The world's most advanced training institute, featuring cutting-edge magic, science, and engineering.
[Horizon]
Horizon was the name given to a large island in the East Sea.
Only roughly 5000 Hero cadets were stationed in this vast area, with 2400 of them being first-years. Elite cadets from around the world flocked here, making the competition much more intense than previously. In some ways, the environment was too harsh and depressing for 17 to 19-year-olds to call home.
There were also training instructors, cafeteria ladies, cleaners, occasional recruiters, government associates, engineers who performed maintenance and operations, soldiers dispatched as security, doctors, and researchers for cadet care, convenience store workers who worked under Horizon, and others. As a result of all of these people, Horizon became home to almost 50,000 people.
I sighed as I stared towards the classroom door.
This class was familiar to me.
All the important main characters were all part of this class.
"Ush."
David was a Horizon member, therefore he might be considered a member of the elite in any scenario. However, none of the stories mentioned David. As a result, David's destiny should've been to live in places irrelevant to the main plot. He would not have had the significant and burdensome life of the protagonist, but he would have lived a comfortable and worry-free life. That was also the life I wished for.
I took a deep breath and gently and cautiously opened the door. The decor was modern and clean, with three long desks cascading up the walls.
I took a seat in the middle row's edge seat.
I stared straight ahead in a stupor, like a proper extra. There was no whiteboard, but there was a projection screen on which holograms may be displayed.
I couldn't help but sigh when I saw it. I'm finally back at the beginning after going through all those stuff in my life for all of those years.
I let out a sigh.
I looked inside the classroom. I can find many familiar faces. They don't know me but I know them.
First I spotted Thomas Gray. Our main protagonist.
That fact is nothing much known about him. Up to 3rd volume, they didn't reveal all the abilities he has. All I know is he is much more powerful than he appears.
Next to him was Ivy Morris. One of the potential female leads. Anthony Morris, her father, is a hero with the SS rank. He is among the human domain's top ten most powerful heroes.
When the author described her as some kind of guardian angel her beauty rivals that of gods. I thought he was exaggerating. But I couldn't take my gaze away from her. Not just me, but a lot of other people.
She had a well-proportioned face, crystal blue eyes, and a little but not too small nose. Her flawless white skin, combined with her lovely doll-like looks, let everybody who glanced at her lose themselves in her beauty. Her elegant though slightly haughty manner added to her charm, as did her well-formed body, with everything that should've developed.
Andrea Lewis sat next to her; her father, Damian Lewis, is the chief of the human domain's top guild.
In contrast to Ivy, who is outgoing and lively, she has a peaceful demeanor. Her beauty is comparable to Ivy Morris'. Along with Thomas Gray, she will play a significant role in the near future.
In front of them was Trina Mason.
She is the daughter of Nicholas Mason, the pharma industry's kingpin in the human domain.
Her beauty, too, is not to be sneered at. She may not be as powerful as the others, but she is the most intelligent of them all. Her inventions will have repelling repercussions in the future, not just on the human continent, but also on the rest of the world.
Next comes John Collins, From the Collins family. There are major stakeholders in the second largest guild.
The protagonist's rival.
'You could tell he was one of those arrogant young master types,'
As I peered at him out of the corner of my eye, I pondered. The way he looked down on practically everyone in the class demonstrated his condescending attitude, which made people feel like they were beneath him.
It was practically unavoidable for his character to evolve like that because he was born with a silver spoon and was given whatever he wanted.
But don't get me wrong: despite his villainous appearance, he was truly a member of the 'good guys.'
They all are seated at the front far away from me.
I had no intention of interacting with them.
I'm simply going to sit here and pretend to be air like a proper mob.
Why?
Simple. The main characters were disaster magnets!
If you're with them, everything that may go wrong will go wrong. I'm not even going to try to get near to them! I'm not here to die; I'm here to live.
In the most likely case, even if I tried to communicate with them, I would most likely be ignored.
The semester at Horizon began in February. I felt drowsy since the outside was cold and the inside was warm.
It was currently 8.30 a.m. At 9 a.m., the class began.
I still had a lot of time left till the class starts.
I glanced at my smartwatch. It's like a modern smartphone but pretty advanced.
I tapped on my profile.
A holographic image of myself projected in front of me.
I examined the data projected in front of me.
=======
User ID: David Foster
Age: 16
Illustration: (Holographic image of myself)
Program: Hero program Year 1
School Rank: 1983/2400
Potential : D rank
Profession: Swordsman
======
"I see"
I let out a bitter laugh as I stared at the data in a stupor.
Rank 1983? how the hell did this guy get selected at Horizon.
After the class, I need to go and check out the information about David Foster. But now I am tired.
After I died, I didn't even feel like a day had passed. In a short amount of time, a lot of things transpired. Even though I lost consciousness several times throughout this time, I didn't get enough rest.
… Anyway, let's get some rest. I don't want to think about it any longer.
I slammed my head against the desk, closing my eyes.
—Now!
I was startled awake by a loud yell.
The instructor was standing behind the podium when I opened my eyes.
"There will be no special training today because it is the first day, but I hope you all completed your morning training. It's never a bad idea to train, especially early in the morning when mana density is high."
Morning training?
…
That's right. There was something like that. A training facility that was open from 5 a.m. until 8 a.m.
I was familiar with the plot up until a certain point, but it doesn't imply I understand how the world works. I need to be cautious till I figure it out and avoid getting myself into any kind of trouble.
"Now!"
A little shockwave traveled across the classroom when she slammed her fist on the table. Except for a few other pupils, everyone in the classroom, including myself, was pushed back.
"In my classroom, there will be no slacking!"
It felt like it was directed to words me.
Her eyes briefly rested on the starting row where our main characters Ivy, Thomas, Andrea, and John as well as the few others who had managed to survive her shockwave, before she scanned the entire classroom. You could see signs of satisfaction on her face when she stared at them if you looked closely.
She looked around the classroom with both hands on the podium.
"Let's get started with self-introductions. My name is Jane Doherty, and I'll be your personal instructor this year and potentially in the future."
I recognized that name.
Jane Doherty, the Demon Witch
She was infamous for slaughtering tens of thousands of demons on her own. In the hero rankings, she is rated 168th. The blood king's talent is what made demons shiver when they heard her name. Only the high-ranked demons can stand up to her blood king talent. It's a talent she inherited from her ancestors.
When the first war with demons was fought, her grandfather reawakened that ability. Then it was passed down to the family's previous generations.
Such a well-known name.
Man, she is damn beautiful.
Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, halting just above her elevated buttocks, which resembled a ripe peach. Her seductive physique, which could drive any man wild, enraged every boy in the class, making their hearts race.
But it was her stunning blue eyes that really stood out about her, not her form. If you stared at them for too long, you'd forget yourself.
She is going to be our classroom instructor ha, very interesting.
"I believe that concludes my introduction."
"I'm sure I don't need to say much more because most of you know who I am," Jane said calmly as she looked around the classroom.
She pretended to be unconcerned about the boys' reddening expressions as if she had grown accustomed to their reactions.
"I won't take up too much of your time because it's your first day. In the classroom, I can already notice some people who appear fatigued. Because they may not have gotten enough sleep due to their excitement or because they practiced all night, I'll keep this initial session brief."
She must be a guardian angel.
"First and foremost, let me take attendance."
She rapidly called out names on a little tablet, "Rank 1983, David Foster."
When I heard my name, I excitedly raised my hand and said
"Present!"
She continued to nod.
"Faf Duplessis, Rank 1232"
"Present!"
"Henry Clark Rank 845"
"Present!"
"..."
Isn't it true that she was reading in ascending order?
As she read the names from the list, I couldn't help but observe how the rank was shrinking with each successive name. And it just so happened that I was the first person she contacted, implying that I was the class's weakest member.
Forget what I said about the guardian angel, she is a demon witch.
I should've seen it coming a long time ago. I leaned on the table, letting out a sigh, and waited for her to complete reading the names.
"Trina Mason, Rank 15"
"Present"
"Andrea Lewis, Rank 8"
"Present"
"John Collins, Rank 3"
"Present"
"Ivy Morris, Rank 2"
"Present"
"Thomas Gray, Rank 1"
With that, Jane Doherty announced.
"All right, now get ready. What's on the agenda for today isn't going to take long. The initial task is to choose the main weapon."