Chapter 9 - Academy
Looking at the screen, Max felt like crying, but no tears came out of his eyes.
'Damn it, what the hell is wrong with my life?'
«Quest: Mission Series: Investigation»
Demonic Aura has been detected in the nearby vicinity. The host needs to investigate the cause behind it.
«Reward: • Special skill
• 5000 FP»
«Penalty: ???»
«Time limit: 2 months»
As he Saw the notification popping up, he couldn't help but feel wronged.
'At least give me a bit more time. I am still at Lv 1 just to let you know.'
...
...
No one responded.
'Damn it, at least let me know the penalty, I can't be at ease without knowing it.'
...
No one responded.
He felt helpless at that useless system.
He then walked out of the station and hailed a cab to the Academy.
....
After a while, Max found himself standing in front of the huge entrance of the Academy.
Max looked at the gate and the flow of students, he couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.
"Hey, don't stand in front of the gate, move."
But he was pulled out of his imagination by the curses of the crowd.
"Ah! Sorry, my bad."
He pulled his luggage and walked towards the guard cabin.
"Excuse me, where is the Administrative department?" He asked the guard.
Hearing him, the guard pointed towards the poster on the wall.
He saw a map of the Academy Campus. He then took out his smartphone and clicked a snap of the poster.
...
After a while, he reached the administrative department following the map.
Max walked up to the counter and handed over his form to the guy on the counter.
"So, you are Max Edwinson?" The staff asked him.
"Yes, I am. Is there any problem?" Max replied.
"No, it's nothing. It's just that we have been asked to send you to the Headmaster's office."
Hearing him, Max couldn't help but felt a little taken aback. To meet the Headmaster on the very first day of the Academy, it didn't feel right to him.
'Had he become some kind of bigshot unknowingly?'
That's how he was imagining it.
"Excuse me, but we still have people behind you."
The voice from the counter pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Ah! I am sorry." He bowed twice in apology before getting out of the place.
Back on the streets of the campus, he took out his phone and started walking towards the Headmaster's office.
After a while, he reached the office.
Entering, Max asked the lady in the reception, "Excuse me, I am Max Edwinson. The Headmaster wanted to see me."
The beautiful lady glanced at him before she replied to him with a smile, "The Headmaster is free right now, you can meet him."
....
[Headmaster's Cabin, William Kingsman]
Looking at the door with a name plate, Max prepared himself. After all, he was the Headmaster of the Magic Academy. Even if someone beat him to death, he won't believe that the guy in that office was an ordinary person.
Max reached out the door with his trembling hands, but hesitated to knock.
He wasn't prepared for that shit. Even though Max knew the head master wouldn't be punishing me.
He pulled his hand back and forth in hesitation, but before he could steel his resolve, the door in front of him opened .
"How much time do you need to open a door?"
Hearing the voice, he looked up to see a tall, handsome man who appeared to be in his mid 30s, standing in front of him.
Max stared at him with wide eyes, as he sized him up and down.
" I...I...I.." he stuttered in shock.
"Calm down, I am not going to eat you. Come in and have a seat."
With that he moved toward his chair and Max followed him.
Luckily, before he could lose himself, a cool stream of air calmed him down.
There were the only times when he felt that that dumb system was of some use.
He moved forward and pulled the chair out and sat on that.
"So how is Stark?" he asked.
"He is doing fine," Max replied.
"Looking at you, I can't believe that crazy dwarf would have such a timid student."
Pfft!
Hearing him, Max couldn't hold his laughter back. He thought they were the first ones who gave him that nickname. But who would have thought he would meet a Senior that day.
But after a while, he realised something. 'Timid student?' ain't he referring to me?
'Damn it, how can you call me timid? I would really appreciate it if you can imagine yourself in my shoes. I would love to see how much guts you would have then.'
Obviously these were only his thoughts. How could he even dare to open his mouth in front of the Head Master.
"I heard you didn't awaken any element." Head Master William spoke as he shifted his gaze to his laptop.
"Yeah, I suppose." Max replied awkwardly.
'I can't believe he can say that with a straight face. At least consider my feelings. Don't you have a heart?'
"I have already taken care of it. You just need to make sure that no one finds out about it."
"Why?" He asked, not knowing what was going on.
"Didn't Stark inform you?" He asked, shifting his gaze to me.
"No, he didn't." He saw the Headmaster's eyebrows twitch at his answer.
"He's always been like that." Headmaster William spoke, a line appeared on his forehead. "I will explain it to you. Do you know where you are right now?"
"Arcane.. Magic.. Academy" Max replied with a forced smile on his face.
"Magic Academy. Hm.. can you use magic, the power to control elements?"
"No," He replied.
But thankfully, he was busy with something on his laptop. As Max really had no idea what kind of expression he currently had.
Hearing him, Head Master William asked another question which left him hanging. Max didn't know what to say.
"Then do you think you belong here?"
...
...
Hearing no reply from Max, he continued.
"In truth, it doesn't matter as long as I allow you to stay here. But do you think others will accept you? You need to spend 5 years here."
"So you better keep your inability a secret. And remember to stay out of trouble. In this Academy, we don't interfere in the life of the students until it gets very serious because we want our students to be strong. In such an environment, you should know what you ought to do. Now take this and leave. I have got work to do."
He gave him a stack of documents and pointed towards the door.
Taking the documents, he walked out of the Headmaster's office.
Max let out a sigh. From what he heard, a few moments ago, he could confirm one thing. His future days would not be so easy. He just hoped a catastrophe doesn't fall on him.
After walking for a while, he realised that he was just wandering aimlessly.
He took out the documents and opened them to find his identity card and his Dorm Number.
It looks like I will be living in Dorm No. 7.
As he walked towards the dorm following the map in his phone, he heard a commotion.
Turning back, he saw two beautiful girls walking towards the administrative office.
Before he could think of anything else, he heard a voice, "I can't believe myself, when did I get so lucky!! Damn!! Hey, brother, did you see that too or am I dreaming?"
Looking at the fatty, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, Max replied, "Yeah, I see them too."
"What's with that dull reply, be happy, you get to see the two campus belles on the first day of the new term."
"Hm... So they are the campus belles, no wonder they are so beautiful."
"What, don't tell me you don't know them?" The fatty asked as his eyes widened in surprise.
"I am not from Arcane, I just arrived here,he replied .
"No wonder you don't know them. Let me introduce them. The girl with black hair and a fairy-like appearance whose skin seems to be carved out of jade is Lisa Walker, she apparently has a mysterious background. Every guy who offended her in our high school days transferred schools the next day. While the girl next to her is Elly Lorenz, the blonde haired beauty with an otherworldly elf-like figure. She is from a powerful family of Mages. Everybody knows about Garry Lorenz, the Demon Hunter. She is his granddaughter." The fatty spoke as his eyes flickered in admiration.
Finally seeing the fatty stop, Max asked him, "You introduced the others but what about yourself?"
"Oh, my bad, I am Kevin Zen and I will be in the Blacksmith Department."
"Nice to meet you, I am Max Edwinson and am from the Blacksmith Department, too."
"Wow! I have never seen someone with such a physique in the Blacksmith Department."
Ignoring his remark, he replied "Well, I will be going, then. I am quite tired after my journey."
After all, he didn't wanted to get involved with that pervert.
"Oh, then let's go, my dorm is that way too." But he stuck to him.
And they walked all the way to Dorm No. 7.
Looking at that fatty standing beside him, Max asked, "Are you planning to follow me to the end of the world?"
"Ah! No, I live in this dorm too."𝑓𝐫𝑒e𝒘𝚎𝘣𝚗𝘰𝘷𝐞𝑙.co𝑚
he ignored him and took the stairs to the second door.
After a while, he turned and asked, "Are you sure you are not following me?"
"Ah! I am not following you. I live here, too." He replied in a clarifying tone.
"What do you mean, you live here?" Max asked in confusion.
"Huh! Don't you know, the dorm rooms are shared in the Academy." He replied with a grin.
"Y..You m..mean, there will be people living here beside me." Max asked in shock.
'It's going to be troublesome. How will I manage to hide my truth, and what about the pending quest? With so many eyes on me, it is going to be a pain in the ass.'
And the biggest problem was his first dorm mate turned out to be a pervert. He just hoped others are normal.
Max felt a headache, imagining his upcoming days.