Arriving at the rather normal-looking classroom, Shey glanced around and saw several groups already forming—kids around his age chatting and introducing themselves. There weren't that many, and a few still seemed lost, probably trying to find their way.
'Ahh, school life... I can't believe I have to go through this shit again. Well, for now, I should find a place for myself.'
Although it was natural for him to hate going to class, considering he had graduated ages ago, Shey wasn't a native of this world, so he had no choice but to gather information and adapt quickly.
Choosing a seat right by the window, he leaned back in the chair with a sigh, placing his satchel on the bench.
'Haa~'
Shey stretched, resting his arms on the desk, ready to lay his head down for a quick nap, when the sound of approaching footsteps made him pause.
"Hm..?" He turned and found himself facing a brute—or rather, a boy built like one. Broad-shouldered and massively muscular, he didn't just look intimidating—he looked like someone who could actually kill you.
His face was more barbarian than human, a deep scowl etched across it, as if he could act on any violent whim at a moment's notice.
"Get up."
The brute's voice was unexpectedly soft, a stark contrast to his hulking frame.
"What?" Shey asked, making sure he'd heard right. But the brute's eyes stayed locked on him—filled with anger—as if deciding how to rip him apart.
'What… seriously? I haven't even done anything, and some idiot is already treating me like a pushover?' Refusing to give the attention-whore what he wanted, Shey locked his black eyes on the brute instead.
The other students noticed the standoff too. Despite it being the first day, they hadn't expected a fight so soon. Some watched with amusement, while others regarded them warily.
But before anything could escalate, the class teacher arrived, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Back to your seats—while I'm asking nicely."
—Tsk.
The brute clicked his tongue and walked off to sit elsewhere, while Shey narrowed his eyes at the annoyed expression. 'Better get rid of trouble while it's still early—who knows what kind of nonsense I'd be inviting if I acted all happy-go-lucky.'
Marking the guy as someone to watch, he turned his attention to the teacher—and felt it hit him, his heart racing.
No.
Not because of love at first sight.
It was something suffocating, a crushing grip that seemed to wrap around his entire body, blood rushing to his head as adrenaline surged through him.
Shey gasped, struggling to draw a proper breath—and the others weren't any better. Everyone around him felt the same suffocating dread. Some had it worse, collapsing as foam gathered at their mouths.
"At least you fledglings aren't all hopeless—unlike last year's lot. I expected you to be able to handle this, but it seems expectations can't always manifest in reality."
The sharp voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere, echoing in their minds as if spoken directly into their heads.
When the feeling of teetering on the edge of a cliff, with a predator holding their lives in its hands, finally eased, the students gasped for breath. Shey was no exception, his eyes fixed on the teacher who had caused their turmoil.
"Seeing as how a third of you chicks are already foaming at the mouth, I suppose you've been living a rather luxurious life until now—but that ends here."
The plump woman—no different from a pig—declared.
'Of course… why would I get a fine ass teacher the moment I transmigrate? No, no, that privilege must be reserved for whatever golden‑finger protagonist this world is busy brewing and I must be just a third wheeler.'
With his face resting in his palm, he stared forward with a displeased expression but didn't say a word.
"Today's the first day, so there won't be any actual lessons. Here. Select the subjects you want to study and fill out your details for the current curriculum."
With those words, the pi— ahem the teacher threw a stack of papers, which somehow landed magically on every student's desk.
Shey was a bit surprised, but after glancing down at the parchment and reading its contents, he couldn't help but grumble. He didn't understand a thing.
Other than his name and personal details, everything was unfamiliar territory.
***
Compulsory Subjects:
Weapon Mastery (of student choice), Meditation, Survival Strategy.
More subjects to choose from:
Zenesis Manipulation, Understanding of Zenesis, Ather Craft, Resistance Training, Sensory Training.
***
'Hmm… but is this it? Zenesis is most likely the equivalent of mana in this world. That doesn't mean it's a good idea to choose it... Well whatever happens. happens.'
Looking around, he saw people already jotting down words on their parchments with quills.
'Wait… how am I even supposed to write with a feather?'
Shey was, after all, completely unfamiliar with such things. But he had no choice. After some thought, he picked the quil, tilting it slightly as he decided it was better to start learning and understanding it now, he'll eventually get used to it.
Choosing the subjects Zenesis Manipulation and Understanding of Zenesis, Shey put the quil back.
After submitting it to the teacher, who only glanced at it once before losing interest, he returned to his seat. Before long, all the students had submitted their parchments, and the teacher announced, "Class dismissed!" before leaving.
Shey was getting up to leave, picking up his satchel, when—almost on cue—the brute was already standing in front of him.
Unexpectedly—or perhaps expectedly—the brute threw a punch with considerable force toward Shey.
Caught off guard, Shey took the blunt impact to the face, staggering back several steps and dropping his satchel. He clutched his cheeks, trying to regain his balance after the hit.
But the brute didn't stop. He came running toward Shey, ready to throw another punch. Shey quickly lifted his leg to stop him, but the brute grabbed it, yanking him off balance. Shey slipped and hit his head on the floor.
As the commotion grew, more students turned toward them, the room erupting into noise.
—Bang.
"Ohh get him!"
"A fight already?"
"Damn, that must've hurt—"
The shouts blended into a nauseating headache. Shey's head was still ringing from smashing into the floor, his vision blured like a busted lens. Before he could steady himself, the brute dropped his full weight on top of him, pinning him down and winding him a second time.
The finishing blow came swinging down, but Shey barely managed to block it with his forearms. Another punch followed. And another. And another. Each one rattled his bones.
'If this keeps going, I'm done for—'
His instincts finally snapped awake. He tried to rise but couldn't with the walking mountain pinning him in place.
So he did the only logical thing left.
He curled his hand into a fist... and absolutely obliterated the guy's balls.
One arm shielding his head, the other machine-gunning the dude's future lineage like he was trying to make sure the family tree ended right there on the classroom floor.
The brute's voice cracked into a sound no living creature should ever make. His entire face twisted, eyes bulging as his soul briefly left his body to file a complaint.
And Shey, dizzy and breathless, kept hitting.
Admid all that chaos, the commotion that had been building suddenly snapped into dead silence.
Every cheer, every shout, every laugh froze mid-air as dozens of eyes locked onto exactly where Shey was hitting.
A wave of horrified sympathy rippled through the room.
Someone quietly whispered, "Bro… his future…"
Another kid clutched his own crotch like a reflex.
Shey, breathing hard, pushed himself up, looking way too done with life for the very first day of school.
Without a shred of guilt, he stepped right over the guy, shoes stepping into both his balls and his face on the way.
Shey didn't even look back. He just grabbed his satchel, slung it over his shoulder, and left.