Noctis Academy was more like a luxurious estate than an actual school.
High-rising structures served the purpose of classes and dorms.
Smaller standalone buildings served as gyms, cafes and other necessary centres.
But even in ICUWSA, there was a myth, though never elaborated on, about a place in the farthest reach of western Noctis at the back of an abandoned skyscraper that looked normal from the front.
There is said to be a small passage, similar to a gutter or a poorly managed alleyway.
When you enter through that narrow part, you can see the crumbling part of the skyscraper from behind, and if you go even deeper through the endless darkness, you will be met by a large Gothic castle.
The area from the path to the castle was given the name 'the gutter'.
[Kai, are we really doing it?]
'What other choice do we have?'
[I guess so, but this is really disgusting.]
Kai's face twisted as he looked at the path he was meant to follow.
A handkerchief was already tied around his lower face.
The smell of faeces, ammonia, decayed corpses and more nauseating odours that Kai couldn't comprehend.
Kai braced himself. One step, then another.
He slowly made his way to the narrow passage; as he got close to the entrance, he came to a halt.
'Hey Alpha, can I ask you something?'
[Yes]
'Just wanted to know if perhaps in a fight I lose my vision, can you direct me?'
[I guess so, but why do you ask?... No way right..]
*********
Before ten minutes was over, Kai had traversed his way through the gutter path, even though his eyes were shut the whole journey.
He now stood in a clearer and larger space.
The air was cool, and the initial odour had vanished replaced by the fading smell of spring.
'Thanks, Alpha.'
[Damn you!]
'Cursing isn't good.'
[Tsk.]
Kai smiled slightly; he was still slightly pale and nauseous due to the corrosive odour of the path.
'Will I have to pass here every day?'
Only the thought of such a life sent shivers down his spine.
'Better get a high rank fast.'
He swiped his hands summoning his window, his eyes concentrated on his second sub-mission.
'Less than two hours.'
Kai sighed, looking up at the large old castle.
The gothic structure was reminiscent of old Victorian times.
A large arched castle with large windows of stained glass, vertically long towers by its side, intricate carvings and ornaments with an old brown colour.
"Going with a grandiose look, aren't they?"
Slowly he made his way to the gate leading to the castle.
It was haunting like something could rush out and attack him like there was always danger lurking somewhere.
"Well, that isn't creepy." He muttered.
Surveying the surroundings with each step, he soon made his way through the stone-paved courtyard and into the main building.
'SCREEK'
The door of the building opened slowly as he entered.
Stone walls plastered with something that felt alien, tiled floors, open-beamed roofs, large windows, and a stairway that lay right in front of him.
[Who made such a creepy house.... And in the outskirts at that.]
'Tell me about it.' He paused, glancing around the room before walking up the stairs. 'My room is on the second floor, right?'
[Yeah, we better start the sub-mission; wouldn't want you to die on me yet.]
Kai exhaled heavily. "Exercise, huh?"
*********
[92.... 93....94.... You can do it... Fighting]
Kai's heavy breathing was the only sound that could be heard in the empty building.
One bed, a sofa, a reading desk with a gas lantern, creaking of the wooden floorboards, and a figure who was moving his whole body up and down.
[99.... 100… There we did it.]
'Who the hell is we?'
[Hey, I was supporting you... I'm your greatest supporter.]
"Hah."
Kai's entire body hurt; he could barely keep his consciousness, his entire body ached, breathing ragged, and cold sweat endlessly streamed down.
'Fraud, all those who tell people this is easy are frauds.'
Kai leaned on the wall, slowly closing his eyes; he was tired and needed some rest.
'Some food and water would be good right about now.'
As weakness slowly took over his body, the sound of the system rang in his head.
YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR SECOND SUB-MISSION.
APPRAISING REWARDS.
'Rewards? Was there any reward for the task?'
[Seems like it's meant to be something random.]
-------
-- YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MARTIAL TEXT ON 'STRANGERS SWORD DANCE'.
-- YOU HAVE RECEIVED FIVE HEALTH POTIONS.
-- YOU HAVE RECEIVED FIVE STAMINA POTIONS.
DEAR ASPIRING MAGE, I WISH YOU SUCCESS ON TOMORROW'S TASK.
'Tsk.'
Kai didn't know if he should be happy or devastated.
He now had a cheat system that gave him things like health potions that were expensive in the actual world and also martial texts that he had never heard of before.
'Does that mean I will be going through this hell every day?'
[You are meant to be happy; just imagine how much aura you will have with a pretty face and a masculine physique...]
[Doesn't that make you want to run another ten kilometres around this haunted building?]
'No... I will pass... Do I look like a masochist to you?'
[Honestly... Yeah]
'Hah.'
Ignoring Alpha's words, he concentrated on the thought of a yellow potion.
In an instant it formed in his hands; without even waiting a second, he gulped it down.
Summoning the second one, he repeated the actions twice before stopping.
Exhaling heavily, he fell to the ground and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Even with the stamina potion, he couldn't help but feel weak; his knee trembled as if his bones were giving out, his breath was still shallow, and his heart sounded more like a war drum.
"Can you call me in one hour?"
[Yes, but why?]
"Just a little nap."
Before Alpha could say another word, Kai was already fast asleep.
******
'I told you one hour.'
[You were so fast asleep I couldn't just wake you.]
Kai sighed, walking past a group of students who turned and looked at him with disdain. "Just hope the canteen isn't full."
"Is he talking to himself?" A muscular body said as he crossed Kai.
"How can someone with such a pretty face be so miserable?" One of the girls with dark purple hair said, facing the boy and another of her friends.
"I, for one, don't mind any of it; I can even take him in if he agrees to do whatever I say; just see his face." The girl with blond hair commented.
[What are these extras even saying?]
"Hey, I called dips on him first." The purple-haired girl retorted.
"Hah, as if. The big ladies of the academy already have their eyes on him."
"Such a shame, but we can still share."
The masculine boy sent Kai a sharp glare.
'Hey, don't stare at me; they're the ones talking crap.'
[Kai, let's kill them.]
'Cool down, Alpha; we will likely get killed or, worse, turn into people's playthings.'
[And whose fault do you think it is?]
'Mine.' He answered reluctantly.
[Yes, so just get your food and head back; we have to finish our breathing training and learn the sword art.]
[Maybe we might be lucky enough to get a reasonable teacher tomorrow.]
'No more Neko sensei.'
[What's your obsession with that weird feline.]
'You haven't seen her with glasses; that's why.'
[Tsk... As if you have…]
'Many times, actually.'
Kai moved to an empty corner store. No one was around the area, nor did they visit it, at least not yet.
The owner of the shop's food was said to be one of the tastiest throughout the entire ICUWSA.
And soon became the meeting and resting point for the main cast. But now it belonged to Kai.
[You are really sinister and vengeful… you know that, right?]
Kai let out a soft chuckle. 'This is just the beginning, Matthew Von Silver.'
[... Wrong genre]
'What are you even saying...'
The sound of soft footsteps invaded Kai's thoughts, causing him to return to reality.
A beautiful woman in her middle forties, wearing an apron over a black shirt and blue jeans.
A little birthmark beneath her green-coloured eye and long black hair tied in a ponytail.
"You're a student of Noctis." She added something that shook Kai. "Two actually; are you a couple?"
Kai quickly turned to see the figure who could sneak up behind him without any sound.
And as he thought, it was her, the main heroine and possibly the most beautiful person in the entire ICUWSA.
'Cordelia Blackwood'