’re slow," Leon said.

"You’re awake too early."

"That’s because unlike you, I actually care about surviving this academy."

Alex grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter.

"Pretty sure I survived harder things yesterday."

Leon went silent briefly.

"...Fair point."

The two left the dormitory together.

Outside, the academy had fully awakened now.

Students filled the pathways while instructors moved between buildings organizing schedules and directing newcomers.

Large floating screens displayed class information throughout the campus.

Alex glanced upward.

[First-Year Schedule]

Combat Theory.

Mana Control.

Beast Synchronization.

Dungeon Survival.

Weapon Specialization.

Tactical Combat.

History of Demons.

Alex stared for a moment.

Then sighed deeply.

"...Why do I suddenly have homework?"

Leon stared at him for a moment.

"...Because this is an academy."

"That still sounds unnecessary."

"You almost died yesterday."

"And now they want essays."

Leon sighed quietly as they continued walking through the campus pathways.

Morning sunlight reflected off the massive white towers surrounding the academy grounds while students flooded between buildings alongside their tamed beasts. Some walked beside giant armored bears while others floated overhead on winged serpents.

One student nearby argued with a monkey perched on his shoulder.

Another struggled to stop a massive reptilian beast from eating decorative flowers.

Compared to all that, Adoff quietly padded beside Alex in his wolf form, his gray fur shining slightly beneath the sunlight.

Only Alex could hear his voice.

You left without me.

Alex took another bite from the apple calmly.

"You were asleep."

Leon glanced sideways. "Talking to your beast?"

"Unfortunately."

Adoff’s voice echoed inside Alex’s head again.

I was getting food.

"You were passed out on the couch."

That too.

Leon raised an eyebrow slightly as Adoff lazily stretched beside them.

"Your wolf seems comfortable around people."

"He acts spoiled," Alex replied.

Because comfort matters.

Alex ignored him.

Leon stared at the interaction for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

"...Your synchronization is weirdly natural."

In this world, tamers and beasts fighting alongside one another was completely ordinary. Most students entered the academy already bonded with a creature from childhood or through family inheritance.

Some contracts specialized in combat.

Others focused on support, scouting, elemental affinity, or healing.

Adoff himself wasn’t particularly unusual as a wolf-type beast.

What stood out was how casually Alex treated him.

Most tamers treated their contracts like partners, weapons, or loyal companions.

Alex treated Adoff like an annoying sibling.

I can hear that, Adoff muttered telepathically.

"That’s the problem."

The crowds thickened as students approached the central academy plaza. Giant floating mana screens rotated slowly overhead, displaying announcements and rankings.

[NOTICE]

[First-Year Combat Assessment Begins In 7 Days]

[Current Ranking Board Unavailable]

Students immediately started whispering.

"They’re already doing rankings?"

"That’s way too early..."

"I heard upperclassmen can challenge first-years this year."

This place sucks, Adoff complained inside Alex’s mind.

Leon adjusted his gloves calmly. "The rankings determine almost everything."

"Such as?"

"Resources. Private training access. Better instructors. Higher-paying dungeon commissions. Political attention."

Alex paused slightly at the last one.

"...Political attention?"

Leon nodded.

"This academy isn’t just a school. Noble families, guilds, military factions—they all watch the rankings closely."

So basically everyone’s trying to become famous, Adoff said.

"Or powerful," Leon corrected.

Alex stayed quiet.

He already disliked where this was heading.

The more attention he attracted, the more annoying life became.

Unfortunately, after yesterday’s trial, that was probably unavoidable.

As they approached the center courtyard, more students openly glanced toward Alex now.

Whispers spread constantly.

"That’s him."

"The Demon survivor?"

"He doesn’t look special..."

People expected glowing eyes or something, Adoff snorted inside his head.

Leon glanced sideways. "To be fair, surviving direct combat against a Demon as a first-year is abnormal."

Alex shrugged.

"It died."

Leon stared at him briefly.

"That sentence is exactly why people think you’re insane."

Alex looked entirely unbothered by that statement.

"People die too. Doesn’t make it special."

Leon stared at him for a few seconds before exhaling slowly.

"...You really don’t hear yourself when you speak, do you?"

Honestly, I stopped trying years ago, Adoff muttered inside Alex’s mind.

The massive bell overhead rang again.

Students immediately began moving faster toward the Grand Assembly Hall.

The enormous structure towered over the academy center like a fortress, its silver-white walls covered in glowing enchantments that pulsed faintly beneath the morning sunlight.

Thousands of students flooded through the open entrance alongside their tamed beasts.

Winged creatures perched overhead.

Massive feline-type beasts lounged lazily beside their tamers.

Some smaller beasts rode on students’ shoulders while others walked proudly at their side.

Adoff remained in his wolf form beside Alex, though his sharp golden eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

Too many people.

"You say that like you’re not part of the problem."

I’m significantly more attractive than most of them.

Leon glanced sideways. "Your wolf keeps staring at people like he’s judging them."

"He probably is."

That one looks weak.

"You don’t even know who you’re talking about."

Exactly.

The inside of the Grand Assembly Hall was massive.

Layered seating surrounded a giant circular platform below while floating crystal lights illuminated the ceiling like artificial stars.

The noise alone was overwhelming.

Students shouted across rows.

Beasts growled and screeched.

Metal weapons clinked constantly.

Then—

Silence.

A woman stepped onto the central platform below.

Long black hair.

Golden eyes.

Dark military-style uniform.

The pressure surrounding her instantly crushed the atmosphere of the room.

Even several beasts lowered themselves instinctively.

Leon’s expression tightened slightly.

"That’s Ravenna Voss," he said quietly. "Combat Division Head."