Stalefort Up Close

| Supervisor Shin

Stepping out of Shiro's room after filling him in on everything he needed to know, I found Gild standing by the hallway.

"..."

“Oh, Shin! So? How was the kid?”

He greeted me the moment he noticed me, his voice as lively as always.

“He’s fine... slight memory loss.”

“How can he be fine if he’s got memory loss?! And what’s with that dry response?!”

Ever the talkative one. I honestly didn’t see anything wrong with my description—it felt perfectly adequate. No need to go on and on like he does.

“Oh, come on... Did you at least explain it to him properly—and gently?”

“Yes.”

He sighed for some reason before asking that, and gave me a skeptical look after hearing my reply.

I personally didn’t think there was much of an issue, but... there was that one thing that had every instructor on edge.

“Well, as long as he knows he won’t be expelled, and he’s okay after all that... But seriously, how did it even happen?”

For the ninth time in the past three days, Gild brought up the explosion. It was definitely a mystery that had everyone puzzled. And honestly, if Gild couldn’t figure it out, no one else was going to.

Annoying chatter aside—like some kind of typewriter spitting words into the air instead of paper—Gild was without a doubt the best when it came to analyzing and explaining odd magical phenomena.

And yet, here he was, stumped.

“Let’s just hope it doesn’t happen again.”

I said that as we began walking down the corridor, putting some distance between us and the one responsible for this whole mess.

“It’s been driving me crazy, you know? Hey Shin, when will I be allowed to examine him? Isn’t he recovered by now?”

“...I’ll try to schedule something.”

The moment I said that, Gild’s eyes lit up like a kid getting his favorite toy. If Gild couldn’t crack the case, nobody could. The only reason he hadn’t yet was because he hadn’t been allowed near Shiro—couldn’t even talk to him.

After his colleague managed to bring the boy back alive and into the academy’s care, we restricted all contact until he regained consciousness. There were worries he might’ve suffered serious aftereffects—burns, mental trauma, maybe even permanent magical damage. No one expected it to end with just a temporary memory loss.

I still had no clue what caused him to unleash that devastating spell—or if it was even a spell. I just prayed nothing like that would ever happen inside Stalefort again.

“Well then, I’ll take that as a promise! Now, let’s pick up the pace! I heard the academy kitchen’s serving something special today!”

“...”

I didn’t bother replying. Not that it mattered—he never really left the option open for refusal. Besides, he seemed way too happy now that he had a shot at solving the mystery that’s been annoying for a while.

---

| Shiro

“The fourth rank...”

I muttered to myself, standing alone in the room.

I really didn’t see that coming. Even if the test had ended without incident, I never imagined placing that high. I’d already prepared a speech in my head for when I’d return to the village—empty-handed and defeated.

“That noble... Just how many badges did he steal...”

All I could do was give a bitter smile at the memory.

“I wonder if he passed the exam...”

My memories came back way faster than I expected. Before long, everything clicked into place—and I realized those events I thought were dreams were actually real.

Leo... and Alice too... I figured Alice would be fine, but Leo—last I saw him, he was unconscious, clutching only his single badge in that cave.

There was always the chance he woke up after I left, maybe went scavenging for more badges or supplies, or maybe even ran into some fighters on the way.

But there was something else bothering me.

“How did he know where I was...?”

Or rather, “How did he find me and save me?” From the smoke, I could guess he used the explosion’s location as a reference point... but that just led to another question: how did he know I was the one who caused it?

He wasn’t near me—otherwise, he would've come to my aid when I was stuck inside that slime. Even if he found me by chance right after the explosion, I doubt he’d survive being that close.

I don’t doubt Leo’s skills—not after what he pulled off against Alice—but that explosion... it was way too much.

“Ugh... my head’s just full of questions.”

About an hour had passed since Supervisor Shin left. During that time, the lady—who turned out to be a nurse—came back.

And yes, I’d called her “miss” by accident the first time we met.

She didn’t come empty-handed either. She brought rice, vegetables, lots of water, and a fresh set of clothes.

Told me to eat up quickly and get dressed. The outfit seemed to be the official academy uniform. If I hadn’t been sure about my acceptance before, I was now.

A white shirt with black and gold embroidery down the sides, the academy emblem embroidered over the heart. Black trousers. And on top of all that, a sleek, noble-looking coat.

It looked expensive—like something royalty would wear. And it fit perfectly.

After scarfing down the food and slipping into the uniform, I found myself staring out the window, overlooking the ruined forest. Lost in my freshly returned memories, relieved they weren’t gone forever after all.

Then the door behind me swung open.

“Hm?”

I turned—and was greeted by a smiling man in a supervisor's uniform.

“Shiro Leonard, correct? I’m glad to see you’ve recovered.”

“Ah... thank you.”

I replied a bit awkwardly.

He felt... kind. There was something calm about him. His voice, his expression—they both carried a sort of gentle warmth.

“Excellent. Now, come with me—I’ll take you to your new class. On the way, we’ll do a quick tour of the academy and I’ll give you a basic rundown.”

Yeah, he was nice. The kind of nice where he didn’t act like he was above me, even though he obviously was.

I nodded, wondering if everyone here was like him.

Next thing I knew, we were walking through the wide, chandelier-lit halls of the academy. Sunlight still poured through the windows, only making the golden lights glitter even brighter. The floor was lined with plush red carpets that stretched far down the corridor.

As expected, the academy looked way more impressive from the inside than it did from the outside.

But... there was something that kept me from admiring it too much.

Before the supervisor even said a word, I noticed the way everyone was staring.

Not just students—everyone. And not just at us—they were looking specifically at me.

I kind of saw it coming.

"Is that the guy who burned down the forest?"

That’s basically what their eyes were shouting.

Some didn't stop there. A few even cracked jokes about how scrawny I looked, throwing shade at my backwater build or questioning how someone like me could’ve possibly caused such a disaster—or why the academy didn't punish me at all.

But just as quickly, the supervisor glanced at them—his expression turning sharp and cold, completely different from how soft he looked a second ago. That was enough to shut them all up and turn their eyes away.

I guess all supervisors have that “serious face” they bust out when they need it.

Honestly, I don’t really mind the way they looked at me.

To be fair, I’d be skeptical too if I were them.

Even I haven’t fully accepted it yet—that I, Shiro, the same guy who didn't even have the basics down, who’s still not sure if he even has a seed… could’ve caused something like that.

And yet, the forest—the charred remains of it—is proof enough.

Cutting off my spiral of self-doubt, the supervisor finally started his long explanation about the academy.

Long story short: the academy’s got seven floors.

We didn’t tour all of them—obviously—but here’s the breakdown.

Starting from the second floor, each level is assigned to a specific year group.

There are five year groups, each split into two classes, meaning five years of study and five main floors.

After graduating, students have the option to stay at the academy and continue their research—that all takes place on the sixth floor.

Naturally, between the first and fifth floors, there are other rooms aside from classrooms—like the teleportation room, library, restrooms, cafeteria, and the infirmary where I woke up. That place was actually a large room with a bunch of smaller rooms inside.

To be honest, the inside of the academy was way more spacious than it looked from the outside.

The first floor, which seemed more like a reception area, had more than ten rooms on its own, not to mention the huge hallway decorated with ornaments everywhere you looked.

Next, the supervisor mentioned the student dormitory.

It’s a six-story building separate from the main academy.

Stalefort isn’t just some academy tucked inside a kingdom.

It’s an entire territory—like a small island smack in the middle of the world.

There are towns and villages, entertainment districts, and common citizens living there.

Even adventurers and a guild made specifically for them.

And all of that is managed by the academy.

I couldn’t hide my awe when I looked through one of the massive windows and saw just a fraction of the territory outside.

The supervisor smiled even wider at my reaction.

After our tour—which started from the infirmary on the fourth floor and ended near the classroom I was assigned to on the second—he started laying out the rules.

And the consequences if I decided to break any of them.

“Stalefort provides the perfect environment for its students. We do our part, so in return, we expect proper discipline from you. Understand that well, and you’ll avoid problems, alright?”

“Yes”

Let me sum up the rules for you:

Besides the basic moral stuff (which I don’t really need to explain), first-year students—my group—are absolutely forbidden from accessing the seventh floor.

Most of what we need is between the first and fourth floors anyway.

Also, no yelling in the hallways or near classrooms, especially in the mornings during class hours.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The academy uses a points system—actually, two systems if you want to be precise.

The first one’s called Class Points.

Think of them like regular grades.

You earn them by attending classes, following the rules, and joining in academy activities. They’re used alongside your midterm and final exam scores to determine whether you pass or fail.

The second one’s what caught my attention more: the Task Star System.

As the supervisor explained earlier, the academy runs its own Adventurer’s Guild.

There are two branches—one for the public, and a special one just for students.

There, you’ll find a list of tasks ranked by difficulty, usually submitted by the people living in the territory—or even outside of it.

Students take those on, complete them, and earn money.

Oh—and ranks too.

Those ranks bring even more cash and fame.

The lowest rank is called Bronze, and they climb all the way up to Crystal.

To put it simply:

Complete missions → earn stars → get higher rank → earn more gold and gain more respect.

Honestly, even a weakling like me finds that kinda exciting.

Maybe I’ll check the guild out later.

The daily schedule’s split into two parts: class hours and free time.

Classes run from 6 AM to 12 PM, with a breakfast break between 9 and 10.

Skipping more than three days a month lands you point penalties.

But if you’re punctual and stick to the schedule? Bonus points.

There are also several breaks throughout the academic year, which lasts 8 months total, divided into two terms with longer vacations in between.

After hearing all that, I suddenly felt nostalgic for my days back in the village.

Thanks to all those early morning chores I used to grumble about, I don’t have trouble waking up—or keeping up with schoolwork.

As for the second half of the day, it’s your own time.

You can study, take on tasks, sleep, whatever—so long as you follow the rules, nobody cares what you do.

You’re also free to visit the towns and villages within the territory whenever you like—just make sure you’re back before curfew hits at 10 PM.

It ends at 5 in the morning.

The supervisor called it a brief explanation…

But man, that was a truckload of rules to memorize starting tomorrow.

Especially after what I did—screwing up the entire entrance exam process.

The last thing I want is to mess up again.

The weight of it still lingers in my chest.

Finally, we arrived in front of my classroom.

There was a sign on the door that read in big bold letters:

“First-Year Wolf Class.”

It meant I was in the first class of the first year.

For some reason… I felt really uneasy just reading it.

“Well, this is your class! Don’t worry—no one's started lessons yet. And everything I told you, your classmates already know too. Forget about the past, focus on your future, and don’t get yourself into trouble, alright?”

“…Yes. Thank you very much."

I thanked him as he gave me those encouraging words.

He stayed there, waiting for me to open the door.

this is more nerve-wracking than I thought.

I made it to the academy.

I passed the exam.

…Okay, maybe not in the way I imagined.

But I still cleared the toughest test in the world—or so they say.

And now here I am, standing in front of the classroom I belong to.

I haven’t aachieved anything yet.

But this… this is the beginning.

The first step toward getting stronger.

Alright, let’s see what the future’s got in store for me.

I pulled the handle and opened the door—

Rows of elegant desks.

Students already seated.

And their eyes—all staring straight at mine.

“…I don’t think I like what the future just handed me.”

The words slipped out under my breath.

No one heard me—hopefully.

…Well, maybe the supervisor did.

Looking around, the classroom was huge.

Plenty of desks lined up.

Sixty-four students passed the exam and were split between two classes.

Which meant this class had thirty-two students total.

And among those students—

"..!!"

After seeing that—

I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating...

Nope. That was real.

There was only one word that came to mind when I laid eyes on that person—

Or rather, that monster.

"Why?"

Why out of the sixty-four students...

Why is she here?

Should I say hi?

No no no. Not the time for greetings.

Not after what happened in that forest.

I needed to avoid that girl—if you could even call her that—by any means necessary.

And then—our eyes met.

I instantly looked away, heart thudding. Every cell in my brain was screaming run, and it hit me...

I’d been standing there for way too long.

“Is something wrong?”

"Ah—!"

It was the supervisor’s voice—still standing by the door.

That snapped me out of it and got my legs moving automatically, dragging me into a classroom that definitely lived up to its reputation.

Where should I sit?

That question weighed heavy on my mind.

Sure, there were plenty of empty seats—front and back.

But the problem wasn’t the seats… or her.

It was this style of seating...

“Oooh! Shiro!!!”

A loud, familiar voice called out.

I turned around to see Leo standing on what looked like the fourth row of the back tiers, waving excitedly.

Ah... I’m really glad he made it out of that exam alive.

Not sure how I would've felt if he got disqualified because of me.

Without thinking, my feet moved toward him—though I could still feel the stares around me trying to pierce straight through my skull.

" Leo!. Looks like you passed too, huh?”

“Of course I did! What, you thought I’d just leave you hanging?”

I made it to his row—a long step-style platform built to seat multiple students, each with a cushion-lined chair.

Pretty much the same as the other rows.

Yeah, this was what made me nervous when I first entered.

That seating arrangement—this wasn’t just a classroom.

It was a group system.

Meaning:

This academy’s teaching style revolves around teamwork.

In other words, whoever ends up sitting next to you in these long-tiered rows…

Might end up being your teammates until the end of the year.

Or worse—until the end of the five years you'll spend here.

Where’d I learn all this?

Easy.

From the reference booklet my father handed me before I came here.

Still haven’t finished reading it, but it’s packed with knowledge—random world systems, basic facts, and a ton of obscure stuff.

Among all that disconnected info, there was a bit about education systems.

Apparently, different schools across the world each developed their own unique style.

And while none are as prestigious as Stalefort, every one of them had its own traditions.

Stalefort’s?

Small group systems.

Split the students up into teams to promote teamwork and survival.

Naturally, my brain locked that bit of info in instantly.

That’s one of the few things I could brag about—maybe not a flashy skill, but super useful nonetheless.

I was quick at absorbing written information and applying it in real-time.

Didn’t need much repetition either.

Of course, that gift only worked for reading.

Not like I could pick up swordsmanship in a day or anything.

it took me days to learn how to properly swing a shovel.

That booklet really helped me gather important intel.

And thank the stars I didn’t bring it into the forest, or it would've been ashes by now.

Before we entered the teleport room, supervisor Shin let us store any valuables somewhere safe in the academy to retrieve later.

Honestly, bless whoever thought of that. You never know when you’ll need it.

Anyway, back to the present—

When I stepped into the classroom and saw the seating arrangement, I panicked.

Who would even want someone weak like me on their team...?

Or worse—someone who’s a walking disaster.

So yeah, finding Leo felt like winning the lottery.

“Of course I didn’t plan on leaving you behind too,” I replied. “But I didn’t think you’d just nap through the whole exam.”

“Heh, well... that cave was comfy, you know?”

I chuckled at his usual nonsense.

He motioned for me to sit beside him—and lucky for me, the seat was empty.

Perfect.

“Man, rumors about you are spreading like wildfire! You became the talk of the academy before you even stepped inside!”

Leo shouted that out like it was a badge of honor, dragging everyone's eyes back to me.

I was already feeling overwhelmed by all the attention, and now this?

“Yeah... I noticed.”

It was mentally exhausting, to say the least.

“But hold on, Leo… how did you pass the test?

I clearly remember you didn’t have enough badges...

And the number of people who passed was really low.”

I asked, genuinely curious—maybe a little sad too, recalling how badly he’d been injured fighting Alice.

Even now, I could still see the bandages on his hands… probably wrapped around his waist too under those clothes.

He was in bad shape back then.

I’d been trying to figure out how the academy let him pass despite that, especially given how many were disqualified.

I just couldn’t see a path where he cleared the test legitimately.

“Ahh, about that? Just got lucky, I guess.”

“...Lucky?”

That was unexpected.

Luck.

This place needed absurd levels of luck to survive.

Don’t tell me Leo’s one of those people—people with freakish, god-tier luck?

“Yeah, just luck! See, when I woke up, I only had one badge. I freaked out, obviously. And the pain—ugh! I wanted to scream my lungs out! But I told myself to calm down and started thinking of a plan. Then suddenly—BOOM!—the whole cave shook! I looked up and saw this huge flaming vortex shoot into the sky! And for some reason…That’s when I remembered you were missing.

You weren’t there when I woke up. I looked up again at the fire cloud, and it felt like you were either near it—or caused it. So, naturally, I headed that way to check on you. And boom—there you were, unconscious on the ground. I grabbed a crystal and teleported us both back to the academy. Turns out everyone else had already pulled out!”

He said all that in one breath.

Literally one. No breaks.

This guy... he’s not human.

Pretty sure I heard someone whisper “He doesn’t even breathe,” And honestly?

I agree. Leo’s lungs must be on another level.

Well, that does explain a lot.

And apparently, he has decent instincts too… if you could even call them that.

Still—

“Uh... thanks for helping me back there. You really saved me. But that still doesn’t explain how you got enough badges.”

I was grateful.

But my curiosity wasn’t satisfied yet.

How did he get the rest?

Just as Leo continued his cheerful chatter, it quickly became clear that this guy was seriously lucky.

“You also got a bunch of those Badges too, right? That’s what supervisor Shin told us when I asked him.”

“…Asked him about what exactly?”

“About all those badges scattered around you! They got transported back with us when we returned to the academy!”

“…Huh?!”

Wha—wait a second, didn’t those things burn to ashes in the explosion?! Just how sturdy are those badges? They looked super light if I remember right…

I totally forgot about Leo for a moment, dumbfounded by how those flimsy-looking things survived an explosion that wiped out trees, rocks, and even... monsters.

“…So you’re saying the badges I got from defeating that noble all got added to your total, and that’s what bumped your rank up to the guaranteed pass zone even before the exam ended?”

No. Technically, the exam ended the moment the Gyork summoned those monsters, and Leo only picked up the badges after the explosion—so after the test ended. I guess the examiners made an exception for that… for some reason.

Or maybe they didn’t even realize?

“Nah, I didn’t take all of ’em. Otherwise you would’ve been eliminated too, right? I split them up fair and square… Wait, hold on—you defeated a noble!?”

Leo said the first part in his usual way—loud and casually—but then suddenly yelled the rest at full volume like someone had stepped on his tail, catching the attention of the entire classroom.

“….”

D-Don’t look at me like that! Do you even realize what you just did?! Ugh, I don’t even wanna turn around right now…

Also, that bag—just how many badges did it contain for me to end up in fourth place even after Leo took some for himself?

I nodded silently in response to Leo’s question.

And then he really exploded.

“Whaaaat?! So the rumor was true all along?! You know, someone said they saw your fight with that noble from the beginning! They spread a rumor that you beat him without using magic or even combat skills! No one believed it, of course—but now you’ve gone and proven it! And that’s not even mentioning your rank—fourth place!! So you were that strong all along! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Leo kept digging deeper, yelling louder, drawing more attention…

Why do I feel like there’s a blade of cold steel stabbing into my back right now…?

“Leo—your voice!”

I hissed, putting a finger to my lips. I was just gonna gesture to him, but something told me he wouldn’t get it and would keep yelling until he attracted students from outside, too.

“Huh? Ah—sorry, got a little carried away, haha.”

A little? That was a freakin’ parade, not a little enthusiasm. Still, I ended up warning him in the end.

The rampaging bull finally calmed down, and we continued chatting for a bit.

From what Leo told me, the exam results were way harsher than supervisor Shin told me. Aside from cutting everyone ranked below 100, they eliminated forty more students after re-checking the results of the first exam. In the end, only sixty-four people made it through—divided, as I already knew, into the usual categories.

Looks like the academy’s system is way more brutal than I thought…

“Ah, hello, I'm sorry but—can I sit here?”

While chatting with Leo, a voice spoke up from behind me. I turned around and saw a guy with almost-blonde hair—slightly brighter, even. Fair skin, solid build, maybe just a bit stronger than me. He was standing there with a smile and asking to join us.

Handsome. That’s the first word that popped into my head.

“Yeah, go ahead!” Leo said, quick as ever.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.”

With that, the guy sat on my left, putting me between him and Leo.

“Oh, right—sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Hikaru Fujin.”

He introduced himself politely, and his demeanor, combined with his looks, made it obvious—he was lower-ranked among the nobles.

A noble… chatting with us and sitting beside two commoners? Unless he mistook us for nobles too, I’m not sure I can fully accept that reality just yet.

“Yeah, I’m Shiro Leonard. Nice to meet you, Hikaru.”

In the end, I introduced myself too, pushing the whole social-class issue to the back of my mind. Worrying about that stuff was the nobles’ job, not mine.

“Nice to meet you too.”

“Fujin…”

“Hm?”

It was Leo’s turn to introduce himself—but instead of doing that, he just froze. His eyes locked onto the guy like something clicked in his head, and all he managed to say was the guy’s last name.

Even the students in the rows ahead of us turned their heads slightly to glance back at Hikaru—with cautious or nervous expressions. Okay, what is going on here?

“Uh… Did I do something wrong?” Hikaru asked, visibly thrown off, his green eyes darting around uneasily.

“Fujin… That’s not just a name coincidence, is it? You’re from that Fujin Clan, one of the Six Great Houses—the Windlords, right?”

“Oh…”

Six Great Houses? Fujin Clan? What is he talking about? I think I remember seeing something about noble clans in the booklet my father gave me, but I kinda skipped over that section and focused on the stuff about Stalefort and the academy system instead.

“Yeah, I’m from that clan—but please, don’t treat me any differently because of it.”

The moment he said that, everyone’s shock just doubled.

Fujin… Judging by everyone’s reaction, they’re a big deal? I need to look that up in the booklet later.

For now, I decided to just go with the flow and act like I knew what was going on. No way I’m gonna deal with the embarrassment of being the only one clueless here.

“Haha, you really are humble, aren’t you? Well then—it’s all good. I’m Leo Hawk, nice to meet you!”

“Ah, thanks.”

And just like that, Leo snapped out of his serious mode and went back to his usual cheerful self after Hikaru asked not to be treated differently. Smiling, waving—classic Leo.

That guy, he adapts way too fast.

I thought to myself while scanning the classroom again, filled with students from all kinds of races and backgrounds. My eyes caught those flashy, inhuman features—horns, tails, wings, even eyes of strange colors. Everyone here was from some different bloodline or race.

Without even looking directly, avoiding eye contact just like before, I still felt her eyes on me—saw her clearly from the edge of my vision.

Yeah, Alice was still staring at us.