After stepping out of the small room, Mario was immediately greeted by a young man in a neat academy uniform, a badge marked with an "E" and "II" adorning his chest.
Approaching him, Mario politely asked, "Are you the one who will guide me?"
The young man nodded and extended a bag toward him.
Mario glanced inside. There was a white watch with dark blue straps—the same model his simulated self had used, though this one appeared more refined, with a small "E" crest on the strap.
Beneath it were three sets of academy uniforms in different color schemes: white with gold and blue, black with red and gold, and gray trimmed with gold. Resting on top were three small black badges, each bearing the letter "E."
He took the watch and fastened it around his right wrist.
Noticing this, the young man finally spoke.
"That watch functions like a mobile phone, but unlike a regular one, it's specifically designed to receive updates about Elyndor Academy—such as competitions, events, and announcements. You can also link your card to it for convenient payments."
"Just scan the card using the camera." He gestured toward the small lens on the side of the watch.
Mario nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
"Now, follow me. I'll guide you to your assigned quarters."
---
"This is where you will be staying during your seven years in Elyndor Academy, and you will be sharing it with a few others as your roommates," the young man said as he stopped in front of a large house.
"You will share the room, but don't worry—the house has separate bathrooms based on the number of its occupants, and there is also a backyard in case you want to train." The young man paused and hesitated slightly. "But if you want a private room, do your best in the test."
Hearing that, Mario was slightly intrigued and politely asked, "A test?"
The young man nodded. "I won't explain much, but it is something every new student undergoes."
With that, he turned away.
'A test, huh…' Mario remained where he was, his gaze lingering on the young man's retreating back for a few moments.
The test was something that had never happened to his simulated self when he attended one of the eight academies. There, cultivation training had begun immediately, without delay.
'I wonder what its purpose could be?' He lightly shook his head, dismissing the thought for now.
He opened the small gate and halted in front of the door.
'Seven years… with other people…' As the thought surfaced, a memory from his latest simulation followed—his simulated self's roommates, and the seven years of 'peace' they had spent together.
'Would they be the same… or worse?'
He eventually shook his head and clamped the long briefcase to his left arm, then slowly reached for the door handle.
'I suppose it doesn't really matter.'
With a twist he pushed the door open.
The moment he entered, four pairs of eyes immediately turned in his direction.
Five young men were already inside.
Mario ignored the four pairs of eyes watching him and closed the door behind him. A loud voice suddenly rang out.
"Finally! The last guy is here!"
He turned to look and saw three young men walking toward him.
A frown subconsciously appeared on his face as he readied his guard, just in case the same thing that had happened to his simulated self happened to him.
The three young men stopped at the center of the room, and the one in the middle took a short step forward and spoke. "Well then, since all of us will be staying in the same house for a month, let's get along, shall we?"
The young man, wearing an expensive-looking black jacket, with black hair, black pupils, and a slightly more muscular build than Mario, continued, "And what could be a better way for men to get along than introducing ourselves and our..."
He paused, his calm and serious expression shifting into a playful grin. "...preferences in women."
"I'm Jacob," he said, introducing himself first before turning and pointing at the two young men beside him. "They're Mike and Ron."
Jacob immediately leaned closer to Mike, his grin widening as his voice took on a playful edge. "Mike here likes women with a big chest, a pretty face, and a slim body."
"...Truly a man of culture."
The young man wearing a brown leather jacket, with brown hair and hazel eyes—the same build but slightly taller than Mario—named Mike didn't deny it. He simply smirked, pride glinting in his eyes.
Jacob then turned to the other young man beside him, clicked his tongue, and said, disappointment plastered across his face, "This one is the pickiest among us three… His preference is light-skinned women who are smaller than him and have a big chest, or so he says."
After saying that, Jacob shook his head exaggeratedly and let out a heavy sigh, as if he were a father disappointed in his son.
The young man wearing a leather coat, with black hair and black eyes—the same height as Mario but with a leaner build—named Ron didn't react much and simply shrugged, clearly accustomed to such remarks.
Jacob finally pointed at himself, shrugging exaggeratedly. "As for me? Unlike those two, I'm not picky. I believe in the saying that one shouldn't be picky, especially with women."
He then turned toward a thin-looking, pale young man standing nearby, closer to a bunk bed.
Looking at him, Jacob couldn't help but furrow his brows, and for the first time, his playful expression disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful one. "Pale skin, thin body, and… muscular arms?"
Then, as if realizing something, he looked at him more closely and asked with some hesitation, "Um… did you overdo it?"
The thin young man frowned, confusion evident in his eyes. "What?"
"I mean…" Jacob gestured with his right hand, jerking it up and down.
Mike, seeing and understanding Jacob's gesture, immediately laughed out loud, while Ron simply shook his head.
'What the f**k?' The thin young man frowned before carefully studying Jacob, noting that Jacob was more muscular than him.
He paused, swallowed his irritation, and then spoke calmly. "I'm Liam."
Mario, as usual, remained composed, his gaze shifting to the thin young man as he studied him intently.
The young man's clothes were simple, yet looked new. He stood no taller than Mario's nose, his frame thin, almost frail at first glance, and his skin pale.
Mario's eyes then drifted to his arms. Just as Jacob had mentioned, they were slightly muscular—surprisingly so given his slight build.
From that alone, Mario realized something.
They might be the same—or at least closer in status than most of the others in the room.
Earlier, while following the academy guide, he had seen many new students. Most wore expensive clothing; some even carried long briefcases similar to his own. The difference had seemed clear enough that he had briefly assumed he might be the only one here without backing or status.
Now, that assumption wavered.
The young man named Liam didn't realize he was being carefully observed by Mario as he continued, "…and I prefer someone slightly mature."
"Boring…" Jacob muttered under his breath.
Ron glanced at Liam but stayed silent, his expression indifferent.
Meanwhile, Mike stopped laughing. He looked at Liam with the recognition of one seeing a kindred spirit and even gave a thumbs-up, accompanied by a small smile.
Jacob and Mike then turned toward the young man lying on the bed, eyes closed. Handsome and sharply dressed, his expensive clothes clearly tailored, he exuded an effortless presence. Atop his chest lay a small, fierce-looking dog, calm yet strangely commanding.
"…And you?" they asked simultaneously. Jacob's voice remained loud, but Mike, taking in the young man's attire, unconsciously lowered his tone.
The handsome youth stirred. His face tightened slightly before his eyes slowly opened, fixing Jacob and Mike with a sharp, piercing gaze that made Mike flinch.
"I'm Kaelen Solaris," he said coolly. "The only heir of the Solaris Clan."
Without another word, he closed his eyes again.
Hearing that, Mike appeared troubled while Jacob only shrugged and turned to Mario, who was now observing Kaelen—or more precisely, the dog sleeping on his chest.
But before Jacob could open his mouth to ask, Mike immediately covered it and asked Mario instead, his voice unconsciously soft. "Are you also a prince of some clan?"
Mario's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at the small dog atop Kaelen's chest, then turned to Mike, hearing his question.
He was slightly puzzled by it.
After a moment of thought, he shook his head in response to Mike's strange question.
Seeing this, Mike visibly relaxed, his posture easing, and let Jacob free from his grip.
Jacob appeared slightly annoyed, but after hearing Mike's question, he understood him. Turning to Mario, he asked—his voice far softer than before, though his previous smile lingered. "So, what's your name?... And your preference in women?"
"Mario." After saying that, he didn't continue. Instead, he approached the empty upper bunk, placed his long briefcase and paper bag on the mattress, and carefully climbed up.
Once there, he arranged his belongings inside the wall-mounted cabinet attached to the side of the bed.
He climbed down, ready to leave, but felt the prickling sensation of four pairs of eyes boring into his back.
His steps faltered, and after exhaling softly, he turned to Jacob.
He held Jacob's gaze for a long moment, making Liam and Mike gulp, as if bracing for a fight.
Then, finally, he answered.
"Nothing in particular," he said evenly, calmly, locking eyes with Jacob without his mask. "Just someone who could make this beat."
He raised his right hand, thumb pointing to his chest where his heart lay.
Its rhythm was slow. Serene. Calm.
Jacob was taken aback, not expecting a serious answer. So was everyone else, even making Kaelen open one of his eyes halfway and look briefly at Mario.
The room fell silent.
The playful atmosphere evaporated, replaced by an awkward stillness brought on by the seriousness of his answer.
Then, unexpectedly, someone moved—Ron, who had been silent until now.
With an awkward laugh, he stepped closer to Mario, resting an arm on his shoulder, making Mario flinch slightly, before pointing at the still-stunned Jacob.
"Don't overthink it," Ron said, patting Mario on the shoulder. "Even though he's like that, he's a virgin just like the rest of us."
Mike, slightly surprised by Ron's intervention, immediately nodded and added once Ron glanced at him. "Yeah. He only talks lewdly because he got some amazing unique skill that would make us all envious, or so he says."
He shrugged and pointed at Jacob after saying that.
Liam, meanwhile, hearing Ron say "the rest of us," frowned and immediately spoke up. "What do you mean 'us'? Why are you including me? How can you be sure I'm the same as all of you?"
Ron paused, then turned to Liam. The awkwardness had vanished from his face, replaced by a casual ease, as if stating an obvious truth. "Your reaction just now."
He glanced at Kaelen, who appeared to be asleep. "...I guess that makes only five of us."
Liam opened his mouth to argue, but moments later fell silent, realization dawning on him.
A saying surfaced in his mind: 'Fish are caught by their mouths…'
'…Damn it… he got me,' he muttered internally.
Meanwhile, Kaelen remained silent, his eyes still closed.
Mario, too, said nothing, simply letting Ron's arm rest on his shoulder.