Tokiwadai Middle School, located within the School Garden of Academy City's School District 7, is one of Academy City's top five elite schools and one of the most prestigious private noble girls' schools in the world. The school only has a middle division, adopts an elite education policy, and has about 200 students. Judgment's 3rd Branch is also established here.
Welcomed personally by the Tokiwadai principal, Selene waved goodbye to Therestina and Kihara Amata.
You might wonder why Selene was so polite to the two villains, Therestina and Kihara Amata. On one hand, it was etiquette; on the other, they had no conflicting interests with her. On the way, Kihara Amata had properly apologized for his previous attitude.
Besides, there would be times in the future when she could make use of them—there was no need to fall out with them now.
As she stepped onto Tokiwadai's campus, the principal walked alongside her, thanking her for choosing Tokiwadai Middle School while also introducing the school's background.
The dormitory arranged for Selene was not like Misaka Mikoto's, which was located in the student dorms of School District 7's Tokiwadai Middle School. Instead, hers was a private single suite within the School Garden itself. Room number: 1A101.
Spanning over 500 square meters, it was extremely luxurious. In addition to the basic bedroom and bathroom, the suite included a study, exercise room, cinema, cloakroom, living room, and a private garden terrace of 100 square meters, complete with an indoor pool. The garden was isolated from other private areas and maintained daily by staff.
Even so, the principal was still worried that Selene might not be satisfied. He assured her that if she had any complaints, the school would immediately arrange for a replacement.
After completing the admission procedures, Selene sat on the sofa in her dormitory's living room, rubbing her forehead with a sigh. "This is way too much... It's making me feel embarrassed. Am I here to study, or to live like royalty?"
Selene had underestimated the enormous benefits that came with being the first Level 5 spatial esper and bearing the Habsburg family name.
First, spatial abilities were rare in any world. Academy City currently had just over fifty spatial-type espers, and among them, those capable of moving multiple objects numbered barely over a dozen.
Second, her surname was the icing on the cake. In Japan's rigidly stratified society, one's birth status largely determined one's future.
...
School District 7's center—the Windowless Building.
Kihara Amata stood before the cylindrical life-support capsule, gazing at Aleister Crowley, who hung upside down within, and spoke in a low voice.
"Selene von Habsburg's ability test report has been released. Level 5 spatial manipulation. Her aptitude evaluation: even as a Gemstone, she possesses the potential to reach the legendary Level 6—Absolute Power—and with extremely high probability."
The aptitude evaluation was top-secret information known only to Academy City's upper echelon: every person subjected to ability development actually had a fixed "aptitude." The extent to which their ability could grow was predetermined. The saying "as long as you work hard, your ability can evolve" was nothing more than a lie.
"Oh? Such a high evaluation? Then her spatial ability isn't just ordinary real-space transfer—she may very well be able to connect to imaginary space... No! She might already be connected to imaginary space!"
Seeing the rarely displayed emotional fluctuation in the Director's expression, Kihara Amata was greatly shocked. He silently resolved never to provoke Selene.
"The news that Selene von Habsburg is a Level 5 spatial manipulation esper can be made public. As for resource allocation, set it temporarily at 60 times that of a Level 4."
Since there had been no Level 5 espers before, Academy City's subsidy standards were still under discussion and had no fixed precedent.
After Kihara Amata left the building, Aleister fell into contemplation. How should he win her over?
If Selene's spatial mastery truly extended to controlling imaginary space, then her growth potential was extraordinarily high. Reaching the level of a Magic God might not be difficult.
"Perhaps I should meet her in person."
...
With the news of the first Level 5's emergence broadcast across radio and television...
The entire Academy City began to stir beneath the surface.
School District 10, in a secluded corner.
A thin figure with white hair and red eyes, wearing a black T-shirt with white patterns, glared at the monitor with a gaze filled with both killing intent and madness. "Tch, Level 5? What are those guys upstairs doing?! The application procedures are this slow?! And this newcomer snatched the first slot! How irritating!"
School District 15, a luxury hotel.
A brown-haired boy in a fine purple suit sat on the sofa of a deluxe suite, watching the news about Selene on TV. "Tch, it's just that she got ahead a bit."
School District 2, the Clone Dolly Workshop.
A weak girl with medium-length brown hair, dressed in a black vest, looked at the TV showing Selene confidently stepping out of the car.
The TV host announced at the right time: "Level 5 'Will of Honkai,' Miss Selene von Habsburg, has enrolled in Tokiwadai Middle School. Now broadcasting live footage."
The screen shifted, showing Selene entering the campus surrounded by the Tokiwadai principal and others.
"So that's the legendary Level 5? I really want to see her... what a pity..." Dolly muttered, watching Selene's grand entrance with envy and longing in her eyes.
Beside her, a girl with honey-colored long hair, a slender waist, long limbs, and delicate features comforted her softly. "It'll be fine, Dolly. You'll definitely get your chance."
...
With Selene's arrival, the calm surface of Academy City began to ripple.
The next day.
Selene put on her issued summer uniform: a white short-sleeved shirt layered with a sleeveless beige V-neck knitted vest, red stripes near the neckline parallel to the collar, and the school emblem embroidered on the left chest. Her short gray pleated skirt reached mid-thigh, revealing the smooth line of her legs under thin black tights that hugged her skin neatly before ending above her brown uniform shoes.
"Mm, I do look a bit more like a student now."
As expected of Tokiwadai, the ace among top-tier schools, its curriculum was vastly different from her past life's schools. Besides the basics like languages, the lessons included advanced scientific knowledge, home economics, cooking, music, etiquette... the kind of courses that looked more like a university program.
Her scalp tingled. "Is this really what middle schoolers study? What a headache."
But remembering a cautionary tale, Selene resolved to study diligently. She couldn't end up like Sirin, who had six Herrscher Cores yet failed to fully unleash their power due to lacking knowledge.
Even if she was going to grow arrogant, it would be with real substance.
...
Later, Selene arrived at her classroom. Before long, the room was full.
The bell rang. Though everyone was curious about this new Level 5, their proper upbringing kept them silent, waiting.
Tap tap tap...
The echo of high heels rang through the hallways. A middle-aged woman in a black uniform walked in.
Without introducing herself, she went straight to the lesson.
"Turn to page 40 of your textbook."
"Today, we will study Newton's laws of motion..."
...
After classes ended, Selene waved goodbye to her new classmates. She declined several invitations to join clubs. On her way back to the dormitory, she suddenly realized she hadn't properly explored Academy City yet. Deciding immediately, she changed direction and walked out of the School Garden.
Strolling along the streets of School District 7, with cleaning and security robots everywhere, she soaked in the lively atmosphere. Her mood lightened.
Suddenly, she recalled a joke from her past life: Academy City had 2.3 million people, of which 80% were students—the rest were delinquents and other folks.
Leaning on the railing of a pedestrian bridge, Selene thought maliciously, "Huh, why hasn't any delinquent come to mess with me yet? I'm all alone here."
But then she reconsidered. The City had just broadcasted the news of her becoming a Level 5, and her distinctive looks made her easily recognizable. If a thug still dared to pick a fight, they must've just "gotten internet in the countryside."
Without the "starter encounter" that every transmigrator seemed to go through, Selene felt a bit bored. So she picked a café with a wide view. "Time to drink coffee and people-watch."
That morning, her Academy City scholarship had already been deposited—a nine-digit balance. Even if it was yen, it was more than enough to cover her expenses.
Night fell. From the café window, the city's lights replaced the sun, neon signs glowing everywhere.
Checking the time, Selene stretched, tidied her slightly wrinkled clothes, and got up. "Time to head back."
After paying the bill, she stepped out and instantly teleported back to the school gate.
Since she didn't live in the student dorms, she had no chance to meet the legendary dorm supervisor—the one rumored to have beaten a Level 4 barehanded and scared a Level 5 to tears.
"Never mind, not important. Sleep time."
And so, Selene's first day at Tokiwadai Middle School came to an end.