After a while, I traced my way to the bathroom that was spoken of—of course, the condition of the place nearly made puke. I’d never seen restrooms in such a vile state. Eventually, I made it out and just wore the sa uniform and the white undershirt, leaving the jacket in my prison cell, or should I say, my room.
I walked through the dark hallway of the prison, passing other thick tal doors, probably holding other prisoners—maybe so unjustly arrested like .
I ca out to a wide-open yard where soldiers were sparring and dueling. The mont I stepped out of the hallways, light poured into my face, threatening to blind . I turned away, squinting.
Different soldiers stood around sparring at various angles, striking at each other with astonishing speed and clashing together. tals rang as they t, boots scraped against the white sand, chatters and murmurs rose from others engaged at different angles. So sat on wooden platforms and other structures I couldn’t even recognize.
And then it finally, truly, dawned on in a different way.
I really am in another world.
Towards the corner, where so soldiers were sitting, one of them tapped another and gestured at with his gaze. They stood up—all three of them—and began walking towards .
I turned my head away, pretending not to notice, and headed in the opposite direction.
Then it hit that I actually didn’t know where I was going. It was also going to be difficult for anyone to show because by now, they knew I was F rank and, of course, social hierarchy—they’d want to prey on naturally.
Left to , I wanted to avoid this nonsense. But sotis, so things are unavoidable and you just have to do what you have to do.
I slowed my step and let them catch on.
"Hey! Kid!"
I turned swiftly, pointing curiously to myself.
"Who else would we be talking to? The famous F rank." The tallest one among them spoke, his voice a threatening gruff. He grinned maliciously as he stared down at , eyes predatory. "Co over."
I let out a sigh and walked towards him. Getting to his front, I explained.
"I’m kind of late for the academy, and I’m also wondering if you could help navigate my way there."
The soldier sneered and laughed.
"Well, sure! I’ll consider it if you kneel and beg."
I gave him a doubtful look.
’That’s all?’
"Really?"
Quickly, my knees touched the ground. Pride belongs to the rich and privileged. In this world, I don’t have a politician father, or the privileges that would make automatically earn anyone’s favor.
"What?"
All of them looked shocked. And I couldn’t help but wonder aloud.
"What? Why are you all shocked? Didn’t you ask to kneel?"
I plugged my pinky finger into my ear, cleaned off the dirt, and blew it away.
"So, can anyone please show to the academy?"
All of them stared in shock, blinking. Then the tall soldier in the middle frowned at .
"How can you kneel so easily?!"
Now, it was my turn to be shocked.
’Why does he sound angry?’
"Because you asked to? Didn’t he just ask to kneel?" I looked at the lithe soldier standing to his left to confirm.
He nodded hesitantly, also confused.
I turned back to him.
"So will you help figure out the way to the academy?"
The tall soldier gritted his teeth. His face reddened, and suddenly he was looking so angry—and honestly, I couldn’t understand why.
He lunged and grabbed my collar, yelling, spitting in my face in the process.
"Do you think this is a joke! You’re supposed to be the heroes! Otherworlders summoned to save us! And you just—you just kneel like it’s nothing?! Where is your pride?!"
Now, he was lecturing on pride after abandoning his to bully .
"Oh! Is that what you thought? That I’d be prideful and refuse to kneel?"
I let loose a short laugh.
"I’m a very shaless person. Pride is for people who are rich. Can you see that I’m living in a prison cell? The Kingdom doesn’t even want to help with money. What will pride help do in this situation? By the way, brother, can you lend a few bucks? I don’t know how money works here. I’ll be needing your help greatly. You look older—I’ll call you senior brother. Senior brother! I’m in your care!"
He froze, staring at with disbelief in his eyes.
"Don’t worry, I’ll help you instead."
The voice ca from behind . He looked up, frowning at the person who just ca.
"Let him go, Jerry."
The tall soldier—Jerry—hesitantly released his grip on my clothes and pushed back as he did. I staggered back, but the guy behind stopped with his hand.
"Tch! You’re lucky! We’ll see each other again!"
He and his two goons walked away in anger. And I was left disappointed and worried about what exactly I’d done wrong. I shifted slightly and turned to the man who had helped .
Well, he wasn’t exactly a man—he was a boy who looked to be my age, maybe seventeen. His face was a map of scars—one across his jaw, another bisecting his left eyebrow. And where his right eye should have been was a puckered scar, the socket empty.
He actually looked slightly scary despite being so young.
"Uhm... eh, thank you?"
My gratitude couldn’t be convincing because even I wasn’t sure if he’d helped . I think I pretty much had it all under control.
But that wasn’t what mattered right now. He’d said sothing the other ti!
"Will you really help ?" I eyed him suspiciously, gauging from his appearance how rich he possibly could be.
"Yes, I’ll help you. You need to go to the academy, and you need to understand this world, right? Your mates were briefed last night but you’re pretty much clueless about everything. I can help you with all of that—we can even discuss it as we walk to the academy."
My look of doubt increased yet again.
"Why? I’m F rank. You want to help an F rank?"
He laughed wildly, then looked at with a smile.
"I’m F rank too. The difference is that you’re a Spirit Summoner, and I’m just a Regular Summoner."
I imdiately understood as I saw him. Then I grinned with a corner of my mouth.
"Empathy, huh? Okay, then that works. Which way?"
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