Three days passed.
Above the Aurelian Academy of Eminence hovered a colossal cube, slowly rotating in mid-air, two ethereal rings encircled it, engraved with intricate runes that shimmered faintly with mana.
More than a spectacle of arcane brilliance, the cube functioned as the impenetrable shield—a masterpiece, guarding against both external and internal threats, the shifting runes pulsed like a heartbeat, emanating vigilant power.
The Academy itself was a vision of grandeur, sprawling across the horizon with towering spires adorned in gold and mithril filigree, its architecture blended the majestic design of antiquity with the refined innovation of advanced mana systems.
I stepped into the administrative office, the faint hum of mana powered machines filling the air.
"Is there a special exam for the lowest class?"
The woman behind the counter glanced up briefly, clicking her tongue in annoyance before returning her focus to the glowing terminal in front of her, her fingers tapping briskly across the keyboard.
What the hell? All I did was ask a simple question.
Then it hit me.
The feeling was familiar, like an old, buried memory resurfacing, a wave of irritation washed over me, cold and sudden.
That's right… it felt just like dealing with the stingy registrar's school office in my past life.
My blood began to boil for some reason.
"There isn't, but I'll try to make an exception for you. Show me your ID." she said flatly.
What the...? I mean... Thanks? I guess I'll forgive her in my mind.
Women really are unpredictable.
I handed over my ID, which already been updated, as she snatched it from my hand like I was some kind of disease.
She let out a soft snort. "You do realize there's a qualification requirement, right?"
The qualification for the lowest class required at least mid-Yellow to peak-Yellow.
"I could defeat any Class Basilisk or Class Crimson student."
She sighed. "That's irrelevant. This and that are entirely different matters. This is a protocol that must be followed—I couldn't help you with it even if I wanted to."
I could tell she didn't believe me.
Honestly, I wouldn't believe it either if I were in her position.
She had already been kind enough not to kick me out immediately, and if I pushed her further it might end badly for me.
But this was an infuriating situation—the intricate process made everything much harder if you didn't have any backing. In the game, you'd already be part of Class S without having to go through all of this.
"How about meeting with the headmaster or any of the proctors?"
Her gaze sharpened, though she maintained a professional demeanor. "You have no right to meet with them. Such privileges are reserved for individuals who qualify through the proper channels. It's a matter of exclusivity."
Damn it. My poor choice of words. This wasn't going to end well.
There's only one thing I could do.
"I have the ability to harness primal essence."
"Primal essence? What do you mean?"
"Observe closely."
This was my last hope.
I didn't even bother trying to hide it—how could I?
It was impossible to conceal in the first place, and why should I? How could I grow stronger if it was constantly suppressed? How could I wield it if it remained shackled? And, most of all, how could I ever truly comprehend its nature if it was forced into the shadows?
Truth be told, I despised hiding.
And my primal essence? It loathed it just as much.
I gathered the primal essence into my hand and whispered, "Ignite."
It was just a Grade 1 Art spell—a basic technique meant for lighting campfires, hardly remarkable. Still, it was practical for survival in the wilderness.
A small yet majestic flame blossomed in my palm, its radiance far surpassing the simplicity of its design. In that instant, it felt stronger, purer than it had any right to be.
I watched it, transfixed, as though I were gazing upon a masterpiece.
"Then what?"
I looked at the woman, unamused.
From the way she gazed at me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I might as well have been wearing face paint, a bright red nose, and a rainbow wig—performing absurd tricks.
I'd completely forgotten that ordinary people couldn't perceive it.
I stopped the flame, after all, I'm thrifty when it comes to my primal essence.
"If that is all, I must ask you to leave."
"Then could you at least inform the headmaster that I can wield primal essence?"
She gave me a vague nod, though it lacked any sense of certainty.
I sighed and stepped out.
***
I gazed at the outermost garden of the academy.
It was breathtaking, filled with unique plants brought from countries far and wide. The cloudy sky gave the scenery an ethereal touch.
Why don't I ever have a lucky encounter?
By now, I should've run into one of the Heroines, revealed my primal essence, and voilà: I'd be a student.
Speaking of Class S, or Class Seraph, most of them don't even bother with exams, whether practical, elemental, or scholarly like those required of the lower classes. They are practically invited to the academy. Some join willingly while others are coerced by their parents or powerful affiliations.
Hmmm... Now.
I should find that café first to regain my motivation; then, I need to plan my next course of action.
Just as I turned around, I collided with someone—no, something.
Before I could fully register what had happened, a smear of cake spread across my shirt.
I glanced down, then our eyes met.
What? K-Kaori?
I tried to compose myself as best I could.
The truth was, I had been heading to the café to see a woman—her.
But this?
This encounter was truly unexpected.
Players often vented their frustration at how nearly impossible it was to capture the affection of the heroines.
Most gave up entirely, turning instead to unique NPCs—characters carefully designed to offer comfort, to heal battered souls, and to bring fleeting solace amidst difficulty of the game.
Kaori wasn't a heroine; she was one of those rare, unique NPCs.
A student at the illustrious Aurelian Academy of Eminence, she was a member of Class Crimson, seamlessly balancing the demands of her studies with a part-time job at the café.
Among all the unique NPCs, she was the only one I admired.
Her personal traits and demeanor a blend linked of Kosaki Onodera and Violet Evergarden.
She had cascading black hair that framed her delicate features, dark-green eyes that seemed to glow subtly, and a petite figure. However, she didn't possess the exaggerated, child-like appearance associated with the term loli.
No, Kaori's charm lay in her adorable prettiness—a balance of cuteness and matureness.
Seriously? The difference between 2D and 3D was like heaven and earth.
In 2D, she was already breathtakingly beautiful, but now, in this reality, her beauty was magnified a hundredfold.
"Oh! I-I'm so sorry," she stammered.
Panicked, she began furiously trying to wipe off the mess with trembling hands, as though she'd just offended nobility, but her efforts only made things worse.
"Wait, wait."
Gently, I caught her wrists to stop her, my touch light but steady.
"It's okay. Really."
I offer a small, reassuring smile, hoping to ease the growing tension between us.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a handkerchief.
Carefully, I turned her hands palm up and dabbed the sticky frosting from her fingers, the softness of the gesture catching her off guard, as she simply watched in silence.
"Are you okay?"
I asked once her hands were clean, glancing up at her face.
That's when I noticed it—fear and discomfort flickering in her eyes.
Realizing I might have overstepped, I quickly released her hands and stepped back, giving her some much-needed space.
She nodded hastily, her eyes darting down to the mess on my shirt.
"I-I should wash your clothes."
"It's really fine." Then an idea struck me, I gestured with my hands."How about this instead? Watch."
I extended my palms outward, allowing the faint glow of my primal essence to flicker into view.
At first, she hesitated, her gaze lingering on the soft shimmer forming between my fingers, reluctance gave way to curiosity, and slowly, she began watching with more interest.
Knowing her eyes were on me, the one person I secretly admired, spurred something within me.
I'd have to give this my all, to pour myself into it with the fullest sincerity.
The energy swirled around my hands, alive with intention.
With a swift motion, I burned through my primal essence, releasing it in controlled bursts.
Around us, the air stirred, forming a mesmerizing dance of ethereal light.
The flow of energy spiraled gracefully, as if we had stepped into a storybook, a fleeting scene from some fairy tale brought to life, she watched intently now, her earlier nervousness replaced by captivated wonder.
The world faded into the background, dissolving until there was nothing left but this moment, just the two of us, spinning in the rhythm of something indescribable.
And then, as the energy coalesced in my hands, it took shape.
A single, breathtaking flower bloomed from the essence, its petals deep green and vibrant, pulsing faintly with life.
I held it out to her, "My apology for the cake."
She glanced from my eyes to the flower, her movements hesitant.
"Uhm... T-thank you," she murmured, her voice soft and uncertain.
She reached out hesitantly to take it, but as her fingers brushed the delicate petals, a genuine smile slowly illuminated her face.
My heart raced wildly at the sight of her smile.
I felt my self-sustaining essence fracture into hundred droplets, and my『Creativity Origin』surged, upgrading instantly to three.
Yet all of this went unheard, unregistered, a faint whisper drowned by the pounding of my chest.
I couldn't focus on anything else.
All I could do was stare, captivated by the unguarded beauty of her smile.