The next morning arrived with golden sunlight and the distant chirping of birds.
Keith woke first, as always.
He moved quietly through the dorm, preparing breakfast with practiced efficiency. The aroma of eggs and toast filled the small space, mingling with the warmth of the morning sun.
He was just finishing when he heard the soft creak of the upper bunk.
Maki descended lazily, still half-asleep.
She wore a loose sleeping shirt that hung off one shoulder, exposing her collarbone and a thin strip of her undergarments. Her silver hair was a complete mess, tangled and wild. Her eyes were barely open.
She shuffled toward the kitchen, completely unaware of her appearance.
"Yo."
Her voice was thick with sleep.
"Whatchu whipping?"
Keith turned, his face went red.
"Maki!"
She blinked slowly.
"...Huh?"
"Look at yourself!"
She looked down, her eyes widened. The shirt had slipped further than she realized, revealing more than it should.
"Ah!"
Her face turned crimson.
"Sorry!"
She spun and bolted to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Keith stood frozen, his heart pounding.
What am I gonna do with her?
He slapped his forehead.
This girl is going to be the death of me.
In the Bathroom Maki pressed her back against the wall, her chest heaving.
Damn it, old habits.
She pressed her hands against her burning cheeks.
But wait... why am I feeling embarrassed?
She frowned.
That was the part in anime where the guy gets slapped for no apparent reason.
She groaned.
I need to stop finding myself in romantic clichés.
She looked at her reflection.
I was a guy once. I shouldn't be this flustered.
But even as she thought it, her heart wouldn't stop racing.
In the Kitchen Keith stood motionless, his mind wandering.
Sometimes I forget that Maki is a noble.
He set the plates on the table.
I wonder what Akira would think?
A small smile crossed his face.
He'd definitely fall head over heels for her.
The smile faded.
Too bad for me.
He clenched his jaw.
I'm not having a girlfriend until I'm certain Akira is gone.
His hands tightened around the plates.
And I refuse to believe that I'm alone in this world.
Breakfast
Maki emerged from the bathroom fully dressed in her uniform. Her face was still slightly red, but she'd composed herself. She found the table already set.
Keith was sitting across from her, his expression neutral.
They ate in silence.
Awkward.
Heavy.
Maki finally spoke.
"Sorry. About before."
Keith looked up.
"Sorry about what exactly?"
"You know..." She gestured vaguely. "Me exposing myself like that. I wasn't trying to.."
Keith kept chewing.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Maki blinked.
"What?"
"Last thing I remember was you asking me what I was whipping."
He took another bite.
"Then you decided to go and change."
Maki stared at him.
He's... he's trying to protect me from my own embarrassment.
Her heart softened.
What a good guy.
She smiled.
"You're right. What am I talking about?"
She laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha."
She continued eating.
Keith hid a small smile behind his cup.
The Classroom
They made it to class on time.
After settling into their seats, Selena arrived with papers in her hands.
Her expression was sharp and dangerous.
"Alright, brats."
She dropped the stack onto her desk.
"We're having a pop quiz right now."
The classroom erupted.
"But the selection matches start in two days!"
"This is sudden!"
"I didn't study!"
Selena's aura flared.
BOOM!
The pressure silenced everyone instantly.
"Shut up!"
She glared at them.
"You brats are too arrogant."
She paced in front of the board.
"I want to gauge how much you know since most of you even stopped coming to class because of the upcoming festival."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I told you guys to prepare. But I hadn't yet given you the pass to skip my classes."
Everyone froze. No one dared to retort.
Keith was neutral.
A pop quiz, huh?
He looked at Maki.
"I shouldn't do too bad. You ready, Ma—ki?"
Maki was frozen, her mind was spiraling.
Damn it.
Tests aren't my thing. Even in my old life.
She stared at the desk.
But hey, it's a fantasy world. I should be able to pass something like that as a former otaku.
She forced a smile.
"I'm good."
Selena handed out the papers, the classroom fell dead silent.
"Yeah, that's right."
Selena's voice cut through the silence.
"You better be dead silent."
She sat at her desk.
"That only the rustling of pen on paper and your breathing should be heard."
The quiz began.
Keith read the first question.
"Explain the fundamental difference between elemental magic and spiritual force."
He smiled.
Easy.
He wrote quickly, his handwriting neat and precise.
Maki read the first question.
Her eyes widened.
...What?
She read it again.
What even is this?
She looked at the second question.
"Describe the three planes of the spirit realm and their inhabitants."
She froze.
What the heck is this? I remember she mentioned it once.
The quiz continued.
Ten questions.
Twenty minutes.
Keith finished early, he set his pen down and waited. Maki however, barely finished. She let out a breath.
Selena collected the papers.
"I'll have these graded by tomorrow."
She glanced around the room.
The classroom groaned.
Keith and Maki walked out together, the hallway already buzzing with students comparing answers and lamenting their fates.
"That was... something," Keith said.
Maki groaned.
"Something is one word for it."
She rubbed her temples.
"I think my brain is still melting."
Keith chuckled.
"It wasn't that bad."
Maki stopped walking. She turned to face him, her expression deadly serious.
"Keith."
"What?"
"Question seven."
He blinked.
"What about it?"
"'Explain the theoretical relationship between spiritual force and the soul's connection to the physical body.'"
She stared at him.
"I wrote 'it's complicated.'"
Keith burst out laughing.
"You didn't."
"I did."
"You actually wrote that?"
"In my defense, it IS complicated."
Keith laughed harder.
"I can't believe you."
Maki crossed her arms.
"Look, I'm not an academic, okay? I'm a fighter."
"You're a noble."
"So?"
"Nobles are supposed to be educated."
"I'm educated in things that matter."
"Like what?"
She grinned.
"Like how to beat people up."
Keith shook his head, still laughing.
"You're impossible."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Still counts."
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
Classes continued, lectures were endured. And by the time the final bell rang, both Keith and Maki were exhausted. They walked back to the dorm in comfortable silence. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold.
Maki stretched her arms above her head.
"I'm starving."
"You're always starving."
"Food is life."
"That's not how it works."
"It is for me."
Keith sighed.
"I'll cook something."
Maki's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"You're the best."
"I know."
She bumped his shoulder.
"Don't let it get to your head."
"Too late."
Back at the dorm Keith prepared dinner while Maki sat at the table, watching him.
She rested her chin on her hand.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"You're really good at cooking."
"Thanks."
"Like, really good."
"I heard you the first time."
Maki smiled.
"Just saying."
Keith glanced at her.
"You're weirdly complimentary today."
"I'm always complimentary."
"You're always annoying."
"Same thing."
Keith laughed.
"I walked into that one."
When dinner was ready they ate in comfortable silence. The dorm felt warm.
Safe.
Like home.
Maki looked at Keith. He was focused on his food, his expression calm and content.
She smiled.
He looks happy.
She looked down at her plate.
I'm happy too.
Her smile faded slightly.
Is this... okay?
She pushed the thought away.
Don't think about it.
She took another bite.
Just enjoy the moment.
After dinner, they sat on their respective beds. Keith was reading, Maki was staring at the ceiling.
Silence.
Comfortable.
Familiar silence.
Then—
"Keith."
"Hm?"
She didn't look at him.
"Do you think... the selection matches will be hard?"
He set his book down.
"Probably."
She nodded.
"Are you nervous?"
"...A little."
She turned her head.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
He looked at her.
"But I'm not going to let it stop me."
She smiled.
"Good."
The next morning arrived with a sense of dread hanging over the Elite Classroom.
Students filed in slowly, their faces a mixture of confidence and barely concealed terror. The nobles walked with their chins held high, their expensive uniforms immaculate, their laughter echoing through the halls. The commoners moved quietly, keeping their heads down, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might decide to make their day worse.
Keith and Maki walked in together, as always. Maki was unusually quiet and Keith noticed.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"...You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You're definitely lying."
Maki forced a smile.
"I'm fine, Keith. Really."
Keith studied her face. Her eye twitched, the he sighed.
"...You flunked the quiz, didn't you?"
Maki's smile froze.
"...What?"
"You flunked the quiz."
"I didn't—"
"You did."
"Keith."
"Maki."
They stared at each other. Maki looked away first.
"...We'll discuss this later."
Keith smirked.
"Sure we will."
Shortly the classroom door slammed open.
BANG!
Selena walked in, a stack of papers in her arms.
Her expression was not happy, not happy at all.
The classroom fell silent instantly.
Conversations died.
Laughter stopped.
Even the nobles straightened in their seats.
Selena walked to her desk and dropped the papers onto it with a heavy thud.
"Alright, ya brats."
She folded her arms.
"Here are your quiz results."
The classroom held its breath.
"Class rep."
Ivys straightened.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hand them out."
Ivys stood, walking to the front of the room.
Selena handed him the stack.
He began distributing them, one by one.
The room erupted into chaos.
"YES!"
"Finally!"
"Wait... what?"
"I FAILED?!"
"No way!"
"How did I get a passing score?!"
"I STUDIED FOR THREE HOURS!"
"THREE HOURS? I STUDIED FOR THREE DAYS!"
"Then how did you fail?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
Some students cheered.
Some were disappointed.
Some were devastated.
Some were already planning their excuses.
Keith received his paper and looked at it, then blinked. Then looked again.
"...Wow."
He stared at the number at the top.
"87."
He smiled.
"I did surprisingly well."
He turned toward Maki.
"What about... you?"
Maki was sitting perfectly still, her face was pale and her smile was forced. Her hands were trembling slightly.
"..."
The paper was face-down on her desk. She hadn't looked at it, Keith raised an eyebrow.
"...Maki?"
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you going to look at your paper?"
"...I already know."
"You already know?"
"Yep."
"You haven't even looked at it."
"I know."
"Then how do you know?"
"I just know."
"That's not how it works."
"It is for me."
Keith stared at her.
"...Maki."
"...Yes?"
"What did you get?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Maki."
"I said I don't want to talk about it."
"Show me the paper."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Because I don't want to."
"That's not a reason."
"It is for me."
Keith sighed.
Then Selena's voice cut through the chaos.
"Alright, for the most part, most of you did terrible."
The classroom murmured. Some groaned, some laughed nervously.
"The whole purpose of this pop quiz was to make the school term's exam lighter for you by occupying 50% of your score."
More murmurs.
"So those who haven't done as well..."
She smiled, a very dangerous smile.
"...you're fried."
The classroom erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"THAT'S UNFAIR!"
"HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW?!"
"You should've studied!" Selena snapped.
"YOU DIDN'T TELL US!"
"Life doesn't give you warnings!"
"THIS IS AN ACADEMY!"
"And I'm your instructor!"
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN—"
"ENOUGH!"
BOOM!
Selena's aura flared, silencing everyone instantly.
"Give me a minute."
She turned and walked out. The door clicked shut.
The moment the door closed, the classroom exploded.
"Did she just—"
"She did!"
"I'm doomed!"
"I'm not!"
"How did you pass?!"
"I studied!"
"When?!"
"Last night!"
"You had one night!"
"That's all I needed!"
Keith turned back to Maki and smiled, holding up his paper.
"87."
Maki didn't respond.
He frowned.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Then what did you get?"
She didn't answer.
"Nice. Does that mean I'm settled for 40 in my finals? Sweet."
He looked at her again, she was silent. Her face was still pale, her smile was still forced.
Of course I flunked.
She stared at the paper.
Typical Akira. I was supposed to be better here but nope.
She bit her lip.
How am I supposed to show this to Keith?
"Maki."
Keith's voice was suspicious.
"Don't tell me you flunked that bad."
Maki winced.
"You can say that."
Her voice sounded guilty though she didn't show him her paper.
"Show it to me."
Maki shook her head.
"No."
"Maki."
"No way. You'll laugh at me."
"What? I'd never."
"You don't sound convincing."
"Maki."
"No."
Keith faced the opposite direction.
"Oh wow, the food at the cafeteria tastes good lately, so I've heard."
Maki's ear twitched.
Damn it he got me. My only weakness is keeping me away from his cooking.
She gritted her teeth.
"...Fine."
She turned the paper over.
"But just don't laugh, okay?"
"Sure."
She handed him the paper. Keith looked at it and paused, his expression flickered. A little giggle escaped him.
Maki's face turned red.
"Was that a giggle I just heard?!"
Keith covered his mouth.
"No."
"You did! You giggled!"
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did!"
"I was... coughing."
"Coughing?! That was a giggle!"
Keith looked at the paper again.
"Damn, girl."
Maki froze.
Damn, girl?
"Seems like the daughter of House Eldridge ain't so perfect."
Maki's brain short-circuited.
Damn, girl. He said damn girl.
And he sounded... cool.
She covered her face with her hands.
"...Someone kill me."
Keith laughed.
"Alright, you need to study more."
"You'll help me out, right?"
Maki uncovered her face. Her eyes were wide and her voice was desperate.
Keith shrugged.
"Hell nah. I got my own shit to do."
Maki grabbed his arm.
"PLEASE!"
"Whoa—!"
She shook him.
"I'm begging you!"
"Maki—!"
Maki forgot where she was, she forgot who she was, she forgot that she was supposed to be a girl.
She was just Akira—desperate, panicked, and completely hopeless.
"KEITH, PLEASE! I'M DYING! I'M FAILING!"
"NO YOU'RE NOT!"
"BUT—!"
"MAKI, STOP!"
Some students turned to look. Ivys raised an eyebrow and Linna grinned.
Keith's face was bright red.
Damn it.
Akira used to bother me just like this when he flunked.
He swallowed.
Crap.
Now I miss him.
Maki realized what she was doing and her face turned crimson.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
She let go, pulling back quickly.
"I don't know what came over me!"
Keith looked away.
"F-Fine."
Then Maki spoke.
"Come on, Keith. Help a brother out."
Her voice was high-pitched.
Pleading.
Cute.
Keith froze.
"..."
"...A brother?"
Maki's eyes widened.
Shit!
Why did I say that?!
"Sister! I meant help a sister out!"
She laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Damn it. I hope he doesn't think I'm weird.
She paused.
Wait.
Why do I care so much?
Keith stared at her.
"...Sure."
He paused.
"That was weird."
He thinks I'm weird.
Maki's smile cracked.
"I'll help you study, cool?"
Her face lit up.
"Yeah! Thanks, man!"
The door opened and Selena walked back in.
"Oh right."
She stopped at her desk.
"The selection matches begin tomorrow."
The classroom fell silent.
"Students participating will be called to fight each other at random. In different arenas. It'll be like a mini tournament to pick our best six."
She glanced at the papers in her hand.
"Lots of you will be participating, so we've divided how we'll be hosting the matches."
She lifted the papers.
"For the next two weeks, we'll be having three matches a day."
The students murmured.
"Three matches?!"
"Every day?!"
"Each student will fight once in two days in the arena you'll be called in."
She continued.
"You can be called to fight either mid-morning, at noon, or by sunset."
She paused.
"The calling is random."
More murmurs.
"Random?!"
"That's unfair!"
"That's how it works!"
"And for the next two weeks, there won't be any lessons."
The classroom erupted.
"NO LESSONS?!"
"YES!"
"THAT'S AMAZING!"
"I CAN FINALLY SLEEP!"
"FINALLY!"
"I'M FREE!"
Selena's death glare silenced them instantly.
"As I was saying."
She folded her arms.
"Students and teachers will have to be witnesses to these selection matches."
Everyone nodded.
"Next is the caution."
Her voice became serious.
"You must keep in mind that death is not prohibited in the selection matches."
The classroom froze.
"Death?"
"What?"
"Did she say death?"
"No... she said death isn't prohibited?"
"I can die?"
"I can KILL?"
Some students went pale while others smiled dangerously.
Selena continued.
"If you're too stubborn to give up, you might die."
She looked around the room.
"So know when to surrender."
Some nobles glanced toward Keith and their eyes were sharp.
Keith pretended not to notice.
Great.
Just what I needed.
Selena nodded.
"Anyways, one last thing."
The students waited.
"Students who failed my quiz but make it through the selection matches will be granted a pass."
Maki's ear twitched.
She sat up.
"Wait really?"
"Yes."
Selena smiled.
"Plus a full pass on your finals if you win the festival."
Maki's eyes widened. She grabbed Keith's arm again.
"Keith."
Her voice was fierce.
"We have a mission."
Keith looked at her.
"To win the selection matches."
She nodded.
"And the festival."
Keith sighed.
"...And I thought I was done with all this."
"You're never done."
"Great."
Maki grinned.
"Welcome to the team, partner."
Keith smiled despite himself.
"...Partner."
He looked at her.
"I like that."
Maki blinked.
Her cheeks warmed.
"...Good."
She looked away quickly.
"Because you don't have a choice."
The Adventurer's Guild — Eldridge Domain
At the far end of the Eldridge domain, where the cobblestone roads gave way to dirt paths and the grand estates faded into modest taverns, stood a tall building.
The Adventurer's Guild.
It was a place of noise and chaos—adventurers shouting, coins changing hands, quests being posted and claimed. The smell of ale and sweat hung in the air, mingling with the ever-present scent of leather and steel.
But today, the atmosphere was different.
Today, the guild was in an uproar.
"Have you heard?"
A group of adventurers huddled around a table, their voices low and urgent.
"Heard what?"
"Someone—or something—has been killing monsters in dungeons and leaving the valuables behind."
"What?!"
"Yeah. They've killed A-rank monsters in what looks like a single blow."
"That's impossible."
"I'm serious. The guild's been getting reports for weeks."
Another adventurer joined the conversation.
"So adventurers are bringing back the remains of the battles?"
"Exactly."
"But why hunt monsters in the first place?"
"That's the scary part."
The first adventurer leaned closer.
"No one knows why."
The murmurs spread through the guild like wildfire.
"Who could do something like that?"
"Maybe it's a rogue mage?"
"Or a monster that hunts other monsters?"
"Don't be stupid."
"I'm just saying!"
Among the adventurers stood one who had been silent.
He wore a black cloak, his face hidden beneath a deep hood. His posture was tense, his hands clenched at his sides.
He had been listening.
And he had come to a conclusion.
"Shadow Knight."
His voice cut through the noise, the guild fell silent.
Adventurers turned to look at him.
"Shadow Knight?"
"What?"
"Who said that?"
The cloaked figure raised his head.
His eyes were cold.
His expression was twisted with barely contained rage.
"She's the one responsible."
The murmurs grew louder.
"Shadow Knight!"
"The fiend that attacked the Einsworth boy!"
"Yeah, she should be caught for unauthorized raiding!"
"She's a criminal!"
"A vigilante!"
"A monster!"
The cloaked figure listened to the chaos.
Then—
He smiled, a dark, dangerous smile.
I'll find her.
His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
And I'll make her pay for humiliating me.
The Guild Master's Office
Above the chaos of the main hall, a quiet room overlooked the guild.
It was a simple office—a desk, a few chairs, shelves lined with books and documents. The window offered a view of the bustling streets below.
Behind the desk sat an older man.
His hair was grey, his face weathered by years of adventuring. His eyes were sharp—the eyes of someone who had seen too much and survived too much.
This was Oliver.
Across from him stood a man of striking appearance.
He was tall, with silver hair that fell past his shoulders and eyes the color of storm clouds. His coat was dark, embroidered with symbols of lightning.
Lord Tonitriss.
A noble of the Tempest family. A man of considerable power and a man who had seen things that troubled him deeply.
"Lord Tonitriss."
Oliver's voice was steady.
"What are we going to do about this current situation?"
Tonnitris was quiet for a moment, then he spoke.
"The reports have noted something... unusual."
Oliver leaned forward.
"Unusual how?"
"The monsters that were killed."
Tonnitris's expression darkened.
"Some were completely diced and splattered everywhere. Clean cuts—like they'd been sliced by invisible blades."
Oliver nodded.
"That sounds like advanced wind magic."
"Possibly."
"But others were killed with sword slashes."
"Sword slashes?"
"Yes. Precise, efficient, almost surgical."
Tonnitris paused.
"And others... possibly magic."
Oliver frowned.
"So we're dealing with someone who uses multiple techniques?"
"It appears so."
Tonnitris paused again.
"But something was off about some of the monsters."
Oliver's eyes narrowed.
"...Off how?"
Tonnitris met his gaze.
"It appears that the perpetrator seems to eat some of the monsters they hunt."
Silence.
Oliver stared at him.
"...What?"
"Some of the monster corpses were... incomplete. Parts were missing. Flesh, organs—things that would normally be discarded."
"That's... that's insane."
"I know."
"Why would anyone eat monsters?"
"That's what I asked myself."
Tonnitris walked toward the window.
"Monsters taste horrible. Not to mention they're toxic to humans."
"Exactly."
Tonnitris looked out at the city below.
"But you know what, Oliver?"
"What?"
The noble's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not entirely certain about this Shadow Knight."
He turned back.
"The same figure who showed herself only once is our only suspect."
Oliver nodded slowly.
"And she could be potentially dangerous."
"Dangerous enough to kill A-rank monsters in a single blow."
"Which means she's either incredibly powerful..."
Tonnitris finished.
"...or she's using something we don't understand."
Oliver leaned back in his chair.
"What do you suggest?"
Tonnitris was quiet for a moment.
Then—
"We need to find her."
"And then?"
"If she's simply a rogue adventurer... we can bring her in for questioning."
"And if she's not?"
Tonnitris didn't answer but his expression was enough.
"Send word to the Adventurer's Guild branches across the kingdom."
Tonnitris's voice was cold.
"Inform them of the Shadow Knight. She is to be captured on sight."
"And if she resists?"
Tonnitris looked at him.
"Then she is to be eliminated."
Oliver frowned.
"You're talking about killing a potential innocent."
"Are we sure she's innocent?"
Oliver paused.
"...No."
"Then we can't take any chances."