Yes, Eden Academy's first class didn't begin until 9:30 AM — something that left Linen, who was used to waking up at six in his original world, utterly unaccustomed.
No wonder. Even when it comes to overachieving, not even mages can outdo people from Asia...
He gave a light, sarcastic grumble before stepping into the massive, castle-like structure that insisted on being called a "classroom building," despite looking every bit like an ancient fortress.
Because it was just barely past nine, the halls inside were nearly empty, and Linen rather enjoyed the quiet.
He hadn't noticed anything unusual the last few times he walked through here, but ever since unlocking [Precision Mana Control], he distinctly felt it — the moment he crossed the threshold, the mana in the air practically leapt with excitement.
This level of magical saturation... even the palace formations don't compare.
Linen couldn't help but marvel.
The Zijinghua Empire clearly spared no expense in maintaining Eden Academy's prestige.
Not only did generations of court mages continually reinforce the main building's arcane arrays, but the current Empress herself had gone against fierce opposition to personally invite a Nine-Ring Arcane Mage from the famed "Tower of Chronomancy" — supposedly the continent's most elite arcane association — to assist in constructing the latest array design.
Linen used to have no real understanding of these things, but now that he could feel even a fraction of it, he couldn't help but be impressed by the brilliance of it all.
Prioritize education — Mom really knows how to invest in the future.
...Come to think of it, wasn't one of the female leads supposed to have some deep vendetta with the Tower of Chronomancy?
If I get the chance, I should definitely get close to that organization.
Although, from what he'd heard, the Tower was an eccentric and haughty bunch. They didn't care about status or origin — only arcane aptitude and power. With his current strength, they probably wouldn't even look his way.
Gotta keep leveling up.
With that thought in mind, Linen arrived at the classroom — and his eyes lit up.
Talk about the pillow arriving the moment you get sleepy.
He'd thought for sure he'd be the earliest one there. To his surprise, someone had beaten him to it: Hysteria and Elena were already seated.
Judging by Hysteria's drowsy expression, though, it was obvious she'd been dragged here by Elena.
When the two girls saw Linen enter, both looked momentarily startled — their expressions a bit awkward.
"Linen?"
"Tch. You're early."
Eden's classrooms were large, tiered auditoriums with no assigned seating. Typically, students sat wherever they arrived — assuming they bothered showing up at all. For first-years, just showing up was already considered an achievement. Grabbing seats early? Almost unheard of.
So for now, there were only three of them in the whole classroom.
When did those two get so chummy?
Linen raised a brow, puzzled as he looked at Elena and Hysteria sitting side by side with surprising ease.
He knew their personalities well. It wasn't a surprise they didn't clash — in fact, that's exactly why he hadn't warned Hysteria that Elena was her new roommate. But for them to go from strangers to early-morning study buddies in a single night?
That exceeded his expectations.
There had to be a catalyst, right? Some kind of shared link?
...Eh, not his problem right now.
He was still riding the high of wanting to improve himself, that first-minute spark of a three-minute resolve. These two sheep had wandered into the lion's den at the wrong time.
With that, Linen strode confidently over to their row and looked down at them from above.
"Hah? What do you want, you damn bottom-feeder?"
Hysteria's ruby eyes flared, snapping instantly into combative mode as she glared up at him.
"Move. This isn't your seat. I won't repeat myself."
Linen's expression didn't waver at her venom.
"You little—"
Hysteria grit her teeth. A spark of red mana ignited in her palm with a pop, then fizzled out in a tiny puff of smoke, leaving behind only a faint trace of soot.
"My mana…? What—?"
Her eyes went wide.
Linen, meanwhile, looked completely unfazed — almost smug.
Clearly, the school knew better than to rely on rules alone to stop students with magical prowess from harming each other. Every classroom was outfitted with suppression arrays that restricted spellcasting. Even someone like Hysteria, despite her talents, couldn't brute-force her way through it in her current juvenile stage.
And without her devastating fire magic, she was just... a flat-chested brat with a temper.
Linen's lip curled into a faint, dismissive smile — one that made Hysteria's teeth grind audibly.
Any second now. Just say it. Reject me already.
Hysteria opened her mouth—
—but then paused, seemingly remembering something. To Linen's astonishment, she merely let out a cold hmph and slid over to the side without a word.
Linen: ...??
Wait. You're actually letting me have it?
You were this close to blowing up — and now you back off?
Holding back, huh?
Was he not annoying enough?
Still stunned, Linen glanced at the still-warm seat Hysteria had just vacated — probably still carrying her body heat — then, with deliberate distaste, bypassed it and sat one seat over, leaving hers conspicuously empty.
As expected, Hysteria exploded.
"YOU UNGRATEFUL PIECE OF—"
"Shia, calm down!" Elena quickly reached out to restrain her.
After some hushed coaxing, Hysteria finally sat back down, muttering under her breath.
"Not even worth arguing with you."
Linen didn't mind. All he needed was for her to keep rejecting him later — that was how he got stronger, after all.
As more students trickled in, a few eyed the coveted front-row center seats, only to immediately turn away upon recognizing who was already sitting there. In the end, only the stragglers who had nowhere else to go dared approach the first row — but even they avoided the center-most spot like it was cursed.
Eventually, the bell rang.
And when the teacher stepped into the room, both Hysteria and Elena looked visibly surprised.
It was Ken.
Today, though, he looked nothing like the timid mess from yesterday. He had the presence of an actual instructor — finally.
This was Eden's real standard. Once classes started, status and family meant little. Linen and Hysteria's noble backgrounds would soon start to lose their luster.
The first period was a dry, lecture-style homeroom. Linen immediately activated the ultimate arcane technique granted by nine years of compulsory education: sleeping with his eyes open. Back straight, eyes "focused," mind completely elsewhere. Hysteria looked bored too. Only Elena paid attention with genuine interest.
When the session ended, Ken left after giving a few more instructions. The room filled with chatter.
Some murmurs drifted over to their seats:
"Strange. Ken-sensei seemed a little... off today."
"You didn't know? He always starts by asserting dominance. Every year, he reserves the front-row center seat for the top student. On the first day, some unlucky soul always sits there by mistake — then he scolds them to establish authority. It's his thing."
Front-row, dead center...
Elena's gaze drifted to the empty seat — the one Hysteria had vacated.
Wasn't that the seat she had just now?
With Hysteria's temper, if Ken had chosen her as his example, it would've been an instant clash. Did Linen know this? Is that why he left the seat empty on purpose?
The thought made Elena glance at him with quiet gratitude.
Hysteria, who had overheard as well, fell silent. She stole glances at Linen from the side — hesitant, uncertain.
Inside, the princess was in turmoil.
No. He was just being a jerk. He didn't do it for me.
...But judging from yesterday, that guy didn't seem like the type to go out of his way to provoke people either.
Ugh! So frustrating!
He tries to take my seat — and now I'm supposed to be grateful?!
Elena, her eyes shimmering with thought, suddenly reached across Hysteria and tapped Linen on the shoulder.
"Linen?"
"Huh? What is it?"
He startled awake, quickly masking it with practiced calm.
"Nothing. Just... thanks."
"Mhm. You're welcome."
He answered reflexively — then a question mark practically popped up above his head.
Thanks? For what...?
Did I get up too fast...? Should've gone back to sleep.