After finishing the epic ordeal of signing documents—which honestly felt like voluntarily signing away my soul—we, the survivors of the Academic Bureaucracy Battle, were finally directed toward what was supposed to be our new refuge for the duration of our stay at the academy.
At least I'll get a real bed tonight, I thought as I followed Timothy, who was still leading the brilliant Class Alpha… with the same enthusiasm someone might show while leading a funeral procession.
Please… just not a bed like the one in Adam's original apartment.
Timothy led us through more of the academy's now-familiar glass and polished metal corridors—the kind that were starting to feel like the institution's architectural trademark. We then crossed another courtyard so perfectly trimmed that it almost looked artificial, until we finally arrived at a completely different section of the campus.
Here, the buildings were no longer simple functional concrete towers.
Instead, they looked more like luxury hotels or upscale residential complexes you'd find in wealthy neighborhoods—sleek modern architecture, enormous panoramic windows, private balconies, and even small rooftop gardens.
"These are the first-year residential suites for Class Alpha students," Timothy announced in his usual monotonous tone, unchanged by even a fraction, gesturing toward a gleaming structure of glass and steel that looked as though it had been stolen straight from the cover of a futuristic architecture magazine.
"There is a designated wing for males and a separate wing for females, built according to the highest standards of comfort and privacy… and security, of course."
He added the last word almost as an afterthought.
Suites?
I raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise this time, unable to stop the faint smile of astonishment forming on my face.
Right… for a moment I had almost forgotten.
We were in the elite class—the most talented students. Class Alpha.
Of course the treatment would be different.
Without waiting further, we entered the male wing.
It was… stunning.
"Wow…" I whispered in admiration.
Polished marble floors reflected the soft lighting from the high ceiling above. Subtle artistic lamps cast a warm glow across the space. Modern, elegant furniture was arranged in several corners, and there was even something resembling a small reception desk, behind which sat a staff member in a neat suit, wearing the kind of professional smile you'd expect from a luxury hotel concierge.
Well… that's completely unexpected, I admitted to myself.
The tragedies of the original novel had made me forget that these characters also lived in luxury.
"Class Alpha," Timothy said to the receptionist.
The man nodded politely with a welcoming smile that looked like it had been perfected through high-end customer service training.
"Mr. Leonard Vichy…"
The receptionist began calling names one by one, handing out elegant electronic access cards that looked suspiciously like five-star hotel keycards.
The entire process moved with surprising efficiency—nothing like the chaos I had expected.
When my name was finally called—
"Mr. Adam Lester, Suite 707."
—I felt a small prick of confusion.
Suite? Not room?
And what was with the number seven… repeated twice? That felt a little ominous.
I accepted the access card—a smooth, cold piece of polished metal engraved elegantly with the academy's emblem and my suite number.
"Thank you," I muttered.
Then I headed toward the glass-walled elevators, which glided silently up and down.
Even the elevator felt luxurious.
Soft background music. Dim lighting. A faint pleasant fragrance in the air.
This is absurdly fancy…
It felt more like an exclusive wellness club for the ultra-rich.
When I reached the seventh floor, I found my suite easily.
[707]
I tapped the card against the electronic reader beside the elegant dark-wood door.
A small green light blinked.
Ding—!
The door unlocked with a soft electronic chime.
I took a deep breath.
This time, I wasn't expecting a monster.
Maybe a personal servant.
Or a complimentary fruit basket.
Well… let's see just how luxurious they're willing to make life for students who are about to become monster food.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"…Huh?!"
I froze.
This wasn't a room.
It was a small apartment suite.
A cozy living area with a comfortable sofa and a massive flat display mounted on the wall. A sleek work desk with a high-end computer that looked far more advanced than the one I had left back in my apartment.
One door led to a separate bedroom, while another clearly opened into what I assumed was a private bathroom.
The windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering a panoramic view of part of the academy grounds and its neatly manicured gardens.
Everything was spotless.
Modern.
Tastefully designed.
Did I get the wrong address?
Did I accidentally walk into a teacher's suite?
I stepped closer to the window.
The view was breathtaking—especially with the afternoon sun beginning to fade, casting long shadows across the campus buildings.
This… this is ridiculous.
A mix of disbelief and sarcasm swirled in my mind.
A place this luxurious for students?
This is paradise.
"Is this the academy's way of compensating us for the torture we're about to endure?" I muttered under my breath.
"What a brilliant marketing strategy."
There was only one bed in the bedroom—large and clearly comfortable.
A single room, I concluded with relief.
At least I wouldn't have to deal with a bizarre roommate… or someone who snored like a broken tractor.
That alone was a blessing.
I tossed my ugly backpack—now painfully out of place in this luxurious suite—onto the sofa and sat down at the edge of it, surprised by how soft it felt.
So this is where I'll spend the next few nights, I thought, looking around while sinking into contemplation.
Planning.
Calculating.
Thinking about how I would survive my academic life here.
At least if I'm risking my life in horror, I'll be surrounded by a bit of luxury.
Better than dying in a collapsing orphan's apartment.
I began unpacking the contents of the welcome package onto the elegant glass coffee table.
The tablet.
The Cardinal communication device.
The first-aid kit.
And the blank paper guide.
What a strange set of tools to place in such a luxurious environment, I mocked internally.
It was like giving a death-row prisoner a golden Parker pen so he could write his last will on cheap toilet paper.
I was examining the blank guidebook—which practically screamed "Write your tragedy here, you bastard"—and wondering whether I should start drafting a "bucket list"…
when I heard a faint electronic ringing from my left wrist.
Dring—Dring!!
I raised my arm.
The sleek black Cardinal communication device was blinking with a soft blue light.
A new message had appeared on its small screen.
I tapped the display with my finger until the notification expanded clearly in front of me.
[Notification to All First-Year Students – Class Alpha]
Subject: Mandatory Initial Physical Proficiency Training
Time: 2:00 PM (two hours from now)
Location: Main Training Ground No. 3
(Coordinates will be provided via the map system.)
Supervisor: Professor Aurora Phoenix
Note: Attendance is mandatory. Any delay or absence will result in strict disciplinary action. Bring suitable training clothes if you have them; otherwise, they will be provided. Prepare to give your maximum effort.
Office of First-Year Student Affairs – Vanguard Academy
I read the message once.
Then twice.
Initial physical proficiency training?
In two hours?
With Aurora Phoenix?!
I felt my heart sink straight into my stomach again—and this time it wasn't because of hunger.
Aurora Phoenix…
That name was familiar to me from Chronicles of Vanguard Academy. She was an important figure in the story—an explorer from a previous generation, known as the greatest prodigy of her era.
My memories of the early chapters were still hazy… but there was one thing I certainly couldn't forget.
She was the mentor of the main characters throughout their journey in the academy.
A ranked monster, and she was still in her mid-twenties.
My thoughts drifted back to the physical stats that were still burned into my mind.
Strength – F
Agility – F
Endurance – F-
Physical training…
With me?
A desperate laugh slipped out of my mouth.
This wouldn't be training.
This would be public humiliation… carefully documented for everyone to see.
"Professor Aurora Phoenix…" I muttered her name quietly, a cold shiver running down my spine—one that had nothing to do with the comfortable temperature of the luxurious room.
It seemed the "fun" of the first day wasn't over yet.
In fact…
It was just about to begin.
I let out a long sigh and glanced around the luxurious suite one more time.
Well… at least if I died from exhaustion—or embarrassment—on the training grounds,
I'd have a nice place to return to.