Edward’s words were full of pain as he spoke. His heart ached, but defeat had taught him that his pride was worthless. A loss was still a loss!

“No matter how unrealistic our dreams are, that guy has no right to criticize it! That’s what I think!” Anabelle responded in an argument.

There was no way she would acknowledge the sneer of someone who didn’t know how hard she worked to get to where she was.

Edward had mellowed out, but her annoyance had only increased.

“You’re right…” Edward spoke weakly.

He still didn’t agree with Jared’s actions. However, the weak could do nothing but feel awe for the strong. It was the same for Edward. Jared’s swordsmanship and fluid motion with the blade had left an impression on the heart of the young swordsman. He couldn’t bring himself to hate the one who was once his adversary.

A gentle smile formed on his face as he remembered Jared’s last words to him.

“Who taught me Martial Arts, eh?”

What could he say? He was self-taught. His father had left a legacy for him in the art of the sword and he desperately tried to live up to it. But, without a proper master… his Sword Arts barely scratched the surface of the teachings contained in his inheritance.

‘Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth… I should be asking you the very same question… who taught you Martial Arts?!’

While Edward was lost in his thoughts, Anabelle looked at him with curiosity. The tears in her eyes had dried up and her very small and cute face ogled his.Ever since they knew each other, she had been able to tell what he was thinking just by observing his facial muscles. Now was no different. Edward was having positive thoughts about Jared, something that directly contradicted Anabelle’s disposition toward the arrogant boy who had just hurt her friend.

Her fairly large eyes narrowed and her brow crinkled in displeasure.

‘Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth… I’ll never acknowledge you!’

*********************

My dorm was just as I expected—trash!

The building erected before me was painted grey. It had a very large structure, with an even bigger compound. I was certain that if everyone within the building chose to spend time within the compound, there would still be room to spare.

One would consider this good, but it was far from it! In the first instance, the building had an ominous feel about it. Perhaps it was due to the multiple amounts of energy I sensed within it—belonging to the students already lodged in. Still, I really didn’t like this Dorm.

That wasn’t the worst of it, though.

The handouts we students were given after leaving the temporary lodge we were in contained the location of our respective dorms and the room we would be staying in.

Ainzlark was a large Academy, so even the Lower Class Students should have had more than one dorm.

At least, that was how it was supposed to be.

‘We’re all sharing one Dorm, uh?’

All the students (Juniors and Seniors) jam-packed in the same apartment… what could possibly go wrong?

Of course, I expected the accommodation to be inferior to what I was used to, but I didn’t expect things to be so bad. Still, just watching the building from a distance wasn’t going to help my case.“Let’s go in!”

The interior was worse than what I kept from the outside. It was a literal mess!

Clothes and several properties were scattered about. Trash filled the ground and I could tell that in the short while of resumption, this place was slowly becoming a pigsty.

‘What did I expect from the trash of the institute?’

Of course, I didn’t mean to belittle them. However, one’s identity affected the general perception and personality developed over time. If a person is constantly told he is a loser over and over again, and the environment supports that assertion, it would only be a matter of time before that person takes on the attribute of his newfound Identity.

While we first years would not have been so affected since we were just starting out, our seniors were another matter entirely.

Having spent so long at the bottom of the barrel, perhaps their minds had become accustomed to it.

‘Oh well…’

I wasn’t going to concern myself with trivialities such as this. I was certain they could easily clean up their messes, especially since Magic could be used. There was no point in making a fuss on my first day.

My sac and bag were still with me as I climbed the stairs and made my way to the room assigned to me.

I reached the third floor after a few minutes and saw several doors aligned on both sides of the hallway. Based on their distance, I could estimate that the rooms within couldn’t be that large. It sickened me to consider where I would be spending my resting time within Ainzlark, but I ignored the annoyance that had been building up and walked down the hallway.

Fortunately, I met no one on my way to my room.

There had to be a good set of reasons for that. For second and third years, their classes ended by 6:00 PM due to the workload. Since it was just after 5:00 PM, only the first years would be around. Since I left them back then, it would take a little while before they arrived which meant I was possibly the only one currently present.

On the ground floor, I had seen a staff there who was most likely our Hall monitor. The young lady pretended I didn’t exist as I walked in. Thinking things through, the seniors would have lodged in here yesterday or maybe earlier considering the Assembly had all of us gathered. We first years came from our temporary residence, but the seniors must have been here all along.

‘As usual, my necessities will be placed in my room as per Academy protocols…’

Finally reaching my door, I placed my hand on it and turned the doorknob. It responded and opened up for me. The moment it did so, dust flung outside, welcoming me to the place I would be staying in for my Academy years.

It was thick, so thick that I had to cover my eyes and block my nose. I was a moment too late, though, as my natural reaction toward such a huge wave of due acted up.

“ACHOOOO!!!”