Aeren and Uria were walking through the academy corridor when Uria received a message from the System. Aeren looked at Uria and saw her stop suddenly.
"What happened, Uria?" Aeren asked.
"The academy sent me a quest, and I don't know what to do," Uria said, confusion evident in her voice.
She couldn't understand how such a big accident had occurred, yet the academy—and the entire world—was reacting as if nothing had happened at all. Did lower-class students have no value in this world or kingdom?
"You should accept it," Aeren replied. "Quests come only once every four months. You have to complete it, or you'll be expelled from the academy if you don't accept."
"Doesn't it make you angry?" Uria's voice rose with frustration.
"The academy treats you like trash. They only value Class B, A, and S students and don't care about Class D and C students at all."
She was angry that no one had addressed the recent accident, and now they were ignoring student lives as if it were routine.
Aeren looked at Uria with cold eyes. "I feel nothing."
Uria was shocked by his emotionless answer. The coldness in his gaze made her want to step backward.
'Aeren is the same as other nobles—he doesn't care about anyone around him. Arin was the only different one I'd met. I thought I knew Aeren had no feelings for the people around him, and I had accepted him like that, but now he's not even trying to hide it.'
Uria stepped backward and ran away from Aeren with tears in her eyes.
Aeren watched her run away, then looked at the system message from the academy.
*System Message:* [The academy needs time for construction, so all students have been given quests ahead of schedule. Please join your teammates and execute your quest with them.]
*System Quest*
[*Quest:* Capture all bandits in the "Forest of Zone"]
[*Quest Rank:* C-rank]
[ *Reward:* 200 Academy points]
[*Penalty:* None]
[*Time Limit:* 1 Month]
[*Team Members:* Class B-20 Ciya and Class C-15 Denvar]
[*Meeting Point:* Outside the Academy Gate at 8 o'clock tomorrow]
[*Info:* Bandit leader name: Rodrics. Strength: B-rank]
[*Status:* This is your and your team members' first quest, which is why no penalty is given. However, this is the last time you won't receive a penalty.]
Aeren read the entire message and put his system device in his pocket. He started walking toward his dormitory. When he reached his room, he saw another boy inside.
The boy looked at Aeren and said,
"You're the third person, Aeren, correct?" The boy, who appeared to be the same age as Aeren, extended his hand for a handshake.
"Yes, I'm Aeren," Aeren replied, shaking his hand.
"I'm Bale," the boy said, shaking Aeren's hand in return. He gestured toward another guy sleeping on a bed. "And he's Grivok."
Aeren looked at Grivok and Bale with no interest.
"Are you both from Class D?"
"Yes, I'm ranked 2nd, and that guy is ranked 1st. What about you?" Bale said with excitement.
"I'm ranked 1st recently," Aeren replied flatly.
"That's awesome!"
Bale looked at him with bright eyes, clearly looking forward to their stay together.
Aeren ignored his comment and surveyed his room—four walls surrounding him with a separate private area. Night had fallen outside, visible through the window. Aeren watched the night for a few minutes before disappearing from his room and making his way toward the palace.
Aeren entered the royal palace again and searched for hours but found nothing. He looked around more carefully and noticed something that didn't seem right in that place before returning to his room at the academy.
When Aeren returned to his room, morning had emerged outside. He spent time in his room writing all the information in a book, maintaining it like a lifelong diary.
Aeren left his room and reached the academy gate before the appointed time. To his surprise, his teammates were already there waiting for him.
Aeren approached them.
"You're Ciya and Denvar, right?"
Ciya and Denvar looked behind them.
Denvar had seen Aeren before since they attended the same class, and Aeren had defeated all the Class C students. Denvar even admired his strength a little, so he instantly recognized Aeren's face.
Ciya looked at Aeren and felt disappointed with her team members. Aeren appeared skinny with a slight build, no particularly handsome features, black hair, and pale skin—average looking by Earth's standards but below average here.
"I'm Ciya from Class B, and I'll be leading this team. You two just need to follow me," Ciya announced.
Aeren and Denvar nodded, and Ciya continued, "Introduce yourselves to me. Denvar already has."
"I'm Aeren from Class C, and I recently became rank 1st," Aeren said in a flat voice.
"Good. I'm expecting much from you," Ciya replied in an equally flat tone, waving her hand dismissively.
Aeren nodded again. "How should we get to the 'Forest of Zone'?"
Ciya looked at Denvar and Aeren. "We're going to get a carriage on the way. Denvar."
"Yes," Denvar responded with bright eyes.
"You will negotiate and find a carriage for us," Ciya said flatly.
She had a sword at her side that looked like a katana.
Both Aeren's and Denvar's eyes went to the sword. Denvar was shocked by the katana because Ciya could easily store it in a space ring, but she didn't. This meant the sword couldn't be stored in the ring, which indicated it was far more special than people could imagine.
Denvar had admired all weapons since childhood, read about them extensively, and had always wanted to use a special sword or weapon. When Ciya noticed his obvious interest and drooling, she punched him in the stomach.
Denvar was hit hard by Ciya and fell to his knees, saliva spilling from his mouth as he heard her cold voice.
"Know your place and do what you're assigned."
Ciya then looked at Aeren, giving him a clear signal: If you ever try to disobey me like him, you'll end up like him.
Aeren met her gaze and understood her meaning perfectly.