The sun dawned, casting golden light across the sky as the echoes of birdsong filled the crisp morning air.
"Twenty–five… twenty–-six…twenty–seven"
Andrias panted, pushing through his morning exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and stretches. Nothing fancy, but enough to keep him sharp.
Building his physical aptitude was essential. With his low magical reserves, he needed to rely on strength and endurance, and hopefully, figure out a way to gradually increase his mana pool.
"Maybe I should join the Combat Faculty," he thought between breaths. It was one of many faculties within Nocturne Academy—specialized in close-range combat, weapon arts, and tactical survival. It suited someone like him.
Today, though, there were no classes.
It was Sign-Up Day—a chance for students to explore the academy grounds, register with different faculties, meet their peers, and get used to their new life.
Andrias had a plan of his own.
He'd head to the Adventurer bureau, quest board system. In the game, it was one of the best ways to level up early, earn small amounts of coins, and gain experience. He'd used it constantly back then.
Now he was planning to do the same. Though he will be different in real life than in-game.
He grabbed a towel off the bed, wiped the sweat from his brow, and got dressed—slipping into his Nocturne uniform, adjusting his cloak, before stepping out the door.
He gave a long stretch and walked through the dormitory hallways, eventually stepping out onto the academy grounds.
Students moved in clusters, already forming groups—some chatting excitedly, others walking with purpose toward various faculty buildings. Andrias barely paid attention, only to find himself bumping straight into Noah again.
"Yo," Andrias said casually, giving a small wave as Noah passed by.
The green-haired student looked up from the book he was reading—something thick and worn, likely about alchemy. "Oh! Andrias!" Noah smiled. "Where are you off to?"
"Adventurer Bureau," Andrias replied.
"You an adventurer?"
"Yeah. Without my family's support, I've got no way to make money." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I was lucky they covered my tuition before… well…" He trailed off. "Never mind. You wanna come with?"
Noah shook his head. "Sorry, I can't. I've got a meeting at the Alchemy Faculty."
"Already?"
"Yeah, they're doing some orientation stuff early."
Andrias nodded. "Got it. I'll catch you later, then."
"See you!" Noah said with a wave, returning to his book as he walked away.
Andrias made his way to the Adventurer Bureau. Just as he'd expected, it was bustling with activity—students crowded the place. Among them were a few grown-up adventurers, most likely instructors sent to supervise or to guide the younger, would-be adventurers. Ordinary adults weren't allowed within Nocturne Academy unless they were professors or officially affiliated staff, so their presence marked them as exceptions.
He noticed students glancing at him, quickly averting their eyes when he looked their way. He kept his gaze low, avoiding eye contact. "Last thing I want is trouble," he muttered under his breath.
Approaching the front desk, he was greeted by a woman in a green Nocturne uniform—a clear sign she was part of the Adventurer Bureau. She had grass-green hair, glasses perched on her nose, and a polite yet practiced smile.
"Hello! I'm Lilah, and I'll be your receptionist," she said cheerfully.
"Hi," Andrias replied. "I'd like to sign up as an adventurer."
Lilah gave a quick nod and pulled out a parchment contract. "Please read through this carefully before signing."
Andrias scanned the document. All Nocturne students will begin at F-rank. Freshman adventurers cannot rise beyond C-rank while enrolled. You may not sue for injury or death. Killing other adventurers is strictly forbidden.
"Reasonable," he thought. After a final glance, he took the offered pen and signed his name.
Lilah took the contract and looked at the signature. Her hand froze. Her expression flickered for just a moment.
"Andrias Kang…"
In the game, you'd just register, a bit of dialogue, and accept quests, and be on your way. But things were likely different here.
"Do you think you could give me any helpful information about the Adventurer Bureau?" Andrias asked.
Lilah hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, of course."
"This is one of many bureaus across the continent, all run by the Adventurer's Guild—completely separate from the government," she explained. "Here, you go to the board, accept quests, and sell any items or materials you gather from them."
She leaned forward slightly. "If you work hard and build up a good reputation, there's even a chance you can earn a scholarship to help support yourself."
It was becoming increasingly clear that she might already know about his situation—his status, his name.
"Please hand me your Nocturne identification card," she said, her voice polite but firm, like someone trying to maintain neutrality.
Andrias reached into the inner pocket of his cloak and pulled out the newly issued card, the faint glint of its polished surface catching the light. He handed it over without a word.
Lilah took it and inserted it into a crystal-like device on the counter that pulsed briefly with mana. A few seconds passed in silence as the system registered the new data. With a soft chime, the process was complete. She removed the card and handed it back to him with both hands, a gesture of courtesy.
Andrias took a look. Just below the bold letters that read Nocturne Student, another line had appeared: F-Rank Adventurer.
"You can use this as both your Nocturne and Guild identification," Lilah explained, adjusting her glasses slightly. "It's recognized by the Adventurer Guild throughout the continent. No need to carry two separate cards—it'll track both your student records and your quest history."
"Convenient," Andrias muttered, slipping the card back into his pocket.
He glanced over at the bustling quest board nearby. Students were huddled around it, chatting excitedly about potential assignments, some already in groups, others clearly overwhelmed by the number of options.
Turning back to Lilah, he asked, "Any quest recommendations for someone just starting out?"
She tapped her fingers thoughtfully against the desk for a few seconds before answering. "Well… since it's your first time, I'd suggest starting with something simple. There's a herb-gathering request posted by the Alchemy Faculty—they've reported a shortage of certain medicinal plants and are asking for assistance."
Andrias tilted his head slightly, considering it. Herb gathering—menial, repetitive, and usually easy. In the game, it had always been one of the go-to beginner quests. Still, now that he was in this world for real, he needed money, experience, and a way to build himself up quietly without attracting too much attention.
"Sure," he said with a small nod of affirmation.
"Great!" Lilah beamed, her smile bright and sincere—perhaps a little too cheerful, but Andrias appreciated the effort.
She ducked under the desk for a moment, rummaging through a drawer before pulling out a form. With a smooth motion, she slid the paper across the polished wooden counter toward him. "This is the quest form," she explained. "Read through it carefully before heading out. Memorizing the details can help you avoid trouble later."
Andrias nodded again, picking up the paper. His eyes scanned the contents quickly but thoroughly—location of the herbs, number of specimens needed, types of flora required, the time limit, and who to report to upon completion. A familiar rhythm returned to him—like in the game, but heavier now, real. Once he had the information committed to memory, he handed the paper back to Lilah without hesitation.
"I'll see you later then, Lilah," he said plainly, but there was a quiet warmth behind the words.
She hesitated for a brief moment, caught off guard by the gentleness in his tone, then offered a soft smile and raised her hand in a polite wave.
As Andrias stepped out of the adventurer bureau and into the open courtyard of the academy, the murmurs and glances began almost immediately. A small group of noble-born students, clad in pristine uniforms adorned with their family crests, paused in their conversations as he walked past.
He ignored them.
It wasn't worth reacting to. He didn't need their validation, nor would he let their prejudice define him. He had a goal, and that was all that mattered now.
Back at the desk, Lilah released a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her shoulders dropped slightly, relaxing from the tension she had been trying to hide behind her professional smile. She reached for her pen and scribbled something into her logbook, but her thoughts lingered on the encounter.
Andrias Kang.
The name alone carried weight—infamy even. A fallen noble from one of the most feared houses in the empire. The Kang family had been known for their cruelty, ruthlessness, and blood-soaked legacy. Stories about them were passed around in hushed tones, tales of tyranny and corruption, of a family that rose through brutality and fell just as harshly. And the rumors about the last heir? That he was a heartless monster. A shadow of his forefathers.
But the boy she just met?
He was different. He spoke softly, calmly. There was no malice in his voice, no arrogance in his posture. He didn't look down on her or treat her like she was beneath him. He'd been polite. Respectful.
"Maybe losing his entire house changed him," she murmured under her breath, tapping her pen absently on the desk. "Or maybe he was never like them to begin with."
She shook the thoughts from her head and straightened her glasses.
It doesn't matter, she told herself firmly. As a receptionist, I can't discriminate against anyone—noble or commoner, fallen or not. Everyone gets a fair chance here.
Still, her eyes drifted once more toward the path Andrias had taken, curiosity lingering in her expression.
Andrias made his way toward the edge of the Nocturne Academy grounds, eventually reaching the eastern gate. A tall stone arch marked the exit, guarded by two armored sentries bearing the academy's insignia. He approached one of them and handed over his Nocturne identification card without a word.
The guard took it, raising an eyebrow as his eyes scanned the name.
"Andrias Kang, huh?" the man murmured under his breath, a flicker of recognition passing through his expression. His brows twitched for a moment, then his face settled back into a practiced, unreadable mask. "Go right ahead, kid."
He handed the card back, and Andrias gave a silent nod before stepping past the gate. The air outside was different—less refined, a little colder, touched by nature. As the walls of Nocturne Academy vanished behind the trees, a familiar silence took over.
He wandered through the underbrush, eyes scanning the ground and low-hanging tree branches for any sign of the medicinal plants described in the quest paper. The game had made this part easy—marked locations, glowing indicators, and guided paths. But this was real. The forest didn't care if you were a player. There were no indicators here, no glowing spots. Just layers of wild nature, chaotic and unstructured.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then thirty.
Still, he pushed forward, refusing to turn back empty-handed. And slowly, his luck began to change.
Near a sunlit clearing, half-hidden beneath a twisted root system, he spotted it—a soft green glow, faint but unmistakable. A sprig of the herb he was looking for, nestled between stones.
"Finally," he said under his breath.
He knelt and carefully plucked it, storing it inside a cloth pouch. Once the first was found, it was as if the forest began to open up. More herbs appeared—between logs, near small water streams, tucked under mossy overhangs
–Growl!
A sharp, piercing growl snapped him to attention. Reacting on instinct, Andrias leapt onto a nearby tree branch, perching there as he scanned the forest floor. A few tense seconds passed before the underbrush rustled—and out came small, green-skinned creatures with pointy ears and crude weapons.
"Of course," he muttered. "What story doesn't toss in these green little bastards?"
He paused, realizing how that sounded.
"…Never mind."
This was the perfect time to test his abilities.
Andrias dropped from the tree, landing squarely in the middle of the goblin pack. His boots hit the dirt with a solid thud as he lowered into a combat stance, eyes locked on the snarling creatures around him.
The goblins hissed and growled, crude weapons raised. They began to circle him like vultures around a corpse, waiting for an opening. One finally snapped—it lunged forward, screeching, swinging a jagged blade toward his ribs.
Andrias moved with sharp precision. He weaved to the side, caught the goblin's thin wrist mid-swing, and turned with the momentum. With a grunt, he hurled the creature over his shoulder, slamming it into the ground. The goblin let out a choked gasp, stunned and disoriented. The last thing it sees is Andrias's foot above its head the next second.
–Splatter
Blood, pieces of brain, green flesh, and teeth were scattered around. He had hardened his foot, giving it the extra bit of power he needed. But he did not expect to do that much damage. Another goblin stabbed at him in the side of his hip
–Clank
The sound of hitting his hardened skin. He turned around, his fist clenched. Then he hardened his fist and swung at the goblin's jaw. Its jaw hung by its bit of flesh to its face. It tried to yell in pain but couldn't. striking fear into the other goblins.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, its rhythmic sound weaving through the low murmur of voices that filled the adventurer bureau. Liliah sat behind the receptionist desk, her chin resting on her palm as she tried to focus on the endless stream of Nocturne students coming and going. Yet her mind wandered far away from the bustling room, drifting toward a single, persistent thought — Andrias Kang, the fallen noble.
Despite herself, she found her thoughts lingering on him longer than she intended. There was something about the way he carried himself, calm and unbothered, that didn't match the harsh rumors and dark stories whispered about his name. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, and she quickly shook her head, chastising herself for letting such thoughts distract her from her duties.
The chatter in the bureau swelled, voices rising and falling as students discussed their latest quests and adventures. Suddenly, the heavy wooden door creaked open with a sharp squeal, drawing a wave of attention like a stone dropped in still water.
Heads snapped toward the entrance.
The room fell almost silent.
Andrias Kang stepped inside, his presence commanding despite his battered appearance. Dried blood stained his clothes and smeared across his arms, evidence of the brutal encounter he must have faced. Yet his expression remained composed, his eyes clear and unflinching as he made his way toward the front desk.
Without hesitation, he reached into his side pouch and pulled out a bundle of freshly gathered herbs, placing them gently on the polished counter with a soft clink. The sharp scent of crushed leaves and earth wafted through the air, mixing with the faint metallic tang of dried blood still lingering on his skin.
Liliah's eyes widened as she stared at him, both surprised and—though she wouldn't admit it aloud—oddly relieved to see him return in one piece. Her fingers, which had been idly drumming on the desk moments ago, froze. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first.
She stared longer than necessary, eyes tracing the streaks of dried blood on his arms, the crimson flecks on his tunic, the small nick on his cheek.
Andrias raised an eyebrow. "Is there something on my face?" he asked, his tone casual, almost teasing—though the faint edge in his voice hinted at discomfort under the weight of so many eyes.
Liliah blinked rapidly, cheeks heating. She quickly pointed at the most obvious thing: the blood.
"You're… covered in it."
Andrias glanced down at himself. He paused, his expression thoughtful, almost sheepish. In truth, he'd been so focused on returning with the herbs that he'd completely forgotten the mess he was in.
"Oh. Right," he said, brushing a hand down his arm as if that would somehow wipe away the evidence. "I ran into some goblins. Don't worry—this isn't my blood."
He hesitated for a beat.
"…I think," he murmured under his breath, just loud enough for Liliah to hear.
There was a brief silence between them before she gave a small, half-nervous chuckle, unsure if he was being serious or trying to make light of it. Either way, her tension softened just a little.
Andrias slid the small pouch of herbs across the counter. The motion broke the strange tension in the air. Liliah blinked, suddenly remembering she had a job to do. Her cheeks still warm, she quickly took the pouch, opening it with practiced fingers.
She examined the contents carefully—herbs bundled with a surprisingly neat touch, despite the fact that he looked like he had walked through a warzone. After a few seconds of inspection, she gave a satisfied nod. "Looks like you gathered just enough," she said, her tone more professional now as she stood and disappeared into the backroom.
Moments later, she returned, carrying a small wooden tray. On it were a few neatly stacked copper coins—and a single silver coin that gleamed under the faint crystal light of the bureau.
Andrias's eyes narrowed slightly. "The quest paper said only copper. What's this?" he asked, pointing at the silver piece.
Liliah placed the tray down and gave him a sly smile, her green eyes twinkling behind her glasses. She leaned forward slightly, tapping the edge of the silver with her finger.
"That one's from me," she said with a playful wink.
Andrias paused for a moment, then let out a short, genuine chuckle. "Thanks," he said, his voice softer than before, touched with something almost grateful.
Liliah looked away quickly, pretending to adjust her glasses, her face clearly flustered. "You're welcome," she murmured, barely audible.
"Now, Andrias… you should probably do something about the blood on you," Liliah pointed out, trying her best not to stare too long at the splattered stains drying on his uniform.
Andrias let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… I probably should."
He looked down at himself and sighed. "The problem is… this is my only clean pair."
He knew firsthand how stubborn blood stains could be. In his previous life, he'd ruined more shirts than he could count. No matter how quick you were, it always left a mark.
"Wait a minute—Andrias, stay right there!" Liliah suddenly said with urgency.
Before he could respond, she darted off from behind the receptionist desk and disappeared into the back, her heels clicking rapidly against the polished floor. Several students glanced over curiously. Andrias stood still, slightly confused, waiting patiently.
A few minutes later, Liliah returned, slightly out of breath, holding a neatly folded bundle of clothes in her arms. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she looked a bit flushed.
Gasping lightly, she extended the bundle toward him. "Here. Wear this."
Andrias blinked, surprised. "You sure?"
She nodded, catching her breath. "Yeah. They're my brother's. He doesn't like the color, so… they've just been sitting in storage anyway."
He stared at the clothes for a moment, then smiled sincerely. "Thank you. I really appreciate this."
Liliah returned his smile, unable to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks. "No problem…"
A short while later, Andrias stepped out of the restroom, now dressed in a fresh outfit. The white Nocturne uniform contrasted sharply against his dark cloak—still bloodied and tattered around the edges. It gave him a slightly rogue-like appearance. The students who noticed whispered even more now, eyes trailing him with mixed curiosity and wariness. But Liliah couldn't help but stare for a moment longer than necessary, a gentle smile forming on her lips.
"Won't the professors get mad that I'm not wearing the traditional uniform?" Andrias asked, glancing down at the unfamiliar outfit. The fabric was soft and crisp, but its shade of white was far from the standard colors worn by most students.
Liliah leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the desk with a casual shrug. "Probably not. Even so, you're still considered a noble—regardless of your fallen status. I doubt they'll bother you"
Her words were oddly comforting, though Andrias wasn't sure whether it was what she said or how gently she said it.
"I see…" he said, nodding. "Still… I can't thank you enough."
"Don't worry about it," she replied, flashing a small smile. "As a receptionist, it's my duty to support the adventurers of Nocturne. Even the strange and blood-covered ones."
Andrias chuckled at that, the tension easing from his shoulders. "You're a lot more helpful than I expected."
She folded her hands together, watching him as he took a few steps toward the door.
He gave a short wave over his shoulder. "See you soon."
Liliah raised her hand and waved back with a soft, almost hopeful smile. "I can't wait," she mumbled under her breath, barely audible, even to herself.