September 28, 807.
8:00 AM.
1 minute to regain consciousness and 30 seconds to yawn. I get up and first thing, make the bed. Then I wash, dress, and fix my hair.
"I really feel like drinking coffee."
I leave the room and head to the refectory since only the ground floor bar is active in the morning.
The autumn atmosphere is simply fantastic.
Currently wearing a uniform, I'll need to update my wardrobe eventually. Back in the orphanage, I wore used clothes, which I had to return once admitted to the academy.
How can I make money as quickly as possible? Buy stocks? There are many companies listed on the stock exchange. This topic was one of the few I hated in 'The Courage of a Hero.'
The author dedicated entire chapters to companies experiencing stock crashes or frightening surges, all because one of the protagonists enjoyed buying and selling stocks. Yeah, I'm talking about Yumiko.
So, this would be a good way to make money, but where do I get the capital to invest, considering the gains are in the long term? Only option left is to use the 'Black Market.' I'll join this afternoon after classes.
In five minutes, I've already reached the bar. I order coffee and wait. After about thirty seconds, here comes my espresso. I can adapt with food, but I could never do without coffee. I pass the phone over a scanner to certify my compliance. I greet the barista and head towards class B. With all these conveniences, it's not hard to believe this academy is one of the best, not only in Fort but even on the continent.
....
8:55 AM.
I enter the class and sit towards the back. A palpable tension hangs in the air; it reminds me that today we'll know our ranks. Ah, the joys of being young students and having such concerns, when probably half of them won't even be on this world in a few years.
You know, this makes me think...
It's been five years in this world, and I still consider it something fake, born from a sick mind that refuses to die. Maybe that's why I'm so insensitive to human lives. I've always believed when death comes, it should be accepted. It's just a matter of time—time to understand that you won't see that person again, time to accept they left you alone and that you have to move on without them. But in the end, it always leads to acceptance. At least, that's my thinking. I think that's also why I didn't go crazy once I came here. The first days were a bit traumatic, but what sense would it make to be always depressed and huddled in a corner? Would that bring things back to how they were?
I look across the room, towards Seyun. My goal remains to save her. But why should I? I had told myself not to interfere with the main characters, even if she wasn't one entirely, so why?
There are some things I can't fully understand.
"Good morning, everyone!" Mary enters the room and places papers on the desk, then sits at her station.
"Yesterday, all ten classes underwent the exercise. We've already compiled the ranking, but before showing it, I'll make some remarks." She continues authoritatively, as if she was leading an army. The class starts murmuring, even Yumiko, one of the most rational and composed people in this world, seems eager to know the results.
"First of all, these initial results don't prove anything about your abilities. Just a few days ago, you started the first year, so you still have plenty of time to improve. As for the analysis we've done, we considered not only the time you took to overcome the different waves, but also the number of monsters you killed." After finishing speaking, she approaches the board and turns on the projector.
"At least until the next exam, this will be the rank list, taking into account all cadets enrolled in the first year!"
And there, the ranking appears. These ranks refer only to us in the first year. From the second year onward, there are more specific labels.
Rango 23 - Sieji Koto
....
....
Rango 59 - Shin Soichiro
....
....
Rango 117 - Yu Yumiko
....
....
Rango 285 - Kakegurui Shiori
....
....
Rango 487 - Asa Seyun
....
....
Mmmh, I can't find my name.
....
....
Rango 1187 - Azka Ban
Ah, I'm among the last in my class, I scratch my chin with one hand. As others begin to discuss among themselves, I take out my phone.
- Cadet Azka Ban -
Rank: 1187/1345 (lol)
Year of enrollment: 807 (first year)
Class: B
Role: Swordsman
Room: W.W. 2694.
I would have many questions right now, but why does it say 'lol' next to the rank?
"Silence, be silent!" With just these three words, she silences the entire class.
"I was amazed by the results some of you did!' She smiles while looking at the protagonists.
"As for the others, you might want to step up next time." She gives me a quick glance.
Soichiro suddenly stands up.
"Now he's making a scene..." I say quietly while starting to play with my phone.
"Instructor! How is it possible? How is it possible that I'm only in position 59?" He asks awkwardly.
"Apparently, 58 people did better than you." Mary replies to him very calmly.
Soichiro was about to add something, but the instructor's gaze must have made him rethink. I'm not seeing the scene, but since he doesn't retort, it must have gone that way.
Probably, the author didn't add anything about these first days because he found this part boring. Now that I'm in it, it seems strange that he assigned ranks randomly without giving an explanation. Should I worry about my position? 1187/1345.
Nah, as I said before, it's just to stimulate competition. The only truly decisive thing for graduation is to pass the written exams. Practical tests are there to get us used to the life that awaits us once we graduate. Of course, I can't just stand still when I take them, but the minimum required to pass is enough.
"I forgot to add one thing." She looks away from the defeated Soichiro and addresses the entire class.
"Starting from the next exam, scheduled at the end of October... Those in the last positions will be expelled!" She declares her verdict to the class.
"EEEhhhh?" The class starts clamoring.
"Seems normal, right? There's no limit to the number of people who can enroll in the first year, but how many remain is a different story. Our goal is to have 1000 students for the first year of the course. So, more than 300 cadets will be expelled. This procedure will be carried out at the first exam of each year until graduation. We give anyone the opportunity to become a Hero, but they have to prove they truly deserve it. The eliminations will continue until I see these merits.'
It's crazy...
I don't remember reading anything about this. Do I have a crappy memory, or is this also a new development in this world? Has my brain made these changes to make events more coherent? But wouldn't that make me a god?
I'm not understanding anything...
-Zzz Zzz Zzz-
A vibration brings me back to reality. Someone sent me a message.
- Don't be sad! It will be better next time! 😺 -
The sender is Asa Seyun.
This surprised me. She probably saw me looking thoughtful and thought I was upset.
I glance in her direction, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate, so I decide to send her a message.
- Okay. -
I need to start thinking about how to make her interact with the main characters. Once she's part of their group, she won't be in danger anymore, as they'll make sure she's not bullied or isolated. After that, they'll protect her when the time comes.
Wait...
- :) -
Emoji sent.
"For a couple of weeks, you'll have classes with me, and then I'll alternate with another instructor who will talk to you about something else. At the end of October, there will be a written test, and the results will be considered to modify your Ranks. So, work hard!" With that said, Mary begins explaining the origin of demons and the appearance of the first demon.
....
At 12:30, after another yawn, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"With this, I'm done. See you tomorrow at 9:00."
Alright then. I quickly head towards the exit.
Before heading to the cafeteria, I must do something else: I need to register on the Black Market.
At this point, I have to become stronger as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the next test will be written, and I shouldn't have any problems, as everything related to demons seems to be the same as what the author wrote.
But at the end of November, there might be a practical test.
Late November... That's when the disappearances of cadets begin, but that will be a future problem.
Meanwhile, I head to my room.
"Black Market."
This is nothing more than an illegal website where you can buy and sell anything. From what I remember, even human organs are up for sale.
I don't know who runs the site, but I know that to design it, they harnessed the powers of the Technology demon. So, to make an immediate profit, I'll have to sell something truly unique.
The author wrote that the site was obscured, for obvious reasons, and to find it, one had to follow a particular procedure. You have to enter a series of 11 words into the search engine, whose initials follow the order of the letters in "Black Market."
Hardly anything sensible comes out, which is why the author thought of using this stratagem.
So...
- bad lake ass captain kiwi mouse ass rock karaoke echo tower -
And there I am, directly on the Black Market.
I register with a fake name.
- After D. Ark -
It doesn't ask for money for the registration phase, but it will take a % from the first item bought/sold.
Now, all that's left is to find something to sell.
...
Is there something that would fly off the shelves and bring me millions of dollars?
What I'm thinking of is a piece of a demon's flesh.
Later in the story, it will be revealed that these are not only used to design cutting-edge weapons or artifacts. In fact, through various illegal experiments, it has been observed that ingesting small amounts can grant the power of the corresponding demon. Although it's not all sunshine and rainbows, as the acquired abilities are limited, and their efficiency is reduced. Not to mention that excessive use can also diminish a person's life force. Many subjects, among those who survived, completely lost their sanity and turned into something that is neither demon nor human.
To be specific, they became something that is neither demon nor human.
In a few decades, the experiments will yield satisfactory results, and the "Haruks" will be born.
That's why artifacts are much safer. Why channel the power of the demon within oneself when objects can serve as intermediaries?
The only advantage of becoming a Haruk is not being bound to the use of an object, in addition to being able to use abilities more efficiently.
"Hehehe."
And I also know where I could find it.
The story is mostly set in this city, so I know there are several secret places where they are still conducting human experiments.
I'm sure that once it's put up for sale, it will sell like hotcakes. Both for those who want to design weapons/artifacts and for those experimenting with the birth of the Haruks.
I'll go take a look around this weekend.